Thursday, March 29, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Lawmakers Press Information Ministry to Open Up, Help Private News Outlets

Posted: 29 Mar 2018 04:17 AM PDT

YANGON — Lawmakers asked the Ministry of Information (MOI) if it had plans to help support the country’s struggling private news outlets and improve the public’s access to even the most basic government information during a session of the Lower House on Thursday in Naypyitaw.

National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker U Myint Lwin, representing Yangon Region’s Twante Township, complained that private news outlets were at an unfair disadvantage to publicly funded government outlets, raising concerns about the quality of news readers will have access to if private outlets die out. He said private outlets felt like lightweight boxers being forced to step into the ring with heavyweights.

"There have been complaints in other countries about state-run media using government funding to operate. But our country is reforming, so I do not want to complain yet about government money being used to run media outlets," he said.

U Myint Lwin said 44 private media outlets have applied for operating licenses since the beginning of democratic reforms in 2011, but many were scaling back because of financial difficulties.

"They all feel like state-run media do not play fair because state-run media have many sections and branch offices, and they [sell] lots of advertising because they sell at a low price. So they feel like when they have to compete…they are boxing with heavyweights," he said.

Deputy Information Minister U Aung Hla Htun said the government was trying to help private outlets.

The ministry, he said, “is trying to ask the government not to collect taxes from private media. But other people also need to work with the MOI in order to ask the government for tax breaks for private media."

He said state-run news outlets were a bridge between the government and the people and charged low prices for advertising because the ministry did not want to earn a profit off the public or make its news unaffordable.

Switching topics, lawmaker Daw Aye Mya Mya Moe, representing Yangon’s Kyauktan Township, said the MOI was falling short of its responsibility to help the public access basic government information and recounted her own attempt to do so.

She said she had gone to the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) to find out what laws governed development projects in her constituency, but an official told her he could only share that information with approval from a superior.

Daw Aye Mya Mya Moe said the official’s superior promised to gather the information she was looking for and share it. She said that was several months ago and that she was still waiting. The lawmaker said she tried to get the information from township authorities, but they knew nothing about it.

"So I have a question: How can we develop our area if the YCDC cannot tell us the laws? I found that civil servants are very poor at providing information to the public. So when will the MOI provide basic rights like the right to information to the public?” Daw Aye Mya Mya Moe said. “Maybe you can teach the civil servants how to provide information to the public. The MOI should take action against [civil servants] who do not follow instructions from [superiors]."

U Aung Hla Htun, the deputy minister, said the government has posted contact information for spokespeople online. He said his ministry also opened a call center to provide the public with free information, held workshops across the country, and was working on a law addressing access to information.

The post Lawmakers Press Information Ministry to Open Up, Help Private News Outlets appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Italy to Fund €300,000 Effort by UNESCO to Restore Mrauk-U

Posted: 29 Mar 2018 02:05 AM PDT

YANGON — The Italian Embassy in Yangon and UNESCO's Myanmar office signed a €300,000 agreement on Wednesday to boost conservation efforts in Mrauk-U, the ancient capital of the Arakan kingdom. The centuries-old site in northern Rakhine State is known for its stone pagodas and stupas.

According to an Italian Embassy statement, the contribution to the archeological project is being made in direct response to recommendations in the August 2017 final report of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State led by Kofi Annan, which called for greater support for development in the state.

The embassy said the Myanmar government had acknowledged the role that promotion of Mrauk-U could play in the sustainable development of the state, and had therefore decided to boost efforts to have the site nominated for listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The statement said the embassy would support Mrauk-U's candidacy and cooperate on the protection of monuments in line with World Heritage standards. UNESCO will implement the initiative under the supervision of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in partnership with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture's Department of Archaeology (DOA).

Italian Ambassador Pier Giorgio Aliberti and the head of UNESCO in Myanmar, Min Heong Kim, signed the agreement, "Supporting the safeguarding, management and valorization of Mrauk", at the embassy on Wednesday.

To draw more tourists, local authorities announced in 2015 a plan to build an airport in Mrauk-U, but it is still not finished due to delays by authorities in funding the 26 billion kyat ($18.9 million US) project, which was not begun until last year.

Until early 1783, the Arakan kingdom was a sovereign nation and ruled by Maha Thamada Razar. It was conquered by the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty in 1784.

The post Italy to Fund €300,000 Effort by UNESCO to Restore Mrauk-U appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Army Brings Case Against Relative of 2 Kachin Villagers Allegedly Killed by Soldiers

Posted: 29 Mar 2018 01:54 AM PDT

YANGON  —The Myanmar Army has opened a case against a female relative of two Kachin men allegedly killed by the army in January in Kachin State's Mansi Township, under Article 17 (1) of the Unlawful Association Act.

The Myanmar Army has filed a complaint against Kaw Awng, the daughter-in-law of Hpaugan Yaw, one of two men allegedly detained and shot dead by the army in January.

According to Fortify Rights, a non-profit human rights organization based in Southeast Asia, Hpaugan Yaw, 65, and Nhkum Naw San, 35, two villagers from Maing Hkawng, were last seen in the custody of Myanmar Army soldiers on Jan. 31.

The two were reportedly farming in a field near Hkat Pra village when soldiers arrested them.

"Many people in that village are connected with the KIA [Kachin Independence Army]. So, the army opened the case. We are still investigating," chief of Mansi Township Police Force police major Myo Thant told The Irrawaddy.

A captain from Light Infantry Battalion 602 based in Mansi Township opened the case against Kaw Awng under the Unlawful Association Act, while accusing Hpaugan Yaw and Nhkum Naw San of being KIA members.

According to Fortify Rights, eyewitness saw the two victims being dressed in KIA uniforms on Jan. 31. Families of the two then filed a missing persons report with Mansi Township police station and requested help from the Kachin state chief minister, Northern Command, and the Lower House lawmaker of Mansi Township.

After the disappearance of the two, the army restricted travel on the road linking Hkat Pra and Maing Hkawng villages after 8 p.m.

The bodies of the two victims were found on March 8, and recovered by the Mansi Township administrator, law officer, and medic from the Mansi Township Hospital the following day.

On March 10, Mansi Township police station collected accounts of eyewitnesses and family members of the two victims.

"The Tatmadaw said they had to kill the two because they were at the scene of fighting with guns. And they opened the case under Article 17 (1) to accuse their family members of having connections with the KIA," said David, who is helping internally displaced persons in the area.

"We will make sure justice is done for the two," he added.

According to fractures found on their bodies, the two victims appeared to have been severely beaten and had their hands tied, he said. However, the forensic report has not yet been given to family members.

Police Major Myo Thant said that police would be able to proceed with the case of the two victims only after receiving the forensic report.

In January, a military tribunal reportedly sentenced six Myanmar soldiers to 10 years in prison for the murder of three people from the Maing Hkawng camp in May 2017.

The tribunal convicted the soldiers from Myanmar Army Light Infantry Battalion 319 of killing Nhkum Gam Awng, 31, Maran Brang Seng, 22, and Labya Naw Hkum, 27, while the three were gathering firewood in a nearby forest.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Army Brings Case Against Relative of 2 Kachin Villagers Allegedly Killed by Soldiers appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Northern Alliance Seeks Continued Support From China in Peace Process Negotiations

Posted: 29 Mar 2018 01:14 AM PDT

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — The northeastern-based ethnic alliance the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) seeks further support from China in Myanmar's peace process, according to a statement it released on Wednesday.

The FPNCC stated that China's positive involvement in Myanmar's peace process has become more important and cannot be averted.

The alliance will join the upcoming third session of the 21st Panglong peace conference in Naypyitaw – tentatively slated for May – only when it is formally invited, the FPNCC said. It is unclear whether non-signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) will be invited to participate in the Union peace conference and in what capacity.

"If the FPNCC receives a formal invitation, all member groups will attend together," read the statement, released after a three-day FPNCC standing committee meeting in Panghsang, the capital of the Wa self-administrated region, held from March 26 to 28.

This is the same stance it has held since the alliance's first standing committee meeting in August.

The bloc members, led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), joined the second session of the peace conference in May last year, after China intervened.

In the statement, the alliance asked for China's help to ensure its security, citing safety concerns for ethnic armed groups that are in ongoing clashes with the Myanmar Army,

"If we cannot be assured security, how can we move forward with discussions," Nyi Rang, a liaison officer for the United Wa State Party, told The Irrawaddy via message. He added that the groups would not attend if invited individually, as they stood firmly in their stance to attend as a bloc.

The bloc called for the halt of the Myanmar military's offensives against its allies, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State; the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Kokang’s Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Shan State, and the Arakan Army (AA). It welcomed the newly-elected President U Win Myint and said it "hoped that peace in Myanmar would be promptly implemented under the leadership of the new president."

Seeking official Chinese intervention in negotiations, the FPNCC showed interest in further collaboration for peace.

Observers of that the peace process expect that it could proceed smoothly with continuous Chinese mediation between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups, as well an easing on restrictions that exclude the TNLA, AA and MNDAA.

China's efforts to bring all the groups based along its borders into the peace process could boost its international image, said Maung Maung Soe, a political and ethnic affairs analyst.

Observers said the FPNCC's stance seemed more flexible this time around as it omitted mention of the NCA or an alternative to the NCA.

U Maung Maung Soe said this could be attributed to development in including the TNLA, AA, and MNDAA (who are all NCA non-signatories) in the process.

However, government peace negotiators led by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not reveal any information in regards to ongoing negotiations with the bloc.

As China moves forward with its One Belt One Road initiative, Myanmar's neighbor “seeks stability on its border, thus encourages the northern alliance to take part in the peace process, and also pressures both the Tatmadaw and the alliance to reduce military tensions," U Maung Maung Soe added.

Chit Min Tun contributed to this report. 

The post Northern Alliance Seeks Continued Support From China in Peace Process Negotiations appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Lawyers for Reuters Reporters Ask Myanmar Court to Dismiss Case

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 10:17 PM PDT

YANGON — Lawyers for two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar asked a court on Wednesday to throw out the case, saying there was insufficient evidence to support charges against the pair, who are accused of possessing secret government papers.

A court in Yangon has been holding preliminary hearings since January to decide whether Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, will be charged under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

On Wednesday, defense lawyer Khin Maung Zaw filed a motion to dismiss the case. The district court in northern Yangon agreed to hear arguments from prosecutors and defense lawyers on the motion on April 4.

“Of all the prosecution witnesses that have testified and been cross-examined, no proof” of legally sufficient evidence could be made against the defendants, Khin Maung Zaw told reporters after the hearing.

“It’s suitable for the defense lawyers to ask for the release at this stage,” he said, adding that there had been discrepancies in the testimony of some witnesses. He declined to elaborate.

Lead prosecutor Kyaw Min Aung left the court building before Reuters was able to put questions to him after the hearing. At previous hearings he has declined to speak to reporters.

Government and police spokespeople have declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing court proceedings.

Appeal to New President

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have been in custody since their arrest on Dec. 12.

The journalists had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in a village in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State during a military crackdown in August, which has sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh.

They have told relatives they were arrested almost immediately after being handed some rolled up papers at a restaurant in northern Yangon by two policemen they had not met before, having been invited to meet the officers for dinner.

Previous police witnesses, however, have said the reporters were stopped and searched at a traffic checkpoint by officers who were unaware they were journalists, and found to be holding in their hands documents relating to security force deployments in Rakhine.

During a break in proceedings, Wa Lone made an appeal to Myanmar’s new president, U Win Myint, a close ally of the leader of the civilian government, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was elected by Parliament on Wednesday.

“Journalists who are in the Insein prison at the moment would like to say to the newly elected president that we are now in Insein prison because we covered news. We are facing court because we found out the unjust things,” he told reporters. “I would like to ask the new president to bring about media freedom for the press.”

Calls to the spokesman for Myanmar’s civilian government seeking comment went unanswered.

Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations, Hau Do Suan, said last month that the journalists were not arrested for reporting a story, but were accused of “illegally possessing confidential government documents.”

Senior UN officials, Western nations and press freedom advocates have called for the release of the journalists.

Diplomats from Australia, the European Union, Denmark and the Netherlands were among those who attended Wednesday’s hearing.

The post Lawyers for Reuters Reporters Ask Myanmar Court to Dismiss Case appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Fishermen Long for Justice as Thailand Comes Under UN Scrutiny

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 10:07 PM PDT

SAMUT SAKHON, Thailand — Sold to a boat operator in Thailand for 6,000 baht ($192) two years ago, Win from Myanmar worked as a fisherman until he lost his forearm in an accident on the vessel this year.

Toiling for 19 hours a day, Win said the crew of 30 sometimes would not get any rest during peak season, with a United Nations team in Thailand this week to investigate such reports of abusive working conditions.

“Life is difficult as a fisherman in Myanmar so I thought it would make my life better if I come and work in Thailand,” the father of four, 39, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“The ‘agent’ did not tell me what work I was going to do or how much I would be paid. I just ended up working on the boat.”

The world’s third largest seafood exporter, Thailand’s fishing industry employs more than 300,000 people, many of them migrant workers from neighboring countries, and the sector has long been dogged by allegations of abuses.

The industry is under further international scrutiny this week as a team of United Nations experts undertake their first visit to examine human rights in a wide range of businesses in Thailand, including the fishing and seafood sectors.

Speaking from Samut Sakhon, a major fishing hub one hour drive from the capital Bangkok, Win said he lost his left arm after it was caught in a wheel as he hoisted the net one day.

Unhappy with the offer of 10,000 baht compensation from his employer, Win is now appealing to the Thai authorities for a higher amount.

Hit on the Head with a Machete

But even before the incident Win said he felt underpaid.

Starting at about 10,000 baht in the first month, the fisherman said his wages had gradually gone down to 4,000 baht. Thailand’s legal monthly minimum wage is about 9,000 baht.

“Any slight mistakes we made, we would be scolded or beaten up. I was hit twice – one time with a machete to my head,” said Win, who asked that his full name not be published as he fears it will affect his case with the Thai authorities.

Thailand’s multi billion-dollar seafood sector has come under scrutiny in recent years after investigations by the media and human rights groups showed slavery, trafficking and violence on fishing boats and at onshore processing facilities.

The military, which took power in a 2014 coup, has rolled out reforms since the European Union threatened in 2015 to ban fish imports from the Southeast Asian nation unless it cleaned up the industry.

Employers now often complied with new rules, such as paying fishermen a minimum wage and issuing contracts, research by the International Labor Organization (ILO) this month showed.

But the ILO also found signs of continuing forced labor despite pressure from retailers to clean up the industry, including abusive working conditions and excessive overtime, especially among migrants from Cambodia and Myanmar.

More than a third of migrant fishermen in Thailand were victims of trafficking, according to a study of 260 fishermen by anti-trafficking group the International Justice Mission last year.

A spokesman from the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights said the group would meet officials, activists and migrant workers during its 10-day mission to Thailand to ascertain whether the government measures have been effective.

“Business and human rights issues are becoming more and more prominent, including in Asia,” Surya Deva from the working group, a law professor at the City University of Hong Kong, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“Human rights abuses in supply chains, for example, are a very critical issue. Another area of global concern is the rights of migrant workers.”

The group is expected to urge Thai authorities to adopt a national action plan on dealing with modern slavery and human trafficking in industries from seafood, to manufacturing and tourism at the end of their visit.

An estimated 425,500 people live in conditions of modern slavery in Thailand, according to the Global Slavery Index 2016 by campaign group Walk Free Foundation.

‘I Am Not Happy Here'

But activists urged the UN team to do more than just make recommendations.

“If the UN just come do research and collect data that doesn’t really help,” asked Patima Tungpuchayakul from Thai advocacy group, the Labor Rights Promotion Network Foundation, involved in rescuing migrant fishermen from labor abuses.

Back in Samut Sakhon, boats were pulling into a port on a sunny morning and fishermen busy unloading their catch.

Local women and migrant workers from Myanmar quietly sorted sardines and mackerel according to their size before they were loaded onto trucks and sent to nearby processing plants.

But this is a scene that Win would like to forget. All he wants now is to get compensation for losing his arm and go home.

“I am not happy here. At least if I go home, I can be with my wife and children,” he said.

The post Fishermen Long for Justice as Thailand Comes Under UN Scrutiny appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Can A New President Pull Myanmar Out of the Quagmire of Conflict?

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 09:59 PM PDT

U Win Myint — a former Speaker of the House of Representatives — will become Myanmar's 10th president, succeeding U Htin Kyaw, who resigned from his position after less than two years in office.

On Wednesday, Parliament voted unanimously to make U Win Myint president. A series of lingering challenges including a stagnant economy, the civil war, the Rohingya crisis and amending the Constitution are waiting to be addressed by the new president.

Yet the question "How can we end the civil war and build peace in Myanmar?" might be the main challenge facing incoming President U Win Myint.

His two immediate predecessors, U Htin Kyaw and U Thein Sein, managed to get 10 ethnic armed groups to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) — eight groups in 2015 under U Thein Sein and two groups during U Htin Kyaw's tenure. The 10 groups are: the Karen National Union (KNU), the Pa-O National Liberation Army, the Chin National Front (CNF), the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) (KNU/KNLA PC), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the New Mon State Party and the Lahu Democratic Union.

However, the most powerful groups have refrained from signing the NCA. These comprise the seven groups that make up the Federal Political Negotiation Council Consultative Commission (FPNCC), namely the United Wa State Army, Kachin Indepedence Organization, National Democratic Alliance Army, Shan State Progress Party, Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army, and two groups from the United Nationalities Federal Council, namely the Karenni National Progressive Party and the Arakan National Council.

While the government and ethnic armed groups negotiate over signing the NCA, the lingering conflicts have become a major obstacle for all parties. These conflicts include both signatories and non-signatories of the NCA.

NCA Signatories

The Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), the armed wing of the New Mon State Party, has clashed with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the KNU, twice recently. On Feb. 14, I wrote an article, "The UNFC: Reasons Behind Signing and Not Signing the NCA," warning of a potential clash between these two groups. I clearly stated in the article that the expansion of the KNU's territory toward Yay Phyu, Kawkareik and Kyainseikgyi along the Karen and Mon state borders threatened to cause a major conflict.

More than a week later on Feb. 24, a clash between these two NCA signatories broke out in Yay Phyu, with both sides reporting injuries. Even as the two sides were discussing how to solve the dispute, clashes erupted again on March 4. The lack of a clear demarcation of territory between these two groups makes it hard to prevent clashes. The Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) has been unable to prevent hostilities despite both sides being signatories of the NCA.

NCA Signatory and Non-signatory

The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) — an NCA signatory — and the TNLA— a non-signatory — have consistently clashed in northern Shan State. The RCSS signed the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015. Fighting between the two groups erupted on Nov. 27, 2015, due to the RCSS's territorial expansion toward the TNLA-controlled areas such as Kyaukme, Nansang, Mongton and Namkhan.

The TNLA believes the RCSS has been allowed to gain a dominant position by the Tatmadaw due to its having signed the NCA — a charge the Tatmadaw denies. Clashes have erupted several times, resulting in both combatant and civilian casualties. The clashes have also displaced many people, fostering resentment between the ethnic Shan and Ta'ang (Palaung) people.

Tatmadaw and NCA Signatories

Surprisingly, clashes between the Tatmadaw and NCA signatories have erupted several times. The recent fighting between the Tatmadaw and the KNU highlights the weakness of the NCA.

Fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA's 5th Brigade due to the Tatmadaw's alleged deployment of security patrols to facilitate the rebuilding of an old road in Lel Mu Palaw on March 5. The clash not only displaced about 2,000 people, but also negatively affected the ongoing peace process.

On March 19, hundreds of Karen people staged a protest to demand the Tatmadaw withdraw its forces, alleging they had been deployed to expand territorial control. The KNU met with the Tatmadaw to try to solve the recent tension on March 30, but it seems further talks will be required to stabilize the region.

The Tatmadaw has fought not only with the KNU, but also with the RCSS. The Tatmadaw and the RCSS clashed in July 2017. General Yawd Serk, a leader of the RCSS/SSA, accused the Tatmadaw of not abiding by the terms of the NCA after the Myanmar military attaché in Bangkok blocked a July meeting of the Committee for Shan State Unity in Chiang Mai, Thailand last year.

Furthermore, tensions between the Tatmadaw and the Karen State Border Guard Force (BGF) recently flared after Tatmadaw forces and police seized hundreds of cars without licenses owned by the BGF. Clashes between the Tatmadaw and NCA signatories seem mostly to stem from the ignoring of terms of the agreement, such as the requirement to inform the other side prior to crossing an area under its control.

The clashes between the Tatmdaw and NCA signatories highlight the flawed nature of the NCA and only make non-NCA signatories more wary about signing the deal.

Tatmadaw and Non-NCA Signatories

The clashes between the Tatmadaw and non-NCA signatories have become intractable, particularly with the KIO.

Fighting resumed in 2011 between the Tatmadaw and the KIO, and continues despite the two sides having met in Dali, in China's Yunnan province, in February in an attempt to cease the escalation. The KIO's 14th Battalion recently abandoned a base in its amber-rich area due to a Tatmadaw clearance operation. The KIO has lost several outposts, including those of its 6th Battalion and 8th Brigade, as well as its Hkaya Bum, Gidon and Hpun-pyen Bum posts.

The fighting has also produced tens of thousands of displaced people who are now sheltering on the Sino-Myanmar border in Myitkyina, Bhamo, Tanai Township and elsewhere.

The Tatmadaw has also fought against other armed groups such as the TNLA, AA, MNDAA, SSPP and KNPP. The Tatmadaw's clashes with the TNLA and MNDAA have produced thousands more displaced people and constantly disrupted the major trade route between Muse and Mandalay.

The recent territorial dispute between the Tatmadaw and the UWSA has made potential talks between the government and the FPNCC more difficult.

The clock is ticking for the third session of the 21st-Century Panglong Peace Conference, which has been canceled several times and is due to be held in May. Yet it is unclear whether the government will invite the non-NCA signatories to the conference. They were excluded from the second session.

All ethnic groups, both NCA signatories and non-signatories, share a common vision to build a federal Union. However, according to KIO chair General N'Ban La, Lieutenant-General Tun Tun Naung, commander of the Bureau of Special Operations-1, insisted that the Tatmadaw would not accept "a federal union." The message from the Tatmadaw to all ethnic minorities is that building a genuine federal Union is a forlorn hope.

No one knows how long the federalism path will take, but many people, particularly ethnic minorities, have put concerted efforts into speeding up the process. Yet, stopping the fighting between the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups ought to be prioritized before further causalities among combatants and civilians occur, as all are Myanmar citizens.

Thus, ethnic people are hoping the new president will order the military to stop fighting against the ethnic armed groups, as former President Thein Sein did in December 2011, though the Tatmadaw failed to comply. If President U Win Myint can pull Myanmar out of this quagmire of conflict, his efforts will be seen as historic and will shape Myanmar's future for the better.

Joe Kumbun is the pseudonym of a Kachin State-based analyst.

The post Can A New President Pull Myanmar Out of the Quagmire of Conflict? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Malaysia to Redraw Electoral Map in Contentious Move Just Before Polls

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 09:44 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia approved on Wednesday plans to redraw boundaries for more than a third of its parliamentary seats, changes that critics say will help Prime Minister Najib Razak cruise to a victory in a general election likely to be called within days.

Hundreds of protesters marched to parliament ahead of the tabling of the redelineation motion and opposition lawmakers raised their objections in the House of Representatives – with one member calling Najib a “thief."

But the motion, which will change the voter demographic in nearly 40 percent of Parliament’s 222 seats, was approved by a simple majority within five hours of the tabling by Najib.

Opposition lawmakers chanted “cheat, cheat” as the motion was passed.

Critics say the new boundaries will benefit Najib’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which is facing arguably its toughest polls since independence more than 60 years ago, by assigning larger number of opposition-leaning voters to fewer seats and dividing constituencies along ethnic lines.

“Today, Parliament was asked to pass a motion to save Najib and the ruling government,” said Lim Kit Siang, veteran leader of the opposition Democratic Action Party.

Lim had earlier denounced Najib as a “thief” and was asked to leave the house by the speaker for disrupting proceedings.

Najib is under pressure to deliver an emphatic victory, as he grapples with a scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and public anxiety over rising living costs.

His coalition lost the popular vote in the last general election, in 2013, but managed to stay in power.

An election must be held by August, but Najib is widely expected to call it in days.

The recommendation to modify electoral boundaries was made in a report by the Election Commision (EC), which has for years been accused by the opposition of taking instructions from the prime minister.

The EC and the government have both said the recommendation for change in electoral borders was free from political interference.

“The government did not disturb or influence the EC in their work, and respects decisions made by EC in the interest of the people and the country,” Najib told parliament.

‘Manipulating the Rolls'

Maria Chin Abdullah, former chairwoman of pro-democracy group Bersih, and one of about 200 protesters who had marched earlier in the day, said the commission’s report was being used to unfairly force through the boundary changes.

“They want to bulldoze the report that contradicts the constitution, ignores the rule of law and manipulates the electoral rolls,” she said.

Former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who at 92 is the opposition candidate for prime minister, should Najib, his former protégé, be defeated, briefly joined the protesters.

Electoral boundaries were last changed in 2003, under the leadership of then-premier Mahathir. He, too, was accused of manipulating the process in favor of the ruling coalition, which has held power since independence from Britain in 1957.

The latest changes will not alter the number of seats in the parliament or state assemblies, but will modify the size of several constituencies.

Selangor – the country’s richest state and one of the few controlled by the opposition – will see voter demographics change in 18 of its 22 parliamentary seats.

Johor state, where the ruling coalition is expected to face a tough battle, will see changes to 19 of its 26 parliamentary seats.

The redrawing of boundaries will mean some pro-opposition constituencies with grow to include more than 100,000 voters, while pro-government ones are much smaller.

For instance, in Selangor outside Kuala Lumpur, the biggest parliamentary constituency would be Damansara – held by the opposition – with 150,439 voters, while the smallest would be Sabak Bernam – held by BN – with 37,126 voters.

Earlier in the week, the government tabled a bill seeking to outlaw “fake news," with fines and up to 10 years in jail, raising more concern about media freedom in the wake of the 1MDB scandal.

The bill is expected to be passed on Thursday.

The post Malaysia to Redraw Electoral Map in Contentious Move Just Before Polls appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Rakhine Government Puts Brakes on Ngapali Beach Hotel Project

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 06:40 AM PDT

YANGON – Early this year, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu ordered a halt to an upscale hotel project on southern Rakhine State's unique Ngapali Beach. Since 2015, at least 30 tons of beach sand have been used to fill a shallow inlet through wetland known locally as Lin Thar brook to accommodate the project, said Lin Thar village administrator U Myint Tun.

Rakhine State cabinet members have determined that the high-end project violated the Conservation of Water Resources and Rivers Law enacted under ex-military dictator Sen-Gen Than Shwe, as well as coastal directives issued by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Despite this, the developer was granted land ownership documents by the Land Registration Department of Thandwe district, which is under the control of the General Administration Department.

The project is situated between the Golden Coconut Garden, which is owned by the Myanmar military, and the Silver Beach resort on the Lin Thar village seashore. An approximately 50-meter-wide inlet flows in a zig-zag through the village, and a large sandbank protrudes from the mouth of the river.

According to Lin Thar administrators, nearly 100 villagers complained to the Rakhine government three years ago after fishermen lost their docking areas, which had been lined with nipa palms and mangrove forests, when businessmen involved in the hotel project used dredging machines to pump beach sand from the foreshore.

A newly built white sand compound next to Lin Thar brook on Ngapali shore. This area was once crowded with nipa palms and mangrove forests

"Once, fishing boats could dock there, but it's gone now," U Myint Tun said. "I can't say exactly how many tons of beach sand they removed, but I am sure it's a lot," he said.

Last week, Rakhine State Planning and Finance Minister U Kyaw Aye Thein confirmed that the cabinet had ordered a halt to the project, but he could not provide detailed information such as the total land area of the project.

A hotelier from Ngapali told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity that the land was bought by U Soe Myint, a former shareholder in First Myanmar Investment (FMI) group. Ngapali residents know him as U Sein Gay, who served as a mayor of Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay division around 2001. He currently operates Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin, which is a part of the Soe and Associates hotel group. His status as a shareholder in FMI group remains unclear.

A senior staff member at Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin confirmed to The Irrawaddy over the phone on Wednesday that her boss bought an area of wetland in Ngapali but had no further information. U Soe Myint declined to comment via an employee on Wednesday.

The hotelier disclosed that U Soe Myint tried to resell the disputed land to some foreigners with the help of a US lawyer in order to start a profit-sharing project, but it was canceled. The investor had intended to put about USD40 million into the luxury beach resort.

Both the hotelier and Lin Thar village administrator U Tun Myint estimated that around 5 or 6 acres of mangrove lands had been covered by salty beach sand, and that around 5 acres remained unspoiled. A hotel owner estimated that U Soe Myint's project had resulted in about 30 tons of beach sand being moved, and even labeled the act as "ecotourism crime".

"The small river has been shrunk to nearly half of its former total acreage," he said.

A boat docks in Lin Thar inlet off southern Rakhine State's Ngapali Beach.

During a recent visit, The Irrawaddy independently verified that the developer had laid concrete blocks and filled the site in with white sand, which could clearly be seen from the air, surrounded by trees.

Breaching MOHT's coastal directives is not unusual in Ngapali, where investors and residents routinely violate them for their personal interest. As a result of large-scale sand mining and the construction of huge retaining walls along the seashore for the purpose of keeping out high waves during the rainy season, once-pristine Ngapali Beach is now marked by a steep slope and foot-high sand terraces. For various reasons, Ngapali, once ranked No. 1 by travelers, was not among Trip Advisor's top 25 beaches for 2018.

Early this month, Union Hotels and Tourism Minister U Ohn Maung, Chief Minister U Nyi Pu and several cabinet members held a meeting with hotelier associations in Ngapali. Some guesthouse owners strongly criticized the lack of law enforcement and continued illegal sand mining in Ngapali.

Just last weekend, two motorboats from Irrawaddy delta bearing the name Sai Shan Tun mined with heavy equipment right in front of the standing Buddha stupa in Gyeiktaw village and directly pumped the sand to a nearby compound, despite government officials' insistence that sand mining is strictly prohibited on Ngapali Beach.

The post Rakhine Government Puts Brakes on Ngapali Beach Hotel Project appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Bagan Steps Up Efforts to Stop Climbers After Latest Temple Tumble

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 06:13 AM PDT

MANDALAY — Officials in Bagan are planning to do more to warn people against climbing the pagodas of Bagan after a German tourist was injured in a fall on Tuesday.

Yulia Krylova, 22, fell off one of the relatively smaller of the area’s thousands of pagodas after watching the sun set and was sent to the Nyaung Oo general hospital to be treated for a minor head injury.

Because people are now prohibited from climbing the pagodas typically most popular for sunset views, visitors are clambering up the smaller temples, which can still be risky.

"We've prohibited the climbing of the pagodas since the earthquake hit and have requested the hotels and guesthouses to inform the tourists. However, the incident on Tuesdays shows our efforts are still weak," said U Aung Aung Kyaw, director of the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library's Bagan branch, part of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.

The department said it will put up more notice boards around Bagan and remind hotels and guesthouses to tell tourists that climbing the pagodas is prohibited.

"Since it is very hard for us to keep an eye on everyone and every location, we hope the tourists will also understand the situation and avoid taking risks. Instead, we would like to encourage the use of the sunset viewing spots that we made," U Aung Aung Kyaw said.

Nearly 400 pagodas were damaged in the earthquake of August 2016. Shwesandaw Pagoda, especially popular for its sunset views, was closed to the public after the terrace collapsed last October.

The department prohibited the climbing of all pagodas in Bagan the following month after an American tourist fell to her death.

The department has built three earthen hills around Bagan for sunset views to help discourage climbing of the pagodas.

"It is not uncommon for visitors to fall from pagodas in Bagan. The incident on Tuesday was the fourth in 2017-2018. We would like the visitors to use the sunset viewing spots rather than risking their lives to climb the pagodas," U Aung Aung Kyaw said.

According to his department’s records, about 900 people would climb Shwesandaw Pagoda a day before the ban.

"The views from the pagodas are fantastic. But there are safety reasons, and in our traditional point of view it is somehow inappropriate for people to climb the pagodas. That is why we have to ban the climbing," he said.

With an application to grant world heritage site-status to Bagan now before UNESCO, some have complained that the earthen hills could hurt its chances.

"We've received many complaints and suggestions about the manmade hills. But these hills could be abolished easily when we do not want them," the director said.

"Ideas are welcome, and if we have a better solution we can remove these hills in no time. These hills cannot give the feeling of seeing the views from the pagodas, but we do not yet have a better way to provide an elevated location for viewing the sunsets besides these hills," he added.

Members of the World Heritage Site Committee will visit Bagan in mid-2018. The site will be brought up for deliberation at UNESCO's World Heritage Site convention in 2019.

The post Bagan Steps Up Efforts to Stop Climbers After Latest Temple Tumble appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

On Armed Forces Day, One Holiday, Two Visions

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 04:22 AM PDT

YANGON — The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and Myanmar’s military, or Tatmadaw, held separate events to mark the 73rd anniversary of Armed Forces Day on Tuesday and shared very different ideas about how to build peace and achieve national reconciliation.

While the Tatmadaw said Myanmar needed a strong and modern army to protect the country, the NLD said the military should stay out of national and ethnic affairs in order for Myanmar to see an end to decades of civil war.

The NLD marked the anniversary at its headquarters in Yangon, going with Anti-Fascist Day instead of its official name, preferred by the military. March 27 celebrates the beginning of the military’s resistance to Japanese occupation in 1945.

"Exerting influence in national and ethnic affairs with military might must be ended. Resorting to armed conflicts that result from suspicions and grudges between ethnicities and national people must also be ended," the NLD’s statement on the anniversary reads.

It adds that the NLD would never allow the loss of the country’s hard-won democratic gains, the result of the people’s resolve and perseverance.

About 100 party members attended the NLD’s event, at which party leaders recalled the hard work the NLD has put into leading the country toward democracy. They urged party members to also work hard to further their cause and to heed the example of party chair Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s de facto leader.

The NLD attributed its 2015 election victory to its years of resistance to military rule, from the pro-democracy uprising of 1988 on through the start of the transition to a semi-civilian government in 2010.

Party leaders said the NLD remained committed to achieving national reconciliation and a federal system accommodating the country’s many ethnic groups. Only when Myanmar achieves peace can it truly develop, they added.

"If we want to build a safe, peaceful and prosperous nation, this can only be achieved when political parties and the Tatmadaw cooperate with the people," U Hantha Myint, a member of the NLD’s central executive committee, said in his speech. "Therefore, by embracing a policy of national reconciliation, the NLD is working hard to unify the political parties, Tatmadaw and the people."

Since the NLD took power, U Hantha Myint said, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has prioritized peace in order to establish a union based on democracy and a federal system.

"To do so, we have called for the problems between us to be solved at the table rather than with armed fighting," he said.

A Martial Mandate

Control of Myanmar is effectively split between State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Tatmadaw chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, each with a different vision of how to end the civil war.

Leaders of the country’s ethnic armed groups blame the slow pace of progress toward peace at least in part on the pair’s fraught relationship. Still, many of them see in the NLD a more committed partner than the Tatmadaw, which has been fighting with the armed groups for decades. The military-drafted 2008 Constitution prevents the government from ordering the Tatmadaw to stop fighting, or from amending the Constitution without the Tatmadaw’s consent.

Since taking the reins of government in early 2016 — minus three key ministries and a critical quarter of parliamentary seats, all still firmly in the Tatmadaw’s hands — the NLD has made little obvious progress toward peace. A planned national peace conference has been repeatedly pushed back as the Tatmadaw has blocked efforts by some ethnic groups to hold public consultations with their members in preparation.

Marking Tuesday’s anniversary in Naypyitaw, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said the Tatmadaw had to be strong, modern and patriotic to protect the country’s independence.

"Only when the Tatmadaw is strong will the nation be strong," the army chief said, citing a favorite saying.

Speaking on the peace process, he advocated pragmatism over idealism.

"During the peace talks, it will be more practical to negotiate about probable things, in view of long-term benefits, instead of claiming the impossible ones and procrastinating," he said.

The general said Myanmar achieved independence by fighting off the Japanese with the help of the people, saving the country from disintegration.

He said a solid foundation had been laid for a “smooth” transition to democracy and that the Tatmadaw has played an important role in the country throughout its history.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing urged people to practice a “Myanmar spirit without racial and religious discrimination, and to strive for the country’s development into a cohesive union. Instead of pointing to the past and finding faults, it is now high time to learn the lessons from the past and to [work] for the country's development."

The post On Armed Forces Day, One Holiday, Two Visions appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

4 Policemen Arrested Over Alleged Torture of Suspects in Irrawaddy Region

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 04:16 AM PDT

PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Region — Four policemen were arrested on Sunday over the alleged torture of two burglary suspects in a village in Irrawaddy Region's Labutta Township.

The chief of the Poe Laung police station and other ranks allegedly tortured two burglary suspects against legal procedures during interrogation sessions, said a spokesperson of the Irrawaddy Region Police Force Police Lt-Col Khin Maung Latt.

"We have launched an internal investigation," he said, adding that the investigation is being led by the chief of the Myaungmya District police force.

Police arrested Khing Maung Latt and Soe Myat Aung, who were suspected of stealing more than 40 million kyats (US$30,000) worth of goods from a house in the village of Daung Chaung in Labutta Township in January.

The four policemen from the Poe Laung police station were arrested and are currently being held in the Labutta police station after families of the two suspects filed a complaint.

Locals said the police held the two suspects for weeks without remand. The four policemen allegedly slapped the two suspects with their hands and shoes, burned their genitals with cigarettes, burned plastic rope and bottles, and hung them upside down with their hands handcuffed.

"In the first few days, we were held separately. They slapped me in my face with a slipper and hung me upside down for about five hours. They also ripped out my pubic hairs. On March 21, they burned [plastic] water bottles and dripped them on my genitals and thighs," Soe Myat Aung told The Irrawaddy.

Khin Maung Latt then confessed to burglary because of the torture and lied and said he had buried the loot under his house. As police brought him to his house to recover the goods, he showed his injuries to his wife and village administrators so that the village knew about the torture, said U Zaw Yan, a member of the Myanmar Farmers Network, a group supporting local farmers.

The wife of Khin Maung Latt and the mother of Soe Myat Aung then filed a complaint with the Labutta District police force. Khin Maung Latt and Soe Myat Aung have been receiving medical treatment at Labutta Hospital since March 23.

"I can't hold things with my hands now because of the torture. I even need my mother to feed me. Because they slapped me in my face, my jaw hurts if I speak for too long. I also have burns," Soe Myat Aung told The Irrawaddy.

Khin Maung Latt also suffered similar injuries, plus he can't hear out of his left ear, said U Zaw Yan.

"The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission said it would investigate the case within a few days," he said.

In 2003, a couple in Pathein who were suspected of a theft, committed suicide following torture by police during their detention. The inspector who led the interrogation was sacked and imprisoned and four other policemen were demoted.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

The post 4 Policemen Arrested Over Alleged Torture of Suspects in Irrawaddy Region appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Highlights of Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing’s Armed Forces Day Speech

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 04:08 AM PDT

At this year's Armed Forces Day commemoration, Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing did not inspect the troops from the back of a moving military vehicle, opting to do so on foot.

In his speech, he said the country is lagging behind even its neighbors in the region.

In order to catch up, he urged people to work hard and show the "spirit of Myanmar"—interestingly, he also told the people of this Buddhist majority country to avoid racial and religious prejudice.

He reiterated his commitment to protecting the military-drafted 2008 Constitution. The military chief also urged all armed groups to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement without making impossible demands.

"Instead of pointing to the past and finding fault," Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said, "it's time to learn the lessons of the past and to work for the country's development."

Independence Struggle

In what has become something of a tradition for military leaders during Armed Forces Day speeches, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing devoted the first part of his speech to the Tatmadaw's role in the independence struggle.

He mentioned Aung San, father of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who led the independence struggle, using the military training he had received from Japan to drive out the British colonizers. He and the rest of the legendary "Thirty Comrades" entered Myanmar through Thailand to liberate the country, which was then colonized by the British.

Min Aung Hlaing briefly touched on the Dawei and Mawlamyine columns that entered Myanmar from Thailand.

"Among the columns, the Dawei column was the core one and it was cordially welcomed by local residents of all kinds on its arrival in Dawei," he said.

It is well known that residents of Dawei (known as Tavoy in southern Myanmar) welcomed the Myanmar soldiers, then part of the Burma Independence Army (BIA), and that many in Dawei joined the army. Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is himself from the town.

The army chief then went on to discuss the post-independence period, and highlighted two major issues: the invasion by the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) of eastern Myanmar, and the Mujahideen insurgency in the west.

In January 1950, KMT troops from China, backed by the American CIA, crossed the border from Yunnan and occupied northeastern Shan State, prompting the government under Prime Minister U Nu to formally complain to the UN. Myanmar forces, including the air force, bombed KMT troops and a series of fierce battles were fought.

In 1953, the UN passed a resolution calling on the US to work for the removal of the KMT troops from Myanmar.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing then touched on the Mujahideen insurgency in western Myanmar. In the Burmese language, he talked about the "bad, naughty kalar." (A derogatory term for those of South Asian descent).

In northern Rakhine starting in 1950, separatist Bengalis who had migrated from what was then East Pakistan took up arms against the central government, he said. The military launched several operations including "Operation Mayu." Mujahideen leaders fled or surrendered and the rebellion finally ended in 1961.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing related this story to demonstrate how the armed forces had played a role in protecting Myanmar's sovereignty. He did not refer directly to the current crisis in Rakhine State, however.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing arrived at the parade grounds in Naypyitaw on Tuesday morning to attend the 73rd anniversary of Myanmar Armed Forces Day. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Modern Army and Military Professionalism

The Tatmadaw leader did not fail to mention the ongoing efforts to build a modern army and to "effectively utilize technology and military professionalism to collectively serve military affairs."

Freedom of Speech

He also touched on freedom of speech.

"Today, our country is marching toward becoming a modern and developed democracy," he said.

"Democracy is a negotiation of different views from multiple directions and it is a way to live cohesively with those attitudes. Whichever policies are pursued in the country, there shall be laws, rules and regulations promulgated."

He added, "In democracy, there is freedom of speech in line with democratic norms, but these must also be in accordance with rules and regulations, as well as accountability…. Baseless speech leads to animosity and degrades the prestige of our country, hindering nation building."

On Ethnicity and Religion

The commander-in-chief stated that more than 130 ethnic groups have existed in Myanmar for decades.

"Among these ethnic groups, some number in the hundreds of thousands, while others have a population of just a handful. However, population is not the main issue, and all ethnic groups have equal rights under the Constitution. Although the majority believes in Buddhism, there is also freedom of worship for other religions. Thus, speech spreading disinformation must be restrained in relation to religion." One wondered whether he was preaching "tolerance" as some army officers, well-funded thugs, vigilantes and extreme nationalists have been accused of involvement in attacking minorities and Muslims.

On Rules of Engagement

"Discipline is the backbone of the Tatmadaw," Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said.

"Our Tatmadaw is strong because it stands on the firm ground of good military discipline and obedience. Each and every serviceman must strictly follow rules and regulations, orders and instructions."

He told military personnel to adhere to the military code of conduct.

He said, "Moreover, apart from following civil laws, military laws and laws related to war, we must also abide by rules of engagement [ROE]. ROE is a legal instruction as well as guidance for circumstances and restrictions to be followed by units and corps in the accomplishment of military objectives. I would like to say that legal action will be taken against anyone who violates the code of conduct, rules or regulations."

The comments appeared to be aimed at deflecting international criticism of the military crackdown on Muslim insurgents, terrorists and the self-identified Rohingya population of northern Rakhine State.

On the NCA

During peace talks, he said, it would be more practical to negotiate toward likely outcomes, in view of long-term benefits, instead of wasting time and setting impossible conditions.

In conclusion, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing spoke about peace, prosperity, development of the nation and unity, and urged people not to dwell on the past.

He repeatedly mentioned multiparty democracy and federalism and urged people to avoid racial and religious prejudice.

He did not mention anything about government leadership changes, but his speech indicated that he was trying to put his house in order as well as to counter international condemnation, tougher sanctions and accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

The post Highlights of Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing's Armed Forces Day Speech appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

5 of 9 Suspects in Sittwe Bombings Released

Posted: 28 Mar 2018 02:55 AM PDT

SITTWE, Rakhine State — Five of nine suspects detained over a series of bomb attacks that injured a police officer in the third week of February in Rakhine State's Sittwe were released on Monday.

Ko Naing Soe, also known as Mae Lone, an executive committee member of the Arakan National Council (ANC), was among those who were released on Monday.

Others include locals Ko Shwe Tun Aung, Ko Maung Myint Shwe, Ko Tun Myint Shwe and Ko Maung Thein Nu.

Ko Naing Soe was charged by police under multiple articles of the Counter-Terrorism Law that carry a minimum prison sentence of 10 years.

"My arrest is ridiculing the rule of law. When will Myanmar achieve peace if police, who are supposed to enforce the law, do not respect the law and oppress the people? The fact that they are trying to forcibly arrest us is insulting the law," Ko Naing Soe told the media upon his release.

According to police procedure, suspects shall not be held on remand for more than 30 days. After eight of nine detainees spent 30 days in prison on remand, police still could not find evidence to bring them to trial and asked the court to extend their remand on other charges.

The court only approved the extension for three suspects—two over the charge of illegally crossing the border, and one for a bomb blast in Mrauk-U—and ordered the release of the five others.

Three bombs exploded in Sittwe on Feb. 24, respectively in front of the Sittwe Court, in the backyard of an outspoken state government secretary, Tin Maung Swe, and in front of the Land Records Department.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post 5 of 9 Suspects in Sittwe Bombings Released appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Parliament Elects Ex-House Speaker Myanmar’s Next President

Posted: 27 Mar 2018 11:44 PM PDT

YANGON — The Union Parliament on Wednesday elected former Lower House Speaker U Win Myint the country's 10th president after U Htin Kyaw left the post last week citing the need to rest.

U Win Myint became president-elect after securing 403 votes from the 636 lawmakers of the Upper House and Lower House. The other two candidates, U Myint Swe and U Henry Van Thio, secured 211 and 18 votes, respectively.

U Myint Swe is currently the country’s acting president. Based on the number of votes he secured on Wednesday and his military background, the former lieutenant general likely landed votes not only from all 162 military lawmakers but also from more than 40 lawmakers of the main opposition, the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

"It's announced that U Win Myint, who has secured the most votes, has been elected the president," Union Parliament Speaker U Mahn Win Khaing Than announced after all the votes were counted.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and some union ministers attended the election as observers.

As part of the process to select a replacement for the 71-year-old U Htin Kyaw, who resigned on Mar. 21, U Win Myint was elected a vice president on Friday, paving the way for a vote for a new president.

U Win Myint submitted his resignation as speaker of the Lower House soon after U Htin Kyaw's resignation was announced on Wednesday, prompting speculation that he would become Myanmar's next president.

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

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.

U Win Myint became an NLD central executive committee member in 2010. In 2012 he also served as secretary of the Lower House's Rule of Law, Peace and Tranquility Committee — chaired by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was a Lower House lawmaker at the time — after being elected to represent Yangon's Kawhmu Township.

Born in Danubyu in the Irrawaddy Delta in 1951, U Win Myint studied geology at Yangon University before moving on to study law in the 1980s. He was working as a barrister in 1988 when nationwide pro-democracy protests erupted, leading to the founding of the NLD, which he subsequently joined.

Since joining the party, U Win Myint has won three election races: in the 1990 general election, a 2012 by-election, and the last general election in 2015.

He was elected speaker of the Lower House in 2016.

The post Parliament Elects Ex-House Speaker Myanmar’s Next President appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

UN Chief ‘Shocked’ by Top Myanmar General’s Comments on Rohingya

Posted: 27 Mar 2018 10:10 PM PDT

YANGON — United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed “shock” at comments by Myanmar’s military chief in which he said the Rohingya minority shared nothing in common with the rest of the population and that their demand for citizenship had stoked recent violence.

Nearly 700,000 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh since the military launched a crackdown in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State in response to insurgent attacks on security forces in August, according to UN estimates. The United States and UN have described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech to military personnel and their families last week in northern Kachin State that Rohingya “do not have any characteristics or culture in common with the ethnicities of Myanmar,” according to his website.

The military chief also said the tensions in Rakhine were “fuelled because the Bengalis demanded citizenship,” using a term that Rohingya activists reject as implying they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

UN chief Guterres said in a statement on Monday he was “shocked” at the comments, and urged “all leaders in Myanmar to take a unified stance against incitement to hatred and to promote communal harmony.”

“The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of the violence and the responsibility of the Government of Myanmar to provide security and assistance to those in need,” the statement said.

Though many Rohingya say their families have lived in Myanmar for generations, they are not among the 135 officially recognized ethnic groups and so are denied citizenship.

Several calls to a military spokesman seeking comment went unanswered.

The army chief is an influential figure under Myanmar’s Constitution, which obliges State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government to share power with the military.

The post UN Chief ‘Shocked’ by Top Myanmar General’s Comments on Rohingya appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Says North Korea Pledges Denuclearization During Friendly Visit

Posted: 27 Mar 2018 09:59 PM PDT

BEIJING/SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to denuclearize and meet US officials, China said on Wednesday after an historic meeting with President Xi Jinping, who promised China would uphold its friendship with its isolated neighbor.

After two days of speculation, China and North Korea both confirmed that Kim had visited Beijing and met Xi during what China’s Foreign Ministry called an unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday.

The China visit was Kim’s first known trip outside North Korea since he assumed power in 2011 and is believed by analysts to serve as preparation for upcoming summits with South Korea and the United States.

North Korea’s KCNA news agency made no mention of Kim’s pledge to denuclearize, or his anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump that is planned for some time in May.

Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of secretive North Korea, but ties have been frayed by North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and China’s backing of tough UN sanctions in response.

China’s Foreign Ministry cited Kim in a lengthy statement as telling Xi that the situation on the Korean peninsula is starting to improve because North Korea has taken the initiative to ease tensions and put forward proposals for peace talks.

“It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il,” Kim Jong Un said, according to the statement.

North Korea is willing to talk with the United States and hold a summit between the two countries, he said.

“The issue of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace,” Kim said.

Kim Jong Un’s predecessors, grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Il, both publicly promised not to pursue nuclear weapons but secretly continued to develop the programs, culminating in the North’s first nuclear test in 2006 under Kim Jong Il.

The North had said in past failed talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear program that it could consider giving up its arsenal if the United States removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.

Many analysts and former negotiators believe this still constitutes North Korea’s stance on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and remain deeply skeptical Kim is willing to give up the nuclear weapons his family has been developing for decades.

Trump Briefed

Though billed as an unofficial trip, Kim’s appearance in Beijing contained almost all the trappings of a state visit, complete with an honor guard and banquet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

Kim and Xi also met at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, where Kim Il Sung planted a tree in 1959 that still stands.

State television showed pictures of the two men chatting amiably and Kim’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, getting an equally warm welcome from Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan.

China briefed Trump on Kim’s visit and the communication included a personal message from Xi to Trump, the White House said in a statement.

“The United States remains in close contact with our allies South Korea and Japan. We see this development as further evidence that our campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea,” the statement said.

A top Chinese diplomat, Politburo member Yang Jiechi, will brief officials in Seoul on Thursday, including President Moon Jae-in, on Xi’s meeting with Kim, according to the presidential office in Seoul.

Kim told a banquet hosted by Xi the visit was intended to “maintain our great friendship and continue and develop our bilateral ties at a time of rapid developments on the Korean peninsula,” according to KCNA.

Xi had accepted an invitation “with pleasure” from Kim to visit North Korea, KCNA said.

However, China’s statement made no mention of Xi accepting an invitation, saying only that Xi pledged to keep frequent contacts with Kim through the exchange of visits and sending special envoys and letters to each other.

China had largely sat on the sidelines as Pyongyang improved its relations with Seoul, prompting worry in Beijing that it was no longer a central player in the North Korean issue, reinforced by Trump’s subsequent announcement of his proposed meeting with Kim in May.

“China is North Korea’s lifeline, so the notion, from a Chinese perspective, that Kim Jong Un couldn’t have these other two meetings before meeting with Xi Jinping, I think the Chinese just thought that is not going to happen,” said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center in Beijing and the former White House representative to North Korea denuclearization talks from 2007-2009.

Speculation about a possible visit by Kim to Beijing was rife earlier this week after a train similar to the one used by Kim’s father was seen in the Chinese capital, along with heavy security and a large motorcade.

Improving ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before planned summits involving the two Koreas and the United States, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Il met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year. That visit was seen at the time as reaffirmation of close ties with Beijing.

The secrecy around the visit was not unusual. The later visits of Kim Jong Il to China were only announced by both countries once he had left the country.

The post China Says North Korea Pledges Denuclearization During Friendly Visit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Philippines Child Slavery Survivors Fight to Heal Scars of Abuse

Posted: 27 Mar 2018 09:47 PM PDT

MANILA — After years of being abused, exploited and enslaved, the girls in gloves do not hesitate to strike when their turn arrives.

Cheered on by their friends, the Filipina children launch into a frenzied flurry of kicks and jabs against their trainers.

These young survivors of modern slavery are learning martial arts as part of their recovery in a shelter for child trafficking victims in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

“I like learning to fight because I want to protect myself and the other girls,” said 15-year-old Ash, raising her gentle voice to be heard over the constant thud of fists and feet.

“I’m tired but happy … Muay Thai will be useful when I become a police detective one day,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation during a martial arts lesson at the shelter run by the Visayan Forum Foundation, an anti-trafficking charity.

Cybersex child trafficking – where victims are forced to perform sex acts, abused or raped over webcam for global clients – is a growing problem in a country regarded by activists and anti-slavery organizations as a regional hub for modern slavery.

Children as young as one or two are sexually exploited by traffickers and also their own relatives in the Philippines, which has been identified as the epicenter of the livestream sex abuse trade by the United Nations’ children’s agency (UNICEF).

For the girls at the shelter – many of whom have been abused, beaten and betrayed by their families – the chance to be active, creative, and even aggressive, is a welcome opportunity.

From self defense sessions in Kenya to Kung Fu lessons taught by nuns in India, a growing number of projects globally teach women and girls martial arts to boost their confidence, help them defend themselves and aid them to recover from abuse.

“Such activities are a very important medium for women and girls who have suffered abuse,” said Dolores Rubia, director of aftercare for the International Justice Mission in Manila.

“They allow them to express their feelings, they are therapeutic, and offer the chance to learn skills for the future,” added Rubia of the global charity, which works with local partners to support child victims of cybersex trafficking.

Healing Process

The Visayan shelter in Manila is home to about 45 girls, ranging in age from 3 to 23. Some have lived here for years.

Most of the girls arriving at the center have been rescued in police raids, found by charities or escaped from cybersex dens, brothels or homes where they were forced to work as maids.

For those who have been exploited by their relatives or are involved in court cases against their abusers, going home may be not an option, says Visayan, which helps the girls find jobs and a place to live once they are old enough and ready to leave.

The shelter provides visiting teachers so the girls can catch up on their education and sit exams, as well as a wide range of activities such as arts and crafts, karaoke, dancing and martial arts, said Rachel Subia of the charity.

“These activities are a good way to help the girls forget their past experiences … it is healing for them,” Subia said.

As each awaits their turn to take on the instructors, the girls fiddle with their gloves and joke, laugh and whoop loudly, watching as the others put their newfound skills to the test.

Those stepping forward are a picture of concentration – eyes narrowed, shoulders raised and fists clenched – as they fight.

“At first, the girls were so awkward,” said Muay Thai instructor Olivia Cruz, who has helped to run the bi-monthly martial arts sessions since they started earlier this year.

“But they are really strong,” she added, chuckling as one girl knocked her male trainer to the ground. “And they love it.”

The post Philippines Child Slavery Survivors Fight to Heal Scars of Abuse appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Southeast Asia Closes Island Beaches to Recover from Climate Change and Tourism

Posted: 27 Mar 2018 09:31 PM PDT

BANGKOK — More popular Southeast Asian islands will be off limits to visitors this year as officials seek to protect eco-systems crumbling from warming seas and unchecked sprawl, despite the risk to tourism revenues and tens of thousands of jobs.

Thailand will shut Maya Bay, which famously featured in “The Beach," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, for four months a year, from June. In the Philippines, officials plan to close Boracay Island for six months at the end of April.

“Islands have very fragile eco-systems that simply cannot handle so many people, pollution from boats and beachfront hotels,” said Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine expert in Bangkok.

“Coral reefs have been degraded by warmer seas and overcrowding. Sometimes, a complete closure is the only way for nature to heal,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

More than three-quarters of Thailand’s coral reefs have been damaged by rising sea temperatures and unchecked tourism, said Thon, who last week recommended limiting visitors to its 22 marine parks to 6 million a year to enable their recovery.

Currently, they number about 5.5 million, he said.

Thailand closed dozens of dive sites to tourists in 2011, after unusually warm seas caused severe damage to coral reefs in the Andaman Sea, one of the world’s top diving regions. It also shut some islands in 2016.

The country’s sandy beaches helped draw record numbers of tourists last year, with revenues contributing about 12 percent of the economy. The government expects 38 million visitors this year.

Southeast Asia is expected to bear the brunt of rising damage to coral reefs, depriving fishermen of incomes and leaving nations exposed to incoming storms and damage from surging seas, recent research showed.

In the Philippines, which is among the most vulnerable to climate change, about 2 million people visited Boracay last year, celebrated for its white-sand beaches.

On a visit last month, President Rodrigo Duterte called the island a “cesspool” because of sewage dumped directly into the sea, and warned of a looming environmental disaster with buildings constructed too close to the shore.

Government agencies have recommended closing the island for six months to fix the problems.

Tour operators say more than 36,000 jobs are at stake.

“We support the government in adopting responsible and sustainable tourism practices … but not in shutting down the whole island,” the Philippine Travel Agencies Association said.

But Thailand’s Thon warned against short-term fixes.

“Tourism is important, but we need to preserve these spaces for our future generations, for future livelihoods,” he said.

The post Southeast Asia Closes Island Beaches to Recover from Climate Change and Tourism appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)