The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), has said it will sue two Burmese weekly newspapers—the Myanmar Herald and the Messenger—along with other individuals, for defaming former President Thein Sein and the USDP in their coverage of the alleged embezzlement of 93 million euros (US$103.9 million) from an account linked to the Myanmar Gems Traders Association.
The military-backed USDP controlled the previous government under President Thein Sein, who still chairs the party, and was delivered a crushing defeat by the National League for Democracy in the November election.
As reported previously by The Irrawaddy, on Thursday 81 members of the gem-trading association held a press conference in Rangoon, calling on the Ministry of Resources and Environmental Conservation and the managing director of the state-run Myanmar Gems Enterprise to address the so-far unexplained loss of €93 million. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
June 4, 2016
Information Minister Pe Myint to Speak at Myanmar Summit 2016
Information Minister Pe Myint will give an opening keynote interview on Burma’s developing policy priorities at The Economist’s second-annual Myanmar Summit.
The event, which will take place at Sedona Hotel Yangon on June 16, will assemble Burma’s decision-makers, advocates, entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how the country’s newly minted leaders intend to generate and sustain economic growth, wealth and prosperity for a nation that has only recently overcome half a century of isolation.
According to the summit agenda, questions to be fielded by Pe Myint and other speakers will explore “profitable and sustainable” economic policy and development, as well as capacity-building strategies for Burma’s new government, particularly regarding policymaking and administrative practices. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
The event, which will take place at Sedona Hotel Yangon on June 16, will assemble Burma’s decision-makers, advocates, entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how the country’s newly minted leaders intend to generate and sustain economic growth, wealth and prosperity for a nation that has only recently overcome half a century of isolation.
According to the summit agenda, questions to be fielded by Pe Myint and other speakers will explore “profitable and sustainable” economic policy and development, as well as capacity-building strategies for Burma’s new government, particularly regarding policymaking and administrative practices. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
New Ma Ba Tha School Teaches Children to ‘Protect Race and Religion’
Buddhist monks of the ultra-nationalist Association for the Protection of Race and Religion (Ma Ba Tha) opened a private high school on the outskirts of Rangoon this week, where they said they would provide free education for children and teach them to “protect race and religion.”
Mahaw Thadar High School in Rangoon’s Hlegu Township has enrolled around 150 children for Grade 9 and will accept more students for Grades 10 and 11 next year, said Ashin Panya Vara, the monk who founded the school.
“I expect these school children will become decent citizens of our country and will protect and safeguard our race and religion,” he told Myanmar Now in an interview at the new facility. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Mahaw Thadar High School in Rangoon’s Hlegu Township has enrolled around 150 children for Grade 9 and will accept more students for Grades 10 and 11 next year, said Ashin Panya Vara, the monk who founded the school.
“I expect these school children will become decent citizens of our country and will protect and safeguard our race and religion,” he told Myanmar Now in an interview at the new facility. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
Authorities order to destroy Religious School in Toungbru
A religious school in Kwansiboung Village, Toungbru have been ordered about the district administrator under the false allegation on illegal building of the school.
On 15th May district administrator’s general secretary called the Madarasa’s head for extorting Money. And warned the locals if their demand is not fulfilled within 31st May, they will demolish the Madarasa.
Initially this situation was instigated by the village administrator, who bribed the Mough district administrator with 2 lakh Kyat at the time of voting village Administrator and became the administrator for 100 houses in the village. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
On 15th May district administrator’s general secretary called the Madarasa’s head for extorting Money. And warned the locals if their demand is not fulfilled within 31st May, they will demolish the Madarasa.
Initially this situation was instigated by the village administrator, who bribed the Mough district administrator with 2 lakh Kyat at the time of voting village Administrator and became the administrator for 100 houses in the village. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Breaking the Silence on Myanmar’s Rohingya
A recent diplomatic row over whether new United States Ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel may call the self-identified Rohingya ethnic minority group by that name or use the government preferred “Bengali” shows that ethnic and religious tensions remain high in the Southeast Asian nation.
The situation today for the Rohingya remains largely the same as it did prior to Myanmar’s peaceful political transition last year, which included moving from a military junta-dominated parliament to one with a National League for Democracy majority, the appointment of a new president, and continued efforts to reach a peace agreement between the country’s many armed groups. (Courtesy of theglobalobservatory.org)
The situation today for the Rohingya remains largely the same as it did prior to Myanmar’s peaceful political transition last year, which included moving from a military junta-dominated parliament to one with a National League for Democracy majority, the appointment of a new president, and continued efforts to reach a peace agreement between the country’s many armed groups. (Courtesy of theglobalobservatory.org)
UNTANGLING THE RAKHINE CITIZENSHIP MESS
The government’s recent decision to resume citizenship verification in Rakhine State has generated fresh debate about the future and rights of the state’s Muslim community, most of whom are stateless.
Advancing the controversial project amid a climate of suspicion and intense nationalism will be among the most difficult challenges of the government’s five-year term.
For decades, many Muslims in Rakhine languished in a grey area as holders of temporary identity documents known as white cards, pending a decision on their eligibility for citizenship. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Advancing the controversial project amid a climate of suspicion and intense nationalism will be among the most difficult challenges of the government’s five-year term.
For decades, many Muslims in Rakhine languished in a grey area as holders of temporary identity documents known as white cards, pending a decision on their eligibility for citizenship. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
ROHINGYA LEADER: ‘WHEN THE NLD WON WE WERE VERY HAPPY… BUT NOW WE DON'T KNOW’
U Kyaw Hla Aung, a renowned Rohingya leader, worked for decades as a clerk at Rakhine State Court, later becoming a lawyer. In the 1980s, he was debarred and imprisoned due to the military governments’ repressive policies towards the Muslim minority. He has now been jailed four times as a political prisoner; including two stints following the 2012 inter-communal violence.
In an April interview at his home in Thet Kel Pyin Village, next to the sprawling internally displaced persons camps in Sittwe, Kyaw Hla Aung spoke to Frontier about life for the Rohingya before they became stateless under the 1982 Citizenship Law, the groups’ hopes under the National League for Democracy government and recent developments in Rakhine State. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
In an April interview at his home in Thet Kel Pyin Village, next to the sprawling internally displaced persons camps in Sittwe, Kyaw Hla Aung spoke to Frontier about life for the Rohingya before they became stateless under the 1982 Citizenship Law, the groups’ hopes under the National League for Democracy government and recent developments in Rakhine State. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Rohingyas fear forced relocation: NYT
As the government began its first census of undocumented Rohingyas in the country on Thursday, the Myanmar refugees fear the process may lead to a mass relocation or their forcible repatriation back home, reports The New York Times.
The Rohingyas, a Muslim ethnic group in western Myanmar, described by the United Nations as the most persecuted minority in the world, have crossed the border in waves over several decades.
Officially, about 32,000 have taken shelter in camps administered by the United Nations. However, hundreds of thousands more live undocumented in squalid, makeshift camps or scattered in the country's southeast region, vulnerable to human traffickers and exploited as cheap labour. (Courtesy of en.prothom-alo.com)
The Rohingyas, a Muslim ethnic group in western Myanmar, described by the United Nations as the most persecuted minority in the world, have crossed the border in waves over several decades.
Officially, about 32,000 have taken shelter in camps administered by the United Nations. However, hundreds of thousands more live undocumented in squalid, makeshift camps or scattered in the country's southeast region, vulnerable to human traffickers and exploited as cheap labour. (Courtesy of en.prothom-alo.com)
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