An escalating conflict in Myanmar’s northern Kachin state bordering China is sparking concern in the region.

It is also smudging the image of progress for Myanmar’s reformist government, which wants to emphasise the achievements of its ceasefire pacts with several armed ethnic groups, particularly the Karen that historically was a bigger threat than the Kachin.

The conflict between the Tatmadaw – Myanmar’s armed forces – and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has displaced some 100,000 people who are living in makeshift camps in mid-winter.

Despite international calls for restraint from the United Nations Secretary-General and the United States State Department, ethnic Kachin rebels say the government is keeping up air and ground attacks against them.

Successive Myanmar governments have fought multiple insurgencies by ethnic groups, such as the Kachins, demanding autonomy since the country gained independence in 1949.

But when President Thein Sein – a former general – came to power in 2011, he made ending the ethnic conflicts a priority.

He has made progress, with 13 ceasefire pacts signed.

But the escalating conflict in Kachin state is spoiling the picture – and could worsen it further if talks are not resumed soon.

The conflict shows little sign of abating, however.

Sources in Myanmar familiar with the situation say the air strikes against the Kachin were in response to army resupply helicopters being fired on, and the surrounding of a key Tatmadaw base by the KIA.

For the Kachins, there are many sticking points, including the issue of who gets to control the state’s natural resources – jade, gold, timber and water.

They also do not believe that lasting peace would be possible or their rights protected under the current Constitution – drawn up by the military.

The fighting can be traced to a deterioration of trust between the government and the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), which led to a tenuous 17-year ceasefire falling apart in 2011.

Several rounds of talks – tacitly encouraged by China – failed to resolve the issue.

The last such attempt was made in October in the Chinese town of Ruili, across the border from Myanmar’s Shan state.

The two sides were to discuss troop repositioning, a potential breakthrough to the impasse. The Myanmar side was led by Thein Sein’s top negotiator U Aung Min. Importantly, he had with him Lieutenant-General Soe Myint, the Tatmadaw’s regional commander.

But the KIA’s deputy commander, General Gwan Maw, failed to appear. The government’s team went to Ruili anyway to talk to the KIO, but Lt-Gen Soe Myint did not take part.

The senior KIA commander’s no-show was seen by the Tatmadaw as a slight and did not go down well with its top brass.

The Kachins claimed that Gen Gwan Maw did not turn up because he had to deal with Tatmadaw attacks in KIA’s Brigade 4 area.

But the Tatmadaw told Myanmar government negotiators that it had no operations there that day.

At the talks, the Kachin side asked for political dialogue, which the Myanmar government promised.

However, the fighting has continued.

The conflict is seen by many international observers as an indication of the limits of the reformist President’s control over the army.

But this is rejected by those involved in the peace process with other ethnic rebels.

Dr Min Zaw Oo, a former guerilla fighter who now works with the newly established Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon on ceasefire implementation, said the 13 other ceasefire agreements had the full support of the army and clashes were rare.

“In Karen state, the Tatmadaw and Karen fighters are playing soccer together… The question is, why is there fighting only in Kachin state?”

A letter inviting KIA leaders to a meeting this month had no response, he said.

Yet it was essential, he added, that military leaders from both sides come back to the table to discuss repositioning of troops.

BEIJING, Jan. 7 (UPI) — The government in Myanmar is called on to take steps to ensure fighting in northern Kachin state doesn’t spill over the border, a Chinese official said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said three bombs landed on Chinese territory Dec. 30 during fighting between Kachin rebels and Myanmar forces.

“The Chinese side demands the Myanmar side immediately take effective measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again,” she was quoted by China’s official Xinhua news agency as saying.

Last week, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar following reports of clashes with Kachin rebels.

Fighting in Kachin erupted in 2011, ending a 17-year truce.

The international community last year commended Myanmar, known formerly as Burma, for a series of political reforms that began with general elections in 2010. Security and human concerns continue to tarnish the government’s reputation, however.

Beijing said there was no basis to reports last week stating that fighter jets from Myanmar strayed into Chinese territory. The closest fighter jets from Myanmar are about 3 miles from the border, Xinhua reports.

Yangon — More Myanmar citizens needing organ transplants choose to go to India for treatment due to restrictions at home, healthcare officials said.

Even though Singapore and Thailand offer similar services, many patients choose to go to India due to its lenient healthcare regulations and disciplines, an official from the Yangon General Hospital (YGH) said.

An official from KC Healthcare said transplant patients faced a lot of problems in Myanmar such as a shortage of organ donors and restrictions on surgical procedures, adding that the demand for kidneys was the highest.

Global event organizer Centre for Management Technology and official host Ministry of Electric Power welcome industry majors to the country’s first power conference, delving into foreign investors-friendly power projects and opportunities in support of the country’s economic and social development plans.

Yangon, Myanmar (PRWEB) January 08, 2013

Wide-ranging opportunities in power generation, transmission and distribution beckon in Myanmar’s power sector, especially in the financial and bustling regions Yangon and Mandalay where power demand is set to grow multifolds. Rapid changes and development plans are underway to ensure the country’s basic power needs are met, with foreign investments playing a major role in the realization of efficient and sustainable power utilities infrastructure.

Developing the power sector is fundamental to the country’s economic and social progress. The Myanmar Power Summit in Yangon on January 28-31, 2013 will offer insights into “Securing Power Investments/Partnerships in Myanmar’s Growing Electricity & Utilities Demand”.

The summit and exhibition will be officiated with a keynote address by His Excellency U Khin Maung Soe, Union Minister of Electric Power and will have officials from the Ministry of Electric Power and MEPE presenting on the regulator’s role as well as insights on power generation, fuel sources, transmission and infrastructure plans. Among other highlights are:

Mr Kanthan Shankar, World Bank’s Country Manager for Myanmar sharing the bank’s perspective on “Ensuring Sustainable Power Utilities Infrastructure Development in Myanmar”. Key financial management of power projects is the focus of the “Financing Development for Power & Infrastructure Projects in Myanmar” speech by Mr. Eugene Sullivan, Principal Investment Officer from International Finance Corporation (IFC). The same topic is then expanded into a panel discussion with Mr. Peter Bird (Meitner Pte. Ltd.), Mr. Bruce Weller (BNP Paribas) and Mr. Kanthan Shankar as key panelists.

A presentation on “Power plant development – How do other SE Asian countries attract investment?” by Dr. Thomas Parkinson, Partner at the Lantau Group (HK) Limited, provides economic analysis and trends study hence understanding of possible directions of this infant market.

Other sessions on the transmission system and grid as well as project financing and due diligence will be covered by experts during the 4-day conference.

A pre-summit forum on “Doing Business in Myanmar” and two post-conference workshops on “Power Plant Rehabilitation & Modernization” and “Structures of IPP, BOT & PPA” are included to provide stakeholders and investors with further information and insights.

On request, the official host, Ministry of Electric Power is holding one-to-one business meetings with delegates to address concerns and questions related to their proposals.

Since March 2012, CMT has organized nine summits in Yangon, attracting over 2000 delegates from over 42 countries.

Emida, a leader in the global prepayment and value transfer market, and valued partners recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer mobile payment services in Myanmar.

Foothill Ranch, CA (PRWEB UK) 8 January 2013

Emida, a leader in the global prepayment and value transfer market, and valued partners recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer mobile payment services in Myanmar.

The MoU parties with Emida are:

Blue Ocean Operating Management (BOOM), a Myanmar-based company offering ICT services;

Myanmar Technologies Investment Corporation (MTI), a Myanmar-based investment company; and

Oceanic Communications Ltd (OCL), a New Zealand-based company offering distribution services in the Pacific and long-term partner of Emida.

Htun Htun Naing, BOOM CEO, said “BOOM’s motto is “make things happen” and we are delighted to help make mobile payments happen for people in Myanmar with great partners.”

“Emida is excited to be entering Myanmar with such prestigious partners. We have worked with OCL for some time and this experience combined with that of local market leaders, BOOM and MTI, makes for a compelling partnership to address the exciting opportunities that lie ahead” said Dennis Andrews, Emida CEO.

“We are glad to be part of the first mobile payment services available in Myanmar in association with BOOM, Emida and OCL” said Htin Aung Khine, MTI CEO.

Craig Beedell, OCL Director, said “This marks a first and important step in our mutual interest of serving the people of Myanmar with mobile payment services. We are delighted to work with BOOM, Emida and MTI to this end.”

About Blue Ocean Operating Management (BOOM)

BOOM, founded by entrepreneur, Htun Htun Naing, is an ICT industry leader in Myanmar offering innovative products and services including mobile content, SMS advertising, mobile rentals at airports and one-stop Call Center – all first of their kind in the local market.

About Emida

Emida is a leader in the global prepayment and value transfer market, operating in 37 countries throughout North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East and Europe. We support a network of more than 54,000 retail points with an annual dollar payment volume in excess of $1.5B, processing more than 240 million annual payment transactions. Our network technology enables the domestic and international distribution and value transfer of many types of prepaid products and payment services. Our strategy is to build profitable, robust distribution networks for many prepaid products in targeted operating geographies, and to introduce unique cross border value products between regions. Our payment processing platform provides robust revenue solutions for distributors, ISOs, retailers, carriers and service providers alike.

About Myanmar Technologies Investment Corporation (MTI)

MTI, founded by entrepreneur, Htin Aung Khine, is an investment company in Myanmar focusing on the technology sector. It acts for local and international investors and has close associations with Myanmar ICT companies.

About Oceanic Communications Ltd (OCL)

OCL, a 50/50 joint venture between Oceanic Holdings and the Facey Commodity Company Limited of Jamaica, distributes cellular phones, accessories, airtime recharge cards, and marketing materials on behalf of network operators. It provides services to mobile company 2 Degrees in New Zealand and is one of two worldwide distributors for Digicel, with close links encompassing technical, marketing and sales. With subsidiaries operating in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Fiji, OCL has seen revenue growth exceeding 500% in its first 3 years of operation exceeding 500% and was recognized as the 11th fastest growing company in New Zealand in the Deloitte Fast 50 awards for 2010.

For more information visit: http://www.emida.net

By Sujadi Siswo | Posted: 08 January 2013 1358 hrs

YANGON: Private newspapers in Myanmar are gearing up to publish dailies for the first time, after authorities indicated they would begin issuing such licences in April.

Currently, only state-owned newspapers are allowed to publish dailies — private ones are restricted to weeklies.

But observers caution that the still under-developed Myanmar economy might prove a challenge for private dailies.

There was a time when journalists from private newspapers like The Myanmar Times had to subject their reports to government censorship before the papers could be sent to the printers. But that changed last August, when authorities began reforming Myanmar’s media regulations.

Geoffrey Goddard, senior editor of The Myanmar Times, said: “It was the curse of our professional lives and there was much celebration in the fourth estate when the decision was made by the government as part of the reform process to end pre-publication censorship.”

Now, the government has indicated it will further liberalise the media sector — by allowing applications for private daily licences as early as next month.

Mr Goddard added: “What we are eagerly looking forward to is the granting of licences to publish daily. That’s the next big challenge for us and other newspapers in Myanmar.”

The Myanmar Times has shown an interest in getting the license. But as with the rest of the world, the dailies have to contend with the onslaught of the online media. Currently, the Myanmar internet infrastructure might still be in the 90s, but it is expected to get up to speed soon.

There are more than 300 private weekly journals currently being published in Myanmar — less than five are in English.

While many are excited at the prospect of publishing daily, observers doubt the viability of private dailies, given the country’s under-developed economy.

Myo Aung, managing director of Success International Distributor, said: “Compared to neighbouring countries, our advertising budget is not very big. Most are local products. They advertise in magazines, journals and newspapers.

“But we hope that the government allows foreign investors to invest here. If foreign investors, and foreign firms and foreign expertise are here, I think our advertising scenario will also change very soon.”

The government has already allowed foreign dailies to be distributed in the country.

And with the three state-controlled dailies currently having a circulation of 2.5 million copies a day, it will be a tough environment for upcoming private ones to compete in.

By Channel NewsAsia’s Indonesia Bureau Chief Sujadi Siswo | Posted: 08 January 2013 2138 hrs

RAKHINE, Myanmar: Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has visited Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state, and the areas affected by sectarian violence.

His visit was at the invitation of the Myanmar government.

Dr Natalegawa will make recommendations based on what he saw.

More than 100,000 people are living in refugee camps, since fleeing inter-communal fighting that erupted last year.

The overwhelming majority of those displaced are Muslims.

Indonesia has also pledged US$1 million in humanitarian assistance.

Dr Natalegawa shared his impressions soon after he wrapped up his trip.

He said it was crucial that trust be rebuilt between the Rohingya and ethnic Rakhines in the state.

Dr Natalegawa said: “The main impressions I had of my short visit to the area yesterday was that we are involved basically not only in the physical reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damage caused by the recent violence, but we must also nurture a sense of confidence, a sense of reconciliation among the different communities.

“There is a tremendous sense of distrust between the two sides and we must return that sense of harmony that existed previously. It’s no good having them segregated into one community and simply getting along, co-existing. They must be reconciled. They must be brought together.

“In the end, we believe the efforts that must be introduced must be a sustainable one. It means it must be driven by communities themselves in the Rakhine state. And therefore, critical that both the Rohingya and Rakhine groups begin to have reconciliation, begin to have harmony reintroduced amongst themselves. It was quite surreal in many instances. These villages are very proximate to one another, and yet they are so distant in terms of trust and confidence.”

He also reiterated the need to look beyond the immediate humanitarian response.

Dr Natalegawa said: “Economic opportunities are obviously very important. We must proceed beyond humanitarian emergency response, but we must provide economic opportunities. The prospect of better living conditions. these are the kind of things we in Southeast Asia, neighbours of Myanmar, must think beyond the emergency phase.

“And I must say the scale of the challenge is pretty obvious, but Indonesia is ready to continue to lend support to Myanmar. This is because this is very much part and parcel of Myanmar’s democratisation efforts.”

He added that the Myanmar government was receptive of Indonesia’s moves to find a solution to the ethnic conflict in Rakhine.

Dr Natalegawa said: “I think the Myanmar authorities have confidence in Indonesia’s capacity to understand the situation in an objective manner. Over the years, we have similiarly done a bit more low-key in encouraging progress of democratisation in Myanmar.

“We were also part of the process where Myanmar eventually got the ASEAN chairmanship in 2014, in return for certain expectations to take place. So I think this is a pathway that we have done in the past and we will continue to nurture a sense of trust and confidence by all concerned in Myanmar on this process.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar said what the refugees need most urgently is proper shelter, especially with the rainy season approaching.

Mr Ashok Nigam also reiterated that security is a perennial concern in Rakhine.

“At this time, many of the IDPs cannot move out of their camps because of concerns of conflict between the two communities. So security is a concern that we always have at this time. We have other issues with regards to shelter. We need land for shelter. These people have been displaced and to find land in the places where they were originally living is difficult in some cases, and that is taking time, so shelter is taking time,” he said.

The UN and its partners in Myanmar have put up a Rakhine Response Plan to meet humanitarian needs till June this year.

But the US$68 million plan is still short of some $41 million.

The UN office in Myanmar is also working with the Thein Sein administration to help find a permanent solution for the Rohingya and the Rakhine community.

Mr Ashok Nigam said: “We are in dialogue with the government that we need to address the reconciliation between the two communities or at the very least the co-existence – peaceful co-existence of the two communities in this context. To address this we have to address some of the very root causes of this conflict – which lie in the lack of citizenship for many of the Muslims in the Rakhine State, which prevents them from moving around freely in the country.”

Any proposed solution will likely come from the independent commission of inquiry set up by the government following the outbreak of conflict in June last year.

Mr Ashok Nigam added: “It is a commission which incorporates 27 members across society. It is to come up with both the reasons for the violence and also recommendations on what next needs to be done. So the commission’s findings will be very important. And we certainly hope that they will provide more ideas and directions in moving forward and that’s what the government is looking for from the commission.”

Patrick Winn January 8, 2013 06:25

The ongoing air strikes lobbed by Myanmar’s military at resistance forces along the Chinese border is drawing predictable condemnation.

The U.S. State Department calls the attacks on the largely Christian guerrilla fighters — the Kachin Independence Army — “extremely troubling,” the New York Times reports. Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations head honcho, has also urged the military to cease the conflict, according to Reuters.

But how is the conflict playing out in the government-aligned press?

Look no further than the New Light of Myanmar, an often-mocked source of government propaganda that, in recent years, blasted Western media for its “killer broadcasts” and “sowing hatred.”

From yesterday’s edition, we learn that the Kachin guerrillas “sabotaged railroads and motor roads” all while “extorting money” from a local ethnic group and “planting land mines near villages … to generate misunderstanding” between villagers and the government.

On January 6, New Light readers were told the guerrillas “blasted trucks, abducted local women, sabotaged railroad and bridges and planted mines in urban area.”

And in the New Year’s Day issue, the government alleges that the Kachin soldiers “committed 101 mine attacks in Kachin State” since late May, 2011.

Is any of it remotely true?

We first must consider that totally independent, on-the-ground reporting out of Myanmar’s conflict zones is notoriously hard to come by. Typically, the only witnesses to these conflicts are the combatants themselves and nearby villagers. Among Western media outlets, writing negative copy about guerrilla resistance factions — which often defend villagers from army abuses and land grabs — is uncommon and taboo.

But given the government’s long track record of abuse — and the New Light of Myanmar’s penchant for pro-state hyperbole — these stories of sabotage and abduction can’t be afforded the benefit of the doubt.

YANGON: A deep 5.9-magnitude quake rattled the India-Myanmar border region early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake struck at a depth of 75 kilometres (47 miles), with its epicentre about 90 kilometres (60 miles) from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland in India’s northeast.

India’s seven northeastern states, joined to the rest of the country by a narrow sliver of land, are located in an area of frequent seismic activity. The border region is remote and sparsely populated on the Myanmar side.

In November a powerful earthquake left more than 20 people dead and destroyed hundreds of buildings in Myanmar’s second-biggest city of Mandalay and surrounding villages.-AFP

A government commission formed to identify farmland ownership disputes will bring over 300 cases of land grabs to the attention of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw before the next session begins, members said last week.

On Thursday, December 13, U Aung Zin, a hluttaw representative for the National Democratic Force (NDF) announced that 323 cases of land grabbing throughout 13 regions and states will be brought to the hluttaw for investigation by the commission.

The NDF established the commission as part of its Farmers’ Affairs Committee in August.

There have been about 4,000 reports of land grabs from farmers to the commission since its formation, U Aung Zin said.

“In Yangon alone, there are hundreds of reports of land grab problems. But at the moment, we could only select 66 in Yangon to investigate. We’ve already investigated six cases in Yangon since we formed. The hluttaw will resume in January, so I can’t say for certain how many cases we will investigate until then,” U Aung Zin said.

U Aung Zin said that the commission is stalled by both the poor education of farmers and an unwillingness of local authorities to cooperate.

“A quarter of the reports from farmers we receive are unreasonable. It can be because that farmer is either poorly educated or because he or she is looking to take advantage of an opportunity, such as when a farmer claims he or she never received compensation but already has. These types of investigations take us a long time,” said U Aung Zin.

“Per our cooperation agreement, local authorities are meant to give us all of the documentation we need. However, when companies hear that the commission is going to investigate, they fence off their land before we get there or they cancel the farming contract with their farmers. This causes many complications, and we’ve asked local authorities to help us with this matter but they often deny us.

“The local authorities claim they have no right to stop companies from fencing off their land because the companies have permission under the law La/Na 39. They say companies can do what they want to do. But according to the law, if a company cannot implement the project within three years, they must return the land to the farmers. Most land grab problems today come from the fact that companies didn’t obey that law,” U Aung Zin added.

U Aung Thein, a hluttaw representative from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and member of the commission, said that the commission will report all of the cases they have investigated to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

“There are so many land grab problems all over the country. We are investigating some of them. When the next hluttaw session starts, we will report the ones we are investigating. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will then report the cases to President U Thein Sein. Even if the farmers cannot get their land back, we will try to reduce their losses,” said U Aung Thein.

U Hla Myint, a farmer from Alwan Sut village, Thanlyin township, who lost 13 acres of his land, said that he hopes to be compensated through the Farmland Nationalisation Act of 1953.

“Our farmland was taken illegally. We reported the truth. I hope the problem can be solved by the law. By law, if a government project is cancelled, farmers can get their farmland back. Farmers can also get compensation for what they lost in cultivation,” said U Hla Myint.

“Commission members came to the village on Saturday, December 8. They asked questions and took documentation from the villagers. I don’t know what the outcome of the visit will be. For now, I am very pleased that the commission is investigating,” he added.

Farmers in Alwan Sut village have been embroiled in a dispute with No 1 War Vessel Group since May 2012, after the Navy unit bulldozed their freshly sown farmland. The farmers have since been unemployed.

Myanmar President Thein Sein, left, shakes hands with Japanese Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso during their meeting at Presidential House in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Photo: AFP

Japan has renewed its diplomatic activism following the victory of the Liberal Democratic Party, which saw Shinzo Abe return as prime minister. As soon as the cabinet line-up was announced, Abe sent his deputy Taro Aso, a former prime minister himself and now also the finance minister, to Myanmar.

Japanese media wondered about the choice of a relatively small country like Myanmar for such a trip. But Abe was quick to clarify that his new foreign policy would focus on strengthening the Japanese economic presence in the region.

Two key factors lie at the heart of this policy. First, Japan wishes to consolidate business ties with Asia’s developing economies, at a time when the country is slipping further into recession. Second, Japan hopes to employ these economic ties to promote democratisation in certain Asian countries – a win-win policy for Japan.

Thus, Myanmar is the perfect choice. As Myanmar embarks on its own political and economic opening, Japan was among the first to engage the new leaders. In his meeting with President Thein Sein, Aso said Japan would slash Myanmar’s massive outstanding debt – estimated at around 500 billion yen (HK$44 billion) in Tokyo’s case – and offered new financial assistance.

But Japan’s assistance will come with strings attached. Aso made it clear Myanmar would have to promise to continue to pursue political reform, especially the release of all political prisoners, promote greater political participation of ethnic minorities, and encourage a more active role for the opposition.

In terms of economic development, Japan expects Myanmar to upgrade its financial infrastructure and put in place regulations to ensure Japanese investor confidence. These are the obvious conditions.

But there is also a more hidden agenda. Japan’s interest in Myanmar can be perceived as its latest attempt to reduce Chinese influence in the country, and the region at large. Tension between China and Japan has intensified over the past year, and both nations are competing for influence in the region.

China is wary of Japan becoming more assertive in Southeast Asia, with the backing of its ally, the US. So, Beijing is certain to have kept a watchful eye on Aso’s trip to Myanmar.

It is now up to the Myanmar government to ensure that the process of democratisation remains a top priority. If it is able to show the international community its readiness to tackle contentious issues, such as the persistent ethnic insurgencies and the protection of basic human rights, foreign investments and assistance will continue to pour in. This will help support Myanmar’s ongoing political reforms.

Pavin Chachavalpongpun is associate professor at Kyoto University’s Centre for Southeast Asian Studies

By ZARNI MANN / THE IRRAWADDY| January 8, 2013 |

RANGOON — For the first time in six decades, representatives of the Karen National Union (KNU) will attend Karen New Year’s celebrations in Rangoon, according to a senior member of the ethnic armed group.

“Padoh Saw Thamein Tun and I will attend the ceremony as official representatives of the KNU,” said Mahn Nyein Maung, an executive member of the KNU’s central committee who was part of a delegation that has just concluded a visit to Naypyidaw at the invitation of President Thein Sein.

While the rest of the delegation has returned to the Thai-Burmese border, the two representatives have stayed behind to attend the event, which will be held in Burma’s largest city on Jan. 12.

Although the attendance of the KNU representatives has been confirmed, it remains unclear if they will give a speech, as they have not been officially invited by the event’s organizing committee as guests of honor.

Mahn Shwe Pyi Aye, a spokesperson for the organizing committee, said, however, that members of the KNU are more than welcome to take part in the celebrations, even though the group is still technically regarded as an illegal organization.

Also uncertain is whether a display of photographs of Karen revolutionary leaders, including Saw Ba U Gyi, founder and first president of the KNU, will be allowed at the ceremony, which will be held in Rangoon for the 75th time this year.

“Although the KNU is engaging in peace talks with the government, we are still not sure if it’s all right to exhibit these photos and show this history,” said Mahn Shwe Pyi Aye.

RANGOON—The Burmese government plans to establish a jade and gemstone center in the capital Naypyidaw, where it hopes traders and investors will open stores and processing industries for the precious stones, a government official said on Monday.

Thein Swe, managing director of Myanmar Gems Enterprise of the Ministry of Mines, said it would invite businessmen to settle at the planned “Jade stores, Jade Industry and Gem Market” in order to create a business hub for Burma’s gem industry in Naypyidaw.

Thein Swe said new center would offer business benefits to the gemstone merchants, adding that businessmen would benefit from being located at the new capital, which was developed in secrecy under the previous military regime.

“After government moved the capital to Naypyidaw in 2005, jade and gem auctions were held mostly in Naypyidaw. Now we try to establish the Jade Stores, Jade Industry and Gem market [here] because we want it to be more convenient for traders and investors to do business,” he told The Irrawaddy.

“Some investors and traders want to open jade stores and some want to have a gem market in the new capital. So, that is the main reason” for the creating the center, he said.

The government has prepared 91 plots for jade stories and jade industries which would be offered for sale at US $375,000. At the gem market 19 smaller plots would go on sale for $263,000 each, according to Thein Swe.

Myanmar Investment Commission would have to approve foreign investment in the business center, Thein Swe said, adding that foreign investors were welcome, but only if they set up gemstone processing industries

“We never allow foreign investment in the jade and gem excavation sector, but we will allow market and value-added production of jade and gems. Foreign investors who want to invest in those kinds of sectors need government permission,” he explained.

Some gem dealers doubted if the plan to establish a gem trade and processing hub would work, as similar projects by the government have previously been unsuccessful.

“General Khin Nyunt, the former spy chief, also tried to establish a jade and gem industry and market, but failed,” said Hla Win, a local gem dealer.

He said Burma lacked the sophisticated technology required to process gemstones and create value-added products with the precious stones. “If we really want to develop that sector, we should try to get high-quality technology,” Hla Win said.

Burma produces 90 percent of the world’s rubies, sapphires and fine-quality jade. It holds several sales fairs per year called “Gems Emporiums,” with sales valued at billions of dollars.

In March last year the government held the 49th emporium in Naypyidaw. The previous fair in 2011 saw record sales worth $2.8 billion, while a 2010 event generated $1.4 billion. About 9,000 visitors came to the 2011 event, Reuters reported. Most major buyers are from China, while Taiwanese and Thai traders also attend in large numbers.

However, gem sales have since slumped after China’s economic growth slowed down and the Chinese government increased import taxes on Burmese products, doubling the taxes on jade and gems from 15 percent to 33 percent.

Minister of Commerce Win Myint said the tax hikes had been a major blow for Burma’s gem trade. “Usually, we got billions of dollars in income from [gemstone] auctions, but after Chinese authority increased taxes on jade and gem buyers to 33 percent, our income dropped tremendously,” he said.

The trade in Burma’s rich gemstone resources—most of which are located in northern Burma, including in Kachin State—has long been surrounded by controversy, as it has serves as a major source of revenue for Burma’s military and ruling elite, and their business cronies.

Kachin rebels have funded their ongoing insurgency against the government by controlling jade mines and the control over these resources has been a point of contention between the warring parties.

US sanctions have sought to restrict trade in Burmese gemstones but the measures have had little effect on the trade, as most jade and gems are sold to China and other Asian countries, from where the stones can also find their way to western markets.

By KYAW PHYO THA / THE IRRAWADDY| January 8, 2013 |

RANGOON—A rape of a disabled 12-year-old girl in Rangoon’s South Dagon townships on Christmas Day has outraged local aid organizations and on Tuesday they called for a severe punishment for the perpetrator. The groups also used the occasion to highlight the need for a disability rights law in Burma that would support and better protect the country’s disabled.

The young girl, who suffers from cerebral palsy, which causes physical disability, was at home while her parents were away when her 28-year-old neighbor entered the house and abused her.

The girl’s older sister was at home and witnessed the crime, but was unable to stop it. Police arrested the suspect on the same day and have held him in custody since, aid groups said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Shwe Min Tha Foundation President Myat Thura Win, whose Rangoon-based organization supports the disabled, said the perpetrator in the case should be severely punished in order to send a signal to would-be rapists and abusers.

“We urge the authorities concerned to take the case seriously and we request a serious penalty for the guilty to serve as an ‘example’,” he said, adding that the victim is a member of his foundation.

“I’m wondering if the punishment for those who commit such inhumane acts should be the same penalty as for those that are committed on normal people,” he added.

Nyunt Nyunt Thein, the head of Rangoon’s Marry Chapman School for the Deaf, said some of her female students had been the victims of rape, adding that they were perhaps being targeted because they were perceived as being more vulnerable.

Police and judiciary had often not done enough to help these victims or seek proper punishment of the perpetrators, she said, adding that there is “rampant corruption” among police and the courts and law-enforcement is weak.

“People should be aware that rape is an inhumane act. To rape a disabled person is unthinkable,” Nyunt Nyunt Thein said, adding that severe punishment should follow in the recent rape case.

“I urge the government to take a right stand this time and take serious action in this case, not only for the victim but for all our daughters and grand-daughters,” she said.

Myat Thura Win also called for laws that would better protect and support the disabled in Burma, where—unlike in many other countries—there is no special law yet that offers support, care and protection for those with disabilities.

He said the law was needed “because we physically impaired people face discrimination and abuses. Whenever we are in that situation, we are helpless.”

Aung Thein, a member from Burma’s Lawyers’ Network, said the absence of such a law was leaving Burma’s disabled without proper care and protection, adding that the rape case highlighted the need for improving special care for the disabled.

“Now is the time to reconsider to have a law for handicapped people,” he said.

Four representatives of the 88 Generation Students group met with Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros on Tuesday morning at the Chatrium Hotel where they discussed foreign investment and the need for transparency in business.

“We are more interested in conducting detailed negotiations rather than just asking [Mr. Soros] what he can give us,” said Pyone Cho who was joined by Min Zeya, Htay Kywe and Mya Aye.

Soros founded the Open Society Institute, or OSI, more than 30 years ago. It is now active in more than 70 countries around the world, helping establish democracy and promoting human rights.

Tuesday, 08 January 2013 12:49 Phanida

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) currently has more than 30 prisoners of war, or POWs, that it wants to return safely to the Burmese army, said 88 Generation Students leader Mya Aye who visited the Kachin army’s headquarters in Laiza last week.

“The KIO wants to transfer these 30 POWs,” he told Mizzima. “The Burmese authorities have signaled their desire to receive them.”

The news comes following the death of one POW—a private in the Burmese army who was captured at Laja Yang on December 27 after being shot in the abdomen.

“He was seriously wounded during the assault on Laja Yang,” said an official from Laiza Health Department. “He died from his wounds 10 days later on January 6 at Laiza Hospital.”

The Kachin official said that another Burmese POW was still being treated for a gunshot wound in the leg at Laiza Hospital.

Maj. Min Htay of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (North) Information Department reaffirmed claims that government forces gave close air support to ground troops during the battle at Laja Yang from December 28 to January 3, but that no air support was evident between January 4 and January 6. He said that three helicopter gunships resumed attacks on KIO positions on January 7 at 3:30 pm.

“Three helicopter gunships hovered above Hillock 771,” he told Mizzima. “Two gunships fired from the air while one landed. It rearmed with ammunition and fired on nearby KIO troops from the air.”

Meanwhile, Burmese nationals living in Malaysia, Australia and the US staged protests against the air strikes in front of Burmese embassies in their respective countries on Monday.

The KIO and the Burmese government have sat for negotiations 11 times without any concrete results or ceasefire.

Thousands of Burmese migrants face unemployment after new minimum wage requirements imposed by the Thai government earlier this month forced several factories and workshops to close down.

Many businesses, who employ cheap labour from neighbouring Burma, Cambodia and Laos, cannot afford to pay their workers the 300 Baht (USD$10) daily wage required by law since 1 January.

According to Thai media, dozens of factories have been closed, including some eight garments, electronics and ceramic producers based in Tak province near the Burmese border. Thousands of jobs are estimated to have been lost.

Chiwat Withit-Thammawong, chairman of Tak Province’s Federation of Thai Industries in western Thailand, told Manager Online news website that government schemes intended to cushion the wage hike, such as reducing social security fees from 5% to 4% and cutting back interest rates for investment loans, had been insufficient.

He called on the government to introduce more effective policies to help local businesses, who would otherwise need to look at relocating to neighbouring Burma, where the infrastructure is still weak after decades of military rule.

Moe Swe from the Mae Sot-based migrants’ rights group, Yaung Ni Oo, told DVB that the new law could also provide an incentive for unscrupulous companies to exploit illegal Burmese labour.

“I think there will be more migration and employers will tend to hire more illegal workers resulting in more workplace abuses and unfair treatment,” he said.

Migrants in Thailand make up about five percent of the county’s workforce, and provide a crucial pool of labour for low-skilled, often dangerous, industries such as fishing and construction. Up to three million people, or about 80 percent, are estimated to come from Burma, and often occupy a quasi-legal existence that leaves them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Many workers have staged protests against the abrupt closure of their workplaces. On 2 January, around 200 workers at an underwear factory in Saraburi province rallied against their employer’s decision to close down without giving any advance notice.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has defended the wage increase as necessary to improve the lives of workers and help boost consumer spending, but pledged to help businesses through the transition. The government has also warned that any employers, who disregard the new wage hike, will face severe penalties.

The treatment of migrant workers in Thailand has been a source of controversy for many years, drawing regular criticism from human rights groups. Even democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi used her landmark visit to the country in June to press the government on better conditions for Burmese workers.

Shan rebels, who clashed with government troops in eastern Burma over the weekend, have warned the army to respect the terms of their ceasefire agreement or risk derailing the peace process.

The Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), who inked a peace deal with the government in December 2011, claims government forces invaded their territory on Saturday, resulting in two fierce clashes in southern Shan state’s Langhko district – just across the border from Thailand’s Mae Hong Song region.

“We would like to remind the government to fulfill its responsibility to have all government organisations including the Tatmadaw [Burmese armed forces] to adhere to the ceasefire agreements and to facilitate political dialogues advocated by all ethnic armed groups and the opposition,” the group’s spokesperson Sai Lao Hseng, told DVB on Monday.

He said the two clashes broke out when troops from the army’s 514th and 287th Light Infantry Battalions entered rebel-held territory near Mae-Aw village in Homein sub-township.

“The government forces didn’t adhere to the ceasefire agreement – they came into our territory and attacked us,” said Sai Lao Hseng.

According to a report in the Bangkok Post, the Burmese army believed that Shan soldiers were planning to obstruct the construction of a government road being developed in preparation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. The Thai army was even reported to have been placed on high alert in case the conflict spilled over the border.

Burma has not released a formal statement regarding the incident. But in a statement on 4 January, the government professed to be “relentlessly working to achieve sustainable peace” with all ethnic nationalities and to “have successfully reached peace agreements with all armed groups” except the Kachin.

Sai Lao Hseng insisted the SSA-S has not yet forged a “perpetual peace” with the government, but only reached a ceasefire agreement. Over 50 clashes between the SSA-S and government troops have been reported since they signed their ceasefire agreement on 2 December 2011, he added.

“You can only say there is perpetual peace in the country when all the political problems have been solved, and in order to achieve that a ceasefire must first be reached and its agreements must be respected,” said Sai Lao Hseng.

The quasi-civilian government, led by President Thein Sein, has signed tentative ceasefire agreements with ten out of eleven major armed groups in Burma. But the country’s border regions continue to be deeply volatile, with ongoing clashes also reported in Karen and northern Shan states. Burma’s ethnic minority groups have been fighting for greater autonomy and rights for decades.