The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- In Sketches: Myanmar’s Challenging Media Landscape
- News Analysis: Myanmar Army Looks to India
- Dengue Fever Kills 20 in Irrawaddy Division
- U Zaw Htay: Kofi Annan Commission is Govt ‘Shield’
- Yangon Parliament Appoints New Security Minister
- The Lotus of SoHo Comes Home
- Yangon Bus Collision Death Toll Rises to 10
- Security Forces Kill 2 Suspected Militants in Rakhine
| In Sketches: Myanmar’s Challenging Media Landscape Posted: 10 Jul 2017 08:03 AM PDT Despite the abolishment of decades-long literary censorship in 2012, Myanmar has seen a reverse in the direction of media freedom, particularly since 2014. Here are a series of cartoons published by The Irrawaddy over the course of four years— from 2014 to 2017—reflecting the media milestones and hardships experienced in the country. Justice With Strings Attached  In October 2014, freelance reporter Aung Kyaw Naing, also known as Par Gyi, was killed while in military custody. The Myanmar Army said the journalist was shot dead when he attempted to seize a soldier's gun and escape detention. Despite his wife's attempt to file charges against the military for the death and alleged torture of her husband, the case was dropped by the police and courts. Press Freedom in Burma  Myanmar ended literary censorship in 2012. Four years on, in 2016 press freedom in the country is depicted as still in its infancy. Freedom on the Brink  The Irrawaddy's cartoonist responds to the terrorist attack on French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in January 2015 that killed 17 people. Enjoy Freedom of the Press  This 2014 cartoon demonstrates the control and lack of support for independent media in Myanmar. No Freedom From 66(d)  There have nearly 70 cases filed under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law—which is used to prosecute "defamation" online—during the National League for Democracy's government administration. Press Freedom?  The year 2014 saw some backslidings in press freedom in Myanmar with authorities placing restrictions on some publications on not to publish "inappropriate news about the government." Others were threatened that they would be "held responsible for inciting social unrest" with their coverage of violence in Rakhine State. Four journalists and the CEO of Unity Weekly newspaper were detained by the police force's Special Branch after the newspaper reported the existence of an alleged chemical weapons factory in Pauk, Magwe Division. All are facing prison terms of up to 14 years for "violating state secret laws." Ministry of Information Keeps the Media in its Tentacles  Despite the booming private media outlets in the country, Myanmar's Ministry of Information takes a lion's share of control of everything related to the media industry. Burma's Press Reforms at the Bursting Point  A 2014 cartoon demonstrates the precariousness of press freedom under the quasi-civilian government led by former President U Thein Sein. Backs to the Crisis  Under Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government, the Myanmar Army arrested three journalists, including one from The Irrawaddy, on June 26, accusing them of holding connections with an outlawed ethnic armed group. At the time of publication, they remain in prison. The post In Sketches: Myanmar's Challenging Media Landscape appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| News Analysis: Myanmar Army Looks to India Posted: 10 Jul 2017 07:11 AM PDT Myanmar Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is currently touring India, meeting the country's top military brass on a significant trip that is likely to be closely followed by Beijing. The eight-day visit is set to boost defense ties between the Myanmar and India armies. Sources said the trip would involve developing counter insurgency operations and sharing intelligence on Islamic insurgents active along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Myanmar remains a source of concern and interest in New Delhi, which has apprehensively tracked the grand designs of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has kept its distance from the BRI, partly because it rejects the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, one of the initiative's projects, which slices through an area of Kashmir claimed by India but held by Pakistan. India is also concerned China has too much sway over Myanmar’s peace process, according to sources in New Delhi. Rebel groups seeking to establish a sovereign territory are active on parts of the 1,640-kilometer border between India and Myanmar. During the visit, New Delhi will undoubtedly raise the issue of these rebels to Min Aung Hlaing and his delegation. One of these groups, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), is based in Sagaing Region, northwest Myanmar. The Naga rebels have been fighting for the "independence of Nagaland" from India and Myanmar for decades. China has reportedly provided the group's leaders with shelter, aid and weapons in the past. In this context, Min Aung Hlaing's vision does not stop at modernizing the Myanmar Army, but encompasses diversifying its allies, making it less reliant on China. The Times of India reported on July 8 that India already provides Myanmar with, "105-mm light artillery guns, rocket launchers, rifles, radars, mortars, bailey bridges, communication gear, night-vision devices, war-gaming software and road construction equipment as well as naval gun-boats, sonars, acoustic domes and directing gear." A US$37.9 million deal for the supply of lightweight torpedoes was also recently finalized, the article added. Life After China Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources told The Irrawaddy some Myanmar Army generals were unhappy that China asked members of a northern ethnic alliance to attend the 21st Century Panglong so-called peace conference in May and requested Min Aung Hlaing accept them. The Myanmar Army branded members of the Northern Alliance, which include the Arakan Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, terrorist groups last year. New Delhi was watching the conference closely. At the end of May, India's army chief Gen Bipin Rawat visited Myanmar where he met Min Aung Hlaing and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. But a problem in the bilateral relations may exist in the form of Myanmar's defense cooperation with Pakistan, an old foe of New Delhi. Myanmar has been in advanced negotiations with Pakistan to license-build the PAC JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role combat aircraft, according to Jane's Defence Weekly. Jointly developed by China and Pakistan, the aircraft would significantly bolster Myanmar's air force. India is agitated that Myanmar has received military equipment from Pakistan in the midst of allegations that Pakistani militants are providing training to Muslim insurgents in northern Rakhine, according to sources in both India and Myanmar. In another show of diversifying its allies, Min Aung Hlaing toured Russia in June, visiting defense industries, army bases, and military training schools, where hundreds of Myanmar Army officers are studying. The message is clear: unlike in the past, Myanmar Army leaders want to show they are not dependent on China alone. The post News Analysis: Myanmar Army Looks to India appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Dengue Fever Kills 20 in Irrawaddy Division Posted: 10 Jul 2017 07:00 AM PDT PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Division — Twenty people have died of dengue fever so far since January this year in Irrawaddy Division, according to the divisional health department. "Dengue incidence is highest in Hinthada District, followed by Maubin and Pathein districts respectively," said Dr. Myat Min Htun, head of the epidemic division under the divisional health department. Dengue cases have doubled in the division from the previous year – 1,679 cases from January 1 to July 10 compared to about 800 cases in total the prior year. Most of the victims are children under 15, who die from internal hemorrhaging and a delay in hospitalization, according to the health department. The disease has killed four people in Wakema Township, the highest death rate among townships in the division. Dengue incidence was low between January and May, but an outbreak occurred in June that has continued into July. In June, the 500-bed Pathein Hospital received 139 dengue patients and three children died. "In the children's ward of Pathein Hospital, there are too many dengue patients now that we are short of space. We've had to put newcomers in other wards," said a doctor from Pathein Hospital. There tends to be a dengue epidemic every two to three years, said Dr. Myat Min Htun of the divisional health department, adding that Irrawaddy Division saw the deadliest dengue outbreak in its history in 2015, when more than 6,000 people were infected and 49 died. "We have initiated prevention and awareness campaigns this year but our health department alone can't prevent this disease. Public participation is critical and people need to be mindful of water sources where mosquitos may breed," said Dr. Myat Min Htun. Yellow fever mosquitos – known as aedes aegypti – are primarily responsible for dengue fever, and breed in still water and areas with poor sanitation. The disease's common symptoms include a few days of fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and possibly a rash. Children are more vulnerable to the disease. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. The post Dengue Fever Kills 20 in Irrawaddy Division appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| U Zaw Htay: Kofi Annan Commission is Govt ‘Shield’ Posted: 10 Jul 2017 03:02 AM PDT U Zaw Htay, government spokesperson and director-general of the President's Office recently talked to The Irrawaddy about the threats facing Rakhine State and press freedom in Myanmar. Fourteen parties including the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) have called for a state of emergency to be declared in Rakhine State. What is the government's response to their demand? The parties have concerns over national security, so they gave the government suggestions. We welcome this. A special meeting was held at the presidential residence on June 30 with an extensive discussion on the Rakhine issue. At the meeting, the military presented future plans and we discussed our 'responsibility to protect.' I can assure you the government is handling this issue seriously, though we cannot explain everything in detail. What I can tell you is we are doing everything that we should be doing. National security is not only the concern of a single political party, but an issue the entire country should join hands to tackle together. I'd like to urge all political parties to disseminate knowledge about national security to the people. As for the government, it is working to protect national security. The parties calling for a state of emergency need to understand this. We'd like to urge them to cooperate with us in a constructive way. Does their statement hassle the government? We aren't hassled by it. It is usual for political parties to do such things. Some may not know about the procedures of the UN, and they may have drawn the wrong conclusions as a result. They can come and discuss with our foreign ministry experts to get a better understanding of UN procedures. USDP lawmaker U Hla Htay Win said the government did not try to put a UN resolution to form a fact-finding mission on Rakhine State to a vote at the Human Rights Council. Is that the case? There were disagreements over whether or not to put it to a vote. We had to think about whether the resolution would change even after a vote was taken. This is a technical matter and it is difficult to explain. So, what I want to say is, we welcome suggestions and we invite [the USDP and other parties] to come and talk with our UN experts. They were demanding the declaration of a military administration in Rakhine State, so what is the take of the Myanmar Army? Is it fully cooperating with the government? Yes, the army fully cooperates with the current government. It cooperates and collaborates with us. The responsibility of national security lies with the military. The Myanmar Police Force was under the direct control of the army in the past, but it has been under its own ministry since 2010. We [the government] still have a lot to learn about national security. At the same time, the army is doing what it should do, I'd say. Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Tin said the government was handling the Rakhine issue through diplomatic channels on the international stage, and urged security personnel to take action with responsibility and accountability for human rights. Will the government investigate alleged human rights abuses? The army has formed an internal investigation team, as have the police. There are a lot of alleged human rights violations. But the commission led by the vice-president has yet to publish its report. One of its three responsibilities is to investigate alleged human rights violations. The commission will investigate and publish its report. The government, Myanmar Army, Myanmar Army leaders, police chiefs, and the home affairs minister are not denying all of the allegations. What they have said is to present the cases to them with strong evidence if there were such violations. If there is evidence, they will investigate and find the truth. We've told this to the UN and all of the other organizations. So, give us strong evidence, and we will take action in line with the law if allegations are found to be true. Military leaders share the same stance. So, we will have to review the reports of all investigative bodies to determine if those allegations are true. Why did the government decide to appoint Kofi Annan as chair of the Rakhine State Commission despite criticism and opposition? What is the benefit to the country? We formed the Rakhine State Advisory Commission led by Kofi Annan last August, and its mandate is to give us advice. It is an advisory commission, and is responsible for assessing the issue from various aspects and providing recommendations to bring about sustainable development. Our government also released a statement that we are implementing the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission. There was no problem [insurgency] at the time we formed the commission last August. We formed it at that time so that we could explain to the international community in case of a problem in the future. Whenever there is an accusation from the international community, we say we are taking action in line with the recommendations of the Kofi Annan commission. The commission is serving as a shield for us. Was it not for Kofi Annan commission, the allegations would be much worse, I think. The government has appointed a national security advisor. What is his role? What can he do for national security? Most countries have a national security advisor. India has one and the US has a national security advisor and a national security council. In protecting national interests and national security, the first line of defense is diplomacy, and the last line of defense is the military. It is not unusual to appoint a national security advisor. Those who criticize this may have their own reasons to do so. But, we need to observe international practices. If we take a look at where our national security advisor is going and what he is doing, then we'll see. The media often covers his statements and you can know what he is doing by assessing those statements. National security advisor U Thaung Tun is a former ambassador and has lots of experience and served as an ambassador under Snr-Gen Than Shwe amid mounting pressure [from the international community.] He has a network and other advantages that he gained from his experiences as an ambassador. He will contribute to national security and national interests. Does the government have a strategic master plan for security and economic development of the entire country, including Rakhine State? The vision of our government is 'Peace, Prosperity, Democracy.' The State Counselor is focusing her efforts on peace. As for prosperity, the government is working for the promotion of education, health services and administrative reforms. These are priorities under our 12-point economic policy. As for democracy, we are working for constitutional amendments and to build a democratic federal Union through the 21st Century Panglong peace conference. Members of the media are facing prosecution under laws such as Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law and 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act. Why should the media face such restrictive laws under a democratic government? It is about the application of the laws. It is up to the complainant to choose under which law and article to file a lawsuit. The government can't intervene in this. And it is the job of judges to decide with their own rationale if the charges fit the offenses or not. What the government can do is to assess how the laws are applied and their consequences and propose that Parliament changes the laws if necessary. The government may take political conditions and the democratic cause into account in considering violations of those laws. But, it is difficult for us to tell the complainants not to use this and that law because this is a democracy. Speaking of the media, we can't just look at Article 66(d) and Article 17(1). We need to think about its entirety and have a long-term view. Similar things will happen in the future, and we need to think about how to monitor the media. There should be an institutional mechanism that monitors the media on their behalf before other institutions directly sue them. If there is an internal control, direct lawsuits from outsiders will be less likely. The complainants may not accept it if we ask them not to use charges of 66(d) and 17(1). What I prefer is a mechanism like the press council, which will monitor the media and then prosecution will be the last option. The media is also involved in the democratic transition of the country. Based on democratic norms, the media usually gets freedom of expression first. They can expand their space and rights – such as the right to information – during the transitional stage [of a democracy.] Once democracy is rooted, then [the government] will be able to protect the media. Our transition has not reached a firm stage. And both parties need to understand this. Concerned institutions and stakeholders should join hands and brainstorm how to solidify this transitional stage. Each side will have their own views and concerns, but they should discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of the existing laws to find a solution that is acceptable to all. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. The post U Zaw Htay: Kofi Annan Commission is Govt 'Shield' appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Yangon Parliament Appoints New Security Minister Posted: 10 Jul 2017 01:47 AM PDT YANGON — Col. Aung Soe Moe was appointed Yangon Region's new minister for security and border affairs on Monday. The 44-year-old was sworn in at Yangon Regional Parliament after it approved the nomination at an emergency meeting on Monday. Col. Aung Soe Moe replaced Col. Tin Aung Tun who served from August 2015 and was reappointed by the new National League for Democracy-led government before they took office in April 2016. Part of the regional security minister's duty is to stand in for the chief minister when he is not available. Information about the new minister distributed to regional lawmakers did not include what year Col. Aung Soe Moe entered the military or what diplomas he had been awarded. The post Yangon Parliament Appoints New Security Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Posted: 09 Jul 2017 11:32 PM PDT YANGON — It was a spectacular autumn day in New York City when Lotus Hom, a boutique in the city's famed SoHo shopping district, closed its doors for the last time. It was a sad occasion, but mixed with the melancholy there was also an air of celebration, like the brilliant fall colors that marked the end of one season and the start of another. "I was so sad that I had to leave my colleagues and partners who stood with me from the beginning, but at the same time, I was so excited and happy to think that I would soon be returning to my motherland," recalls Mo Hom, the owner of Lotus Hom, of the day she closed her designer boutique in November 2012. "My dream of bringing New York's fashions to my country had come true, but I felt such a mixture of excitement, happiness and sadness at the time that I can hardly express it." An ethnic Shan who graduated from Mandalay University, Mo Hom had already had a successful career in Myanmar's hotel industry, working in her early twenties as a marketing executive for the Sedona Hotel and Hotel Nikko, when she decided to pursue what she considered to be her true calling: fashion design. At first, her family tried to discourage her from following her ambition. Her mother, a skilled seamstress, urged her to do something more "professional." Both parents wanted her to continue her studies, telling her that she should learn both English and Chinese as a way of getting ahead in the world. They said that when she was 25, she could make her own choices, but until then, she had to listen to them. That day finally came in 2003, when she was living and working in Yangon. "On my 25th birthday, I phoned my parents and told them I had decided to go to New York to study design. They were very surprised, and at first they tried to convince me to go to Australia, because they thought the US wasn't safe after the 9/11 terror attacks. But in the end, I won, and joined the Katherine Gibbs School to study fashion design and merchandising." Mo Hom stayed at the school just long enough—one semester—to learn the basics of design and marketing, then switched to the New York School of Design to earn a diploma in textile design. After gaining experience at a couple of New York's leading fashion-design companies, Mo Hom took another great leap, opening her own boutique on Mott Street in Lower Manhattan's SoHo district. Her company, Lotus Hom LLC, is a partial translation of her name, which means "fragrant lotus" in her native Shan language. Taking traditional Myanmar culture as her inspiration, she designs high-quality fashion that is simple, chic and sexy—but not too revealing. "You don't need to show everything to be sexy and attractive. I think most people share my fashion philosophy, because my customers say they are really satisfied with Lotus Hom products," says Mo Hom. With a wardrobe full of high-end fashion made from the finest silk, brocade, cotton, linen, knit and lambskin leather from Italy, China and Korea, Lotus Hom quickly established itself as a well-known brand among Manhattan residents. "My customers used to comment that our products were simple and unique, never out of date. Everything was produced in New York and labeled 'Made in New York,' so that may be another reason we were so popular." But even as her business was thriving, Mo Hom felt that something was missing from the glamorous life she was leading. "I was like, what am I doing here at all these parties and fashion shows? I realized that I wasn't happy because I missed my home. I thought it would be good if I could work from my country." When the political climate started to change in Myanmar after 2011 and the country opened up to foreign investors, Mo Hom saw her chance to realize another dream: creating a proudly "Made in Myanmar" brand that she could market worldwide. That was when she decided it was time to close her New York boutique, turn her business into an online store, and bring her vision back to Myanmar. Creating opportunities for people in her homeland was a big part of what drew her back, she says. "It's sad that we have to buy almost everything from foreign countries. Our country and our people have so much potential. Why can't we ship Made in Myanmar products worldwide?" she asks from her new design studio in Yangon, a world away from Lower Manhattan. Located in a quiet five-story building in a busy part of Myanmar's commercial capital, the small but tidy studio opened in early 2013. Surrounded by colorful fabrics and raw materials from Korea, Thailand, China and Myanmar, Nan Mo Hom spends much of her time these days sketching, guiding and training her young employees. A year after setting up shop in Yangon, she now has a new fashion line, Mon Précieux, aimed at the Myanmar market. Reasonably priced at between US$10 and $30, her designs have attracted the attention of retailers from around the country, including Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, Pyin Oo Lwin and Monywa. Buyers visit her showroom to see samples and place orders, which are then sent to garment factories in North Okkalapa Township to be filled. The finished products are sold either with the Mon Précieux label or under the brand names of her customers' boutiques. It has taken 13 months of hard work to get this far, but Mo Hom says that her efforts—driven by her desire to empower young women in her beloved country and to better understand the demands of the market—have been amply rewarded with a thriving business. Mo Hom's label has already distinguished itself in a market dominated by inexpensive but low-quality fashion from China. "At first, people thought Mon Précieux was no different from the stuff from China, but later they fell in love with the perfect fitting, simple yet elegant, unique and attractive style of Mon Précieux," says Nan Moon Noon, the owner of a boutique in Taunggyi. For an ambitious person like Mo Hom, succeeding in business or any other field has nothing to do with luck. The key, she says, is to enrich your life through creativity and by sharing what you've learned with others. "I would like to teach young people here the things I learned in New York," she says. "Our country is rich with various kinds of raw materials and our people are talented. We need to upgrade our skills and we need better technology. If we work together with persistent effort, our country will surely be able to rise from poverty to prosperity." As a mentee of the Vital Voices Global Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that seeks to foster leadership skills in women, Mo Hom can appreciate the value of others' experience. And as a female entrepreneur who has succeeded in a very competitive industry, she also believes in the strength of women. "People think that women are weak, but really, they are smart, intelligent, caring and sharing people. If you teach a woman something, you are teaching her entire family. And by developing families, you are developing whole communities," she says. But as much as she appreciates women's "soft power," she also knows that sometimes you have to be tough just to survive. This was a lesson she learned from her father, who taught her Shan martial arts—a skill that later led to training in kickboxing during her days in New York. "A woman living alone in New York has to know how to protect herself, and I loved kickboxing. Women don't have to be soft all the time," says Mo Hom, who is cooperating with Akhaya, one of Myanmar's leading women's organizations, to teach martial arts to young women. As much as she has to offer her countrywomen, however, Mo Hom believes that the key to success is already within their reach. "We just have to follow our hearts. You have to choose the work that makes you happy, that interests you most. But you also need to think of those around you—how you can best serve your community. If you do this, and do your best, your work will be your greatest happiness." This article first appeared in the April 2014 print issue of The Irrawaddy magazine. The post The Lotus of SoHo Comes Home appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Yangon Bus Collision Death Toll Rises to 10 Posted: 09 Jul 2017 11:22 PM PDT YANGON — The number of people dead after a collision between two Yangon Bus Service (YBS) vehicles on Friday rose to 10 on Sunday, according to state media, marking the accident as the most deadly since the Yangon divisional government launched the new bus service six months ago. Nine passengers died and 34 were injured after YBS buses 37 and 55 collided at a bus stop on Pyay Road in Mingaladon Township around 1:30 p.m. The driver of bus 55 died of his injuries on Friday night. Nearly 1,000 mourners—mostly students—and Yangon Division's transportation minister Daw Nilar Kyaw attended a funeral service at Yangon's Yeway Cemetery on Sunday for a 21-year-old university student who was killed in the accident. In response to the collision, Yangon Region Transport Authority replaced the vehicles servicing line 55 and changed the name to line 90 on Sunday. The post Yangon Bus Collision Death Toll Rises to 10 appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Security Forces Kill 2 Suspected Militants in Rakhine Posted: 09 Jul 2017 11:03 PM PDT KYAUKPHYU, Rakhine State — Myanmar security forces killed two suspected militants and apprehended one in Tin May village in northern Buthidaung Township on Sunday morning, according to the State Counselor's Office Information Committee. A statement by the information committee said that as security forces were patrolling the village, militants opened fire from a house, releasing some 20 gunshots. When security forces returned fire, militants set off an improvised explosive device (IED) in the dwelling and three persons attempted to flee. Two were killed on the spot and one was arrested, according to the statement. Another person, 70-year-old Sauli Ahmed, was arrested for attempting to "disturb" the security forces' operations during the incident, the statement added. In a subsequent search of the home, Myanmar Army and border police officials discovered a BA 94 assault rifle and two magazines. The State Counselor's Office statement claimed the firearm was the same model as those looted from a border guard post in Maungdaw Township during the October 9 attacks last year that left nine policemen dead.  A handmade gun, a remote control mine, two car pistons and eight detonators, as well as Bangladeshi money, two walkie-talkies, six swords, four daggers and a machete were also found, the statement said. The army and border police are currently carrying out joint clearance operations in northern Rakhine State amid an uptick in unrest in the region over recent months. A Buthidaung resident told The Irrawaddy that residents had been leaving Tin May village since the bodies of five persons allegedly killed in an IED accident were recovered in the area in early May. Locals feared for their safety as government troops searched for the suspects involved, the resident said. On June 20, Myanmar military and border police raided a suspected militant training camp in a forest of the Mayu mountain range. The raid left three dead and resulted in the seizure of 20 dummy guns, two homemade guns and bags of corn seed and rice.  Soon after, in late June, two Buddhist men from Tarein village were killed while they were hunting for tortoises, according to a statement on the incident by the State Counselor's Office Information Committee. According to eyewitness accounts, the perpetrators were identified as Muslim, contributing to an atmosphere of growing mistrust between the area's Buddhist and Muslim communities. Almost 100 Tarein villagers fled the area after the attack, citing safety concerns. In another incident, on July 4, seven Muslim men from the Dapaing camp for internally displaced persons in the Rakhine State capital Sittwe were attacked by a mob while they were part of a police escort. One man was killed. Amid the rise in recent violence in the State, UN Special Rapporteur on The Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee is due to arrive in the country on Monday and is scheduled to visit conflict-torn areas in the region this week. It is unclear whether authorities will allow her to visit areas in which he most recent clashes have occurred. The Myanmar government has repeatedly denied Myanmar visas to a UN fact-finding mission on conflicts in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states. Last week, the President's Office issued a statement regarding Yanghee Lee's sixth visit to Rakhine State, stating that it must not be linked to the UN's fact-finding mission. The special rapporteur said she would focus on the development of human rights in the region, as on previous tours. The President's Office statement said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Home Affairs and regional government were discussing details of her visit. Last week, a delegation led by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited Rakhine State and met with both communities in Maungdaw. This story has been slightly updated from an earlier version. The post Security Forces Kill 2 Suspected Militants in Rakhine appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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