The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- KNU says UPC should be postponed until differences on security sector clarified
- Acer, Excel Myanmar to Bring Cashless Fares to Yangon Bus System
- A Lavish Wedding Is the Talk of the Town
- Young Artist Feels Sorry for Your Shoes
- Rakhine Immigration Chief Discusses Rohingya Repatriation, Citizenship
- Sagaing Locals Campaign to Repaint Kaunghmudaw Pagoda White
- Karenni Civil Society Reps Quit Panel over State Parliament’s ‘Silence’ on Killings
- Mekong Countries Pledge More Cooperation as Demands on River Grow
- Beijing Winning Pollution Battle as Other Chinese Cities Fall Behind
| KNU says UPC should be postponed until differences on security sector clarified Posted: 11 Jan 2018 06:26 AM PST CHIANG MAI, Thailand – The Karen National Union agrees with the position of its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, that the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference should be postponed until differences over the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement between the government, Myanmar Army, and the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) are resolved. KNU Secretary Padoh Saw Ta Doh Moo told The Irrawaddy that both the political and military branches of the Karen revolutionary group had agreed to this stand, as clarification of the security sector issues is needed before progress can be made in other areas. The concerns of the EAOs arose after a representative of the Myanmar Army, or Tatmadaw, said in a November joint review meeting that security sector re-integration was the same thing as the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process, an interpretation that the EAOs could not accept. "During our NCA text drafting, the then nationwide ceasefire coordination team [NCCT] and the former Union Peace Working Committee (UPWC) agreed to overhaul the security sector re-integration topic as it is broad and it would take more time than we had," Padoh Saw Ta Doh Moo said. "So basically, we would have to discuss this topic thoroughly after the NCA was signed. Now the Tatmadaw has offered an interpretation that security sector re-integration is the same as DDR. So we have to reflect on this," he said. The KNU chairman has maintained a regular relationship with Army commander-in-chief Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing over the past five years and they met most recently on Nov.20, 2017. The KNU secretary said his senior leaders (chairman Gen. Saw Mutu Sae Poe and vice chairman Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win) had talked about security affairs and shared their recommendations during the meeting. "Our vice chairman suggested the army chief not yet use any of the expressions, either DDR or security sector reforms (SSR); until both sides have thoroughly shared their opinions on the terms and definitions," he said. The KNU said the hurried convening of the 21st Panglong peace conferences had also led them to reconsider their participation. "We accept the UPC as always, but we don't want to face a similar experience in the future, given that the last UPC dragged on just to show that it was held," he said. The principles in the first part of the Union accord signed at the May 2017 UPC are too shallow and broad, with many from the 2008 military-backed Constitution, thus the KNU secretary said questions remain as to whether the process should continue like that. Another concern is the Tatmadaw's obstruction of the public consultations and prior consultations for the Shan national-level political dialogue (ND) in December 2017, which led the Restoration Council of Shan State to suspend the Shan ND in Langkho (Linkhay). Padoh Saw Ta Doh Moo reiterated that the importance of holding public consultations had been agreed with the government in advance. In order to overcome these hurdles, the eight EAO leaders have been discussing approaches to solve these issues in Thailand this week. The post KNU says UPC should be postponed until differences on security sector clarified appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Acer, Excel Myanmar to Bring Cashless Fares to Yangon Bus System Posted: 11 Jan 2018 06:19 AM PST YANGON — Nearly a month behind schedule, an ad hoc assessment board convened by the Yangon Region government has named Excel KC Myanmar the winner of a contract to implement a cashless payment system for the city's public bus commuters. The regional government solicited bids in late August for the card payment platform, the Yangon Payment Service (YPS). A total of 14 companies tendered bids and three of them — AnyPay Payment Services, Asia Stamar Transport Intelligent, and Excel KC Myanmar — were selected as finalists earlier this month. The board named Excel KC Myanmar the winner on Wednesday. The 10-member board was formed to select the winning bid. It was chaired by the regional government's planning and finance minister, U Myint Thaung, and co-chaired by its electricity, industry and transportation minister, Daw Nilar Kyaw, and Karen Ethnic Affairs Minister Naw Pan Thinzar Myo. U Chit Tun Pe, a board member and the principal of the advisory firm Tun Group Asia, told The Irrawaddy that choosing among the finalists proved difficult because all three had shown that the solutions they were proposing have worked in other countries. He said they finally went with Excel KC Myanmar, a partnership between Excel Myanmar and Taiwan's Acer Inc., because the latter could provide its own technology and machines. He said Excel will invest 20 billion kyats ($14.78 million) to implement the automated fare collection system under the management of the Yangon Region Transport Authority. Though U Chit Tun Pe had told The Irrawaddy earlier that the board would select two companies in order to spur competition between the service providers, it settled on only one in the end. The same firm will be the investor, technology provider and operator all at once, making the project easer for the government to manage. As important as it will be to roll out the payment service quickly, it also need to be accurate, considering that the Yangon Bus System serves 3 to 5 million commuters a day, U Chit Tun Pe said, explaining why the decision was a month late. "We will also need to give time to the commuters too, since there is no such card payment practice in [the culture of] our country," he added. U Chit Tun Pe said he expected a tentative agreement between the regional government and the firm to be sign later this month. The website of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) says Excel KC Myanmar was registered in June, two months before the government asked for bids. According to its profile on DICA's website, the company's two directors are a Myanmar citizen, Daw Aye Aye Win, and a foreign citizen, Lin Chih Ying. Its managing director, U Zaw Win, holds the same position at the Excel Myanmar Group, which provides security services. U Zaw Win told The Irrawaddy that the project will see the country's commuting system "improved" because Acer makes its own electronics and ICT products rather than turn around the work of others. However, he said he did not know when the company and government would sign the contract or when the trial period would begin, as Excel KC Myanmar needed to hold more negotiations with the government and the bus operators. Ko Htet Oo Maung, technical officer for Excel KC Myanmar, told The Irrawaddy that the company would face many challenges because the payment system will be new to commuters, bus operators and drivers. "We are thinking of spending two to four months on trials before the operation starts," he said. It has been nearly a year since the regional government launched the Yangon Bus Service, replacing its predecessor in an effort to reform the sprawling city's mass transit system. The new system cut the number of bus lines from some 300 to less than 100 to avoid overlapping routes and replaced bus conductors with fare boxes. Since the boxes were introduced, however, commuters have had trouble paying exact bus fares, a problem the new card payment system is expected to solve. The post Acer, Excel Myanmar to Bring Cashless Fares to Yangon Bus System appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| A Lavish Wedding Is the Talk of the Town Posted: 11 Jan 2018 06:08 AM PST YANGON—On Sunday, a wedding in Myanmar's capital became the talk of the town. Among those who gathered to see the son of senior National League for Democracy official Win Htein tie the knot in Naypyidaw were President U Htin Kyaw and first lady Daw Su Su Lwin, Vice President U Henry Van Thio, cabinet members, chief ministers and an assortment of tycoons. But perhaps the star guest was State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. With such a high-profile guestlist, the wedding of Hsan Win Htein, executive chairman of Myan Win Holding Ltd, and Hnin Yadana Zaw set social media alight. The nuptials were held at the M Gallery Hotel—owned by tycoon Max Zaw Zaw—from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m and sponsored by Max Group.  (Photo: Myo Zaw Thein Facebook) President U Htin Kyaw joined in the applause as the bride and groom were married, while the First Lady administered the wedding rings to the couple. The vice president congratulated the pair with wedding garlands. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivered the wedding speech to the bride and bridegroom. An attendee described the lavish reception as "like a state function with presents." Pictures of the reception went viral online and drew awestruck comments. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi seemed to share in the awe. During her speech, the State Counsellor offered a light-hearted take on attending such a huge reception. "In Myanmar tradition, a wedding ceremony is not a spectacle like this, but it has become essential in the modern age." Later she added that, "Wedding gifts are not our tradition, to my understanding." Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about how in a traditional wedding ceremony, the bride and groom simply offer food to their elders as a way of announcing that they are becoming man and wife. "We should reconsider which of our customs are to be maintained and what new trends should be adopted [by society]," Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said. Somewhat farfetchedly, some Facebook users negatively compared Sunday's wedding with the famously opulent 2006 marriage of the daughter of then military dictator Than Shwe. At that ceremony, Thandar Shwe was adorned with glittering jeweled clusters in her hair and strings of diamonds. U Win Htein told reporters in Naypyidaw that he didn't take such criticism seriously and "will not sue anyone, as people will forget about the wedding soon." In fact, this was not the first high-profile wedding involving the family of a senior NLD figure. Lower House Speaker Win Myint's daughter got married in February last year, but the wedding invitation cards clearly stated "No Wedding Gifts, Please." Asked to comment by The Irrawaddy, prominent woman politician Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin recalled that at recent peace talks led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Kayah State, the de facto national leader urged her compatriots to be frugal, saying the country needed to save money. She even recommended that citizens lodge complaints against NLD-appointed ministers suspected of corruption. But NLD lawmaker U Min Thu, who attended the wedding, took U Win Htein's side of the argument, claiming that such a ceremony would be within the means of any middle class family from Yangon or Mandalay. Some people deliberately sought to attack wedding ceremonies attended by high-profile figures, U Min Thu said. Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye San caused outrage recently after recklessly urging locals to eat less in order to bring down food prices and inflation. Many Netizens were quick to point out that Win Htein's son was being thrown a lavish wedding soon after the comments by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Mon State chief minister. After the reception, sources close to U Win Htein said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's comments about the lavish scale of the wedding had made him uncomfortable. The post A Lavish Wedding Is the Talk of the Town appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Young Artist Feels Sorry for Your Shoes Posted: 11 Jan 2018 04:12 AM PST YANGON — People may leave their watches, wallets and cell phones at home when they go out, but they never forget to wear shoes. However, only a few people are aware of the benefits of shoes. Nyan Ye Naing is one of them.  The 25-year-old artist is a shoe collector. "I started to draw shoes because I love the colors. Then I got addicted to shoes as I drew them," said Nyan Ye Naing, who describes shoes as a protective shield for humans. "Whether you walk on hot ground or cold ground, shoes protect us," he said.  Nyan Ye Naing is showcasing his third solo exhibition at the Bo Aung Kyaw Street Art Gallery from Saturday through to Jan. 17. One of the paintings going on display is of three pairs of shoes representing a family. "I used cold colors and avoided warm colors and drew school bags and money on the father's shoes," he said.  His passion for shoes is not limited to drawing them. He reads about shoes in books and on the internet. And he never hesitates to take photos of shoes whenever he sees any that fascinate him.  "I remember that once I went to a monastery to attend a donation ceremony. There I saw dozens of shoes placed outside the monastery building. I couldn't help taking photo of those shoes, one after another," he recalled. "People gaped at me with surprise. But I was quite happy. I saw a lot of shoes to draw."  The exhibition showcases over 30 watercolor, lead and acrylic paintings as well as some of the shoes and slippers he used as models. The paintings will be on sale for between $50 and $300.  "People wear and use them daily, yet no one really values them. They take you wherever you want to go. I just want to make people aware of their value," Nyan Ye Naing said. "Not only shoes. There are many other things that benefit people. If you become more aware of them, you will value them more," he added.  Nyan Ye Naing, who began his career drawing on the walls of hotels and restaurants, has one big dream — to resurrect murals, which flourished during the Bagan Period. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
The post Young Artist Feels Sorry for Your Shoes appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Rakhine Immigration Chief Discusses Rohingya Repatriation, Citizenship Posted: 11 Jan 2018 02:33 AM PST The government of Myanmar has said that it would in January begin repatriating the Muslims who fled Rakhine State for Bangladesh following the latest outbreak of violence in late August. However, there is growing criticism that the repatriation process lacks transparency and that the government has not consulted with the local Arakanese community about the plans. Irrawaddy reporter Min Aung Khine recently spoke to U Aung Min, the head of Rakhine State's Immigration and Population Department, about the repatriation process. Would you explain the repatriation process for Muslim refugees in Bangladesh? We will accept them back at two centers in Taungpyoletwe and Nga Khu Ya. The Immigration and Population Department, General Administration Department, police and Health Department will be involved in the process. As the government has said, the process will be in line with the 1993 agreement. Repatriation forms will be sent to Bangladesh through the Foreign Ministry. Then the refugees wishing to come back will fill in the forms. Then those forms will be sent back to us through the Foreign Ministry. Then we'll scrutinize whether or not they have really lived in our country. Then we will reply that we will accept this and that person. For example, suppose we receive a list of 10,000 people and we can confirm that 9,800 have lived in our country. Then we will send that list back to Bangladesh. Then we will accept the refugees according to that list. First we will issue them national verification cards (NVCs), and then electronically register their IDs. When will the repatriation process start? We've already prepared forms, NVCs and machines for electronic registration. We can start at once when the upper level authorities tell us to start. How many people do you plan to accept per day? How long do you think the process will take? Each center will accept 150 people. We immigration officials do not know where they will be resettled and how long it will take. It will be handled by the government leaders. What progress are you making issuing NVCs? We have been issuing NVCs since Oct. 12 in the Shwe Za village tract of Maungdaw Township. So far we've issued 1,583 NVCs there, and 64 in the Nga Yan Chaung village tract in Buthidaung Township. And we issued NVCs to 132 displaced persons in Kyaung Gyi Lan Ward and 221 others at a camp at the Danyawaddy [sports] grounds in Sittwe, and 136 at the Taung Baw camp in Myebon. So we've issued a total of 2,131 NVCs. It is fair to say that there is some progress in issuing NVCs. In addition, we issued NVCs to 63 [people] in Aung Mingalar Ward in Sittwe. They have started to understand the benefits of NVCs and become cooperative. What difficulties has the department faced issuing NVCs? Most of them want to apply for NVCs. But there are people who disrupt it. That's why the process has been hindered. The process is in line with the wishes of people in Rakhine State, recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission [on Rakhine State], and the 1982 Citizenship Law of Myanmar. Why do they disrupt the NVC process? Some think that they are not qualified…for citizenship. This is then coupled with disruption by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). They disrupt because they won't be able to blend in if others are holding NVCs. If all the people on this side and the repatriated refugees hold NVCs, immigration officials, the Myanmar police force and border police can easily identify illegal immigrants. So ARSA spreads propaganda and disrupts the NVC process. They also threaten to brutally kill those who accept NVCs. Last month, a village administrator was killed brutally in Nyaung Bin Gyi village. He was both shot and knifed. This shows that there is disruption of the NVC process. Why aren't Muslims in Sittwe and Pauktaw willing to apply for NVCs? Those who believe that they are not eligible for citizenship are preventing the others who are likely to be eligible. Those who don't have complete documents think that they will stand out when those with complete documents get NVCs. And they believe that this will not be good for them. So they are causing disturbances. We have found that those who have applied for NVCs have come to us secretly. They want to apply for NVCs but are afraid of those who are causing disturbances. You said they don't dare to apply for NVCs because of threats. Can't security be provided for them? They are worried that they will be hated by those without complete documents if they apply for an NVC. So they don't apply openly. We are increasing security, but they are afraid. How many village administrators have been killed over the NVC process? According to our records, 19 administrators have been killed [from October 2016 to Aug. 24, 2017]. Some Muslims said their grandparents and parents have pink cards and therefore they don't need to apply for NVCs. Are they right? This is wrong. If their grandparents and parents have pink cards, they don't have to hold NVCs. If both parents hold pink cards, their children need not hold NVCs, they can apply for citizenship directly. But during the citizenship verification process, for example if they want to go fishing and reach international waters, they have to show their identity cards. In that case, they need to hold an NVC to show who they are. Holding an NVC will have no impact on the citizenship verification process if both of their parents are pink-card holders. They have misunderstood this. What is your response to criticism that citizenship verification is a little bit complicated in practice? That is said by those who don't understand Myanmar's Citizenship Law. There are two types of citizens — those who were born as citizen and those who get citizenship according to the law. Those who were born to parents who were both citizens are citizens from birth. They may not hold a citizenship ID card, but they are still citizens. Those who are eligible for citizenship under the 1982 law or the 1948 law may or may not have applied for their citizenship ID cards, but they are citizens. And their children are eligible for citizenship. We give the children citizenship ID cards because their parents are eligible for citizenship whether or not they hold ID cards. If parents are not eligible, their children will not get citizenship ID cards. The post Rakhine Immigration Chief Discusses Rohingya Repatriation, Citizenship appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Sagaing Locals Campaign to Repaint Kaunghmudaw Pagoda White Posted: 11 Jan 2018 01:24 AM PST MANDALAY — Sagaing locals are beginning a signature campaign to raise the issue of repainting the famed Kaunghmudaw Pagoda. The campaign is organized by a committee of Sagaing city elders in collaboration with local religious affairs and civil society groups. "We will start collecting signatures on January 17, in every corner of Sagaing and at the pagoda as well. At the end of this month, we will send them to the chief minister of Sagaing Region to receive permission to repaint the pagoda white," said U Zaw Win, the secretary of the committee of Sagaing city elders. Kaunghmudaw Pagoda, more than 380 years old, was originally painted white. In December 2010, after a visit by former Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the pagoda was painted gold. Rumors spread during that time that the senior-general ordered it painted gold according to an astrologist's suggestion in order to bring prosperity. Locals, historians and visitors criticized the new gold paint, but no efforts to repaint it white were taken under former President Thein Sein's administration. When the National League for Democracy party was elected to office, local lawmakers from the party took the issue to Parliament. According to locals, they were told by Parliament, government officials and senior Buddhist monks that the pagoda would be repainted white once the gold began to fade. However, recent news that it might be repainted gold against sparked the signature campaign. "There is no clear decision on if or when it can be repainted white. That's why we have sought permission from the chief minister and government officials," said U Zaw Win, adding that the committee would take the issue to the Union level if permission was not granted by the regional government. The trustee committee of Kaunghmudaw Pagoda said it is satisfied with the gold paint, but that it would follow the decision of the government. The chairperson of the trustee committee, U Toke, said there were also concerns about effects on the original structure if the gold needed to be scraped off and that experts would need to be consulted. The dome-shaped, 46 meter pagoda is a major tourist attraction in Sagaing, located on the outskirts of the town. It was built by King Thalun in 1636. It was originally painted white and surrounded by greenery. "We were very sad when we saw Kaungmudaw Pagoda in gold instead of white. Having gold paint on the pagoda is good, however, we do not like it for we have seen the scenic beauty of the white pagoda for centuries," explained U Tin Myo Lwin, one of the town elders. "Moreover, painting gold over the historical white is somehow destroying the heritage. So, we just want the original color back," he added. Hsu Ngat, a historian and author, said it is important to restore the original color. "Painting it gold was done according to one man's wish. To repaint it white is the desire of majority. The responsible officials should listen to the voices of the majority, if not, it will be a shame," said Hsu Ngat. "Moreover, restoring back to its original color is conserving this centuries-old pagoda as well," he added. The post Sagaing Locals Campaign to Repaint Kaunghmudaw Pagoda White appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Karenni Civil Society Reps Quit Panel over State Parliament’s ‘Silence’ on Killings Posted: 10 Jan 2018 11:52 PM PST YANGON — Four civil society representatives have resigned from a Karenni State parliamentary committee citing a lack of justice in the alleged executions by state security forces of three Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) members and a civilian on Dec. 20. The four civil society representatives were members of the Karenni State Parliament's complaints-handling committee. They said they resigned to protest the state government and parliament's silence over the alleged executions and what they said was the unjust charging of five Karenni men who protested the alleged killings. On Jan. 2, the five members of the Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY) and the Karenni State Farmers Union were charged with violating the Peaceful Assembly Law after leading a Dec. 22 protest against the alleged executions. The KNPP claims four of its members and a civilian were executed during a Dec. 20 raid by troops from the Regional Operations Command of the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw) on the KNPP's camp in Loikaw. It claims the military killed the four at the camp, removed the bodies and burned them back at their own base. The Tatmadaw claims the four were killed in a firefight during the raid. The civil society representatives said they had lost trust in the administrative, legislative and judicial branches of the state government, as neither the state government nor the parliament had spoken a word about the alleged executions or the charging of the protesters. They also accused the Tatmadaw, and the state government and parliament, of turning a deaf ear to calls for justice by local civil society members. "The state government is acting as if it had nothing to do with the case. We no longer have any trust in the state parliamentary committee and have submitted our resignation," one of the four representatives, Maw Moe Myar, told The Irrawaddy. She claimed that in the more than one year since its establishment in 2016, the complaints-handling committee had failed to perform its assigned duties properly, mainly because committee leaders were neglecting their duties. Another representative, Khu Tu Yel, said: "It is ridiculous that those who support the truth are charged, while those who kill are not. We resigned to show our frustration with this. We have no trust in the law or the state [government]." Their resignations reflected a loss of trust by the people and civil society in the state government and parliament, they said. The parliamentary complaints-handling committee has 24 members, including four representatives of local civil society organizations. It is currently handling six complaints, including four related to alleged land grabbing by the Tatmadaw. The post Karenni Civil Society Reps Quit Panel over State Parliament's 'Silence' on Killings appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Mekong Countries Pledge More Cooperation as Demands on River Grow Posted: 10 Jan 2018 09:30 PM PST PHNOM PENH — Countries along the Mekong River said on Wednesday they would reinforce security, trade and environmental cooperation in the face of concerns over competing demands on its waters, particularly given multiple dams being built by China. The 4,350 km (2,700-mile) long Mekong, known as the Lancang in its upper reaches, flows from China along the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand through Cambodia and Vietnam, where it has supported farming and fishing communities for millennia. Following an inaugural meeting of the Lancang Mekong Cooperation (MLC) forum in 2016, its member countries met for a second time in Phnom Penh at talks chaired jointly by China – an ever more dominant force in the region – and host nation Cambodia. "Political and security cooperation is of crucial importance to the MLC initiative," they said in a statement. Cooperation on trade, transport, tourism and environmental protection was also vital. Despite the show of unity between the Mekong leaders, campaign group International Rivers said there were major concerns about the future of the river, with 20 dams planned on the upper Mekong in addition to eight already built. "Over the past two decades, China's upstream dams have altered the river's natural flood-drought cycle and blocked the transport of sediment, drastically affecting ecosystems and fisheries downstream," said Maureen Harris, its Southeast Asia program director. "Effective regional cooperation is urgently needed on the Mekong to ensure its sustainable development and management." Communities in Cambodia are as reliant as any on the river. But the government is a strong backer of China's positions and has won billions of dollars in Chinese aid and investment as well as political support at a time when it is facing criticism from Western donors for eliminating the main opposition party. In an article in the Khmer Times newspaper, Chinese premier Li Keqiang said the Mekong meeting and his official visit on Thursday would further strengthen the relationship. The post Mekong Countries Pledge More Cooperation as Demands on River Grow appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Beijing Winning Pollution Battle as Other Chinese Cities Fall Behind Posted: 10 Jan 2018 08:20 PM PST BEIJING — As Beijing and the surrounding region reported big improvements in air quality last year, nationwide gains were much more muted as industrial activity shifted further away from the capital, a report by Greenpeace shows. Strict restrictions on coal use and industrial activity led to a dramatic improvement in air quality in Beijing and across northern China, helped also by favorable weather conditions. China as a whole, however, cut air pollution levels by just 4.5 percent last year, according to the most often-cited measure, which was the smallest decline since 2013 as industry ramped up coal, cement and steel production, Greenpeace said in a report on China air pollution published on Thursday. A separate Reuters analysis of official government readings of concentrations of small, breathable particles known as PM2.5 also showed a disparity between Beijing and 27 nearby cities included in a pollution action plan and those just outside the zone. The findings indicate that while government policies to reduce chocking smog that plagues most Chinese cities seem to be having an effect, the improvements are uneven and China still has a long way to go in taming air pollution. Beijing's pollution level dropped 53.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 from a year earlier, while PM2.5 levels in Heilongjiang, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces jumped, Greenpeace said. "China's national air pollution action plan has brought massive reductions in pollution levels and associated health risks, but policies favoring coal and heavy industry are holding back progress," said Greenpeace East Asia climate and energy campaigner Huang Wei. China's economy grew faster than expected for most of last year, with many economists crediting the industrial sector and a construction boom for boosting growth. The country's steel output is expected to have hit a record 832 million tons in 2017. Average air pollution in Linfen, an industrial city in Shanxi province that was not part of the government action plan, rose significantly last year, according to Reuters calculations of data from the independent website www.aqistudy.cn, which tracks official air quality data. By contrast Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi about 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Linfen and part of the 28 city campaign, showed a modest improvement in air quality last year. Greenpeace said that PM2.5 levels fell by 40 percent year-on-year in the 28 cities during the peak period for heating from mid-October to mid-March, and by only 23 percent in the surrounding cities. The post Beijing Winning Pollution Battle as Other Chinese Cities Fall Behind appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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