Monday, July 30, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Union Attorney General Revokes Court’s Decision to Drop Investigation into Comedian’s Killing

Posted: 30 Jul 2018 08:25 AM PDT

YANGON — Amid mounting public criticism, the Union Attorney General's Office on Monday annulled a Yangon Court's decision to drop the investigation into the murder of Facebook comedian Aung Yell Htwe, saying the investigation would continue.

Three suspects in the fatal beating of Aung Yell Htwe were unconditionally released on July 25 as the Yangon Eastern District Court accepted his family's appeal asking to settle the case.

Aung Yell Htwe, who became popular for the series of short comedy videos he posted to his Facebook account starting in 2016, died after being kicked and beaten by a group of men while attending a party last New Year's Eve at The One Entertainment Park in Yangon.

Three suspects in the fatal beating — Than Htut Aung (a.k.a Thar Gyi), Pyae Phyo Aung (a.k.a Aung Lay) and Kyaw Zaw Han (a.k.a Kyaw Zaw) — surrendered to police in the presence of their parents soon after the incident.

The release of the murder suspects without any charges being filed raised public doubts about the fairness of the court's handling of the case and about the rule of law in the country generally.

Netizens started a social media campaign titled "Failed Law" after the cover photo on a Facebook account with the name Than Htut Aung (the same as one of the released suspects) was changed to show a man with a masked face smiling mockingly.

"This is mocking Myanmar's judiciary," one person wrote, sharing screenshots of the changed cover photo.

Lawyers, lawmakers and activists also joined in the condemnation, claiming the release would encourage further killings and threaten public security.

Lawyer U Htay said he was shocked to hear that the court had dropped the investigation into the murder, saying it occurred in plain sight in a public place. He said it was especially disturbing given the high number of murders and other criminal cases in the country.

President U Win Myint, a former Lower House speaker who once worked as a barrister, also expressed concern about the case.

At a meeting with Yangon Region administrative, legislative and judicial officials at the Government Office on Sunday he emphasized the importance of the rule of law in a democratic system and the need for the judicial sector to be free from bias and corruption.

"The president said he had learned the puzzling and deeply disturbing news in regards to the judicial sector," said Ko Wai Phyo Han, a Yangon regional lawmaker who attended the meeting.

MPs attending the meeting said the president said that settling murder cases was important for the rule of law, and pointed out that the state has the authority to continue the investigation in such cases.

U Win Myint also instructed judicial officials not to delay in high-profile cases and to search for the truth.

The day after the meeting, President's Office Spokesperson U Zaw Htay said the President and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had questioned officials involved in the Aung Yell Htwe case regarding the decision to drop it.

He said it had been learned that the Yangon Region attorney general had approved the request to drop the case citing a lack of evidence implicating the accused.

In light of the state leaders' intervention, and with public criticism mounting over the dropping of the case, the Union Attorney General's Office ordered the region attorney general to annul the court's decision and continue the investigation at the Yangon Regional Court.

U Zaw Htay said the remaining witnesses in the case will testify after the Regional Court formally reopens the case.

Responding to reports that the suspects left the country soon after their release, the spokesman said the government would work with international police forces to return the three.

Lawyer U Htay added that approval from the court and from the the attorney general’s office were required to continue investigating the case under the Anti-corruption Law.

The post Union Attorney General Revokes Court's Decision to Drop Investigation into Comedian's Killing appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Gov’t Names Members of Rakhine Investigation Commission

Posted: 30 Jul 2018 06:59 AM PDT

YANGON — The government on Monday announced the formation of a four-member commission to investigate allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine State following attacks on police posts there by the militant Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in late August.

The President’s Office announced that it would form an independent commission of enquiry in May, after months of pressure from international rights groups to allow an impartial investigation of allegations of arson, rape and murder by the Myanmar military in Rakhine following the ARSA attacks.

On Monday, the office announced that the commission had been formed and comprised two local and two international members.

The commission is to be led by Rosario Manalo, a former deputy foreign minister of the Philippines. He is also a former chair and a current representative of the Philippines to the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The commission also includes Kenzo Oshima, a former permanent representative to the UN for Japan.

The two local members are U Mya Thein, a former chair of Myanmar’s Constitutional Tribunal, and a former senior official at UNICEF, U Aung Tun Thet, who is now chief coordinator of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettle and Development in Rakhine, which was formed in October, one month after the ARSA attacks.

A statement from the President’s Office on Monday said the commission was “part of the government's national initiative to address reconciliation, peace, stability and development in Rakhine.”

A UN Security Council delegation visited Myanmar earlier this year and called for a transparent investigation into accusations of violence against Rohingya Muslims, warning that a failure to do so could lead to military officials being referred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

In June, Myanmar’s main opposition and former ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, submitted an urgent proposal to the Lower House of Parliament imploring the government to exclude foreigners from the investigation commission.

The proposal was followed by a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council — which includes the president, state counselor, army chief and other senior officials — in Naypyitaw to discuss the government's signing of a memorandum of understanding with UN agencies on the return of refugees from Bangladesh, the formation of an investigation commission, the latest Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore, and border security problems, according to the President's Office.

The post Gov’t Names Members of Rakhine Investigation Commission appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Naga Armed Group Says Myanmar Military Won’t Let Ailing Chairman Travel

Posted: 30 Jul 2018 05:29 AM PDT

YANGON/Mon State — A senior leader of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) says the Myanmar military has refused to let the ethnic armed group’s chairman leave the Hukwang Valley in Sagaing Region.

The group says Chairman Khango Konyak is sick and wants to leave the valley for higher elevation.

"He does not want to stay in the hot area because he is sick, so he wants to move to a higher area where it’s cold," Eno Angang, an NSCN-K central committee member, told The Irrawaddy on Monday.

But he said the Myanmar military’s regional commander in Sagaing has told the chairman several times since last month to stay in the valley.

Sources close to the armed group say the chairman often goes into hiding for his safety and that NSCN-K leaders believe the military wants to keep him in the valley to better monitor his movements.

The NSCN-K signed a ceasefire agreement with the Sagaing Region government in 2012. It has not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the central government but attended the third session of the Union Peace Conference earlier this month as an observer.

On Sunday, Indian news agency Firstpost reported that tensions between the NSCN-K’s fighters and the Myanmar military were currently high in the Hukwang Valley, where the rebels recently withdrew from an outpost under military pressure.

The NSCN-K is based along Myanmar’s border with India and wants peace talks with Naypyitaw to cover ethnic Naga living on both sides. A splinter group, the NSCN-M, has been holding separate peace talks with Delhi.

Naga living in Myanmar and India are known locally as eastern Naga and western Naga, respectively. They are one of six ethnic groups granted self-administered areas under the Constitution and have representatives in Myanmar’s local parliaments.

The post Naga Armed Group Says Myanmar Military Won’t Let Ailing Chairman Travel appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thousands affected as Sittaung and Bago Rivers Rise to Record Levels

Posted: 30 Jul 2018 04:34 AM PDT

Yangon—The Sittaung and Bago rivers in Bago Region have swelled to their highest levels in more than five decades, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The Sittaung River has risen to a record high of 1,270 cm in Bago's Nyaunglebin Township, its highest level in 53 years.

Meanwhile, the water level of the Bago River reached 968 cm on Sunday, its highest level in 54 years.

"Water levels have risen because it rained heavily in Mon, Karen and Rakhine states for several days continuously," said U Kyaw Moe Oo, director-general of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

Around 9,000 local residents have been dislocated by the floods and four relief camps have been opened in Madauk, U Nyi Nyi Htwe, a Nyaunglebin Township lawmaker in Bago's regional parliament, told The Irrawaddy.

"We've warned locals [about floods], and asked them to pack up their belongings and important documents. We've also opened relief camps for pregnant women and children," said U Nyi Nyi Htwe.

Madauk has experienced flooding since July 24. The water level of the Sittaung River has reached around six inches and nearly seven feet above the danger levels in Toungoo and Madauk respectively.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology estimates that the river is likely to rise a further 1.6 feet in Madauk and another foot in Toungoo by Tuesday.

The water level of the Shwekyin River is now six feet above its danger level and is expected to increase by a further 2 feet by Tuesday. The water level of the Bago River in Bago has also reached around three feet above its danger level.

The Thanlwin (Salween) River has risen by around 5.6 feet above its danger level in Karen State's Hpa-an. The water level of the Bilin River has reached around 2.6 feet above its danger level in Bilin Township.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has advised local residents living near riverbanks and in low-lying areas in Hpa-an, Bago, Shwegyin, Madauk to move to safer places.

Over 400 rail passengers were stranded through Sunday as heavy rains submerged railroads from Yangon to Mandalay, Mawlamyine and Bago, Myanma Railways (MR) said.

"They were stranded as of Friday," U Kyaw Kyaw Myo, general manager of MR, told The Irrawaddy.

The MR will suspend its train services between Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw until further notice, he said. It has also cancelled trains between Yangon and Mawlamyine after floods swept away around 100 feet of rail track in Mon State.

The post Thousands affected as Sittaung and Bago Rivers Rise to Record Levels appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

President Pushes for Speedy Trials, Govt Reform

Posted: 30 Jul 2018 03:54 AM PDT

YANGON —President U Win Myint warned local authorities in Yangon and Bago regions this weekend not to drag out high-profile legal cases or verbally commit to any projects the union government has yet to approve.

In a meeting on Sunday with Yangon Region administrative, legislative and judicial officials aimed at speeding up government reform efforts, the president urged his audience to support the rule of law and to avoid bias and corruption.

The president also stressed the importance of having the courts issue timely rulings in high-profile legal cases, according to lawmakers at the meeting.

Among the high-profile cases in Yangon is the murder trial of the men accused of assassinating National League for Democracy legal adviser U Ko Ni; the trial has been going on for more than a year, and the key suspect is still at large. In a separate cases, two detained Reuters reporters were recently charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act after some six months of hearings; their trial has only just begun.

Lawmaker U Kyaw Zeya said Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein also briefed the president on the controversial New Yangon City Project. The president did not object, he said, “but he told the chief minister to make sure that existing new [parts of Yangon] are completed with urban facilities fit for human settlement."

U Phyo Min Thein has come under fire for his determination to press ahead with New Yangon City, which he claims will generate 2 million jobs. Some urban planners say the massive project is unrealistic, noting that many newer parts of Yangon still lack basic infrastructure.

U Win Myint also met with government officials in Bago Region on Saturday and warned them not to verbally commit to projects the union government has yet to officially approve, such as the planned Hanthawaddy International Airport.

The union government has since March been in negotiations with Japan to finance the airport — which would lie 80 km north of Yangon — after talks with a Singapore-led consortium fell apart in January.

Video of Saturday’s meeting was posted online and shows the president looking annoyed when informed that compensation for land confiscated in the airport project area would be distributed soon.

"Let me ask you: Has the union government decided that it would be implemented? We haven't decided yet. It's a union government decision. Please don't verbally commit," he said.

U Win Myint said that if regional governments verbally commit to something the union government has not yet approved, the public will get the wrong impression.

"And then protests will erupt. Debates in Parliament will follow. The government will have to make it right, and our reform program will get nowhere as we spend time on issues like this. So please don't do it," he said.

The post President Pushes for Speedy Trials, Govt Reform appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Work on Yangon Elevated Expressway to Begin Next Year, Says Minister

Posted: 30 Jul 2018 03:48 AM PDT

Naypyitaw—Construction of the Yangon Elevated Expressway project will begin next year and should be completed within three years, Deputy Construction Minister U Kyaw Lin said on Monday.

The deputy minister made the comment in response to a question from lawmaker U Nay Myo Htet about the ministry's plan to build an inner ring-road in Yangon to ease the city's traffic woes.

Fifty-three companies from 12 countries including Myanmar have expressed interest in the project. The ministry will invite requests for proposals in December and the later select the tender winner.

"We will start inner-ring-road construction in 2019. We won't fund its construction. The tender winner has to build it on its own," U Kyaw Lin told the Lower House.

Then, it can collect road tolls from users, he added.

Though the Construction Ministry said it would not use state funds to build the elevated road, it is likely it will have to take out international loans to fulfill its obligations to the project as it is a public-private partnership, said Lower House lawmaker U Aung Hline Win of Mingalardon Township.

"Usually, an elevated expressway costs around US$10 million, or around 14 billion kyats, per mile. It is such a huge amount, and it is not easy," said U Aung Hline Win.

The Ministry of Construction inked a financial advisory services agreement (FASA) with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the project in Napyitaw in January.

The IFC, a sister organization of the World Bank, said that as part of the transaction, it would undertake due diligence and draft an internationally competitive tender to choose a qualified, experienced private sector developer for the project.

A total of 16 local firms, 13 companies from China, seven from Japan, four from South Korea, two from Thailand, three from India, two from Turkey, one each from Vietnam, France, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, and a Malaysia-Myanmar joint venture have expressed interest in the project.

When complete, the 47.5 kilometer-long elevated expressway will connect downtown Yangon, Yangon Port, Yangon International Airport, Mingalardon Industrial Zone and Yangon-Mandalay Highway.

The post Work on Yangon Elevated Expressway to Begin Next Year, Says Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

10 Dead, 100,000 Affected by Monsoon Floods

Posted: 29 Jul 2018 11:56 PM PDT

YANGON — Monsoon floods have affected nearly 100,000 people and killed at least 10 across Karen and Mon states and Bago Region in southern Myanmar, according to government media reports on Monday.

According to the Karen State government, two children and a man died after they abandoned their home in search of shelter and their boat capsized.

In Mon State, three soldiers went missing after falling into the floodwaters on Friday. The government declared off three of them dead on Sunday after one of their bodies was found near the Yangon-Mawlamyine Highway.

The monsoon rains have flooded some 1,000 villages, destroyed roads and bridges, and forced 54,000 people from their homes over the past week.

The National Natural Disaster Management Committee issued evacuation orders on Sunday and said that 163 camps have been set up across southern Myanmar.

Large stretches of paddy fields and farmland inundated with muddy water and homes flooded to their rooftops could be seen in aerial photos of affected areas shared on social media. Some of the photos showed flood victims wading through waist-deep water in the rain, many carrying children and pets.

Many parts of Myanmar are hit by severe flooding every year during the monsoon season, damaging farms and infrastructure across the country.

Myanmar suffered its worst monsoon flooding this decade in 2015, when 100 people died in the floods and at least 330,000 people were displaced, according to ReliefWeb, an information site run by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

According to the site, Myanmar ranks 2nd out of 187 countries in an index of global climate risk and 9th out of 191 countries in an index of risk management, which measures their risk of humanitarian crises and disasters.

Click on each state or region on the zoomable map for data.

The post 10 Dead, 100,000 Affected by Monsoon Floods appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Says its Medical Institutions Must Not Use Recalled Huahai-Made Drug

Posted: 29 Jul 2018 10:14 PM PDT

SHANGHAI — China’s health regulator said on Monday all domestic medical institutions must cooperate with authorities and not use the valsartan blood and heart drug made by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical that could pose cancer risks.

The bulk manufacturer of the drug said earlier this month that it was recalling the valsartan drug sold in the United States after the European Medicines Agency found that it was tainted with an impurity linked to cancer.

In a notice posted on its website, China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission said the recalled drug, commonly used to treat patients with high blood pressure, should not be used for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

European regulators have said that the problem likely dates to changes introduced into manufacturing processes at the company in 2012, suggesting that many patients could have been exposed to cancer risk.

The drug has already been withdrawn in the United States and Europe and China’s drug regulator said on Sunday that Huahai had completed the withdrawal in China of the raw materials used to produce the drug.

The Chinese health regulator also said that there were six local companies that used valsartan made by Huahai. Five of these companies had products on the market and have since issued recalls, it added.

The sixth firm, the Hunan branch of Zhuzhou Qianjin Pharmaceutical, had not yet shipped out its products, the regulator said. The company said in a statement that it returned Huahai’s valsartan earlier this month and that none of its products were affected by the product recalls.

Huahai said on Monday that its other products did not contain the impurity known as NDMA, which is classified as a probable human carcinogen, and that it would continue to improve its systems to prevent similar incidents from happening.

The post China Says its Medical Institutions Must Not Use Recalled Huahai-Made Drug appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Monsoon Flooding Forces Thousands to Evacuate Homes in Myanmar

Posted: 29 Jul 2018 09:48 PM PDT

YANGON — Some 50,000 people in Myanmar evacuated their homes after days of heavy monsoon rains left villages inundated and swept away bridges, while authorities scrambled to deliver aid to the affected regions, authorities and media said on Sunday.

President U Win Myint visited Bago Region in central Myanmar to meet displaced residents on Saturday and urged local officials to step up the provision of temporary shelters and aid. An estimated 100,000 people may be affected by the floods.

Parts of Myanmar flood annually at the peak of the monsoon season, causing frequent landslides and widespread damage to farmland and infrastructure in the Southeast Asian nation.

The country saw the worst monsoon flooding in a decade in 2015 when around 100 people reportedly died and over 330,000 were displaced.

The National Natural Disaster Management Committee on Sunday warned residents living near rivers and in low-lying areas to "immediately leave their homes as the water level…has exceeded the danger level," according to state media on Sunday.

Torrential downpours washed away a section of a 60-meter concrete bridge in the northern Shan State, while rice paddies and roads in the central Kayin State suffered extensive damage, state media reported.

The western state of Rakhine also saw heavy rainfall submerge some roads. Aerial images shared on social media showed muddy brown water covering vast tracts of land.

The Red Cross said on Twitter it was distributing hygiene, kitchen and shelter gear, posting photos of its volunteers getting people in flood-hit areas to safety in small boats.

The United Nations said in a statement it was following developments with "great concern."

“The UN in Myanmar is mobilizing its partners, resources and capacity and is offering to provide support to the ongoing assistance delivered to the victims of the floods by the government of Myanmar," said Knut Ostby, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator.

The post Monsoon Flooding Forces Thousands to Evacuate Homes in Myanmar appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Cambodia Hits Back at Criticism of ‘Flawed’ Election as Hun Sen Retains Power

Posted: 29 Jul 2018 09:13 PM PDT

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia woke to another chapter of rule by strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday, a day after his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) declared victory in a general election that rights groups said was neither free nor fair.

The White House said it would consider steps, including an expansion of visa restrictions placed on some Cambodian government members, in response to “flawed elections” in which there was no significant challenger to Hun Sen.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said on Sunday the party won an estimated 100 out of 125 parliamentary seats. DAP news, a pro-government website, said later the CPP had won 114 seats. Two other parties, the royalist Funcinpec and the League for Democracy Party, won five and six seats respectively.

More than 82 percent of those registered to vote cast a ballot, according to the National Election Commission. Turnout was 90 percent in the 2017 local election and 69.61 percent in the previous general election in 2013.

Critics say the election was a backward step for democracy in Cambodia following the dissolution last year of the main opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) and the jailing of its leader, Kem Sokha, on treason charges.

Former CNRP president Sam Rainsy, who lives in exile, said the election was a “hollow” victory for Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who has ruled Cambodia for nearly 33 years.

The United States has imposed visa curbs on some Cambodian government members over a crackdown on critics and levied sanctions in June on a high-ranking official close to Hun Sen.

The European Union has threatened Cambodia with economic sanctions.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Sunday’s vote “failed to represent the will of the Cambodian people.”

“The flawed elections, which excluded the country’s principal opposition party, represents the most significant setback yet to the democratic system enshrined in Cambodia's Constitution,” Sanders said, adding that the election campaign was marred by threats from national and local leaders.

“The United States will consider additional steps to respond to the elections and other recent setbacks to democracy and human rights in Cambodia, including a significant expansion of the visa restrictions announced on December 6, 2017,” she said.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the White House statement was an attempt to intimidate Cambodia.

“This is against the Cambodians who went to vote to decide their own fate,” Phay Siphan told Reuters.

“Help the people”

Newspaper headlines in Cambodia on Monday greeted Hun Sen’s victory.

“CPP Dominates Election: Unofficial results show ruling party will increase its majority in the National Assembly,” said the pro-government Khmer Times newspaper.

Some independent media were targeted by Hun Sen and his allies in a pre-election crackdown.

Many polling stations in the center of the capital, Phnom Penh, appeared quiet on Sunday. Polling stations Reuters visited in the city were less than bustling and some voters said they voted because not doing so would land them in trouble.

The opposition CNRP had called on voters to boycott the election, but authorities warned anyone doing so would be seen as a traitor.

At the Kapkor Market in Phnom Penh, Meas Sinuon, 60, said she was pleased with Sunday’s result.

“This government has done good things already,” she said as she shopped for groceries. “But I want the new government to do more to help the people.”

Another voter, a Phnom Penh tuk-tuk driver, described the result as “same same.”

“Hun Sen again,” said the man, who declined to be named because he feared for his safety.

Unofficial election results are expected in mid-August, with official results due in September.

The post Cambodia Hits Back at Criticism of ‘Flawed’ Election as Hun Sen Retains Power appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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Saturday, July 28, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Criticism Abounds

Posted: 27 Jul 2018 11:27 PM PDT

Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, we'll discuss the recent talk of the town, potholed roads, two chief ministers and General Aung San statues. Ko Khine Win, a director with the Sandhi Governance Institute and lawmaker Ko Nay Phone Latt of the Yangon Region Parliament, join me to discuss this. I'm The Irrawaddy editor Kyaw Zwa Moe.

There were media reports and criticism on social media about Yangon Region chief minister U Phyo Min Thein regarding the condition of the roads in Yangon. As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi went from Yangon to (her constituency) Kawhmu Township recently, she made a remark that roads in Yangon are in very bad condition and not even as good as those in (suburban) Kawhmu. The Yangon Region chief minister then immediately summoned a meeting to improve the roads. People are criticizing that the chief minister only took action after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi complained. What do you have to say about this?

Nay Phone Latt: Usually, roads are in very bad condition in the rainy season. Conditions are worse this year.  [The chief minister] should have known it even if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not mention it. And our regional Parliament has continuously complained about [poor] road conditions in Yangon, as well as that it causes difficulties with the drainage system. It is unacceptable that he has only summoned a meeting to address this after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi complained. The regional Parliament discussed this long before that. Proposals regarding this were submitted to the regional Parliament, and some were approved.

If a proposal is approved by the legislature, the things mentioned in that proposal should become the policy [of the government]. A meeting should be held once a proposal is approved by Parliament and not only after it is complained about by a [state] leader. A proposal approved by Parliament represents the wishes of the people. So, a meeting must be held [by the government] once a proposal is approved by Parliament. And the meeting must find ways to implement it. This is the way it should happen. But in reality, [the chief minister] did it only after the State Counselor complained. And this is not the first time. There are previous examples. It is not good for us. It seems that we have to invite Aunty [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] to Yangon frequently.

And I think there is a need to organize talks between Aunty and residents in Yangon like previous [peace] talks between her and local residents in places where she made ministers respond to locals' questions. Personally, I want to see such talks. Only then will leaders understand the real situation in Yangon. I think [the government] should pay heed to discussions in Parliament and not just instructions from leaders.

KZM: Regarding good governance, a good government should listen to the voices of the people and fulfill their needs.  In the case of the fire at Htein Pin dump site, [the Yangon government] responded hastily only after the State Counselor's Office gave instructions. It held a meeting overnight. Why are some chief ministers, I don't mean all, just some of them, not able to take initiative? What are their weaknesses in responding to the voices of the people? Is it because of a capacity problem or something else? What is your view, Ko Nay Phone Latt?

NPL: In my opinion, the [Yangon] chief minister is only thinking of macro-level solutions. In his efforts to reduce traffic woes and improve road conditions, he only thinks of big solutions at the macro-level such as building elevated expressways, establishing new towns and broadening roads. He is only trying to do such things, but very weak in cooperating with people wherever possible at the micro-level. So, some criticize him as a big mouth, saying that he can only talk the talk. He could improve the traffic control system and make sure people follow traffic rules, for example in crossing roads. He could also instruct the [Yangon] mayor to repair the roads on a regular basis, if it is not possible to upgrade those roads. The mayor should inspect the roads, especially in the rainy season.

KZM: He should have done that before [rainy season].

NPL: Yes, he should. I understand that the problem of urban flooding can't be solved overnight. [The government] has borrowed loans, I think, from the World Bank to improve the city's drainage system. But it seems that he doesn't consider micro-level solutions that do not cost much and only looks at costly solutions.

KZM: That's the point. He talked about doing big projects but potholes in downtown roads have yet to be filled. He once said that he would turn Yangon into a green and pleasant city. It has been nearly three years since he said that. Lawmakers play a critical role in making the people's voices heard [by the government]. Ko Nay Phone Latt, what are the frictions between the Yangon regional government and Parliament? We've noticed there have been frequent tensions between the two that go beyond the limits of checks and balances. So, what are the problems?

NPL: Mainly, the two branches need to understand the responsibilities of each other. And they should respect those responsibilities. Only we lawmakers listen to the voices of people, live among people, and talk at Parliament about their needs either in the form of questions or proposals. [The government] should treat those questions and proposals as the wishes of the people. We are not talking about our personal thoughts. So, they should treat what we say as the voice of the people. As I've mentioned earlier, implementation does not follow the approval of proposals. Most of the ministers who come and answer questions at Parliament – I don't mean all – lack the energy to get things done. [When lawmakers ask a question or submit a proposal], the ministers ask their staff to do a report, and come and read that report at Parliament. There is no implementation. Some even said that it is easier "asked than implemented." This is their attitude toward lawmakers and I think it is wrong. It is difficult to get things done with such an attitude. We ask questions and proposals with the goodwill to facilitate the functions of the administrative branch and assist the branch in fulfilling the needs of the people, and make it get closer to the people. The government should adjust its attitude toward Parliament, I think.

KZM: Ko Khine Win, your institute has been conducting training on good governance. Good governance incorporates clean government with responsibility, accountability, transparency and such. Recently, the chief minister of Yangon came under fire for accepting donations of 20 million kyats from a Malaysian Chinese gambler who is blacklisted in Malaysia, China and Singapore. It was an absurd thing to do. Is it concerned with his accountability or capacity?

Khine Win: I saw this on Facebook. People said that the chief minister accepted the donations without conducting a background check. It seems that the chief minister always wants to meet businessmen. Apparently, there are many things that he wants to do for Yangon and he met and accepted this donation perhaps with the hope that it might be somewhat beneficial for the city. But he posted the photo of himself accepting the donation on his Facebook page. He is transparent. But considering other things, people pointed out that he is weak in terms of accountability and transparency in his communication with Parliament. People say that [ministers'] answers and proposals to Parliament are factually incomplete and [ministers] have disregard for Parliament as Ko Nay Phone has complained. It is good if a government can perform well. But besides its performance, we also want to establish democratic governance. We want that consultation be made with all the stakeholders in the process democratically. [The Yangon chief minister] is weak in that regard.

KZM: There is no end in talking about this issue. But speaking of Karenni State, its chief minister said that he would call in troops to quell disturbances related to a plan to erect a General Aung San statue in the state's capital. On Monday, the Tatmadaw [Myanmar Army] released a statement that the chief minister might have misinterpreted the [2008] Constitution to say that, and that he has no authority to do so, as it can be only asked by the National Defense and Security Council. What is your assessment of this? There is another problem connected with a chief minister regarding the erection of a bronze statue of Gen Aung San. Ko Khine Win, it is fair to say you are the grandson of Gen Aung San. There are many people in Myanmar who love Gen Aung San. But the erection of his statues, is it a problem as there is opposition against it? What is your take on it?

KW: There is a need to take ethnic regions and peace into consideration regarding the erection of statues. Yes, it is true that many love Gen Aung San. Ethnicities also love him. So, the [government] may think that it can do [put up Gen Aung San statues] anywhere in the country. In other words, it may think that it has legitimacy, thinking that the majority love and support Gen Aung San and the number of people who oppose him is small. Chaungzon Bridge in Mon State is another example of this. While the present time is important for peace, [the government] shouldn't exert the legitimacy, I think.

KZM: By legitimacy, you mean the legitimacy of the NLD, and what else?

KW: The legitimacy of NLD, the legitimacy of the government, and the legitimacy of people's love for Gen Aung San. Because of this legitimacy, the government thinks that an elephant can make its way through wherever it goes. In my view, loving Gen Aung San from the heart and following in his footsteps is more important than erecting his statues. This is also important for peace. Supporters of the statue in ethnic regions should reconsider, I think.

KZM: The NLD said that it is not its policy [to erect Gen Aung San statues]. The plan was initiated by supporters of Gen Aung San and the NLD, including NLD members and outsiders. They are trying to put up the statue. But then they met resistance. In the case of the bridge in Chaungzon, as it was named after Gen Aung San, it created intense controversy. Though the NLD leadership does not instruct people to do so, I think they have the responsibility to intervene if resistance stiffens. What do you think, Ko Nay Phone Latt?

NPL: It is civil society organizations as well as NLD chapters of concerned townships that are erecting the statues. I'm sure the [NLD] central executive committee has no policy regarding the erection of the statues. But then, when resistance arises as you've said, [NLD leadership] should say something. Now, statues are being erected against the will of local people. And some statues look disgraceful, I think. Some Gen Aung San statues were cast awkwardly, and this only creates disrespect. We have seen such statues on the social media. They do exist in the real world. This is not loving or honoring the general. Sometimes it [erecting a Gen Aung San statue] just serves against the wishes of the general. So, I think [the NLD leadership] should exert control to a certain extent. As Ko Khine Win said, it is more important to follow Gen Aung San's steps than erect his statues. Another thing is what he cherishes. What is certain is that he greatly valued democracy and a federal Union that guarantees equality and non-discrimination for the ethnicities. These are the two things he greatly valued. We should value these two things. We should not destroy what Gen Aung San valued for a statue. But it seems that it is being destroyed. I also feel the same regarding Chaungzon. It is like destroying a federal Union and national reconciliation to give the name [after Gen Aung San].

KZM: The essence of federalism and national reconciliation….

NPL: Yes, it [erecting a Gen Aung San statue against the will of locals] destroys the values and essence the general cherished. I think Gen Aung San would not accept it if he were still alive. I support erecting Gen Aung San statues. But there is a need to reconsider if they should be put up without the consent of locals and local ethnic people.

KZM: I think it is more important to love him from the heart and accept his policies than erect his statues. The [NLD] leadership should intervene. Otherwise,….. we have heard that somebody defaced the Gen Aung San statue in Myitkyina [in Kachin] with paint. We don't know who painted it. But anyway, we had never heard of such a case before. There is such a response because they don't like it.

KW: Rather than erect statues, a detailed and correct biography of him should be written.  His elder brother has written his biography. In fact, the government or people who love the general should make careful research and compile a detailed biography. It will be more valuable than erecting statues.

KZM: It is much cheaper. A bronze statue reportedly costs around 80 million kyats.

KW: It would be of more value to conduct in-depth research into his life and his principles and gather separate facts together so that everyone including students could read the detailed biography.

KZM: Some of our people by nature tend to be dogmatic with their opinions. Thank you for your frank comments.

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Friday, July 27, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Fast-Growing Coffee Sector Looks for Extra Shot of Support From Government

Posted: 27 Jul 2018 04:01 AM PDT

YANGON— Myanmar's coffee market is growing robustly, with the country's beans attracting increasing interest in international markets as well as locally, industry sources said.

U Min Hlaing, secretary of the Myanmar Coffee Association, said demand for Myanmar coffee has surged in the past few years and it is now being exported to more than a dozen Asian and Western countries.

"Coffee exports are set to double from last year," he said.

In 2017, over 100 tonnes of the country's coffee beans were shipped to foreign markets while this year the figure is expected to exceed 200 tonnes, to about 15 foreign countries including the new emerging markets of Canada, Belgium and New Zealand, U Min Hlaing said, citing official data, which doesn't include border trade.

In August 2016, Myanmar exported two shipments of coffee beans to the United States, the first commercial-scale imports in nearly two decades, after Washington lifted its remaining economic sanctions on the country.

Since then, the United States has become the largest foreign market for Myanmar coffee. Domestically, coffee consumption has also increased. As the tourism sector has boomed, the country has seen a wave of cafés open in past four years.

Yet, production and exports of the previously neglected crop remain small compared to the levels of major coffee-producing countries in the neighborhood such as Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia, U Min Hlaing said.

"We need to boost coffee production," he said.

Arabica and Robusta, the main coffee varieties, are grown in many locations throughout the country, although primarily in highland areas in Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Chin states as well as in Mandalay Division.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation hopes to increase coffee acreage to 200, 000 and export 60, 000 tonnes by 2030, state media has reported.

Currently, there are about 50, 000 acres of coffee plantations producing more than 7, 000 tonnes a year.

U Ye Myint, the chairman of the Myanmar Coffee Association, said land conflicts in the regions as well as increasing land prices are the main difficulties for coffee growers seeking to expand their plantations.

He said the growing agro-business needed support from the government in the form of loans and better technology as well as measures to boost quality control and demand to support sustainable growth.

"We hope for assistance from the government not only moral support," he said.

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Young Bag-Maker Draws Inspiration From Traditional Weavers

Posted: 27 Jul 2018 02:14 AM PDT

YWARLUT, Bilu Island, Mon State – Handmade cloth bags featuring ethnic-inspired patterns are becoming popular with local women who love the traditional fabrics. One of the few women to have started a successful home business out of a love for making the bags is Ma Hnin Phyu. Her small business also provides jobs for local women in her community, who have skills but for a number of reasons could not leave their homes in Ywarlut Village, Chaung Zon Township on Bilu Island in Mon State.

This emerging woman entrepreneur's story began with her love for the bags in their many different styles as well as a love of designing them. "I want other people to enjoy them as much as I do, so I started the business," she said.

With the help of her mother and friends she began the home business, which now provides local women with jobs, while also supporting female weavers of traditional clothing in Mon and Karen states.

"When I first started, people loved my bag designs, so I kept doing it and the business got bigger," Ma Hnin Phyu, 28, told The Irrawaddy.

Travel bag made with traditional Mon longyi fabric.

Ma Hnin Phyu first learnt how to make bags with a teacher from the office of the Mon Women's Organization eight years ago. But she did not venture into making bags commercially until a year ago, after she had trained with a professional bag-tailor in Yangon to hone her skills. It was then that she felt ready to create her own designs using the traditional patterns.

She markets her products under the "Mis Bloy" brand, which means "the pearl", and proudly labels them "Made in Ywarlut" under an image of a smoking pipe. Ywarlut is famous for its pipe-making on Bilu Island, a popular tourist attraction in Mon State.

Shoulder bag made from cotton.

"She has the potential to be successful as her ambition is high and she wants to expand the business," said Daw Cherry Shein, the Yangon trainer who coached Ma Hnin Phyu in bag-making with traditional cloth.

"The cloth bags made with traditional Chin, Mon, Kachin and Karen fabrics are getting more and more popular these days," said Daw Cherry Shein, who has been creating cloth bags for more than two decades.

She added that it is not only foreigners who love the bags but also local women, who are starting to match the traditional cloth bags with their dresses. Daw Cherry Shein provides training on both a paid and voluntary basis. She said Ma Hnin Phyu was one of only a few of her students who had the potential to make something more than a hobby out of a love for the bags.

Handbag made with Mon traditional (women's) longyi fabrics.

Mis Bloy cloth bags are handmade in a small workshop that is filled with traditional Mon fabrics – usually used for longyis (sarongs) for both men and women — and customers can order by choosing the colors, patterns and design, or they can simply buy finished products at a shop in Ywarlut or by ordering them through the company's Facebook page.

Schoolbag made with traditional Mon cloth (men's longyi).

Mis Bloy also takes orders to make bags based on other ethnic designs such as Karen, Kachin or Chin for other brands as well.

In the beginning, Ma Hnin Phyu took individual orders from each customer. It took time to create the unique designs and she was not able to produce many bags. It was also an expensive way to do business. "Then I decided to make many bags available with several designs so that the customers could choose from them," she said.

Mis Bloy products are distributed to shops in Moulmein, Thanphyuzayet and Ye townships in Mon State, as well as to Paan, the capital of Karen State, and to stores in Yangon.

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Former Mandalay Chief Minister Refuses to Return ‘Misused’ Development Funds

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 11:31 PM PDT

Mandalay – The former chief minister of Mandalay said on Thursday that there was no need for development funds that the current regional government has claimed were used in an "unclear" manner to be returned.

The current regional government said in June that it found discrepancies regarding the use of Mandalay's development fund under the previous regional administration.

U Ye Myint, the former chief minister, told a press conference in Mandalay that the development funds were donated voluntarily by tycoons and local businessmen and therefore did not need to be returned.

"That money absolutely does not belong to the regional government or to the central government. It is not from the state's budget, so there is no need to hand it over to the government," U Ye Myint said.

The former chief minister said the funds were transferred to the Yadanapon Foundation, which was formed in September 2017 under the patronage of former general U Hla Myint Swe. The foundation is still working on regional development projects under the guidance of U Hla Myint Swe.

He added that most of the funds had been audited and the audit statement handed over to the government.

"There's nothing left to return. As the chief minister asked for an explanation of some of the expenditures, we did that and an audit statement was submitted," U Ye Myint said.

He said that he had already sent an explanation about the use of the funds to President U Win Myint in May before the regional government held its press conference. However, he had received no reply from the President's Office, he said.

"I also sent a letter to Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, yesterday (July 25), to clarify the discrepancies found in the audit," U Ye Myint said.

"Because, the final audit of all the uses of the funds was already done, I don't understand why there are discrepancies. Why don't they check the responsible governmental office about it?" he added. "My conscience is very clear that I did nothing wrong."

At the June press conference, which focused on the work done by the regional government in 2016 to 2017, the chief minister stated there were discrepancies relating to over 3 billion kyats from the regional development fund during the 2012 to 2016 budget years, during the term of U Ye Myint and his regional government team.

The chief minister told the journalists that there were differences and unclear statements regarding funds that were used in development sectors such as education, rural development, telecommunications and general rehabilitation.

Since January, the auditor's general office in Naypyidaw reportedly said it had found fraud cases and was reviewing unlawful expenditures involving regional development funds in many states and divisions under the previous administration of President U Thein Sein.

In Irrawaddy Division, the Ayeyarwaddy Health and Education Multi-Developments Foundation, which was formed to deploy regional funds, is reportedly going to return 5.2 billion kyats to the government, following allegations of corruption and fraud.

The secretary of that foundation told The Irrawaddy on July 17 that it would return the funds after receiving notification from the regional government under the instruction of the President's Office.

Meanwhile, in Sagaing Division, the prior regional government handed over 1.7 billion kyats of development funds early this year.

The post Former Mandalay Chief Minister Refuses to Return 'Misused' Development Funds appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Specter of Yangon as a Mega City Casts Shadow Over Whole Country’s Future

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 08:47 PM PDT

According to the most recent census, Myanmar's population reached 50.28 million in 2014, of which 14.9 million, or around 30 percent of the country's people, lived in towns and cities. The annual growth rate of this urban population has been 1.72 percent over the last 30 years compared to 1.12 percent for the country as a whole. If the population continues to grow at the same pace, it will reach around 78 million by the middle of this century with an urban population that has doubled in size to almost 30 million (Fig.1).

 

Fig. 1 National and urban population forecasts based on current trends

Fig. 2 Population forecast for Yangon with three scenarios

In Yangon, due to in-migration from other areas, the pace of growth has been higher than the national urbanization rate. Based on the current trends, Yangon's population will reach between 13 million and 16 million by the middle of this century (Fig.2). This expected 2- or 3-fold increase in the size of Yangon's population over the coming four decades is based on the assumption that the city will grow at the rate of the past, without any interventions, such as “the new city” in or around Yangon as the authorities are planning.

As revealed by the authorities, “The New Yangon City” should provide employment for 2 million people, implying a population of around 8 million. In the urban planning field, the word “gravitation effect” is used to refer to the additional population needed to provide necessary services to the workforce and their families; and this can be as much as another 50 percent, or even more in the context of developing economies. Combining this 12 million increase due to the new city (if it were completed by the middle of the century) and Yangon's expected population of 14 million (based on the middle scenario), Yangon is on track to become a gigantic agglomeration area with a population of around 26 million by 2050. This would make it bigger than even Shanghai, presently the most populous city in the world with 24 million people, and Karachi, which presently has 23.5 million, and Beijing with around 21 million. At the same time, it needs to be highlighted that Yangon’s infrastructure and transportation networks have numerous shortcomings (only 30 percent of Yangon’s households receive water supplied by the Yangon City and Development Committee, or YCDC, only 60 percent of households have electric meter boxes, in peak hours, it takes about 3 hours to drive from Hlaing Thayar, the western suburb of the city, to Sule Pagoda, etc.)
From an urbanization perspective, such an extraordinary population increase implies this one city would absorb all the expected urban population increase of the country in the coming four decades, which is around 15 million. It also means that all the out-migration from rural areas would come to Yangon and all other urban settlements of the Union would not have further population increases.

Yangon authorities envisage that the required investment for the infrastructure of the new city would be around US$1.5 billion, which is around 17 percent of the national debt (based on our national debt of US$8.9 billion in 2016). The question is whether this investment is justified given that Yangon's population already has the best in the Union in terms of healthcare, employment and education facilities, electricity usage, Internet quality and availability, etc.

These disparities and the inequalities are seen when various socio-economic data between the states and regions are compared. To highlight only a few of these, Yangon Division’s 7 million people, who account for 14 percent of the Union, create 22 percent of total GDP, while the per capita GDP of Yangon Region is more than double than that of the Union’s average and around six times more than the least developed regions such as Chin State and Tanintharyi Region. In the healthcare sector, Yangon Division has about three times more hospital beds per head of population than Rakhine, Mon and Irrawaddy Regions, and these healthcare services are reflected in the “life expectancy” rates — these figures show around 10 years' difference between regions with the highest life expectancy and those with the lowest (Fig. 6 & 7). From the aspect of national reconciliation, the question should be raised: What are the ramifications of this disparity and inequality between regions for national unity and the Union's long-term future?

Presently, Yangon with over 5 million people is around four times larger than the Union’s second largest city, Mandalay, while all other state and division capitals have populations ranging from 250 000 to 25,000. Excluding Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw, there were only 14 towns with populations exceeding 100,000 in 2014. These towns have development potential because they are on the main communication lines. Meanwhile, the regional capitals of Magwe, Dawai, Hpa-An, Loikaw and Hakha are home to fewer than 100,000 people. From the aspects of national unity, it would be desirable to improve urban services such as hospitals, electricity, Internet, etc. in all the regional capitals and additionally identify the development regions and improve the transportation networks between these regions. It is clear then that the whole issue of national urbanization and Yangon planning should be an integral part of the country’s national development plan.

Fig. 3 Capitals of states and divisions, and towns with populations over 100,000 in 2014′

Fig. 4 GDP of states and divisions in 2010-11 (Source: Publications from the Ministry of Planning and Finance

Fig. 5. Per capita GDP of states and divisions. Yangon Division’s per capita GDP is around six times higher than that of Kayin, Chin and Kachin states. Based on data from the Ministry of Planning and Finance (2012).

 

Fig. 6. Hospital bed and population ratios. Chin State, although in second place, has no hospitals operated by the private sector. Source: Processed from the Statistical Yearbook, 2017

Fig. 7. Comparison of life expectancy at birth between states and regions. Source: Tables 17, Census 2014, Main Report (Union)

Fig. 8. 22 percent of electricity is produced in Yangon Division

Dr. Kyaw Lat is an architect and urban planner who has worked with the Department of Human Settlements and Housing Development, Ministry of Construction and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). He was also a professor at Yangon and Mandalay Technological universities, professor at Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and finally before his retirement an advisor to the Yangon City and Development Committee from 2011 until 2016.

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Thursday, July 26, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Armed Conflict Harming Efforts to Save Myanmar’s Tigers, Group Says

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 08:10 AM PDT

YANGON — Ending armed conflict is crucial to Myanmar's efforts to save the tiger populations in its wildlife reserves, said a wildlife conservation NGO on Thursday, warning that the country's tiger population continues to dwindle.

The tiger population of Myanmar's wildlife sanctuaries is now less than 100, compared to around 150 in 2003, according to the Myanmar chapter of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Globally, the number of tigers has dropped to less than 4,000 from about 100,000 a century ago.

Myanmar hosts the world's largest tiger reserve in the Hukawng Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, an area covering over 17,373 square kilometers. However, conservationists and researchers have been hampered in their efforts by armed conflict in the valley between the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) and the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA).

WCS Myanmar, World Wildlife Fund and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) are collaborating with the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation to preserve wildlife through research projects in the Hukawng Valley, Htamanthi and Tannitharyi Range wildlife sanctuaries.

U Than Myint, the country directory of WCS Myanmar, told reporters on Thursday, "If the fighting eased, we could strengthen our preservation efforts."

The fighting in the Hukawng Valley has forced villagers to flee for their lives and therefore "They have not been able to devote themselves to preserving wildlife."

"We hope for a decent peace in the region, so that they can stay in their homes and participate in preservation projects, as the villagers play a vital role in wildlife conservation," U Than Myint said.

He was speaking at a press conference arranged by WCS Myanmar in Yangon on Thursday, two days ahead of International Tiger Day on July 29. The organization aims to share information about its research activities in the upper Chindwin River region, in northwestern Myanmar's Sagaing Region, and to promote awareness among the public of the importance of tiger conservation.

WCS Myanmar conducts research there using camera traps to document the tiger population and those of the species it preys on. It has placed more than 100 camera traps in 225 places to research tigers and their prey in the upper Chindwin area over the past three years.

Based on its research, the organization says, "There is hope for success for tiger conservation in Myanmar." The group has documented the presence of numerous tiger cubs during its three years of research from December 2014 to December 2017, said U Hla Naing, who is in charge of research on the country's northern forests for WCS Myanmar.

However, he said, challenges remain as Myanmar still faces problems with poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and illegal logging and mining in the protected areas.

"Protecting tigers and other species means protecting our forests, wildlife and environment," he said. WCS Myanmar said concerns remain as the illegal wildlife trade continues to be fueled by demand in neighboring China. Thus, public awareness needs to be raised, he said.

WCS Myanmar has been providing awareness training to local residents of affected areas. Over 130 trainees have joined the program since 2016.

"We provide the community with guardian training, so as to allow community participation, which is the key," added Ko Pyae Phyo Aung, deputy tiger researcher at WCS Myanmar.

The post Armed Conflict Harming Efforts to Save Myanmar's Tigers, Group Says appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Military Lawmaker Threatens to Assault Journalists in Parliament

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 07:18 AM PDT

YANGON — A military appointed lawmaker swore at and threatened to assault journalists who were taking photographs and videotaping in the Parliament building in Naypyitaw on Wednesday, drawing condemnation from the media and demands for an explanation from the military.

Before the Union Parliament session began, Major-General Tin Swe Win threatened a photojournalist from the European Press Agency in front of the Parliament building, telling him not to take his photo or post anything about him online, adding that if the reporter did so the officer would punch him.

On the same day, after the session, he swore at a journalist from Mizzima Media, using obscene language. Video evidence of his outburst appeared in the media, along with reports on the military's budget requests to the Union Parliament for the coming fiscal year.

Maj-Gen. Tin Swe Win has a master's degree in defense studies from the Defense Services Academy in Pyin Oo Lwin. He served on the auxiliary force in the Naypyitaw Command before taking an appointed seat in the Parliament, according to the Parliament's official record.

"He has to be sensible. He should not talk that way in the Parliament," said U Sein Win,

training director at the Myanmar Journalism Institute.

U Sein Win told The Irrawaddy, "This is not the front line [of the battlefield]. This is the Parliament. He must behave himself."

Under the National League for Democracy-led government, restrictions have been placed on the way media covers Parliament. However, the journalists threatened by the officer were acting within those rules, covering the Union Parliament session from within in the designated areas.

"The media are doing their job. We aren't breaking any rules. Media organizations should send a complaint letter to the military," said U Sein Win.

"His manner shows he doesn't respect our job. It is unacceptable," he added.

In 2016, the Union Parliament Office released an 18-point set of guidelines for the media, restricting each organization to a maximum of five journalists to cover parliamentary affairs and interview lawmakers in the designated spaces. It prohibits filming and photography in certain buildings and areas without permission.

Under the previous government, journalists were also banned from an observation booth above the Union Parliament chamber and sessions of both the Upper and Lower houses. Parliament reporters were forced to watch the sessions on a TV screen in a corridor. Media members said that the restrictions came after journalists took photos and videos of lawmakers sleeping during sessions, and in one case of a military lawmaker voting on behalf of his absent neighbor.

Members of the press said the military lawmaker's manner shows how hard it will be for the Tatmadaw to salvage its reputation among a press corps with which it already has deep-rooted tensions due to past incidents, despite military commander-in-chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing's order to military personnel to have good relations with the media.

The military has treated the media in the same way for many years, communicating with journalists only when they need to get a point across, said U Nyan Hlaing Lynn, chief editor at Hintha Media.

A journalist at Mizzima, Ko Min Min, said he feels it was unacceptable that the military lawmaker could launch a verbal assault unprovoked, and said he was considering sending a letter to military lawmakers and the parliamentary rights committee.

There was speculation in the media yesterday that Wednesday's incident involving Maj-Gen. Tin Swe Win and reporters would lead to the reimposition of old restrictions. Most media members demanded an explanation from the military regarding his manner.

"In his position, it is not suitable to mistreat others in the Parliament, not even the media. Military officials should investigate the case and explain why it happened," said U Myint Kyaw, a member of the Press Council.

U Myint Kyaw said, "We have to wait and see how the Tatmadaw [Myanmar's military] will respond."

Irrawaddy reporters Zue Zue and Htet Naing Zaw contributed to this report.

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5 Sued in Mandalay Over Thwarted Cement Factory Protest

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 05:28 AM PDT

MANDALAY — Villagers in Mandalay Region say they were blocked by police from reaching the regional capital on Tuesday to protest the construction of a cement factory in their community and later informed that five of them were being sued.

Locals say the factory will be powered by coal and fear the damage it might do to the local environment and their livelihoods. They say the project has already blocked off some communal grazing land and that most locals want it stopped.

The Alpha cement factory, owned by China’s Myint Investment Company, is under construction in Aung Thabyay village, Pyigyidagun Township, about 37 km north of Mandalay City.

Locals say the company conducted soil testing at the site in 2014 and bought the 242 hectares from residents after securing permission to build the factory and mine a nearby hill for raw material.

"We sent several complaints to the government back then, and the project was halted. However, it resumed in 2015 despite our objections," said Ko Moe Lay, an Aung Thabyay resident.

According to locals, the company planned to extend a village road to lead to the factory two months ago, but villagers objected to that, too, for fear of losing land they owned along the route.

On Sunday, a 64-year-old farmer who refused orders from local authorities to stop fencing off her land, Daw Mya Mya, was arrested and detained at the township police station. Villagers soon gathered around the station to demand her release but failed to secure it.

The protesters submitted a request later the same day to stage another protest in Mandalay City on Monday. Though authorities approved the request, they were blocked on the way to Mandalay by police and turned back.

On Tuesday, police notified five villagers that they were being sued under Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law and for disrupting road work. They showed reporters the notices.

"We have no idea why we have been sued under those laws. We already had permission to stage the protest. But the police blocked us and we had a dispute," said Ma Yin Yin Aung, one of the sued villagers.

"The mountain that the factory took is where our cattle used to go to graze. Since construction of the factory began, the natural streams have been blocked, too," she said

"And we heard the factory will use coal power, which could affect the environment, too. And there are no big trees around our village anymore. The area will become like a desert soon if the factory is allowed to operate and dig up the mountains," she added.

Locals say they have sent more complaints to regional and national government offices in recent months.

"We've sent several complaints, but the government still doesn’t listen to us. Instead, the police showed up and threatened us with the law. We just want mother Suu to know and hope she can stop this factory," said Ko Moe Lay, referring to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Police could not be reached for comment. The regional governor and company representatives declined to speak with a reporter.

The post 5 Sued in Mandalay Over Thwarted Cement Factory Protest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chinese Restaurant at Novotel Relaunches with Hong Kong-Inspired Menu

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 04:42 AM PDT

YANGON — The Novotel Yangon Max Hotel relaunched its Royal Pavilion restaurant on Tuesday with a new concept and menu.

Located near the hotel’s reception desk, the restaurant used to serve traditional Chinese cuisine with predominantly Cantonese flavors and will now serve Hong Kong barbecue, dim sum and seafood.

Roast duck hangs in the kitchen of the Royal Pavilion. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The relaunch party was for invited guests only, who got to sample signature dishes from the new menu.

Guests sampled from four dim sum dishes: steamed lobster dumplings with squid ink; steamed fish rolls with Thai sauce, deep fried spring sticks with seafood; and deep fried seafood rolls with cheese. Each was delicious and delightful.

Steamed lobster dumplings with squid ink and steamed fish rolls with Thai sauce. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The lobster was very soft and I cold tell how soft it was with the first bite; the dumplings were wrapped in a thin layer of cooked flour mixed with squid ink and topped with salmon roe. The steamed fish rolls were also great and did not have a fishy smell; the Thai sauce was a bit sweet, but it perfectly matched the fish. I highly recommend both.

Another of the new signature dishes is the deep fried tempura prawn, another of my favorites. They clean the whole prawn, dip it in powder and deep fry it. The result is a crispy golden shell topped with chili and coriander and a sweet prawn taste inside.

Hong Kong style roast duck.

But the dish I liked most was the Hong Kong roast duck. Taking a bite, the skin was very crispy, but the meat was nice and soft. It came with a sweet Hoisin sauce and paired with the duck perfectly.

Deep-fried sea bass with Sichuan sauce. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The last dish was the deep fried sea bass topped with Sichuan sauce. The fish was deboned, cut into bite-sized pieces and deep fried with tempura powder. The Sichuan sauce was on the milder side. The ingredients were fresh, but the dish was not so much crunchy as a bit hard. This one was not my favorite.

The dining room of the Royal Pavilion. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

The staff was friendly and helpful and dressed in a bright red Chinese-themed uniforms. The decor was both modern and Chinese but not overdone, complimenting the quiet and clean room and its comfortable seating.

Prices range from $10 to $50 per dish à la carte. There is also an all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet for lunch and dinner on weekends for $25 per person.

The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for dinner.

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Court Bans Media from Taking Photos of Military Officer’s Wife

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 04:05 AM PDT

YANGON — A local court in Yangon has barred the press from taking pictures and video recordings of a military officer's wife who is facing trial for allegedly torturing her maid to death.

According to the Yangon South District Court in Thanlyin Township, the military officer, whose identity is not yet known by the press, requested that the Myanmar Press Council restrict the media from taking pictures and videos of his wife Theingi Su inside the court compound.

The court banned reporters from taking pictures and videos of Theingi Su in its precinct at her fifth trial on Wednesday, although it had not issued these restrictions in the previous four trials.

U Moe Wai, an information officer of the court, told the press not to use photos of the defendant taken at previous trials as well.

"The [request] letter dated July 4 was sent to us [by the military officer] by mail. It was not given to us in person," he told reporters.

U Moe Wai said that the ban has nothing to do with the military officer's request, but declined to explain further.

He told reporters not to publish photos of her appearing at the court, including getting into or out of the prisoner transport vehicle.

Khin Thandar Oo, also known as Kayin Ma, 38, a mother of four children, was working at the quarters of a military officer of the Inn Daing armored battalion in Yangon's Hlegu Township.

She died within an hour of being sent home to Oh Po village in Twante Township by Theingi Su on May 19, citing her ill health.

According to the post-mortem examination, the woman died of injuries to her intestines, and her death could have been averted if she had been hospitalized in time.

The press council does not have authority to ban reporters from taking pictures or videos, secretary of the council U Thiha Saw told The Irrawaddy.

"The council doesn't have the authority to instruct journalists on what to do or not do," he said.

"Civilian defendants dare not complain about photos. But the officer has complained, so he must have some backing," prosecution lawyer Daw San San Myint told The Irrawaddy.

The defense lawyer declined to answer The Irrawaddy's question about the request. Theingu Su has covered her head as she came to and left the court in all of the previous trials.

According to the news media law, journalists have the right to freely criticize, point out or recommend operating procedures of the legislative, the executive and judiciary in conformity with the 2008 Constitution as well as investigate, publish, and broadcast information and related opinions to which every citizen is entitled in accordance with rules and regulations.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Rural Scenes in Dazzling Textures and Colors

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 01:19 AM PDT

When it comes to paintings of rural life, typically, ox-driven carts, paddy fields, and damsels who fetch water from a creek in the evening come to mind.

But in the paintings of rural landscapes by Thurein at his sixth solo exhibition "BOBA Village," viewers only see the rough brushwork of black lines and dazzling colors.

"I've reduced the form of a village. I didn't even sketch tree shade in my paintings. I didn't clearly depict the landscapes so that viewers could enjoy and imagine, as they like. My works were based on texture, color and line," said Thurein, the photographer-cum-painter.

The exhibition is the second of his rural village series; the first one was showcased in 2008. The scenes he depicts exist in the real world.

They are from the village of his grandparents in Yangon's Kyauktan Township, where he has visited frequently since he was young.

The paintings feature his childhood memories of the village as well as recent developments.  He used various colors in his paintings, and viewers can enjoy the artistry in his brushwork and use of texture.

"The village has changed a lot; it has not thrived but is on the decline," said Thurein, whose artistry is largely influenced by American modernists Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, and Barnett Newman.

Thurein has held his exhibitions at home and abroad including Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam and the United States.

Twenty paintings are on display at the BOBA Village (II) exhibition, and his works are available for $800 each. The exhibition will be held through Sunday at Nawaday Tharlar Art Gallery.

"I curated this exhibition because I like his paintings. His feelings about the village attracted me more than his expression of it. His works depend more on his feelings, I think," said Ko Pyae Wai, the owner of Nawaday Tharlar Art Gallery.

The post Rural Scenes in Dazzling Textures and Colors appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

16,000 Displaced By Rising Floodwaters in Karen State

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 11:57 PM PDT

HPA-AN TOWNSHIP, Karen State — More than 16,000 people have been displaced by floods in Karen State as of Wednesday, according to the state’s disaster management department.

The Thanlwin, or Salween, River has been rising since Sunday, flooding Hpa-an, Hlinebwe, Kawkareik and Myawady townships.

Hpa-an, the state capital, has been hit hardest, with more than 10,000 residents displaced. Ten relief camps have been opened in Hpa-an as of Wednesday to shelter victims.

The number of displaced residents in Hlinebwe has meanwhile risen to over 3,000. There are 12 relief camps in the township to shelter them.

"The river rose overnight on Sunday and flooded wards on Monday. We've been sheltering at the camp for three days," said Daw San San Cho, a resident of Hpa-an’s Ward 1.

"The water reached around 13 feet high from the ground," she said.

The state’s disaster management department has supplied the camps with seven days worth of rations of rice, oil, eggs, canned sardines and instant noodles, said the department’s deputy director general, U Then Htut Swe.

Among those taking shelter at the Karen State Stadium in Hpa-an are 21 pregnant women, 81 children under 5 years old and 177 students.

In Myawady, the number of flood victims taking shelter at relief camps has declined from more than 2,000 to about 600 this week as the Moei River subsided.

Sixteen townships in four regions and states including Mon State and Tanintharyi and Bago regions are experiencing floods. The water levels of the Thanlwin, Sittaung and Shwegyin rivers in Karen, Mon and Bago are likely to remain above danger levels, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Chinese Police Break Up $1.5B Pyramid Scheme, Snare 82 Suspects

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 10:17 PM PDT

BEIJING — Chinese police have caught 82 suspects in a crackdown on an online pyramid scheme involving 10.2 billion yuan ($1.51 billion) and more than 220,000 investors, the official Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

Investors were drawn in from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia as well as the mainland, it said, adding that prosecutors had taken charge of 52 suspects accused of organizing and leading the pyramid scheme.

Police in Meishan City in the southwestern province of Sichuan said the suspects set up hundreds of shell companies and 28 fake industrial chains and lured investors with promises of high returns, it added.

Beijing periodically clamp down on what it deems to be illegal fundraising schemes, including online peer-to-peer lending platforms and pyramid schemes.

In January, a Chinese court sentenced two people to life in prison for fraud in a 15.6 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) pyramid scheme.

Pyramid schemes in China typically prey on vulnerable or poorly educated victims by luring them with the promise of well-paid jobs. Victims are told, often under duress, to recruit family and friends or borrow money from them.

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Landslides, Floods Kill Five Children in Southeastern Bangladesh

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 10:03 PM PDT

DHAKA/KUTUPALONG REFUGEE CAMP, Bangladesh — Heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides and flooding in southeastern Bangladesh on Wednesday, killing five children and forcing a thousand people to relocate, including in the Rohingya refugee camps.

The children were killed in landslides near Cox’s Bazar and Ramu, said Kazi Abdur Rahman, a senior Bangladesh government official in the area. Three more people were injured and taken to hospital and a thousand were evacuated.

It was not immediately clear how many Rohingya refugees were relocated. Aid agencies have warned that the monsoon, which typically peaks in July, could threaten many thousands of people.

“A number of families were moved due to flooding and minor landslides,” said Abul Kalam, the Bangladesh government official in charge of the refugees. “The rain shows no sign of stopping, but there has been no major catastrophe inside the camps,” he said.

The UNHCR and IOM were also unable to immediately provide figures.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled across the border from Myanmar since August, when the Myanmar military launched a violent crackdown in northern Rakhine State. The Rohingya say thousands were killed or raped and their homes were burned down. Myanmar denies this and says its security forces were conducting legitimate counter-insurgency operations.

In the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, the market near the Modhuchara bamboo bridge began flooding in the early hours of the morning, said a refugee who lives there.

“We were awake when the flooding started,” said Abul Hakim. “We could not sleep well because of the fear of flooding.”

“I want to move from here. There is a high risk of flooding and drowning and a high risk of landslides,” he said as his one-and-a-half-year-old grandson played in the water.

He said there were about 15 Rohingya families living in the area near the market and that it was the second time it had flooded. Floodwaters near Hakim’s bamboo and plastic shelter were shin deep.

At least three refugees have been killed in the monsoon since early May.

As of July 18, about 21,000 refugees had been relocated because their shelters were threatened by landslides, the UNHCR said.

The post Landslides, Floods Kill Five Children in Southeastern Bangladesh appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Says Graft Suspects Detained Under New Measure Must Be Well Treated

Posted: 25 Jul 2018 09:55 PM PDT

BEIJING — Suspects held under a controversial new detention measure introduced nationwide by China’s anti-graft super ministry this year must be well treated, the corruption watchdog said on Thursday.

China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, finalized in March the establishment of a National Supervision Commission with the power to investigate all state employees, expanding the power of the existing regulator that had previously focused on Communist Party members.

The powerful new body has been criticized by some legal scholars for failing to protect the rights of suspects during investigations, in part because it will use a controversial “liuzhi," or detention, system that operates outside existing criminal procedure law.

President Xi Jinping launched a sweeping campaign against deep-seated corruption more than five years ago. There have been several high-profile cases of graft suspects being mistreated or tortured, which the government has vowed to root out.

The graft-fighting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection outlined new rules it said made clear that the new detention method was not to be abused and acknowledged public concern.

“‘Liuzhi’ is an important investigation method granted by law to the supervision organs, and is a focus of high attention from various sectors of society,” it said in a statement on its website.

“On this, the rules are clear, that the ‘liuzhi’ method should be cautiously used under legal stipulations and the process strictly grasped,” the watchdog said.

There must also be no covert use of “liuzhi," it said.

People who are investigated using this method must have their access to food and drink, rest and medical treatment guaranteed, the statement said.

The new rules also cover the questioning of witnesses.

Witnesses must be shown a document that outlines their rights and obligations when first being questioned, confidentiality must be kept and protection provided if they are at risk of “revenge attacks”, it said.

Xi announced the new detention system in October to replace the previous “shuanggui” system, in which party members submitted to questioning at a location and time chosen by investigators.

Rights groups have said the old secretive extra-legal measures that made use of off-grid locations with little oversight allowed torture, abuse and forced confessions.

Some rights activists and legal scholars have expressed concern the new detention system will merely entrench and extend previous practices under a veneer of legality. The government has denied this.

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