The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Short Film ‘Smell’ Takes First Prize in Youth Contest
• KIA: Govt Needs to Control Its Military
• When Silence Hurts More Than a Bullet
• Two Arrested After Attacks on Border Guard Posts in Arakan State
• MMA Hero Calls for ‘United’ Spirit to Beat Civil War
• Police Chief Admits Weak Security Measures in Arakan State
• NLD to Discipline Lawmaker After Extramarital Affair
• Nine Police Dead in Arakan State Border Attacks
• Generals and tycoons dust off their suitcases

Short Film ‘Smell’ Takes First Prize in Youth Contest Posted: 10 Oct 2016 08:30 AM PDT Myanmar Motion Picture Organization president U Lu Min awarding first prize winner Ko Hnaung Eain Thit US$ 6000 at the Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest (Photo: Myanmar Micro Film Contest / Facebook) RANGOON – Short film "Smell", which features deprived children sniffing glue Rangoon, won first prize in the 2nd Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest held at Rangoon's Sky Star Hotel on Sunday. The five-minute film, directed by Ko Hnaung Eain Thit, was chosen by a judging panel of renowned film directors and producers out of 134 other entries to pick up the top award in a competition organized by Myanmar Motion Pictures Organization (MMPO) and Shwe Than Lwin Media. Ko Hnaung Eain Thit, who received US$6,000 and an international film workshop opportunity, said he got the idea for the film after seeing children sniffing glue in deprived areas of Rangoon. "I asked them why they were sniffing glue," he said at the event. "They said they don't need to eat or spend money on food after sniffing glue and can sleep for one and a half days." The short film explores the lives of two slum children who dream of the thanakha, a fragrant paste traditionally used by Burmese for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, on their mother's cheek after sniffing glue to get high. U Lu Min, president of MMPO, said it was hard to choose a winner as he was satisfied that all candidates were qualified to be future filmmakers. "All of the candidates' films were good. They have a lot of talent and we will organize this short film contest again next year," he said. Zarganar, a comedian, former political prisoner and guest at the event, welcomed the competition entrants but said he wanted them to pursue new methods. "Most of the young directors think evoking tears is the only art in the film industry, I want to see more creative pieces in the future," he said. The second prize went to a film titled "Htin Ht Say Thaw" by Thein Ko Win and third prize to "Freak-Quincy" by Zan Moe Oo. The recipients received US$5,000 and $3,000 respectively. The post Short Film 'Smell' Takes First Prize in Youth Contest appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

KIA: Govt Needs to Control Its Military Posted: 10 Oct 2016 08:15 AM PDT Ethnic Kachin call for the end to Tatmadaw offensives, in front of the Burmese Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand on October 10, 2016. (Photo: Kyaw Kha / The Irrawaddy) CHIANG MAI, Thailand – While Burma Army's air strikes continue on Kachin Independence Army (KIA) security outposts in northern Burma, the KIA, its political wing and the Kachin public are calling for a halt to the offensives, as well as a government intervention. Lt-Col Naw Bu, a KIA spokesperson, told The Irrawaddy that as of Monday, Tatmadaw troops, including both the ground and air forces, were still attacking the KIA post known as Gidon in the Nhkram mountain range. "The Tatmadaw's two jet fighters have been bombing the Gidon post since 8:30 a.m. and then continued shooting from the ground with artillery," he said. In order to overcome obstacles to building peace in the country, the government needs to control its military, the lieutenant colonel added. "The [National League for Democracy] government is keeping their mouths shut while the Tatmadaw is fiercely attacking the KIO. We, as well as our people, do not want that," Naw Bu said, referring to the Kachin Independence Organization and the Kachin public. Tensions have increased in Kachin and northern Shan states—where the KIA is active—since the first session of the 21st Century Panglong peace conference concluded in early September. The Tatmadaw has used its artillery and air force to target the KIA's security posts around its headquarters in Laiza, on the Kachin-China border. On Oct. 1, a two-year-old Kachin child was killed by the splinters of an artillery shell that hit near her family home in Puwang village in Shan State's Muse Township. Another two children were seriously injured and admitted to the Mangsi Hospital in China. Since last week, thousands of Kachin State residents have been holding protests and calling for an end to the Tatmadaw's offensives against the KIA. On Monday, ethnic Kachin community members staying in Chiang Mai, Thailand urged the NLD government to intervene to end the war in Kachin State and to order the Burma Army to stop offensives against the KIA. Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Burmese Consulate in Chiang Mai, demanding the government and the Burma Army take responsibility and respond with immediate action. Their requests included a stop to offensives and the launching of artillery into civilian villages, the allowance of better access to humanitarian aid, and a safe return for the internally displaced people and refugees to their homes. The protesters delivered a letter to the mailbox of the Burmese Consulate, as consulate officials were not there to receive it. "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a Nobel Laureate and as the head of state, she must order the military to halt the offensives," said Ah Jung, a pastor of a Kachin community church and a protester. Hka Tawn, a Kachin woman living in Chiang Mai who participated in Monday's protest told The Irrawaddy that the protest was one of solidarity. "We Kachin staying in Thailand do not want to see the troubles facing our fellow Kachin in Burma, that's why we came to protest to show our support," she said. On Saturday, Oct 8, the Kachin Independence Organization and the ethnic armed alliance known as the United Nationalities Federal Council both issued separate statements calling for end to the Tatmadaw's military action in the region. The Tatmadaw will have to take responsibility for the consequences following its attacks against the KIO, the KIO's statement said. KIO representatives joined the 21st Century Panglong conference, in which stakeholders presented their stances on building a future federal democratic state. Meanwhile the Burma Army stayed firm on their adherence to the controversial 2008 Constitution. Conference organizers stressed that those groups that did not sign the country's nationwide ceasefire pact—such as the KIA/KIO—would not have equal negotiating status in the peace process as those who signed the pact in October 2015. Nang Lwin Hnin Pwint contributed to this report. The post KIA: Govt Needs to Control Its Military appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

When Silence Hurts More Than a Bullet Posted: 10 Oct 2016 07:43 AM PDT Aung San Suu Kyi waves at supporters while wearing traditional Kachin dress at the Kachin National Manau Park in Kachin State on February 24, 2012. The statement on the arc reads, "Warmly Welcome Public Leader Aung San Suu Kyi." (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) In Burma's general election in November 2015, many ethnic Kachin voted in support of the National League for Democracy (NLD) based on party leader Aung San Suu Kyi's promises of change. They believed that she would stand with them and speak on their behalf against the social and political discrimination endured during decades of military dictatorship. Following the 21st Century Panglong peace conference at the beginning of September, fighting intensified between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), with the Tatmadaw carrying out air strikes against the KIA. Despite failing to implement political dialogue after the last ceasefire was signed with the group in 1994, it now appears that the Burma Army is using these offensives to pressure the KIA into signing the country's highly controversial nationwide ceasefire agreement. The already dire humanitarian situation took a turn for the worse when a two-year-old Kachin girl, Zung Myaw, was killed and two other children seriously injured in the shelling of Puwang village in northern Shan State on Oct. 1. Yet despite widespread reporting of the tragedy by independent media—and the Kachin public's subsequent call for Aung San Suu Kyi to condemn the Burmese military's offensive—the public's anger and frustration has been met with silence from the country's leadership. When Aung San Suu Kyi was asked in panel discussion in London in 2012 to explain why she was reluctant to condemn the Burma Army, she responded that she "condemns all violence," and that resolution to the conflict was "not about condemnation, but about finding the root causes." The current State Counselor spoke of the need to pursue findings from independent commissions in order to better understand the country's war. But she has yet to take any action or issue a public statement on the human rights violations that the conflict has caused—abuses that have been widely documented by both community-based groups and international organizations including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations. These injustices include the disappearance of Sumlut Roi Ja, a young mother who went missing on October 28, 2011, after she was arbitrarily detained by the Burma Army near Mu Bum in Kachin State. There are the two Kachin farmers, Brang Yung and Lahpai Gam, who in June 2012 were severally tortured after their arrest by the military, including reportedly being forced to engage in sexual acts with one another. Although Brang Yung has since been released from prison, Lahpai Gam remains behind bars without any evidence or witness testimony indicating his guilt in being "unlawfully associated" with the KIA, of which he is accused. Then, in January 2015, two ethnic Kachin volunteer teachers, Hkawn Nan Tsin and Maran Lu Ra, were brutally raped and murdered in Kaung Kha, northern Shan State; the crime is believed to have been carried out by Burma Army soldiers stationed in the area. These are only some of the many documented examples of impunity granted to government forces in cases of grave abuses against members of ethnic communities. Yet it is this same military that Aung San Suu Kyi said in 2013 that she is "fond of," affectionately calling the institution her "father's army," a reference to the late Aung San. As an ethnic woman who has listened to survivors re-live their stories of horrific Burma Army abuse, these comments feel to me the equivalent of rubbing salt in our wounds. Despite an election message of change, six months into the new government's term, representatives appear to many constituents to be distant and unapproachable. Representatives from local NGOs in the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina say that NLD parliamentarians are often absent from meetings on community issues. While members of other smaller political parties are regularly in attendance, NLD lawmakers often reportedly say that they need to await permission from their headquarters to participate in such events. It is worrying, then, to think that the public's concerns and issues are not being represented in the parliament by those with the responsibility to represent them. It was reported that during a monthly meeting held on Oct. 4 between NLD leadership and parliamentarians, executive members asked that during parliamentary sessions, party members not ask “difficult questions” that could be perceived as harming the image of the NLD leadership. If parliament members are discouraged from raising the concerns of the people they promised to represent, they have failed those who voted for them. The issues being discussed in the legislature should not be based on government convenience, but on the pursuit of solutions for the issues faced in the constituencies. If the NLD is to live up to its promise of change and fair representation, channels of communication must become more open and accessible to the public, and their representatives must be allowed to speak freely. After more than two decades as an opposition leader, it is hoped that the State Counselor would understand the importance of such inquiry. Aung San Suu Kyi's status as a democracy icon should not stop us from having this conversation—checks and balances on power are, after all, one of the most important signposts of a functioning democracy. The feeling of disconnection is found not only in the public's disillusionment with their parliamentary representatives in these cases, but also with those involved in the peace process. Khu Oo Reh, general secretary of the ethnic armed alliance the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and leader of the Delegation for Political Negotiations (DPN), stated the importance of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi "consulting with all sides" in the peace process before she has her "final say." What he fears is that her mind has been made up in advance, before negotiations for each step have completed. If the conflict is to be resolved and reach a permanent end, Aung San Suu Kyi must, for the sake of fairness, put forth significant effort to communicate with ethnic armed organizations, including those within the UNFC, as she has done with the Burma Army. Since last week, thousands of residents across Kachin State have taken to the streets and to the Manau cultural grounds in the state capital to condemn the Burma Army's offensives and indiscriminate shelling in the region. This outpouring of frustration indicates the level of local discontentment with the government's silence over both the death of a toddler and the larger military campaign in Kachin State. People have long had high expectations that Aung San Suu Kyi would address the struggle against this state of perpetual insecurity and ethnic discrimination. Across Burma, they are calling on Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD government to condemn the ongoing military offensives in ethnic areas. The Kachin—as well as other ethnic communities also under threat—are still hoping that she will stand with them. After all, as American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Stella Naw is an advocate for democratic federalism in Burma, with a special interest in reconciliation and the rights of ethnic and indigenous peoples. The post When Silence Hurts More Than a Bullet appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Two Arrested After Attacks on Border Guard Posts in Arakan State Posted: 10 Oct 2016 06:16 AM PDT One of the arrested is brought to a court in the Arakan State capital Sittwe. (Photo: RPL/ Facebook) RANGOON — Two men have been apprehended after an attack on three Burmese border guard posts in Arakan State's Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, close to the Bangladesh border, in the early hours of Sunday morning. According to U Tin Maung Swe, secretary of the Arakan State government, the two have reportedly confessed to having planned the attack on the border guard posts over three months, with the help of local Muslims in Maungdaw, where the majority self-identify as Rohingya.(but are labeled "Bengali" by the government). The attacks on the Kyikanpyin headquarters and the Kotankauk and Ngakhuya outposts were launched by around 250 men, between 1:30 am and 4:30 am on Sunday morning, according to the state government. Nine policemen were killed, reportedly with machetes, and 64 firearms were looted. On pursuing the attackers, police killed eight and apprehended two, who were taken to the state capital Sittwe for questioning. The other 240 remain "on the run," according to U Tin Maung Swe. The state government secretary said that 30 of the attackers were equipped with firearms and—according to the confession drawn from those arrested—they had travelled by boat via a coastal route. The Irrawaddy contacted state government spokesman U Min Aung over the phone, who read from a police report alleging that "local Muslims" involved in the attack had links to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), a small militant group active along the Bangladeshi border in the 1980s and 1990s, which has been seemingly defunct ever since. However, state government secretary U Tin Maung Swe would not comment on the identity and affiliations of the attackers, and nothing has yet come to light to substantiate any links with the RSO. Since the incident, reinforcements of soldiers have been deployed on the ground in Maungdaw District of northern Arakan State—already a heavily militarized area. The municipal market in Maungdaw town has been shuttered, with new checkpoints erected across urban areas. Some from surrounding villages have come to shelter in the town. An existing curfew from 11pm – 4am has been extended to 7pm – 6am in Maungdaw District—which comprises Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships—as well as in Rathedaung Township further south. Gatherings of more than five people have also been outlawed. All of Maungdaw District's approximately 400 government schools were ordered shut on Monday morning. Government staff and teachers, most of whom come from outside the area, have expressed fear over the Sunday attacks and are awaiting permission to return to their home towns and villages. U Thein Htun Win, head-teacher of Kin Taung village primary school in Maungdaw Township, told The Irrawaddy that teachers are worrying for their safety because police numbers were insufficient for their protection in rural areas of the township, where the large majority of residents are Muslim. However, the Arakan State government secretary U Tin Maung Swe insisted that the situation across Maungdaw District remained stable. He said that authorities had shut border gates with Bangladesh, and the navy had been deployed to block coastal approaches to Burma. However, he said that arresting the remaining attackers would be difficult, because of their purported ability to blend in with local villagers in the area. He added that the case was "very sensitive" and "complicated," because it implicated "two countries": Burma and Bangladesh. This suggests a belief that the attackers originated from Bangladesh, although evidence to this effect has yet to be revealed publicly. U Tin Maung Swe said they "can't rush" the matter. The post Two Arrested After Attacks on Border Guard Posts in Arakan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

MMA Hero Calls for ‘United’ Spirit to Beat Civil War Posted: 10 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT Aung La N Sang in action against Polish opponent Michael Pasternak on Friday in Rangoon (Photo : JPaing/ The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Kachin cage fighter Aung La N Sang—known as "the Burmese Python"—told crowds celebrating his victory on Friday night that a "united" spirit was needed to stop civil war in his native Kachin State. The ethnic Kachin mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter defeated his Polish opponent Michael Pasternak in the One Championship State of Warriors event at Rangoon's Thuwunna Stadium on Oct. 7. "Anything can be achieved if we, the Burmese people, are united," he said after the judges' decision was announced, urging citizens to work together to stop the country's civil war. The event took place at the end of a week that saw thousands of Kachin locals protest in the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina, calling on the Burma Army to stop military offenses in the area. The two MMA fighters exchanged blows in a full three-round middleweight match. Amid intense pressure from an energetic home crowd, Aung La N Sang delivered multiple neck chokes and deft body strikes against an opponent who appeared fatigued by the second round. The three judges gave a unanimous decision that Aung La N Sang should take the prize against Pasternak, bringing the Kachin fighter's record to 19 wins and nine losses over his MMA career. In his victory speech, Aung La N Sang told a crowd of thousands that he wants to win the world championship title for Burma. The 31-year old received political asylum in the United States in 2003 and trained to become an MMA fighter at Maryland's Crazy 88 gym. On Friday he delivered his second hometown victory after defeating Egypt's Mohamed Ali in another One Championship event last March. Although a US citizen, Aung La N Sang tweeted on Sunday that he felt proud to represent Burma in the MMA profession. "It’s an honor to be able to represent my country and the Kachin people," he tweeted. "I am hungry and I will be back stronger." The post MMA Hero Calls for 'United' Spirit to Beat Civil War appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Chief Admits Weak Security Measures in Arakan State Posted: 10 Oct 2016 04:35 AM PDT Police Chief Maj-Gen Zaw Win at the press conference in Naypyidaw on Sunday. (Photo: Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy) NAYPYIDAW – Chief of the Burma police force Maj-Gen Zaw Win admitted weak security measures near the Bangladeshi border in northern Arakan State where border guard headquarters and outposts were hit by a series of fatal attacks early Sunday. "We have deployed security forces in all places, but we failed to ensure the effectiveness of security forces to patrol this area," the police chief admitted at a press conference in Naypyidaw later the same day. Additional security forces have since been brought into Arakan State, also known as Rakhine State, said the police chief. It now has the largest number of security forces of all the states and divisions of Burma. Authorities view Arakan State as now having two pressing needs, he said. Forces will need to round up the remaining attackers and also enforce the rule of law. "We are now deploying forces with the use of helicopters." police chief Maj-Gen Zaw Win told The Irrawaddy. "The Ministry of Defense will be on operations in the area and the Ministry of Home Affairs will enforce security and rule of law." Nine police officers were killed and five injured during a series of assaults on Kyikanpyin headquarters and Kotankauk and Ngakhuya outposts in Maungdaw and Rathedaung Townships by nearly 200 attackers from 1:30am to 4:30am on Sunday. The assailants took 62 assorted arms and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in the three separate attacks. Nine attackers were also killed and two arrested, said the government. On Sunday afternoon, authorities extended the existing curfew in Maungdaw and Rathedaung Townships from 11pm – 4am to 7pm – 6am. The assembly of more than five people is prohibited. The post Police Chief Admits Weak Security Measures in Arakan State appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

NLD to Discipline Lawmaker After Extramarital Affair Posted: 10 Oct 2016 02:40 AM PDT Dr Soe Moe Thu in his constituency in Irrawaddy Division (Photo: Dr Soe Moe Thu / Facebook) RANGOON — The National League for Democracy (NLD) will discipline its lawmaker representing Irrawaddy Division's Myaungmya Township in the Lower House after news of his extramarital affair went viral on social media. NLD spokesperson U Win Htein said lawmaker Dr Soe Moe Thu will be punished "in line with the party's rules and regulations." Dr Soe Moe Thu's wife filed a lawsuit at No. 9 Police Station in Mandalay on Sunday accusing her husband of adultery. "We've already warned him once, but he denied [having an extramarital affair] at that time," U Win Htein told The Irrawaddy. "Now, he can't deny it. So, our party discipline enforcement committee will take action against him. We have already cancelled his foreign trip," he said. "[Dr Soe Moe] will be subject to an internal investigation. Witnesses from both sides will be questioned," said NLD Rangoon Division deputy information officer U Soe Win Oo. "The maximum penalty is expulsion from the party. Or he may be suspended for a certain period." It is the second scandal to rock Burma's most popular political party in a week. Last Thursday, A Rangoon motel filed a lawsuit against NLD lawmaker U Nyan Linn, accusing him and two friends of swearing, threatening and drunkenly fighting with motel staff. Political commentator Dr Yan Myo Thein told The Irrawaddy that these recent scandals suggest that Burma is in need of impeachment legislation that grants citizens the "right to recall." "People should have the right to recall if they do not like the representatives they have elected." Dr Yan Myo Thein said. "Only when the fundamental rights of voters are put first, will the parliament be able to serve the interests of the people." U Tin Aye, former chairman of the Union Election Commission, in August last year urged U Shwe Mann, the then speaker of the Union Parliament, to enact legislation on recalling lawmakers as soon as possible. However, lawmakers voted to suspend the bill. The post NLD to Discipline Lawmaker After Extramarital Affair appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Nine Police Dead in Arakan State Border Attacks Posted: 10 Oct 2016 12:38 AM PDT A tower belonging to Burma's border guard is pictured near the border fence of Bangladesh in Maungdaw June 5, 2014. (Photo: REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun) RANGOON — Nine police officers were killed and five injured during a series of attacks on border guard headquarters and outposts near the Bangladeshi border in northern Arakan State on early Sunday, according to police statements. The assaults were carried out by nearly 200 attackers from 1:30am to 4:30am at Kyikanpyin headquarters and Kotankauk and Ngakhuya outposts in Maungdaw and Rathedaung Townships, police said. "Eight attackers were killed and two were captured alive, Police Force Chief Maj-Gen Zaw Win said during a press conference on the attacks on Sunday in Naypyidaw. According to information released at the press conference, 62 assorted arms and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition were taken by attackers in the three separate attacks. The police chief didn't confirm public speculation that the attacks were masterminded by the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), a small militant group formerly active along the Bangladeshi border in the 1980s and 1990s that has been quiet for nearly two decades. Since 2012, communal strife between local Buddhist Arakanese and Muslim Rohingya has killed scores and displaced up to 140,000 people in Arakan State, also known as Rakhine State. U Kyaw Tin, the deputy minister of foreign affairs, said an investigation was underway to see if the assailants had links in Bangladesh and, if necessary Bangladesh's ambassador for Burma would be summoned. He added that "the State Counselor [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] firmly told us to respond to this case within the law." In August, the State Counselor announced the formation of an advisory commission led by former UN Gen-Sec Kofi Annan to advise on "lasting solutions to complex and delicate issues" in Arakan State. On Sunday afternoon, authorities extended the existing curfew in Maungdaw and Rathedaung Townships from 11pm – 4am to 7pm – 6am. The assembly of more than five people is prohibited. Arakan State Education Department ordered the closure of Maungdaw District schools on Monday morning. About 400 government schools are affected, according to Education Department officer U Aung Kyat Htun. The post Nine Police Dead in Arakan State Border Attacks appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Generals and tycoons dust off their suitcases Posted: 10 Oct 2016 12:27 AM PDT The post Generals and tycoons dust off their suitcases appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Rakhine border raids kill nine police officers
• US officially terminates sanctions order
• Speaker emphasises separation of powers
• Amendments to ward or village tract law to be discussed
• UNFC condemns ongoing military offensives
• Myanmar refugees comprise third-largest bloc admitted to US
• Reporters press for pay from shuttered paper
• ALP officer awarded prize for human rights work
• Police and Tatmadaw targeting money laundering, terrorism: minister
• ALD party prepares to reconvene

Rakhine border raids kill nine police officers Posted: 10 Oct 2016 12:05 AM PDT Nine Myanmar police officers were killed in coordinated attacks by insurgents on posts along the border with Bangladesh early yesterday, an official and police said.

US officially terminates sanctions order Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:59 PM PDT After imposing economic sanctions on Myanmar for nearly two decades, the US formally abolished the blacklist on October 7.

Speaker emphasises separation of powers Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:50 PM PDT At a press conference following the conclusion of the second regular sitting of the Pyithu Hluttaw on October 7, Speaker U Win Myint instructed lower house lawmakers to be mindful of the separation of powers in government.

Amendments to ward or village tract law to be discussed Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:46 PM PDT The debate over the "midnight inspections" law goes on. Though last month parliament finally agreed to remove from the law the requirement for householders to notify the authorities of any non-family member staying in their home overnight, the bill had yet to be finalised.

UNFC condemns ongoing military offensives Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:44 PM PDT In an effort to ease military tension in Kachin and northern Shan states, the United Nationalities Federal Council has called on the Tatmadaw to halt offensives in ethnic areas in a statement released by the group.

Myanmar refugees comprise third-largest bloc admitted to US Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:42 PM PDT Myanmar nationals made up the third-largest group of refugees resettled in the US over the past fiscal year, which concluded at the end of September.

Reporters press for pay from shuttered paper Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:38 PM PDT Reporters and editors from the now defunct Mandalay-based daily newspaper Mandalay Ahlin are seeking nearly K26 million in fees and damages which they believe they are owed.

ALP officer awarded prize for human rights work Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:25 PM PDT The family of a communications officer who has been detained on what many believe are politically motivated charges accepted an award on his behalf last week.

Police and Tatmadaw targeting money laundering, terrorism: minister Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:24 PM PDT Myanmar's police and the Tatmadaw are collaborating to curb money laundering, which they see as a potential source of funding for terrorists, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Major General Aung Soe said at a Pyithu Hluttaw session last week.

ALD party prepares to reconvene Posted: 09 Oct 2016 11:22 PM PDT More than 100 former members of the Arakan National Party seem to be on the verge of forming a new political grouping after their expulsion from the ANP. They met on October 8-9 in Kyauktaw township, Rakhine State to discuss the new party, just days after the ANP's October 3-4 convention in Mrauk-U township.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Military Officials, Cronies Released from US Blacklist
• The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (October 8)
• This Week in Parliament (October 3-7)
• Obama lifts sanctions against Burma

Military Officials, Cronies Released from US Blacklist Posted: 08 Oct 2016 02:07 AM PDT A combination of file photos shows, from L-R, former dictator Snr-Gen Than Shwe, General Maung Aye and Thura Shwe Mann. (Photo: REUTERS/Staff/Archives.) RANGOON — Burma's former dictator Snr-Gen Than Shwe was among individuals removed from the US Treasury's blacklist following the lifting of Burma sanctions on Friday. Another 16 senior military officials, including former Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, have been removed from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List. Apart from senior military officials, military-related businesses removed from the list include Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, the Myanmar Economic Corporation, Myawaddy Bank and the Directorate of Defence Industries, which is Burma's state-owned arms and ordnance manufacturer. Five top crony business men, along with their family members and businesses, are no longer under sanction; they are U Tay Za, U Khin Shwe, Yuzana U Htay Myint, U Zaw Zaw and Stephen Law, whose late father was once described by the US Treasury as one of the world’s key heroin traffickers. President Barack Obama formally announced the lifting of US sanctions on Burma on Friday by terminating an emergency order that deemed the policies of the former military government a threat to US national security. The move followed a meeting between Burma's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and Obama in Washington last month, in which she called for the lifting of economic sanctions against her country. More than 50 individuals along with their families and their businesses in hotels, agriculture, construction, banking, and logging were released from sanctions on Friday. A key figure is Lt–Gen Thein Htay, chief of the Directorate of Defence Industries, who was blacklisted in 2013 for alleged arms trading with North Korea. Another three Burmese firms, Soe Min Htike Co. Ltd., Asia Metal Company and Excellence Mineral Manufacturing Company, sanctioned in 2013 for working with North Korea, have been removed from the SDN list. Also among the individuals are family members of Thura U Shwe Mann, a former Union Solidarity and Development Party chairman and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's close ally from the previous U Thein Sein government. He is a former general and was considered the third most powerful man in the State Peace and Development Council. His wife Daw Khin Lay Thet and son U Aung Thet Mann—who is the CEO of Ayer Shwe Wah, a subsidiary of Htoo Trading Company owned by U Tay Za—are also no longer sanctioned. The lifting of sanctions was welcomed by Burma's business community on Saturday. U Khin Shwe, the president of Zay Gabar Company who was also removed from the list, said it was "a very nice move" by the US government "at the right time" as Burma now has a civilian government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. "Any delay in lifting sanctions could lead to backsliding in the country's democratic transition as Burma is in urgent need of economic development," he told The Irrawaddy. "We [businesspeople removed from the list] can create jobs for thousands of people when international investment comes in," he added. U Khin Shwe explained that the sanction lift will encourage other countries, aside from the US and EU countries, to invest in Burma, such as South Korea. "They will no longer feel reluctant to work with us as there are no sanctions," he said. The US Treasury Department said the termination of the Burma sanctions program does not impact Burmese individuals or entities blocked pursuant to other sanctions authorities, such as counter-narcotics and North Korea sanctions, barring any business dealings with the US. They include alleged drugs kingpin Wei Hsueh Kang and the United Wa State Army, one of Burma's biggest ethnic armed groups. They remain on the SDN List, and their property and interests in property remain blocked. The post Military Officials, Cronies Released from US Blacklist appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (October 8) Posted: 07 Oct 2016 08:07 PM PDT A man rides across the "friendship" bridge at the Indian town of Moreh on the Burmese border, January 25, 2012. Indian border trade 'crippled' Trade between Burma and India at the international gate between Tamu, Sagaing Division and Moreh in India's Manipur State ground to a halt early this week after Burma closed the trading post on Monday, according to The Hindu news outlet. The closure followed a powerful bomb explosion inside Burma near a boundary pillar located 40 meters from a neighborhood in Moreh on Sunday. On the evening of the same day, a man believed to be an Indian insurgent was shot by five unidentified persons at Namphalong near the international gate, according to reports. Meanwhile, loaded trucks from India were stranded at Moreh waiting for the gate to reopen, while many others returned to Imphal, the Manipur state capital, and to other cities in northeast India, The Hindu report said. The price of imported goods has risen steeply in parts of India's northeast since the closure, according to other sources. Bangladesh seeks gas from Burma Bangladesh is seeking support from India for a proposal to import natural gas from Burma, according to The Daily Sun in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka. Support for the plan was due to be solicited at a meeting in New Delhi on Friday between Bangladesh's energy minister Nasrul Hamid and Indian State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendar Pradan, the paper said. Bangladesh has already made a proposal to Burma to export its surplus gas to Bangladesh, according to the report, which added that Burma's gas exports to Thailand and China have dropped amid a fall in gas and oil prices in the international market. "To meet ever-growing gas demand, Bangladesh wants to propose energy sector cooperation with Myanmar. Bangladesh's proposal will include a joint-venture gas pipeline and possibly a sub-regional grid line for the Rakhine and Chin states of Myanmar," Bangladeshi officials told the paper. Bangladesh currently produces 2,700mmcfd of gas against a demand of 3,200mmcd, the report said. KBZ insurance arm aims to list on Rangoon's Stock Exchange The KBZ banking group is seeking to list its insurance arm on the Yangon Stock Exchange by the end of next year, a senior executive told Reuters this week. The size of the initial public offering has not yet been finalized, but the listed arm could have a market capitalization of between US$500 million – $750 million, senior managing director of KBZ group U Nyo Myint said. The insurance arm has paid-up capital of $55 million. KBZ plans to list 40 percent of the firm, he said. Trading started on the Yangon Stock Exchange in March this year and so far three companies have been listed. Meanwhile KBZ's banking arm is seeking a partnership with a financial technology company to boost digital and mobile banking solutions across the country, group executives said. Thailand's True Money to work with Asian Green Development Bank Thailand's True Money is gearing up to provide electronic payment services between Thailand and Burma, the Bangkok Post reported. This would allow the company to tap into the potentially lucrative stream of remittances that passes from several million Burmese migrant workers in Thailand to their families in Burma. In March this year, the central bank of Thailand eased regulations to allow companies holding payment licenses under the law regulating e-payment to act as international money transfer agents using websites and mobile phone apps. True Money will team up with the Asia Green Development Bank, owned by prominent military-linked tycoon Tay Za, to develop a payments service that will be capped at 200,000 baht (7.3 million kyats/US$5,730) per day per person. The international payment service has "strong potential" because Thailand was "home to 3.9 million migrant workers in 2015" said Saranrat Srichiraratana, managing director of True Money. Burmese migrants working in Thailand transfer around 77 billion baht (US$2.2 billion) home annually, with an average of 30,000 baht ($860) worth of transactions per person per year, the report said. However, most of this remittance money passes through informal channels, including the hundi system, which involves a network of brokers spread across the two countries, despite the option of using banks since 2012. Singapore-themed festival in Rangoon A "Singapore Festival," taking place this weekend at the Myanmar Plaza in Rangoon, will celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations between Burma and Singapore. Organized by the Singapore Tourism Board, the event will feature games, performances and music, with appearances by movie stars Pyay Ti Oo and Eaindra Kyaw Zin. Celebrities Thun Sett and Tun Ko Ko will conduct cooking demonstrations onstage. .Burma and Singapore marked 50 years of diplomatic relations in April this year. Visa-free travel between the two countries is set to begin in December. Singapore is a growing destination for Burmese nationals. The city state already contains a substantial Burmese expatriate population. Annual visitor arrivals to Singapore from Burma rose by 12 percent from 2011 to 2015. Huawei teams up with KMD China's Huawei has teamed up with information technology and services provider KMD Group to boost its presence in Burma's mobile phone market, the China Daily reported. Huawei aims to increase its market share in Burma where the brand already enjoys a strong position in the country's growing mobile phone market. Huawei's brand power is significantly higher in Burma than in its home market, China, according to a report on Burma's consumer market titled "Spotlight on Myanmar," conducted by WPP and Millward Brown companies. In February this year, a Huawei-backed information technology training center opened in Rangoon's Thanlyin University of Science and Technology. The Huawei Authorized Information and Network Academy (HAINA), one of several set up across the globe, aims to boost human resources in Burma's information technology sector. Thilawa SEZ Holdings proposes share split   Thilawa SEZ Holdings has proposed splitting its shares at a ratio of 1:10 in order to increase its stock's liquidity and affordability, DealStreet Asia reported. The number of issued and paid up shares will rise from 3,892,915 to 38,929,150, while the value of shares will change from 10,000 to 1,000 kyats (US$7.85 to $0.78) per share, according to the proposal. A date has not yet been confirmed for the stock split. The company also announced that it has appointed a new chief financial officer, Wei Hua Tan, a former chief financial officer of UAE-based Al Maabar International Investments Company, with interests in real estate and the hospitality sector. He will assume the position earlier held by U Tun Tun, who also acts as the executive director and chief financial officer of First Myanmar Investment (FMI), one of Burma's largest investment firms headed by tycoon Serge Pun. Thilawa SEZ Holdings oversees the development of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, a 2,500-hectare industrial park and port development project located in Rangoon's southeastern Thanlyin Township, which has attracted substantial Japanese investment. The post The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (October 8) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

This Week in Parliament (October 3-7) Posted: 07 Oct 2016 07:48 PM PDT Members attend a meeting at the Lower House of Burma's parliament earlier this year. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters) Monday (October 3) In the Lower House, lawmakers voted to reject Dr Maung Thin's proposal for the government to design an inclusive basic education policy by holding seminars at different levels and inviting input from different levels of society. In the Upper House, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Tun Win responded to a question from Daw Ei Ei Pyone of Irrawaddy Division (8), saying that his ministry is disseminating knowledge about good agricultural practice, soil management and the use of fertilizer and pesticides, right down to local level, while prioritizing research and development. Tuesday (October 4) In the Lower House, lawmakers debated a proposal from U Than Nyunt, representing Phyu Township of Pegu Division, for the government to upgrade rail transport in line with international standards. The house put the proposal on record. The Union Parliament revoked the widely derided 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, which had been used frequently by successive military governments to imprison dissidents. Wednesday (October 5) In the Lower House, U Myint Lwin, who represents Twante Township of Rangoon Division, asked whether the government had plans to support Burma's film industry, with an eye to penetrating international movie markets. Minister of Information U Pe Myint replied that a dedicated motion picture law is a precondition for developing Burma's film industry and said his ministry was working with relevant individuals, associations and ministries to develop one. The Upper House approved the draft of the hotly anticipated Myanmar Investment Law, which merges and updates the provisions of the 2012 Foreign Investment Law and the 2013 Myanmar Citizens Investment Law. Thursday (October 6) The Lower House approved amendments to the civil service law. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Maj-Gen Aung Soe responded to a question from U Tun Tun, of Pwintbyu Township in Magwe Division, saying that his ministry is taking legal action against illegal liquor shops and bootleg sellers, and is making brewing plants undergo checks before extending their licenses. In the Lower House, lawmaker U Tin Aye asked about the government's security plans in light of increasing terrorist attacks in other countries in the region. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Maj-Gen Aung Soe replied that his ministry has blacklisted international terrorist organizations and their members, in accordance with lists supplied by Interpol, Aseanpol and partner organizations, and has developed counter-terrorism plans based on international practice. In the Upper House, U Hla Hsan of Magwe Division (1) asked about five state-run fertilizer plants and about fertilizer imports. Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Tun Naing said that two plants, in Myaungdaga and Kangyidaunt, are still operating but manufacturing below normal levels while three others, in Sale, Kyunchaung and Kyaw Swar, have halted production because of a shortage of natural gas needed for fuel. He said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation regulates imports of fertilizer to ensure their quality and accessibility. Lawmakers in the Upper House also debated a new bill to protect citizens' privacy and security from state intrusion, which was previously passed by the Lower House. Friday (October 7) The Lower House's term formally concluded. According to the Lower House speaker, a total of 225 "asterisk" questions and 407 "non-asterisk" questions were asked throughout the term. Sixteen proposals, including two "important" proposals, were submitted—four were approved, nine others documented, two rejected and one was not discussed. Ten out of 19 bills were passed. In the Upper House, divergent views were expressed over the bill to protect citizens' privacy and security. The debate will continue at the Union Parliament during the next parliamentary term. In the Union Parliament, lawmakers ratified an Asean protocol concerning an "enhanced" dispute-settlement mechanism. The post This Week in Parliament (October 3-7) appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Obama lifts sanctions against Burma Posted: 07 Oct 2016 07:27 PM PDT US President Barack Obama talks to the media as he meets with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 14. / Photo: Reuters) WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama formally announced the lifting of US sanctions on Burma on Friday by terminating an emergency order that deemed the policies of the former military government a threat to US national security. ''I have determined that the situation that gave rise to the national emergency … has been significantly altered by Burma's substantial advances to promote democracy, including historic elections in November 2015,'' Obama said in a letter to the US House and Senate speakers. A US Treasury statement said that as a result of the termination of the emergency order the economic and financial sanctions administered by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control were no longer in effect. The move followed a meeting between Burma's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and Obama in Washington last month, when she called for the lifting of economic sanctions against her country, and he said he was willing to do this. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won a sweeping victory in the November elections. Obama’s letter pointed to the formation of a democratically elected, civilian-led government as a result of the election, the release of many political prisoners and improved human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly. ''While Burma faces significant challenges, including the consolidation of its democracy, the United States can, and intends to, use other means to support the government and people of Burma in their efforts to address these challenges,'' Obama's letter said. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon, helped persuade the West to impose sanctions on Burma during her years as a jailed opposition leader. She is now trying to strike a balance between showing her people the economic rewards of a democratic transition while keeping pressure on the country’s generals for further reforms. Some members of the U.S. Congress have expressed concerns about the extent and durability of change in Burma and introduced legislation seeking to give lawmakers some influence on the process of easing sanctions. Rights groups condemned last month’s announcement, saying it forfeited leverage on Burma's military. Officials of the US administration have said the removal of sanctions would not apply to military-to-military assistance, given the extent of the military’s involvement in politics and rights abuses. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself has been criticized for doing too little to address the plight of Burma's stateless Rohingya Muslim minority. The State Department said last month that several restrictions would remain in place, including barring visas for military leaders. The post Obama lifts sanctions against Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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• KIO: Burma Army Launched Air Strikes
• Mon Armed Group Warned to ‘Stop Violating Ceasefire’
• Rangoon Govt Reviewing Motorcycle Ban
• What’s Next in Mongla and Wa Tensions?
• Trade Deficit Reaches US$1.73 Billion in Govt’s First Six Months
• Buddhist Monks Lead Commemoration of 1976 Thai Massacre 

KIO: Burma Army Launched Air Strikes Posted: 07 Oct 2016 04:49 AM PDT KIA troops on the march in Chi Phway Township near the China-Burmese border in Kachin State. (Photo: J Paing/The Irrawaddy) RANGOON – The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) alleged that on Friday morning the Burma Army launched air strikes from four fighter jets on its armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The  Burma Army attacked Inkaren Hill in Waingmaw Township where KIA Battalion No. 252 was deployed, KIO information officer Lt-Col Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy. "We can confirm that [the Burma Army] attacked with four fighter jets for about an hour from 8am. I have not yet received information about the situation on the ground, so I have no comment about that," he said. The Burma Army has not made a statement about the alleged attack and The Irrawaddy was unable to obtain a comment from the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare under the Ministry of Defense. U Koi Darn, who is in charge of a relief camp at Mongna Baptist Church in Waingmaw Township, told The Irrawaddy he saw planes overhead around 9am on Friday. After the '21st Century Panglong' peace conference, the Burma Army has frequently launched offensives on the KIA. The KIO views these actions as an attempt to pressure the KIA to sign the NCA before the second round of the peace conference. "While we are dedicated to building peace through negotiation, it is not right to pressure us into political talks through military operations," said Lt-Col Naw Bu. Since the recent conflict flared, Kachin locals in state capital Myitkyina and Tanai Township have held mass demonstrations calling on the Burma Army to immediately end military offensives. Demonstrators also demanded federalism and self-determination and stressed the need to solve political problems by political means. The KIA is a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)—an ethnic alliance of non-signatories of the NCA. The KIA signed a ceasefire agreement with Burma's ruling military regime in 1994 that collapsed when the Burma Army and the KIA came to blows over the Tarpein Hydropower Project in 2011, forcing hundreds of thousands of local people from their homes. The post KIO: Burma Army Launched Air Strikes appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mon Armed Group Warned to ‘Stop Violating Ceasefire’ Posted: 07 Oct 2016 04:44 AM PDT New recruits of the Mon National Liberation Army have undergone training in recent months at a camp in Kyainseikgyi Township of Karen State. (Photo: Ah Ar / Facebook) The Mon State Government has delivered a formal warning to the New Mon State Party (NMSP), an ethnic Mon armed group, demanding that it stop taxing locals, acting as law enforcement, cracking down on illegal drugs, and recruiting locals in "government-controlled" areas. In a meeting on Friday involving the Mon State Chief Minister and the military-appointed Minister of Security and Border Affairs, along with senior NMSP members, the ethnic armed group was accused of violating the 2012 bilateral ceasefire agreement, and told that it must "respect the rule of law," according to NMSP spokesman Nai Win Hla, who was present. "We responded that we would stop these actions only if the government found political solutions," he said, maintaining that the NMSP was moved to enforce law and order locally and stamp out drugs because the Burmese government had failed in its responsibility to do so. According to Nai Win Hla, the border affairs minister Col Win Naing Oo accused the NMSP of "disrespecting the government." Nai Win Hla said the group "did not respond" to this accusation. The Mon State government had sent 28 letters in total to the NMSP since January this year, alleging violations of the bilateral ceasefire. The border affairs minister brought up two such cases at the meeting: the killing of a civilian during a raid on an illegal drug ring in Kawkareik Township of Karen State, and the arrest of a man accused of forcing a woman to marry him in Mudon Township of Mon State (after the Burmese police had failed to take action, according to local Mon sources). The NMSP, whose armed wing is called the Mon National Liberation Army, is active across areas of southeastern Burma, and is a member of the influential ethnic armed group alliance the United Nationalities Federal Council. Although the NMSP reached a bilateral ceasefire agreement with Burmese government in 2012, it chose not to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) last year—after which tension between the MNSP and the Burma Army has grown, according to NMSP leaders. "We have to keep tight control of our soldiers, to ensure our troops' movements stay within the boundaries [agreed under the bilateral ceasefire]," said Nai Hong Sar, vice chairman of the NMSP, who said the group  "did not want to have problems" with the Burmese Army and the government. "They are trying to create problems with us because we refused to sign the NCA," he claimed. The post Mon Armed Group Warned to 'Stop Violating Ceasefire' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rangoon Govt Reviewing Motorcycle Ban Posted: 07 Oct 2016 04:37 AM PDT Two men ride on a motorcycle in the outskirts of Rangoon. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Rangoon regional government is reviewing a ban on motorcycles in central areas of Burma's commercial capital, the region's transport minister told lawmakers during the regional legislative session of parliament on Thursday. Responding to a question concerning official permission for motorcycle licenses and dealers in the outskirts of the city's municipal council-controlled areas, the minister of electricity, industry, roads and transportation Daw Nilar Kyaw said that the regional government was "completing reviews on rules and regulations related to setting territories for motorcycle riding." "After setting areas [for motorcycle use], motorcyclists must have a driving license and a license for their vehicle," she said, adding that the regulation must be robustly enforced. While there is no specific law for riding two-wheeled vehicles in Rangoon, motorcycles have been banned in 33 municipal council-controlled townships since the early 2000s while government officials were allowed to ride motorcycles until July 2009, as per "guidelines" released by the city's transport authorities. There are currently 14 townships that are not under the administration of the city's municipal authority—Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)—where many residents regularly use motorcycles. Burma has an estimated four million registered motorcycles in the country, based on official figures, and many more are imported illegally. Daw Nilar Kyaw said she could not say when an announcement on the updated regulations would be made. The post Rangoon Govt Reviewing Motorcycle Ban appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

What’s Next in Mongla and Wa Tensions? Posted: 07 Oct 2016 03:52 AM PDT UWSA soldiers on military parade (Photo: Shan Herald Agency for News) RANGOON – Military tensions arose unexpectedly between the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its closest ally, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) better known as the Mongla Group, at the end of September. On Sept. 28, around 600 UWSA troops raided Mongla Group outposts in Loi Hsarm Hsoom, Loi Kiusai and Parng Mark Fah inspection gate between Kengtung and Mongla in eastern Shan State and arrested over 150 Mongla Group troops, local media reported. As observers reacted with surprise to the unexpected conflict between the two groups who share former affiliations with the   Communist Party of Burma (CPB), the Mongla Group released a statement on Oct. 3. The statement said that UWSA troops had conducted field exercises in the area controlled by the Mongla Group and that some UWSA troops had made serious mistakes during the exercise, resulting in ''terrible consequences.'' The statement did not provide details about the alleged incidents, but said that leaders of the two groups subsequently met on Oct. 1, when UWSA leaders commanded its officers who performed the military exercises on the ground to correct the ''mistakes.'' U Kyi Myint, a spokesperson for the Mongla Group, refused to provide specific information when asked by The Irrawaddy about the case. "Just refer to the statement. We have no problem. Everything is just all right," he said. Local media outlets questioned both the Mongla Group and the UWSA about the incident, but neither provided details. According to information leaked from troops on the ground, the UWSA freed Mongla Group troops and returned the Parng Mark Fah inspection gate within three days, but it has continued to hold the strategically important bases of Loi Hsarm Hsoom and Loi Kiusai and to send   reinforcements and ammunition into the areas. Sources close to the UWSA said it had  done so in preparation for military activities by the Burma Army. A person close to the UWSA told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity: "The place(s) [previously] held by the Mongla Group are militarily important, but their deployment there is not strong enough. Losing this area would put both the Mongla Group and the UWSA at grave risk." Some military analysts had a different view, arguing that the Mongla Group had released the statement as a bid, using peaceful means, to persuade the UWSA to retreat. In 2009, when the Burma Army was putting pressure on ethnic armed groups to transform into sections of the Burma Army-aligned militia known as the Border Guard Force, the UWSA deployed its troops in the area with the approval of the Mongla Group, said U Maung Maung Soe, an ethnic affairs analyst. He concludeds that the UWSA was now  conducting military activities in the area as a response to the Burma Army's recent attacks on ethnic groups, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The UWSA and the Mongla Group have traditionally shared similar views on Burma's government and on ethnic issues,  but after the National League for Democracy (NLD) government took office this year, the UWSA started to perceive that the Mongla Group had changed its  standpoint, according to some military analysts. Some analysts assessed that  that the UWSA was  not satisfied with the Mongla Group's repeatedly making statements in support of  the new government and expressing trust in the government's peace initiative. The latest confrontation may reflect the UWSA's irritation with the Mongla Group after the '21st Century Panglong' peace conference, they say. "The problem is that the Mongla Group talked about its support for the '21st Century Panglong' peace conference and signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), which upset the UWSA," a military analyst told the Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity. At the conference, the Mongla Group suggested that it may sign the NCA and engage in peace and development talks, while the UWSA has repeatedly said that the NCA was not necessary. The two allies, which often refer to each other as brothers, approached the '21st Century Panglong' peace conference differently. While the Mongla Group dispatched senior leaders, the UWSA only sent officers in charge of liaison offices to the government-organized event/ On the second day of the conference, the UWSA staged a dramatic walk-out,  apparently as a result of a misunderstanding over ID cards issued to itsdelegates. The UWSA has felt some concern over closer ties between the Mongla Group, the government and the Burma Army and therefore took preemptive action to occupy militarily strategic areas, said   Khun Sai, chief editor of the Shan Herald News Agency which is monitoring ethnic armed group issues in Shan State. "I'm not sure how important those places are for the Mongla Group, but they are absolutely crucial for the UWSA. If those places fell into the hands of Burma Army, the UWSA is finished," U Khun Sai told The Irrawaddy. The UWSA is based in two places. It has territory on the Thailand-Burma border while its headquarters are on the China-Burma border, both areas within Shan State. The Mongla region lies in a strategic position connecting the two territories. "If the Wa have to choose between the Thailand-Burma border and that area in Mongla, they would choose the latter. That place is that important to them," said U Khun Sai. Apart from its military importance, the area recently newly occupied by the UWSA is in the economically strategic Golden Triangle area straddling Burma, Thailand and Laos. Burma Army battalions are also deployed in the area. The UWSA may also be more concerned that the Mongla Group will draw closer to the  Burma Army than to  the government, some have suggested. Such ties would constitute a real threat to the UWSA, one analyst said. Now, despite the Mongla Group's recent public statement, the UWSA has brought in large reinforcements to the areas in question. It remains to be seen how tensions between the two groups will develop and what impact this may on Burma's peace process. The post What's Next in Mongla and Wa Tensions? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Trade Deficit Reaches US$1.73 Billion in Govt’s First Six Months Posted: 07 Oct 2016 03:35 AM PDT The Asia World Port, Burma's biggest container port, on the Hlaing River in Rangoon, May 14, 2016. (Photo: Reuters /Soe Zeya Tun) RANGOON — Burma's trade deficit has reached US$1.73 billion in the National League for Democracy government's first six months, beginning in April, significantly lower than the $2.24 billion deficit reached over the same six-month period last year. From April till the end of September this year, Burma's total trade volume amounted to US$12.9 billion, with exports worth $5.6 billion and imports $7.3 billion, according to figures from the Ministry of Commerce. This puts exports $11.9 million higher than the same period last year, but imports $495 million lower, signaling an overall decline in the total volume of trade. "Exports of oil and gas, and of gems, are significantly down this year," U Yan Naing Tun, director-general of Ministry of Commerce, told the Irrawaddy. However, he said that increases in agricultural exports had helped make up some of the shortfall. The director-general attributed the decline in imports to a relative slowdown in construction and infrastructure development during the period. Burma's major exports are oil, gas, gems, marine products, and agricultural products including rice, beans, pulses and rubber. Its major exports include electronics and materials used in construction. The Ministry of Commerce anticipates a total trade volume of $32 billion through the current fiscal year ending on March 31, 2017. The total trade volume for the previous fiscal year reached $26 billion. Burma's trade volume increased steadily year on year after political and economic reforms were launched under former President U Thein Sein in 2011. However, in 2015, the last year of U Thein Sein's term, the trade volume appeared to be leveling off. The post Trade Deficit Reaches US$1.73 Billion in Govt's First Six Months appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Buddhist Monks Lead Commemoration of 1976 Thai Massacre  Posted: 06 Oct 2016 11:35 PM PDT Thai Buddhist monks walk with candles through Bangkok's Thammasat University on Oct. 6, 2006 (Photo: Adrees Latif / Reuters) BANGKOK, Thailand — Buddhist monks, survivors, mourners and activists gathered Thursday to mark the 40th anniversary of one of the darkest days in Thailand's history, when police killed scores of university students at a peaceful protest, and vigilantes defiled the dead. Students at Bangkok's Thammasat University had been protesting the return from exile of a hated former dictator in 1976 when they were trapped by a right-wing mob and heavily armed paramilitary police, who fired guns and grenades at the defenseless crowd of several thousand. After the students were subdued, thugs rushed in and grabbed as many as a dozen. They were then taken to a nearby public field, beaten to death, hanged and abused, with the bodies tossed onto a makeshift funeral pyre. The official death toll was 46, though credible independent estimates put it at more than 100. The disorder was used as an excuse for the army to seize power later that day, undoing a student-led democratic revolution three years earlier. The anniversary comes as Thailand is again under military rule since a 2014 coup, a situation referred to by some speakers at the anniversary ceremony. "I think we all have heard the term 'Brexit' used to describe the process of Britain leaving the EU. I would like to propose that the first necessary condition for democracy in Thailand is 'Mexit'; meaning the first necessary condition is to take the military out of politics," said Surachart Bamrungsuk, a former student leader who was present at the Thammasat tragedy and then was held in prison for two years on trumped-up charges. "If we can't take the military out of politics, then don't even think about democracy," said Surachart, now a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. This year's commemoration has drawn broader interest than usual because an invited speaker, teenage Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, was not allowed into the country by Thai authorities, making headlines worldwide. Wong was supposed to speak at Chulalongkorn, which this year joined Thammasat for the first time in marking the anniversary. The rector of Thammasat, Somkit Lertpaithoon, said the university teaches its students about the violence and even has survivors on its staff. "Even though the events of Oct. 6 may not be documented in Thai history, the new generation still strives to learn about it," he said in a speech at the university. The Thammasat massacre has always been a sensitive issue, both because the images of lynchings speak to a dark side of the Thai character and because the assault on the university showed how the state could carry out human rights abuses with impunity. No perpetrators were ever punished. An increasing awareness of human rights since 1976 has led to much questioning of the use of state violence, especially because of a sometimes-violent struggle for political power that has troubled Thailand for the past decade, including bloody street battles in Bangkok in 2010. "The massacre is still of interest 40 years after the fact because it remains officially unresolved. Those who were involved in the violence have not been held to account, even as there has been a wave of transitional justice processes around the world, and even expanded questioning and investigations in relation to the violence of April-May 2010," Tyrell Haberkorn, a fellow in political and social change at the Australian National University, said earlier this week. "The incident has relevance to the current state of Thai politics because it becomes possible to continue to stage coup after coup while repressing dissent because those who have done so in the past have not been held to account for doing so," she said. The post Buddhist Monks Lead Commemoration of 1976 Thai Massacre  appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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