US State Department Counselor Kristie Kenney will travel to Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw July 12–14, to meet with her Myanmar government counterparts, civil society representatives, and YSEALI alumni, according to a US State Department report July 8.
She will also speak with business leaders and TechCamp alumni. Counselor Kenney’s visit underscores the U.S. commitment to Myanmar’s democratic transition, the value of people-to-people exchanges, and the role of US businesses in supporting inclusive, broad-based economic growth, according to a statement from her department. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
July 10, 2016
There is a fourth option on the Myitsone Dam
IN HIS column in the June 16 edition of Frontier, Sithu Aung Myint wrote that the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Hong Liang, with a delegation from China’s State Power Investment Cooperation, recently visited Kachin State to lobby for the resumption of work on the stalled Myitsone Dam.
The delegation apparently let the Kachin State government understand that Myanmar has three options regarding the project: 1) Cancel the project and be liable to pay US$800 million in compensation; 2) Resume work and earn $500 million a year in revenue when the dam is completed or; 3) Do nothing and pay $50 million in interest for as long as the project is suspended.
None of these options are attractive for either Myanmar or China. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
The delegation apparently let the Kachin State government understand that Myanmar has three options regarding the project: 1) Cancel the project and be liable to pay US$800 million in compensation; 2) Resume work and earn $500 million a year in revenue when the dam is completed or; 3) Do nothing and pay $50 million in interest for as long as the project is suspended.
None of these options are attractive for either Myanmar or China. (Courtesy of frontiermyanmar.net)
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi: Falling star or beacon of hope
For nearly 30 years, Aung San Suu Kyi starred as arguably the world's most prominent and revered political prisoner, a courageous champion of human rights and democracy in her military-ruled nation.
As she completes her first 100 days in power, the Nobel Prize laureate's halo has all but vaporized on the global stage: Suu Kyi is being assailed for ignoring the plight of the oppressed Rohingya Muslims, failing to stop atrocities against other ethnic minorities and abetting moves to erase from collective memory the bloody history of the generals she replaced.
Some have even labelled her a "democratic dictator," an increasingly aloof one-person show who surrounds herself with close friends and loyalists without nurturing a vitally needed new generation of leaders. Gone are the days when the elegant hostess would charm visitors over informal teas and reduce hard-bitten reporters to voicing soft-ball questions. (Courtesy of bigstory.ap.org)
As she completes her first 100 days in power, the Nobel Prize laureate's halo has all but vaporized on the global stage: Suu Kyi is being assailed for ignoring the plight of the oppressed Rohingya Muslims, failing to stop atrocities against other ethnic minorities and abetting moves to erase from collective memory the bloody history of the generals she replaced.
Some have even labelled her a "democratic dictator," an increasingly aloof one-person show who surrounds herself with close friends and loyalists without nurturing a vitally needed new generation of leaders. Gone are the days when the elegant hostess would charm visitors over informal teas and reduce hard-bitten reporters to voicing soft-ball questions. (Courtesy of bigstory.ap.org)
Myanmar must wipe out religious violence to achieve development
Another mosque has been razed in Myanmar, the second in just over a week. The destruction has been blamed on rising Buddhist nationalism. That in itself is ironical. The intrinsic core of Buddhism is peace. The nation has been troubled by increasing incidents of rioting. The mosques that were destroyed were in Kachin and Bago, but Rakhine, where the minority Rohingya live, has seen senseless violence.
The government of Aung San Suu Kyi has stood a silent spectator as the rioting has intensified and the Rohingya have been increasingly targeted. The UN has expressed its concern, but little is being done to rein in this wave of Buddhist nationalism. This again is ironic because Suu Kyi, who has spent years in prison championing the cause of the oppressed, must understand the plight of the Rohingya and yet she has moved slowly to find a solution to their problems. The Rohingya are stateless, have no rights, and the Buddhists of Rakhine want to label them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. (Courtesy of gulfnews.com)
The government of Aung San Suu Kyi has stood a silent spectator as the rioting has intensified and the Rohingya have been increasingly targeted. The UN has expressed its concern, but little is being done to rein in this wave of Buddhist nationalism. This again is ironic because Suu Kyi, who has spent years in prison championing the cause of the oppressed, must understand the plight of the Rohingya and yet she has moved slowly to find a solution to their problems. The Rohingya are stateless, have no rights, and the Buddhists of Rakhine want to label them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. (Courtesy of gulfnews.com)
China security boss discusses military cooperation
For the promotion of Chinese strategic relations, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi meet Geng Huichang, China's minister of security, at the foreign ministry on July 8 and he invited her to visit to China.
The deputy director-general of the ministry Aye Aye Soe said: “Between Myanmar and China there are strategic ties. This visit aims to promote the relations between the two countries. The invitation to visit China comes from when Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar."
Suu Kyi spoke about the peace process and asked for assistance from China as a good neighbour while it was being implemented, she added. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The deputy director-general of the ministry Aye Aye Soe said: “Between Myanmar and China there are strategic ties. This visit aims to promote the relations between the two countries. The invitation to visit China comes from when Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar."
Suu Kyi spoke about the peace process and asked for assistance from China as a good neighbour while it was being implemented, she added. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Govt called to respect prisoners' sacrifice
The government, for which political prisoners sacrificed a lot, should define the term, Lower House MP of the Arakan National Party Hpe Than said.
The Myebon, Rakhine State, MP asked whether the government had definitions for "political offence" and "political prisoner".
Military-appointed Deputy Home Affairs Minister General Aung Soe said there was no definition.
“The government should recognise them for their sacrifices. Political prisoners are just asking for appreciation their suffering. The government is responsible to define that,” said Hpe Than. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The Myebon, Rakhine State, MP asked whether the government had definitions for "political offence" and "political prisoner".
Military-appointed Deputy Home Affairs Minister General Aung Soe said there was no definition.
“The government should recognise them for their sacrifices. Political prisoners are just asking for appreciation their suffering. The government is responsible to define that,” said Hpe Than. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
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