The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Forum Calls for Stronger Support of Women in Media, Peace Process
• Parliament Receives Thousands of New Complaints of Confiscated Farmland
• Ma Ba Tha Supporters Protest Against Rangoon Chief Minister
• Analysis: Burma’s Military Remains Intolerant of Press Freedom
• US Investment Proposals Absent Under New Govt
• Border Checkpoint Dispute Settled Between Burma Army, KNLA
• Sunye Lake, Haven for Migratory Birds, Blossoming Lotuses

Forum Calls for Stronger Support of Women in Media, Peace Process Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:08 AM PDT Civil society activists and media practitioners sit on a panel at the Women, Peace and Media Forum on July 6 in Rangoon. From left: Nay Tun Naing, Thu Zar Tin, Nang Shan, Htike Htike Aung, and moderator Myint Kyaw. (Photo: Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — While media coverage of women in peacebuilding has become comparatively more comprehensive than in past years, it remains a challenge to secure an interested audience on such themes, said participants of a media and civil society forum in Rangoon on Wednesday. The forum, entitled "Women, Media and Peace," highlighted the role of women in Burma's peace process as well as their presence in the media. The discussion panel included representatives from the Nyein (Shalom) Foundation, the Women's Federation for Peace, Myanmar ICT Development Organization and the Eleven Media Group. Activists at the event urged media to support women's roles in peacebuilding, pointing to a lack of stories which highlight female voices and concerns. Rather than simply reporting on events, media trainer Myint Kyaw told The Irrawaddy that he recommends journalists strive to cover issues—like those concerning women and peace—from "more interesting" and innovative angles. Yet Nay Tun Naing, executive editor of the Eleven Media Group, said that part of the problem lies with media consumers, who continue to be more "attracted" to stories about women as victims, rather than as leaders. Despite this perception, Nang Shan, coordinator of the Nyein Foundation's Social Integration for Peace program, said she believes that media content focused on women's inclusion in politics has improved in recent years—in both quantity and quality—and she hopes to this coverage continue to expand. "Women's involvement in peace would create a more sustainable peace," she said, but added that challenges remain despite women's ongoing efforts to be part of the country's political future. Women's groups have been demanding greater participation in the peace process since it began under the government of ex-President Thein Sein in 2012, an effort acknowledged in the country's nationwide ceasefire pact of 2015. But a 30 percent quota of women in political leadership, which has also been floated, has yet to gain the traction that some activists had hoped for. In Burma's upcoming Union Peace Conference, scheduled for August in Naypyidaw, a framework envisioned by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has placed social, economic, land and women's issues outside of the main agenda. The conference will focus mainly on political and military themes, with other topics reserved for a parallel forum for civil society organizations (CSOs). Nang Shan said she will persist in fighting for greater inclusion at the historic event. "The CSOs' voices in the peace conference need to be heard, and we are trying to find a way for it." In a consultation to prepare for the upcoming peace conference, five women, from both the Alliance for Gender Inclusion in the Peace Process (AGIPP) and the Civil Society Forum for Peace (CSFoP), have been invited to give input on the issues raised by ethnic armed group leaders, but are not invited to be physically present at the peace talks. Since Burma elected its first civilian-led government in a 2015 general election, female parliamentarians represent just 13 percent of the legislature. State Counselor Suu Kyi serves as the only woman in the Union's executive branch leadership, and women serve as just two of the chief ministers of Burma's states. At the village level, women make up only 0.2 percent of the administration. The post Forum Calls for Stronger Support of Women in Media, Peace Process appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Parliament Receives Thousands of New Complaints of Confiscated Farmland Posted: 06 Jul 2016 06:17 AM PDT Farmers protest in front of the Agricultural Land Management and Statistics Department in Twante Township, Rangoon, on June 8, 2016, demanding that the vice president's central land dispute committee resolve their claim regarding 900 acres of confiscated farmland.(Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — During its most recent session, Parliament received more than 2,000 new complaints of farmland seizure in less than five months, according to parliamentary committee chairs. The Upper House's farmer affairs committee received more than 500 complaint letters, adding to some 6,000 outstanding cases from the previous parliamentary body, committee chair Ba Myo Thein told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. "We can only start working on these cases systematically after policies and guidelines to handle land disputes are established by the central review committee," Ba Myo Thein said. He also highlighted some noticeable improvements from the previous administration's management of land disputes, including a plan to form sub-committees on the state, divisional, ward and tract levels by the Central Review Committee on Confiscated Farm Lands and Other Lands, which will include lawmakers and farmers' representatives. "The central committee is even considering returning lands that were confiscated before 1988, but no decision has been made," he added. In late April, Ba Myo Thein talked to The Irrawaddy about the same land confiscation cases and said that according to the letters of complaint, the land was allegedly seized for the development of infrastructure and industrial zones, with most of the reported incidents occurring in Mandalay Division and Karen State. Lawmaker Sein Win, chair of the Lower House's farmers and laborers committee told The Irrawaddy that his committee had also received nearly 1,500 complaints before Parliament took a recess in early June. Most of the complaints came from Mandalay and Irrawaddy Divisions, he added. In addition to the complaints received by the two committees that handle land disputes, the citizens' fundamental rights, democracy and human rights committee of the Upper House also received some 75 letters complaining about land seizures, committee chair Htay Kywe told The Irrawaddy. The committee even found some confiscations that happened during the socialist era, he said, referring to the years from 1962 until 1988. According to a report by the state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar in April, the Upper House's farmers affairs committee revealed that some 200,000 acres of farmland had been confiscated nationwide during past decades, but Ba Myo Thein was unable to confirm the figure for The Irrawaddy. While the committee's main responsibility is to put pressure on relevant government ministries—through the speakers of Parliament—to return confiscated land or compensate the rightful owners, Ba Myo Thein said that the process of resolving disputes between related parties could take significant time. Last week, vice-president Henry Van Thio's national-level land dispute committee returned more than 6,000 acres of land confiscated over the past decades to the rightful owners in Irrawaddy Division's Maubin Township. Land seized by Yuzana Company and the Ministry of Industry was returned to more than 300 owners. The post Parliament Receives Thousands of New Complaints of Confiscated Farmland appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ma Ba Tha Supporters Protest Against Rangoon Chief Minister Posted: 06 Jul 2016 06:04 AM PDT Ma Ba Tha supporters protesting at the Rangoon International Airport on Wednesday against recent comments from the Rangoon Chief Minister. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Nearly a dozen Buddhist nationalists loyal to Ma Ba Tha gathered outside Rangoon International Airport to await the arrival of the Rangoon Division Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein from Singapore on Wednesday evening. The group was there to protest the chief minister's recent criticism of the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, popularly known by the Burmese language acronym Ma Ba Tha. At a meeting with the Burmese community in Singapore on Sunday, the chief minister had said the Buddhist ultra-nationalist group was "not necessary, because we've already got the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee"—the clerical council that oversees monastic discipline in Burma, whose members are appointed by the government. The video file of the meeting went viral on Facebook, attracting diverse reactions. The protesters at the airport held placards condemning the chief minister's comments. "We believe Ma Ba Tha should exist because they are the guardians of Buddhism," said one of the protesters. "We are not Ma Ba Tha members but we believe in Ma Ba Tha," she added. Phyo Min Thein's convoy was welcomed at the airport by members of the ruling National League for Democracy. As he rolled down the car window to greet them, journalists on the scene asked him to comment on the nationalists' protest. His response echoed the sentiments he shared in Singapore: "We don't need need Ma Ba Tha." Ma Ba Tha, which is led by conservative monks, has an extensive network of branches across the country. Since it was founded in 2014, the group has garnered international notoriety for its hardline anti-Muslim stance, which frequently spills into hate speech. Last year, the group successfully lobbied for the passing of a set of four "Protection of Race and Religion" laws—imposing restrictions on religious conversion, polygamy, interfaith marriage and childbirth—which rights groups have slammed for discriminating against women and religious minorities. The post Ma Ba Tha Supporters Protest Against Rangoon Chief Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Analysis: Burma’s Military Remains Intolerant of Press Freedom Posted: 06 Jul 2016 05:56 AM PDT People buy and sell newspapers in central Rangoon, April 3, 2013. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — Burma's powerful military remains intolerant of press freedom, fearing a negative portrayal of its institution. Take three incidents as examples. The army sued the local private newspaper 7 Day Daily on June 25 for publishing a story in April which reprinted former general Shwe Mann's message to graduates of the Defense Services Academy. The statement urged his former colleagues to work for the country's newly-elected democratic government. The military claimed the article could lead to disunity in the army and encourage treason, and filed a lawsuit under Section 131 of Burma's Penal Code against the newspaper's editor-in-chief and the journalist who reported the story. The violation carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. The lawsuit was later dropped following negotiations, but the newspaper printed an apology to the military in state media last week as part of the settlement. Does the military pose a threat to the media under the new government? The 7 Day Daily case has been considered a threat to press freedom because it showed that the media could be sued if it upset the military, even if the reporting was accurate. "The military's attitude is the same as in the past; they don't like if we touch them," said Ko Thiha, an editor from the local newspaper. Myanmar Journalists Network (MJN), a press advocacy group, denounced the case. MJN said journalists would undergo self-censorship because of the incident and it would harm the public's right to know. "The government needs to persuade the military to change its attitude in order to smooth over relations with the media," Ko Thiha said. "We had to resolve it on our own. There was no mediation from the Ministry of Information [MOI]. The MOI shared [7 Day Daily's] apology on their website even though they have not shared similar content in the past. It is clear which side MOI is on and whom they are afraid of," he added. Although Burma is now ruled by its first civilian government after more than half a century of junta rule, the military still has a strong influence in politics. The 2008 military-drafted Constitution is still in place and remains difficult to amend, as 25 percent of parliamentary seats are reserved for military appointees, giving them veto power over constitutional amendments. The armed forces also maintain control of three important ministries: home affairs, defense and border affairs. Former information minister Ye Htut told The Irrawaddy that although 7 Day Daily didn't breach journalistic ethics when reporting, the military had cause to worry. "The media needs to know that the army has concerns related to unity and they need to be careful in their reporting when it could lead to the disintegration of the military," he said. "The media has a duty to report what the public needs to know, but at the same time, they need to be careful not to be manipulated by politicians," the former information minister added. Prior to the 7 Day Daily incident, the movie "Twilight over Burma" was banned from being screened publicly and removed from a film festival by the censorship board, which alleged that the film could damage the image of the army and harm ethnic unity. The film tells the story of ethnic Shan leader Sao Kya Seng—who was arrested by the Burma Army during Gen Ne Win's coup and later disappeared under mysterious circumstances—and his Austrian wife. Human rights activist Moe Thway said "the ban on the movie was ugly," adding that the military's violation of press freedom was a negative sign during the government transition. "Whether the army, ethnic groups or anyone else did wrong, it should be exposed. The public has the right to know. Only if we expose wrongdoings from the past will we not repeat them in the future," he said. Besides the film and media industries, civil society organizations have also been targeted. Last week, the Ta'ang Women's Organization (TWO) was forced to cancel a press conference for the launch of its report on human rights abuses by the Burma Army in northern Shan State. The Rangoon divisional government forced the cancellation of the press conference for the second time; the first time was in late June. TWO's recent report, entitled "Trained to Torture," compiled accounts of ethnic Palaung (Ta'ang) victims of torture from 2012-16. Ye Naing Moe, director of the Yangon Journalism School, said that freedom of the press and freedom of expression must be recognized on the path toward democracy. "The army chief said the military would cooperate and support the transition to democracy, and that is impossible without press freedom," he added. The recent incidents raise the question of whether the military has confidence in their actual image, as opposed to the one that they project, said Ma Thida, prominent writer and president of the literacy organization PEN Myanmar. "These truths are easily discovered in other ways. As for 7 Day's story, the public could easily find Shwe Mann's comments on his Facebook; for "Twilight over Burma," translated versions of the book are available. [The military] may think it is protecting the image of the institution but in reality, it is only harming itself," she added. San Yamin Aung is a reporter for The Irrawaddy English Edition. Additional reporting contributed by Kyaw Hsu Mon. The post Analysis: Burma's Military Remains Intolerant of Press Freedom appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

US Investment Proposals Absent Under New Govt Posted: 06 Jul 2016 05:07 AM PDT Window cleaners scale one of several newly constructed shopping malls in Rangoon, enabled by unprecedented inflows of foreign investment. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — American companies have been conspicuously absent from the 106 local and foreign direct investment proposals made during the first quarter of the 2016-17 fiscal year, which started in April. Burma's Investment Commission, reconstituted in early June after a period of dormancy brought about by the installation of a new government in April, has so far processed only eight of the 106 proposals. Minister of National Planning and Finance Kyaw Win chairs the commission, with Minister of Commerce Than Myint appointed as vice chairman. Than Aung Kyaw, deputy director general of the Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration (DICA), told The Irrawaddy that the commission was now making "dramatic" progress through the backlog. According to Investment Commission data, more than US$2 billion worth of investments have been pledged during the first quarter of this fiscal year from April to June. In the first quarter of the 2015-16 fiscal year, 71 projects were approved at a valuation of $2.65 billion. The first quarter of the 2014-2015 fiscal year saw 39 projects approved valued collectively at US$810 million. Out of the 98 proposals that currently await scrutiny, 47 are for foreign direct investment, according to DICA director Min Zaw Oo, who is a member of the proposal assessment team in the Investment Commission. "Most of the proposals are from manufacturing businesses from various different countries," he said. However, US businesses are not among the foreign investment proposals Burma has received under the new government, according to the DICA. The top foreign investors for this opening period are Singapore, followed by China, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and India. Maung Maung Lay, vice-chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that Burma's rudimentary infrastructure and lack of skilled labor may be a factor deterring investment from the US, since their businesses are based on "cutting-edge technologies." "Most of the foreign investment proposals we have received are for labor-intensive businesses. But the US does not engage much in labor-intensive business now," he said. "Their businesses are somewhat hi-tech, and can't operate in the absence of well-developed infrastructure, for example, a stable electricity supply. And skilled labor is needed to operate hi-tech businesses," he said. In May, the US government reduced sanctions targeting Burma's financial sector and certain state-owned enterprises involved in mining and timber extraction. The aim was to boost trade between the two countries and enable American investment—even though key economic players with close links to Burma's military remained blacklisted. It appears, however, that American companies and investors continue to approach Burma with trepidation—although this could change after the National League for Democracy (NLD) government's economic policy, currently vague, is properly clarified. "Many US and EU companies investors come here via Singapore, where they are already established," explained Than Aung Kyaw, deputy director general of the DICA. "Singapore is positioned close to [Burma] and has a reliable banking system. That's why US investors are not coming here directly." In 2015, US exports to Burma were valued at $227 million and imports at $144 million, according to DICA figures. Since 1988, total approved US investment in Burma has been $248 million. The post US Investment Proposals Absent Under New Govt appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Border Checkpoint Dispute Settled Between Burma Army, KNLA Posted: 06 Jul 2016 12:40 AM PDT Tenasserim Division Ceasefire Joint Monitoring Committee meet in the southern town of Myeik on Sunday. (Photo: Myeik Township Information and Public Relations Department) RANGOON — The dispute between the Burma Army and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) over the Htee Khee checkpoint on the Burma-Thailand border—used by the KNLA for tax collection—has ben resolved through bilateral negotiations on Saturday, Tenasserim Division Chief Minister Lei Lei Maw told The Irrawaddy. KNLA Brigade-4, based in Tenasserim Division, had opened the checkpoint at Htee Khee and was imposing a tax of around 100 Bhat (US$2.80) on everyone who crossed the border. On June 21, a tactical commander from the Burma Army's military operations command ordered the KNLA to shut the checkpoint down within three days, but they refused. Col Saw Mu Ker, the tactical commander of KNLA Brigade 4, resigned from his post as vice-chairman of the Tenasserim Division Ceasefire Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) on June 30 following the dispute. His resignation letter cited the failure of the JMC—set up after the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signed last year by the KNLA—to take action. After the agreement between the KNLA and Burma army was reached, the Tenasserim chief minister told the Irrawaddy, "As a group that has signed the [NCA], the KNLA is not supposed to run a separate checkpoint. There is already a Burma Army checkpoint there. We discussed the future livelihoods of [the KNLA soldiers] and the dispute has now been settled." The Burma Army's Coastal Region Commander Brig-Gen Maung Maung Soe, who acts as chairman of the Tenasserim Division JMC, headed the negotiations on Sunday in the town of Myeik in the south of Tenasserim Division. Naw Mildred, a member of the JMC who participated at the meeting, claimed that the area around Htee Khee had returned to normalcy, although locals and traders remained concerned at the prospect of clashes. "The military extended apologies in order to avoid conflict. There is no problem at the checkpoint now. Brig-Gen Maung Maung Soe called on the both sides to avoid any misunderstandings," she said. "I asked KNLA generals and they said there would be no fighting. The Burma Army said so too. Local villagers can now be at ease," she added. However, Win Khaing, who heads the liaison office of the Karen National Union (KNU)—the political wing of the KNLA—in Dawei, capital of Tenasserim Division, said the two sides are still "watching each other's steps," suggesting that mutual trust is not assured. "There is no real cooperation. We mind our own business and they mind theirs. We will have to wait and see how the chief minister will handle it. It depends on her," Win Khaing told The Irrawaddy. Although the dispute has been formally "settled," further meetings will be held between the two sides soon, according to the Chief Minister Lei Lei Maw. The KNU/KNLA is one of eight non-state ethnic armed groups that signed last year's NCA with the former government of President Thein Sein and is believed to have the closest relationship with the Burma Army among the NCA signatory groups. Before and after signing the NCA, the KNU/KNLA met with Burma's Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at least five times. The post Border Checkpoint Dispute Settled Between Burma Army, KNLA appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Sunye Lake, Haven for Migratory Birds, Blossoming Lotuses Posted: 06 Jul 2016 12:07 AM PDT MANDALAY— Sunye natural lake in Sintgaing Township, Mandalay Division, is famous for its blossoming lotus flowers in the rainy season and migratory birds in the cool season. Local residents say that visitors to the lake are on the rise this year. Located between the city of Mandalay and the town of Kyaukse, the large inland body of standing water is known as "little Inle," in reference to Inle Lake in southern Shan State. Most local residents derive their livelihoods from lotus weaving. As visitors increasingly flock for days out on the lake, fresh business opportunities have popped up in the form of boat rides and snack stalls. However, the authorities now prohibit the common visitor habit of picking lotus flowers, because it endangered the visits of migratory birds and impaired the lake's natural beauty. The post Sunye Lake, Haven for Migratory Birds, Blossoming Lotuses appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• New govt to defend ‘race and religion’ laws at UN meeting
• Five people arrested after mob attack on Muslim prayer hall in Kachin State
• State counsellor ‘opening doors’ to NCA non-signatories: official
• Official charged for slur against state counsellor
• CSOs urge govt action against perpetrators of anti-Muslim violence
• Golf course workers protest for employment contracts
• State counsellor to meet with migrant workers in Malaysia
• Premier Coffee factory sued for unpaid overtime fees
• Shopkeepers, bus owners still fuming over reduced Bawgathiri bus station fees
• Red Cross, NLD youth wing offer free first aid course

New govt to defend ‘race and religion’ laws at UN meeting Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT The government is to defend a package of four controversial "protection of race and religion" laws at a key UN meeting on discrimination against women in Myanmar being held in Geneva tomorrow.

Five people arrested after mob attack on Muslim prayer hall in Kachin State Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Police in Hpakant township have arrested four men and one woman suspected of being involved in the mob attack and mosque burning in Lone Khin village last week.

State counsellor ‘opening doors’ to NCA non-signatories: official Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday urged negotiators in the government's peace sub-committees to strive for the inclusion of all key parties in an upcoming Union-level peace summit that she has dubbed the 21st-century Panglong Conference.

Official charged for slur against state counsellor Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT An official has been charged with defamation for referring to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with a slur parroted by the former junta she spent decades campaigning against, police said yesterday.

CSOs urge govt action against perpetrators of anti-Muslim violence Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT A coalition of civil society groups yesterday joined growing demands for the government to take action against perpetrators of two separate, recent mob attacks against Muslim communities. The violent outbursts, eight days apart, saw Islamic worship structures destroyed by Buddhists in Bago Region and Kachin State.

Golf course workers protest for employment contracts Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Teed off about management's bunker mentality and under-par conditions, part-time golf course workers in Mandalay have launched a drive for labour rights. Yesterday about 200 staff at Shwe Man Taung golf course in Mandalay Region's Aung Myay Tharzan township demonstrated in support of their demands.

State counsellor to meet with migrant workers in Malaysia Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will meet with Myanmar migrant workers during a slated trip to Malaysia in August, according to a government spokesperson.

Premier Coffee factory sued for unpaid overtime fees Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT The labour ministry has sued Premier Coffee factory, claiming the company failed to pay 300 workers their overtime fees, labour officials told The Myanmar Times.

Shopkeepers, bus owners still fuming over reduced Bawgathiri bus station fees Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Monthly room fees for shopkeepers operating out of Nay Pyi Taw's Bawgathiri Highway Bus Station were reduced yesterday, but tenants are still grumbling about the new vehicle entrance fees.

Red Cross, NLD youth wing offer free first aid course Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT A free first aid course will be offered by the National League for Democracy Youth Association and the Myanmar Red Cross Society in Mandalay Region's Chan Mya Tharsi township, next week.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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Myanmar in Needs for Better Wastewater Management and Sanitation Solutions Posted: 06 Jul 2016 03:16 AM PDT Wastewater Management and Sanitation is crucial to the new Myanmar. In the absence of a working sewerage system, the drainage system acts as a de facto open sewer. Raw sewage and septic tank effluent flow through the roadside drains creates direct public health risk, with stagnant wastewater serving as breeding places for mosquitoes and other sources of disease. Yangon's existing sewerage system was built back in 1888, to serve for only 40,000 people but now, it is servicing more than 300,000 people. The sewerage system is serving for more than what it is capable of and this is an issue that should not be looked at lightly. Recently, over 90 factories in the Mandalay Industrial Zone in Pyigyidagun Township have been dumping wastewater into the Dunawadi River and causing health problems to the villagers. The only solution to this problem is to implement modern wastewater treatment plant but that will not be completed in the nearest future.  Find Out More… • Improvement of drainage and sewerage system in Myanmar • Awareness on the importance of proper sewerage system for better livelihood • An upgrade and well-maintained drainage network to prevent flooding • Sewage treatment plant for a cleaner water supply to the people of          Myanmar Get Benefited By Joining The Conference • Gain an insight into current and future plans of drainage and sewerage system in Myanmar • Meet face-to-face with the experts of the water industry • Establish business relationships with stakeholders of the industry • Network with financiers for investment opportunities in implementing water treatment method in Myanmar • Broader view and perspective on wastewater management in Myanmar • Identify key trends and issues confronting the accessibility of clean water

Civic groups demand justice for Lashio victims Posted: 05 Jul 2016 11:12 PM PDT Civil society organizations in Shan State released a statement on Monday demanding justice from the new Burmese government for seven victims who were killed by government soldiers in Lashio Township last week. Nang Hseng Lao, a representative from the Tai Youth Network (TYN), said the new ruling government, headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, must take responsibility in investigating the incidents, and bring the perpetrators to justice. "We are urging the government to find out the truth and bring the matter to justice," said Nang Hseng Lao. "We, the people of the region, do not want any more fighting. "If the military continues to commit crimes against civilians, the people's trust in them will be erased," she added.  The joint report, which includes representatives from the (TYN), the Tai Youth Organization, Kachin Youth Organization, Ta'ang Women's Organization and Ta'ang Students and Youth Union (TSYU), stated that this kind of act affects the trust between the Tatmadaw [government forces] and ethnic people, and could have a negative effect on upcoming peace talks, known as the "21st Century Panglong Conference," which are to be led by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.   "Right now, the military is saying that they are working on the peace process, but on the other hand they are continuing to oppress civilians, said Mai Myo Aung, secretary No 2 of the TSYU. "If this type of thing continues to happen, how can we achieve peace?"  The statement concluded: "The killing of civilians must stop immediately."  On Sunday, Maj-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Soe, the vice-commander of Northeast Command based in Lashio Township, visited the victims' families and pledged that this type of brutal incident would not happen again.   At the time of reporting, no legal action has yet been taken on the matter.    BY: Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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•   Govt to Ban Timber Harvest in Pegu Yoma Mountain Range
• Burma Army Deputy Commander Gives ‘Donations’ to Victims’ Families
• Chin Party Condemns Abuses by Burma Army, Arakan Army
• Suu Kyi Pushes for Inclusion of NCA Non-Signatories in Peace Conference
• Police Detain Five in Relation to Muslim Prayer Hall Arson
• Formal and Informal Justice Systems Fail Women: Report
• CSOs Call For Investigation of Attacks on Muslim Places of Worship
• Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 5)

Govt to Ban Timber Harvest in Pegu Yoma Mountain Range Posted: 05 Jul 2016 07:50 AM PDT Boys stand on a jetty as a ship loaded with teak logs arrives at National Village timber yard by the Pegu River in Rangoon on February 2, 2014. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — In the Pegu Range, home to some of Burma's major forests, the harvest of timber will undergo a 10-year hiatus starting in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, according to Aye Cho Thaung, deputy general manager of the country's Forestry Department. The Pegu Range, also known as Pegu Yoma, is a series of low mountains crossing Rangoon and Pegu divisions; the hills have experienced marked deforestation particularly due to the harvest of valuable teak wood which grows in the range. "It's like Pegu Yoma is now bald-headed," said Aye Cho Thaung on Tuesday, describing the bare mountain peaks. "That's why we will stop companies' timber production starting from next year until 2027." The forestry department, which falls under the Ministry of National Resources and Environmental Conservation, will take control of all restricted forest reserves in the Pegu Range and will also ban logging by villagers in the surrounding areas. The protected area stretches from Rangoon's Hlegu Township to Yedashe Township in Pegu Division. "Recently, the government [ordered a] stop to timber production in all ranges starting from this year, but we will be allowing other areas to resume production next year," Aye Cho Thaung said, adding that the regulations around Pegu Yoma's timber production were slightly different, since they involve a halt beginning in the next fiscal year. He explained that many loggers have long been harvesting teak illegally, contributing to the destruction of forests and the natural habitats of wildlife; this, Aye Cho Thaung said, was the primary reason for taking further measures to protect the Pegu Range. Under Burma's long history of military rule, many timber producers exceeded the legal limit of timber exports—particularly in the 1990s—with some military officials implicated in the trade alongside businessmen. Well-known tycoon Tay Za's own Htoo Group of Companies was among the major players in timber production until 2011, when the country shifted to a quasi-civilian government. Though the Pegu Range is capable of producing 50,000 to 100,000 tons of timber per year, Aye Cho Thaung said companies have, since 2011, been limited to harvesting just 5,000 tons annually. He added that the Htoo Group of Companies has since left the logging industry. "Myanmar Teak Wood Company, Asia Green and National Timber Corporation are major producers there now," he said of the companies active in the Pegu Range. Over the next 10 years, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation will be replanting trees, protect existing forests, and preventing illegal logging by villagers who burn the wood as fuel. Many villages surrounding the Pegu Range are also required to undergo educational initiatives to prevent deforestation caused by logging. "If government can solve the problem of fuel for villagers, they won't [cut trees] anymore," Aye Cho Thaung speculated. Throughout Burma, from the beginning of April until late June, 12,844 tons of illegal timber were seized, according to the environmental ministry's figures. The most commonly confiscated logs included teak, followed by other hardwoods, with the biggest hauls taking place in Sagaing Division, at nearly 3,450 tons, followed by over 2,178 tons in Karenni State and 1,406 tons in Pegu Division. Devi Thant Cin, an environmentalist with the Myanmar Green Network, said she welcomed the government's steps to halt timber production in the Pegu Range, as trees in the region urgently require re-planting. "Timber producers will not be happy about it, but for the country it is good. The Pegu Range is suffering a lot of deforestation. It is good to start the re-planting plan now," she said. "But the government needs to do serious law enforcement with this plan as well," Devi Thant Cin added. With the formation of Burma's new civilian-led government in April, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Ohn Win promised that a nationwide ban on logging would be put into place by March 2017, the end of the current fiscal year. The post   Govt to Ban Timber Harvest in Pegu Yoma Mountain Range appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Army Deputy Commander Gives ‘Donations’ to Victims’ Families Posted: 05 Jul 2016 07:46 AM PDT Final burial site of five of those killed in Mong Yaw village, Lashio Township, northern Shan State. (Photo: SNLD) RANGOON — The Burma Army's deputy regional commander visited Mong Yaw village in Lashio Township on Sunday, giving "donations" to victims' families after seven people in and around the village were killed on June 28, with locals blaming the Burma Army. The visit came after police told victims' families they were "powerless" to investigate allegations against the Burma Army because the area was a "conflict zone," and so the Burma Army must take charge of any investigation. The police would merely notify the army via a senior officer. Local sources told The Irrawaddy that soldiers opened fired on two young men riding motorcycles near the village, after they refused an order to stop. On the same day, soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 362 took five residents of the village from their fields, according to the victims' families, who found their bodies the next day buried in a nearby cornfield. However, media controlled by the Burmese military have tied the killings instead to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group engaged in ongoing conflict with the Burma Army. On Friday, the military-owned Myawady newspaper reported that Burma Army troops had traveled to secure the area around Mong Yaw village on June 25 because the TNLA and the Shan State Army-North had been recruiting locals. This prompted a clash on the same day with the TNLA, Myawady reported. After the TNLA had been repelled, the bodies of the seven killed were "discovered" by Burma Army soldiers the following day. The TNLA issued a statement on Sunday denying that any fighting had taken place. Gen Kyaw Kyaw Soe, who is based in the Northeastern Regional Command Center in Lashio, met with the families of five of the victims in Mong Yaw village, and gave each family 300,000 kyats (US$255)—"not as compensation, but as a 'donation,'" said Sai Wann Lern Kham, an Upper House lawmaker from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). The two young men killed while traveling by motorcycle—Naw Tin, 33, and Sai Hla, 30—were from Nan Yaw village, 40 miles from Mong Yaw in the west of Lashio Township. They were traveling to Mong Yaw to meet their wives who had been staying in the village. The uncle of one of the victims searched for their burial site, but found only a hat and a shoe belonging to his nephew. The families of both victims then attempted to open a case at the Lashio Township police station, with the help of Sai Wann Lern Kham of the SNLD. "The police let us open a missing persons case and we supplied photos of the victims," the SNLD lawmaker said. The police would not pursue allegations against the military in a "conflict zone"; even if they were to investigate, they would have to "pass it on later to the army," the police explained. They said they would inform the Burma Army and "let them take action." Ethnic Shan, Ta'ang (Palaung) and Kachin youth associations based in Lashio issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the killings and laying the blame squarely with the Burma Army, who by "deliberately attacking innocent civilians" and "threatening their security" will "hurt the peace process in the country." The statement said killings would "hurt the dignity of the Burma Army and damage trust between the Burma Army and ethnic minority people," thereby undermining the Union Peace Conference to be held in late August. The youth associations called on the Burma Army to "stop brutally killing civilians" and implored them to investigate the Mong Yaw killings and take action against those responsible. The Irrawaddy phoned Maj Gen Aung Ye Win, a spokesperson from Burma Army, but he would not comment on the issue and said he was in a meeting. Repeat calls went unanswered. The post Burma Army Deputy Commander Gives 'Donations' to Victims' Families appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chin Party Condemns Abuses by Burma Army, Arakan Army Posted: 05 Jul 2016 07:40 AM PDT Houses torched in Kin Ta Lin village, Paletwa Township, Chin State. (Photo: Khumi Media Group / Facebook) RANGOON — A Chin political party released a statement on Tuesday demanding that both the Burma Army and the Arakan Army stop conscripting forced labor, burning houses and torturing locals in rural areas of Paletwa Township in southern Chin State. Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, secretary of the Chin National Democratic Party, said that three houses in Kin Ta Lin village were burned down during fighting on June 6 between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army. Khumi, a local Chin media outlet, accused Arakan Army soldiers of committing the arson as a punishment against villagers suspected of supplying information to Burma Army columns. However, the CNDP secretary declined to blame any particular group for this incident. Paletwa is among the most impoverished townships in Chin State, already Burma's poorest state or division according to many indicators. It lacks reliable transportation infrastructure and is strung over steep mountain ranges. The conflict zone is in the north of the township, with no sealed road access: it takes several hours to reach by boat from the main town. According to the CNDP secretary, about 10,000 people living in 43 villages are situated in this conflict zone. At the end of last year, dozens of skirmishes broke out between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army. Three hundred fifty residents fled after both sides began to conscript villagers as porters. They are currently being sheltered in Pyaing Zo village, with Chin civil society organizations providing humanitarian assistance. "Villagers are frightened to forage for forest products because landmines have significantly increased along the mountainsides," said the CNDP secretary. He held both sides responsible for this, and said that landmines had killed three villagers over the past three months. On April 30, 2015, under the previous government of President Thein Sein, 10 village administrators in Paletwa Township sent a letter to the then Chin State Chief Minister Pu Hung Ngai complaining of deteriorating conditions, with villagers being detained for several months by the Arakan Army, a proliferation of landmines and food shortages. Arakan Army spokesman Khine Thukha refuted allegations made by the CNDP and others of abuses against civilians: "If we really did such things, show us the evidence, because we have strong evidence of our own. We are protecting the civilians as much as we can." He said that the various abuses had been carried out by the Burma Army battalion stationed in Kin Ta Lin village, adding that using villagers as a "human shield" was particularly common alongside torturing villagers to obtain information about the Arakan Army. Although he also denied allegations of forced labor conscription, he acknowledged that the Arakan Army had planted landmines, claiming it was a necessary "security" measure, used sparingly according to "limits." Burma Army communication officer Col Khin Maung Cho could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. The government is preparing for formal peace talks with ethnic armed groups at a conference scheduled for late August, and has sought the participation of even those groups that refused to sign—or were excluded from—the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement last year. However, Burma's military has insisted that the Arakan Army—along with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army—disarm before taking part in peace talks. The three ethnic armed groups have so far refused. "Peace depends on the military's magnanimity," concluded Khine Thukha, the Arakan Army spokesman. The post Chin Party Condemns Abuses by Burma Army, Arakan Army appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi Pushes for Inclusion of NCA Non-Signatories in Peace Conference Posted: 05 Jul 2016 06:29 AM PDT State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with peace negotiation teams on Tuesday in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy) NAYPYIDAW & RANGOON — State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has instructed government bodies to include ethnic armed groups that did not sign last year's nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in the upcoming Union Peace Conference. Suu Kyi and peace negotiation teams met in Naypyidaw on Tuesday and agreed to hold the "21st Century Panglong Conference"—which is being compared to the 1947 conference by the same name that promised several of Burma's major ethnicities autonomy and equal rights after independence from Britain—in late August. Hla Maung Shwe, a member of the government's peace conference preparatory sub-committee 2, told The Irrawaddy that the conference would be held in the capital of Naypyidaw because it is a national level conference. "The first issue was to settle arrangements to hold the conference in August. The second is the include both NCA signatories and non-signatories. The government bodies are still discussing these arrangements," said Hla Maung Shwe. The exact date for the peace conference will be negotiated in early August by various stakeholders, including ethnic armed organizations and the Burma Army—which have both participated in the peace dialogue process leading up to the conference. Suu Kyi and government officials will meet with NCA non-signatories in mid-July to hear their recommendations for the conference, said Hla Maung Shwe. He added that Suu Kyi was not opposed to the holding of a separate summit of ethnic armed organizations in Kachin State's conflict-torn Mai Ja Yang region in July; however, ethnic leaders will need to submit details and an agenda to the government. A government delegation will also meet three ethnic armed groups—the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army—that were excluded from signing the NCA by the previous government. The post Suu Kyi Pushes for Inclusion of NCA Non-Signatories in Peace Conference appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Detain Five in Relation to Muslim Prayer Hall Arson Posted: 05 Jul 2016 06:07 AM PDT The smoldering Muslim prayer hall in Lone Khin village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State (Photo: Citizen journalist) RANGOON — Police have detained five people in relation to the burning of a Muslim prayer hall in Kachin State last week. "Four men and one woman have been arrested," a police officer from the Hpakant police station told the Irrawaddy on Tuesday. The arrest was made just days after a Muslim prayer hall in Lone Khin village of Hpakant Township, Kachin State was burned down by a Buddhist nationalist mob on Friday afternoon. The arson comes on the heels of anti-Muslim rioting in Pegu Division's Thuye Thamain village on June 23, which resulted in the destruction of a mosque, a Muslim cemetery, and a house and storeroom belonging to a Muslim family. Authorities chose not to take action against any of the perpetrators in the Pegu Division attacks. At the end of her 12-day trip to Burma last Friday, Yanghee Lee, a United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma, urged the country's government—led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi—to investigate and crack down on religious violence. She said she was concerned by reports that the government would not investigate the attack on the mosque in Pegu Division. “This is precisely the wrong signal to send. The government must demonstrate that instigating and committing violence against ethnic or religious minorities has no place in Myanmar,” Lee said. Religious tensions between Buddhists and Muslims erupted in Burma in 2012, and ongoing violence has continued to date. The post Police Detain Five in Relation to Muslim Prayer Hall Arson appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Formal and Informal Justice Systems Fail Women: Report Posted: 05 Jul 2016 05:23 AM PDT Panelists at the United Nation's "Women's Access to Justice in Plural Legal Systems in Myanmar" report launch in Naypyidaw last week. (Photo: Cheery Zahau / Facebook) Women in Burma still lack access to justice due to an absence of awareness and the widespread use of customary practices in ethnic areas, according to researchers. After a panel discussion at the United Nations' "Women's Access to Justice in Plural Legal Systems in Myanmar" report launch in Naypyidaw last week, a lead researcher told The Irrawaddy that formal and informal justice systems in Burma do not work adequately for women. The research for the report was conducted mainly from 2013-14 in four regions: Kachin, Chin and Mon states, and Rangoon Division. Researchers queried over 400 women and later highlighted the need for a formal institution through which women could seek justice in the case of rights abuses. Cheery Zahau, co-researcher for the report and renowned ethnic Chin human rights activist, said the understanding of women's justice differs widely throughout Burma's various states. For communities in ethnic regions, some people "feel [there is] justice when their lives are safe and free from harassment by the military," she said, adding that in other communities, social support for education and health is perceived as representing justice. The report showed that women in Rangoon faced particularly high incidents of domestic and sexual violence, including rape, especially in communities with large numbers of internal migrants. It can take up to three months to file a case in the courts, so victims of sexual abuse need better social and psychological support, said Cheery Zahau. She added that in remote ethnic areas, many women do not speak Burmese and cannot travel the long distances required to reach the nearest police station to report crimes; therefore, communities continue to enforce controversial customary practices. Often, customary laws do not allow women to participate in decision making when settling disputes. Because these systems lack space for women's voices to be heard, social harmony is often prioritized over women's rights. Getting women involved in dispute resolution would likely have positive results, but in many cases, men still take on such roles in the name of tradition, said Cheery Zahau, adding that discrimination against women is entrenched in Burmese society. Yet because there is a widely held perception that women already experience equal rights, she pointed out that society often remains ignorant of their ongoing vulnerabilities. Burmese women's rights groups submitted a report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) this week, which aims to establish an international framework that will promote women's equality and ensure compliance with its standards. CEDAW is conducting Burma's review from July 4-7 in Geneva. It is the first time since 2008 that the committee has examined the country's record for respecting and upholding women's rights. The post Formal and Informal Justice Systems Fail Women: Report appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

CSOs Call For Investigation of Attacks on Muslim Places of Worship Posted: 05 Jul 2016 02:57 AM PDT A mosque destroyed in sectarian rioting on Thursday in Thuye Thamain village, Waw Township, Pegu Division. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Civil society organizations (CSOs) urged the government to investigate recent attacks on Muslim places of worship in Pegu Division and Kachin State, calling to protect the rights of religious minorities, according to a joint statement on Tuesday. Almost 20 CSOs and non-governmental organizations including the Center for Youth and Social Harmony, Kachin Women's Association, Myanmar Muslim Youth and Students, Burma Partnership, Equality Myanmar and Fortify Rights signed a statement that said authorities should conduct an investigation and hold perpetrators legally accountable for the two most recent violent incidents. Less than 10 days after the case in Pegu Division's Thuye Thamain village in Waw Township on June 23—which resulted in the destruction of a mosque, a Muslim cemetery and a Muslim family's house and warehouse—a Muslim prayer hall in Kachin State's Lone Khin village in Hpakant Township was also destroyed by a mob. Nearly 30 Muslim families in Lone Khin village have fled since the riot began. Apart from heightening security in the areas, the authorities have not conducted any further investigation. "We call on the government to immediately conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the destruction of the Muslim places of worship in Lone Khin and Thuye Thamain villages and to ensure legal accountability for perpetrators," the statement read. "By failing to properly investigate or prosecute perpetrators of these crimes, authorities in [Burma] are fostering a culture of impunity that is inconsistent with [Burma's] human rights obligations." The statement also said that it was time for the current National League for Democracy (NLD) government to deliver on its electoral campaign promise of upholding rule of law and human rights for all. "The government needs to roll out a concerted effort to protect religious freedom and prevent future outbreaks of violence," said Matthew Smith, chief executive officer of human rights advocacy group Fortify Rights. "It's the duty of everyone in [Burma] to ensure that communities of all faiths can practice their religion with freedom from fear." The post CSOs Call For Investigation of Attacks on Muslim Places of Worship appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 5) Posted: 04 Jul 2016 09:24 PM PDT The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week. The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week. Forum on Women, Media & Peace Civil society and media representatives will review the role of women in Burma's peace process and discuss how to strengthen women's participation with the help of the media. Admission is free. Where: Park Royal Hotel, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. When: Wednesday, July 6, 1pm to 3pm Entertainment: No Lights No Lycra, Round 3 No Lights No Lycra (NLNL) is a dance community founded in Melbourne, Australia in 2009 by dance students. Since then, NLNL has grown predominantly through word of mouth into what it claims is now a "global community." With no lights, teachers, technique—or indeed lycra—NLNL hosts sessions where "you can completely let go, shake out the stresses of the week, and lose yourself in the music and the physicality of your body." Admission is 5,000 kyat. Where: Goethe Villa, No.8, Koh Min Koh Chin Road, Bahan Tsp. (next to Golden Butterfly Hotel) When: Wednesday, July 6, 7pm to 8pm Concert in Commemoration of the Holocaust Seventy-one years ago, on January 27, 1945, the Soviet Army liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Every year on that day, the world remembers the unique crimes committed by Nazi Germany during World War II and commemorates the victims, including more than 6 million Jewish people from all over Europe. On this occasion, the German cultural institute in Rangoon—Goethe-Institut Myanmar—together with the Embassies of Israel, Poland and Germany present a classical concert.  Admission is free. Where: The Yangon Gallery, Pyay Road, People's Park & Square, Sanchaung Tsp. When: Thursday, July 7, 7pm to 11pm Talk: Teaching history for national reconciliation and democratization Rosalie Metro will describe her research on the current history curriculum in Burma, and opportunities for revising it, as well as introducing the design of her new textbook, "Histories of Burma." Rosalie Metro holds a Ph.D. in Education from Cornell University, and she currently works as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri in the US. Admission is free. Where: Pansodan Scene Gallery, No. 144, 2nd Floor, Pansodan Street (at the corner of Mahabandoola Street), Kyauktada Tsp. When: Saturday, July 9, starts at 1:30 pm Music Festival: Signature BlueZone — RainDance Festival The RainDance Festival will feature Burmese and international DJs including DJ Mr. Y, DJ Maily and DJ Fingaz. DJ Fingaz has performed internationally with artists including XZIBIT, Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Black Eyed Peas, Drake and Nickj Minaj. DJ Maily from Cambodia, a luminary of the Phnom Penh club scene, will also play the main stage with local DJ Mr.Y. Tickets are 10,000 kyats. Where: Botahtaung Jetty, Strand Road, Botahtaung Tsp., Tel: 09 792 860091 When: Saturday July 9 4pm to 11pm Yan-Go! Yangon Scavenger Hunt The Yan-Go scavenger hunt lets you learn about historical downtown Rangoon through clue-collecting, puzzle-solving and, finally, a celebration. Winners will receive gifts from sponsors Yangon Yoga House and Union Bar. All proceeds will be donated to the Yangon Heritage Trust. Further details and registration at http://www.yan-go.com/. Register by July 6. Tickets are 5,000 kyats per person. Where: Union Bar and Grill, 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung Tsp. When: Sunday, July 10, starts at 3pm Exhibition: Homage to My Mentor U Win Pe Artist Yei Myint will showcase his 11th solo exhibition, dedicated to his mentor Win Pe. 31 paintings will be on show, with prices ranging between 500,000 kyats (US$425) and 3 million kyats ($2,550). Where: Cloud 31 Art Gallery, No.49/51 (first floor), 31st Street (lower block) between Merchant Street and Mahabandoola Street, Pabedan Tsp. When: Sunday, July 10 to Friday, July 15 Exhibition: The Legend of Happiness The fourth solo exhibition from artist Wa Lone, with around 40 paintings, priced between US$150 and $650. Where: Lokanat Gallery, 62 Pansodan St, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp., Tel. 095-1382-269 When: Saturday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 13 Exhibition: Burmese Women Artists An exhibition of around 90 works by Burmese women artists, with prices between US$100 and $500. Where: Myanmar Artists & Artisans Organization (Central), Bogyoke Market, Pabedan Tsp. When: Wednesday, July 6 to Thursday, July 10 Exhibition: Zaw Maung Solo Exhibition Artist Zaw Maung will showcase more than 60 of his acrylic works at this solo show. Where: Yangon Gallery, People's Park, Ahlone Road, Sanchaung Tsp., Tel: 09-738 27777 When: Saturday, July 9 to Monday, July 11  The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 5) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Five arrested over Hpakant mosque burning
• Garment factory workers finally get their due
• Govt to meet again with armed Kokang groups
• As war of words drags on, government in Rakhine State opts for term ‘Rakhine ethnics’
• Nay Pyi Taw farmers get cooperative loans
• Activists urge transparency in Kachin death investigation
• Union minister urges civil servants to drop old habits
• Isolated and lacking labour rights, housemaids toil in silence
• Farmers threaten to ramp up protests over lost land
• Pre-1988 land issues will not be considered, chief minister says

Five arrested over Hpakant mosque burning Posted: 05 Jul 2016 09:30 AM PDT Police have detained five villagers for burning down a mosque last week in Hpakant township, Kachin State, an officer said today, as authorities look to contain religious violence.

Garment factory workers finally get their due Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Abandoned garment workers of the defunct Unipolar factory got their money yesterday, thanks to the Ministry of Labour and white-knight businessperson U Myint Than.

Govt to meet again with armed Kokang groups Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT The government is planning to meet with the three armed ethnic groups from the Kokang region that had been excluded from last year's so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement, according to government peace negotiator U Hla Maung Shwe.

As war of words drags on, government in Rakhine State opts for term ‘Rakhine ethnics’ Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT A day after thousands of Buddhist nationalists staged protests across Rakhine State, the regional government issued a statement saying it would call the state's Buddhist majority "Rakhine ethnics", as controversy over terminology continues to simmer.

Nay Pyi Taw farmers get cooperative loans Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Some farmers say the duration of the six-month loans now being handed out by the agriculture ministry is too short. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation yesterday gave cooperative loans worth K500 billion (US$420 million) to the Nay Pyi Taw Council area in a ceremony to mark International Day of Cooperatives 2016.

Activists urge transparency in Kachin death investigation Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Kachin activists protested in Yangon's Tarmwe township yesterday, urging government officials to make details public surrounding the death of university student Maung Gum Seng Aung who was gunned down by a soldier in Kachin State's Myitkyina township last month.

Union minister urges civil servants to drop old habits Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT U Aung Thu, Union minister for agriculture, livestock and irrigation, has urged civil servants to leave behind old habits, take initiative and make the most of their potential.

Isolated and lacking labour rights, housemaids toil in silence Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Thousands of girls from poor families across Myanmar work as maids for wealthier households, and often face gruelling working hours and abuse.

Farmers threaten to ramp up protests over lost land Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Impatient at what they say is 20 years of delay, Mandalay Region farmers are warning they will take their protest to the streets unless the government restores their lost land. They say 3000 acres (1200 hectares) were seized in 1995 to build three government institutions, but only 1000 acres were used. They say they have been demanding the return of the remaining 2000 acres ever since.

Pre-1988 land issues will not be considered, chief minister says Posted: 04 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT No action will be taken against farmers who take part in "plough campaigns" to cultivate land they claim was stolen from them, Mandalay Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung has announced. He said on July 1 that the police would no longer make arrests for trespassing and causing "damage" in such cases.

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