A fifth trade zone on the Thai-Myanmar border is set to open later this year, according to state media. The zone at Mae Se in Kayah State is still under construction, but the project manager told Global New Light of Myanmar that work was nearly complete.
The newspaper said the crossing would increase bilateral trade and help to fight smuggling. Border trade between the two countries reached US$6.56 billion in the financial year to March 11, with Myanmar importing goods valued at $4.15 billion and exporting $2.4 billion. But the real figure is much higher, due to a thriving black market.
In June 2015, the Myanmar Times reported that a border crossing would be opened between Mae Se and Mae Hong Son in Thailand by the end of the year. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
May 7, 2016
Bill allowing demonstrators to protest without permit sought in Myanmar parliament
A new bill allowing demonstrators to stage protest without seeking permission from the authorities is being sought in Myanmar's Union Parliament, parliament sources said on Friday.
The revised Peaceful Assembly and Procession Bill, drawn up in accordance with the country's multi-party democratic system and submitted to the House of Nationalities (Upper House), states that it is only required to inform the police station in the designated township 48 hours before the start of the event and each police station in the townships is also to be informed where demonstrators are set to pass through. (Courtesy of Shanghai Daily)
The revised Peaceful Assembly and Procession Bill, drawn up in accordance with the country's multi-party democratic system and submitted to the House of Nationalities (Upper House), states that it is only required to inform the police station in the designated township 48 hours before the start of the event and each police station in the townships is also to be informed where demonstrators are set to pass through. (Courtesy of Shanghai Daily)
CURRENT USDP LEADERSHIP ‘ILLEGAL’: SACKED MEMBERS
The battle for control of the Union Solidarity and Development Party is rumbling on. Sacked members loyal to Thura U Shwe Mann have accused former president U Thein Sein’s faction of secretly planning a party congress to formalise their ouster.
They also insist that current central executive committee (CEC) is “illegal”, as its formation following an internal coup last August broke party rules.
“We want USDP to be a prestigious party which obeys its own rules,” U Win Than said at a press conference on May 4.
“The party’s rules state that the highest decision-maker is the party congress. So if they want to dismiss us, they should do it based on the decision of an emergency party congress, attended by all the members,” he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
They also insist that current central executive committee (CEC) is “illegal”, as its formation following an internal coup last August broke party rules.
“We want USDP to be a prestigious party which obeys its own rules,” U Win Than said at a press conference on May 4.
“The party’s rules state that the highest decision-maker is the party congress. So if they want to dismiss us, they should do it based on the decision of an emergency party congress, attended by all the members,” he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
ASEAN research office to support Myanmar statistics
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) was set up as a private company in Singapore in 2011, but became an international organisation jointly owned by the member states in February this year, Nomura Munenari, senior operations officer, told The Myanmar Times.
The member states, which include Myanmar, approved a technical assistance framework in April which will rely on voluntary contributions for funding, Mr Munenari said.
“So if the Myanmar authorities request an expert on balance of payments statistics we will find one using the voluntary funds,” he said.
AMRO will concentrate initially on balance of payments assistance because potential recipients identified it as an area of focus during an “informal sounding-out”, Mr Munenari said. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The member states, which include Myanmar, approved a technical assistance framework in April which will rely on voluntary contributions for funding, Mr Munenari said.
“So if the Myanmar authorities request an expert on balance of payments statistics we will find one using the voluntary funds,” he said.
AMRO will concentrate initially on balance of payments assistance because potential recipients identified it as an area of focus during an “informal sounding-out”, Mr Munenari said. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Suu Kyi and Japan: Tokyo Love Story or Battle Royale?
This week, state-run newspapers splashed Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida’s photo with Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi all over their front pages. But beneath the smiles and handshakes, there is a history of discord.
After the political opening in 2011 and 2012, Japan moved quickly to resume aid and investment to Burma—including development of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a 2,400-hectare industrial zone in southeast Rangoon Division. Japan’s Nippon Foundation also provided funds for Burma’s peace-building process and general aid to the previous government.
Suu Kyi was opposed to this aid and investment from Japan during the junta’s reign because she saw it as bolstering the repressive regime that ruled over the country with an iron fist.(Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
After the political opening in 2011 and 2012, Japan moved quickly to resume aid and investment to Burma—including development of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a 2,400-hectare industrial zone in southeast Rangoon Division. Japan’s Nippon Foundation also provided funds for Burma’s peace-building process and general aid to the previous government.
Suu Kyi was opposed to this aid and investment from Japan during the junta’s reign because she saw it as bolstering the repressive regime that ruled over the country with an iron fist.(Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
The Mong Wong, Burma’s Newest Citizens, Face Backlash
The collective fate of tens of thousands of ethnic Chinese living in Burma’s Shan State was taken up by the Union Parliament on Wednesday, opening another chapter in the convoluted controversy over what it means to be “Burmese.”
Approximately 60,000 people from the Mong Wong group, who are believed to have moved to northern Shan State from southern China’s Yunnan province some two centuries ago, were granted Burmese citizenship in an 11th-hour move by the then-outgoing Thein Sein government in March.
The former government ordered immigration officials to begin issuing IDs to the Mong Wong in Shan State’s Tarmoenye, part of Kutkai Township, as a reward for their militia’s support of Burma Army operations against other non-state armed organizations, said Minister of Labor, Immigration and Population Thein Swe in Parliament on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
Approximately 60,000 people from the Mong Wong group, who are believed to have moved to northern Shan State from southern China’s Yunnan province some two centuries ago, were granted Burmese citizenship in an 11th-hour move by the then-outgoing Thein Sein government in March.
The former government ordered immigration officials to begin issuing IDs to the Mong Wong in Shan State’s Tarmoenye, part of Kutkai Township, as a reward for their militia’s support of Burma Army operations against other non-state armed organizations, said Minister of Labor, Immigration and Population Thein Swe in Parliament on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)
U.S. Business in Burma: Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?
Burma is modernizing at a ceaseless pace. An enigma to foreigners for most of the latter half of the 20th century, Burma’s rapidly expanding economy is quickly opening its doors to multinational investors. Like their counterparts around the globe, Burmese youth may now quench their thirst with a bottle of Coca Cola, or pose for a selfie with their I-phones next to a Colonel Sanders wax statue at Yangon’s KFC. Workers and consumers alike express continued enthusiasm about the influx of foreign investment. But foreign investment also raises the omnipresent specter of exploitation and complicity in ongoing human rights violations. The U.S government has taken, and should continue to take steps to minimize this risk.
The political changes that predated the influx of foreign investment have been stunning. Freedom of association was made legal in 2012 and severe limitations on freedom of speech have been greatly eased. 2015 also marked the first free uncontested elections in the country in over 50 years, resulting in the sweeping victory of Aung-San Su Kyi’s NLD opposition party. These changes have led the U.S government significantly scale back its economic sanctions regime against Burma in 2012. This move has made Burma’s rapidly growing economy even more appealing to American companies. (Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
The political changes that predated the influx of foreign investment have been stunning. Freedom of association was made legal in 2012 and severe limitations on freedom of speech have been greatly eased. 2015 also marked the first free uncontested elections in the country in over 50 years, resulting in the sweeping victory of Aung-San Su Kyi’s NLD opposition party. These changes have led the U.S government significantly scale back its economic sanctions regime against Burma in 2012. This move has made Burma’s rapidly growing economy even more appealing to American companies. (Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
The Invisible Burmese in Singapore
The riots in Little India that occurred late last year in Singapore have been blamed on the migrant workers from Tamil Nadu, India.
This incident raised questions about the country’s policy on migrant workers, while at the same time created interest about the migrant workers from other countries. Who are they? Are they like the Tamils from India? What do we know about them?
Singaporeans know so little about them, they think they are “…low skilled economic digits with whom we want to have as little to do as possible.” (Han Fook Kwang, A world apart and invisible, Sunday Star, Kuala Lumpur, 29-12-2013. Asia News Network.) (Courtesy of The Independent)
This incident raised questions about the country’s policy on migrant workers, while at the same time created interest about the migrant workers from other countries. Who are they? Are they like the Tamils from India? What do we know about them?
Singaporeans know so little about them, they think they are “…low skilled economic digits with whom we want to have as little to do as possible.” (Han Fook Kwang, A world apart and invisible, Sunday Star, Kuala Lumpur, 29-12-2013. Asia News Network.) (Courtesy of The Independent)
Rohingya crisis: Politics of denial
The Rohingyas are probably one of the only ethnic groups in the world whose existence is denied despite their presence. Although Rohingyas are one of the 136 ethnic groups in Myanmar, they have been most widely used as a political pawn in the country. While giving a glimpse of the history of the Rohingya issue, this article will also look at how Myanmar as a nation is thriving upon a flawed premise, thereby risking its image which the country only recently re-established in the international world after its return to democracy.
The death of more than 20 people in a boat accident in the Rakhine State and demonstrations by Ma Ba Tha – the anti-Rohingya nationalist Buddhist group – in front of the US embassy have once again brought the Rohingya crisis to the forefront. In response to the accident, the US embassy released a statement expressing its concern about the state of the Rohingya people. A peaceful resolution of the Rohingya crisis was expected under the new NLD government but so far there has been little to no change. The Rohingya crisis does not only impact the bilateral relations of Myanmar with other countries but also hampers the image of Myanmar as a state in the humanitarian world. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
The death of more than 20 people in a boat accident in the Rakhine State and demonstrations by Ma Ba Tha – the anti-Rohingya nationalist Buddhist group – in front of the US embassy have once again brought the Rohingya crisis to the forefront. In response to the accident, the US embassy released a statement expressing its concern about the state of the Rohingya people. A peaceful resolution of the Rohingya crisis was expected under the new NLD government but so far there has been little to no change. The Rohingya crisis does not only impact the bilateral relations of Myanmar with other countries but also hampers the image of Myanmar as a state in the humanitarian world. (Courtesy of The Daily Star)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)