Thursday, January 18, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Rakhine Lawmaker Speaks to The Irrawaddy Moments Before Being Jailed

Posted: 18 Jan 2018 04:02 AM PST

The government on Thursday arrested a prominent Arakan National Party lawmaker for associating with an unlawful organization after he participated in an event in Rathedaung Township in northern Rakhine State.

At the event hosted by a local charity on Monday to mark the 233rd anniversary of the fall of the Rakhine Dynasty to the Bamar, Dr. Aye Maung said: "Bamar people consider Rakhine people slaves and don't give us equal rights," adding that Rakhine people were being organized in an armed struggle for freedom. He said the movement's goal was to reclaim Rakhine sovereignty, state media reported on Thursday.

Police arrested Dr. Aye Maung at around 1 p.m. on Thursday at his home in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State. Two hours later, at 3 p.m., he was sent to Sittwe prison.

During his police custody, The Irrawaddy's Moe Myint was able to talk to him via phone to ask about his arrest, the charges he was accused of and his comments.

Prior to the lawmaker's arrest, author Wai Hin Aung, who also spoke at the event, was arrested on Monday evening. Police charged him under Section 17 (1), which prohibits unlawful association for the purpose of urging people to participate in armed struggle.

"[Today] is the right time for us to take up armed struggle to gain our independence," Wai Hin Aung had said, adding that the Arakan Army—an ethnic Rakhine armed group outlawed by the government—is undertaking an armed struggle to reclaim sovereignty for Rakhine State from the government.

Following is a transcript of The Irrawaddy's interview with Dr. Aye Maung.

Irrawaddy: Hello, Dr. Aye Maung, this is The Irrawaddy. We have learned that you have been detained at the No.1 police station in Sittwe. Could you tell us about the charges against you?

Aye Maung: I have no idea about that at the moment. [Chuckle] I have been sitting here [in the police station] for more than half an hour.

Irrawaddy: So, you are now in police custody. What kind of questions have the police asked you?

Aye Maung: Nothing special. They have just taken the information on my ID card and address, that's it.

Irrawaddy: Some people are saying that the police are preparing to request a judge's permission to remand you in custody. Is that right?

Aye Maung: I don't know. Maybe they are doing it in line with procedures.

Irrawaddy: Do you have any comments regarding the arrest? Especially as it happened under a democratic government.

Aye Maung: Well, this is the very first time [in Myanmar] that a civilian elected legislator is being prosecuted by a civil government. This will not just have a minor impact on the future of the federal democratic union but a much bigger, negative one. But my case aside, the crackdown on the Mrauk-U riot yesterday was very brutal. It will be inked in history forever. In Rakhine, there was a rice riot in 1967 that everyone remembers well until today. Addressing this problem requires deep thought, such as predicting possible scenarios in the future and the consequences. There needs to be consideration of whether the actions will seriously hurt the feelings of future generations. As they are heading toward national reconciliation, they [the Myanmar government] should be looking to share power with others. That is the key problem and it is still unresolved today. We have to analyze how rigorously the military and ethnic [armed] groups have approached the peace dialogue.

And our literature talks were quite different from what was reported in the newspapers. You can find some of those talks [on social media] and we can share our audio files with you. They translated our speech from the Arakanese language to Burmese and so we will make accurate translations of some episodes. Think about it. For example, even a simple sentence does not have a complete meaning. At least three sentences are required to figure out the original meaning. In this case, they just took one sentence and stuck it with the other passages, and it changed the original meaning. It should not be done that way. They need to conclude each passage without manipulating the sentences. We delivered our speech with an intro, body and conclusion and we used terminology that matched the federal context. In that speech, we raised the notion that the country has been struggling to get peace for 70 years and raised the question of how will this be discussed at the 21st Century Panglong Conference and when will they offer equal rights [to the ethnic groups], and if this problem is not resolved here, will it continue to happen in the future? A painful bloodshed has happened. It's heartbreaking.

This is the very first prosecution by an elected civilian government of a parliamentarian and as far as I know the case is quite big. I have no idea what will happen in the near future. To be honest, if you have hurt someone's feelings badly, it is very difficult to heal.

Irrawaddy: As you mentioned, the charge is quite serious and various rumors have been spread on social media that you are being charged under the "State Treason Law." Is that right?

Aye Maung: I have also heard this sort of hearsay, that this will be treated as a state treason case. I am a parliamentarian. Let's talk about it in Parliament. Even Daw Aung San Suu Kyi mentioned that Parliament and the public must interact so that we can create a prosperous future for the public, especially, on issues like freedom of expression and fundamental rights of citizens. I would not have been a lawmaker if I wanted to rebel against the government.

The post Rakhine Lawmaker Speaks to The Irrawaddy Moments Before Being Jailed appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Irrawaddy Chief Minister Vows to Boost Regional Economy Through Agriculture

Posted: 18 Jan 2018 03:40 AM PST

PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Region — U Hla Moe Aung, the lawmaker representing Irrawaddy's Myanaung Township, has become the new chief minister of the regional government.

The Irrawaddy Parliament, during its special meeting on Thursday, confirmed the nominee selected by President U Htin Kyaw to succeed Mahn Johnny, who stepped down for health reasons on Jan. 9.

"I will focus mainly on economic development of the Irrawaddy Region based on agriculture," U Hla Moe Aung, the new chief minister, told The Irrawaddy.

"At the same time, I'll try to improve transportation and the electricity supply in the short time I've got," he added, as he has nearly three years until his term expires in 2020.

The new chief minister also vowed to fight corruption in his government. "What I can guarantee is that I'll work hard for the people."

The 56-year-old is a graduate in agriculture, and is also the vice-chairman of the Myanaung Township chapter of the National League for Democracy (NLD). He also served as the secretary of the regional parliamentary committee on agriculture, livestock, irrigation and resources.

"It is fair to say that a change has started for the Irrawaddy Region," said Thabaung Township lawmaker U Aung Aung Oo.

"As he is an agricultural graduate, I hope he can develop the agricultural sector of the region. For a chief minister, management is the most important thing. And I believe he will be able to do his best in that regard," he added.

The regional Parliament will continue its meeting on Jan. 23 to proceed with formal procedures for the appointment of the new chief minister.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post New Irrawaddy Chief Minister Vows to Boost Regional Economy Through Agriculture appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Aerial Survey to Improve Govt’s Earthquake Predictions

Posted: 18 Jan 2018 01:39 AM PST

YANGON — An aerial survey of the earthquake-prone region between Naypyitaw and Mandalay is set for March in an effort to help the government make better predictions about future strikes.

The Myanmar Earthquake Committee, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Land Records Department and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University have teamed up for the project with the government's approval.

The team will take aerial photos of the terrain to understand the geographical features of the Sagaing Fault.

Previously, earthquake risks were assessed using aerial photos downloaded from the internet. The Earthquake Committee hopes to make more precise predictions with the higher resolution photos the aerial survey will provide.

The Sagaing Fault is one of Myanmar's major fault lines, stretching over 1,200 km and passing through populated cities including Mandalay, Yamethin, Pyinmana, the capital Naypyitaw, Taungoo and Bago before dropping off into the Gulf of Martaban.

The fault has been largely inactive for nearly 180 years in the area the aerial survey will cover, so the risks of a powerful earthquake are high, U Myo Thant of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee told The Irrawaddy.

The committee estimates that the Sagaing Fault is moving about 18 to 20 millimeters a year, numbers the aerial survey can confirm.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has installed 29 seismometers along the Sagaing Fault and has one more to go, said U Myo Nanda Aung, of the department's earthquake section in Yangon.

It has also installed 17 GPS devices from north to south, with one left to put in place.

"We've installed seismometers in townships that are easily accessible and close to the fault. We've also installed GPS devices to know the speed of seismic waves," said U Myo Nanda Aung.

An earthquake measuring a magnitude 6 on the Richter Scale rocked Pyu Township in the central region of Bago on Jan. 12, followed by dozens of aftershocks including a 3.9 magnitude tremor the next day in Htantabin Township on the outskirts of Yangon, the country's most populous city.

According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, nearly 70 earthquakes hit Myanmar in 2017.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Aerial Survey to Improve Govt's Earthquake Predictions appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

ANP Vows State Parliamentary Probe into Mrauk-U Protest Deaths

Posted: 18 Jan 2018 01:32 AM PST

A leading Rakhine political party has vowed to launch a parliamentary investigation into a police crackdown on a crowd of protesters, including teenagers, that killed seven people on Tuesday night in Mrauk-U, a popular tourist town in northern Rakhine State.

During a meeting with residents on Wednesday evening, the leadership of the Arakan National Party questioned the police's handling of the situation.

"Why was the death toll so high when there were several options available for handling the situation? We will raise the issue in parliament," said ANP General Secretary U Tun Aung Kyaw. The party official promised local people the Rakhine State Parliament would investigate the incident to ensure justice for the victims.

U Tun Aung Kyaw criticized officials for failing to implement proper riot-control measures such as blocking roads with barbed-wire fences, and using teargas and water canons to disperse the crowd.

The government said on Wednesday that the actions of police during the riot would be investigated to determine whether they adhered to established rules of engagement. In the statement, the country's de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi expressed sympathy for those who were killed and injured.

On Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of Mrauk-U residents took to the streets to protest the government's ban on celebrating the 233rd anniversary of the fall of the Rakhine Dynasty. The government said it had banned the annual event because the venue was a former palace that has been listed as a national heritage site.

Protesters marched to the district administrative office, where some threw stones and destroyed government property. Police fired warning shots but when the protesters failed to disperse, officers fired into the crowd, survivors told The Irrawaddy.

In a brief report on the incident, the Ministry of Information (MOI) confirmed that seven people had been killed. Earlier reports from witnesses in Mrauk-U, including people who offered assistance to survivors, put the death toll at nine, with most of the fatalities caused by gunshot wounds.

The government statement released late Wednesday evening said nearly 10,000 protesters marched to the administrative office and that around 4,000 people broke into the office compound after pelting security forces with stones and broken bricks, resulting in the destruction of office property.

"The mob was getting wilder in spite of many warning shots. So the security forces had to fire nearly 10 rounds into the crowd," the release said.

In the wake the deadly shooting, police were out in force on the streets of northern Rakhine's Mrauk-U Township. Residents of Mrauk-U remained angry over the deadly crackdown, U Tun Aung Kyaw said.

Senior ANP leaders, Rakhine Parliament speaker U San Kyaw Hla and several regional lawmakers immediately traveled to Mrauk-U from Sittwe upon learning about the casualties on Tuesday night. In the morning, victims' family members and other Mrauk-U residents gathered at Mrauk-U General Hospital in order identify the casualties.

Mrauk-U resident Ko Khine, who observed bodies arriving at the hospital's morgue, said he saw three police trucks pull up at the hospital compound and dozens of riot police being deployed there. He said the names of the victims had been confirmed by their families, adding that they were aged between 18 and 36. Authorities sent the bodies to Mrauk-U cemetery in the afternoon and funerals were due to take place on Thursday.

"Mrauk-U residents are downhearted at the moment," he said.

U Tun Aung Kyaw said regional legislators met with senior township police officers and administrative officials to get detailed information about the incident. He recalled that township authorities had urged locals to protest a decision by authorities to ban celebrations of the 233rd anniversary of the fall of the Arakan Dynasty on Jan. 16.

A written order dated Jan. 15 and signed by Rakhine State Border Affairs Minister Col. Phone Tint went viral on Facebook on Wednesday morning. It stated that those wishing to celebrate the anniversary must apply for a peaceful assembly permit from the authorities in line with existing laws. Action would be taken against those who failed to do so, it said.

U Tun Aung Kyaw said, "We heard reports of that happening but could not get any testimony from survivors or rally participants. As you know, some of the wounded are in critical condition and cannot speak to us."

Prominent citizens of the township, including Buddhist monks and party officials, held an urgent meeting on Wednesday.

Generation Wave, the Ethnic People's Development Plan (EPDP) and other activist groups issued a letter condemning the indiscriminate killings in Mrauk-U and urging action against those officials responsible for mishandling the response to the riot. They demanded that authorities release details about the incident to ensure transparency.

The Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic Arakanese armed group, released a statement accusing police of deliberately killing innocent civilians by using live ammunition. It demanded the Myanmar government take full responsibility. The letter reads: "In terms of this incident, ULA/AA will take serious action against those who killed civilians."

The United Nations' office in Myanmar expressed concern over the incident, saying: "We deplore the loss of life and injuries that have been reported."

The UN urged authorities to investigate the case to determine whether disproportionate force was used or any other illegal actions occurred.

The post ANP Vows State Parliamentary Probe into Mrauk-U Protest Deaths appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Karenni Police Ready More Lawsuits Against Protesters

Posted: 18 Jan 2018 12:07 AM PST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Police in Karenni State say they will sue three more local men this week for allegedly violating Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly Law by leading a protest on Jan. 5 against the prosecution of five other protesters under the same law.

The five were convicted by the Loikaw Township court on Friday and sentenced to 20 days in prison for failing to inform authorities of their plans to demonstrate on Dec. 22. They staged the demonstration to protest the Tatmadaw's alleged murder of a civilian and three soldiers of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) on December 20.

Khun Bee Du, chairman of the Kayan National Party, Khun A-Than, a central committee member of the Kayan New Generation Youth, and Khu Tu Reh, chairman of the Karenni State Farmers Union, led hundreds of people in the Jan. 5 protest in Loikaw to show their solidarity with the five men.

Loikaw Police Captain Win Htay told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the protesters violated the Peaceful Assembly Law and that the three leaders would be sued after he sought legal advise from the public prosecutor.

Because the protesters did not inform authorities about their plans 48 hours in advance, the captain said, he would "act in accordance with the law to sue the protesters within 15 days of the protest."

Capt. Win Htay said he planned to meet with the three protest leaders on Friday as part of his investigation.

Khun Bee Du told The Irrawaddy that the police captain visited the three of them Wednesday night to inform them of the pending lawsuit.

"The authorities must also work to find justice in the killing of the civilian and three KNPP soldiers on December 20, just as they take legal actions against whoever violates the law, including us," he said.

Khun Bee Du said the protesters were well aware they could face legal action but went ahead with the event to press for justice in the case of the alleged murders by the Tatmadaw.

Nearly a month after the alleged murders, a complaint has yet to be lodged with the Loikaw police. The case remains under investigation by an internal tribunal of the Tatmadaw lead by Brigadier General Aung Khine Soe.

The KNPP claims that its soldiers and a civilian were executed during a Dec. 20 raid on the KNPP's camp in Loikaw by troops from the Tatmadaw's Regional Operations Command. It claims the military killed the four men at the camp, removed the bodies and burned them back at their own base.

The Tatmadaw claims the four were killed in a firefight during the raid.

The post Karenni Police Ready More Lawsuits Against Protesters appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Women’s Participation Will Bolster Chances for Peace: Report

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 10:45 PM PST

YANGON — A report on policies and strategies for promoting gender equality in Myanmar was released in Yangon on Jan. 15.

The joint report was produced by the Salween Institute for Public Policy (SI) and Women's League of Burma (WLB), a coalition of 13 ethnic women's organizations engaged in promoting women's rights in Myanmar.

The report provides wide-ranging recommendations for policymakers and activists to promote the role of women in Myanmar's peace process, nation-building and different levels of the legislative and executive branches.

It explains the importance of gender equality and advantages of women's participation in leadership and decision-making, said officials of SI and WLB.

The population of women is significantly higher than that of men in Myanmar, and if women are treated as the weaker sex, men will have to bear the burden of their female counterparts in the long run, argued Shine Ko Ko Lwin, a manager of SI.

"So, will we men bear their burden or give them a hand and work together as equals? Don't bear that burden. Working together as equals is beneficial to us," he said.

The four-part report elaborates on the benefits of increased participation of women in politics and decision-making, arguing that it could further cement peace agreements and bolster post-conflict rehabilitation and administration processes.

"Women and children are hit hardest by clashes. So, it is fair to say that women want peace the most. But still, they are neglected. Without the voices of those who have borne the brunt, there will be no permanent peace," said Mal Soe Soe Nwe who is on the policy-making committee of WLB.

Around half the peace agreements worldwide collapse within 10 years after the signing, but truces tend to last longer with higher women's participation in the process, said Ying Lao, a deputy director with SI.

"So, we can draw a conclusion that Myanmar's peace process is shaky now because of low women's participation," she added.

The report also identifies the legal, societal, and institutional barriers that bar women from taking important roles.

"There is a societal belief that politics and leadership aren't suitable for women. Even women have that notion. We need to change that," said Ying Lao.

Though political parties fielded women candidates in the 2015 election, voters tend to prefer men to represent and lead them, she claimed.

According to UNESCO statistics, 34.2 percent of women and 25.7 percent of men have completed a high school education in Myanmar, while 80.5 percent of those with master's degrees and 80.8 of doctorate degree holders are women.

This figure indicates that the number of educated women is much higher than that of men in Myanmar, and the notion that women's participation in politics and decision-making is low because of the low number of educated women is wrong, says the report.

The report is designed for stakeholders such as the government, Parliament, ethnic armed groups, Tatmadaw, political parties, civil society organizations, media and international agencies.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Women's Participation Will Bolster Chances for Peace: Report appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Philippine Lawmakers Worry China Telecom May be a ‘Trojan Horse’

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 08:56 PM PST

MANILA — Opposition members of the Philippine Congress raised concern on Wednesday that China Telecom Corp. Ltd., which may enter the Philippine industry, could be a “Trojan horse” aimed at giving China access to state secrets.

The Southeast Asian country aims to name a third telecom operator within the first quarter that will break the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. State-run China Telecom has been named as a possible investor in that third entity.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who has warned both PLDT and Globe to shape up or face competition, has welcomed Chinese entities specifically to become the third telecoms operator.

Beijing has selected China Telecom to invest in the Philippines, according to Philippine officials, but it would need to partner with a local company as it cannot operate alone under the law.

China Telecom’s presence in the Philippines, however, does not sit well with some lawmakers, given China’s telecommunications expertise and sophisticated technology.

Despite Duterte’s warm relations with China, the Philippines has a long history of mistrust of it, due largely to its maritime assertiveness and its challenges to Philippine claims of sovereignty over various islands, reefs and waters.

“While we agree that telecommunications and connectivity are serious problems in our country, it behooves us to scrutinize the China deal,” the House minority bloc said in a statement.

“Is China Telecom a Trojan horse?”

The lawmakers sought a congressional inquiry and cautioned the government against rushing into any deal.

“Giving China access to the country’s communications infrastructure is a serious threat to national security,” they said, adding that even the United States was aware of such risk.

Two US lawmakers introduced a bill this week that bars the US government from using or contracting with Chinese telecom firms Huawei or ZTE Corp.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the lawmakers’ security concerns.

The Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) sought to allay the lawmakers’ concern on Wednesday.

A National Cybersecurity Plan is in place to provide measures and controls against security risks, DICT Assistant Secretary Allan Cabanlong told Reuters.

“Rest assured that there is no problem. What is important is that we are focused on the development of the country,” he said.

The post Philippine Lawmakers Worry China Telecom May be a ‘Trojan Horse’ appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Trump Considers Big ‘Fine’ Over China Intellectual Property Theft

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 08:49 PM PST

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States was considering a big "fine" as part of a probe into China's alleged theft of intellectual property, the clearest indication yet that his administration will take retaliatory trade action against China.

In an interview with Reuters, Trump and his economic adviser Gary Cohn said China had forced US companies to transfer their intellectual property to China as a cost of doing business there.

The United States has started a trade investigation into the issue, and Cohn said the United States Trade Representative would be making recommendations about it soon.

"We have a very big intellectual property potential fine going, which is going to come out soon," Trump said in the interview.

While Trump did not specify what he meant by a "fine" against China, the 1974 trade law that authorized an investigation into China's alleged theft of US intellectual property allows him to impose retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods or other trade sanctions until China changes its policies.

Trump said the damages could be high, without elaborating on how the numbers were reached or how the costs would be imposed.

"We're talking about big damages. We're talking about numbers that you haven't even thought about," Trump said.

US businesses say they lose hundreds of billions of dollars in technology and millions of jobs to Chinese firms which have stolen ideas and software or forced them to turn over intellectual property as part of the price of doing business in China.

The president said he wanted the United States to have a good relationship with China, but Beijing needed to treat the United States fairly.

Trump said he would be announcing some kind of action against China over trade and said he would discuss the issue during his State of the Union address to the US Congress on Jan. 30.

Asked about the potential for a trade war depending on US action over steel, aluminum and solar panels, Trump said he hoped a trade war would not ensue.

"I don't think so, I hope not. But if there is, there is," he said.

Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the penalties under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorized the investigation into China's intellectual property practices, would likely include a package of both tariffs and restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States.

"I suspect the US measures will involve restrictions in areas where we don't have WTO [World Trade Organization] obligations," Schott said. "Trump likes to talk about tariffs so that may be part of the package too. The Chinese would have the legal right to retaliate against tariff increases."

Throughout his 2016 election campaign, Trump routinely threatened to impose a 45 percent across-the-board tariff on Chinese goods as a way to level the playing field for American workers. At the time, he was also accusing China of manipulating its currency to gain an export advantage, a claim that his administration has since dropped.

Trump said on Wednesday that China stopped meeting the criteria for currency manipulation after his election, and he said making that designation while trying to work with Beijing to rein in North Korea would be tricky.

"How do you say, 'hey, by the way, help me with North Korea and I'm going to call you a currency manipulator?' It really doesn’t work," Trump said.

The president also said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had not discussed China's plans with regard to purchases of US Treasury bonds.

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Chinese officials reviewing the country's foreign exchange holdings had recommended slowing or halting purchases of US Treasury bonds.

Trump said he was not concerned such a move would hurt the US economy.

"We never talked about it. They have to do what they do," he said.

The post Trump Considers Big 'Fine' Over China Intellectual Property Theft appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Still Modern After All These Years: Exhibition Surveys Careers of 5 Key Artists

Posted: 17 Jan 2018 06:05 PM PST

The group of Myanmar modernist artists collectively known as the Third Generation emerged more than 40 years ago and are all quite advanced in age now. One of them, Kyee Myint Saw, 79, recently decided it was time for a reunion.

"I was wondering what it would be like to take part in an art exhibition along with my old friends. All of us have always been and are still modernists. We're old now, but our minds are modern — still modern," Kyee Myint Saw said.

The retrospective 'A Journey through Modern Art' looks back at the careers of pioneering Myanmar modernists.

In the upcoming exhibition "A Journey through Modern Art," Kyee Myint Saw and four other modernists, Aung Myint, Aung Khaing, San Minn and Maung Theid Dhi, stop to take a look back at their journey in the genre.

Kyee Myint Saw, who made his name with the popular "Yangon Night" series, is a disciple of pre- and early modernist masters like Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse.

Discussing the "Yangon Night" paintings, which will be featured in the show, he said, "I'd like to show some black in this exhibition. I've painted colors and figures on black [backgrounds]."

The retrospective 'A Journey through Modern Art' looks back at the careers of pioneering Myanmar modernists.

"Night is dark. But my 'Yangon Night' is extraordinarily dark," he added.

Art historians regard the five artists whose work will be displayed at the exhibition as belonging to the Third Generation group within Myanmar's modernist school. Aung Myint has been a fixture of the movement since 1970, and his Inya Art Gallery is known as a training center for young artists. He is one of the pioneers of installation art in Myanmar and his "Mother and Child" series is popular among art fans.

San Minn is a surrealist who is interested in political, social and cultural subjects. His creation "The Old Lady" depicts an aging woman in revealing dress. "No matter how much we want to stay young, the autumn years will finally come," he said by way of explaining the painting's message.

The retrospective 'A Journey through Modern Art' looks back at the careers of pioneering Myanmar modernists.

Maung Theid Dhi is one of the pioneers of minimalism in Myanmar, and Aung Khaing is known for his more "traditional modernist" style.

The exhibition will be held from Jan. 19 to 25at OK Art Gallery in the north wing of Aung San Stadium. More than 20 paintings will be on display and for sale, with prices ranging between $400 and $6,000.

The retrospective 'A Journey through Modern Art' looks back at the careers of pioneering Myanmar modernists.

The post Still Modern After All These Years: Exhibition Surveys Careers of 5 Key Artists appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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