The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Shan Coalition Emphasizes Unity and Collaboration at Annual Meeting
• All Chief Ministers To Be From NLD: Win Htein
• Mining Equipment Import to Kachin State Results in Govt Dismissals
• Kachin Anti-Opium Campaigners Anticipate Lawsuit
• USDP’s Five-Year Term Sees $23b in FDI: Investment Official
• Sittwe: A City Divided
• Thai Celebrities Join UNHCR Campaign to Support Burma Refugees
• India’s Female Scavengers Enslaved by Caste, Gender Discrimination
• Climate Impact Predicted to Cause 500,000 Extra Deaths in 2050
• Thai Junta’s Intimidation of Academics Reveals Insecurity: Rights Group

Shan Coalition Emphasizes Unity and Collaboration at Annual Meeting Posted: 03 Mar 2016 04:35 AM PST Lt-Gen Yawd Serk of the RCSS/SSA-S makes opening remarks at the annual meeting of the Committee for Shan State Unity on Thursday in Rangoon. (Photo: Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) began their second annual meeting in Rangoon on Thursday with a focus on collaboration among Shan organizations. The three-day long meeting of CSSU—a coalition of ethnic Shan armed groups, political parties and civil society representatives formed in 2013—opened with a speech by Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S) chairman Lt-Gen Yawd Serk. Yawd Serk, also the current chair of the CSSU, emphasized the importance of working toward unity in his speech. Echoing the Lt-Gen's message, Sai Phone Han of the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N) told The Irrawaddy that "we mainly have to build unity amongst the Shan first." RCSS/SSA-S has been engaged in clashes with the ethnic Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in northern Shan State since November of last year. The fighting has displaced thousands, and will also reportedly be discussed at the Rangoon meeting. Sai Leik, the spokesperson of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), told the reporters they would try to include other ethnic representatives on the collaboration team in the future, as the current CSSU is only comprised of Shan organizations. "We, the Shan armed groups and political parties, have to meet first, but even now, the Shan Nationalities Development Party (SNDP) could not join this meeting," he said, referring to a second ethnic Shan political party. "We might have to establish a mobilization team to incorporate other ethnic groups based in Shan State," Sai Leik said, when asked how it might be possible to unify people in such a diverse region of the country. Issues of the public protection at the Union level, constitutional amendments in support of federalism and strategies to increase public peace building support will also be discussed at the meeting. The post Shan Coalition Emphasizes Unity and Collaboration at Annual Meeting appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

All Chief Ministers To Be From NLD: Win Htein Posted: 03 Mar 2016 04:23 AM PST Lawmakers arrive to attend the first session of the Union Parliament on Feb. 8, 2016 (Photo: J Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — One week ahead of Burma's scheduled presidential nominations, a senior member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has disclosed to the media that the heads of all states and regions will be appointed from within the party. Central Executive Committee member Win Htein squashed earlier suggestions that four chief ministerial positions were set to go to the military. "We have already selected the chief minister posts. All will be NLD representatives," Win Htein told The Irrawaddy on Thursday. Intense speculation followed post-election meetings between NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, suggesting that negotiations were under way to amend or suspend the 2008 Constitution's Article 59 (f)—a clause that effectively excludes Suu Kyi from the presidency. In return, some expected that the military was seeking chief ministerial posts for the Shan, Arakan and Kachin states and Rangoon Division. The Constitution mandates that the ministerial posts be directly appointed by the president, a position which will be held by an NLD member. The NLD claimed large majorities throughout most of the country in November's general election, with Arakan and Shan states as the two exceptions. In the state parliaments of Arakan State, the Arakan National Party (ANP) won the most seats, and in Shan State, the majority went to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), followed by the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and the NLD. On Monday, the Parliament announced that the date of presidential nominations had been rescheduled from March 17 to March 10. The NLD's silence on the issue raised speculation that the negotiations between Suu Kyi and military leaders had not been in the NLD chairwoman's favor. Win Htein declined to comment on the rescheduling of the nominations. "It is an internal affair," he said. The post All Chief Ministers To Be From NLD: Win Htein appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mining Equipment Import to Kachin State Results in Govt Dismissals Posted: 03 Mar 2016 02:53 AM PST Mining equipment in Kachin State's jade-rich Hpakant Township. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) Dozens of government officials, including two in Kachin State directorial positions, have been dismissed this month in connection with the illegal import of heavy machinery into Hpakant Township to be used in jade mining. The exact number of people who were fired was not known at the time of reporting, but The Irrawaddy confirmed that among them were directors within the Customs Department and the Ministry of Commerce's Trade Department. Large shipments of excavation equipment from China arrived at Hpakant's jade mines in both December of 2015 and in January of this year. Despite instructions from outgoing President Thein Sein to probe into the case, authorities failed investigate the shipments further, ultimately leading to the mass dismissal. "Director-General of the Customs Department, U Tun Thein, and Director-General with the Ministry of Commerce, U Nyunt Aung, and Kachin State government officials were dismissed in connection with the arrival of a large amount of heavy [mining] equipment in Hpakant," a government official told The Irrawaddy. He explained that the investigation had extended to others within the state's leadership as well. "The Kachin State chief minister and ministers were also interrogated. The Home Affairs Ministry directly handled this case by order of the President's Office," he added. Aung Soe, a former military captain, has been appointed as the acting director-general of the Ministry of Commerce's trade department. The director-general of Myanma Insurance is reportedly serving as the acting director-general of the customs department. An investigation into the shipment is still ongoing, with more officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the Customs Department and the General Administration Department likely to be dismissed. The post Mining Equipment Import to Kachin State Results in Govt Dismissals appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Kachin Anti-Opium Campaigners Anticipate Lawsuit Posted: 03 Mar 2016 01:34 AM PST Poppy plants, from which opium would have later been extracted, are shown after being destroyed near the village of Tar Pu, in Shan State on Jan. 27, 2012. (Photo: Damir Sagolj / Reuters) MANDALAY –Pat Jasan, an anti-opium group in Kachin State, have said they expect to be sued by farmers in Waingmaw Township after they were attacked while trying to destroy their poppy fields last month. According to the campaigners, police from the state police office in the Kachin capital of Myitkyina have questioned seven members of Pat Jasan about the incident, in which 20 members were injured after locals and militiamen fired on them. "The way the questioned us was like they were interrogating criminals," said Zung Ding, a Christian pastor and leader within Pat Jasan. The campaigners who were being questioned by the police said the police kept careful records of their testimonies. "Since we have heard that the poppy farmers are planning to sue, it is very possible that the police have accepted the case. If not, we would not be questioned like this," said Zung Ding. "When we asked the police if the poppy farmers of Wai Moe village had filed a lawsuit against us, they gave no comment." "If they file a case, we have to face it," he added. On Feb. 25, two convoys of Pat Jasan members who were attempting to destroy the poppy fields in Wai Moe village, between Sadung and Kambaiti sub-townships, were attacked with guns and grenades by locals and militants. The campaigners, who were not armed, have since paused their anti-drug campaigns, citing a lack of protection from the authorities. The post Kachin Anti-Opium Campaigners Anticipate Lawsuit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

USDP’s Five-Year Term Sees $23b in FDI: Investment Official Posted: 03 Mar 2016 01:25 AM PST People walk by a construction site of new apartment buildings in Rangoon on Nov. 4, 2015. (Photo: Jorge Silva / Reuters) RANGOON — A total of US$23 billion in foreign direct investment has been pledged over the five-year term of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government ending in less than a month's time, according to Aung Naing Oo of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), a figure that may exaggerate the actual rise in money entering the country from abroad. According to MIC figures, total foreign investment from 1988 to 2016 was $59 billion, while during the five-year fiscal period ending March 31, $23 billion was committed. Singapore topped the list of foreign investors in Burma over the past five years, at $9 billion, but that pole position too may be misleading. "Though Singapore is the top investor, not all those investments are made by Singaporean investors," Aung Naing Oo, secretary of the MIC, said this week. "Some countries, especially European countries, register their businesses in Singapore and make investments in Myanmar." The oil and gas sector received the largest amount of foreign investment—more than $5 billion over the past five years, followed by the manufacturing sector with over $4 billion, and the telecommunications sector topping $3 billion. Burma expects about $6 billion in foreign investment for the current fiscal year ending March 31 and has received more than $5 billion to date. In the current fiscal year, the oil and gas sector received over $2 billion; the telecommunications sector nearly $1.6 billion; the manufacturing sector around $829 million; the property sector $435 million; and the hotels and tourism sector a distant fifth at $11 million. Aye Lwin, joint secretary of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), said these FDI figures represented only estimated commitments. "It's not actual money coming into the country," he said. Myat Thin Aung, chairman of the Hlaing Thayar Industry Zone, Rangoon's biggest industrial park, echoed Aye Lwin, saying the $23 billion was likely a pledged amount and that the manufacturing sector figures appeared to be overstated "Investors usually inflate the numbers in their contracts, so that the MIC approves [them]. The actual invested money is less than the figures," he said. "In the industrial [manufacturing] sector, most investors come for garment factories. I don't see significant development in this sector, but it is not known if the MIC included figures from Japanese investment in the Thilawa SEZ [special economic zone], for example." Myat Thin Aung added that most investors in the garment sector did not need to bring a large amount of money to get their factories up and running. "When making contracts for garment factories here, the investment amount is always big," he said. "That's why these MIC figures may not be accurate." The post USDP's Five-Year Term Sees $23b in FDI: Investment Official appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Sittwe: A City Divided Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:48 AM PST A group of men sit outside a mosque in Aung Mingalar, Sittwe's Muslim quarter—also known locally as Ambala—in late February this year. (Photo: Thu Mratt) SITTWE, Arakan State — It has been more than three years since riots shook Arakan State, displacing 140,000, due to religiously motivated violence. Among those affected were members of the region's ethnic Buddhist Arakanese majority and a disproportionate number of the Muslim Rohingya minority, who are denied citizenship and labeled as "Bengali" migrants by the Burmese government. Pervasive mistrust, a consequence of the 2012 violence, persists in the Arakan State capital of Sittwe. On a recent visit, The Irrawaddy witnessed the presence of security guards throughout the city, and police checkpoints that have sprung up in the city's Muslim quarter. There, vacant homes have been transformed into camps hosting security forces. Locals spoke quietly of living under surveillance, in conditions comparable to house arrest, and of the hope for steps toward the desecuritization of their city. No Permit, No Entry The Irrawaddy visited Sittwe hoping to interview religious leaders. But authorities prohibit Arakanese visitors to Aung Mingalar, the Muslim quarter—also known by locals as Ambala—as well as Muslim visitors to the Arakanese Buddhist quarters. They say that these restrictions reportedly exist to prevent unexpected violations of the law. In order to enter the Muslim ward, an official permit is required. An armed security guard was stationed in front of the Ambala mosque when The Irrawaddy arrived. Mid-conversation with a small group of locals, a uniformed police officer arrived and questioned the presence of visitors. A policeman keeps watch in Aung Minglalar, Sittwe, where security checkpoints and encampments remain, more than three years after 2012 riots shook the city. (Photo: Thu Mratt) ''We take [responsibility] for the security here and we can't let strangers go inside. You need an official entitlement to visit this quarter," he said. The clearance request for outsiders is not new to Zaw Zaw, a Rohingya Muslim man originally from Rangoon, but who relocated to Sittwe to run a small business. ''If you want to enter this quarter, you need official permission from the Arakan State government," he said, explaining that any interviews conducted had to be cleared by security officials. Zaw Zaw assumes that police encampments in Muslim quarters have been intentionally placed there for political purposes. ''We have to avoid bad results and need to think deeply about the consequences," he explained. "We have to concentrate on the stability and development of Arakan State." 'House Arrest' Sittwe's municipal market once hosted more than 150 shops owned by Aung Mingalar's Muslim residents. Today they have all closed; restrictions banning Muslims from entering Buddhist Arakanese quarters also keep them from the city's commercial area. Alhmet Ohsan, from Sittwe's Bu May village, told The Irrawaddy that villagers were forbidden to shop or work downtown, so they bought commodities from Thae Chaung, once a village and now a camp for internally displaced Muslims. He owns a roadside stall and earns a maximum of 3,000 kyats (less than US$ 2.50) per day, an amount insufficient to feed the eight people in his family. Although his house is still standing, more than 40 homes in Bu May were burned down, leading many to seek refuge in IDP camps. The authorities have allowed some Arakanese to sell goods in the camps, but Muslim Rohingya are not allowed the same privilege, and are restricted from leaving. Those who evacuated received food and clothing from relief groups, Alhmet claims, but those who remained in the village have not had access to any aid. ''Living in my own house feels better than being in a refugee camp," he maintains. Although Alhmet does not regret staying in Bu May, others now feel trapped in their surroundings. "We feel like we are under house arrest," said Mhamat Husein, an administrator for a Muslim neighborhood within Ambala. Changed Relationships Zaw Zaw said his friendships with Buddhist Arakanese have also suffered in recent years. ''After the violence occurred … our relationship changed," he said. "Now we are building a mutual relationship. When we meet on the street, we say 'hello.' Sometimes we talk about business, but it's still difficult to get back to normal conditions.'' An influential monk, Badanta Dhamika, head of Thathana Ranthi monastery in Sittwe's Bouk Thee Suu quarter, mediated between the Muslim and Buddhist communities during the violence of 2012. From his point of view, the situation is a "game" played by the Burmese government to exploit both sides; both will be victims, and opportunists will take advantage of their weaknesses, he explained. Badanta Dhamika told The Irrawadddy that the authorities use communal mistrust and tension as a justification to station security guards in the Muslim neighborhoods. ''I think that the long-term guarding [of the city quarters] is unreasonable and it's not solving the problem," he said. "We have to find the root causes [of what] happened." His hope is that the authorities will gradually decrease the number of police in the area. "In some places, they should test [a reduction of security forces]," the monk said. "If it is successful in one place, they can do the same in other places." Zaw Zaw agreed with Badanta Dhamika's suggestion that changes should be introduced in small stages. Mistrust runs high; an integrated Sittwe where Buddhist Arakanese and Muslim Rohingya live together is still hard for many locals to imagine. Little government action has been taken to address the deep rifts in the city. Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing, an advisor to outgoing President Thein Sein, led a team formed in 2014 to assist in building peace in Arakan State. One aim of the initiative was reportedly to decrease tension between the region's two religious communities. Both sides requested that a dialogue be arranged but, two years later, such talks have not been organized. The Irrawaddy contacted Kyaw Yin Hlaing by phone, but he could not be reached. Unsure of where to turn, members of the two communities said they are looking ahead to Burma's incoming NLD-led government to address the legacy of violence still evident in the Arakan State capital. The post Sittwe: A City Divided appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Celebrities Join UNHCR Campaign to Support Burma Refugees Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:43 AM PST Refugees who fled Burma wait for the Thai authorities to conduct a census at Mae La refugee camp, near the Thai-Burma border in Mae Sot, Tak province, on July 21, 2014. (Photo: Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters) CHIANG MAI, THAILAND—Well-known Thai actor Saharat "Kong" Sangkapricha and actress and model Priya "Pu" Suandokmai have joined a UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) fundraising project that highlights the plight of Burma's displaced in Thailand. The campaign, called "Namjai for Refugees," aims to assist over 120,000 Burmese refugees currently living in nine camps on Thai-Burma border;  "namjai" is the Thai word for "generosity." Iain Hall, the senior field coordinator for the UNHCR in the Thai border town of Mae Sot, told The Irrawaddy that the project is part of the UN agency's ongoing fundraising efforts, which in this case are directed towards the Thai public. Donations from the Namjai campaign will go toward improving and rebuilding the lives of Burmese refugees, some of whom have lived in the border camps for over 30 years since fleeing civil war and persecution in Burma. Pu and her team visited Burmese refugees on the Thai border to better learn about their lives. "The global refugee crisis is dominating news headlines. As Thai people, we can be part of the global response by starting to lend our support to refugees in Thailand," actress and model Pu is quoted as saying in a UNHCR report. In the same report, Thai singer Kong also promised to use his musical talent to work with songwriter Van to compose a song that appeals to people’s generosity and will support child refugees in particular. "I hope that this song will inspire Thai people to extend our namjai to fellow human beings," he said. The project was launched earlier this year and has been endorsed by eight Thai celebrities. As part of the Namjai campaign, the UNHCR has also produced a short video about the plight of refugee children in Thailand, entitled, "The Life of Pa Thu." The post Thai Celebrities Join UNHCR Campaign to Support Burma Refugees appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

India’s Female Scavengers Enslaved by Caste, Gender Discrimination Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:17 AM PST Hindu women holding plates decorated with religious items wait to tie "rakhi" or traditional Indian sacred thread, to Hindu saints during a function organiZed by non-governmental organiZationSulabh International to celebrate RakshaBandhan festival in New Delhi, India, on Aug. 28, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) MUMBAI — New legislation inIndia to crack down on the practice of forcing mainly the poorest women to clear other people's excreta will have little impact unless deeply entrenched sexism and caste bias are changed, activists said. Manual scavenging, a euphemism for disposing of feces from dry toilets and open drains by hand, has long been an occupation thrust upon members of the Dalit group, traditionally the lowest ranked in India's caste system. At least 90 percent of India's estimated 1.3 million manual scavengers are women, according to campaign group Jan Sahas. "It is not just a case of caste discrimination, but also gender discrimination, as women are forced to do this basest of jobs," said Ashif Shaikh, founder of Jan Sahas, which says it has liberated more than 21,000 Dalit women from the practice. "It is not even a job, it's slavery," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "The women do not have a choice, they are paid a pittance, and are threatened with violence if they quit. There's a lot of pressure from the village, the community, and their own families." India, which banned caste-based discrimination in 1955, has passed several laws to end manual scavenging with government pledges to modernize sanitation and criminalize those who employ manual scavengers. Legislation passed in December further tightened penalties. Yet Dalit communities continue to face threats of violence, eviction and withholding of wages if they try to give up the practice, human rights groups say. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a "Clean India Mission" to improve sanitation in the fast-growing economy and increase funding for public toilets to end open defecation. The campaign has helped draw attention to the plight of manual scavengers and forced state governments to act, Shaikh said. The government offers 40,000 rupees ($590) to each rescued manual scavenger and training for alternate jobs. Yet crimes against lower-caste Indians are rising. There were more than 47,000 such crimes in 2014, an increase of about a fifth from the previous year, according to official figures. The Copenhagen-based International Dalit Solidarity Network has called manual scavenging, a "caste-based and hereditary occupation form of slavery." Paid less than a minimum wage, manual scavengers are often forced to borrow money from their higher-caste employers, leading to debt bondage. The government estimated in 2011 that more than 180,000 rural households are engaged in manual scavenging. Western Maharashtra state, which topped the list, had set a deadline of the end of March to end the practice. "We have provided incentives in rural areas to build toilets, and we have offered alternative employment to these people in some districts," said U.S. Lonare, a senior official in the state's social justice department. He did not say if the deadline will be met. Jan Sahas' Shaikh said the new legislation must be implemented in full. "Even one woman forced to do this work is a shame," he said. "It's a crime." The post India's Female Scavengers Enslaved by Caste, Gender Discrimination appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Climate Impact Predicted to Cause 500,000 Extra Deaths in 2050 Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:05 AM PST Laborers work in a paddy field in Birnaraya village in Karnal district in the northern Indian state of Haryana on Sept. 2, 2014. (Photo: Reuters) LONDON — Climate changecould cause significant changes to global diets, leading to more than half a million extra deaths in 2050 from illnesses such as stroke, cancer and heart disease, experts said on Wednesday. As extreme weather such as floods and heat waves wreaks havoc with harvests and crop yields, estimated increases in food availability could be cut by a third by 2050, according to the experts' study published in The Lancet medical journal. This would lead to a reduction of 99 calories available per person per day, the assessment of the impact of climate change on diet composition and bodyweight found. Climate change could also lead to a 4 percent reduction in the consumption of fruit and vegetables, along with a 0.7 percent drop in the amount of red meat consumed, the study said. Reduced consumption of fruit and vegetables could cause twice as many deaths as undernutrition by 2050, it said. "Even modest reductions in the availability of food per person could lead to changes in the energy content and composition of diets, and thesechanges will have major consequences for health," study lead author Marco Springmann from the University of Oxford said in a statement. These changes could be responsible for around 529,000 extra deaths in 2050, compared to a future without climate change in which increases in food availability and consumption could have prevented 1.9 million deaths. Even though some climate-related deaths will be offset by reductions in obesity, the projected 260,000 fewer deaths will be balanced by lower calorie availability, the study said. Low- and middle-income countries in the Western Pacific region and Southeast Asia are likely to be worst affected, and almost three quarters of all climate-related deaths are expected to occur in China and India. "There should be enough food to produce a better diet in 2050 than we currently have globally but if you add in climate change then you loose some of those improvements," study co-author Peter Scarborough from the University of Oxford told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. In Europe, Greece and Italy are likely to be significantly affected, with 124 and 89 deaths per a million people respectively. Cutting emissions could have substantial health benefits and reduce the number of climate-related deaths by between 29 percent and 71 percent, the study said. "We need to be mitigating greenhouse gasses. If we do, it will bring down the health impact of climate change," Scarborough said. The post Climate Impact Predicted to Cause 500,000 Extra Deaths in 2050 appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Junta’s Intimidation of Academics Reveals Insecurity: Rights Group Posted: 02 Mar 2016 08:54 PM PST Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha addresses the nation and summarizes the junta government's annual report in Bangkok on Dec. 23, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) BANGKOK — Thailand's junta is intensifying intimidation of academics who criticize the generals efforts to stay in power by sending army officers to their homes, a Thai rights group said on Wednesday. Since the military seized power nearly two years ago, at least 77 academics have been harassed at home by officers advising them to adjust their critical mindset or ordered to attend camps for indoctrination, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Those who attend the camps are usually released within a couple of days. At least five academics have been forced into exile, said Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, a member of the lawyers' group, which provides legal aid and monitors rights violations in Thailand and is influential with international NGOs, the European Union and other foreign governments. "With legitimacy stretching thin and achievements falling flat, the junta feels the pressure to silence critics to maintain its power," Poonsuk told Reuters. The country's generals have struggled to revive Southeast Asia's second-largest economy after ousting a democratically elected government in 2014 to end months of political unrest that was damaging business. There have been scattered protests against military rule, but they were quickly quelled by troops and police. Some Thais welcomed the coup after months of anti-government street protests, but critics accuse the military of delaying a return to democracy by pushing back the date for elections. Rights groups say the junta has used authoritarian methods to systematically repress rights and muzzle critics. In a Feb. 24 report, Amnesty International said Thailand had dismissed international calls not to silence dissent. Last week, self-exiled prominent Thai academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun took to social media to accuse the junta of intimidating his family in Thailand. "To hunt me is already unacceptable. But for them to go after my family is really too much," he told Reuters via Skype. "This has to be the junta's most daring move yet," said Pavin, who gives lectures abroad on the Thai monarchy, a sensitive subject that cannot openly be discussed in Thailand because of draconian royal insult laws. Junta spokesman Col. Winthai Suvaree denied that the military is pursuing academics with greater zeal and told Reuters he was unaware of any intimidation of Pavin's family. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Pavin in June 2014, one month after the coup, for ignoring a junta summons to attend a military "attitude adjustment" session while abroad. His passport was revoked the following month. The junta's pursual of academics highlights its growing insecurity, said Kan Yuenyong, an analyst at Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank. "The military sees academics as a mouthpiece whose messages carry big significance," said Kan. "Their criticism can do a lot to undermine the junta's legitimacy." ] The post Thai Junta's Intimidation of Academics Reveals Insecurity: Rights Group appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• IDPs must not be forgotten in wake of elections: UN
• NLD and govt at odds on handover ceremony
• New bridge a boon for beach tourism
• Boat crackdown forces smuggling shift
• Compensation skips some as factory settles
• Five-day water cut begins as part of JICA upgrade project
• Long-delayed tobacco rules get thumbs-up
• Weather to heat up from middle of March
• Signs warn public of dangerous foods

IDPs must not be forgotten in wake of elections: UN Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST United Nations representatives are continuing to pressure Myanmar on the international stage over its treatment of Muslim minorities and internally displaced people.

NLD and govt at odds on handover ceremony Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Fresh from an ugly fight over an alleged state asset fire-sale, the government and the National League for Democracy have found a new disagreement: where to hold the power handover ceremony.

New bridge a boon for beach tourism Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Business operators at Chaungtha are hoping the reopening of a bridge on the road to Pathein will restore tourism to the beach.

Boat crackdown forces smuggling shift Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST After last year's crackdown disrupted maritime human smuggling routes out of Rakhine State, traffickers and those desperate to leave are scouting for alternatives.

Compensation skips some as factory settles Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST One day after Myanmar workers won a rare victory over Thai employers, obtaining more than US$1 million in compensation from the owners of a canning factory at which abuses were rife, temporary labourers reported being overlooked in the payout.

Five-day water cut begins as part of JICA upgrade project Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Upgrade to Yangon's water pipeline network will see supply cut for five days to 11 wards in four inner-city townships, starting today.

Long-delayed tobacco rules get thumbs-up Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Telling the truth about tobacco in Myanmar has taken a long time, health officials say. In the wake of this week's announcement by the Ministry of Health that cigarette packaging will display stern warnings and graphic pictures of tobacco-related diseases, it has emerged that campaigners have been trying for years to pass these measures.

Weather to heat up from middle of March Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST The heat is on. Temperatures are set to rise markedly in mid-March and the month as a whole is set to be warmer than March last year, weather experts say – but it will not be the hottest month this year.

Signs warn public of dangerous foods Posted: 02 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST You've been warned. Notices went up all over Mandalay on March 1 alerting consumers to watch out for food products that contain dangerous chemical dyes.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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Photo Essay to Loi Tai Leng Posted: 02 Mar 2016 07:52 AM PST The second piece of this 60 day journey widely describes the difficulties of the characters in the story for which the photographer is a part of. Salween in Thai, Nujiang in Chinese and Than Lwin in Burmese all refer to Namg Kong in Shan language. The Salween River starts its runoff from Tibetan plateau and flows through to Yuan Nan province of China, Shan State, Myanmar, Mae Hong Son province of Thailand then into Andaman sea of Southeast Asia. Even though it can't be used in irrigations, millions of bio-diversities as well as different ethnic groups rely on the river. Sands were shoveled and sold to construction companies. Teak forests along the river bank, which were also threatened by Dam constructions, were eventually chopped down. The story of Salween has been told as tales, sung as songs and written as poems for many generations. However, no adventure stories were ever associated with it. Group of Shan youths crossing the Salween River in Langkhur Township located in Southern Shan State. These youths were painted with golden dust as they just came out from rough road. Coming from different parts of Shan State, these youth gathered to celebrate the Shan State National Day in Loi Tai Leng (Tai Prosperity Mountain), the headquarters of Restoration Council of Shan State/ Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) along Thai-Myanmar border. During the dry season, it is difficult for motor boats to cruise the shallow Salween River. In order to reach enough depth to cruise, Travelers need to drive along Nam Taung River (pronounce Namg Daing) until it combines with Salween River. Groups of Shan youth enjoy a game of cane ball after political lesson in Nong Kham Seng village, situated on the high mountains of Thai-Myanmar border. Most Villagers wake up early; every home is a shelter for guests who are going to participate in the celebration of the Shan State National Day on Feb. 7.  Shan youth celebrate unity under the "One meal, one firewood" saying. Every day they look for firewood exchanges by offering rice. While thousands of people came to the ceremony, this particular village ran out of water where some people weren't able to bathe. Prevention is better than cure! A young boy helps his dad dig a bunker under the gully of Nong Kham Seng village. The bunker is over 30 kilometers from markets situated at the edge of Thai-Myanmar border. Each family responsible is for one bunker. The process of digging these bunkers results in harsh conditions such as humidity, its hard to breathe, bad smell and the wall can be fall in at anytime. Time is rare for soldiers to sit and stare. One to two months can go by before they actually have time to even wash their uniforms. Soldiers came to welcome Tripitaka (three Baskets), a scripture in Buddhism brought from Thailand to the monastery name Leng Harn Tai. Soldiers from different training camps took their positions at the ceremony to watch and cheer. Soldiers derived from different classes of families rich and poor. They do not expecet to receive higher salary; instead they are paid in satisfaction by helping civilians, respect, keeping neat appearances, bravery and 22 articles that have been identified by the council. Concrete stage was decorated with number 69 constructed in the windy plain of Thai-Burma border hosted 69th Anniversary of Shan State National Day. Because of its rare celebrations, people defined Shan State National Day in various perspectives. Recently thousands of Shan State people, including Shan migrant workers from Thailand, Akha, La Hu, Karenni and Karen, respectively attended the ceremory cheering for their most memorable moments. The ceremony reflected the spirit of Pang Long, a historical event for the Union of Burma independence and ended the controversial term of Shan State Nattional Day. Shan women met at Shan State National Day ceremony carrying Akhas, a traditional musical instrument. Even though Akha is typically described as the hill tribe ethnic group of Shan State, some live in Yunan provience of China, Laos, Northern Thailand and Eastern Shan State. Three Akha women prepare to perform their traditional dancing. February. 7th  is the day when 34 Shan State chiefs who are Shan or Tai, Ta Ang, Pa O, Wa and Ka Yan or Pa Taung held historical conference to get independence from British in 1947. Shan State civilians marked that day as Shan State National Day. The ceremony represents unity of Shan State's diverse ethnic groups. Medics, clerks, gem factory of the council workers, radio broadcasting station volunteers; no matter the job, their all Nang Harn; which in Shan stands for brave woman. Shan women army corps was formed more than two decades before the current council. Female soldiers eat the same meal as men soldiers; but unlike men, they have much more time to bathe. The reason being is because under the council strategies policy, they are not allowed to participate battle; although Nang Harn are proficient in various skills just like men. Being scowled in parades shows the bravery and honesty of those female soldiers. Their appearances with tidy uniforms overwhelm most women who have seen them. Two observers stand by the entrance of the organic farms of Loi Tai Leng high school; which is also an orphanage. Due to lack of space for farming, the school constantly has to resort to the local market located over 20 kilometers away. Local students have learned agricultures and organic farming technics from a Thai NGO. Student organic farms produced cosmetic products like Shampoo, make-up and soap. The terraces at the slope near school were recently farmed by orphans. Local residents are expecting to purchase these crops once grown. However, it is very challenging for graduated students to attend universities due to its location and lack of Thai and Burma government's ability to recognize it. Nearly 300 houses share one clinic with over 20 medics. By Jai Jai Lao Mong / Special Contributor to Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Ethnic Civilians Demand End to Army Abuses in Shan State
• ‘Destroy Our Poppy Fields, But Give Us Substitute Crops’: Militiaman Detained by Anti-Opium Group
• Karen Connelly: ‘The Need for Language Is Central to Alleviating Injustice’

Ethnic Civilians Demand End to Army Abuses in Shan State Posted: 02 Mar 2016 01:49 AM PST Maran Ja Taung, an ethnic Kachin resident of Kutkai Township in Shan State, tells reporters in Rangoon how she lost her home in a military clash and her husband to a landmine. (Photo: Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — At a Rangoon press conference on Tuesday, ethnic activists and villagers called for the demining of northern Shan State, a release of detained villagers and an immediate stop to war in the region. As clashes began earlier this year between the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Burma Army, ethnic civilians in particular have suffered displacement and a destruction of their property, most recently in the townships of Kutkai, Kyaukme and Namkham. Kutkai Township's Maran Ja Taung, an ethnic Kachin mother of four, shared with Rangoon media representatives the story of losing her husband to a landmine on Feb. 13. She recalled that she and Naw Mai, 41, were collecting vegetables in the jungle near their old village when he stepped on a landmine and lost both of his legs. Although he initially survived the blast, the difficulty of traveling on the hilly, rural road barred them from being able to reach a hospital that could provide lifesaving medical care. After being refused at a local hospital, they headed to the Shan State-China border town of Muse. "My husband was crying for his life and told me to help him. He died on the way," Maran Ja Taung said. The death of her spouse was Maran Ja Taung's most recent tragedy; her home was one of 12 houses burned on Jan. 16, during an exchange of gunfire between the TNLA and government troops near her residence in Ho Pon village. Days earlier, Burma Army Brigade No. 11 and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) had also clashed there. "I am the most unlucky person, as I not only had to flee during the fighting, I lost both my house and my husband," she cried. "Please stop the fighting, as it has threatened our lives. We have to be afraid of every armed group active in the area." Maran Ja Taung added, "I want to also ask the upcoming government to help us, to work on the unearthing mines and to free us from the warzone." Ho Pon villagers sent letters of complaint to the commanders in chief of the Burma Army, the KIA and the TNLA on Feb. 22, but have received no response, said I Z Aung, a member of the Shan State-based Kachin Ethnic Network. Other abuses were documented in Hseni, some 25 km south of Kutkai town, where four locals from Pang Hat village are still missing after the Burma Army allegedly abducted them on Jan. 11. Zau Hka, a Pang Hat resident said that in total, 46 men were initially detained by soldiers of Brigade No. 11, but the elderly and men with ties to a local militia were released on the same day. Thirteen men were still missing until last Friday, Feb. 26, when nine were released. Dau Yang is the wife one of the four men who remain unaccounted for. "I don't know how to keep on in our lives while he is missing. I would like to ask for your help to support for the return of my husband and others," said the mother of three young children. Locals have sought help from civil society and community-based groups that work in the conflict areas. One group they did not contact for assistance was the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC). Locals recalled the case of Ja Seng Ing, an ethnic Kachin schoolgirl allegedly killed by the Burma Army in Kachin State 2012. When her father attempted to seek justice on her behalf through the MNHRC, they rejected the case; he was later jailed on defamation charges for six months. Jaw Gun, of the Kachin Peace Network, said that both government troops and the ethnic armed groups must obey the text of Burma's so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), signed by eight out of Burma's more than 20 armed organizations in 2015. He pointed out that even if groups are not signatories, they all participated in the drafting of the NCA. "They are breaching Section 9 of NCA: protecting the civilians," he said, "The Burma Army in particular must explain to us about these abductions, as they are an NCA signatory, which obliges them to respect the agreement." The post Ethnic Civilians Demand End to Army Abuses in Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

‘Destroy Our Poppy Fields, But Give Us Substitute Crops’: Militiaman Detained by Anti-Opium Group Posted: 01 Mar 2016 11:49 PM PST A badge of a local militiaman in Kachin State, detained by the anti-opium vigilante group Pat Jasan after attacking them in Waingmaw Township on February 25. (Photo: Nang Lwin Hnin Pwint / The Irrawaddy) Over twenty Kachin anti-opium campaigners, members of the vigilante group Pat Jasan, were injured after being attacked en route to destroy poppy fields in Kachin State's Waingmaw Township on February 25. After guns, small hand grenades and stones were used in an assault on two of their convoys, Pat Jasan reported that they were able to detain 19 of the attackers. The Irrawaddy's Nang Lwin Hnin Pwint spoke with one of detainees from a group calling itself the People's Militia. His name has been withheld for security reasons. Did the higher-ups in your militia group give any particular instructions regarding the recent attack on Pat Jasan? U Lagwin Baw Lwan [a director with the militia group in the region] told the militia members and villagers not to attack Pat Jasan if the Burma Army came with them, but to attack them with any weapons available if they came alone. If so, had you been making preparations for Pat Jasan's arrival? We had been keeping an eye out around main streets for about two weeks. Your superiors told you not to attack if military troops were with them. Why? Militia leaders said that Pat Jasan would come. They told us to shoot Pat Jasan when they came. They did not ask us to shoot police. They only asked us to shoot Pat Jasan, because the government has said that they would properly compensate [poppy growers] if Burma Army soldiers came and destroyed the poppy fields. Were there any more instructions? U Baw Lwan gave militia members bullets and grenades—30 bullets and six grenades for each village. There are militias in every village. One person from each household [in each village] has to serve in the militia group. Militia leaders said that it is to protect our region. What has Zakhung Ting Ying, an influential patron of local militia, said about the poppy fields? U Zakhung said the Burma Army and the militias will jointly destroy poppy fields, and will provide rations [as compensation] for owners of poppy fields. What do you, as a militia member and a local, think of the activities of Pat Jasan? I think Pat Jasan are bad. They are bad because they are 'breaking our plates.' [Editor's Note: this is a phrase which translates to 'destroying our livelihoods.'] Who grows poppies in the area? Have you ever been responsible for any poppy cultivation? Villagers as well as militia and Chinese people grow poppies. I am not responsible for any poppy fields. There are around 200 to 300 acres of poppies in our area, and they are largely grown by locals. [The climate and soil] are not good enough to grow rice there, so locals can only grow poppies. Locals are lamenting that they will be left to starve if poppy fields are destroyed. So, you don't want poppy fields to be destroyed? No, I don't want our poppy fields to be destroyed. Do poppy growers have to pay tax or give money to militias and the military so that they are able to grow poppies in the region? We don't have to give money to militias and Burmese soldiers. We sell poppies to China. Chinese men come and buy them. If poppy fields have to be destroyed, we would accept it if they are destroyed by Burmese soldiers and militias. If that's true, then why don't you accept Pat Jasan as the ones to destroy poppy fields? Pat Jasan don't give us rations [as compensation]. Burma Army soldiers and militias said they would give us rations—they give a household a bag of rice for destroyed poppy fields. Some poppy growers are saying that they would destroy their poppy fields if Pat Jasan would give them substitute crops. Who are the owners of poppy fields? Who grow poppies in Kachin State's Special Region 1? Do all militias grow poppies there? Everyone grows poppies all over—militia leaders as well as the border guard force (BGF) grow poppies there. Then can the plan of the Burma Army and militias to jointly destroy poppy fields be successful? They can be destroyed if they are destroyed jointly by the Burma Army. It is true that they recently destroyed poppy fields, but only three or four acres of poppy fields were destroyed then. You said Chinese men come and buy poppies. Aren't there checkpoints on the route? How do they get into the region? They take an illegal route. There are checkpoints, both of militias and the BGF, on the [legal] route. And there are also Burma soldiers. But buyers can go through that route—[the authorities] know that they are coming and to buy poppies, but they can go. So all of you grow poppies? Do your acquaintances also grow poppies? Yes, they do. All of the villagers there grow poppies. Rice paddies are not good to grow. How much does a household produce per year? How much do they earn? A household [of poppy growers] produces four or five viss of opium [around 18 pounds], and they earn 5,000 to 6,000 yuan (US$760-915). Do the Chinese also grow poppies? It has been said that they cultivate them with machines and on a commercial scale. It is not true. Poppies are largely grown by locals, each of whom grows on a small scale. It is true that Chinese people grow poppies, but they are the Chinese who live in our region. Chinese men from other side [China] only come and buy poppies now, though they did grow them in the past. It has been almost three years since they last grew poppies. It is true that poppies are grown with machines now; it is largely mechanized. Please tell me about the machine. It is much like a tractor. What kind of salary does a militia member get? We are only paid 150 yuan (just over US$20) per month. Will the problem repeat itself if Pat Jasan comes back? The problem will only get bigger. All of the locals in the region have unanimously agreed to keep an eye on Pat Jasan. If they come, villagers will gather around and defend [their land]. We are local militias and are therefore responsible for stopping them from destroying our poppy fields. If Pat Jasan would provide rations, we would accept the destruction of our poppy fields. If Pat Jasan wants to destroy poppy fields, their leaders might need to have serious negotiations with the people. It would be better if they destroyed poppy fields with the approval of locals. Is there anything else you would like to add? We grow poppies not to make profit, but to make a living. We grow poppies on a small scale, because the rice paddy is not good [to grow]. We hope that we will no longer grow poppies if we are given substitute crops. Locals would stop growing poppies if they were given rations like rice before they finally get substitute crops. Translated by Thet Ko Ko. The post 'Destroy Our Poppy Fields, But Give Us Substitute Crops': Militiaman Detained by Anti-Opium Group appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Karen Connelly: ‘The Need for Language Is Central to Alleviating Injustice’ Posted: 01 Mar 2016 05:30 PM PST Author Karen Connelly during an interview with The Irrawaddy in February. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) Canadian author Karen Connelly was the talk of local literary circles last month with the launch of a Burmese-language translation of "The Lizard Cage." The novel tells the story of a Burmese student leader who was jailed for more than 20 years and held in solitary confinement in Rangoon's notorious Insein Prison, a fictional tale that mirrors the experiences of dozens if not hundreds of Burmese prisoners of conscience under decades of repressive military rule. Originally written in English, the book won Britain's Orange Broadband Prize for New Writers in 2007. Although it first hit bookstores internationally in 2005, it took 11 years for the Canadian writer to see the book translated into Burmese, due largely to literary censorship in the country, which eased dramatically in 2012. The Irrawaddy sat down with Connelly to discuss her inspiration for the book and how language can be a powerful catalyst for justice in the Burmese context and beyond. What was your impression of Burma when you first came here 20 years ago? I think anybody who came to Burma 20 years ago was struck by how gracious and lovely people were. That's one of the things that moved me most—how generous the people were. Even then, I was collecting stories about politics and the experiences of ordinary citizens under dictatorship. People were courageous and generous with their stories, despite their fear. During times when the political situation was more tumultuous, people were not so willing to talk. Obviously, I understood that. After all these years, what is your impression now? I think people are largely the same. It's been such a long time under dictatorship and a long time waiting. Now, it's a period of transition. But the hospitality and generosity of the people are the same. The city [Rangoon] is a young, developing Asian city, so it's kind of crazy—sort of like the Rangoon that I knew 20 years ago is buried underneath cars, new building facades, noise and lots of pollution. But those things are just the surface. Underneath, people still feel the same to me. Why exactly did you think you needed to write 'The Lizard Cage'? I first became interested in Burma because I worked for many years at PEN Canada [country chapter of PEN International, a global writers' advocacy organization]. One of our honorary members who we advocated for was Ma Thida. She was like me: She was a young writer, interested in social justice issues. But she was in prison and I was free. Her case was striking to me because I could relate to her. I was ready to go back to Thailand, where I lived as a teenager. I knew I would be close to Burma. Even on my first short visit, I was struck by how many people's stories were of imprisonment or confinement. No matter who I talked to, there was fear of imprisonment or there was actual imprisonment in people's lives. If they hadn't been to prison, somebody in their family or a friend had gone to prison in 1974, 1988 or 1996. Prison stories—stories of confinement and separation from family—are powerful. I met a few dissidents on the Thai-Burma border before I came to Burma. It was clear they had exiled themselves to continue their politics and avoid reimprisonment. They left families behind. I was struck by the importance of family in Burmese culture and how everybody talked about that separation as part of the punishment. That's one of the things I wanted to explore in this novel. You met many people with interesting stories along the Thai-Burma border as well as inside the country. But 'The Lizard Cage' is mostly based on the fictional character Teza and his struggles in prison. Why? I was always interested in what it means to be confined—separated from other people—and how people maintain their humanity in those extreme situations. Ever since I was quite young, I was interested in the situations of political prisoners, especially young men and women who went to prison because of their writing. My work with PEN Canada had been about freedom of expression, an eternal fight against censorship. I was interested in how people use language to free themselves. There is a deep theme in the book about language. The little boy Nyi Lay can't read. He understands that the inability to read is a kind of confinement. You are trapped when you can't read. I wanted to explore the power of language over political prisoners or any person who has ever been relatively powerless. In situations of abuse or violence, the need for language, and the importance of being able to express that injustice, is central to alleviating that injustice. People tell stories in order to feel the possibility of justice. Language holds the promise of justice. As soon as you start to speak the truth, the structure of power starts to become compromised. You weaken that structure somehow. Words are very powerful things. Over the past few years, there have been many books written about Burma by foreigners. How is your book different from others? I haven't read them all. My book is probably better [laughs]. In my opinion, I can never write another book like it. It took me 10 years to write because I was so worried about getting it wrong. Every time I wrote a little bit, I sent it to a Burmese friend or someone else to read it. Obviously, there are many good books on Burma. My book is different because it is a strange mixture of so many stories told to me by Burmese people, plus so much of my own heart. The post Karen Connelly: 'The Need for Language Is Central to Alleviating Injustice' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Outsourcing the presidency: the problems with the proxy
• Daw Suu will be president ‘sooner or later’: NLD
• Questions for rights body as NLD prepares to take office
• Shan rights groups call for mine clearance
• MPs get warning on bad behaviour, test results
• Judge to decide on U Gambira charge next week
• Mandalay martyrs remembered
• Pat Ja San waits on Union govt support
• USDP withdraws prosecution against schoolteacher
• Public controversy as Pali letters omitted from KG curriculum

Outsourcing the presidency: the problems with the proxy Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST After a thumping win at the November 8 election so thorough it outstripped even her own party's expectations, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi left a large question mark lingering over the office of the presidency. The same cannot be said of who will effectively rule the country.

Daw Suu will be president ‘sooner or later’: NLD Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Parliament confirmed yesterday that the presidential nomination deadline will be brought forward one week to March 10, in a move widely seen as a concession from the National League for Democracy that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will not be Myanmar's next president.

Questions for rights body as NLD prepares to take office Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST In what many have hailed as a new dawn in terms of respect for human rights in Myanmar with the coming to power of a National League for Democracy government, some activists are questioning how much, and how soon, anything is going to change.

Shan rights groups call for mine clearance Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Shan State locals are demanding the government clear landmines from conflict areas surrounding villages in the north of the state.

MPs get warning on bad behaviour, test results Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Drunk? Lazy? Unruly? Not very good at passing tests? National League for Democracy MPs may rule the roost in the marble halls of parliament, but if any of them step out of line they are apt to face discipline.

Judge to decide on U Gambira charge next week Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST A Mandalay judge will next week decide whether to formally charge 2007 protest leader U Gambira under the immigration act, it was revealed at a hearing yesterday. The former political prisoner will face anywhere from six months to five years in prison if found guilty of entering the country illegally, as immigration officials allege.

Mandalay martyrs remembered Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST The death of 17 protesters against British colonial rule was marked in a solemn ceremony in Mandalay yesterday. Participants gathered to honour those who had fallen in a crucial uprising against foreign occupation.

Pat Ja San waits on Union govt support Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST Dismissing local law enforcement as weak, the vigilante group Pat Ja San has now asked the Union government and the Tatmadaw to support its efforts to destroy thousands of acres of poppy fields in Kachin State.

USDP withdraws prosecution against schoolteacher Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST The Union Solidarity and Development Party has dropped its complaint against a polling station official for allegedly encouraging people to vote for the then-opposition National League for Democracy.

Public controversy as Pali letters omitted from KG curriculum Posted: 01 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PST An overhaul of the nearly 40-year-old kindergarten curriculum has generated controversy, with the Ministry of Education accepting advice from education experts that young children should initially learn only 25 of the 33 consonants in the Myanmar alphabet.

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