The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• ‘Shwedagon’: New Paintings by Pe Nyunt Way
• Fighting Flares in Northeast as High-Level Peace Meeting Nears
• Journalists Reject UEC Order Limiting Reporters’ Scope
• Arakan Army Calls for Calm After Bangladesh Border Clash
• Burma Army Chief Meets Thai Top Brass in Bangkok
• Ruling Party Purge Confirms Doubts Over Democratic Reforms
• In Talks, Muslim Rebels Seek Independence in South Thailand
• Thailand Issues Arrest Warrant for Suspect in Second Blast
• Hong Kong Teen Protest Leader Joshua Wong Faces New Charges

‘Shwedagon’: New Paintings by Pe Nyunt Way Posted: 28 Aug 2015 06:25 AM PDT Click to view slideshow. RANGOON — In the shadow of the Shwedagon, Burma's foremost religion icon and staple of the Rangoon skyline, is a temporary art exhibition that explores a refreshingly modern view of the monument. "Shwedagon" showcases 20 paintings by renowned artist Pe Nyunt Way, breathing new life into classic views of the city. On view from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 at the Yangon Gallery in People's Park, the show is part of monsoon Art Festival, celebrating interdisciplinary artistic genres through late October. Pe Nyunt Way's 9th solo exhibition demonstrates the artist's unique sensitivity to faith and religious value. While Buddhism is a common theme in Burmese contemporary art, it is rare to see religious images that center so acutely on the monument itself, depicting the pagoda as a character of sorts. Shown from near and far, between silhouetted monks in prayer, even seen lit up at night through a Bahan Township window, Pe Nyunt Way turns the Shwedagon into a fixture around which all urban narratives transpire. Buildings are torn down and built up around it, political movements build and dissipate at its feet, but the Shwedagon appears unfazed. "I focus on events, especially contemporary ones," the 63-year-old artist told The Irrawaddy before his opening reception on Friday. "Many things have happened at the Shwedagon, but I don't dare touch the past as I have never been through it." The site's contemporary history is rich enough, as his paintings show. In "Metta Sutta," Pe Nyunt Way depicts a massive crowd of monks and nuns reciting prayers at the foot of the monument on the eve of the Saffron Revolution in 2007. This is just one of the inimitable moments that live in his memory. Beyond portraying pivotal political moments, the 2004 Philip Morris Asean Art Awardee also documented urban change. His wide cityscapes show just how much the urban sky has changed in recent years as buildings rise higher and higher. "I just want to reflect on what is happening now, all that is related to people and the pagoda," he said. "So I just record them, as an artist." The post 'Shwedagon': New Paintings by Pe Nyunt Way appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Fighting Flares in Northeast as High-Level Peace Meeting Nears Posted: 28 Aug 2015 05:42 AM PDT Soldiers from the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) are pictured in northern Shan State. (Photo: Facebook / Pslf-Tnla) RANGOON — As peace negotiators continue to insist that a nationwide ceasefire is within reach, clashes reportedly broke out again this week in Shan and Kachin states ahead of a planned meeting between a handful of ethnic armed groups, President Thein Sein and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. The Ta'ang(Palaung) National Liberation Army (TNLA)said fighting with the Burma Army took placein anarea of the ethnic armed group'scontrol in NamhsanTownship, Shan State, with the TNLA claiming to have killed two government soldiers after coming under attackat the village of Nang Kay. Tar Bong Kyaw,TNLA general secretary, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that clashes had occurredalmost every daythis week amid an increased deployment of Burma Army troops in the area. "We have five brigades. They chased every one of our brigades and attacked our troops' bases. They even vowed to destroy our TNLA," said Tar Bong Kyaw, who claimed that Burma Army officers were telling ethnic Palaung community leaders in northern Shan State that they would "destroy" the TNLA in the same way that the government has largely crushed a rebellion of ethnic Kokang insurgents in the state's northeast. Fighting also took place this week northeast of Namhsanin Manton Township, the TNLA leader said. The military-owned Myawaddynews outlet reported that fighting broke out between the Burma Army and Kachin Independence Army(KIA) troops as well, on Wednesday in Kachin State's SumprabumTownship. Sai Oo, a colonel from the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), saidsouthern Shan State also saw conflict this week Tuesday between his group and government troops in Kunhing Township. The latest clashes come as five ethnic armed groups, including leaders from the so-called "Senior Delegation" of the 15-member Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), prepare to meet Thein Sein and Min Aung Hlaing, Burma's commander-in-chief, on Sept. 9 in Naypyidaw to discuss the protracted negotiations over a nationwide ceasefire agreement. Representatives from the Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party, Karen National Progressive Party, Shan State Progressive Party and Kachin Independence Organization—the KIA's political wing—are expected to attend the meeting, including Naw Zipporah Sein, KNU vice chairman and head of the Special Delegation. She told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the ethnic leaders will stick to their insistence that any peace deal be "all-inclusive," a reference to the government's unwillingness to allow three ethnic armed groups, including the TNLA, to sign the accord. The Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) are the other two groups excluded from the government's list of acceptable signatories. "There should be a political guarantee for the three groups," she said, referring to a proposed arrangement whereby the three groups would be given the option to eventually add their names to the nationwide ceasefire."If the Burma Army and the government do not want them to participate, or if the army continues fighting them, the signing of an NCA will not have meaning."   The post Fighting Flares in Northeast as High-Level Peace Meeting Nears appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Journalists Reject UEC Order Limiting Reporters’ Scope Posted: 28 Aug 2015 04:38 AM PDT A man reads a newspaper in Rangoon.(Reuters) RANGOON — Burma's election oversight body has proposed overreaching restrictions for reporters covering a Nov. 8 general election, journalists told The Irrawaddy, that would limit the number and movement of credentialed correspondents on the day of the vote. The Union Election Commission (UEC) sent a letter to the Interim Press Council earlier this month laying out guidelines for covering the polls. A copy of the letter obtained by The Irrawaddy states that registered news organizations can assign a maximum of three reporters to each township, and that those assigned must apply with the relevant sub-commission. Once an applicant has submitted proof of dispatch from a legally recognized media outlet, the sub-commission will issue them a press identification card authorizing them to report on the polls in the township in which they applied. Media professionals pointed out that attempts to monitor and limit the number of reporters in each locale could effectively restrict them to that area, as the location-specific credential might not be valid in a place beyond its point of issue. "It is unclear if reporters will be able to move to another township from the one they are registered in," said Thet Zin, editor-in-chief of the New Era weekly journal. Concerned that the small paper will not have enough reporters to thoroughly cover the polls if their positions are static, Thet Zin predicted that election reporting "will be difficult." This time it seems like the UEC is trying to control people's right to know. Kyaw Min Swe, secretary of the Interim Press Council, said that a meeting will be held on Sunday between the UEC and concerned journalists to discuss ambiguities in the instructions. While the UEC claims that the directive is meant to ensure that all journalists covering the election will be bound to the commission's media code of conduct with some degree of accountability, members of the press view the process as inherently flawed and susceptible to abuse. "There were no such rules limiting the number of journalists during the 2010 and 2012 elections," Kyaw Min Swe said, "but this time it seems like the UEC is trying to control people's right to know." The secretary said the issue will be discussed at length with the commission during their meeting on Sunday, voicing firmly that the media "won't follow this rule." When contacted by The Irrawaddy on Friday, the UEC declined to comment on the rationale behind the new rules or whether they were likely to be amended. The current regulations include an Aug. 5 deadline for reporters to register with local sub-commissions, so there is still some time to make changes. According to the Ministry of Information, 31 daily newspaper licenses have been granted since early 2013, following decades of strict censorship under Burma's former military regime. Of those, however, only 21 papers are currently in operation, reflecting severe financial strains in the burgeoning media industry. Of those 21 newspapers, seven are state-owned. About 400 weekly journals and 300 magazines are currently in circulation. The post Journalists Reject UEC Order Limiting Reporters' Scope appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Arakan Army Calls for Calm After Bangladesh Border Clash Posted: 28 Aug 2015 03:38 AM PDT Arakan Army troops on parade in Laiza, Kachin State, in April 2014. (Photo: Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The Arakan Army has sought to reach out to the government of Bangladesh to prevent further skirmishes after fighting erupted between Bangladeshi border guards and the ethnic Arakanese rebels on Wednesday in western Burma. Arakan Army (AA) deputy commander-in-chief Lt-Col Nyo Tun Aung denied his group had encroached on a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp, telling The Irrawaddy on Thursday they respected the latter's right to patrol the border and hoped dialogue would help avert further clashes. According to an official AA statement, the two-hour long clash began at around 10 am on Wednesday, with both sides opening fire near the Boro Modak area of Thanci in Bandaran District, near the shared Burma-Bangladesh border. The Arakanese rebels claimed that at least one BGB soldier was killed. China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday that one injured BGB soldier had been rushed to a military hospital in Chittagong. The report also stated that Bangladesh had boosted its troop presence along the border. "We have already explained to the Bangladeshi government that the AA is not the enemy," said Nyo Tun Aung. "All indigenous ethnic groups in Burma are fighting for self-determination, democracy and equal rights…. The Bangladeshi government should, on humanitarian grounds, [show] empathy…" The AA has instructed its forces to avoid any fighting, except in self-defense, the group said. "We are trying to send a letter to the Bangladesh Prime Minister and we would like to say sorry for the conflict and that we would like to prevent this happening again in the future," Nyo Tun Aung said. The recent fighting is thought to have sparked after BGB soldiers confiscated several horses, used to carry supplies, belonging to the AA's political wing. The Arakan Army is also based in Laiza, Kachin State, where the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is headquartered, and has recently been engaged in fighting with government troops, along with the KIA and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army. In March, fighting broke out between the AA and the Burma Army near Kyauktaw Township in what was believed to be the first time in a decade that ethnic Arakanese armed rebels in the region had clashed with government troops. The post Arakan Army Calls for Calm After Bangladesh Border Clash appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Army Chief Meets Thai Top Brass in Bangkok Posted: 27 Aug 2015 11:22 PM PDT Burma Army Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo: Min Aung Hlaing / Facebook) Burma's army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing paid a visit to the Thai capital Bangkok on Thursday, meeting with top officials including Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and influential nonagenarian Prem Tinsulanonda, head of the country's Privy Council. During the commander-in-chief's meeting with former general turned prime minister Prayuth, the pair discussed relations between the two country's armed forces, recent flooding in Burma and progress on establishing special economic zones along the nations' shared border, according to state-run media. A post on Min Aung Hlaing's Facebook page said the army chief praised Prayuth for the "progress" Thailand had made under his leadership and expressed sympathy for the victims of a recent bomb blast at a Bangkok shrine which killed 20 people. Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand came the day after Privy Council President Prem celebrated his 95th birthday on Wednesday alongside well-wishers from Thailand's top brass at his Bangkok residence. Burma's army chief met Prem on Thursday afternoon. The pair are known to be close, with reports emerging last year that Min Aung Hlaing had asked the ageing Prem to adopt him as his godson.In June last year, Min Aung Hlaing threw his support behind the Thai ruling junta, shortly after it took power in a military coup on May 22, stating on a visit to Bangkok that it was the army's duty to safeguard national sovereignty. The post Burma Army Chief Meets Thai Top Brass in Bangkok appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ruling Party Purge Confirms Doubts Over Democratic Reforms Posted: 27 Aug 2015 10:49 PM PDT Military lawmakers attend the first day of the final parliamentary session before the November general election, August 18.( JPaing / The Irrawaddy) The sudden removal of one of Myanmar's most powerful men sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community in the old capital of Yangon, where foreign embassies are still located. It seemed more like a midnight coup than an ordinary leadership reshuffle—security forces in the new capital, Naypyidaw, entered the headquarters of the de facto ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, or USDP, late August 12. The following day, it was announced that Shwe Mann, the speaker of the Lower House of Myanmar's bicameral parliament, a former general and anticipated by some foreign observers to be the country's next president, had been ousted. Despite the drama, his removal reconfirmed the widely held belief that the country's military is not about to relinquish real power. The power shift in Naypyidaw is also unlikely to change the big powers' attitudes towards the military in Myanmar. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 8. Early next year, an electoral college consisting of elected parliamentarians along with army officers will select the head of state of a country. After decades under solid military rule, Myanmar is supposedly edging towards a more democratic order. For many Western pundits, Shwe Mann was the favorite for the post, regarded as a "bridge" between the junta that had ruled the country until elections were held in November 2010 and the quasi-civilian government that took over in March 2011 as well as the democratic forces headed by the main opposition leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Before becoming parliamentary speaker, Shwe Mann was considered the third most powerful man in the then-ruling junta. As a nominally civilian parliamentarian, he was often seen with Aung San Suu Kyi and began speaking in favor of reforms aimed at limiting the power of the military. Myanmar's constitution was drafted under military supervision and adopted in 2008 after a referendum dismissed by most observers as fraudulent. Under the constitution, the military holds 25 percent of all seats in the parliament and regional assemblies. Since major changes in the constitution's clauses require 75 percent approval, the military enjoys what amounts to veto power over any major changes in the country's power structure. Precisely what had made Shwe Mann popular among foreign diplomats, academics and think tanks became, in effect, the cause for his fall. A number of political reforms and seemingly liberal initiatives were introduced after the new government took over in 2011 such as the release of political prisoners, more press freedom, and the right of political parties to operate openly. Such steps were not taken because the military had little intention of giving up power. The strategy was to remain in power and, at the same time, improve the country's image and its strained relations with the West, which had imposed sanctions on the junta for its abysmal human-rights record. During that time, Myanmar had become heavily dependent on China. Internal military documents dated as far back as 2004 suggested that the country was losing its independence to its powerful northern neighbor. The solution was simple: make some reforms—and the West would reciprocate by welcoming Myanmar back into the international community. The United States in particular viewed the spread of Chinese influence in Myanmar with increasing concern. The reforms provided an opportunity for Washington to normalize relations with Naypyidaw. At the end of November 2011, then–Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to the nation, the first top-level US visit in half a century. A year later, President Barack Obama traveled to Myanmar. In May 2013, Thein Sein, became the first Myanmar president to visit the United States since 1966. Relations were on track as Myanmar distanced itself from China. The US was no doubt pleased. Before long, it became increasingly clear that Myanmar was not undergoing an organic democratic transition from military dictatorship to elected civilian rule. Newspapers and magazines were not closed, but critical journalists and editors were charged with "libel," "defamation" and even "trespassing." Student activists and people protesting against land seizures were thrown into jail. Some parliamentarians sought to change the constitution, but the military intervened to prevent that from happening. Just before his second visit to Myanmar in November 2014, Obama said that Myanmar’s transition from military rule had not been as fast as hoped, and the government was "backsliding" on some reforms. Observers began to question whether Myanmar was really "backsliding"—or if the initiatives towards more openness were limited from the start. Shwe Mann, evidently, stepped out of line by trying to go further. Long-time Myanmar observers see striking similarities between his ouster and a 2004 purge that saw the fall from grace of then prime minister and once powerful former intelligence chief Khin Nyunt. He was also a maverick. Like Shwe Mann, he amassed enormous political and economic power for himself and his family. Shwe Mann's two sons, Aung Thet Mann and Toe Naing Mann, are prominent businessmen involved in numerous deals that certainly will come under scrutiny. And one cannot help but wonder if Shwe Mann is really a "closet liberal" or an opportunist who, in the end, bet on the wrong horse by fraternizing with Aung San Suu Kyi. In the late 1980s, he saw combat against Karen rebels along Myanmar's eastern border, earning the honorific title thura, or brave hero. A cable from the US embassy in Yangon dated March 15, 2007, made public by WikiLeaks, stated that he had "utilized civilian porters, including women and children, on a massive scale during operations against Karen insurgents." The cable's headline read "Shwe Mann: Burma's Dictator-in-Waiting," and outlined his military career. He was also allegedly involved in the crushing of the 2007 so-called Saffron Revolution, a democracy movement led by Buddhist monks. In November 2008, Shwe Mann led a secret military delegation to North Korea, where he signed a memorandum of understanding on military cooperation. He visited an air base, a missile factory and other defense industries near Pyongyang. During his time in the army, Shwe Mann was a loyal officer, showing no sign of dissent. Ironically, he led the purge against Khin Nyunt and his henchmen in 2004. Now Shwe Mann's own followers in the USDP and elsewhere may face the same fate as the former intelligence chief. Apart from being parliamentary speaker, Shwe Mann also led the USDP, a post now held by Htay Oo, a former major general close to Thein Sein who, in turn, has the backing of the military. The party's General Secretary Maung Maung Thein and other Shwe Mann loyalists have also been removed. A "rejuvenated" USDP is poised to contest the November election. These internal purges are unlikely to have much impact on Myanmar's foreign relations. Washington may grumble, but no one there wants to push Myanmar back into China's embrace, and China is pragmatic enough to adjust to the new realities so as not to jeopardize its fragile relations with Naypyidaw. Of special importance are gas and oil pipelines that China has built from the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar to the southern Chinese province of Yunnan. In July, Naypyidaw ratified the agreement to set up the China-led Asia Infrastructure and Investment Bank, a relationship that China won’t upset by interfering with an internal power struggle in Myanmar. If anyone had doubts, it's clear that the military still calls the shots in Myanmar. This article originally appeared here on YaleGlobal Online on August 18, 2015. The post Ruling Party Purge Confirms Doubts Over Democratic Reforms appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

In Talks, Muslim Rebels Seek Independence in South Thailand Posted: 27 Aug 2015 09:19 PM PDT Thai soldiers carry children out of an area where suspected Muslim separatists shot dead three Muslim men in the troubled southern province of Pattani, March 2011. (Photo: Surapan Boonthanom / Reuters) KUALA LUMPUR — Muslim militant leaders in talks with Thai authorities to end a deadly insurgency said Thursday they are seeking an independent state and are ready to negotiate a solution. Six insurgent groups, united in a coalition called the Pattani Consultative Council, participated in three days of informal peace talks ending Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “We want to stress that we did not drop our demand for independence. That will be the final aim for the Pattani struggle, but we are ready to sit at the negotiation table to find a solution that will give Muslims the right to determine their own future” in the predominantly Buddhist country, council representative Abu Hafez Al-Hakim told a news conference. He said the Pattani people will ultimately decide whether the solution will be an independent state or autonomy under the Thai government for the three southernmost provinces. More than 5,000 people have been killed in the insurgency since 2004. Malaysia, whose northern states border Thailand’s south, facilitated bringing the insurgents to the talks. Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government agreed in 2013 to launch formal peace talks with one militant group, but they never happened following a military coup. Pattani council chief Awang Jabat said the coalition wants the peace talks to be put on the national agenda to ensure continuity if a new government comes into power. During the talks in Kuala Lumpur, the coalition sought immunity for the negotiating team to ensure their freedom of travel in the provinces, he said. Meanwhile, the Thai government raised the issues of creating a safety zone and economic development among others. The government negotiators did not attend the news conference. It is unclear how much support the coalition has on the ground. It comprises of the National Revolutionary Front, the Pattani Islamic Mujahiddeen Movement, the Islamic Liberation Front of Pattani and three factions from the Pattani United Liberation Organization. Awang Jabat said the coalition invited all stakeholders into the process to unify their efforts for self-determination. They want to ensure Islamic laws and regulations are enforced and that the Muslim identity is preserved, in terms of language and Jawi writing. Jawi is the Arabic alphabet for writing the Malay language. He warned that there will be more violence until the right of self-determination for Muslims is guaranteed. The date for the next round of talks has not been decided. The post In Talks, Muslim Rebels Seek Independence in South Thailand appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Thailand Issues Arrest Warrant for Suspect in Second Blast Posted: 27 Aug 2015 09:06 PM PDT People hold a giant Thai national flag for victims of the deadly blast near the Erawan shrine in Bangkok. (Photo: Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters) BANGKOK — An arrest warrant has been issued for an unnamed suspect in a bomb blast at a Bangkok pier that took place a day after Thailand’s worst ever-bombing killed 20 people at a popular shrine, Thai police said on Friday. Police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said a court issued the warrant based on grainy video footage of a man in a blue shirt kicking a bag into the water near the pier on the night of Aug. 17, soon after the blast at Bangkok’s Hindu Erawan Shrine. “We issued an arrest warrant for the suspect in the Sathorn pier incident,” police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri told Reuters, referring to a pier near Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river. The suspect faces charges of unauthorized possession of explosives, exploding a bomb that could cause harm and attempted murder, according to the warrant. The pier explosion caused no casualties. Police have not definitively linked the two blasts and have offered few answers as to who could be behind the attacks. In the shrine bombing investigation, police are focusing on a man seen in blurry security camera footage. The footage shows a man in a yellow shirt and dark hair removing a backpack after entering the packed shrine and calmly walking away from the scene before the explosion. Last week police issued an arrest warrant for an “unidentified foreign man” seen in the video footage along with an image of the suspected bomber. Prawut said police were unlikely to issue a picture of the suspected pier bomber. “We’re unlikely to make a sketch of the suspect as his face is not clear,” he said. The Erawan shrine bombing has taken a toll on tourism and caused a 17 percent fall in tourist arrivals, Thailand’s tourism ministry said on Wednesday. Fourteen foreigners were among the 20 people killed in the attack at the famous Hindu shrine in Bangkok’s bustling commercial heart. The post Thailand Issues Arrest Warrant for Suspect in Second Blast appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Hong Kong Teen Protest Leader Joshua Wong Faces New Charges Posted: 27 Aug 2015 08:51 PM PDT Student leaders Joshua Wong, right, and Lester Shum arrive at the High Court in Hong Kong last December. (Photo: Tyrone Siu / Reuters) CATEGORIES: Asia HONG KONG — Hong Kong police charged teenage student leader Joshua Wong on Thursday for his role last year in storming government headquarters, which helped trigger 79 days of pro-democracy street occupations that gripped the Asian financial center. Wong, whose Scholarism group played a key role in the protests, reported to a police station where he was charged with inciting and participating in an illegal assembly. The charges came nearly a year after Wong and dozens of student activists stormed a fenced-off courtyard outside government headquarters during an evening rally to protest Beijing’s plan to restrict elections in the semiautonomous Chinese region. Police arrested Wong and other key leaders, which drove more people into the streets. Two days later, on Sept. 28, police fired volleys of tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds, which only enraged the protesters further and kick-started what came to be known both as the Umbrella Movement and Occupy Central. Wong posted photos of his police charge sheets on his Facebook account. He is scheduled to appear in a magistrate’s court on Sept. 2. Two other student leaders, Alex Chow and Nathan Law, also face charges relating to illegal assembly over the same incident, according to local media reports. Chow is the former secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, which also played a major role in the protests. Law is the current leader. Wong, 18, is also expected to appear in court on Friday to face two other charges of obstructing police at a separate, earlier protest in which he and others burned a cardboard copy of a Beijing policy document that asserted full authority over Hong Kong, a former British colony promised a high degree of control over its own affairs until 2047.   The post Hong Kong Teen Protest Leader Joshua Wong Faces New Charges appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• The mean streets of Hlaing Tharyar
• Parties raise concern as details emerge on election security plan
• Hluttaw representatives push for a genuine peace deal
• Daw Aung San Suu Kyi weighs in on the ceasefire
• Video submitted in model murder trial
• Fighting erupts between Bangladesh, Arakan Army
• Parliament approves more than $300m in soft loans
• Hluttaw closes but further session possible
• Push on for CCTV in taxis
• Concern as hunger strikers placed in solitary

The mean streets of Hlaing Tharyar Posted: 27 Aug 2015 08:21 PM PDT Police in the Yangon suburb say they lack the manpower to deal with overwhelming occurrences of lawless activity in neighbourhoods populated by squatters and transients.

Parties raise concern as details emerge on election security plan Posted: 27 Aug 2015 08:14 PM PDT Political parties have raised concerns over police plans to hire tens of thousands of untrained civilians to serve in a special unarmed election force that will monitor the polls.

Hluttaw representatives push for a genuine peace deal Posted: 27 Aug 2015 08:12 PM PDT Parliamentarians grilled the government ceasefire negotiator yesterday, and urged him to build mutual trust with armed ethnic groups so that a genuine peace, and not just an ink-and-paper agreement, can be achieved.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi weighs in on the ceasefire Posted: 27 Aug 2015 08:08 PM PDT Opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday urged armed ethnic organisations to quickly wrap up the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, but to also ensure that a sustainable deal is reached.

Video submitted in model murder trial Posted: 27 Aug 2015 08:07 PM PDT A man accused of murdering an up-and-coming model has submitted photos and a video to court to show they had been in a relationship.

Fighting erupts between Bangladesh, Arakan Army Posted: 27 Aug 2015 08:04 PM PDT A skirmish erupted along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on August 26 between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Arakan Army (AA) ethnic armed group, resulting in the injury of one Bangladeshi border guard.

Parliament approves more than $300m in soft loans Posted: 27 Aug 2015 07:59 PM PDT Loans from the Asian Development Bank, the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund and the French Development Agency will be used to improve power and water supplies, and to upgrade a stretch of the Asian Highway.

Hluttaw closes but further session possible Posted: 27 Aug 2015 07:58 PM PDT Hluttaw representatives will today wrap up what may be their final session of parliament before new MPs are sworn in following the November 8 general election.

Push on for CCTV in taxis Posted: 27 Aug 2015 07:45 PM PDT Yangon traffic authorities have proposed installing CCTV cameras in taxis in a bid to fight crime – but drivers will have to foot the bill.

Concern as hunger strikers placed in solitary Posted: 27 Aug 2015 07:44 PM PDT Two political prisoner groups have expressed "great concern" over the treatment of four students in Mandalay's Obo Prison arrested last month for spraying graffiti on the front of a university.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• NLD Departures Expose Rift Over Candidate List
• FDI Unfazed by Election Year Uncertainty: Investment Body
• In Chiang Mai? Party With a Purpose at Flood Relief Event
• Shwedagon High-Rise Developments to be Relocated Soon: MIC
• Six Elephants in Kyaukpadaung to be Helped Home
• Chin Govt Requests $15.5m Flood Rehabilitation Grant
• Lower House Adjourns Last Pre-Vote Session
• Suu Kyi Calls for Prompt but ‘Meaningful’ Peace Pact
• US Backs Sri Lanka’s War Crimes Probe
• Bangkok Bomb Takes Toll on Thai Tourism
• 5 Dead Amid New Communal Protest Clashes in India

NLD Departures Expose Rift Over Candidate List Posted: 27 Aug 2015 06:09 AM PDT A Rangoon trishaw driver displays his support for the NLD.(Steve Tickner) RANGOON — At least 41 members of Burma's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), have been expelled over the last month, officials confirmed, revealing discord among the party's leadership closing in on a landmark election. Several of those dismissed cited reasons including "causing dissent" within the party. NLD spokesperson Nyan Win confirmed that a number of members had been removed but declined to elaborate, remarking only that, "I don't know how many." Members of NLD chapters in Pakokku, Hlegu and Meiktila have been expelled, he confirmed, but declined to offer an official reason. Ten members of the Pakokku chapter of the NLD were dismissed earlier this month, including five central committee members, after participating in a protest against the party's candidate selection. The final list of nominees controversially excluded prominent members of the 88 Generation pro-democracy activist movement, as well as other public figures who were expected to make the cut. Twenty-one members were similarly purged from the party in Hlegu, while another 10 were cut in Meiktila, NLD sources have confirmed. The reasons for their expulsion are still unclear. Kyaw Thein, a former central committee member for the Mektila chapter until his sudden dismissal a few weeks ago, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that he and five other central committee seatholders along with four rank-and-file members were kicked out of the party with no advance warning. "They accused us of wanting to cause dissent," he said, adding that he and several others are now planning to contest as independents in the upcoming election. Other recent departures from the NLD, which is widely expected to fare well in the Nov. 8 vote, have also opted to compete against them. Two former senior members of the NLD in Karen State joined the Karen National Party (KNP), just in time to meet the deadline for candidacy rosters, KNP general secretary Mann Kyaw Nyein confirmed on Thursday. In response to the defectors, NLD central committee member Nan Khin Htwe Myint told The Irrawaddy that the party stands by its decision and that the two ex-members' acted unprofessionally by joining another ticket. "Our decision was not wrong, and their attitude was the worst I have ever encountered in politics," she said. Disagreements seem to have spilled beyond the party's leadership, as reports have begun to surface that members are leaving the party in droves. Chief of the NLD in Sagaing Division's Khandi District, Sae Sae Naung, confirmed that 375 people abandoned the chapter because they felt the leadership was overlooking their concerns about who should contest. In Irrawaddy Division, Pathein District NLD chairman Than Ngwe said his office had received nearly 2,000 complaint letters from disappointed members, some of them warning that they plan to switch allegiances. The vast majority of complaints were related to the party's choice of candidates, he said. About 180 of the division's disillusioned opposition members have officially resigned from the party, the chairman said, urging others to stay put. "I am also trying to do my best," he said, "and explain to many people that they need to be patient." The post NLD Departures Expose Rift Over Candidate List appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

FDI Unfazed by Election Year Uncertainty: Investment Body Posted: 27 Aug 2015 05:18 AM PDT Pedestrians in Rangoon walk past signs for Visa and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in June. RANGOON — Citing strong figures through the first four months of the fiscal year, Burma's investment commission says it is confident that foreign investment will not be negatively impacted by the political uncertainty that surrounds a general election due Nov. 8. Aung Naing Oo, secretary of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), said the cloudy political outlook had not made foreign investors gun-shy from April to July, with government data showing a threefold rise in foreign investment when compared with figures over the same period in 2014. "[Comparing] the number of projects that we've approved last year and this year, the project total has almost doubled, and in terms of financing, the number has increased more than three times this year," he told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. According to MIC data, last year's April-July period saw the commission approve 39 projects totaling US$810 million. The same period this year saw 71 projects approved at a valuation of $2.65 billion. "There are still almost 40 projects left requiring approval for this year," Aung Naing Oo said, adding that investment projects tied to the Thilawa special economic zone (SEZ) worth $400 million were not included in the figures for the first four months of 2015-16. "Our schedule of FDI expectation for this year is $6 billion, but it will be higher than what we expect, like last year," Aung Naing Oo said. Some investors thought if they set up their business before the election, they would be ready next year. Last year, though the government forecast $5 billion in FDI, the figure reached $8 billion. Myat Thin Aung, chairman of the Hlaing Thayar Industrial Zone, said rather than wait on the results of the November vote, some investors were seeking an early-mover advantage. "Some investors thought if they set up their business before the election, they would be ready next year. Most of them are from the manufacturing sector, such as garment makers," he said. "Garment factories are still coming, even though there is the election, but for heavy industry, it will lag as the government still can't provide electricity and land for investors," Myat Thin Aung said. Last year's record $8 billion in FDI was a doubling of the country's 2013-14 total. Despite MIC's approval of $8 billion in foreign investment in 2014-15, Aung Naing Oo said only $3 billion had entered the country last year. "It's typical; for example, though they've pledged to invest $10 million, it will come as $6 million in equipment, then the rest comes in cash year by year," he said. Currently, the top foreign investment sectors in Burma are power (33 percent), manufacturing (22 percent), oil and gas (20 percent), telecommunications (11 percent), and hotels and tourism (5 percent), according to MIC data. Singapore was the top foreign investor through the first four months of the current fiscal year, with commitments totaling $1.6 billion. The Netherlands ($430 million) and India ($219 million) were second and third. The post FDI Unfazed by Election Year Uncertainty: Investment Body appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

In Chiang Mai? Party With a Purpose at Flood Relief Event Posted: 27 Aug 2015 04:19 AM PDT A bridge swept away by flash floods between Tedim and Tonzang in Chin State. (Photo: Mungte / CHRO) RANGOON — For those of you in Chiang Mai, you're well advised to spend your Friday night partying for a good cause at a fundraiser for flood relief efforts in Burma's remote Chin State. Featuring live music, theatrical performances, Burmese delicacies and loads of handmade goods for purchase, the event has no cover charge but organizers hope you'll come prepared to chip in. All proceeds go directly to the Chin Committee on Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CCERR). The party starts at 6pm on Friday at Sangdee Gallery, kicking off with Southeast Asia sound aficionado DJ Isherferbrains spinning soul, funk and Thai traditional Luk Thung music on 45rpm vinyl. Performances throughout the evening will include an acoustic set of traditional music from northern Burma's Kachin State. If you missed Erin Kamler's musical "Land of Smiles" during its Chiang Mai debut in 2013, here's your chance. On Friday, Kamler will perform several tracks from her acclaimed critique of anti-human trafficking efforts. Raffle tickets will be on sale for, among other things, limited edition photographic prints by Brennan O'Connor, must-read books on Burma and unique handmade textiles donated by the Kachin Women's Association of Thailand. Additional items will also be available for purchase. Event organizer Sam Cartmell promises "a fun night with delicious food and entertaining musical performances," all for a great cause. Chin State, in northwestern Burma, was among the hardest hit by flooding related to Cyclone Komen in late July and early August. Regarded as Burma's poorest state, many of its nearly half a million people were affected, having lost homes, crops and what few roads connected them to trade. The mountainous region has been particularly hard to access for relief workers; the threat of landslides remains even as ravaged roads and bridges are slowly being repaired by the state government. Lack of access has led to acute food shortages in some of the more remote areas. Proceeds from Friday's event will be channeled through the Chin Human Rights Organization directly to the CCERR, which provides immediate humanitarian relief such as food and shelter for thousands of people affected by the crisis. The CCERR is also involved in a statewide planning effort for long-term reconstruction, and has helped to draft a new multi-level disaster response framework to avoid future dangers for marginalized, at-risk communities. Sangdee Gallery and Café is located at 5 Sirimankhalajarn Soi 5, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Friday's event will run from 6 to 10pm. For those who can't make it but would like to donate directly, please visit http://chro.ca/.   The post In Chiang Mai? Party With a Purpose at Flood Relief Event appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Shwedagon High-Rise Developments to be Relocated Soon: MIC Posted: 27 Aug 2015 04:10 AM PDT Balloons float above the former Dagon City 1 sales office near Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon earlier this year. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The relocation of five cancelled developments planned near Rangoon's Shwedagon Pagoda is likely to be finalized by the end of the year, according to the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC). At a press conference on Wednesday, MIC secretary Aung Naing Oo reiterated earlier comments that developments would be relocated elsewhere in Rangoon to compensate for the government's July cancellation, but added the onus has fallen on project backers to seek suitable sites. Land owned by government departments would be offered as potential development sites, and the MIC would ask the relevant ministry whether the land could be made available, the secretary added. "If they agree, the ministry and companies will have to negotiate the rest. It will take time but should be completed this year," he said. "The companies have also proposed their preferences but the government has yet to approve any so far. When pressed, Aung Naing Oo would not disclose the location of the sites under consideration. He added that the government had not set a deadline to finalize the relocation, but said the government and affected companies had agreed to conclude an agreement on project sites "as soon as possible". The five projects, including the high-profile Dagon City 1 luxury condominium development, were suspended by the MIC in January pending a review. Critics claimed the developments risked structural damage to Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma's most sacred religious site. Amid opposition from architects, lawmakers and the Buddhist clergy, and on the recommendation of both the MIC and the Ministry of Defense—the original owner of the 71-acre allotment—President Thein Sein announced the cancellation of the developments in July. "The government…does not want to damage religious edifices and objects of cultural heritage such as Shwedagon Pagoda for development, and held negotiations with the companies to cancel the projects," read a statement from Thein Sein's office at the time.  Additional reporting by Kyaw Hsu Mon. The post Shwedagon High-Rise Developments to be Relocated Soon: MIC appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Six Elephants in Kyaukpadaung to be Helped Home Posted: 27 Aug 2015 04:01 AM PDT Six wild elephants that originally dwelled in the jungle near Natmauk make their way along a ridge in Mandalay Division. (Photo: Popa Lovers Association / Facebook) Forestry department officials said on Thursday that six elephants currently in the area of Mandalay Division's Kyaukpadaung Township will be herded back to their native abode in the Pegu Yoma jungle near Natmauk, Magwe Division, after a man was killed and three others injured in an incident on Tuesday. "We are preparing to take them back slowly. We will not harm them and will let them walk back naturally. We have talked to our officers already and we will start our plan to send them back soon," said Sithu Won Tun, a forestry department officer from Natmauk. According to Sithu Won Tun, officials had first planned to tranquilize the elephants using chloroform but ultimately opted for a less intrusive course of action. The elephants will be herded the over 60 miles distance to the jungle near Natmauk with the help of several tame elephants. The rescue team searched all day for the wild pachyderms in the Kyaukpadaung jungle on Wednesday before finally locating them at around 6 pm. Sithu Won Tun said his team had been forced to climb trees to seek cover on several occasions as the elephants approached them. Authorities are informing and educating locals along the route the elephants will be driven, Sithu Won Tun said. "We have told the local people not to follow the elephants when we are sending them back and not to make any noise" that would disturb them, he said. One person was killed and three others injured on Tuesday after they approached the elephants and tried to take photos in Kyaukpadaung. Ah Kar Min, a local journalist with the Democratic Voice of Burma, said he had seen the elephants in the course of his reporting over the last four days. "They do not seem to want to harm people and don't even destroy locals' gardens," he said. The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Tuesday that President Thein Sein had agreed that the elephants should be herded away from populated areas. The community-based group, the Popa Lovers Association, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that the six elephants were like refugees who had been forced from their usual habitat in the jungle to find a new sanctuary. The group said it was sad to see locals chase and frighten them.   The post Six Elephants in Kyaukpadaung to be Helped Home appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chin Govt Requests $15.5m Flood Rehabilitation Grant Posted: 27 Aug 2015 03:48 AM PDT Collapsed and damaged houses in Hakha, the Chin State capital where torrential rains triggered landslides and forced scores of people from their homes. (Photo: Bk Lian / Facebook) RANGOON — The Chin State government has requested a grant of more than 20 billion kyats (US$15.5 million) from the Union government for rehabilitation projects in the flood-battered northwestern state. The remote and mountainous region, home to about 478,000 people, suffered severe economic losses due to recent floods and landslides that destroyed some 2,000 of the state's buildings and damaged many of its roads, further complicating recovery. "We've submitted a proposal to the Union government for more than 20 billion kyats required for rehabilitation," Chin State Forestry Minister Kyaw Nyein told The Irrawaddy. "We hope the government will grant it as the President [Thein Sein] has said that rehabilitation is imperative in these [severely damaged] places." Structures including houses, schools, religious buildings, bridges and government offices were affected by the extreme weather leading up to and throughout the landing of Cyclone Komen in Bangladesh on July 30. The hardest hit areas were the state capital Hakha, Matupi, Mindat, Paletwa, Tedim and Tonzang, according to the state government. More than 950 buildings were destroyed in Paletwa alone, and more than 800 in Hakha. The minister said the proposed funding would cover rebuilding of education and health facilities, departmental offices, transport routes and homes. The state has already prepared about 4,000 tons of wood for reconstruction projects, he added. Transportation of relief materials has been difficult in the wake of the disaster, he said, as the states entire road network suffered serious damage. The state government has already carried out minor repairs on the Kale-Falam-Hakha highway, which links the state capital to central Burma, and the  Hakha-Thantlang road. Both are now open for small vehicles. The Hakha-Matupi and Hakha-Gangaw roads are still out of service, the minister said. Due to the difficulty of reaching certain areas, the state government is now delivering food aid, makeshift tents and other relief items to Matupi via Mindat and to Paletwa by way of Kyauktaw in neighboring Arakan State. Recovery efforts are currently focused on delivering food and other essential items, according to the minister, while rebuilding efforts are expected to begin in mid-October at the end of the monsoon season. At present, the state has registered 375 collapsed or damaged houses in Hakha and another 318 found unfit for habitation. Those households, located in three wards deemed to be in danger of future catastrophe, are to be relocated to another part of the town, according to Hakha Township administrator Thein Zaw. The relocation site, near the entrance to the capital, was originally slated for a police training academy, will be evaluated and built up for residential purposes as soon as possible, he said. "It's not that the entire town needs to be moved," said Thein Zaw, referring to earlier rumors that the capital could be relocated to another township. "As the Hakha-Gangaw road is still out of commission it is difficult to bring in building materials. We'll work to build those homes as soon as possible." More than 5,000 residents of the capital remain homeless and sheltering at Khaing Hall, No. 1 Basic Education High School, local churches and seven emergency camps throughout the town, locals said, where they are provided with food and tents by the state government. A grassroots relief movement has also grown out of the ethnic Chin diaspora throughout the region. For in northern Thailand, a fundraiser will be held on Friday, Aug. 28 in Chiang Mai, with proceeds channeled directly to the Chin Committee on Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation.   The post Chin Govt Requests $15.5m Flood Rehabilitation Grant appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Lower House Adjourns Last Pre-Vote Session Posted: 27 Aug 2015 03:23 AM PDT Union Parliament and Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann is pictured at the opening of the legislature's latest session on Aug. 18, 2015.(JPaing / The Irrawaddy) Union Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann announced on Thursday that the legislature's Lower House would adjourn until after Burma's Nov. 8 general election. The speaker said the full Lower House would not convene again until after the much-anticipated poll, while some parliamentary committees would continue to meet. "The term of the current Parliament runs until Jan. 31, 2016, and the lawmakers of this Lower House still have a responsibility to participate in meetings, and to listen and work for the people until then," said Shwe Mann, as he bid farewell to lawmakers in Naypyidaw. The lower chamber has had a productive session, bringing 96 draft laws to the floor and passing 80 bills for consideration by the Upper House, leaving only 16 pieces of legislation—including a national budget bill—on the table pending further discussion. In calling the session to a close, Shwe Mann urged parliamentarians to do their part ensure that a free and fair election takes place in November. "Lawmakers should also work for a free, fair and transparent election, as well as the stability of the country—before, after and during the election. If not, the country's democratization will be affected and the people will be the one who suffer the most," he said. A lawmaker from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), who asked not to be named, said one more session of the sitting Parliament would likely be called following the November election. "After the election and before convening the new Parliament with newly elected lawmakers, there will be another session of Parliament to enact important laws," he told The Irrawaddy. The Union Election Commission (UEC) has said that the official election campaign season will run from Sept. 8 to Nov. 6. The Union Parliament, the joint session of the legislature's upper and lower chambers, is also expected to adjourn this week. Parliament's last pre-election session opened on Aug. 18, less than a week after Shwe Mann was unceremoniously dumped from the chairmanship of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Parliament went on to discuss but defer a proposed bill on impeachment of sitting lawmakers—legislation that had direct implications for the speaker—and passed two controversial laws on marriage and religious conversion. On Aug. 19, the Upper House called quits on its session until after the election, citing lawmakers' desire to return to their constituencies to assist in flood relief efforts and prepare for the upcoming election.     The post Lower House Adjourns Last Pre-Vote Session appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi Calls for Prompt but ‘Meaningful’ Peace Pact Posted: 27 Aug 2015 01:21 AM PDT Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi addresses her supporters in Rangoon's Thanlyin Township on August 21, 2015. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) The leader of Burma's main opposition party, Aung San Suu Kyi, said on Thursday she wished to see a "meaningful" nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) concluded as soon as possible, appearing to clarify comments attributed to her the previous day. On Wednesday, National League for Democracy (NLD) executive committee member Win Htein was quoted by The Associated Press saying the opposition leader had cautioned ethnic groups against a rushed agreement. "Suu Kyi said ethnic groups will have to consider not signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement before the Nov. 8 general election," Win Htein said. Suu Kyi's remarks were reportedly made during a meeting on Saturday with Harn Yawnghwe of the Euro-Burma Office and Maj. Htoo Htoo Lay of the Karen National Union, a major ethnic armed group that has already expressed its willingness to sign the long-awaited nationwide pact. Speaking on Radio Free Asia's bi-weekly program "Hard Road to Democracy" on Thursday morning, Suu Kyi said "we want the NCA signed quickly," adding that it must be a "meaningful and sustainable accord, as there are examples in world history where ceasefire agreements can be easily violated." Peace will only occur if all stakeholders sign a ceasefire agreement which is honored by all sides, she told Radio Free Asia. Win Htein could not be reached for comment on Thursday but spokesperson Nyan Win told The Irrawaddy that the NLD leader's comments to RFA accurately reflected the party's stance. "I was not in the meeting but I was told by the ethnic leaders that the [Associated Press] news story was wrong and it was not in their discussion," Nyan Win said. "We have party spokespersons. If such news is released by non-spokespersons, we cannot take responsibility." Suu Kyi will be a signatory to the NCA when it is concluded, according to Nyan Win. Following a five-day meeting of ethnic leaders which ended on Monday, chief government negotiator Aung Min proposed a meeting on Sept. 9 that would include President Thein Sein and representatives of eight ethnic armed groups, according to Hla Maung Shwe of the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC). That meeting date was confirmed on Thursday, according to the MPC. The ethnic leaders included in the talks are the KNU's chairman Mutu Sae Poe, the Kachin Independence Organization's vice chairman General N'Ban La, New Mon State Party chairman Nai Htaw Mon, Karenni National Progressive Party chairman Khun Abel Tweet, and Shan State Progressive Party patron Lt-General Say Htin. Also invited are three members of the ethnics' negotiating bloc, the Senior Delegation, Naw Zipporah Sein of the KNU, Dr La Ja of the KIO, and Pu Zing Cung of the Chin National Front.   The post Suu Kyi Calls for Prompt but 'Meaningful' Peace Pact appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

US Backs Sri Lanka’s War Crimes Probe Posted: 26 Aug 2015 09:30 PM PDT The body Tamil leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran is carried on a stretcher through a group of Sri Lankan soldiers on May 19, 2009. (Photo: Reuters) COLOMBO — The United States said Wednesday that it wants to sponsor a resolution at next month’s UN human rights session that is supportive of Sri Lanka’s government, which wants to conduct its own investigation into alleged war crimes. The announcement by the visiting Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal of a joint resolution with the Sri Lankan government presents a major shift by Washington on the South Asian island nation. “The United States has announced on Monday in Geneva that it will be offering a resolution in the September session of the Human Rights Council. We have also expressed our hope that it will be a resolution which we hope to offer collaboratively, working with the government of Sri Lanka and with other key stakeholders,” she said. The US was in the forefront in adopting three resolutions at the UN human rights sessions on Sri Lanka, the last of which last year called for an international independent investigation into the alleged abuses. Biswal said, however, the US now supports a local investigation that the new Sri Lanka government of President Maithripala Sirisena has promised. Tom Malinowski, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, who accompanied Biswal, said that the new government’s approach in dealing with the issues had resulted in the US softening. “A hallmark of this government’s approach to these difficult issues has been that it has defended the interests of Sri Lanka without being defensive, without denying painful facts and trying to discredit critics,” he said. The American officials did not say what the new resolution would contain, but said it will follow a report by the UN Human Rights Council scheduled to be released next month. Relations between the US and Sri Lanka were strained under previous President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who oversaw a military campaign that defeated separatist Tamil Tiger rebels six years ago and ended a decades-long civil war. Both sides were accused of serious human rights violations amounting to war crimes, and an earlier UN report said some 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed in just the last few months of the fighting, largely as a result of the government’s shelling.     The post US Backs Sri Lanka’s War Crimes Probe appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Bangkok Bomb Takes Toll on Thai Tourism Posted: 26 Aug 2015 09:19 PM PDT Thai classical dancers prepare their costumes before performing at Bangkok's Erawan shrine, the site of the deadly blast on Aug. 17. (Photo: Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters) BANGKOK — Thailand’s worst-ever bombing has caused a 17 percent fall in tourist arrivals, putting pressure on revenues vital to the military government’s moves to resuscitate a struggling economy. Average daily arrivals to Thailand fell from 85,000 before the deadly Aug. 17 attack to 70,000 at present, the tourism ministry said on Wednesday, but officials were confident the slump was temporary and said annual targets remained unchanged. Fourteen foreigners—seven from mainland China and Hong Kong—were among the 20 people killed in the attack at a famous Hindu shrine in Bangkok’s commercial heart, for which the key suspect remains at large. “The tourism impact…will probably be a short-term impact,” Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul told a news conference. “Tourism will definitely pick up in the fourth quarter.” The government is aiming for 28.8 million arrivals and 2.2 trillion baht ($61.82 billion) in revenue this year from tourism, which has become even more crucial as Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy stutters amid weak exports, manufacturing and retail spending. The national planning agency has revised down its annual economic growth forecast to 2.7-3.2 percent this year, although experts say that is unrealistic. Growth was just 0.4 percent in April-June from the previous quarter. With a draw of top-class beaches, food and entertainment, Thailand’s tourism makes up about 10 percent of GDP. The kingdom had 2.1 million visitors between Aug. 1 and Aug 23, a 31.7 percent rise from the same period in 2014, generating 102.8 billion baht, the ministry said. Arrivals from Jan. 1 to Aug. 23, were 19.6 million, also a 31 percent year-on-year increase. David Scowsill, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said tourist jitters would not last. “Thailand is not going to go through massive levels of trauma,” he said. “When we look out at the next six months, there’s no indication of wholesale cancellations.” Conferences and meetings, which are key revenue earners, had not been seriously impacted, the ministry said. Sumate Sudasna, president of the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, said most large events had gone ahead, including an international surgery congress in Bangkok, at which only 100 of the 2,600 participants had cancelled. “It’s business as usual for Thailand,” he added. But data from ForwardKeys, which tracks over 14 million travel bookings a day, suggests otherwise. Its data for the five days after the bombing compared to the same period in 2014 showed net bookings to Thailand down 65 percent and business travel from China tanking 350 percent. That would indicate that 2.5 times more Chinese business trips were cancelled during that period this year than were booked a year ago. ForwardKeys states any fall above 100 percent reflects net cancellations. The post Bangkok Bomb Takes Toll on Thai Tourism appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

5 Dead Amid New Communal Protest Clashes in India Posted: 26 Aug 2015 09:08 PM PDT Army soldiers patrol after clashes between police and protesters in Ahmedabad, India on Wednesday. At least five people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters in the state of Gujarat. (Photo: Amit Dave / Reuters) AHMADABAD — Fresh communal clashes erupted Wednesday in western India as police and paramilitary forces tried to quell riots led by members of a farming caste demanding government benefits. Five people have been killed in the violence, police said. Authorities imposed a curfew in at least five cities in Gujarat state Tuesday night after mobs attacked police with stones and sticks and burned vehicles. Cellphone communications were blocked in the state’s main city of Ahmadabad to stop both rumors from spreading and gangs from coordinating their movements. Police said five people had been killed, including a father and son caught in a protesting crowd on their way home from work and then killed when police fired on the crowd Tuesday night in Ahmadabad. On Wednesday, two people died from police gunfire in Palanpur, and a third was killed by paramilitary fire in Mehsana, according to police officials who refused to be identified by name because they were not authorized to speak with media. Isolated clashes between protesters and police occurred in several other cities in Gujarat, including the diamond cutting and polishing hub of Surat. TV stations reported that police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds in some parts of the state, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister for 12 years. Ahmadabad’s streets were otherwise deserted as schools and businesses closed after the leader of the Patidars, also known as the Patel community for the members’ surname, called for a general strike to press the group’s demands for the special status given to many minorities in India, guaranteeing them a share of government jobs and school places. Patidars make up about 20 percent of Gujarat’s 63 million people and say their livelihoods based on seasonal farming and small industry have become increasingly difficult amid India’s agricultural malaise and rapid economic growth marked by high inflation. India’s constitution sets out affirmative action, called reservations, for India’s lowest Dalit and untouchable castes to help them overcome centuries of discrimination. Expansions over the years included several other relatively disadvantaged low caste groups. Because reservations allow easier access to government jobs, schools and universities, they’ve become a huge political bargaining chip in this country of 1.2 billion people, and over the last decade several groups have led violent protests to demand that they be counted at the bottom of the country’s complex, ancient system of caste hierarchies. On Tuesday, Patel leaders led a rally attended by 500,000 community members from across Gujarat. Later, police detained the group’s 22-year-old firebrand leader Hardik Patel, triggering riots. Modi’s successor as chief minister, Anandiben Patel, urged members of her own community to maintain peace. She has said giving in to the demands was impossible, because the state legally can set aside only 50 percent of jobs and school seats for economically backward groups, and those spots are already filled by other low-caste groups. The post 5 Dead Amid New Communal Protest Clashes in India appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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