Tuesday, August 23, 2016

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


KIA: Burma Army Attacks Kachin Rebel Outpost From the Air

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:43 AM PDT

A member of the Kachin Independence Army puts on his shoes as he and a fellow soldier cross a stream toward the front line in Laiza, Kachin State, in January, 2013. (Photo: David Johnson / Reuters)

A member of the Kachin Independence Army puts on his shoes as he and a fellow soldier cross a stream toward the front line in Laiza, Kachin State, in January, 2013. (Photo: David Johnson / Reuters)

The Burma Army used two helicopters to attack a base of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on Tuesday near Ja Htar village in Kachin State's Waingmaw Township, according to KIA sources.

Ground forces from the Tatmadaw first reportedly attacked the frontline of KIA Battalion No. 252, also known as the In-Kham outpost. Following the offensive, two helicopters then shot at the base from the air.

KIA spokesperson Lt-Col Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday evening that while he did not yet know the details of the attack, he had been informed that the Burma Army had used "two gunships" and that the clash had broken out at around 11 a.m. that day.

Fighting between KIA Battalion No. 252 and government troops reportedly began in Waingmaw Township on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Hpakant Township has seen sporadic clashes between KIA Battalion No. 6 and the Burmese military.

Despite opting out of signing the 2015 nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the previous government, the KIA said that it would attend Burma's 21st Century Panglong peace conference scheduled to begin on August 31 in Naypyidaw.

The Irrawaddy called Burma's military spokesperson, Maj-Gen Aung Ye Win, but he said he could not comment on the situation at the present time.

The post KIA: Burma Army Attacks Kachin Rebel Outpost From the Air appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP Reshuffles Leadership, Ex-Military Men Predominate

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:22 AM PDT

Ex-President and outgoing USDP chairman U Thein Sein seen on Monday at the party conference in Naypyidaw, which concludes on Wednesday. (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

Ex-President and outgoing USDP chairman U Thein Sein seen on Monday at the party conference in Naypyidaw, which concludes on Wednesday. (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — Burma's main opposition party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), elected a new leadership on Tuesday, in which ex-military officers predominate.

Ex-President U Thein Sein has been replaced as chairman by U Than Htay, a retired brigadier-general and former minister of rail transport and of energy.

On the second day of the party convention, held at the USDP's headquarters in Naypyidaw, Ohn Myint, a former minister of livestock, fisheries and rural development and a senior member of the USDP, posted details of the reshuffle on his Facebook page.

He said the party had also selected a new general secretary, five secretaries, a disciplinary officer and an operations in-charge, as well as new leaders in all state and divisional branches.

Party spokesperson U Khin Yi confirmed to The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that U Than Htay had been elected as chairman, and former air force commander U Myat Hein as vice chairman. The latter had previously served as a minister of communication and information technology. Both resigned from their ministerial posts to enter the 2015 general election as USDP candidates.

U Khin Yi said that U Thein Sein would continue to "supervise" the party as its chief "patron." Other members of the party's nine-member central "patrons committee" include former party vice-chairman U Htay Oo and former Upper House speaker U Khin Aung Myint.

"We elected all positions. It proves the transition that has taken place inside the party," said U Khin Yi, who was selected as the party's disciplinary officer. He had previously been a minister of immigration and population.

Former chairman U Thein Sein addressed the opening of the party convention on Monday, urging his party members not to dwell on their humiliating electoral defeat in the 2015 general election, but look positively to the future.

"In democracies around the world, no party wins every time," U Thein Sein said.

"Political parties across the world continually try to broaden their horizons in political, social, economic and administrative affairs and prepare themselves for the day the people elect and assign duties to them. Our party has to make similar preparations," he said.

He stressed the need to build up the USDP as a "people's party," and called on party members to maintain contact with the people, listening to their voices and resolving their difficulties.

Shorty after the announcement of the party's new leadership went viral on social media, U Shwe Mann—who had been ousted as USDP chairman in an internal party coup in August last year, and now serves as chairman of Parliament's Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission—congratulated the new chairman.

"I believe the party, the party's chairman, vice chairman, general secretary and central executive committee will work for the sake of the public and the nation," he wrote on Facebook.

The USDP was created in 2010 out of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a mass organization founded in 1993 under the military junta. It won the 2010 general election, which was widely considered fraudulent, and dominated Burmese politics up till the handover of power to the National League for Democracy this year.

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Inflation Reaches 12 Percent, Alarming Business Leaders

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:17 AM PDT

Piles of Burmese kyats being counted in Rangoon. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy)

Piles of Burmese kyats being counted in Rangoon. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — Burma's Central Bank has publicized an inflation rate of 12.14 percent, surpassing the predictions of the World Bank and worrying business leaders that inflation in the country could be on an upward spiral, dampening local demand for goods.

A World Bank report last year put inflation at 10 percent for the 2015-16 fiscal year, ending in March, and forecast a rise to 11.3 percent in the 2016-17 fiscal year, "due to a combination of supply pressures caused by the floods and currency depreciation."

Burma's total trade volume dipped in the first quarter of this fiscal year, compared to the same period last year, along with the size of the trade deficit—although the years since the launch of reforms in 2011 have seen a dramatic rise in the trade deficit, which could still widen as larger amounts of foreign investment drive demand for foreign materials.

"If government can't set better trade and economic policies, the [inflation] rate could reach higher levels," U Thein Tun, chairman of the Myanmar Bankers Association and founder of the Tun Foundation Bank, told The Irrawaddy.

The 12 percent inflation rate exceeds bank interest rates of 8 percent, leading to fears of instability in Burma's nascent financial sector.

U Thein Tun pointed to an "unstable [US] dollar exchange rate" as a contributing factor to inflation, and said the government should provide a "solution."

The Oxford Business Group said late last year that the victory of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in the November general election would "bring renewed investor confidence"; runaway inflation could chip away at this confidence and erode potential gains.

Economist U Aung Ko Ko pointed to the adverse impact of double digit inflation on working class people in Burma, due to rise in the price of basic commodities. The official minimum wage remains 3,600 kyats per day (US$3), among the world's lowest.

"I've repeatedly said, from the time of the last government, that the inflation rate should be kept within single digits," U Aung Ko Ko said, stating something below bank interest rates of 8 percent as an ideal.

He also cited a likely fall in production, with higher prices killing local demand for goods and services, as a side effect of persistently high inflation. He also suggested that banks might find it difficult to "survive" with the current interest rates they are able to offer.

U Zaw Lin Htut, chief executive officer of the Myanmar Payment Union, echoed Aung Ko Ko in saying that, if inflation remains higher than bank interest rates, people will commit savings to the black market, which is "very risky."

He also said that a rise in the cost of living would cause savings deposits in banks to drop. The government needs to find a solution promptly, before it "gets any worse," he said.

The post Inflation Reaches 12 Percent, Alarming Business Leaders appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Arakanese Network Plans Protest Over Natural Resource Ownership

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:13 AM PDT

An ANREN meeting held in a restaurant on August 20. (Photo: ANREN / Facebook)

An ANREN meeting held in a restaurant on August 20. (Photo: ANREN / Facebook)

RANGOON – The Arakan Natural Resources and Environmental Network (ANREN) has said its members and supporters will march from the Arakan State capital of Sittwe to Kyaukphyu Township in the first week of November, demanding the decentralization of natural resources by the Union government.

ANREN is made up of approximately 30 Arakanese civil society and environmental rights groups, and recently formed a committee, which includes the People's Resource Network (PRN), of which Kyaw Zeya—who spoke to The Irrawaddy—is a member. He said that the march was finalized and approved by the ANREN committee in Sittwe, and that the rally is a declaration that Arakan's natural resources belong to the state.

There are also calls to amend Burma's military-drafted 2008 Constitution, which says that all resources are owned by the central government. Specifically, Article 37(a) stipulates that all lands and natural resources both above and below ground and water, are owned by the government; sub-section (b) states that the government can enact necessary laws to handle the extraction and utilization of these state-owned resources.

Kyaw Zeya said that an exact date has not been decided for the protest but that the network is planning to apply for permission from the authorities to peacefully assemble. The beginning of the march is specified as taking place in Sittwe, with protesters then successively passing through the towns of Ponnagyun, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Ann, and Ma-Ei before reaching Kyaukphyu. ANREN expects that more than 10,000 participants from at least eight townships will join the rally.

The ANREN committee began a signature campaign in early May throughout 17 Arakan State townships. The resulting petition intends to present the Arakanese perspective on natural resources, that "Rakhine people own Rakhine resources."

So far, 260,000 signatures have been collected. The committee is expected to gather around 300,000 signatures from the rest of the state by the end of this month, according to Tun Kyi, secretary of the Kyaukphyu Rural Development Association, also a member of ANREN.

According to rights groups, the signatures will be delivered to the State Counselor's Office, the Union Parliament and the President.

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Environmental Advocates: Salween River is Being ‘Sold Off’ to China

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 05:21 AM PDT

Local villagers travel by a boat along the Salween River in Karen State. (Photo: Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy)

Local villagers travel by a boat along the Salween River in Karen State. (Photo: Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy)

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Ethnic Shan environmental and human rights advocacy organizations have expressed opposition to the construction of hydropower dam projects on the Salween River in war-torn Shan State.

The Shan groups said that they remain gravely concerned that dams will be constructed without proper studies on their social and environmental impact.

Hydropower projects on the on Salween River receive little attention in comparison to those on the Irrawaddy River, like the planned Myitsone dam in Kachin State.

During her recent visit to China, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ensured that she would pursue a solution to the stalled Myitsone project suspended by Burma's previous government. On August 12, ahead of the State Counselor's trip to China, the Burmese government announced plans to go ahead with five dams proposed on the Salween River, which runs through Shan, Karenni, Karen and Mon states.

Ethnic Shan environmentalist Sai Khur Hseng told The Irrawaddy that the current government has decided Salween dams are "necessary" in order to meet electricity demands, despite previous reports which estimate that up to 90 percent of electricity generated by such projects will be exported to neighboring countries, like China.

The Shan advocacy groups said that Chinese state-owned firm Hydrochina has, in recent months, proceeded with construction plans to build the 1,200-megawatt Naung Pha dam on the Salween River.

"If the Naung Pha dam is completed, we worry that villages in Ho Pang and Tanyan townships will be flooded because there has been flooding every year. If the dam is built, the flooding will be worse. Villages nearby will be underwater," said Sai Khur Hseng.

In a statement delivered on Tuesday, the rights groups reported that an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Naung Pha dam is being conducted in secrecy by Australia's Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC). Last year, local communities protested against the Australian firm for carrying out a study in a similar manner for another project, the Mongton dam in southern Shan State.

"While all eyes were on the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam, Burma has quietly sold off the Salween to China," said Sai Khur Hseng said in the statement.

Shan community groups also sent a letter to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on August 17, calling for a cancellation of dam projects on Salween River.

The Naung Pha dam has faced protests by local communities on several occasions in the past. About 250 residents from nine village tracts in Tangyan Township joined legislators from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) to launch a demonstration against the dam on August 5. Around 60 community leaders from Ho Pang, Kunlong, Tangyan, Hsenwi and Lashio, including three SNLD members of Parliament, staged another protest on August 21.

Apart from concerns on the environmental and social impacts of the dams, there are concerns about militarization in the areas surrounding the projects that could lead to armed conflict and civilian displacement, according to the rights groups.

"There are different militias, including Burma Army. If they [the Burma Army] reinforce troops in the area for security, we worry that fighting will occur. And if it happens, it will force local villagers into displacement," said Sai Khur Hseng.

The post Environmental Advocates: Salween River is Being 'Sold Off' to China appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police in Search of Three Suspects in Rangoon Quadruple Homicide

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 04:12 AM PDT

A funeral, held on Monday, for the family of four murdered in their home in Mingaladon Township in Rangoon. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

A funeral, held on Monday, for the family of four murdered in their home in Mingaladon Township in Rangoon. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — The Rangoon Division police force confirmed to The Irrawaddy that they have distributed a photo of three suspects in connection with a horrific quadruple murder in Mingaladon Township to other police stations across Burma.

On Saturday, August 20, a retired police lieutenant, his wife and their two sons, aged 13 and 9, were stabbed to death at their house in a Mingaladon suburb—a crime that has shocked the Rangoon public with its brutality.

On Monday, hundreds of people attended a funeral for the family, including teachers from the schools attended by the two children.

The same day, a photo depicting three men leaning on a fence, shared by Facebook user Aung Kyaw, went viral on social media, leading local media outlets to report that the police had identified suspects in the case.

The Irrawaddy discovered that the account owner, Aung Kyaw, is the administrator of Hlaing Township's 14th ward, but was unable to contact him.

Col Myo Swe of the Rangoon Division police information unit confirmed that the photo in question was taken by the wife of the slain policeman days before the crime. As the investigation is ongoing, the men are wanted for questioning, the police colonel told The Irrawaddy.

Police across Burma have been put on alert to find the suspects.

"We have the photo from the slain family's house and we are investigating it," Col Win Bo, the head of Chin State Police Force told The Irrawaddy on Monday.

Photos of the suspects have also been distributed to relevant ward and village tract administrators, he added.

Police are also in possession of a knife believed to have been used in the murder; it is being examined for fingerprints.

On Sunday, a triple murder of a woman and a boy and a girl, aged 10 and 14 respectively, was reported in Shan State's Taunggyi. Police are investigating the crime.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Man Indicted for Insulting Military Chief, Former President on Facebook

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:01 AM PDT

A man stands near the fence surrounding Insein prison, where Hla Phone has been detained since February, after making the allegedly defamatory Facebook posts. (Photo: Reuters)

A man stands near the fence surrounding Insein prison, where Hla Phone has been detained since February, after making the allegedly defamatory Facebook posts. (Photo: Reuters)

RANGOON — A court in Rangoon indicted a man on Monday for insulting the military chief and former president on social media, under a controversial telecommunications law that activists have urged the new government to repeal.

Police and military prosecutors have filed a lawsuit accusing Hla Phone, 38, of posting a digitally altered image on his Facebook account showing the military chief, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, wearing a traditional female skirt on his head.

Another picture showed a caricature of former president and retired general Thein Sein with the words "we are murderers," and a third showed the national flag imprinted on a shoe.

The military ruled Burma for almost 50 years after a 1962 coup, crushing opposition until it began withdrawing from politics in 2011, and paving the way for a 2015 election won by democracy champion Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

But the military retains a major role in politics with control of 25 percent of seats in parliament and three important ministries, including home affairs, which oversees the police, and it has become increasingly sensitive about its image.

Hla Phone, who has been in prison since his arrest in February, denies wrongdoing, saying he did not post the images and the police had mistaken him for someone else.

"I was wrongfully arrested and I’ve spent six months and 12 days at Insein prison," he said told reporters outside a court in Rangoon, referring to the notorious jail in the city.

He said he was not the owner of the Facebook account upon which the insulting images were posted.

Asked by the judge if he was guilty, Hla Phone replied: "I am not guilty but those who filed the charges against me are."

If convicted on all charges, he faces 11 years in prison. The trial starts on Wednesday.

Particularly controversial is the charge brought under the telecommunications law, enacted in 2013 as part of the opening up of the sector.

It contains a broadly worded clause prohibiting use of the telecoms network to "extort, threaten, obstruct, defame, disturb, inappropriately influence or intimidate."

Several activists, including poet Maung Saung Kha and aid worker Patrick Kum Jaa Le have been sentenced to six months in jail under the law.

Human rights lawyers and activists, including the group Human Rights Watch, have called on the new government to amend or repeal the law saying it stifles free speech.

Military officials were not immediately available for comment.

The post Man Indicted for Insulting Military Chief, Former President on Facebook appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week

Posted: 22 Aug 2016 07:37 PM PDT

Ten Things August 23The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week.

14022356_1195267907182012_3535180020453188398_n'Beyond the 21' Live Concert

Burmese singers Sithu Lwin and Tinzaw Maw perform in celebration of their 21-year-long musical careers. Tickets are available for 20,000, 30,000 and 40,000 kyats per person at the Myanmar Media Management Office at Dagon Center II.

Where: Myanmar Convention Center, Min Dhamma Road, Mayangone Tsp., Tel: 01-516987  

When: Saturday, August 27


Monsoon IIHip-hop Show

Full Stop presents two of the biggest names in Burmese Hip Hop: J-me & G-Tone + House DJs.

Where: Sky Bar, Yangon International Hotel, Pyay Road

When: Saturday August 27, 9pm to 3am


Thailand ConcertThailand Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Tour

Ninety international musicians from the Bangkok-based Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra will perform three concerts—in Rangoon, Naypyidaw and Mandalay, respectively. Reservations for the Rangoon performance can be made at ticket@yangon.goethe.org.

Where: National Theatre, Myo Ma Kyaung Road, Dagon Tsp.

When: Friday, August 26, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.


AmericanaLive Americana/Bluegrass/Traditional/Rock Music

The Ayeyarwaddy Delta Daredevils offer a night of home-cooked, industrial-strength, lowbrow Americana, bluegrass, traditional and rock music. Free admission.

Where: MOJO, No. 135 Inya Road, Bahan Tsp.

When: Saturday August 27, 2016, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.


Duwun TalksDuwun Talks

Entrepreneurs give talks on how they transformed their dreams into reality. Admission is free but seats are limited and registration is required. Reserve tickets on the Duwun Talks Facebook page.

Where: Park Royal Hotel, 33 Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp.

When: Saturday, August 27, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.


Gradation of Pan'Gradation of Pan' Exhibition

A group art exhibition featuring more than 30 artists will be showcased at the River Ayeyarwaddy Art Gallery. More than 100 paintings will be on display for prices between US$200 and $1,000.

Where: River Ayeyarwaddy, No. 134, 35th Street, Kyauktada Tsp.

When: Wednesday, August 24 to Sunday, August 28


Go To DOWNTOWN'Go to Downtown' Exhibition

Artist Sanchaung Aung Min holds his second solo show featuring 41 watercolor paintings priced at $100 each.

Where: Lokanat Galleries, 62 Pansodan St, First Floor, Kyauktada Tsp., Tel. 095-1382-269

When: Sunday, August 21 to Thursday, August 25  


T LInstallation Exhibition

Artist Htein Lin's installation titled 'Picking Up the Pieces' will be held at Goethe Villa.

Where: Goethe Villa Yangon, No.8, Koh Min Koh Chin Street, Bahan Tsp.

Where: Thursday, August 16 to Monday, August 29


14 Pages'14 Pages' Art Exhibition

A group exhibition of artists from South Okkalapa Township will be held at the Myanmar Artists and Artisans Association with over 100 paintings for display.

Where: Myanmar Artists and Artisans Association, Bogyoke Market

When: Wednesday, August 24 to Sunday, August 28


My Heart My Art'My Heart My Art' Exhibition

Artist Kay Moe Ko showcases 18 works selling for $900 each, in his second solo show.

Where: Lokanat Galleries, 62 Pansodan St, First Floor, Kyauktada Tsp. Tel. 095-1382-269

When: Thursday, August 25 to Wednesday, August 31

 

The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National News

National News


U Thein Sein steps down from USDP chairmanship

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:50 AM PDT

In a surprise shake-up at the top, former president U Thein Sein handed over his Union Solidarity and Development Party leadership role today to U Than Htay, a member of the USDP central executive committee.

Government, businesses contribute paddy seeds to flooded farms

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:57 AM PDT

As floods wreak havoc across the country and damage thousands of acres of monsoon paddy, government agencies and businesses are arranging for affected farmers to receive 480,000 baskets of paddy seed, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation deputy director U Aye Ko Ko said last week.

Framework review hung up on representation, decision-making

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:47 AM PDT

Two hurdles bedevilled a final consensus at the second-day meeting to review the framework for political dialogue – a core instrument for upcoming peace negotiations – involving representatives from the government, ethnic armed organisations and political parties.

U Thein Sein puts on brave face at USDP convention

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:42 AM PDT

The Union Solidarity and Development Party convention opened yesterday with its leader, former president U Thein Sein, confirming that the central executive committee will be reshuffled, while major changes to his party's platform are not on the agenda.

U-Report aims to give youth a voice in policy draft

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:30 AM PDT

A program called U-Report, run by UNICEF and the Department of Social Welfare, intends to collect opinions from youth in order to draw up the Myanmar Youth Policy.

Bridge to ease Mandalay-Muse traffic

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:29 AM PDT

A series of new road projects are planned to ease overland transportation woes between Myanmar and China.

UN Secretary General to attend Panglong Conference

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:20 AM PDT

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon will attend a landmark peace conference in Myanmar this month, an official and armed group confirmed yesterday, bolstering the new government's drive to end decades of fighting in Myanmar's borderlands.

MP sees peace dividend for health, education sectors

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:20 AM PDT

An Amyotha Hluttaw lawmaker anticipates a peace dividend for Myanmar's education and healthcare sectors if decades of civil war can be brought to an end, saying money allocated to the Ministry of Defence could be directed elsewhere once the fighting stops.

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approves debt management strategy

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:15 AM PDT

MPs have approved a strategy for managing the country's US$9 billion in foreign debt. The plan, which the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approved on August 19 after a brief debate, is based on the Medium-term Debt Management Strategy proposed by the President's Office.

By-election slated for 2017: UEC

Posted: 22 Aug 2016 11:50 PM PDT

Two townships in southern Shan State could be set to vote on their vacant parliamentary allocations in 2017, with the Union Election Commission (UEC) announcing a by-election is likely to take place early next year.

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News


Salween River is not for sale, says Shan NGOs

Posted: 23 Aug 2016 03:52 AM PDT


Shan civic groups held a press conference in Bangkok today, claiming that the Burmese government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, is working secretly in support of dam construction on the Salween River, despite knowing that the mega-project will greatly affect many people.


Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) in the Thai capital, Sai Khur Hseng of the Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization and spokesperson for this morning's joint-statement, said that the new Burmese government has tried to implement the hydropower projects without caring about the suffering of ordinary people. 

"While all eyes were on the Irrawaddy- Myitsone dam, Burma has quietly sold off the Salween to China," said Sai Khur Hseng. "We fear there has been a trade-off." 

"Amidst the war, Australia's Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) has been carrying out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Naung Pha Dam in secrecy, clearly to avoid the widespread grassroots protests that blocked its ESIA last year for another Chinese-backed dam on the Salween – the giant Mong Ton Dam in southern Shan State," said the statement.

The civic groups said that on August 5, more than 200 residents Tangyan Township – an area in line to be flooded by dam construction – staged a protest.  Also, on August 21, about 60 community leaders from Ho Pang, Kunlong, Tangyan, Hsenwi and Lashio, including local Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) MPs, held a demonstration against the plans in Hsenwi Township. 

Representing environmental organization International Rivers, Pianporn Deetes said that the Thai government has been attempting to foster good relations with Naypyidaw, and had also done so with the previous Burmese administration, led by President Thein Sein, in a bid to push forward its agenda of building dams on the Salween River. 

The 3,000-kilometre Salween River, officially known in Burmese as the Thanlwin, is listed as the 25th longest waterway in the world, beginning in the Tibetan plateau, passing through southern China, Burma and the Thai border, before draining in the Andaman Sea.
"The Thai government is seeking to build at least three dams on the Salween River, including the Hatgyi Dam and Mong Ton Dam," she said. "If the dams are built, there will be flooding in central Shan State." 

She continued: "About a million Shan people had to migrate to Thailand due to forced relocation by the Burma army in the past 20 years. These people have to become migrant workers who work in construction sites. If the dams are built, they cannot return home because their houses will be under water. Therefore, they have to live in Thailand permanently." 

Thai environmental activist Pianporn Deetes urged the hydropower investors, as well as both the Thai and Burmese governments, to deeply consider the local people's needs when the dams are built.
 
"There will huge impact on the environment," she added. "But, more importantly, there will be a huge impact on the Shan community as well as human rights abuses." 

Tuesday's joint-statement read: "Apart from concerns that the dam will cause increased fighting and displacement, villagers are fearful of dam breakage in this earthquake and flood-prone area.
"Ho Pang, the main Wa township to be impacted by the Naung Pha Dam, has suffered flooding and several earthquakes in the last few weeks. Ho Pang lies on the Nam Ting fault line." 

Nang Charm Tong, a Shan activist and spokesperson for today's event, said "As they [the Burmese government] have announced that there will be no gain in terms of electricity, they should not build dams on the Salween."

She added: "We strongly oppose this activity."

On August 18, Shan Herald reported that 26 Shan-based organizations had sent an open letter to Burma's State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, during her visit to China. The groups had demanded that the Burmese government immediately stop all the hydropower projects on the Salween River.

The blueprints for a hydropower project on the Salween include a series of dams in Shan State: the 7,100 megawatt Mong Ton Dam; the 1,400 MW Kunlong Dam; the 1,200 MW Nong Pha Dam; and the 200 MW Manntaung Dam. The project would also include plans for a 4,000 MW Ywathit Dam in Karenni State, and the 1,360 MW Hat Gyi Dam in Karen State. Investors in the projects include the China Three Gorges Corporation, a Chinese state-owned firm which operates the world's largest dam on the Yangtze River. The other foreign firms involved in the Salween project are: Sinohydro; China Southern Grid; and a subsidiary of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
Local partners are the Burmese Ministry of Electric Power and the International Group of Entrepreneurs (IGE), a firm controlled by the offspring of the late Aung Thaung, the long-time industry minister under Snr-Gen Than Shwe's military regime.
According to the related contracts, when the projects are completed, 90 percent of the electricity generated is to be exported to China and Thailand.

Aung San Suu Kyi's China visit generates optimism with mixed results

Posted: 22 Aug 2016 08:18 AM PDT


As Aung San Suu Kyi's first visit, outside of the ASEAN countries, her call on China is an important undertaking in shaping, reiterating and confirming Burma's – also known as Myanmar - neutral stance, while reflecting and weighing the pro and contra of a pending and some gearing-up, future economic projects together with China and at the same time, soliciting China's help in resolving the ethnic armed conflict along the two countries' border.

One common understanding coming out of  this is the Chinese and as well Suu Kyi are of the same opinion, that absence of armed conflict and peaceful atmosphere are needed, if economic development benefiting both countries is to be achieved.

And thus, no wonder, Suu Kyi's visit although a first courtesy call as a State Counsellor – in fact the de facto leader of the National League for Democracy government – is more focused or inclined to find ways on how to iron out out a more acceptable workable condition, where bilateral economic projects are concerned and how the Chinese could be helpful in ending the armed ethnic conflict along the two countries' common border.

Let us take a close look on if Suu Kyi and the Chinese were able to advance their mutual benefit on all the scores mentioned.

Joint Statement

State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, paid an official visit to China from 17th to 21st August. During the visit, she met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang  to promote bilateral relations and friendship. She also met with Zhang Dejiang of Chairman of Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. During her visit to China, the Joint Press Release between Myanmar and China was issued as follows:

·         The two sides would carry forward their traditional friendship and advancing their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era; 
·         Affirmed that they would continue to uphold good neighbourly policy toward each other, the interests of the two peoples, adopt a strategic and long-term perspective, and work to achieve new progress in their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership;
·         Agreed to promote rule of law in the border areas, and to enhance trade, economic cooperation and various forms of friendly exchanges that would contribute to the well-being of the peoples, agreed to maintain close coordination on global issues such as climate change, natural disasters and communicable diseases;
·         Myanmar welcomed China's "Belt and Road" initiative and the initiative of Bangladesh-China-India- Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor and thanked China for its active and constructive support to Myanmar's efforts for national reconciliation and peace process; and
·         State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi conveyed the cordial invitation of President U Htin Kyaw to Chinese President Xi Jinping to pay a state visit to Myanmar. (Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar – 20 August 2016)

Myitsone and Salween Dams

While the controversial Myitsone Dam issue was not mentioned and touched, at least in the joint-statement between China and Burma's State Counsellor, the intense lobbying piece started to appear in China's newspaper Global Times, considered to be the mouthpiece of the government.

The piece titled "Suu Kyi visit raises dam project hopes", written by Yu Ning, arguing, "The Myitsone project will boost local economic and social development and contribute to addressing the power shortage that has plagued 70 percent of Myanmar's cities, towns and villages."

She added, "Based on the current agreement, Myanmar will get 10 percent of the electricity produced for free and the dam will become the sole property of Myanmar decades later. As about 60.7 percent of the return on investment will go to Myanmar, it's estimated that Myanmar would receive roughly $17 billion from the  project over the contracted 50-year period. This revenue, if properly used, will inject new impetus to vitalize the backward economy of northern Myanmar."

Meanwhile, connected to this controversial Myitsone Dam, back at home, the anti-Salween Dam movement is also gaining momentum. People have been correctly asking as to, while the controversial Myitsone Dam has been taken seriously, forming commission to study the project, due to the outcry of public anti-dam stance,  why has the NLD regime given a go ahead construction, where the damming of Salween river is concerned?

Last Wednesday, on 17 August, twenty-six Shan-based organizations sent an open letter to  State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, calling on her government to put an immediate halt to hydroelectric dam projects on the Salween River.

The blueprints for a hydropower project on the Salween include a series of dams in Shan State: the 7,100 megawatt Mong Ton Dam; the 1,400 MW Kunlong Dam; the 1,200 MW Nong Pha Dam; and the 200 MW Manntaung Dam. The project would also include plans for a 4,000 MW Ywathit Dam in Karenni State, and the 1,360 MW Hat Gyi Dam in Karen State. Investors in the projects include the China Three Gorges Corporation, a Chinese state-owned firm which operates the world's largest dam on the Yangtze River. The other foreign firms involved in the Salween project are: Sinohydro; China Southern Grid; and a subsidiary of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

On August 12, the Burmese government, which is led by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, announced that the hydropower projects on the Salween River will be continued as the country is in need of energy.

The letter pointed out: "The unilateral decision to go ahead with the Salween dams before political dialogue about federalism has even begun, is depriving ethnic communities of their right to decide about natural resources in their areas, and indicates a lack of sincerity towards the peace process. Coming only weeks before the planned "21st Century Panglong Conference," this green light to the Salween dams is highly worrying."

It stressed: " That the Salween river basin has been a conflict area for decades, where the Burma Army has been relentlessly expanding and committing systematic atrocities against villagers in its attempts to control ethnic lands and resources. Pushing ahead with these unpopular dams will inevitably lead to more Burma Army militarization, increased conflict, and ongoing atrocities."

According to the related contracts, when the projects are completed, 90 percent of the electricity generated is to be exported to China and Thailand.

Environmentalist Sai Khur Hseng said that the planned dam projects are in active earthquake areas.

"Yesterday, there was an earthquake on the Nam Ting river [near the site of Kun Long Dam]," he said. "If this dam is built, the people who live along the river in Tanyan Township will be heavily impacted," according to the recent report of SHAN.

Perspective

Chinese involvement in Burma's peace process has been there since the beginning of the previous President Thein Sein's initiatives to end the ethnic conflict in 2011. But it is a welcome, additional move to have a formal endorsement with the promise to help peace prevail along the two countries' border and beyond.

According to Poe Than Gyaung, spokesman for the Communist Party of Burma, in his Radio Free Asia interview on 20 August, when asked about how much China could do to help with the peace process, replied that the solution would depend on the stakeholders within the country and whether the military wanted to stop fighting and have a desire to achieve peace. The Chinese could only do so much to persuade the parties involved to opt for peace, he stressed.

Closely connected to this is the all-inclusiveness problematic which the military is not reasonably cooperating  by side-lining the three Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) that it dislike for several reasons, even though Suu Kyi is keen to have it as all-inclusive as possible, regardless of whether the EAOs have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement or not.

Thus it could be said even if the Chinese could nudge the EAOs that it has influence to join the peace process, the military's stubbornness to exclude some of the EAOs could derail or create problems for the whole peace process and China won't be able to do much on this score.

Regarding the Myitsone Dam, it seems that Suu Kyi has been able to buy time until the Dam Commission files it's finding on 11 November and presumes that the Chinese would be acceptable to the suggestion made by the it.

All in all, the result of Suu Kyi's China visit could be said as having mixed results, as one billion Chinese Yuan (about 151 million dollars) to support Burma's growth and development has been given; an agreement to survey the feasibility study to construct Kunlong bridge; and promises to constructively cooperate in Burma's quest to achieve peace; while other economic bilateral projects that China is keen to undertake are still left unaddressed, at least publicly.

For now, optimism aside, China seems to be happy with its "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" approach and Suu Kyi is satisfied with her more "balanced relationship" undertaking vis a vis China, and what is going to come out of this in concrete terms is anybody's guess.