Thursday, July 26, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Armed Conflict Harming Efforts to Save Myanmar’s Tigers, Group Says

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 08:10 AM PDT

YANGON — Ending armed conflict is crucial to Myanmar's efforts to save the tiger populations in its wildlife reserves, said a wildlife conservation NGO on Thursday, warning that the country's tiger population continues to dwindle.

The tiger population of Myanmar's wildlife sanctuaries is now less than 100, compared to around 150 in 2003, according to the Myanmar chapter of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Globally, the number of tigers has dropped to less than 4,000 from about 100,000 a century ago.

Myanmar hosts the world's largest tiger reserve in the Hukawng Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, an area covering over 17,373 square kilometers. However, conservationists and researchers have been hampered in their efforts by armed conflict in the valley between the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) and the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA).

WCS Myanmar, World Wildlife Fund and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) are collaborating with the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation to preserve wildlife through research projects in the Hukawng Valley, Htamanthi and Tannitharyi Range wildlife sanctuaries.

U Than Myint, the country directory of WCS Myanmar, told reporters on Thursday, "If the fighting eased, we could strengthen our preservation efforts."

The fighting in the Hukawng Valley has forced villagers to flee for their lives and therefore "They have not been able to devote themselves to preserving wildlife."

"We hope for a decent peace in the region, so that they can stay in their homes and participate in preservation projects, as the villagers play a vital role in wildlife conservation," U Than Myint said.

He was speaking at a press conference arranged by WCS Myanmar in Yangon on Thursday, two days ahead of International Tiger Day on July 29. The organization aims to share information about its research activities in the upper Chindwin River region, in northwestern Myanmar's Sagaing Region, and to promote awareness among the public of the importance of tiger conservation.

WCS Myanmar conducts research there using camera traps to document the tiger population and those of the species it preys on. It has placed more than 100 camera traps in 225 places to research tigers and their prey in the upper Chindwin area over the past three years.

Based on its research, the organization says, "There is hope for success for tiger conservation in Myanmar." The group has documented the presence of numerous tiger cubs during its three years of research from December 2014 to December 2017, said U Hla Naing, who is in charge of research on the country's northern forests for WCS Myanmar.

However, he said, challenges remain as Myanmar still faces problems with poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and illegal logging and mining in the protected areas.

"Protecting tigers and other species means protecting our forests, wildlife and environment," he said. WCS Myanmar said concerns remain as the illegal wildlife trade continues to be fueled by demand in neighboring China. Thus, public awareness needs to be raised, he said.

WCS Myanmar has been providing awareness training to local residents of affected areas. Over 130 trainees have joined the program since 2016.

"We provide the community with guardian training, so as to allow community participation, which is the key," added Ko Pyae Phyo Aung, deputy tiger researcher at WCS Myanmar.

The post Armed Conflict Harming Efforts to Save Myanmar's Tigers, Group Says appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Military Lawmaker Threatens to Assault Journalists in Parliament

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 07:18 AM PDT

YANGON — A military appointed lawmaker swore at and threatened to assault journalists who were taking photographs and videotaping in the Parliament building in Naypyitaw on Wednesday, drawing condemnation from the media and demands for an explanation from the military.

Before the Union Parliament session began, Major-General Tin Swe Win threatened a photojournalist from the European Press Agency in front of the Parliament building, telling him not to take his photo or post anything about him online, adding that if the reporter did so the officer would punch him.

On the same day, after the session, he swore at a journalist from Mizzima Media, using obscene language. Video evidence of his outburst appeared in the media, along with reports on the military's budget requests to the Union Parliament for the coming fiscal year.

Maj-Gen. Tin Swe Win has a master's degree in defense studies from the Defense Services Academy in Pyin Oo Lwin. He served on the auxiliary force in the Naypyitaw Command before taking an appointed seat in the Parliament, according to the Parliament's official record.

"He has to be sensible. He should not talk that way in the Parliament," said U Sein Win,

training director at the Myanmar Journalism Institute.

U Sein Win told The Irrawaddy, "This is not the front line [of the battlefield]. This is the Parliament. He must behave himself."

Under the National League for Democracy-led government, restrictions have been placed on the way media covers Parliament. However, the journalists threatened by the officer were acting within those rules, covering the Union Parliament session from within in the designated areas.

"The media are doing their job. We aren't breaking any rules. Media organizations should send a complaint letter to the military," said U Sein Win.

"His manner shows he doesn't respect our job. It is unacceptable," he added.

In 2016, the Union Parliament Office released an 18-point set of guidelines for the media, restricting each organization to a maximum of five journalists to cover parliamentary affairs and interview lawmakers in the designated spaces. It prohibits filming and photography in certain buildings and areas without permission.

Under the previous government, journalists were also banned from an observation booth above the Union Parliament chamber and sessions of both the Upper and Lower houses. Parliament reporters were forced to watch the sessions on a TV screen in a corridor. Media members said that the restrictions came after journalists took photos and videos of lawmakers sleeping during sessions, and in one case of a military lawmaker voting on behalf of his absent neighbor.

Members of the press said the military lawmaker's manner shows how hard it will be for the Tatmadaw to salvage its reputation among a press corps with which it already has deep-rooted tensions due to past incidents, despite military commander-in-chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing's order to military personnel to have good relations with the media.

The military has treated the media in the same way for many years, communicating with journalists only when they need to get a point across, said U Nyan Hlaing Lynn, chief editor at Hintha Media.

A journalist at Mizzima, Ko Min Min, said he feels it was unacceptable that the military lawmaker could launch a verbal assault unprovoked, and said he was considering sending a letter to military lawmakers and the parliamentary rights committee.

There was speculation in the media yesterday that Wednesday's incident involving Maj-Gen. Tin Swe Win and reporters would lead to the reimposition of old restrictions. Most media members demanded an explanation from the military regarding his manner.

"In his position, it is not suitable to mistreat others in the Parliament, not even the media. Military officials should investigate the case and explain why it happened," said U Myint Kyaw, a member of the Press Council.

U Myint Kyaw said, "We have to wait and see how the Tatmadaw [Myanmar's military] will respond."

Irrawaddy reporters Zue Zue and Htet Naing Zaw contributed to this report.

The post Military Lawmaker Threatens to Assault Journalists in Parliament appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

5 Sued in Mandalay Over Thwarted Cement Factory Protest

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 05:28 AM PDT

MANDALAY — Villagers in Mandalay Region say they were blocked by police from reaching the regional capital on Tuesday to protest the construction of a cement factory in their community and later informed that five of them were being sued.

Locals say the factory will be powered by coal and fear the damage it might do to the local environment and their livelihoods. They say the project has already blocked off some communal grazing land and that most locals want it stopped.

The Alpha cement factory, owned by China’s Myint Investment Company, is under construction in Aung Thabyay village, Pyigyidagun Township, about 37 km north of Mandalay City.

Locals say the company conducted soil testing at the site in 2014 and bought the 242 hectares from residents after securing permission to build the factory and mine a nearby hill for raw material.

"We sent several complaints to the government back then, and the project was halted. However, it resumed in 2015 despite our objections," said Ko Moe Lay, an Aung Thabyay resident.

According to locals, the company planned to extend a village road to lead to the factory two months ago, but villagers objected to that, too, for fear of losing land they owned along the route.

On Sunday, a 64-year-old farmer who refused orders from local authorities to stop fencing off her land, Daw Mya Mya, was arrested and detained at the township police station. Villagers soon gathered around the station to demand her release but failed to secure it.

The protesters submitted a request later the same day to stage another protest in Mandalay City on Monday. Though authorities approved the request, they were blocked on the way to Mandalay by police and turned back.

On Tuesday, police notified five villagers that they were being sued under Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law and for disrupting road work. They showed reporters the notices.

"We have no idea why we have been sued under those laws. We already had permission to stage the protest. But the police blocked us and we had a dispute," said Ma Yin Yin Aung, one of the sued villagers.

"The mountain that the factory took is where our cattle used to go to graze. Since construction of the factory began, the natural streams have been blocked, too," she said

"And we heard the factory will use coal power, which could affect the environment, too. And there are no big trees around our village anymore. The area will become like a desert soon if the factory is allowed to operate and dig up the mountains," she added.

Locals say they have sent more complaints to regional and national government offices in recent months.

"We've sent several complaints, but the government still doesn’t listen to us. Instead, the police showed up and threatened us with the law. We just want mother Suu to know and hope she can stop this factory," said Ko Moe Lay, referring to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Police could not be reached for comment. The regional governor and company representatives declined to speak with a reporter.

The post 5 Sued in Mandalay Over Thwarted Cement Factory Protest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chinese Restaurant at Novotel Relaunches with Hong Kong-Inspired Menu

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 04:42 AM PDT

YANGON — The Novotel Yangon Max Hotel relaunched its Royal Pavilion restaurant on Tuesday with a new concept and menu.

Located near the hotel’s reception desk, the restaurant used to serve traditional Chinese cuisine with predominantly Cantonese flavors and will now serve Hong Kong barbecue, dim sum and seafood.

Roast duck hangs in the kitchen of the Royal Pavilion. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The relaunch party was for invited guests only, who got to sample signature dishes from the new menu.

Guests sampled from four dim sum dishes: steamed lobster dumplings with squid ink; steamed fish rolls with Thai sauce, deep fried spring sticks with seafood; and deep fried seafood rolls with cheese. Each was delicious and delightful.

Steamed lobster dumplings with squid ink and steamed fish rolls with Thai sauce. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The lobster was very soft and I cold tell how soft it was with the first bite; the dumplings were wrapped in a thin layer of cooked flour mixed with squid ink and topped with salmon roe. The steamed fish rolls were also great and did not have a fishy smell; the Thai sauce was a bit sweet, but it perfectly matched the fish. I highly recommend both.

Another of the new signature dishes is the deep fried tempura prawn, another of my favorites. They clean the whole prawn, dip it in powder and deep fry it. The result is a crispy golden shell topped with chili and coriander and a sweet prawn taste inside.

Hong Kong style roast duck.

But the dish I liked most was the Hong Kong roast duck. Taking a bite, the skin was very crispy, but the meat was nice and soft. It came with a sweet Hoisin sauce and paired with the duck perfectly.

Deep-fried sea bass with Sichuan sauce. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The last dish was the deep fried sea bass topped with Sichuan sauce. The fish was deboned, cut into bite-sized pieces and deep fried with tempura powder. The Sichuan sauce was on the milder side. The ingredients were fresh, but the dish was not so much crunchy as a bit hard. This one was not my favorite.

The dining room of the Royal Pavilion. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The staff was friendly and helpful and dressed in a bright red Chinese-themed uniforms. The decor was both modern and Chinese but not overdone, complimenting the quiet and clean room and its comfortable seating.

Prices range from $10 to $50 per dish à la carte. There is also an all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet for lunch and dinner on weekends for $25 per person.

The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for dinner.

The post Chinese Restaurant at Novotel Relaunches with Hong Kong-Inspired Menu appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Court Bans Media from Taking Photos of Military Officer’s Wife

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 04:05 AM PDT

YANGON — A local court in Yangon has barred the press from taking pictures and video recordings of a military officer's wife who is facing trial for allegedly torturing her maid to death.

According to the Yangon South District Court in Thanlyin Township, the military officer, whose identity is not yet known by the press, requested that the Myanmar Press Council restrict the media from taking pictures and videos of his wife Theingi Su inside the court compound.

The court banned reporters from taking pictures and videos of Theingi Su in its precinct at her fifth trial on Wednesday, although it had not issued these restrictions in the previous four trials.

U Moe Wai, an information officer of the court, told the press not to use photos of the defendant taken at previous trials as well.

"The [request] letter dated July 4 was sent to us [by the military officer] by mail. It was not given to us in person," he told reporters.

U Moe Wai said that the ban has nothing to do with the military officer's request, but declined to explain further.

He told reporters not to publish photos of her appearing at the court, including getting into or out of the prisoner transport vehicle.

Khin Thandar Oo, also known as Kayin Ma, 38, a mother of four children, was working at the quarters of a military officer of the Inn Daing armored battalion in Yangon's Hlegu Township.

She died within an hour of being sent home to Oh Po village in Twante Township by Theingi Su on May 19, citing her ill health.

According to the post-mortem examination, the woman died of injuries to her intestines, and her death could have been averted if she had been hospitalized in time.

The press council does not have authority to ban reporters from taking pictures or videos, secretary of the council U Thiha Saw told The Irrawaddy.

"The council doesn't have the authority to instruct journalists on what to do or not do," he said.

"Civilian defendants dare not complain about photos. But the officer has complained, so he must have some backing," prosecution lawyer Daw San San Myint told The Irrawaddy.

The defense lawyer declined to answer The Irrawaddy's question about the request. Theingu Su has covered her head as she came to and left the court in all of the previous trials.

According to the news media law, journalists have the right to freely criticize, point out or recommend operating procedures of the legislative, the executive and judiciary in conformity with the 2008 Constitution as well as investigate, publish, and broadcast information and related opinions to which every citizen is entitled in accordance with rules and regulations.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Court Bans Media from Taking Photos of Military Officer's Wife appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rural Scenes in Dazzling Textures and Colors

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 01:19 AM PDT

When it comes to paintings of rural life, typically, ox-driven carts, paddy fields, and damsels who fetch water from a creek in the evening come to mind.

But in the paintings of rural landscapes by Thurein at his sixth solo exhibition "BOBA Village," viewers only see the rough brushwork of black lines and dazzling colors.

"I've reduced the form of a village. I didn't even sketch tree shade in my paintings. I didn't clearly depict the landscapes so that viewers could enjoy and imagine, as they like. My works were based on texture, color and line," said Thurein, the photographer-cum-painter.

The exhibition is the second of his rural village series; the first one was showcased in 2008. The scenes he depicts exist in the real world.

They are from the village of his grandparents in Yangon's Kyauktan Township, where he has visited frequently since he was young.

The paintings feature his childhood memories of the village as well as recent developments.  He used various colors in his paintings, and viewers can enjoy the artistry in his brushwork and use of texture.

"The village has changed a lot; it has not thrived but is on the decline," said Thurein, whose artistry is largely influenced by American modernists Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, and Barnett Newman.

Thurein has held his exhibitions at home and abroad including Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam and the United States.

Twenty paintings are on display at the BOBA Village (II) exhibition, and his works are available for $800 each. The exhibition will be held through Sunday at Nawaday Tharlar Art Gallery.

"I curated this exhibition because I like his paintings. His feelings about the village attracted me more than his expression of it. His works depend more on his feelings, I think," said Ko Pyae Wai, the owner of Nawaday Tharlar Art Gallery.

The post Rural Scenes in Dazzling Textures and Colors appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

16,000 Displaced By Rising Floodwaters in Karen State

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 11:57 PM PDT

HPA-AN TOWNSHIP, Karen State — More than 16,000 people have been displaced by floods in Karen State as of Wednesday, according to the state’s disaster management department.

The Thanlwin, or Salween, River has been rising since Sunday, flooding Hpa-an, Hlinebwe, Kawkareik and Myawady townships.

Hpa-an, the state capital, has been hit hardest, with more than 10,000 residents displaced. Ten relief camps have been opened in Hpa-an as of Wednesday to shelter victims.

The number of displaced residents in Hlinebwe has meanwhile risen to over 3,000. There are 12 relief camps in the township to shelter them.

"The river rose overnight on Sunday and flooded wards on Monday. We've been sheltering at the camp for three days," said Daw San San Cho, a resident of Hpa-an’s Ward 1.

"The water reached around 13 feet high from the ground," she said.

The state’s disaster management department has supplied the camps with seven days worth of rations of rice, oil, eggs, canned sardines and instant noodles, said the department’s deputy director general, U Then Htut Swe.

Among those taking shelter at the Karen State Stadium in Hpa-an are 21 pregnant women, 81 children under 5 years old and 177 students.

In Myawady, the number of flood victims taking shelter at relief camps has declined from more than 2,000 to about 600 this week as the Moei River subsided.

Sixteen townships in four regions and states including Mon State and Tanintharyi and Bago regions are experiencing floods. The water levels of the Thanlwin, Sittaung and Shwegyin rivers in Karen, Mon and Bago are likely to remain above danger levels, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post 16,000 Displaced By Rising Floodwaters in Karen State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chinese Police Break Up $1.5B Pyramid Scheme, Snare 82 Suspects

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 10:17 PM PDT

BEIJING — Chinese police have caught 82 suspects in a crackdown on an online pyramid scheme involving 10.2 billion yuan ($1.51 billion) and more than 220,000 investors, the official Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

Investors were drawn in from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia as well as the mainland, it said, adding that prosecutors had taken charge of 52 suspects accused of organizing and leading the pyramid scheme.

Police in Meishan City in the southwestern province of Sichuan said the suspects set up hundreds of shell companies and 28 fake industrial chains and lured investors with promises of high returns, it added.

Beijing periodically clamp down on what it deems to be illegal fundraising schemes, including online peer-to-peer lending platforms and pyramid schemes.

In January, a Chinese court sentenced two people to life in prison for fraud in a 15.6 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) pyramid scheme.

Pyramid schemes in China typically prey on vulnerable or poorly educated victims by luring them with the promise of well-paid jobs. Victims are told, often under duress, to recruit family and friends or borrow money from them.

The post Chinese Police Break Up $1.5B Pyramid Scheme, Snare 82 Suspects appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Landslides, Floods Kill Five Children in Southeastern Bangladesh

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 10:03 PM PDT

DHAKA/KUTUPALONG REFUGEE CAMP, Bangladesh — Heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides and flooding in southeastern Bangladesh on Wednesday, killing five children and forcing a thousand people to relocate, including in the Rohingya refugee camps.

The children were killed in landslides near Cox’s Bazar and Ramu, said Kazi Abdur Rahman, a senior Bangladesh government official in the area. Three more people were injured and taken to hospital and a thousand were evacuated.

It was not immediately clear how many Rohingya refugees were relocated. Aid agencies have warned that the monsoon, which typically peaks in July, could threaten many thousands of people.

“A number of families were moved due to flooding and minor landslides,” said Abul Kalam, the Bangladesh government official in charge of the refugees. “The rain shows no sign of stopping, but there has been no major catastrophe inside the camps,” he said.

The UNHCR and IOM were also unable to immediately provide figures.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled across the border from Myanmar since August, when the Myanmar military launched a violent crackdown in northern Rakhine State. The Rohingya say thousands were killed or raped and their homes were burned down. Myanmar denies this and says its security forces were conducting legitimate counter-insurgency operations.

In the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, the market near the Modhuchara bamboo bridge began flooding in the early hours of the morning, said a refugee who lives there.

“We were awake when the flooding started,” said Abul Hakim. “We could not sleep well because of the fear of flooding.”

“I want to move from here. There is a high risk of flooding and drowning and a high risk of landslides,” he said as his one-and-a-half-year-old grandson played in the water.

He said there were about 15 Rohingya families living in the area near the market and that it was the second time it had flooded. Floodwaters near Hakim’s bamboo and plastic shelter were shin deep.

At least three refugees have been killed in the monsoon since early May.

As of July 18, about 21,000 refugees had been relocated because their shelters were threatened by landslides, the UNHCR said.

The post Landslides, Floods Kill Five Children in Southeastern Bangladesh appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Says Graft Suspects Detained Under New Measure Must Be Well Treated

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 09:55 PM PDT

BEIJING — Suspects held under a controversial new detention measure introduced nationwide by China’s anti-graft super ministry this year must be well treated, the corruption watchdog said on Thursday.

China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, finalized in March the establishment of a National Supervision Commission with the power to investigate all state employees, expanding the power of the existing regulator that had previously focused on Communist Party members.

The powerful new body has been criticized by some legal scholars for failing to protect the rights of suspects during investigations, in part because it will use a controversial “liuzhi," or detention, system that operates outside existing criminal procedure law.

President Xi Jinping launched a sweeping campaign against deep-seated corruption more than five years ago. There have been several high-profile cases of graft suspects being mistreated or tortured, which the government has vowed to root out.

The graft-fighting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection outlined new rules it said made clear that the new detention method was not to be abused and acknowledged public concern.

“‘Liuzhi’ is an important investigation method granted by law to the supervision organs, and is a focus of high attention from various sectors of society,” it said in a statement on its website.

“On this, the rules are clear, that the ‘liuzhi’ method should be cautiously used under legal stipulations and the process strictly grasped,” the watchdog said.

There must also be no covert use of “liuzhi," it said.

People who are investigated using this method must have their access to food and drink, rest and medical treatment guaranteed, the statement said.

The new rules also cover the questioning of witnesses.

Witnesses must be shown a document that outlines their rights and obligations when first being questioned, confidentiality must be kept and protection provided if they are at risk of “revenge attacks”, it said.

Xi announced the new detention system in October to replace the previous “shuanggui” system, in which party members submitted to questioning at a location and time chosen by investigators.

Rights groups have said the old secretive extra-legal measures that made use of off-grid locations with little oversight allowed torture, abuse and forced confessions.

Some rights activists and legal scholars have expressed concern the new detention system will merely entrench and extend previous practices under a veneer of legality. The government has denied this.

The post China Says Graft Suspects Detained Under New Measure Must Be Well Treated appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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