The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Lawmakers Push for Betel Nut Awareness Campaign
• Kachin Group Opposes Police Interrogation of Youths in Teachers’ Murder Case 
• On Chin Day, Bittersweet Reflections on a Fading Culture
• Death Toll Rises to At Least 70 in Bangladesh Ferry Disaster 
• Prisoners Injured During Prison Transfer in Kokang Conflict Zone
• On the Bus with Linda McDowell
• Thai Theater Duo Found Guilty of Insulting Monarchy
• Maldives Ex-President’s Detention Extended; India, US Concerned

Lawmakers Push for Betel Nut Awareness Campaign Posted: 24 Feb 2015 05:24 AM PST A girl wraps betel nuts in a shop in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma's Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday chewed over a proposal about how to reduce the consumption of betel nut, a mild street-side stimulant known for leaving a blood-red trail on the lips of users and the sidewalks they travel. Parliamentarian Phone Myint Aung said the habit should be reined in because of health risks and cosmetic damage to streets and vehicles, arguing that many users are still unaware of effects of the product. In rural areas, he said, it is still common for villagers to start chewing betel nut at a very young age and it is traditionally offered as a greeting to houseguests. The lawmaker suggested a public awareness campaign to be carried out by the Ministry of Health, which would consist of distributing signage and pamphlets about the negative effects of betel nut, which is also locally referred to as quid. "Quid is a problem in Myanmar [Burma], but it cannot be solved now. It will take a generation," Phone Myint Aung told The Irrawaddy. "I'm not trying to stop people from chewing it, but we need to distribute information about health impacts at shops where betel nut is sold." Phone Myint Aung said that beyond negative health impacts—the World Health Organization has found that the drug is linked to several types of cancer, whether or not it is combined with tobacco—the habit is both unsanitary and unbecoming. Betel nut, or areca nut, is served chopped up and wrapped in a leaf, often slathered with slaked lime and spiked with tobacco to taste. Users chew the packet and spit out deep red saliva, often seen on Burma's sidewalks, taxi cabs, even in pagodas. Phone Myint Aung said that he won't even pull up next to a city bus, worried that he might be doused by passengers spitting out the windows. "Do Not Throw Waste Undisciplined," and "Do Not Spit Saliva Undisciplined," are among the phrases being printed out on signboards and handed out to vendors in Mandalay, according to Deputy Health Minister Win Myint. He said the ministry has committed to carry out similar efforts in Naypyidaw and elsewhere. Some betel chewers agreed that people should be made more aware of impacts, but said the habit would be difficult to break for those who are already hooked. "Educating people on the disadvantages is good," said Zaw Zaw Myo Lwin, who has been an ardent betel chewer since the age of 15. "But like smoking and drinking, it's addictive, and it can't be stopped immediately." In all of Southeast Asia—one of the few parts of the world where betel nut is still used regularly—Burma has the highest number of users mixing it with tobacco, according to a medical specialist at Insein General Hospital. The post Lawmakers Push for Betel Nut Awareness Campaign appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Kachin Group Opposes Police Interrogation of Youths in Teachers’ Murder Case  Posted: 24 Feb 2015 04:02 AM PST The bodies of two Kachin schoolteachers lie in wake in Muse, northern Shan State, in January. (Photo: Facebook / Maran Naw Di Awng) RANGOON — The Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) said it opposes efforts by Shan State police to interrogate two ethnic Kachin youths in Muse Township as it fears they could be wrongly accused of the murder of two female teachers last month. KBC general-secretary Rev. Samson said police met with KBC leaders on Feb. 20 and asked the organization to cooperate with their plans to detain and question the young Kachin men—one aged 19 and another aged 20—who live in Kaung Kha village, where the murders took place. "We are worried they will threaten the two boys and force them to confess to the killing. Therefore, we did not agree to let them do it. We will let them do it only if they do it [questioning] in public," he said. KBC has been closely involved with local communities and authorities following the Jan. 20 killings of the two young women, who had been working for KBC as primary school teachers. Col. San Lwin, who heads Taunggyi Police Station, told The Irrawaddy that the youths would not be detained but only questioned. "Based on the information they provided for our investigation, we found that we need to have more testimony from the two of them. This is why we asked KBC for it. "We have not decided yet whether the two youths are involved in this case," he added. KBC and the wider Kachin community have voiced concern over the lack of a fair and independent investigation into the killings, which they believe are linked to members of the Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 503 that was sent to the area shortly before the murders. The army remains powerful in Burma and has been accused in the past of influencing local authorities and the judicial system in order to cover up crimes by its soldiers against ethnic minority civilians. Earlier this month, the investigation, which is being carried out by a joint team of police, township authorities and members of the Burma Army, produced a group of suspects comprising both civilian villagers and soldiers. Results of post-mortem medical examinations on the victims and potential matches from DNA samples taken from the suspects have not been disclosed. Home Affairs Minister Lt-Gen. Ko Ko said earlier this month that DNA samples were collected from 45 villagers and 28 Burma Army soldiers. He told state television that two ethnic Kachin villagers were implicated in the crimes and had fled to Kachin rebel-controlled territory. The claim was met with concern by Kachin leaders, who fear he might have been influencing the investigation. Samson said police had told KBC that the results of the investigation would be released soon, but he added that the group was worried that the investigation would be fixed in order let possible army suspects walk free. "The DNA research should meet high standards. If we don't see the results we hope for we will ask other people to carry out another investigation," he said. San Lwin, of Taunggyi Police Station, said DNA tests were collected from 20 soldiers and eight local villagers and being analyzed. He said KBC should not worry about police arresting civilians to become scapegoats, adding, "Unless we have strong evidence, our police will not decide to arrest anyone for involvement in the crime." On Jan. 28, a military-owned newspaper announced that the army was not involved in the murders, and that claims of military involvement made after the results of the investigation were disclosed would be subject to legal action. The post Kachin Group Opposes Police Interrogation of Youths in Teachers' Murder Case  appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

On Chin Day, Bittersweet Reflections on a Fading Culture Posted: 24 Feb 2015 01:34 AM PST Chin youths perform the traditional Wa-nyat dance at Chin National Day celebrations in Myanaung Township, Irrawaddy Division. (Photo: Salai Thant Zin / The Irrawaddy) MYANAUNG TOWNSHIP, Irrawaddy Division — Salai Kyaw Myint applauded performers doing the ethnic Chin traditional Wa-nyat—a group dance in which participants step between moving bamboo poles timed to music—during Chin National Day last week. Though he's watched it three years in a row now and enjoys it no less than the first time he saw it, there's a distressing reality for the 51-year-old: The song lyrics, in the Asho Chin language, mean nothing to him. "I don't understand the Chin songs played on Chin National Day. However, I am quite pleased to hear it. Words fail to express how badly I feel about not knowing the Chin language even though I am a Chin," said Salai Kyaw Myint, whose parents are both from the Asho Chin subgroup. Burma's previous, ethnic Bamar-dominated military regime banned "Chin National Day" celebrations without explanation in 1988, allowing only for the commemoration of "Chin State Day." Chin National Day celebrations were officially permitted for the first time in nearly a quarter century on Feb. 20, 2013. While the heart of Burma's Chin population is found in the west of the country, Asho people living in Myanaung, Kyangin and Ingapu townships in Irrawaddy Division have taken part in Chin National Day celebrations ever since. Thousands of Asho Chin people attended the 67th anniversary of Chin National Day at Yetaw village in Myanaung Township on Friday. For Chin in the area, the day is a bitter-sweet reminder of their culture—and what has been lost. "I'm a Chin, but I can neither speak nor read Chin. At my village, only 1 in 10 can speak Chin," said a Yetaw villager who attended Chin National Day celebrations. It is the same story for many residents of Myanaung, Ingapu and Kyangin—home to a Chin population of more than 30,000. "Only three elders are left in the entire village who can speak Chin. Eighty of 120 households in my village are Chin people, so only three of about 400 Chin people can speak Chin. The children who danced at Chin National Day celebrations do not understand the songs to which they danced," said Salai Kyaw Myint, who lives in the village of Chin Kwin in Myanaung Township. Locals blame the former military regime, which systematically sought to repress the cultural trappings of ethnic minorities, banning mother-tongue teaching in schools, "Burmanizing" the names of towns in ethnic minority regions and prohibiting celebrations like Chin National Day. "It has been 40 years that Chin literature and culture has been going extinct in our village," said Salai Thein Swe from Kwin Kauk village in Ingapu Township. "Because we did not get a chance to officially learn Chin, me and my younger generation can't speak Chin. Ninety in 100 people do not know Chin in my village." The resumption of Chin National Day celebrations in 2013 offers a telling example. Organizers of the event in Irrawaddy Division found that no one in the area could teach the Wa-nyat dance. "We had to watch it [performed] by Chin in Hakha, which was aired on TV," said Salai Tun Win from Kyaung Kwin village in Myanaung Township. "When we started to practice, we often got were injured by the bamboo [pole] wielders. Some people refused to carry on because they got hurt, but I stressed the need for preserving our tradition and talked them into continuing to try." Chin National Day commemorates the political mobilization of Burma's Chin minority some 87 years ago, when the Chin Hills Union Organization was established in Chin State's Kanpetlet Township. Twenty years later on Feb. 20, 1948, the General Assembly of Chin Land was held at Falam in Chin State, at which Chin representatives voted to overturn their traditional feudal system and adopt a democratic process for electing local and state leaders. The first Chin National Day was celebrated on that same auspicious date in Mindat, Chin State, in 1951, with the event attended by Burma's first Prime Minister U Nu. Speaking Up Proponents of reviving the Chin language could get a boost if student protestors, who have for months staged demonstrations against a controversial National Education Law, get their way. One proposed amendment to the law, which the government has agreed to in principle, would allow for native language instruction in classrooms in ethnic minority regions. The Chin Language and Culture Committee is making its own effort, advocating for the teaching of the Chin language at primary schools in Chin villages during school hours. The committee is planning to organize a Chin language instructor course this year in an attempt to turn out two Chin language teachers per village in Chin townships. Irrawaddy Division Chief Minister Thein Aung told The Irrawaddy that the divisional government would help with the printing of Chin language textbooks if necessary. "The divisional government will arrange for it if [Chin] books need to be printed. The [Union] government has also agreed to finance the hiring of teachers. Even if the government has difficulty in financing, our divisional government will arrange for it anyway," the chief minister said. Salai Kyaw Naing from Chin Kwin village said he would send not just his children, but would also like to learn the Chin language himself, if such classes were offered. "I am 56 now. But I would like to learn if I could be taught. It would be great if a Chin language class were arranged for primary students during school hours. If that happened, the younger generations would be able to speak Chin," he said. Unless and until that happens, Chin songs and literature will remain inaccessible for Salai Kyaw Naing, Salai Kyaw Myint and many more. The post On Chin Day, Bittersweet Reflections on a Fading Culture appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Death Toll Rises to At Least 70 in Bangladesh Ferry Disaster  Posted: 23 Feb 2015 10:03 PM PST Overcrowded passenger boats navigate through Buriganga River in Dhaka July 27, 2014. (Photo: Reuters) DHAKA — The death toll from a weekend ferry disaster in central Bangladesh rose to 70 on Monday, as divers finished their search after the vessel was lifted to the surface and towed to shore. A local government administrator, Rasheda Ferdousi, said the area of the river around the accident site was still being monitored because some passengers were still missing. He did not give an exact number. "Our people are using boats to survey the river for any dead bodies. But here at the scene we are calling off the search as there are no more bodies inside the ferry," Ferdousi said. Up to 140 passengers were thought to be on the ferry when it capsized Sunday afternoon after being hit by a cargo vessel in the Padma River, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Dhaka. The river is one of Bangladesh’s largest. Ferry accidents are common in the South Asian nation, which is crisscrossed by more than 130 rivers. A salvage ship pulled the ferry, the M.L. Mosta, to the surface from about 6 meters (20 feet) of water. Rescuers recovered 48 bodies on Sunday and another 22 on Monday, according to police. Inspector Zihad Mia, who was overseeing the rescue operation, said it was not known how many passengers were missing and how many survived. Ferries in Bangladesh usually do not have formal passenger lists. "We don’t have a clear picture about how many were exactly on the ferry when it sank," Mia said. Jewel Mia, an official from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told reporters that up to 140 people were thought to be on the ferry when it sank. A passenger who survived said many people were inside the vessel when it sank. "The passengers who were on the deck survived, but many who were inside were trapped," Hafizur Rahman Sheikh was quoted as saying by the Prothom Alo newspaper. Sheikh said the cargo vessel hit the middle of the ferry. The Ministry of Shipping said it has ordered an investigation. Ferry disasters in Bangladesh are often attributed to overcrowding and poor safety standards. Last August, a ferry with an official capacity of 85 passengers was carrying more than 200 when it capsized on the Padma River near Dhaka, leaving more than 100 people dead or missing. The ferry’s owner was arrested on charges of culpable homicide, unauthorized operation and overloading. The post Death Toll Rises to At Least 70 in Bangladesh Ferry Disaster  appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Prisoners Injured During Prison Transfer in Kokang Conflict Zone Posted: 23 Feb 2015 08:37 PM PST A Red Cross convoy on the road between Laukkai and Kunlong last week. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — A group of female prisoners being transferred from Laukkai to Lashio by a military convoy have been seriously wounded, after drivers attempting to flee an ambush ran off the road and crashed their vehicles. The convoy of eight trucks, carrying 48 female prisoners, was attacked near Long Htan, a village about halfway between Laukkai and the border town of Chin Shwe Haw. "The prisoners and a driver are now at Kunlong hospital. Three are in a serious condition and will be transferred to Lashio," said Kunlong township administration officer Min Swe on Monday. A Tuesday report in state-run newspaper the Global New Light of Myanmar said that 44 female prisoners, a correctional officer and a member of the Burma Army had been injured in the ambush, which was blamed on Kokang insurgents. Min Swe said the Burma Air Force had been deployed to repel the attack on Monday evening. The Burma Army and Kokang rebels have been fighting pitched battles around Laukkai since Feb. 9. The incident occurred in the same location as the ambush of two Red Cross convoys in separate attacks last week. Tuesday's edition of the Global Light of Myanmar claimed that stability had returned to the Laukkai area, with nearly 800 people returning to their homes by Sunday. The post Prisoners Injured During Prison Transfer in Kokang Conflict Zone appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

On the Bus with Linda McDowell Posted: 23 Feb 2015 04:00 PM PST Linda McDowell, the wife of the first Canadian ambassador to Burma, rides Rangoon's notoriously chaotic buses to promote mass transit in a changing city. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON— She's one of the very few foreigners to brave Rangoon's notorious buses. Crowded, often poorly maintained and difficult to navigate without strong Burmese language skills, the city's buses draw only the most intrepid of expats. But Linda McDowell, the wife of the first Canadian ambassador to Burma, has nearly mastered the routes during the one-and-a-half years since she and her husband, Mark, moved to Rangoon. She said that while riding the bus in the country's hectic former capital is sometimes challenging, it's a great way to both brush up on her language skills and promote mass transit in the rapidly evolving urban center. "It saves energy, it's more sustainable, and it's good for the city," she said during a recent interview with The Irrawaddy. She praised the city's efforts to improve roads and bus lines, but remarked that Rangoon's transit options are still far from perfect. Born in Taiwan, Linda moved to Canada when she was in high school and has lived in many metropolises: her adopted hometown of Toronto, New York, Taipei, Bangkok, Beijing; the list goes on. As Rangoon modernizes, she said, municipal leaders could learn a lot from cities that prioritize mass transit over private vehicles. "You can start with something easy," she said. "Some people are talking about huge investments in transportation, but in my personal view, we don't need to wait for big investments to come." Linda said the city already has what it needs to accommodate its some 2.2 million daily commuters. She and her husband speak regularly with public officials about managing the city's resources, and how to envision an urban center that is safe and convenient for the people who drive its economy. Moving in the Right Direction Many will by now have noticed the less-than-elegant chunks of yellow cement that have sprung up along the cluttered avenues of downtown Rangoon, corralling buses in a single right lane. Taxis still swerve flippantly in and out of bounds and buses, which are privately owned by a number of competing companies, still rush to get ahead and scoop up crowds of kyat-waving commuters. Bus companies typically encourage high passenger counts by pinning them to driver salaries. But in time, Linda predicted, and with some effort by the city's management to incentivize mass transit and enforce traffic rules, drivers and commuters will get with the program. For now there still seems to be what she called a "disconnect" between officials, drivers and commuters, that could be easily solved by public consultation and education about the benefits of mass transit and the importance of road rules. Other improvements that could be cheaply implemented include systematizing bus stop locations, marking pedestrian walkways, fixing salaries for drivers and regulating the maximum number of passengers, she said. Linda also suggested that while competition among drivers is good for encouraging mass transit, rates could be stabilized to ensure affordability for all and avoid dangerously overcrowded, unruly and unsafe rides. Why Ride the Bus? Unlike many foreign diplomats in Burma, Linda and Mark do not own a private vehicle because, she said, "we decided not to contribute to the traffic in the city; there are too many cars already on the road." About 70 percent of the country's cars are registered in Rangoon, according to the Road Transport Administration Department. Congestion has increased significantly since the Burmese government eased car import restrictions in late 2011. The rise in foreign vehicles is evident; downtown roads are often seen at a complete standstill and transit times can sometimes take twice as long as they did a few years ago. It doesn't have to get worse, Linda said. If the city's residents and officials can commit to creating a functional city with strong public transportation and less cars—and by virtue, less pollution—they can achieve it. There are currently hundreds of bus lines in the city, with a fleet of about 4,000 buses. Many are old and in dire need of upgrade, but they are still the best, most affordable way to get around for millions who work and study in Rangoon. As for herself, Linda makes a point of riding the bus when she travels downtown, goes to the market and visits her friends. "I always tell people that I take the bus, and I try to convince them to do it too," she said, adding that the habit is rubbing off on a few of her Canadian friends, but until the city makes observable efforts to make transit safer and more efficient, it's unlikely to take off. Even for a seasoned urban commuter like Linda, learning the ropes was a trying experience. "It was a test of my willpower," she recalled of her early trials on the bus, during which she frequently took the wrong route, finding herself in all manner of odd corners around town. She soon picked up on some local lingo and began to recognize the numbers in Burmese script marking the lines. Perhaps most encouraging was the realization that there was almost always a friendly commuter happy to help her find the way. "Maybe they want to help because they see me trying very hard to speak in broken Burmese," Linda said with a charmingly self-effacing laugh. "I feel like it will be fine, there are kind and generous people all around me." The post On the Bus with Linda McDowell appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Theater Duo Found Guilty of Insulting Monarchy Posted: 23 Feb 2015 08:52 PM PST A crowd in Bangkok holds pictures of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej during an event commemorating the monarch's 85th birthday in 2012. (Photo: Reuters) BANGKOK — A court in Thailand sentenced two theater activists to two and a half years in prison on Monday on charges of insulting the country's monarchy. The activists produced a play called "The Wolf Bride" about a fictional monarch and his adviser. It was performed at Bangkok’s Thammasat University in 2013 to mark the anniversary of a 1973 anti-dictatorship uprising led by students. Thailand's lese majeste law is the world’s harshest, carrying a punishment of three to 15 years in jail for anyone who defames, insults, or threatens the monarchy. Anyone can file a lese majeste complaint with police, and the charge has frequently been used as a weapon to harass political enemies. In this case, a group named the Royal Monarch Alert Protection Network filed the complaint. Patiwat Saraiyaem, a 23-year-old university student, and Pornthip Munkong, a 26-year-old recent graduate, have been in jail since last August and their bail requests were repeatedly turned down by a Bangkok court. Both pleaded guilty, a common practice in lese majeste cases, in December. In announcing the verdict, a Bangkok Criminal Court judge said the play contained content that defamed the monarchy and was presented to a large number of spectators. Pawinee Chumsri, the defendants' lawyer, told reporters they were not likely to appeal. The government installed by Thailand's military, which seized power from an elected administration in a coup last May, has made defending the monarchy a priority in an effort to ensure stability toward the end of 87-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej's reign. The New York-based group Human Rights Watch called the jail terms "yet another serious blow to freedom of expression in Thailand and another dark mark on Thailand's already battered international reputation." "Vowing to protect the monarchy, the…junta has accelerated efforts to hunt down alleged lese majeste actions and statements, and prosecute people for peaceful expression of views, like conducting a play, posting online, or making a speech," the group’s Asia director, Brad Adams, said in a statement. The post Thai Theater Duo Found Guilty of Insulting Monarchy appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Maldives Ex-President’s Detention Extended; India, US Concerned Posted: 23 Feb 2015 08:40 PM PST Opposition leader and former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed arrives at Male City with police officers for the first hearing of his trial on Feb. 23, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) MALE, Maldives — Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed will stay in police custody until his trial in a terrorism case is completed, a court ruled on Monday, prompting expressions of concern from neighbor India and the United States. Nasheed was arrested on Sunday after a criminal court said he might flee the country to avoid hearings on terrorism charges stemming from the arrest of Criminal Court Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed during his presidency in 2012. He was brought to court on Monday, where he complained that police had dragged him there, injuring him in the process. "I have been shoved to the ground and my arm has been broken," he told the court. "Take me to a doctor and then you can issue your verdict." Judge Abdulla Didi gave Nasheed three days to appoint a lawyer and answer terrorism charges. He ordered police to hold him for the length of the trial. The treatment of Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, prompted comment from New Delhi and Washington. "We are concerned at recent developments in the Maldives, including the arrest and manhandling of former President Nasheed," India's Foreign Ministry spokesman said, adding that political parties should resolve their differences within the constitutional framework. New Delhi views the Maldives, a group of 1,190 coral islands southwest of India, as part of its sphere of influence. It has been concerned about China's efforts to boost its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean, including a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the archipelago last year. The US State Department, which shares India's concerns about China's increasingly assertive posture in Asia, said US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Nisha Biswal had spoken to the foreign minister of the Maldives at the weekend to express US concern at Nasheed's arrest and other events in recent weeks. "She urged the government to take steps to restore confidence in their commitment to democracy, judicial independence, and rule of law, including respect for the rights of peaceful protest and respect for due process," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing. Nasheed resigned as president in February 2012 after weeks of protests against his order to arrest Abdulla Mohamed. A year later he lost an election to the current president, Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Nasheed's party called for India to intervene. "The situation has given a legitimacy for intervention through mediation," Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, a party spokesman said. The post Maldives Ex-President's Detention Extended; India, US Concerned appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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