May 16 (Monday)
Khin San Hlaing, a National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker from Pale Township constituency, submitted a proposal to the Lower House that called for repairs to dams in Magwe and Sagaing divisions. The Lower House put the proposal on record, and will wait for further site visits to assess damages.
In a question and answer session, lawmakers asked about coal production in Shan State’s Mongyal Township and Sagaing Division’s Pinlebu Township, as well as land confiscation disputes in Sagaing Division’s Khin-U Township.
Meanwhile, the Upper House turned heads when its members engaged in debate over a penis-shaped soap controversy. Earlier this year, the Happy Zone amusement park in Rangoon gave out phallic bars of soap as prizes. After photos of the scandalous soap spread on social media, the issue drew the attention of the deputy minister of home affairs, Maj-Gen Aung Soe. The deputy minister said the owner and manager were made to sign letters stating they would no longer distribute the genitalia-shaped prizes.
May 17 (Tuesday)
The Union Parliament approved the appointment of Kyaw Tint Swe as the minister of the State Counselor’s Office. It also approved the appointment of Kyaw Myo as deputy minister of transportation and communications, and Win Myint as the deputy attorney general. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
May 22, 2016
Dateline Irrawaddy: How Can Women Play a Greater Role in Burma?
Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, we’ll compare the roles of women under the previous quasi-civilian government and current elected government, and discuss their potential role in decision-making on important issues such as the shaping of political, economic and social policies. Ma Khin Ma Ma Myo, a director with the Myanmar Institute of Gender Studies, and Ma May Sabe Phyu, a director with the Gender Equality Network, will join me for a discussion. I’m The Irrawaddy’s English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe.
How do you compare the roles of women in the time of the U Thein Sein government and under the new government, the government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in terms of policy-making and decision-making? Do you see greater potential for the role of women now compared to the past, or if not, do you think it will get better in the future? (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
How do you compare the roles of women in the time of the U Thein Sein government and under the new government, the government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in terms of policy-making and decision-making? Do you see greater potential for the role of women now compared to the past, or if not, do you think it will get better in the future? (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Myanmar votes down ‘Rohingya’ citizenship verification
Myanmar’s parliament has voted down a powerful nationalist ethnic party’s proposal for an urgent citizenship verification process for Muslims in troubled Rakhine State, state media reported Saturday.
The proposal, under which more than half the undocumented Muslims in Rakhine and other regions could have been eligible for citizen status, received 154 votes in favor and 228 against, with seven abstentions, in the lower house, according to the Myanmar Ahlin newspaper.
Khin Saw Wai of the Arakan National Party (ANP) had earlier told Anadolu Agency that once granted citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Act, the Muslims -- many of whom have been living in internally displaced persons camps since 2012 -- would be free to leave Rakhine, where they were subject to violence. (Courtesy of thepeninsulaqatar.com)
The proposal, under which more than half the undocumented Muslims in Rakhine and other regions could have been eligible for citizen status, received 154 votes in favor and 228 against, with seven abstentions, in the lower house, according to the Myanmar Ahlin newspaper.
Khin Saw Wai of the Arakan National Party (ANP) had earlier told Anadolu Agency that once granted citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Act, the Muslims -- many of whom have been living in internally displaced persons camps since 2012 -- would be free to leave Rakhine, where they were subject to violence. (Courtesy of thepeninsulaqatar.com)
May 21, 2016
Delivering the Dividends of Democracy in Burma
Earlier this week, the Administration took steps to support private sector interest in Burma and help the new democratically-elected government.
Specifically, the Administration took sanctions steps intended to support investment and trade with Burma. These steps facilitate the movement of goods within Burma; allow certain incidental transactions related to U.S. individuals residing there; and allow most transactions involving designated financial institutions in Burma.
The sanctions changes are calibrated to maintain pressure on the military and other targeted persons, and to encourage additional democratic reforms.
It’s important that Burma reaps the rewards for its progress. After all, the goal of sanctions is to change behavior, not to punish. That’s why it is critical that we follow through on our commitments to provide sanctions relief when change occurs. After all, sanctions won’t succeed in promoting change if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. (Courtesy of blogs.state.gov)
Specifically, the Administration took sanctions steps intended to support investment and trade with Burma. These steps facilitate the movement of goods within Burma; allow certain incidental transactions related to U.S. individuals residing there; and allow most transactions involving designated financial institutions in Burma.
The sanctions changes are calibrated to maintain pressure on the military and other targeted persons, and to encourage additional democratic reforms.
It’s important that Burma reaps the rewards for its progress. After all, the goal of sanctions is to change behavior, not to punish. That’s why it is critical that we follow through on our commitments to provide sanctions relief when change occurs. After all, sanctions won’t succeed in promoting change if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. (Courtesy of blogs.state.gov)
Shan villagers flee fresh fighting
Villagers from Namtma village have fled their homes after fresh fighting between the army and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) on the boundary between Lashio and Hsipaw townships in northern Shan State.
Medical staff left the area for Lashio Township around 25 miles away with residents moving to a neighbouring village.
Shooting between a military convoy and an armed group took place near Mount Yinkwe between Kyaukme and Naungpain on the Lashio-Mandalay road on May 16. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Medical staff left the area for Lashio Township around 25 miles away with residents moving to a neighbouring village.
Shooting between a military convoy and an armed group took place near Mount Yinkwe between Kyaukme and Naungpain on the Lashio-Mandalay road on May 16. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Why Rohingya? Equality and identity in Myanmar
I belong to an ethnic group that, according to my government, does not exist. In the past few weeks, ultra-nationalist protestors have proudly proclaimed, “There are no Rohingya in our country.” And then the NLD government requested foreign embassies to refrain from using the term “Rohingya”, reportedly stating that “the controversial term does not support the national reconciliation process and solving problems”. Their statement was disappointing because it was a capitulation to the hardliners and because I, as a Rohingya, want nothing more than national reconciliation. I want to live in a Myanmar where all of Myanmar’s peoples can live together in equality and peace.
I was born in Myanmar, my parents were born in Myanmar, and their parents were born in Myanmar. My family members have served in the Myanmar government and fought for Myanmar democracy. My father served as a teacher in government schools in Rakhine State for 30 years and was elected as a member of parliament in the 1990 elections. My mother, sister, father, brother and I were all imprisoned because of my father’s work alongside Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD in the democratic opposition. Even so, under the new NLD-led government, describing my ethnicity, language and culture has become a “controversial” political act. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
I was born in Myanmar, my parents were born in Myanmar, and their parents were born in Myanmar. My family members have served in the Myanmar government and fought for Myanmar democracy. My father served as a teacher in government schools in Rakhine State for 30 years and was elected as a member of parliament in the 1990 elections. My mother, sister, father, brother and I were all imprisoned because of my father’s work alongside Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD in the democratic opposition. Even so, under the new NLD-led government, describing my ethnicity, language and culture has become a “controversial” political act. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
China reaches over the Rohingya to touch the Indian Ocean
The Kyaukphyu project will serve China’s better connectivity with the Indian Ocean, even more than the Gwadar port in Pakistan. The Kyaukphyu SEZ project was awarded to a six-member international consortium headed by one of China’s biggest conglomerates, Citic Group. Four other Chinese industrial and investment groups and one of Thailand’s biggest conglomerates, Charoen Phokphand, constitute the other members of the consortium.
“The project is adjacent to the landing point of the dual pipeline that transports gas and crude oil to China,” Joshy Paul added. This pipeline runs into the Bay of Bengal, just below Bangladesh, in Rakhine province.
In May 2011, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Myanmar’s railways ministry and China’s state-owned Railway Engineering Corporation that allows the building of a rail line linking Kyaukphyu with Kunming, capital of the Yunnan Province of China. The scheme fits well with China’s revamp of the Silk Road, called the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road. (Courtesy of pressenza.com)
“The project is adjacent to the landing point of the dual pipeline that transports gas and crude oil to China,” Joshy Paul added. This pipeline runs into the Bay of Bengal, just below Bangladesh, in Rakhine province.
In May 2011, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Myanmar’s railways ministry and China’s state-owned Railway Engineering Corporation that allows the building of a rail line linking Kyaukphyu with Kunming, capital of the Yunnan Province of China. The scheme fits well with China’s revamp of the Silk Road, called the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road. (Courtesy of pressenza.com)
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