May 19, 2016
Growing Warmth In Bangladesh-Myanmar Ties – Analysis
Bangladesh and Myanmar share about 271 kilometres of land border, of which around 150 kilometres lie in hilly areas, as well as a maritime border. In the past, their relationship has been marked by tensions due to border disputes and dispute over the migration of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh. On occasion, these have even led to armed skirmishes between their border guards. A major standoff had also emerged when Myanmar tried to conduct exploration activities in the formerly disputed Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZs) and Bangladesh responded by sending three naval vessels. Although the dispute over the maritime border demarcation was resolved through international arbitration, the chill in the bilateral relationship had persisted. But the coming to power of a democratic government in Myanmar has significantly altered the political situation within that country and has also provided an opportunity to improve bilateral relations with Bangladesh. (Courtesy of eurasiareview.com)
Anti-Rohingya protesters hit Ayeyarwady Region
The three-hour demonstration in the heat of the afternoon brought hundreds to Shwe Maw Taw Pagoda in Pathein. Over 90 monks and nuns also participated, according to demonstration organisers and locals.
The nationalist camp has been in a fervour over the official terminology for a Muslim group in Rakhine State that self-identifies as Rohingya since a US embassy statement issued last month. The statement expressed condolences for Rohingya – who are referred to as Bengalis by those who prefer to characterise the group as illegal immigrants.
The previous government used “Bengali” as the official term, while State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has asked the US embassy to refrain from using the word “Rohingya”, she has not stated what should be used instead. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
The nationalist camp has been in a fervour over the official terminology for a Muslim group in Rakhine State that self-identifies as Rohingya since a US embassy statement issued last month. The statement expressed condolences for Rohingya – who are referred to as Bengalis by those who prefer to characterise the group as illegal immigrants.
The previous government used “Bengali” as the official term, while State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has asked the US embassy to refrain from using the word “Rohingya”, she has not stated what should be used instead. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Minority issues key to US sanctions on Nay Pyi Taw
Last week the Obama administration extended economic sanctions against Myanmar for another year saying the step is necessary despite the progress on democratic reforms.
President Barrack Obama notified leaders of the Congress that, "The political opening remains nascent, and concerns persist regarding ongoing conflict and human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas, particularly in Rakhine State, and the continued role of the military in the country's political and economic activities." (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com/opinion)
President Barrack Obama notified leaders of the Congress that, "The political opening remains nascent, and concerns persist regarding ongoing conflict and human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas, particularly in Rakhine State, and the continued role of the military in the country's political and economic activities." (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com/opinion)
NGO sensitizes cops about the plight of Rohingya refugees
In an effort to help Rohingya Muslims, refugees who have fled the ethnic violence in Burma, the Special Branch along with the COVA, which is associated with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), held a meeting on Tuesday which included a session on sensitising police to the refugee issue.
The meeting comes days after the Kanchanbagh police in the South Zone embarked on a cordon and search operation and took into custody 15 Burmese refugees on grounds that they did not have proper documentation. In a communique released to the media on Saturday, the Kanchanbagh police said that as many as 152 refugees had reached the city in the past five years.Speaking to TOI on Tuesday, COVA executive director Mazher Hussain said that officials of the UNHCR too attended the meeting and spoke about the issue of refugees and how security agencies must handle them. Describing the conditions in which the refugees leave their countries as adverse, Hussain said that a vast majority of them are engaged in earning an honest living. (Courtesy of timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The meeting comes days after the Kanchanbagh police in the South Zone embarked on a cordon and search operation and took into custody 15 Burmese refugees on grounds that they did not have proper documentation. In a communique released to the media on Saturday, the Kanchanbagh police said that as many as 152 refugees had reached the city in the past five years.Speaking to TOI on Tuesday, COVA executive director Mazher Hussain said that officials of the UNHCR too attended the meeting and spoke about the issue of refugees and how security agencies must handle them. Describing the conditions in which the refugees leave their countries as adverse, Hussain said that a vast majority of them are engaged in earning an honest living. (Courtesy of timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Bangladesh sends complaint to Myanmar over border incident
The Bangladesh government sent a complaint letter to Nay Pyi Taw over the recent mortar shell incident and intrusion of Myanmar security forces into Bangladeshi territory on May 16, according to the Dhaka-based newspaper The Daily Star.
In a note verbale sent to the Myanmar government through the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi foreign ministry said the incident of a mortar shell attack targeting a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp on the night May 11 was most unfortunate and totally unwarranted.
“Such unprovoked firing by the Myanmar security forces is not acceptable at all,” said the strongly worded protest note.
The ministry further said the Myanmar security forces frequently and illegally enter Bangladeshi territory, despite repeated requests from Bangladesh not to violate international border laws. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
In a note verbale sent to the Myanmar government through the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi foreign ministry said the incident of a mortar shell attack targeting a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp on the night May 11 was most unfortunate and totally unwarranted.
“Such unprovoked firing by the Myanmar security forces is not acceptable at all,” said the strongly worded protest note.
The ministry further said the Myanmar security forces frequently and illegally enter Bangladeshi territory, despite repeated requests from Bangladesh not to violate international border laws. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
MYANMAR-NAY PYI TAW-SINGAPORE FM-PRESS CONFRENCE
Myanmar's Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during a joint press conference with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan (unseen) after their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, May 18, 2016.
Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan speaks during a joint press conference with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi (unseen) after their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, May 18, 2016. (Courtesy of prokerala.com)
Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan speaks during a joint press conference with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi (unseen) after their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, May 18, 2016. (Courtesy of prokerala.com)
India makes push for stronger economic ties
Myanmar and Indian business leaders will meet this week in an effort to bolster economic ties and hit an ambitious new target for bilateral trade.
On May 19 India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Ms Nirmala Sitharaman will lead the Myanmar-India Business Conclave, which is to focus on sharing experiences and discussing future cooperation, the Indian embassy said in a statement.
Despite sharing a long border and having historical and cultural links, trade and investment between the countries remains low, particularly relative to those between Myanmar and China.
India’s ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Gautam Mukhopadhaya, said business ties had languished for decades and his country is keen to rebuild the relationship. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
On May 19 India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Ms Nirmala Sitharaman will lead the Myanmar-India Business Conclave, which is to focus on sharing experiences and discussing future cooperation, the Indian embassy said in a statement.
Despite sharing a long border and having historical and cultural links, trade and investment between the countries remains low, particularly relative to those between Myanmar and China.
India’s ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Gautam Mukhopadhaya, said business ties had languished for decades and his country is keen to rebuild the relationship. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
PM Lee Hsien Loong to visit Myanmar in June
At a dinner commemorating Singapore and Myanmar's 50 years of diplomatic ties, Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday (May 1) revealed that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Myanmar in June, where he will officially launch the Singapore-Myanmar Vocational Training Institute.
Located in Yangon, it will help to impart practical and employable skills to young Myanmar citizens. (Courtesy of channelnewsasia.com)
Located in Yangon, it will help to impart practical and employable skills to young Myanmar citizens. (Courtesy of channelnewsasia.com)
Dozens of Myanmar workers arrested in rally clampdown
Myanmar police on Wednesday arrested dozens of activists and factory workers as they broke up a labour rights march on the capital, the latest rally to test freedoms under Aung San Suu Kyi's new civilian government.
Around 200 police moved in on the demonstrators, many wearing bamboo hats and waving banners calling for worker rights, as they entered the outskirts of Naypyidaw -- where they hoped to speak to the government.
"We arrested about 60 protesters today. We tried to do it without hurting anyone," Naypyidaw region police chief Ko Ko Aung told AFP. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
Around 200 police moved in on the demonstrators, many wearing bamboo hats and waving banners calling for worker rights, as they entered the outskirts of Naypyidaw -- where they hoped to speak to the government.
"We arrested about 60 protesters today. We tried to do it without hurting anyone," Naypyidaw region police chief Ko Ko Aung told AFP. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
Rain forecast as Myanmar on ‘yellow alert’
The heat looks set to break and Myanmar is about to get doused, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
The department announced yesterday that a low pressure area near Sri Lanka has intensified into a depression, which will produce cloudy, rainy and windy weather around the region.
The depression does not look to be heading to Myanmar, but the country is on “yellow alert” for storm risk.
U Kyaw Lwin Oo, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, said that rain is possible throughout the whole country, but especially in the delta as a result of the nearby depression. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
The department announced yesterday that a low pressure area near Sri Lanka has intensified into a depression, which will produce cloudy, rainy and windy weather around the region.
The depression does not look to be heading to Myanmar, but the country is on “yellow alert” for storm risk.
U Kyaw Lwin Oo, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, said that rain is possible throughout the whole country, but especially in the delta as a result of the nearby depression. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Explosion hits India-Myanmar border gate area
An explosion occurred yesterday afternoon between dispute areas No 1 and No 2 along the India-Myanmar border, worrying local residents.
“The explosion took place at the northern part of the Indian temple. I think it was a landmine. Weapons dropped into the Myanmar side. The explosion was very close to Nanpharlon Market in the India- Myanmar border area. Yesterday, there no vehicles passed through the motor roads in Morae, India, because the Indian authorities closed the roads. However, Nanpharlon Market is open, though there was no dealing. The explosions regularly occur in the India-Myanmar border areas; we are familiar with them,” said Aung Zaw Lin from Nanpharlon Market.
Likewise, a recent explosion took place near Shetwevan Bridge on the Kalay-Tamu road of in the India-Myanmar border area in the early morning of May 16. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
“The explosion took place at the northern part of the Indian temple. I think it was a landmine. Weapons dropped into the Myanmar side. The explosion was very close to Nanpharlon Market in the India- Myanmar border area. Yesterday, there no vehicles passed through the motor roads in Morae, India, because the Indian authorities closed the roads. However, Nanpharlon Market is open, though there was no dealing. The explosions regularly occur in the India-Myanmar border areas; we are familiar with them,” said Aung Zaw Lin from Nanpharlon Market.
Likewise, a recent explosion took place near Shetwevan Bridge on the Kalay-Tamu road of in the India-Myanmar border area in the early morning of May 16. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
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