The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Calls to Legally Define Political Prisoners Rebutted in Parliament
• In Light of Recent Electrocution Deaths, MP Pushes for Action
• Gems Traders Accuse Ex-President of Misusing More Than US$1 Million
• President Htin Kyaw: Missing in Action
• Restoration on Siamese King’s Tomb Stopped for Further Investigation
• Seven Students Drowned After Boat Sinks in Arakan
• Local Artist’s Abstract Paintings Express Buddhist Rebirth
• Bodies of 40 Tiger Cubs Found in Thai Temple Freezer
• US Takes More Steps to Block N.Korea’s Access to Financial System

Calls to Legally Define Political Prisoners Rebutted in Parliament Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:57 AM PDT Student protesters look out from a prison vehicle as they are transported to a court in Letpadan, Pegu Division, on March 11, 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — In Thursday's session of the Lower House of Parliament, an Arakan National Party (ANP) lawmaker asked whether the government intends to establish legal definitions for "political prisoners" and "political offenses." The issue of officially defining "political prisoners" has been of long-standing concern to political activists and civil society in Burma. Previous military-backed governments—including the administration of President Thein Sein—have dismissed this category, claiming that no one was incarcerated for "political" reasons. The ANP lawmaker Pe Than took the floor of the chamber, saying that instituting legal definitions for "political offenses" and "political prisoners" would protect political activists from being treated as criminals while in prison, and would also pave the way for reparations to be given to Burma's many former political prisoners who suffered human rights violations while incarcerated. Pe Than cited previous governments' failure to distinguish political from criminal charges, even though many political activists were arrested and imprisoned under Burma's military regime due to their dissident beliefs. "It is completely unacceptable in a democratic society that anyone whose activities are motivated by political views contrary to those of the government could be arrested and charged as criminals," Pe Than said to the chamber. "Sometimes, [political prisoners] experienced worse treatment than ordinary criminals," Pe Than said. During the session, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Gen Aung Soe countered that "offenses [made] against the State"—as outlined in several current legal provisions—could not be counted as "political offenses." He claimed that the two terms had divergent meanings. Prisons should treat prisoners "equally," and differentiating between prisoners would amount to "discrimination," Deputy Minister Aung Soe said. "Our ministry does not plan to establish definitions for 'political offenses' or 'political prisoners' since such definitions are not found in any existing laws or in the constitution," Deputy Minister Aung Soe concluded. Prisons are administered under the Ministry of Home Affairs, one of three ministries controlled by Burma's military. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Thailand-based rights organization promoting the welfare of Burma's political prisoners, has lobbied for the Burmese government to establish a legal definition for "political prisoner." The AAPP contends that anyone who is arrested, detained, or imprisoned for political reasons, or wrongfully under criminal and civil charges, because of his or her perceived or known role in activities promoting freedom, justice, equality, human rights, and civil and political rights, including ethnic rights, should be defined as a political prisoner. Aung Myo Kyaw, a local representative for the AAPP, said that differentiating prisoners means separating them, not discriminating against or giving special favor to certain prisoners. He said that, without definitions in place, the existence of political prisoners could continue to be vehemently denied by the government. "Definitions are fundamental to ensuring the recognition of political prisoners, so that we can make sure no one remains in prison because of their political beliefs or activities," Aung Myo Kyaw told The Irrawaddy. "Only if these definitions were ratified by the government, rehabilitation and reparation programs for former political prisoners could be implemented," Aung Myo Kyaw said. He mentioned that many government officials and parliamentarians under the new government had previously faced arrest for political activities, including President Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. The ANP lawmaker Pe Than expressed his dissatisfaction with the response of the Deputy Minister, calling for a fuller response "representing the whole cabinet." Deputy Minister Aung Soe said he would confer with the Home Affairs Minister, so that the issue could be discussed in the cabinet, before responding further. According to a recent report from the AAPP and the Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS), "After Release I Had To Restart My Life From the Beginning," Burma has had between 7,000 and 10,000 political prisoners since military rule began in 1962. The National League for Democracy (NLD), which now heads the government, had previously pledged that they would establish a definition for political prisoners once in power, and that they would not arrest anyone for political reasons. The government released 83 prisoners in an amnesty in April, after the traditional Burmese new-year celebrations. According to the AAPP, 70 were political prisoners. The post Calls to Legally Define Political Prisoners Rebutted in Parliament appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

In Light of Recent Electrocution Deaths, MP Pushes for Action Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:51 AM PDT An electrical worker repairs power lines. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — In light of several recent deaths in Rangoon from hazardous electrical wires, a regional lawmaker on Thursday urged for more attention to be paid to the maintenance of the city's faulty and often dangerous power lines. "It's dangerous for the public. People can die from being electrocuted when they step into a puddle. Power cables hang over them when they're walking and can kill them," Yan Aung, a National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker for Rangoon's Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, said during a regional parliamentary session. "Such a public security risk damages the images of both the country and the government." Myat Ko Ko, an 11-year-old boy from Hlaing Township, was killed when he was shocked by a utility pole Tuesday night. Similar incidents have occurred recently. A 16-year-old boy from Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township was killed last week after he stepped into a puddle near a utility pole and was electrocuted, though an official has since denied that electrocution was the cause of death. At least two other people in Rangoon have also reportedly died from similar instances of electrocution, as well as four children in Mandalay Division. "Cables and electrical posts are in dangerous condition. Their structure is weak, their cables are very messy, and the posts [that support the wires] too easily conduct electricity. I suggest repairing power lines as soon as possible," Yan Aung said He suggested that regular maintenance of utility poles, skilled training of electrical workers and implementing a public awareness program would be important for the city. In response to Yan Aung's inquiry into improving Rangoon's electrical system, Regional Electricity, Industry and Transportation Minister Nilar Kyaw echoed sentiments on the perilous state of the city's power lines and pointed out steps being taken to remedy the issue. "Power cables in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township didn't have insulation. The Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation is therefore working to replace the existing cables with insulated ones and to install new cables, based on the budget allowance," she said. The post In Light of Recent Electrocution Deaths, MP Pushes for Action appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Gems Traders Accuse Ex-President of Misusing More Than US$1 Million Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:42 AM PDT A buyer checks a jade stone near a mine dump at a Hpakant jade mine in Kachin State, November 29, 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — At one time, the Myanmar Gems Traders Association had €93 million (US$103.9 million) in its bank account. But, now, all that money is gone, and the scandal over where it went is poised to embroil former President Thein Sein. On Thursday, 81 members of the Myanmar Gems Traders Association held a press conference in Rangoon, calling on the Ministry of Resources and Environmental Conservation and the managing director of the state-run Myanmar Gems Enterprise to address the so-far unexplained loss of €93 million from the association's coffers. Kyaw Kyaw Oo, central executive committee member of Myanmar Gems Traders Association, told reporters that they have been awaiting the conclusions of the state-run Myanmar Gems Enterprise's investigation team, which began looking into the affair in late May. "We don't want the auditors' report. We want to see the analysis of how, where and why the chairman of the association, U Yone Mu, spent the money," Kyaw Kyaw Oo said. Starting in early May, some members of the association reported approximately €93 million had been embezzled from the association's account, accusing Yone Mu of misappropriating funds. Kyaw Kyaw Oo and several member companies submitted a letter to the Shwe Mann-led Legal Issues and Special Cases Committee in May stating members contributed 1 percent of their incomes to the association annually and had the right to know how the money was managed and spent. "Knowing why the chairman collected those fees from us and how he spent the money is important because there are many ways to spend so much money," he said. He claimed that Yone Mu put €6 million (US$6.7 million) into a bank account in his own name, gave €1.6 million (US$1.8 million) to a project run by a company he was affiliated with to repair a highway in a jade mining region in Kachin State, purchased machinery for jade operations and spent €2 million (US$2.2 million) on the Shwe Kyarpin gems sales and service project in Naypyidaw. Additionally, Kyaw Kyaw Oo singled out Thein Sein, the former president and current chairman of Burma's main opposition party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party. "U Win Htein, the leader of the investigation team, told me that €1 million (more than US$1.1 million) was taken from the association and given to U Thein Sein, and another €6 million was contributed [to the ex-president's project] by gems traders," Kyaw Kyaw Oo said. "But we want something more conclusive to see whether [Win Htein's] claims are true." On May 23, Win Htein's team began investigating the chairman of association, the managing director of Myanmar Gems Enterprise and other members of the association. "We are encouraging the investigation team to seek the assistance of parliamentarians, legal experts and other outsiders to make sure their conclusions are impartial," Kyaw Kyaw Oo said. Meanwhile, in Naypyidaw, former government officials sought to head off the brewing scandal. Former head of the now-defunct Ministry of Mining Myint Aung said at a press conference in the capital that the fees the association collected were used for corporate social responsibility activities and the two annual gems emporiums, emphasizing that these projects had been above-board and approved by the minister and association members. Myint Aung made a particular effort to clear up the accusations against Thein Sein. The €1 million supposedly given to the former president was actually put into a bank account held by the Myanmar Art Center, a nonprofit in Rangoon, he claimed, adding that the money was used for the construction of a new building for the art center. After the press conference in Nay Pyi Daw, Ye Htut, the former Minister of Information, told reporters the whole controversy had deeper motives. "This is more than simple infighting," Ye Htut said. "This is an attempt at political assassination against U Thein Sein." However, the Gems Traders Association's Kyaw Kyaw Oo responded, saying, "This is not about political assassination—this is just an internal dispute." The post Gems Traders Accuse Ex-President of Misusing More Than US$1 Million appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

President Htin Kyaw: Missing in Action Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:47 AM PDT President Htin Kyaw (L), a longtime confidant of Aung San Suu Kyi (R). (Photo: JPaing) The National League for Democracy (NLD)—which weathered over two decades in opposition to military dictatorship, with the death and imprisonment of scores of its members—assumed power at the end of March, after a landslide win in the November general election. Ever since, the Burmese people and the international community have been eager for clarity and detail on the NLD's intended policies—its roadmap for deepening, or recalibrating, the political and economic reforms launched under the previous administration. Htin Kyaw, Burma's new president, gave a notably short speech during his inauguration. In the course of three minutes, he delivered broad-brush promises to the nation: "Our new government will implement national reconciliation, deliver peace throughout the country, develop a constitution that could pave the way towards a democratic union, and enhance living standards." This is not enough. The Burmese public deserves to know more about the intended policies of President Htin Kyaw's new government. Htin Kyaw is a man of reputed good character, but he is missing in action. Executive power (besides what has been retained by the military) is in the hands of Burma's charismatic de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was declared State Counselor in April, a position which gives her broad access to parliament and all branches of government. Due to the 2008 constitution, Suu Kyi cannot become president, because her sons are British citizens and therefore "owe allegiance to a foreign power," but everyone in Burma knows she holds the keys to government decision-making. This represents a serious institutional flaw, since President Htin Kyaw is allotted supreme executive power under the constitution. There is no question about Suu Kyi's popularity, and her ability and capacity to lead, but she needs a team of competent managers to lead a country that has been ruined under a corrupt and repressive military dictatorship. These competent managers should have sufficient powers to deliver policy in line with a coherent vision of the country's future. More importantly, they need to keep the public informed and engage stakeholders regarding the government's plans and objectives. Regular and focused messaging has so far been missing from Htin Kyaw and Suu Kyi's government. In every democracy, governments must communicate and coordinate with key constituencies, stakeholders and the public—using a variety of channels and media platforms—in order to strengthen its policies and objectives. There must be a constant flow of information to complement a coherent action plan. Government leaders and ministers should demonstrate that they understand, and wish to coordinate, with the public in order to achieve their aims. This is known as strategic communication. As in the State of the Union address delivered annually by US presidents, President Htin Kyaw needs to speak to the Burmese public about the government's mission and its vision for the country. The post President Htin Kyaw: Missing in Action appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Restoration on Siamese King’s Tomb Stopped for Further Investigation Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:21 AM PDT Siamese King Uthomphon's tomb on Linzin Hill in Mandalay Division. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — The Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) instructed a team carrying out restorations on Siamese King Uthumphon's tomb to stop working until a further investigation could be carried out on the remains held inside. Ye Mon, chairman of an MCDC subcommittee tasked with the investigation, said in a meeting with the team that the source of the remains discovered in the tomb has become a debate among historians. "There is little proof that the ashes and the urn belong to King Uthumphon. Because we need to do a DNA test and other investigations, the work must stop during this process," said the chairman, adding that the committee needed to ensure that the restoration was appropriate and that it would not affect Thai-Burma relations. Win Maung, an architect leading the restoration, said the team was working to preserve the original structure and that the repairs would not affect country relations as the Thai Royal Treasury had funded the project. He added that the team had been informed of the DNA testing, but had been given no further details as to a time frame or who would conduct the costly test. Win Maung added that they had stopped working as instructed, and would inform Sittagu Sayardaw, an influential abbot who had instructed them to restart renovations. Following pledged donations from the abbot, former chief minister of Mandalay Ye Myint approved the work in March before handing over his duties. The work on King Uthumphon's tomb, located near the famed U Bein Bridge in Mandalay Division, began in April after a two-year hiatus. MCDC had stalled the work with the intention of turning the four-acre Linzin Hill area, which houses the tomb, into a park. The restoration team consists of Burmese and Thai archeologists, historians and experts, and has been provided with an initial budget of 40 million Thai baht (over US$1.1 million) from the Thai Royal Treasury. The post Restoration on Siamese King's Tomb Stopped for Further Investigation appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Seven Students Drowned After Boat Sinks in Arakan Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:11 AM PDT Local villagers search for survivors of the boat sinking in Arakan State. (Photo: Poeshipyin Alliance of Social Welfare Association / Facebook) RANGOON — A ferry shuttling students from Arakan State's Gantgar to Poeshipyin village on the Tawphya River sank on Wednesday, killing seven students who were on board, according to local authorities. Thein Shwe Maung, a police officer from Poeshipyin, said the students went schools in Poeshipyin. He confirmed that the seven students' bodies have already been discovered. "We are still investigating the accident," he said. The police will take action against the boat operator, according to Wai Hin Aung from Wunlark Development Foundation, a civil society group based in the Arakan State capital of Sittwe . The ferry was carrying 35 students who were on their way back from Poeshipyin village's schools to their houses, according to Zar Zar Htay, a resident of Ponnagyun Township. "Six girls and a boy were drowned. The six female students were in middle school and the male student was in high school," she said. All the passengers were from Gantgar village, which is a 2-hour ferry ride to the school in Poeshipyin village. On Thursday, government officials from Arakan State, including the state's spokesman Min Aung and Minister of Social Welfare for Arakan State Chan Thar, visited the site to give the families of the victims 600,000 kyats (US$500). The families asked the delegation to build a middle school in the their villages so their children would not have such long commutes to school. Wunlark Development Foundation also provided the families 100,000 kyats each. A government-run ferry capsized during a voyage from Taungup to Sittwe in Arakan State last year, a few hours after leaving the port town of Kyaukphyu, killing more than 60 people. Between 250 and 350 people were believed to have been traveling on the ferry at the time of its sinking. The post Seven Students Drowned After Boat Sinks in Arakan appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Local Artist’s Abstract Paintings Express Buddhist Rebirth Posted: 02 Jun 2016 01:38 AM PDT One of Su Eaindra's abstract paintings. (Photo: Su Eaindra / Facebook) RANGOON — Local artist Su Eaindra will showcase her first solo exhibition at Think Gallery on Nawaday Street in Dagon Township from June 3-6. More than 40 paintings will be on display at the show titled "Visit to the Labyrinth in the Universe." Su Eaindra began her artistic journey as an expressionist painter but has recently turned toward abstract work, portraying her feelings through vivid colors. She was born in Rangoon in 1965 and graduated with a degree in painting from the Rangoon State School of Fine Arts in 1986. From 1996 to 2009, she created designs for Indonesian and Chinese clothing brands and from 2011-15 she designed patterns for local ladies wear brands. In 2015, she embarked on a full-time career as an artist. She began taking part in exhibitions in 2009 and has participated in 11 in total. As for the title of her exhibition, she says, "Lately I have been thinking about life and existence. There are both good things and bad things in life and I feel like it is a labyrinth. Things happen and you can't avoid or receive what you wish. I reflect those thoughts and feelings in my work." Buddhist philosophy is also reflected in her work. She says she has asked herself, "Who created the endless circle of repeated births which all living creatures have to go through?" To which she answers herself, "No one, but it is all about cause and effect." "If [attaining] Nirvana is the way to end this cycle of rebirths, I would like to reach it," she says. "But until then, I can't help traveling [from this life to the next] through this small world in the universe." The post Local Artist's Abstract Paintings Express Buddhist Rebirth appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Bodies of 40 Tiger Cubs Found in Thai Temple Freezer Posted: 01 Jun 2016 11:04 PM PDT A sedated tiger is stretchered as officials start moving tigers from Thailand's controversial Tiger Temple, in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand, May 30, 2016. (Photo: Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters) BANGKOK — Forty dead tiger cubs were found Wednesday in a freezer at a Buddhist temple that operated as an admission-charging zoo, a national parks official said. The discovery was made while authorities were removing mostly full-grown live tigers from the temple in western Kanchanaburi province following accusations that monks were involved in illegal breeding and trafficking of the animals. The cubs were found in a freezer where the temple staff kept food, said Anusorn Noochdumrong, an official from the Department of National Parks who has been overseeing the transfer of the temple's 137 tigers to shelters. Since Monday, 60 have been tranquilized and removed. "We don't know why the temple decided to keep these cubs in the freezer," Anusorn said. "We will collect these carcasses for DNA analysis." The cubs appeared to be up to a week old, he said. Authorities plan to file charges against the temple for illegally possessing endangered species, he said. The temple's Facebook page said in March that the temple's former vet had decided in 2010 to stop cremating cubs that died soon after birth. Calls to the temple's office were not answered. The temple, a popular tourist attraction, has been criticized by animal rights activists because of allegations it is not properly set up to care for the animals and flouted regulations restricting the trade of tigers. The monks resisted previous efforts to take away the tigers, but relented this week after police obtained a court order. The temple recently made arrangements to operate as a zoo, but the plan fell through when the government determined that the operators failed to secure sufficient resources. The post Bodies of 40 Tiger Cubs Found in Thai Temple Freezer appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

US Takes More Steps to Block N.Korea’s Access to Financial System Posted: 01 Jun 2016 10:16 PM PDT North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has a photo session with the participants in the Seventh Congress of the WPK in this undated handout photo provided by KCNA, May 13, 2016. (Photo: KCNA / Reuters) WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday declared North Korea a "primary money laundering concern" and moved to further block its ability to use the US and world financial systems to fund its weapons programs. The US Treasury Department called for a prohibition on certain US financial institutions opening or maintaining correspondent accounts, which are established to receive deposits from or make payments on behalf of a foreign institution, with North Korean financial institutions. Crucially, Treasury also prohibited the use of third parties' US correspondent accounts to process transactions for North Korean financial institutions. The announcement came days after the latest failed missile launch by the isolated state. Tensions in the region have been high since January when North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and then followed that with a satellite launch and test launches of various missiles. Those efforts have all fueled calls in Washington, and abroad, for a clampdown on Pyongyang. US law already generally prohibited US financial institutions from engaging in transactions with North Korean institutions, but Treasury's latest actions would impose additional controls, especially the prohibitions on the use of third-country banks' US accounts to process transactions for North Korea. "This is meaningful," said Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "This is designating the entire country, which means essentially that any entity that is interested in interacting with US financial institutions should no longer have any business with North Korea." "Most, if not all, entities, if faced with the choice of having access to the US financial system or doing business with North Korea, are going to make the obvious choice," Cha added. Adam Szubin, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Washington expected other governments and financial authorities to make similar moves to prevent Pyongyang from "abusing" global financial institutions to support its development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. "The regime is notoriously deceitful in its financial transactions in order to continue its illicit weapons programs and other destabilizing activities," Szubin said in a statement. The Treasury was required to assess North Korea's status as a money laundering jurisdiction under the "North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act," passed nearly unanimously by the US Congress in February. A UN Security Council resolution in early March also required member states to sever correspondent banking relationships with North Korean financial institutions within 90 days. The post US Takes More Steps to Block N.Korea's Access to Financial System appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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