The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Amid Military Tensions, KNU Official Resigns From Ceasefire Monitoring Committee
• After Protests, State Government to Use Only ‘Arakanese Race’
• Jade Sales Drop Significantly at Govt Emporium
• Tensions Heighten Between KIA and Burma Army Amid Rangoon Peace Talks 
• Thousands Protest in Arakan State Against New Label for Rohingya
• Thailand Sets Up Security Centers Ahead of Referendum

Amid Military Tensions, KNU Official Resigns From Ceasefire Monitoring Committee Posted: 04 Jul 2016 07:07 AM PDT KNLA soldiers on the Salween River, heading to frontline areas in northern Karen State. (Photo: Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy)   Tensions arose between soldiers from the Burma Army and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) over a military checkpoint dispute, leading to the resignation of an ethnic Karen official who serves on a ceasefire monitoring body. Col Saw Mu Ker, an official with the Karen National Union (KNU) and the vice-chairman of the state-level Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC)—a group which monitors the implementation of Burma's 2015 nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA)—has resigned his post after the committee failed to address a dispute over a KNLA-controlled tax collection checkpoint in the Htee Khee area of southern Burma's Tenasserim Division. The KNU is the political wing of the KNLA and one of eight non-state ethnic armed organizations that signed last year's NCA with the former government. The argument was reported after a tactical commander from the army's military operations command ordered KNLA soldiers to shut down the checkpoint within three days in late June—an order which the KNLA ignored up to this point. In his resignation letter last week, Col Saw Mu Ker said he would leave his post because the JMC had not taken action to resolve the disagreement which had upset his fellow soldiers.  The colonel belongs to KNLA Brigade 4, which is based in Tenasserim Division. He said that it was more appropriate to look after his soldiers that to serve on the JMC, as there was no reason to cooperate with the committee if they could not handle disputes as they arose. The post Amid Military Tensions, KNU Official Resigns From Ceasefire Monitoring Committee appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

After Protests, State Government to Use Only ‘Arakanese Race’ Posted: 04 Jul 2016 07:01 AM PDT Arakanese Buddhists march through the Arakan State capital Sittwe on Sunday, protesting new government terminology for Buddhists and Muslims in the state. (Photo: Marayu / Facebook) RANGOON — The Arakan State government has bowed to the demands of Arakan nationalist groups by issuing a statement on Monday that it would refer to the Buddhist majority as the "Arakanese Race," instead of "the Buddhist community in Arakan State." However, the state government was silent over the designation of the largely stateless Rohingya Muslim minority, prompting frustration among Arakanese politicians and civil society leaders, who insist they be called "Bengali," to imply they are illegal migrants who do not belong in Arakan State. On Sunday, in 15 out of 17 townships in Arakan State, thousands of Buddhist residents conducted protest marches against new and supposedly "neutral" government terminology for Buddhist and Muslim communities in the state. At a session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Burma's representative Thet Thinzar Htun requested that the term "Muslim community in Arakan State" be used instead of the contentious terms "Rohingya" or "Bengali," so as to foster "harmony" and "mutual trust" between the Buddhist and Muslim communities. The following week, while UN human rights envoy Yanghee Lee visited Arakan State, the Ministry of Information instructed state-owned publications to use the terms "the Muslim Community in Arakan State" and "the Buddhist Community in Arakan State." On Sunday, banners and chants urged the National League for Democracy (NLD) government to stop using both terms, and included slogans such as, "Arakan State belongs to the Arakanese," "Bengalis must be called Bengalis," and "be afraid of the native Arakanese." Arakan State government spokesman Min Aung said they would use the term "Arakanese Race" because it was the "will of the Arakanese community." Although Monday's official statement was silent on the designation of Muslims, Min Aung added that the state government would "respect the public's voice and use the term 'Bengali,' in accordance with their demand," to refer to the Rohingya. However, Min Aung refused to confirm whether the state government would officially announce a policy of using "Bengali," referring to it as a "separate issue." He suggested that The Irrawaddy was asking "leading questions" on the matter. Min Aung also said that Monday's statement was issued on behalf of the state government alone, and does not reflect the position of the Union government. Pe Than, a lawmaker in the Lower House of the Union Parliament for the Arakan National Party (ANP), which represents the Buddhist majority in the state, criticized the state government's statement for ignoring the "core Arakanese demand" that the government abandon the term "Muslim community in Arakan State"—which implies, unacceptably in his view, that the Rohingya belong to Arakan State. Pe Than also suspected that the statement, with its conspicuous omission, may have been issued on the instructions of the Union government. Both the Union and Arakan State governments are controlled by the NLD, even though the ANP won the largest plurality of seats in the Arakan State parliament. The ANP have been excluded from a high level committee on Arakan State led by Aung San Suu Kyi, further exacerbating tensions between the NLD and the ANP. "The main problem is how they will designate the terms. What we want is a decisive stand from the government, similar to the previous government," said Pe Than. Pe Than added that the issue should be resolved by the Ministry of Information and was not the responsibility of the Arakan State government, particularly given that the term "Muslim community in Arakan State" was aired at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Pe Than admitted that he and other ANP lawmakers had been briefed by Suu Kyi in Napyidaw in March about the new NLD government's intentions to deploy new terms for Buddhist and Muslim communities in Arakan State. However, they had not expected them to be floated first at the UN. The ANP lawmaker suggested that that "Muslim migrants in Arakan State" might be an acceptable term for the Rohingya, since it denoted origins outside of the state. Pe Than went on to say, "We don't care about too much about the exact words, which may one day disappear. What we care most about is whether the government will issue [citizenship documentation] to people in line with the 1982 Citizenship Law." The 1982 Citizenship Law—draw up under military dictator Ne Win—renders most Rohingya stateless, since they are not included among a list of 135 "official" ethnic groups, and many do not have the documentation to prove family residency over three generations. The Irrawaddy phoned President's Office spokesperson Zaw Htay on Monday but he declined to answer questions, directing the reporter back to the Arakan State government's statement. Wai Hun Aung, a social activist with the Wunlark Development Foundation, said, "It doesn't matter who issued the statement [the state or union government]. The main point is that [the Rohingya] be called Bengali." He assumed that the statement was sincere in its attempt to assuage the concerns of the Buddhist Arakanese, but he declared it "totally irrelevant" to the "people's demand": that ''Bengalis be called just Bengalis." Wai Hun Aung himself suspected that the Union government in Naypyidaw directed the statement, because the Arakan State Chief Minister Nyi Pu (an NLD appointee) and some state level ministers have been away from the capital Sittwe. The post After Protests, State Government to Use Only 'Arakanese Race' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Jade Sales Drop Significantly at Govt Emporium Posted: 04 Jul 2016 05:47 AM PDT Foreign traders inspect raw jade at the government's Gem Emporium in Naypyidaw, which is being held from June 24 to July 6. (Photo: Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy). RANGOON — Sales of raw jade at the government-run biannual Gems Emporium in Naypyidaw have been markedly lower than in previous years. Organizers have pointed to slowing Chinese demand as well as a government policy to limit sales of raw jade as a means of boosting value-added jade processing in Burma. Previously, Chinese traders would flock to Burma to purchase raw jade and re-sell it to processing outfits in China, who would make large profits producing jade bracelets and other ornaments to feed the vast demand in China, where jade is prized as auspicious. The Myanmar Gems Enterprise, which operates under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, has been staging the emporium for local and foreign buyers from June 24 to July 6 in Burma's capital city Naypyidaw. Most foreign buyers have been coming in from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand. Six thousand lots of raw jade have been laid out for purchase—significantly lower than the 9,000 lots displayed in the previous emporium in December, an official from the Myanmar Gems Enterprise said. This reduction reflects the government's intention to cap raw jade sales, but buyers have also shown a reduced appetite. Min Thu, director of the Myanmar Gems Enterprise, spoke to The Irrawaddy on Monday. "It is only two days till the end of the emporium, but total sales have reached only 427 million euros (US$475 million)," he said, with 3,880 lots purchased so far. At December's emporium, sales generated around 900 million euros ($1 billion), according to the Myanmar Gems Enterprise. "The revenues are obviously lower than last year. The record was in 2014," Min Thu said. In July that year, the government and private enterprises sold around 2.6 billion euros ($2.9 billion) in jade to foreign traders, up from about 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in 2013, according to the (now defunct) Ministry of Mines. Phyo Wai, a jade trader in Mandalay—where large quantities of Burma's jade are also purchased—told The Irrawaddy: "Traders here have nothing to do because the market is cooling down. Very few jade lots come to the market. Many of our main customers from China have also stopped coming here." "Even though we're sending processed jade accessories to Ruili [on the Chinese side of the border from Muse in northern Shan State], the market is really cooling. We can't make it. This is not a good time for us," Phyo Wai said. Jade traders in Mandalay and Rangoon have primarily blamed the cooling of the jade market on uncertainty linked to the transition of political power in Burma this year, as well as a change in China's economic policy under President Xi Jinping. But also significant are attempts by the government to regulate and limit sales of raw jade. Last year, under the previous government, the Myanmar Gems Enterprise enacted regulations requiring foreign traders to demonstrate a minimum balance of 50,000 euros ($55,600) for every one million euros ($1 million) pledged. The policy was created after several foreign buyers defaulted on enormous bids. Successful bids are usually paid off in monthly installments, but many buyers were falling behind on their debts. The post Jade Sales Drop Significantly at Govt Emporium appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Tensions Heighten Between KIA and Burma Army Amid Rangoon Peace Talks  Posted: 04 Jul 2016 04:57 AM PDT Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers near Laiza. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) Tensions remain high after fighting broke out over the weekend between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burma Army in Laiza—the KIA headquarters—amid ongoing peace talks in Rangoon. According to local sources, bombs hit the Burma Army on July 1 at Nan San Yang village in Winemaw Township and members of the army were wounded. Later, a Burma Army battalion allegedly shot artillery fire at the KIA headquarters in Laiza. "They shot their 81mm mortar at us five times," said Lt-Col Naw Bu, a spokesperson for the KIA, adding, "There are ongoing peace talks [in Rangoon], so we would not let our members attack them." "No one was wounded from our side," he said, adding that although the Burma Army suffered losses, the KIA would not make a public statement about the extent of the casualties because it did not want to trigger more fighting. Burma's Ministry of Defense reported on July 2 that the Burma Army had accused the KIA of detonating remote controlled landmines while two government battalions rotated and resupplied rations. "The fighting broke out at about 8 a.m. local time," said a defense ministry statement. "Six landmines blew up and soldiers were wounded, but the KIA withdrew their troops after the army fought back." "Tensions are high," said Naw Bu, adding, "They are preparing their armed forces for another fight and we are closely observing their troop movements." The post Tensions Heighten Between KIA and Burma Army Amid Rangoon Peace Talks  appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thousands Protest in Arakan State Against New Label for Rohingya Posted: 03 Jul 2016 10:38 PM PDT Sittwe residents protest on Sunday against the government's new term "Muslim community in Arakan State" referring to the Rohingya, whom they insist be called "Bengali." (Photo: Marayu) RANGOON — Thousands of Buddhist residents of Arakan State took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the government's new term for those who self-identify as Rohingya, the largely stateless Muslim minority in Arakan State. The protests took place in 15 out of 17 townships of Arakan State. A delay in requesting permission from authorities prevented demonstrations from going ahead in Rathedaung and Gwa townships. The demonstrations were sparked by a request made by Burma's representative to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on June 17: that the term "Muslim community in Arakan State" should be used instead of the contentious terms "Rohingya" or "Bengali," so as to foster "harmony" and "mutual trust" between the Buddhist and Muslim communities in Arakan State. The following week, Yanghee Lee, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, visited Arakan State and met with both Buddhist and Muslim communities. During her time in the country, the Ministry of Information officially instructed state-owned publications to use the terms "the Muslim Community in Arakan State" and "the Buddhist Community in Arakan State." In the Arakan State capital Sittwe on Sunday, thousands of people—including Buddhist monks—marched through the city center holding banners reading "Arakan State Belongs to the Arakanese," and shouting slogans such as "Bengalis must be called Bengalis." Many in Burma insist on calling the Rohingya "Bengali," to suggest they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh, and consider the "Rohingya" label an illegitimate claim to belonging in Burma as a distinct ethnic group. Prior to the weekend protests, Arakanese nationalist groups from Sittwe last week sent an open letter—signed by about 500 residents and 70 Buddhist monks—to President Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi objecting to the government's new terminology. The letter was also delivered to Burma's Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing; the Upper and Lower House parliamentary speakers; the Union ministers of defense, of home affairs, of information, and of labor, immigrations and population; and the Arakan State government. The post Thousands Protest in Arakan State Against New Label for Rohingya appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thailand Sets Up Security Centers Ahead of Referendum Posted: 03 Jul 2016 09:38 PM PDT Policemen stand guard around activists of the Resistant Citizen, who are against the junta-backed constitution, and gathered to hold activities against the draft constitution, ahead of the August 7 referendum in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters) BANGKOK — Thailand’s military government has set up security centers around the country ahead of an August referendum on a new constitution, a spokesman for the government said on Monday. The centers are the latest measure rolled out by the government as Thailand prepares to vote on a new constitution that critics fear will entrench the military’s influence. The draft of Thailand’s 20th constitution is to replace one scrapped after a 2014 coup by generals who promised stability in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy. The Aug. 7 referendum will be the first real test of the junta’s popularity since it took power. A “Center for Maintaining Peace and Order” has been set up in every one of Thailand’s 76 provinces, said Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for the Thai prime minister’s office, in order to ensure “no cheating, no lobbying and no persuading people to vote one way or another.” Provincial governors will be responsible for assembling teams to join the center including police, troops and civilian volunteers. “We need to ensure peace during the referendum so that people can decide how our country will move forward,” Sansern told Reuters. Last month junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and opposition supporters of ousted populist premier Thaksin Shinawatra both contacted the United Nations after an upsurge in political tension, just a day after police shut down an electoral monitoring center of the “red shirt” anti-government movement. The red shirts say the centers are needed to prevent fraud. Thanawut Wichaidit, a spokesman for the red shirt movement, accused the government of double standards. “We weren’t able to set up our monitoring centers so why should the military government be allowed to set up their centers?” Thanawut told Reuters. “The military government is blindfolding the electorate and leading their hand to vote in the manner they want.” Under the proposed charter, a junta-appointed Senate with seats reserved for military commanders would check the powers of elected lawmakers for a five-year transitional period. The post Thailand Sets Up Security Centers Ahead of Referendum appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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