Opposition to Chinese-invested hydropower schemes in Myanmar is being orchestrated by “extreme” groups in the country and has been extremely damaging to joint investment projects, an influential Chinese newspaper wrote on Monday.
The suspension in 2011 of the $3.6-billion Myitsone megadam project by former president Thein Sein remains a sore point between the two countries.
Myanmar suspended the project citing environmental worries, but the decision was also seen as an attempt to distance itself from Beijing. Uncertainties arising from that controversy have held back other Chinese investment plans.
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party swept to power Myanmar’s first free national vote in 25 years last November, said on a visit to China last month that her new government was willing to look for a resolution that suits both countries. (Courtesy of oann.com)
September 20, 2016
September 19, 2016
Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi Receives Award As Students Protest
The Harvard Foundation named Nobel laureate and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi its 2016 Humanitarian of the Year in a ceremony Saturday, while students from the Harvard Islamic Society stood outside to protest what they consider her silence toward the country’s persecuted Muslim minority.
Suu Kyi, elected head of Myanmar’s government in April, was placed under house arrest in 1989 for protesting against the country’s dictatorship and served 15 years in detention. During her early years, Suu Kyi was held in solitary confinement and could not see her husband Michael V. Aris—at the time a visiting professor at Harvard—or her two sons. In 1991, Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her "non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights." (Courtesy of thecrimson.com)
Suu Kyi, elected head of Myanmar’s government in April, was placed under house arrest in 1989 for protesting against the country’s dictatorship and served 15 years in detention. During her early years, Suu Kyi was held in solitary confinement and could not see her husband Michael V. Aris—at the time a visiting professor at Harvard—or her two sons. In 1991, Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her "non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights." (Courtesy of thecrimson.com)
Chup… why does Malaysia want to build a wall along the border of Thailand?
If you’ve been following the US Presidential Election, you would have heard that Donald Trump announced that if he were to become president, he would build a wall between the borders of the USA and Mexico, and make Mexico pay for it. It’s still a hot topic of conversation in the US, but it doesn’t seem very relevant to us here in Malaysia doesn’t it?
Well how about this then, Malaysia may soon be replicating what Trump proposed, by building a wall along the border of Malaysia and Thailand! (Courtesy of cilisos.my)
Well how about this then, Malaysia may soon be replicating what Trump proposed, by building a wall along the border of Malaysia and Thailand! (Courtesy of cilisos.my)
A wounded USDP looks to the future
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party recently
held its first conference since losing power following the National
League for Democracy’s landslide victory in last November’s elections.
The conference, from August 22 to 24, did not produce any changes in the USDP’s policies but was notable for a sweeping reshuffle at the top of the party that saw many members of its powerful central executive committee replaced by newcomers.
The changes have significant implications for the party, but the key question is whether the new leadership can achieve success at the ballot box.
Some background is necessary to understand why the USDP made the difficult decision to replace almost its entire leadership. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
The conference, from August 22 to 24, did not produce any changes in the USDP’s policies but was notable for a sweeping reshuffle at the top of the party that saw many members of its powerful central executive committee replaced by newcomers.
The changes have significant implications for the party, but the key question is whether the new leadership can achieve success at the ballot box.
Some background is necessary to understand why the USDP made the difficult decision to replace almost its entire leadership. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Myanmar military tightens security in Kokang capital
Myanmar military has tightened security measures in Laukkai, capital of Kokang region in northern Shan state, following an explosion in a house in the town, official media reported Sunday.
The house belongs to the former leader of the Kokang self-administered zone.
A search of the damaged house in Thursday blast led to discovery of five pieces of a propelled explosive round, the report said.
Further investigation revealed that the projectile had been launched from a hill, 1.6 kilometers northwest of Laukkai and the pieces belonged to a 107mm rocket launcher.
The security forces also found suspicious package comprising night-vision binoculars, 107mm rocket launchers and grenades around a hill, 3.2 kilometers northwest of Laukkai, the report added. (Courtesy of globaltimes.cn)
The house belongs to the former leader of the Kokang self-administered zone.
A search of the damaged house in Thursday blast led to discovery of five pieces of a propelled explosive round, the report said.
Further investigation revealed that the projectile had been launched from a hill, 1.6 kilometers northwest of Laukkai and the pieces belonged to a 107mm rocket launcher.
The security forces also found suspicious package comprising night-vision binoculars, 107mm rocket launchers and grenades around a hill, 3.2 kilometers northwest of Laukkai, the report added. (Courtesy of globaltimes.cn)
September 17, 2016
Dalai Lama criticises Aung San Suu Kyi over Rohingya silence at EU meeting
The Dalai Lama has condemned attacks against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, describing them as acts of "some mischievous individuals who do not represent Buddhism," accordingto the Kuwait News Agency on 15 September.
The Tibetan Buddhist leader was speaking to the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in Strasbourg. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
The Tibetan Buddhist leader was speaking to the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in Strasbourg. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
September 15, 2016
As Suu Kyi visits, US announces lifting of Myanmar sanctions
President Barack Obama said Wednesday the U.S. is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar as he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now the nation's de facto leader.
Obama hailed a "remarkable" transformation in the country also known as Burma, which spent five decades under oppressive military rule. Suu Kyi's party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, deeply respected in Washington, is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration's support for Myanmar's shift to democracy, which the administration views as a major foreign policy achievement.
The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago and Obama has visited the country twice. But the U.S. has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia's last untapped markets. (Courtesy of crossroadstoday.com)
Obama hailed a "remarkable" transformation in the country also known as Burma, which spent five decades under oppressive military rule. Suu Kyi's party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, deeply respected in Washington, is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration's support for Myanmar's shift to democracy, which the administration views as a major foreign policy achievement.
The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago and Obama has visited the country twice. But the U.S. has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia's last untapped markets. (Courtesy of crossroadstoday.com)
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