Monday, January 15, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Yangon Bus Service in Numbers

Posted: 15 Jan 2018 07:59 AM PST

YANGON—The Yangon Bus Service (YBS) marks its first anniversary on Tuesday. The following infographic offers a snapshot of the service's operations based on the latest available data, from December.

The replacement of the old public bus system operated by the Yangon Motor Vehicles Supervisory Committee, or Ma Hta Tha, with the YBS was one of the first major reforms initiated in the nation's commercial capital by the National League for Democracy-led government. It launched with 2,900 buses running on 69 bus lines. A year later, the service comprises 96 lines serving more than 2 million commuters daily across the city of 5.2 million people.

Bus companies

No. of buses  (licensed, unlicensed)

Bus lines

The post The Yangon Bus Service in Numbers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Trio of Kachin Parties Agree to Merger

Posted: 15 Jan 2018 06:32 AM PST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — After five years of effort, three Kachin political parties agreed to merge on Saturday in order to meet a desire among ethnic Kachin for a single, strong party.

The Kachin Democratic Party (KDP), the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP), and the Kachin National Congress (KNC) agreed to the merger at a meeting of the Kachin Political Parties Coordination Committee in the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina.

They finally managed it in hopes that the 2020 general election will not see them repeat the poor showings they suffered in 2015, said KDP Chairman U Aung Kham.

The KSDP was the only one of the three parties to win seats in 2015, capturing one in the Lower House and three in the State parliament, when the National League for Democracy swept to power with the vast majority of votes, followed far behind by the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

U Aung Kham told The Irrawaddy on Monday that their decision to merge "was to constitute a party that represents the Kachin State residents and to fulfill the Kachin people's desire." He said people were confused by the array of Kachin parties in 2015, causing all of them to lose votes.

The KDP chairman said the three party leaders will chose a name, logo and emblem for the new party and let the public decide whether to adopt it on Feb. 20.

The new party will have to register with the Union Election Commission, after which the three parties that formed it will dissolve.

U Aung Kham said the merging parties will also have to decide how, once merged, to maintain their relationship with the various coalitions they are members of, including the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation and the Union Nationalities Alliance.

Other parties in Kachin, including the Lawwal (Laovao) National Union and Development Party and the Kachin State Democracy and Development Party, are remaining independent.

"As for the Laovao party, we understand that they will need to have thorough discussions with their people," he said, adding that it and others would be allowed to join the new party later on.

The post Trio of Kachin Parties Agree to Merger appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Convicted Mother in Tailor Shop Torture Case Dies in Prison

Posted: 15 Jan 2018 04:13 AM PST

YANGON — Daw Tin Thuzar, 59, who was serving a prison sentence of 16 years and one month for torturing two young domestic workers, died on Saturday at the Insein Prison hospital, according to her lawyer Daw Hnin Su Aung.

Daw Tin Thuzar is one of four members of the family that owns the Ava Tailor Shop in Yangon sentenced for the crime by Yangon Division's western district court in December.

She, her daughter Su Mon Latt, son Tin Min Latt, and son-in-law Yar Zar Tun were charged under the 1993 Child Law, the Anti-trafficking in Persons Law and Article 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous harm using dangerous weapons and means.

Daw Tin Thuzar and Su Mon Latt were sentenced to 16 years and one month. Yar Zar Tun was sentenced to 13 years and one month, and Tin Min Latt received nine years and one month.

Daw Tin Thuzar's husband, U Ko Latt, and daughter Thiri Latt were charged but later acquitted because the court found no evidence tying them to the crime.

"She told her family members to forgive her wrongdoing before she died," said Daw Hnin Su Aung.

The funeral was held in accordance with Muslim customs at Yayway Cemetery on Sunday. She had been suffering from diabetes and related diseases. The Insein Prison authority allowed her to receive treatment at the prison hospital and at Insein's People's Hospital, said prison Warden U Myo Oo.

"We allowed her to receive treatment both at an outside hospital and the prison hospital. We also allowed her to see specialists who visit the prison once a month. But her other family members are in good health," he said.

Daw Tin Thuzar's three incarcerated family members were allowed to see her corpse in prison, but they were not allowed to attend the funeral.

"Even though they are serving time, they should have been allowed to attend the funeral of their mother. They are still humans and will feel sorry that they could not pay their final respects to their mother.  According to their religious traditions, the funeral has to be organized by the son, and there were therefore some difficulties," said Daw Hnin Su Aung.

Her daughter Su Mon Latt lost consciousness upon hearing of her mother's death and received treatment at the prison hospital, the lawyer said, adding that her condition was unknown.

She said her clients had not yet decided whether to appeal the court verdicts.

The two tortured girls, who are about 19 years old, suffered five years of abuse at the hands of the family before the crime came to light in August 2016. The family members were arrested and prosecuted amid widespread public outcry.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Irrawaddy Parliament Delays Special Assembly to Appoint New Chief Minister

Posted: 15 Jan 2018 04:06 AM PST

PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Division — The Irrawaddy Parliament has postponed its special meeting to Jan. 18 as the President's Office has yet to nominate a new chief minister to the regional government.

The nomination letter had not arrived even as all the regional lawmakers were present at the assembly on Monday, so parliamentary speaker U Aung Kyaw Khaing rescheduled the meeting.

"I summoned the meeting on Monday because I thought the letter of nomination would have arrived by then. But, it didn't and so I put off the meeting until Jan. 18," U Aung Kyaw Khaing told The Irrawaddy.

According to sources close to the National League for Democracy (NLD) Irrawaddy regional chapter, U Aung Kyaw Khaing, Social Affairs Minister Dr Hla Myat Thway and Wakema Township lawmaker Daw Myint Myint San are among those being considered to succeed Mahn Johnny, who stepped down on health grounds on Jan. 9.

"People are concerned that the nominee has been changed as the parliamentary meeting was scheduled for today. It is good for the government to take time to make a decision, and we'd prefer someone who is shrewd and not corrupt for the sake of the region," said Daw Myintmo Tint, one of the leaders of the local community-based organization Pandonma Social Development Association.

The special meeting will be held at 10 am on Jan. 18. The lawmakers have been asked to wait in Pathein, the regional capital, to attend the meeting.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Irrawaddy Parliament Delays Special Assembly to Appoint New Chief Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Taipei’s Huaxin Street: Myanmar Community in Taiwan

Posted: 15 Jan 2018 03:16 AM PST

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Zhonghe District in northern Taiwan's New Taipei City is home to a huge immigrant population including a Myanmar-born Chinese community that left its native country decades ago to settle in Taiwan. Huaxin Street, filled with all sizes of posters and signboards written in both Myanmar and Chinese, is the center of the community, where people speak their native language and eat traditional foods.

Restaurants offer various foods that play a major role in Myanmar's food culture such as tea and naan. From the slaked lime that is essential for betel quid to albums of Myanmar singers to Ngapi—a pungent, dry, fermented fish or shrimp paste, to robes for Buddhist monks—all of it can be found for sale on this street.

Walking down the street, conversations are in Myanmar language but mixed with one or two Chinese words in every sentence and elderly people chat over a cup of tea while sitting in front of teashops—a common scene also found in Chinatown in Myanmar's commercial city Yangon.

Taiwan's Myanmar overseas Chinese Association said there were more than 40,000 Chinese people who migrated from Myanmar to Taiwan and settled around the area according to data from 2008. But the population continues to grow with the community's Taiwan-born second generation.

Tin Htet Paing is freelance journalist and photographer based in Yangon, Myanmar. She previously worked at The Irrawaddy as a reporter for three years.

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Delegates to Mon Conference to Establish New Political Party

Posted: 15 Jan 2018 03:06 AM PST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Delegates to the Mon Political Conference have agreed to set up a political party representing all ethnic Mon. To facilitate this, a 21-member party-organizing committee has been established to draft the new party's constitution.

The Mon Political Conference was held in Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State, on Jan. 13-14, and attended by more than 800 participants including politicians, monks, legal experts, civil society representatives, youth and women-rights activists.

Members of two existing Mon parties based in the state, the Mon National Party (MNP) and the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMDP), did not participate in the weekend conference.

Mi Sandar Nan, a coordinator on the party-organizing committee's information subcommittee, told The Irrawaddy that all parties in Mon State are welcome to join the new party, adding that the decision was up to them.

There are currently three Mon political parties: the AMDP, MNP and the Women Party (Mon), registered in 2010, 2012 and 2015 respectively.

"We invite all three parties to coordinate and will give them three months to consider joining us," said Mi Sandar Nan, a former MNP executive committee member.

Women's rights activist Mi Cherry Soe, who serves as secretary of the party-organizing committee, said a strong Mon political party is needed to secure more seats in the Parliament and ensure a strong voice for the Mon.

"We have been talking merging into one Mon party for a long time and we have seen that there are fewer Mon national representatives, especially after the 2015 elections," she told The Irrawaddy. "We all have to work in unison because only a Mon party will be devoted to working on behalf of our ethnicity."

According to a statement released after the Mon Political Conference, a negotiating team had attempted to achieve a merger between the Mon political parties for 17 months, with no success. It had sought the views of the Mon community, which called for the holding of a Mon political conference to resolve the issue.

For seven years, the Mon community has been urging the merger of Mon political parties in order to get more local lawmakers elected.

The party merger was pushed again before the 2015 general election as a way of securing more seats in the Mon State parliament, but that goal was not met. Last year, dozens of members of both political parties resigned, due in part to the parties' failure to merge.

The Mon parties have not yet agreed to combine "due to policy differences since their formation," although both parties adhere to a parliamentary-based political program, said U Min Min Nwe, a Mon political observer and editor of the Than Lwin Times journal based in Mawlamyine.

The MNP, which was reformed from the Mon National Democratic Front, seeks to redraft the national Constitution, while the AMDP is more in favor of amending the 2008 military-backed charter.

U Min Min Nwe told The Irrawaddy that the most recent drive is different as it involves the participation of youth and women representatives, as well as lawyers and the politicians.

A previous effort at a party merger was spearheaded by the New Mon State Party, an armed group currently in talks to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government. This time the NMSP only sent observers to the weekend conference, however, according to organizers.

"The 21-member party-organizing committee will consult with the existing parties and draft a party policy and party constitution, with input from experts and experienced politicians. We believe it has potential to be successful," said the observer.

The post Delegates to Mon Conference to Establish New Political Party appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

5 Karenni Men Sentenced Under Peaceful Assembly Law

Posted: 14 Jan 2018 10:03 PM PST

YANGON — A local court in Karenni State sentenced five Karenni men, who staged a protest against the Tatmadaw's alleged execution of four people, to 20 days in prison on Friday.

The five, members of the Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY) and the Karenni State Farmers Union, on Dec. 22, led a protest in Loikaw against the alleged execution of three Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) soldiers and a civilian two days earlier.

On Jan. 2, Loikaw Township police station charged the five with violating the Peaceful Assembly Law.

After four trials, the court ordered the five to pay a fine or to be imprisoned for 20 days, and the five chose to go to prison.

"This shows that there is no rule of law. They opted for imprisonment rather than the fine. They chose the imprisonment because they did it [staging the protest] for the sake of rule of law as the duty of citizens who love truth," said Khu Tu Reh, chairman of the Karenni Farmers Union.

Four civil society representatives resigned from the Karenni State Parliament's complaints-handling committee on Jan. 11, saying that they resigned to protest the state government and Parliament's silence over the alleged executions and the unjust charging of five Karenni men who protested the alleged killings.

The violation of Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, for staging a rally without the prior approval of authorities, carries up to three months' imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of 30,000 kyats.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Myanmar, Bangladesh Meet Amid Doubts About Rohingya Repatriation Plan

Posted: 14 Jan 2018 09:15 PM PST

DHAKA/YANGON — Hamid Hussain, a 71-year-old Rohingya Muslim farmer, first fled Myanmar for Bangladesh in 1992. He went home the next year under a repatriation deal between the two neighbors, only to repeat the journey last September when violence flared once more.

Officials from Myanmar and Bangladesh meet on Monday to discuss how to implement another deal, signed on Nov. 23, on the return of more than 650,000 Rohingya who have escaped an army crackdown since late August.

Hussain is one of many who say they fear this settlement may be no more permanent than the last.

"Bangladesh authorities had assured us that Myanmar would give us back our rights, that we would be able to live peacefully," said Hussain, who now lives in a makeshift refugee camp in southeast Bangladesh.

"We went back but nothing changed. I will go back again only if our rights and safety are guaranteed — forever."

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to many basic services such as healthcare and education. They are considered illegal immigrants from mainly Muslim Bangladesh.

The authorities have said returnees could apply for citizenship if they can show their forebears have lived in Myanmar. But the latest deal — like the one in 1992 — does not guarantee citizenship and it is unclear how many would qualify.

Monday's meeting in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw will be the first for a joint working group set up to hammer out the details of the November repatriation agreement. The group is made up of civil servants from both countries.

Two senior Bangladesh officials who are involved in the talks acknowledged that much was left to be resolved and it was unclear when the first refugees could actually return. One of the key issues to be worked out was how the process for jointly verifying the identities of returnees would work, they said.

"Any return is chaotic and complex," said Shahidul Haque, Bangladesh's top foreign ministry official who will lead Dhaka's 14-member team in the talks. "The challenge is to create an environment conducive for their return."

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay said returnees would be able to apply for citizenship "after they pass the verification process."

Zaw Htay added that Myanmar had proposed that a group of 500 Hindus who fled to Bangladesh and have already agreed to be repatriated, alongside 500 Muslims, could form the first batch of returnees.

"The first repatriation is important — we can learn from the experiences, good or bad," he said.

Myanmar Sets Up Camps

Bangladesh officials said they would begin the process this month by sharing with Myanmar authorities a list of 100,000 Rohingya, picked at random from among registered refugees.

Haque said Myanmar officials would vet the names against their records of residents before the August exodus, and those approved would then be asked if they wanted to go back.

Refugees without documents would be asked to identify streets, villages and other landmarks near their former homes as proof of their right to return, said Haque.

A Myanmar agency set up to oversee repatriation said in a statement on Thursday that two temporary "repatriation and assessment camps" and one other site to accommodate returnees had been set up. Myint Kyaing, permanent secretary at Myanmar's Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population, told Reuters earlier this month Myanmar would be ready to begin processing at least 150 people a day through each of the two camps by Jan. 23.

As well as checking their credentials as residents of Myanmar, he said, authorities would check returnees against lists of suspected "terrorists."

Myint Kyaing declined to comment on how long the repatriation would take but conceded the process after the 1992 agreement had taken more than 10 years.

United Nations agencies working in the camps clustered around Cox’s Bazar, in southeastern Bangladesh, have voiced skepticism about the resettlement plans.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration said their offers to help with the process have not been taken up by the two countries.

"Further measures are needed to ensure safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of refugees to their places of origin and to address the underlying root causes of the crisis," said Caroline Gluck, a spokeswoman for the UNHCR in Cox's Bazar.

The UNHCR says refugees it has surveyed want guarantees that international agencies will be involved in overseeing the process and more information about the security situation in their home areas.

Who Will Go? Who Will Pay?

While many Rohingya say they want to go back to Myanmar, most of the more than a dozen who spoke to Reuters said they were scared to do so now.

"I am not going back. No one's going back," said Hafizulla, a 37-year-old Rohingya man. "We are scared to go back without any UN intervention. They can accuse us later, they can arrest us. They may accuse us of helping the militants."

The military offensive the refugees fled, which was prompted by Rohingya insurgent attacks on police and army posts, has been described by the United States and UN as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar rejects that, saying troops did not target civilians.

"You can have all the agreements in the world, and set up all the reception centers and everything, but it won’t make a difference unless the conditions in Myanmar are such that people feel confident that they can go back and live in peace, and have equal rights," said a Western diplomat in Dhaka.

The second Bangladesh official, Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Mohammed Abul Kalam, said the "Rohingyas' reluctance to go back" was an issue that needed to be addressed.

He said the repatriation process would cost "millions of dollars" but funding details had not yet been agreed and were not expected to be discussed at Monday's meeting.

Japan, one of Myanmar's biggest aid donors, said on Friday it was giving an emergency grant of around $3 million to help with the return of the Rohingya.

The post Myanmar, Bangladesh Meet Amid Doubts About Rohingya Repatriation Plan appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

16 Injured in Tourist Boat Explosion in Southern Thailand

Posted: 14 Jan 2018 08:30 PM PST

BANGKOK — A tourist speedboat carrying 31 passengers exploded in front of Phi Phi Le Island in the southern Thailand province of Krabi on Sunday, injuring 16, mostly tourists from China, the Phi Phi police told Reuters.

The speedboat, named "King Poseidon," was ferrying 27 Chinese tourists from the nearby resort island of Phuket to Phi Phi before its engine caught fire and exploded injuring 14 tourists and two crew members, the police said, adding that the authority is still investigating the cause of the explosion.

Out of the 16 injured, six are in a severe condition, Phi Phi hospital staff told Reuters, adding that seven people have been sent to hospitals in Phuket for further treatment and nine have been discharged.

Beach resorts and islands in southern Thailand are major tourist attractions, particularly during the high season from November to March.

Tourism accounts for around 12 percent of Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy and is one of its fastest growing sectors.

The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports expects the country to welcome 37 to 38 million tourists in 2018, up from around 35 million visitors last year, 10 million of which were tourists from China.

The post 16 Injured in Tourist Boat Explosion in Southern Thailand appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Revokes Academic Title of Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment

Posted: 14 Jan 2018 08:19 PM PST

BEIJING — China's Education Ministry on Sunday revoked the prestigious academic title of a university professor accused of sexually harassing students, state media said, in a case that has sparked national media coverage and a nascent #MeToo movement in the country.

Beihang University in Beijing said last week that it removed Chen Xiaowu from his teaching posts after an investigation found he had engaged in "sexual harassment behavior" that seriously violated professional ethics and the school's code of conduct.

The Beijing Youth Daily had previously reported Chen saying he had done "nothing illegal," but Reuters was unable to reach him for comment as the university declined to provide Chen's telephone number and said he was refusing interviews.

The university's investigation was launched after former Beihang student Luo Xixi publicly accused Chen of sexually harassing her 13 years ago in an online blog that promptly went viral after it was posted on Jan. 1.

"The ministry decided to revoke Chen Xiaowu's status as a Yangtze River Scholar," Chinese state radio said, referring to an academic award given to individuals in higher education.

The ministry also authorized the university to relieve Chen of his appointment and took back his award funding, it said.

"We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to behavior that crosses the ethical bottom line for teachers and violates students," it added.

The ministry will also look into setting up a long-term and effective system of sexual harassment prevention at universities and colleges across China, it said, without giving details.

In her post, Luo said Chen made an unwanted sexual advance after luring her to his sister's house, and that he relented only after she burst into tears and said she was a virgin. Luo also accused Chen of harassing several other students.

Luo, who now lives in the United States, said she was inspired by the #MeToo social media movement that started in October in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations in the U.S. entertainment industry, and encouraged others to come forward and share their own experiences under the hashtag.

Luo's allegations, combined with another public post from a Peking University graduate, have inspired students from more than 50 universities to issue open letters demanding more effective oversight and a reporting system to deal with sexual harassment on their campuses.

But unlike #MeToo in the United States, the campaign has mostly been spread by word of mouth and has struggled to gain traction on social media, in part because Chinese internet censors have been swift to take down the open letters.

The post China Revokes Academic Title of Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Philippines Says Hazardous Volcano Eruption Possible ‘Within Weeks or Days’

Posted: 14 Jan 2018 08:12 PM PST

MANILA — The Philippines' chief volcanologist warned on Monday of a possible hazardous eruption at Mount Mayon "within weeks or even within days," as magma continued to pile up at the summit of the Southeast Asian country's most active volcano.

The 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) high volcano, a tourist attraction in central Albay province because of its near-perfect cone shape, spewed ash and burning mud and rocks over the past two days, forcing more than 3,000 residents to evacuate from nearby villages.

It showed a bright crater glow on Sunday, signifying lava had started to flow from the crater.

Manila's airport authorities said airline Cebu Pacific had cancelled flights to nearby Legazpi City for a second day on Monday, citing bad weather.

Mayon's most destructive eruption was in February 1841, when lava buried a town and killed 1,200 people. It last erupted in 2014, spewing lava and forcing thousands of people to evacuate.

Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), described Mayon's current activity as a non-explosive magmatic eruption, but he would not rule out a more dangerous volcanic explosion in coming days.

"What we would like to see is if there would be enough pressure, gas pressure for the next magma that would go up," he told ABS-CBN News Channel.

Phivolcs raised the volcano alert to level 3 late on Sunday after detecting the lava flow.

Solidum said raising the alert to level 4, under which the danger zone would be expanded and a hazardous eruption could happen within a few days, depended on how Mayon behaved in the next few hours.

Level 5 indicates an eruption is in progress.

People have been advised to stay away from a 6-km (4-mile) radius Permanent Danger Zone and a 7-km Expanded Danger Zone on the volcano's southern flank.

The post Philippines Says Hazardous Volcano Eruption Possible 'Within Weeks or Days' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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Saturday, January 13, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

2018 – High Hopes, Low Expectations

Posted: 12 Jan 2018 07:37 PM PST

Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, our Irrawaddy news crew will discuss likely scenarios in important areas like politics and the economy of Myanmar in 2018. Our discussion will focus on which stage the democratic transition of our country has reached and whether there will be any progress, and whether the economy can pick up. The year 2018 started with problems and confusion around the world. We'll discuss whether Myanmar will be able to overcome its own troubles. Irrawaddy Burmese editor Ko Ye Ni and English edition senior reporter Ma Nyein Nyein join me to discuss this. I'm Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe.

Dateline Irrawaddy : ၂၀၁၈ ခုႏွစ္အတြင္း ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံရဲ႕ ႏိုင္ငံေရး စီးပြားေရးအေျခအေနကဘယ္လိုရွိမလဲ

Dateline Irrawaddy : ၂၀၁၈ ခုႏွစ္အတြင္း ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံရဲ႕ ႏိုင္ငံေရး စီးပြားေရးအေျခအေနကဘယ္လိုရွိမလဲဒီတပတ္ ဒိတ္လိုင္းအစီအစဥ္ကေတာ့ 2018 ခုႏွစ္အတြင္းမွာ ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံရဲ႕ ႏိုင္ငံေရး စီးပြားေရးအလားအလာေတြကဘယ္လိုရွိမလဲ ဆိုတာနဲ႔ပတ္သက္ၿပီး ဧရာဝတီ အဂၤလိပ္ပိုင္း အယ္ဒီတာ ေက်ာ္စြာမိုး၊ ဧရာဝတီ ျမန္မာပိုင္း အယ္ဒီတာ ရဲနည္နဲ႔ ဧရာဝတီသတင္းဌာန အဂၤလိပ္ပိုင္းရဲ႕ အႀကီးတန္းသတင္းေထာက္ မၿငိမ္းၿငိမ္းတို႔က ေဆြးေႏြးထားၾကတာပါ။

Posted by The Irrawaddy – Burmese Edition on Thursday, January 11, 2018

We can say the problems of 2017 have continued into 2018. In my opinion, Myanmar was in deep trouble in 2017. But then taking a look at the world, we'll have to wait and see how deep the divides will become in the US under President Trump. He is just a businessman. Taking a look at the UK, Brexit—the looming withdrawal of the UK from the EU—has created uncertainties. There are countries that may secede from the UK. Taking a look at Eastern Europe, there is a rise in nationalism, and there is a resultant increase in discrimination. Our country Myanmar is not different, not exceptional. So, let's discuss the possible scenarios for our country in 2018. It seems that the democratic transition of our country has reached an impasse apart from other problems such as the peace process, national reconciliation between the government and the Tatmadaw, the rise of ultra-nationalism and pressing issues like Rakhine and the capacity of the government.

Ye Ni: Global politics does have an impact on national politics. As you said, old democracies and leading countries like the US and European countries have suffered setbacks, China has begun to play a bigger role on the international stage with its greater political, economic and military powers. In Southeast Asia, not only our country but all other countries have suffered setbacks in terms of democratization. As the economic reforms instituted by the Communist Party of China—we can call it state capitalism—have gathered tremendous momentum, this makes other countries wonder if they should follow suit, and consequently most of the Asean countries are inclined to (follow in that direction).

Talking of our country, after we experienced the Rakhine issue, Western countries put pressure on us and downgraded ties. Meanwhile, China extended help to us. Though the Myanmar people disliked China in the past, it now seems that they have to rely on China. The root cause of this is the Rohingya [Bengali] crisis. Around 600,000 refugees fled after the Tatmadaw carried out counter-insurgency operations in response to the attacks of ARSA [Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army] in August. The international community including the UN has labelled it as ethnic cleansing and this pressure will have an impact on political, economic, and social reforms in Myanmar this year. I'm afraid this impact will continue until the next election [in 2020].

KZM: This problem is quite big. This is the most pressing issue for the government. Ma Nyein Nyein, the peace process was initiated under U Thein Sein's government and continues under Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's. But it seems that the greater the effort that is put into the peace process, the harder it becomes to achieve peace. We heard that the NCA [Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement] signatories have decided not to attend the UPDJC [Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee] meeting. And it is unlikely that there will be new NCA signatories. What will happen to the peace process in 2018?

Nyein Nyein: As you've said, the issues of 2017 will continue in 2018. The year 2018 started with hurdles to the peace effort. It started with the UPDJC meetings being suspended for an indefinite period. Eight NCA signatories were set to meet on Jan. 11 to discuss this. It was mainly because the Tatmadaw stopped preliminary public consultations for national-level political dialogues organized by the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) in Shan State in December. Public consultations were halted in three or four towns in a period of about one week. So, the RCSS released a statement on Jan. 8 saying that it would not hold national-level dialogues. This is because there are different views about NCA implementation.

Terminology has always been a source of problems in the peace process. An ethnic leader told me that our country is always faced with terminological crises. Two sides define the same word differently. So, negotiations to reach an understanding over terminology never end. The NCA signatories have experienced the same problem. Although (the process for) how the NCA would be implemented is described in the accord, the NCA signatories were never clear about it. The understanding of the NCA by the Tatmadaw, the government and ethnic signatories is different from one another. So, it is difficult to reach a tripartite agreement. And there are non-signatory groups, while the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) is still negotiating. They have made eight demands, and said that they would sign the agreement if all those eight demands were fulfilled. Those negotiations have stalled. There is also the belief that consensus can be reached only when there are talks between the top leaders. So, negotiations have gone nowhere. Therefore, the tripartite talks between the Tatmadaw, government and ethnic groups, either NCA signatories or non-signatories, still have a very long way to go.

KZM: Talking of tripartite talks, the government, the Tatmadaw and the ethnic groups should be equal partners in negotiations. If the ethnic groups quit, peace will never be achieved. Similarly, if the Tatmadaw objects, the process will stall. So, it is important that the government should have a clear policy to handle this. But frankly speaking, we haven't seen such a policy so far.

YN: Under the military governments, democracy activists and ethnic groups demanded tripartite talks. And the same demand is being made now. So, optimistically, it is not bad the peace process hasn't gone backward even if it hasn't made progress. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that 2017 would be the year of peace.

KMZ: 2018 will also be the year of peace. Unless peace is achieved, every new year will be the year of peace.
YN: Yes, it will be the year of peace until 2019 and beyond, perhaps.

KZM: It is not an easy issue. There were clashes even before independence. It is 70 years now since independence. The legacy of divide-and-rule and colonialism continues to seriously affect the country. Let's discuss the economy of the country. You have mentioned China's economic influence. In early 2017, the [commerce] minister compared the economy to a jet plane about to take off. But in December, he admitted that the economy hadn't pick up as expected. If the economy doesn't improve, the daily lives of people will be hard. Ko Ye Ni, do you see any good prospects for the country in 2018?

YN: Like the political issues, economic reforms are a long-term process. There are things that have yet to be done. Though the business community and the majority of the people perceive the overall economic landscape as in a downward trend, I personally think the NLD government has managed to implement economic reforms to a certain extent. It has made reforms to clarify the budget, and public financing.

KZM: It has to resolve the entanglements first.

YN: Yes, for example, in her proposal to Parliament, lawmaker Daw Thet Thet Khaing said that some departments have opened their own accounts and do not put their revenues into the state budget. The NLD government has to solve those problems. Last year, as you said, businesspeople were not positive about the economic landscape of the country. The business survey report, jointly released late last year by the UMFCCI (Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and (consulting firm) Roland Berger, based on the views of over 500 businesspeople, indicated that investor confidence in Myanmar's business landscape had significantly declined in 2017 because of a lack of clear economic policy. This shows that the NLD government is under increased pressure to accelerate the economic reforms. It does not have much time left, only two years—2018 and 2019—before the election in 2020. I think, rather than the Rohingya issue and the peace process, economic reform is something for which the NLD government can receive credit in the next two years. So I think it should focus its efforts on it.

KZM: There are a lot of things to discuss. Anyway, to resolve the political, peace, and ethnic issues and the Rakhine problem, everything depends on national reconciliation. The military government ruled for around 50 years, and the new government has ministries controlled by the Tatmadaw. And the military also holds seats in the parliament. So, it seems everything including peace depends on national reconciliation. Ma Nyein Nyein, do you think there are good prospects for national reconciliation? Because the government leaders and Tatmadaw leaders always need to get on; otherwise there is a problem.

NN: Outwardly, the NLD government seems to be trying very hard for national reconciliation. The public perception is that the NLD is trying to get on with the Tatmadaw, but in reality we heard that the Tatmadaw and NLD don't see eye to eye. The Tatmadaw clings to the 2008 Constitution and doesn't allow it to be touched. But, when the NLD government took office, it overstepped the boundaries of the 2008 Constitution and established the State Counselor's Office. Since then, we heard that the relationship between the Tatmadaw and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has stagnated. This has had an impact on the peace process. If there is no coordination between them, either bilateral or tripartite talks will not happen. The NLD government alone can't make this happen. The government thus may appear biased toward the Tatmadaw; (in contrast) I haven't heard people say that it is biased towards the ethnic groups. Since it has taken the negotiator role, only when all three sides try together will national reconciliation be possible.

KZM: The problem is that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not the de facto leader. Her authority doesn't reach that level. It's the same for the president. It is just three years until the 2020 election. The most important thing now is structural reform, and the NLD has a lot to do, such as national reconciliation, constitutional reforms and managing an economic recovery. Do you think it will be able to push forward a democratic transition?

YN: The message from the Tatmadaw so far is that it will not agree to changes in the 2008 Constitution. So the NLD government should take a realistic approach and think about how to accelerate political, economic and social reforms without changing the 2008 Constitution. Considering its capabilities in terms of finance, human capital, expertise and experience over the past two years, I don't have high expectations for the new government.

KZM: Another thing is our country with a population of 54 million people is beset with problems, troubles and the legacy of colonial rule. Laws enacted in 1920 are still in force. In fact, they are really out of date. Ko Ye Ni, Ma Nyein Nyein, thanks a lot for your contributions. I think our people will be able to overcome (the challenges in) 2018 as they have great resilience. They showed it when the country was hit by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Similarly, they have to address the problems with a similar level of resilience in 2018. Thank you all!

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Friday, January 12, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Has the NLD Delivered a Knockout Blow to U Win Htein’s Power?

Posted: 12 Jan 2018 06:32 AM PST

YANGON — National League for Democracy (NLD) executive committee member U Win Htein's house in Naypyidaw was shuttered on Friday morning, sparking unconfirmed rumors on social media that the party had suspended him from his duties, and even that he had resigned.

Sources close to U Win Htein told The Irrawaddy that the senior NLD official had submitted a letter of resignation to the party and was scheduled to travel to Australia for a vacation this weekend.

Speculation over U Win Htein's fate has mounted steadily since a lavish wedding celebration was held for his son, Hsan Win Htein, in Naypyidaw last week. The expensive wedding celebration has become a topic of conversation across the country.

U Win Htein, who has already obtained a visa to travel to Australia, denied that he had resigned when contacted by The Irrawaddy on Friday morning.

"It's all based on rumor. Where did you get that information?" he asked, before declining to take any further questions.

Win Htein's decision to travel abroad amid the outpouring of criticism over the wedding raised eyebrows among political analysts.

Senior NLD members U Nyan Win, Dr. Myo Nyunt and Monywa Aung Shin held a meeting at NLD headquarters in Yangon's Bahan Township on Friday. Reporters from several media organizations including The Irrawaddy visited the office to question NLD officials.

Asked about Win Htein's reported departure from the country, party spokesman Monywa Aung Shin said, "To be honest, we haven't heard anything yet. The situation is still very unclear."

Despite repeated questioning, Monywa Aung Shin would not be drawn on the issue of Win Htein's resignation, refusing to confirm or deny it. He said only that according to party procedure, those who fail to perform their duties or who breach the party's principles should be replaced by the most qualified candidate.

Contacted on Friday, NLD central executive committee member Dr. Myo Nyunt told The Irrawaddy he had no information on Win Htein.

A senior NLD official from Yangon division told The Irrawaddy tensions between Win Htein and other senior party officials had grown in recent years as Win Htein had abused his position and made controversial decisions without informing other committee members. In particular, the official said, Win Htein had given verbal orders that some NLD central committee members be fired.

His power appeared to have been waning recently. In August, even State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to whom he was a close aide, advised Win Htein to take some time off for a medical examination in a hospital. However, The Irrawaddy has learned that there were no problems with Win Htein's health, and that the move was intended to warn Win Htein that he had crossed a line with Suu Kyi.

The State Counsellor's suggestion followed Win Htein's poor handling of a rumor that President Htin Kyaw would resign. Win Htein said publicly that the rumor was likely started by people linked to the military, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, or IT people.

The Army vigorously condemned the ruling party over the suggestion, describing it as a groundless accusation that harmed the dignity of the military.

It also said the accusation "could harm national unity, especially during a time when the government is committed to national reconciliation," adding that "we will make the necessary response."

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UN Award Winner Fights for Myanmar’s Women

Posted: 12 Jan 2018 04:21 AM PST

Human rights advocate Cheery Zahau was honored with the UN Development Program's N-Peace Award for 2017 in the Untold Stories category. An ethnic Chin and secretary of the Chin Progressive Party, she has been a longtime advocate for human rights and gender equality and for women taking leadership roles in politics. Cheery spoke with The Irrawaddy's Nyein Nyein about her experiences and perspectives on women's rights and gender equality.

Why do you think you were honored with the N-Peace Award?

I was honored in the Untold Stories category. In 2016 I was contacted by the UNDP and they asked for my CV. There were about six or seven other women leaders as well as other nominees for [the category] Campaign for Action. There were about 10 people from Myanmar. I did not know that I was being awarded. I completely forgot about it. And in late 2017 my friends and colleagues shared with me the good news that they saw my profile and that I had won the award. When I checked, I was labeled as a reporter and it was corrected after I explained to them that I have never worked with any news agency. I am just a researcher and human rights activist. I have done research and documented it in about seven books. I can be referred to as an author, not a reporter.

How does the award help you with your current work?

This award acknowledged my previous contributions to the Women's League of Chinland [WLC], because the WLC is an umbrella organization of Chin women's groups. Now I am working at a political institution. Although it is not directly related to my current work, it is recognition for the research I have done on women in conflict areas. It shows that those who keep up their activism or movement for gender equality or social transformation won't be forgotten. They will be acknowledged at some point. Whichever field we choose, journalism or activism, if their efforts bring changes to the community, other people will recognize them for what they've done.

As a mother and as an activist, how do you manage the work-life balance? What are the challenges?

There are many challenges. As a mother, it becomes harder to work in this field. People might think it would be easy for mothers to work in the fields of human rights, democracy and politics. It is totally different. I didn't want to leave my child for work. I keep telling myself I must make it work even though I have a child because I worry about the perception that one can have a child but cannot work with a young baby.

How much legal or community support is there for working mothers?

On creating an environment that is convenient for working mothers, we do not have any push factors in Myanmar. In Myanmar, if you have a child, you leave your work until the child grows up. So after marriage we have to choose…. Either we have a baby and stay with them or we continue working. We do not have the space for women to work and take care of a baby at the same time. To achieve that we need much more campaigning and advocacy.

There are some who do both, taking care of a baby and working. But some cannot take a break, depending on the family and its economic status. For instance, I could not take a rest from work because I did not want to stop working. For people like me there is no support. Support is needed. So we are proving that there needs to be support, like childcare for working mothers. The companies, institutions and government departments that employ working mothers should understand these needs even if we don't have formal legislation.

How much change have you seen in the mindset of those who cannot accept the concept of women's rights?

If we talk about women's rights, of course there are misunderstandings. But what we are talking about is gender equality. Gender equality is not about only women, who would take all the advantages from men. It is about encouraging women to be on equal terms with men, to have the same job status. It is the same for men; if they are being left out, the men must get equal terms.

Generally speaking, people understand the concept, because if we have gender equality it helps create a happy family life and spreads happiness all around. In terms of the economy, the state could also benefit from having both men and women working. One good thing about gender equality is that both women and men can earn an income because they can both have jobs. It helps the economic development of the family because having both the husband and wife working obviously helps the family, as well as the state.

As an ethnic Chin, what is your take on government and civil society support for indigenous women? What are the needs?

In the Chin community, we have small Chin women's groups and they are providing community awareness training all the time. When we include gender equality topics at those trainings, we see less resistance [from the male participants]. People become more aware of the importance of having equality, and that is a good sign.

As for economic status and community development, our Chin State sill needs a lot more infrastructure including roads, schools, hospitals and access to water and electricity. Unless we have these basic infrastructure needs fulfilled, it will remain hard to provide women with jobs and economic development. People live by farming and they survive on the crops they harvest from the farms. It is not an economy yet. For that to change, the government has more work to do to fulfill basic needs. So we have been pushing more for that.

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Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Encouraged by Investigation into Inn Din Killings

Posted: 12 Jan 2018 04:13 AM PST

YANGON — State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday said she was encouraged by the Tatmadaw's investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims at Inn Din village in Rakhine State's Maungdaw Township and its plan to take action against those who committed the crime.

"There were killings in Inn Din village, and it is a step forward that the Tatmadaw has investigated and said that those responsible will be held accountable. At last, a country has to assume responsibility for its own rule of law," Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said during a joint press conference with the Japanese foreign minister in Naypyitaw.

Local authorities unearthed 10 bodies near a graveyard in Inn Din village in southern Maungdaw Township on Dec. 19, and the Tatmadaw subsequently launched an investigation into the killings.

The Tatmadaw investigation team admitted on Wednesday that security personnel were involved in the killing of the 10 Rohingya who it says were allegedly affiliated with Muslim militants belonging to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), which launched a series of attacks against security outposts in northern Maungdaw last year.

The executions occurred on Sept. 2 and were carried out by three villagers using knives and four security force personnel armed with guns, according to the Tatmadaw statement, which noted that the incident was a violation of the rules of engagement.

This represents a significant departure from the military's previous position that the security forces committed no wrongdoing during their "clearance operations" in Rakhine State.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that she was encouraged that the Myanmar Army was starting to take responsibility for its actions, as it will help prevent such extrajudicial killings in the future.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono pledged continued support for Myanmar's democratization and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's government. The Japanese government will provide humanitarian assistance for the integration of the two communal groups in Rakhine State, he said.

"To achieve development in Rakhine State, it is critically important to solve the root-causes of the problems facing all the people in Rakhine State," Kono said.

He announced a Japanese government plan to provide 800 billion yen for Myanmar's democratization process, Yangon urbanization, and improving transportation and electricity networks in the next five years. The Japanese government will also provide cooperation and assistance in the fields of health, education and agriculture, he added.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that she discussed with her Japanese counterpart development of Rakhine State, the repatriation of Muslim refugees, and possible areas of cooperation with the Japanese government to help stabilize the situation in Rakhine State.

The Japanese foreign minister also held separate talks with Myanmar Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and will visit northern Rakhine State.

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Chin State to Revive Buran Trees to Boost Tourism

Posted: 12 Jan 2018 01:46 AM PST

MANDALAY — The Chin State government is planning to revive the Buran trees (Rhododendron arboreum), the state flower of Chin State, in order to promote tourism in the region.

The Burans are small evergreen trees with bright red flowers. The Chin State government and locals say the number of these trees in the area has declined due to negligence, human error and deforestation.

"They have been neglected for many years. There isn't a culture of valuing these trees and locals have cut them down for wood and their flowers for many years," said Salai Isaac Khen, the state minister of municipal works, electricity and industry.

The minister said the Chin hills were once covered with the Buran trees, especially in the Kanpetlet, Tedim, Mindat and Falam regions. The decision to plant more trees follows a noticeable decline.

When the Buran flowers blossom, the Chin hills become picturesque, attracting visitors. Since the Burans are unique to this region in Myanmar, visitors flood Chin State from November until March, especially Mt. Victoria in Kanpetlet Township, to see the flowers, birds and butterflies.

Apart from the Buran trees, the Chin State government is also planting more cherry trees, primarily in the Kanpetlet region, with a plan to hold flower festivals in the future.

"We intend to hold both Buran and cherry blossom festivals in the near future to promote tourism in our state," said Salai Isaac Khen.

"Tourism is the best way to develop our state, so we are promoting that while also conserving nature," he added.

Chin State is the country's most impoverished state. Many of the natural areas remain untouched, due to poor transportation and infrastructure. The state government hopes the natural beauty will attract adventurers and tourists.

The heart-shaped Rih Lake in Falam Township and Mount Victoria are two of the popular tourist sites in the area currently.

Chin State can often only be reached after monsoon season, as many roads are destroyed after heavy rain and landslides.

According to government officials, 50 percent of the state budget is now being used to reconstruct and reinforce the roads, to make them operational in all seasons.

"To develop tourism in our state, transportation plays a key role. It is improving, and hopefully our region will be more developed in the next five years," Salai Isaac Khen said.

"In addition, to have sustainable tourism, we need to educate locals and the visitors in regards to responsible tourism. We need to teach them not to pick flowers, chop trees, or litter. To develop the area, we need everyone's cooperation," he added.

According to government officials, visitors to Mount Victoria tripled last year. As a consequence, many Buran tree branches were broken when visitors took them for their flowers. Local government officials will issues requests and warnings in the future.

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Rakhine Chief Minister Says ARSA Threat Continues

Posted: 12 Jan 2018 01:37 AM PST

SITTWE — Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu claimed that Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) militants are a continuing threat in the restive state.

"There may be around 30 of them who have infiltrated three areas of Rakhine state," he said, speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

The regional government will tighten security measures as necessary in response, added the chief minister.

ARSA has claimed responsibility for a recent attack on a civilian vehicle carrying patients to a hospital in Maungdaw Township near the village of Turaing on Jan. 5. Official accounts said Rohingya Muslims then ambushed the vehicle and six Myanmar Army soldiers were injured.

ARSA released a statement in which it said it had no choice but to fight state-sponsored terrorism against the Rohingya.

U Zaw Htay, the spokesperson for the President's Office, told The Irrawaddy that the government will not make public statements on security matters in Rakhine, but that there had been reports of ARSA activities in the area.

U Zaw Htay has previously said that the government has "no policy to negotiate with terrorists."

"We have ordered that they be responded to in line with the law. If they launch further attacks, they will face what they deserve," he said.

More than 650,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine State to Bangladesh since August, when ARSA militants staged deadly attacks on security posts, prompting violent clearance operations by the Tatmadaw.

The Rohingya are not listed in Myanmar's 135 official ethnic groups, and the majority of the country believes they are 'Bengali,' illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Yangon-based political analyst U Maung Maung Soe mentioned various routes that ARSA could send its members to infiltrate Rakhine State, warning that there could be possible support in Rohingya villages along the way.

There are around 15 Rohingya villages in Maungdaw and the government should have exerted its executive power on those villages because there may be ARSA supporters in those villages, U Maung Maung Soe suggested.

The Myanmar government and the Tatmadaw have labeled ARSA a terrorist group since it launched attacks on dozens of border police outposts on Aug. 25, 2017.

The President's Office has also urged the international community to view ARSA as a terrorist organization and to neither support it politically nor financially.

"The government is trying to solve the problem out there. If you support ARSA, our effort there will be hindered," said U Zaw Htay.

On Jan. 8, the US Embassy released a statement condemning the ARSA attack on Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State.

"This act of violence only serves to further undermine peace and security in northern Rakhine State and the region," read the statement.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Two Bago Regional Government Ministers Resign

Posted: 11 Jan 2018 11:12 PM PST

YANGON — Two Bago regional government ministers resigned on Wednesday, bringing the total number of ministers who have quit since the New Year to four.

The resignations of U Kyaw Min San, Bago Region's minister for resources, environmental conservation and forestry, and Municipal and Social Affairs Minister U Maung Maung Lwin were voluntary, according to an announcement by the President's Office on Thursday. However, U Kyaw Min San, who is a member of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), indicated the party was behind the move.

"My party asked me to resign from my post, so I did. But I am not being investigated," he told The Irrawaddy.

On Wednesday, the President's Office approved the resignation of Irrawaddy Region Chief Minister Mahn Johnny and the regional minister for agriculture, livestock, resources and environmental conservation, U Ba Hein, who said he was stepping down due to poor health.

Mahn Johnny, a former political prisoner and long-serving member of the NLD, is set to meet the press on Monday to explain his resignation. The same day, the regional parliament is scheduled to approve a candidate to replace him, nominated by President U Htin Kyaw.

Mahn Johnny will remain a member of the NLD's central executive committee and a lawmaker for Kyonpyaw Township in the regional parliament, party spokesman Monywa Aung Shin told reporters in Naypyitaw on Thursday.

The NLD government is reshuffling key players in order to enhance its capacity and will make further changes as necessary, Monywa Aung Shin said.

"The government takes three things into consideration in making changes: performance; complaints about corruption and social problems; and health," said Monywa Aung Shin, adding that the party had received about 30 complaints over the past few months.

The head of the ruling party's complaint committee, Dr. Myo Nyunt, told reporters in August that the panel had received around 400 complaints against its lawmakers and ministers since the party took office in April 2016.

The post Two Bago Regional Government Ministers Resign appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Japan PM Rejects South Korean Call for New Steps to Help ‘Comfort Women’

Posted: 11 Jan 2018 10:27 PM PST

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday rejected South Korea's call for more steps to help "comfort women," a euphemism for women forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels, and urged Seoul to honor a 2015 pact on the divisive topic.

Japan and South Korea share a bitter history that includes Japan's 1910-45 colonization of the peninsula and the "comfort women" issue is especially touchy. The US allies are key to efforts to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

South Korea said this week that the 2015 agreement, struck by President Moon Jae-in’s conservative predecessor, had failed to meet the victims' needs and resolve the feud.

The 2015 agreement was "a promise between the two nations. Keeping this promise is an international and universal principle. We cannot accept South Korea's unilateral demands for additional measures," Abe told reporters.

"We have been sincere in executing every promise we made. We want to continue to strongly ask South Korea to do the same."

Seoul is not seeking to renegotiate the agreement, which the two sides had said would "finally and irreversibly" end the feud if both sides stuck to it. Under the deal, Japan apologized again and promised 1 billion yen ($8.99 million) for a fund to help the women.

But South Korea has urged Tokyo to take added steps, including a fresh apology.

Japanese media reports have said Abe may not attend the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, next month because of the feud, although the government's top spokesman said on Thursday that it had not been decided.

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Magnitude 6 Earthquake Hits Central Bago Region

Posted: 11 Jan 2018 10:21 PM PST

YANGON — A strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake and a series of aftershocks hit Myanmar's central Bago Region early Friday morning, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

There have been no reports as yet of casualties or damage.

The quake's epicenter was near Pyu city and struck at 12:56 a.m. local time.

Ko Tun Lin Kyaw, a seismologist with the Meteorology Department, said people in Yangon, Naypyitaw, Pyu, Pyay and Taungoo felt the quake.

He said there were at least four aftershocks, three measuring a magnitude 5.3 and one a magnitude 4.7.

The Meteorology Department later reported an additional aftershock and said the last one, a magnitude 4.6, struck at 10:46 a.m.

"It was a shallow quake and so most people near the area felt it," said Ko Tun Lin Kyaw.

He said people near the epicenter should be cautious about staying in old buildings and placing heavy objects such as televisions in high places.

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Myanmar Admission Soldiers Killed Rohingya ‘An Important Step’: US envoy

Posted: 11 Jan 2018 08:33 PM PST

YANGON — Myanmar's admission that soldiers were involved in the murder of 10 Muslims in September was an important step and the United States hoped it would be followed by more transparency and accountability, the US ambassador said on Thursday.

The European Union and representatives of Muslim nations renewed calls for a broader international investigation into violence in the western state of Rakhine, after the military said on Wednesday its soldiers had killed 10 captured Rohingya Muslim "terrorists" at the beginning of September.

It was a rare acknowledgment of wrongdoing by the Myanmar military during the operation it launched in northern Rakhine in response to Rohingya militant attacks on Aug. 25. Since then, more than 650,000 Muslim villagers have fled to Bangladesh.

"The military's acknowledgment that the security forces were involved in the killing of these 10 individuals is an important step," Ambassador Scot Marciel said in a forum on media freedom with journalism students and reporters in the main city Yangon.

"We hope it is followed up by more transparency and by holding those responsible accountable. I would stress this should be done, not as a favor to the international community, but because it's good for the health of Myanmar's democracy."

The United States has previously said the sweeping military counteroffensive amounted to "ethnic cleansing." Myanmar denies that, saying its forces were carrying out legitimate "clearance operations" against insurgents.

Mass Grave

The military announced on Dec. 18 that a mass grave containing 10 bodies had been found at the coastal village of Inn Din, about 50 km (30 miles) north of the state capital Sittwe. The army appointed a senior officer to investigate.

A statement from the office of the commander-in-chief on Wednesday said the military's investigation had found that members of the security forces had killed the 10.

The military said legal action would be taken against members of the security forces who violated their rules of engagement in killing the 10 suspected insurgents, and against ethnic Rakhine Buddhist villagers who were also involved.

It said the 10 had been captured after security forces had come under attack from around 200 insurgents.

The captives should have been handed over to police, the army statement said, but with militants mounting continuous attacks and destroying two military vehicles, "there were no conditions to transfer the 10 Bengali terrorists to the police station and so it was decided to kill them."

Myanmar's civilian leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has no control over the military, but has faced fierce international criticism for failing to do more to protect the Rohingya.

Asked about Wednesday's statement from the military, her spokesman Zaw Htay said Myanmar was committed to following the rule of law and took allegations of abuses seriously.

"The government is not issuing blanket denials of accusations of human rights violations issued by the international community," he said. "We need to get strong and reliable evidence so that we can investigate and take action according to the law."

Calls for Independent Investigation

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation said the admission substantiated allegations made by human rights groups and the United Nations of ethnic cleansing against "the most persecuted Rohingya people."

The EU and Norway said in a statement issued in Yangon that the killings at Inn Din "confirm the urgent need for a thorough and credible investigation into all violent incidents in northern Rakhine State to ensure the accountability of those found responsible for committing atrocities."

Myanmar's armed forces have for decades been accused by human rights groups and Western governments of abuses in the country's myriad ethnic conflicts, but it has been rare for soldiers to be held accountable.

An admission by a top general in July 2016 that soldiers had killed five villagers during an interrogation in northern Shan State was seen at the time as unprecedented. Seven soldiers were subsequently jailed for five years with hard labor.

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