Fifteen days until it must submit an initial report on whether several hydropower dams along the Ayeyarwady River should go forward, the commission for reviewing and scrutinising those projects is leaning toward recommending the most controversial of the bunch, the Myitsone mega-dam, be scrapped.
Hopes for democracy in Myanmar are this week at their most vulnerable point since the National League for Democracy swept to electoral victory last year, as the military continues to ignore Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's calls for it to abide by the rule of law in northern Rakhine State and allegations of rights violations grow.
Ethnic politicians are preparing to turn up the heat on the government and press for the inclusion of non-signatory groups to be able to attend upcoming political dialogues. The Tatmadaw has made signing on to the nationwide ceasefire agreement a precondition, but just eight groups are party to the pact.
At a recent meeting, most Lanmadaw and Dala township residents in attendance said they were happy about the bridge slated to connect the two communities. But a handful on both sides of the Yangon River expressed concerns over the construction process.
In a bid to address the enormous and still mounting backlog of land grab claims, local-level committees are being formed across Myanmar in order to analyse and resolve the disputes.
After being hit with a lawsuit, officials from the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation plan to launch a countersuit on the basis of criminal defamation.
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CHIANG MAI, Thailand – An increase in the number of local militia groups backed by the Tatmadaw in eastern Shan State has contributed to the growth of opium production and the drug trade, according data published by an ethnic Lahu civil society organization.
In its new report "Naypyitaw's Drug Addiction," the Lahu National Development Organization (LNDO) stated that the Burma Army plays a key role in the drug trade by hosting jungle labs for syndicates to produce large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine pills, which are ravaging the communities across the country and in neighboring nations.
The Tatmadaw makes huge profits from monopolizing opium sales to refinery owners, holding joint investment in refineries and transporting refined drugs to distributors, the report said.
LNDO's report highlighted the growth of state-backed militias in the region, of which there are now 87 groups with an estimated 3,400 troops. This is a marked increase from figures a decade ago, which stated that in 2006 there were 68 militias with 2,300 troops in total.
"There are at least ten mobile heroine labs, mostly in Mong Hsat and Tachileik townships," said Japhet Jagui, the director of LNDO. In these labs, he explained, militia groups collect money as "taxes" from mobile heroin producers.
Japhet Jagui was among the field researchers who carried out data collection in 33 villages in eastern Shan State's eight townships—Kengtung, Tachileik, Mong Hsat, Mong Ton, Mong Phyak, Mong Yawng, Mong Ping, and Mongla—from April to June of this year.
Poppy cultivation has long been practiced in Burma, the top opium producer in Southeast Asia and the second in the world, following Afghanistan, according to a 2015 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report. The UNODC has been collaborating with the government to strengthen the capacity for cross-border cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and to review drug-related legislation and policies. The UN agency's statement in June said it also supports a major initiative to provide alternative means of income to opium-growing farmers in Shan State.
Despite the presence of the government's drug elimination schemes in Shan State—home to a diverse number of ethnic groups, and where most of the Lahu live—Japhet Jagui said there is little to no control over the drug trade in the state's eastern region. Due to the lack of marketability for other crops, as such corn or potatoes, more than half of locals in the area are thought to grow opium to support their families, but remain in poverty. He added that as part of their drug eradication programs, the current National League for Democracy government must take locals' livelihoods into consideration.
International support to eliminate opium cultivation in the region should be suspended, Japhet Jagui urged, because it has only been beneficial to the Burma Army's soldiers rather than the local farmers.
The drug trade has long been blamed for triggering conflicts, as a number of armed groups vie for control of the area east of the Salween River.
"If the drug problem is reduced, a reduction of conflict could become possible," Japhet Jagui said, adding that the only way this could happen is if the Burma Army came under the control of the civilian government.
LNDO has also documented increased troop numbers in both the Burma Army and non-state armed groups, such as the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Mongla region's National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
According to LNDO figures, the Tatmadaw's numbers in eastern Shan State are estimated to have risen to over 14,000 troops, indicating a troop expansion of about 40 percent over the last ten years.
The LNDO estimates the total number of troops in the non-state ethnic armed groups present in the same eight townships—the UWSA, RCSS and NDAA, which operate separately and are not an alliance—to have reached nearly 10,000: an increase from around 6,000 soldiers a decade ago.
An ethnic Shan man from Mong Hsu Township was allegedly shot and killed by the Burma Army at a military checkpoint on Wednesday, according to local Shan sources.
Nang Khon Kham, a Shan Nationalities League for Democracy lawmaker from Mong Hsu Township, told The Irrawaddy that the man was shot in the head and killed while he drove to his home in Zon Pin village.
"He was shot point-blank at a checkpoint while driving his motorbike," said Nang Khon Kham.
The victim, Sai Saung Su, was the former head of Zon Pin village. Police attempted to stop him at a checkpoint, but he could not control his bike and drove through, according to local source Nang Seng Hein, who said that he was shot at the next military checkpoint at around 10 a.m.
There is heightened tension between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) in the area surrounding Mong Hsu Township. The Burma Army has increased security forces due to friction with the United Wa State Army in nearby Tang Yan Township. The victim was killed at a checkpoint between Mong Hsu and Tang Yan townships.
Burma Army members and township authorities only allowed the victim's family to see the body and pushed for a hasty funeral, locals said.
"We went to the scene of the shooting and then to the hospital to see the body, but we were not allowed," said Nang Khon Kham, speculating that the army feared the people would take action against the blatant human rights abuse if they were permitted to see the body.
The lawmaker sent a letter asking her party to respond to the incident. At the time of reporting, she had not yet received a reply.
"We can not keep quiet on this. We will take action. This is an abuse of our rights," she said.
Burma Army abuses are widely reported in the area, according to human rights groups, who accuse government troops of detaining, torturing and murdering civilians. While the military has largely enjoyed impunity in the past, a court martial in September found seven soldiers guilty of murdering five civilians in Shan State's Mong Yaw village.
RANGOON — Burmese citizens have filed complaints against more than 40 National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmakers since April, according to the chairperson of the party's complaint handling body, Dr. Myo Nyunt.
He said that the department had received complaints against 40 lawmakers in total and that they had submitted these to the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC).
"In some cases, three to four people have filed complaints against a single lawmaker," Dr Myo Nyunt told The Irrawaddy.
"The CEC makes the final decision about how to punish party members, though we also make suggestions," he added.
Dr. Myo Nyunt refused to provide details about individual cases and only said that the punishments include a serious warning and suspension from party duties.
U Tun Tun Hein, a CEC member, said that "so far, we have not yet suspended any lawmakers."
U Tin Aye, former chairman of the Union Election Commission, in August of last year urged U Shwe Mann, the then speaker of the Union Parliament, to enact impeachment legislation that granted citizens the right to recall misbehaving lawmakers.
Lawmakers voted to suspend the bill, however, and the now NLD-dominated parliament has yet to pick it up again for debate.
NLD lawmaker Dr. Soe Moe Thu, who represents Irrawaddy Division's Myaungmya Township in the Lower House, is accused of having an extramarital affair that came to light on social media.
Rangoon's Shwepyitha Township representative of the Lower House U Nyan Linn is being sued by a city motel after drunkenly fighting there.
In the meantime, the CEC is also undertaking an internal investigation on the controversial dismissaland demotion of leading members of the NLD's Shan State chapter by CEC member U Win Htein.
On Oct. 26, NLD patron U Tin Oo in a meeting with NLD lawmakers in Rangoon warned that no lawmaker was above party rules and urged the party to solve problems together.
TEDIM, Chin State — Despite its pristine natural beauty, bad transportation is a serious obstacle for the development of Chin State. Anyone who has been there, especially during the rainy season, knows this to be true.
Landslides plague the impoverished state when the rains come. Vehicles frequently hydroplane as they snake around the dirt roads of the mountainous region in northwestern Burma. Roads barely wide enough for one car are choked with lines of vehicles for hours until the roads are clear.
At 8,000 feet above sea-level, passersby can see stunning mountains shrouded in clouds but also the scary site of four-wheelers lying turned-over on muddy roads or hills after an accident. For anyone traveling in a small van, pushing the vehicle out of knee-deep mud or being towed is unavoidable.
The distance between Kalay and Tedim is about 60 miles but the trip can take 12 hours thanks to rain, landslides and accidents on the road. The famed, heart-shaped Reed Lake is about 20 miles from Tedim and near the India-Burma border. Stark differences between the two countries can be seen while standing on a bridge that links the two countries for trade. Awash in twilight, India's Mizoram State is lit up, while in Burma's Rihkhawdar, only a small glimmer of light gathers like fireflies starting their night in the darkness.
RANGOON — Vietnamese authorities have seized one ton of ivory smuggled from Kenya, the fifth such seizure in the past month.
The ivory was hidden in timber in two containers on the way to Cambodia via Vietnam. Customs official Le Dinh Loi says the shipment was seized Wednesday at Cat Lai port in the southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City.
Earlier this month, authorities seized 3.5 tons of ivory in three shipments illegally imported from Africa at the same port.
State media say one ton of ivory costs US$1.8 million on the black market. In Hanoi, 309 kilograms of ivory was seized on Oct. 1.
Elephant ivory is used as jewelry and home decorations in Vietnam, which bans hunting of its own dwindling population of elephants.
RANGOON — After a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in late August damaged more than 400 temples in Bagan, two temples suffered partial collapse on Tuesday after rainwater seeped into cracks caused by the Aug. 24 tremors, government archaeologists say.
One temple, built in the "cave" style with a hollow interior and located just south of the famous Htilominlo temple, had roughly half of its structure collapse; the other temple, located in Min Nan Thu village, had one of its walls crumble.
"Both are not that famous, unlike other temples damaged in the [Aug. 24] earthquake. The earthquake caused large cracks in their structures, and they collapsed due to rain," said U Aung Aung Kyaw, director of the Bagan Archeological Department.
He explained that, in the "cave" temple, the cracks that filled with rainwater were present where reconstructed parts of the temple joined with the original remnants of the antique structure.
These reconstructions were part of crude renovation efforts carried out across Bagan under the previous military regime in the 1990s, which have been blamed for preventing Bagan—the site of an ancient Burmese royal capital—from being granted World Heritage Site status by Unesco, the United Nations' cultural agency. It was these crude reconstructions that reportedly suffered the most damage in the August earthquake.
The more than 3,000 temples of Bagan, mostly dating from between the 9th and 13th centuries—when the Kingdom of Pagan ruled over much of lowland Burma—are considered Burma's biggest tourist draw.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, the Aug. 24 earthquake damaged a total of 449 temples, including iconic favorites such as Sulamani, Ananda, Htilominlo, Myazedi, Shwesandaw, Lawkananda and Dhamma Yazaka, as well as the murals at Ananda Oakkyaung.
Repair and conservation work on 389 of the damaged structures is slated to begin on Jan. 1, with the assistance of Unesco. According to the Bagan Archaeological Department, 36 temples considered most at risk of further damage will be prioritized, followed by 53 temples in a second-tier risk category.
Cyclone "Kyant," currently brewing in the Bay of Bengal, has led to concerns over heavy rain causing further damage to exposed structures in Bagan awaiting conservation work, although it is currently unclear if, when and where the cyclone will make landfall in Burma.
BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand's police chief said on Wednesday insulting the monarchy would not be tolerated and anyone considering doing so should get out of the country, after a spike in cases following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 13.
The widely venerated king died at the age of 88 after seven decades on the throne and the military government has declared one year of mourning.
Speaking ill of the king and the royal family is not only taboo but also illegal under the criminal code, which makes anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent" liable to 15 years in prison.
Following the king's death, many Thais have become sensitive to anything they deem disrespectful, especially in an outpouring of material about the king and the royal family posted online.
National police chief Jakthip Chaijinda said police were investigating 20 cases of royal insult, or lese-majeste, since the king's death and arrest warrants have been issued for eight out of the 20 suspects.
"For lese-majeste cases, if people don't want to live in Thailand they should go abroad," Jakthip told reporters.
"If they don't have money for the air fare I will pay for it, they can ask me to buy their plane ticket," he added.
The government has also been taking steps to stop what it regards as royal insults being committed abroad.
The foreign ministry said on Tuesday it had asked for the extradition of several people suspected of insulting the monarchy but it did not give details.
The military has long seen itself as the defender of the monarchy and it has over decades invoked its duty to protect the monarchy to justify its intervention in politics.
Since seizing power from a populist government in 2014, the junta has taken a hardline stance against perceived royal insults and courts have handed down record sentences.
Critics and some Western governments have raised concern about the state of human rights since the coup.
Political activity and peaceful gatherings are banned and military courts have been used to try national security cases, including cases involving civilians.
The military government has defended its rights record saying it must act to maintain order after a decade of divisive and at times violent political rivalry that has pitted the royalist-military establishment against populist political forces.
The king's son and designated heir, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, is in line to become the next king but has asked that his formal ascension be delayed while he grieves with the people, the government has said.
The Irrawaddy speaks with President's Office deputy director-general and spokesperson U Zaw Htay—who acted as director and spokesperson under the previous administration of President U Thein Sein, before being promoted by the new National League for Democracy government in April—about the government's response to recent attacks in northern Arakan State.
What is the government's response to allegations by the United Nations of human rights violations in Arakan State's Maungdaw District?
The government has expected, ever since it started handling the Maungdaw issue, that there would be accusations against and pressures on our government on [what the government sees as] the false pretext of human rights violations.
We've heard that individuals and organizations that [allegedly] support terrorism and international extremists provide false reports and information—documents, photos, and videos about incidents in other countries—to news agencies. They mix some correct information with plenty of fabricated information and then give this to human rights and media organizations over the phone and through other communications channels.
The UN [supposedly] can't verify and confirm these news reports. But then those telephone calls and emails may confuse the UN about the reality on the ground. So we [the government] try to explain [the situation] so that they can understand and cooperate [with us].
If they [those with reports about human rights violations] have strong evidence, they can submit it to the appropriate [branch of the] UN. We will take them seriously. One of our foreign policy principles is to cooperate with the UN.
What are the latest developments in Maungdaw District, given that the military has been carrying out operations there since the border attacks? Has the military recovered any looted arms or ammunition? If so, in what quantity?
The number one objective of the joint operation between the military and the police force is to return looted arms and ammunition to the [border guard police] headquarters. Number two is to identify the perpetrators of the attacks and hold them accountable in accordance with the law.
The police force has the responsibility of clearing [villages], and the military of accompanying them as an auxiliary force. In forests or mountainous areas, the military takes [overall] responsibility. This way, we get information from administrators and community elders in villages as well as from investigating those arrested. We then make additional arrests based on this information.
But the problem is that locals have been fleeing their villages after hearing of military forces approaching. In most villages, only women and children were left. While some of the villagers who [allegedly] participated in the attacks continue to move around in groups, some of them have returned to their villages, hiding their weapons and resuming life as ordinary villagers. But they took part in [what the government has called] terrorist attacks. We have been sure to take action in line with the law against these attackers in disguise. The allegations of arrests made without evidence, and of torture, are totally wrong. We haven't done that. We deny those accusations.
For the attackers to be identifed and arrested, they must be in their villages. It is difficult for us to find those who are on the run. On the ground, the police force, along with the military and community elders, are pushing for these people to return to their villages.
So the UN's statement does not correspond with the real situation on the ground. We continue to release lists of [weapons and ammunition] recovered. We don't hide information, [although] the government has restricted the access of media and the World Food Programme in Maungdaw [District] on security grounds.
Under what conditions would these restrictions be lifted?
We are acting according to the law. Depending on the situation on the ground, we will allow journalists to travel [freely] in the region.
As to the allegations of aid restrictions, we don't want [donors] to provide relief supplies to camps [for displaced people]. They [donors] can give relief supplies when [villagers] return to their homes. If they provide aid [at the camps], [villagers] won't leave. We want to push them back, and food supplies are one of the factors [that make villagers unwilling to return home].
We don't ban relief supplies. They [donors] [just have to] provide them when [villagers] return home.
More than 70 refugees, some of whom had lived in Thai border camps for more than 30 years, returned to Myanmar this week in the first organised repatriation involving the two countries' governments.
Oilfield workers in Magwe Region's Yenangyaung township claim they are not being properly compensated for overtime work and that they do not have the appropriate safety gear. Myanmar Petrochemical Enterprise, which is accused by the workers of the labour violations, is a state-owned firm.
As the first wave of Myanmar refugees is repatriated from Thai border camps this week, returning to a home some have not seen for decades, others in the camps fear they will soon have no choice but to follow suit.
Dozens of Muslim women have allegedly been raped by state security forces in northern Rakhine State during counter-insurgency operations there, according to rights groups citing "credible" sources. Tight military controls in the region, including shutting out international humanitarian organisations, means independent verification has not been possible.
In response to a statement earlier this month from the Karen National Union imploring an offshoot of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army to rejoin the KNU ranks, leaders of the two groups plan to meet.
A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck 80 kilometres (50 miles) southeast of Mawlaik township in Sagaing Region yesterday morning, according to the Myanmar Earthquake Committee.
In its first proposal to the Yangon Region Hluttaw, the Union Solidarity and Development Party called on the government to bolster the private security sector with better oversight and regulations.
Hundreds of villagers took to the streets in Mon State on October 24 to demand the restoration of their religious rights. The demonstrators, in Kawt Ka Dut village, Bilin township, say they want to retake control over a local pagoda.
The Union government is drawing up a plan to help children survive and thrive, Ministry of Planning and Finance director general Daw Whar Whar Maung told The Myanmar Times yesterday.
A number of gems dealers at the Maha Aung Myay Gems Trading Centre in Mandalay say they have been defrauded out of more than K500 million (US$390,000) in finished jade products by a dodgy broker.
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RANGOON – The Arakan State parliament has formed an investigation commission with 11 regional legislators of different political parties on Monday in order to address the recent Maungdaw Township border police post attacks on October 9.
Six commission members are from the Arakan National Party (ANP), two are from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and one is from the National League for Democracy. There is also a military appointee present and the legal advisor for the regional parliament.
One of the purposes of the commission, according to member U Tun Hla Sein of the USDP, is "to help the indigenous people who fled from the clashes."
The ANP has in the past used the term "indigenous" to refer to the Arakanese Buddhists in the region, excluding the Muslim population, many of whom self-identify as Rohingya and are labeled as interlopers from Bangladesh, despite also claiming roots in the area.
The Irrawaddy reported that Buddhist Arakanese civilians have fled rural areas of Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, taking shelter in towns and the state capital of Sittwe; the government has been providing them with food relief. Muslim Rohingya, who have also been reported to be fleeing their homes, have not been able to take advantage of this aid, and have been restricted from entering regional towns—a community leader told The Irrawaddy that they have instead sought refuge in jungle areas.
U Tun Hla Sein said that the commission also aims to "present the real scenes of the attacks" on the police outposts. These skirmishes, along with the manhunt that followed, led to the death of nine police officers, five soldiers, and 32 alleged attackers. As of Monday, 51 suspects had been arrested.
The commission will deliver its initial report to the state parliament within two weeks and the tenure of commission is regarded as ending on December 31. When the state parliament has completed its discussion of the report, it will encourage further engagement at the Union level, said ANP lawmaker U Kyaw Zaw Oo.
The commission is not related to the Kofi Annan-led Arakan State Advisory Commission formed by Burma's State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to explore the root causes of interreligious tension and episodes of violence in the region.
RANGOON — The price of a massive unearthed giant jade stone in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, has now been fixed by the government's Myanmar Gems Enterprise as worth around 7 billion kyats (around US$6 million).
The 210-ton stone was discovered on Oct. 10 at Yadanar Taung Tann Gems Company's mine, which is operating in a joint venture with the ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation in Sate Mu village, Hpakant Township.
Measuring 19 feet long, 15 feet wide and 14 feet high, it is the biggest stone found in secondary deposits, according to U Min Thu, deputy director of Myanmar Gems Enterprise.
"The government fixed this jade stone's estimated price at around 7 billion kyats at first sight. They will levy a tax of 20 percent from the miner," he said.
Yet the assessment is not finished, he explained.
"We will look at this jade later after moving it to Naypyidaw. After cutting and displaying it in the Gems Emporium, we can see its real market price. At that time, the government will take another sale tax from miner," U Min Thu said.
The initial tax is a pre-sales tax. After the stone is cut and sold, the government will issue another 20 percent sales tax by the customs department, a five percent commercial tax and a three percent service fee for the Myanmar Gems Enterprise.
"Every miner must pay 20 percent tax as soon as [the stone is] uncovered, but this time, this jade stone is massive and I think the miner will pay this tax monthly," he said.
However, criticism has been raised within the jade industry that the government's fixed price for the jade stone is too low: some international observers expect it may be worth as much as US$170 million.
U Aung Thein, Mandalay-based jade trader and secretary of the Mandalay Gems Traders Association is one such believer. He told The Irrawaddy that it is not possible to set the true worth of jade and gems after the first impression. The price can only be accurately measured after the cutting process, and through the transformation from a raw product, leading him to suggest that that the price for the stone could be higher.
"I can say this 7 billion kyat [price] is too low, from the point of view of a jade trader. You can see that it could earn at least US$12,000 for a one kilo jade bracelet if the jade quality is really fine," he said.
"So after this jade stone has been cut and made into jewelry, how much they can earn? It's so massive," he said.
According to the director general U Win Htein of the Ministry, a 3,000-ton piece was found in Kachin State in 2000 but was not uncovered, making this current stone the largest piece of jade unearthed in Burma.
A report published in October 2015 by Global Witness, a London-based NGO, revealed that vast revenues from Burma's trade in jade continue to reach high-ranking military officials and well-connected crony firms.
Entitled "Jade: Myanmar's 'Big State Secret,'" estimated that Burma's jade industry was valued as high as US $31 billion in 2014.
In August, the NLD government announced that all remaining jade mining licenses will expire in 2018, and licenses will only be considered for renewal after the completion of an environmental management plan for jade mining areas of Kachin State.
NAYPYIDAW — The National League for Democracy (NLD), Burma's ruling party, began hearings on Monday in Naypyidaw for an ad hoc tribunal charged with investigating the dismissal and demotion of leading members of the NLD's Shan State chapter by U Win Htein, a leading party member known for his abrasive style.
U Win Htein, who sits on the NLD's central executive committee (CEC) and frequently acts as a party spokesman, expelled the NLD Taunggyi District chairperson U Tin Maung Toe in a verbal order and demoted Shan State NLD chairperson Daw Khin Moe Moe and two others during his visit to Shan State in September.
The expelled and demoted members were accused of disloyalty to the party—for instance by failing to campaign adequately for the NLD during the 2015 general election—and of violating party regulations. They subsequently filed an appeal, prompting the party's CEC to launch an internal investigation.
After hearings from both sides in each case are completed, the three-member tribunal—consisting of NLD auxiliary CEC member U Kyaw Ho, Mandalay Division NLD chairperson U Tin Htut Oo and CEC member Daw Lei Lei—will submit their verdicts to the party's CEC for approval.
On Monday and Tuesday, tribunal hearings—with the participation of U Win Htein—were held for the case concerning Shan State NLD chairperson Daw Khine Moe Moe, and then for the joint case concerning members Daw Mee Mee and Daw Yuumi Zaw.
Monday's session took place at the Unison restaurant in Naypyidaw, and Tuesday's was held in a private home in Naypyidaw's Zabuthiri Township.
Hearings for the case concerning NLD Taunggyi District chairperson U Tin Maung Toe will begin on Friday. Testimonies from the disputing parties will be followed by witness testimonies in later sessions.
Witnesses to be presented by U Win Htein include lawmakers in the Upper and Lower houses of the Union Parliament representing Shan State, and a former candidate for the Shan State parliament. U Tin Maung Toe told reporters that these witnesses are all new members of the party, holding junior internal positions.
After Tuesday's session concluded, the appealing NLD members told reporters that U Win Htein had acted alone in ordering their dismissals and demotions, without the approval of the party's CEC.
"When we asked for proof of whether he was acting in line with a CEC decision, he said there wasn't any [proof]," said Daw Khin Moe Moe.
She told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that U Win Htein "refused to answer" a question as to whether State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi—who still leads the party—allowed him to use her name when dismissing and demoting the members. According to these members, he had claimed to be acting under her permission at the time.
U Win Htein was circumspect while talking to reporters on Tuesday, saying, "The NLD works in accordance with its rules and regulations, which we are now demonstrating."
He said, "I believe the tribunal will decide without prejudice, therefore I answered honestly."
Daw Khin Moe Moe claimed that U Win Htein's actions against them were aimed at smoothing the way for "opportunists" to get more senior positions within the party.
If any of the disputants are unhappy about the verdicts reached by the tribunal, they can appeal them at a national-level party conference, according to tribunal head U Kyaw Ho, who is also a practicing lawyer.
RANGOON — Burma has been listed in the top ten countries to visit in 2017 by renowned travel guide the Lonely Planet.
The country ranked ninth in the 'Top Countries' category of the Best in Travel 2017 list.
Canada was named the best country to visit in 2017, followed by Colombia, Finland, Dominica, Nepal, Bermuda, Mongolia and Oman. Ethiopia ranked tenth.
Lonely Planet states that Burma's "election of the first civilian government in half a century has all eyes on the future … Southeast Asia's most secretive country is poised to receive an influx of travelers."
Burma was ruled by a military junta for half a century, isolating the country from the international community and transforming one of Asia's most prosperous nations into one of its poorest.
The country's first fully elected government took office in March this year and the tourism sector is expected to boom.
Tourist arrivals have surged since a quasi-civilian government took power in 2011, from 800,000 in 2011 to 4.68 million in 2015, according to official statistics.
The ministry of hotels and tourism is reportedly predicting 6 million tourist arrivals for 2016.
"Visiting [Burma] comes with its challenges, where the difficulties of travel are part of the appeal, and where life moves to the timeless rhythm of chanting monks and monastery bells," Lonely Planet said on its website.
Ma May Myat Mon Win, chairwoman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing Committee, said that there are many beautiful tourist attractions and unique destinations in the country but that some places lack infrastructure to meet the travel needs of tourists.
She said the country's major tourist destinations—Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, and Rangoon—would still be popular sites and that river cruises would also gain popularity in the coming year.
"As we are entering the tourism market last in the region, we need to learn from neighboring countries and ensure that tourism does not have a negative impact on locals" she said.
She mentioned that education and awareness programs will need to be offered in areas expecting an influx of foreign tourists and that other risks associated with increased tourism must be addressed.
Footage of a comedy skit criticizing Burma's de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has gone viral and prompted the group responsible to defend the performance as "not an insult" but a bridge between the government and the people.
Local comedy group Har Style's performance at a pagoda festival in Mandalay Divison's Kyaukse Township depicts Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as caring more about international travel than the concerns of everyday Burmese citizens.
It has been both celebrated and denounced online.
"It is normal that jokes draw criticism," Ko Kaung Htet, one of the group's four members told the Irrawaddy, adding that Burmese comedians, including the renowned Zarganar, often made satirical jokes under previous governments.
Ko Kaung Htet said it is a comedian's job to criticize the government's shortfalls and that they had no intention of making a personal attack. "We just want to reflect the country's happenings," he said.
This is the first well-publicized instance of a comedy group explicitly criticizing the National League for Democracy (NLD) government since it came to power in April after winning last November's general election by a landslide.
The video footage shows a comedian dressed like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi answering questions from other comedians in the troupe playing the part of civilians. The skit presents the State Counselor as having no regard for the difficulties civilians are facing, and only concerned with visiting foreign countries.
Despite the controversy, Ko Kaung Htet said that state broadcaster Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) had invited them to perform on one of their TV channels.
Zarganar, a well-known comedian who was subjected to frequent imprisonment for his criticism of previous military regimes, said the group did nothing wrong.
"Comedians will criticize," Zarganar told The Irrawaddy. "The government needs to perform well if they don't like criticism," Zarganar said.
He said that the most striking feature of comedians in successive periods of Burmese history was their freedom of expression.
"Even in the time of monarchy, comedians could criticize the monarchs and were exempt from punishment," he said. "No comedian was arrested under British rule," he added.
Chit Sayar, a well-known Mandalay-based comedian who has made jokes critical of previous governments, said that the new government was doing a difficult job.
"This government was elected by us," he said. "What the government is handling now is the legacy of the previous government."
Chit Sayar accused Har Style of "poor political awareness." He added that he himself would criticize the government if he found faults.
Former Information Minister U Ye Htut shared a post about the joke on Facebook. Blindly supporting a leader or a government in spite of its actions harms a government, he argued.
RANGOON – In preparation for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, women's rights organizations are hosting a singing contest to raise community awareness about the issue.
The singing contest, titled "Forever White Ribbon," is a part of the public awareness campaign conducted by the network during 16 days of activism to stop violence against women. The campaign has been held annually in Burma from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 since 2011.
"We wear white ribbon, which shows the pledge for no violence against women," said May Sabe Phyu, the director of the Gender Equality Network (GEN). "We want the youth to widely know about the campaign, so we will host a singing contest under the name 'forever white ribbon,'" she told The Irrawaddy.
The singing competition has no limitations based on age, race, gender, or ability—participants must simply be interested in music. Contestants must submit their applications and music CD no later than Nov. 4, according to announcement on its Facebook page.
Promotion for the “Forever White Ribbon” singing contest in Burmese. (Photo: White Ribbon Myanmar / Facebook)
Well-known Burmese songwriters and singers will act as judges and will test the contestants throughout the four-step competition.
The winner of the first prize will be awarded 5 millions kyats and can later sign on to complete an awareness-raising album, which will be used for the campaign.
Daw Nang Htwe from the Rangoon-based Ahkara women's rights group said the campaign "puts forth effort to stop violent acts against women and vulnerable children, as it has been an increasing concern worldwide."
GEN director May Sabe Phyu stressed that as long as the public is aware that violence against women is a crime, it can become a force for them to speak out about abuses. This development, she added, stemmed from the efforts of women's rights organizations.
RANGOON – The previous Union Solidarity Development Party-led government officially oversaw 34 "game centers" opening in Rangoon for the recreation of the city's residents.
However, many game centers are in fact home to organized gambling—illegal in Burma under the Gambling Act. Overlooked by the Rangoon government, what were established as places for locals to relax and blow off steam have now become havens for unlawful gambling.
In 2013, Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) gave the green light for game centers—also known as amusement arcades—to provide entertainment in the form of video games, arcade games, small rides, dance machines, and shooting galleries.
Well-known Rangoon establishments include Aladdin Recreation Centre, Alibaba Amusement Center, Robot Game Center, and Fantasy World.
At Rangoon Parliament's session on Tuesday two National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmakers asked Rangoon government ministers whether the YCDC would address unlawful gambling at the city's game centers.
Member of Parliament U Nay Phone Latt said that at a game center in AKK Shopping Mall in his constituency both adults and students were losing a lot of money gambling on a fish catching group video game, known as the "Shark Game" locally.
"Game centers have moved beyond their specified purpose and into gambling, which harms social life," he said.
"Will [the Rangoon government] remove such illegal game centers in line with national laws or not?" he questioned.
Another NLD lawmaker U Yan Shin said that many students in his Mayangone Township 1 constituency were gambling at game centers when they should be at school, making them fail exams. He also said that young men were stealing to fund gambling habits.
Security and Border Affairs Minister for Rangoon Division Col. Tin Aung Tun replied that they have arrested gambling business owners and gamblers since 2013 for failing to follow the rules and regulations of the YCDC.
Unregistered and Corrupt
The 1899 Gambling Act of Burma forbids "advancing or furnishing money for the purpose of gaming" and "using the instruments of gaming for the profit or gain of the person owning".
A person partaking in gambling can be punished with at least six months in prison if found guilty. A business owner allowing gambling can receive one year in prison and have their business license revoked.
Rangoon police made 48 gambling arrests in 2013-2014, 136 gambling arrests in 2015 and 135 gambling arrests in the first nine months of 2016, including both owners and participants of gambling. It is not known how many game centers were involved in these arrests.
According to Col. Tin Aung Tun, there are 43 YCDC-licensed game centers in Rangoon Division. The minister admitted that among these are the game centers accused of malpractice by U Nay Phone Latt, but said that according to official reports there is nothing unlawful about them.
Col. Tin Aung Tun encouraged lawmakers to contact the relevant police officials to take immediate action if they believed game centers were acting illegally in their constituencies. He said he had informed the police chiefs of Rangoon's 44 townships not to have any links with gambling or to take bribes from such illicit businesses.
U Yan Shin asked if Col. Tin Aung Tun planned to crack down on illegal game centers but the minister replied that no such plan was in place.
During a recess from Parliament, U Nay Phone Latt told The Irrawaddy that although he had concrete evidence that he had presented to parliament, he was contradicted by police reports.
He said "I think that [game centers] are being informed of impending inspections by corrupt government informants."
U Nay Phone Latt also said that the actual number of game centers is higher than Col. Tin Aung Tun declared. He said that even in his constituency there are dozens of unregistered game centers.
Downtown Gambling
The Irrawaddy spoke with staff at a game center on Anawrahta Road, Pazundaung Township. At the time we visited, about eight men and women were playing the "Shark Game", placing 1000 and 5,000 kyats bank notes on the game machine as wagers.
An employee of the game center, Ko Latt, has been working at the game center as a mechanic since 2013. He said that they have an official game center permit from YCDC.
Ko Latt revealed, however, that with the help of corrupt government officials they run as a gambling center despite the appearance of the property with cartoons outside.
"Almost all game centers run the same way as we do, except for four or five famous ones," he said.
He said that in order to avoid inspection or trouble from the authorities they pay bribes to police and local authorities of between 10,000 to 100,000 kyats every month. Game center owners are informed of any government inspections and "hide out" for a while.
When The Irrawaddy asked Ko Latt whether the establishment fully understood the Gambling Act of Burma, he answered yes but could not answer why the business was registered as a game center but ran as a gambling business.
One gambler at the game center, who asked not to be named, said that if gambling terms are agreed by both parties there is no problem and that the government should make gambling legal.
He said that someone spending ten thousand kyats at a gambling table was not a big problem. He said the government should be more concerned with money laundering, drugs, and tax evasion in the city.
In Parliament Tuesday, Col. Tin Aung Tun promised the NLD lawmakers that if they discovered game centers acting illegally they would take action against the owners whether they have a YCDC business permit or not.
He added that after April 2017, the YCDC would carefully check new applications and reconsider whether existing permits should be extended or halted. He claimed that Rangoon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein would personally supervise the license approval process.
"Call me immediately if officials fail to arrest [unlawful game center owners], I will deal with it directly," the minister told legislators.
Thailand has begun the process of repatriating Burmese refugees who have been living on its soil for more than two decades. With the help of the United Nations' refugee agency, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as the International Organization for Migration, an initial group of 68 refugees were returned to their homes in Karen State and Tenasserim Division on Tuesday, on an ostensibly voluntary basis.
Irrawaddy senior reporter Saw Yan Naing interviewed Vivian Tan, the UNHCR's spokesperson in Asia, about the returnees—including their hopes and their fears.
Since this is the first official repatriation, what are your thoughts?
This is an important first step that we hope can pave the way for further returns, eventually ending one of Asia's longest-running refugee situations. It was the refugees who first approached the UNHCR to seek support to return, prompting both governments [Thai and Burmese] to organize this movement. The process will continue to be driven by the wishes of the refugees and the prevailing environment to support safe and dignified voluntary return.
Are the refugees content with the process?
Understandably, they have mixed feelings after spending so many years away. Most say they are happy and excited to go back to the country where they were born. Some are naturally worried about the unknown, though they feel reassured that they have family waiting to receive them in Myanmar.
Why do these refugees want to return home?
I've spoken to a number of the refugees returning home from Nu Po camp [near the Thai-Burmese border]. Some say they are returning because they feel confident in the reforms in Myanmar. Others say they don't want to be refugees forever, and think they will have a better future back home.
Where will the returnees be placed in Burma?
They are voluntarily returning to places including Yangon, Bago, Kayin and Tanintharyi [divisions and states].
Who will be providing them with food, shelter and security?
As with any refugee return operation, the country of origin—in this case Myanmar—must assume full responsibility for protecting the rights of returning citizens and helping them rebuild their lives. We hope that the peace process will gain strength and we remind all parties of their responsibility to ensure that refugees can return home in safety and dignity.
Where we have access, the UNHCR will also provide support in the areas of return, supporting local communities in coordination with the government, non-state actors, and humanitarian and development partners.
For food, the UN World Food Programme will provide three months of food assistance in cash value, in addition to return and reintegration assistance from the Myanmar government, the UNHCR and others.
TOKYO, Japan — American actress and triple Oscar winner Meryl Streep kicked off the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), one of Asia's major competitive film festivals and Japan's biggest, along with Asian cinema stars on Tuesday.
The star of the TIFF's opening film, Florence Foster Jenkins—a comedy-drama about "the world's worst opera singer" set in America between the 1920s and 40s—was the most prominent face at the event.
Asian film celebrities included Yesung, a member of Korean pop music outfit Super Junior, promoting his Japanese film debut My Korean Teacher in Japan, and Berlinale Silver Bear award-winning actress Haru Kuroki. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also attended the festival's opening ceremony.
The festival runs till Nov. 3, showcasing some 200 films. Of these, 16 will compete for the festival's top prize, the Tokyo Grand Prix. This year's event seeks to celebrate the world's geographical and social diversity, as captured in international cinema. Among the modern social issues spotlighted in this year's film crop are gender discrimination in India, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
However, critics said that—the appearance of Meryl Streep notwithstanding—there is a conspicuous lack of international star power relative to previous years.
While no Burmese films are being showing at this year's TIFF, the festival is no stranger to Burma. The Burmese Harp—a Japanese color remake of the 1956 film of the same name, about a Japanese soldier in Burma during World Word II—was the closing film at the festival's first edition in 1985.
In 2014, the TIFF screened Burmese director Maung Wunna's 1972 black-and-white Tender are the Feet—a love story about a Burmese drummer and a dancer in a traditional Burmese traveling theatre group—in its World Focus section.
RANGOON — If the government follows through with its promise of economic reform, Burma's business community says, there is hope to be had that the economy will be primed for growth.
At a meeting in Naypyidaw on Oct. 22 between State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 158 of the country's top-listed tax payers, the de facto leader addressed concerns over what would happen to "cronies." In a move that will surely find favor among Burma's tycoons, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that, looking ahead, past behavior can be forgiven.
"I welcome what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said, that they won't look back, only forward. However, in the future, there should be no more cronies in this country," U Thein Tun, chairman of the Tun Foundation Bank and MGS Distribution, told The Irrawaddy.
He added that the government should also favor Burma's local business community and give it a chance to succeed in an ever-globalizing world.
"There shouldn't be any opportunists under the new government. If the government doesn't follow the reforms it said it would, the gap between rich and poor will only grow," he said.
In the meeting, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that she is not against some citizens being rich, as long as they become so "fairly." When it came to tycoons who struck it rich by exploiting links with Burma's repressive military rulers—helping to line their pockets in turn—she said, "We can't mend the past. But I would like to request that they act fairly at present."
U Myat Thin Aung, chairman of the Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone, told The Irrawaddy that he can see a new, rejuvenated business atmosphere for the country if the government can persuade skittish cronies to trust in and follow the new government's economic policies.
"There are two types of cronies. The first just takes risks with no forethought. The other also takes a chance but has the wherewithal to create more. If the second type of crony can do business the right way, Burma's economy will only get stronger," U Myat Thin Aung said.
"If not, some cronies will ruin this opportunity for growth by engaging in money laundering and playing the market. The government must know how to handle this situation," he added.
Indeed, Burma has a history of cronies manipulating the market—in sectors including banking, government infrastructure, and real estate—for their own gain. An anonymous businessman told The Irrawaddy that the ex-military junta allocated special projects to some 10 to 20 cronies while the new capital of Naypyidaw was being built, pointing out that many of those same cronies are approaching the new government as they did the old one.
U Ye Htut, former minister of information, echoed these sentiments, adding that while some former cronies have withdrawn from business, they have merely been replaced by family members.
"I see it as a rebranding of cronies," U Ye Htut said.
Many of Burma's top tycoons have been succeeded by their sons and daughters. Tay Za's son Pyae Phyo Tay Za, KBZ's U Aung Ko Win's daughter Nang Lai Kham, U Aik Htun's son and daughters, as well as former junta supremo Than Shwe's grandson Nay Shwe Thway Aung, were among who attended the meeting in Naypyidaw.
"I'm curious whether they [cronies] really want to use their money for Burma's development, especially if their money was acquired through money laundering," U Ye Htut said.
"I think that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi welcomes them because she wants to use them for economic development. They've already made large investments. But Burma has a history of money laundering, so the government ought to check this money carefully."
