The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Japan Promises Full Backing of Development Efforts in Burma
• Laws Restricting Media to Be Amended: Minister
• A Note From the Newsroom on World Press Freedom Day
• Nationalist Provocateur Faces Defamation Suit Over Potshots at Powerful Trio
• Fire at Arakan State IDP Camp Leaves Hundreds Homeless
• Military Chief Warns of Division Amid Army-Shwe Mann Row
• Fresh Clashes Erupt Between Ethnic Factions in Shan State
• A Tale of Two Mega-Dams: Burma and Borneo
• Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (May 3)
• Massacre Survivors Give Indonesian Govt List of Mass Graves
• Japan to Support Mekong Countries With $7b Over Three Years
• ‘Drug-Addicted People Should Not Be Treated as Criminals’

Japan Promises Full Backing of Development Efforts in Burma Posted: 03 May 2016 08:18 AM PDT Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida , left, and his Burmese counterpart Aung San Suu Kyi hold a press conference in Naypyidaw on Tuesday. (Photo: Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy) NAYPYIDAW — Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at a press conference here on Tuesday that Tokyo pledged its full-tilt support for development efforts in Burma. "We'll cooperate with the Myanmar government to create a climate that will benefit both the people of Myanmar and Japanese businesses," the foreign minister said, specifically pointing out his country's ambition to spur job creation, as well as development of the agriculture, education, finance, health care and infrastructure sectors in Burma. "Japan will do as much as it can to help Myanmar with national reconciliation," Kishida added, stating a desire to help the former pariah state re-engage internationally. National League for Democracy (NLD) chairwoman and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi said she appreciated Japan's goodwill and generosity toward Burma. The Japanese foreign minister said he hoped Suu Kyi would visit Japan again. The last time Suu Kyi made the trip was in 2013, after her party won a parliamentary by-election the previous year. Kishida also met with President Htin Kyaw on Tuesday to talk about developing ties between their two countries, according to the President's Office. The post Japan Promises Full Backing of Development Efforts in Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Laws Restricting Media to Be Amended: Minister Posted: 03 May 2016 08:13 AM PDT Pe Myint, Burma's information minister, at the parliamentary complex in Naypyidaw in March. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burmese media should look forward to enjoying more freedom as laws enacted under the previous government are repealed, according to Information Minister Pe Myint, who spoke in Rangoon on Tuesday in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. The minister told The Irrawaddy that he would not move forward alone, but rather intended to collaborate with media organizations to decide how to proceed before taking their recommendations to Parliament. He declined to give a specific timeframe for when the laws would be amended or repealed, and referred reporters to the Myanmar Press Council (MPC), which he said would lead this endeavor. Myint Kyaw, a member of the MPC, said the Ministry of Information would be responsible for handling a broadcast law, while the MPC would review the news media law. However, the state secrets act, some defamation legislation, and laws forbidding journalists from contacting ethnic armed organizations have affected journalists and are vestiges of British colonial rule, meaning responsibility for reform on those fronts falls to Parliament. "We need to provide detailed reports and recommendations concerning the media laws, and we must present a well-informed legal perspective, so that we can get the related government ministries to take action," Myint Kyaw said. Media organizations can provide recommendations and other relevant information over the next three months, he said. After the ceremony, Pe Myint met with several private media outlets, which pressed the minister to remove the advertisement pages from three government mouthpieces. The organizations claimed that the state-run dailies function as a vacuum in the industry, drawing in almost all advertising revenue, to the disadvantage of private media. The information minister was noncommittal in response to the private media outlets' concerns. "We will come up with a reasonable ratio of news pages to advertisement pages," he said. Media organizations have so far largely applauded the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which has seen support buoyed by its release of students, journalists and other political prisoners just a few weeks after coming to power. With regard to transparency, members of the press may see a more information-friendly environment over the coming years compared with the NLD government's often opaque predecessor: According to Pe Myint's 100-day plan, every ministry will have a dedicated communications officer to liaise with the media. The post Laws Restricting Media to Be Amended: Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

A Note From the Newsroom on World Press Freedom Day Posted: 03 May 2016 08:08 AM PDT Journalists await Aung San Suu Kyi during a meeting of her National League for Democracy in Rangoon following the party's by-election triumph in April 2012. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — If we Burmese have one thing to be thankful for on this World Press Freedom Day, it is that this year there are no journalists behind bars, imprisoned for doing their jobs. As was the case for pro-democracy activists and other dissidents, prison cells in Burma were once frequently home to reporters—both under the oppressive former junta and during the term of the quasi-civilian government that succeeded it. Shortly after the country's first civilian government in some 50 years assumed office on April 1, the administration released four journalists and their publication's CEO, together with nearly 300 other political prisoners and others on trial for politically motivated offenses. This condition—prisons without journalists—is a low but important bar for any country assessing its press freedom. Subjected to decades of censorship and persecution, a new era has dawned for Burmese journalists, but work toward consolidating a truly free and independent press remains. There are several matters that must still be addressed to pave the way for genuine press freedom in Burma, and in this the new National League for Democracy (NLD) government has a crucial role to play. The NLD's ruling predecessors were reliably hostile to the press and regarded private media as their enemy, while simultaneously using state-run newspapers and broadcasters to peddle government propaganda. The new government has vowed to take a different approach. "The news media is the eyes and ears of the people," reads part of the NLD's election manifesto, released ahead of the November vote. "We will ensure that the media has the right to stand independently in accordance with self-regulation of matters relating to ethics and dignity, and the right to gather and disseminate news." The manifesto continues: "We will support the rights of television and radio broadcasters, print media (magazines, journals, newspapers, etc), and telephone and internet service providers to compete openly on the free market." We journalists love this vision and are anxious to see how the NLD-led government will make it a reality as soon as possible. But for now, though state media's content is decidedly more "newsy" than it was under the previous administrations, the fact remains: government-run dailies and broadcasters continue to exist with the government's agenda in mind. As a rule, the Fourth Estate should serve as an independent actor, not affiliated with any political party, including that of the ruling government. Only then can the media perform its duty as watchdog of all other political, business and social institutions. Thus, we in the private media are waiting to see what changes are in store. The status quo cannot hold for the next five years if the NLD is genuine in the aims laid out in its manifesto. Furthermore, restrictive laws that have been and could again be used to muzzle the media remain on the books and should be revoked as soon as possible. Media laws enacted by the previous government should be reviewed to ensure that they promote press freedom and protect journalists. Unesco's theme for World Press Freedom Day this year is "Access to information and fundamental freedoms. This is your right!" Its concept note states: "Press freedom and access to information are essential to democracy and to sustainable development. Journalism helps make this so. Sometimes referred to as a 'watchdog' of political and societal institutions, journalism is also much more: It demonstrates freedom of expression for society at large, it puts new questions on the development agenda, and it empowers citizens with information. It provides a context in which the diversity of cultural expressions can flourish. "For all these reasons, strengthening the conditions for journalism is key to developing a culture of openness, access to information and fundamental freedoms." On this front, too, the NLD has work to do, with the party proving thus far to be disinclined to provide information and media access. While its coy proclivities may have been justifiable during the uncertain transition period to a new government, it will increasingly hamper the media's ability to disseminate accurate information in the years to come if the party does not adopt a more open approach to its press relations. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also weighed in on the significance of Tuesday, and not just for members of the media. "On this World Press Freedom Day, I urge all Governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent, free media," he said. "Without this fundamental right, people are less free and less empowered. With it, we can work together for a world of dignity and opportunity for all." It is our hope that the incumbent government will have a like-minded vision to allow independent media to thrive, in the process helping to empower every citizen in the country. On this World Press Freedom Day, The Irrawaddy lauds great progress on matters that the commemoration concerns, but notes that true freedom of the press has yet to be achieved in Burma. The post A Note From the Newsroom on World Press Freedom Day appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Nationalist Provocateur Faces Defamation Suit Over Potshots at Powerful Trio Posted: 03 May 2016 06:15 AM PDT Nay Myo Wai, chairman of the Peace and Diversity Party, is ironically best known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Nationalist politician Nay Myo Wai has been sued under Burma's Telecommunications Law for allegedly defaming the country's president, army chief and state counselor on social media. Nay Myo Wai is chairman of the Peace and Diversity Party, as well as a supporter of the Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha whose anti-Muslim invectives are well-known among followers of Burmese politics. Wai Yan Aung, an executive member of the Burma Teachers' Federation, filed the lawsuit against Nay Myo Wai, accusing him of defaming President Htin Kyaw, Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Tin Maung Soe, a friend of the litigant who accompanied him to the police station in Irrawaddy Division's Kangyidaunt Township, told The Irrawaddy that the suit was filed Tuesday under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law. According to Tin Maung Soe, Nay Myo Wai uploaded posts and photos to his Facebook account from April 25 to April 30 that defamed the president, the head of the army and the state counselor. "His posts frequently try to stir unrest using religion and nationalism," Tin Maung Soe said. "We will wait to see how the judiciary rules." One of the posts in question pictures Suu Kyi as a beggar and another uses photoshop to portray her in a sexist light. Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law stipulates punishment of up to three years' imprisonment for using a telecommunications network to defame. "I believe as a good citizen I should do something to stop [Nay Myo Wai] from spreading defamatory posts and photos, which could lead to disintegration of the Union," Wai Yan Aung told the local publication Mizzima. "We can't forgive him for that." Several cases on charges under the Telecommunications Law rose to prominence during the term of Burma's previous, military-backed government, including that of Kachin aid worker Patrick Khum Jaa Lee, who was sentenced to six months in prison for a Facebook post that a court deemed defamatory to the Burma Army. Chaw Sandi Tun also received six months for a Facebook post that likewise was found to have insulted the military, while a local Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) official got six months for sharing fake, altered images of the head of Suu Kyi transposed onto the body of a naked woman. The post Nationalist Provocateur Faces Defamation Suit Over Potshots at Powerful Trio appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Fire at Arakan State IDP Camp Leaves Hundreds Homeless Posted: 03 May 2016 05:21 AM PDT The aftermath of a fire at Baw Du Ba IDP camp that left hundreds, mostly members of the Rohingya minority, homeless. (Photo: Win San Dar Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A fire near Arakan State's Sittwe Township left hundreds of Rohingya Muslims homeless as it swept through dozens of shelters at the Baw Du Ba internally displaced person (IDP) camp on Tuesday, local sources said. Kyaw Thein, an IDP at the camp, told The Irrawaddy over the phone that the fire was likely caused by a cooking accident in one of the longhouses at around 9am and then spread to surrounding areas until firefighters were able to extinguish the flames about 90 minutes later. "A total of 392 families stayed in the 49 longhouses. We don't yet know the exact population [of the camp]," said Kyaw Thein, who added that some people were wounded in the fire. Camp authorities and local UN agencies offered medical treatment to those who were injured and collected the names of people who lost their homes in the fire, who will meanwhile be forced to take shelter with other IDPs at the camp, according to local sources. Despite rumors that the fire claimed the lives of some children, Aung Win, an eyewitness, said there had been no official confirmation of these claims. Some 10,000 IDPs, most members of the Rohingya minority, live at Baw Du Ba camp, which was established shortly after violence flared between Arakanese Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State in 2012. More than 100,000 Rohingya IDPs are estimated to be living in Arakan State camps like Baw Du Ba, enduring conditions frequently condemned by aid organizations. The post Fire at Arakan State IDP Camp Leaves Hundreds Homeless appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Military Chief Warns of Division Amid Army-Shwe Mann Row Posted: 03 May 2016 04:47 AM PDT   Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is seen among military officers on Monday at the Rangoon Regional Command. (Photo: Min Aung Hlaing / Facebook) RANGOON — Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Burma's armed forces, has warned military officers that there are people who wanted to sow seeds of division within the army, in a wide-ranging speech that included a call for soldiers to read more books and steer clear of cigarettes and betel nut. Made on Monday to assembled officers at the Rangoon Regional Command, his statements come just a few days after the military upbraided the former general and ex-Speaker of Parliament Shwe Mann for remarks that were received as an implicit criticism of the armed forces and the former government that it backed. "Some people's assessment of the Tatmadaw's [Burma Army] stance and goals with regards to this current political transition is inaccurate," Min Aung Hlaing said. "They may destroy the unity and weaken the strength of the army. The top priority must be to keep the army united." "Unity is strength," he said. "It is of vital importance to enhancing the country's national defense." On April 23, Shwe Mann posted a message on his Facebook page in which he used terminology that distinguished a new intake of officers from veterans and long-serving members of the armed forces. The politician then went on to praise the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and imply that the previous military governments and their Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) successor had not worked for the benefit of the country. "The remark, 'It is the right time for our brothers to cooperate with much rejoicing [at the NLD's 2015 election victory],' shows that Shwe Mann ignores the fact that the Tatmadaw has repeatedly promised to cooperate with the government elected by the people," a military response to Shwe Mann's statement read. "Therefore, we oppose the statement made by Shwe Mann … because it may cause people to misunderstand the efforts of past governments to serve the country," the statement continued. "[Shwe Mann's comments] obfuscate the stance of the Tatmadaw and consequently harm the ongoing national reconciliation efforts and may result in the disintegration of the Tatmadaw." Though he did not explicitly mention Shwe Mann, the senior-general's comments on Monday cleaved closely to the sentiment of the official military statement. "It was the support of the Tatmadaw that ensured the freedom and fairness before, during and after the second election [in 2015]," Min Aung Hlaing said. "I am very proud of what the Tatmadaw did at that time." An unofficial English-language translation of the full speech, including references to the value of being well-read and the moral pitfalls of smoking and chewing betel nut, can be read here. The post Military Chief Warns of Division Amid Army-Shwe Mann Row appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Fresh Clashes Erupt Between Ethnic Factions in Shan State Posted: 03 May 2016 01:16 AM PDT A composite image shows troops from the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), left, and a Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) soldier. (Photos: The Irrawaddy) Fierce clashes erupted between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in eastern Burma's Shan State on Sunday, according to representatives from the two warring ethnic groups. The hostilities marked the latest round of fighting in an armed conflict that first broke out in late November last year. "[The TNLA troops] attacked our forces in the villages of Hseng Leng and Lwel Hweng, at the border of Mantong and Mongwi," RCSS spokesperson Lt-Col Hseng Murng told reporters on Monday in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where his group was meeting with the Karen National Union (KNU), another ethnic armed group. "They launched the attacks in the morning of May 1, and the attacks continued almost the entire day. On May 2, the fighting started before 6:00 am." Casualty figures for either side were not immediately clear. The RCSS signed the so-called Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with Burma's previous government in October, but the TNLA did not. The TNLA claims the RCSS was previously operating in northern Shan State with a battalion of just 100 soldiers, but then after signing the NCA, the Shan armed group stepped up its recruitment efforts, expanding its presence in the area. This has made clashes unavoidable, according to Tar Pan La, the foreign affairs representative of the TNLA. "The RCSS has increased their activities and our territory has shrunk to avoid [RCSS troops]," Tar Pan La said. "This has made our territory more difficult to control." In February, the Burma Army warned the RCSS to withdraw its troops to its own territory following the first round of fighting with the TNLA, but this directive does not appear to have been heeded. The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), a nine-member alliance of ethnic armed groups, has attempted to mediate the two warring groups' territorial feud, to no avail. The post Fresh Clashes Erupt Between Ethnic Factions in Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

A Tale of Two Mega-Dams: Burma and Borneo Posted: 03 May 2016 01:01 AM PDT Protestors hold banners against the Baram mega-dam project in Sarawak, part of Malaysian Borneo. (Photo: SAVE Rivers Network) Construction of a massive hydroelectric dam meets local opposition. The project potentially profits far away investors, including multinationals from China. As indigenous people's rights are violated with land confiscation for the project, which would flood biodiverse forests, support for a campaign to stop the dam increases and international awareness grows. Eventually it is announced that the dam project is suspended. Then, under a new administration, the government announces that the dam is completely canceled and the land will be returned to the indigenous people. Most of this scenario describes the Myitsone dam project in Burma's Kachin State, and it also describes the Baram dam in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The last sentence is where the two situations differ, as of late March of this year. On March 21, the Sarawak state government announced that the Baram dam would not be built. But the fate of the Myitsone dam is unknown, with a decision by Burma's new National League for Democracy-led government possibly to come soon. The Myitsone dam project, if revived at the scenic and revered Mali Hka and N'Mai Hka confluence would risk disaster for Burma's vital Irrawaddy watershed. The power generated would go almost entirely to neighboring China, just as the Baram dam's power would only have benefitted mainland Malaysia's industrialists and corrupt politicians. The Baram dam, in planning stages since 2010, would have flooded approximately 400 square kilometers to generate 1,200 megawatts (MWs) of power as part of a grand scheme to industrialize Borneo with power-intensive industries like aluminum smelting. Sarawak's Penan, Kayan and Kenyah indigenous peoples came together to oppose damming the Baram River, having witnessed the damage done to livelihoods and habitats by other mega-dams in Borneo, such as the 2,400-MW Bakun dam, which relocated an estimated 10,000 people, many now dwelling in miserable disease-ridden settlements. Some 20,000 Sarawak inhabitants were to be displaced by the Baram dam. In a September 2015 speech, Penan activist Nick Kelesau stated, "They will be forced into resettlement camps or will try to move up from the valley to lands that belong to others. Either way is not sustainable. The camps do not provide enough farmland and the high ground cannot support so many people. In effect this will truly kill our way of life." Grassroots networks and NGOs including SAVE Rivers, Baram Protection Action Committee, Borneo Resources Institute and Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia used a variety of tactics and one slogan: "Stop Baram Dam." Long-term blockades by indigenous groups impeded access to the proposed dam site. Philip Jau of SAVE Rivers observed, "We have petitioned the government and we have collected about 10,000 signatures of the people of Baram who are against this dam project. But the government seems not to listen to the voices of the people. That is why we came up with this idea to put our blockade. With this blockade I think the whole world knows that we are against this project." When the International Hydropower Association's meeting was held in Sarawak in 2013, hundreds demonstrated in front of the convention center. The Sarawak activists successfully pressured an Australian company, Hydro Tasmania, to withdraw participation in the Baram dam project. They connected with anti-dam, pro-river organizations from the region and around the world and a series of short films by the Borneo Project documented the struggle. Having replaced the notorious billionaire logging baron Abdul Taib Mahmud as chief minister of Sarawak in 2014, Tan Sri Adenan Satem announced suspension of the Baram dam project in November 2015. This gesture was not trusted by the affected communities as it did not permanently end the project and did not return land rights (a situation similar to the September 2011 suspension of the Myitsone dam by order of Burma's former President Thein Sein.) Then, with Sarawak's state election anticipated in April, Tan Sri Adenan Satem came to a decision. According to International Rivers Network, on March 21 "just in time for World Water Day, everything changed. The Sarawak government officially revoked the gazette extinguishing the native ownership rights for land earmarked for the dam site and its reservoir, and returned the land to its rightful indigenous owners." Burma's Myitsone dam opponents might take hope from Malaysia's example and the defeat of the mega-dam in Borneo might provide a precedent for Burma's government: choosing the will of the people over the interests of extractive industries. Both Sarawak and Burma have great potential for alternative ways of generating electricity for local needs, including wind, solar and small-scale hydro; they also have abundant offshore natural gas, which may be a less-harmful option than mega-hydro. But even with the Baram dam canceled and the Myitsone dam possibly on the chopping block, there are dozens of other huge dam projects in the works for both Sarawak and Burma, so river rights activists should celebrate but cannot rest. Edith Mirante is director of Project Maje about Burma's human rights and environmental issues, as well as author of "The Wind in the Bamboo: A Journey in Search of Asia's 'Negrito' Indigenous Peoples." The post A Tale of Two Mega-Dams: Burma and Borneo appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (May 3) Posted: 02 May 2016 11:36 PM PDT The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week. Music French (Love) Friday #17—The Rain Dance French (Love) Friday is hosting one last dance before monsoon season arrives. The night will open with the Big Bag Band and The Marionette for Burmese rock 'n' roll. After, the music will take a turn toward deep house with the French DJ set Krono. Tickets are 8,000 kyats each and include two free beers. Where: Institut Français de Birmanie at No. 340, Pyay Road, Sanchaung Tsp., Tel: 01-536 900 When: Friday, May 6, 8pm to 1am Together Festival 2016 For DJ lovers, local and international DJs will make Rangoon come alive with a dynamic music performance on Saturday called Together Festival 2016. Regular tickets are each 45,000 kyats and VIP tickets are each 120,000 kyats. Where: Shwe Htut Tin Compound, beside Sky Star Hotel, East Horse Racing Course Road, Tamwe Tsp., Tel: 09-451010789; 09-965010789 When: Saturday, May 7, evening Music Fundraiser for Children with HIV A fundraiser will be held in downtown Rangoon for children living with HIV. Seven rock bands including The Story, Break the Curse, I-Force, Wonder Rock, and Psychological Pain will all be performing in a collective effort to raise funds for the children. Where: Maha Bandoohla Park, in front of Rangoon City Hall When: Saturday, May 7, 4 pm to 10 pm Culture Lisu Fundraiser A show consisting of traditional Lisu music, dancing and costumes will take place on Friday. Admission is free of charge, but donations can be made at the show, and all proceeds will go toward displaced persons in Kachin State. The event will aim to help raise awareness about and preserve Lisu traditions and culture. Where: National Theater on Myoma Kyaung Road, Dagon Tsp. When: Friday, May 6 Arts Lokanat Galleries Exhibition, 'Mix' Seventeen artists will display their work at Lokanat Galleries. Titled "Mix," the art exhibition will feature 74 paintings, ranging in price between US$50 and $600. Where: Lokanat Galleries, 62 Pansodan St, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp., Tel: 095-1382-269 When: Sunday, May 1 to Sunday, May 8, 9am to 5pm Latya Lyn Naing Exhibition, 'The Patients' Latya Lyn Naing will display his fourth solo exhibit at the River Ayeyarwady Gallery. The show, "The Patients," will showcase 76 paintings, ranging in price from $25 to $100. Where: River Ayeyarwaddy Gallery at No. 134, 35th Street (Middle Block), Kyauktada Tsp When: Friday, May 6 to Sunday, May 8 Kachin Artist Brang Li's 'No More Life' Exhibition The second solo show of Kachin artist Brang Li will be held at Nawady Tharlar Art Gallery. Titled "No More Life," his solo show features around 20 paintings about the impact of civil war in Burma. The prices of the paintings range between $800 and $1,500. Where: Nawady Tharlar Art Gallery, Room 304, Building 20B, 3rd Floor, Yaw Myin Gyi Road, Dagon Tsp., Tel: 0943097918 When: Saturday, May 7 to Friday, May 13  Photography 'The Captured Stories of Nature' Photo Exhibition "The Captured Stories of Nature" will display about 90 photographs from nine photographers at Summit Gallery. Photographs will range in price from 70,000 kyats to over 100,000 kyats. The proceeds will go to various social organizations. Where: Summit Gallery at Bogyoke Park in Kandawgyi When: Friday, May 6 to Wednesday, May 11 &PROUD Photo Exhibition The third &PROUD photo exhibition will show photos of Burma's lesbian, gay, bi, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. The competition will display photos from 12 photographers, totaling over 70 photos, as well as an intimate look at the queer community through selfies that were submitted for the selfie competition. This year will also showcase a series by Vlad Sokhin called "Being Gay in Papua New Guinea," a photo documentary of the lives of a group of gay and transgender people living together in a small coastal village near the capital of Papua New Guinea. The opening event will include two short films on Papua New Guinea and the announcement of the photo competition winners. Where: Myanmar Deitta on 44th Street (Lower Block), Botataung Tsp. When: Saturday, May 7 to Sunday, May 15, 10am to 5pm Racing and Drone Flying Demonstration Organized by 7Day Cars, a demonstration of r/c drift racing and drone flying will be held on May 7. Anyone with r/c drift racing experience can take part in the race, but the number of contestants will be limited. Those wishing to participate in the competition can apply by May 3 at the 7Day Cars office, located at the Diamond Center, building No. 497 first floor, Kamayut Tsp. First prize is 500,000 kyats. Where: Junction Square Water Fountain Area, Junction Square, Kyuntaw St. When: Saturday, May 7, 3pm to 8:30pm The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (May 3) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Massacre Survivors Give Indonesian Govt List of Mass Graves Posted: 02 May 2016 10:50 PM PDT People watch "The Act of Killing," a documentary about the 1965-66 anti-communist atrocities, in Jakarta onFeb. 6, 2013. (Photo: Reuters) JAKARTA — Survivors of Indonesia's anti-communist massacres in 1965 submitted a list of what they say are more than 100 mass graves to the government on Monday after the president called for an investigation into the killings. Five survivors, aged in their 70s, who are founders of the Research Foundation for 1965 Murder Victims, gave the documents to the Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs, which is responsible for the probe. The list is the product of research since 2000 and the graves, which are located on the islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, Flores and Bali, account for nearly 14,000 victims, according to the group. Historians say half a million people died in the months-long frenzy of killing that began in October 1965 at the instigation of the military after six right-wing generals were killed in an attempted coup by suspected communists. Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan was not on hand to receive the documents but his officials said he would meet with the group next week. He was instructed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to oversee an investigation into the massacres after a conference held by the government and rights groups last month broke a half-century taboo on public discussion of the killings. Luhut, a retired general, caused a stir by saying at the event that very few people were killed and vowing the government would never apologize. He later demanded that rights groups prove that mass graves exist. Bedjo Untung, a survivor of the massacres who heads the foundation, said it had documented the locations of 122 mass graves with the help of survivors and witnesses, including people who dug the graves and buried the bodies. "We believe this is only 2 percent of the victims," he said. Kontras, an advocacy group, has refused to give its information about mass graves to the government out of fear it could be used by opponents of the investigation to conceal the truth. The post Massacre Survivors Give Indonesian Govt List of Mass Graves appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Japan to Support Mekong Countries With $7b Over Three Years Posted: 02 May 2016 10:37 PM PDT Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha meets with Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida at the Government House in Bangkok on Monday, May 2, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) BANGKOK — Japan wants to work with countries in the lower Mekong River basin and will help them improve infrastructure and bolster development with 750 billion yen (US$7 billion) in aid over three years, its foreign minister said on Monday. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida made the pledge to help the Southeast Asian economies in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, where on Sunday he began a week-long visit to the region in which Japan competes with China for influence. "Japan would like to work with the countries of the Mekong region to create a framework to support efforts by the Mekong countries in a detailed manner, on a region-by-region basis or on a theme-by-theme basis," Kishida said in a speech. Japan announced the three-year plan last year. China has offered billions of dollars in infrastructure loans and government aid programs to Southeast Asian countries. Kishida did not mention China in his speech. He is also due to visit Burma, Laos and Vietnam. On Monday, he met Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has led a military government since the army took power in a May 2014 coup. Thailand has drawn closer to China since the coup, which many Western countries criticized. Kishida and Prayuth discussed Thailand's political process, regional terrorism threats and economic challenges, a Japanese official said. Kishida visited Beijing on the weekend where both China and Japan expressed willingness to improve relations strained over conflicting territorial claims in the East China Sea. In his speech in Bangkok, Kishida addressed maritime security and renewed a call for countries to respect the rule of law. He also backed a Southeast Asian bid to draft a code of conduct for the South China Sea, where China's claim to virtually the entire sea clashes with claims to parts of it by Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. "We must establish a regional order whereby the principle of the rule of law is truly upheld and practiced," he said. "I would like to renew my call for the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea." Japanese Prime Minister Shinto Abe is pursuing a more robust foreign policy but Masato Otaka, deputy press secretary at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters Kishida's visit was not aimed at counteracting China's influence. On Sunday, Kishida reaffirmed Japan's economic ties with Thailand, an important base for many Japanese companies, after Japanese investment in the country nosedived in 2015. The post Japan to Support Mekong Countries With $7b Over Three Years appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

‘Drug-Addicted People Should Not Be Treated as Criminals’ Posted: 02 May 2016 07:15 PM PDT Dr. Nang Pann Ei Kham, a medical doctor and coordinator of the Rangoon-based Drug Policy Advocacy Group. (Photo: Myanmar Now) In 2014, a number of civil society organizations and researchers concerned over the health and well-being of drugs users and impoverished small-scale opium farmers set up the Drug Policy Advocacy Group (DPAG). The network advocates a shift away from Burma's current, punitive drug laws to legislation that decriminalizes drug use and subsistence poppy farming, and which provides health care for users and helps farmers to gradually substitute their poppy crop. Last month, Dr. Nang Pann Ei Kham, a medical doctor and coordinator of the Rangoon-based DPAG, oversaw a public workshop organized by DPAG members, which included civil society organizations such as the Myanmar Opium Farmers Forum, National Drug Users Network Myanmar and the Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association. Members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission and police officers of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) also attended the event. During an interview with Myanmar Now, Dr. Nang Pann Ei Kham stressed the need to reform Burma's drug laws in order to address widespread drug addiction in northern Burma and to help tens of thousands of poor opium farmers find an alternative livelihood. Can you explain why DPAG was created? We formed this group to help create sound drug policies that support human rights and health care services [for drug users]. I joined this group to help drug-using people infected with HIV and hepatitis. We want to organize workshops and public meetings in areas seriously affected by drug abuse. What sort of drug abuse is now affecting Kachin and Shan states? Kachin State has poppy cultivation and many injecting heroin users. There are many cases of HIV infection through the sharing of needles. Similar cases are happening in northern Shan State, while low-grade opium is more common in its southern parts. Stimulant tablets [methamphetamine] are also spreading in these areas. What does DPAG prioritize, helping poppy farmers change their crops, or medical services for drug addicts? We will help both poppy cultivators and drug addicts find other options. They need support from our networks, and we invited them to workshops on drug policy [reform]. Educative programs will be conducted for them in Kachin State, and in southern and northern Shan State. What is your position on Myanmar's existing drug control laws? These laws should be amended. Last year, we organized a workshop in cooperation with the government's Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control [CCDAC] and the Ministry of Health. The event's participants concluded that we need reforms. We will keep highlighting the need for amendments to drug control laws during the term of the new [National League for Democracy] government. We will call for reduction of penalties for drug users. If someone wants to give up drug use, we should refer them to the Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association [an NGO]. They should not be sent to prison. Clean injection syringes must be distributed free of charge to users [to mitigate health risks]. Both effective government policy and the public's contribution play a crucial role in this movement. Some drug users, for example, have been sentenced to 20 years in prison though they were arrested with only a small number of [methamphetamine] pills—that's not a fair punishment. Punishments should also be reduced for poppy cultivators. What exact changes should be made to drug laws? I would like to suggest that drug-addicted people should not be treated as criminals; the compulsory registration system for drug-addicted persons should be revoked. Getting medical treatment should be an option for drug addicts. The drug control laws must meet human rights standards. Laws on drug injection needles and syringes must be amended. How will you work with the new government? We will propose our plans to the new government. We will gather information from poppy cultivators and drug abusers to inform the government and parliamentarians of their needs. Do you think a nationwide ceasefire and an end to ethnic conflict could lead to improvements on drug issues? A ceasefire in ethnic areas could reduce drug [trade]-related conflict. Also, educative talks on drug abuse could not be held in conflict-torn areas of Kachin State, and northern and southern Shan State. So, there is a certain relation between a ceasefire and drug abuse. What sort of needs do poppy farmers have? How can they change their crops? Cultivation of alternative crops causes financial losses due to the difficulty in terms of transportation and poor access to mountainous areas. Therefore, poppy cultivation is the only option for local people. If the government or public movements destroy their poppy farm, they will have no more household income. Crop substitution plans must be considered for them. Development programs must be set up before the poppy fields are destroyed. Poppy farmers should be asked why they are growing the crop. They would abandon this business if they did not have worries about their daily income. They are growing poppy to generate enough income. They have no knowledge about how opium can destroy the lives of users. They do not know the details of opium trade and have no intention to destroy others. What are the biggest challenges in helping drug addicts and opium cultivators? There are many drug addicts in Myanmar, while poppy cultivators are seen as criminals. Family and social problems have turned some people into drug addicts. So, the root causes must first be found. All these people should not be treated as criminals. It is a major challenge to promote this idea among the public and policymakers. This story first appeared on Myanmar Now. The post 'Drug-Addicted People Should Not Be Treated as Criminals' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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