The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Army Statement Warns Against Linking Teachers’ Murders to Troops
• Hakha Locals Plan Protest Against Order to Remove Cross
• Student Protesters Reach Kyaung Padaung, Vow to Keep Marching
• Landmark Exhibition of Burmese Buddhist Art Headed for New York
• KNU, Govt to Build ‘Model Village’ for IDPs
• Kachin Trio Missing After Burma Army Encounter
• Burma Tallies 1,114 Bird Species, 20 Previously Unrecorded
• Rohingya Refugees Say Traffickers in Malaysia Abuse and Kill
• Thailand Accuses US of Meddling in its Politics
• Sri Lankan President Reinstates Impeached Chief Justice
• Dockside Dining at ‘Port Autonomy’

Army Statement Warns Against Linking Teachers’ Murders to Troops Posted: 29 Jan 2015 05:49 AM PST The bodies of two Kachin schoolteachers lie in wake in Muse, northern Shan State, last week. (Photo: Facebook / Maran Naw Di Awng) RANGOON — A Burma Army-owned media outlet has warned against linking government troops to the recent murder of two Kachin teachers, saying that the army would take legal action against anyone who alleges that soldiers were involved in the crimes. Military-run news outlet Myawaddy published a statement on Wednesday saying that an investigation into the double murder had failed to implicate government soldiers. "There is an ongoing investigation into the crime but we found there are accusations and attacks on the Tatmadaw […]. The Tatmadaw was not involved in this murder case according to evidence analyzed by criminal police and other cooperating investigation teams," it said. "The Tatmadaw will take action based on the rule of law against those who accuse [soldiers] and write about it after the official report is released by the investigation team." Maram Lu Ra and Tangbau Hkawn Nan Tsin, both 20 years old, were killed on Jan. 19 and their partially-clothed bodies were found in their shared dormitory in Kaung Kha village, Kutkai Township, northern Shan State, on Jan. 20. The two young women were volunteering for the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) at the time of their death. An autopsy was carried out at Muse Hospital and sources inside the hospital have said doctors had determined both victims were raped. The report has yet to be made public. KBC sources have said that authorities were investigating the case on suspicions of murder and rape. Locals, Kachin activists and KBC have alleged that the murders coincided with Light Infantry Battalion 503's presence in the area, fueling speculation that a soldier or soldiers were behind the crime. Shan State police have said they found hair samples at the crime scene that they were DNA testing for a match with 20 soldiers stationed in the area, as well as with 10 local villagers. Police told The Irrawaddy that army officers have become involved in the investigation and sealed off the crime scene. The Myawaddy statement on Wednesday said the army was "helping" the investigation team carry out DNA test on its troops. Zaw Htay, director of the President's Office, said in a reaction on Thursday that the army had the right to publicly defend itself against accusations against its troops, adding that the army would not issue idle threats. "Unless the court decides you are guilty, they only can call you a suspect," he told The Irrawaddy, "So, the Tatmadaw also have the right to protect itself based on our Constitution. If you say the Tatmadaw killed them, this means the whole institution of the Tatmadaw is involved." When asked if journalists were at risk, Zaw Htay, who shared the army's statement on his Facebook page, said media outlets could face legal action if they report that the army carried responsibility for the murders. Aung Thu Ra, a senior reporter from 7 Day Daily News, said he did not think that the army would take newspapers to court for reporting on the allegations. "The army is trying to have better relationship with media, but they may take action against some civil organizations that provide information [on the case]," he said, adding that media organizations were not wrong to quote allegations made by rights groups. The grisly murders caused a public outcry and raised tensions between Kachin ethnic communities and the army, which has long been accused of carrying out abuses and sexual violence against minority communities with impunity. KBC sent a letter to President Thein Sein on Jan. 23 urging him to find the killers of the teachers in order to "build trust between the Tatmadaw and the ethnic people," adding that "Even though [Light Infantry Battalion] 503 denied involvement in the killing, our people believe their members were involved." Wednesday's statement could send a chill through Burma's media and civil society sector as the army remains powerful and has a strong influence over the court system, which came under its direct control during previous decades of brutal junta rule. In July 2014, the army's power was on display after a report in the now-defunct Unity Journal alleged that chemical weapons were being produced at a secretive army installation in Magwe Division's Pakokku Township. Three reporters, an editor and the publication's CEO were charged under the colonial-era State Secrets Act and sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor. In a further show of the army's enduring powers, a National Human Rights Commission investigation into the killing of a freelance reporter at the hands of the army in Mon State in September 2014 failed to name any suspects among army units serving in the area. The post Army Statement Warns Against Linking Teachers' Murders to Troops appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Hakha Locals Plan Protest Against Order to Remove Cross Posted: 29 Jan 2015 05:41 AM PST About 60 people gathered in Rangoon’s Independence Park to protest the arrest of a Christian Chin man for erecting a cross in Chin State, Jan. 29, 2015. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Residents of the Chin State capital Hakha will take to the streets in February in protest at the state government's order to remove a 54-foot high cross from its current location on Caarcaang hill. In mid-January, the Chin State government issued an order demanding that the cross be removed by the end of the month as it had been constructed without official permission, the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) said in a press release on Wednesday. According to CHRO, the order specified that failure to remove the cross would result in action being taken against J.P. Biak Tin Sang, a local involved in planting the cross in April last year. Local Hakha residents plan to protest the state government's order on Feb. 2 and 3 after receiving official written permission from the Hakha Township police force. "We will demonstrate to overturn the order by the Chin State government," Salai Van Chan Ceu, a Hakha town resident and one of the leaders of the planned demonstration, told The Irrawaddy. "We estimate about 2-3,000 people will participate in the demonstration." On Wednesday, a Chin State government delegation including chief minister Hung Ngai met with Christian religious leaders from Hakha, local elders and representatives from the protest group to discuss the issue. "The chief minister told us that they would hold a meeting with other ministers and government officials and will vote on the issue [possibly on] Feb. 2," said Salai Van Chan Ceu. The Thailand-based CHRO on Wednesday urged authorities to overturn the order and drop "trumped-up" charges against Chin elder Tial Cem that it believes to be connected with the planting of the cross. Tial Cem is accused of cutting down pine trees without official permission on land adjacent to the cross location. He faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison under Article 4(b) of the 1992 Forest Law if found guilty. "Most of the big Christian crosses have [already been] destroyed and that one is one of the only large crosses [remaining] in that region," CHRO Program Officer Mai Mon Lay told The Irrawaddy. In a 2012 report, "Threats to Our Existence," CHRO documented the destruction of 13 Christian crosses, four of which occurred under the current government. Salai Isaac Khen, Executive Director of the Gender and Development Initiative, told The Irrawaddy that in some cases the government had removed Christian crosses in Chin State and erected Buddha pagodas instead. "In Falam Township, near Var Bridge over the Manipur River in Lonpan village, a huge Christian cross on the mountain was removed [under the previous military government] and they built a Pagoda," he said. "So the residents are not happy when they see the pagoda." On Thursday, a group of around 60 Chin Christians living in Rangoon gathered for a prayer service in front of the Maha Bandoola Park near Sule Pagoda against the removal of the cross. The post Hakha Locals Plan Protest Against Order to Remove Cross appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Student Protesters Reach Kyaung Padaung, Vow to Keep Marching Posted: 29 Jan 2015 04:35 AM PST Thousands greet student demonstrators upon their arrival in Kyauk Padaung, Mandalay Division, on Jan. 29, 2015. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) KYAUNG PADAUNG, Mandalay Division — Thousands of supporters greeted student demonstrators upon their arrival on Thursday in Kyauk Padaung, after more than a week-long march from Mandalay that is set to end in Rangoon. The students set out from Burma's second largest city on Jan. 20, demanding changes to a new National Education Law and more inclusive consultation on education reform. Dozens of local university and high school students, as well as other supporters, joined the procession as it entered the city limits, walking with them until they reached a monastery where the crowd will spend the night. Some students, however, said that they were "afraid" to join the demonstrators because they had been warned of possible arrest. "We want to join them," said a student at the Government Technical Institute who wished to remain anonymous, "but our teachers said that we have to do it at our own risk because we could be arrested and jailed." Following a speech by student leaders at the institute, several of its students joined the procession nonetheless as they carried on through the town. Student demonstrations gained traction soon after passage of the National Education Law in September 2014. Its critics claim the legislation centralizes authority, restricts the formation of independent student unions and curbs curricular freedoms. After hundreds of demonstrators set out on a march from Mandalay to Rangoon last week, the president urged lawmakers to acknowledge their grievances and amend the law. Students responded that they would not end the protests until the government guaranteed an inclusive review process beginning with quadripartite talks between students, advocates, lawmakers and the president. On Wednesday, the government agreed to host quadripartite discussions on Feb. 1 in Rangoon. Demonstrators said that they will pause their protest on that day, but will continue their trek until that time despite students' claims of increasing pressure from local authorities. "We plan to change the way we protest, to put more pressure on the government to amend the National Education Law," said Thiha Wintin, one of the leaders of the movement. "We will never stop until we reach our goal." The post Student Protesters Reach Kyaung Padaung, Vow to Keep Marching appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Landmark Exhibition of Burmese Buddhist Art Headed for New York Posted: 29 Jan 2015 04:20 AM PST A sandstone image of Buddha cutting his hair, dating from the 11th-12th centuries, from the Bagan Archaeological Museum. (Photo: Sean Dungan / Asia Society) RANGOON — The Asia Society, a New York-based organization that helped facilitate the diplomatic rapprochement between the United States and Burma, will next month open the first solo exhibition of Burma's Buddhist art ever to be held in the West. Plans for the exhibition had their genesis in a series of high-level talks between representatives of Burma's government and US policymakers, held at the Asia Society's headquarters in 2011 after the Obama administration signaled its intention to move away from a decades-old policy of isolating the country with sanctions. "Particularly in recent years, the organization has earned a reputation as a public platform, and place where governments come to us, either because they want to have a conference or they want to get people together whom they don't know or feel comfortable with at the United Nations or any other forum," Tom Nagorski, the Asia Society's executive vice president, told The Irrawaddy. Both President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi began their 2012 official visits to the United States with public speeches at the Asia Society's New York headquarters, a sign of the organization's prominent role in bringing the estranged states back together. After spending years advocating for a reconsideration of the US policy on Burma—and with 60 years of history to establish its credentials as one of the leading Western authorities on Asian art and culture—the society emerged from policy discussions with an influential voice of its own within senior levels of the Burmese government. "We had a profound connection with the country in terms of the arts, and on the policy front," Nagorski said. "It was on the sidelines of the policy dialogue, because of all these different ministries we're engaged in it, that somebody had the idea to say, 'well, if we have some success here, we'd love to share some of our cultural heritage and our history.' Breaking the policy and the political logjam really led to the beginnings of this exhibition." Opening in New York next month, "Buddhist Art of Myanmar" will showcase works from the national museums in Rangoon and Naypyidaw, and other institutions from across the country, with much of the art leaving Burma for the first time. For curator Adriana Proser, the exhibition will be an unprecedented opportunity to show a style of Buddhist iconography, indebted to local religious customs and distinctive even when considered alongside other Theravada traditions in Southeast Asia. "One of the pieces that we've brought in from Bagan is an image of the Buddha holding his long snakelike ponytail as he's about to cut off his hair—this is just after the great departure, when he's decided he's going to become an ascetic and give everything up," she told The Irrawaddy. "That particular image is not something that you see frequently in other cultures. This is a country with that really strong emphasis on monasticism and the Pali texts on the life of the historical Buddha. Stories related to the life of the Buddha are really prevalent here in the imagery because of that tradition, along with the local traditions of storytelling and local traditions of mythmaking and superstition, which seem to be ingrained into [Burmese] culture." Organizers were determined to stage the exhibition before the end of 2015, fearing that the uncertain outcome of the looming general election could potentially lead to paralysis in the civil service and render years of delicate negotiations void. Attempting to put together a catalogue in three years, rather than the customary five, proved a challenging endeavour for Proser and her fellow curators. A couple of artworks had to be withdrawn at the last minute after their custodians in the Ministry of Religious Affairs erected unexpected bureaucratic hurdles. The Ministry of Culture's offer to propose replica works instead of those requested by the curators was the subject of protracted negotiations. Ultimately, most of the curators' original requests were satisfied, and a team from the Asia Society traveled to Burma in January to supervise the shipment of works to the States. For those involved, the experience was a fascinating insight into contemporary religious practice, according to Proser. "There's an image we're borrowing from the museum in Bagan, which to our eyes seems to be an image of the Buddha seated in Dharmachakra Mudra," she said, referring to the representation of Buddha teaching acolytes about the path to Nirvana. "But it turns out that this image is particularly sacred. Every morning, all the museum staff makes abeyances to this particular image. There are local people who come from all around to see this image, because there was a monk who saw the image in a dream and started preaching that it was important. "Before we started packing, they had a whole ceremony, they'd set up altars and they were making offerings of fruits and flowers to the piece. They were praying and explaining to the piece what was happening to it, where it was going, that it was coming back and that we were going to take good care of it. Just as they had kind of sealed the crate and were lifting it up to go, people just started weeping. The emotional attachment to these objects is profound—I can't really think of anything analogous in our culture." Running from Feb. 10 to May 10 at the Asia Society's Park Avenue headquarters, "Buddhist Art of Myanmar" will be accompanied by a number of public events, including public lectures, a performance by the renowned Shwe Man Thabin art and dance ensemble, and a panel discussion on the state of civil society, political reform and human rights in Burma. The post Landmark Exhibition of Burmese Buddhist Art Headed for New York appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

KNU, Govt to Build ‘Model Village’ for IDPs Posted: 29 Jan 2015 03:10 AM PST Bamboo huts with leaf roofs, built by refugees, dot the hills of Mae La Oon camp southwest of Mae Sariang in northern Thailand. (Photo: The Border Consortium) CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Karen rebels have teamed up with the Burmese government to build a new "model village" for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in southeastern Karen State, The Irrawaddy has confirmed. The village, built from scratch and named Lay Kay Kaw, is located in Kawkareik Township near the Thai—Burma border, according to Maj. Saw Zorro, a liaison officer for the Karen National Union (KNU) who is based in Myawaddy. The new settlement is under the authority of the KNU's 6th Brigade. "As far as I know, [the village] is intended to house wives and children of KNU members who have been living in displacement camps in the jungle. The village is for IDPs and is like a low-cost housing project," Maj. Saw Zorro told The Irrawaddy by phone. News of the project surfaced on Tuesday after local media erroneously reported that the government and the KNU were building model villages to house refugees returning from Thailand, where some 130,000 people live in nine officially recognized camps along the border. The official confirmed that the village is currently under construction but clarified that it is designed to accommodate IDPs closely associated with Karen rebels. An estimated 500,000 IDPs live in remote settlements within southeastern Burma, displaced by decades of conflict between the Burma Army and various ethnic armed groups, including the KNU's armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). A similar model village was built by the KNU last year in rebel territories under the 7th Brigade. Family members of KNLA soldiers have already occupied the settlements in Mae Taree and Maw Poe Kay and receive support from the KNU, Maj. Saw Zorro said. The official's comments dispelled any connection between the new village and the possible repatriation of refugees residing in Thailand, but sources on both sides of the border predicted that return could be forthcoming. The United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR, will soon begin a verification process in collaboration with the Thai government which aid workers view as a preparatory step for any future voluntary returns. Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for UNHCR in Asia, confirmed that the model village is not related to forthcoming verification projects and that the agency has not been informed of the IDP resettlement. She emphasized that the development "is not linked to the upcoming verification exercise in the nine refugee camps in Thailand." Refugee verification could be a precursor to repatriation, however, according to Duncan McArthur, partnership director of The Border Consortium (TBC), an aid coordination agency that has assisted refugees along the Thai-Burma border for more than 20 years. McArthur said that the verification program "seems primarily related to monitoring and assisting refugees if they leave the camps and return to Burma," adding that "it seems to be the case" that the process is linked to eventual repatriation. The process itself will consist of identifying those refugees aged 11 years old and older who are registered with the UNHCR. Those who have been registered by agency will receive "smart cards" containing personal data that will help the UNHCR and other aid workers to identify them and provide continued support if they return to Burma. Refugees have expressed concern that many people will soon be denied support if they are not registered, which poses problems for those who have not been processed for various reasons. In July 2014, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha signaled a growing inclination to repatriate Burma's refugees when he met with the Commander-in-Chief of Burma's Armed Forces Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok. The two reportedly discussed plans for the eventual return of refugees in Thailand's temporary shelters. The post KNU, Govt to Build 'Model Village' for IDPs appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Kachin Trio Missing After Burma Army Encounter Posted: 29 Jan 2015 01:35 AM PST A sign outside the Shan State border town of Muse greets entrants. (Photo: New Myanmar Blog) RANGOON — Three Kachin men from the village of Malun Banka near the Shan State border town of Muse have gone missing after reportedly being stopped by Burma Army troops on their way to work at a charcoal kiln on Sunday. The three men—aged 18, 20 and 21, respectively—were going to their jobs when they were confronted by a military column about one mile from Malun Banka village, according to Marang Ladwe, who says he was accompanying the trio but managed to flee the scene. "We encountered government army soldiers on our way to the charcoal kiln. Because they were pointing their guns at us and apparently wanted to arrest us, I ran back to my village. They fired at me and I was shot slightly in my leg. They shouted, 'Freeze, don't run!' and the three stopped because they were afraid," he said. The families of the missing men have reported the case to the Muse police station. Officer Nyi Man of the Muse police station confirmed that the families attempted to report the disappearances. "They came to the police station as they thought their sons were detained here," he told The Irrawaddy. "Because it is associated with the army, it is difficult to open the case and handle it. So, I transferred it to military security." Hearing gunshots near the village, residents of Malun Banka largely stayed indoors on Saturday, thinking that a skirmish between the Burma Army and ethnic armed rebels was afoot. That included the three men, according to Marang Ladwe, who added that they had decided to go to work the following day when no gunfire was heard. Zakong Kaung Nan, the mother of one of the missing men, said: "We didn't know that he went out [to the charcoal kiln]. He went there thinking that the fighting was over. We have asked for help from the village administrator and he said he is still investigating. I am really worried for my son." On Jan. 20, two Kachin volunteer teachers were found dead in their dormitory at a village outside Muse town. The women are widely believed to have been raped and murdered, though autopsy results are still pending, amid allegations of Burma Army involvement in the killings. In neighboring Kachin State, the KIA detained a state transport minister and three police officers on Jan. 14, triggering a tense several days of clashes between the KIA and Burma Army troops that displaced more than 1,000 civilians. A series of explosions has also rocked the region in the days since. All four men detained by the KIA were eventually released. The KIA has allied with other ethnic armed rebel groups in northern Shan and Kachin states since the collapse of a 17-year ceasefire with the government in 2011. In the three-and-a-half years since, tensions and violence in the region have flared recurrently, thwarting government efforts to reach a nationwide ceasefire agreement with Burma's ethnic armed rebel groups. The post Kachin Trio Missing After Burma Army Encounter appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Tallies 1,114 Bird Species, 20 Previously Unrecorded Posted: 29 Jan 2015 01:09 AM PST Male Greater Frigatebird displaying his ballooning red neck sack at the Galapagos Islands. (Photo: WikiCommons) RANGOON — An extensive survey of birds in Burma has revealed nearly two dozen not known to have existed in the country, including a large black seabird with a ballooning red neck sack and a tiny black and white falconet with a surprised, panda-like expression. The Great Frigatebird and the Pied Falconet were among 20 previously undocumented birds spotted during a four-year field survey by the Bird and Nature Society, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Flora and Fauna International and several other bird-enthusiast associations, said Thet Zaw Naing, one of the surveyors. The team tallied 1,114 species from 2010 to 2014, he said, adding seven were endemic to the country. Burma is regarded as one of Asia’s last bastions of biodiversity in part because decades of isolation under harsh military rule allowed the country to avoid the often rampant development seen in other parts of the region. Environmentalists worry that could change as the country—now opening up more to foreign investors—sees economic development expand into agriculture land and grasslands Poaching is another concern, said Thet Zaw Naing, who is secretary of the Burma Bird and Nature Society. Many dead water birds, apparently victims of hunting, have been found in the Taungthaman and Paleik lakes near Mandalay, he said. Mandalay is the country’s second-biggest city. Pesticide use in farming is also a threat to birds, said Ngwe Lwin, Indawgyi Project manager of British-based Fauna & Flora International. The nesting grounds of the Great Frigatebird, spotted in the Gulf of Martaban near Rangoon, are normally found around the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with significant populations in the South Atlantic. The Pied Falconet, seen by the surveyors in Shan state and northern Hukaung valley, is generally found in the forests of the Assam region of India and Southeastern China, Laos and surrounding areas. The post Burma Tallies 1,114 Bird Species, 20 Previously Unrecorded appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rohingya Refugees Say Traffickers in Malaysia Abuse and Kill Posted: 28 Jan 2015 09:11 PM PST A Rohingya man waits to register for a temporary card issued by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at a center in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 27, 2014. (Photo: Reuters) BUKIT MERTAJAM, Malaysia — Abul Kassim, a Rohingya asylum seeker, was snatched from his home in the northern Malaysian state of Penang on Jan. 12. The next morning, his beaten and bloodied body was found. That day, police moved on the 40-year-old's alleged killers. Raiding a house in the neighboring state of Kedah, they rescued 17 Rohingya migrants being held against their will, according to a statement by Penang police. Eight alleged traffickers from Malaysia, Burma and Bangladesh were arrested. The murder of Abul Kassim casts rare light on what Rohingya activists say is widespread abuse by human traffickers in Malaysia, who are willing to use extreme methods to protect their lucrative but illegal business. Abul Kassim regularly supplied police with information on the activities of traffickers, said Abdul Hamid, president of the Kuala Lumpur-based Rohingya Society in Malaysia. Since 2012, more than 100,000 stateless Rohingya Muslims have fled violence and poverty in Burma. Most travel in traffickers' boats to Thailand, where they are held by traffickers in squalid jungle camps before a ransom is paid. Relatively wealthy Malaysia to the south is the destination for most Rohingya who flee. For some, it is far from safe. Relatives and witnesses told Reuters of three abductions in Penang in 2013 and 2014, from a home, a coffee shop and the street. In addition, a Rohingya man was confined and tortured after being brought by traffickers through Thailand. Three of the four cases ended in murder, they said. Fortify Rights, a Southeast Asia-based rights group, documented another three suspected killings of Rohingya by traffickers last year. Banned from legally working and fearful of police harassment, few victims bring their case to authorities. Those who do say police have taken little action. Confirming cases is difficult. Local media give the issue little coverage and Penang state police did not respond to further questions about Abul Kassim's killing. National police spokeswoman Asmawati Ahmad did not reply to Reuters' questions on that case or other suspected Rohingya murders. Interviewed by Reuters in late 2014, Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi denied traffickers had killed any Rohingya in the state that year. Police quoted in local media said Abul Kassim's killing was likely to be connected to a money dispute. A Kuala Lumpur-based Rohingya leader, who declined to be named for fear of retribution, said quantifying crimes was difficult due to the power and reach of traffickers in northern Malaysia. "If we try to get information about the traffickers, they will simply target the person who tries to get information. We are not safe," he said. Such cases include the alleged abduction and murder of Rohingya cousins Harun and Sayed Noor in 2013 and 2014, according to witnesses interviewed by Reuters. Harun, 35, had his first run-in with traffickers in early 2013, when he was kidnapped from a Penang shop and held for a week for a ransom of 7,000 ringgit (US$1,942), recalled his uncle, Mohammad Salim, 50. After his release, Harun lodged a complaint with police and fled into hiding, Salim said. In retaliation, traffickers took his cousin Sayed Noor, aged about 30, and held him as barter for Harun and 50,000 ringgit, Salim said. Several months later, Sayed turned up dead, his body showing signs of torture and mutilation. In early 2014, the traffickers caught up with Harun. Months later, his uncle, Salim, received a call from a Thai mobile number, telling him to leave town. "The trafficker told me himself he had killed Harun." A similarly chilling message was sent with the alleged murder last March of Sadek Akbar, 17, who had traveled from Burma with the help of traffickers. After passing through a Thai camp and being ransomed for release, Sadek was imprisoned in a safehouse in Penang. Traffickers then demanded 2,000 ringgit for Sadek's release, his uncle, Altaf Hussain, told Reuters. "We couldn't afford it, so they beat him to death and dropped him by the side of the road," Altaf, 48, told Reuters. Altaf's account of retrieving the body from hospital was verified by another Rohingya witness and a Malaysian journalist, who both declined to be named. Hampering a full account of the problem is Malaysia's patchy record of protecting millions of migrants, including nearly 150,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers living there. Relatives of victims are reluctant to report crimes to police, fearing months of detention for migration violations and shakedowns for bribes, according to Fortify Rights executive director Matthew Smith. "There are millions of dollars being made through the trafficking of Rohingya. It's unsurprising that illicit profits of that magnitude would bring out violent behavior," he said. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) declined to comment on specific criminal cases, but has received "regular reports of abuse, intimidation and exploitation of Rohingya refugees," said spokeswoman Yante Ismail. "Under Malaysian law, all refugees are treated as undocumented and illegal migrants, and there is no national system in place to provide them with protection." The post Rohingya Refugees Say Traffickers in Malaysia Abuse and Kill appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thailand Accuses US of Meddling in its Politics Posted: 28 Jan 2015 09:02 PM PST Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha salutes members of the Royal Thai Army after a handover ceremony for the new Royal Thai Army Chief, General Udomdej Sitabutr, on Sept 30, 2014. (Photo: Reuters) BANGKOK — Thailand accused the United States on Wednesday of meddling in its political affairs, saying many Thais had been hurt by remarks of a visiting US envoy who criticized actions by the ruling military junta. The long-time US ally expressed its displeasure about remarks on Monday by Assistant US Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Russel by summoning the US charge d'affaires Patrick Murphy to the Foreign Ministry in Bangkok. A spokeswoman for the US State Department said Murphy reiterated the US call for more inclusive politics and an end to martial law. He also expressed the US hope "that we will continue to have an ongoing dialogue," the spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, told a regular news briefing. Relations between the two sides have deteriorated since Thailand's military coup in May, with Washington freezing aid and cancelling some security cooperation. The United States also scaled back its annual Cobra Gold joint military exercise with Thailand, limiting its scope to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Psaki said she was not aware of any additional changes to this plan. Russel was the highest-level US official to visit Thailand since the coup. His comments came a few days after ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was banned from politics for five years and indicted on criminal charges over a state rice-buying scheme. Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, who summoned the US charge, told reporters Thailand did not agree with Russel "talking about politics" in his address at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "It hurt many Thais," he said. "If we comply… and lift martial law and it leads to problems, how will those people who are asking for the lifting of martial law take responsibility?" he said. "In reality, Thais don't even know there is martial law." Russel met with representatives of the military government, but not Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup. Prayuth told reporters he hoped the flare-up would not affect bilateral trade, adding that economic ties were continuing as normal. "It saddens me that the United States does not understand the reason why I had to intervene and does not understand the way we work, even though we have been close allies for years," he said. Thailand's military government has promised reforms and an eventual return to democratic rule, but critics say the army has stifled free speech. The post Thailand Accuses US of Meddling in its Politics appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Sri Lankan President Reinstates Impeached Chief Justice Posted: 28 Jan 2015 08:43 PM PST Sri Lanka’s former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake shortly after her ouster in 2013. (Photo: Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters) COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s new president has reinstated the country’s chief justice, who was impeached two years ago after she refused to back a law granting wider powers to the former president’s brother, the government said Wednesday. In a statement, the president’s office described Shirani Bandaranayake’s ouster as illegal, and said it and her successor’s appointment are now "null and void according to the law." A senior court official said Bandaranayake reassumed her duties Wednesday afternoon but would retire after attending a farewell ceremony on Thursday. That would allow the government to appoint a new chief justice. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa built up immense power during his nine-year rule, including the ability to appoint the heads of formerly independent agencies. The government of new President Maithripala Sirisena, who defeated Rajapaksa in a Jan. 8 election, has been slashing the former leader’s influence and investigating corruption allegations against his family. Rajapaksa’s government had accused Bandaranayake of misusing her power and amassing wealth. Her impeachment was widely condemned as an act of political revenge, and Rajapaksa appointed a close aide, Mohan Peiris, as her successor. The senior court official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, did not explain why Badaranayake was quitting in a day, and the chief justice was not available for comment. Earlier Wednesday, lawyers and activists demonstrated near the Supreme Court against Peiris, saying he undermined the judiciary’s independence by being partial to Rajapaksa. They cited accusations of his involvement in an alleged coup plot by Rajapaksa immediately after the election. Police have questioned Peiris over his presence at Rajapaksa’s official residence when results of the election were being announced. A complaint from the new government alleges Rajapaksa discussed with his guests ways he could illegally stay in power when voting results indicated he was losing. Peiris could not be reached Wednesday for comment. Rajapaksa was widely credited for leaving office peacefully after he lost the election, but the subsequent coup allegation has raised doubts about what really happened. Rajapaksa has denied the allegation. Last week, the government pardoned and reinstated the rank of former army commander Sarath Fonseka, who was imprisoned four years ago after he challenged Rajapaksa in the 2010 presidential election. Fonseka said his imprisonment was a political vendetta against him for daring to run against Rajapaksa. The post Sri Lankan President Reinstates Impeached Chief Justice appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dockside Dining at ‘Port Autonomy’ Posted: 28 Jan 2015 04:00 PM PST A woman walks past the entrance to Port Autonomy. (Photo: Oliver Gruen / The Irrawaddy) YANGON — Harbor-fronts are a world of their own. Often grungy and dark, and busy with all possible modes of transport, they burst with vitality and multi-culturalism. Ships and sailors arrive, bringing goods from the rest of the world, and containers full of local merchandise for export sail out. Buzzing and bustling harbors, from Hong Kong to New York, are an endless source of fascination. Yangon's port is no exception. The newest addition to Yangon's riverfront is a pop-up project—the first of its kind in Myanmar. The Transit Shed 1 (TS1), named after its location, provides a possible glimpse into the former capital's commercial and cultural future. It's modern and hip, and holds on to local tradition with one hand, while beckoning to the outside world with the other. Inside this weathered industrial shed is a space teeming with art, crafts and, now, cuisine. The latest part of the venture is Port Autonomy, a restaurant self-described as a "modern take on a dock-side Burmese beer hall." Only open since November 2014, it is fast becoming a hot spot in the southern part of town near Strand Road. From outside, a neon sign in classic 1950s US style first attracts the eye. Sheets of corrugated iron make up some of the walls and roof of the venue that is open on two sides, allowing any breeze to flow through, aided by ventilators. It might be described as an open-air bistro. The crowd is chiefly comprised of the young nouveau riche, a smattering of Western tourists and international professionals living and working in Yangon who have apparently taken to the venue with relish. The restaurant often fills up by 8 pm, so reservations are recommended. Our table was already set and a friendly waiter led us to it. Our first order was the Jetty Punch, a cocktail made of white rum, pineapple and lemongrass, served in an enamel cup (US$5)—an unusual presentation for a high-end drink. The drink was refreshing and the tastes married perfectly—the enamel cup prevented the ice cubes from melting too quickly. Myanmar Beer is served by the can ($2) and there are three varieties of wine on offer—two white and one red ($5 per glass). We tried the two whites. The 2012 Chardonnay "Domaine de la Beaume" from southern France was served at the right temperature (below 10°C) but its typical vanilla undertone was yet to develop. This golden yellow colored wine was one to be drunk in three years, when it reaches its peak. A 2013 Chardonnay from Yali in Chile was a little lighter in color and evinced tropical aromas such as mango and a subtle lemon and vanilla. Both wines would pair well with the fish dishes offered on the menu. Missing from the wine list were the New Latitude wines from Myanmar, including the Sauvignon Blancs from both Aythaya and Red Mountain wineries in Shan State. Port Autonomy's kitchen is located on a stage at the rear end of the venue, giving the chef a great view of the whole restaurant. Five local staff serve under executive Chef Kevin Ching, who hails from Hawaii. His baseball cap said "Aloha"—Hawaiian for love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy. Chef Kevin could be seen closely guiding his staff, as well as caring for the customers at their tables. The menu offered an Andaman Rock Lobster Roll, with lemon aioli and an iceberg salad garnish ($8); Green Gazpacho ($6); and a courageous Watermelon and Tomato Salad with feta cheese and green olives ($7). The main dishes were seafood-driven. Soft Shell Crab Melt ($10); Lobster Paella ($12); and Fried Soft-Shell Crab with Green Tomatoes (starting at $6), were reminiscent of southern European food whereas theGoan Fish Curry ($8) and the Hot Fried Chicken ($10) demonstrated a fresh approach to Southeast Asian cuisine, melding contemporary Myanmar tastes with an international twist—all without leaving tradition behind. The chicken was deep fried and crunchy on the outside, very tender on the inside and not at all greasy. The meat was well-cooked, right to the bone. The Burmese Buffalo Sauce added a distinctly Asian note, whereas the pickles offered on the side reflected a Southeastern European twist. The two worked well together. A huge compliment must be given to Chef Kevin if the Soft-Shell Crab Melt is an original composition. Toasted white bread, with a hint of smokiness, provided the perfect texture to complement the spicy crab mixed with green chili aioli and salsa verde. All this was topped with generous slices of thick melted cheese. If you dig an internationally oriented venue with a hipster crowd, and are content dining to the sounds of loud club, dance and house music, this is your spot. It may not offer Myanmar authenticity or an opportunity to mingle with the locals, but the cuisine at TS1's Port Autonomy, and its thoughtful presentation, certainly warrant a visit. Port Autonomy is located between Lanthit Jetty and Kaing Dan No (1) Jetty on Oo-Pa-Sa Street, Seik Kan Township, just off Strand Road. Tel: 09 -253 710 651 www.ts1yangon.com This story first appeared in the January 2015 print edition of The Irrawaddy magazine The post Dockside Dining at 'Port Autonomy' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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