The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin Population On the Rise
- 10 Things to Do in Rangoon This Week
- Burma Army Chief’s Fixation on Ethnic Disarmament Hinders Peace Process
- NLD Announces Second ‘Official’ Party Voice
- Can Burma’s Human Rights Commission Fight Sexual Violence in Conflict Areas?
- Inspiring Women of Burma
- Kachin Groups Urge Halt to Resource Extraction in Northern Burma
- From Myanmar Sweatshops to Billionaires in Switzerland
- Philippine Rebel Warns Islamic State May Gain From Autonomy Delay
- MH370 Families’ Painful Choice: Demand Answers or Move On?
| Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin Population On the Rise Posted: 08 Mar 2016 05:27 AM PST  A fisherman waits for a tail-swishing signal from a dolphin to begin a cooperative fishing session. (Photo: Teza Hlaing / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY – Burma's endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population increased this year, according to a survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The survey was conducted in February in the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay and Kachin State's Bhamo. It found 65 dolphins, including three babies. The previous 2015 survey found 58 dolphins in the protection area, and three that had died in 2014. "The total we found in February is quite satisfactory," said Kyaw Hla Thein, a project coordinator with WCS. "We hope the number continues to increase, especially since we found three babies, swimming beside their mothers." A 230-mile stretch of the Irrawaddy River from Mingun to Kyauk Myaung in Sagaing Division was designated as a wildlife protection zone in 2005. The area has strict measures in place to protect the dolphins, but rules go largely unenforced. Catching or killing dolphins is prohibited, as is trading their meat. A ban on electro-fishing and regulations on the types of nets permitted are also intended to protect the species, which is listed as critically endangered in Burma. According to WCS, the number of Irrawaddy dolphins found in the protection zone was fewer than 20 between 2007-2009. The number of dolphins increased dramatically after 2010, to 86. However, in 2014, the number declined to 63, which shocked researchers. The deaths were attributed to electro-fishing, which is illegal in the country. Despite threats of jail time, the practice continues. "We are still struggling to stop the electro fishing," said Kyaw Hla Thein. "Many still use this illegal method, threatening the lives of the dolphins and depleting fish stocks." Despite the efforts of the WCS and the government's Fishery Department to stop the practice, attempts have been unsuccessful. But drawing the attention of foreign tourists and researchers has indirectly helped. "On the bright side, the tourists' interest in the dolphins has somehow persuaded local fisherman to protect [the dolphins]," he said. "This, along with our education programs, has resulted in the increase in population." The post Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin Population On the Rise appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| 10 Things to Do in Rangoon This Week Posted: 08 Mar 2016 04:40 AM PST  Invitational flyers for a host of events in the commercial capital this week. The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events, ranging from dance and punk to arts shows, happening in Rangoon this week.
Various Events Music – Punk Big Bag, the punk rock music band, will stage a show. Where: People's Park on Pyay Rd. When: Fri March 11. Time: Starts at 6pm Music – Classical Orchestra for Myanmar and a choir made up of children from local international schools will stage a show bringing musicians together from a range of organizations including the AOC Orchestra, Gitameit Music Center, the University of Arts and Culture, MIT, Ame Gita and MRTV. Where: Strand Hotel, When: Fri 11 March. Time: Starts at 7pm Technology All things to do with mobile technology will be on show at the Mobile, Communication with Satellite Expo 2016. Where: Tatmadaw Hall, U Wizara Road. Tel: 094-3096-666; 094-2000-1617 When: Sun 13 March ,Time: 9am – 5pm Yangon Photo Festival The eighth edition of this festival under the patronage of Aung San Suu Kyi has the title: "Eyewitness: Myanmar by Myanmar Photographers." The festival of various exhibitions will be held at five galleries—River Gallery, Pansuriya Gallery, Myanmar Deitta, Goethe Villa, Rough Cut, and Institut Francais de Birmanie (French Institute), until March 31. For full information, visit yangonphotos.com/exhibitions. On Saturday, March 12, a selection of the best photos will be shown at the French Institut. Prizes, will be awarded by a jury of international photo personalities. Where: Various locations (above), When: Sat 12 to Thurs 31 March Zumba Classes in the Brazilian dance are held every Tuesday and Thursday night. Where: Piano Bar at 2 Parami Road, Mayangone Township. When: Tuesdays, Thursdays. Time: 6.30 to 7.30pm Art shows Installations Artist San Minn will display around 30 of his installation works dating back more than 10 years in his 14th one-man show. Where: Think Art Gallery, 23, Nawaday Street, Dagon Township. Tel: 094-2016-2858 When: Tues 8 to Sat 12 March. Time: 9am – 5pm Motion and Emotion Thabye Myint Thein and Soe Naing feature in a show of around 70 oil paintings titled Motion & Emotion. Prices from around $100 to $500. The event's brochure states: "When matter moves, motion starts. When mind moves, emotion starts. This event is a narration about how matter and mind move together." Where: Lokanat Galleries, No. 62, Pansodan Street. Tel: 092-5004-1424 When: Wed 9 to Sun 13 March. Time: 9am – 5pm Collector's Choice A collection titled "Six Years Collection of An Art Lover" will feature the works of 11 artists, including Khin Maung Than, Aung Maung and Myint Swe. Where: Gallery 65, 65 Yaw Min Gyi Street, Dagon Township. Tel: 01 246317 When: Sat 12 to Wed 16 March. Time: 10am – 5 pm Feet First A debut solo show from 23-year-old Nyan Ye Naing is titled "The Value" and will feature 34 watercolor paintings of footwear. Prices from around $35 to $200. "People have to use footwear every day, but usually they fail to notice the value of a pair of slippers which brings them where they want to go and bears their weight the whole time," says the artist. Where: Cloud 31 Gallery, No. 49/51. 1st Floor, 31st St (lower Block), Pabedan Township. Tel: 097-8510-4231 When: Fri 11 to Tues 15 March. Time: 9am – 5pm Eminent A show featuring mainly acrylics and oils by 12 eminent Burmese artists. Where: Embassy of the Republic of Korea, 97, University Avenue Road. Tel: 095-0058-49 When: Wed 11 to Sun 15 March. Time: Office hours The post 10 Things to Do in Rangoon This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Burma Army Chief’s Fixation on Ethnic Disarmament Hinders Peace Process Posted: 08 Mar 2016 04:21 AM PST  Burma Army Commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing looks at pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during talks at the Presidential palace at Naypyidaw on April 10, 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) As armed conflict intensifies amidst both an ongoing peace process and a democratic transition, the time has come for the Burma Army to change its mindset if it truly wishes to build peace with the country's many ethnic groups. Fighting broke out in one Kachin State location in June 2011, between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Organization. Five years later, at the end of outgoing President Thein Sein's term, armed conflict with government forces has spread to ethnic Palaung (Ta'ang), Shan, Arakan, Karen and Kokang areas. Governmental power will soon be transferred to Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), the winner of November's general elections. Many ethnic armed groups wish to seek peace under her leadership, but they dare not offer full trust to the Burmese government as long as there are military men who continue to attack them on their land. The Burma Army will remain an important political player, but one that has repeatedly shown itself to be an obstacle to peace and democracy in the country.  Lawi Weng is a Senior Reporter for The Irrawaddy English edition. Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Burma Army, has spoken of professionalizing the military in line with Burma's political reforms, which were initiated in 2011. He has reminded the military to treat civilians more humanely, to end the recruitment of child soldiers and the reliance on forced labor. But one thing that has not appeared to have changed is Min Aung Hlaing's insistence that ethnic armed groups operate under his command. This has hurt Burma's peace process and contributed to intensified fighting in northern Shan State, where government offensives encourage ethnic armed groups to build up troop numbers, vowing not to disarm under the current conditions. Large numbers of internally displaced civilians in Kachin and Shan states is a reminder that reforms have not impacted these areas. There is no guarantee that Min Aung Hlaing's views on disarmament will evolve with a new NLD-led government. The Burma Army's hope is that the ethnic armed groups will one day act as militias which defend government interests in their respective regions. For those who refuse to participate, the Burma Army will likely deploy more troops to their areas, surrounding and isolating the groups in order to pressure them to give up their struggle. Most ethnic armed leaders do not speak of disarmament as an option; they believe they may need to fight again. They feel that their armies exist to protect their people and their regions, and to provide them with a power platform in the country. If they cease to be armed, the groups worry that the government may no longer listen to them. These groups are aware of Min Aung Hlaing's intentions, and they continue to reinforce troops to defend against the Burma Army, even amidst the ongoing peace process. While ethnic armed groups feel that they need to pursue peace, if left with no other choice, they will continue to use force to fight for their goals. Lawi Weng is a senior reporter for The Irrawaddy. The post Burma Army Chief's Fixation on Ethnic Disarmament Hinders Peace Process appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| NLD Announces Second ‘Official’ Party Voice Posted: 08 Mar 2016 03:54 AM PST  Zaw Myint Maung, a sitting lawmaker in the Mandalay regional legislature, is pictured in Naypyidaw in February. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The National League for Democracy (NLD) designated an additional spokesperson on Tuesday, doubling the exclusive club of those allowed to speak officially on party matters, after chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi was earlier this year declared the party's lone voice of authority. A statement released by the party's central committee said Zaw Myint Maung of the Mandalay divisional legislature had been assigned as "an additional spokesperson for the party's policies and the transitional process." In January, the NLD announced Suu Kyi as "sole spokesperson" on party matters after senior NLD member Nyan Win was quoted by Agence France‑Presse (AFP) revealing details on prospective candidates for legislative speakerships in the Union Parliament. An apparent breach of NLD plans for the official rollout of its speakerships roster, the party quickly sought to cast doubt on Nyan Win's remarks, which ultimately proved to be true. The confusion highlighted what has been an opaque NLD march to the halls of power in Naypyidaw. The party has defended the aversion to divulging details in recent months by saying its leadership had to "handle things delicately at present," amid an uncertain transition period ahead of a handover of power at the end of March. A medical doctor by training, Zaw Myint Maung has been tipped as a prospective candidate for chief minister of Mandalay Division. He is an NLD central committee member and was recently appointed to a five-member NLD "secretary group." He is a former political prisoner who served 19 years behind bars and won a seat representing the NLD in Burma's abortive 1990 election, the results of which were ignored by the ruling military junta of the time. The NLD is expected to reveal its pick for the presidency this week, with that individual due to take the reins of government on April 1. Suu Kyi is barred from assuming Burma's highest civilian office, owing to a contentious constitutional provision on presidential eligibility that disqualifies those with spouses or children of foreign nationality. The NLD leader's two sons are British, as was her late husband. The post NLD Announces Second 'Official' Party Voice appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Can Burma’s Human Rights Commission Fight Sexual Violence in Conflict Areas? Posted: 08 Mar 2016 02:09 AM PST  Ethnic Kachin refugees in a camp for internally displaced people near the capital of Myitkyina in Kachin State in July 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) has said they are ready to address cases of sexual violence perpetrated by the Burma Army, but rights groups remain skeptical of the commission's ability to achieve justice. "If there are women being abused in the conflict areas, we want them to make complaints to the MNHRC, but they haven't done it so far," Dr. Than Nwe of MNHRC'S Policy and Law section, told The Irrawaddy. "If some cases are related to the military, we would ask the military for an explanation." Lway Cherry, secretary of the ethnic Ta'ang Women's Union and policy board member of the Women's League of Burma (WLB), explained that trust in the commission depended on the results that the government-founded investigative body was able to achieve. "So far we have not heard about the sexual abuses cases shared with the MNHRC being fairly solved," she said, adding that rights groups have long been sending evidence of military-perpetrated sexual violence both to government and non-government bodies, in search of justice for the victims. While MNHRC members insist that they help as much as they can regarding crimes against women in conflict areas, in more than three years of operation, few cases related to the military's reported campaigns of systematic sexual violence against ethnic women have been pursued by the commission. On Wednesday, which is also International Women's Day, the WLB highlighted in a public statement the need for "better justice" regarding cases of sexual violence against women in Burma's conflict zones. "The rapists or perpetrators are still being given impunity," the statement said. In November 2015, the WLB, the Kachin Women's Association of Thailand (KWAT) and the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) reported that sexual violence perpetrated by the Burma Army remains ongoing in ethnic areas. SHRF cited eight cases of rape in as many months in Shan State, all allegedly by government troops. SHRF added that such crimes are rarely prosecuted. Many of the gender-based cases that the MNHRC handles are related to the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, on which Dr. Than Nwe feels the commission has dealt with effectively. "We try to solve [these cases] by meeting the relevant ministries. We are now working with UN Women on the issue," said Dr. Than Nwe. "We were able to intervene by informing the respective ministries. They are required to respond to us within a month. They can not ignore and hide as they must respond us." Burma Partnership, who has monitored and investigated the commission's work, laments that the MNHRC has "been unable to uphold its mandate of human rights protection and promotion." They attribute this to a lack of "independence, effectiveness and transparency," due to government ties. The post Can Burma's Human Rights Commission Fight Sexual Violence in Conflict Areas? appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Posted: 08 Mar 2016 12:25 AM PST  Ethnic Lisu women wait for the arrival of pro-democracy Today is International Woman's Day, when people around the world mark the achievements and challenges of half of humanity. There is no denying that in this country that one woman above all others dominates the national consciousness. Aung San Suu Kyi enjoys unrivalled stature at home and huge respect abroad. This month she holds the hopes of the nation's recent voters in her hands as she prepares—from whatever official position—to shepherd her party and the country into unchartered political territory. It is sometimes forgotten that Burma has always had great female figures who have risen to the challenges of the day to help shape the nation's social and political life. In the early 20th century when the country was under colonial rule, women were active in the nationalist movement that culminated in independence in 1948. More recently, women from all backgrounds and ethnicities have played important roles in the country's struggles towards democracy and social justice. Many more have overcome significant barriers to become leaders in the worlds of business, the arts, education and entertainment, among others. This week the Irrawaddy will revisit some of the women who have featured in our coverage of Burma over the last two decades, and who continue to play a vital part in the transition to a more democratic future. Today, we briefly reprise the careers of three significant women whose past and current activities highlight just a few of the arenas in which female figures are making positive contributions to the nation's social and political life.  Zin Mar Aung: Zin Mar Aung, Lower House lawmaker with the NLD. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) Zin Mar Aung Before she became an elected lawmaker with the National League for Democracy in last year's election, Zin Mar Aung was well known for having spent 11 years behind bars as a human rights activist. The 40-year-old who is now sitting in the Lower House of Parliament representing Rangoon's Yankin Township, also serves as a member of the same house's Public Affairs Administration Committee. In one of her first debates within the parliament she urged the government to review its drug eradication program, pointing out that in some parts of the country, ''there is no electricity, but drugs are easily available.'' She is known for her outspoken criticism of a controversial law restricting interfaith marriages, a stance for which extreme nationalists sent her hate mail and death threats. "The proposal was unacceptable because it was based on extreme nationalism and religious extremism. It interfered with individual freedoms and particularly with the personal choices of women," she said. Zin Mar Aung is a co-founder of the Yangon School of Political Science. She has also founded an organization titled Rainfall to encourage greater women's participation as the country moves toward democracy. Thanks to her long time devotion to human rights, Zin Mar Aung was selected as an International Woman of Courage in 2012 and as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum in 2014.  Ma Thandar: Ma Thandar, co-founder of the Women and Peace Network and Lower House lawmaker. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) Ma Thandar Long before she made headlines for seeking justice in relation the death in military custody of her husband Par Gyi in 2014, Ma Thandar was a leading political activist. She was known especially for fighting on justice, women rights and land grabbing issues, along with her fellow activists who co-founded the Women and Peace Network. Ma Thandar's victory in last year's general election has taken her to the Lower House as a lawmaker, and last month she also became a member of the Citizens' Fundamental Rights Committee. She is hopeful about the possibilities her new positions may open up. "I believe I will get more opportunities now, including to collaborate with the Home Affairs and Justice ministries, and the judiciary, to push for citizen's rights," she told The Irrawaddy. Though two soldiers initially implicated in her husband's death were acquitted by a military tribunal, Ma Thandar's call for answers on the case prompted the army to make an unprecedented statement admitting the journalist had been shot in custody. During her appeal for her husband's justice, she said: "If justice can be done for my husband, the truth may also be revealed for others who were killed unnoticed like him, and we can prevent this from being repeated."  Ja Nan: Ja Nan Lahtaw, director of the Myitkyina-based Nyein Foundation and technical advisor to Burma's peace process. (Photo: Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy) Ja Nan Lahtaw Ja Nan Lahtaw is one of only a handful of women privy to the inner workings of the peace process. The director of the Nyein Foundation, a long-time local development organization that also operates as a peace facilitation group, she is among a small cadre of professionals working as technical advisors to the process. The Nyein Foundation is also known as ''Shalom'' and is based in the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina. For her activities Ja Nan has been the recipient of a number of international honors including a prestigious N-Peace Award, which she received last year. Born in Myitkyina in 1965, Ja Nan was schooled abroad before she returned home and followed in the footsteps of her predecessors. The Nyein Foundation was established by her father, a reverend and former director general of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), who along with his brother was a key broker of the 1994 ceasefire between the Burmese government and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). Ja Nan has said that peace brokering is "something of a family tradition." The post Inspiring Women of Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Kachin Groups Urge Halt to Resource Extraction in Northern Burma Posted: 08 Mar 2016 12:16 AM PST  Trucks are seen at a mine dumping site at a Hpakant jade mine in Kachin State on Nov. 25, 2015. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) More than 60 civil society organizations, political parties and religious groups representing the Kachin and ethnic subgroups released a statement on Monday calling for a halt to resource extraction in northern Burma's Kachin State until political stability in the region can be achieved. The groups put forward the demand after holding a forum to discuss natural resource governance in Kachin State, in the regional capital Myitkyina. The statement, made by 61 signatory groups, called on respective stakeholders to "stop all project operations and natural resource extraction in ethnic areas without [first] resolving conflict politically," adding that strife in the region was fueled by natural resource-based interests. Kachin State is rich in natural resources such as gold, jade and other precious stones, as well as a significant but shrinking endowment of teakwood forests. The state has also been fertile grounds for conflict in recent years, particularly since a 17-year ceasefire between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese government collapsed in 2011. Monday's statement asserted that the Kachin people were the rightful owners of the state's natural resource endowment, urging business stakeholders to "disclose all information transparently and educate the people—on grievance mechanisms in natural resource extraction, taxation, licensing processes, revenue-sharing—with consideration for the 'right to know' of the people." The coalition also called on the government to "ensure free, prior and informed consent with local communities before issuing operational permissions for any projects." The statement proposed empowering the Kachin State government with "ultimate management authority" on natural resource extraction, taxation and revenue-sharing. The post Kachin Groups Urge Halt to Resource Extraction in Northern Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| From Myanmar Sweatshops to Billionaires in Switzerland Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:27 PM PST  Workers from Myue & Soe Garment Factory stand in front of the Mayangone Township Labor Office in Rangoon during a protest for salary increases on September 7, 2012. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) The young garment factory workers share a tiny room in a wooden shack, spotlessly clean, with pictures of Myanmar pop stars beside a photo of their parents back in the village. But there is no escaping the smell of the open drain outside. The three sisters and their cousin all work in factories making clothes for export to the UK, United States and other countries for household brands such as GAP, Primark, H&M and Tesco. They belong to a labor rights group working with Oxfam to fight for better conditions for workers, and we are there to hear about their experiences on the factory floor. Myanmar's garment sector is expanding fast, now employing around 300,000 people–90 percent female and mostly under age 25. Daily average wages of US$2.80 are not enough to survive on. Oxfam's recent survey found that almost half of garment workers are trapped in debt and have to borrow money to meet basic needs like food, medicine and transport. They work up to 11 hours a day, six days a week, rarely receiving sick pay despite this being a legal requirement. Many reported working into the night to meet impossible production targets, on one occasion sewing until 6.30am before restarting at 7.30am every day for a week. Safety was a big concern, with one in three reporting a workplace injury and many afraid of factory fires because of blocked exits. In the week we visited Myanmar, Oxfam's report 'An Economy for the 1%' caused a stir at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, revealing that 62 billionaires now own the same wealth as the poorest half of the world. The report shows that the global economic system is skewed in favor of the top one percent, who have seen half of the total increase in global wealth in the past 15 years, while the bottom 50 percent have had to make do with just one percent. Interestingly four of the world's 62 richest billionaires made their fortunes in high-street fashion. Amancio Ortega of Spain, worth $64 billion, heads garment giant Inditex, owner of Zara. Swede Stefan Persson, worth $24 billion, is chairman of H&M and a 28 percent stakeholder. Tadashi Yanai of Japan owns Uniqlo and is worth $20 billion. The fourth is Phil Knight, who until June 2015 had spent 51 years as chairman of Nike, and is worth $21 billion. H&M buys from factories in Myanmar and Uniqlo is considering doing so. Inditex pioneered the model of shorter supply chains and reduced lead times, now the norm in fast fashion. But this business practice puts huge pressure on suppliers and their workers, leading to forced overtime and pressure to squeeze wages as low as possible. H&M does at least publish which factories produce its clothes in Myanmar. Many big brands refuse to even do this. As one of my colleagues put it, 'Can you think of one good reason why a high street brand would want to hide where its clothes are made?' Both H&M and Inditex have taken steps to address poverty wages, for instance by signing an agreement with global union IndustriALL to promote sector bargaining. However, between 2001 and 2011 wages for garment workers in most of the top 15 apparel-exporting countries fell in real terms. Some commentators have accused Oxfam of being anti capitalist for throwing rocks at an economic system than has helped to reduce global poverty. It is of course true that real progress has been made. The young women we met now earn more than the extreme poverty line of $1.90 a day, so are no longer officially counted as poor. But is that really good enough? Oxfam recognizes the power of capitalism to transform people's lives – but we believe the current warped 'market fundamentalist' model, as the Bank of England Governor calls it, is failing us all. Matthew Paris, a former Conservative MP writing about our Davos report in The Times newspaper, put it best when he said that listening to those trying to defend today's capitalist system reminded him of Communists trying to defend the USSR: 'How much longer, then, can we market liberals shrug off huge failures in the working examples we have of capitalism?…If the free market is to be defended in the new century, these inequities are no longer something from which the center-right can turn away.' Throughout our history, the majority of those who fought to stop children having to go to work, or for a ten hour working day, or for a weekend, or paid holiday, sick pay and above all for wages which allow ordinary women and men to live a decent life were not anti-capitalists. They just believed we could do better. Activists of the past were dismissed as naive or seditious or both, but what they fought for we now see as being a part of a civilized society. Today we have to continue that fight. We need to make capitalism work for the majority rather than the top 1 percent. This can be done. For example, a critical mass of companies could commit to source from countries with good labor regulation, adapt their business practices so factories can afford to pay a living wage and ensure workers are free to negotiate with management. We have the talent, technology and imagination to build a more human economy—one where we have not just minimum wages, but maximum ones too. Where we see an end to this extreme wealth that benefits no one but a tiny elite. When I met those young women in Myanmar learning about their rights, and the successful struggles of other garment workers in Thailand and Cambodia, I was filled with hope for the future. For a better, fairer, future they will fight for. I know I want to do all I can to help them. Max Lawson is Oxfam's Head of Global Campaigns. This article originally ran on Oxfam's blog, From Poverty to Power. The post From Myanmar Sweatshops to Billionaires in Switzerland appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Philippine Rebel Warns Islamic State May Gain From Autonomy Delay Posted: 07 Mar 2016 10:02 PM PST  Moro National Liberation Front rebels take up position at a guard post in Maguindanao province, in the southern Philippines, on March 12, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) KUALA LUMPUR — The head of a Philippine Muslim rebel group warned Monday that the Islamic State group could gain from frustrations in the country's south following the failure of the Philippine Congress to pass an autonomy bill as part of a peace agreement. Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said the militant IS group has attempted over the past year to recruit supporters in Mindanao but his group has worked to convince people that the peace pact signed with the government in 2014 was the best solution. But he said the delay in enactment of the bill that aims to establish a more powerful and better-funded autonomous region for minority Muslims has led to frustrations that could be capitalized on by the IS and other small hardline rebel groups. Malaysia is a facilitator in the peace talks, and Murad spoke while passing through Kuala Lumpur. "There have been some efforts of penetration [by IS] but they have not succeeded in establishing a stronghold in Mindanao," he said during a news conference. "But now after the non-passage of the [bill], we are quite concerned that they can capitalize on this because the [frustration] of the people in the area is now very strong." In Manila, Philippine presidential adviser on the peace talks Teresita Deles agreed that "frustrations of the people on the ground can lead to recruitment for radical, extremist thought and action." However, Philippine security forces with the help of the Moro rebels have curbed the spread of extremism and maintained peace and order through joint government and rebel ceasefire committees, Deles said. The 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberalization Front dropped its secessionist bid and settled for broader autonomy for minority Muslims in the south of the largely Roman Catholic nation in a Malaysian-brokered pact it signed with the Philippine government in 2014. The conflict has left 150,000 people dead and stunted development in the country's poorest region. Under the deal, a bill was submitted to Congress to create the autonomous region to be called Bangsamoro. The bill's passage was stalled by anger over the killing last year of 44 police commandos in fighting that involved some fighters from the Moro group. Lawmakers ended the last regular session of their term last month without passing the bill. Murad said his group will not completely abandon its armed struggle but will not revert to violence as long as the peace process has a chance of moving forward. He said he is hopeful that the new Philippine president, to be elected later this year, will support and continue the efforts for peace. The post Philippine Rebel Warns Islamic State May Gain From Autonomy Delay appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| MH370 Families’ Painful Choice: Demand Answers or Move On? Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:42 PM PST  Family of passengers onboard of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which went missing in 2014, hold placards as they shout slogans in front of a holding area for journalists at Lama Temple in Beijing on March 8, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) BEIJING — Nearly every day, the retired factory worker goes to the airline office, riding a series of buses across Beijing to hand-deliver a letter. And nearly every day, the letter says the same thing. "Tell us the truth, and get our loved ones back to us." Once she hands over the letter, Dai Shuqin gets back on the bus and goes home, back to a small apartment where boxes hold copies of hundreds of letters she has delivered over the past two years, all begging for news on her sister and four other relatives who vanished when Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared on March 8, 2014. There were 239 people on board. Most of the passengers on the plane, which was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, were Chinese. So across China, dozens of families are still wrestling with how—or if—to accept that their relatives are dead. Investigators believe the Boeing 777 crashed in a remote stretch of the southern Indian Ocean, killing everyone on board after flying far off course and running out of fuel. But they have only theories to explain exactly what happened, or why. Only one confirmed piece of plane wreckage has been found, a battered, rowboat-sized wing part that washed up on an Indian Ocean island about eight months ago. What can you do when you don't know what happened to people you loved? Some of the grieving families have filed lawsuits, including 12 families who did so Monday. Some have accepted cash settlements with Malaysia Airlines in exchange for agreeing not to file suit. Many are still debating what to do. And some, like Dai, find their only solace comes in believing that their relatives are still alive. Somewhere. Somehow. As a result, their lives are now consumed by demanding answers from an airline that has few answers at all. "People say we are nuts," said Dai, a 62-year-old woman whose younger sister was on the flight, along with her sister's husband, son, daughter-in-law and grandson. "But for us, we have the feeling that our loved ones are still alive." Officials "just tell us all the passengers are dead. We don't accept that. If they tell us the truth, or give us a convincing explanation, then we'll stop coming here every day." She does not care if her quest looks impossible. "I can't sleep and I can't get over this," Dai said. Her apartment has few decorations beyond a large world map stuck to one wall. A folding metal table is covered with copies of letters sent to the airline. "I have no other ways to handle this. … Going to Malaysia Airlines every day gives me a bit of relief, and I feel I am doing something for my sister." Many relatives believe the real story of MH370 has been hidden from them. They disagree on what may have happened, debating theories and trading facts and rumors. But few believe they know the entire truth. That suspicion is heightened in China, where widespread censorship and the official control of access to information has led to a general sense among Chinese that what they see in the media, or hear from the government, is not to be trusted. This widespread cynicism foments a quiet if deep-seated anger, and a willingness to accept conspiracy theories. Kelly Wen, who runs a furniture store, is desperate to move on, to find a way to start her life again after her husband disappeared with the plane. But she remains overwhelmed by the loss. "My family is still in the shadow of the MH370 accident," said Wen, a 31-year-old Beijing resident with a 5-year-old son now left without a father. "I can't work like I did before because there are too many issues I need to handle in my family. But I do hope I can gradually walk out of the accident and go back to work." With the second anniversary approaching, Wen increasingly believes she needs to make up her mind about what to do. "I need to decide whether to accept compensation and reach agreement with Malaysian Airlines or file suit in court," she said. She and some 80 other relatives of MH370 passengers went together to meet Malaysia Airlines staff in late February to get updates on the situation. From the start, it did not go well. Outside the airline office were nearly two dozen policemen in case there was trouble. When they left, few of the relatives were satisfied. They had come with detailed questions about the status of the search and the investigation. Wen wanted to see security video of passengers boarding the aircraft. The search is expected to end in June, plane or no plane, and they wanted more details on that decision. But no security video was released, she said, and little new information emerged. Few of the relatives have faith in the official investigation, which was set up by Malaysia and includes experts from Malaysia, Australia, China, Britain, the United States and France. "We hope we can have a third-party, independent investigation when they stop search-and-rescue in June," she said. After the meeting, about 10 members of the group ate lunch together in a nearby restaurant. "This kind of gathering is very important for us," said Wen. "We are already so helpless. If we don't gather among other relatives, we will feel even more lonely," she said. Dai, however, doesn't think much about moving on. For the foreseeable future, her life is about delivering the letters that she and other relatives have signed. A year ago, her only daughter had a baby, her only grandchild. Now, her daughter wants Dai to look after the little boy. But Dai says that won't happen. Going to the airline office takes up too much of her time. Sullivan reported from New Delhi. The post MH370 Families' Painful Choice: Demand Answers or Move On? appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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