Japan minister pledges Myanmar debt relief, loans

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 Japan's new government will stand by pledges to waive Myanmar debt and extend new loans, its finance minister said Thursday on a visit to boost economic ties with the former army-ruled nation.
Taro Aso also agreed to consider Japan's involvement in the planned multi-billion dollar Dawei deep-sea port in a meeting with reformist President Thein Sein, according to a Japanese official with knowledge of the talks.
The visit by the former premier -- who was brought back to the frontline of Japanese politics by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after his election victory last month -- reflects the economic importance Japan places on Myanmar.
It comes despite growing international concern about a civil war raging in Myanmar's northern state of Kachin, where the United States and the UN on Wednesday urged Myanmar to halt air strikes against ethnic minority rebels.
Japan's previous government first announced last April that it would forgive 300 billion yen ($3.4 billion) of the 500 billion yen owed by Myanmar, following a string of dramatic political reforms in the one-time pariah state.
Aso confirmed Thursday that Tokyo will extend 50 billion yen of new loans to the long-isolated Southeast Asian nation to help upgrade power systems, boost rural development and fund a planned industrial park, the official said.
They would be the first new yen loans to Myanmar by Japan in nearly three decades.
Former junta-ruled Myanmar craves investment to spur growth and boost its dilapidated infrastructure, while export-reliant Japan is hunting new opportunities in the resource-rich nation to offset sluggish domestic growth.
The two countries last month agreed to start work this year on a huge industrial zone near Yangon.
The 2,400 hectare (6,000 acre) Thilawa project will include a port and industrial park and be up and running in 2015, according to Japan's Ministry for Economic, Trade and Industries. Aso is due to visit the site on Friday.
The huge Thilawa project is expected to be led by a consortium of Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Corp., Sumitomo Corp. and Marubeni Corp.
Myanmar is also keen for Japan to invest in the cash-strapped Dawei project but Tokyo has said its priority is the Thilawa development.
Unlike its Western allies, Japan maintained trade ties and dialogue with Myanmar during years of junta rule which ended in 2011, warning that a hard line could push it closer to key ally China.

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Burma President’s New Year message keeps away from Kachin peace talks

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/01/burma-presidents-new-year-message-keeps.html [/postlink]

 

By Zin Linn

President of Burma delivered his first New Year radio message to the whole people all over the nation Tuesday. The New Light of Myanmar newspaper also brought out the Presidents message on 1 January 2013.

The president said in his message that the most important factor for triumph of the nation’s democratic evolution is the mutual trust between the government and the people.

President Thein Sein said that he spoke directly to the people narrowing the gap between the government and the citizens in favor of creating a new direct necessary communication link for the society. His government has been striving for developing transparent communication channel and his cabinet ministers have been providing the people with information, he said. So, he decided to speak on radio which is still an effective channel of communication, he added.

The 67-year-old ex-general, who acted as prime minister in the previous junta, has been acknowledged by the Western Governments for recent reforms, including giving a political space to key opposition figure and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, easing restrictions on the press, releasing important political prisoners and allowing activities of non-governmental organizations in social movement.

In reality, countless citizens say they just know on papers about their country’s changes but witness no difference to their destitute standard of living. However, the President reviewed the situation via optimistic point of view. Thein Sein assessed the state of affairs in his message that popular expectations have increased as reforms in the previous year gave birth to political developments.

Calling attention to the society which was once closed and isolated, Thein Sein underlined the obligation to implement the reform in many aspects. He also advised the people to make an effort in the reform period by means of aspiring to the best.

In the nature of things, he said, people aspire to the best and they have a right to express their desires for hopes. But the most important thing for the entire society is to shape the promising future through ongoing reform processes, he stated in the New Year message.

The people as well as the government need to have knowledge of the gap between demand of the people and capacity of the government, he pointed out. The responsibility is on the shoulder of all citizens to go all-out for thriving of constructive situation, he said. He also urged to make use of negotiated political culture without taking an extreme view in facing possible challenges ahead.

Additionally, he expressed his perspective that if each and every citizen works together with united efforts similar to the time of independence struggles, surely the country will overcome the challenges of change ahead.

The message says at one clause: The world nations were amazed at Myanmar’s impressive political progress in 2012. It can be said that we laid together a foundation of political system needed for ensuring better socioeconomic status on daily basis of our society. Plans are underway in accord with Economic and Social Reform Framework to enable each and every citizen to enjoy the fruitful results of general reforms upcoming years. We will constantly inform the people of our government’s stance and actions.

Looking back into recent past, President held his first press conference for local press on 21 October. It was a landmark event after former military regimes restriction on free press for decaeds.

Thein Sein answered nearly three-dozen questions from domestic news journals and foreign correspondents on various subjects ranging from current war in Kachin state to the possibility of amending the 2008 constitution drawn by the previous junta.

The President said that armed conflicts starting from the post-independence period were still going on in the country. Due to those rebellions, he said, the country has faced difficulties to promote the nation as a developed one.

In fact, government armed forces operate quite a lot of aggressive assaults in recent weeks in Kachin frontline including air-strikes. Fighting goes on deadly all through Kachin and Northern Shan State in the face of government peacemaking pledge to the United States and the EU. All the battles have occurred in KIOs territories including some areas where government troops occupied Kachin areas after a 1994 ceasefire agreement.

On the other hand, the government authorities often say that fighting still comes about in Kachin areas due to mixed-up positions of both troops in front-line areas. Actually, the government troops have violated the 1994 ceasefire agreement and invaded Kachin controlled areas.

Even though the Kachin war is a great barrier in the way of President's professed reform, he did not mention the facts about the heavy fighting against the KIO in his New Year message.

According to KIO's spokesperson Salang Kaba Lah Nan, the government army has been gearing up for a major military offensive against the KIO using massive military strength of around hundred battalions.

Consequently, with continuation of hostilities, the mutual trust between the government and the Kachin people may not be reached easily. And the Presidents ongoing reform processes may not be materialized by any means. People will also think his New Year message as an empty memo.

- Asian Tribune -

http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2013/01/01/burma-president%E2%80%99s-new-year-message-keeps-away-kachin-peace-talks

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Aung San Suu Kyi to be Honored with 2012 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award

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WASHINGTON —Aung San Suu Kyi will receive the 2012 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award, Jane Harman, president and director of the Wilson Center, announced today. Suu Kyi, will be honored with the prestigious award at a symposium in Yangon, co-hosted by the Wilson Center’s Global Women’s Leadership Initiative on January 15-16, 2013.

“Aung San SuuKyi’s lifelong dedication to the cause of democracy and the Burmese people makes her the perfect recipient of this year’s Ion Ratiu Democracy Award,” said Harman. “Daw Suu is a world icon who has shown that grace and non-violence are the most powerful weapons against oppression.”

Following 15 years of house arrest as a political prisoner of the junta at the forefront of the democracy movement in Burma, Suu Kyi now heads Myanmar’s main opposition party, the National League of Democracy. She is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the recipient of the United States Congressional Gold Medal. Suu Kyi will receive the Ion Ratiu Award during a two-day symposium in Yangon, Myanmar titled“Women Leading Democracy Building in Myanmar: Shaping Global and Local Strategies.” This will be the first time a Ratiu Award nominee will be honored in her home country at a program that advances her cause among the people whose rights she defended and fought for. 

The Ion Ratiu Democracy Award brings visibility and international recog­nition to the ideas and accomplishments of individuals around the world who are working on behalf of democracy. The award expresses the deep commitment to democracy of the late Ion Ratiu through his contributions as a Romanian politician as well as his interest in democratic change worldwide. Ion Ratiu (1917-2000) was the most outspoken and consistent voice of opposition to Nicolae Ceausescu, whose regime he opposed for years from London as the democratically elected leader of The World Union of Free Romanians. The Ion Ratiu Democracy Award is funded by The Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation and The Ratiu Center for Democracy.

The Global Women’s Leadership Initiative’s (GWLI) global network is the platform for both the Council of Women World Leaders, located at The Wilson Center since November 2011, and the Women in Public Service Project, launched by Secretary Hillary Clinton in partnership with the historic Seven Sisters women’s colleges, which moved to the Wilson Center in June 2012. The GWLI is a unique platform for change – connecting current and emerging women leaders, promoting the goal of 50 percent women in public service jobs worldwide, advancing inclusive policies, and bringing new research to the forefront.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/aung-san-suu-kyi-to-be-honored-2012-ion-ratiu-democracy-award

 

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Jason Mraz headlines anti-human trafficking concert in Myanmar

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Singer JASON MRAZ helped to raise awareness about human trafficking on Sunday (16Dec12) by performing at a special MTV charity concert in Myanmar.

The I'm Yours star joined forces with MTV bosses, government aid agencies in the U.S. and Australia and officials at anti-slavery organization Walk Free to stage a special gig at the base of the Shwedagon Pagoda hilltop in the city of Yangon to draw attention to the international slave trade.

An estimated 50,000 fans flocked to see the show, who was the first international musician to play in the former Burma in decades, following the end of military rule in the Southeast Asian country last year (11).

He was joined on the bill by a slew of local artists, and the singer was humbled to be performing on such a huge stage.

Taking to his Twitter.com blog before touching down in Myanmar, he wrote, "En route to #LiveInMyanmar, honored to be an ambassador of awareness; exposing modern day slavery, transforming & saving lives".

The event occurred just four days after Mraz was saluted for his humanitarian efforts by the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Foundation.

He was presented with the Champion Award at the organization's 17th Annual Awards Ceremony in New York on Wednesday (12Dec12), but didn't stick around to celebrate his prize and instead headed off to Myanmar.

He follows in the footsteps of previous recipients Billy Joel, John Mellencamp and Tony Bennett.

Read more: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/entertainment/celebrity/Jason-Mraz-headlines-antihuman-trafficking-concert-in-Myanmar_60312386#ixzz2FKcQV500

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Myanmar 'sorry' for monk beatings

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YANGON: Myanmar's government formally apologised on Saturday to the country's Buddhist monks for its recent crackdown on protesters at a copper mine that injured more than 100 of their monastic colleagues.

The apology in response to public demonstrations was a fresh sign that the new reform-minded government is responsive to public opinion, a departure from the repressive military regimes that ruled for decades.  

President's Office Minister Hla Tun led other officials in apologising to senior and injured monks in the central city of Mandalay.

The monks had been holding protests to demand an apology for the violence, with hundreds marching peacefully this past Wednesday in Yangon and Mandalay, the country's two biggest cities, along with Monywa, the town closest to the mine, and at least six other towns.

Police used water cannons, tear gas and smoke bombs on Nov 29 to break up an 11-day occupation of the Letpadaung mine project in northwestern Myanmar, a joint venture between a military-owned holding company and a Chinese company. Protesters want the project halted, saying it is causing environmental, social and health problems.

Shin Wirathu, one of the monks leading the protests, said Saturday's action satisfied their demands for a formal apology. The monks had rejected previous apologies by officials as inadequate and directed at the wrong people. Officials in attendance Saturday included Health Minister Pe Thet Khin, Police Chief Kyaw Kyaw Tun and Sagaing Region Chief minister Thar Aye.

"We are now satisfied as they made the apology publicly and legally,'' said Shin Wirathu "And it's pleasing that the ones who had the main responsibility for the crackdown apologised to the injured monks. We acknowledge it as a historic day but it's a matter of forgive, not forget.''

He added that the officials also promised not to let anything like the crackdown happen again.

According to Shin Wirathu, 34 injured monks and 3 lay people are still at hospitals in Mandalay, and one person was sent to Thailand for medical treatment.

Most of those hurt suffered burns that protesters said were caused by incendiary devices hurled by police.

The crackdown was reminiscent of those the country faced under military rule, which formally ended when an elected government took power last year. It stirred particular anger because of the violence against monks, who are held in high regard in this reverent Buddhist country.

The heavy-handed action indicated the government is still unsure where to draw the line on public protests, even though elected President Thein Sein's government has been hailed for releasing hundreds of political prisoners and for implementing laws allowing public demonstrations and labour strikes.

BANGKOK POST

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Copper mine strikes raise questions in Myanmar

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Copper mine strikes raise questions in Myanmar

Copper mine strikes have raised questions about China's 'soft power' in Myanmar. The government's response has raised questions about Myanmar's move toward democracy.

A man holds a banner during a protest in Yangon on December 2, 2012 against a Chinese-backed copper mine in Monywa in northern Myanmar. (Soe Than Win/AFP/Getty Images)

YANGON, Myanmar – A stream of protesters, many of them Buddhist monks clad in maroon robes, trickled through the capital Monday as part of what observers here say is a growing movement against the government’s brutal crackdown on strikers at a Chinese-backed copper mining project in the northwest.

About 100 protesters carried placards and chanted a phrase that has become their slogan: “Violence is not the solution.” 

Opposition leader and Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has lent her support to the movement, visiting the strikers at the Lapadaungtaung copper mining project. The project is a joint venture by the military-backed Union of Myanmar Economics Holdings Limited (UMEHL) and a Chinese company called Myanmar Wanboa Mining Copper Limited.

Suu Kyi was elected to parliament earlier this year in elections that were widely seen as a move toward democracy in Myanmar, also known as Burma. She heads a parliamentary commission that is investigating the government’s alleged use of excessive force on the strikers at the mine in a series of clashes that began in late November.

“The commission will not shirk its responsibilities and it will hold people accountable,” Suu Kyi told reporters this week.

The labor unrest in the copper mining town is the latest example of how China’s attempts at ‘soft power’ — using economic influence to achieve its goals — rather than the ‘hard power’ of military strength, is increasingly being met with popular resistance in Burma.

More from GlobalPost: Myanmar: Police crack down on copper mine protesters

Many people here and a growing number of their representatives in parliament say that China is going too far in exploiting Burma’s abundant natural resources. Via a new network of pipelines, China has siphoned vast mineral wealth and energy in the form of hydropower from dams and petroleum.

China’s aggressive business interests and how they impact Burma was chronicled last month in a GlobalPost Special Report titled, “The Burma Road: China and soft power in a new Myanmar.”

“China itself cannot do what it wants to do … Doing what one wants to do without a compromise is not democratic. Myanmar needs to try promoting democracy.” Suu Khi said.

“We must bravely put forward the truth,” she said, explaining that the findings of the commission will first be submitted to President Thein Sein who called for the body to be formed on December 1 in the wake of the violence.

On November 29, police clad in riot gear raided a protest camp outside the mining project and seriously injured 74 people, including dozens of monks, by beating them with truncheons and allegedly spraying them with a caustic liquid that has left many of the injured monks with skin burns. Several of the most seriously burned were being taken to a hospital in Thailand for treatment.

The crackdown has produced condemnation of the government from the international community and sparked a wave of small, but persistent, protests across the country in recent weeks.

Those public demonstrations have prompted a round of arrests of activists. Police officials have maintained that the demonstrations are being held without proper permits. The rising tension comes just three weeks after President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a historic visit to Burma, a diplomatic initiative that was widely viewed as a new spirit of engagement between the US and Burma.

But the strikes at the copper mine raise issues of labor rights violations and of China’s aggressive presence in Burma. This has left some observers wondering whether the government of Myanmar, which speaks of a new era of democracy and of opening to the Western world, is staying true to its word.

Kyaw Zwa Moe, an outspoken critic of the government and editor of the English language edition of the independent Irrawadday newspaper, wrote in a recent column:

“The government continues to use the threat of arbitrary arrest to intimidate dissidents. Until this is no longer the norm in Myanmar, it will be meaningless to speak of Myanmar as a democratic or even democratizing nation.”

But even as Zwa Moe was writing this strident criticism, the government was for the first time in a long time allowing his opposition newspaper, which is based in Bangkok, to publish inside Burma.

The irony that was not lost on at least one political observer here who said, “We keep taking steps forwards and then steps backwards, but the question everybody is still watching for is whether we are moving forward? It’s going to take more time to know.”

 

source: globalpost

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Myanmar makes new mine protest arrests

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Myanmar Buddhist monks stage a protest demanding further apologies over injuries …

 

Myanmar authorities said Friday they had made a fresh round of arrests in response to a spate of protests demanding an apology for last month's police crackdown on a rally at a Chinese-backed copper mine.

Demonstrations have been held across the country also known as Burma in a continuing show of public anger at injuries, including severe burns, sustained by dozens of monks in a pre-dawn raid on protest camps at the mine.
"Some activists were arrested for questioning," a police official told AFP, asking not to be named. He said they were picked up in the second-biggest city Mandalay for protesting without permission.
Activist organisation the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, which took part in street action this week, said eight people were arrested late Thursday.
Four are still in custody after refusing bail on financial grounds, said the group's Moe Htet Myay.
"They said that they didn't commit any crime. We are monitoring the situation," he told AFP.
Hundreds of monks, supported by activists, staged demonstrations across Myanmar Wednesday to denounce the mine crackdown, which was the toughest action against demonstrators since a reformist government came to power last year.
The wife of Thein Aung Myint, one of the arrested protesters, said her husband was taken from their home in the evening and had not returned.
"I think he was taken because of his involvement in the monk-led protest on December 12," said Khet Khet Tin.
Last week Religious Affairs Minister Myint Maung apologised to some of the country's most senior clerics for injuries to about 99 monks, state media said.
About 100 police also apologised to a group of monks in Monywa soon after the crackdown. But the moves have failed to quell public discontent.
Photographs of the protesters' injuries have stirred an outcry and acted as a reminder of brutal junta-era security tactics, including the notorious crackdown on mass monk-led rallies in 2007 known as the "Saffron Revolution".
The dispute at the Monywa mine centres on allegations of mass evictions and environmental damage caused by the project -- a joint venture between Chinese firm Wanbao and military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings.
China insists that the contentious points have already been resolved.
Eight people arrested in connection with earlier protests against the mine in recent weeks were released on bail on Tuesday.

AFP

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