The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Burma’s Harsh Protest Law Likely to Be Replaced
• As Conflict Reignites, TNLA Claims Gains at Shan Army’s Expense
• Suu Kyi and Japan: Tokyo Love Story or Battle Royale?
• Plywood Factory Protestors Send Representatives to Naypyidaw
• As Burger Joints Proliferate, a Look at Some of Rangoon’s Best
• The Mong Wong, Burma’s Newest Citizens, Face Backlash
• Clause Célèbre: Taiwan Leader Must Convince China She’s No ‘Splittist’
• North Korea Kicks Off Rare Party Congress With ‘Miraculous Results’

Burma’s Harsh Protest Law Likely to Be Replaced Posted: 06 May 2016 05:27 AM PDT Police beat a student protester who had attempted to turn himself in during a crackdown on the activists at Letpadan on March 10, 2015. (Photo: Sai Zaw / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A new version of Burma's Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law was submitted to the Upper House of Parliament on Thursday, with proponents saying the legislation would loosen multiple restrictions on demonstrators and establish clear guidelines for legal procedures against unlawful protest. The bill was submitted to the legislative chamber by the Upper House Bill Committee, which stated that the new version would be more in line with the country's multi-party democratic system. Under the new bill, demonstrators would only need to "inform" relevant police stations at least 48 hours before a protest, a change from the existing law which requires groups to receive "permission" from authorities. Also, the new bill imposes limitations on the rights of authorities to charge demonstrators. If organizers of the protests are found breaking the law, they can only be prosecuted by the first township where they violate the law—not all of the townships they pass through—and the charges can only be filed within 15 days of the incident. The current law has no such provision, leaving demonstrators vulnerable to excessive legal action. Zaw Min, a National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker and chairman of the bill committee, pointed to last year's brutal crackdown on student activists peacefully demonstrating against the National Education Law, saying that some student leaders were charged with more than 50 counts of criminal activity as their protest march passed through several of Burma's townships. Zaw Min said that the committee didn't propose amendments to the previous law but opted to submit a new bill because it would require too many revisions of the current law to make it acceptable. "Our new bill was drafted based on the fundamental rights of citizens, according to the 2008 Constitution, which the previous [existing] law contradicted," he told The Irrawaddy. "The new bill will help our people exercise their rights as citizens." Lawyer Ko Ni, a legal advisor to the NLD, said that the new bill was in step with international norms and would fully recognize the fundamental rights of the country's citizens. "It's not a revision to the old law," he said. "It's a completely new bill, one that accords with democratic standards." The new bill, which has eight chapters and 25 articles, would ensconce legal protection for protesters and also reduce punishments for those who violate the law. People who interfere with or physically assault lawful, peaceful assemblies could be sentenced with up to one year in prison, a fined 100,000 kyats (US$85) or both. Protesters who organize without informing local authorities could be sentenced to three months in prison, fined 30,000 kyats or both. The current law was frequently used to arrest and oppress political activists under the previous Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government. If the new bill is passed, it will supersede and automatically replace the 2011 Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law and its 2014 revision. Lawmakers at the session unanimously agreed to discuss the bill, and recommendations on the bill are scheduled to be heard next week, according to Upper House Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than. Passage is expected, given that it is backed by the NLD, which dominates both houses of the Union Parliament. The post Burma's Harsh Protest Law Likely to Be Replaced appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

As Conflict Reignites, TNLA Claims Gains at Shan Army’s Expense Posted: 06 May 2016 05:05 AM PDT A Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) soldier in Kyaukme Township, at the frontline of conflict with the Shan State Army-South in February. (Photo: Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Fighting broke out this week at eight separate locations in northern Shan State, pitting the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) against the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), with the TNLA reclaiming army bases from SSA-S troops, according to a statement from the former on Thursday. The locations of the hostilities were spread across the adjacent townships of Mongton, Namkham and Kyaukme. The two ethnic armed groups have been engaged in conflict over territory in northern Shan State since late last year, after the SSA-S signed the so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement with the previous government. The TNLA, which was not allowed to sign the accord, has accused the Burma Army of lending logistical support and protection to the SSA-S—a charge the SSA-S has consistently denied. According to the statement, the TNLA launched its recent offensive in order to drive out SSA-S troops who had come to "invade their [ethnic Ta'ang, also known as Palaung] lands" and cause difficulties for their people. The TNLA and SSA-S are the armed wings of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), respectively. In February, fighting caused hundreds of local residents to flee to safer areas in northern Shan, including the region's larger towns, adding to the several thousand already displaced in the conflict between the two ethnic armed groups. (Fluid rates of flight and return made IDPs difficult to quantify.) Fighting then halted for almost a month, during the tea harvest—cultivation of the crop being the principal occupation of the Ta'ang people. However, in early March, the Burma Army began operations in the area against the TNLA from its command base in Lashio, before conflict with the SSA-S resumed. The TNLA claims that SSA-S troops advanced to establish further bases in March. Thursday's statement accused RCSS members of detaining local Ta'ang people, demanding money from them and restricting their ability to travel and obtain food, including by blocking roads. "They were acting as if they were in their own land and made trouble for our people. They are behaving like a wild tiger. We need to drive them from our land," Tar Bong Kyaw, general secretary of the TNLA, told The Irrawaddy. From two villages, Sai Lane and Loi Hom, the TNLA on Thursday took back the Kaung Sai mountain in Mongton Township, where three separate SSA-S bases had been established. There were heavy clashes and casualties on both sides, reported Tar Bong Kyaw. The TNLA took two more SSA-S bases in a May 2 attack on Mong Won village and another in Tarbong village on May 4, all in Namkham Township. Col. Sai Hla, a spokesperson for the SSA-S, confirmed that fighting had broken out recently between his troops and the TNLA. He said it was "hard to say who is right and who is wrong" regarding accusations of territorial encroachment. "We have our own area in Namkham Township but they have their own 'special region' under their control," he said. Sai Hla said his troops had not formerly intruded onto TNLA-controlled land, but after a column of SSA-S troops was ambushed by the TNLA in Namkham Township in November, they had crossed over. The SSA-S had only established "temporary" bases in TNLA-controlled areas, according to Sai Hla, who said he could not neither confirm nor deny the TNLA'S claim to have seized several SSA-S bases. "I shall enquire with my troops on the ground. We are guerrilla troops and we did not have permanent bases." Sai Hla said his troops had only blocked roads to cut off rations to the TNLA; the move was not targeting local Ta'ang communities, as the TNLA claimed. "It was a groundless accusation," the spokesman said. The post As Conflict Reignites, TNLA Claims Gains at Shan Army's Expense appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi and Japan: Tokyo Love Story or Battle Royale? Posted: 06 May 2016 04:21 AM PDT Then opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, left, shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his official residence in Tokyo on April 18, 2013. (Photo: Reuters) This week, state-run newspapers splashed Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida's photo with Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi all over their front pages. But beneath the smiles and handshakes, there is a history of discord. After the political opening in 2011 and 2012, Japan moved quickly to resume aid and investment to Burma—including development of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a 2,400-hectare industrial zone in southeast Rangoon Division. Japan's Nippon Foundation also provided funds for Burma's peace-building process and general aid to the previous government. Suu Kyi was opposed to this aid and investment from Japan during the junta’s reign because she saw it as bolstering the repressive regime that ruled over the country with an iron fist. But like the Chinese government, which developed even closer relations with the regime, Tokyo was not deterred by her stance. Japan, however, is recognizing that it might have to change its ways to deal with the new reality of Suu Kyi in power. After Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory in the national elections, Japanese businesses were worried. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had not developed close ties with Suu Kyi. But less than three weeks after the election, Abe invited a high-level NLD official to Tokyo. On Nov. 27, Nyan Win, central executive committee member of the NLD, met with Foreign Minister Kishida in Tokyo. Nyan Win asked for more investment and technological assistance from the world's No. 3 economy. This week in Naypyidaw, Kishida first met with Suu Kyi, who also serves as Burma's state counselor. They spent more than an hour discussing issues related to aid, business, development projects and peace-building efforts with Burma's ethnic armed organizations. Afterwards, the Japanese foreign minister met with President Htin Kyaw, Suu Kyi's confidant. That meeting lasted only 15 minutes. Given Suu Kyi's personal ties to Japan, a relationship with the East Asian power could blossom. She was a visiting scholar at Kyoto University in 1985-86, where she made some Japanese friends, but none of them were from the business community. And when she returned to Japan in April 2013 after Burma began opening up, she met Abe. In the early 1940s, Suu Kyi's late father, Gen. Aung San, Burma's independence hero, received military training from the Japanese Army and even adopted a Japanese name, Omoda Monji. He and his compatriots, the legendary "Thirty Comrades," received arms and financial support from the Japanese Army to fight the British, who were then ruling Burma. Under Japanese occupation, Aung San became war minister, but he subsequently decided to revolt against the draconian Japanese regime after joining forces with the Allies during World War II. In the 1960s, Gen. Ne Win, one of the "Thirty Comrades," sought to cultivate closer relations with Tokyo. Throughout his 26-year rule, the Ne Win regime received aid and loans from Japan, as well as post-war reparations. At the time, the Japanese viewed Burma as a country with high economic potential. But then came the tumultuous late 1980s, and Suu Kyi was put under house arrest. While there in the 1990s, Suu Kyi was critical of Japan's economic engagement with the repressive Burmese regime. After she was freed from house arrest in 1995, the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun published Suu Kyi's "Letters from Burma." In her letters, she did not hide her opposition to Japan's Burma policy. Interestingly, Japan was the first country to be informed of her release, and subsequently the Japanese government agreed to resume Official Development Assistance (ODA). It appears that Suu Kyi's release was somehow a bargaining chip in the aid deal. Nonetheless, publicly, she advised Tokyo to hold off on its aid package. "If it is a reward for my release, I'm just one political prisoner, there are others still in jail," she told a correspondent from the now-defunct Far Eastern Economic Review at the time. "Changing the conditions of one person is not enough to merit the renewal of aid." In addition to the traditional aid package, the Japanese provided a grant in the notorious Golden Triangle, where they wanted to promote eradication of opium poppy cultivation in the Kokang region through crop substitution. They introduced the cultivation of buckwheat, which is used in Japanese soba noodle production. Suu Kyi was frustrated. In April 1996, less than one year after her release, she wrote in the Mainichi Shimbun: "To observe businessmen who come to Burma with the intention of enriching themselves is somewhat like watching passers-by in an orchard brutally stripping off blossoms to appreciate their fragile beauty, blind to the ugliness of the despoiled branches, oblivious to the fact that by their action they are imperiling future fruitfulness and committing an injustice against the rightful owners of the trees. Among these despoilers are big Japanese companies." In June 1996, Suu Kyi sent a letter to then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto via the Japanese Embassy in Rangoon, asking Tokyo to exercise its economic power to push for democratization in Burma as stipulated in the ODA guidelines. She received no reply. Meanwhile, in Japan, there appeared a flurry of Suu Kyi-bashing articles written by businessmen and government officials close to the Burmese regime. It was obvious that some powerful people in Japan felt Suu Kyi was an obstacle to doing business and carrying out aid in Burma. But now Suu Kyi is in power. Burma has seen dramatic political changes over the past five years. "We'll cooperate with the Myanmar government to create a climate that will benefit both the people of Myanmar and Japanese businesses," the visiting Japanese foreign minister said, specifically pointing out his country's ambition to spur job creation and bolster the development of Burma's agricultural, education, finance, health care and infrastructure sectors. "Japan will do as much as it can to help Myanmar in its process of national reconciliation," Kishida added, stating a desire to help the former pariah state re-engage internationally. In her role as foreign minister, Suu Kyi expressed her appreciation for the "support and kindness expressed by the people of Japan" for Burma. Through Kishida, Abe invited her to Japan and sent her a personal letter. But Japan is not alone in courting the new powers that be in Naypyidaw. Shortly after the NLD formed a government, it was Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who paid a surprise visit to Burma at the invitation of Suu Kyi. And last year, a few months before the election, Suu Kyi was in China, where President Xi Jinping received her—some called it a massive diplomatic breakthrough because it was Beijing that had invited the then-opposition leader. No doubt China, one of the top investors in Burma, wanted to bet on Suu Kyi. The question for them is: Will she protect China's business and strategic interests in Burma? Through Wang, Xi extended another invitation to Suu Kyi last month. The ministry has not yet announced Suu Kyi's itinerary for overseas visits, but look out to see which of the two countries she travels to first, China or Japan. That decision could be a major sign of things to come in Suu Kyi's bumpy relationship with Japan. Aung Zaw is founding editor of The Irrawaddy. The post Suu Kyi and Japan: Tokyo Love Story or Battle Royale? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Plywood Factory Protestors Send Representatives to Naypyidaw Posted: 06 May 2016 04:14 AM PDT Labor rights protestors march from Sagaing Division to Naypyidaw. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — Protestors from a plywood factory in the Sagaing Industrial Zone sent representatives to Naypyidaw on Friday, following an invitation from the director general of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security. "Five representatives are on their way to meet with the director general, parliamentarians and other responsible parties from the plywood factory to talk about our rights," said Hnin Aung, one of the protestors. The invitation letter from the director general, Myo Aung, said a meeting would be held at the ministry's office to negotiate with Myanmar Veneer Plywood Private Ltd., in order to resolve the labor issues. Meanwhile, the remaining workers reached Wundwin Township in Mandalay Division on Friday, and continued their march to Naypyidaw. Protestors said local administrative authorities have mistreated them along the way, and monasteries where they had planned to rest were pressured by authorities not to accept them. "If local authorities want to arrest us, we do not care. If they do not want us to sleep in monasteries, we will sleep on the side on the road," said Hnin Aung, adding, "We will march until the labor rights abuses are solved." Dozens of workers, both men and women, began marching from Sagaing Division to Naypyidaw late last month, hoping to meet President Htin Kyaw to urge him to resolve the dispute. The workers have asked the plywood factory to reduce daily work hours from 12 to 8, and to re-employ workers who had been fired after fronting the initial protest. The post Plywood Factory Protestors Send Representatives to Naypyidaw appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

As Burger Joints Proliferate, a Look at Some of Rangoon’s Best Posted: 06 May 2016 02:42 AM PDT Burgers have not been left behind in Rangoon's culinary gentrification. (Photo: Foodie Myanmar) The first dedicated burger joint in Rangoon, Burger Buster on Inya Road, opened in the early 2000s and became popular with the city's youth. It remains open on the original site but now competes with a range of popular burger places—the best of which, according to Foodie Myanmar, are introduced below. Prices are on the high side at these places, partly because they are not cooked in advance, as at fast food outlets, but instead cooked to order using fresh ingredients—with tastier results. 1) Savoy Hotel The burgers at Savoy are especially popular among foreigners. Seven types are available to choose from: The hottest two are Le Marcel Burger, made up of a beef patty, bacon, lettuce and cocktail sauce; and the Cheese Burger, which comes with cheddar, mozzarella, lettuce and tomato. For non beef-eaters, the Ocean Three Burger contains seafood. Burger prices are around US$17 and on Wednesdays come with a free glass of Tuborg beer. They can be ordered in all three eateries at the Savoy—Captain's Bar, Le Bistrot, and Kilpling's Restaurant. The Savoy is located at No. 129 Dhammazedi Street in Bahan Township. 2) Sharky's Food & Passion Popular among both foreign residents and Rangoon locals. Five types of burgers are available—chicken, beef, prawn, goose liver and cheese, and vegetarian. The Beef Burger—made up of  beef, cheese, tomato and potato—is the top pick and costs around 14,000 kyats ($12). Sharky's is located at No. 81, Pansodan Road, Kyauktada Township. 3) Yangon Bakehouse The price is not exorbitant but the burgers taste as good as in other popular outlets. Particularly recommended is the Beef Burger, followed by the Bakehouse Spicy Burger, which comes with chicken. Prices are at 8,600 kyats. Bakehouse is located at No. 10, Inya Road, Kamayut Township, as well as in Pearl Condo on Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township. 4) Café Thiripyitsaya This pool-side eatery in Sakura Residence allows you to relax with your burger. The special dish is the Mega Beef Burger, made up of beef, tomato, onion, salad and egg, and costing around 8,000 kyats. Sakura Residence is at No. 9, Inya Street, Kamayut Tonwship. 5) AJ's Bar & Grill One for burger lovers based downtown. Seven types are available. The AJ Crispy Onion Burger is a popular choice made up of beef, cheese, crispy onion, a special homemade sauce and egg. Prices around 9,500 kyats. AJ's is at No. 132, on the corner of Bo Myat Tun and Anawratha roads, Botahtaung Township. 6) Craft Café Reasonably priced and a short distance from downtown. Two types are available here—chicken and beef, which both come with salad and egg. Burgers cost around 4,400 kyats. Craft is at No. 33, on the corner of Bo Yar Nyunt and Nawaday roads, Dagon Township. This article was written by Foodie Myanmar. Available for download in the Google Play Store, the Foodie Myanmar app will help you discover great places to eat and ways to share your foodie moments. Available at: http://bit.ly/InstallFoodieMyanmarOnAndroid The post As Burger Joints Proliferate, a Look at Some of Rangoon's Best appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Mong Wong, Burma’s Newest Citizens, Face Backlash Posted: 06 May 2016 01:55 AM PDT Lawmakers attend a session of Parliament in Naypyidaw earlier this year. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The collective fate of tens of thousands of ethnic Chinese living in Burma's Shan State was taken up by the Union Parliament on Wednesday, opening another chapter in the convoluted controversy over what it means to be "Burmese." Approximately 60,000 people from the Mong Wong group, who are believed to have moved to northern Shan State from southern China's Yunnan province some two centuries ago, were granted Burmese citizenship in an 11th-hour move by the then-outgoing Thein Sein government in March. The former government ordered immigration officials to begin issuing IDs to the Mong Wong in Shan State's Tarmoenye, part of Kutkai Township, as a reward for their militia's support of Burma Army operations against other non-state armed organizations, said Minister of Labor, Immigration and Population Thein Swe in Parliament on Wednesday. "[Mong Wong] militias actively cooperated with the Burma Army, also known as Tatmadaw, to fight armed insurgents," said Thein Swe, a former member of the previously ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), who was purged from its ranks last month after accepting the cabinet post offered by the National League for Democracy (NLD). A Mong Wong by Any Other Name Much of this week's parliamentary wrangling centered around nomenclature—a knotty issue for the Mong Wong, who have been given eight different names, according to the minister, since they were first issued ID cards in 1982. "Having so many different names has complicated this issue. This is yet another reason the government granted them citizenship: It was easier to classify the whole group as 'Mong Wong-Bamar,'" said Thein Swe. "The [Mong Wong] proposed this terminology to the government, who agreed to use it," Thein Swe continued. "The move was not meant to recognize them as one distinct ethnicity." The minister stated that ethnicity changes could only be made in accordance with the Constitution, and that his ministry did not have the authority to make a decision on the issue unilaterally. On Burmese ID cards, children with parents from different ethnic groups have to list both parents' ethnicities. "The current term makes it seem that the Mong Wong, whose ethnicity is listed [under the previous government's directive] as Mong Wong-Bamar, are all descended from people of Burmese ethnicity," said Sai Thant Zin, a lawmaker representing Hsipaw Township from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) party in the Lower House. "Our government should solve this problem." Thein Swe said his ministry was only able to provide ID cards based on what the ethnicity themselves wanted to be called. He added that the recently created Ministry of Ethnic Affairs might be able to tackle this issue in the future. In the statement announcing the citizenship of the "Mong Wong-Bamar" in March, the then-Ministry of Immigration said, "The heads of state of successive governments have recognized the contributions the [Mong Wong] Bamar ethnic group has made to national security." In 1998, the then junta leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, ordered the group be recognized as a subgroup under the ethnic Burman majority, also known commonly as Bamar. Two referendums were held later that year in which the new categorization was "heartily accepted," the ministry's March statement claimed. The ministry went on to say that through an apparent combination of bureaucratic mismanagement and miscommunication, the group was never properly granted full citizenship, resulting in only 620 out of "some 60,000 eligible [Mong Wong] Bamar voters in the Tarmoenye area having suffrage in the 2015 election." Mong Wong ethnic Chinese have lived in Burma for generations and therefore were eligible to be issued national IDs under Burma's 1982 Citizenship Law, contended Thein Swe. 'How Can They Become Citizens?' Not all parties are satisfied with the Mong Wong group becoming full citizens. Politicians from Shan State alleged that the Mong Wong were descended from members of the Kuomintang (KMT) Army, who had fled into Burma after being defeated by the communists in China. KMT troops, backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), wrought devastation on the region for several years in the late 1940s and '50s after China's civil war, seizing land and property, clashing with the Burma Army and communist soldiers, and leaving a legacy of anti-Chinese animosity. The SNLD's Sai Thant Zin said Mong Wong were originally from Yunnan Province in southern China; they spoke a different language and had different traditions. "We all know that they are different from Burmese people, who make up the majority of our country," he said. "Yet how can they become citizens, even though we all know they are different from the Burmese people?" "We need to re-examine the law that allowed them to attain citizenship," he said. "Other ethnic groups may make claims to citizenship based on this precedent." Mai Aike Kyaw, a spokesperson for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), said that the issuance of IDs to the Mong Wong was a political ploy the Burma Army used to strengthen its position in persisting conflicts with ethnic armed groups in the region. Sai Kyaw Nyunt, an SNLD spokesperson, argued that Burma's ethnic armed groups were fighting against the central government because they had not yet received guarantees of a federal union, and that it was thus wrong to grant citizenship to those who had helped suppress that struggle. "There are many Shan people in our state who still do not have IDs," said Sai Kyaw Nyunt. "Why the government prioritized giving citizenship to the Mong Wong over the Shan people is the question we are trying to answer here." The Mong Wong militia is estimated to number around 100 soldiers in Shan State and has helped the Burma Army with reconnaissance and fighting against other ethnic armed groups in Kutkai Township and elsewhere in northern Shan State. The Shan State Army-North, TNLA and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) are all active in the area and have frequently clashed with Burma Army troops in recent years. Following deliberations this week, lawmakers put the issue on record, apparently leaving it to the newly created Ethnic Affairs Ministry to resolve. The post The Mong Wong, Burma's Newest Citizens, Face Backlash appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Clause Célèbre: Taiwan Leader Must Convince China She’s No ‘Splittist’ Posted: 06 May 2016 12:08 AM PDT A man rides a bicycle past a flag with the image of Taiwan President-elect Tsai Ing-wen in Pingtung, Taiwan, on April 27, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) PINGTUN, Taiwan — Tsai Ing-wen becomes Taiwan's first woman president this month when her mission will be to convince giant neighbor China her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is not seeking independence, any hint of which could lead to war. Communist Party leaders in Beijing regard fiercely democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province and have not ruled out using force to bring it under China's control. A 591-word clause in the DPP's charter begs to differ. "Based on the principle of national sovereignty, [we] advocate establishing a sovereign and independent 'Republic of Taiwan' and a new constitution that should be decided on by all residents of Taiwan in a referendum," the clause says. DPP seniors say the clause, written in 1991, is defunct—but to delete it would rupture the party and bring out the "splittist," or separatist, forces that China constantly warns against. Tsai's juggling trick is to convince China the DPP is not seeking independence and to keep the party intact. "China's attitude on opposing independence is out of touch with the real situation," said independence advocate Koo Kwang-ming. "They really have no way [of how to deal] with Taiwan, so they take what has been stated in the past and repeat, repeat and repeat it." Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war to the Communists in China in 1949. China, formally known as the People's Republic of China, has pressured the new Taiwan government to stick to the "one-China" policy agreed upon with the outgoing China-friendly Nationalist government. The policy allows each side to respectively interpret what it means. The Communists say they rule all of China including Taiwan, while the Nationalists maintain the "Republic of China," Taiwan's formal name, is the ruler. Tsai has said she will maintain the status quo with China under the constitutional order of the "Republic of China." Last month she reiterated her position, saying her policy will be based on democratic principles and transcend party politics. Moving on From Martial Law China's top Communist Party newspaper said on Thursday that Taiwan stands at a critical juncture of either accepting Beijing's "one China" principle or taking an unclear stance and refusing to abandon support for Taiwan independence. "The so-called 'maintenance of the status quo' promised by Taiwan's newly elected leader is only empty talk," the People's Daily said. "The responsibility for the consequences caused can only be accepted by the DPP authorities." The independence clause served a purpose in 1991, DPP seniors say. The island had emerged from martial law only in 1987. It was undergoing major governmental reform and its first direct presidential election was still five years away. The DPP tried to freeze the clause in 2014, but no decision was made. "Our goal is not to establish a Republic of Taiwan. It is to be the ruling party," said Ker Chien-ming, one of the first members of the 30-year-old party and its legislative leader. "But to abolish it will cause another dispute. The independence faction will give the party a huge amount of pressure." Activist Lai Chung-chiang said the clause shouldn't be deleted. "It would limit our space in deciding our future," he said at a protest with leaders of the 2014 demonstrations that stalled a trade pact with China and were key in toppling the Nationalists from power. In southern Taiwan's Pingtung County, where Tsai's father was born, it is less about splitting from Communist China than about maintaining a democratic way of life. "Our expectations are for this Taiwan leader who hails from Pingtung to pay more attention to this relatively remote area and prevent the urban-rural imbalances from widening," Pingtung County magistrate Pan Men-an told Reuters. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in March that China would never allow the historical tragedy of Taiwan being split from the rest of the country to happen again. Japan ruled Taiwan as a colony for about five decades until the end of World War II. China's last dynasty, the Qing, had ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895 after losing the first Sino-Japanese war. Shirley Kan, a retired congressional researcher and long-time Taiwan watcher, said the DPP now had a record to back its case to maintain the status quo, whereas there was no such record in 1991. "The facts are that Taiwan is much more entwined with the People's Republic of China and Taiwan cannot avoid cross-Strait engagement," she said, referring to the stretch of water dividing the two sides. "It is no longer a question of whether to have a cross-Strait relationship, but how to conduct it." The post Clause Célèbre: Taiwan Leader Must Convince China She's No 'Splittist' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

North Korea Kicks Off Rare Party Congress With ‘Miraculous Results’ Posted: 05 May 2016 11:09 PM PDT Pictures of former North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il decorate the April 25 House of Culture, venue of the Workers' Party of Korea congress in Pyongyang, North Korea, on May 6, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea kicked off the first congress of its ruling Workers' Party in 36 years on Friday, with Kim Jong-un expected to further consolidate his control over a country that has grown increasingly isolated over its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Ahead of the event, secretive North Korea trumpeted "miraculous results" and said advances in nuclear and ballistic missile developments were "the greatest gifts" for the rare party congress, but little of substance was revealed. On Friday morning, foreign journalists invited to cover the event were not permitted inside the April 25 House of Culture, the stone-built structure draped in red party flags where the congress was expected to run for several days. Thousands of delegates from around North Korea were expected to attend the first congress since 1980, before 33-year-old Kim was born. Security guards dressed in suits and ties surrounded the venue and dozens of empty buses were parked outside. Foreign analysts expect the third-generation leader of the Kim dynasty to formally adopt his "Byongjin" policy of simultaneously pursuing nuclear weapons and economic development, and to further consolidate his power. Byongjin follows Kim's father's Songun, or "military first" policy, and his grandfather's Juche, the North's home-grown founding ideology that combines Marxism and extreme nationalism. North Korea's state television began its daily broadcast earlier than usual on Friday, with special programming heralding the feats of its leaders. State radio said the 7th Workers' Party congress would "unveil the brilliant blueprint to bring forward the final victory of our revolution," according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. North Korean state media has trumpeted a 70-day campaign of intensified productivity in the run-up to the congress, and Pyongyang has been spruced up for the event. The state-run KCNA news agency cited advances in nuclear and ballistic missile development, crediting military scientists and engineers for accomplishments that are "the greatest gifts" for the party congress. "Miraculous results were produced," KCNA said, touting production in the industrial sector that achieved 144 percent of target and electricity generation 110 percent, although the actual targets were not given. The congress opened on a rainy morning. Covers were hung over the giant portraits of Kim's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, and father, Kim Jong-il, that adorn Kim Il-sung square in the capital, apparently to keep them dry. Under Kim Jong-un, an informal market economy has been allowed to grow, although it has not been officially adopted as government policy. However, more taxis and private cars on the streets, more goods in shops, and more buildings under construction attest to growing prosperity and consumption among Pyongyang residents. Kim has also aggressively pursued nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology. In March, the UN Security Council adopted the latest in a series of resolutions toughening sanctions against North Korea, which conducted its fourth nuclear weapons test in January. South Korea has been on alert in anticipation that the North could conduct another nuclear test to coincide with the congress. North Korea's founding leader Kim Il-sung spoke for more than five hours at the last party congress. Kim Jong-il, who almost never spoke in public, did not hold a party congress. The post North Korea Kicks Off Rare Party Congress With 'Miraculous Results' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Fire tears though South Dagon factory
• Ministry prompts debate over state counsellor’s power
• Hluttaw to debate protest law revamp
• Fighting flares in Shan State ahead of peace talks with NLD leader
• Aid mobilised for Muslim IDPs without shelter after fire
• Nationalist charged, family blocked from jail visit
• Gender inequality continues to plague government under NLD
• Protesters decry restart to Letpadaung copper mine as police phalanx builds
• Rain-stricken Kachin IDPs in need of aid
• Low-cost housing part of construction ministry’s 100-day plan

Fire tears though South Dagon factory Posted: 06 May 2016 04:00 AM PDT A fire in South Dagon Industrial Zone (2) last night caused K15 million in damages. The fire, which broke out in a parquet wood factory on on Sittaung street in ward 63. Local fire authorities were able to extinguish the blaze at 00:15am this morning.

Ministry prompts debate over state counsellor’s power Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT The president's request for a new ministry to back up Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in her wide-ranging role as state counsellor is to be debated in parliament next week, with the military expected to challenge her concentration of powers.

Hluttaw to debate protest law revamp Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Parliament is taking steps to undercut the much-derided protest law that has been used to nail activists with the same charge in multiple townships.

Fighting flares in Shan State ahead of peace talks with NLD leader Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Heavy fighting was reported across three townships in northern Shan State yesterday as State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi prepared to hold her first consultations with ethnic armed groups ahead of a major peace conference.

Aid mobilised for Muslim IDPs without shelter after fire Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT International aid agencies and the Myanmar government say they are mobilising aid for more than 2000 Muslim IDPs left homeless after a fire ripped through their internment camp in Rakhine State amid conflicting reports of their whereabouts.

Nationalist charged, family blocked from jail visit Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT A Nationalist politician who was defeated at the ballot box is now jailed, facing charges for defaming Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Htin Kyaw and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Gender inequality continues to plague government under NLD Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Even though Myanmar's de facto leader is now a woman, gender equality in its government remains dire, a new report finds.

Protesters decry restart to Letpadaung copper mine as police phalanx builds Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Hundreds of police were deployed yesterday in response to a swelling protest column at the controversial Letpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Region. Villagers are raging at the government for failing to prevent the internationally crticised project from restarting.

Rain-stricken Kachin IDPs in need of aid Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT People displaced by fighting in Kachin State are in urgent need of shelter after heavy rainfall damaged their camps, according to aid groups.

Low-cost housing part of construction ministry’s 100-day plan Posted: 05 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT The new construction minister is pledging to build low-cost housing units throughout the country, starting in the capital.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• NCA Signatories Meet Tin Myo Win, Tipped as NLD’s Lead Peace Envoy
• Farmers Protest Resumption of Letpadaung Copper Mining
• Facebook Firebrand Arrested Over Alleged Defamation of Burma’s Leaders
• New State Counselor Ministry Proposed for Suu Kyi
• Mandalay Maps New Zoning Plan
• New Tourism Plan Highlights Local Communities 
• Military Defends Conduct in Arakan as Lawmakers Debate Conflict
• Aging Thailand Takes Toll on Indebted Households
• ‘Waiting for Order to Kill’: China Video Seeks Army Recruits

NCA Signatories Meet Tin Myo Win, Tipped as NLD’s Lead Peace Envoy Posted: 05 May 2016 06:42 AM PDT Dr. Tin Myo Win, the personal physician for Aung San Suu Kyi. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Representatives of eight non-state armed groups that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October met on Wednesday with Dr. Tin Myo Win, personal physician of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, to discuss reforming a body key to peace negotiations, the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC). The ethnic representatives met Tin Myo Win at Green Hill Hotel in Rangoon, according to Saw Mya Yazar Lin, a central executive member of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), an NCA signatory. The doctor has been tipped as the NLD government's lead peace negotiator with ethnic armed groups, assuming the role taken by President's Office Minister Aung Min in the previous military-backed government. "We invited Dr. Tin Myo Win to talk and explained to him our current political stance. We talked about how to move forward peacefully, avoiding political deadlock in the future," said the ALP's Saw Mya Yazar Lin. She said the eight NCA signatories discussed reforming the UPDJC, a 48-member body with equal representation of Burma Army officials, members of NCA signatory non-state armed groups and political parties. The UPDJC was previously chaired by Aung Min, and tasked with conducting the political dialogue between the government and ethnic armed organizations under the terms of the ceasefire signed on Oct. 15. Saw Mya Yazar Lin stressed the necessity and importance of the UPDJC. "Since the new government has come into power, the JMC [Joint Monitoring Committee] has assumed control of political decision-making." The participants proposed to Tin Myo Win that the UPDJC be given equal space, and emphasized the need to reform the UPDJC for future negotiations. It is believed that the NCA signatories wish to keep the UPDJC so as to balance the influence of the JMC, in light of the prospect of a diminishing UPDJC role under the new government. Like the UPDJC, the JMC includes NCA signatories in its membership. Both were formed under the previous government. The UPDJC is currently led by former Vice President Sai Mauk Kham, who is a member of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and Saw Kwe Htoo Win, general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU). The JMC, however, is led by Burma Army Lt-Gen Yar Pyaye and Saw Isaac Poe of the KNU. Suu Kyi met with the JMC in Naypyidaw on April 27, and declared that she "[did] not want much time to pass before a 21st century Panglong-style conference is held." The ALP's Saw Mya Yazar Lin said she considered a "21st century Panglong-style" style conference to be "in line with our goal." She said Tin Myo Win responded positively to the ethnic armed groups' suggestions but could only report them to the state counselor, Suu Kyi, because he had not yet been given an official mandate. "We also urged him to bring non-NCA signatory groups into the peace dialogue process. We have always strived to get the non-NCA signatories involved in political talks." The Irrawaddy reporter Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint contributed reporting. The post NCA Signatories Meet Tin Myo Win, Tipped as NLD's Lead Peace Envoy appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Farmers Protest Resumption of Letpadaung Copper Mining Posted: 05 May 2016 05:54 AM PDT Local farmers protesting the Letpadaung copper mining project in Sagaing Division's Salingyi Township on Thursday. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — Locals near the Letpadaung copper mining project in Sagaing Division's Salingyi Township staged a second day of protests as mining resumed on Thursday. Despite the presence of police stationed near the area, some 300 farmers, many of whom had land confiscated for the controversial mining venture, showed up to urge that mining be stopped and that villagers be compensated for losses incurred because of the project. "We crossed police lines to reach the liaison office of Wanbao company," said Sandar, a farmer from Tone village who joined the protest, referring to the Chinese firm in a joint venture with military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEHL) for the mining project. According to protesters, a letter was sent on Tuesday to National League for Democracy (NLD) chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi, who led a parliamentary committee overseeing implementation of the project under the previous government, asking that Letpadaung copper mining be stopped. "We showed our disapproval that mining resumed without following the instructions of [Suu Kyi's] committee," Sandar said. "The company was supposed to compensate farmers for crops and land that had been confiscated because of the project. But it didn't do anything about compensation or about environmental safeguards." Protesters said the letter was also sent to Sagaing's divisional government and to Burma's national government. "We don't want the project. We're jobless once our land is confiscated, and many of us have to go to cities to work as construction laborers," said Mar Cho, also from Tone village. "We've suffered enough. We just want our land back." According to the farmers, Wanbao and UMEHL have unofficially been mining in the area since 2013, despite official notice to stop after a brutal government crackdown on a protest near the site in 2012. However, Wanbao officials said mining in previous years was a trial period. "We're going to begin mining on a business level, starting from today," said Hla Sein, project manager of Wanbao, on Thursday. "And regarding compensation, we offered it [to farmers], but they wouldn't take any. It's all up to them. We don't know what to do about it. We're following every rule laid out in the report in terms of environmental matters and the development of the region," Hla Sein said, referring to a report compiled by Suu Kyi's parliamentary committee following its probe into the project. The post Farmers Protest Resumption of Letpadaung Copper Mining appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Facebook Firebrand Arrested Over Alleged Defamation of Burma’s Leaders Posted: 05 May 2016 05:36 AM PDT Nay Myo Wai speaks at an event against constitutional change to Article 59(f), the clause barring Aung San Suu Kyi from Burma's presidency. (Photo: Nay Myo Wai / Facebook) PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Division — Nay Myo Wai, ultra-nationalist provocateur and leader of a fringe political party, was arrested on Wednesday night outside Burma's commercial capital Rangoon, after being sued for allegedly defaming the president, army chief and state counselor on social media. Wai Yan Aung, an executive member of the Burma Teachers' Federation, filed the lawsuit against him at a police station in Irrawaddy Division's Kangyidaunt Township on Wednesday under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law. The litigant accused him of defaming President Htin Kyaw, Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, and of spreading Facebook posts and photos instigating unrest. One of the posts featuring doctored images depicts Suu Kyi as a beggar and another portrays her in a sexually suggestive position with an accompanying speech bubble that leaves little doubt about the digital manipulator's intended meaning, but which will not be relayed by this news outlet. A photo of Min Aung Hlaing is accompanied by a caption asserting that the commander-in-chief dare not stage a coup because he is secretly hoping to have an extramarital affair with the widow Suu Kyi. Htin Kyaw is targeted in one post as the president of a government formed by the "prostitute" and "kalar" party, referring to Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) and using a pejorative Burmese term used in modern times for Muslims of South Asian blood and also applied to British occupiers during the colonial era. Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law stipulates punishment of up to three years' imprisonment for using a telecommunications network to defame. As well as being used by the previous, military-back government against dissidents who satirized the military on social media, a Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) township secretary received a six-month prison sentence for sharing doctored images on Facebook of the head of Suu Kyi transposed onto the body of a naked woman. A police official from Irrawaddy Division told The Irrawaddy that local police in Rangoon and Irrawaddy Division searched his residence in Rangoon before arresting him on the Rangoon-Mandalay highway. "We are detaining him now in Pathein Prison and are investigating the case," he said. Pathein is the administrative capital of Irrawaddy Division. Nay Myo Wai is chairman of the Peace and Diversity Party, which contested the 2015 general election on a strong anti-Muslim platform but failed to win any seats. He is a supporter of the prominent Buddhist nationalist group the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, popularly known by its Burmese-language acronym Ma Ba Tha. Nay Myo Wai's anti-Muslim invectives, including on social media, have gained him some notoriety. In May of last year, he issued Facebook posts threatening to physically attack and "feed pork curry" to participants of a nationwide Muslim conference in Rangoon, although the government ultimately refused permission for the conference. Two Facebook accounts and three Facebook pages bearing his profile have been identified, and include his name, political party affiliation and phone number. Two of the three pages appear to be inactive. However, the others see regular uploads, including photos supporting anti-Muslim campaigns. The litigant Wai Yan Aung said that, if he does not operate the accounts spreading defamatory posts and photos, Nay Myo Wai could have reported this to Facebook's administrators—but he did not. "For the case, I presented three pieces of evidence together with screenshots of posts from his account," Wai Yan Aung said. Additional reporting by San Yamin Aung and Zue Zue in Rangoon. The post Facebook Firebrand Arrested Over Alleged Defamation of Burma's Leaders appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New State Counselor Ministry Proposed for Suu Kyi Posted: 05 May 2016 04:31 AM PDT Aung San Suu Kyi, right, and President Htin Kyaw enter Parliament in March 2016. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A proposal from Burma's President Htin Kyaw to form a new ministry for State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi was formally brought to the Union Parliament floor on Thursday. A document outlining the "Ministry of the State Counselor's Office" proposal was read out in the chamber by Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, in which the president was quoted as saying "it is necessary to have a ministry to successfully implement the missions of national reconciliation, domestic peace, national development and the rule of law." The Speaker did not offer any indication as to who might head the new ministry and oversee its vague portfolio, but speculation has tipped Suu Kyi's personal physician, Dr. Tin Myo Win, for the post. Tin Myo Win, long a close Suu Kyi ally, has also been given a leading role in coming peace negotiations between the new government and ethnic armed groups. He is widely expected to head a new iteration of the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC), which Suu Kyi last week suggested would be renamed the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC). According to a report in state-run media, the doctor's new prominent place in Burma's peace process was announced at Suu Kyi's meeting with the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, made up of government and military representatives, as well as non-state armed group signatories to the so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement. Aung Moe Zaw, chairman of the Democratic Party for a New Society, told The Irrawaddy that the new ministry was a "necessity" given the daunting challenges facing Suu Kyi, who has indicated that she intends to lead reforms on several fronts. "I think that this new ministry is a necessity for those who are actually working for the country's sake," he said. "She won't have time to take care of every little thing as she has many [critical] works to do." Aung Moe Zaw said given that the proposed ministry would likely be closely involved in the delicate peace process, which Suu Kyi intends to lead, Tin Myo Win as trusted confidante to the state counselor would make for a logical choice. If Tin Myo Win is confirmed to take the new ministerial post and peace negotiator position, his involvement would likely be similar to that of the previous government's chief peace negotiator Aung Min, a Union-level President's Office minister under the government of former President Thein Sein who also led the MPC. If the proposal wins parliamentary approval, it would be the 22nd leadership position in the cabinet of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), which is currently made up of 21 ministries. Creation of the new ministry would appear all but certain, given the NLD's commanding majorities in both houses of the Union legislature. The speaker on Thursday welcomed input from lawmakers during upcoming deliberation of the proposal, which is scheduled for a parliamentary session next week. The post New State Counselor Ministry Proposed for Suu Kyi appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mandalay Maps New Zoning Plan Posted: 05 May 2016 03:24 AM PDT An aerial view of the Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace in Mandalay. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — The Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) is working on a new zoning plan for the city, in an effort to preserve its cultural heritage while allowing for development and modernization. The plan will designate eight zones—cultural conservation zones around the ancient moat and surrounding Mandalay Hill, development restriction and stimulation zones, green zones, high-rise permissible and restricted areas, and a mid-rise housing zone. Details including zoning locations for the proposed plan have not been finalized. "The major difficulty with finishing the plan is that we don't have a digitized map of Mandalay. So, we are making one with the help of 15 engineers and a software program," said Zaw Win, an official with the municipality. The proposal will be submitted to the divisional parliament soon, according to the official, who added that new construction would have to abide by the zoning plan once it is approved. "Once the zoning map comes out, Mandalay residents will know which zone they are living in and what types of buildings they are allowed to build," he said. Students of Mandalay Technological University have teamed up with the staff of MCDC to conduct a survey on population, vehicle use, water supply, municipal garbage disposal systems and building use, to acquire relevant social and economic data to be included in the digitized map. Architect and managing director of Mandalay-based C.A.D. Construction Co. Zin Min Swe said city authorities should follow the lead of other big cities and consider which aspects of urban planning would best suit Mandalay, Burma's second largest city. "High-rise restricted areas, mixed development zones, residential zones and cultural zones should be established without impacting the growth of the town," he said. Although there is not a designated historical zone in Mandalay, the Religious Affairs and Culture Ministry divides the cultural heritage zones into three different designations—Ancient Site Zone (AZ), Ancient Monumental Zone (MZ) and Protected and Preserved Zone (PZ), with only PZ areas allowing commercial buildings following ministry approval. The Department of Archaeology at Mandalay's National Museum and Library has also taken steps to preserve some areas. "For example, only certain types of buildings are permitted within 120 yards of the city wall and the moat," said Nyo Myint Tun, director of the department. "We impose restrictions on three areas: height, color and design," he added. Zaw Win confirmed that although the zoning plan is still being drafted, measures are currently being taken to preserve religious buildings and heritage sites. Mandalay was the last royal capital of the Konbaung Dynasty, before the British annexed Burma in 1885. Among Mandalay Division's cultural zones are the old city sites of Bagan, Pinle, Myinsaing, Pinya and more. According to the National Museum and Library, there are 218 ancient buildings in and around Mandalay, with 63 of them within Mandalay's municipal area. The post Mandalay Maps New Zoning Plan appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Tourism Plan Highlights Local Communities  Posted: 05 May 2016 02:53 AM PDT Shan State's famous Inle Lake, a popular destination in Burma for foreign tourists. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)  RANGOON — Burma's Hotels and Tourism Ministry will emphasize development of community-based tourism as one of the first priorities in its 100-day policy, according to an official statement issued by the ministry earlier this week. The policy includes a three-pronged strategy for the country's fast-growing tourism industry—to expand community-based tourism (CBT), build the capacity of the tourism human resources pool and develop existing popular destinations, as well as promoting less frequented locales. The ministry has pledged to begin implementing the plan within the first 100 days of the new National League for Democracy (NLD) administration. The CBT development plan includes six main pilot projects to be carried out at different destinations around the country: Kachin State's Indawgyi Lake area; the townships of Loikaw and Thandaunggyi in Karenni and Karen states, respectively; the Pa-O self-administered zone in Shan State; Magwe Division's Myaing Township; and in Mandalay Division, the Mingun area and Kyauk Myaung village, according to the statement. The projects aim to empower local communities by helping to establish village-level guesthouses and package tours, enhancing visitor management mechanisms, and highlighting foreign language skills so that guides can attract tourists to local activities such as trekking, bird watching and environmental conservation, the statement says. According to Myint Htwe, director of the ministry's public relations and information department, Burma's tourism industry has put too much focus on cultural tourism and CBT should be used instead, as a new approach for the country to build sustainable tourism. "Local communities can truly benefit from CBT as it directly engages the lowest levels of the community," Myint Htwe told The Irrawaddy. The policy was made in part based on recommendations from the private sector and does not contradict the Ministry of Tourism's Master Plan 2013-2020, he added. The Tourism Master Plan was developed with international donors under Burma's previous government, and envisions spending of nearly US$500 million on training tourism workers, developing destinations and improving connectivity, in an effort to increase annual foreign visitors to 7.5 million by 2020. Last year, Burma took in nearly 4.7 million foreign visitors, up from just 800,000 in 2011. When asked about local homestays not being highlighted in the 100-day policy, Myint Htwe said that the ministry would try to set up a homestay system at the appropriate time, and would begin drafting guidelines after hearing recommendations from the private tourism industry. Homestays are currently not allowed in Burma. "Homestays can only be implemented if local communities accept the idea. Both tourists and locals should have awareness of each other's cultures and traditions so there is no culture shock," he added. "Most importantly, there needs to be peace and stability in the areas where we allow homestays." Kyi Thein Ko, the general secretary of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, expressed his support for the ministry's 100-day plan and said that he would try to help facilitate the strategies. "Unlike the previous administration, which only focused on [the number of visitors], I believe that the current administration will prioritize the sustainability of the industry," he said. Union Tourism Minister Ohn Maung said in a speech in early April that tourism was one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the global economy, making vital contributions toward generating employment, reducing poverty, empowering women, preserving the environment and building peace. He added that he believed all of the challenges facing Burma's tourism industry would be overcome by collaboration between the public and private sectors. Ohn Maung assumed leadership of the Tourism Ministry when Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD government formed a new cabinet in early April. Under Burma's former junta, Suu Kyi discouraged foreigners from traveling to the country, supporting a boycott on the grounds that tourism dollars would flow into the pockets of the military leadership and its crony allies. Since re-engaging in the political process in 2012, however, she has clearly seen the industry's potential to uplift living standards, and in 2014 founded a hospitality training academy outside of Rangoon to better prepare young people for employment in the sector. The post New Tourism Plan Highlights Local Communities  appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Military Defends Conduct in Arakan as Lawmakers Debate Conflict Posted: 05 May 2016 01:07 AM PDT Militarily appointed lawmakers leave a session of Parliament in February. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Fighting in Arakan State was the focus of heated discussions in Parliament on Wednesday, but a legislative path to resolution of the conflict appears unlikely. A proposal was submitted by Arakan National Party (ANP) lawmaker Wai Sein Aung to the Upper House of Parliament on Monday, urging the Union government to include the Arakan Army (AA) in the peace process and requesting that the military agree to a cessation of hostilities. Legislators early this week agreed to discuss the motion, but on Wednesday the chamber's speaker, Mahn Win Khaing Than of the National League for Democracy (NLD), opted to put a debate that began a day earlier on record rather than pushing for a more forceful endorsement of the ANP lawmaker's proposal. Following a defense of the Burma Army's operations in the western state by militarily appointed parliamentarians, the upper chamber voted to document the proposal by a vote of 195-6. Several elected MPs on Tuesday spoke in support of bringing the Arakan Army into Burma's peace process. In explaining the decision to merely document the proposal on Wednesday, Mahn Win Khaing Than noted State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's pledge to lead peace negotiations in an inclusive manner. The latest round of hostilities in Arakan State kicked off last month. According to Khin Maung Latt, a lawmaker for the ANP, 1,500 civilians have been displaced and the number of homeless is increasing due to the rising violence. Union Defense Minister Lt-Gen Sein Win took the floor of Parliament on Wednesday and stated that the Burma Army was working for all the people of Burma in accordance with the rule of law, adding that it protected all nationalities in the country. The military was defending against the attacks of the Arakan Army, which is responsible for the current conflict, Sein Win said. "They have a right to express their desires in a democratic way, but taking up arms and fighting against the army is worrisome for the future of our country's democracy." Echoing an assertion put forward by the institution a few days earlier, the minister said the Burma Army should be called the "Union Army" or "Tatmadaw," while the Arakan Army should be referred to as an "armed group." He added that the proposal was an attempt to cause trouble for President Htin Kyaw's new government, and put the new president in a difficult position. "Conflicts have been ongoing since we achieved independence from the British empire," said Sai Wan Hlaing Kham, an Upper House parliamentarian from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy. "And since then, the government has failed to guarantee equal rights for all ethnicities." "This has led people to take up arms and fight for their rights," he added. Naw Hla Hla Soe, an Upper House lawmaker, said that Burma's democratic transformation should allow for conflicts to be addressed through political dialogue. "We can resolve this case through the political process," she said in the chamber. "Fighting creates many problems for our country, erecting obstacles for economic development and sowing discord among the people." A total of 10 lawmakers, including three representatives from the military, gave speeches regarding the proposal. Suu Kyi will hold a meeting next week to address formation of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, a reincarnation of the Myanmar Peace Center, which was an initiative of the previous government. "According to the state counselor, the armed groups that were not a part of last year's ceasefire agreement will also be brought into discussions and there will be a peace conference," Mahn Win Khaing Than told the session. The post Military Defends Conduct in Arakan as Lawmakers Debate Conflict appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Aging Thailand Takes Toll on Indebted Households Posted: 04 May 2016 10:36 PM PDT An elderly man receives help from a nurse during a physical therapy session at Bangkhae Home Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 27, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) BANGKOK — Thai civil servant Supapan Pullbangyung spends just under half of her salary on caring for her 75-year-old father, who suffers from diabetes and dementia. Hers is one of many Thai families looking after elderly relatives at a cost that countrywide adds up to just under a third of household income. The number of families facing similar problems will balloon as the population ages at a rate among the fastest in Southeast Asia. Thailand's working-age population is expected to shrink by 11 percent by 2040. The rising cost of care is an additional burden to households struggling with record debt that is a drag on consumption and stunting the economy. "I struggled for months and it took a while to adjust," said Supapan, who lives in Nonthaburi province, just north of the capital, Bangkok. Looking after her father costs at least 15,000 baht (US$430) a month, she said, a little less than half what she earns. A culture of filial piety in which families feel obliged to care for their elderly means more often than not they absorb the expense of looking after parents and grandparents. A poor savings culture has left many people ill-prepared to help themselves financially in old age, meaning they must rely on working family members. More than a quarter of the 66 million population has not saved for old age, according to a 2014 survey, one of many factors contributing to the government considering raising the age of retirement from 60 and urging businesses to hire more older people. "It is going to be a burden on the younger generation," said Sutayut Osornprasop, a human development specialist at the World Bank. Households caring for elderly relatives spend at least 7,620 baht ($217) on them per month, according to the Health Insurance System Research Office, a state agency led by the Ministry of Public Health. That's more than 28 percent of the average 2015 monthly household income of 26,915 baht. Kangsadan Sagulpongmalee, 40, is a lecturer in Petchaburi province who is caring for her 70-year-old diabetic father. He underwent spinal surgery last December and is recovering at Wellness City, a privately run complex for the elderly on 192 hectares of land near the city of Ayudhaya, north of Bangkok. "The cost has been very high," she said. "My salary earned as a lecturer isn't enough at all. I have to spend my parents' life savings." Kangsadan plans to move her father to a house near her workplace once he has recovered so she can look after him. "I'm doing whatever it takes for my parents. It'll be very expensive, but I'll try my best to handle everything." A lower cost of living in Thailand's rural areas means some who move to the city for work are considering going back to care for elderly parents. Noppasorn Suebsai, 21, is one of them. "If you live in the countryside where we don't spend as much the cost will be less," said Noppasorn, a Bangkok-based nursing student. "I don't think I will struggle as much to care for my parents." The post Aging Thailand Takes Toll on Indebted Households appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

‘Waiting for Order to Kill’: China Video Seeks Army Recruits Posted: 04 May 2016 10:23 PM PDT Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) march during the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) BEIJING — China's military is appealing to the younger generation with a slick new recruitment video featuring aircraft carriers, tanks and special forces troops, all set to a rousing rap-rock soundtrack. With lyrics such as "just waiting for the order to kill, kill, kill," the video appears aimed at millennials brought up on violent first-person shooter video games such as "Call of Duty." While no potential opponents are identified in the clip, it cautions that "war can break out at any time," and asks "are you ready?" The clip, available Wednesday via a link on the Defense Ministry's official website, appears as the 2.3 million-member People's Liberation Army (PLA) is downsizing in an effort to boost its war-fighting capabilities. Chief among those steps is a cut of 300,000 personnel, while the navy, missile corps and air force are receiving more attention and funding. The video presents an image of the PLA as a high-tech and high-powered force. While catering to traditional patriotic sentiments, it heavily emphasizes the advances made by the world's largest standing military as it takes on missions further afield. China's sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is featured prominently, as are latest generation tanks, warplanes, attack helicopters and ballistic missiles that were showcased in a massive military parade through the heart of Beijing in September. "Ambassadors of peace, we are the guardians of China. Ambassadors of power, we are the tiger's teeth," said some of the lyrics. Beach landings and naval combat in which sailors blaze away with deck guns also feature in the video, reflecting China's emphasis on defending its maritime claims, especially in the disputed South China Sea. It also shows PLA commandos shooting and at one point snapping the neck of an opponent dressed as a guerrilla or terrorist, a likely reference to China's fight against religious extremists and militants seeking to overthrow Chinese rule in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. Traditionally focused on land-based threats and China's threat to invade Taiwan, the PLA has taken on increasingly complex tasks, including long-range aerial patrols in the East China Sea, an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and defending Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea. That has also increased the demand for better qualified recruits, pitting the military against private industry in competing for the best and brightest and prompting it to emphasize its unique appeal. The video represents a new style of promotion, both in its visual language and in highlighting all branches of the armed forces, along with support units and military honor guards, said retired PLA colonel Yue Gang, a frequent commentator on military affairs. "The style of promotion accords with the attitudes of young people toward the army and the imagery used appeals to hot-blooded young men," Yue said. "It is also a nature for the army to adopt modern media technology to attract young men in modern times." The post 'Waiting for Order to Kill': China Video Seeks Army Recruits appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Council rules steel factory must pay
• IDPs assemble shelters in razed camp
• Nationalists pile pressure on govt over ‘Rohingya’
• Mone Wun (Bamar) national cards debated
• Expelled USDP members continue uphill battle
• Private broadcaster MRTV apologises to Tatmadaw after report
• New ministry lined up for state counsellor
• Provocations mount in stupa saga
• Nation’s leaders set for first foreign visit to Laos
• Mandalay vows to solve land grabs

Council rules steel factory must pay Posted: 05 May 2016 12:55 AM PDT The Arbitration Council has upheld its ruling that a steel factory must compensate three female workers who allege they faced abusive conditions.

IDPs assemble shelters in razed camp Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Families in the Muslim IDP camp of Baw Du Ba 2 in Rakhine State were yesterday desperately building makeshift shelters a day after a massive fire razed scores of buildings, leaving as many as 2000 people homeless and with little relief in sight.

Nationalists pile pressure on govt over ‘Rohingya’ Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Nationalists are trying to strong-arm the government into making a statement about the use of the term "Rohingya", using the threat of a protest as their leverage.

Mone Wun (Bamar) national cards debated Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT The immigration minister yesterday confirmed that Chinese residents of Shan State given new identification cards do not count as an additional ethnic group.

Expelled USDP members continue uphill battle Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT The Union Solidarity and Democracy Party continues to fight its in-party squabbles in public with expelled central executive member U Zaw Myint Pe vowing yesterday to keep battling.

Private broadcaster MRTV apologises to Tatmadaw after report Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Private broadcaster MRTV-4 has rushed to apologise to the Tatmadaw for terminology it used in a report about the armed conflict in Rakhine State.

New ministry lined up for state counsellor Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Shrouded in secrecy, the proposed ministry will be debated in parliament today.

Provocations mount in stupa saga Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Fear of communal and armed conflict is delaying action against a monk's stupa-building spree in religiously diverse Kayin State.

Nation’s leaders set for first foreign visit to Laos Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT President U Htin Kyaw and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are set to leave for their first foreign trip on May 6, when they will be travelling to Laos together.

Mandalay vows to solve land grabs Posted: 04 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT All parliamentary business has been pushed to the backburner in Mandalay, while MPs strive to solve land grabbing cases, according to the hluttaw chair.

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