Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Residents, Some Lawmakers Oppose Hotel on Former Wildlife Area Near Inle Lake

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 07:21 AM PDT

YANGON – Lawmakers of Nyaung Shwe Township, southern Shan State, have joined local residents in objecting to the proposed construction of a hotel on 90 acres of prime land in a village in the Inle Lake area.

The Inle hotel zone already occupies more than 620 acres of land, and residents and lawmakers urged that there should be no more new hotels built in nearby areas.

The land in Mai Thaut village was once a wildlife preservation area, but the protected status of the land was removed just before the former military junta ended its authoritarian rule. U Thein Aung, the former forestry minister and then chief minister of Irrawaddy Region, in March 2011 approved the removal of 90 acres from the Inle wildlife sanctuary so that a luxury hotel could be built on it by Myanmar Naing Group Co. Ltd.

Local residents told The Irrawaddy this week that they will continue their objection, simply to protect the biodiversity and wildlife in the Inle area.

"We did not know about the hotel project before. We have become aware of the importance of preserving these areas; we oppose [the plan] and we will continue doing so," said Ma Khaing Khaing Tun, an Inle resident.

The developers initially planned to start the hotel project in 2016, as they received permission to do so in 2011, but it was stopped after local residents objected. Their efforts resumed in mid-June this year. According to a notice from the district resettlement and land record office, any objection to the hotel project would have to be made before Aug. 15.

"We will see whether the government will allow the hotel project to continue or not, as the deadline for the objection is on Wednesday," said U Nay Myo, a Lower House lawmaker representing Nyaung Shwe.

Innthar Ethnic Affairs Minister Dr. Tun Hlaing, Lower House lawmaker U Nay Myo and state lawmakers U Khin Maung Win and U Thein Zaw Moe joined the locals' signature campaign against the hotel project this month.

"As a resident of Inle region, I want the area to be preserved, as Inle Lake already faces a lot of environmental challenges," U Nay Myo said.

In order to protect its rich biodiversity, residents of the Inle Lake region cannot build structures — not even huts — within 10 miles of Inle Lake, said Inle residents, on the orders of the wildlife preservation committee.

"We have a hotel zone already, and as it is inside the Inle Wildlife sanctuary, it will affect the natural biodiversity," added U Thein Zaw Moe, a state lawmaker from Nyaung Shwe Constituency 2.

The lawmaker said there had been some efforts by the developers to persuade locals to accept the project by promising to support village development with infrastructure like roads and bridges.

"No permission should be given to build the hotel on this important land," said Dr. Tun Hlaing, who is also the vice chair of the Inle Lake conservation committee.

"If the cabinet approves the hotel project on those 90 acres, it will have both environmental and social impacts," he said, partly because locals are not even allowed to build any structures designed to protect the sanctuary. The minister added that the cabinet must uphold its responsibility to conserve natural diversity.

The post Residents, Some Lawmakers Oppose Hotel on Former Wildlife Area Near Inle Lake appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

KNU Leader Has Changed His Tune on the Chances for Peace

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 06:29 AM PDT

MON STATE — I met senior Karen National Union (KNU) leader Padao Mahn Nyein Maung during the Karen New Year in 2013. He was very actively working for peace at that time, and it seemed to me that he felt it was the right time to work with the government and the Myanmar Army. I met him in Ah Lone Township, Yangon Division, where a large Karen community and a number of journalists were celebrating the New Year.

The KNU had signed a ceasefire agreement with the government after fighting the state for more than 50 years. The KNU was the country's oldest and strongest armed rebel group, and had long refused to sign an agreement with the military regime.

However, the political reforms embarked upon under then-President Thein Sein had convinced the KNU to change its mind. I asked Padao Mahn Nyein Maung what he thought the benefits of signing a ceasefire would be. His reaction was quite defensive. He told me that he knew what I was really trying to ask. "You journalists always have a negative viewpoint," he said. "How can I say what the benefits are for our ethnic Karen? We have only just signed the ceasefire agreement."

Some journalists, including myself, were disappointed by his behavior. Padao Mahn Nyein Maung was instrumental in bringing the KNU to the table to sign a peace agreement with the government, according to some Karen sources. Earlier, he had been sentenced to life in prison after being detained in China for attempting to cross the border in order to travel to Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army. The government of then-President U Thein Sein initially approached Padao Mahn Nyein Maung about making peace with the KNU while he was still in prison.

Padao Mahn Nyein Maung received an amnesty along with other political prisoners under the U Thein Sein administration and was successful in bringing the KNU to the table to sign a peace deal. At that time, Padao Mahn Nyein Maung took the view that he and the KNU could work for peace. He continually praised the administration for its commitment to seeking peace and always spoke positively about the peace process. The KNU was the ethnic armed group with the closest relationship with the government and the Myanmar Army at that time.

At that time, the KNU was a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). There was a long debate among members of the bloc about whether to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). After deciding to sign it, the KNU left the UNFC. The government was extremely pleased by this development, and by the UNFC's subsequent loss of influence. Within the KNU, however, the leadership was divided about whether to sign the NCA. Naw Zipporah Sein, who was a former vice chairman of the KNU, disagreed with the decision to sign the pact. She and others did not want the KNU to leave the UNFC. However, a group of KNU leaders including Padao Mahn Nyein Maung were happy to leave the UNFC and decided to sign the NCA.

It has been over three years since the KNU signed the NCA. But the situation has changed, and the relationship between the KNU, the government and the Myanmar Army has changed as well. Fighting recently broke out between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)'s Brigade 5 and the Myanmar Army over the latter's decision to rebuild an old road through a KNLA-controlled area.

Padao Mahn Nyein Maung has changed his tune a lot since the NLD government took power. He has grown more pessimistic about peace, telling reporters at the recent third session of the 21st-Century Panglong Peace Conference in Naypyitaw that no one could touch the 2008 Constitution, which was written by the Myanmar Army. He even said he did not think the conference would help the peace process, as the Myanmar Army did not allow discussion of political issues.

Many people in the country view Padao Mahn Nyein Maung as a supporter of the Myanmar government. So it was a surprise to see him criticizing the peace process, the Myanmar Army and the government.

Padao Mahn Nyein Maung told some reporters during the 68th Karen Martyrs' Day in Hinthada Township, Ayeyarwady Division, that the KNU could not build peace and national reconciliation with the Myanmar Army, as military leaders and government authorities did not allow the Karen people to celebrate the occasion.

The Myanmar Army's action was disrespectful and would damage the peace process, he said, adding that the KNU could not establish trust with the Myanmar Army. He said the Karen people had the right to pay respect to their leaders and celebrate Karen Martyrs' Day.

"If they [the Army] continue to oppress ethnic groups, it will render meaningless all the work done to achieve peace, create unity among ethnic groups, and achieve national reconciliation," Padao Mahn Nyein Maung said.

The post KNU Leader Has Changed His Tune on the Chances for Peace appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Central Bank Drops Exchange Rate Limits

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 06:23 AM PDT

YANGON — The Central Bank of Myanmar announced on Monday that private banks and exchange counters are no longer required to trade within the official exchange rate band in a move meant to help prevent price manipulation and settle recent fluctuations.

The announcement does not explicitly say whether the Central Bank was adopting a floating exchange rate. But experts said the move was another step in that direction, after the Central Bank adopted a managed floating exchange rate during the previous government administration.

Up until Monday, the Central Bank allowed private banks and exchange counters to trade only within a 0.8 percent band. But when the gap between the Central Bank’s reference exchange rates and market rates grows wider than that, the rule becomes hard to abide by. It also creates a bottleneck for some foreign exchange transactions.

The rule also puts a strain on banks’ current account transactions, making foreign banks in particular reluctant to participate in the foreign exchange interbank market.

A financial expert said removing the exchange rate band would likely help with foreign exchange transactions and liquidity flow to some extent.

The Myanmar kyat has been depreciating against the US dollar for the past two months. U Myint, who served as chief economic adviser to the previous president, warned that if the government fails to keep the exchange rate stable the economy could be in deep trouble.

The Central Bank said it would be providing loans of between $300 million and $400 million to private banks and exchange counters to try to keep the rate stable.

The post Central Bank Drops Exchange Rate Limits appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Shady Bagan Projects Reported to Anti-Corruption Commission

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 05:37 AM PDT

MANDALAY – Locals of Bagan, the archaeological zone in central Myanmar, said they have filed a complaint to the Anti-Corruption Commission of Myanmar and requested an investigation into development and conservation projects that were done in their area.

Save Bagan, a local activist group focusing on the conservation of heritage and environmental protection, told The Irrawaddy that it submitted a complaint to the commission on Aug. 6, which was signed by more than 8,000 locals.

"There have been many unjust incidents where local hoteliers were sued while the cronies and rich businesspeople who built their hotels inside the archaeological zone are still out of the reach of the law," said Ko Myo Set San, a leader of Save Bagan.

The group said a complaint was also sent to the President's Office, regarding hotels that have ancient pagodas in their compounds.

In early June, the group urged the government to declare a safe zone for about 100 ancient pagodas and temples that are located inside the leased compounds of hotels and other private compounds in Bagan.

After receiving no reaction from the authorities, the group decided to gather signatures from locals and send the complaint to the President's Office and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

"We suspect there is corruption at the local authority level. We've requested that the commission investigate both the local administration offices and the Department of Archaeology, who are the responsible bodies that have allowed the hotels to operate like that," Ko Myo Set San said.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture reportedly held a series of meetings with the hotel owners in early August and said they were looking for the best way to create a win-win situation for both the businesspeople and the conservation of the region, and to make sure there would be no more similar negative impacts on Bagan in the future.

The group also said the current landscaping projects in Bagan have no transparency or clarity in their budgets.

A few months ago, a cement sidewalk was constructed at Ananda Pagoda. When locals and visitors showed their dissatisfaction and sent complaints, it was removed.

A similar reaction occurred when the local authorities announced plans to build a public toilet at Alodawpyae Pagoda and manmade hills for watching sunrise and sunset. The projects were halted after public disagreement.

Bagan is home to over 3,000 ancient pagodas and temples built between the 9th and 11th centuries. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture has sought to register Bagan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nomination dossier was submitted in 2016 and a team of experts from UNESCO is due to visit Bagan this September. Their report is to be brought up for deliberation at the UNESCO World Heritage Site convention in 2019.

"Currently, Nyaung U district administration office is doing a landscaping project at 17 prominent pagoda and temples where they are growing grass and have no transparency," Ko Myo Set San explained.

The group said since Bagan is located in the dry zone and already has its own natural dry zone landscape that matches the ancient temples, the grass patches are not needed and, in fact, negatively affect the ancient temples and pagodas.

"Growing grass is unnecessary but the authorities are doing it and we suspect they are doing this project to show off and squeeze money [from the government] to put in their pockets or just wasting money, thus we reported it to Anti-Corruption Commission," he added.

The group said the Anti-Corruption Commission has told them they will be in touch within two weeks. When The Irrawaddy contacted the commission, it said it could not comment yet as the case is new and needs to be investigated first.

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Myanmar Asks Bangladesh to Stop Calling Rohingya Refugees ‘Nationals,’ ‘Forcibly Displaced’

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 05:29 AM PDT

YANGON — Myanmar claims that Bangladesh has agreed to stop labeling the IDs it has been issuing Rohingya refugees “Myanmar National’s Registration Card.”

The request came during a three-day visit to Myanmar by Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali that included a day-trip to northern Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township, where military operations triggered by militant attacks on security posts in August 2017 drove some 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh seeking refuge.

The United Nations has labeled the military operations ethnic cleansing, and international rights groups have called on the UN to refer Myanmar military chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing to the International Criminal Court over widespread reports of arson, rape and murder by security forces.

On his visit, Abul Hassan held meetings in Naypyitaw and Rakhine State with Vice President U Myint Swe, Social Welfare Minister U Win Myat Aye, State Counselor’s Office Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe and with an interfaith group in Yangon.

On Saturday, Myanmar announced that it reached seven agreements with the foreign minister including a promise “to revise the language used on the cards issued by Bangladesh.”

On Monday, U Win Myat Aye told The Irrawaddy that Myanmar asked Abul Hassan to change the language on the ID cards Bangladesh was issuing the refugees that describe them as Myanmar nationals and to stop referring to them as “forcibly displaced.”

Neither the announcement nor the social welfare minister explained what Myanmar wants “Myanmar National’s Registration Card” replaced with.

But U Win Myat Aye said Myanmar objected to “forcibly displaced” because, he claimed, most of the refugees were not technically forced out by the military. He conceded that some were forced, but that most left later on as the gradual departure of neighbors made it untenable for them to continue to make a living in their communities.

“They just left very gradually and no government officials gave orders or forcibly drove them out. The real situation is not the way they describe it,” said U Win Myat Aye, claiming that the refugees object to the term as well.

He said some of the displaced people may be Myanmar nationals but most of them would need to go through a verification process.

An Aug. 11 press release from the Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry, however, a day after Abul Hassan’s meeting with U Myint Swe, makes no mention of any agreement on nomenclature and actually uses the term “forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals” twice.

Bangladesh started issuing the refugees ID cards in September, but most Rohingya refused to accept them because they did not specifically identify them as Rohingya, which Myanmar refuses to recognize as an ethnic group. The laminated paper cards, written in English, include the holder’s name, age, place of birth, nationality and parents’ names. At the time, Bangladeshi officials were quoted by international media claiming that the omission of ethnicity was in line with international practice.

Examples of the ID cards Bangladesh began issuing refugees in September. (Photo: Supplied)

In early October, Bangladesh started issuing new ID cards labeled “Rohingya People Registration” that included their place of birth and listed their nationality as Rohingya. It is unclear whether the first cards were revoked or replaced.

Both cards were issued by Bangladesh’s Immigration Department.

Separately, Bangladesh and the UN’s refugee agency have jointly started issuing the refugees over 12 years old yet another type of ID card that includes anti-fraud features including biometric data but no ethnic identity.

In addition to changing the wording of the Bangladeshi ID cards, Myanmar said, Abul Hassan agreed to set up a hotline between the two governments to discuss repatriation, expedite the repatriation process, hand out the agreed-to repatriation forms in the camps, and ensure that the forms were filled out voluntarily.

Saturday’s statement said Abul Hassan also vowed to have the remaining four of five promised refugee transit camps on Bangladesh’s side of the border built soon, step up joint anti-narcotics operations along the border, cooperate on a joint survey of the border between posts 34 and 35 and help Myanmar repatriate the refugees taking shelter there.

In its own Aug. 11 statement on the visit, the Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry said Abul Hassan urged Myanmar to prepare villages and housing in northern Rakhine State for the refugees to return to and that he was told that 42 sites had been identified.

It said Bangladesh also asked Myanmar to help convince prospective returnees to accept Myanmar National Verification Cards (NVCs) and that Myanmar agreed to send teams to the refugee camps to explain their advantages. Most Rohingya refuse to accept the NVCs because they do not guarantee them the Myanmar citizenship they believe they are entitled to.

The post Myanmar Asks Bangladesh to Stop Calling Rohingya Refugees ‘Nationals,’ ‘Forcibly Displaced’ appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

5 Months On, Lawmakers Still Waiting to Debate Proposed Protest Law Changes

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 05:25 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — The Lower House of Parliament has yet to begin debate on proposed amendments to the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law nearly five months after they were submitted to the chamber.

The bill was forwarded to the Lower House in March. Twenty civilian lawmakers from different parties and 60 military representatives have registered to debate the bill, said U Kyaw Soe Lin, secretary of the chamber’s Bill Committee.

Because the debate is likely to take a while, the committee recommended that lawmakers discuss the bill in a separate meeting and approve or reject the amendments by consensus, but lawmakers rejected the idea.

"None of the lawmakers is willing to compromise on the bill. They insist that they will debate it in Parliament. So we have submitted their request to Parliament as it is their right," U Kyaw Soe Lin told reporters on Monday.

U Thein Tun Oo, spokesman for the Union Solidarity and Development Party, speculated that debate was being delayed because of opposition from his party and civil society organizations.

"When the bill was first submitted to the Upper House, we opposed it because it denies the rights of citizens. The bill denies the rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution," U Thein Tun Oo told The Irrawaddy.

In March, the Upper House of Parliament approved the set of controversial amendments to the law despite strong opposition from activists and rights groups who claim the changes would further restrict the freedom of expression.

Even some lawmakers from the ruling National League for Democracy voted against the bill, which was approved with 113 votes for and 78 votes against.

If the changes are fully approved, Article 4 (d) of the law will require would-be protesters planning peaceful assemblies and processions to inform police in advance of not only their agenda and estimated numbers, but also the estimated cost of the event and the identities of the people or organizations paying for it.

The most controversial part of the bill would stipulate jail terms for those convicted of provoking or exhorting others to organize or participate in demonstrations by bribing or paying them or for doing anything else with the intention of harming the stability, rule of law, peace and tranquility of the community.

The provision was criticized as being too broadly written; activists warn it could be exploited to stifle political dissent.

U Tun Tun Hein, a member of the NLD’s central executive committee, told reporters in March that the existing law was enough to regulate people who want to stage protests with good intentions.

"But if it is applied for destructive purposes, we have to do what it takes in the interests of the country," he said.

U Kyaw Soe Lin said the bill was likely to be discussed during the current session of Parliament.

The General Administration Department of the Home Affairs Ministry and the police are the primary agencies responsible for enforcing the protest law.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Govt Investment Body Announces New Criteria for Private Education Institutions

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 04:41 AM PDT

YANGON — The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) announced 17 points of standard criteria for private education services on Monday, with specific guidelines on organizational structure, standards for instructors and the school environment.

The government investment body stated that the criteria apply to private schools and training centers that offer certificate qualifications, diplomas and bachelor's degrees to students, for Myanmar- and foreign-owned companies or organizations as well as joint ventures.

Publication of the new criteria comes four months after the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) announced that Myanmar would allow foreigners to make full capital investment in private schools and other educational institutions.

Since MIC opened the education sector to foreign investors, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand have expressed interest in investing in Myanmar, according to DICA.

In June, US educational provider Kaplan Inc. opened Kaplan Myanmar University College in Yangon offering certificate courses, degree programs, Master of Business Administration programs and short courses for students.

If they can afford it, many parents in Myanmar prefer to send their children to private schools for a higher standard of curriculum, which makes it easier to later join foreign universities for further study. According to the Ministry of Education, some 600 private schools were in operation during the 2016-2017 academic year in Myanmar.

DICA says the education services can only offer a certificate, qualification, diploma or bachelor's degree that has been approved by the related ministry. They need to provide information on the type of course content to be used at the school as well as the syllabus type and the educational background of the members of the institution who are responsible for administration, management and learning activities.

Private school teachers will need to present their teaching credentials and details of their teaching experience as well as a brief biography.

Education services need to have adequate numbers of teachers as well as administration staff and an appropriately sized school compound and sufficient buildings.

According to DICA, the investor will need to get signed agreements from at least 10 people who live around the site of the proposed private school outlining that they have no objections to the establishment of a school. A document of recommendation from the relative ward administrator is also required.

Having an appropriate environment for education is another element of the criteria. DICA stated that the school administrator needs to keep the school compound, surroundings, classrooms and practical rooms in conformity with health, cleanliness and tidiness and prove preparation measures for health emergency, security measures and a firefighting system.

Other points outline the necessity of having a recommendation from the relevant ministry depending on the type of school to be established as well as rules prohibiting drug and alcohol consumption and sexual harassment of students and teachers.

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Lack of Funding Fueling Corruption in Forestry Sector, Senior Official Says

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 04:35 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW—More than 3,200 Forestry Department staff overseen by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation have been subject to disciplinary action over the past seven years, department director U Khin Maung Win said, adding that the problem is largely a result of under-funding.

They were disciplined for violations including bribery and corruption, negligence, misconduct, and poor performance, said U Khin Maung Win during a workshop on combating corruption in the forestry sector at the ministry on Monday.

"The main reason [for disciplinary action] was negligence. The second was their poor track record in arresting illegal loggers. Most of the staff members disciplined were rangers," he said.

Between fiscal 2011-12 and 2017-18, the ministry took action against 3,272 staff. It took action against a further 121 from April to the end of July this year.

Around 35 percent of those disciplined were rangers, while their deputies accounted for the second-largest group, at 34 percent.

A total of 82 staff members of the Forestry Department were the subject of corruption and bribery complaints. The department has taken action against nearly 50 of them, and is investigating the remaining cases.

Director U Khin Maung Win lamented that staff are overstretched and the department is seriously under-resourced with a workforce of just 5,300 staff to take care of over 74 million acres of forest.

Moreover, the department lacks the funds needed to purchase machinery and equipment to manage the forests, he added.

Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win called for greater efforts to eliminate corruption in the country's forestry sector.

U Myint Wai, a lawmaker representing Rakhine State's Gwa Township in the Lower House of Myanmar's Parliament, claimed that Forestry Department staff do not even have the funds and equipment to transport seized logs in order to hand them over to the department.

He said that if the necessary assistance were provided in a timely manner, Forestry officials would be able to arrest more illegal loggers, thereby reducing both corruption and illegal logging.

"Staff don't want to spend money out of their own pockets to arrest illegal loggers. It seems that it is easier for them to take money from illegal loggers and let them go. [Failure to fund the officials] essentially encourages corruption among those who wouldn't ordinarily be corrupt," U Myint Wai said.

According to the ministry, more than 250,000 tons of teak and other hardwoods were seized over the past seven years. The ministry arrested 306 foreigners and 39,265 locals and seized an unspecified amount of machinery in connection with illegal logging.

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Internal Revenue Dept to Implement Online Tax Payment System

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 04:19 AM PDT

YANGON — Myanmar's Internal Revenue Department has invited banks and mobile money operators to submit an expression of interest to implement an online tax payment system.

In an announcement released on Monday, the IRD said it would implement i-banking, mobile banking, and a mobile payment system to make tax payments more convenient.

The monthly commercial tax, special goods tax and income tax – which needs to be paid every three months – can be paid online.

U Tun Min Thu, deputy director of the IRD, said these three taxes are the ones most often paid by taxpayers.

He said the payment system would help taxpayers, reducing the time spent on manual payments.

The deputy director added that he expects the system will be up and running about three to six months after the EOIs are submitted.

Interested service providers were asked to submit before 2 p.m. on Aug. 30.

The IRD introduced an online tax payment system in February in Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw to some of the highest taxpayers including those from the Thilawa Special Economic Zone in Yangon.

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Dam Bursts in Kyaukphyu Township

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 01:18 AM PDT

SITTWE, Rakhine State — More than 300 people were evacuated after the Nga La Pwe Dam in Kala Ba Taung village of Rakhine State's Kyaukphyu Township burst on Monday.

The dam lies in close proximity to urban wards of Kyaukphyu and was breached on Monday at noon due to rising tides.

More than 300 people from over 70 households near the dam were evacuated. "They were evacuated to Thein Taung monastery," Kyaukphyu Township municipality chairman U Than Lwin told The Irrawaddy.

The dam was built on a lake that was previously used to farm fish. Currently, it is managed by the Irrigation Department. According to locals, the dam also burst last year.

U Poe San, a lawmaker representing Kyaukphyu Township in the state Parliament, blamed the local government for its negligence regarding the dam break.

"I went to see the dam on Monday at noon. The administrator of Nga La Pwe village told me that he had informed the Irrigation Department long ago that the embankment of the dam needed to be fixed," U Poe San told The Irrawaddy.

"But no one came and saw the dam. So, it was caused by departmental negligence," he added.

Navy soldiers, local police force, firefighters and locals are fixing the embankment.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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A Woman’s (Political) Work is Never Done

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 10:49 PM PDT

Ma Mee Mee, a prominent member of the 88 Generation Students group, died in a car accident on Monday while on her way back to Yangon from Irrawaddy Region. She was 47 years old. The Irrawaddy revisits this story from November 2012 about the activist, who urged women to take a more active role in politics.

As a former political prisoner, Thin Thin Aye knows something about fear: that you should never let it stand in your way. That's why the veteran activist, better known as Mee Mee, has made it her mission to persuade other Burmese women to set aside their fears and take a more active role in politics.

Since her release from prison in January of this year, Mee Mee has done much to live up to her own advice. As a prominent female member of the 88 Generation Students group, she is living proof that there is plenty of room for women in Burmese politics, if they choose to get involved.

"The political landscape is changing, and women are participating in politics more now than they did two decades ago," says Mee Mee, speaking to The Irrawaddy during a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she was taking part in a series of workshops with exiled women's groups.

The 40-year-old veteran activist is actively engaged in efforts to empower women through the Women's Center, led by fellow 88 Generation leader Nilar Thein. The 88 Generation group has made women's empowerment one of its major issues, along with human rights, peace in ethnic areas and workers' and farmers' rights.

Mee Mee has been imprisoned three times for her role in Burmese politics—in 1988, 1996 and 2007—and has spent a total of 10 years behind bars in nearly half a dozen prisons: Insein, Tharrawaddy, Pathein, Kathar and Shwebo.

She was just 16 the first time she was thrown in jail for taking part in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Then, at the age of 24, she was locked up again in her final year of studying zoology at Dagon University in Rangoon, this time for leading a student demonstration. After five years and nine months without contact with her two children, she was released from Tharrawaddy Prison in 2002.

Her third spell in prison began after the 2007 Saffron Revolution, when she received a 65-year sentence for leading protests against a dramatic rise in fuel prices. She was freed in January as part of a general amnesty that saw the release of hundreds of prominent political prisoners.

Since her time in prison in the mid-1990s, Mee Mee has suffered chronic pain in her joints due to the dire conditions under which she was forced to live. "I was arrested in winter, and for three months I stayed in a cell with nothing except a dirty mat in it," she said.

Like other political prisoners, she was denied access to paper and reading materials, something she remembers as a real hardship. During her more recent prison term, however, she was not as severely restricted.

"This time I was allowed to read, so I had chance to study about issues that interest me," she said. Unfortunately, she added, things were not much better in other respects, due to the attitude of some prison staff, who seemed to think it was their duty to mistreat prisoners.

Since her release from prison, Mee Mee has joined the network-building efforts of the 88 Generation group, traveling around the country and learning how to use social media to develop what the group calls its "Discussion on Peace and Open Society"—an initiative led by its most prominent members, Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Mya Aye.

Her own role in this effort has been to draw women into the discussion. She said that despite meeting many women who participate in everyday political activities, most say they don't know how to get more politically involved.

The main obstacle for women, she said, is fear, something that most Burmese understand only too well after decades of oppression. But gender stereotypes are also a problem, as "Women tend to exclude themselves from political roles," she said.

As much as she would like to change this mindset, however, Mee Mee doesn't simply urge women to ignore social attitudes or their own reluctance to get involved in activities that many still see as potentially dangerous. Rather, she appeals to their own innate capacity to understand issues that really matter to them.

"I would not force them to accept any ideology without knowing the meaning of it themselves," she said. "I want women who join politics to be able to think for themselves about what is right or wrong, using their own critical thinking."

Part of this process is teaching women that they are already actively engaged in politics. "If they are doing philanthropic work, we have to explain to them that this is also political work. Gradually, their thinking changes," she said.

Of course, it's not enough just to change women's attitudes—men's mindsets also have to be taken into consideration. On this score, however, Mee Mee said that she finds that men are more open-minded about giving women a role in politics than they would have been in the past.

Although some now say that a quota should be set to make more room for women in politics, Mee Mee said the first priority should be to ensure that women are qualified to fill leadership roles, by giving them the skills they need to succeed in politics.

"It doesn't mean anything to set aside 30 percent of political positions for women, if they don't have specific skill-sets," she said. "We need more women politicians who have the courage to speak the truth and who have the ability to do so."

Courage is also needed to deal with issues to don't have any easy answers. During a number of recent trips to Arakan State with Nilar Thein, Mee Mee saw first-hand that some attitudes die hard. There is a lot of work to be done there to develop people's thinking about many things, she said about her encounters with local people in the strife-torn state.

Asked what she thought about the participation of women in exiled political groups, Mee Mee said that she was greatly encouraged by what she has seen during her trip to Thailand.

"Burmese women activists are so strong here in Thailand and I would like to see women inside the country become more like them. So we have to do more networking within the country as well as outside," she said. She pointed out that a major difference between women inside Burma and those outside the country is that former have far less access to gender-related knowledge.

Although sheer determination to do the right thing has been the driving force in her life, Mee Mee said she could not have come this far without the support of her family, especially her husband, who has been very understanding of her efforts.

"I'm not the perfect mother or housewife, and I don't think I ever will be," she said, noting that she has not been able to spend as much time with her family since her release as she would have liked.

Despite her obvious passion for politics, however, Mee Mee said she has no interest in becoming a politician and running in the 2015 election.

"I will continue to work for the people as one of them, in accordance with the 88 Generation Students group's 10-year plan to carry its Peace and Open Society activities," she said.

The post A Woman’s (Political) Work is Never Done appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Fire Hits Myanmar Hospital, Patients Evacuated on Stretchers

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 10:37 PM PDT

YANGON — A fire broke out in a hospital in Myanmar’s largest city of Yangon late on Monday, forcing staff to evacuate patients on stretchers and in wheelchairs, rescuers said.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries from the blaze that started in a room in Yangon General Hospital’s cancer department, a fire department official said.

Smoke rose from the colonial-era building in the city center. Emergency crews removed medical equipment as staff waited in pitch-black corridors in other parts of the hospital after a power cut.

About 60 patients on stretchers and in wheelchairs were evacuated from the ward, emergency worker Thet Lin said.

“[The fire] is in the cancer department. It started from a vacant room. I haven’t received any information on deaths or injuries from a preliminary report,” the deputy chief of staff at the fire services department, Ye Htut, told Reuters by phone.

Firefighters have not yet determined the cause of fire, he added.

The post Fire Hits Myanmar Hospital, Patients Evacuated on Stretchers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

S. Korea Marks First ‘Comfort Women’ Day, Drawing Japan’s Protest

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 10:27 PM PDT

SEOUL — South Korea’s government plans to unveil on Tuesday a new monument as part of the first official day marking Japan’s wartime use of “comfort women,” a euphemism for girls and women forced to work in Japan’s wartime brothels.

The ceremonies marking the first “Memorial Day for Japanese Forces’ Comfort Women Victims” threaten to exacerbate a sensitive diplomatic issue with Japan, South Korea’s neighbor and a key ally of the United States in efforts to contain North Korea.

Japan has said the issue was resolved by a 2015 deal, struck by a previous, conservative South Korean administration, under which Japan apologized to the victims and provided 1 billion yen ($9.03 million) to a fund to support them.

But South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s administration has spotlighted the emotionally charged issue and has called for Japan to do more, despite backing down in January from formally renegotiating the deal.

In March, Moon described Japan’s wartime use of comfort women as “crimes against humanity,” with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga calling Moon’s remarks “extremely regrettable.”

Tokyo has protested over other existing monuments in South Korea dedicated to comfort women, including one in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, as well as the move late last year to establish a day to remember comfort women

A think-tank funded by the South Korean government devoted to researching the issue also opened earlier this month.

The comfort women issue has been a regular cause for contention between Japan and neighbors China and North and South Korea since the war.

On Tuesday morning, over 50 activists joined a sit-in protest in front of Japan's de facto embassy in Taiwan's capital, Taipei, asking for a formal apology and demanding monetary compensation for Taiwanese who were forced to work in its wartime brothels.

“Japanese government should apologize,” the crowd shouted, wearing black shirts with their faces covered by white masks.

Japan colonized the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945 and occupied parts of China before and after the war.

Japan says the matter of compensation for the women was settled under a 1965 treaty. It says that in 2015 it agreed to provide the funds to help them heal “psychological wounds.”

The post S. Korea Marks First ‘Comfort Women’ Day, Drawing Japan’s Protest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 10:09 PM PDT

Sound Weaving

Peoples' memories and their thoughts about memories have been recorded and edited for listening at this sound art event which is the second part of a project initiated at last year's second annual My Yangon My Home Festival.

Aug. 16-22, 9:30 pm to 4:30 pm. National Museum. Free admission.

 

Japanese Games

Various Japanese games are introduced every Wednesday.

Aug. 15, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Japan Culture House, Room 322B, 2nd Floor, Building C, Pearl Condo, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. Free admission.

 

Film Night: Lola rennt

The 1998 German thriller "Run Lola Run" will be screened.

Aug. 15, 6:30 pm to 8 pm. Goethe-Institut, corner of Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd and Nat Mauk St, Bahan Tsp. Free Entry.

 

Jazz Night

Local musicians will perform live jazz tunes.

Aug. 15, 7 pm to 10 pm. Sarkies Bar, The Strand Hotel. Reservation: 01 243377~79.

 

Study in Japan Fair

There will be 35 organizations including Japanese universities, professional training colleges, Japanese language institutions and scholarship sponsorship associations for interested attendees to discuss in detail and find out any information they need to know.

Aug. 18, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Novotel Hotel. Tel: 09-2618 41054.

 

Seafood Night

This seafood buffet features a variety of delights to choose from including appetizers, salads, soups, hot dishes, fresh oysters, BBQ, desserts, fresh fruits, juices, wine and beer.

Aug. 17. The Square Restaurant, Novotel Hotel. US$32 per person. Tel: 09-251185989.

 

Job Fair

Several employers and recruiters will attend this job fair looking to recruit potential admin, HR and sales staff.

Aug. 18, 9 am to 4 pm. Novotel Hotel.

 

Pullman Art Night

Celebrated artist Win Pe’s paintings will be exhibited at this art night. Profits will be donated to a charity organization which is focusing on health and education in Myanmar.

Aug. 15, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Pullman Yangon Centrepoint at No.65, Corner of Sule Pagoda Rd and Merchant St, Kyauktada Tsp. Free Admission.

 

6 Pack

This is a group art exhibition of six artists.

Aug. 17-19, 43 Art Gallery, 43rd Street, between Mahabandula and Merchant streets, Botahtaung Tsp.

 

Unlocking the Potentials

This art exhibition showcases the evolution of Htoo Aung Kyaw's creations.

Throughout August. De Mart Store, Pansodan St, Kyauktada Tsp.

The post Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

HK Activist to Speak at Press Club on Tuesday, Despite Chinese Pressure

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 09:44 PM PDT

HONG KONG — A Hong Kong independence activist is due to speak on Tuesday at the city’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) despite pressure from Chinese officials to cancel the event.

The invitation to Andy Chan, a founder of the Hong Kong National Party, drew strong criticism this month from China’s Foreign Ministry and a former leader of the ex-British colony.

The FCC, which has hosted public figures and newsmakers since it was founded in 1943, said it would press ahead with the luncheon speech.

A number of Reuters journalists are FCC members.

Chan’s speech is titled “A politically incorrect guide to Hong Kong under Chinese rule,” according to an FCC flyer.

“I will persist with my principles,” Chan, 27, told Reuters. He said up to three people had been following him around the city in the past week. He said he had confronted some of them but could not determine their identity.

“I’m worried that someone may interfere or try to stop me from speaking,” he said.

Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, states that the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, is an “inalienable” part of China.

Four groups have sought police permission to protest outside the club, including the Defend Hong Kong Campaign, which planned to condemn the FCC for “promoting Hong Kong independence," said a notice posted on the Hong Kong police website.

“The police will deploy appropriate manpower in accordance with the actual situation,” a police spokesman told Reuters in an email.

China’s Foreign Ministry, which has an office in Hong Kong, this month urged the club to cancel the event.

Leung Chun-ying, a former Hong Kong chief executive who is now vice chairman of a leading advisory body to China’s parliament, this month criticized the FCC on Facebook for hosting a “secessionist.”

He said the club paid “token rent” to the government for its century-old heritage building in the central business district – comments that stoked concerns among some members about the FCC’s future.

Reuters emailed Leung for comment but there was no immediate response.

In an Aug. 6 statement, the FCC said: “We believe that in free societies such as Hong Kong it is vitally important to allow people to speak and debate freely, even if one does not agree with their particular views.”

Hong Kong operates under a “one country, two systems” agreement that promises it a high degree of autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed in China.

Democracy advocates, however, have bristled against China’s perceived attempts to tighten control over the city and to limit its freedoms and democratic reforms.

The post HK Activist to Speak at Press Club on Tuesday, Despite Chinese Pressure appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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