The Irrawaddy Magazine

---

• Turkish Foreign Minister Visits Burma, Offers Assistance to Arakan State     
• Heavy Downpours Continue to Batter Arakan State       
• Mon Groups Fear Surge of Burman Migrants
• Over-Extraction, Chinese Slowdown Blamed for Jade Price Slump
• Ma Ba Tha Airs Its Dirty Laundry
• Burma Army Deploying Armed Drones
• Enter La Niña: Cold and Heavy Rain Predicted From September
• Bangladesh Arrests 85 Islamists in Crackdown After Wave of Killings
• Outgoing President Warns Philippines About Specter of Martial Law
• In Major Test, Burma Scrambles to Clear Port Jam Threatening Growth       

Turkish Foreign Minister Visits Burma, Offers Assistance to Arakan State      Posted: 13 Jun 2016 08:16 AM PDT Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meets with his Burmese counterpart Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw, June 13, 2016. (Photo: Burma Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Facebook) RANGOON — Visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu thanked the Burmese government on Monday for its efforts to quell racial and sectarian violence in Arakan State, expressing a desire for mutual cooperation to resolve the issue. "We would like to cooperate with the Union government to solve this problem, and we will support the actions of the Union government," the Turkish foreign minister said at a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw. "As a result, there will certainly be peace and development [in Arakan State]," he said, adding that he admired, in particular, the citizenship verification process for Muslims in Arakan State, although some Rohingya Muslims have rejected this new verification exercise on the grounds that it omitted their ethnicity and religion. "To solve the problems in Arakan State, the Burmese government should also work with international agencies like the UN, without discriminating on the basis of creed and color," Cavusoglu said. Cavusoglu and other Turkish officials were scheduled to arrive in Arakan State at noon on Monday and to meet with leaders of both Muslim and Buddhist groups at Sittwe Airport. Cavusoglu was also to join Muslims from the region in prayer. "The Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency [TICA] has been giving assistance without discrimination [in Arakan State]. TICA has offered new projects to local authorities, and it will give assistance to open clinics and fulfill other requirements. The Turkish government will extend similar assistance at the request of the Union government and the Arakan State government," the foreign minister told reporters. "We are working to improve the situation in Arakan State. I am thankful that Your Excellency [Cavusoglu] understands our delicate situation," Suu Kyi said. The Turkish foreign minister also invited Suu Kyi to visit Turkey to share his country's experiences in the health, education, infrastructure and tourism sectors. Cavusoglu said that his government expects to boost its trade value with Burma, which currently stands at US$38 million, highlighting an ambition to fly Turkish Airlines to Burma. He also urged the Burmese government to open an embassy in Turkey, seeing as how the latter opened a Turkish embassy in Rangoon four years ago. Suu Kyi said that Burma will make efforts to improve international diplomatic relations with Turkey and move toward relaxing entry visa regulations for Turkish nationals. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.  The post Turkish Foreign Minister Visits Burma, Offers Assistance to Arakan State      appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Heavy Downpours Continue to Batter Arakan State        Posted: 13 Jun 2016 07:56 AM PDT Recent flooding of a school in Arakan State's Taungup Township. (Photo: Kaungmratnaing Maungdaw / Facebook) RANGOON — Heavy rain and severe flooding continue to devastate parts of Arakan State, a spokesperson for the Arakan State Government, told The Irrawaddy on Monday. Four women in Taungup Township, a man in Thandwe Township and a student in Ann Township were killed by deadly deluges on Sunday, according to spokesperson Min Aung. However, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has reported a different figure of four total deaths in the region for the month of June. In terms of damage, 155 households were destroyed in Ann Township, while in Thandwe Township the heavy downpours have caused water levels to rise seven feet, Min Aung added. Arakan State's Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Electric Power, Industry, and Roads and Communications reportedly intend to visit flood-affected townships to deliver aid, including food and material for building houses. Since the beginning of June, several other parts of Burma have also been struck by severe rainfall. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has reported that natural disasters have claimed the lives of two people in Pegu Division, two people in Sagaing Division, one person each in Magwe and Irrawaddy divisions and one person in Kachin State. More than 5,000 households in total have also been affected by flooding, with some homes having been completely submerged and others rendered essentially unlivable. With the La Niña weather pattern looming, it is likely that Burma will continue to be hit by extreme weather in the coming months. The post Heavy Downpours Continue to Batter Arakan State        appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mon Groups Fear Surge of Burman Migrants Posted: 13 Jun 2016 07:29 AM PDT Ethnic Mon children wear their national dress during the Mon National Day in February in Chaungzon Township. (Photo: Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Last week, more than 10 Mon civil society organizations (CSO) demanded that the Mon State Chief Minister review the government's plan to issue household registration cards to internal migrant workers who have moved from Upper Burma to work on rubber plantations and salt farms in Mon State. Naing Htun Myint, chairman of the Mudon Youth Organization, expressed dissatisfaction with Chief Minister Min Min Oo's project, saying ethnic Mon people will face worsening trespassing problems caused by the migrant workers. Several land dispute cases with residents have recently emerged in the region as migrants construct shacks and dwellings near existing villages. Many local Mon have left their homes to find work in neighboring Thailand, leaving the local agriculture businesses with labor shortages. This led to seasonal migrant workers coming from Upper Burma, who later settled in Mon State. "We worry that the large amount of Burmans will gain more influence than the Mon," said Naing Htun Myint. He was concerned that after receiving the household registration cards, the migrants would be able to obtain or change their national registration cards, giving them the right to vote in local elections. This could erode the ethnic Mon political parties' power in state legislature, he said. "The Mon state government has not revealed details of this project to the public," Naing Htun Myint said. "We are unhappy with the lack of transparency." Three days after the CSOs sent their demands to the state government, there has been no official response. Mon State parliament Deputy Speaker Aung Naing Oo confirmed that they received a copy of the letter. Some ethnic Mon politicians are also dissatisfied with the chief minister's plan because he did not provide necessary details—he merely informed parliament that the project would be included as a part of the state's 100-day policy. The state legislator agreed with the CSOs, saying, "I can't support the government's plan." Aung Naing Oo said that issuing official household registration documents would result in unexpected problems in Mon State. Buying land from locals is fine, he explained, but trespassing on their property could lead to ethnic conflicts between the two communities. "The government should review the project if they are serious about being the voice of the people," said Aung Naing Oo. "This could result in big problems in Mon State." Naing Ngwe Thein, chairman of the Mon National Party (MNP), said his party's representatives already voiced their opposition to the chief minister's unpopular plan, to no avail. He argued that migrant workers could stay their whole lives with no problems in Mon State without having household registration documents. "Some places like Kyaikhto and Bilin townships are already full of Burmans," said Naing Ngwe Thein. A nationalist monk, Thaddhamma Pala of the Mon Young Monks Union, said migrant workers are guests and should return to their places of origin after completing their work. He claimed if the government provided household documentation, Burmans would form the second-largest population in Mon State. According to 2014 census result, Mon State has a population of more than 2 million official residents, a figure the Mon Young Monks Union claims does not include some 500,000 migrants. The government is currently compiling data on migrant workers, but their total population remains uncertain. The Irrawaddy contacted the Mon State government office on Monday but received no response. The post Mon Groups Fear Surge of Burman Migrants appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Over-Extraction, Chinese Slowdown Blamed for Jade Price Slump Posted: 13 Jun 2016 06:07 AM PDT Dump trucks loaded with soil at a jade mine in Hpakant, Kachin State (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — With the government's biannual gem emporium looming at the end of this month, prices for Burmese jade have continued to slide against weakening demand. Industry insiders have blamed an economic slowdown in China, over-extraction in jade mines, and market uncertainty linked to the transition of power to a democratically elected government in Burma. "Here, the economy is cooling along with China. The market for jade is stagnant. There are many jade stones, with lots heaping up unsold," said Tun Hla Aung, joint secretary of Myanmar Gems Traders Association. Kyaw Kyaw Oo, executive committee member of the Myanmar Gems Traders Association, highlighted over-extraction—far outstripping current demand—for the slide in prices and what he considered the poor state of the jade market. "If the government can control such over-mining, things should return back to normal," Kyaw Kyaw Oo said. "Prices have been cut to cover production costs [in the short term], but jade prices keep falling," he said, without specifying by how much. "Our main customers are from China. Recently, their banks have not been giving loans to gems and jade traders, due to new economic policies from the Chinese government," he explained. However, Kyaw Kyaw Oo said that recent disputes and accusations—to which he was party—within the Myanmar Gems Traders Association had not affected the market. On June 2, 81 members of the association held a press conference in Rangoon, calling on the Ministry of Resources and Environmental Conservation to address the so-far unexplained loss of over US$100 million from the association's coffers—a scandal in which the former President Thein Sein has been implicated. "Some people thought this dispute might affect jade and gems trading. Actually, it has not," Kyaw Kyaw Oo said. The Myanmar Gems Enterprise, which operates under the Ministry of Resources and Environmental Conservation, will stage the biannual Gem Emporium for local and foreign traders in Naypyidaw from June 24-27. The process is tightly regulated. Only those holding mining, trading and company licenses, and members of the Myanmar Gems Traders Association, are eligible to take part. Buyers must give a deposit amounting to 5 percent of their expected expenditure. From June 13, an administrative committee in the Myanmar Gems Enterprise's head office in Naypyidaw will register local and foreign dealers for the emporium. "Around 6000 jade lots will be displayed, fewer than last year," Min Thu, assistant director of the Myanmar Gems Enterprise, told the Irrawaddy. "Although the market is broadly cool, I hope local traders will still be interested in attending." Jade mining in Burma is concentrated around the town of Hpakant in Kachin State, northern Burma. Mining there was suspended between 2012 and 2014, due to the resumed war between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army, which has yet to be resolved. In 2014, the (now defunct) Ministry of Mines began reissuing licenses. More than 850 licenses have been issued to firms at over 8,000 sites since private companies were given permission to mine in 2007. Conditions for local workers are hazardous: The Hpakant area has been plagued by a string of landslides since late last year, including a collapse on November 21 that killed more than 100 people. International advocacy group Global Witness released a report in 2015 that estimated the value of Burma's jade production for 2014 at US$31 billion. The greater part of such huge sums are said to be derived from illegal trade with Chinese buyers, from which a shadowy network of military-linked companies and non-state armed groups profit. The post Over-Extraction, Chinese Slowdown Blamed for Jade Price Slump appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ma Ba Tha Airs Its Dirty Laundry Posted: 13 Jun 2016 05:45 AM PDT The two senior monks, U Parmaukkha and U Wirathu, at an event for the National Prosperity Party in 2015.  (Photo: NPP / Facebook) RANGOON — Fissures have appeared within the Buddhist extremist organization Ma Ba Tha, after two senior members of the monk-run, anti-Muslim organization traded barbs on social media over the weekend. U Parmaukkha, a one-time senior monk within Ma Ba Tha, the Burmese acronym for the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, condemned his former organization for supporting only one political party in last year's election.. Ma Ba Tha allied itself with ex-president Thein Sein's Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was routed in November's elections. "They did not focus on national issues and just concentrated on supporting one political party [the USDP] during the election. That is why I resigned from the organization," said U Parmaukkha, who resigned from Ma Ba Tha last month. "Ma Ba Tha proposed a so-called race and religion protection law, which was ratified by the USDP government. In gratitude, Ma Ba Tha encouraged the people to support the USDP during the election," he said. He said Ma Ba Tha believed the Thein Sein government supported the cause of "protecting" race and religion, but that he has not seen that same commitment from the new National League for Democracy government. U Parmaukkha was a high-ranking member in Ma Ba Tha who was heavily involved in anti-Rohingya protests around the country; the Rohingya are a persecuted Muslim minority denied citizenship in Burma. The country experienced widespread violence against during the quasi-civilian government of then-President Thein Sein, who ruled from 2011-2016, and human rights activists have accused members of Ma Ba Tha of involvement in the unrest. The third anniversary of Ma Ba Tha's founding was celebrated in Rangoon earlier this month, and this dispute was first sign of divisions within the organization. "I wanted the Ma Ba Tha to not just work on race and religion issues, but also to take up major national concerns, but they did not listen to me," U Parmaukkha said. "I wanted everyone in the country to love and support Ma Ba Tha. I wanted to have a pure Ma Ba Tha that all people in the country, not just one political party, could support." In response, Wirathu, another senior monk from Ma Ba Tha, posted a message on his Facebook page on Sunday attacking U Parmaukkha. "We all supported you when you attained a high position [in Ma Ba Tha], but you insulted others and were jealous when other people were promoted above you," Wirathu wrote on his Facebook. "You were the most hostile member of our organization," he wrote. "We did not kick you out—you left on your own because you were upset you did not get a higher position." But the nationalist monk remained resolute that Ma Ba Tha would overcome its first public spat. "We can do fine without you," Wirathu wrote. "The Ma Ba Tha is a strong force no matter what." The post Ma Ba Tha Airs Its Dirty Laundry appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Army Deploying Armed Drones Posted: 13 Jun 2016 03:21 AM PDT An aid convoy sits parked along the side of a road in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone in February 2015. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON—The Burma Army has deployed armed military drones in ethnic minority regions in Burma's north, likely for surveillance and surgical strikes, said a  military analyst in a report for the consultancy IHS Jane’s. "The unmanned combat aerial vehicles [UCAVs] can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance for extended periods over remote terrain, and for surgical strike missions," Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based military expert who writes for IHS Jane’s, told The Irrawaddy. The IHS has confirmed that one or more Chinese-made CH-3A drones, with the capacity to carry air-to-ground missiles and satellite-guided bombs, have been deployed from an airfield—likely Lashio in northern Shan State or Bhamo in southeastern Kachin State. Davis noted that the CH-3As have not typically been used in Burma other than in Shan State's Kokang Self-Administered Zone last year, which is believed to be the first time they were used in the country. The Kokang Army, also known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), was in protracted conflict with the Burma Army last year, during which time the government army conducted airstrikes against the Kokang army’s bases. "They [the drones] can play an important role in gathering intelligence. As we’ve seen in the Pakistani tribal areas, they can be lethally effective in surgical strikes against insurgent command centers—provided there is adequate intelligence on the ground level on which to base the targets," said Davis. The IHS confirmed the deployment of the drones after a picture, believed to be taken by a serviceman, was posted on Facebook. The photograph showed a group of seven military personnel standing around a CH-3A, with its distinctive three-bladed propeller. It appears that the CH-3As have also been deployed along the Bangladesh border. However, it is unclear whether that is because of Arakan Army (AA) insurgent activity or in support of border reconnaissance for counternarcotics and counter illegal migration purposes, said Davis. The post Burma Army Deploying Armed Drones appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Enter La Niña: Cold and Heavy Rain Predicted From September Posted: 13 Jun 2016 02:07 AM PDT Meteorologist Tun Lwin considers the weather from his Rangoon home. (Photo: J Paing/The Irrawaddy) After Burma saw one of the most stifling hot seasons (March to May) on record, brought on by the El Niño weather phenomenon, veteran meteorologist Tun Lwin warns of a 70 percent likelihood of the related La Niña phenomenon hitting Burma from September. La Niña's weather effects are caused by a cooling of the surface of the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean, and are generally the inverse of that of El Nino. According to Tun Lwin, La Niña would bring colder temperatures and higher rainfall. This comes as a warning to Burma, which experienced deadly floods due to torrential rain in July and August last year. Irrawaddy reporter Thuzar talks to Tun Lwin about La Niña and Burma's year of extreme weather. What are current notable weather patterns in Burma? El Niño ended in Burma early this month. La Niña would start in September, bringing cold and heavy rain. Meteorologists have predicted that rainfall this rainy season, starting in June, will exceed that of last year in Burma and elsewhere in South East Asia. Monsoon winds are currently strong in the Bay of Bengal. We have to be on our guard. Recent rain reminds us of the deluges of July and August last year. Countries across the world, including Burma, appear to be grappling with the effects of climate change. What is your view? The whole world is experiencing climate change, with different impacts felt in different places. What is constant is a rise in worldwide temperatures year on year. Some places see persistent rain while others see drought. In Burma, we predicted extreme weather patterns early this year. It is raining across Burma now, but it is not yet raining in Indonesia and Malaysia. For the past 12 months, the Southeast Asian region has seen low rainfall and hot weather. So far, Arakan State in the west, and Kachin State and upper Sagaing Division in the north of Burma have experienced torrential rain. Yet, rainfall is low in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia. What is your view of post-disaster relief and rescue operations in Burma compared to other countries?  Burma has a lot to learn from other countries, even from neighbors such as Bangladesh and Thailand. It is important also that Burma adopts a system most suited to the country. Are you satisfied with the actions and measures of the current government regarding disaster prevention? We now have a new government, which we have greater hope in. The government has shown interest [in disaster management] and has sought advice from experts. They have reached disaster areas promptly and are totally different from the previous government. There will be progress, although it will take time. What measures should the agricultural sector adopt to adapt to climate change? The governments should seek advice from agriculturalists. I can only discuss weather. We predict extreme weather this year, which will surely have an impact on agriculture. It could result in low harvests and the destruction of crops. What is your prediction on the likelihood of flooding in Burma this year? Some places have already experienced floods. According to NASA satellite photographs, the likelihood of flooding is high in southern parts of Pegu, Rangoon and Irrawaddy divisions. Do you predict that Burma will see severe flooding like last year? It is not impossible. People need to be on the alert. They need to keep their ears open to weather forecasts and alerts from the authorities. And responsible authorities should take action according to their own disaster prevention and response plans. The post Enter La Niña: Cold and Heavy Rain Predicted From September appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Bangladesh Arrests 85 Islamists in Crackdown After Wave of Killings Posted: 12 Jun 2016 10:48 PM PDT Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh addresses attendees during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, September 30, 2015. (Photo: Mike Segar / Reuters) DHAKA — Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested at least 85 militants as part of a broad crackdown on Islamists after a wave of brutal attacks on minorities and liberal activists, police said on Sunday. A total of more than 5,000 suspected criminals have been arrested since law enforcement agencies began a week-long drive on Friday to halt a series of targeted killings in the mainly Muslim nation. All arrests were made on specific charges, national police chief A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque said, relating to firearms, narcotics and other offences. "We will have to prevent the emergence of militancy collectively as a whole nation," Hoque said. In the past week an elderly Hindu priest, a Hindu monastery worker and a Christian shopkeeper were hacked to death in attacks for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. The Muslim wife of a key counter-terrorism police official was also stabbed and shot dead. Militants have killed more than 30 people in Bangladesh since early last year, with atheist bloggers, liberal academics, gay rights campaigners, foreign aid workers, members of minority Muslim sects and other religious groups among the victims. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for 21 of the attacks since its first claim in September last year and al Qaeda has claimed most of the rest, according to Site Intelligence Group, a US-based monitoring service. The government denies that either group has a presence in Bangladesh and says that home-grown radicals are responsible. Last month junior foreign minister Shahriar Alam told Reuters that Islamic State was trying to ride a wave of religious radicalisation by falsely claiming killings and said there was enough evidence implicating domestic militant groups. Police said that two home-grown militant groups—Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Ansarullah Bangla Team—were behind the attacks as part of their campaign to impose strict Islamic law on Bangladesh, whose population of 160 million are mostly moderate Muslims. At least 10 suspected members of the outlawed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen were killed in shootouts since November, including five last week, police said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to track down the killers, blaming the growing violence on political opponents linked to Islamist parties. The opposition party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, denies the accusations and said that mass arrests were a ploy to suppress political opponents. The post Bangladesh Arrests 85 Islamists in Crackdown After Wave of Killings appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Outgoing President Warns Philippines About Specter of Martial Law Posted: 12 Jun 2016 10:44 PM PDT President Benigno Aquino salutes the honor guard during the Independence Day celebration, two weeks before Aquino will relinquish his post to newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte (not pictured) in Manila, Philippines, June 12, 2016. (Photo: Erik De Castro / Reuters) MANILA — Philippines President Benigno Aquino on Sunday appealed to Filipinos to defend their freedom and democracy and remain vigilant as he warned the horrors of martial law under the late Ferdinand Marcos could happen again. In his last Independence Day speech before stepping down on June 30, Aquino hailed the transformation of the Philippines during his term from being the "Sick Man of Asia" to one of the fastest growing economies. He said such progress came without disregard for the rule of law, due process and human rights. As the Southeast Asian nation prepares for a change in leadership, some people fear Aquino's successor, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, could take a more authoritarian path. Part of Aquino's speech was a video presentation about how his father and namesake and the entire family suffered during the martial law years. His father was assassinated in 1983 at Manila's international airport, three years before a mass uprising that toppled Marcos. "If we are not going to be vigilant, it could happen again," Aquino said after the video presentation at the palace event attended by diplomats, top government officials and business executives. Duterte remains hugely popular despite his comments about extrajudicial killings, calling bishops "sons of whores" and a joke about a murdered rape victim. His latest controversial comment saying journalists were "not exempted from assassination" raised concerns, though he later clarified that he does "not condone nor tolerate killing of journalists, regardless of the motive of the killers, or the reason for their killing." Duterte has also said he would allow the burial of Marcos at the Philippines' heroes' cemetery, despite strong opposition led by the Aquino family. Marcos' son and namesake said on Saturday his father's body, which remains in a glass coffin in a mausoleum in his hometown Ilocos Norte, would be transferred to the heroes' cemetery possibly in September. Marcos, who ran and lost the vice presidency in the May 9 election, said he and Duterte discussed the burial plans and the possibility of a cabinet position for him in the new administration in a meeting in Davao City over the weekend. The post Outgoing President Warns Philippines About Specter of Martial Law appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

In Major Test, Burma Scrambles to Clear Port Jam Threatening Growth        Posted: 12 Jun 2016 10:38 PM PDT A view of the Burma industrial port terminal at the banks of the Hlaing river in Rangoon, June 9, 2016. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — Burma's new government has been grappling with its first economic management crisis, as a weeks-long traffic jam of cargo ships at the country's biggest port threatens to scare potential investors away and choke off nascent economic growth. The bottleneck at the dilapidated port was caused by a spike in demand for goods as the opening up of the economy accelerates following a historic election win by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) in November. "Because of the general growth of the economy we are packed. The ships have nowhere to go," said Ma Cherry Trivedi, managing director of Ayuroma International, an advisor to Myanmar Industrial Port (MIP), where congestion has been worst. Burma boasts one of the world's fastest growing economies, expanding at 7-8 percent in the years since the military relinquished direct control in 2011. But its main port has changed little since the end of British colonial rule nearly 70 years ago —emblematic of ramshackle infrastructure that could hold back the foreign investment Suu Kyi needs to live up to sky-high expectations and remake a country impoverished by decades of junta rule. The number of ships docking in Rangoon has doubled over the past decade and the number of containers has jumped fourfold, data shows, clogging up inadequate storage space, overwhelming sclerotic logistics systems and delaying deliveries. "We bring in the steel, the cement, everything you can think of…as infrastructure grows, which is the key aspect of any development in a country like [Burma], you are going to see massive growth in imports," said Ma Cherry Trivedi. Western shipping lines are largely confined to a single creaking terminal within the port, because of reluctance to use other facilities operated by Asia World, whose majority owner Steven Law remains subject to US sanctions. Working 24/7 The tipping point into a crisis came when MIP miscalculated the volume of incoming shipments before a three-week holiday in April, when the country largely shut down, shipping companies operating at the terminal said. That meant up to 10 ships faced delays of as long as two weeks to have their cargo unloaded, causing the biggest jam the port had seen in modern times. Industry sources said the hold-up cost major shipping lines millions of dollars a week. "There was no proper cooperation between shipping lines, container storage facilities and terminal operators. Chaos," said Aye Lwin, Joint Secretary General of Burma's Chamber of Commerce, who was involved in efforts to resolve the jam. Burma's presidential office announced emergency measures in mid-May to tackle the congestion, including 24-hour port operation and customs clearance, and ordered daily reports from the ministers of commerce and transport. Some of the biggest shipping companies, such as Denmark's Maersk Line Ltd, dispatched their own specialists to help manage the situation. By Thursday, the backlog had been largely cleared, Ma Cherry Trivedi said, although additional staff flown in by shipping lines remained in place, as did the emergency measures, to prevent cargoes piling up once more. Tatsuya "Ricky" Ueki, managing director at shipping company MOL Myanmar, said the port infrastructure has not caught up with the economic development of the country. "There's no easy way out of this, but billions of dollars in the country's development hinge on how aggressive the government is in solving the problem," said Ueki. The port jam underscores the challenges Suu Kyi’s government faces to keep growth going and attract investment to a country struggling to compete with neighbors in sectors such as garment exports, which rely on accurate and timely deliveries. "Lead times are very important," said Jacob Clere, who works on a European Union-funded project to improve Burma's garment industry. "Taking a few days longer than those in the region, they [garment brands] will avoid [Burma] until the lead time is shortened." Not So Sweet Another factor contributing to the port disruption has been a crackdown by China on sugar smuggling, officials said. Up to 1 million tons of sugar is trafficked into China every year, experts say, mostly entering the country from India and Thailand via Burma. In March, just before the handover of power, Burma's outgoing government issued additional "re-exporting licences" to sugar traders, Aye Lwin of the chamber of commerce said. That meant that, just as port operations were closing down for the long April holiday, "four vessels came and discharged about 20,000 or 30,000 containers," said Aye Lwin. "These containers couldn't move for the time being, they were blocked." As China stepped up inspections, he said, "our cargo got stuck on the border. So a lot of containers cannot move and a traffic jam is formed all the way to the jetty in [Rangoon]”. "There should be quotas and some predictability," Aye Lwin added. "Our governments should talk about it. Otherwise, it's a total mess." The post In Major Test, Burma Scrambles to Clear Port Jam Threatening Growth        appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

You are subscribed to email updates from The Irrawaddy. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States

National News

---

• French FM to visit Myanmar
• Constitutional reform on backburner for now
• Japanese donors discuss affordable apartment plan
• Panglong framework debated in Yangon
• MPs told to mind their place on break, watch who they influence
• Farmers fence off government land
• Shan civilians still missing in Namkham as 40 more allegedly detained
• Still no relief in sight for Kachin’s displaced families
• Ministry of Health and Sports appoints new spokespeople
• Myanmar embassy in Malaysia plans migrant protection committee

French FM to visit Myanmar Posted: 13 Jun 2016 03:15 AM PDT French Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault will make an official visit to Myanmar from June 16 to 19, according to the French embassy in Yangon.

Constitutional reform on backburner for now Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT Politicians and analysts are worried the National League for Democracy is dropping the ball on constitutional reform after Speaker U Win Myint indicated a reshuffling of priorities.

Japanese donors discuss affordable apartment plan Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT Yangon regional government officials are in talks with potential Japanese donors over a scheme to build 2000 low-cost apartments. The project could be a first step toward relieving the city's large number of unofficial shanty town residents.

Panglong framework debated in Yangon Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT A review of the political dialogue framework for the so-called 21st-century Panglong Conference will start in the first week of July if non-signatory armed groups agree to attend the meeting, government peace negotiators said yesterday.

MPs told to mind their place on break, watch who they influence Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT Members of parliament should recognise their role and not try to wield influence over the executive or legislative branches, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than told representatives at the close of the first parliamentary session.

Farmers fence off government land Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT Farmers who have fenced off government-owned land in Yangon Region which they say rightfully belongs to them may soon be facing legal action, according to the regional Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development.

Shan civilians still missing in Namkham as 40 more allegedly detained Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT The disappearance of seven Shan men last week on the Nant Phat Kar-Namkham road remains unresolved, while another 40 civilians have reportedly gone missing from the neighbouring township.

Still no relief in sight for Kachin’s displaced families Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT It is a bleak sort of commemoration. As Kachin communities marked the fifth anniversary of the resumption of fighting in Kachin State on June 9, people driven from their homes are still subsisting in insecure conditions and facing food shortages.

Ministry of Health and Sports appoints new spokespeople Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT In an apparent bid to promote government transparency, the Ministry of Health and Sports appointed two new spokespersons: Dr Myint Hun, the director general of public health; and Dr Than Win, deputy director of public health.

Myanmar embassy in Malaysia plans migrant protection committee Posted: 12 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT In a bid to overcome suspicions built up during the military regime, Myanmar's embassy in Malaysia is planning to work closely with Malaysian-based Myanmar civil society organisations to protect the rights of Myanmar citizens and workers there.

You are subscribed to email updates from National News. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States

Shan Herald Agency for News

---

On House Speaker U Win Myint’s mutual understanding, trust and respect Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:22 AM PDT The key words of house speaker are mutual understanding, trust and respect, in order to be able to amend the constitution. Let us look at them word for word. First regarding the mutual understanding, there is a big gap to be bridged. The military or Tatmadaw and many Bamar political class understanding of how the country we now called Burma or Niyanmar is quite different from those of the ethnic nationalities. From their point of view, it is a relatively new political entity made possible by virtue of Panglong Agreement signed voluntarily in 1947, between the ethnic nationalities and the interim Burmese government, still under the British colonial rule, headed by I: Aung San, the late father of NW leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The present day Bamar military and civilian leaders seem not so clear regarding this concept of how the country came into being. For at least the Tatmadaw is promoting the idea that Panglong Agreement is in fact the reunion of Pyima, or Burma Proper, with the hill peoples. In other words, all ethnic nationalities' areas belong to the Bamar since ancient times. Now let us go to the word of "trust'. To be able to trust, the first step for the government and military to do is to stop the occupation and militarization of the ethnic homelands, followed by honoring the Panglong Agreement and Pledges with genuine Panglong Spirit. And as an introduction that the Bamar leadership meant business, a unilateral nationwide ceasefire should be declared and withdrawal of the front line Tatmadaw forces to a safe distance should be ordered and implemented. And only then we will be in a position to talk about trust-building, not before. As for respect, the ethnic nationalities have always been respectful to the Bamar leadership starting from Aung San's day in 1947. Otherwise the Panglong Agreement would not have come into being, much less the formation of the Union of Burma. More important is that the Bamar leadership respect the rights of the ethnic nationalities and not trample on them as has been the case so far.

Linking Panglong Agreement review and the 5th anniversary re-eruption of Kachin conflict Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:21 AM PDT As the Kachin Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and over a hundred Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), local and international, called for peace and an end to the military offensives in Shan and Kachin States, on the  5thanniversary of re-erupted armed conflict between the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA) and Burma Army (a.k.a. Tatmadaw or the military), the  two Shan resistance armies - the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) - joined by KIO/KIA, met in Chiang Mai from 7 to 8 June to review, reflect and build awareness on the Panglong Agreement that was signed in 1947, between the Federated Shan States, Kachin and Chin Hills, together with the Ministerial Burma or Burma Proper. These two seemingly unrelated issues are in fact intertwined and even inseparable, which need to be resolved simultaneously, to end the decades-old ethnic conflict that has plagued the country for so long. Let us look at the linkage, which has been deliberately neglected and manipulated by successive military-dominated regimes, so that better understanding and pragmatic approach to resolve the problem could emerge. Breaching and rejection of Panglong Agreement Initially, the Burma Army's breaching of Panglong Agreement contract is the main source of ethnic conflict occurring in the country today. The 1947 Union of Burma Constitution although federal in form is unitary in practice. And to right this wrong the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities tabled an amendment proposal titled "Federal Amendment Proposal" within the union parliament in 1962, which was rudely interrupted by the General Ne Win's military coup on 2nd March the same year, citing to rescue the union from disintegration. But this was the only possible legal chance and approach to resolve the then simmering ethnic conflict peacefully, which was threatening to blow out of proportion. For the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities saw the imbalanced political system as being an unjust usurpation of political power by the Bamar political class, effectively taking the place of British colonial master, treating them as its colonial possession. To make the long story short, the Burmese military had ruled the country through military dictatorship from 1962 until 2011, when a quasi-civilian rule was established, under the military-drafted 2008 Constitution. As all know, the Aung San Suu Kyi headed National League for Democracy (NLD) came to power a few months ago, but despite a landslide victory in November 2015 nationwide election, it still has to share political power with the military. According to the constitution the military is entitled to 25% of parliamentary seats without having to enter the elections, in addition to the privilege to control the three most important ministries of home, defence and  border affairs. In short the breaching of Panglong Agreement, which is in fact the denial of ethnic nationalities' rights of self-determination, equality, democracy and human rights that were supposed to be anchored in a genuine federalism, started in 1962 because of the military coup and is still the case until today. And as the consequence of this political rights denial is the ongoing armed resistance movements from the part of the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities, the Burma Army goes about with its self-appointed, protector role of upholding the national unity, security and protecting the country's sovereignty, unleashing  militarization and occupation of the ethnic homelands. And as all could see, the result is the prolonged civil war producing hundreds of thousands of IDP and refugee population within the country and neighbouring countries, which in turn hindered the democratization and development process, at the expense of all the people, Bamar and non-Bamar included. The cost of conflict As to how this ongoing civil war has impacted upon the country and people, the Myanmar Times of 26 March 2012 had made some astonishing assessment. Aung Tun, a researcher at Myanmar Egress, a Yangon-based training centre and policy think-tank, who penned the piece titled "The economic cost of conflict", asked 5 critical questions. First is the pure financial cost of these civil wars. Second, who paid for it? Third, what if the regime had used that money for the development of the region where the fighting has taken place instead of the wars? Fourth, who benefited from the wars? And last and most importantly, what should the regime do next? In answering the first question, he said there is no definite answer. But stressed: "Certainly, the cost to the government has been massive; you only need to look at defence spending – K1.193 trillion in 2011-12 – to get some idea of the cost of perpetual conflict." To the second question it is easier to answer he said: "(W)e all have to pay for it, and this is a major reason why we're now all in a large amount of debt. Recently, the finance minister announced in parliament that we owe more than US$11 billion. No surprises there." To the third question, he said: "(It) is the really tragic aspect of this, particularly in an age when it is quite difficult to get money from donors. Everybody knows that we are the lowest recipient of aid per capita among undeveloped countries. Yet, we have still spent our own money on these conflicts. If we used this money on development projects instead, we probably wouldn't need to receive support from other countries today." To the fourth question: "(N)obody really benefited from the wars. Many people, both military and civilian, have died, children missed out on their education, refugees camps had to be set up along the border areas, political stability has declined and development in other areas of the country has been hindered. If we add in the additional costs of these ethnic conflicts, the external debt figure doesn't sound so large." To the fifth and most crucial question, he recommended: "(P)erhaps the most difficult one. An excellent start would be to avoid the wars that have dogged us for decades. Both politically and economically, the country can't bear any armed conflict at this crucial time. Added to this gloomy prospect of continuously waging war on ethnic nationalities are staggering statistic of IDP and refugee population that any nation facing it would definitely be alarmed. Over 1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance (Source: UN OCHA HRP 2016)  Over 140,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 800,000 in a dire humanitarian situation in Rakhine (Arakan) State due to a human rights crisis Over 96,000 IDPs in Kachin and northern Shan States, approx. 50% of which are in camps located in non-Government controlled areas.(Source: UNHCR, 2016) An estimated 3 million people from Myanmar/Burma live in Thailand as economic migrants, while 110,000 are living in nine refugee camps along the border between the two countries. {Source: Factsheet - European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), February 2016} The most important human causalities is hard to compiled, as warring parties are not ready to publicize and thus remains a misery. But let us just take a few stories from secondary sources to see how high the human tolls could possibly be. It is said that thousands from both sides, the Tatmadaw and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), had lost their lives during this decades-long armed ethnic conflict, with no decisive victory for either side and a potential that could go on for a much longer time, if no political solution is found and this senseless war is allowed to be continued. On 8 July 2015, The Irrawaddy reported that it paid a recent visit to the cemetery, in Lashio town of northern Shan State, which hosts the graves of some 200 soldiers who died between February and April last year, at the height of the conflict in the Kokang Special Region along the border with China, which displaced tens of thousands of civilians. Nang Wah Nu who also visited the cemetery alongside the then parliamentary Speaker U Shwe Mann, told The Irrawaddy: "I heard that the tombs were just for soldiers who died while coming from Kokang to get treatment in Lashio. Some others died in the hospital. They could not pick up those who were killed on the frontline." Nicholas Farrelly's hypothetical report in New Mandala - 11 April 2012, titled "3,000 dead Burmese soldiers?" wrote: "Now there is a report that according to KIA [Kachin Independence Army] sources the number of government troops lost over the past 10 months [since 9 June 2011, when the Kachin war recommenced] could be as high as 3,000". According to FindTheData website, 210,000 death toll estimation was counted for 65 years period, from 1948 until 2013. Thus, even without precise death toll count, one could clearly see that the human cost of conflict is tremendously high. Panglong awareness-building spearheaded by Kachin and Shan armies The meeting of two Shan armies and KIO/KIA to review the Panglong Agreement and subsequent producing of the Panglong Handbook was an ambitious undertaking to build awareness of the historical document, without which there would not have been the Union of Burma/Myanmar. The drafted Panglong Handbook contains the following headings: Foreword How it came into being The Panglong Spirit The Panglong Promises The Panglong Agreement Statements by Aung San, and others Afterword The draft was provisionally approved, pending input and endorsement by Chin National Front (CNF). The next step was said to be to present it to the planned Pre-21st Century Panglong Conference (21CPC). The procedure is not unusual historically speaking. On 6-7 February 1947, the Chin, Kachin and Shan leaders met and reached agreement on what to present to Aung San, the head of the Executive Council of Burma Government, who arrived at Panglong on the next day. General N'Banla, head of the KIO/KIA remarked the following at the end of the meeting. This meeting held to revisit Panglong has been really satisfactory There would never have been a Union of Burma/Myanmar without Panglong The word Panglong therefore carries a truly profound meaning Chin, Kachin and Shan, being the original signatories of the Agreement, must take primary responsibility Panglong has been the central pillar to the Union. But successive governments have only chosen to dishonour it. If you are looking for the perpetrators of the Three Sacred Causes (Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of National Solidarity and Perpetuation of National Sovereignty), there is no need to look far. These people should be tried in court. Different interpretation of Panglong Bamar's Panglong Agreement interpretation is upholding unitary political system with minimal devolution of power. Apart from this, the military has been eagerly rewriting the essence of Panglong Agreement as if it is a reunion of the Burmese empire between the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities and lowland Burma. But the treaty from the ethnic nationalities' point of view is to form a voluntary new political entity, that later became the Union of Burma in 1948. The ongoing armed conflict of the EAOs with the successive Bamar military governments, including the present quasi-civilian NLD regime, that continues to these days is only because of their breaching of contractual obligations rooted in Panglong Agreement. Besides the heightening of war going on in Shan and Kachin States, due to the Burma Army military offensives, under the pretext of protecting the interest of the people and protecting the national sovereignty, the recent armed conflict outbreak in Arakan State is also the ramification of such broken promises. In other words, as the non-Bamar ethnic nationalities' political grievances could not be addressed and corrected within a proper, appropriate political channel, coupled with the coercive bullying to follow the military-dominated government's prescription and political agendas, armed resistance   was the only way out left to express their political conviction. To put it differently, armed struggle   has been resorted to express or achieve their political aspirations. The way ahead There is hardly any other way to resolve the conflict but to honour the Panglong Agreement, Pledges and Spirit. In practical terms, the military must first stop its offensives through acceptance of the fact that its concept of sole sovereignty ownership of the country, is in fact, a shared-sovereignty, according to the Panglong Agreement, stemming from the co-independence achieved from the British in 1948, together with the other ethnic nationalities. And if this is conceptually cleared, withdrawing of warring troops to a safe distance could be agreed upon, followed by earnest political dialogue. To conclude, the offensive war in Kachin, Shan and Arakan States could easily be stopped, if the Panglong Agreement and Promises are adhered to, while breaching and rejecting it with a twisted logic will prolong the ethic conflict. It is now up to the military, and as an extension the NLD regime, either to stop the war and follow up with the national reconciliation process or continue the denial of the ethnic nationalities' equal status, rights of self-determination, human rights and democracy enshrined in Panglong Agreement. Whether the awareness-building of Panglong review spearheaded by the Shan and Kachin resistance armies would be enough to educate the right side of history to the Bamar political decision-makers and military leaders or not is hard to speculate. Equally, the pleas and demand of the Kachin and Shan people, including local and international CSOs, to stop the war will be heard is also unpredictable. But one thing is sure, honouring the Panglong Agreement and Promises will definitely pave way for a more peaceful atmosphere, which eventually will usher the country into a more harmonious co-habitation together, with possible long-lasting solution.

You are subscribed to email updates from Shan Herald Agency for News. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States