Rohingya Muslims have been denied the right to hold a seminar in Myanmar to discuss their origin and ethnic identity.
Not officially recognized by the state and systematically denied citizenship and other basic rights, Rohingya mainly live in Rakhine bordering Bangladesh.
Yangon’s regional government blocked the seminar, expressing concern that it might renew anger among the public, according to Anadolu, the state-owned news agency in Turkey.
“The seminar is not necessary at this time as even the President doesn’t accept the ‘Rohingya’ word, and [he] already said these so-called Rohingya are illegal Bengali immigrants from the neighboring country,” said an official. “It will only make people angry again.” (Courtesy of Mizzima)
January 3, 2016
New Year messages for the people
On January 1, Notable Myanmar officials delivered New Year’s messages to the people of Myanmar on the official website of the President’s Office. The following are excerpts:
President U Thein Sein:
“I am confident that the year 2016 will create golden opportunities, both in politics and economics. However, seizing these opportunities requires unusual effort.
“People must be involved in the political process to achieve success in democratic reforms, to ensure sustainable peace, to guarantee freedom for each and every citizen, to ensure equal protection by the law and to promote the quality of life. All citizens are required to exert effort, preserving the patriotic spirit and being willing to be involved in nation-building tasks, performing whatever duties assigned on them. I make an earnest request to each and every citizen to struggle hard to achieve correct thinking. I wish all the people of Myanmar great success.” (Courtesy of Mizzima)
President U Thein Sein:
“I am confident that the year 2016 will create golden opportunities, both in politics and economics. However, seizing these opportunities requires unusual effort.
“People must be involved in the political process to achieve success in democratic reforms, to ensure sustainable peace, to guarantee freedom for each and every citizen, to ensure equal protection by the law and to promote the quality of life. All citizens are required to exert effort, preserving the patriotic spirit and being willing to be involved in nation-building tasks, performing whatever duties assigned on them. I make an earnest request to each and every citizen to struggle hard to achieve correct thinking. I wish all the people of Myanmar great success.” (Courtesy of Mizzima)
New speaker Khin Aung Myint ready to work with NLD
Current House of Nationalities Speaker Khin Aung Myint, who was reelected from Mandalay Region No. 8,is ready to work with the incoming NLD government in 2016.
“I am ready for cooperation with them,” he told Mizzima.
He said his New Year wish for the country is that it “will be peaceful, developed and prosperous in the New Year.”
Speaker Khin Aung Myint is one of the 11 candidates of the Union Solidarity and Development Party who won in the recent elections to the Upper House.
Regarding the two Myanmar migrant workers who were sentenced to death by a Thai court on December 24, Khin Aung Myint said he wished them justice, adding that he was “monitoring the situation.”The case will be appealed by the Thai Lawyers Council. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
“I am ready for cooperation with them,” he told Mizzima.
He said his New Year wish for the country is that it “will be peaceful, developed and prosperous in the New Year.”
Speaker Khin Aung Myint is one of the 11 candidates of the Union Solidarity and Development Party who won in the recent elections to the Upper House.
Regarding the two Myanmar migrant workers who were sentenced to death by a Thai court on December 24, Khin Aung Myint said he wished them justice, adding that he was “monitoring the situation.”The case will be appealed by the Thai Lawyers Council. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Irish couple’s Burmese food oil venture boosts local village
A honeymoon trip by John Jenkins and Katrina Crawford led to them setting up Bayin Oils, the first and, so far, only Irish company to import a food or drink product from Burma.
Bayin sesame and peanut oils are produced in the small village of Myin Sine, in the midwest of Burma (also known as Myanmar). The nuts and seeds are grown, picked, then put in a giant barrel, where the oils are extracted naturally.
Unlike most other oils, Bayin Oils are cold-pressed, which is more difficult but requires less equipment and produces a richer flavoured oil.
The name, the Burmese word for “king”, originates from a rumour that co- founder John Jenkins is a descendant of King Thibaw, a former king. (Courtesy of Irish Times)
Bayin sesame and peanut oils are produced in the small village of Myin Sine, in the midwest of Burma (also known as Myanmar). The nuts and seeds are grown, picked, then put in a giant barrel, where the oils are extracted naturally.
Unlike most other oils, Bayin Oils are cold-pressed, which is more difficult but requires less equipment and produces a richer flavoured oil.
The name, the Burmese word for “king”, originates from a rumour that co- founder John Jenkins is a descendant of King Thibaw, a former king. (Courtesy of Irish Times)
Myanmar and rest of the world welcome New Year
People in Myanmar and around the world welcomed in the New Year, though security concerns in Europe put a dampener on some celebrations.
Munich stations were evacuated over an imminent terror threat and fireworks canceled in Paris and Brussels, while a huge fire ripped through a Dubai hotel.
German police warned people to stay away from two of Munich's railway stations and avoid large gatherings after "indications that a terror attack" was being planned by Islamists in the southern German city.
Authorities said early Friday the threat involved a suspected suicide bomb attack by the Islamic State group. A police spokeswoman told AFP they had "reliable information" that the plot targeted festivities under way on New Year's Eve.
Elsewhere in Europe, terror fears also loomed large, with firework displays canceled in Brussels and Paris, just weeks after jihadists killed 130 people on the streets of the French capital. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Munich stations were evacuated over an imminent terror threat and fireworks canceled in Paris and Brussels, while a huge fire ripped through a Dubai hotel.
German police warned people to stay away from two of Munich's railway stations and avoid large gatherings after "indications that a terror attack" was being planned by Islamists in the southern German city.
Authorities said early Friday the threat involved a suspected suicide bomb attack by the Islamic State group. A police spokeswoman told AFP they had "reliable information" that the plot targeted festivities under way on New Year's Eve.
Elsewhere in Europe, terror fears also loomed large, with firework displays canceled in Brussels and Paris, just weeks after jihadists killed 130 people on the streets of the French capital. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
China ranks countries as ‘risky investments’
Venezuela is the riskiest destination for Chinese to invest while Germany is the safest, followed by the United States and Britain.
Myanmar was ranked 40 out of 57 countries that were ranked as investment destinations.
Some countries that ranked high in terms of cooperation with China – such as Laos, Tajikistan, Sudan and Myanmar – were also among the riskiest places to invest.
Meanwhile, some developed countries that were less friendly were good places to invest, the report said.
The ranking was made by the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank which released its findings this week.
The report said China’s outbound investment rose 16 per cent to $104 billion in the first 11 months of 2015. It noted that some Chinese companies suffered huge losses on overseas deals.
Deals that went belly up include a controversial water dam project in Myanmar and a delayed copper mine development in Afghanistan.
The institute assessed 57 countries to provide a risk map for Chinese investors venturing abroad. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Myanmar was ranked 40 out of 57 countries that were ranked as investment destinations.
Some countries that ranked high in terms of cooperation with China – such as Laos, Tajikistan, Sudan and Myanmar – were also among the riskiest places to invest.
Meanwhile, some developed countries that were less friendly were good places to invest, the report said.
The ranking was made by the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank which released its findings this week.
The report said China’s outbound investment rose 16 per cent to $104 billion in the first 11 months of 2015. It noted that some Chinese companies suffered huge losses on overseas deals.
Deals that went belly up include a controversial water dam project in Myanmar and a delayed copper mine development in Afghanistan.
The institute assessed 57 countries to provide a risk map for Chinese investors venturing abroad. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
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