The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Spotlight on UV Dangers Ahead of Thingyan Revelry
• Ethnic Leaders Discuss Federal Constitution
• Hope for Change in Burma Stems Rohingya Migrant Flow
• Road-Weary Paletwa Residents Protest for District Status
• NLD Spokesman: ‘Civil-Military Relations Need to Be Warm’
• Parliament Approves President-Elect’s Proposal to Downsize Ministries
• China Vows Crackdown on Fake Vaccines Amid Scandal
• Checks and Balances of Burmese Democracy
• Outgoing President’s Chief Bodyguard Killed in Car Crash
• Suu Kyi to Control Govt as Party Head: NLD Spokesman
• Exiled Tibetans Vote for Government Shunned by China
• Upgrading the Rangoon Commute: Bus Rapid Transport

Spotlight on UV Dangers Ahead of Thingyan Revelry Posted: 21 Mar 2016 06:04 AM PDT Thingyan celebrants are pictured in Rangoon in 2015. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burmese meteorologist Tun Lwin has cautioned young revelers during Thingyan to protect against UV exposure during the week-long water festival in April, given the dangerously high heat index spurred by a persistent El Niño weather pattern this year. In particular, Tun Lwin warned on Sunday, at a public talk in Rangoon organized by the National League for Democracy (NLD), of an increased risk of skin cancer and other weather-related maladies as participants in the festival, which over the years has become increasingly associated with drunkenness and drug use, might be overexposed to the unusually high temperatures gripping the country. "Because people will get wet during the water festival and be unprotected against the [heat from the sun's] reflection from water, UV exposure will be worse than in any other period. People are also likely to stay in the sun longer during the festival," Tun Lwin said. At a minimum, Tun Lwin noted, UV exposure can cause sunburn, while overexposure can increase one's risk of skin cancer, short-sightedness and infertility. "It is best to avoid going outside between 11am and 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest. But if people won't listen, I urge [them] to take protection before going outside," he said, advising festival-goers to wear hats, long-sleeve clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen. El Niño, which has a 12- to 18-month cycle, is forecast to produce dangerous heat waves for the next three months. Accordingly, the government has warned people to prepare for potential health advisories and water shortages, particularly in the agriculture sector. The post Spotlight on UV Dangers Ahead of Thingyan Revelry appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ethnic Leaders Discuss Federal Constitution Posted: 21 Mar 2016 05:47 AM PDT Ethnic leaders and foreign and local experts meet on March 21 for a constitution drafting workshop in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo: Kyaw Kha / The Irrawaddy) Leaders of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an ethnic armed group alliance, began a six-day federal constitution drafting workshop on Monday in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. The workshop is being facilitated by the Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Center (ENAC), a resource center supporting the peace process through policy development. Through engagement with local and international experts, attendants said that the meeting's primary discussion will center on the key principles and characteristics of a union constitution. Nai Hong Sar, the UNFC vice chairman, told reporters that they were preparing themselves for future discussions with political parties and government representatives by brushing up on knowledge of federalism. "We all are asking for a genuine federal constitution in our country, and so we need to have advanced knowledge about that," he said. Sai Kyaw Nyunt, a representative of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) political party coalition and a delegate to the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), also briefed the attendants about federalism discussions in January's UPDJC meeting. Throughout the week, experts and leaders in the workshop will explore how federalism in Burma might be structured, through the division of power, the composition of parliament and the establishment of security forces. One idea which has been put forward in Burma is that of eight states, including seven regions representing various ethnic nationalities, and one designated as central Burma. Currently, Burma has seven ethnic states along the northern, eastern and western parts of the country and seven central 'divisions,' which critics say creates an imbalance of power. Aung Htoo, a human rights lawyer, who heads the Legal Aid Network, said that equal rights should be guaranteed for residents of all states, to dispel the notion that having one's own state, demarcated along ethnic lines, is the best solution to Burma's problems. There have also been advocates calling for the consideration of more, rather than fewer, states in the country; specifically, representatives from the Wa, Palaung (Ta'ang) and Pa-O requested their own self-administrated states. "Burma does not need rigid centralization of power," Aung Htoo added, referencing India as a neighbor practicing the type of federalism from which lessons for Burma could be drawn. "We must build a federal union by allowing the states to have more power," he said. Experts at the workshop also credited federal systems in Europe, such as those in Switzerland and Germany, as positive examples for Burma, particularly regarding sovereign state power. Aung Htoo added that more needs to be done to enhance public understanding of "genuine" federalism, through consultations and a dialogue on ethnic groups' hopes for the country. Peace building, he explained, should be achieved before undertaking further economic development. In the final days of the workshop, senior UNFC leaders will share their input for an upcoming federal constitution draft. The Irrawaddy's Kyaw Kha contributed to this report from Chiang Mai.  The post Ethnic Leaders Discuss Federal Constitution appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Hope for Change in Burma Stems Rohingya Migrant Flow Posted: 21 Mar 2016 05:17 AM PDT Rohingya Muslims gather at a refugee camp outside Sittwe, Arakan State, on May 19, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) BANGKOK — Hope that the conditions will improve for the Rohingya Muslim minority in Burma under Aung San Suu Kyi's new government has contributed to a slowdown in the number fleeing to Thailand and beyond, the United Nations and European Union said on Monday. As the season that smuggling and trafficking ships typically ply their human cargoes across the Bay of Bengal comes to a close, the number of migrants leaving Burma is down sharply on the year, the UN refugee agency said on Monday. "It is striking, there are many less people coming than last year," Volker Turk, assistant high commissioner for protection at the UNHCR, told Reuters after an event on refugees in Bangkok. "It's a combination of factors. As well as the new government, there are stronger activities against smuggling and trafficking. And the discovery of the mass graves last year also shocked people." Thai police launched a campaign in May 2015 following the discovery of 30 bodies in graves near a human-trafficking camp close to the Malaysian border. The crackdown led criminals to abandon ships at sea with thousands of migrants aboard. Mass graves of suspected human-trafficking victims were also found on the Malaysian side of the border. Thai and Bangladeshi crackdowns on human smugglers have also disrupted the networks that brought migrants from Burma and Bangladesh by sea to Thailand and Malaysia. Many of the migrants are Rohingya, fleeing poverty and persecution in Arakan State in western Burma after religious violence between Buddhists and Muslims there in 2012. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) is forming a government that will take power on April 1. She and the NLD have been criticized for saying little about how they will address the Rohingya's situation in Arakan State, where about 140,000 people remain in camps. The flow of migrants and refugees to Thailand from areas of conflict in other parts of Burma has also decreased as people hope for improvements under the NLD government, said the European Union's Ambassador to Thailand Jesus Sanz. "The positive change in Myanmar is the main cause for the reduction in numbers," Sanz told Reuters. "It remains to be seen how quickly the government of Myanmar will be able to stabilize the situation there and give real opportunities to these people." The EU helps finance camps in Thailand near the border with Burma that hold more than 100,000 refugees. The United Nations hoped political change in Burma would allow those refugees, some of whom have lived in Thailand for decades, to go home. "I hope that voluntary repatriation will be a possibility in a year or two," Volker said. The post Hope for Change in Burma Stems Rohingya Migrant Flow appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Road-Weary Paletwa Residents Protest for District Status Posted: 21 Mar 2016 04:52 AM PDT A protester holds a sign at the rally on Monday that reads, "Unwanted to form under Matupi district." (Photo: Chin World / Facebook) RANGOON — About 200 Paletwa Township residents staged a protest on Monday, calling for an administrative upgrading of their town in Chin State to district status, said township authority Maung Maung Soe. The sanctioned protest began at 10am on Monday and was led by the chairman of the Khumi National Party (KNP), Tun Kyaw, who could not be reached for comment on Monday. Paletwa resident Aike Nyi Htwe participated in the protest and said if Paletwa were upgraded to district status, people wouldn't have to travel as many miles to report to government offices or district-level judiciary cases, as is currently the case. "When we have to do something on the district level, we must go through Arakan State and Mandalay to reach Matupi," he said, referring to another township that currently serves as the district-level administrative seat for Paletwa. "If they designate our town [district status], we won't need to travel anymore." Paletwa residents travel by bus to Matupi, their capital Hakha and other cities in the state, undertaking journeys that can sometimes take more than 48 hours to reach their destination due to a lack of well-connected roads between townships.   Though Matupi lies less than 45 miles northeast of Paletwa, mountainous terrain and a more direct road passable only by motorbike in the dry months require the circuitous route that sees travelers pass through Arakan State, and Magwe and Mandalay divisions, before re-entering Chin State from the east.   For the last five years, Paletwa lawmaker Pike Lin has submitted a proposal to Parliament to earn his township district status, but because of the town's weak infrastructure, the more developed Matupi Township was favored instead, in a vote in the Chin State legislature, said Maung Maung Soe. He said construction on a 100-mile highway between Paletwa and Matupi Township began last year but was never finished, rendering parts of it impassible during the raining season. He added that construction might finish in 2016. Paletwa is in southwestern Chin State, near Burma's border with Bangladesh. Locals want to develop their border as a trade zone, similar to Myawaddy in Karen State, on the Thai border. Maung Maung Soe said if the Indian government were to help in the construction of a highway linking Paletwa with the Indian border, the region could develop quickly. The post Road-Weary Paletwa Residents Protest for District Status appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

NLD Spokesman: ‘Civil-Military Relations Need to Be Warm’ Posted: 21 Mar 2016 04:08 AM PDT Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, spokesman for the National League for Democracy, in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) Dr. Zaw Myint Maung was recently designated the sole member of the National League for Democracy (NLD)—other than its chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi—authorized to speak officially on the party's behalf. A lawmaker in the Mandalay Division legislature, Zaw Myint Maung joined the party shortly after its tumultuous formation amid nationwide pro-democracy protests in 1988, and was elected in a general election two years later in an NLD landslide that the ruling junta of the time ignored. He recently sat down with The Irrawaddy to discuss a range of issues confronting Burma's incoming NLD government, including a streamlining of the executive branch, the controversial Chinese-backed Myitsone dam hydropower project, the military and its relationship with party leader Suu Kyi. As his answers make clear, however, the NLD is remaining tight-lipped on specifics ahead of a power transfer due April 1. People voted for the NLD because they want change. What will be the difficulties for the NLD to make radical changes that reach the grassroots? At present, the directors-general and staff on the ground are used to old habits. How will the NLD try to change system? Yes, it is a challenge for the new government. In making changes to the old administrative apparatus, which all government employees are used to, we need to take a top-down approach and set out policy guidelines. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said that government staff need not worry about their future, and that she would not slash the government workforce. No matter what they did in the past, we've all blotted them out. But they need to work cleanly and serve the interests of the people when they work under our government. We'll encourage them to do so. If they continue to be corrupt and don't serve the public's interests, we'll take action against them. Firstly, we'll persuade them, and train them. We'll tell them to work honestly with genuine goodwill and avoid corruption in doing the works of public service delivery. Mainly, policies will decide how far the changes will go. Government staff are now worried about the cutting of ministries. Don't worry. To be frank, we want to reduce government expenditure. There will be transfers and we'll arrange for staff to transfer to departments they desire. But they need to undergo training if they are not qualified for a transfer. I would say they don't need to worry about it. Most of the permanent secretaries of the ministries are former military service personnel. What role will they be assigned under the new government? Frankly speaking, we are ready to work with anyone if that serves the interests of the country and citizens. We'll not care about who he is. The most important thing is to work honestly with genuine goodwill and without corruption. People have suffered for around 50 years waiting for changes. Now the opportunities have come for us. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said that there is no dignity higher than that of serving the country. Why did the NLD decide to keep the Information Ministry? We think we should maintain the Information Ministry because for the time being, we want to educate people about certain things and talk about certain things. I have said that we would not use the ministry for propaganda. We've decided to keep the ministry to display transparency and accountability. Will the NLD appoint deputy ministers? As we are preparing to reduce ministries, we are also taking steps to reduce the ministers. I won't say we will not appoint a deputy minister at all. The permanent secretary has to do the job of deputy minister. It is the permanent secretaries who will run the ministries. And we'll have to lay down guidelines for them. In the parliamentary era, the permanent secretary was the post of deputy minister. Only those who are capable were appointed to that post. We may appoint deputy ministers if necessary. We're not saying we won't appoint deputy minister at all. What can you say about press freedom in the time of the NLD government? Let's speak frankly about media freedom: The things you are talking about today, such as access to information and right to know, are starting to be addressed by Parliament. If the Parliament takes responsibility for it, media will enjoy those rights to the extent that the legislation enshrines. Rather than the government enabling such things, it would be better if they are legitimized at Parliament and exercised according to the law. I do want to see the development of media. Will Daw Aung San Suu Kyi take an official position in the government? Is there any way she can still become president? To be frank, it is too early to answer your question. For example, what positions did U Ne Win hold in the time of the Burma Socialist Programme Party [BSPP]? Presidents changed, but he still held the party chairmanship. Another example is Mao Zedong. In a democratic country, both the government and the parliament have to operate under the policy of the ruling party. So, as long as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the chairwoman of the NLD, she is the chairwoman of all. People are concerned that the Myitsone dam [hydropower project] may be resumed during the new government's term. An NLD leader has also said the project may be resumed in a different form. How does the NLD plan to strike a balance between building good relations with China and managing anti-China sentiments among Burmese people? Your question is a very tough question, quite difficult to answer. Our policy is to serve the people. But we have to consider the question of geopolitics. China is our neighbor and so is India. To stand with dignity between these two countries, we have to be able to stand as a genuine democratic and federal Union. I mean if we are a democratic federal Union, we'll be able to stand tall with our territorial integrity no matter how powerful other countries are. We know nothing about the Myitsone dam project, and neither does Parliament. The previous Parliament also knew nothing about it. And our new government does not know anything about it. To solve the problem, we have to know first what the terms of the dam were. China is talking about the dam recently, but it is just talking about what it wants to see happen. A senior NLD member's remarks about the dam are also just his view. I dare say nothing before I know details about the dam agreement. But I want to repeat that our policy focuses on the people. Both Burmans and non-Burman ethnicities have welcomed the creation of an Ethnic Affairs Ministry. What approach will the NLD adopt to address ethnic issues? It is not an issue that has recently appeared. It has existed since a long time ago. As to the Ethnic Affairs Ministry, we must well understand that our country is a multi-ethnic country. It is important that our country gets peace. Democracy can't be built without peace. In our country, civil war was born with independence. To handle ethnic issues, we have to take care of internal peace. Ethnicities have their fundamental rights. Our land is a land of equal rights and correct policies. How can peace be achieved unless and until ethnicities and Bamars [majority Burmans] enjoy freedom, justice and equality on equal terms? To ensure these three things means handling the ethnic issues, doesn't it? The previous government was able to sign a 'nationwide ceasefire agreement' with eight ethnic armed groups. But many more have not yet signed it. How much further does the NLD expect to push the peace process over the next five years? It is one of our priorities. It is not that we'll do this first and do that later. We will handle priorities at the same time wherever possible. The NCA [nationwide ceasefire agreement] is important in the peace process. A ceasefire agreement is the thing between the military and ethnic armed groups, and peacemaking is something between government and ethnic parties, and this is one of our priorities. You were frequently seen at meetings between the commander-in-chief and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. What do you think of the relationship between the military and her? I am not authorized to comment. But, they welcome us warmly. We are also warm toward them. Civil-military relations also exist in other countries. The civil-military relationship needs to be warm, especially when a country is changed from authoritarian regime to democracy. I don't think there will be problems while the leadership remains dedicated to building the nation. What measures will the NLD take to eradicate deeply rooted corruption and bribery in the country? In the time of the previous government, [giving government personnel] a present of more than 300,000 kyats [US$250] was prohibited. It will be embarrassing if we can't do as much as we say. We need to fight corruption. The corruption index of our country is really poor, it is almost the worst [in the world]. We need to improve it. There must be an anti-corruption commission. Warning is not just enough, actions must be taken. There will be fewer cases of corruption and bribery if we take actions. We need to reconsider the gift policy. We need to learn the amount of gifts usually given in other countries. As far as I know, $100 is the maximum. We need to consider these things when we think about anti-corruption. I would say just wait and watch. Regarding land confiscation, though the U Thein Sein government gave compensation and returned some lands, only a small percentage of landowners have gotten back their lands. What will be the land policies and agricultural development policies of the NLD government? It is one of our priorities. It is the people, the farmers, who bear the brunt of land confiscation. This must be resolved. At present, we can't say how much we will reduce poverty. Poverty must be reduced if we want to bring development for the country. The post NLD Spokesman: 'Civil-Military Relations Need to Be Warm' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Parliament Approves President-Elect’s Proposal to Downsize Ministries Posted: 21 Mar 2016 12:58 AM PDT President-elect Htin Kyaw seen in the Parliament session on March 21. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — In a proposal supported by nearly 95 percent of lawmakers on Monday, Burma's President-elect Htin Kyaw stressed the importance of downsizing the Parliament-approved list of government ministries. Leading his first legislative discussion, Htin Kyaw was given the stage to explain a plan he submitted on March 17 suggesting a reduction of the executive cabinet from 36 ministries to 21. These ministries would be led by 18 ministers approved by the Parliament and three ministers appointed by the military. Htin Kyaw is expected to put forward nominees for ministerial positions on Tuesday. Under his proposal, 10 existing ministries would remain unchanged. Meanwhile, some would be subsumed into others, with 10 ministries merging into five. Htin Kyaw also proposed a new ministry to cover ethnic affairs. He addressed concerns that the reduction of government ministries would leave current staff jobless, promising that they will be able to continue their work as long as it is done in accordance with the law. "We will create job security [for existing staff] by transferring them to relevant offices," Htin Kyaw explained. He also said that the proposed eliminations and mergers would establish a more efficient cabinet, and that capacity building trainings were planned for staff. "The downsizing of the cabinet will save five billion kyats (more than US$4.1 million) in salaries…over the next five years," he explained to the lawmakers. "That money can be used for education, health and the rural development of the country." A total of 647 lawmakers were present at Monday's session, of which 611 voted in favor of reducing the number of ministries, while three MPs were opposed to the idea and 22 abstained from voting. Similarly, 601 lawmakers voted to keep the number of non-military ministers at 18, while 22 lawmakers opposed it and 14 abstained. After the vote, Union Parliament Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than declared that the proposals had been approved. The post Parliament Approves President-Elect's Proposal to Downsize Ministries appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Vows Crackdown on Fake Vaccines Amid Scandal Posted: 21 Mar 2016 12:43 AM PDT A worker arranges vaccines for packing at Sinovac Biotech Co. Ltd. headquarters in Beijing on Nov. 24, 2005. (Photo: Reuters) SHANGHAI — Chinese authorities have pledged to crack down on the black market sale of vaccines after a case was made public involving nearly US$90 million worth of illegal vaccines that are suspected of being sold in dozens of provinces around the country. The drug regulator in Shandong, the province at the heart of the scandal, said on Monday it would work with police forces and the health ministry to inspect vaccine stocks to ascertain where 570 million yuan ($88 million) worth of vaccines had ended up. The case, which involves vaccines against meningitis, rabies and other illnesses, underlines the challenge the world's second-largest drug market faces to regulate its fragmented supply chain, even as Beijing looks to support home-grown firms. "We will thoroughly investigate all clues in the case and once we get to the bottom of it then we will severely punish those found to have violated the law," the Shandong food and drug administration said in a statement posted on its website. Local police said a mother and daughter in Shandong had illegally bought vaccines from traders and sold them on to hundreds of re-sellers around the country, according to a notice from the Shandong Public Security Department. The vaccines, which police said were made by licensed producers, were not kept and transported in the required cold chain conditions, which could mean that patients taking them could suffer severe side effects or even death. China's national food and drug regulator also called on other regions that might have bought the illegal vaccines to investigate the issue in a statement posted online on Sunday. The case also points to frustrations aired by some doctors and patients within China, who say access to some drugs is limited due to red tape around approvals, creating demand for medicines through unapproved channels and the black market. Pfizer Inc. shut its vaccine sales business in China last year after a license for its Prevenar vaccine, the only vaccine it sold in the country, was not renewed. Prevenar protects against pneumococcal disease, an illness that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. The mother—a former doctor—and daughter were detained last April, but the case was not widely publicized until now. The post China Vows Crackdown on Fake Vaccines Amid Scandal appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Checks and Balances of Burmese Democracy Posted: 20 Mar 2016 11:13 PM PDT STEPHFF The post Checks and Balances of Burmese Democracy appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Outgoing President’s Chief Bodyguard Killed in Car Crash Posted: 20 Mar 2016 11:00 PM PDT Brig-Gen Win Myint, bodyguard of President Thein Sein. (Photo: Aung Paing Min / Facebook) A car accident in Naypyidaw claimed the life of outgoing President Thein Sein's bodyguard on Sunday night, the President's Office has confirmed to The Irrawaddy. Brig-Gen Win Myint, the head of President Thein Sein's security detail, died late Sunday night following the crash, which occurred in front of the Central Bank of Myanmar on Yaza Thingaha Street in the country's capital. "He passed away in a car accident at around 11 p.m. yesterday," said Zaw Htay, the deputy director-general of the President's Office. An eyewitness returning from a festival described the scene of the accident to The Irrawaddy. "I saw a smashed car near the central bank. An ambulance took a patient…There were a lot of security personnel and other authorities," he said. The victim had recently been promoted from Colonel to Brigadier-General. According to sources in Naypyidaw, he has been the bodyguard of President Thein Sein since he assumed office in 2011. The post Outgoing President's Chief Bodyguard Killed in Car Crash appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi to Control Govt as Party Head: NLD Spokesman Posted: 20 Mar 2016 10:46 PM PDT National League for Democracy (NLD) party leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrives for a meeting with NLD members of Parliament at Sipin Guesthouse in Naypyidaw March 14, 2016. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) NAYPYIDAW — Burma democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi will steer the incoming government of her National League for Democracy (NLD), staying on as party head, and is unlikely to take a formal position in the government, the party said on Sunday. Burma's Parliament last week elected Htin Kyaw, a close friend and confidant of the Nobel peace prize laureate, as president, making him the first head of state since the 1960s who does not hail from a military background. Suu Kyi led the NLD to a historic landslide election win in November, but a Constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office because her two children and her late husband do not have Burmese citizenship. Suu Kyi has vowed to defy the Constitution described by senior NLD members as "ridiculous," pledging to run the country from "above the president." The party has not clarified how such an arrangement would be implemented, fueling speculation about possible positions Suu Kyi might assume after the government takes office on April 1. "Taking positions is not that important any more. … In the United States, there are many famous lawmakers in the parliament who are very influential, but they don't take any position in the cabinet," Zaw Myint Maung, an NLD spokesman and one of its leaders, told Reuters late on Sunday. "It's the same here. She will lead the [ruling] party, so she will [by extension] lead the government formed by that party," said the spokesman, in the most detailed remarks on the issue by a senior NLD politician to date. He did not elaborate on the party's plans. Win Htein, another top NLD leader and Suu Kyi confidant, told Reuters in November that Suu Kyi could be "something like Sonia Gandhi." Suu Kyi herself said in October that her plan was not "quite like that," but she did not provide details on her plans. Gandhi is the Italian-born widow of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. As leader of the Congress party, she dominated the government of former Prime Minister Mahmohan Singh before it fell from power in 2014. Burma's powerful military holds a quarter of parliamentary seats and the constitutional right to nominate one of the three presidential candidates. Its candidate, retired lieutenant-general Myint Swe, last week became the country's vice president No. 1. Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Burma's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962. The NLD spokesman said that on Monday, President-elect Htin Kyaw would speak in Parliament about reducing the number of government ministries. Last week the NLD said it would slash the number of ministries by about a third to 21. The post Suu Kyi to Control Govt as Party Head: NLD Spokesman appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Exiled Tibetans Vote for Government Shunned by China Posted: 20 Mar 2016 10:01 PM PDT Tibetan monks cast their vote during the election for the Tibetan government-in-exile at a polling booth in Dharamsala, India, on March 20, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) DHARMSALA, India — The prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile called Sunday for China to engage in dialogue on autonomy for his people's homeland, as tens of thousands of Tibetans around the world voted for new leaders of a government that Beijing does not recognize. Buddhist monks in crimson robes lined up along with hundreds of Tibetan men and women in schools, government buildings and the courtyard of the Tsuglakhang Temple in India's northern city of Dharmsala, where the exiled government is based, to cast their votes for prime minister and parliament. They started to line up early Sunday, carrying their "Green Books"—passport-size booklets that record their paid taxes and are mandatory for Tibetans to be eligible to vote. The voters stood patiently, at times for more than an hour, as they waited for their turn to mark their choices on ballot papers printed with the images of the two prime minister candidates. Elderly Tibetans carrying walking sticks and rosaries were assisted by government officials in voting. The ballot boxes were fashioned out of painted tin boxes with hinged lids. Separate boxes were marked in Tibetan for the election of the prime minister and for parliament. It was the second election since the Dalai Lama stepped down as head of the government-in-exile in 2011 to focus on his role as the Tibetans' spiritual leader. Some 80,000 voters were registered, and results are expected next month. Lobsang Sangay, the incumbent prime minister, arrived with his young daughter to cast his vote at a polling booth in a government building. "The dialogue [with China] will be the main initiative," Lobsang, who is running for re-election against parliamentary speaker Penpa Tsering, told reporters. "I hope Chinese President Xi Jinping in his second term in 2017 will look at the Tibetan issue and take the initiative" to hold talks with Tibetan exiles, he said. Lobsang added, however, that the reality on the ground "is repression." China says Tibet has historically been part of its territory since the mid-13th century, and the Communist Party has governed the Himalayan region since 1951. But many Tibetans say that they were effectively independent for most of their history, and that the Chinese government wants to exploit their resource-rich region while crushing their cultural identity. The Dalai Lama and his followers have been living in exile in Dharmsala since they fled Tibet after a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. China doesn't recognize the Tibetan government-in-exile, and hasn't held any dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama since 2010. "We never recognize this so-called government-in-exile," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular news conference Thursday in Beijing. "We hope that all countries in this world, especially those that want to maintain friendly relations with China, will not provide facilities or venues for any anti-China, separatist activities by the so-called Tibet independence forces." Both prime minister candidates support the "middle way" approach advocated by the Dalai Lama, which calls for seeking regional autonomy under Chinese rule. Some Tibetan groups advocate independence for Tibet, since little progress has been made in dialogue with China. But their representatives couldn't win enough support in the first round of voting last year to be in the running for the prime minister's post. "There has been little discussion about the future of Tibet," said Bhuchung D. Sonam, a Tibetan writer. "For example, how the two candidates would approach the issue of Tibet in terms of talking to China." Lobsang said he wants India's government to recognize Tibet as a core issue of its policy. New Delhi considers Tibet as part of China, though it is hosting the Tibetan exiles. He said that Tibet has become more of an issue for India, and mentioned New Delhi's concerns over the falling water levels of the Brahmputra River, which flows from Tibet into India, as well as plans for a railway link. "In that sense, I think Tibet is becoming an important issue not just simply for human rights, but also from a geopolitical point of view, an environment point of view and from a climate change point of view," he said. Exiled Tibetan officials say at least 114 monks and laypeople have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule over their homeland in the past five years, with most of them dying. US government-backed Radio Free Asia puts the number of self-immolations at 144 since 2009. Beijing blames the Dalai Lama and others for inciting the immolations and says it has made vast investments to develop Tibet's economy and improve quality of life. The post Exiled Tibetans Vote for Government Shunned by China appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Upgrading the Rangoon Commute: Bus Rapid Transport Posted: 20 Mar 2016 05:00 PM PDT Click to view slideshow. RANGOON – Two young women with metal milk cans run for the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) after hurriedly arriving at downtown Rangoon's Lanmadaw Township station; the BRT bus had arrived minutes earlier and was pulling away from the stop. The driver gestures for them to proceed, where he waits. At peak hour, commuting to and from work is a taxing experience for Rangoon's residents, whether by bus or taxi. For those who live beyond the downtown, travel can take two to three hours each way, as traffic is unavoidable on every road and street. These two women—like other long-distance travellers from Hlegu, Tikegyi, Hmawbi and Mingaladon townships—also wanted to avoid the crowded, slow and increasingly unpleasant city buses. After they are seated on the BRT, they appear visibly relieved and express gratitude to the driver who waited for them—the next bus could take between ten minutes and an hour to arrive. "We have to come downtown everyday to sell our milk," said Wai Wai, 22, whose product comes from a dairy farm in Hlegu Township, north of Rangoon, near the border with Pegu. "We take the bus every day, and we have to run everyday too," she said. Her commute to the city takes about two hours each way. Wai Wai and her niece leave home at 5 o'clock in the morning and usually arrive back home around at around 10 p.m. Currently, the BRT, which launched in February, operates two circular routes, starting from Htauk Kyant sub-township in Mingaladon Township, which serves as an intersection for Hlegu and Hmawbi Townships and Pegu Division. The routes follow Pyay Road and Kabar Aye Pagoda Road respectively, with designated stops along the way.   Better Security  Rangoon, Burma's economic capital with a population of about 5.2 million, according to the 2014 census, has a deteriorating public transport system. More than 70 percent of the residents rely on buses for their daily commutes, according to 2015 figures from the Yangon City Development Committee. Quicker arrival times and air-conditioning attracts passengers to the BRT, even if they have to switch to other buses in order to reach their final destinations. Wai Wai is one such customer: after arriving in Htauk Kyant, she has to take a second local bus to get to Hlegu Township, but she said that she does not mind the shift. One passenger, Ko Zaw, a construction company employee residing in Oakkyin, Hlaing Township, is a regular rider of the BRT. "It is a comfortable ride; the air conditioning is on and they follow the traffic rules," he said. "And it is less crowded than the regular bus, run by the 'Mahtatha,'" he added, referencing Rangoon's Central Supervisory Committee for Motor Vehicles and Vessels.   Safe From Harassment BRT has so far proven a safer option for female passengers who are often exposed to physical or verbal harassment on other crowded city buses. "There is no conductor, so it frees us free from 'ear rape,'" said Ko Zaw, referring to the unpleasant and commonly overheard harassment toward passengers from bus staff, especially toward young women. In Burma, bus conductors and assistants are often perceived as quite abrasive. "I have been freed from it for over a month," said Wai Wai of the harassment she used to experience on other buses. Drivers of city buses are also seen as some of the most notorious violators of Rangoon's traffic rules; buses often drive outside of their designated lanes, and then overtake other cars before re-entering the lane to quickly load new passengers, further clogging Rangoon's already jammed streets.   Public Awareness Needed To cover the 300 kyat (US$0.25) BRT fare, passengers have to use either a prepaid card or cash, which is inserted into a box next to the driver. The prepaid card, called "Any Pay," can only be bought at eight stations, but staff selling the cards are often present on the bus to refill passengers' accounts. It is a new system than what Rangoon residents are used to. Passengers have to pay the fee on their own, in contrast to other buses in the city, where a conductor or assistant comes through the aisles to collect it. The Irrawaddy once witnessed an elderly passenger forget to pay for his ride. "Maybe he was not aware of the system and might have been waiting for the money collector," Ko Zaw speculated.   Limited Service Currently, 45 buses traverse the BRT's two routes. They first depart at 6 a.m. and make the final trip at 7 p.m. About 2,400-2,800 passengers take the bus every day on the Pyay Road route, and around 1,800 passengers use the bus every day on the newer Kabar Aye route, which was introduced two weeks ago. Dr. Maung Aung, the chairman of the Yangon Bus Public Company, said that his office has "received encouraging responses from the passengers." "We aim for a better transport service system," he said. They hope to add another 20 buses to the two existing routes, and plan to introduce more routes next year. Feedback has indicated that passengers would like more stops on the current routes, but Dr. Maung Aung said that it might not be possible just yet. "We will just keep implementing the current system, which focuses on the safety and a change from the noisy, tiresome experience," he said. The post Upgrading the Rangoon Commute: Bus Rapid Transport appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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