In a conference held in Los Angeles on Saturday by the Burmese American Muslims Association (BAMA), an international panel of speakers condemned the ongoing persecution of Burma’s Rohingya minority, placing it within the framework of genocide, and calling on the country’s current government to restore the marginalized group’s rights.
The event, entitled Myanmar Muslims Genocide Awareness Convention 2016, was broadcast live online and featured speeches by Shwe Maung, a former Rohingya member of Burma’s Parliament, civil rights activist Htay Lwin Oo, and Maung Zarni, a scholar and non-resident research fellow with Cambodia’s Sleuk Rith Institute.
Former United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, and president of Genocide Watch, Gregory Stanton, delivered pre-recorded talks. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
August 15, 2016
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi to visit China
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will pay an official visit to China from Aug 17 to 21 at the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang announced on Aug 15.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the first Myanmar leader to visit China since the Southeast Asian nation’s new government was formed late March.
“It holds great significance to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between both countries in the new phase,” Lu said.
Chinese leaders will meet with her and exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Apart from Beijing, Aung San Suu Kyi will visit other Chinese cities, according to Lu. (Courtesy of english.gov.cn/news)
Aung San Suu Kyi is the first Myanmar leader to visit China since the Southeast Asian nation’s new government was formed late March.
“It holds great significance to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between both countries in the new phase,” Lu said.
Chinese leaders will meet with her and exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Apart from Beijing, Aung San Suu Kyi will visit other Chinese cities, according to Lu. (Courtesy of english.gov.cn/news)
‘Nobody plays with our children’
Ko Aung Kyaw Hein, 16, has just passed his matriculation exam with distinction and is keen to leave the compound where he lives with his family on the outskirts of Pakokku, a dusty town on the Ayeyarwady River in Magway Region.
“I don’t want to say why, but I want to leave here,” Aung Kyaw Hein told Frontier at the compound, about a 15-minute motorbike ride from downtown Pakokku.
His mother, Daw Mu Mu Aye, 47, knows why her son wants to leave what’s known as the Seven Villas compound. It is the stigma of living there. Seven Villas was established in 1937 for people suffering from leprosy. Aung Kyaw Hein does not have the disease and neither do his four siblings nor his parents. But both his maternal grandparents did and they were moved to Seven Villas when it opened. The family never left. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
“I don’t want to say why, but I want to leave here,” Aung Kyaw Hein told Frontier at the compound, about a 15-minute motorbike ride from downtown Pakokku.
His mother, Daw Mu Mu Aye, 47, knows why her son wants to leave what’s known as the Seven Villas compound. It is the stigma of living there. Seven Villas was established in 1937 for people suffering from leprosy. Aung Kyaw Hein does not have the disease and neither do his four siblings nor his parents. But both his maternal grandparents did and they were moved to Seven Villas when it opened. The family never left. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Myanmar remains country of ‘grave concern’ in US religious freedom report
The committee’s report, a comprehensive assessment that tracks restrictions on religious freedom and provides recommendations to the US government for protecting human rights around the world, came out on August 10.
Since the committee’s inception in 1998, Myanmar has remained a Tier 1 “country of particular concern”. The four “race and religion” laws passed under then-president U Thein Sein’s rule, and military tensions with ethnic dissident groups in upper Myanmar, continue to restrict the rights and freedoms of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State and Christians in Kachin and Shan states respectively, the report said.
Introducing the report, David Saperstein, US ambassador-at-large, said the committee “expressed grave concern that large numbers of them [Rohingyas] have had citizenship stripped from them … Often they are in camps where they can’t return to their home communities, they can’t establish mosques.” (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Since the committee’s inception in 1998, Myanmar has remained a Tier 1 “country of particular concern”. The four “race and religion” laws passed under then-president U Thein Sein’s rule, and military tensions with ethnic dissident groups in upper Myanmar, continue to restrict the rights and freedoms of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State and Christians in Kachin and Shan states respectively, the report said.
Introducing the report, David Saperstein, US ambassador-at-large, said the committee “expressed grave concern that large numbers of them [Rohingyas] have had citizenship stripped from them … Often they are in camps where they can’t return to their home communities, they can’t establish mosques.” (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Hopefully Suu Kyi’s China visit will show positive attitude toward Myitsone dam
It seems the China-funded Myitsone dam, a symbolic project for Sino-Myanmar cooperation that was suspended in 2011, is coming to a turning point ahead of Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's China visit. Media reports over the weekend announced that Myanmar had set up a committee to review hydropower station projects in the country's Kachin state, including the long-suspended Myitsone dam.
This move is widely viewed as a signal that the project will resume and is believed to be indicative of the new administration's attitude toward Sino-Myanmar economic ties and toward the geopolitical rivalry between the West and China in Southeast Asia. More good news is expected during Suu Kyi's upcoming trip as the new administration may eventually begin touching upon the most sensitive parts of bilateral economic ties, but it may be not realistic that the long standing issue of Myitsone dam will be entirely resolved during Suu Kyi's visit.
Diversified opinions over the construction of the Myitsone dam have been expressed by different groups in Myanmar, including the new government, local armed forces, non-governmental organizations and local residents. Although the government has offered an olive branch to China and may hope to restart the long-suspended Myitsone project, it will not be smooth sailing if Chinese investors can not win support from a wide range of political and public groups. (Courtesy of globaltimes.cn)
This move is widely viewed as a signal that the project will resume and is believed to be indicative of the new administration's attitude toward Sino-Myanmar economic ties and toward the geopolitical rivalry between the West and China in Southeast Asia. More good news is expected during Suu Kyi's upcoming trip as the new administration may eventually begin touching upon the most sensitive parts of bilateral economic ties, but it may be not realistic that the long standing issue of Myitsone dam will be entirely resolved during Suu Kyi's visit.
Diversified opinions over the construction of the Myitsone dam have been expressed by different groups in Myanmar, including the new government, local armed forces, non-governmental organizations and local residents. Although the government has offered an olive branch to China and may hope to restart the long-suspended Myitsone project, it will not be smooth sailing if Chinese investors can not win support from a wide range of political and public groups. (Courtesy of globaltimes.cn)
Myanmar offers indefinite tax waiver to export businesses
Aung Naing Oo, director-general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), announced that the waiver would be for life under new investment policies. According to Aung Naing Oo, any business approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission would be allowed to enjoy multiple tax exemptions, regardless of their nature. "The new regulations look to support the current national objectives, which means refining those privileges to better suit exporters," the director-general said.
"It's not going to be three years. If they want 10 years, 20 years or 50 years, they will get full tax exemptions as long as all of their products are for export. For example, other businesses that import raw materials will need to pay customs duties. But exporters that have found a place in the international market will get refunds equivalent to the amount they paid [in taxes] while importing raw materials," said Aung Naing Oo.
An official at DICA disclosed that the exemptions would be extended to both local and foreign-owned businesses. "Regardless of the location of factories and ownership, whether locally- or foreign-owned, the factories are entitled to enjoy tax exemptions for an unlimited period, as long as they export all the products from their factories," said the official who asked not to be named. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
"It's not going to be three years. If they want 10 years, 20 years or 50 years, they will get full tax exemptions as long as all of their products are for export. For example, other businesses that import raw materials will need to pay customs duties. But exporters that have found a place in the international market will get refunds equivalent to the amount they paid [in taxes] while importing raw materials," said Aung Naing Oo.
An official at DICA disclosed that the exemptions would be extended to both local and foreign-owned businesses. "Regardless of the location of factories and ownership, whether locally- or foreign-owned, the factories are entitled to enjoy tax exemptions for an unlimited period, as long as they export all the products from their factories," said the official who asked not to be named. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
6,900 km gas pipelines to connect Bangladesh, Myanmar, India
The government has ambitious plan to lay 6,900 km of gas pipelines linking Bangladesh, Myanmar, most north-eastern states, and West Bengal, ONGCBSE 1.13 % Executive director S.C. Soni said here.
"As part of Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North-eastern region, 6,900 km pipelines would be laid connecting Sitwe (Myanmar), Chittagong (Bangladesh), most north-eastern states, Siliguri and Durgapur," Soni told reporters on Saturday.
Currently, large quantities of gas is flared (burned) in the north-eastern region because it can't be piped to the consumers, he said. (Courtesy of economictimes.indiatimes.com)
"As part of Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North-eastern region, 6,900 km pipelines would be laid connecting Sitwe (Myanmar), Chittagong (Bangladesh), most north-eastern states, Siliguri and Durgapur," Soni told reporters on Saturday.
Currently, large quantities of gas is flared (burned) in the north-eastern region because it can't be piped to the consumers, he said. (Courtesy of economictimes.indiatimes.com)
‘Countries Evolve in Stages’: Norway’s Outgoing Ambassador to Burma
In the three years since I took up the post as the Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar in October 2013, the relationship between Myanmar and Norway has developed at an incredibly fast pace. Fruitful relations exist on many levels—the political level but also the people-to-people level. For a long time, Norway and Myanmar have had a special, although informal, relationship.
In June this year, friends of Myanmar in Norway named a park after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Froland, in the south of Norway, to honor her. This is one example of how longstanding, informal relationships have contributed to creating the trust that today is fundamental to the bilateral relationship. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
In June this year, friends of Myanmar in Norway named a park after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Froland, in the south of Norway, to honor her. This is one example of how longstanding, informal relationships have contributed to creating the trust that today is fundamental to the bilateral relationship. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
A satisfactory first 100 days
IT IS more than 100 days since the National League for Democracy-backed government took office. A few days after the change of power the nation took a 10-day holiday for Thingyan, the traditional New Year festival, so the first 100 days seems to have passed quickly.
Analysis and commentary from various points of view about the performance of the new government in its first 100 days have begun to appear. Much has been said about the government’s shortcomings and challenges, but I’m going to focus instead on the achievements of the NLD government during its first 100 days in power – achievements that have not always received due recognition.
Before the NLD took office after its decisive election victory, a major concern both in Myanmar and among the international community was whether it could develop a smooth relationship with the Tatmadaw. It would be difficult for the NLD government to implement its agenda without good relations with the Tatmadaw, which controls three ministries, including police force. The cooperation of the Tatmadaw is also essential for progress in the NLD’s effort to achieve peace with ethnic minorities and its endeavours for national economic development. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Analysis and commentary from various points of view about the performance of the new government in its first 100 days have begun to appear. Much has been said about the government’s shortcomings and challenges, but I’m going to focus instead on the achievements of the NLD government during its first 100 days in power – achievements that have not always received due recognition.
Before the NLD took office after its decisive election victory, a major concern both in Myanmar and among the international community was whether it could develop a smooth relationship with the Tatmadaw. It would be difficult for the NLD government to implement its agenda without good relations with the Tatmadaw, which controls three ministries, including police force. The cooperation of the Tatmadaw is also essential for progress in the NLD’s effort to achieve peace with ethnic minorities and its endeavours for national economic development. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
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