Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Italian town awards honorary citizenship to Unity journalists
• Systematic sex crimes: Burma army still uses rape as tool of war
• Burma emerging as a major travel destination in Asia

Italian town awards honorary citizenship to Unity journalists Posted: 29 Jun 2014 02:47 AM PDT Sala Baganza, a small town in northern Italy with a population of five and a half thousand, has awarded honorary citizenship to the four journalists and CEO of Unity Weekly journal who are currently on trial in Burma for allegedly revealing state secrets. On the night of 12 June, the town council of Sala Baganza, situated near Parma, sat for an extraordinary meeting at which the 12 members voted unanimously to extend the honour of citizenship to the five Burmese for "exceptional and humanitarian reasons". "The city of Sala Baganza hereby confers honorary citizenship to reporters Thae Yar Zar Oo, Kyaw Thet Paing [aka Aung Thura], Lu Maw Naing, Si Thu, and [CEO] U Tin Soe San [aka Hsin Hsan], who through their professional activities ensure the right to freedom of opinion and expression in their country, Myanmar," the statement read. Speaking to DVB, the mayor of Sala Baganza, Cristina Merusi, said, "Freedom of information is the basis of democracy in a free country. To support this freedom that we have through journalism and those who practice it, we decided to honour the five journalists of Unity Weekly in Burma through an act which for us is very important – honorary citizenship of our town. "No more than 70 years ago, we in Italy were in similar conditions," she said. "Today we hope to be useful to Burma as it struggles to achieve democracy and human dignity." Robert San Aung, one of the lawyers for the defendants, told DVB on Friday that the five detained media workers had been informed of the award. “Their families were very proud when they heard the news," he said. Related Stories DVB journalist's appeal heard at Magwe court Special Intelligence Department probes finances of newspapers, journals Unity Weekly trial continues, media workers emphasising press freedom Charged under Article 3 of the Official Secrets Act, the five were accused of revealing state secrets after publishing a report in January about a government facility being constructed in Magwe's Pauk Township by the Burmese military, which they alleged to be a chemical weapons factory. The final day of their trial is on Monday, 30 June, when a verdict is expected. While noting that honorary citizenship is a symbolic award, Mayor Merusi said that the residents of her town would "be following the Unity journalists' fate by all possible means, because they are now our fellow citizens". She added that she wanted to invite the Unity journalists and CEO Tin Soe Tan to Sala Baganza to officially receive certificates of citizenship. Guiseppe Malpeli, the president of the Italy-Burma Friendship Association, applauded the award. "The Italy-Burma Friendship Association, of which I am President, follows the daily lives and history of the Burmese people. We are very close to the material conditions and freedom of the people and of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi," he told DVB. "Because there may be free elections in 2015, it is necessary that there is absolute freedom of the press. We see the difficulties arising from the arrest of the Unity journalists and we want to help them, and to encourage true freedom of information in Burma." Malpeli confirmed that he was sending news of the honorary citizenship awards to senior Burmese government officials, including President Thein Sein, Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Ko Ko and Attorney General Tun Shin. “The residents of Sala Baganza will be following the Unity journalists' fate by all possible means, because they are now our fellow citizens." Meanwhile, on 12 June, a resolution was passed in the Italian parliament in Rome supporting the Burmese opposition's campaign to enact constitutional reform, and in particular thowing its weight behind National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's bid to run for president in the 2015 elections. "We strongly believe that there is a need to establish a state with federal democratic self-determination and equality," resolution 7-00389 states. "The 2008 Constitution does not guarantee a democratic federal state. We strongly believe that the 2008 Constitution should be amended or a new Constitution drawn up. "The will of the Italian people for an increase in trade and economic cooperation, social, cultural and political life with the people of Myanmar rests on a basis of common shared values ​​of democracy, and therefore it is necessary that our institutions and civil society strongly support the need for the Constitution to be revised to ensure that Myanmar’s general election of 2015 will be free and fair," it concluded. In October 2013, Italy's Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a resolution committing the government to "intervene in every avenue" to promote the democratic process in Burma. Suu Kyi paid a four-day visit to Italy in October last year when she met senior government figures, including the Italian president, speaker of the house, prime minister and foreign minister.

Systematic sex crimes: Burma army still uses rape as tool of war Posted: 29 Jun 2014 01:17 AM PDT As Burma moves to resolve six decades of civil conflict, reports continue of sexual violence in ethnic territories. Women's support and advocacy groups continue to accuse the Burmese military of using rape as a tool of war; more than 70 cases — about half of them fatal — have been reported since 2011. In early June, the Burmese government took one step towards ending military rape, when they signed the United Nations' Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. But not everyone believes that the measure was sincere. Critics say that the government has not advanced a plan to train the military in gender sensitivity, enforce laws about sex crimes, or provide support for survivors. Some have even called the move "a PR exercise". A delegation of women and one government official from Burma attended an international summit on sex crimes in conflict earlier this month, hosted by the British government. Upon her return to Rangoon, DVB spoke with Susanna Hla Hla Soe, director of the Karen Women's Empowerment Group, about the promises made and the root causes of sexual violence.   Q: Now that the Burmese government has signed the UN's Declaration on Sexual Violence in Conflict, what plans have they put forth to implement it? A: The government has endorsed the agreement. When we spoke with Burma's deputy minister of foreign affairs at the summit, he said that he will come back [to Burma] and meet with the government to talk about implementation. He said that success will require collaboration with civil society organisations; that is crucial. So we welcome this and we are happy. But what we don't want is for this to be like other agreements, such as CEDAW [Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women]. It was signed 17 years ago and nothing has happened. We don't want this to happen again, so we really encourage and support the government to take this up – to make sure they stop sexual violence in conflict.   Q: Could you explain why impunity is such a huge problem in Burma's ethnic territories? A: Sexual violence is used systematically, and the main problem is the law. There is zero law enforcement on these cases. They excuse it, every time. They say, 'We, the military have our own law, our own institutions. So don't worry, we can handle it by ourselves.' It's a kind of impunity. The military needs to be controlled; they should be under civilian control.   Q: What is the role of women in Burma's peace process? Is there enough representation? A: Enough? No. We rarely see women's participation in the peace process. There is some in Karen, Karenni and Mon [states], but in other cases, we don't see any women participating in the peace process.   Q: What message would you like to bring back to the women of Burma, following the summit in London? A: Only one person at the summit talked about the root cause of the problem. It is militarisation. Leymah Gbowee, the Nobel peace prize winner, was the only one to mention the root cause. The others, they didn't talk about it. People are using all these polite words. The top leaders talk, they comment, but we're not clear about the mechanisms, how they will bring justice to the victims. During the summit, we mostly heard from very big organisations, like INGOs and the UN. They're on the panels; they talk; they use the best words. But we shouldn't forget the capacity of local organisations. They live with the community, they know the real problems. Related Stories Women activists charged for protesting in Chin State Chin protestors call for end to sexual violence by Burma army Erotic novel removed from Burma's bookshelves

Burma emerging as a major travel destination in Asia Posted: 29 Jun 2014 12:13 AM PDT Burma has been rebounding from the impact of sanctions eased by European countries three years ago and is emerging as a favored travel destination in Asia. According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the sector has become a major source of the country’s revenue, and Burma is expected to receive three million travellers in 2014. Before 2011, only fewer than 800,000 tourists visited the country per annum. Yet, as the country pushes forward with its comprehensive reforms and opening-up policy, the number of tourists has been rising sharply in recent years. In 2013, the gross turnover of the tourism industry reached US$926, up 130 percent compared to 2012. The country aspires to bring the number of visitors further to five million in 2015, according to the ministry. “Burma is a country with beautiful scenery, but it has only recently been noticed by the rest of the world. Many foreigners are curious and interested about this country, which has just started promoting its tourism sector. Burma is looking forward to a great future,” said Ohn Mying from the Rangon Bureau of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Within three years of accelerated reforms, Burma has opened 22 international air routes, bringing the country closer to the rest of the world and also has promoted the development of its tourism industry. Related Stories DVB Debate: Is it too late to save Burma's crumbling heritage? BURMA BUSINESS WEEKLY Burma Business Weekly “All sectors are benefiting from tourism, including hotels, travel agencies, travel guides and the transportation department. Tourism is benefiting the whole nation,” said Ohn Mying. Meanwhile, Chinese visitors have accounted for a large proportion in the total number of foreign visitors to Burma. In many scenic spots and souvenir markets, signboards written in Chinese are seen everywhere. Burma is expected to be a major destination for Chinese travelers in the near future, as the cooperation in the tourism sector is leaping forward between the two countries, according to Ohn Mying.

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National News

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• Protests planned for detained U San Sint
• Sangha committee rules on 70 monastery ownership disputes
• Pyin Oo Lwin farmers call for speedy return of disputed land

Protests planned for detained U San Sint Posted: 27 Jun 2014 12:22 AM PDT Supporters of former minister for religious affairs U San Sint announced plans to protest in Pathein this week over his recent sacking and arrest, as debate raged on Facebook as to whether he is a victim of a government plot.

Sangha committee rules on 70 monastery ownership disputes Posted: 26 Jun 2014 11:28 PM PDT The raid on Mahasantisukha Monastery on June 10 has thrust the decision-making of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee in the spotlight.

Pyin Oo Lwin farmers call for speedy return of disputed land Posted: 26 Jun 2014 11:26 PM PDT Farmers and land rights activists in Pyin Oo Lwin are calling on the government to speed up a program to return confiscated but unused land to its original owners.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Activists, Govt Push Forward Bill to Prevent Gender Violence
• Wanted: A Happy Ending
• Proportional Representation in Burma: More Divisive Than Inclusive
• The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (June 28, 2014)

Activists, Govt Push Forward Bill to Prevent Gender Violence Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:12 PM PDT Burmese activists pose in front of a banner that reads "#Time to Act at the summit in London. They cross their arms to mirror the ethnic Kachin flag, in a call to end violence in Kachin State. (Photo: Burma Campaign UK / Facebook) RANGOON — Burmese women's rights activists and government officials aim to finish drafting a bill by the end of the year to prevent violence against women, activists say. "Once enacted, it would be the first law to ensure the protection of women from all forms of violence, including physical, mental, sexual and verbal violence," May Sabe Phyu, a peace activist and coordinator of the Gender Equality Network (GEN), a large network of civil society organizations, told The Irrawaddy on Friday. Activists began drafting the bill with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in 2012. "We are still in the drafting process on the anti-violence against women [bill]," Myat Myat Ohn Khin, the minister of social welfare, relief and resettlement, told The Irrawaddy. "We have been drafting bills for disabled people, childhood development and other socio-economic issues, so we are trying our best." Thirteen Burmese activists recently joined a Burmese government delegation in traveling to London to attend a summit that raised awareness about sexual violence in conflicts around the world. At a press briefing about the trip in Rangoon on Friday, the activists, including May Sabe Phyu, said Burmese victims of rape and sexual violence desperately required greater assistance. They called on Burma to bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice, particularly in ethnic areas, where soldiers from the government's army have been accused of using rape as a weapon of war against ethnic armed groups. Burma is one of 150 countries that has endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, a UN declaration launched last year. "We welcome that the international community and the Burmese government have endorsed the commitment to end sexual violence in conflict, but we need to be careful that it is not just for show," May Sabe Phyu said, urging concrete action. "The voices of civil society groups need to be heard for greater effectiveness." The activists said victims of sexual violence in Burma often face threats and other obstacles to reporting their cases, while perpetrators are rarely brought to court. They said Chin women have been threatened with arrest after protesting against military rapes recently in Chin State. Susanna Hla Hla Soe, an activist from the Karen Women's Empowerment Group who also attended the summit in London, noted that Burmese soldiers accused of rape are not prosecuted in civilian courts. "Gender discrimination persists in Burma, which harms development, liberty and peace," she said, adding that it was positive that Burma was one of six countries that pledged at the summit in London to start implementing within the next six months a framework to end sexual violence. The post Activists, Govt Push Forward Bill to Prevent Gender Violence appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Wanted: A Happy Ending Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:00 PM PDT As well as being a famous Myanmar film heartthrob, movie star Win Oo was a director, writer, singer and publisher. (Poster image from the Myanmar Motion Picture Museum) YANGON — More than 80 years after the funeral of a leading politician of the pre-independence era became the subject of Myanmar's first foray into the world of the cinema, the country's once illustrious film industry is dying a slow death of its own, say industry insiders. Captured with a second-hand camera, the footage of the funeral of U Tun Shein, an early campaigner for Myanmar's independence from British colonial rule, set the stage for a proud cinematic tradition that survived both the political upheavals of the twenties and thirties and the devastation of World War II, but never quite recovered from the policies of the socialist era. The golden age of Myanmar cinema lasted from the 1950s to the 1970s, when local filmmakers produced more than 80 movies a year. But as poverty and political repression deepened in the decades that followed, the number of films that were made declined steadily. Today, despite some improvement in the political and economic climate, the country produces barely a dozen films each year. Disappearing Theaters Meanwhile, movie theaters are disappearing fast. Many once-famous cinemas in Yangon are now construction sites, while elsewhere in the country, would-be moviegoers have long since lost the venues that in the past offered them an escape from their everyday lives. "According to our data, there are only around 20 cinemas left in the country," said U Lu Min, the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization (MMPO). "In my hometown of Aungban, in southern Shan State, there is no cinema now." Until the 1980s, there were hundreds of movie theaters in Myanmar. But the nationalization in the mid-1960s of all forms of media, including movie production, eventually began to take its toll on the country's filmmakers, who were increasingly pressed into service as propagandists. Like the movie houses that screened them, movies had become state property. Although Myanmar officially abandoned socialism in 1988, the military regime that seized power that year continued to exercise strict control over the media and retained ownership of state properties such as movie theaters. Before it handed over power to the current quasi-civilian government in 2011, it sold off some of this property to cronies, but even now, most of the remaining movie theaters are publicly owned. A New Lease on Life As the owner of most of the country's cinemas, the government has until recently shown little interest in making them more attractive to investors. "For the past 10 years, the government limited leases on cinemas to one year," said U Lu Min. "But that wasn't long enough for businessmen to recover their initial investment, so now it has been extended to five years." But while this move has helped the established theater operators—notably the Mingalar Group, which runs three of the most famous cinemas in Yangon, the Thamada, Mingalar and Thwin—it has so far not brought in any new investment. Meanwhile, as technology changes, the cost of transforming one of Yangon's old-school cinemas into a modern movie theater has become prohibitively expensive. According to U Lu Min, who says the MMPO and the government have both urged cinema operators to switch from analogue to digital projection systems, bringing in new equipment would cost at least 300 million kyats (US$300,000). "When cinema operators do a cost-benefit analysis, they just decide it's not worth it. That's why most are shutting down," said U Lu Min. "In Southeast Asia, Myanmar now has fewer movie theaters than any other country. Thailand alone has more than 800." This dearth of theaters means that new films now have to wait at least a year before being screened, dampening filmmakers' enthusiasm for taking on new projects. "On average, it costs about 100 million kyats [US$100,000] to make a movie here, or double that if we shoot on location overseas. But with audiences shrinking the way they are, we can barely break even, much less make a profit," said film producer Daw Aye Aye Win, whose Lucky Seven Film and Video Production Company accounts for nearly half of Myanmar's current cinematic output. "As a rule, movies are screened for just three weeks here. How can we recover our investment in such a short time? This is why so few movies are being made these days," she added. "If the film doesn't attract big audiences, it may not even get three weeks—it could be dropped and replaced with a foreign film." Just Not Funny Ironically, the production companies' efforts to hold onto audiences may only be making matters worse. Critics say that by relying too heavily on tried-and-true formulas and popular genres such as comedies—which account for two-thirds of the movies now made in Myanmar—the local industry has lost much of its appeal. "It's no mystery why this industry is declining. People are just not that interested in comedies these days. The stories are almost all the same, the acting is bad and production values are really poor," said Daw Ei Phyu Aung, the chief editor of the entertainment journal Sunday. Foreign films offer much better value for money, she added. "If you want to go see a movie these days, it will cost you about 10,000 kyats per person by the time you pay for a ticket, transportation and snacks. For that kind of money, most people would rather watch a Korean film." Even U Lu Min conceded that quality is an issue that needs to be addressed if the Myanmar film industry is to turn itself around. "I agree that the quality of Myanmar films is falling," he said. "There are many reasons for this, including the lack of cinemas, producers cutting costs, people having other options for entertainment. Poor film quality isn't the only reason the industry is in decline." Despite the steady pressure on the film industry, however, U Lu Min said he expects this year and next to buck the trend toward fewer movies (only 15 were produced in 2013, down from 17 the year before). Although he was not specific about what he based his confidence on, he did offer one source of hope: "I want our president to promote our industry as Obama has supported Hollywood." Highs and Lows in Myanmar's Movie History 1920: The first silent film,"Myitta Nit Thuyar" ("Love and Liquor"), is shown at Yangon's Cinema de Paris.1932:"Ngwe Pay Lo Maya" (It Can't Be Paid with Money"), the first "talky," is directed by Toke Kyi in Bombay, India, and shown in Myanmar (then Burma).Early 1930s: Movie director Sunny, also known as "Parrot U Sunny," made films that highlighted social issues such as gambling and police corruption. British authorities censored his movies. 1936: Sonny's "Dou DaungLan"(Our Peacock Flag") is banned. 1937: Director Tin Maung of the A1 studio makes "Aung Thapyay" ("The Triumph of Thapyay"), which dealt with the final days of King Thibaw, Myanmar's last monarch. The colonial government did not allow the movie to play at theaters. 1937: Student leader U Nu, who later became prime minister, co-directs "Boycott," a film about the student-led struggle for independence. Another student leader, Aung San, acted in some scenes. Post-1948: After the country regained independence in 1948, filmmaking found a new range of themes. With Yangon on the defensive from a communist insurgency and various ethnic rebellions, the industry and its stars were asked to play a role in unifying the nation. 1949: When Yangon was under siege by Kayin rebels, directors rushed to document the battle for Insein. On the propaganda front, famous movie stars prepared refreshments and hauled rations for the troops. 1950s: The rise of communism and the Cold War in the region impacts Myanmar's film industry. Following the Chinese Kuomintang invasion of northeastern Myanmar in the 1950s, "Pa Le Myat Ye" ("Tear of Pearl") is produced. The movie denounced imperialism and called for unity within the country. It also stressed the importance of the Tatmadaw, or armed forces. 1950s: Love stories, historical films, thrillers and stories dealing with the occult and the supernatural were popular during this period, which became the heyday of moviemaking in the country. Perhaps 80 movies were released each year between 1950 and 1960. 1952: Myanmar inaugurates its own Academy Awards ceremony, modeled on the Hollywood version. 1962: After Ne Win's coup, the motion picture industry was told to "march to the Burmese Way to Socialism." The cinema halls and production houses were nationalized. Scripts were intensely scrutinized by censors before production was even approved. Movies were required to emphasize the struggles of workers and peasants much more strongly. The movie sector, as with the economy in general, went into reverse. 1989: From this year, a new government economic policy aimed at opening up the economy was gradually implemented. Cinemas were sold off to the private sector while new film production houses opened for business. Mid-1990s: During this period a private company, Mingalar Ltd, took over operation of most of Yangon's and Mandalay's best cinemas. Films continued to be heavily censored and support was given to junta favorites while others were excluded from working in the industry. 2011: Pre-censorship ended, but freedom has not brought quality—yet. Timeline adapted in part from a story titled "Celluloid Disillusions," by Aung Zaw (available online). This article first appeared in the June 2014 print issue of The Irrawaddy magazine. The post Wanted: A Happy Ending appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Proportional Representation in Burma: More Divisive Than Inclusive Posted: 27 Jun 2014 05:30 PM PDT Electoral systems are important conduits through which the voice of citizens is heard, and careful consideration of a nation's circumstances must be given when selecting an electoral system best suited to reflect the variety of opinions expressed by its citizens. The study of elections in weak democracies or hybrid regimes, including those that reserve executive or legislative positions for unelected representatives, continues to garner attention in political study, though systematic research on this topic is lacking when compared to studies of elections in functioning democracies. Those looking into the impact of elections in such hybrid regimes are therefore asking themselves the following question: To what extent do electoral systems matter in regimes that practice a diluted form of democracy, in which, for example, the legislature and constitution favor the interests of the security forces? Such is the case for Burma as it approaches elections scheduled for some time in 2015. The current debate of electoral system design for Burma is one between proportional and majoritarian systems. Burma currently utilizes a first-past-the-post voting arrangement, a majoritarian system inherited from British colonial rule. Recently, it has been suggested that a proportional representation (PR) electoral system would bring improved inclusion of minority parties into the country's parliament. Indeed, PR is generally believed to be more representative of a diverse electorate, and it has better mechanisms for avoiding the problem of "wasted votes." Various observers also favor a change to PR in Burma, mainly in a concerned response to the possibility of the military reacting strongly to another landslide of the NLD, as it did after the results of the 1990 election. However, the situation of the 1990 elections, which followed soon after horrific repression by the country's military, and today's consolidation of power by the military in the legislative and executive of Burma reflect very different circumstances for elections and thus very different ways for elections to be felt. As stated above, the inclusion of minority representation is important in a country as diverse as Burma, and there is no theoretical argument presented here against PR in its ability to offer such diversity. However, the discussion of an appropriate electoral system in Burma for the 2015 election should not be limited to the argument of representation of minority parties in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Burma's legislature. Or the likelihood of the military to annul results, which would effectively jeopardize the legitimacy of institutions that it has created and supported for the last three years. The discussion should instead center on how and when negotiations and alliance building can or will take place between different opposition political parties of this country. There is strong reason to believe that the eventual representation of legitimate and consolidated ethnic minority political parties in Parliament and strong pre-election party alliance building among the opposition are intrinsically linked. A change to a PR system will likely increase challenges for opposition unification, a task that is already proving difficult. 2015 With First-Past-the-Post System If the electoral system of Burma remains first-past-the-post (FPTP) for the 2015 election, then there is a higher likelihood of alliance building between political parties before the elections (and probably afterwards too). Such pre-election alliance building has been more common in countries using majoritarian systems. For Burma, this means a higher likelihood of alliance building between the NLD and non-coopted or fake opposition parties, particularly ethnic minority parties. This is based on two ideas: First, parties that have mutual ideologies (similar policy or, in the case of Burma, a common political enemy) and strongholds of voters, (strongholds based on areas of traditional support or on areas of ethnic homogeneity, especially for nationalist parties) are more likely to come to a pre-election agreement about campaigning. They are less likely to challenge each other's strongholds, primarily because it would be wasteful in terms of campaigning resources, and they will instead use time and resources to campaign in areas where they do not oppose one another but may oppose another competitor (USDP or fake/coopted parties). Second, if smaller parties in a single constituency stand alone in FPTP, they each have much less chance of winning the most votes against bigger parties that are already well established; and they face a situation in which only one out of many will be the winner. Therefore, alliance building could take place in two ways. Firstly, ethnic minority parties could combine in certain ethnic areas but we will see less likelihood of trans-ethnic state alliances. For example, if there are many parties within Shan State competing with one another over a number of constituencies, then it is more likely that some parties will merge; players will realize that they need to join forces (make one party) if they want to reduce their risk of total loss in a FPTP election. However, if there are not that many parties in constituencies of ethnic minority areas, then there will be less risk of losing out in FPTP; therefore, there is less chance of alliance building. It must be noted that even with many political parties in one ethnic area, a major deciding factor regarding whether parties merge lies in the divergent or analogous nature of each party's ideology as well as the condition of relations between party leaders, not to mention the relationship of such parties with the incumbent USDP. But such cleavages would exist to begin with, despite the chosen electoral system. The point is that in a FPTP election with single member constituencies, there will be a stronger "pull-factor" for mergers between similar parties than there would be under a PR system. Secondly, ethnic parties and the NLD can support one another by deciding what constituencies to run in, thus making use of campaign resources more efficiently while also solidifying pre-election relations. This assumption has limits, as the NLD has weak relations with those parties that took part in the 2010 elections and some questionable relations with those that it forged alliances with in 1990. But, if this type of alliance building occurs, with the NLD respecting some limits to its campaigning in certain ethnic minority constituencies, then the NLD can enter Parliament alongside a larger contingent of allied ethnic parties. Accordingly, despite its shortcomings as a truly democratic legislative body, the Parliament of Burma could become an arena where the NLD and ethnic minority parties further establish rapport, something that has been hard for them to do in the face of the military and government’s divide and rule policies. A Change to Proportional Representation If the system is changed to proportional representation (PR) before the 2015 elections, then alliance building among various opposition forces will be significantly more challenging. The NLD, worried about its real representation in Parliament, which will very likely be lowered with PR, will feel pressured to run in all constituencies that it can, thereby causing friction between itself and other opposition parties, especially ethnic minority parties. The NLD will run in ethnic minority areas not because it wants to challenge the right of ethnic minority parties to represent their own people or because it thinks it necessarily has more chance to represent more people in that constituency, but because it will need to scrape up as much representation in the national legislature as possible to balance out that which it will lose in its own strong constituencies, all of which it would normally carry in an election using FPTP. Consequently, it will be harder for the NLD to make genuine agreements with ethnic parties that truly make up opposition to the USDP / military. It will not genuinely be able to say, "We won't run in this constituency because we want to honor an alliance and find ourselves together in the parliament in opposition to the USDP and military." Changing to PR has at least two key consequences. Though it contrasts with the pragmatism of creating opposition unity, the first is that the NLD will have to persuade the ethnic minority opposition parties that it must run in ethnic minority constituencies. This will be hard to do, but it could be made even harder by a public relations campaign run by the USDP or a new USDP-friendly party that publicizes its friendly relations with ethnic minority parties, friendly relations created by alliances in which the USDP or another USDP-friendly party will "respect" the sovereignty of minority parties to run in their areas and represent "their people." The NLD will have no choice but to confront this publicly. It will be forced into a corner where it will be made to look like the selfish, self-fulfilling party that will not let ethnic minorities represent their own demands through their own parties. This will be easier to do in some areas of Burma than others, particularly in places where the NLD has lost ground. Arakan State is a prime example, but it is not the only area where the NLD will face open criticism. For example, in areas where the National Brotherhood Federation is able to influence voters, there will be stronger resistance to the NLD's participation. The NBF does not have strong relations with the NLD; however, it is highly likely that the NLD currently holds a bigger place in the hearts and minds of the public within NBF constituencies than the relatively new NBF parties. Secondly, a PR system would allow for the existence of smaller parties that could further atomize the opposition. In the case of Burma, any PR system that is introduced would most likely include a low threshold to allow a wide range of political parties. This means more small parties in Parliament, and, as a result, more chance of division in the opposition. Furthermore, the combination of high levels of corruption and numerous political parties, many of which would in all probability represent the interests of party leaders instead of constituents, could create more incidents of cooption by powerful elites or the dominant party. Those parties, including the NDF, who have expressed desire for such an arrangement have clearly revealed their insecurities as small parties and their concern of losing the chance for any representation in parliament. However, it is also important to note that the USDP had in the not too distant past 1) rejected PR 2) been unsure ; and 3) supported PR. In any reelection, it is in the incumbent's favor for the opposition to be as separated as possible, and a move to PR would undoubtedly have this effect. Understandably, an FPTP election that is freer and fairer would make it more difficult for USDP incumbents from single member constituencies to win against candidates from the more popular NLD, particularly in urban areas, as well as ethnic minority parties for that matter. The USDP's past indecisiveness about changing the electoral system reflects an interesting tactic of the incumbent to see how ethnic minority parties reacted to the possibility of adoption of PR for 2015. Now with the USDP voting through a bill in the Upper House to change the nation's electoral system to some form of PR, the incumbent has signaled its readiness to use further tactics to divide and weaken the opposition. If it becomes law, this change will have the additional costs of likely gerrymandering and confusion among voters inexperienced in PR elections. Civil society will likely feel the pull to spend its time and resources in educating citizens about the functioning of the new PR system instead of focusing on the important tasks of election monitoring. Post-2015 Electoral reform should take place in a post-election period when the question is less politicized and when there is enough time for a good consultation process and the drafting of laws. As the time before 2015 dwindles, it will be of no surprise if the incumbent advocates such an argument and leaves the electoral system as it is. Burma is largely agricultural, with farmers struggling against difficult production conditions, including land insecurities, restricted markets, and poor weather conditions. Furthermore, many village systems are still authoritarian in nature, often with villagers following the instructions of the village head, individuals frequently chosen by nearby township authorities. This reality raises the issue of vulnerability to vote buying, the occurrence of which was widely reported during the 2010 elections. In a mostly agricultural country that struggles with poverty and poor infrastructure, such practice can become rampant. Recent vote buying in Afghanistan, a mostly agricultural and underdeveloped nation, offers an example of how serious this interference with voting can become. The opportunity for vote buying along with the fail-safes provided to the military and the state party by the 2008 Constitution will undoubtedly see the military and USDP through to the other side of the 2015 elections with most of their power intact. But changing to PR and further disrupting opposition unity before new institutional frameworks and civilian bodies have been tested by non-incumbent participation further weakens legitimate chances of reform, particularly in the realm of civil-military relations. It is not that some form of PR could not be a good electoral system for Burma. It is that the benefits of PR in the current system are highly defunct (25 percent military seats in Union Parliament, 25 percent military seats in state and regional assemblies, and a non-civilian commander-in-chief, whose powers actually exceed that of the president). The fact that any political force needs a unified majority within Parliament to make significant headway in law-making and constitutional changes against a sizeable unified voting block of the military and USDP makes the idea of a more inclusive, and thus more diverse, system of representation a paradox. It is true that when looking at a wide range of legislatures filled by systems of proportional representation we consistently find more party representation than legislatures filled by means of a majoritarian electoral system. However, if the electoral system of Burma changes to PR, the military and the incumbent will likely face a weaker challenger to its power in parliament as more parties stand alone, each taking votes and a small portion of seats and finding themselves trying to form a complex coalition in parliament. As a result, Burma will continue to wrestle with a pseudo-democratic system, in which the military not only pursues its own interests but also establishes itself as a cohesive voting block in the face of a more fractured opposition. Tom Lochery is a teacher at Educational Initiatives Burma. The post Proportional Representation in Burma: More Divisive Than Inclusive appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (June 28, 2014) Posted: 27 Jun 2014 05:00 PM PDT Foreign Banks Will Be Licensed to Operate in Burma 'From September' A number of foreign banks will be permitted to open limited banking services in Burma from September, a report said, quoting Central Bank Deputy Governor Set Aung. Licenses will be issued to between five and 10 foreign banks out of the dozens that have already opened representative offices in the country. A selection committee to pick the banks will be made up of the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, the Attorney General's Office, a German advisory team and representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, reported Eleven Media, quoting Set Aung. Earlier this month, the IMF's chief representative in Burma, Matt Davies, said the Burmese government would need to firmly control bank licenses when it gives the final go-ahead. More than 40 foreign banks have representative offices in Burma, but presently they can only provide consultation and advisory services. Upmarket Property Development Lures More Foreign Money to Rangoon Singapore-based Marga One Investment will lead a US$300 million luxury property development in Rangoon, featuring a five-star hotel, apartments, shops and offices, reports said. Marga One has teamed up with Burmese property firm Thu Kha Yadanar to form the joint venture Marga Landmark, the Marga Group said on its website. Marga One is linked to Marga Group, an international finance business headed by Hong Kong businessman Stephen Suen. Work on the luxury development on a plot on Rangoon's Shwedagon Pagoda Road leased from the government is scheduled to begin in September and be completed by 2019, Mizzima magazine reported. Marga Landmark plans more property development in Burma but will not be involved in low-cost housing, Mizzima quoted Suen as saying. Instead, the joint venture will allocate 2 percent of annual profits to Rangoon authorities for welfare work, including the construction of schools, he said. Thai Coup Leaders Oppose Visa-Free Overland Travel From Burma The National Council for Peace and Order formed by the leaders of Thailand's military coup last month is blocking completely visa-free travel with Burma, a travel industry magazine reported. Thailand is one of four countries out of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) with which Burma has yet to achieve open travel agreements. Next year sees the beginning of the Asean Economic Community, a European Union-style open trading market that will also supposedly allow for unfettered travel among member states. "[Burma] has requested visa exemption [with Thailand] whatever the mode of transport, but Bangkok opposed blanket permission for overland travelers fearing it would encourage migration for work purposes," said TTR Weekly. "[Thailand] counter-proposed that visa exemption be limited to air travelers," it said, quoting Thailand's deputy chief of mission at the country's embassy in Rangoon, Chainarong Keratiyutwong. "As long as Thailand insists that visa-free exemption is linked to airline travel, it will favor airlines operating between the Thai capital and cities in [Burma]. The same inconvenience applies to [Burmese] citizens planning to travel to Thailand for leisure or business," said TTR Weekly. Burma has already signed via-free agreements with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, but not with Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand. Bids Invited for Gas-Fueled Electricity Plant at Kyaukphyu in Arakan State The Ministry of Electric Power has invited bids to supply a temporary 50 megawatt gas-fueled power plant for Kyaukphyu district on the Arakan State coast. A power supply is urgently needed as more businesses move into the district in preparation for a special economic zone. The government has been resorting to mobile, temporary electricity generating plants as a quick-fix solution to acute power shortages in areas of development. Few details of the terms of the tender have been published, but President Thein Sein told the legislative assembly several months ago that more than US$50 million has been made available to fund a power plant at Kyaukphyu. The money will come from a loan provided by the Export-Import Bank of China, according to the website Ramree.com. It is expected that gas for the power plant will be provided by the Shwe field in the Bay of Bengal. A pipeline from the field comes ashore at Kyaukphyu. Most of the field's gas has been bought by the China National Petroleum Corporation to be piped through Burma into China. Government Ministry Budgets to 'Face Checks' After Religion Minister's Dismissal Spending by government ministries is to be subject to checks by a special parliamentary committee following the dismissal of Minister of Religious Affairs Hsan Hsint over allegations of corruption. The budgets of each Naypyidaw ministry will be scrutinized, Eleven Media reported, citing Khaing Maung Yi, a member of the Sports, Culture and Public Relations Development Committee. "The committee is duty-bound to check the budgets of government ministries, including the Information Ministry. The previous years' budgets will be rechecked at a time when the relevant budget is under scrutiny," Eleven Media quoted Khaing Maung Yi saying. Hsan Hsint was accused of spending 10 million kyat (US$10,000) of ministry funds on "family interests," various media reports have said. Ministry budget scrutiny comes as an international NGO, Global Witness, published a report this week alleging that only a few of the foreign and domestic Burmese firms that have won offshore oil and gas exploration licenses have voluntarily disclosed details of their ownership. "The international watchdog group said that out of 47 companies that have gained license interests who were contacted with a request for information on ownership, only 13 provided feedback, and many of these gave only partial responses," the Western industry magazine Upstream reported. "Global Witness stated that only two of the 16 local companies required to partner international players on onshore and shallow-water tracts disclosed their ownership information." The post The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (June 28, 2014) appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Pegu farmers say they must pay bribes to request land deeds
• Thein Sein gets red carpet treatment in Beijing
• ASEAN must cooperate to curb Rohingya trafficking crisis
• Mogok environmentalists wade in to clean up lake

Pegu farmers say they must pay bribes to request land deeds Posted: 28 Jun 2014 01:05 AM PDT Farmers in Min Hla Township in Pegu Division have told DVB that staff at the local Department of Land Statistics are asking for bribes when they request the land certificates they require in order to apply for agricultural loans. "To get a number 7 form – a land ownership license – the staff request between 10,000 and 20,000 kyat (US$10- $20)," a local farmer said. "We need this certificate in order to request a crop-planting loan from the bank." "In our community, almost all the farmers need a loan from the bank at this time of year," said Thanarpo village administrator Win Aung. "All were asked for bribes by the Land Statistics office. After we sent a letter of complaint to the township officer, then about half of the farmers were given the deeds." When asked about the allegations of corruption in his department, Aung San, the assistant chief officer of Min Hla Department of Land Statistics said, "I don’t know anything about these bribes. It is difficult to oversee all the staff – they are not my sons and daughters." A new registration process for agricultural loans was initiated in August 2012 whereby farmers had to produce evidence of land ownership to apply for a loan to pay for the expense involved in planting crops. However, many farmers were unaware of the new system and it wasn't until the last minute that many approached the land statistics office for certificates, said Win Aung. Rainy season has already begun in most parts of Burma, including Pegu [Bago], and farmers generally need to plant rice and other crops during the month of June, else they miss the season's harvest. Related Stories Burma Business Weekly Can Burma reclaim its status as a major rice player? Burma Business Weekly

Thein Sein gets red carpet treatment in Beijing Posted: 27 Jun 2014 11:26 PM PDT Burma's President Thein Sein received a guard of honour when he arrived in Beijing in Friday ahead of trilateral talks with China and India. Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Thein Sein for cordial talks after the latter's arrival in the Chinese capital on Friday. According to Chinese media, Xi hailed Sino-Burmese cooperation as "reciprocal and win-win", and said his government encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Burma, officially known as Myanmar. China's president said he "expects the two sides to create a favorable environment for the smooth operation of large-scale projects involving energy, mining, gas pipelines and hydro-electricity, as well as agricultural projects," state agency Xinhua reported. "Xi said China welcomes Myanmar’s participation in the construction of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road and the development of an economic corridor between Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar," the report said. The so-called Maritime Silk Road is expected to be high on the agenda this weekend as China and India see Burma as a geopolitical thoroughfare for trade and commerce. After the talks, the two presidents reportedly witnessed the signing of several deals, involving culture, education and medical care. Related Stories Local boy Thein Sein attends Irrawaddy delta rally Rights groups call for transparency in Kaladan Project China and Bangladesh pledge to build 'Maritime Silk Road’ Burmese state media reported that the Chinese-backed Kyaukphyu special economic zone in Arakan State was also discussed, as well as a feasibility study for Yangon [Rangoon] General Hospital, and Chinese technical assistance for a communications network to be installed at Yadanabon Cyber City, east of Mandalay. On Saturday and Sunday, Thein Sein is scheduled to attend a ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Announcement of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, a mutual non-aggression, non-interference pact that was signed between Burma, China and India in 1954. The leaders are undoubtedly looking to take advantage of blooming economic conditions, following some decades of icy relations. China long supported Communist insurgents in Burma, while India and China went to war in 1962. Thein Sein has previously visited China for a number of times. He paid a state visit in May 2011 and he attended the 9th China- ASEAN Expo in Nanning in 2012. The Burmese president paid two state visits to China in 2013, including another appearance at the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning last September. The Chinese embassy in Rangoon confirmed that Thein Sein is also scheduled to meet with China's Premier Li Keqiang, and will pay a visit to the ancient capital of Luoyang in central China’s Henan Province. "The attendance by H.E. President U Thein Sein and the leader of India to the commemorative activities in Beijing reflects the three countries’ determination to promote world peace and development," the embassy said in a statement to DVB on Friday. "China expects this visit to further consolidate bilateral good-neighbor relations, enhance strategic trust, boost pragmatic cooperation and develop the bilateral all-round strategic partnership," an embassy spokesperson said. "China firmly pursues a friendly policy toward Myanmar and would like to work with Myanmar to deepen cooperation, benefit the two peoples and promote regional peace, stability and development."

ASEAN must cooperate to curb Rohingya trafficking crisis Posted: 27 Jun 2014 09:58 PM PDT Countries in the region need to try harder to find solutions to the problem of Rohingya people who have been forced to leave Burma and ended up victims of human trafficking gangs, a forum was told on Thursday. Addressing a seminar on “Rohingya’s Solution for Better Protection” in Bangkok on Thursday, rights advocates said attempts to address the plights of the minority group in Burma’s Arakan State had to be made both from within and outside the country through regional collaboration. Htay Lwin Oo, of the New York-based Civil Rights Movement for Burma, said there was strong evidence Rohingya had lived in Arakan State for 300 years before Burma was created and the Burmese government should accept that fact rather than attempting to drive them out from their homes. ASEAN and the world community must not stand silent to the genocide against the Rohingya happening in Burma, he said. Abu Tahay, a Rohingya MP candidate for the Union Nationals Development Party, said he would like to see Naypyidaw acknowledge the ethnic issue was a problem that needed to be solved politically and not through other means. Mr Tahay also pleaded with Thailand and Bangladesh to lend further humanitarian assistance while trying to tackle the trafficking issue. Related Stories UK parliamentarians discuss Rohingya crisis in Burma Rohingyas screened to assess citizenship claims Human trafficking bust in Bangkok: Burmese children forced to sell flowers to tourists Abdul Kalam, chairman of the Rohingya Association of Thailand, called on the Thai military junta to work with Rohingya people to help solve the problem of illegal trafficking of Rohingya migrants. “If [the Thai junta's] perspective is widened by engaging more with the civil society, within three to six months the military leadership should be able to get rid of the trafficking networks in and outside Thailand,” he said. “They have preyed on the Rohingya ummah [compatriots],” said Mr Kalam, also a long-time Rohingya resident in Bangkok. He hoped the military regime would overhaul the system of labour management, registration and the legal status of all types of immigrants in Thailand. Pol Col Prayuth Chommalee, deputy commander of Thailand's Immigration Bureau’s Division 6, said the lack of a clear state policy on the Rohingya boatpeople has prevented state agencies from being able to tackle the problem of these illegal migrants. He said although the number of Rohingya detained by his agency has dropped by half this year when compared to the same period last year, the bureau still needed help to take care of the migrants properly. “With the Ramadan fasting approaching, we need to be more considerate of their halal food and religious activities,” he said. Pol Col Prayuth said half of the 1,000 Rohingya now detained at immigration centres in the South have already been initially verified as Bangladeshis but documentation was still needed to provide final proof. The officer said, however, the Burmese embassy has not participated in verification or deportation of these Rohingya. While waiting for further verification of these illegal immigrants, the Immigration Bureau had paid some 14 million baht (US$440,000) on shelter, food and clothing without budgetary support from the National Security Council, he said. Angkhana Neelapaijit, chair of Working Group on Justice and Peace, praised Thai authorities for providing shelter for the Rohingya and not immediately expelling them.   This article was originally published by the Bangkok Post on 27 June 2014.

Mogok environmentalists wade in to clean up lake Posted: 27 Jun 2014 09:35 PM PDT Environmental groups in Mandalay say they are fed up with the level of pollution in one of their region's most picturesque landmarks. Mogok Lake is a major tourist attraction and a well-known scenic spot located 100km north of the city. The surrounding area is known as Ruby Land, and too draws many visitors for its breathtaking views, with the rainy season mist only adding to its charm and beauty. But the lake has become polluted. Now after years of neglect on the part of the local government, environmentalists have decided to take matters into their own hands. Environmental groups Sein Yaung So Activities and Sein Lan Mogok have teamed up with a local National League for Democracy (NLD) office, and are staging a mass clean-up of the lake. Ye Aung, Sein Lan Mogok's coordinator, says that human-induced changes to the local ecosystem have led to a spike in the growth of weeds. "The poor waste disposal system in the homes surrounding the lake has led to the growth of water hyacinth which thrive with the nitrogen," he said. The lake plays an important role in the area's ecosystem, and the groups say the clean-up campaign will go a long way in protecting the local flora and fauna. Local NLD member Pwint Phyu says that it is crucial to fight back in order to restore balance to the ecosystem. "We are doing what we can to preserve our environment. Mogok Lake is a landmark in this region and it also helps balance the weather in the area. Related Stories NLD to hold first youth congress in July Civil society leaders released from Insein US delegation discusses electoral reform with democracy groups "From an environmental point of view, this lake is priceless," she added Lakes in the city of Mandalay are cleaned and maintained by local authorities, but officials in Mogok appear to have taken their eye off the ball. This is the second time that this coalition of environmental groups and the NLD have taken up the reins and cleaned the lake themselves. Blessed with such outstanding natural beauty at their doorstep, the people of Mogok say their lake should be preserved for future generations. "This lake can be regarded as the jewel of the town," said Maung Maung Oo of Seing Yaung So Activities "If we can restore its natural beauty, it will enhance the landscape. However at the moment, it's in a dire condition."

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Democratic Voice of Burma

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• KNU legend Tamla Baw dies peacefully, aged 94
• In eastern Burma, landmines remain an invisible curse to farmers
• Burma Business Weekly
• Military nominee pledges to improve living standards in Arakan State
• DVB talks to Kanthan Shankar, World Bank
• UN criticises Burma’s drug efforts
• NLD to hold first youth congress in July
• Women activists charged for protesting in Chin State

KNU legend Tamla Baw dies peacefully, aged 94 Posted: 27 Jun 2014 04:56 AM PDT Gen. Saw Tamla Baw, a highly respected Karen leader and elder statesman of the independence movement, has passed away at the age of 94 in his home in northern Thailand's Mae Sariang. Tamla Baw, born in 1920 in Mon state capital Moulmein, served in the 2nd Burma Rifles under the British government before the Japanese invasion; he became an officer in the First Karen Rifles under the British re-occupation. He joined the Karen uprising in 1949 after Burma's independence and joined the Karen National Union (KNU) where he fought in its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, ultimately being promoted to commander-in-chief. He fought for Karen autonomy for over six decades until announcing his retirement in 2012 by which time he had risen to position of KNU chairman. Mahn Mahn, secretary-2 of the KNU, said the death of Tamla Baw, an icon of the Karen independence struggle, was an irreplaceable loss. "Even after he retired as our chairman, he continued to keep up to date and gave advice on the political process," he said. "He was an outstanding leader and his passing is an irreplaceable loss for us." KNU Secretary-1 Thaw The Bwe said Tamla Baw was an inspiration to all young Karens. "He was a great source of inspiration for each new generation in the Karen independence movement – he was a good soldier and a natural leader," said Thawe The Bwe. "He offered valuable guidance and revolutionary ideas." Tamla Baw is survived by eight children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He wife Naw Phaw Kawaw passed away in February. The KNU are yet to announce details for Tamla Baw's funeral. Related Stories Ethnic political parties promise mass protest if PR system passes Perceiving the peace in Karen State KNU urges Thein Sein to head party in next term

In eastern Burma, landmines remain an invisible curse to farmers Posted: 27 Jun 2014 04:36 AM PDT Vast tracts of eastern Burma are littered with landmines, remnants of a long running civil war between rebel armies and successive Burmese regimes. Yet as ceasefire talks continue and hostile armies move towards peace, the mines continue to plague innocent villagers. Local residents in Karenni and southern Shan states are now demanding that the government begin clearing the landscape of these deadly weapons. Of particular concern, the villagers say, are mines laid by the Burmese army in the pastureland that surrounds electricity towers. The national power grid stretches out through Karenni State, and throughout decades of war the Burmese army mined fields surrounding infrastructure such as the Lawpita Hydropower plant. The towers have been designated targets by ethnic armed groups throughout the conflict in eastern Burma. Since the 1960s, locals say, these landmines have claimed the lives of civilians, cattle, and even the towers' maintenance workers. One staff member from Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise said that several of his co-workers have been killed. "We have lost workers to the landmines. They usually die from their injuries," he said. "It happens quite often around tower-36 near to Lawpita. One of our men stood on one and was killed on the spot." Residents in villages along the grid, which runs from southern Karenni state north into Shan State, said for generations they have lived with the constant fear of stepping on a landmine. This fear, they say, has caused psychological trauma among the local populace. "With all the ordinance around, we feel very unsafe walking or working in the fields, trying to make a living," said one Lawpita resident. Related Stories Kachin IDPs lose hope of returning home Tachilek police find 59kg of ya-ba under car seat Opposition party claims harassment in Shan State "Sometimes we bring our dogs to our farm work and they play around and set off a landmine." Ethnic political parties believe that a demining programme should go hand in hand with ceasefire agreements and peace talks between the government and ethnic armed groups. Nan Yi, general secretary of the Kayan National Party, reinforced that sentiment. "Since we can now see peace on the horizon, we don't think the situation demands the use of landmines. Those who are responsible for laying these mines should begin a demining programme," he said. He added that fearful farmers are often the victims of an added injustice. "Quite often, cattle owned by locals accidently set off mines. The owner, while having lost their cattle, is also made to pay compensation for the mine that exploded," Nan Yi said.

Burma Business Weekly Posted: 27 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT   Ups and Downs The Burmese currency has strengthened, with the buying rate finishing on Friday at 973 kyat – up 7 kyat since 13 June – and the selling rate up 8 kyat over that period, to 978 from 970. Meanwhile over the two-week period, the price of gold increased to 678,000 kyat per tical, up from 657,100 kyat. Fuel prices remained the same, with petrol selling at 820 kyat per litre, diesel at 950 kyat per litre, and octane at 920 kyat per litre. The price of rice remains constant, with the cost of high-quality Pawhsanmwe rice selling from at 1,300 to 1,700 kyat per basket and low-quality Manawthukha rice going for 900 kyat per basket. Philippine, Singaporean airlines to launch direct flights between Manila and Rangoon Philippine airline Cebu Pacific Air and Singaporean airline Tigerair will introduce direct flights between Rangoon and Manila in the near future, according to Burma's Department of Civil Aviation. The Aviation authorities of Burma and that of the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding in May to launch direct flight services, though details have not yet been resolved. This decision comes on the heels of a visa-exemption agreement that the Philippines and Burma signed late last year. Govt lauds Burma's growth, foreign investment Foreign investment and trade in Burma has grown significantly amid the implementation of a private sector reform strategy introduced by the government after it assumed office three years ago, according to official data. Foreign investment in Burma has increased from US$40 billion in 2011 to over $46 billion today, while trade has risen from $18 billion to $25 billion. The government statistics say that the number of foreign companies operating in Burma has increased dramatically from 40 in 2011 to more than 1,000. Natural gas exports down by 12 percent Burma's natural gas exports were $3.2 billion, a decrease of 12 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Myanmar Business Today. Earnings from natural gas exports were $3.66 billion in 2012-13. Win Maw, a senior energy ministry official, told Myanmar Business Today that the slight drop in gas exports was due to allocation for domestic consumption, after the government redrafted an agreement with Thailand's PTT. IMF predicts GDP to reach 8.5 percent The International Monetary Fund announced on 17 June that it expects Burma to continue strong economic growth, reaching 8.5 percent in real GDP growth for the fiscal year of 2014- 15.  Yet the IMF warned of structural frailties that will threaten the prospects for long-term growth. The Fund alluded to the virtually non-existent tax revenue collection system and to an immature financial sector, which needs to be reformed and improved in order to accommodate international interest in Burma's economy. Shwedagon Pagoda attracted 30,000 foreigners in May More than 30,000 foreigners visited Rangoon's famed Shwedagon pagoda in May this year, according to Myanmar Business Today. Numbers from the pagoda's Board of Trustees showed that Thai tourists were the most, reaching more than 6,700, followed by the Chinese at 3,000 and the South Koreans at 2,200. Paddy fields may be used as collateral, says Central Bank Burma's Agriculture and Irrigation Deputy Minister Ohn Than said on Thursday that his ministry is devising a plan with the Central Bank to allow farmers to use their paddy fields as collateral in exchange for borrowing money from the Bank. Speaking in parliament, he said any loans would only be made for investments in agricultural projects. Discussions would continue on linking loans to conditions such as crop production, he said, adding that the Central Bank would announce interest rates and conditions in the near future. Burma job boom Nearly 200,000 jobs have been created and 400 foreign and domestic investments initiated during the three years of rule by the Thein Sein government, reported state-run Myanmar News Agency on Monday. The report said 50 investments were given the go-ahead in the first year of government, creating over 16,000 job opportunities, followed by 75,000-plus opportunities from nearly 160 investments the following year. Over the past 12 months, some 200 new businesses have created over 100,000 job opportunities, the report said. GE to help Burma with energy infrastructure US-based firm General Electric (GE) will assist Burma in developing the energy infrastructure necessary to begin addressing the country's electricity needs, a Ministry of Electric Power representative said. According to Myanmar Business Today, Deputy Minister Maw Thar Htwe said that GE had provided the government with a roadmap to help Burma improve the infrastructure and the supply shortcomings. "On June 17, we received GE's assessment and we are preparing to work with the company to support the country's current electrical improvement plans," he said. The plan will help with implementing proposed generation, distribution, and rural electrification reforms. Chin State SEZs to be completed by March 2015 Two special economic zones in Chin State will be completed by March 2015, according to a state minister. Speaking to the Myanmar Business Today, Ram Mann, Chin State's minister for planning and economy, said that the SEZs in state capital Hakha and Tedim will be completed at the end of fiscal year 2014. "The projects will prioritise businesses relating to automobiles, and the electricity for these industrial zones will be supplied through the national grid in Hakha," he said. Thai banks targets wealthy Burmese Thailand's Kasikornbank aims to target affluent customers in neighbouring countries as part of its efforts to push towards 10 percent growth in assets under management (AUM) for its wealth management business this year, according to a report in the Bangkok Post. Executive vice-president Pakorn Partanapat said wealth among Laotian business owners is increasing, propelled by their dynamic economic growth. This group will be KBank’s main focus, he said, adding that wealthy Burmese are another target.

Military nominee pledges to improve living standards in Arakan State Posted: 27 Jun 2014 03:59 AM PDT Maj-Gen Maung Maung Ohn, nominated by the President's Office as the next chief minister of Arakan State, has pledged to improve the living standards of the local population and restore stability to the region. Responding to a question by a DVB reporter at a meeting to discuss Arakanese issues, hosted by the Myanmar Peace Centre in Rangoon on Thursday, Maung Maung Ohn said, "I would like to prioritise improving the living standards of Rakhine [Arakanese] people while at the same time trying to reduce conflict. "I can see that many Arakanese people are living in poverty and feel a strong sense of antipathy toward the other community," he said. "What we have to do, first and foremost, is explore solutions to these issues." By "other community", the senior military man was clearly referring to the Muslim Rohingya community, which makes up a majority in several parts of the region. Inter-communal tensions between Arakanese Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims boiled over in 2012, and the subsequent mob violence resulted in at least 200 deaths and some 140,000 people displaced from their homes. Related Stories President nominates military man as Arakan chief minister Citizenship verification programme pilots in Arakan displacement camps Rights groups call for transparency in Kaladan Project "I think it will be hard for us to resolve this sensitive issue, so perhaps all we can do for now is improve people's livelihoods," said Maung Maung Ohn, who was border affairs deputy minister until recently appointed member of parliament. "This is what I plan to do when I take office – if we can significantly improve people's standard of living, we can steadily resolve the sectarian issues." Maung Maung Ohn was joined at the conference on Thursday by senior government officials and representatives from Arakan-based political parties and civic society groups, as well as United Nations' Special Advisor to Myanmar Vijay Nambiar. Also in attendance was the chairman of the Rakhine National Network, Tin Htoo Aung, who told DVB afterwards that the government had presented a plan of action to tackle the crisis in Arakan State. "The government representatives spoke about an action plan – this was a significant part of the meeting – and so I think our responsibility is to wait and see if they can implement it or not, and how we can cooperate," he said. He said that President Thein Sein has allocated a 15 billion kyat (US$15 million) budget for developing Arakan State, which is the poorest region in Burma next to Chin State. Maung Maung Ohn said he understood that he is not the most popular candidate for the position of chief minister among many Arakanese, but vowed that he would do the best he can, and would regard the locals as his own family members. "There were objections against me in the meeting today, but I understand the emotions. I don't blame anyone," said the major-general. Meanwhile, the influential Arakan National Party (ANP) – a recent merger of the two previous largest nationalist parties in Arakan State – has released a statement calling for appointment of an ethnic Arakanese as chief minister. Maung Maung Ohn is a Burman. The regional parliament resumes on 30 June when it is expected that Maung Maung Ohn's appointment as chief minister will be finalised.

DVB talks to Kanthan Shankar, World Bank Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:58 AM PDT   Kanthan Shankar, the country manager for the World Bank in Burma, spoke to DVB Interview International recently about several World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) projects currently underway in the country, and addresses concerns over their implementation. The World Bank is financing a schools grant and stipends programme as part of its Decentralising Funding to Schools Project, worth a total of US$100 million. The money will go towards an existing government initiative by the Ministry of Education. "It is mainly benefiting the poor, giving them scholarships and better school facilities," Shankar said. "We've seen similar programmes have worked in other countries so we are bringing that experience to bear. [The programme will] serve kids in primary education, in particular, with better facilities. And poorer kids will benefit. Over 100,000 kids will be benefitting and as a whole that's over eight million schools and students." The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) is putting US$80 million into this education stipend project while the government of Australia is adding $20 million. Meanwhile the IFC has pledged to invest $80 million in Shangri-La Asia Ltd to expand operations in Burma. The loan will provide assistance for the expansion of the Traders Hotel in downtown Rangoon as well as for construction of the 240-suite luxury Shangri-La Residences overlooking Kandawgyi Lake. Shankar said it is important to attract private sector investment to the country. "It is extremely important [for a country] that is under transition, where 70 percent of its population live in rural areas, [and where] poverty rates are quite high. If they need to reduce their poverty – they cannot completely depend on the public sector, they cannot completely depend on the government, they have to attract private sector," he said. "They've been shut away for such a long time. Here is an opportunity that they will be able to create an environment for responsible private sector to come in." Another project the World Bank is financing is a Community-driven Development (CDD) project, which gets local communities involved in choosing development projects for their villages. "This is our first activity in Myanmar [Burma]. It is an $80 million development grant from IDA. In each of the regions in Myanmar, the poorest township is selected and each of the villages and village tracts benefit from this CDD programme. So on average there is about $27,000 for each village, and the community decides what they would want in terms of infrastructure upgrading, water supply, sanitation, building access pathways," he said. Shankar said he recently visited the town of Kampalet in Chin State, one of the areas taking part in the CDD project. "I went to visit about five or six villages and some of them you have to walk for about 40 minutes each way to reach them – they are extremely remote. But you can see the impact in terms of the process. For these communities, it's the first time for them to be responsible for the choices, rather than someone deciding for them," he said. Related Stories DVB Debate: Will foreign aid help or hinder Burma? Student expulsion threat linked to 436 campaign, say activists Burma Business Weekly However, the World Bank has faced criticism over the CDD project. The US Campaign for Burma has concerns over a lack of meaningful consultations with the local communities and a failure to ensure those with ethnic languages or limited education can understand the projects being rolled out in their communities. "Of course it's not going to be perfect, we are just starting this work," Shankar said. "We are learning. There is a grievance mechanism where communities can, if something isn't going well, bring it up to the committee. "I certainly don't think this is going to be perfect as it starts, we are learning, and it's the first time these projects are being implemented," he emphasised. Other concerns have been raised over IFC pledging $30 million to invest in the Yoma Equity Project, an initiative of Yoma Bank. IFC investment would support the Yoma Bank's SME [Small-Medium Enterprises] financing programme to increase access to finance for SME's in Burma. The project was categorised as FI(2) (Financial Intermediary), which means it could forego certain social and environmental impact assessments. Given that several FI investments in other countries have been accused of a lack of transparency, there are concerns over the FI categorisation of this project. "Look, what I can say is that IFC is trying to attract private sector into the country. There is a huge need to create jobs in Myanmar. It has to be in sectors such as in manufacturing and micro-enterprises, so creating and helping in terms of funding some of these activities and helping the government in ensuring there is an attractive environment for private sector investments, both local and international, is important, and that is what IFC does," he said. Shankar went on to say that the World Bank does due diligence in every project they undertake. "We do due diligence in every activity which we do. There are these assessments that we do. If we go into any type of intervention which we finance we will do due diligence. And after that is the only way we would go into the next step. And that is being done on everything that we do," he said.

UN criticises Burma’s drug efforts Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:35 AM PDT For many years, Burma has celebrated the UN's International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with fiery abandon, marking the occasion with drug-burning ceremonies intended to show how serious the government is about tackling the trade. However the 2014 edition of the World Drug Report, issued annually by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), paints a mixed picture of Burma's drug eradication efforts. At an event marking the report's launch in Rangoon on Thursday afternoon, Jeremy Douglas, UNODC's representative for Southeast Asia, noted that Burmese opiates and stimulant production have both increased significantly in recent years. While Burma lost the title of the world's largest opium producer to Afghanistan in the early 1990s, the country still accounts for a substantial portion of global supply, the report says, a share that has been rising steadily for almost ten years. "It's an increasing percentage, year on year, for Myanmar. In 2005, which was the low point, [Burma] was roughly five percent of global opium production," he said. "It is now 18 percent of global opium production." Yet enforcement figures do not reflect this spike, Douglas claimed. "In this region, oddly, given that there's 18 percent of the production of the world taking place, in the golden triangle [there are] relatively low seizures. There may be some explanation for that coming from the government," he said. Southeast Asia has witnessed a massive spike in supply and demand for synthetic drugs in recent years, most notably pill-form methamphetamine, or Yaba. "We have seen a seven-fold increase [in Yaba seizures] over the last few years. We are now projecting… the highest [seizure] levels ever recorded. 240-plus-million pills will be reported in the near future as seized in the greater Mekong sub region. The source of those… is the Shan State area." Related Stories Kachin IDPs lose hope of returning home Ethnic political parties promise mass protest if PR system passes Kachin family call for Rule of Law, refuse blood money from Burmese commander Because the raw materials needed to create these synthetic drugs do not originate in Burma, Douglas called for improved "precursor controls" that would limit the ability of criminal syndicates to engage in large-scale production in Burma's lawless frontier areas. Most precursor chemicals – the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine for methamphetamienes and the ancetic anhyndride used to purify heroin – have historically originated in China, but these have been augmented by increasing shipments from India recently, Douglas claimed. Two massive pyres – laden with heroin, pharmaceuticals, methamphetamines and other drugs – were set ablaze at a ceremony held in Rangoon's northern Hlawga township early Thursday morning. Two other events were simultaneously held in Mandalay and Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State. Commander Khin Maung Thein, of the police's Anti-Narcotics Taskforce, said that 16 different types of drugs, with a combined street value of 14 million US dollars, were destroyed at the Rangoon event. "All these drugs were seized across Burma – in Rangoon, Pegu, Irrawaddy and Tenasserim divisions, and Mon, Arakan and Karen, and were tested by the Criminal Investigation Department," he said. The combined value of the drugs destroyed at the three events totalled US$130 million, according to the authorities. Additional reporting by Paing Soe

NLD to hold first youth congress in July Posted: 26 Jun 2014 10:42 PM PDT The National League for Democracy (NLD) announced on Thursday that it will hold its first nationwide youth congress on 5- 6 July. Maung Maung Oo, appointed chairperson of the Youth Congress Organising Commission, said more than 200 young NLD members from branches across Burma will attend the meeting at the Royal Rose Hall in Rangoon's Bahan Township where party leader Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to deliver the opening speech. On the agenda at the congress will be the formation of a Central Youth Leading Committee and a Central Youth Working Committee, and the appointment of its representatives. Related Stories Civil society leaders released from Insein US delegation discusses electoral reform with democracy groups Student expulsion threat linked to 436 campaign, say activists The conference was originally due to be held in January, then April, but was postponed each time as the NLD concentrated its efforts on a nationwide campaign calling for public support for its bid to enact constitutional reform. The NLD reportedly has about 100,000 youth members throughout Burma, aged between 16 and 35. The party has long been criticised for its reliance on elder statesmen; while several octogenarians are among its central committee members, few persons under the age of 65 hold any authority in the party's hierarchy. In 2008, 109 youth members resigned from the party, claiming their voices were not being heard.

Women activists charged for protesting in Chin State Posted: 26 Jun 2014 09:50 PM PDT Four activists who organised a protest against sexual violence in the town of Matupi in Chin State have been charged for staging a rally without permission – Chapter Three of Burma’s controversial Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act. Women's rights activists Thang Zin and Khin Lwe Parh, and Chin Youth Organisation members Mong Han and Tate Manh, were summoned to the Matupi police station around noon on Wednesday after they had led some 200 local demonstrators through the streets the two previous days. "The women were interrogated by police who informed them of the charges and instructed them to wait for the court summons," said Mai Alli of the Chin Women's Association. "The local police chief apparently told them not to be worried – as they might be let off with just a fine." The two Chin Youth activists, Khin Lwe Parh and Thang Zin, were released on bail at around 5pm on Wednesday. Related Stories Chin protestors call for end to sexual violence by Burma army Su Su Nway charged in Mandalay for protesting without permission Peaceful Assembly Bill passed, now awaits president's signature Khin Lwe Parh later told DVB that she led the protest to raise awareness and call for an end to rampant abuses in the region, including domestic violence, and said she would face any charge for doing what she believes in – promoting female empowerment. "I will go to prison and take whatever punishment they give me for doing what I can for women's rights," she said. Thang Zin said she will continue to educate women so they know their rights, and to protect and defend them in cases of sexual and domestic violence. "There is a tradition in Burma that women are not allowed to talk back to their husbands, and due to a lack of rule of law, they are reluctant to make an issue of the domestic violence they suffer, which encourages the perpetrators even more," she said. "We staged the protest to raise awareness, and encourage women not to be afraid to speak out." Another group of female activists who held a similar protest in nearby Rezua sub-township concurrently with the rally in Matupi have also been summoned by police. The organisers of the two protests requested permission from local authorities and police prior to the events in accordance with the law, but their applications were rejected.

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