Thursday, November 12, 2015

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

Opposition parties accuse Burma’s Vice President of vote rigging in his own re-election

Posted: 12 Nov 2015 02:36 AM PST

The Vice President of Burma has been accused of vote rigging in Burma's general election by the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and the National League for Democracy (NLD).

Sai Mauk Kham , Vice President of Burma
Dr. Sai Mauk Kham, the current Vice President and a candidate from the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), ran for a Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw) seat in northern Shan State's Lashio Township in Sunday's general election.

On Monday, the day after voting took place, the SNLD and NLD opposition released a joint statement to both the public and the Union Election Commission (UEC). The "letter of objection" claimed that 11,815 advanced votes had arrived at Lashio's election commission office at midnight on November 9, almost eight hours after the polls had closed and the ballot boxes had been sealed shut.

Nearly all of these advanced votes endorsed the USDP in different constituencies within the township.

Despite these claims, on Wednesday the UEC announced an election victory for Dr. Sai Mauk Kham.
Sai Soe Myint, an SNLD candidate who was competing against Dr. Sai Mauk Kham for the same seat in Lashio, told SHAN that the SNLD and NLD contacted the UEC on the matter not due to the Vice President's victory, but because of inconsistencies with the ballots.

"We objected because the advanced voting process is not right," Sai Soe Myint said. "There should not be that many advanced votes. And when we look at the advanced voting ballots, they all are similar; the bags are the same. They are very new."

Sai Wan Leng Kham, an Upper House (Amyotha Hluttaw) candidate from SNLD in Lashio, said that after filing their complaint, the party had not received a response from the UEC.

"We heard that the (UEC) told the media that if we wanted to file a complaint, we had to do it before the ballot box was opened," Sai Wan Leng Kham said. "If the ballots are already opened and the results released, that complaint cannot be recognized."

The Election Commission in Lashio Township was scheduled to hold a press conference today in order to clarify the controversial issue, according to the UEC.

"Although a candidate has been elected as a member of parliament, we still can sue them," said Sai Soe Myint, suggesting that the opposition may be contemplating legal action.

According to a report published by The Myanmar Times on November 9, in 2010 Dr. Sai Mauk Kham allegedly won his current Upper House seat in Lashio Township with the help of over 26,000 advanced votes, placing him ahead of a candidate from the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP).

Neither Dr. Sai Mauk Kham, who has served as Vice President since 2011, nor his party—USDP—could be reached for comment at the time of reporting.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)

To Hopeland and Back: Comparative Peace Processes

Posted: 11 Nov 2015 10:33 PM PST

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall take flak from both sides.

(Unofficial UN motto, Robert Asporin)

Today, I attend 3 meetings:
·         U Tin Aye, Chairman, Union Election Commission
·         EAOs workshop on Military Code of Conduct (CoC), liaison offices (L.O.s) and Terms of Reference (TOR) draft for JMCs

For the first one, it has already been reported in the media and I have nothing more to add, except that the purpose of the meeting is to ask him not to cancel any constituencies within the EAOs control without consulting them first.

Most of the work on the CoC and L.O.s, thanks to the rebels' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) and Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), has already been done. The rest are additions made under the guidance of the KNU's Ta Do Moo, who has become an authority on the subject.

What I would like to report here is the meeting with visiting experts on comparative peace processes:
·         Lt.-Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, on ceasefire negotiations with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines
·         Sanjoy Hazarika, an Assamese Tai, on the Naga peace process
·         Ms. Karin Landgren, on the peace processes in Liberia and Burundi



The venue is (late UN Secretary General) U Thant's House, hosted by his grandson Dr. Thant Myint U and his energetic wife, Sofia Busch.

I'm a slow learner and pick up only a little from each of these lectures. And these are the things I have learned from them:

·         Sanjoy: The Nagas signed a ceasefire with New Delhi in 1996, but 19 years after, no political agreement  has been reached
·         Karin: There are unlimited funds for the peace process in Burundi, so no one wants to end it
·         Gen. Garcia: The MILF peace agreement was signed in March 2014. But more than a year later, it is yet to be approved by the Congress

The last one affects me, if no one else. The question that comes spontaneously is, of course, what if the present parliament (which is yet to be dissolved) does not also approve the NCA? The answer is clear, of course: Hardliners on both sides will win and all of us, except the people, will happily return to war.

We later learn that the parliament is scheduled to meet on November 16, eight days after the elections.

After the presentations wind up at 18:00, I return to the hotel with a newly retired general. Naturally we discuss politics and the upcoming polls. He tells me: like it or not, the military is the power in the country and The Lady will be well advised to come to terms with it.

I pack up my things before going to bed. As usual I have a lot of reading material to carry and the airline won't be happy letting it go without charging me.

But so far I've gotten by. I'll manage, so I say to myself before turning in.

The next day, the taxi driver skillfully navigates me through Rangoon's notorious traffic and unloads me at the airport within an hour after leaving the hotel.

At the airport, I meet people from a peace funding agency, who tell us (on the following day) that there will be no special favors given either to the signers or the non-signers.

Well, I think that's fine with me, as long as the help comes.

I have a cup of wine with my lunch on the plane and take a nap. When I open up my eyes again, we are already landing. 

By Sai Khuensai / Director of Pyidaungsu Institute and Founder of Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)

To Hopeland and Back: Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee Meets, Continued

Posted: 11 Nov 2015 10:25 PM PST

From 29-31 October, the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) members from both sides met at the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) on Shweli Lane off 4 Wisara Road, Rangoon.

My job is to render assistance and advice when the EAO's representatives—particularly those from the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S)—need it.

Friday, 30 October 2015

The best conqueror does not need to do battle.

From Dao De Jing, by Lao Zi, whose philosophy reportedly forms the basis for Sun Tzu's The Art of War



On October 15, after the NCA signing, I called on Sai Kham Leik, the Shans' celebrated songwriter, and his wife Dr Nwe Tin. We were old friends during my school days in Mandalay, 46 years ago.

He showed me the lyrics the new song he had just written in honor of the peace process. The title at once catches my eyes and conquered my heart:

"Draw equals win-win"

I wake up remembering it and make up my mind to talk about it in my planned speech.

It never comes. The two sides decide there will only be closing remarks at the end of the meeting tomorrow.

Half of the day is spent re-reading the COC draft agreed upon yesterday and straightening out the language.

Later in the day we discuss the JMC-S (State/Region level).

·         On the JMC-S for Rakhine State, it is agreed to refer the decision to the JICM meeting on 16-17 November.
·         On the JMC-Ss for the KNU/KNLA and the RCSS/SSA, the government explains that one regional commander is designated as the focal/contact point for dealing with each EAO, which has nothing to do with regrouping the EAO units inside one regional command area.

So the misunderstandings are finally cleared. All the same, it is made known that the final decision will be coming from the corresponding EAOs.

The meeting also agrees that the civilian vice-chairperson of the JMC should preferably be a woman.

The tough nut to crack is the TOR (Terms of Reference) for the JMC. While the negotiation over the CoC took only half of a day, we learn the TOR will take us more than a day—in fact, several days, which is understandable, because while the CoC deals only with "Do's and Don'ts," the TOR is dealing with "How To." 

We hold a dinner party today, not knowing whether or not we will have time to do it tomorrow.

I chat with one of the BSO (Bureau of Special Operations) chiefs, Lt-Gen Min Naung, who tells me he's three-quarters Shan from Homalin (Hom Mark Lang means "Jack Tree Shade" in Shan). He used to be the commander at the Central Eastern Region Command. He says he's a great friend to Maj Deving, the RCSS/SSA-S's liaison officer there, but a greater friend to Wanhai, the headquarters of the RCSS's brother organization, Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N).

"I had tried to meet Gen. Pang Fa (leader of the SSPP/SSA-N), but somehow he was not able to meet me," he said. "So the relationship between us has not greatly developed as it should be."

On my way back, one thing occurs or, to be precise, reoccurs to me. I ask myself why it is called "Bureau of Special Operations," whose initials are BSO, and not "Special Operations Bureau." Well, I smile to myself, the same thing must have occurred to the Burmese commanders too.

Saturday, 31 October 2015

Those who come seeking peace without a treaty are plotting.

From The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Today, a lot has been decided. Also a lot is left undecided, pending the JMC-2 on 13-14 November.



Decisions include:
·         Lt.-Gen. Ya Pyay - Chairman
Maj.-Gen. Isaac Po - Vice Chairman #1 (#2 will be a civilian)
Secretary #1  - Dr Sui Khar
Secretary #2  - Col Wunna Aung (Kokang battle veteran)

There are ten members on each side. Known NCA veterans include, on the government side: Lt.-Gen. Ye Aung, retired Lt.-Gen. Myint Soe, Dr. Min Zaw Oo and U Khin Maung Soe; and (on the EAO side) Ta Do Moo.
·         Lt.-Gen. Ye Aung is designated as an alternate chairman, when or if Lt.-Gen. Ya Pyay is unable to perform his duties.
·         Military CoC is adopted
·         There will be two civilian representatives from each side in the JMC-S (State/Region level)
·         Each JMC-S will form Verification Teams (VTs) to verify alleged violations
·         The JMC will be responsible for implementing the rehabilitation of refugees and IDPs until special committees are formed to deal with the matter

During the afternoon coffee break (tea break for me), I am given a copy of the reply from the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) to the EAOs' leader Padoh Kwe Htoo Win.

The two-page letter can be condensed to two points:

The non-signatories will not join the signatories in drafting the Framework for Political Dialogue (FPD) and CoC, or working together in forming the JMCs and holding political dialogue (PD), because:

1.    The signatories had held the JICM and formed the JMC and UPDJC before consulting with the non-signatories
2.    Cooperation with the signatories can be only considered at the UNFC CEC meeting

The implication seems to be quite clear: there might be no cooperation between the two camps from now on.

This comes right after the invitation by the UWSP/UWSA to the non-signatories for a meeting at its Sino-Burmese stronghold, Panghsang (officially renamed Pan Kham) on 1-3 November.

The big question mark now is: Is there going to be a new, pro-Chinese alliance?

This is followed by smaller, but not less critical, questions:

·         If so, how will the Americans react to it?
·         Will there be an anti-Chinese alliance led by Naypyitaw?
·         And how will the EAOs respond to it?
·         What's happening? Is what we are doing ostensibly for peace, but really for war?

I return to Green Hill, trying to comfort myself with the words from my teacher:

Speak or act with a pure mind
And happiness will follow you
As your shadow, unshakable

But I tell you. It's not easy.

Sunday, 1 November 2015

The task of a military operation is to accord deceptively with the intentions of the enemy.

From The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Today is the EAOs' review session, where they discuss the timeline before the JMC-2, (13-14 November, in Naypyitaw) and at least two other matters:

·         Timeline:
5-7 November EAOs' JMC meeting in Chiang Mai
8-10 November EAOs' 'summit' also in Chiang Mai
·         The role of foreign governments and international organizations which, according to Paragraph 12 (C) of the NCA, will be "involved in the ongoing peace process, either as observers, advisors or to provide necessary technical assistance at different levels of the Joint Monitoring Committee."
·         The proposal by the military to include the Security Sector Reform/Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (SSR/DDR) in the JMC's job description

All decide that the last two issues will be referred to the 'summit.'

Anyway, I'm back to Chiang Mai on the next day.

My son, who is at the airport to pick me up, later counts the reimbursements in Burmese currency for my expenses during the last four trips I have made, and say I'm now a proud millionaire.

"How much?" I ask him. He replies it's about 1.3 million kyat, the equivalent of $1,000.

So I'm a millionaire now, but not a rich man.


By Sai Khuensai / Director of Pyidaungsu Institute and Founder of Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)
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