Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Concept, Context, Contestation—Art That Asks You to Look Inside Yourself

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 04:48 AM PST

YANGON—A wide-ranging set of political issues, societal injustices and human rights abuses of both the past and present from across Southeast Asia have been brought to life through art in the latest exhibition to be held at Yangon's Secretariat. This is the Yangon leg of a traveling exhibition commissioned by Thailand's Bangkok Art & Culture Centre and organized in conjunction with Goethe Institut Myanmar.

"Viewers should consider two main things when looking at this exhibition: that Southeast Asia has its own unique journey in art, politics and history, and that art and society are deeply and intimately connected. For artists showing in this work, there is no separation," said Nathalie Johnston, founder of Yangon modern art gallery Myanm/art and curator of the exhibition.

Artist Htein Lin’s exhibit “Recently Departed” at the Concept, Context, Contestation contemporary art exhibition in the Secretariat photographed on January 23, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

Spanning the entire southern wing of the historic Secretariat building, the artists have used photographs, glass, paintings, video, models, sculpture, projections and performances to introduce their ideas to the viewer. Many of the art pieces awaken a sleeping inner citizen in us, dealing with topics like the distortion of cultural traditions, globalization, consumerism, citizenship, genocide and displacement. They ask the viewer, "Where do you stand?"

Artist Htein Lin’s exhibit “Recently Departed” at the Concept, Context, Contestation contemporary art exhibition in the Secretariat photographed on January 23, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

In the collection of works by Thai, Cambodian, Indonesian, Philippine, Vietnamese and Myanmar artists, the voyeur is shaken into the urge to take action; the cell phone addict is forced to look up and be present in reality; the materialistic youth is face to face with atrocities suffered by the last generation.

In Cambodian artist Vandy Rattana's piece—16 documentary-style photographs—viewers are seen casually watching the Khmer Rouge trials on a television. Subjects are distracted by newspapers, dozing in chairs and sipping coffee, raising critical ideas about "a generation of Cambodians who may have been forgotten."

Artist Htein Lin’s exhibit “Recently Departed” at the Concept, Context, Contestation contemporary art exhibition in the Secretariat photographed on January 23, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

During the opening ceremony, veteran Myanmar artist Aung Myint's performance involved creating an outline of the map of Myanmar with rice and adding cheap plastic China-made toys to depict the loss of Myanmar's natural and cultural heritage to globalization. In the remaining installation, traditional toys and lengths of wood are seen moving en masse across the border to China.

Thai artist Manit Sriwanichpoom's piece "Horror in Pink" is a provocative set of photographs from three events of violent social repression in Thailand's past, which have been infused with the image of a cheerful character watching the scene with impartiality, raising questions about our civic responsibility in a crisis today.

Myanmar artist and ex-political prisoner Htein Lin uses the charred remains of a mighty old tree felled in downtown Yangon by the city authorities in his piece "Recently Departed." A number of pieces depict family life, loss and displacement, which are too often connected for members Myanmar's ethnic minority groups. The artist recounts visiting villages in northern Myanmar in previous decades where the people had recently fled for their lives, with only the scorched skeletons of their homes and belongings left behind.

"A strong dichotomy between Htein Lin's work—showing what we can say—and Sawangwongse's work, showing what we cannot, I think best reflects the complicated situation Myanmar finds itself in at this time," said Johnston, referring to the almost-blank board that is Myanmar artist Sawangwongse Yawnghwe's exhibit titled "Myanmar Peace Industrial Complex No. 1 (censored version)."

The exhibition continues to run daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Feb. 10. Admission is free.

The post Concept, Context, Contestation—Art That Asks You to Look Inside Yourself appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Yangon Municipal Body Must Strictly Enforce Its New Law

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 04:19 AM PST

It has been more than two months since Yangon's new municipal law came into effect. Do the city's residents see the legislation drafted at State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's request as having a positive impact on their daily lives?

As a Yangon native and resident, I'd have to answer, "yes and no."

It's true that the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), the city's municipal body, is trying to realize its vision to make the former capital a more livable place. Take a stroll around the city center and you can feel the difference. In a marked improvement from early last year, the sidewalks of Anawrahta Road near Sule Pagoda are now relatively free of vendors and are more pedestrian friendly. The broken pavements that once circled Kandawgyi Lake have mostly been replaced. The food carts that once intruded on Maha Bandoola Road in Chinatown are gone. Some downtown alleys that were once choked with garbage are largely clean.

Taken alone, these examples paint a rosy picture—an image of the recently enacted municipal law being effectively implemented by the YCDC thanks to its imposition of fines and jail sentences as prescribed in the law.

However, the view from the footbridge at the Sule Junction—a scene of vehicles backed up at traffic lights—tells a different story. During a recent morning rush hour, drivers waiting at the traffic lights could be seen rolling down their windows to spit betel juice onto the road: a violation of the city's sanitation statutes that should earn an offender a fine of from 30,000 to 50,000 kyats under the new YCDC Law. Turn into any side street off a main road downtown and it will likely seem narrower than when you took the road last year. One side of the street will probably be lined with vendors and food carts, which have been banished from the pavements of the main roads—while cars are parked on the other side. (It's not clear if those vendors have permission to be there from the YCDC. If not, they are in violation of Article 315 of the YCDC Law, which prohibits any obstruction of public roads, streets and sidewalks.) Meanwhile, on the corner of the street, an old generator as large as a minivan sits idle, in defiance of the 10,000 to 100,000-kyat fine called for in the law. This is all just a few meters from City Hall, the YCDC's headquarters. Welcome to Yangon!

These examples illustrate vividly the municipal body's failure to fully enforce its own law. It can't be said that people aren't aware of the law. It was enacted in June, but the YCDC set aside three months (July, August and September) as an educational period for city dwellers to learn about the city's "don'ts". Afterward, the YCDC was supposed to focus on enforcing the law to make Yangon a livable city.

Recently, a lawmaker called Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe (who has few achievements on behalf of the city to his credit after more than three years in office) a "windbag" over the municipal body's failure to do its job. After the tough comments, YCDC staff stormed the streets of San Chaung Township to enforce the law. During their raids, they seized equipment from roadside vendors that choked the streets. They shooed away small eateries and lottery ticket sellers who were intruding on the pavements. For the first time in years, San Chaung residents realized their community has streets wide enough to walk freely upon without worrying every step of the way that they will tread on some piece of bric-a-brac belonging to a vendor.

But such ad hoc solutions to the city's problems are not the answer. There are many other townships facing problems like San Chaung's. Unregulated vendors are rampant. Street alleys are still littered with garbage. Cars parked on pavements force people to risk their lives by walking on the street as buses swish past them. In Tamwe Township, some bus stops have been entirely overrun by roadside vendors; commuters wait for their buses on the road.

When the new municipal law was enacted, city residents were delighted at the prospect of real change in their neighborhoods after putting up with these nuisances for many years. But now they feel the YCDC has let them down.

To fulfill residents' hopes, the municipal body has to be tough in enforcing the law. YCDC officials say they have taken action in 100 cases so far. But it's not enough. They must be merciless in taking action against those who litter on the streets or alleys in violation of the YCDC Law. When clamping down on unregulated street vendors, municipal enforcers should no longer play the cat-and-mouse game that the two sides have gotten used to.

Roadside vending in Yangon is a deep-rooted problem that was ignored by previous governments. They rarely launched intensive crackdowns aimed at wiping them out, partly because they were afraid it would lead to social unrest. So they turned a blind eye and the vendors proliferated unchecked. As time went by, they began to see the sidewalks as their rightful territory, and no longer thought of doing business on them as an offense. The city's residents suffered.

The YCDC should not bow to resistance when trying to enforce the law. It needs a firm policy to keep its mission on track. Furthermore, the municipal body should use this moment as an opportunity to address its image, which has been tarnished during previous governments as one of the most corrupt institutions, and one that has consistently turned its back on the city's residents. If the YCDC keeps heading in the right direction, people won't mind supporting an organization that is trying to keep their city clean and livable. On the other hand, the city's residents have to do their part and work with the YCDC by obeying the law. The municipal body has to be fully consistent in enforcing the law. For anyone who fails to obey it, there can be no option but to punish them for the sake of Yangon, which is not only our city, but also our home.

The post Yangon Municipal Body Must Strictly Enforce Its New Law appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Pro-Military Rally in Capital Organized by Central War Veterans Group: Ex-Soldier

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 04:09 AM PST

NAYPYITAW—A pro-military rally held in Naypyitaw on Wednesday was organized by the Myanmar War Veterans Organization (Central), a former Army captain told The Irrawaddy.

U Yan Myo Win, who is also chairman of the Zabuthiri Township branch of the Myanmar War Veterans Organization, said: "No [pro-military rallies] had been held in Naypyitaw, though they had been held elsewhere across the country. So, one was organized in Naypyitaw at the instruction of the Myanmar War Veterans Organization (Central)."

As U Yan Myo Win was telling The Irrawaddy this, however, another veteran interrupted him and told him not to provide this information. U Yan Myo Win then changed his answer and said the rally was organized by a Naypyitaw-based war veterans group.

The Myanmar War Veterans Organization consists of former soldiers from the rank of private to major-general. Its current patron is Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) commander-in-chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing. His predecessor as patron was former Senior-General Than Shwe.

Around 500 war veterans from the Naypyitaw Union Territory took part in the rally at the old long-distance bus terminal in Pyinmana Township.

"We are here to support the role of the Tatmadaw. We have gathered as an auxiliary force of the Tatmadaw," said U Yan Myo Win.

Pyinmana Township War Veterans Organization chairman U Than Aung told the media his members proposed organizing a rally in Naypyitaw as similar rallies have been held in other parts of the country.

"They asked why we hadn't organized [a rally] while other places already had. So, at the request of the rank and file of the war veterans organizations, we have organized [the rally] according to their wishes," he said.

The Tatmadaw has come under mounting international pressure in the wake of operations in northern Rakhine State—triggered by militant attacks on security posts—that have driven some 700,000 people, mostly Rohingya, to neighboring Bangladesh.

In September, the UN Human Rights Council voted to set up a body to prepare evidence for possible future prosecutions at the International Criminal Court relating to the military's treatment of the Rohingya.

Since then, Army sympathizers—including ultranationalists, war veterans and their families—have organized rallies across the country to express support for the military's actions in Rakhine State.

"The country can only survive if the Tatmadaw exists," former Lance Corporal U Kyaw Win told reporters.

At a conference of the Myanmar War Veterans Organization in Naypyitaw in November last year, Sen-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing publicly praised pro-military rallies.

He told the audience that "nationalistic and patriotic people in various townships have organized rallies to show their opposition to one-sided allegations and interference by some foreign countries and organizations in the internal affairs of our country, and to show support for the actions of the Tatmadaw."

He added, "Such good traditions should be maintained."

Over 80 pro-military rallies have been held since 2016, according to the Myawady Daily, a military mouthpiece.

Lower House lawmaker U Aung Win said pro-military rallies are unnecessary because Myanmar already supports the Army. He said the Tatmadaw should focus on its duties providing defense for the state, and not get involved in politics.

"[In the past] there were never pro-military rallies. When the Tatmadaw said the country will be strong only when the Tatmadaw is strong, it was the country's only institution. But we also have [an elected] government now. But the [previous] government supported and prioritized the Tatmadaw," said the lawmaker, who is a retired Army captain.

The post Pro-Military Rally in Capital Organized by Central War Veterans Group: Ex-Soldier appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Army Bases Spark Fears of Fresh Fighting in Kayah State

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 02:50 AM PST

The Myanmar Army has recently established four new bases in areas of Kayah State where Karenni rebel groups remain active, evoking fear among locals that fresh clashes may break out in the area.

The Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN), based in Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, reported on Jan. 21 that the Myanmar Army has built new bases in the townships of Demawso, Pasaung, Bawlake, and Shadaw. Myanmar Army's Light Infantry Battalion No. 54 have built a new base in Daw Pu Village, Demawso Township. Battalion No. 428 have established a base in Nat Ye Thweh Pauk (aka Bo Than Win Gone) in Pasaung Township. Battalion No. 429 have built a base between Daw Wiraw and Thiri Dah villages in Shadaw Township and battalion No. 337's new base is at Nam Mahn Kee in Mae Set Township. The four battalions will be temporarily based at those locations for three months, according to the Myanmar Army. The construction of the bases began on Dec. 23 and were completed on Jan. 7.

Many locals, including members of KCSN from the region, have questioned the motives of the Myanmar Army as the bases were built during the unilateral four-month ceasefire.

Khu Tu Reh, a spokesperson for KCSN told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that there is a feeling of fear among many of the locals who are worried about the onset of renewed fighting.

"There has been serious fighting in the past in these areas so the locals have memories of bad experiences from the past and they suffered a lot [during previous outbreaks]," he said.

The four-month ceasefire declared by the Myanmar Army covers Shan, Kachin, and Kayah states, but Khu Tu Reh said it raises questions on whether Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing really wants to have peace or if his army are in fact preparing bases and planning ahead for future conflict.

"If he loves peace and he wants the people to benefit from peace, his army should not act like that," said Khu Tu Reh.

The Myanmar Army has already moved into the newly-built bases, according to KCSN. Some local people who disagreed with the building of the bases approached members of the army to express their disapproval of them basing themselves in the area. The army's response was that they intend to stay in the area only temporarily.

"They told our locals that they will stay only for three months," said Khu Tu Reh.

Khu Oo Reh, vice chairman of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that his party had recently sent a delegation to meet some Myanmar Army officers.

"Those army officers told us at the meeting that the order came from the top (the ministry of defense based in Naypyitaw) and that troops would stay in bases where the ceasefire was declared for the duration of the temporary ceasefire," said Khu Oo Reh.

"They even told us that if we (the KNPP) wanted to approach this issue officially, both sides could sit and discuss it at the monthly meeting," he said, referring to the meetings which are held between the Myanmar Army and the KNPP at the end of every month.

The KNPP is set to bring up the issue with the Myanmar Army at the end of January, according to Khu Oo Reh.

"For our KNPP, we will seek a solution through dialogue during our monthly meeting," he said.

Both the Myanmar Army and the KNPP have a long-standing agreement on the circumstances of building new bases during ceasefire periods, according to the KNPP. The Myanmar Army is required to inform the KNPP in advance if they wish to build a new base in an area where KNPP troops are active. In this case, however, the Myanmar Army did not inform them prior to building the four new bases, according to the KNPP.

The KNPP have also expressed concerns that renewed fighting may break out in the near future, ending the peace and stability the area has enjoyed in recent years. The KNPP fears for the safety of local people of the area should fighting break out, said Khu Oo Reh.

"We are also worried that the progress of the peace process could be damaged by [the Myanmar Army's] actions," said Khu Oo Reh.

The Irrawaddy was unable to reach the Myanmar Army's Eastern Regional Command for comment on Wednesday.

The post New Army Bases Spark Fears of Fresh Fighting in Kayah State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Family of 3 Killed in Yangon Tea Shop Blaze

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 02:29 AM PST

YANGON — A family of three was killed in a fire at a tea shop in Yangon's Sanchaung Township on Wednesday morning.

"The fire started after a cooking fire was set up and a nearby gas cylinder that was leaking caught fire," U Htay Win, assistant director of the Yangon Western District Fire Service Department, told The Irrawaddy.

He said the family — U Mya Khine, 74, his wife, 83, and their daughter, 38 — lived above the shop, and that two employees also received minor injuries in the blast.

"It was mainly because the gas cylinder was placed too close to the cooking fire. So the fire erupted quickly due to the gas leak. It would be better to keep the gas cylinder separately outside," U Htay Win said.

A fire burns inside a building in Yangon on Wednesday morning. / Yangon Western District Fire Service Department

Police have opened a case against an employee of the tea shop suspected of causing the fire out of negligence and who ran away after it started, he added.

The two-story wooden building housing the tea shop was destroyed in the fire and half of a brick building beside it was also damaged. The total damage is estimated at about 18 million kyats ($11,700).

The fire was put out at about 6 a.m., 30 minutes after it started. More than 250 firefighters and nearly 30 fire engines participated in extinguishing the blaze.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Family of 3 Killed in Yangon Tea Shop Blaze appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dozens of Rohingya Arrested for Traveling Illegally

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 12:41 AM PST

YANGON—Police have opened cases under the Immigration Law against dozens of undocumented Rohingya accused of leaving Rakhine State without permission.

Police arrested 12 Rohingya on a vehicle near milepost No. 13 on the Yangon-Mandalay Highway on Jan. 19 and 15 more on Mindon-Thayet Rd. in Magwe Region the following day.

"They said they were heading to Yangon, and planned to proceed to Myawaddy, and from there to Malaysia," said Police Major Zarni Maung of the Highway Police about the Rohingya arrested on the expressway.

Police arrested Ko Khin Maung Win, a resident of Yangon's Pazundaung Township, for allegedly transporting the group to Yangon. Police have opened a case against him under Section 367 of the Penal Code at Baw Dhi Gon Police Station, located on the highway.

According to the police, the group comprised 10 men and two women. Five are from Pike Thay village in Minbya Township, and the rest are from Than Taung village in Kyauktaw Township.

They were arrested after their drowsy driver drove their vehicle off the highway, according to Highway Traffic police.

In the second case, police spotted two suspicious vehicles on the road linking Mindon and Thayet townships in Magwe. Following an investigation, police arrested 15 Rohingya hiding in a ravine in Mindon Township.

Five are from Sittwe Township and 10 are from Kyauktaw Township.

"The 15 Rohingya went before the Mindon Township Court today. We are still interrogating the six who transported them," Police Lieutenant Aye Ko of Alel Chaung Police Station told The Irrawaddy.

Some of the Rohingya arrested in Mindon confessed to having plans to go to Malaysia or Thailand via Yangon, but it remains unclear whether they have links to the group of Rohingya arrested on the highway, police said.

On Dec. 12, police arrested 15 Rohingya near a toll gate in Nawnghkio Township, Shan State. They were reportedly heading to Ruili in China. Police also arrested two persons who were taking them to China.

Those Rohingya are from Thakkelpyin village in Rakhine State's Sittwe and left for Yangon by boat on Dec. 8, arriving on Dec. 10. They were heading to the border town of Muse in three groups when police arrested them.

In November last year, police arrested 105 Rohingya in Yangon's Kyuaktan Township and another 93 in Tanintharyi's Launglon Township. After an investigation, the Myanmar Navy sent them back to Rakhine State.

The post Dozens of Rohingya Arrested for Traveling Illegally appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Projects Approved by Previous Gov’t Should Not Be Abolished: State Counselor

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 10:52 PM PST

KALAY—Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said no investor would trust in Myanmar if a new government abolishes projects approved by its predecessor just because they do not comply with its policies.

Her comments were in response to a question posed by a student at a meeting with locals in Kalay Township in Sagaing Region on Tuesday.

"Suppose a foreign investor established a business and the government that approved that business then left office. If its successor terminates the project saying it did not approve it, then no businessperson would want to invest in this country," said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

If the successor breaks a promise made by its predecessor, the country will lose its credibility, she said, adding that every government is responsible to protect the interests of the country.

Her statement coincides with widespread concerns among the members of the public over China's attempts to resume the Myitsone Dam project in Kachin State which has been suspended for seven years.

U Thein Sein's administration halted the $3.6 billion hydropower project in Kachin State's Myitsone, at the source of the Irrawaddy River, for its term in response to massive public outcry.

Many opponents of the dam project, especially Kachin residents, hoped that the new government would terminate the project. Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang visited Kachin State at the end of December to meet the leaders of local political parties and social organizations.

Following his visit, the Chinese Embassy on Jan. 13 released a statement saying that Kachin people were not against the resumption of the dam project.

"The local people of Kachin State do not oppose the Myitsone hydropower project: it is some individuals and social organizations from outside that oppose the project," said the statement.

The following day, prominent political parties in Kachin State called the Chinese embassy's statement "inaccurate and misleading" and that the Kachin want to "permanently" shelve the project.

The government of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has not released a clear statement on the project because it would be facing a political crisis, according to Lower House lawmaker N'Htng Hka Naw San representing Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State.

"If we terminate it, China will be angry. But if we approve it, there will be protests against us across the country as people do not support the project at all," said the lawmaker who is also a member of the central executive committee of the ruling party.

Lower House lawmaker U Aung Thein of Bhamo Township in Kachin State said, "China never does a project if it is not beneficial to them. There is no such project that serves the interests of Myanmar. For example, take a look at the oil pipeline [from Rakhine to Kunming], only the signatories get benefits—not Myanmar people."

While she was in opposition, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi called for making the dam contract public. But nearly three years into her administration, she has not revealed the contract either.

The post Projects Approved by Previous Gov't Should Not Be Abolished: State Counselor appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Cambodian Leader, in Beijing, says China Pledges Nearly $600M in Aid

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 08:39 PM PST

PHNOM PENH—China has pledged 4 billion yuan ($588 million) in aid to Cambodia from 2019 to 2021, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Tuesday, highlighting strong ties between Beijing and Phnom Penh amid a European Union threat of trade sanctions.

Hun Sen is on a three-day visit to China, his most important regional ally, and held bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in which he asked for more aid and investment in his Southeast Asian country’s crucial textile industry.

Xi pledged the 2019-21 grant in response, Hun Sen’s official Facebook post said. The Chinese leader also promised to import 400,000 tons of rice from Cambodia, vowed to push bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2023 and encouraged more Chinese investment, the post said.

“The President said the relationship between China and Cambodia is very special, compared to other countries,” Hun Sen’s post said.

China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Xi told Hun Sen China wanted to strengthen political, economic and security cooperation with Cambodia and increase China-Cambodia coordination at the United Nations and within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The two sides should hasten links between China’s Belt and Road plan and Cambodia’s development strategy, Xi said. The statement made no mention of the financial aid.

China has already poured billions of dollars in development assistance and loans into Cambodia through Xi’s Belt and Road initiative, which aims to bolster land and sea links with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Some Western governments have accused China of pulling countries into a debt trap with the initiative, an accusation China has denied.

Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party won all seats in a general election in July after the Supreme Court dissolved the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2017 at the government’s request.

The European Union condemned the election as not credible and threatened to strip Cambodia of its Everything but Arms status because of the crackdown on the opposition, media and civil society groups before the election.

It imposed tariffs on rice from Cambodia last week for the next three years to curb a surge in imports it said had damaged EU producers.

The post Cambodian Leader, in Beijing, says China Pledges Nearly $600M in Aid appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Hong Kong to Unveil Bill Making Disrespect of China’s National Anthem a Crime

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 08:28 PM PST

HONG KONG—Hong Kong is set on Wednesday to present a controversial bill to lawmakers that prescribes jail terms of up to three years for anyone disrespecting the Chinese national anthem, a move critics say raises fresh fears over freedom of expression in the city.

Chinese authorities have striven to instill greater patriotism in the former British colony at a time of heightened tension between democracy activists and forces loyal to Beijing, with some in Hong Kong even advocating independence from China.

Besides imprisonment, the measure would fix a maximum fine of HK$50,000 ($6,373) for those who publicly and intentionally disrespect the anthem, the “March of the Volunteers.”

It also extends to schoolchildren, including pupils of international schools, who would be legally required to learn the anthem.

“I think teachers would feel worried about this proposal, because if we allow this government to pass a law to instruct the teachers what to teach, well, this time it is for the national anthem, maybe next time it could be other things,” said secondary school teacher Simon Hung, 36.

Booing the anthem at soccer matches in the Chinese-ruled territory has emerged as a form of political protest in the past few years, seized upon by young people keen to demonstrate their frustration at Beijing’s perceived creeping influence.

The global financial hub returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a so-called “one country, two systems” formula that promises the city a high degree of autonomy, including freedom of expression.

The anthem proposal is expected to pass easily when it comes to a vote—probably before the summer—as the opposition does not have enough seats to block routine legislation.

Hong Kong has already outlawed the desecration of national flags and emblems, which can attract jail terms of three years.

Calls for outright independence are a red line for China’s Communist Party leaders, who deem Hong Kong an inalienable part of the nation.

But many young people in Hong Kong have become increasingly angered by what they see as China’s encroachment of the city’s culture and autonomy, with some advocating “localism,” or a Hong Kong identity, rather than a Chinese one.

“We have no sense of belonging to China at all,” one football supporter told Reuters. “Even people I know who are born since 1997, they still think they are HongKongers, but not Chinese.”

In 2017, mainland China adopted a law banning disrespect for the anthem. A similar measure is being reviewed in Macau, also designated a Chinese special administrative region.

Opponents and press freedom advocates in the world’s largest gambling hub have criticized a provision for authorities to seek media assistance in anthem promotion campaigns.

The post Hong Kong to Unveil Bill Making Disrespect of China’s National Anthem a Crime appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Indian Police Arrest Rohingya Muslim Group Stuck on Bangladesh Border

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 08:24 PM PST

NEW DELHI — Indian police on Tuesday arrested 31 Rohingya Muslims stranded on the border after they were denied entry into Bangladesh and border officials failed to agree on what to do with members of the community fleeing a crackdown in India.

India’s Hindu nationalist government regards the Rohingya as illegal aliens and a security risk, and has ordered that tens of thousands of them who live in scattered settlements and slums around the country be identified and repatriated.

The stranded Rohingya, including women and children, had been stuck in no-man’s land on Bangladesh’s border with India since Friday. Two rounds of talks between border officials failed to find a solution.

“We have arrested them under the Foreigners Act on charges of entering India without valid travel documents,” said Ajay Kumar Das, a police official in the northeast state of Tripura that borders Bangladesh.

Hundreds of thousands of members of mostly Buddhist Myanmar’s Rohingya community have left their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State over the decades, most fleeing military crackdowns and discrimination.

Many have sought shelter in Bangladesh — where nearly one million live — but others have ended up in India, Southeast Asia and beyond.

The 31 had been living in Kashmir and some of them carried identity cards issued by the U.N. refugee agency, the UNHCR.

The UNHCR has issued about 16,500 Rohingya in India with identity cards that it says can help “prevent harassment, arbitrary arrests, detention and deportation.” India does not recognize the cards.

India’s deportation of seven Rohingya men to Myanmar in October raised fears in the community of a wider crackdown and prompted hundreds of Rohingya families to leave India for Bangladesh.

Indian police arrested another group of 30 Rohingya on Monday in the northeastern state of Assam, where they had moved after living for six years in Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim majority state.

Members of the group said they were looking for work after losing their jobs in Kashmir, police said.

“The arrests were made during a routine check by police and after interrogation we found they are all from Myanmar,” said Imon Saikia, a police official in the city of Karimganj, where the group was arrested.

The post Indian Police Arrest Rohingya Muslim Group Stuck on Bangladesh Border appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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