Thursday, August 2, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Karenni State Lawmaker Calls on Union Ministers, Lawmakers to Disclose Assets

Posted: 02 Aug 2018 05:47 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW—U Soe Thein, who served as President's Office minister under U Thein Sein's administration, has called on government officials and members of the legislature to disclose their financial assets.

While asking the government if it would proceed with its predecessor's plan to join the Open Government Partnership during Wednesday's session of the Upper House of Parliament, U Soe Thein asked the ministers of the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government and lawmakers to disclose their financial assets publicly.

"People have the right to know how much you owned before you became a minister or lawmaker, and what the difference is after you step down," U Soe Thein, who is also a Karenni State lawmaker, told reporters.

Then-President U Thein Sein's administration, he said, formed a committee tasked with joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international platform launched in 2011 for domestic reformers committed to making their governments more open, accountable and responsive to citizens.

The committee held its first workshop in January 2015, said U Soe Thein, who asked if the current government would continue working to join the OGP.

State Counselor's Office Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Tin responded that the plan would not proceed as the previous government had abolished the relevant leading committee and working committees on March 29, 2016, before the transfer of power.

"Though Myanmar is not an OGP country, it is clear that the current government is doing things that meet the norms of the OGP," the deputy minister said.

The OGP focuses on budget transparency, the right to information, citizens' engagement, and disclosure of financial assets by elected lawmakers and high-ranking government officials.

The deputy minister said the current government publicly releases the budget, and permits the publication of 26 newspapers, 219 journals, and 210 magazines, besides state-owned media. There is also an anti-graft body, he pointed out.

Lists of government ministers' assets and businesses, along with their estimated value, had already been submitted to the president, the deputy minister said.

Lawmaker Dr. Khun Thaung Win of the NLD said U Soe Thein had raised a good question at an appropriate time.

"People have no trust in ministers, and there are reasons not to trust them. No one is perfect, so they should disclose their assets," he said.

Under then-President U Thein Sein's administration, current President U Win Myint, who was then an NLD lawmaker, submitted a proposal calling for asset disclosures by ministers. His proposal was voted down, however.

Asked by a reporter in 2016 if the Parliament would require asset disclosure, U Win Myint, who was then serving as the speaker of the Lower House, said it wouldn't because "disclosing assets would invite crimes."

His answer drew criticism and people asked if the government was afraid of criminals.

U Soe Thein said whether or not Myanmar joins the OGP is purely a matter of political will.

The government could benefit from joining the OGP, he said. "The image of the current government will improve a lot if it can show that it is not corrupt, and is dedicated to forming a clean government."

Only the president and two vice presidents are required to disclose assets under the 2008 Constitution, although these are not publicly released and are only presented to the national legislature.

Former President U Thein Sein took back the sealed envelope containing the list of his assets from Mahn Win Khin Than, the speaker of the Upper House, when the NLD took office.

The post Karenni State Lawmaker Calls on Union Ministers, Lawmakers to Disclose Assets appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Govt Suspends Rule For Some Visitors to Show Proof of Funds

Posted: 02 Aug 2018 04:44 AM PDT

YANGON — The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has suspended a rule due to take effect on Oct. 1 requiring some travelers to prove access to $1,000 when applying for tourist visas on arrival, as initially stipulated in a new plan to ease visa requirements for visitors from China, Japan and South Korea.

U Myint Htwe, deputy director of the ministry, said the decision to suspend the requirement was made based on negative feedback last week from travel and tourism organizations that said it would be difficult for the visitors.

The requirement to prove access to a substantial amount of money when applying for a visa was introduced by the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population, he said, adding that it was regulated in accordance with international practices.

After last week's discussions among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population and representatives from a number of travel and tourism associations and agencies, the plan was reconsidered and later suspended.

Despite the ministry's efforts to draw more foreign visitors – especially from East Asian nations – to the country, the requirement to present $1,000 upon arrival was met with criticism as an outdated policy which would ultimately deter visitors.

Under the ministry's recent decision to relax visa requirements in order to boost tourist numbers, citizens of Japan, South Korean and China will be able to apply for visas on arrival at certain border crossings and airports, depending on which of these countries they are from. Chinese passport holders ,including those from Hong Kong and Macau SAR, will be charged a visa fee of $50, while visas will be free of charge for Japanese and South Korean passport holders.

The post Govt Suspends Rule For Some Visitors to Show Proof of Funds appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Five Kyaukse Police Officers Jailed for Taking Bribes from Timber Smuggler

Posted: 02 Aug 2018 04:34 AM PDT

MANDALAY – Five police officers from Kyaukse Township in Mandalay Division were demoted and sentenced to prison terms on Wednesday for accepting bribes to release a timber smuggler.

The police court in Mandalay Division sentenced former Kyaukse Township Police Station chief Pol. Captain Myint Oo to one year in prison, while Pol. Lieutenant Than Htike was jailed for two years and Pol. Lance Corporal Chit San Ko received a three-year sentence. (The ranks shown are their ranks before demotion.)

The officers will be dismissed from duty after serving their sentences.

In addition, the officer who replaced Pol. Capt. Myint Oo as Kyaukse Police Station, Pol. Captain Win Naing, and the Kyaukse Township police chief, Pol. Major Win Zaw, were demoted one rank and stripped of their current positions.

"We have to say that the punishment is fair in light of the need to stop corruption in the police force," said U Ko Ko Lwin, a member of Kyaukse Township's 88 Generation Open Society, who testified at the court hearing.

"We submitted the case to the Myanmar Human Rights Council, but the council said that since the case is being handled by the police court, [the council] cannot influence the court. However, we are satisfied with the decision of the court," he said.

The 88 Generation Open Society in Kyaukse assisted policemen who came forward to expose the corruption.

The case, in which the former police station chief, Pol. Capt. Myint Oo, took a bribe to release timber log smugglers was exposed by five other police officers in early May.

Pol. Corporals Tun Tun Win and Zeyar Maung and two others seized a truck hauling illegal logs on April 24. They later said the township police chief admonished them for making the bust, ordering them to release the logs' alleged owner and report the incident as a seizure of abandoned logs.

After the case was exposed to the public, the police officers who made the initial bust were arrested. Shortly after their arrest, local residents, rights activists and local lawmakers sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking justice on behalf of the detainees and calling for the corrupt officers to be prosecuted.

The smuggler of the timber — Moan Lar, also known as Aung Soe Moe — is well known for paying off police and government officials in exchange for protection. He was arrested, and the five corrupt officers were detained soon after.

The police officers who exposed the corruption were released and received citations for excellence from the Mandalay Division chief minister and police chief.

Moan Lar was charged under the Public Property Protection Act for smuggling timber logs, while the five police officers were charged under the police code of conduct.

The Kyaukse District police chief, who was responsible for sentencing the five police officers, was not available for comment.

The post Five Kyaukse Police Officers Jailed for Taking Bribes from Timber Smuggler appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Online Company Registry Crashes on First Day

Posted: 02 Aug 2018 04:25 AM PDT

YANGON – Due to a high volume of traffic, the Myanmar Companies Online (MyCO) registry crashed repeatedly on the first day of re-registration, denying access to most users. U Myo Min, director of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, said the website would be back online by Monday.

The MyCO system was opened to the public on the morning of Aug. 1. But by the afternoon, DICA Director General U Aung Naing Oo was forced to issue an apology on Facebook as the website locked out most users. Many people posted complaints about the issue on DICA's Facebook page with some users saying they had unsuccessfully tried to access the website until midnight.

U Myo Min said there were three main reasons causing the website to fail: 1) the high volume of users seeking to create accounts at the same time; 2) the many users uploading incomplete or wrong information, prompting the website system to reject those files; and 3) users needing to reload pages and resubmit forms repeatedly. As a result, the website couldn't function properly and kept recording errors.

According to the administration's own figures, there are more than 50,000 locally owned companies and 7,000 foreign companies registered with DICA. But the agency couldn't confirm the exact volume of traffic on the first day the online registry's launch.

According to the procedure, before submitting a registration form, the applicant needed to create a user account.

On the first day, 670 companies created accounts on MyCO and 30 companies were successfully approved by the electronic system. Of these, 28 were existing companies and two were new entities, U Myo Min said.

Under the Myanmar Company Law that took effect on Aug. 1, all existing companies are required to re-register electronically via the MyCO online system within six months.

"So far we have found how to solve the problem when a registrant uploads the wrong or incomplete information," U Myo Min said.

DICA announced companies that want to register before Monday can visit the public services counter at any of DICA's offices across the country from Aug. 2-4.

According to company regulations, the registration submission may be rejected if the applicant fails to complete forms in line with the instructions or fails to attach the required documents, provide the required information, or pay the requisite fee.

If a company fails to re-register within the six-month time limit, it will be struck from the company registry and dissolved. However, companies can get back on the registry, although they would need to pay a 100,000-kyat restoration fee.

The post Online Company Registry Crashes on First Day appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Court to Hear Arguments from Both Sides in Trial of 8 Injured Arakanese Protesters on Aug. 13

Posted: 02 Aug 2018 03:19 AM PDT

SITTWE—Prosecution and defense lawyers will present their final arguments to the court later this month on whether eight Arakanese youths detained in connection with a protest in Rakhine State's Mrauk-U in January should be tried.

The court heard from the last prosecution witnesses in the case on Monday, and lawyers on both sides will present their closing arguments in the first phase of the trial to Sittwe Court on Aug. 13, prosecution lawyer U Tun Aung Kyaw told The Irrawaddy.

Thousands of Mrauk-U residents staged a protest on Jan. 16 after officials banned a memorial event to mark the 233rd anniversary of the end of the Arakan Dynasty. Local police opened fire on the crowd, killing seven and wounding 12.

Eight of the wounded sustained serious injuries and were transferred to Sittwe Hospital. A few days later, authorities shackled the eight patients in the hospital's prison ward, before moving them to Sittwe Prison in early February.

Police opened cases against the eight under Article 6 (1) for allegedly destroying government property and public assets.

A list of 16 prosecution witnesses was presented to the court in connection with the case, but only 12 including police officials appeared at the court. Four other officials including the Mrauk-U district administrator failed to appear as they had been transferred to other areas.

"It is the rainy season now, and they will have to travel long distances to get here from their current locations. So, in accordance with court procedures, the four will have to testify at the courts in their areas, and their testimony will be sent to Sittwe Court," U Tun Aung Kyaw said.

Only four of the eight detainees, all of whom were injured during the police crackdown on protesters, have fully recovered from their wounds. Three still need crutches to walk, and a fourth still cannot use his injured arm.

"Having to attend the trial has caused us many problems. It disrupts our work," said U Aye Maung Thein, the father of one of the detainees.

"Police opened fire on people who were expressing their views. [In addition to their injuries] the government has prosecuted them. If the Arakanese people are to be shot whenever they express views the government doesn't agree with, then we don't want this government," he told The Irrawaddy.

The post Court to Hear Arguments from Both Sides in Trial of 8 Injured Arakanese Protesters on Aug. 13 appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National Rights Body Urges Action Against Police Over Detainee’s Death

Posted: 01 Aug 2018 11:18 PM PDT

YANGON — The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday called for action against police at the Dedaye Township police station in Irrawaddy Region in connection with the death of a detainee last week.

After speaking with the dead man’s relatives, the township medical superintendent and witnesses over two days, the commission sent a report to the Home Affairs Ministry suggesting that action be taken against the police station chief, inspector and other responsible officers.

Police arrested Zaw Min Tun, 38, a resident of Dedaye’s Nyaung Ta Bin Village, on the evening of July 26 after locals filed a complaint against him for allegedly stealing their fishing nets.

According to Irrawaddy Region police, Zaw Min Tun admitted to stealing the nets. They say he died of breathing problems while on the way to a hospital at about 11 p.m. the same day.

An internal investigation led by the Pyapon District deputy police chief was launched on Friday and the Dedaye police inspector and some officers were detained, police Lieutenant Colonel Khin Maung Latt told The Irrawaddy.

Ma Thi Thi Win, a sister of Zaw Min Tun, claims that a person who was detained along with her brother said Zaw Min Tun was tied up and beaten.

"Beating to death goes far beyond the legal framework. We hope that harsh actions will be taken against them," she said

Zaw Min Tun’s relatives said they found dark bruises on his face, chest and elsewhere on the body.

The human rights commission also claimed that the Dedaye police chief was an alcoholic and not suited for command.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post National Rights Body Urges Action Against Police Over Detainee’s Death appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Says Foreigners Should Not Interfere in Cambodia After Election

Posted: 01 Aug 2018 10:53 PM PDT

BEIJING – Foreigners should not interfere in Cambodia’s internal affairs, the Chinese government’s top diplomat told his Cambodian counterpart, following an election in the Southeast Asian nation that critics said was neither free nor fair.

China is Cambodia’s most important diplomatic and economic backer.

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party said on Monday it had won all 125 parliamentary seats up for grabs in a general election a day earlier, a vote heavily criticized by rights groups, the United States and other Western countries.

Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi offered his congratulations for what he said was the “smooth” election, China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Wednesday after Wang met Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn on the sidelines of a regional forum in Singapore.

The election result showed the Cambodian people’s “affirmation and trust” in the administration of the Cambodian People’s Party, Wang said.

“China has always resolutely supported Cambodia’s efforts to protect its sovereignty, independence and stability, and opposes any foreign country interfering in Cambodia’s internal affairs,” the statement cited Wang as saying.

China would continue to provide help to Cambodia to maintain stability and develop, he said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Prak Sokhonn as saying the election was orderly and transparent and that the Cambodian people had voted for peace, stability and development.

“China is the Cambodian people’s closest, most reliable friend,” he said, according to the Chinese statement.

The post China Says Foreigners Should Not Interfere in Cambodia After Election appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burst Laos Dam Floods Some Vietnam Rice Fields, Damage Limited

Posted: 01 Aug 2018 10:30 PM PDT

HANOI — Floods from a burst dam in Laos have inundated thousands of hectares of paddy fields in Vietnam’s rice-growing Mekong Delta region, officials said on Wednesday, although the damage is limited and not expected to affect the country’s export crop.

A saddle dam that was part of Laos’ $1.2 billion Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower project collapsed last week, sending torrents of water crashing into neighboring villages.

At least 11 people were killed in the accident, and a further 120 people are still missing, the state-run Vientiane Times in Laos reported on Wednesday.

“The flood water is hampering the ongoing harvest of the summer-autumn rice crop in some areas, especially in Dong Thap, Long An and An Giang provinces,” Tran Xuan Dinh, deputy head of the Department of Crop Production under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, told Reuters.

The Mekong Delta is the largest rice-growing area in Vietnam, which is the world’s third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand.

The water level in the Mekong Delta region has risen by 7-10 centimeters since the dam burst, Dinh said.

Although heavy rains and excess waters from the dam in Laos have damaged crops, the impact of the floods will not significantly impact rice production, said Nguyen Si Lam, deputy director of An Giang Province’s agricultural department.

Farmers in the delta provinces have planted more than 1.69 million hectares of rice for the summer-autumn crop, with unhusked paddy output estimated at 9.51 million tons, an increase of 3 percent in terms of output from a year ago, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Farmers in the Mekong Delta have brought in more than 40 percent of the summer-autumn rice crop and the harvest is expected to end in 15-20 days, Dinh said.

“The flooding season in the Mekong Delta was previously forecast to begin around August 5-7, but the water from Laos made it start sooner,” he said.

The post Burst Laos Dam Floods Some Vietnam Rice Fields, Damage Limited appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Vendors Ignore Ban on Road Stalls in Bangkok Backpacker Street

Posted: 01 Aug 2018 09:57 PM PDT

BANGKOK — Hundreds of street vendors in the Thai capital’s bustling backpacker district of Khaosan road ignored a ban on street vendors introduced on Wednesday and carried on business as usual.

Bangkok imposed a ban on all commercial activity on the sidewalks of Khaosan road, which for decades has been filled with food hawkers, shops and stalls selling bags, wigs and hippy-era clothing, surrounded by bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors and cheap hostels.

The vendors were ordered to move to a smaller space on the road where stalls can only operate between 6 p.m. and midnight, part of a move to “create order and return the footpath to the people,” City Hall said.

But many vendors set up their stalls as usual.

“We will not move today,” said Natta Potina, 43, who has been a street hawker for more than 30 years. “Our stalls are an important part of this street’s identity.”

“Officials can do whatever they need to do,” said Kotchapan Fungfuang, 50, who has run a clothing stall in the area for more than 20 years.

City Hall sent officials to Khaosan road, taking down names and taking photographs of stalls that resisting the new rules.

“We do not want confrontation, so we will take down names of those who do not cooperate and we will charge them accordingly,” Pornlert Penpas, assistant to the director of Phra Nakhon District, where Khaosan road is located, told Reuters.

“Those who failed to cooperate will be banned from doing business here in the future.”

Representatives of the street vendors on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to intervene.

“Independent stalls helped develop this street over the last 30 years until it became an important Bangkok landmark,” Yada Pornpetrumpa, the president of Khaosan road street vendor association, told Reuters.

“Now, the government won’t even listen to us.”

The regulations are part of a wider effort by the military government, which came to power in a 2014 coup, to impose order in the city, famous for its bars and raunchy nightlife.

Many tourists visiting Khaosan said they do not understand why new rules were needed.

“This street is known for the night market and that’s why the backpackers come. So it won’t be the same,” said Eve Caffrey, 23, a tourist from Ireland.

“The shops are part of the atmosphere and attraction of the street,” said Koen Nevins, 49, a tourist from Belgium. “It would be a shame if all this is gone.”

The post Thai Vendors Ignore Ban on Road Stalls in Bangkok Backpacker Street appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Street Dance Scene Is Maturing But Still Faces Resistance From Older Generation

Posted: 01 Aug 2018 07:06 PM PDT

In Myanmar, the street dance industry is growing up. It is becoming more and more popular with young people, although it still has a long way to go to win over the wider sections of society, said Henry Chang, a 29-year-old Taiwanese who works as both a street dancer and teacher in Yangon.

Chang recently organized the second edition of a dance competition, "Yangon Dance for High," which drew a big crowd to Yangon's Junction City on July 29.

"It was bigger and more people came (especially the younger ones) this year. It went from 30 to 50 contestants, which means that more people are interested in street dance and that next year it will grow more," Chang told The Irrawaddy.

A contestant showing off his dancing skills on the stage of YDFH in Yangon. (Photo: Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy)

YDFH is the local version of an international dance competition that started in Taiwan and is aimed at helping young people in Myanmar develop their dancing skills. Contestants competed in different dance styles including hip-hop, house, breaking, locking, popping, and waacking.

There were three judges, two from overseas: Andrew Agame from the US, who dances house and breaking, and the other from Taiwan, "TSZ", who is a part of a well-known dance crew — IP Lockers. The last judge, Falcon, is from Myanmar and a member of the Massive Souls dance crew.

The contest had two different categories: Open side and Young Side (for those aged under 22). The winners will go to Taiwan in mid-October as the representatives of Myanmar.

"The judges chose one winner from each category based on musicality, dance techniques and other dance-related factors," Chang said.

Speaking at the event, Agame said he saw potential for street dance to grow in Myanmar. "I taught a few classes at the Dance Camp before this event and I saw a lot of students who are really trying hard and they have passion. I'm so happy to be a part of this event and I would like to see more street dancers in the future," he said.

The event drew a big crowd with two Yangon locals emerging as the winners: Thant Zaw (Open side) and a dancer known as "Bboy GB" (Young Side).

"A lot of dancers in Myanmar worked hard to make this event happen and I'm just one of them," Chang said, adding that he felt the event had made encouraging progress since last year.

Henry Chang, a 29-year-old Taiwanese expat, who works as a dancer and dance teacher in Yangon. (Photo: Kenji Photography)

Last year's event took place in August at 'The Vibe' bar and it was combined with "Youk Shi", a local underground concert series.

"Last year was the first time and it was a bit difficult. I decided to bring this competition to Myanmar to support the street dance community here but it was a bit rushed. We got only two months to prepare for the event," Chang said.

"This year, the street dancers have improved a lot."

Even though street dance is popular among young people, their elders still find it hard to accept the culture.

The contest was packed with audiences while contestants were battle at Junction City Yangon.(Photo: Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy)

"It is true, older people have a hard time accepting street dance culture in Myanmar because they haven't grown up with it," Chang said.

"My plan is to make younger people accept it first and also to educate older people that dance is not a bad thing, but an art form."

As a foreigner, the main difficulty he faced as a street dancer in Myanmar was the language, Chang said. "Sometimes it is hard to communicate with the dancers in Myanmar as my Burmese is not perfect."

Apart from that, another struggle is that the street dance market in Myanmar is still at an early stage of development and it is hard to just "do dance" for a living as the wages are low, he said.

Chang has been living in Yangon for five years. At first, he worked as a restaurant manager at his uncle's shop, then he became friends with local street dancers and that was the beginning of his teaching career.

A girl competing in last year's YDFH Vol:1. (Photo: Kenji Photography)

"A few years ago, I met with some local street dancers and found out that Myanmar doesn't have a locking dancer. I'm good at locking and I thought of it as a chance for me to find more opportunities. Then, I became a street dance teacher," he recounted.

In the street dance community, there are two kinds of people, he said. One is the dancer on center stage and the other plays a supporting role.

"I want to be the second one because even though I'm a bit old now I can still dance and support the young generation to enter street dance and help the community grow."

Myanmar is very different from Taiwan, he said, describing Myanmar people as warm-hearted and kind. Even though he is a foreigner, he still feels like he is at home, he said.

Chang believes the social stratification in Myanmar is a big problem though – its rich people are too rich and poor people too poor. Chang has previously worked with an NGO and he visited some schools and places such as orphanages.

YDFH Vol:2 with a big crowd.(Photo: Htet Wai/The Irrawaddy)

"Those kids don't have parents and they don't have a chance to know what is street dance. So, we used our time and energy to share that with them. At the time, they were really happy and I could feel their passion and I really wanted to do something for them," Chang said.

That is the one of the reasons that has encouraged him to stay in Myanmar, he said.

"But, I need to make myself stronger at first and need to make this street dance community better. That's why I work, teaching dance classes and staging events. Then when I have free time, I go to see those kids."

Taiwan, he said, already has a lot of dancers and street dance is popular.

"So, Taiwan doesn't really need my support. That's why I want to help those local kids by doing my little bit to help this street dance community grow up."

The post Street Dance Scene Is Maturing But Still Faces Resistance From Older Generation appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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