Myanmar's military has assured the United Nations of "harsh" action against perpetrators of sexual violence, state media reported on Tuesday, as UN&nbspenvoys travelled to Rakhine State where the military conducted a widely criticised crackdown.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Rakhine State to Bangladesh to flee a military crackdown launched in August that the United Nations and others denounced as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".

Many of the refugees arriving in Bangladesh recounted incidents of killings and rape but Myanmar largely rejected those reports as well as the accusation of ethnic cleansing.

It said its forces were engaged in a legitimate security campaign in response to a string of Rohingya insurgents attacks on the security forces.

The Security Council envoys arrived in Myanmar on Monday after visiting refugee camps on the Bangladesh side of the border, and government leaders in Dhaka.

In Myanmar, they met separately with Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing.

"Sexual violence (is) considered as despicable acts," the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper cited Min Aung Hlaing as telling the envoys.

The military was "taking harsh and stronger actions against such offenders", he said.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, in her meeting with the envoys, pledged to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended.

During the nearly hour-long meeting, Suu Kyi, noted Myanmar's difficulties in transitioning to rule of law after decades of military dictatorship, said the diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Suu Kyi's civilian government has no control over the military.

Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay was not immediately available for comment.

'Cooperation needed'

Tuesday is the final day of a four-day visit to the region by the UN&nbspSecurity Council team.

The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all".

Earlier on Monday, the council envoys met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who asked them to press Myanmar to take back "their citizens".

Hasina said the refugees should return "under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured".

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow.

Suu Kyi's office also said in a statement that cooperation was needed from Bangladesh on the repatriation of refugees.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

The Security Council envoys arrived in Myanmar on Monday after visiting refugee camps on the Bangladesh side of the border

Myanmar's military has assured the United Nations of "harsh" action against perpetrators of sexual violence, state media reported on Tuesday, as UN&nbspenvoys travelled to Rakhine State where the military conducted a widely criticised crackdown. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Rakhine State to Bangladesh to flee a military crackdown launched in August that the United Nations and others denounced as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing". Many of the refugees arriving in Bangladesh recounted incidents of killings and rape but Myanmar largely rejected those reports as well as the accusation of ethnic cleansing. It said its forces were engaged in a legitimate security campaign in response to a string of Rohingya insurgents attacks on the security forces. The Security Council envoys arrived in Myanmar on Monday after visiting refugee camps on the Bangladesh side of the border, and government leaders in Dhaka. In Myanmar, they met separately with Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing. "Sexual violence (is) considered as despicable acts," the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper cited Min Aung Hlaing as telling the envoys. The military was "taking harsh and stronger actions against such offenders", he said. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, in her meeting with the envoys, pledged to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended. During the nearly hour-long meeting, Suu Kyi, noted Myanmar's difficulties in transitioning to rule of law after decades of military dictatorship, said the diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity. Suu Kyi's civilian government has no control over the military. Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay was not immediately available for comment. 'Cooperation needed' Tuesday is the final day of a four-day visit to the region by the UN&nbspSecurity Council team. The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all". Earlier on Monday, the council envoys met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who asked them to press Myanmar to take back "their citizens". Hasina said the refugees should return "under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured". Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow. Suu Kyi's office also said in a statement that cooperation was needed from Bangladesh on the repatriation of refugees. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

Myanmar military assures UN of 'harsh' action on sexual assault

By Christa Stewart*&nbsp;

It has now been six months since the Myanmar military resumed its ruthless crackdown against the Rohingya minority. Many women and girls fleeing brutal state-sponsored persecution have reported horrific accounts of rape, sexual assault, torture and murder at the hands of government forces. When state institutions orchestrate such human rights violations and allow perpetrators to act with impunity, the international community must unite in taking a strong stance in order to hold those responsible to account.

Violent oppression of Myanmar&rsquo;s various ethnic groups has been happening for decades, but targeted assaults against the Rohingya community have spiraled since August 2017, when Myanmar&rsquo;s authorities launched what they euphemistically describe as &ldquo;clearance operations&rdquo; against Rohingya &ldquo;terrorists.&rdquo; According to most recent estimates, over 680,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, a country ill-equipped to deal with the mounting crisis. Although conditions in the refugee camps are dire given the vast and rapid influx of people, it is estimated that around 200 people are still making the dangerous border crossing to escape continuing state hostilities each day.

Evidence is mounting to back allegations that Myanmar&rsquo;s autonomous military, known as the Tamadaw, is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing. A UN investigation conducted among refugees in Bangladesh found that 52% of women reported being raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence. The majority was gang-raped, and most identified military officers or police officers as the perpetrators.

In a refugee center, one survivor told Human Rights Watch in October 2017: &ldquo;I was held down by six men and raped by five of them. First, they [shot and] killed my brother &hellip; then they threw me to the side and one man tore my lungi [sarong], grabbed me by the mouth and held me still. He stuck a knife into my side and kept it there while the men were raping me. That was how they kept me in place. I was trying to move and [the wound] was bleeding more. They were threatening to shoot me.&rdquo;

Another story came from a 17-year-old, identified simply as N, who told Associated Press that she was at home with her family when 10 soldiers burst in. Half of the men held her pleading family back while the rest took turns raping her. Forced to watch, her parents were beaten if they screamed.&nbsp;

Directed Attacks&nbsp;

Directed attacks against women and girls by security forces are not a new phenomenon. For 20 years, there have been reports of the military using rape and sexual assault in its armed conflict against ethnic minorities in states including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen and Shan. Human rights groups have documented incidents, but despite extensive evidence, perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

A largely Muslim minority in a predominantly Buddhist country, the Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights and face extensive discrimination. They have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982, effectively leaving them stateless and especially vulnerable to human rights abuses as they are not entitled to any legal government protection. This makes the Rohingya prime targets for criminal networks who exploit impoverished populations, and displaced women and girls are at greater risk of human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution, as well as forced and child marriage.

The Rakhine Advisory Commission, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released a report in August 2017 stating that the Rohingya are the single largest &ldquo;stateless&rdquo; community in the world, with around 10% of the world&rsquo;s stateless people residing in Myanmar.&nbsp;

Both Myanmar&rsquo;s military and the civilian government have denied most allegations of mistreatment, and the true scale is not yet known because state authorities have prohibited human rights organizations and international media from independently accessing conflict areas or investigating charges. Not only has Myanmar authorities blocked enquiries, they have refused to acknowledge the need for review at all. Myanmar&rsquo;s civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely criticized for failing to denounce violations, instead dismissing reports on social media as &ldquo;fake rapes.&rdquo; Meanwhile, when Rakhine State&rsquo;s minister for border affairs, Phone Tint, was asked by a journalist about rape allegations, he replied: &ldquo;These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances &mdash; do you think they are that attractive to be raped?&rdquo;

In December, the UN Security Council (UNSC) met to discuss the crisis, with numerous countries condemning the sexual violence perpetrated by the military. However, Russia and China have refused to effectively address the situation and their silence remains deafening. Both countries sit on the UNSC, and without their votes, a resolution cannot be passed condemning the human rights violations. Nor can any of the ongoing crimes against humanity be referred to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution.&nbsp;

Safety, Security, Dignity&nbsp;

Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to begin repatriation in &ldquo;safety, security and dignity.&rdquo; However, the process and timeline remain unclear and there are serious concerns about the treatment returnees could face.

Human Rights Watch has reported that new satellite imagery shows at least 55 Rohingya villages in Rakhine State have recently been leveled by authorities, and these demolitions may have erased evidence of atrocities committed by security forces, constituting a potential cover up of crimes against humanity. The government claims the work is being carried out to make way for refugee resettlement.

As new plans are drafted to establish repatriation, UN agencies are still being denied entry to the region. The international community cannot delay in uniting to demand that the UN fact finding mission be given full access.

Furthermore, Myanmar must be deemed by the international community to be a place of safe return &mdash; including one where justice can be obtained. A now established principle in international law is that rape committed in such a wholesale manner is a crime against humanity &mdash; a weapon against certain populations. All necessary steps must be taken to preserve evidence, investigate crimes effectively and protect victims and witnesses.

Six months into the crisis, the world must do more to ensure that victims of state-sanctioned sexual violence receive the justice they deserve. Holding perpetrators legally accountable and ensuring that no one &mdash; including military officials who are meant to protect civilians &mdash; is above criminal prosecution is a vital step toward guaranteeing Myanmar becomes a safe place for all women and girls, regardless of ethnicity.&nbsp;

 
*Christa Stewart manages the End Sexual Violence program at the international women&rsquo;s rights organization, Equality Now. She is a human rights lawyer

This <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#starred/1619d70efeff25b7">article</a> was originally published in<a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/"> Fair Observer</a>.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The evidence is mounting that Myanmar’s military is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya minority.

By Christa Stewart* It has now been six months since the Myanmar military resumed its ruthless crackdown against the Rohingya minority. Many women and girls fleeing brutal state-sponsored persecution have reported horrific accounts of rape, sexual assault, torture and murder at the hands of government forces. When state institutions orchestrate such human rights violations and allow perpetrators to act with impunity, the international community must unite in taking a strong stance in order to hold those responsible to account. Violent oppression of Myanmar’s various ethnic groups has been happening for decades, but targeted assaults against the Rohingya community have spiraled since August 2017, when Myanmar’s authorities launched what they euphemistically describe as “clearance operations” against Rohingya “terrorists.” According to most recent estimates, over 680,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, a country ill-equipped to deal with the mounting crisis. Although conditions in the refugee camps are dire given the vast and rapid influx of people, it is estimated that around 200 people are still making the dangerous border crossing to escape continuing state hostilities each day. Evidence is mounting to back allegations that Myanmar’s autonomous military, known as the Tamadaw, is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing. A UN investigation conducted among refugees in Bangladesh found that 52% of women reported being raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence. The majority was gang-raped, and most identified military officers or police officers as the perpetrators. In a refugee center, one survivor told Human Rights Watch in October 2017: “I was held down by six men and raped by five of them. First, they [shot and] killed my brother … then they threw me to the side and one man tore my lungi [sarong], grabbed me by the mouth and held me still. He stuck a knife into my side and kept it there while the men were raping me. That was how they kept me in place. I was trying to move and [the wound] was bleeding more. They were threatening to shoot me.” Another story came from a 17-year-old, identified simply as N, who told Associated Press that she was at home with her family when 10 soldiers burst in. Half of the men held her pleading family back while the rest took turns raping her. Forced to watch, her parents were beaten if they screamed. Directed Attacks Directed attacks against women and girls by security forces are not a new phenomenon. For 20 years, there have been reports of the military using rape and sexual assault in its armed conflict against ethnic minorities in states including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen and Shan. Human rights groups have documented incidents, but despite extensive evidence, perpetrators have not been brought to justice. A largely Muslim minority in a predominantly Buddhist country, the Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights and face extensive discrimination. They have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982, effectively leaving them stateless and especially vulnerable to human rights abuses as they are not entitled to any legal government protection. This makes the Rohingya prime targets for criminal networks who exploit impoverished populations, and displaced women and girls are at greater risk of human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution, as well as forced and child marriage. The Rakhine Advisory Commission, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released a report in August 2017 stating that the Rohingya are the single largest “stateless” community in the world, with around 10% of the world’s stateless people residing in Myanmar. Both Myanmar’s military and the civilian government have denied most allegations of mistreatment, and the true scale is not yet known because state authorities have prohibited human rights organizations and international media from independently accessing conflict areas or investigating charges. Not only has Myanmar authorities blocked enquiries, they have refused to acknowledge the need for review at all. Myanmar’s civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely criticized for failing to denounce violations, instead dismissing reports on social media as “fake rapes.” Meanwhile, when Rakhine State’s minister for border affairs, Phone Tint, was asked by a journalist about rape allegations, he replied: “These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances — do you think they are that attractive to be raped?” In December, the UN Security Council (UNSC) met to discuss the crisis, with numerous countries condemning the sexual violence perpetrated by the military. However, Russia and China have refused to effectively address the situation and their silence remains deafening. Both countries sit on the UNSC, and without their votes, a resolution cannot be passed condemning the human rights violations. Nor can any of the ongoing crimes against humanity be referred to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution. Safety, Security, Dignity Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to begin repatriation in “safety, security and dignity.” However, the process and timeline remain unclear and there are serious concerns about the treatment returnees could face. Human Rights Watch has reported that new satellite imagery shows at least 55 Rohingya villages in Rakhine State have recently been leveled by authorities, and these demolitions may have erased evidence of atrocities committed by security forces, constituting a potential cover up of crimes against humanity. The government claims the work is being carried out to make way for refugee resettlement. As new plans are drafted to establish repatriation, UN agencies are still being denied entry to the region. The international community cannot delay in uniting to demand that the UN fact finding mission be given full access. Furthermore, Myanmar must be deemed by the international community to be a place of safe return — including one where justice can be obtained. A now established principle in international law is that rape committed in such a wholesale manner is a crime against humanity — a weapon against certain populations. All necessary steps must be taken to preserve evidence, investigate crimes effectively and protect victims and witnesses. Six months into the crisis, the world must do more to ensure that victims of state-sanctioned sexual violence receive the justice they deserve. Holding perpetrators legally accountable and ensuring that no one — including military officials who are meant to protect civilians — is above criminal prosecution is a vital step toward guaranteeing Myanmar becomes a safe place for all women and girls, regardless of ethnicity. *Christa Stewart manages the End Sexual Violence program at the international women’s rights organization, Equality Now. She is a human rights lawyer This article was originally published in Fair Observer. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: With rape and violence rife, where is justice for Rohingya women

The United States on Tuesday described Myanmar denials of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims as &quot;preposterous&quot; as it called on the UN&nbsp;Security Council to hold the military accountable and pressure leader Aung San Suu Kyi &quot;to acknowledge these horrific acts that are taking place in her country.&quot;

&quot;Powerful forces in the Burmese government have denied the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State,&quot; US&nbsp;Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Security Council.

&quot;To make sure no one contradicts their preposterous denials, they are preventing access to Rakhine to anyone or any organization that might bear witness to their atrocities, including the UN&nbsp;Security Council,&quot; Haley said.

Haley also called for the release of Reuters news agency reporters arrested for reporting on the massacre of Rohingya Muslims.

&quot;We strongly call for their immediate and unconditional release,&quot; she said. In a reference to Myanmar`s reason for detaining the journalists, Haley added, &quot;On top of it all, they have the gall to blame the media.&quot;

The Reuters special report, published last week, lays out events leading up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men from Inn Din village in Rakhine state who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers.

French UN&nbsp;Ambassador Francois Delattre also told the Security Council that a massacre of Rohingya Muslims reported by Reuters could &quot;constitute crimes against humanity.&quot; 
Myanmar has denied that ethnic cleansing has taken place.

Any push for UN&nbsp;Security Council action is likely to face resistance from council veto powers Russia and China, who both said on Tuesday the situation in Rakhine state was stable and under control.

&quot;Using labels and attempts to use contradictory and subjective reports of the media ... to find out who`s guilty and condemn them only move us farther away from a solution,&quot; Russia`s Deputy UN&nbsp;Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy warned.&nbsp;

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since last August when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide.

&quot;Conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees,&quot; UN&nbsp;refugee chief Filippo Grandi told the Security Council.

Calls for journalists release

While Myanmar UN&nbsp;Ambassador Hau Do Suan said that some diplomats had been able to travel to Rakhine state but also told the UN&nbsp;Security Council not to visit during February because it was &quot;not the right time,&quot; Kuwait`s UN&nbsp;Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi said this month.&nbsp;

Myanmar`s Hau Do Suan said that an inquiry by the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, had found that 10 Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants had been arrested in Inn Din and executed and buried a day later.

&quot;Actions are being taken against 16 individuals, including army and police officers and some villagers who had acted in violation of standard operating procedures and the rules of engagement. This action of the Tatmadaw is positive step forward in taking responsibility and deserves encouragement,&quot; he said.

With reference to Reuters journalists arrested for reporting on the Rohingya, Hau Do Suan said Myanmar recognises freedom of the press and the journalists were not arrested in December for reporting a story, but were accused of &quot;illegally possessing confidential government documents.&quot;

&quot;Every citizen is bound by the existing law of the land. It is important that the actions of the journalists must also within the bound of the law,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Britain, France, the United States, the Netherlands and Kazakhstan all called for the release of the Reuters journalists during the Security Council meeting on Tuesday.&nbsp;

'Powerful forces in the Burmese government have denied the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State,' US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Security Council

The United States on Tuesday described Myanmar denials of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims as "preposterous" as it called on the UN Security Council to hold the military accountable and pressure leader Aung San Suu Kyi "to acknowledge these horrific acts that are taking place in her country." "Powerful forces in the Burmese government have denied the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Security Council. "To make sure no one contradicts their preposterous denials, they are preventing access to Rakhine to anyone or any organization that might bear witness to their atrocities, including the UN Security Council," Haley said. Haley also called for the release of Reuters news agency reporters arrested for reporting on the massacre of Rohingya Muslims. "We strongly call for their immediate and unconditional release," she said. In a reference to Myanmar`s reason for detaining the journalists, Haley added, "On top of it all, they have the gall to blame the media." The Reuters special report, published last week, lays out events leading up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men from Inn Din village in Rakhine state who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers. French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre also told the Security Council that a massacre of Rohingya Muslims reported by Reuters could "constitute crimes against humanity." Myanmar has denied that ethnic cleansing has taken place. Any push for UN Security Council action is likely to face resistance from council veto powers Russia and China, who both said on Tuesday the situation in Rakhine state was stable and under control. "Using labels and attempts to use contradictory and subjective reports of the media ... to find out who`s guilty and condemn them only move us farther away from a solution," Russia`s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy warned. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since last August when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide. "Conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees," UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi told the Security Council. Calls for journalists release While Myanmar UN Ambassador Hau Do Suan said that some diplomats had been able to travel to Rakhine state but also told the UN Security Council not to visit during February because it was "not the right time," Kuwait`s UN Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi said this month. Myanmar`s Hau Do Suan said that an inquiry by the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, had found that 10 Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants had been arrested in Inn Din and executed and buried a day later. "Actions are being taken against 16 individuals, including army and police officers and some villagers who had acted in violation of standard operating procedures and the rules of engagement. This action of the Tatmadaw is positive step forward in taking responsibility and deserves encouragement," he said. With reference to Reuters journalists arrested for reporting on the Rohingya, Hau Do Suan said Myanmar recognises freedom of the press and the journalists were not arrested in December for reporting a story, but were accused of "illegally possessing confidential government documents." "Every citizen is bound by the existing law of the land. It is important that the actions of the journalists must also within the bound of the law," he said. Britain, France, the United States, the Netherlands and Kazakhstan all called for the release of the Reuters journalists during the Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

US urges UN to hold Myanmar military accountable for 'ethnic cleansing'

The Rohingya accuse the army of arson, rapes and killings aimed at rubbing them out of existence in this mainly Buddhist nation of 53 million.

'One grave for 10 Rohingya men': How Myanmar forces burned, looted and killed in a remote village

Myanmar will delay a long-awaited reform that would open the door further to foreign investment, two officials told Reuters, a move likely to disappoint cash-starved businesses amid growing doubts over the management of the economy by the country&#39;s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The postponement of the corporate reform, which would have allowed foreign companies to take up to a 35 per cent stake in Myanmar companies, will likely deal a fresh blow to investor confidence in Suu Kyi&#39;s administration.

 
Economic reform is a key goal for her to complete Myanmar&#39;s democratic transition after decades of isolation under military rule.

The delay underscores the daunting challenge facing Suu Kyi, whose promise of a reformist government that would attract foreign investment is under threat.&nbsp;Some aid to Myanmar is already being withheld and investors are concerned that the sanctions that long hobbled the country&#39;s economy will be reinstated over its treatment of its Rohingya minority.

A Myanmar companies law, which could bring much-needed foreign capital to the country after decades of mismanagement by the former military junta, was approved last week by President Htin Kyaw without a commencement date specified.&nbsp;

Aung Naing Oo, head of Myanmar&#39;s Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), told Reuters the authorities may not be ready to implement the new rules until as late as August 2018, after bylaws were prepared and a company registry that he said was vital to enforcement was completed.

&quot;We really want to implement the law as soon as possible but there are many things for us to do&quot;, he said, declining to elaborate what bylaws were needed. He said the government would make sure implementation would be no later than August 1. &quot;We have to make sure the reform is on the right track&quot;.

Myo Min, director of DICA, said the authorities needed up to eight months to &quot;work on the guidance and operating manual&quot; for the country&#39;s first modern online registry, an initiative driven by the Asian Development Bank to electronically revamp the country&#39;s company registry to boost transparency.

The law includes a first set of modern corporate governance regulations, in some parts replacing rules made over a century ago, to bring the country&#39;s business regulatory framework closer to international standards.&nbsp;At issue is a clause that allows foreigners to take up to a 35 per cent share in local companies, which would give local businesses access to a larger capital pool and open up the door for mergers and acquisitions in sectors that are in urgent need of an injection of cash from banking to property.

The delay of the much-anticipated reform comes as Suu Kyi faces criticism that she has neglected economic reforms. Growth in both foreign investment and gross domestic product have slowed since her National League for Democracy took office last year in one of the region&#39;s poorest countries.&nbsp;Htay Aung, president of the property-to-trading conglomerate Sakura Trade Center, said putting off implementation of the law &quot;was bad for business as it will bring delays and extra costs, which result in losses&quot;.

The company is seeking $100 million in over&shy;seas financing for a condominium development in Myanmar&#39;s commercial hub, Yangon. &quot;Foreign investment will be postponed and local businessmen will be disappointed.&quot;

Missed Opportunity

Investors have been waiting for the corporate reform, which was initiated by the former military-backed government in 2014. It establishes guidelines on how a company is run and governed, removing outdated rules on share transfers and offering greater protection to shareholders.&nbsp;But Chris Hughes, a lawyer with Berwin Leighton Paisner in Yangon who was commissioned to draft the rules, said it was a &quot;missed opportunity&quot; for Suu Kyi&#39;s administration.&nbsp;

&quot;I can&#39;t see a compelling economic reason or policy behind the delay. It seems more driven by technology or administrative factors&quot;.&nbsp;William Greenlee, managing director at law firm DFDL in Yangon, said the business community would struggle with the delay.

&quot;International investors are watching and it is wins like this that create a buzz and can materialize into a profound and sustained increase in foreign investment&quot;, he said. &quot;The euphoria will quickly turn to disappointment if it&#39;s not implemented quickly&quot;. Aung Naing Oo of DICA said there would be no negative impact on investment. &quot;Investors always need to take some time before they invest&quot;, he said. &quot;So this actually is the time for investors to make preparation to invest in Myanmar&quot;.

The Asian Development Bank, which gives financial and technical assistance to Myanmar, said &quot;it is ultimately the government&#39;s decision when the law comes into force&quot; and declined to comment further.

A clause which is likely to open doors for foreign investment leading to capital pool access for firms in urgent need of cash flow is likely tobe delayed

Myanmar will delay a long-awaited reform that would open the door further to foreign investment, two officials told Reuters, a move likely to disappoint cash-starved businesses amid growing doubts over the management of the economy by the country's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The postponement of the corporate reform, which would have allowed foreign companies to take up to a 35 per cent stake in Myanmar companies, will likely deal a fresh blow to investor confidence in Suu Kyi's administration. Economic reform is a key goal for her to complete Myanmar's democratic transition after decades of isolation under military rule. The delay underscores the daunting challenge facing Suu Kyi, whose promise of a reformist government that would attract foreign investment is under threat. Some aid to Myanmar is already being withheld and investors are concerned that the sanctions that long hobbled the country's economy will be reinstated over its treatment of its Rohingya minority. A Myanmar companies law, which could bring much-needed foreign capital to the country after decades of mismanagement by the former military junta, was approved last week by President Htin Kyaw without a commencement date specified. Aung Naing Oo, head of Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), told Reuters the authorities may not be ready to implement the new rules until as late as August 2018, after bylaws were prepared and a company registry that he said was vital to enforcement was completed. "We really want to implement the law as soon as possible but there are many things for us to do", he said, declining to elaborate what bylaws were needed. He said the government would make sure implementation would be no later than August 1. "We have to make sure the reform is on the right track". Myo Min, director of DICA, said the authorities needed up to eight months to "work on the guidance and operating manual" for the country's first modern online registry, an initiative driven by the Asian Development Bank to electronically revamp the country's company registry to boost transparency. The law includes a first set of modern corporate governance regulations, in some parts replacing rules made over a century ago, to bring the country's business regulatory framework closer to international standards. At issue is a clause that allows foreigners to take up to a 35 per cent share in local companies, which would give local businesses access to a larger capital pool and open up the door for mergers and acquisitions in sectors that are in urgent need of an injection of cash from banking to property. The delay of the much-anticipated reform comes as Suu Kyi faces criticism that she has neglected economic reforms. Growth in both foreign investment and gross domestic product have slowed since her National League for Democracy took office last year in one of the region's poorest countries. Htay Aung, president of the property-to-trading conglomerate Sakura Trade Center, said putting off implementation of the law "was bad for business as it will bring delays and extra costs, which result in losses". The company is seeking $100 million in overseas financing for a condominium development in Myanmar's commercial hub, Yangon. "Foreign investment will be postponed and local businessmen will be disappointed." Missed Opportunity Investors have been waiting for the corporate reform, which was initiated by the former military-backed government in 2014. It establishes guidelines on how a company is run and governed, removing outdated rules on share transfers and offering greater protection to shareholders. But Chris Hughes, a lawyer with Berwin Leighton Paisner in Yangon who was commissioned to draft the rules, said it was a "missed opportunity" for Suu Kyi's administration. "I can't see a compelling economic reason or policy behind the delay. It seems more driven by technology or administrative factors". William Greenlee, managing director at law firm DFDL in Yangon, said the business community would struggle with the delay. "International investors are watching and it is wins like this that create a buzz and can materialize into a profound and sustained increase in foreign investment", he said. "The euphoria will quickly turn to disappointment if it's not implemented quickly". Aung Naing Oo of DICA said there would be no negative impact on investment. "Investors always need to take some time before they invest", he said. "So this actually is the time for investors to make preparation to invest in Myanmar". The Asian Development Bank, which gives financial and technical assistance to Myanmar, said "it is ultimately the government's decision when the law comes into force" and declined to comment further.

Myanmar to delay law that would have allowed more foreign investment

Five Rohingya villagers whose distraught relatives say they were shot dead by the Myanmar military were buried&nbsp;Thursday&nbsp;in Bangladesh at a mass funeral attended by hundreds of people after their bodies were carried across the border.

The relatives said the victims had been killed by the Myanmar military&nbsp;on Wednesday, a claim that could not be independently confirmed but tallies with multiple accounts of killings in Rohingya villages.

Their bodies were brought across the Naf river on a boat, landing on a remote stretch where thousands of Rohingya refugees have been streaming into Bangladesh over the last fortnight.

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Sufia Begum, an elderly Rohingya woman aboard, said she had relatives among the dead.

&quot;They were all killed,&quot; she wept, pointing to a lifeless man covered in plastic sheeting and another corpse wrapped in cloth.

They were buried&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;in a Muslim graveyard along with a sixth man who died of unknown causes.

One victim, identified by survivors as the imam of their village mosque in Myanmar, had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.&nbsp;

&quot;Five of them had bullet wounds,&quot; Chailau Marma, deputy police chief of Cox&#39;s Bazar, which borders Myanmar, told AFP.

&quot;Relatives of the deceased carried the bodies into Bangladesh after they failed to bury them in Myanmar. They all died yesterday.&quot;

Myanmar&#39;s more than one million Rohingya are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions in the majority Buddhist country, which has come under increased criticism over its apartheid-like treatment of the Muslim minority.

UN investigators have said a military crackdown that followed ambushes by Rohingya militants in October last year has unleashed &quot;devastating cruelty&quot; on civilians which may amount to ethnic cleansing.

On Thursday&nbsp;the UN said 164,000 refugees have now crossed into Bangladesh in the last fortnight to escape fighting between militants and Myanmar&#39;s military.

The fighting is the fiercest Myanmar&#39;s western Rakhine state has witnessed in years.&nbsp;

Columns of Rohingya civilians arrived steadily throughout&nbsp;Wednesday&nbsp;from the jungles along the border, carrying infants, chickens and their belongings bundled in sacks.

Long queues formed to cross a collapsed bridge over a marshy river, with elderly civilians with canes and infants being carried across the impasse.

Many have brought allegations of homes being torched and villagers shot and hacked to death by Myanmar troops.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-crisis-has-myanmar-planted-landmines-along-its-bangladesh-border-19941" target="_blank">Also read: Rohingya crisis: Has Myanmar planted landmines along its Bangladesh border?</a>

Myanmar&#39;s government, led by Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected allegations of atrocities, accusing the international media, NGOs and the UN of fabrications.

Marium Begum, who crossed by a river into Bangladesh&nbsp;on Wednesday, said soldiers had opened fire as she and her family tried to flee their village.

&quot;They shot over our heads. We submerged ourselves underwater. &nbsp;The children swallowed a lot of water,&quot; she told AFP.

&quot;There were many of them. They had long machetes.&quot;

Bangladesh border guards also allowed a Rohingya couple to be buried in Bangladesh after they were shot dead and the wife gang-raped when they went back into Myanmar to retrieve their belongings, commander Manzurul Hasan Khan, told AFP.

Five Rohingya villagers whose distraught relatives say they were shot dead by the Myanmar military were buried?Thursday?in Bangladesh

Five Rohingya villagers whose distraught relatives say they were shot dead by the Myanmar military were buried Thursday in Bangladesh at a mass funeral attended by hundreds of people after their bodies were carried across the border. The relatives said the victims had been killed by the Myanmar military on Wednesday, a claim that could not be independently confirmed but tallies with multiple accounts of killings in Rohingya villages. Their bodies were brought across the Naf river on a boat, landing on a remote stretch where thousands of Rohingya refugees have been streaming into Bangladesh over the last fortnight. They were all killed, an elderly Rohingya woman wept, pointing to a lifeless man covered in plastic sheeting and another corpse wrapped in cloth × Sufia Begum, an elderly Rohingya woman aboard, said she had relatives among the dead. "They were all killed," she wept, pointing to a lifeless man covered in plastic sheeting and another corpse wrapped in cloth. They were buried on Thursday in a Muslim graveyard along with a sixth man who died of unknown causes. One victim, identified by survivors as the imam of their village mosque in Myanmar, had sustained a gunshot wound to the head. "Five of them had bullet wounds," Chailau Marma, deputy police chief of Cox's Bazar, which borders Myanmar, told AFP. "Relatives of the deceased carried the bodies into Bangladesh after they failed to bury them in Myanmar. They all died yesterday." Myanmar's more than one million Rohingya are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions in the majority Buddhist country, which has come under increased criticism over its apartheid-like treatment of the Muslim minority. UN investigators have said a military crackdown that followed ambushes by Rohingya militants in October last year has unleashed "devastating cruelty" on civilians which may amount to ethnic cleansing. On Thursday the UN said 164,000 refugees have now crossed into Bangladesh in the last fortnight to escape fighting between militants and Myanmar's military. The fighting is the fiercest Myanmar's western Rakhine state has witnessed in years. Columns of Rohingya civilians arrived steadily throughout Wednesday from the jungles along the border, carrying infants, chickens and their belongings bundled in sacks. Long queues formed to cross a collapsed bridge over a marshy river, with elderly civilians with canes and infants being carried across the impasse. Many have brought allegations of homes being torched and villagers shot and hacked to death by Myanmar troops. Also read: Rohingya crisis: Has Myanmar planted landmines along its Bangladesh border? Myanmar's government, led by Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected allegations of atrocities, accusing the international media, NGOs and the UN of fabrications. Marium Begum, who crossed by a river into Bangladesh on Wednesday, said soldiers had opened fire as she and her family tried to flee their village. "They shot over our heads. We submerged ourselves underwater. The children swallowed a lot of water," she told AFP. "There were many of them. They had long machetes." Bangladesh border guards also allowed a Rohingya couple to be buried in Bangladesh after they were shot dead and the wife gang-raped when they went back into Myanmar to retrieve their belongings, commander Manzurul Hasan Khan, told AFP.

Bangladesh buries Rohingya shot dead in Myanmar

At least 28 insurgents were killed over two days of fighting in western Rakhine state on Sunday, Myanmar&#39;s military said.&nbsp;

The military said 22 insurgents were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village after they attacked soldiers of which two died and another six killed were killed elsewhere.

&nbsp;Rohingya activists uploaded a video late Saturday which showed eight corpses dressed in civilian clothes, including a small baby.&nbsp;

The narrator, speaking in Rohingya said the victims were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village, some bodies riddled with bullets.&nbsp;

According to AFP, the authenticity of the video could not be verified.&nbsp;

The latest clashes come&nbsp;after satellite images released by Human Rights Watch showed more than 400 buildings torched in three Rohingya villages.&nbsp;

Brad Adams, the group&#39;s Asia director, said the new photos showed &quot;widespread destruction&quot; that was &quot;greater than we first thought&quot;.

&quot;Burmese authorities should promptly establish a UN-assisted investigation as a first step toward ensuring justice and security for the victims,&quot; he said in a statement.

The government and the military denied any involvement and accused the Rohingya&#39;s.&nbsp;

The region is home to Rohingya Muslims, who are in conflict with the majority Buddhists.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The military said 28 insurgents were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village after they attacked soldiers of which two died

At least 28 insurgents were killed over two days of fighting in western Rakhine state on Sunday, Myanmar's military said. The military said 22 insurgents were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village after they attacked soldiers of which two died and another six killed were killed elsewhere. Rohingya activists uploaded a video late Saturday which showed eight corpses dressed in civilian clothes, including a small baby. The narrator, speaking in Rohingya said the victims were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village, some bodies riddled with bullets. According to AFP, the authenticity of the video could not be verified. The latest clashes come after satellite images released by Human Rights Watch showed more than 400 buildings torched in three Rohingya villages. Brad Adams, the group's Asia director, said the new photos showed "widespread destruction" that was "greater than we first thought". "Burmese authorities should promptly establish a UN-assisted investigation as a first step toward ensuring justice and security for the victims," he said in a statement. The government and the military denied any involvement and accused the Rohingya's. The region is home to Rohingya Muslims, who are in conflict with the majority Buddhists. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Myanmar: Dozens killed in fresh clash in Rakhine

In a rare admission, Myanmar&#39;s still-powerful military said on Wednesday that soldiers had killed five villagers during an interrogation last month in northern Shan State, and promised to prosecute the perpetrators. 
 
A senior officer in Yangon informed that a court martial was under way and that the verdict would be made public. The military also pledged help for the victims&#39; families. 
 
&quot;The court martial found that they violated the rules, failing to follow certain procedures, that led to the death of the victims during the interrogation,&quot; said Deputy Major General and chief of military intelligence Mya Tun Oo. 
 
Witnesses claim soldiers rounded up dozens of men in the village of Mong Yaw in northern Shan State on June 25 and led five men away. The bodies of the five were found in a shallow grave a few days later. 
 
Myanmar&#39;s armed forces have often been accused by human rights groups and Western governments of abuses during decades of conflict with ethnic armed groups. 
 
Campaigners such as Amnesty International say it is extremely rare for troops to be held accountable for alleged abuses or for such allegations to be investigated transparently. 
 
The military&#39;s response suggests a heightened sensitivity about the army&#39;s image as it tries to present itself as a responsible partner in Myanmar&#39;s democratic transition and seeks closer ties with its Western counterparts. 
 
&quot;Every soldier has to follow rules and regulations while investigating prisoners or detainees regardless of whether they are related to insurgents or regular citizens,&quot; said Mya Tun Oo, adding that the military would take action against the perpetrators according to the law. 
 
&quot;The military will take the best care and support of the victims&#39; families,&quot; added Mya Tun Oo, without giving the details. 
 
The deaths of two other men in a separate incident were also being investigated, the military said. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Myanmar military aims to revamp image following repeated accusations by human rights groups of ethnic abuses

In a rare admission, Myanmar's still-powerful military said on Wednesday that soldiers had killed five villagers during an interrogation last month in northern Shan State, and promised to prosecute the perpetrators. A senior officer in Yangon informed that a court martial was under way and that the verdict would be made public. The military also pledged help for the victims' families. "The court martial found that they violated the rules, failing to follow certain procedures, that led to the death of the victims during the interrogation," said Deputy Major General and chief of military intelligence Mya Tun Oo. Witnesses claim soldiers rounded up dozens of men in the village of Mong Yaw in northern Shan State on June 25 and led five men away. The bodies of the five were found in a shallow grave a few days later. Myanmar's armed forces have often been accused by human rights groups and Western governments of abuses during decades of conflict with ethnic armed groups. Campaigners such as Amnesty International say it is extremely rare for troops to be held accountable for alleged abuses or for such allegations to be investigated transparently. The military's response suggests a heightened sensitivity about the army's image as it tries to present itself as a responsible partner in Myanmar's democratic transition and seeks closer ties with its Western counterparts. "Every soldier has to follow rules and regulations while investigating prisoners or detainees regardless of whether they are related to insurgents or regular citizens," said Mya Tun Oo, adding that the military would take action against the perpetrators according to the law. "The military will take the best care and support of the victims' families," added Mya Tun Oo, without giving the details. The deaths of two other men in a separate incident were also being investigated, the military said. (Reuters)

Myanmar military to court martial soldiers for alleged abuse

An amateur video shot by a resident of Mong Yaw village in Northern Shan State of Myanmar, shows a bloody path above a cornfield, where several bodies were exhumed from a mass grave. 
 
Witnesses said that soldiers entered the village of Mong Yaw on June 25 and rounded up dozens of men. 
 
Five were led away, never to be seen alive again. Two other men, brothers, were shot while trying to escape on a motorbike and their bodies found in a ditch, villagers said. 
 
&quot;I think Burmese soldiers killed my husband, as they are the people who arrested him in the first place,&quot; said 18-year-old Aye Lu, wife of one of the five missing men, 23-year-old Aik Sai. 
 
&quot;We even went to their (military) office and asked about my husband. They said they already released him. But he has not arrived home yet,&quot; said Aye Lu. 
 
For another local family, a similar story. 
 
22 year-old Sai Mong Tan was weeding a cornfield with his 17-year-old brother, Sai Shwe Lu, when the soldiers arrived.&nbsp;The military later said they had come under attack from rebels in the area, although local activists said there had been no insurgent activity. 
 
The brothers were marched to a nearby road, where dozens more soldiers had detained about a hundred people, and were forced to squat with their hands behind their heads.&nbsp;The soldiers beat and interrogated the men, demanding to know if anyone had spotted insurgents in the area, said Sai Mong Tan.&nbsp;He then watched as soldiers tied up his younger brother and the four other victims and led them away. 
 
Reuters could not independently confirm this account, although it matched the version of events described by other villagers, local officials and rights activists. 
 
Sai Mong Tan believes his brother was singled out because he didn&#39;t speak Burmese and couldn&#39;t answer the soldiers&#39; questions. 
 
Myanmar&#39;s armed forces have often been accused of abuses by human rights groups and Western governments during decades of conflict with ethnic armed separatists in its wild border zones. What is unusual in this case is that the military high command has been taking the allegations seriously. 
 
Major Thein Zaw of the army&#39;s Northeast command said a court martial had begun, although he could not say how many soldiers were on trial or what charges they faced, and local government officials said several soldiers had been arrested. 
 
Villagers say a senior army officer has promised them a full investigation.&nbsp;However, multiple requests by Reuters for comment from the army in the northern city Lashio and the capital Naypyitaw were declined or went unanswered. The military said it would address the issue at a news conference on Wednesday (July 20). 
 
It is extremely rare in Myanmar for soldiers to be held accountable for alleged abuses, or for such allegations to be investigated transparently, rights groups such as Amnesty International say. 
 
The military&#39;s response this time suggests a heightened sensitivity about its image, as it tries to present itself as a responsible partner in Myanmar&#39;s democratic transition and seeks closer ties with its Western counterparts. 
 
Myanmar was a military dictatorship for nearly half a century until a quasi-civilian government of former generals replaced the junta in 2011 and launched a series of political and economic reforms. 
 
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was swept into office in April after winning a landslide election last year, but the military still holds immense power.&nbsp;Police and local officials told villagers in Mong Yaw in the days after the late June killings that they couldn&#39;t investigate because the military was already doing so. 
 
Then, on July 3, the region&#39;s vice-commander, Major General Kyaw Kyaw Soe, visited Mong Yaw and promised a full probe, said villagers. He also gave each bereaved family 300,000 Kyat ($250) as a gesture of sympathy, local people said. 
 
General Kyaw Kyaw Soe said some soldiers had been arrested, but gave no further details.&nbsp;A spokesperson from the local Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Sai Leik, has called for an independent investigation. 
 
&quot;This should not be done by a military investigation alone. It should be a judicial process, they should have only a judicial process which can represent all sectors. The military cannot gain people&#39;s trust if they have the trial in the military court, meaning people cannot know what is happening during the trial,&quot; said Sai Leik 
 
&quot;That&#39;s why I want the independent justice to handle this case. Its judgments are independent, it is elected by the people, and there is no intervention from the government or military,&quot; added Leik. 
 
Most people in Mong Yaw are from the Shan or Palaung ethnic minorities. Soldiers mostly hail from the majority Bamar ethnic group, and often accuse villagers of harbouring insurgents. 
 
Ringed by misty hills, Mong Yaw lies in a remote corner of northern Shan State, a region ravaged by war and poverty. Thousands of people have been displaced by decades of fighting between the military and ethnic insurgents. 
 
(Reuters)

They seem to be taking the allegations seriously, suggesting a heightened sensitivity about its image as it seeks closer ties to the West

An amateur video shot by a resident of Mong Yaw village in Northern Shan State of Myanmar, shows a bloody path above a cornfield, where several bodies were exhumed from a mass grave. Witnesses said that soldiers entered the village of Mong Yaw on June 25 and rounded up dozens of men. Five were led away, never to be seen alive again. Two other men, brothers, were shot while trying to escape on a motorbike and their bodies found in a ditch, villagers said. "I think Burmese soldiers killed my husband, as they are the people who arrested him in the first place," said 18-year-old Aye Lu, wife of one of the five missing men, 23-year-old Aik Sai. "We even went to their (military) office and asked about my husband. They said they already released him. But he has not arrived home yet," said Aye Lu. For another local family, a similar story. 22 year-old Sai Mong Tan was weeding a cornfield with his 17-year-old brother, Sai Shwe Lu, when the soldiers arrived. The military later said they had come under attack from rebels in the area, although local activists said there had been no insurgent activity. The brothers were marched to a nearby road, where dozens more soldiers had detained about a hundred people, and were forced to squat with their hands behind their heads. The soldiers beat and interrogated the men, demanding to know if anyone had spotted insurgents in the area, said Sai Mong Tan. He then watched as soldiers tied up his younger brother and the four other victims and led them away. Reuters could not independently confirm this account, although it matched the version of events described by other villagers, local officials and rights activists. Sai Mong Tan believes his brother was singled out because he didn't speak Burmese and couldn't answer the soldiers' questions. Myanmar's armed forces have often been accused of abuses by human rights groups and Western governments during decades of conflict with ethnic armed separatists in its wild border zones. What is unusual in this case is that the military high command has been taking the allegations seriously. Major Thein Zaw of the army's Northeast command said a court martial had begun, although he could not say how many soldiers were on trial or what charges they faced, and local government officials said several soldiers had been arrested. Villagers say a senior army officer has promised them a full investigation. However, multiple requests by Reuters for comment from the army in the northern city Lashio and the capital Naypyitaw were declined or went unanswered. The military said it would address the issue at a news conference on Wednesday (July 20). It is extremely rare in Myanmar for soldiers to be held accountable for alleged abuses, or for such allegations to be investigated transparently, rights groups such as Amnesty International say. The military's response this time suggests a heightened sensitivity about its image, as it tries to present itself as a responsible partner in Myanmar's democratic transition and seeks closer ties with its Western counterparts. Myanmar was a military dictatorship for nearly half a century until a quasi-civilian government of former generals replaced the junta in 2011 and launched a series of political and economic reforms. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was swept into office in April after winning a landslide election last year, but the military still holds immense power. Police and local officials told villagers in Mong Yaw in the days after the late June killings that they couldn't investigate because the military was already doing so. Then, on July 3, the region's vice-commander, Major General Kyaw Kyaw Soe, visited Mong Yaw and promised a full probe, said villagers. He also gave each bereaved family 300,000 Kyat ($250) as a gesture of sympathy, local people said. General Kyaw Kyaw Soe said some soldiers had been arrested, but gave no further details. A spokesperson from the local Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Sai Leik, has called for an independent investigation. "This should not be done by a military investigation alone. It should be a judicial process, they should have only a judicial process which can represent all sectors. The military cannot gain people's trust if they have the trial in the military court, meaning people cannot know what is happening during the trial," said Sai Leik "That's why I want the independent justice to handle this case. Its judgments are independent, it is elected by the people, and there is no intervention from the government or military," added Leik. Most people in Mong Yaw are from the Shan or Palaung ethnic minorities. Soldiers mostly hail from the majority Bamar ethnic group, and often accuse villagers of harbouring insurgents. Ringed by misty hills, Mong Yaw lies in a remote corner of northern Shan State, a region ravaged by war and poverty. Thousands of people have been displaced by decades of fighting between the military and ethnic insurgents. (Reuters)

Myanmar's military investigates 'war crime' in era of reform

Myanmar&#39;s de facto premier Aung San Suu Kyi held landmark talks with senior rebel leaders today, as she strives to seal a ceasefire with a patchwork of ethnic minority militia that have battled the national army for decades. 
 
Suu Kyi has made peace a flagship policy of her newly installed civilian-led government which replaced decades of brutal junta rule earlier this year.&nbsp; 
 
It is a tall order in a country where the military, which is loathed and deeply distrusted by many ethnic rebel groups, still retains significant control. 
 
A number of key rebel factions have yet to sign the national ceasefire agreement, something Suu Kyi&#39;s government hopes today&#39;s talks might change. 
 
Zaw Htay, deputy director general of the President&#39;s office, told reporters the veteran democracy campaigner and her close associates were meeting with five leaders from the United Nationalities Federal Council.&nbsp; 
 
The body represents both rebel groups that have signed up to the ceasefire agreement and those who have so far refused.&nbsp;&quot;It will be like meeting family,&quot; he told reporters ahead of the meeting.&nbsp; 
 
Among those present was General N&#39;Ban La, from the Kachin Independence Organisation, the political wing of one of Myanmar&#39;s most powerful rebel factions, which has yet to sign a ceasefire.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a confidence building meeting, there can be many questions and answers from both sides,&quot; Hla Maung Shwe, a government adviser on the peace process said. 
 
Media were ushered out after filming the initial greetings ahead of the meeting in the commercial capital Yangon. 
 
Myanmar has been scarred by ethnic conflicts ever since its independence in 1948, with minority groups battling for greater autonomy against a central government that they believed has long ignored and abused them.&nbsp; 
 
Suu Kyi has vowed to overturn that painful legacy with plans to hold a major peace conference later this summer. 
 
However, conflicts continue to rage in several areas between ethnic minority armed groups and the army, which operates beyond the reaches of civilian government, particularly in northern Kachin and eastern Shan states. 
 
Some 240,000 people are displaced due to unrest and communal conflict across the country. 
 
More than a dozen rebel factions also plan to hold their own talks later this month in Kachin, with Sunday&#39;s meeting seen as a crucial stepping stone towards persuading the hold-out groups to embrace the peace process. 
 
Both Myanmar&#39;s military and rebel groups have a long history of rights violations linked to decades of conflict, including the use of child labour and drug trafficking. 
 
Suu Kyi&#39;s National League for Democracy government has spoken out in favour greater federalism for Myanmar&#39;s ethnic minorities.&nbsp; 
But her hands are partially tied.&nbsp; 
 
Under Myanmar&#39;s junta-era constitution, the crucial interior, home and border ministries are still controlled by the army, giving the generals huge sway over whether the peace process is a success. 
 
(AFP)

Few key rebel factions have yet to sign Suu Kyi's 'peace policy', a fact the government hopes today's talks might change

Myanmar's de facto premier Aung San Suu Kyi held landmark talks with senior rebel leaders today, as she strives to seal a ceasefire with a patchwork of ethnic minority militia that have battled the national army for decades. Suu Kyi has made peace a flagship policy of her newly installed civilian-led government which replaced decades of brutal junta rule earlier this year. It is a tall order in a country where the military, which is loathed and deeply distrusted by many ethnic rebel groups, still retains significant control. A number of key rebel factions have yet to sign the national ceasefire agreement, something Suu Kyi's government hopes today's talks might change. Zaw Htay, deputy director general of the President's office, told reporters the veteran democracy campaigner and her close associates were meeting with five leaders from the United Nationalities Federal Council. The body represents both rebel groups that have signed up to the ceasefire agreement and those who have so far refused. "It will be like meeting family," he told reporters ahead of the meeting. Among those present was General N'Ban La, from the Kachin Independence Organisation, the political wing of one of Myanmar's most powerful rebel factions, which has yet to sign a ceasefire. "It's a confidence building meeting, there can be many questions and answers from both sides," Hla Maung Shwe, a government adviser on the peace process said. Media were ushered out after filming the initial greetings ahead of the meeting in the commercial capital Yangon. Myanmar has been scarred by ethnic conflicts ever since its independence in 1948, with minority groups battling for greater autonomy against a central government that they believed has long ignored and abused them. Suu Kyi has vowed to overturn that painful legacy with plans to hold a major peace conference later this summer. However, conflicts continue to rage in several areas between ethnic minority armed groups and the army, which operates beyond the reaches of civilian government, particularly in northern Kachin and eastern Shan states. Some 240,000 people are displaced due to unrest and communal conflict across the country. More than a dozen rebel factions also plan to hold their own talks later this month in Kachin, with Sunday's meeting seen as a crucial stepping stone towards persuading the hold-out groups to embrace the peace process. Both Myanmar's military and rebel groups have a long history of rights violations linked to decades of conflict, including the use of child labour and drug trafficking. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy government has spoken out in favour greater federalism for Myanmar's ethnic minorities. But her hands are partially tied. Under Myanmar's junta-era constitution, the crucial interior, home and border ministries are still controlled by the army, giving the generals huge sway over whether the peace process is a success. (AFP)

Myanmar's Suu Kyi holds landmark talks with rebels, strives to seal ceasefire with minority militia

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