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Saturday, July 9, 2016

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Dateline Irrawaddy: ‘We Have to Reform the Entire Administrative System’

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 06:51 PM PDT

Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, we'll discuss the U Thein Sein government's motives for reintroducing permanent secretary posts in the ministries, appointing their men to these posts, and whether the appointments were designed to restrict or cause trouble for the National League for Democracy (NLD) government elected by the people. Former Information Minister and sole presidential spokesperson for the previous government U Ye Htut and political commentator Dr. Yan Myo Thein will join me for the discussion. I'm Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe.

U Ye Htut, President U Thein Sein articulated the idea of permanent secretaries in 2014, and made appointments in 2015. Many permanent secretaries were appointed throughout 36 ministries, and most of them were government officials, former colonels, deputy colonels and majors. This retained the parachute policy [when high-ranking military officers were dropped in from above to preside over ministries and other administrative departments] first adopted by dictator U Ne Win in 1962. From a political point of view, can this be seen as an honest move?

Ye Htut: I deny your allegation. We did that with absolute honesty in the hope of delivering the best outcome for our country. As we initiated reforms—after making reforms in the political and economic sectors—we made studies to undertake administrative reforms. We found that in a democracy, elections will usually be held about every five years and the government will change at least every five to ten years. So, we deemed it necessary to continue the permanent secretary post—which was adopted in the time of Burma Socialist Program Party—to help keep the administrative mechanism going no matter which government or minister is in office. We did not have much time left in office and therefore could not reform the entire administrative system. We could only create the permanent secretary post as a mechanism to help during the transition period.

If you ask me if these appointments are beneficial or not, I would say that it was not the outgoing ministers who took on the primary responsibility of transferring authority [to incoming ministers] during the transfer of power, but the permanent secretaries who took the overall responsibility, by compiling reports and proving explanations to the incoming ministers. We introduced the post with the intention of brining benefits [to the country]. It is fair to say that permanent secretaries played a useful role in the power transfer. As you have said, it is true that most of the permanent secretaries are former military personnel. That is because most of the director-general level senior officials were former military personnel. They were included inevitably.

KZM: We have heard talk that most of the permanent secretaries—I don't mean all of them, many of them may be cooperative and helpful—act as gatekeepers and do not get on well with the policies of the new ministers. Doesn't this pose a problem to the new government?

YH: In a ministry, the minister decides the policies. Permanent secretaries and departmental heads implement the ministers' policies in line with concerned departmental procedures and regulations. This means that if a minister's policy is against the law, he [the permanent secretary] has to say so; and, if there is a way to make the policy comply with the law, he has to present it. If he refuses to implement the minister's policy while it is compliant with the law, the minister may report this to the president and dismiss him.

KZM: Ko Yan Myo Thein, what have you heard about this? What is your response to U Ye Htut's statement?

Yan Myo Thein: There were permanent secretaries in the democratic parliamentary system. But after the coup in 1962, those permanent secretaries were replaced with director-generals. As to the reappointment of permanent secretaries by the previous government, I think it just makes the government bloated. Although they replaced the director-generals, they also led to the creation of new positions such as deputy permanent secretary and assistant secretary. If government expenditure in our country—which is one of the poorest countries in South East Asia—is too high, it will burden the people. There were almost 100 ministers and deputy ministers in U Thein Sein's government. I think the appointment of permanent secretaries does not suit the current situation. If the new government continues to work within the configuration left by the previous government, changes that will serve the interests of the people are unlikely during next five years.

KZM: But the new government has kept the permanent secretaries. Because the new government is working for national reconciliation on the political front, I guess it intends to keep a political space—or is attempting a political maneuver—by accepting the permanent secretaries appointed by the previous government. If there are people who oppose the policies of the new government, can the new government dismiss them?

YH: The Constitution grants the president the power to appoint and dismiss the heads of government agencies. In response to what U Yan Myo Thein said, I would say that the administrative system was reformed only once. When we gained independence in 1948, we adapted and continued the permanent secretary system, which was a legacy of the British. Afterwards, [U Ne Win] came to power in 1962 and talked about adopting a system that suited the socialist constitution around 1969, and introduced a new administrative system in 1972. Even after 1988, the Socialist Program Party system was modified in practice. We adopted permanent secretary posts with the intention of facilitating the power transfer. We could change the heads but there is no mechanism in which permanent secretaries are trained and promoted through the ranks from deputy township officers, township officers, sub-divisional officers, deputy commissioners and commissioners, like in the past.

My suggestion is that the lower structure be changed when the upper structure is changed. It is another question to consider whether the Socialist Program Party's policy was right or wrong and a success or failure. But the party systematically studied and adapted an administrative system that was appropriate for the socialist system, even though it failed. Because we are on a democratic path now, we have to thoroughly study the civil service system and administrative system for a year or two, to see what suits democracy and then make reforms. Otherwise, the upper structure and lower structure will not be able to work together well. It may work to a certain extent, but it won't work 100 percent. It is not because people are uncooperative and unwilling; they are simply incapable.

KZM: I heard from high-ranking officials in Naypyidaw that while the new ministers do not yet know about their ministries, the permanent secretaries and director-generals are key players there and staff sometimes have to submit to them and follow their instructions. How should the new government quickly change this?

YMT: While the ministers should listen to the voices of the permanent secretaries and director-generals, they also need to gather feedback from officials and others in lower ranks separately. Because we are thinking of making changes, those changes should be innovative and competitive—the kind of changes that could be compared with our neighbors. Ministers should establish that goal and make the necessary preparations. Regarding ex-military officers who are in the civil service, that is a separate consideration. There are many records that show that these appointments have restricted the chance of career progression for civil servants. Ministers need to think about how to prevent such transfers in the future and how to change this.

KZM: If I am not wrong, Ko Myat Nyana Soe from the NLD opposed [in Parliament] when the proposal for the appointment of permanent secretaries was submitted in 2015. They thought these appointments aimed to hinder [the new government]. I heard that permanent secretaries have informal communication and counseling with [former] ministers, although Minister U Ye Htut is not one of them. Although this cannot be called a continuation of the former government's policies, is it a barrier to the current government?

YH: After we retired, former president U Thein Sein told us to avoid frequent communication with departmental personnel [former colleagues] in the post-transition period no matter how close we were to them, because he was afraid that there might be a misunderstanding like the one you have just mentioned. He said that even though there was no communication [between former ministers and their former colleagues], third parties might say this and that to the ministers. If this makes the ministers doubt that their subordinates will follow their instructions, then there might be strain in vertical relations. I never contact my former colleagues when I am in Naypyidaw. When I have to contact them for my pension, I keep the conversations formal. I avoid interpersonal communication with them. Some [permanent secretaries and senior officials] may have [interpersonal contact with their former ministers] as you have said. If so, the [new] ministers may take action against them. I agree with what Ko Yan Myo Thein said. Ministers need to keep communication channels open. They might not know about their ministries because they have just taken office, and need to open several channels in order to learn about them. If they filter the news from various channels and the media, it could be quite difficult for a permanent secretary to control a minister.

KZM: Since 1962, the military or the Socialist Program Party during the U Ne Win era transferred ex-military officers to senior positions within the ministries, which we call a parachute policy. That system could be called a political legacy and it still has not been changed up until now. That dynamic is still going on. How long will it continue? When should those people be removed?

YH: The caretaker government [of Ne Win] transferred military officers to special officer posts in the civil service. There were 100 of them at first, I think. The policies of the caretaker government were a success at that time. Then, the Revolutionary Council came into power. We can conclude from their speeches in the early days that they thought bureaucracy could be a barrier to a socialist revolution. They started to transfer [military officials to the civil service] to exercise checks and balances on existing civil servants, which they called cadre infiltration. You can't drive out all existing people now. It will just lead to a more complicated situation. But you can set a standard. You can remove people who do not meet a standard in line with civil service regulations.

We have to reform the entire administrative system to suit the multi-party democratic system we are practicing. If you ask me if we couldn't do that before—we couldn't. Our first priority was political reform and then economic reform. Therefore, we focused on those during the first wave of reform. When we initiated administrative reform in the second wave, we could only ease some regulations and reorganize some departments. But we could not change the system for selecting and training civil servants from the lowest levels to the permanent secretary level—previously we called them junior staff and senior staff. We lack a system to turn out senior staff as well as criteria to assess their capacity. I think the new government should systematically study the administrative mechanism and reform the lower level to suit the political system of the upper level.

KZM: U Ye Htut, what would your advice be to permanent secretaries appointed by the previous government to work together with the current government to ensure a smooth democratization process in Burma?

YH: In the final months of our government, we frequently talked about this with our ministry staff. Individually, civil servants can vote for a party they like in a democracy. But collectively as a civil service entity, they are responsible for implementing their minister's policies to the best of their abilities in line with procedure. We urged civil servants to follow those instructions. I understand that they might be confused by the current separation [of military, government and other institutions] after living in a one-party system and under centralized military control for ages. The newcomers do not have complete trust in the staff and the staff might be worried that they would be scapegoated if something happened. Mainly, I would urge them to work cooperatively with the attitude I have mentioned above. They need to dispel doubt and work cooperatively. I would suggest that they first build trust and cooperate rather than pointing the blame at each other.

KZM: Thank you for your contributions!

The post Dateline Irrawaddy: 'We Have to Reform the Entire Administrative System' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (July 9, 2016)

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 06:44 PM PDT

Aung San Suu Kyi and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha oversee the signing of new agreements on labor cooperation and cross border affairs in Bangkok on June 24. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy)

Burger King opens in Burma, but only for outbound flyers

The first Burger King outlet in Burma opened at the start of July, but the restaurant at Rangoon International Airport's new terminal will remain off-limits to most people in the country.

The Facebook page for Rangoon's airport announced the opening the day before it launched on July 1 in the brand new "T1" terminal.

The restaurant is "available to departing passengers only," however, as it sits airside of immigration controls.

The same goes for American ice cream shop Swensen's, which also opened on July 1, according to the Facebook page, although that chain already has branches in Rangoon. Both are operated in Burma under a franchise held by the Bangkok-based Minor Food Group, the Myanmar Times reported. The company holds the franchises for both chains in Thailand, according to its website.

At the moment, to visit the restaurants, you have to be on a flight with one of three airlines currently operating out of the new terminal: Myanmar National Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air Asia.

Yangon Aerodrome, the company that operates the airport, inaugurated the new terminal building in March. The company is a subsidiary of Asia World, a massive conglomerate that is blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury for its links to the illegal heroin trade.

Japan's Hitachi has big plans for Burma

Japanese electronics and infrastructure conglomerate Hitachi is reportedly planning to increase by a factor of five the size of its operations in Burma.

Nikkei Asian Review reported comments from Hitachi's president and chief executive officer, Hiroaki Nakanishi, who visited the capital, Naypyidaw, this week.

The CEO would be meeting with government officials to propose new projects as the company looks to expand its operation to 300 billion yen (about US$299 million) by 2020, the report said.

Hitachi, along with fellow Japanese company Mitsubishi Corporation, won a Myanma Railways contract in May last year for upgrades on Burma's dilapidated rail network. The $24 million project, due for completion in June 2017, includes installing systems to coordinate signals along a 140-kilometer stretch of track between Rangoon and Pyuntaza, Pegu Division.

"On top of the electrification of the rail system, we will present proposals to the government, including a comprehensive plan to develop the transportation infrastructure," Hiroaki was quoted saying.

Hitachi wants to help improve the government's database of maps using GPS, which would "provide a launching pad for resource exploration, disaster prevention, flood control and other related operations across a wide spectrum," the president was quoted as saying.

Hitachi will also work with Japan Post to help Myanmar Post offer "e-money" services, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported.

A press release on Wednesday said a unit of the group, Hitachi Solutions, had also won a tender last year to "implement an electronic data interchange system" for Burma’s Port Authority. The company also said it would host a Social Innovation Forum in Naypyidaw to boost its sales in the country.

"Last year, Hitachi announced plans to expand our business in [Burma] and increase the number of local employees five times—from 200 to 1,000—by 2020," Hiroaki was quoted in the statement saying. "We are very much on track and I am pleased to share that our employee numbers have more than doubled to over 500 in just one year."

Next round of licenses for foreign banks underway

A Vietnamese bank has received its license to conduct banking operations in Burma after the government said in March it would award four additional banks permission to do business in the country.

Following a round of awards in 2014, nine overseas banks were granted licenses that allow them to conduct limited operations in the country, although they are not permitted to do retail banking.

In March, the government said it had decided to award additional licenses to the State Bank of India, E. SUN Commercial Bank of Taiwan, Shinhan Bank of South Korea and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV). Reuters reported that the four banks would have a year in which to demonstrate that they could deliver on their business plans before getting a permanent license.

According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, "the four banks are each required to invest at least US$75 million of capital and have 12 months to fulfill business commitments outlined in their initial applications. They should also take all necessary measures to ensure functional banking operations from day one of business."

Reports from Viet Nam News and the Chinese state newswire Xinhua said this week that Burma's Central Bank had now granted BIDV its license, allowing the Vietnamese bank to commence operations from this month.

"In the coming period, the bank will focus on providing modern banking products and services to [Burma's] enterprises and foreign firms in the country, especially those from Viet Nam and countries with close links to [Burma], such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (China)," Viet Nam News said.

"The other three […] are yet to meet the set requirements for final approval for service licenses," Xinhua said. "South Korea's Shinhan Bank, which plans to operate its branch in [Rangoon] in the first quarter of 2017, said [Burma] will play a crucial role in tapping deeper into the market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations."

Efforts to boost Burma's trade with Thailand

Following the visit of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to Thailand last month, during which she met with the Thai junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha and addressed Burmese migrant workers in the country, the two countries are reportedly targeting bilateral trade worth up to US$12 billion next year.

The Nation reported the target in an article citing Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn, ahead of his delegation attending a meeting this week of the two countries' Joint Trade Commission (JTC) in Naypyidaw.

The Bangkok-based newspaper said the two-day meeting would work out ways to push trade to $10-12 billion from its 2015 level, $7.74 billion.

"At the JTC meeting, the ministers will discuss cooperation on Mae Sot-Myawaddy border trade and the setting up of a CLMVT (Cambodia, Laos, [Burma], Vietnam and Thailand) Business Council led by the private sector to solve trade-related problems," The Nation said.

"Under the JTC, Thailand and [Burma] will also support the use of local currencies in special economic zones (SEZs) and other areas, while seeking ways to facilitate investment from both countries."

Telenor appoints new CEO for Burma

Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor is replacing its CEO for Burma, almost two years into its operations in the country.

The current chief financial officer, Lars Erik Tellmann, 44, will become CEO from Aug. 1, a statement said.

He replaces Petter Furberg, who led the company's entry into Burma in 2014. Since it launched in September of that year, the company has built a subscription base of more than 15.5 million, based on its most recent statistics, published in April. It also has a network of more than 5,000 cellphone towers.

"Under Petter's guidance, Telenor has established itself as a preferred mass market operator in [Burma]. He hands over a company with a clear vision, a well-established strategy, and a strong foundation for future growth," Telenor Group CEO and President Sigve Brekke said in the statement.

Tellman, who has been with Telenor Myanmar from its start, suggested there would be continuity in terms of strategy.

"Telenor has a solid market and network presence in [Burma] and with a proven strategy and business model we are well set-up for future growth," he was quoted saying.

The post The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (July 9, 2016) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Friday, July 8, 2016

The Irrawaddy Magazine

NLD ‘Will Not Take Ma Ba Tha Demands Seriously’
Burmese Citizens Show Support for Rangoon Chief Minister
National Human Rights Education Initiative Forthcoming
Farmers Protesting on Seized Land Let Off With Light Fine
Gold Price Reaches New High
Kachin Warlord to Appeal Loss of Parliamentary Seat
Landmine Explosion Kills 1, Wounds 7 in Shan State
Education Ministry to Invest in Informal Education

NLD ‘Will Not Take Ma Ba Tha Demands Seriously’

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 07:01 AM PDT

Win Htein, NLD spokesperson and central executive committee member. (Photo: J Paing / The Irrawaddy)

NAYPYIDAW — Win Htein, spokesperson for the National League for Democracy (NLD), said that the party will not take seriously a demand by ultra-nationalist monks that the government punish a regional minister for recent remarks criticizing their hardline Buddhist group.

The Association for the Protection of Race and Religion—better known by its Burmese acronym "Ma Ba Tha"—on Thursday called for action to be taken by the country's ruling NLD leadership against the Rangoon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein—also an NLD member—for deeming the hardline organization "not necessary."

In their statement released on the same day, Ma Ba Tha said they would send also their request to longtime NLD patron Tin Oo.

"Regarding that case, we only have the attitude of making big problems smaller, and making small problems none. We don't take it too seriously. We won't take it seriously just because of their demands," Win Htein, one of the party's central executive committee members, told the reporters in Naypyidaw on Friday evening.

He said that the NLD's policy is not to mix religion and politics. For the time being, he added, the NLD's primary focus is to smooth the political, economic and peace processes prioritized by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Win Htein described all other issues as "trivial" matters.

"We have no reason to respond to [those] who usually say terribly nasty things on Facebook. We won't put those things into our minds while Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is moving forward shrewdly," Win Htein said, referring to Ma Ba Tha leader Wirathu, a monk known for his anti-Muslim stance and public statements which have been criticized by rights groups as hate speech.

Burma's 2008 Constitution forbids the abuse of religion for political purposes, he pointed out. If Ma Ba Tha abides by the law, Win Htein explained, issues will be settled under the law; if Ma Ba Tha fails to abide by the law, local authorities will be called in to regulate the group, he added.

The post NLD 'Will Not Take Ma Ba Tha Demands Seriously' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burmese Citizens Show Support for Rangoon Chief Minister

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 06:10 AM PDT

A Facebook user changes their profile picture to show support for Rangoon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein. (Photo: J Paing / The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — Burmese citizens abroad and at home flocked to social media in support of the Rangoon chief minister's remark that the ultra-nationalist Buddhist group known by the Burmese acronym Ma Ba Tha was "not necessary."

At a meeting with the Burmese community in Singapore on Sunday, Rangoon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein said that Ma Ba Tha—the self-appointed guardian of race and religion—was not necessary in Burma, because the country already had the state Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee—a clerical council appointed by the government to oversee monastic discipline.

Upon arrival in Rangoon on Wednesday, the chief minister was confronted by a small group of Ma Ba Tha supporters protesting outside of Rangoon International Airport, where he repeated, "We don't need Ma Ba Tha."

His comment went viral on Facebook with many users changing their profile photos and sharing pictures that said, "[U] Phyo Min Thein, We stand with You" as well as "Down with Ma Ba Tha Extremists."

Ko Ko Htin Htin, an engineer working in Singapore, said that Burmese expatriates in Singapore would conduct an online poll to show support for the disintegration of Ma Ba Tha.

"We don't want Ma Ba Tha and we don't want their activities," he said.

Ko Ko Htin Htin said that to prove the votes were credible, the poll would ask that each voter provide their name, national registration card number and birthdate.

"According to recent data from the Burmese Embassy in Singapore, over 200,000 Burmese nationals live here. We will find out how many Burmese people here stand together," he said.

Founded in 2014, Ma Ba Tha has garnered international notoriety for its hardline anti-Muslim stance, which frequently spills into hate speech. The group has been heavily involved in anti-Rohingya protests around the country, and frequently denounces the persecuted Muslim minority who are denied citizenship in Burma. The country experienced widespread religious violence under the quasi-civilian government of former President Thein Sein, who ruled from 2011-16, and human rights activists have accused members of Ma Ba Tha of inciting the unrest.

Ma Ba Tha has also long opposed State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. During the 2015 general election campaign period, the group actively campaigned against them.

"What did they do for race and religion? All they did was lash out and defame Suu Kyi and her counterparts, which is really coarse. Calling yourself the protectors of race and religion, but doing the opposite—no one accepts this," Ko Ko Htin Htin said.

"Buddhism is about following the teachings of Buddha, not following the teachings of Ma Ba Tha," he added.

Ma Ba Tha leaders condemned the Rangoon chief minister's comments and threatened to hold a nationwide campaign against him.

"We will send a request to President U Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to take action against Rangoon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, who said that Ma Ba Tha is not necessary," the group said in a public statement released after an urgent meeting called on Thursday at the group's Rangoon headquarters.

The organization identified July 14 as a deadline for the government reprimand. It also insisted that Ma Ba Tha is a lawful association, claiming that it could be classified as a "non-governmental missionary group," while describing the Sangha Maha Nayaka as an authoritative clerical organization.

Sayadaw Ashin Issariya, a Mandalay-based monk and former political prisoner, described Ma Ba Tha's activities as contrary to the institution's policies and that members have often committed acts of violence for which the group has never taken responsibility.

"What they did does not protect race and religion but tears it down," the monk said.

"I completely agree with the Rangoon chief minister—but not just because he said it. I would agree if anyone who practiced any religion said, 'We don't need Ma Ba Tha,' because that's the truth."

The post Burmese Citizens Show Support for Rangoon Chief Minister appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National Human Rights Education Initiative Forthcoming

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 05:58 AM PDT

Primary students pictured at Botahtaung Township's School No. 6 in Rangoon on June 1, 2016. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — Burma's national human rights commission will join the Ministry of Education in integrating human rights education into the national curriculum, a move likely to be implemented in the following academic year, the commission has announced.

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) and the education ministry agreed in June to work cooperatively to include Human Rights Education (HRE) lessons within the provisions of basic education, starting from second grade and finishing in twelfth. The two institutions will begin drafting the curriculum during the third week of July, Dr. Khine Khine Win, the director of MNHRC's human rights education and promotion division, told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

"We will develop the curriculum with illustrations and pictures based on what children should know about basic human rights in their respective grades and what is appropriate for their level," she said.

Dr. Khine Khine Win explained that the lesson content will draw upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child. HRE will not be taught as a separate course, however—lessons are expected to be integrated within one of the main subjects already being taught.

The director-general of the Ministry of Education's Department of Myanmar Education Research Bureau Dr. Khaing Mye said that basic concepts and knowledge related to human rights had already been touched upon in social skills and life skills lessons within the existing curriculum, but the MNHRC aims to update these lessons to increase their relevance to the present day.

"Teaching human rights education in classrooms will assist children and our society in developing mutual respect, promoting equality, [and] understanding and respecting diversity in religions, cultures and customs," he told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

The ministry's curriculum development team includes international and local education experts and is supported by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Khaing Mye said.

Dr. Khine Khine Win said that people in Burma have never had the opportunity to learn about human rights in state schools; if these ideas are learned from an early age, she hopes that the next generation will understand and respect human dignity and know how to effectively apply these principles in all aspects of their lives.

"When these children become adults, they won't be like us—learning what human rights are and what violations of human rights are, at an old age," she said.

In June, Burma's education minister, Myo Thein Gyi, took to the floor of Parliament and explained to lawmakers that his ministry would take steps to include human rights as a subject for university students pursuing law degrees. The addition will take place beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year, which starts in December.

The post National Human Rights Education Initiative Forthcoming appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Farmers Protesting on Seized Land Let Off With Light Fine

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 05:54 AM PDT

Farmers and land activists in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region, July 8. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy)

MANDALAY — A court in Mandalay Division's Madaya township on Friday fined 105 farmers between 500 and 3,000 kyats (US$0.43–$2.56) for plowing in protest on land they claim had been seized from them.

For staging the plowing protest in March 2013, the farmers from seven different villages in the township were charged with trespassing, deterring government officers from their duty and destroying public property.

The farmers and the lawyer representing them, who spoke to The Irrawaddy, interpreted the sentence as deliberately lenient.

"Sentencing the farmers with only a fine shows that the court in Madaya had sympathy for the farmers whose land was confiscated, even though it found them guilty," said Thein Than Oo, a lawyer representing the farmers.

The farmers charged with trespassing must pay a 3,000-kyat fine, while those charged with deterring government officers from their duty or destroying public property must pay 500 kyats.

The lawyer stated that common penalties for these offenses include jail time between three months and two years, but the judges opted for small fines based on their "humanity."

"We have to welcome the court's decision. They had sympathy for us, because we lost our land and have nothing to do for our living," said Ye Yint Aung, one of the dispossessed farmers from Tangar Taung village in Madaya Township.

Since the year 2000, about 600 acres of land from seven villages in the township was seized by the (now defunct) Ministry of Cooperatives in partnership with the Yaynantha Agricultural Corporation.

Because the lands were abandoned soon after their seizure—and in light of promises made by the reformist administration of President Thein Sein from 2011 to return seized lands that were not being used back to farmers—they staged the plowing protest in 2013.

Vice-president Henry Van Thio, who acts as chairman of the Central Review Committee on Confiscated Farm Lands and Other Lands, will reportedly visit Madaya on Saturday to host a ceremony overseeing the return of seized land to local farmers.

However, the farmers fined for the plowing protest said their lands were not included on the list of those who will be getting their land back on Saturday.

However, they were hopeful that their lands could be returned eventually: "We still need to send the required documents to the chief minister of Mandalay and to Naypyidaw," said Ye Yint Aung. "We believe our government will not abandon us."

The Central Review Committee on Confiscated Farmlands and Other Lands, which is situated within the executive branch of government, was formed in May. It is charged with monitoring state and divisional governments' handling of land disputes, and enabling the return of land to dispossessed farmers from government ministries, state-owned enterprises and private companies.

So far, the committee claims to have overseen the return of 6,000 acres of land in Maubin and Pyapon townships of Irrawaddy Division.

On June 30, 70 dispossessed farmers in Zayarthiri Township of Naypyidaw were given temporary farmland tenure permits for more than 200 acres confiscated between 2006 and 2013. At the ceremony, Naypyidaw Council Chairman Myo Aung said that the Central Review Committee would resolve all land disputes in Burma within six months.

The post Farmers Protesting on Seized Land Let Off With Light Fine appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Gold Price Reaches New High

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 04:41 AM PDT

Vendors arrange a display of gold jewelry at a shop in Chinatown in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — After hitting a record high last month, gold prices have continued to rise to their highest point ever due to increasing global gold prices, industry sources say.

The local price for one tical, a traditional Burmese weight measurement equal to 16.33 grams (just over a half ounce), jumped to almost 840,000 kyats (US$685) this week, up from last month's 812,000 kyat peak.

The price has been pushed up by global prices and influenced by Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) last month. Gold dealers said this is the highest price on record since the country opened its economy to external trade in 1988.

"Today's local price is a record, and the global gold price is only going to increase in the coming days. Gold shop owners are seeing decreased sales, but there are many sellers coming here and trying to profit on goods they bought for a lower price," said Kyaw Win, secretary of the Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association.

On July 8, the global gold price reached US$1,363 per ounce, up from $1,300 last month.

"The local gold market is indirectly affected by matters in the EU, but I don't think the price will go down again right away. There is the potential for it to go even higher seeing that the actual Brexit has a long way to go still," Kyaw Win said.

"People are selling their gold and saving money or investing in the US dollar, as this is not a good time to invest in property," he said.

Because the US dollar exchange rate has stabilized around 1170 kyats per dollar, investors are hoping to profit by shifting their investments from gold to dollars, Kyaw Win said.

It is a good time for people who have hoarded gold to cash out in the market, said U Maw, owner of Aung Thamadi goldsmith in Mandalay. "Many gold shops are now buying gold from their customers. Trading has reversed."

The post Gold Price Reaches New High appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Kachin Warlord to Appeal Loss of Parliamentary Seat

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 04:22 AM PDT

Zahkung Ting Ying, Upper House representative for Kachin State-5, who commands his own private militia, the New Democratic Army-Kachin. (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — Veteran Kachin militia leader Zahkung Ting Ying has appealed against the ruling of a post-election tribunal, which required that he vacate his seat in the Upper House of Parliament, according to Hla Han, the lawyer defending his case.

On June 24, the tribunal in Naypyidaw—comprised of three members of the Union Election Commission (UEC)—pronounced Zahkung Ting Ying guilty of breaching Article 66 of the Upper House Election Law, which outlines electoral "malpractices" including "committing violence," "false accusations," "creating public unrest," and obstructing a party or person "for the purpose of electing a [parliamentary] candidate."

His rival independent candidate Yaw Na and a National League for Democracy (NLD) candidate, San Wai Khaung Lwan—who competed in another constituency in the same area of eastern Kachin State—both filed cases against him with a tribunal established by the UEC in December last year to settle post-election disputes.

The cases filed against Zahkung alleged intimidation, defamation and violence against other candidates during the election campaign period last year, via Zahkung's private militia—the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), which is firmly allied with the Burma Army and became a Border Guard Force in 2009.

As an independent candidate, Zahkung won the Upper House seat of Kachin State-5, a sparsely populated area covering Chipwi, Tsawlaw and Injingyang townships. He was also a lawmaker under the previous government, from 2011.

Zahkung's lawyer Hla Han told The Irrawaddy, "We decided to appeal because local supporters of Zahkung opposed the ruling. We heard that they are preparing to stage a protest. What's more, there were some errors in the [tribunal's] judgment."

Zahkung released a statement on July 1 requesting his supporters not to organize protests for fear that it might lead to "unnecessary problems."

If Zahkung loses the appeal, his independent rival Yaw Nar would assume his parliamentary seat since he was the runner-up in the poll with around 3,000 votes to Zahkung's approximately 5,000.

Electoral laws state that either party to a dispute can appeal a tribunal ruling within 15 days. All appeals will be heard by the UEC, without judicial or parliamentary oversight.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

The post Kachin Warlord to Appeal Loss of Parliamentary Seat appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Landmine Explosion Kills 1, Wounds 7 in Shan State

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 02:11 AM PDT

Palaung (Ta'ang) villagers walk in Namtu Township, northern Shan State. (Photo: Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy)

One person died and seven were injured when a landmine exploded on Wednesday in Namtu Township in northern Shan State, where several armed groups are active.

The landmine detonated while 17 villagers from Nar Seng village tract in Namtu Township were transporting food rations for the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S).

The SSA-S will provide care and arrangements for those who were injured and the one fatality, said Nang Kham Aye, Lower House parliamentarian from the same township.

She said that landmine injuries have increased in the region since 2015, and that raising awareness of landmines would help the locals and lower the number of incidents.

Namtu Township has been plagued with fighting, at times between the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the SSA-S, and also between the TNLA and the Burma Army. The armed groups have placed landmines during the conflict, some of which kill or maim civilians before being cleared.

Over the first three months of 2016, 21 landmine causalities were documented in Shan State. According to Unicef and its partners in compiling data, 59 landmine incidents occurred in 2015, with 34 of the victims being children.

Burma has the third highest concentration of landmines in the world, after Afghanistan and Colombia.

The post Landmine Explosion Kills 1, Wounds 7 in Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Education Ministry to Invest in Informal Education

Posted: 07 Jul 2016 11:30 PM PDT

Primary students on their way home from a school in Mandalay. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy)

Under the new education policy of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, the Ministry of Education will invest its efforts in informal education, a sector that was previously handled by civil society organizations.

"The education ministry has recently engaged in informal education because of the new government's policy. For the time being, we are holding talks with stakeholders," said Khine Mye, a ministry spokesperson.

An alternative education forum was held at Mingalar Thiri hotel in Naypyidaw on Wednesday. Attendees included education minister Myo Thein Gyi, departmental personnel, and civil society organizations currently engaged in providing alternative education to children who cannot afford formal education and children with disabilities.

The ministry spent over one billion kyat (about US$850,000) in the 2015-16 fiscal year, and plans to establish alternative and life-long education departments under its supervision, according to spokesperson Khine Mye, who also serves as director-general of the Education Research Bureau.

He added that the ministry implemented a plan in 2008 that enables dropouts who receive informal education to attend the appropriate grades when they return to school. So far, the approach has benefitted more than 60,000 dropouts.

"Our policy is to carry out a formal education program in parallel with an informal one that provides knowledge and expertise for nation-building," Khine Mye said.

The education ministry began providing schooling to the children of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand's Mae Sot earlier this year, where students in grades five through nine are permitted to sit for Burma's nationwide exams. Last year, 100 children of Burmese migrant workers sat for the matriculation exams in Burma's Myawaddy [across the border from Mae Sot] and 17 of them passed.

"There are migrant learning centers [in Mae Sot] funded by civil society organizations. There were previously 74 centers there but now there are 64. They teach a syllabus that aligns with Burma's formal curriculum," said Tin Nyunt, an education expert.

The NLD levied a 5 percent tax on all mobile calling and data charges beginning in April, and invested the revenue from April and May into the education sector. According to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, almost US$6 million was raised in April from the tax.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

The post Education Ministry to Invest in Informal Education appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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Ma Ba Tha hits back at minister's calls for termination

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 02:30 AM PDT

A prominent Buddhist nationalist group is fighting back against the Yangon chief minister's attempts to dissolve the organisation.

A reluctant association

Posted: 08 Jul 2016 12:58 AM PDT

Giving help to non-state armed groups can result in a five-year jail term under a controversial law, but as members of one such illegal organisation explain, villagers are often forced to get involved against their will.