For the past five years, Myanmar’s transition has mainly been about building legitimacy. By implementing various political and economic reforms, President Thein Sein validated his government and, more importantly, the new political arrangement, created under the 2008 constitution. Now, with an overwhelming victory in the 2015 election, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has the mandate to pursue political reforms in Myanmar. However, what can it realistically achieve?
When President Thein Sein came into power in March 2011, Myanmar was in a state of despair. International sanctions were in place, the economy was in ruin and widespread, armed conflicts plagued the borderlands. Most significantly, the administration lacked electoral legitimacy. (Courtesy of Economy Watch)
February 24, 2016
South Korea to Help Build Myanmar Road Network
South Korea and Maynmar governments plans to build expressways and roads over the next 20 years based on a master plan for Myanmar''s national road network, put together by a consortium of Korean enterprises with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA) according to Yonhap news.
The Yooshin Consortium worked on the master plan in cooperation with the Maymar government as part of the Korea International Cooperation Agency's grant program. The road network development plans outline 34,378 kilometers of highways and roads. The master plan also provides advice on developing road networks, managing traffic demand, implementing strategies and guidelines as to financing. (Courtesy of Prensa Latina News Agency)
The Yooshin Consortium worked on the master plan in cooperation with the Maymar government as part of the Korea International Cooperation Agency's grant program. The road network development plans outline 34,378 kilometers of highways and roads. The master plan also provides advice on developing road networks, managing traffic demand, implementing strategies and guidelines as to financing. (Courtesy of Prensa Latina News Agency)
Myanmar: Rohingya Children Losing Future Without Education
As Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy steps into power in Myanmar this month, one of the big questions is whether the Nobel Laureate’s party will improve human rights in the country – particularly for the long-persecuted Rohingya Muslims. Confined to prison-like internment camps, a generation of Rohingya children are growing up deprived of education, leaving little hope for their future.
The future for the Rohingya children of Myanmar looks bleak. They will receive, at most, a high school education. Under the current system, a child would be lucky to complete the fourth grade.
The vast majority - 60 percent - have never even been to school because their families are too poor. An estimated 80 percent of Rohingya are illiterate. (Courtesy of VOA News)
The future for the Rohingya children of Myanmar looks bleak. They will receive, at most, a high school education. Under the current system, a child would be lucky to complete the fourth grade.
The vast majority - 60 percent - have never even been to school because their families are too poor. An estimated 80 percent of Rohingya are illiterate. (Courtesy of VOA News)
Myanmar Cease-fire Committee Member Tells Rebel Group to Lay Down Its Arms
A member of Myanmar’s cease-fire committee told an armed ethnic group to withdraw its troops from restive Shan state where it has engaged in fighting in recent weeks against another rebel army, as the government military prepares to take charge of security in the area, a committee member said Tuesday.
Retired Lieutenant General Kin Zaw Oo from the government’s Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), made the comment to leaders of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S), which has been involved in clashes with the ethnic Palaung/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in northern Myanmar’s Shan state.
“Lieutenant General Khin Zaw Oo told them [RCSS/SSA] to withdraw their troops from conflict areas in the northern Shan state,” said Nyo Ohn Myint from the Myanmar Peace Center, who is a member of the UPWC delegation. “The RCSS would have to move out of the area at a certain time, and they said they would surely do so.”
“The Tatmadaw [Myanmar’s military] is making plans to take charge of security in the area and has asked those concerned to abide by the points in the nationwide cease-fire agreement,” he told RFA’s Myanmar Service.
The RSCC/SSA is one of the eight armed ethnic groups that signed the government’s nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) last October. (Courtesy of RFA)
Retired Lieutenant General Kin Zaw Oo from the government’s Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), made the comment to leaders of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S), which has been involved in clashes with the ethnic Palaung/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in northern Myanmar’s Shan state.
“Lieutenant General Khin Zaw Oo told them [RCSS/SSA] to withdraw their troops from conflict areas in the northern Shan state,” said Nyo Ohn Myint from the Myanmar Peace Center, who is a member of the UPWC delegation. “The RCSS would have to move out of the area at a certain time, and they said they would surely do so.”
“The Tatmadaw [Myanmar’s military] is making plans to take charge of security in the area and has asked those concerned to abide by the points in the nationwide cease-fire agreement,” he told RFA’s Myanmar Service.
The RSCC/SSA is one of the eight armed ethnic groups that signed the government’s nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) last October. (Courtesy of RFA)
Myanmar urged to make public sector more accountable
The bank’s guidance was issued in a series of policy notes to help the country towards achieving inclusive growth as it emerges from decades of military and quasi-military rule into a period led by its first democratically elected government.
Ulrich Zachau, World Bank country director for Southeast Asia, said Myanmar was faced with a “great opportunity” to turn continued strong economic growth into better lives for its people.
Zachau said three policy directions will be key: public sector accountability; universal access to basic education, health and energy services; and further opening and diversification of the economy.
Currently, other than the budget, there is a lack of publicly available information on government spending priorities in Myanmar. Neither the budget or draft budget are submitted to parliament and audited financial statements of the government go unpublished. (Courtesy of Public Finance)
Ulrich Zachau, World Bank country director for Southeast Asia, said Myanmar was faced with a “great opportunity” to turn continued strong economic growth into better lives for its people.
Zachau said three policy directions will be key: public sector accountability; universal access to basic education, health and energy services; and further opening and diversification of the economy.
Currently, other than the budget, there is a lack of publicly available information on government spending priorities in Myanmar. Neither the budget or draft budget are submitted to parliament and audited financial statements of the government go unpublished. (Courtesy of Public Finance)
Myanmar army chief puts brakes on immediate changes to constitution, dealing blow to Aung San Suu Kyi’s presidential hopes
Less than a week after a third transition meeting between Myanmar’s commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the powerful army chief has pushed back against any quick changes to the constitution.
The 2008 document, which bars Suu Kyi from becoming president even after her National League for Democracy (NLD) swept a historic election last year, has been a bone of contention between her party and the military. Suu Kyi has vowed to disregard it and lead the country from “above the president”.
Min Aung Hlaing said that the junta-drafted constitution should be amended “at an appropriate time” in accordance with constitutional provisions. Some senior NLD members and pundits had speculated that the articles banning Suu Kyi from becoming president could be temporarily suspended as part of a power-sharing deal between the armed forces and the NLD. (Courtesy of South China Morning Post)
The 2008 document, which bars Suu Kyi from becoming president even after her National League for Democracy (NLD) swept a historic election last year, has been a bone of contention between her party and the military. Suu Kyi has vowed to disregard it and lead the country from “above the president”.
Min Aung Hlaing said that the junta-drafted constitution should be amended “at an appropriate time” in accordance with constitutional provisions. Some senior NLD members and pundits had speculated that the articles banning Suu Kyi from becoming president could be temporarily suspended as part of a power-sharing deal between the armed forces and the NLD. (Courtesy of South China Morning Post)
Bay of Bengal 'three times more deadly' than Mediterranean for migrants and refugees – UN
Refugees and migrants crossing the seas of Southeast Asia died at a rate three times higher than those in the Mediterranean last year, a new United Nations report has found, highlighting the urgency of greater life-saving cooperation among the affected States.
The report, Mixed Maritime Movements in South-East Asia, from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), states that those movements had been “three times more deadly” than in the Mediterranean last year, due largely to mistreatment by smugglers and disease on the boats.
Refugees and migrants often employ the same routes, modes of transport, and networks, and their movements are commonly referred to as “mixed movements.” (Courtesy of UN)
The report, Mixed Maritime Movements in South-East Asia, from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), states that those movements had been “three times more deadly” than in the Mediterranean last year, due largely to mistreatment by smugglers and disease on the boats.
Refugees and migrants often employ the same routes, modes of transport, and networks, and their movements are commonly referred to as “mixed movements.” (Courtesy of UN)
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