Friday, January 5, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Six Soldiers Hurt in Apparent Landmine Blast in Rakhine’s Maungdaw

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 05:59 AM PST

YANGON – Six soldiers were injured when their vehicle was struck by what police believe was a remotely detonated landmine in northern Rakhine State's Maungdaw Township on Friday morning, a border police officer in Kyein Chaung village told The Irrawaddy.

The blast occurred near Tarein, an ethnic Arakanese village in the northern part of the township about 30 km from downtown Maungdaw. According to the police officer, the six soldiers were escorting an Army officer who had fallen ill and was being transported in a civilian vehicle to Maungdaw to receive medical treatment. The police officer could not identify the soldiers' regiment.

As the vehicle was passing Tarein at around 10.30 a.m, it was targeted by what appeared to be a remotely detonated landmine, causing minor injuries to the six soldiers and the civilian driver. The sick officer was not injured in the blast.

Following the blast, the vehicle came under attack from gunmen apparently positioned on a nearby hill, but the passengers managed to escape further injury. It was unclear whether the attack was carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) or an Arakanese armed group.

The police officer said a remotely controlled landmine was likely to blame, rather than a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). "If it was an RPG, the vehicle would have been blown to bits. I'm pretty sure this was a landmine attack," he said.

He speculated the ambush was the work of an Arakanese armed group, rather than ARSA militants, given the location of the attack near an Arakanese village and the fact that ARSA usually attacks at night. Security forces were on the scene quickly and a hunt for the attackers was under way by 1 p.m.

On Dec. 28, an Arakanese resident of Tarein was killed in a machete attack while fishing near a Muslim village. Authorities have yet to identify any suspects in that attack. In early December, a mine detonated on the Ann-Myebon Highway shortly after Rakhine State Chief Minister Nyi Pu's convoy passed by. An Army truck was hit and four soldiers were wounded.

The post Six Soldiers Hurt in Apparent Landmine Blast in Rakhine's Maungdaw appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

More Than 1,200 Villagers Flee as Tatmadaw Battles TNLA in Northern Shan State

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 05:28 AM PST

YANGON—Over 1,200 residents of three villages in northern Shan State have fled to Kyaukme Township and Mongngaw Sub-township to escape fighting between the Myanmar Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The clashes erupted on Dec. 27 on the border of Kyaukme and Namhsan townships.

Tensions between the Army and the TNLA remain high, according to local community-based organizations.

"Social organizations from Lashio, Namhsan and Kutkai townships as well as a Kyaukme-based committee for displaced persons have distributed relief supplies," Ko Thar Zaw, a volunteer helping displaced persons in Kyaukme, told The Irrawaddy.

"We don't know how many days the displaced persons will have to shelter here, or whether there will be additional needs," he added.

The Department of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is also providing emergency aid to displaced persons.

"We've provided nine items of emergency aid to over 300 households. They include seven days' rations of rice, clothing, soap, pans, blankets, towels and so on. People displaced in earlier clashes have already returned to their homes. These [1,200 villagers] are newcomers" displaced by the most recent clashes, said Ko Aung Kyaw Moe, a department official.

A total of 744 displaced persons are taking shelter at monasteries and mediation halls in Kyaukme, according to local community-based organizations. The rest are taking refuge at a pagoda and mediation halls in Mongngaw Sub-township, some 32 miles from Kyaukme.

The Kyaukme branch of the Myanmar Red Cross Society has also provided blankets and emergency childbirth kits for pregnant women.

"The Tatmadaw [Myanmar's military] and the TNLA clashed at the border of Kyaukme and Namhsan. Neither side is willing to step back, though the fighting has stopped for the time being. But locals are concerned that it could break out again at anytime. So they fled," Ko Thar Zaw said.

According to the TNLA Information Department, the TNLA and the Tatmadaw clashed from 7.25 am to 9.45 am near the village of Dow Lwe in Namhsan Township on Dec. 27.

Meanwhile, the Tatmadaw is also fighting the Kachin Independence Army in Kachin State's Mansi Township.

Separately, clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army through November and December forced over 300 locals in Paletwa, Chin State to flee their homes.

More than 1,000 locals have crossed the border into India's Mizoram State and are in need of relief supplies.

The post More Than 1,200 Villagers Flee as Tatmadaw Battles TNLA in Northern Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Govt’s New Year’s Resolution Should be a Cabinet Reshuffle

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 05:19 AM PST

Rather than wishing its fellow citizens good health and wellbeing in the new year, the NLD government should be more serious if it wants something meaningful for 2018 — a cabinet reshuffle.

Over the course of its 21 months in office — to the public's dismay — most of the leaders of civilian-run ministries have proved themselves inept. They have been incapable of even making their own decisions. They are reluctant to take risks, as U Win Htein, one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's aides, put it. (Three military-run ministries are excluded, as the government has no power over them.)

With those people in charge, it's no wonder that we have heard reckless comments, for example that Myanmar's economy would take off like a "jet" even while local manufacturers were facing hurdles — a lack of infrastructure and an unfair tax system — in trying to attract international investors. People can no longer recall the name of the ethnic affairs minister, who stays out of sight most of the time. And it was disappointing to see a muted information minister when northern Rakhine State was burning and Myanmar was besieged with international criticism over the issue.

For the NLD government, it was a waste of time to have spent nearly two years on incapable ministers. President U Htin Kyaw's administration had a bumpy start. The announcement of his cabinet was met with ridicule when it emerged that several of his new ministers had fake degrees. When the administration turned one last year, its de facto leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, boasted that the cabinet was corruption-free. It was a delight for the people to hear that. However, they need not only a clean government but also cohesive and effective ministries with the right people in the right places to move the country forward. Political will alone is not enough to build a nation.

It's an open secret that there are some high-level department officials who are reluctant to be loyal to the NLD government. The majority of them had worked for General–turned-President U Thein Sein during the previous administration. By putting national reconciliation ahead of everything else, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has remained patient with them, hoping they would work for the good of the country. Now, 21 months on, those officials remain far from fulfilling her hopes, U Win Htein said.

So now is the time for the NLD government to have an administrative shakeup for the sake of the people who heartily voted it into power in 2015. It should not let the people down. Any failure of the shakeup to meet the people's expectations will lead to a failed democratic transition. With the 2020 elections looming, the party seems to be feeling the heat — it just announced plans to reform the party structure in a bid for better performance. The government should follow suit, but quickly, for the clock is ticking.

The post The Govt's New Year's Resolution Should be a Cabinet Reshuffle appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Shan National Dialogue In Doubt After Public Consultation Cancelled

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 04:56 AM PST

YANGON – A Shan national-level dialogue (ND) convened for Langkho (Lin Khay) next week is now unlikely to go ahead after a Shan public consultation planned to be held in Taunggyi this weekend had to be cancelled.

"We are not sure yet whether it will be held in Langkho, as the pre-consultation for the ND in Taunggyi on Jan. 7-9 has been cancelled," said Sai Kyaw Nyunt, secretary of both the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and the Shan national-level dialogue convening committee. He also represents the SNLD at the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC).

If the Shan national-level political dialogue in Langkho is not held, the participation of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) in the upcoming session of the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference (UPC) later this month will pose a dilemma for the organisers. Although the Shan ND was not able to be carried out before May last year, the RCSS still participated in the second session of the 21st Panglong UPC, in order to allow the process to continue.

Tensions have been high since the last few weeks of 2017 when the pre-consultations being led by the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) — which is chaired by the RCSS – were blocked by the Tatmadaw and later by the Shan State government.

Talks were held between the RCSS, a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), and the Tatmadaw, but they failed to find a way around the impasse.

The Tatmadaw has long insisted that only the RCSS, an NCA signatory, can lead the Shan ethnic based ND, and rejected the pre-consultations on the grounds that there is no provision for them in the agreement.

The Tatmadaw has said the RCSS can hold consultations or the ND in their territories but not in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, which is controlled by the government. Given this, the RCSS and the Tatmadaw have not been able to agree on a venue, as the RCSS had proposed Taunggyi as the site for the dialogue.

The military's obstructionist moves were reportedly due to the consultations being held under the leadership of the CSSU. The CSSU – an alliance of Shan political parties, the Shan armed groups, the RCSS and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), and civil society groups – includes the SSPP as a member. The SSPP is a non-signatory to the NCA and is a member of the northeast based Federal Political Negotiation and Consultation Committee.

Another possible concern of the Tatmadaw seemed to be centered on public gatherings held by the Shan, as the Shan were a politically strong group and a key player in the Federal movement in 1961, which preceded a military coup a year later.

"We Shans have put our efforts into building the federal union since new Union of Myanmar was created [70 years ago] and we have maintained those efforts. So the public gathering prior to the Shan national-level dialogue should be allowed. It is for good," said Sai Aung Myint Oo, a prominent ethnic Shan youth.

According to the NCA text, only the signatories to the pact can hold national level political dialogues as laid down in the political roadmap (Section 20, Chapter 5), as agreed by both sides of NCA signatories.

Peace commission secretary U Khin Zaw Oo, a former lieutenant-general who is acting as the Tatmadaw's intermediary, told The Irrawaddy last week that it was not a problem who led the ND, but the obstruction may be due to there being no stated provision for pre-consultations for the ND in the [framework] agreement.

Observers and some stakeholders have suggested that the Shan pre-consultations would not present a problem if they slightly amended the title to "public consultations" instead of "pre-discussion for the ND".

The title has become a sticking point as the government, Tatmadaw and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) all have different understandings about the concept of a pre-consultation and the ND, said Khun Okkar, of the PaO Nationalities Liberation Organization. He said they hoped to find a solution to the matter during a UPDJC meeting next week, on Jan. 9.

"It won't matter whether we change the title or not. They just don't want us to convene. Prior to us, the Karens, Chins and PaOs also did the same and they were able to hold consultations [in 2017]," said Sai Kyaw Nyunt, adding that even the civil society groups, which held their final forum in Naypyidaw this week — were able to do pre-consultations in almost every state and region.

"If the rules are applied differently for different groups, it won't be convenient," he said.

Although the NCA guarantees participation to all ethnic nationalities at all levels of political dialogue, "the public collaborations are being reduced," said Sai Kyaw Nyunt. “I also wonder why the civilian government doesn't want to allow us to attend, and why the Tatmadaw keeps blocking us,” he said.

Sai Kyaw Nyunt asserted there had been a gentleman's agreement on the pre-ND. "We were told it is not stipulated, and that we have to do it by the book," he said, "I would argue there is no restriction either in the NCA, or in the political dialogue frameworks stating that non-signatories cannot hold such dialogues."

According to the NCA roadmap, the political dialogues are a key foundation step to amending the Constitution, as an agreement from the political dialogues, including the discussion of security sector reform, would have to be presented at the Union Peace Conference (UPC) for the Union Accord to be signed.

However, the current peace-building process has become mired in uncertainty as the framework on the political dialogue has not yet become a common agreement and the UPC is being held without a complete convening of the political dialogues.

After the second 21st Panglong UPC, the first part of the Union Accord was signed with a lack of key federal principles. This was partly due to the Tatmadaw's position of wanting a non-separation of the ethnic states from the Union of Myanmar and its demand for the EAOs to make such a pledge. The question remains whether the stakeholders will be able to include the key federal principles, such as the drafting of ethnic state constitutions and self-determination, in the new Constitution.

Without the key federal principles, any change to the Constitution, which is one of the main aims of the NLD government, will be unsuccessful. Sai Kyaw Nyunt said the UPC would not be needed if the government and the Tatmadaw did not want to change the Constitution.

For the federal principles to be included in the Union Accord, all nationalities of Myanmar must strive to achieve it, said Khun Okkar.

The post Shan National Dialogue In Doubt After Public Consultation Cancelled appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar President Reaffirms Commitment to Constitutional Reform

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 03:55 AM PST

YANGON — Myanmar's President U Htin Kyaw repeated a vow to create a Constitution that upholds democratic standards on the country's 70th anniversary of independence.

Amid critics pointing out that the National League for Democracy (NLD) has remained silent regarding constitutional reform, the president's statement on Thursday reaffirms that the government has not swayed from its ultimate goal of rewriting the military-drafted 2008 Constitution.

The emergence of a Constitution in line with democratic norms has been a top priority for the NLD. But attempts to amend or replace the current Constitution will be no easy task, as it will put the NLD head-to-head with hardline military generals.

"We all must collaborate to adopt a Constitution suitable for the country as we build a democratic federal Union in accordance with the results of the political dialogues," President U Htin Kyaw said in his Independence Day message.

He said the government is working on national reconciliation and the peace process aimed at building a democratic state based on the principles of freedom for all ethnic national races, justice, equality and the right to self-determination, calling for the cessation of all armed conflicts and respect for human rights.

Yet, the president did not elaborate as to how the government is working for constitutional reform.

Despite a civilian government assuming power in Myanmar, the constitutional crisis remains a major barrier to the country's democratic transition.

The military retains a powerful influence under the Constitution.

The military sees its main duty as safeguarding the charter, which guarantees that it maintains an important leadership role. Constitutionally, 25 percent of seats in all national and regional parliaments are reserved for the military. It also holds three key ministerial portfolios—Defense, Home and Border Affairs—and appoints a vice president.

In a statement released on Thursday commemorating the anniversary of independence, the ruling NLD party stated that it wouldn't be swayed from implementing its election promises including ending long-running civil wars, achieving lasting peace and implementing constitutional change.

It also stated that the Rakhine State crisis has been the biggest blow to its government and has challenged national dignity and sovereignty.

"In spite of some UN agencies and powerful countries criticizing and imposing sanctions against Myanmar as if it is their enemy, we are not nervous, and are responding to them based on reality and practical actions."

The post Myanmar President Reaffirms Commitment to Constitutional Reform appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Gems and Jewelry Fair Returns to Yangon

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 01:02 AM PST

YANGON — The international Gems and Jewelry Fair is returning to Yangon this year, nearly a decade after it was last held in the country's commercial capital.

The fair will feature about 100 booths selling mainly rubies, jade and sapphire and run from Jan. 11 through Jan. 14 at the Lotte Hotel in Hlaing Township, said U Aung Myint, vice chairman of the Yangon branch of the Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association.

"Though our rubies and sapphires are popular among international countries, we don't have a market at home for international buyers. So we intend to establish a domestic market gradually through such exhibitions," U Aung Myint said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Professionals will also give talks on the gem and jewelry market during the fair, according to organizers.

In the past, jade and gem emporiums for international buyers were mainly held in Yangon. But after the U Thein Sein government took power in 2010, the emporiums were moved to the national administrative capital of Naypyitaw.

"We intend to develop jewelry making in the country through such exhibitions," said U Aung Myint, noting that the country mainly exports raw jade and gems rather than finished jewelry items.

The Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association also intends to fight the smuggling of gems and jewelry with such fairs so that the government can earn more revenue from legal trade.

At a press conference for Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Day in Naypyitaw in August, U Myint Han, the Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association's vice chairman, claimed that there was rampant smuggling of jade and gems to China not because merchants did not want to pay tax but because the trade taxes were too high.

According to the association, more than 1,000 gem merchants and their peers from 36 countries have been invited to this month's fair.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Gems and Jewelry Fair Returns to Yangon appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mon State Chief Minister Tells Locals to Eat Less to Lower Food Prices

Posted: 04 Jan 2018 11:32 PM PST

THATON, Mon State — Mon State Chief Minister U Aye Zan has told the residents of Thaton Township to "eat only a dish of curry" at mealtime in order to bring down food prices.

The chief minister said food prices would decline if every household ate only a dish of curry at their dining tables when he and other officials met with locals on Wednesday.

After the officials made their speeches, locals were allowed to ask questions.

"I'd like to know if the government can adjust the prices of food including rice, oil, salt and onions and general consumer goods to an appropriate level," said U Aye Myint.

"Our country is poor. We should only eat a dish of curry. If we don't go to tea shops and only eat a dish of curry in our homes, won't the food prices decline?" the minister replied.

When U Aye Myint answered "yes," the minister added: "If so, it would be the best. Do you think a law can be enacted to require people to do so?"

"It is easy to bring down food prices, isn't it? Don't make donations," U Aye Zan said, referring to the practice of donating food for Buddhist novitiation ceremonies and other rituals.

"If you are going to prepare ten dishes of curry for your donation ceremony, then you can choose to donate only one dish, can't you? It is quite easy to bring down food prices," the minister added.

He urged locals to take the example of England and Russia, which rationed food during the world wars.

He said the people of Myanmar should spend more money investing and less buying food, and to farm on vacant land.

"When we were young, students had to grow gourd, ladyfinger, roselle, radish and so on in the school compound," U Aye Zan said, urging locals to plant crops around their houses to reduce their food expenses.

The Union minister for agriculture and irrigation under the previous administration, U Myint Hlaing, came under fire for similar remarks when he told farmers to "skip a meal" in order to pay back the agricultural loans provided by the government. He was henceforth dubbed "one-meal Myint Hlaing."

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Mon State Chief Minister Tells Locals to Eat Less to Lower Food Prices appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ex-Political Prisoner Makes Art From Plastic Refuse

Posted: 04 Jan 2018 11:21 PM PST

Shortly before daybreak on the last day of 2017, San Zaw Htway, a Myanmar artist famous for his collages made from recycled plastic bags and also a former political prisoner, succumbed to a liver ailment in a Yangon hospital. Known for his humility and the promotion of his collage techniques among children, including those in internally displaced person camps, the 44-year-old had been diagnosed with advanced liver cancer brought on by the dire prison conditions he endured as a political prisoner and poor healthcare following his release. Here is his profile, published in the October 2014 edition of the Irrawaddy Magazine.

YANGON — Give him plastic bags of any color, and this former political prisoner will turn them into a work of art.

Instead of acrylic paint and brushes, San Zaw Htway opts to work with not only plastic bags, but also cardboard, instant coffee packets and other recycled goods. He taught himself to make painting-like collages with these materials while he was serving time under the former military regime.

"They're all I need," boasted the 40-year-old, pointing to scissors and adhesive containers littered across the floor of his studio in Rangoon. In one corner of the second-floor studio sits of a pile of smoothed plastic wrappings that otherwise would have been destined for a garbage can.

The article 'From Plastic, Ex-political Prisoner Makes Art' as it appeared in The Irrawaddy Magazine's October 2014 issue.

Since his release from prison in 2012, San Zaw Htway has held five solo shows in Burma, in addition to teaching his collage techniques to orphans and children living with HIV.

Now his work is gaining international attention. He has been shortlisted for the 2014 Artraker Award, which recognizes artists who are making a difference in highly challenging environments. The works of 12 candidates from 10 countries, including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, will be exhibited from Sept. 18-25 at London's a/political gallery.

"Being shortlisted means a lot to me because recycled collage art is still not well embraced in Burma," said San Zaw Htway at his home, while preparing for his trip to the capital of England.

A collage by San Zaw Htway.(Photo: The Irrawaddy)

"Despite my access to paint and brushes now, I still stick to recycled collage art because it's environmentally sustainable and I want the art trend to develop in Burma," he added.

Painting was a childhood hobby for San Zaw Htway. When he was sentenced to 36 years in prison for his anti-government political activities in 1999, he was only a college freshman majoring in history. He spent 13 years in prison, during which time he was put in solitary confinement and he went on hunger strikes.

Burmese prisons are notorious for their squalid conditions and restrictions on prisoners' rights, with even reading and writing prohibited. San Zaw Htaw said he saw art as a way to defy prison authorities. "I intentionally did it to show them that they can't control everything in our lives," he said. "But the problem was how to make it happen, since painting materials were not allowed."

The student activist decided to make collages with materials within his reach. When his family sent him foods wrapped in plastic bags, he turned the bags into a canvas on which he plastered colorful cuttings from instant coffee packets and shampoo sachets. He scavenged prison garbage cans for plastic sheets in colors that caught his eye. He washed them, smoothed them out and applied them onto the makeshift canvas with the help of a smuggled scissor and glue.

A collage by San Zaw Htway.(Photo: The Irrawaddy)

Working late at night under the faint glow of a light bulb that dangled on the ceiling of the corridor outside his cell, he was careful to hide his work from prison authorities, taking days to finish a single collage. He produced portraits of Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi and collages of peacocks, the emblem of Burmese student and democracy movements. Some of his works reflected his longing for freedom, including "Blue Moon on the Highway," one the three collages that have been chosen for the exhibition in London.

"I was lying awake one night in 2009 and I heard the occasional swishes of buses on the highway outside the prison. I felt a surge of longing to be on one of those buses, so I poured out my feeling onto the collage," he said.

Htein Lin, a prominent Burmese contemporary artist and another former political prisoner, said San Zaw Htway's nomination for the Artraker Award and his participation in the exhibition would be a source of pride for Burmese artists and their country.

A collage by San Zaw Htway.(Photo: The Irrawaddy)

"I like his recycled artwork, not only for its promotion of environmental sustainability, but also for its reflection of an important message behind all forms of prison artwork: You can lock up our bodies, but not our emotions and our creativity," he said.

Apart from being a collage artist, San Zaw Htway is a counselor for former political prisoners and their families. Earlier this year he joined a training program—organized by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) with support from Johns Hopkins University—and now he offers counseling sessions five days per week.

"As a former political prisoner myself, I know very well to what extent we and our families have been mentally affected by what we faced for years. Counseling is one of the best ways to cure their traumas," he said.

When asked how he felt to be participating in the exhibition in London, he said he was happy.

"My prison experience has taught me that no matter how dire the situation is, there is a way to achieve what you want to do," he said. "That is my message to anyone who sees my art."

The post Ex-Political Prisoner Makes Art From Plastic Refuse appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suspects in Firearms Haul Brought to Trial

Posted: 04 Jan 2018 10:00 PM PST

NAYPYITAW — U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San, the chairman of ACE Co and son of the sports minister during U Thein Sein's administration, and seven accomplices were brought to trial on Wednesday for the first time in a Naypyitaw court since they were detained in connection with a haul of firearms in October.

Police detained U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San and two ACE employees at Naypyitaw Airport on Oct. 15 after discovering 12 yaba tablets, 1.5 grams of methamphetamine, two pistols and 72 bullets in U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San's backpack.

Further investigations led to the seizure of around 30 firearms, bullets and drugs from ACE hotel, company property, and U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San's houses in Naypyitaw and Yangon.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has since taken over the case and has charged 15 individuals including U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San on 17 counts of illegal possession of firearms and illicit drugs and other charges including Article 67 of the Telecommunications Law for keeping walkie-talkies and Article 8 of the Export/Import Law for keeping drones.

Other charges includes Article 61(a) of the State Secrets Act for the unauthorized use of the National Security Council (NSC) logo on cars, and possession of bullet-proof jackets and camouflage jackets with SWAT badges similar to those worn by the bodyguards of President U Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, according to the Home Affairs Ministry.

A suspect identified as Kyaw Chan Nyein is still at large and cross-questioning of U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San will start at later trials, which are scheduled to be held every Wednesday, said U Hla Win, the judge of Dekkhinathiri District Court.

"We've issued a warrant for him," U Khin Maung Htwe, the deputy district judge, told reporters.

U Phyo Phyo Tint San appeared to be in good health at the district court on Wednesday.

According to the police, violation of Article 67 of the Telecommunications Law is punishable by one year's imprisonment, Article 8 of the Export/Import Law, three years' imprisonment, and Article 61(a) State Secrets Act, two years' imprisonment.

U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San, according to the initial investigation, had been planning to establish a security company, though none of the existing laws allows for the provision of armed security services by private companies.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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China to Create New Forests Covering Area the Size of Ireland

Posted: 04 Jan 2018 09:03 PM PST

SHANGHAI — China will plant new forests covering an area roughly the size of Ireland this year as it aims to increase forest coverage to 23 percent of its total landmass by the end of the decade, China Daily reported on Friday.

Planting trees has become a key part of China's efforts to improve its environment and tackle climate change, and the government has pledged to raise total coverage from 21.7 percent to 23 percent over the 2016-2020 period, said the China Daily, citing the country's top forestry official.

Zhang Jianlong, head of the State Forestry Administration, said at a meeting on Thursday that China would aim to grow at least 6.66 million hectares of new forest this year.

He said 33.8 million hectares of forest had been planted nationwide over the last five years, with a total investment of more than 538 billion yuan ($82.88 billion), bringing the country's total forest area to 208 million hectares.

Three new state forests with a total area of 483,000 hectares would also be built in the new Xiongan development zone in Hebei province, he said.

The heavily polluted Hebei, which surrounds the capital Beijing, has also pledged to raise total forest coverage to 35 percent by the end of 2020.

China, which has to feed a quarter of the global population using just 7 percent of the world's arable land, has long struggled to strike a balance between industrial growth, maximizing food production and protecting its environment.

The government is currently promoting an "ecological red line" program that will force provinces and regions to restrict "irrational development" and curb construction near rivers, forests and national parks.

The Environment Ministry said last month that 15 provinces had already drawn up plans, with the remaining 16 aiming to do so this year, but it is not yet clear what impact the policy will have on the country's farmland.

The post China to Create New Forests Covering Area the Size of Ireland appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Apple to Issue Fix for iPhones, Macs at Risk From ‘Spectre’ Chip Flaw

Posted: 04 Jan 2018 08:04 PM PST

Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday, after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers.

On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc's Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel's stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker.

In a statement on its website, Apple said all Mac and iOS devices are affected by both Meltdown and Spectre. But the most recent operating system updates for Mac computers, Apple TVs, iPhones and iPads protect users against the Meltdown attack and do not slow down the devices, it added, and Meltdown does not affect the Apple Watch.

Macs and iOS devices are vulnerable to Spectre attacks through code that can run in web browsers. Apple said it would issue a patch to its Safari web browser for those devices "in the coming days."

Shortly after the researchers disclosed the chip flaws Wednesday, Google and Microsoft Corp released statements telling users which of their products were affected. Google said its users of Android phones – more than 80 percent of the global market – were protected if they had the latest security updates.

Apple remained silent for more than a day about the fate of the hundreds of millions of users of its iPhones and iPads. Ben Johnson, co-founder and chief strategist for cyber security firm Carbon Black, said the delay in updating customers about whether Apple's devices are at risk could affect Apple's drive to get more business customers to adopt its hardware.

"Something this severe gets the attention of all the employees and executives at a company, and when they go asking the IT and security people about it and security doesn't have an answer for iPhones and iPads, it just doesn’t give a whole lot of confidence," Johnson said.

The post Apple to Issue Fix for iPhones, Macs at Risk From 'Spectre' Chip Flaw appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

NLD Embarks on Internal Revamp Ahead of 2020 Vote

Posted: 04 Jan 2018 05:58 PM PST

YANGON — The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) plans to implement structural reforms ahead of the 2020 elections, which are expected to be the most fiercely contested in the nation's history.

At a central committee meeting at the party's Yangon headquarters on Dec. 30 and 31, the party had reviewed its performance since taking power two years ago and identified a number of shortcomings that need addressing, senior NLD members said.

Monywa Aung Shin, secretary of the NLD's Central Information Committee, said the party would restructure and reinforce its main institutions—the central, disciplinary and working committees—at all levels.

The reforms will be complete within the first six months of this year, he said.

Since the end of last year, the party has already reformed some of its central working committees including those on information, women, workers, farmers and economic issues, the committee secretary said.

To improve the party's performance on the ground, four other central working committees would be reformed, including the education and health panels, Monywa Aung Shin said.

At the last nationwide polls in 2015, voters overwhelmingly backed the NLD. But by-elections on April 1, 2017 came as a wake-up call, showing a decline in the public's faith in the party. The NLD won just nine of the 18 seats it contested, losing most of the races in heavily ethnic areas. The 50 percent win rate was in sharp contrast to its 79 percent victory two years earlier.

In a statement released Dec. 31 after the meeting, the party said it would work hard to win by-elections expected to be held this year to fill seven vacant seats in regional and national parliaments.

The country now has another viable alternative political party founded by activists involved in the student-led 8888 uprising. The main opposition group, the former ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, is also gearing up for 2020, with party leaders touring remote states and recruiting new members, while the ruling NLD has been criticized as disorganized and fractious.

According to Monywa Aung Shin, problems have arisen with party members at the state and division levels, including nepotism, failing to implement orders from headquarters and disputes between cabinet members, lawmakers and the party leadership.

"We must reform to tackle those issues," he said.

In the statement, the party said it would focus on achieving unity and harmony between the party, government and parliaments.

The party also said it would also work to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been forced to flee armed conflict. Monywa Aung Shin said it would provide resettlement and other humanitarian assistance to IDPs, especially in northern Rakhine state but also in Kachin, Shan and Karenni states.

"The government alone can't do everything. We will collaborate with NGOs and regional and state chief ministers on this," he said.

Political analyst Dr. Yan Myo Thein said that while there had been some progress on development and reform, the NLD's performance had been less than satisfactory.

"To properly implement change, they need to listen to the public more closely," Dr. Yan Myo Thein said.

NLD senior official and spokesperson U Nyan Win said that in the run-up to 2020 the party would work harder on the weaknesses and problem areas it had identified.

He said the party is also struggling to fill positions in the party left by those who have become MPs, ministers and cabinet members.

"Those past [mistakes] are lessons. We will work more effectively in the future," U Nyan Win said. "We will try our best to win the [2020] election as we did in 2015."

The post NLD Embarks on Internal Revamp Ahead of 2020 Vote appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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