The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- Moscow Stands by Military Deal with Tatmadaw After US Criticism
- Deputy Minister Says Tatmadaw Arming, Training up to 30 Militias in Maungdaw
- Latest Rape, Murder in Yangon Heightens Security Fears
- Off to a Shaky Start
- Rights Groups Condemn Govt Publication of ‘Terrorist’ List
- House Speaker Rebukes Ministry for Poor Oversight of Road Contracts
- Ongoing Fighting in Tanai Leaves Mine Workers Trapped
- Myanmar Advisory Panel Chief Says it Cannot Interfere in Court Case Against Reporters
- BBC Women Denounce Unequal Pay as Heat Rises for Broadcaster
- Draft Proposals in Indonesian Parliament Aim to Ban Extramarital Sex
- Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week
| Moscow Stands by Military Deal with Tatmadaw After US Criticism Posted: 30 Jan 2018 07:08 AM PST Russia will abide by a deal to sell military aircraft and provide technical cooperation to Myanmar's military, Moscow said after the agreement drew criticism from the U.S. The Kremlin on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to the deal, which was signed on Jan. 20 during Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu's visit to the country and will see Moscow sell six SU-30 fighter planes to the Tatmadaw. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert earlier urged Moscow to reconsider the agreement. In its response, Moscow said the sale of military equipment to Myanmar was aimed at helping the country boost its defense capability. Last Friday, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS news agency that "Russia has invariably observed the norms, rules and principles of international law [in the field of military-technical cooperation] and it will continue doing so in the future. It goes without saying that for this reason we cannot pay attention to such accusations [by the United States over supplies of fighter jets to Myanmar]." In a statement dated Jan. 26 and shared on the Russian Embassy's Facebook page, Russia's Information and Press Department said, "At the same time, we believe that military-technical cooperation is a legitimate component of interstate relations, unless it contradicts the decisions of the UN Security Council. Deliveries of Russian military products to Myanmar aim to boost the country's defense capability. Only a very vivid imagination of our State Department colleagues can perceive a link between this task and the threat of even greater sufferings of civilians." The statement adds that Russia continues to be active within the international community's efforts to facilitate the normalization of the situation in Myanmar, especially in Rakhine state, while respecting the country's sovereignty and pledging non-interference in its domestic affairs, as well as providing humanitarian aid when requested. The statement makes the claim that despite the fact that the U.S.'s own military equipment sales to the Southeast Asia region had resulted in destruction and causalities during recent conflicts, "This does not prevent Washington from selling lethal weapons to Southeast Asian countries and building up its military presence in direct proximity to this region." Political analysts predicted that with Moscow determined to foster collaboration between militaries, Russia-Myanmar military ties would only continue to deepen. Ko Ye Myo Hein, the executive director of the Yangon-based Tagaung Institute of Political Studies, said that as Myanmar has been faced with international pressure over the Rakhine State crisis, Russia-Myanmar relations, which have already improved in recent years, would only "strengthen further". Russia and Myanmar have enjoyed good relations since the Russian military began selling military equipment to the country in the 2000s. Russia has also invited Myanmar soldiers to study in the country and provided the Tatmadaw with military technology. "The Myanmar Army has been seeking better military equipment in order to strengthen and modernize, and has found that Russia's military hardware serves its purposes, as the quality of Chinese military products is not as good as it seemed, although the Tatmadaw relied on China for decades during the period of Western sanctions," Ko Ye Myo Hein said. U Ye Tun, a political analyst and former lawmaker from Shan State's Hsipaw Township, expressed a similar view, saying Myanmar-Russia military ties were likely to deepen in the long term. The Tatmadaw's plan to obtain fighter jets has also raised concerns within Myanmar, given its demonstrated willingness to use aerial bombing, most recently in Kachin State. Aerial bombing and mortar shelling killed at least four people and displaced and trapped over 3,000 local residents in Tanai and Sumprabum townships earlier this week. U Ye Tun said the Tatmadaw's current round of procurement for its Air Forces was more related to the crisis in Rakhine State, as the Army needs to build its capacity, rather than for deployment against other ethnic armed groups. "The approaches taken by Russia, China and India toward Myanmar in regard to the Rakhine State crisis is different from the West, because they understand Myanmar. Their interventions are more directly aimed at reducing tensions. But we see a totally different approach from the US," he said. The post Moscow Stands by Military Deal with Tatmadaw After US Criticism appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Deputy Minister Says Tatmadaw Arming, Training up to 30 Militias in Maungdaw Posted: 30 Jan 2018 05:49 AM PST YANGON – Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Major-General Aung Soe told a regular session of the Upper House on Tuesday that the military had established at least 30 militia groups and armed three of them in northern Rakhine State's conflict-torn Maungdaw district. He was responding to a question from Arakan National Party (ANP) lawmaker Kyaw Kyaw Win about whether the government planned to establish and train militias in Maungdaw and Rathaedaung regions, especially in areas where the government could not permanently deploy security forces. Maj-Gen Aung Soe said the Army was providing firearms training to groups in Bandhula, Tat Chaung and Wai Lar Taung villages. The groups had received tactical shooting training up to an advanced level in February and March last year, and further instruction was scheduled for this summer season, he said. Thus, there was no need to establish more militia groups, he said. Maj-Gen Aung Soe did not elaborate on whether the Army was providing its own firearms to the militias or simply allowing them to use locally produced handmade, single-load rifles. On Aug. 25, about six months after the militia training began, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) — formerly known as Harakah al-Yaqin (Faith Movement) — staged serial attacks against nearly 30 border outposts and one military base in Maungdaw district, killing at least 10 policemen and one soldier, and making off with several dozen firearms. The Myanmar Army declared the region a military operation zone and locked down the border. Its subsequent clearance operation drove more than 650,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh's Teknaf district. The UN described the devastation that followed as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing". Lower House lawmaker U Aung Thaung Shwe of Maungdaw constituency said that in Bandhula, Tat Chaung and Wai Lar Taung villages, located in northern Maungdaw, two Arakanese sub-ethnic groups, the Mro and Khamme, rely on the resources of the Mayu mountain range to survive. He was critical of the government's efforts at militia training, saying it had been discussing it since the Ma Sa La era, adding that it was only occasionally used in the previous Thein Sein administration. He pointed out that the military had never equipped local villagers with its Ka Pa Sa arms, and merely allowed local handmade hunting rifles, which are not tactical assault rifles. Lawmaker U Aung Thaung Shwe said small ethnic groups armed themselves with single-shot rifles while fleeing heavy clashes between ARSA and government security forces. "We have consistently urged [militia training] in Parliament, but it has never happened in this government's term. They [the Army] are just talking about it. As far as I know, there has been no effective militia training or arming on the ground," he said. Upper House lawmaker U Kyaw Kyaw Win, who initially proposed the plan, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon. Maj-Gen Aung Soe claimed that the Army had established 596 militia groups under its Western Command, located in Ann Township of Rakhine State, in order to implement regional stability and development projects. He added that the Army is trying to recruit new police officers for Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships and is collaborating with the Supreme Court and the Office of the Attorney General of Myanmar to enact the Border Police Force law. The government had officially opened 12 new local police stations and expects to open another four soon, Maj-Gen Aung Soe said. The post Deputy Minister Says Tatmadaw Arming, Training up to 30 Militias in Maungdaw appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Latest Rape, Murder in Yangon Heightens Security Fears Posted: 30 Jan 2018 05:36 AM PST YANGON — The recent rape and murder of a 26-year-old woman in Yangon has raised security concerns among the city's female population. Police arrested a taxi driver, Myo Zaw Oo, who confessed to the brutal crime, on Jan. 24, three days after the body was found. Ma Shwe Yi Win, a deputy supervisor at the Health Ministry's Food and Drug Administration Department, went missing at about 7:30 on the night of Jan. 20 on her way home to Dagon Township after doing some shopping at the Hleden Center in downtown Yangon. The journey should take less than 30 minutes. But when Ma Shwe Yi Win failed to make it home later that night, her family reported her missing. The next morning police found her half-naked body lying near a sports field beside Nga Moe Yeik creek in North Dagon Township. The police statement says the young woman had gotten into Myo Zaw Oo's taxi. It says the two began to argue when the driver asked for a higher fare and that Myo Zaw Oo then choked his passenger and stabbed her in the throat with a screwdriver. When Ma Shwe Yi Win lost consciousness, the statement says, Myo Zaw Oo drove her to North Dagon, where he raped her near the sports field. He then took her belongings, including a platinum necklace, earrings and a phone, and left her body. Police arrested Myo Zaw Oo three days later at a mobile phone shop in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, where he had gone to install new software on the stolen phone. News of the rape and murder has heightened fears that the city's streets are not safe. "I couldn't even sleep when I heard about that," said Ma Thuzar, 30. She takes a taxi to work and back every day, preferring that to the public buses, on which sexual assault is a common occurrence. "Now I don't feel safe in a taxi either," she said.  While cases of sexual harassment and abuse, from persistent catcalls and unwanted touching to assault, are nothing new in the country's most populous city, reports of rape are on the rise. They were also the most common major crime recorded in Yangon in 2016 and 2017. Rape cases accounted for 229 of 469 major crimes recorded in 2016, and for 270 of 478 major crimes in 2017. "Before, I wasn't afraid to work until late and go home around 9 or 9:30 p.m. But now I try to go home early," said pharmacist Ma Zin Hline, 31. Many women, who make up a growing share of the commercial capital's workforce, are sharing their feelings of insecurity, including walking down the street in the evening and taking a bus or taxi at night. Ma Wint Thu, who trains women on leadership in Yangon, said she worries that the fear of being a victim might limit the mobility and education of women. "More parents will be concerned about their daughters' safety as the reports of rape are on the rise," she said. Ma Wint Thu said she feels unsafe walking home from the bus stop in South Dagon Township because there are no streetlights. She urged authorities to add more lights and relocate some bus stops that are currently far from residential areas. Ma Hla Hla Yee, co-founder and director of Legal Clinic Myanmar, which provides free legal aid to mostly women and children, said the recent rape and murder highlighted the need to make cities safer for women. She said Yangon's shortage of streetlights and many dark patches give perpetrators an opportunity to commit their crimes, especially now that more and more women are working and heading home at night. While police patrols and CCTV cameras are important, she said, taxis should also have to display the driver's information more visibly. The Yangon Region Transport Authority said it would enforce existing regulations on taxis plying the city's streets and, starting next month, will conduct spot checks in collaboration with the police. The authority also announced plans to remove window shades, stickers and advertising on taxies that can obscure the view inside by Feb. 1. But the two women's rights advocates stressed that imposing the rule of law was most important. And like many others, Ma Hla Hla Yee is calling for the death penalty for rapists. "There can be only the death sentence for such a cruel crime," she said. The post Latest Rape, Murder in Yangon Heightens Security Fears appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Posted: 30 Jan 2018 04:02 AM PST The year has begun – surprise, surprise – in a blur of bad news. What's really worrying is that the country seems to be sliding deeper into chaos, instability and confusion. People are openly discussing how much longer the government will be able to wield power and keep the country together. Two weeks ago, authorities arrested prominent Arakanese politician U Aye Maung and author Wai Han Aung for remarks they made at a public lecture expressing support for the ethnic armed group the Arakan Army. The resulting protest ended in violence as police shot seven people dead and wounded 12. Authorities' handling of the protest hasn't done anything to improve the government's already battered image. Meanwhile, students in Mandalay are doing their bit to contribute to the government's headaches. A number of them were briefly detained and escorted back to their homes by security officials after demanding an increase in education spending. Undeterred, they vowed to continue the protest, and several students were expelled from their schools. But the most prominent story of the month was, of course, the spectacular falling out between two old friends, veteran US mediator Bill Richardson and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Richardson, a former diplomat, abruptly resigned from the Advisory Board on Rakhine State after engaging in, by his account, a most undiplomatic exchange of words with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In a blunt recollection, the former governor told US media, "She was upset when I said there should be an investigation of the mass-graves issue; that they had to increase their international support for the treatment of the Rohingyas, the terrible refugee crisis. She exploded. She was very unhappy, and it shows that she didn't want to hear frank advice." In 1994, Richardson became the first non-relative allowed to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during her house arrest. Sure, he may have been speaking the truth, some say, but that hasn't endeared him to members of the ruling National League for Democracy. But Richardson didn't stop there: For good measure, he added that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was "furious" when he brought up the case of the two Reuters reporters arrested on Dec. 12 on suspicion of violating the Official Secrets Act. They are still in detention. As a familiar climate of fear returns to Myanmar, journalists are getting nervous about possible further arrests and a broader crackdown. "She was very angry with me when I raised [the question of] releasing the journalists, giving them a fair trial," Richardson added. All of the other advisory board members remained committed to their task, despite initial rumors that some planned to resign along with Richardson, who accused the panel of being a cheerleading operation for the Myanmar government. Insiders said that a dinner meeting was even more intense, as "the Lady", now playing the role of "Iron Lady," firmly stood her ground. That night, an angry Richardson – known for successfully negotiating the release of detained Americans with no less an adversary than North Korea – packed his bags and left, not even bothering to join the board on its visit to Rakhine State. In his subsequent comments, he did make one concession, however, acknowledging that before any thoughts of new sanctions on Myanmar, it was important for Western governments, the United Nations and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to enter into a new dialogue "to try to help each other, not to keep fighting each other." "What we don't want is to have Aung San Suu Kyi just listen to ASEAN countries, China or Russia. They need engagement with the West. We're all former friends. She needs to change, and perhaps the West needs to give her another chance and not impose sanctions," he said. It seems hard to believe that it has been just a few short years since then-US President Barack Obama visited Myanmar in 2015 and, praising the country's "reform," lifted sanctions – in a decision some in Myanmar thought premature. Two years later the U.S. is thinking about imposing new sanctions. Richardson touched on the military, which remains a powerful institution in the country. "I think the Myanmar military is to blame a lot and the only person that can turn them around, I believe, is Aung San Suu Kyi, and she should start doing that," Richardson said. We haven't had a response from the military on Richardson's thoughts so far, but the generals were more vocal about a recent pro-peace performance in Yangon, making their thoughts known in a strongly worded statement. The military strongly criticized the use of generic military uniforms at a performance held to support peace-building activities in Yangon. At the event, former student leader U Min Ko Naing gave a speech in which he called on all military groups, including the Tatmadaw (Myanmar's armed forces) and the ethnic armed organizations to ramp up their efforts to make peace. But even as the performance was underway, a thousand kilometers to the north, heavy fighting raged between the Tatmadaw and rebels in Kachin and Shan states (remember them?).  It seems almost everyone has forgotten about Myanmar's long ethnic struggle as the Rohingya (the term Myanmar people refuse to accept, preferring the name "Bengali") crisis has overshadowed all else. Among these serious but sadly almost forgotten issues are refugees, internally displaced people and ethnic struggles along the Thai and Chinese borders. The much-touted 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference is in serious doubt, despite a glimmer of good news last week when Mon rebel leaders promised to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. Meanwhile, back at the ranch in New Mexico, Richardson hasn't given up his struggle to keep advising "the Lady" and those around her. While insisting that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains Myanmar's best hope for change, he said she had developed a "siege mentality" in her position as State Counselor, the country's de facto civilian leader, but counseled that Western governments should continue to engage with her. A disappointed Richardson grumbled of his former friend: "She seems isolated. She doesn't travel much into the country. I think she's developed a classic bubble." Before flying out he also took a parting shot at Advisory Board chairman Surakiart Sathirathai, claiming the former Thai deputy prime minister had "parroted the dangerous and untrue notion that international NGOs employ radicals and that the humanitarian agencies are providing material support to ARSA" (a reference to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a militant group that launched attacks on Myanmar security outposts last summer). Surakiart swiftly rejected the allegation, saying he had never made such a statement. On the contrary, he countered, the board welcomed more participation from the United Nations and the international community and had recommended that press freedoms be safeguarded. (This might be a good time to point out that, actually, along the Thai-Myanmar border and elsewhere in decades past, ethnic groups and Myanmar citizens have seen a parade of INGOS and humanitarian missions come and go, often supporting rebels’ causes in a variety of different ways. So, Richardson and Surakiart, it looks like you two might just have to agree to disagree.)  It was hard to ignore a certain irony when Richardson later remarked that, "The relationship with the West, with human rights groups, with the United Nations, with the international media, is terrible." Some observers in this country were quick to quip: "Is he talking about Myanmar or Trump?" So, who's leaving next? Watching this fiasco unfold, some observers have wondered why the State Counselor bothered to invite these foreign wise men into the country in the first place? Indeed, some diplomats, generally stifling a chuckle, have been heard to mutter something along the lines of: "Appointing famous politicians with large egos, Suu Kyi doesn't even know how to manage them. These guys never stop talking!" The economy is in bad shape and the country's banks look decidedly shaky. Tycoons are worried about the future, despite the World Bank's rather disingenuous conclusion last year that "Myanmar is one of the fastest growing economies in East Asia." Tourism is down, as foreign TV screens fill with images of refugees fleeing to Bangladesh reporting human rights abuses and a brutal crackdown. With the country apparently going backwards, if not sinking into an abyss, the former military leaders who left the country's ruling council in 2010 and 2011 have reportedly been holding informal meetings to assess the situation. This points to either political intervention or a compromise in the near future, but who knows how or when. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is copping a lot of flak these days and Richardson is certainly correct about her "siege mentality." But recently, a flicker of light appeared in the darkness for Myanmar's de facto leader, who, having been accused of "lacking moral courage" by some in the international community, received some free advice from an unexpected quarter. While attending a business forum in New Delhi last week, the State Counselor found herself face to face with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (a man who has never been accused of an excess of moral leadership). He helpfully advised the Nobel Peace Laureate – who some have taken to saying should be stripped of the prize — that she should not bother about rights activists, as they are "just a noisy bunch." "We were talking about our country, the interests of our country… and I said 'Do not mind the human rights [activists]. They are just a noisy bunch, actually," Duterte said. Memo to Governor Richardson: Please don't stop talking… The post Off to a Shaky Start appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Rights Groups Condemn Govt Publication of ‘Terrorist’ List Posted: 30 Jan 2018 03:31 AM PST MANDALAY — The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) expressed concern over a terrorist list published by the Myanmar government, stating that it defies rule of law principles and puts lives at risk. The list published in state media showed names and photos of individuals that it claimed were members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). The statement issued by ICJ on Jan. 25 said the authorities failed to explain how the people on the list were identified and the reason why they were on the list, appearing to have been accused outside of any formal judicial process. "Given the lack of publicly available information as to the basis of ascribing membership of a prescribed terrorist organization to the persons in the photos, and the manner in which their information has been publicized, the ICJ is concerned that the stated accusations may be arbitrary," said the statement. "The authorities have an obligation to administer justice through due process and fair trials, and not name calling and public shaming," said the statement. "Authorities should cease publishing such material and take effective protective measures to ensure the safety and security of the people named in these publications and their families." The ICJ urged the government authorities to give legal protection to the accused if they were apprehended, brought to court and found innocent, while urging the presumption of innocence. "Authorities must refrain from making public statements that are defamatory in nature, that violate fair trial rights by affirming or implying the guilt of persons accused of crimes, and that violate the principle of judicial independence and the separation of powers, all of which are recognized in national and international law," the ICJ's statement said. While stating that the government should not violate the right to privacy, the ICJ also pressed for the safe return of refugees. The lawyer activists from Myanmar also said they had concerns over the publication of the terrorist list because it included women and children who were family members of people with alleged ties to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. "I totally agree with the ICJ statement. We have so many questions on the list – how it was generated and by which measure these individuals were identified as terrorists?" said lawyer U Thein Than Oo, from the Myanmar Lawyers' Network. "And since there's no clarification about whether these people were arrested or sentenced in court, publishing this list is illegal, unethical and abuses the international covenant on civil and political rights," he added. The activists also said the authorities should respect human rights and the right to privacy. "We have to question how concrete the list is. If it is not certain, it will become defamatory, which could affect their lives," said U Aung Myo Min, the executive director of Equality Myanmar. "Moreover, even if it is true, this could affect the judicial ruling for they have already been accused." He added that for the women and children on the list, being related to someone accused of terrorism does not directly implicate them. "Trying to arrest or take legal action against everyone related to the accused is an abuse of human rights and privacy," he added. Starting from Jan. 17, the government published a list of more than 1,400 men, women and children, including names, photos and personal information, stating that they were members or associates of ARSA. The list was also published by the President's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting the government of Bangladesh hand over those included. The post Rights Groups Condemn Govt Publication of 'Terrorist' List appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| House Speaker Rebukes Ministry for Poor Oversight of Road Contracts Posted: 30 Jan 2018 01:28 AM PST NAYPYITAW — Lower House Speaker U Win Myint on Monday accused the Construction Ministry of failing to carefully monitor construction companies that have won tenders for state-funded road projects, saying that "public funds are being wasted" as a result. The speaker made the remarks in response to lawmaker U Min Min, of Bago Region's Paungde Township, who complained that a tarred road in his constituency had become badly damaged before the service life guaranteed by the construction company had expired. Deputy Construction Minister U Kyaw Linn replied that the road would be repaired depending on the 2018-19 fiscal year budget. U Win Myint argued that blacklisting a construction company for poor service has no impact because the company can change its name and pass itself off as a new entity. "But it costs public funds. If construction companies aren't handled properly, roads will get damaged frequently and we'll have to ask for funds time and again to repair the road. In the end, public funds are being wasted," he said. "The ministry that grants contracts to construction companies is responsible for damaged roads," the speaker added, urging the Construction Ministry to take strong action against such companies in line with the law. "Our ministry has issued rules and regulations since April. Those rules and regulations must be followed to the letter," said U Kyaw Linn. According to the deputy construction minister, companies must provide compensation if a road is damaged within two to three years, depending on the type of road. The company that built the road in Paungde, which became damaged after about 18 months, had provided a two-year guarantee. However, the company has refused to take responsibility because authorities only made a field inspection of the road after the two years were up, said Naypyitaw-based developer U Nay Tha. "Authorities should be informed in time about road conditions. But they were informed only after the road was badly damaged. The company refused to take responsibility and government funds have to be spent again," he said. The Construction Ministry received 20.4 percent of the total 2017-18 fiscal year budget. On Monday the Lower House also approved discussion of a proposal from lawmaker Daw Nan Kham Aye, of Shan State's Namtu Township, that urges the union and regional governments to adopt tender procedures for government-funded projects. The lawmaker claimed that there was nepotism and corruption in the tender selection process, hindering fair competition among bidders. "Only those who are close to them [relevant government officials] know the lowest and highest base prices tendered, so there is corruption. Departments are manipulating the prices," Daw Nan Kham Aye told reporters. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. The post House Speaker Rebukes Ministry for Poor Oversight of Road Contracts appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Ongoing Fighting in Tanai Leaves Mine Workers Trapped Posted: 30 Jan 2018 01:20 AM PST NAYPYITAW — At least four civilians were killed and more than 3,000 workers at gold and amber mines in Tanai Township, Kachin State are trapped amid fighting between government troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and local sources told The Irrawaddy. Clashes have intensified in the region since December and the Tatmadaw, also known as the Myanmar Army, reportedly launched air strikes in the past three days that killed three mine workers on the spot, said U Lin Lin Oo, a lawmaker representing Tanai Township in the Lower House. "I didn't see it, but I heard that three people were killed by air strikes and buried in the mine. But I can confirm that two injured men and three women were sent to Tanai Hospital, and one of the men died of serious injuries," said U Lin Lin Oo. The area is under the control of Battalion 14 under KIA Brigade 2, and the Myanmar Army Commander-in-Chief's Office released a statement on Jan. 29 alleging that "KIA troops continue destructive acts and smuggling of precious natural resources including committing the mine attacks and shooting at security forces who are on duty of regional security and rule of law." "Moreover, they attacked the headquarters of a local military unit in Shaduzup Village of Tanai Township with the use of heavy and small arms on 30 December 2017 and 22 January 2018," claimed the statement. Of the 3,000 civilians trapped amid ongoing fighting, the Tatmadaw let some 800 children, women and elderly people go, but has barred the others from leaving the village of Nan Kun, U Sein Yone, an amber mine worker, told The Irrawaddy on Monday evening, adding that the workers were short on food. "We will definitely be hurt if clashes continue. Our lives are in danger. We cried and begged them to let us go. But, they didn't and it seems that we have to wait to die. Please do something for us," U Sein Yone told The Irrawaddy. Among the civilians trapped are Naga, Lisu, Arakanese and Bamar people, he said. According to U Lin Lin Oo, he reported the case on Jan. 27 to the Kachin State chief minister who then informed the commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Nyi Nyi Swe through the Kachin State security and border affairs minister. "The chief minister told me the following day that the commander said he could not allow those trapped to leave the area, as regional clearance operations must be completed. I told the mine workers to try to stay in a safe location for the time being," said U Lin Lin Oo. Myanmar Army helicopters dropped leaflets in the first week of June 2017, asking people in the mining areas to leave by June 15 or else be recognized as insurgents supporting the KIA. The drop was followed by military operations, which the army called regional clearance operations. The area was relatively stable under U Thein Sein's administration and more than 500,000 people were working at gold and amber mines in the area at that time, said U Lin Lin Oo, adding that some lawmakers have reported to Lower House Speaker U Win Myint about the clashes. In the meantime, fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army in Sumprabum Township continues since January 19, causing IDPs to leave their shelters. Locals and the UN agency UNOCHA said heavy aerial bombing and shelling occurred in Tanai, Sumprabum and Waingmaw townships since last week. Artillery shells reportedly landed in the Woi Chyoi IDP camp in Waingmaw Township on Jan. 27, the third time since mid December 2017. Father Vincent Shawng Lawn of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Sumprabum Catholic Church told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the Tatmadaw's offensives continued in Sumprabum, while the amber mines, some 14 miles west of Tanai still faced artillery firing on Tuesday. "We don't know yet about the civilians casualties in Tanai, which happened this morning," he said. Additional reporting by Nyein Nyein. The post Ongoing Fighting in Tanai Leaves Mine Workers Trapped appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Myanmar Advisory Panel Chief Says it Cannot Interfere in Court Case Against Reporters Posted: 29 Jan 2018 09:28 PM PST YANGON — Myanmar's panel of international advisers on Rohingya issues will not get involved in the case of two Reuters journalists charged with violating the Official Secrets Act, its chairman told a state newspaper in an interview published on Monday. Reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, who had worked on Reuters' coverage of the crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine State, will appear in a Yangon court on Thursday, when the prosecution is set to continue presenting evidence against them. Panel chairman Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai foreign minister, said the case had progressed beyond the point where the board felt it could intervene. If it had been at the stage of arrests, "then maybe we can do something about it," he told the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper. Since the prosecution is in the midst of presenting its case, "I think everyone has to respect the rule of law," he added. Surakiart said he raised the issue "on a personal basis" with Myanmar's National Security Minister Thaung Tun. "And he has assured us that the treatment of the Reuters reporters would be in accordance with the due process of law and proper criminal justice procedure," he added. "We have no intention to pressure the government to release anyone or any intention to interfere in the court procedures," the paper quoted Surakiart as saying. Surakiart did not respond to a request from Reuters seeking comment. The two reporters have been jailed in Yangon's Insein prison since their arrests on Dec. 12. The Advisory Board for the Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations on Rakhine State was set up by Myanmar last year to advise on ways of adopting the findings of an earlier commission headed by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Argument with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Last week, in an interview with Reuters, advisory board member Bill Richardson said he quit the panel after getting into an argument with Myanmar leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during a meeting on Monday with other board members, when he brought up the case of the two reporters. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's response was "furious," saying the case "was not part of the work of the advisory board," said Richardson, a former governor of the US state of New Mexico. The argument continued at a dinner later that evening, when Richardson also brought up the issue of a mass grave where 10 Rohingya had been killed and buried. "She was upset when I said there should be an investigation of the mass graves issue, that they had to increase their international support for the treatment of the Rohingyas, the terrible refugee crisis," Richardson said in a Reuters television interview. "She exploded. She was very unhappy, and it shows that she didn't want to hear frank advice." The military stated after its own investigation into the mass grave that security forces were involved in the killings. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's office said on Saturday it would not be commenting further on the exchange with Richardson. "We already published a statement and also the advisory board published a statement," said Zaw Htay, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's spokesman. "The judge will decide whether the journalists committed the crime or not. Even in America, they wouldn't involve themselves in a case while the case is ongoing in a court hearing." Zaw Htay was not available for comment on Monday. About 688,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine to neighboring Bangladesh after attacks on security posts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 triggered a fierce military response, which the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar says its troops are engaged in legitimate counter-insurgency operations. The post Myanmar Advisory Panel Chief Says it Cannot Interfere in Court Case Against Reporters appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| BBC Women Denounce Unequal Pay as Heat Rises for Broadcaster Posted: 29 Jan 2018 08:58 PM PST LONDON — Women working for the BBC have complained they were paid less than men in equivalent jobs and have accused managers of misleading them about their pay to hide widespread gender discrimination at the public broadcaster. The complaints by BBC Women, a group of 170 staff, were sent to parliament's media committee, which is investigating BBC pay after the corporation was forced to disclose last July that two- thirds of on-air high earners were men and that some were paid far more than female peers. The revelations caused a spate of bad headlines for the BBC and angered many female staff, who demanded equal pay for equal work. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has lodged a collective grievance to the BBC on behalf of 121 women. "While individual BBC managers have been supportive, there is still a bunker mentality in some quarters and women have experienced veiled threats made against them when they raised the subject of equal pay," BBC Women said in written evidence to parliament's media committee. The lawmakers are due to hear oral evidence on Wednesday from Carrie Gracie, the BBC's former China editor, who quit this month in protest over being paid less than her male peers. Senior BBC managers, including Director-General Tony Hall, are due to appear before the committee just after Gracie. Funded by a license fee levied on TV viewers and reaching 95 percent of British adults every week, the BBC is a pillar of the nation's life, but as such it is closely scrutinized and held to exacting standards by the public and by rival media. The BBC said in response to the evidence submitted by BBC Women and the NUJ that it was committed to equal pay and did not accept the assertion that it had not been complying with equality laws. In the wake of Gracie's resignation and the public debate it sparked, six of the BBC's best-known male presenters and journalists agreed to take pay cuts. That was widely welcomed, but campaigners for equal pay said it did not solve the underlying issues. BBC Women said gender pay discrimination affected every part of the organization, not just high earners. The group provided 14 individual examples of women in a range of roles as TV and radio presenters and reporters, all of whom described frustrating battles with managers after discovering they were paid less than their male counterparts. "I have co-presented with a male colleague for many years … I estimate he's paid around double what I earn for doing the same job," said one of the unnamed women in a typical submission. "I raised the equal pay issue many times over the years, but nothing was done." The post BBC Women Denounce Unequal Pay as Heat Rises for Broadcaster appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Draft Proposals in Indonesian Parliament Aim to Ban Extramarital Sex Posted: 29 Jan 2018 08:52 PM PST JAKARTA — Indonesia's parliament is drafting proposed revisions to the national criminal code that could ban all consensual sex outside marriage, sparking alarm among activists who said it would breach basic rights and could be misused to target the LGBT community. The parliamentary committee drawing up recommendations to change the Dutch colonial-era criminal code has still to finalize its proposals. But a draft, seen by Reuters on Monday, included measures to criminalize extramarital sex, same-sex relations, and co-habitation, all of which were previously unregulated by law. Adultery is already deemed a crime in Indonesia, the Southeast Asian country with the world's largest Muslim population. Last month, the Constitutional Court narrowly voted to strike down a similar petition filed by the Family Love Alliance, one of the conservative groups behind the move to push legislation through parliament. "The truth is the majority of religions in Indonesia hold the same values, so…[the revisions] are representative of the majority and of all cultures in Indonesia," said Euis Sunarti, a member of the Family Love Alliance, which likens itself to conservative evangelical Christian groups in the United States. The parliamentary committee has been holding consultations with the public, taking the opinion of religious scholars, legal experts and rights groups over how to change the criminal code where it relates to extramarital sex. Most political parties are reported to be for the changes, particularly those that outlaw gay sex. Few Indonesian politicians have voiced support for LGBT rights for fear of alienating a largely conservative voter base ahead of legislative and presidential elections next year. Parliament has debated revisions to the criminal code, including regulations on corruption, sex and alcohol, for many years. But after repeated delays it is expected to finalize proposals during coming weeks. Rights activists say the proposals, if approved, would be difficult to police without violating privacy and could threaten social development. "The draft law will create new discriminatory offenses that do not exist in the current criminal code. It will slow down Indonesia's efforts to develop their economy, society, knowledge, education etc….if law enforcement agencies are busy policing morality," said Andreas Harsono of Human Rights Watch. "It's sounding like the Acehnese sharia code," he added, referring to the ultra-conservative province at the northern tip of Sumatra island, which is the only Indonesian region to implement Islamic law. Activists are particularly worried the new law may be used to target the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, which has faced rising hostility in recent years. A recent survey found that nearly 90 percent of Indonesians who understand the term LGBT feel "threatened" by the community and believe their religion forbids same-sex relations. Junimart Girsang, a member of parliament from the nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party of Stuggle (PDIP), said same-sex relations could not be accepted in the country. "In legal terms, religious terms and ethical terms, we cannot have that in our country," he said. The post Draft Proposals in Indonesian Parliament Aim to Ban Extramarital Sex appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week Posted: 29 Jan 2018 08:09 PM PST
Colourful Flowers | Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Faculty Recital | Feb. 2
Yangon Runway Girls Collection | Feb. 2
7 Wave | Feb. 2
The Power of 4 | Feb. 3
World Cancer Day show | Feb. 4
Big British Day Out | Feb. 4
9 Days Special Book Sale | Jan. 28-Feb. 4
Water & Oil | Feb. 3-7
Certain Interactions | Feb. 3-11 The post Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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