Democratic Voice of Burma

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• ICRC office opens in Myitkyina
• Lower House proposes softening Peaceful Assembly Law
• Burma’s rising stars aim for Bayern Munich tournament
• Census begins in Burma’s Kachin State
• US accuses Burma of continuing military ties to N Korea
• ASEAN military chiefs plan Malacca Strait exercise
• Chin rebels supply rice for opium eradicators

ICRC office opens in Myitkyina Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:12 AM PST The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) opened a new office in the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina on Tuesday, its fifth regional outpost in Burma. The office will facilitate the ICRC's humanitarian assistance activities in Kachin State, including rehabilitation programmes for landmine-injury survivors. “This office will bring us closer to the disabled people who need access to the physical rehabilitation services we provide,” Claudia Matter, the ICRC's Mandalay-based sub-delegation chief, said in a statement. "It will also allow us to work in closer cooperation with Myanmar Red Cross Society branches in Kachin, where we jointly provide aid to communities displaced by fighting,” she said. Although the ICRC has led humanitarian activities in both government and non-government controlled areas of Kachin State for the past year, until today it had no permanent mission in the area. Many of the functions performed by the ICRC's Mandalay offices will now be steered from Kachin State directly. "It simply puts [ICRC] in a better position to cooperate with the Myanmar Red Cross and with local authorities," Michael O'Brien, the ICRC communications coordinator in Yangon, told DVB. Ganish, the joint secretary of the Kachin State Red Cross' supervision committee, said the opening of the ICRC liaison office would help distribute aid more effectively to remote areas. "Having the ICRC office here will allow us to more effectively provide assistance in remote areas such as Putao and Pangwa," he said. According to UN estimates, more than 100,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Kachin State and northern Shan State over the past two years. Humanitarian access to these populations has often been difficult, especially for those living in areas not controlled by the Burmese government. Related Stories Census begins in Burma's Kachin State MSF operations set to resume, but not in Arakan KIA, govt troops fight three battles in Shan State Two weeks ago, the Chinese Red Cross made its first-ever offer of aid to internally displaced people in Kachin State, delivering 10,000 aid kits worth more than US$800,000 to be distributed by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO). The ICRC is the flagship branch of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, which also encompasses 189 national societies. The Geneva-based organization provides technical training and financial support to the Myanmar Red Cross, and conducts activities independent of its local affiliate, including visits to Burma's jails and monitoring of political prisoners. The ICRC is currently rehabilitating two hospitals in the KIO-controlled towns of Laiza and Mai Ja Yang with the permission of the president's office. Kachin State's social affairs minister, Bauk Ja, said the opening of the ICRC office will make it easier for aid to get to areas outside of government control. "It will be the best because there are IDPs on both sides, including in areas out of reach by the government," she said.

Lower House proposes softening Peaceful Assembly Law Posted: 06 Mar 2014 03:06 AM PST Burma's Lower House of Parliament has approved amendment legislation removing the power for local authorities to deny applications for protest permits. The amended legislation now awaits Upper House approval. The Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law of 2011 requires that all demonstrations be planned and in advance, with full details provided to local authorities for approval. Prison terms and fines apply for staging a protest without a permit; however the Lower House on Wednesday passed a proposal reducing the severity of maximum jail sentences. Those guilty of staging an unpermitted protest would be liable to six months imprisonment, reduced from one year. Whether or not the amended legislation becomes law, local authorities must still approve of a protest for it to legally go ahead. However Thura Aung Ko, chairman of the Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee, said under the revised law, authorities could be punished for denying permission to protest. The law currently states that "[permission] cannot be denied when [the protest] is not in breach of the security of the State, rule of law, community's peace and tranquillity, and public morality." Thura Aung Ko told DVB that as per the amendment, these "sufficient reasons" for denial have been removed and that "permission must be granted no matter what and without exception". The Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law has provided the terms for the arrest and detention of a glut of activists since 2011. The refusal of demonstration permits and the subsequent arrest of protesters has been particularly common in relation to large scale economic projects such as the Latpadaung copper mine. Last month saw a string of arrests at the site, including that of one high profile activist. Earlier this month, over 100 demonstrators turned out in Hanzada on the Irrawaddy delta to protest the need for official permission. A permit was granted on that occasion.

Burma’s rising stars aim for Bayern Munich tournament Posted: 06 Mar 2014 02:51 AM PST The Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) will select five young football players to join a combined Thai-Burmese team which will take part in the upcoming FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup 2014 in Germany. According to an announcement by the MFF, a trial match will be held on 10 March at the Aung San Stadium in Rangoon to choose five players aged between 14-16 to represent the first ever Southeast Asian team to compete in the prestigious 7-a-side competition. The five selected youngsters will be sent to Thailand from 12-16 May to train with their five Thai team mates. Together, representing Team Southeast Asia, the 10 will then travel the following week to Europe where they will go head to head with youth teams from Italy, the United States, Austria, Japan, China and India. Former West German World Cup winner Paul Breitner, who is the brand ambassador of FC Bayern Munchen, said, "The FCB Youth Cup empowers disadvantaged youth by giving them a global platform to showcase their talents. We are thrilled that, with Yingli’s [sponsorship] support, we can welcome three outstanding teams of finalists from across Asia to participate in this year’s Youth Cup finals. FC Bayern Munchen would like to thank all the sponsors and local organizers of the FCB Youth Cup for helping us promote the development of youth football in Southeast Asia for the first time.” Related Stories Football ref slapped in face by enraged club owner Burma’s debt to Germany halved Pedal Power

Census begins in Burma’s Kachin State Posted: 06 Mar 2014 02:25 AM PST Burma's Ministry of Immigration and Population has launched an advance census in remote parts of Kachin State in the country's far north. The controversial survey — which some have even requested postponing — will not begin until 30 March in most parts of the country. Bo Myint, chief of Kachin State Immigration, said that they needed a head-start because many of the state's highland areas are difficult to access. The process is already underway in Putao, Machanbaw, Nawngmun and Suprabum, he said. Several indigenous groups in Kachin State have demanded changes to the survey itself, objecting to a coding system that assigns a number to each of the country’s 135 recognised ethnic groups. Last month more than 20 Kachin civil society organisations jointly demanded that the code be removed from the questionnaire. Related Stories ICRC office opens in Myitkyina Census convention kicks off in Naypyidaw MSF operations set to resume, but not in Arakan Critics also say that it will be impossible to successfully acquire accurate data in Kachin because access is still hampered by conflict and poor transportation infrastructure. A further complication is the displacement of around 100,000 people since renewed combat broke out in 2011 between the Burmese Armed Forces and the Kachin Independence Army. Many villagers have since fled to China or are sheltering in other areas unlikely to be reached by enumerators. "They are now beginning the census in Putao, but I don't think they will manage to accurately count everyone," explained Khon Ja, director of Kachin Peace Network. "Burma Army columns are still active in the region, and no one was assigned to count those living along the side of the road, or sheltering in the jungle." Burma's 2014 census, which is set to begin in most parts of the country on 30 March and continue until 10 April, will be the first nationwide census since 1983, though statistics gleaned from the previous surveys are almost universally dismissed as inaccurate due to lack of independent supervision and obstacles to geographical access.

US accuses Burma of continuing military ties to N Korea Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:50 PM PST Burma is among a "core" group of nations still receiving conventional weapons from North Korea, says a 2013 US Department of Defense (USDoD) report to Congress, made public on Wednesday. While the report acknowledges that Burma has "begun to distance itself from North Korea", the US has included Burma alongside Iran and Syria as notable recipients of "conventional and ballistic missile-related equipment, components, materials, and technical assistance". Examples of conventional weapons include ammunition, small arms, artillery, armoured vehicles and surface-to-air missiles. The supply of weapons as well as related technical training from North Korea is prohibited across four United Nations Security Council resolutions. The USDoD believes weapons have been made available to Burma via secretive channels out of the isolated Communist state. The report alleges that UNSCRs have been circumvented by "falsifying end-user certificates, mislabeling crates, sending cargo through multiple front companies and intermediaries, and using air cargo for deliveries of high-value and sensitive arms exports." Last year, reports surfaced documenting the prevalence of disguised North Korean exports to Burma. Bertil Lintner, an expert on the Burma-North Korea relationship, then published an article in NK News alleging that North Korean ships have been told to use "discretionary" tactics such as the use of false maritime flags. In 2011 the US Navy intercepted a North Korean vessel in the South China Sea flying the flag of Belize, believed to be on route to Burma. The report released Wednesday notes this incident, recounting: "The vessel bound for Burma suspected of carrying military-related cargo, returned to North Korea after refusing a US Navy inspection request". Presidential Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Information Ye Htut told DVB on Thursday that he has not read the report, but that, "Myanmar [Burma] only has a diplomatic relationship with North Korea, we have no military ties." Related Stories Census convention kicks off in Naypyidaw US lauds Burma's improving human rights record BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY – 28 February 2014 "We fully abide by UN resolutions on North Korea", Ye Htut said. This comes despite the US continuing to raise the issue with Burmese political and military chiefs. Late last year the US Treasury banned Americans from doing business with Lt-Col Kyaw Nyunt Oo, Asia Metal Company Ltd, Soe Min Htike Co Ltd and Excellence Mineral Manufacturing Co Ltd by virtue of their involvement in the North Korean arms trade. Bertil Lintner told DVB on Thursday that he believes the Burmese military sector still employs North Korean technicians and that link facilitates the importation of equipment. Linter has previously told DVB that he believes North Korean technicians are helping Burma to build a SCUD-type missile. The US believes that arms provision to nations such as Burma is one of North Korea's last remaining avenues for obtaining the funds required for its own military stockpiling. The USDoD report also notes that North Korea has begun developing drones.

ASEAN military chiefs plan Malacca Strait exercise Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:19 PM PST The defence forces of the 10 members states of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plan to undertake a joint maritime security exercise in the Malacca Straits in 2015. The initiative would be a first for the bloc, and the announcement comes at a sensitive time as a territorial dispute between China and five member states – Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei – absorbed much of the ASEAN Defence Forces Informal Meeting on 5 March in Naypyidaw. "We [realise] that while the regional security environment of Southeast Asia remains relatively stable, the complexity of various existing and emerging security threats continue to pose challenges to regional peace and stability," a statement said at a press conference on Wednesday in the Burmese capital. "We [recognise] that the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea is crucial to maritime security and to a stable security environment in the region." Related Stories BIMSTEC leaders convene in Burma DVB Debate: Constitutional conundrum ASEAN Rice Federation in the works The statement went to pledge ASEAN military cooperation in areas such as natural disasters, climate change and terrorism, and said the member states will continue to work together in training and joint exercises. No further information was offered into the 2015 exercise in the Malacca Straits, which is a channel separating Malaysia from Indonesia that is one of the world's main shipping lanes and trade routes. Addressing Wednesday's press conference as chairman, Burma's command-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said the member states were cooperating in maritime security, humanitarian and other non-traditional challenges such as drug smuggling, trans-border crimes and counter-tourism, and regional disaster relief cooperation. He noted that the Burmese army had, in the past, taken part in UN peacekeeping missions and was looking to recommence that activity again in the future.

Chin rebels supply rice for opium eradicators Posted: 05 Mar 2014 07:07 PM PST   The Chin National Front (CNF) says that it will provide bags of rice to villagers affected by a drug eradication activity conducted in Tonzang Township and Cikha Sub-township in Chin State. It said that the rice contribution would be made this month with the assistance of the Nippon Foundation, a Japanese government programme that has been supporting the ethnic peace process through development aid. The government claimed that it had destroyed more than 600 acres of opium poppy field over the past few months in Burma’s least developed State, where the cultivation has been reported to be increasing. According to media reports, the recent operations have left many Chin families in a difficult situation after destruction of the poppy plantations which had served as their main source of income. Burma Army battalions stationed in northern parts of Chin State and nearby areas in Sagaing Region have been reported active in drug-related trade in collaboration with the Meitei rebel armed groups from Manipur State in India. The 2012 peace agreements between the Union Peace-Making Work Committee and the CNF include eradication of opium poppy cultivation in Chin State.   This article was first published in Chinland Guardian on 5 March 2014.

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