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RFA Breaking News: Former Lao Finance Minister Named in Corruption Probe

by Paul Eckert

Former Lao Finance Minister Named in Corruption Probe Jan. 8, 2016 - Authorities in Laos have taken into custody a former finance minister and four colleagues in connection with a scheme in which private companies cashed government bonds issued in promise of payment for work they never performed, according to a source in the one-party communist state. Phouphet Khamphounvong, Lao finance minister from 2012 to 2014 and formerly a governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR (People’s Democratic Republic), was arrested “at the end of December 2015 while attending a party,” a finance ministry source told RFA’s Lao Service. Taken into custody at the same time were Phouphet’s former secretary general, a director general of the ministry, a vice director of the ministry’s budget department, and another official whose job was not specified, RFA’s source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. After serving two terms as bank governor, Phouphet was appointed finance minister in 2012, and in March 2014 was abruptly removed from his post, RFA’s source said. “His demotion was linked to corruption connected to the issuance of bonds and his involvement in so-called ‘ghost projects’ while he was at the ministry,” he said. 'Ghost projects' The Lao government had previously granted concessions to private firms to build roads in Oudomxay province in northern Laos to support the country’s 10th National Sport Games, which were held in December 2014, sources said in earlier reports. And though those roads were never built, the contracting firms later converted bonds issued in promise of future payment into cash with the help of “commissions” paid to finance ministry officials, sources said. The scheme has caused losses so far of over 300 billion kip (U.S. $36,840,092) to the state budget, with little chance that money will ever be recovered. The governor of Oudomxay province has now been “urgently removed” from office on suspicion of involvement in the scheme, with Phetsakhone Luangaphay, a deputy minister serving in the central government, replacing him as governor in September 2015, sources said. According to a report presented to the National Assembly last year by head of the Government Inspection Authority Bounthong Chitmany, Laos suffered losses from corruption of more than 1 trillion kip (U.S. $123 million) between 2012 and 2014. Corruption among high-level officials in Laos is so widespread that it has deterred foreign investors, created problems with the country’s ability to enforce business contracts and regulations, and left many ordinary citizens frustrated and impoverished. Reported by RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh. Written in English by Richard Finney. View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/corruption-01082016142933.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years

RFA Breaking News: Curfew Imposed in Lao Province After Deadly Violence

by Richard Finney

Curfew Imposed in Lao Province After Deadly Violence Dec. 11, 2015 - Lao authorities have imposed a curfew in north-central Xaysomboun Province after a spate of violence in which three government soldiers and three civilians were killed, police and other sources said Friday. The authorities blamed the violence last month on bandits, but a source close to the government said an anti-government resistance group was behind the killing of the three soldiers and wounding of several others, a rare development in tightly-ruled Laos where there have been no known armed rebel groups operating in recent years. Police confirmed that a curfew had been imposed and said the situation was under control. “The situation in the province is peaceful," Lieutenant Colonel Bouanphanh, chief of Xaysomboun’s Police Department told RFA on Friday. "We just finished celebrating the Lao National Day this morning." He blamed "bandits" for one of at least six incidents of violence over the last month in the province, saying, "We are investigating." Traditionally celebrated on Dec. 2, Lao National Day was observed on Dec. 11 in Xaysomboun due to security concerns, a source close to the government said. Under curfew A retired Lao soldier close to a high-ranking officer in the Ministry of National Defense, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFA's Lao Service that security had been immensely beefed up to prevent further violence. "Now people in the province are under curfew. From 6 p.m. they must be inside their houses," he said. "Government officials [in charge of security at night] have to sleep in bunkers." He and another government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said three soldiers were killed between Nov. 15 and Nov. 18 when they pursued the anti-government resistance group, which sustained unknown casualties. The pursuit occurred after the group was believed to have killed the 10-year-old daughter of a government military officer in a shootout at the officer's residence on Nov. 12, the retired soldier said, without giving any other details of the group. Ten days after the incident, the group was involved in another shootout involving several trucks along a main road, leaving two people dead, he said. There were also shootouts between government forces and the group during the Nov. 23-24 period, and on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, he said, without giving any details of the incidents or casualties. "Soldiers and people injured are being treated in 103 Military Hospital” in Xaysomboun Province, he said. “The three soldiers who died in the gunfire exchange are from 584 Brigade in Xaysomboun province. Soldiers have been sent to beef up the security throughout the province and also on the main roads linked to neighboring provinces.” The Lao national defense committee issued a circular, identified as Notice No. 283, on Nov. 19 warning other provinces to be wary of any further unrest staged by the group. 'That's normal' Police chief Bouanphanh acknowledged only the truck-shooting incident, saying two people were killed. He declined to provide details of the military casualties. RFA received a photograph of the three fallen soldiers at the scene from a source close to the government. “The curfew is declared to prohibit people from going out at night for the safety of their properties and lives because the bandits may take advantage to shoot ... and rob people,” he said. But when asked about the exchange of gunfire between anti-government resistance group and Lao soldiers that left three government soldiers dead, Lieutenant colonel Bouanphanh declined to answer. And when asked to comment about the photo of the dead soldiers, Bouanphanh said, "That is normal. OK, I'm busy [in a] meeting.” The source close to the government said the province had postponed the Dec. 2 National Day celebrations by more than a week "due to the unrest." "The celebration was held on Dec. 11 amid the [presence of] strong security.” Xaysomboun was once a base of thousands of ethnic minority Hmong who fought under CIA advisers during a so-called “secret war” backing the Lao Royal Army against the Pathet Lao communist forces. After the communist takeover in 1975, a ragtag band of Hmong resisters hid in the jungle, fearing government persecution for having fought for the pro-American side during the war. Reported by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/curfew-12112015191818.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-leave@rfanews.org> engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-join@rfanews.org> engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org.

9 years, 1 month

RFA Breaking News: NLD Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Meets With Former Junta Chief Than Shwe

by Paul Eckert

Dec. 5, 2015 - National League for Democracy (NLD) chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi met on Friday with retired Senior General Than Shwe, the reclusive leader of Myanmar's former ruling junta, to discuss the country's transition to a multiparty democracy following the NLD's landslide victory in national elections last month, an NLD spokesman confirmed on Saturday. The two met at 2:00 p.m. in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw, senior party member Win Htain told RFA's Myanmar Service. During their meeting, Than Shwe acknowledged the NLD's victory in the polls and promised to support the continuing growth of democracy in Myanmar, the Southeast Asian nation formerly known as Burma, Win Htain said. "Their meeting was a crucial step forward for politics in Myanmar, and it will be very helpful in promoting a peaceful transition," he said. "Than Shwe is believed to still wield influence in the government and the military to some degree, and this is why Suu Kyi decided to meet with him," Win Htain said, adding, "The NLD has been asking consistently for political dialogue since 1989." "Finally, it has happened after 27 years," he said. 'A good atmosphere' "Suu Kyi is now having talks that will create a good atmosphere in which our country can move forward smoothly," Tin Oo, NLD co-founder and former party chairperson, said on Saturday at a meeting of winning NLD candidates for parliament. "People are very happy to hear about this, but she still needs your support, as she won't be able to do all this by herself," he said. Aung San Suu Kyi had called for "national reconciliation" talks shortly after the NLD was assured of victory in the Nov. 8 polls, and observers are anxious to see how the transition will play out in Myanmar, where the military retains substantial sway over the country's political affairs. Than Shwe, 82, ruled Myanmar from 1992 to 2011 as chief of a military junta notorious for its brutal suppression of political dissent and for the corruption and lavish lifestyles of its leaders. He was succeeded as national leader by Thein Sein, who became president as the leader of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in a 2010 election widely seen as neither free nor fair. The NLD had swept the previous election in 1990, but the then-ruling military regime ignored the results and placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for more than a decade. Reported by Thin Thiri and Win Ko Ko Latt for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Kyaw Aung. Written in English by Richard Finney. View this story online at: <http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/meets-12052015152921.html> http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/meets-12052015152921.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-leave@rfanews.org> engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-join@rfanews.org> engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org.

9 years, 1 month

RFA Breaking News: Chinese Authorities Kill 17 Suspects in Xinjiang Attack, Including Seven Women and Children

by Paul Eckert

Chinese Authorities Kill 17 Suspects in Xinjiang Attack, Including Seven Women and Children Nov. 11, 2015 - Authorities in northwest China’s troubled Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have killed 17 suspects from three families, including women and children, they accused of carrying out an attack that left 50 people dead and injured 50 others at a coal mine, according to the government and local sources. “All terrorists were killed on the 56th day of a ‘pursue and attack’ operation” in the region, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced in a Nov. 14 statement published on its website, referring to the action as a “great victory in the War on Terror.” While the announcement, which was removed shortly after it was posted, did not link the “terrorists” to a specific act, the length of the operation it referred to suggested it had been launched in the aftermath of a Sept. 18 attack at the Sogan Colliery in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture’s Bay (Baicheng) county. The attack, which was not reported in Chinese media, occurred when a group of knife-wielding suspects set upon security guards at the gate of the mine in Terek township before targeting the owner’s residence and a dormitory for workers. When police arrived at the mine to control the situation, the attackers rammed their vehicles using trucks loaded down with coal, sources told RFA at the time, adding that at least five officers were killed in the incident, including a local police chief. In the aftermath of the attack, authorities launched a manhunt for 17 suspects, consisting of the three men believed to have been behind the incident—Tursun Jume, 46, Musa Toxtiniyaz, 47, and Memet Eysa, 60, from Chokatal Meadow, in Bay’s Kanchi township—and their family members. Four of the suspects were women and three are children. On Tuesday, police officers from Bay county confirmed to RFA’s Uyghur Service that “all of the terrorists,” including the seven women and children, had been killed in a raid. “Yes, I received a notice from my superiors informing us that all of the terrorists have been killed and warning us to remain vigilant against a possible revenge attack,” said Exmet Abliz, police chief of Bay’s Qeyir township, adding that a large number of officers had been kept on duty following the raid. “We were also warned not to hold any kind of celebration to mark the victory, and even not to talk much about it until the operation has officially been made public.” Ghalip Memet, a police officer in Terek township, told RFA that authorities had set off an explosion to kill the suspects where they lay in hiding. “I heard from colleagues who participated in the operation that the military blew up the cave where the suspects were hiding,” he said. “That is why we were able to kill all of them with zero victims [from our side]. Seventeen corpses were gathered after the explosion.” Classes resume Ekber, the director of the Terek township middle school, which had been used as a base of operations for the manhunt, said teachers and staff had finally returned to classes on Tuesday after nearly two months. “I received a call from the chief of the Bay county education department, who told me that the war had ended with a great victory—that all the terrorists had been killed and that we could return to the middle school,” he said. “But I still have not received an official written notice, and the authorities have probably not decided yet whether to keep the raid secret or to disclose it.” According to Ekber, authorities had only informed the public that they were to assist in the manhunt and to maintain a lookout for the suspects since the attack on the mine, and residents of the county were forbidden from discussing the incident. “That is why I could only tell the teachers and students in my school, ‘The operation was completed, so we can resume work and study as usual,’ but I was unable to answer their questions about what happened to the women and children in the group, which was a particularly sensitive topic,” he said. “Based on the warrant list, we found out that the 17 suspects included four women and three children, one of which—nine-year-old Munire [Memet, the adopted granddaughter of Memet Eysa]—was one of our second grade students.” In addition to Memet, an unidentified six-year-old boy and an unidentified one-year-old boy—both from Tursun Jume’s family—were also killed in the raid, according to information about the suspects provided to RFA by local officials last month. The four women suspects killed by authorities were Memet Eysa’s wife, 55-year-old Zorem Mamut; his daughter-in-law, 28-year-old Reyhan Musa; another daughter-in-law, 30-year-old Ayimnisa Rozi; and Tursun Jume’s wife, 44-year-old Meryem Abdurehim. The other 10 suspects killed in the raid included Tursun Jume, Musa Toxtiniyaz and Memet Eysa, as well as their sons and one nephew. A local official who provided the names of the suspects to RFA in October said at the time that neither the women nor the children had been involved in the Sogan Colliery attack and had only followed the other suspects when they fled from Kanchi township. Ekber said that not only the students and teachers, but “all the people of Bay county” were wondering about the fate of the women and children on the suspect list. “At this point, I don’t know what the decision on publishing news of the victory will be,” he said. “It’s tough. The suspects [are believed to have] carried out the attack, but publishing details of the incident—including the death toll and what happened at the coal mine attack—could deepen hatred between the ethnic [majority] Hans and [minority] Uyghurs.” ‘Can’t convince the world’ A teacher from the Terek township middle school, who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity, said the Ministry of Public Security would not have published information about the raid if the terrorist attack in Paris had not taken place a day earlier. “The central government authorities wouldn’t have disclosed the killing of 17 so-called ‘terrorists’ on their website if the Paris attack had not occurred—the quick removal of the post also suggests this is true,” the teacher said. China's tightly controlled state media has covered the Paris attacks in detail, including commentary calling on the international community to avoid "double standards" and take Beijing's anti-terror campaign at face value. French President Francois Hollande on Monday vowed to eradicate terrorism, saying that "France is at war," following the attacks, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility and that left at least 129 dead and 352 wounded. The teacher questioned how China could convince the international community that the four women and three children were terrorists, how it could validate the detention of more than 1,000 people as part of raids following the September attack, and how authorities could claim that forcing farmers to take part in the manhunt had been part of professional police methodology. “The authorities can force us to believe their claims through the power they wield, but they can’t convince the rest of the world,” he said. “That is why they dare not disclose the details of the incident.” The ‘three evils’ China has vowed to crack down on the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism in Xinjiang, but experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from Uyghur "separatists" and that domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012. Uyghur groups in exile say such attacks are likely expressions of resistance to Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs complain of pervasive ethnic discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression by China’s communist government. Rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including violent police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA’s Uyghur Service. Translated by Shohret Hoshur. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/suspects-11172015175006.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 1 month

RFA Breaking News: Interview: ‘No Confrontation With an NLD-Led Government’

by Paul Eckert

Interview: ‘No Confrontation With an NLD-Led Government’ Nov. 12, 2015 - In an interview with reporter Kyaw Kyaw Aung of RFA’s Myanmar Service, Ashin Wirathu of the Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion (Ma Ba Tha) congratulates Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) on its expected victory in Myanmar’s general election and says his Buddhist nationalist group will accept a government formed by her party. RFA: How do you view the NLD’s expected victory at the polls? ASHIN WIRATHU: We monks, the sons of Buddha, rejoice for the winners and express compassion for the losers. We welcome the NLD’s victory. RFA: People who desire change are excited by the prospect of development in Myanmar. What is your opinion on change? ASHIN WIRATHU: It is through politics that our country is going to develop. We have concerns about the stability of parliamentary politics, national security, and safeguarding religion and the national identity. RFA: What are your concerns regarding religion and the national identity? ASHIN WIRATHU: For the most part, those who are pushing for “human rights and equality,” and those who are referred to as “minorities,” depend too much on the NLD. The NLD frequently uses these terms when it speaks with international organizations. We are concerned about whether [a government formed by] the party will make demands and push forward on these issues. RFA: How should the NLD act to reduce your concerns? ASHIN WIRATHU: We don’t want the NLD to be remove laws on race and religion, and think it should protect them. The NLD has said it will amend the 1982 [law on citizenship] and we don’t want that. There should be no negotiations on [the citizenship status of the ethnic Muslim Rohingya], and the NLD should stand by the country’s religion and national identity. RFA: The international community has accused Myanmar’s government of violating human rights during President Thein Sein’s term. Do you think there will be less human rights violations and more development under an NLD government? ASHIN WIRATHU: As a person who had to lead a crippled country out of a troubled era [during the former military regime], of course [Thein Sein] experienced some difficulties. We are sympathetic towards Thein Sein. He has built a foundation in these five years. We pray that [the new government] can now build a roof and walls. RFA: There are concerns about how power will transfer from President Thein Sein’s government to a new one. What is your opinion? ASHIN WIRATHU: I believe that the power transfer will be smooth. RFA: Do you have any suggestions for a would-be NLD government? ASHIN WIRATHU: My suggestion to an NLD government is to consider advice and suggestions from everyone. RFA: Some people have expressed concern that there could be a confrontation between Ma Ba Tha and the NLD in the future. Do you want to respond to this? ASHIN WIRATHU: These concerns are from people who don’t understand how a democracy works. In fact, all of our members who are nationalists understand democratic rules and follow them. We will accept any government that is chosen by the people and welcome it. We will have no confrontation with an NLD-led government. We work only in the interest of religion and national identity. Reported by Kyaw Kyaw Aung for RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/confrontation-11122015123339.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 2 months

RFA Breaking News: Interview: Aung San Suu Kyi Says 'It's Not Finished Yet'

by Parameswaran Ponnudurai

Interview: Aung San Suu Kyi Says 'It's Not Finished Yet' November 11, 2015 : As Myanmar's ongoing vote count pointed to a landslide victory for the opposition National League for Democracy, NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi told RFA's Myanmar Service in an interview in Yangon on Wednesday that she was not ready to declare "a winning moment yet" and that victory in the Nov. 8 national elections marked only the first step toward the goals of her supporters. The 70-year-old Nobel laureate told RFA's Khin Maung Soe that popular suspicion that the country's dominant military would refuse to honor the results were understandable, but that she believed that the nation "cannot be caught in the bond of suspicion." RFA: Can you tell me roughly what percentage of the votes you have won so far? Aung San Suu Kyi: More than 70% I should say. RFA: Did you expect that much beforehand? Aung San Suu Kyi: We could expect that much in advance because the NLD is close to the people. The NLD knows the people and their needs and so we could guess what they wanted. RFA: How free and fair do you think the elections were? Aung San Suu Kyi: We have made many complaints regarding violations. We made these complaints not because we want to stir up problems. Our people need to believe that these elections are really free and fair. And that’s why we had to submit official complaints against actions which are not in accord with the rules and regulations. Some cases have to be reported to the police, some to the electoral commission. And we cannot say such cases are very few. RFA: How are you going to solve the problem of advance votes that came in after the polling stations closed? Aung San Suu Kyi: These are not in accord with the rules and regulations. The rules are very clear. Advance votes within the country cannot be brought in after the 6 a.m. opening of the polling booths. And advance votes from overseas cannot come in later than 4 p.m. RFA: Some USDP candidates conceded defeat and congratulated their respective NLD rivals who won the polls. What do you think of that? Aung San Suu Kyi: Those kinds of actions are politically honorable and I respect these actions. I’d like to say I truly thank them. RFA: NLD won the majority of seats they contended. What factors do you think make it possible to win in such a big margin? Aung San Suu Kyi: That’s because the NLD is close to the people. The NLD was born of the people, and NLD members are from the people. We cannot be differentiated from them. Our hearts beat on the same note. We struggled together, we suffered together, and we had hopes together. We dreamed together for nearly 30 years. The NLD and the people are colleagues, comrades-in-arms. I think that’s the reason they supported us. RFA: What are your feelings at this winning moment? Aung San Suu Kyi: We do not definitely have a winning moment yet. I don’t see it that NLD has won the elections yet. It’s because of people’s qualities. Political awareness of the people is very heartening. I respect them, love them. I can see that the goal people wanted is still far ahead and this is only the first step. Only after reaching there I might be able to tell you my feelings. There are so many things to be done. Right now, I’m thinking only what I should do. RFA: Some people are still suspicious of the military. They are not sure the military will totally honor the results. Can you comment on this? Aung San Suu Kyi: It’s natural they have suspicions. But we cannot be caught in the bond of suspicion. We have to carry out what we should be doing with a firm determination and everyone is expecting these tasks to be done in proper manner. A people’s army should be hand in glove with the people. Military representatives in the Hluttaw (parliament) have told me more than once that they also want to be with the people. RFA: You have requested to meet the president, commander in chief and the lower house speaker. Do you mean meeting them individually or together? Aung San Suu Kyi: I can meet then individually or I can meet them together. I will meet whoever accepted my request. RFA: People have accepted your slogan "time for real change". What are you going to do in the first place? Aung San Suu Kyi: Well, the first thing is to bring about a change of administration. This will be carrying out the main task of the election result in respect to the people’s wishes. This will be the first major change. RFA: How many educated people will you have in the government? Aung San Suu Kyi: What do you mean by "educated?" We must contemplate what the meaning of being "educated" is. Some people think a person with plenty of degrees is an educated one. But I believe a person who can judge a situation correctly and make timely decisions is more important. It’s not that we must not value these graduates. I myself value them and respect them. We have only about four percent of the people in our country who are (college) graduates. So can we not value the majority? No, we must. If we just value the graduates, then does that mean our people are not valuable? I don’t believe that. What is important is we need right people in right positions. RFA: People are left with three legacies since the military takeover in 1962: selfishness, mistrust of others and fear of everyone. Because of fear, people dare not go into the public and they lose their self-esteem. So what will you do to get rid of these three? Aung San Suu Kyi: You said selfishness first, and then mistrust and fear. Actually, it is the other way round. It starts with fear. When fear sets in, you don’t trust others and when you don’t trust anyone then you become selfish. I cannot trust anyone, I must do it myself, and I cannot depend on anyone. What you said was the opposite of that. To abolish fear correctly is to nurture law and order. I have said this again and again. People need security of the mind. Why do they want democracy? Because it can give them freedom and security in a balanced way. People must have freedom and at the same time they must have security. They must not be using freedom to fight with each other. When they have security of the mind, their fears will subside, and their mistrust of others will also decline. There will be no need to worry that somebody will be looking at you with jealousy. They won't have to worry that someone will report some lies to their superiors and get them into trouble. This fear of being unjustly punished would disappear and I believe confidence and trust will mount and people will have more love and respect towards one another. RFA: I notice you always care about young people. What do you think of young people in our country smoking and using drugs and the entire population physically stunted due to malnutrition? What will you do to bring them back to be physically on par with others? Aung San Suu Kyi: This has something to do with the economy. I’ve always said that the most important thing is job creation. Jobs will earn them money and build self-confidence. Jobless people will have no self-confidence. And they feel they are worthless because when you don’t have a job you have to rely on someone. After so many years of malnutrition the bodies of our young are stunted. There’s a certain age when your height stops growing and you cannot change that. This sort of body growth cannot be fixed. But there are many things that can be changed. You might have a small body structure but there are opportunities to make yourself very fit and healthy. So we’ll have to work hard in many aspects. The problem of young people smoking and drinking is not a problem only for our country; It’s happening in many countries. But with regard to drug abuse, effective deterrents should be laid down to stop the problem. Young people drift away from society because, in many cases, they have no hope or goals. So, hope will have to be given to the young. The participation of young people in this week’s elections was so terrific, so admirable. They have objectives and goals like winning the elections. Because they have aims and goals to bring out their desires rightfully, our youth worked so hard to such an unbelievable extent. RFA: When will the changes become noticeable? Aung San Suu Kyi: First we must be able to form a government. After that, we’d have to lay out, as a duty, in front of the people what we will do during a certain time frame. The NLD has such plans to carry out. Not vague statements like we’ll give you a better economy or a better health sector. It has to be clear and precise. But we will need to become a government first. RFA: What will you do to form a government then? Aung San Suu Kyi: Well, we just can’t do it ourselves. The present government will have to cooperate. The Union Electoral Commission must finish its work first. RFA: Can you explain about foreign investment and utilization of natural resources? Aung San Suu Kyi: Of course we need foreign investment and at the same time we have to use the natural resources to a certain extent. There will be projects where we need foreign investment. The important thing is for our people to enjoy some of the benefits. Foreign investors will not come and do things without any returns for themselves. And we don’t expect them to come work for us free. But the local population should benefit rightfully. The locals should benefit just a little more than the companies. RFA: Can you tell us about foreign policy? Aung San Suu Kyi: The non-aligned policy which had been in practice since independence has been very successful. Not joining any groups. We played well with our neighbors India as well as the People’s Republic of China. We had good ties with other SE Asian nations too. We had no animosity towards anyone. RFA: What have you in mind about the release of detained students and political prisoners? Aung San Suu Kyi: We would have to work within the bounds of the law. There should be no political prisoners in a democratic country. RFA: What about laws restricting freedoms? Aung San Suu Kyi: Laws restricting freedoms like Article 5, Article 10, etc must be changed. We will have to change these kinds of laws. We tried to do that in the Hluttaw but we didn’t succeed as we were a minority. RFA: I want you to say something for the people in this first IV after the elections. Aung San Suu Kyi: I would just like to thank all the people. I am encouraged, and I appreciate and value the support of the people. But it’s not finished yet and I’d like to caution all to look out for instigation. In the next few weeks, couple of months, people must be able to control themselves, beware of instigation aimed at creating riots and disturbances. There might be provocations from the sidelines when you are walking your own path but these can be overcome by trust and understanding of each other and it is important to calmly move towards the goal. And I believe you all can do it. In one word, thank you all very much. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/myanmar-assk-11112015165922.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-leave@rfanews.org> engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-join@rfanews.org> engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org.

9 years, 2 months

RFA Breaking News: Interview: 'Aung San Suu Kyi will start working for reconciliation first'

by Paul Eckert

Nov. 10, 2015 - Tin Oo, 88, co-founder of the National League for Democracy (NLD), spent almost seven years in prison and under house arrest under the military junta that ran the country before 2011, when military rule was replaced by a quasi-civilian government. In an interview with reporter Khin Maung Soe of RFA’s Myanmar Service, the retired general, former commander in chief of Myanmar's armed forces and trusted patron of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi offers his views on how the country's political situation will play out after the NLD's expected landslide election victory. RFA: How much do you know so far about the election results? Tin Oo: As far as we know, the NLD won an average of 80% although we haven’t learned the complete official result yet. RFA: With this 80%, how will parliament be made up? Tin Oo: It will be better than before to work in the parliament with 80%, but we still need more because the military MPs in parliament will sound the same. If we can collaborate with ethnic MPs who are willing to work with NLD, it will be much better. RFA: How will the NLD’s relationship with military be? Tin Oo: The military will not like being asked to move out from the parliament. They (people from military) have to say something to people, as they understand what democracy is. They already said they will reduce their force from the country’s political sector. By now, the s enior general would have understood the true determination of the people. All citizens would be happy if he says the military will no longer demand 25% of parliamentary seats. This will give him dignity and lead the military to resume its status as people's military. RFA: What do you think is the reason why the NLD won? Tin Oo: This time is the General Aung San’s 100-year anniversary and his daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, is leading NLD. She has had enough political experience and people really want to change. That’s why. Especially, we won because of the people’s power. RFA: So what will the NLD do? Tin Oo: I think Aung San Suu Kyi will start working for reconciliation first. She also cares about rules and laws and we still need to amend the 2008 constitution. Ethnic problems are very important, too. As long as we don’t have trust from ethnic people and we are not united with them, we will face difficulties in moving on. The country will change anyway. Her influence on people is unbelievable. People listen to whatever she asks of them. RFA: Do you believe that Aung San Suu Kyi will become president? Tin Oo: I do. That’s why I am helping and working for her. Reported by Khin Maung Soe for RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/myanmar-tinoo-11102015153733.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 2 months

RFA Breaking News: Authorities Identify 17 Suspects in Deadly Attack at Xinjiang Mine

by Paul Eckert

Oct. 16, 2015 - Authorities in northwest China’s troubled Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have identified 17 suspects from three families suspected of carrying out an apparent revenge attack that left 50 people dead and injured 50 others at a coal mine, a local official said. The suspects are relatives of the three men who are believed to have been behind the Sept. 18 attack at the Sogan Colliery – Tursun Jume, 46, Musa Toxtiniyaz 47, and Memet Eysa, 60, from Chokatal Meadow, Kanchi township of Bay (in Chinese, Baicheng) County in Aksu (Akesu) prefecture, Eliniyaz Turdi, head of the Chokatal ranch unit, told RFA’s Uyghur Service. Four of the 17 suspects are female, and three of them are children. “I am sure that this incident was the direct result of our county enforcing campaigns [by the Chinese] to promote modern culture and expel extremism,” he said. “I think we harassed them during the campaigns,” Turdi said. “Maybe they could not take it anymore. Based on the fact that they killed not only police officers, but also Chinese bosses and workers, we can say that they might have been poisoned by separatist ideology.” All three Muslim Uyghur families showed signs of religious extremism, he said, noting that the women always wore head scarves and long dresses. Local officials had to force Eysa’s relatives to participate in six campaign sessions, he said. “Every time the family was not only forced to join, but also brought to our offices and educated,” Turdi said. “They were clearly irritated about this.” At one such campaign to expel extremism, all Uyghurs were forced to dance, but one of Eysa’s adult sons refused, he said. “He was grabbed by his neck and pushed to the middle of dance floor by the township’s Communist Party secretary,” Turdi said. “He glared at the secretary with anger and reluctantly danced.” But another event that befell Eysa and his family may have been the breaking point. Eysa had secretly adopted the illegitimate daughter of his hunting apprentice, Turghun Memet, without notifying the local government, Turdi said. When word leaked out, town officials hauled Eysa into their office on Sept. 7 for three days of “political education,” he said. “When the education did not prove to be effective, we fined him 2,500 yuan [U.S. $393] and took him to Kanchi township’s legal and political office to educate him for 15 days.” But because there was no space for Eysa in the township police detention center or county jail, he was let go on a parole on Sept. 10 and carried out the attack eight days later, Turdi said. The three families are some of the wealthiest people in the township and own cars, hundreds of sheep, tractors, motorcycles and large single-family homes, he said. “It is certain they will be captured, but the police did not inform us about the details of case,” he said. “The police have ordered us to give the suspects two minutes to surrender; otherwise, we are to dispose of them.” Still at large Local authorities and farmers have been searching for the suspects and their relatives who are still at large. A local herder spotted the families on the day of the attack around 7:30 a.m., as they walked along a stream heading to the mountains with women and children who were riding horses and donkeys, Turdi said. “Some animals were carrying loads of stuff that might have been their food and other items,” he said. “Some of them were carrying guns, swords and bows and covered with blood. The blood might have been the blood of the Han Chinese workers they killed.” The families knew the mountainous areas with their steep cliffs and vast coverage of pine trees like the “backs of their hands,” he said. “They are hunters and very sharp shooters, and one of them is a veteran,” he said. “So, they can live off deer and other animals if they want to.” Ebey Tomur, chief of Kanchi’s No. 2 village, said the township’s party secretary called it “shameful” that the three main suspects were from Kanchi, during a township government meeting about the attack on Tuesday. “We have to clear our township’s image by helping with their capture or dispose of them during any raid operations by armed forces,” the party secretary said. The families vacated their homes and vanished just after the attack, the party secretary said, adding that anyone who provided information on the whereabouts of the three could receive a reward of 200,000-500,000 yuan (U.S. $31,500-78,800). He also encouraged anyone who had aided and abetted the suspects to come forward voluntarily and report their “mistake.” “This is a good opportunity for anyone who has breached the law knowingly or unknowingly to avoid heavy punishment,” he said, according to Tomur. Round-the-clock watch Tayir Nur, chief of Kanchi’s No. 1 village, said that ever since the day of the attack, at least 20,000 farmers from villages in each of the country’s 14 townships had been taking turns guarding local offices, mosques schools and businesses around the clock. An additional 50,000 farmers are participating in search operations in the mountains and on farmland, he said. “Of course, some farmers complain about losing time that they normally would be devoting to their production operations, but we managed to convinced them that stability in the region overrides everything else,” Nur said. Authorities issued a notice last week that farmers should inspect all abandoned and dilapidated houses and animal pens in the villages, he said. “It seems that the authorities have lost some hope with the mountain and grassland searches,” Nur said. “We also keep telling the Han Chinese immigrants in the villages not to be afraid of the situation and that peace and stability will soon be recovered.” The group of knife-wielding attackers set upon security guards at the entrance to the Sogan Colliery, which consists of three separate coal mine shafts in Terek township around 3 a.m. on Sept. 18. They then targeted the mine owner’s residence and a six-story workers’ dormitory housing 300-400 workers, about 90 percent of whom are Han Chinese, according to official sources. When police arrived at the mine, the attackers rammed their vehicles with trucks loaded with coal, killing at least five officers, including a local police chief, sources said. China has vowed to crack down on the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism in Xinjiang, but experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from Uyghur “separatists” and that domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012. Rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including violent police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA’s Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamajan Juma and Shohret Hoshur. Written in English by Rosanne Gerin. View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/authorities-identify-17-suspects-in-… Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 3 months

RFA Launches Umbrella Revolution Anniversary E-Book

by Rohit Mahajan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 14, 2015 Contact: Rohit Mahajan <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org RFA Launches Umbrella Revolution Anniversary E-Book WASHINGTON - <http://www.rfa.org/english/> Radio Free Asia (RFA) today released an e-book commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong. Walking with a Yellow Umbrella: Bearing Witness to a Revolution is available for free in English and Cantonese on RFA's <http://www.rfa.org/english/bookshelf> website. It includes original RFA on-the-ground reporting, photographs, timelines, and analysis of the pro-democracy mass demonstrations that took place over a 79-day period last fall in the former British colony. "The Umbrella Revolution shook Beijing's assumptions that the people of Hong Kong were unwilling to stand up and fight for the promised right of determining their future," said Libby Liu, President of RFA. "Withstanding tear gas, threats, arrests, and Chinese authorities' PR smear campaign, the movement's leaders, participants and supporters - coming from all generations and walks of life - demonstrated the resilience of the call for democracy. "RFA's journalists documented the historic demonstrations from the beginning, from the streets of Hong Kong and inside China. With this e-book, we hope to share insights about this remarkable episode and contemplate its complex and enduring legacy." Through RFA's coverage, the e-book documents the early spontaneous student-led demonstrations and Occupy Central protests that grew into the Umbrella Movement in September 2014 and lasted until December. Protesters, incensed by restrictive electoral guidelines issued by Beijing's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, first gathered at Hong Kong government headquarters calling for universal suffrage and then occupied sites throughout the city, including Admiralty, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, and Tsim Sha Tsui. As tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents began to participate in the demonstrations, the movement gave rise to new political voices like that of Joshua Wong, the then 17-year-old leader of student group Scholarism, which played a major role in the protests. It also sparked solidarity rallies in Taiwan and cities around the world as messages of support via social media poured in. RFA's e-book collects many of these messages and images that were featured on a <http://www.rfa.org/english/news/special/hkwall/home.html> virtual solidarity wall. While Chinese state-run media covered the demonstrations selectively, if at all, RFA was able to reach audiences inside China, bringing them accurate news along with global messages of support and information on banned social media hashtags. # # # Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Rohit Mahajan | Radio Free Asia | Media Relations Manager <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org | O: 202.530.4976 | M: 202.489.8021

9 years, 3 months

Radio Free Asia Announces New Managing Director, Northeast Asia

by Rohit Mahajan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 7, 2015 Contact: Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org Radio Free Asia Announces New Managing Director, Northeast Asia WASHINGTON - Radio Free Asia (RFA) has announced that distinguished journalist and former diplomat Bay Fang will serve as RFA's new Managing Director, with responsibility for Northeast Asia. "Bay's experience as a Beijing-based correspondent who also reported from the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to her diplomatic career, make her an asset to RFA in advancing our mission of gathering news in some of the world's toughest media environments," said Libby Liu, President of RFA. "Her knowledge, expertise, and leadership will help to expand RFA's capacity for covering critical developments in China and North Korea, as well as enhancing audience engagement. We are delighted to have Bay on our team." "I have long admired the work of Radio Free Asia journalists, and am thrilled to be joining an organization with such an important mandate," Fang said. "Bringing objective, accurate, and timely news to people in countries that restrict free press is a cause that is more critical than ever. I hope to help RFA continue to break stories and deliver impactful journalism in some of the most challenging regions of the world." As Managing Director, Northeast Asia, Fang will work closely with the directors of five language services to manage the daily and long-term operations of RFA Mandarin, Tibetan, Cantonese, Uyghur, and Korean. She will oversee a year-long investigative series across all the language services, and help to increase the impact of RFA's programming. Prior to joining RFA, Fang was a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, where she worked on China issues, focused on the new generation and technological change. Before that, Fang served at the U.S. Department of State as a Deputy Assistant Secretary overseeing public affairs and public diplomacy for Europe and Eurasia. With more than a decade of journalism experience, Fang was most recently the Chicago Tribune's Washington-based diplomatic correspondent after an eight-year stint with U.S. News and World Report that began in Beijing as the Asia bureau chief before taking her to Afghanistan and Iraq as a war correspondent. She won a Robert F. Kennedy journalism award for her article "China's Stolen Wives," about kidnapped women in China. Also during her tenure in Beijing, Fang wrote about Chinese underground house churches and the spread of HIV/AIDS in China and traveled widely in the region, including twice to North Korea. Fang obtained a bachelor's degree with honors in Social Studies and East Asian Studies at Harvard University. She received a Fulbright Scholarship and was based at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, where she published a project on the democratization of Hong Kong and its handover from British rule. # # # Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Rohit Mahajan | Radio Free Asia | Media Relations Manager <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org | O: 202.530.4976 | M: 202.489.8021

9 years, 3 months

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