The Irrawaddy Magazine

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•   Govt to Ban Timber Harvest in Pegu Yoma Mountain Range
• Burma Army Deputy Commander Gives ‘Donations’ to Victims’ Families
• Chin Party Condemns Abuses by Burma Army, Arakan Army
• Suu Kyi Pushes for Inclusion of NCA Non-Signatories in Peace Conference
• Police Detain Five in Relation to Muslim Prayer Hall Arson
• Formal and Informal Justice Systems Fail Women: Report
• CSOs Call For Investigation of Attacks on Muslim Places of Worship
• Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 5)

Govt to Ban Timber Harvest in Pegu Yoma Mountain Range Posted: 05 Jul 2016 07:50 AM PDT Boys stand on a jetty as a ship loaded with teak logs arrives at National Village timber yard by the Pegu River in Rangoon on February 2, 2014. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — In the Pegu Range, home to some of Burma's major forests, the harvest of timber will undergo a 10-year hiatus starting in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, according to Aye Cho Thaung, deputy general manager of the country's Forestry Department. The Pegu Range, also known as Pegu Yoma, is a series of low mountains crossing Rangoon and Pegu divisions; the hills have experienced marked deforestation particularly due to the harvest of valuable teak wood which grows in the range. "It's like Pegu Yoma is now bald-headed," said Aye Cho Thaung on Tuesday, describing the bare mountain peaks. "That's why we will stop companies' timber production starting from next year until 2027." The forestry department, which falls under the Ministry of National Resources and Environmental Conservation, will take control of all restricted forest reserves in the Pegu Range and will also ban logging by villagers in the surrounding areas. The protected area stretches from Rangoon's Hlegu Township to Yedashe Township in Pegu Division. "Recently, the government [ordered a] stop to timber production in all ranges starting from this year, but we will be allowing other areas to resume production next year," Aye Cho Thaung said, adding that the regulations around Pegu Yoma's timber production were slightly different, since they involve a halt beginning in the next fiscal year. He explained that many loggers have long been harvesting teak illegally, contributing to the destruction of forests and the natural habitats of wildlife; this, Aye Cho Thaung said, was the primary reason for taking further measures to protect the Pegu Range. Under Burma's long history of military rule, many timber producers exceeded the legal limit of timber exports—particularly in the 1990s—with some military officials implicated in the trade alongside businessmen. Well-known tycoon Tay Za's own Htoo Group of Companies was among the major players in timber production until 2011, when the country shifted to a quasi-civilian government. Though the Pegu Range is capable of producing 50,000 to 100,000 tons of timber per year, Aye Cho Thaung said companies have, since 2011, been limited to harvesting just 5,000 tons annually. He added that the Htoo Group of Companies has since left the logging industry. "Myanmar Teak Wood Company, Asia Green and National Timber Corporation are major producers there now," he said of the companies active in the Pegu Range. Over the next 10 years, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation will be replanting trees, protect existing forests, and preventing illegal logging by villagers who burn the wood as fuel. Many villages surrounding the Pegu Range are also required to undergo educational initiatives to prevent deforestation caused by logging. "If government can solve the problem of fuel for villagers, they won't [cut trees] anymore," Aye Cho Thaung speculated. Throughout Burma, from the beginning of April until late June, 12,844 tons of illegal timber were seized, according to the environmental ministry's figures. The most commonly confiscated logs included teak, followed by other hardwoods, with the biggest hauls taking place in Sagaing Division, at nearly 3,450 tons, followed by over 2,178 tons in Karenni State and 1,406 tons in Pegu Division. Devi Thant Cin, an environmentalist with the Myanmar Green Network, said she welcomed the government's steps to halt timber production in the Pegu Range, as trees in the region urgently require re-planting. "Timber producers will not be happy about it, but for the country it is good. The Pegu Range is suffering a lot of deforestation. It is good to start the re-planting plan now," she said. "But the government needs to do serious law enforcement with this plan as well," Devi Thant Cin added. With the formation of Burma's new civilian-led government in April, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Ohn Win promised that a nationwide ban on logging would be put into place by March 2017, the end of the current fiscal year. The post   Govt to Ban Timber Harvest in Pegu Yoma Mountain Range appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Army Deputy Commander Gives ‘Donations’ to Victims’ Families Posted: 05 Jul 2016 07:46 AM PDT Final burial site of five of those killed in Mong Yaw village, Lashio Township, northern Shan State. (Photo: SNLD) RANGOON — The Burma Army's deputy regional commander visited Mong Yaw village in Lashio Township on Sunday, giving "donations" to victims' families after seven people in and around the village were killed on June 28, with locals blaming the Burma Army. The visit came after police told victims' families they were "powerless" to investigate allegations against the Burma Army because the area was a "conflict zone," and so the Burma Army must take charge of any investigation. The police would merely notify the army via a senior officer. Local sources told The Irrawaddy that soldiers opened fired on two young men riding motorcycles near the village, after they refused an order to stop. On the same day, soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 362 took five residents of the village from their fields, according to the victims' families, who found their bodies the next day buried in a nearby cornfield. However, media controlled by the Burmese military have tied the killings instead to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group engaged in ongoing conflict with the Burma Army. On Friday, the military-owned Myawady newspaper reported that Burma Army troops had traveled to secure the area around Mong Yaw village on June 25 because the TNLA and the Shan State Army-North had been recruiting locals. This prompted a clash on the same day with the TNLA, Myawady reported. After the TNLA had been repelled, the bodies of the seven killed were "discovered" by Burma Army soldiers the following day. The TNLA issued a statement on Sunday denying that any fighting had taken place. Gen Kyaw Kyaw Soe, who is based in the Northeastern Regional Command Center in Lashio, met with the families of five of the victims in Mong Yaw village, and gave each family 300,000 kyats (US$255)—"not as compensation, but as a 'donation,'" said Sai Wann Lern Kham, an Upper House lawmaker from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). The two young men killed while traveling by motorcycle—Naw Tin, 33, and Sai Hla, 30—were from Nan Yaw village, 40 miles from Mong Yaw in the west of Lashio Township. They were traveling to Mong Yaw to meet their wives who had been staying in the village. The uncle of one of the victims searched for their burial site, but found only a hat and a shoe belonging to his nephew. The families of both victims then attempted to open a case at the Lashio Township police station, with the help of Sai Wann Lern Kham of the SNLD. "The police let us open a missing persons case and we supplied photos of the victims," the SNLD lawmaker said. The police would not pursue allegations against the military in a "conflict zone"; even if they were to investigate, they would have to "pass it on later to the army," the police explained. They said they would inform the Burma Army and "let them take action." Ethnic Shan, Ta'ang (Palaung) and Kachin youth associations based in Lashio issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the killings and laying the blame squarely with the Burma Army, who by "deliberately attacking innocent civilians" and "threatening their security" will "hurt the peace process in the country." The statement said killings would "hurt the dignity of the Burma Army and damage trust between the Burma Army and ethnic minority people," thereby undermining the Union Peace Conference to be held in late August. The youth associations called on the Burma Army to "stop brutally killing civilians" and implored them to investigate the Mong Yaw killings and take action against those responsible. The Irrawaddy phoned Maj Gen Aung Ye Win, a spokesperson from Burma Army, but he would not comment on the issue and said he was in a meeting. Repeat calls went unanswered. The post Burma Army Deputy Commander Gives 'Donations' to Victims' Families appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chin Party Condemns Abuses by Burma Army, Arakan Army Posted: 05 Jul 2016 07:40 AM PDT Houses torched in Kin Ta Lin village, Paletwa Township, Chin State. (Photo: Khumi Media Group / Facebook) RANGOON — A Chin political party released a statement on Tuesday demanding that both the Burma Army and the Arakan Army stop conscripting forced labor, burning houses and torturing locals in rural areas of Paletwa Township in southern Chin State. Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, secretary of the Chin National Democratic Party, said that three houses in Kin Ta Lin village were burned down during fighting on June 6 between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army. Khumi, a local Chin media outlet, accused Arakan Army soldiers of committing the arson as a punishment against villagers suspected of supplying information to Burma Army columns. However, the CNDP secretary declined to blame any particular group for this incident. Paletwa is among the most impoverished townships in Chin State, already Burma's poorest state or division according to many indicators. It lacks reliable transportation infrastructure and is strung over steep mountain ranges. The conflict zone is in the north of the township, with no sealed road access: it takes several hours to reach by boat from the main town. According to the CNDP secretary, about 10,000 people living in 43 villages are situated in this conflict zone. At the end of last year, dozens of skirmishes broke out between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army. Three hundred fifty residents fled after both sides began to conscript villagers as porters. They are currently being sheltered in Pyaing Zo village, with Chin civil society organizations providing humanitarian assistance. "Villagers are frightened to forage for forest products because landmines have significantly increased along the mountainsides," said the CNDP secretary. He held both sides responsible for this, and said that landmines had killed three villagers over the past three months. On April 30, 2015, under the previous government of President Thein Sein, 10 village administrators in Paletwa Township sent a letter to the then Chin State Chief Minister Pu Hung Ngai complaining of deteriorating conditions, with villagers being detained for several months by the Arakan Army, a proliferation of landmines and food shortages. Arakan Army spokesman Khine Thukha refuted allegations made by the CNDP and others of abuses against civilians: "If we really did such things, show us the evidence, because we have strong evidence of our own. We are protecting the civilians as much as we can." He said that the various abuses had been carried out by the Burma Army battalion stationed in Kin Ta Lin village, adding that using villagers as a "human shield" was particularly common alongside torturing villagers to obtain information about the Arakan Army. Although he also denied allegations of forced labor conscription, he acknowledged that the Arakan Army had planted landmines, claiming it was a necessary "security" measure, used sparingly according to "limits." Burma Army communication officer Col Khin Maung Cho could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. The government is preparing for formal peace talks with ethnic armed groups at a conference scheduled for late August, and has sought the participation of even those groups that refused to sign—or were excluded from—the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement last year. However, Burma's military has insisted that the Arakan Army—along with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army—disarm before taking part in peace talks. The three ethnic armed groups have so far refused. "Peace depends on the military's magnanimity," concluded Khine Thukha, the Arakan Army spokesman. The post Chin Party Condemns Abuses by Burma Army, Arakan Army appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi Pushes for Inclusion of NCA Non-Signatories in Peace Conference Posted: 05 Jul 2016 06:29 AM PDT State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with peace negotiation teams on Tuesday in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy) NAYPYIDAW & RANGOON — State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has instructed government bodies to include ethnic armed groups that did not sign last year's nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in the upcoming Union Peace Conference. Suu Kyi and peace negotiation teams met in Naypyidaw on Tuesday and agreed to hold the "21st Century Panglong Conference"—which is being compared to the 1947 conference by the same name that promised several of Burma's major ethnicities autonomy and equal rights after independence from Britain—in late August. Hla Maung Shwe, a member of the government's peace conference preparatory sub-committee 2, told The Irrawaddy that the conference would be held in the capital of Naypyidaw because it is a national level conference. "The first issue was to settle arrangements to hold the conference in August. The second is the include both NCA signatories and non-signatories. The government bodies are still discussing these arrangements," said Hla Maung Shwe. The exact date for the peace conference will be negotiated in early August by various stakeholders, including ethnic armed organizations and the Burma Army—which have both participated in the peace dialogue process leading up to the conference. Suu Kyi and government officials will meet with NCA non-signatories in mid-July to hear their recommendations for the conference, said Hla Maung Shwe. He added that Suu Kyi was not opposed to the holding of a separate summit of ethnic armed organizations in Kachin State's conflict-torn Mai Ja Yang region in July; however, ethnic leaders will need to submit details and an agenda to the government. A government delegation will also meet three ethnic armed groups—the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army—that were excluded from signing the NCA by the previous government. The post Suu Kyi Pushes for Inclusion of NCA Non-Signatories in Peace Conference appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Detain Five in Relation to Muslim Prayer Hall Arson Posted: 05 Jul 2016 06:07 AM PDT The smoldering Muslim prayer hall in Lone Khin village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State (Photo: Citizen journalist) RANGOON — Police have detained five people in relation to the burning of a Muslim prayer hall in Kachin State last week. "Four men and one woman have been arrested," a police officer from the Hpakant police station told the Irrawaddy on Tuesday. The arrest was made just days after a Muslim prayer hall in Lone Khin village of Hpakant Township, Kachin State was burned down by a Buddhist nationalist mob on Friday afternoon. The arson comes on the heels of anti-Muslim rioting in Pegu Division's Thuye Thamain village on June 23, which resulted in the destruction of a mosque, a Muslim cemetery, and a house and storeroom belonging to a Muslim family. Authorities chose not to take action against any of the perpetrators in the Pegu Division attacks. At the end of her 12-day trip to Burma last Friday, Yanghee Lee, a United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma, urged the country's government—led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi—to investigate and crack down on religious violence. She said she was concerned by reports that the government would not investigate the attack on the mosque in Pegu Division. “This is precisely the wrong signal to send. The government must demonstrate that instigating and committing violence against ethnic or religious minorities has no place in Myanmar,” Lee said. Religious tensions between Buddhists and Muslims erupted in Burma in 2012, and ongoing violence has continued to date. The post Police Detain Five in Relation to Muslim Prayer Hall Arson appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Formal and Informal Justice Systems Fail Women: Report Posted: 05 Jul 2016 05:23 AM PDT Panelists at the United Nation's "Women's Access to Justice in Plural Legal Systems in Myanmar" report launch in Naypyidaw last week. (Photo: Cheery Zahau / Facebook) Women in Burma still lack access to justice due to an absence of awareness and the widespread use of customary practices in ethnic areas, according to researchers. After a panel discussion at the United Nations' "Women's Access to Justice in Plural Legal Systems in Myanmar" report launch in Naypyidaw last week, a lead researcher told The Irrawaddy that formal and informal justice systems in Burma do not work adequately for women. The research for the report was conducted mainly from 2013-14 in four regions: Kachin, Chin and Mon states, and Rangoon Division. Researchers queried over 400 women and later highlighted the need for a formal institution through which women could seek justice in the case of rights abuses. Cheery Zahau, co-researcher for the report and renowned ethnic Chin human rights activist, said the understanding of women's justice differs widely throughout Burma's various states. For communities in ethnic regions, some people "feel [there is] justice when their lives are safe and free from harassment by the military," she said, adding that in other communities, social support for education and health is perceived as representing justice. The report showed that women in Rangoon faced particularly high incidents of domestic and sexual violence, including rape, especially in communities with large numbers of internal migrants. It can take up to three months to file a case in the courts, so victims of sexual abuse need better social and psychological support, said Cheery Zahau. She added that in remote ethnic areas, many women do not speak Burmese and cannot travel the long distances required to reach the nearest police station to report crimes; therefore, communities continue to enforce controversial customary practices. Often, customary laws do not allow women to participate in decision making when settling disputes. Because these systems lack space for women's voices to be heard, social harmony is often prioritized over women's rights. Getting women involved in dispute resolution would likely have positive results, but in many cases, men still take on such roles in the name of tradition, said Cheery Zahau, adding that discrimination against women is entrenched in Burmese society. Yet because there is a widely held perception that women already experience equal rights, she pointed out that society often remains ignorant of their ongoing vulnerabilities. Burmese women's rights groups submitted a report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) this week, which aims to establish an international framework that will promote women's equality and ensure compliance with its standards. CEDAW is conducting Burma's review from July 4-7 in Geneva. It is the first time since 2008 that the committee has examined the country's record for respecting and upholding women's rights. The post Formal and Informal Justice Systems Fail Women: Report appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

CSOs Call For Investigation of Attacks on Muslim Places of Worship Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:57 AM PDT A mosque destroyed in sectarian rioting on Thursday in Thuye Thamain village, Waw Township, Pegu Division. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Civil society organizations (CSOs) urged the government to investigate recent attacks on Muslim places of worship in Pegu Division and Kachin State, calling to protect the rights of religious minorities, according to a joint statement on Tuesday. Almost 20 CSOs and non-governmental organizations including the Center for Youth and Social Harmony, Kachin Women's Association, Myanmar Muslim Youth and Students, Burma Partnership, Equality Myanmar and Fortify Rights signed a statement that said authorities should conduct an investigation and hold perpetrators legally accountable for the two most recent violent incidents. Less than 10 days after the case in Pegu Division's Thuye Thamain village in Waw Township on June 23—which resulted in the destruction of a mosque, a Muslim cemetery and a Muslim family's house and warehouse—a Muslim prayer hall in Kachin State's Lone Khin village in Hpakant Township was also destroyed by a mob. Nearly 30 Muslim families in Lone Khin village have fled since the riot began. Apart from heightening security in the areas, the authorities have not conducted any further investigation. "We call on the government to immediately conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the destruction of the Muslim places of worship in Lone Khin and Thuye Thamain villages and to ensure legal accountability for perpetrators," the statement read. "By failing to properly investigate or prosecute perpetrators of these crimes, authorities in [Burma] are fostering a culture of impunity that is inconsistent with [Burma's] human rights obligations." The statement also said that it was time for the current National League for Democracy (NLD) government to deliver on its electoral campaign promise of upholding rule of law and human rights for all. "The government needs to roll out a concerted effort to protect religious freedom and prevent future outbreaks of violence," said Matthew Smith, chief executive officer of human rights advocacy group Fortify Rights. "It's the duty of everyone in [Burma] to ensure that communities of all faiths can practice their religion with freedom from fear." The post CSOs Call For Investigation of Attacks on Muslim Places of Worship appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 5) Posted: 04 Jul 2016 09:24 PM PDT The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week. The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week. Forum on Women, Media & Peace Civil society and media representatives will review the role of women in Burma's peace process and discuss how to strengthen women's participation with the help of the media. Admission is free. Where: Park Royal Hotel, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. When: Wednesday, July 6, 1pm to 3pm Entertainment: No Lights No Lycra, Round 3 No Lights No Lycra (NLNL) is a dance community founded in Melbourne, Australia in 2009 by dance students. Since then, NLNL has grown predominantly through word of mouth into what it claims is now a "global community." With no lights, teachers, technique—or indeed lycra—NLNL hosts sessions where "you can completely let go, shake out the stresses of the week, and lose yourself in the music and the physicality of your body." Admission is 5,000 kyat. Where: Goethe Villa, No.8, Koh Min Koh Chin Road, Bahan Tsp. (next to Golden Butterfly Hotel) When: Wednesday, July 6, 7pm to 8pm Concert in Commemoration of the Holocaust Seventy-one years ago, on January 27, 1945, the Soviet Army liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Every year on that day, the world remembers the unique crimes committed by Nazi Germany during World War II and commemorates the victims, including more than 6 million Jewish people from all over Europe. On this occasion, the German cultural institute in Rangoon—Goethe-Institut Myanmar—together with the Embassies of Israel, Poland and Germany present a classical concert.  Admission is free. Where: The Yangon Gallery, Pyay Road, People's Park & Square, Sanchaung Tsp. When: Thursday, July 7, 7pm to 11pm Talk: Teaching history for national reconciliation and democratization Rosalie Metro will describe her research on the current history curriculum in Burma, and opportunities for revising it, as well as introducing the design of her new textbook, "Histories of Burma." Rosalie Metro holds a Ph.D. in Education from Cornell University, and she currently works as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri in the US. Admission is free. Where: Pansodan Scene Gallery, No. 144, 2nd Floor, Pansodan Street (at the corner of Mahabandoola Street), Kyauktada Tsp. When: Saturday, July 9, starts at 1:30 pm Music Festival: Signature BlueZone — RainDance Festival The RainDance Festival will feature Burmese and international DJs including DJ Mr. Y, DJ Maily and DJ Fingaz. DJ Fingaz has performed internationally with artists including XZIBIT, Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Black Eyed Peas, Drake and Nickj Minaj. DJ Maily from Cambodia, a luminary of the Phnom Penh club scene, will also play the main stage with local DJ Mr.Y. Tickets are 10,000 kyats. Where: Botahtaung Jetty, Strand Road, Botahtaung Tsp., Tel: 09 792 860091 When: Saturday July 9 4pm to 11pm Yan-Go! Yangon Scavenger Hunt The Yan-Go scavenger hunt lets you learn about historical downtown Rangoon through clue-collecting, puzzle-solving and, finally, a celebration. Winners will receive gifts from sponsors Yangon Yoga House and Union Bar. All proceeds will be donated to the Yangon Heritage Trust. Further details and registration at http://www.yan-go.com/. Register by July 6. Tickets are 5,000 kyats per person. Where: Union Bar and Grill, 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung Tsp. When: Sunday, July 10, starts at 3pm Exhibition: Homage to My Mentor U Win Pe Artist Yei Myint will showcase his 11th solo exhibition, dedicated to his mentor Win Pe. 31 paintings will be on show, with prices ranging between 500,000 kyats (US$425) and 3 million kyats ($2,550). Where: Cloud 31 Art Gallery, No.49/51 (first floor), 31st Street (lower block) between Merchant Street and Mahabandoola Street, Pabedan Tsp. When: Sunday, July 10 to Friday, July 15 Exhibition: The Legend of Happiness The fourth solo exhibition from artist Wa Lone, with around 40 paintings, priced between US$150 and $650. Where: Lokanat Gallery, 62 Pansodan St, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp., Tel. 095-1382-269 When: Saturday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 13 Exhibition: Burmese Women Artists An exhibition of around 90 works by Burmese women artists, with prices between US$100 and $500. Where: Myanmar Artists & Artisans Organization (Central), Bogyoke Market, Pabedan Tsp. When: Wednesday, July 6 to Thursday, July 10 Exhibition: Zaw Maung Solo Exhibition Artist Zaw Maung will showcase more than 60 of his acrylic works at this solo show. Where: Yangon Gallery, People's Park, Ahlone Road, Sanchaung Tsp., Tel: 09-738 27777 When: Saturday, July 9 to Monday, July 11  The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 5) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Five arrested over Hpakant mosque burning
• Garment factory workers finally get their due
• Govt to meet again with armed Kokang groups
• As war of words drags on, government in Rakhine State opts for term ‘Rakhine ethnics’
• Nay Pyi Taw farmers get cooperative loans
• Activists urge transparency in Kachin death investigation
• Union minister urges civil servants to drop old habits
• Isolated and lacking labour rights, housemaids toil in silence
• Farmers threaten to ramp up protests over lost land
• Pre-1988 land issues will not be considered, chief minister says

Five arrested over Hpakant mosque burning Posted: 05 Jul 2016 09:30 AM PDT Police have detained five villagers for burning down a mosque last week in Hpakant township, Kachin State, an officer said today, as authorities look to contain religious violence.

Garment factory workers finally get their due Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Abandoned garment workers of the defunct Unipolar factory got their money yesterday, thanks to the Ministry of Labour and white-knight businessperson U Myint Than.

Govt to meet again with armed Kokang groups Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT The government is planning to meet with the three armed ethnic groups from the Kokang region that had been excluded from last year's so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement, according to government peace negotiator U Hla Maung Shwe.

As war of words drags on, government in Rakhine State opts for term ‘Rakhine ethnics’ Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT A day after thousands of Buddhist nationalists staged protests across Rakhine State, the regional government issued a statement saying it would call the state's Buddhist majority "Rakhine ethnics", as controversy over terminology continues to simmer.

Nay Pyi Taw farmers get cooperative loans Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Some farmers say the duration of the six-month loans now being handed out by the agriculture ministry is too short. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation yesterday gave cooperative loans worth K500 billion (US$420 million) to the Nay Pyi Taw Council area in a ceremony to mark International Day of Cooperatives 2016.

Activists urge transparency in Kachin death investigation Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Kachin activists protested in Yangon's Tarmwe township yesterday, urging government officials to make details public surrounding the death of university student Maung Gum Seng Aung who was gunned down by a soldier in Kachin State's Myitkyina township last month.

Union minister urges civil servants to drop old habits Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT U Aung Thu, Union minister for agriculture, livestock and irrigation, has urged civil servants to leave behind old habits, take initiative and make the most of their potential.

Isolated and lacking labour rights, housemaids toil in silence Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Thousands of girls from poor families across Myanmar work as maids for wealthier households, and often face gruelling working hours and abuse.

Farmers threaten to ramp up protests over lost land Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Impatient at what they say is 20 years of delay, Mandalay Region farmers are warning they will take their protest to the streets unless the government restores their lost land. They say 3000 acres (1200 hectares) were seized in 1995 to build three government institutions, but only 1000 acres were used. They say they have been demanding the return of the remaining 2000 acres ever since.

Pre-1988 land issues will not be considered, chief minister says Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT No action will be taken against farmers who take part in "plough campaigns" to cultivate land they claim was stolen from them, Mandalay Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung has announced. He said on July 1 that the police would no longer make arrests for trespassing and causing "damage" in such cases.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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• Detoxification of Burma Army mindset key to avoid further extra-judicial killings of civilian
• Khun Htun Oo : National reconciliation impossible without amending constitution
• Power Up Myanmar with Green Energy
• Myanmar’s Hydropower Energy Waiting To Be Explored. Are you in?
• Scholar: Why Burma won’t allow Shan secession
• ‘This will not happen again’- army commander says of Lashio murders
• SSPP/SSA asks President Htin Kyaw to release detainees
• Panglong Agreement still casts a long shadow on national reconciliation deliberation

Detoxification of Burma Army mindset key to avoid further extra-judicial killings of civilian Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:54 AM PDT The first place to start, to prevent the Burma Army from killing the ethnic population at will is to first detox the mindset of its troops. In a documentary movie "Burma Soldier", directed by veteran journalist Nic Dunlop in 2010, which could be downloaded and seen in the internet, the enlightened former Burmese soldier, Myo Myint, narrated that the rank and file of the Burma Army were indoctrinated to hate and treated the ethnic population as enemies. The logic is that the ethnic resistance armies existed for the ethnic population supported them. Thus they also must be oppressed, punished and eliminated. If Maj-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Soe, the vice-commander of Northeast Command really means to make a 180 degree turn from the Burma Army's hate indoctrination, all he has to do is to ask the Commander-in-Chief to employ detoxification program of such inhumane thinking from the mindset of its soldiers. Of course, also coupled with promulgation enforcement law and harsh punishment for perpetrators in committing such extra-judicial killings of innocent civilians. Only the Burmese military must have real political will and a sense of adhering to universal human rights, as accepted by the international community, not just paying lip-service to democratic principles, protect and serve the elected government of the day.

Khun Htun Oo : National reconciliation impossible without amending constitution Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:47 AM PDT Khun Htun Oo, the Chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), has said that national reconciliation can only be possible with significant changes being made to Burma's 2008 constitution. Khun Htun Oo, who is also the Chairman of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), a grouping of ethnic political parties, made the comments at a meeting of the UNA and the Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Center (ENAC), held in Rangoon on June 30th. "We will not have peace without amending the 2008 Constitution. Also, we will not be able to aim towards national reconciliation. The important thing is that the 2008 Constitution must be fixed," said Khun Htun Oo, during a speech delivered at the opening of the meeting. The veteran politician and former political prisoner was responding to remarks made last month by the Lower House  Speaker, U Win Myint of the NLD, indicating that the constitution will only be amended after "internal peace" has been achieved. Khun Htun Oo disagrees with this view and maintains that the constitution needs to be changed first to include democratic standards, in line with the desire of the majority of ethnic people. "This constitution needs to guarantee the right for self-determination for ethnic people and for the Burmese. Trust must be gained first amongst each other, each group, and each race, in order for all citizens to live peacefully under the rule of law without discriminating who is powerful or weak, or which group is bigger or smaller," Khun Htun Oo added. Reached for comment, the SNLD's spokesperson Sai Leik explained that the SNLD leader and his party hold the view that the constitution is the main issue in Burma and it must amended. According to Sai Leik, the meeting was held to prepare for the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Conference, which is expected to be held in late August. "The workshop was held to discuss what kind of federal system is suitable for the future of Burma and how to obtain ethnic rights and equal standards of all ethnic people," said Sai Leik. The upcoming conference is being organized by the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, and will be closely watched by many ethnic people, as it aims to follow a historic conference convened by Aung San Suu Kyi's father, General Aung San and ethnic leaders in 1947. It remains unclear at this point if representatives from all of Burma's various ethnic armed groups will attend the conference or just those that have signed ceasefire agreements with the central government.   BY: Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

Power Up Myanmar with Green Energy Posted: 05 Jul 2016 12:52 AM PDT Amidst the soaring growth of Myanmar's development, more than 70% of 54 million people in Myanmar are not connected to the national power grid leading this big population to live in darkness. The new government has an ambitious plan to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, either a grid connection or permanent offgrid electricity.   Myanmar Government's Commitment to Achieve Universal Electricity Access by 2030   The 4th edition of Myanmar Green Energy Summit 2016 draws expertise from industry stakeholders comprising of government officials, legal and tax consultants, renewable energy experts and multilateral financing bodies to Yangon to provide an update on the present status of the Myanmar's power sector, and the new directions for business and investment in the Myanmar's green and renewable energy industry. Held in conjunction with the 'Sustainable Energy and Water Resource Management Week', this 2-Day flagship summit will cover the following strategic areas: • Myanmar power outlook and development plan • Investment policies and financing options • Electrification for remote and rural areas • Solar as sustainable energy source for Myanmar   • Optimising wind energy in Myanmar energy mix • Powering Myanmar through hydropower • Transmission and distribution plans   How Will You Benefit From The Summit? • Gain an insight into current and future development plans in Myanmar's energy sectors • Meet face-to-face with high profile governmental policy makers • Identify key opportunities in bankable renewable energy projects in Myanmar • Build business relationships, network and forge partnerships with industry specific stakeholders • Understand the legal requirements in entering into business partnerships and investment • Network with financiers looking for investment opportunities in Myanmar   Quick Facts on Myanmar Energy Market • Myanmar has one of the lowest electricity consumption rates in the world at 141 kWh/year • Only 30 percent of the population has an electricity connection • Installed power generation capacity is at 5,029 MW • The government is committed to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 • Myanmar is blessed with four months of heavy monsoon and abundant sunshine all year round: Wind, Solar and Hydro energy • Proven reserve: >100GW hydropower, 365TWh/year wind power, 52,000TWh/year solar power

Myanmar’s Hydropower Energy Waiting To Be Explored. Are you in? Posted: 05 Jul 2016 12:46 AM PDT Home to the drainage basins of four large rivers; the Ayeyarwaddy, Chindwin, Thanlwin, and Sittaung, Myanmar is blessed with its abundant hydropower resource. The country's power supply relies heavily on hydropower that currently contributing close to 69% of its total installed capacity. Hydropower is also one of the key sectors that lure foreign direct investments, with $8.2 billion being funnelled into the country within 2010 and 2011. The Ministry of Electricity and Energy is in plans of implementing a large number of hydropower projects due to the sky rocket demand of power supply throughout the country.   Figure 1-4: Major Rivers & Existing Major Hydropower Schemes in the Union of Myanmar (source: Myanmar Energy Master Plan 2016)   Quick Facts on Hydropower in Myanmar • World Bank reported that Myanmar has more than 100 GW of recognised theoretical potential, 46 GW of feasible potential has been identified for possible development and a number of 43 dams are under construction or planning. • The annual inflow of water resources is 1,081.3 cubic kilometres (km3) and current percentage of annual usage of water cultivation is 6%. • Ministry of Electricity and Energy will build an additional of 13 hydropower plants up to 2020 with a total capacity of 2,572 MW. Local enterprises will develop 9 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 580 MW. Joint ventures with foreign investors are planned for the development of 44 hydropower projects totalling 42,150 MW. • At present, the Electricity Supply Enterprise has 32 small and medium hydropower stations – generally ranging between 1 MW and 10 MW in capacity- all of which have been built by the government outside the Grid system supplying electricity to the rural areas.

Scholar: Why Burma won’t allow Shan secession Posted: 05 Jul 2016 12:38 AM PDT The reader may have several answers, most of which we all have already either read or heard, especially that Shan State is rich in natural resources which is true, but means little compared to Burma's geopolitical concerns. So says Josef Silverstein, Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University, in his 15 page Politicsin the Shan State: The Question of Secession from the Union of Burma (1958). The 4th of July may be Independence Day to the Americans. But to the people of Burma, it is the 4thof January. And on that day in 1958, "the constitutional limitation on the right of a state to secede from the Union" came to an end. The 1947 constitution had laid down 4 conditions in the implementation of the Right of Secession in Chapter 10: 1.       Ten years must elapse before the right can be exercised 2.       To implement it, two thirds of the State Council must approve a resolution to secede 3.       The Head of State must notify the Union President of the vote, and the latter must order a plebiscite held in the state under a commission appointed by himself which is composed of an equal number of members from the Union and the state 4. Only states which are not excluded from using the right may exercise the privilege "In spite of the broad language of the Constitution, only two states —the Shan and Kayah —are eligible to secede. Two others—the Kachin and Karen—are explicitly denied the right, while the remaining two states—the Special Chin Division and Burma proper—are usually considered outside of the discussion because the former is in many ways the appendage of the latter and Burma proper is the nucleus around which all the others cluster. Even though a whole chapter in the Constitution is devoted to describing the conditions which must be fulfilled before a state can withdraw from the Union, in effect, it is applicable only to one of the eligible states—the Shan State. It alone contains a powerful and articulate minority which is seriously considering the question of secession," according to Silverstein.  (See the Secession Issue: To Part or Together, Panglong.org, 14 June 2016)  But granted that the Shan State plebiscite decided to set up its own independent nation, where would it go? "The answer seems quite clear if one examines a map of the area," says the author. "Because it is landlocked and has no major navigable river to link it to the sea, the state either would have to unify or ally with China, Thailand, or join with another landlocked area—Laos." Among the three, "there seems to be no political or economic reason—historic or current—to warrant the creation of a Laos-Shan union." (The author may not be aware of a Laotian resistance movement, Pathet Lao, led by Prince Souphanouvong, that had taken refuge in Kengtung, adjacent Laos, before 1962.) With the other two countries, the situation is different: "In military terms, it (a merger) would bring China or Thailand into the heartland of the Union, and it would create such an exposed border that defense of Burma would be nearly impossible." The result was the following excerpt from Prime Minister U Nu's speech, delivered on 27 April 1957 in Lashio: "…the reason that the United States today is the strongest and most influential nation in the world is due to the fact that Abraham Lincoln prevented the southern States from seceding and thus consolidated the whole country. If only we are united our future is indeed bright. Therefore, it is my constant prayer that this remarkable episode from American history may serve as a very valuable lesson for all of us." The speech was dubbed "a declaration of war" by many Shan students and politicians. The author concludes his paper this way: "In the end, the right must be viewed in two ways: constitutionally, it is exercisable, politically, it is not. So long as the state has the right in reserve, it will continue to give the people a feeling of having a potential choice of either remaining in or leaving the Union. If it attempts to exercise the right it may provoke the Union to act as Lincoln acted, even though the Union of Burma's Constitution includes the right of secession, while that of the United States does not." Regrettably, Silverstein didn't have anything to say about how the war could be avoided by applying one of the age-old Shan saying: Neither let the lotus blemished or the water turbid (Mo Ya Hai Zam, Nam Ya Hai Khun) But if he had any advice, it was already too late. On 21 May 1958, following the Shan State Council's failure to take a vote (according to still living sources, the Council was warned not to) on the question whether or not to exercise the right of secession, the first Shan armed resistance movement, Noom Seuk Harn, was formed.

‘This will not happen again’- army commander says of Lashio murders Posted: 05 Jul 2016 03:06 AM PDT Maj-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Soe, the vice-commander of Northeast Command based in Lashio Township, has told families of last week's murder victims from Mong Yaw that "This kind of incident will not happen again." A funeral service was held on Saturday for five victims in a monastery in Mong Yaw. According to the wife of Sai Zei, one of the seven persons killed, the Burmese army major-general visited her and her children on Sunday. "The vice-commander visited Mong Yaw on Sunday and donated 300,000 kyat [US$250] to each victim's family," she said. "He stated that this payment was not compensation, but was being handed over to express sympathy." She said that she and other victims' families are pleading for public assistance. "We are just simple villagers and don't know how to proceed with this case. We are asking for help," she said. Five of the slain villagers had reportedly been arrested by a unit of Burmese government forces on June 25. Eyewitnesses to the incident claim the government soldiers displayed insignia indicating they were from Northeast Command's Division 33. The soldiers reportedly opened fire on villagers while they were working in a cornfield. Five men were then rounded up and interrogated, accused of being rebels or rebel supporters, sources said. The five men were then herded into a truck and driven away. They were not seen again until their bodies were uncovered from shallow gravesnear a Burmese army encampment on June 29. Two other locals were reportedly killed when soldiers shot at them for running through a makeshift army checkpoint on their motorcycle. On Monday, the parents of two of the dead appealed to local authorities to investigate the case, according to Sai Wan Leng Kham, an Upper House MP from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy. News of the killings has prompted some response from international Burma watchers. Mark Farmaner, the director of Burma Campaign UK, said, "The killing of these civilians by the Burmese army is a war crime and should not be ignored by the international community or the NLD-led government." With regard to the new government's approach to atrocities committed during the civil conflict, Farmaner said, "Aung San Suu Kyi's current approach seems to be to talk about peace, but not mention the war. When people raise human rights violations she says people need to focus on the future, not the past. But for ethnic people, human rights violations are not just a thing of the past, they are continuing. "Aung San Suu Kyi might not have political control over the Burmese army, but she has moral authority and the power to mobilize public opinion, which could influence the Burmese army to stop killings like this." David Mathieson, the senior researcher at the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW), told Shan Herald that HRW was looking into the case and trying to verify it. "It's gruesomely consistent with the patterns of violations being reported out of Shan State, where a multi-sided and decidedly murky conflict has escalated in recent years, displacing thousands of civilians," he said, adding that his group had received "credible reports of a range of abuses including extrajudicial killings, torture, forced labor and forced recruitment, and indiscriminate air strikes" from the Shan region. BY: Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

SSPP/SSA asks President Htin Kyaw to release detainees Posted: 04 Jul 2016 10:05 PM PDT The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has sent President U Htin Kyaw and other senior government officials a letter calling for the release of civilians who have been detained by the Burma Army for their association with the group. The SSPP/SSA has also requested that a number of their troops, who were also detained by the army over the past few months, be released as well. General Pang Fa, the Chairman of the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).  Col Sai Aung, an official stationed at the SSPP/SSA's Wan Hai headquarters, said that in addition to President U Htin Kyaw, the letter calling for the release of the detained soldiers and civilians had also been sent to the armed forces Commander-in-Chief Sen Gen Min Aung Hlaing, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, North Eastern Command head Maj Gen Phone Myat, Vice Sen Gen Yar Pyae and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) Chairman U Khun Htun Oo. "As they have detained our people, this affects peace because we have already signed the state-level and union-level ceasefires but they don't recognize us as a peace group. They keep detaining our men," explained Col Sai Aung. His group did not however sign last year's National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). In their letter, the SSPP/SSA stated that they are saddened that these kinds of incidents have continued to take place as the country has been moving towards a nationwide ceasefire, national reconciliation and peace. The group has requested that the president release the both their troops and the civilians in the interests of national reconciliation. "We sent a letter to the Ya Ma Kha (North Easter Command)'s commander Maj Gen Phone Myat on May 13th to release the detained men. He told us not to worry about our men as they were being treated well and held in a secure place. But they have been electroshocked and hit with rifle butts. Their arms were tied up behind their backs and they were interrogated thrice a day for 14 days straight. They were hit at least five times during each interrogation," said an official from the SSPP/SSA. The Burma Army detained one SSPP/SSA soldier in November 2015. In March of this year 20 SSPP/SSA soldiers were arrested by the army. On May 31st 8 civilians were detained by the army. The total number of people detained in connection with the SSPP/SSA appears to be 31. On January 21st the SSPP/SSA released a number of Burma army personal who had been detained during clashes with the Burma Army. The list of released Burma army soldiers includes one colonel, two warrant officers, one sergeant, two corporals, one lance corporal and two privates. Although the SSPP/SSA said that they released the detainees in the spirit of national reconciliation and peace, the Burma Army has yet to reciprocate. BY: Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

Panglong Agreement still casts a long shadow on national reconciliation deliberation Posted: 04 Jul 2016 08:11 AM PDT During these few days Aung San Suu Kyi's initiated 21 Century Panglong Conference (21CPC) has gained momentum, as could be seen by her peace chief negotiator Dr Tin Myo Win's meeting with the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) leadership in Chiang Mai on 3 June, followed by the latter's team visit to Yangon , headed by Khu Oo Reh, reportedly said to have asked for a clear position of the government on certain issues and working out the details for the UNFC boss General N'Ban La to meet her. Meanwhile, Suu Kyi has met the 8 Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and sent a clear message that she and her party has no hidden agenda in trying to install a federal system of government that would lead to national reconciliation. Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing meeting with the 8 EAOs that followed was also said to be cordial, although he seemed to put the blame on the non-signatory EAOs or UNFC for failing to agree to ink the NCA, aside from dodging the question of 3 excluded EAOs, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) or Kokang, Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA), that he insisted must first surrender to be able to participate in the peace process. Let us ponder on this good will message of Suu Kyi, while trying to read the message of  Min Aung Hlaing, whether they are conducive in creating an atmosphere to the peace process. Furthermore, statement of other players like Khu Oo Reh, Hkun Htun Oo , U Aye Thar Aung and Sao Hkun Hseng will be touched on, to reflect the contemporary political development of Panglong-like conference scheduled to be held soon, which is dubbed as the 21 Century Panglong Conference (21CPC) by Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the leaders of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) , made up of 8 EAOs that signed the NCA, held a meeting at the Horizon Lake View Hotel in Naypyitaw, on June 28, and decided to hold the Union Peace Conference (UPC) also known as the 21CPC by August. She said: "We are happy to be able to meet (each other). This is our first meeting and very important to have a good start, so that the ending phase would be also secured. To have a good start, we all need to have a sense of cooperation so that it could be successful. I trust that we have this kind of spirit. Our government has a very simple ambition, without hidden agenda. We only aim to build a federal union where all our citizens could live happily in prosperity. I would like to invite all to help realize this aim." Other than that she talked about the importance of committed political will and that she understood the worries of the ethnic nationalities, which is connected to the transitional change. But pointed out that these worries could be overcome, if there is trust, for trust could negate worries. She went on to say that all valuable things are not easily achieved and called for cooperation to make the formation of federal union happens. She particularly stressed that 70 years of civil strife is far too long and that all must leave a legacy of peace for the generation to come, by making it happen through the culture of "give" rather than "take". Min Aung Hlaing Following the meeting with Suu Kyi, the PPST met with Commander-in- Chief Min Aung Hlaing on the same day, at 2 pm Bayintnaung Parlour, in Naypyitaw. Present at the meeting were Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in- Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), members of the PPST—Chairman of Karen National Union (KNU) Saw Mutu Sae Poe, Sao Pong Khur of Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), Patron Khun Okker of Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Chairman of Chin National Front (CNF) Pu Zing Cung, Vice Chairman of Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) Khine Soe Naing Aung, Naw Kapaw Htoo of Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) KNU/KNLA, Chairman U Than Khe of All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), Saw Mo Shae of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and delegation members. According to Min Aung Hlaing's Facebook and recent report of Myawady News, the military mouthpiece, he said that all parities concerned, both NCA signatories and the majority non-signatory EAOs should cooperate according to "the Union spirit" or "Myanmar spirit" without holding on to "dogmatism," only then "victory" will   be achieved peacefully and speedily. Among others, he stressed: • His thankfulness of the 8 EAOs for their constructive cooperation in signing the NCA; • The need for all EAOs (signatory and non-signatory) to work in unity towards peace; • The importance of responsibility, accountability and sense of duty to the country; • The invitation for the non-signatory EAOs to sign the NCA; • The UPC or 21CPC participation of the non-signatory EAOs rest on the wishes of government, respective parliaments, political parties, ethnic nationalities' consideration, and not just on the military alone; • The non-signatory EAOs should have confidence, work through the political process and refrain from expanding territories,  building strongholds and expanding their forces out of concern; and that • The military honestly, absolutely did not want to fight between national brethren, but it has to protect the respective administrative mechanisms, and lives and property of people from threats and dangers. However, the question of the excluded 3 EAOs – MNDAA, TNLA and AA – that have been delivering running battles with the military, participation in the peace process remains unresolved, as the Commander-in-Chief would not take a concrete stand on it. He has on a lot of occasions insisted that the the 3 EAOs have to surrender first, before they could be part of the peace process. United Nationalities Alliance Meeting The United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), which is made up of 12 ethnic political parties, including the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, the Mon National Party, Kayan National Party, Kayin National Party, Rakhine National Party, Shan State Kokang Democratic Party, Zomi Democracy Federation, Kachin National Democracy Congress Party, Khume (Khami) National Party, Rakhine Patriotic Party, Mro National Democracy Party and Danu Nationalities Democracy Party, met from 30 June to 2 July to prepare for the 21CPC. The gathering was also attended by Naw Zippora Sein, Vice-Chairwoman of Karen National Union (KNU) and Sao Hser Hten, patron of the Shan State Progress party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), which is titled "Drafting Key Principles and Characteristics for Federal Union of Burma/Myanmar". According to RFA video report of 2 July, U Aye Thar Aung of Arakan national Party (ANP), who is also the Deputy Speaker of upper house or Amyotha Hluttaw, said that in order the 21CPC to be successful, it would need to adhere to the principles of tripartite dialogue; sticking to the 1947 Panglong Agreement; and implement all-inclusiveness regarding the EAOs. Firstly, he explained that tripartite dialogue composition should include: 1. EAOs, Ethnic political parties and ethnic leaders; 2. Political parties and democratic forces; 3. Government, the military (Tatmadaw) and the parliament. Secondly, the 21CPC must take into account  the treaty of 1947 Panglong Agreement. They are: 1. Equal, voluntary cooperation or fusion of the ethnic states; 2. Rights of self-determination and self-governance; and 3. Rights of secession, when the particular ethnic group so desired. Hkun Htun Oo, Chairperson of the UNA also said during the gathering that 21CPC would only be successful if the 8 constituent units is applied and not 14 units, as preferred by the military,  many Bamar politicians and perhaps quite a number of Bamar political parties. He stressed that there could be no check and balance in 14 units configuration, as the Bamar will be holding the majority vote as owner of the 7 Divisions or Regions, as they are now renamed. In addition, Naw Zippora Sein said: " From the part of ethnic nationalities, I see that we need preparations regarding the type and facts on federal union formation, so that when attending political discussions or negotiations the EAOs and ethnic political parties could come out with one voice, as our aspirations are one and the same." She said the result from the meeting should be tabled before the public (and discuss), so that they will be involved, which is crucial. Dr Manam Tu Ja of the Kachin State Democracy Party also told the media that the meeting tried to adjust on the issues of "the three parliaments, central (union) government, state governments and self-administrative zones; union constitution and state constitution; power-sharing between the union and state governments; overlapping powers of federal (union) and state governments; and                 residual power of the state governments" among the ethnic political parties that were preparing   a common draft. He said they were able to bridge the differing views of the issues. Khu Oo Reh Head of the Delegate for Political Negotiation (DPN) and general secretary of the UNFC confirmed that a meeting would take place with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in mid-July. The agreement was reached during a meeting between the UNFC and the government's team led by Dr. Tin Myo Win at an office of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) in Rangoon on  1 July. It was said UNFC leaders including its chairman N' Ban La would be attending the meeting. He, however, said, "It is not time yet to answer whether we will attend it [the Union Peace Conference]. We still have procedures which must be followed, including the Mai Ja Yang summit. We can only decide how we will participate after the summit. We have to find an answer in Mai Ja Yang." The UNFC members and other armed groups – that have signed NCA including non-UNFC armed groups - are planning to meet in Mai Ja Yang, Kachin State later this month to discuss on how to go about the Union Peace Conference or 21CPC, slated to be held in August. The UNFC, which is made up of nine ethnic armed groups, did not sign the last year's nationwide ceasefire agreement, while 8 armed groups signed the pact with the ex-president Thein Sein's quasi-civilian government. Sao Hkun Hseng Regarding the 21CPC, what Sao Hkun Hseng, Vice-Chairman of the SSPP/SSA told the DVB on 22 June video interview is particularly noteworthy. He said: " By using the word Panglong, the question arises whether the 1947 Panglong Agreement, signed on 12 February, is being accepted. It must be made clear it this is the case and if not the government should explain and make it clear its reason to all, including the ethnic armed movements, which all are eager to hear." He stressed that the 9 point Panglong Agreement has to be included and the 1947 Union of Burma Constitution also has to be accepted. As the Charter of the United Nations is unchangeable, the Panglong treaty or agreement could not also be changed. He criticized the lower house or Pyithuhluttaw Speaker U Win Myint  for wanting to first tackle the national reconciliation, before going for constitutional amendment. He said that it is like putting the cart before the horse, for the country's political strife is due to the unfair and inadequate constitution, which has led to the ongoing ethnic conflict, and has to be addressed first. He urged that the government to declare unilateral ceasefire and all the EAOs would definitely follow suit, further elaborating that the exclusion of the 3 EAOs – MNDAA, TNLA and AA – and asking them to surrender is uncalled for and should be allowed to participate, to show equality. Analysis Looking at the political development of these few days, one could pin point a couple of areas that need emphasizing. Firstly, it is the usage of the "Panglong" by Aung San Suu Kyi, without explaining in depth on how she and her party would like to go about in instilling a national reconciliation atmosphere. Panglong Agreement is connected to 1947 Union of Burma Constitution and they in turn spelled out the federal system of government, although not flawless at that time, that was supposed to be vested with equality, rights of self-determination and democracy. The ethnic nationalities tried to correct the constitutional flaw of 1947, with the Federal Amendment Proposal drawn by all ethnic nationalities in unison in 1961, in Taunggyi, Shan State. The major flaws were inadequate power-sharing and resources-sharing and the proposal seeks to make Bamar ethnic group to be on a par with the other ethnicities, which was usurping the union government power and ruling over the whole country, without having its own state like the others. This trend continue starting from 1962 military coup until today. Suu Kyi and NLD have no blueprint, or keeping it secret, on how to go about this constitutional crisis, other than than just a vague commitment of going to form a federal union. As such, the ethnic nationalities are at lost on how she and her party is positioned on the crucial power-sharing and resources-sharing issues. Hkun Htun Oo even bemoaned recently during the ethnic political parties' meeting that it was frustrating not to know where the NLD stood, regarding the constitutional amendment position, which would be a waste of time in preparing without detailed knowledge of the government's party position for the upcoming conference, from the part of the ethnic nationalities. It is all the more becoming a guessing game as the military now also said that it is for a federal form of government, which it has all along equate it with secession, without elaborating how it envisioned the system should look like. The standard answer from both the NLD and the military camp is that all stakeholders would come around, discuss and make a decision together on how a chosen federal system would look like. But it is not enough for the ethnic nationalities, as most are inclined to stick to the Panglong Agreement, 1947 Union of Burma Constitution and the 1961 Federal Amendment Proposal as their outgoing point to work out a federal constitution with the Bamar political class and as well, the military. While it is clear that the military wants a Bamar-dominated unitary system with some devolution of power for the ethnic states, the NLD position is not clear, as it has no blueprint, never make it known or spelled out its party position. It should be noted that in a matured democracy, a major party of NLD stature needs to have position paper on such crucial issue like constitutional amendment not just wishy-washy. Even if the NLD regime could argue that it has to be broad-minded and allow all stakeholders express their positions first before embarking on a political system, as a party it still must have a program. There is absolutely no excuse on this and should develop its party position, including making it known to the public. Otherwise, it won't be worthy or appropriate to be taken as a nationwide, democratic party that it is striving to portray. Secondly, the UNA, even if it has not yet finished its position paper, has already spelled out on some crucial points as U Aye Thar Aung and Hkun Htun Oo have made it known, during the ethnic political parties gathering. They have touched on the issues of how the 21CPC should be equally represented, the inclusion of the 1947 Panglong Agreement's commitments, 8 constituent units versus 14 units and even the rights of secession. As the national reconciliation deliberations unfold, the question of NLD's clear-cut position on nation-building process becomes more important than ever. And it is now clear that Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD could not dodge this issue by simply saying, "we will all decide on what kind of political system we prefer". As a national party it has to come up with a clear vision and not shy or afraid to spell it out. But this is not to say that the NLD suggestions would be heeded and accepted without question. Of course, all stakeholders will be involved in the negotiation and decision-making. Finally, as the ethnic nationalities have made their point clear on what they expect from the forthcoming Panglong-like convention in building a federal union, the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi also should do likewise and make their point of view known to the public.

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