National News

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• Thousands gather in Myitkyina for peace
• Homecoming brings new cast of problems for Tanintharyi IDPs
• Upswing in Shan State fighting drives 2000 from their homes
• Class of 2016 gets first go at ASEAN lawmakers’ forum
• NLD MP under investigation in his own constituency
• Legal officer seeks criminal trial for Dutch tourist
• Graphic packaging amnesty granted for cigarettes
• K600 million provided for Monywa poultry industry’s avian flu losses
• University arsonist charged
• Police chief addresses compensation and settlement

Thousands gather in Myitkyina for peace Posted: 04 Oct 2016 12:18 AM PDT Thousands of people gathered yesterday at the symbolically important Manaw Park in Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital, calling for a halt to military offensives in Kachin and northern Shan states.

Homecoming brings new cast of problems for Tanintharyi IDPs Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:50 PM PDT Families displaced from their homes by conflict have returned – only to find themselves being sued for trespassing on their own land, they say.

Upswing in Shan State fighting drives 2000 from their homes Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:42 PM PDT Renewed fighting between the Tatmadaw and nationwide ceasefire signatory Restoration Council of Shan State is again overshadowing the peace process and threatening to undermine recent efforts at negotiation.

Class of 2016 gets first go at ASEAN lawmakers’ forum Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:38 PM PDT Topics ranged from the Zika virus and climate change to women's empowerment and Myanmar's own Rakhine State problems as lawmakers from throughout the ASEAN region met over the weekend for the 37th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Nay Pyi Taw.

NLD MP under investigation in his own constituency Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:37 PM PDT A National League for Democracy MP is being investigated by police following reports of a raucous evening this weekend that ended with an allegation of intimidation at a motel in his constituency.

Legal officer seeks criminal trial for Dutch tourist Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:07 PM PDT UPDATE: The presiding judge opened proceedings this morning for the criminal prosecution of Dutch tourist Klass Haytema under criminal code section 295 for intentional insult to religious beliefs. Mr Haytema is being prosecuted for unplugging an amplifier that was broadcasting a Buddhist dhamma sermon on September 23.

Graphic packaging amnesty granted for cigarettes Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:05 PM PDT After lobbying from tobacco companies, a six-month reprieve has been granted on a regulation requiring cigarette packages to carry graphic health warnings, according to a directive from the Ministry of Health and Sport.

K600 million provided for Monywa poultry industry’s avian flu losses Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:58 PM PDT The Sagaing Region government has dispersed more than K600 million (US$478,000) to poultry breeders since an April outbreak of bird flu forced health officials to cull tens of thousands of chickens in Monywa township, according to U Kyi Lwin Oo, deputy chair of the Sagaing Region Livestock Federation.

University arsonist charged Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:52 PM PDT Police have arrested and charged a university student suspected of destroying more than 6000 exam papers last month at the Mandalay Technological University.

Police chief addresses compensation and settlement Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:50 PM PDT Employing an unusual interpretation of the criminal justice system, Myanmar's head of police said "minor cases" can be negotiated extra-judicially with a settlement for the victim, but more "well-known" criminal cases with nationwide repercussions should see trial.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Police and Social Welfare Ministry to Collaborate in Anti-Trafficking Initiative
• Thousands of Kachin Locals Call on Burma Army to Stop Assaults
• Wave Money Receives Mobile Financial Service License From Central Bank
• Southeast Asia’s First ‘Book Plaza’ to Open in Rangoon Early Next Year
• Tatmadaw Takes No Responsibility in Shelling Death of Young Girl, Locals Say
• Hundreds Protest in Bangkok Urging Junta to Respect Land Rights

Police and Social Welfare Ministry to Collaborate in Anti-Trafficking Initiative Posted: 03 Oct 2016 07:48 AM PDT Rangoon's Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Tin Aung Tun (in uniform, second from right) attends a parliamentary session in September in Rangoon. (Photo: Phyo Min Thein / Facebook) RANGOON – In Monday's Rangoon Division parliamentary session, it was announced that the police and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Rehabilitation would collaborate to accelerate child rights awareness in all regional townships to prevent human trafficking. Rangoon's Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Tin Aung Tun said pamphlets will be distributed and short films on the issue will be broadcast on state-run television channels. Additionally, he added, a specialized police unit has been formed to cope with trafficking. He urged parliamentarians not to hesitate in summoning the unit if they are interested in holding awareness projects in their constituencies. National League for Democracy lawmakers Daw Kyi Pyar and U Zaw Min Aung raised questions about whether the Rangoon government had ideas for other projects to decrease human rights violations throughout the commercial capital. Col Tin Aung Tun remarked that the practice of child labor was a familiar matter in Rangoon, and that investigating such incidents is difficult, because such problems happen within households, out of public view. "The problem appears when it reaches a violent situation," said Col Tin Aung Tun. Regional lawmakers also pointed out how some abuse cases have been held up in court, even though charges may have been filed several years ago. Col. Tin Aung Tun explained that some cases are delayed as witnesses are sought out. He also admitted that delays can be attributed to the financial difficulties faced by victims and their families, who often cannot afford to attend court hearings. The renewed focus on fighting human trafficking comes after local media exposed the case of two underage domestic workers who were forced to work in downtown Rangoon for five years with little or no pay; their hometown was a village only hours away, also in Rangoon Division. Further controversy arose when it was revealed that the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) encouraged relatives of the girls to accept cash compensation of US$4,000—divided between two families—over the pursuit of legal action. Last week the Union's Lower House approved an urgent proposal put forward by legislator U Htay Win Aung to dismiss members of the MNHRC for their failure to push for justice through adherence to legal statutes. The Irrawaddy reached out to the MNHRC on Monday for comment on the anti-human trafficking initiative, but was told that no members were available for comment. Col. Tin Aung Tun said that the Rangoon government is now charging the head of the family inculcated in the abuse of the domestic workers under eight legal statutes. Five other family members are being charged under seven statutes. He also said that police have launched another investigation into those police officials who failed to take timely action against the accused once the allegations of trafficking and enslavement came forward. In 2015, the Rangoon government uncovered 17 cases of human trafficking. As of October 2016, 16 documented cases have occurred. Ages of the 33 victims are unknown, but they include 28 females and five males. The post Police and Social Welfare Ministry to Collaborate in Anti-Trafficking Initiative appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thousands of Kachin Locals Call on Burma Army to Stop Assaults Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:57 AM PDT Kachin demonstrators gather to call for an end to ongoing conflict. (Photo: Nang Lwin Hnin Pwint / The Irrawaddy) Following intensified clashes between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an estimated 10,000 members of the Kachin public staged a demonstration on Monday on the manaw festival grounds in the state capital of Myitkyina, calling for an end to ongoing armed conflict. The demonstration was held from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Sitapu Ward. Participants included locals, religious leaders, historians, environmentalists and members of civil society groups. Demonstrators shouted slogans demanding federalism and self-determination and held signs calling on the Burma Army to immediately end military offensives, while stressing the need to solve political problems with political means. They also called for a halt to mega development projects until internally displaced persons (IDPs) are able to "return home with dignity." Demonstrators also condemned the rape of ethnic women during conflicts. "Kachin people publicly denounce those assaults. We demand the Burma military to stop all their assaults in Kachin State," said community elder Lone Jone Turaw in his address to the demonstrators. Since renewed fighting broke out between the Burmese military and the KIA in June 2011, more than 10,000 houses, 300 villages, 100 schools, and 60 churches are reported to have been destroyed in Kachin communities. Over 100,000 people remain displaced, he said. Sporadic clashes have happened near KIA military outposts since the end of August and have intensified around Laiza, where the KIA headquarters are located. "There are no clashes for the time being. The last clash took place on October 1 near Inkaren Hill," said Lt-Col Naw Bu, an information officer with the KIA. But clashes have not ceased completely and military columns are still deployed near KIA outposts; members of the KIA have seen the Burma military airlifting supplies to their troops, reinforcing their positions. "So, we are still on the alert," said the spokesperson. The KIA suspects the Burmese military of using chemical weapons during clashes in September, Lt-Col Naw Bu said. He explained that KIA troops at the front line felt dizzy for around 15 minutes after Burma Army soldiers released a "burst of fire" during a clash. "If the Burma Army does not stop their assaults, the defensive war will continue. So, I would like to urge the people to be alert and to call for a stop to the assaults," he said. On October 1, one Kachin infant was killed and two more children were seriously injured after artillery fire reportedly by the Burma Army hit Puwang village in northern Shan State's Muse Township. The Irrawaddy tried in vain several times to contact the Burmese military spokesperson about the allegations of their attacks on KIA and the artillery fire on civilians. The Burma Army has yet to make an official statement. Kaw Mai, an IDP staying in a camp in Waingmaw Township, said: "We have no discrimination against the Bamar. We just want to live in unity," referring to the ethnic Burman majority in the country. "I feel sympathy for all those who have to go to the front line. They have families and children. I don't want them to suffer losses." Organizers of Monday's demonstration had planned to stage a protest march in Myitkyina and sought the approval of the concerned police force under Burma's peaceful assembly and procession law. However, the law dictates that such a request for an event has to be made five days in advance, so protesters gathered at the manaw grounds instead. Authorities have given permission for a protest march on Thursday, October 6, and organizers have said that they will march through Myitkyina on that day. The post Thousands of Kachin Locals Call on Burma Army to Stop Assaults appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Wave Money Receives Mobile Financial Service License From Central Bank Posted: 03 Oct 2016 05:09 AM PDT Central Bank Deputy Governor Daw Khin Saw Oo presents a certificate for mobile financial services to Wave Money CEO Brad Jones. (Photo: Wave Money) RANGOON — Burma's Central Bank has granted the country's first mobile financial services license to Wave Money, a mobile money-transfer joint venture between Norway's Telenor, Burma's Yoma Bank and First Myanmar Investment. The Central Bank issued the Regulation on Mobile Financial Services on March 30. Wave Money is now directly regulated by the Central Bank as a non-banking financial institution. In an announcement on Monday, Wave Money said the new regulations would help millions of people in Burma access financial services via mobile phone operators. Telenor owns 51 percent of Wave Money, with First Myanmar Investment holding 44 percent and Yoma Bank 5 percent. The total investment is around US$17 million. After its first year in Burma, 4,000 "Wave shops" have been set up across the country, where users can transfer money via mobile accounts or agents. Brad Jones, chief executive officer of Wave Money, said in the statement that Telenor's already-extensive telecoms network could be leveraged to provide mobile money accounts to people excluded from Burma's formal financial sector. "We are delighted to have the trust of the Central Bank of Myanmar in being the first company in Myanmar to be regulated under the Mobile Financial Services Regulation," he said. Brad Jones added, "We aim to be a market leader in the Asian mobile money market by providing access to financial services to the unbanked population of Myanmar." In April, the Central Bank announced that mobile financial service providers could allow customers to open mobile accounts and deposit and transfer money between them. People-to-people, people-to-government, people-to-business and business-to-business money transfers are now permitted under the Central Bank's regulations. The post Wave Money Receives Mobile Financial Service License From Central Bank appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Southeast Asia’s First ‘Book Plaza’ to Open in Rangoon Early Next Year Posted: 03 Oct 2016 05:02 AM PDT Than Market in downtown Rangoon's Lanmadaw Township, soon to host the Yangon Book Plaza. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A complex of businesses and event spaces aimed at book lovers, which developer U San Mon Aung has called Southeast Asia's first "book plaza," is set to open in downtown Rangoon's Chinatown in early 2017. The Yangon Book Plaza will occupy a 100×200-foot space on the fifth floor of Than Market in Lanmadaw Township, with an initial investment of around US$100,000. "I've tried for three years to open this book plaza. As far as I know, there are no other book plazas in Southeast Asia," said publisher and author U San Mon Aung. U San Mon Aung started the WE publishing house in Burma in 2003—producing translations of internationally renowned works, as well as previously banned works of dissident Burmese literature—and has written under the pen name Myay Hmon Lwin. Memorials for famous Burmese authors are planned for the plaza, alongside local bookshops and outlets of international book chains, spaces for book launches, used bookstalls, offices and coffee shops. He said that suitably large spaces in downtown Rangoon are hard to find: "Lanmadaw Township is very crowded, with many vendors and a lack of car parking spaces, but this space and location is important for my plan." He said investors would be invited to secure units in the plaza in November, with spaces for 30 retail outlets, local and international. "I'm renting this space over a long term contract […] the decoration will start this month. Everything will be eco-friendly," he said. He said he was in dialogue with "famous" international book chains, which may wish to open outlets, although he wouldn't disclose their names. U San Mon Aung claimed that rental fees for businesses would be below market prices, despite its location in downtown Rangoon, which has seen soaring real estate prices since the launch of economic reforms in 2011. Rangoon's old bookshops have been dwindling in recent years, and depend on a small cadre of enthusiasts for rare or previously censored books. Roadside book vendors have also been evicted from their old spaces on the back of development projects in downtown Rangoon. Industry insiders claim that the overall book market is shrinking, thanks in part to the rise of Internet access via smartphones. "My idea is to refresh the book market, for sellers who are now facing challenges," U San Mon Aung said. He hoped that the people of Rangoon could rediscover a love for books. The post Southeast Asia's First 'Book Plaza' to Open in Rangoon Early Next Year appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Tatmadaw Takes No Responsibility in Shelling Death of Young Girl, Locals Say Posted: 03 Oct 2016 04:11 AM PDT One of the shells which hit the village of Puwang in Muse Township on Saturday. (Photo: W.P. Moses) Representatives from the Burma Army said they do not take responsibility for the death of one child and the injuring of two others hit by artillery shell splinters on Saturday in Puwang village in Muse Township, northern Shan State, according to relatives of the victims. Six shells hit the village at around 6:10 a.m., killing a nearly two-year-old girl named Mang Shang Zung Myaw and injuring two boys, aged five and six, in the thigh and stomach; they are now being treated in a hospital across the border in China. Locals blame the Burma Army for the attack. A village resident, and relative of the victims, said that they lived close to military troops. "We were preparing food at six in the morning when we heard the sound of explosions," she said. "We went out and saw the children hit by artillery fire—they are all my relatives." The girl, who was hit by shrapnel in the shoulder and in the head, was buried in the village on Sunday. She is the only daughter of the family who are in "deep mourning," according to Ying Sau, a pastor of the village. The family home was destroyed in the explosion. Ying Sau told The Irrawaddy on Monday that Burma Army troops came to the village and inspected the girl's body and the pieces of artillery on Saturday afternoon. According to Ying Sau "they said it is not their weapons." The Burma Army was unavailable to comment at the time of press. Lagwi Bawm Lang, one of the two injured Kachin boys, is in intensive care at China's Mangsi Hospital in Yunnan province after his stomach was ripped open by shrapnel. Mary Tawm of local relief agency Wunpawng Ninghtoi spoke with the boy's doctor at the hospital and told The Irrawaddy that "the operation on the boy has been completed but we will have to see if he recovers, as he has nine holes in his intestines and doctors are worried about infection." Mary Tawm said that the estimated medical cost is between 20,000 and 50,000 Chinese yuan (US$3,000-7,500). According to the relief group helping the victims, the boy's family will need support to help pay the medical costs. The Burma Army's use of heavy artillery shelling is common in the conflict zones of Kachin and northern Shan State. UNICEF Myanmar released a statement Monday expressing concern over the incident. "Conflicts take a high toll on children in Myanmar," said Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF representative to Myanmar. "All parties to the conflict must keep children out of harm's way." One Puwang resident said that three days prior to Saturday's shelling, Kachin Independence Army (KIA) troops had been near the village, and speculated that this had attracted the attention of the Burma Army. Now, Burma Army troops are deployed in the area, which limits movement for locals, he said. Lt-Col Naw Bu, spokesperson of the KIA, said that fighting had not occurred in the area prior to Saturday's shelling. KIA Brigade 4's Battalion 36 is based in the area. Fighting has been ongoing since September in KIA controlled Waingmaw Township in Kachin state and other areas in Shan State North. In late September, the Burma Army carried out airstrikes in these areas. Also on Saturday, the Burma Army and KIA continued to clash in Nhkram, which is about three kilometers away from the Myitkyina-Bhamo highway. The Kachin public has increased calls for the immediate end to Burma Army operations in Kachin areas. The Kachin Women's Peace Forum on Saturday said that the peace process can only proceed if the Burma Army halts their offensives. Thousands of Kachin residents filled the Manaw festival grounds in the state capital of Myitkyina on Monday morning to campaign for peace and to call for ongoing aid to displaced persons. They were restricted from marching in the town without prior permission, so another official march is planned for Thursday. The KIA-affiliated Kachin Peace Creation Group (KPCG), which acted as mediators between the KIA and Burma Army under the previous government, sent a letter to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is chair of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, and Dr. Tin Myo Win, the chair of Burma's Peace Commission, appealing for an end to the conflict. Lamai Gum Ja of the KPCG told The Irrawaddy, "I cannot understand these offensives while we are being told to move toward national political dialogue." He said in the letter that ongoing fighting would undermine the Union Peace Conference, taking place once every six months since the first talks in late August this year. Nang Lwin Hnin Pwint contributed to this report.  The post Tatmadaw Takes No Responsibility in Shelling Death of Young Girl, Locals Say appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Hundreds Protest in Bangkok Urging Junta to Respect Land Rights Posted: 03 Oct 2016 01:37 AM PDT Members of Khon Kaen Slum Network community group hold a banner during a rally outside the United Nations building in Bangkok, Thailand, October 3, 2016. (Photos: Reuters) BANGKOK, Thailand — Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the Thai capital on Monday calling on the junta to address land rights and housing needs in what police and organizers said was one of the biggest demonstrations since the May 2014 coup. Development in Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy, has come at a cost to local communities who often face threats, violence and judicial harassment, say rights groups. Protesters marking World Habitat Day outside the regional UN headquarters in Asia said they would hand a petition to the United Nations and then march on to Government House, a stone's throw away, to demand land reform. "We came today so that the government can fix the land problems and land rights of poor people throughout the country," said Somneuk Phootnuan, 60, a rubber farmer from the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. "If we keep kicking the poor off government land, we won’t have anywhere to live or make a living," he said, as protesters waved flags and signs near the UN building. Sompong Chingduang, a police officer at the protest site, said around 1,000 people had gathered by mid-morning. Political protests have been outlawed since Thailand's generals seized power, ending months of sometimes violent street protests, but leaders of the demonstration said their gathering was not political. World Habitat Day is observed annually on the first Monday of October as a way of reminding the world of people's right to adequate shelter. The post Hundreds Protest in Bangkok Urging Junta to Respect Land Rights appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Drones must steer clear of Shwedagon
• Labour law reform meet calls for better protection of child workers
• Chinese navy pays a five-day visit to Yangon
• After man jailed for calling president ‘crazy’, plaintiff warns others not to defame NLD leadership
• Toddler killed as fighting rages between Tatmadaw and KIA
• Arrested dutch tourist was on first trip to Asia, witness tells Mandalay court
• Policy for elderly citizens in the works
• Tourism ministry eyes Myeik Archipelago
• Zika travel warnings hit Myanmar as WHO calls for increased prevention
• Myanmar’s child and infant mortality drastically exceeds regional average

Drones must steer clear of Shwedagon Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:56 PM PDT Shwedagon Pagoda is now a no drone zone. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are not welcome to fly over the famed pagoda or its grounds without prior permission, the pagoda trustee committee announced at a September 30 press conference.

Labour law reform meet calls for better protection of child workers Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:51 PM PDT Protecting child labourers was a hot topic at a labour law reform workshop in Yangon at the end of last week.

Chinese navy pays a five-day visit to Yangon Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:49 PM PDT Two Chinese frigates have docked in Yangon and will stay for five days in a show of diplomatic cooperation between the two nations, says the Chinese embassy in Yangon.

After man jailed for calling president ‘crazy’, plaintiff warns others not to defame NLD leadership Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:45 PM PDT Critics of the National League for Democracy leadership have been put on notice: A party member has warned that she will not hesitate to bring additional legal action against NLD insulters after she filed charges that saw a man imprisoned last month for calling President U Htin Kyaw "crazy" in a Facebook post.

Toddler killed as fighting rages between Tatmadaw and KIA Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:43 PM PDT A girl as young as two years old was killed and two other children were injured when an artillery shell struck near their homes on the morning of October 1, as fighting has intensified in recent weeks in northern Shan state.

Arrested dutch tourist was on first trip to Asia, witness tells Mandalay court Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:40 PM PDT Three more witnesses have given evidence in the trial of Dutch tourist Klaas Haytema, who was arrested last week on immigration violations and charges of offending religious sentiment after he unplugged an amplifier used to broadcast a dhamma sermon.

Policy for elderly citizens in the works Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:33 PM PDT A policy addressing the rights, health, security and economic well-being of Myanmar's elderly will be issued next year, according to the Department of Social Welfare.

Tourism ministry eyes Myeik Archipelago Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:28 PM PDT Myeik Archipelago could soon become a choice destination for luxury cruise passengers. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is planning to develop tourism in the area along with local investors, said Minister U Ohn Maung.

Zika travel warnings hit Myanmar as WHO calls for increased prevention Posted: 02 Oct 2016 11:23 PM PDT Surrounded by countries battling outbreaks of Zika virus, Myanmar has been pegged as at "high risk" for a similar fate, with a US health alert last week advising pregnant travellers to postpone all nonessential visits.

Myanmar’s child and infant mortality drastically exceeds regional average Posted: 02 Oct 2016 10:53 PM PDT Despite a decline over the past three decades, Myanmar still has the second-highest rate of child and infant mortality in the ASEAN, according to a report based on figures from the 2014 census.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• This Week in Parliament (September 26-30)
• The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (October 1)
• Burma Army Troops Serving as UN Peacekeepers in Liberia and South Sudan
• Singaporean and Malaysian Restaurants in Rangoon
• Dateline Irrawaddy: ‘Abuse of Human Dignity Should Not Be Accepted’

This Week in Parliament (September 26-30) Posted: 30 Sep 2016 08:31 PM PDT The gates to the compound of Burma's national Parliament in Naypyidaw, Nov. 2014. (Photo: Reuters) Monday, September 26 Lawmaker U Htay Aung submitted an urgent proposal to the Lower House calling on the Union government to dismiss three Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) members regarding their controversial handling of the abuse of two underage domestic workers in Rangoon. The Lower House approved the proposal. Lawmakers debated the draft law to amend the Ward or Village Tract Administration Law. Tuesday, September 27 In the Lower House, lawmakers debated a proposal submitted by U Kyaw Aung Lwin of Sidoktaya Township, which called on the Union government to take prompt action to care for abused and exploited Burmese migrant workers in foreign countries in cooperation with concerned governments. In the Upper House, U Aye Min Han of Mon State asked if the Union government regulates the tender winners regarding the construction of state-funded projects, monitors their work, and takes legal action if projects do not meet set standards.  Construction Minister U Win Khine replied that tender winners are required to repair construction projects if they are damaged within two years of completion and the government imposes fines if work is not finished on schedule. Wednesday, September 28 The Lower House voted to approve the Burma Investment Bill submitted by the Ministry of National Planning and Finance. It also approved monitoring of government action regarding U Kyaw Aung Lwin's proposal to care for abused and exploited Burmese migrant workers in foreign countries. The Upper House approved the draft law to amend the 1973 Myanmar Board of Examination Law. Thursday, September 29 No parliamentary session.  Friday, September 30 Burma's Parliament hosted the 37th General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, with an opening speech by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The general assembly will be held from September 29 to October 3. The opening ceremony was held at the Myanmar International Convention Center and all the other activities will be held at the Hotel Royal Ace in Naypyidaw. The post This Week in Parliament (September 26-30) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (October 1) Posted: 30 Sep 2016 08:25 PM PDT A fisherman paddles his boat with one leg on Inle Lake, in Burma's Shan State on September 4, 2015. Inle is one of the country's most popular tourist sites. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) Singapore Top Investor in Tourism Sector Singapore is the largest investor in Burma's tourism and hospitality sector thus far this year, according to a report in Travel Trade Weekly. Outpacing Thailand for the first time, Singapore invested US$1.6 billion in 22 projects before the end of August, according to the report citing the state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar. Thailand invested $445 million in 11 projects and Vietnam invested $440 million in one project, the report said. Other major players included Hong Kong with investments of $187 million in five projects, South Korea with $100 million in one project, Japan with $73 million in four projects and Malaysia with $23 million in three projects. Total investments in the hotel and tourism sector by 10 countries were $2.9 billion for 52 projects, according to the Ministry for Hotels and Tourism. Total foreign direct investment in the tourism and hospitality sector last year amounted to $2.7 billion for 48 projects. The tourism sector is expected to earn over $9 billion in the coming five years under the Second Five-Year National Development Plan, said the ministry. Anthem Asia Invests in Rangoon Tea House Investment group Anthem Asia has taken a significant minority stake in the award-winning Rangoon Tea House restaurant, DealStreet Asia reports. The restaurant located on the second floor of a historic building on Pansodan Road in Rangoon is planning to move to the building's ground floor with a larger restaurant and cocktail bar. It will also extend its outside catering business and roll out new food concepts and other business lines, according to the report. Rangoon Tea House was founded by Htet Myet Oo and is co-owned by Isabella Sway-Tin and Simon Sao. The restaurant is Anthem Asia's ninth investment in Burma, with others including Thalun International School, fitness chain MOVE, Blink Agency, and a marketing communication business and serviced office firm the Hintha Business Center. Tata Group Opens 'Hub' Office India's Tata group has opened a new office in Rangoon that will act as a hub for Tata companies in Burma. The new Tata International office will also explore additional opportunities in sectors such as power, agriculture, renewable energy, tourism, and consumer products, according to a report in The Hindu Business Line. "Myanmar plays a significant role in a number of our group companies' international portfolio, and we hope to be able to further capitalize on the potential opportunities present in the region," Madhu Kannan of Tata Sons was quoted as saying. Tata companies in Burma include Tata International, Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors, Titan Company, Tata Power, and Tata Consultancy Services. KBZ Bank to Open Office in Malaysia KBZ Bank, of Burma's KBZ Group of Companies, has gained permission to open a representative office in Malaysia. "We will announce an opening date soon for the office in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur," said Nyo Myint, senior managing director of the KBZ Group, following the approval of the move this week by the Central Bank of Malaysia. KBZ Bank opened representative offices in Bangkok, Thailand in April and in Singapore in August of this year. More than 420 new branches have been opened across Burma recently. Animal Feed Investment for Rangoon A global leader in animal feed has invested in a green field production facility in Rangoon Division, DealStreet Asia reported this week. The Netherlands-based De Heus, one of the world's top fifteen animal feed companies, has invested $11.2 million in the production and distribution facility for poultry, pig and cattle feed at Myaung Dagar in Hmawbi Township. The company will cooperate closely with farmers, it said. "By providing our high technology feed, in combination with knowledge, and partnering with other independent companies, we believe that we can make the farmers very competitive," said Johan van den Ban, managing director of De Heus. De Heus has seven factories in Vietnam and its success there sparked interest in seeking opportunities in other parts of Southeast Asia, van den Ban said in the report. The Burma plant is already operating at 50 percent capacity and the company is set to ''stop importing from Vietnam and focus purely on local production," van den Ban said. Annual production at the plant will range from 200,000 to 250,000 metric tons. De Heus also has a 49 percent stake in Bel Ga Myanmar, a chicken hatchery and breeding farm, with the rest held by Belgium-based Belgabroed. In mid-September the International Finance Company proposed to provide a $6.5 million debt investment to Bel Ga. Established animal feed players in Burma include Myanmar CP Livestock, part of Thailand's CP Livestock Group, May Kha Industries of the Indonesia-based Japfa Group and New Hope. Construction Firms Warned to Uphold Standards   Action will be taken against construction companies responsible for sub-standard work on state projects such as roads, schools, hospitals and bridges, Construction Minister U Win Khine warned this week. The minister was responding to a query in the Upper House of Parliament on September 27, as reported in the Global New Light of Myanmar. The government has outlined criterion and standards that must be met by contractors implementing state projects or be in breach of contract, the minister said. "Any damage associated with poor standards is punishable by the regulations," U Win Khine said. The Ministry of Construction issued guidelines for construction firms to follow earlier this month. State Bank of India Set to Open Rangoon Office India's largest bank, the State Bank of India, is set to open an office in Rangoon on Monday, October 3. The branch will be located at the Union Financial Center in the downtown area of the former capital. The formal launch of operations will be celebrated at an event at the Sule Shangri-La Hotel on the same day. The post The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (October 1) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Army Troops Serving as UN Peacekeepers in Liberia and South Sudan Posted: 30 Sep 2016 08:08 PM PDT Soldiers parade to mark the 70th anniversary of Armed Forces Day in the Burmese capital of Naypyidaw in March 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON – The Burma Army, also known as the Tatmadaw, currently has a handful of peacekeepers serving in Africa on two peacekeeping missions. The deployments, which began last year, were the first time the Burma Army has contributed to a UN peacekeeping mission in half a century. According to figures provided by the UN, Burma has had two troops deployed since September last year as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which is tasked with implementing a ceasefire agreement. The pair of Burmese troops are serving as what the UN describes as "experts on mission." UNMIL has a total of 1,240 troops and 606 police personnel. The bulk of the troops on UNMIL come from Nigeria but several other countries such a Bhutan and Zimbabwe have also contributed personnel. Burmese troops are also serving in South Sudan, as contingent troops, in a UN mission in the young country which has been plagued by conflict since it achieved independence in 2011. The Burmese deployment in South Sudan began in August of 2015. They have joined a mission of more than 12,500 troops from 61 countries. In response to a request for comment, the UN Secretary General's spokesperson's office forwarded a statement from the UN Department of Peacekeeping. "Myanmar is a new contributor to UN peacekeeping. We are grateful for their contributions and look forward to their increasing participation in our peacekeeping operations in the years to come," read the statement attributed to a UN peacekeeping official. In early 2014 it was reported that secretary-general Ban Ki Moon's special advisory on Burma, the veteran Indian diplomat, Vijay Nambiar, had, during a meeting with the head of Burma's military Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, invited Burma to resume participation in the UN peacekeeping program. A number of rights group including the New York-based Human Rights Watch quickly denounced the offer. "The Burmese military's poor record on rights and civilian protection is profoundly at odds with the standards that UN peacekeepers are expected to defend around the world," said HRW's executive director Kenneth Roth in a statement issued at the time "Any move by the UN to recruit Burmese forces risks grave damage to the UN's reputation and is at odds with recent efforts to elevate human rights concerns within the UN system." The Burma Army continues to be engaged in ongoing operations against several armed groups in the north of the country including the Kachin Independence Army, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, the Shan State Army­-North and the Kokang-based Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. Recent clashes between the army and a splinter group from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army have also taken place in Karen State. Rights groups allege that despite the recent change in government, the army continues in its operations to routinely commit serious abuses against civilians including summary executions and rape. Andrew Selth, an Australian academic and author of several books and papers on Burma's military believes that Burma's armed forces would benefit from having their troops take part in UN missions. "If Burma's security forces are to learn about international norms of behavior, devise better ways of doing things and be exposed to issues beyond their narrow experience, then participation in UN operations offers a way ahead. The alternative is to deny them such opportunities and perpetuate the blinkered thinking that has contributed to Burma's current problems," he wrote in a piece that appeared in May 2014 on the Lowy Interpreter, a website operated by the Lowy Institute for International Policy, an Australian think tank. Burma's involvement in UN peacekeeping missions comes at a time when the blue helmets are themselves under increased scrutiny following a serious of high profile scandals involving UN peacekeepers around the globe. The UN mission in South Sudan, which Burma is now participating in, was heavily criticized for its failure to come to the aid of a group of international aid workers who were raped by government troops in a compound located very close to the UN base in the capital Juba on July 11. UN peacekeepers from Nepal, who were stationed in Haiti in 2010, have been identified as the source of a deadly outbreak of cholera in the country which killed more than 10,000 people. The UN only recently acknowledged that the Nepali troops, who were stationed upstream from the village where cholera first broke out, were the source of the lethal outbreak. The world body continues to fight a series of lawsuits filed in the US by lawyers representing victims of the outbreak, who argue that the UN was responsible for the substandard sanitation system at the Nepali troop base which helped trigger the massive health crisis. Information available on the history of UN peacekeeping on the UN website shows that Burma sent troops to take part in a small number of UN missions during the early days of the global body. Burma contributed troops to a mission to the Congo in the early 1960s. The last deployment of Burmese troops to UN peacekeeping operations appears to have been for a mission created in response to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Under the mission, which lasted from Sept. 1965 to March 1966, Burmese troops participated as part of an observer force supervising the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and the withdrawal of forces following the end of hostilities between the two sides. The post Burma Army Troops Serving as UN Peacekeepers in Liberia and South Sudan appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Singaporean and Malaysian Restaurants in Rangoon Posted: 30 Sep 2016 07:51 PM PDT Nasi Lemak is one of the Malaysian dishes on offer at Fork and Spoon in Bahan Township. (Photo: Foodie Myanmar) Woker Woker This Singaporean restaurant specializes in Mala cuisine, which sees ingredients tossed in intense Sichuan spices, including the famous mouth-numbing peppercorn. Guests at Woker Woker can choose between three levels of chili heat and choices of meat include pork, chicken, seafood, beef and bacon. Guests are charged for each ingredient so a large dish of Ma La for five people may cost 2,000 kyats. Another popular dish at the restaurant is a frog broth sold for 6,000 kyats. No service charge. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Address: No. 9 (D), Wai Za Yan Tar Road, Thingangyun Tsp (near CB Bank). Tel: 09-5405537 House of Singapura This restaurant offers Singapore-style Laksa, Mee Siam, fried prawn noodles, and barbecue among others. Italian coffee brand, Illy is on the drink menu along with a selection of beer and wine. The restaurant has made a name for itself with its Hainan chicken rice, priced at 6,000 kyats. Singapore-style chili crab with black pepper is also popular. Be prepared that a 10 percent service tax, 5 percent commercial tax, and 5 percent service charge will be added to your bill. Open 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Address: Union Business Center (UBC) Annex B, Natmauk Road, Bo Cho Quarter. Tel: 09 302 58388. Fork and Spoon This restaurant brings your favorite dishes from countries across Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Thailand and Indonesia. A popular dish is Bak Kut Teh—a broth of pork ribs, herbs and spices served with rice—priced at 7,000 kyats. Other specialties are beef ball noodle soup, Thai beef salad, and famous Malaysian noodle dish, Penang Char Kway Teow. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Address:  No. 29, Bo Sein Hman Street. Bahan Tsp. Tel: 09 962 329980 Singapore Kitchen This restaurant offers Singaporean, Malaysian and Chinese dishes. A popular choice is Singaporean style fish head curry, with prices dependent on market price and size of fish head. It is the perfect venue for both midnight feasting and early-starts with evening service finishing at 3 a.m. and breakfast and dim sum available from 6 a.m. Address: International Hotel, No. 330 Ahlone Road, Dagon Tsp. Rasa Lasa This restaurant offers Malaysian hawker food and home-style cooking in a relaxed setting. Visitors are recommended to go for Malaysia's national dish, Nasi Lemak—fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf often served with anchovies, peanuts, boiled egg, lamb curry, cucumber, and traditional chili paste. There are two branches; both open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Address: No. 462, corner of Theinbyu Street and Myae Ni Gone Street, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp. and Hledan Center, Pyay Road.  This article was written by Foodie Myanmar. Available for download in the Google Play Store and Apple Store, the Foodie Myanmar app will help you discover great places to eat and ways to share your foodie moments. Download iOS – https://goo.gl/IWzfL9 Download Android – https://goo.gl/syM1rw The post Singaporean and Malaysian Restaurants in Rangoon appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dateline Irrawaddy: ‘Abuse of Human Dignity Should Not Be Accepted’ Posted: 30 Sep 2016 07:42 PM PDT Dateline Irrawaddy: 'Abuse of Human Dignity Should Not Be Accepted' Ye Ni: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy. This week, we'll discuss slavery and the torture of two underage domestic workers by Ava tailoring business in Rangoon. Ko Swe Win, chief reporter at Myanmar Now, who did an investigative report on this case, joins me for the discussion. I'm Irrawaddy Burmese editor Ye Ni. Parliament has denounced the members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) and the President's Office also said that it would take action against the commission. The police have arrested and charged the offenders with human trafficking.  Why do you think your fight for justice was successful? Swe Win: It achieved success because people should be humane toward one another. Any form of injustice against any person should not be accepted. Abuse of human dignity, especially committed by the strong toward the weak, should not be accepted. In the case we are talking about, it is fair to say the victims are vulnerable in terms of intellectual ability, age, financial position, and gender—they are underage girls. It could be said that they are the most disadvantaged people in society. It is a grave injustice that such people are abused. As a citizen, a reporter and simply a human, I have the responsibility to oppose, condemn and prevent injustice and help victims no matter how small a matter. I got the chance to thoroughly study the MNHRC meeting, which contributed to my reporting. The commission held the meeting while ignoring the law and turning a blind eye to the fact that the case was a serious crime.  As a journalist, I followed the journalistic code of ethics in reporting this case. I did not report based on emotion or on the accounts of the police or the victims' parents. I gathered information from different points of view. In journalism, there is a saying—"go to the ground and see for yourself"—which means journalists need to examine the situation with their own eyes and ears. There is also a Buddhist teaching that says, "you may accept when you analyze and understand by yourself." I tried to understand all aspects of the situation. Making a factual report is one of the reasons that I achieved success. I aimed for maximum coverage of my reporting. I did not ask lawmakers, authorities or the president to take my word for it, but let them examine my report through media coverage. This is beneficial not only to the readers but also for me because maximum coverage prevents the manipulation of information. I was deeply involved in this case and was reporting the truth, but I am a human and it is natural that human beings are biased—in a big or small way—as a result of their desires, ignorance or anger. That partiality needs to be controlled by others or by the law. In this case, I let other reporters check my reporting. YN: The human rights commission has come under fire, but the evidence shows that police should also be blamed because you reported it to the police before the case was brought to the human rights commission. Why did it take so long for the police to open the case when they could conclude from the girls' injuries and your report that this was a criminal case? Is it because they don't understand that this was slavery or was there bribery involved, as alleged by many people? You were directly engaged with the police. What is your view? SW: You are correct. It is clearly a serious crime. Not even the president has the right to settle it.  It seemed that police handed the case to the human rights commission as a way of showing respect to a national-level body. Police in the lower echelons have to consider the influence of the commission not only as a national-level body but also a body that consists of retired high-ranking officials. For example, the person who was mainly involved in the negotiation served as the deputy chief of the Burma Police Force and the director-general of the Correctional Department. I guess that police have faced the fear of being punished for opposing the upper echelons, which is deep-seated in our society. Also, since the commission is a national level body, police might have thought that they needed to inform it first. As it was a grave violation of human rights, police might have expected that the commission would take action immediately. But the commission did not respond and just treated it as a normal case that happens every day. The commission turned a blind eye to all existing laws. It failed to carry out its responsibility, which is to investigate. It could have gone to the tailoring factory within hours. Kawhmu is less than a two-hour drive from Rangoon. The commission—despite the fact that it is funded by state funds—did not bother to look into those children who suffered grave human rights abuse. It failed to investigate, attempted to negotiate a case—which was in no way negotiable—failed to take action in accordance with existing laws, and breached its duties. YN: The commission's handling of the case could be considered a national-level abuse of power. We heard that you received a threat after you exposed the case. How were you threatened? SW: My safety was at risk once the commission summoned the offenders. I was addressed in the notice—which detailed my name, phone number and the news agency where I work. The shop owners later told me that they searched for me but could not find me. I don't know what their purpose of searching for me was—if they wanted to pay to settle the case or physically threaten me. They told me that what happened on their end was my fault and that if I had not gotten involved, they would not be in this mess. But more so than the shop owners, the commission is most responsible for the threat to my safety for distributing my personal information. I will seek legal advice to decide whether to sue. After the meeting ended, the shop owners knew that I was not satisfied with the result of the negotiation. They warned me not to report on the case or write about it on Facebook. Before the members of the human rights commission, they threateningly asked me if I knew why [Princess] Diana had died. But the commission members did not say a single word to oppose or denounce this. It is a crime to threaten someone's life and it can be punished. Setting aside the torture of children, which the commission did not witness, it also ignored a death threat happening before it. The shop owners knew that I was about to go and meet the children because I had called other reporters to go together and they had heard. Then, they attempted to bribe the concerned village administrator of Kawhmu Township to hide the children in another village. Fortunately, that administrator was against this. Because he had been the village administrator under the previous government as well, he dared not speak against the national-level personalities. I requested that he arrange a meeting with the children and he agreed to it. The shop owners left a warning message for me with the administrator. They said, "they will have their turn sometime." I reported it to the police station at once. The Home Affairs Ministry now provides full security for me under the instruction of the President. YN: Thank you for sharing your experiences with us for this program! The post Dateline Irrawaddy: 'Abuse of Human Dignity Should Not Be Accepted' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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