With Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw began a four-day visit to India from Saturday on the heels of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's day-long visit to that country on Monday, Yangon is seeking to find some kind of a balance in its ties between two large neighbours, India and China.
This will be the first presidential visit from Myanmar after Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) assumed power in March this year. Suu Kyi, who spent a considerable part of her early life in India and was educated at Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi, however chose to make Beijing her first port of call after she became the country's State Counsellor and Foreign Minister. She was in Beijing last week.
After the NLD assumed power, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Myanmar as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 16, and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman earlier led a high-level business delegation to the eastern neighbour for the India-Myanmar Business Conclave on May 18-20. (Courtesy of thehansindia.com)
August 28, 2016
Myanmar President offers prayers at Mahabodhi temple
Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw today arrived at Bodh Gaya in Biharand offered prayers at the revered Mahabodhi temple here.
Kyaw, who is here on a two-day visit, offered special prayers at the Mahabodhi temple, Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddhais said to have attained enlightenment, Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee member ArvindKumar Singh said.
He also visited a Burmese monastery besides visiting a 80-feet tall Lord Buddha's statue and offered prayer there. (Courtesy of business-standard.com)
Kyaw, who is here on a two-day visit, offered special prayers at the Mahabodhi temple, Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddhais said to have attained enlightenment, Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee member ArvindKumar Singh said.
He also visited a Burmese monastery besides visiting a 80-feet tall Lord Buddha's statue and offered prayer there. (Courtesy of business-standard.com)
Actor jailed for overpass protest
Actor Tun Nge has been sentenced to two years and nine months in jail by Kamayut Township Court on August 26 for displaying a religious and national flag on his car, along with spray-painted abuse about the military. On March 1 he blocked Hledan overpass in Kamayut Township.
The actor was convicted under Section 505(b), Section 294, Section 295 and Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 16 of the Union Flag Law. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The actor was convicted under Section 505(b), Section 294, Section 295 and Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 16 of the Union Flag Law. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
USDP plays nationalist card on Annan commission
The Union Solidarity and Development Party issued a statement on August 25 criticising the formation of the advisory commission for Rakhine State ethnic tensions led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
The State Counsellor's Office is due to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Kofi Annan Foundation soon to establish the study of Buddhist-Muslim tensions in Rakhine State. It should include two other foreigners and six Myanmar nationals.
The former ruling party statement said: "The Rakhine issue is an internal affair only. Successive governments have been working on the restoration of peace and stability in Rakhine State. The inclusion of foreigners on the commission brings it to the international stage. The commission’s work will prioritise human rights and humanitarian aid, turning a blind eye to national affairs and state security," the statement said. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
The State Counsellor's Office is due to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Kofi Annan Foundation soon to establish the study of Buddhist-Muslim tensions in Rakhine State. It should include two other foreigners and six Myanmar nationals.
The former ruling party statement said: "The Rakhine issue is an internal affair only. Successive governments have been working on the restoration of peace and stability in Rakhine State. The inclusion of foreigners on the commission brings it to the international stage. The commission’s work will prioritise human rights and humanitarian aid, turning a blind eye to national affairs and state security," the statement said. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Rebels still waiting for Panglong invite
The government is yet to invite the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Arakan Army (AA) to attend next week's Panglong conference, according to Colonel Tar Phone Kyaw, general secretary of the TNLA, on August 25.
“The TNLA is ready to participate in the 21st-century Panglong conference. But, there was no official invitation from the government,” said Tar Phone Kyaw.
MNDAA and AA have also said they wish to participate in Panglong on August 31.
“We have had no negotiations with the government’s commission but only discussed it with other armed groups. We have had no direct discussion, only via other groups,” said Tar Phon Kyaw. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
“The TNLA is ready to participate in the 21st-century Panglong conference. But, there was no official invitation from the government,” said Tar Phone Kyaw.
MNDAA and AA have also said they wish to participate in Panglong on August 31.
“We have had no negotiations with the government’s commission but only discussed it with other armed groups. We have had no direct discussion, only via other groups,” said Tar Phon Kyaw. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
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