The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Min Aung Hlaing Asks Soldiers in Arakan Not to Be ‘Extreme’
• Arakanese Activist Sentenced to Two Years Hard Labor
• State-Backed Monks’ Council Decries Ma Ba Tha as ‘Unlawful’
• Detained Laborers Sentenced for Contempt of Court
• No New Irrigation Dams During Govt’s Term
• Top Bureaucrat, Former Censor-in-Chief Resigns
• Banks Reminded to Accept Foreign Currency in ‘All’ Conditions

Min Aung Hlaing Asks Soldiers in Arakan Not to Be ‘Extreme’ Posted: 13 Jul 2016 07:27 AM PDT Min Aung Hlaing delivers a speech at a military cantonment in Sittwe on Tuesday. (Photo: Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing / Facebook) Burma Army Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing requested soldiers stationed in Arakan State not to practice "extreme activities" while upholding their culture and religion. He made the comments in a speech delivered on Wednesday to soldiers and their families at a military cantonment in the Arakan State capital of Sittwe. Min Aung Hlaing has been conducting a relief tour of several flood-hit areas in Arakan State. In his speech, the armed forces chief cited previous official figures that Burma's population is 87 percent Buddhist, six percent Christian and four percent Muslim, alongside smaller religious communities. These figures, still in official use, have not been updated according to the 2014 census, whose breakdown on religious demographics has been repeatedly delayed due to concerns over social unrest, and is now scheduled for release later this month. "People should not resort to extreme activities in upholding their respective religions and cultures, but must do so in a 'just' way," said Min Aung Hlaing. In his speech, later posted on his official Facebook page, Min Aung Hlaing said that it was necessary to "reestablish unity" among ethnic groups, which was "broken" after Burma lost its independence during the British colonial era. He blamed "discriminatory" policies from colonial rulers for creating "disunity, division and misunderstanding" leading to ethnic armed conflict and "disagreements" over politics, religion and national identity. These factors lay behind current "internal instability," he said, prompting the need to "rebuild unity among ethnic races based on facts." Anti-Muslim violence in Arakan State in 2012 and 2013 displaced around 140,000 people, the large majority belonging to the Rohingya Muslim minority, the majority of whom are denied Burmese citizenship. Many Rohingya remain confined to camps, with restrictions placed on their movement and access to healthcare and education. Buddhist and Muslim communities remain segregated across substantial areas of the state. Earlier this month, Arakan State saw protests by the local Arakanese Buddhist majority, which has rejected the government's attempt to adopt less polarizing terminology to refer to Buddhist and Muslim communities in the state. The post Min Aung Hlaing Asks Soldiers in Arakan Not to Be 'Extreme' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Arakanese Activist Sentenced to Two Years Hard Labor Posted: 13 Jul 2016 06:01 AM PDT Maung Aye's wife and child meet him in his cell at the Kyaukphyu police station on Wednesday. (Photo: Tun Tun Naing / Kyaukphyu) RANGOON — Arakanese social activist Maung Aye was sentenced to two years hard labor in a Kyaukphyu courthouse on Wednesday for suspected links to the Arakan Army (AA), according to his lawyer, Tin Myint. Maung Aye, who is also the chair of the Kyaukpyu Rural Development Association in Arakan State, was originally arrested by the Kyaukphyu-based Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs, better known by its Burmese acronym, Sa Ya Pa. He was taken from his house in Leik Kha Maw village along with other two men, Htun Tha Phyu and Zaw Win Maung, and detained for over five months in a Kyaukphyu cell. Sa Ya Pa pressed charges under Burma's Unlawful Association Act, Section 17(1), a statute created during British rule which has since been used to prosecute members or suspected members of ethnic armed groups. During Wednesday's sentencing, Htun Tha Phyu and Zaw Win Maung were handed jail terms of three years each, after both identified themselves in front of Judge Nant Tha Nwe Nwe Win as AA soldiers, reporting their batch number within the organization and their station in northern Arakan State. "Aye Maung's plea [to the judge] was that he did not know them as AA soldiers. He is a social activist. That's why he was helping them find jobs," said Tin Myint, who added that he is preparing an appeal on Maung Aye's behalf. In recent months, dozens of residents have been detained by local authorities in Taungup, Kyauktaw, Mrauk U and Sittwe townships after being suspected of having ties to the AA, an armed group which formed in 2009 and has been excluded by Burma's military from engaging in the country's peace process unless it disarms. The Irrawaddy contacted the Arakan State Police Department in the capital of Sittwe on Wednesday to learn more about these arrests, but police Maj Aung Win Sein declined to comment on the situation. "We can't give [information] to you, because we don't know [about them] exactly," he said, explaining that these were local cases and concerned the police in each township. Police in Kyauktaw claim that 38 people have been imprisoned in different locations for reportedly violating the Unlawful Association Act; The Irrawaddy asked a police official whether these individuals had all acknowledged ties to the AA in court. "I'm not sure whether they admitted to being in the AA or not," he said, "but the judge has already punished them." The penalties imposed on individuals charged under Section 17(1) in Arakan State have varied; those convicted of being low ranking members of the AA are typically jailed for three years, while those charged as high ranking officials are reportedly sentenced to prison terms of five years and charged under an additional Section 17(2) statute. As of June, more than 2,000 people displaced by fighting between the AA and the Burma Army in Arakan State have sought shelter in temporary camps in Kyauktaw, Ponnegyun, Rathedaung and Mrauk U townships. The post Arakanese Activist Sentenced to Two Years Hard Labor appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

State-Backed Monks’ Council Decries Ma Ba Tha as ‘Unlawful’ Posted: 13 Jul 2016 05:56 AM PDT Members of the Ma Ba Tha leadership hold a meeting on July 7 after being criticized by Rangoon's Chief Minister as being "unnecessary" in Burma. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma's leading state-backed cleric organization, Ma Ha Na, has announced that the ultranationalist group Ma Ba Tha is not a "lawful monks' association" as "it was not formed in accordance with the country's monastic rules." In a public statement made on Tuesday night, Ma Ha Na—short for the Sangha Maha Nayaka, a government-appointed council of monks which oversees Buddhist monastic discipline in the country—also denied Ma Ba Tha's claim last week that it was formed as an "offshoot" of a 2013 conference of Buddhist clerics attended by multiple orders within the Sangha. "We have had five All-Order Sangha meetings so far since 1980. In none of those meetings, was the name 'Ma Ba Tha' mentioned, nor was there the recognition and formation of Ma Ba Tha," the statement said. Burma has nine major Sangha Orders, and Ma Ha Na is made up of 47 senior monks from within those orders. Signed by the 14 senior monks, including the chairman of the organization, the announcement added that there should be only one Sangha organization in the country—Ma Ha Na—in accordance with the Sangha charter. Wirathu, a leading Ma Ba Tha monk known for engaging in anti-Muslim hate speech, responded to Ma Ha Na's announcement with his own statement on Wednesday portraying Ma Ba Tha as the "last bastion of Theravada Buddhism." "I don't feel anything special regarding their statement, as senior monks within Ma Ha Na are part of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and they were just following the government's wishes," he said. Wirathu also declared that, as a "typical nationalist," he would continue "protecting race and religion" until his death. Sopaka, another high-ranking Buddhist monk within Ma Ba Tha, told The Irrawaddy that he had no further comment regarding Ma Ha Na's announcement, simply admitting that "what Ma Ha Na said was true." Founded in 2014, Ma Ba Tha is led by Buddhist monks and is infamous for its hardline anti-Muslim stance. Its name comes from the Burmese acronym for its full title, the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion; since its formation, the organization has built a network across the country. The state Sangha organization's Tuesday night announcement came one week after Rangoon Division Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein publically described Ma Ba Tha as "not necessary" in Burma. His criticism sparked condemnation from Ma Ba Tha, which demanded that the country's President Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi take action against the minister for his criticism, threatening to stage nationwide protests if their July 14 deadline was not met. Yet Ma Ba Tha's leaders called off the protest on Tuesday, saying that they no longer took Phyo Min Thein's comments seriously. Htin Lin Oo, a former NLD member who was sentenced two years in prison in 2015 for criticizing Ma Ba Tha, told The Irrawaddy that he believed the Ma Ha Na's denouncement of the group could serve to reduce the religious intolerance that he feels has become more prominent in Burma since Ma Ba Tha's formation. "I don't like Ma Ba Tha. As a Buddhist, I am very sad to see Buddhist monks' involvement in laymen's affairs," Htin Lin Oo said, referring to Ma Ba Tha's lobbying which led to the passing of four controversial laws placing restrictions on religious conversion, interfaith marriage, polygamy and childbirth. These "Protection of Race and Religion" measures have been condemned by rights groups as discriminating against women and religious minorities. "Buddhist monks have to be free of any racial bias," he added, referring to how, in Burma, religious discrimination and persecution is known to cross ethnic lines. The post State-Backed Monks' Council Decries Ma Ba Tha as 'Unlawful' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Detained Laborers Sentenced for Contempt of Court Posted: 13 Jul 2016 04:36 AM PDT Police forcibly detain labor rights protestors in Tatkon Township on Wednesday. (Photo: Thiha / The Irrawaddy) MANDALAY — A Court in Tatkon Township of Naypyidaw Union Territory has sentenced detained labor demonstrators and student activists on Wednesday with a one-month imprisonment or a 5,000 kyats (US$4.20) fine for contempt of court. Fifteen laborers and students—who were arrested in Takton Township in May for staging a march from an industrial zone in Sagaing Division to Naypyidaw to meet the president—refused to respond during the previous court hearings, prompting the contempt charges. The laborers and student activists said they would choose imprisonment over paying the small fine. "We don't believe in the judiciary so we didn't hire a lawyer or listen to the court. If they want us to go to prison, let that be," said Hnin Aung, one of the labor demonstrators. The workers and students are currently facing suits under articles 143, 145 and 157 of Burma's penal code, for participating in an unlawful assembly, disobeying police and disturbing public order. The next court hearing will be on July 27. About 100 workers from a plywood factory in the Sagaing Industrial Zone marched to the capital Naypyidaw in late April, following failed negotiations with Myanmar Veneer Plywood Private Ltd. over the dismissal of more than 100 factory employees in February. They hoped to meet President Htin Kyaw, whom they hoped would provide them redress. They were arrested just outside of the city of Naypyidaw on May 18. Twenty-three of them were handed over to police and administrators in Sagaing Division, and later released. The rest, including student activists who came to support them in their march, were jailed in Yamethin Township in Mandalay Division, because there was insufficient space to detain them all in Naypyidaw's Tatkon Township. Fifty-one were eventually charged. The jailed laborers and the students say that many of them have suffered from influenza and diarrhea, with inadequate medical treatment on hand. "There are doctors and a prison clinic, but the doctors can't be there when the inmates need them most. They only have basic medicines and have no incentive to provide good care," said Kaung Zaw Hein, a student activist. "Moreover, if a sick person needs care at an outside hospital, many steps are required. We discovered that two men passed away in the past week while awaiting approval from the jail authorities to visit the public hospital," he said. According to the jailed student activists, there are about five hundred inmates at the prison in Yamethin, and "most" are suffering from influenza due to heavy rain and dampness. The post Detained Laborers Sentenced for Contempt of Court appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

No New Irrigation Dams During Govt’s Term Posted: 13 Jul 2016 02:03 AM PDT Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Tun Win (Photo: The Irrawaddy) NAYPYIDAW — No new irrigation dams will be built during the tenure of the current government, and spending on existing facilities will be halved, says Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Tun Win. Burma now has more than 100 irrigation dams, and the ministry has questioned the benefits they provide to agricultural production and farmer's welfare. It announced on Friday that it would also dismantle about 200 river-water pumping stations. "A large sum of money has been spent on building [irrigation] dams since 1988, but a look at whether they have really benefitted farmers, or whether paddy yields have increased, reveals that the cultivation of rice paddy through irrigation, as before, still makes up only 10 per cent of total cultivation," said the deputy minister. "The remaining 90 per cent has to depend on unpredictable rainfall. It has become clear that building [irrigation] dams contributes nothing to national development," he added. Rice exports to China, which reached 1.5 million tons in 1992 when there were not many dams in the country, stood at around the same amount in 2015, the deputy minister pointed out. The government has decided to halve maintenance spending for dams down from 24 billion kyats (US$20.3 million) for the 2016-17 fiscal year because only 2 million acres of irrigated farmland are in use, while the acreage of monsoon paddy is as high as 15 million acres. Additionally, farmland has previously been supplied with irrigated water only during the hot season (March to May). In some instances, water has been stored in dams just for the benefit of officials conducting inspections. "Water was stored in dams for hot season use and for official visits, although farmers needed the water also for paddy during the rainy season [June to September]. It is unacceptable that water was stored in dams just for official inspections," the deputy minister said. He said that farmers dared not ask for water during the rainy season even though droughts sometimes occur at that time. "We have instructed authorities to release water from dams whenever farmers need it. It is no long just 'time' for change. The change has already started," he said, referencing the National League for Democracy's (NLD) campaign slogan for the November 2015 general election. "The cultivation of hybrid paddy strains will also be stopped because [the seeds] were imported from China at high prices, even though there is no international market for hybrid paddy and local consumers do not like it. Research will be conducted to produce seeds at home," the deputy minister said. Translated from Burmese by Myint Win Thein The post No New Irrigation Dams During Govt's Term appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Top Bureaucrat, Former Censor-in-Chief Resigns Posted: 13 Jul 2016 12:28 AM PDT Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary Tint Swe delivers the opening address at the 4th Ethnic Media Conference in Mrauk-U, Arakan State, Feb 14, 2016. (Photo: Moe Myint/ The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Tint Swe, permanent secretary and spokesman of the Ministry of Information, submitted his resignation on Friday, citing family and social obligations. The 51-year-old former army major previously served as the chief censor at the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division under the military regime, and as the director general of the MoI's Information and Communication Department, until he was promoted to being the top bureaucrat in the ministry in April 2015. The Press Scrutiny and Registration Division was notorious in Burma for its rigid imposition of censorship, which blocked all political and cultural content deemed inappropriate, until the lifting of pre-publication censorship on print media in 2012. The official letter from the ministry approving his resignation has yet not been received, the outgoing bureaucrat said. Any civil servant over the age of 50 with 25 years of service is eligible for a pension on resigning. Tint Swe, who served the government (and military) for 33 years, said, "I did the best I could for the ministry. And I hope the ministry will be better off with my successor, because I am sure there are many qualified people who are better than me." The position of permanent secretary was created for each ministry under the previous administration of President Thein Sein, with the mandate of "supervising and coordinating" operations within their respective ministry. Under the Thein Sein government, the Ministry of Information announced a reorientation towards "public service media." But challenges remain, Tint Swe said, with the state newspapers and broadcasters largely continuing in their role as official "state media." Tint Twe is also an established columnist, and intends to keep writing after spending more time with his family. "I may work for the development of the media, in a way that would benefit the country," he added. The post Top Bureaucrat, Former Censor-in-Chief Resigns appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Banks Reminded to Accept Foreign Currency in ‘All’ Conditions Posted: 12 Jul 2016 10:27 PM PDT A man holds his ID card and a crisp US banknote at the exchange office of a local bank in Rangoon in April 2012. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) RANGOON — The Central Bank of Myanmar is encouraging patrons to lodge complaints if they have been turned away by banks for trying to exchange US dollars that are not in mint condition, according to an official from the Foreign Exchange Management Department. Until recently, currency exchange points would only accept US bank notes if the bills were new and uncreased. In 2012, the Central Bank instructed both private banks and exchange counters to accept dollars in any condition, yet four years later, customers continue to see worn-out or "tainted" notes rejected. "We've already announced that money changers must accept all notes but at different rates, but there are complaints circulating that some changers don't accept [all] notes," said Win Thaw, director-general of the foreign exchange department. "We encourage them to send letters of complaint to the Central Bank of Myanmar with good evidence, and we will take action […] but we have not received any complaints so far," he added. Some foreign visitors, said Sabei Aung, managing director of Nature Dream Travel and Tour Agency, have complained to her about Burma's practice of rejecting notes based on their condition, pointing out that this does not, to her knowledge, occur in other countries. "[Money changers] only want crisp dollar notes. Foreign visitors say that it annoys them that this country is practicing this awful habit. They accept that if notes are old, rates are lower, but they don't understand why [money changers] can refuse to accept them," she said. "If the government can make those money changers follow the rules, it will support our tourism industry to develop more too," Sabei Aung added. Soe Thein, executive director of Asia Green Development Bank, questioned whether the Central Bank itself would accept these notes sold back to them as well. Sometimes, he alleged, staff at the Central Bank had been known to turn away what they deemed as "old notes." "We want them to accept those notes, too," Soe Thein said. Prior to 2011, when Burma experienced an increase in international visitors due to the shift toward a nominally civilian government, exchanging Burmese kyat into any foreign currency was illegal, with few exceptions. Due to US sanctions, much external trade in dollars was done through Singapore, where crisp, new dollar bills were demanded. The government had offered tourists its own rate of exchange—six kyats to the dollar, drastically below the dollar's value in Burma—but the system was abandoned after the kyat was floated in March 2012; the exchange rate now hovers at around 1,180 kyats for one US dollar. The post Banks Reminded to Accept Foreign Currency in 'All' Conditions appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• State Sangha disowns Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion
• Govt speeds up peace process planning, appoints state counsellor to head rebranded peace centre
• Kayin model IDP town short on government teachers
• Rights groups give NLD poor marks on party’s ‘100 days’ record
• Myanmar migrants in Malaysia face imprisonment over passport delays
• Migrant workers detained in Malaysia return home
• Mandalay Region dams up for government review
• Up to 82% of Mandalay to get electricity in 2016-17 fiscal year
• Kachin State village seeks heritage status

State Sangha disowns Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT The state Buddhist authority has agreed to disband the controversial nationalist lobby Ma Ba Tha, according to a state media announcement.

Govt speeds up peace process planning, appoints state counsellor to head rebranded peace centre Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has taken on yet another title, now at the helm of the re-named National Reconciliation and Peace Centre.

Kayin model IDP town short on government teachers Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT A model village for war-displaced families in Kayin State is sorely short on teachers. With just seven government-assigned tutors in the newly formed Lay Kay Kaw town, each teacher would have to take on 100 pupils if all students attended the public classes.

Rights groups give NLD poor marks on party’s ‘100 days’ record Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Two international advocacy organisations have slammed the new Myanmar government for failing to address fundamental human rights shortcomings in its first 100 days in office, echoing recent criticism from the international community.

Myanmar migrants in Malaysia face imprisonment over passport delays Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Myanmar migrants in Malaysia are facing arrest and imprisonment because the Myanmar embassy is taking too long to extend expiring passports, according to workers and activists.

Migrant workers detained in Malaysia return home Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT More than 60 Myanmar workers who have been detained at various camps across Malaysia are heading home today, Malaysia-based Kepong Free Funeral Services said.

Mandalay Region dams up for government review Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT The new government is taking a closer look at five hydropower projects along the Dokhtawady River in Mandalay Region, mindful of the local opposition its predecessor frequently ran into at several proposed dam sites over the years.

Up to 82% of Mandalay to get electricity in 2016-17 fiscal year Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Nearly 400 villages in Mandalay Region will soon be hooked up to the grid.

Kachin State village seeks heritage status Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:30 PM PDT Villagers in Kachin State are hoping the government will agree to designate their home town an ancient heritage site, attracting visitors and investors. Myo Haung (old city) village in Mogaung township, Kachin State, is home to many pagodas and cultural buildings of Bamar and Shan origin.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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Shan State government says coal mining not its responsibility Posted: 13 Jul 2016 08:41 AM PDT The Shan State government said that it does not have the authority to direct and regulate coal mining operations in the state, according to an MP from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). Speaking to Shan Herald on Wednesday, Hsipaw Township MP Nang San San Aye said that her call to take action against the Ngwe Yi Pale Mining Co Ltd was dismissed during the state parliament session on Tuesday. She said that the state assembly recommended that she take the matter to a higher level in Naypyidaw. "Did this company get a license from the mining ministry?" Nang San San Aye questioned. "And if they do have a license, what are the details of the contract?" Nang San San Aye said that, according to Shan State's Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Minister Dr Nyi Nyi Aung, the state government only has the power to hear a complaint but does not have decision-making capacity. "Anything related to mining has to go through the central government in Naypyidaw, including the contract process," she said. "Therefore, these questions should be directed to Naypyidaw. At the state level, we cannot do anything. "There will be problems and this will slow down the process in the future," she added. "The Shan State government should have the power to make decisions on Shan State." A subsidiary of the Ngwe Yi Pale group, Ngwe Yi Pale Co. Ltd launched a coal mining operation in Hsipaw Township in 2000. In addition to coal, the firm is also one of the biggest manufacturers of sugar and cement in Burma. But on May 24, Shan Herald reported that residents in Peng Zai, Parng Ngar and Nar Goon had demanded the firm permanently stop operations due to pollution and damage to the environment. "Problems have occurred [in these areas]," the Hsipaw MP said. "Now the Shan State government should look into it and do something about it.  "But, what they are doing? Nothing. Whenever anything happens they just refer it to Naypyidaw. In effect, the Shan State government is meaningless." Since the National League for Democracy-led government took office in April, a Shan State cabinet with nine ministers has been tabled. However, they have yet to disclose who these ministers will be.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Ma Ba Tha Calls Off Anti-Govt Protests
• ANP to Address Local Issues With Burma’s Vice President
• Govt to Release Census Data on Religion
• Rangoon’s Martyrs’ Monument Revamped to Highlight Aung San
• 100-Cinema Plan Begins Pilot Project
• UN Conducts Last Call for Burmese Refugees Hoping to Resettle in US
• Suu Kyi Will Chair Government Peace Center
• Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 12)
• Apartment Sales Slump Following Construction Crackdown
• Villagers Fleeing Conflict Reach Hsipaw, Northern Shan State

Ma Ba Tha Calls Off Anti-Govt Protests Posted: 12 Jul 2016 06:05 AM PDT Leading Ma Ba Tha monks release a public statement on Tuesday calling for their supporters across the country not to stage protests against the government, after previously calling for demonstrations after the ultranationalist organization was criticized by Rangoon Division Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha has urged its followers not to stage planned nationwide protests in response to criticism of the organization from the Rangoon Division chief minister, saying that they no longer take his comments seriously. The request came two days before the association's deadline to Burmese President Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to take action against Rangoon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein after he described the ultranationalist association as "unnecessary" to the country. Wirathu, a leading Buddhist monk within Ma Ba Tha—which is the Burmese acronym for its full name, the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion—told the media after a press conference on July 7 that if the government did not respond before Thursday, July 14, Ma Ba Tha members across the nation would organize demonstrations. On Tuesday, Sopaka, another Ma Ba Tha senior monk, cryptically echoed this claim to The Irrawaddy, stating that if Phyo Min Thein's comments did, in fact, represent government policy, then Ma Ba Tha "would do what it had to do." However, in a directive also released on Tuesday, Ma Ba Tha said that they had learned that Phyo Min Thein's comments had been made independently and did not necessarily reflect a government stance concerning the organization. "Thura Aung Ko, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, told the media on July 9 that 'we don't have any particular comments [regarding what Phyo Min Thein said], as he was expressing his opinion. In a democracy, everyone has a right to a different opinion,'" the statement said. "We have learned that [the sentiment that] 'Ma Ba Tha is not necessary' is just [held] by Phyo Min Thein and is not state policy. So we see it as Phyo Min Thein's freedom of expression and we no longer take what he said seriously," the group added, concluding that Ma Ba Tha branches across Burma need not organize anti-government demonstrations. Phyo Min Thein recently met with the leading monks of the Sangha Maha Nayaka, a committee appointed by the government to oversee Buddhist monastic discipline, in which the chief minister reportedly further explained his criticism of Ma Ba Tha. Documents which appeared to have been created in preparation for an upcoming two-day meeting of senior Sangha Maha Nayaka members recently went viral online, revealing that they too had denounced the existence of Ma Ba Tha. Yet The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the authenticity of these documents and Tun Nyunt, the director for Rangoon Division's department of religion, was not available for comment. Phyo Min Thein's criticism has widened a division between those who agreed with his stance against Ma Ba Tha and those loyal to the nationalist organization. His supporters see Ma Ba Tha as a group trying to derail the new government's plans by instigating conflict between Buddhist and Muslim communities, while the group's loyalists see it as the guardian of the Buddhism. Since it was founded in 2014, Ma Ba Tha has garnered international notoriety for its hardline anti-Muslim stance, and has been condemned by rights groups as having propagated hate speech. In 2015, Ma Ba Tha successfully lobbied for the passing of four laws imposing restrictions on religious conversion, polygamy, interfaith marriage and childbirth. Critics have described these "Protection of Race and Religion" measures as discriminating against both women and religious minorities. The post Ma Ba Tha Calls Off Anti-Govt Protests appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

ANP to Address Local Issues With Burma’s Vice President Posted: 12 Jul 2016 05:26 AM PDT Arakan State’s Chief Minister Nyi Pu and Border and Security Affairs Minister Htein Lin welcome Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the Sittwe airport.  (Photo: Mara Yu) RANGOON – The Arakan National Party (ANP) will deliver an open letter highlighting local concerns to Vice President Henry Van Thio during a meeting on Wednesday morning with residents in Mrauk U, according to an Arakan State parliamentarian. The letter will address a number of issues: the excavation of ditches and tunnels that are filled with rubbish and soil from rice mill production; the supervision of businessmen operating in the state; the announcement of local projects before they begin; the need for new bridges; and the demolition of a railroad which runs through a designated Mrauk U archeological zone. Mrauk U lawmaker Htun Tha Sein said, "The railroad is like a water reservoir. It stores gallons of water, which later overflow during the rainy season and make their way into the city. That's why we want to abolish the railroad." Kyaw Lwin, the divisional minister of forestry, mining, agriculture and livestock, told The Irrawaddy that flooding has driven over 20,000 people from their homes in July, and the ministry has opened over 100 temporary camps for those displaced by natural disasters. Three bridges have been damaged in this month's floods and one man has died. He said the state government has provided about 1,200 bags of rice—which would last for one month—and that the army has aided flood victims as well. But the state government has no plans for resettlement nor a sufficient budget to do so. "The flooding is not as bad as it was last year. Everyone can return when the water recedes," Kyaw Lwin said. On Tuesday morning, Burma Army's Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing accompanied relief flights to Arakan State's capital of Sittwe and brought emergency food and provisions. Mrauk U residents waited at a local monastery on Tuesday morning upon hearing from township administrators that Min Aung Hlaing would arrive, but the army chief did not show. According to a government bureaucrat who asked to remain anonymous, the senior-general will visit Mrauk U and Kyauktaw townships on Wednesday, and then continue to Ann and Thandwe townships. The post ANP to Address Local Issues With Burma's Vice President appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Govt to Release Census Data on Religion Posted: 12 Jul 2016 04:50 AM PDT A volunteer collects census data in Arakan State. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — Data from Burma's 2014 census on the populations of the country's religious groups will be released this month, a ministry spokesperson has announced. Myint Kyaing, the permanent secretary within the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the religious data will be ready for publication in late July, but data on ethnic populations will continue to be withheld. Due to ongoing debates, figures on Burma's religious and ethnic makeup were delayed from publication with the other census results in May of 2015, which revealed the total population to be more than 51 million. "We delayed at that time since we needed [to perform] more analysis and consultation. But now, since we have finished it all, we plan to publish [the results]," Myint Kyaing said. He said that the figures will reveal the population of each religious group in the country, as well as at the state and divisional level. "I don't think the figure will become an issue. I hope the data will support mutual understanding and respect in building a peaceful society and the development of the states and divisions," he said, adding that, "There was not much significant change from 1983 census." Burma is home to animists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims. One highly anticipated forthcoming figure is that of the country's Muslim minority; the 1983 census reported that Muslims constituted 4 percent of the population in the Buddhist-majority country, but this percentage is believed by some to be a low estimation. In addition, an estimated 1.3 million Rohingya Muslims in western Burma were not enumerated in the 2014 census; a 1982 law– which narrows citizenship eligibility along ethnic lines– excludes the Rohingya from recognition as one of the country’s ethnic groups; the law, as currently implemented, forces those in unrecognized groups to prove family residency over three generations, which is very difficult for most to prove, since the vast majority of people in Burma went without documents prior to laws introduced in 1951 requiring registration. Myint Kyaing, said that the ethnic data from the census is expected to be released after four or five months as further statistical analysis is reportedly required, as are consultations with ethnic leaders and Burma's ethnic affairs ministry and committee. The census was conducted in March and April of 2014, and marked the first attempt to carry out a nationwide population count in more than three decades. The massive data set includes demographic characteristics and living conditions, detailing population size and growth, age and sex, marital status, migration, births and deaths, education, employment, disability, and housing conditions and amenities in each of Burma's 330 townships. Correction: This story originally stated that a 1982 law precluded the Rohingya from citizenship. It has since been updated to instead illustrate how the law has been used to deny citizenship to ethnic groups not “recognized” under the controversial statute.  The post Govt to Release Census Data on Religion appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rangoon’s Martyrs’ Monument Revamped to Highlight Aung San Posted: 12 Jul 2016 04:45 AM PDT Renovations underway at the Martyrs' Monument in Rangoon, where independence hero Aung and his eight murdered colleagues are interred. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Those who have previously visited the Martyrs' Monument, sited just north of Rangoon's Shwedagon Pagoda, should be prepared for a surprise on July 19, Martyrs Day—the anniversary of the assassination of independence hero Aung San and eight of his comrades in 1947. The big white pointed star will be found missing from the upper left corner of the large red structure, which marks where Aung San and his eight comrades are interred. The exact spot where the star hung for the last three decades will have been hollowed out. Those wondering where the star has gone need walk only a few meters beyond the mausoleum to find it half sunk into the ground. "The fallen star symbolizes Gen Aung San and his colleagues. The hollow in the structure represents that they are gone and we have lost them," said Sun Oo, one of the leading architects who designed the structure nearly thirty years ago. Why these new design ideas after all these years? The 61-year old architect said they are not new but were part of the original design proposed by his team. Renovations underway at the Martyrs' Monument in Rangoon, where independence hero Aung and his eight murdered colleagues are interred. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) "The construction team at the time ignored some points in our design under various pretexts," Sun Oo recalled. More importantly, he was ordered by the government of the time, led by the military-socialist dictator Ne Win, not to highlight Aung San or his comrades in his design. "We were not allowed to reflect the identities of those interred there," he said. As a result, Sun Oo has never felt pride over his work.  "The mausoleum lacks the spirit it should have conveyed," he said. For these reasons, he had never visited the site until last month, when he was invited by the National League for Democracy-led government to oversee the revamp in the design of the mausoleum, in preparation for this year's Martyrs Day, on July 19, when the government will stage its annual commemoration ceremony at the mausoleum. Aside from the repositioning of the star, red granite slabs to be used as name plaques for those interred have recently arrived from China. The flagstaff is being repositioned from the top-middle to the right of the mausoleum, in accordance with the original design. Another architect from the original design team is working on billboards that will bear photos and bios of the independence heroes. "They will be planted alongside the lane leading to the mausoleum. Some of Gen Aung San's famous quotes will be printed on them," said the architect Maw Lin, before explaining that the billboards were only temporary. Renovations underway at the Martyrs' Monument in Rangoon, where independence hero Aung and his eight murdered colleagues are interred. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) "In our original design, we included space for such things. This year, we are running out of time. That's why we can only arrange temporary displays," he added. Sun Oo said the renovated mausoleum matches 95 percent of the original design. It still lacks features such as a museum about the leaders, which will "happen later." This is the first renovation of the mausoleum since its completion in 1985. After the 1988 military coup, the junta declared the site off-limits to the public, for fear of public gatherings contributing to unrest. The reformist military-backed administration of President Thein Sein, inaugurated in 2011, allowed public participation in the annual ceremony at the mausoleum. President Htin Kyaw, consistent with his predecessor Thein Sein, will not be attending this year's ceremony at the mausoleum. State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will be attending, as she has done in previous years. The post Rangoon's Martyrs' Monument Revamped to Highlight Aung San appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

100-Cinema Plan Begins Pilot Project Posted: 12 Jul 2016 04:38 AM PDT Moviegoers wait inside Thamada Cinema in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A US$20 million cinema plan has started its pilot project in Rangoon's Taik Kyi and southern Shan State's Aungban townships, according to private cinema developer Maze Co., Ltd. The project is financially backed by the conglomerate KBZ Group, which will cover construction expenses and land acquisition, said former actor and Maze Co. Ltd. chair Lwin Moe, at a signing ceremony between the developer and Clover Solution Myanmar—the authorized installation company for the Brussels-based technology company Barco—for a deal to install cinema equipment at the movie theaters, on Monday. "Nowadays, film producers are struggling due to the lack of movie theaters," said Lwin Moe, referring to a system that makes film production companies queue to be shown at box offices, sometimes waiting more than two years. Representatives from the Maze Co. Ltd., met with information minister Pe Myint last month, outlining the company's business plan to build 100 cinemas throughout the country within the next two years. Although the 100-cinema project aims to operate movie theaters in small towns and cities where there currently are none, the commercial capital Rangoon will enjoy 24 new cinemas as the largest benefactor of the initiative. Irrawaddy and Mandalay divisions will receive 19 and 15 cinemas respectively and at least one cinema will be built in every state and division including the ethnic Kachin, Kayah, Kayin and Chin states. The number of theaters around the country has declined to just 49 from its peak of more than 200, and only 27 theaters are ministry-owned, according to the information ministry's Motion Picture Development Branch (MPDB). After what insiders describe as the industry's "golden era" from the 1950s until the 1970s, Burma's once-grand cinema halls were sold off to the private sector and torn down for other purposes or were privatized in the 1990s as part of the government's economic policy. Lwin Moe said at the ceremony that the project seeks to strengthen the country's stagnating film industry and will attract audiences with high-quality movie theaters. The developer said that each cinema will have 316 seats, featuring a Dolby digital sound system. The post 100-Cinema Plan Begins Pilot Project appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

UN Conducts Last Call for Burmese Refugees Hoping to Resettle in US Posted: 12 Jul 2016 04:27 AM PDT Umpiem Mai refugee camp near Mae Sot by the Burmese border in western Thailand, which accommodates more than 20,000 people displaced by conflict in Burma. August 2015. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The United Nation's (UN) refugee agency, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is conducting a "last call" resettlement initiative for Burmese refugees living in Thailand who wish to resettle in the United States. The initiative will allow unregistered refugees to reunite with their immediate families in the United States. Typically, refugees who have not registered with the UNHCR are not eligible for third country resettlement. "This is a one-time exercise taking place only in July," said UNHCR senior field coordinator Iain Hall. "It is a last chance for a previously identified group of individuals who had already indicated interest in joining their immediate families in the US," he said. The initiative is being carried out in nine camps in Thailand where an estimated 120,000 Burmese refugees live. The UNHCR will prepare a submission to the Thai government for their consideration; however, this initiative is not part of the refugee repatriation process, according to the agency. Hall said that the purpose of this activity was to reconfirm their intention to resettle, but the process does not guarantee their registration by the Thai government and therefore does not guarantee resettlement. Eligible unregistered refugees are those whose immediate family members—such as spouses or minor children—were registered refugees who resettled in the US group resettlement program that ended in 2013. Vivian Tan, a UNHCR spokeswoman, told The Irrawaddy that registered refugees could still apply for resettlement, but that interest in third country resettlement had declined in this group over the years. The post UN Conducts Last Call for Burmese Refugees Hoping to Resettle in US appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi Will Chair Government Peace Center Posted: 12 Jul 2016 03:00 AM PDT Members of the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee met with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw in April. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will chair the government peace negotiation body, the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), as part of her stated prioritization of peace and national reconciliation. The NRPC, formally known as the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) under the previous military-backed government, was reorganized by Suu Kyi in May when she replaced several key people who had ties to the Burma Army with civilians. According to an announcement by the President Office's on Monday, Suu Kyi was appointed chairperson of the NRPC while State Counselor's Office Minister Kyaw Tint Swe and government peace negotiator Tin Myo Win were appointed deputy chairmen. Burma Army representatives from the Ministry of Defense including Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Lt-Gen Min Naung and minister of border affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung also serve as members of the NRPC. The announcement stated that the NRPC's purpose was to set policies and guidelines for national reconciliation and the peace process. The center also coordinates with donors and paves the way for participation and cooperation between government bodies, Parliament, the military, ethnic armed groups, civil society organizations, the international community, and local and foreign experts. The NRPC will form and appoint a technical board and support team to aid their work. The 11-member NRPC also includes the ethnic affairs minister, Union Attorney General Tun Tun Oo, commanders from the Ministry of Defense's Bureau of Special Operations 2 and 4, and the chairpersons of the Upper and Lower Houses' ethnic affairs committees. The post Suu Kyi Will Chair Government Peace Center appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 12) Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:13 AM PDT The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week. Yangoods Season 2 Yangoods, a distributor of vintage Burmese souvenirs, will launch its second seasonal range on Friday, showcasing a new collection of fashion, décor, art and gifts. Products from its previous season will be on sale at a pop-up shop at the event, which will also feature a "vintage photo booth." Where: Yangon Gallery, People's Park, Bahan Tsp. When: Friday, July 17, 1pm to 5pm Youth Forum The American Center in Rangoon hosts its monthly "youth forum" on Wednesday. This session will focus on "The Power of Youth in Civil Rights Movements," with the objective of encouraging youth voices in social change and peaceful transitions of power. Enquire at RangoonAC@State.gov. Where: American Center, No. 14 Tawwin Road, Dagon Tsp. When: Wednesday, July 13, 4:30 pm to 6 pm Jazz Music and Dinner The Rendez-Vous, the restaurant located in the garden of Rangoon's French Institute, hosts live Jazz music every Wednesday. Where: The Rendez-Vous – Institut Français de Birmanie, No. 340 Pyay Road, Sanchaung Tsp. When: Every Wednesday, 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm Myanmar Training Development Expo 2016 Myanmar Training Development Expo (MTDE) 2016 is an inaugural "learning exhibition" which will showcase products and services ranging across "vocational training and consultancy services, academic programs and digital technology solutions" in two developing industries: tourism and retail. More information can be found at www.mtde.com.mm. Where: Tatmadaw Hall, U Wirasa Road, Dagon Tsp. When: Thursday, July 14 to Saturday, July 16, 10 am to 6 pm Yangon Innovation Night Yangon Innovation Night returns with a networking and free drinks session. The free event will feature talks by guest speakers from the World Wildlife Fund and Myanmar Future Science, and an open discussion with Jerry J Chan, entrepreneur and co-founder of May Kha Ventures, which invests in "promising early-stage companies." Sign up at bit.ly/officecubed ; registration open until July 13. Where: Officecubed, 52/54 Yadanar Thukha Street, enter from Pagoda Street, Laydaungkan Road, Thingangyun Tsp. Tel: 09-5103084 When: Thursday, July 14, 6 pm to 9 pm Brunch Party Carlsberg and Immortal Titans Restaurant have partnered to host what they deem "the best brunch party in town" on Sunday. Brunch will be served from 12pm to 3pm with free flowing Carlsberg beer. Places and table reservations are limited; US$20 per person. The Carlsberg Day Party will then start at 3 pm; entry is free. Where: Immortal Titans Restaurant, No. 49 Moekaung Road, Yankin Tsp. Tel: 01-578739 When: Sunday, July 17, 12 pm to 3 pm   Aung Naing Maung Solo Exhibition Artist Aung Naing Maung will showcase his 12th solo exhibition, featuring around 30 paintings priced between US$100 and $3,000. Where: Lokanat Gallery, 62 Pansodan St, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp. Tel. 095-1382-269 When: Friday, July 15 to Tuesday, July 19 Group Exhibition: The Outdoor Days Exhibition featuring more than 100 works in different mediums by more than 20 artists. Where: Ayerwon Art Gallery, No. 903/904, U Ba Kyi Street, 58 Ward, Dagon Seikkan Tsp. Tel: 09-45005 7167 When: Saturday, July16 till Wednesday, July 27 Tuesday Gathering at Pansodan Gallery Every Tuesday evening, Pansodan Gallery hosts an informal party where beer is served.  It provides a space to meet new people while admiring a rotating selection of contemporary Burmese paintings. Where: Pansodan Gallery, 144 Pansodan St, Kyauktada Tsp. When: Every Tuesday evening, 7 pm onwards Game Night The Novotel hosts pool, football and dart tournaments every Wednesday, with awards and gift vouchers for winners. Where: Novotel Yangon Max, 459 Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp. When: Every Wednesday, 6 pm   The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 12) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Apartment Sales Slump Following Construction Crackdown Posted: 12 Jul 2016 12:43 AM PDT High-rise construction can be seen in the distance behind the Olympic Tower in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The market for high-rise apartments in Rangoon has slowed after the Rangoon Division government suspended construction and failed to clarify its new policies to developers, industry sources have said. The divisional government and the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)—Rangoon's municipal authority—suspended construction in May on more than 80 high-rises (classified as buildings with nine stories or more) that had not been given final approval before construction began. "Apartment sales are down the past two months because it is an uncertain time for investors," said Thant Zin Hein, managing director of Nay Kabar Construction. Buyers typically put at least 20 percent down while construction is ongoing. While construction is stalled, buyers remain hesitant to invest. "I can honestly say that this is the worst year for us," Thant Zin Hein said. High-rise buildings in Rangoon are often high-end properties, which sell for more than US$85,000. The divisional government and the YCDC have not clarified their polices, and developers have lost clients' trust and expect to lose profits as they continue to pay back their bank loans during the suspension period. "We can't even offer our rooms at low prices because we don't know when the government will let us restart construction," Thant Zin Hein said. Myo Myint, managing director of MKT Construction Co., was forced to stop construction on five projects in Rangoon. "Buyers think it is even risky to buy finished apartments in these buildings because there is still not permission from the authorities for anyone to live there," he said. He added that the YCDC and an investigative committee had reviewed about 12 buildings under construction so far, but there was no further news. "Construction will not resume on high-rises until the government sets better policies," he said. Developers cite many problems following the crackdown on construction including labor issues, complaints from buyers, delays on repaying bank loans, cash flow problems and lack of business for construction suppliers. Zaw Zaw, a senior manager at Unity real estate agency said apartment sales had begun cooling down last year, long before the construction halt, when well-known local developer Kyaw Myint faced fraud charges. "Prices have been dropping, as supply is higher than demand. They are down about 20-25 percent," he said. According to the YCDC, the previous Rangoon divisional government and municipal council had given "initial approval" for proposals to build 204 high-rises from 2013 to March 31 this year. The post Apartment Sales Slump Following Construction Crackdown appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Villagers Fleeing Conflict Reach Hsipaw, Northern Shan State Posted: 12 Jul 2016 12:37 AM PDT Ethnic Palaung fleeing conflict find shelter in a monastery in the town of Hsipaw, northern Shan State. (Photo: PSLF/TNLA) RANGOON — More than three hundred ethnic Palaung (Ta'ang) displaced by conflict in their village between rival non-state armed groups the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) arrived in the town of Hsipaw in northern Shan State over the weekend. Those displaced had come form Ohn Mu village in rural Hsipaw Township, according to Nyo Nyo Myat, a senior member of the Ta'ang Women's Organization, which has been assisting them in their basic needs. "The SSA-S was based inside their village. The TNLA attacked them from outside. All villagers have fled," said Nyo Nyo Myat, adding that, "They could not bring anything. They just have one set of clothes each." A total of 339 people arrived on Sunday in Hsipaw. Some villagers had reached the town on July 7, and stayed in a monastery with insufficient food, according to Nyo Nyo Myat. The chief minister of Shan State has distributed 10 million kyats (US$8,475) in relief funds, which has allowed for some food distribution. Since Thursday, fighting has broken out almost every day in northern Shan State between the TNLA and the SSA-S (known also by its political wing, the Restoration Council of Shan State). The TNLA have said they have been mounting an offensive to oust units of the SSA-S occupying their "territory" in rural areas of Kyaukme, Namtu, Mongton and Hsipaw townships. TNLA deputy chairman Tar Jode Jar said both sides have suffered casualties in recent days. He mentioned a TNLA attack on an SSA-S base on July 4, where two of his troops were killed, as well as the deaths of nine SSA-S soldiers in an unspecified area of Kyaukme Township. Fighting between the TNLA and the SSA-S, based largely on competing territorial claims, first broke out in late November and quickly spread across Kyaukme, Namhsan, Mongton and Namhkam townships of northern Shan State. After a lull, the conflict reached a new level of intensity in February, starting in Namkham Township but spreading further, and has displaced several thousand people from rural areas. The TNLA has accused the SSA-S of receiving the covert support of the Burma Army in its operations, a claim the SSA-S has repeatedly denied. The RCSS/SSA-S signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the previous government in October last year, and has since enjoyed closer relations with Burma's military. The TNLA, however, was excluded from signing the ceasefire accord—and their participation in the Union Peace Conference scheduled for later August remains uncertain, barring unilateral disarmament as previously demanded by Burma's military. The post Villagers Fleeing Conflict Reach Hsipaw, Northern Shan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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