The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- MPs Asked to ‘Seek Approval’ for Civil Society Engagements
- Suu Kyi to Meet Wa and Mongla Armed Group Leaders
- Rangoon Division Chief Minister Laments ‘Tight Budget’
- Ethnic Youth Conference Organizers to Defy Government Ban
- Ethnic Armed Group Summit Commences in Kachin State
- State-Run Newspaper Argues for Myitsone Cancellation
- Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 26)
| MPs Asked to ‘Seek Approval’ for Civil Society Engagements Posted: 26 Jul 2016 07:26 AM PDT  Members of the Lower House are pictured resuming parliamentary proceedings on Monday, July 25, 2016. (Photo: Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Lower House Speaker Win Myint has appealed to parliamentarians to inform him of workshops, meetings and trainings beforehand in order to gain official approval for such events; the request applies to sessions to which MPs have been invited by non-governmental and civil society organizations. Arakan National Party lawmaker Pe Than published the appeal on his Facebook page on Monday, saying, "It's unclear whether it is a letter of appeal or instructions." Pe Than said that MPs had not received any explanation for the newly issued appeal. Questions were also raised when it was revealed that the letter had not been introduced to parliamentarians belonging to the Upper House. "The previous Parliament had no precedent for this, and now, the new Parliament is trying to adopt new barriers, that's why I am saying we are losing our lawmakers' rights," Pe Than said, describing civil society and non-governmental organizations as "our partners." He added that generally, when representatives from civil society or non-governmental organizations—CSOs and NGOs—organize an event, they inform parliamentarians only two to three days before the workshop or seminar. This new restriction will cause detrimental delays, said Pe Than. On Tuesday evening, the Lower House released a second statement defending the earlier letter. It said that the parliamentary leadership was not intentionally restricting the rights of lawmakers or attempting to control the relationship between legislators and civil society organizations. However, legislators who represent one of the Lower House committees or are individually connected with outside organizations will not be permitted to use the Parliament hall for discussions, meet-and-greet sessions, or hosting outside organizations under a legislator's name. A senior official within the Lower House Office also told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that Win Myint's letter was not intended to restrict the legislators' rights, but to inform the Parliament about any trips or absences. "As far as I know, it's just a misunderstanding [with the lawmakers]," said the official, on the condition of anonymity. "Actually, the purpose is not what they think." She said that a similar announcement had been made during former Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann's term, in 2011. It came in the form of a letter to the legislators reminding them to inform Shwe Mann of trips abroad. But it is unclear whether the lawmakers had to inform the Speaker of all types of invitations, including local seminars. Parliament members are waiting to see how Lower House Speaker Win Myint will deal with legislators who disregard the appeal. "Even if we don't follow his instructions, there is no law to take action against us," Pe Than pointed out. Dr. Khin Zaw Win, director of the Tampadipa Institute, which has provided capacity building workshops for lawmakers over the past five years, criticized the Lower House Speaker's move as an attempt to "control" members of parliament. The Speaker's main duty, he said, should be to work toward enacting or amending laws. "I really don't like it," Khin Zaw Win said of the restrictions, also expressing concern about how MPs representing parties outside of the National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentary majority would react to what he perceived as increased NLD supervision. The post MPs Asked to 'Seek Approval' for Civil Society Engagements appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Suu Kyi to Meet Wa and Mongla Armed Group Leaders Posted: 26 Jul 2016 05:49 AM PDT  UWSA leader Bao Youxiang (left) and then-spokesperson Aung Myint are pictured at an ethnic summit held in 2015 in the Wa capital of Panghsang. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will meet leaders of the Wa and Mongla non-state armed groups in Naypyidaw on Friday to discuss their participation in the Union Peace Conference, slated for late August. As the head of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), Suu Kyi has recently met with leaders of both signatory and non-signatory groups to the country's 2015 nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). The upcoming Naypyidaw meeting is a continuation of government delegation talks with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Mongla Army which took place in late June, said Khin Zaw Oo. The former lieutenant general is the current secretary of the government's Peace Commission and member of the sub-committee tasked with reaching out to NCA non-signatories regarding the Union Peace Conference. "We invited them to meet our top leaders to build further relations," said Khin Zaw Oo, adding that the meeting would give the groups a chance to "clarify anything we said," in order to prove the government's sincerity. "We also invited them take part in the upcoming peace conference," he said. The Wa delegation will reportedly be led by Pao Yu Yi, a central committee member of the UWSA, and Sai Lin, chairman of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS), also known as the Mongla Army, named for the township that serves as a stronghold for the group. Wa and Mongla leaders expressed a desire to speak with Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Burma Army, during their trip to the capital, but such a meeting has not yet been confirmed. The UWSA and Mongla Army refused to sign the NCA in October 2015, saying that since they had already agreed to bilateral ceasefires with the Burmese government in 1989, they did not require a new pact, pointing out that neither group was engaged in active conflict with government armed forces. They said that they supported the peace process and would only participate in upcoming political dialogue. "They are interested in the political dialogue, and shared their views on participating in the dialogue rather than signing the NCA, but we explained that the situation had changed," said Khin Zaw Oo. "Before, it was only a ceasefire. Now the nationwide ceasefire is followed by the political dialogue." Given self-administration under the 2008 Constitution, the UWSA's area is known as the Wa Special Region 2 and the Mongla Army's is referred to as Special Region 4. The post Suu Kyi to Meet Wa and Mongla Armed Group Leaders appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Rangoon Division Chief Minister Laments ‘Tight Budget’ Posted: 26 Jul 2016 05:14 AM PDT  Rangoon Division Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein addresses students and faculty members at Rangoon Univeristy on Monday. (Phyo Min Thein / Facebook) RANGOON — Rangoon Division Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein on Monday cited a "tight budget" of less than US$300 million as an obstacle to delivering multi-sector improvements to Rangoon. The chief minister's budgetary lament was delivered at a meeting with faculty members and students of Rangoon University, alongside Education Minister Myo Thein Gyi, as reported by local media. In his own address, the education minister had stressed the importance of research in educational reform, and an attendee had asked if the government had a plan to assist research in Burma. The chief minister responded, "We wish to fulfill all the demands submitted to us. But we have no money. Think of it like a household. A rich household can do everything. The Rangoon Division government has a budget of 332 billion kyats [US$280 million], a small amount, which includes the funds for government staff salaries." "We have no money. And there are excessive demands. But we listen to the people's voices and try to set our priorities," said the chief minister. The post Rangoon Division Chief Minister Laments 'Tight Budget' appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Ethnic Youth Conference Organizers to Defy Government Ban Posted: 26 Jul 2016 04:51 AM PDT  Preparations being made for the National Ethnic Youth Conference in Panglong, Southern Shan State. (Photo: NEYC / Facebook) The organizers of a National Ethnic Youth Conference to be held in the Shan State town of Panglong are planning to defy an order from the state government to "suspend" the event. On Monday, the organizers received a letter signed by Aung Than Maung, the Burman ethnic affairs minister in the Shan State government, stating that the conference could not go ahead as planned, according to an "order" from the Union government. The conference organizers claim no reason was given for the suspension order, and the letter did not state when in fact the conference could take place. In statements released on Facebook, and in comments made to The Irrawaddy, the various groups taking part have signaled their intention to go ahead with the conference, planned for July 27-31, in spite of the suspension order. More than half of the youth delegates—set to number more than 600—have already arrived in the town. The rest are reportedly on their way. Panglong, in Loilen District of southern Shan State, was the site of the Panglong Agreement reached in 1947 between Burmese independence leader Gen Aung San and leaders representing the Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnic groups. The agreement promised equal rights and full autonomy in internal administration for the "frontier areas"—the borderlands where ethnic minorities predominate. Sai Aung Myint Oo, a conference organizer, told The Irrawaddy, "We will go ahead and hold it because we have the right to do so, even under the 2008 Constitution." "The government should be supporting us, but the state government dares not take responsibility and the Shan State chief minister is avoiding meeting us," he said. Through multiple statements delivered chiefly through social media, supporters of the conference initiative—including educators, political analysts, activists and politicians—have objected to the suspension order from the Shan State government. Kyaw Min Htike, who leads an ethnic Dawei youth delegation to the conference—currently traveling all the way from Tenasserim Division in Burma's far south—told The Irrawaddy that they "condemn the government's act," and will continue on to Panglong regardless. "It is ugly," Kyaw Min Htike said. "[This] should never have happened under the government that promised change." Youth from Burma's ethnic minority regions began preparing for the conference four years ago, and held a preparatory ethnic youth conference in northern Shan State in 2014. "The government's objection [to the youth conference] shows its lack of vision," said Sai Nyunt Lwin, secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, the second largest party in the Shan State parliament after the Union Solidarity and Development Party. He has encouraged the youth taking part to "calmly overcome" the challenges and to demonstrate solidarity by making a "collective decision." "The new government need not be fearful," Sai Nyunt Lwin added. "What are they afraid of?" On Tuesday afternoon, the conference organizers went to the Shan State capital of Taunggyi to request talks with the state government. Late afternoon on Tuesday, one of the organizers, Mai Mai, informed The Irrawaddy that a government official [whose rank and identity they wished to keep anonymous] had told them that they now had permission to proceed with the conference—a seeming reversal. However, as of 5:30 pm on Tuesday, they had not received official confirmation. The post Ethnic Youth Conference Organizers to Defy Government Ban appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Ethnic Armed Group Summit Commences in Kachin State Posted: 26 Jul 2016 04:30 AM PDT  The first day of the ethnic armed group summit in Mai Ja Yang, Kachin State: July 26, 2016. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) MAI JA YANG, Kachin State — Leaders representing 17 ethnic armed groups gathered in Mai Ja Yang, Kachin State on Tuesday to search for common ground in working toward a federal system in Burma. Representatives from China and the United Nations also joined the meeting as international observers. The summit was held in preparation for the upcoming Union Peace Conference in late August in Naypyidaw. Khu Oo Reh, the secretary of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)—a coalition of nine ethnic armed groups who opted out of signing a nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the government in 2015—spoke in Mai Ja Yang about the significance of the event. "This could be historic meeting for our ethnic armed groups. We intend for this meeting to prepare for the coming [Union Peace] Conference," he said, adding that the organizations would "negotiate" to "reach a common agreement" during the four-day summit, which ends on Friday. "Our conflict," Khu Oo Reh continued, "can only be solved at the table," a reference to the need for peace talks over continued clashes. Not in attendance, however, were the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the United Wa State Army (UWSA), despite being invited to the event. "They [the TNLA and MNDAA] did not come because the UWSA did not come," said UNFC vice chairman Nai Hong Sar. The UWSA is thought to be Burma's largest non-state armed group—with an estimated 20,000-plus troops; the organization reportedly plans to meet government representatives in Naypidaw on Friday. The United Nationalities Alliance—a coalition of ethnic political parties—and the Women's League of Burma—an umbrella group of women's organizations across Burma—also joined Tuesday's session. Gen N'Ban La, who serves as the vice chairman of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)—which hosted the event—and also acts as the UNFC chairman, spoke about the importance of the upcoming Union Peace Conference for Burma and its ethnic communities. He attributed Burma's civil war, which began shortly after the country's 1948 independence, to the former military regime's failure to abide by and implement the 1947 Panglong Agreement, which promised equal rights and self-determination to ethnic nationalities. The upcoming Union Peace Conference has been dubbed Burma's "21st Century Panglong Conference," in an attempt to replicate the spirit of the original 1947 summit. "We have the Panglong Agreement, but we could not implement it. I have questions about who blocked the implementation of our agreement," said Gen N-Ban Hla. "We all wanted to have equal rights. They [the military regime] used a unitary system, and therefore our country has problems now," he said. The KIA general also pointed out that not all ethnic armed groups could sign last year's NCA with the former government; only eight armed groups became signatories to the agreement—and the KIA was among those who opted out. Even though Burma now has a new, elected National League for Democracy-led government, N'Ban La highlighted the ongoing fighting with the Burma Army in the country's northern regions. "This time is important for us, and we all need to have unity," he said. The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Myanmar Vijay Nambiar, who joined the Mai Ja Yang summit, said that the UN will stand alongside ethnic armed organizations and the government in support of the peace process. Sun Guoxiang, from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China will "continue supporting" Burma. Mai Ja Yang lies on Kachin State's Chinese border, in area under KIA control. Fighting broke out between the Burma Army and the KIA in the area in 2011, and Mai Ja Yang's Chinese investors had to leave their businesses and projects behind, leading the town to become largely abandoned. Since then, fighting has continued sporadically outside of Mai Ja Yang between the KIA and the Burma Army. The post Ethnic Armed Group Summit Commences in Kachin State appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| State-Run Newspaper Argues for Myitsone Cancellation Posted: 26 Jul 2016 02:54 AM PDT  Entrance to the Myitsone Dam construction site, north of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina, photographed in 2015. If completed, Myitsone would be among the largest hydropower stations in the world. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — An editorial in the Burmese state-run newspaper The Mirror has argued that the construction of the highly controversial Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam in Kachin State—suspended since 2011—should be completely abandoned, because it harms relations between Burma and China. State-run media in Burma have previously taken a cautious line on the project, and avoided overt criticism. The editorial claimed that the message of the people of Burma to China—"don't mess up the Irrawaddy"—was "crystal clear." The editorial backed the "fourth option" for the Myitsone Dam, namely the total cancellation of the project: "both countries should look for hydropower projects that can be mutually acceptable," it concluded, echoing Kristensen's recommendation. Popular approval of The Mirror's Sunday editorial was evident on social media. Moe Thway, who leads youth organization Generation Wave, wrote a post on Facebook urging the government to follow the editorial's suggestions. "I will stand with the public to support the new government," Moe Thway concluded. The US$3.6 billion hydropower dam project is situated just downstream of the confluence that forms Burma's most iconic river, the Irrawaddy, and was intended to supply power mainly to China's relatively underdeveloped southwest. The project was a joint venture inked between a Chinese state-owned corporation, China Power Investment (CPI), the Burmese Ministry of Electric Power and a Burmese conglomerate, Asia World, during the time of the military junta. In 2011, the project was suspended by President Thein Sein until the end of his term in 2016, after a sustained public outcry and claims that the dam would disrupt the flow of sediment in the country's main waterway, disrupt agricultural livelihoods downstream, and pose grave flooding risks in the event of an earthquake, due to its proximity to a fault line. This editorial from a state-run newspaper comes on the back of renewed lobbying from China to resume the project. In early June, the Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang and representatives of CPI travelled to Kachin State to meet with local leaders. On April 5, five days after the National League for Democracy (NLD) government assumed office, China's Wang Yi became the first foreign minister of another nation to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's new foreign minister—although the Myitsone Dam and other controversial Chinese investments were reportedly not discussed. The Mirror editorial was published on the same date—July 24—that Suu Kyi held a meeting with Wang Yi in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on the sidelines of the 49th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting, although the Myitsone Dam was reportedly not on the agenda. After the meeting with Suu Kyi, the Chinese foreign minister addressed a press conference, saying that, "the Myitsone Dam issue will not harm the two countries' future relationship," as reported by Eleven Daily. Suu Kyi is projected to visit China, following an invitation from the Chinese foreign minister, prior to a planned trip to the US in September. During its tenure so far, the NLD has yet to utter a word on the eventual fate of the Myitsone Dam, leaving uncertainty on all sides. Back in 2011, when she was an opposition figure, Suu Kyi issued a statement encouraging public campaigns to "save the Irrawaddy." She also appealed to the governments of both China and Burma to avoid "endangering" the lives and homes of the Kachin people, to take note of the earthquake risks and to consider the environmental impacts. "In the interests of both national and international harmony, concerned parties should reassess the scheme and cooperate to fund solutions that would prevent undesirable consequences and thus allay the fears of all who are anxious to protect the Irrawaddy," she said. Win Myo Thu, director of environmental organization EcoDev Myanmar, said the Chinese company backing the dam would have to gather public consensus before proceeding with the project—a highly unlikely prospect. "Sixty-percent of Burma's population would be affected by the project," Win Myo Thu claimed. The company should try to get a yes-vote from them, he said mockingly. "The Chinese company must accept the harsh reality that they must shut down the project," he concluded. The post State-Run Newspaper Argues for Myitsone Cancellation appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 26) Posted: 25 Jul 2016 08:10 PM PDT The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week.
The Center of Excellence for Business Skills Development offers a free class called 'English Language Toolkit for Effective Communication' every Saturday. Everyone who attends receives a certificate following completion of the class. Register by emailing tn.aye@unesco.org. or ss.hlaing@unesco.org. Where: Center of Excellence for Business Skills Development, Parami Road, Hlaing Campus. Tel: 09 976 114933 When: Saturday, July 30, 2pm to 4pm
This three-part weekend workshop series will focus on exploring effective alignment through Anusara's universal principles. There will be three sessions—Saturday, 10:30 to 1:30 pm; Saturday, 3:00 to 5:30 pm; and Sunday, 2:30 to 5:30 pm. The classes cost $45 for one session, $80 for two sessions and $110 for all three sessions. Where: Yangon Yoga House, Room 4, Yankin Lan Thwe, Yankin Tsp. Where: Saturday, July 30, 2016
Weekly runs leave from Balance Fitness 2 on Thursdays at 6:15 a.m. and Saturdays at 7:15 a.m. Runners of any level are welcome to join. Where: Balance Fitness 2, No 103, University Ave Road & Thanlwin Street, Bahan Tsp. When: Saturday July 30, 7am to 10:30am
DJs will spin at J-One Music Bar at this party for LGBT patrons and friends. The entrance fee is 5,000 kyats. Where: J-One Music Bar, Bo Cho Street, behind Union Business Centre, Tamwe Tsp. When: Saturday, July 30, starts at 10 p.m.
About 160 vendors will sell books at discounts of 10 to 50 percent at a book fair organized by the Ministry of Information. Readings will also be held, with 18 papers on Burmese politics to be shared. Where: Printing and Publishing Enterprise Headquarters on Theinbyu Street (opposite the Secretariat) When: Friday, July 29 to Sunday, 31 July
Organized by the Myanmar Intellectual Proprietors' Association, the Myanmar Famous Brands Expo and Promo will be held at Tatmadaw Hall. Where: Tatmadaw Hall, U Wisara Road When: Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For anyone who ever wanted to sing on stage, 7th Joint Bar and Grill hosts an open mic night every Tuesday night. Entrance is free. Where: 7th Joint Bar and Grill, Shwe Asia Building, 48th Street and Mahabandula Road, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 09261399933 When: Tuesday, July 26, starts at 8 p.m.
This group art exhibition at Lokanat Gallery showcases more than 80 paintings with prices between $200 and $500. Where: Lokanat Gallery, 62 Pansodan St, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp. Tel. 095-1382-269 When: Wednesday, July 27 to Sunday, July 31
Myanmar Artists and Artisans Association features more than 80 works by 31 comic artists. Where: Myanmar Artists and Artisans Association, Bogyoke Market When: Wednesday, July 27 to Sunday, July 31
A graphic design exchange exhibition will be held at the New Treasure Art Gallery. Where: New Treasure Art Gallery, No. 84/A, Thanlwin Street, Golden Hill Avenue, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 01-526776, 503712 When: Sunday, July 30 to Friday, August 5 The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 26) appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
Free English Language Classes
Anusara Workshop Series: Finding Transformation with Yoga
Yangon Running Club 
FAB 42 Club Night
Book Fair
Trade Show 
Open Mic Night
'New Vision' Exhibition
Comic Exhibition
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