The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Health Ministry: One in Five Women Experience Domestic Violence
• Rangoon Lawmakers Ask That City Expansion Project be Separated from Planning Bill
• Photo of Meeting Between KNU Chairman and Than Shwe Revealed
• Ban Eased on Party Stages for Thingyan Water Festival
• SSPP Urges Govt to Allow By-Elections to Proceed as Planned
• FHI 360 Provides Fellowships for Former Political Prisoners
• Legal Experts Reject Govt Claims of Judiciary Reform
• Philippine Troops Rescue 2 Malaysians Kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Militants
• Cambodian Court Jails Man for Killing Government Critic
• Police Investigate Taxi Driver’s Mysterious Death in Mandalay
• Vox Pop: Politicians and Analysts Weigh in on Upcoming By-Elections

Health Ministry: One in Five Women Experience Domestic Violence Posted: 23 Mar 2017 07:17 AM PDT Survey of over 12,000 women finds 20 percent have suffered from physical, sexual or psychological abuse. The post Health Ministry: One in Five Women Experience Domestic Violence appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rangoon Lawmakers Ask That City Expansion Project be Separated from Planning Bill Posted: 23 Mar 2017 07:04 AM PDT Outspoken lawmakers urge the Rangoon regional government not to continue city expansion without what they referred to as a 'proper' business plan. The post Rangoon Lawmakers Ask That City Expansion Project be Separated from Planning Bill appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Photo of Meeting Between KNU Chairman and Than Shwe Revealed Posted: 23 Mar 2017 05:08 AM PDT The only known photo of a Nov. 2016 meeting between the former junta chief and Saw Mutu Say Poe is revealed on Facebook. The post Photo of Meeting Between KNU Chairman and Than Shwe Revealed appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ban Eased on Party Stages for Thingyan Water Festival Posted: 23 Mar 2017 04:12 AM PDT Pavilions will be permitted for the Burmese New Year in mid-April but curbed by 45 regulations and restricted to private spaces. The post Ban Eased on Party Stages for Thingyan Water Festival appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

SSPP Urges Govt to Allow By-Elections to Proceed as Planned Posted: 23 Mar 2017 03:34 AM PDT The SSPP asks the NLD-led govt to let by-elections proceed amid discussions of postponing voting in northern Shan State due to security concerns. The post SSPP Urges Govt to Allow By-Elections to Proceed as Planned appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

FHI 360 Provides Fellowships for Former Political Prisoners Posted: 23 Mar 2017 03:15 AM PDT A total of 50 former political prisoners will be given 300,000 kyats per month to work in CSOs and media organizations in Burma. The post FHI 360 Provides Fellowships for Former Political Prisoners appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Legal Experts Reject Govt Claims of Judiciary Reform Posted: 23 Mar 2017 01:10 AM PDT Observers say Burma's legal system is a holdover from the previous government upholding old policies, and reform is needed from its foundation. The post Legal Experts Reject Govt Claims of Judiciary Reform appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Philippine Troops Rescue 2 Malaysians Kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Militants Posted: 23 Mar 2017 12:45 AM PDT The two, who were seized by militants in July last year in waters off the Malaysian state of Sabah, are recovering in hospital. The post Philippine Troops Rescue 2 Malaysians Kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Militants appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Cambodian Court Jails Man for Killing Government Critic Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:45 PM PDT Convicted killer Chuop Somlap says murder was over a debt though human rights groups remain skeptical of the motive. The post Cambodian Court Jails Man for Killing Government Critic appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Investigate Taxi Driver’s Mysterious Death in Mandalay Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:07 PM PDT Police look into the death of a motorbike taxi driver who was killed by a gunshot in Mandalay. The post Police Investigate Taxi Driver's Mysterious Death in Mandalay appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Vox Pop: Politicians and Analysts Weigh in on Upcoming By-Elections Posted: 22 Mar 2017 07:48 PM PDT Critics highlight some of the NLD government's unpopular policies that could cost the party votes in the April 1 by-elections. The post Vox Pop: Politicians and Analysts Weigh in on Upcoming By-Elections appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Korean language test draws 30,000 workers
• Ashin Wirathu’s silent preaching a legal issue, officer says
• Thingyan permits will be revoked if resold
• Judge pledges to decide fairly in mining case
• Myanmar’s success is ASEAN success, says Surin Pitsuwan
• Local entrepreneurs to get support, says minister
• Mandalay Hluttaw to resume on March 29
• International observers to focus on electoral momentum
• No bus fare hike before Thingyan, say authorities
• WWF: Myanmar climate could change dramatically in 30 years

Korean language test draws 30,000 workers Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:32 PM PDT More than 30,000 people have applied to sit for a Korean language proficiency test, which is a requirement for those hoping to work in South Korea, said Daw Thin Thin Lwin, staff officer of the Government Overseas Employment Agency.

Ashin Wirathu’s silent preaching a legal issue, officer says Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:30 PM PDT The 'silent preaching' by high-profile Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu has now sparked a legal debate.

Thingyan permits will be revoked if resold Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:29 PM PDT Mandalay authorities warned that they will revoke Thingyan pandal permits that are resold to third parties by winning bidders.

Judge pledges to decide fairly in mining case Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:27 PM PDT A Minbu court judge maintained that he would decide on a case involving illegal coal miners objectively, just a 400 people demonstrated against the prosecutions of a mining company owner and his workers.

Myanmar’s success is ASEAN success, says Surin Pitsuwan Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:22 PM PDT Asean's former secretary general said yesterday that Myanmar could show the way for the regional group to face challenges and find common solutions. "Myanmar's success is ASEAN success," he declared.

Local entrepreneurs to get support, says minister Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:20 PM PDT The government will provide support for local entrepreneurs, but this will not take the form of protectionism, Minister for Planning and Finance U Kyaw Win told a meeting of the Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.

Mandalay Hluttaw to resume on March 29 Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:19 PM PDT The fifth discussion of the second Mandalay Hluttaw session will resume on March 29 to address the public's needs in the region, and to allow Hluttaw representatives to present and deal with their respective region's requirements, according to Hluttaw office,

International observers to focus on electoral momentum Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:13 PM PDT The Asian Network for Free Elections electoral observation group for the upcoming by-election has said it will focus on the aspect of electoral momentum towards improving the quality of elections in Myanmar.

No bus fare hike before Thingyan, say authorities Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:11 PM PDT There will be no bus fare hike before the Thingyan holidays, authorities in Nay Pyi Taw said.

WWF: Myanmar climate could change dramatically in 30 years Posted: 22 Mar 2017 11:10 PM PDT Climate change resulting in higher temperatures, more precipitation, rising sea levels and extreme weather could happen in Myanmar from the 2020s to the 2050s, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) predicted this week.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Parliamentary Committee Contests Full Citizenship for Maungdaw Muslims
• New Mon State Party Likely to Sign NCA
• By-Elections Stir Up Regional Controversy
• Burma Praises China for Suspending Rebels’ Bank Account
• Police Hunt Suspects of Violent Robbery in Downtown Rangoon
• Mentally Unstable Man Destroys Gen Aung San Statue
• Chinese Bank Suspends MNDAA Account
• Dazed and Confused: The Future of Rangoon’s Urban Direction

Parliamentary Committee Contests Full Citizenship for Maungdaw Muslims Posted: 22 Mar 2017 06:36 AM PDT An investigation committee criticizes the township level NVC securitization body for 'wrongly issuing full citizenship' to 22 Muslim residents. The post Parliamentary Committee Contests Full Citizenship for Maungdaw Muslims appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

New Mon State Party Likely to Sign NCA Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:12 AM PDT After meeting with Mon civil leaders, the New Mon State Party suggests they are moving towards signing nationwide ceasefire agreement. The post New Mon State Party Likely to Sign NCA appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

By-Elections Stir Up Regional Controversy Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:05 AM PDT By-elections highlight regional power imbalances and differences between the NLD and local ethnic parties. The post By-Elections Stir Up Regional Controversy appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Praises China for Suspending Rebels’ Bank Account Posted: 22 Mar 2017 02:15 AM PDT Presidential spokesman Zaw Htay says shutting down account used by Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army was 'very positive move from China.' The post Burma Praises China for Suspending Rebels' Bank Account appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Hunt Suspects of Violent Robbery in Downtown Rangoon Posted: 22 Mar 2017 02:07 AM PDT Thieves stab and tie up owner of 50th Street office and make off with cash and jewelry. The post Police Hunt Suspects of Violent Robbery in Downtown Rangoon appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Mentally Unstable Man Destroys Gen Aung San Statue Posted: 22 Mar 2017 01:31 AM PDT Ko Soe Min Min, 36, is in custody in an Irrawaddy Division hospital after using a hammer and sickle to break the statue. The post Mentally Unstable Man Destroys Gen Aung San Statue appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Chinese Bank Suspends MNDAA Account Posted: 21 Mar 2017 09:52 PM PDT Agricultural Bank of China shuts down account used by Kokang-based Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army to source donations. The post Chinese Bank Suspends MNDAA Account appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dazed and Confused: The Future of Rangoon’s Urban Direction Posted: 21 Mar 2017 07:38 PM PDT Developers and city planners should embrace nature as a welcome advantage, not a hindrance, in Rangoon's development. The post Dazed and Confused: The Future of Rangoon's Urban Direction appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• Myanmar Royal Society to restore national heritage
• High chickpea demand from China and India
• A helping hand to alleviate poverty
• UK Co to provide services for oil and gas sector
• Battle heats up for key seats in coming by-election
• Myanmar to work more with Israel on agri development
• Monastic school teachers to get training
• Land given to officers not used but sold: analysis group
• Maungtaw-Rathedaung probe committee submits final report
• Mandalay FDA to check water factories

Myanmar Royal Society to restore national heritage Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:49 PM PDT The Myanmar Royal Society, led by royal descendants, will branch out to different regions to restore historical artifacts and the nation's heritage, said U Soe Win, great-grandson of the country's last monarch King Thibaw.

High chickpea demand from China and India Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:47 PM PDT High demand for chickpea in China and India has caused the price of peas, beans and pulses to rise in Myanmar, according to traders.

A helping hand to alleviate poverty Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:44 PM PDT Small businesses, vocational training centres and families in need of funds for their children's education can turn to VisionFund Myanmar for loans, said U Saw Eldo, the administrative manager of the fund for upper Myanmar.

UK Co to provide services for oil and gas sector Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:42 PM PDT A UK company will help Myanmar develop its local marine, oil and natural gas sector.

Battle heats up for key seats in coming by-election Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:37 PM PDT As political parties approach the final leg of their campaigning for the April 1 by-election, a handful of the 19 seats up for grabs are expected to be close contests.

Myanmar to work more with Israel on agri development Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:36 PM PDT In striving to develop the agricultural sector, Myanmar is looking to adopt Israel's advanced farming technology and has started discussions on cooperation between the two countries as well as on setting up agricultural research and model fields in Myanmar.

Monastic school teachers to get training Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:32 PM PDT Thousands of teachers in Buddhist monastic schools are going to be trained on how to deal with children better.

Land given to officers not used but sold: analysis group Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:31 PM PDT Forest lands in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region, given to retired officers and entrepreneurs for agricultural purposes have, instead, been illegally sold, said an analysis group.

Maungtaw-Rathedaung probe committee submits final report Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:26 PM PDT The October 9 Maungtaw-Rathedaung Bengali violence investigation committee submitted its final report on Tuesday, the sixth day of the fourth Rakhine State Hluttaw session.

Mandalay FDA to check water factories Posted: 21 Mar 2017 11:07 PM PDT The Mandalay Food and Drug Administration (FDA) branch will be running spot-checks at factories producing drinking water to ensure production is according to standard.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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Shan State Assembly want to recruit staff by themselves Posted: 22 Mar 2017 02:36 AM PDT The speaker of the Shan State parliament has said that the regional government – not the central government – will recruit civil servants for the Taunggyi-based assembly. Speaking to lawmakers during a Shan State Assembly session in state capital Taunggyi on Monday, Sai Long Sang said the recruitment of office workers for the assembly would be an internal matter, undertaken by the state government itself. His statement came after Mahn Win Khaing Than, the speaker for the Union Parliament in Naypyidaw, advised his Shan State counterpart that "some changes were coming" to the parliament in Taunggyi during a visit in February. He noted that those changes would be enacted by the end of this year. "However, it was unclear what he meant by 'changes'," said Sai Moon Lern, an MP from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) representing Mong Nai Township. "Whether the staff would come from the central government or be recruited locally as new employees." Currently, there are little more than 10 office workers at the Shan State government, all of whom were appointed by the central government, a system that harks back to the days when the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) held power. This current parliamentary session meeting started on March 20 and is scheduled to end on March 23. Among the issues to be discussed are: infrastructure development; and the state budget. By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Analysis: State Media’s Untold Stories
• Despite Ban, U Wirathu Vows to Continue ‘Silent Sermons’
• Southeast Asian Ride Hailing Firm Expands to Burma
• Beset by Delays, Burma-China Oil Pipeline Nears Start-up
• Burma’s National Dialogue: Where Now?
• Good Luck Coins Prove Fatal for Thai ‘Piggy Bank’ Turtle
• Myanmar Now Journalist Faces Another Lawsuit
• Rohingya Newborns Offer Frail Hope in Face of Burma Violence
• Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week

Analysis: State Media’s Untold Stories Posted: 21 Mar 2017 07:08 AM PDT With major events absent from headlines, questions arise on why government-run media has failed to reform under the NLD. The post Analysis: State Media's Untold Stories appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Despite Ban, U Wirathu Vows to Continue ‘Silent Sermons’ Posted: 21 Mar 2017 05:31 AM PDT 'The silent sermons didn't break any rules or laws, because I didn't speak,' says the nationalist monk. The post Despite Ban, U Wirathu Vows to Continue 'Silent Sermons' appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Southeast Asian Ride Hailing Firm Expands to Burma Posted: 21 Mar 2017 05:15 AM PDT Taxi booking service Grab is trialing its product in Rangoon and will scale up gradually, the company says. The post Southeast Asian Ride Hailing Firm Expands to Burma appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Beset by Delays, Burma-China Oil Pipeline Nears Start-up Posted: 21 Mar 2017 03:57 AM PDT Government and industry sources say PetroChina pipeline days away from pumping oil from Kyaukphyu, Arakan State to Yunnan, China. The post Beset by Delays, Burma-China Oil Pipeline Nears Start-up appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma’s National Dialogue: Where Now? Posted: 21 Mar 2017 03:01 AM PDT Without truly 'state-based' dialogues to engage multiple stakeholders in the local context, ethnic enclaves will only be reinforced, writes Sai Latt. The post Burma's National Dialogue: Where Now? appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Good Luck Coins Prove Fatal for Thai ‘Piggy Bank’ Turtle Posted: 21 Mar 2017 02:46 AM PDT Green turtle named Omsin died after undergoing a seven-hour operation this month to remove coins from her stomach. The post Good Luck Coins Prove Fatal for Thai 'Piggy Bank' Turtle appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Now Journalist Faces Another Lawsuit Posted: 21 Mar 2017 01:38 AM PDT Nationalist Ko Thet Myo Oo says the reporter insulted Buddhism during his press conference at the Myanmar Now office. The post Myanmar Now Journalist Faces Another Lawsuit appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rohingya Newborns Offer Frail Hope in Face of Burma Violence Posted: 20 Mar 2017 10:38 PM PDT About 75,000 refugees have made the crossing from Burma to reach camps in Bangladesh. The post Rohingya Newborns Offer Frail Hope in Face of Burma Violence appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week Posted: 20 Mar 2017 07:35 PM PDT A boxing match, food festival, circus, light festival, concerts and more—all in Rangoon this week, as picked by The Irrawaddy. The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

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National News

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• NPT hotels need govt help
• Restoration of U Bein Bridge underway
• IRD imposes commercial tax for gold
• Duterte calls European critics ‘crazies’
• Ex-President hosts dinner to celebrate award
• Over 4000 lots of jade sold via open tender
• Safe employment project for women launched
• Factory workers demand 10 days off at Thingyan
• Protests against issuance of NRC continues
• Sugar Bill making comeback in May

NPT hotels need govt help Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:58 PM PDT In 2013, Myanmar hosted the 27th Southeast Asian Games and took the ASEAN Chair in 2014. Most events for both occasions were held in Nay Pyi Taw, and the government then had encouraged hoteliers to build more hotels to meet the demands of an expected high number of visitors.

Restoration of U Bein Bridge underway Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:56 PM PDT The 170-year-old U Bein Bridge in Mandalay's Amarapura township is being reinforced and restored at a cost of K4 million in time for the annual Thingyan (Water Festival) next month when thousands of visitors are expected to converge at the site to join the festivities, said U Soe Win, secretary of the bridge preservation committee.

IRD imposes commercial tax for gold Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:53 PM PDT The Internal Revenue Department (IRD) will impose a commercial tax rate of 1 percent and 5pc respectively for gold jewellery and refined gold, it was announced at a meeting with gold entrepreneurs in Nay Pyi Taw on March 15.

Duterte calls European critics ‘crazies’ Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:49 PM PDT Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has described European lawmakers as "crazies" in a salty-tongued rebuttal to criticism of his deadly drug war, while vowing again that all traffickers will be killed.

Ex-President hosts dinner to celebrate award Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:44 PM PDT Former President U Thein Sein, who received the Grand Prize of the 3rd Asia Cosmopolitan Awards from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), hosted a dinner of honour at Kempenski Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on March 19.

Over 4000 lots of jade sold via open tender Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:40 PM PDT A total of 4454 lots of raw gems and uncut jade are up for bid at the Mani Yadana Jade Hall in Nay Pyi Taw this week.

Safe employment project for women launched Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:34 PM PDT A project focusing on creating safe working environment and job opportunities for female migrant workers, as well as protecting women workers, has been launched in Yangon.

Factory workers demand 10 days off at Thingyan Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:29 PM PDT More than 1000 workers at the Ever Sunny Foods (ESI) factory in Yangon Region's Hlaing Tharyar township went on strike yesterday to protest the management's decision to cut the Myanmar New Year holidays from 10 to five days and to demand for labour rights which they claim to be deprived of.

Protests against issuance of NRC continues Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:28 PM PDT Protests against the ineligible issuance of national registration cards (NRCs) to people regarded as Bengalis in Rakhine State are going to continue for another five days.

Sugar Bill making comeback in May Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:27 PM PDT Efforts to table a bill on Myanmar's sugarcane, sugar and related services, which had been put on hold since 2014, may be revived this May.

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Shan Herald Agency for News

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Stop using civilians as weapons of war, Shan CSOs urge armed groups Posted: 21 Mar 2017 01:29 AM PDT Following accusations of extrajudicial killings and the mass abduction of civilians in northern Shan State's Kyaukme district by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), 35 local civil society organizations (CSOs) have released a statement, urging all armed groups to refrain from using civilians as weapons of war. According to the statement, which was published on Saturday, about 90 villagers were arrested and two were killed by troops from the TNLA between 6 March and 15 March 2017 in Mantong and Namtu townships, which are in Kyaukme district. The arrests were all ethnic Shan villagers. "Each and every armed group must stop using civilians as their weapon when fighting each other," read the statement. "Please stop violating the villagers. Please understand their position, because whenever any armed group makes a request of them, they are obliged to follow it. Please stop fighting." Clashes between the TNLA and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) broke out in November 2015, only one month after the RCSS/SSA signed a National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the Burmese government under then president, Thein Sein. The TNLA was excluded from the signing and the peace process. Clashes between two groups have continued to date. "We want the Shan and Ta'ang people to live together peacefully," said Sai Seng Murng, a co-organizer of the statement. "We want the government to resolve these problems." He added: "Armed groups should protect the people, not oppress them." Regarding the alleged abductions or detention of civilians in Kyaukme, Mong Aik Kyaw, the TNLA's spokesperson, told DVB on March 15 that his group did not arrest the villagers. He said the villagers were called in for a seminar about the dangers of drugs. However, the CSOs' statement said that among those arrested, three villagers are still listed as missing. At the time of reporting, there is no news about them. Fighting continues regularly in the northern part of Shan State between the Burmese armed forces and ethnic armed groups, both NCA and non-NCA groups. Since 2017, thousands of villagers have been compelled to flee their homes due to the various armed conflicts.   By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

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