Friday, May 3, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Military Releases 126 Detainees in N. Rakhine

Posted: 03 May 2019 06:24 AM PDT

The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, on Friday said they have released 126 innocent civilians out of 275 villagers from Rathedaung Township in northern Rakhine State whom they have held in detention for three days on suspicion of having ties with the Arakan Army (AA). The military also reiterated that it would take action against those who they claim are either AA members or have affiliations with the group.

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of the Military's True News Information Team which held a press conference in Naypyitaw on Friday said, "regarding the [Rathedaung Township's] Kyauktan Village case, we were investigating 275 people, but we found that 126 people have no ties to the AA and thus they were freed this morning."

Six of the detainees were shot dead during detention and eight others were injured in a case in which the military claims they opened fire on the captive villagers who tried to snatch guns from the soldiers, an account which differs to that shared by those at the scene.

All eight wounded detainees are undergoing treatment at the Sittwe General Hospital in the Rakhine State capital. The military said four others are missing.

The brigadier general reiterated that when the military overtook some AA camps on April 28 and 29 near Buthidaung Township, they were informed that some escaped AA members were taking shelter in Kyauktan Village, thus the police and the military forces raided the village and interrogated the villagers on April 30.

"There were cases of deaths on early Thursday morning and our troops on the ground and from the Western Command have returned the bodies to the families and helped with the burials and funeral services on Friday," he said regarding the bodies of the six who were killed on Thursday.

The remaining detainees are, the spokesman claimed, AA members and those affiliated with the armed group according to their initial investigations.

"We will open cases against them at the police station and legal action will follow. If we find out that more people are innocent, we will release them in accordance with the procedures," he said.

In a separate case in Mrauk U, three detainees died during the military interrogation last week. They were among 27 people of Mrauk U's Let Kar Village who were accused of being AA members or affiliates are held captive by the military since April 10.

The brigadier general said 18 of the detainees from Let Kar Village are AA members who participated in the attack on police outposts in Mrauk U on the previous day. He added that five of them are strong supporters of the AA and four of them were suspected to be AA members.

He said the detainees have been transferred to the police station in Sittwe and that cases would be opened against them and legal action taken.

Intensified fighting between the military and the AA in the region had displaced more than 32,000 local residents as of April. Twelve civilians were killed during the fighting from January to March according to government figures and in April alone, nine civilians were killed by the military during interrogations.

The post Military Releases 126 Detainees in N. Rakhine appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Council, Diplomats, Journalists Voice Concerns over Media Crackdown on Press Freedom Day

Posted: 03 May 2019 05:53 AM PDT

YANGON—On the occasion of International Press Freedom Day, the Myanmar Press Council, international diplomats and journalists said Friday that Myanmar is facing challenges in terms of press freedom, and urged the government to allow journalists more access to information and greater freedom to operate.

In a statement released on Friday, the country's independent body for settling press disputes, overseeing journalistic ethics and protecting media members denounced prosecutions of journalists under criminal charges rather than the country's Media Law.

A number of journalists in Myanmar have been sued under the Unlawful Association Act, Telecommunications Act, State Defamation Act and Official Secrets Act. They have been subjected to criminal prosecution for their work by both the government and military. Two local journalists from Reuters are now serving seven-year prison sentences for their investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya men in northern Rakhine State as part of a military-led campaign that began in 2017. The military also recently sued The Irrawaddy under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act for its coverage of fighting between government troops and the Arakan Army. And last year, three journalists from Eleven Media were sued by the Yangon government for incitement.

According to Athan, a Yangon-based group that promotes freedom of expression, there have been 23 cases brought against the media under the Telecommunications Act and 31 journalists have been put on trial.

Myanmar climbed 20 places in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index between 2013 and 2017 but has since slipped and is now ranked 138 out of 180 countries.

The Press Council warned that restrictions on press freedom could lead to a decline in democracy in the country.

"Charging journalists under the Unlawful Association Act, Telecommunications Act, State Defamation and Official Secrets Act at will to sue, detain and sentence is not appropriate for a democracy," the Press Council said in its statement.

"The government needs to create more access to information and freedom of expression for the media to [raise] the country's press freedom index," it added.

European Union Ambassador Kristian Schmidt told The Irrawaddy that it in the EU's view it appears that the courts are being used to intimidate journalists from reporting the truth—something he said was incompatible with the rule of law and the transition to democracy.

"The European Union is concerned about a worrying trend of freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Myanmar, and therefore we join others—and I would say, this is not the foreigners pointing fingers. We are repeating messages that have been conveyed by Myanmar civil society itself, so we simply add our voice of support to those voices of concern," he said.

Netherlands Ambassador Wouter Jurgens said he sees a worrying trend around the world where there is more limited space for freedom of expression for journalists and the media, and this was evident in Myanmar. He called on the NLD government to change the laws—including the Unlawful Association Act, Telecommunications Act, State Defamation and Official Secrets Act—under which journalists have been sued and under which many of the party's leaders themselves suffered for years.

The ambassador also encouraged the military to live up to the promise to transition to democracy that it made years ago by allowing for space for the population, including for journalists.

"They have said time and time again [they plan] to normalize, to be part of a family of states, not to depend on one or two countries but to be a respected partner in the international community. So this is their opportunity to show that what they've said is also what they want, to live up to their own promises that they made to their own population," he said.

Journalists also agreed that the imprisonment and lawsuits against the media simply reflect the true situation of press freedom in the country.

"It's disappointing to see something unfit for a democracy," said Daw Aye Aye Win, a former Associated Press journalist.

"Jailing journalists and intimidating them are threats to a free press. The ruling government doesn't seem to encourage [a free press]," she said.

On Friday, President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sent messages to the Press Council in commemoration of International Press Freedom Day.

The president said that fake and biased news, hate speech and coverage of sensitive conflicts needed to be controlled according to the journalistic code of conduct and ethics because they had the potential to affect the processes of national development and democratic transition.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said freedoms should not be abused in a transitional democracy like Myanmar, lest the country face conflict and instability.

"I solemnly urge all media people to work for the gradual disappearance of dogmatic beliefs and biased views in Myanmar society and for the flourishing [of] habits to promote objectives and logical thinking; furthermore to work for the emergence of peaceful and just societies where everyone has the right to participate in equality."

The post Council, Diplomats, Journalists Voice Concerns over Media Crackdown on Press Freedom Day appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Alleged Official Statement on Aung San Statue Spreads on Facebook

Posted: 03 May 2019 05:15 AM PDT

The chief minister of Kayah State has handed power to state authorities to "protect" a controversial statue of General Aung San, according to a leaked statement spread on Facebook. The statue holds contested meanings among some Burmese and some minority rights activist groups.

The statement, dated April 30, declares Gen. Aung San a national hero, an architect of the country's independence and the father of the Myanmar military, and says that the people of the country built the statue to recognize his struggle for independence. It then delegates responsibility for protecting the statue to state authorities. It was allegedly written by Kayah State Chief Minister L Phaung Sho, and was signed by the General Secretary of Kayah State U Nyi Nyi Min.

Activists in the region, while not necessarily contesting Gen. Aung San's role in Myanmar history, have seen the statue as a symbol of the dominant roles the interests and identity of the Burmese majority plays in the country, to the disadvantage of ethnic minorities. To them, it's also a symbol of what they see as yet-unfulfilled promises made by the assassinated general and the Panglong Agreement of 1947.

The statement was leaked just four days before a second meeting is to be held between local rights activists and the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) over the resettlement of a similar statue in Loikaw, the state's capital. Those negotiations are scheduled for May 7.

Right activists in Loikaw saw the chief minister's statements online but have not yet received any official statement from the government.

Myo Hlaing Win, a leading member of the activist group, told The Irrawaddy his group will bring the leaked statement up for discussion at the upcoming meeting.

"We will respond strongly regarding his statement. He kicked the ball down the road. He did not want to take responsibility and accountability for [building the statue]," said Myo Hlaing Win, adding that the statement could block future negotiations.

The activists condemned L Phaung Sho and his government for the building of the statue, but the state government denies involvement, saying the statue was built by an independent group.

The rights group will hold a meeting in Loikaw on Saturday to discuss future negotiations with the NRPC and how best to respond to the leaked statement.

"We will know tomorrow how we will respond to his statement after our meeting. We really believe that the statement was issued by his government," Myo Hlaing Win said.

Kayah State Minister of Planning and Finance U Maw Maw told The Irrawaddy his government did not issue the statement officially yet. He refused to discuss how the statement, allegedly from his chief minister, spread online.

People in Kayah State held large protest in February asking for the statue to be taken down but the state government refused, offering instead to broker negotiations between rights activists and a pro-statue group. When those negotiations broke down, the NRPC became involved. The NRPC first met with the activists in March, but was unable to bring the two sides to an agreement.

The post Alleged Official Statement on Aung San Statue Spreads on Facebook appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Robbery Victims in N. Shan Claim Perpetrators TNLA Members

Posted: 03 May 2019 03:23 AM PDT

YANGON—A group of armed men on Wednesday robbed a house in Namhkam, in the Muse District of northern Shan State, according to CCTV footage and relatives of the victims, who claim the alleged thieves belong to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

A group of six men in plainclothes came by motorbike to U Soe Thu's home in No. 14 Ward of Namhkam on Wednesday afternoon.

"They handcuffed the two men in the house" U Soe Thu's sister told The Irrawaddy. "We had five or six toddlers and children at the time in the house. Three or four women were hiding on the upper floor. The robbers took money and gold."

Robbers took two gold necklaces, 6.5 million kyats, 2,000 yuan and a mobile phone, said U Soe Thu, who says he was not at home when the robbery began.

When he returned home, he noticed a gunman keeping guard for his accomplices. U Soe Thu then contacted the police and people's militia.

The arrival of the people's militia prompted an exchange of fire before the suspects fled.

"The militia could not shoot freely because we were inside the house, but the robbers shot around seven or eight times," U Soe Thu's sister said.

The victims say the suspects spoke Palaung, the Burmese word for Ta'ang, and claim they were the same persons who abducted one of their relatives about 10 days ago. They accused the group of being TNLA members.

Brigadier-General Tar Bone Kyaw, general secretary of the TNLA, told The Irrawaddy he is starting an investigation in response to the allegation.

"There are many armed groups as well as militia groups at the Namhkam-Muse border [area], and many Ta'ang people are in those groups," he said in response to the claim that the suspects spoke Palaung.

The TNLA is a non-signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and currently clashes with the the Myanmar Army, or Tatmadaw.

"They were in plain clothes, so it is difficult to identify them, but we are also making an investigation to see if it was done by our members or not," he added.

The victims have opened a robbery case with the Namhkam police.

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The Role of Fake News in Politics, Stability and Elections

Posted: 03 May 2019 02:49 AM PDT

Legislation is being introduced across Southeast Asia to combat fake news in the name of preserving social harmony. In practice, however, it is too often used by long-sitting regimes as a tool to discredit political opponents ahead of critical events such as elections and referendums. As a result, democratic values like freedom of expression and press freedom are directly impacted by legal retaliation to what governments call "fake news" written by their critics.

At the heart of this problem is the issue of trust around governmental transparency, according to James Gomez, director of the Asia Centre, an organization which works to create positive social impact in the region.

A communications and human rights specialist, Gomez explained that there is a lack of trust between long-standing regimes and those who want regime change, better governmental transparency and access to information. Hence, both sitting governments and their critics do not trust each other.

"There is a need to bridge the trust gap in Southeast Asia. Instead of looking for opportunities to build trust, fake news legislation is being used. However, this does not address the root problem of governmental transparency or the lack of access to information," he said.

Today, as mobile penetration rates increase and more people are getting connected via social media, Myanmar is not a stranger to religious or political fake news. Ahead of next year's general election, The Irrawaddy interviewed James Gomez to gain a better insight into the nature of fake news, its political impact and other governments' attempts at reining it in.

How many kinds of fake news have you identified?

Three. First, there is the everyday, non-political fake news, intended to create traffic on the internet or social media through sensationalism. For example, in April 2018 in Malaysia, hundreds of people gathered in front of a local supermarket after receiving messages on WhatsApp that Johor Bahru's crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim was coming over to pay for his groceries.

The second type is related to religious and ethnic issues which are often [more] pronounced in multi-ethnic, multi-religious societies. In Malaysia, in November 2018, fake news stirred up racial hatred and riots over the supposed relocation of a local Hindu temple in Subang Jaya. It resulted in two days of unrest, extensive damage to the office of the developer who owns the land where the temple is located, and the death of a Malay firefighter who was lynched by an angry Indian mob.

Third, there is fake news used as political criticism against competing political contenders. In Thailand, a week before the general election in March 2019, a pro-military junta news agency, Nation TV aired a dubious recorded telephone conversation claiming to be a deal-making between Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of progressive anti-military Future Forward Party (FFP), and the fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Understandably, the broadcast is aimed at swaying voters away from the FFP, exploiting the deep-seated fear and hatred against the former prime minister. However, it backfired as Thanathorn himself challenged the authenticity of the clip and the viewers were not convinced and even criticized the news agency for reporting "fake news" that favored the military junta and the pro-military parties.

The use of fake news as a political tool by authoritarian governments against its critics is the largest form of fake news in the region.

Apart from Southeast Asia, how has fake news differed from region to region, i.e. in North America and Europe?

In North America, in the United States specifically, the instances of fake news are related to dubious content produced by foreign sources about candidates' qualifications and political ideology on social media advertisements during the presidential election.

Meanwhile, in Europe, apart from foreign elements meddling in domestic decision-making processes such as Brexit, fake news is disguised as hate speech targeting minority groups and championing the causes of recently resurgent right-wing populism.

In East Asia, fake news concerns China's sophisticated efforts to undermine democracies in the region via disinformation campaigns. In November 2018, ahead of the local mid-term election, Taiwan became a testing ground for China's orchestrated disinformation trying to sway voters from the Democratic Progressive Party which has an anti-China stance and persuading them to lean towards candidates who are more sympathetic to Beijing.

How have the governments there tackled the problem? Do you see any effectiveness in their actions?

Mostly governments deal with the fake news problem through enacting news legislation, but there are differences depending on the national context of each country.

In France, the law is aimed at preventing foreign influence in domestic elections, so it applies to the election period only. During the run-up period, the judiciary can order technological companies to remove "incorrect or misleading allegations or accusations" that are likely to influence voters in the local election. On top of that, these platforms are required to provide full information regarding advertisers promoting content relating to matters of public debate during the election season.

In Germany, the focus is on hate speech distributed via social media. The law targets only social networks that have more than 2 million registered users in the country. It gives service providers a 24-hour period to act after they are informed of "obviously law-breaking material" and, for the more ambiguous cases, this period extends to seven days. The targeted content is child pornography, threats, incitement to crime and incitement to racial hatred, and includes violations of Germany’s strict laws against Nazi symbols and genocide denial.

Recently, there were elections in the Southeast Asian region. Did fake news pose any threats to the polls there?

In Thailand, during the run-up to the elections, most—if not all—instances of fake news took the form of character assassination and overt disinformation directed against the newly-formed Future Forward Party (FFP) and its key leadership, particularly the head of the party Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. The FFP represents the youth and those who are against the military junta, so it has been subject to a myriad of disinformation campaigns seemingly coming from the military and the conservative right-wing factions. Ironically, the main legislation that deals with the fake news problem is the vaguely-worded Computer Crime Act (CCA), which the military regime has employed to press charges against Thanathorn and other FFP leaders both during and after the election period. In short, in Thailand, the State itself is the purveyor of fake news.

In Indonesia, weeks before the 2019 general election in April, there was a sharp increase in fake news and disinformation. The Ministry for Communication and Information Technology of Indonesia revealed more than 700 election-related hoaxes in March 2019. Still, the post-election period remains a battle over truth as the official results will only be announced on May 22. Even though the incumbent President Joko Widodo emerged victorious in the first count, his contender former General Prabowo Subianto declined to accept the results. Prabowo threatened to mobilize his supporters and form a fact-checking team to prove what was alleged to be a "structured, systematic and massive network of fraud" in the recent election. In the country where trust in traditional media is low, and the military has historically and traditionally enjoyed popular support, Prabowo's refusal to use proper, available-at-hand legal mechanisms, instead projecting his views of electoral fraud, could prove to be fatal to the social cohesion.

Myanmar has been faced with fake news, especially on religion, race and politics. How is it different from other regional countries?

Myanmar is one of three countries in ASEAN—the two others being Indonesia and Malaysia—where fake news or hate speech related to ethnicity and religion is prevalent and high. In all three countries, the common thread is that there is a major dominant religion and hardliners, through an appeal to nationalism, spread hatred via social media against minorities. However, in Myanmar, this phenomenon is connected historically to the state of fake news against minorities which is well entrenched before the arrival of the internet and social media. For a long time, Myanmar has been under the yoke of fake news, propaganda and unverified information about its minority communities that has been spread through state-controlled media, faith-based teachings, trainings for all government officials as well as through educational institutions which parents then pass onto their children.

During this pre-internet period, minorities faced everyday structural discrimination within the state system. This misinformation has now spilled over onto social media. Even before the wider adoption of Facebook, inappropriate remarks against minorities were being circulated via Viber during its early use. The challenge that social media poses is that hate speech becomes viral and rises into a frenzy. As a result, this shifts the impact on minority communities from structural discrimination to a risk of experiencing physical violence.

Myanmar will also have an election next year. Based on what you have seen in other countries, what are your predictions on the impact of fake news on the country's election? 

For Myanmar, there is a two-part timeline that observers need to note.

The first part is the next 18 months in the run-up to the elections. During this period internet penetration will likely cross 50% (39% as of now) and most users will be on social media such as Facebook with an increasing uptake of WhatsApp. Those without internet or social media access will be able to get information from these platforms by word of mouth from family members and friends. Independent media is likely to come under further attack with journalists and media owners being penalized leading to either self-censorship, journalists changing vocation or media companies shutting down. Like elsewhere in the region, legislation in the name of promoting harmony will be rolled out to deal with fake news that spreads hatred. However, indictments will largely be aimed at critics of the State including independent media as well as international NGOs and the UN. Fake news will be used by all sides to bolster their political position, even if it means some quarters will try to garner support from religious hardliners. In short, the next 18 months will see an evolution in the media landscape making the Myanmar elections also a media election. The face of Myanmar media is likely to be very different after the elections.

We also need to factor in a second timeline of at least six months after the elections. Again, as elsewhere in the region, results may be contested and this will lead to political uncertainty and disquiet. During this time, we can also expect governmental fake news to spike as the immediate past administration will try to explain the situation. If there is a regime change, the loser might also mount a post-election campaign using fake news. We could also see the disqualification of candidates, the overturning of election results and dissolution of political parties as has happened elsewhere in the region.

What is the role of independent media in the fight against fake news? Is it the most effective tool or are there any better alternatives?

Independent media alone cannot fight fake news. Different stakeholders need to develop a broad-based coalition that goes beyond the electoral timeline. It needs to include stakeholders involved in fact-checking, media literacy, the promotion of quality journalism, technology companies and government. There should also be legislation on access to information. If efforts are singular and sectoral and limited to an election cycle, such measures will not be holistic nor effective.

The key issue is to bridge the trust gap between the existing regimes and those who want regime change to introduce governmental transparency or access to information. Presently there is a stalemate. This is the challenge for Myanmar.

The post The Role of Fake News in Politics, Stability and Elections appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Makers Market Focuses on Handmade Goods from Local Artisans

Posted: 03 May 2019 01:13 AM PDT

Held on the first Sunday evening of every month, the Makers Market brings together the finest local brands including handmade arts and crafts, food vendors, designer fashion brands, hands-on craft activities, music and nightlife.

The market offers a great opportunity to discover outstanding locally made products in one place and a chance to meet with artists, designers and craftspeople in person.

Among the interesting products to be found at the Makers Market are rattan baskets and boxes, cotton blouses, coconut shell crafts, handmade bamboo mugs and many others.

Goods crafted from coconut shell are for sale at the Makers Market, which is held on the first Sunday of every month.

"The main purpose is to promote local products and help the local artisan community. And the event is plastic-free, because we want to create awareness among the public of the need to avoid plastic," said Ma Kye Mon Lwin, one of the organizers of the Makers Market and founder of Organic Valley.

The market is restricted to locally made products. So, rule number one for those wishing to participate is that all products must be locally made, she said.

"Number two is that it's a plastic-free event, so vendors must prepare non-plastic packaging, or visitors can bring their own shopping bags. And the products must be the artisans' own creations, and unique," she added.

Artisans D’Inle, handmade arts and crafts

This means no handmade or mass-produced goods are accepted; this is one of the main draws of the market.

The market opens in the evening and includes several small bars. Ma Kye Mon Lwin said, "Promoting local products is the main purpose, but we also want to create an event that will become a popular spot for a night out. That's why it includes a few bars."

Prior to establishing the Makers Market, Ma Kye Mon Lwin was a volunteer organizer at the Yangon Farmers' Market (YFM), which sells organic and naturally made products.

Bamboo mugs, containers and other products are sold at the market.

"I was selling my products from Organic Valley at YFM, and then I became part of the team. I met two other friends from Kokkoya Organic Farm who have the same mindset and goals as me. The three of us started planning to make the Makers Market happen," she said.

YFM is mainly focused on organic and naturally made foods and vegetables. After eight months, the three women discovered that there were a lot of handmade arts, crafts, fashion brands and many other things produced locally.

"So, we wanted to create a market where all these could be found under one roof; we launched the Makers Market and this coming May 5 will be the fifth time [it has been held]," she said.

Rattan baskets and tissue boxes are displayed at the market.

Initially, she connected with other brands to become part of the market, which started with about 60 vendors, and they got a lot of attention from many local small businesses.

"I'm didn't sell my products at the market at first. Then, I met with the owner of the Inle Princess Hotel. They have artisan village projects that sell handmade arts and crafts produced by people from Inle. So I want to help those artists and started discussing ideas with them about new things they could make, and so on. Now, I help and collaborate with them and bring handmade products from Inle to the Makers Market."

She discovered that unfortunately many local artisans are still relying on foreigners because they don't have a lot of knowledge of how markets work or have creative ideas for marketing their products.

The fourth Makers Market is busy with visitors at the Karaweik Garden.

However, she added that, "Most of the foreigners helping local artists are from NGOs. So that's good and I hope local people can learn many things from them."

Before launching the market, the organizing team posted criteria for participating, along with invitations to vendors to submit applications, on the Makers Market Facebook page.

"Our criteria are simple. We don't choose many similar products. For example, the number of clothing designers might be limited to two or three," Ma Kye Mon Lwin said.

Handmade necklaces and accessories

She added, "The shops are not the same every month. It's always changing."

So, if you are a lover of handmade arts and crafts or interested in locally made products, the fifth Makers Market will be held on May 5 on Kantawgyi Myawsin Island in Yangon's Karaweik Garden.

The Makers Market is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., so you can catch the amazing sunset while browsing a fine selection of locally made products.

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Central Bank Cautions Public on Digital Currencies

Posted: 02 May 2019 11:40 PM PDT

YANGON—The Central Bank of Myanmar warned against the use and trade of digital currencies and cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, saying the buying, selling or exchange of digital currency can lead to losses on the consumer’s side.

On Friday, the Central Bank released a statement saying it is the sole issuer and supervisor of the domestic currency after a series of scams targeted people who lack experience and understanding of cryptocurrencies.

Digital currencies, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Perfect Money (PM), are being traded on personal Facebook accounts and websites and used as payments for individual use or services, the Central Bank said.

The Central Bank have not authorized the use of digital currencies, nor do they allow any organization to the trade in cryptocurrencies or digital currencies in Myanmar.

Cryptocurrencies are virtual currencies that do not exist in a physical form. They are not backed or regulated by any central bank. The decentralized control of each cryptocurrency relies on distributed ledger technology, typically a blockchain, that serves as a public financial transaction database.

Myanmar has no specific mechanism or legal framework to regulate cryptocurrencies. However, the coins' promoters have introduced various ways to invest in them.

U Than Lwin, senior advisor to Kanbawza Bank Ltd (KBZ) and former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, told The Irrawaddy there are three main reason why investing in cryptocurrencies should be avoided—the volatility of crypto markets, the difficulty in taking legal action in cases involving the currencies and the lack of consumer protection.

"The price is unstable all the time. Trading cryptocurrencies could result in losing everything you invested in them. It's like gambling," said U Than Lwin.

"Since it is a digital currency without physical form, there are many limits to imposing regulations on it. You won't get help through legal action. People should be very careful before investing in it." he added.

Last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs also warned against trading in cryptocurrencies, including in Bitcoin, after a wave of scams in Myanmar. The ministry warned that the coin promoters targeted people in rural areas who are uninformed about the market. It said cryptocurrencies are "unstable" and require careful study. It advised against investing in such currencies.

Cryptocurrencies came to popular attention with the inception of Bitcoin in 2009. The lack of regulation in cryptocurrency networks has been criticized as enabling criminals who seek to evade taxes and launder money. Transactions involving such cryptocurrencies are independent from formal banking systems, making tax evasion simpler.

Bitcoin itself is often targeted by cyber hackings and thefts, which cost billions of dollars a year. In 2014, the world's then-largest Bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox, declared bankruptcy after losing US$473 million (720 billion kyats) of customers' bitcoins to cyber theft. In January and June 2018, Tokyo-based Coincheck and the Korean exchange Coinrail were hacked and lost $400 million and $37 million worth of cryptocurrency respectively. The thefts triggered falls in the values of all major cryptocurrencies.

The post Central Bank Cautions Public on Digital Currencies appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Sermon Canceled Over Concern Nationalist Monk Could Stir Trouble

Posted: 02 May 2019 11:31 PM PDT

CHIANG MAI—Thai authorities in Phuket, in the far south of the country, have banned a sermon by the ultranationalist monk U Wirathu, scheduled to be held this Friday evening.

Myanmar migrant worker communities in Phuket usually organize the Dhamma sermons with Buddhist monks from Myanmar; this is the first time such an event has been prohibited, according to migrant worker advocacy groups.

When an invitation for the sermon went viral on Facebook, both supporters and opponents of the event were active in the comments sections, raising eyebrows among Thai security officials in Phuket, said U Htoo Chit, director of the Phang-nga-based Foundation for Education Development, in southern Thailand.

U Wirathu is widely known for promulgating hate speech targeting non-Buddhist religions as the leader of the 969 movement—a Burmese nationalist campaign targeting Muslims and Muslim-owned businesses in Myanmar. Many Myanmar migrant workers have voiced concern that his talk could incite tensions among different religious groups, especially between Buddhists and Muslims.

U Htoo Chit reached out to Thai religious and national security officials about the matter, who told him on Thursday that authorities had decided not to allow the sermon, he said.

"The Thai security committee (in Phuket) said they banned the sermon as U Wirathu is a monk who could be a problem. They said they would allow any other monks who are not as problematic as him," said U Htoo Chit.

Opinon in Phuket's Myanmar migrant communities remain divided.

"Some [migrant workers] groups…are concerned for any trouble that could follow his talk, as Phuket hosts many Thai Muslims and many Myanmar Muslims workers," U Htoo Chit said. "If anything happens, the migrant workers from Myanmar would be the ones to suffer."

But Ko Hein Thu, who helps arrange the regular Dhamma talks, said the service was canceled not because of Thai authorities but because of strong opposition to U Wirathu there.

"It is not because of the Thai authorities. There are people who like the Sayadaw (senior monk, U Wirathu), and those who don't. We told his followers that the service was canceled if many people do not want (him speaking here)," he said.

Ko Hein Thu said organizers hold the religious talks almost every month and do not restrict any particular monk.

"We could not say what would possibly happen, but we were planning to request the Sayadaw not focus on politics, and focus on the Dhamma talk only,” said Ko Hein Thu.

But Myanmar community groups are worried that the mere arrival of U Wirathu, notorious for stirring up anti-Muslim sentiments in Myanmar, might be asking for trouble, especially in Phuket, where there are more than 200,000 registered Myanmar migrant workers, both Muslims and Buddhists.

"When we saw the invitation on Facebook, we were also asked by Phuket security personnel about the monk. His photo and background are easy to find on Google, many of which are not good," said U Aung Naing, the director of the Andaman Friendship Association, a migrant rights group based in Phuket. "For me, I think this religious talk should not happen, because he is a problematic monk. If something happened, we, the migrant workers, would have to face the consequences. Thus, we object; we do not want any trouble for respectful monks at these events in the future."

Myanmar migrant workers should follow any Thai rules and regulations and should cooperate with local authorities if they have plans to hold religious talks, urged U Htoo Chit, who said Thai authorities say they are not prohibiting the normal religious talk in the future, just this one involving a preacher who may bring trouble.

The post Sermon Canceled Over Concern Nationalist Monk Could Stir Trouble appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Malaysia Frees Vietnamese Woman Accused of Killing N. Korean Leader’s Half-Brother

Posted: 02 May 2019 10:08 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR—A Vietnamese woman who spent more than two years in a Malaysian prison on suspicion of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was freed on Friday, her lawyer said.

Doan Thi Huong, 30, was charged along with an Indonesian woman with poisoning Kim Jong Nam by smearing his face with liquid VX, a banned chemical weapon, at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017.

Malaysian prosecutors dropped a murder charge against Huong last month after she pleaded guilty to an alternate charge of causing harm. Huong will return to Vietnam later on Friday, her lawyer, Hisyam Teh, told Reuters.

Huong was taken into immigration custody immediately after her release from prison and will remain there before boarding a flight to Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital.

Teh said his client may speak at a brief news conference before boarding her flight.

“In the event she is unable to talk to media I will read out a statement from her,” he said.

Huong’s co-accused, Siti Aisyah, was freed in March after prosecutors also dropped a murder charge against her.

South Korean and U.S. officials have said the North Korean regime had ordered the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, who had been critical of his family’s dynastic rule. Pyongyang has denied the allegation.

Defense lawyers have maintained the women were pawns in an assassination orchestrated by North Korean agents. The women said they thought they were part of a reality prank show and did not know they were poisoning Kim.

Four North Korean men were also charged but they left Malaysia hours after the murder and remain at large.

Malaysia came under criticism for charging the two women with murder—which carries a mandatory death penalty in the Southeast Asian country—when the key perpetrators were still being sought.

The post Malaysia Frees Vietnamese Woman Accused of Killing N. Korean Leader’s Half-Brother appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

From Beans to Gooseberry, Rice-Mad Myanmar Eyes Healthier Diet

Posted: 02 May 2019 09:50 PM PDT

THAR YAR SU, Myanmar—Opening the lid of her rice cooker, a luxury bought when power finally came to their village in central Myanmar three years ago, Tin Aye scooped out two fat ladles for breakfast.

“I cannot go without eating rice. Since the start of the day, all my stomach asks for is rice,” said the 52-year-old mother of three, laughing.

Myanmar is a nation obsessed with rice.

Its people eat an average of 155 kilos a year, according to a 2016 survey by the country’s rice federation and Yezin Agricultural University, ensuring Myanmar has one of the world’s highest rates of rice consumption.

For half a century, successive leaders anchored agriculture policies on rice. The government used loans, infrastructure, and services to farmers to push them to grow it and people to eat it, so rice is now woven into the fabric of daily life.

In place of “hello,” people greet each other by asking, “Have you had rice?”

It wasn’t always this way in Myanmar, where diets were once seasonal, diverse—and much healthier.

But a rice-centric policy that began in the 1960s during the socialist era led people to grow and consume more, said Tin Htut Oo, who has worked in the agricultural ministry and chaired an advisory body to the government.

“Our diets, especially in urban areas, are getting like Western diets. It has become more monotonous,” he said.

Rice—a starchy, high-calorie grain—accounted for at least a third of cultivated land in 2017/18 and nearly two-thirds of diets, government data shows.

But faced with malnutrition and worsening obesity and dietary-related diseases, the Southeast Asian nation of 54 million people is trying to diversify what it grows and eats.

Smart future

The problem is not Myanmar’s alone.

Experts say if the world is to fight a growing malnutrition crisis, agriculture must shift from producing calories, through staples such as rice, to growing nutrients, such as fruits, nuts, vegetables and pulses.

Poor diet has overtaken smoking as the world’s biggest killer, according to the latest Global Burden of Disease study, causing 20 percent of deaths globally in 2017.

Myanmar has embarked on a five-year nutrition plan to alter the nation’s eating habits, which includes the need to diversify the nation’s agriculture so consumers can access a varied food basket and farmers can increase their incomes.

This includes growing pulses, vegetables and fruits, using better fertilizer and improving livestock production, Kyaw Swe Lin, director-general at the agricultural ministry’s planning department, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

It would also increase incomes in a country where two-thirds of households work in agriculture and are struggling to get by.

Decades of isolation and economic sanctions have affected food quality, safety and nutrition—and reversing this requires outside help, said Kyaw Swe Lin.

In February, Myanmar’s government signed an agreement with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with agricultural diversification as a major goal.

Myanmar observers—from aid workers to economists—said poor infrastructure, resistance to change, laws that encourage rice production and insecure land tenure all pose challenges.

But Kyaw Swe Lin said there was no other choice.

“If we don’t tackle this now, the impact is going to be very big and very negative.”

Government support

Myanmar’s emergence from nearly half a century of iron-fisted military rule less than a decade ago brought glitzy malls, smart phones, fast food and Western hotel chains.

Yet for the country’s women and children, particularly in ethnic and border areas, malnutrition persists.

One in four children under five and one in four adolescent girls are stunted due to chronic undernutrition, according to a government survey.

One in three adolescent girls are anemic, mainly due to iron deficiency, while more than one in five women are overweight, said the report, published in February.

All of this “poses severe risks to diabetes, hypertension and overall health,” said Anna-Lisa Noack, FAO’s food security and nutrition policy specialist in Myanmar.

A lack of diversified diets is a significant factor.

Emerging evidence suggests more than half the population cannot afford nutrient-rich foods, while consumption of oil, sugar and processed foods is increasing, she said.

In Myanmar, many of the 18,000 plant species so far recorded could be highly nutritious but are neglected, Min San Thein, deputy director at the agricultural ministry, wrote in a report.

One of them is zee phyu thee—Burmese gooseberry—which grows wild in the forests and is rich in vitamin C but is not cultivated, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“Nowadays, if you go to villages, you won’t see these trees anymore,” said Min San Thein, who heads the Myanmar Seed Bank.

There are now plans to breed and distribute them in villages, but much more needs to be done to conserve, use and raise awareness of such species to fight malnutrition, he said.

The Seed Bank is also working to expand its conservation work to reflect Myanmar’s rich biodiversity, he added. Currently, more than half of the 13,000 seeds stored are rice.

Education and innovation, including new ways of consuming protein-laden beans and pulses, are key, said Tin Htut Oo, who now heads the agriculture group in Myanmar’s Singapore-listed conglomerate Yoma Strategic Holdings.

Farmers, however, have voiced reluctance to grow other crops, citing government support for rice.

“We get loans of 150,000 kyats (US$99) per acre for rice. We don’t get it for other crops,” said Kyaw Lin, Tin Aye’s husband.

Another barrier to growing nutrient-rich but perishable fruits and vegetables is the lack of infrastructure such as refrigeration and transport networks, said Debbie Aung Din, whose company Proximity Designs make low-cost farm products.

Tin Aye, the farmer in Thar Yar Su, has no intention of cutting her rice intake but said many villagers, herself included, have started to eat more vegetables after reading warnings about bad diets on social media on their smart phones.

“There is more knowledge and awareness now,” she said.

The post From Beans to Gooseberry, Rice-Mad Myanmar Eyes Healthier Diet appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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