Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Burma 2013: The Year in Review
• Seven political prisoners released
• DVB Person of the Year 2013: Gen. Gun Maw
• 17 drown when boat capsizes in Kyaukphyu
• British ambassador defends Burmese military training
• Noodle shop fire devastates delta town
• Vigil to be held for deceased political prisoners
• Burmese president pardons all remaining political prisoners

Burma 2013: The Year in Review Posted: 31 Dec 2013 04:17 AM PST A look back at 2013, an eventful year for Burma.

Seven political prisoners released Posted: 31 Dec 2013 03:24 AM PST Burma released seven political prisoners on Tuesday with many more expected in the days ahead. The seven were identified by DVB as Yan Naing Htun, Maung Maung Than, Tin Htut Paing and Aung Min Naing, who were released from Insein Prison in Rangoon; Aik Paing and Ye Min, released from Taunggyi Prison; and San Htwe from Moulmein Prison. Yan Naing Htun and Aung Min Naing, who were sentenced to seven months in prison for organising a march from Rangoon to Laiza in Kachin state, spoke to DVB upon their release. "We do not regard this as an amnesty but just as an attempt to make amends and cover up the flaws and weaknesses within [Burma's] rule of law," said Yan Naing Htun. "We were only released because of the support of our colleagues outside prison and the president's need to deliver on his promise." Jailed in January 2012 after a labour dispute regarding construction of a golf course in Rangoon’s South Okkalapa township, Maung Maung Than walked free from Insein, as did Generation Youth member Tin Htut Paing, who was detained for burning the Chinese flag and for staging an unlawful protest. May Sabe Phyu, whose charges relating to Article 18 (the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Processions Law) will now be lifted, said: "The president pledged to release all remaining political prisoners in the country by the end of 2013 and I see this as him merely keeping his words. The presidential order itself said the pardon shall not include offences undertaken after 31 December 2013, and the related laws – Articles 18, 505(b) and 17(1) are yet to be completely abolished. So I guess we need to wait and see." Related Stories Vigil to be held for deceased political prisoners Burmese president pardons all remaining political prisoners Myint Myint Aye completes third day of hunger strike

DVB Person of the Year 2013: Gen. Gun Maw Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:35 AM PST DVB readers have spoken, and their voice was loud and clear: the Burmese Person of the Year for 2013 is Gen. Gun Maw Sumlat, the vice-chief of staff of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). We offered a selection of the biggest news-makers of the past year and asked readers to vote for one – their favourite, their most respected or simply the person they thought was the most prolific. A total of 20,662 readers of DVB's Burmese and English websites voted. The result was that Gen. Gun Maw won with 68 percent of votes cast; some 13,892 readers voted for the KIA peace negotiator. Second was outspoken Buddhist monk, U Wirathu, with 4,787 votes; third was Dr. Cynthia Maung with 475 votes; and fourth was activist Naw Ohn Hla with 349. Other votes: Zaw Zaw (230); Phwe Phwe (196); Than Than Htwe (195); Moe Set Wine (116); Ye Htut (110); Irene Zin Mar Myint (44); and others (268). DVB would like to thank its readers for their overwhelming support. Gen. Gun Maw will now receive a certificate and an engraved trophy from DVB to commemorate this occasion.     Gen. Gun Maw Sumlat, vice-chief of staff of Kachin Independence Army Hundreds of well-wishers wearing traditional Kachin costumes welcomed the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Vice Chief of Staff Maj-Gen Gun Maw Sumlat when he arrived in Myitkyina, the Kachin state capital, in October to negotiate peace with a Burmese government delegation which until then had drastically underestimated his influence. When hostilities between Burmese government forces and the KIA intensified in Mansi Township in November, Gun Maw bravely paid a historic visit to Rangoon where he met with media, spoke at the Kachin Baptist Church, schmoozed with Kachin celebrities and generally charmed each and every political and business figure who met him. Media-savvy but humble, Gun Maw exudes a deep sense of integrity. He says he views peace as a process, unlike the Burmese government which defines peace by the number of agreements it signs.

17 drown when boat capsizes in Kyaukphyu Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:15 AM PST Seventeen people drowned when a boat capsized in Arakan state's Kyaukphyu township on 27 December, according to official sources. Villagers from Sinboat village-tract were on their way back from collecting wood in a mangrove forest when their overloaded boat tipped over and capsized in a creek about two miles from Kyungyi village on Friday afternoon, said Kyaukphyu Township Police Station's deputy-superintendent Aung Aung. The boat was carrying 49 people, nine male and 40 female, most of whom were from Kyungyi village. All those who drowned were women. Related Stories Burmese toddler drowns as refugee boat sinks en route to Christmas Island Mosque damaged in attack in western Burma Fifty Rohingya feared drowned as boat sinks off Arakan coast "Most of the passengers on the boat were residents of Kyungyi – they rented a boat altogether and went to collect wood in the mangrove forest before heading back around 4pm. They loaded all the wood in the centre and head of the boat and most of the passengers sat at the back," said the official. "As there was too much weight in the front side of the boat, it tipped over and capsized near a jetty about two miles from Kyungyi village – 17 women drowned in the incident." A report in the state-run Kyemon (The Mirror) daily newspaper said the wreckage of the boat was recovered the following morning, with the bodies of the victims still in the deck. A man named Ba Shwe, the boat's skipper, has been charged by police for reckless navigating and criminal negligence.

British ambassador defends Burmese military training Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:30 PM PST Britain's Ambassador to Burma Andrew Patrick defended his government's decision to initiate a training programme for the Burmese armed forces in early January, saying the course will not enhance the Burmese military’s combat ability. Ambassador Patrick was speaking in response to a question by DVB on whether – taking into account the Burmese army's dismal human rights – such training could be put to negative purposes. "The course will not enhance the Burmese military’s combat ability, so we don’t think there is a risk of the training being misused," said Ambassador Patrick, who succeeded Andrew Heyn in Rangoon in August. Related Stories Suu Kyi says constitutional reform will unify military and people The real story behind the Mansi military offensive Michaungkan protestors agree to close rally camp for three months "The training will focus on the role of the military in a democratic context," he said. "The training will take place in a classroom, and draw on lecturers from Cranfield University and the UK Defence Academy. It will take place in Naypyidaw from 6- 17 January. Topics covered include governance in transitional democracies, and civilian control of the armed forces." Britain's Ministry of Defence announced last week that a joint civilian and military team from its Defence Academy will provide training to 30 members of the Burmese armed forces and Burmese government next month. According to a 25 December report in the Daily Telegraph, Mark Francois, the UK Minister for the Armed Forces, said: "The Tatmadaw [Burmese army] remain a key political force in Burma, therefore we seek to encourage them to support democratic reform through our influence and with education." However, in the same report, David Mathieson, a Burma researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the Tatmadaw were still regularly committing atrocities, and stood accused of attacking refugee camps in Kachin state within the past few weeks. "The Burmese Army has got a terrible reputation," he is quoted as saying. "It has an abusive modus operandi in its DNA."

Noodle shop fire devastates delta town Posted: 30 Dec 2013 10:53 PM PST More than 200 homes and businesses were destroyed in a blaze that devastated the village of Katbat in the Irrawaddy delta's Laputta township early on Monday morning, leaving about 1,100 people homeless. Local healthcare charity group Hna Lone Thar Laputta told DVB that more than 200 buildings, including houses and local businesses, were razed by the fire which started in a noodle shop at a local market in the town's main commercial district at around 1am on Monday. It raged until 7am before firefighters could extinguish the blaze. "The fire broke out at around 1am," said Min Min Aung, a member of the charity group. "The villagers tried to put it out immediately because there was no fire engine available. But the houses are all built of wood so the fire spread wildly." He added that he believed about 15 people had sustained minor burn injuries but that there were no other casualties. Related Stories 120 homes destroyed in Mae La refugee camp fire Fire breaks out at Rohingya refugee camp Seven dead in pre-dawn fire at Rangoon beauty spa According to a report in the state-run Myanma Ahlin on Tuesday morning, 43 homes and 170 shop-houses were destroyed in the fire. Min Min Aung said the cost of the destruction may be extensive as in addition to many business premises, several garment and rice shops, pharmacies and carpentry stores were destroyed in the blaze. Meanwhile, some 1,100 residents have been left homeless by the fire, and are currently being sheltered at Laputta High School and Maha Aungmyayzan Buddhist Monastery in the town. Relief groups and volunteers are providing humanitarian supplies. "The victims are being provided assistance in the form of blankets, clothing, food parcels and water by various organisations, including political parties such as the Union Solidarity and Development Party and the National League for Democracy, as well as civil society groups such as the Hna Lone Thar Laputta," said Min Min Aung. Before Monday's fire, some 1,500 houses stood in Katbat, which is located about two hours boat ride from Laputta, an area devastated in 2008 by Cyclone Nargis.

Vigil to be held for deceased political prisoners Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:37 PM PST The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP-B) is planning an event on 2 January to commemorate and honour political activists who have died behind the bars. Tate Naing, the joint-secretary of the AAPP-B, said the event, to be held at the Royal Rose Hall in Rangoon, aims to provide moral support to the families of political prisoners who died during custody or interrogation since the nationwide uprising in 1988. According to the group, 166 political prisoners have died in custody since 1988, 54 of whom will be commemorated for the first time at the event on Thursday. The vigil comes after the Burmese government announced on Monday that it will release all remaining political prisoners in keeping with a promise President Thein Sein made during a visit to Europe earlier this year. The list of detainees to be released includes 35 political activists and 20 ethnic villagers who were jailed for alleged connections to armed groups. Charges will be dropped against a further 200 persons, most of whom were arrested for protesting under Article 18 (the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law) and Article 505(b) (sedition). Related Stories Seven political prisoners released Burmese president pardons all remaining political prisoners Myint Myint Aye completes third day of hunger strike

Burmese president pardons all remaining political prisoners Posted: 30 Dec 2013 07:56 PM PST The Burmese government will release all remaining political prisoners in keeping with a promise President Thein Sein made during a visit to Europe earlier this year. The list of detainees to be released includes 35 political activists and 20 ethnic villagers who were jailed for alleged connections to armed groups. Charges will be dropped against a further 200 persons, most of whom were arrested for protesting under Article 18 (the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law) and Article 505(b) (sedition). The move follows a recommendation to the President's Office on Monday by the Committee to Verify Remaining Political Prisoners. Related Stories Seven political prisoners released Vigil to be held for deceased political prisoners Burma needs a practical long-term policy for the Rohingya issue Committee member Ye Aung told DVB on Monday that the President's Office said it would "do its best" to meet the proposal. "The President's Office responded that they will do their best and we are waiting to see," he said. "The year ends in one day – so if they don't make it happen, the president's promise to the international community will be seen as a sham while we will continue to expose the cases of political prisoners who remain behind bars." Then on Monday night, state TV and radio broadcast the news that the president was to issue a pardon to all those held under certain charges – which included all those listed by political prisoners' welfare groups. On Tuesday morning, state-run The New Light of Myanmar confirmed that detainees would be released and others would have charges against them dropped "in order to contribute to the stability of the state and the lasting peace, to build national reconsolidation, to ensure all-inclusiveness in the political process, on humanitarian grounds and to enable them to participate in the nation-building tasks after realizing the magnanimity of the state." The statement said that the presidential pardon applied to those convicted or awaiting trial on the following charges: (a) Unlawful Association Act; (b) Treason (Code of Criminal Procedure Article 122); (c) Sedition (Code of Criminal Procedure Article 124 (a)); (d) The Law to Safeguard the State from the Danger of Subversive Elements; (e) Peaceful Gathering [Assembly] and Peaceful Procession Law; (f) Harming public interests (Code of Criminal Procedure Article 505); (g) 1950 Emergency Act;

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• For the Kids on Burma’s Streets, a Chance for Education
• End of the Drought
• A Passage to India

For the Kids on Burma’s Streets, a Chance for Education Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:28 PM PST A child sells brooms in Rangoon. (Photo: Aung Thet Wine / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON – Educating street kids is not an easy task. The kids are often more interested in making their own money than sitting in a classroom, according to one educator who is working to change that. Decades of poverty in Burma, and the ignorance of many parents about their responsibilities to their children, mean that many youngsters nationwide stay away from formal schooling. "The poverty brings parents down to a situation where they put less emphasis on their children's education," said Aye Aye Thin, a former tutor at the Yangon Education University. Aye Aye Thin is now providing non-formal education (NFE) classes for street kids and heads a Rangoon-based educational program known as Scholarships for Street Kids, or SSK, which helps with literacy and vocational training. Initiated under a different name in 2007, SSK has been supporting education for impoverished children or child laborers on the street. But SSK's regular NFE classes began only in 2011 for children who have never been enrolled in school, or who have dropped out to work. Classes run for three hours a day, five days a week. Some students in the classes are garbage collectors when they are not studying. Aye Aye Thin said that before enrolling them in classes, she and her teachers speak to children working on the street to assess their needs. "They [street kids] are different from the kids in poor families, as the street kids have to struggle for their survival," she said. "The work they do is too hard at their age." The educator said the organization does not work only on literacy development, but they also "help street kids with their behavior changes as they are mentally affected." In towns across Burma, children work as manual laborers, vendors, tea-shop waiters, garbage collectors or domestic workers. When asked why they are working, the skinny boys or girls generally give the same answer: they work to support their families back home. Their parents may be unemployed, or the family may have split up, leaving them indigent. Many of these children are among the 1 million students nationwide who have dropped out of public school after primary level—aged 6-10—according to official figures from 2012. Burma was recently ranked second in the World Giving Index—the Burmese receiving praise for their willingness to volunteer, to help strangers and to give donations—but many are still ignorant of the issue of child labor. For instance, ordinary customers at teashops or restaurants would not hesitate to receive services from the young or teenage waiters. Much of the giving in Burma goes to religious institutions, and monastic education often receives help from philanthropists. But SSK is one of the only groups led by education experts and focusing on street kids. Thirteen classes have been running, in North Okkalapa, Mingaladon, Intai, Hleku, and Pegu, since June, with nine teachers in all. But the teacher said the number of the kids attending classes has decreased since then from 140 kids aged 9-14 to 110 children. Aye Aye Thin said many of the children were under pressure to make money for their families, who are uneducated and do not see the need to educate their offspring. "A student told me that he must earn at least 5,000 kyat a day for his five family members' survival," Aye Aye Thin said. Trash collectors, whose ages normally are 9-10, make between 2,000 kyat and 5,000 kyat per day, about US$2-$4. "We can't pay them such amounts, as well as give them knowledge," she said. "We also meet with the parents regularly, and talk to them to help their children as many parents do not pay much attention to the children's literacy." SSK has expanded its activities to practical vocational training, as well as parental education. Tailoring courses, for example, are provided for girls in their early teens. Aside from parental neglect, the kids struggle to concentrate on literacy, and educators also face a lack of collaboration from authorities. Despite the country moving forward to the democratic transition, "people's mindsets have not changed; some local authorities dare not to work together with us," said Aye Aye Thin. The post For the Kids on Burma's Streets, a Chance for Education appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

End of the Drought Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:24 PM PST A man talks on his mobile phone in Yangon. (Photo: Reuters) YANGON — Myanmar's drought of SIM cards is nearly over. The tiny plastic chips have in recent years been limited in supply. Distribution has been only through lotteries, driving a lucrative black market where they are peddled for hundreds of dollars each. Sometime in the middle of the 2014 rainy season, however, the country's major cities, at least, can expect a flood of affordable SIM cards. Making mobile services available across the country is a big task, but there has been no shortage of international firms keen to get involved in setting up decent telecommunications, a vital prerequisite to Myanmar's development in other sectors. "This is the biggest telecoms opportunity in the world today," Ross Cormack, CEO of Ooredoo Myanmar, told The Irrawaddy in November. The Qatari firm, alongside Norway's Telenor, was selected in July from dozens of firms that entered a competitive tender to be the first two private mobile phone operators licensed in Myanmar. With the Myanmar Telecommunications Law enacted on Oct. 8, and licenses expected to be finalized before the end of 2013, both companies have promised to begin selling unlimited numbers of SIM cards, complete with 3G technology, for 1,500 kyat, or about US $1.50, in the middle of next year. "We're bringing the latest technology to this beautiful country to allow Myanmar to leapfrog back into its position as the jewel of Asia," said Mr. Cormack. There were many big firms among the losers in the tender, but the government is reportedly planning to issue more licenses before long. Additionally, runners up Orange of France, along with SingTel of Singapore and Britain's Vodafone, are in talks with Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT) about helping the existing provider to compete with the newcomers, according to a recent report in the Financial Times. Officials have said there are plans to fully separate the state-owned MPT, and Yatanarpon Teleport, from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The Telecoms Law now in force will govern the sector, but the all-important regulations—the detailed rules of the game—are yet to be finalized. A public consultation launched in early November by the government seeks feedback on a draft set of regulations, which it says are in line with international best practice. The regulations up for discussion include detailed guidelines about the mobile spectrum, how fair competition will be enforced, and how companies will be licensed. "The overarching principles of the Licensing Rules are to establish a multi-service licensing framework that provides transparency to all licensees and end users, promotes market entry, and creates a level playing field in the telecommunications sector," the consultation document states. John Lichtefeld, a foreign legal consultant with Singapore-based law firm Kelvin Chia's Yangon office, said while the law makes mention of competition, most of the detail of how a fair market will be enforced is in the regulations. "While it's great that the language [on competition] is in the law, we're going to have to wait to see how the rules and regulations expand on these prohibitions against anti-competitive practices, and how those prohibitions will be enforced," he said. And that competition may be fierce in coming years. "This is seen as a big opportunity by global telcos to do business in a virtually untapped market," said Vivek Roy, a research analyst at London-based Informa Telecoms & Media, who described the market as "pristine"—at the end of 2012 only about 6 percent of the population had a mobile phone. Although the first two licenses are already awarded, he said, big companies were showing keen interest in Myanmar's telecoms market. He cited moves this year by Internet service provider Hutchison Global Communications Limited of Hong Kong, Japanese tech firms NTT Communications, NEC and Sumitomo and Malaysia's U Mobile to enter different parts of the nascent telecoms sector. "Still, we expect that generating revenues is going to be tough for license winners, Ooredoo and Telenor, since Myanmar has a sorry state of existing telecom infrastructure, including grid electricity coverage, poor road connectivity, low GDP per capita and high handset costs," said Mr. Roy. The telecom sector's current state is an acute reminder, especially to potential foreign investors, of just how far behind Myanmar has fallen after years of military misrule. Hence, Telenor and Ooredoo are primarily charged with expanding access to telecoms rapidly. In the meantime, to avoid the embarrassment of poor connectivity at December's SEA Games, a Japanese-funded quick fix has seen temporary 4G infrastructure installed at venues. The head start from being the first licensees is offset by the obligations to build a modern mobile network almost from scratch, said Mr. Roy. Ooredoo, hailing from the natural gas-rich emirate of Qatar, has said it will invest $15 billion in Myanmar over the 15 years of its license. Telenor declined to provide a figure for its investment, but Mr. Roy said it was likely to be considerably lower than Ooredoo's. Hundreds of transmission towers will be required to provide coverage, especially in rural areas, where about 70 percent of the population resides and power is scarce. "Although diesel-powered base stations would be the short-term solution, they would drive up opex [operating expenditure], so over the longer term, operators would need to look at more green, cost effective options," Mr. Roy said. Petter Furberg, CEO of Telenor Myanmar, said the government was keen to get the companies to enter into agreements to share towers, reducing the investment required from each to build the infrastructure. "One tower costs [an estimated] $100,000," he said. "Particularly here in Myanmar you have to import all the steel and a lot of concrete, which means a total waste of money at a time when the country needs to spend all its investments on building infrastructure as efficiently as possible." Ooredoo is also open to sharing towers, which could also include the existing government-linked mobile companies. Adding further complexity, every tower built across the country will involve acquiring land and gaining planning permission—which will likely cause problems in Myanmar, where land ownership is controversial after years of seizures, ill-conceived concessions to cronies and often-forced migration. "Planning law is complicated and even the government is not exactly certain how we can get all the approvals. But we do have the commitment of the government to ensure that they do happen," said Ooredoo's Mr. Cormack, whose company has set itself the ambitious goal of reaching 97 percent of Myanmar's estimated 60 million population in five years. "It is a challenge." Mr. Furberg said at least 80 percent of the country will be able to get Telenor services in five years. "It's a challenge," the Telenor Myanmar CEO said, echoing his competitor. "It's not an easy country to operate in. It's not an easy country to build infrastructure in, so we're very humbled by the task." The post End of the Drought appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

A Passage to India Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:16 PM PST The Corriander Leaf has a cosy relaxed ambiance and friendly staff. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) YANGON — As a city with a sizeable number of citizens whose ancestors hail from India, Yangon does not want for restaurants serving up the tastes of South Asia. Few, however, can deliver the goods with the same attention to authenticity as The Corriander Leaf, which offers searingly spicy food in a setting that's a welcome retreat from the steamy streets of Myanmar's largest metropolis. Located between the Summit Parkview and Yangon International Hotel on Ahlone Road, The Corriander Leaf is just 10 or 15 minutes away by taxi from the madding crowds of the downtown Sule Pagoda area, depending on the traffic. Once there, you'll find yourself entering a decidedly different culinary landscape. According to Sanjeev Gupta, the CEO of The Corriander Leaf, the three chefs in his kitchen come from different parts of India, ensuring that the regional diversity of what we call "Indian cuisine" is well covered. As a native of Hyderabad, Mr. Gupta is keen to recommend his hometown specialty, biryani—the fragrant and brightly colored rice-based dish beloved of many in Myanmar. What separates his biryani from that on offer in other restaurants in Yangon is the ingredients. Mr. Gupta says that he imports his rice and much else that goes into his food directly from India. Biryani, like other Indian dishes, is a particular thing from a particular place, and the ingredients have to be right. Another must-try is the mutton rogan josh, a Kashmiri specialty best eaten with steaming and scented naan bread. This aromatic dish of Persian origin was introduced to what is now northern India by the Mughals, and later became a staple of curry houses in the West courtesy of the British. The version served here, with its distinctive rich red hue, remains true to its roots. The litmus test of any Indian restaurant, says Mr. Gupta, is what comes out of the tandoor, the clay oven. The Corriander Leaf passes that test with flying colors, with delicately flavored slices of butterfish, spicy chunks of minced lamb, and spicier morsels of chicken and prawn. With dishes coming in at around the US $8-10 mark, The Corriander Leaf is more expensive than some of the lunchtime Indian diners downtown, but it also has Wi-Fi and air conditioning—amenities that are still surprisingly hard to find in this city. This is also the place to come if you're after some midday peace and quiet. Evenings from Thursday to Sunday are, however, a different story. On those nights it's best to book a table, as The Corriander Leaf is much in demand among Yangon's growing foreign business community. "It's a 25-75 split between Burmese and foreigners," says Mr. Gupta of the clientele frequenting his establishment. The upstairs part of the restaurant features two anterooms suitable for business or lunch meetings or private parties, while Mr. Gupta also runs a 150-seat function room, catering for seminars and workshops and other daytime gatherings. As well as Indian, The Corriander Leaf serves Indo-Chinese fusion, while the Banquet Hall serves European and other Asian food. For the thirsty—and thirsty you will be after a meal of some of the extra-spicy curries on the menu—the in-house bar has cocktails, mocktails, wines and liquors. The post A Passage to India appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Five gold mine protestors to be charged with sedition
• USDP discuss ‘crucial clauses’ of constitution
• Framework for ceasefire talks ‘80 percent in place’, says observer
• NLD says it will not boycott 2015 elections

Five gold mine protestors to be charged with sedition Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:47 AM PST Miners protesting against the suspension of the Moehti Moemi gold mine in Mandalay division's Yamethin have condemned the issuing of arrest warrants for protest leaders who are being charged for sedition under Article 505(b) of the Burmese penal code. On 26 December, authorities in Yamethin township issued arrest warrants for five protest leaders following a clash with police a week earlier when nine miners including a pregnant woman, and two policemen were injured. Related Stories Michaungkan protestors hold down the fort Funeral rites for land grab protestors in Michaungkan Magwe residents fuming over petrol risks The miners, occupying at a sit-in rally camp on Shwemyintin Hill, said they were running low on food as the police were blocking sympathisers and supporters from bringing supplies to the protesting workers. "We have around 15 children in the camp who also face food shortages," said protestor Nan Ei Phyo. "We are determined to stay here and fight, but the children aren't strong enough." Earlier this month, U Wimala, the abbot of Seitta Thukha Monastery on nearby Shweyinhmyaw Hill, was evicted from the site for allowing a protest camp to be situated in the monastery compounds. Thousands of miners in Yamethin have held protests and sit-ins since the Ministry of Mining demanded the suspension of all small-scale mining operations across the country in mid-2012, leaving them jobless. The protestors claim the ministry ousted the small mining firms so that it could invite bids from major international mining companies.

USDP discuss ‘crucial clauses’ of constitution Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:13 AM PST Burma's ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will on Monday discuss proposals to amend about 80 clauses in the 2008 Constitution, including clause 59(f) which sees denotes qualifications for the President and Vice-Presidents' positions, according to a party representative speaking on the second day of Central Committee talks in Naypyidaw on Sunday. The USDP representative said the party's Central Committee will on Monday vote on what he called some "crucial clauses". The press was not invited to cover the USDP Central Committee meeting which has taken place since Saturday. Related Stories NLD says it will not boycott 2015 elections 150 constitutional clauses should be amended, says NLD SEA Games triumph for Burma

Framework for ceasefire talks ‘80 percent in place’, says observer Posted: 29 Dec 2013 11:47 PM PST The Burmese government has reached what one observer said was an 80 percent consensus with the ethnic groups on a framework to implement a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The news comes after a meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Sunday between the Internal Peace Making Work Committee (IPMWC) and a Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) representing the ethnic parties. Hla Maung Shwe, an official from the Myanmar Peace Centre which has mediated talks between the two sides, said: "I believe the negotiations between the two sides are becoming more and more meaningful as they become more frequent. When they previously met in Rangoon following the Myitkyina talks, the NCCT stated that they had reached a 50 agreement on framework; this time around, they are more than 80 agreed in principle." The two delegations are due to meet again on 10 January ahead of scheduled talks between the IPMWC, led by the President's Office Minister Aung Min, and the ethnic armed groups in eastern Burma's Karen state capital Hpa-an on 24- 25 January. The armed groups are also holding an exclusive meeting between themselves in the same region on 20, 21 and 22 January ahead of the Hpa-an talks. The NCCT consists of representatives from 13 ethnic armed groups and was formed at a meeting in the Kachin Independence Organisation's Laiza headquarters in northern Burma on 2 November. Related Stories The real story behind the Mansi military offensive KNU shelve Hpa-an talks till next year Ethnic rebels discuss nationwide ceasefire in Chiang Mai

NLD says it will not boycott 2015 elections Posted: 29 Dec 2013 10:15 PM PST Burma's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) has laid to rest reports it may boycott the next general election, saying that it will definitely contest the polls in 2015. Speaking at a press conference to conclude a Central Committee meeting in Rangoon on Saturday, NLD spokesman Nyan Win said that party leader Aung San Suu Kyi did not previously intend to indicate that the NLD would not participate in the elections if constitutional amendments were not enacted. "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not mean the party will not compete in the 2015 elections – she was only talking about an idea," he said. "In principal, it would not be ideal to compete in the elections without amending the constitution. To be precise, the NLD is definitely going to run in the 2015 elections – that decision was not made at today's meeting; we made it much earlier. Now we are reiterating that we will definitely take part in the elections." The NLD spokesman also announced on Saturday that the party was recommending 168 amendments to the constitution in a letter to the parliamentary Joint-Committee for Amending the Constitution. Related Stories USDP discuss 'crucial clauses' of constitution 150 constitutional clauses should be amended, says NLD Suu Kyi told to put her feet up Central Executive Committee member Win Myint said, "There are 168 clauses we are looking to amend in 14 chapters of the constitution; nine amendments to the Chapter 1 (Basic Principles of the Union); 23 in Chapter 3 (Head of State); 18 in Chapter 4 (Legislature); 54 in Chapter 5 (Executive); 32 in Chapter 6 (Judiciary); two in Chapter 7 (Defence Services); three in Chapter 8 (Citizenship, Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens); 10 in Chapter 9 (Elections); three in Chapter 10 (Political Parties); four in Chapter 11 (State of Emergency); two in Chapter 12 (Amendments to the Constitution); one in Chapter 13 (State Flag, State Seal, National Anthem and the Capital); six in Chapter 14 (Transitory Provisions); and one in Chapter 15 (General Provisions)." Responding to a reporter's question on whether he thought the 2015 elections would be free or fair, Nyan Win said, "We do have doubts about the fairness of the elections, but there might be some freedom. People will be allowed to vote freely but whether their votes are treated fairly is something we are concerned about. "As at the [April 2013] by-elections, monitors and observers should be present and we should be able to collect data from them," said Nyan Win. "Since the formation of our [Constitution Amendment Committee], we have taken steps to ensure that ethnic-based political parties are included within our framework," he continued. "The difference between amending and completely rewriting the constitution is that – when weighing up which would be more practical to implement – we see that procedures to amend the constitution are already provided in Chapter 12. We have therefore decided to choose this option since there is already a legal framework in place." He said there was still no response on a previous request by the party to sit with the President, parliamentary speakers and the military commander-in-chief to discuss amending the constitution. Over the past few months the NLD has conducted public surveys across the country and declared that the majority of people they polled said they wished to see the constitution amended.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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The colourful lives of the Chin Posted: 28 Dec 2013 10:16 PM PST Associated Press photographer Gemunu Amarsinghe recently submitted a photo essay from Chin state where ancient traditions and a rich culture struggle to prevail against a history of religious conversion, Burmese chauvinism, military rule and economic misery.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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Burmese Academy Awards threatened by media boycott Posted: 28 Dec 2013 02:13 AM PST Media agencies in Burma have threatened to boycott this year's Academy Awards on 29 December unless they're provided the same access to the show as state-run media outlets. "If we are not allowed the same access to the event as the Ministry of Information, we have decided not to attend or cover it", said Myat Khine, chief editor of Snapshot News Journal. Several media groups said they were disappointed with the press procedures announced by the Myanmar Film Association on 21 December. "The Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise said at the press conference that only media personnel from the Ministry of Information will be allowed onto the arena", said Myat Khine. "Other journalists are not allowed down there, which we find very unfair – it's inappropriate to do something like this these days". However, the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise told DVB that all media personnel at the event will be allowed to report from media boxes and that no one will be granted access to the arena in front of the stage. Related Stories Burmese govt attacks Sun Rays journal Burma amends controversial publishing law Burma's lower house passes media bill "We have arranged for all the media personnel attending the event to cover it", said Thein Htun Aung of the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise. "But unlike past years, no one will be allowed in the arena, the area where the awards will take place – neither the state media nor the private media. Instead they can cover the event from the media boxes set up for the reporters." This year's Academy Awards will include all movies made in 2012. And as previous events, it will be hosted at the Thuwunna Stadium in Rangoon. But for many in Burma's media, the drama has already begun.

Burma Business Weekly Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:15 PM PST Ups and Downs The Burmese currency fell this week; in Rangoon the US dollar currently buys 985 kyat (4 kyat up from last week) and sells at 989 kyat (2 kyat up). Gold is up this week from 643,800 kyat per tical to 648,900. Fuel remains constant: petrol is at 820 kyat per litre, diesel 940 kyat, and octane 920 kyat. Good quality Pawsanhmwe rice sells in Rangoon markets this week for 1,200-1,300 kyat per basket while low-quality Emata rice is still at 859-900 kyat per basket. Burma files $1.2bn trade deficit Burma suffered a trade deficit of US$1.256 billion in the eight months to November of the fiscal year 2013-14, official media reported Saturday. During that period, foreign trade totaled $15.54 billion, of which the export amounted to $7.141 billion dollars and the import stood at $8.397 billion dollars, the Central Statistical Organization was quoted as saying by the New Light of Myanmar. Of the total export, border trade accounted for $2.012 billion. Private firms pump more petrol The Burmese authorities have granted green lights to the opening of 801 private fuel filling stations in the country this year. Altogether, 1,243 applicants have sought licenses for operating private gas stations since 2010, said the 7-Day News, adding that the remaining 442 applicants are under consideration for permission. Privately-owned gas stations have been allowed in Burma since June 2010, before which all gas stations were state run. Ooredoo contracts Nokia for 3G network Qatari telecoms firm Ooredoo has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to deploy its 3G network in Burma, which is due to be introduced in 2014. The two companies have signed a two-year agreement, which will see NSN construct a 3G radio access network on 900-MHz and 2,100-MHz bands. The deal reportedly includes network implementation, planning and optimisation, systems integration, and care services. Advertising in Burma hits new heights Advertising expenditure in Burma has increased this year to US$118 million, a fivefold leap from five years ago when it was just $24 million. By the end of this fiscal year, advertising is expected to hit $180 million, according to a report on 26 December by Channel News Asia. "The advertising scene is quickly changing with the creativity in foreign competition, which is in turn firing up the attempts of local companies in this fast-changing market," the report said, noting that renowned international brands like Coca-Cola and Unilever are the latest advertising game changers in Burma. Kaladan project scheduled to open in mid-2014 The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, jointly implemented by Burma and India, is expected to be completed by mid-2014, various media reports said on Thursday. The project is an Indian government initiative to connect Kolkata with Sittwe port in Burma by sea, then to Mizoram via river and road. The aim is to provide India with trade and transport links to its northeastern states, which are otherwise inaccessible overland via India's rugged mountainous region. According to the contractor Essar Company, the first of the three-phase project has been 70 percent completed, reported Xinhua. The first phase includes construction of Sittwe Deep Seaport and Paletwa Jetty in Chin state, dredging the Kaladan waterway and the construction of six vessels. The second phase covers construction of a 109 km-long road to link Paletwa with the Burma-India border region, and the third phase involves construction of a highway between India's Mizoram state and Chin state. The completion of a waterway and highway crossing Burma's Arakan and Chin states would help support better transport and trade between the regional countries, the report said. Burma and India signed the US$214 million contract in 2008. China still looks to Turkmenistan for natural gas China imported 1.73 million metric tons of natural gas via pipelines in 2013, up 8.2 percent on last year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs last week. Of that figure, natural gas from Burma still only accounts for 41,263 metric tons, following the opening of the Shwe gas pipeline earlier this year. Although China's gas imports from Turkmenistan fell 5.1 percent this year, the country was by far the largest supplier of natural gas to China with exports of 1.52 million metric tons. The Turkmen-Uzbek pipeline is operated by China's state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the same firm which has the main stake in the trans-Burma oil and gas pipeline project. Burma is 8th largest rice producer in the world China remains the largest producer of rice in the world with an annual turnover of some 143 million metric tons, followed by India on 99 million tons. Indonesia is third with 37 million tons, followed by Bangladesh (34 million tons), Vietnam (27 million), Thailand (20.5 million) and the Philippines (11 million tons). Burma is close behind with annual production estimated at 10.75 million tons, ahead of Brazil and Japan.   Related Stories Kaladan project scheduled for mid-2014 completion Foreign businessmen go homeless in Rangoon Business Weekly

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• In Burma, Facebook Is Increasingly Used for Social Activism
• Growing Grapes in the Golden Land
• As Car Market Expands, Japanese Models Rule

In Burma, Facebook Is Increasingly Used for Social Activism Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:14 PM PST In keeping with trends in other developing economies, future Internet use in Burma could be via mobile or smartphones, rather than laptops or PCs. (Photo: Simon Roughneen / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The immense popularity of Facebook in Burma has turned the social networking site into the default medium for most Burmese internet users, and with its growing popularity has also come an increased use of Facebook for social activism and charity fundraising. The power of this new development was on show in early November when Kyi Lin, a betel nut seller in Pegu town posted a photo on his Facebook page of 93-year-old independence fighter Thakin Hla Kyaing begging at Pegu Bridge. Soon after, local media and the Burma Veterans Organization contacted him to inquire about the case, while a campaign began on Facebook calling on people to donate money to Thakin Hla Kyaing. Within a few weeks, the veteran—who had reportedly joined the Burmese independence movement in the 1930s when he was 16 years old—received an outpouring of support. "I saw him on Pegu Bridge begging, I took a photo of him and interviewed him. Then I posted about him on Facebook," said Kyi Linn. "Later, lots of generous well-wishers came out after they saw the Facebook post and helped him. Now he has over 10,000,000 kyat [US $10,000]." "We bought a garden and are building a house for him from the donated money," he said. "I think now, a person's life has been completely changed by a Facebook post." Decades of international sanctions have left Burma with one of the most underdeveloped telecom and internet networks in the world. Internet penetration is among the lowest in Asia and is slowly creeping up. According to some estimates, the country could now have close to one million internet users, and among them Facebook is hugely popular and it is the dominant medium for using the internet. The social networking site therefore offers Burmese charity groups a good opportunity to reach out to the public and volunteer and youth-based organizations have increasingly taken to Facebook to raise funds and organize activities. Chan Nyein Phyu, a member of Myanmar Story Teller, an organization that promotes youth reading, said, "We use Facebook to organize annual donation activities and ask for donations. Our story teller groups do edutainment activities such as telling stories to children." Myanmar Story Teller is one of 20 organizations that are part of the Rangoon-based Youth Volunteer Network, which does volunteering and fundraising for victims of natural disasters and emergencies. Chan Nyein Phyu said the social media site also plays a key role in raising funds for the network's charity initiatives, adding that it managed to collect about $10,000 to help victims of the deadly 2011 floods in Pakoku town in Magwe Division. "A lot of people donated money after learning about our fundraising posts on Facebook, people from Mandalay and abroad donated to the Youth Volunteer Network when we organized help for the Pakoku flood victims," she said. Htaik Htaik Aung, of Myanmar ICT for Development Organization (MIDO), said Facebook is increasingly being used in Burma for social activism and charity work, public awareness campaigns and advocacy, adding that Burmese entrepreneurs use the social media site to market their brands. "Myanmar people use Facebook for social networking purposes, businesses have started to use it to promote their brand, and it also used for campaigning and advocacy [for social causes]," she said. MIDO holds seminars to help develop ICT skills in organizations in Burma in order to further development goals. It has also taken on the issue of freedom of expression and lobbies the government to lift restrictive laws. Htaik Htaik Aung said in MIDO's work Facebook also plays a central role. "We do advocacy and campaign using Facebook. When we have activities, we announce advertising or promotions on Facebook," she said. However, the popularity of the social networking site among Burmese internet users has also rendered it a powerful tool for political activities. During the past year, the dark side of its influence has been on display during the outbreaks of anti-Muslim violence which have affected numerous communities across Burma. Burmese Facebook users have frequently used the social network to vent their opinions about the inter-communal tensions between Burma's Buddhists and the Muslim minority, often taking extreme positions, using hate speech and further fanning conflict. Htaik Htaik Aung said these developments were a source of concern for MIDO, adding, "We are doing research on how online hate speech about the religious conflict affects the community offline." "There has been lots of propagandizing on Facebook pages by religious extremists. Some pages intend to attack individuals with hate speech. Most hate speech is done under an alias, so we can never track who actually is doing it," she said. The post In Burma, Facebook Is Increasingly Used for Social Activism appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Growing Grapes in the Golden Land Posted: 27 Dec 2013 07:30 PM PST In the early days of Bert Morsbach's winemaking venture in Myanmar, the land is plowed in traditional style. (Photo: Aythaya Winery) YANGON — It's half a world away, but there's something about Shan State that reminds Bert Morsbach of his native Germany, where the hills in winemaking regions undulate with vineyards. "Whenever I go through southern Germany, all the mountains are full of grapes," says the winemaker, who more than a decade ago trod uncharted terrain by establishing the first ever vineyard in Myanmar. "In Shan State, in our area, in 10 to 20 years it will look like this." With its humid climate, Myanmar has never been known as a wine country, and when Mr. Morsbach got the idea to set up a vineyard here, very little was known about tropical viticulture. Unlike Europe, Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries experience an annual monsoon season, leaving grape harvests vulnerable to pests and fungal diseases that thrive in humidity. "That's why there was no wine in Myanmar for the past 150 years," says Mr. Morsbach. "The British tried, as did the French—here, in Thailand and in China—but they all gave up because of the rain and the fungus attacks." Another issue was sunlight. Wine grapes typically fare best with long days, but while the summer sun sets at about 9-10 pm in parts of Europe, Myanmar's daylight hours end at about 6-7 pm throughout the year. But these problems did not faze Mr. Morsbach. Originally from Dusseldorf in Germany's west, he had already pioneered other ventures in Asia—including a windsurfing company in Thailand and an organic basmati rice business in Myanmar in the 1990s. The latter venture enjoyed solid exports but was taken away by the former military regime, so he decided to branch out again. "I thought, if the country has 150 sunny days, it must be possible to grow wine," he says. And he was right. His winery, about 25 km north of the famous Inle Lake, produces an international-standard brand of reds, whites and rosés known as Aythaya that can be found in local stores and restaurants. With a successful harvest in 2004, it became Myanmar's first winery and remains one of only a handful of wine producers in the country today. Far from the European vineyards of France, Germany, Italy and Portugal—and from the New World growers of Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand and the United States—Aythaya has allowed Myanmar to join a list of so-called "new latitude" wine countries, including Brazil, India, China and Thailand, that fall outside the traditional wine-producing heartlands. But jumpstarting production in Shan State wasn't easy. The first trick was finding grapes that could withstand the climate. Nearly all of Europe's classic wine grapes—including merlot, pinot noir and chardonnay—grew poorly in Myanmar. Mr. Morsbach had studied as a mining engineer in Germany and lacked formal training in winemaking, but with help from some of the world's few tropical viticulturists, he set out to find a selection of suitable grapes. Of about 100 varieties tested over five years, half a dozen survived. Among the lucky reds were shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo from Spain and dornfelder from Germany, while the winning whites were sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc. In 1998 he established a winery in Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, but after importing thousands of vines from Europe, he was forced to relocate due to fighting between ethnic rebels and the government. "I had to give up because my safety was not guaranteed anymore by the local Kayah State authorities," he says. He had grown rice in neighboring Shan State and knew the region offered a major perk: less rain, with about a third of Yangon's annual rainfall. A high elevation with cooler weather would also be ideal for growing grapes, so the winery was moved near the southern Shan State town of Aythaya, at an elevation of more than 1,200 meters. Mistakes were common in the early days. "We were throwing away our wine for two or three years," says Mr. Morsbach, recalling the unsuccessful harvests. Slowly, however, the project came together. About half the grapes were grown at the winery, while more than 1,000 farmers in the central Myanmar area of Meikhtila were contracted to grow the rest, as they had already been harvesting table grapes, which have a lower sugar content. From 20,000 bottles in 2004, the winery—known as the Myanmar 1st Vineyard Estate—produced 120,000 bottles in 2012. While some bottles are exported to China, most customers are local. Foreign tourists dominated sales initially, but Myanmar diners have quickly acquired a taste for wine and now make up the majority of the Aythaya market. Mr. Morsbach's brand could see a boost in sales after the Myanmar government recently cracked down on the sale of illegally imported foreign alcohol and wines. Over the past month it has become difficult to find foreign wines in Yangon grocery stores, but it was once possible to pick up a bottle from Italy, France, Australia or the United States for slightly less than the cost of Aythaya, which runs for between 8,000 kyat (US $8.30) and 14,000 kyat per bottle. The higher price was partly due to the production costs for a relatively low yield. The slight splurge may be worth it. Aythaya has received a number of positive reviews, with one Thailand-based critic praising the 2004 sauvignon blanc as a wine that "should worry France." Tourists can taste and decide for themselves at the vineyard, which offers guest rooms and a restaurant, while planning is underway to build a second winery next year in Meikhtila, which, with its central location, serves as a crossing point for travelers. Despite Mr. Morsbach's lead, winemaking has yet to take off in a big way in the Golden Land, which so far has just one other locally produced and international-standard wine, Red Mountain Estate. Still, some smaller wineries are reportedly springing up, and the German entrepreneur heartily welcomes more. "In Germany we have 20,000 winemakers," he says. "We can do here with two, three or four." A version of this story first appeared in the December 2013 print issue of The Irrawaddy magazine. The original has been edited slightly here to reflect recent changes in the government's policy on imported foreign wine. The post Growing Grapes in the Golden Land appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

As Car Market Expands, Japanese Models Rule Posted: 27 Dec 2013 07:20 PM PST Traffic jams in Yangon are becoming a major downside of the rapidly expanding car market. (Photo: Reuters) YANGON — Like most residents of Myanmar's largest city, U Myint Maung never imagined that he would one day be able to buy a car of his own. Now, however, the 63-year-old retired government official is the proud owner of a used Toyota Belta—a vehicle that not so long ago would have been far beyond his means. Until very recently, Myanmar was probably one of the most expensive countries in the world to purchase a car. Under the former military regime, import restrictions sent prices sky high, making it impossible for all but the well-connected to buy high-end vehicles or even relatively new used models. That all changed in 2011, when the current quasi-civilian government took power and started steadily opening up the country's economy. Since then, the Ministry of Transport has changed the rules for importing cars eight times, starting with a scheme that allowed owners of decades-old clunkers to replace them with newer models. That first step toward liberalizing the domestic automobile market saw the import of more than 100,000 cars, mostly from Japan and South Korea. Then, in 2012, the government announced that anyone with a foreign savings account could import cars. Soon car showrooms were placing more orders for vehicles from Japan. According to Daw Mar Lar, the director of the Best Auto car showroom in Yangon, small used cars with 1.3-liter engines from Japan are especially popular because they're reasonably priced and generally in good condition. Another plus, she said, is that it's easy to find spare parts. Dealers say that over the past two years, used cars from Japan—which can be shipped to Yangon from any major port in Japan within about three weeks of receiving payment—have made up about 95 percent of sales in a rapidly expanding market. "Nissan vans, Suzukis, the Toyota Probox, the Honda Fit, the Honda Vitz and the Nissan March are now in strong demand in my showroom," said Daw Mar Lar. "Most of these models sell for around 10 million kyat (US $10,340)." "Demand has increased a lot, because in the past, such imported cars would have cost several times as much as they do now," she added. Import licenses can be issued by several different ministries, including the ministries of transport, commerce and customs, and must specify the age and make of the vehicle to be imported. Several Toyota models, including the Harrier, Mark II, Mark X, Hilux Surf, Probox, Belta and Landcruiser, are among the most popular. Growing demand for cars has also brought increasing competition among car dealers. In Yangon, more than 200 showrooms have opened since 2011. Each one is required to deposit $100,000 with the government and provide a surety of 300 million kyat ($310,000), plus pay an annual fee of $900 to the government, said the owner of one showroom. These expenses mean that many dealers still prefer to operate out of one of three major trading centers that dominated Yangon's car market until 2011. According to Ko Tun Myat, a broker at the St. John's trading center in Lanmadaw Township, cars sold here typically cost about 500,000 kyat ($517) less than the same models on sale in showrooms. On the other hand, he said, his customers must get a license plate within 20 days of making a purchase, whereas those who buy from showrooms have up to a year before they have to replace their dealer plates. "But in the end, it all depends on what the customer wants," he said. "If someone likes a car they see here, they'll buy it. But if they can get what they're looking for at a reasonable price from a showroom, they'll buy it there." A bigger worry, he said, is that prices overall are falling—something that he hopes will change next year, when the government is expected to allow the import of 2009 models. Although Japanese cars have a clear lead in the race to capitalize on Myanmar's car craze, other country's carmakers are also hoping to position themselves for future growth in one of the world's last large frontier markets. US automaker Ford and Mercedes Benz from Germany already have a presence here, and are soon to be joined by Jaguar Land Rover, a British brand now owned by India's Tata Motors. But it could be Japan's nearest neighbor, South Korea, that offers the stiffest challenge to Japanese preeminence. Hyundai Motors, which opened its first showroom in August and has plans to open 14 dealerships across the country by 2018, said it hopes to capitalize on the popularity of South Korean pop culture in Myanmar to expand its market share in the country. "Young people in Myanmar who watch Korean dramas visit our showroom and look for cars that were shown in the dramas," said Oh Sei-young, the chief executive of Kolao Holdings, the sole dealer for Hyundai in Myanmar, according to a report by Reuters. "Hyundai is really keen on the Myanmar market." For now, however, Japanese cars look set to rule the roost for the foreseeable future. "Japanese used cars will continue to be most people's number one choice because they really meet their needs," said U Thura Kyaw, a customer service agent at the Diamond Auto showroom, citing the good value for money of Japanese cars and the ease of finding replacement parts. At any rate, with import barriers steadily being lowered, all that remains for Myanmar's car market to really take off is the introduction of a system of credit that puts car ownership within reach of more consumers. So far, however, only a few showrooms offer installment plans—most requiring a 30 percent down payment and full payment within 15 months. "If we could get long-term installment plans to buy cars in the future, everyone would be able to own a car, just like in neighboring countries," said retiree and first-time car owner U Myint Maung. The post As Car Market Expands, Japanese Models Rule appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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• To Hopeland and Back (Part VI)
• To Hopeland and Back (Part VI)
• To Hopeland and Back (Part VI)

To Hopeland and Back (Part VI) Posted: 27 Dec 2013 09:32 PM PST Saturday, 28 December 2013 09:00 S.H.A.N.   Day Five, Monday 16 December 2013 Today, apart from our continued discussions on the New BNI structure and functions, we were visited by two guests, who certainly wouldn't want to jeopardize their newly gained cordial relationship with the Burmese authorities by getting their identities revealed by me. Their reports to the meeting, I think, are quite illuminating. Here are the excerpts: The country's leadership is undergoing a cultural shock process between time honored practice of unquestioned obedience to authority and the emerging new culture of obedience only after one's questions are satisfactorily addressed. ("I saw a  boss, who clearly was an ex-army officer, was hotly cut down to size by a young trainee") One of the problems our newly independent young journalists and activists are facing is that they know very little about what had happened since 1988, let alone before it. When we talk about millions of IDPs, refugees and migrants and countless rights abuses against them, they are dumbfounded. They will need a lot of guidance from those who are in the know. Another surprising revelation was that trainings are being conducted in Thailand again, after a period of moving inside the country. "Before, it was because of security we ran our trainings outside Burma. Now it's the cost. Organizing trainings inside has proved to be more expensive than organizing them outside."

To Hopeland and Back (Part VI) Posted: 27 Dec 2013 09:29 PM PST Friday, 27 December 2013 09:00 S.H.A.N. Day Four, Sunday, 15 December 2013 Nothing much to report except for one thing.  When I opened the door of our meeting room to look for my shoes (prized at 3,000 baht or $ 100 but purchased at half the price during the New Year's clearance soles), I found they had disappeared. And I wasn't alone either. All participants with new footwears also found them missing. 6 of BNI members' Logos: Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA), Katarawaddy Times (KT), Karen Information Center (KIC) Karenni, Khonumthung News (KN) Chin, Mizzima News and Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) After a few grumbles, I succeeded in calming myself down. Well, in a city where a worker's salary is K 100,000 ($ 100) or less, that is bound to happen, I told myself. Luckily, I received a pair of old shoes from the BNI secretary which fit me. And I returned to my room much chastened. Interestingly, it coincided with reports of soaring rents in Rangoon. When I asked what the reason was, an informed source replied, "Some people are in a hurry to whitewash their black money." And why isn't the government doing something about it? "Because it'll stir a nest of hornets that can spiral out of control. It already has more than enough problems to address."

To Hopeland and Back (Part VI) Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:53 PM PST Thursday, 26 December 2013 09:00 S.H.A.N. Day Three, Saturday, 14 December 2013 Today we discussed the BNI's new vision (what we want it to be) and mission (what we want it to do). As to be expected, instead of going straight to the point, the process went a roundabout way, that is, by answering questions: How has BNI benefited each group? What does each group wants the BNI to do? We also debated whether or not we should continue to use the word "ethnic" to represent the non Burmans or turn to "indigenous" instead. "We were told ethnic Burmans and Chinese should also be counted as ethnicities," said one. "But we don't want that, do we?" But later, after failure to agree upon a better word, all went back to "ethnic", although nobody seems to like it much either. 6 of BNI members' Logos: Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA), Katarawaddy Times (KT), Karen Information Center (KIC) Karenni, Khonumthung News (KN) Chin, Mizzima News and Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) Finally, the following vision and mission were spelt out: Vision The emergence of a broad and independent ethnic media network in support of the development of a federal democracy that is peaceful and just Mission The ethnic media network will focus on the following tasks: Capacity building for member organizations Advocacy for press freedom and ethnic rights Networking both at home and abroad Of course, there are further debates about membership and the new BNI structure which I don't want to bore the readers. Suffice it to say the day ended with all of the participants being friends again.

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