Friday, January 20, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

UN Rapporteur to Burma Denounces Human Rights Failures

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 08:12 AM PST

Yanghee Lee blames the Burma Army's hold on the government for a potential backslide in human rights progress.

The post UN Rapporteur to Burma Denounces Human Rights Failures appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Civil Society Forum Calls For Greater Participation in Decision Making

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 07:12 AM PST

Some 135 representatives from 79 CSOs meet in Rangoon to discuss IDP support, and a more effective peace process.

The post Civil Society Forum Calls For Greater Participation in Decision Making appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Constitutional Tribunal Members Remain Despite USDP Objections

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 07:02 AM PST

The Constitutional Tribunal of the Union dismisses a proposal by 23 Upper House lawmakers to review the eligibility of two tribunal members. 

The post Constitutional Tribunal Members Remain Despite USDP Objections appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rangoon Bus Rollout Gets Mixed Reviews

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 06:44 AM PST

For residents of Rangoon, this week was full of excitement, dissatisfaction, and frustration as the city embraced a new bus network.

The post Rangoon Bus Rollout Gets Mixed Reviews appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Asks for a Halt to Fighting in Burma During Chinese New Year

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 03:49 AM PST

China's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs reportedly asks the Northern Alliance to deescalate fighting with the Burma Army in time for the holiday.

The post China Asks for a Halt to Fighting in Burma During Chinese New Year appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Karen Armed Groups, Border Guard Force Invest in Hpa-an Cable Car

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 03:30 AM PST

Costing US$12 million and taking 18 months to build, the cable car up tourist hotspot Zwekabin Mountain in Karen State will be the first in Burma.

The post Karen Armed Groups, Border Guard Force Invest in Hpa-an Cable Car appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Freed Burmese Farmers Renew Fight Against Army over Land

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 02:55 AM PST

Farmers will seek government help to resolve their dispute with the army over land in Ye Bu, a village in eastern Burma's Shan State.

The post Freed Burmese Farmers Renew Fight Against Army over Land appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

CB Bank to Double the Size of its ATM Network in 2017

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 02:26 AM PST

'Our target is to install 850 ATM machines by the end of March,' says CB Bank's general manager.

The post CB Bank to Double the Size of its ATM Network in 2017 appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Israeli Activists Push Supreme Court to Stop Military Export to Burma

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 12:59 AM PST

Lawyers argue the Burma Army should not be allowed to purchase Israeli weapons due to alleged human rights abuses.

The post Israeli Activists Push Supreme Court to Stop Military Export to Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Model Cleared of Defamation Charge

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:02 PM PST

Myo Ko Ko San released from detention after being accused of defamation by actress under controversial Article 66(d).

The post Model Cleared of Defamation Charge appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Missing Kachin Pastors Confirmed Detained by Burma Army

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 09:53 PM PST

Whereabouts of Nawng Latt and Gam Seng confirmed after the pair went missing in Mong Ko, Shan State during Burma Army and Northern Alliance conflict.

The post Missing Kachin Pastors Confirmed Detained by Burma Army appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Nickel and Dimed on Frog Mountain

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 08:33 PM PST

Villagers on the border of Chin State and Sagaing Division want a proper road, not a nickel mine.

The post Nickel and Dimed on Frog Mountain appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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National News

National News

Tatmadaw confirms two Mong Koe church leaders were detained

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 09:35 AM PST

The Tatmadaw has confirmed that two Mong Koe church leaders who have been missing since December 24, Dumdaw Nawng Lat and Langjaw Gam Seng, have been in military custody after they were suspected of collaborating with ethnic armed groups. However, family members of the missing men denied the allegation today when contacted by The Myanmar Times

Myanmar, Malaysia agree over aid flotilla

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:45 PM PST

The flotilla spat appears to have come to an agreeable end. Myanmar has permitted a group of Malaysian organisations to send aid earmarked for Rakhine State after an official permission request was forwarded to the president, and a delegation smoothed over the arrangements yesterday with officials in Nay Pyi Taw.

Calls for justice on anniversary of teachers’ murders

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:44 PM PST

Two years after the murders, and one year after the National League for Democracy promised to bring the perpetrators to justice, the bereaved families of two Kachin teachers are no closer to knowing who raped and killed their daughters.

Future federal Union a hot topic at the Kayin national-level political dialogue

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:43 PM PST

In a proposal that would no doubt complicate governance, and split levels of authority ad infinitum, ethnic group leaders have suggested that every significant minority be given their own little island of territory.

ICRC prevented from holding training at SSA’s headquarters

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:42 PM PST

The Red Cross was denied permission to run a training workshop this week at the headquarters of an ethnic armed group.

NLD to measure adherence to election promises

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:40 PM PST

In case they did not already feel under the microscope, ruling party members will now be subject to the scrutiny of a new internal evaluation committee headed by senior party member U Win Htein.

Mandalay organisation expands free dialysis treatment

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:39 PM PST

A Mandalay-based NGO is helping to make hemodialysis treatment more accessible and more affordable after additional machines were donated by Japan and Germany in December.

Nickel factory workers demand enforcement of investment law

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:36 PM PST

Nearly 1500 workers from a strike-plagued nickel factory in Sagaing Region launched a protest this week over a perceived loss of job opportunities and alleged discrepancies between how the foreign and local staffers are treated.

Doctor fears pollution-caused skin diseases

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:32 PM PST

With a mix of muggy, dusty and increasingly polluted conditions, Myanmar is the perfect storm for infectious skin diseases, dermatologists say.  

Will Myanmar lose its Irrawaddy dolphins?

Posted: 19 Jan 2017 11:24 PM PST

Tears fill U Maung Lay's eyes as he describes losing the dolphin he knew since his childhood, the latest casualty of a battle against pollution and electrofishing that may see the species disappear from Myanmar.
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Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

Commentary on "A New Year’s Resolution"

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 06:04 AM PST

Everyone is now of the opinion that the government needs a new radical and innovative approach, if the peace conference that is scheduled to kick off as soon as possible is to be fruitful.



In a nutshell, the carrot and stick tactics has to be abandoned; all-inclusive participation has to be accepted; and most of all, a peace agenda that is truly drawn and owned by all stakeholders has to be formulated, where political differences should be settled in a level political playing-field, on equal participation basis.

Otherwise, it will only achieve the result of a zero-sum, win-lose and not win-win outcome, with the powers that be imposing its will on the ethnic nationalities, as has been the case for so many years.

If this kind of short term solution or illusion is what the government is looking for, it can be sure that the ethnic resistance will also go on, which means there will never be a long term peace settlement, much less peaceful atmosphere and development of the country.

Link to the story :  A New Year's resolution

Burmese army clashes with RCSS/SSA in Mong Pawn

Posted: 20 Jan 2017 12:10 AM PST

A Burmese army unit has exchanged small arms fire with the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) in the southern Shan State township of Mong Pawn.


The incident happened at about 6am on Thursday, according to a resident in Loilem, who said the clash was between Burmese army Battalion 429 and RCSS/SSA troops near Nongle village, Pengjai tract, in Loilem District's Mong Pawn Township.

"The RCSS/SSA is active in this area and is led by Maj. Muu Ni," said the source. "In the past, fighting has broken out around here between the RCSS/SSA and the Pa-O armed group."
No casualties have been reported.  

Col. Sai La, a spokesperson for the RCSS/SSA – which is one of eight militias that signed a nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the previous Thein Sein government – said the fighting could affect the peace process. He claimed that hostilities are breaking out in many regions because the Tatmadaw [Burmese military] wishes to flex its muscles and create conflict across the country.

He explained that in order to solve issues of conflict, the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) must be involved at each and every level.

"When trust is broken, peace will also be destroyed," he added.

At least five clashes have occurred between government forces and RCSS/SSA troops since the NCA was signed in October 2015.

On October 5, 2016, Shan Heraldreported that Burmese army Battalion 292 had launched offensives against RCSS/SSA units in Wan Boi village, Tonglao village-tract, in southern Shan State's Mong Kung Township, a site where the Shan group had set up a rehabilitation facility for local drug addicts. The fighting compelled more than 2,000 civilians in the area to flee their homes.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
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