Monday, November 26, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Rohingya Refugee Leaders in Bangladesh Call Work Strike Over ID Cards

Posted: 26 Nov 2018 04:06 AM PST

DHAKA — The leaders of Rohingya refugee camps in the Ukhia region of Cox’s Bazar District in Bangladesh called a three-day work strike on Monday to pressure the UN’s refugee agency to include “Rohingya” on the ID cards it has been issuing them.

In a statement, they said it was crucial that they be identified as ethnic Rohingya on the cards because they were being persecuted in Myanmar precisely because of their ethnicity.

Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic group and calls them Bengali, implying they are illegal migrants.

"This named [sic] is banned in Myanmar, but it should not be banned here.” the statement says.

“We are very worried about the bio-data that UNHCR wants to collect (finger prints, iris scans, properly documents). We believe UNHCR can share this data for repatriation with Myanmar government and the Myanmar government can use it for label us as ARSA member or as 'Bengali foreigners' like in the past, or to make trouble for our families," it adds.

ARSA, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a militant armed group, launched a coordinated attack on several police posts and a military base in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in August 2017. The military crackdown that followed has driven some 700,000 mostly Rohingya to Bangladesh, many with reports of arson, rape and murder at the hands of Myanmar police and soldiers.

"Rohingya will stay at home for three days and stop working in our many different jobs and positions as Majhis, INGOs and UN staff and volunteers, fixers for international people, teachers, health workers, mullah, builders and labour men, and shop keepers," the statement says.

They say they also want the UNHCR to stop forcing Rohingya refugees to take the cards, to stop barricading refugees inside Camp 21 for refusing to take the cards, to stop collecting their biometric data for the cards, and to not share the biometric data they have already collected with Myanmar.

"We want to discuss with UNHCR and Authorities to address our demands," the statement says. “We are tired of hearing members of international community and UN say that the Rohingya refugees do not have any leaders. We want to be consulted."

Bangladeshi Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said the cards were intended to help the refugees receive and access services and that they had no reason to protest because recent plans to start sending them back to Myanmar were postponed.

A senior Bangladesh government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said officials planned to meet with the camp leaders soon to resolve the dispute.

Firas al-Khateeb, a spokesperson for the UNHCR in Cox's Bazar, told The Irrawaddy that agency staff were on the ground to find out if the strike was being observed.

Ukhia Police Station Sub-Inspector Milton Dey said there has been no violence in the camps since the strike was called.

Syed Alom, a Rohingya refugee and community leader, said the strike was only being observed in parts of Ukhia where the cards have been handed out so far, including Thayngkhali. He said Rohingya volunteers were still at work in camps in Kutupalang.

The post Rohingya Refugee Leaders in Bangladesh Call Work Strike Over ID Cards appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Three Civilian Deaths as Fighting Flares in Northern Shan

Posted: 26 Nov 2018 02:58 AM PST

YANGON—Three civilians have died and two others were injured during a clash between the Shan State Army-North and the Shan State Army-South in a village in Shan State's Hsipaw Township on Friday morning, according to a civil society organization helping the victims.

The Shan State Army-North, the armed wing of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) clashed with the Shan State Army-South, the armed wing of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), at around 6 a.m. on Friday near Nar Low Village in Hsipaw Township.

One of the wounded was a three-year-old child, said Ko Myo of the Philanthropists without Borders Association based in Hsipaw.

The spokesperson for the RCSS, Lt-Col Sai Oo, confirmed the clash but said he did not know details about the situation on the ground.

Lt-Col Sai Su of the SSPP put the blame on the RCSS for the civilian casualties.  RCSS troops opened fire on a location where they thought SSPP troops were staying overnight near Nar Low Village on Thursday, he said.

"They thought we were in the village. They dared not come into the village, so from outside, they opened fire into the village. Villagers fled in panic on tractors, and [RCSS troops] opened fire on them.  Some were injured and some died," said Lt-Col Sai Su.

Only after the RCSS shot at the tractor which had civilians on board, the SSPP troops returned fire on the RCSS troops, he added.

"We have no communication with them at the frontline. There were negotiations at upper levels [of the organizations] but they failed. Problems arose because they came to northern Shan State, leaving their base in southern Shan State. We have asked them to retreat, but they refused," he said.

Nar Low Village lies between the towns of Hsipaw and Lai-Hka in Loilem District, and as well as the SSPP and the RCSS, the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army are also active in the area.

On Nov.15, a clash between the Tatmadaw and the SSPP forced over 500 people from their homes in Nar Low and Meng Kai villages.

The RCSS has had frequent clashes separately with the SSPP and the TNLA in northern Shan State and it also clashes frequently with the troops of the combined TNLA-SSPP group over territorial disputes in Kyaukme, Lashio and Namtu townships in northern Shan State.

The RCSS clashed with the TNLA on Nov. 21 and 22 in Namtu Township and military tensions are still high in the area.

The RCSS is a signatory of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and has participated in meetings of the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong. The SSPP and the TNLA, however, have opted out of signing the NCA.

The post Three Civilian Deaths as Fighting Flares in Northern Shan appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

U Wirathu Accuses Govt of Stalling ‘Nationalist’ High School Plans

Posted: 26 Nov 2018 02:04 AM PST

MANDALAY — Firebrand monk U Wirathu accused the government of stalling permission for a private high school in Mandalay Region’s Patheingyi Township because avowed nationalists were behind the project.

"The regional government says it is illegal to have a school compound on this land. But their refusal to let the school open is not based on that," he told reporters at a press conference at the site on Sunday.

"It is based only on the work of the nationalists, me, U Wirathu, and members of Ma Ba Tha. If this school was going to be operated by Muslims, the government would surely allow it and even cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony."

In March 2017 the government banned U Wirathu from delivering public sermons for a year over his strident anti-Muslim rhetoric, and Facebook blocked his account in February for hate speech. The government has also outlawed the ultra-nationalist group Ma Ba Tha, which has since rebranded itself to skirt the ban.

U Wirathu said on Sunday that he and his supporters have been asking for permission to build Mahawthadar Nationalist Private High School for more than a year but were yet to receive it.

Women hold signs urging the government to let supporters of U Wirathu build a school in Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region, in front of the already-erected gate for the planned school on Sunday. / Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy

"This school has nothing to do with politics and has no anti-government intentions. It is only to give free education to poor children. The government is trying to oppress everything the nationalists are doing — this is not democracy," he said.

"We cannot wait any longer, so we will begin construction regardless what happens. If the government does not follow democracy, abuses the rule of law and wants to oppress us, I will make sure to let them know who Wirathu is," he added.

The monk said he had also written to Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung in July to ask for permission for the school.

The letter, distributed to reporters on Sunday, says the committee set up to establish the school includes former government officials, including the personal secretary of the prior regional chief minister.

“Don’t look on these committee members and think there will be any politics or nationalism. Every one of them is focused only on education and is not thinking of politics or nationalism,” the letter says.

"If members of the NLD or the government wants to join us, you are warmly welcome, but you should keep nationalism in your minds," it adds.

Mandalay Region government officials could not be reached for comment.

Project backers said they applied for permission to build a four-story school in Kyauk Chaw Village in mid-2017 and had hoped to open it for the 2017-2018 academic year.

They said the regional government has asked for several required documents and rejected a request to hold a groundbreaking ceremony in February.

"Since then there has been silence. We've sent a complaint letters to the President’s Office as well, but the President’s Office is also ignoring our complaint," said U Myo Chit, vice president of the school’s founding committee.

He said two Mahawthadar high schools have been operating since last year, one in Yangon and another in Rakhine State.

"We believe the [Mandalay] regional government does not want to give us permission because the word "nationalist" is in the school’s name. We will not take it out to get permission, because nationalism is as important as education for children," U Myo Chit said.

"However, we are not going to emphasize nationalism, which the government is worried about. We are only going to provide the children with free education. We will begin construction no matter what, and we will make sure the school can open in time for the 2018-2019 academic year," he added.

Those behind the school project have already built a gate and fence around the site and a classroom where about 200 students from surrounding high schools are receiving free after-school tutoring.

The post U Wirathu Accuses Govt of Stalling ‘Nationalist’ High School Plans appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Taungup Police Chief’s Fatal Plunge down Well Was an Accident: Officials

Posted: 26 Nov 2018 12:28 AM PST

SITTWE—The head of Taungup Township Police Station in Rakhine State died after accidentally falling down a well inside the compound of the police station on Sunday, police officials said, denying rumors that the officer took his own life.

Police Captain Thein Tun Naing's death was entirely accidental, according to Police Sub-Lieutenant Toe Zaw Aung, who is based at the station. "He accidentally fell down the well. He was not wearing his uniform at the time of the accident. He was in plain clothes. We sent his body to the hospital," he told The Irrawaddy.

Pol Capt. Thein Tun Naing was transferred to Taungup Police Station some eight months ago. Police officials denied rumors among the local population that the late police captain was undergoing an internal investigation.

"We hadn't seen him, so we searched for him at around 7 a.m. [on Sunday]. We found his slippers near the well. So we went down the well and found his body, which was sent to the hospital. The hospital confirmed that he drowned. The rumors are not true," said Police Lieutenant Chit Tun, the deputy head of the station.

Police have opened an investigation into Pol Capt. Thein Tun Naing's death.

Rakhine State Police commander Police Colonel Kyi Lin visited Taungup Township recently. But the visit was a routine trip to inspect operations at the police station, Taungup police officials said.

On Oct. 11, a police constable committed suicide by shooting himself at the hostel of Pauktaw Police Station in Rakhine State.

The post Taungup Police Chief's Fatal Plunge down Well Was an Accident: Officials appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Strategies Needed as EAOs Adapt to Changes in Drug Demand

Posted: 26 Nov 2018 12:20 AM PST

There is both good news and bad news for Myanmar on the drug front: a sharp decline in opium cultivation and a shift toward synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine.

In the past 20 years, opium cultivation has declined to 41,000 hectares, a 75 percent drop from 163,000 hectares in 1996, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)'s statistics.

However, the main concern today for regional governments and the UNODC is methamphetamine, mainly manufactured in the Mekong sub-region of East and Southeast Asia. According to the UN agency, "Myanmar is perceived to be the main country of origin."

An anti-drug operation launched in June 2018 by the Myanmar President's Office seized US$132 million (211.1 billion kyats) worth of methamphetamine tablets and "ice" (crystal methamphetamine) within four months. Most of the drugs, along with opium, heroin, and other amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), were found in conflict areas in Shan, Kachin and Rakhine states. Precursor chemicals used in ATS production were also found, mainly in conflict areas in Shan State.

According to UNODC regional representative Jeremy Douglas, the synthetic drug trade is worth billions of dollars and involves some of the larger transnational organized crime groups.

Once known as a center of the opium trade, the Golden Triangle area, where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet, has re-emerged as a center for synthetic drug production and trafficking. Transnational organized crime groups utilize Myanmar's internal conflicts for their own interests, as lawless conflict zones are the best place to produce man-made drugs, which unlike opium crops don't require labor-intensive cultivation and are not dependent on the weather.

High-purity crystal methamphetamine from Myanmar has been found on New Zealand's streets. The New Zealand Herald wrote about the world-class chemists involved in drug production in Myanmar. "Aided by state-backed militias, high-tech meth laboratories and factories employing world-class chemists are fueling a US$40-billion regional drug economy," it reported.

Since early 2018, seizures of Myanmar-produced drugs in neighboring countries including China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India have grown. Narcotics control officials from Bangladesh said various Myanmar separatist groups produce yaba at 37 factories in Shan state—which borders China, Laos and Thailand—and smuggle them to different countries to raise funds. The Myanmar military discovered drug labs during a raid in a conflict area in northern Shan State in February this year. Vast amount of drug precursors and lab equipment were found during the raid.

As mentioned in the national drug control policy paper, Myanmar is involved in a "two-way trade of precursors and drugs", importing precursors from neighboring countries and producing synthetic drugs to be trafficked around the region.

A trade born of conflict

Myanmar's drug trade emerged along with the internal armed conflicts in the 1940s. Duan Xiwen, a general with China's nationalist Kuomintang forces, was famously quoted as saying, "We have to continue to fight the evil of communism, and to fight you must have an army, and an army must have guns, and to buy guns you must have money. In these mountains, the only money is opium."

Not all ethnic armed group leaders who seek political power or territorial control will agree with Duan's statement, but the reality is that the longer an armed conflict lasts, the more resources the armed groups involved need in order to survive. Participating in the drug trade and collecting tax from drug traffickers are ways for armed groups to fund their existence.

Under military rule in the 1990s, the government granted a certain level of protection to insurgent groups involved in the drug trade in exchange for signing ceasefire agreements. As author Patrick Meehan from SOAS at the University of London observes in Drugs, Insurgency and State-Building in Myanmar, "Over the past 20 years the state has created a system of rents within the drug economy through numerous mechanisms. Most obvious has been the state's willingness to offer legal impunity to groups involved in the drugs trade following their signing of ceasefire agreements."

Among 20 drug kingpins listed in the 2009 book Merchants of Madness by Bertil Lintner and Michael Black, many are still active armed group leaders who took part in ceasefire agreements from 1989 onwards.

Of course a ceasefire doesn't mean the end of conflict. Rather, it can inflame the drug trade in the region. If we study UNODC's data on annual drug seizures in Myanmar from the 1990s to the 2000s, there is no data related to methamphetamine seizures before 1996. Statistics on the drug first show up a few years after the Myanmar military and several armed groups signed ceasefire agreements and began sharing control of territory and business interests. Conflict was absent in the so-called special region areas along the border with China, Laos and Thailand, but statistics show the drug trade has been on the rise since then.

The cross-border drug trade has a long history in the area. In the mid-1800s, opium was used to promote international trade when the West, led by Britain, forced China to open its market after the Opium Wars of 1839-60. The French also brought opium to China from Afghanistan, India and Hanoi. In the 1950s, a joint operation by the Kuomintang and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency against the Chinese communists was at the forefront of the opium trade in the Golden Triangle. In the 21st century, Asian methamphetamine has begun to replace opium in the world market. In fact, drug money could be said to make the world go round.

In Myanmar, production of ATS drugs has increased almost 10-fold since 1996. It has reached alarming levels in the region as a major transnational organized crime activity.

Complaint mechanism established

The Drug Activity Special Complaint Department of the President's Office was formed in June 2018 with the aim—as stated in the state media—"to prevent and eradicate the dangers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances". The complaint mechanism works in two ways: The department receives complaints from the public and relays the information to the Ministry of Home Affairs, and then the Tatmadaw and Myanmar Police Force carry out separate investigations on drug complaints, search and arrests at border gates, and searches of vehicles, acting upon tip-offs.

The move by the President's Office seems to have encouraged civilian participation in drug eradication and increased scrutiny of security officials' involvement in the drug trade. Some military and police officials have been arrested for their involvement in drug trafficking. Significant amounts of drugs and precursor chemicals have been seized. It turns out that the country is facing a serious drug problem on many levels, not only as a distribution country but also as a major consumer.

However, the anti-drug operation has reached only limited areas controlled by the government. Certain areas along the border are the scenes of ongoing conflict and are still controlled by armed groups. The president's anti-drug operations are tantamount to cutting down a bush without digging up its roots.

Women in the drug trade

Whether it's insurgent groups or drug organizations, men usually run the drug trade because of its high-risk nature. As in Afghanistan, Myanmar women's involvement has mostly been limited to opium cultivation, but recent statistics show that women are increasingly being exploited to facilitate the drug trade.

More than 1,200 women were arrested during the recent anti-drug operations launched by the President's Office. That's equivalent to 14 percent of total arrests for drug trafficking. These women get involved in drug trafficking for a range of reasons, from being drug abusers or victims of human trafficking to the desire to escape poverty.

According to UNODC data, of 98 countries that provided sex-disaggregated drug-related crime data for the period 2012–2016, some 10 per cent of those arrested for drug-related offenses were women. The ratio of women arrested in the drug supply chain in Myanmar is higher, but women in this country have very limited access to resources to treat drug-related harms.

According to official statistics, the government has set up 26 major and 47 minor drug-treatment centers, as well as 51 methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) sites, but very few of them have facilities catering especially for women.

Furthermore, these services do not yet cater to meth users. "These services need to be expanded to address methamphetamine use and other drugs-related harms," the official national drug control policy document states.

Man-made drugs, man-made conflict

Although demand is shifting from opium to synthetic drugs, the conflict situation in the country remains unchanged. A shift toward man-made drugs is a serious threat not only to Myanmar but also to the whole region.

Conflict reduction is as important as drug supply, demand and harm reduction in Myanmar. In the national drug control policy paper, one of the priorities is listed as "strengthening cooperation mechanisms on drug control and rule of law with ethnic armed groups".

Offering legal impunity to armed groups involved in the drug trade should no longer be viewed as a solution; the evidence shows it has failed. The question now becomes: What do we offer the drug lords, whose only law is the law of the jungle?

Mon Mon Myat is a freelance journalist and graduate student in the Ph.D program in peace-building at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The post New Strategies Needed as EAOs Adapt to Changes in Drug Demand appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

INGOs Discourage Repatriation for their Own Interests: Gov’t Spokesperson

Posted: 25 Nov 2018 11:00 PM PST

NAYPYITAW—The Myanmar government's spokesperson U Zaw Htay has accused international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) of deliberately discouraging refugees in Bangladesh from returning to Myanmar due to their own business interests.

Speaking at the government's press conference on Friday, U Zaw Htay, also director-general of the President's Office, said that INGOs share the blame for refugees' reluctance to come back to Myanmar.

"There are a lot of food imports and supplies. There is a big market there. INGOs do not want [refugees] to go back to Myanmar so that they can implement projects for a long time—health care, children, women, and so on. My point is that, as it is a really big business, INGOs are telling the refugees not to go back. That is where the problem exists," said U Zaw Htay.

NGOs and INGOs became institutionalized after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008, thereby paving the way for thriving NGO businesses. Normally, the victims receive only around 30 percent of the contributions made by donors, claimed U Zaw Htay.

People have different views on the role of NGOs and INGOs in the repatriation of refugees. NGOs and INGOs also have different views about repatriation, said executive director of Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, U Min Zaw Oo.

"Some human rights NGOs say [refugees] should not go back to Myanmar without a guarantee that they will have their human rights and citizenship. Some said that they should not go back until they are allowed to travel freely across the country. There are different views among NGOs," said U Min Zaw Oo.

He declined to comment on the financial matters of NGOs or their business interests, but claimed that some of the refugees might have considered coming back to Myanmar.

Lower House lawmaker U Pe Than of the Arakan National Party shared the same view as U Zaw Htay, saying that Rakhine State has experienced growing instability over the past ten years since INGOs and NGOs came to operate there.

"Not even half of the money given by donors reaches the people. They just make up invoices and documentary photos to convince the donors. They receive benefits from one project after another. And they have more opportunities regarding the Bengali issue because there are many international donors who want to support them," said the lawmaker, using the government's term for the Rohingya, implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

He said there are also other reasons that make Rohingya refugees reluctant to come back to Myanmar.

"They want to take advantage of the pressures from the international community. There are ten demands including their recognition as Rohingya and granting of their citizenship. They said they would not return unless those demands are fulfilled. And ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) has also threatened them," said U Pe Than.

Myanmar's government has said that it has been ready for refugee repatriation since Jan. 23 this year but that the Bangladeshi government has not been able to fulfill its part of their bilateral agreement with Myanmar.

The Myanmar government has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the repatriation of refugees.

The government has put off the repatriation plan until January as no one has opted to return, said U Zaw Htay.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post INGOs Discourage Repatriation for their Own Interests: Gov't Spokesperson appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Famed Dome-Shaped Pagoda Repainting Project to Start This Week

Posted: 25 Nov 2018 10:02 PM PST

MANDALAY – The repainting of Sagaing’s Kaunghmudaw Pagoda will begin on Dec. 1, the pagoda’s trustee committee said on Sunday.

The famed dome-shape pagoda was painted gold on the instruction of a former military general and locals of Sagaing and the pagoda's trustee committee have been seeking permission to repaint it in its original white color for some time.

After permission was finally granted by the regional government in September this year, the pagoda trustee committee held discussions with one of the Myanmar's most influential abbot, Sitagu Sayadaw, and tenders for the project were called for early this month.

“We will begin the repainting process on December 1, and plan to finish it by the full moon day of Tabaung, which is the birthday of Sitagu Sayadaw,” said U Tin Myo Lwin, chairperson of Pagoda Trustee Committee.

The full moon of Tabaung falls in March, and the trustee committee said they will make sure to finish the painting project in time to celebrate the birthday of Sitagu Sayadaw.

According to the trustee committee, the paint is to be imported from Italy and will cost about $71,000. The full project, including the cleaning and removal of the gold paint from the pagoda, is expected to cost around 130 million kyats ($81,000).

“There will be a lot of processes which we will do including scraping off the gold paint, cleaning, reinforcing, applying a protective coating and painting it white, which are time-consuming and costly. However, we will make sure to finish the whole process on time,” said U Tin Myo Lwin.

He said that the pagoda, in its original white color, will be revealed during a Buddhist ceremony in celebration of the birthday of Sitagu Sayadaw.

Kaunghmudaw Pagoda, more than 380 years old, was originally painted white. In December 2010, after a visit by former Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the pagoda was painted gold. Rumors spread during that time that the senior-general ordered it painted gold according to an astrologist's suggestion in order to bring prosperity.

The post Famed Dome-Shaped Pagoda Repainting Project to Start This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Heaps Pressure on Taiwan President after Election Defeat

Posted: 25 Nov 2018 09:04 PM PST

TAIPEI/SHANGHAI—Chinese state media heaped pressure on Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday after her ruling pro-independence party suffered heavy defeats at local elections at the weekend, saying Beijing would seek cooperation with newly elected officials.

Tsai resigned on Saturday as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after losing key battleground cities in mayoral polls to the China-friendly Kuomintang. The DPP now only controls six cities and counties to the Kuomintang’s 15.

Han Kuo-yu, the Kuomintang’s mayor-elect in the southern port city of Kaohsiung and the most high profile of the party’s winners, said he would open the door to contacts with China.

Beijing has refused to deal with Tsai’s administration since she took office in 2016, accusing her of pushing for the island’s formal independence. That is a red line for China, which considers the proudly democratic island sacred Chinese territory.

Tsai has said she wants to maintain the status quo with China but will defend Taiwan’s security and democracy.

The official China Daily said in an editorial Tsai had ignored Beijing’s “cooperative stance” and forced relations into a deadlock, and that “her separatist stance has lost her the support of the people on the island.”

“Cross-Straits communication and cooperation between local governments are expected to be strengthened as a result of the election, which will bring more opportunities and help deepen mutual understanding,” it wrote.

The Kuomintang has sent delegations to China since Tsai took office, where they have been warmly received, and that contact is now likely to increase.

Another state-run Chinese paper, the widely read tabloid the Global Times, said in its editorial that the DPP’s “radical thinking” had led them astray.

“The party needs to reflect on this failure and make an about-face on its stance in the cross-Straits ties,” it said.

Taiwan’s government has warned China not to interfere in its elections and reacted swiftly on Sunday to denounce China’s welcoming of the DPP’s poor showing as being a reflection of people’s desire for better ties across the Taiwan Strait.

“Communications and exchanges that do not have political preconditions are the only correct way to resolve disputes and increase the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said, warning China not to try to contact newly elected local officials.

The post China Heaps Pressure on Taiwan President after Election Defeat appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Pakistani Woman Police Commander Led Defense of Chinese Mission

Posted: 25 Nov 2018 08:49 PM PST

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani policewoman Suhai Aziz Talpur heard of the attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi while driving to work. She rushed to the scene to find two of her colleagues dead, and a trio of insurgents attempting to blow their way into the building.

Her fast response and actions during the nearly two-hour assault on the diplomatic mission in the southern port city have been praised for saving countless lives, turning 30-year-old Talpur into an instant celebrity — and potential feminist icon — in Pakistan, where female police officers remain rare.

“The moment I arrived, an exchange of fire was taking place, blasts had been heard, smoke was emanating,” Talpur, an assistant superintendent, told Reuters.

Right away, she took up a position to fire at the attackers and began calling for reinforcements.

“We started to advance inside the consulate and gradually neutralized the situation,” she said.

Since the attack a picture of Talpur holding her pistol, flanked by commandos, has gone viral on social media in Pakistan. Her bravery has also earned her a nomination for the country’s highest award for police officers.

Friday’s attack, claimed by separatist insurgents from the impoverished southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan, killed four people, including two police officers who Talpur said were the real heroes.

“The real credit goes to Assistant Sub-Inspector Ashraf [Dawood] and Constable Amir [Khan], who kept the attackers engaged and sacrificed their lives,” she said.

Once the attack ended, Talpur was among the first police officers to enter the mission and began reassuring the staff.

“When I entered there was a Chinese lady and three or four Pakistani men,” she recalled. “The Chinese lady hugged me and I told her ‘You are in safe hands, things are under control,'”

Talpur, who is scheduled to be promoted soon, will be one of only two female officers above the rank of assistant superintendent in the Sindh Province police force. But she believes women have a big role to play in law enforcement.

“A woman can be a better detective than a man, we see each and every thing and memorize it better,” she said.

Pakistan was recently ranked as the fourth worst country for women in a study conducted by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. But the police and military have recently been running programs to encourage more women in law enforcement roles and in the armed forces.

Police officers are on the front lines of Pakistan’s battle against militancy, often targeted by Islamist and insurgent groups. In 2016, 59 cadets were killed when militants stormed a police academy in the southwestern city of Quetta. The attack was claimed by Islamic State, but Pakistani authorities blamed it on local militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

In Karachi, officers have been targeted by Taliban militants and scores have been killed in a wave of urban violence that engulfed the city for two decades from the 1990s.

Talpur, who hails from a small, conservative village in the southern Sindh Province, was studying to be a chartered accountant when she decided her chosen profession was too “dull” and joined the police instead.

The post Pakistani Woman Police Commander Led Defense of Chinese Mission appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Malaysia Bets on Durian as China Goes Bananas For World’s Smelliest Fruit

Posted: 25 Nov 2018 08:25 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR — The stinky, spiky durian is set to become Malaysia’s next major export as the Southeast Asian nation rushes to develop thousands of acres to cash in on unprecedented demand for the fruit from China.

Once planted in family orchards and small-scale farms, the durian, described by some as smelling like an open sewer or turpentine when ripe, is attracting investments like never before. Even property tycoons and companies in palm oil, Malaysia’s biggest agricultural export, are making forays into the durian business.

The Malaysian government is encouraging large-scale farming of durian, counting on a 50 percent jump in exports by 2030.

“The durian industry is transforming from local to global, large-scale farming due to the great demand from China,” said Lim Chin Khee, a durian industry consultant. “Before the boom, a durian farm in Malaysia would be a leisure farm … Now they are hundreds of acres and bigger, and many more will come.”

Durian may be banned in some airports, public transport and hotels in Southeast Asia for its pungent smell, but the Chinese are huge fans. Durian-flavored foods sold in China include pizza, butter, salad dressing and milk.

“At first, I also hated durians because I thought they have a weird smell,” said Helen Li, 26, eating at a shop specializing in durian pizza in Shanghai, where nearly every customer ordered the 60 yuan ($8.50) dish during a recent lunch hour rush. “But when you taste it, it’s really quite delicious. I think those who hate durian are scared by its smell. But once you try it, I think their opinion will change.”

At another Shanghai restaurant selling durian chicken hotpot — a type of sizzling broth — for around 148 yuan ($21), owner Chen Weihao said the store could sell around 20 to 25 kg of imported Thai durian every month.

“When you taste it, it has a kind of fresh and sweet flavor, as if you have arrived in the tropics,” said 27-year-old customer Yang Yang.

Top dollar

Chinese pay top dollar for Malaysia’s “Musang King” variety of durian because of its creamy texture and bittersweet taste. Prices of the variety, now planted all over the country, have nearly quadrupled in the last five years.

China’s durian imports rose 15 percent last year to nearly 350,000 tons worth $510 million, according to the United Nations’ trade database. Nearly 40 percent was from Thailand, the world’s top producer and exporter.

Malaysia accounted for less than 1 percent but expects sales to China to jump to 22,061 tons by 2030 from this year’s likely 14,600 tons as trade is widened to include whole fruit from the current restriction to durian pulp and paste.

Lim, the consultant, said palm oil giant IOI Corp and property-to-resorts conglomerate Berjaya Corp have approached him about making ventures into durian farming.

IOI did not respond to Reuters’ queries, but a source with direct knowledge of the matter said the company was looking to plant durian on a small scale.

Berjaya, headed by one of Malaysia’s richest businessmen, Vincent Tan, did not respond to a request for comment.

State-owned palm oil company Felda said the Agricultural Ministry began planting durian on its land this year. PLS Plantations, a construction and palm plantation firm which counts property tycoon Lim Kang Hoo as a director, last month said it will buy a $5 million stake in a durian exporter.

M7 Plantation Bhd, a private company established last year, is developing a 10,000-acre durian estate in Gua Musang, home to the Musang King in the eastern state of Kelantan, and is selling durian trees for 5,000 ringgit ($1,200) each.

“We founded the company because we see potential in the industry, the primary target being China,” Chief Executive Ng Lee Chin said, adding that most of her buyers were from China.

Agriculture “gold”

“Planting durians is not just a hobby today as durians are considered as ‘gold’ in the agriculture industry,” the Agriculture Department said in e-mailed comments to Reuters.

Malaysia’s durian plantations covered 72,000 hectares last year but the area under cultivation is growing, the department said, and in some areas plantations growing palm oil are switching to durian because it is seen as more lucrative.

In March, Malaysia’s then-agriculture minister was quoted as saying one hectare of Musang King could yield nearly nine times more revenue than a hectare of palm plantation.

In Sabah State, some of the land for durian farming will come from converting palm estates, its Agriculture Ministry said, adding it was planning expansion over 5,000 hectares.

The increase in durian farming, however, has raised concerns it could take an environmentally destructive path similar to palm oil.

The palm oil industry has been held responsible for large-scale deforestation and destruction of species-rich rainforests in Malaysia.

The Star, a local newspaper, reported last month that around 1,200 hectares of land near a forest reserve in the state of Pahang that is home to the critically endangered Malayan tiger would be razed for Musang King plantations.

Pahang officials did not respond to request for comments.

“In a matter of time, the durian boom will run the way of palm oil,” said Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil, president of the environmental non-government organization Peka Malaysia.

The post Malaysia Bets on Durian as China Goes Bananas For World’s Smelliest Fruit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, November 25, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

88 Generation’s U Ko Ko Gyi Shares Vision for New Party, Myanmar

Posted: 23 Nov 2018 10:07 PM PST

Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week U Ko Ko Gyi — chairman of the People's Party, recently established by the 88 Generation student leaders, who have taken a leading role since the 1988 pro-democracy uprising — has joined me to discuss his insights into Myanmar’s complicated political landscape. I'm Kyaw Zwa Moe, The Irrawaddy English editor.

It is fair to say that Myanmar politics have always been as complicated as they could be. After the country regained independence in 1948, civil war broke out and problems arose with ethnic armed groups under the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League government. Because of the civil war, Myanmar came under the military boot. There was the one-party authoritarianism of the Myanmar Socialist Program Party and then a military regime. Now we are in the era of the elected government. But the legacy [of military rule] still lingers as new problems arise. What new ideas and approaches do you have, as a leader of a new party, to resolve the country's unsolved problems?

Ko Ko Gyi: I have often made this joke when I am asked why I joined politics. Jokingly I reply [that I joined because] I don't like ease. I mean I could make a comfortable living to myself. But since 1988 I feel I could not just stand by, and I have had dreams about the future of my country, the way I wanted it to be. To pull our country out of the complicated maze you mentioned was one of our dreams. The daily politics of the grassroots people are their livelihood. We have had dreams of improving their living standards to be on par with neighboring countries, or better than theirs if possible. Analyzing the problems, one is the politics that involve the civil war, ethnic equality and federalism, and civil-military relation, because the country was under military rule for a long time and is experiencing a constitutional crisis as attempts are made to address those problems within the framework of the 2008 Constitution. These are the political problems. Also, looking from a different perspective, I'm afraid the political leaders are trapped in the political problems. So we wondered how much attention they have been able to pay to the daily livelihood problems of the people, and what the links are between the political terminologies we argue about and the daily lives of the people. So we think that while we try to end the civil war, which is even older than us, there is also a need to have political impact on the daily lives of ordinary people.

KZM: So it has become ever more important to find approaches?

KKG: Yes it has.

KZM: As you have said, one of the problems is the civil war, and so there are efforts toward peace. The role of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) in politics should be noted. And there is also a constitutional crisis. Tatmadaw leaders play a very important role. The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has focused on national reconciliation. If you do acquire a degree of power, how would you negotiate with Tatmadaw leaders?

KKG: We have become middle-aged men since we first engaged in politics as students. The Tatmadaw has also had a new generation come to power. The military officers of 1988 have either retired or died. I see that change as an opportunity. I would like to build understanding between the Tatmadaw’s younger generation and our younger generation. I have had informal talks on secession, for example. Nobody wants to secede and nobody wants others to secede. Generally, there is no disagreement on that. But the conceptual foundations are different. One side thinks the other side must give up the right to secede, and the other side thinks that it must cling to it because it is enshrined in the [1947] Panglong Agreement. This is negative argument. So why don't we take a different approach? For example, in the US Constitution it says "in order to form a more perfect Union." So if we take our cue from this and say "in order to form a more perfect federal Union," then there is no need to argue over secession. The establishment of a federal union is a process, and it will not be completed in a certain period of time. So at informal talks I have suggested taking a different approach and thinking about "in order to form a more perfect federal Union", and some military officials have seriously considered it. So my point is that there will be no answers if we solve old problems with old ideas. Everyone should accept this point. If we can find new approaches and new ideas, especially if there are new approaches and new ideas among the younger generations, I think these problems will be overcome.

KZM: The question is how to offer them new ideas, especially those who have some degree of power. I mean if military leaders will have new insights and understandings about constitutional reform. If not, they will maintain the mindset of protecting the 2008 Constitution and not allowing it to be changed.  If that is the case, how would you make them change their mind?

KKG: In negotiations, each side should try to know each other's red lines.

KZM: They can't be crossed?

KKG: It is better to not cross them, but I don't mean they shouldn't be crossed at all. Both sides should work to find common ground within the agreed range without crossing the red lines. If disagreements are repeatedly touched on, the distance will expand. So we've called for acknowledging the differences and finding common ground to start working on it. Then, we hope, the differences will diminish.

KZM: The 2020 election is years away. Before we talk about the election, let's think about some possible scenarios. If the People's Party — I found that it has achieved a certain level of public recognition — were to have some degree of authority, what approaches would it adopt to address these problems that would be different from those of the U Thein Sein government and the current government?

KKG: Speaking of the political problems we mentioned earlier in the conversation, while there are calls for ceasefires and peace, the role of those who are capable of firing and shooting has become more important.

KZM: There are more clashes now.

KKG: If this problem is objectively accepted as a political problem, and not a military problem, there is a need to empower the ethnic political forces. So one of the policies of the People's Party is to forge an alliance with ethnic political parties. If we can help them secure political representation and political power in their regions, there will be an option. As evidence builds that running a political party can lead to politically favorable results, there will be greater belief that those problems can be solved politically and that there is no need to take up arms. So in working to achieve peace, there is a special need, from a political point of view, to create a role for ethnic political forces. I seriously believe this.

KZM: Many political parties like your policy. The ruling NLD will remain the most powerful party in the 2020 election. The second most powerful will be the USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party). Your party may be an alternative to those two parties. But being the third party may be a big challenge. What is your party's strategy to mobilize public support in regions like Yangon and Mandalay?

KKG: We've opened a headquarters. Then we'll have to open branches outside Yangon. We have plans to turn those offices into centers where people can file complaints about their daily problems and seek advices and consultation. If people can discuss their problems frankly and seek advice … we believe we will gain public support over time if we give them practical support rather than urge them to join or vote for the party. And speaking of ethnic regions, ethnic populations are spread differently in different regions.  So these are things that need detailed discussion. Yes, it is true for democratically mature countries that democracy is about standing for election and competing intensely. But in a sensitive and deeply divided country like ours, there is a need for cooperation at every stage — in policy, in elections and in parliament after elections.

KZM: Many believe the NLD is working for a successful democratic transition for the country. Your party of 88 Generation leaders also works for democracy. They can be clearly differentiated from those parties associated with dictators. How would you make the People's Party stand out among other democratic parties including the NLD to win greater public support? It seems the NLD still has real potential to win the 2020 election.

KKG: As we've worked together for many years, we want to hold talks with other parties, including the NLD, that have the same stance and objective as us. And we can hold talks with them about related issues, for example. If we have a shared view on a particular subject, then we can just inform the public as it is. If not, regarding urban challenges, for example, we have to convince the public that our plans are better.

KZM: So my question is, what would you do to win the election?

KKG: It is a cause for concern that voter turnout has declined. Voter turnout declined in the 2017 by-election, and in the 2018 by-election fewer than 50 percent of [eligible] voters cast votes; only 42 percent of voters cast votes. Why didn't they cast votes? Are they fed up with politics? Do they feel that nothing will improve even if they vote? I think that population is particularly important for us. So I believe the People's Party can win votes by rekindling their interest in politics and bringing them back to polling stations.

KZM: Now is the age of globalization, so we need to look beyond domestic affairs and into international relations. Myanmar has been criticized and its image has been marred due to the Rakhine issue and human rights issues. As you have studied IR (international relations), what is your vision of Myanmar's international relations, or what is your party's foreign policy?

KKG: We have adopted a policy of reciprocal, beneficial and peaceful cooperation with neighboring countries, regional countries and the international community. In fact, the Rakhine issue is a specific issue. There is still argument about whether it is a domestic issue or an international issue. The international community labels it an international issue, and we have to approach it from the perspective of the sovereignty and security of the country. Some [countries] have criticized us out of honest concerns, but some have their own agendas. We don't want to confront any country. We should try to make our international friends understand the reality. And we need to solve the problem issue by issue. From the point of view of human rights, whether they are citizens or not, they are human beings who should have access to humanitarian assistance and security. About their citizenship, citizenship laws are different from one country to another. The international community should acknowledge this point. Again, after they gain citizenship, there should not be discrimination on grounds of creed and color, gender and social status. So step by step we should try to make the international community understand and know the reality.

KZM: Some political analysts have said that ASEAN countries have to choose between the US and China. What is your choice?

KKG: There are two types of international relations. One is value-based, such as the values of democracy, human rights and liberalism. Each country implements its foreign policy based on what it values. Another is interest-based. There are cases when countries give priority to interests over values when their interests are confronted. So a political leader needs to understand what [the country’s] political interests are. And they need to adjust international norms and values as much as possible to match the interests of their country. So there are only two ways big countries are involved in international politics. One is their interests and the other is the values that they trumpet. It is important that we understand this fact and manage international relations effectively, because we are a small country in terms of size and are neighbors with superpowers. Any government in office has to give priority to maintaining good ties with them; this is the requirement of reality. And it also needs to maintain friendly ties with the international community.

KZM: Thank you for your contributions, Ko Ko Gyi.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post 88 Generation’s U Ko Ko Gyi Shares Vision for New Party, Myanmar appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, November 23, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Arakan Army Claims It Killed 3 Tatmadaw Soldiers in Remote Clash

Posted: 23 Nov 2018 06:24 AM PST

YANGON—Three government soldiers were reportedly killed on Thursday during fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) in an area between northern Rakhine State's Buthidaung Township and Chin State's Paletwa Township.

The fighting coincided with the Tazaungmone Festival, also known as the Festival of Lights, which marks the full-moon day in Tazaungmone, the eighth month in the traditional Myanmar calendar.

From its headquarters in Kachin State's Laiza, the AA reported the skirmish via its official Facebook page. It said the fighting broke out on Thursday afternoon. Citing witness accounts, the AA said three soldiers of the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw) had been killed and that one of its own fighters was wounded. It said the fighting erupted when an active AA frontline column unexpectedly encountered government troops near where the borders of Myanmar, Bangladesh and India meet.

A resident of Buthidaung Township told The Irrawaddy that a major from the Tatmadaw's Buthidaung battalion was killed and that his body had been evacuated by helicopter yesterday. He also claimed that at least a dozen AA rebels were killed.

The AA's statement did not elaborate on the cause of the clash; it said simply that the Tatmadaw commonly launches offensives against it at the end of the monsoon season. The military had not released any casualty figures via its website as of Friday. The Irrawaddy was unable to reach an Army spokesman for comment on Friday.

Ko Kyaw Aung, a member of an ethnic Chin charity group from Paletwa Township, said his group had heard about the renewed clashes from villagers, but said he did not have updated information because the area was outside telecom network coverage and was not linked to urban areas by a sealed road. The village nearest the fighting is a 10-hour boat ride from Paletwa. Despite occasional fighting in the region, not a single villager had sought refuge in the downtown area of Paletwa so far, he said.

Asked by The Irrawaddy whether the recent flare-ups in fighting were a sign that the AA had established a strong foothold in the Paletwa region, he said, "I am not a military expert but we can obviously see that many clashes are occurring in various locations in a single day."

There had been no tightening of security downtown, Ko Kyaw Aung said, but military officers were checking the IDs of passengers on boats bound for the upper Paletwa region.

The AA and the Tatmadaw have clashed on numerous occasions in recent months. In October, the AA even announced that its snipers had taken out a commander and three soldiers from the Tatmadaw's Infantry Unit No. 541.

In October 2015, during the administration of then-President U Thein Sein, the AA, Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Kokang groups were excluded from signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). Eight armed organizations out of more than 20 in the country inked the accord, but some of the largest, including the Kachin Independence Army, declined to do so.

The post Arakan Army Claims It Killed 3 Tatmadaw Soldiers in Remote Clash appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Making Myanmar’s Last Royal Capital an ASEAN ‘Smart City’

Posted: 23 Nov 2018 06:18 AM PST

YANGON—Myanmar's last royal capital, Mandalay, was recently ranked by CIO Asia as number fifth among the top 10 cities in Southeast Asia in the process of becoming "smart cities," a ranking which is based on information from The ASEAN Post, The Economist Intelligence Unit,a the network's own project profiles and Govlnsider.

Mandalay City Development Committee (MDCD) has drawn up a 30-year urban development plan with a vision to improve the water supply system, wastewater treatment and solid waste management using smart technology. Sensors have been installed on the streets of Mandalay to monitor and control traffic in real time and to monitor the condition of pipelines and water meters as well as a new electronic toll-payment system. The efforts show Mandalay has strong potential to achieve its goal of becoming a "smart city" along with more than 20 other contending ASEAN cities.

U Ye Myat Thu, Mandalay's smart city officer and committee member of MCDC spoke with The Irrawaddy's reporter Nan Lwin about recent developments, the technological transformations of Mandalay municipality and challenges that may come in the process of gaining full smart city status.

Recently, Mandalay was recognized by CIO Asia as a Southeast Asian city in the process of becoming a smart city. It was ranked as the fifth most promising city on the list. Over MCDC's two remaining years in term, how do you envision this happening?

Some people may think a smart city is like something out of a James Bond movie where you would see lots of high-tech weapons or something like that. Perhaps some may think that everything in the city will be transformed into a luxurious form using a huge amount of money. Definitely not. Actually, a smart city is one that facilitates public services using technology.

Mandalay is now using sensors which keep real time traffic light records and monitor traffic congestion through automated control centers. The sensors also track the condition of pipelines and water meters in real time to identify leaks. The city now uses a radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based system in a new electronic toll payment system.

Front view of Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) headquarters. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Early this year, while Singapore took the position of chair of ASEAN, the country's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong proposed the ASEAN Smart Cities Network initiative. All ASEAN member countries agreed to collaborate in the initiative in order to promote smart and sustainable urban development. Among more than 20 participating cities, our processes have shown strong improvements in [the process of] achieving our smart city goal. Hence we are considered to be in the process of becoming a smart city and already have some features needed to get full smart city status.

What are the characteristics and framework for an ASEAN smart city?

The official Smart Cities Framework is based on partnership and funding. The framework has six main areas— Civic and Social, Health and Well-being, Safety and Security, Quality Environment, Building Infrastructure and Industry and Innovation. In each area, there are categories to improve in such as Culture and Heritage Tourism, Public and Municipal Services, Governance, Housing and Home, Healthcare, Education, Resource Security, Cybersecurity, Public Safety, City Surveillance and Crime Prevention.

Here in Myanmar, Culture and Heritage, Resource Security, Cybersecurity, City Surveillance and Crime Prevention and Trade and Commerce are under different ministries. In other countries, those sectors are under the control of a mayor.

Unlike other countries, we can't control all sectors included in the ASEAN Smart Cities Framework. However, public and municipal services, governance (only e-government), environment quality, resource access and management, urban resilience, traffic control, buildings and construction are under the MCDC's umbrella so we can transform those sectors using technology.

What are MCDC's main technological transformations in Mandalay?

It started with garbage collection trucks. We installed GPS and software to monitor their routes and daily duty areas. We installed an alert system so if they don't go to a township where they are supposed to collect the garbage, we are alerted.

We are using IOT (Internet of Things) sensors on the street to keep track of vehicles. The sensors also scan vehicle numbers; we can track their route from the control room with real time control monitors to see whether they ran a red light and which direction they are heading.

We installed CCTV cameras at traffic lights. Some cameras can clearly see whether the seatbelt is fastened and also how many people are in the car. All the data is directly sent to the control room. By entering the vehicle's plate number, we can find details on the vehicle's routes. It can help the crime unit and investigations.

The traffic lights are automatic and adjust depending on traffic congestion. If there are no cars on the other side, the green light will turn red automatically. As in the system currently used in Singapore, vehicles from the other sides can pass through. By using technology, we also receive traffic congestion data. Therefore, we are able to learn which streets should be one-way or two-way.

A Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)-based system has been installed at the toll gates. It is an electronic payment system. We assembled laser walls at every highway toll gate which scan the size of the vehicles and calculate the payment due. Traditionally, tolls were paid by hand at the toll gate. We didn't get detailed data. The cash that we received was always less than the actual number of vehicles. There were cases of corruption; the accounts used to be wrong.


The technology control center at MCDC’s headquarters. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Now most of the highway companies are satisfied with our electronic prepaid payment system because they can track their vehicles and also receive detailed data. Moreover, they don't have to spend extra money on a machine for counting exact cash amounts.

MCDC is introducing a 3-R (reduce, reuse, recycle) recycling system to the citizens. We have installed recycling bins for different types of waste in many places. Students are learning about the recycling bins at school. We are training them on how to put the waste into the different bins (paper, cans or plastics).

Can you elaborate more on the details of Mandalay's 30-year master plan?

We only announced the new garbage system to the citizens, but we have also started using an automatic meter-reading system in some townships with which government staff can record water usage on applications on their mobile phones just by walking in front of a house. We also installed sensors to record how many gallons of water are wasted. Those projects were funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Netherlands, Japan and other countries.

Drones have recorded the details of city planning and buildings. Moreover, we are re-collecting citizen data including family member numbers and properties and the number of vehicles. The project aims to produce a new dataset. If we know the number of family members, we can trace how many tons of garbage they produce. If we know how many vehicles they own, we can calculate traffic congestion and a potential new street-planning system.

It is interesting: we just received new figures for the city's population and housing. For example, previous data showed one million buildings while our new data shows double that figure. Based on the new data we can receive more taxes from the citizens.

MCDC have been adopting new technologies and rules that ordinary citizens may not be familiar with. How does MCDC engage with citizens?

Before we change something, we collect data first because data supports reasoning for making changes. The MCDC team were well-prepared for complaints from citizens. We have concrete reasons for every change in the city. We also have elected MCDC members who are the focal people for engaging with citizens.

Does MCDC face issues with changing the citizens' old habits during the period of transitioning to a smart city?

We try to make citizens follow rules. Trust is vital. They need to trust that we are making positive changes for them. If citizens don't follow the rules, all the money we spend will be wasted. I think citizens have changed a lot. It's like the broken window theory: a building with a few broken windows is more susceptible to vandals breaking the others. A clean space with no trash discourages people from littering.

I believe citizens can control their own community to follow the rules. In some townships people organized small trucks to collect garbage. We just need to provide the bins and gather all the garbage at the same place. They also installed CCTV to see who is continuing to put rubbish in the wrong place because some people are used to throwing near the bins. There are penalties for who those don't put rubbish into the bins directly.

I heard that smart city concept came from a city mayor who was very passionate about urban planning even before he became a mayor. What is the role of Mandalay's mayor during this transformation?

All the decisions for the city were based on Mandalay's mayor's vision. The mayor was brave as he dared to make decisions to buy the latest technology. If he is not brave, I would have to work with China-made machines and the result would be stumbling.

Whenever we have to use part of the budget for technology or software or machines for the smart city, we have challenges with the audit teams, but the mayor always explains to them that long-lasting products are more expensive. If he didn't understand those kinds of things, we would never get the best technologies or machines for the city.

MCDC have introduced new technologies in many sectors within a short time. How was the budget managed?

Some high-tech software was donated by foreign companies. Mostly, we got discounts because the companies want to show Mandalay as an example. If the project results are good here, the company will be able to advertise their products to the rest of the country.

MCDC didn't receive budget for this project from the Union government. After we collected building and population data, we received more taxes from the citizens. Moreover, the RFID systems at the toll gates are providing a huge income for MCDC. After we use technology in the public service sectors, including in toll gates, water meters and others, our income significantly increased.

In the past, people used to build or renovate buildings without MCDC's permission. Now we use drones to get actual figures and photos of buildings. Citizens understand if they build without permission we will immediately trace it from our data center. As a result, the income from the building permits has also increased.

What are the biggest challenges?

Every change faces resistance. Sometimes the resistance exists even within our employees. When we installed the GPS systems on garbage trucks, some employees put water in them so we couldn't trace their routes. We had to warn them that if they do it again, we will take serious action.

There are challenges dealing with some ministries. For example, at the riverfront area, a ministry has given permission to private sand companies [to take sand] so the area is so messy. However, we can't manage that kind of thing because it is not under our control.

Public transportation is not under MCDC's control. Even though drivers are breaking the rules and regulations, we can't take action against them. They aren't afraid of us at all.  Sometimes I joke with my ethnic friends that we also want federalism in Mandalay as well.

What are the future plans of MCDC?

We are planning to do standard mapping in order to easily find any location in Mandalay. We will draw up street direction signs using systems of international standards, particularly the United States' standardized system. We have been working on a payment gateway system so citizens don't need to come to the office to make payments on property taxes, construction permits and other municipal taxes.

In the future, they will be able to make payments using QR codes at the nearest bank. Technologically it is almost ready but we still need to negotiate with private banks. MCDC is looking to buy standard facial recognition technology which could help police in investigate crime cases.

A wastewater treatment plant is now under construction and we plan to clean all waste water in the near future. MCDC is also working with Japan to draw up a drainage master plan to solve flooding on the roads and other issues. We will bring in new technology for drainage systems in the future.

I can't predict when or if Mandalay will achieve full smart city status but we will leave all these achievements made during our administration as a foundation.

The post Making Myanmar's Last Royal Capital an ASEAN 'Smart City' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Separatist Rebels Storm China’s Consulate in Pakistan, Two Police Killed

Posted: 23 Nov 2018 05:03 AM PST

KARACHI, Pakistan — Three suicide attackers tried to storm the Chinese consulate in the Pakistani city of Karachi on Friday but were killed before they could get into the building, the city’s police chief said.

At least two police officers were killed in the attack, which was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist insurgent group that opposes Chinese projects in the resource-rich southwestern province of Baluchistan.

All Chinese staff at the consulate were safe, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and China’s Foreign Ministry said.

The assault was the most prominent attack in Pakistan against China, a neighbor and close ally which is pouring billions of dollars into Pakistan as part of its Belt and Road initiative.

It was also the highest-profile operation in years by the BLA, which mostly wages a low-level insurgency in Baluchistan. The group also calls itself the Balochistan Liberation Army.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered an inquiry, with his office calling the attack “part of conspiracy against Pak and China economic and strategic cooperation.”

As the attack unfolded, an explosion and gunshots rang out in Karachi’s affluent Clifton neighborhood, where the consulate is located, and a plume of smoke rose over the area.

Karachi police chief Amir Shaikh said the three attackers came in a car filled with explosives but failed to get inside the heavily fortified compound.

“They tried to get inside, but the Rangers and police killed one of the terrorists,” Shaikh said.

A gun battle broke out with the two other attackers trying to enter the consulate’s visa section, but they were also killed, he said.

At least three cars parked near the embassy were destroyed in the initial blast. A helicopter hovered over the area for hours after the attack.

Insurgency

A spokesman for the BLA confirmed there were three attackers.

“They stormed the Chinese Embassy in Karachi. China is exploiting our resources,” spokesman Jiand Baloch told Reuters by telephone.

The insurgents are based in Baluchistan, where China has funded development of a deep-water port in the town of Gwadar and other projects on a China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Baluchistan, which is on the borders of Afghanistan and Iran, has rich mineral and natural gas reserves but is Pakistan’s poorest province.

Separatists have for decades campaigned against the central government and what they see as the unfair exploitation of the province’s resources, in particular natural gas and minerals.

The BLA says the state is also taking over land belonging to indigenous people and has targeted Chinese-funded projects.

India was quick to condemn the attack, saying there was no justification for such violence.

India and Pakistan regularly blame each other for violence in each other’s countries and Pakistan has long accused India of supporting the Baluchistan insurgents. India denies that.

India has for decades accused Pakistan of supporting Islamist separatist militants fighting Indian security forces in the Indian part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

“The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Chinese targeted

The Friday attack was “reflective of a growing China focus by the BLA,” said Raffaello Pantucci, director of international security studies at the London-based Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies.

In August, a BLA suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying Chinese mining workers in Baluchistan, wounding five people.

China has in recent years become one of Pakistan’s most important investors and supporters with some $60 billion poured into projects as part of China’s continent-bridging Belt and Road initiative.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang condemned the attack and said China “requests the Pakistani side takes measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and organizations.”

When asked whether the attack would affect Chinese investment in Pakistan, Geng said China would “continue unswervingly” to work with Pakistan to develop CPEC projects.

The post Separatist Rebels Storm China’s Consulate in Pakistan, Two Police Killed appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Military Releases Ta’ang Locals Arrested in Retaliation for Detainment of Captain

Posted: 23 Nov 2018 03:34 AM PST

The Myanmar Army in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State, has released six Ta'ang locals which they arrested this week, while four others remain in detention following the Ta'ang National Liberation Army's (TNLA's) detaining of an army officer on Tuesday, according to local sources.

Myanmar Army Infantry Battalion 45, based in Kutkai, released five people yesterday evening and another this morning, according to the village head of Pan Ku in Kutkai Township where the incidents have been taking place.

"Those five people were released [on Thursday] at 8 p.m. local time," said Aike Sam, village head of Pan Ku.

One of the detainees was a woman who gave birth just 10 days ago. She, along with her new born baby and her two-year-old daughter, were among the five released yesterday.

The army continues to detain four others, one of whom is said to be the girlfriend of the Myanmar army captain who is currently being detained by the TNLA.

The locals detained have no involvement with the TNLA, according to Aike Sam who negotiated with the Myanmar Army for their release.

After the Myanmar Army interrogated the six people, they found them to be innocent and therefore released them, he said.

Joint forces of Infantry Division 99 and Infantry Battalion 45 of the Myanmar Army detained 10 people in total from the area where their army officer was detained by the TNLA.

The TNLA reported that they detained a captain named Chan Myay Htun from the Myanmar Army's Infantry Battalion 45, which is based in Kutkai Township, on Tuesday.

Members of the TNLA who stopped a car found the captain inside and seized two guns and bullets from him.

The TNLA have announced that they will take action against Capt. Chan Myay Htun under their own laws.

Capt. Chan Myay Htun's girlfriend is ethnic Ta'ang and lives in Mang Pan Village, according to local villagers. He often traveled to the village to visit her and some members of the TNLA knew about their relationship. He was arrested by the TNLA while enroute to her village.

In retaliation to the arrest, the Myanmar Army detained Capt. Chan Myay Htun's girlfriend along with her older brother who is the head of their village, Mang Pan, as well as the other villagers.

The post Military Releases Ta'ang Locals Arrested in Retaliation for Detainment of Captain appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Hong Kong Firm Close to Finalizing New Yangon City Proposal

Posted: 23 Nov 2018 03:07 AM PST

YANGON—Hong Kong-listed China Communications Construction Co. Ltd (CCCC) has nearly finalized its proposal for the development of US$1.5 billion (2.4 trillion kyats) worth of initial infrastructure for the controversial "New Yangon City" project across the Yangon River from Myanmar's commercial capital, according to a government body established to oversee the project.

New Yangon Development Company announced on Sunday that the final stage of negotiations with CCCC for the preparation of the Pre-Project Documents (PPD) including technical specifications, a financial proposal, a business model and related documents are now under way.

Upon the submission of the documents and approval by NYDC, CCCC will be able to enter the first stage of the NYDC Challenge Model, an adaptation of the global model of the Swiss Challenge for fair competition and transparency, according to NYDC chief executive Serge Pun.

The documents are expected to define the scope of nine initial infrastructure projects in the first phase of the mega-project.

They are: a six-lane bridge spanning the Hlaing River from Kyinmyindine Kannar Road near Bargaya Road to the New City; a two-lane bridge spanning the Pan Hlaing River alongside the existing Pan Hlaing River Bridge; 26 km of arterial roads connecting the major nodes of the new city; basic infrastructure and utilities for the five new Resettlement Village Towns; infrastructure for the first 10 sq. km of a planned industrial Estate; power distribution and transmission facilities; a water-treatment plant for the entire New City; a wastewater-treatment plant; and a water intake facility near the Toe River approximately 32 km from New Yangon City plus a water main distribution line.

NYDC plans to develop 20,000 acres of land in the first phase of the project, and claims this will generate 2 million jobs. The company says the cost of initial infrastructure work in the first phase is expected to exceed $1.5 billion.

The company and the Chinese firm signed a framework agreement in April this year.

As part of the NYDC Challenge, should a second party challenge with a lower bid, CCCC will be allowed to match the offer or forgo the bidding. If CCCC chooses to forgo, the second party will be awarded the contract and will be obliged to reimburse all costs incurred in connection with the preparation and submission of the PPD. Those costs will be agreed between NYDC and CCCC prior to the initiation of the tender process.

The project has come under criticism due to the low-lying topography of the area, which is prone to flooding as it has a maximum elevation of just 5 meters above sea level. NYDC said it had kick-started a flood-risk assessment for the New Yangon City project with Royal HaskoningDHV, a Dutch consultant.

However, Serge Pun said he believed the project will be "a success" if Myanmar is able to take advantage of current trade tensions between the U.S. and China and lure more foreign investors.

He said many factories in China were thinking about relocating to avoid the impact of U.S tariffs, which impose a 25-percent tax on goods made in the country. The property mogul described the situation as "an opportunity" if Myanmar could attract those factory owners to relocate to the New City.

The post Hong Kong Firm Close to Finalizing New Yangon City Proposal appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Human Rights Body Investigating Man’s Death in Yangon Police Custody

Posted: 22 Nov 2018 11:44 PM PST

YANGON — Myanmar’s National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday launched an investigation into the death of a man who was allegedly beaten by Yangon police while being interrogated.

Ko Aung Aung, 28, a taxi driver, was arrested by Thanlyin Township police on the evening of Sept. 12 along with two suspected thieves. According to local media, the two suspects told police that they hired Ko Aung Aung for a ride and that the taxi driver had nothing to do with the theft.

Ko Aung Aung died on Sept. 26, after the trial. His family then filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, believing he was tortured by police and died from his injuries.

U Phone Kywe, who is heading the investigation, said commission members have since met with the family, people who had contact with Ko Aung Aung during his detention, and the doctor who performed the post-mortem. He said they also intended to question police and the suspected thieves, who are being held at Insein Prison.

U Phone Kywe said the commission has also received other complaints accusing police of abusing detained suspects.

Recently in Ahlon Township, a tour operator detained as a suspected thief said police beat him in custody. Police apologized to the man after his allegations spread on social media and have launched an internal investigation of the accused officers.

In another case, a man suspected of stealing a fishing net died while in the custody of police in Dedaye Township, Irrawaddy Region. The National Human Rights Commission launched an investigation and on Aug. 1 sent a report to the Home Affairs Ministry, which oversees the police force, recommending that action be taken against the inspector and police officers involved.

"Police have a police manual and procedures. If they followed the law, there would be fewer extrajudicial cases. Unnecessary things happen because they are poorly followed. We need to find answers instead of placing blame. It is important that all police know and follow the police manual," said U Phone Kywe.

He said the commission would also speed up the education programs it runs that teach police and soldiers about human rights laws and rules.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Human Rights Body Investigating Man’s Death in Yangon Police Custody appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Says US-China Trade Talks Should be Equal, Mutually Beneficial

Posted: 22 Nov 2018 09:51 PM PST

BEIJING — Trade talks between the United States and China should be equal and mutually beneficial, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said on Friday, adding that he hoped the two countries can find ways to manage their differences through dialogue.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, are expected to hold talks during the G20 summit in Buenos Aires next week as trade ties between the world’s two largest economies become increasingly fraught.

Wang, speaking at a press conference in Beijing, said he hoped both sides could move in the same direction and find ways to resolve their problems. Officials from both countries are in close contact under guidance from their leaders, he added.

Washington wants Beijing to improve market access and intellectual property protections for US firms, cut industrial subsidies and slash a $375 billion trade gap. Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions.

The US tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports — about $267 billion more in goods — if Beijing fails to address US demands.

Trump said on Thursday that he hoped he can make a deal with China when he meets Xi.

“I can say this, China wants to make a deal very badly — because of the tariffs,” Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida.

“China wants to make a deal; if we can make a deal, we will,” he said.

The high-stakes meeting comes as the Trump administration shows little sign of backing down in its demands and rhetoric.

Washington said on Tuesday that China has failed to alter its “unfair” practices at the heart of the US-China trade conflict, in an update of the US Trade Representative’s “Section 301” investigation into China’s intellectual property and technology transfer policies.

China rejected the fresh US accusations of perpetuating “unfair” trade practices and urged Washington to stop making provocations.

The Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday that it was deeply concerned by the report issued by the US administration this week.

Citing security concerns, the US government on Monday also proposed stepping up scrutiny over technology exports in 14 key high-tech areas including artificial intelligence and microprocessor technology, a move that many analysts view as directly targeting China.

A 30-day public consultation period on the proposal to include those sectors in its broader export control regime is underway and will end on Dec. 19, according to a document published on the US government’s Federal Register.

The post China Says US-China Trade Talks Should be Equal, Mutually Beneficial appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Steps Up Prosecutions For Pollution Offences: Authority

Posted: 22 Nov 2018 09:08 PM PST

SHANGHAI — China prosecuted more than 3,500 people for pollution-related crimes in the first 10 months of the year, up nearly 40 percent on a year ago, law enforcement authorities said, as Beijing looks to courts and police to curb violations.

China has struggled to enforce its environmental laws as growth-obsessed local governments turn a blind eye to polluting local enterprises, and it has been trying to ensure violations are properly punished.

China’s Procuratorate said at a Thursday briefing that it would show “zero tolerance” to environmental crimes, adding that it also prosecuted nearly 8,500 people for the wider offence of “damaging resources” in the first 10 months, up 44 percent.

The number of criminal prosecutions is still small compared to the nearly 130,000 environmental violations reported in the first nine months of the year, leading to fines of 10.63 billion yuan ($1.53 billion), according to Environment Ministry data.

Beijing has encouraged courts and police departments to establish dedicated environmental divisions, while financial regulators and other government departments are under pressure to play a bigger role in punishing polluters.

In a speech earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to deploy the full weight of the state to reverse decades of environmental damage, forcing several ministries and regulators to draw up their own plans to fight pollution.

However, the central government still regards grass-roots enforcement as a weak link, and has launched a series of reviews into the way local officials rectify violations, focusing on what they describe as “fraudulent”, “superficial” or “perfunctory” efforts to meet pollution standards.

China is also making use of its feared graft-busting body to crack down on local government violations, documents published by the corruption watchdog showed this week.

Anti-corruption teams throughout China have been investigating officials for failing to rectify environmental problems, according to notices published on the website of the Central Commission of Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which normally handles corruption and other acts of misconduct.

At a meeting of the disciplinary body in Xian in northwest China, officials were reprimanded for oversight failures during the construction of a wastewater pipeline, CCDI said in a notice on Thursday.

In another case, the local party discipline committee of Sichuan punished local Communist Party cadres for failing to respond to public complaints about an unregulated dog slaughterhouse in the city of Jianyang, the CCDI said.

The post China Steps Up Prosecutions For Pollution Offences: Authority appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

China Halts Bridge Construction After 6,000 Rare Fish Die: Media

Posted: 22 Nov 2018 08:54 PM PST

SHANGHAI — China has halted construction of a bridge in the province of Hubei after it was said to have caused the death of around 6,000 critically endangered Chinese sturgeon, the China Daily said, citing the Agriculture Ministry.

An investigation team found the construction project in the city of Jingzhou had illegally encroached on a protected national nature reserve, the paper said.

The fish were bred at an aquafarm in Jingzhou. Their deaths were attributed to the “shocks, noises and changes of water sources” brought about by the bridge project.

The Chinese sturgeon is on the brink of extinction as a result of pollution, overfishing and the construction of massive hydroelectric dams along the Yangtze River.

Overdevelopment of the river has also decimated the population of the native Yangtze porpoise and caused the extinction of the baiji dolphin, known as the “Yangtze mermaid.”

A total of 1,085 animals and plants native to China are listed on the global red list of “threatened” species compiled by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

According to a report published last year by a group of Chinese non-governmental organizations, 738 of the protected species saw their numbers decline from 2000 to 2015, with only 102 seeing improvements over the period.

The post China Halts Bridge Construction After 6,000 Rare Fish Die: Media appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Bamboo House For Manila Slums Wins Top Prize in Future Cities Contest

Posted: 22 Nov 2018 08:27 PM PST

BANGKOK — The creator of a low-cost house made of bamboo to tackle the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the Philippine capital has won a top international prize to design future cities in a rapidly urbanizing world.

Earl Forlales, 23, won the first prize from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in its Cities for our Future competition. The prize money of 50,000 pounds ($63,915) will fund a prototype, as well as actual units.

The house, known as CUBO, uses engineered bamboo, and can be put together in four hours at a cost of 60 pounds per square meter, according to a statement released Thursday.

The modular housing, which can be manufactured in a week, includes design elements such as a tilted roof that captures rainwater and reduces heat gain, and elevated stilts that prevent floodwaters from entering the home.

“The world’s cities are growing all the time and there is a real need to make sure they are safe, clean and comfortable places to live in,” said John Hughes, competition judge and president of RICS.

“Earl’s idea stood out for its simple, yet well thought through solution to the world’s growing slum problem,” he said.

Of Manila’s population of 12 million, about a third live in slums, possibly the most in any urban area in the world, charities estimate.

Many residents are migrants from the provinces who come in search of better opportunities, and cannot afford housing. An additional 2.5 million migrant workers are forecast to move to the city in the next three years.

The National Housing Authority last year committed to building 800,000 homes over five years. The backlog for government housing in the Philippines is about 5.5 million, campaigners estimate.

Forlales, a graduate in material science engineering, said he took inspiration for CUBO from the bamboo hut his grandparents lived in outside Manila.

CUBO will first be used to house the incoming worker population in the short term, and then extended to the city’s slums. The plan also includes options to provide residents with new skills and jobs, Forlales said.

“The affordable housing solution must necessarily be low-cost, sustainable, robust and long lasting. We cannot make do with band-aid solutions,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“Housing opens up opportunities, so the solution must be decent and dignified, giving residents access to all necessary amenities for a better life,” he said.

CUBO can be built in any city where bamboo is available, including most of Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa and Latin America, he said.

The inaugural Cities for our Future competition — run by RICS and supported by the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO and the Association of Commonwealth Universities — drew more than 1,200 entries.

The post Bamboo House For Manila Slums Wins Top Prize in Future Cities Contest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)