The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- Analysts Predict FDI Slump During Year of Transition
- Mon State Elects Parliament’s First Female Speaker
- Successful Bidder for Rangoon Traffic Project Still Unknown
- Scot Marciel: ‘There’s a Lot at Stake, Certainly’
- Court Rules Out Bail for Detained Former Monk U Gambira
- Thein Sein Honors Army and Cabinet With Excellence Awards
- Union Parliament Approves Joint Bill Committee
- Updated: Five Dead as Military Plane Crashes in Naypyidaw
- Yangon Heritage Trust’s Conservation Efforts Honored
- The Farmers Beyond Burma’s Concrete Capital
- UN: S. Lanka War Crimes Investigation Must Be Impartial
- US Intel Warns of Expansion of Terror Groups in Bangladesh
- Hong Kong Activists, Police Clash over Holiday Food Stalls
| Analysts Predict FDI Slump During Year of Transition Posted: 10 Feb 2016 05:29 AM PST  Workers are transported via truck to the site of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project at Thilawa, May 8, 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — Burma's foreign direct investment (FDI) flow is expected to be sluggish this year as the country undergoes a period of political transition, experts say. Many of Burma's main investors are focusing their attention on other countries in the region, particularly Singapore, according to Aung Naing Oo, secretary of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC). "Many investors have settled in Singapore because they already have branches set up there. That's why even if they're from the US or EU, they only reach Burma through Singapore," Aung Naing Oo said. However, perhaps a larger problem is the protracted transition of power in the country following last year's general election which saw the National League for Democracy claim an overwhelming majority. According to Aye Lwin, joint secretary of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, despite Burma heading down a more democratic path, investors are still taking a wait-and-see approach. "If political leaders don't follow the rule of law here, investors won't come. That's why they [investors] are waiting to see what they will do," Aye Lwin said. He added that the new government should work to bring more clarity to rules and regulations for investors and that local manufacturers, for their part, ought to look ahead to developing strategies to cooperate with foreign investors. "Still," Aye Lwin said, "these FDI figures are only estimated commitments. They're not actual money coming into the country at the moment. So, we also have to wait and see." Currently, the top foreign investment sectors in Burma are power (33 percent), manufacturing (22 percent), oil and gas (20 percent), telecommunications (11 percent), and hotels and tourism (5 percent), according to MIC data. Last fiscal year, FDI reached a record $8 billion, double the country's 2013-14 total. Singapore was the leading foreign investor, inputting nearly US$3 billion from April 1 to December 31, 2015. China was second with $670 million for the same period, according to official figures. The post Analysts Predict FDI Slump During Year of Transition appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Mon State Elects Parliament’s First Female Speaker Posted: 10 Feb 2016 04:46 AM PST  Tin Ei, an NLD MP from Thanbyuzayat Township and speaker of the Mon State parliament. (Photo: Daw Tin Ei / Facebook) RANGOON — Tin Ei, an MP from Thanbyuzayat constituency in Mon State, has become the first female speaker of one of Burma's regional parliaments. Burma's 14 state and division legislatures elected speakers and deputy speakers on Monday, with lawmakers from the National League for Democracy (NLD) assuming the posts in all but two parliaments—Arakan and Shan states. Tin Ei, a vibrant 70-year-old, said she learned on Sunday that she would be nominated as the speaker of the Mon State parliament. The selection of the position was finalized on February 8, the first day of meetings for state and division parliaments. While Tin Ei was not aware that she would be the only woman across the country heading a regional legislature at the time of her interview with The Irrawaddy, she expressed pride in being able to represent the women of Mon State. "I will have to try hard to be equal," she said, acknowledging the extra responsibility attached to the role. "I will also be able to do more on women's affairs." An NLD veteran since 1988, Tin Ei's first parliamentary campaign was contesting the 1990 election, but she lost to a candidate from the Mon National Democratic Front. Now a lawyer with 35 years experience practicing law in Mon State, Tin Ei hopes to bring about legal sector reform through the regional parliament. She is currently reviewing the laws enacted by the state's previous legislature and assessing why others did not pass. This term, she hopes to put forward legal measures that will encourage "peace of mind and less worry for the public." "Law is not for the ruler—the laws must be able to make the public comfortable and protect their bodies and their lives," she said. Min Min Oo, representing the NLD for Belin constituency, will serve as deputy speaker of the Mon State Parliament which will feature six female lawmakers, all from the NLD. Nyan Hein, a lower house MP also from Thanbyuzayat Township, has known Tin Ei for over 50 years, and served with her on the executive committee of the NLD in their hometown after the 1988 student uprising. "Tin Ei is the kind of person who has persistently worked for democracy," he said. Tin Ei sees the new government as an opportunity to challenge old political beliefs and practices at all levels. "Changes need to be made in the system, the administrators and in the public mindset. We have to change our mindset, and live in accordance with a democratic system," she explained. A native of Thanbyuzayat, Tin Ei moved to the Mon State capital of Moulmein on Tuesday to fully devote herself to parliamentary work for the next five years. As a mother of six grown children, she said her political aspirations had always garnered the support of her family, including her late husband. "I want to work effectively for the public, and I think I will be more effective through parliament," she said, adding that she hopes to "bring dignity" to her tenure in the Mon State legislature. Nyan Hein agreed. "She can do this more effectively than someone who does not know about this kind of work," he said. The post Mon State Elects Parliament's First Female Speaker appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Successful Bidder for Rangoon Traffic Project Still Unknown Posted: 10 Feb 2016 04:33 AM PST  VANGUARD company's directors (from left) Thein Naing, Sai Win and Htun Zaw Win at a press conference in Rangoon on Tuesday. (Photo: Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — While an evaluation committee has finished its selection process, it has yet to announce the successful tender to lead a traffic control project in Rangoon, said Thein Aung, director of engineering company VANGUARD, at a press conference on Tuesday. The government put out a call for bidders to lead a traffic control project on July 24, 2015. Aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Rangoon, the project is slated to involve acquiring real-time traffic information, a red light violation detection mechanism, and the installation of CCTV cameras as well as a video analysis system at every traffic point. The government estimates that the project will cost up to 20 billion kyats (over US$16 million). On December 23, 2015, Rangoon Division Chief Minister Myint Swe announced the names of the four finalists to committee members. Yet two months later, Tuesday's press conference offered no new insight into who has actually been selected for tender. "If they make their decision based on the quality of the projects proposed, they should be transparent so that unsuccessful bidders can know their weak points and learn for next time. As of right now, we don't know why we might have lost," said Thein Aung of VANGUARD, one of the firms vying for the project. A local newspaper reported on January 3 that China Railway Construction Company (CRCC) and Myanmar Shwe Yin Company had been selected as tender co-winners, citing Rangoon Division Forest and Energy Minister Kyaw Soe as a source. But Aung Naing Oo, director of Kyaw Thein Khaing Company, which did not reach the final stage of the competition, took umbrage at the claim, saying that CRCC and Myanmar Shwe Yin were initially two separate companies that supposedly merged into one. This, he said, would disqualify them from participating in the competition, the rules for which stipulate that each entrant is allowed to apply for tender only as a single company. "We want to know how they scored the bidders," said Aung Naing Oo. VANGUARD has said that it has penned several objection letters to Rangoon's municipal engineering department, asking for a return of the tender security deposit—valued at 500 million kyats—but was told by the department that it does not know the selection results. The Irrawaddy was unable to reach the two vice chairmen of the tender selection committee for comment at time of publication. Than Win, a visiting deputy professor at Rangoon Technology College as well as a member of the committee, confirmed that he was also unaware of the successful bidder. VANGUARD estimated that a new traffic control building could solve between 30 and 40 percent of Rangoon's traffic congestion. The chosen developer will have six months to complete the project, which is to be located in People's Park in Dagon Township. The post Successful Bidder for Rangoon Traffic Project Still Unknown appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Scot Marciel: ‘There’s a Lot at Stake, Certainly’ Posted: 10 Feb 2016 02:57 AM PST  US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scot Marciel smiles during a meeting with Ouch Borith, secretary of state at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, in Phnom Penh, November 4, 2013. (Photo: Samrang Pring / The Irrawaddy) With the news that the United States Senate on Tuesday voted to unanimously endorse Scot Marciel, presently serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to be ambassador to Burma, The Irrawaddy revisits an interview with Marciel from February last year during his visit to the country. The United States ended a decades-long era of isolation toward Burma when it restored full diplomatic relations about three years ago. Since that time, an ambassador was appointed for the first time since 1990, long-standing economic sanctions were eased and legislation has been amended to allow for more humanitarian aid and limited military engagement. A central figure in implementing those policies, Scot Marciel serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in Washington, DC, a position he began in 2013 after three years as the US Ambassador to Indonesia. During a recent visit to Burma, Marciel spoke with The Irrawaddy about the state of relations between the White House and Naypyidaw, and the future of US-Burma policy. Please tell us a bit about your trip, what you did and where you went. I'm responsible for Southeast Asia at the State Department. So I travel a lot to the region, regularly, all of the countries in Southeast Asia, just to see what's going on, because I work on the policy back at home. We were up in Naypyidaw on Wednesday, mostly meeting government officials and parliamentarians. Then we went out to Shan State. For me it's useful—you know, usually it's just Yangon [Rangoon] and Naypyidaw—it's useful just to get out. It's like going to Washington and thinking that you know the United States. So it's useful to get out and see a place. And the ambassador wanted to get out and look at a couple of projects, USAID [United States Agency for International Development]projects. We were in Taunggyi, and [some areas] outside of Taunggyi. You served as the US ambassador to Indonesia from 2010 to 2013. How has that informed your long-term vision for Burma? Well, first, they're obviously very different places. There are a few parallels that we're thinking about, for example, the democratic transformation, the movement of the military out of politics, dealing with separatism. I wouldn't read too much into it. I wouldn't say, therefore, do exactly what Indonesia did. You can see some things that worked and some things that didn't. Some Burma policy analysts have been critical of the United States' early lifting of sanctions. Has the removal of sanctions been successful? The way we look at it from the administration point of view is that we know what this place was like from 1962 on, for 60 years. When there was an opening, an opportunity for this country to move in a better direction, we thought it was important to do all that we could to encourage that. That's been our policy from day one. In a response to positive developments here—significant positive developments here—we waived a number of the sanctions, which I think was absolutely the right thing to do. In light of Burma's stalled peace process, recent allegations against the Burma Army and a series of attacks on ethnic minority rebels, particularly in Kachin State, how does the United States counter the argument that military-to-military engagement is premature and perhaps even dangerous? Well, I would say two things: First, the peace process is obviously critically important to the success of this country and something that we very much support. So we've continually urged the government and all the players to, even when you have incidents, to look into those incidents and investigate them, and try to prevent them from happening. But also to keep the talks going. On the mil-to-mil side, the truth is there's very little happening in the US military relationship with Myanmar [Burma]. There seems to be some perception that there's a lot, but there's a very minimal amount happening, and whatever is happening is designed to try to encourage reform within the military, to help the Burmese military become more appropriate for a democratic country. I know it's very early in the engagement, but is there any sign of progress on that front? I don't know, to be perfectly honest. I think the way I would put it is that it's going to be driven mostly by what happens internally. We think that a certain amount of engagement, the right type of engagement—like courses on civilian control of the military and international rules on human rights—can play a helpful role as part of a larger process of encouraging reform within the military. I wouldn't exaggerate it, I wouldn't say that a few courses suddenly brings about a dramatic transformation; it's meant to contribute. But the main point is that it's a very small amount that's going on, it's not a significant mil-to-mil relationship. There was an incident in northern Shan State a few weeks ago [in reference to the deaths and possible rape of two young women in an area reportedly occupied by the Burma Army, into which a government-led investigation is still ongoing]. A military-owned newspaper said the Army was not involved and that anybody who claimed otherwise [following the investigation] could face legal action. Could you comment on that? Sure. First of all, whether here or elsewhere, impunity is not a good thing and accountability is essential. That's a message we push in the region in general, and certainly here. In terms of this particular horrific attack, we have called [for] and stressed the importance of a credible, transparent investigation that results in justice. We have done that as recently as Wednesday with the government in Naypyidaw. It's important, and it's important not because America is asking for it, but because it's the right thing to do. But also, it's essential for beginning to build some trust. It's part of the peace process, it's part of the effort of moving forward. You've got to have trust, and to do that you've got to have some sense of accountability and justice. When you have these discussions with the government about credible investigations, how are they responding? I don't want to speak on behalf of the government, but I think the people we spoke with certainly indicated that they recognize that. I won't make any predictions about what will happen, but they certainly listened and took the point. Moving back to the region more generally, in light of Thailand's continuation of martial law, what role do you expect Burma to play as an American partner in Southeast Asia over the coming years? Whatever happens in Thailand—and we hope, certainly, that Thailand moves back to democracy as quickly as possible—but either way our hope is that we can build a good, solid partnership with this country. Working together on health and economics and regional issues, you name it. That said, what is at stake in the upcoming elections? What happens if they aren't held in 2015, for instance? There's a lot at stake, certainly, for the country. This process of reform over the last few years has created a tremendous opportunity, but there's no question that there's a huge amount of work still to do. The elections won't finish that work, but I think credible elections, credible to the people of the country, are essential to begin building more trust and to give people throughout the country a sense that their voice counts, and gives them some faith in the process moving forward. So these elections are absolutely critical. There is no question that successful, credible elections, we would welcome, and would certainly make it easier for us to continue to build a relationship. President Obama stressed the importance of timely elections, which seems to have become more of a priority than constitutional reform. Where does this fall in the list of priorities at this time? First, I think we try to look at what the people of this country are asking for. [You could] argue that, as you build a democracy, it's important to have a constitution that's appropriate for a democracy. The president spoke to that. At this point elections look like they're going to happen in November, maybe late October, so it's critical to make those as successful as possible. So we're not choosing between the two. I think what we see is elections with a pretty clear schedule, and it's very important that those happen. Constitutional reform is on a different track. I don't know when amendments may or may not be passed, before or after elections. How is the US prepared to adjust its Burma policy in the event that the government doesn't fulfill those promises of timely and fair elections, or if the military asserts more dominance over the government? It's really hard to answer that because there are a million different scenarios. As Burma moves forward, has successful elections, continues reform, moves on the peace process, all those sorts of things, that absolutely makes it easier for us to build on our relationship. To the extent that those things don't happen, it makes it harder. Again, it's hard to know because there are so many scenarios that could happen. I wouldn't want to make a specific prediction. Just one last question for you, Mr. Marciel. How would you characterize the policy views of Congress and the White House; do they share the same vision and benchmarks of success, or are they at odds? The points I'm making are the administration's position, and certainly reflect the White House's views. Congress consists of a lot of different people, so there's not a uniform view. I spent a lot of time talking to, particularly, staff in Congress, and I hear a lot of those views, as I know the ambassador does. So what I would say is that there's a huge amount of interest in Congress, a lot of people hoping that things will head in a positive way. I think generally there has been support for our policy since the reforms began. There's a lot of difference on the tactics, and how to respond to specific incidents, certainly, some differing views about how things are going, but I think a lot of interest overall in the success of the country. The post Scot Marciel: 'There's a Lot at Stake, Certainly' appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Court Rules Out Bail for Detained Former Monk U Gambira Posted: 10 Feb 2016 02:50 AM PST  Detained former monk Gambira at Mandalay's Maha Aung Myay Township Court on Wednesday. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY ——A court in Mandalay's Maha Aung Myay Township denied bail on Wednesday to detained former monk U Gambira, a prominent figure in Burma's 2007 Saffron Revolution. Gambira, also known as Nyi Nyi Lwin, was arrested on Jan. 19 in a Mandalay hotel and is facing charges of violating immigration laws. He is being held in Mandalay's Obo Prison. Known to suffer from mental health issues, Gambira's family and lawyers had asked that he be released to receive necessary medical treatment. "Since we have information that Nyi Nyi Lwin is receiving the required medicine and medical care regularly inside the prison, and there's no remark from prison doctors regarding immediate medical care, I have to refuse bail according to the law," said the presiding judge, Than Win, in court on Wednesday. Despite the court's rejection, Gambira's legal team said they would make another submission for bail at the next court hearing, scheduled for February 16. "I'm sad that the court denied bail and has mistakenly sued me and detained me. I will try again for bail," Gambira said after Wednesday's hearing, during which the court heard testimony from immigration officer Thaung Dan. "We found that Nyi Nyi Lwin went to Thailand over the border illegally since October 2013," said Thaung Dan. However, when questioned by the defense, the officer said he was unaware that the accused held a non-Thai identification card issued to migrant workers in Thailand. The defense team submitted evidence including travel documents, identification and border passes in court on Wednesday. Gambira's legal representatives said the immigration officer's claims were not sufficient to base a case on. "Since the officer said he didn't know Nyi Nyi Lwin was living in Thailand and crossing the border legally, it is very supportive for the case. Let's see what will happen at the next court hearing after questioning other witnesses," said lawyer Robert San Aung. The post Court Rules Out Bail for Detained Former Monk U Gambira appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Thein Sein Honors Army and Cabinet With Excellence Awards Posted: 10 Feb 2016 02:10 AM PST  Thein Sein presents a President's Excellent Performance Award to Burma Army Chief Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw on February 9, 2016. (Photo: J Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma's outgoing President Thein Sein has awarded a final round of honors to his cabinet members and the country's army chief in Naypyidaw on Tuesday for their work over the last five years. At the ceremony for the 2016 President's Excellent Performance Awards, Thein Sein conferred honors on 33 organizations, 32 of which went to high-ranking government and military officials. He said that those who have been involved in the "successful realization" of the government's reform process were selected for awards. "Our government's term will expire soon, but the achievements over the past five years require us to keep working to reach a stage where they are durable," he said. Burma Army Chief Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, two vice presidents, the president's spokesperson Ye Htut, Union Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other government officials were among the awardees. Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing received the honor designated to a group which strives to ensure state defense, security, peace and stability. Vice President Sai Mauk Kham's award was in recognition of his efforts to upgrade the Yangon General Hospital and for promoting health care services. For the successful organization of the Southeast Asia Games, Vice President Nyan Tun also received an award. Aung Min, of the President's office and the Myanmar Peace Center, received recognition for his involvement in the peace process, while Information Minister and Presidential spokesperson Ye Htut was awarded for the "transformation" of Myanmar TV (MRTV) and state newspapers. Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Myint Hlaing, Minister of the President's Office and chairman of the Naypyidaw Council Thein Nyunt and Irrawaddy Division Chief Minister Thein Aung also received honors for development work. Only one award went to a non-governmental organization, the Yangon Heritage Trust, for their efforts to preserve century-old heritage buildings in Burma's former capital, Rangoon. This year, the presidential awards ceremony was mocked by many on social media who viewed it as an act of self congratulation before Burma's current leadership makes way for a new government next month. The excellence awards have been presented annually since 2012. In previous years, over 480 people in total were selected for the honor, including 21 Buddhist monks. The post Thein Sein Honors Army and Cabinet With Excellence Awards appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Union Parliament Approves Joint Bill Committee Posted: 10 Feb 2016 12:33 AM PST  National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi talks to journalists during her meeting with the media in her office at the Parliament in Naypyidaw, Feb. 3, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) The Union Parliament on Wednesday approved a joint bill committee—consisting of members drawn from both parliamentary houses—to scrutinize bills before a Union-level vote. According to Upper House Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Deputy Speaker Aye Thar Aung will lead the 15-member committee. The other 14 members were drawn equally from the Upper and Lower House bill committees formed last week. Members will be tasked with determining if a piece of legislation should be amended before it is brought to a vote in the Union Parliament. The committee also includes ethnic minority lawmakers from Arakan, Chin, Kachin, Mon and Shan constituencies, as well as a military nominee, Brig-Gen Maung Maung of the Lower House. The new Parliament, dominated by lawmakers from the National League for Democracy, opened last week. Several important standing committees have since been formed, including the Draft Bill Committee and the Public Accounts Committee in both houses. Members of the Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission have also been selected, with former Union Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann chosen to head the body. Next on the Union Parliament's agenda is the approval of recently formed Union-level committees, expected to occur later this week. The post Union Parliament Approves Joint Bill Committee appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Updated: Five Dead as Military Plane Crashes in Naypyidaw Posted: 10 Feb 2016 12:33 AM PST Click to view slideshow. RANGOON — A Beechcraft airplane from Burma’s air force crashed near Naypyidaw International Airport at around 10 am on Wednesday. According to a Ministry of Information report, one major, two captains and two lieutenant corporals were on board. All five were confirmed as deceased on Wednesday afternoon. Lt-Coporal Hla Win Tun, who initially survived the crash, succumbed to his injuries at around noon, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief. It is the second known air force crash in recent years. In 2014, a MiG-29 fighter jet from Magwe Air Force Headquarters went down during flight practice, damaging the jet, but causing no casualties. The pilots, Colonel Hlaing Myint and Major Kyaw Zin Thant, survived the incident by ejecting themselves from the aircraft. This article was updated on Wednesday afternoon to reflect the fact that a fifth person was confirmed deceased. The post Updated: Five Dead as Military Plane Crashes in Naypyidaw appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Yangon Heritage Trust’s Conservation Efforts Honored Posted: 10 Feb 2016 12:00 AM PST  Thant Myint-U receives the President's Excellent Performance Award from outing president Thein Sein, February 10, 2016. (Photo: J. Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A heritage conservation group has been honored with a presidential award for their efforts to preserve century-old buildings in Rangoon, Burma's former capital. The Yangon Heritage Trust was honored with the 2016 President's Excellent Performance Award along with 32 other groups "for striving to develop the country's economy and the socio-economic life of the people," outgoing president Thein Sein said on Tuesday. YHT was the only NGO among the awardees. The other recipients were government-affiliated groups led by vice presidents, army chiefs, union ministers and high-level government officials, whose activities ranged from successful collection of a nationwide census to the organization of the Southeast Asian Games and November's general election. "This year, organizations that have made great strides in the successful realization of the government's sweeping reform process are set to be rewarded. That's why excellent performance awards were presented to organizations for contributing to progress made over the past five years," President Thein Sein said during the awards ceremony in Naypyidaw. YHT founder Thant Myint-U told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that he thought the award shows have managed to raise the profile of conservation and urban planning in Rangoon, as "very few people were talking about [Rangoon] heritage protection even three to four years ago. Now, the issues are more well-known and recognized as important." "We've had success, and I'm grateful to supporters both inside and outside government. YHT's board and staff have worked very hard these past few years. But we still have a long way to go," he said. Founded in 2012 to preserve Rangoon's unique architectural legacy, YHT was also praised by Thein Sein in 2013 for the group's preservation efforts. Since then, YHT has intervened to stop the demolition of pre-1960 buildings in the downtown area and campaigned to stop other new developments that might affect the city's historic character. At the request of the government, YHT drafted a law on urban conservation in 2013 that would help protect the city's heritage. The presidential award came at a time when Rangoon is facing unwieldy urban development, which has prompted calls from observers to rein in urbanization projects that have gotten out of hand and to address the city's lack of "systematic urban planning controls." To enforce such controls, experts have urged the president to enact the Myanmar National Building Code and Zoning Plan to ensure building safety and to regulate proper restrictions on land use and building heights for development. Both laws have existed in draft form for more than two years, likely left for the incoming government to tackle. Thant Myint-U said the next few years will be critical and that urban planning in Rangoon is one of the top issues facing the new administration. "What we need to do now is make a convincing case, especially an economic case, for why heritage protection must be a big part of future urban planning," he said. The post Yangon Heritage Trust's Conservation Efforts Honored appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| The Farmers Beyond Burma’s Concrete Capital Posted: 09 Feb 2016 11:00 PM PST Click to view slideshow. NAYPYIDAW — Only a few minutes' drive from the wide boulevards of Burma's capital, the concrete turns to farmland. When the rains come, farmers begin to plant rice in their fields. After the harvest, other crops are grown, such as pulses and beans. When The Irrawaddy visited the area this month, farmers were plowing their fields with water buffalo and preparing the ground for another round of rice growing. With the country's national Parliament just a few miles away, most of those who spoke with The Irrawaddy were keeping abreast of political affairs as a new batch of lawmakers assumed their seats last week. "We hope the incoming government may be better," a hired hand said before working a row of seeds into the soil. She expressed hope that the government would address the issue of land grabbing which has plagued Burma's rural areas for years. The post The Farmers Beyond Burma's Concrete Capital appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| UN: S. Lanka War Crimes Investigation Must Be Impartial Posted: 09 Feb 2016 10:16 PM PST  United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein (L) shakes hands with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during their meeting in Colombo, February 9, 2016. (Photo: Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters) COLOMBO — The United Nations will not force Sri Lanka to accept a role for international judges in investigating possible war crimes during the 26-year Tamil insurgency, but any process must be impartial and independent, the UN human rights chief said on Tuesday. Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, ending a four-day visit to Sri Lanka to assess the investigation, commended some efforts by President Maithripala Sirisena's government but said much still needed to be done. The United Nations says the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels were both likely to have committed war crimes during the war, which ended with a military victory in 2009. A UN resolution calls for all alleged war crimes to be investigated and tried in special courts by international judges. Zeid's visit followed comments by Sirisena that foreign participation was not needed for an impartial inquiry. "We are not forcing anything on the government of Sri Lanka," Zeid told Reuters. "The president has stated his preference, his position. We have stated our preference." Many Sri Lankans oppose foreign involvement, and supporters of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa believe the UN resolution aims to punish the military unfairly. Rajapaksa rejected international pressure for a UN war crimes investigation, and main political parties as well as Buddhist leaders remain opposed to any external involvement. Zeid said the UN human rights body believed that victims would not have confidence in a national mechanism as those tried before have left them disappointed. "If whatever Sri Lanka decides upon has the support of the victims on all sides, that is okay with us. If the mechanism is impartial and independent, that is okay with us," he said, sitting in the UN office in the capital of Colombo. "Our preference was initially and our preference still is a hybrid type mechanism with international participation." The post UN: S. Lanka War Crimes Investigation Must Be Impartial appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| US Intel Warns of Expansion of Terror Groups in Bangladesh Posted: 09 Feb 2016 09:26 PM PST  Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid (3rd R) and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (2nd L) during the celebration of the country's 45th Victory Day, at the national parade ground in Dhaka, December 16, 2015. (Photo: Ashikur Rahman / Reuters) WASHINGTON — The US intelligence chief said Tuesday efforts by Bangladesh's prime minister to undermine the political opposition will probably provide openings for transnational terrorist groups to expand their presence in the South Asian country. Director Of National Intelligence James Clapper questioned Bangladesh's public insistence that the killings of foreigners were the work of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and are intended to discredit the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In written testimony to a Senate hearing on worldwide threats, Clapper noted the claims of responsibility from the Islamic State group for 11 high profile attacks on foreigners and religious minorities, and claims from the Ansarullah Bangla Team and al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent for killing at least 11 progressive writers and bloggers in Bangladesh since 2013. Bangladesh is a Muslim country with traditions of secularism and tolerance but it has become increasingly troubled by extremist violence. Hasina's government has denied that the Islamic State group has a presence in the country, and has accused domestic Islamist groups and political opponents for the violence. Bangladesh has been in political ferment since the run-up to January 2014 elections that were boycotted by opposition parties, and over war crimes prosecutions brought against Jamaat-e-Islami leaders over alleged involvement in atrocities during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence. The post US Intel Warns of Expansion of Terror Groups in Bangladesh appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Hong Kong Activists, Police Clash over Holiday Food Stalls Posted: 09 Feb 2016 09:20 PM PST  Stones thrown by protesters are seen on the ground in front of riot police during a clash at Mong Kok district in Hong Kong, China, February 9, 2016. (Photo: Bobby Yip / Reuters) HONG KONG — Hong Kong's Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaos as protesters and police, who fired warning shots into the air, clashed over a street market selling fishballs and other local holiday delicacies, with dozens injured and more than 60 arrested. The violence is the worst in Hong Kong since pro-democracy protests rocked the city in 2014, leaving a growing trust gap between the public and authorities. Activists angered over authorities' attempts to crack down on the food hawkers in a crowded Kowloon neighborhood held running battles with police into the early morning hours of Tuesday. Protesters pelted officers with paving stones, glass bottles and other pieces of debris. Some threw garbage cans, plastic safety barriers and wood from shipping pallets. They also set fires on the street. The unrest started when authorities tried to prevent unlicensed street food sellers from operating Monday night in Mong Kok, a working-class district. The hawkers have become a local tradition during the Lunar New Year holiday but this year authorities tried to remove them. The hawkers were backed by activists who objected to the crackdown over concerns that Hong Kong's local culture is disappearing as Beijing tightens its hold on the semiautonomous city. The scuffles underscore how tensions remain unresolved more than a year after the end of pro-democracy protests that gripped the city. Mong Kok, a popular and densely populated shopping and entertainment district, was one of the neighborhoods where activists occupied streets for about 11 weeks in late 2014, capturing world headlines with their demands for greater electoral freedom. Hong Kong's leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, told reporters a mob had attacked police officers and journalists, and said the perpetrators would be prosecuted. More than 80 officers and four reporters were hurt, he said. Police cars and public property were damaged, fires started and bricks and other objects thrown at police officers, including those already injured and lying on the ground, Leung said. "I believe the public can see for themselves from TV news reports the seriousness of the situation. The [Hong Kong] government strongly condemns such violent acts. The police will apprehend the mobs and bring them to justice," Leung said. Officials said they were investigating whether the violence had been organized in advance. At one point, a protester tried to tackle a traffic police officer from behind before both sides rushed in to the melee in the middle of a busy street, according to video shown by local news channel Cable TV. Moments later, another officer appeared to fire two warning shots into the air. Hong Kong police said the protesters had ignored their warnings to get off the street and shoved officers, who responded with batons and pepper spray. Police said late Tuesday that 61 people ranging in age from 15 to 70 were arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly, assaulting police, resisting arrest, obstructing officers, possession of offensive weapons and disorderly conduct in a public place. Some were also suspected of participating in a riot, a charge that Police Commissioner Lo Wai-Chung told reporters earlier in the day has not been employed since 1967 riots expressing support for China's radical Cultural Revolution and against British colonial rule. Two warning shots were fired during the incident, Acting District Commander Yau Siu-kei said. The post Hong Kong Activists, Police Clash over Holiday Food Stalls appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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