Monday, March 5, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Artists’ Works Tackling Identity, Displacement on Show in Chiang Mai

Posted: 05 Mar 2018 08:11 AM PST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Works by 18 established and emerging artists from Southeast Asia offering their personal experiences of global migration, notions of identity and ongoing humanitarian crises in Myanmar are on currently on display in a group exhibition in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.

The contemporary art exhibition "Diaspora: Exit, Exile, Exodus of Southeast Asia" is open to the public at the MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum in Chiang Mai from March 4 until Oct. 1. It includes works in a range of media, including paintings, paper cut-outs, other visual arts and mixed-media installations.

Artists from Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia are participating.

At the opening of the exhibition on March 3, panel discussions were held in which the artists shared their experiences and thoughts. The discussion was led by exhibition curator Lorendana Pazzini-Paracciani, a writer and lecturer in contemporary Southeast Asian art.

Unrecorded moments of conflict

Artist Sawongwangse Yawnghwe — grandson of Myanmar's first president, Sao Shwe Thaik —portrays the conflicts in Myanmar’s ethnic areas in a section of the exhibition comprising four elements:

“War Zone in Kachin State and Northern Shan State" comprises two paintings from "Missing Archives", the artist's ongoing series dealing with what he describes as unrecorded moments of the ongoing war in northeast Burma.

The second element, the painting "Shan State Army" (2017), depicts his imagined impression of the ethnic Army as it existed in 1964.

The third and largest painting is "Peace Industrial Complex ll" (2017). Sawangwongse Yawnghwe explained that the title refers to "the network of resource and financial flows among individuals, governments, corporations, organizations and institutions engaged in peace building within Burma."

"A Spirit Vitrines (Memoirs of a Shan Exile)" is the fourth piece. According to the artist, it is "an installation of small figurines titled 'A Spirit Vitrine'. I have created hundreds of small figurines as magical amulets to be carried on the body for luck during crossings, arranged in a long procession."

He explained to The Irrawaddy that "The amulets, although used to protect [during] crossings, are arranged by myself as a representation of the crossing itself, resembling the hundreds of sights in our near history, of haggard refugees, walking in lines along the sides of highways; harassed, sometimes shot or beaten, as they walk in tired straggled lines to uncertain posts."

Sawangwongse Yawnghwe was forced into exile from his home with his father Chao Tzang Yawnghwe (or Euguen Thaik) at the age of 1, almost a decade after the 1962 military coup. He lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand, before migrating to Canada at the age of 12.

His art works are rooted in personal experiences and spotlight the ongoing humanitarian crises in Myanmar. Through his work he advocates for the recognition of minority groups' identities.

During the panel discussion, he shared memories of his early childhood as a descendent of a Shan Saopha (ruler) who was ousted by the Burmese military dictatorship in 1962, and of his father. "In my case, as an immigrant, one is shamed by poverty, by the traumatized father and mother. … Our roots are ripped out… the place I left is no longer the same and I am no longer the same," he told the audience.

When Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won the election in 2015, he said, he was "happy to come back to the country." But since the military continues to stand alongside the government, "We do not trust them; we continue to be persecuted."

He added that "Aung San Suu Kyi does not represent the ethnic minorities of Burma; in her they have no voice. Aung San Suu Kyi has proved herself to be a bad leader."

During the panel's discussion, he highlighted the government's oppression of journalists and the plight of "over 600,000 Rohingya" sheltering in Bangladesh, referring to the displaced Muslim populations of northern Rakhine State who have sought refuge over the border, following the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army's attack on 30 security posts in Aug. 25 and the subsequent clearance operations by the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw.

He urged an end to the military's persecution of and human rights violations against ethnic minorities and called for the public to devote themselves to "giving witness" so that responsibility for these actions is taken. He urged the public to continue doing so "until the genocide in Myanmar stops."

Sawangwongse Yawnghwe also discussed his Yawnghwe Office in Exile, which works with young people in Myanmar and consciously addresses politically contentious historical events through visual exploration.

"The country today is fraught with contradictions," he told The Irrawaddy. "Still known by both its historical and revisionist names [Burma and Myanmar], this state's leaders are following other neo-authoritarian Asian regimes by professing a modernist perspective toward the future while repressing awareness of the past. This strategy draws on the logic that economic growth and rising living standards will absolve the leadership of responsibility for decades of repression, corruption and economic stagnation. Such progress is unlikely to be achieved without broader national engagement and cooperation, yet this seems untenable until historical injustices are addressed."

Interactive installation

The show also features works by Myanmar visual artist and filmmaker The Maw Naing, whose installation made from 25 colorful nets titled "The In and Out of Thin Layers" is displayed in the main hall of the museum.

'The In and Out of Thin Layers', an art installation comprised of colored mosquito nets by The Maw Naing, is shown at MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo: Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy)

The Maw Naing told The Irrawaddy he wanted viewers to be able to participate in his artwork; to touch it, to feel it and to interact with his installations of mosquito nets, which are in colors of white, pink, black, grey, and red.

"I want people to feel and interact [with the art], because we did not have such experiences while the people of Burma were always neglected under the military leadership."

He developed the original concept for a work using nets in 2006, but was not able to exhibit his art under Myanmar's then-ruling junta. But he managed to use the idea in his 2014 film "The Monk", which incorporated meditative practice in the nets and has been shown at international film festivals.

The artist said previous audiences had discussed the way the nets present a sense of spirituality and search for self. He also said he plans to expand the piece to include 50-60 nets.

The Chiang Mai exhibition follows a showing of The Maw Naing's installation in Sweden in September 2016. It has not yet been shown in Myanmar, but the artist said he "would try [to produce a] show in Myanmar in the future."

The post Myanmar Artists' Works Tackling Identity, Displacement on Show in Chiang Mai appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Magwe Fire Leaves 900 Locals Homeless

Posted: 05 Mar 2018 04:53 AM PST

YANGON — A large fire that broke out in a Magwe Region village in Myanmar's dry zone on Saturday night burned more that 160 houses to the ground and left 900 people homeless, according to local sources.

The fire started at about 8:30 p.m. in Thit Gyi Taw village in Magwe's Yesagyo Township and razed167 houses before it was extinguished at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. No casualties have been reported.

U Kyaw Thura, a village administrator, told The Irrawaddy by phone that the fire started in the kitchen of a private home and quickly spread through the village as most houses in the area are made of bamboo and thatch.

He said the blaze destroyed 167 houses and displaced 900 people, including 37 students who will sit the matriculation exams starting Wednesday.

"It was so quick because the houses are close together, and also there was a strong wind," the administrator said.

He said food and other supplies were being provided to the victims by the government and charity groups, but added that it would take some time to rebuild the destroyed houses.

Magwe is one of the most vulnerable regions to fire in Myanmar because of its hot and dry conditions.

On Feb. 26 a fire in Su Tat Gyi village, in Magwe’s Myothit Township, destroyed 31 houses and displaced 145 people, according to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. The ministry said it provided the victims with about 100,000 kyats ($75) each to help them rebuild their homes along with rice and other supplies.

U Tin Thaung, a Magwe Regional lawmaker representing Yesagyo, said the students will be supplied with books and accommodations by the regional government so they can study for their exams.

"Because it [Thit Gyi Taw] is located in the northernmost part of the township, it is far from the center, including the fire stations. Besides that, it also had a water shortage problem," U Tin Thaung said.

He said the nearest fire station was 20 minutes away and that the township’s main fire station was at least a half-hour drive.

"When the hot season comes, there is a greater risk of fire. We can't say it wouldn’t happen, but if there was a fire station nearby it would reduce the loss," the lawmaker said. "The loss was worse because there is no fire station nearby."

U Tin Thaung said there were only three fire stations in his constituency and that he had asked Parliament for more but was turned town on the grounds that the region could not afford it.

"I hope the fire now proves the need," he said.

The post Magwe Fire Leaves 900 Locals Homeless appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Bagan Temple Damaged in August Earthquake Collapses

Posted: 05 Mar 2018 04:47 AM PST

MANDALAY – A temple in Bagan's archaeological zone collapsed on Sunday as a result of damage sustained in an earthquake last year.

Three sides of the main structure at Temple No. 1,066, located near the Sein Nyat Sisters pagodas, developed cracks during the earthquake on Aug. 24, 2017. The Department of Archaeology and National Museum had reinforced the temple after the quake, but the work could not prevent the collapse.

According to the department, the cracked walls were themselves replacements built in late 1996 during major restorations of the ancient ruins of pagodas and temples in Bagan.

"The new walls on three sides of the square temple were cracked during the earthquake. We braced it with temporary iron belts. However, cracks in the base [of the structure] meant that it could not sustain the weight above it, causing the collapse," explained U Aung Aung Kyaw, director of the department's Bagan office.

The department is consulting with experts on how to handle the remaining ruins of Temple No. 1,066 in order to avoid a repeat of the mistakes made in the past.

"The original wall and entrance of the temple are still standing. We are only cleaning up the area and consulting with experts on how to maintain it," U Aung Aung Kyaw added.

Authorities are currently in the process of applying for UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Bagan.

The department said the incident would not affect the ongoing submission of Bagan's initial application for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Experts have ensured that the process meets all requirements, it said.

Starting in 1996, major restoration work was done on over 800 of Bagan's ruined ancient pagodas and temples. The renovation and rebuilding work was widely criticized, with many experts saying their suggestions that the site not be renovated had been ignored by authorities.

Local experts said technical teams were in Bagan to help maintain earthquake-hit pagodas. They believed the mistakes of the past would not be repeated.

"We don't want to dwell on the mistakes of the past. But now, the technical expert teams are in the right place and providing assistance, and government officials are listening to them. We believe this will achieve the best result and allow us to avoid repeating past mistakes," said U Sun Oo, president of the Association of Myanmar Architects.

Some 389 pagodas and temples out of a total of 3,252 in Bagan were affected by the earthquake.

Bagan, the country's major tourist attraction, is home to pagodas and temples dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

The post Bagan Temple Damaged in August Earthquake Collapses appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Kachin Locals Protest Draft Myanmar Gemstone Law

Posted: 05 Mar 2018 02:18 AM PST

YANGON — More than 500 locals in Kachin State's Myitkyina took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the draft Myanmar Gemstone Law 2017, stating that the draft law does not consider the interests of local residents.

The protest was led by three Kachin parties—the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP), Kachin Democratic Party (KDP), and Kachin National Congress (KNC).

"There was neither consultation with locals nor negotiation with Kachin parties," said Bran Awng, a spokesperson for the three Kachin parties that led the protest.

The government has announced the draft law in government-run newspapers to seek public feedback and suggestions. "So, we made suggestions. None were taken. That's why we took to the streets," said Bran Awng.

Protesters held placards reading: "Kachin State's jade belongs to Kachin people and ethnic citizens," "We don't want large-scale mines," and "We want equal rights in the mining sector for Kachin people and ethnic citizens."

The draft Myanmar Gemstone Law does not provide rights or opportunities for local residents in jade- and gem-rich Kachin State and representatives of Kachin parties, Kachin literature and culture associations, law experts, and officials of the Myitkyina Gem Merchants Association held rounds of discussion in 2017 and submitted six recommendations to the Union Parliament, said Bran Awng.

Lawmakers of the Lower House and Upper House met Kachin delegates and discussed the proposed recommendations. But when the Parliament made public the draft law for feedback, those proposed recommendations were not included.

Among the proposed recommendations were the restriction of heavy machinery in mining and the use of small- and medium-scale machinery instead, the grouping of mining zones into small, medium and prospector zones, and mining monitoring committees at states and regional levels that would include 60 percent local representatives.

Recommendations also called for 30 percent local representatives on jade and gems evaluation committees, a reduction of tax on rubies, sapphires, jade and diamonds from 20 percent to 10 percent, and the inclusion of local representatives on the mining supervisory central committee and in state and regional level committees.

According to the draft law, a 20 percent tax is levied on rubies, sapphires, jade and diamonds and 10 percent on other gemstones.

The draft law has no provision regarding the restriction of heavy machinery in mining, said Dr. Manan Tuja, chairman of the KSDP.

"Revenues from resources have barely been used to benefit locals. We want decentralization in the draft law. We intend to attract the attention of Parliament by staging a protest. I hope lawmakers will change their decision," said Dr. Manan Tuja.

The law was enacted in 1995 and was amended for the first time in 2003 under the State Peace and Development Council government and for a second time in 2016 under President U Thein Sein's government. The third amendment is being debated in the Upper House.

The post Kachin Locals Protest Draft Myanmar Gemstone Law appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Harley-Davidson Opens Showroom in Mandalay

Posted: 05 Mar 2018 12:40 AM PST

MANDALAY — The American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson opened its first authorized showroom and service center in Myanmar on Saturday in Mandalay.

Mandalay has drawn the attention of motorcycle dealers, with numerous motorcycle clubs and riders.

"With Myanmar's recent economic development and a large community of riders in Mandalay, it was a logical place for us to start our business in the country," said Johan Kleinsteuber, managing director of Harley-Davidson Asia Emerging Markets.

At the authorized dealer in Mandalay, Harley-Davidson lovers can order their favorite bikes from the United States. Spare parts and other accessories including branded clothing are also available at the store.

A service center is also attached to the showroom, for easy access to maintenance and repairs.

"Harley-Davidson is the top choice brand for Myanmar bikers and the quality is exceptional, but it is often difficult to repair and maintain the bikes," said Ko Lin Ko Ko Tint, an authorized dealer at the Harley-Davidson in Mandalay.

"Before, when a biker wanted a Harley, it had to be purchased from Thailand, which was expensive. At the new showroom, motorcycles can be purchased at a reasonable price, including warranties, he explained.

Although the US ended sanctions, investment in Myanmar still remains low. Apart from Harley-Davidson, some major American brands such as Coca-Cola, Gap, KFC and Pizza Hut launched in the country in recent years.

"Business ties between the US and Myanmar are increasing. Harley-Davidson is a favorite among US bikers and opening this showroom will strengthen those ties. I hope Burmese bikers will enjoy their rides," said Scot Marciel, the US ambassador to Myanmar, in his remarks at the showroom opening.

The post Harley-Davidson Opens Showroom in Mandalay appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP Denies Ties to Detained Ex-lawmaker Accused of Funding ARSA

Posted: 05 Mar 2018 12:34 AM PST

NAYPYITAW — The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) said it has nothing to do with a man detained by police last week for allegedly funding the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

Aung Zaw Win, 55, the owner of Yangon-based Shine Construction Co. Ltd., was arrested at the Yangon International Airport on Wednesday on his way to Thailand.

He was a USDP lawmaker representing Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township in the Lower House from 2010 to 2015, during the government of U Thein Sein.

According to two suspects arrested in connection to the violence in northern Rakhine State in 2016, the Nga Khu Ya police station in Rakhine had opened a case against Aung Zaw Win for murder and causing grievous harm and other offenses under the Public Property Protection Act, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Associations Act.

USDP spokesman U Nanda Hla Myint said Aung Zaw Win had resigned from the party before 2015.

"Aung Zaw Win and [Rohingya rights activist and former Lower House lawmaker for Rakhine State’s Buthidaung Township] U Shwe Maung have already resigned from the party. When I took my post [as USDP spokesman], they had already left the party," he said.

At Naypyitaw's request, Dhaka handed over two suspects receiving medical care in Bangladesh who reportedly told investigators that Aung Zaw Win had funded ARSA, said U Zaw Htay, director-general of the President's Office.

"Based on their testimony, the judge issued an arrest warrant for Aung Zaw Win. But he was at large and finally arrested on Feb. 28, when he tried to go to Bangkok," U Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy.

He said police were still investigating Aung Zaw Win and had yet to hand him over to the court. The Maungdaw District Court issued the arrest warrant in 2016 and declared him a fugitive last year.

Ethnic affairs analyst U Maung Maung Soe claimed that all the necessities for the more than 700,000 Muslims in Maungdaw were being delivered directly from Yangon, though he was not sure whether ARSA was involved.

"According to the information I've gathered, trade in all necessary goods for all the Bengalis over the past six years since 2012 was controlled by Yangon. The government should conduct an in-depth investigation to find out who was involved and to what extent they were involved," he said.

Many people in Myanmar refer to the Rohingya as Bengali, implying they are not a distinct ethnic group with legitimate ties to Myanmar but illegal immigrants from Bangladesh even though many families have lived in Rakhine State for generations.

U Tun Kyi, a Muslim and a former political prisoner, said he denounced any form of violence and any individual, organization and religion that supports violence.

"I grew up in this country and have decided to protect its independence and sovereignty at the cost of my life. So I accept no terrorist organization," he said.

Though Myanmar enacted a Counter-Terrorism Law in 2014, U Tun Kyi said it has rarely been applied. He cited the January 2017 assassination of prominent Muslim lawyer and NLD legal adviser U Ko Ni at the Yangon International Airport, in which case the alleged gunman, Kyi Lin, has been charged with murder but not under the Counter-Terrorism Law.

He also criticized the recent arrest of Arakan National Council executive committee member Ko Naing Soe over a bomb attack that injured a police officer in Rakhine State in late February.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post USDP Denies Ties to Detained Ex-lawmaker Accused of Funding ARSA appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Boosts Defense Spending Amid Military Modernization

Posted: 04 Mar 2018 08:36 PM PST

BEIJING — China unveiled its largest rise in defense spending in three years on Monday, setting an 8.1 percent growth target compared to 2017, fueling the country’s ambitious military modernization program amid rising Chinese security concerns.

The 2018 defense budget will be 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion), according to a report issued at the opening of the country’s annual meeting of Parliament.

The defense spending figure is closely watched around the world for clues to China’s strategic intentions as it develops new military capabilities, including stealth fighters, aircraft carriers and anti-satellite missiles.

China will “advance all aspects of military training and war preparedness, and firmly and resolvedly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests”, Premier Li Keqiang said in an address at Parliament’s opening session.

“Faced with profound changes in the national security environment” the absolute leadership of the military by the ruling Communist Party must be observed, and the unity between the government and the military and the people and the military must always be “strong as stone,” he said. The 2018 defense spending increase comes as China’s economic growth expanded 6.9 percent last year, the first acceleration in annual growth since 2010. But China kept its 2018 economic growth target at around 6.5 percent, said Li, the same as in 2017 despite exceeding that year’s target.

Last year, defense spending was set to increase by just 7 percent, to 1.044 trillion yuan ($164.60 billion), about one-quarter of the proposed US defense spending for the year. In 2016, it grew by 7.6 percent.

“The pace and scale of this buildup is really dramatic. It is extremely alarming for Australia and many other countries in the region,” said Sam Roggeveen, Visiting Fellow at the Strategic and Defense Studies Center, Australian National University in Canberra.

“There is every indication that China wants to expand what it will call defense capabilities in the South China Sea. I expect eventually we will see warships and aircraft there regularly, if not based there permanently. What is unclear, however, is whether the United States will want to rise to that challenge.”

Hidden Spending

China does not provide a breakdown of how it allocates its defense budget, leading neighbors and other military powers to complain that Beijing’s lack of transparency has added to regional tensions.

Diplomats say China’s defense numbers likely underestimate true military spending for the People’s Liberation Army, the world’s largest armed forces, which are in the midst of an impressive modernization program overseen by President Xi Jinping.

One senior Asia diplomat, speaking before the announcement was made, said the real rise would likely be at least double what China revealed considering efforts to build up the industrial military complex and deepen military-civilian integration.

“Some spending will be hidden in civilian spending,” said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

China’s military buildup has rattled the nerves of its neighbors, particularly because it has taken an increasingly assertive stance in its territorial disputes in the East and South China seas and over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own.

With worries about potential disputes with the United States in the region, China’s military had mounted what defense sources and diplomats viewed as a lobbying campaign for more spending.

US President Donald Trump has proposed a military budget that is the largest since 2011 and focused on beefing up the country’s nuclear defenses and countering the growing strength of China and Russia.

The proposal, part of Trump’s budget request for the US government, would provide the Pentagon $617 billion and an additional $69 billion to fund ongoing wars in fiscal year 2019. That is $74 billion more than in the budget for the previous fiscal year.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui on Sunday said China’s “moderate” defense spending rises in the past few years are less than other major countries and will not threaten anyone.

The post China Boosts Defense Spending Amid Military Modernization appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

India’s Ruling Party Emerges Stronger After Polls in Northeast

Posted: 04 Mar 2018 08:26 PM PST

NEW DELHI — India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Saturday consolidated its position in the country's northeast after a landslide election victory in Tripura, ending 25 years of communist rule in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP and its allies are also ahead in the Christian-dominated mountainous state of Nagaland, while opposition Congress-ruled Meghalaya is heading for a fractured verdict.

Elections were held only in the states of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, where about nine million Indians live, according to the 2011 census. The three states have about 5.6 million voters, according to the election commission’s website.

With Saturday's victory, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will gain control over five of the seven northeastern states reshaping the political landscape of the region bordering Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Modi, who had extensively campaigned in the three states, attributed the win to the development work by his party and its allies.

"Time and again, election after election, the people of India are reposing their faith in the positive and development oriented agenda of the NDA," Modi tweeted.

The NDA already controls Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Congress-ruled Mizoram will vote later this year.

Congress leader Kamal Nath told reporters that his party is hopeful of forming the government in Meghalaya with support from other parties.

With control of Tripura and Nagaland, the right-wing BJP and its allies rule 21 of India's 29 states, boosting its prospects for a win in the federal elections scheduled for 2019.

India's main opposition Congress party, which has ruled the country for most of the time since independence in 1947, is now reduced to ruling three states.

The southern state of Karnataka, one of the bigger states ruled by the Congress, goes to the polls later this year.

"Victory after victory is a positive sign. This has boosted our confidence even more for 2019," BJP president Amit Shah said.

The post India's Ruling Party Emerges Stronger After Polls in Northeast appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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