The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- 49 Kachin Detained by Burma Army, Accused of KIA Links
- President’s Office Vows to ‘Counter’ Arakan Attacks; Locals Call for an End to Violence
- Over 100 Teachers Evacuated From Border Town in Northern Arakan State
- Arakan State Unrest Heightens Political Concerns
- Will the First Group of Refugee Returns Take Place This Month?
- Tourism Industry Urges Govt to Issue Arakan State Travel Advice
- Thailand Wakes to Uncertainty, Grief Without King Bhumipol
| 49 Kachin Detained by Burma Army, Accused of KIA Links Posted: 14 Oct 2016 09:39 AM PDT  Ethnic Kachin detained by the Burma Army in Bhamo (Photo: Myawaddy News / Facebook) Forty-nine Kachin locals have been detained by the Burma Army since Tuesday, when they were accused of attending a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) militia training. The individuals, members of the Rawang and Lisu sub-ethnic groups, come from Putao, in northern Kachin State. They were arrested at the Sein Lone military checkpoint, and are being held in Kachin State's Bhamo prison and are facing two charges under the Unlawful Association Act for communicating with an "unlawful association" and possessing weapons with the group. "Since their arrest, they have been put in the Bhamo central prison," said U Aung Thein, Bhamo's Lower House lawmaker from the ruling National League for Democracy, who is trying to get in contact with the group. "I was told by the district administrator that all of the accused had admitted that they received weapons training at the KIA's Mai Ja Yang camp, although they were told that they would be given training related to agriculture," the lawmaker told The Irrawaddy on Friday. "But I have not seen them in person yet," he added, "As of now, charges are filed against them. They will have to appear before the court. We hope to meet them when they come for the hearing and learn what happened." As the case is related to the military, the lawmaker said that they have less power to directly intervene, due to the volatile situation in the area, which is a conflict zone. Quoting the Bhamo district administrator, U Aung Thein added that the accused are aged 20 to 40 years, and amongst them, four are women. On Friday morning, the military-owned Myawaddy newspaper posted on their Facebook page that on Oct. 11 they "had arrested 49 people returning from getting militia training with the KIA," as well as an additional eight people who were driving the trucks. All of the detainees will be transferred to the Moe Mauk police station, and security will be tightened in the area, they added. After armed conflict between the government forces and the KIA renewed after the disintegration of a ceasefire in 2011, schools in the conflict zone were forced to shut down, leading youth to seek out new opportunities for vocational development. Local sources say there are hundreds of students pursuing their education in learning centers in Mai Ja Yang—a KIA stronghold on the China border—who are now in danger in the area, due to the reoccurrence of a recent military offensive against the KIA. According to Dau Kha, a spokesperson from the advisory team of the Kachin Independence Organization—the political wing of the KIA—they provide trainings in education, health care, agriculture and livelihood development. He added that the KIA does not provide military training at its headquarters. The post 49 Kachin Detained by Burma Army, Accused of KIA Links appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| President’s Office Vows to ‘Counter’ Arakan Attacks; Locals Call for an End to Violence Posted: 14 Oct 2016 09:15 AM PDT  People seek refuge at Thabyae Gone monastery in Maungdaw Township after fighting between the Burma Army and militant broke out nearby villages. (Photo: Rakhine Gazette / Facebook) SITTWE, Arakan State — Four suspects have reportedly confessed to taking part in and planning attacks on border guard posts in northern Arakan State's Maungdaw Township with the financial backing of outside terrorist organizations, according to a President's Office statement released on Friday. Two of the men were transferred from Bangladeshi authorities to Burma and two were captured in Maungdaw Township. The statement said that the four men confessed to authorities—which were unspecified—to taking part in an attack on border posts on Sunday with the aim of occupying Maungdaw Township, led by a group they identified as Aqa Mul Mujahidin, which the President's Office described as being affiliated with the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), last known to be active in the 1980s and 1990s. The statement also said an investigation had revealed that the group allegedly receives financial backing from Islamic terror networks and is led by a 45-year-old living in Kyauk Pyin Seik village of Maungdaw Township who attended six months of training in Pakistan. "We will effectively counterattack any terror attack or attempted terror attack," the President's Office statement said. "We will also investigate, identify and take harsh actions against those behind the terrorists, those who support them secretly, and organizations and individuals that aid and abet terrorism." The group was allegedly planning to attack six border posts with 400 armed men last Sunday, but, armed with machetes, instead attacked a border patrol police headquarters and two outposts in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, killing nine policemen and looting firearms. According to state-run media, the Tatmadaw arrested another man in Maungdaw Township's Warpaik Village on Wednesday and reportedly confiscated a MA-11 gun, 11 cartridges, 1,510 rounds of ammunition and flags and badges connected to the RSO. The man is the fifth suspect to have been detained in the area since Sunday. Military-controlled Myawaddy media said on Thursday that while Burma Army troops carried out a manhunt for the suspects Wednesday in Kyet Yoe Pin Village of Maungdaw Township, ten suspected militants were killed and one gun was seized in clashes. Five Burma Army soldiers have been killed in the manhunt, and 15 men—suspected militants—have been killed by government forces. Military Operation Areas Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships in northern Arakan State are designated as military operation areas until firearms looted from border police force are recovered, ministers told reporters at a press conference in the state capital of Sittwe on Friday. On Thursday, Arakan State Chief Minister Nyi Pu summoned NGOs and INGOs to the state government office to update them on the situation in Maungdaw Township. He told relief organizations that to work in areas of military operations they must apply for permission from the government and follow rules and regulations, according to his official Facebook page. Nyi Pu said that "Although the neighboring town of Buthidaung has returned to normal and shops have opened, the market is closed in Maungdaw. Unless the government can recover the firearms, armed clashes could happen at any time." He mentioned that some attackers are from "outside," referring to Bangladesh, and alleged that they had links to Maungdaw Muslim residents. Brig-Gen Thura Sun Lwin of the border police told international relief organizations, including United Nations (UN) organizations and partners, that foreigners are currently prohibited from entering Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships. Displaced Persons and Reports of Abuse A joint statement released on Monday by 14 Rohingya organizations in exile accused government soldiers of killing seven unarmed men in the village of Myothugyi; the Burma Army described the casualties of being those of suspected militants. The groups called on international organizations and governments to pressure the ruling National League for Democracy government to halt such actions, and end persecution against Muslims in the region. Since then, further accusations of abuses—detainments, and the burning of houses—have surfaced. Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu sought to quell rumors of abuse with a statement on Facebook saying that news from the government should be regarded as true. "The Union government is trying to decrease the worries of the two communities and we [the state government] are also carrying out on-the-ground information for law enforcement and stability in this region," his post said. In Maungdaw Township, local sources say that ethnic Mro and Thet villagers—fearing the unrest—have been seeking safety in monasteries in Buthidaung. Arakan National Party (ANP) secretary U Tha Htun Hla visited Maungdaw yesterday to support the displaced villagers. According to him, about 300 people were sheltering at Buddhist monasteries. The Arakan State government office secretary U Tin Maung Swe said that local Arakanese from the area concerned for their safety would need to be relocated. The Burma Army has also airlifted 90 school teachers from areas of Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships, according to the state government. Meanwhile on Friday, residents of two villages in rural areas of Maungdaw Township were taking refuge in Sittwe, saying they were too frightened to remain at their homes following Sunday's attacks. A total of 36 people from the villages were staying at a Buddhist monastery in the state capital. Four women from the group met a delegation from the World Food Programme (WFP) headed by Stephen O'Brien, United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. "My child and I are safe here, but my husband is at home and we don't yet know how safe he is," villager Daw Thein Shwe told the UN delegation, through tears. Rumors and the deaths of policemen in Sunday's attacks had triggered the decision to leave Myaing Tha Ya and Aung Mingalar villages, she said. A total of 60 more people from the area were expected to arrive in Sittwe later on Friday, the delegation heard. A WFP representative told the villagers that it would work with the state government to provide assistance. Meanwhile, U Hla Shwe, a community leader from the Rohingya Muslim community in Sittwe worried that the violence would spread. "We condemn those acting with violence," he said, adding that his community loved peace, and wished to live in peace. Ko Wai Hun Aung, an Arakanese social activist, said that using force may not be the best way to find suspects and that authorities should instead work with local religious leaders. The post President's Office Vows to 'Counter' Arakan Attacks; Locals Call for an End to Violence appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Over 100 Teachers Evacuated From Border Town in Northern Arakan State Posted: 14 Oct 2016 05:37 AM PDT  Burma Army airlifts teachers and locals from an area close to the Bangladesh border in Maungdaw Township of northern Arakan State on Thursday. (Photo: Office of the Defense Services Commander-in-Chief) More than 100 teachers in government schools have been evacuated via Burma Army helicopter from the small settlement of Taungpyoletwea by the Bangladesh border, in Maungdaw Township of northern Arakan State, with just over 20 remaining to be airlifted. These evacuations, with the teachers flown in to neighboring Buthidaung Township, are taking place after fatal attacks on border guard police posts on Sunday, followed by a manhunt focused on Maungdaw Township, has led to several dozen deaths among police, Burma Army soldiers and suspected militants. Most of the estimated 250 assailants who attacked the police posts remain at large, according to state media. At least six suspects have been arrested. "[The attackers] have done nothing to teachers. No [teacher] has suffered injury so far," said Maungdaw Township education officer U Khin Aung, who added that the Burma Army was preparing to evacuate the remaining 20 teachers in Taungpyoletwea. Alongside the 114 teachers that have been airlifted since Thursday, the Burma Army has evacuated 50 government officers, one monk, and 16 local residents, according to the office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services. An unverified number of residents of rural villages in Maungdaw Township have reportedly fled to Maungdaw town, with monasteries providing shelter. U Tun Hla Sein, a state lawmaker representing Maungdaw Township, said, "Locals have fled for the town for fear of food shortages. Most vendors [in their villagers] are Muslim, and have closed their shops." Schools have been closed in Maungdaw and neighboring Buthidaung townships since the beginning of the week due to security concerns. Education officer U Khin Aung said whether schools would re-open after the Thadingyut festival, which lasts for the duration of next week, would hinge on an improvement in the security situation. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko The post Over 100 Teachers Evacuated From Border Town in Northern Arakan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Arakan State Unrest Heightens Political Concerns Posted: 14 Oct 2016 05:32 AM PDT  Entrance to Maungdaw Township, Arakan State. (Photo: Narinjara) NAYPYIDAW—Recent attacks on border police posts in Arakan State have heightened public concern over the democratization process and civil-military relations, members of the political community told The Irrawaddy. Lower House lawmaker U Lwin Ko Latt, of Thanlyin Township, told The Irrawaddy that he is worried about the situation following the deaths of nine policemen, five soldiers, and fifteen other men. "The military intelligence should have known about [the attacks] before they happened. The Defense Ministry is responsible for that. And under the circumstances, we want [the Burmese military] to only work within the legal framework. I don't want them to seek political gain out of this," he said. "The event is a cause for concern for security. I am also worried if concerned governments will be able to handle this effectively," said U Lwin Ko Latt. As the conflict could hamper democratization in Burma, it was important that the government proceed with caution in line with the rule of law, said U Nay Myo Htun, a Lower House lawmaker representing Htantabin Township. U Ye Htun, a political analyst, said State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi seemed to be exercising caution in handling the issues in Arakan State. "The military has violated laws in our [Shan] state. I think [the State Counselor] has sent the information minister to Arakan State to gather information on the ground so that she can make a judgment," said U Ye Htun. He also suggested sending the Arakan State Advisory Commission led by former UN general secretary Kofi Annan to Arakan State. Though the ministries of defense, home affairs and border affairs—which are addressing the unrest—fall under military rather than civilian leadership according to the 2008 Constitution, responses are being made under the guidance of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy spokesperson U Win Htein told The Irrawaddy. "All the information about the Arakan issue reaches her. Though Defense and Home Affairs ministries are under the [army] commander-in-chief according to the Constitution, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gets on well with them. She has taken the overall responsibility to handle it," said U Win Htein. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has told the media that the government is doing their best to solve the conflict following the attacks on border posts, and will handle them impartially under the rule of law. "The Defense Ministry has to take responsibility to handle this transparently. The whole incident must be presented to the public in a transparent manner, otherwise public concern will remain high, because there have been many rumors including those on Facebook," said U Lwin Ko Latt. The Irrawaddy contacted the President's Office, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Border Affairs several times to ask about video files circulated on social media and for the government's responses to the Arakan issue, but was not able to obtain a comment. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko The post Arakan State Unrest Heightens Political Concerns appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Will the First Group of Refugee Returns Take Place This Month? Posted: 14 Oct 2016 04:01 AM PDT  A refugee family hold numbered placards as they pose for a photo during a census conducted by Thai authorities at Mae La refugee camp in July 2014. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — The first round of Burmese refugee returns is reportedly taking place later this month from Nu Po refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border, with no exact date yet set. The return has been arranged by the UN refugee agency, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), according to sources from the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC), a community-based organization that facilitates services on refugee matters in Thailand. When asked, KRC spokesperson Naw Blooming Night Zar told The Irrawaddy that she is not aware of the details of the return plan, as it was directly arranged by the UHNCR. "We are not aware of the process. As far as we know, it is organized by the UNHCR. They [UNHCR] didn’t let us know. Based on their policy, refugees can independently decide by their own [whether or not to return], so they deal directly with individual refugees," said Naw Blooming Night Zar. When The Irrawaddy contacted the UNHCR, Iain Hall, a senior field coordinator for the UNHCR said "there is no date yet communicated on the return of the group from Nu Po" refugee camp. He added, however, that all refugee returns must be voluntary. He said that the UNHCR had not yet received information from the Burmese and Thai governments on a return date. "When UNHCR receives information from the Myanmar and Thai governments to confirm the return of the Nu Po group, including the date, then we would be very happy to provide more information," said Hall. According to a report by Voice of America quoting Chief Minister of Karen State, Nang Khin Htwe Myint, the first group of returning refugees would include some 56 people take place after October 25. She said the return was voluntary, and that the Karen State government would provide food, health care and guarantee safety for the returnees. The UNHCR also will provide other required assistance, she added. The Irrawaddy could not reach Nang Khin Htwe Myint at the time of reporting. There are more than 120,000 Burmese refugees in nine camps on the Thai border, most of whom are ethnic Karen who fled their homes due to civil war. Many have been in Thailand for more than two decades.
The post Will the First Group of Refugee Returns Take Place This Month? appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Tourism Industry Urges Govt to Issue Arakan State Travel Advice Posted: 14 Oct 2016 03:44 AM PDT  Ngapali Beach is a quiet and peaceful getaway far from conflicts in Northern Arakan State. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Members of Burma's tourism industry have urged the government to provide international tourists with detailed travel advice about the conflict in Arakan State. International media have been covering ongoing security operations in Arakan State, also known as Rakhine State, since last Sunday when armed men attacked a border patrol police headquarters and two outposts in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, killing nine policemen and looting firearms. Foreign visitors have been making enquiries with tour companies and in some cases postponing or cancelling trips, industry observers said. Tourist destinations in Arakan State—including state capital Sittwe, Ngapali Beach, Mrauk-U and Kyauktaw—are far from the conflict in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships "Foreign visitors have asked if Arakan State is safe or not as they have seen many pictures of recent clashes in the media," said Daw Sabei Aung, managing director of Nature Dream Travel & Tours. She told The Irrawaddy that the government needs to provide information for visitors to Arakan State on which areas are safe and which are not. "Tourists put safety first," she said, urging the government to release information related to travel safety in the region. Daw Hnin Pwint Phyu, managing director of Nan Myint Ma Har Travels & Tours, also said that official government information is required. "Our visitors' safety is a big responsibility," she said. "At the moment, we're relying on our partners in Arakan State for information." Myanmar Tourism Marketing Committee sent a letter to tour companies this week on how to respond to enquiries from visitors, without official government information. The committee told tour companies that attacks in northern Arakan State near the Bangladesh border are far from famous travel sites. "Travel companies have their own monitoring group to get the latest information from their sources, even though there has been no official information," U Phyo Wai Yar Zar, a former chairman of the committee, told The Irrawaddy. U Myo Win Nyunt, director of Ministry of Hotel and Tourism said that no instructions or warnings had been issued about Arakan State. "So far, we have not provided tour companies with 'dos and don'ts,'" he said. Tourism advice from an Australian Government website for Arakan State "except Sittwe and resort areas at Ngapali Beach" is to "think seriously about whether you need to travel here due to the high level of risk." Border trade gates with Bangladesh have been closed indefinitely and navy ships are monitoring the coastline. All of Maungdaw's 400 schools were ordered to close on Monday. The post Tourism Industry Urges Govt to Issue Arakan State Travel Advice appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Thailand Wakes to Uncertainty, Grief Without King Bhumipol Posted: 13 Oct 2016 11:47 PM PDT  People weep after an announcement that Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has died, at the Siriraj hospital in Bangkok, Oct. 13, 2016. (Photo: Chaiwat Subprasom / REUTERS) BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand's people woke up on Friday to the first day in 70 years without King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a king worshipped as a father-figure who guided the nation through decades of change and turmoil. The king, the world's longest-reigning monarch, died in a Bangkok hospital on Thursday. He was 88. He had been in poor health for several years but his death has shocked the Southeast Asian nation of 67 million people and plunged it into grief. The streets of Bangkok were busy as usual on Friday morning, 12 hours after news of the king's death was announced. Most people in the capital and in towns across the country dressed in black but shops opened for business. The cabinet declared a government holiday for mourning but the Stock Exchange of Thailand and other financial institutions opened as normal. The stock market's benchmark index rose at the open and was up 4 percent by late morning while the baht currency strengthened about 1.3 percent against the dollar, on hopes that there would be an orderly succession. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is expected to be the new king but he does not command the same adoration that his father earned over a lifetime on the throne. At Bangkok's Grand Palace, thousands of mourners, some sobbing, lined up to kneel before a portrait of the king, and make a ritual pouring of water as part of royal funeral rites. "I still feel like I'm dreaming. I can't believe it happened," said Supawan Wongsawas, 64, a retired civil servant. Suthad Kongyeam, 53, a civil official, said it felt like losing a father. "He was the heart of the whole country," said Suthad. "Everything is shaken. There is nothing to hold on to anymore." Thailand has endured bomb attacks and economic worries recently while rivalry simmers between the military-led establishment and populist political forces after a decade of turmoil including two coups and deadly protests. The king stepped in to calm crises on several occasions during his reign and many Thais worry about a future without him. The military has for decades invoked its duty to defend the monarchy to justify its intervention in politics. Military government leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday the country was in "immeasurable grief … profound sorrow and bereavement". He said security was his top priority and called for businesses to stay active and stock investors not to dump shares. 'DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK' Thursday's crush of mourners in the grounds of Siriraj Hospital, where the king died, had gone by Friday morning, but about 100 people, most dressed in black, prayed there before a statue of the king's late mother. "I'm scared and don't know what to think. If I go home I can't think," said Jirawat Wayaphan, 64. The hospital was open and busy, but all visitors froze and stood at attention as the national anthem was played over loudspeakers as usual at 8 a.m. Later on Friday, the king's body will be taken in procession from the hospital to the Grand Palace. Authorities have not issued plans for a funeral but a traditional royal cremation will take months to prepare. By mid-morning, hundreds of mourners had packed the narrow, sun-seared pavements along the route. Many people sheltered beneath umbrellas or cooled themselves with fans. Paramedics with a wheelchair plucked one woman from the crowd who was suffering in the heat. Security was tight in the city's old quarter of palaces, temples and ministries with soldiers at checkpoints, government offices and intersections. Black-and-white footage of the king playing jazz on the saxophone has replaced regular transmissions on television channels since shortly after the king's death was announced. Prayuth said Prince Vajiralongkorn wanted to grieve with the people and leave the formal succession until later, when the parliament will invite him to ascend the throne. "Long live His Majesty the new king," Prayuth said. Thailand's strict lese-majeste laws have left little room for public discussion about the succession. The junta has promised an election next year and pushed through a constitution to ensure its oversight of civilian governments. It looks firmly in control for a royal transition. Foreign embassies in Thailand advised tourists to respect the feelings of the Thai people at their time of grief. Tropical Thailand, with its beaches, Buddhist temples and infamous night life, expects a record 33 million tourists this year. Most Thais have known no other monarch and King Bhumibol's picture is hung in almost every house, school and office. Until his later years, he was featured on television almost every evening, often trudging through rain, map in hand and camera around his neck, visiting a rural development project. His wife, Queen Sirikit, 84, has also been in poor health over recent years. The Thai community in California, the largest in the world outside of Thailand, was also in mourning. "I just know that I loved my king, he is the king that helped everybody, helping the poor, everything," Stella Boonyawan, a Thai expatriate, said outside the Buddhist Wat Thai Temple in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. In Bangkok, Prayuth warned against anyone taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble. Politicians from all sides will be in mourning. Given a smooth transition, major economic disruptions are not expected, analysts and diplomats said. The post Thailand Wakes to Uncertainty, Grief Without King Bhumipol appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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