Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Suu Kyi: I started as a politician not a human rights defender
• Shan locals petition against Thai coal mining company
• Pope calls for inter-religious dialogue in Burma
• It’s a knock out
• Classic car enthusiasts hit Burma roads

Suu Kyi: I started as a politician not a human rights defender Posted: 29 Oct 2013 04:30 AM PDT Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has dismissed criticisms of her leadership by insisting that she has always been a politician, rather than a human rights defender. It follows accusations that the opposition leader has prioritised her presidential ambitions ahead of the protection of minorities in Burma. Many analysts say she has abandoned her principles in order to secure her political power base. But speaking in an interview with CNN on Monday, Suu Kyi rejected suggestions that she has been forced to transition from activist to politician. "I'm always surprised when people speak as if I've just become a politician. I've been a politician all along. I started in politics not as a human rights defender or a humanitarian worker, but as the leader of a political party. And if that's not a politician then I don't know what is." The Nobel laureate, who spent 15 years under house arrest at the hands of the junta, has taken an increasingly conciliatory tone towards the military-backed regime since joining parliament and publicly expressed hopes of running for president. Related Stories Suu Kyi: 'the army must be the foundation of the country' Suu Kyi wants to learn from Northern Ireland peace process Suu Kyi rejects allegations of ethnic cleansing in Burma She was come under particular scrutiny for refusing to condemn the spread of anti-Muslim violence in Burma, which has claimed over 250 lives since last year.  But Suu Kyi told CNN that she is accustomed to censure. "I was subjected to the greatest criticisms for 20 years because some people said I was too intransigent, I was not as flexible with the government as I should have been," she said. Almost 140,000 Rohingya Muslims, who are denied citizenship and deeply unpopular in Burma, have been stranded in displacement camps in Arakan state since two bouts of clashes with local Buddhists last year. Human rights groups have described the violence, which has since spread to other parts of the country and disproportionately targeted Muslims, as "ethnic cleansing". But in an interview with the BBC last week, Suu Kyi denied that ethnic cleansing is taking place, insisting that "the fear is not just on the side of the Muslims, but on the side of the Buddhists as well." It is widely believed that she fears losing her core electorate in the Buddhist-dominated country in the run-up to the 2015 general elections. Suu Kyi is currently on a diplomatic tour of Europe, where she has met with political and religious leaders, as well as collected awards for her work promoting human rights and democracy in Burma.

Shan locals petition against Thai coal mining company Posted: 29 Oct 2013 04:08 AM PDT A group of local activists and politicians in Shan state's Kengtung township are preparing a petition against a Thai-owned coal mining project, which they say will cause widespread social and environmental problems. The project will involve the construction of a coal-fired power plant and see the forceful relocation of at least two villages along with the confiscation of over 500 acres of farmland. A local politician told DVB that a public meeting, held on 24 October with people from eight villages in the Monglet village-tract, showed that the vast majority of locals opposed the project. "None of the villagers wish to be relocated, and even if they do, they wouldn't know where to go so all of them are opposed to the project," said Sai Win Myint, the National League for Democracy's Shan state Central Executive Committee member. "We are now collecting signatures from all residents over 18 years old in the villages." He said the petition will be submitted to the township authorities and if they refuse to help them, they will turn to the Shan state government and the union parliament in Naypyidaw. The public meeting was attended by over 300 people including Monglet residents, representatives from political parties including the NLD, the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, as well as local Shan, Lahu and Wa parties, as well as police officers and military officials. The Shan Nationalities and Development Party, who also attended the meeting, say they raised concerns about environmental damage caused by the project as early as two years ago, but no action has been taken. Related Stories Namhkam festival cancelled in wake of bombings As monsoon hits, relief workers struggle to provide IDPs with shelter, aid Man behind Lashio riots handed 26 year sentence The villagers added that the Kengtung district authorities approached them on 20 October to sign an agreement for the project to go ahead. But they refused because the officials failed to give answers to questions about the relocation process, compensation and new job opportunities. The project will see the relocation of Wantaung and Wankyun villages [in Monglet village-tract] and also cover Kengtung town, which is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, with smog, according to a local elder. Burma, which is emerging from nearly five decades of military rule, is rich in gems, industrial minerals, oil, and offshore natural gas reserves estimated at 10 trillion cubic feet. But most of the country's natural resources are found in its volatile ethnic minority regions, including Shan and Kachin states, where violence continues to flare near areas slated for large-scale development projects. Campaigners warn that an influx of foreign investment could exacerbate local grievances, unless "major shortcomings" in Burma's legal and regulatory framework, which allow the government to arbitrarily seize land from farmers, are addressed.

Pope calls for inter-religious dialogue in Burma Posted: 29 Oct 2013 02:15 AM PDT Pope Francis held a private audience with Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the Vatican on Monday. The pope and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate briefly posed for photographers before sitting down for talks, assisted by a translator. Speaking to reporters at a news conference following the meeting Suu Kyi said the talks had touched on efforts to make the world a better place. “Emotions such as hatred and fear, they diminish the lives of people, they diminish human worth and we need to build on the more positive emotions such as love and understanding and the desire and the will to work together towards a better world,” she said. Pope Francis called for inter-religious dialogue in Burma, and said that the Church would be at the service of everyone in the country without discrimination, according to spokesman Federico Lombardi. This was the first meeting between Pope Francis and Suu Kyi, who has been criticised for not speaking out enough against ethnic and religious tensions in her homeland. Related Stories British PM backs Suu Kyi's presidential bid Suu Kyi receives Sakharov Prize – 23 years later Suu Kyi reiterates call for constitutional amendments Suu Kyi finally collected her honorary citizenship of Rome on Sunday, 19 years after being offered the honour. The citizenship recognises her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights. Suu Kyi spent most of two decades under house arrest after the military government ignored the results of a 1990 election won by her party. The daughter of independence figure Aung San, Suu Kyi was elected to parliament last year as Burma opened up after years of authoritarian rule and international isolation. Burma has been rocked by sectarian unrest in recent months, prompting growing international concern. Around 250 people have been killed and more than 140,000 left homeless in several outbreaks of Buddhist-Muslim violence around the country since June 2012, mostly in western Arakan state.

It’s a knock out Posted: 28 Oct 2013 10:57 PM PDT Burmese boxing has been a national sport in Burma for a thousand years, but it will not be part of the Southeast Asian Games in December. Unlike the Thai sport, Muay Thai, which is popular worldwide, traditional Burmese boxing is only well known in Burma. But traditional boxers want the government to do more to promote the sport internationally. Saw Ohn Myint is a former Gold Belt national champion in Burmese boxing. "I have always been a keen boxer and I have sacrificed a lot," he said. Burmese boxing is nearly three times as old as Thai boxing. Both sports are unarmed martial arts akin to kickboxing, but the Burmese style is fast and more violent, ending only when one fighter gets knocked out. Related Stories Thein Sein inspects SEA Games stadiums Para Games athletes slam ‘unfair’ conditions Countdown to the SEA Games Traditionally there were no rules and the winner was the first to draw a significant amount of blood. Rules and a scoring system were introduced as part of an earlier attempt to promote the sport internationally. Hla Soe Oo trains Burmese boxers and campaigned to have the sport included in this year’s SEA Games. "When we told the Myanmar Boxing Federation about our boxing, they said other countries didn't know the style and so they couldn't compete against us," said Hla Soe Oo. The sport gets little in the way of support from the government and minimum sponsorship. Hla Soe Oo would like to see traditional boxing promoted in neighbouring Thailand. "Let's say we can open a training school in Thailand," he said. "We can hold competitions and people can come to learn to fight in our style." He went on to say that the sport needs better marketing to appeal to other countries. There are 12 Burmese boxers who will compete in the SEA Games this year, but they will fight in the Muay Thai style.

Classic car enthusiasts hit Burma roads Posted: 28 Oct 2013 10:19 PM PDT A group of classic car enthusiasts on Monday embarked on a road trip around Burma – an event organisers hope will help save the country’s ageing automobiles from the scrapheap. Twenty cars including marques such as Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Chevrolet left Rangoon on a two-week, 1,429 kilometre (889 mile) trip that will take them to Inle Lake, the ancient temple city of Bagan and NgapaliBeach. Nine of the vehicles are owned by foreigners and shipped over specially for the event, which follows dramatic changes in the former pariah state since junta rule ended in 2011. “I have watched what the country has achieved over the last 30 months and it’s astonishing,” said Richard, the British driver of a 1956 Mercedes-Benz. Fume-belching classic European cars and ageing Japanese sedans have rattled along Burma's streets for decades. But as the country opens up following decades of isolation, many have been sent to the junkyard. “It’s very sad to lose these old cars,” said Zaw Phyo Linn of the Burma Classic Cars Club who is participating in the road tour. “Our intention to hold the event is to let people know that these cars are valued and encourage them not to destroy them.” Under military rule, imported cars were a luxury reserved for people close to the junta. But the country’s new reformist government has allowed owners of ageing cars to trade them in for hard-to-get permits to purchase imported used vehicles.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Arakan displaced running out of food
• Ye Htut rebukes Shwe Mann over president bid claims
• Thai pharmaceutical company steps up Burma presence
• Kachin clashes blamed on poor oversight of peace deal
• Suu Kyi: ‘the army must be the foundation of the country’

Arakan displaced running out of food Posted: 28 Oct 2013 04:56 AM PDT Muslims and Buddhists who lost their homes and livelihoods due to conflict in Burma's Arakan state, one of the country’s poorest regions, are quickly running out of food, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned. Thousands of people who fled the violence are now living in camps for displaced people. With tension still high, they will not be able to return to their communities in the near future but will face severe food shortages, the WFP says. The UN agency said they are able to source food locally to help the displaced people but unless new funding is found, the food will run out in February. Footage filmed by the WFP in October during Eid showed destroyed mosques and houses and locals living in temporary camps. According to the WFP some 3,000 displaced Buddhist are living in the Sae Yoe Kya camp, most fled Sittwe city after the unrest, leaving behind their homes and livelihoods. “We had to run because Muslims burned our home. We never thought that this would happen. We had to run to save our lives, and had no time to collect our belongings or even our food,” said Nwe Nwe, a young Buddhist woman living in the camp. Related Stories Rohingya refugees – a woman’s perspective Sandoway: latest victim of communal chaos Living in Limbo The WFP provides the people in the camp with rice, chickpeas, oil and salt. Children, pregnant women and new mothers are given special fortified cereals. The displaced Muslims in Baw Du Ba camp receive similar food rations. The WFP has built 320 shelters, water pumps and tanks and latrines in the camp, which houses some 15,000 people. One of them is a young Muslim mother of five called Fatima. She, too arrived at the camp empty-handed after having to flee from her home. “They burned our homes and chased us with knives,” she said. Near Sittwe, at a nutrition centre run by Action Against Hunger (ACF) health checks on locals provide an indication of the level of malnutrition in the region. A six-month-old baby was diagnosed as severely malnourished. While Burma has one of the highest stunting rates in the world, Arakan State is particularly hard hit and has a fifty percent stunting rate for children, the WFP said. The UN agency said it has been providing regular food assistance to displaced people in Arakan State since the outbreak of violence in June 2012 and currently reaches some 142,000 people per month in and around Sittwe. In order to help local farmers and the economy, the WFP says it uses locally grown rice for its food rations. As a consequence of the conflict, local economies have broken down and many people no longer have access to jobs and markets and are reliant on humanitarian assistance. But the WFP warned it urgently needs funding to keep the food aid going. “The World Food Programme is reaching almost all of them-almost all the people who have been displaced but, the funding is going to run out at the end of the year", said WFP spokesperson Jonathan Dumont. "It doesn’t look good. It doesn’t look like these people are going back to their communities anytime soon. If funding doesn’t continue then they are going to be in even worse shape than they are now because the food is going to run out.” According to the agency, US $13 million is needed to provide life-saving food assistance to the displaced people over the next six months.

Ye Htut rebukes Shwe Mann over president bid claims Posted: 28 Oct 2013 04:46 AM PDT Burma's presidential spokesperson has rebuked parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann for telling a press conference that Thein Sein would not be seeking a second term in office. Speaking to DVB on Monday, Ye Htut said that any remarks made by President Thein Sein to Shwe Mann were made in private and should not have been shared with the media. "When there is a matter that the public should be informed about, the president will directly address the public himself. There is no need for a second person to do that," he admonished. "The president may have shared his views with the parliamentary speaker in a private meeting but he only meant to share it with him. According to international procedures, one cannot disclose this kind of information to the public without seeking permission from by the other party." Last week, Shwe Mann made international headlines for telling reporters that Thein Sein, who took office in March 2011, would not be running for president again in 2015. “President U Thein Sein has told me he will not run for the president,” said the parliamentary speaker and leader of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). “I think he meant what he said. He is not running in the election.” Ye Htut said that he did not know why the speaker would have disclosed this information, adding that he must have had "his own reasons". Shwe Mann, who outranked Thein Sein during military rule in Burma, took over from him as leader of the military-backed USDP in May. They are described by many analysts as political adversaries and locked horns in a heated dispute over the role of Burma's constitutional tribunal last year. But Ye Htut denied reports of a power struggle between the president's office and the parliamentary speaker. Related Stories Shwe Mann reiterates his support for federalism Thein Sein resigns as chairman of Burma's ruling party Parliament agrees to form committee to review constitution "As we are practicing democracy system, one cannot really say this is a power struggle," said Ye Htut. "The constitution encourages checks and balances so there might be times when we have to negotiate with each other – this is just a common scenario in the democratic system. But it would be wrong to call it a dispute." Shwe Mann also raised eyebrows for saying that former junta leader Than Shwe, who retired in 2011, was “watching developments in the country with keen interest” and worried that things ”might go wrong”. But he insisted that the former dictator no longer played any role in political affairs. Democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is also expected to run in Burma's next general elections. However, the 2008 constitution currently bars her from becoming president on the basis of her foreign familial ties. Thein Sein formed the USDP in April 2010 in order to run in the November election, which the party won by a landslide amid widespread reports of electoral fraud. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy famously boycotted the polls. The USDP is estimated to have over 4 million supporters nation-wide and is dominated by former generals from the military junta.

Thai pharmaceutical company steps up Burma presence Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:35 AM PDT Mega Lifesciences Plc, the wholly owned Thai pharmaceutical and consumer health firm, plans a Burma expansion with a new warehouse costing 300-600 million baht (US$96,500-193,100) to store pharmaceutical and consumer products. Chief executive Vivek Dhawan said the company will in next year’s first quarter propose to the Burmese government building the warehouse on 25 rai [40,000 m² of land] in Rangoon. The actual cost will depend on the price of land. Construction is expected to start by 2015. The move is part of a bid to double overall company sales, both domestically and internationally, to US$400 million over the next 3-5 years. The goal will be realised through organic growth and mergers and acquisitions, said Mr Dhawan. “We’re focusing on expanding in developing countries, as there is more potential in these markets for Mega to compete,” he said. Sales totalled $195 million last year, with 30% from Burma, the top contributor. Another 24.8% came from Vietnam, 19.5% from Thailand and the rest from 26 other countries, particularly Chile, Peru and Indonesia. “We’re very optimistic about the potential for growth in Myanmar [Burma],” said Mr Dhawan, adding that Mega has been contacted by several multinational companies about distributing their products in Burma. Mr Dhawan estimates the value of Burma's pharmaceutical business via hospital and pharmacy channels is worth $400 million but has the potential to double over the next 5-7 years. To take advantage of this opportunity, the company will continue to expand its investment in Burma, he said. Mega set itself up in Burma in 1995 with seven staff. Its distribution operations have since grown to 27,000 outlets covering 85% of the country with 1,400 employees. Mega now distributes pharmaceutical and consumer products for 31 companies from Thailand and abroad including Osotspa, Johnson & Johnson and Nestle. The company operates two businesses in Myanmar: Maxxcare, which distributes pharmaceutical and consumer goods for outer brands; and Mega We Care, its own food supplement brand. Related Stories Business Weekly Burmese migrant group files formal complaint against Thai police Thailand and Burma to ease visa requirements for citizens In addition to Myanmar, the company will continue to expand in Thailand by building a second soft gelatine capsule factory worth 450 million in Samut Prakan’s Bangpoo Industrial Estate. Construction will be on seven rai and start next January. This will boost the company’s annual capacity for soft gelatine capsules to 3.8 billion, serving both local and international markets, from 2 billion now. Mega was established in Thailand 30 years ago. Today it operates in 29 markets worldwide. The company also manufactures pharmaceutical and healthcare products in Australia. This article was first published in the Bangkok Post on 22 October 2013.

Kachin clashes blamed on poor oversight of peace deal Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:11 AM PDT Activists have blamed the latest clashes in northern Burma on a failure by both the government and Kachin rebels to follow up on their peace agreements. Violence flared in southern Kachin state less than a week after government and rebel negotiators reached their latest peace deal in the state-capital Myitkyina. The Rangoon-based Kachin Peace Network (KPN) insists that both the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and the Burmese armed forces must honour their agreements to avoid future incidents. In Myitkyina, the two sides agreed to lay the foundations for political dialogue, re-open roads across the conflict-torn state, establish a joint-monitoring committee and develop a plan for the voluntary return of internally displaced persons. "As there is no implementation on the formation of the joint-monitoring committee which would allow the public to independently monitor clashes, we only get to hear both sides accusing each other of starting the fight," said KPN's coordinator, Khon Ja, adding that roads in the region have not been reopened yet either. The KIO has accused the government of causing the recent violence, which claimed the life of a child and injured two others in Bhamo and reportedly forced the rebels to abandon two of their outposts in Mabein township, northern Shan state. Hundreds of refugees also fled into hiding. "I can assure you there was no deliberate intention to engage on our part," KIO spokesperson Dau Kha told DVB last week. Related Stories UN fears over Burma civilians in fresh Kachin unrest Kachins say Burmese army provoked renewed hostilities China defends human rights record at UN panel The KIO has been fighting the government for greater autonomy and ethnic rights since a 17-year ceasefire broke down in June 2011. It is the only major ethnic armed group that is yet to ink a formal ceasefire with the government. The rebel group is set to meet with other ethnic armed groups, including representatives from the umbrella organisation, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), at its headquarters in Laiza this week to discuss the peace process. The government hopes to secure a nationwide ceasefire by the end of next month. Ethnic representatives have insisted that President Thein Sein and the head of Burma's armed forces, Min Aung Hlaing, must join the negotiations to ensure progress. Hla Maung Shwe from the government-backed Myanmar Peace Centre said it may be time to consider this proposal. "As a matter of course, state-level ceasefire agreements are signed by state border and security affairs officials [but] ethnic representatives have been calling for the president to publicly sign any agreements before international diplomats," he said. "I think we should consider this if it would make them feel more assured and confident [in the ceasefire]," he said. President Thein Sein has received international acclaim for his efforts to resolve decades of civil conflicts in the former military dictatorship, securing an end to years of crippling economic sanctions against Burma and earning a nomination for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Despite several attempts to broker peace, the KIO says government forces continue to attack their positions, especially in areas near crony-owned natural resource projects. Fighting also continues to flare in Shan and Mon states. On Friday, the UN expressed "serious concern" for the 100,000 civilians who have been ripped from their homes during the conflict.

Suu Kyi: ‘the army must be the foundation of the country’ Posted: 28 Oct 2013 12:04 AM PDT Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday praised the British military, insisting that she wanted to learn “how a good, professional army operates” in order to take lessons back to Burma. On a visit to the UK military academy Sandhurst, the Nobel laureate said Burma needed to have a “good, professional army that is respected and honoured by the people”. “The country should not be the servant of the army," she told an audience of academy members. "The army must be the foundation of the country. That is exactly what you’re trying to teach people at Sandhurst. You serve to lead.” She met with cadets over a cup of tea and praised Sandhurst for teaching “the right kind of leadership that will make an army body that is meant to defend rather than to destroy”. Suu Kyi, whose father Aung San is the founder of the modern Burmese army and hero of the campaign for independence from Britain, is currently on a diplomatic tour of Europe where she has met with political leaders, including Prime Minister David Cameron. Britain has already offered to deliver training to the Burmese military, which they say will focus on human rights and democratic accountability, but has sparked concerns among campaigners who worry that it could fuel abuses in ethnic minority regions. The opposition leader spent much of two decades under house arrest at the hands of the former military regime, before finally being released in November 2010. She has since taken a seat in parliament and has expressed hopes of running for president in the next general elections in 2015. But she has insisted that the current constitution, which bars her from the presidency and is considered deeply undemocratic, must first be reformed. “It’s not just to do with me as a possible president, the constitution as it stands is meant to create a very, very limited form of democracy," she said. "The whole world thinks that Burma is on the path to democratisation, with this constitution we’d only get so far and no further.” Suu Kyi, who has transitioned from icon to politician in little over a year, has also come under increased media scrutiny. Last week, she faced a barrage of criticisms for an interview with the BBC in which she appeared to trivialise a wave of anti-Muslim violence to grip the country. Related Stories Suu Kyi wants to learn from Northern Ireland peace process Suu Kyi rejects allegations of ethnic cleansing in Burma British PM backs Suu Kyi's presidential bid According to government figures, almost 250 people have been killed and 140,000 people displaced in several bouts of clashes, which kicked off in western Arakan state last year and has since spread to other parts of Burma. A UN envoy warned last week that the violence, which has disproportionately targeted Burma's Muslim minority, threatens to derail the country's reform process. “I condemn all violence and hatred but I don’t believe in condemning people. It’s the axe we don’t like," Suu Kyi told Reuters in an interview. "The people we can reform, people can be made to see things in a different light. If we want to get them together, condemnation is not the way." "The way is to make them feel secure enough to be able to look at each other's problems objectively and to recognise that everybody has his own fears and hatreds, and we’ve got to try to get rid of those."

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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All roads lead to Laiza Posted: 28 Oct 2013 02:30 AM PDT Sunday, 27 October 2013 18:23 S.H.A.N.   Top representatives of 18 armed groups are heading for the Kachin base Laiza on the Sino-Burmese border in northern Burma, according to sources. Leaving today from Tachilek on the Thai-Burmese border are 11 delegates from the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), the 12 party alliance led by the host Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) itself. Among them are Nai Hong Sa, General Secretary and Abel Tweed, Vice Chairman, said the source. The Karen National Union (KNU) representatives: Mutu Sayphoe, president, Kwe Htoo Lay, General Secretary; and Htoo Htoo Lay, Adviser will be leaving today for Rangoon from where they will fly to Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital tomorrow. The representative for the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) is Col Sai La, Secretary #2, who will be accompanied by Harn Yawnghwe, Advise; and Khuensai Jaiyen, Adviser. Its sister organization Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) will be represented by Col Khun Hseng, General Secretary; Lt-Col Kyaw La and Maj Ba Tun. Mongla, the headquarters of the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) on the upper triangle, where Burma meets China and Laos, meanwhile says it won't be going. Why? "Because Panghsang (the Wa capital) is not going, of course," said the source, refusing to elaborate. The NDAA and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) are close allies. when SHAN asked Panghsang the reason for their decision not to go, the source replied, "We don't want to want to bother either the East (meaning China) or the West (meaning Naypyitaw)". The source however said it would be attending the planned Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signing ceremony "if we are invited." The Laiza meeting is expected to discuss the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement draft proposed by Naypyitaw. According to Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), a member of the UNFC, the draft widely covers the ethnics' political expectations, equality, ceasefire and the way to proceed with the political dialogue. I think if the government implement there steps exactly as their draft, it would be really good for our country," reported The Irrawaddy.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Social media: the good, the bad and the ugly
• UN fears over Burma civilians in fresh Kachin unrest
• Thet Naing Win: micro-loans ‘beneficial’ for poverty reduction

Social media: the good, the bad and the ugly Posted: 26 Oct 2013 02:00 AM PDT With internet access rapidly expanding in Burma and the price on SIM-cards and smartphones falling, more and more people are using social media. But while it can be a way to keep in touch with friends or promote your company, media analysts warn that it can also be a source of hate speech and fear mongering. The Rangoon-based Heys Food Catering Service turned to social media to launch its business. As a small startup, the company used Facebook to attract customers and introduce itself to the market. Customers can see the menu and order food for home delivery online. Heys Food also receives orders from other companies, for social meetings and bigger dinner parties. Meanwhile, writer Mar J from Myanmar Media Group uses Facebook to get material and inspiration for news stories. "I'm a regular user of social websites. Above all, I think social networks necessarily facilitate our [media workers] business." Related Stories Burmese Internet provider promises free Wi-Fi hotspots DVB Debate: Is social media taking over? Freedom from hate But he has also experienced the downside of the use of the internet. Recently, an interview with an actress about the ultranationalist Buddhist 969 movement, allegedly written by Mar J, went viral. However, the interview had been faked and both Mar J and the actress in question were shocked. "We saw her image in the news article and my byline was on this fake interview. It said I was interviewing her about the 969 religious movement." He had to write an explanatory article distancing himself from the interview, and eventually the commotion died down. Well-known blogger and executive director of Myanmar ICT Development Organisation (MIDO), Nay Phone Latt was sentenced to 20 years in prison for publishing a cartoon of Than Shwe in 2008, but was released in the beginning of 2012. MIDO now works to narrow the digital divide between rural and urban areas in Burma, and they claim to have observed a pattern in how people use social media. "Internet users can be divided into two groups. One uses social networks for good purposes; while others use them for bad purposes. Now I think the bad impact of internet is bigger than the good one." Nay Phone Latt says they have noticed that people use more than one Facebook account, often for the purpose of instigating social or religious unrest. He thinks that this has fuelled a recent wave of Muslim-Buddhist clashes in the country. He insists that everyone has to collaborate during this period of transition to ensure that social media and the internet are not used in the wrong way.

UN fears over Burma civilians in fresh Kachin unrest Posted: 25 Oct 2013 11:57 PM PDT The United Nations has expressed serious concern for hundreds of Burma civilians, many of them children, trapped in a conflict zone in northern Kachin state amid renewed clashes between the army and rebels. It said over a thousand displaced people are thought to be running short of food after being caught in a new bout of fighting between troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Mansi township in recent days, despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations. “I am seriously concerned about the civilians being caught in any crossfire, especially children and the elderly,” said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Burma Ashok Nigam in a statement released late Friday. Conflict in Kachin, near the northern border with China, broke out in June 2011 when a 17-year ceasefire crumbled. It has displaced some 100,000 people. “Hostilities must cease,” said Nigam of the Mansi fighting, adding that aid agencies should be allowed access to civilians in the area, who are deemed “in urgent need of assistance”. The UN said local aid groups were now unable to reach the displaced there and have reported that they “have only food for a few days”. Related Stories Kachins say Burmese army provoked renewed hostilities China defends human rights record at UN panel What will a nationwide ceasefire really achieve? Bloodshed in Kachin — along with religious unrest elsewhere in the country — has overshadowed widely praised political changes as Burma emerges from decades of military rule. President Thein Sein’s reformist government has reached tentative peace deals with most major ethnic minority rebel groups in the country, which has been racked by civil wars since independence from Britain in 1948. Earlier this month, Burma hailed a fresh peace deal in ongoing talks to end the Kachin fighting — the country’s last major active civil war. The agreement, which followed three days of negotiations that were observed by representatives from the UN and China among others, was aimed at laying the “foundation for political dialogue” and working towards peace, according to government mediators.

Thet Naing Win: micro-loans ‘beneficial’ for poverty reduction Posted: 25 Oct 2013 11:33 PM PDT DVB recently spoke with Thet Naing Win, the general manager of Myanmar Micro Finance Bank, and asked him about who will benefit from his bank's new loans system. We learned that the Myanmar Micro Finance Bank is going to open in November? Who are you providing loans to and what kind of loans system are you going to employ? Just like every other bank, we accept deposits and channel them into loans. In terms of operation, we are going to provide micro-loans and commercial loans. For micro-loans, we will redirect the deposits to cooperative societies via the Central Cooperative Society Limited (CCSL) to provide loans for farmers with low incomes in some 60,000 villages across the country. So who will receive the loans mainly depends on the CCSL while our part is pretty much redirecting the deposits to them. And commercial loans, we will be directly providing for business enterprises. The loans will be provided in accordance the existing Micro Finance Law, without collateral. How much interest will borrowers be expected to pay? It will be in accordance with the regulations set out the Central Bank, according to which we cannot set interest rates at more than 2.5 percent for any loans to the public. How much is the maximum micro-loan an individual can apply for? Since we are going to redirect the loans wholesale to the CSSL, it depends on them how much the maximum loan can be. Is the bank going to be government-owned, or private? It is going to be a publicly owned bank.  We are planning to invite shareholders in the near future. So the headquarters is in Rangoon? Are you planning to open branches in other towns? If so, where and how many? We've opened our headquarters on the second floor of the Sayar San Plaza in Rangoon and plan to launch our first branch in South Okkalapa township in November, followed by up to nine other branches in the city. We are also looking to gradually expand operations to other cities such as Mandalay and Naypyidaw. Currently, we have pretty much accomplished preparations for opening, such as building a data centre and banking software. We aim to open about 15 branches within the next year. Since most of those individuals seeking loans will be relatively poor, what will happen if, for example, they go and gamble all the money away and end up being unable to repay it? It will depend on the organisation charged with distribution of the loans – the CCSL, in accordance with the Micro Finance La Do you have plans to introduce a campaign to educate potential borrowers to effectively utilise the loans? This will be carried out by relevant organisations. Our main focuses are poverty alleviation and regional development. But educating people to spend money more efficiently will not only bring them more income, but will also be more beneficial for the country. There are similar micro-loan programmes in other regional countries including South Asian nations. Some of them found success, such as Muhammad Yunus's Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, while some others ended up going bankrupt. How can you ensure that your bank survives? We have done our best. As we aim to assist the public, we will try to get large amount of deposits while ensuring no loss to our customers' savings. Being the first ever micro finance bank in Burma, we are hopeful of receiving more deposits from citizens with savings, as well as taking grants and loans from international organisations. We believe we will be able to provide the best service if we have those resources.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Business Weekly
• Fresh protests erupt near Latpadaung copper mine
• Burmese migrant group files formal complaint against Thai police
• Suu Kyi wants to learn from Northern Ireland peace process
• Anti-Muslim violence threatens Burma’s reforms: UN

Business Weekly Posted: 25 Oct 2013 05:06 AM PDT   Ups and downs One US dollar was buying at 968 kyat on Friday, staying the same as the week before. The selling rate rested at 975 kyat to the dollar. The price of gold rose remained stable at 685,000 kyat per tical on Friday, the same as last week. Fuel prices also stayed the same – petrol 814 kyat per litre; diesel 920; and octane 920. The cost of rice and basic commodities was also stable at Rangoon marketplaces, with good quality rice selling at 1100-1200 kyat per basket.   Shwe gas pipeline fully operational A pipeline pumping natural gas from Burma to energy-hungry China has gone fully operational, state-run Chinese media reported on Monday. The project, stretching more than 2,500 km from Kyaukphyu in western Burma to southwest China, will help the world's second-largest economy feed its growing energy needs in southwestern provinces including Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing and Guangxi. Read more: http://www.dvb.no/news/shwe-gas-pipeline-now-fully-operational-burma-myanmar/33703   Burma invites tender bids for broadband services Burma's Myanmar Post and Telecommunications department (MPT) is inviting foreign and domestic companies to offer tender bids to provide broadband wireless Internet services across Burma. According to an announcement by MPT, companies interested in joint-ventures with the government are welcome to conduct surveys in the relevant regions across the country before submitting their business model to the MPT chief engineer's office. About two years ago, a Malaysia-backed company in Burma proposed a scheme with the MPT to provide prepaid Wi-Fi services in several townships in Rangoon, but it was rejected. Meanwhile, Burmese ISP RedLink Communications Co Ltd has announced a plan to provide Wi-Fi service in public "hotspots" around Rangoon by the end of this year. Read more: http://www.dvb.no/dvb-video/burmese-internet-provider-promises-free-wi-fi-hotspots/33782   Mandalay railway station floors to be converted into hotel The Adventure-Myanmar company has won through a US$4.4 million tender bid the rights to develop a hotel business on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of the Mandalay Railway Station, according to an official from the Burma Railway Enterprise. The company is currently awaiting permission from the country's investment commission to work on the three floors which contain 130 rooms. The Burma Railway Enterprise previously disclosed that the Ministry of Railways was incurring losses and was looking to lease out floors of its buildings to generate income.   Ministry to ban foreign fishing boats in Burmese waters The Livestock Breeding and Fisheries Ministry has declared that it will no longer allow foreign fishing vessels, including those from neighbouring Thailand, to fish in Burmese waters starting from the next fiscal year. An official from the Fisheries Department, Hnin Oo, said the ministry made the decision after consulting with ministry officials, the Fisheries Department and experts. Currently, Thai fishing vessels are allowed to operate in Burmese waters by paying roughly US$12 million in taxes to the Burmese government under a fishing rights scheme. Hnin Oo said the state can recuperate a similar amount in tax from Burmese fishing vessels, and that the scheme will not only increase the country's GDP but also will prevent fish deposits from being depleted. The current fishing permit for Thai vessels will expire in March 2014.   UN to help modernise Burma's aviation industry The UN's aviation agency has agreed to help modernise Burma's airline industry by providing technical assistance to the government after a deal was reached at a meeting between President Thein Sein and the Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Raymond Benjamin, in Naypyidaw on Monday. Discussions reportedly focused on Burma's need for economic assistance and modern technology, along with airline security, infrastructure and equipment. Burma's aviation industry has boomed since the inauguration of the new government in 2011, with foreign companies lining up to invest in the country's largely untapped markets. One such firm is Japan's All Nippon Airways, which announced plans in August to buy a US$25 million stake in Burma's Asian Wings Airways, becoming the first foreign carrier to invest in a domestic airline. Read more: http://www.dvb.no/news/un-to-help-burma-improve-aviation-technology/33760   DHL freight service opens Burma office DHL Global Forwarding, an air and ocean freight service, has expanded its presence in Southeast Asia by setting up a Rangoon office and appointing a Burma country manager, according to the Bangkok Post. Asia-Pacific CEO Kelvin Leung said that Burma has enormous potential to become one the region's biggest markets. "DHL Global Forwarding’s logistics experts based in Yangon [Rangoon] will help bridge businesses in Myanmar [Burma] with a network of international business partners both within and beyond the region,” he said.   Work on 'trilateral' highway to finish soon A proposed highway connecting Burma, India and Thailand is expected to become operational in the near future, according to India's Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharm. The highway, which will connect western India's Moreh town in Manipur with western Thailand's Mae Sot, will significantly boost trade routes in the region. One third of India's pulses and one fifth of its timber are imported from Burma. The idea of the highway was conceived at the trilateral ministerial meeting on transport linkages in Rangoon in April 2002. India says it is also looking to connect to Burma via a new sea route. The Indian government is currently developing the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which will connect Kolkata with Sittwe port in Burma by sea; then Sittwe to Mizoram via river and road transport.   Burma calls for FDI in Sandoway hotel zone project The Burmese government is planning to invite foreign companies to invest in the development of a hotel zone project in Arakan state's Sandoway [Thandwe] township, according to Aung Zaw Win, director general at the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. President Thein Sein has reportedly budgeted 5 billion kyat (US$5.2 billion) to the project with the aim of modernising the popular beach resort Ngapali, which attracts thousands of foreign tourists each year. "The president wants the Ngapali Beach in Thandwe to [be modern] like the Bali Beach," said Aung Zaw.   Myanmar Investment Commission The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), which reviews all applications from foreign companies looking to operate in Burma, may have its discretionary powers curbed as part of a government review process, according to the Irrawaddy. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is working with Burma to help improve the country's investment capacity, including reducing its administrative burden. A spokesperson for the opposition party, the National League for Democracy, welcomed the move. "The MIC has too much power and any reduction of that is to be welcomed," Executive Committee member Han Tha told The Irrawaddy.

Fresh protests erupt near Latpadaung copper mine Posted: 25 Oct 2013 04:00 AM PDT Over 150 locals in central Burma's Monywa staged another round of protests against the controversial China-backed Latpadaung copper mine on Wednesday after police and security guards began bulldozing their farms on the project site. The farmers have refused to accept the compensation offered for their lands, which were confiscated to make way for the expansion of the mining project. They told DVB that guards working for the Chinese Wanbao company turned up with police protection on Tuesday to begin clearing their old farmlands anyway. "They bulldozed the pea and sesame crops in my farm up on the Leikhun hill which we see as blatant bullying," said Yi Win, a resident from Sete village, adding that the officials have built a fence around the area. Aung Myo Thant from Tonywa village said the locals have reached out to the Sagaing division's Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyi Naing to stop the company from destroying their farmlands, but no action had been taken so far. "The colonel pledged to help mediate the situation but has done nothing so far," said Aung Myo Thant. The Latpadaung project, which is a joint military and Chinese venture, has provoked outrage from locals who say it will cause irreversible environmental damage and has forced hundreds from their homes. It rose to notoriety last year when the government led a bloody crackdown on a group of peaceful protestors, resulting in dozens of monks being severely burned. A controversial parliamentary investigation led by Aung San Suu Kyi later ruled that the project should go ahead, despite local objections. A member of Suu Kyi's investigation commission and lower house MP, Khin San Hlaing, reportedly met with local Monywa authorities in mid-October in an effort to negotiate a new land compensation deal, but it ended in failure. The disappointed villagers subsequently destroyed the fence erected around the project, and began to plough their farmlands in a show of defiance. These so-called plough protests have become an increasingly popular among farmers in Burma, as an influx of foreign investment continues to fuel land grabs across the country. Over 120 local farmers from 12 villages in Latpadaung on Thursday held a meeting to discuss the issue of compensation, and decided to call for negotiations with more senior figures of authority. "We have decided to call for a meeting specifically with someone who can make a decision instead of sending another letter [to the authorities]," said Min Min, a member of the local anti-mine campaign group, the Committee to Protect the Interests of the Latpadaung Mountain. The residents, who are from Latpadaung's Mogyopyin, Tonywa and Sete villages, say they will continue to fight against the project. Work on the unpopular mine recently resumed after Wanbao agreed a new contract with the government. However, lawmakers have said that the project still does not meet the requirements set out in the state-backed investigation commission, including demands for greater transparency on issues relating to public health and environmental impacts.

Burmese migrant group files formal complaint against Thai police Posted: 25 Oct 2013 01:41 AM PDT A Burmese human rights organisation has filed what is claimed to be the first ever formal complaint against Thai police for their alleged role in extorting Burmese migrant workers in Thailand. The complaint was lodged at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters on Monday after gaining support from the Burmese embassy in Bangkok, activist and reporter Kyaw Thaung told DVB on Thursday. Kyaw Thaung, director of the Myanmar Association in Thailand (MAT), said the complaint was directed at the local police in Mahachai, near the Thai capital, based on reports that they had detained and extorted money from four Burmese migrants, who carried legal work permits, on 10 October. The MAT initially consulted with the Thai Lawyers Council and anti-human trafficking groups about the case but was told it was legally impossible for a civil society group to file such a complaint without support from the Burmese government. The group then approached the Burmese embassy in Bangkok which "willingly" offered its assistance. Kyaw Thaung said police-led abuse and extortion of Burmese migrants in Mahachai has been a concern for many years, but most workers are too afraid to file formal complaints or act as witnesses in court. "The police in Mahachai have been abusing Burmese migrants for a long time – they often arrest and extort Burmese migrants on accusations of dealing drugs by using shopping lists found in their pockets as 'evidence'," said Kyaw Thaung. "We have both photo and video footage of the abuses and previously consulted with lawyers and our affiliate organisations about making a formal compliant but they said it would be unfeasible for us, as a civil society group, to file it as the Thai authorities are involved in the case and suggested that we approach the Burmese embassy for assistance." Related Stories Thailand and Burma to ease visa requirements for citizens Western shrimp imports ‘fuel’ trafficking of Burmese migrants Burmese labour minister urged to fight for migrants in Malaysia Burmese migrant workers in Thailand are still denied basic rights and are regularly subjected to abuses by their employers and the police, despite repeated pledges by the government to improve conditions. "In theory, Burmese migrants who carry legal passports have the right to travel freely – exactly like their Thai counterparts," said Kyaw Thaung. "But in reality the migrants are forced to pay (US$3) 100 baht at each of the nine highway checkpoints between Bangkok and Mae Sot." He added that the MAT had acquired video footage documenting the Thai police extorting money from migrants at checkpoints, which they sent to the Burmese government and NGOs in Thailand over six months ago, but without response. In June last year, the Thai authorities in Tak province, near the Burmese border, imposed travel restrictions on legally registered migrant workers. The Migrant Assistance Progamme described it as a coercive strategy aimed at preventing Burmese workers from seeking better employment conditions in other parts of the country. Migrants in Thailand make up about five percent of the county's workforce, and provide a crucial pool of labour for low-skilled, often dangerous, industries such as fishing and construction. Up to three million people, or about 80 percent, are estimated to come from Burma.

Suu Kyi wants to learn from Northern Ireland peace process Posted: 24 Oct 2013 11:02 PM PDT Aung San Suu Kyi said Northern Ireland’s peace process could help reconciliation in Burma, as the Nobel peace laureate visited the British province on Thursday. The Burma opposition leader said she wanted to learn lessons about how Protestants and Catholics ended three decades of sectarian bloodshed and formed a power-sharing administration. Burma has recently been rocked by anti-Muslim bloodshed and is also trying to overcome the legacy of decades of rampant human rights violations and conflict between the government and various ethnic groups. Suu Kyi met politicians, police and schoolchildren during her visit to the province. “The main reason I have come to Northern Ireland is to learn about how you managed to negotiate a peace process in spite of all the difficulties,” she said at WellingtonCollege in Belfast. “It is very useful, what we have learned here I think will help us a great deal back in Burma. “I want to see from you how you see your present-day problems because I am told the work is not done.” She said the divisions in Northern Ireland were more deep-seated than in Burma, though the problem in her country was more complex, with many different ethnicities and the challenges of integrating civilian and military politics. Suu Kyi toured the Northern Irish capital and visited the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction, based on the doomed ocean liner built in the city. Related Stories Suu Kyi rejects allegations of ethnic cleansing in Burma British PM backs Suu Kyi's presidential bid Suu Kyi reiterates call for constitutional amendments On Wednesday in London she met Britain’s heir to the throne Prince Charles, shortly before the christening of his grandson Prince George. The Nobel peace laureate also met Prime Minister David Cameron, who said he would help build international pressure on Burma to lift its ban on people whose spouses or children are foreign nationals — including Suu Kyi — from running for president. Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest under military rule in Burma, before she was freed after controversial elections in 2010. The democracy icon is now an opposition lawmaker as part of sweeping reforms under a new quasi-civilian regime that took office in 2011.

Anti-Muslim violence threatens Burma’s reforms: UN Posted: 24 Oct 2013 10:43 PM PDT Violence against the Rohingya minority in Arakan state has fuelled a wider campaign of anti-Muslim hostility in Burma which threatens to derail the country's fragile democratic reform process, a UN envoy warned on Thursday. Presenting his final report to the UN General Assembly, Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma, Tomas Quintana, urged the government to do more to stem the tide of violence, which has claimed almost 250 lives since last year. Violence first erupted in northern Arakan state in June 2012, when Rohingya Muslims, who are considered illegal Bengali immigrants and denied citizenship in Burma, clashed with local Buddhists. The unrest has since rippled through other parts of the country, targeting various Muslim communities, including the Arakan-based Kaman who unlike the Rohingya is a recognised Burmese ethnic group. "The president [Thein Sein] has made some commendable public speeches in which he has emphasised the need for trust, respect and compassion between people of different faiths and ethnic groups in Myanmar [Burma],” Quintana told the General Assembly's third committee, which deals with human rights. “However, more needs to be done by the government to tackle the spread of discriminatory views and to protect vulnerable minority communities.” The unrest has been linked to the rise of an extremist Buddhist movement, called 969, whose lead proponent, monk Wirathu, has likened Muslims to "mad dogs" and often been described as a hate preacher. But Thein Sein has publicly defended Wirathu as a "son of Buddha" and banned an edition of TIME Magazine that labelled him "The Face of Buddhist Terror". Quintana's 23-page report, which was made public on Wednesday, described the situation in Arakan state as a "profound crisis", and highlighted "credible" allegations of state-complicity in serious human rights abuses, including torture and arbitrary detentions of Rohingya Muslims, which the government has failed to investigate. “The underlying issue of discrimination against Muslim and particularly Rohingya populations remains unaddressed," he told the UN. "Allegations of gross violations since the violence erupted last June, including by state security personnel, remain unaddressed.” Some 800,000 Rohingya Muslims live in northwestern Burma, where they are denied access to basic rights and need permits to travel or marry. Nearly 140,000 Rohingya have been confined to squalid displacement camps with limited access to food, sanitation and healthcare. Chris Lewa from the advocacy group, The Arakan Project, praised Quintana's report as "very comprehensive" and urged the international community to treat it as a "renewed alert" over the predicament of the Rohingya. "I would qualify the situation in Arakan absolutely critical," she said on Thursday.  "The government does not appear to take any initiatives to address not just the root causes of the violence but also its consequences.  Encampment and segregation of 140,000 Rohingya and Kaman are becoming permanent as time goes by." Related Stories Suu Kyi rejects allegations of ethnic cleansing in Burma UN warns of 'profound crisis' in Arakan state Arakan CBOs demand halt to all natural resource extraction projects According to government data, 1,189 people including 260 Buddhists and 882 Rohingya Muslims have been detained for their role in the unrest. The rapporteur expressed concerns that Muslims have been unfairly targeted, with many arrested as part of village "sweeps" and subsequently denied access to legal representation or fair trials. Lewa warned that the situation has not improved since Quintana's visit to Arakan state in August, explaining that another 200 Rohingyas have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from 5 to 40 years. "It is not surprising that, according to The Arakan Project’s estimate, more than 10,000 already fled by boat just over the last two months and from North Arakan alone," she said. Quintana's report concludes his 6-year mandate as Special Rapporteur for Burma, and will be used to inform a new UN resolution on the former military dictatorship. The UN's Human Rights Council will subsequently decide if a new rapporteur should be appointed next year. His warnings come on the same day that opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, denied allegations that ethnic cleansing of Muslims is taking place in Burma. "It's not ethnic cleansing," she told the BBC in an interview. "What the world needs to understand [is] that the fear is not just on the side of the Muslims, but on the side of the Buddhists as well. Muslims make up some 5 percent of a population of 60 million in the Buddhist-majority country.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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Shan mulls Laiza summit Posted: 25 Oct 2013 04:46 AM PDT The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) is holding an ad hoc meeting at its main base in Loi Taileng, opposite Maehongson's Pang Mapha district today, and one of the hot topics is to respond to the Kachin invitation to attend the meeting at Laiza on the Sino-Burmese border, 30 October-1 November, according to an RCSS/SSA source. "Whether or not we attend the Summit is less important than the principles we stand for," one of the highly-placed source told SHAN. "We together with the UNFC (United Nationalities Federal Council, the 12 party armed alliance) had drawn up the Comprehensive Union Peace and Ceasefire Agreement (CUPCA) in April. We stand by it." KIO president Zawng Hra (Photo: KIO) At the time of this writing, it is not clear whether the group will join the Ethnic Armed Groups (EAG) Conference, hosted by the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA). The conference is expected to discuss the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signing as proposed by Naypyitaw. So far, only a few groups have seen the draft agreement, which was reportedly adopted from the CUPCA, which was presented to the government in May. The invitation, signed by KIO president Zawng Hra, was extended to 18 armed groups: Karen National Union (KNU) Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) Chin National Front (CNF) New Mon State Party (NMSP) Arakan National Council (ANC) Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) PaO National Liberation Organization (PSLO) Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) Wa National Organization (WNO) Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) United Wa State Party (UWSP) National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) Karen Peace Council (KPC) United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) Three from each group are expected to attend the meeting.

Money, Peace and Conflict: Press launch of a new report Posted: 25 Oct 2013 04:45 AM PDT Members of the media, diplomatic community and civil society groups are cordially invited to the press launch of a new report "Economics of Peace and Conflict" at the Myanmar Media Library on Monday 28 October at 2pm. Produced by the Myanmar Peace Process Monitor project of Burma News International, the report provides facts and data to interpret the role and impact of business engagement in the peace process. The report observes that current economic engagement trends linked to the peace process have already caused serious negative impacts on local communities and may threat the durability of peace agreements. Ownership, control and management of land and natural resources cannot be separated from ceasefire agreement and peace talks. How such issues are handled can either strengthen or destroy the legitimacy and sustainability of peace agreements. The report also examines some option for various stakeholders such as Government, Military, Non State Armed Groups, International Community, Business Investors and Civil Society to implement to ensure that there is a durable end to conflicts. The report covers a range of grievances including increased militarization and violence, lack of ownership and control over natural resources, land confiscation, environmental and social impacts, and competition. It also provides information on various business organizations and key groups engaged in the peace process. Where – Myanmar Media Library Centre, 437, E-3, Merchant Road and 44th Street, Botataung Township, Yangon. When – October 28th (Monday), 2 pm Contact person – Nai Kasauh Mon – 09 255800 336 Nan Paw Gay – 09 317 63635

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