Mawlamyine, Mon State

“Monitoring Governance and Transparency in Mon State” Promotion Rule of The Law Project.

MILESTONE REPORT –F 21 Jan 2016 – 22 May 2016

Promoting the Rule of Law Project Grant Number: PRL-G-001-10

Implemented by: Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) Nai Banyar Ong, Chief Editor No. 27, 28th Street, Myaingtharyar Quarters, Mawlamyine, Mon State

PRLP – PRL-G-001-10 – IMNA

Verification Points for Milestone F 1. References and links (copies) of investigated stories and reports from citizen journalists that had been posted on website and printed newspapers accepted and acknowledged by PRLP; 2. References and links (copies) of reporting from field reporters and citizen journalist after they did data collection, analyzed and edited accepted and acknowledged by PRLP 3. IMNA provided copies of in-depth investigated reports accepted and acknowledged by PRLP. 4. IMNA provided a copy of printed report which has sent to Mon State government official 5. IMNA provided a copy of printed report which has sent to Mon State government official accepted and acknowledged by PRLP.IMNA provided distribution list accepted and acknowledged by PRLP; 6. IMNA provided meeting minutes for the meeting with IMNA and Mon state government officials 7. Final Report (Technical and Financial), Request for Reimbursement-FOG, and Cost Share Report submitted and signed by the grantee.

Accomplishments 1-Media /reports of investigated (12) stories No. Date Topics Number Language used Media platform of reports/ stories 1 2016/3/29 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI-Online 2 2016/3/23 Bet 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI Online 3 2016/3/20 Land Registration 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI Online 4 2016/3/18 The Law of Local 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI Online Village Heads 5 2016/3/12- Army murdering 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online villagers 6 2016/03/13 Without car 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 7 2016/03/17 Drug abuse 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 8 2016/03/17 Village Head Election 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 9 2016/05/01 Government & Media 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online Relations 10 2016/05/04 Government land 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online seizures 11 2016/05/10 No accountability 1 Myanmar, MNA- Online project 12 2016/05/14 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online

2-Media /reports from citizen journalists (29) stories

No. Date Topics Number of Language used Media platform reports/ stories 1 2016/02/08 Drug trafficking 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI-Online 2 2016/02/11 Village Head Election 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI Online 3 2016/03/01 Coal Power 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI Online 4 2016/03/03 Coal Power 1 Myanmar, MNA- BNI Online 5 2016/03/03 Coal Power 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 6 2016/03/10 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online

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7 2016/03/14 Environment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 8 2016/03/17 Military Officers 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online detained 9 2016/03/25 Junior rape 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 10 2016/03/31 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 11 2016/04/05 Murders 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 12 2016/04/07 festival security 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 13 2016/04/08 The confiscated land 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 14 2016/04/09 Pray for innocent 1 Myanmar, MNA- Online villagers 15 2016/04/21 Cases 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 16 2016/04/28 The Latters of complaint 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 17 2016/04/26 Coal Power 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 18 2016/04/26 Arrested by weapon and 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online drug 19 2016/04/28 Tender 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 20 2016/04/30 Arms group surrender 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 21 2016/05/04 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 22 2016/05/06 Motorcycle / car 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online accident 23 2016/05/07 The robbery arms group 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online surrender 24 2016/05/10 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 25 2016/05/10 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 26 2016/05/11 Crime 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 27 2016/05/17 Foreign Investment 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 28 2016/05/18 Migrant workers 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 29 2016/05/20 Human Rights 1 Myanmar, MNA- Online

3-In-depth investigated report (4) Story

1 2016/05/06 Security 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 2 2016/05/15 Migrant workers 1 Myanmar, MNA-BNI Online 3 2016/05/04 The robbery arms group 1 Myanmar, MNA- Online 4 2016/03/30 Security 1 Myanmar, MNA- Online

6-Meeting with the government for analysis on reports of promoting rules of law

Location: Shwe Myint Moe Tun Hotel- Mawlamyine, Mon State. Date: 10 May 2016 Participants: 1- Daw Tin Ei –Chairman of Mon State Hluttaw, 2- Dr. Aung Naing Oo- Vice-Chairman of Mon State Hluttaw, 3-Daw Khine Khine Le-Hluttaw representative; chairwoman of legislature committee, 4-U Aung Kyaw Thu-Hluttaw representative, of legislature committee, 5-U Tun Min Aung-Hluttaw representative, chairman of ethnic affair, 6-Dr. Aye Zan -Hluttaw Representative, of environment watch committee, 7-Nai Banyar Aung- CEO of MNA(IMNA) 3

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8- U Sein Thee- Chief Editor of Guiding Star 9-Nai Myint Naing, Managing Editor-GS 10-U Aong Jaeneh, English Editor -MNA

Agenda no. 1); commencing the meeting at 10: 30 AM Agenda no. 2); Nai Myint Naing; explained the objective of the meeting We report about rule of law in 8 out of 10 townships in Mon State. We published one report in July, 2015, and another one in January, 2016. The objective of holding this meeting is to get comments from the current Mon State Hluttaw and government officials over the reports of rule of law. In conclusion, we also met with the last government twice, and here I would like to request this current government at this meeting to provide more comments with more transparency than the last government.

Agenda (3): Nai Banyar Aung; explained about the reports Regarding the reports of rule of law, I will just explain the headlines and in brief. Mon News Agency worked with Guiding Star and produced the reports. The project started in 2014 and will end on May 22. The headlines from the report published in July, 2015 The Charter 1 is divided into 3 parts 1) Rule of Law 2) Administration and management 3) Transparency and responsibility

Charter (2) The laws passed by the Mon State Hluttaw Charter (3) The implementations of Mon State Government’s rule of law program Charter (4) The protests staged during the current government Charter (5) Coal-powered plant project issues in Ye Township Charter (6) Extortion and ransom money in Ye Township Charter (7) Illegal lottery and gambling Charter (8) Special events related to the media Charter (9) Analysis and Feedbacks

The headlines from the report published in January, 2016 Under Charter 1; 1) Rule of Law 2) Administration and Management 3) Transparency and Responsibility

Charter (2) Monitoring information Charter (3) Mon State justice and lawsuit sectors Charter (4) Land law in 2012 and unsolved land issues Charter (5) Ye Township’s rule of law and public security Charter (6) Public concerns for environment Charter (7) Public concerns on foreign investment Charter (8) Civil Society Organizations’ views on rule of law Charter (9) Analysis and Feedbacks Agenda no. 4; participants give comments and discuss on the reports Participant: Daw Tin Ei (Speaker of Mon State Hluttaw) I like everyone’s comments. It is necessary to educate to get rid of the corruption. So, when the land is confiscated, why is it taken away. If the land is confiscated in not accordance with the law, or illegally, Hluttaw will work toward returning the land to the owners. It is necessary for everyone to be aware of and have knowledge. The government has worked for the public’s health and happy as it prevents the foreign investment projects that can harm the environment. Only if there is law, there will be peace. Participant: Dr. Aung Naing Oo (Deputy Speaker of Mon State Hluttaw) It is necessary to conduct field research for the drafted law of investors. So, is it effective to implement it? The law is needed to be fix the law methods. Does the public really understand the law that are already amended? Does the public use the report? It is necessary to do field

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research for the public to hear it. Hluttaw will work for the land issues. Salween [Thanlwin] River is not like the Irrawaddy. It can have valuable mining. This should be protected in accordance with the law, and the Hluttaw will continue to working for it. Participant: Daw Khine Khine Le, (Hluttaw representative; chairwoman of legislature committee) In the first report, about delayed case is found. It is necessary to speed up the case and be brought to court as fast as and as true as possible. Everyone must be equal, and it is also necessary to have independence. Everyone should be involved in order to have passed law become alive. Participant: U Aung Kyaw Thu (Hluttaw representative, of legislature committee) We will find the solutions for the truth and justice as needed in the reports of rule of law. Everyone can hear at the same time the truth about of meetings, in accordance with the arranged agenda, by the media, civil society organizations and Hluttaw deputy speaker and speaker. But sometimes, because the news has to pass by one by one, it can be mis- represented. Participant: U Tun Min Aung (Hluttaw representative, chairman of ethnic affair) The law is very important for the development of a state in the country. It is necessary to follow the laws, laid down by the government, accordingly. Because we are the public’s staff, we should just tell the truth as it is true. It is necessary for the public, government and Hluttaw to cooperate. The police are public’s employees, and those who are afraid of the police are lack of knowledge. So, it is important to understand the law.

Participant: Dr. Aye Zan, (Hluttaw Representative, of environment watch committee) I like about the environment in this report. There are 3 points of responsibilities of the law that are passed for the public benefits, to listen to public voices, and for the Hluttaw to keep eye on the government. We discussed about the budget, projects and business program at the first meeting on April 27. We had second meeting on May 5, and tomorrow [May 11], we would have 3rd meeting. We are still working to be able to accomplish the project effectively within 2 weeks.

We are still carrying out the issues of mining,and coal power plant, and the case of Mawlamyine cement, in Mon State. We are now in the situation of working hard to have the natural resources become beneficial to the public. The government drew the budget. It is necessary to have the system of public cooperating with the government to draw the budget. The public should be involved in the budget drawing. It does not work well if not include the public because the government is using the public’s tax. We are working to have public involved in drawing the budget.

Agenda No. 5 and 6; Nai Myint Naing makes analysis on the results of discussion, and Nai Banyar Aung concludes the meeting with thank-you speech.

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PRLP – PRL-G-001-10 – IMNA