The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• YCDC Welcomes New Members to Executive Board      
• Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation Looks to Join YSX in August       
• Civil Society Groups Demand National Land Restitution Policy for Displaced Communities 
• Seven Shan Men Go Missing in Northern Shan State
• Ne Win’s Grandson Invites Social Media Smackdown With Lipton Comment
• New Commission Formed to Investigate Alleged Gems Association Embezzlement
• Flooding Hits Sagaing, Affecting Thousands of Homes
• Parliament Suspends Rangoon Wharf Project
• At Least Two Dead, 20 Injured in Thailand Tour Boat Collision
• Sri Lanka Admits 65,000 Missing from War, Insurrection

YCDC Welcomes New Members to Executive Board       Posted: 09 Jun 2016 06:51 AM PDT Yangon City Development Committee building (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Since the beginning of June, new faces have been seen on the executive board of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). Unlike their predecessors, the four new committee members, all of whom were appointed by the government on June 1, do not have military backgrounds. Rather, most of the newly minted executive board members have significant prior experience in government work that targeted construction, irrigation, land revenue and urban land use, while one is a prominent writer-turned-social worker with several literary and humanitarian awards to her name. YCDC's executive board is made up of nine members: the mayor, four appointed members and four elected individuals representing four city districts. The appointments earlier this month—which come at a time when Rangoon is facing high population density, serious traffic congestion, poor drainage and unwieldy urban development—follow the committee shake-up in May. At this time, the Rangoon Division Chief Minister declared that the terms of both elected and appointed YCDC members had been terminated; the Rangoon divisional government has yet to announce the date of the next city election. Read about the new members of the YCDC executive board below. Hlaing Maw Oo (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) Hlaing Maw Oo, Secretary Hlaing Maw Oo was previously the director of architecture at the Ministry of Construction's Department of Building, where she had worked for more than 25 years. Trained as an architect with postgraduate studies in urban planning and urban environmental management, she has been involved in drafting Rangoon's zoning plan and Burma's building codes. Asked whether she is the right candidate for the position, given her academic credentials and Rangoon's current challenges, Hlaing Maw Oo just said that "time will decide." "They just select people who can do their best in a time of change," she added. On the responsibilities of the committee members, the PhD candidate, who is finalizing her research on urban design and heritage, said that the committee is thinking about how to create collaboration among members rather than simply divvy up departments among them. "In the past, we pointed fingers at each other, and there was no solution. If we have everyone's participation, I believe most of the problems facing Rangoon today could be solved," Hlaing Maw Oo said. U Than (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) U Than, Joint Secretary During his 36 years with the government's Department of Settlement and Land Records, U Than has gained experience with agricultural and urban land management, land revenue and registration. After leaving his position as director, U Than worked as an advisor at the YCDC for urban planning, having for the past four years focused on land use and zone planning. His recent appointment as the joint Secretary for the YCDC will make him responsible for the municipal body's 20 departments, contributing his expertise to the city's development. "When it comes to land issues, there are some weaknesses in the working procedures. I hope to use my experiences to help fix these issues in accordance with the law," he said. May May Thwe (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) May May Thwe, Member A retired deputy director from the Department of Irrigation, May May Thwe is a civil engineer with 35 years of experience in flood, drainage and irrigation management. Now, as a YCDC member, May May Thwe is hoping that she can contribute her expertise to tackling some of Rangoon's serious problems with flooding and poor drainage, while collaborating with YCDC's Departments of Roads and Bridges as well as Water and Sanitation. "As far as I'm concerned, traffic and flooding in Rangoon will take some time to resolve; these problems need long-term solutions," May May Thwe said, adding that she is positive the committee members will be able to do something meaningful during their five-year term. "We're all aware that everyone is hoping for change. I'll be loyal to my responsibilities." Than Myint Aung (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) Than Myint Aung, Member Of all the new committee members, Than Myint Aung is the most well known. With several literary and humanitarian awards under her belt, she co-founded the Free Funeral Service Society (FFSS) in 2001 when Burma was still under a repressive military regime. Asked about her appointment, Than Myint Aung said that her desire to make Rangoon better and cleaner was key to her joining the YCDC. "As a social worker, I could be useful when it comes to solving issues that may need collaboration between the YCDC and the public," she said. "Plus, the FFSS has been involved in environmental conservation activities, so that may be a reason why the YCDC thinks I have something to contribute." The post YCDC Welcomes New Members to Executive Board       appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation Looks to Join YSX in August        Posted: 09 Jun 2016 06:19 AM PDT Government officials clap during the ceremonial opening of the Yangon Stock Exchange in Rangoon on Dec. 9, 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — The Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO) is expected to join the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) in August, the firm's vice chairman told The Irrawaddy. Formed in 2012 to spur public savings and to encourage broader investment in agriculture and adjacent industries in Burma, MAPCO is the country's largest rice exporter. It will be selling shares with a floor price of 10,000 kyats (US$8.44) to 1,440 existing shareholders between June 10 and early July, said MAPCO vice chairman Ye Min Aung. "We're prioritizing existing shareholders before joining the YSX. If the existing shareholders don't buy these shares, we'll sell them to the public," he said, clarifying that even if existing shareholders already own a share, they are still able to buy another. "We'd like to wait until foreign companies can buy shares on the YSX, when [the trading environment] will hopefully be better than it has been recently. That's why we're expecting to join the YSX in August or, at the latest, in September," Ye Min Aung added. The stock exchange officially "opened" in December, though it initially only traded internally through dry-run testing. It is hoped to be a boon to Burma's financial field. MAPCO, along with five other firms—First Myanmar Investment (FMI), Myanmar Citizens Bank, Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Public Limited (MTSH), First Private Bank and Great Hor Kham—was due to be listed on the YSX in March, but FMI was the only one of these firms that was ready for shares trading. MTSH has since been listed. Thet Htun Oo, senior manager of the YSX, said that MAPCO wanted to increase its capital before joining the stock exchange, which is why it has experienced delays. "They [MAPCO] have not recently applied to join the YSX because they are looking to increase their capital by selling shares in the rice industry first," Thet Htun Oo said. He added that the stock market appears to be cooling down in some respects as people are trying to become more familiar with the market situation before trading shares. "Even FMI's share trading price has gone down from 26,000 kyats [$21.95] when it was first listed to 25,500 kyats [$21.52] today," Thet Htun Oo said. FMI is led by business tycoon Serge Pun, whose Burmese conglomerate ranges from real estate to health care to aviation and banking. MTSH's share trading price, however, is at a steady 57,000 kyats ($48.11). The firm was formed by nine Burmese companies that own 41 percent of a special economic zone (SEZ) southeast of Rangoon, with the Burmese government owning 10 percent and a consortium of Japanese firms owning the remaining 49 percent. Thet Htun Oo said that currently the total stock trading amount for the YSX has reached some 49 billion kyats ($41.35 million) and is only expected to increase. "Because there are many other companies, such as Myanmar Citizen Bank, that will be listed on the YSX this year, the total trading amount will continue to grow," Thet Htun Oo said. The post Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation Looks to Join YSX in August        appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Civil Society Groups Demand National Land Restitution Policy for Displaced Communities  Posted: 09 Jun 2016 06:11 AM PDT Umpiem Mai refugee camp near Mae Sot in western Thailand, accommodating a population of more than 20,000 conflict-displaced people from Burma, mostly ethnic Karen. August, 2015. (Photo : Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)  RANGOON — Several of Burma's civil society organizations (CSOs) and ethnic community leaders have called for the government to develop a national land restitution policy for communities displaced by conflict. Their concerns were expressed at a public forum on Wednesday following a two-day workshop organized by The Border Consortium (TBC) and the Transnational Institute (TNI). CSOs and community leaders aimed to establish a national platform for displaced communities to be able to claim land and property rights, review international standards and increase joint advocacy. Representatives came up with nine key principles and recommendations, emphasizing that all land-related policies, regulations and procedures must be in line with customary land use practices and tenure systems in ethnic areas. They also stressed that displaced communities and local people should be informed and involved in all levels of the decision-making process in relation to return and resettlement. "Displaced communities are entitled to restore their housing, land and property rights in their place of origin," their statement said. Representatives highlighted that IDPs and refugees have the right to return voluntarily, in safety and with dignity, adding that national reconciliation and the peace process are key to their sustainable return and resettlement. Naw Blooming Night Zan, finance manager of the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) said that security concerns remain the most critical consideration for IDPs and refugees, adding that military bases should be removed and landmines should be demarcated and immediately cleared in and around origin villages. "Whenever we talk to [refugees and IDPs] about returning home, they ask me: Are there military troops? Are there any landmines?" said Naw Blooming Night Zan. She told the Irrawaddy that there is a need for advocacy work in order to prompt the government to take steps toward implementing national land restitution policies. Saw Alex from the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) told The Irrawaddy that these principles and recommendations are fundamental to initiating action. "The government has to have a broad platform for all concerned parties, which means involving local people, refugees, IDPs, CSOs, community organizations, international society, all armed groups and the government army," he explained. He added that any future policies should be able to be systematically implemented nationwide for the benefit of all displaced communities. Naw Blooming Night Zan made the point that "returning voluntarily with dignity" also applies to those who don't want to return to the country. "When we talk about returning and resettlement, some refugees who are probably not willing to return to Burma should also be accounted for," she said. "We can't force them to go back." Sai Nor Hseng of the Shan Youth Network said at the forum that land rights are very important to IDPs and refugees because they left their land—which used to be their "life"—due to armed conflict. "Where is their place when they come back, and do they have the right to claim their original land?" he asked. "What if there is no place to live or no farm to work when they return?" Although the representatives demanded a return of all arbitrarily confiscated land to the "original land owners," they said that there needed to be an explicit definition of "original land owner" which retained respect for customary land use practices and tenure systems in ethnic areas. A 2015 research report called "The Meaning Of Land In Myanmar" by the TNI stated that there is no internationally recognized human right to land, unlike water or food. "While a right to property was established in Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it was not codified in the subsequent legally binding international conventions," the research said. The report highlighted that the connection between land and human rights is a tangible part of the everyday experience of many small-scale farmers and other food producers around the world, citing the unique customary land use practices of Burmese farmers. According to TBC, there are roughly 120,000 Burmese refugees in nine official camps on the Thai-Burma border, some of who have resided there for over two decades. The UN's refugee agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated in a report last year that there were about 500,000 conflict-affected IDPs in Burma, but accurate figures are difficult to assess due to limited access in the concerned areas. The post Civil Society Groups Demand National Land Restitution Policy for Displaced Communities  appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Seven Shan Men Go Missing in Northern Shan State Posted: 09 Jun 2016 05:46 AM PDT The Palaung village of Mang Aung in northern Shan's Namkham Township, close to where the seven men were said to have gone missing. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) Seven ethnic Shan men went missing on Sunday en route from Namkham Township to Lashio, the administrative capital of northern Shan State, according to a local police officer and a member of a Shan political party. The disappearance follows the killing of three ethnic Palaung (known also as Ta'ang) the previous week in Namkham Township, which borders China. Local Palaung have since blamed the Restoration of Council of Shan State (RCSS), the ethnic Shan group whose armed wing, the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), has been fighting since December with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF). If unresolved, the disappearance is likely to exacerbate tensions between Shan and Palaung communities in northern Shan State, which have been stoked in recent months by a conflict that has seen several thousand displaced, and resulted in a number of unexplained murders. The police officer in Namkham, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Irrawaddy over the phone that the families of the missing men had come to the police station to open a missing persons' case. A police investigation is now underway, the police officer said, although they had "not found anything yet." "They disappeared soon after leaving Namkham town, around Hpa Lane village, their families told me. It was on the highway to Lashio," said the police officer. On June 7 the families of the missing men visited the local branch office of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), currently the most prominent ethnic Shan party in the state. Sai Yee Puu of the SNLD said the families had requested help from the party. "We asked [the families] how the men had disappeared. They told us that they were traveling by car to an area further south, near Lashio, where they intended to farm watermelons," Sai Yee Puu said. Sai Yee Puu said that his party had already approached the Ta'ang National Party (TNP), which represents the ethnic Palaung and occupies several parliamentary seats in northern Shan State, to solve the problem through "negotiation." "No one knows who did it, but they disappeared in a Palaung area. Therefore, we asked for help from the Palaung political party," Sai Yee Puu added. The driver of the car, from Mamgyi village, was among the seven who disappeared; the other six men were from Shan villages near the border town of Muse, according to Sai Yee Puu. All were young men, but the SNLD in Namkham did not know their exact ages or their names. On Thursday, a post on the Facebook page of the PSLF-TNLA News and Information Department claimed that SSA-S soldiers had abducted 30 ethnic Palaung from Bom Zom village in northern Shan State's Mongton Township. The names of 23 of those missing had been identified. The post Seven Shan Men Go Missing in Northern Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ne Win’s Grandson Invites Social Media Smackdown With Lipton Comment Posted: 09 Jun 2016 04:58 AM PDT Aye Ne Win, pictured in 2014. (Photo: J Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Comments on Facebook posted by the grandson of former dictator Ne Win about serving Lipton Tea at a state dinner for the visiting Singaporean Prime Minister have caused a ruckus on social media in Burma. The dispute started with a menu from a banquet in Naypyidaw on Tuesday hosted by the Burmese President Htin Kyaw and the first lady for Lee Hsien Loong, who is now in Burma for a state visit. A picture of the menu showing "Lipton Tea with Lime Slice" as dessert went viral on Facebook, and the ex-dictator's grandson jumped in on the same day on his own Facebook feed, calling Aung San Suu Kyi 'Old Gal' and saying "she should definitely not be listened to, at least when it comes to tea." "OMG. Who serves Lipton Tea for a state dinner? Such a disgrace. It should be Twinning’s Earl Grey or Fortnum and Mason’s Queen Anne Tea or even our own traditional Shan Tea. I expect the Old Girl to have more refined taste than that," said the post. "Don’t give me the crappie excuse that we should save money when you can get Twinning’s at a local City Mart for $13 per 20 teabags," the post added. Aye Ne Win described the dinner as having been "hosted by the Old Gal herself," quoting a report from Channel News Asia, but the menu said the dinner was, in fact, organized by the Burmese president and his wife. The comments provoked a backlash on social media, with many Burmese—proud of Lee Hsien Loong's recent offer to have Suu Kyi take a more "active leadership on behalf of Asean when it comes to international affairs"—seeing them as an insult to Burma's state counselor-cum-foreign minister. "Aye Ne Win is just an [expletive]," wrote Facebook user Hlwan Moe. But many others took a more serious turn, calling his post full of jealousy and snobbery. "Show some manners, you [expletive] pervert. Your [expletive] grandpa Ne Win already turned this country into a failed state that is looked down upon by other countries, and look now, you shamelessly say such garbage… You are such a [expletive] pathetic cheapskate," wrote Ralph Aung Myo. Aye Ne Win was released from prison under a presidential pardon in November 2013 after spending 11 years in jail. He was charged with high treason at the age of 26, convicted with his family of plotting to overthrow the former military regime. Since his release, he has been a prolific user of social media and has been spotted at many public events, including commemorations for fallen soldiers of the Burma Army. He has spoken with numerous local and international media outlets, discussing a range of topics including his political and religious views, the continued role of the military in Burma's political life and his business dealings. The post Ne Win's Grandson Invites Social Media Smackdown With Lipton Comment appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Commission Formed to Investigate Alleged Gems Association Embezzlement Posted: 09 Jun 2016 04:22 AM PDT The Myanmar Jade and Gems Emporium held in Naypyidaw last year. (Photo: Ministry of Information) A new investigation commission will be formed to look into the Myanmar Gems Traders Association's financial scandal, involving allegations of more than US$100 million that went missing from their bank account, according to the organization's chairman. At a press conference at the association's headquarters on Wednesday, chairman Yone Mu told reporters that the decision to form a new commission to further investigate the unexplained loss was made during a meeting of the gems traders on Tuesday. A previous review was conducted and finalized this week by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation but complainants still want to know who is to blame. "Actions will be taken against anyone who misappropriated funds," said Yone Mu. The new commission will consist of experts, complainants and defendants of the alleged embezzlement, according to the Myanmar Gems Traders Association. Aung Gyi, chairman of the Sagaing Division Gems Traders Association, said the probe would mainly look into the supposed misappropriation of $10 million transferred from the Myanmar Jade and Gems Emporium Central Committee to the Myanmar Gems Traders Association. "The central committee consists of the Myanmar Gems Traders Association chairman, ten vice-chairpersons and secretaries. It is impossible that they don't know where the money has gone. If they know, they should tell," said Aung Gyi, adding, "We want a new transparent chairman who is dedicated to serving the interests of the association." However, Yone Mu said he does not know anything about the alleged transaction because the former Ministry of Mines had managed the expenditures of the central committee, adding that he would not take responsibility for the as yet unexplained loss. "The funds of the Gems Emporium Central Committee and the Myanmar Gems Traders associations are different. There is no connection and I have no idea [about the missing money]," said Yone Mu. "It has been said that former President U Thein Sein took $7 million and U Soe Thein took $5 million. We don't know; it has nothing to do with us. It was all managed by the central committee," Vice chairman of the Myanmar Gems Traders Association Myint Han told reporters that since 2006 there has been a 1 percent annual tax levied on gems traders who sell their products at the emporium. He said he has told the central committee that association members deserve to know where their money was allocated. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. The post New Commission Formed to Investigate Alleged Gems Association Embezzlement appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Flooding Hits Sagaing, Affecting Thousands of Homes Posted: 09 Jun 2016 02:48 AM PDT Kawlin Township Municipal Committee Office seen on June 9. (Photo: Ko Gyi Maung / Facebook) RANGOON — After heavy rains fell Wednesday night, severe flooding struck at least four sections of downtown Kawlin, Sagaing Division. Thet Lwin Htay, vice chairman of the local Free Funeral Service Association (FFSA), said water levels reached 6-7 feet high in Kyawzayya, Pyin Oo Lwin, Myauk Inn and Zae Yone Tiek wards of Kawlin. He estimated 5,000 households were affected. Some houses were completely submerged, and roads have been rendered unusable. He said this is the first flood of the year. In July 2015, flooding hit in Kawlin twice, reportedly killing around 20 people and affecting almost 49,000 people out of a population of 145,000. Currently, FFSA is distributing rice to the affected quarters' residents and rescuing the children and elderly who are unable to swim. As of Thursday morning, there were no fatalities due to the flood, and the Sagaing Division Chief Minister is expected to visit Kawlin to oversee relief efforts. Thet Lwin Htay speculated the flooding was due to overflowing water reservoirs, which are located on the outskirts of the town. In that area, more than 100 gold mining companies have created man-made lakes to store water for the gold-dust filtering process. The sudden, heavy rainfall unexpectedly broke the reservoirs' embankments, causing the water to flood into the downtown area, the FFSA vice chairman said. The companies that built these reservoirs were not available for immediate comment. A government-run paper issued an emergency statement saying some schools and police stations faced flooding, and local authorities and civil society organizations were working together to prevent injuries and deaths. The post Flooding Hits Sagaing, Affecting Thousands of Homes appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Parliament Suspends Rangoon Wharf Project Posted: 09 Jun 2016 01:15 AM PDT Rangoon's Botahtaung Pagoda and its industrial backdrop (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma's Lower House of Parliament on Wednesday decided to halt a 20-acre wharf project in Rangoon's central port area, located between Bo Aung Kyaw jetty and the Botahtaung Pagoda along the Rangoon River. The project, which was approved by the previous government, is being undertaken by the Kaung Myanmar Aung shipping company—a subsidiary of the KMA Group headed by Burmese tycoon Khin Maung Aye, who is known to have close ties to former military-backed President Thein Sein. The land that was being used for KMA's wharf project is currently owned by the Myanmar Port Authority (MPA) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. During Wednesday's parliamentary session, five lawmakers supported a proposal submitted last week by member Tin Maung Win of Rangoon's Seikkan Township, which stated that construction connected to the wharf would create river dunes and cause congestion for cargo ships on the Rangoon River. It added that construction of the project would impair the strength of the pagoda, which is one of Rangoon's most sacred Buddhist sites, and that noises and vibrations from the project site would distract prayers at the pagoda. Lawmaker Sein Mya Aye from Dala Township said that the project area's proximity to the pagoda would endanger it, citing a consultancy report—"Code of Practice For Container Depots"—issued by the Hong Kong Container Depot and Repair Association, which suggested that container depots and wharves should be constructed away from conservation areas and religious sites. "If the container depot and wharf project damages the strength of the [Botahtaung] pagoda, the public is going to hold the government responsible," Sein Mya Aye said. Lawmaker Saw Naing of South Okkala Township said that the construction of a new wharf in the area would narrow the passage for cargo ships, mentioning that all ports in Rangoon were river ports except Thilawa, a seaport. "Currently, there are 25 wharves along the port," Saw Naing said. "If all 25 wharves could be made to work at full capacity, there would be no need for a new wharf." Saw Naing also cited the contribution made by container depots and wharves to heavy traffic on Strand Road, which runs east-west along the river in downtown Yangon and features a regular passage of container trucks. Another lawmaker, Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo of Hlaing Township, highlighted that the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) had previously failed to report projects with adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts to Parliament via the government. "We observed that the MIC never submitted such project proposals to the Parliament," Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo said. He cited the proposed US$70 million 250-bed Parkway private hospital, which was halted by Parliament last month due to a claimed lack of transparency. "If this keeps happening," he said—projects being approved by the MIC but then halted by Parliament in the midst of controversy—"the interests of the country could be damaged, with a loss of investor trust and the need to compensate contractors." Minister of Transportation and Communication Thant Zin Maung supported the parliamentary proposal against the wharf project, saying it was "too risky." He mentioned that the project was approved by the MIC before the previous government transferred power to the National League for Democracy (NLD) at the end of March. The MIC has since been reconstituted. "The project area is critical for [the passage of] cargo ships and it could create congestion with ships berthing at the terminals," the minister said. "The only advantage is extra income for the country but from a technical or religious perspective, there are many disadvantages. Though we should welcome private investment, we should not take big risks," the minister concluded his remarks. Lower House Speaker Win Myint decided to order a halt to the project, after lawmakers voted in favor of a suspension. According to a report by the state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar, the project would be implemented according to the Build, Operate and Transfer model—a template used for several of Burma's larger infrastructure and energy projects in recent years. On completion, the wharf would be able to accommodate two 15,000-ton vessels. Rangoon has six major port facilities— Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa (MITT), Myanmar Integrated Port Limited (MIPL), Asia World Port Terminal, Myanmar Industrial Port, Bo Aung Kyaw and Sule Wharf, both private and government-owned. According to KMA's website, the firm was Burma's first private shipping company operating between Rangoon, Malaysia, Singapore and the Indian ports of Chennai, Kolkata and Nhavasheva, close to Mumbai. KMA vessels currently ship out of the Asia World Port Terminal in Ahlone Township. Conglomerate Khin Maung Aye's business empire extends across sectors and includes Golden Myanmar Airways, Parami General Hospital and CB Bank. The post Parliament Suspends Rangoon Wharf Project appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

At Least Two Dead, 20 Injured in Thailand Tour Boat Collision Posted: 08 Jun 2016 11:31 PM PDT Tourist boats stand at the sunset at Railay beach in Krabi, Thailand, December 30, 2015. (Photo: Jorge Silva / Reuters) BANGKOK — Two speedboats packed with 62 tourists crashed Wednesday off the coast of southern Thailand, leaving at least two dead and more than 20 injured. The fatalities were identified as Chinese. Wednesday's crash was the latest incident to mar the country's image as a tourist paradise, and the third crash in two weeks involving boats that shuttle vacationers to Thailand's resort islands—often at high speed. The collision involved two boats that were "filled to capacity" with mostly Chinese and Korean tourists on a morning trip from the popular island of Phuket to smaller islands nearby, the Phuket City Hall said in a statement. Police said they were investigating how the two boats crashed in broad daylight but suspected that speed was a factor. "It had to be that they were going too fast, that's why there was an accident," said Lt. Col. Prasert Srikhunrat, deputy superintendent of Phuket's marine police. He said there was light rain, which decreased visibility but he did not believe weather was entirely to blame. "Luckily everyone was wearing life vests, or the number of fatalities would have been higher," he said. One of the boats was carrying 26 passengers and the other had 36 people on board, including the two who died, he said. They were identified as a Chinese man and woman. Marine police boats rescued people, many from the water, in an operation that took about 90 minutes, he said. The larger of the two boats sunk and the other boat was towed to shore, where paramedics treated the injured and carried some away on stretchers. Tourism is a key source of revenue for Thailand, which received nearly 30 million foreign visitors in 2015. Boat, tour bus crashes and other accidents involving tourists have become common, as the numbers of visitors increase annually in Thailand, which is known for its lax enforcement of laws and safety regulations. On Sunday, a speedboat near the resort island of Koh Samet rammed into an anchored boat, injuring 30 people on board, according to Thai news reports. In late May, another speedboat carrying 32 tourists capsized in rough waters off Koh Samui, leaving four tourists dead. Two victims were from Britain and the others killed were from Germany and Hong Kong. In February, two Russian tourists were badly injured while scuba diving off Phi Phi island in Krabi province, when a speedboat's propeller severed one of the men's legs and cut deep gashes into the other man's leg. A 52-year-old French woman died after being struck by a boat while swimming in waters reserved for snorkelers near an island off Krabi province. The post At Least Two Dead, 20 Injured in Thailand Tour Boat Collision appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Sri Lanka Admits 65,000 Missing from War, Insurrection Posted: 08 Jun 2016 11:27 PM PDT Family members of people who disappeared during the war between government forces and Tamil Tiger guerrillas protest against what they say are continued abductions, in front of the UN office in Colombo, May 10, 2016. (Photo: Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters) COLOMBO — Sri Lanka acknowledged on Wednesday for the first time that some 65,000 people were missing from its 26-year-long war with Tamil Tiger rebels and a separate Marxist insurrection. President Maithripala Sirisena's coalition government has agreed to address past human rights violations through independent probes and to implement a resolution by the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's government had rejected the UN recommendations, saying it wanted to address rights concerns without any international pressure. Rajapaksa lost power in January 2015. "Since 1994 various commissions have documented that there are about 65,000 people missing or not found to be dead," Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, a former president and head of the new government's reconciliation office, told reporters. "We will get a final list later from the office of missing persons." The Tamil Tigers began fighting in 1983 for an independent Tamil state in the north and east of the island of Sri Lanka. Their insurgency ended in 2009. Separately a radical Marxist group waged an armed revolt against the government in 1987-89. Sri Lanka also said on Wednesday a certificate of absence would be given to relatives allowing them to temporarily manage the property and assets of missing people, to obtain provisional guardianship of their children and apply for government welfare schemes. The government has set up an office to independently investigate the cases of thousands of missing people, who are mostly from the ethnic minority Tamils, after the United Nations urged the government to probe such disappearances. However, relatives have accused the government of doing almost nothing to find the missing people as promised in the UN resolution. The government is due to make an oral representation in Geneva later this month on its progress in implementing the UN resolution, which aims to address rights violations. The United Nations and rights groups have long urged justice for the families of those who disappeared during the war, including those who were alleged to have been secretly abducted by state-backed groups and paramilitary outfits. The post Sri Lanka Admits 65,000 Missing from War, Insurrection appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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