The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- Suu Kyi Discusses Language, Education With Wa and Mongla Representatives
- Govt Releases Economic Policy Outlines, Deferring Detail
- KIA, Burma Army Clash Amid Ongoing Ethnic Summit
- Securities Commission Says Foreigners Cannot Buy Shares This Year
- Wa Pledge Not to Split From Union
- China Envoy Expects ‘All Armed Groups’ to Attend Union Peace Conference
- National Human Rights Commission Strongly Criticized by Lawmakers
- Stakeholders Discuss Refugee Repatriation on Thai-Burma Border
| Suu Kyi Discusses Language, Education With Wa and Mongla Representatives Posted: 29 Jul 2016 07:10 AM PDT  State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi speaks with representatives from Wa and Mongla communities in Naypidaw on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) NAYPYIDAW — State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi briefly met over 100 members of the Wa and Mongla public on Friday afternoon in Naypidaw. Suu Kyi delivered a speech and hosted a question and answer session with community members, in which she emphasized the importance of developing the education and healthcare sectors across the nation, including in the remote regions of ethnic states. The 20-minute event, which followed an earlier meeting with leaders of the United Wa State Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army—also known as the Mongla Group, had to be conducted through an interpreter, from Burmese into Wa. Chinese, rather than Burmese, serves as a lingua franca in the Wa self-administered zone in Shan State, which also borders China. Addressing the language barrier at the event in the context of educational development, Suu Kyi told the audience that the country still lacked the capacity to provide textbooks for schools in the country's many ethnic languages.  State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi answers questions from representatives from Wa and Mongla communities during a brief meeting in Naypidaw on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) "We need more teachers for our ethnic regions; having enough teachers is more important than having more school buildings," she said. To this end, the State Counselor suggested training more teachers who are able to speak the languages of Burma's ethnic minorities, so that they can better communicate with students and thereby give them "a more effective education." She also cautioned the Wa and Mongla community to keep in mind "the practicality in using the Bamar [Burmese] language for official use." "If we have many official languages—more than two or three—it is difficult to work in the administrative sector," she added. "I recognize that the education level is far worse [in remote ethnic areas] than the central part of the country, but the central region also does not have such a good situation," Suu Kyi said. Stressing a need to work beyond the curriculum, Suu Kyi told the participants, "We have to try many ways to have equality…to achieve unity, equality and respect among us, I invite all of you to give input and suggestions." In response to a question from a participant from the Mongla region, she urged parents to consider the importance of encouraging knowledge acquisition in their children, and investing in vocational skills training to support their livelihoods.  State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi poses for a photo with women from Wa and Mongla communities during a brief meeting in Naypidaw on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) Suu Kyi also highlighted the importance of youth and women's participation in building peace. "As I see many youth and women here, whatever we do, it is crucial to use the power of these people who make up more than half of the population," Suu Kyi said. She encouraged youth to build a network, describing young people as "key" in creating a strong Union; her comment comes as organizers from across Burma hosted an ethnic youth conference this week in Panglong, Shan State, with the aim of forming a "collective youth voice." The post Suu Kyi Discusses Language, Education With Wa and Mongla Representatives appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Govt Releases Economic Policy Outlines, Deferring Detail Posted: 29 Jul 2016 06:41 AM PDT  Aung San Suu Kyi speaks at the launch of the government's economic policy at the Myanmar International Convention Centre in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Aung Htet) NAYPYIDAW — The launch of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government's five-year, 12-part economic policy in Naypyidaw on Friday contained only broad outlines, leaving some industry leaders frustrated at the lack of detail. Speaking at the launch event, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said that, although the information released was "general," "detailed policy" would be unveiled later, including for local and international investors. Several of Burma's well-known tycoons were present alongside foreign diplomats, government officials, and members of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Suu Kyi acknowledged that "many foreign investors and diplomats" had asked the NLD government about their economic policy, which has yet to be spelled out in any detail in the four months since they assumed office. Minister of National Planning and Finance Kyaw Win said that the 12-part policy would be "people-centered" and would involve a "fair" distribution of natural resources between the states and divisions of Burma, in support of "national reconciliation" and the building of a "federal democratic country." The latter points suggest a tentative link to the peace process with ethnic armed groups. A Union Peace Conference scheduled for late August is hoped to achieve a deal on a federal restructuring of the state, in order to resolve half a century of civil conflict. Other outlines delivered at the launch included better opportunities for youth, support for small and medium businesses, jobs for Burmese returning from residence abroad, support for both agricultural and industrial exports, environmental protection, a stronger tax system, and expanding economic relations with countries both within and beyond Asean. Suu Kyi also stressed infrastructural investment as a means of increasing investment in Burma and speeding up development. Zaw Zaw, a prominent tycoon and chairman of the Max Group of Companies, spoke at the event about the need for better statistics in Burma, including for job, unemployment, birth and morality rates, as an aid to engineering economic growth. Chit Khine, chairman of Eden Group, one of Burma's largest conglomerates, told The Irrawaddy after attending the ceremony of the importance of devising a "detailed investment policy." He said that policy so far had been "very general" but expressed faith that greater detail would be forthcoming, and that "better economic policies" would be implemented under the new government—although this would "take time," given the need for reform in so many sectors. "There should be no rush," he said, "but they should tell us what sorts of businesses would be prioritized." Other industry leaders present stressed a more urgent need for policy detail, given the high expectations held by many towards the NLD government. Tun Foundation Bank Chairman Thein Tun—best known for bringing Pepsi to Burma in 1991 through his Myanmar Golden Star company—told the Irrawaddy that the government should develop a "detailed master plan" for economic development, one that included "annual implementation plans." Taking a more overtly critical line, he said, "This is not like the time before the election. We [business leaders] should know exactly what needs to done." "These economic policies are too general," he said. "If ministers cannot help the country's economic development, they should resign." Fifty journalists from both Burmese and international news agencies had turned up to cover the event at the Myanmar International Convention Center 2 in Naypyidaw, but were held up at the security gate. Security guards said they had been told that members of the media were not to be allowed in without "access cards" provided by the Ministry of Information. Only two journalists, bearing these cards, were allowed in, and later shared their coverage with others. The Irrawaddy reporter was not among those permitted inside. Several of the barred journalists expressed their frustration at what they felt was poor event management on behalf of the Ministry of National Planning and Finance. BBC correspondent Nay Myo Lin said he had "woken up early" to report on the economic policy launch but had "wasted his time." The post Govt Releases Economic Policy Outlines, Deferring Detail appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| KIA, Burma Army Clash Amid Ongoing Ethnic Summit Posted: 29 Jul 2016 05:47 AM PDT  KIA officials from Brigade 3 in Mai Ja Yang, Kachin State on Thursday. (Photo: Kyaw Kha / The Irrawaddy) MAI JA YANG, Kachin State — As ethnic armed groups gathered in Kachin State's Mai Ja Yang to search for common ground toward federalism in Burma, clashes broke out twice on Thursday between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)—the armed wing of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). Battalion No. 2 under KIA Brigade No. 6 and battalions under the Burma Army's 10th Military Operations Commands (MOC-10) clashed twice at Hopong Mountain in northern Shan State's Kutkai Township, said Lt Col Naw Bu, a KIO information officer. "[Our troops] said three military columns from the Burma Army surrounded them. At first, they attacked with small arms, but later there was artillery support," Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy. The casualties incurred on both sides were not immediately clear. The KIA also claimed that the Burma Army was conducting military activities near Battalion No. 14 under KIA Brigade No. 2 in Tanai Township. The Burma Army could not be reached for confirmation of the clashes or military activity, nor did they release a statement. The ethnic summit in KIA-controlled Mai Ja Yang began on Tuesday and ends Saturday. When asked about the recent clashes, Lt Col Naw Bu said, "We are not sure if the military really supports peace. Drawing a conclusion from their actions, it seems they want to cause a disturbance." The KIA is a part of the nine-member ethnic alliance, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which opted out of signing a nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the previous government in 2015. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. The post KIA, Burma Army Clash Amid Ongoing Ethnic Summit appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Securities Commission Says Foreigners Cannot Buy Shares This Year Posted: 29 Jul 2016 05:41 AM PDT  People wait at the Yangon Stock Exchange in Rangoon on March 25, 2016. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun) NAYPYIDAW — The Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar (SECM) will not allow foreigners to buy shares on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) this year, said Maung Maung Win, deputy minister of the Ministry of National Planning and Finance. Only two companies have listed on the YSX to date—First Myanmar Investment (FMI) and Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Public Ltd.—with four more expected to list later this year. Since trading began in March, industry sources said foreign investors have indicated interest in investing, but the SECM has not allowed it. "There are a lot of things to consider when thinking of allowing foreign investors, which is why it won't happen this year. We've been looking at other countries' practices as well," said Maung Maung Win. He added that the Myanmar Companies Act must be amended before foreigners can buy shares from local companies. Enacted in 1914, some of the clauses are ill-suited for present-day Burma, but have yet to be updated by Parliament. Khin Maung Nyo, economist and columnist, said if the government allows foreigners to legally purchase shares, it would have to limit what percentage they could purchase in order to maintain control of the market. He said he was concerned that local investors would be kicked out if foreigners could play the market, and that perhaps foreigners were already buying stock shares indirectly. Industry sources said some foreigners have shown an interest in investing in FMI shares through local colleagues. FMI opened in March at about 26,000 kyats (about US$22) per share, peaked at 41,000 kyats in April and later stabilized at about 30,000 kyat last month. The post Securities Commission Says Foreigners Cannot Buy Shares This Year appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Wa Pledge Not to Split From Union Posted: 29 Jul 2016 04:44 AM PDT  State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi meets with leaders of the Wa and Mongla non-state armed groups in Naypyidaw on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) NAYPYIDAW – During their first meeting with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday, an ethnic Wa delegation pledged to remain within the Union of Burma, rather than opting to split from the country. Suu Kyi held a closed door meeting with top leaders from the United Wa State Army (UWSA), led by Pao Yu Yi, and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)—better known as the Mongla Group—led by Sai Leun, for two hours in Burma's capital. As chair of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), Suu Kyi has been holding a series of meetings with Burma's many ethnic armed groups since June. "Today's meeting furthered relations and mutual understanding between the stakeholders. Both sides—the Wa and the State Counselor—openly discussed policies," said Zaw Htay, the President's Office spokesperson and member of the sub-committee tasked with reaching out to NCA non-signatories regarding the upcoming Union Peace Conference slated to be held in late August. "The Wa pledged to stay in the Myanmar Union, and they said they won't split from the country," Zaw Htay told the press, adding that there had been no discussion about a separate Wa State, which has been a pressing issue in recent years. The Wa currently have a self-administered zone in Shan State, but have also pushed for an autonomous state of their own. Wa and Mongla leaders also met the Burma Army chief, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, in the afternoon. Government peace negotiator Dr. Tin Myo Win will hold further meetings with the groups on Saturday, in which they will discuss technical issues, added Zaw Htay. The post Wa Pledge Not to Split From Union appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| China Envoy Expects ‘All Armed Groups’ to Attend Union Peace Conference Posted: 29 Jul 2016 03:52 AM PDT  China's Special Envoy on Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang addresses the Mai Ja Yang summit of ethnic armed groups in Kachin State. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) MAI JA YANG, Kachin State — China's Special Envoy on Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang, who has attended the Mai Ja Yang summit of ethnic armed groups in Kachin State as an observer, said that China backed "all the forces that support internal peace in Burma." "We expect that all ethnic armed groups will join the 21st Century Panglong Conference," he told The Irrawaddy on Friday, when asked about China's stance on "inclusion" at the Union Peace Conference scheduled for late August, where a deal on federalism is hoped for to resolve half a century of civil conflict in Burma. "There may be different views about internal peace, but this is quite natural," he said. "It is crucial for Burma to achieve internal peace," he said, citing the "payoff" the country would receive. "We hope all the stakeholders will continue to strive for peace." He did not address The Irrawaddy's question on what Beijing would do to persuade armed groups to attend the Union Peace Conference—particularly those groups based along the China-Burma border. These groups include the United Wa State Army (UWSA), acknowledged as the largest non-state armed group in Burma; the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), generally reckoned as the second largest; the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N); the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA); the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA); and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), better known as the Mongla Group. None of these groups were party to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement reached between the previous government and eight ethnic armed groups in October last year, and the Burma Army has been in active conflict over the past 18 months with all but the UWSA and the NDAA. The special envoy left the five-day Mai Ja Yang summit on Friday for China, having attended the first four days, starting on Monday. The post China Envoy Expects 'All Armed Groups' to Attend Union Peace Conference appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| National Human Rights Commission Strongly Criticized by Lawmakers Posted: 29 Jul 2016 02:52 AM PDT  Police crack down on student protesters in Letpadan, Pegu Division on March 10, 2015. (Photo: J Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Lawmakers in a joint-session of the Union Parliament directed heavy criticism at the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) for its poor record on securing and monitoring the compliance of government ministries with their recommendations. Lawmakers also highlighted what they considered to be weak collaboration from the commission with civil society, weak promotion of prisoners' rights—including access to adequate healthcare—and a reluctance to investigate alleged human abuses on their own initiative. During the session on Thursday, 16 lawmakers from the Upper and Lower houses of Parliament were debating the human rights commission's annual report for 2015, which had been presented by the commission's chairman to the Union Parliament on Monday. The commission was formed under the orders of former President Thein Sein in September 2011, and was reformed in 2014 with tougher requirements for ministries to report on their implementation of the commission's recommendations within 30 days. The commission currently has 11 members (reduced from 15), comprised of retired civil servants, military officers, professors and ambassadors. The commission has delivered human rights workshops to government and military officers, conducted community outreach, monitored standards in prisons, and undertaken investigations on receipt of reports of rights abuses—although critics in civil society have claimed that the majority of submitted cases have gone unaddressed. "We know the [commission] received 1,287 complaints in 2015. But we know from reports across the country, including in ethnic minority areas, that there were more human rights abuses than that," said Lower House lawmaker Ma Thandar, an award-winning human rights defender and the widow of a journalist who died in military custody in Mon State in October 2014. Two soldiers said to be implicated in the death of her husband, known as Par Gyi, were brought before a military tribunal but were acquitted in May 2015. Former President Thein Sein ordered an investigation from the national human rights commission, which released its findings in a report that Ma Thandar slammed as "fabricated." Ma Thandar told the Thursday session of parliament that the commission was weak in following up with ministries regarding their recommendations. She mentioned that 19 recommendations from separate investigations by the commission in 2014 had been directed at ministries including Defense and Home Affairs, but the commission had failed to publish which ministries had failed to transparently respond to them. She said she had not seen the commission applying the necessary pressure on government ministries, calling into serious doubt their claims to be independent and transparent. Upper House lawmaker Ye Htut from Sagaing Division mentioned several high-profile cases where justice had not been delivered: including the killing of the journalist Par Gyi; the shooting dead by police of Khin Win, a woman protesting land grabs linked to the Letpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Division, in 2014; and the rape and murder of two ethnic Kachin schoolteachers in northern Shan State in early 2015, blamed on Burma Army soldiers. He called for an end to such impunity: "we need to make sure that no one is above the law." Lawmakers also recommended that the commission include more people who "understand human rights" and "stand with the people"—an expression of distrust with the current membership, comprised largely of former government servants. During the parliamentary session, commission chairman Win Mra vowed to take the lawmakers' suggestions seriously and present a more comprehensive report next year at the Union Parliament. The chairman also stressed the limitations of their current mandate, to account for the spotty compliance of government ministries with their recommendations. "The government prescribes laws related to human rights protection and implements them," he said, saying the commission's role was only "consultative." "When we receive complaints, we investigate and present [our findings] to relevant government departments. We pressure them if they don't respond within 30 days, although we didn't mention this in the report," the chairman said. He admitted that cooperation from ministries had been weak, citing that only 23 percent of their recommendations had received responses within 30 days. Of the remainder, 32 percent had received responses within 90 days. More than 100 letters had received no response at all. The chairman expressed his gladness at the discussion in parliament, despite the strong criticism, stating that it would help "strengthen our commission for the future." Upper House lawmaker Khin Maung Myint from Kachin State urged the commission to investigate recent cases in Kachin State and hold the perpetrators accountable. This included the gunning down by three men of Nandar Hlaing, a village tract administrator in Hpakant Township's Sai Taung Village, in May; the fatal shooting by a Burma Army soldier of ethnic Kachin student Gum Seng Awng in the state capital Myitkyina in June; and the killing of dozens of small-scale minors and local residents in landslides in the jade mines of Hpakant. The post National Human Rights Commission Strongly Criticized by Lawmakers appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Stakeholders Discuss Refugee Repatriation on Thai-Burma Border Posted: 29 Jul 2016 02:29 AM PDT  Refugees who fled Burma walk at the Mae La refugee camp, near the Burma border in Thailand's Mae Sot District, Tak Province, July 2014. (Photo: Reuters) CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Stakeholders including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and community-based organizations (CBOs) discussed preparations for refugee repatriation in the Mae La camp on the Thai-Burma border. Concerned parties deliberated how best to provide assistance and ensure the safety of refugees who wanted to return to Burma. Iain Hall, UNHCR senior field coordinator, told The Irrawaddy that the meeting was one of a series in which non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provided updates on health, education, livelihood, food and nutrition activities held to prepare refugees for their return. During Wednesday's meeting, the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) and the Karenni Refugee Committee (KnRC) outlined their current operational guidelines for voluntary repatriation. The UNHCR also briefed groups about its meetings, workshops and consultations with the Burmese and Thai governments, NGOs and CBOs. Iain Hall said that the UNHCR was not promoting return but was prepared to support and facilitate any individual return once it was assured of its voluntary nature, safety and dignity. "We discussed the type of support we could provide—like cash and transportation. There is no start date to any return plan or movement. That is decided by individual refugees," Hall told The Irrawaddy. NGOs also reiterated a recent statement made in Thailand by Burma's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in which she said the government would welcome refugees who chose to return. "We are not knocking on doors and asking people to go home. But refugees can come to the UNHCR and and can assist them. We have been approached by refugees in several camps expressing their desire to return," said Hall. He added that both governments want the voluntary returns to be sustainable and have strongly advocated compliance with international standards. There are over 120,000 registered Burmese refugees living in nine refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. The majority are ethnic Karen who fled during conflicts between the Burma Army and ethnic armed organizations. The Thai government raised the issue of repatriation under the previous administration, after ethnic armed groups, including the Karen National Union (KNU), signed a ceasefire agreement in 2012. Preparations have been ongoing since then. However, many refugees still do not feel safe returning to their homes. The Burma Army still occupies territory near Karen villages and there is no concrete plan for demining areas littered with landmines placed by both sides in the conflict. The post Stakeholders Discuss Refugee Repatriation on Thai-Burma Border appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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