Wednesday, October 4, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Britain is Still Being Beastly to its Former Colony Myanmar

Posted: 04 Oct 2017 04:35 AM PDT

YANGON—There is usually no harm in reciting lines or verses from your favorite poems. But it can matter what you read, where you read it, and who you are. If you are not careful, you could make a gaffe or insult those around you. Take the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, for example.

When the Foreign Secretary visited Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda earlier this year during an official trip to Myanmar, the 53-year old Conservative Party member tolled a huge bell and recited lines from the poem Mandalay by Rudyard Kipling: "The temple-bells they say/ Come you back, you English soldier." (In fact, "Bojo" made a mistake, it's British, not English in the poem.)

His impromptu recital was recorded and featured in a documentary on Britain's Channel 4. In the video, Boris Johnson was interrupted by British ambassador to Myanmar who said "probably not a good idea" and "not appropriate" in a stern voice after reminding the Foreign Secretary he was on microphone.

Yes, it is inappropriate and insensitive for Boris Johnson to recite those lines in a country that was colonized by the British from 1824 to 1948.

To make matters worse, the person uttering "come you back, you English soldier" was not just an ordinary citizen but the Foreign Secretary from the country that annexed Myanmar through three bloody wars and oppressed local resistance.

Were it not for UK Ambassador Andrew Patrick's interruption, the Foreign Secretary may have continued with the lines "Bloomin’ idol made o’ mud / Wot they called the Great Gawd Budd / Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed ‘er where she stud!"

Referring to the Buddha as the "Great Gawd Budd" at one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the country would have been an act of sacrilege.

Who knows why the Foreign Secretary uttered lines from the colonial poem. Probably, he is a great fan of Rudyard Kipling or felt nostalgic for the age of British imperialism. Whatever the case, a British Foreign Secretary's recitation of the colonial poem in the country where they once colonized is an insult to the country and hurts the feeling of its people.

Adding to Myanmar people's dismay, the release of the video footage coincides with a time when Britain, along with many other countries, has been actively criticizing the Southeast Asian country and its popular leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the country's treatment of the self-identifying Rohingya issue, which is in face the result of a bad colonial legacy left by the British to Myanmar people.

If the British hadn't encouraged Bengali inhabitants from Bengal Province of India (now Bangladesh) to migrate into the then sparsely populated and fertile valleys of Rakhine in the 1800s, Myanmar today would be in a very different position in the controversial issue.

While the British government has been repeatedly criticizing the Lady for her silence on the issue as well as for not doing enough to defend the minority self-identifying Rohingya, St Hugh's college of Oxford University, where she studied politics, philosophy and economics between 1964 and 1967, removed the painting of the Nobel laureate from its main entrance as the college received the gift of a new painting. It's questionable why the portrait was taken down amid criticism on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's on the issue.

On Tuesday, Oxford City Council withdrew an honor granting Aung San Suu Kyi the Freedom of Oxford as it was "no longer appropriate" for her to hold it given to her response to the self-identifying Rohingya issue.

Of course it would be annoying for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to see those kind of responses from the UK, which was in some ways her second home, spending nearly two decades studying and raising a family there with her late British husband.

For the majority of the Myanmar people, the actions of Oxford City Council and Oxford University were deliberate insults to the woman whom they have elected as their leader.

It's interesting to ask why Britain's government and civil organizations are united in humiliating Myanmar and its leader unlike many other western countries like the US, which is taking a much more supportive role by offering assistance to implement the recommendations made by the Rakhine State Advisory Commission to help the country tackle an issue spawned by British colonial rule.

Is Britain under the mistaken impression that it has the right to bully the country because it once colonized it?

Rather than pointing fingers at Myanmar, the British should be mindful that when it comes to the self-identifying Rohingya issue, their forebears were responsible for the encouragement of mass migration from India to Myanmar for cheap farm labor. It should be noted that they did it for the interests of British Empire, especially after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 when rice demand was high in Europe.

Myanmar had no chance to solve the problem of migration encouraged by Britain under authoritarian rule from 1962 to 2010. The former quasi-civilian government made little success in tackling the issue despite their efforts after 2012.

Undaunted, the country's first democratically elected Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's government is now trying to fix it amid other problems the country is facing such as bringing peace with ethnic armed groups. Please be aware that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's government is just 18 months old.

It is very unfair to today's Myanmar, struggling to cope with the problems the British left behind while being criticized by those responsible who ignored their wrongdoings they did in the country more than a century ago.

The post Britain is Still Being Beastly to its Former Colony Myanmar appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

UK Prince Charles’s Tour of Southeast Asia Leaves Out Myanmar

Posted: 04 Oct 2017 01:44 AM PDT

LONDON, UK — Britain’s Prince Charles will tour southeast Asia and India later this month, but the heir to the throne will not visit Myanmar, after a spate of violence and allegations that authorities are carrying out ethnic cleansing.

Media reports last month said an official visit to Myanmar was being suggested for the trip, which the prince is undertaking on behalf of the British government, and aides acknowledged it had been considered as part of the schedule.

But it was omitted from the final programme issued on Wednesday. Charles and his wife Camilla will travel to Singapore, Malaysia and then to India where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We looked at a range of options in the region and, as we’re announcing today, we’re going ahead with the visit to Singapore and Malaysia,” Philip Malone, Deputy Head of Department at Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, told reporters.

Malone and royal aides declined to elaborate.

More than 500,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in the past month since insurgents attacked security posts near the border, triggering fierce military retaliation that the United Nations has branded ethnic cleansing.

Last month Britain suspended its training programme for the military in Myanmar because of the violence, and diplomatic relations have deteriorated.

Rights campaigners had argued against a royal visit.

“To have someone of Prince Charles's stature go to visit the country would be seen as a reward, and giving legitimacy to the government and the military that are currently violating international law,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK.

Charles and Camilla will begin their tour in Singapore on Oct. 31 before going to Malaysia, where they will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties since the former British colony became independent, before concluding the 11-day tour in India.

The post UK Prince Charles's Tour of Southeast Asia Leaves Out Myanmar appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Maungdaw Border Guard Police Chief Replaced

Posted: 03 Oct 2017 11:35 PM PDT

NAYPYITAW — Myanmar's Ministry of Home Affairs reshuffled the police brigadier-generals of Myanmar Police Force on Monday, with the Border Guard Police Force commander of conflict-torn Maungdaw Township being replaced.

Former chief of Mandalay Region No. 3 Security Police Command Police Brig-Gen Myint Toe has replaced Police Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin as the chief of Maungdaw Border Guard Police Force, said the latter's personal staff officer Police Lieutenant Lin Lin Oo.

"He has served in Rakhine State for one year, and did his best during his tenure. He was able to put the police force in a state of combat readiness. But not everything was perfect," said police lieutenant Lin Lin Oo.

In the aftermath of attacks on border guard police outposts in Maungdaw last October—in which nine police officers were killed and large amount of ammunition was seized—Police Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin replaced Police Brig-Gen Maung Maung Khin as the chief of the local border guard police force.

Police Brig-Gen Maung Maung Khin and two other police officers were imprisoned for negligence.

Ensuing "clearance operations" in northern Rakhine by the Myanmar Army and police were dogged by allegations of serious human rights abuses including rape, extra-judicial killings, and arson.

In December, a video emerged of police beating self-identifying Rohingya villagers in northern Rakhine's Rathedaung Township.

Police Brig-Gen Myint Toe has taken over the responsibility from Police Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin in Maungdaw on Tuesday, said his personal staff officer.

Police Brig-Gen Myint Toe, who was transferred from the Myanmar Army, served as commanders of police forces in Chin State and Tanintharyi Region before being promoted to lead Mandalay Region No. 3 Security Police Command.

Police Colonel Myo Thant, the chief of Oil Field Security Police Force, was promoted to police Brig-Gen to succeed Police Brig-Gen Myint Toe.

Police Brig-Gen Mya Win, the chief of Yangon Region No. 2 Security Police Command succeeds Police Brig-Gen Htay Aung who has retired as the chief of Rakhien State capital Sittwe No. 2 Security Police Command. Police Brig-Gen Tin Ko Ko of Naypyitaw No. 1 Security Police Command succeeds Police Brig-Gen Mya Win.

"It is usual for the police force to make a reshuffle once a year, an d it is not necessarily concerned with their performance," a retired police officer from Yangon told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity.

Police Brig-Gen Maung Maung Khin was imprisoned for two years after the first attacks on border guard police outposts in Maungdaw last year, but Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin was brought back to Naypyitaw to head Naypyitaw No. 1 Security Police Command after the second attacks in August this year.

Home Affairs minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe during his Rakhine State visit after last year's attacks said that Thura San Lwin would be able to put Maungdaw under control as he had achieved the 'Thura' title—a military title awarded for gallantry—during the battle with Burma Communist Party (BCP) troops.

The post Maungdaw Border Guard Police Chief Replaced appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Proposed New Minimum Wage Between 4,000 to 4,800 Kyats a Day

Posted: 03 Oct 2017 11:28 PM PDT

YANGON — The National Minimum Wage Committee has tentatively suggested Myanmar's new minimum wage should fall between 4,000 and 4,800 kyats (US$2.93 to $3.53) for an eight-hour working day.

The committee tasked with determining minimum wage was reformed in February and includes economists, officials of concerned ministries and representatives from labor and employer groups.

Since then it has met three times—the last time was on Monday where minimum wage committees at region and state levels discussed their survey results, and tentatively agreed a new rate of between 4,000 and 4,800 kyats, said economist U Khin Maung Kyo who is a member of National Minimum Wage Committee.

"Region and state level minimum wage committees proposed their rates, and the average was 4,000 to 4,800 kyats," U Khin Maung Nyo told The Irrawaddy.

The National Minimum Wage Committee is set to meet in December to finalize the rate, said U Nyunt Win, deputy director-general of the Factories and General Labor Laws Inspection Department.

"Region and state level minimum wage committees will listen to the feedback of employers and employees in their respective regions about the new proposed rate. We hope to work out a final rate at the December meeting," he told The Irrawaddy.

The new rate will then be put forward to parliament for approval, according to the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population.

The new rate is an appropriate amount because there is little difference between the amounts proposed by employer and labor groups, said U Khin Maung Nyo.

The minimum wage law was enacted in March, 2013, and respective by-laws in July that year. The new wage—3,600 kyats for an eight-hour working day—came into effect on Sept. 1 the same year.

It was applied to workers across all sectors nationwide, except small and family-run businesses that employ fewer than 15 people.

The post Proposed New Minimum Wage Between 4,000 to 4,800 Kyats a Day appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Respected Currency Designer U Aye Myint Dies Aged 87

Posted: 03 Oct 2017 10:21 PM PDT

MANDALAY – Veteran designer U Aye Myint died at his home in Amarapura, Mandalay Region on Tuesday evening after suffering from heart disease for many years. He was 87.

"He was sick because of his poor heart, and it was like he could not stand it anymore," a member of his family told The Irrawaddy.

Born in 1930, U Aye Myint took an early interest in the floral patterns carved into wooden buildings in the ancient capital of Innwa in Mandalay Region and in Sagaing Region and was inspired to become skilled in traditional Myanmar design.

He learnt his craft from veteran Myanmar artists including U Kywe Lay and U Khin Maung (Bank) and began his career in 1954.

In 1970 he was asked by military junta leader Gen. Ne Win to travel to Japan, Germany, and Britain to learn the art and technology of designing currency.

Working at Wazi in Magwe Region, he designed Myanmar currency notes and coins—which were printed with help from German technologies—as well as lottery tickets and stamps.

His designs for the five and 10 kyat notes became famous among the people, especially as they featured the face of independence hero Gen. Aung San.

After a number of years, however, he was forced to retire as Myanmar's ruling generals became suspicious of him and accused him of political activism.

"He told us that one of his design failures, and one of the most memorable points of his life as a currency designer, was that the cluster of toddy palm fruits on the five-kyat note faced upward rather than downwards," said one of his students and disciples Tampawaddy U Wing Maung.

"He said the design and pattern of the note was made in Germany while he was there but due to a rush in the process, he only found the mistake after the notes were printed and distributed."

After leaving Wazi, U Aye Myint struggled as a designer of traditional Myanmar art in Yangon for about 11 years, often drawing cover designs for Buddhist literary magazines.

"He was a passionate artist who always explained every piece of his art work and design in those magazines. By reading his texts and viewing his art works, readers could learn about traditional Myanmar art and design," explained Tampawaddy U Win Maung.

After settling down in Amarapura, U Aye Myint's designs appeared at many Buddhist religious buildings including the ornamentations of the southern stairway of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda and the golden umbrella of Mandalay's Maha Muni Buddha Image.

In early 2016, on the day of his 86th birthday, U Aye Myint launched a showcase of his works in Mandalay.

During the exhibition, he launched a book named Ancient Myanmar Designs, a collection of Myanmar traditional arts and designs, which he and the late historian Dr. Than Tun had collected over the space of 50 years.

Until his last days, U Aye Myint worked as a consultant at Saung Dar traditional weaving Academy in Amarapura and a consultant for conservation and restoration works of numerous historical buildings around Mandalay, including Mandalay's ancient Shwenandaw Kyaung Temple and Amarapura's famous U Bein Bridge.

"An expert like him should be substituted. However, his disciples will continue to preserve the value of traditional arts and designs and will hand them down to future generations," said Tampawaddy U Win Maung.

U Aye Myint is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son. His body will be cremated at Taung Inn Myauk Inn cemetery on Wednesday afternoon.

The post Respected Currency Designer U Aye Myint Dies Aged 87 appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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