The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Ex-President Thein Sein a No-Show at NLD State Dinner
• New National Defense and Security Council Formed
• Shan Community Groups Denounce European-Backed Dam Projects
• Advocacy Groups Engage Men to End Sexual Harassment
• At 8.4%, Auspicious Outlook for Economic Growth: ADB
• Chaw Sandi Tun, Famed Facebook Antagonizer, Released From Prison
• ‘Super Minister’ Suu Kyi to Remain NLD’s Leader
• Will YSX Deal a Blow to Burma’s Real Estate Market?
• Arakan Chief Minister: We ‘Haven’t Discussed’ the State’s IDP Camps
• The Faces of the Next Five Years: Burma’s Sworn-In Leadership
• Swearing In, Speech and Handover Mark Day of Shifting Power
• US: North Korea Threat Compels Security Steps China Won’t Like

Ex-President Thein Sein a No-Show at NLD State Dinner Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:58 AM PDT President Htin Kyaw, left, stands beside his wife, along with his two vice presidents and their spouses, at a state dinner hosted by the National League for Democracy on Wednesday in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma's ex-President Thein Sein and all of his former cabinet members were reportedly absent from a state dinner hosted by the newly sworn-in National League for Democracy government on Wednesday evening, while the Burma Army commander-in-chief and his wife did attend. The dinner, to celebrate the handover earlier in the day of presidential responsibilities to the NLD government steered by party chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi, was held at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw. The hosts, victorious in a November election that swept the party to power, invited senior figures from the defeated Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government, including Thein Sein, as well as military officials including Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief. The ceremonial handover of presidential responsibilities was held at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday morning, when the outgoing Thein Sein handed over responsibilities to the newly sworn-in President Htin Kyaw, Suu Kyi's pick to nominally head the executive. The Thein Sein administration came to power in 2011 and his five-year term officially concluded on Wednesday. Htin Kyaw was selected for the presidency earlier this month, after an unsuccessful campaign by Suu Kyi to amend Burma's controversial Constitution, which bars her from the office because her children are foreigners. Though the retired general Thein Sein reached out to Suu Kyi early in his term, inviting her to his home in 2011, relations between the two appeared to sour in recent years as the NLD leader pushed vocally for changes to the Constitution. The post Ex-President Thein Sein a No-Show at NLD State Dinner appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New National Defense and Security Council Formed Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:46 AM PDT NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi stands with new military-appointed cabinet ministers at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw on Wednesday. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Following a long-awaited power transfer on Wednesday, Burma's new civilian-led National League for Democracy government formed a reconfigured 11-member National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) as one of its first acts in office. The President's Office released an announcement of the new membership, signed by President Htin Kyaw, soon after he was sworn into office, with the Burma Army commander-in-chief, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, his deputy Lt-Gen Soe Win, and Defense Minister Lt-Gen Sein Win retaining their seats from the preceding administration. The powerful executive body also includes Htin Kyaw; two vice presidents, retired Lt-Gen Myint Swe and ethnic Chin former lawmaker Henry Van Thio; speakers of the Upper and Lower houses, Mahn Win Khaing Than and Win Myint; Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi; Home Affairs Minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe; and Border Affairs Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung. The NDSC is empowered by the Constitution to formulate policy regarding certain military and security issues, including the right to petition the president to declare a nationwide state of emergency. The military commands a 6-5 majority in the council. Suu Kyi, chairwoman of the National League for Democracy (NLD), assumed the role of Foreign Minister, and therefore a position on the NDSC, following her party's landslide victory in the 2015 general election. She took the role because she is constitutionally barred from becoming president under the 2008 military-drafted Constitution. The Union Parliament officially announced that the NLD leader will take four ministerial positions, heading up the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education, and Electric Power and Energy, as well the lone President's Office ministerial post. The post New National Defense and Security Council Formed appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Shan Community Groups Denounce European-Backed Dam Projects Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:22 AM PDT Locals gather along the Namtu River in Hsipaw Township, northern Shan State, on Wednesday to discuss four foreign-backed dams planned along the waterway which community groups say will cause displacement and irreparable environmental damage. (Photo: Shan Farmers / Facebook) RANGOON — Ethnic Shan communities in northern Shan State have called for an end to four planned hydropower dams on the Namtu River, an Irrawaddy tributary, citing irreparable damage to the environment. More than 100 people gathered in Hsipaw Township to hold a prayer service on the bank of Namtu River on Wednesday morning, which was followed by a press conference in the afternoon. The action coincided with the launch of a report by Shan community-based groups called "Save the Namtu River." The work exposes a lack of transparency around plans to construct dams which "will block half the length of one of Shan State’s most well-known rivers, irreversibly impacting its ecology and the lives of tens of thousands of people relying on it." If completed, the four dams would be located in Hsipaw, Kyaukme and Nawngkhio townships—which contain locations where fighting has recently broken out between government forces and ethnic Palaung (Ta'ang) armed groups. They would produce a combined capacity of around 1200 megawatts, according to Sai Kham Myat, a spokesperson from the Shan State Farmers Network (SSFN), and include the Deedok (66 MW capacity), Middle Yeywar (700 MW), Upper Yeywar or "Ta Long" (280-308 MW), and Namtu (100 MW), respectively. In a joint statement also released on Wednesday, Shan local residents, the Shan Human Rights Foundation, the Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization and SSFN alleged that foreign firms from China, Japan, Norway, and Switzerland are exploiting resources in ethnic conflict areas. The "hypocrisy" of Norway and Switzerland in particular was highlighted in the statement because of the countries' demonstrated support for Burma's peace process in exchange for profit from the Naypyidaw government "before the peace has been reached." Sai Kham Myat added that Australian and German firms are also involved in all four dam projects. Nang Lao Kham, a resident of Hsipaw's Ta Long village, where a 308-megawatt dam is slated to be completed in 2018, told The Irrawaddy "we are worried about our village, which is in the downriver area, so we want to be consulted if the new dams are to be built." "These can not be done without the proper public consultation," she continued. "We also want the current government [newly sworn-in today] to consider carefully before implementing any dam projects." Sai Kham Myat also told The Irrawaddy that in addition to their environmental concerns, the villagers in Ta Long have not yet received the compensation for farmland which was seized in order to build road infrastructure for the new dam projects. Community environmental groups first informed locals about the Namtu dams in 2014. Nang Lao Kham explained that they then sought solutions and input from local authorities at the township and district levels of their respective towns, but after two years, they still have not received a response. In February, locals enlisted help from the Shan lawmaker Sai Kham Aung from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). He represents Hsipaw's constituents in Parliament, and shared their appeal, speaking on their behalf regarding forced relocation as a result of the planned Namtu dam projects. In Wednesday's statement, Sai Khur Hseng of Shan Sapawa is quoted as saying "For Naypyidaw, to push ahead with large dams in conflict zones against the wishes of local ethnic communities, is thumbing their nose at the peace process." "If the new NLD-led government wants to build peace, they must immediately stop dams on Namtu River as well as other rivers in the conflict-affected ethnic areas," he added. The post Shan Community Groups Denounce European-Backed Dam Projects appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Advocacy Groups Engage Men to End Sexual Harassment Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:02 AM PDT Women at a temple in Rangoon on Dec. 3, 2011. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — With an increase in gender equality movements in recent years in Burma, advocacy groups are beginning to prioritize engaging men in an effort to end sexual harassment and violence against women. Gender experts say including men in gender awareness programs is one strategy to solve the country's gender-based violence. Htar Htar, founder of Akhaya Women, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the organization has tried to promote change in traditional Burmese gender norms, which incorrectly tell men that they are the more powerful gender, potentially leading them to commit sexual violence against women. "Men are taught by their families and society to be tough and to react in violent ways to solve problems," she said. "Women are taught to be soft, dependent, and to stay silent, which results in victim-blaming in rape cases." "Akhaya Women educates men about sexuality and gender identity in order to help [men] understand more about women's bodies," she said. "When we say 'sexuality,' it is not about how to have sex," she said. "We teach [men] to understand themselves and the nature of male and female bodies, so they can learn how to respect women." Male-dominated and socially conservative, Burma ranked 85th of 187 countries in a 2014 gender inequality index, according to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA). Although the UNFPA and civil society organizations helped draft an anti-violence law in July 2015, it was never enacted. Nilar Tun, national gender advisor of Care International Myanmar, said the organization began engaging men last July by providing trainings of trainers (TOT) workshops for male NGO employees, and hopes to do more community-level training. During the trainings, male participants were asked to reflect on their daily lives, and whether they had taken part in or witnessed any sort of sexual offense, she told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. She explained different patterns of gender-based violence to the men and encouraged them to speak out against sexual assault. "While reflecting, some of the men told me they realized they might have somehow committed sexual assault on women in their daily lives, either intentionally or unintentionally," she said. She said the majority of men who took part in the training programs had changed their attitude toward women. "They started to learn how to respect their partners, wives or girlfriends," she said. Dr. Sithu Htun, a member of the Gender Equality Network's Engaging Men Working Group initiative, echoed Nilar Tun. He told The Irrawaddy that he learned the effectiveness of men's involvement in stopping sexual harassment after receiving training from Care International. "I was afraid when I realized I might have committed sexual harassment, knowingly or unknowingly," he said, adding that before receiving the training, he wasn't aware of what actions could be defined as sexual harassment. "I learned that even catcalling counts as sexual harassment," he said. The trainers asked the men what might lead perpetrators to commit sexual assault. "Society expects men to be dominant, aggressive, heads of household who can feed their family members," he said. "When men cannot meet the social expectations of men, they feel pressured, and failing these expectations may lead them to have sexual aggression." Ethnic Chin activist Cheery Zahau told The Irrawaddy that men usually think that discussions about violence against women are not relevant to them. "This idea is so wrong," she said. "It impacts their family members—mothers, sisters, wives and female partners." Sithu Htun said engaging men in gender discussions was one of the most sustainable ways to end sexual violence against women, and that another way was to include gender identity lessons in Burma's school curriculums. Htar Htar also said including sex education lessons in school could reduce gender-based violence and discrimination against homosexuality. However, she raised concerns over the misunderstanding of "sex education" in traditional Burmese society. "Sex education means teaching children about the functions of human sex organs, like other body parts," she said. "I hope our society becomes less conservative, and allows people to understand what sex education really is." Cheery Zahau said including men in gender equality discussions remained a challenge. "Most Burmese men still don't seem ready to take part in gender discussions," she said. The post Advocacy Groups Engage Men to End Sexual Harassment appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

At 8.4%, Auspicious Outlook for Economic Growth: ADB Posted: 30 Mar 2016 05:34 AM PDT Cranes are reflected in the window of a newly constructed  shopping mall in Rangoon on Nov. 11, 2015. (Photo: Olivia Harris / Reuters) RANGOON — Burma's economic growth is forecast to recover to 8.4 percent in fiscal year 2016-17, a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Wednesday. In "Asian Development Outlook 2016," an annual ADB publication, this growth is in part attributed to positive political developments in Burma and structural reforms over the past several years, though obstacles remain for the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government that was sworn in on Wednesday, such as helping Burma to rebound from the widespread flooding and landslides last year that dropped economic growth to 7.2 percent. "Though economic reforms implemented since 2011 have had positive outcomes, Myanmar's new government will face the challenges of advancing economic reform, addressing infrastructure and labor shortages, and making progress towards peace and social cohesion," said Winfried Wicklein, ADB's country director in Burma, in a statement. "Moreover, intensified efforts are needed to connect and develop rural areas to improve access to markets and services, and to generate opportunities and jobs." Still, the ADB views Burma's economic outlook with judicious optimism. "We've reviewed political documents like the NLD's economic policy, and we've engaged with many people. The new government can accelerate reform," Wicklein said, adding that, going forward, the ADB would look to enhancing Burma's transportation infrastructure, which has suffered from decades of under-investment. "This year we're looking in particular to support Myanmar's transport sector. We're working closely with the government and private sector. This is a very exciting time for Myanmar. With the new government coming, investors are also looking to invest in Myanmar," Wicklein said during a press conference in Rangoon on Wednesday. According to the ADB, and estimated US$60 billion will be needed through 2030 to ramp up transport systems to the standards of other countries at similar stages of development. "This means increasing transport sector investments to the equivalent of 3 percent to 4 percent of gross domestic product from little more than 1 percent in recent years," said ADB deputy country director Peter Brimble in Wednesday's statement. The ADB also expects foreign direct investment to get a boost from Burma's internationally lauded, historic election in November, with funds flowing into new special economic zones (SEZs) and into the rapidly expanding transport, telecommunications and energy sectors. Among the main challenges that could hamper economic growth in Burma are high inflation, weak external and fiscal buffers, limited government capacity to retain reform momentum, protracted ethnic and religious tensions and vulnerability to bad weather, the regional lender said. The post At 8.4%, Auspicious Outlook for Economic Growth: ADB appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chaw Sandi Tun, Famed Facebook Antagonizer, Released From Prison Posted: 30 Mar 2016 05:27 AM PDT Chaw Sandi Tun, center, poses with women's rights advocates following her release from Maupin Prison on Wednesday. (Photo: May Sabe Phyu / Facebook) RANGOON — The Maupin Prison in Irrawaddy Division on Wednesday set free Chaw Sandi Tun, the 25-year-old National League for Democracy (NLD) supporter who was jailed last year for an online posting of a photo collage deemed defamatory to the military. She had been serving a six-month prison sentence after she was found guilty of defamation under Article 66(d) of Burma's Telecommunications Law for the Facebook post, which compared redesigned Burma Amy uniforms to a similarly colored traditional green htamein, a female longyi, worn by NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Detained on Oct. 12 and sentenced in late December, her discharge comes about a week earlier than expected. Upon her release, Chaw Sandi Tun told The Irrawaddy that prison authorities simply told her she was "due" to walk free. "I was put in solitary confinement for two months in a room of Insein Prison, as they considered me a politician. Thus I did not get a chance to speak to other prisoners in jail. I therefore had to speak out about it with the officials," she said. Prison authorities eventually transferred her to Maupin Prison and moved her into a shared cell, where she said conditions were crowded, sanitation lacking and prisoners were forced to sleep without protective mosquito netting, prompting fears of mosquito-borne illnesses. "Something that I would like to say is that they should have basic health care provision, with mosquito nets so that people can be prevented from [mosquito-borne illnesses like] Zika virus, which is reportedly dangerous and threatening people around the world," Chaw Sandi Tun told The Irrawaddy. She said Maupin Prison officials had arranged her travel from the prison to her home, despite her telling them that family and friends were willing to pick her up. "I think, they do not want many people to know about my release," she said. Chaw Sandi Tun's mother Ei San said police had detained her daughter in October while she was making merit at a meditation center in Rangoon, a move she found particularly galling. "In this case, it is totally unfair to my daughter, that they sentenced her to six months," Ei San said. As for her future, Chaw Sandi Tun said she had no immediate plans and had not yet decided what would follow her imprisonment, which became a cause célèbre among freedom of speech advocates. Chaw Sandi Tun is one of a handful of social media users in Burma that have run afoul of the law for their online activity over the last year. Most recently, on Monday, a local official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was sentenced to six months for sharing a fake, altered image of Suu Kyi transposed onto the body of a naked woman. The post Chaw Sandi Tun, Famed Facebook Antagonizer, Released From Prison appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

‘Super Minister’ Suu Kyi to Remain NLD’s Leader Posted: 30 Mar 2016 03:53 AM PDT Aung San Suu Kyi pictured in Parliament in Naypyidaw in March 2016. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi will continue to lead the National League for Democracy (NLD), despite holding ministerial positions that constitutionally ban her from party activities, according to the NLD spokesperson. Burma's 2008 Constitution states that if a government minister is a member of any political party, "[they] shall not take part in its party activities during the term of office, from the day [they are] appointed as a Union minister." After her nomination by President-elect Htin Kyaw, Suu Kyi was approved as a Cabinet member on March 24; her portfolio of multiple ministerial positions in foreign affairs, education, the President's office and electric power and energy was approved on Wednesday by the Union Parliament, designating her the new government's "super minister." The NLD spokesperson Zaw Myint Maung told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the Noble Peace Laureate will remain "the leader" of the party she has presided over since its formation in 1988. "She will no longer be involved in the party's activities, but she will be still the party leader," he explained. "The constitution doesn't say you have to leave the party if you take a Union minister position." An NLD-government will take power on April 1, after being sworn in at Parliament on Wednesday and winning a sweeping victory in the general election of 2015. During this time, Zaw Myint Maung explained that the party's leadership will be supplemented by a newly formed five-member secretariat and the party's existing central executive committee (CEC). The group is made up of NLD senior members, including Win Htein, Nyan Win, Lower House Speaker Win Myint, Han Tha Myint as well as spokesperson Zaw Myint Maung. Asked whether Suu Kyi would be involved in serious party decisions, the spokesperson said that the NLD's CEC team has the experience and ability to handle any situations which arise. "The NLD survived the difficult period when she was under house arrest," Zaw Myint Maung said of Suu Kyi's 15 years in detainment. "The situation now is not as serious as it was. We can collectively make it, if needed," he said. Even in Burma's previous military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) administration, it was ambiguous whether those with an executive position in the government could retain the top position in a political party. In 2015, former president Thein Sein resumed a leadership role within the USDP after he purged party chairman Shwe Mann from the position. Shwe Mann was originally selected for the role in 2013 as a replacement for Thein Sein, who, as President could no longer be involved in "party activities." The post 'Super Minister' Suu Kyi to Remain NLD's Leader appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Will YSX Deal a Blow to Burma’s Real Estate Market? Posted: 30 Mar 2016 02:20 AM PDT People wait outside the Yangon Stock Exchange in Rangon on March 25, 2016. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — Burma's newly launched Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) has left observers wondering what this could mean for the country's volatile real estate market. Rangoon, Burma's commercial capital, has for many years boasted the country's highest prices for property. Yet some experts believe that the emergence of the YSX, which kicked off trading on March 25 after months of internal dry-run testing, might poach investors who had previously invested solely in the real estate market. "It is quite encouraging that more than 110,000 shares were sold on the opening day of the stock exchange. At least 3.5 billion kyats [US$2.9 million] flowed into the stock exchange in a single day," Burma's then deputy finance minister, Maung Maung Thein, told the state-run Myanma Ahlin daily earlier this week. "[Given that] billions of kyats flowed into the stock exchange on the first day, [it's possible that] the property market may decline later." "We have created the stock exchange as a new place for investment so that [investors] no longer need to invest in a single sector." But not all experts believe that there will be such dramatic change, at least not yet. Than Oo, director of the Mandine Real Estate Agency, said the stock market would not immediately impact the real estate market, though it could affect property prices at a later date. "It's still hard to tell what will happen to the real estate market—whether it will 'wipe out' or whether prices will increase—because the stock market is still new. I will say, however, that some land and apartment prices may start falling, just not quickly," Than Oo said. "For right now, we're watching to see how the new government crafts economic policy, including this property business. There should be more coordination between respective government ministries, taking lessons from the previous government's errors." Demand for high-end property in Rangoon has declined in recent years, though the prices have remained relatively high, with the highest prices reaching some $1,500 per square foot for land near main roads, downtown townships and commercial hubs. A reluctance to buy and sell properties is often attributed to the wait-and-see attitude many landowners have toward Burma's political climate. Moe Moe Aung, secretary of the Myanmar Real Estate Association, said the real estate market was not likely to be affected by the YSX in the near term because people are still unfamiliar with shares trading. "People think that the real estate market is the only good way to invest money," she said. "Investors believe that if they invest money in land, they can make more money. That's why the price of land in prime locations won't fall very much but why prices in smaller townships and for apartments and condos could fall later." Burma's financial intelligence unit has been investigating the real estate industry since 2014, on suspicion that unchecked money laundering is rampant within country's property market and financial institutions, spurring the former's climb in recent years. Decades of economic sanctions and mismanagement have resulted in a relatively primitive investment climate in Burma, with property being one of the few assets trusted to hold value and few financial instruments on offer to the average investor. The post Will YSX Deal a Blow to Burma's Real Estate Market? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Arakan Chief Minister: We ‘Haven’t Discussed’ the State’s IDP Camps Posted: 30 Mar 2016 12:19 AM PDT Newly appointed Arakan State Chief Minister Nyi Pu, of the NLD, attends the state's parliament this week. (Photo: Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy) After his appointment to the role of Arakan State Chief Minister by the National League for Democracy (NLD), party member and Lower House MP Nyi Pu spoke to The Irrawaddy's Moe Myint on Tuesday about the local opposition to his selection for the post, the state level cabinet and terminology regarding the state's Muslim minority. Locals have been protesting against you and the NLD. What do you think about this? I have heard there are several protests. All those matters are concerning the development of Arakan State and maybe they are expressing their personal wishes. I have nothing special to say about that [to protestors]. I would like to say that people should do what benefits their state. If these rallies continue happening, what will you do? I can't say precisely what is going to happen next, it's really difficult to say. As I said, if we have difficulties, we have to solve them together. Many Arakanese have strong ideas regarding partisanship. What challenges could you face as the chief minister of Arakan State? There may be some difficulties in Arakan State, but no matter whether we call them challenges or difficulties, we will try our best and collaborate with others to solve the problems—people who can help us. I will cooperate with them, but I haven't specified who that might be. The NLD government has decreased the number of Union ministries and ministers. What will the state-level cabinet look like? Will the number of state level ministers also decrease? It is possible. I don't know exactly right now. It is uncomfortable to say because it hasn't officially been announced yet. I have selected some people. The central authorities [of the NLD] are choosing. NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi met with the 14 appointed Union ministers in Naypyidaw last week and they reportedly discussed their conceptual plan for the first 100 days in power. Do you have a strategy for your first 100 days as chief minister? We had a plan, but later, when we start to serve our duties, I will discuss and negotiate these matters with the state level ministers who are involved in the cabinet. We have many things to do. After the discussion, we will decide which matters should be targeted as the first priorities. Would you give some examples of that? They will concern Arakan State development. After Arakan State's riots in 2012, many people became displaced and were forced to seek shelter in refugee, or IDP, camps within the region. Community tensions have not eased yet and security has been heightened in several quarters and villages. How will you proceed—will you maintain these camps in the same manner as the previous administration? I can't say exactly at this time and haven't discussed this. Many locals refer to the people in these camps as 'Bengali' and allege that they migrated from Bangladesh, but many in the international community know them as 'Rohingya.' As you are an ethnic Arakanese minister, how do you regard them—which term will you use? Before us, the previous government already specified which to use the word for them and Suu Kyi has considered it too, recently. That is all I can say. So, you are going to follow the previous government's usage? At the moment, that still exists. When the Arakan State state speaker read your name as the chief minister appointee to the regional legislature, all of the Arakan National Party (ANP) MPs walked out on Monday. Can you comment on that? I realize they had [their own] feelings about how to develop their state and they showed their dissatisfaction. That's all. On the ground, are there any bad relationships between NLD and ANP MPs? Not bad, but we have some difficulties—they vary but they are difficult to unveil. Suu Kyi meet with Naypyidaw-based ANP MPs and asked about collaboration. You are the one who has to talk everyday with Sittwe-based ANP MPs. Have you asked also them for collaboration on the ground? Collaboration is the designated policy of our party and I will do as much as I can, based on the party's policies. According to state media, the state of emergency that had been placed on Arakan State in June 2012 following communal riots was lifted on Monday, on the second to last day of the outgoing administration's term. It also coincided with the protests mentioned earlier. What do you think about the government's decision to do this? Was it intentional or coincidental? When it is retracted, people are independent and they can protest freely. People also protested due to the military regime. In a democratic country, it is [their right to do this]. I have no feeling about this. The post Arakan Chief Minister: We 'Haven't Discussed' the State's IDP Camps appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Faces of the Next Five Years: Burma’s Sworn-In Leadership Posted: 29 Mar 2016 11:32 PM PDT President Htin Kyaw (center) and Vice Presidents Henry Van Thio (right) and Myint Swe (left) are sworn in at Union Parliament on Wednesday. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) After 54 years, Burma now has a civilian president. Htin Kyaw, the ninth president of Burma, along with two vice presidents and 18 cabinet members, was sworn in at the Union Parliament in Naypyidaw on Wednesday, ushering Burma into a new chapter in the country's democratization process. Those who have spent their entire lives under a military regime will likely celebrate this shift, which marks a milestone on, rather than an end to, the country's political journey. Yet a number of acute problems—armed clashes, rampant corruption, natural resource exploitation, strong centralization and bureaucratic red-tape—lie ahead for both the Burmese public and the National League for Democracy's (NLD) government to tackle. There were 36 ministries under the previous administration, but the NLD has reduced this number to 21 in order to streamline the Cabinet; below are the men—and woman—who will lead Burma's government through the next five years. Htin Kyaw (President)(Photo: The Irrawaddy) Htin Kyaw (President) Born in 1946, the 69-year-old is the oldest president in Burma's history. He is the second son of Min Thuwun, one of Burma's respected national poets. The Mon-Burmese University of London graduate was a senior executive with the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, a non-profit health and education charity named for Suu Kyi's mother. He is believed to one of The Lady's right-hand men. His wife, Su Su Lwin, is a Lower House NLD lawmaker and the chairperson for the chamber's international relations committee. Myint Swe (Vice President 1)(Photo: Pyi Kyaw/The Irrawaddy) Myint Swe (Vice President 1) Brig-Gen Myint Swe was born in 1951 and is a graduate of the 15th intake of the Defense Services Academy (DSA) in 1971. In the late 1990s, Myint Swe took over outgoing president Thein Sein's role as general staff officer, a powerful position in the War Office, where he worked directly under Snr-Gen Than Shwe and Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye. He became commander of Light Infantry Division 11 in 1997. Later, he was appointed Commander of the army's Southeastern Command and Rangoon Command. A member of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) since 2001, Myint Swe also acted as the chairman of the SPDC in Rangoon Division. Myint Swe became the Chief of Military Security Affairs after Khin Nyunt was purged in 2004. Two years later, he was appointed the head of the Bureau of Special Operations (5), a department that oversees security affairs in Rangoon. In 2009, he became quartermaster-general of the armed forces and rumors circulated that he was Than Shwe's choice for the next commander-in-chief. Instead he became the chief minister for Rangoon Division after the 2012 by-elections. In this role, he was involved in the 2002 arrest of family members of the former dictator Ne Win, the arrest of Khin Nyunt and his associates in 2004, and the crushing of the Saffron Revolution in 2007. Henry Van Thio (Vice President 2) (Photo: The Irrawaddy) Henry Van Thio (Vice President 2) Henry Van Thio was born in Thee Khi village in Htantalan Township in Chin State on August 9, 1958. The Chin Christian holds a BA (Dip in Law). He served as a Major in the Burma Army, as well as in different positions in Ministry of Industry (1), before retiring in 2009. He is married and has two sons and a daughter. He joined the National League for Democracy (NLD) in 2015 and in the national election of that same year, he contested and won in Chin State Constituency (3), earning a seat in Burma's Upper House. Aung San Suu Kyi (Photo: The Irrawaddy) Aung San Suu Kyi (Foreign Affairs, Education, Electric Power and Energy, President's Office Minister) NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi's presidential aspirations were dashed by the military's refusal to amend Article 59(f) of Burma's 2008 Constitution. The provision bars her from holding the executive post because her two sons are British citizens, as was her late husband. As the holder of four cabinet positions, some are referring to Suu Kyi's role in the new government as that of a "super minister." She has been representing Rangoon's Kawhmu Township in Parliament's Lower House since 2012 and has been a leader in Burma's pro-democracy movement since she entered politics in 1988. Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe (Home Affairs Minister) Born on Nov. 27, 1959 in Kyauk Padaung, Mandalay Division, Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe is a graduate of the 22nd intake of the Defense Services Academy and holds a master's degree in defense. He served as principal of the Defense Services Academy, the commander of South West Command, the Military Security Affairs chief and Border Affairs Minister in the previous government. Lt-Gen Sein Win, the country's Defense Minister, with Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s grandson Nay Shwe Thway Aung on a passenger plane. (Photo: Nay Shwe Thway Aung / Facebook) Lt-Gen Sein Win (Defense Minister) Born on July 24, 1956 in Sagaing Division, Lt-Gen Sein Win is a graduate of the 54th intake of the Officer Training School of the Burma Army and holds a master's degree in defense. He served as chief of the Bureau of Air Defense and was the Defense Minister in the previous government. Lt-Gen Ye Aung (Border Affairs Minister) Born on June 8, 1960 in Chauk, Magwe Division, Lt-Gen Ye Aung is a graduate of the 23rd intake of the Defense Services Academy and holds a master's degree in defense. He served as the commander of the army's Central Command and is Judge Advocate General in the service. He is also a military representative in the peace talks between the government, ethnic armed groups and the Burma Army. Pe Myint (Photo: The Irrawaddy) Pe Myint (Information Minister) Born in 1949 in Thandwe, Arakan State, the ethnic Arakanese earned his medical degree from the Rangoon University of Medicine in 1975. He worked as a general physician until entering the literary sphere in 1988. He is a renowned writer and is particularly known for his translated works on motivation and personal development. He won Burma's national literature award in 1995. Thura Aung Ko (Religious Affairs and Culture Minister(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Thura Aung Ko (Religious Affairs and Culture Minister) Born on April 1, 1948, the long-time Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) central executive committee member was a Lower House MP and chairperson of the Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee during Thein Sein's administration. He lost his Chin State legislative seat in the 2015 election to a candidate from the NLD. Thura Aung Ko graduated from Burma's Defense Services Academy and served in the military from 1969 to 1997. He had reached the level of brigadier-general when he then joined the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) government and served as deputy minister in the Ministry of Science and Technology and later held the same position in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Aung Thu (Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Minister)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Aung Thu (Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Minister) Born on July 8, 1955, the NLD lawmaker currently represents Rangoon Constituency (6) in Parliament's Upper House. He is known for his past role as the rector of Rangoon University, and has advocated for a more decentralized education system in Burma. Thant Zin Maung (Transportation and Telecommunications Minister)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Thant Zin Maung (Transportation and Telecommunications Minister) Born on Nov. 15, 1953, Thant Zin Maung has a master's degree in mathematics and was once the general manager of the government-owned Myanmar Railways. He is a Lower House lawmaker representing Monywa in Sagaing Division. Ohn Win (Resource and Environmental Conservation Minister)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Ohn Win (Resource and Environmental Conservation Minister) Born on June 15, 1951, Ohn Win earned a master's degree in watershed management from Colorado State University in the United States. He is a former pro-rector and professor from the University of Forestry in Yezin, near Naypyidaw, Burma's capital.   Thein Swe (Minister for Labor and Immigration)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Thein Swe (Minister for Labor and Immigration) Born on Aug. 4, 1949 in Yenangyaung, Magwe Division, Thein Swe is a graduate of the 13th intake of the Defense Services Academy. He holds a diploma certificate in defense studies (National Defense College), an honorary academic doctorate (Japan International Marine Science and Technology Federation) and a post-graduate diploma in law. He was in the service from 1967 to 2003 and rose through the ranks to major general. He served as the Minister for Transport from 2005 to 2010. He is from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), served in the previous Parliament and is a lawmaker in the Lower House for Arakan State's Ann Township. Khin Maung Cho (Minister for Industry)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Khin Maung Cho (Minister for Industry) Born on Nov. 3, 1950 in Meikhtila, Mandalay Division, Khin Maung Cho has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Rangoon Institute of Technology and is an executive engineer at Super Seven Stars Motor Industry Company Ltd. Than Myint (Commerce Minister) Born on Jan. 17, 1943, the 72-year-old joined the NLD in 2012. Than Myint is currently the chairman of the Hlaing Tharyar Township NLD chapter and a lawmaker in the Lower House representing the same area. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from Rangoon University and also earned master's and doctoral degrees in the US. In the past, he served in a number of positions within the Ministry of Finance. Dr. Myint Htwe (Health Minister) Myint Htwe worked in Burma's Health Ministry from 1976 to 1994 before joining the World Health Organization. He studied at Rangoon University of Medicine, then the Institute of Public Health of the University of Philippines and finally, Johns Hopkins University in the United States, where he earned a doctoral degree in international health and epidemiology. At present, Myint Htwe is a central executive committee (CEC) member of the Myanmar Academy of Medical Science and the vice chairman of the Myanmar Liver Foundation. He is also a member of the Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission. Kyaw Win (Planning and Finance Minister)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Kyaw Win (Planning and Finance Minister) Born on Feb. 23, 1948, Kyaw Win holds a bachelor's degree in economics. He spent 20 years working within the National Planning Ministry before joining the Internal Revenue Department and then shifting to business consulting. Currently, Kyaw Win is an NLD lawmaker in the Lower House representing Rangoon's Dagon Seikkan Township. Win Khaing (Construction Minister)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Win Khaing (Construction Minister) Win Khaing graduated from Rangoon Institute of Technology (now Yangon Technological University) and worked for Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise under the Construction Ministry. In 1990, he established United Engineering Co., which still operates today. He is the current chairman of the Myanmar Engineering Society and a member of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC). He is also a member of the National Energy Management Committee (NEMC), Myanmar Industrial Development Committee (MIDC), Myanmar Board of Engineers (MBE), Committee for Quality Control of High-rise Buildings Projects (CQHP), Asean Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) and Asean Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET). Win Myat Aye (Photo : The Irrawaddy) Win Myat Aye (Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister) Born on June 1, 1954, Win Myat Aye is an Upper House lawmaker from Pegu Division's Constituency (4). He is also a pediatrician and once served as the rector of Magwe University of Medicine. Ohn Maung, left. (Photo: supplied) Ohn Maung (Hotels and Tourism Minister) Sixty-eight-year-old Ohn Maung has 40 years of experience in the tourism industry and is the former CEO of Inle Princess Resort, a hotel recognized for practices of corporate social responsibility. From southern Shan State, Ohn Maung was elected as an NLD parliamentarian in his native Nyaungshwe (Yawnghwe) in Burma's 1990 election, but like others from the era, he was not allowed to take office. Nai Thet Lwin (Ethnic Affairs Minister)(Photo: Myo Min Soe /The Irrawaddy) Nai Thet Lwin (Ethnic Affairs Minister) The 76-year-old ethnic Mon minister is the vice chairman of the Mon National Party (MNP), and is highly respected within the Mon political sphere. Nai Thet Lwin was born in Karen State's Kawkareik Township and later went to Moulmein University, from which he holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy. Although he did not run for election in 1990, he served as the vice chairman of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), which won five seats before later evolving into today's MNP. Nai Thet Lwin reportedly has close ties with the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), a coalition of ethnic political parties and an NLD ally. He also reportedly has good relations with leaders of the New Mon State Party (NMSP). The post The Faces of the Next Five Years: Burma's Sworn-In Leadership appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Swearing In, Speech and Handover Mark Day of Shifting Power Posted: 29 Mar 2016 10:36 PM PDT President Htin Kyaw delivers a speech to lawmakers following his swearing in on Wednesday. (Photo: Screengrab of Hluttaw TV) RANGOON — President Htin Kyaw was sworn in and delivered a brief speech to Parliament on Wednesday, emphasizing familiar themes of his party, the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy (NLD), and noting the significance of his history-making presidency. National reconciliation; peace-building; democratic constitutional reform based on principles of federalism; and improving livelihoods were listed by the president as priorities for his administration. "The second Parliament and cabinets, which are the result of the 2015 November general election, are formed in accordance with the policies of the NLD, which is led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," he said, alluding to the most famous non-president in the parliamentary chamber on Wednesday. Htin Kyaw, who was sworn in earlier in the morning, indicated that his party's push to amend the country's 2008 Constitution would continue as it takes the reins of government. "I have an obligation to work toward having a Constitution that is of a democratic standard and which is suitable for the country," he said. "I understand that we have to work patiently to achieve the political ambitions that our public has sought for many years." At less than three minutes, the speech was as notable for what wasn't said as what was, in a country beset by problems and—as evidenced by the NLD's November election triumph—eager for the leadership of its chairwoman Suu Kyi. For now, anyway, the face of that leadership will be Htin Kyaw. Burma's first civilian president in more than five decades will also be the country's first "proxy president," described by Suu Kyi as an obedient executor of her will. The unusual arrangement was deemed necessary by the NLD chairwoman after her campaign to amend a constitutional provision barring her from the post came up short. Article 59(f) bars anyone with foreign spouses or offspring from the presidency, rendering Suu Kyi ineligible because her two sons are British, as was her late husband. Htin Kyaw was put forward by the NLD on March 10 and won the most votes among three vice presidential nominees five days later. The two runners up, military appointee Myint Swe and NLD lawmaker Henry Van Thio, will serve in Htin Kyaw's administration as vice president Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. Suu Kyi will take four ministerial portfolios in Htin Kyaw's cabinet, ensuring she will remain close to the action in the executive branch at the head of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Electric Power & Energy, and Education, as well as acting as President's Office minister. Like Htin Kyaw, she was sworn in on Wednesday in Parliament, along with 17 other ministers. Htin Kyaw succeeds former President Thein Sein, the retired general who presided over a quasi-civilian Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government lauded for undertaking a series of dramatic political and economic reforms over the last five years, but also criticized for failing to push changes further. While Thein Sein opened the political space to a greater degree of freedom compared with the repressive junta that preceded his government, peaceful protestors continued to be imprisoned under his watch, and efforts to amend Burma's controversial Constitution faltered last year, with Thein Sein indicating little appetite for changes to the charter. That mixed legacy will no doubt be the subject of much debate in the years to come. His successor, in closing remarks, promised a government responsive to its citizens. "In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the Union government will work with full attention to fulfill the public's expectations and desires," Htin Kyaw told lawmakers on Wednesday. A ceremonial transfer of power took place at the Presidential Palace less than an hour later, with Thein Sein handing over a golden presidential sash and dossier of responsibilities to Htin Kyaw. The five-minute ceremony was attended by Suu Kyi and other members of Htin Kyaw's cabinet, as well as ministers of the outgoing, military-backed USDP executive. The post Swearing In, Speech and Handover Mark Day of Shifting Power appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

US: North Korea Threat Compels Security Steps China Won’t Like Posted: 29 Mar 2016 09:24 PM PDT US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-Koo during their meeting at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, January 20, 2016. (Photo: Kim Hong-Ji / Reuters) WASHINGTON — A senior US diplomat said Tuesday that if North Korea keeps advancing its weapons programs, the US will be compelled to take defensive measures that China will not like. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a Washington think tank that North Korea is getting closer to having a nuclear-tipped missile that could threaten the continental U.S. He said that while China's influence over the North has diminished, it still has economic leverage. "If China is looking to assure that we are not required to take additional steps for our own security and that of our partners and allies that it won't like, the best thing it can do is to engage with us in dealing with North Korea," Blinken told the Brookings Institution. He spoke ahead of a Thursday meeting in Washington between President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a global nuclear security summit, weeks after China agreed to new stiff sanctions against North Korea, in response to its recent nuclear test and rocket launch. Blinken called for China to take a "lead role" in the implementation of the sanctions. He said the US is willing to provide to China specifications of a US missile defense system that may be deployed in South Korea to counter the threat of North Korean missiles, to offer assurance it would not undermine China's strategic deterrence. Both China and Russia oppose the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system that is under discussion between Washington and Seoul. China has expressed concern that a THAAD system placed in South Korea would allow US radar to also cover Chinese territory. The post US: North Korea Threat Compels Security Steps China Won't Like appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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