Monday, January 7, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Gov’t Accuses AA of Having Ties with ARSA

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 06:13 AM PST

YANGON—The Myanmar President's Office on Monday accused the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic Rakhine armed group responsible for last week's deadly attacks on four police outposts, of having ties to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Rohingya insurgent group denounced by the government as a terrorist organization.

The AA has been fighting Myanmar government forces in northern Rakhine State for several years with the aim of establishing a federal state system. Since last month, it has intensified its military activities.

ARSA launched a series of attacks on police outposts in 2017 in northern Rakhine, claiming it was defending the rights of Rohingya Muslims. The attack led to clearance operations by security forces that prompted nearly 700,000 Rohingya to flee to nearby Bangladesh.

President's Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay said at a press conference on Monday that AA and ARSA officials met in Ramu, Bangladesh in July last year. He said the government had learned from sources that the meeting was likely held to discuss the groups' respective areas of control within Myanmar.

"We learned they agreed that areas west of the Mayu mountain range [close to Bangladesh] would be controlled by ARSA, while areas to the east would be for the AA," he said. The spokesperson added that the AA currently has two bases on the Bangladeshi side of the border, while ARSA has three. The Myanmar government has lodged a complaint with Bangladesh over the issue, he said.

Citing a different source, he said the two organizations have a common interest in the illegal drug trade, but didn't elaborate. Northern Rakhine is notorious for frequent seizures of huge amount of yaba and other drugs.

"I think the recent [AA] attacks [on police outposts] are the outcome of their meetings in July," said U Zaw Htay, adding that the Myanmar government had ordered the military to implement effective counter-insurgency measures against the AA.

AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha denied the accusations, saying his organization had nothing to do with ARSA and was not involved in any illegal businesses, including drug trafficking.

"We have our own mission. The Myanmar government is trying to ruin our image by saying that we have an affiliation with ARSA. It's dirty politics by them to portray us a terrorist organization," he said.

U Maung Maung Soe, an expert on ethnic affairs in Myanmar, told The Irrawaddy he was doubtful that the AA would be affiliated with ARSA, as the AA's stated cause is the protection of the Rakhine people and their state.

"So, alleging a connection with ARSA is the best way to attack AA politically. It won't solve the problem [however]," he said.

The President's Office spokesperson urged the AA to end its alleged alliance with ARSA, and invited them to join peace talks. The AA has not officially joined the government's peace process, but has held informal meetings with its Peace Commission.

"AA has to decide what they want to see for Rakhine State's future. I want to ask them whether they want to see Rakhine State caught in a vicious cycle of war."

The Irrawaddy reporter Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint contributed to this report.

The post Gov't Accuses AA of Having Ties with ARSA appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Analysis: The Year Ahead Elicits a Mix of Pessimism, Optimism

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 04:43 AM PST

YANGON—Will 2019 be a good or bad year for Myanmar? Given the unexpected problems and struggles that have cropped up in recent years—like the Rakhine conflict and the resulting crisis on the international stage, the economic downturn and intense armed conflicts—many no longer hold the high hopes and expectations they did in 2016, when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led the National League for Democracy (NLD) in assuming the reins of power. Looking forward to the year ahead for Myanmar, there seems to be a mix of optimism and pessimism in the air. The Irrawaddy talked to political analysts, lawmakers and activists about their expectations for the new year.

U Aung Kyi Nyunt

 

U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Upper House lawmaker and member of the NLD's Central Executive Committee

"To tell the truth, based on the country's political situation, 2019 will be a combination of good and bad. The transition to democracy is still only just beginning. I hope we can move forward with reforms.

"In Parliament, lawmakers have done a much better job of representing their constituencies than before. In 2018, the Union Parliament passed a total of 36 laws, including repealing and amending some undemocratic ones. Repealing or amending repressive laws could continue in 2019. Parliamentary outreach has also expanded last year. Parliamentary committees have become more engaged with the general public, accepting more complaints and suggestions. I expect this will gain momentum in 2019 and 2020.

"The northern Rakhine conflict, which has given the country a negative image on the international stage, will be a big challenge for Myanmar this year. [Tackling] the negative effects of the global trade war on a developing country like Myanmar, and strengthening democratic practices in the country, will also be key challenges this year."

Ma May Sabe Phyu

 

Ma May Sabe Phyu, women's rights and peace activist, director of the Gender Equality Network

"2018 was a disappointing year for human rights, especially for freedom of speech and expression. The prison terms handed down against Ma Nang Pu and two others were totally unacceptable. [The three Kachin antiwar activists were arrested for participating in peaceful protests urging the government to help villagers who were trapped in the Tanai area after fleeing fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and the Myanmar military.] The convictions showed that public participation in the peace process is neglected, and that the judicial sector is not independent. There was also the case of the two Reuters journalists. Indeed, many bad things happened. I hope that in 2019, those will be corrected and that citizens' rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression will be respected. I hope this year will be a good one for human rights and peace, and that Parliament passes laws ensuring better protection of women and children, as well as enacting the long-delayed Prevention and Protection of Violence against Women bill."

U Sai Leik

 

U Sai Leik, spokesperson of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (one of the major ethnic parties)

"I don't think this year will be better than previous years. Because even if the fighting with the Tatmadaw [Myanmar's military] ceases, the clashes between ethnic armed groups will continue. Besides, the problems with ARSA [the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, in northern Rakhine] won't be settled immediately. The political situation is unstable and the rule of law is weaker than before. For those reasons, the business climate won't improve and it is unlikely that foreign direct investment will pick up. If there is stability and rule of law, we can expect business growth. But looking at the current conditions, we can't expect much.

"Regarding the peace process, we welcome the unilateral four-month ceasefire statement declared by the Tatmadaw. It would be complete if they declared a nationwide ceasefire. [The military's temporary ceasefire order covers the Northern Command in Kachin State; the Northeastern, Eastern and Central Eastern commands; and the Triangle Command in Shan State, but does not cover Rakhine State, in western Myanmar, where it has been engaged in weeks-long clashes with the Arakan Army.] But if the Tatmadaw gets closer to the Northern Alliance groups while losing touch with the ethnic armed groups that signed the NCA [Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement], that would not be good. Historically, the Tatmadaw rarely holds talks and negotiates with all the EAOs at the same time.

"It is also not very reasonable for one side to announce that peace will be achieved by 2020. [At the end of 2018, the commander-in-chief of the defense services said the peace process would be completed by 2020 and that peace would be delivered to the people.] Conflicts that started more than 60 years ago can't be ended within three years. But if the Tatmadaw opens the door to negotiations and discussions without discrimination, there is hope for the peace process."

U Aung Myo Min

 

U Aung Myo Min, human-rights defender and executive director of Equality Myanmar

"We don't hold high expectations [as before]. [The reforms] will take time, because there are many challenges and barriers. Improving human rights will be an evolution, not a revolution. But the most important thing is that we need to be cautious not to turn back from where we are now. Every effort must be made to address those challenges and we must work together. Whether they will be addressed largely depends on the government's willingness to change and collaborate.

"Regarding racial and religious extremism and attacks against human-rights defenders, this will take a long time to fix. It depends not only on the government's willingness, but also on every citizen's mindset and belief. Amending the law is easy, but changing minds takes time. It will be impossible to [achieve everything we] want in 2019."

U Kyaw Zay Ya / Facebook

 

U Kyaw Zay Ya, outspoken Yangon regional lawmaker

"Business-wise, I think there will be economic development and business growth, as the State Counselor [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] has called on foreign businesses to invest in Myanmar and new investment and company laws have also been introduced. The only thing we need is stability.

"For Yangon, if the regional government continues [to act as it did in] 2016, 2017 and 2018, failing to implement its vows, there won't be change. The regional government must accomplish what it has been promising for the past three years. The plan to introduce a cashless payment system for the Yangon Bus Service, arrangements for street vendors and the resettlement plan for squatters—all have failed so far. If they implement at least 60 percent of the promises and pledges made in Parliament, the region will see significant achievements. Yet so far, the government has made little effort to collaborate with Parliament."

The post Analysis: The Year Ahead Elicits a Mix of Pessimism, Optimism appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Three Suspects Charged With Murder in Comedian’s Death

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 04:42 AM PST

YANGON—The Yangon Eastern District Court on Monday officially charged three suspects with the murder of Aung Yell Htwe, a year after the Facebook comedian was beaten to death.

The prosecution and defense made their final arguments on Dec. 24.

Than Htut Aung and Pyae Phyo Aung were charged under Section 302 (2) of the Penal Code for allegedly fatally beating Aung Yell Htwe. Kyaw Zaw Han was charged under Section 302 (2)/114 for allegedly aiding and abetting the crime.

If found guilty, the accused face maximum sentences of 10 years in prison with hard labor, plus a fine under Section 302 (2) of Penal Code.

The next trial session is scheduled for Jan. 15, when witnesses will testify.

A forensic pathologist from Yangon General Hospital testified in the murder trial last month that Aung Yell Htwe died from severe head trauma including skull fracturing and hemorrhaging of the membranes surrounding the brain resulting from blows with a hard, blunt object.

Aung Yell Htwe, a popular comedian on Facebook, was severely beaten by a group of men at a New Year's Eve party on Dec. 31, 2017. He underwent surgery at Yangon General Hospital for his injuries but died hours later.

The Eastern District Court had previously dropped the case after questioning only 14 witnesses and before hearing from either the pathologist or police investigators, or reviewing CCTV records. Yangon's attorney general at the time, U Han Htoo, who approved the dismissal, said there was no solid evidence against the suspects.

President U Win Myint ordered the case re-investigated following a public outcry. Yangon's Eastern District Court then resumed the trial in October last year. U Han Htoo was dismissed from his position and is on trial with five other court officials for allegedly taking bribes from a relative of one of the three suspects to drop the case.

The post Three Suspects Charged With Murder in Comedian's Death appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Salween Peace Park to Keep Lands in Local Hands

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 04:15 AM PST

A Karen environmental group has said there is no vacant land in Karen State and that all land and its natural resources are managed and belong to Karen indigenous communities.

The Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) has officially announced plans to establish a 5,485-square kilometer park covering the basin of the Salween River, a river sometimes called by its Burmese name, Thanlwin. The park is to be located in the Papun (known locally as Mutraw) area which is home to the Karen National Liberation Army's (KNLA's) Brigade No. 5. The region has seen much armed conflict between KNLA and Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) troops over the Tatmadaw's attempts to build a road through it for military use. The Myanmar government also have eyes set on the area with plans to build a hydroelectric dam on the Salween River.

The name to be given to the park, Salween Peace Park was announced on Dec. 18, just days after the government's announcement of amendments made to the Vacant Land Law. The amended law is seen as a threat to many ethnic groups in Myanmar who tend to deal with land ownership through their own customary laws.

Karen customary land laws are defunct under the amended law which requires landowners to register with the government. Land which is not registered may be given to anyone who applies for the rights to work on the land. According to local rights groups, this issue may give rise to further armed conflict in the area between Karen groups and the Tatmadaw.

"If we look at [the government's] land law, it is not appropriate for our plan (to build a park). However, if we look at the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, our Karen indigenous people have the right to protect their land," said Saw Paul Sein Twa, executive director of KESAN.

"We do not want to go directly against the government's law—we want them to change their law," he said.

Karen rebels are part of the country's longest-running civil war with the central government which has continued for over 60 years. For many years, Karen people have not been able to actively protect their environment. KESAN says they are now calling for all Karen to actively protect the environment.

"Under our 'convention of biodiversity' strategy, we target various levels of environmental protection. Through our actions, we intend to reach the targets. Along the way, we also help the Karen community for [the protection of their] environment," he said.

The Karen have long-established customary laws in place to protect their lands and environment. The laws allow for areas where wildlife lives freely, but also zones where locals can cut small amounts of timber for their cooking needs. They also have untouched forests.

For the implementation of the park, KESAN has formed a governance body which includes locals, members of civil society organizations (CSOs) and members of the Karen National Union (KNU), with the locals to take a leading role in decision-making.

The committee will work with KESAN to establish the park, first defining the border of the park and then mapping the area using GPS. They will record the names of each river, area and village. This will help to define the borderline areas and therefore decide what land belongs to who in order to avoid territorial disputes in the future.

Traditionally, locals define land borders using natural landmarks like rocks or trees, but this does not accurately track land ownership. The organizers of the Salween Peace Park will use GPS to track specifically which areas belong to who.

"After mapping the areas, we can then decide which area will be for wildlife and which areas will be for local people's use. We will have the road names and river names and this will become the evidence the locals can use to show they own the land," said Saw Paul Sein Twa.

If the government tries to carry out development in our Karen area, we can show our maps and which areas belong to who, he said.

The park will cover around 300 villages with over 60,000 residents who will be mainly responsible for the care of their lands. KESAN said they will educate the locals on how to care for the land.

KESAN and the Salween Peace Park governance body will work together with local people to map areas and define zones for forestry, cutting timber, mining and growing food. The park will continue to follow customary Karen laws for the protection of the park.

Wildlife in the Salween Peace Park captured by KESAN’s Karen Wildlife Conservation Initiative. / KESAN

As Karen customary laws are traditionally passed from generation to generation orally, with no official paper records, people usually go on their elders' advice for the protection of the environment.

"We will let them write their law, and let them respect their written law. If someone violates the law, they will punish the person for it. If the bottom level cannot solve the problem, then they can go to governance body level," said Saw Paul Sein Twa.

This plan, however, could lead to misunderstandings with the KNU—especially with the KNU's forestry department. In order to avoid this, representatives of the KNU have been invited to join the park's governance body.

As a park to be created by an ethnic group amid ongoing armed conflict, it will be the first of its kind in Myanmar. Similar projects do exist abroad, however, including in Canada and the Amazon where indigenous peoples have formed and maintain their own protected parks. These examples formed part of the inspiration for KESAN to initiate the Salween Peace Park project.

KESAN says the local indigenous people can work effectively to establish the park without government input. Historic examples have shown that the government often abuses ethnic rights when they create national parks in ethnic areas. Saw Paul Sein Twa said that UN research has shown that ethnic people may even destroy land when control of their lands is to be taken from them for the benefit of another group.

The park area is home to different types of wildlife and many tigers, according to KESAN. Together with the park's governance body, KESAN has already formed the Karen Wildlife Conservation Initiative (KWCI), a group tasked with monitoring wildlife in the area. KWCI will work with international wildlife groups and they expect the wildlife population to grow under the initiative.

As the Karen community undergoes more political and social changes, the environment is increasingly under threat. Since the KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2015, the state has seen an increase in mining businesses. Non-indigenous hunters who attempt to hunt in the area also threaten the environment and wildlife population.

The Salween Peace Park aims to use modern methods alongside customary laws to protect the Karen environment.

"We can't continue anymore in the old style of the last five decades. Our Karen need new methods to protect their environment," said Saw Paul Sein Twa.

The park’s governing body will record the names of lands, villages, rivers and roads in a bid to prove ownership. / KESAN

A recount of the launch of Salween Peace Park

A number of journalists, activists and environmentalists were invited to Papun for the official launch of Salween Peace Park. Here, freelance writer Scott Ezell, recounts his impression of the land in which the Salween Peace Park is to be established.

We got off a longtail boat at a small Karen village on the banks of the Salween, north of the Thai border at Mae Sariang. We rode a large goods lorry straight up the face of a line of mountains and from the top, we could see for miles in all directions. The landscape was made up of fold after fold of mountains and valleys running north-south in Karen State and also across the Salween in Thailand. In Thailand the forest was cut and replanted 10 or 20 years ago, but in Karen State, locally known as Kawthoolei, the forest was closer to being whole and in its original state.

The roads in the area are not paved and there is no cell phone reception, so entering Karen State is like going back in time.

The landscape inside the Salween Peace Park is lush and green with streams and rivers running through. The mountains rise up from the rivers so when you are in the valley you feel enclosed there. There is no electricity except for generators and some solar panels. Construction in the villages is mostly bamboo, thatch and wood, with little concrete in the area and very few motorbikes. People work with their hands and with the natural materials from the environment, especially bamboo and wood. Most of the women and men wear traditional Karen clothing.

There were KNLA soldiers at the peace park launch, and they served as a reminder that even though the lifestyle here is simple, organic, and based on the natural materials of this land, these people are also enclosed within a war zone. The tribute made to Saw O Moo, who was killed by Tatmadaw soldiers in 2017, was a reminder that there is a constant threat of danger here.

The peace park is a project to build peace from the ground up, and not to wait for it to come from Naypyitaw. At the same time, "peace" for the Karen also means being able to live in their land in the way they desire. To send Karen people to refugee camps, or to Chiang Mai or Canada, might protect them from military violence, but it is another way to remove them from the land where they belong.

Since Karen State holds the largest amount of remaining biodiversity in Myanmar, it is clear that the traditional Karen means of livelihood and land management feeds directly into global goals such as protecting forests and biodiversity, as well as making claim to the rights of indigenous peoples promised by the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to which Myanmar is a signatory.

Leaving the Peace Park was like leaving behind another world—a world where the central government and corporations have not yet arrived, where people and forests and animals are all still living in balance, without outside forces extracting resources for profit. It is not true that Karen State is entirely untouched by development and mega-projects are planned, including the Hat Gyi Dam on the Salween. However, seeing how the Karen people have preserved their culture and the natural landscape, make it clear that the Salween Peace Park would be an ideal way to manage this large area of Karen State communities and forests, as well as other areas in the world where indigenous peoples still live on the land which is their home.

Additional reporting by Scott Ezell, a freelance journalist who visited Papun district last month.

The post Salween Peace Park to Keep Lands in Local Hands appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Pa-O Villagers Seek Refuge in Wa Zone

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 03:46 AM PST

Nearly 500 Pa-O refugees from villages of Mong Pan Township are taking shelter in the area controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) east of the Salween River in southern Shan State following threats allegedly made by Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) soldiers against local civilians.

Villagers are leaving their homes in search of safety and the Wa-controlled area, about 111 kilometers (69 miles) from Mong Pan, is the nearest place where they can find it, according to Nang Yin Yin Soe, the member of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO)'s information department.

The PNLO publically denounced the RCSS's actions on Friday, when they said at least 300 Pa-O villagers from three villages—Naung Cho, Mai Poke and Pan Pi—of Nar Mon village tract in Mong Pan Township were fleeing towards the eastern side of the Salween River, following threats the RCSS made against them.

"RCSS troops summoned villagers to the monastery in nearby Pang Mi village on Dec. 31 and threatened to burn down their villages if anyone helps either the Pa-O group (PNLO) or the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army)," said Nang Yin Yin Soe. She said the locals have been experiencing such threats for a long time.

One of the villages, Pan Pi, suffered a huge monastery fire in November which killed two novice monks and was allegedly followed by similar threats from the RCSS against the locals.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) area is known as No.171 Military Region and the group said they have been taking care of the displaced Pa-O people since the last week of December.

U Nyi Rang, the UWSA's liaison officer in Lashio said residents of the conflict-affected villages of Mong Pan have been coming to the Wa area continuously with a higher number over the last two days. His group has been providing humanitarian assistance to some 500 families so far which includes children, women and elders, he said.

"We provide food and shelter for them. Our soldiers and the villagers of Pin Sa in Khaik Lon Township are helping the IDPs to build temporary shelters," said U Nyi Rang. He said the UWSA urges the groups (RCSS and PNLO) to find a way to negotiate and solve the military conflicts.

Armed conflict between the RCSS and the PNLO, both the signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), began in November last year and escalated in December when a number of Pa-O villagers were shot dead by RCSS soldiers which spurred another murder.

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World’s Biggest Book Sale Set to Arrive in Yangon

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 02:57 AM PST

A traveling book sale billed as the world's largest, Big Bad Wolf Books, is scheduled to be held in Yangon for the first time from Jan. 18-28. The sale will be held at the Myanmar Event Park (MEP) on the Min Dhamma.

Famous for being open round the clock, the event will run non-stop, 24 hours a day for 11 days, offering about 1 million books at discounts of 50 to 90 percent.

Big Bad Wolf Books was launched in Malaysia in 2009 by Andrew Yap and Jacqueline Ng. It has been brought to Yangon by U Myo Aung, director of the Ready to Read Myanmar organization.

"When I learned about the Big Bad Wolf Books sale through a friend and met with the founders, I realized that this is something I must introduce to Myanmar. I've been dreaming of this for a long time," U Myo Aung told The Irrawaddy.

U Myo Aung, a director of Ready to Read Myanmar who brought the 'Big Bad Wolf Books' sale to Yangon / Htet Wai

Attending the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale in Bangkok, Thailand last year only confirmed U Myo Aung's belief that Myanmar needed to host the event, as it is a growing country whose people need encouragement to develop their proficiency in reading English, which he said was the language that connects the world.

"This is the first-ever 24-hour book sale in Myanmar. All the books are original and brand new," he added.

The main purpose of this book sale, according to U Myo Aung, is to allow "more people in Myanmar to read English-language books at very affordable prices. In Myanmar, we have few bookshops selling English-language books, and most of them are expensive. That's why I want to this event to happen; there will be a selection of books for all reading levels."

He added, "We hope to create a new generation of readers, and also hope it contributes to the improvement of English literacy rates in Myanmar."

At the event, booklovers will find a wide offering of titles in various genres ranging from romance, science fiction, crime, thriller, business and self-help to cookbooks, architecture books and more.

For children, there will be storybooks, activity books, audio books, picture books, coloring books and much more.

"We will have [only a limited selection of] books about religion and politics. We are targeting young adults and kids to encourage them to read more English-language books," U Myo Aung said.

A flyer for the 'Big Bad Wolf Books' sale / Htet Wai

Big Bad Wolf Books is known for being Asia's biggest market for augmented reality (AR) books, and is the exclusive seller of Little Hippo AR books.

So far, Big Bad Wolf Books sales have been held in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.

"We also plan to accept books from donors at the sale. Some people want to buy books [in exchange for donating their] libraries. So, we will accept their books and have a dedicated counter for that," U Myo Aung said.

Big Bad Wolf Books founder Yap said, "Reading can enhance imagination and creative thinking, vocabulary and overall communication skills. It is very important for children and young adults to get exposed to books and make reading a habit."

He added that, "Parents should encourage their young ones to read more … as reading is a habit that should be instilled from a young age."

Ahead of opening day, a special VIP Day will be held on Jan. 17. Hundreds of tickets for this will be given away via contests on Big Bad Wolf Books Myanmar's social media pages.

This is a major opportunity for booklovers; and as a 24-hour sale you can attend at any hour of the day or night.

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Court Acquits 8 Farmers Sued by Owner of Unused Land in Irrawaddy Region

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 02:16 AM PST

PATHEIN—A court in Irrawaddy Region's Nyaungdon Township on Jan. 3 acquitted eight farmers involved in a land dispute case.

In 2006, the Irrawaddy Region Peace and Development Council, the regional branch of the then-military government, granted 999 acres of land in Byaw Tha Lan village tract in Nyaungdon Township to a businessman. The businessman failed to develop the land for industrial purposes, however, and the original owners began farming it again in 2014.

In 2016 the businessman sued eight farmers under the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law. After a trial lasting more than two years, the court acquitted the farmers.

"The businessmen hadn't used the land for [the four years stipulated under the law]. So, according to the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law, the land automatically reverts to state ownership. The farmers' use of the land was intended to support their livelihoods. Considering these points, the court acquitted them," defense lawyer U Nyein Chan Myo told The Irrawaddy.

According to the Myanmar Legal Aid Network, the case marks the first acquittal of farmers sued by a businessman in a land dispute in Nyaungdon Township. In most such cases, farmers are either sentenced to prison or fined, it said.

"During the two-year trial, there were many days we had to skip lunch to cover transportation costs to go to court. This is the truth. We are very happy that the Nyaungdon Township judge delivered a fair verdict," said Ko Khin Maung Lwin, one of the eight farmers.

However, another 20 farmers have been sued by the businessman and his managers for farming on the land, he said.

"I welcome the verdict of Nyaungdon Township court. Since the new government threatened to take back unused land, businessmen have started growing things on such land; they had neglected it for many years, while suing those who tried to farm it," lawmaker U Kyaw Hsan, who represents Nyaungdon Township in the Irrawaddy Region Parliament, told The Irrawaddy.

"Farmers incur heavy costs when they face trial. There are many similar cases in Maubin District. It seems that farmers are at the mercy of the courts," the lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, 38 farmers from Pa Long village in Maubin Township are facing trial at the township court on similar charges under the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law for farming on land owned by a private company.

In the 2000s, the military regime granted over 170,000 acres of land in Nyaungdon, Maubin, Danubyu and Pantanaw townships in Maubin District to over 270 private companies.

After coming to power in 2016, the National League for Democracy-led government reviewed those lands and found that over 6,700 acres had been developed by the companies, with the remaining 130,000 acres lying idle.

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Surveying Begins on Muse-Mandalay Railway

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 01:34 AM PST

YANGON—Ground survey work began Sunday on the Myanmar-China high-speed railway, a project that will link two economic centers in Myanmar with Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwestern China, as part of Beijing's grand infrastructure plan for the region.

"A joint team is working on a study of the railway alignment," Ministry of Transport and Communications permanent secretary U Win Khant told The Irrawaddy.

In October, two state-owned companies—China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group (China Railway Group Ltd) (CREEG) and Myanmar Railways—signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study as a part of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is itself part of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The Mandalay-Muse railway project will be 431km (268 miles) long and pass through armed conflict areas in Shan State.

U Win Khant said, "There are some places [in Shan State] that are not accessible to the study due to security concerns."

"We are still negotiating with the state minister and Home Affairs [Ministry] officials on security issues in order to access those areas," U Win Khant said.

According to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the survey will work on the Naung Cho (Nawnghkio)-Lashio section of the railway from Jan. 6 to April 13 and the Lashio-Muse section from January 15 to April 2.

Muse, on Myanmar's border with Yunnan province, is the largest trade portal between the two nations. Mandalay is central Myanmar's commercial center and the country's second largest city. The railway is expected to become a lifeline for China-Myanmar trade.

The Muse-Mandalay railway is also the initial stage in a strategic railway link that Beijing plans to build, with a parallel expressway, from Ruili in Yunnan province to Kyaukphyu in Rakhine, along with a separate road running through northern Myanmar, India's northeastern states, and Bangladesh.

In 2011, Beijing and Naypyitaw signed an MoU agreeing to build a railway from Ruili to Kyaukphyu via Muse. The entire rail line was to run 810km. However, the government of then-President U Thein Sein suspended the project following strong local objections. The agreement expired in 2014.

Under a new MoU, CREEG will cover the full cost of the study, which will assess the environmental and social impacts of the proposed railway line. While the agreement calls for a study period of two years, U Win Khant said the study is expected to be finished in six months to a year.

Currently, Mandalay is connected to Muse via Lashio by the national highway. The trip takes more than eight hours. According to the ministry, electric trains will run at speeds of 160 kph, cutting the travel time to roughly three hours. The ministry expects to construct at least seven freight stations and five passenger stations along the route.

According to U Win Khant, the ministry will announce details on the number of bridges, tunnels and the exact locations of stations on the railway after the first stage of the survey is complete.

Despite warnings from critics that the project could burden Myanmar with unsustainable debts and provoke more armed conflict in the project areas, Minister of Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung said the railway is a priority project and part of Myanmar's national transport master plan.

Currently, Myanmar is implementing five priority transportation corridors. The Muse-Mandalay railway would be part of the South Transportation Corridor section of the Trans Asian Railway Network (TAR), a project implemented by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

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AA ‘Backstabbed’ Gov’t Forces in Jan. 4 Attacks: Border Guard Officer

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 12:47 AM PST

SITTWE—The commander of the Border Guard Police in Rakhine State's Maungdaw has described as "backstabbing" the Arakan Army (AA)'s coordinated attacks on four police outposts in Buthidaung Township on Jan. 4.

"The Border Guard Police cooperate with the Tatmadaw on security and protection of Rakhine State against threats from ARSA [the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army]. But the AA orchestrated [attacks] to undermine stability in Rakhine State. I view this as stabbing us in the back," Police Brig-Gen. Myint Toe told reporters on Sunday.

"Everybody knows whether the [AA] should have done this. [The AA] attacked while the Tatmadaw [the Myanmar military]'s units were off guard, and while there were fewer military units [in the area] as they were performing other duties. Under such circumstances, they attacked with heavy forces. I think it is an act [aimed at] taking political advantage," he added.

The Tatmadaw declared a four-month unilateral ceasefire on Dec. 21 in five military regions. The ceasefire does not cover Rakhine State, which is overseen by the country's Western Command.

The government said 13 police were killed and nine others injured in the AA attacks on Jan. 4 as Myanmar celebrated the 71st anniversary of independence from British rule.

Police lost 40 small arms, over 16,000 rounds of ammunition and a walkie-talkie in the attacks, the government said.

Khaing Thu Kha, the AA's information officer, said the armed group launched the attacks because the Myanmar Army stationed troops at the police outposts. He also accused police of helping the Tatmadaw conduct artillery attacks on the AA.

Police Brig-Gen Myint Toe denied the AA's claim.

"We provided fire support only after they [the AA] launched attacks. Our Border Guard Police force No. 8 provided fire support for the Nga Myin Baw police outpost, and the Tatmadaw provided fire support for the Kyaung Taung police outpost. We didn't engage in artillery fire," he told reporters.

The AA abducted 18 people, including security personnel and some of their family members, in the Jan. 4 attacks but later released them.

The Myanmar Police Force announced on Saturday that it had filed cases against those involved in the attacks under the Counter Terrorism Law. If found guilty, the accused face maximum sentences of 10 years in prison.

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Alleged Rohingya Drugs Peddlers Murdered in Cox’s Bazar

Posted: 07 Jan 2019 12:38 AM PST

DHAKA—Bangladesh police on Saturday recovered the bullet-riddled bodies of two Rohingya men and seized 10,000 contraband pills on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive Road in the Tekhnaf sub-district of Cox’s Bazar, a town on the border with Myanmar.

Teknaf police officials said the murdered men were involved in peddling drugs from Myanmar and are identified as Khairul Amin, 35, and Abdullah, 40, of Block-D in Unchiprang refugee camp in Teknaf.

Both of them have lived in Unchiprang camp in Tekhnaf since their arrival to Bangladesh after fleeing the Myanmar military crackdown in northern Rakhine State which began on August 25, 2017.

Over 700,000 people have fled Myanmar following the military crackdown.

According to the district police headquarters, they are the first Rohingya to be killed over drug peddling since the latest influx of refugees began in August 2017.

Pradip Kumar Das, the officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, claimed that locals informed them of finding the two bullet-riddled bodies at Mitapanirchara Point on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive Road at about 11 a.m. on Saturday.

A team of Teknaf police rushed to the spot, recovered the bodies and sent them to the district hospital in Cox's Bazar for post-mortem examinations.

Pradip Kumar Das said the police seized 10,000 contraband yaba pills from their possession but no firearms were found.

The Myanmar-made yaba pill contains a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine and is widely used in Bangladesh in recent years following a crackdown on the sale of Indian-made cough-syrup called Phensedyl.

The district police additional superintendent Iqbal Hossain suspected "these two were killed in gangland fighting over sharing of money earned through drug peddling."

However, he said investigations would be launched into their roles in the transporting of drugs from Myanmar.

Iqbal Hossain said many Rohingya are being "used" as drugs mules for moving yaba from Myanmar to Bangladesh through land and river routes.

A Rohingya leader of Unchiprang refugee camp confirmed that both men were living in the camp and said he heard they had been detained beforehand.

Talking to The Irrawaddy, Abdullah's son Mohammed Arakan said his father was arrested by six to seven police officers near the camp in Unchiprang at about 8 p.m. on Friday, and since then his whereabouts was not known to them.

"We later identified him by seeing the photos on Facebook. We are not allowed to see the bodies,' said the 20-year-old.

Khairul Amin's brother Mohammed Rafiq claimed that police arrested his brother at the house of a suspected drug peddler Shah Alam in Block-A of the Unchiprang camp at about 9 p.m. on Friday.

He said his brother was arrested over enmity. Mohammed Rafiq said Shah Alam has been in prison for over a month.

Bangladesh authorities launched an anti-drug drive in May 2018, and over 300 people were killed in "gunfight" or "crossfire" and "bullet-riddled bodies" have been found in different parts in the country.

Several thousand alleged dealers were arrested in the aggressive campaign that some rights activists have compared to President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs in the Philippines.

Immediately after the launch of the anti-drug drive, on May 2, 2018, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Cox's Bazar conducted raids in Balukhali camp in the Ukhiya sub-district and Jadimura camp in the Tekhnaf sub-district, arresting four "Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals" who had 30,000 yaba pills in their possession.

Over a dozen Rohingya, along with several Bangladeshi nationals, were arrested in separate operations carried out by RAB since then resulting in an overall seizure of 250,000 yaba pills.

In 2015, a small number of Rohingya refugees were killed in Cox's Bazar for their alleged connection with human trafficking.

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Trump Holds Firm on Border Wall, Offers Steel Option as Compromise

Posted: 06 Jan 2019 08:37 PM PST

WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump pledged on Sunday not to bend in his demand for a wall along the southern border with Mexico but said the barrier could be made of steel instead of concrete as a potential compromise with Democrats who refuse to fund it.

Trump’s comments came at the start of the third week of a partial government shutdown resulting from the dispute that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers idled or without paychecks.

Trump threatened again, without providing specifics on where the funding would originate, to declare a national emergency as an alternative way to build the wall, depending on the outcome of talks in the coming days.

Democrats have declined to approve the $5.6 billion Trump wants to fulfill a 2016 campaign promise to curb illegal immigration. Led by new Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrats passed a bill in the House of Representatives last week to reopen the government without wall funding. Pelosi has called a border wall immoral.

“This is a very important battle to win from the standpoint of safety, number one, [and] defining our country and who we are,” Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a short trip to the Camp David presidential retreat.

“The barrier, or the wall, can be of steel instead of concrete, if that helps people. It may be better,” he said.

The White House painted that offer, which Trump floated previously, as an olive branch.

In a letter to congressional leaders on Sunday detailing its funding demands, the Trump administration included a request for an additional $800 million to address urgent humanitarian needs at the southern border.

Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s acting chief of staff, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that agreeing to a steel barrier would allow Democrats to stick to their refusal to fund a wall.

“That should help us move in the right direction,” he said.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer did not show his hand when asked whether the White House offer to move away from a concrete structure was evidence of compromise.

“It’ll be discussed,” he said on NBC.

Vice President Mike Pence led a second round of talks with congressional aides on Sunday about the issue, but Trump said he did not expect those talks to produce results, noting that the principals—himself, Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer—were the ones who could solve it quickly.

“If we don’t find a solution, it’s going to go on for a long time. There’s not going to be any bend right here,” Trump said.

He later tweeted that the Pence talks were productive. But a Democratic aide familiar with the meeting said Democrats urged the White House to pass measures to reopen the government without wall funding and Pence said Trump would not do that. The aide said no progress was made and no further meetings of the group were scheduled.

Other concessions?

Democrats could demand other concessions from the White House, such as protections for immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children, known as Dreamers, or changes to other spending provisions. Trump said he wanted to help on the Dreamer issue but preferred to wait for a Supreme Court ruling on it first.

Democratic US Senator Dick Durbin reacted coolly to Trump’s suggestion of declaring a national emergency. “I don’t know what he’s basing this on, but he’s faced so many lawsuits when he ignores the law and ignores tradition and precedent,” Durbin said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Large chunks of the federal government were shut down on Dec. 22 after lawmakers and the president hit an impasse over Trump’s demand that a bill to keep the federal government operational include money to help build a $23 billion wall along the US border with Mexico. About 800,000 government workers are either furloughed or working without pay.

“I can relate,” Trump, a former New York businessman, said when asked if he could relate to the pain of federal workers struggling to pay their bills. “I’m sure that the people that are on the receiving end will make adjustments.” Asked if workers would get paid on Friday, Trump said: “We’ll see whether or not it’s settled.”

Not all Republicans agree with Trump’s insistence on keeping government agencies shuttered until the border debate is resolved.

“It is not a sign of weakness to try to figure out a middle ground, and I think that both sides need to indicate a willingness to listen and to compromise," US Senator Susan Collins of Maine said on NBC. She called the debate over using steel versus concrete “bizarre.”

House Democrats plan to pass a series of bills this week to reopen government, breaking up legislation they have already approved in a bid to get Republicans to agree to reopen certain agencies, Hoyer said on “Meet the Press.”

“We need to open up government and then negotiate. Not the other way around,” he said.

The post Trump Holds Firm on Border Wall, Offers Steel Option as Compromise appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rain Clears Smog in Indian Capital Yet Air Quality ‘Very Poor’

Posted: 06 Jan 2019 08:20 PM PST

NEW DELHI—A rainy spell early on Sunday brought better air to residents of New Delhi, giving them a brief respite from thick grey smog that has shrouded the Indian capital for the last two months, although air quality continued to be “very poor.”

A measure of tiny, hazardous breathable particles known as PM 2.5 reached an average of 182 by 12 p.m., the Central Pollution Control Board said, its lowest since Nov. 4.

But pollution was still five times more than a US government recommended level of 35 to stand at “unhealthy” levels, according to the US embassy.

“Change in weather conditions by rain or higher wind speed helps dissipate peak pollution, but we continue to need strong emergency actions such as shutting power plants,” said Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment think-tank.

The federal government air quality index rated Delhi’s air quality “very poor” on Sunday and had a similar forecast for Monday, urging people with respiratory and cardiac problems to avoid polluted areas and limit outdoor movement.

A sharp drop in temperatures and wind speed over the last two weeks, combined with vehicle and industrial emissions, dust from building sites and smoke from garbage burning has stoked pollution over much of north India.

Levels of PM 2.5, or particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, hit their highest last year at 450 on Dec. 23.

Despite the pollution, there is little sign Delhi’s 20 million residents are taking steps to protect themselves. Activists say the apparent lack of concern gives politicians the cover they need for not tackling the issue adequately.

The post Rain Clears Smog in Indian Capital Yet Air Quality 'Very Poor' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Southeast Asia Wary of China’s Belt and Road Project, Skeptical of US—Survey

Posted: 06 Jan 2019 08:13 PM PST

SINGAPORE—Southeast Asian countries should be cautious in negotiating with China on its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to avoid being trapped in unsustainable debt, 70 percent of respondents said in a policy survey released on Monday.

Southeast Asia is increasingly skeptical of the US commitment to the region as a strategic partner and a source of security, while China’s reach is seen as growing both politically and economically, the study also showed.

“The conventional wisdom that China holds sway in the economic realm while the United States wields its influence in the political-strategic domain will… need to be revisited in light of the survey results,” it said.

The survey by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, affiliated with the Singapore government, polled 1,008 respondents from all ten nations of the ASEAN grouping, drawn from government, academic and business communities, civil society and the media.

Nearly half of the respondents said President Xi Jinping’s hallmark Belt and Road initiative would bring ASEAN “closer into China’s orbit,” while a third said the project lacked transparency and 16 percent predicted it would fail.

A large majority, or 70 percent, said their governments “should be cautious in negotiating BRI projects, to avoid getting into unsustainable financial debts with China,” a view strongest in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

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

China was seen by 73 percent of the respondents as having the greatest economic influence in the region and was also believed to have more influence politically and strategically than the United States.

Six out of 10 respondents said US influence globally had deteriorated from a year ago and two-thirds believed US engagement with Southeast Asia declined. About a third said they had little or no confidence in the US as a strategic partner and provider of regional security.

Fewer than one in 10 saw China as “a benign and benevolent power,” with nearly a half saying Beijing possessed “an intent to turn Southeast Asia into its sphere of influence.”

The study’s authors wrote, “This result… is a wake-up call for China to burnish its negative image across Southeast Asia despite Beijing's repeated assurance of its benign and peaceful rise.”

There was a call for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to play a more active role in Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis, although a majority of the respondents sought mediation rather than diplomatic pressure.

The United Nations says 730,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar’s Rakhine State to Bangladesh since the military’s crackdown following insurgent attacks.

UN-mandated investigators have accused Myanmar’s military of carrying out killings, gang rape and arson with “genocidal intent,” an allegation the military has denied.

The post Southeast Asia Wary of China’s Belt and Road Project, Skeptical of US—Survey appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Vietnam’s Viettel Seeks to Double Myanmar Customer Base—CEO

Posted: 06 Jan 2019 07:59 PM PST

HANOI—Vietnam’s largest telecommunication company, Viettel, is seeking to double its five million subscribers in Myanmar by the end of the year, its president and chief executive officer Le Dang Dung told Reuters an in interview on Friday.

Viettel, whose $1.22 billion unit Viettel Global Investment is trading on the Unlisted Public Company Market, has also shown interest in investing in North Korea and Cuba.

“The growth seen in Myanmar is rare in the telecom market,” Dung told Reuters at his office in Hanoi. “We still have room to grow there”.

Myanmar, where Viettel and its local partners launched a $1.5 billion 4G network in June last year has emerged as one of the most promising markets for the company, Dung said.

The Mytel network, jointly developed by Myanmar National Holding Public Ltd and Star High Public Co Ltd, has amassed around five million subscribers, a figure which Dung said he expects to double by the end of this year.

Viettel is also in talks to buy stakes in existing telecommunication firms in Malaysia and Indonesia, Dung said, without giving further details due to the sensitivity of the deals.

The company will be the first to develop a 5G network in Vietnam, Dung said, in anticipation of rapid development of data services.

He said Viettel had earmarked $40 million for the development of its own 5G chipset, but was also considering using technology from Ericsson and Nokia.

The military-run firm, formally known as Viettel Group, has around 60 million subscribers in Vietnam and over 30 million users across 10 other countries – predominantly in Asia and Africa.

The company is also in talks to buy a 20 percent stake in a European mobile carrier, Dung said, without elaborating.

Dung said Viettel plans to stop expanding its investment in the African market, however, where the company has struggled to make a profit due to poor economic growth.

Closer to home, Viettel is looking to invest in North Korea, said Dung, where Koryolink—a joint venture between the North Korean state and Egypt’s Orascom Investment Holdings—has amassed millions of subscribers since its 2008 launch.

“We first sought permission from North Korea to build a mobile network there in 2010,” he said. “But we’re still waiting for sanctions to be lifted and for the country to open its market to foreign investors.”

The post Vietnam’s Viettel Seeks to Double Myanmar Customer Base—CEO appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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