Mong La has become a hub for gambling, prostitution and illegal animal products like ivory and tiger skull. Features Myanmar's wildlife trafficking hotspot Mong La has become a hub for gambling, prostitution and illegal animal products like ivory and tiger skull. Sebastian Strangio Last updated: 17 Jun 2014 11:01 Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker Email Article Print Article Share article Send Feedback Mong La, Myanmar - In the middle of Zhangji Restaurant stood the venue's main attraction: a long glass aquarium filled with Chinese rice wine and ginseng root. There, eerily submerged in the brown liquid, was the skeleton of a tiger, its skull and backbone visible above the alcohol. A small faucet was attached to the side of the tank, where waitresses poured out glasses for tables of Chinese tourists. The skin of another tiger was pinned to the wall above. Tiger bone wine - or hugujiu, in Mandarin - has long been prized by wealthy Chinese, who believe it can stave off chills and improve circulation. Though the tonic has been banned for years in China, it is a common sight across the border in this small town in Myanmar. Venues on the town's main dining strip all have tanks of tiger spirit, available for the knock-down price of 60 Chinese yuan ($10) per glass. Many restaurants here also specialise in endangered animals. On the pavement outside the Zhangji Restaurant were cages filled with owls, geckos, monkeys, and monitor lizards. Plastic tubs held soft-shell turtles. Another restaurant down the street boasted live pangolins, an endangered species of scaly anteater whose consumption is banned under international wildlife treaties. "It's delicious," a waitress said, pointing her pen at the curled, scaly creatures. A major wildlife market Welcome to Mong La, the de facto capital of "Special Region No 4", a sliver of territory along the Chinese border in Myanmar's eastern Shan State. In recent years, spurred by lax law enforcement and booming demand from China, this shabby border town has grown to become a key hub of the Asian trade in endangered animals and animal products. The turnover of many products seems to be high ... Given the small size of the town, this is remarkable. - Vincent Nijman, zoologist and anthropologist "In terms of number and volume of the variety of species on offer, Mong La is one of Southeast Asia's largest open wildlife markets," said Vincent Nijman, a zoologist and anthropologist from Oxford Brookes University in the UK. For the past two decades, the armed militia that controls this tiny enclave, population 89,000, has survived by turning it into a haven of illicit pleasures for border-hopping Chinese tourists. Glitzy casinos draw hundreds of Chinese each week from nearby Yunnan province, where gambling is banned. The influx of gamblers has in turn triggered a boom in prostitution - much of the central town seems to function as a red-light district - and a surging demand for rare animals, many of which are protected by international treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Evidence of the wildlife trade can be seen everywhere around town. At Mong La's open-air market, vendors openly sell bear bile powder, pangolin scales and the skulls of Tibetan antelopes. More upmarket wildlife stores do a brisk trade in ivory and tiger skins, which experts have traced back to poachers as far away as Africa and India. During a trip to Mong La in January this year, Nijman and a colleague from the anti-wildlife trafficking organisation TRAFFIC counted 50 raw elephant tusks and 3,300 pieces of ivory for sale around town. "The turnover of many products seems to be high and there is no other indication other than that business is thriving," Nijman said. "Given the small size of the town, this is remarkable." At one wildlife boutique, a Chinese shop owner showed off a piece of polished ivory with a price tag of 5,000 yuan ($805). When asked where it came from, he chuckled nervously. "Where has it come from? I don't know about that." A 'James Bondian private police force' Mong La has enjoyed autonomous status since 1989, when the Communist Party of Burma collapsed after decades of insurgency. The Mong La area subsequently fell under the control of the National Democratic Alliance Army, or NDAA, led by the former Maoist Red Guard Sai Leun. Like many armed rebel groups, Leun then cut a ceasefire deal with Myanmar's military government, giving him autonomy in exchange for ending the insurgency. Since then, Leun has ruled Mong La and its gambling settlement by fiat, protected by an army of 4,500 men that US officials have likened to a "James Bondian private police force". There's an enormous demand in China for these products. There's not a lot being talked about and done about it, but it's serious money. - Tom Kramer, Transnational Institute researcher Tom Kramer, a Yangon-based researcher with the Transnational Institute, said the Myanmar government lets ceasefire groups like the NDAA do more or less whatever they want, "as long as they don't go into opposition politics". Given the rising Chinese demand, the peculiar political arrangements in Mong La have created the perfect spot for wildlife traders. "There's an enormous demand in China for these products," he said. "There's not a lot being talked about and done about it, but it's serious money." For its own part, the NDAA denies it has turned a blind eye to the illegal animal trade. One senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the police frequently raided wildlife shops and confiscated contraband. "We will crack down on it," the official said, though he admitted it was challenging. "Most of the high-end restaurants have wild animals, because when the rich people come they say, 'I want to eat this one, I want to eat that one'. They don't want to eat livestock raised in the farm, because of antibiotics or something." But Nijman remained unconvinced that there has been any real attempt to stem the sale of products like ivory and tiger bones - trade that appeared to have official backing. Like prostitution, the availability of banned animal products seemed to be an integral part of Mong La's casino-based economy. "You go out gambling, in the evening you get yourself a prostitute, and then you eat the stuff you can't eat at home," he said. "It's the whole package that makes it attractive." While China has made some recent moves to crack down on the wildlife trade, banning rare animals from official banquets and passing tough new laws against the consumption of tiger bone wine and endangered creatures like pangolins, it, too, turns a blind eye to the Chinese tourists who cross into Mong La - often illegally - to buy wild animal products. "Right near the border there are small trails. People simply walk across the border, without any documents," said Wang Bangyuan, a public health specialist who has worked extensively in the China-Myanmar border region. 'It's a battle that they cannot really win' Wang said that despite occasional large busts, the forestry police who enforce China's wildlife protection laws also remain under-funded and ill-equipped. "It's like drug trafficking," he said. "It's illegal, it's being enforced, but the police are understaffed and they're fighting against a business which is quite lucrative. So it's a battle that they cannot really win." China has taken a harder line with the NDAA in the past. In 2003, after becoming angry that corrupt officials were losing billions of yuan in Mong La's casinos, Chinese forces stormed across the border and shut the operations down. The NDAA responded by shifting the gambling operations 16km to the south, but the shells of derelict casinos still dot the hills around town - a reminder of the region's heavy reliance on China. A similar crackdown took place in 2011 in Boten, a casino town on the Laotian-Chinese border, which became a ghost-town overnight after China shut off access to Chinese electricity and cellphone networks. For now, however, local authorities in Yunnan seem happy to tolerate the economic free-for-all in Mong La. Nijman said that without action on their part, it would be hard to stem the flow of ivory and other endangered animal products. But, "if the gambling were to stop there", he said, "the whole thing would collapse". Follow Sebastian Strangio on Twitter: @sstrangio Source: Al Jazeera
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Myanmar rejects US call on constitutional reform
By Associated Press June 17 at 11:33 AM WASHINGTON — The United States says Myanmar should reform its constitution to allow its citizens a free choice over who should be its next president, but Myanmar’s government said Tuesday that’s none of Washington’s business. A Myanmar parliamentary committee last week voted against changing a constitutional clause that bars opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president. National elections are due in 2015. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that enabling the Myanmar people to freely choose who they want to lead them in the next phase of its democratic transition will help to ensure stability. “We believe constitutional reform should pave the way for the Burmese to freely choose their president in a free and fair 2015 election,” Psaki said in a written response to a question posed at a news briefing Monday. Reform should also address ethnic minority rights and decrease the role of active-duty military in political structures, she said. In response, Myanmar presidential spokesman Ye Htut said Tuesday it’s the responsibility of Myanmar’s parliament and people to decide how the constitution should be amended. “It is not the concern of the United States. It is inappropriate for us to tell how the U.S. should amend their constitution and likewise the U.S should not dictate how it should be amended,” he told The Associated Press by email. That testy response reflects signs of fraying in U.S.-Myanmar relationship. Over the past two years, the Obama administration has been a staunch supporter of President Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government as he steers the Southeast Asian nation from decades of oppressive military rule. The U.S. has restored full diplomatic relations and rolled back sanctions, helping Myanmar to shake off its pariah status. But the U.S. has also been critical of the government’s response to bouts of anti-Muslim violence in the predominantly Buddhist nation. Last week the State Department voiced serious concerns about proposals to criminalize interfaith marriage. The current constitution gives the military an effective veto over constitutional amendments, and includes a clause that bars anyone whose spouse or children are loyal to foreign countries from becoming president or vice president. Suu Kyi’s late husband and her two sons are British citizens. If the parliamentary committee’s recommendation is endorsed by the full parliament, it is likely to have a significant impact on the 2015 election. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party is expected to mount a strong challenge, with a good possibility of winning, but without Suu Kyi as a prospective president, its backers may flag in their support. Suu Kyi is widely respected in Washington because of her long and peaceful struggle against military rule. She spent years under house arrest before her release in 2010 and election to parliament in 2012. ____ Aye Aye Win reported from Yangon, Myanmar. Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Parboiled rice has more fiber than regular white rice.
Parboiled rice has more fiber than regular white rice. Parboiled rice might sound like it's precooked, but it's not. Instead, it's processed quite differently from other types of rice. The resulting grain is cooked and served just as you would white or brown rice. However, because of the special processing, parboiled rice is a better source of fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamin B-6 than regular white rice. Sponsored Link ミャンマーのドメイン取得代行 ミャンマー進出時のお問合せ・WEB制作 現地サーバまで一貫してお任せ下さい。 mm-domain.com/ドメイン取得 BasicsAfter rice is harvested, its inedible hull is removed to produce brown rice. If rice is put through a second step of processing to remove the bran, it becomes white rice. Unlike brown and white rice, the process for parboiled rice begins before the hull is removed. The complete grain of rice is soaked, steamed and dried, then the hull is removed to make parboiled rice. The steaming enables the rice to absorb nutrients and changes the starch so that it cooks into a firmer, less sticky dish of rice than regular white rice. The steaming does not precook the rice, so it still takes about 20 minutes to prepare. CarbohydratesOne cup of cooked parboiled rice provides 41 grams of total carbohydrates, or about one-third of the recommended daily intake of 130 grams. The same portion has 1.4 grams of fiber, which supplies 4 percent of men’s and 6 percent of women’s daily fiber. Parboiled rice has double the fiber than you'd get from cooked white rice. It has a low glycemic score of 38, compared with a high 89 for white rice, notes Harvard Health Publications. A low glycemic score indicates that the carbohydrates in parboiled rice do not cause a large spike in blood sugar. B VitaminsParboiled rice is especially rich in niacin, providing 4 milligrams, or 23 percent of the recommended daily intake in 1 cup of cooked rice. You’ll also get 19 percent of the daily intake of vitamin B-6. These values are about double the amount you would get from non-enriched white rice. Your body needs B vitamins to metabolize food into energy, but they also fill other roles, such as helping make hormones and neurotransmitters. Vitamin B-6 removes the amino acid homocysteine from your bloodstream by turning it into other substances. This might help keep your heart healthy; high levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. MineralsOne cup of cooked parboiled rice supplies 2 to 3 percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. You'll get a slightly bigger boost of zinc, with 1 cup containing 0.58 milligrams of zinc. That amount represents 5 percent of men’s and 7 percent of women’s daily needs. Zinc performs vital roles throughout your body, from forming the structure of proteins to regulating DNA. If you don’t get enough zinc, your immune system becomes impaired; it needs zinc to produce the cells that fight bacteria and infections.
Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
(dailyrx Feature) Memory problems may be one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease, but it's not the first sign for everyone. There are several other clues that Alzheimer's disease may be developing. Video Feature: Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common causes of dementia, which is a decline in thinking, remembering, reasoning and behavioral abilities to such a degree that it interferes with daily life and activities. Most people with Alzheimer's disease are 65 and older, but Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The Basics of Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease that gets worse with time. The disease is characterized by plaques and tangles throughout the brain. Plaques are deposits of a protein called beta-amyloid, and tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau. As the number of plaques and tangles increase, more brain cells are damaged and the disease gets worse. Presently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. People older than 80 with Alzheimer's disease may die within three or four years of diagnosis, but people diagnosed at a younger age may live 10 years or more after diagnosis. Take note and tell your doctor if you notice any of the following early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Memory Loss Forgetfulness and memory loss are common signs of Alzheimer's disease. These symptoms are more common in those with early stage Alzheimer's. People will Alzheimer's disease might forget names or dates or that certain conversations and events have occurred. Related: Not All Alzheimer's Patients Have Memory Loss Losing Things Consistently losing items may be another symptom of Alzheimer's. People with Alzheimer's disease may misplace items and become unable to retrace their steps to find those lost items. Difficulty with Familiar Tasks People with Alzheimer's disease may find it difficult to manage familiar tasks, such as handling money and their budget. At first, people might just take longer to complete these tasks. Eventually, they may find it hard to complete the task. Difficulty Making Decisions Changes in a person's judgment or decision-making abilities are other potential early signs of Alzheimer's disease. A person with Alzheimer's may make bad financial decisions or other unwise decisions. Alzheimer's patients may pay less attention to personal grooming and hygiene. Related: How Stress Saps Your Health Losing Track Trouble keeping track of times and dates is another early sign of Alzheimer's disease. Following familiar recipes and other familiar activities may also become more difficult for these patients. Planning and Problem-Solving Issues Some Alzheimer's disease patients become unable to develop a plan and follow it through. They may be unable to take a problem and formulate an approach to solve it. Related to the problem-solving difficulties, people with Alzheimer's also may have trouble working with numbers. Vision and Space Problems Alzheimer's patients can become confused when reading, determining distances or identifying a particular color. Problems judging distance and telling colors can lead to driving problems among Alzheimer's patients. Communication Troubles Alzheimer's disease may affect a person's ability to follow along in a conversation. People affected by this Alzheimer's symptom may stop in the middle of speaking or repeat themselves to remember what the conversation was about. Related: The Role of Gender in Mental Health Personality Changes Another possible sign of early Alzheimer's is a change in a person's personality or mood. People affected by early Alzheimer's may become confused, suspicious, depressed or fearful. They also may feel anxious or aggressive. Isolation Withdrawing from social interactions and situations may be another early sign of Alzheimer's disease. Some patients may stray from social activities like sports, hobbies, work projects, get-togethers or casual interactions with other people. What to Do if You Notice Alzheimer's Symptoms Speak with your doctor if you show any signs of early Alzheimer's disease. Your doctor will help distinguish issues related to aging from those that may be related to Alzheimer's. Jim McAleer, MPA, President and CEO of the Orange County Alzheimer's Association, told dailyRx News, "If you forgot your car keys every day at 20 and do so at 60, you're just forgetful. If you see a change in your memory or memory patterns, that's key and worth getting checked out." McAleer added, "It's vitally important to get good help if you experience memory issues. Would you go to your [general practitioner] for a heart issue? No! You'd find a cardiologist." He noted that it's important to get care from someone who specializes in Alzheimer's disease when you experience memory problems that need to be evaluated. While there is no cure for Alzheimer's, there are some treatments that may help maintain memory, thinking, speaking and some behavioral problems for a period of time. Donepezil (brand name Aricept), rivastigmine (brand name Exelon) and galantamine (brand name Razadyne) are used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Memantine (brand name Namenda) is used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil can be also be used for severe Alzheimer's. Related: Health Risks Seniors Should Be Aware Of
Tribunal orders China to respond to PHL’s complaint over sea row
June 4, 2014 9:44am 1028 35 1 1294 (Updated 5:37 p.m.) A United Nations-backed international arbitral tribunal has ordered China to respond to the Philippines' claim that Beijing illegally occupied certain areas in the South China Sea. The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration issued its second Procedural Order after the second meeting of the Arbitral Tribunal's members last May 14 and 15. However, in an statement later Wednesday, China reiterated its refusal to take part in the arbitration proceedings and rejected the ruling. ‘Open and friendly resolution mechanism’ In a memorial submitted to the tribunal on March 30, 2014, the Philippines argued that China illegally occupied at least eight South China Sea shoals, reefs and similar features belonging to the Philippines. It also said China's claims that it owns the disputed territory did not conform with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Beijing has continuously ignored the arbitration process, even saying in its May 21, 2014 note verbale that it will not participate in the proceedings. Earlier Wednesday, the Philippines asked China to reconsider its rejection of the legal challenge to its territorial claims and join the arbitration case. "We wish to reiterate that arbitration is a peaceful, open and friendly resolution mechanism that offers a durable solution to the disputes in the South China Sea," Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose told a press briefing. "We continue to urge China to reconsider its decision not to participate in the arbitration proceedings." At a press conference, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said they leave it to China whether or not it will comply with the order. "This is a process that all parties are abiding by. So, whether China responds or not... we leave it with them," he said. And while the country is waiting for the decision of the tribunal, the Palace official assured the public that authorities are securing the country's territories. "I think that’s where we have made measures both by the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) and also by our coast watch to strengthen and to ensure our maritime resources," he said. Until December 15, 2014 The arbitral tribunal in its Procedural Order No. 2 has given China until December 15, 2014 to submit a counter memorial to the Philippine complaint that seeks to denigrate Beijing's massive claim, which Manila calls illegal and excessive. Chairing the five-member Arbitral Tribunal is Judge Thomas Mensah of Ghana. The other members include: - Judge Jean-Pierre Cot of France - Judge Stanislaw Pawlak of Poland - Professor Alfred Soons of the Netherlands - Judge Rüdiger Wolfrum of Germany Last May 21, the Permanent Court of Arbitration received a note verbale from China where Beijing reiterated it "does not accept the arbitration initiated by the Philippines.” China added the note verbale “shall not be regarded as China’s acceptance of, or participation in the proceedings.” On the other hand, the tribunal said it allowed both sides a chance to comment on scheduling, with the Philippines submitting its comments last May 29. The arbitration procedure started on Jan. 22, 2013, when the Philippines served China a notification and statement of claim. China rejected the Philippines' notification. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the memorial submitted March 30, 2014 to the Permanent Court of Arbitration “contains the Philippine analysis of the applicable law and the relevant evidence, and demonstrates that the tribunal has jurisdiction over all the claims made by the Philippines.” Representing the Philippines are: - Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza - counsels Paul Reichler and Lawrence Martin, Foley Hoag LLP, Washington DC - Professor Bernard Oxman, University of Miami School of Law, Miami - Professor Philippe Sands, London - Professor Alan Boyle, Essex Court Chambers, London Meanwhile, China has not appointed an agent as it does not accept the arbitration process. Tensions in Ayungin Shoal included Earlier, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza said the incidents in Ayungin Shoal were included in the Philippine case. “The Philippines amended its statement of claim including Ayungin as part of the arbitration,” he said. Tensions over Ayungin Shoal (also called Ren’ai Reef by China but internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal) intensified on March 9 when Chinese coast guard ships blocked two Philippine civilian vessels which were sailing toward the disputed rocky outcrop. Also in March, Military officials reported an incident of harassment as they launched another attempt to transport supplies and fresh Filipino troops to a grounded Philippine Navy ship manned by more than a dozen Marines and sailors, which has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory. Pressure from China Under the arbitration procedure, the filing of a counter-memorial should be made by China. Upon submission, the tribunal will decide on the next steps and advise the parties involved in the case on its next course of action. Since the Philippines filed the case in January 2013, Beijing has attempted to pressure Manila into withdrawing from the legal process. China has also put diplomatic pressure on other claimant states not to support the Philippines. China maintains "historical and indisputable claim" nearly over the entire sea and its features, even as it overlaps with the territorial jurisdiction of its neighbors like the Philippines. West Philippine Sea Manila adopted the name West Philippine Sea for parts of the waters that are within its territorial boundaries. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are also claimants to the South China Sea – a major trading route where undersea oil and gas deposits have been discovered. An expert said Manila’s filing of the memorial would step up pressure on China in defending its nine-dash line claim – a tongue-shaped encirclement that covers a huge swath of the South China Sea. “It will add moral pressure on China to make its claims to ‘historic rights’ and ‘indisputable sovereignty’ clearer in terms of international law,” Professor Carl Thayer of the Australian Defense Force Academy told GMA News Online. The arbitral process could take up to a year or longer and during this period, China is expected to further reinforce its claims, said Thayer. On the other hand, the United States, European Union and many Asian governments have supported the Philippines' decision to seek a solution to the dispute through peaceful means "in accordance with international law" instead of military aggression. A decision in favor of the Philippines would strengthen the rule of international law, Thayer said. “Using international law may be the ‘weapon of the weak’ but the valiant attempt by the Philippines to employ legal means to create a stable regional order will be viewed positively by most regional states, including those in the Association of South East Asian Nations,” Thayer said. UNCLOS has no provisions for enforcement, but a favorable ruling will be seen as a moral victory for the Philippines. — Joel Locsin, Michaela del Callar and Kimberly Jane Tan, with a report from Reuters/LBG/KG/BM, GMA News
Putin looks east to bolster ties with North Korea
FILE - In this May 9, 2014 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to speak at a navy parade marking Victory Day in Sevastopol, Crimea. Angry with the West’s response over Ukraine, Russia is moving rapidly to bolster ties with North Korea in a diplomatic nose-thumbing that could complicate the U.S.-led effort to squeeze Pyongyang into giving up its nuclear weapons program. Russia’s proactive strategy in Asia- which also involves cozying up to China and had been dubbed “Putin’s Pivot” - began years ago as Moscow’s answer to Washington’s much touted rebalancing of its military forces in the Pacific. (Ivan Sekretarev, File/Associated Press) By Associated Press June 4 at 10:32 AM TOKYO — Angry with the West’s response over Ukraine and eager to diversify its options, Russia is moving rapidly to bolster ties with North Korea in a diplomatic nose-thumbing that could complicate the U.S.-led effort to squeeze Pyongyang into giving up its nuclear weapons program. Russia’s proactive strategy in Asia, which also involves cozying up to China and has been dubbed “Putin’s Pivot,” began years ago as Moscow’s answer to Washington’s much-touted alliance-building and rebalancing of its military forces in the Pacific. But it has gained a new sense of urgency since the unrest in Ukraine — and Pyongyang is already getting a big windfall with high-level political exchanges and promises from Russia of trade and development projects. Moscow’s overtures to North Korea reflect both a defensive distancing from the EU and Washington because of their sanctions over Ukraine and a broader, long-term effort by Russia to strengthen its hand in Asia by building political alliances, expanding energy exports and developing Russian regions in Siberia and the Far East. For North Korea, the timing couldn’t be better. Since the demise of the Soviet Union and the largesse it banked on as a member of the communist bloc, the North has been struggling to keep its economy afloat and has depended heavily on trade and assistance from ally China. Sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs have further isolated the country, and Pyongyang has long feared it could become too beholden to Beijing. Better ties with Russia could provide a much needed economic boost, a counterbalance against Chinese influence and a potentially useful wedge against the West in international forums — and particularly in the U.S.-led effort to isolate Pyongyang over its development of nuclear weapons. “By strengthening its relationship with North Korea, Russia is trying to enhance its bargaining position vis-à-vis the United States and Japan,” said Narushige Michishita, a North Korea and Asia security expert at Japan’s National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. Michishita added that showing Washington he will not be cowed by the sanctions was “one of the most important factors” why Putin is wooing Pyongyang now. Moscow remains wary of having a nuclear-armed North Korea on its border. But over the past few months it has courted the North with various economic projects, political exchanges and a vote in the Duma, the top Russian legislative body, to write off nearly $10 billion in debt held over from the Soviet era. It has pledged to reinvest $1 billion that Pyongyang still owes into a trans-Siberian railway through North Korea to South Korea — a project that is still in the very early stages. That, together with a pipeline, would allow Russia to export gas and electricity to South Korea. Michishita noted that the same day the United Nations’ General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Russia and North Korea were busy signing an economic trade cooperation pact. The warming began around July last year, but it has accelerated as Moscow’s antagonism with the West has grown. Moscow sent a relatively low-ranking representative to the 60th anniversary of the end of fighting in the Korean War that month. But since then, it has hosted North Korea’s head of state at the opening of the Olympic Games in Sochi and, in March, sent its minister in charge of Far East development to Pyongyang. A three-day visit in April by Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev, who is also the presidential envoy for Russia’s far eastern federal district, marked the “culmination of a new phase in Russian-North Korean relations taking shape — a sort of renaissance if you will,” Alexander Vorontsov, a North Korea expert at the Russia Academy of Sciences, wrote recently on the influential 38 North blog. “It is still an open question whether the current crisis in Ukraine will result in any more substantial shifts in Russian policy toward North Korea, particularly in dealing with the nuclear and missile issues,” Vorontsov said in his blog post. “With the West increasing pressure on Russia as a result of differences over Ukraine, the very fact that Moscow and Pyongyang are subject to U.S. sanctions will objectively draw them together, as well as with China.” Since 2003, a series of multilateral talks have been one of the primary means of pressuring North Korea to denuclearize and to coordinate policy between the six main countries involved — China, Russia, the United States, Japan and North and South Korea. Though still seen as one of the best tools the international community has to pressure Pyongyang on the nuclear issue, the talks were fraught from the start because of the North’s unwillingness to back down and the lack of a unified stance among the five other nations. With North Korea showing no signs of giving up its nuclear option, some analysts believe a widening rift between Russia and the U.S. could weaken future six-party talks. “North Korea’s motivations and actions are driven by the leadership’s perceptions, world view, and ideology,” said Seoul-based analyst Daniel Pinkston, of the International Crisis Group. “That remains the same. As long as the leadership is wedded to son’gun (Military First) ideology, they will not denuclearize before the rest of the world does. And that’s exactly what their government and media say repeatedly.” Michishita, the Japanese security expert, said the Moscow-Pyongyang thaw could just muddy the waters. “North Korea will not denuclearize anyway,” he said. “A better relationship with Russia might be a positive factor for North Korea in coming back to the six-party talks. But North Korea will certainly try to use it to enhance its position vis-à-vis not only the United States and Japan, but also China.” ___ Talmadge is the AP’s Pyongyang bureau chief. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/EricTalmadge. Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
As Myanmar Modernizes, Architectural Gems Are Endangered
i i hide captionAt the center of Yangon, the city's colonial heritage, Buddhist faith and emerging modern face are visible in a single block. Frank Langfitt/NPR At the center of Yangon, the city's colonial heritage, Buddhist faith and emerging modern face are visible in a single block. Frank Langfitt/NPR Decades of socialism and military rule kept Myanmar — or Burma, as it was known — poor and isolated. There was one upside, though. The economy was so lousy, there was no drive to demolish the big British colonial buildings in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, and replace them with the glass and steel towers that now define much of the skylines in East Asia. Today, downtown Yangon looks refreshingly different from practically every other sizable city in Southeast Asia. It's a colonial time capsule with block after block of old buildings featuring columns, domes, balconies, art deco trim, even a clock tower. hide captionTint Lwin teaches English in Yangon's colonial urban core. He worries that the building where he works, which dates to 1906, could fall apart if it isn't repaired in the next few years. Frank Langfitt/NPR Myanmar has opened up its political system, improved its relationship with the West and ushered in a real estate boom in the past several years. That's mostly good news for Yangon, but not for its remarkable architectural heritage, which has come into the cross hairs of developers trying to cash in on rising land prices. "These buildings are priceless," says Tint Lwin, who has taught English in a colonial-era building along the city's Pansodan Street for more than three decades. The building, constructed by a Baghdadi Jewish trader around 1906, has ocher-colored walls and Corinthian columns. Tint Lwin loves the atmosphere of the neighborhood, but worries it won't last. A modern mid-rise is going up across the road. The walls in his building are pitted with black mold, and rain has saturated some ceilings, leaving gaping holes. "I feel very unhappy because of the negligence," says Tint Lwin, who, like most Burmese men, wears a longyi, a traditional wraparound skirt. He says if the building's roof isn't fixed properly, "the rain will leak and destroy the whole structure." The British, who ruled Burma for decades, constructed most of these buildings in their own image. But Tint Lwin doesn't see them as symbols of oppression; he sees them as part of Myanmar's heritage. "You can't be xenophobic," he says, echoing the pragmatism of many here. "These are our assets. This British architecture is a unique one. Almost all in Myanmar like these buildings." hide captionYangon's Queen Anne-style High Court was partly abandoned when the government of Myanmar moved the capital to Naypyidaw in 2005. Frank Langfitt/NPR That includes Maung Nyan, a 19-year-old punk rocker, who lives on the building's fourth floor. He's sitting on the floor of his apartment, wearing a black My Chemical Romance T-shirt and playing the Ramones' "I Want to Be Sedated" on an electric guitar. Maung Nyan is rebellious by Burmese standards, but when it comes to construction, he's a traditionalist. "Because of the valuable architecture, I prefer this kind of old building to new buildings," says Maung Nyan, whose apartment is really a cagelike, cavernous stall with a wire-mesh door. "I'm also proud to live here. If it's possible, I'd like to stay here until I die." hide captionOtherwise rebellious, punk rocker Maung Nyan really appreciates the colonial building where he lives and doesn't want to leave. Frank Langfitt/NPR Yangon is a rarity in a part of the world where breakneck growth has transformed skylines within a generation. Earlier economic booms led to the destruction of most colonial-era buildings in cities like Hong Kong and Singapore in favor of modern office and apartment towers. In Hong Kong, for instance, a forest of glass and steel has risen around the old domed Legislative Council building, such that the one-time colonial icon is now hard to spot. "Yangon has captured a sense of time that has been lost in Singapore and Hong Kong," says Ian Morley, an assistant professor in the history department at Chinese University of Hong Kong. "You have this downtown environment, which is relatively intact. It's got a sense of historical integrity as it was built from the late 1800s and early 1900s." But there is no guarantee it will last. In recent years, soaring real estate prices have also driven the destruction of scores of old buildings in Yangon. That's why historian and best-selling author Thant Myint-U founded the Yangon Heritage Trust in 2012 with other preservationists. "The reason I got involved in this issue is because I saw some of these buildings were being knocked down for really no reason," says Thant Myint-U. "A developer, who could easily have built something a few blocks down, decided to knock down an old building because there was no sense of the value of these buildings." The Yangon Trust is working with the government to develop a zoning plan — the city didn't have one — and designate more buildings for protection. But preservation costs a lot of money. So, Thant Myint-U says, the city needs to tap private investment and turn old buildings into moneymakers such as hotels, museums and restaurants. hide captionYangon's colonial heart has a vibrant street life – unlike some of the tourist districts in other East Asian countries. Frank Langfitt/NPR That's what the owners of Gekko are doing. The Japanese restaurant opened in March in the same building where Maung Nyan, the punk rocker, lives. After decades of neglect, the restaurant's renovation required a lot of work. When, for the first time, co-owner Nico Elliott opened the back door onto an interior courtyard, the scene was disgusting. "We were up to about there, a meter and a half high, in sewage," says Elliott, pointing to a spot partway up a wall. There was also, he says, "a large colony of rats running around." hide captionNico Elliott opened Gekko, a Japanese restaurant, in this renovated space in a century-old building. The renovation cost more than $300,000, but Elliott says investors can turn a profit if they're willing to spend upfront. Frank Langfitt/NPR Elliott and his partners sunk more than $300,000 into the place. He says the government approval was time-consuming and focused on fees. "They weren't really interested in what we were doing," says Elliott, 34, who is from the United Kingdom. "It seemed they were more interested in how much cash was coming their way." The result, though, resembles an upper-end restaurant you'd find in London or New York, with exposed brick and preserved colonial touches, such as the century-old exposed I-beams from Scotland. Both labor costs and rent in these dilapidated buildings are low. So, Elliott says, a well-run business can make a profit margin of more than 30 percent, which would be considered terrific anywhere. "I hope these kinds of projects are the beginning of more people coming in and realizing that spending a little bit more than you'd spend on a new build is worthwhile to actually preserve something and sustain this place and these buildings," he says. Yangon city officials insist they support preservation, but say working with public opinion is tricky. Some people in Yangon have opposed renovation projects on historical grounds, including hundreds of lawyers who staged a protest in 2012 to oppose turning an abandoned courthouse into a luxury hotel. Others instinctively distrust any deal between the government and private business because of a long history of corruption and cronyism. And some residents actually want their buildings knocked down so they can get new, modern apartments. hide captionSome government buildings are falling apart inside. Frank Langfitt/NPR "We have to take time to change their minds on this, and we have to take time to preserve," says Toe Aung, who runs the city's new urban planning division. "But we can't take much time, because these [buildings] will be ruined in a short period." Thant Myint-U of the Yangon Heritage Trust says the city has to enact zoning and conservation laws this year to protect buildings — even in the face of developer opposition. "The next few months, the next year, is going to be absolutely critical, not just to what Yangon is going to look like over the next several years," he says, "but to what Yangon is going to look like over the rest of the 21st century."
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Thilawa Residents Formally Complain to Tokyo
RANGOON — Three residents from the Thilawa Special Economic Zone near Rangoon have filed a formal complaint to Tokyo about the negative effects of Japanese investment in the area. It is the first formal complaint filed under the objection procedures of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) since the restructuring of Japan’s international aid body in 2008, according to NGOs Thilawa Social Development Group and Mekong Watch. An objection letter has been received by JICA examiner Dr. Sachihiko Harashina in person, the NGOs said in a statement on Monday. “The objection outlines damages that the villagers from the 400 ha. area of Phase 1 of the project have incurred in their relocation from their homes and land,” the NGOs said in the statement. These damages included “loss of farmland and access to farmland, loss of livelihood opportunities, impoverishment, loss of educational opportunities for the villagers’ children, substandard housing and basic infrastructure in the Myaing Tha Yar resettlement site and loss of access to clean water.” The statement warned that residents from another 2,000 hectare area that will be used in a later phase of the project would likely face similar problems. “The government and authorities are not listening to us villagers,” said Mya Hlaing, one of the three residents who filed the complaint, according to the statement. “We have tried to tell JICA how things really are in Thilawa by repeatedly submitting letters to JICA requesting appropriate resettlement and compensation measures, as required by their guidelines and international standards. JICA has not listened to our voices.” Minari Tsuchikawa, from Mekong Watch, a Japanese NGO that monitors Japan-related projects in Mekong Region, was quoted as saying, “Even while the examiners carry out their investigation, the Japanese government and JICA must take steps to ensure that there is no further deterioration in the standard of living of the affected people, and urgent measures are needed to understand and address the villagers’ living conditions and concerns.” She added, “How JICA handles this case will be a litmus test for other projects in [Burma].” JICA has a 10 percent stake in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, while three Japanese companies hold 39 percent stake. The Burmese government and a joint venture of nine Burmese companies have invested the remaining 10 percent and 41 percent, respectively.
Posts
