Democratic Voice of Burma

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• SNLD chairman: ‘Only policy makers should be at peace talks’
• Riot police open fire on Latpadaung protestors
• Red Cross launches safety apps in Burma
• Activists charged for staging unauthorised protest
• 10,000 athletes warm up for Burmese championships
• Burma’s rice exports, production up in 2014: FAO

SNLD chairman: ‘Only policy makers should be at peace talks’ Posted: 22 Dec 2014 03:37 AM PST The chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), Khun Tun Oo, stressed that only those who carry decision-making powers should engage in peace talks. His comment came in his opening speech at the first United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) conference on 22 December. The Shan leader was referring to the ongoing peace talks between the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC) and ethnic armed groups which have continued for the past three years. He said, "The MPC's sole mandate is to talk, but it has no decision-making power whatsoever, and this causes an issue when a party engaged in a bilateral discussion cannot deliver answers. "Realistically, the talks should include both the Tatmadaw [Burmese army], the MPC and ethnic armed groups, but at the moment we have one group talking to us and another group making decisions. [If it continues] this way, we won’t be able to achieve peace for another 100 years. "We believe that decision-makers should join the talks in order to reach conclusions; the formula for the talks must change." Related Stories Burma listed in Top 10 for jailing journalists Kachin villagers isolated as military tensions escalate 7 govt troops killed in N. Shan State clash Khun Tun Oo added that the MPC's recent promise to the armed groups – to expand the talks into the Burmese parliament – was not plausible. "It is unrealistic that a decision has to be made in the parliament where the discussion didn't take place. I see that if the procedures continue like this – with the [government] beating around the bush when they are aware of the issue – we will never find a way to peace." The conference, planned in Rangoon from 22 – 24 December, is joined by representatives from all eight UNA member parties including the SNLD. Aye Thar Aung, a member of the UNA, said the conference aims to discuss finding solutions to Burma's political problems and bring about internal peace. The UNA consists of eight ethnic parties that competed and won seats in the 1990 elections.   The post SNLD chairman: ‘Only policy makers should be at peace talks’ appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Riot police open fire on Latpadaung protestors Posted: 22 Dec 2014 03:10 AM PST A 50-year-old local woman was killed and at least four other villagers seriously wounded after protestors clashed with riot police near the site of Latpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Division on Monday afternoon. A resident from Sete village, situated inside the mining project site, said Myanmar Wanbao company staff arrived with police security on Monday morning to lay fences across land plots that villagers have refused to give up [by not accepting compensation]. "The police stood in a line, armed with riot shields, and warned the villagers they would be shot if they did not move," said the Sete villager. "The protestors tried to block them from entering the plots and refused to give in. "The police killed a woman named Khin Win from Mogyopyin village. She was shot in the head," he said. DVB has learnt that protestors had launched stones from slingshots at the police and that the security forces had responded in kind before shots were fired. Khin San Hlaing, a union parliament MP from nearby Pale Township, said she was informed by locals that Khin Win was shot dead by police. "I was told by the villagers that Daw Khin Win was shot in the head when the police opened fire. The photos we received showed a bullet wound entering her forehead and exiting through the back of her head," she told DVB by telephone at 3:30pm local time. "Her body was still lying in the sesame field and no one had the courage to go pick it up," the MP added. "We were also informed that another villager, U Hmine, from Mogyopyin village was shot in the thigh and was bleeding out. But he was yet to be taken to hospital." She added that a third villager, a woman named Ma Kyu, was injured in the eye. Related Stories Suu Kyi still negotiating China visit Two injured as Latpadaung protestors clash with police Latpadaung mine 'must be halted' pending EIA, says Amnesty Pho La Pyae, a resident from Mogyopyin village, said around 200 farmers from Myogyopyin, Sete and Tonywa villagers had confronted the police that morning and prevented them from coming onto their land. He said that 20 people were injured by police gunfire. So far, no government official, police spokesperson or representative of Myanmar Wanbao has made an official statement. Zaw Myo Nyunt, the administrator of nearby Yinmarbin village, told DVB by phone about an hour after the incident that he was unaware of any violence. A DVB reporter at the scene said the protestors were dispersed from the area at around 4pm, whereby mining staff resumed erecting fences around the 1,000 acres of land in question. The incident follows an official press release on 22 December by Myanmar Wanbao, a joint venture between military-backed Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings and China's Wanbao Company. The company stated that it would soon commence work on an extended area of land allotted by the Burmese government for use in the copper mine project. "Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper Limited is pleased to announce that, under the direction of the Myanmar Government, the company will be extending its working area in the Letpadaung copper project to comply with requirements of its investment permit granted by the Myanmar Investment Commission. Construction is proceeding as a result of broad community support for the project." In addition to claiming that the project has the overwhelming backing of the local people, the firm went on to detail the amount it is has paid to villagers as compensation for assuming their land, and said that it has donated much money into the local community, as well as creating jobs and investing in local infrastructure. Hundreds of local villagers and their supporters have been protesting the Latpadaung copper mine since its inception more than 10 years ago. Many have been displaced to make way for the project which was originally contracted to a Canadian firm, Ivanhoe Mines. The controversial mine was temporarily suspended when activists and monks staged a mass sit-in protest in 2012. The protest was broken up brutally by riot police on 29 November that year when some 80 protestors were injured, including several Buddhist monks, many with horrific burns that experts have attributed to white phosphorous bombs. A subsequent investigation headed by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi failed to pronounce anyone guilty for the violent crackdown, and to many villagers' dismay, recommended to the government that the project be resumed. The post Riot police open fire on Latpadaung protestors appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Red Cross launches safety apps in Burma Posted: 22 Dec 2014 12:27 AM PST The Myanmar National Red Cross Society has released two mobile phone apps in Burmese which provide natural-disaster warnings and step-by-step instructions for administering first-aid. The mobile apps – First Aid App and Multi Hazard App – are available to download free of charge on Google Play Store for android mobile phones and tablets, the Burma Red Cross announced at its workshop on Saturday. "In case of medical emergency, mobile users through the First Aid App can find step-by-step first aid instructions for relevant emergencies, which can greatly ensure the survival of a patient and prevent loss of life due to lack of first-aid knowledge," said Shwe Zin Myint, director general of the Myanmar National Red Cross Society. Related Stories EU earmarks $300m a year for Burma Cyclone to miss Burma, Met Office says Burma, Japan and Thailand sign MoU to build Myeik power plant She said the Multi Hazard App will provide users tips about safety and preparations for natural disasters such as floods, storms and earthquakes, and that in the future it will also provide warnings for oncoming disasters. The apps were developed with assistance from the American Red Cross and released on 27 September. The Myanmar National Red Cross Society was formed in 1937.   The post Red Cross launches safety apps in Burma appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Activists charged for staging unauthorised protest Posted: 22 Dec 2014 12:14 AM PST Four activists, including prominent 88 Generation Peace and Open Society leader Ko Ko Gyi, are facing charges after protesting a planned construction project at a sport ground in Rangoon's South Okkalapa Township on Saturday morning. The group, which included Ko Ko Gyi, Saw Naing, Myo Khine (also known as Mone Khet), Naing Ko Lin and Aung Maung (also known as Sitt Maung), were charged by the township's administrator Myo Aung  for staging a rally  in an area that had not been approved by the authorities. "We do respect the law, but their law is inconsistent," said Myo Khin, a former political prisoner. "The former mayor of Rangoon, Aung Thein Lin, approved the Yan Naing Company's construction project and we cannot accept it. We see it as an irresponsible and dishonourable move – legal robbery – and the incumbent Mayor Myint Swe has a responsibility to answer for this." He said the protest organisers sought permission from local authorities in advance which was granted at designated spots at the Kyaikkasan grounds in Tamwe Township, but not in South Okkalapa where they had intended to hold the protest. Related Stories Burma listed in Top 10 for jailing journalists Burmese women's football team prepare for 2016 Olympics Koh Tao murders: 'accused are innocent' say Burmese investigators The issue with the construction in South Okkalapa has courted controversy for over a year. When Rangoon city officials allowed private developers to build on formerly public land in 2013, it was met with protests led by an upper house MP and former political prisoners, which caused the project to be halted. The activists said they decided to stage another protest on Saturday after finding out construction had recently been resumed. On the morning on 21 December the protestors followed their original route in South Okkalapa – instead of the designated route through Kyaikkasan – and rallied from the sport grounds to the local municipal office. They were subsequently charged under the under Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law by the township administrator for violating articles of the law and “local rules”, for which they face up to three months in prison and 10,000 kyat (US$10) fine. Another protester who was charged, Saw Naing, said: "We requested permission to rally in South Okkalapa but they designated us to Kyaikkasan Township, which is completely irrelevant to our cause. "We insisted on sticking to our planned route and so we are now being charged." Related Stories Burma listed in Top 10 for jailing journalists Burmese women's football team prepare for 2016 Olympics Koh Tao murders: 'accused are innocent' say Burmese investigators         The post Activists charged for staging unauthorised protest appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

10,000 athletes warm up for Burmese championships Posted: 21 Dec 2014 07:28 PM PST More than 10,000 athletes from across the country will compete in Burma's National Track and Field Championships in Naypyidaw from 9- 24 January. Ministry of Sports director and spokesperson Htay Aung said the athletics meeting is a chance for Burma's track and field stars to win places in the national team for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which will be held in Singapore in June 2015. "We already have chosen several experienced athletes to compete in 28th SEA Games," he said. "But a new generation of athletes can use this event in Naypyidaw to qualify for Singapore. If they win, they should be selected to join the national training camp ahead of the games." Next month's National Track and Field Championships will see the athletes representing their respective states and divisions, said Htay Aung. Related Stories Burmese women's football team prepare for 2016 Olympics Military MPs snub Suu Kyi Football: Burma's hopes hang by a thread Much criticism has been levied on Burma's athletics federation for spending so much money on previous events but failing to invest in athletes. Consequently, many observers say, few Burmese track and field stars have prevailed at an international level. Speaking to DVB this weekend, veteran sports commentator Khin Maung Htwe said, "I think these national championships are being held too early. The athletes should be competing at state level in preparation for national qualification closer to the time of the SEA Games. "Burma should concentrate funding and training on sports such as track and field, swimming and weightlifting – areas where Burma is weak," he added. January's games will be the fourth time a national championship has been held in Burma, officially known as Myanmar. Previous events were held in 1992, 1994 and 1997.     The post 10,000 athletes warm up for Burmese championships appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

Burma’s rice exports, production up in 2014: FAO Posted: 21 Dec 2014 06:36 PM PST Despite a global drop in rice production in 2014, Burma increased cultivation and profits from export, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In its December World Rice Watch Report, FAO reported that rice production in Burma had been estimated at 28.9 million tons for 2014 by the government, an increase from 28.3 million tons the year before, and up more than a million tons on 2012. FAO estimated that Burma's profits from exporting rice had also increased. Thailand is due to reclaim its status as the world's leading exporter of rice this year. It had lost out in recent years to India and Vietnam after a rice paddy pledging scheme for Thai farmers had failed, FAO said. DVB reported in August that Burma's rice exports were up 41 percent on the year before for the period between 1 April and 15 August 2014. A Commerce Ministry official was quoted saying that some 530,000 tons of rice was exported during that period, at a value of around US$196 million. Related Stories BUSINESS WEEKLY 19 DECEMBER 2014 Koh Tao murders: 'accused are innocent' say Burmese investigators Koh Tao defence lawyers call on British witnesses The post Burma's rice exports, production up in 2014: FAO appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group.

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