The visits have gathered pace since the National League for Democracy (NLD) won the election and the power transition from military rule appeared to be going smoothly, Win Aung, president of the federation, said last week.
"I strongly believe that Myanmar-US economic relations will strengthen in the next government's term.
"As now is the transition period, many US and Western companies are in a wait-and-see mood. Most of them want to observe what would be the NLD's economic policies and the important legislative changes in the next government's term," he said.
At the US-Myanmar business-matching event held by the federation and the American Chamber of Commerce Myanmar Chapter, more than 30 executives of 22 US companies, including blue chips like Ford Motor, Dow Chemical, DuPont and Honeywell, mingled with more than 50 local businessmen. (Courtesy of The Nation)
February 23, 2016
Myanmar: Stand-Off Continues Between Police and Christian Anti-drug Vigilantes
A stand-off continues between police and Christian anti-drug vigilantes in Myanmar. The Christian anti-drug vigilantes want to destroy the poppy fields in Kachin.
Thousands of anti-drug vigilantes were arrested in the stand-off after they were prevented from destroying the poppy fields, reported Mail Online. Pat Jasan, a hard-line Christian anti-drug organisation is presently camping outside the town of Waingmaw in Kachin. Around 3000 members have joined in the stand-off. The members of this group often don military-style uniform and are well-known for their attacks on drug users.
The group has vowed to eradicate local poppy fields but they are prevented from doing so by the authorities. Hpala Lum Hkawng, a senior member of Pat Jasan in Waingmaw said, ”Local army and police told us that they are still blocking the way for security reasons. We have asked the state government to get access.” (Courtesy of Australia Network News)
Thousands of anti-drug vigilantes were arrested in the stand-off after they were prevented from destroying the poppy fields, reported Mail Online. Pat Jasan, a hard-line Christian anti-drug organisation is presently camping outside the town of Waingmaw in Kachin. Around 3000 members have joined in the stand-off. The members of this group often don military-style uniform and are well-known for their attacks on drug users.
The group has vowed to eradicate local poppy fields but they are prevented from doing so by the authorities. Hpala Lum Hkawng, a senior member of Pat Jasan in Waingmaw said, ”Local army and police told us that they are still blocking the way for security reasons. We have asked the state government to get access.” (Courtesy of Australia Network News)
Don’t use NCA as military and political weapon, says UNFC
Armed ethnic organizations that are members of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) which did not sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) said that the incumbent government and Tatmadaw (defence services) were using the NCA as a military and political weapon against them.
The statement issued on February 21 after the 4-day UNFC extraordinary meeting, held from February 18 to 21, says the UNFC strongly condemns the strategy used by the government and Tatmadaw for creating racial hatred and a divide and rule policy as a military strategy against them.
UNFC general secretary Khoo Oo Reh said to reporters that they condemned the government and Tatmadaw as they were preparing to launch military offensive against the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and were creating clashes between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S) and the Palaung State Liberation Front/T’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA). (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The statement issued on February 21 after the 4-day UNFC extraordinary meeting, held from February 18 to 21, says the UNFC strongly condemns the strategy used by the government and Tatmadaw for creating racial hatred and a divide and rule policy as a military strategy against them.
UNFC general secretary Khoo Oo Reh said to reporters that they condemned the government and Tatmadaw as they were preparing to launch military offensive against the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and were creating clashes between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S) and the Palaung State Liberation Front/T’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA). (Courtesy of Mizzima)
February 22, 2016
Government restrictions severely impacting access to healthcare in Rakhine State
Nearly a year since deadly inter-ethnic clashes in Rakhine state first broke out, conditions in displaced persons camps, combined with movement restrictions and ongoing segregation of Rakhine and Muslim communities, are severely impacting access to healthcare, said Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today. An estimated 140,000 people are still living in makeshift camps. According to official estimates, the vast majority of the displaced are from a Muslim minority referred to as the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a stateless minority group, not recognized as citizens by the government of Myanmar.
As well as the displaced, tens of thousands of people still in their homes have been almost entirely cut off from health facilities, food, markets, their fields, and in some cases even clean water.
“MSF has just returned from areas where whole villages are cut off from basic services,” said Ronald Kremer, MSF emergency coordinator in Rakhine state. “We have seen that movement restrictions are having a detrimental impact on people’s health. This includes TB patients unable to access the treatment they need to stay alive, and pregnant women dying because they have nowhere safe to deliver.” (Courtesy of msf.ca)
As well as the displaced, tens of thousands of people still in their homes have been almost entirely cut off from health facilities, food, markets, their fields, and in some cases even clean water.
“MSF has just returned from areas where whole villages are cut off from basic services,” said Ronald Kremer, MSF emergency coordinator in Rakhine state. “We have seen that movement restrictions are having a detrimental impact on people’s health. This includes TB patients unable to access the treatment they need to stay alive, and pregnant women dying because they have nowhere safe to deliver.” (Courtesy of msf.ca)
World Bank Vice President Meets with Key Leaders in Myanmar
The World Bank’s Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Axel van Trotsenburg, today reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s continued strong partnership with Myanmar in its pursuit of ending extreme poverty and promoting growth that will benefit more people in Myanmar. Three weeks after the swearing in of Myanmar’s new parliament, van Trotsenburg met National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders and senior government officials in Nay Pyi Taw and congratulated the country on the historic transition.
Van Trotsenburg met with the Chairperson of the NLD Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Minister for Ministry of Finance His Excellency (H.E.) U Win Shein, and Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw H.E. U Win Myint to discuss the World Bank Group’s current and future support to Myanmar. Van Trotsenburg expressed the World Bank Group’s gratitude for the partnership with Myanmar. (Courtesy of worldbank.org)
Van Trotsenburg met with the Chairperson of the NLD Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Minister for Ministry of Finance His Excellency (H.E.) U Win Shein, and Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw H.E. U Win Myint to discuss the World Bank Group’s current and future support to Myanmar. Van Trotsenburg expressed the World Bank Group’s gratitude for the partnership with Myanmar. (Courtesy of worldbank.org)
Myanmar cardinal calls for greater respect for religious liberty
As a new government assumes power in Myanmar, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon expressed hope for national reconciliation, including forgiveness of the military leaders who ruled the nation from 1962 to 2011.
Speaking with the French news agency Églises d’Asie, the prelate called for greater respect for religious liberty in the officially Buddhist nation, including the return of Catholic schools confiscated by the military regime in the 1960s.
Acknowledging recent progress—including permission to register Catholic schools under individuals’ names—Cardinal Bo called for official recognition of the Church’s right to open schools. (Courtesy of Catholic Culture)
Speaking with the French news agency Églises d’Asie, the prelate called for greater respect for religious liberty in the officially Buddhist nation, including the return of Catholic schools confiscated by the military regime in the 1960s.
Acknowledging recent progress—including permission to register Catholic schools under individuals’ names—Cardinal Bo called for official recognition of the Church’s right to open schools. (Courtesy of Catholic Culture)
NLD leader calls region Speakers to Nay Pyi Taw
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will today meet her party’s Speakers from the state and regional parliaments in Nay Pyi Taw, although they say they are in the dark as to why they have been summoned to the capital.
The talks come ahead of a meeting tomorrow with all 14 regional Speakers – including those from Shan State and Rakhine State, who are not from the National League for Democracy – where they will discuss the formation of the Myanmar Parliamentary Union.
The MPU will comprise the Speakers and deputy speakers of each hluttaw and will be led by the chair of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. It is a new initiative from the NLD – no such body existed in the previous parliament – and is designed to improve coordination between the various legislative bodies, according to the NLD.
U Aung Kyaw Oo, Speaker of the Mandalay Region hluttaw, told The Myanmar Times that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will meet the Speakers today at an office in the parliamentary compound. He said he had not been told what was on the agenda and expected to spend most of the meeting listening.(Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
The talks come ahead of a meeting tomorrow with all 14 regional Speakers – including those from Shan State and Rakhine State, who are not from the National League for Democracy – where they will discuss the formation of the Myanmar Parliamentary Union.
The MPU will comprise the Speakers and deputy speakers of each hluttaw and will be led by the chair of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. It is a new initiative from the NLD – no such body existed in the previous parliament – and is designed to improve coordination between the various legislative bodies, according to the NLD.
U Aung Kyaw Oo, Speaker of the Mandalay Region hluttaw, told The Myanmar Times that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will meet the Speakers today at an office in the parliamentary compound. He said he had not been told what was on the agenda and expected to spend most of the meeting listening.(Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)