Democratic Voice of Burma

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• DVB Debate: Sexual harassment in Burma
• DVB Bulletin: 18 November 2014
• No constitutional reform before 2015 election: Shwe Mann
• So education it is, Mr President?
• Nattalin farmers march for misappropriated lands
• Boeing to provide 737s to Air Mandalay
• Govt board offers to broker talks between students and MPs

DVB Debate: Sexual harassment in Burma Posted: 18 Nov 2014 04:54 AM PST In this episode of DVB Debate, the panel is asked what needs to be done to stamp out gender based violence in Burma. Watch as our first all-female panel dissect the elements in Burmese law and society which contribute to the problem of sexual violence and gender discrimination. Related Stories Awareness campaign held for jailed Kachin refugees Shan family fights to free girl trafficked to China DVB Debate: Systematic rape is used as a weapon of war

DVB Bulletin: 18 November 2014 Posted: 18 Nov 2014 04:43 AM PST On tonight's DVB Bulletin: No constitutional reform before 2015 election: Shwe Mann UNHCR chief says Rohingya issue central to reform efforts Singapore largest source of Burma FDI Boeing to lease 737 planes to Air Mandalay You can watch DVB Bulletin every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news.

No constitutional reform before 2015 election: Shwe Mann Posted: 18 Nov 2014 04:08 AM PST Burma's parliamentary house speaker Shwe Mann told a press conference in Naypyidaw on Tuesday that any amendments to the 2008 Constitution will only be enacted after next year's general elections. Following the day's debate in the bicameral parliament on constitutional reform, the house speaker said that a referendum will be held in May 2015 to gauge public opinion on any changes to the Constitution, but that moves to pass any amendments could only be approved through the new legislature which reconvenes in 2016. The elections are expected to be held in either November or December 2015. "The 2015 elections will be held in accordance with the laws stipulated under the 2008 Constitution and relating laws," he told reporters. "If the referendum in May brings about motions to amend the Constitution, then those bills will be submitted at the next session of parliament convened after the elections." Shwe Mann added that controversial Articles 436 and 59(f) will be considered based on public opinion. The debate on constitutional reform is tabled to continue in parliament this week. On Monday, Chin National Party upper house representative Za Tlem proposed that military MPs should be dismissed from the legislature and provided with roles in the defence and security sectors. Related Stories MPs start debating Constitutional amendments Obama affirms support for govt reformists Suu Kyi disappointed by quadripartite meeting "I suggested that the military representatives – who hold 25 percent of all parliamentary seats – should be removed from the legislature and instead provided roles in the defence and security sectors to allow for the implementation of democracy and a genuine civilian government," said Za Tlem.

So education it is, Mr President? Posted: 18 Nov 2014 02:32 AM PST Addressing the nation on the occasion of the 94th National Day on Sunday, Burma's President Thein Sein noted that his government will prioritise raising education standards. This, he added, is rooted in the belief that "national education plays a key role in nation building". The Burmese president had pledged to increase educational spending earlier this year. However, while university students voice frustration at the inadequacies of the National Education Bill, primary education remains far from being scrutinised. State schools lack funding to invest in professional expertise, while teachers do not possess the freedom to shift away from a strictly defined syllabus. Then again, in conflict ridden states like Arakan and Kachin states, access to primary education itself is minimal. In an interview with DVB,Arlo Kitchingmanfrom Save the Children, also the education coordinator for IDP cluster groups in Burma, said, "At the moment, the majority of children are receiving just two hours of emergency education a day, which is Burmese language and mathematics. The teachers are not certified or recognised." Related Stories Govt board offers to broker talks between students and MPs Student protests continue across Rangoon Students oppose National Education Bill One third of school buildings in Burma are way below safety standards. Lack of funding, said a retired education official, is what makes maintenance of school buildings difficult. This hardly comes as a surprise owing to the fact that the education budget in Burma oscillates somewhere between 5.43 percent and 5.92 percent of the total national budget, quite a contradiction to the defence budget which amounts to almost 29.15 percent of spending. The jeopardy surrounding Burma's education system did not go unnoticed even by the president of the United States as he visited for the ASEAN Summit last week. President Barack Obama was quick to point out that an antiquated system of rote learning was detrimental for Burma as it focuses on an important era of democratic transition. President Obama pointed out that education is the most important tool to widen and achieve economic opportunity in Burma and thus the need of the hour was to reform the education system. "One of the reforms that will need to take place in universities here is to make sure that in all the departments there is the ability for universities and students to shape curriculums and to have access to information from everywhere around the world, and that it’s not just a narrow process of indoctrination," said Obama during his interaction with students at Rangoon University on Friday. Obama also pointed out a scientific fact that the age between 0-3 is the most fertile learning period in the foundation of education for a child. He said, "If you’re only worried about university education, but you’re not worrying about what happens to children when they’re three, four, five, six years old, then you’re missing the foundation for a good education system." Four days of protests in the streets of Rangoon drew attention towards the National Education Bill. Pronounced flawed since its inception, the bill has witnessed the backlash of students, teachers and union networks alike, who deem the bill as yet another control mechanism apparatus of the Burmese government. Hla Shwe, a former student leader with the All Burma Federation Of Student Unions (ABFSU) back in 1962, told DVB that "The National Education Law was drafted by the government with a focus on controlling and oppressing student activities instead of educational development and bringing international-level education to the country. To date, there is no education system in Burma that can guarantee a future for each student."

Nattalin farmers march for misappropriated lands Posted: 18 Nov 2014 12:32 AM PST Some 200 local farmers in Pegu Division marched through the streets of Nattalin in protest on Monday, denouncing what they say is a misappropriation of their land by the local Settlement and Land Records Department. Around 450 acres of land belonging to 123 farmers in Dhammange, Phalanbin, Jobintha and Shasaybo villages in Nattalin Township were allegedly confiscated in 1991 by the Burmese army and various local government departments. Related Stories NGOs say ethnic areas have no ‘virgin lands’ 10 Hpa-an land claim protestors sentenced Seven Kanbalu plough protestors released from jail The military and certain government departments have recently conceded by returning plots of land to the original owners in the area, but the local Settlement and Land Records Department – tasked with implementing the returns – stands accused of selling off plots to third persons or leasing lands, instead of handing them over to the rightful owners. The protesters said the original landowners had previously reached out and filed complaints to the parliamentary Land Investigation Commission, but these were ignored. The protest in Nattalin on Monday was staged with official permission from the local police, however the protestors were confronted several times by police units who threatened legal action against them for allegedly exceeding the time or terms of the protest permit. Last year, activist Myint Myint Aye, who was detained for assisting farmers fighting against land grabs in central Burma's Pegu division, went on a hunger strike while in prison to protest what she called her arbitrary detention. She was released on appeal in December.

Boeing to provide 737s to Air Mandalay Posted: 17 Nov 2014 11:52 PM PST The world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing, has announced a deal with Burmese firm Air Mandalay to provide an unspecified number of 737 aircraft. Representatives of Boeing and Air Mandalay signed a memorandum of collaboration on 8 November; Burma's Minister of Transport Nyan Htun Aung and US Ambassador Derek Mitchell witnessed the signing ceremony. US giant Boeing said on its website that it will support Air Mandalay's fleet renewal efforts and assist the Burmese carrier to procure Next-Generation 737 airplanes through leasing channels. "This memorandum is an important step in our growth strategy," said Dato' Adam Htoon, principal of Air Mandalay, cited on Boeing's press release. "Due to the growth of tourism and business investment in Myanmar [Burma], air transportation has become an increasingly important contributor to both the nation's economic growth and its infrastructure development. The country is looking to position itself as a major tourism destination capable of handling an increasing number of foreign visitors. The 737s will provide us with capabilities to support this critical national growth strategy." Related Stories Re-enactment was orchestrated by police, say Koh Tao suspects Thailand, Burma press ahead with Dawei SEZ Mrs Abe helps put Japanese investment in softer light Skip Boyce, president of Boeing Southeast Asia, said, "We look forward to supporting Air Mandalay on its fleet expansion strategy, setting the foundation for a long and successful partnership between Air Mandalay and Boeing. The Next-Generation 737 aircraft will provide Air Mandalay with market-leading efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort, allowing the airline to continue to prosper and grow in the region." On the same press release, Ambassador Mitchell was quoted saying: "The US government encourages responsible trade and investment by American companies that will support economic development, and improve the safety, security, and standard of living of the people of this country. I am pleased by the kind of long-term commercial partnership that Air Mandalay and Boeing are committing to today, which serves as a model of constructive bilateral cooperation and can play a critical role in supporting broad-based, sustainable development here more broadly." The 737 family is the best-selling commercial jetliner in history, with orders for more than 12,000 airplanes through October 2014 from more than 280 customers. More than 8,000 737s have been delivered, said Boeing. Boeing is consistently one of the US government's top contractors, ranking second in 2008 and 2009 to aerospace rival Lockheed Martin with contracts totaling US$22 billion and $23 billion respectively. In addition to commercial aircraft, Boeing is a manufacturer and supplier of defense systems, rockets and satellites, mostly to the US military. Since 1995, the company has agreed to pay $1.6 billion to settle 39 instances of misconduct, including $615 million in 2006 in relation to illegal hiring of government officials and improper use of proprietary information, according to the Project on Government Oversight. Air Mandalay Ltd is a private joint venture company that launched in 1994. It operates flights to 13 destinations in Burma, including tourism hotspots Heho (for Inle Lake), Bagan and Sandoway [Thandwe] (for Ngapali Beach). It also runs international charter flights to Singapore and Chiang Mai.

Govt board offers to broker talks between students and MPs Posted: 17 Nov 2014 11:24 PM PST Burma's Ministry of Education has offered to facilitate discussions between students protesting against the National Education Law and concerned parliamentary committees. The ministry's Education Promotion Implementation Committee (EPIC) announced via state media on Tuesday that it will address issues and demands presented by the students who have conducted daily street demonstrations in Rangoon since last Friday. The EPIC statement said the Ministry of Education consulted with students, teachers, parents and all concerned parties when drafting the National Education Bill, and "re-polished' the bill several times based on their suggestions. It said the Education Ministry also invited more suggestions and contributions in drafting bylaws into the National Education Law and university charters. The students have issued a 60-day deadline for the government to meet their demands, threatening to step up protests if it stalls. Related Stories So education it is, Mr President? Obama exhilarates, inspires at Rangoon University Students rally against education law Speaking to DVB, Min Zeyar of the 88 Generation students group said, "There are two main reasons for the protest: the lack of protection and need for improvement in students' rights; and the need to reverse declining education standards." Hla Shwe, a student leader in 1962, said, "The National Education Law was drafted by the government with a focus on controlling and oppressing student activities instead of educational development and bringing international-level education to Burma. There is still no education system in the country that can guarantee a future for each student." Meanwhile, 2007 student protest leader D Nyein Linn noted that the protest included calls for other issues to be addressed, including schooling in ethnic areas. "The National Education Law does not include provisions for students to learn in their mother language," he said. "We are protesting in order to highlight these issues to the public."

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