Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

A Bitter Budget Battle in Rakhine State Drags On

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 07:36 AM PDT

YANGON — “The game is not over yet,” U Min Aung told The Irrawaddy of the political power struggle between lawmakers and cabinet members in Rakhine State following his termination as the region’s minister of municipal affairs in January.

U Min Aung, who was appointed by the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and frequently appeared alongside fellow NLD appointee U Nyi Pu, the state’s chief minister, had submitted a state budget plan for the 2018-19 fiscal year to the local Parliament in December without consulting lawmakers.

The Arakan National Party (ANP), which dominates the state legislature, complained that the minister had violated Article 251 of the Constitution, which states that local parliaments must approve budget plans before projects are implemented. But by then the municipal affairs minister had already announced successful bids for the construction of new markets in Gwa, Tungup, and Kyauktaw townships at an estimated cost of about 1.5 billion kyats ($1.1 million) each.

Nearly two-thirds of the state’s lawmakers lodged a motion with the house speaker to have the minister impeached. The speaker set up a five-member team to investigate the complaint, and by Jan. 18 U Min Aung was officially terminated.

But as U Min Aung had predicted over the months that followed, the budget debate re-emerged when U Nyi Pu re-submitted the terminated minister’s draft budget at a meeting between lawmakers and state cabinet members on Monday.

Negotiating Budget Allocations

Three months ago, the cabinet brought its 75 billion kyats draft budget to Parliament. Because Myanmar’s fiscal year was shifted in 2017 from April-May to September-October, the state was preparing a transitional budget to cover April-September.

The draft allocates 20 billion kyats to the ministries and most of the rest to development projects in the state’s 17 townships. But Deputy Speaker U Mya Than said the constituencies of the speaker and ministers appeared to have gotten larger slices of the budget than others, in particular Tungup, Gwa, Ramree, Kyauktaw and Sittwe.

State lawmakers urged the cabinet to reconsider its draft in order to prevent mismanagement and to prepare a budget that actually serves the public’s needs, noting that some of the projects appeared twice.

“The draft budget was created by the government departments, not by themselves [cabinet members], and some [projects] are not actually needed on the ground. So the cabinet members and MPs had [agreed to change] about one-third of the budget", said independent lawmaker U Than Maung Oo, Ramree.

In February the union government okayed the draft budget and sent it back to the state for its final approval. But ANP lawmakers still don’t know for sure if the union government sent back the version they rejected or the one they eventually renegotiated. In either case, when lawmakers met the cabinet on Monday, Chief Minister U Nyi Py presented them with the old version they had rejected, before it was renegotiated.

Lawmakers, relevant department officers and cabinet members then set about renegotiating allocations to the 17 townships once again. However, U Nyi Pu abruptly rejected every single change and the meeting ended without an agreement, said U Than Maung Oo, who live-streamed the heated debate on Facebook.

In the video, Speaker U San Kyaw Hla asks both sides to prioritize the public interest over their egos. Another lawmakers can be seen standing up and telling U Nyi Pu: "This is a public budget, not a state government-owned budget."

"He [U Nyi Pu] told us that they will never change their stance whatever Parliament decides", U Than Maung Oo said.

Lawmaker U Phoe San, Kyaukphyu, who also joined the meeting, recalled that U Nyi Pu walked out of the meeting after refusing to keep negotiating and insisting that the cabinet would push ahead with its budget plan.

"It seems he will not accept anything less than their draft budget. We can't let that happen," U Phoe San said.

An artist’s rendition of the Tungup market. / U Nyi Pu / Facebook

Why Lawmakers Oppose the Budget

U Than Maung Oo said the government’s mismanagement was easy to see in Ramree. While downtown still lacks paved roads, he said, the draft budget includes 400 million kyats for a retaining wall along a little-used road the government built last year to block landslides.

"There are plenty of potholed roads in downtown Ramree. They should fix those first before building a retaining wall," he said.

U Than Maung Oo said the government has already spent a lot of money building embankments across Rakhine that have been destroyed by the sea tides.

"They can't prevent natural disasters, so instead of using that money in those places we would prefer that it be used for the public,” he said.

At Monday’s meeting, U Min Aung — who now represents Tungup (2) in the state legislature — said that developers have already built a foundation for the new Tungup market. Lawmakers asked the cabinet to at least reduce the size of the draft budget if the state was going to go ahead with the markets, but they said the chief minister refused.

Making Cuts

U Than Maung Oo said that if Parliament votes down the draft budget, residents and contractors alike could suffer from stalled projects.

"If the Rakhine Parliament rejects the budget plan, they have to send it again to the union government. It will be delayed until next year, and then businesspeople would be in trouble," he said.

U Mya Than, the deputy speaker, said lawmakers were in the process of reviewing the draft budget to see whether it ignores all their suggestions and whether any of the projects show up in the union budget as well. He said they were flagging projects that appear in both in hopes of having them cut from the state budget.

"We have an estimated 7 billion kyats to deduct from the draft," he said.

And although most lawmakers would prefer to drop all the market projects, the one in Tungup at least was likely to go forward as 500 million kyats has already been spent on it foundation, paid for with surplus funds from the previous fiscal year.

U Mya Than said a financial official suggested setting up a surplus fund separate from the transition budget, to be spent on parts of Rakhine that need it most. But he noted that the suggestion had not been settled on and would be debated at an upcoming session of Parliament next month.

While lawmakers still hope to trim the draft budget, U Min Aung said he was standing by the chief minister. He said once the union government approves a draft, it can’t be cut.

"I will object if there are deductions, decreases and denials in the union government-approved budget," he said.

The post A Bitter Budget Battle in Rakhine State Drags On appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

U Htin Kyaw’s Two-Year Presidency in Pictures

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 06:08 AM PDT

On Wednesday, U Htin Kyaw, the president of Myanmar's first democratically elected government since 1962, resigned from his post. The reason for his sudden departure, according to an announcement from the President's Office, was that the 71-year-old needs rest—probably due to a long-suspected illness. A confidant of National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he assumed the country's top job after the party won the general election in 2015, as Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from holding the presidency. U Htin Kyaw was in office from March 30, 2016 to March 20 of this year. To bid farewell to the outgoing president, The Irrawaddy presents a photographic look back at his two-year tenure.

The post U Htin Kyaw's Two-Year Presidency in Pictures appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Tourism Push Targets Japanese Travelers

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 05:37 AM PDT

The Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association (MTM) is targeting Japanese tour and media companies in an effort to attract more travelers from the country.

The association is currently holding a familiarization trip — the first ever organized by the MTM — for a Japanese group, which is touring marine and diving sites in Kawthaung.

The group arrived in Yangon on March 15 and explored the city first. The next day, the group headed to Kawthaung where they visited hilltop pagodas and the Bayint Naung View point. Later they headed to Nyaung Oo Phee Island for snorkeling and diving.

The trip, which lasts until March 29, is supported by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

"MTM is organizing this FAM trip. We are supporting them because we believe such trips can achieve really good results. They are starting with Japan, and will organize more trips with people from other countries like South Korea," said U Ohn Maung, the hotels and tourism minister.

"In terms of beauty, the islands of Kawthaung are world class, and really pretty. There's no damage to the coral and the marine life is diverse. My experience on this trip has been amazing and I will share it with other Japanese for sure," said a representative from Japanese Dive Magazine.

Yasuyuki Suzuki, general manager of All Nippon Airways, said that "Japanese tourists don't usually take long holidays like people from Europe, so they don't have much time to stay in one place. Japanese travelers want easy access to destinations for short periods. Currently, we have daily flights between Yangon and Japan, but the flights are not always full. So, we can't add more flights. If the travelers can make a direct transit flight to Kawthaung or other destinations, that would be super."

The MTM chose the Tanintharyi Region on the Andaman Sea coast because it boasts 800 islands, most of which are still unspoiled. The underwater environment around the islands is pristine, the beaches are covered in white sand, and the coral reefs are amazing.

"We have a plan to renovate several airports including Heho, Pakokku, Kawthaung and Ngapali. This will allow direct flights, making the destinations easier to reach for tourists," U Ohn Maung said.

The MTM plans to organize two more FAM trips to Inle and Bagan.

The post New Tourism Push Targets Japanese Travelers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Analysis: Who Will Be Myanmar’s Next President?

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 05:22 AM PDT

The resignation of President U Htin Kyaw came as no surprise but ended months of speculation in Myanmar. U Htin Kyaw has been receiving medical treatment in Bangkok and Singapore since late last year and his condition has not improved.

His resignation was announced as State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi returned from Australia. But news that his belongings had been moved from the presidential residence had previously circulated among officials and political observers.

Since early this year, de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and some senior National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders advised U Htin Kyaw to avoid regular state functions.

But in public, Suu Kyi glossed over her trusted friend's failing health.

"There is no need to worry. We have the first lady who will take care [of the president]. Why do we need to worry when there is someone to take care of him?" she asked.

The son of a respected national poet, U Htin Kyaw is loyal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and previously served as an adviser to her and the party. According to the Constitution, he has executive power. But he was seen as simply a puppet president.

The ailing president or now former president, is a former schoolmate of Aung San Suu Kyi and a respected writer, holds an economics degree and studied computer science at the University of London. Even though it was sudden departure, Suu Kyi and NLD party leaders must have thought it was possible long before. There were even reports that she and her aides or go-between reached out to army top brass and other key political leaders to strike a deal.

When Htin Kyaw resigned over health reasons, he was seen as a gentleman with a soft-spoken style and few enemies; the military generals don't have issues with U Htin Kyaw and seem to respect him. A top general once said the military had no problem with the president, as he had never antagonized the army.

According to the Constitution, if the president passes away while in office or retires, the first vice president becomes acting president and an election must be held to elect a new vice president. The president is then elected from among the three vice presidents. Former army General Myint Swe, who is from the military faction, is the current first vice president. He will now be acting president.

The new president will be appointed by Parliament within seven working days, according to the country's Constitution.

Win Myint, 67, the Lower House Speaker and a senior NLD member trusted by Suu Kyi, submitted his resignation shortly after U Htin Kyaw's sudden departure the same day, prompting speculation that he will be Myanmar's next president.

He is believed to be one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's favorites among other senior NLD members. There are many more on the list – Dr. Myo Aung, chairman of the Naypyitaw Council, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, chief minister of Mandalay Region, and Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, chief minister of Magwe Region. There are also several capable women candidates, ethnic leaders and even Min Ko Naing – who is now in his early 50s and was one of the leading figures of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising but not a member of NLD. He is seen as close to Suu Kyi.

But it seems that Win Myint might be the likely choice.

He became the Lower House speaker in February 2016 after the NLD won the general election in 2015. It is still unclear who will replace Win Myint in the powerful parliamentary position.

The current deputy house speaker is T Khun Myat, an ethnic Kachin and descendent of a prominent Kachin traditional ruling Duwa family. He was a member of the opposition Union Solidarity Development Party but he is close to Shwe Mann, former general, former house speaker and powerful ally of Suu Kyi.  In procedure, he will succeed Win Myint but no one knows yet.

When he was Lower House speaker, Win Myint's relations with army representatives were up and down.

Known to be conservative and loyal to the party, he was seen to defend the government and Parliament during his term.

In the past, The Irrawaddy has predicted that in order to improve relations with the armed forces, the state counselor will likely choose someone who can maintain cordial relations with top brass. More importantly, she will need someone she can trust and from who she can expect absolute loyalty – like her friend and confidante U Htin Kyaw.

Observers will also watch the army's reaction to the sudden departure of U Htin Kyaw. In this game, it will be wise if they preserve the status quo and take credit for accommodating the transition and election of the new president.

The generals are unlikely to rock the boat but instead will see how Suu Kyi and NLD leaders make their next move.

The post Analysis: Who Will Be Myanmar's Next President? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rakhine Leaders Abolish Political Dialogue Panel, Citing Govt Interference

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 04:16 AM PDT

Rakhine leaders have decided to dissolve their working committee on national-level political dialogue after the government and the military prevented them from holding public meetings, according to local sources.

Rakhine leaders from the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the Arakan National Party (ANP), and civil society groups have abolished the committee, which was formed last year, in frustration at the government's refusal to allow it to hold public consultations, ALP secretary Saw Mra Razar Lin told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

"We had a gentlemen's agreement with the UPDJC [Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee] that we would be allowed to hold public meetings. But when we tried to do it, we were denied permission. This has been very demoralizing. So we discussed the issue with the RNP and decided to abolish our working committee on public meetings," she said.

The ALP signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) along with eight other armed groups in October 2015. Under the NCA, the ALP has the right to hold a national-level political dialogue. It planned to hold public meetings before opening the political dialogue in the region.

"When we signed the NCA, we had no idea we would face these restrictions. We believed we would be able to consult and discuss with our people at any time," Saw Mra Razar Lin said.

The government said the ALP could not hold public meetings, despite signing the NCA, because the conflict with Rohingya militants had affected the stability of the state.

"Our region has conflicts. But the public is able to travel, and it is safe to hold public meetings. It [the government] is afraid of coming under international pressure over the conflict in Rakhine. They have blocked us from holding public meetings, but our situation is not related to the international issue," Saw Mra Razar Lin said.

The ALP cooperated with the Union government to work for peace in the country after signing the NCA, the party secretary said. Since the first session of the 21st-Century Panglong Peace Conference in 2016, the ALP has not be able to submit its own proposals on the type of political system to be implemented in the region in the future. This situation continued when it was denied permission to hold public meetings by the second Panglong session in 2017.

"[The government] just told us that it could not permit us to hold public meetings because of the conflict with the Bengalis [Rohingya]. We asked them if the Bengali conflict would lead to our being denied democracy or a federal system," she said.

The ALP, ANP, and civil society groups in Rakhine were deeply disappointed by the repeated denials of the ALP's requests, Saw Mra Razar Lin said.

"We signed the NCA because we want peace in our region. We have waged an armed revolution since 1988. We drafted a federal system along with other ethnic armed groups, as we understand our country needs a federal system. Without one, our country will continue to see fighting," she said.

She urged the government to view the eight armed groups as actors who seek peace and want to work hard for the country, adding that if it believes there is a problem with holding public meetings, the government should sit and meet with the Rakhine leadership informally so they can discuss the root causes of the problem. The government should say honestly why it doesn't want to allow public meetings in Rakhine, and needs to build trust with the state's leaders, she said.

ANP vice chairman Khaing Pyi Soe said, "We should be able to hold public consultations, even though they denied us permission to hold a national-level political dialogue."

"The government only let civil society groups organize public consultations, but not the ALP or ANP. Therefore, we have decided not to work towards that anymore; we are no longer interested," he said.

The post Rakhine Leaders Abolish Political Dialogue Panel, Citing Govt Interference appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Parliament Approves Funds for Internet Oversight Body

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 02:53 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — The Union Parliament on Monday approved more than 6.4 billion kyats (US$7.8 million) to monitor the internet for people who use it to “harm the stability” of the country.

U Thant Sin Maung, Union minister for transport and communications, said a monitoring body had been formed to identify those who instigate political instability on the Internet and social media and that the money would be spent on monitoring the Internet.

In November, the Lower House approved a proposal granting the government power to monitor the internet and social media for misuse.

The proposal, from National League for Democracy lawmaker Daw Yin Min Hlaing, urges the Union government to look for uses of information technology that may harm the character and morality of youth and disrupt tranquility.

"An agency formed in accord with the law will monitor and identify, with the use of advanced technologies, cases that harm the stability and tranquility of the country," U Thant Sin Maung told Parliament.

The Social Media Monitoring Team was formed with the approval of the Union government on Feb. 7, according to the minister.

At a meeting in early March, the cabinet approved 6.462 billion kyats from the emergency funds of the 2017-18 fiscal year to purchase hardware and software for monitoring purposes.

The Irrawaddy contacted several directors of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for details, but all said they knew no more than what the minister had said in Parliament.

U Thant Sin Maung also said that his ministry had drafted a cyber law with the help of international experts.

"We have drafted a cyber law together with experts from the EU. The draft law aims to prevent rather than punish cyber crimes. It is for the protection of people," U Ye Naing Moe, director of the ministry’s National Cyber Security Center, told The Irrawaddy.

"[Monitoring] will not impact ordinary internet users but target those who spread hate speech and slander," said Ko Thiha, an IT technician.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Parliament Approves Funds for Internet Oversight Body appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Nearly Half of Yangon’s Water Supply Lost Daily Before Reaching Residents

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 01:55 AM PDT

YANGON — Some 100 million gallons of water, which is nearly half of the daily amount supplied by the Yangon municipality to its residents, is wasted daily in the supply process, said the water and sanitation branch of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC).

While the municipality supplies 205 gallons of water each day, nearly 100 million gallons goes to waste daily because of shortcomings in the water delivery system and the illegal piping of water, officer U Aung Hsan Win of the branch told The Irrawaddy.

"Currently, the population of Yangon is between 5 and 6 million. We provide 205 million gallons of water per day, but people only get about 100 million gallons. This means that only 50 to 60 percent of Yangon residents get water," said U Aung Hsan Win.

"Some businessmen illegally pipe the water supplied by us, as we charge differently for industrial use and household use," he added.

This problem exists not only in Yangon but also in Mandalay, said U Win Myo Thu, the managing director of Economically Progressive Ecosystem Development Group (EcoDev), which advocates for environmental governance.

"There are many causes including management and technology problems. We may need millions of dollars to fix this," he said.

He also suggested that YCDC design a plan to meet the growing demand for water in the future, as Yangon's population is expected to grow to 10 million by 2040.

"We are checking non-revenue water (NRW) with the technical assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)," said U Aung Hsan Win.

NRW is water that has been produced and is lost before it reaches the customers either because of leaks, theft or metering inaccuracies.

The Yangon municipality has carried out NRW pilot projects in Mayangone, South Okkalapa, Insein and Yankin townships so far, he said.

"And we are now conducting it in North Okkalapa Township," he said.

Joe Phyu, Phu Gyi, Hlawga, and Nga Moe Yeik reservoirs supplies 185 million gallons, and 20 million more gallons come from artesian wells, according to YCDC.

According to the Yangon Region Parliament, YCDC spent more than 64 billion kyats (US$47 million) to supply water in the 2016-17 fiscal year.

The post Nearly Half of Yangon's Water Supply Lost Daily Before Reaching Residents appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

‘You Can Label Us As Nationalist,’ USDP Chairman Says

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 12:02 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW — U Than Htay, chairman of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said his party did not mind being labeled “nationalist” because it was dedicated to protecting national interests.

The chairman made the remark at an event honoring former party chairman and Union President U Thein Sein in Naypyitaw on Sunday.

"Every citizen must protect his religion, race and faith. We are not liberal. You can label us as nationalist. Our party has to protect and promote the interests of 135 ethnic groups living in the Union of Myanmar," said U Than Htay.

He said the Young Men's Buddhist Association, which started the independence struggle after Myanmar lost its independence in 1885, and the General Council of Burmese Associations strived for independence as nationalist organizations.

"We never betray [the national interests]. Liberal democracy preaches co-existence, but we can't allow the loss of our sovereignty because of it. We can't let our race be harmed. But this remark is not racial or religious instigation," he said.

At a press conference on Friday, a USDP spokesman denied recent claims that the party was inciting religious feelings to foment political unrest, insisting that it never used religion to further its interests.

The spokesman also said that the USDP was changing its flag — which features a white star in a red square on a green background — because the party felt it was being surrounded by red, an apparent reference to the dominant color of the ruling National League for Democracy.

Former President U Thein Sein and some senior leaders of the USDP’s Central Executive Committee retired from their posts of their own volition, said U Than Htay, adding that U Thein Sein was no longer involved in the party’s decision-making.

"After their resignation, U Thein Sein no longer comes to the party. When I heard he was looking for a venue for this ceremony, I offered him this place," he said.

The chairman compared himself to a substitute on a losing football team, saying he accepted the party chairmanship without any hope of victory.

But he boasted of making the party stronger since taking the reins in August 2016 and of increasing party membership.

The USDP says membership has increased by some 30,000 since 2015, and it now claims a membership of more than 5 million across the country.

The military originally formed the USDP to be a government-led social organization, but it was transformed into a political party for the 2010 general election. It is still led by former military officers.

At Friday’s press conference, USDP spokesman U Hla Thein said retired military officers currently account for only 0.02 percent of party members. He added that the proportion of military officers would gradually decrease if the party won the general election in 2020.

"Regarding the role of the military in the party, the relationship will remain unchanged because it was founded by the military," said U Hla Thein.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post ‘You Can Label Us As Nationalist,’ USDP Chairman Says appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Lower House Speaker Resigns, Tipped as Next President

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 11:50 PM PDT

YANGON — Myanmar's Lower House Speaker U Win Myint submitted his resignation on Wednesday after President U Htin Kyaw's sudden departure the same day, prompting speculation that he will be Myanmar's next president.

If this is true, U Win Myint, a National League for Democracy (NLD) senior member, will be the tenth President of Myanmar since independence in 1948.

The new president will be appointed by Parliament within seven working days, according to the country's Constitution.

The house speaker's resignation was announced during a meeting of Parliament on Wednesday, while U Win Myint was on official leave.

The 67-year-old is believed to be one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's favorites among other senior NLD members. He became the Lower House speaker in February 2016 after the NLD won the general election in 2015.

During his time in the Lower House, the former lawyer was known for his strict discipline. He did not tolerate discussions that were off topic during parliamentary meetings. Even Union ministers were not free from his stern warnings, not to mention lawmakers, including those from the military.

The post Myanmar Lower House Speaker Resigns, Tipped as Next President appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw Resigns, Cites Need for Rest

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 11:08 PM PDT

Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw resigned from his post, the President's Office announced on Wednesday, just shy of two years in office.

The short announcement made on Wednesday morning stated that the president was stepping down "as he wants to retire from his duties."

Constitutionally, the new president will be appointed within seven working days, according to the statement.

Currently, the country's Vice President 1, U Myint Swe, a former lieutenant general, will serve as acting president.

U Htin Kyaw was the first head of the state elected by Parliament after the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy government came to power in 2016 after a landslide victory in the previous year's general election. He is a close confidant of de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

In his critics' eyes, the soft-spoken elderly man was merely a "puppet president." While he is formally the head of state and constitutionally the highest authority in the land, the amount of actual power he wields is questionable. "The Lady," as State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is known, had already made it known during the election campaign that she would be "above the president," as the Constitution bans her from holding the office. It is an open secret in Myanmar who has the final say on matters of state.

Since last year, the public knew of the 71-year-old president's ill health due to his frail appearance and absence from some state functions. He also received medical treatments overseas.

The post Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw Resigns, Cites Need for Rest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Sends Carrier Through Taiwan Strait After Xi Warning: Report

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 10:18 PM PDT

TAIPEI — China has sent its sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the narrow Taiwan Strait that separates China from the self-ruled island, Taiwan’s defense minister said on Wednesday, according to local media.

The move comes on the heels of a warning from Chinese President Xi Jinping that Taiwan would face the “punishment of history” for any attempt at separatism. China claims Taiwan as its sacred territory and considers it a wayward province.

Speaking at Taiwan’s parliament, Defense Minister Yen Teh-fa said the Liaoning entered the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

The ministry is keeping a close watch on its progress, the report cited Yen as saying.

China’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In January, the Liaoning sailed twice through the Taiwan Strait, in what China said was part of routine drills.

Taiwan says China has ramped up military exercises around the island in the past year or so. The island is one of China’s most sensitive issues and a potential military flashpoint.

China’s hostility toward Taiwan has risen since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, a member of the island’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.

China suspects Tsai wants to push for formal independence, which would cross a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing, though Tsai has said she wants to maintain the status quo and is committed to ensuring peace.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office on Monday expressed anger at comments by Taiwan Premier William Lai that Taiwan is a sovereign independent country, saying it was a “serious provocation” and that Taiwan was not and could never be a country.

China has also been infuriated by US President Donald Trump’s signing into law last week legislation that encourages the United States to send senior officials to Taiwan to meet Taiwanese counterparts, and vice versa.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong is in Taiwan this week, where he is due to speak at a business event in Taipei later on Wednesday with Tsai.

The post China Sends Carrier Through Taiwan Strait After Xi Warning: Report appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Malaysia Says it Never Hired British Data Firm at Center of Scrutiny

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 09:59 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government and the ruling party on Tuesday denied they had ever hired Cambridge Analytica, the British data analytics firm accused of improperly harvesting personal data from millions of Facebook users.

The New York Times and the British Observer reported that Cambridge Analytica had acquired private data harvested from more than 50 million Facebook users to support Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election campaign.

In a secretly recorded video by Britain’s Channel 4 News, Cambridge Analytica officials were also recorded saying they have used a web of shell companies to disguise their activities in elections in Malaysia, Mexico and Brazil, among various countries where they have worked to sway election outcomes.

“Contrary to media reports, neither Cambridge Analytica nor its parent company SCL Group have ever — now or in the past — been contracted, employed or paid in any way by Barisan Nasional, the Prime Minister’s Office or any part of the Government of Malaysia,” the office of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Tuesday. Barisan Nasional (BN) is Malaysia’s ruling coalition.

SCL and Cambridge Analytica did not respond to requests by Reuters for comment regarding their work in Malaysia. Cambridge Analytica had earlier denied all the media claims and said it deleted the data after learning the information did not adhere to data-protection rules.

Malaysia is gearing up for national elections that have to be called by August, with sources telling Reuters that polls may be held as early as April. Najib’s coalition is widely expected to retain power.

Najib’s office also said SCL has informed the government that “Cambridge Analytica’s advice on the 2013 general election was provided personally to Mukhriz Mahathir,” who was then with the ruling coalition but is now part of the opposition.

“The SCL representative also confirmed that he reported directly to Mukhriz Mahathir, not BN or the government,” Najib’s office said.

Mukhriz told Reuters that the statement by PMO was misleading.

“I categorically deny any contact with Cambridge Analytica at any time,” he said. Earlier in the day, he denied receiving any analysis, data or advice from the firm.

Mukhriz is the son of the former Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad, who is now the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate.

According to Cambridge Analytica’s website, the firm “supported Barisan Nasional in Kedah state with a targeted messaging campaign highlighting their school improvements since 2008.” It also notes how BN wrested power back from the opposition in the 2013 elections.

Mukhriz was appointed chief minister of Kedah after the 2013 win, but he was sacked by the ruling party in 2016 after being critical of Najib in a corruption scandal.

The post Malaysia Says it Never Hired British Data Firm at Center of Scrutiny appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Carbon Prices Too Low to Protect SE Asian Forests from Rubber Expansion: Report

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 09:47 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR — The price of carbon credits must rise drastically if they are to help protect Southeast Asia’s tropical forests against rubber plantation expansion, according to researchers.

Individuals, companies and countries purchase carbon credits to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.

Putting a cost on carbon emissions provides an incentive to do business more sustainably, and a disincentive to engage in environmentally damaging activities – like clearing forests.

But researchers found that credits bought and sold on international markets would need to rise from $5-$13 per ton of carbon dioxide to $30-$51 per ton if they are to safeguard Southeast Asian forests from rubber.

At current prices, carbon credits cannot compete with the profits to be made from felling forests and developing rubber plantations, according to the report published this month in the journal Nature Communications.

“We looked at rubber as an economic driver of deforestation,” said Eleanor Warren-Thomas, the lead researcher who was at Britain’s University of East Anglia when she worked on the study.

“What kind of profits can you make from rubber plantations, and what kind incentive (to preserve forests) do you need to provide through carbon finance?”

Such a large study has not been done before, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Most forest conservation efforts in the region tend to focus on palm oil expansion, and the growth of rubber plantations has received little attention, said Warren-Thomas.

Rubber demand rose over the last 20 years, as emerging markets like China and India became wealthier and more people were able to buy cars and motorcycles.

Rubber plantations cover about 11 million hectares around the world, two-thirds of which are in Southeast Asia, while annual expansion rates roughly doubled between 2003-2013, said Warren-Thomas.

Converting forests to rubber plantations results in net carbon emissions, as the carbon stored in the cut-down trees is released into the atmosphere – but that is not widely recognized in the industry, the researchers said.

“Rubber is (from) trees, and so it looks like you’ve replaced one kind of forest with another,” said Tom Evans, an Oxford-based conservation director at the Wildlife Conservation Society, which was involved in the report.

“But really you’ve replaced a high carbon system that provides a lot of other ecosystems services with a much lower carbon ecosystem.”

Zero-deforestation pledges made by governments and large tyre companies, as well as the enforcement of forest protection laws, are crucial to curb rubber expansion, the report said.

Besides higher carbon credit prices, it also recommended further development of synthetic alternatives to natural rubber and improvements in recycling of natural rubber.

The researchers focused on forests in Cambodia, but those in China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are also under threat from rubber, Warren-Thomas said.

The post Carbon Prices Too Low to Protect SE Asian Forests from Rubber Expansion: Report appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thai Graft Agency Investigates Suspected Theft of Funds for the Poor

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 09:32 PM PDT

BANGKOK — A Thai anti-corruption agency is investigating the suspected misappropriation of up to 85 percent of money from a state fund for the poor in a new scandal to hit the military government, which has promised to clean up graft.

The Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said on Tuesday it had found evidence of irregularities amounting to about 100 million baht (US$3.2 million).

“We have found that there are corrupt practices involving money destined for low-income people which the state allocates every year,” Korntip Daroj, secretary-general of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), told Reuters.

“We have investigated and found corruption-related instances and evidence in about 49 out of 76 provinces.”

The funds, which are given directly to those deemed in need in grants of up to 3,000 baht ($100), are disbursed through the Social Development and Human Security Ministry. Reuters was unable to reach officials at the ministry for comment.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who heads the junta that seized power in 2014, said he had ordered the dismissal of all those involved in misappropriating funds and called for an investigation by the ministry.

Prayuth told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the government had always been stringent about corruption.

“I don’t want you to think that it has become worse,” he said.

The latest investigation comes as Prayuth’s deputy, Prawit Wongsuwan, is under investigation for failing to declare among his assets a collection of luxury watches.

That has partly fueled recent protests calling for an end to military rule, with elections set for February 2019 after repeated delays.

The junta took power in the name of ridding Thailand of corruption as well as ending a decade-long political deadlock between rival factions, but government critics say it has failed to tackle a culture of impunity for the rich and powerful.

Thailand ranked 96 out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruptions Perceptions Index 2017, a slight improvement from 2016.

Korntip said the fraud over the fund for the poor was allegedly committed by faking copies of national identification cards. It was later found that money never reached the intended recipients, he said.

The post Thai Graft Agency Investigates Suspected Theft of Funds for the Poor appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

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Analysis:What Lied Behind the NLD’s Protest Law Amendments?

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 07:21 AM PDT

YANGON — A recently proposed list of amendments to the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, better known as the protest law, has become the most controversial piece of legislation of the past two years.

Hundreds of people have marched against it, and more than 200 civil society groups issued a joint statement opposing the proposed changes. Critics have even launched an anti-amendment sticker campaign. Sixty of the military’s parliamentary appointees have signed up to debate the bill.

Opponents say the proposed changes would place further restrictions on the right to free assembly and expression and are so broadly defined that they could be exploited to stifle political dissent. The original protest law — enacted in 2011 under the previous military-backed government and amended in 2014 — has already been used to arrest and imprison activists.

The law was replaced in October 2016, after the National League for Democracy (NLD) came to power, so that protesters had only to notify authorities and no longer needed to secure their permission.

Some senior NLD officials, however, said easing the rules has provided an opportunity for those who want to incite unrest and destabilize the country.

Since the law was replaced, the country has seen a series of mass nationalist protests in some of its biggest cities, most of them religiously tinged and accusing the government of neglecting Buddhism in favor of Islam or criticizing the appointment of a special advisory commission for crisis-torn Rakhine State.

The protests have been a headache for a government already under intense international pressure over the crisis.

Thousands of demonstrators march in Yangon in support of Myanmar’s military and civil servants on Oct. 29. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

The most notable of the protests were the pro-army rallies that drew thousands of supporters of the military, or Tatmadaw, which the UN and US have accused of an ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine.

Some of the protests’ most active participants have turned out to be nationalist Buddhist monks, members of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and followers of Ma Ba Tha — the most prominent group in the country spreading anti-Muslim sentiment, it was banned by the government last year.

Those who have organized and joined recent nationalist protests have said the events were paid for by fellow nationalists and sympathetic donors.

In May, Religious Affairs Minister U Aung Ko said a group or organization wanting to reverse the country’s transition to democracy — he did not specify who — was supporting the nationalists.

Monywa Aung Shin, secretary of the NLD's central information committee, told The Irrawaddy that the growing number of nationalist protests since the protest law was replaced was one reason for the recently proposed amendments.

"Because we eased the restrictions, it became worse," Monywa Aung Shin said.

He said the nationalists’ protests threaten the rule of law and need to be prevented.

Hoping to deter those with hidden motives from orchestrating protests from the shadows, the NLD proposed a set of amendments to the law on Feb. 19.

A Year of Nationalist Protests

May 20, 2017: About 300 nationalists and Buddhist monks, along with some 2,700 more supporters from across the country, marched to Naypyitaw to accuse U Aung Ko of neglecting Buddhism and favoring Islam.

They demanded that the minister apologize and that a number of nationalists convicted or accused of crimes see the charges against them dropped or that they be released from prison.

After the protest, U Aung Ko released a statement claiming participants were paid between 7,000 kyats to 30, 000 kyats ($5 to $22) and that 800 million kyats ($584,000) was spent on organizing the demonstration. He also claimed that an organization or group of people wanting to reverse the country’s transition to democracy was supporting the nationalists.

June 25, 2017: More than 200 Buddhist monks and laymen gathered in Mandalay and called for U Aung Ko’s resignation.

Nationalist monks and laymen stage an anti-government protest in Yangon on Aug. 2. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Aug. 2, 2017: Several dozen nationalist monks and laymen staged sit-ins at religious sites in Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi in Shan State calling for the government to step down because it had failed to protect Buddhism.

After the government broke up the protesters’ camp in Mandalay on Aug. 5, those in Yangon and Taunggyi shut down their own camps.

Ultranationalist monk U Wirathu joins a demonstration near Yangon on Aug. 30. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Aug. 30, 2017: Hundreds of nationalists held a demonstration near Yangon City Hall against the final recommendations of the government-appointed Rakhine State Advisory Commission and the recent attacks by the militant Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Rakhine on Aug. 25.

Ultranationalist monk U Wirathu joined the demonstrators, who called on the government to declare martial law in Rakhine and to convene a meeting of the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council (NDSC).

Sept. 18, 2017: Hundreds of nationalists protested again near Yangon City Hall against the commission’s recommendations, opposing its call for a review of the country's Citizenship Act and an end to restrictions on Rohingya.

Rally: Former Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Wai Lwin gives an address to USDP members and the public at a rally on Rakhine State in Naypyitaw on Sept. 21. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Sept. 21, 2017: The former ruling USDP staged a rally in Naypyitaw at which they warned that the conflict in Rakhine State could lead to "territorial loss" for Myanmar.

The USDP also rejected the government's formation of the advisory commission and the recommendations the commission came up with. It also complained about the NLD government's failure to call a meeting of the NDSC.

Sept. 26, 2017: About 3,000 nationalists in Mandalay and from surrounding areas joined a rally to condemn the ARSA attacks and protest against foreign interference in the internal affairs of the country, referring to the crisis in Rakhine State.

The protesters also rejected the advisory commission’s recommendations and any suggestion of amending the Citizenship Act.

Nov. 19, 2017: Thousands of people including Buddhist monks joined two mass rallies in Mandalay Region and Karen State held simultaneously by the "Tatmadaw Admirer Group" to show support for the army's actions in Rakhine Sate. Similar pro-army rallies were held in September and October in Mon State and Yangon, respectively, that attracted thousands of people including USDP members, nationalist monks and their followers.

Feb. 2, 2018: Nationalists appeared at a Yangon court hearing for the accused murderer of Muslim lawyer U Ko Ni wearing T-shirts reading "Eat Well” to show their support for the co-conspirators on trial. The phrase in Burmese is considered a threat to show one's anger and to warn of impending revenge, advising the target to have a final, hearty meal before death.

Prevention or Restriction?

The recently proposed amendments would require would-be demonstrators to identify their funding sources and stipulate jail time for using protests to instigate unrest.

Rights groups say the changes prioritize control over the right to protest.

NLD lawmaker Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe said terms in the proposed amendments are too broadly and give authorities lots of leeway to define them, citing the proposed Article 18 as an example.

The article would stipulate prison sentences of up to two years for provoking or exhorting others to organize or participate in demonstrations by bribing or paying them money or doing anything else with the intention of harming the stability, rule of law, peace and tranquility of the community and public morality.

But senior NLD officials and other supporters of the bill say the changes would impose no new restrictions on peaceful protesters.

"Some people are saying they will be charged under the amendments if they give just a water bottle to a protester or if they clap and cheer. It is not so. It depends on the intention [of the supporter] and the amount [of the support]," NLD lawmaker U Myat Nyana Soe, who supports the bill, told The Irrawaddy.

Despite strong opposition, the bill was passed by the Upper House earlier this month — the majority of votes came from the NLD — and forwarded to the Lower House, though the maximum prison time for violating Article 18 was dropped from three years to two.

"We proposed the amendments to target the dark elements behind [the protests]” U Myat Nyana Soe said.

Human rights activist U Aung Myo Min said it was clear that the NLD wants to amend the law in order to take action against those who mastermind demonstrations that might cause instability or create a crisis for the government.

Still, he said, the law should not be changed with the intention of preventing groups from taking to the streets, adding that free expression and peaceful assembly were fundamental human rights.

But opposition to the bill is not only coming from democratic forces.

The USDP, which used the protest law to arrest activists while in power, and the military, which has a long history of human rights abuses and of cracking down on peaceful protesters, are opposed to the changes too.

During a discussion of the amendments in the Upper House Bill Committee, Brigadier General Tint Lwin argued against them.

"Whichever organization funds the protest, the citizens' right to peaceful assembly is more essential," Major Aung Ko Min, a military appointee to the Upper House, said the day the chamber voted on the bill. He said the proposed amendments would hinder those who want to pay for a protest honestly.

Lieutenant Colonel Tin Lin Oo spoke out against Article 18 as well.

"The military [appointees] are now repeating the words that the NLD and pro-democracy activists once used," said U Pe Than, a Lower House lawmaker for the Arakan National Party. "I think they want to show the public that they guard the Constitution and stand together with the people."

Rights activist U Aung Myo Min said the military’s words may sound similar but had different motives.

"We stand for human rights. Even if they speak the same words, the intention is different because we don't have any political motives," he said.

The post Analysis:What Lied Behind the NLD’s Protest Law Amendments? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ministry To Consult Private Sector on Tax Rate for Unexplained Income

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 06:53 AM PDT

NAYPYITAW—The Ministry of Finance and Revenue will hold extensive discussions with the business sector on whether to reduce the tax rate on income from unidentified sources.

"We will hold extensive discussions with concerned departments, UMFCCI [Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry] and big taxpayers, and try to draft a separate law that will be more comprehensive. We'll start as soon as we can," U Maung Maung Win, deputy minister for planning and finance, told reporters in Naypyitaw.

On Tuesday, the Union Parliament approved a recommendation from the Joint Bill Committee to exclude from the 2018 Union Taxation Law a provision on the taxing of income and possessions whose source taxpayers cannot explain.

Under Chapter 8 of the draft Union Taxation Law 2018, the tax rate on such income was to be reduced. This led to a public outcry amid complaints that the provision would facilitate money laundering.

In 2016, the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government imposed a 30-percent tax rate on the purchase of property paid for with funds whose source the buyer cannot identify.

The move aimed to rein in property prices, as the government was concerned that large sums of money were being laundered through the property market.

However, many developers were adversely affected by this move, and the property market saw its worst year in 2017 as a result.

"If the tax rate is to be reduced, we need a separate law. The provision in the [draft] Union Taxation Law is not sufficient," the secretary of the Joint Bill Committee, Dr Myat Nyana Soe, told Parliament.

Developers are not happy with Parliament's decision to reconsider the tax reduction, as they were anticipating a tax cut effective April 1. Their hope was that the reduced tax rate would spur the sluggish property market and attract investors.

"The government needs to explain to lawmakers in advance why those taxes need to be reduced. Lawmakers said they didn't know about it," said Dr Soe Tun, a businessman based in Yangon.

Developers will be hit hard by the postponement, he said. "Some developers have taken loans from banks. So if developers are hit hard, banks may also suffer the consequences," he said.

Some lawmakers claimed in Parliament that a reduction in the tax rate on unexplained income would not be fair to average taxpayers.

Meanwhile, the Union Parliament approved the Union Taxation Bill's provision to reduce tax from 20 percent to 10 percent on purchases of small cars of 1,500 to 2,000cc, which are within the reach of middle-income families.

According to a report by the Joint Bill Committee, the tax rate for unexplained sources of income is 15 percent on income from 1 kyat to 30 million kyats, 20 percent from 30 million kyats to 100 million kyats, and 30 percent for income above 100 million kyats.

Despite public calls for an income tax cut, the Union Parliament maintained the clause requiring anyone with a minimum annual income of 4.8 million kyats to pay income tax.

The post Ministry To Consult Private Sector on Tax Rate for Unexplained Income appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Singer, Ex-lawyer Face Prosecution for Criticizing Court

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 06:04 AM PDT

MANDALAY — Judges from Mandalay Region have filed separate lawsuits against a singer and a former lawyer for insulting and defaming the court.

Singer Ma Khing @ Ta Tha Tha was sued under the Telecommunications Law, Article 66 (d), for posting a video clip on Facebook that insulted the court in Singu Township, Mandalay divisional judicial authorities said at a press conference on Tuesday.

In the video clip, Ta Tha Tha talks in front of the court in Singu after losing a lawsuit, saying she would rather sit with prostitutes than judges.

"What she posted on Facebook was so harsh; she is not only insulting and defaming the court but also creating a misunderstanding over the judicial system by posting the video, which was widely shared among Facebook users," said Daw Khin Hla Kyi, a Mandalay district judge.

The judicial officials explained that the singer filed a lawsuit at Singu Court in June 2015 against her ex-son-in-law and 15 others accusing them of stealing property worth more than 43 billion kyats. On Friday, the court rejected the lawsuit on the grounds that the singer had failed to present proper witnesses or concrete evidence.

"The court could not continue the hearing without concrete evidence, so it had to reject the case. The singer can appeal to a higher court in accordance with the law if she wants to proceed with the lawsuit. But she insulted the judge and the court through her Facebook [post], so Judge U Win Zaw Oo filed the lawsuit against her under the Telecommunications Law," Daw Khin Hla Kyi said.

In a separate incident, a judge from Pyigyitagon Township filed a lawsuit against former lawyer U Zaw Win for throwing a slipper at a sign outside the court and insulting the judge and the court.

U Zaw Win, a former political prisoner and lawyer, was at the court in Pyigyitagon Township to show his support for political activist Ma Zar Zar Tun, who was herself facing a lawsuit under the Defamation Act for insulting the court and a judge.

When the court sentenced Ma Zar Zar Tun to four months' imprisonment after detaining her without access to her lawyer for a day, an angry and disappointed U Zaw Win threw a slipper at the signboard of Pyigyitagon Court.

"Actually, Ma Zar Zar Tun refused to talk to the court and produced no witnesses, so the judge sentenced her in accordance with the law," explained Daw Khin Khin Cho, a judicial officer at the Mandalay Region Judiciary Office.

According to the authorities, Ma Zar Zar Tun was sued on March 14 after she shouted and threatened the judge in front of the court to show her disagreement with the court regarding a lawsuit involving her brother-in-law.

"U Zaw Win also insulted the court and the judge, so Daw Su Thet Nguon, the judge from Pyigyitagon Township, filed the lawsuit against him for gravely insulting and defaming the judicial system," the officer added.

Mandalay Region judicial authorities said they are trying to eliminate misunderstandings over the judicial system and the fight against corruption, so every act that defames or creates misunderstanding shall be prosecuted.

The post Singer, Ex-lawyer Face Prosecution for Criticizing Court appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Weaving a Little Lotus Magic at Inle Lake

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:24 AM PDT

Inle Lake is a uniquely Myanmar attraction that is very popular with tourists. It is famous for its floating gardens, fishermen who row their canoes with one leg (Intha), and wooden houses on stilts.

Surrounded by the Shan Hills, the large freshwater lake is situated in southern Shan State, about 650 km from Yangon.

Most of the people who live around Inle Lake make their living as farmers, hotels, restaurateurs, and tour guide operators. Another trade that has benefited from the tourist industry is lotus weaving.

The Padonmar Kyar variety of lotus grows on Inle Lake./ Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

More than 100 years ago, local women began weaving textiles using fabric made from the lotus flowers that grow on the lake.

There are many villages around the lake but the lotus weaving industry is centered on Kyaing Khan and In Paw Khone villages.

A boat tour lead me to the Khit Sunn Yin Lotus, Silk and Cotton Hand-Weaving Centre at In Paw Khon village. It was the first time I had gotten a close-up look at how the lotus pieces are hand-woven.

The center displays each stage of the lotus-weaving process. An employee will guide you through the process from beginning to end, and it is amazing.

A woman extracts fibers from the lotus stems./ Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

At the entrance, you will see an old woman seated at a small wooden table cutting lotus stems into small pieces and extracting their fibers by hand using a knife.

Then, the fibers are moistened and rolled together to form threads. The process is repeated again and again to produce the long, fine threads used in lotus weaving.

That stage is the first and most important part of the lotus silk-making process, and workers need to be patient. So, most of the staff are older because young people are too restless, an employee at the center said.

A woman weaves a product on an old hand loom./ Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

In the second stage, another older woman is spinning and weaving the raw, pure lotus silk into spools by using a hand-turned wheel.

The lotus threads are a creamy color; the weavers dye them using jackfruit, bark, seeds, lotus leaves and other natural materials to get colored fabric.

Then, the lotus threads are turned into products using the old hand looms; this is the final stage of the lotus silk weaving process.

Visitors tour the shop at the Khit Sunn Yin center./ Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

The whole process is very labor intensive; no wonder the finest lotus products are among the most expensive textile products in the world.

Using lotus stems produces incredibly high quality clothing, and I have so much respect for the skilled artisans who can weave this kind of magic.

One small neck scarf requires about 4,000 lotus stems, takes a day to make (if the worker is quick) and sells for hundreds of dollars. A full set of monk's robes requires about 220,000 lotus stems, and takes about 60 weavers more than 10 days to complete.

The staff said that wearing lotus products keeps one cool in summer and warm in winter. The fabric is soft, lightweight and yet so delicate; you can see every detail and the composition exquisite.

Finished products made from lotus flowers, silk and cotton. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

The center not only demonstrates the lotus silk weaving process, but also shows how clothes are woven from other fabrics including silk and cotton.

The final stop on the tour is the shop. Here you can find all kinds of finished products at a range of prices. The products made from pure lotus are the most expensive.

There are various species of lotus, but only the Padonma Kyar can be used to make these woven products. The lotuses must be grown in muddy waters and can only be harvested during the wet season.

The lotus weaving process never fails to amaze me and I strongly recommend a trip to a workshop like Khit Sunn Yin whenever you are visiting Inle Lake.

The post Weaving a Little Lotus Magic at Inle Lake appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Analysis: Is Suu Kyi’s Health Cause for Concern?

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 04:53 AM PDT

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's abrupt cancellation of an event at the Lowy Institute disappointed some in Australia. "This afternoon, the Lowy Institute was informed by the Myanmar Embassy that the State Counsellor will no longer be able to participate in this event as she is not feeling well. The event is now cancelled," the Lowy Institute said in a statement.

Before she flew to Australia for a summit between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Suu Kyi, 73, had a routine medical check-up.

Rumors of her ill health and her hesitance to take long-haul flights have been discussed by some Asian diplomats in Myanmar.

"She is downcast …. Now under enormous pressure…," an Asian diplomat with extensive knowledge of Myanmar remarked a few months ago.

But she traveled to Australia, where she received a 19-gun salute, discussed the situation in Rakhine State with heads of state behind closed doors, and held talks with Myanmar citizens who came out to support her.

"We discussed the situation in Rakhine State at considerable length today," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters at the end of the summit.

"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the matter comprehensively at some considerable length herself… She seeks support from ASEAN and other nations to provide help from a humanitarian and capacity-building point of view."

Her health is of great concern, but some skeptics will say the event cancellation was an avoidance of an uneasy question and answer session over sensitive topics. Since her administration assumed power, she has avoided local media and spoken to few foreign media organizations including the BBC.

In 2016, months after her government came to power, Suu Kyi traveled to the US, where she met with President Obama and held several meetings in Washington, D.C. It was a two-week trip that also included a stop in London.

During the visit, for the first time, the state counselor addressed the United Nations in New York where she spoke about peace and sustainable solutions in strife-torn Myanmar.

Subsequently, she also spoke at the Asia Foundation. But she was forced to cancel a meeting with the Partnership Group on Burma in New York, taking a doctor's advice to rest.

It was reported that she joked, during a visit to Roosevelt High School, that it would be good for her health to be placed under house arrest again on the weekends. Landing in Yangon, Suu Kyi arrived fatigued, reportedly briefly using a wheelchair.

Back in Myanmar, her office responded stating that her health was "not a cause for concern," as rumors swirled on social media about the state counselor being seen in a wheelchair at the airport after arriving from the US.

Aung San Suu Kyi's health is stable, but she is suffering from weakness and exhaustion and needs to rest following more than two weeks of official travel to the United States and Britain, a government official said.

Some diplomats didn't believe that she was ill but avoiding the issue of the Rohingya.

Last year, facing a storm of global criticism over issues in northern Rakhine State in which she and the military were accused of ethnic cleansing and genocide, the Nobel laureate canceled her planned visit to the United Nations General Assembly. She addressed diplomats and media in the capital and sent her vice president instead to New York.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's health has long been under scrutiny, despite her being known as health-conscious, having undergone regular medical check-ups even while under house arrest.

In September, she underwent a medical checkup at the Grand Hantha Hospital in Yangon. She also reportedly undergoes regular medical checkups in Naypyitaw. She had an eye operation a few years ago.

Last year, there was a rumor that she had been paralyzed, which was untrue. But political observers and party members were left agreeing that the public should know about the health of the highest official in the government.

Myint Soe, her former chef, published memoirs a few years back and mentioned that the state counselor was health conscious.

"She doesn't eat red meat. She shuns MSG and oily food. She wants less salt in her food. Fish, prawns and vegetables are her meals of choice. Plus, chicken and duck," Soe told The Irrawaddy. "She is very health-conscious. She told me to use sugar as a substitute for MSG. She doesn't want to be fat, either."

The post Analysis: Is Suu Kyi's Health Cause for Concern? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Officials Trying to Push Muslim Families out of Hpasawng

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 04:11 AM PDT

Authorities in Hpasawng, Karenni State, are pressuring dozens of minority Muslims to leave the town, claiming they are staying there illegally, according to local sources.

Six Muslim families reside legally in the town, but another 21 families are there illegally, an immigration official said. He said that under the law, they needed to be on the housing list if they wanted to stay in Hpasawng.

"There are people staying there legally, but there are also people there illegally. We did not say anything to the persons who were legal. We even helped to add their children to the housing list. Those who are there illegally have to go back to their home towns after one month," said U Tin Tun.

"We told them they need to show Form 10 [residence permission documents] if they want to stay in Hpasawng," he added. There are 21 families totaling 50 people staying in the town illegally, he said.

The 50 Muslims have been in the area for two years, but the order to pressure them to leave Hpasawng came from the top, according to immigration officials.

Security forces involved in pressuring the 50 Muslims to leave the town include police, immigration and township authorities, according to Aung Zaw Oo, a rights activist based in Loikaw.

He sent a letter to the chief minister of Karenni State yesterday asking for help to solve the problem involving minority Muslims.

"This is a case of rights abuse. They should stop it," Aung Zaw Oo said.

The Muslim families sell clothes and vegetables, or work as mechanics fixing cars and motorbikes in Hpasawng town.

The authorities met the Muslims on March 13 and told them to return to the townships in which they were born. Many were from Loikaw, but some were born in Taunggyi or Mandalay, local sources said.

Muslim sources claim the authorities did not issue Form 10 permission letters enabling the families to stay because of their religion. Therefore, they may have to leave Hpasawng soon as the pressure from authorities is mounting.

"They gave us three days to leave the town, but it is impossible to do so quickly," one of the affected Muslims, who did not want to give his name, told The Irrawaddy.

Immigration officials had issued pink cards to the Muslims to indicate they were Myanmar citizens, but other immigration authorities had warned them they did not have full citizenship yet, he said.

The situation began when some people from Hpasawng who disliked Muslim people coming to set up small businesses in the town told authorities to move them out.

Minority Muslims living in Myanmar have experienced various forms of discrimination, including being targeted by ultranationalist monks. Widespread anti-Muslim violence emerged under the previous government, but restrictions on Muslims continue under the democratically elected NLD-led government, as old laws remain in place.

The post Officials Trying to Push Muslim Families out of Hpasawng appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

NLD Stalwart Returns to Ongoing Speculation Over Party Role

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 02:46 AM PDT

YANGON — National League for Democracy stalwart supporter and aide to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Win Htein, will return to Myanmar later this week after meeting with the State Counselor in Australia, according to sources close to his family.

He left suddenly for Australia in January after his son's wedding, which Suu Kyi had criticized for its grandeur. At the time, rumors circulated on social media that the party had suspended him from his duties, and even that he had resigned.

U Win Htein is one of the party's Secretariat members who has been overseeing the ruling party since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was appointed to Union ministerial positions and State Counselor in 2016 after the NLD government came to power. But he was known for his influence both in the party and government due to his proximity to Suu Kyi as well as his reckless remarks, including that the country's military may be involved in spreading rumors to destabilize the NLD government.

During her visit to Australia, Suu Kyi had meetings with U Win Htein on Sunday and Monday. Local media reported – quoting people with knowledge of the meetings – that the state counselor had urged him to return to Myanmar before the end of March. On Monday, after the meeting, people close to him posted on social media that U Win Htein would head to Myanmar on Saturday.

According to some of the party's central executive committee (CEC) members, he had not reported his trip to the party. But he sent a letter to the party in late February, asking the CEC to decide if he was still permitted to continue his duties serving the party.

Party CEC member Dr. Myo Nyunt told local media that he did not want to comment on the situation at the moment.

"We take his departure as a leave. If he decides to come back, he will have to assume his duties as usual," he said.

During his absence, the NLD held CEC meetings in Naypyitaw. After the January meeting, U Nyan Win, the chairman of the NLD information team, told the media that the meeting had not discussed anything related to U Win Htein and that he remained a central executive committee member of the party.

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Bangladesh Heightens Scrutiny of NGOs in Cox’s Bazar

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 01:58 AM PDT

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladeshi authorities are placing local and foreign aid workers in the refugee camps of Cox's Bazar under added scrutiny to root out groups working without proper visas or promoting religion.

Bangladesh’s elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Cox's Bazar district police have detained more than 60 foreign nationals to review their work permits and visas. They were all released after providing written statements explaining why they were not carrying the required documents.

It follows a meeting on the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Cox’s Bazar on Feb. 4 chaired by the district’s then-deputy commissioner, Ali Hossain.

The meeting ended with 13 new rules for NGOs to follow, including that they stop working in the camps each day by 5 p.m. They must also now secure permission from authorities before working in medical camps and “child-friendly zones.”

“We are monitoring their activities because of various [media] reports, including of religious motivational activities,” district Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Mahidur Rahman told The Irrawaddy.

At the meeting, a committee was also formed to supervise the NGOs’ work.

“We received a number of allegations and they are under investigation. We will have a meeting at the end of March with both local and international organizations and will make public what they are actually doing,” said district Assistant Commissioner Akramul Siddiq, the committee’s top representative in Ukhia, home to the largest of the refugee camps.

Nearly 700,000 people, the vast majority of them Rohingya, have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since late August, when militant attacks on security posts in northern Rakhine State sparked a massive clearance operation by Myanmar’s security forces.

A number of daily newspapers in Bangladesh have reported that local and international NGOs have been overpricing relief materials meant for the refugees.

Detained and Questioned

Law enforcement officials said they were worried by reports that some charities were promoting their religious beliefs among the refugees, most of who are Muslim but include Buddhists and Hindus.

“More than 350 Rohingya Muslims have converted to Christianity without changing their Muslim names for safety. We have interrogated a top worker of a Dhaka-based Catholic charity working in Cox's Bazar about its activities. But the worker was released because voluntary religious conversion is not considered a crime in our country,” a district police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Security and intelligence agencies have interrogated a number of aid workers, most of them from faith-based groups. Police said some Islamic charities have had their activities reviewed as well to determine whether they have been encouraging extremist views.

Visa Troubles

The detention of more than 60 foreign aid workers over recent months has raised tensions with Bangladesh’s development partners as well.

On Feb. 23, police detained for eight hours 11 foreigners working for Doctors Without Borders and the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency who were on their way to a camp in Ukhia.

“We detained them and handed them over to the local police station because they failed to show proper documents and original passports,” said Major Ruhul Amin, the RAB company commander in Cox's Bazar.

In a statement released the day its staff was detained, Doctors Without Borders country chief Pavlo Kolovos said his NGO — which has worked in Bangladesh for the past 25 years — was fully registered in Bangladesh and remained committed to complying with all applicable regulations.

Of the 11, two were British and two were Italian. The others were from Norway, Brazil, the Netherlands, South Korea, Kenya, Belgium and Turkey.

In a separate incident in mid-January, two aid workers from Myanmar were transferred to Dhaka without explanation.

Most recently, on March 11, at least 39 foreign aid workers were detained for lacking proper travel documents.

The same day, The Dhaka Tribune quoted Andrea Manenti of the British Red Cross as saying: “We have been hearing for the last two, three weeks that Bangladeshi authorities are stopping the foreign aid workers on their way to the camps. But today was the first time I faced this. I was supposed to provide sanitation, but I am stuck here with my entire team.”

Officials from the police force’s Special Branch said the aid workers needed work permits and work visas to carry out their relief activities in the camps.

According to the Special Branch, more than 1,700 foreigners are currently staying in the city of Cox's Bazar. It says two-thirds of them are working for local and international NGOs and the rest on various power projects currently under construction.

A Special Branch official, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak with the media, said the problem was with the types of visas many aid workers were applying for.

“Work permits are a must if you are employed here. But the process is too long, so many aid workers get visas on arrival, causing the trouble,' the official said.

“We just want to encourage the aid agencies. How can we allow any foreigner to work without a work permit?” said Afruzul Haque Tutul, a deputy district police chief, adding that authorities would continue to conduct random checks.

On March 12, United Nations Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo held an urgent meeting with Home Ministry officials to discuss how the visa process could be eased for aid workers.

“The government is working on ways to simplify the visa process…. We hope the problem will be solved shortly,” said a Bangladeshi official who works closely with the refugees and donor agencies and asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the talks.

The head of the Department of Immigration and Passports, Major General Masud Rezwan, could not be reached for comment because he was out of the country.

Leading Bangladeshi rights activist Nur Khan Liton, who has been following the Rohingya crisis over the years, said the government should immediately stop hindering the NGOs in their work.

“If you have a specific allegation, prosecute them. Otherwise, such detentions will give the wrong message to foreign friends,” he said. “If possible, please issue a visa within 24 hours.”

Muktadir Rashid is a Dhaka-based journalist contributing to The Irrawaddy.

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Mon Party Still Struggling to Hold Public Meetings Even After Ceasefire Deal

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 12:23 AM PDT

YANGON — The New Mon State Party (NMSP) says it is still finding it hard to hold public consultations with ethnic Mon people as part of its national-level political dialogue more than a month after it signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government.

The national-level political dialogue is a mandatory step of the NCA, in which regional stakeholders gather at large, public consultations to give suggestions and recommendations that are then shared at the Union Peace Conference, also called the 21st Century Panglong.

The NMSP said it had to cancel five preliminary public meetings across Mon State on March 10 after the Myanmar Army, or Tatmadaw, refused to allow more than 30 people join each event.

"The military didn't want more than 30 people at each of those places. If it is a public meeting, there must be public participation. Without the participation of the public, it is meaningless," said Nai Win Hla, a member of the NMSP’s central executive committee.

On March 12, MNTV reported that Peace Commission Secretary U Khin Zaw Oo said the commission and Tatmadaw had reached an agreement to let the NMSP hold its public meetings.

Nai Win Hla, however, told The Irrawaddy that the party had yet to receive a reply from either the National Reconciliation and Peace Center or the Peace Commission.

The Irrawaddy was unable to reach U Khin Zaw Oo for comment.

In recent months the Tatmadaw also blocked efforts by the Restoration Council of Shan State to hold similar meetings for ethnic Shan.

The NMSP says it still plans to hold its national-level dialogue on April 6-9 in Mon State's Ye Township and is asking the union government for permission to hold the smaller preliminary meetings with as many guests as it wants.

The 21st Century Panglong is scheduled for May in the administrative capital of Naypyitaw.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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AirAsia in Talks to Set Up Myanmar Airline

Posted: 19 Mar 2018 10:32 PM PDT

HONG KONG — Tony Fernandes' AirAsia Bhd is in talks with a potential partner to open an airline serving Myanmar, in a move that would help the low-cost carrier cover up to 95 percent of the Southeast Asian travel market.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, the airline's group chief executive said he also expected AirAsia's Vietnam joint venture to be flying by October.

AirAsia now has businesses in Malaysia — its home — along with India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Thailand, as well as plans to launch an airline in China.

"Once you've covered Vietnam and Myanmar, you've got all the big [Southeast Asian] populations," Fernandes said. "Vietnam, we're talking about October. We've had great support from the Vietnam government and we have a great partner. My team is very bullish."

A number of companies have also been looking at Myanmar for its policy of slowly opening to foreign investment and its rapid economic growth, although Japan's ANA Holdings Inc. last year dropped a plan to form an airline with local partner Golden Sky World after authorities rejected their application.

"It's not going to be a big airline there, because the airport infrastructure is not there. But it is 50 million people and it will develop over time," said Fernandes, who was in Sydney over the weekend for the meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He added: "We had a good meeting with someone in Sydney. He's got a good airline that we've known for a long time and he is a well-respected guy. We're going through that process."

He did not name the potential partner.

The comments come as AirAsia is emerging from a period of turbulence after it was beset by fears it had over-extended itself, triggering an extended fall in its shares. The airline also had to deal with the fatal crash of an Indonesian flight in 2014 that killed 162 people.

More recently, AirAsia has pursued an "asset light" model, forming a joint venture for its Singapore and Malaysian ground-handling operations and this month selling its leasing business in a staged process that will ultimately see 182 planes pass to established leasing portfolio manager BBAM Ltd.

Fernandes was in Hong Kong for the launch of what he has termed a "We're more than an airline" pitch, which he was due to present to analysts and investors at Credit Suisse's Asia Investment Conference.

AirAsia has been moving rapidly to launch additional services for its 80 million-plus customers, from financial offerings, including foreign exchange, to e-commerce and content.

"The biggest asset is our data," Fernandes said. "While Southeast Asian companies like Grab have to go out and spend a fortune to build that brand and data, we have 89 million customers travelling with us every year and we have data going back 18 years.

"We're more than an airline. That's the message for 2018, [like] Amazon is more than a bookseller."

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Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week

Posted: 19 Mar 2018 10:06 PM PDT

'90s Rock Legends | March 24

Zaw Win Htut, J Maung Maung, and Chit Kaung, all celebrated singers from the 1990s, will perform.

March 24, 7 p.m. Thuwunna Bhumi Event Park, Thuwunna Tsp. Tickets 9,000 to 50,000 kyats, Mann Thiri Recording.

 

Academy Award Presentation | March 23

Myanmar Academy Awards presentation ceremony will be broadcast live on MRTV 4, Channel 7 and Sky Net channels.

March 23, 3 p.m. Myanmar Event Park, Mayangone Tsp.

 

International Marionette Festival | March 25

Event features puppet shows from India, Japan, Australia, Israel, Thailand, France, US and Indonesia.

March 25, 7 p.m. National Museum, Myoma Kyaung Street. Free Admission.

 

Idiots x Youk $hi | March 24

The music band Idiots will perform.

March 24, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hard Rock Café, 4thfloor, Myanmar Plaza, Tickets start from 15,000 kyats, Tel: 09-977009157

 

One1ness Fashion Show | March 25

Charity fashion show aims to raise funds for displaced persons in Kachin and Shan states.

March 25, 6 p.m. Taw Win Garden Hotel, Tickets start from 10,000 kyats.

 

Seikku Cho Cho Book Sale | March 17-25

The publishing house offers 10 to 40 percent discounts on all of its books.

March 17-25, Seikku Cho Cho book shops in Yangon and Mandalay.

 

Flower, Pet Show and Contest | March 23-27

There will be 16 pavilions and more than 30 shops selling flowers, pets and related goods.

March 23-27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kandawgyi.

 

The Less, The More | March 24-28

Artist Maung Theid Dhi will showcase his latest creations.

March 24-28, Ahla Thit Art Gallery, No. 17, University Road, Bahan Tsp.

 

Five Friends Together | March 24-27

Exhibition will showcase the work of five young artists.

March 24-27, 43 Art Gallery, 43rd Street, Botahtaung Tsp.

Group Art Exhibition | March 24-28

Seven artists will display paintings depicting the landscapes and culture of Karen State.

March 24-28. Hninzi Myaing Art Gallery, Hninzigon Home for the Aged.

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Australia PM Meets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Raise Human Rights Concerns

Posted: 19 Mar 2018 09:45 PM PDT

SYDNEY — State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Canberra on Monday to be met by a military honor guard and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who has said he will raise human rights issues during her visit.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been in Australia since Friday, attending a special summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders in Sydney, where her presence drew street protests and a lawsuit accusing her of crimes against humanity.

Australia’s Attorney General has said he would not allow the lawsuit, lodged by activist lawyers in Melbourne on behalf of Australia’s Rohingya community, to proceed because Aung San Suu Kyi had diplomatic immunity.

Since coming to power in 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle for democracy in Myanmar, has faced growing criticism for failing to condemn or stop military attacks on her country’s minority Rohingya Muslims.

UN officials say nearly 700,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh after militant attacks on Aug. 25 last year sparked a crackdown, led by security forces, in Rakhine State that the United Nations and United States have said constitutes ethnic cleansing.

The UN independent investigator on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, said in Geneva this month she saw growing evidence to suspect genocide had been committed.

Myanmar denies the charges and has asked for “clear evidence” of abuses by security forces.

Neither Aung San Suu Kyi nor Malcolm Turnbull made public remarks before their meeting, but the Australian leader said on Sunday that Aung San Suu Kyi spoke “at considerable length” during the ASEAN meeting about Rakhine State, appealing to her Southeast Asian neighbors for humanitarian help.

Aung San Suu Kyi had been scheduled to give a speech and answer questions at a foreign policy think-tank event in Sydney on Tuesday but cancelled because she was not feeling well, event organizers said, without giving more details.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s spokesman, Zaw Htay, declined comment and referred questions to the Myanmar Embassy in Canberra. A Reuters call to the embassy went unanswered.

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Myanmar is Worst-performing Country for Aid Access, as Rohingya Refugees Face Monsoon Threats

Posted: 19 Mar 2018 09:40 PM PDT

Myanmar tops a list of countries where the ability of aid groups to reach people in need has worsened in the past six months, the Geneva-based research group ACAPS has said.

In examining 37 countries, ACAPS analysts considered nine indicators, including violence against humanitarian workers and restrictions preventing people from reaching aid.

“Myanmar is the country where humanitarian access has deteriorated the most, as access for the Rohingya population has become increasingly difficult,” the group said in a statement.

The ACAPS report preceded another released Tuesday by a British parliamentary committee, which warned floods and disease could kill thousands of Rohingya refugees in camps in neighboring Bangladesh.

The chair of the International Development Committee, Stephen Twigg, said in a statement that time was running out, adding that donors "must work with the Bangladesh government."

“Substantial numbers of refugees are about to face another crisis. With the weather about to turn, the fragile safety and sanctuary that the Rohingya have found in temporary camps provided by Bangladesh is in jeopardy,” Twigg said.

United Nations’ officials say nearly 700,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh.

That came after militant attacks in August sparked a crackdown, led by security forces, in Rakhine State that the UN and United States have said constitutes ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar has repeatedly denied reports implicating soldiers in widespread abuses of Rohingya civilians, particularly in Maungdaw, a border district in western Rakhine State.

Although the Myanmar government had allowed some groups to access the district, it was "in a short-term and unpredictable manner," said Pierre Peron, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Myanmar.

“Most humanitarian organizations that had been working in Maungdaw District for years have still not been able to resume life-saving programs for some of the most vulnerable people in the world,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation via email.

A Myanmar government spokesman was unavailable for comment.

The British parliamentary committee said the situation for Rohingya would likely worsen, with heavy rains expected to begin within days, followed by the cyclone season.

“Severe weather conditions and heavy rainfall could result in the deaths of thousands of Rohingya,” the IDC said.

The committee warned that the camps in Bangladesh are ill-equipped to withstand the 2.5 meters of heaviest rains predicted to fall from June through August. The camps were built quickly, with shelters in places prone to landslides and flooding.

Poor sanitation, as well as a low vaccination rate among Rohingya who had limited access to healthcare in Myanmar, meant flooding would likely bring disease, the IDC said.

ACAPS said humanitarian access had also deteriorated in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Pakistan and Turkey.

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India Most Vulnerable Country to Climate Change: HSBC Report

Posted: 19 Mar 2018 09:33 PM PDT

LONDON — India is the most vulnerable country to climate change, followed by Pakistan, the Philippines and Bangladesh, a ranking by HSBC showed on Monday.

The bank assessed 67 developed, emerging and frontier markets on vulnerability to the physical impacts of climate change, sensitivity to extreme weather events, exposure to energy transition risks and ability to respond to climate change.

The 67 nations represent almost a third of the world's nation states, 80 percent of the global population and 94 percent of global gross domestic product.

HSBC averaged the scores in each area for the countries in order to reach the overall ranking. Some countries were highly vulnerable in some areas but less so in others.

Of the four nations assessed by HSBC to be most vulnerable, India has said climate change could cut agricultural incomes, particularly unirrigated areas that would be hit hardest by rising temperatures and declines in rainfall.

Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines are susceptible to extreme weather events, such as storms and flooding.

Pakistan was ranked by HSBC among nations least well-equipped to respond to climate risks.

South and Southeast Asian countries accounted for half of the 10 most vulnerable countries. Oman, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Mexico, Kenya and South Africa are also in this group.

The five countries least vulnerable to climate change risk are Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia and New Zealand.

In its last ranking in 2016, HSBC only assessed G20 countries for vulnerability to climate risk.

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KNU Vice Chair Hopes Talks Can End Latest Standoff with Tatmadaw

Posted: 19 Mar 2018 06:30 PM PDT

Military tensions have been running high in Karen State's Hpapun District since March 5, after Myanmar army, or Tatmadaw, troops allegedly tried to repair a road in Lu Thaw Township — an area controlled by Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5 — and sparked a fresh round of fighting.

More than 2,000 local residents have since fled their homes.

On March 8, Brigade 5 sent a letter to the union-level Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) to complain about the Tatmadaw Southern Command's deployment of troops in KNLA-controlled territory to resume construction of the road.

On March 16, the ethnic armed group’s political wing, the Karen National Union (KNU), said in a statement that it viewed the Tatmadaw's work on the road a violation of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and called on the Tatmadaw to withdraw its troops.

Padoh Saw Kwel Htoo Win, the KNU’s vice chairman, spoke to The Irrawaddy's Kyaw Kha about the military tensions between the KNU and Tatmadaw in the area and about clashes between the KNU and New Mon State Party (NMSP).

What is the latest development in the clashes between the KNU and Tatmadaw?

In March, Tatmadaw troops entered our controlled areas. According to our intelligence, they were around 600 troops. Prior to that, the Tatmadaw asked KNU Brigade 5 to let them rebuild that road. They said they would use the road to deliver food supplies.

We agree with the delivery of food supplies because it is stated in the NCA. But because of the limited level of trust and the concerns of local people, Brigade 5 asked them to use only horses and manpower. However, the Tatmadaw deployed more troops and we had to fire shots as a warning or sign of complaint. It was not a real clash.

The Tatmadaw also opened fire when they saw our villagers, who came back to their villages for foods after fleeing the shooting. Though it was not a serious clash, there were two or three exchanges of fire a day until around March 10.

But the Tatmadaw continued rebuilding the road, which we don't accept. We've asked them to withdraw until we have reached an agreement.

So how is the negotiation going?

We have not yet spoken in person, but we are trying to arrange it. We have told them over the phone not to conduct military operations. We won't do military operations, either, but we have to prepare to protect ourselves.

In its statement, the KNU said the Tatmadaw's deployment of troops violates the NCA and that it can't accept it. What do you mean by “violation” and “unacceptable?”

They built the road alignment even before we signed a bilateral agreement and the NCA [with the government]. At that time, we were still clashing with the Tatmadaw and parts of the road alignment were destroyed in the fighting. [The Tatmadaw] aborted construction of the road around 2008. It was no longer used.

After we signed the NCA with the government, local residents started returning to their villages and resumed farming. But they still don't have trust [in the Tatmadaw], and although the military didn't say its deployment of troops was for military operations, both we and locals have concerns.

According to the NCA, the Tatmadaw and the NCA signatories need prior approval to go into each other's territories. But they entered our controlled area while we were still negotiating about it. This is a violation of the NCA.

Will this have a negative impact on the NCA process?

As we said in the statement, we'll negotiate based on the NCA. It is the fault of the group that doesn't follow the NCA. We will, however, make sure they follow the NCA. We don't want the NCA to break.

Are there different views within the KNU about the clashes with the Tatmadaw?

We acted according to the opinion of the highest-ranking officials of the brigade. They agreed to solve conflicts through negotiation, and we will act according to that policy. We will check if the army deployed its troops because of instructions from upper levels or if the troops at the lower level acted on their own because of logistical requirements. For our part, we are defending ourselves.

We heard that over 2,000 locals have fled the recent fighting between the Tatmadaw and KNU. What will the KNU do for them?

People here are honest and live a simple life. They returned to those areas not long ago. They just came back after we signed the NCA, and now they had to flee again. The weather was cold there, and it has negatively affected their health, especially the elderly and children.

As I've said, they have left behind foods in their villages. As military troops came in suddenly, they only took as much as they could and hid in the forest. They are concerned that they will be shot if they come back to take their food. There are health problems, and school children could not sit their exams as now is exam time. For the time being, district and township authorities are helping them. Humanitarian bodies of the KNU will also help them.

Has the KNU asked President U Htin Kyaw, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to help solve the problem?

We'll try for negotiation, as we said in our statement. For the time being, we are planning to negotiate with the local battalion of the military. It will depend on to what extent we can build understanding. The level of trust is already low, and the fact that [the military] has done this [deployed troops to rebuild the road] has further undermined the trust we and the people have in them.

The statement said that there was a misunderstanding of even the basic idea of national-level political dialogue in the NCA process. Can you explain?

It is a problem that public consultations are not allowed to be held freely in the areas of some [NCA] signatories. This shows that we have different views about national-level political dialogue and therefore need negotiation.

What does the statement mean in stating that there is a need to coordinate deployment and the JMC?

What the JMC needs to monitor is whether the two sides follow or breach the bilateral agreements. But there is still no bilateral agreement, and we therefore said that JMC monitoring is unrealistic.

Will the conflict between the Tatmadaw and KNU hamper the signing of the NCA by NCA non-signatories?

Though they have not ceased fire, they maintain contact with the military. For NCA signatories, there is hardly any shooting now compared to the past. Skirmishes will still happen.

We need to build trust for the guns to fall silent. If one side violates, there may be shooting. But not every shot results in a clash, and not every clash leads to war.

We heard that there have been at least three clashes between the KNU and NMSP. What is the latest development?

The Brigade 6 district chairman and those responsible with the NMSP met and decided to hold frequent talks. They agreed to solve the problems through dialogue rather than armed fighting.

There are concerns that conflict between the KNU and NMSP may escalate. What will the leaders of the two sides do to avoid that?

We've formed joint committees in adjacent areas. But we have to make sure those committees are active. Different views exist anywhere. There are different views even in a family. Our territories are adjacent to the NMSP's and there are differing views in some cases. Leaders will make sure not to resort to violent methods whenever problems arise.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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