UN Secretary General Receives Mixed Messages in Stakeholder Meetings

United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon met with an interfaith panel and civil society representatives at two different events with two contrasting messages in Naypyidaw on Wednesday.

During the meeting with the interfaith group, well-known Buddhist monk Ashin Nyanisara, also known as Sitagu Sayadaw, attributed a “lack of understanding of the essence of one’s own faith” to “one of the causes of conflict” in Burma.

Only through understanding this “essence,” the monk explained, can mutual understanding and friendship be fostered. Government schools, Ashin Nyanisara added, should develop a religious education syllabus “to help students understand every religion in the country.” (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)

Correction: Myanmar-Kofi Annan story

In a story Aug. 30 about a Facebook post criticizing former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha was responsible for the post. A Ma Ba Tha leader says it was not responsible and that the post and the Facebook page on which it appeared are fake.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Myanmar Buddhist group says post insulting Kofi Annan was fake

Buddhist nationalist group in Myanmar says Facebook post in which it appeared to criticize former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was fake

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A Buddhist nationalist group in Myanmar says a Facebook post in which it appeared to criticize former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was fake. (Courtesy of startribune.com)

Myanmar looks to new rice agreement with Jakarta

The governments of Indonesia and Myanmar will sign a memorandum of understanding next month on continued rice exports, but the two commerce ministers then face an unresolved issue over payment for a previous shipment that failed to comply with Indonesian regulations.

Commerce Minister U Than Myint will travel to Indonesia on September 13 for an MoU signing ceremony, after which he and his Indonesian counterpart will discuss the terms of a new export agreement, the ministry has confirmed.

The new contract for rice exports will involve private sector exporters and buyers, thus officials from the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) and MAPCO will be involved in discussion about exactly how much rice Myanmar will export and at what price.

The original government-to-government agreement with Indonesia was signed by Myanmar’s previous government in April 2013. But Indonesia only approached Myanmar for rice imports in 2015. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)

Kofi Annan to visit Myanmar amid demand to abolish advisory commission

Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan, who was recently appointed to head the Rakhine State Advisory Commission, will pay a visit to Myanmar next week even as nationalists demanding to abolish the commission led by him.

“It may be on September 6, but a fixed date for when he will come here is unsure,” the Myanmar Times quoted, U Tin Maung Swe, Secretary of the Rakhine State Government, as saying. U Zaw Htay, Deputy Director General for the President’s Office, also confirmed that plans were in the works for the former UN chief to visit, but said dates and a detailed itinerary had yet to be planned.

The Annan lead nine-member Rakhine State Advisory Commission has been tasked with finding conflict-prevention measures, ensuring humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, establishing basic infrastructure, and promoting development long-term plans in the restive state. The commission has been given one year to conduct research and submit a report on its findings. (Courtesy of indianexpress.com)

Myanmar grants e-visa at three border crossings with Thailand

Myanmar has granted e-visa for tourists and business visitors at three border crossings with Thailand starting from Thursday.

The authorities began e-visa services for tourists entering the country through Yangon International Airport on September 1, 2014 from a total of 100 countries and the service was extended to Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw on November 9 the same year, Xinhua news agency reported.


Moreover, the authorities also offered e-visa for business visitors from 51 countries at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw airports on July 1, 2015. (Courtesy of business-standard.com)