Col Wunna Aung, secretary of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) spoke at a press conference on February 22, where he said the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Defence Services) has not been participating in the battles between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The RCSS/SSA is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), while the TNLA is not.
Col Wunna Aung also commented on the RCSS’s incursion into TNLA territory, which has been cited as one of the causes of the current conflict. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
February 23, 2016
Myanmar Peace Negotiator Meets Armed Ethnic Group Alliance
Myanmar’s chief peace negotiator led a government peace-making delegation on Monday in meeting with an alliance of armed ethnic groups that did not sign last year’s nationwide cease-fire agreement to try to persuade them to join the accord.
Aung Min, minister of the president’s office, and members of the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC) met with leaders of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an alliance of armed ethnic groups, at the end of the UNFC’s meeting in Chang Mai, Thailand, which began on Feb. 18.
The UPWC is trying to get UNFC members to sign the government’s nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA), which it inked last October with eight other armed ethnic groups, before a new government led by the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) takes power on April 1.
The UNFC, which now includes nine non-signatories to the peace pact, maintains that a peace agreement with the government to end decades of civil wars within the country should include all armed ethnic groups. (Courtesy of RFA)
Aung Min, minister of the president’s office, and members of the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC) met with leaders of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an alliance of armed ethnic groups, at the end of the UNFC’s meeting in Chang Mai, Thailand, which began on Feb. 18.
The UPWC is trying to get UNFC members to sign the government’s nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA), which it inked last October with eight other armed ethnic groups, before a new government led by the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) takes power on April 1.
The UNFC, which now includes nine non-signatories to the peace pact, maintains that a peace agreement with the government to end decades of civil wars within the country should include all armed ethnic groups. (Courtesy of RFA)
A Myanmar Perspective on the Rebalance
In light of the recent US-ASEAN summit in Sunnylands, California, I would like to take this opportunity to pen a rebuttal to Mr. Kurlantzick's take on Myanmar, outlined in "Pivotal Moment", which appeared in the Democracy Journal earlier this month. While the author has made a few valid points, I believe his stance on U.S-Myanmar foreign relations simply does not reflect the reality on the ground.
In this article, I argue why the United States should bet on Myanmar's economic potential, why the U.S focus on Mainland and Maritime Southeast Asia need not be viewed as a zero-sum game, that Myanmar's political progression has not stalled, and that increased U.S engagement will not alienate young Myanmar democrats. I also argue that focusing on foreign aid alone would undercut American competitiveness in Myanmar, and that the power-balance between the United States and China in the region is not America's only economic challenge. (Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
In this article, I argue why the United States should bet on Myanmar's economic potential, why the U.S focus on Mainland and Maritime Southeast Asia need not be viewed as a zero-sum game, that Myanmar's political progression has not stalled, and that increased U.S engagement will not alienate young Myanmar democrats. I also argue that focusing on foreign aid alone would undercut American competitiveness in Myanmar, and that the power-balance between the United States and China in the region is not America's only economic challenge. (Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
Myanmar expects entry of more US businesses
The visits have gathered pace since the National League for Democracy (NLD) won the election and the power transition from military rule appeared to be going smoothly, Win Aung, president of the federation, said last week.
"I strongly believe that Myanmar-US economic relations will strengthen in the next government's term.
"As now is the transition period, many US and Western companies are in a wait-and-see mood. Most of them want to observe what would be the NLD's economic policies and the important legislative changes in the next government's term," he said.
At the US-Myanmar business-matching event held by the federation and the American Chamber of Commerce Myanmar Chapter, more than 30 executives of 22 US companies, including blue chips like Ford Motor, Dow Chemical, DuPont and Honeywell, mingled with more than 50 local businessmen. (Courtesy of The Nation)
"I strongly believe that Myanmar-US economic relations will strengthen in the next government's term.
"As now is the transition period, many US and Western companies are in a wait-and-see mood. Most of them want to observe what would be the NLD's economic policies and the important legislative changes in the next government's term," he said.
At the US-Myanmar business-matching event held by the federation and the American Chamber of Commerce Myanmar Chapter, more than 30 executives of 22 US companies, including blue chips like Ford Motor, Dow Chemical, DuPont and Honeywell, mingled with more than 50 local businessmen. (Courtesy of The Nation)
Myanmar: Stand-Off Continues Between Police and Christian Anti-drug Vigilantes
A stand-off continues between police and Christian anti-drug vigilantes in Myanmar. The Christian anti-drug vigilantes want to destroy the poppy fields in Kachin.
Thousands of anti-drug vigilantes were arrested in the stand-off after they were prevented from destroying the poppy fields, reported Mail Online. Pat Jasan, a hard-line Christian anti-drug organisation is presently camping outside the town of Waingmaw in Kachin. Around 3000 members have joined in the stand-off. The members of this group often don military-style uniform and are well-known for their attacks on drug users.
The group has vowed to eradicate local poppy fields but they are prevented from doing so by the authorities. Hpala Lum Hkawng, a senior member of Pat Jasan in Waingmaw said, ”Local army and police told us that they are still blocking the way for security reasons. We have asked the state government to get access.” (Courtesy of Australia Network News)
Thousands of anti-drug vigilantes were arrested in the stand-off after they were prevented from destroying the poppy fields, reported Mail Online. Pat Jasan, a hard-line Christian anti-drug organisation is presently camping outside the town of Waingmaw in Kachin. Around 3000 members have joined in the stand-off. The members of this group often don military-style uniform and are well-known for their attacks on drug users.
The group has vowed to eradicate local poppy fields but they are prevented from doing so by the authorities. Hpala Lum Hkawng, a senior member of Pat Jasan in Waingmaw said, ”Local army and police told us that they are still blocking the way for security reasons. We have asked the state government to get access.” (Courtesy of Australia Network News)
Don’t use NCA as military and political weapon, says UNFC
Armed ethnic organizations that are members of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) which did not sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) said that the incumbent government and Tatmadaw (defence services) were using the NCA as a military and political weapon against them.
The statement issued on February 21 after the 4-day UNFC extraordinary meeting, held from February 18 to 21, says the UNFC strongly condemns the strategy used by the government and Tatmadaw for creating racial hatred and a divide and rule policy as a military strategy against them.
UNFC general secretary Khoo Oo Reh said to reporters that they condemned the government and Tatmadaw as they were preparing to launch military offensive against the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and were creating clashes between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S) and the Palaung State Liberation Front/T’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA). (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The statement issued on February 21 after the 4-day UNFC extraordinary meeting, held from February 18 to 21, says the UNFC strongly condemns the strategy used by the government and Tatmadaw for creating racial hatred and a divide and rule policy as a military strategy against them.
UNFC general secretary Khoo Oo Reh said to reporters that they condemned the government and Tatmadaw as they were preparing to launch military offensive against the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and were creating clashes between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S) and the Palaung State Liberation Front/T’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA). (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)