Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Meikhtila gears up for first Thingyan after riots
• Tavoy locals vow to step up land grab protests
• Zaw Pe transferred to Thayet prison
• Burma buyer’s club: MoH warns against contraband drugs
• Govt to protect NGOs after ‘sluggish’ response to Sittwe riots
• TNLA deny forced conscription, killing of Lisu people

Meikhtila gears up for first Thingyan after riots Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:01 AM PDT Last year’s Thingyan celebrations were cancelled in Meikhtila, Mandalay Division, after deadly riots devastated the town. Residents still reeling from the incident await this year’s water festival with extra enthusiasm. In 2013, celebrations were quashed by a curfew that effectively banned gatherings of more than five people following anti-Muslim violence that left dozens killed and around 10,000 displaced. Htet Linn Khine, a Meikhtila-based member of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, said pavilions where revelers gather to “play water” were being constructed across the town. Residents are planning a big celebration. "Meikhtila will see a big celebration for Thingyan this year – a meeting was held recently with local community leaders to set up pavilions in every ward," said Htet Linn Khine. In addition to pavilions in each of the 14 wards, a large stage is being built in the downtown area to act as "party-central". Traditional dance performances have been scheduled throughout the week. Tin Maung Soe, the government administrator of Meikhtila district, said authorities have been hard at work on security preparations. "We have thoroughly coordinated with the police and local ward administrators for security measures," he said. "Now that that the situation is calm, we have decided to allow the celebrations," he added, noting that tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities in the town have dissipated. Related Stories Buddhists stone Muslim shops, mosque in Hlegu following scissor attack Meikhtila: one year on and 8,000 remain in IDP camps Rangoon gets security-conscious for Thingyan

Tavoy locals vow to step up land grab protests Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:31 AM PDT Locals in Tavoy [Dawei] in Tenasserim Division have vowed to step up protests demanding the return of farmlands, which they say was confiscated without their prior knowledge. Residents of Sanchi ward, Tavoy, claim that they have been working on the disputed land for generations. The residents say they only realised they were the victims of a 1990 land confiscation when their bid to register ownership of the land was rejected by the Tenasserim State government last year. Now residents say that over 300 acres of land has been taken from some 60 locals since 1990. According to the locals, living quarters for the staff of a private company, as well as the divisional headquarters of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, have been built on a 100-acre stretch of the land. More constructions are underway on remaining seized plots, they said. Around 20 locals were threatened with arrest by local authorities and police when they attempted to stop construction operators from bulldozing the land on Saturday. Tun Tun Win, a farmer who claims he lost 14 acres of land, said the locals have vowed to open rally camps for a sit-in protest because calls to authorities to negotiate either substitute land or compensation have been repeatedly neglected. Related Stories Suu Kyi listens to land grab victims Desperately seeking bidders: Dawei SEZ Japanese FM aims to strengthen ties on visit to Burma "It’s been a long time since we reached out to the [parliamentary] Land Investigation Commission, but there was no response at all. When we tried to stop construction operators from working on our land they called the police on us," said Tun Tun Win. "We are determined to have our land back – to claim our right – we will do that by opening rally camps and staging more protests." He said the group had previously staged two protests, one in 2012 and another in 2013, and had reached out to government authorities on several occasions. Tun Tun Win speculates that the local people's pleas have been ignored because two USDP MPs and other government officials are direct beneficiaries of the confiscation. The value of land in Tavoy has risen dramatically with the continued construction of the Dawei Special Economic Zone, which will provide a deep sea port and deregulated infrastructure hub for private and state-owned companies to operate within. The Tavoy Township Settlement and Land Records Department were unavailable for comment.

Zaw Pe transferred to Thayet prison Posted: 10 Apr 2014 03:28 AM PDT Zaw Pe, DVB's Magwe correspondent, has been transferred to Thayet prison in Magwe Division after being sentenced to one year in prison. His wife and young son were there to say goodbye. In August 2012, Zaw Pe and a father of a student, Win Myint Hlaing, were charged with trespassing and disturbing a civil servant after they visited the Magwe Division Education Department to conduct an interview about a Japanese-funded scholarship programme. On 7 April, Magwe Township Court found the two men guilty and sentenced them each to one year in prison. During the transfer to Thayet prison Zaw Pe told DVB that this verdict would compromise the integrity of journalists. "As a journalist, it is my job to interview, whether it's the government or a civil society organisation. Prosecuting journalists for trespassing and disturbing civil servants will prevent them from approaching government offices in the future. It will compromise the balance of news," he said. Well-known activist and member of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, Min Ko Naing, said that jailing journalists raises questions about the legitimacy of the country's reform process. Related Stories DVB reporter jailing prompts doubts over Burma's press freedom DVB reporter sentenced to 1 year for 'disturbing a civil servant' Protest leaders sentenced to 3 months in prison "A journalist should not be sued for trespassing for visiting a government venue to conduct an interview," he said. "Throwing the book at someone for a personal feud can cripple the work of journalism and push the media back into the oppressed state it was in the past. This makes me question the democratic reforms in the country." The international community and members of national and international media have condemned Zaw Pe's sentence. In the past year several journalists have been jailed on spurious charges. In December 2013 a reporter from Eleven Media Group was sentenced to three months in prison for trespassing. In February, four staffers and the CEO of Unity Weekly journal were charged with violating the Official Secrets Act after publishing a report on an alleged chemical weapons factory being built by the army in Magwe Division. While the government says it is committed to reform Zaw Pe's sentencing questions the sincerity of new media freedoms.   Correction: DVB originally reported that Thayet prison is in Mandalay Division, however the correct area is Magwe Division.

Burma buyer’s club: MoH warns against contraband drugs Posted: 10 Apr 2014 03:13 AM PDT Burma's Ministry of Health issued a consumer warning to only buy drugs certified by government health authorities as cross-border contraband drugs continue to infiltrate the Burmese market. "We would like to urge consumers to only use drugs registered with us, which have been tested for safety, as there are contraband products unofficially imported and distributed in markets across the country," said Dr Myint Han, director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health. Myint Han said health officials also plan to conduct education campaigns to raise public awareness on the dangers of consuming unapproved drugs and food products. A ministry announcement informed consumers that approved drugs can be identified by FDA registration numbers on the packages. Officials said drugs were being smuggled into Burma through border checkpoints with neighbouring countries as well as from further abroad, carried by hand via airplane. Dr Khin Maung Lwin, a retired official of the Health Education Department, said that in many cases patients in Burma buy drugs without prescription or professional referral. "As long as stores can get away with selling uncertified drugs, without qualified pharmacists to apply regulations, people — amid financial hardships — will continue to buy contraband drugs because they are cheaper," said Dr Khin Maung Lwin. Purchasing drugs from roadside stalls and vendors without seeking advice from a doctor has been common practice for decades in Burma, where the federal health system lacks resources and is inaccessible to many of the nation's poor. Weak oversight and regulation, Dr Khin Maung Lwin said, continues to enable the circulation of contraband drugs. "It might be a while until these issues are resolved," he said. Related Stories Peace efforts bearing fruit, says Khin Maung Swe Chin rebels supply rice for opium eradicators Poppy replacement in Shan State will take time, money

Govt to protect NGOs after ‘sluggish’ response to Sittwe riots Posted: 10 Apr 2014 01:11 AM PDT Additional footage from Reuters Burma's Union government vowed on Wednesday to protect aid workers in Arakan State, as recommended by a commission tasked with investigating riots in the state capital Sittwe on 26-27 March. While the investigation remains ongoing, the commission's interim briefing concluded that the regional government's response to the violence was "sluggish". The Union government responded with a statement pledging full protection to humanitarian aid workers returning to the area. The statement also committed to the formation of an Assistance Team for Emergency Situations and the arrest and prosecution of those who instigated the riots. Deputy Minister of Border Affairs Brig-Gen Maung Maung Ohn, chairman of the commission, said in a press briefing on Wednesday that 12 individuals – six male and six female – have already been detained and are under questioning for their role in the incident. On the night of 26 March, mobs of angry Buddhists convened at the Sittwe office of INGO Malteser International, after rumours began to circulate that a staff member had disrespected a Buddhist flag. The mob attacked the office, throwing stones and otherwise damaging the property. They then moved on to attack other NGO homes, offices and warehouses. Security forces fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd. An 11 year-old girl died after being struck by a stray bullet. Related Stories TNLA deny forced conscription, killing of Lisu people Aid in Arakan at 'bare minimum' Meikhtila: one year on and 8,000 remain in IDP camps Rioting continued the following day. Approximately 300 NGO staff members were evacuated from Sittwe as a result of the violence. Most have not yet returned, causing disruptions to aid distribution and emergency care in displacement camps and rural villages. The investigation commission found that Yvonne Dunton, the Malteser employee who removed the flag, acted within her duty and without disrespect to local culture, adding that the incident was used as an "excuse" to antagonise aid workers. The United Nations on Thursday welcomed the commission's findings, vowing to review their practices in Arakan State and restructure operations if necessary. Humanitarian aid organisations support food and healthcare programmes for hundreds of thousands of people in Arakan, Burma's second poorest state. The disruption of aid distribution and humanitarian access has prompted outrage from the international community, amid fears of a humanitarian disaster due to lack of clean water, food and medical care. UN Special Rapporteur to Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, on Monday expressed particular concern that stalled services could "increase the vulnerability" of stateless Rohingya Muslims, some 140,000 of whom are currently living in isolated displacement camps throughout northern Arakan State.

TNLA deny forced conscription, killing of Lisu people Posted: 09 Apr 2014 03:02 AM PDT Over 300 people who fled Shan State's Palaung Self-Administered Zone have been provided relief by sympathisers from Lashio. Families from the Lisu ethnic minority left their homes last week after the Ta-ang (Palaung) National Liberation Army allegedly came to their village demanding recruits for their ranks. Residents from Lashio have donated food, medicine and clothes to the IDPs. "There are war refugees all over Burma," said one resident from Lashio. "With a wish to reduce their suffering and end all civil conflict in the country, we are donating aid for them." There are 54 Lisu families taking shelter in Eaindine village in Lashio District. Related Stories Govt to protect NGOs after ‘sluggish’ response to Sittwe riots Meikhtila: one year on and 8,000 remain in IDP camps Palaung rebels forcibly recruit villagers, kill those who refuse, say Lisu locals The villagers said they feared for their lives after the TNLA allegedly killed their village leader, Maung Sein, after he went to plead with the rebels not to conscript people from their village. However, the TNLA's political wing, the Palaung State Liberation Front, released a statement insisting the allegations of abuse against villagers are false. The statement claims the Lisu people left the village of their own accord to escape economic hardship there. They also deny allegations of extrajudicial killings and said the TNLA only fights the Burmese Army. Those helping the displaced villagers said they just want the conflict to be over. "We wish our country will see an end to conflict and that peace can prosper in every corner," said a woman from Lashio.

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