The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Army Chief Says Ethnic Conflicts Must End for Burma’s Development
• Arakanese Mob Attacks Aid Group Offices, Forces Staff to Flee
• Taste the Sky With a Juice Fit for a Prince
• Air Safety to Be Tested as Burma Braces for Tourism Boom

Army Chief Says Ethnic Conflicts Must End for Burma’s Development Posted: 27 Mar 2014 03:24 AM PDT Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing delivers a speech at a parade in Naypyidaw to mark Armed Forces Day, the anniversary of Burma taking up arms against the occupying Japanese. NAYPYIDAW — Burma's military chief said during an annual military celebration Thursday that eliminating ethnic armed conflicts is the most important factor for the country, and reiterated his support for ongoing negotiations toward a nationwide ceasefire. In his speech at the 69th Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyidaw, commemorating the day the Burmese army took up arms against Japanese fascist forces on March 27, 1945, the commander-in-chief of Burma's armed forces Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing stressed the importance of peace and stability in bringing development to the country. To mark the event, 9,009 Burma Army soldiers marched in five columns at a parade ground in Naypyidaw, where the military also displayed some of its tanks, armored personnel carriers, mobile radar systems and truck-mounted rockets. The military chief warned that political dialogue with ethnic armed groups should not take place until a ceasefire is signed. He argued that any agreements made without a ceasefire could breakdown, leading to renewed conflict and delays in the peace process. "The nationwide ceasefire is important for our eternal peace, so all ethnic armed groups must be legalized by all means in the achievement of this process," he said. Since independence in 1948, the Burma Army has fought border wars with ethnic groups such as the Kachin, Shan and Karen, which have pressed for greater autonomy or even full independence. President Thein Sein's government, which took office in 2011, has been pushing a peace process, and has brought 16 of the country's ethnic armed groups to negotiations over a nationwide ceasefire agreement. Over the same period, however, at times intense fighting between the Burma Army and rebels in Kachin State and northern Shan State has displaced tens of thousands of civilians. Min Aung Hlaing's speech came as there are concerns that the peace process is stalling. Talks have been repeatedly delayed and some ethnic armed groups—the ethnic Palaung militia, the Wa and the Restoration Council of Shan State, for instance—are not fully participating in the process. The government has said, however, that it plans to hold a meeting to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement next month. In his 31-minute-long speech at the parade—attended by senior military officials, Burma's main opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, lawmakers and international military attachés—the Burmese commander-in-chief said the stability and cohesion of the country are the most important matters. "Thus, may I urge you to be aware of your words and deeds that will reflect negative images on our union solidarity and peace," he said. He also boasted that the Tatmadaw—the name for Burma's military—had laid down the infrastructure on which the country was now becoming democratic, and has arranged for a smooth transition. But he also hinted of the army's continuing role in national politics. "Our Tamadaw will strongly work to implement a disciplined democratic system," he said. Min Aung Hlaing is not the only one who this week publicly addressed the military's role in Burma's political future. On Wednesday morning, Thein Sein gave a speech to mark the third anniversary of his reformist government, in which he insisted that the military still has a political role to play in Burma during the democratic transition and the completion of the peace process. In response to the president's remarks, Suu Kyi said that the role of the military must be to support a civilian political system. "I'd rather see the army as professionals who the people love. [And] the peace process can be solved with political means," the National League for Democracy leader said. Speaking about the controversial 2008 Constitution, Min Aung Hlaing said the charter is not designed only for one party, one organization, one ethnic group and the military, but was approved by 26.7 million voters. "We have to respect the desire of the voters, 92.48 percent of the whole population. The reform [of the charter] must be done following the law prescribed in [the Constitution's] Chapter 12: Reforming of the Constitution," he said, referring to the part of the charter that gives the military an effective veto over constitutional amendments. The Constitution was drafted by the military government and approved by a referendum in 2008 that was widely seen as rigged, and a campaign is now underway, led by Suu Kyi, to amend it ahead of elections in 2015. The current Constitution guarantees the military a role in politics and a quarter of Parliamentary seats, bars Suu Kyi from becoming president and is widely opposed by Burma's ethnic minorities. The post Army Chief Says Ethnic Conflicts Must End for Burma's Development appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Arakanese Mob Attacks Aid Group Offices, Forces Staff to Flee Posted: 27 Mar 2014 02:57 AM PDT Police are deployed near the homes and office of Malteser International in Sittwe. (Photo: Facebook/Tun Naing) Police in the Arakan capital Sittwe fired warning shots on Wednesday night to disperse a mob of Arakanese Buddhists who were attacking the offices of humanitarian NGO Malteser International, a local official said, adding that police evacuated the organization's staff after their private residences came under attack. The crowd was angry at a foreign aid worker after she supposedly took down a Buddhist flag from the office building in a way that the Arakanese nationalists perceived as disrespectful to their religion. "As there were many people, the riot police force had to fire to disperse the crowd, but no one was hurt as they shot in the sky," Win Myaing, an Arakan State spokesman, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday. "The crowd was dispersed at about 11:50 pm last night." He said the foreign aid worker and her husband were provided with security and accommodation at the local police force's reception hall last night. They were later joined by all of the organization's staff. Malteser International staff at the organization's Rangoon office said they could not provide an immediate comment on the incident. Malteser International is a humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta with headquarters in Europe and America. The NGO supported tuberculosis patients and local health staff in northern Arakan State. Sittwe residents alleged a Malteser aid worker had taken down a Buddhist flag in an improper way, hurting local residents' sensitivities and prompting a violent response. “Yesterday at the Malteser medical warehouse, the owner of the building posted a religious flag, but a while later that foreign lady arrived. She took down the flag and it touched her lower body and she then put it in her pants' pocket," claimed Than Htun, an Arakanese elder in Sittwe. "The surrounding people saw it and the problem started." "People marched to Malteser International staff's home and told her to come out and talk to the locals," he added. "But she did not. So the angry crowd started throwing stones towards her home." Ko Htun, another resident of Sittwe, said the crowd grew bigger at night, adding that the mob went in search of the private apartments that Malteser aid workers were renting in order to enter their homes. “The crowd took out all the materials from the office building andpiled it on to the street, but they did not burn it or do anything,” he said. Police arrived at the scene about half an hour later and provided security for the NGO staff. All Malteser staff have been pulled from the field and are staying at Sittwe police station and are due to fly out to Rangoon on Friday, said a source close to the NGO, who declined to be identified. On Thursday, police were deployed at the office buildings and private residences, but an Arakanese mob were reportedly still pelting stones at office of Malteser International. Northern Arakan State saw waves of violence between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in 2012 that left scores dead and more than 140,000 people displaced. Sittwe is a predominantly Buddhist town, after about 70,000 Muslims were chased out by Arakanese Buddhist mobs. Tensions in the state and Sittwe remain high and residents post Buddhist flags in every home, building and vehicle in a display of Arakanese nationalism and unity. The Arakanese community is virulently anti-Rohingya—a stateless, impoverished minority—and oppose any international humanitarian aid support for the group, which suffers from malnutrition and a range of other health problems as a result of a lack access to government services. Last month, after months of public campaigning and demonstrations by the Arakanese against the work of Medicine Sans Frontier (MSF) Holland, the government suspended the group's health care projects in Arakan State, depriving the Rohingya from one of their only sources of health care. After MSF, which employed 500 staff, Malteser International was the biggest international health care aid group in northern Arakan State, with about 200 staff. The latest violence directed at Malteser International raises the possibility an organized campaign by Arakanese nationalists targeting all international humanitarian groups working with the Muslim population. The post Arakanese Mob Attacks Aid Group Offices, Forces Staff to Flee appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Taste the Sky With a Juice Fit for a Prince Posted: 26 Mar 2014 08:07 PM PDT A man steadies himself at the top of a toddy palm tree, as he collects pots filled with "sky beer" to serve to visitors at a village near Mandalay. (Photo: Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — As summer draws in, those wanting to cast off the dull mood brought on by the high temperatures will usually seek out a spectacular beach or a cool mountain. But for those who love to get a bit wild, and want a touch of unspoiled tropical village life, an idyllic village awaits just 25 kilometers north of Mandalay. Along a dusty and bumpy, narrow road, crossing a deserted cemetery and fields, travelers reach the foot of the mythical Thakhinma Hill, where hundreds of tall toddy palm trees provide shade and livelihoods for a village. Under the shady Neem trees and toddy palms, many small huts invite visitors to take a rest. Some people are happy just to find a shady place right under a cluster of palm trees. The village is famous simply for its name: Eain Shae Min Htan Taw or the crown prince's toddy palm village. It was once owned by Prince Kanuang, the crown prince of Mandalay under the 19th century reign of King Mindon. Toddy palm juice, a sweet and minty-smelling drink with a milky texture, is a natural and organic palm juice produced by cutting the spadix, or the flowering part of toddy palm. Once cut, the juice flows from the plant into earthenware pots tied to the tree. It's a traditional and centuries-old Burmese favorite, enjoyed by everyone from princes to farmers. Nowadays the beer-like drink, which is fermented slightly and has a touch of alcoholic content—its stronger the later in the day you drink it—has been nicknamed "sky beer" after its origins at the top of the tree. While other toddy palm juice shops in Mandalay and other cities mix their juice with various kinds of alcohol or water to give larger quantities, the crown prince's village is loyal to its customers, serving only the genuine article. The venders are rewarded by repeat visits, and customers can also enjoy jungle meats, including iguana, at the village. The volume of chatting and laughter from the small huts rises as juice is drunk. Khaing Htoo, whose family owns about 150 palms, is preparing to climb and fetch juice from the earthen pots that he tied at the top of his trees in the morning. "We earn about 20,000 to 80,000 kyat [US$20-$80] on a normal day. But during water festival and other holidays, our income doubles," Khaing Htoo said as he carried his bamboo ladder to the next tree. Khaing Htoo's family of six is supported wholly by palm juice sales, but villagers here also grow chili, peanuts and corn. Until about 2000, visitors rarely came to the village, so locals had to transport the juice to Mandalay to sell. But more recently, the village has become a tourist attraction in itself. "Some other juice stalls in other areas of Mandalay or in Yangon do not provide genuine palm juice like here," said Ko Min Min, one among a group of friends visiting the village recently. "I frequently bring my friends here because we want to feel the real tropical village life and want to drink genuine palm juice right under the palm trees like our ancestors did." Many villages in central Burma used to rely on toddy palms as their main business, using the palm to make both juice and jaggery. But in recent years, many have stopped farming toddy palm—some say because many young people have gone abroad to work, leaving no one behind agile enough to scale the tall trees. In the crown prince's toddy palm village, however, villagers are happy to remain reliant on their trees. "Since we earn more than enough for our living, why would we go abroad?" asked Myint Naing, helping as his brother, Fatty, quickly climbed up and down collecting juice. "We believe that if we treat our customers with care and serve them well, and as long as these palm trees live, we will not need to worry about our living and our future." The post Taste the Sky With a Juice Fit for a Prince appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Air Safety to Be Tested as Burma Braces for Tourism Boom Posted: 26 Mar 2014 07:52 PM PDT An Air KBZ flight sits parked at the Heho Airport in Shan State. (Photo: Simon Roughneen / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — As Burma's economy grows and tourist arrivals rise, aviation safety will be increasingly put to the test in a country long ago described as Southeast Asia's air travel hub, but which more recently acquired a reputation for having one of the region's worst air safety records. "We believe we can handle that," said Win Swe Tun, deputy director general at the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), when asked by The Irrawaddy if Burma's air traffic infrastructure could safely manage a possible increase in tourist numbers from 2 million in 2013 to a projected 7 million foreign arrivals per year by 2020. Earlier, DCA officials speaking at the Myanmar Civil Aviation Conference 2014 said Burma's air traffic had increased by 32 percent each year over the past two years, with even higher growth expected in the coming years as tourist numbers rise and Burma's economy expands. The concern is that as Burma's government strains to push potentially lucrative growth sectors of the economy, such as tourism, safety issues could be overlooked or underserved. Absent commensurate improvements to air traffic and security management at Burma's airports, "any increase in airport capacity is futile," said Hai Eng Chiang, director of Asia-Pacific affairs at the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), which represents the interests of the world's air navigation service providers. Tike Aung, director of air traffic safety at the DCA, which is part of Burma's Transport Ministry, said aviation safety needs to be publicized and air traffic management systems upgraded, as flight and passenger numbers rise. "The main challenges are to increase the capacity of the air traffic management system and to promote air traffic safety," Tike Aung said. But as any visitor to one of Burma's airports can attest, security is often lax and the attendant technology antiquated. Pointing out a contrast in procedures between Burma's often old, run-down airports and bigger hubs overseas, Yoshiyuki Hoshiyama, who is senior executive officer at Narita International Airport Corporation, listed biometric passenger gates and vehicle license plate recognition as other hi-tech essentials for airport security. Such technology is yet to be put in place even in Rangoon's main airport, which serves for now as the country's main international gateway, pending construction of a 12 million passengers per year capacity airport in Pegu Division, about an hour's drive north of the old Burmese capital. Burma has 66 airports and airstrips across a terrain the size of metropolitan France and England combined, and of those, three—in Mandalay, Naypyidaw and Rangoon—are listed as international airports. Ensuring that Burma can implement a viable air safety system in years to come is not just a job for government officials, contends Win Swe Tun, who says the country's eight domestic airlines must shoulder some of the responsibility. "On the ground, a lot of the safety and security is down to airport operators and airlines, not just the regulator. It is a common effort," Win Swe Tun told The Irrawaddy. Ensuring the country has a reputation for safety as traveler numbers increase can heighten appeal to tourists in what is a competitive region. As Burma's government seeks development aid and foreign backers for new and revamped airports, and with foreign airlines looking at joint ventures with Burmese counterparts, cultivating an image of safety and security could play a part in convincing investors. A recent report on Burma's economy by the Oxford Business Group said that "the commercial aviation industry is also of great interest to investors, as it offers an opportunity for sizable returns." But, the Oxford Business Group warned, "the sector is still in a relatively undeveloped state and the risks are many," adding that "mishaps, however small, can cause severe reputational damage and have the potential to weaken airlines, deter travelers and frighten investors." "Some airlines have very good standard procedures and safety management systems, but there are still some weaknesses inside some airlines and some airports," Win Swe Tun conceded. The post Air Safety to Be Tested as Burma Braces for Tourism Boom appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

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