Thursday, June 7, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Times Founder Ross Dunkley Arrested in Large Meth Seizure

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 08:07 AM PDT

YANGON – Yangon police arrested Australian national Ross Dunkley, the co-founder and former chief editor of the Yangon-based Myanmar Times newspaper, in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine pills and crystal methamphetamine at his apartment in Bahan Township early Thursday morning.

The township's police chief, Police Major Thein Win, confirmed to The Irrawaddy that Dunkley was apprehended with 797 yaba pills and 303 grams of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice", at his rented residence in San Yay Twin Street.

Maj Thein Win said police had opened a case against Dunkley under the Sections 19 (a), 20 (a) and 21 (a) of the Anti-Narcotics Law. The multiple charges are punishable by an unlimited jail term or the death penalty.

Some Burmese-language publications reported that one foreigner and six local people, including some women, appeared handcuffed at the Bahan police station. It was unclear what the other detainees are accused of.

According to police, the suspects were remanded for detention on Thursday. Further investigation will be conducted before they are sent to court.

The arrest of Dunkley caused a stir among local netizens, coming as anti-narcotics police hunt suspects linked to a record drug bust in Malaysia's Port Kelang last month and a day after they arrested one of the chief suspects, Haj Yassin, aka Maung Maung, in Mandalay Division. Netizens were speculating whether the Dunkley case was somehow linked with the Malaysian drug haul, as Haj Yassin was believed to have links with foreign drug groups.

Maj Thein Win denied there was any connection, saying: "This case has nothing to do with Maung Maung. In fact, he [Dunkley] is a drug user rather than a drug dealer."

Australian Ambassador to Myanmar Nicholas Coppel told The Irrawaddy, "I have no information on this at this stage."

Dunkley established the Myanmar Times in 2000 in a partnership with Sonny Swe, the son of a notorious senior Myanmar military intelligence (MI) officer, Brigadier-General Thein Swe, with the permission of then spy chief Khin Nyunt. At the time, investing in Myanmar was extremely difficult for foreigners.

However, the entire MI was disbanded by then junta leader Senior-General Than Shwe in 2004. Khin Nyunt and many senior MI officers were imprisoned, including Thein Swe, who was sentenced to more than 100 years while Sonny Swe — now CEO of Black Knight Media and founder of Frontier Myanmar media house — was jailed for 14 years for failing to provide the publications' reports to the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division.

The Myanmar Times is currently owned by Pepsi U Thein Tun and publishes both Burmese and English language versions.

In 2011, Dunkley was sentenced to prison for about one month for assaulting and drugging a 29-year-old woman he met at a nightclub after bringing her to his Inya Road home. He was released after sentencing as his time in detention during the trial was taken into account.

The post Myanmar Times Founder Ross Dunkley Arrested in Large Meth Seizure appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi’s UEHRD Adviser Offers Services for Free

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 06:13 AM PDT

YANGON — The newly appointed adviser to the chairperson of the Committee of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine (UEHRD) said Thursday he would donate his time to the organization for free.

U Toe Oung, a former UN-World Food Programofficer, commented under his Facebook post which he shared regarding his appointment on the State Counselor's Office: "Please be informed that I am contributing my labor free to our beloved country at no cost to the people's budget."

He confirmed the comment to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, adding that his advice would cover "all relevant issues."

Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday appointed U Toe Oung as an adviser to her in her capacity as UEHRD chairperson. Her office described the adviser's role as providing support to the committee in carrying out its activities and duties.

UEHRD was formed by presidential order in October 2017, with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as its chairperson.  A private-public Union enterprise, its three main goals are "providing humanitarian assistance, carrying out resettlement and rehabilitation, and working for development in Rakhine State."

The State Counselor's appointment of U Toe Oung, 74, has raised a few eyebrows, as he is related to her.

U Toe Oung is a son-in-law of the late U Ba Win, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's eldest uncle. Serving as the minister of trade in the interim government of Burma in 1947, U Ba Win became one of the nine Martyrs of Myanmar when he was killed during the assassination of his younger brother, General Aung San, on July 19 of that year.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy, sources close to U Toe Oung downplayed the familial relationship between him and the state counselor, insisting that U Toe Oung is a principled man known for his deal-making skills and familiarity with UN procedures.

U Toe Oung worked with the UN agency from 1983 to 2006 as a legal, financial and consulting expert. His final position at the World Food Program was as head of finance at its office in North Korea from 2003-06. He studied at the Yangon Institute of Economics.

Political analyst Dr. Yan Myo Thein said that in principle, the appointment of an adviser was a positive development, as the state counselor herself already has her hands full and "needs someone who can interact with the people on the ground on her behalf."

"I welcome the appointment of an adviser. Indeed, the president, the state counselor and the Cabinet need more experts to serve as advisers to them and who can listen to different perspectives," he told The Irrawaddy.

However, he added that it would be preferable if advisers on issues related to Rakhine State, including the work of UEHRD, were themselves ethnic Rakhine, as securing the cooperation of local residents will be crucial if UEHRD is to achieve its goal of resettling and rehabilitating Muslim communities in northern Rakhine.

In August 2017, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a militant group, staged a series of attacks on official security posts that left a number of Myanmar security personnel dead. Subsequent clearance operations by the military forced nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee into neighboring Bangladesh.

The UEHRD is preparing to provide humanitarian and resettlement assistance to those who fled Buthitaung and Maungdaw townships in northern Rakhine state.

The post Suu Kyi's UEHRD Adviser Offers Services for Free appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP Proposes Suu Kyi Lead Rakhine Investigation

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 03:57 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — The opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has urged State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to head the government's independent investigation commission to investigate the issues in Rakhine State.

The President's Office announced on May 31 that it would establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations and related issues following attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

The commission will consist of three people including an international member, and be assisted by local and international legal and technical experts.

"I would suggest that [the commission] be headed by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is not lower in rank than the so-called international member, and comprise local legal experts and eminent persons," USDP lawmaker U Maung Myint told the Union Parliament on Wednesday as he seconded his peer USDP lawmaker U Sai Kyaw Moe's proposal.

In his urgent proposal, U Sai Kyaw Moe urged the government to establish the commission only with local experts in order to show respect for the sovereignty of the state and integrity of its citizens.

U Maung Myint suggested that if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is busy with other state duties, she can assign it to ex-general Thura U Shwe Mann, who was a parliamentary speaker and is now the chairman of the Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission, and former Maj-Gen U Khin Aung Myint, who was also a parliamentary speaker and is now an Upper House lawmaker.

"If we accept foreign intervention in the internal affairs of our country, it will only increase and undermine the sovereignty of our country over time. So, I call for it [forming the commission with local eminent persons] in consideration of national interests," he added.

U Sai Kyaw Moe said it is not fair to only investigate what happened after the ARSA attacks, but that the investigation should start with the attacks.

Relying on foreign personalities only further complicates the problem, he said, citing the example of the Rakhine State Advisory Commission led by Kofi Annan.

A United Nations Security Council delegation visited Myanmar in early May and urged the government to launch a transparent investigation into human right violations in line with the law.

Although the government previously resisted the international community's interference in Rakhine issue, it seems to have come under considerable pressure as the issue has reached the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court, which is likely why it decided to include an eminent person acceptable to the international community, said Rakhine affairs analyst U Maung Maung Soe.

"I think the government should exercise caution as it is a sensitive issue that has reached the international stage. Rather than discussing the question of if a foreigner should be included in the commission, we have to create a situation that is acceptable to the international community," said U Maung Maung Soe.

The Lower House approved discussion of the USDP's urgent proposal, and the debate is scheduled for Friday.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post USDP Proposes Suu Kyi Lead Rakhine Investigation appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

On Nagaland, New Delhi Must Move Beyond Window Dressing

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 03:51 AM PDT

Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Lungwa in Nagaland's Mon district on the India-Myanmar border on May 30 was aimed at boosting the morale of both the Indian security forces guarding this treacherous terrain and the residents of Nagaland's Mon district, perhaps to assuage their fears that their land is in danger of being carved up by artificial boundaries. However, the defense minister's visit (which came close on the heels of a series of stories by The Irrawaddy concerning the plight of local residents along the India-Myanmar border in Nagaland) was unfortunately marred by some unpleasant incidents soon after her departure for New Delhi.

On June 5, an armed Underground Group (UG) attacked a security post in Mon district's Lampong Sheanghah village manned by soldiers from the Assam Rifles, an Indian paramilitary unit. An Assam Rifles soldier was wounded in the pre-dawn attack. So far no armed groups have claimed responsibility for the incident, but the Indian military suspects it to be the handiwork of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K). The incident comes at a very difficult time, with the peace process being negotiated by Naga armed groups and the government delicately poised. The government hopes to deliver its much-touted solution to the protracted Naga conflict before the next monsoon session of the Indian Parliament.

The Indian government signed a ceasefire with the leading Naga armed rebel group, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM), on July 25, 1997. Peace negotiations have had their share of ups and downs since then, with more than 80 rounds of talks paving the way for a "framework agreement" that was signed on Aug. 3, 2015. Six other groups under the banner of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) have joined the peace dialogue.

Outreach Strategy

 The defense minister's visit to the security post at Lungwa and her attempt to freely mix with the Konyak Naga locals generated a certain amount of goodwill among local residents and Naga groups in general. Her visit to the house of the Konyak village chief, Angh Longwa, whose kitchen straddles the India-Myanmar border, left Sitharaman amused, prompting a tweet from her as she ventured across the line.

Though her visit lasted for only a few hours, locals appreciated her willingness to listen to their concerns regarding a proposed fence by Myanmar along the border, and India's security measures in the area. Sources in the Indian Defense Ministry who accompanied the minister informed this writer that New Delhi had taken note of the recent reports published in The Irrawaddy that examined the challenges faced by residents of Dan village (in Nagaland's Noklak district) owing to harassment by security forces, and the threats posed to the natural environment of the Khiumniungan Nagas. The harmful consequences on the traditional system of livelihood — "jhum" (shifting) cultivation which feeds thousands of people in this extremely difficult and challenging topography — was also highlighted by the local elected representative and community leaders.

The Naga peace process is in its final leg and may soon be ready to deliver a peace accord. Following her visit, Sitharaman barely had time to get back to work in her South Block office in New Delhi and start discussing alternatives to the proposed fence to ensure the process is not derailed, when the June 5 attack occurred. The incident has left the Indian administration understandably anxious and there is already talk of a fresh review of the situation on the ground.

Challenges Ahead

 On the ground, however, there have been strong reactions from various Naga groups. For instance, the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO) and the Konyak Students Union (KSU) were among the first to voice their opinions. The ENPO condemned the incident, sending out a reminder of its Dec. 18, 2007, Tuensang Resolution, which declares that "the public of Eastern Nagaland are opposed to any form of violence, threats, intimidations or bloodshed within its jurisdiction, Eastern Nagaland." The KSU demanded that those responsible for the incident "state publicly" the reason for "causing such atrocities upon the peaceful soil of the Konyaks."

Both these organizations were perhaps echoing what others have been saying, that the return of peace is paramount to Nagaland. An ENPO press release appealed for peace and tranquillity and for all parties "to honor the same in the interest of peace in the region in particular and the entire state in general." The KSU was a bit more aggressive in its reaction, saying it failed to comprehend why the assailants stormed the Village Guard (VG) camp. In fact, the VG camp is located adjacent to the Assam Rifles post. "Village guards are the protectors of the village. Their sole duty is to maintain a peaceful environment within its confined jurisdiction. Such atrocities upon the Konyak VGs are not expected," KSU President Manlip Konyak and General Secretary Honang Konyak said in a statement.

But the question to ask is, can such incidents be prevented? Besides attacks by armed groups, be it the NCSN-K or any other, there have also been sporadic clashes between villagers and security forces. Only days before, as Defense Minister Sitharaman was contemplating a visit to the Pangsha area in Noklak, an angry mob of hundreds of villagers picked up their daos (machete) and chopped down the bamboo gates of a Assam Rifles post near Dan village after personnel at the post refused a request from the local village council to allow a village vehicle to pass and collect timber from a nearby forested area. "Such small incidents can be big for locals and it can cause a major conflict as was almost the case the other day," said Hempao Lam, a church leader from the area.

"I am not surprised by the recent incident in Mon, and there is a possibility that such types of incidents will erupt again," said Rosemary Dzuvichu, an adviser to the Naga Mothers Association (NMA), the state's largest grassroots women's organization, during a conversation with this writer. Though the identity of those responsible for the recent attacks is yet to be fully ascertained, the message that goes out is for the government to rethink its peace strategy in Nagaland and reach out to all other groups that are not part of it, especially the NSCN-K.

Stating the position of the NMA peace team, Dzuvichu said, "We have been very clear that if there is going to be any peace dialogue and bringing them [NSCN-K] back into the ceasefire, we really need to consider lifting the ban on the organization. There has to be some give and take before you can request them to come back to the ceasefire." She added, "These are serious things that the government needs to understand. Just because you are talking with major groups you simply cannot wipe away this major group that's across the border."

The outfit, which predominantly operates out of Lahe, Lay Shi and Nanyun in Sagaing Region of Myanmar, was banned by New Delhi after it abrogated in 2015 a bilateral truce signed with India in 2001 and has since been involved in offensives against Indian security forces. It attended the 21st Century Panglong peace conference in Myanmar but has not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

The NMA adviser said the Lampong Sheanghah village incident should serve as "a wake-up call" for New Delhi and warned against anything that is tantamount to window dressing only. Her sentiments echo those of many other Naga scholars and peace activists who feel that there have been too many encounters between the Indian security forces and the NSCN-K. "It's been a waste of life," she said. Dzuvichu has no qualms about voicing her skepticism over Defense Minister Sitharaman's visit, saying, "We have to wait and see what is the outcome of her visit. I am quite skeptical of what is happening."

"We have been the people who have been visiting the borders," she said. "It is very clear that the Indian government has no interest in building up relationships with whatever organizations are there. We know what has been going in the borders, the violence, the killings, the clashes between the NSCN-K and the army. A lot of it is also fake encounters. In such a situation we really cannot say how serious the government of India is."

This helps explain why many Naga intellectuals and even members of the various Naga tribes say that a visit now and then from a minister does not make any difference.

What might make a difference would be if New Delhi started to take seriously the consultations it has had with the different Naga organizations (including the NMA) regarding making the peace dialogue an inclusive process. NMA representatives have had meetings with Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his deputy, Kiren Rijiju, in this regard. Dzuvichu is of the opinion that "knowing full well what is happening in the border and not making gestures to really reach out to them [the NSCN-K leadership] is one of the biggest mistakes in the whole peace process."

The NMA adviser has, with other members of the association, trekked through treacherous terrain to meet the NSCN-K leaders at their headquarters in Myanmar a number of times in the recent past. Each time they came back there was hope that the Indian government would respond positively and revive the ceasefire with the outfit. However, so far that hasn't happened.

Holistic Engagement 

The Naga issue is sprinkled with various other concerns that could easily open up new fault lines and derail the already highly complex peace process. New Delhi has to understand that the various dots have to be connected or else the efforts (conflict transformation and peace) will be piecemeal. Thus, while a visit by Sitharaman assumes great significance for New Delhi, what is also important is that the delegation that traveled with her puts together a comprehensive report addressing all other issues surrounding the Naga peace process as inclusively as possible.

Putting aside the optics of the visit and assessing its actual impact, it would certainly be worthwhile to view this as a way forward to keep New Delhi engaged in the process of peace and reconciliation in Naga society and vice versa. That would certainly add value to the peace process and help to take it forward in the most inclusive manner possible.

Lastly, it must be said that there are many others, like the organizations that reacted strongly to the attack on the Assam Rifles post, who believe it is important for New Delhi to keep sending its emissaries, be it the defense minister or someone else. Perhaps for many it does not matter, even as India's right-wing ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tries to deepen its foothold in Nagaland for obvious political gains ahead of the 2019 general election, as long as the political future of Nagaland, which will be dictated largely by the contents of the peace accord, is not compromised.

The post On Nagaland, New Delhi Must Move Beyond Window Dressing appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Trial of Suspected Chinese Sex Workers Begins in Yangon

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 03:16 AM PDT

YANGON — A Yangon court held its first hearing on Wednesday in the case of 17 Chinese women arrested at a beauty parlor allegedly operating as a brothel in South Okkalapa Township on suspicion of being sex workers.

Acting on a tip, police raided the Oriental Spa, on Waizayandar Street, on the morning of May 22.

"The plaintiff was cross-examined today," the township’s police chief, Captain Shwe Htay, said Wednesday.

Police have filed charges against the women under Article 3 (a) and (b) of the 1949 Suppression of Prostitution Law. They have also filed charges against 10 others, including staff and the Chinese owner and manager of the establishment, under Article 5 (1), which covers pimping.

The charges carry jail terms of between one and three years in jail with hard labor.

The owner remains at large, but police have identified him and seized his passport. Cpt. Shwe Htay said police are confident he has not left the country via an airport.

He said the next hearing was scheduled for June 20, and that the Chinese Embassy has not contacted police about the Chinese women who were arrested.

"All of them have passports and visas, and their visas are business visas. They officially entered the country by air," Cpt. Shwe Htay said.

The police had initially reported that the women did not have passports or visas.

U Myint Than, a lawyer for three female Myanmar nationals also on trial, said the women, from Shan State, saw Oriental Spa’s job advertisement on social media and had been working there for only a couple of days when they were arrested and accused of pimping under Article 5 (1).

Ma Nwe New San, a clerk for Oshin, a cleaning service, said three men also arrested on May 22 were employees of the company and were cleaning the beauty parlor when police showed up.

"We are a cleaning service. They were doing overtime that day. They started cleaning around midnight and were arrested as they were about to leave after doing their job," she said.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Trial of Suspected Chinese Sex Workers Begins in Yangon appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

A Rich History Along the India-Myanmar Border

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 02:36 AM PDT

IMPHAL/MOREH, MANIPUR STATE, India — Meitei (Kathae), Kuki and Naga tribes are familiar names to Myanmar people, as well as being included on Myanmar's list of 135 ethnic groups. They live along the India-Myanmar border, primarily in Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh states in northeast India.

In Manipur, the Meitei are the majority among a population of more than 250,000, including Naga and Kuki tribes. Manipur is regarded as “little India,” because of its rich tribal cultures. Locals also refer to it as the gateway to Southeast Asia, due to its border with Myanmar.

As a democratic country, India hosts a rich diversity of tribes, religions and cultures, and its states have some administrative power. Despite being recognized as scheduled tribes – or historically disadvantaged groups – in India's Constitution, many groups in the northeast, especially the Naga and Meitei, have fought for sovereignty for more than 70 years.

The Naga and Meitei rebels have been in frequent conflict with Indian security forces, lending to unusually strict security in the state. The 12 Assam Rifles paramilitary force, police and the India Army have all been involved in handling security issues in Manipur State. When entering its capital of Imphal, the armed forces are noticeable everywhere, causing a feeling of unease for outsiders. However, locals have become familiar with the state of affairs and it doesn't seem to faze them.

The Irrawaddy reporters visited Imphal and Moreh, a border trading town adjacent to Myanmar's Tamu in Sagaing Region, in early June and took these photos to share with our readers.

Visitors view the Kangla Sha, a half lion and half dragon that serves as the state symbol of Manipur. / Chit Min Tun / The Irrawaddy

In Imphal, one should definitely visit the Kangla Fort, a historically and culturally significant palace that was later used as a fort by the British and then Indian Army. One can observe the proud history of the Meitei when touring the museum, even after the ancient buildings are long gone.

The fort holds polo grounds – a sport the Manipuri revere – that were built in 1814 by Meitei King Marjit.

The Pakhangba Temple. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

Ancient Meitei practiced Sanamahism and worshipped many deities, but many were later converted to Hinduism or Christianity. Meitei visiting temples today tend to go to pay respects, obtain blessings and listen to teachings.

Another historical place of the Meitei is the Khongjom War Memorial of 1891 in Thoubal District. It was built in memory of the late Major General Paona Brajabasi, a Meitei warrior who died fighting the British colonial army. About 36 km from Imphal, the memorial is also a place where locals come to relax while taking in the history.

Entrance to the Khongjom War Memorial. / Chit Min Tun/The Irrawaddy

Inside Imphal city, the Manipuri have honored the major general by naming the market Paona Bazaar. Inside, there is the Ima Market, or Mother's Market, where women sell vegetables, fruits and handicrafts. In the evening, the sellers use small batteries to light their shops. Locals say that men and young women generally do not become vendors, and that it is typically elderly women. Goods from along the Moreh-Tamu border can be found for sale here.

Vendors at the Paona Bazaar night market. / Nyein Nyein /The Irrawaddy

A three-hour drive through the hills from Imphal there sits the border town of Moreh. It hosts the largest border trading post on the India-Myanmar border, where the Nan Phar Lone Market is bustling with trading.

Nan Phar Lone market on the India-Myanmar border. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

Nan Phar Lone Market is at the India-Myanmar border gate no. 2. It suffered a large fire in February of this year, but the market is back to normal these days.

The Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gate seen from the India side. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

Near border gate no. 1, Indian authorities are building an integrated checkpoint for trading and immigration, which aims to transport goods across the new Asian Highway once construction is completed.

The Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge seen from the integrated checkpoint, which is still under construction. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

In Moreh town, Kuki people are the majority, but the town also hosts Meitei, Tamil and Nepalese.

Views of Moreh town. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

Locals can travel 16km across the border without restrictions, so freedom of movement has not been an issue for locals in the area.

Naga and Meitei rebels based in Myanmar along the border often attack Indian security forces in the border town. Thus, to control the border, the India and Myanmar governments have been trying to build a 1634 km border fence.

A segment of the border fence at border post no. 79, where the continuous fencing was stopped. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

Locals have objected to the fencing along the border. Naga people in the area have said that it the fence would block them from their relatives and communities across the border.

Although the local indigenous communities want freedom of movement, the Indian government has stated that it plans to move forward with the fencing project in order to maintain stability in the region.

The post A Rich History Along the India-Myanmar Border appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

TNLA Claims 3 Army Soldiers Killed in Clash in Namtu

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 01:36 AM PDT

Three Myanmar Army soldiers were killed yesterday in a clash with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Namtu Township, northern Shan State, according to a TNLA source.

TNLA spokesperson Major Tar Aike Kyaw told The Irrawaddy that the clash broke out when troops from the Myanmar Army's Infantry Division 77 launched an attack against a rebel base near Mann Aie village. The fighting lasted over four hours from 9:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

"They came to attack our troops. Our troops attacked them back, and they withdrew," Major Tar Aike Kyaw said.

"When our troops went to clean up the fighting area, we found three dead bodies of (Myanmar Army) soldiers, and some military equipment," he said.

The TNLA reported that none of its own forces suffered casualties in yesterday's firefight.

On June 4, fighting also broke out in the same area between the Myanmar Army and TNLA.

Clashes between the Myanmar Army and members of the Northern Alliance, which includes the TNLA and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), are a regular occurrence in northern Shan.

Separately, Kachin News Group reported that the Myanmar Army launched a surprise attack against a base belonging to KIA Brigade 10 on June 5, killing two KIA soldiers and wounding three others.

The Myanmar Army normally scales back its offensives in KIA- and TNLA-held areas during the rainy season as the conditions make it difficult for soldiers to march or climb mountains to chase and attack the ethnic armed groups.

Meanwhile, fighting in Kachin State has been quiet for over two weeks, although the Myanmar Army has been bringing in reinforcements to positions near KIA-controlled areas near the group's headquarters in Laiza, according to local sources.

The post TNLA Claims 3 Army Soldiers Killed in Clash in Namtu appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Heads to N Korea Ahead of Trump-Kim Summit

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 12:05 AM PDT

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, is set to arrive in Pyongyang on Thursday, the Singapore government said, days before it plays host to the leaders of North Korea and the United States at a summit.

Balakrishnan, who went to Washington earlier this week, will meet his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, and the president of the Supreme People’s Assembly and ceremonial president, Kim Yong Nam, during his two-day visit to Pyongyang, a government statement said.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are due to hold their historic meeting in Singapore on Tuesday next week.

“Obviously, what all of us are hoping for is it would lead to a de-escalation of tension, raise the prospects of peace and for the sake of the North Koreans themselves improve the prospects for economic development,” Balakrishnan told the Straits Times referring to the June 12 summit.

“I don’t think one meeting next week in Singapore can certainly unlock the entire situation on the Korean peninsula,” he said.

The United States and North Korea agreed upon Singapore last month as the venue for the first ever meeting between leaders of the two countries. The White House said then it chose Singapore because it could ensure the security of both leaders and provide a neutral meeting ground.

Balakrishnan also said that it was the United States that had asked Singapore to host the historic event.

Singapore has diplomatic ties with both the United States and North Korea.

The Southeast Asian city-state serves as a regional headquarters for many large US companies and US navy vessels use its port facilities.

Singapore suspended trade relations with the reclusive Northeast Asian state last year following tightened UN sanctions over its weapons program. However, North Korea still operates a small embassy in the city.

In 2008, Singapore sent its then-foreign minister, George Yeo, on an official visit to North Korea. During that trip, he toured the Nampo Port and Kaesong industrial zone, but visits by senior officials to the isolated state are rare.

The post Singapore’s Foreign Minister Heads to N Korea Ahead of Trump-Kim Summit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Malaysia’s Najib is Out of Power, But His Legacy Lives On in Giant Skyscraper

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 12:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR — As Malaysia seeks to move beyond the excesses associated with nearly a decade of rule under ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak, one of his pet projects continues to rise irreversibly skyward to become the tallest building in Southeast Asia.

Just months from completion, Exchange 106 — or Najib’s tower, as some locals call it — is one of only a few mega-projects cleared by a new government that has pledged to review deals struck by the previous administration, cut back debt, and root out high-level graft.

Yet the 492-meter skyscraper remains an irritant as they try to dismantle Najib’s legacy after the May 9 election upset that drove the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition out of power after it had run Malaysia for six decades since its independence from Britain.

They can order that his photos be removed from government offices and that posters carrying his “1Malaysia” slogan be taken down. One staff member at the library of a government agency told Reuters they had even received a directive to “hide Najib’s books” by not having them displayed on front desks.

But it doesn’t make sense to dismantle a giant skyscraper that is almost finished.

Symbolically, the building will rise above the famous Petronas Twin Towers built during the previous term of returning Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Najib’s mentor-turned-foe.

But financially it could still hurt Malaysia. The new government has said funds raised to finance the project by scandal-plagued state fund 1MDB were not used for that purpose, and that its Indonesian developer needed an “injection of funds” from the government to keep the project on track.

“The true picture was not told,” new Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said in a video posted online.

“It is better to get the building completed and owned by us than to let it be abandoned,” he said.

Lim said he could not disclose how much money the government has put into the project.

Najib could not be immediately reached for comment.

In just his first few weeks back in office, Mahathir has canceled a planned high-speed rail project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and pledged to renegotiate a deal with Chinese partners to build a 688-km East Coast Rail Link.

He has said both projects are too expensive and have limited economic benefit.

Another big property development, Bandar Malaysia, hangs in the balance after a $1.7 billion deal to sell a majority stake to a Malaysian-Chinese consortium fell through in May 2017. A year on, the project has failed to attract any buyers.

Money Laundering Probes

Exchange 106 was conceived as the centerpiece of a financial district in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, that would rival the likes of London’s Canary Wharf.

The Tun Razak Exchange — named after Najib’s father and launched by Najib in 2012 — was expected to be a commercial, residential and leisure hub that would generate a gross development value (GDV) of more than 26 billion ringgit ($6.55 billion), create 500,000 jobs and lure more than 100 top global companies, marketing documents show. GDV is a metric used by real estate developers to determine how much a property is worth.

However, the plan initially proved a tough sell, according to one source close to the project.

Questions about the finances of project developer 1MDB, a state fund set up by Najib over a decade ago, started around 2013 and by 2015 it had become the center of money laundering investigations in multiple countries.

In a statement last month, the Finance Ministry said some $3 billion of debt raised by 1MDB to fund the development of the complex in 2013 was not used for that purpose.

Today, the 70-acre site remains largely undeveloped and is dominated by a gleaming tower of glass and steel — Exchange 106 — rising from its center.

Some big foreign firms have signed up. Banking group HSBC and insurer Prudential plan to move their country headquarters into other buildings on the site, and Australian property firm Lendlease penned a deal to develop a complex consisting of a hotel, residential blocks and a shopping center.

A number of plots remain unsold, though, and the government is yet to clarify publicly whether it will stick to the initial plans for the huge new financial district.

Prudential declined to comment. HSBC did not respond to a request for comment. Lendlease said in a statement: “We look forward to working with the new government.”

As for Exchange 106, the Finance Ministry in March confirmed it had bought back a 51 percent stake in the building, after initially selling all of it to Indonesian developer Mulia Group for 665 million ringgit ($168 million).

At the time the ministry said its participation was pre-agreed and necessary because of the building’s strategic location and iconic nature. Lim has since said that the development “needed an injection of funds.”

A spokeswoman for Mulia said around half the building has been leased since it was first marketed back in 2016. She declined further comment.

Local media reported it is mainly local firms that have signed up, with real estate agents saying some parts of the design may not appeal to multinational companies.

For example, Sarkunan Subramaniam, managing director at Knight Frank Malaysia, who visited the site recently, said unlike other modern office buildings, the floors in Exchange 106 are not raised to allow for underfloor wiring for workstations. That could be a problem for companies that need lots of bandwidth, such as investment banks with big trading floors.

The market conditions also do not augur well for the project.

Malaysia’s capital has been experiencing an oversupply of office space in recent years, especially as oil and gas companies have downsized their operations.

With new properties entering the market in the coming years, the vacancy rate for office space in Kuala Lumpur is expected to go up from the current 15 percent to about 17 percent, said CBRE-WTW Managing Director Foo Gee Jen.

The post Malaysia’s Najib is Out of Power, But His Legacy Lives On in Giant Skyscraper appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Malaysia’s Central Bank Chief Steps Down, Latest Casualty of 1MDB Scandal

Posted: 06 Jun 2018 10:44 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has accepted the

resignation of the central bank governor, the latest in a string of departures as the 92-year-old leader purges top officials seen as close to the scandal-plagued previous government.

Angered over accusations of massive corruption, Malaysians delivered a shock election result last month by voting out a coalition that had led the country for the six decades since independence.

The new government is seeking to unearth suspected graft, in particular in connection with big losses at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), during the nearly 10 years that former Premier Najib Razak spent in power, casting a cloud over several top officials.

Mahathir, Najib’s mentor-turned-foe, told a news conference after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the central bank’s governor, Muhammad Ibrahim, had offered his resignation.

“We have not decided on his successor because we need to have the approval of the Agong before we can announce,” Mahathir said, referring to the king, adding that the new government would meet him as soon as possible to discuss a successor.

Muhammad, a career central bank official, has completed less than half his five-year term, which began in May 2016.

The resignation followed comments by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng last month that funds from a sale of land by the government to the central bank had gone to pay the liabilities of the beleaguered 1MDB.

Muhammad had defended the decision to buy the land, saying the transaction met government requirements.

Mahathir has reopened investigations into the state development fund 1MBD, which was founded by Najib.

The fund is the subject of a global money-laundering investigation with authorities saying billions of dollars have gone missing.

Jayant Menon, lead economist at the Asian Development Bank, said the uncertainty might produce some negative market reaction in the short term, but overall the change at the bank should be positive.

“This type of outcome bodes well for market confidence, if a more accountable and transparent governance system emerges in the longer term,” Menon said.

Former deputy central bank governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, who left at the end of her term in November 2016, is among the candidates to replace Muhammad, two sources told Reuters.

Bank’s Image

Ratings agency Moody’s said uncertainty over the smooth functioning of monetary policy could increase if a central bank governor was not appointed promptly.

“The governor's resignation would also be credit negative if it dampens foreign investor sentiment and leads to capital outflows for a protracted period of time,” Moody’s sovereign risk analyst Anushka Shah said in an email statement.

Mahathir, who has promised to reform state institutions and stamp out corruption, this week also replaced the government’s top lawyer, the attorney-general, and the chief of the anti-graft agency.

Malaysia is looking for a new national stock exchange chief, two sources told Reuters.

Media have reported that several top officials at state-linked firms are either stepping down or being asked to leave.

In a note to employees on Wednesday, Muhammad dismissed as “totally untrue” the perception that the land deal aimed to intentionally aid the misappropriation of funds through 1MDB.

“I am prepared to relinquish my post if I no longer have the strong trust and support of the public,” he said in the message that was leaked online. “I cannot in good conscience continue if it affects the Bank’s image and reputation.”

A Harvard University graduate, Muhammad joined the bank in 1984 and became the deputy governor in 2010, before taking the top spot upon the retirement of long-serving governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Two months later, Muhammad cut the interest rate in a surprise move, prompted by Brexit, to boost economic growth.

The rate was restored to 3.25 percent in January, as domestic consumption and exports improved.

Successor

Nor Shamsiah, who sources say has been approached to replace Muhammad, joined Bank Negara in 1987 after graduating in Australia.

She left the central bank in November 2016 when her term ended, just months after Muhammad’s appointment. She assisted with the 1MDB investigation when Zeti was in charge.

Sukhdave Singh, another former deputy governor, is also being considered, a source said. Sukhdave stepped down in 2017 after 31 years in office.

Bank Negara said in a statement it would “ensure a smooth transition in the handing over of duties to the new governor.”

The announcement did not shake Malaysia’s stock market, which rose 1.25 percent feeding off optimism in US markets. The ringgit dipped only 0.05 percent.

Frances Cheung, head of Asia macro strategy at Westpac, said the equity reaction suggested news of the resignation has been digested.

“It is the uncertainty when the market awaits confirmation of new leadership, rather than the change itself, that affects sentiment,” she said.

The post Malaysia’s Central Bank Chief Steps Down, Latest Casualty of 1MDB Scandal appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Safety and ‘Identity’ Key for Rohingya Returnees: UN Chief in Myanmar

Posted: 06 Jun 2018 09:49 PM PDT

YANGON — Safety and “identity” need to be in place for Rohingya Muslim refugees who return to Myanmar, the head of the United Nations in the country said on Wednesday, as Myanmar and UN agencies signed an outline deal on returns.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government and UN development and refugee agencies – the UNDP and the UNHCR – marks a warming of ties which hit a low point last year after the government suggested some agencies provided food to Rohingya militants.

The head of the United Nations in Myanmar, Knut Ostby, said he hoped UN staff would be able to travel to the violence-ravaged north of Rakhine State “almost immediately” to assess the situation and – over time – to help the refugees in Bangladesh make an informed decision about potential returns.

Since August, about 700,000 Rohingya have fled an army crackdown in Myanmar, many reporting killings, rape and arson on a large scale. The United Nations has called the campaign a textbook example of “ethnic cleansing” – a charge Myanmar denies.

UN officials have said for months the conditions in Myanmar were “not conducive” to returns which would be safe, voluntary and dignified and view Wednesday’s deal as a first step towards meeting those objectives.

“There are two really crucial things that need to be in place – one is to have an identity for the people who come back, so that they can live as normal members of society both in terms of an identity and in terms of being able to have the freedom of movement,” Ostby told Reuters by phone.

“And the other issue is that they need to be able to live in safety. They should not have to risk further violence,” said Ostby, who serves as the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar.

Access to basic services, livelihoods and infrastructure would also have to be addressed, he said.

Rohingya are widely called “Bengali” in Buddhist-majority Myanmar – which they see as a derogatory term implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. They have been denied citizenship despite many tracing their roots in the country back generations.

"Path to Citizenship"

Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has pressed the Rohingya to accept National Verification Cards – documents that are a part of a government effort to register Rohingya, but which falls short of offering them citizenship.

Rohingya community leaders have widely rejected the card, saying it treats life-long residents like new immigrants.

Ostby, asked how the Wednesday agreement might help to resolve the issue of citizenship, said: “We have been talking for a long time about making a clear and predictable path to citizenship for those who are eligible.”

But the granting of citizenship was the government’s prerogative, he said.

“What we can do is to facilitate and we call for commitment to international principles,” said Ostby in his first detailed remarks on the text of the agreement, which has not been made public.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between them persist, impeding implementation of the plan.

The Myanmar government said in a statement after the signing it hoped the repatriation process would “hasten” with UN involvement.

It said the UNHCR would help “in the implementation of the voluntary repatriation and the reintegration of all those who return”, while the UNDP would focus on preparing “conditions for recovery and resilience-based development."

The post Safety and 'Identity' Key for Rohingya Returnees: UN Chief in Myanmar appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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