Shan Herald Agency for News

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To Hopeland and Back: The 21st trip for the 21st Century Panglong Posted: 12 Sep 2016 05:36 AM PDT Photo taken after the State Counselor-PPST  meeting, 24 August 2016, in Naypyitaw. (Photo: VOA) Day Three. Wednesday, 24 August 2016 Get to know your opposite numbers at all levels socially. Friends take longer to fall out. The Global Negotiator Today marks my first meeting with the State Counselor from the second row of seats. That is understandable. As I'm only an extra. And our leaders in the first row seem to be handling their job pretty well. She opens the meeting, which is being held at the ballroom of the hotel, saying she supports meeting with people face to face rather than writing to each other. "Talking to each other serves to build up trust. If we don't have trust, the agreement signed between us will just become a scrap. But we need to be frank with each other. Our words must be true, beneficial and bearable (I think she's paraphrasing the Buddha's Six Types of Speech). The most important question in the world, to me is 'Why?'" Then comes the turn for our spokespersons: Gen Mutu Saypoe, Dr Lian Hmung Sakhong and Khun Myint Tun to present the signatories' case, which I won't be repeating here.  And here is her response to them: ·         The NCA must be implemented together as equal partners. I have no intention to diverge from it, though I don't agree with some of the terms there, like holding the political dialogue 90 days after the signing. But I was told it would be flexible and easy to revise, so I had accepted it. (Many will argue here that what is "flexible and easy to revise" is not the NCA, which was ratified by the Union Assembly without objection, but the Framework for Political Dialogue, which needs approval only by the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting formed with an equal number of representatives from each side, in this case, 8) ·         The JICM will be held today (as requested by the PPST) ·         The National level Political Dialogues (NPD) will follow the 21st Century Panglong ·         The PPST has requested that there be 3 chairs to preside over the Conference (one each from the government-parliament-military bloc, EAOs and the political parties). But I don't think the 5 proposed by us (one each from government, parliament, military, EAOs and political parties) has any design to dominate the process ·         Liaison offices issue. The NRPC (National Reconciliation and Peace Commission) shall be responsible to lay down the basic principles ·         Funding issue. Not for the government to get the upper hand, but to see that everyone gets equitable share ·         The signatories' contact persons to the government should be U Kyaw Tint Swe and Dr Tin Myo Win ·         As for the non-signatories, we should cooperate to produce a common interpretation of the NCA and then ask them to sign it During the meeting she and Gen Mutu exchange quotes from Victor Hugo's novels. When the latter said, "He who opens a schools door, closes a prison," she responds by saying something like, "The greatest revolution is the revolution of the minds," mentioning it comes from Les Miserables. Well, as I have never read Hugo's works, except those that are retold in abridged forms, I don't have anything to add, even if they allow me to. But I don't think anyone in the room is in a mind to do that. Because this meeting, unlike previous ones I had attended, has now a center of gravity: the State Counselor.  During lunch, government representatives whom I have known since the negotiations began have an advice for the EAOs. "Next time, please inform the points you want to discuss in advance, so the SC can be better prepared." To which one of the PPST members agrees, adding that one problem had been they didn't know who they could at all times contact. Now that the contact persons have been designated, there should be no more headaches about it. The JICM, the 4thsince October, and the first time since the new government took over in March, is then held. The decisions include: ·         Approval of the Union Peace Conference (21stCentury Panglong) Preparatory Committee members (non signatories included) ·         Approval of the new UPDJC/JMC ·         To draft the ToR for liaison offices All in all, the meeting goes quite well except for the brief and violent interruption by 6.8 magnitude quake at 17:04, which kills 4 (not in Naypyitaw) and destroys more than 100 old pagodas in Pagan/Bagan. We have a brief review of the meetings today in the evening. I don't remember much because I have not been taking notes. But one comment by a leader sticks in my mind as I walk back to my room afterward: "The first Union Peace Conference (in January) was a farewell party for President Thein Sein. The upcoming one, in contrast, is a welcome party for the State Counselor." Do you agree?

People’s militia leader shot dead in Laikha Township Posted: 11 Sep 2016 09:29 PM PDT Maj. Sai Toi, the leader of the Wanparng People's Militia, was shot to death on Thursday in Laikha Township, southern Shan State.  According to local sources who wished to remain anonymous, Sai Toi was shot around 9pm while visiting residents in Wanparng village, the group's headquarters. "An unknown individual opened fire on him," said one of the sources. "He died immediately at the scene." A cremation service was held for Maj. Sai Toi the following day in Wanparng, attended by representatives of the Burmese military and other people's militias in the area, including the Mahasarng and Pang Leng Sai groups. Wanparng People's Militia used to be Brigade 758, a unit under the control of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA). It was led at the time by Col. Murngzuen who surrendered to the Burmese armed forces in 2005, after which it was transformed into a people's militia force. In 2010, Col. Murngzuen was killed; Maj. Sai Toi then stepped up to take over as leader of the group. Some sources have hinted that Sai Toi's killing may be linked to an affair or sexual liaison, while others speculated that it was business related. By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• This Week in Parliament (September 5-9)
• The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (Sept 10)
• Dateline Irrawaddy: ‘The Conference is the Initial Step Toward Peace but There are Still Many Challenges’
• Now Is the Time to Act in Arakan State

This Week in Parliament (September 5-9) Posted: 09 Sep 2016 07:26 PM PDT Lawmakers attend the first day of the Lower House of Parliament in Naypyidaw on Feb. 1, 2016. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) Lawmakers asked 12 questions about roads, transportation, agriculture and irrigation. The respective ministers replied. Tuesday (September 6) In the Lower House, an urgent proposal put forward by Arakan National Party (ANP) lawmaker Aung Kyaw San of Arakan State's Pauktaw Township—calling for international members of the Arakan State Advisory Commission to be replaced with local academics—failed to receive parliamentary approval after it was put to a vote, being defeated by National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmakers. Wednesday (September 7) In the Lower House, lawmaker Myint Lwin of Twante Township asked about government measures to help Burma graduate from LDC (least developed country) status. Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win said that an implementation committee chaired by Vice-President Henry Van Thio was formed for this purpose on April 28. In the Upper House, lawmakers continued to debate the proposal of Khin Aung Myint from Mandalay Constituency-8, which urged the Union government to adopt a special plan to eliminate illiteracy among ethnic minority groups and enable them to obtain higher education, as well as promote ethnic literature. Thursday (September 8) In the Lower House, the Bill Committee put forward a "personal privacy and security" draft law. In the Upper House, lawmakers continued their debate on Khin Aung Myint's proposal. Friday (September 9) In the Lower House, Myint Lwin asked about government plans for revitalizing the publishing industry in Burma and facilitating translation work to help promote Burmese literature. Information minister U Pe Myint replied that pending workshops would provide advice for organizing translation classes at universities. He added that the information ministry is planning a commercial tax exemption for the publishing industry. In the Upper House, an ethnic Chin lawmaker asked about the government's plan to reduce the unemployment rate and create job opportunities for people during its five-year term. Minister for Labor, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe said his ministry was adopting employment policies and taking measures to attract foreign direct investment while engaging in capacity development for workers. Four lawmakers debated amendments to the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law. The Upper House Bill Committee will review the amendments. The post This Week in Parliament (September 5-9) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (Sept 10) Posted: 09 Sep 2016 07:21 PM PDT A motorcyclist rides past a dirt road at a site for a billion dollar industrial estate in Dawei, Tenasserim Division, May 10, 2012. (Photo: Reuters) Loans for motorbikes set to rev up Potential growth in the market for motorbike loans emerged as a factor in two foreign-led ventures announced this week. South Korea's Shinhan Card Co. launched a microcredit service that will begin offering small-sized loans to clients in Rangoon and Pegu, with a plan to later introduce installment financing and leasing, according to a report in Pulsenews. Target customers are likely to include purchasers of motorbikes, according to the report. The move is part of the company's efforts to enter overseas markets as falling commission fees reduce profitability in the South Korean market, Pulsenews reported. The firm's sister company, Shinhan Bank, is also preparing to enter the Burmese market, the report added. Meanwhile Thai motorcycle leasing company Group Lease PCI plans to buy 71 percent of BG Microfinance Myanmar from the Commercial Credit and Finance PLC of Sri Lanka, Reuters reported this week. The deal will be completed shortly, pending due diligence of BG Microfinance, Group Lease chairman and chief executive officer Mitsuji Konoshita said at a joint briefing. Group Lease aims to book earnings from the Burma firm in the fourth quarter, he said.  The firm will inject US$6.8 million into BG Microfinance to expand to 12 branches in Burma next year from three at present, he added. BG Microfinance is a subsidiary of Commercial Credit and has operated in Burma for more than two years with about 10,000 customers, according to Roshan S. Egodage, CEO of Commercial Credit. Dawei project committees to be revived: official New editions will be created soon of two committees on the proposed Dawei megaproject that have been dormant since late last year, according to a senior Thai official. Activities of the Myanmar Thailand Joint High-Level Committee (JHC) and the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC), formed to foster development of the long-delayed multi-billion dollar industrial project, stalled before last year's general election in Burma. Porametee Vimolsri, secretary-general to Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), said the joint ministerial meeting between the two countries in August had agreed to revitalize the role of the two committees to "rev up the project," according to the Bangkok Post. Burma's government is reconsidering loan plans for the construction of a 132-kilometer road from Dawei to Ban Phu Nam Ron in Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province, according to the report. Last February the Thai government announced that road construction would be halted following a report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that 15-degree inclines along seven stretches of the road—which passes through mountains—would be unsafe for trucks. The agency proposed the construction of seven tunnels to solve the problem. China trade picks up Trade at four border points linking Burma and China picked up in the first five months of this year, reaching US$2.296 billion, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The gates are Muse in northern Shan State, the largest, along with Lwejel in Kachin State, Chin Shwehaw in northeastern Shan State and Kanpite Tee in Kachin State. Trade value at Muse, however, dropped by $114.083 million to $1.95 billion during the five-month period amid restrictions by China on rice trading and other items, as well as traffic holdups on the route to Muse in the early months of this year, the China Daily reported. Burma has 15 border trade points with China, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Total border trade value with the four neighboring countries during the first five months of this fiscal year reached $2.816 billion. Keppel Land set to increase Junction City investment The Shwe Taung Group has entered into a conditional agreement with Singapore-listed Keppel Land to develop premium serviced residences and offices at the second phase of the Junction City development on Bogyoke Aung San Road in downtown Rangoon. Under the agreement, the real estate arm of conglomerate Keppel Corp will hold 40 percent of the some 260 serviced residences and around 50,000 square meters of office space, for a total investment of $48.6 million, the Straits Times reported. Construction of the second phase of the project, which will include a hotel, a retail and entertainment center and a large car-park, is expected to begin in 2018. "We are confident of the long-term potential of [Burma], and are committed to participating in and contributing to the growth of the country," Mr. Ng Ooi Hooi, president of regional investments at Keppel Land, told the newspaper. Keppel Land first entered Burma in 1993, when it broke ground for the Sedona Hotel in Rangoon. It also owns and manages the Sedona Hotel in Mandalay. Shwe Taung and Keppel have previously collaborated to develop Junction City Tower, a 23-story office building in the first phase of the multi-purpose project in the heart of Burma's commercial capital. Chefs shine Five top Burmese chefs are preparing to compete in the Culinary Olympics in Germany in October, following winning performances at the Asian Food Festival and Battle of the Chefs held in Penang, Malaysia last month. The Myanmar Chefs Association supported a total of 14 chefs from Inle Lake (the Pristine Lotus), Mandalay (Shwe Ingynn and Hot Pot), Naypyidaw (the Hilton) and Rangoon (Le Planteur and Sedona) to take part in the Penang event. Chef Zin Myo Nwe of Le Planteur Restaurant in Rangoon won two silver medals and one bronze medal, while chef Zin Maw Win of the Hilton, Naypyidaw, bagged a silver medal in the individual category for his salmon main course prepared two ways. A Burmese fine-dining team comprised of chefs and barmen from the Hilton and Le Planteur also took awards, with a five-course menu for 13 people produced within four hours. "It was a great experience and an honor to compete with the best chefs in Asia. There are many young chefs in [Burma] who have the potential to succeed anywhere in the world. I hope this win inspires them to excel and that we win a gold medal next time," chef Zin Maw of the Hilton said in a hotel statement on Sept. 7. The team of five Burmese chefs heading to Erfurt, Germany next month will be competing in the world's largest international professional competition for chefs, cooks and pastry chefs. The IKA/Culinary Olympics event premiered in 1900 and is held every four years.             The post The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (Sept 10) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dateline Irrawaddy: ‘The Conference is the Initial Step Toward Peace but There are Still Many Challenges’ Posted: 09 Sep 2016 07:16 PM PDT The Union Peace Conference or 21st Century Panglong Conference took place in Naypyidaw from August 31 to September 3. On the second day of the conference, Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe discussed the peace conference's potential with Ko Ye, who studies civilian-military relations and political transitions at the Tagaung Institute of Political Studies, Tar Hla Pe, central executive committee member of the Ta'ang (Palaung) National Party and Nang Phyu Phyu Lin, chairwoman of the Alliance for Gender Inclusion in the Peace Process (AGIPP). KZM: Seven dignitaries—including ethnic leaders, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the military chief—delivered speeches at the opening of the conference. Ko Ye, do you think the conference can fulfill the people's expectations for peace? Ko Ye: As KIA [Kachin Independence Army] vice chairman General N'Ban La has said, the conference is the initial step toward peace. But there are still many challenges. KZM: What do you think is the most pressing challenge? KY: The fact that the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups have not yet reached an agreement. KZM: Seventeen ethnic armed groups attended the peace conference, but three groups—the MNDAA [Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army], Ta'ang National Liberation Army [TNLA] and Arakan Army [AA] could not. What barred them from attending the conference—the government or their relations with the military? Tar Hla Pe: The government and the military were not satisfied with the wording of the statements of those [three] groups about their commitment to lay down arms. A great deal of understanding has yet to be built between the two sides. KZM: Until the eve of the conference, it was unclear if KIA vice-chairman N'Ban La would be allowed to give an address during the opening of the conference. Some said that the government barred him while others said it was the military. What do you think? THP: Much remains to be done by the government and the military for the sake of national reconciliation, which they have been talking about. KZM: Women participants also participated in the peace conference. In his address to the conference, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that women's participation [in the peace conference] should be increased to 30 percent. What do you think about the low level of women's participation in the conference? What are the disadvantages? NPPL: According to research and survey results, the involvement of civil society and women in the peace process could contribute to building more sustainable peace. Women only accounted for about 12 percent of peace conference attendees. Of that 12 percent, many were attending the conference as facilitators, technical team members and observers, and the number of real participants who were invited or elected [by concerned stakeholders] to attend the conference was low. While everyone else is pushing for all-inclusion, I would like to stress that gender equality and women's participation is extremely important. KZM: The military occupy a very powerful role in the country. The civil war has been going on for nearly 70 years now. Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has said the military will uphold its six peace principles and our three main national causes [non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty]. Will his statement be a big hurdle for other ethnic groups to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement [NCA] or could it be negotiated? Ko Ye: He did not mention the words "civil war" in his address. He just said "internal instability and lack of peace and development [that has existed] along with 68 years of independence." We need to accept the fact that the military is involved in the civil war as a stakeholder. He also did not mention the words "federal democratic Union." Both the government and all ethnicities have been demanding this and the military needs to accept it. The military chief called for working within the framework of the NCA, six peace principles of the military and multi-party democracy system that emerged according to the [military-drafted] 2008 Constitution. But ethnicities might have quite different views on the peace process. KZM: General N'Ban La also talked about the three demands made by ethnic groups. He said ethnic groups took up arms because they did not have equality or self-determination. Do you think they can't achieve these because the military refuses or is there a way to negotiate? THP: I discussed this at a meeting of the UPDJC [Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee]. Political parties as well as EAOs [ethnic armed organizations] have continuously called for all-inclusion in working toward our ultimate goal—democracy, a federal Union and peace. I asked if all-inclusion should be rejected due to the refusal of a particular individual or group. I said that we could not be on the wrong side of history just because of one group's opposition. It is one of the duties of the UPDJC to invite [ethnic armed groups to the conference]. I said that if we did not invite all groups, not only the two major actors—EAOs and the military—but also the supporting players [political parties], we would be the guilty party. I called for all-inclusion at the peace conference. My argument was based on the state counselor's statement, which spoke of all-inclusion. When I asked about all-inclusion [at the UPDJC meeting] on August 15, [government peace negotiator] U Khin Zaw Oo promised all-inclusion. So, it was upsetting that three groups were excluded days before the conference. This was a sad case for ethnic groups and the entire country. Continued efforts must be made to ensure the NCA is real and that the next steps of the peace process are all-inclusive. KZM: Ma Nang Phyu Phyu Linn, to what extent do you think the government and the military are willing to cooperate and listen to advice regarding gender and ethnic issues? NPPL: Before the conference, representatives from the Alliance for Gender Inclusion in the Peace Process called on [government chief peace negotiator] Dr. Tin Myo Win at the National Reconciliation and Peace Center [NRPC]. He received us and allowed us to attend the peace conference as observers. The government listened to our recommendations somewhat, but not fully. It allowed us only to submit our paper—which was about the role of women in five major sectors, including political dialogue—but not to read and discuss it at the conference. I hope that we will be granted greater participation in the future. KZM: The second round of the Panglong Conference will be held in the next five or six months. Do you think the percentage of women's representation that you expect will be realized at that time? NPPL: It is unlikely without a policy in place—like a policy that reserves a 30 percent quota for women—and without budget allocation, political will and mutual respect. But we don't feel downhearted. We will continue trying. KZM: Ko Ye, we have discussed the disagreements between the military and ethnic armed groups. The military and the current government are cooperating to some extent. But there was even some friction between the military and the previous government led by former General U Thein Sein. How is the current collaboration between the government and the military? KY: I see it in three parts: first, civil-military relations—between the military and the government elected by the people; second, military-ethnic relations—between the ethnic groups and the military; and third, relations between ethnic groups and the government. Trust has yet to be built in all of these relationships. This is normal in any country that undergoes transition. So we need to rebuild the country with trust and dialogue. It has been suggested that the country solve political problems through political means. But to do that, the politics should be politics that everyone trusts. To create such politics, a political framework that everyone trusts is necessary. The key to solving the problem is [to change] the 2008 Constitution. Because the framework of the 2008 Constitution is not a politically acceptable framework, the problem lies therein. These problems are to be solved through collaboration and cooperation. In so doing, politicians need to display greater capability and shrewdness. Only when politicians exhibit these characteristics, will we be able to overcome those problems politically. KZM: Ma Nang Phyu, Karen National Union chairman General Mutu Sae Poe criticized the process of selecting conference attendees—saying it was top-down and not bottom-up. To what extent do you think it was top-down? NPPL: It is obvious how much the organizing process lacks a bottom-up approach. But I am sure a bottom-up approach will be taken when holding the civil society organization (CSO) forum [which was supposed to be held in parallel with the peace conference]. There are deep-seated practices in our country—it has been a practice in our society for more than 60 years to follow the orders of superiors [without complaint], even in CSOs. It would be very difficult to mend this practice. If it is difficult to change that practice in CSOs, it will be more difficult for formal institutions such as the government, the military and ethnic armed groups, which are used to following hierarchical orders, to suddenly change this practice.  The question is whether freedom of speech will be allowed and if it will be recognized. If and when people's concerns about possible punishment for what they say are eased, a bottom-up approach will finally happen. KZM: As a Myanmar citizen, who would you like to give your advice to—the State Counselor, the military or ethnic armed organizations? And what is your advice? NPPL: We would like to initiate a system. We want the government to form a commission that will take care of the peace process from a gendered perspective or form a gender advisory group with advice from local CSOs. What's more, we want the government to allot a certain percentage of the Union budget to gender equality. KZM: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders talked about the importance of the ceasefire. If NCA non-signatories still can't sign the ceasefire and if those groups [MNDAA, AA and TNLA] that were left out still can't join the conference in next five or six months, the peace process will be in big trouble. Regarding this, whom would you like to give advice to and what is it? THP: I think the government and the military have to build trust and reconciliation first. A landscape that allows for the participation of ethnic armed groups must be created. There must be genuine goodwill, equality and justice for our country to see development. KZM: Goodwill and trust are the most crucial things? THP: Yes, they are. KZM: Ko Ye, what is your advice for improvement of tripartite relations between the military, government and ethnic armed groups. Who would you like to give advice to directly? KY: At the present time, we would like to give advice to the political community. Politicians need to be stronger than they are now. From the papers read by ethnic armed groups at the conference, it can be concluded that ethnic groups were prepared. Politicians need to drive our country more strongly—only then will we be able to push ahead with the democratic political process that everyone aspires to. KZM: Thank you for the discussion. We hope to see the fruitful results of the Union Peace Conference in the coming months and years. The post Dateline Irrawaddy: 'The Conference is the Initial Step Toward Peace but There are Still Many Challenges' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Now Is the Time to Act in Arakan State Posted: 09 Sep 2016 07:04 PM PDT Displaced individuals staying in Thae Chaung IDP camp are pictured during the Arakan State Advisory Commission's visit to the area. (Photo: Maung Kyaw Hein MPA / The Irrawaddy) As the chairman of the new nine-member Arakan State Advisory Commission, Kofi Annan might have had a powerful message after visiting displaced people's camps in Sittwe, where he met many individuals who, after five years, have yet to return to their homes in the region. But, upon his return to Rangoon, he did not speak about what he saw there, reminding members of the press and the public that the commission would not be investigating human rights abuses, and instead promised to write an "impartial report" on the situation. Since riots broke out in 2012 between the majority Buddhist Arakanese and the minority Muslim Rohingya, the two groups have lived separated in the region's cities, with the Arakanese laying claim to the more developed urban areas, and the Rohingya relegated to the outskirts. Lawi Weng is a Senior Reporter for The Irrawaddy English edition. Reportedly, during his two-day trip, Annan could not meet with local Arakanese community leaders, who are upset by his reaching out to figures from within the self-identifying Rohingya community—a group which most Arakanese Buddhists, and the Burmese public, recognize as "Bengali," implying that they are migrants from Bangladesh. Annan visted Thae Chaung IDP camp on Wednesday—which houses some of the estimated 140,000 people displaced by the violence of 2012—and also visited the Rohingya community of Aung Mingalar ward in the state capital. He may at some point speak about the conditions he witnessed at the camps. But, if and when Annan reveals what he has seen on the ground, he risks the condemnation of Buddhist Arakanese, who will accuse him of taking the side of the Rohingya. They will likely say that he does not understand the history of the region's conflict and communities. Hundreds of locals protested the former UN chief's arrival and departure from Sittwe, stating that they resented international interference in what they consider to be an internal problem. The fact that the same local Buddhist Arakanese have never agreed to return displaced Muslims to their homes is one reason why the conflict remains unsolved. The international community criticized the current government for an insufficient response to the conflict and for allowing the displaced to continue languishing in camps. On this issue, they are being designated the same negative image earned by the previous military-backed government for their handling of the situation. In response to the criticism, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi formed the new commission in search of a solution. It was a smart move—her government could potentially receive practical advice about what needs to be done to address the problems in Arakan State. But she is not immune to backlash in the region: the Arakanese public largely turned against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), during the 2015 election—choosing the Arakan National Party (ANP) for the majority of seats in their state legislature instead of the NLD, which otherwise won nationally by a landslide. Even if the widely popular State Counselor herself were in Kofi Annan's position and visited the region—speaking openly about what she saw—it is likely that she would receive the same criticism he is facing. Some ANP lawmakers have accused the State Counselor of violating Burma's sovereignty by inviting international players to examine what they maintain is an internal issue. But in fact, by inviting Kofi Annan to take part in the Arakan State Advisory Commission, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not compromising the country's integrity—she is demonstrating how she believes that now is the time is to act in solving this conflict. The post Now Is the Time to Act in Arakan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Jade Companies Threaten to Sue Trespassing Prospectors
• Regional Parliamentarians Lament Continued Govt Centralization
• New Law Proposed to Protect Citizens Against State Surveillance
• Gun-Brandishing Police Officer in Hpakant Detained, Facing Internal Investigation
• Mon and Karen Forces Clash in Dawei District
• Burma, Czech Republic Sign MoU on Trade
• Armed Forces Chief to Kofi Annan: Solutions Must Win Arakanese Approval

Jade Companies Threaten to Sue Trespassing Prospectors Posted: 09 Sep 2016 08:20 AM PDT Small-scale miners at work in Hpakant. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON—Jade mining companies in upper Burma have threatened to sue jade prospectors taking small stones from dumping areas, in an announcement made by Sagaing Division jade operators in a state-run newspaper on Friday. Newspaper Myanmar Ahlin said that seven licensed jade mining companies operating in Nan Si Pon jade region in Hkamti Township, Sagaing Division have released a joint notice, saying they possess full-term jade mining licenses from the Ministry of Mines which includes residual jade in the designated dumping areas. The notice warns prospectors to stop illegally entering dumping areas in search of residual jade within seven days of Sept. 7, adding that legal action will be taken against violators. Khine Nan Shwe, Aung Htee Phyu, Zabu Thiri, Htet Yi Lin, Myauk Kyon Thu Mama, Min Htet Oo and Lin In Ar companies posted the notice in the newspaper. U Aung Thein, secretary of the Mandalay Gems Traders Association, said many hand pickers have entered jade mines illegally in Sagaing Division and Kachin State to search for small stones in waste dumps. "There is less security in those areas," he said. "I have heard that people are hand-picking in big groups without approval from the mine owners, causing considerable trouble. That's why they agreed to this announcement." According to the Myanmar Gems Enterprise, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, there are warning signs posted by the ministry to deter prospectors from entering jade mines illegally. "By law, nobody can enter someone's boundaries without approval, so if jade mining companies have not given hand-pickers permission, they cannot," said U Min Thu, director of Myanmar Gems Enterprise. "Companies have given notice to these people before taking this most recent action," he said. Mining companies have complained to local authorities and ministry officials about this problem before. Police and legal experts suggested giving prior notice before taking action against them. "That's why jade companies have made this announcement public," U Min Thu said. More than 5,000 jade mines in Sagaing division and more than than 6,000 mines in Kachin State continue to operate as government licenses expire across the country. U Min Thu said these numbers are falling as licenses cease to be valid. Jade mining in Kachin State was suspended in 2012 after the breakdown of a 17-year ceasefire between the government and the Kachin Independence Army. After government approval, mining operations continued, halting temporarily in early 2015 when renewed fighting broke out before a more widespread resumption of armed conflict in March of last year. The new NLD government decided not to renew jade mining licenses, prompting 310 companies to cease operations as of last month, as listed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. The government has announced that all remaining jade mining licenses will expire in 2018, and licenses will only be considered for renewal after the completion of an environmental management plan for jade mining areas of Kachin State. The post Jade Companies Threaten to Sue Trespassing Prospectors appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Regional Parliamentarians Lament Continued Govt Centralization Posted: 09 Sep 2016 08:15 AM PDT NLD lawmakers stand in the Rangoon Division parliament. (Photo: Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma's civilian-led government recently marked five months since the transfer of power from the country's previous, military-backed administration. The Irrawaddy explored the ongoing challenges facing regional parliamentarians in the new system by surveying six National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmakers from Pegu, Irrawaddy and Rangoon division parliaments, and six representatives from parliaments in ethnic states, including those serving in the Arakan National Party (ANP), the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP), the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and the once-ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). In interviews, parliamentarians discussed and reflected on the first official 100 days in their divisional legislatures, a period which ended in August. Regional lawmakers revealed a struggle surrounding limited transparency and a sense of helplessness they attribute to continued centralization in the country's young government. Lawmakers decry lack of transparency from Arakan State government On Aug. 22, at a session of the Arakan State parliament, Khin Maung Htay, an ANP legislator from Ann Constituency (2), submitted a question: do we have the right to know the government's 100-day plan for our state? The inquiry was in reference to the period from May 1 until mid-August. "I have no idea about the government's 100 day project, so that's why I'm asking this question," he said. Arakan State, like Burma's other states, has a set of appointed ministers who are largely members of the ruling NLD. Arakan State's municipal minister, Min Aung of the NLD, simply replied by referring Khin Maung Htay to a government press conference held on July 22 in the state capital of Sittwe, pointing out that many "respected" individuals and civil society representatives had been invited, leaving nothing left to explain in the regional parliament. "He didn't say anything about the specifics of the 100-day plan," Khin Maun Htay said, adding that he assumed the regional government was continuing the development of infrastructure throughout the state—projects started by the previous government—although this could not be confirmed. Budgets were specified by the former administration, and there is concern that the Arakan State government is working through its annual budget at an alarming rate by continuing projects prioritized by previous leadership. "As a representative of my constituents, I must know the status of ongoing projects. I want the [state government] to explain details in the [state] parliament for all lawmakers." The Irrawaddy phoned Min Aung multiple times for comment, but was not able to reach him. USDP lawmaker Htun Hla Sein, from Maungdaw Township, also said he felt ignored by the government; talking to parliamentarians, he argued, should be viewed in the same way as "talking to the public," he said. Another outspoken ANP lawmaker Kyaw Zaw Oo of Sittwe's Constituency (2) spoke with The Irrawaddy over the phone, and lamented the lack of "effort" made by government ministers to keep MPs up to date with relevant facts and figures. He admitted that he had not heard any updates on budget allocation, and wondered if centralization of government was to blame. "Many problems are handled by the central body [the Union government], and sometimes I don't think the Chief Minister can do anything here," he said. Kachin, Shan lawmakers highlight regional limitations Meanwhile, members of the Kachin and Shan state parliaments identify as a key challenge determining whether a legislative issue is of regional or national importance, and the implications of introducing it in the regional or Union-level parliament. For KSDP parliamentarian Maran Ja Seng Hkawn, representing Kachin State's Ingyan Constituency (2), the controversial Myitsone dam is planned for construction within her area, at the confluence that forms the Irrawaddy River. Yet if the China-backed hydropower project proceeds, the impact would be felt nationwide. She described being "censored" after attempting to discuss the dam in the NLD-dominated Kachin State parliament, with the House Speaker reportedly rejecting a debate on the issue, pointing out that the state lacks power to make decisions on such matters due to restrictions laid out in the 2008 Constitution. Tu Ja, chairman of the KSDP, said, "The centralization is not much different from the previous government." Ongoing fighting between government troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been met with silence from the Kachin State Chief Minister, leading MPs to question his influence and authority in the state; would the Burma Army listen if the Chief Minster ordered a halt to the attacks? Tu Ja went as far as declaring that "nothing has changed at the state level," since the shift to a civilian-led government in Naypyidaw, lamenting continued armed conflict in Kachin State. "The state government knows [there is fighting], but they do nothing about it," he said. Ja Seng Hkawn recommends that greater authority be granted to the state level, particularly regarding the ability to respond to clashes, but until the military-drafted 2008 Constitution is amended, regional powers will continue to remain limited. Fighting between ethnic armed groups and the Burma Army has also continued in northern Shan State, even as the 21st Century Panglong peace conference commenced in Naypyidaw on Aug. 31. Regional MP Nang San San Aye, representing the SNLD in Hsipaw Township, said she is still awaiting a government plan for resettlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced communities in Shan State. The state's Chief Minister—Linn Htut of the NLD—she said, had not yet addressed the conflict or the displacement. At the very least, she said, the state government could have instructed the Burma Army to halt troop reinforcements in areas of conflict. Like Kachin State's Ja Seng Hkawn, Nang San San Aye told The Irrawaddy that every time she brought up concerns about armed conflict in the state parliament, the House Speaker rejected her proposal, deferring such issues to the Union government. "Armed clashes are not happening at the Union level—they are happening around ethnic Shan communities. Awaiting instructions from the Union level government would not help our people," she said. Communication challenges within divisional governments Rangoon Division lawmakers Myat Min Thu and Daw Khaing Mar Htay also describe being kept in the dark regarding government planning, budgetary matters and construction projects. Despite legislators' inquiries about definitive timeframes or action plans, the MPs that The Irrawaddy spoke to said that ministers often fail to provide accurate information. "Some ministers make promises," said Irrawaddy Division parliamentarian U Khin Win. "But I don't know whether or not they have done as they said." Nyi Nyi Htwe and Thet Win Hlaing, lawmakers from Pegu Division, admitted that they knew little of their government's plans for the first 100 days in power. A legislator from the Irrawaddy Division parliament, Khaing Zin Oo, attributed these issues to the newness of the NLD-led government, pointing out that ministers are still learning how to apply and adhere to government procedures. In order to improve communication and working capacity, the director of the Tanpadipa Institute, Khin Zaw Win, said that regional governments should "explain their projects" to the parliament. Centralization and a lack of transparency could continue, he warned, if the majority of state and divisional parliaments continue to be dominated by only one party, with mostly NLD lawmakers and appointed NLD ministers. "I don't hold out much hope with this government. Their actions involve an 'information blackout.' That will not take us in a good direction," Khin Zaw Win said. He recommended the development of stronger checks and balances between legislatures and ministers, especially over decision-making. The requirement to wait for instructions from the Union government delays urgent action when it is most needed, he explained, pointing to the lack of power afforded to the divisional government during a recent measles outbreak in the Naga Self-Administered Zone in Sagaing Division. Moreover, constituents who voted in support of particular parties view a lack of transparency as irresponsible, he said: regional cabinets must release all information relevant to regional lawmakers. Khin Zaw Win encouraged chief ministers of states and divisions to be aware of the importance of their role. "They have the power to act, but do not dare to apply that power out of fear of being disqualified [from their post]," he explained. "They are just waiting for orders from the central body." Irrawaddy Division MP Khin Win said that it would take time to develop a more efficient working system. "The country has been torn for several decades. How could that be solved within 100 days?" he said. The post Regional Parliamentarians Lament Continued Govt Centralization appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Law Proposed to Protect Citizens Against State Surveillance Posted: 09 Sep 2016 06:31 AM PDT A Special Branch officer records as student activist Nanda Sit Aung talks to the Reuters news agency during an interview at Thayawady court, during a mass trial of student protesters in Pegu Division, August 25, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — A new bill to protect citizens' privacy, security and freedom from state surveillance and intrusion was submitted to Parliament on Thursday by the Lower House Bill Committee. Despite democratic reforms since 2011, and the coming to power of an elected civilian government in April of this year, Burma retains much its surveillance and repressive security apparatus, which remains under the control of the military. Plain-clothed "Special Branch" officers, a division of the police under the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs, can still freely intrude on people's privacy—taking pictures, videos and sound recordings of ordinary citizens, collecting material that can be used against them in legal suits—and keep a particularly close watch on political and civil society activists. The bill prohibits unwarranted household arrests and inspections, and surveillance of individuals and their private communication in a manner that harms their privacy or dignity, barring the approval of the President or Union ministers. The draft law also states that no one can request or provide private communication logged by telecom operators, unseal private letters and parcels, intrude on an individual's private affairs and family life, and seize citizens' moveable or immoveable property. These intrusions are permitted under the frequently vague provisions of Burma's existing laws. Under previous military and military-backed governments, political dissidents, student activists, and journalists routinely had their phones tapped and their movements closely followed by both Special Branch and Military Intelligence officers. U Aung Myo Kyaw of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said he welcomed the bill because it would help protect the rights of the individual, which have been severely curtailed in Burma over a long period. "Not only under the previous government but up till now, we have been facing these kinds of [abuses]. It is unchanged. In some areas, if we arrive to hold a public event, there is surveillance of our movements. Influential politicians and former political prisoners are still facing this," he said. He said that, during the military regime that ruled Burma over five decades, thousands of politicians, student activists and their associates were jailed or closely followed. "If they want to know what we are doing, they can ask and take the information directly from us. But stalking and secretly taking pictures of us shouldn't happen now. But since there was previously no legal protection from those kinds of things, they kept doing it. If the law is enacted, it will provide for the protection all citizens. But everyone, especially special branch officers, the police and administrators, need to follow it," U Aung Myo Kyaw added. The bill proscribes a punishment to anyone who violates the law with prison terms of up to five years and a fine of 2,500,000 kyats (US$2,050). "In the past, we always felt insecure. We were anxious at night that we'd get a knock on our door and be arrested," U Tun Tun Hein, chair of the Lower House Bill Committee and a former political prisoner, told reporters at the parliament on Thursday. "But under democracy, citizens shall live and sleep without such anxiety," he said, adding that the government "needs to be held responsible" for ensuring citizens' privacy and security. "After the law is enacted, you can file a complaint with the police if you suspect that your phone is being tapped or have experienced household inspections without a warrant," he said. The post New Law Proposed to Protect Citizens Against State Surveillance appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Gun-Brandishing Police Officer in Hpakant Detained, Facing Internal Investigation Posted: 09 Sep 2016 05:59 AM PDT Police Lieutenant Soe Zaw Zaw threatening locals at gunpoint on Tuesday. (Photo: Facebook) A police officer who threatened local villagers in Kachin State's Hpakant Township at gunpoint has been suspended and detained, pending an internal police investigation. On Tuesday, at a meeting with locals of Hmaw Pon Village in Lone Khin Village Tract of Hpakant Township regarding the election of 100-household administrators, Police Lieutenant Soe Zaw Zaw took out and pointed his gun at the villagers during an argument. A video file of the incident, in which he is heard threatening to shoot the villagers, went viral online, drawing extensive public criticism. The police lieutenant later apologized to the villagers, who accepted his apology, said Lower House lawmaker U Tint Soe, who represents Hpakant Township. But the lawmaker considered the police officer's behavior unacceptable and he called on the authorities to punish him for his misconduct. "I found his behavior in the video terrible. So, I immediately asked the [Kachin State] chief minister to take legal action against him. Police Battalion 16 will now conduct an internal police investigation. He will be detained at Hpakant police station until Sept. 13," U Tint Soe told The Irrawaddy. "The reason for [officers] holding arms should be to protect the people, not to harass them. They must avoid abusing their power in an issue which is none of their business," said U Tint Soe. Police Battalion 16 is mainly responsible for providing security for jade mining businesses in the Hpakant area. Dashi La Sai, a National League for Democracy lawmaker in the Kachin State parliament, said: "We have never heard of a police officer threatening [people] with a gun during a [local] election, although there are cases of police firing warning shots against illegal [jade] prospectors." Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. The post Gun-Brandishing Police Officer in Hpakant Detained, Facing Internal Investigation appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mon and Karen Forces Clash in Dawei District Posted: 09 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Members of the Mon National Liberation Army on maneuvers in Ye township, Mon state (Photo: NMSP/Facebook) RANGOON—A clash erupted Thursday afternoon between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) in Tae Chong village of Dawei District. The two ethnic armed groups both claim land in the area, also known as Tavoy, in Tenasserim Division. "Members of the Karen National Union [KNU] came into the village," Nai Win Hla, a spokesperson from the New Mon State Party (NMSP), told The Irrawaddy Friday. "Two of their members came to observe our army base nearby. On their way back, two of our soldiers chased them, they fought back and a short firefight broke out." The spokesperson reported no casualties from MNLA soldiers but that one soldier from KNLA—the armed wing of the KNU—was wounded by a gunshot, according to local residents. The NMSP informed Burma's Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the incident; the group oversees the implementation of 2015’s nationwide ceasefire agreement, which the KNU/KNLA signed, but the MNLA opted out of. The NMSP also told the Dawei regional government and contacted KNU's liaison office in Dawei to meet and resolve the problem, Nai Win Hla reported. According to local Mon and Karen sources, tensions have been high in recent months because ethnic Mon have begun growing rubber plants on an area claimed by KNU in the past but currently controlled by the MNLA. "First, they [KNU] wanted ethnic Mon growing rubber plants in the area to get out, then they even wanted our troops to move out from these areas," NMSP spokesperson Nai Win Hla said. "We have been based in this area since before we signed the ceasefire agreement with the government [in 1995, and renewed in 2012]. But now the KNU are saying this area belongs to them, this is the dispute that caused the fight to break out." The Irrawaddy contacted the KNU liaison office in Dawei and a staffer confirmed that there was a fight with the Mon but said that they were not available to discuss it further. An ethnic Karen Dawei resident close to the KNLA, who asked to remain nameless, said "this is not ethnic conflict; it was just a land dispute." The source said that after the KNU tried to remove a Mon rubber farmer from a KNU-controlled area, the rubber farmer called the MNLA, leading to the clash. The post Mon and Karen Forces Clash in Dawei District appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma, Czech Republic Sign MoU on Trade Posted: 09 Sep 2016 03:42 AM PDT U Ai Tun (middle) at the Czech-Burma economic forum in Prague this week (Photo: Lin Thant) PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Burma and the Czech Republic entered into historic economic relations on Monday when the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on economic cooperation. The International Business Promotion Centre (IBPC), the second largest independent business association in Burma, and the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic signed the MoU at a Czech-Burma economic forum in Prague. It is the first of its kind in six decades. U Ai Tun, chairman of IBPC, said the MoU covers Czech investment in Burma, Burma's exports to the Czech Republic, and cooperation between Burmese and Czech business professionals in mining and agricultural production. "The Czech Republic is a technologically advanced country; they export good quality machinery for a reasonable price. My company has already bought machinery from them," said U Ai Tun, who is also the chairman of Shwetaung Development Co. The signatories view the bilateral cooperation as an entry point to the EU market for Burma and a way into the Asian market for the Czech Republic. František Chaloupecký, vice-chairman of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, said his country is not only interested in exporting to Burma, but also wants to promote bilateral relations with Burma as an economic partner. He said the Czech government knows that Burma's banking system and intellectual property rights issues remain challenges, but the Czech Republic is ready to help the country with those sectors. The Burmese business delegation comprised over 30 members and will finish its trip to Europe on Sept. 12. They plan to sign a similar MOU with Croatia. "Suffice to say our mission was successful," business delegation leader U Ai Tun said of the Czech Republic visit. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko The post Burma, Czech Republic Sign MoU on Trade appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Armed Forces Chief to Kofi Annan: Solutions Must Win Arakanese Approval Posted: 09 Sep 2016 02:58 AM PDT Arakan State Advisory Commission chairman Kofi Annan meets with Burma's Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing on Thursday in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Senior General Min Aung Hlaing / Facebook) RANGOON — Burma's armed forces chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing warned the Kofi Annan-led Arakan State Advisory Commission that proposed solutions to the communal conflict in the state must win the "approval" of the Buddhist Arakanese community. Ascribing the Buddhist-Muslim conflict in large part to labor migration during the colonial era, and illegal migration thereafter, the senior general conveyed a hard line on the issue—consistent with previous governments—reiterating that "Bengalis," as the Rohingya are routinely termed, do not belong to Burma, falling outside of the 135 recognized ethnicities. At the meeting on Thursday in Naypyidaw, he said, "the wishes of ethnic people are pivotal," under a definition that excludes the Rohingya. "We have to consider ethnic unity and democracy […] not only citizenship," he said—a likely reference to the widespread rejection among the Burmese public of the Rohingya's claim to being rightful citizens of the country. He also recommended that the commission take into account the "historical context and background of the communal conflict in Arakan State." The senior general went on at length about agricultural labor migration from Bengal in India to the Arakan coast from the late 1880s—when Burma was merged with India under the colonial British administration—and violent confrontation between Buddhist and Muslim communities dating back to 1942 during World War II, as well as the Burmese government's failure to control migration in the 1970s while "cracking down on communists" in the north-east of the country. "We have 135 ethnicities, including eight national races, in the country. But there is no Bengali ethnicity," said Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. The senior general stated that the Rohingya—the large majority of whom remain stateless—would be assessed for citizenship under the 1982 law. The law places considerable barriers to citizenship for those, like the Rohingya, whose ethnicity is not officially recognized, and establishes different tiers of citizenship with diminishing rights. "If they consider themselves [fit for the citizenship], they should feel free to be verified," he said, in reference to a continued citizenship verification drive in Arakan State. The senior general also claimed that the Arakan State conflict was "not based on religion," instead being attributable to "people instigating riots using religion as a pretext." He claimed that Burma scored well on religious freedom, having "accepted" Muslim communities in Burma for a long time, and that Muslims currently occupy "senior levels" in the civil service. Kofi Annan—the Ghanaian former UN secretary-general and peace envoy appointed by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to lead the new advisory commission—stressed during the meeting that the commission would only make "recommendations" to the government, and would "take a holistic approach, not only on citizenship but also regional development." The former UN secretary-general arrived in Burma on Sunday. First meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon, he traveled to Arakan State earlier this week with the new commission, meeting with Buddhist and Muslim community representatives—and facing protests from several hundred Buddhist Arakanese on their arrival and departure—before meeting with President U Htin Kyaw and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. The formation of the advisory commission was announced by the State Counselor's Office in late August. The commission is comprised of three international members, including the chairman Kofi Annan, and six from Burma—two Buddhist Arakanese, two Muslims (from Rangoon) and three representing the government. According to the state counselor, the commission will "investigate the root causes of the conflict in Arakan State and develop a reconciliation process between the two religious communities in the region." Communal violence, mostly directed against the Rohingya, took place across Arakan State in 2012 and 2013, displacing up to 140,000 people, the vast majority Muslim. Buddhist and Muslim communities remain segregated across most parts of the state, with restrictions placed on displaced Muslims' movements and access to public services. The advisory commission drew criticism soon after its formation. The Arakan National Party and the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) objected to the inclusion of the international members, because it would "interfere with Burma's sovereignty." Their fears chiefly revolve around the likelihood of the international members siding with the Rohingya. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has attempted to allay concerns, stating that "no one can interfere with our sovereignty—sovereignty is owned by all people, not only by the government.' This week, a heated debate took place in the Lower House of Parliament, with 148 lawmakers—including military representatives and members of ethnic parties and the USDP—calling for international members of the commission to be replaced with local academics. However, 250 lawmakers from the ruling National League for Democracy defeated the proposal. After the eruption of violence in 2012, former President U Thein Sein formed the 27-member Arakan Investigation Commission. Given the continued displacement and religious segregation across Arakan State, the panel's mission of "conflict resolution and reconciliation between the two groups" could not be said to have made much headway over four years. Zaganar, a former member of the investigation commission, told The Irrawaddy that the previous government failed to act on the commission's findings. "I think less than 20 percent of our [recommendations] were carried out. I don't know why they failed to do so," he said. The former political prisoner said he is hopeful for the new Kofi Annan-led commission, believing that the inclusion of the international members would help the international community understand the root causes of the conflict. "It would be good if the government could properly implement their recommendations, provided they are beneficial for the country. But it's too early to say […] we still don't know what the recommendations will be," he said. The post Armed Forces Chief to Kofi Annan: Solutions Must Win Arakanese Approval appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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