Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Pa-O Group Picks New Chairman, Promises Continuity

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 04:16 AM PST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — The Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) elected a new chairman during its second conference last week in a remote area in Shan State's Mawkmai Township.

Colonel Khun Thu Rein was elected to replace Khun Myint Tu, who was elected vice chairman.

The PNLO and its armed wing, the Pa-O National Liberation Army, agreed to both a bilateral ceasefire and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the previous government.

The PNLO conference convened for four days, from Jan. 11 to 14, at the organization's headquarters in Mawkmai and was joined by more than 220 participants. They included monks and civil society representatives from Shan, Karen and Mon states and Bago Region. The ethnic minority Pa-O live scattered across the country's east and southeast regions.

Despite the latest leadership change, a PNLO secretary said, the organization would not be changing its delegates to NCA implementation bodies including the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee and the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee. It will also keep in place its current delegate to the Peace Process Steering Team, made up of the eight ethnic armed groups that have signed the NCA.

"The PNLO will continue following the NCA path," said Khun Tun Tin, the organization's first joint general secretary.

At a meeting in Thailand last week, the steering team agreed that the third session of the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference should be postponed until the signatories were able to carry out the mandated national-level political dialogues. Myanmar's military, or Tatmadaw, recently obstructed public consultations taking place prior to national-level dialogues in Shan, claiming the consultations were not allowed under the terms of the NCA.

The PNLO's representative on the steering team did not join its meeting in Thailand because he was attending the PNLO conference.

The Tatmadaw is reluctant to allow the NCA signatories to hold public consultations in other states and regions as well. It has not allowed consultations in Rakhine State citing security concerns. The Karen National Union had to postpone its consultations, too, while the All Burma Students' Democratic Front cancelled its own public consultation in Irrawaddy Region on Saturday and temporarily in Bago on Friday under military pressure.

Khun Tin Tun said the PNLO's conference also included discussion of the organization's activities and policies, amendments to its Constitution, and the national-level dialogues.

Regard to the current difficulties with the dialogues, the secretary said: "We hope the [steering team] can sort out those problems and move the peace process forward."

The post Pa-O Group Picks New Chairman, Promises Continuity appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Evolution of Yangon’s New Bus Service

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 04:08 AM PST

The Yangon Bus Service (YBS) marked its first-year anniversary on Tuesday facing the same hopes and apprehensions as at its birth. But the Yangon government seems committed to making it a success, vowing during Tuesday's celebrations to "make it happen." Here are some of The Irrawaddy's previous stories on the bus service to help readers understand how the YBS became what it is today.

Yangon Transport Authority Declares YBS a 'Success' on Its 1st Birthday

Authority says plans for this year include launch of cashless payment system

 

Hopes and Troubles Mark YBS' First Anniversary

Despite optimism, unlicensed buses and illegal drivers raise fears for public safety.

 

The Yangon Bus Service in Numbers

Check a snapshot of the Yangon Bus Service’s operations based on the latest available data, from December in infographics.

 

Acer, Excel Myanmar to Bring Cashless Fares to Yangon Bus System

A joint venture between the Burmese and Taiwanese firms was selected to fit the commercial capital's public transit system with a card payment platform.

Despite High Operating Costs, CEO of Yangon's New Bus System Remains Optimistic

With bumpy start behind it, transit system chief focuses on boosting fleet size, reaching breakeven in 4-5 years

 

Commuters wait for buses near Sule Pagoda in downtown Yangon on Jan. 19, 2017.

Rangoon Bus Rollout Gets Mixed Reviews

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

 

Rangoon Regional Minister Reveals Ambassador's Role in Bus Purchases from China

The planning and finance minister says the purchase of 1,000 new buses for US$56 million was arranged with the help of the Chinese ambassador.

 

Rangoon Launches New Bus System

Early problems including long waits and overcrowding blamed on a lack of vehicles on first day of operation.

 

Can Rangoon's Traffic Woes be Solved?

Through an improved bus network and a new computerized traffic control system, the government hopes to cut congestion by 40 percent.

 

Volunteers Jump on Board Regional Govt Launch of New Rangoon Bus System

Hundreds of volunteers are signing up to work with philanthropic groups, the student union, and lawmakers to ease the transition to a new bus service.

 

New Bus Service for Rangoon Commuters to Launch Next Week 

Eight companies to operate 59 bus lines under a new bus service to tackle badly maintained buses, dangerous driving, and unprofessional staff.

The post The Evolution of Yangon's New Bus Service appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Locals Upset Over IFC Meeting Regarding Salween Hydropower Project

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 03:03 AM PST

MANDALAY — Action for Shan State Rivers (ASSR) said on Monday that locals were saddened by the meeting of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) concerning the controversial hydropower projects on the Salween River in Shan State.

"Despite disagreements, the IFC held a stakeholder discussion in Taunggyi on Monday, without representatives of impacted locals or local civil society organizations (CSOs) present," said Sai Khur Hseng, an ASSR spokesperson.

The ASSR said the discussion was part of a series of meetings to finalize a countrywide strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for hydropower development projects on the Salween River, including Naung Pha dam, which alarms the locals.

The Naung Pha dam, located between Lashio and Hopong townships, is similar to other planned hydropower dams in the region, an armed conflict zone.

"Locals, including us, and many other local CSOs, have been against the hydropower projects and the dam building on the Salween River for many years. We were angered and saddened by the ignorance of responsible organizations like the IFC," said Sai Khur Hseng.

Six large hydropower dams are planned to be built along the river in Shan, Karenni and Karen states, which would collectively generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity. Most of the electricity produced from these hydropower dams will be exported to neighboring countries, mainly China.

"Since these projects will not benefit the local communities, we do not want them. For developing our region, there are many things to do other than building hydropower dams and selling the powers to other countries," he added.

The locals have been against hydropower development on Salween River for many years, urging for transparency, and concern for natural disasters, as well as environmental and social impacts. Since the dams and hydropower plants projects are located within armed conflict zones, another concern is stability and peace in the region.

"The IFC should have called off its assessment as soon as possible, for it is just for the benefit of the Naypyitaw government and hydropower corporations, against the wishes of local communities," said Sai Khur Hseng.

"In addition, we want full transparency on these projects. And also, we would like to tell them to think about the armed conflicts and peace in the region," he added.

Earlier this month, the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA) issued a statement and called for transparency regarding the building of hydropower dams on the Salween River and in the Irrawaddy's Myitsone hydropower projects.

The MATA statement suggested the government develop solar and bio-fuel power instead of planning hydropower and coal power projects, which could impact the environment and social stability in the respective regions.

The post Locals Upset Over IFC Meeting Regarding Salween Hydropower Project appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Defense Ministry Asks For Budget Increase

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 01:02 AM PST

NAYPYITAW — The Defense Ministry on Tuesday asked for a budget of more than 1.3 trillion kyats (US$1 billion) for a six-month period—an amount higher than the combined total of the health and education budgets—as Parliament discussed the budget for a transitional period ahead of the 2018-19 fiscal year, which will start on Oct. 1.

The defense ministry's proposed budget includes more than 2 billion kyats for military operations.

Lawmakers of the National League for Democracy (NLD) said that the budget requested by the Ministry of Defense made up 12.56 percent of the total budget proposal, while the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Sports asked for 7.56 percent and 3.93 percent respectively, adding up to only 11.46 percent of the total budget.

"During the term of the previous government, student activists demanded that the education budget be increased to 20 percent of the national budget. It seemed as though the education budget increased under the current government, but in reality, it didn't because the budget was for two ministries – the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Science and Technology," he explained, as the NLD government had incorporated the Ministry of Science and Technology into the education ministry.

The budget proposed by the Health and Sports Ministry was only 400 billion kyats for a six months period, and that amount is not sufficient to spend both on the health and sports sectors, he added.

Deputy Minister for Defense Maj-Gen Myint Nwe told Parliament that the Defense Ministry is expected to earn 31.761 billion kyats in normal revenue; its capital expenditure is expected to be 611.087 billion kyats; its normal expenditure, 723.107 billion kyats; and total expenditure is, therefore, 1.33 trillion kyats for the six-month transitional period.

He told Parliament, "The money is used to implement plans to strengthen the structure of soldiers, weapons, equipment for perpetuity of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union."

Lower House lawmaker U Tun Tun of Pwintbyu Township, who was on the budget scrutinizing committee, said that the defense budget is rarely cut, but when the Defense Ministry asked for an additional budgetary top-up for the 2017-18 fiscal year, the committee cut around 280 million kyats because government agencies are restricted by law from obtaining an extra budget of more than 10 percent of their main budget.

"The defense budget has never been trimmed. However, we will check whether the army asked for its budget in accordance with financial rules and regulations. If we find that the budget was increased unnecessarily, we will scrutinize and cut it," he said.

To compare the defense budgets for normal expenditures, the Defense Ministry asked for 609.627 billion kyats for the first half of 2016-17 FY, 827.149 billion kyats for the first half of 2017-18 FY, and 723.107 billion kyats for the six-month period in 2018.

And to compare the defense budgets for capital expenditures, it asked for 168.498 billion kyats for the first half of 2016-17 FY, 622.440 billion kyats for the first half of 2017-18 FY, and 618.017 billion kyats for the six-month period.

Translated from Burmese by Myint Win Thein.

The post Defense Ministry Asks For Budget Increase appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Audit Finds Unlawful Spending by States, Regions Under Prior Govt

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 12:54 AM PST

NAYPYITAW — The Auditor-General's Office says it has found unlawful expenditures of the development funds of the country's regions and states after reviewing the use of those funds under the previous U Thein Sein administration.

The office sent the results of its audit to the President's Office late last year, Auditor-General U Maw Than told reporters in Naypyitaw on Tuesday.

"We are just responsible for reporting what we have found, and it is up to the President's Office whether or not to take action," he said.

The Auditor-General's Office examined the development funds of all regions and states and of the Naypyitaw Union Territory. It found that missing funds were modest, except in Magwe and Irrawaddy regions, as well as violations of procedures and regulations.

"The way some regional governments spent the funds didn't comply with procedures and regulations. For example, there were miscalculations in spending, and some spent without drawing up budgets," said U Maw Than.

He added that the President's Office had yet to issue any instruction in response to the report.

U Maw Than declined to disclose the detailed financial accounts of the regional governments.

The Auditor-General's Office was assigned by the President's Office in June to examine the financial accounts of the previous government following revelations of embezzlement of regional development funds by the former Magwe Region chief minister U Phone Maw Shwe.

U Khin Maung Win, chairman of the Lower House Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee, suggested that the Auditor-General's Office be more open with the public about the missing funds, citing the example of U Phone Maw Shwe, who returned some of the misappropriated money after the investigation.

He also cited the example of the Mandalay Region government, which revoked permits for more than 100 plots of land that were dubiously granted or leased by the previous regional government during the transfer of power in 2016.

"Those cases show that misappropriation exists. In any case, action should be taken against those who are responsible," he said.

The President's Office has previously said it would not take action against the former Magwe chief minister in order to stick to its policy of 'no retrospection.'

The officials who ran the Irrawaddy Region government under the previous administration had to explain their spending of regional development funds in May after allegations that they embezzled up to 7 billion kyats ($5.2 million at current exchange rates). The region's former ministers claimed that they donated large portions of the fund to a regional development foundation that they were heading.

"We are not finding fault with them. We just want to ensure proper public financial management and put them on the right track," said U Maw Than.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Audit Finds Unlawful Spending by States, Regions Under Prior Govt appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Infrastructure Plan Can Help Asia’s Growing Cities: Expert

Posted: 16 Jan 2018 08:51 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR — China's landmark "Belt and Road" scheme, which is ploughing billions of dollars into global infrastructure projects, could work hand-in-hand with efforts to help Asian cities meet the needs of their exploding populations, a regional resilience expert said.

Many Asia-Pacific cities, including the 23 that are part of the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) network backed by The Rockefeller Foundation, have been held back by a deficit in infrastructure.

But that could change with China's new drive to invest, said Lauren Sorkin, regional director for Asia Pacific at 100RC.

"The proposed investments in port and rail infrastructure are staggering – what is done in connection with those investments is terribly important," she said, highlighting the need to consider issues beyond economic growth, such as the environment.

"We have to look at what are going to be the benefits to the communities and cities around them," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which partners with The Rockefeller Foundation on resilience coverage.

A failure by many Asia-Pacific cities to plan well and invest in the infrastructure required to keep pace with rapid urbanization has had a detrimental impact on millions of people, experts say.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts that the region needs to spend $1.7 trillion per year from now until 2030 to meet its infrastructure needs.

Beijing's so-called "Belt and Road" initiative aims to recreate the old "Silk Road" with massive infrastructure projects to connect China by land and sea to Southeast, South and Central Asia, and beyond to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Four Chinese cities are taking part in the 100RC initiative to bolster cities to deal with modern-day shocks and stresses: Deyang, Haiyan, Huangshi and Yiwu.

They have spent the past year selecting and training senior officials to fill the role of chief resilience officer.

Deyang is set to become the first 100RC member in China to publish its resilience strategy in May, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of a devastating earthquake that hit the city.

While there is still far to go to raise adequate finance for infrastructure in Asian cities, Sorkin said money was available for those in the 100RC group to "get the work done."

Sorkin, who previously worked at the ADB, said 100RC's Asia-Pacific members aimed to switch from planning to implementing their resilience strategies in 2018.

"This year is about action," she added in a telephone interview.

Since 100RC – backed by $164 million from The Rockefeller Foundation – was established in 2013, its member cities have set priorities to build their resilience in consultation with academics, urban planners, business leaders, civil society and government agencies.

Sorkin pinpointed mobility and water management as the top two issues facing Asian cities.

Bangkok and Jakarta, for example, struggle with regular flooding and traffic gridlock that can make even the shortest journeys last for hours.

"Changing the paradigm in terms of how our cities live and build with water – as they're also facing a changing climate – is the number one challenge," Sorkin said.

"Providing adequate transport in rapidly growing cities is the biggest challenge next to water," she added.

The post China Infrastructure Plan Can Help Asia's Growing Cities: Expert appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Philippine Province Declares ‘Calamity’ as Volcano Lava Spreads

Posted: 16 Jan 2018 08:41 PM PST

MANILA — A central Philippine province declared a state of calamity on Tuesday as a volcano spewed lava that reached the limits of a six-km radius no-go zone and spread ash on nearby farming villages.

Mount Mayon, a volcano in Albay province in the coconut-growing central Bicol region, has been erupting since Saturday and the number of people fleeing their homes had more than doubled on Tuesday to about 25,000, said Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council gave a smaller estimate, saying there were close to 22,000 evacuees.

Placing the province under a state of calamity will give the province access to extra funds.

"This kind of eruption, it will take about weeks, so we have to sustain the operations in the evacuation centers," Bichara told ANC news channel.
"We need to use the calamity funds."

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said it had recorded nine more tremors, four of which accompanied lava fountains, as pressure leads to lava flows and ash plumes.

It reiterated that the activity signified a possible hazardous eruption within weeks or even days from the near perfectly cone-shaped volcano.

The provincial government has also expanded its suspension of school classes to more towns around the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) volcano, about 340 km (210 miles) southeast of Manila.

Class suspensions have allowed the government to use schools as temporary shelters.

The post Philippine Province Declares 'Calamity' as Volcano Lava Spreads appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

9 People Reported Dead After Police Crackdown on Protest in Mrauk-U

Posted: 16 Jan 2018 07:33 PM PST

YANGON — A police crackdown on a protest in northern Rakhine State's ancient city of Mrauk-U on Tuesday night left at least nine people dead and 12 severely wounded by gunfire, according to a local lawmaker.

U Tun Thar Sein, who represents Mrauk-U (1) in the state Parliament, spoke with The Irrawaddy over the phone at 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday after returning home from Mrauk-U's general hospital. He said some of the 12 patients had been transferred to the state capital, Sittwe, about 141 km away.

"I saw that the victims were shot at least twice, mostly in the abdomen and legs", he said.

He said several thousand people were protesting on Tuesday evening against a decision by authorities to ban celebration of the 233rd anniversary of the end of the Arakan dynasty. Locals commemorate the event each year on Dec. 15 and 16 with traditional wrestling matches and talks on literature by activists and influential politicians.

The protestors who gathered on the roads were few in number at first, but their ranks swelled to a few thousand within hours. The crowd then marched to the district administration office at about 9:30 p.m., approximately 2 km northeast of downtown.

A high school teacher in Mrauk-U said many 11th grade students preparing to sit their matriculation exams in the next few months also joined the rally.

"The roads in Mrauk-U were taken over by the protesters within a few hours," he said.

U Tun Thar Sein, the lawmaker, said tensions between the protestors and police quickly escalated at about 10 p.m. Many of the protestors started hurling stones and bricks at the administration office. When some of them entered the office compound and started destroying police trucks, the police opened fire to quell the attack.

Though local authorities said the protestors confronted the police, U Tun Thar Sein said he did not see any police as patients at the hospital, only dead and wounded civilians.

"This mass killing would not have happened if they had used rubber bullets to crack down on the gathering," he said. "I think the protestors only gathered bricks and stones and did not have any other weapons."

The high school teacher said he did not participate in the protest but followed the rally in order to pull out his students. He said he heard a series of gunshots while heading toward the administration office and then saw thousands of people running back toward downtown.

"Police used real bullets, not rubber rounds. I saw a boy's abdomen hollowed out," the teacher said.

The teacher said he went to the Mrauk-U general hospital and saw nine people severely wounded. He recalled the accounts of his students, who told him they saw police firing at the crowd.

"My students recounted to me that they laid down on the ground when they saw the flying burning bullets. They were very lucky," he said.

The Irrawaddy called township police chief Major Kyaw Mya Win and administration official Bo Bo Myint Thein, but they declined to comment. A junior staff member of the district administration office said that "a protest group destabilized the situation" but refused to answer further questions.

Two military truckloads of armed soldiers arrived at the scene of the violence at about 11:30 p.m.

The post 9 People Reported Dead After Police Crackdown on Protest in Mrauk-U appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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