Thursday, February 8, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

South Korean Ambassador Says Winter Olympics Send Message of Peace

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 04:28 PM PST

YANGON – The Winter Olympics, which are being hosted by South Korea this month, have been labeled as the "Peace Olympics" and presented as a symbol of the attempt to reconcile the two Koreas. The peace and reconciliation effort being conducted by the Koreans has similarities to Myanmar's current peace-building process. Despite the geographical distance between Myanmar and South Korea, Korean art and culture have somewhat influenced Myanmar society. South Korea is also the 7th-biggest investor in Myanmar, via companies ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporations.

Lee Sang-hwa, the South Korean ambassador to Myanmar, talked to The Irrawaddy on topics ranging from South Korea-Myanmar relations to trade and investment and his perspectives on peace. The former director general of the North Korean Nuclear Affairs Division in Seoul also served as the secretary to former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for seven years.

Myanmar does not have any athletes participating in these Winter Olympics, but can you tell us why the event has been labeled the "peace Olympics"?

The Olympics, whether it's the Summer or Winter Games, is a festival for all human kind. Whether or not you are sending athletes to Olympics, it does not matter. It would have been much better if Myanmar was sending athletes but we understand Myanmar is summer country, with tropical weather. For Myanmar people, winter sports like skiing and speed-skating are not very familiar or popular. What is really important is the message we would like to deliver through this festival for all humanity, which is one of peace and reconciliation. Also, these Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang are taking place 30 years after Korea hosted the 1988 summer games in Seoul.

Ever since the current [South Korean] government took office in May last year, we put great priority on making the best use of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as a mechanism for reducing tension and promoting peace and reconciliation. In that regard, it is really significant to have an agreement with North Korea on their participation, first of all. Secondly we agreed on one important step, by making a joint team, sending a very significant message for peace, unity and reconciliation between the two Koreas. It does not stop there; through meaningful development between the two Koreas, we would like to go the extra mile, which means making progress on other important issues.

It is a very important first step; you may call it a small step, but it's a step in the right direction, through people participating in sport, toward reconciling the two Koreas.

In Korea, you are trying to unify two nations with one ethnicity, but Myanmar is different. So first of all, how do you perceive the Myanmar peace process?

Myanmar stands a critical juncture, making peace and solidarity, and a union, among so many different ethnic groups. It's the number one priority for the Myanmar government, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We stand by Myanmar and support the government in that regard. Speaking of the Pyeongchang Olympics and Myanmar's great efforts to promote solidarity and national reconciliation; the two resonate very strongly with each other.

Can you elaborate on that?

As I said, our effort at making the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics a Peace Olympics has a lot in common with Myanmar's effort at national unity and reconciliation, because the essence of Myanmar's peace process is to bring all the ethnic groups to the negotiating table. They may have different agendas, they may have different views and ideas, sometimes grievances and complaints, but the important thing is to lead them to the dialogue table and put all the ideas and opinions together. And they make give and take. The essence of it is unity, solidarity and reconciliation. It is [the same for] the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The two Koreas have been living apart for more than five decades and we are technically at war still. So bringing [the athletes] to Korea [will allow them] to look at how much development Korea has made. Korea is a vibrant democracy and through flourishing economic development it has achieved so much development from being one of the most impoverished nations in the world. We want to show them what we have achieved through reform and openness to the world. We want to give them the message that they can do the same. They can choose to make the difference, if they change their mindset, if they change their calculus. Having nuclear weapons does not guarantee your security and safety. To the contrary, you have to give them up. There is absolute consensus [on this] from the international community. If you change your mind, we will do everything in our power with the international community to help you, to take a step in the right direction.

That is interesting. It seems South Korea puts trust in the North to change their mindset. In the case of Myanmar, there are a lot of trust issues regarding the peace process. What would be your advice to stakeholders?

That's a very good point. At the end of the day, the most important thing is trust-building; without trust, you cannot do anything. As I said, the two Koreas have been living separately for many decades. It is like Myanmar; even though it is a Union, you have many different ethnic groups; some of them are still fighting, especially in border areas. So to achieve a meaningful reconciliation, you need perseverance and patience. Progress is so slow…there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. [It is necessary] to make them believe that their different views, different voices are being heard and being taken care of, particularly the State Counselor. I heard there will be a signing ceremony [for the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement on Feb. 13] and I will go and see with my own eyes what the signing ceremony is about. It is a partial one you know, there are still many armed groups who have not made up their mind yet. It is another step, thus I want to lend my own blessing and the Korean government's support to the progress.

Besides your support for peace building, how are Korean businesses contributing to Myanmar's development?

POSCO Daweoo is the largest Korean investor; it runs the gas field in Kyauk Phyu. It is the number one investor from Korea in Myanmar. Besides POSCO, there are many investors and small and medium-sized enterprises. The most important thing is that the prospects for Korean investment in Myanmar are very very bright. Let me tell you why; the current Korean government is taking a fresh look at ASEAN. When we speak about ASEAN, we have an absolute majority of our trade going to Vietnam, so we need to find another place to invest in large volumes, in terms of trade, investment, people-to-people exchanges and upgrading political partnerships. So, here comes Myanmar with its strong geographic location, with its vast lands, rich natural resources and particularly its people, who are very hard working. These are very important assets. Our eyes are turning to Myanmar under our government's new ASEAN initiatives.

How do you ensure CSR work in Myanmar, as we are vulnerable to being taken advantage of by investors?

One of the points highlighted by our government's new ASEAN initiative, is a focus on the hearts and minds in the country in which you are investing. We believe doing business is doing diplomacy. The most important thing is trust-building, and without winning hearts and minds from our counterparts, be it in the government or the business sector, you cannot do business or diplomacy in a sustainable manner. In that context, we are working hard to increase CSR. Last week, we went to Naypyitaw for a contract signing ceremony, for the first time, with the Myanmar minister for livestock and agriculture and foreign investors, for pig farming. CP Group has an overwhelming [presence in the] sector in the region and they were competing [in the bidding for this project]. After one and half years of trial, to everyone's surprise the Korean government took the bid. There were many reasons. One of the lessons we learned is to knock on everyone's door to persuade them that this is our strategy, this is our vision. It is not just about making profits out of the business. [The project] has a very extensive CSR program, it is good for the local community, because it creates jobs by hiring 100 local people. It is good for Myanmar's economy and livestock industry because of the technology transfer, and because of the very solid CSR program. It is the first ever livestock program that the Myanmar government has awarded to a foreign investor.

How long would that livestock MoU be?

The lease is for more than 15 years on land owned by the government. It the first case ever of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock deciding to lend its land to a foreign investor. It is good for Myanmar as well. It is a win-win situation — not just for Korean investors; it is mutually beneficial.

The first step will be expanding the number of pigs on the farms. Then they will be sold to local markets, and then exported to neighboring countries. It is organic breeding. The breeder pigs are now in Vietnam and waiting to be shifted to Myanmar. Pigs in Vietnam are used to [a similar climate].

The farm is expanding in stages and in the coming year, the number of pigs will be increased. As the number increases, the ministry plans to open up new farming in the region. It takes time, but the important thing is for the investor to make his case successfully to the Myanmar government to make the first step into Myanmar business.

Korean beef is among the best in the world. Aare you planning any more livestock projects in Myanmar?

We understand Myanmar people like pigs and chicken in that order. Who knows? If Myanmar people get used to beef over time then you may see other farming industries open up to investment here.

How have Korean enterprises found the existing Myanmar investment law and infrastructure?

It is one thing that Korean businessmen have more and more interest in investing in Myanmar, but it is another to open up a business on the ground in Myanmar, because when you plan to do make an investment in Myanmar, there should be some institutional system, or mechanism in place. Otherwise you cannot afford to just come and open a new business, because businessmen are picky, and they have a long shopping list. If someone in Korea wants to go abroad and find new business opportunities, he looks at the ASEAN community and there are many good candidate countries like Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. All are looking for new investment opportunities. There is competition among ASEAN countries as to who can offer better investment incentives. In order to have more and more investment from countries like Korea, there needs to be something from your side as well. It's a two-way street.

We recognize the current National League for Democracy-led government is working hard to make conditions better and secure greater investment from abroad. But it is not there yet. I visited Thilawa Special Economic Zone last week. There are six Korean enterprises operating construction, cable, cement and vegetable oil factories. It was an eye-opening opportunity for me, because I sat down with the managers and heard their own views. I understood what the obstacles are for them to making bigger investments. For instance, one of the cable companies, who would like to open a manufacturing factory here, said there [should be action to ensure a level playing field with] China, for instance, which does not operate factories here. They just export cables in huge volume. If you have a manufacturing factory here, they should have some kind of incentives; tax breaks, reduced level of environmental impact assessment, something like that. It will take time till the Myanmar government knows what should be done, because of the interagency consultations, rules and regulations, which need to be revised and revisited. It takes time, but what is important is that they are aware of the necessity to modernize, to upgrade the investment law, company law and regulations to international standards.

What advantage can Korea gain from the Dala bridge project in Yangon?

The Dala Bridge, or Friendship Bridge, project is not about making a profit. We know that it will significantly contribute to the local economy of the Dala. It will significantly reduce traffic and transportation time, which is critically important for logistics.

Unless Myanmar, or any country — Korea, Japan, China — has reliable and sustainable infrastructure, they cannot do business in a sustainable manner. If you have manufacturing factories here in Yangon, you need the roads, water, and electricity. In this sense, without very solid infrastructure in place, nothing is sustainable when it comes to trade and investment. So it is by helping Myanmar, modernizing and upgrading infrastructure, it is also good for Korea in the long term.

As an investor in Rakhine state where POSCO run its gas production in Kyauk Phyu, how much are you worried about instability in Rakhine State?

First of all, because of the tensions and instabilities in Rakhine State, you are absolutely right, there is a certain level of anxiety and concern on the part of Korean businesspeople. That is unavoidable, that is the reality on the ground. But at the same time, that does not necessarily mean there is no appetite for greater investment. We believe like many other countries in the international community, that without sustainable development in Rakhine State, you cannot even dream of making peace there. So first, let the sustainable development work on the ground, then address such issues. So we are proud to say that there are some Korean investors planning the projects in that state.

Besides business and investment, what humanitarian support are you providing to the country?

In Rakhine State, we are fully mindful of the complexity and sensitivity of religious, historical and ethnic issues. At the same time, as a responsible player in the international community, we have also voiced our concerns about the humanitarian suffering, and the hardship there. That is why the Korean government has provided humanitarian assistance, some of it through the United Nations, like the UN World Food Program, UNICEF and other agencies. We are also doing humanitarian work on a bilateral level.

In northern Rakhine state some residents have fled for Bangladesh, but access for diplomats is restricted. But locals need support. What role can Korea play in support of those people and in refugee repatriation?

In order to win confidence from the international community, especially the donor community, about the effectiveness of their humanitarian assistance, that it is actually being delivered to the people in need, you need some kind of verification, monitoring mechanism to place. That's why the United Nations and other donors are calling for better access on the ground. We understand the Myanmar government is doing its best to improve monitoring and verification activities by allowing, among other things, better access to the donor agency. Overtime, we will see improvement on the ground. Korea will also take part in government-organized tours of the areas, which start this week. We want to see firsthand what is happening on the ground and what should be done to improve the situation.

Korea and Myanmar are seeing more interaction in trade, business and investment. Do you have any intention to play a role in the peace process?

Let face the reality. Korea is far from Myanmar, physically. Geography is destiny, as they say. So I think it is first of all, the Myanmar government that needs to take responsibility, and take the ownership to finish the job. But in reality, the Myanmar government cannot do it alone. You need assistance, you need support. That being humanitarian, development, and political assistance; you need support from the international community. In that sense, we are ready to provide anything we can from our end. So I look forward to going to Naypyitaw to witness the signing by two more ethnic armed groups of the NCA [on Feb. 13].

The post South Korean Ambassador Says Winter Olympics Send Message of Peace appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Experiments with Drones to Replant Dwindling Mangroves

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 06:36 AM PST

YANGON — Environmentalists in Myanmar used to plant mangroves by hand. On Wednesday, however, the Worldview International Foundation staged a drone-planting demonstration in Yangon with plans for a pilot project in the Irrawaddy delta.

Myanmar has lost at least 1 million hectares of mangrove forest over the past several decades, making it more vulnerable to cyclones and climate change.

UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim, who attended the demonstration, told The Irrawaddy that mangroves provide critical habitat for fish and can prevent large waves stirred up by tropical cyclones from reaching deep inland and saltwater from invading farmland.

International experts say growing more mangroves could also help tackle global warming because they can store two to four times more carbon dioxide than most other tropical forests.

In his opening remarks for the event at the National Races Village, Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said the regional government had already decided to replant more than 10,000 acres of mangrove forest this year with hopes of eventually turning Yangon into a "green city" that might attract more tourists.

"This is the very first time for Myanmar and we really thank the NGOs," he said. "We won't wait to grow mangroves next year. We are going to plant now and are looking for vacant land in Kha Yan, Thone Kwa and Kyauk Tan."

According to the chief minister, relevant government departments were working on mapping the designated sites and would strive to speed up the replanting process in the coming years.

Although the government and non-profit groups have been planting mangroves for years, he said many of those areas have been damaged by businesspeople from Yangon building commercial fishing ponds. He said some businesspeople were still trying to add nearly 1,000 more acres of fishing ponds that would destroy yet more mangrove forest.

"Manmade fishing irrigation in mangrove forests destroys mangrove trees because the tide can no longer reach the riverbank when it comes in. So we will restrict residents from entering the new mangrove forests and will plant mangroves on alluvial land near the Gulf of Mottama," U Phyo Min Thein said.

Bremley Lyngdoh, founder and CEO of Worldview Impact and a board member of Worldview International, said a single pilot can use the drones, courtesy of BioCarbon Engineering, to plant about 100,000 seeds per day. The drones can fire one seedpod into the soil every minute and fly for approximately half an hour at a time.

However, the drones cannot carry the larger seedpods of some mangrove species found along the coasts of Rakhine State and Tanintharyi Region.

Each drone, including software, costs about $50,000, enough to buy 10 used luxury Japanese cars at the official government rate.

The post Myanmar Experiments with Drones to Replant Dwindling Mangroves appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

The Best Spots for a Romantic Dinner on Valentine’s Day

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 04:37 AM PST

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and what better time to show how much you love and care about that special someone.

You might be getting nervous about now, deciding between roses, teddy bears, chocolates or fancy dinners. It's hard to decide how to make the day just right.

But relax and check out these awesome Valentine's Day packages that will make the perfect date. The Irrawaddy rounded up some of the most romantic dinner spots for the occasion. 

Chatrium’s special Valentine’s Day cake. / Chatrium Royal Lake Hotel, Novotel Yangon Max

Valentine’s Day Special at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake is planning a special 'Romance Under the Stars' dinner event to celebrate the day.

Valentine’s Set Dinner for one couple is US$120, which in addition to dinner includes a surprise door gift, a bottle of red, white or sparkling wine, a decorated table, a red rose and a Valentine's Day cake.

If you buy the package, you get entered into a drawing for a chance to win numerous prizes, including one night's stay at the hotel, buffet dinner at The Emporia Restaurant, a spa session at Nemita Spa or a couple's high tea set.

This package dinner will be served in the lobby lounge or the outdoor sunset terrace outdoor dining area. You can also order the "Be My Valentine" cake at The Lobby Lounge for $15.

For further information and reservations, please call 01544500 ext: 6221 or email fb.chry@chatrium.com

A huge teddy bear is a lucky draw gift at Novotel Yangon Max. / Chatrium Royal Lake Hotel, Novotel Yangon Max

VALENTINES MIXOLOGIST at Lotte Hotel Poolside BBQ & Bar

The new international luxury hotel Lotte will host the 'Valentines Mixologist' event at its poolside BBQ and bar.

Prices start at $19 per person with free flow of selected cocktails including Cosmopolitans, Margaritas, the Dark Night and the Blue Kamikaze.

That deal runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you buy a bottle of whiskey, vodka, rum, gin or tequila, you'll get complimentary snacks.

You can make a reservation at 01 9351061.

Romantic Valentine's Dinner at The Square, Novotel Yangon Max

How about a fresh seafood buffet dinner for Valentine's Day? A little different from your typical Valentine's Day options, Novotel Yangon Max will hold a buffet dinner with fresh seafood including King crab, lobster and oysters for $39 per person with free flow drinks.

It also includes a wide selection of desserts. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the pink chocolate fountain, pyramid of strawberries with toppings, Mille-feuilles and more.

During dinner, there will be a live band playing your favorite love songs.

Dinner will be served at the 5th floor of the hotel and if you book before Feb. 12, you will receive a cute teddy bear as a Valentine's gift.

If you need more information, you can contact 01-2305858 or H9045-FB3@Accor.com.

Valentine’s Dinner at the Chatrium Royal Lake Sunset Terrace outdoor dining. / Chatrium Royal Lake Hotel, Novotel Yangon Max

Something that Will Last Forever this Valentine’s Day at Rose Garden

Here is another cool dinner package to celebrate the day. This five-course dinner for two and free flow of wine, beer and soft drinks, including a box of chocolates on the table and one dozen red roses is only $90 per couple.

The Rose Garden is also offering another package that is a two day, one night stay in their romantic Bamboo executive suite with breakfast for two, a five-course dinner, a heart-shaped cake in the room and one dozen red roses for $210 per couple with late checkout.

You can make a reservation at +95 1 371 992.

Valentine's Dinner on the Yangon River Cruise

We also want to suggest a romantic dinner with a stunning river backdrop.

Yangon River Cruise will also provide a special Valentine's dinner for couples from 30,000 kyats per person, which includes a buffet dinner, table decoration, live music, and fabulous view of the Yangon River. Reservations are available at 09953378900.

That's it for this writer's suggestions for Valentine's Day. Don't worry about being expensive or fancy. The most important thing is spending time with your loved one.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

The post The Best Spots for a Romantic Dinner on Valentine's Day appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Women’s Equal Participation Matters for Everybody

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 03:48 AM PST

On November 9, the Nordic diplomatic missions of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden celebrated Nordic Day. It was the third year we organized this event, which is an opportunity for us to display Nordic activities in Myanmar and showcase our shared Nordic values to a wider audience. At this year's event, we highlighted the Nordic countries' strong and continued commitment to gender equality, both domestically and abroad.

In virtually every country in the world, women remain underrepresented in practically all positions of power, be it in politics, business or civil society. This holds true in the Nordic countries as well as in Myanmar. However, women can only fully enjoy their human rights if they have the opportunity to make decisions regarding their own lives and participate in decision-making that affects them. The key to obtaining that opportunity is women's economic empowerment and labor market participation. The issue of women's equal participation is first and foremost a matter of rights and a matter of democracy.

In addition, we know from experience that inclusive decision-making processes that take the opinions and knowledge of all those affected into account ensure more well-founded decisions. Such decisions are also seen as more legitimate. Research has shown that inclusive decision-making and equal participation of women and men lead to a more efficient allocation of resources, less corruption, higher growth and longer-lasting peace agreements.

In the Nordic countries, working toward gender equality is seen as an essential approach to all areas of private and public policy, from management and budgeting to governance and legislation. Public policy reforms that have contributed to equal participation in our countries include developed maternal health care, expanded high-quality childcare provision, tax reform that promotes women's participation in the labor market and gender-based quotas in politics and business. Although we still have a long way to go, we have seen women's participation and leadership in politics, civil society and in the labor market rise significantly in our countries in recent decades.

Recently, we have witnessed some positive steps forward on the issue of gender equality in Myanmar. The number of female parliamentarians as well as women represented at the state and regional levels increased in the 2015 elections, and the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women (NSPAW) has moved into its operating phase. Now is the time to turn this progress into lasting change. The Nordic countries are committed to collaborating with Myanmar on its efforts to achieve women's empowerment and gender equality. Among other things, we do so by incorporating a gender perspective and analysis in all relevant activities in Myanmar.For instance, we provide support to civil society organizations to make sure women's voices are heard in the peace process. We work to promote female entrepreneurship and business leadership and support activities empowering rural women's participation in governance. Furthermore, we frequently engage in policy dialogue with the government, discussing how best to further gender equality in Myanmar.

There is no quick fix for achieving gender equality. Inequality is maintained by political and economic power structures, as well as by regressive social and cultural norms. Changing these requires strong will and long-term commitment from all stakeholders in society. However, we know that progress is possible. Men play an important role in the process and have a great opportunity, as well as a responsibility, to become drivers for change.

Gender equality is an issue that concerns everyone. We invite everybody, including the readers of this article, to think and discuss with friends, family and colleagues. How can we work together to achieve it?

Peter Lysholt Hansen is an ambassador of Denmark. Riika Laatu is an ambassador of Finland. Tone Tinnes is an ambassador of Norway. Johan Hallenborg is head of the Office of the Embassy of Sweden, Section Office Yangon.

The post Women's Equal Participation Matters for Everybody appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Shan State Honors  Nang Lang Kham for Charity Work

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 12:45 AM PST

YANGON—The chairwoman of the Brighter Future Myanmar Foundation, one of Myanmar's best-known philanthropical organizations, was honored by the Shan State government for her humanitarian efforts in the country's eastern highlands.

During a commemoration to mark the 71st anniversary of Shan State Day on Wednesday in the state capital Taunggyi, the Shan State government announced that  Nang Lang Kham, the head of the foundation run by the Kanbawza business group, was honored for her leading efforts to help support education, health, and regional development in the state.

Hailing from the southern part of Myanmar's eastern highlands, the 30-year old ethnic Shan woman, founded the Brighter Future Myanmar Foundation in 2008. Since then, the foundation has been engaged in social and humanitarian assistance activities across the country with a primary focus on her native state. The highlights of the efforts include digging wells in remote areas in Shan State where locals often suffer acute water shortages in summer each year, while also embarking on reforestation missions in the areas. In collaboration with Smile Asia, BFM has also brought smiles back to children with cleft lips and palates.

As an executive director of one of Myanmar's leading banks, Kanbawza Bank (KBZ),  Nang Lang Kham was named "The Promising Young Banker in Myanmar" by The Asian Banker magazine in 2017 among other local and international prizes.

The post Shan State Honors  Nang Lang Kham for Charity Work appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Leaked Records Say Tatmadaw Asked KIA to Abandon Bases

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 12:11 AM PST

YANGON — The Myanmar military asked the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) at a meeting in China last week to withdraw from its bases in Kachin State's Tanai Township where the two forces have engaged in intense fighting in recent weeks, according to leaked KIA records.

The two pages began circulating on Facebook on Wednesday and appear to come from a larger document produced by the KIA giving its account of each side's comments during their meeting in China.

"The Tatmadaw [Myanmar army] does not recognize some KIA bases. We ask that you withdraw Battalion 14 from the bases. If you do not, we will destroy those bases," the pages say, recounting the Tatmadaw's alleged remarks.

Battalion 14 is stationed in Tanai, where the Tatmadaw launched a large offensive against the KIA last month. The near-daily fighting has driven hundreds of people from the area.

KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu confirmed the authenticity of the document to The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

"I think those papers may have come out from inside people," he said, referring to KIA officials who attending the meeting in China. "But they have not issued or announced anything publicly yet about their meeting."

"We heard that both sides discussed how they could reduce the fighting at the meeting. They did not reach any agreement yet and need to talk more before they do," the spokesman said. "Some Myanmar army battalions will have to withdraw from some areas, but the KIA also has to withdraw from some bases in order to reduce the fighting. But there is no clear statement yet on how to do it."

According to the pages posted online, the Tatmadaw said it was monitoring the United Wa State Army, which is also active in Kachin State, and take action against it as well if necessary.

The pages also say the Tatmadaw complained that the 1947 Panglong agreement between the central government and several ethnic groups pledging to work toward a federal democratic system was out of date and obsolete. The Tatmadaw reportedly said it did not like representatives of the US, UK and 88 Generation Peace and Open Society visiting the offices of the Kachin Independence Organization, the political wing of the KIA, in the state capital Myitkyina.

According to the KIA, fresh fighting broke out in the Kabuka area of Tanai Township on Tuesday. Local sources said both sides sustained casualties.

The latest round of fighting between the Tatmadaw and KIA erupted on Jan. 19 affecting the townships of Sumprabum, Tanai and Waingmaw with civilians reported killed and injured.

Some 2,000 people who fled their homes were initially trapped by the fighting in Tanai, but Col. Naw Bu said on Wednesday that about half of them have managed to get out.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the Tatmadaw has restricted humanitarian access to Tanai and that it remains concerned about the area's civilian population.

More than 100,000 people remain displaced from their homes since a 17-year ceasefire between the central government and KIA collapsed in 2011.

The post Leaked Records Say Tatmadaw Asked KIA to Abandon Bases appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Bollywood’s ‘Period’ Drama Boosts Menstrual-Solution Entrepreneurs

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 09:47 PM PST

MUMBAI/CHENNAI — Bollywood’s first film on menstrual hygiene, due for release on Friday, has boosted business for entrepreneurs providing affordable sanitary pads to women in India, manufacturers said.

Even the trailer for “Padman” — which depicts one of Hindi cinema’s most popular action heroes, Akshay Kumar, wearing a sanitary pad — has generated debate over the taboo subject of menstrual hygiene in India, they said.

“We used to get six to seven calls a day earlier, but now we get around 20 calls from people inquiring about our machines after the 'Padman' trailer was released,” said Suhani Mohan, co-founder of Saral Designs, a Mumbai-based startup.

“Padman” is inspired by the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, who wanted to “please his wife” by replacing her rag cloth with a sanitary pad.

When she said that buying pads would cut into their milk budget, Muruganantham set off on a mission to provide low-cost pads to women across India.

For many Indian women, especially adolescent girls, menstruation is shameful and uncomfortable.

From being barred from religious shrines to dietary restrictions to a lack of toilets and sanitary products, they face many challenges when they have their periods, campaigners say.

One of the machine orders Mohan received was from 52-year-old Sivasankar Ramamoorthy, a resident of the southern city Madurai, about 1,400 km southeast of Mumbai.

“The pads available in the market are very expensive,” Ramamoorthy told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.

“I am doing this for my wife and daughter, and I hope to make pads accessible to more women.”

Other manufacturers have improved on Muruganantham’s model while keeping costs down.

Subhankar Bhattacharya designed a machine making pads with wings in 2016, based on feedback from rural women and girls around the eastern city of Kolkata.

“We sold four machines in the last two years, but we got 10 orders in the last two months,” he said, adding that eight pads sell for 22 Indian rupees ($0.34).

“[The film] is giving a boost to social enterprises.”

The post Bollywood’s ‘Period’ Drama Boosts Menstrual-Solution Entrepreneurs appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

History Unfolding under Starry Skies

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 08:39 PM PST

Perhaps more than any of us, artists seek to escape the routine of everyday urban life. Through their work, they allow city dwellers to experience the breeze, the moonlight and stars. With his new exhibition, artist Lu Maw Han brings the night skies he loves to gaze at above Bagan, Mandalay and Taunggyi to Yangon, where he is based. But in the foreground of these star-scapes, his works depict, among other things, ancient Bagan, and British colonial troops on the march. Discussing his work "The Flashback of the Tharapar Gate", the artist said, "Ancient Bagan is the most significant stage in the history of Myanmar; it was the capital of the first Myanmar Empire. The painting reflects the hidden strengths ancient Myanmar."

"Another painting depicts King Thibaw and Queen Su Phaya Latt on a bridge across a moat as they are being taken away from their palace by British soldiers under the light of the stars in Mandalay. Seeing the palace, moat and city wall, one remembers the bloody coup in the Glass Palace, and British colonialism," he said. Lu Maw Han, grandson and son of celebrated artists U Thaung Han and Win Maw Han, has joined many group exhibitions. "While I do paint about the theme of escaping from urban life, I also want to take a more serious course by depicting the historical backdrop" to modern life, he added.

From Feb. 9-11, the "Night Memo" exhibition at the Studio Square Gallery on Maha Bandoola Park Street will showcase paintings by Lu Maw Han that depict historical scenes against backdrops of starry skies. Sixteen paintings of sizes 2×3 feet and 3×4 feet, with prices ranging from US$500 to $800, will be on display.

"'Night Memo' is his first solo exhibition of contemporary art tinged with magic realism. Something unbelievable and wonderful intrudes into his avant-garde realist paintings," said artist Myat Kyawt.

The post History Unfolding under Starry Skies appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Workers Go on Trial for Accusing Thai Chicken Farm of Abuse

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 08:35 PM PST

MUMBAI — Migrant workers from Myanmar who accused a Thai chicken farm of a litany of abuses went on trial for defamation on Wednesday in a landmark case between workers and an employer.

The Bangkok court case was triggered by a complaint that 14 workers filed to Thailand's National Human Rights Commission in 2016 about forced overtime, being paid under the minimum wage, confiscation of passports, and limited freedom of movement.

Their former employer, Thammakaset farm, which supplies meat to Thai food conglomerate Betagro, denied the charges from the outset and launched a lawsuit against the workers, saying the complaint has damaged its reputation.

Betagro, which sells to companies around the globe, later said it had cut ties with the farm.

The workers were charged in October in a first-of-its-kind criminal defamation case that prompted campaigners to urge better protection for migrant laborers in Thailand if they complained about their working conditions.

The farm owner has denied any wrongdoings, and said the staff voluntarily worked nights to rack up bonuses and chose to sleep next to the chicken warehouse.

On Wednesday, 13 of the 14 workers were present in court. One was exempt as she had recently given birth, said Nakhon Chompuchat, a lawyer for the workers.

"Today, witnesses for the prosecution were presented. The workers will have a chance to speak tomorrow and the day after, confirming the details of their complaint," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation over the phone.

The trial will end on Friday with a ruling expected next month, he said.

Nakhon said this was the first time migrant workers had faced criminal defamation charges in Thailand, which could see them jailed for up to two years if found guilty.

"Today was only the first day of the trial. It is too early to say anything," Thammakaset owner Chanchai Pheamphon told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Thailand has been at the center of a slew of slavery and human trafficking cases, including in its seafood sector, with migrants from Myanmar thought to suffer the worst exploitation, according to rights groups.

In the face of mounting global scrutiny of supply chains, Thailand has strengthened laws to crack down on labor exploitation, but activists say the practice is still widespread.

The post Myanmar Workers Go on Trial for Accusing Thai Chicken Farm of Abuse appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Aftershocks Rattle Taiwan as Quake Toll Rises to 10, 58 Missing

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 08:30 PM PST

HUALIEN — Scores of aftershocks hampered rescue efforts on Thursday as emergency personnel combed through collapsed buildings in search of survivors after a powerful earthquake killed at least 10 people near Taiwan’s popular tourist city of Hualien.

The coastal city of Hualien was hit by a magnitude 6.4 quake just before midnight (1600 GMT) on Tuesday that also injured 265 people. Four buildings collapsed, officials said, and about 58 people were still missing.

Nervous residents endured more than 200 aftershocks, including a 5.7 quake late on Wednesday and smaller tremors early on Thursday. Aftershocks with a magnitude of at least 5.0 could rock the island over the next two weeks, the government said.

"There were constant aftershocks so I didn't really dare stay at home. The area around my house is actually not that bad, the houses are all OK but, because of the aftershocks, I don’t really want to stay there," said Hualien resident Yang Yantin.

A Reuters witness said people rushed out of a residential building and rescue workers looked up from piles of debris after another strong aftershock rattled the city at around 11 a.m. on Thursday.

Horns sounded to warn people to leave buildings and chanting from groups of Buddhists could also be heard.

It was initially feared as many as 150 people may have been missing in the rubble. The death toll had been put at seven overnight.

Many of the missing were believed to be trapped in a 12-storey residential building that was tilting at a 45-degree angle. Tenants and their furniture were flung across their apartments in the damaged building.

More than 600 soldiers and 1,300 police have been deployed to help with rescue efforts. The government said three mainland Chinese were among the dead.

Chen Deming, president of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, said the mainland was willing to assist with relief efforts, including sending teams to the island.

Rescue workers used ladders and flashlights as they searched for survivors among the rubble on Thursday.

More than 800 people sought refuge in shelters overnight, many too scared to stay in their homes as aftershocks stirred panic.

Hualien is home to about 100,000 people. Its streets were buckled by the force of the quake, with large cracks along major roads.

"I've never actually experienced an earthquake before but I'd heard people say that there were often earthquakes here, so at first I didn’t really react, but later when all the lights started smashing – the floor was covered in glass – that is when I realized it was really serious," said tourist Zhang Hongcong.

Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers part of its territory, lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck nearby on Sunday.

More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, and some Taiwanese remain scarred by a 7.6 magnitude quake that was felt across the island and killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.

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Wednesday, February 7, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

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AA Denies Involvement in Murder of Former Mrauk-U Official

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 05:14 AM PST

YANGON — The Arakan Army (AA) has denied responsibility for the Jan. 30 killing of a former official of Rakhine State's Mrauk-U Township, saying it has no association with the detained suspects.

"The accusations that the government made are totally untrue. We were not involved in U Bo Bo Min Theik's murder," AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha told The Irrawaddy.

The recently promoted Rakhine State government director was found dead with multiple stab wounds to the chest in Rakhine's Phonnagyun Township.

Earlier, U Bo Bo Min Theik had been summoned for questioning over a police crackdown on a Jan. 16 protest there that left seven civilians dead.

He was serving as an official in Mrauk-U at the time of the protest, which was sparked by the government's decision to ban events marking the anniversary of the fall of the Arakan kingdom some 200 years ago. A few days after the protest and crackdown, he was transferred to Sittwe, the state capital, over concerns for his safety.

On Jan. 31, police arrested four suspects in U Bo Bo Min Theik's murder. U Kyaw Myint and his son Ko Min Than Htay, wife Daw Kyi Kyi Win and daughter-in-law Ma Khin Zar Hlaing were arrested in Yangon and cases were opened against them for homicide, abetting and causing grievous harm.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement released Monday it had learned that the AA assassinated U Bo Bo Min Theik in retaliation for his role in blocking the anniversary commemoration.

It said U Kyaw Myint confessed to conspiring to kill U Bo Bo Min Theik with AA recruiter Ko Latt and three others — Sapaing, Zaw Myo Aung and Myo Chit Aung.

The statement also alleges that U Kyaw Myint and his son had been trafficking illicit drugs from Shan State to Rakhine for several years. It said they smuggled 4.4 million methamphetamine pills into Rakhine's Maungdaw District in 2016 and 2017 at a profit of almost 400 million kyats ($299,000) and confessed to buying M-16 assault rifles, pistols and ammunition for the AA. It added that U Kyaw Myint had kept one of the pistols.

AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha described the government's statement as an attempt to frame the organization.

"The people named [in the statement] have no connection with us. Another thing that is completely wrong is the type of firearm mentioned. The Arakan Army doesn't use M-16s. That is totally wrong," he added.

The ministry adds in the statement that it will arrest and prosecute all conspirators.

"This is a complex case and it's hard to say who is responsible. But the AA doesn't need to do something like this; those who oppose injustice and oppression will do it," U Khaing Thukha said.

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Rakhine State to Send Lawsuit Against Associated Press to Union Govt

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 03:22 AM PST

The Rakhine State government has submitted to the Attorney General of the Union a plan to sue The Associated Press over its reports claiming the existence of mass graves near Gutar Pyin village in Rakhine's Buthidaung Township.

At a meeting on Feb. 5, Rakhine government ministers agreed with remarks made by the state attorney general that the AP news report affected not only Rakhine State, but also the entire Union.

"I reported to the state government that the case has negative impacts not only on Rakhine State but also on the entire Union. They agreed with me. So we submitted the plan to the attorney general of the Union," Rakhine attorney general U Kyaw Hla Tun told the Irrawaddy.

The plan was submitted on Feb. 5, and Law Officer U Kyaw Maung from the Rakhine State Attorney General's Office has been tasked with working out the necessary legal procedures, according to U Kyaw Hla Tun.

On Feb. 1, the AP reported that hundreds of bodies had been found in five mass graves near Gutar Pyin village in Buthidaung, Rakhine State. It said the bodies had been burned with acid in an apparent attempt to destroy them.

The Union government ordered the Rakhine State government to investigate the claims.

The state government sent an investigation team led by the Buthidaung Township administrator to the site, but the team found the claims to be untrue, according to a statement released by the Union government on the evening of Feb. 2.

The AP responded to The Irrawaddy's request for comment that it stood by its reporting.

Translated from Burmese by Myint Win Thein.

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Six Villagers Detained by Mrauk-U Authorities

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 03:12 AM PST

YANGON — Seven locals from Tain Nyo village in northern Rakhine State's Mrauk-U Township were summoned by authorities for questioning on Saturday and only one person had been released as of Wednesday, according to local sources.

Arakanese lawmaker U Tun Thar Sein of Mrauk-U constituency (1) told The Irrawaddy that police brought six men and one woman from Tain Nyo village—situated at least 10 miles from town, with a population of some 3,800—in for questioning.

He told The Irrawaddy over the phone on Wednesday that four villagers had been arrested and were in Mrauk-U police custody and two others were being held at the government administrative office. The reason for their detention is unclear. Speculation is that it is related to the recent murder of former Mrauk-U official Bo Bo Min Theik or for arms possession.

According to police procedure, cops are not to detain ordinary residents for more than 24 hours without charging them.

This week, police searched homes in Tain Nyo village and arrested former village administrator U Kyaw Myint and his son Min Than Htay in Yangon in connection with the murder of Bo Bo Min Theik.

Bo Bo Min Theik was stabbed to death on Jan. 30 in Rakhine's Ponnagyun Township while returning to state capital Sittwe from Mrauk-U, where he had been summoned for questioning over a police crackdown on a Jan. 16 protest there that left seven civilians dead.

Following the police crackdown in Mrauk-U, the Arakan Army (AA) issued a statement threatening to take "serious retaliatory measured against the culprits" including Rakhine State government officials and members of security forces involved in the killings.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Feb. 5 accused the AA of the murder of Bo Bo Min Theik. AA spokesman U Khine Thu Kha denied that AA soldiers were involved on Tuesday and pointed out that its soldiers did not use M-16 assault rifles, as a government announcement had stated in connection with the crime. He criticized the police of trying to deliberately tarnish the AA's reputation.

The Irrawaddy phoned the Mrauk-U district police official on Tuesday in order to clarify the reason for the detention of seven villagers, but he declined to answer.

A schoolteacher from Mrauk-U said police have searched nearby villages since the police crackdown and that locals were frightened.

To look into the Mrauk-U crackdown, the Rakhine State Parliament established a nine-member investigation commission last month. It was expected to start the inquiry process on Feb. 3 but has been delayed due to regional instability.

U Tun Thar Sein said that regional legislators were holding legal consultations with law experts in order to avoid reaching beyond parliamentarians' legislative power in carrying out the investigation. The team hopes to collaborate with various government departments in Mrauk-U, he added.

The post Six Villagers Detained by Mrauk-U Authorities appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

LGBT Rights Advocates Encourage Sexual Minorities To Come Out

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 12:27 AM PST

YANGON — With a lack of accessible role models in Myanmar for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth to look up to and identify with, rights advocates stressed the need to empower sexual minorities to feel confident to come out and accept their gender identities.

Greater LGBT representation in different local contexts plays a crucial role in empowering community members and affirming that their sexuality is not a mistake, the advocates said.

When there are more LGBT people of different backgrounds coming out, there will be more diverse LGBT faces in society, which will eventually lead to less prejudice against them, said Hla Myat Tun, program director of the LGBT rights organization Colors Rainbow.

"Coming out helps LGBT individuals to have more self-esteem and visibility," he said.

In the meantime, he recognized the need for a safe environment where there is no discrimination, and emotional support for the community members in order to come out and not face social rejection.

Myanmar's biggest LGBT event &Proud Film Festival returned to Yangon for its fourth edition in the last week of January at the city's Thakin Mya Park, for its first public viewing. It was again celebrated at the French Institute from Feb. 1 through Sunday.

The six-day festival included films from Asian countries such as Taiwan, Philippines, Korea and Taiwan, human libraries where LGBT people shared their life stories with festival audiences, photo exhibitions that explored the struggles of LGBT members, drag Olympics and performances, an LGBT choir, and panel discussions. It also tackled the importance of coming out and its impact on not only the well-being and happiness of LGBT people but also the attitude of others toward them.

Seeing tens of thousands of both LGBT and non-LGBT people enjoy the event comfortably and without having to worry about being intimidated by anyone, organizers were inspired to continue creating this safe environment with additional activities in the future, the festival's co-director and Colors Rainbow's Hla Myat Tun said.

The festival crowd made LGBT members feel proud of their sexual orientation and helped them realize they were not alone or invisible, he added.

"[The event] was held for a limited time in a limited space," he said. "They should be entitled to a safe environment every day no matter where they are in this country," he explained, highlighting that it is the ultimate goal of LGBT rights movement.

Human rights trainer and lesbian filmmaker Hnin Pa Pa Soe screened a short video called "It Gets Better" at the festival, which told the coming out stories of four LGBT individuals in an effort to encourage other LGBT members to accept their gender identities.

"When people are able to accept who they really are, they feel no restraint in doing what they want and are able to push boundaries," she said.

She was also finally able to screen her award-winning documentary "A Simple Love Story" for the public at the festival. Her film won the best documentary film prize at last year's Wathann Film Festival, which showcases local independent film. Refusing to bow to the Censorship Board's demand to change the film's ending line—"Does love recognize 'man', 'woman', 'tomboy' or 'shemale'?" she decided not to show it at Wathann.

Despite the effort of LGBT rights advocacy groups, Section 377 of the colonial-era Penal Code that criminalizes “unnatural” sex and carries life imprisonment has yet to be abolished in Myanmar. Although it is rarely enforced, it has been used to target and harass LGBT people.

According to Aung Myo Min, an openly gay activist and executive director at human rights advocacy organization Equality Myanmar, there is still a huge social stigma surrounding homosexuality in the country and no local politician or legislator is promoting the issue.

If there were lawmakers who recognized the rights of LGBT people or capable LGBT lawmakers in Parliament, the issue would be destigmatized more quickly, he explained. He also stressed the role of civil society organizations in building the capacity of LGBT individuals so that the public would recognize their abilities regardless of their gender identities.

"At the same time, the [LGBT] issue must be accepted among the public," U Aung Myo Min said.

The fact that the local government allowed &Proud organizers to use a public space for the celebration was a big step forward in an effort for social acceptance, which he said was the "start of attitude change" at an administrative level.

It engaged with more people, including non-LGBT people, than in previous years, and created an opportunity for people to understand different gender identities, he said.

"If there is more dialogue [among the public,] they will become more open-minded."

Tin Htet Paing is a freelance journalist and photographer based in Yangon. She previously worked at The Irrawaddy as a reporter for three years.

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Farmers Lose Lengthy Court Battle Against Thai, Govt Mine

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 12:06 AM PST

NAYPYITAW — Nine farmers from Tenasserim Region's Dawei Township have lost their lawsuit against state-owned Mining Enterprise 2 and Thailand's Myanmar Pongpipat Co. asking for 300 million kyats ($227,000) in damages.

A nine-member appeals board at the Supreme Court of Myanmar in Naypyitaw rejected the suit in a final ruling on Monday because it had failed to comply with the Limitation Act, said their lawyer U Maung Maung Soe.

The act imposes various time limits on court cases.

"The Supreme Court of Myanmar rejected the appeal of the case against Heinda mine and there is no higher court to go to. I am sad for the local farmers," U Maung Maung Soe said.

The lawsuit was first filed with the Dawei District Court in 2012 by locals who blamed years of flooding, crop damage and property losses on the soil the companies were dumping into the Myaung Pyo Creek.

After the district court ruled in favor of the companies, the Tenasserim Division Appeals Court overturned the decision, prompting the defendants to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court then overturned the decisions of the division court in June 2016, acquitting the defendants and requiring them only to pay all legal expenses. Dissatisfied, the plaintiffs took their case to a special two-member appeals board at the Supreme Court, which sent it to a nine-member board for a final decision.

In 2012, ethnic Dawei villagers told The Irrawaddy that their properties were being damaged by rising levels of wastewater ever since Myanmar Pongpipat took over the Heinda mine.  They said the company had filled the Myaung Pyo Creek with waste and sediment from the mine, causing more flooding that was damaging their homes, farms and water supplies.

The mine sits about 100 km east of Dawei near the Myitta sub-township next to an area linking the Dawei deep sea port and Kanchanaburi in Thailand.

The Thai company signed a production-sharing deal with Mining Enterprise 2 in 1999 to extract tin and tungsten from a 2,000-acre area and reportedly holds rights to 65 percent of produced, which is exported to Thailand and Singapore for processing. Mining Enterprise 2 holds the remaining rights to the mine

The Irrawaddy tried to meet with Myanmar Pongpipat officials at the mine in 2012, but they refused to speak without the government's permission and told the reporters to leave.

Myanmar Pongpipat was granted permission to operate the mine for a 10-year term in 1999 and continues to operate it today despite the negative impacts on the environment and public health.

The mine sits in an area controlled by the Karen National Union, which has ordered Myanmar Pongpipat to halt its mining operations because of the harm it was doing locals, but to no avail.

Myaung Pyo village, downstream from the mine, was founded in the early 1980s and is home to more than 500 ethnic Dawei. Most are farmers and ranchers, though a few mine for lead.

Translated from Burmese by Myint Win Thein.

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Scale, Complexity of Terror Threat to Southeast Asia Growing: ASEAN

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 09:13 PM PST

SINGAPORE — The terrorist threat facing Southeast Asia is growing as foreign fighters return to the region, Southeast Asian defense ministers said in a joint statement on Tuesday in which they pledged to improve cooperation to tackle militancy.

Six Southeast Asian nations launched an intelligence pact last month aimed at combating Islamist militants and improving co-operation on security threats, overcoming what analysts described as a high level of distrust. They also pledged to increase cooperation in July.

"We, the defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), note with grave concern the rise of terrorism in our region, perpetrated by individuals and groups with increasingly sophisticated and deadly tactics and weapons," they said at the conclusion of their two-day meeting in Singapore.

"The scale and complexity of the terrorist threat faced by our region continues to grow with the influx of returning foreign terrorist fighters and cross border movement of terrorists."

The ministers said they would also improve cooperation with external partners.

The push for further regional cooperation comes after insurgents aligned to Islamic State laid siege to the southern Philippine city of Marawi last year.

That battle sparked alarm that as Islamic State suffered reversals in Iraq and Syria, it was seeking to create a stronghold in Southeast Asia, buttressed by fighters returning from the Middle East.

ASEAN consists of Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, and mostly Muslim Malaysia alongside Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Singapore, ranked one of the safest countries in the world, has also been stepping up efforts to deter terrorism in recent years.

 

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At Least Four Killed, 145 Missing After Quake Rocks Taiwan

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 08:55 PM PST

HUALIEN, Taiwan — Rescuers combed through the rubble of collapsed buildings on Wednesday, some using their hands as they searched for about 145 people missing after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near the popular Taiwanese tourist city of Hualien overnight.

At least four people were killed and 225 injured in the quake that hit near the coastal city just before midnight on Tuesday, officials said. The latest figures from government data indicated 145 people were missing.

Many of those were believed to be still trapped inside buildings, including a military hospital, after the quake hit about 22 km northeast of Hualien on Taiwan's east coast.

Aftershocks with a magnitude of at least 5.0 could rock the island in the next two weeks, the government said. Japanese, Czech and mainland Chinese nationals were among the injured.

Residents waited and watched anxiously as emergency workers dressed in fluorescent orange and red suits and wearing helmets searched for residents trapped in apartment blocks.

Hualien is home to about 100,000 people. Its streets were buckled by the force of the quake, with around 40,000 homes left without water and around 1,900 without power.

Emergency workers surrounded a damaged military hospital in the area. Windows had collapsed and the building was wedged into the ground at a 40-degree angle.

Rescuers worked their way around and through the building while residents looked on from behind cordoned-off roads.

"We were still open when it happened," said Lin Ching-wen, who operates a restaurant near the military hospital.

"I grabbed my wife and children and we ran out and tried to rescue people," he said.

A Reuters video showed large cracks in the road, while police and emergency services tried to help anxious people roaming the streets.

President Tsai Ing-wen went to the scene of the quake early on Wednesday to help direct rescue operations.

"The president has asked the cabinet and related ministries to immediately launch the 'disaster mechanism' and to work at the fastest rate on disaster relief work," Tsai's office said in a statement.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's largest contract chipmaker and major Apple supplier, said initial assessments indicated no impact from the earthquake.

Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers part of its territory, lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck nearby on Sunday.

More than 100 were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, and some Taiwanese remain scarred by a 7.6 magnitude quake that was felt across the island and killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.

The post At Least Four Killed, 145 Missing After Quake Rocks Taiwan appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Policeman Who Arrested Reuters Reporters Tells Court He Burned His Notes

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 08:47 PM PST

YANGON — A Myanmar police officer who was part of the team that arrested two Reuters journalists in December told a court on Tuesday that he had burned the notes he made at the time, but gave no reason why he had done so.

Police Second Lieutenant Tin Htwe Oo was the latest prosecution witness to give evidence at the Insein district court in Yangon, which will decide whether reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, should be charged under Myanmar's colonial-era Official Secrets Act.

Tin Htwe Oo read from a notebook to recount details of the arrest, which he said was based on notes written at the time. Under cross-examination by the defense, he said he had burned his original notes, but had not been instructed to do so.

"Only the police will know the reason for that," defense lawyer Than Zaw Aung told reporters after the hearing.

Dozens of reporters and diplomats were present when the Reuters journalists were brought in handcuffs from prison to the crowded courtroom.

They had worked on Reuters coverage of a crisis in Rakhine State, where an army crackdown on insurgents since the end of August has triggered the flight of 688,000 Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh, according to the United Nations.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 after they had been invited to meet police officers over dinner in Yangon. They have told relatives they were arrested almost immediately after being handed some documents at a restaurant by two officers they had not met before.

Tin Htwe Oo made no reference to the restaurant meeting, saying police stopped the two reporters as they walked along a road. He said after stopping them, police discovered secret documents relating to the Rakhine conflict.

The arresting officers made an inventory of around 20 items in their possession – including their cell phone numbers and details of ATM and library cards – on the spot within 10-15 minutes, he said.

Defense lawyer Than Zaw Aung said he had asked Tin Htwe Oo repeatedly in cross-examination how they had been able to do this so quickly, but said he did not give a clear response.

"They were saying that it only took 10 to 15 minutes but items found from the reporters were phones and cards and it will take around 30 minutes to record those," Than Zaw Aung said.

Calls for Release

At the last court hearing on Thursday, another prosecution witness, Police Major Min Thant, agreed during cross-examination by the defense that the information in documents that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were holding in their hands at the time of their arrest had already been published in newspaper reports.

"Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are journalists who perform a crucial role in shedding light on issues of global interest," Reuters said in a statement after the proceedings ended for the day.

"We believe that the ongoing court proceedings will demonstrate their innocence and they will be able to return to their jobs reporting on events in Myanmar. We are grateful for the expressions of support for Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and continue to call for their prompt release."

The two reporters, whose application for bail was declined at the last hearing, have now been in detention for eight weeks, first in police custody and then in Yangon's notorious Insein prison.

"We feel there's no justice," Wa Lone shouted as he and Kyaw Soe Oo were led to a police truck after the hearing. "The testimonies from the police officers are far from the truth."

Spokesmen for the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Yangon police chief were not immediately available for comment. In the past they have declined to comment on a case that is before the courts.

The Official Secrets Act dates back to 1923 – when Myanmar, then known as Burma, was under British rule – and carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

The two journalists have been accused under Section 3.1 (c) of the act, which covers entering prohibited places, and taking images or obtaining secret official documents that "might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy."

Government officials from some of the world's major nations, including the United States, Britain and Canada, as well as top UN officials, have called for the reporters to be freed.

The date of the next hearing was set for Feb. 14.

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Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The Irrawaddy Magazine

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Govt Preps Policy to Cope with Falling Population Growth

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 04:56 AM PST

YANGON — Myanmar will develop and implement a national population policy in a bid to manage the country's aging populace and declining growth rate, Minister of Labor, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe said on Monday.

The minister said the country needed a plan to prepare for the consequences of the demographic changes. He was replying to a question from Lower House lawmaker U San Shwe Win, Irrawaddy Region (Yegyi Township), about whether the government had plans to adopt a population policy.

U San Shwe Win said Myanmar's population will eventually start shrinking according to the results of the last national census in 2014, the country's first since 1983.

Until preliminary results from the 2014 census were released that August, the country's official population had long stood at about 60 million. However, the census put the number at just 51.4 million, nearly 17 percent less.

According to successive reports the ministry has released based on the 2014 census, the country's population growth rate has been declining steadily in recent years and is now among the lowest in Southeast Asia. They say a falling crude birth rate, measuring live births, was the main reason for the decline and predict a population of 65 million by 2050.

Yet Myanmar still maintains a relatively high fertility rate of 2.5 births per woman compared to its neighbors in the region.

U Thein Swe said the ministry would use the reports to draft the national population policy, taking into consideration the country's population growth rate, life expectancy, birth rate, mortality rate and population distribution.

He added that the ministry would also consider the country's optimum population size based on its natural resources, economy, geography, culture and military needs.

The first step will be to form a National Population and Development Commission.

"We have already asked the union government, and if it is allowed to be formed the commission will lead the process of drafting the population policy in collaboration with other ministries," U Thein Swe said.

According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which provided technical and financial support for the 2014 census project, many countries are moving away from general population policies because the demographic data a national census provides is so vast and broad. It says sector-specific policies are proving more useful.

The UNFPA country office said the 2014 census results highlighted many of the priorities the government should be addressing to improve people's quality of life including inequalities in education and access to health care, high levels of childhood and maternal mortality, access to safe water and sanitation, and the need for more housing. It stressed the value of developing sector-specific plans to tackle them.

For example, according to the census reports, 2,800 women die each year from mostly preventable causes related to childbirth and pregnancy; the number of people 60 and older will almost triple in the next 30 years; and half a million young people cannot read or write primarily because of low school attendance rates.

"Young people represent a huge source of potential for Myanmar's development. Government policy needs to focus on improving the standard of education, as well as on increasing school attendance and youth literacy," said UNFPA country representative Janet Jackson.

At the same time, she urged the government to pay attention to the country's growing elderly population and its needs.

She said Myanmar could also significantly bring down its maternal mortality rate if women were given the choice to give birth to fewer children with the help of better family planning.

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KIA Attacks Tatmadaw Outposts in Mogaung, Myitkyina

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 04:43 AM PST

The Kachin Independence Army has launched attacks on Myanmar Army (Tatmadaw) outposts in Mogaung and Myitkyina townships in Kachin State in an operation aimed at disrupting the latter's ongoing offensive against it, a spokesman for the armed group said.

"They attacked the headquarters of [KIA] Battalion 11, so we have launched counterattacks to slow their operation. They are conducting an offensive, so we have had to take up defensive positions," KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy.

In a statement on Feb. 3, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services accused the KIA of abandoning peace efforts by attacking Tatmadaw headquarters, posts and patrols in Myitkyina and Mogaung townships with heavy and light weapons on Jan. 31 and Feb. 3.

The KIA said it had attacked minor Tatmadaw outposts in an attempt to reduce the intensity of the Tatmadaw's offensives against it. The armed group denied attacking Tatmadaw command centers.

"We did not attack Mogaung and Myitkyina headquarters. We attacked only frontline posts in areas controlled by [the Tatmadaw] in the two townships," Col. Naw Bu said.

Fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and the KIA in Sumprabum and Tanai townships in January. A number of local residents were killed or injured and many were forced to flee their homes.

"Clashes will continue to erupt until [a lasting] peace cannot be restored in the state," Kachin State Chief Minister Dr. Khet Aung said.

The fighting in Tanai trapped about 2,000 local residents in the conflict zone. More than 700 people in Sumprabum have been forced to take refuge in the jungle, according to a rescue committee for internally displaced persons.

The post KIA Attacks Tatmadaw Outposts in Mogaung, Myitkyina appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Unchecked Conflict Could Lead to Disintegration of Rakhine State, Lawmaker Warns 

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 04:07 AM PST

NAYPYITAW — Violent conflicts stemming from racial and religious prejudice in northern Rakhine could result in the disintegration of the western state, U Tin Aye, a Lower House lawmaker from the Union Solidarity and Development Party, warned the Lower House on Monday.

"Violent conflicts stemming from racial and religious prejudice have been going on in Rakhine State for a long time. If the terrorist acts of Bengalis — or self-identifying Rohingyas — in Rakhine cannot be checked in their early stages and are allowed to spread like a cancer, Rakhine State could disintegrate,” said U Tin Aye, a former major-general.

The previous U Thein Sein government used the term 'Bengali' to refer to the Rohingya, as does military chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing.

U Tin Aye made the remarks while asking the government to clarify how it planned to communicate to the people of Myanmar and the international community that there is no such ethnic group as the Rohingya in Myanmar.

"This could lead to disintegration or even result in a failed state. If they dominate our country, we would be forced to leave. I raise the question because I am worried about this," the Lower House representative from Matman Township in Shan State told reporters after the session.

U Tin Aye retired from the army with the rank of major-general in 2015. In the general election that year he ran successfully as an independent candidate for the Lower House seat representing Matman Township near the Wa Self-administered Zone in Shan State (East). He later joined the USDP.

He said the incumbent government had been silent on the existence of the Rohingya as an ethnic group in Myanmar, despite frequent statements from former President U Thein Sein and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the Defense Services, that there had never been such an ethnic group as Rohingya in Myanmar. He said it was unacceptable to create a new ethnic group for political reasons.

"Without an explicit denial of the existence of the Rohingya as an ethnic group in Myanmar, it would be very difficult for our country to resist the pressure of powerful organizations like the UN and the OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation], as silence is an act of complicity," he told the Lower House session.

Union Minister for Labor, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe replied that the government was handling the issue of Rakhine State in the long-term interests of all ethnic groups in Myanmar through farsightedness and correct measures.

"The government, with an emphasis on wisdom and rationality, has been handling the situation in accordance with laws, rules and regulations in a dignified manner without resorting to emotion," U Thein Swe said.

He said the term 'Rohingya' was not found in any population census, adding that it was well known that heads of state had refrained from using it. Myanmar diplomats around the world had also avoided using such terminology and had even protested when representatives from the international community used the word at official meetings, he said.

The government currently recognizes 135 ethnic groups, but discussions are under way to expand this list to reflect the population census conducted in 2014.

U Maung Maung Soe, an observer of Rakhine issues, said the state's problems could not be solved simply by issuing a statement, adding they should be handled in a way acceptable to the international community based on the assessments of experts. Although the government was considering granting citizenship to 'Bengalis' to solve the Rakhine issue, he said, the Rohingya were demanding recognition and full rights as an ethnic group. He pointed out that it was first necessary to properly address the problem.

Making "forceful demands on Rakhine issues will lead to crises in the future," U Maung Maung Soe said. "If they say they belong to the place and they have the right to live there and the international community thinks this is true, there will be an enormous crisis in Rakhine State," he said.

Lawmaker U Tin Aye pointed out during the Lower House session that UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Yanghee Lee said in 2016 that Rohingya had the right to self-identification in accordance with the International Human Rights Law approved by the international community. She urged Myanmar to recognize them as an ethnic group.

"It cannot be denied that international pressure cannot be ignored in solving the issues in Rakhine State, but [the government] should be careful not to make the mistake of paying too much attention to this pressure. The situation is very sensitive and will be aggravated if it is not handled properly, due to its sensitivity," he said.

According to international organizations and news reports, more than 600,000 refugees have crossed the border into Bangladesh since violent attacks by Arakan Rohingya State Army militants against security officials on Aug. 25 prompted a military crackdown. Myanmar is preparing to repatriate the refugees, but none has returned so far.

The post Unchecked Conflict Could Lead to Disintegration of Rakhine State, Lawmaker Warns  appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

KIO Marks Kachin Revolution Day

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 03:54 AM PST

The current Panglong peace conference caters to the Myanmar Army and not ethnic people's wishes, said the new chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Gen N'Ban La, the KIO chairman, spoke at the 58th anniversary of Kachin Revolution Day on Monday to more than 1,000 ceremony attendees.

"Our elders were involved in writing the Panglong Agreement. But this agreement has been forgotten. We need to be careful how we handle this going forward," said Gen N'Ban La.

The current Panglong conference is not how ethnic people want it to be, he added.

The KIO mark their revolution day on Feb. 5, the day that they began a rebellion against the Myanmar government in 1961. During the ceremony, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) honored men who had served in the military for more than 10 years with certificates and medals.

Kachin State is rich with natural resources including jade, gold and amber. But there has been unrest in the region since a 17-year ceasefire agreement broke down in 2011. The Myanmar Army has carried out ongoing attacks in the area and seized land.

Fighting recently escalated when the Myanmar Army launched military offensives in the mining areas in Tanai and other KIA-controlled areas.  Thousands of people have been blocked from leaving the area, pending military checks.

Gen N'Ban La said in his speech that the KIO has tried to solve political conflict through peaceful dialogue. The organization does not believe the conflict can be solved through fighting, he added.

The KIA does not hate Bamar people; but it attacks a group of people who want to tighten their grip on power in the country, he said.

Ethnic Kachin people need to cooperate with Bamar people in order to create a federal system. They also need to respect other ethnicities that live in Kachin, he added.

The Myanmar government planned to hold the third Panglong peace conference this month in Naypyitaw, but the date has not yet been set after being pushed back.

The KIO will attend the conference when it is based on a federal principle that allows all ethnic people and political parties to participate, he said.

The KIO is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which has not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). The KIO says that it will join when all members of the FPNCC can participate in political dialogue. For now, the Myanmar Army has not agreed to let the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army to participate in the peace conference.

The post KIO Marks Kachin Revolution Day appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Swiss Punk Band Brings the Noise to Yangon at JAM It

Posted: 06 Feb 2018 01:07 AM PST

Swiss Punk Band Überyou played Myanmar for the first time on Saturday on their Southeast Asian tour in collaboration with JAM it, a regular concert series featuring local punk, indie rock and hip-hop artists.

The concert was supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Myanmar and held at Pouk Kan Food Court in the People's Park compound.

"I liked every band tonight. They nailed it," said audience member Banyar Wunna Zaw, 25.

The show started at 7 p.m., two hours later than announced, but the young audience didn't seem to mind.

Many in the audience sported all black, and there were plenty of mohawks in the crowd. Some wore Thanakha, because the local Rebel Riots punk band wears it while they perform.

The opening band was Mooni, an indie/pop rock band with a female vocalist. The music didn't mobilize the crowd but they performed full out.

Tu & The Loft band performed last Saturday night at JAM it. / Chanson

They were followed by indie rock band Tu & the Loft. Tu's vocals filled the area in front of the stage and the crowd started to follow along with her melodies. The group performed a few songs including a tribute to Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries who recently died.

After that, The Reasonabilists performed and the crowd got livelier. They performed their tune Flowerbed and then a Burmese song called Sway.

Vocal and guitarist Kyaw Kyaw from Rebel Riots. / Chanson

Well-known band General Tiger Gun was the last indie rock band to perform for the night, and some in the audience were waiting for them to play. Many in the audience sang along to their lyrics, which are easy to remember.

As it got dark, it was time to make some noise. The audience was ready to headbang and Rebel Riots took the stage with loud drums and fast guitar riffs. The crowd formed mosh pits and lead vocalist Kyaw Kyaw pulled off a stage dive.

Stage dive during the Rebel Riots performance. / Chanson

No U Turn took the stage and the energy at the concert reached a peak, while a small altercation broke out in the crowd, but was quickly resolved by security.

Swiss Punk Band Überyou onstage./Chan Son/ The Irrawaddy

This was followed by Wareru, a well-known hip-hop artist and the only one to perform at this show.

Unfortunately, Never Reverse didn't appear, despite being scheduled. Überyou was the last to take the stage, in a strong performance in front of an unfamiliar audience. They performed five songs and finished the concert around 10 p.m. Myanmar was the first stop on their tour, which will continue in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

It was a night of great acts. Audiences were engaged despite some unknown acts and a mediocre sound system. This was the first JAM it of 2018, with another show scheduled Feb. 10 in Mandalay. All of the shows in the series can be found on the Facebook page JAM it.

The post Swiss Punk Band Brings the Noise to Yangon at JAM It appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Police Accuse Arakan Army of Murder of Former Mrauk-U Official

Posted: 05 Feb 2018 11:20 PM PST

YANGON — The Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday accused the Arakan Army (AA) of the Jan. 30 murder of a former township official in Rakhine State in retaliation for his role in blocking events to mark the anniversary of the fall of the Arakan kingdom some 200 years ago.

Bo Bo Min Theik, a former official of Mrauk-U Township, was stabbed to death in Rakhine's Ponnagyun Township while returning to the state capital Sittwe from Mrauk-U, where he had been summoned for questioning over a police crackdown on a Jan. 16 protest there that left seven civilians dead. He was serving in Mrauk-U at the time of the protest, which was sparked by the government's decision to block the anniversary events, but transferred to Sittwe a few days later over concern for his safety.

On Jan. 31, police arrested four suspect — U Kyaw Myint and his son Ko Min Than Htay, wife Daw Kyi Kyi Win, and daughter-in-law Ma Khin Zar Hlaing — in Yangon and opened a case against them for homicide, abetting and causing grievous harm.

Police were led to the family by the number plate on the car in which Bo Bo Min Theik's body was found. They say the plate had previously been on a car belonging to U Kyaw Myint, a former administrator of Rakhine State's Tain Nyo village. Two vehicles belonging to the family and 75 million kyats ($56,476) were also confiscated.

In a statement released late Monday, the Home Affairs Ministry said U Kyaw Myint had confessed to conspiring in the official's murder. It said he had discussed plans to kill Bo Bo Min Theik with AA recruiter Ko Latt and three others — Sapaing, Zaw Myo Aung and Myo Chit Aung — on Jan. 25 in retaliation for the blocked anniversary events.

The next day, U Kyaw Myint called Bo Bo Min Theik, whom he had known for many years, to offer him a ride from Mrauk-U back to Sittwe. Bo Bo Min Theik accepted. On Jan. 27, however, U Kyaw Myint called him back to say he would be travelling to Yangon the next day and that Myo Chit Aung would drive him to Sittwe instead. Sapaing and Zaw Myo would join them to help carry his belongings, including his luggage and documents.

While U Kyaw Myint was driving to Yangon with his wife, Ko Latt reportedly called to tell him the car they would be using had no number plate. U Kyaw Myint suggested they use the plate on an unregistered car he owned in Tain Nyo village, which they did.

On Jan. 30, as Bo Bo Min Theik was heading back to Sittwe with the three men, they tried to seize his mobile phone and the vehicle overturned in the ensuing struggle. According to the ministry statement, Sapaing and Zaw Myo Aung then stabbed Bo Bo Min Theik to death.

The three men remain at large.

The statement also said that U Kyaw Myint and his son had been moving illicit drugs from Shan State to Rakhine for several years. It said they smuggled 4.4 million methamphetamine pills into Rakhine's Maungdaw District in 2016 and 2017 at a profit of almost 400 million kyats ($299,000) and confessed to buying M-16 assault rifle and pistols and several magazines and rounds to supply the AA. It added that U Kyaw Myint had kept one of the pistols.

When The Irrawaddy visited the police station Monday evening in Thanlyin Township, where U Kyaw Myint and his wife and daughter-in-law were arrested at a local Arakanese Buddhist nunnery, a police constable confirmed that a case had been opened against the father and son for the unlawful possession of a handgun.

A 9mm pistol seized by police at a Yangon nunnery on Wednesday. / Soe Naing Oo / Facebook

The constable, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case had not yet reached court, said police found the Italian-made 9mm pistol on Feb. 1 at the nunnery, where the suspects said they had hidden it. He said the wife and daughter-in-law had been released.

Residents of the nunnery, on the outskirts of Thamalone village, told The Irrawaddy that authorities had instructed them not to speak to journalists. One of the nuns, who asked to remain anonymous, said U Kyaw Myint arrived at the nunnery on Jan. 30 with his wife and daughter-in-law at about 3 p.m. and that several dozen police raided the facility a few hours later.

"We were very scared of them because we had never experienced something like that before," she said.

On Friday, Rakhine State Secretary U Tin Maung Swe said the government provides civil servants with a car but Bo Bo Min Theik had decided to accept a ride from his friend.

"Mrauk-U is not a war-torn zone like Maungdaw region and it was his personal choice to take the ride," he said.

AA officials could not be reached for comment on the group's alleged involvement in the murder.

Following the police crackdown in Mrauk-U, the AA issued a statement threatening to take "serious retaliatory measures against the culprits" including Rakhine State government officials and members of the security forces involved in the killings.

The post Police Accuse Arakan Army of Murder of Former Mrauk-U Official appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week

Posted: 05 Feb 2018 08:33 PM PST

Myanmar National Symphony Orchestra | Feb. 9

The Myanmar National Symphony Orchestra, as part of its Concerts 2018 program, will perform accompanied by Japanese musicians.

Feb. 9, 6.30 p.m. National Theatre, Myoma Kyaung Street. Free admission.

Yangon Waterboom Night Market Show | Feb. 10-14

Celebrated vocalists and dance troupes will perform songs and Chinese dragon dances.

Feb. 10-14. Yangon Waterboom Night Market, Yamona Road, Dawbon Tsp.

Inspiring Myanmar Arts & Crafts Show | Feb. 11-13

This show organized by Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust will feature exhibition booths set up by ethnic groups, performances of traditional dances, and traditional handicrafts and food.

Feb. 11-13. Seinn Lann So Pyay Garden, Inya Road. Free admission.

Benefit for Blind Violin Students | Feb. 8

The Concert in Aid of the Violin Study Program for Blind Children will support music education for blind children from the poorest sectors of society who attend the Kyeemindine School for the Blind in Yangon. The program uses music to offer educational opportunities to children, and as a tool for building their skills and confidence, and to create profile-raising opportunities for the children and the school.

Feb. 8, 7 p.m. Yangon Gallery, People's Park.

Myanmar International Furniture Expo | Feb. 8-11

Furniture will be sold at discounted prices through a lucky draw system.

Feb. 8-11. Tatmadaw Hall, U Wisara Road.

Guitar Solo Contest | Feb. 12

Visitors will have a chance to enjoy the contestants' original music.

Feb. 12. Hledan Centre, Pyay Road.

Water Color 2018 Art Exhibition | Feb. 10-14

Works by six foreign and local water-color artists will be on display.

Feb. 10-14. Gallery 65, Yawmingyi Street

Night Memo Art Exhibition | Feb. 9-11

Artist Lu Maw Han's night-themed paintings will be on display.

Feb. 9-11. Studio Square, Naha Bandoola Park Road, Kyaiktada Tsp.

Beauty of Myanmar Art Exhibition | Feb. 6-10

Artist Lapyae's works draw on Myanmar traditions and culture.

Feb. 6-10. Tawwin Gallery, Bogyoke Market.

The Third Arrow Art Exhibition | Feb. 10-14

Paintings in various media by a number of artists will be on display at this show organized by Art Hobbyists Community.

Feb. 10-14. Moon Art Gallery, 35th Street, Kyauktada Tsp.

The post Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Court Hands Vietnam Oil Official Another Life Sentence for Corruption

Posted: 05 Feb 2018 08:15 PM PST

HANOI — A high-profile former Vietnamese oil executive was sentenced to life in jail for embezzlement on Monday, two weeks after was also imprisoned for life on similar charges in a separate case, state media reported.

Trinh Xuan Thanh, a former official whom Germany said was kidnapped by Vietnamese agents in a Berlin park in scenes reminiscent of the Cold War, was jailed for life for embezzling assets form Petroleum Power Property JSC (PV Power Land), the state-run Voice of Vietnam news website reported.

Thanh was a former chairman of PetroVietnam Construction. Both companies are units of Vietnam's state oil and gas group PetroVietnam, among the biggest firms in the Southeast Asian nation.

PetroVietnam is at the heart of Vietnam's widespread corruption crackdown initiated by the ruling Communist Party.

Thanh was also sentenced to life in prison two weeks ago for violating state regulations and embezzlement in another corruption case that also involved Dinh La Thang, Vietnam’s highest-ranking politician charged in decades and also a former PetroVietnam chairman. Thang was jailed for 13 years.

Judges in the Hanoi court also sentenced another energy official, Dinh Manh Thang, to nine years in jail for embezzlement. He is Dinh La Thang’s brother.

Six others were also sentenced to jail terms of between 10 years and life, Voice of Vietnam reported.

The post Court Hands Vietnam Oil Official Another Life Sentence for Corruption appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Tick, Tock; Calls Grow for Thai Deputy PM to Quit Over Watch Scandal

Posted: 05 Feb 2018 08:05 PM PST

BANGKOK — A petition calling for the resignation of Thailand's deputy prime minister attracted thousands of signatures on Monday, heaping pressure on the junta's second-in-command to step aside amid a scandal over a luxury watch and undeclared assets.

The scandal has revealed growing signs of disgruntlement among the Thai public, and added to uncertainty over whether the junta will call an election later this year that is supposed to move the Southeast Asian nation back toward democracy.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) placed Prawit Wongsuwan, 72, a former army chief who is also defense minister, under investigation after his appearance in a photograph of the cabinet wearing a diamond ring and a luxury watch in December sparked an avalanche of criticism on social media.

Thai netizens have since identified 25 expensive luxury watches that the former general has worn but not declared to the anti-graft body.

Prawit has said that he borrowed the timepieces from friends, but would resign if that was the public’s wish.

According to Thailand's anti-corruption act, all political office holders must fully disclose all of their assets.

On Monday, a Change.org petition calling for Prawit's resignation had more than 61,200 signatures.

The minister was attending a defense conference in Singapore on Monday, and a spokesman said he was in "good health," without specifically addressing the watch issue.

"I would like to confirm that General Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister and defense minister … is in good health and is ready to dedicate himself to looking after the country's security," Defense Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanich, told reporters.

The scandal is a sore point for the junta, whose promise to rid Thailand’s politics of corruption was central to its premise for staging a 2014 coup.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has said a general election will take place in November, last week asked for more time in office to prepare the country for the vote.

Signs of growing impatience with the junta has been manifest in a steady stream of protests calling for a quick return to democracy and in defiance of a junta crackdown on freedom of assembly.

On Saturday, students at a football match wheeled out parade floats poking fun at Prawit while a Bangkok street artist who depicted Prawit's face in an alarm clock said in a Facebook post that he was facing police intimidation.

Reuters was unable to immediately contact police for comment.

The NACC has said it will conclude its probe this month.

The post Tick, Tock; Calls Grow for Thai Deputy PM to Quit Over Watch Scandal appeared first on The Irrawaddy.
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