Friday, April 21, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Rangoon Judge Throws Out Defamation Case Against Journalist

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 08:00 AM PDT

A Kyauktada Township judge rejects the defamation charge against Myanmar Now's chief editor Ko Swe Win.

The post Rangoon Judge Throws Out Defamation Case Against Journalist appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Declassified Files Show Seoul Suspected North Korean Hand in Death of Burmese Student

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 06:11 AM PDT

A diplomatic dossier from the South Korean government indicates suspicions that the daughter of a Burmese judge was killed in revenge by Pyongyang.

The post Declassified Files Show Seoul Suspected North Korean Hand in Death of Burmese Student appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Calls For U Win Tin Garden On Anniversary of His Death

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 06:00 AM PDT

Politicians and activists attend a commemoration in Rangoon honoring the democracy champion and writer U Win Tin.

The post Calls For U Win Tin Garden On Anniversary of His Death appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Shan State Regional Dialogue to Proceed, But Ethnic Dialogue Stalled

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 05:47 AM PDT

The RCSS says the govt's regional national-level dialogue in Taunggyi is 'out of step,' as the ethnic dialogue remains unable to proceed.

The post Shan State Regional Dialogue to Proceed, But Ethnic Dialogue Stalled appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police: Ship Officer Killed Publisher Over Affair With Wife

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 05:36 AM PDT

U Aung Ko Ko is arrested in Pyin Oo Lwin on suspicion of stabbing Ko Wai Yan Heinn after allegedly discovering the editor was seeing his wife.

The post Police: Ship Officer Killed Publisher Over Affair With Wife appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

A Tide of Trash Swamping Setse Beach

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 02:09 AM PDT

A resort in Mon State has been popular since the 19th century, but successive governments have failed to clean and develop the beach.

The post A Tide of Trash Swamping Setse Beach appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

U Win Tin: Burma’s Revolutionary Journalist

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:45 AM PDT

Three years to the day since Burma lost one of its leading intellectual figures, U Win Tin, The Irrawaddy looks back on his enduring legacy.

The post U Win Tin: Burma's Revolutionary Journalist appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

S. Korea on Heightened Alert as Isolated North Readies for Army Celebration

Posted: 20 Apr 2017 10:32 PM PDT

North Korea marks the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday.

The post S. Korea on Heightened Alert as Isolated North Readies for Army Celebration appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Win Tin’s Lessons for Burma

Posted: 20 Apr 2017 06:46 PM PDT

Three years to the day since Burma lost one of its leading intellectual figures, U Win Tin, The Irrawaddy looks back on his enduring legacy.

The post Win Tin's Lessons for Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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National News

National News

Yangon records highest deaths during Thingyan

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 01:00 AM PDT

While Myanmar celebrated Thingyan, a total of 285 people died and 1200 crime cases were recorded nationwide, with Yangon recording the most deaths this year, according to the official figures released.

Main task of Myanmar police is to prevent crimes: MOHA permanent secretary

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:54 AM PDT

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) has been focusing on crime prevention activities, as well as efforts to reform and mitigate punishment for drug addicts over the past year, said the ministry's permanent secretary U Tin Myint on April 10.

Cement factory workers claim oppression

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:49 AM PDT

Workers from five factories under Sin Min Cement Industry Co., owned by Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), in the Kyaukse township of Mandalay Region claim to be oppressed and discriminated against following disputes over wages and other working conditions.

Groups call for independent prisoner review mechanism

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:45 AM PDT

More than 20 international and regional organisations are calling for the establishment of an independent prisoner review mechanism.

Death toll rises to eight in Rakhine motorboat capsize

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:36 AM PDT

A motorboat capsized in the Minchaung river nearly 2 furlongs away from Taung Poe Kay village, Minbya township, Mrauk-U district, Rakhine State in a pre-dawn accident on April 13 which left eight passengers dead, according to Minbya Fire Services Department Deputy Staff Officer U Kyaw Lin.

New Wa-led committee pledges to overcome deadlock in peace process

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:32 AM PDT

The new ethnic committee led by United Wa State Army (UWSA) pledged to negotiate with the government to overcome the deadlock in the peace process, members of the committee decided after meeting in Pangkham of Wa's stronghold capital this week.

IDP camps in Rakhine State to be shut down

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:21 AM PDT

As the security situation in Rakhine State has stabilised, the government is arranging for refugee camps to be closed down, according to state cabinet secretary U Tin Maung Swe on April 18.

President’s reserve fund to ensure Yangon power supply

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:02 AM PDT

The President's Reserve Fund will be used to ensure there is sufficient electricity supply in Yangon in the coming summer, Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said.

‘Cheik’ to donate K6.5 million to charity

Posted: 20 Apr 2017 11:58 PM PDT

The Thangyat (satirical slogan chanting) group "Cheik" (The Hook) led by celebrity philanthropist Kyaw Thu raised K6.5 million from its charity performances during the Thingyan festival.

Electrification project for villages in Mandalay Region

Posted: 20 Apr 2017 11:55 PM PDT

According to the Mandalay Region Ministry of Electrical Power, Energy and Construction, a total of 26,032 villages in the region do not yet have access to electricity.
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Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

China-Myanmar Scholars Dialogue for Promoting Peace and Stability for Myanmar

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:29 AM PDT

Presentation for Discussion
Priorities for Peace
China-Myanmar Scholars Dialogue for Promoting Peace and Stability for Myanmar
(6 April 2017)

Introduction

First of all, allow me to introduce myself as a Huaqiao, or officially a Haiwai Huaren otherwise a person of Chinese descent who lives outside China. I was born in this country. Accordingly, the first message I would like to convey is that I hold myself at least partly responsible for whatever happens in this country, either good or bad, especially bad.

In the past, I was known for my annual reports on the drug situation in Shan State, where I hail from. But since 2011, I have been assisting the work of peacemakers on both sides of the fence.

I'm sure you've already heard most of the things I'm going to present here. But since human concentration span in this digital age is woefully short, I hope you will bear with me for a few minutes.

Peace is relative

When we talk about Myanmar's peace process, we will need to look at two different playing fields: inside and outside. What's common between them is both need win-win solutions and both are interdependent. Success in one category will complement the other. Naturally, failure in one will hurt the other too.

Peace with neighbors a crying requisite

But here we will be discussing less about the inside playing field, but more about the outside one.

Outside, I fully agree with Myanmar's Non-Alignment Policy, which is enshrined in its 2008 constitution as well as its 2015 defense white paper.

What we really need however is to expand our friendship not just to one superpower, either regional or global, but to all of them.

I'm not against the rise of China, Japan, Russia and India as superpowers. But we need a right balance among them to make and preserve peace, like the planets going around this earth. In the same breath, I'm wary of the decline of each existing power, which might spell danger to our own existence.

We need to be friends with all, not just one. And we need all of you to be friends, not enemies. Because it will be good for you as well as us.

A win-win solution: not only a must for the internal peace process

Now I'm going to discuss what we have really come here to talk about: Sino-Myanmar relations

Without achieving a win-win solution between the two countries, it is clear this country will face immense difficulties to achieve a sustainable internal peace. And vice versa.

Like the internal peace process, I think we need an agreed set of trust building roadmap between the two countries. Here it must be acknowledged that China has made a lot of "commendable" efforts in this respect:

§  Financial assistance for JMC
§  The two plus two arrangement¹
§  Suspension of MNDAA bank account²
§  Public notice urging refugees to surrender their firearms³
§  Issuing invitations to ethnic political parties to visit China. Here what we may need is anther invitation for EAOs, especially the NCA signatories, to visit it. Right now, it seems to outsiders they are being excluded.

I welcome these efforts. I appreciate them. And personally, I also agree with 2 points stated in China's White Paper which came out in January:

§  One, "Small and medium-sized countries need not and should not take sides among big countries"

§  Two, "We cannot just have the security of one or some countries while leaving the rest insecure, still less should we seek 'absolute security' of oneself at the expense of the security of others"

But they are not enough. The least China could do is to present us with a draft plan of what you want to do and what you want us to do⁴. Then together we will be able to work out an agenda that both can agree.

More need to be done to improve relations

A lot more is necessary, not only about engagement with our country's peace process, but also in other areas which should be aimed at winning the hearts of is country's public in favor of  China, that will in turn influence the outcome of the peace process.

To win over them, we will need to remove their bitter sense of being bullied by China throughout the past decades:

§   Depletion of forests, minerals, and jade, forced on them by Chinese companies

§   Cheap Chinese goods that have resulted in the locals losing their jobs and livelihoods

§   Development projects that have forced the people out of their homes and fields
(I'm sure China has its own complaints about this country and its people, and this is one platform where they should be aired)

The word 'Hate' is an ugly one. But that is how they feel about China. And as a one-quarter Chinese, I don't feel good about that. These problems should be addressed, apart from those concerning the ongoing internal peace process.

To resolve them, G to G relations alone will not help, if the public is against people coming across the border.

I'm aware that President Xi is aware of the feelings of people in countries, not only Myanmar, where China is working. We keep hearing Chinese leaders assuring us that the rise of China will be peaceful, that China will never seek hegemony. But words are not enough. Deeds are.

I'm winding up my presentation with two translated excerpts from Lao Zi's Dao De Jing:

§  How does the sea become the king of all streams? Because it lies lower than they!
§  Hence, if a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win over the small country; and if a small country can lower itself before a great country, it will win over the great country. The one wins by stooping; the other, by remaining low.

Please forgive me if it sounds like a sermon. But it is not. On the contrary, it is just a friendly and filial suggestion. Thank you.⁵

Notes
1.     The two plus two arrangement (meeting of foreign and defense officials on both sides) has reportedly worked well between Myanmar and Thailand. However, as for the arrangement between China and Myanmar, it was observed by both Chinese and Myanmar scholars as "too formal"
2.     Suspension of MNDAA bank account has been criticized by some as just token, as it was holding just a little over US$ 500,000.
3.     Some have noted that the rewards for the surrender of firearms are not "enticing enough"
4.     The result was that both sides agreed to form a joint border fact-finding team
5.     One thing I forgot to say, but hoped everyone understood, was that I was not speaking for anybody but myself.

(To be continued)

To Hopeland and Back: The 29th trip

Posted: 21 Apr 2017 12:27 AM PDT

(5-9 April 2017)
First OBSERVE
Then SERVE
Linda K.Burton (1952-)
Two invitations came last March which enabled me to make another trip back to the country I have come to call Hopeland:
  • One, to attend the "China-Myanmar Scholars Dialogue for Promoting Peace and Stability in Myanmar," which was being jointly organized by Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) and Centre for Human Dialogue (HD)
  • Two, to attend a public event to discuss a draft bill recently published in newspapers proposing amendments to the 1993 drug law. It was being jointly organized by the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP) and the Drug Policy Advocacy Group Myanmar (DPAG).
China and Drugs have for long been subjects close to my heart, for I have always believed that unless the two are properly treated, the country will still be a long, long way from being one fit to live, let alone becoming a Switzerland in the east.
This journal tries to inform the reader what I had learned there.

Day One, Wednesday, 5 April 2017
Life is really simple.
But we insist on making it complicated
Confucius (551-479 BC)

Nothing much to say for today except that I meet friends to review on the by-elections that were held 4 days earlier.

From them, I learn at least one thing: In the Burman dominated lowlands, it is not about the peace process like in the highlands, but about the economy that will more than likely determine which party and candidate the voter will choose in 2020.

Day Two. Thursday, 6 April 2017
Each nation feels superior to other nations.
That breeds patriotism—and wars.
Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)
Participants at the China-Myanmar Scholars Dialogue, 6 April 2017. 
(Photo: Aung Myo Htwe)

The China-Myanmar Scholars' Dialogue is held at the meeting hall of the MISIS, also known as Myanmar ISIS.

As to be expected, the first question I ask is: "Why of all the acronyms in this world, Myanmar ISIS?" To which one of our host is ready with an answer, accompanied by a laugh. "Because we're out to destroy the other ISIS."

The institute was set up in 1992 by Gen Khin Nyunt, as Office of Strategic Studies (OSS), he informs me. He doesn't say when the name change took place, however. But I guess that won't be hard to guess.

Burmese commanders have sent tens of thousands of troops into the mountainous region, supported by aircraft and artillery. (Photo:FP)
Understandably, about half of the 30 or so participants are members of the MISIS. Among the non-MISIS are members of HD, 4 Chinese scholars, and others. Which include myself. The following are excerpts from the first presenters:

Chinese scholar#1           Armed conflicts that began in 2009 have disturbed peace and stability along the 2,192 km border:

8 August 2009    -              with MNDAA
June 2011            -              with KIA
February 2015   -              with MNDAA
November 2016-              with NAB
March 2017         -              with MNDAA

5 Chinese citizens were killed and 8 injured. Economic projects suspended. Local governments bearing big burden for refugees.
  • Immediate stop to military actions necessary in order to resettle refugees and promote peace, stability and development along the border. The Tatmadaw and the EAOs will also do better to talk peace instead of making war
  • But there is a problem: China can only play a constructive role for all stakeholders, and the Tatmadaw is not satisfied with China's efforts
  • With mutual trust between us, China can do more. Unfortunately, at present, it is still unclear about Naypyitaw's policy toward it
  • We now have a 2+2 arrangement (defense and foreign affairs of each side meeting once a year, or more if necessary) but it is not enough, because it can only implement policies from above but cannot initiate. We need a top level arrangement
Myanmar scholar#1
  • The EAOs, if they are deprived of support, cannot survive
  • We enjoy good relations on the G-to-G level. But on the people-to-people level, no.
Kachin Independence Army leader General Gun Maw, left, walks with Chinese Special Envoy Sun Guoxiang as leaders and representatives of various ethnic armed groups arrive for the opening of a four-day conference in Mai Ja Yang. (AFP)
Reading between the lines, the presentations by the two scholars seem to have summed up the whole lot of discussions that followed today: No trust exists between the two who need each other so much.
Presentations by others, including mine, are just appendices to the two's. That's how they look to me, anyway. Let's see what they are:
Chinese side
  • Beijing does not support weapons to Wa or Kokang. Ordinary people may be helping them without Beijing or Kunming's knowledge.
  • China wants peace in Myanmar so that it can engage in economic development
  • With regards to the West involvement in Myanmar Peace Process, our stand is that we cannot interfere in US-Mexican trans-border affairs, because we don't have stakes in them. Correspondingly, armed conflicts in Myanmar impact China/Myanmar relations, but nothing to the West. So why should we want to involve them? (Note: He names US, UK, Japan, EU and others, but not India) As for UN, we have no objection.
  • We need every means we can to promote our relations. For instance, there are lots of Chinese restaurants in Yangon, but no Myanmar restaurants in Beijing. We should do something about it.
  • For EAOs to sign the NCA, we can persuade, but no more. It's not only the Myanmar government that distrusts China. When Mr Sun Guoxiang, China's special envoy, asks the EAOs to stop fighting and sign the NCA, they think China is working for the Myanmar government. Both sides seem to suspect China is on the other side.
Myanmar side
  • Thailand and Myanmar have good relations. The result of it is that conflicts on the border have come to a complete halt. We hope China can do the same.
  • As long as clashes continue, bilateral relations will be difficult to improve, as there are widespread reports and images of support coming to the rebels from across the border. EAOs along the Chinese border are stronger because they have arms factories there. On the other hand, those along the Thai border are weaker, because they can't establish armeds factories there. Even if they have sufficient funds, buying arms from across Thailand is not easy.
  • As for the three EAOs (AA, MNDAA and TNLA), the Tatmadaw used to demand that they lay down arms. But that was before the new government took office. Since then, it has only requested them to renounce the armed struggle and lock up their firearms along the border, no need to surrender them to the Tatmadaw.
  • There's a Global Times article dated 8 March 2017. The author Yu Ning wrote that China had lost Kokang to Myanmar due to the boundary treaty in 1960. As though giving up Kokang was a mistake like the Russians did with Crimea. Which wasn't true. (Kokang had been part of British Shan States since the Sino-British treaty was signed in 1894 —Author's note)
  • There are some things we can learn from China. Wa in Yunnan have good relations with the Han majority, but not those in Myanmar.
  • What's the next step?
The 2 plus 2 arrangement has limitations, because it is too formal. Each side sticks to its own policies and go home. They have never got to the point of resolving the issues.
Toward the end of the day, Dr Kong Jianxun, who happens to be from the Hani ethnic group, known in Myanmar as Akha, proposes that a joint border fact finding team be formed, as a first step, to ascertain facts from myths, which is seconded by several Myanmar scholars, who add that HD should fund the project. The latter promises to consider the request.

The day ends with a dinner party at a restaurant called Hong Bao, but also strangely known as Water Library, which I have yet to find out how it came to be named as such.
The one thing I remember from the party is a remark from a former rebel friend, who still have contacts along the Chinese border and across. "The Wa has become another North Korea for the Chinese," he says. "They are Chinese protégés, but they don't always listen to China's advice."

At 21:00, I'm back in my hotel room.
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