Message to the Reader Shan Diary September 2015

Transcription

1 Message to the Reader Shan Diary September 2015 WHAT DID XI TELL THEIN SEIN? DAY OF FOUR NINES! SSA SOUTH BACK TO WAR! 7 EAOS WILL SIGN NCA! War ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN FULL SWING! Economy/Business The World Ethnic Affairs

2 Message to the Reader Dear Reader: During the last 4 years, things have changed a lot for millions of people including myself. Before I wasn t able to visit my homeland (which I have come to call Hopeland). Now I can. That s one of the happiest things that have ever happened to me during these years. It s good to meet my old friends and my relatives. More than that, it s good to know for yourself that when things change, they are really different from what you had known when you were still there. I couldn t even recognize the neighborhood I had roamed with my childhood friends. Indeed like Rick Nelson once sang: There s no way to get down home No, you can t retrieve it,cause once you leave it Oh, down home s just a memory So s the rest. A friend once said old things are best forgotten. But I disagree. I believe they are best let gone. Which proves I have also changed too, from a sentimental young man to an old man who takes things as they are. Of course, that still doesn t mean I m getting nearer to what my Indian teacher had counseled all of us: Having seen danger in every mode of being And having seen beings seeking for non-being I do not attach myself to any mode of being Nor do I cling to any delight in being. But I believe I ll get there one of these days. Like all of us sooner or later. Thanks for your continuing to read my ramblings. Mysoong Kha! (All the best!) 2

3 SHAN DIARY SEPTEMBER 2015 Shan Diary, September 2015 Cartoon Learning how to garner votes! Think Piece The danger is that if (Aung San Suu Kyi) wins a majority in parliament, the elite may be forced to take the coup option. The more belligerent The Lady is towards the army, the more likely this is the scenario that will materialize. This too would be the worst possible outcome for businesses in Burma. Larry Jagan, DVB, 1 September 2015 In battle-ridden Kokang, there are 14 candidates to contest the seats (for 1 Upper House, 2 Lower House and 4 state assembly). Therefore it is questionable that the Wa area that has not heard a shot fired in anger for 26 years cannot hold an election. 7 Day, 2 September 2015 Mahidol model Pattanic Malay is being taught alongside Thai and other languages, including Malaysian, English and Arabic. Thai literacy has consequently risen by 30%. The reasons are threefold: 1. It provides a bedrock for understanding discourse and acquired skills are transferable 2. The students enjoy class more, and attendance is higher 3. It implies identity respect and spurs ownership of the education system. However, there is a widespread belief among military and secularity personnel that strengthening locals mother tongues can reduce Thainess and undermines national security, leading to secessionism. John Draper, Khon-Kaen University, Bangkok Post, 8 September 2015 SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.) 3

4 We cannot move democratic transition without having peace. President Their Sein to ethnic leaders, 9 September 2015, respected by Myanmar Times We will initiate peace talks once we win the upcoming election with a landslide victory. Our policy regarding the peace talks is very simple. We will meet the ethnic groups transparently. We will keep our promise. We will never break the promise. Almost 35% of Thai women work up to 49 hours a week In domestic affairs: More than 77% of Thai women are responsible for all household chores Less than 1% have their husband s help with household tasks Bangkok Post, 24 September 2015 The World 3 September 2015 Beijing commemorates Japan s World War II defeat. Leader Xi Jinping says the 2.3 million members of the PLA will be cut by 300,000. Appears at the parade is DF 21 D anti-airship ballistic missile capable of sinking US Nimitzsize aircraft carrier in one single strike. (AP) Aung San Suu Kyi, speaking to rally in Shan State s Hsihseng township, 5 September 2015, Eleven Myanmar I m confident to say that if the National League for Democracy becomes government, we will prioritise the peace process and dialogue, and immediately work on it (adding that NLD would stand by it s promise to convene second Panglong) Aung San Suu Kyi, speaking to rally in Shan State s Hopong township, 6 September 2015, DVB (N)urturing nationalism is a way of diverting public attention from the economy to foreign policy. Sustained economic growth is more crucial to the average Chinese than ownership of specks of land in the South China Sea. Nationalism in China (therefore) has a way of turning against the ruling power. Cornell University s Weiss, on China, Time, 21 September 2015 According to a report from King Prachadkipok Institute s office of Peace and Governance: An average Thai works 35 hours per week 4 21 September 2015 What Asian leaders earn: Prime minister, Singapore Prime Minister, Japan President, South Korea President, Indonesia Prime Minister, Thailand President, Philippines President, China (Bangkok Post) President Thein Sein earns month or $ 18,000 per year. (Maungzarni.net) $ 1,700,000 $ 202,700 $ 187,000 $ 124,171 $ 50,000 $ 32,513 $ 22,300 $ 1,500 per President Xi Jinping on a week long visit to US. (Agencies)

5 SHAN DIARY SEPTEMBER 2015 International Relations 2-4 September 2015 President Thein Sein attends events in Beijing to commemorate the 7 th anniversary of Victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, 2-4 September. Meets Chinese president Xi Jinping to step up cooperator in border to maintain peace and stability in border areas. They have in-depth exchange of views and reached important consensus. (Global New Light of Myanmar/Mizzima) 6-11 September 1015 UN Department of Safety and Security issues directive to staff restricting travel to Burma during the election period, 6-24 November, as disruptions are expected. Thai-Burma Relations 1 September 2015 Statement issued by Burmese embassy in Bangkok informs Burmese residents in Thailand to cast advance votes on Saturday 17 October, 09:00-16:30. (Statement) 2 September 2015 PM Prayut Chan-o-Cha visits Maesot and attends meeting on Tak s SEZ development. Maesot, Phop Phra, Tha Song Yang and Mae Ramat districts are set aside for the SEZ. (Bangkok Post) C in C Min Aung Hlaing visits Israel. He tours the Elbit Systems, a defense manifesting company. No details are disclosed. 17 September 2015 Deputy minister for foreign affairs U Thant Kyaw was in Pyongyang for two days of regular consultations and returns to Burma today. (Myanmar Times) 21 September 2015 Speaking to visiting deputy commander-in-chief Soe Win, Defense Minister Chang Wangguan says China and Myanmar should jointly maintain stability in the border areas. In June, President Xi Jinping told visiting Aung San Suu Kyi he hoped Myanmar would maintain a consistent and positive position on relations, regardless of any changes in its domestic politics. (Reuters) 3 September 2015 Migrant workers will be barred from bringing relatives into Thailand from the beginning of 2017, PM Prayut Chan-o-Cha says at a conference on enhancing labor cooperation in CLMTV region in Bangkok. He also stresses the nationality verification process for new migrant workers must be carried out in their country of origin. Gen Sirichai Distakul, labor minister, says proper measures will be sought and must proceed gradually to ward off panic as dependents may be staying in Thailand for a long time. (Bangkok Post) 10 September 2015 SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.) 5

6 Transport minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and Construction minister U Kyaw Lwin sign agreement in Naypyitaw for construction of 3.9 billion baht ($ 108 million) second Friendship Bridge across the Moei. (Bangkok Post) Inside Burma 2 September 2015 President Thein Sein during his monthly radio message to the nation: Pledges to work for a free and fair election Stresses need to start political dialogue as soon as the NCA is signed (Mizzima) 2 September 2015 UEC member Win Kyi confirms that a total of 88 candidates were barred from competing in the election due to failure to meet the eligibility criteria. The decisions were made by local subcommissions and are deemed final and conclusive. 3 September 2015 Out of 2 million eligible voters in foreign counties only 18,000 have registered for advance voting, sayings U Tin Aye, UEC chair. 8 September 2015 Elections campaigning begins. (Agencies) Judiciary workers in Dekkhinathiri is waging a yellow ribbon campaign against militarization of the legal system, by appointing former military officers to judicial positions they are often largely unqualified for. (Myanmar Times) 10 September 2015 The police force is planning to introduce security measures nationwide in 4 phases in the coming elections: pre-election, campaigning, election and post-election, according to Union Daily. Nearly 20,000 police will be deployed in 3 sensitive areas: Rangoon, Mandalay and Kachin. (Bernama/Xinhua) 10 September 2015 NLD issues directive to its candidates not to have any dealings which unlawful assoscialiations as the UEC might decide to withdraw the candidacy of those suspected of associating with them. (7 Daily) 14 September 2015 Election manifesto by NLD promises to retain a dignified role for the military as a defender of democracy. Zakhung Ting Ying, Border Guard Force leader and MP (Upper House), sends letter to NLD to avoid campaigning in Waingmaw, Chipwi and Tsaw law townships. NLD CEC member Win Htein says the party has filed complaints to the UEC on the alleged unlawful use of religion by Ma Ba Tha to influence the upcoming polls but has yet to receive a response. 31 August 2015 Retired colonel Lin Zaw Tun who is running in Shan State publishes pictures of his K 40 million ($ 31,000) donation the Ma Ba Tha leader U Wirathu. UEC has set a K 10 million ceiling on 6

7 SHAN DIARY SEPTEMBER 2015 campaigning, which is counted starting 8 September. Ethnic Affairs September September EAOs hold summit in Chiangmai. 7 of them announced their decision to sign. The signers and non-signers agree to work together on Common Goal, Diverse Actions principle. (Statement) Aung San Suu Kyi visits Hsihseng and Hopong. If the NCA is real and true it should be signed as soon as possible, she says in her speech. 7 September 2015 Interfaith leaders meeting in Pa-an pray for success of NCA negotiations. (KIC) NSCN-K that has ceasefire agreement with Rangoon forcibly recruits 15 school children from Nagaland s Phek district. (NDTV) 9 top EAO representatives meet the President at 9:00 (Agencies) They reach tentative agreement to sign the NCA in early October, but spokesman Pu Zing Cung says EAOs will meet again to confirm the date. 20 September 2015 UPWC and 8 EAOs agree to form joint committee to prepare for the signing of NCA. Those that are yet to sign it will also be invited. They will meet again on 3 October. (Mizzima/MNA) Shans/Shan State 6 September 2015 Speaking at NLD rally in Hopong, Aung San Suu Kyi says if the NLD becomes government, we will prioritize the peace process and dialogue, and immediately work on it. UWSA has issued statement saying it will not sign the NCA. Reasons: It has already signed peace agreement; signing NCA may mean a step backward Signing of NCA will involve western countries, which it fears will be a breach on its promise to China The NCA draft doesn t say anything about constitutional amendment which means no benefit for the Wa people* (BBC) *Article 22 (d) says constitutional amendment would be carried in accordance with the resolutions of the political dialogues (SHAN) 16 September 2015 Shan State s UEC chief Than Lwin Myint says there are 150,000 eligible voters among the SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.) 7

8 military, police and their families in the state; 30,000 in Kachin State; 6,000 in Kayah; 12,000 in Karen; 6,000 in Chin; 6,000 in Arakan; 30,000 in Sagaing; and 40,000 in Magwe. (Eleven) Economy/Business 8 September 2015 World s largest bank Industrial and Commercials Bank of China (ICBC) opens branch in Rangoon, becoming the first Chinese commercial bank operating in the country. (Xinhua/Mizzima) Almost $ 20 billion in dirty money linked to corruption, crime and tax evasion has left Burma in the past 5 decades, says US based Global Financial Integrity (GFI). (Reuters) 23 September 2015 Vice President Nyan Tun opens $ 1.5 billion Thilawa Special Economic Zone, an hour s drive from Rangoon. (Reuters) Human Rights 21 September 2015 Construction of a pagoda inside a church compound that began on 21 August in Pa-an has increased tensions. The construction reportedly was ordered by U Thuzana, abbot of Myaing Gyi Ngu. 23 September 2015 There are 108 political prisoners in Burma, according to AAPP, and nearly 460 activists on trial. (Reuters) Environment Tun Lwin, well known meteorologist, says according to his 2003 research paper, since 1978, the monsoon season has begun 15 days late and ends 25 days earlier. So the rainy season has shortened by about 40 days. Before 1978, Burma had a rainy season from 15 May- 10 October Yoma Bank and China s ICBC sign agreement facilitating direct flow of trade-related funds between the two countries. (Mizzima) 21 September 2015 Ministry of Hotels and Tourism had a target of 3 million arrivals for all of 2015 but it was already exceeded in August. Tourism employs around 300,000 people and the number could hit 1.5 million by Politicians are urging Myanmar nationals to return home to realize the growth opportunity their motherland has. (Bangkok Post) 11 September 2015 Between 2010 and 2015 Burma lost an average if 546,000 hectares (over 1.3 million acres) of forest each year, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), making it behind only Brazil and Indonesia in terms of forest losses. The chunk of forest lost annually is about the size of fellow Asean Brunei. It leaves the country vulnerable to extreme weather events brought about by climate change, including more severe bouts flooding, drought and disease. While forest covered 65% of the country in 2006, that number has been reduced to 45% in (Myanmar Times) 8

9 SHAN DIARY SEPTEMBER September September 2015 Min Oo Khaing, director with Kaladan Delta Development, surrenders to anti-narcotics unit in Maesot. He is reported to be linked to $ 100 million haul of narcotics seized in Rangoon on July. War London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) says there had been alarming escalation of timber flowing into China from Burma over the last three years, 978,000 cubic meters for last year alone. (The Guardian) International Finance Corporation (IFC) had signed to advise Naypyitaw on social and environment risk management for hydropower projects nationwide, according to Kate Lazarus, team leader for IFC s Mekong sustainable hydropower program, funded by Australia. (Myanmar Times) 14 September 2015 Drugs US declares Myanmar, Bolivia and Veneczuela failed demonstrably against drug trafficking over the past year. Aid program to support democracy in Myanmar and Venezuela nevertheless remain vital to the national interest of the United States and would continue. (AFP) 1 September 2015 Myanmar and Bangladesh forces launch simultaneous offensives against Arakan Army (AA) following the group s attack on a camp of Bangladeshi border guards on 26 August. (Mizzima) RCSS spokesman Col Sai La says 5 Tatmadaw and 4 RCSS soldiers were killed in fighting in Loilem district on 7-8 September. (Myanmar Times) 10 September 2015 Global New Light of Myanmar reports Senior General confirmed an order for the FAC super Dvora Mark 3 patrol boat, a vessel mounted with 30 mm cannons, which is designed for deployment for coastal rivers from Israel. Troops from Mongpawn based L1B 527 column ambushed by SSA South in Kawngtan, Loilem district. Gunfire was exchanged between the two sides a day earlier in Namzang and Lawksawk. SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.) 9

10 Cartoon THE PEAE PROCESS! S.H.A.N. P.O.Box 15, Nong Hoi P.O., Chiangmai 50007, Thailand and 10