Wednesday, November 1, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Irrawaddy Literary Festival Connects International and Local Authors

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 04:21 AM PDT

MANDALAY — "We Were Kings," the award-winning film about Myanmar's lost royal family, will be screened at the fourth Irrawaddy Literary Festival scheduled to be held at the Mandalay Hill Resort from Nov. 3 to 5.

The film, directed by Alex Bescoby, features surviving royal family members of the country's last monarchy and documents their lives and struggles. It will be shown on Nov. 4.

The Irrawaddy Literary Festival was launched in 2013 under the patronage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to create a friendly and fruitful literary connection between international and local authors.

Alongside renowned Burmese authors, journalists and writers such as BBC journalist John Simpson, Susan Wyndham, Victor Mallet and Denis Muller will be present at the festival, which will feature discussions regarding press freedom.

The festival will host discussions and presentations with both local and international authors, as well as an interfaith dialogue with leading Buddhist monks from Mandalay including Sayadaw U Naryaka, widely known as Galoneni Sayadaw, on Nov. 3.

This year, the Irrawaddy Literary Festival will hold events with 26 international writers and about 100 local authors will attend the festival.

The post Irrawaddy Literary Festival Connects International and Local Authors appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Detained Journalists Informed Govt of Film Plans, Says Turkish Broadcaster

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 03:39 AM PDT

YANGON — Turkish state broadcaster TRT World said journalists detained for attempting to fly a drone near Myanmar's Parliament in Naypyitaw had informed the government about their plans to film beforehand.

TRT world producer Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia, freelance camera operator Lau Hon Meng from Singapore, their interpreter Ko Aung Naing Soe and driver U Hla Tin were detained on Friday by police for preparing to take aerial footage of Parliament with a drone.

Police charged them under the 2012 Export and Import Law for illegally bringing the drone into the country. The two foreign journalists were being held at No. 1 Police Station in Naypyitaw and two Myanmar nationals were being held at Pyinmana Prison.

The four were remanded until November 10.

TRT World said in a statement the crew was filming a documentary.

Mok Choy Lin and Lau Hon Meng arrived in Yangon on October 21 with journalist visas issued by the Myanmar government, it said, adding, "The Myanmar Information Ministry was previously informed about all filming activities and the filming schedule."

Citing information from local journalists in touch with its team and security officials, TRT said its crew wanted to capture drone footage of the parliament building after conducting an interview with a member of parliament.

U Myint Kyaw, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information (MoI), told The Irrawaddy they had received an email asking for a recommendation letter in order to apply for journalist visas.

"In their letter, they only said they are from TRT World and they want to go to Yangon and Rakhine for reporting in October," he said, adding they did not state plans to visit Naypyitaw.

The ministry replied that according to the new regulation by the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population dated Dec. 1, 2016, no MoI recommendation is needed and they could apply directly for journalist visas.

U Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer representing the two Myanmar nationals, said he and his defendants' family members are being denied access to the detainees, with authorities saying they are still under investigation.

Police raided the local interpreter Ko Aung Naing Soe's home in Yangon on Oct. 27, and confiscated memory sticks.

The lawyer also said the date for the court hearing has not yet been given, adding he would request access to the detainees from the Naypyitaw police chief and also bail for the detainees.

Turkish, Singapore, and Malaysian embassies have reportedly said they are closely following the incident.

In response to media queries on the detention, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Myanmar's foreign affairs ministry had notified the embassy in Yangon.

"The Embassy will provide the necessary consular assistance to Mr. Lau and is closely monitoring developments to ensure that due process is accorded to Mr. Lau.  MFA and the Embassy are in close contact with Mr. Lau's family," he said.

The Export and Import Law carries up to two years imprisonment.

The post Detained Journalists Informed Govt of Film Plans, Says Turkish Broadcaster appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rakhine Govt Signs MoU for Kanyin Chaung Border Economic Zone

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 03:05 AM PDT

SITTWE, Rakhine State — The Rakhine State government and the Nat Myit Alintan Group of Companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the development of the Kanyin Chaung border economic zone in the outskirts of Maungdaw Township on Monday.

The Rakhine state government will invest 65 percent of the capital and the other 35 percent will come from Nat Myit Alintan—a consortium of four companies based in Maungdaw and three from Yangon, said U Kyaw Aye Thein, the regional minister for finance, revenue, planning and economics.

"The zone will give priority to trading [in contrast to manufacturing]," said the minister.

The 3.5 billion-kyat project lies on 100 acres of land in Kanyin Chaung on the outskirts of Maungdaw, he said.

The Kanyin Chaung project was initiated under the previous government in 2015, but there was little progress due to the transfer of power to the National League for Democracy-led government and construction only resumed this year.

A government administration building, trade showrooms, and two boat jetties have already been built. But the compound and traffic road have not yet been constructed.

On Oct. 30, the state government also signed MoUs with private companies for the development of Manaung Island in the Bay of Bengal and upgrading of the Ngapali Golf Course.

The Maungdaw border trade station has been re-opened as the situation in region has stabilized following attacks on Aug. 25.

The Ministry of Commerce reported a $5.948 million trade volume through the Maungdaw border trade station in the 2016-17 fiscal year. The value of trade with Bangladesh through the Maungdaw trade station for the 2017-18 fiscal year is targeted to be US$6 million; it reached $5 million as of Sept. 1 this year.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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National-level Dialogue Delays Troubled Panglong Conference

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 12:51 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — Uncertainty over whether national-level dialogues will be held in Rakhine and Shan states is likely to impact the third round of the Union Peace Conference planned for the end of this year, said signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) recently met in Naypyitaw for two days to discuss holding in Rakhine and Shan states national-level political dialogue, where regional stakeholders discuss suggestions at large-scale public consultations, the results of which are shared by representatives at the Union Peace Conference or 21st Century Panglong.

NCA signatories the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S), and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) are based in these states. The meeting, however, did not produce any results.

Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong, vice-chairman of NCA signatory Chin National Front (CNF) cited the example of a previous session of the Union Peace Conference in which NCA signatories could not make decisions because national-level political dialogues could not be held in Rakhine and Shan states prior to the conference.

"So, if national-level political dialogues are not held in Rakhine and Shan states again, it will still be difficult to reach an agreement over certain things," said Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong.

At the second session of the conference, NCA signatories, the government and the military shared different views over the definition of self-determination and federalism as well as the principle of non-secession from the Union. The same topics will be on the agenda of the third session, said U Zaw Htay, director-general of the State Counselor's Office.

Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong said national-level political dialogue—the third step in a seven-step political roadmap of the NCA–is key to seeking the opinion of concerned ethnic people.

"Without prior consultation with the public, no group will be able to make a decision on crucial matters like self-determination at the Panglong Conference," he said.

U Zaw Htay said the government had given a green light for national-level political dialogue in Shan State, but it has not yet reached agreement with RCSS/SSA-S over the venue.

The RCSS/SSA-S wants to hold the political dialogue in Shan State's capital Taunggyi, but the military insists that it be held in Mongpan Township.

"But for Rakhine, we have to exercise extra caution. Because there is conflict there that has attracted international attention. We have to consider the political and security situations there," U Zaw Htay said.

"The government and the military seemingly want to request us not to hold political dialogue in Rakhine State, citing its current situation and security. But then, what are ethnicities supposed to discuss at the Union Peace Conference if political dialogue is not held?" asked Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong.

He suggested holding political dialogue in Rakhine capital Sittwe, which is relatively stable despite ongoing conflict in northern Rakhine State.

Among eight ethnic armed groups that signed the NCA are: the Karen National Union (KNU); CNF; ALP; All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF); RCSS/SSA; Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) (KNU/KNLA PC); Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA); and Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO).

National-level political dialogues have been held in areas of the other six NCA signatories, but some of the discussions from those dialogues have not yet been put forward to the Union Peace Conference.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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UN Picks Norwegian for Myanmar Role as Tensions Simmer Over Rohingya Crisis

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 09:59 PM PDT

YANGON — The United Nations named a new interim UN resident coordinator for Myanmar on Tuesday, appointing Knut Ostby of Norway to take over the humanitarian role at a time of growing strains with the Myanmar government over the handling of the Rohingya crisis.

The appointment of a temporary placeholder was expected after Myanmar blocked an upgrade of the UN country chief position.

Myanmar's de facto leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has told diplomats in private meetings that she is frustrated with the United Nations, particularly its human rights arm.

Ostby, who has served with the United Nations in a number of hotspots, including Afghanistan and East Timor, will replace Renata Lok-Dessallien, who has completed her term.

Some 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh after ethnic violence erupted in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State in late August.

Rights monitors and Rohingya refugees say the army and Rakhine Buddhist vigilantes have forced them to flee their homes.
UN investigators interviewing Rohingyas living in refugee camps near Cox's Bazar said on Friday they had gathered testimony pointing to a "consistent, methodical pattern" of killings, torture, rape and arson.

The fact-finding team, led by former Indonesian attorney general Marzuki Darusman, said the death toll from the Myanmar Army's crackdown following Rohingya insurgent attacks on Aug. 25 was unknown, but "may turn out to be extremely high."

The UN team, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in March, renewed its appeal for access to Rakhine State and for talks with the Myanmar government and military to "establish the facts."

In the early stages of the crisis, the United Nations described the military campaign as "ethnic cleansing," an accusation rejected by Myanmar, which says its military was engaged in counter-insurgency operations against Rohingya militants behind a series of attacks on security posts.

Suu Kyi has said the refugees can return, but thousands continue to arrive in Bangladesh.

Myanmar, an overwhelmingly Buddhist country with small Christian and Muslim minorities, is struggling to emerge from decades of military rule, and Suu Kyi's democratically elected government is engaged in a peace dialogue with members of various armed ethnic groups.

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Thailand’s Political Activity Ban Stays for Now: PM

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 09:51 PM PDT

BANGKOK — Thailand's military government on Tuesday said it will not yet lift a ban on political activity, despite a general election scheduled for next year and growing pressure from political parties to lift it.

The ban on political party gatherings has been in place since the military seized power in a 2014 coup but there have been growing calls from all political groups to end the ban.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha cited persistent political divisions and mud-slinging as reasons why the ban should stay.

"We will not lift the ban today but don’t be frustrated," Prayuth told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
"Today we are still speaking evil. You must stop this so that everyone is at ease," Prayuth said, urging all sides to put aside their differences.

Earlier this month, Prayuth said Thailand would hold a general election in November 2018 – the news was largely welcomed by investors in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.

There has been little opposition to junta rule since 2014, partly because authorities have arrested and jailed dozens of critics.

The government had said that parties needed to wait until after the funeral of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was cremated last week, for a decision on when normal political life will resume.

Tensions have been festering in Thailand since 2006 when a coup removed then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Since then, the country has witnessed bouts of unrest including deadly street protests.

Thailand is divided broadly between those who align themselves with Thaksin and his sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government was removed in the 2014 coup, and the elite in the capital Bangkok.

Thaksin is credited by some as being the first Thai prime minister to tap into the potential of the rural electorate. But he made many enemies among the elite who accuse him of corruption – which he denies.

Both Thaksin and Yingluck live abroad. Yingluck fled Thailand in August ahead of a verdict against her in a negligence trial for which she was later found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.

Thaksin fled to avoid a 2008 jail corruption sentence.

Politicians from major parties were upset about the decision not to lift the political activity ban on Tuesday.

"I want the junta to show some sincerity about the election by lifting the ban," Sunisa Lertpakawat, a member of Thaksin's Puea Thai Party, told Reuters.

"We haven't got much time."

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Tuesday, October 31, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Rakhine Documentary Banned in Myanmar Shown in US

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 08:13 AM PDT

YANGON — A short documentary film about young people affected by conflict in troubled Rakhine State which was banned at a recent Yangon film festival has been screened in the United States amid the latest crisis to affect the region.

"Sittwe" is a 20-minute documentary about two teenagers—a Rohingya girl and a Buddhist boy—segregated by conflict in Rakhine.

"The youth share their ideas about mutual fear between their communities and the hope of reconciliation," according to a synopsis of the film by its makers, adding it was produced to facilitate discussions about peace building in Burma.

Sittwe was banned from being shown at Yangon's Human Rights Human Dignity Film Festival in June this year by the Films and Video Censorship Board, citing cultural and religious sensitivities.

It premiered at the Freedom Film Festival in Malaysia in Sep this year and was awarded the Best Southeast Asia Short Documentary.

The film was also presented at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York when UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee presented her report to the UN.

The film screenings at universities, theaters and centers in New York, Washington DC and San Francisco are followed by discussions with filmmaker Jeanne Hallacy and producer U Myo Win—the director of Smile Education and Development Foundation, an interfaith organization in Myanmar—with the aim to improve understanding of the situation in Rakhine State and to promote youth education.

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Analysis: Are Sanctions the Answer in the Rakhine Crisis?

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 05:17 AM PDT

YANGON — In its strongest response so far to the Myanmar Army's handling of the Rakhine crisis, the United States last week joined the chorus of international condemnation by taking action against the country's military leadership and considering targeted sanctions.

It was the second reaction by the international community this month to the Southeast Asian nation, following the European Union and its member states suspending invitations to the Myanmar Army chief and other senior military officers and reviewing all practical defense cooperation because of the disproportionate use of force against Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine State.

In its statement, the US State Department said: "We are exploring accountability mechanisms available under US law, including Global Magnitsky targeted sanctions."

The US actions starting from Wednesday include the cessation of travel waivers for current and former members of the Myanmar military and a ban on US assistance for units and officers in northern Rakhine State. The US stated it was also mulling economic measures against those responsible for atrocities against the Rohingya.

The international community has been condemned for inflicting on Rohingya Muslims arbitrary killings, arson and rape in northern Rakhine amid clearance operations intensified in late August.

The operations were sparked by Muslim militant group the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks on 30 police outposts in the region on Aug 25. The government denounced the group as "terrorists" and, in the aftermath of the attacks, more than 600,000 Muslims have fled to Bangladesh as of late October.

Myanmar armed forces chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has repeatedly denied claims of atrocities, saying that his troops followed the rules of engagement.

But the US State Department's announcement along with the EU's action against the military leadership has raised concerns inside the country. US restrictions on its engagement with and military sales to the Myanmar Army were already in place.

Given the scope of the sanctions, however, some political observers have said the US actions will have little tangible impact on the military, but are instead designed to shame the armed forces, which has been trying to reengage with its international counterparts to develop a universally respected army after decades of Western sanctions.

Ko Ye of the Tagaung Institute of Political Studies said the US actions pursue the army's accountability for human rights abuses in Rakhine State.

"Despite the army's current engagement with the West, we haven't seen anything about Myanmar Army's dependence on them. Seemingly, the actions are intended to have a negative impact on the image of the institution rather than any substantial impacts," he said.

The Myanmar government seems to have taken the US announcement seriously though, perhaps because it is more precise than the EU statement, which would "suspend invitations," "review all practical defense cooperation" and consider additional measures."

On Thursday, an editorial in state-run newspaper The Mirror slammed the US actions against the military leadership, saying "those actions by no means help solve problems in Rakhine State."

"What the international community should do is assess the military stand [on the Rakhine issue]—right or wrong—through dialogue," said the editorial in the Myanmar-language paper.

The State Counselor Office's director-general U Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy that the US actions could hinder the government's ongoing peace process, development and democratization as a whole.

"Their actions are not compatible with where we are heading now. Ordinary people are the most vulnerable when it comes to sanctions," he said.

Analysts have also voiced concerns that targeted sanctions against the military leadership could increase tension between the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government and the country's powerful Tatmadaw—one of the biggest in Southeast Asia.

"As the government has been struggling for national reconciliation, especially with the military, I am concerned that targeted sanctions would derail the effort," said U Maung Maung Soe, a Yangon-based political observer.

Sanctions Never Work

Myanmar and its some 400,000-strong military is no stranger to sanctions imposed by the West.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Myanmar since 1991, in the form of an arms embargo and visa ban on senior members of the then military regime State Law and Order Restoration Council, senior members of the security forces and their families.

Except for an arms embargo, all sanctions were suspended in 2013 in order to welcome and encourage reform.

US economic and financial sanctions were imposed in 1997 and were meant to isolate the then military junta. The US Treasury's blacklist included former dictator Snr-Gen Than Shwe, his military associates, military-owned businesses and cronies linked to military officials, but were lifted last year.

But the West's decade-long sanctions have never been credited for the democratic transition in Myanmar that started in 2011.

Observers like Thant Myint-U writes "the impetus for change came not from western sanctions, which only reinforced isolation."

For some, the EU and US have not got far enough on punitive measures against the military.

Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said via email it was "very disappointing that the EU decided not to impose any sanctions on the military, "only suspending invitations to senior military officers."

"The failure of the USA to impose any significant sanctions combined with European Union is basically giving a green light for the military to continue ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya," he said.

U Maung Maung Soe said western sanctions have never worked for Myanmar.

"History has proved that it was the people who suffered most while the military leadership and China profited most out of the sanctions," he said, referring to the fact that western restrictions pushed the generals closer to China during the days of sanctions.

On Friday, International Crisis Group warned policy makers in Europe that re-imposing sanctions may not be helpful to address Myanmar's Rohingya crisis as it could risk constraining future policy options as well as sending unintended signals to investors, impacting the economy to the detriment the country's people.

Meanwhile, the impact of the re-imposition of sanctions remains hazy. In the wake of the US announcement, the military withdrew parts of its troops from northern Rakhine State and allowed the World Food Program to resume its aid work in the area. No one knows exactly if these decisions are the results of the sanctions. The military still has not yet made any official comment—both on the troops withdrawal and the re-imposition of sanctions.

On the other hand, it's interesting to know how the restrictions on the military will affect the implementation of recommendations made by the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.

In conflict-torn northern Rakhine, the army would play a crucial role in the implementation, as they are at the forefront of operations on the ground and a considerable source of information.

Being aware of the army's position, the final report of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State notes that a high degree of autonomy for the military part of the government muddies the search for and implementation of a coherent and harmonized policy to the complex problems of Rakhine.

When asked if the sanctions would have any impact on the army's cooperation, U Aye Lwin, a Muslim member of the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, said he wanted only to see "more positive approaches" rather than saying "yes or no" to re-imposing sanctions against the military.

"For the international community, it would be better to negotiate through dialogue," he said.

The post Analysis: Are Sanctions the Answer in the Rakhine Crisis? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Amid Opposition, Myanmar Amends Fiscal Year

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 04:41 AM PDT

YANGON — Amid calls for reconsideration from military representatives and opposition lawmakers, Myanmar's national fiscal year will be changed to the period from October to September starting from the 2018-19 financial year as the Union Parliament endorsed and documented the presidential proposal to amend the current period on Thursday in Naypyitaw.

The Myanmar government's current fiscal year is the 12-month period beginning on April 1 and ending on March 31. President U Htin Kyaw submitted a letter to Parliament late last month urging lawmakers to change it to Oct. 1 through to Sept. 30.

Deputy minister U Maung Maung Win for the planning and finance ministry said at Parliament on Tuesday that the main purpose for the change is to secure maximum consecutive dry months as monsoon season in Myanmar starts in June and ends in October.

Securing consecutive dry months is beneficial to the operational flow of many sectors including tourism, agriculture, mining and forestry, he said.

"Running construction and infrastructural operations continuously during dry months would result in good financial flow and job opportunities, which would help the country's development," U Maung Maung Win said at Parliament.

Fiscal years vary in different countries—156 countries follow the calendar year while 12 countries including the United States, Laos and Thailand use the October-September period. Myanmar has been practicing the April-March fiscal year since 1974.

Military representatives to Parliament and lawmakers of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP) called for reconsideration last week at Parliament saying that the current fiscal year has been practiced for the past 40 years and changing it would lead to inconvenience.

Parliament started to discuss the president's proposal on Oct. 17 and the deputy minister of planning and finance stated that the beginning of the budget year is immediately followed by Thingyan public holidays under the current practice while military representatives and opposition lawmakers argued that the holidays had been reduced to five days this year and that this been no significant impact on functions of the fiscal year.

Explaining the strength of the new fiscal year at the Tuesday session of the Parliament, the minister also acknowledged a weakness in that it would affect the tendering process. However, he said that this could be overcome with good institutional management.

The issue was brought into parliamentary discussion late last year by a lawmaker and was later discussed during the meeting of the union financial commission held in July.

Based on consultation with union ministries and regional level institutions, they have commented that they could adapt to the new fiscal year smoothly and the decision to change the fiscal year was made by cabinet members in September, according to the deputy minister.

The post Amid Opposition, Myanmar Amends Fiscal Year appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

At Least 12 Injured at Taunggyi Balloon Festival

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 04:12 AM PDT

MANDALAY – At least 12 people were injured when a fireworks-laden hot air balloon fell onto spectators and vendors at the annual Tazaungdaing festival in Taunggyi, southern Shan state, on Monday.

The festival committee said a balloon from the Twun Tee team launched in to the air as planned but fell unexpectedly, injuring six people severely—including an elderly lady and a 7-year-old boy—and causing minor injuries to another six.

According to a Ministry of Home Affair's statement, three women and two men were seriously injured.

"We assume that the wick attached under the balloon became too hot and the balloon ruptured before it launched into the air safely," said U Than Win, secretary of the festival committee.

The balloon—carrying liters of burning oil, paraffin and dozens of kilos of fireworks hanging in a frame below it—fell down suddenly onto street hawkers occupying an area meant to be exclusively for spectators.

"An elderly lady and a 7-year-old boy were injured seriously and remain in a serious condition. About six other spectators suffered serious injuries. They all are now at Sao San Tun general hospital," said the secretary.

According to the festival committee, 12 people were treated at the clinic on the festival grounds with minor burns and bruises.

On Sunday afternoon, six homes were destroyed when fireworks stored by Ko Aung Ngae, the team leader of Lu Pae hot air balloon team, for the festival ignited. He was seriously injured as he tried to extinguish the fire from spreading.

"The incident occurred due to the hot temperature and chemical reaction. He [Ko Aung Ngae] is also at Sao San Tun hospital with serious injuries," added the secretary U Than Win.

A fire engine driver in his 40s who attended the blaze on Sunday died, but due to an existing heart condition, according to the secretary.

Accidents are common at the Taunggyi balloon festival with at least or two people injured each year either in preparations for the festival or at the festival it self.

"The festival traditions are deeply rooted," explained secretary U Than Win. "Most teams would not give up even if their lives were in danger."

"To avoid accidents, however, spectators and vendors should be careful and listen to instructions and announcements from organizers."

The festival continues until Friday—the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone—and hundreds of teams from Taunggyi and surrounding villages will compete to set off the most grand and beautiful hot air balloon.

This year there were a total of 88 teams for firework hot air balloons, 39 teams for lantern decorated hot air balloons and 266 teams for animal figures hot air balloons.

The post At Least 12 Injured at Taunggyi Balloon Festival appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Detain Two Municipal Officials in Naypyitaw for Alleged Bribes

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 03:13 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — Police detained two municipal officers in Naypyitaw on Sunday evening after the Anti-Corruption Commission found that the pair had solicited money from some shop owners.

According to the suggestion of the Attorney General's Office, the commission has filed a lawsuit against the two under Article 56 of Anti-Corruption Law 2013, said U Thin Maung, a member of the anti-corruption commission.

U Min Lwin Soe, deputy director-general of the market department and Dr. Khaing Soe Hla, deputy director-general of the veterinary and butcher department under the Naypyitaw City Development Committee allegedly took 3.5 million kyats from butchers in order to help them avoid their licenses being suspended.

The municipality temporarily suspends the license of butchers who fail to sell meat regularly in markets.

In the said case, some butchers failed to sell meat at markets for a while because of a decline in meat consumption following an avian flu scare in August.  Then, they allegedly paid the two municipal officials to avoid the suspension of their licenses, and filed a complaint that their licenses were suspended even after the alleged bribe.

"The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a complaint with us. We didn't arrest them. In corruption cases, the commission makes arrests on its own and files complaints with the police station," said police lieutenant Myint Aung of Zabuthiri Township Police Station.

Shop owners filed a complaint on Aug. 21 with the Anti-Corruption Commission, which then investigated the two officials.

One of the accused, U Min Lwin Soe, has denied taking bribes, and said that he would countersue the plaintiffs for defamation.

Though the two municipal officers are based in Naypyitaw, the trial will be held at the regional court of Mandalay Region, and the pair will be detained at Mandalay Region No. 3 Police Station, an official of Naypyitaw municipality told the The Irrawaddy.

Article 56 of the Anti-Corruption Law states that except the political post holder, any other authorized person convicted of committing bribery shall be punished with less than 10 years' imprisonment and fine.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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USDP to ‘Monitor’ Rohingya Refugee Verification Process

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 01:24 AM PDT

YANGON — Myanmar's opposition party the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) said it would monitor the government's plan to change some of the criteria in the verification process of Rohingya refugees laid down in a 1993 agreement between the Bangladesh and Myanmar governments.

"We are monitoring which points in the existing agreement the two governments would discuss, which points would be added and which points would be scrapped," said USDP central executive committee member U Wunna Maung Lwin at the party's press conference on Monday.

Last week, Myanmar's home affairs minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe and his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan met in the administrative capital Naypyitaw to discuss the repatriation of refugees to Myanmar.

Following the meeting, Union minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, U Thein Swe, said the two governments would amend some of the provisions in the 1993 agreement.

The USDP has called on the government to listen to the voices of Arakanese locals and local organizations in amending the agreement, saying that it would make legal responses to any amendment unacceptable to citizens.

More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, when militant attacks on police outposts in Rakhine's Maungdaw Township prompted clearance operations by the Myanmar Army. Many of the refugees bring testimonies of indiscriminate killings, rape and arson by security forces and local Arakanese.

The UN has called the campaign ethnic cleansing and there has been mounting international pressure on Myanmar to take back refugees.

The home affairs ministers during their meeting in Naypyitaw agreed on 10 points concerning border security and cooperation between the two countries. They also settled to finalize an agreement on the repatriation of refugees.

However, Bangladesh-based Dhaka Tribune quoted the Bangladeshi foreign minister as saying that Bangladesh did not get the expected response from the Myanmar government regarding repatriation at the meeting.

U Wunna Maung Lwin said the Myanmar government should be "particularly careful of facts that can be harmful to the sovereignty and national interests" of Myanmar during bilateral talks on the verification process.

"In addition, the government should openly inform the public about discussions," he said.

Though the home affairs ministers agreed to halt the mass exodus of refugees last week, many Rohingya are still gathering at the border. On Oct. 29, 426 people left for Bangladesh in 14 vessels, according to a home affairs ministry statement.

At the meeting, Myanmar also handed over a list of suspects reportedly involved in the Aug. 25 attacks who fled to Bangladesh and requested the authorities there to investigate and return them to Myanmar.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Japan Pledges to Help Philippines Rebuild Marawi

Posted: 30 Oct 2017 10:13 PM PDT

TOKYO — Japan said on Monday it will help the Philippines rebuild conflict-torn southern Marawi city as well as other infrastructure in a deepening of ties to counter China's regional influence.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the pledges in a joint statement with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte following talks in Tokyo.

Duterte on Oct. 23 announced the end of five months of military operations in Marawi held by Islamic State rebels in a conflict that destroyed much of the city's center and displaced some 300,000 people.

"The Government of Japan recognizes that rehabilitation and reconstruction of the City of Marawi and is extremely important," the statement said.

Japan also offered to help with other projects ranging from rail infrastructure to river defenses including a possible 600 billion yen loan to help fund development of a subway in Manila.

The meeting was an opportunity for Abe to discuss security in Asia ahead of key regional meetings beginning with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Vietnam in November.

"I confirmed with President Duterte that we are both maritime nations sharing basic values and strategic interests," Abe said during his joint announcement with Duterte. The two countries, he added, would address common issues including North Korea and "a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Japan is concerned about China's growing power in the South China Sea and sees cooperation with the Philippines, which lies on the waterway's eastern side, as key ally in helping prevent Beijing's influence spreading into the western Pacific.

Duterte, unlike his predecessor, Benigno Aquino, has been less critical of Beijing's island building in the South China Sea. The Philippine leader will return home on Tuesday after an audience with the Japanese Emperor.

Abe and Duterte will travel to Vietnam for the two-day APEC meeting from Nov. 11, which US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.

Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries in the region will meet again in the Philippines after the APEC gathering for the East Asia Summit and a gathering of ASEAN that will be chaired by Philippine’s president.

Duterte in his statement in Tokyo did not mention China, instead calling North Korea to halt its ballistic missile and nuclear test and return to talks with the US, Japan and other countries.

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Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week

Posted: 30 Oct 2017 07:49 PM PDT

MMA Cage Fight | Nov. 3

Hometown hero Aung La Nseng, the MMA One Championship middleweight world champion, will fight heavyweight fighter Alain Ngalani.

Nov. 3, 6:30 pm. Thuwunna Stadium. Tickets at 09-51549297, and www.myasiatiket .com

Memory: International Film Heritage Festival | Nov. 3-12

More than 60 films including banned films around the world will be screened at this film festival.

Nov. 3-12, Waziya Cinema & Maha Bandula Park. Free Admission.  

Trio Stage Show | Nov. 2

Myanmar's celebrated male singers Zaw Win Htut, R Zarni and Wai La will perform on the eve of the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone.

Nov. 2, 7 pm. People's Park. Tickets between 10,000 and 50,000 kyats at 09-782097436.

Eint Chit Solo Concert | Nov. 3

Famous singer Eint Chit will sing on the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone.

Nov. 3, 7 pm. Kandawgyi's Hmaw Sin Kyun. Tickets 5,000 to 50,000 kyats at 09-259699669, 09-252598989.

Tazaungdaing Festival | Nov. 4

This event will feature Myanmar traditional marionette and orchestral performances, a cane ball demonstration and traditional snack stalls.

Nov. 4, 5 pm to 9 pm. Sein Lann So Pyay Garden. Free Admission.

U Ba Gyan Tazaungdaing Cartoon Festival | Nov. 2-4

Cartoons of U Ba Gyan and other award-winning cartoonists will be displayed at this annual festival of lights.

Nov. 2-4. 13th Street, Lanmadaw Township.

Book Sale | Nov. 3-5

At this event, books are offered at discount prices and old books can be exchanged.

Nov. 3-5. Yangon Book Plaza, Thanzay Market.

Aung Khaing's Solo Show | Nov. 1-5

The fifth solo exhibition of artist Aung Khaing will feature Myanmar-style modern paintings.

Nov. 1-5. OK Art Gallery, Aung San Stadium (North Wing).

Win Pe Myint: Dialogue with Nature | Nov. 2-11

This exhibition will showcase Myanmar's spectacular landscapes.

Nov. 2-11. Lokanat Galleries, 62 Pansodan St, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp.

Paung Laung Art Exhibition | Nov. 1-5

The fifth group art exhibition of Pyinmana-based artists will showcase more than 30 paintings.

Nov. 1-5. Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Organization, Bogyoke Market.

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Monday, October 30, 2017

The Irrawaddy Magazine

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Govt Suggests Possible Daily Repatriation of 300 Rohingya Refugees 

Posted: 30 Oct 2017 07:34 AM PDT

YANGON — The government has estimated it can take back about 300 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh per day and said there is a need to scrutinize the refugees under the four main principles of a 1993 agreement between the two countries.

"We can only process about 150 [refugees] in a checkpoint per day as we have to scrutinize and check their information," said U Myint Kyaing, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.

The government has said it would accept the refugees at two checkpoints points in Taungpyo Letwe and Nga Khu Ya villages before resettling them in Dar Gyi Zar village in Maungdaw Township.

There have been suggestions from the Bangladesh government to amend parts of the 1993 agreement that allows the return of Rohingya who can prove residence in Myanmar but the four main principles of the agreement won't change, said the permanent secretary.

The four main principles state returnees need evidence of their residence in Myanmar, repatriation must be voluntary, the parents of children born in camps must have lived in Myanmar, and refugees separated from their families need confirmation of this from a Bangladeshi court.

But under the agreement, additional measures in the repatriation process may be needed, said the permanent secretary, adding that these measurements would include taking legal action against any "terrorists" among the returnees on the spot.

He added that the governments of the two countries are still negotiating to sign an MOU for the repatriation of the refugees.

A delegation led by Simon Henshaw, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, will also meet with government officials and humanitarian agencies to discuss efforts to improve conditions for the significant influx of refugees into Bangladesh, according to the State Department.

Some 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have now fled across the border to Bangladesh from Myanmar Army clearance operations in a campaign the UN calls ethnic cleansing. The refugees say security forces were killing civilians, burning homes, and raping Rohingya women.

The army launched its operations in the wake of deadly attacks on police outposts by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Aug. 25, which was declared a terrorist group by the government.

There is a huge gap regarding the numbers of people who fled to Bangladesh between the ground survey of Rakhine State government and UN statistics, according to the President's Office.

"We have nothing to argue on the number [of refugees]. Whatever the number they are saying, we won't accept if they don't have evidence of their residence here," U Myint Kyaing said.

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Political Outfit Appeals for Unified Shan State Party

Posted: 30 Oct 2017 05:52 AM PDT

The Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) has proposed to merge with its rival the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in order to secure more votes in the 2020 general elections.

On Saturday the SNDP sought advice on the best way to approach the elections from the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU)—a coalition of the SNDP, SNLD, Shan ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), civil society groups and women and youth organizations.

The CSSU is currently chaired by Gen. Yawd Serk of the Restoration Council of Shan State, an EAO signatory to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

"We have presented our consensus to the CSSU as it is a uniquely respectable coalition," said SNDP vice-chairman Sai Hla Kyaw, referring to a letter sent from the SNDP to the CSUU on Saturday.

Sai Hla Kyaw told The Irrawaddy his party would wait for a response and consider ways of moving forward. The SNDP wants to either become a newly merged party or split constituencies to contest in 2020 in order to compete with national parties.

SNLD spokesperson Sai Nyunt Lwin said they have not discussed merging because they have not received any formal letter on the subject.

"The immediate merger might cause some difficulties, but we all share similar principles of upholding the interests of our nationalities, so that should not be problem. The year 2020 is not very far from now, and if we could work together, both sides would have mutually benefited," added Sai Hla Kyaw.

The SNDP has made offers of a merger with the SNLD since 2012, with both parties meeting to discuss a union for the first time in May 2014, in Shan State capital Taunggyi.

The parties are yet to hold more meetings on a merger. In March 2016, following the SNDP's fifth congress, the SNDP released a statement saying it would not dissolve the party or merge with any other party.

The SNLD is the more prominent of the parties and enjoys more public support. Before the 2015 elections, 17 SNDP members switched to the SNLD to contest the elections.

The SNLD holds 46 seats in all three parliaments – state, Lower House, and Union – winning 40 in the 2015 elections and six in the 2017 by-election. The SNDP has one state parliament seat overall, won in 2015.

Sai Hla Kyaw said the idea of a merger was driven by the desires of the Shan public, who have long urged for the two parties to be unified.

The SNDP was formed in late 2010 by former SNLD members and contested in the 2010 and 2015 elections. The SNLD was formed in October 1988 and became the second biggest winner countrywide in the 1990 elections, the results of which were ignored by the junta.

The party then shunned the 2010 elections and re-registered in 2012 after its leaders, including chairman Hkun Tun Oo and Sai Nyunt Lwin, were released from long-term imprisonments.

There are about 18 political parties in Shan State and about two thirds of them are trying to collaborate under the League for Shan State Ethnic Political Parties (LSSEP) for the 2020 elections, Sai Hla Kyaw explained.

In order to beat the majority Burman-dominated national political parties such as the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), many ethnicities have urged the leaders of their own ethnic political parties leaders to merge.

But not all attempts across the country have proved fruitful, with conflicting policies preventing mergers.

In Rakhine State, the Arakan National Party in 2013 from the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party and the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) in order to compete in the 2015 elections. The party split earlier this year, however, and the ALD re-registered with the Union Election Commission in July.

In each of the Mon, Chin and Kachin states, the respective ethnic political parties are attempting a unified party, but efforts have so far been unsuccessful.

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Family Members Are Denied Visit With Detained Journalist in Naypyitaw

Posted: 30 Oct 2017 05:35 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — Police refused to let family members meet with local reporter Ko Aung Naing Soe, who was among those detained for flying a drone near Myanmar's Parliament in Naypyitaw on Oct. 26.

Police on patrol detained two foreign reporters, Lau Hon Meng from Singapore and Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia—who were working for Turkish state broadcast TRT World, their interpreter and fixer Ko Aung Naing Soe and driver U Hla Tin, after they found them preparing to take aerial photos of Parliament with a drone.

Police charged them under the 2012 Export and Import Law for illegally bringing the drone into the country and said the two foreign journalists and two Myanmar nationals were being detained separately at No. 1 Police Station in Naypyitaw and at Pyinmana Prison respectively, according to Ko Ye Htoo, who is a close friend of Ko Aung Naing Soe and speaking on behalf of his family.

"[Aung Naing Soe's] parents tried to meet him at Pyinmana Prison, but they were told that the interrogation was ongoing and they wouldn't, therefore, be allowed to see him. But [the police] said we would be allowed to see him a couple of days later," Ko Ye Htoo told The Irrawaddy.

Family members of Ko Aung Naing Soe were not informed about his detention immediately and only found out on Oct. 27 when police searched his house in Yangon. The accused were remanded in custody on Oct. 28 for 14 days, Ko Ye Htoo told The Irrawaddy.

"This case has caused considerable controversy both on social media and off. It is strange that authorities have said nothing about it," said Ko Ye Htoo.

The Export and Import Law states that "no person shall export or import restricted, prohibited and banned goods" and that "without obtaining license, no person shall export or import the specified goods which is to obtain permission."

It states that anyone who violates the regulation "shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or with fine or with both."

U Nay Tuu, a Pyinmana resident and lawyer who is representing Ko Aung Naing Soe, said detainees can get bail for charges under the Export and Import Law.

Training director U Sein Win of the Myanmar Journalism Institute who went to see Ko Aung Naing Soe told The Irrawaddy that he was not able to meet the detainees at the Naypyitaw police station or Pyinmana prison.

"Police said that detainees were held in custody separately," U Sein Win said.

Drones are also used by ordinary people, not only journalists and photographers, in Myanmar and it is not clear if there is an official ban on shooting photos of parliamentary buildings with drones, U Sein Win stressed.

"If such a ban is not in force, it is difficult to say that those reporters violated the law," he said.

In June, three local reporters— The Irrawaddy's Lawi Weng, also known as U Thein Zaw, and U Aye Naing and Ko Pyae Phone Aung from the DVB were arrested and charged under the Article 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for going into a region controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to cover a drug-burning ceremony. They were released in September after the plaintiff – the military – dropped charges against the accused.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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ICG Warns on Myanmar Sanctions

Posted: 30 Oct 2017 05:30 AM PDT

YANGON — The International Crisis Group warned policy makers in Europe that re-imposing sanctions may not be helpful to address Myanmar's Rohingya crisis as it could risk constraining future policy options as well as sending unintended signals to investors, impacting the economy to the detriment the country's people.

"A return to previous forms of bilateral and EU sanctions on Myanmar in the form of travel bans and asset freezes may not be helpful in achieving concrete progress," warned the ICG on Friday.

The warning by the Brussels-based NGO—that monitors democratic transition worldwide—came nearly two weeks after the European Union and its member states' announcement that they will suspend invitations to the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar armed forces and other senior military officers and review all practical defense cooperation due to the disproportionate use of force against Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine State.

The statement highlighted current restrictive measures from the EU including an embargo on arms and equipment that can be used for internal repression in Myanmar. It continued that the EU may consider additional measures if the situation does not improve but didn't mention what those measures may be.

The international community has condemned Myanmar's armed forces for arbitrarily killing, raping, and destroying the property of minority Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine State amid clearance operations in the area since late August.

The operations were sparked by Muslim militant group the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks on 30 outposts in the area on Aug 25. The government denounced the group as
"terrorist" and operations have seen more than 600,000 Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh as of late October.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Myanmar since 1991, in the form of an arms embargo and visa ban on senior members of the then military regime State Law and Order Restoration Council and senior members of the military and the security forces and their families.

It froze the assets of nearly 1,000 companies and institutions in Myanmar and banned almost 500 people from entering the EU. It also prohibited military-related technical help and banned investment in the mining, timber and precious metals sectors.

All sanctions, except for an arms embargo, were suspended in 2013 to welcome and encourage the reform process. The EU renewed its arms embargo against Myanmar until Apr. 30, 2018.

In tackling the Rohingya issue, the ICG recommends the EU and its member states to continue to support strong Security Council action and push for multilateral and bilateral engagement with Myanmar's civilian and military leaders.

The four-point recommendation also encourages Myanmar's leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to speak to the nation and make full use of her position to shift the national narrative in a more constructive direction.

The State Counselor's undisputed position as the greatest moral and political authority "gives her the power to sway public opinion, and considerable ability to influence the security forces," the ICG said.

Apart from the EU, the United States also took action against the Myanmar military leadership last week by ending travel waivers and barring units and officers in northern Rakhine State from US assistance, adding that the US was considering imposing economic measures against those responsible for atrocities against the Rohingya.

After the actions, the army withdrew dozens of soldiers from conflict-torn northern Rakhine State's Maungdaw district on Wednesday and the government allowed the UN's World Food Program to resume humanitarian assistance in the area.

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Rakhine State Govt to Close Hindu, Ethnic Arakanese Displaced Person Camps

Posted: 30 Oct 2017 12:20 AM PDT

SITTWE, Rakhine State — The Rakhine State government will close camps for displaced persons who have fled violence in northern Rakhine State by Nov. 2, said the Rakhine State minister for electricity, industry and transportation U Aung Kyaw Zan.

According to the minister, camps in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, and Minbya townships will be closed as the situation has returned to normal in those areas and many have already left the camps and returned home.

"We are not forcibly evicting them. We are closing [the camps] because there are only a few people left in camps," the minister told The Irrawaddy.

While some 600,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Aug. 25 militant attacks prompted a brutal Myanmar Army response in Maungdaw district, thousands of local ethnic people including Arakanese, Mro, and Daingnet as well as Hindus also fled to Sittwe and other townships, though many have now returned home.

According to the government, more than 6,000 people were taking shelter at camps in Sittwe directly after the militant attacks. Currently only five camps—two ethnic Arakanese camps, one Maramagyi camp and two Hindu camps—are operating in Sittwe as many have returned.

More than 600 people are still taking shelter at a Hindu camp in Danyawaddy sports ground and more than 300 at Maramagyi camp. Some 400 Hindus are sheltering at Kyaung Tet Lan ward.

About 1,400 Hindu people who were taking shelter at Danyawaddy sports ground and two Hindu temples in Kyaung Tet Lan and Kyaung Gyi Lan wards of Sittwe who have recently returned to their villages are having trouble with accommodation and food, said vice-chairman U Maung Hla of the Rakhine State Hindu Religion Foundation (Sittwe Branch).

"Those who have gone back phoned me and said that camps in their home areas will not accept them. They said they have no place to live and are also having trouble finding sufficient food," he said.

They have to stay at their relatives' houses and monasteries, he said, adding that Hindu spiritual leaders in Sittwe have provided some rice for them.

"We still want to stay [in the camp] though we're concerned that the government might not like it if we stay. We are concerned about our safety if we go back. Unless the government has a resettlement plan, we'd like to stay here," said U Ni Mal, a Hindu community leader taking shelter at Danyawaddy sportsground.

U Ni Mal hopes that the government would resettle Hindus together at a place close to the main road and the Buddhist community.

Minister U Aung Kyaw Zan said that Hindu and Maramagyi people may continue to stay at the camp if they wish.

"We won't force them to leave. We will let them stay here if they want," said the minister.

The state government informed camp organizers about planned closure of the camps on Oct. 27, saying that camps are to be closed by Nov. 2 and the government would stop food and cash supplies for the camps on that day.

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Technicolour Thailand is Back After a Black-clad Mourning Year for Late King

Posted: 29 Oct 2017 11:36 PM PDT

BANGKOK — Thailand officially ended a year of mourning for its late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Monday, marking a return to colors for some after a monotone year during which many wore black from head-to-toe out of respect for their revered monarch.

Hundreds of thousands of people thronged Bangkok’s historic quarter to bid farewell last week to King Bhumibol, who died in October 2016. His US$90 million-dollar funeral, full of pomp and ancient ritual, took place over five days.

His remains were brought to their final resting place within Bangkok’s Grand Palace on Sunday. Portraits of the bespectacled late king, who became a father figure for many during a seven-decade reign, were hung across Thailand.

The black-and-white funeral bunting that had hung on the gates of Bangkok’s Government House for a year was taken down on Monday and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha made a televised announcement to mark the official end of the mourning period.

“The government would like to thank officials, both soldiers and civilians … and the more than 10 million Thais who came to pay respects to the royal body over the past year,” Prayuth said.

May Kanokwattana, 29, an office worker, wore bright yellow as she waited at the Siam BTS, a major Bangkok transport interchange.

"I wore black for one year. I needed to show my sorrow. Today is the first day I am wearing a different color," May told Reuters.

She also wore a pin with the Thai number nine out of respect for King Bhumibol, who was also known as the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty.

Colors have a profound meaning for Thais. Astrological rules followed by many in the Southeast Asian nation assign a color to each day of the week.

King Bhumibol was born on a Monday, a day associated with the color yellow.

His only son, new King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was also born on a Monday.

Some people shared charts on social media showing which colors would be considered luckiest to wear.

"For confidence, health and power wear orange. For good support wear pale green," said one chart.

Pattinya Mankongwongcharoen, 49, an accountant wearing a peach-colored dress, said: "I won't continue wearing black because the mourning period is officially over and to do so would be disrespectful."

Others said they would continue to wear muted colors.

"I'm still grieving. I’ll wear black or grey for a few more weeks," said Pimsuda Chatree, 37, a shop owner.

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Philippines’ Duterte Says to Deal with Trump in ‘Most Righteous Way’

Posted: 29 Oct 2017 09:33 PM PDT

MANILA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he would deal with US President Donald Trump "in the most righteous way" when they meet next month to discuss regional security and Manila's war on drugs.

Trump will travel to Asia on Nov. 3-14 amid rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

He will be in Manila on the last leg of his trip, which includes visits to Japan, South Korea, China, and Vietnam, to attend the Asean leaders' summit.

Trump will meet with Duterte but will skip the larger meeting in Manila with heads of states and governments from China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.

"It would be terrorism, cooperation between the two countries, the fight against drugs. I expect to be dealing with him around these topics," Duterte said in a media briefing before leaving for Japan to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"I would deal with President Trump in the most righteous way, welcome him as an important leader," he said. "I would have to also listen to him, what he has to say."

Duterte is known for his often profanity-laden tirades against the United States, chiding Washington for treating the Philippines "like a dog," despite the two nations' longstanding relationship.

The Philippines' leader announced his "separation" from the United States during a visit to Beijing a year ago, declaring he had realigned with China as the two agreed to resolve their South China Sea dispute through talks.

Duterte was infuriated by expressions of concern by members of former President Barack Obama’s administration about extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

But Trump, in a phone call to Duterte in May, praised the Philippine leader for doing an "unbelievable job on the drug problem" despite human rights groups' condemnation of Duterte's drug crackdown, in which thousands of people have been killed.

Human rights, rule of law and due process are among "important developments" the two leaders would likely discuss during their bilateral talks, Sung Kim, US ambassador to Manila, told foreign correspondents last week.

Duterte is accused by international human rights groups of supporting a campaign of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines, which his government denies.

He defended his 16-month-old campaign last week, telling Southeast Asian lawyers at a gathering in Manila that he had been "demonized" and denying allegations of state-sponsored killings of drug dealers and users.

Duterte, speaking in Davao City on Sunday night, said the situation in the Korean Peninsula would be the main agenda item in his talks with Trump.

"We are worried. If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong," he said. "A nuclear war is totally unacceptable to everybody."

Duterte said it would be good if the United States, Japan and South Korea would sit down and talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and “tell him that nobody’s threatening him, that there would be no war, and that if you can just tone down or stand down, stop the threats, and that would be the same for America.”

Duterte previously described Kim as a "fool" and "son of a bitch" for "playing with dangerous toys."

Duterte said the North Korea threats would also be discussed during his meeting with Abe, along with Tokyo’s assistance to rebuild the conflict-torn Marawi City in southern Philippines and for Manila’s infrastructure projects.

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