Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Latpadaung monastery to be moved, despite public outcry
• Burma Army clashes with SSA-S, TNLA in Shan State
• Pipeline arson suspects charged in western Burma
• Kachin Mining Minister says jade boulder “just an ordinary rock”
• KIA, govt troops fight three battles in Shan State
• Burmese react to Fortify ‘persecution’ report
• PTTEP plans US$3.3 billion oil and gas investment in Burma
• DVB Debate: Constitutional conundrum

Latpadaung monastery to be moved, despite public outcry Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:42 AM PST A monastery once presided over by famed monk Ledi Sayadaw is to be moved from its current grounds — the site of the Latpadaung copper mine. Government authorities and project operators are preparing to move the holy structure despite demonstrated local disproval. The Buddhist structures, currently located by the side of the in Monywa-Bassein Highway Road in the Salingyi district of Monywa, will be moved to a new site 1.5 km away from their original location. On 25 February high-ranking monks of the government-linked Manhana, the National Head Monks Association, sanctioned the move by virtue of a traditional ceremony. Present at the ceremony was government minister Hla Tun, chairman of the Committee to Implement Recommendations by the Latpadaung Investigation Commission. Local villagers, however, who have demanded the preservation of the religious structures, said local representatives — monks and laymen alike — were absent from the ceremony. "There weren't any local monks at the ceremony nor any other locals — it was only joined by monks from the state and local-level Mahanas giving a green-light to destroy the structures," said Buddhist monk Ashin Arlawka of San Myawady Monastery in Zeetaw village. Related Stories Sympathisers flock to aid evicted squatters in Hlegu Latpadaung locals air grievances to UN Rights Rapporteur Protesters arrested after appealing for Latpadaung activist's release. "It is a very sad affair [that] the head monks of the nation, deemed a Buddhist country, have approved such a decision." Min Min, an anti-Latpadaung mining project campaigner from the Committee to Protect the Interests of the Latpadaung Mountain said that the implementation committee has neglected the findings of the Latpadaung Investigation Commission. "The local public has clearly stated previously that they will support continuation of the project only when the recommendations by the Latpadaung Investigation Commission were specifically fulfilled — the commission recommended to relocate the structures to an appropriate location, without causing damage, through negotiation with local influential monks — but now it seemed like they are planning to just demolish the structures and replace them with new ones at the new locations."

Burma Army clashes with SSA-S, TNLA in Shan State Posted: 26 Feb 2014 03:36 AM PST Fighting broke out between the Shan State Army – South (SSA-S) and the Burma Army on Sunday, the first such clash this year, according to the SSA-S. Sai La, SSA-S spokesperson, said their troops moving along the Loi Pangton mountain range in Mongton, ShanState, came under fire from about 100 combined forces. The assailants included members of the Burma Army 519 and 522 Light Infantry Battalions and an ethnic Lahu Border Guard Force unit, he said. The spokesperson emphasised that since signing a state-level ceasefire agreement in early 2012, sporadic clashes have occurred largely because of a lack of clear demarcation between their respective territories. While fighting does occur despite the agreement, Sunday's bout was the first such incident this year. "As there was no specific demarcation, we continue to move about in the region normally, and at times we run into government army columns," he said. Without clear boundaries and advance notice, mobilisation can lead to "brief, pre-emptive clashes", he added. "But we have not seen large-scale fighting taking place." No casualties from Sunday's clash have been reported. The SSA-S has informed the government's Internal Peace Making Working Committee (IPMWC), which has been maintaining efforts to reach a nationwide ceasefire agreement with Burma's ethnic armed groups through several rounds of discussions with their respective leaders. Related Stories Poppy replacement in Shan State will take time, money Not enough info about Salween dam, say Shans in eastern Burma Ethnic groups resist census, object to question of ethnicity President's spokesman Ye Htut, however, denied the government's knowledge of the alleged attack. "We have no information about the incident," he said. Also in Shan State, the Ta-ang (Palaung) National Liberation Army (TNLA) claims the Burma Army has also attacked their troops, which were installed to carry out narcotic eradication in Namhsan, Manton and Kutkai townships – located in the state's far north — and also in Mogok of Mandalay Division, which was within the Shan State boundaries up until the early 2000's. Ye Htut attributed attacks on the TNLA to the group's alleged abuse of civilians, claiming that they entered government-controlled territories under the pretext of a drug eradication scheme, where they then forcibly recruited and extorted villagers. "If they were really fighting drugs, then they should share some information with us, since we are working on the same objective," said Ye Htut. The TNLA reported causalities – of both their own and government troops — but DVB could not independently confirm the claim. The government's IPMWC and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team – a 13-member delegation representing 18 ethnic armed groups — are scheduled to meet in Rangoon on 8 March to resume peace negotiations.

Pipeline arson suspects charged in western Burma Posted: 26 Feb 2014 12:47 AM PST Seventeen labourers in Burma's western Arakan State have been charged with arson, aggravated trespassing and abetting crime for alleged involvement in a fire at a relay station along the Shwe gas and oil pipelines in January. The station, located in Singondai village in AnnTownship, is operated by Southeast Asia Oil and Gas Pipelines Limited (SEAOGP), a joint venture between China National Petroleum Corporation, Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) and other multi-national shareholders. More than 20 employees were detained by authorities after they allegedly set fire to the station following an altercation with Chinese staff on 26 January. Aye Kyaw Than, one of three lawyers volunteering in their defence, said 17 of them were arraigned in a hearing on Monday as their one month remand neared expiry. "My clients have been formally charged under the penal code articles 452, 436 and 144, for alleged aggravated trespassing, arson and abetting criminal offence," said Aye Kyaw Than. The arraigned, mostly ethnic Chin labourers, were charged by government-owned MOGE. Trial is set for 10 March in Ann Township Court. The lawyer said it was too early to speculate on the trial's outcome. Details of the cause of the fire are still unclear, with some claiming that the workers set fire to an oil storage facility as a retaliation for abuses committed against ethnic workers. SEAOGP at the time acknowledged that a disagreement did occur between workers and announced to media that it was an isolated incident and posed no threat to project security. Related Stories Sizing up the energy giants The plight of internally displaced Kachin war victims Poppy replacement in Shan State will take time, money

Kachin Mining Minister says jade boulder “just an ordinary rock” Posted: 25 Feb 2014 11:39 PM PST The supposed 37-ton slab of jade recently discovered in Hpakant, Kachin State, is nothing but a rock, according to Aung Naing, the Kachin State minister of mines. Minister Aung Naing told DVB on Tuesday that a study has shown that the slab that appeared to be jade – making headlines after a small-time excavator discovered it on 9 February – was not what it seemed. "We tried to move the rock and it cracked. Even before that we had presumed, based on an initial study by experts, that it was not jade," said Aung Naing, adding that it is a common habit in the gem industry to claim stones to be precious and later be proven wrong. "It cracked because it's not jade – just an ordinary rock." The assertion comes despite the efforts of the Burmese army to cordon off and secure the district in response to the discovery. The Burmese army reportedly detained the discoverer of the stone, Aung Naing Win, on the grounds of "his own safety" and blocked local independent miners from work in the area. Hpakant locals said small-time mining operations have resumed as authorities have lost interest in the stone. The status of Aung Naing Win, however, is still unknown. The regional mining minister said officials are now preparing to put the boulder on public display to prove that it has no value. Related Stories The plight of internally displaced Kachin war victims Military secures Hpakant area after 37-ton jade slab found. UN envoy meets Kachin leaders, refugees "We would like to prevent rumours – as there has been some media build-up – we want to show that it was not a precious rock from the beginning and that we did not swap it." Locals in Hpakant have said it is still too early to conclude the rock has no value. The Ministry of Mines officially banned mining operations at Hpakant in 2012, though small-scale manual excavations continue.

KIA, govt troops fight three battles in Shan State Posted: 25 Feb 2014 11:36 PM PST A battle took place on Monday between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) 9th Battalion troops and Burmese army troops from 123rd Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) near Chying Htawng village in northern Shan State at 10:30 am. No casualties on either side have been reported so far. Another battle took place on the same day between KIA's 3rd section troops under 36th Battalion and Burmese army's 241st LIB troops at a location between Gyu Mwi and Ba Hpang village in northern Shan State at around 12:30 pm. This battle lasted for about 35 minutes and there were no known casualties, said a KIA source. The same two sides, KIA's 36th Battalion troops and Burmese army's 241st LIB troops, engaged in a fierce battle near Nam Gut village in northern Shan State on February 22 at 5 am. Related Stories Burmese military seeks stronger ties with Indonesia Shan NGO blasts 'militia monks' Shan group defends training from Burma Armed Forces The Burmese army has increased its troop movements in the past weeks by rotating some frontline troops, and expanding its controlled territory by capturing some KIA frontline posts. Troops under 33rd Light Infantry Division (LID) who have been stationed in Gang Dau Yang, Ja Pu, Na Hpaw, and Nam San Yang returned to Myitkyina last week. More government troops under 3rd Military Operation Command (MOC) have been sent to Bum Re, Nam Ngau and Gang Dau Yang. A local source says Burmese army troops have been building a motor road between Sumpyi Yang and Ntsi Yang to reach KIA's 3rd section post in 1st Brigade area in Kachin State. This article was originally published in Kachinland News on 25 February 2014.

Burmese react to Fortify ‘persecution’ report Posted: 25 Feb 2014 09:05 PM PST A report released on Tuesday by Thailand-based watchdog Fortify Rights, detailing discriminatory and persecutory policies targeting Rohingya Muslims in Arakan, has been met with mixed reviews, evincing the deep divide within Burma on the "Rohingya question". "The information we’ve collected through leaked documents, analysis of public records, and testimony indicates that all the elements needed to demonstrate crimes against humanity are in place in Rakhine [Arakan] State," Matthew Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights, told DVB. "We don’t make these allegations lightly and we hope the government responds in a way that promotes and protects human rights." While patterns of harassment and oppression are already well-documented, the report – entitled Policies of Persecution: Ending Abusive State Policies Against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar – is the first to publish official documents corroborating observed patterns, shedding light on the mechanics of a long-running campaign to deny the Rohingya basic rights. National identity in Burma is perhaps best defined by its complexity. Its most prominent sacred cow is the notion that only members of "indigenous" ethnic groups – subdivided into 135 arbitrary categories – are deserving of "full" citizenship. The Rohingya are not on this list, making the term itself contested territory. Their detractors see the word as an "artificial" term, a fraudulent attempt at asserting indigeneity devised to drive the Arakanese from their land. Government officials and Arakanese nationalists prefer the term Bengali, which implies origins in neighbouring Bangladesh. Related Stories Rohingya crisis: Burma govt implicated in 'Crimes against Humanity' EU assists training of Burma’s Police Force Quintana slams Maungdaw investigation The documents pertaining to Arakan acquired by Fortify Rights date between 1993 and 2008, and these "instruct law enforcement agencies to impose abusive action on Rohingya, including enforced birth control, coercive limits on childbirth, restrictions on marriage and private relationships, and restrictions on movement." The report also draws on four government documents dating to March 2013,  "relating specifically to Muslim citizens in areas outside Arakan State," but – for "security reasons" – Fortify Rights has chosen not to make their contents public. "Arakanese people have been living with the Muslim community for many decades, but the so-called Rohingya are calling for their own sovereignty," said Kyaw Myint, the vice-chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), which has itself been on the receiving end of government repression. The party inked a deal last month to amalgamate with another nationalist party, the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, but Burma's electoral commission has not yet approved the merger. "I have many Muslim friends … but after the Bengali people created the name Rohingya, there is a separate feeling," he said. Arakanese nationalists feel trapped between a union government that does not have their best interests at heart, and the alleged threat posed by the Rohingya. Despite empirical evidence to the contrary, conventional wisdom teaches that the Rohingya are multiplying much faster than their Arakanese neighbours, and that northern Arakan is suffering from the effects of a wave of migration from the other side of the border. For this reason, Kyaw Myint agrees with the mobility restrictions and birth control measures documented in the report, and claims that the fundamental issue preventing progress is a failure to uphold "the rule of law" – including a controversial 1982 citizenship law that has left the vast majority of Rohingya stateless. This feeling of entrapment has prompted wild theories to emerge. "The current Rakhine state government is not elected by the Arakanese people. It is authorised by the central government, which is blocking the Bengali refugees from returning to Bangladesh. The reason is because they might need to get more votes [in the 2015 elections]," Kyaw Myint said.  "Over a million people have been provided white cards [temporary IDs] and will be allowed to vote, and they will vote for the [USDP]. Rakhine people are scared." But it is not as though the Rohingya have many friends on the national stage. Contacted by DVB for this article, presidential spokesman Ye Htut slammed the report, claiming Fortify Rights "has been lobbying for the Bengalis all the time, and so we have nothing to comment about their one-sided allegations, and we neither respect nor pay attention to them." A particular point of contention has been the presence of foreign relief agencies in Arakan. In recent weeks, thousands of protesters have demonstrated against their activities in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State. "Most of the INGOs are funded by Islamic countries, so that's why people don't have faith in INGOs. They feel that they are only to aid [Muslims]," said ALD secretary Myo Kyaw. "They're dressed like NGO workers, but their real message is Islam." Naypyidaw has wholeheartedly denied allegations that it incited bouts of anti-Muslim violence that spread from Arakan to other parts of the country starting early last year. But the unreleased documents in Fortify Rights' possession, which relate "specifically to Muslim citizens in areas outside Rakhine [Arakan] State," may serve to corroborate a widely held belief that anti-Muslim violence around the country has been coordinated by elements within the government and/or security services. The Burmese government's policies towards the Rohingya constitute crimes against humanity, according to Fortify Rights, but its policies in Arakan may run afoul of Burmese law, as well. "The current activities imposed on Rohingya Muslims are illegal, because the… orders are not consistent with the constitution," said Shwe Maung, Member of Parliament for Buthidaung Township in northern Arakan. A Rohingya himself, his advocacy for Rohingya rights in Parliament has earned him many detractors in his home state. "When I read the report, I saw some recommendations that are urgent for national identity. Instead of naming on the ID cards religious names or ethnic names, it's better to have [one national name]," he said. In Burma, identity cards list individuals' ethnicity as well as alternate ethnic names, where applicable. "According to the constitution, the state, or any law, should not discriminate by race, religion, sex, etc." Despite Shwe Maung's efforts, there is little political will in Naypyidaw to address the plight of the Rohingya. "The perpetrators of abuse against the Rohingya are now firmly outside the reach of domestic courts, which is another way to say these abuses are happening with complete impunity," Smith said. For Kyaw Myint, the issues are much more clear-cut. "There is an old Burmese saying," he said. "The Bengali never speaks the truth except by accident."

PTTEP plans US$3.3 billion oil and gas investment in Burma Posted: 25 Feb 2014 08:31 PM PST Thailand's semi-private oil giant PTTEP announced its intention on Tuesday to invest a further US$3.3 billion in Burma over the next five years. The company currently operates five gas projects in Burma directly — all of them offshore, with the exception of a single onshore site in central Burma — and was a partner in the development of the Yadana and Yetagun gas fields, which are operated by France's Total and Malaysia's Petronas, respectively. According to CEO Tevin Vongvanich, the company provides "about 27 percent of the energy supply to Thailand." Burma was the site of PTTEP's first foray abroad 25 years ago, and the country will receive 20 percent of the company's planned $16 billion in capital expenditures between 2014 and 2016. "Myanmar [Burma] is considered the second home of PTT group, because it is the largest investment portfolio outside of Thailand," Vongvanich said. The company plans to start production in the Zawtika field imminently, one of Burma's largest known offshore reserves. According to Vongvanich, the first phase of the Zawtika project will produce 300 million cubic metres of natural gas per day. Last year, the company discovered gas in block M3, a large area immediately south of Rangoon and the Irrawaddy Delta that is not currently exploited commercially. Thirty new offshore blocks were offered up for exploration by the Burmese government last year, and PTTEP was among the firms that submitted bids. Although the results of the blind auction were expected this month, the announcement is likely going to be postponed until after the Burmese New Year in April. Related Stories Hundreds join protest against big oil and gas in Kanbauk Sizing up the energy giants Tenasserim villagers protest military land grab On Saturday, residents of Kanbauk, Tenasserim Division, staged a protest against PTTEP and its partners in the Yetagun project, demanding the oil companies construct sealed roads in the area, supply surrounding villages with 24-hour electricity, and implement measures to safeguard the local environment. Led by a civil society group, the Regional Development Network, the demonstrators claimed that dust from heavy trucks travelling the existing, unsealed road was causing respiratory problems for local residents.

DVB Debate: Constitutional conundrum Posted: 25 Feb 2014 08:26 PM PST Since it was adopted in May 2008, Burma's Constitution has been widely criticised, and many political groups have called for it to be amended or rewritten. This week the four-person panel of DVB Debate consists of: Tin Maung Than, senior researcher from Myanmar Development Resource Institute; Advocate Ko Ni from Burma Lawyers Network; Hla Swe, an Upper House MP for the USDP; and Mya Aye from 88 Generation Peace and Open Society. The Constitution currently reserves 25 percent of the seats in parliament for the military, which continues to play a pivotal role in the country's politics. Lawyer Ko Ni, a member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Constitutional Amendment Committee said the Constitution is not democratic. “Actually the 2008 Constitution does not give power to the people,” he said. “It is a Constitution that makes sure the military legally holds onto power forever." However, senior researcher Tin Maung Than points out that it is not as simple as trying to hold onto power and that it is a lack of trust that has led to this situation. Cartoon: DVB Debate “We can see that the military don't trust the civilian leaders,” he argued. Audience member Tin Oo, a veteran NLD leader and former army general, spoke candidly about what he thinks Burma's current commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, should do. “If Min Aung Hlaing stood up today and said, ‘We have faith in democracy and therefore in 2015 we are going to give our 25 percent of seats up to civilians in the parliament and work together with them,’ then in that case everyone will love them,” he said to applause from the audience. The Constitution has also come under criticism for its rules regarding the presidency. Article 59(f) effectively bars opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president because her husband and children have held foreign citizenship, and she does not have military experience. Ko Ni said Article 59(f) needed to be amended before the 2015 elections. "Rather than six months before the elections, I'd rather have the constitution amended as soon as possible,” he said. However, former military colonel, Hla Swe said the country is not yet ready for change. "Our country only just started walking down the road to democracy,” he said. “Therefore we currently need the military, but we will gradually reduce it, that is why we have said we will change the Constitution gradually.“ To approve constitutional change, over 75 percent of parliament would need to agree. However, with over half the seats in parliament occupied by the military-backed USDP and a quarter belonging to the military itself, many think a vote for change is still unachievable. In addition, following a 75 percent approval in parliament, many amendments would then have to go to a national referendum where over 50 percent of the eligible population would have to agree – over 22 million people. However, even those who want the changes think that a clear legal method is vital. Suu Kyi has said in parliament that a solution must be found within the Upper and Lower Houses. Related Stories Amended Anti-Terror Bill passes lower house. Amending 59(f) will allow foreigners to exploit 'simple' Burmese, says Wirathu Anti-corruption commission to be formed "I don't want any conflict between the people and the parliament and I want rule of law to exist, that is why we are going to try our best to change the Constitution within the parliament," she said previously.  However, some think many a wider range of the population should be involved in suggesting changes in the first place. Activist Mya Aye said constitutional reform should be all-inclusive, and that politicians, civil society, ordinary people and the military all need to find common ground. “We don't want only an elite group controlling the country,” he said. ”We don't want the people to blindly follow politicians who are doing whatever they want. I cannot accept that situation.”  However, Myo Yan Naung Thein from the Constitutional Reform People's Network said that they are currently not hearing the true voice of the people. “In the newspapers they ask people to send suggestions. But how can the people who live in the villages send suggestions? Just by looking at this example, we can see the process is not genuine,” he said.  The majority of the studio at least agreed that constitutional reform of some kind is needed for Burma to continue moving towards true democracy.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Besieged MSF Calls for Dialogue With Arakan Protestors
• Half of Big Asian Businesses Eyeing Move Into Burma, Survey Finds
• Census to Start Early in Wa Territory
• NLD Prepares for First National Youth Congress
• Is Asean Ready to Take a Stand on Domestic Issues?
• Former Editor of Hong Kong Newspaper Stabbed Amid Media Tensions
• US Memorial Marks ‘Day of Infamy’ in the Asia-Pacific
• US Says Military Engagement Key for Burma Reform
• Trans-Pacific Trade Deal Talks to Carry On to Next Round
• Thai Trade Slumps Alongside Tourism as Protest Violence Takes Toll
• Chinese Man Becomes First to Sue Government Over Severe Smog

Besieged MSF Calls for Dialogue With Arakan Protestors Posted: 26 Feb 2014 05:13 AM PST Arakanese women protest in the streets of Sittwe, the Arakan State capital, on Oct. 10, 2012. (Photo: Rakhine Straight Views) RANGOON — Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called for dialogue with local residents in Sittwe protesting the aid group's presence in Arakan State, a suggestion that was dismissed by one of the protest leaders on Wednesday as demonstrations against the international NGO entered their fourth day. MSF Myanmar Deputy Head of Mission Simon Tyler, who is based in Sittwe and manages the medical aid group's Arakan State program, said in an email that MSF was "very concerned" by the protests and "threats of further action by some members of the Rakhine [Arakanese] community." "We are always willing to engage in reasonable dialogue with local residents, such as our recent participation in a meeting in Mrauk U attended by representatives of the local Rakhine community; township, district and state authorities; diplomatic representatives from the EU and humanitarian organizations, including MSF," Tyler said. "We call on the authorities to facilitate more dialogue of this nature and to be more proactive in informing local residents about the activities of humanitarian organizations. "MSF also calls upon the protest leaders to engage in dialogue with MSF and the authorities on their complaints. MSF has no political agenda whatsoever and does not take sides in any situation or conflict anywhere in the world." Some members of the local Arakanese Buddhist population in Sittwe, the Arakan State capital, accuse MSF of providing preferential treatment to the region's minority Rohingya Muslims. The latest protests were sparked by a claim that MSF made last month, when the aid group said it had treated 22 patients for injuries indicative of violence in the aftermath of an alleged massacre of dozens of Muslims. The MSF claim followed initial reports of an incident of mass violence against Muslims in Maungdaw Township's Du Chee Yar Tan village on Jan. 13. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Jan. 23 that she had received "credible information" that at least 40 Muslims were killed in Du Chee Yar Tan. The government has vehemently denied any massacre took place. The protest in Sittwe, which entered its fourth day on Wednesday, is being led by Nyo Aye, a female Arakanese rights activist who rejected Tyler's call for dialogue. "There is no reason to have a meeting and negotiation with MSF. They should have met us when we first protested if they did indeed wish to meet," she said on Wednesday, referring to protests in early February that also demanded the expulsion of MSF from Arakan State. "At the moment, we are only waiting to hear whether President Thein Sein will listen to our people's voices or not," she said. Khin Maung Gyi, a senior member of the recently formed Arakan National Party, told The Irrawaddy that given high tensions in the region, a dialogue between MSF and Arakanese residents would not be possible at present. "I found here [Sittwe] tensions are high. The viewpoint of our local people is that they do not want to have a meeting with MSF and they only want them ousted from our state because they say that MSF gave incorrect information about treating 22 patients from Du Chee Yar Ta," said Khin Maung Gyi. He said medical group should offer evidence in support of its claim to have treated the 22 villagers. "In my view, MSF did not give strong evidence and they did not communicate a very clear message about why they had treated the patients. This is why our local people are very disappointed," Khin Maung Gyi said. MSF on Wednesday stood by its original claim. "MSF has never released any incorrect information about the incident. We never made any statement regarding deaths resulting from the Maungtaw Du Char Yar Tan Village. MSF can confirm that our staff treated 22 patients in the area near Du Char Yar Tan village from a variety of violence-related injuries in the days after January 14," Tyler said. "MSF cannot and has never confirmed any fatalities from the patients we treated. MSF shared the same information with Rakhine State health authorities as [well as] the media. MSF did not issue a press release on the incident, we simply replied with the truth when asked by journalists whether we had treated any patients in the area." Meanwhile, local protesters have sent a letter to Thein Sein, urging the president to cancel the government's Memorandum of Understanding with MSF, w. The letter cites MSF's alleged "bias" toward Muslims in its Arakan State operations. Tensions between Arakanese Buddhists and Muslims first led to bloodshed in June 2012, and have flared periodically in Arakan State and other parts of Burma since. More than 200 people have been killed and about 140,000 displaced, with Muslims comprising the majority of the victims. Tyler called on the government to tackle the region's increasingly strained inter-religious relations. "The medical humanitarian assistance MSF provides cannot solve these tensions, only local and national political leaders have the power to bring an end to the problems in Rakhine. This is not the role of an organization such as MSF, but the responsibility of community leaders and the government," he said. "As long as the current situation continues, MSF remains committed to alleviating the humanitarian medical needs that exists in Rakhine, regardless of ethnicity, religion, HIV status or any other factor." The post Besieged MSF Calls for Dialogue With Arakan Protestors appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Half of Big Asian Businesses Eyeing Move Into Burma, Survey Finds Posted: 26 Feb 2014 05:09 AM PST Businesspeople attend a forum hosted by the Singapore's United Overseas Bank (UOB) at Rangoon's Parkroyal hotel on Wednesday. (Photo: UOB) RANGOON — Half of large Asian companies see Burma as an opportunity to expand their business, according to research by Singapore's United Overseas Bank (UOB) disclosed at a forum for regional investors Wednesday. More than 300 businesspeople from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, among other places, attended the event Rangoon titled "Unlocking Myanmar's Potential," which was hosted by UOB. The bank is looking to provide finance for more ventures in Burma, as economic reforms and the dropping of Western sanctions have sparked optimism for the country's long-stagnant economy. Deputy Commerce Minister Pwint San was also in attendance, and in a short speech invited investors to take advantage of Burma's "untouched" market. Fredrick Chin, UOB's managing director and head of group, said UOB wanted to support businesses to move into Burma. "The participants at our symposium have serious interest in helping to unlock the potential for and within Myanmar," Chin said. Chin said that a recent survey by UOB found that half of Asian enterprises with annual revenues between US$10 million and $160 million see Burma as an opportunity for expansion. "Myanmar has very good potential business sectors for foreign investment in agriculture, mining and natural gas and oil sector," Chin said, without giving details about the methodology of the survey. The UOB has already begun helping foreign investors enter Burma's market. Earlier this week, Singapore's Asiatech Energy announced that it had secured a funding agreement—for an undisclosed amount—for a project to build a 230-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Moulmein, in southern Burma's Mon State. UOB is also working with US-based APR Energy, which last week announced it had agreed with the government to build a 100-MW gas plant in Kyaukse, Mandalay Division. The bank has had a representative office in Rangoon since 1994, and says it has provided loans for construction, manufacturing, trading and gems businesses in Burma. The post Half of Big Asian Businesses Eyeing Move Into Burma, Survey Finds appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Census to Start Early in Wa Territory Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:07 AM PST Panghsang is the Wa capital and headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA). (Photo: Sai Zom Hseng / The Irrawaddy) The census will begin early in the self-administered ethnic Wa zone of eastern Burma, according to the United Wa State Army (UWSA). Other ethnic minority groups have pushed to delay the nationwide census, which is scheduled to begin on March 29, but the Wa have recruited enumerators who will start collecting data two weeks earlier because they will need more time to reach the majority of residents, who live in remote mountainous areas of northeastern Shan State. "Transportation in our Wa region is so difficult. Even if you can see one village in the distance, it takes at least a half a day to reach it because the villages are in the highlands," Aung Myint, a UWSA spokesman, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. Wa leaders have recruited about 1,000 enumerators, all local educated residents, to communicate with the estimated 45,000 or so Wa people in their zone, most of whom speak the Wa dialect. Aung Myint said the enumerators would begin a weeklong training program on March 15, led by the government team, to learn how to conduct the census and record data. After that, he said, they would begin the census. The 2008 military-backed Constitution allows the Wa to operate a self-administered zone in northeastern Shan State. Five other ethnic groups also have self-administered zones, including the Naga, Danu, Pa-O, Palaung and Kokang. The Wa zone officially comprises six townships east of the Salween River, but the UWSA spokesman said Wa leaders had agreed with the government to collect data in 23 townships. This includes a southern Wa zone that is not officially recognized as autonomous by the Constitution. "It would lead to confusion if the census was only taken in six townships. We have had our own 23 townships for over 20 years," he said. Burma has not conducted a nationwide census since 1983, and that population count did not include residents in Wa territory. On Saturday, 17 Wa leaders led by UWSA deputy commander-in-chief Kyauk Kyone Tan will attend a census opening ceremony in Naypyidaw. The government has also invited leaders of 13 other ethnic rebel groups, all of which have signed ceasefire deals. Thus far, the UWSA, the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) have confirmed their attendance, according to Hla Maung Shwe, a special adviser to the government-affiliated Myanmar Peace Center (MPC), which sent the invitations. However, KNU secretary Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win said his group received the invitation on Wednesday and was still deciding whether to attend. He told The Irrawaddy that ethnic Karen enumerators would collect data in Karen State during the regular census period, from March 29 to April 10, but added that concerns remained over the classification of ethnic subgroups in the survey. A number of ethnic civil society groups around the country have called on the government to postpone the census until these concerns are resolved. Some have said the current classification is overly divisive, while others say it inaccurately links certain ethnic subgroups to the wrong major ethnic group. For the UWSA leaders, the trip to Naypyidaw will be their first in five years. The delegation will likely meet with Burmese Vice President Sai Mauk Kham, who is chairman of the peace-working committee in Naypyidaw, according to Hla Maung Shwe of the MPC, who added that the meeting schedule had not yet been confirmed. There has also been speculation of a meeting with President Thein Sein. "It depends on the president's schedule, whether he is free to meet with us," UWSA spokesman Aung Myint said. "Even if we meet, it will just be greeting and paying respect to our elder." He said the UWSA would also meet in March with Thein Zaw, vice chairman of the peace-working committee, to discuss their demands for an autonomous Wa state. This demand has been raised in Parliament by Sai Paung Nap, a lawmaker for the Wa Democratic Party. The post Census to Start Early in Wa Territory appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

NLD Prepares for First National Youth Congress Posted: 26 Feb 2014 03:41 AM PST NLD supporters celebrate in Rangoon in April 2012. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — Burma's biggest opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), says it will hold its first nationwide youth congress in late April. Maung Maung Oo, who heads the NLD's Youth Affairs, said the preparations on township level are still ongoing, but an April 11 deadline has now been set for these meetings, after which the NLD will announce a date for a youth congress. Originally, the NLD had planned to hold a congress in January. "The township meetings will take time to finish, we have 308 township branches all over the nation, but districts and central level meetings are already finished," he said, adding that the NLD had about 100,000 youth members nationwide. The local levels meetings are being held in order to select a youth representative from each area who will attend the NLD youth congress, Maung Maung Oo said, adding that NLD members between the ages of 15 and 35 years can attend the congress. The party's leader Aung San Suu Kyi has long aspired to hold a youth congress. The idea received more backing last year after the NLD held a national assembly of about 900 members in March—also a first for the party, which was outlawed before President Thein Sein's nominally civilian government came to power in 2011. Suu Kyi entered Parliament with another 40 NLD members after wins in the 2012 by-elections and the 68-year-old now has her eye on the presidency in the 2015 elections. At the assembly in March, Suu Kyi was unanimously re-elected as party chairperson, while veteran party members were chosen to fill a core executive committee of 15 people. Although the party is hugely popular, questions have been raised over its organizational capacity, ageing leadership and an overdependence on Suu Kyi's leadership, which has left little room for the development of other NLD leaders. The NLD wants to revitalize ahead of the elections and develop a younger generation of leaders, as many of its current central leaders are in their 70s and 80s. Maung Maung Oo said, "We want to organize youth forces for the future, and we want to improve their skills and ability for party's sustainable development." "I expected that after the youth congress, youth development affairs will be addressed more systematically," he said. The NLD was founded during the 1988 pro-democracy movement and quickly attracted many young members to support Suu Kyi. The party won a landslide victory in the 1990 election, but the military government refused to honor the outcome. Suu Kyi and many party members were detained as political prisoners for years until they were released in 2010. The post NLD Prepares for First National Youth Congress appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Is Asean Ready to Take a Stand on Domestic Issues? Posted: 26 Feb 2014 03:17 AM PST BANGKOK — The political turmoil in Bangkok has been rattling the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as they are not accustomed to constant mass political mobilization threatening and challenging their grips on power, let alone taking a common position. As the only country in Southeast Asia that was able to ward off colonialism, it is ironic that Thailand's political development is now impacting on its Asean neighbors and the integration of the Asean Community. On the sidelines of the Asean-Japan Summit in December, the Asean leaders issued a joint statement expressing concern over the political situation in Thailand and its regional implications. Thailand asked Asean to back the democratic process in the country. It was an unprecedented move, as the Asean leaders have never before commented on a domestic situation such as this. Does it mean that Asean is more open to discussing domestic issues? Will it become the norm in Asean in the future? It remains to be seen. Since its inception in 1967, Asean has been able to weather the storms brought about by regional and international winds of change. However, widespread democratization characterized by citizens' increased demands for better governance and social justice—fueled by growing physical and digital connectedness—now occupies the political contours of Asean as never before. The ongoing political contestations in Cambodia and Thailand, and before that in Malaysia, are good cases in point. Kavi Chongkittavorn For a long time, it was taboo to touch on the internal affairs of Asean members, regardless of the issue. Only twice before the expansion of Asean in 1995-99 did the Asean foreign ministers take up domestic issues in member states—once in response to the political situation in the Philippines in 1986, and again during the Cambodian political crisis in 1997. Before Ferdinand Marcos was kicked out of office as president of the Philippines, Asean came out with a joint statement urging all parties to restore unity and solidarity in order to maintain national resilience. It did this without any consultation with the Philippine government. During the 1996-97 political turbulence in Cambodia, Asean played a huge role in helping the conflicting parties there to reach a compromise so that Cambodia would be able to join Asean. Although Cambodia was not yet an Asean member during the intervention, Asean treated the war-torn nation at the time as one of its own due to its engagement in the peaceful settlement from 1979-1992. Cambodian was scheduled to join Asean in 1997 along with Laos and Myanmar. After the full Asean enlargement in 1999 with 10 members, political developments in Myanmar then became a common issue that Asean leaders discussed, but mostly in discreet ways at their retreats. The so-called "enhanced interactions" practice was initiated in 2000 so they could speak frankly about issues impacting on neighboring countries. In most of their joint statements issued before the current reform in Myanmar in 2011, Asean has been quite polite in referring to the country's political condition, knowing full well that any harsh criticism would only make matters worse. After all, the Asean leaders are also worried about their own internal dynamics, with their own restless populations demanding more freedom and better governance. In 2004 and 2007, Asean was firmer in depicting the situation inside Myanmar. Different views also emerged within Asean over how to treat a family member that refused to cooperate. In 2005, Myanmar decided to skip its turn as chair of the bloc, citing domestic necessities. In the strongest language ever deployed by the Asean leaders, the region's foreign ministers expressed "revulsion" over the violent crackdown on protesters, including Buddhist monks, following the Saffron Revolution in September 2007. During the past two years, things have changed for the better for Myanmar. Naypyitaw has made remarkable progress in both political and economic reforms that won praises from around the world. As the Asean chair this year, Myanmar will further consolidate these ongoing transformations and increase the chair's overall confidence. However, there could be a blind spot, judging from the Asean chair's longstanding handling of and views on domestic issues related to religious and communal conflicts, as well as the peace process with ethnic groups. When Indonesia was the Asean chair in 2011, Jakarta was frank in discussing its communal conflicts and other sensitive issues. Last year, Indonesia became the first Asean member to submit its UN-sponsored universal periodic review of human rights conditions to the Asean foreign ministers and the Asean Intergovernmental Commission for Human Rights. In fact, such openness dated back to 2000 following Indonesia's democratization process in 1998, when Asean members responded to Jakarta's request to dispatch peace-keeping forces to Timor Leste. Since then, Jakarta has been the only Asean member that has dared to air its dirty laundry like this for all to see. That kind of voluntarism—a confidence-building measure on sensitive domestic issue—has not yet sunk in among the grouping's more conservative members, although it is the approach favored by Thailand and the Philippines. As the Asean chair, it is difficult for Myanmar to bypass domestic issues that affect regional peace and stability such as the plight of Rohingya refugees and cross-border migration. In more ways than one, Thailand has opened a Pandora's Box concerning intervention on domestic issues. Obviously, the non-security agenda is easier to manage, such as strengthening measures to fulfill action plans to achieve the Asean Economic Community and Asean Political and Cultural Community—topics that will dominate the 350-plus Asean-related meetings planned for this year. It remains to be seen how Naypyitaw will respond to these challenges—as a catalyst for change for a better Asean, or as a force for maintaining the status quo ante. Kavi Chongkittavorn is a Thai journalist. This story first appeared in the February 2014 issue of The Irrawaddy print magazine. The post Is Asean Ready to Take a Stand on Domestic Issues? appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Former Editor of Hong Kong Newspaper Stabbed Amid Media Tensions Posted: 26 Feb 2014 03:07 AM PST A policeman stands guard next to former Ming Pao chief editor Kevin Lau’s car after Lau suffered from a chopper attack in Hong Kong Wednesday. (Photo: Reuters) HONG KONG — A former chief editor of a major Hong Kong newspaper known for its critical reporting was stabbed and seriously wounded on Wednesday in an attack likely to fuel concern among journalists about what many see as an erosion of media freedoms. A man in a helmet attacked Kevin Lau Chun-to, former chief editor of the Ming Pao daily, slashing him in the back several times. The assailant rode off on a motorcycle with an accomplice. Lau was in critical condition in hospital after managing to summon police himself. Police said they had so far no clues as to who might have carried out the attack. No one had been detained. The attack took place days after 6,000 journalists marched to Hong Kong’s government headquarters to demand the city’s leaders uphold press freedom against what they see as instructions from mainland China. The motive for the attack was unclear and an incident of such brutality is unusual in the former British colony, which reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. The Hong Kong Journalists’ Association denounced it and called on authorities to "pursue his attackers and those malignant forces behind them without fear or favor. The attackers must be brought to justice as quickly as possible to allay public fears." Hong Kong is a freewheeling capitalist hub which enjoys a high degree of autonomy and freedom, but Beijing’s Communist Party leaders have resisted public pressure for full democracy. Beijing has agreed in principle for the city to hold direct elections in 2017, but no specific rules have yet been set on whether open nominations for candidates will be allowed. Lau was recently replaced by a Malaysian Chinese journalist with suspected pro-Beijing leanings who takes up his duties this week. His removal sparked a revolt in the Ming Pao newsroom by journalists who suggested the paper’s editorial independence might be undermined. "We hope the police can swiftly prosecute the culprit as many cases of attacks against the media in the past have ended up being unsolved," said Phyllis Tsang of the Ming Pao Staff Concern Group. "This attack will damage perceptions of Hong Kong as a safe city and its reputation for media freedoms." Lau has since been moved to an online subsidiary of the same media group. Co-founded by martial arts novelist Louis Cha, Ming Pao is now owned by colorful Malaysian media baron, Tiong Hiew King, through his Media Chinese International. Hong Kong’s leader, Leung Chun-ying, said the city would not tolerate such violent acts. Democracy activists denounce Leung as a loyalist to Beijing’s Communist leadership. Media outlets have periodically been subject to attacks in Hong Kong. The offices of a small independent media outlet were recently ransacked and a car rammed the front gate of the home of Jimmy Lai, publisher of Hong Kong’s popular anti-Beijing newspaper, the Apple Daily. The post Former Editor of Hong Kong Newspaper Stabbed Amid Media Tensions appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

US Memorial Marks ‘Day of Infamy’ in the Asia-Pacific Posted: 25 Feb 2014 11:56 PM PST The exterior of the USS Arizona Memorial, which was built in 1962. (Photo: Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy) HONOLULU, Hawaii — It was not the aggressive advances of Hitler's Third Reich across Europe, nor the bellicose rhetoric of the Italian dictator Mussolini that finally pushed the "sleeping giant" into World War II. Rather, an early morning attack in the global conflict's Asia-Pacific theater brought American guns to bear following what then US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt called "a day of infamy." Today, the USS Arizona rests on the sea floor of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, a casualty, along with thousands of American soldiers, sailors and civilians, of an aerial assault by imperial Japanese forces on Dec. 7, 1941. Above the sunken battleship, the USS Arizona Memorial sees hundreds of visitors daily, a parade of curious tourists, history enthusiasts and war veterans, among others. More than 70 years have passed, but each year Americans mark Pearl Harbor Day, in solemn memory of the Sunday morning surprise attack on US forces stationed in the harbor west of Honolulu, Hawaii, that killed more than 2,000 US servicemen. Jimmy Lee, a survivor of the attack, still remembers the scene of destruction that he witnessed at just 11 years old. "We ran for hiding," the Honolulu native said. "Two hours later, when we came back [to the harbor], I saw the smoke coming from coastal waters. Then, boats were going around, picking up the dead from the water." Built in 1962, the Arizona Memorial is the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and marines on board the battleship who were killed in the Japanese attack. The memorial, which straddles the sunken hull of the battleship, receives more than one million visitors a year and is accessible only by boat. Visitors to the memorial can find the names of all 1,177 crew members, and have a chance also to view a 23-minute documentary film about the events of Dec. 7, 1941. Every year, a ceremony is held on the Arizona Memorial to remember those who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor. Paul Heintz, education director at Pacific Historic Parks, which supports the USS Arizona Memorial, said the Japanese attack was a preemptive strike with an eye toward conquest in Southeast Asia. "Japanese imperial forces wanted to colonize the whole Indo-China peninsula. In order to be able colonize Indo-China, the Japanese thought they needed to knock out the American forces in Honolulu," he said. The Pearl Harbor attack came without warning, as Japanese planes bore down on the moored US ships from all directions. Torpedo planes struck first, flying low over the harbor and launching their underwater rockets toward Ford Island's "Battleship Row." They struck eight battleships anchored in the harbor, along with other vessels berthed in the naval yard. Bombs dropped from aircraft high above as fighter planes wheeled and dived, strafing US aircraft and military personnel. One day later, the United States declared war on Japan and ultimately its Axis allies. In the four years that followed, US forces joined Allied powers that included Britain, China and Australia, in a campaign that would end for Japan when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, decimating the cities and crippling the empire's resolve to fight on. US forces, widely considered to have helped turn the tide in the Allies' favor, bolstered campaigns in theaters that included Burma, where British troops joined with ethnic Karen, Kachin and Karenni fighters to push out occupying Japanese troops in 1945. In a diplomatic tidal shift that would have been scarcely conceivable in the 1940s, the United States today counts Japan as its strongest ally in Asia, as Washington seeks to again assert its influence in the region and counterbalance a rising China. The Irrawaddy reporter Saw Yan Naing is participating in the East-West Center's Jefferson Fellowship program. The post US Memorial Marks 'Day of Infamy' in the Asia-Pacific appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

US Says Military Engagement Key for Burma Reform Posted: 25 Feb 2014 09:58 PM PST David Shear—pictured in Hanoi in 2011, when he was the US ambassador to Vietnam—is set to become the top American defense official for Asia. (Photo: Reuters) WASHINGTON — The appointee to become the top US defense official for Asia said Tuesday engagement with the Burmese military is crucial for democratic reform in the Southeast Asian nation. David Shear said in congressional testimony that without support from Burma's military, the transition to democracy "will likely falter." But State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki also said Tuesday the US is not considering resumption of arms sales that were stopped after a bloody military crackdown on democracy protesters in 1988. "The US is not considering lifting the arms embargo on Myanmar," she told reporters. The United States and other Western nations have rapidly eased economic and political sanctions against the nation as its government has initiated reforms after five decades of military rule. The US has retained stiff restrictions on military engagement, however, although it's begun dialogue on human rights and military law, hoping to encourage reforms within the military itself. "I would characterize engagement with the Burmese military as crucial to the overall success of the ongoing reform movement in Burma," Shear said, adding that the Pentagon should move ahead with "calibrated and conditional engagement." Congressional opposition to expansion of even nonlethal cooperation because of allegations of continuing human rights abuses by Burmese forces remains a constraint on what the Obama administration can do. Shear, who has served most recently as ambassador to Vietnam, said the US should be "clear-eyed" about the Burmese military's poor rights record and history of dominating politics and the economy. Any expansion of defense ties requires progress on democratization, human rights and ending military trade with North Korea, he said. Shear, was responding in writing to questions posed for his Senate confirmation to become assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs. The Senate must approve his appointment. The post US Says Military Engagement Key for Burma Reform appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Trans-Pacific Trade Deal Talks to Carry On to Next Round Posted: 25 Feb 2014 09:36 PM PST Japan's Economics Minister Akira Amari, left, shares a light-hearted response with a journalist, next to US Trade Representative Michael Froman, during a news conference in Singapore on Feb. 25, 2014. (Photo: Reuters / Edgar Su) TOKYO — Negotiators ended talks on a comprehensive trans-Pacific trade pact on Tuesday without a final agreement, but said they were pleased with the progress they had made in Singapore despite persisting conflicts over agricultural tariffs and other issues. Another round of talks is planned, possibly in May in Qingdao, China, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. "All the ministers are leaving here now fully committed to getting this done," US Trade Representative Michael Froman told reporters in a conference call. He described the talks as "very good." As this round of talks drew to an inconclusive end, Japan's head delegate to the talks, Akira Amari, said that wide gaps remained, but he was committed to resolving them. "We would like to move things forward swiftly amid tight political schedules," Kyodo News service quoted Amari as saying. Differences with Japan over its tariffs on agricultural imports, including a nearly 800 percent import tax on rice, remain an important issue, but not the only one dividing the 12 nations involved in the talks, Froman said. "There are gaps that remain, clearly. But our teams are working to try to bridge them," he said. Froman and Amari met twice during the five-day session but failed to resolve the problems. But they left a news conference that concluded the talks smiling and shaking hands. US President Barack Obama backed the plan for the trade pact as part of an effort to drastically boost US exports and promote integration around the Pacific Rim, counterbalancing China's growing sway. But ironing out differences among participating countries, which also include Peru, New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada, is proving a challenge. Originally, the members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership had sought to reach a deal by the end of 2013. When that failed, they set their sights on the talks this week in Singapore. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun said US officials were considering an agreement that might initially exclude Japan. Asked if that was true, Froman said the negotiators from all countries were determined to stick to their goal of an "ambitious, high standards and comprehensive trade agreement." "None of the parties were tempted or stressed the perspective that we should reduce the level of ambition or coverage … in order to meet a deadline," he said. Froman said the negotiators had made progress this time on pledges for reform of state-owned enterprises and investments in services and telecommunications. But other issues such as government procurement rules remain. When Japan committed to joining the trade arrangement, it said it would insist on protecting key farm products. The Yomiuri said one option may be to eliminate tariffs on products not imported before 2010, presumably because such items would be less likely to fall into categories traditionally protected by Japan. It is unclear how many or what types of products that might entail. But that concession would not fully meet the targets being sought by the US side, the report said. The post Trans-Pacific Trade Deal Talks to Carry On to Next Round appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Thai Trade Slumps Alongside Tourism as Protest Violence Takes Toll Posted: 25 Feb 2014 09:22 PM PST Thai anti-government demonstrators ride through crowds in Bangkok during the "shutdown" of the Thai capital in January. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) BANGKOK — Thailand announced a slump in trade figures on Tuesday with the biggest drop in imports in more than four years in January, as months of anti-government protests extended their economic toll beyond falling tourism numbers. The protesters, whose disruption of a general election this month left Thailand in political limbo, aim to topple caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and erase the influence of her brother, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, seen by many as the power behind the government. Weeks of unrest, most of it in the capital, Bangkok, have been interrupted by occasional bombs and gunfire, with one blast killing a woman and a young brother and sister in a busy shopping district on Sunday. Imports fell 15.5 percent in January from a year earlier, the biggest tumble since October 2009. Imports of computers and parts were down 19 percent from a year earlier, auto parts off 31.8 percent and consumer goods 5.3 percent. Exports dropped 2 percent. Thailand is a regional hub for global car makers and a major producer of hard disk drives. "Everybody is definitely delaying their imports (of consumer products) as most shopping malls are quiet," said Nopporn Thepsitthar, chairman of the National Shippers’ Council. "Nobody dares to place big orders." Thai Airways International reported a big net loss of 12 billion baht ($369 million) for 2013, including a loss of 5.65 billion in the final three months of the year. Another loss is already expected for 2014. The political unrest since November and a drop in the number of tourists visiting Thailand have added to the problems of the struggling flag carrier, whose chairman resigned last week, two months after the president said he was stepping down for health reasons. The Thai Hotel Association said this month that occupancy rates in the capital were hovering at around 50 percent, well below the usual 80 percent at this time of year. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, which ranks fourth among hotel brands in Thailand, has said the protests significantly hurt its business there in January. Thailand had a record year for tourists in 2013, with more than 26 million visitors, but the picture began to change in the final two months, which is normally the start of the high season. And arrivals in January were barely changed from a year earlier, Tourism Authority of Thailand figures show. Tourism accounts for about a tenth of Thailand’s gross domestic product. Farm Payments In a small bit of good news for Yingluck, the Election Commission approved a 712 million baht ($21.87 million) fund to be drawn from the central budget for rice farmers, many of whom have been waiting months for payment and some of whom have committed suicide in desperation. But the sum is a small fraction of the estimated 130 billion baht her government needs to pay to nearly a million farmers. "If we don’t get our money this week, we’ll return to remind the prime minister about it," said one of the farmers’ leaders after they protested outside an air force base where Yingluck was holding a cabinet meeting. The rice subsidy scheme is one of several populist policies that swept Yingluck to an election win in 2011 thanks to her rural support base in the north and northeast. Anti-government protesters accuse former telecoms tycoon Thaksin of corruption and say that, prior to being ousted by the army in 2006, he used taxpayers’ money for such populist policies to buy him the loyalty of millions. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said protesters would target Shinawatra businesses again on Tuesday, a threat that sent stock prices tumbling last week. SC Asset Corp, a property developer controlled by the Shinawatra family, lost almost 10 percent in the second half of last week and mobile handset distributor M-Link Asia Corp , also with links to the family, lost 12 percent. However, SC Asset recovered 0.7 percent on Tuesday and M-Link nearly 5.5 percent. At least 20 people have been killed and more than 700 wounded since the protests began in November. It is the worst political violence since 2010, when Thaksin’s supporters paralyzed Bangkok for weeks. More than 90 people were killed and 2,000 wounded during that unrest, which ended when Suthep, then a deputy premier, sent in troops. The post Thai Trade Slumps Alongside Tourism as Protest Violence Takes Toll appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Chinese Man Becomes First to Sue Government Over Severe Smog Posted: 25 Feb 2014 09:10 PM PST eople wearing masks walk past a statue of late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing Feb. 26, 2014. (Photo: Reuters) BEIJING — A man in a smog-ridden northern city has become the first person in China to sue the government for failing to curb air pollution, a state-run newspaper reported on Tuesday. China's north is suffering a pollution crisis, with the capital Beijing itself shrouded in acrid smog. Authorities have introduced anti-pollution policies and often pledged to clean up the environment but the problem has not eased. Li Guixin, a resident of Shijiazhuang, capital of the northern province of Hebei, submitted his complaint to a district court asking the city's Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau to "perform its duty to control air pollution according to the law," the Yanzhao Metropolis Daily said. He is also seeking compensation from the agency for residents for the choking pollution that has engulfed Shijiazhuang, and much of northern China, this winter. "The reason that I'm proposing administrative compensation is to let every citizen see that amid this haze, we're the real victims," Li was quoted as saying by the newspaper. It was unclear whether the court would accept Li's lawsuit. His lawyer, Wu Yufen, declined to comment, telling Reuters "this information is quite sensitive." Officials of the court could not be reached for comment. Chinese citizens have the right to appeal through legal means and the lawsuit reflects increasing environmental awareness among the public, said Cheng Gang, a chief engineer of the Shijiazhuang environmental protection bureau, according to a state news agency Xinhua report on Tuesday. Li said he had spent money on face masks, an air purifier and a treadmill to get indoor exercise in December when the pollution was particularly severe. "Besides the threat to our health, we've also suffered economic losses, and these losses should be borne by the government and the environmental departments because the government is the recipient of corporate taxes, it is a beneficiary," he said. Factories Suspended The government has invested in clean-air projects and empowered courts to mete out stiff penalties for infringements but enforcement has been patchy at the local level, where authorities often depend on taxes paid by polluting industries. The National Meteorological Center has raised its smog alert for northern and central China, with a heavy haze expected for another two days, state news agency Xinhua said. Beijing has been draped in stinking smog for more than a week and in an effort to cut pollution, 147 industrial companies in the capital had cut or suspended production as of Tuesday, according to Xinhua. City residents are growing angry and alarmed. "Of course, on days where pollution levels reach or even exceed the scale, we are very concerned and we have to see this as a crisis," Bernhard Schwartlander, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in China, told Reuters. "There's now clear evidence that, in the long term, high levels of air pollution can actually also cause…lung cancer," he said. Hebei, a major industrial region surrounding Beijing, has some of the most polluted cities in the world's most populous country. Shijiazhuang routinely recorded "beyond index" measurements of polluting "particulate matter" in early 2013. The China Academy of Sciences identified the province as a major source of noxious smog that hung over Beijing a year ago. The government said in an action plan for Hebei in September that it would ban new projects in certain industries, close outdated steel and cement facilities and slash coal use. The province has promised to cut total steel capacity by 86 million tonnes, about 40 percent of last year's production, by 2020. Official data suggests that is starting to happen. The post Chinese Man Becomes First to Sue Government Over Severe Smog appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

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