Tuesday, November 20, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Yangon Circular Railway Line Upgrades to Finish in 2023: Deputy Minister

Posted: 20 Nov 2018 05:42 AM PST

YANGON — Upgrades to the Yangon Circular railway line aimed at easing the commercial capital’s traffic congestion are expected to be completed in 2023, Deputy Transport and Communications Minister U Kyaw Myo said on Tuesday.

Speaking to lawmakers in the Yangon Parliament, he said work could not begin in 2017 as planned because negotiations with the contractors took longer than expected and commenced only this year. The delay has also pushed the expected date of completion back a year.

The upgrades, planned since 2014, are part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency's Strategic Urban Development Plan for Greater Yangon. The work includes modernizing the line’s stations, tracks, trains and management.

U Kyaw Myo said the upgrades were needed to replace decades-old tracks, deteriorating facilities and equipment and outdated practices.

He told lawmakers that the ministry carried out a feasibility study with Japan’s help in 2014 and that environmental and social impact assessment reports were submitted to the Environment and Conservation Ministry, which approved the project in June.

Public consultations were held four times over two years, the deputy minister added.

The Yangon Circular, managed and operated by Myanma Railways, is 46 kilometers long with 38 stations and runs 221 times a day. Some 73,000 commuters ride the line daily.

To upgrade the system, the Transport and Communications Ministry divided the line into halves — the western half from Phayarlan Station to Danyingone Station, and the eastern half from Danyingone Station to Pazundaung Station. The ministry awarded each half to a different consortium.

U Kyaw Myo said both consortiums started work in early 2018.

The project is being funded by a $207.8 million loan from Japan and 54.5 billion kyats ($34.3 million) from the nation budget, the deputy minister said. Once finished, he added, the upgrades are expected to cut the time of a round trip from 170 minutes to 105 minutes.

The post Yangon Circular Railway Line Upgrades to Finish in 2023: Deputy Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

$80M Loan from France Denounced as Unnecessary in Parliament

Posted: 20 Nov 2018 05:18 AM PST

YANGON—Lawmakers have criticized the government's €70-million ($80-million) loan from a French agency to be used to develop waterways and urban heritage in Yangon, claiming that the government was majoring on the minors while neglecting pressing issues.

Last week, the deputy minister for planning and finance gave details about the "Transport, Waterways and Urban Heritage Project" in the Union Parliament.

He said the government would take the loan from the French Development Agency in order to carry out the five-year project from 2019 to 2023 including for the dredging of Pazundaung Creek (also known as Nga Moe Yeik Creek), to develop a corridor along the waterway for public use, for the development of some waterfront areas along Yangon River and to upgrade a market.

Originating in the Bago Plateau north of Yangon, the creek runs through the city before it empties into Yangon River south of the city. According to the deputy minister, the whole project would cost more than €84.7 million in total with additional contributions from the EU (€5.9 million) and the Myanmar government (€5.2 million).  He said the city's municipal body, Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), will implement the project with collaboration from the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

But his explanations didn't impress the Union Parliament lawmakers.

On Monday, lawmaker U Khin Maung Maung of the ruling National League for Democracy asked the parliament why the proposed project should be prioritized.

"The government should stress more important things rather than focusing on the trivial," he said.

The Yangon Region lawmaker complained that his city doesn't even have enough street lights and that roads are potholed and become flooded when the rains come due to a failing drainage system.

"The YCDC still hasn't been able to fix those problems yet. Now they are eyeing another project," he said.

He recalled a World Bank $104-million loan accepted in 2017 for solving flooding issues in the city's downtown areas. But now, one year on, the areas still face inundations when the rains come.

U Khin Maung Maung said the creek focused on in the project was not a major transport waterway in the city—a project not worth carrying out under an international loan.

"So are the others like [the plan for] upgrading a market and developing the waterfront. Do we really need a foreign loan for them? We will have to pay it back," he warned.

Another lawmaker Daw Yin Min Hlaing pointed out that Yangon should spend international loans where it is really required for the benefit of people. She pointed out that until March this year the YCDC had spent more than $500 million on only three projects.

"With the money for the new project, it would be nearly $700 million of YCDC spending," she said.

Relevant authorities will respond to the lawmakers' discussions on Monday and the Parliament will decide if the loan should be granted or not.

The post $80M Loan from France Denounced as Unnecessary in Parliament appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ethnic Dawei Party Wants Language Ban Lifted

Posted: 20 Nov 2018 03:37 AM PST

Mon State — The Dawei Nationalities Party (DNP) has asked Dawei Township authorities in Tenasserim Region to lift a new ban on using their language to fashion signs for this week’s full moon festival.

In a statement on Monday, the DNP said it was a tradition during the religious festival for ethnic Dawei to prepare signs bearing the name of their township quarter in the Dawei language. The signs are placed on carts each quarter prepares and uses to wheel a Buddha statue around the town.

The statement came in reacting to a latter Dawei Township authorities sent the quarters and their villages last month instructing them to use Burmese only.

"For Dawei people this action is similar to banning our literature and culture; it is intended to oppress all ethnic Dawei," the statement said.

It also accused the National League for Democracy of breaking the promises it made during the 2015 election campaign to protect and promote the rights of ethnic minorities.

“The name of our quarter written in our [Dawei] language is different from its name in Burmese. Our people are very happy when they see their language in writing,” said DNP Chairman U Aye Min. "But they don’t let us write it this year.”

He said the Dawei had more freedom to use their language under military dictatorship and that it was disappointing to see a mostly democratically elected government rolling their rights back, raising fears that it was trying to wipe out their culture and literate altogether.

"This should not happen when the country is using democracy," said Hein Htet, an ethnic Dawei and joint secretary of the Myanmar Youth Affairs Committee.

"We were oppressed for many years. We feel we are being oppressed again," he said.

On Tuesday, however, local news outlet Dawei Watch reported that Tenasserim Region Government Director U Moe Zaw Latt said the language ban was imposed so that all visitors could understand the signs, apologized for the order, and said it would be reversed.

“They are free to write in their language. Our government will issue one more statement soon to abolish the first order,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference on Tuesday.

The Irrawaddy could not reach local authorities for confirmation or comment.

The post Ethnic Dawei Party Wants Language Ban Lifted appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Work on Muse-Ruili Economic Cooperation Zone to Begin Soon

Posted: 20 Nov 2018 01:52 AM PST

By Myo Pa Pa San   20 November 2018

YANGON—The first of three projected economic zones along the Myanmar-China border will be implemented soon between Shan State's Muse and China's Ruili, Deputy Commerce Minister U Aung Htoo said.

Under an agreement between Naypyitaw and Beijing, three "economic cooperation zones" will be established in Kachin and Shan states along the border as part of Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

The two others will be built in Kanpiketi town, in Kachin State's Special Region 1, which is under the control of the New Democratic Army-Kachin militia; and Chinshwehaw in Shan State's Laukkai Township, part of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone.

The two governments have already started discussions on implementation of the economic zones, said U Aung Htoo.

"We will implement the zone between Muse and Ruili first, and China has also begun fencing off [a location in] Jiegao in China's Yunnan Province," the deputy minister said at a press conference on Monday.

Government officials and businessmen of the two countries are set to hold further talks at a border trade expo to be held in December in Muse.

"We'll discuss what type of industry will be established there. Private companies that are recognized by the government will be allowed to participate. We'll invite expressions of interest from private companies soon and examine whether they are capable or not [of developing the zones]," U Aung Htoo said.

While economic zones will boost border trade, they will also provide job opportunities for locals and more business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, while increasing foreign investment, he said.

Dr. Maung Maung Lay, vice president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, was more optimistic about the zones. "They will enable Myanmar migrant workers to come back and work in their country. And we can also import technologies," he said.

He was hopeful that Myanmar would be able to make use of Chinese technologies to produce value-added exports to address the country's trade deficit.

"The government is cutting red tape and reviewing taxation regulations regarding trade," Dr. Maung Maung Lay said.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in May last year following State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to China in August 2016.

The joint committee for implementation of economic cooperation zones was established in April.

The post Work on Muse-Ruili Economic Cooperation Zone to Begin Soon appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Jade Miner Shot Dead in Hpakant Clash

Posted: 19 Nov 2018 11:41 PM PST

MANDALAY — Clashes between freelance jade prospectors and security personnel of a jade mining company resulted in the death of one on Monday in the jade mining area of Hpakant in Kachin State.

According to witnesses, security personnel from Jade Leaf Mining Company, located near the village of Namt Hmaw in the Seik Mu area, opened fire into a crowd of prospectors who had gathered outside the site entrance waiting to enter the mine and search for jade residue.

"The prospectors apparently tried to enter the company premises before the permitted time and had a confrontation with security there who then opened fire and killed one," said U La Nan, a local miner who was present at the site of the incident.

Hpakant police confirmed the death of Ko Aye Than, 25, a prospector from Pauk Taw Township of Rakhine State, during the clash on Monday.

"Ko Aye Than was shot on his right chest and died on the spot. A Mitsubishi Pajero, a car garage and a two-story building were burned down. We are still investigating the cause and the cost of the burnt property. We will take legal action against those who incited the clash," said the duty officer of Hpakant Police Station.

In Hpakant's jade mining region, deadly clashes between security officers from mining companies and prospectors are very common. Clashes usually break out when the two parties argue about entry to the jade mining company premises which prospectors often seek before the permitted time, sometimes resulting in injury, or even the death, of the jade prospectors.

At the end of October this year, at least six prospectors were injured when mine security personnel opened fire into a crowd gathered near Sun World jade mining company in Saijabom Village in Hpakant.

On Nov. 14, two prospectors died while trying to enter the mine site of jade mining company Jewelry Star, located in the Waikhar area of Hpakant, without permission and were shot by security.

"If there are strict laws for both the prospectors and the jade mining companies, and if all of them follow the rules, there will be no such sad incidents. The security persons also need to find another way to stop the prospectors rather than opening fire easily," said U La Nan, the local miner.

"Our jade mining region has experienced many sad incidents. We want rule of law in our region desperately," he added.

The post Jade Miner Shot Dead in Hpakant Clash appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Man Sentenced to Death Penalty for Murder of 19-year-old Student

Posted: 19 Nov 2018 11:02 PM PST

MANDALAY — The Kyaukse Township court sentenced three men involved in the killing of a student from the Kyaukse Government Technical Institute on Monday. One man received the death penalty and two others received lengthy sentences.

Aung Thu Hein, who stabbed Ko Nay Min Htet to death, received the death penalty. Min Khant Kyaw received 21 years imprisonment and Min Chit Aung received 20 years imprisonment for involvement in the fight that led to the killing of Ko Nay Min Htet.

"The court should sentence all three people to the death penalty to set an example. However, we are satisfied with the severity of the penalty as is," said U Toe Wai Phyo, the uncle of Ko Nay Min Htet.

Ko Nay Min Htet, 19, was in his final year at Kyaukse Government Technical Institute when he was playing a game on his cell phone while traveling with a friend in August 2018. Three men approached the pair and grabbed Ko Nay Min Htet's phone.

When the two friends asked the robbers to return the phone, they were beaten up and U Nay Min Htet was stabbed to death.

Aung Thu Hein, Min Khant Kyaw and Min Chit Aung were arrested hours after the incident.

They were brought to court and faced charges for theft, murder and being accomplices to these crimes.

The post Man Sentenced to Death Penalty for Murder of 19-year-old Student appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National Security Adviser Appointed Minister of New Investment Ministry

Posted: 19 Nov 2018 09:10 PM PST

YANGON — Myanmar President U Win Myint has appointed the country's national security adviser U Thaung Tun as the head of a newly formed ministry that aims to boost local and international investment and to make that investment socially and environmentally responsible.

Prior to the appointment, apart from the security adviser position, U Thaung Tun was also the government office minister.

The announcement, following the Union Parliament's approval of the formation of the new ministry on Monday morning, said he has been transferred from government office minister to his new position of minister for the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations.

President U Win Myint last week proposed the formation of the new Union-level ministry to Parliament for approval.

Myanmar Attorney General Tun Tun Oo told Parliament on Monday that the new ministry will be a merger between the Foreign Economic Relations Department and the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration– both of which are currently under the Ministry of Planning and Finance.

He assured that the formation of the new ministry would provide swifter investment-related information to local and international investors, real-time collaboration with relevant departments and dispute resolution among investors.

The plan comes at a time when Myanmar's economy is slowing and many international investors are turning away because of the Rohingya crisis. Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since a military crackdown in northern Rakhine State late last year. The government, led by Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has come under heavy international criticism for remaining largely silent on the issue.

In his message to Parliament last week regarding the formation of the ministry, President U Win Myint said the government needed the new ministry "to make use of outside assistance from the United Nations and other international organizations in accordance with the country's policies and to effectively collaborate with the UN and others international organizations."

U Thaung Tun has served as ambassador to the Philippines, Belgium, the Netherlands and the EU and was director-general for political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the former military regime.

During that time, he was widely criticized by the opposition for warning Daw Aung San Suu Kyi – then under house arrest – that she "must not rock the boat" after she said she would boycott the military regime's controversial constitutional convention at a 2006 press conference in Manila.

In 2016, he worked as a government relations adviser for Shell Myanmar Energy PTE.

He was appointed national security adviser in January 2017 and government office minister that November. The appointments were criticized by former lawmaker U Soe Thane, who was the president's office minister under former President U Thein Sein. U Soe Thane reportedly said that U Thaung Tun had failed to disclose his previous work for the George Soros Foundation as a consultant and said that making him national security adviser could hurt Myanmar's relations with China.

The former lawmaker also reportedly said that George Soros approached him to secure a ministerial appointment for U Thaung Tun, but U Thein Sein rejected the idea because George Soros was American.

The post National Security Adviser Appointed Minister of New Investment Ministry appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Sri Lanka’s New PM May Lose Budget Even as he Clings to Power

Posted: 19 Nov 2018 09:09 PM PST

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who lost two motions of no confidence last week, may lose his government’s budget even as he clings to power.

Lawmakers opposed to Rajapaksa said they intend to remove funding for staff salaries and other costs in a vote on Nov. 29. The opposition, which regards his administration as illegitimate, will also seek approval to slash the government’s overall budget, they said.

It was the latest of several new twists on Monday in the political chaos that has embroiled Sri Lanka for the past few weeks.

Leaders of political parties backing Rajapaksa and President Maithripala Sirisena refused to allow a third motion of no confidence to be held through name call or electronic voting on Monday. The previous two motions passed through a voice vote but Sirisena said they hadn’t followed the proper procedures. Sirisena appointed Rajapaksa last month after firing Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, setting off the political turmoil on the island off India’s southeast coast.

Rajapaksa is seen as a close ally of China, though Beijing has denied accusations that it was instrumental in getting him appointed.

Dinesh Gunawardene, a Rajapaksa loyalist, said Wickremesinghe’s coalition had handed a motion “to suspend all government expenses” to the speaker and the Parliament secretary.

“According to the previous no confidence motions, both Rajapaksa and his government are out. There is no government, but there are MPs,” M.A. Sumanthiran, a lawmaker who had voted for the no confidence motion, told Reuters.

“The finance of the country is under the control of the Parliament. Now we have proposed a motion to stop government finances for the prime minister’s office,” he said.

Ananda Kumarasiri, the deputy speaker of the Parliament, established a select committee to carry on parliamentary business before adjourning the House to Nov. 23.

Unlike last Thursday and Friday there were no physical altercations on the floor of Parliament on Monday. On Friday, lawmakers supporting Rajapaksa threw books, chili paste and water bottles at the speaker to try to disrupt the second vote.

Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya said in a statement that investigations have begun into Friday’s events, including damage that was done to public property in the melee.

The political crisis has hit the economy. On Monday the rupee fell to a record low of 177.20 per dollar. Foreign investors have pulled out more than 30 billion rupees ($169.5 million) since the crisis unfolded on Oct. 26.

Wickremesinghe loyalists allege that Rajapaksa’s party is trying to buy lawmakers for as much as $3 million each. Rajapaksa loyalists have rejected the allegation.

Both Sirisena and many Rajapaksa loyalists have said they have the majority in Parliament. However, the no confidence motion against Rajapaksa and his government was passed twice by 122 votes in the 225-member Parliament.

Most foreign countries, including Western nations, have yet to recognize Rajapaksa as the prime minister.

Last week, eight Western countries stayed away from a meeting with the government to register their protest against Sirisena’s decision to dissolve Parliament.

The post Sri Lanka’s New PM May Lose Budget Even as he Clings to Power appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Deadly Air Pollution Shortens Lives by Nearly 2 Years: Researchers

Posted: 19 Nov 2018 09:00 PM PST

NEW YORK — Air pollution, caused largely by burning fossil fuels, is cutting global life expectancy by an average of 1.8 years per person, making it the world’s top killer, researchers said on Monday.

The tiny particles ingested from polluted air shorten life more than first-hand cigarette smoke, which can reduce it by 1.6 years, and are more dangerous than other public health threats such as war and HIV/AIDS, they said.

The University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) shows people in parts of India, the world’s second-largest country by population, could live 11 years less due to high levels of air pollution.

Life expectancy averages slightly below 69 in the South Asian nation of 1.3 billion, according to the World Bank.

The researchers launched a website that tells users how many years of life air pollution could cost them according to which region of a country they live in.

The index seeks to transform hard-to-comprehend data into “perhaps the most important metric that exists – life”, Michael Greenstone, director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), said in a statement.

Particulate pollution is normally measured in micrograms per cubic meter.

“The fact that this AQLI tool quantifies the number of years I and you have lost to air pollution makes me worried,” Kalikesh Singh Deo, an Indian member of Parliament, said in a statement shared by EPIC.

China and Indonesia are also among the countries where microscopic particles floating in the air hit residents the hardest, cutting their life expectancy by as much as seven years and five and a half years respectively, the website shows.

Other studies have previously looked into the number of people who may die prematurely because of air pollution.

But the EPIC scientists hope the website – the first of its kind, according to the institute – will make the consequences of policies that promote dirty energy more tangible, and encourage reforms that promote better air quality.

Only a handful of India’s 100 most polluted cities have drawn up plans to combat air pollution despite being asked to do so three years ago, a report from the World Health Organization said earlier this year.

The post Deadly Air Pollution Shortens Lives by Nearly 2 Years: Researchers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to do in Yangon This Week

Posted: 19 Nov 2018 07:53 PM PST

Myanmar vs Vietnam

Myanmar's national football team play Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup group stage.

Nov. 20, 6 p.m. Thuwunna Stadium. Tickets 3,000 to 5,000 kyats.

 

Iron Cross

Myanmar's most famous rock band Iron Cross play live in Yangon.

Nov. 21, 6 p.m. Kandawgyi Hmawsinkyun. Tickets 10,000 kyats at 09-445151010.

 

Premier's Tazaungdaing Festival

Many singers including Myanmarpyi Thein Tan, R-Zarni, Phyo Pyae Sone, Ni Ni Khin Zaw will participate in the live show.

Nov. 21-22, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Maha Bandoola Park. Free Admission.

 

Nate Ban Zay

There will be traditional Myanmar nate ban zay market event at City Mall shopping mall.

Nov. 21-22, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. City Mall St. John

Emperor

Veteran vocalists Zaw Win Htut, Ringo and Sithu Lwin plus Big Bag will perform.

Nov. 22, 6 p.m. Thuwunnabhumi Event Park. Tickets 10,000 to 70,000 kyats at 09-778400007, 09-778400009.

Colorful May Kha Music Showcase

Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, Wai La and Aung Htet will perform to the accompaniment of Diramore's orchestra.

Nov. 24, 7 p.m. National Theater of Yangon. Tickets 5,000 to 35,000 kyats at 09-445151010.

 

Fab #78

This is the 78th edition of the popular club night held by and for Yangon's LGBT community and their friends.

Nov. 24, 10 p.m. till late, Club Pyrite, No.37, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, near Inya Lake Hotel. Entry 5,000 kyats.

 

Pix’ART Digital Art Festival 2018

French accordionist Pascal Contet will present "Other Worlds," an original creation fusing live music with the video artworks of Thierry Coduys.

Nov. 23, 8 p.m. Institut Français de Birmanie, No. 340, Pyay Road, Sanchaung Tsp. Entry 5,000 kyats.

 

November Exhibition

Veteran artist Soe Naing showcases a collection of his painted artwork.

Nov. 21-22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. OK Art Gallery, Aung San Stadium (North Wing).

 

The Expression

This is Zay Zay Htut's solo art exhibition.

Nov. 17-25, 10 am to 6 pm. River Gallery, Chindwin Chambers, beside Strand Hotel.

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

Cambodian PM Says Won’t Allow Any Foreign Military Base in His Country

Posted: 19 Nov 2018 07:30 PM PST

PHNOM PENH — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday there would never be a foreign military base in his country, following a news report that China was lobbying for a naval base in southwest Koh Kong Province.

The Asia Times, citing unidentified diplomatic sources and analysts, reported on Thursday that Beijing had been lobbying Cambodia since 2017 for the naval base, which could host frigates, destroyers and other vessels of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

“Does Cambodia need to violate its Constitution to allow a foreign military base on Cambodian territory?” Information Minister Khieu Kanharith quoted Hun Sen as saying on Facebook during a cabinet meeting on Monday.

“With whom does Cambodia need foreign troops to fight with?” Hun Sen said, according to Khieu Kanharith. “And I do not need foreigners to fight in Cambodian territory like in the past, nor does Cambodia allow her to be a place for ideology or weapon experiment,” he said.

The possible naval base is thought to be part of a project by China’s Tianjin Union Development Group (UDG), which began work in 2008 on 45,000 hectares of land in a national park for 99 years.

There has been little information about the $3.8 billion project or its progress.

UDG was also to spend $45 million on the port, which The Asia Times report described as a naval base.

Cambodia-based Sawac Consultants for Development, commissioned by Cambodia’s environment ministry, said the port would be able to handle up to four 20,000-tonne container ships.

The port was guarded by Cambodian military and appeared unfinished when Reuters visited in June.

China, Hun Sen’s strongest regional ally, has poured billions of dollars in development assistance and loans into Cambodia through bilateral frameworks and China’s Belt and Road initiative.

The initiative, unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to bolster a sprawling network of land and sea links with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

It has attracted a flood of Chinese commercial ventures in Cambodia, including casinos and special economic zones.

 

The post Cambodian PM Says Won’t Allow Any Foreign Military Base in His Country appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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