| Presidential Spokesman Hits Back Against UN Criticism Over Rohingya Posted: 21 Jun 2016 06:23 AM PDT  President Office's Spokesman Zaw Htay, who held the same post under the previous military-backed government of President Thein Sein. (Jpaing/The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The UN and the international community should support ongoing reforms inside Burma instead of focusing on human rights abuses perpetrated by the former government, said President's Office Spokesman Zaw Htay, in response to a fresh criticism from the UN over Burma's treatment of religious and ethnic minorities—in particular the Muslim Rohingya. This week saw the release of a new report on Burma by the UN's human rights office, which stated that systematic violations against the Rohingya—including denial of citizenship rights, forced labor and sexual violence—could amount to "crimes against humanity." More than 100,000 Rohingya remain in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Arakan State, after anti-Muslim violence in 2012 and 2013. They are subjected to severe restrictions of movement and are denied citizenship and proper access to healthcare and education; many have chosen to flee the country, placing them in the hands of predatory human-trafficking gangs. The new government has yet to take concrete steps to alleviate the situation, and its policies remain a topic of speculation. President's Office Spokesman Zaw Htay—who held the same post under the previous military-backed government of then-President Thein Sein—told The Irrawaddy the UN and the international community should observe reforms inside the country, be flexible with the new government's approach and provide support and encouragement, adding that the new government recognized the abuses carried out in the past. "This was a weakness from the past. Our government will challenge it and will work for human rights. We have already laid the foundation for this with our new policies. They (UN report) needs to reflect on the reforms undertaken by the new government," Zaw Htay added. On Friday, Burma's representative to the UN's Human Rights Council Thet Thinzar Htun criticized the use of the term "Rohingya" by international actors as "adding fuel to the fire." Instead, the term "Muslim community in Arakan State" was floated, which the representative said would encourage "harmony" and "mutual trust" between Buddhist and Muslim communities. Last month, the Committee for Arakan State Peace, Stability and Development was formed. Chaired by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, its purview includes resettling displaced communities and coordinating the activities of UN agencies and international organizations. In recent weeks, the government has been handing out National Verification Cards (NVCs) to stateless Muslims in several townships of Arakan State. The NVCs are provisional documents, whose bearers will later be scrutinized for citizenship eligibility under Burma's 1982 citizenship law, which discriminates heavily against the Rohingya as an "unrecognized" ethnic group. Zaw Htay said the "green cards" would be later handed out to those now receiving NVCs in Arakan State, affording them "equal rights." It is not currently clear where these "green cards" fit into Burma's complex hierarchy of citizenship documentation, and what their legal basis is. Yanghee Lee, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, is visiting Burma between June 20 and July 1. She arrived in Rangoon on Sunday, and will be in Arakan State from Wednesday. She will also visit Kachin, Arakan and Shan states, and the capital Naypyidaw. "Important steps have already been taken to further democratic transition, national reconciliation, sustainable development and peace," Yanghee Lee said in a statement. "I intend to make a comprehensive and objective assessment of the human rights situation taking these elements into account. The post Presidential Spokesman Hits Back Against UN Criticism Over Rohingya appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| New App Aims to Give Youth Civic Education Posted: 21 Jun 2016 05:52 AM PDT  A user testing New Niti app. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma's first civic education mobile application, New Niti, will be included in the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s ongoing educational project and will teach the country's high school students about human rights and active citizenship. According to the app's developer, the UK-based non-governmental organization OneWorld, UNESCO will make the app available in its digital library for one of its Burma educational projects, a public-private partnership between UNESCO, Ericsson and the Ministry of Education that was launched in June last year. The app was released in Burma in October 2015 in collaboration with a number of other local civil society groups and creative initiatives. The app's goal is to educate the country's youth populations on five main concepts—citizenship, democracy, elections, rule of law, and peace, OneWorld's Burma-based project manager Angelika Kahlos told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. The app "New Niti"—niti means "morality" in Sanskrit—runs on Android-operated smartphones but not on Apple's iOS platform yet. The app features written and audio stories and animations as well as games and quizzes, all available in both Burmese and English. Kahlos said the fundamental vision of the app is to promote active citizenship on the individual level while also improving access to information and education. "This is the first time in Myanmar’s history that human rights and democracy content will be made available via a high-tech app in the government-run education system," she said. "The endorsement of the New Niti app by UNESCO in Myanmar not only helps to promote access to information, but it also helps to promote modern technologies to teachers and the youth, who are quick to embrace and master them." According to the UNESCO website, the project that New Niti is a part of provides teachers with professional development training by producing English language and life skills mobile learning apps. It also creates content for mobile devices for 20,000 high school students. The project has already provided more than 3,000 tablets, some 180 laptops and projectors to the Ministry of Education, school leaders and teachers at 31 project schools in Mandalay Division, Pegu Division and Mon State. The New Niti app will be preloaded on the devices. Curriculum developers for the app include the Center for Youth and Social Harmony, Kalyana Mitta Foundation, Mote Oo, Saitta Thukha Development Institute and other partners who created illustrations and dialogues. The application will be handed over to the Saitta Thukha Development Institute, a Burmese civic education training NGO that will further localize and develop the app. The bilingual Android app can be downloaded here, and a smaller Burmese-language-only version can be accessed here. The post New App Aims to Give Youth Civic Education appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Gold Market Hits Record High Posted: 21 Jun 2016 05:44 AM PDT  Employees mind the display at a local gold jewelry seller in Rangoon. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The price of gold has reached a record high in Burma this week, pushed up by rising global gold prices, industry sources said. The local price for one tical, a traditional Burmese weight measurement equal to 16.33 grams (just over a half ounce), reached 812,000 kyats (US$685) early this week, up from last year's 800,000 kyat peak. Industry sources said the increase was due to global gold prices reaching about US$1,300 per ounce. "It isn't because of higher demand in the local market; actually, demand here is cooling down. But the price still peaked last Thursday," said Kyaw Win, secretary of the Myanmar Gold Entrepreneur's Association and owner of U Htone Goldsmith. Gold dealers said that the higher price has caused the domestic gold market to wane as people wait to see what will happen. "There isn't a low production of gold, but the sales volume is decreasing. People think that the price is high and this is not a good time to invest," Kyaw Win said. Kyaw Win anticipates that the price won't decrease until the end of the month due to concerns about a British exit from the European Union. Zaw Aung, owner of Tate Sein gold shop in Rangoon's Kyauktada Township said although the dollar currency exchange rate is stable, the global gold price is increasing, directly impacting the local gold market. "Gold shops are facing low demand while people wait for the price to go down," Zaw Aung said. After a sharp increase in 2012 when the global price reached about $1,900 per ounce, the local price floated around 680,000 kyats per tical until late May of this year. Before reaching its record high, the price for one tical was about 770,000 kyats last month. Gold remains a traditional and trusted investment in Burma. Investors say that the gold market is still a means to make money in a short time, while the stock market and real estate market have cooled down during the country's transition period. Because people have faith in it, the gold market will remain the investment of choice for people in Burma, Kyaw Win said. The post Gold Market Hits Record High appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Early Surges of a Cultural Nationalistic Flood Tide in Myanmar? Posted: 21 Jun 2016 05:34 AM PDT  Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha's third annual conference on Saturday in Rangoon. (Photo: Ma Ba Tha / Facebook) Foreign observers of Myanmar's changing social and cultural landscape have watched with great concern the flood tide of religious nationalism as conservative and radical Buddhist groups have expressed fears of a Muslim spiritual and social invasion that they have perceived to threaten their religious views. Coming from religious organizations such as Ma Ba Tha and the Myanmar Patriotic Monks Union, they seem to have had wide popular support, or at least popular acquiescence, for who can publicly disagree with the pronouncements of eminent members of the sangha? The legislature has passed laws intended to prevent this perceived disease from spreading. To those addicted to democratic traditions and open societies, this is illustrative of very disquieting development, even as right-wing nationalistic groups gain prominence in many Western societies. Religion is rarely isolated from other social elements, and in Myanmar the nexus of religion, culture, and history are pronounced. Now, however, the nationalist flood tide may now have extended from religion to the secular realm. On May 31, 2016, it was reported that these two religious associations protested that one of the major Yangon hotels had dressed bellboys and porters in the supposed royal dress of the kings of Pagan (11-13th c.)—thus mounting in their view a major affront and an insult to the secular, but somehow "sacred," traditions of Myanmar. What this supposed royal dress might have looked like may be the subject of considerable academic debate, but the existential issue is more serious. If a hotel wants to engage in such jejune stylistic games, it is more an insult to the guests' intelligence rather than to the dignity of Pagan's rulers. More seriously, it indicates a profound sense of cultural vulnerability that is likely to spread with potentially dire consequences. To many in the West, this may be unanticipated or even ludicrous. Do Western societies become incensed when their hotel bellboys and porters wear the reminiscent uniforms of high-ranking, revered historical military officers, and are thus disrespectful of their military heritages? Myanmar has become awash in tourists. They bring with them more than personal baggage, but also some of a cultural, and not always desirable, nature. If Western popular culture permeates, if Western dress codes—often rather slovenly in style and application—dominate in the streets, if Myanmar social usage is truncated or neglected, and if the seamy side of tourism become intrusive in Yangon, as it has in Bangkok, this sense of vulnerability will tend to grow, and with it perhaps a more intense nationalism that may undercut the goals of any Myanmar government as it fosters intensified intellectual and cultural isolationism. Thailand, another predominantly Buddhist society, does not feel the same sense of vulnerability, perhaps because it was never colonized and its monks did not partake in anti-colonial political activity, as in Myanmar where two Myanmar Buddhist monks were martyrs in the independence movement. Yet there is also a growing conservative and intolerant Buddhist movement among monks in Thailand. The Buddhist Protection Center of Thailand, with links to the World Buddhist Leaders Organization and the World Federation of Buddhist Youth, all have associations with Myanmar's Ma Ba Tha, which they have honored. We have witnessed the growth of nationalistic, anti-foreign and right-wing politics in a number of European countries, and in a particularly American way in some of the U.S. political stances. In the West, we tend to equate these to problems associated with both potential terrorism and extensive refugee (both war-related and economic) flights. But they are more deeply related to fears of changing and disturbing social dynamics, including widening income maldistribution—a phenomenon we may expect to grow in Myanmar. As these fears move into the social realm—beyond religious doctrine—protection of perceived cultural heritages may become more important even though some are undoubtedly based on myth, as in many societies. This sense of cultural dignity and concern in Myanmar is important. But the intended protection of culture has been dictated by the state, sometimes carried—at least to a foreign observer—to extremes. Let us remember that under the juntas it was illegal to have Western instruments included in a classical Burmese orchestra. Yet popular culture evolves, and many in Myanmar will regret the present popularity of Western clothing, formerly rarely seen amongst the Bamah (Burmans) except in the military. Yet protection of culture and traditions can also be positive, as in the recent prohibition against construction that would have aesthetically and religiously had a negative impact on the Shwedagon Pagoda. There is probably no solution to the dilemma, but one would hope that those foreigners, institutions, and governments that wish the administration of Myanmar well might consider their own policies and practices, both public and private, that would both extend democratic governance but still be less cultural threatening. Is this possible? David I. Steinberg is Distinguished Professor of Asian Studies Emeritus, Georgetown University, and visiting scholar, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. His latest edited volume is Myanmar: The Dynamics of an Emerging Polity (2015). The post Early Surges of a Cultural Nationalistic Flood Tide in Myanmar? appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Restoration of Thai King’s Tomb Continues Under DNA Test Uncertainty Posted: 21 Jun 2016 05:28 AM PDT  Excavation site of the tomb of Thai King Uthumphon, on Lin Zin hill in Mandalay's Amarapura Township. (Photo: Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — Amid uncertainty over the material remains of an 18th century Thai King, the team restoring what is believed to be his tomb in Amarapura near Mandalay have chosen to continue work on the instructions of a Buddhist abbot. This is in spite of a notice issued in May by Mandalay municipal authorities instructing the restoration team to halt their work while DNA tests are carried out to determine whether the tomb was indeed that of Thai King Uthumphon, who ruled Siam for only two months in 1758 and was later captured in a Burmese invasion. A consecration ceremony planned for the tomb at the end of June remains as scheduled—although, in the absence of the funerary urn while it undergoes testing, the site will initially be designated only as a "memorial site." "The [DNA] test will take time because it [is being applied] to the remains of a person who died several hundred years ago. In the mean time, the Sitagu Sayadaw [abbot] instructed us to continue the restoration work to protect the ruins of the tomb and the related temples, which are threatened by the weather," explained "Tampawaddi" Win Maung, who leads the restoration team. Excavation of the Thai king's purported tomb began in 2013. Many artifacts were unearthed, including the supposed cremation urn of the king, among a series of tombs and religious structures on Lin Zin hill in Amarapura Township, on the outskirts of Mandalay City. Restoration work on the historic remnants on Lin Zin hill has been halted three times since then. According to the restoration team, more than half of the excavation sites have been "ruined" due to human activity and adverse weather during the halts. "The Thai team, which funded the restoration, decided the place could act [initially] as a memorial site for King Uthumphon, […] for Thai visitors," said Win Maung. Restoration of the main tomb and the foundations of an old Thai-style monastery are almost finished. The ceremony to re-consecrate the tomb will be held on June 26 and 27. Prominent Buddhist abbots and monks from Thailand, and officials from the Thai royal treasury department, are planning to attend. "Since there is some uncertainty over the cremation urn of the Thai king, we will not place it back in the tomb as we had originally planned," said Win Maung. "The place will be just a monument […] until the results from the MCDC [Mandalay City Development Council] proves whether or not it is the real tomb," he added. According to Burmese official history, Uthumphon (known as King Dok Madua in Thai histories) was captured along with many other members of the Siamese court—after he had already been deposed and was living as a monk—by Burmese King Sinphyushin (1736–1776) in his invasion of the Thai capital Ayutthaya in 1767. Uthumphon was brought as a prisoner to the Burmese royal capital of Ava, close to present-day Mandalay. After the Burmese king shifted his palace from Ava to Amarapura, King Uthumphon lived in Amarapura as a monk until his death and burial on Lin Zin hill. The post Restoration of Thai King's Tomb Continues Under DNA Test Uncertainty appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Govt Peace Delegation Asks Ethnic Groups to Disarm Posted: 21 Jun 2016 03:58 AM PDT  Dr. Tin Myo Win addresses leaders of three ethnic armed groups. (Photo: Khin Zaw OO / Facebook) RANGOON — A Burmese government peace delegation led by Dr. Tin Myo Win has told three ethnic armed groups of the Arakan, Palaung and Kokang ethnicities not to attack the Burma Army and to disarm so that they will be invited to join the upcoming peace conference, sources say. The peace delegation said that Burma Army chief Gen Min Aung Hlaing would give the "green light" to the three groups to join peace talks and perhaps sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) if they disarm, said a leader of a Palaung [Ta'ang] armed group, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). Tar Bong Kyaw, general secretary of the TNLA who was not present at the meeting with Tin Myo Win, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, "I got information that they [the delegation] want us to release a statement on disarming and cessation of attacks on Burma Army troops. Then Gen Min Aung Hlaing will give the green light [for us attending meetings]." He was unable to provide additional details on the discussions over the weekend. The Burmese government's peace delegation met with leaders of the three ethnic armed groups during its trip to Shan State to talk with ethnic Wa and Mongla armies. They held informal, separate meetings with the TNLA, the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Mongla town, Shan State. The three groups were excluded by the previous government from signing last year's NCA—a pact signed by eight non-state armed groups and the former government—and they are still at war with the Burma Army in Shan State. On May 13, Lt-Gen Mya Tun Oo said at a press conference in Naypyidaw that the MNDAA, TNLA and AA have no option but to disarm. The Burma Army would not negotiate peace with them if they failed to do so, said the general. The three NCA non-signatories are members of an alliance of ethnic armed groups, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), but recently have said that they would withdraw from the group. It has been reported that the three groups are trying to ally with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), a Mongla ethnic army. Sources on the China-Burma border told The Irrawaddy that members of the delegation who are army officials asked the UWSA to withdraw from its bases on the Thai border. In May, Thai military officials asked their Burma Army counterparts to help convince the UWSA to withdraw its bases on the Thai-Burma border, claiming some were on Thai territory. The UWSA said they could not move their military outposts because they had been based there for many years, according to the sources, who requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the meetings. Sources familiar with the matter also said the UWSA told the government delegation to include the three NCA non-signatories in peace talks and meetings in order to achieve the goals of the NCA. The government delegation, led by Dr. Tin Myo Win, is responsible for dealing with ethnic armed groups that have not signed the NCA. It is one of two groups that are laying the foundation for the 21st Century Panglong Conference, which is expected to be held next month. Another sub-committee is led by Burma Army Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and is responsible for handling the eight non-state armed groups that have already signed the NCA. In 1947, Gen Aung San, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's father, convened a meeting of several ethnic groups in Panglong, Shan State that resulted in an inter-ethnic peace pact. Kyaw Kha also contributed to this story. The post Govt Peace Delegation Asks Ethnic Groups to Disarm appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Court Denies Bail to Ultra-Nationalist Politician Charged with Defamation Posted: 21 Jun 2016 02:37 AM PDT  Nay Myo Wai being brought to trial at Kangyidaunt Township Court in May. (Photo: Salai Thant Zin / The Irrawaddy) PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Division — The Pathein District Court in Irrawaddy Division denied a bail request on Monday from Nay Myo Wai, an ultra-nationalist politician charged with defamation under Burma's Telecommunications Law. Nay Myo Wai is on trial for sharing posts on social media that allegedly defamed President Htin Kyaw, Army Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Nay Myo Wai, a supporter of the Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha, serves as chairman of the Peace and Diversity Party, which contested the November general election on an ultra-nationalist platform but failed to win a seat. In recent years he has earned a reputation as a frequent propagator of anti-Muslim sentiment online. Wai Yan Aung, an executive member of the Burma Teachers' Federation, filed the lawsuit against the politician in early May under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law and accused him of defaming Burma's top trio online. Article 66(d) carries a punishment of up to three years' imprisonment for using a telecommunications network to commit defamation. Nay Myo Wai was arrested by police on May 4 and brought to trial three weeks later. The Kangyidaunt Township Court where he faces trial denied him a previous bail request. Myint Thein, the plaintiff's lawyer, told The Irrawaddy that the Pathein District Court judge denied Nay Myo Wai's bail request, which claimed the defendant was suffering from breathing problems and had to rely on an oxygen cylinder. The court said it would not consider the bail request because it had not received medical records from a hospital or doctor. When asked by The Irrawaddy about the court's refusal of the bail request, Sandar Oo, Nay Myo Wai's sister who is acting as his lawyer, refused to comment. Myint Thein added that the court also rejected additional photo evidence submitted by plaintiff Wai Yan Aung, saying the pictures were filed late—after the lawsuit was filed and the arrest had already occurred. Nay Myo Wai was not present in court on Monday, but about 20 of his supporters gathered wearing t-shirts that said "May Nay Myo Wai be freed." He remains in custody at Pathein Prison. The post Court Denies Bail to Ultra-Nationalist Politician Charged with Defamation appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Arakanese and Rohingya Criticize New Govt Term for Muslims Posted: 21 Jun 2016 02:33 AM PDT  Immigration officials issuing National Verification Cards cards to Muslim residents of Aung Mingalar ward in the Arakan State capital Sittwe, the first step in their assessment for citizenship eligibility. (Photo: Marayu / Facebook) RANGOON — Members of both Arakanese Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim communities have objected to referring to Rohingya as "the Muslim community in Arakan State," as used by Burma's representative at the 32nd regular session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. On Friday, Burma's representative Thet Thinzar Htun said using "Muslim community in Arakan State," instead of the contentious term "Rohingya," would help to bring "harmony" and "mutual trust" between the Buddhist and Muslim communities in Arakan State—who remain largely segregated since anti-Muslim violence in 2012 and 2013, which displaced around 140,000 people, the vast majority of them Muslim. Thet Thinzar Htun's words were in response to comments from a UN special rapporteur, Maina Kiai, criticizing religious-based discrimination against the Rohingya, where the term "Rohingya" was used. The continued use of the latter term was "only making things worse" and "adding fuel to the fire," said Thet Thinar Htun. The deployment of the new elongated label could represent an attempt by the National League for Democracy (NLD) government to chart a neutral path between vocal Burmese nationalists, who reject the term "Rohingya" and insist they be called "Bengalis" (to suggest they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh), and criticism from foreign governments and human rights groups, who insist on the right of the Rohingya to identify as such. The previous military-backed government under President Thein Sein was adamant on the "Bengali" designation. While the NLD government has maintained ambiguity, NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi has publicly cautioned against the use of "emotive terms" (such as Rohingya), which she claimed only stoked tensions. Pe Than, a lawmaker in the Lower House of the Union Parliament for the Arakan National Party (ANP), which represents the interests of the Buddhist majority in Arakan State, told The Irrawaddy the current government should stick to the same usages (e.g. "Bengali") as the previous government. He said the current situation in the Arakan State was a consequence of the historical mistake of U Nu, the first prime minister of Burma, who exploited the term "Rohingya" to gain votes in general elections. "Arakan State citizens are Buddhist. Why has [the government] called them Arakan State Muslims? What's next? The term Myanmar Muslim?" he said, implying that this would be unacceptable. He claimed that "Muslim community in Arakan State" would be objectionable not only to Arakanese Buddhists but also to the "Bengali" community—although he did not explain why. He argued that the NLD government is trying to find a temporary solution because it has said it would address the problems in Arakan State as part of a "100-day plan." "They are trying to cut corners," Pe Than said. He said he personally accepted the Rohingya being designated simply as "Muslims"—the objection was to the coupling of "Muslim" with "Arakan," the latter word being, under his reasoning, the exclusive preserve of Buddhists, despite its wide use as a geographic term. He said that his party, the ANP, would be holding an urgent meeting to discuss the implications of "Muslim community in Arakan State," before releasing a statement on this new usage from the government. Yanghee Lee, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, reached Rangoon on Sunday. According to government media outlets, she will visit Kachin, Arakan and northern Shan States, as well as the capital Naypyidaw. She will be compiling a report to be delivered at the 71st UN General Assembly in New York in September. A source from the Arakan State government said Yanghee Lee would reach the Arakan state capital Sittwe on Wednesday, where she will meet with the state government and also visit Sittwe's prison. Than Htun, a Sittwe resident and self-styled nationalist, told The Irrawaddy "[Lee] is just coming to meet with Bengalis [to form] a one-sided judgment," expressing frustration with what he perceived as ingrained bias in favor of the Rohingya from the UN. Zaw Zaw, a Rohingya resident of Aung Mingalar ward in urban Sittwe—a de facto camp for Muslims, who live segregated from the town's Buddhist community and have tight restrictions imposed on their movements in and out—said he had heard some displaced Rohingya might demonstrate with hand-painted signboards during Yanghee Lee's visit, to show their own dissatisfaction with the government's new "Muslim community in Arakan State" usage. Rumors have been spreading on social media that Rohingya based in camps were planning to protest during Yanghee Lee's visit. Falsely attributed photographs circulating on Facebook purported to show Rohingya "rehearsing" with signboards and t-shirts reading, "I am Rohingya / Native Land Arakan (Burma)." "Both Arakanese and Rohingya are unhappy with the [new] term," Zaw Zaw said. "We do not accept any terminology other than Rohingya." However, he thought the government would use the new term only temporarily. If they persisted in using it, rather than referring to them as "Rohingya," the government will "not succeed," he said. In recent weeks, the government has been handing out National Verification Cards (NVCs) to stateless Muslims in several townships of Arakan State. The NVCs are provisional documents, whose bearers will later be scrutinized for citizenship eligibility under Burma's 1982 citizenship law, which discriminates heavily against the Rohingya as an "unrecognized" ethnic group. Stateless Muslims in Kyaukphyu and Ramree townships have reportedly been cooperating with the scheme. However, some in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships have refused to submit to it, because the religion and ethnicity of the bearer is not stated on the new NVCs. Many Rohingya—who comprise the large majority of stateless Muslims—are suspicious that the government will later add their own entries under religion and ethnicity, such as "Bengali Muslim," an imposed identity that many Rohingya reject. The Irrawaddy phoned both the head of Arakan State's immigration department Win Lwin and state government spokesman Min Aung, to clarify the details of Yanghee Lee's trip and the citizenship verification drive, but received no response. Last month, the Committee for Arakan State Peace, Stability and Development was formed. State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi chairs the committee. Arakan State Chief Minister Nyi Pu, an NLD appointee, and Union Border and Security Affairs Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung, a military appointee, were chosen as deputy chairs. ANP representation is conspicuously absent. The committee's purview includes resettling displaced communities, social development and coordinating the activities of UN agencies and international organizations. The post Arakanese and Rohingya Criticize New Govt Term for Muslims appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Burmese Nationals Form 8th-Largest Refugee Group Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:51 PM PDT  A young Kachin girl seen at an IDP camp in Kachin State’s Bhamo last year. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burmese nationals make up the eighth largest group of refugees in the world, according to a report by the UN refugee agency, released on Monday commemorating World Refugee Day. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that Burma displaced 451,800 people as of the end of 2015 a slight decline compared to the previous year's 479,000, due to resettlement from Malaysia in 2015. The figure includes some 120,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand's nine official camps on its border who were displaced by armed conflicts, as well as internally displaced persons in Kachin and Shan States. According to the report, Syria ranks number one as the largest refugee source country, displacing 4.9 million people and Afghanistan came in second with 2.7 million refugees. Turkey became the biggest host country with 2.5 million refugees. UNHCR's "Global Trends" report documented forced displacement worldwide based on data from governments, its partner agencies and its own reporting and found that a total 65.3 million people, more than half of which were children, were displaced as of the end of 2015, compared to 59.5 million in 2014. One in 113 people on earth are displaced, refugees or asylum-seekers. UNHCR's Monday statement mentioned that 24 people were forced to flee each minute in 2015 on average. "At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year," UNHCR's Filippo Grandi said in the report. "On land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders. Closing borders does not solve the problem." The report specified that 21.3 million were identified as refugees with 3.2 million asylum-seekers and 40.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). The post Burmese Nationals Form 8th-Largest Refugee Group appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| 10 Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (June 21) Posted: 20 Jun 2016 10:23 PM PDT 
The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events, ranging from dance and punk to arts shows, happening in Rangoon this week.  The Restaurant of Many Orders Dance & Theatre Performance
"The Restaurant of Many Orders" is a famous story written by Japanese author Kenji Miyazawa, which has been adapted for the stage by well-known Japanese director Hiroshi Koike. Showing at the National Theatre, it is both comedy and tragedy told through dance and theater. Where: National Theater, Myoma Kyaung Street, Dagon Tsp. When: Thursday, June 23, 6pm to 8:30pm
 Page for Stage
Page for Stage presents a platform for poets and spoken word artists to showcase their work. Come down to the Rough Cut to check out Rangoon's poetry scene and share your own creations. Where: The Rough Cut, 19 Minn Street, Sanchaung Tsp. Tel: 09 42116 7423 When: Thursday June 23, 7pm
 Myanmar International Education & Career Fair 2016
The second Myanmar International Education & Career Fair will be held at Tatmadaw Hall and includes talks from professors about education and career development. Register online to attend the fair at www.miecf.net. Where: Tatmadaw Hall, U Wizara Road When: Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26, 9am to 6pm
 European Food Festival in Myanmar
At the first European Food Festival in Burma, 28 restaurants including Bar Boon, Mahlzeit and L'Opera will offer traditional European dishes. On top of that, there will be a raffle with all sorts of great prizes, including a free flight from Yangon to Frankfurt. The cost is 15,000 kyat including food, drink and lottery. All proceeds benefit the Myittar Yaung Chi orphanages. Where: Mahlzeit, No. 84 Pann Hlaing Street. Tel: 09 784 151250 When: Friday June 24, 3pm
 London Property Exhibition
The London Property Expo showcases the property market in the UK and gathers developers, property consultants, project owners and investors from all over the world. Where: Novotel Yangon Max 4th Floor, 459 Pyay Road, Kamayut Tsp. 01 8605255-56 When: Saturday, June 25 to Sunday, June 26, 930am to 530pm
 FAB 41 Club Night for LGBT and Friends
After a short break in May, FAB is back with all the gay goodness. They've been missing y'all and their feet are itching for a dance. The party starts at 10 at J-One, with resident DJ Mr. Y. As always, the party kicks off at Fahrenheit with pre-fab drinks at 8pm. The cover charge is 5,000 kyat. Where: J-One Music Bar, Bo Cho Street, Tamwe Tsp. When: Saturday, June 25 to Sunday, June 26, 10pm
 Evolution Music Concert
Celebrated musicians Big Bag, DJ Wine, Ni Ni Khin Zaw, Wa Na and Wai La will perform at the Myanmar Convention Center. Where: Myanmar Convention Center (MCC), Min Dhamma Street When: Saturday, June 25, 5pm to 11pm
 'Art Strike Against' Show
Artists Chan Wai and K2K showcase more than 40 acrylic and watercolor paintings at Cloud 31. Prices range from $100-400. Where: Cloud 31 Art Gallery, 31st Street, Lower Block, Pabedan Tsp. When: Saturday, June 25 to Wednesday, June 29
 'Reunite from Pole to Pole' Exhibition
Artist Tun T. Lin puts on his third solo show at 65 Gallery, with more than 30 works ranging from $500-2,000. Where: Gallery 65, No. 65, Yaw Min Gyi Road, Dagon Tsp. When: Saturday, June 25 to Wednesday, June 29
 'Crossing Borders II' Exhibition
A group art exhibition including artist talks, installations and paintings will be held at Lokanat Gallery. Where: Lokanat Gallery, 62 Pansodan St, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp. Tel. 095-1382-269 When: Sunday, June 26 to Thursday, June 30, Artist talks are June 28-30, 2pm The post 10 Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (June 21) appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| In Mon State, Expanding Quarries Threaten Farms Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:30 PM PDT  Dust rises as rocks are broken into gravel at Yarmanya Company's quarry in Paung Township, Mon State. (Photo: Phyo Thiha Cho / Myanmar Now) PAUNG TOWNSHIP, Mon State — On a recent afternoon in May, the farmers of Ohn Titbin Village Tract were tending to their betel nut and rubber plantations when a loud blast erupted at the foot of Kalama Mountain and shook the ground. Workers had set off an explosion in a local quarry located about 10 km away and a cloud of dust drifted out from the area towards the plantations here in Mon State, southeastern Myanmar. Farmer Nyan Htay said several blasts occurred every day after quarrying had increased in the area in recent years. The resulting increase in pollution, he said, has affected the local environment and the harvest of his 6-acre rubber plantation. "I earned about 6 million kyats (about US$5,000) in previous years, but it has declined to just 3 million kyats," said the ethnic Karen villager. Farmers in the area, which comprises six villages with Bamar, Karen, Pa-O and Mon residents, said that since 2011 authorities have allowed companies to rapidly expand the extraction of rock stone to make gravel, while paying little attention to its environmental impact. Waste and dust has polluted air and water sources, they said, while explosions have disrupted the underground water table and caused cracks in the walls of local homes and Buddhist pagodas. Swathes of forest around the quarries that were used by villagers to collect firewood and food, such as bamboo shoots, have been fenced off. Polluted Creeks, Empty Wells Khin Hla Cho, a woman from Ywakalay Village, said access to drinking water has become problematic. "We have to dig new wells as the old ones have dried up due to the explosions," she said. Htein Lin, a 55-year-old farmer in Pa-O Su Village, said he relied on a now polluted local creek and sediments in the water had gradually covered 5 of his 6.5 acres of land. "I could only complain to the village administrator about the damage to my land, but nothing else happened," he lamented. Anger has long been building among the communities. In 2014, they sent a petition with 1,200 signatures to the President's Office but received no reply. Recently, they sent letters to the National League for Democracy (NLD) government in Naypyidaw and the Mon State government demanding action against the quarries. On June 5, desperate farmers staged a protest calling for Long Life Aggregate Mining Company to cease quarrying. Shwe Thaung, the Ohn Titbin Village Administrator, acknowledged the environmental problems, but said he was powerless to stop the companies because they had received long-running licenses from the previous government "A creek that was 100 feet wide in the past has now narrowed to about six feet because heaps of waste [from the quarries] were dumped in it," he told Myanmar Now, adding that pollution had also affected his rubber plantation. Supplying Expanding Infrastructure More than 100 quarries have sprung up in recent years near the easily accessible mountains in Mon State—22 of which are located in Paung Township and 48 in Kyaikhto Township, according to Aye Zan, an NLD Mon State lawmaker who is studying the industry's environmental impact. On the eastern and western sides of Kalama Mountain, which dominates the region, six companies—Yarmanya, Long Life Aggregate Mining, Shwe Myint Moh Tun, Tun Tauk Sa, Azami and L.M. Jewellery—are extracting rock stone. At the noisy, dusty quarries, dynamite and heavy machinery is used to break off large chunks of rocks from the mountainside, which are then crushed into gravel or smaller rocks that are loaded on to trucks. The construction material is supplied to Myanmar's growing number of road and infrastructure works, as well as government development projects, such as deep-sea ports and special economic zones at Thilawa near Rangoon, and Kyauk Phyu Island off Arakan State. Tin Ohn, general manager of Shwe Myint Moh Tun Company, said it held a 30-year license to quarry 50 acres of mountainside, adding that the firm produced around 400 tons of rocks per day destined for the Thilawa SEZ. "We operate quarries at a rocky mountainside that is not suitable for agriculture. We have approval of the Mon State government," he said. Tin Ohn downplayed the quarry's environmental impacts, but added that affected farmers would be paid around $80 if they could show that a young rubber tree was destroyed by the company. Government Action? Tin Hla, a senior member of the Agriculture and Farmers Federation of Myanmar, which is supporting local communities, said some companies were breaching environmental rules by operating in the vicinity of farms, but authorities failed to act against them. "According to the rules, quarries must be set up about 4 miles away from villages," he said, adding that the companies made no effort to consult villagers or accept complaints about their operations. Aye Zan, the NLD lawmaker, said, "We can say for sure that these mining activities have negative environmental and social impacts, but we are still in the process of surveying all these mining sites in Mon State. "After that we will table a bill in the Mon State parliament about this issue." Tun Ming Aung, a Paung Township state lawmaker with the NLD who raised the problems in the state legislature on June 2, said he would call for regulating the quarries when the complaints were properly documented. "If people really suffer from these quarries we will try to stop them," he said. Min Kyi Win, the state’s Minister for Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources, told Myanmar Now that the environmental impacts were a concern, but added that the quarries were an important source of state government revenue. "If our country has sufficient revenue… we don't need to break up these mountains," he said. Htun Ko, a 35-year-old farmer from Ook Tatar Village who has been protesting against Long Life Aggregate Mining Company, said residents' livelihoods suffered greatly and he vowed they would continue to fight against the mining. "Our campaign will continue until the companies move away from this area," he said. This story originally appeared on Myanmar Now. The post In Mon State, Expanding Quarries Threaten Farms appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
