Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general

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Description: "On August 19, 2023, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai who came to China for a working visit. Wang Yi said that China and Thailand are as close as one family. The friendship with China is the consensus of the ruling and opposition parties of Thailand and the shared wish of people from the two countries, and the development of bilateral relations is not affected by changes in the international landscape or the domestic situation in Thailand. He believes that Thailand will maintain its stability and sustained development. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Thai side to jointly implement the important outcomes achieved in President Xi Jinping's visit to Thailand last November, make concerted efforts to advance the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future, and join hands to address all challenges. Wang Yi said that China stands ready to work with Thailand to deepen cooperation in various fields and strive for more visualized results of the China-Laos-Thailand Connectivity Development Corridor Outlook. The two sides need to speed up the construction of the China-Thailand railway and the China-Laos-Thailand railway connection lines, and jointly crack down on telecom fraud and other transnational criminal activities. China is ready to continue to firmly support the building of the ASEAN Community, support the upholding of the ASEAN centrality, and support the joint efforts to build an economic growth center, to constantly inject new impetus into regional economic integration. Through deepening the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, the two sides can create a pioneer zone for the Global Development Initiative, a pilot zone for the Global Security Initiative, and a demonstration zone where the Global Civilization Initiative is best implemented, and build an even closer Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future. China stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to speed up the advancement of consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, strive for the early formation of effective and substantive regional rules, and build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation. Wang Yi said that all countries should guard against forces outside the region provoking camp-based confrontation and instigating the Cold War mentality, which will undermine the hard-won peaceful and stable situation. Don Pramudwinai said that Thailand-China relations are strong, delivering enormous well-being for the people of the two countries. Under the current situation of rising international and regional uncertainties, Thailand is ready to further strengthen dialogue and exchanges with China, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, promote the China-Laos-Thailand railway connection, and work for common development. Thailand applauds the fact that China is the first to express the readiness to sign the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. Thailand supports the alignment of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the Belt and Road Initiative, supports deepening the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and supports building the South China Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and stability. Thailand opposes the zero-sum game mentality and camp-based confrontation, welcomes the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and believes that China's initiatives set examples for the whole world. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the Myanmar issue, agreeing to make efforts to advance the process of a political solution to the Myanmar issue and supporting the resolution of the Myanmar issue in the ASEAN way. Both sides also had an exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern..."
Source/publisher: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2023-08-19
Date of entry/update: 2023-08-19
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Description: "Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane paid an official visit to Myanmar from June 30, 2023 to July 01, 2023. He called on Chairman, State Administrative Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw. The Defence Secretary also called on Defence Minister of Myanmar Gen (Retd.) Mya Tun Oo and held meetings with Commander-in-Chief, Myanmar Navy Admiral Moe Aung and Chief of Defence Industries Lt Gen Khan Myint Than. The visit provided an opportunity to raise matters relating to India’s security with senior leadership of Myanmar. During the meetings, the two sides discussed issues related to maintenance of tranquillity in the border areas, illegal trans-border movements and transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and smuggling. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that their respective territories would not be allowed to be used for any activities inimical to the other. India shares an approximately 1,700-km long border with Myanmar. Any developments in that country have a direct impact on India’s bordering regions. Peace & stability in Myanmar and well-being of its people, therefore, remain of utmost importance to India..."
Source/publisher: Press Information Bureau
2023-07-01
Date of entry/update: 2023-07-01
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Description: "The National Unity Government of The Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the people of Myanmar are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. We extend our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. We pray for a speedy recovery for the injured. We offer our heartfelt admiration for the rescue efforts of the first responders, officials, and community organizations and our solidarity with all the people of Türkiye and Syria..."
Source/publisher: National Unity Government of Myanmar
2023-02-08
Date of entry/update: 2023-02-08
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Description: "၂၀၂၃ ခုနှစ် ဖေဖော်ဝါရီလ ၆ ရက်နေ့၌ တူရကီနိုင်ငံ Gaziantep ပြည်နယ်ရှိ Nurdagi အရှေ့ဘက် ၂၃ ကီလိုမီတာအကွာ၊ အနက် ၂၄.၁ ကီလိုမီတာတွင် ဗဟိုပြု၍ လှုပ်ခတ်သွားသော ပြင်းအား ၇.၈ အဆင့်ရှိသည့် ငလျင်သည် တူရကီနိုင်ငံနှင့် ဆီးရီးယားနိုင်ငံအနောက်မြောက်ပိုင်းဒေသများသို့ သက်ရောက်မှုရှိခဲ့ပြီး အဆိုပါ ငလျင်ဒဏ်ကြောင့် ပြည်သူ ၈,၀၀၀ နီးပါး သေဆုံးခဲ့ရကာ၊ ၄၀,၀၀၀ နီးပါး ဒဏ်ရာရရှိခဲ့ပြီး နေအိမ်အဆောက်အအုံ ထောင်ပေါင်းများစွာလည်း ပြိုကျပျက်စီး ဆုံးရှုံးခဲ့သည်ဟု သိရှိရပါသည်။ ပြည်ထောင်စုသမ္မတမြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော် အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရအနေဖြင့် ငလျင်ဒဏ်ကြောင့် သေဆုံးခဲ့ရသူများအားလုံး၏ ကျန်ရစ်သူမိသားစုများနှင့်ထပ်တူ ဝမ်းနည်းကြေကွဲရပြီး ဒဏ်ရာရရှိသူများလည်း အမြန်ဆုံးပြန်လည်သက်သာကောင်းမွန်လာစေရေး မြန်မာနိုင်ငံသူ နိုင်ငံသားအားလုံးနှင့် အတူ ဆုတောင်းမေတ္တာပို့သပေးလျက်ရှိပါကြောင်း သိစေလိုပါသည်။ နောက်ဆက်တွဲငလျင်များဖြစ်ပေါ်လာနိုင်ချေကြောင့် အသက်အန္တရာယ်ရှိနေသည့်ကြားကပင် မိမိတို့၏ အသက်ကိုမငဲ့ကွက်ပဲ ကူညီကယ်ဆယ်ရေးလုပ်ငန်းများကို စွမ်းစွမ်းတမံဆောင်ရွက်ပေးနေကြသော လူမှုအခြေပြုအဖွဲ့အစည်းများနှင့် ကယ်ဆယ်ရေးအဖွဲ့ဝင်များ၊ အချင်းချင်း အပြန်အလှန် ကူညီဖေးမခြင်း အားဖြင့် သဘာဝဘေးရန်ကို ညီညွတ်စွာ အံတုရင်ဆိုင်နေကြသော ပြည်သူများ၊ အခက်အခဲများစွာကြားကပင် စနစ်ကျသော ဦးဆောင်မှုဖြင့် ပြည်သူလူထုကို ကာကွယ်စောင့်ရှောက်မှုပေးနေသော တူရကီနှင့် ဆီးရီးယားနိုင်ငံမှ တာဝန်ရှိသူများ နှင့် လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုအကူအညီများကို အချိန်မဆိုင်းပဲ ပေးပို့ကူညီကြသော နိုင်ငံတကာအဖွဲ့အစည်းများအားလုံးကို လေးစားဂုဏ်ယူစွာဖြင့် ကျေးဇူးတင် ရှိအပ်ပါသည်။ တူရကီနိုင်ငံနှင့် ဆီးရီးယားနိုင်ငံရှိ ပြည်သူများအားလုံး လက်ရှိရင်ဆိုင်ကြုံတွေ့နေရသော သဘာဝ ဘေးအန္တရာယ်၏ ဖိစီးမှုများကို အမြန်ဆုံးအောင်မြင်ကျော်လွှားနိုင်ကြပါစေကြောင်းနှင့် နောက်နောင်တွင်လဲ သဘာဝကြောင့်ဖြစ်သော ဘေးအန္တရာယ်၊ လူကြောင့်ဖြစ်သော ဘေးအန္တရာယ်များမှ ကင်းဝေးကြပါစေကြောင်း ဆုမွန်ကောင်းတောင်းရင်း ဤသဝဏ်လွှာကိုပေးပို့အပ်ပါသည်။..."
Source/publisher: National Unity Government of Myanmar
2023-02-08
Date of entry/update: 2023-02-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat was convened on 4 February 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Retreat was the first major meeting under Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023 with the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. The meeting was preceded by the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting under Indonesia’s Chairmanship on 3 February 2023. The meetings were also attended by Timor-Leste, signifying its first participation as part of the ASEAN Family, which in principle, is an 11th member of ASEAN, with the status of observer. ASEAN further welcomed Timor-Leste in embracing the path of ASEAN Community Building and reiterated the mutual interests and interdependence among the peoples of ASEAN, which are bound by geography, common objectives, and shared destiny..."
Source/publisher: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
2023-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2023-02-04
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Description: "The National Unity Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar expresses its sincere gratitude to the Czech Republic for hosting H.E. Daw Zin Mar Aung, Union Minister of Foreign Affairs, during her recent visit to the Czech Republic in September 2022. Minister Aung was accompanied by H.E. Aung Myo Min, Union Minister of Human Rights, and H.E. Linn Thant, the National Unity Government’s Representative in the Czech Republic. Foreign Minister Aung met with Czech dignitaries including H.E. Jan Lipavsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Marketa Pekarova Adamova', Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament, and Senator Pavel Fisher, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security. Minister Aung also visited the grave of late President Vaclav Havel to pay her respects to his commitment to democracy and his strong solidarity with Myanmar people. The Czech Republic remains an ardent supporter of the National Unity Government and the people of Myanmar and was among the first countries to establish a representative office to deepen relations. Minister Aung’s discussions focused on the Myanmar people’s significant achievements, including the historic convergence and alignment of people’s movements, Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs), local communities, civil society and a broad coalition of political parties and representatives in opposition to the terrorist military junta. Revolutionary forces continue to claim growing swathes of territorial control, made effective through the delivery of healthcare, humanitarian assistance, education and other public services. Minister Aung conveyed that the National Unity Government, as the legitimate representative of the Myanmar people, continues to serve to the vision set out in the Federal Democracy Charter - a nation that is founded on peace, justice, equality, human rights, and the protection of minorities, and that adheres to the principles of international justice and accountability. This includes a commitment to the trust-based resolution of the decades-long grievances of ethnic communities drawing on lessons from previous peace processes, and to the voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya. Minister Aung also addressed the unspeakable and escalating atrocities that the terrorist junta continues to direct against civilians, as well as the junta’s weaponisation of humanitarian aid and its forced displacement of close to one million people. These extremes, which are deliberately aimed at sharpening the people’s suffering, expose the junta’s frustration at its failed coup. Welcoming assurances from Foreign Minister Lipavsky, Speaker Pekarova Adamova and Senator Fisher of the Czech Republic’s unwavering support for Myanmar’s democratic leaders, Minister Aung called on the nation to serve as a catalyst within the European Union for strengthened engagement with the National Unity Government. Minister Aung conveyed her heartfelt thanks to the Czech people for their enduring support, while assuring them that the Myanmar people’s rights-based revolution will prevail..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Myanmar - NUG
2022-09-08
Date of entry/update: 2022-09-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "ပြည်ထောင်စုသမ္မတမြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော် အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရသည် နိုင်ငံခြားရေးဝန်ကြီး ဌာန ပြည်ထောင်စုဝန်ကြီး ဒေါ်ဇင်မာအောင်သည် ၂၀၂၂ ခုနှစ် စက်တင်ဘာလတွင် Fourm 2000 အခမ်းအနားနှင့် ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံခရီးစဉ်နှင့်ပက်သက်၍ ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံအား အထူးကျေးဇူး တင်ကြောင်း ဖော်ပြလိုပါသည်။ နိုင်ငံခြားရေးဝန်ကြီးဌာန ပြည်ထောင်စုဝန်ကြီးသည် လူ့အခွင့်အရေးဝန်ကြီးဌာန၊ ပြည်ထောင်စုဝန်ကြီး ဦးအောင်မျိုးမင်း၊ ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံတွင် တာ၀န်ထမ်းဆောင်လျက်ရှိသော အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရကိုယ်စားလှယ် ဦးလင်းသန့်တို့ နှင့်အတူ ခရီးစဥ်ရောက်ရှိခဲ့ခြင်း ဖြစ်ပါသည်။ နိုင်ငံခြားရေးဝန်ကြီး ဒေါ်ဇင်မာအောင်သည် ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံ နိုင်ငံခြားရေးဝန်ကြီး H.E. Jan Lipavský၊ ၊ အောက်လွှတ်တော် ဥက္ကဋ္ဌ Ms. Markéta Pekarová Adamová ၊ ကာကွယ်ရေးနှင့် လုံခြုံရေး ကော်မတီဥက္ကဋ္ဌ အထက်လွှတ်တော်အမတ် Pavel Fisher တို့အပါအဝင် ချက်သမ္မတ နိုင်ငံမှ ဂုဏ်သရေရှိပုဂ္ဂိုလ်များနှင့် တွေ့ဆုံခဲ့သည်။ ထို့ပြင် နိုင်ငံခြားရေးဝန်ကြီး ဒေါ်ဇင်မာအောင် သည် ကွယ်လွန်သူသမ္မတ ဗက်ကလပ်ဟာဗဲလ်၏ အုတ်ဂူသို့လည်းသွားရောက်ကာ ၎င်း၏ ဒီမိုကရေစီရေးကတိကဝတ်များနှင့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံပြည်သူများနှင့် ခိုင်မာသောသွေးစည်းညီညွတ်မှု အစဥ်ပြသခဲ့ခြင်းကျေးဇူးဂုဏ်တို့အား လေးစားစွာအောက်မေ့ရည်မှတ်လျက် သွားရောက် ဂါရဝ ပြုခဲ့ပါသည်။ ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံသည် အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရနှင့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံပြည်သူများအား ခိုင်မာသော ထောက်ခံအားပေးသူအဖြစ် ဆက်လက်တည်ရှိနေကာ ဆက်ဆံရေး ပိုမိုနက်ရှိုင်းစေရန် ကိုယ်စားလှယ်ရုံးဖွင့်လှစ်ခွင့်ပေးခဲ့သည့် ပထမဆုံးနိုင်ငံလည်း ဖြစ်သည်။ ဝန်ကြီးဒေါ်ဇင်မာအောင်က အကြမ်းဖက်စစ်အာဏာရှင်ကို ဆန့်ကျင်ရာတွင် ပြည်သူများ၏ သမိုင်းဝင် ပေါင်းစည်းညီညွတ်မှုနှင့် လူထုလှုပ်ရှားမှုများ ပေါင်းစည်းလာနိုင်မှု၊ တိုင်းရင်းသား တော်လှန်ရေးအဖွဲ့များ (ERO)၊ ဒေသခံလူမှုအဖွဲ့အစည်းများ၊ အရပ်ဘက် လူ့အဖွဲ့အစည်းများ၊ နိုင်ငံရေးပါတီများနှင့် ရွေးကောက်ခံ လွှတ်တော် ကိုယ်စားလှယ်များ ကျယ်ပြန့်စွာ ပါဝင်သော ပေါင်းစည်းမှုအပါအဝင် မြန်မာလူထု၏ အရေးပါသော အောင်မြင်မှုများကို အဓိကထား ဆွေးနွေးခဲ့ပါသည်။ တော်လှန်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့များသည် နယ်မြေထိန်းချုပ်မှု ကြီးထွားလာသည် နှင့်အမျှ ကျန်းမာရေး စောင့်ရှောက်မှု၊ လူသားချင်း စာနာထောက်ထားမှုအကူအညီ၊ ပညာရေးနှင့် အခြားပြည်သူ့ဝန်ဆောင်မှုများ ပေးဆောင်ခြင်းတို့အား ပိုမိုထိရောက်စွာဆောင်ရွက်နိုင်ရန် လိုအပ်လာကြောင်းဆွေးနွေးခဲ့ပါသည်။ အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရသည် မြန်မာပြည်သူများ၏ တရားဝင်ကိုယ်စားလှယ်အဖြစ် ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေး၊ တရားမျှတမှု၊ တန်းတူညီမျှမှု၊ လူ့အခွင့်အရေးနှင့် လူနည်းစုများကို အကာအကွယ်ပေးရေးတို့အာ အခြေခံလျက်၊ နိုင်ငံတကာ တရားမျှတမှုနှင့် တာဝန်ခံမှုဆိုင်ရာ အခြေခံမူများကိုဖော်ဆောင်ရန်ဦးတည်သည့် ဖက်ဒရယ်ဒီမိုကရေစီ ပဋိညာဉ်တွင် ပါ၀င်သော မျှော်မှန်းချက်အတိုင်း ဆက်လက်ဆောင်ရွက်သွားမည်ဖြစ်ကြောင်း ၀န်ကြီးက ပြောကြားခဲ့သည်။ ပြည်ထောင်စုဝန်ကြီးမှ ဆွေးနွေးရာတွင် - နိုင်ငံရေးဖြစ်စဉ်များနှင့်ပက်သက်၍ ယခင်ငြိမ်းချမ်း ရေးလုပ်ငန်းစဉ်များမှ သင်ခန်းစာများ ရယူခဲ့ထားပြီး တိုင်းရင်းသားအသိုက်အဝန်းများ၏ ဆယ်စုနှစ်များစွာကြာမြင့်နေပြီ ဖြစ်သည့် တန်းတူရေးနှင့် နိုင်ငံရေးပြဿနာကို ယုံကြည်မှု အခြေခံလျက် ဖြေရှင်းနိုင်ရန်နှင့် ရိုဟင်ဂျာများ၏ ဆန္ဒအလျောက် ဘေးကင်းလုံခြုံပြီး ဂုဏ်သိက္ခာရှိစွာ နေရပ်ပြန်ရေးဆိုင်ရာ ကတိကဝတ်များလည်း ပါဝင်သည်။ စစ်အာဏာရှင်တို့က အရပ်သားများအပေါ် စကားလုံးဖြင့် ပြောဆိုရန်ပင် မဖြစ်နိုင်သော ရက်စက်ကြမ်းကြုတ်နေမှုများကိုလည်း ပြောဆိုတင်ပြခဲ့ပြီး၊ လူသားချင်းစာနာ ထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီများကို စစ်အာဏာရှင်တို့က လက်နက်သဖွယ် အသူံးချနေခြင်းနှင့် လူပေါင်း တစ်သန်းနီးပါးကို အတင်းအကျပ် ရွှေ့ပြောင်းစေခဲ့ခြင်းများအားလည်းဆွေးနွေးခဲ့ပါသည်။ ပြည်သူလူထုအား ဆင်းရဲဒုက္ခပိုရောက်လာစေရန် တမင် ရည်ရွယ်သည့် ဤအစွန်းရောက်မှု များသည် မအောင်မြင်သောစစ်အာဏာသိမ်းမှုတွင် စစ်အာဏာရှင်တို့၏အချည်းနှီးဖြစ်နေမူကို ထင်ရှားစေပါသည်။ မြန်မာ့ဒီမိုကရေစီ ခေါင်းဆောင်များအပေါ်မယိမ်းမယိုင်ထောက်ခံခဲ့သော ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံ နိုင်ငံခြားရေးဝန်ကြီး H.E. Jan Lipavský၊ အောက်လွှတ်တော်ဥက္ကဋ္ဌ Ms. Markéta Pekarová Adamová နှင့် အထက်လွှတ်တော်အမတ် Pavel Fisher တို့၏အာမခံချက် များကို ကြိုဆိုလိုက်ပြီး၊ ဥရောပသမဂ္ဂဥက္ကဌအဖြစ် တာဝန်ယူစဉ်ကာလအတွင်း အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေး အစိုးရနှင့် ထိတွေ့ဆက်ဆံမှု ပိုမိုခိုင်မာအားကောင်းလာစေရန်အတွက် ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံ အနေဖြင့် ကြားခံထောက်ကူဆောင်ရွက်ပေးနိုင်ပါရန် ဝန်ကြီး ဒေါ်ဇင်မာအောင်က တိုက်တွန်း တောင်းဆိုပါသည်။ ၀န်ကြီးဒေါ်ဇင်မာအောင်က ချက်သမ္မတနိုင်ငံပြည်သူများ၏ မြန်မာပြည်သူများအပေါ် စဉ်ဆက် မပြတ်အားပေးမှုအတွက် လှိုက်လှဲစွာကျေးဇူးတင်ကြောင်းပြောကြားကာ၊ မြန်မာပြည်သူလူထု၏ အခွင့်အရေးအတွက် တိုက်ပွဲ၀င်နေသောတော်လှန်ရေးကြီး အောင်မြင်မည်ဟု ခိုင်ခိုင်မာမာ ယုံကြည်ကြောင်းပြောဆိုခဲ့ပါသည်။..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Myanmar - NUG
2022-09-08
Date of entry/update: 2022-09-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
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Sub-title: ပြည်ထောင်စုသမ္မတ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော် ယာယီသမ္မတနှင့် မွန်ဂိုလီးယားသမ္မတဟောင်းတို့ကြား အွန်လိုင်း တွေ့ဆုံပွဲနှင့် ပတ်သက်၍ ထုတ်ပြန်ချက်
Description: "ပြည်ထောင်စု သမ္မတ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော် ယာယီ သမ္မတ ဒူဝါလရှီးလ မှ မွန်ဂိုလီးယားသမ္မတဟောင်း H.E. Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj အား အွန်လိုင်းတွေ့ဆုံမှုဖြင့် ကြိုဆိုတွေ့ဆုံခဲ့ပါသည်။ သမ္မတဟောင်း Elbegdorj သည် မြန်မာလူမျိုးများ၏ ကာလရှည်ကြာ မိတ်ဆွေကောင်းတစ်ဦးဖြစ်ပြီး မြန်မာနိုင်ငံမှာ ဒီမိုကရေစီအသွင်ကူးပြောင်းရေးကို အခိုင်အမာ ထောက်ခံသူဖြစ်သည်။ မွန်ဂိုလီးယား နိုင်ငံ၏ သမ္မတ တာဝန်ထမ်းဆောင်ပြီးနောက် ၎င်းသည် ကမ္ဘာတစ်ဝှမ်းရှိ ဒီမိုကရေစီနှင့် လူ့အခွင့်အရေးများ မြှင့်တင်ရန်အတွက် Club de Madrid၊ International Democrat Union ကဲ့သို့သော အဖွဲ့အစည်းများတွင် နိုင်ငံ့ခေါင်းဆောင်ဟောင်းများနှင့် တက်ကြွစွာ ပူးပေါင်းလုပ်ဆောင် လျက်ရှိသည်။ ယာယီသမ္မတ ဒူဝါလရှီးလမှ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ၏ လက်ရှိအခြေအနေများကို ရှင်းလင်းတင်ပြပြီး ငြိမ်းချမ်းသော ဖက်ဒရယ်ဒီမိုကရေစီ ပြည်ထောင်စု ထူထောင်ရန် ပြည်သူများ၏ ကြိုးပမ်းနေမှုများကို ထပ်မံမျှဝေခဲ့ပါသည်။ ယာယီသမ္မတ အနေဖြင့်လည်း မြန်မာပြည်သူပြည်သားများ၏ လွတ်လပ်ရေး နှင့် ဒီမိုကရေစီရရှိနိုင်ရေး ထောက်ခံအားပေးမှုအတွက် သမ္မတ Elbegdorj အား ကျေးဇူးတင်ရှိ ကြောင်း ပြောကြားခဲ့သည်။ သမ္မတဟောင်း Elbegdorj က ၎င်း၏ ကတိကဝတ်ပြုမှု၊ လွတ်လပ်ရေးနှင့် ဒီမိုကရေစီရရှိရေး ကြိုးပမ်းမှုတွင် အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရနှင့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံသားများအတွက် စဉ်ဆက်မပြတ် ထောက်ခံအားပေးနေမည်ဖြစ်ကြောင်း ယာယီသမ္မတအား အခိုင်အမာ ပြောကြားခဲ့သည်။..."
Source/publisher: National Unity Government of Myanmar
2022-07-13
Date of entry/update: 2022-07-13
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Sub-title: Statement on the virtual meeting between the Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the former President of Mongolia
Description: "The Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. Duwa Lashi La, warmly welcomed former President of Mongolia, H.E. Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj at today’s virtual meeting. President Elbegdorj is a long-time friend of Myanmar people and a strong supporter of democratization in Myanmar. After leaving office in Mongolia, he is actively working together with former head of states in organizations such as Club de Madrid, the International Democrat Union, etc., to promote democracy and human rights around the world. The Acting President Lashi La briefed the current state of events in Myanmar, and reaffirmed the Myanmar people’s dedication to establish a peaceful federal democratic union. The Acting President also extended his heartfelt gratitude to President Elbegdorj for his support for the freedom and democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar. President Elbegdorj strongly assured the Acting President of Myanmar of his commitment and sustained support for the people of Myanmar and NUG in their struggle for freedom and democracy. (Duwa Lashi La) Acting President National Unity Government The Republic of the Union of Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: President Office, National Unity Government
2022-07-13
Date of entry/update: 2022-07-13
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Description: "The National Unity Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has recently taken note of plans of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Forum to convene the 7th LMC Foreign Minister’s Meeting in Myanmar in July of this year. The NUG would like to voice its continued commitment to the principles of the Sanya Declaration of the first leader’s meeting of the LMC, and particularly the "commitment to peace, stability and sustainable development and prosperity of the sub-region," the “spirit of openness and inclusiveness,” and the LMC’s dedication to advancing the priority areas of ASEAN Community building. In respect of the above principles, and the NUG’s desire to continue sustained progress towards the 26 measures outlined in the Sanya Declaration, the NUG respectfully requests that China, as the permanent joint-chair of the LMC platform considers the following points: (1) The Myanmar army is a criminal organization that has no interest in peace or sustainable development in Myanmar; its self-styled State Administrative Council is illegal, cannot he considered a legitimate government, and should be barred from any and all involvement in the LMC. For the past 1 7 months, the Myanmar army has waged a horrific military campaign against the people of Myanmar, including Myanmar’s civilian government, the country’s labor unions, teachers, medical professionals, ordinary civilians and the country’s ethnic armed organizations. It is directly responsible for the displacement of over 700,000 people across the country since launching this attack in February of 2021. As the recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights indicates, this includes over 250,000 children, with an additional 1,400 children arbitrarily detained by the junta. In addition, the military has tortured over 142 children since the coup, and deprived 7.8 million more children of access to education. (2) Any effort to convene an LMC Foreign Minister’s Meeting in partnership with the Myanmar military or its illegal military junta violates the will o f the Myanmar people, and undermines community building in Myanmar. For the past year, ASEAN has determined that a non-political representative should attend Foreign Minister’s meetings and Leader’s meetings. This included the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations held in November of 2021. As ASEAN has determined not to invite senior representatives of the military junta to Foreign Minister’s meetings or Leader’s meetings, such a move on the part of the LMC runs directly counter to ASEAN's decision, posing a grave threat to ASEAN 's community building efforts. No ASEAN states should participate in any LMC FM meeting involving the Myanmar’s illegitimate military junta (3) As the legitimate representative o f the government o f the Republic o f the Union o f Myanmar, the NUG stands ready to take on all responsibilities o f Myanmar with respect to the LMC and the joint-chair role. The NUG's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to meet with its counterparts in China and other LMC countries to discuss the convening of the Foreign Minister’s meeting. The NUG further suggests that the 7th Foreign Minister’s meeting focus exclusively on the political and security pillar, and welcomes the assistance of the LMC countries in developing an action plan to end the regional security crisis triggered by the military’s ongoing crimes against humanity. Such a plan should be aligned with the principles of the Sanya Declaration, taking into consideration the 3+5 Cooperation Framework. (4) The NUG expresses concern strong concern that the military has begun to weaponize Chinese investments and assets in country by deploying troops inside company campuses and or project sites. The military’s intention is to use Chinese investments as a shield or "safe space" from which they can launch attacks on communities. By permitting troops to be based on their project sites, Chinese companies are increasingly perceived by local groups as aiding and abetting the enemy of the people. This is making it more difficult for the NUG and PDFs to ensure the security of Chinese investments projects. The best means for the Chinese government to ensure the safety and security of its assets is to avoid them being used by the military. Under such circumstances, it will be easier for the NUG and PDFs to protect Chinese assets, interests and workers in the country. (5) The NUG requests that all LMC member countries immediately cease all participation in any activities o f the Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center o f the Lancang-Mekong Region that involve the Myanmar military. The Myanmar military is deeply involved in and responsible for a massive incursion of transnational crime into the Lancang-Mekong region, especially at Shwe Kokko along the Thai-Myanmar border. Before the military’s attempted coup, with China's assistance, this activity was brought under control. Just weeks after the coup, transnational criminals resumed and dramatically scaled up their cross-border crimes to the benefit of the military and its aligned border guard force militias. The NUG suggests that the LMLECC immediately establish an investigatory mechanism to hold the criminal networks, the Myanmar army and its aligned militias accountable for this growing security threat to the region. In closing, the NUG recognizes the positive role that the LMC could potentially play in addressing the ongoing crisis in Myanmar should it respect its founding values and commitment to peace. The NUG stands ready to partner with its counterparts across the LMC, and further requests that the ASEAN Secretary General and the United Nations General Secretary offer their support to China to ensure that the LMC plays a positive role in advancing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contributes to the efforts of ASEAN to resolve the Myanmar crisis..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Myanmar - NUG
2022-07-01
Date of entry/update: 2022-07-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The forthcoming meeting o f the G7 group o f countries in Germany provides an important opportunity to update the commitments made last year to the people of Myanmar. When they met in 2021, the G7 condemned the illegal coup, the arbitrary arrest of innocent people, and the violence committed by the junta's forces. They committed themselves to the support o f all those who are working to create a stable and inclusive democracy, and to unfettered humanitarian access to vulnerable and displaced populations. Further to this, the G7 made a common commitment to pursuing "additional measures" should those prove necessary. One year on from the G7 meeting in the United Kingdom, the violence of the military continues against innocent civilians. The same military is denying humanitarian access to those in need. Grievous abuses o f human rights have taken place. Increasingly, junta forces are using hunger as a weapon o f war against whole populations. The National Unity Government urges all the member countries o f the G7, and those invited to attend, to take seriously the humanitarian and economic catastrophe caused by this coup. It is causing immense suffering. G7 countries have the power to impose additional sanctions so as to limit further the flows of foreign funds to the junta. G7 countries must also stem the flow o f arms from Russia and other countries that are enabling the military to continue their murderous campaign. The National Unity Government and the people of Myanmar are looking to the G7 to deliver on its commitment to additional measures, and to support us in our struggle for freedom..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Myanmar - NUG
2022-06-26
Date of entry/update: 2022-06-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: US, Japan, India, Australia Should Address Crises Across Region
Description: "(Tokyo) – Leaders of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia should reach agreements on new measures to address human rights crises and democratic backsliding in Asia, Human Rights Watch said today. The Quad, a security alliance of the leaders of the four countries, is meeting in Tokyo on May 22, 2022. “The Quad needs to place Asia’s massive human rights and humanitarian crises at the heart of its discussions and decisions,” said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “Although each has vastly different causes and features, the human rights crises in Afghanistan, Myanmar, North Korea, and Sri Lanka should all be high on the security agenda.” A central purpose of the Quad alliance is to counter the rising authoritarian influence of the Chinese government in Asia. To advance that goal, the Quad needs to better promote human rights institutions, democratic governance, and the rule of law domestically and regionally, Human Rights Watch said. Quad leaders should reach common positions on addressing major human rights crises in the region and speak publicly on specific concerns. On Myanmar, Quad leaders need to move beyond relying on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its failed “five point consensus.” Quad leaders, along with like-minded ASEAN members Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, should agree on a stronger, coordinated effort to steer the Myanmar junta toward reform, including by increasing restrictions on its foreign currency revenues and weapons purchases. Like-minded countries should develop a clear, time-bound approach to pressure the junta to end its abuses. The approach should include imposing and better enforcing new sanctions on oil and gas revenues, as well as on human rights abusers and military entities. Quad countries should support a United Nations Security Council resolution imposing a global arms embargo on Myanmar, which purchases large amounts of weapons from both China and Russia. On Afghanistan, Quad leaders should agree to coordinate with other governments to press the Taliban to abandon their restrictive and abusive policies and practices, including bans on women’s secondary schooling and restrictions on women’s travel, employment, and dress. Japan, India, and Australia should urge the US to reach an agreement with Taliban authorities about restrictions in place on the Afghanistan Central Bank and on World Bank-administered assistance for education and health. These restrictions are severely exacerbating the country’s economic situation and are driving its humanitarian crisis. On North Korea, Quad leaders should agree to integrate human rights issues into diplomatic approaches and support including human rights benchmarks in any future negotiations with Kim Jong Un and the North Korean government. They should also discuss outreach to the government to offer assistance to address the gravely deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation and the new Covid-19 outbreak. On Sri Lanka, Quad leaders should recognize that the roots of the country’s current economic and political crisis lie in longstanding corruption and a lack of transparency, and that the route to stability and economic recovery depends on increasing respect for human rights, strengthening the rule of law, and ensuring accountability. The Quad should support economic programs, including from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), that seek to protect the most vulnerable from the worst effects of the economic crisis, while promoting political reforms to better protect fundamental rights and seek justice for past abuses. Quad leaders should recognize that their credibility to speak on human rights abuses also requires addressing the many deficiencies in their own records. Human Rights Watch has extensively raised serious human rights issues for decades with the governments of the US, Japan, India, and Australia. “The Quad should recognize that working to improve the human rights of people in Asia is consistent with addressing the authoritarianism of the Chinese government,” Sifton said. “Genuine security in the region depends on people in Asia being able to fully exercise their fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms.”..."
Source/publisher: "Human Rights Watch" (USA)
2022-05-19
Date of entry/update: 2022-05-19
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Sub-title: Outreach to pro-democracy forces appears over as Beijing expects the war in Ukraine to curb Russian backing for the generals.
Description: "After a year of tentative ties with Myanmar’s democratic opposition, China this month dropped all pretension of hedging its bets and ramped up support for the military regime. Beijing framed its decisive economic and political move in part as a response to the “Ukraine crisis,” hinting that Russian backing for the junta may wane on the heels of Moscow’s stumbles in Ukraine, forcing China to fill the gap. With China bringing increasing pressure on Southeast Asian states to follow its lead in legitimizing Myanmar’s dictatorship, all parties in the region, and those with interests in it, will have to rethink their Myanmar strategies. China’s sudden shift in policy will almost certainly lead to escalating violence and instability in Myanmar. The country’s National Unity Government (NUG), established by lawmakers deposed in last year’s coup, condemned China’s moves as “deeply disrespectful and offensive” to Myanmar’s people. For the United States, China’s enhanced support for a genocidal military regime at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region represents a direct threat to long-term regional commitments identified in the February 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy. But for China, it seems that open cooperation with the regime now appeared necessary to rapidly reboot plans for tens of billions of dollars of strategic investments in Myanmar. The End of China’s Friendship with the Myanmar People? China’s initial public response to the February 1, 2021 military coup was to pretend nothing had happened — it described the putsch as a “cabinet reshuffle” — but by last March attacks on Chinese factories and businesses across Yangon had created a crisis. Chinese officials feared that a strong show of support for the junta might further inflame anti-China sentiment. To cool the situation, Beijing crafted careful policy statements emphasizing China’s friendly relations with the National League for Democracy Party (NLD), and stressing that China-Myanmar friendship is “open to all people of Myanmar.” In the following months, the Chinese Embassy opened discreet channels of communication with the NUG, and the Chinese Communist Party re-activated its relationship with the NLD, inviting its leaders to attend a virtual gathering of South and Southeast Asian political parties. The Chinese government also slowed economic activities in Myanmar, even freezing loans for new projects by state-owned enterprises, and warning all parties in the conflict to pay greater attention to securing Chinese investments. Despite the overtures and hedging, as Chinese decisionmakers began to view the opposition as unlikely to win and potentially inimical to China’s interests, they leaned on China’s strategic partnership with Russia to achieve their political goals in Myanmar: counter Western sanctions and support for democracy and human rights; prevent deeper involvement by the U.N. Security Council and other international bodies in Myanmar’s periphery; and provide support to the military to weaken the democratic opposition. By November 2021, China was alarmed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was challenging the junta’s legitimacy and China’s regional influence by blocking Myanmar’s participation in the “ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations.” References to the NLD disappeared from official Chinese statements, and China resumed all working level exchanges with the coup regime. Beijing went so far as to have its ambassador essentially apologize to the junta for failing to persuade key ASEAN states to include the military’s representatives in the meeting. As the ASEAN chair passed from Brunei to Cambodia, China saw a new opportunity to strengthen the junta’s position. Beijing encouraged Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to visit Myanmar, and publicly pushed for Cambodia to link ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus (an agreement between the 10 ASEAN states to end violence and seek a peaceful solution to the political crisis in Myanmar) with the military junta’s Five Point Road Map. The road map is scheme to turn over the government to a military proxy party through a fraudulent election before August of 2023. These efforts, which involved a burst of Chinese shuttle diplomacy across Asia, did nothing to change the views of key ASEAN states including Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. As such, on the eve of the Ukraine invasion, China was already rethinking its Myanmar policy. By late March, China began to see a dramatic weakening in Russia’s ability to provide the junta with political and military support. The Chinese government stepped into the gap, inviting three ASEAN foreign ministers and the Myanmar army’s Wunna Maung Lwin, who handles “diplomacy,” to China for bilateral discussions including on the “negative impacts” of the Ukraine crisis on Southeast Asia. Finally, on April 1, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, received Wunna at a lavish reception in China’s Annhui Province. Afterwards, China’s state-sponsored Xinhua News Agency referred to the junta’s emissary as the “counterpart” of the Chinese foreign minister, emphasizing that Wang had told Wunna that China would back the regime “no matter how the situation changes.” Both parties announced a major increase in Chinese support for the military’s governing body, the State Administrative Council (SAC): more than $100 million in new financial assistance, a new Myanmar consulate in China, a pledge to “jointly oppose unilateral sanctions,” a commitment to advancing cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and plans for the junta to host the foreign ministers of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Forum in Myanmar (China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar). Economic Drivers of China’s New Policy China’s new approach is also driven by the economic needs of its southwestern provinces and by private Chinese capital networks, which have a strong appetite for risk and an attraction to countries with weak governance. Among China’s southwestern provinces, Yunnan is by far the most eager to resume development of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor as the key engine of its economic growth. The Yunnan Provincial Government signaled this urgency in November of 2021 by appointing an academic with close ties to the Myanmar army to direct the Yunnan Department of Commerce. Li Chenyang, one of several architects of China’s strategic natural resource corridor through Myanmar, had championed a China-Myanmar army partnership in the early 2000s as a means of curbing U.S. strategic advantage in the region. Such an alliance, he argued, would reduce Chinese dependence on the Malacca Straits for energy imports. Unsurprisingly, shortly after Li assumed his new positions he led delegations to the border to re-open China-Myanmar trade and visited key cities to reactivate cross-border industrial zones. Meanwhile, a shady network of Chongqing-based entrepreneurs developing a casino resort island with a military-backed businessman in Myeik — located off the coast of Myanmar’s Tanintharyi region — emerged as another push factor for deeper relations with the military. From October to February, the South Asia Future Group visited almost every key ministry of the military’s ruling council, later signing a deal with the Lincang government to advance cross-border industrial zones and connectivity between Yunnan and Myanmar’s Shan State. The company also forged a relationship with Myanmar’s ambassador in Beijing, and along with a Myanmar-based network of Chinese companies, played a role in advancing the new consulate in Chongqing. China’s Real Intentions While strengthening ties with the junta, China has maintained, and often tightened, its traditional links with the northern ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), particularly the most powerful ones. Beijing has showered these groups with COVID-19 assistance, and in the case of Shan State, is standing with the northern EAOs near the Chinese border as they successfully press a military campaign against a rival ethnic army — the Shan State Army South. As a sign of respect for the EAOs, China sent a senior official to Shan State in late March for the funeral of a key former leader of one of these groups — Peng Jiasheng, the founder of the Kokang Army, also known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. Peng had also been instrumental in the expansion of several of Myanmar’s most powerful EAOs, including the powerful Arakan Army, whose leader also attended the funeral. In short, China is making itself critical to all of Myanmar’s most powerful military actors. The junta, dependent on China, is surrounded by well-armed EAOs in China’s orbit, all of which are gaining in influence and power as the military’s violent campaign against the pro-democracy forces continues. This has given these EAOs strong incentives to support the armed resistance against the military, and many are now training and even arming people’s defense forces. Chinese leaders believe this web of involvements creates leverage to best advance China’s interests. This is a dangerous strategy. To be sure, China may pressure EAOs to stop supporting pro-democracy forces and recognize the junta. But this will prove problematic. First, this turns a blind eye to the key driver of the current crisis — decades of military oppression and attacks on the population, the most recent iteration of which has displaced more than 600,000 people since February 2021. Second, EAO constituencies have unequivocally rejected military rule, and turning to support the military will ultimately undermine their legitimacy. In the end, China is likely to find that increased support for the junta will simply amplify anti-China sentiment, putting its hundreds of billions of dollars of strategic investment at greater risk. By propping up an illegitimate regime, China further sets the stage for protracted conflict. Need for a Global Strategy in Support of Democracy China’s recent moves represent a growing threat to peace and democracy at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region. While its violence and urgency may not match Russia’s assault on Ukraine, Myanmar’s democratic opposition sees the parallels. Its leaders have already started calling on the United States and other Western states to dramatically increase their support, worried that Russia’s war on Ukraine will leave their struggle, and that of their regional counterparts for peace and democracy, forgotten at a critical moment. As Western states help Ukraine meet an existential threat, it is critical that they not ignore China’s moves in Southeast Asia. As an immediate step, the United States could encourage much higher levels of support from its QUAD partners to bolster democracy as a pillar of regional security. Another measure would be for the United States and its allies to look for more creative ways to assist the full range of opposition actors in Myanmar — especially key EAOs supporting the NUG. Finally, Washington might communicate clearly to China the dangers its strategy presents to regional stability and offer to establish high-level exchanges on the crisis to manage tensions between the two powers as efforts to restore democracy continue..."
Source/publisher: United States Institute of Peace
2022-04-13
Date of entry/update: 2022-04-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Travel agents and aid workers raise issues of safety and note that tourism dollars will only benefit the ruling military
Description: "Foreign tourists have been urged to avoid visiting Myanmar after the junta signalled plans to open up the country despite widespread ongoing rights abuses and violence including kidnappings and killings by the military, as well as food shortages and regular blackouts. More than a year after it seized power and ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s military has announced it plans to reopen for tourism and resume international flights on 17 April. “I would not suggest anyone travels there,” said Michael Isherwood, chair of the Burma Humanitarian Mission and program director of charity Backpack Medics. “If Burma reopens to tourists, it’s primarily to benefit the junta,” which is oppressing the population. When there were murmurs of a reopening late last year, Tin Tun Naing, the minister for planning, finance and investment for Myanmar’s ousted National Unity Government told The Straits Times it wasn’t a time for sightseeing and urged people not to visit. Myanmar closed its borders, like many countries, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in early 2020. At that time, an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi ruled the country but a military coup in February 2021 saw that power ceded. Resistance groups emerged and since then the south-east Asian country has been racked with violence, protests and economic collapse. UN high commissioner Michelle Bachelet said last month Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis continues to expand amid systematic brutality by security forces. “The economy is on the brink of collapse. Over 14.4 million individuals are now assessed as being in humanitarian need,” she said, predicting that “food scarcity will sharply increase over the coming months”. The UK government currently “advises against all but essential travel to Myanmar”, stating the risk of being arbitrarily detained or arrested. Opening to tourism could signal a return to normalcy when “Burma is anything but normal these days,” said Isherwood, citing random arrests, the burning of villages, rape and extrajudicial killings in the ethnic and border areas. According to the United Nations Human Rights Council, more than 1,600 people have died at the hands of security forces, 12,500 have been detained, 44,000 have been displaced, and 14 million require humanitarian assistance. Hundreds of children are also being held for ransom in unknown locations. Last year, the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) attempted to broker a peace plan with the junta government although little progress has been made on moving that forward. Reopening to tourism was “an effort to promote a narrative of control and globalisation … an effort to establish the de facto authorities as being in control of the country, being legitimate”, said one aid worker living in Myanmar, who requested anonymity for safety reasons. Tourists signify stability, said Bertie Alexander Lawson, CEO of Myanmar-based boutique travel agency Sampan Travel, and an image of stability is likely one the authorities want to project, he added. The security risk is higher now compared with a couple of years ago, said Lawson, but safe travel was possible “if you’re going with an operator that is taking the risk seriously”. Visitors should, however, be informed of the context they’re coming into and calculate whether they’re going to have a positive impact on Myanmar communities, he said. Jochen Meissner, founder and director of Yangon-based travel agency Uncharted Horizons Myanmar, advised against travel. “Even here [in Yangon], every day there are bomb attacks or assassinations, [and] a lot of army on the streets.” While the junta government will likely make sure the main tourist attractions are safe, Meissner said he wouldn’t encourage anyone to visit for a holiday. Only those vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to enter the country before having to do a week-long quarantine with two PCR tests. Other challenges tourists will face include a lack of access to cash, following the buckling of the banking system, and power blackouts. “There are big parts of Yangon that are in total darkness on an evening so I’m not sure it’ll be very conducive for tourist travel,” said the aid worker. Some parts of the country, including Kayah state and Chin state, formerly popular with tourists, will also be off limits, Lawson said. In such areas, there are reports of worsening living conditions with limited water, electricity, and internet access. Meissner said: “Everything is not OK here.”..."
Source/publisher: "The Guardian" (UK)
2022-04-04
Date of entry/update: 2022-04-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "PASAY CITY 15 March 2022 – DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro met with EU Ambassador to ASEAN and Special Envoy to Myanmar H.E. Igor Driesmans on 11 March 2022 to discuss ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, including this year’s commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU partnership. Undersecretary Lazaro reaffirmed Philippine support for the commemorative activities for this milestone event, which includes the unveiling of the anniversary logo in Jakarta and the possible outcome documents for the proposed ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels to be held in December. The Philippines is the current country coordinator for ASEAN-EU dialogue relations. She said that “the Philippines is committed to working with EU to push forward cooperative partnerships under ASEAN-EU relations.” Apart from coordinating various initiatives under ASEAN-EU matters, Acting Undersecretary Lazaro also congratulated Ambassador Driesman’s appointment as the EU’s Special Envoy to Myanmar. As country coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, the Philippines will work with the EU and other ASEAN Member States in moving forward cooperative partnerships on issues related to post-COVID-19 economic recovery, green agenda, economic matters, maritime cooperation and other areas under the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action (POA). Ambassador Driesmans also paid a courtesy call on Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. Ambassador Driesmans was accompanied by H.E. Luc Véron, EU Ambassador to the Philippines, and Ms. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz, First Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines. END..."
Source/publisher: The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
2022-03-15
Date of entry/update: 2022-03-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS LIST UPDATE The following individuals have been added to OFAC's SDN List: OO, Thida (a.k.a. OO, Daw Thida; a.k.a. OO, Thi Da), Burma; DOB 27 Nov 1964; POB Rangoon, Burma; nationality Burma; citizen Burma; Gender Female; Passport DM003921 (Burma) issued 02 Aug 2017 expires 01 Aug 2027; Union Attorney General (individual) [BURMA-EO14014]. OO, Tin (a.k.a. OO, U Tin), No. 22, Thanlwin Street, Pyinyawady Condominium, No. 5 Quarter, Yankin Township, Rangoon, Burma; DOB 24 Nov 1952; nationality Burma; citizen Burma; Gender Male; National ID No. 5KALATANAING127084 (Burma); Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission (individual) [BURMA-EO14014]. OO, Tun Tun (a.k.a. OO, Htun Htun; a.k.a. OO, U Htun Htun; a.k.a. OO, U Tun Tun), Naypyitaw, Burma; DOB 28 Jul 1956; nationality Burma; citizen Burma; Gender Male; Chief Justice of Union Supreme Court (individual) [BURMA-EO14014]. TAY ZA, Htoo Htet (a.k.a. TAYZA, Htoo Htet), Burma; DOB 24 Jan 1993; alt. DOB 24 Jan 1994; citizen Burma; Gender Male (individual) [BURMA-EO14014] (Linked To: ZA, Tay). TAY ZA, Pye Phyo (a.k.a. TAY ZA, Pyae Phyo; a.k.a. TAYZA, Pye Phyo), Burma; DOB 29 Jan 1987; POB Burma; nationality Burma; Gender Male (individual) [BURMA-EO14014] (Linked To: ZA, Tay). THAUNG, Jonathan Myo Kyaw (a.k.a. TAUNG, Jonathan Kwang; a.k.a. THAUNG, Jonathan Kwang; a.k.a. THAUNG, Jonathan Kyaw; a.k.a. "MYO, Jonathan"), Burma; DOB 29 Dec 1981; nationality Burma; Gender Male (individual) [BURMA-EO14014] (Linked To: MYANMA ECONOMIC HOLDINGS PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED). ZA, Tay, Singapore; Burma; DOB 18 Jul 1964; alt. DOB 18 Jul 1967; POB Burma; citizen Burma; Gender Male; Passport 306869 (Burma); National ID No. MYGN 006415 (Burma) (individual) [BURMA-EO14014]. The following entities have been added to OFAC's SDN List: DIRECTORATE OF PROCUREMENT OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF DEFENSE SERVICES ARMY (a.k.a. DIRECTORATE OF PROCUREMENT, OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARMY, THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR; a.k.a. MYANMAR DIRECTORATE OF PROCUREMENT; a.k.a. "DIRECTORATE OF DEFENSE PROCUREMENT"; a.k.a. "DIRECTORATE OF PROCUREMENT"), Nay Pyi Taw City, Burma; Target Type Government Entity [BURMA-EO14014]. KT SERVICES & LOGISTICS KTSL COMPANY LIMITED (a.k.a. KT SERVICES & LOGISTICS CO., LTD; a.k.a. KT SERVICES AND LOGISTICS CO., LTD; a.k.a. KT SERVICES AND LOGISTICS COMPANY LIMITED; a.k.a. KT SERVICES AND LOGISTICS KTSL COMPANY LIMITED), Pyay Road, A4/A5 Kamayut Township, Rangoon 11201, Burma; Registration Country Burma; Organization Established Date 18 Feb 2014; Registration Number 108301848 (Burma) [BURMA-EO14014] (Linked To: MYANMA ECONOMIC HOLDINGS PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED). The following deletions have been made to OFAC's SDN List: OMAN PRIDE Crude Oil Tanker; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9153525 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: BRAVERY MARITIME CORPORATION)..."
Source/publisher: United States Department of the Treasury (USA)
2022-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2022-01-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Excellency, On behalf of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the Myanmar People and on my own behalf, I extend my warmest wishes and congratulations to you, Honourable Members and your people, on the occasion o f the 46th anniversary of the founding o f the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Together the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar have built a strong relationship and established a close political, economic, and people-to-people ties. I am confident that our exciting strengthened relations and strong cooperation will be further enhanced between our parliaments, people and countries. On this auspicious occasion, I would like to wish Your Excellency and the Lao people, a peaceful and prosperous year.....လာအိုပြည်သူ့ဒီမိုကရက်တစ်နိုင်ငံ တည်ထောင်ခြင်း ၄၆ နှစ်ပြည့် နှစ်ပတ်လည်နေ့အခါသမယတွင် လာအိုအမျိုးသားလွှတ်တော်ဥက္ကဋ္ဌထံသို့ ပြည်ထောင်စုလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားပြုကော်မတီဥက္ကဋ္ဌ ဦးအောင်ကြည်ညွန့်မှ ဝမ်းမြောက်ကြောင်း သဝဏ်လွှာပေးပို့ ======================== ၂၀၂၁ ခုနှစ်၊ ဒီဇင်ဘာလ ၂ ရက်နေ့တွင် ကျရောက်သော လာအိုပြည်သူ့ဒီမိုကရက်တစ်နိုင်ငံ တည်ထောင်ခြင်း ၄၆ နှစ်ပြည့် နှစ်ပတ်လည်နေ့ အခါသမယတွင် ပြည်ထောင်စုလွှတ်တော် ကိုယ်စားပြုကော်မတီဥက္ကဋ္ဌ ဦးအောင်ကြည်ညွန့်မှ လာအိုအမျိုးသားလွှတ်တော် ဥက္ကဋ္ဌ H.E. Mr. Xaysomphone Phomvihane ထံ လိပ်မူ၍ ဂုဏ်ယူဝမ်းမြောက်ကြောင်းသဝဏ်လွှာ ပေးပို့သည်။ ပြည်ထောင်စုလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားပြုကော်မတီဥက္ကဋ္ဌက “လာအိုပြည်သူ့ဒီမိုကရက်တစ်နိုင်ငံနှင့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတို့သည် ခိုင်မာသောဆက်ဆံရေးတစ်ရပ် ထူထောင်ထားရှိပြီး နိုင်ငံ‌ရေး၊ စီးပွားရေးနှင့် ပြည်သူအချင်းချင်းကြား၌ ပိုမိုရင်းနှီးသော ပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှုတို့ တည်ဆောက်ထားရှိပြီးဖြစ်ပါကြောင်း၊ နှစ်နိုင်ငံကြား တည်ဆောက်ထားရှိပြီးဖြစ်သည့် အားကောင်းသောဆက်ဆံ‌ရေးများနှင့် ခိုင်မာသောပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှုများသည် နှစ်နိုင်ငံ၊ ပြည်သူများနှင့် လွှတ်တော်များအကြား ပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှုများ ပိုမိုတိုးမြှင့်လုပ်ဆောင်လာနိုင်လိမ့်မည်ဟု ယုံကြည်ပါကြောင်း၊ ယခုကဲ့သို့ နေ့ထူးနေ့မြတ်အခါသမယတွင် လူကြီးမင်းနှင့် လာအိုပြည်သူများအတွက် ငြိမ်းချမ်းသာယာပြီး အနှစ်သာရပြည့်ဝသော နှစ်တစ်နှစ်ဖြစ်ပါစေကြောင်း ဆုမွန်ကောင်းတောင်းအပ်ကြောင်း” ဖြင့် သဝဏ်လွှာ ပေးပို့ထားသည်။ ပြည်ထောင်စုလွှတ်တော်ကိုယ်စားပြုကော်မတီ..."
Source/publisher: Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH)
2021-12-02
Date of entry/update: 2021-12-02
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Description: "After his visit to military-ruled Myanmar last week, ex-US diplomat Bill Richardson boasted that his trip had achieved its aims: the release from prison of a local ex-employee of his; increased access to humanitarian aid and vaccines for Myanmar; and resumption of Red Cross visits to the country’s prisons. The former New Mexico governor described his trip to the country, with which he has had a long involvement dating back to 1994, as a humanitarian visit. Though his visit was made on a private basis, he was the first prominent US figure to meet Myanmar coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who is under US sanctions for masterminding the killing of more than 1,000 people who opposed his ousting of the country’s democratically elected government in February. Richardson has no love for Myanmar’s detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Nor does Min Aung Hlaing, who placed her under house arrest at the time of the coup. So the two men had that much in common when they met and talked for 90 minutes. Talking to the Associated Press about his Myanmar trip, Richardson said he was satisfied with what he had accomplished. So, it’s worth asking what Myanmar junta got out of Richardson’s visit, apart from humanitarian aid and vaccines, as he claimed. In short: a significant propaganda boost. The junta chief’s meeting with Richardson was psychologically important, allowing the general to deceive his military officers and soldiers into believing that he was paid a visit by “a former diplomat” from the US—the arch critic of his regime. Perfect timing According to sources, it took two months to plan the trip with the assistance of some former military intelligence officers who knew Richardson. However, it should be noted that the timing of the visit was most convenient for the regime, coming just as Min Aung Hlaing was licking his wounds after being shunned at a regional summit he had been desperate to attend. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member, refused his presence at the meeting over his failure to honor commitments to take steps to ease the political crisis sparked by his coup. As he had counted on the support of his regional neighbors, the group’s exclusion of him was a big blow for Min Aung Hlaing. On Nov. 2, just five days after the ASEAN summit’s conclusion, Richardson was ushered into the Credentials Hall of the office of the regime’s governing body, the State Administration Council, in Naypyitaw to be received by Min Aung Hlaing. Prior to the coup, the hall, dominated by a gilded throne—a symbol of Myanmar’s sovereignty—at the Presidential Residence was where the country’s presidents welcomed international dignitaries, from US President Barack Obama to Chinese leader Xi Jinping to newly arrived diplomats to the country. Richardson may be the first non-state figure to be received in the room. Next day, Richardson must have been thrilled to see a picture of their meeting splashed over the front page of the junta’s mouthpiece newspaper with the headline: “State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing receives former governor of New Mexico State of USA.” However, the regime’s special treatment of Richardson had an ulterior motive. Some retired Myanmar military officers who worked for the previous regime said the photo of the ex-diplomat paying a courtesy call to Min Aung Hlaing in the grand hall—with Richardson in a chair and Min Aung Hlaing perched on an ornate, gilded sofa in front of the throne—evoked a feeling of an ancient Myanmar king receiving a foreign visitors. Richardson, meanwhile, appears subdued in the photo. At the same time, the military’s propaganda mill swung into high gear. The Irrawaddy was told that military commanders have been ordered to share the picture on their social media accounts. They have told their subordinates and their family members to do the same, to create the impression, especially in military circles, that despite international criticism and exclusion by ASEAN, the regime still has friends. This time, American! Information bubble Some may find it hard to believe that it could be so easy for the regime to delude its people, especially in the mobile internet age. Since the coup, access to news from independent media has been largely banned for officers, soldiers and their families living inside army quarters. Their Facebook accounts are monitored to “prevent disintegration of the unity of the Tatmadaw” (Myanmar’s military). They are only allowed to read the regime’s papers and watch the military’s Myawady Channel; all other information available online from independent local news outlets is dismissed as fake news from “state-destroying media”. Amid this blanket information blackout, the regime can filter the information they want to feed to the troops. So, when the junta published the picture of Richardson meeting with Min Aung Hlaing in the Credentials Hall, the majority of people in the military, who have little familiarity with Richardson, would simply think that their boss had a VIP visitor from the US, a country that has long supported Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement and rarely had warm relations with the Tatmadaw. The former governor told the AP that he was realistic enough to realize that some might try to exploit his presence. Of course, Min Aung Hlaing used him not only for propaganda, but also to raise the spirit of his troops, who have been demoralized by the nationwide popular hatred directed at them for their deadly crackdowns on anti-coup protesters. To add to their dismay, the regime’s soldiers are growing increasingly fatigued and insecure due to the growing and ever more deadly civilian armed resistance against them. To keep his boys’ spirits high, Min Aung Hlaing needed to show them he has friends and is not isolated, especially after ASEAN’s snub. Richardson, as an American, turned out to be the perfect choice. Unsurprisingly, the ex-US diplomat’s meeting with the Myanmar coup leader has drawn a barrage of criticism, especially from human rights campaigners who said Richardson had given the junta an air of legitimacy—a claim he rejected. However, when offering his impressions of Min Aung Hlaing, the ex-diplomat sounded like a spin doctor, describing the blood-soaked dictator as “cordial” and “open to more contact,” likely paving the way for others who are similarly clueless about Myanmar’s misery under Min Aung Hlaing and who blindly think that isolating the regime is not the answer to the Myanmar crisis. Talking up his achievements during the trip as “mild progress”, Richardson said he was optimistic and hopeful that it might lead to a better situation. He has also, no doubt, earned the gratitude of Min Aung Hlaing, for arriving in a time of need and turning out to be quite useful—at least when it comes to deceiving his boys in uniform into believing that their chief is not a lonely and isolated figure..."
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2021-11-10
Date of entry/update: 2021-11-10
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Description: "November 8, 2021, Myanmar: Peak accounting bodies CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) have withdrawn their support from the upcoming ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA) annual conference, following a grassroots campaign. The Myanmar military junta’s auditor general, Dr Kan Zaw, is going to be a “Guest of Honour” at the conference. The conference is co-organised by the Myanmar Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA), a body affiliated with the Myanmar military junta. In a joint response provided to Justice For Myanmar, CPA Australia and CA ANZ stated: “Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA Australia recognize the importance of supporting the accounting profession in the ASEAN region and ASEAN Federation of Accountant’s (AFA) role in achieving this. However, we are concerned that the recent focus on our involvement in the upcoming ASEAN Federation of Accountants conference may distract from this important goal. So we have decided to withdraw our involvement in this event. We will continue to support AFA in other ways as it builds out the accounting capacity in the region and look forward to contributing into the future.” On November 3, Justice For Myanmar released a statement demanding international accounting bodies withdraw from the conference unless the junta’s auditor general and MICPA are excluded. Justice For Myanmar further called on AFA to suspend MICPA’s membership. On November 5, Justice For Myanmar launched a change.org petition calling on CPA Australia and CA ANZ to help delegitimise the military junta. In less than four days, over 12,000 people had signed the petition. Event partners for the AFA conference are the UK-based Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the US-based Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA). The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is participating in the conference. Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung says: “We welcome the decision by CPA Australia and CA ANZ to withdraw their involvement in the AFA annual conference. This sends a strong message to ASEAN and its related organisations that it is untenable to recognise the terrorist Myanmar military junta as a government and to continue business as usual. The Myanmar military junta is trying to use the AFA platform to legitimise their illegal rule. We demand remaining international accounting bodies immediately withdraw from the AFA conference unless the Myanmar military junta and MICPA is excluded. The signature of more than 12,000 people calling for Australian accounting bodies to delegitimise the junta is a testimony to continuing grassroots resistance against the illegal military junta. Regional and international organisations must listen to the voices of the people of Myanmar.”..."
Source/publisher: Justice For Myanmar
2021-11-08
Date of entry/update: 2021-11-09
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Description: "Foreign Secretary Liz Truss gave a statement on the one-year anniversary of the Myanmar elections, held on 8 November 2020.....Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "Elections in Myanmar 1 year ago were a clear demonstration of the Myanmar people’s long standing desire for democracy. The military’s allegations of electoral fraud are entirely unsubstantiated and we reiterate our condemnation of the military coup. The military must end the violence, release political prisoners and engage in dialogue to enable a return to democracy."..."
Source/publisher: Govt. UK (London)
2021-11-08
Date of entry/update: 2021-11-09
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Description: "H.E. Dr. Sasa, Union Minister of the MOIC and Spokesperson of the National Unity Government of Myanmar greatly welcomes the joint-statement by President Joe Biden of the United States and H.E. Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea regarding the situation in Myanmar. The statement is as follows: “We resolutely condemn violence by the Myanmar military and police against civilians, and commit to continuing to press for the immediate cessation of violence, the release of those who are detained, and a swift return to democracy,” President Biden and President Moon said in their joint statement. “We call on all nations to join us in providing safe haven to Burmese nationals and in prohibiting arms sales to Myanmar.” H.E. Dr. Sasa stated: “Today I would again like to thank the US and ROK Governments for taking a lead and being an advocate and voice for the people of Myanmar, and offering to provide safe haven to those who have fled for their lives. I appeal to all nations around the globe to join with us, and support us, the people and rightfully elected National Unity Government of Myanmar and help us end this cruel and unlawful military junta ('SAC'). We especially urge all nations to put tougher, coordinated, targeted sanctions both diplomatically and economically. Every moment that these tougher measures are delayed, more and more lives are lost, and thousands are displaced from their homes in Myanmar.Thank you for strongly standing with the 54 million brave people of Myanmar in this darkest time in the history of our nation. Your recognition of our voice, and your support, will make us remain as your faithful allies, friends, and economic partners for generations to come." H.E. Dr. Sasa Union Minister of the Ministry of International Cooperation & Spokesperson National Unity Government of Myanmar..."
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Source/publisher: Ministry of International Cooperation Myanmar
2021-05-24
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the illegitimate State Administrative Council (SAC) of Myanmar suspended the Myanmar diplomats who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in Washington D.C. and Geneva on 22 and 23 April 2021 respectively. 2. On 23 April 2021, the diplomatic passports of the CDM diplomats and their family members from Geneva, Washington D.C., Tel Aviv and Ottawa were declared null and void. 3. Improperly, the passports of the CDM diplomats in Geneva and Washington D.C. have been revoked before the dismissal. Unethically, the passports of the CDM diplomats in Tel Aviv and Ottawa were declared null and void while they are not even suspended from their work yet. 4. Likewise, the passports of the CDM diplomats in Berlin, Tokyo and Los Angeles and their family members had been declared null and void immediately after being dismissed during March 2021. Similarly, the passports of Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myamnar to the United Nations and his family members were also declared null and void in early March 2021. 5. The National Unity Government of Myanmar wishes to reaffirm that the State Administrative Council (SAC) of Myanmar is an illegal terrorist group, and their announcements are also illegal. 6. In this light, the NUG urges the respective host governments not to acknowledge the SAC's announcement of revoking the diplomatic passports of those Myanmar diplomats and family members..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Myanmar - NUG
2021-04-26
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
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Description: "Foreign ministers representing the Group of 7 industrialized nations have a busy day of meetings Tuesday in London discussing a range of world issues, including relations with China and Russia, the coup in Myanmar, the Syrian conflict, and the situation in Afghanistan. Britain’s foreign office said in Tuesday’s sessions Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb “will lead discussions on pressing geopolitical issues that threaten to undermine democracy, freedoms and human rights.” Raab said the talks are “an opportunity to bring together open, democratic societies and demonstrate unity at a time when it is much needed to tackle shared challenges and rising threats.” He is expected to urge G-7 members to sanction individuals and entities connected to Myanmar’s military junta, to support arms embargoes and to boost humanitarian aid to the people of Myanmar. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Raab on Monday and said regarding China the goal is not to “try to contain China or to hold China down.” “What we are trying to do is to uphold the international rules-based order that our countries have invested so much in over so many decades to the benefit, I would argue not just of our own citizens, but of people around the world including, by the way, China,” Blinken told reporters. Raab said the United States and Britain are also looking for constructive ways to work with China “in a sensible and positive manner” on issues including climate change when possible. U.S. President Joe Biden has identified competition with China as his administration's greatest foreign policy challenge. In his first speech to Congress last week, he pledged to maintain a strong U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific and boost U.S. technological development.  Last month, Blinken said the United States was concerned about China's aggressive actions against Taiwan and warned it would be a "serious mistake" for anyone to try to change the status quo in the western Pacific by force.  Elsewhere in the region, the United States said it is ready to engage diplomatically with North Korea to achieve the ultimate goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, following the completion of a months-long U.S. policy review on North Korea. “What we have now is a policy that calls for a calibrated practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with North Korea, to try to make practical progress that increases the security of the United States, our allies and our deployed forces,” Blinken said Monday.  Raab said Britain and the United States “share the strategic paradigm,” and both countries will support each other’s efforts. On Friday, the Biden administration announced it completed the review of North Korean policy, expressing openness to talks with the reclusive communist nation. Biden is also expected to appoint a special envoy for North Korean human rights issues. North Korea lashed out at the United States and its allies on Sunday in a series of statements, saying recent comments from Washington are proof of a hostile policy. A statement by Kwon Jong Gun, head of the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s North America Department, warns that Pyongyang would seek “corresponding measures” and that if Washington tries to approach relations with Pyongyang through “outdated and old-school policies” from the perspective of the Cold War, it will face an increasingly unaffordable crisis in the near future. “I hope that North Korea will take the opportunity to engage diplomatically and to see if there are ways to move forward toward the objective of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. And so, we will look to see not only what North Korea says but what it actually does in the coming days and months,” the top U.S. diplomat added. Blinken’s remarks followed his separate meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, where the foreign ministers pledged U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The G-7 ministerial talks are laying the foundation for a summit of leaders from those countries in June, also in Britain.   In addition to Britain and the United States, the G-7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Australia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Brunei are also taking part in this week’s talks.      After the G-7 meetings, Blinken is scheduled to travel to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other senior government officials.   State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that Blinken will “reaffirm unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.”..."
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Source/publisher: "VOA" (Washington, D.C)
2021-05-04
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Thank you all so much for showing unwavering support to people of Myanmar and the National Unity Government! As you all know, Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) has perpetrated the worst possible crime in entire history of our country by waging the total war against the whole population of Myanmar. People from all walks of life in Myanmar are facing the atrocities of the military every day. These atrocities comprise killing innocent civilians, including children, using live ammunitions, heavy weaponry; arbitrarily arresting people, kidnapping people at night and sending the dead bodies to families next morning, beating people at the military camps and raiding private spaces of the people and confiscating the properties. These atrocities are unimaginable for all humanity. Not only does the military target the NLD party members, but the military also detains religious leaders, journalists, activists, doctors, nurses, teachers, workers, students, actors, and actresses and even underaged teenagers. The military is destroying the backbone of our society. The internet communications have been cut off and the people of Myanmar are now in the darkness without any information from outside world. Amidst the enormous challenges imposed by the COVID-19, the people of Myanmar are suffering from the atrocities of the military which promotes its own vested interests, not the interests of the people and the country. In order to safeguard democracy and protect the country from falling under total authoritarian rule, the National Unity Government (NUG) was formed on April 16, 2021, by the mandate of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) in accordance with guiding principles of Federal Democracy Charter (FDC) enacted on March 31, 2021. All these arrangements are historic as well as momentous because they represent the united voices of the people from all sectors of society. The strength of unity we have now must be preserved and further enhanced via meaningful cooperation. The sole duty of the National Unity Government is to end structural violence committed by the military over decades and establish federal democratic union. At the same time, the NUG aims to conduct security sector reform, as the current security apparatus of Myanmar are the fundamental part of the decade-long structural violence, ensuring that federal security system is established in accordance with federal democratic principles. The supports of Myanmar communities all over the world are precious for our efforts. Both NUG and CRPH would like to invite Myanmar communities all over the world to advocate the respective host governments and relevant stakeholders to achieve our goals. This is a rare opportunity to end military dictatorship once and for all not only for us but also for our future generations. Of course, our struggle will not be an easy journey. We will have to face challenges on all fronts. But what we have is legitimacy derived from the democratic will of the people. More importantly, millions of people across Myanmar are chanting “We want democracy" , singing the songs of struggle with hopes and aspirations to establish genuine federal democratic union which preserves and protects freedom, justice, and equality for all. This is the cause worth fighting for. The supports of each and everyone of you are critical for our struggle. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi once said " use your freedom to promote ours" . In this way, you can all join our struggle, our fight, and our cause. We are by no means atone in this world; we all are together in this. In solidarity, Zin Mar Aung Minister of Foreign Affairs National Unity Government Republic of the Union of Myanmar..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: CRPH_International Relations Office
2021-04-24
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: ASEAN leaders called on the Myanmar junta to end violence against citizens. At the Jakarta summit, the regional group agreed to appoint an envoy to tackle the deadly crisis.
Description: "Myanmar's neighbors will appoint a special envoy to try to resolve the political crisis sparked by the military coup in the country, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Saturday. The ASEAN regional grouping agreed on the move during crisis talks in Jakarta, attended by leaders from the 10 Southeast Asian member states. ASEAN to send a delegation to Myanmar Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing made his first trip abroad since the coup on February 1 to take part in the talks. He did not make a formal statement. However, the organization said it had reached a consensus on sending a delegation and the envoy to Myanmar. "The first requested commitment is for the Myanmar military to stop the use of violence and that all parties there at the same time must refrain so that tensions will be reduced," Widodo said. "The violence must be stopped and democracy, stability and peace in Myanmar must be restored." "An inclusive dialogue process must be started. Political prisoners must be released immediately," he said, adding that a special envoy from ASEAN needed to be appointed to push for such dialogue. Widodo also said Myanmar's military must open access to humanitarian aid. Malaysia leader hails progress 'beyond our expectation' Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Myanmar accepted the proposal to stop violence against civilians, according to state news agency Bernama. He called the meeting a success: "We have succeeded. It's beyond our expectation in getting the outcome from today's meeting." Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Myanmar to allow an ASEAN delegation and the United Nations special envoy to visit the country, in comments carried by Channel NewsAsia. The junta has launched a bloody crackdown on protests which has left more than 700 people dead. The United Nations estimates that about 250,000 people have been displaced..."
Source/publisher: "DW News" (Germany)
2021-04-24
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "1.Myanmar was elected as a member of the UN Executive Board of UNDP/ UNFPA/ UNOPS (United Nations Development Programme/ United Nations Population Fund/ United Nations Office for Project Services) for 3 - year term of 2022 - 2024 during the United Nations Economic and Social Council - ECOSOC meeting held in New York on 20 April 2021. Myanmar will serve as a member of the Executive Board for three years starting from 1 January 2022..... 2. In order to actively participate in international relations and diplomatic affairs with the countries around the world, the elected civilian government led by President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has put sustainable and continued efforts..... 3. Not only to promote national interests in international relations, by actively participating in the United Nations Agencies, Myanmar is trying its best to contribute to socio-economic development of all nations..... 4. With these efforts, Myanmar was elected as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board in 2019.In 2017, Myanmar presented its candidature for a seat on the Executive Board of UNDP/ UNFPA/ UNOPS for the period 2022-2024. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations reached out to the member states of the Asia-Pacific region group to support Myanmar’s candidacy. With the consensus of the Asia-Pacific countries, on 28 January 2021, Myanmar was endorsed by the group to be elected as a member of the Executive Board of UNDP/ UNFPA/ UNOPS. As a result, Myanmar was elected by the members of ECOSOC as a member of the Executive Board for three years..... 5. The National Unity Government of Myanmar wishes to reaffirm that as a member of the Executive Board of UNDP/ UNFPA/ UNOPS, Myanmar under the elected civilian government led by President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, will actively participate in and perform its duties and responsibilities in the Executive Board for the benefits of the people in the region and the world..."
Source/publisher: National Unity Government of Myanmar
2021-04-21
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Speeches by beauty pageant contestants rarely make headlines. But when Han Lay, Miss Grand Myanmar, spoke out last week against alleged atrocities committed by her country's military, her speech turned heads. "Today in my country Myanmar ... there are so many people dying," she said at the Miss Grand International 2020 event in Thailand. "Please help Myanmar. We need your urgent international help right now." A little over a month ago, Han Lay, who is 22, was on the streets of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, protesting against the military. The unrest in Myanmar began two months ago when the military seized control of the country, undoing a democratic election in which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide. When tens of thousands of people took to the streets nationwide to protest the coup, the military used water cannon to disperse them. After a week, the response escalated to rubber bullets and then live ammunition. The deadliest day of the conflict came last Saturday, when more than 100 people were killed. A local monitoring group puts the overall death toll at more than 500. According to Save the Children, 43 of those killed were children. Han Lay, a psychology student at the University of Yangon, decided to use the pageant as a platform to speak out about her homeland on an international stage. "In Myanmar, journalists are detained ... so I decided to speak out," she told the BBC in a phone interview from Bangkok. She is concerned now that her two-minute speech could have put her on the radar of the military. She said she had decided to stay put in Thailand for at least the next three months..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "BBC News" (London)
2021-04-05
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
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Sub-title: British-drafted UN statement watered down by China, Russia, India and Vietnam, as Amnesty says military using battlefield weapons on protesters
Description: "The United Nations has condemned the Myanmar military’s violent crackdown against anti-coup demonstrators as seven more people were reported shot dead in protests on Thursday. Local media, witnesses and medics said six people were shot dead in the central town of Myaing when security forces opened fire on anti-junta protests and domestic media said one man was killed in the North Dagon district of Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city. Photographs posted on Facebook showed a man lying prone on the street, bleeding from a head wound. More than 60 people are believed to have been killed protesting against the 1 February coup that removed Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government from power. The UN statement however removed language that explicitly condemned the coup and threatened possible further action from the British-drafted text, due to opposition by China, Russia, India and Vietnam. The presidential statement, signed by all 15 members of the Security Council called for “utmost restraint” by the military. A presidential statement is a step below a resolution but becomes part of the official record of the UN’s most powerful body. The statement called for the immediate release of government leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint who have been detained since they were ousted in the coup. It said it supported the country’s democratic transition and “stresses the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and uphold the rule of law”. But it is weaker than the initial draft circulated by the United Kingdom which would have condemned the military coup itself and threatened “possible measures under the UN Charter” – UN language for sanctions – “should the situation deteriorate further.” Diplomats said council members China, Russia, India and Vietnam, which is a member of the 10-nations Association of Southeast Asian Nations known as Asean, along with Myanmar, objected to provisions in stronger earlier drafts of the statement. China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said in a statement that “it is important the council members speak in one voice,” and declared that it’s now time for de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue. The UN statement came as Amnesty International accused Myanmar security forces of using battlefield weapons on unarmed protesters and carrying out premeditated killings orchestrated by their commanding officers. International pressure on the Myanmar junta has mounted since the army ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month, triggering daily protests around the country. The United States also applied fresh pressure with sanctions against Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon, two adult children of Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing. The pair have a variety of business holdings that have directly benefited from their “father’s position and malign influence”, said a US Treasury statement. The UK is also exploring fresh sanctions, foreign minister Dominic Raab said in a tweet..."
Source/publisher: "The Guardian" (UK)
2021-03-11
Date of entry/update: 2021-03-11
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Description: "Foreign ministers of the so-called Quad grouping of countries seen as a forum to stand up to China in Asia agreed that democracy must be restored quickly in Myanmar and to strongly oppose attempts to upset the status quo by force, Japan’s foreign minister said on Thursday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia met virtually for the first time under the Biden administration and discussed Myanmar, COVID-19, climate, and Indo-Pacific territorial and navigation issues, the State Department said in a statement. “We’ve all agreed on the need to swiftly restore the democratic system (in Myanmar),” and to strongly oppose all unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters.“I stressed that, with challenges to existing international order continuing in various fields, the role we, the countries that share basic values and are deeply committed to fortifying free and open international order based on the rule of law, play is only getting bigger,” Motegi said. The State Department said Blinken and his counterparts discussed counterterrorism, countering disinformation, maritime security and “the urgent need to restore the democratically elected government in Burma.” They also addressed the “the priority of strengthening democratic resilience in the broader region,” it said..."
Source/publisher: "Reuters" (UK)
2021-02-18
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Even Before Coup, Companies Should Have Cut Ties to Armed Forces
Description: "The military coup in Myanmar this week should sound alarm bells in corporate boardrooms around the world. Since Myanmar’s transition from decades of military dictatorship to a civilian government began in 2011, transnational businesses have cautiously reentered the country. But the coup highlights the question company directors should already have been asking: “Is our company directly or indirectly funding the Myanmar military?” The human rights, reputational, and legal risks of continuing to do business with Myanmar’s military are immense. The Tatmadaw, as it is known, has been accused of genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya Muslims, and war crimes against other ethnic minorities. And now it has overthrown a civilian government that won a massive re- election, with over 80 percent of the vote, in November 2020. Companies doing business in Myanmar have long had access to credible information about the military’s grave abuses and corruption. A 2019 United Nations report found that companies with commercial ties to the Myanmar’s military and its conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), “are contributing to supporting the Tatmadaw’s financial capacity.” The report said these companies are at “high risk of contributing to or being linked to, violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.” The UN team’s recommendation was clear: companies operating or investing in Myanmar should not do business with “the security forces of Myanmar, in particular the Tatmadaw, or any enterprise owned or controlled by them, including subsidiaries, or their individual members.”..."
Source/publisher: "Human Rights Watch" (USA)
2021-02-03
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Diplomats say discussions will continue with China and Russia asking for ‘more time’
Description: "The UN Security Council has failed to agree on a joint statement condemning Monday’s coup in Myanmar, after a two hour long emergency meeting failed to secure the support of China, a key Myanmar ally and a veto-holding permanent member of the council. The meeting, which was held virtually, followed the military’s detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other top politicians in a series of early morning raids on Monday, after which armed forces chief Min Aung Hlaing assumed power. The 15-member council was considering a UK-drafted statement that the United Nations’ envoy on Myanmar told diplomats should “collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy” in the country. “I strongly condemn the recent steps taken by the military and urge all of you to collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy in Myanmar,” Christine Schraner Burgener told the council, according to her prepared remarks. The military has said its coup was constitutional and promised to hold new elections, claiming last November’s poll was fraudulent without evidence. A state of emergency will remain in force for one year..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
2021-02-03
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar appealed on Tuesday for the Security Council to unite in support of democracy in the country in the wake of the recent power grab by the military and the declaration of a one-year state of emergency.
Description: "Christine Schraner Burgener addressed ambassadors during a closed meeting held the day after Myanmar’s military seized power and detained top political leaders and activists, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. “More than ever, this Council’s unity is crucial”, she said, according to remarks shared afterwards. “I strongly condemn the recent steps taken by the military and urge all of you to collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy in Myanmar.” ‘Surprising and shocking’ The crisis stems from elections held in November, marking the second democratic elections in Myanmar since the end of military rule a decade ago. Ms. Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), scored a landslide victory. The military and some political parties claimed the vote was fraudulent. Myanmar’s Supreme Court was scheduled to pronounce this month on its jurisdiction over complaints of alleged election-related violations. “We had earlier encouraged all electoral disputes should be resolved through established legal mechanisms”, Ms. Schraner Burgener said. “There appeared to be a commitment on the part of the military to safeguard the rule of law. So, the turn of events was surprising and shocking.” Release leaders The UN envoy underlined the NLD’s victory at the polls. The party won more than 82 per cent of seats, which “provided a strong renewed mandate to the NLD, reflecting the clear will of the people of Myanmar to continue on the hard-won path of democratic reform.” She called for the state of emergency to be repealed and for the detained leaders to be released, while the post-electoral litigation process should resume “with full commitment from both sides”. The military’s proposal to hold elections again should be discouraged, she added. “It is important that we join our efforts in helping ensure the military respects the will of the people of Myanmar and adheres to democratic norms.” Fears of backsliding Following reports of violence, including against journalists, Ms. Schraner Burgener also urged the Council to ensure the protection of civilians and human rights..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: UN News
2021-02-02
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: A frontier economy, Myanmar experienced rapid growth as it opened up in the 2000s, with GDP growth rates among the highest in Asia. However, growth had already been slowing when the coronavirus shock hit in early 2020.
Description: "Although officially recorded cases of COVID-19 in Myanmar remain low, the social and economic effects could be significant, given the externally IMF emergency financing of $356.5 million, along with external financing, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and continued capacity development, are alleviating the impact of COVID-19, while establishing the roots for more sustained and inclusive growth. The government’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan aims at minimizing the pandemic’s impact by stimulating the economy and boosting spending on health and social safety nets. Six charts tell the story of Myanmar’s economy during the early months of the COVID-19 crisis:oriented economy, uneven social safety nets, and the fragile healthcare system. Compared to other countries in the region, Myanmar’s COVID-19 outbreak appears to be limited. The country reports about 300 confirmed cases despite its large population of 54 million, possibly reflecting limited testing capacity. The authorities implemented strict containment measures well before the case count picked up, including travel restrictions, closure of land borders, and bans on mass public gatherings, helping to flatten the curve of infections. The COVID-19 shock has affected the economy’s key growth engines. Myanmar has seen a sharp decline in exports, remittances, and tourist arrivals. At the same time, domestic economic activity has been constrained by measures taken to control the spread of the virus. Such disruptions have affected households and businesses, including in agriculture, which comprises a fifth of the economy and over half of employment. Furthermore, nearly four out of five workers in Myanmar are employed in the informal sector, with limited access to social safety nets. There is high uncertainty around growth in the short term, also reflecting the intensity and duration of containment measures, and the evolution of external conditions..."
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Source/publisher: "International Monetary Fund" (IMF) (Washington, D.C)
2020-07-07
Date of entry/update: 2020-07-09
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Sub-title: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a total of $356.5 million support for Myanmar as the country suffers from an ailing economy despite its low virus transmission cases.
Description: "In a statement released on its website on Saturday, June 27, the IMF’s executive board said that it approved a disbursement of $118.8 million under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and a purchase of $237.7 million under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) for Myanmar. “This will help meet the urgent balance-of-payments and fiscal needs arising from the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) pandemic, support the government’s plans to boost spending especially on health and social safety nets,” the IMF said. Myanmar has so far recorded 293 confirmed cases, of which 215 have recovered while six others died. While the country was one of the countries in the Southeast Asian region with the lowest number of cases, its economy was severely affected by slow domestic demand that has disrupted households and businesses, including the agriculture sector which comprises a fifth of its economy and over half of employment. “Domestic demand has weakened as the necessary measures to control a domestic outbreak have affected economic activities. As revenues fall and expenditures rise, the fiscal deficit is increasing, putting pressure on funding and public debt,” the IMF said. “The external position is deteriorating due to the collapse in global demand for garments and gas, weak tourism and remittance inflows and lower foreign direct investment,” it added..."
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Source/publisher: "ASEAN Economist"
2020-06-27
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar's trade with foreign countries through border gates reached over 7.8 billion U.S. dollars as of June 12 in present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Wednesday. During the period, the country's export via border gates amounted to 5.42 billion U.S. dollars while its import shared 2.44 billion U.S. dollars. This fiscal year's border trade increased by over 236 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last fiscal year 2018-2019 when it amounted to 7.63 billion U.S. dollars, the ministry's figures said. Muse topped the list of border checkpoints with the most trade value of 3.44 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Heekhee with 1.43 billion U.S. dollars. The country conducts border trade with neighboring China through Muse, Lweje, Kanpikete, Chinashwehaw and kengtung with Thailand via Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Mawtuang and Maese gates, with Bangladesh via Sittwe and Maungtaw and with India through Tamu and Reed border gates, respectively..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-06-24
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Foreign investor interest in the garment manufacturing sector is still strong despite a fall in the volume of garment exports in fiscal 2019-20, according to the government.
Description: "Of the 178 foreign enterprises endorsed by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and permitted to invest in Myanmar between October 1 and May 31, more than three quarters channeled capital into the manufacturing sector, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). The data showed that the new investors include garment manufacturers. The MIC will prioritise investments in garment manufacturing going forward as these are labour intensive industries likely to create a large number of jobs, Director General of DICA U Thant Sin Lwin told state media. Manufacturers that are able to produce face masks and other personal protective equipment related to COVID-19 will also be given priority. Enquiries from investors are still flowing in even though garment exports fell to just US$2.7 billion between October 1, 2019 and May 31, representing a $24 million decline from the same period a year before due to order cancellations from the EU as a result of COVID-19, according to U Khin Maung Lwin, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. This has also led to a rising number of disputes between employers and their employees as factories are forced to lay off or close. The industry hires up to 700,000 predominantly female workers across 600 factories, according to data provided by the EU. Disruptions to the Myanmar garment sector first started in February, when raw material imports from China became sporadic as a result of COVID-19 closures and lockdowns. Things got worse after the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation on March 11, with order delays and cancellations from major export countries like the EU becoming more frequent..."
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Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-06-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The power sector topped Myanmar's foreign direct investment (FDI) with over 1 billion U.S. dollars of investment capital from six permitted foreign enterprises in first seven months of current fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020, government figures showed Monday. As of April 30 of present FY, Myanmar attracted a total of over 3.35 billion U.S. dollars' foreign investment, according to figures released by Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Monday. According to DICA's figures, the real estate sector stood second with 895 million U.S. dollars, followed by the manufacturing sector with 544 million U.S. dollars and others. From FY 1988-1989 to April 30 of FY 2019-2020, which started in October, 26.07 percent of foreign investment flowed into the country's power sector with capital of over 22.2 billion U.S. dollars, the DICA's figures said. In last FY 2018-2019, total annual FDI in the country amounted over 4.15 billion U.S. dollars..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-05-25
Date of entry/update: 2020-05-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "This film report, "Why We're Here," was delivered by General Daniel Sultan, who succeeded General Stilwell as Allied commander of Burma/India operations. When surveyed, 50% of US forces had responded that they didn't know why they were in seemingly obscure South East Asia, "fighting to save the Chinese and the British Empire," instead of in Europe or the highly publicized island campaigns in the South Pacific. In response, the General shows the vital strategic importance of keeping China in the war and the essential role (and sacrifices) of British and Chinese forces, all done through engaging film clips and maps. The epic construction and importance of the new Stilwell Road and petroleum pipeline to China are also shown in detail, something all US troops could be proud of. Finally, the essential role played by logistical support units and hospital personnel in making it all happen is emphasized..."
Source/publisher: ZenosWarbirds
2013-12-02
Date of entry/update: 2020-05-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "...This article examines the process of state consolidation, or its failure, in a state’s borderland area with neighboring states in upland Southeast Asia. It proposes that we should conceptualize state consolidation as an interactive process heavily influenced by a “neighborhood effect.” It argues that we should look at how state consolidation in one country’s borderland area can be influenced by the same process in the neighboring states. In particular, the article probes under what conditions the neighborhood effect of state consolidation might take place. It argues that the effect is more profound in situations where there is power asymmetry between neighboring states, and the extent of such effect is further conditioned upon the nature of relations among these states. Empirically, this article uses a set of comparative case studies Myanmar’s modern history of state consolidation in its borderland area to illustrate the proposed theoretical framework. Differentiating between the country’s eastern borders with China and Thailand vs. its western borders with Bangladesh and India, the article empirically examines Myanmar’s state consolidation processes to illustrate the theoretical framework, focusing on variations of power balance and nature of relations between the country and its neighbors since the end of World War II..."
Creator/author:
2019-02-18
Date of entry/update: 2020-04-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : PDF
Size: 1.8 MB
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Sub-title: As Xi connects the region, Philippines weighs 'shutdown' risk
Description: "Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has not been sleeping well. "It is very difficult for us to sleep every night without lingering fears," he said in early February, as he presided over an investigation into potential security risks stemming from Chinese part-ownership of his country's power grid operator. The Philippines is far from the only country running on China-backed electricity. As a complement to President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, Beijing is pushing what it calls Global Energy Interconnection -- a vision of a multi-trillion-dollar worldwide electricity network. China already has a number of power lines connected to other countries, including Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, while lines into Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh are under consideration. For emerging economies hampered by chronic electricity shortages, such investments may be a blessing. Critics, however, worry that China's expanding presence in regional power grids could leave partner countries vulnerable. Xi himself proposed Global Energy Interconnection in 2015 at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, as a way to meet the world's demand for clean power. Like the Belt and Road itself, China frames the concept as beneficial for everyone. "It increases mutual trust in politics and creates a new pattern of energy security featuring cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results," says the website of the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization, or GEIDCO, the body leading the charge..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Nikkei Asian Review" (Japan)
2020-03-03
Date of entry/update: 2020-03-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Power sector attracted over 1 billion U.S. dollars of investment capital from six permitted foreign enterprises in first four months of current fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released by Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). As of Jan. 31, Myanmar's power sector topped the list with most investment capital, followed by real estate and manufacturing sectors. From FY 1988-1989 to Jan. 31 of FY 2019-2020, 26.4 percent of foreign investment flowed into the country's power sector with capital of over 22.2 billion U.S. dollars, the DICA's figures said. Meanwhile, Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) allowed 106 enterprises with a total of 2.08 billion U.S. dollars of investment capital as of Jan. 31 of present FY 2019-2020..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-02-24
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The six Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) countries agreed on the need to elevate their cooperation from rapid-expansion to a comprehensive stage as their foreign ministers met in Vientiane on Thursday. The ministers of the MLC member countries - China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam – reached the agreement at their fifth meeting, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi told a press conference shortly after the meeting. Participants welcomed the recommendation by the Global Centre for Mekong Study that the MLC countries jointly create the Mekong-Lancang Economic Development Belt. The ministers reaffirmed the need to further enhance regional connectivity by jointly promoting the MLC Economic Development Belt and to explore the possibility of synergising the MLC Plan of Action on Connectivity with global transport infrastructure – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, and the Asean-China New Western Land-Sea Corridor..."
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
2020-02-23
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar's Yangon Region Investment Committee (YRIC) recently approved 16 foreign investment businesses for the region, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Sunday (Feb 23). A total of US$28.507mil of foreign investments from China, Seychelles and Estonia as well as 3 billion Kyats (US2mil) from one local enterprise engaged the region's manufacturing sector and other services, creating over 8,900 job opportunities for local citizens. Yangon region absorbs 60% of country's investment from both home and abroad, followed by Mandalay region with % and the rest flows into other regions and states. Myanmar attracted over US$20.8bil foreign investments as of Jan 31, the first four months of the current fiscal year 2019-2020, according to the DICA's figures. The new Myanmar Companies Law which started to enforce on Aug. 1, 2018 allows foreign investors to take up 35 percent in local companies..."
Source/publisher: "The Star Online" (Selangor)
2020-02-23
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: " Myanmar's trade through sea routes registered over US$10.4bil in the first five months of the present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020, which started in October, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Saturday (Feb 22). The country fetched over US$4.14bil from maritime export while its import shared over US$6.33bil as of Feb 14 this FY. This fiscal year's sea trade saw a significant increase by over US$1.58bil, compared to the same period of the last fiscal year 2018-2019, the ministry's figures showed. Approximately 80% of Myanmar's foreign trade is done through sea-borne trade and its border trade is conducted with neighbouring countries -- China, Thailand, India and Bangladesh, respectively. From Oc. 1, 2019 to Feb. 14 of this FY, the country's foreign trade totalled over US$14.5bil with over US$6.76bil in export and US7.77bil in import..."
Source/publisher: "The Star Online" (Selangor)
2020-02-22
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar exported about 12,000 tons of rice to Asia, about 6,000 tons of rice to European Union (EU) and over 14,000 tons of rice to Africa between February 2 and 8, according to the Ministry of Commerce. It exported over 32,000 tons of rice worth US$10.021 million through maritime trade. It is less than over 1,500 tons of rice compared with last week's export. Myanmar exported about 1,200 tons of broken rice to Asia, over 9,100 tons of broken rice to the EU, about 3,200 tons of broken rice to Africa, 250 tons of broken rice to the United Arab Emirates and over 300 tons of Gibraltar in that period. It is more than 2,800 tons of broken rice compared with last week's export. Myanmar exported about 3,000 tons of rice worth US$0.821 million through border trade centers in Myanmar-China border from February 1 to 7. About 2,300 tons of rice is exported through Muse 105-mile trade center, about 270 tons of rice through Chinshwehaw border trade center and about 370 tons of rice through Lweje border trade center. It is more than 400 tons of rice compared with last week's export...."
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
2020-02-21
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) recently approved 12 investment enterprises from home and abroad, said a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) late Friday. The enterprises, which will create over 6,600 job opportunities for Myanmar citizens, were permitted at the commission's recent meeting. With investment capital of 501.9 million U.S. dollars and 73.4 billion kyats (48.9 million U.S. dollars), the permitted enterprises are engaged in the country's manufacturing, other services sectors and hotel sectors, respectively. As of Dec. 31, 2019, Singapore, China and Thailand were the leading investors in Myanmar. Meanwhile, oil and gas, power and manufacturing sectors were the top three sectors in the list with most foreign investments. From FY 1988-89 to Dec. 31 of FY 2019-20, the foreign investments in 1,909 permitted projects have reached over 83 billion U.S. dollars in the country..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-02-15
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar can identify 2019 novel coronavirus in its own lab from February 21, said Dr Pike Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports in a parliament session held on February 11. He replied to a question raised by MP Dr Sein Mya Aye of Dala Constituency whether the ministry has plans to prevent the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus and to have fewer deaths if the infectious disease is reached to Myanmar. “The 2019 novel coronavirus can identify in Myanmar soon. We can test about 100 times in a reference lab in Thailand and 250 times in a reference lab in United States. Chief of the Asia Pacific will come to provide training in related with the coronavirus test,” he said. Although Myanmar can identify the virus starting from February 21, it is not late as there are 15 labs including labs in China, Japan, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, India, France and Russia which can identify the virus, he added..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
2020-02-12
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "Myanmar earned over 907 million U.S. dollars from mineral export in the first four months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures of the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday. This figure increased by 579 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last FY 2018-2019 when it fetched over 328 million U.S. dollars. During the period, the mineral sector ranked the third place with most export value, following the manufacturing and agriculture sectors among other export. Meanwhile, the country's export value totaled over 6.1 billion U.S. dollars from Oct. 1, 2019 to Jan. 31, the ministry's figures said. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others to foreign trade partner countries..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-02-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar will take measures to ensure that overseas demand for locally made goods remains elevated even as cheaper imports from the region are expected to rise now that the country will participate further in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). This should also keep the country’s trade deficit, which was down to US$627 million in fiscal 2019-20 from US$5.2 billion in fiscal 2016-17, stable. Under AFTA, Myanmar is expected to substantially lower the import duties for a list of goods to as little as zero and no more than 5 percent. “Custom duties will be nearly zero due to AFTA and ASEAN countries are already taking advantage of the opportunity to export more goods to Myanmar. We have in place the Import Protection Law to ensure local manufacturers are not threatened,” said U Aung Htoo, deputy commerce minister. The Import Protection Law gives Myanmar the right to raise duties for a period of three years on imported goods that severely affect or threaten local manufacturer. The law also covers trade under AFTA, the Myanmar Times understands. Some traders have voiced their approval over the changing trade environment. Daw Yin Yin Moe, CEO of Hla Yin Moe, a textile and garment company, said that over the past five years her company was able to import industrial apparatus and machineries..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-02-13
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar has ranked highest among the world’s 20 quickest-growing travel destinations over the past 12 months. The report from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Vietnam and The Philippines are also regional winners over the past year that made it into the top 10 best performing emerging travel destinations. Myanmar Tourism Marketing, part of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, reports that the country enjoyed a year-on-year increase of 40.2% in tourism. Puerto Rico had a 31.2% rise and Iran at 27.9%. Also in the top 10 were Vietnam and The Philippines, ranked as the 7th and 8th top performing countries for 2019. May Myat Mon Win, Myanmar’s Tourism Marketing chairperson says they are trying to maintain the growth. “We need to keep this momentum going for many more years,”. The Burmese government has introduced new regulations to facilitate easier access for tourists as a next step to open Myanmar up to the world. Myanmar grants residents of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and some Southeast Asian countries visa-free entry. People from India, the Chinese mainland, Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Russia, Spain and Switzerland are granted visas on arrival. Citizens of more than 100 countries are also eligible for e-visas via this link and can expect approval within three days. Myanmar Tourism Marketing are launching their annual “Green Season” campaign for May through September with the support of hotels, airlines and tour operators. “Green Season” refers to the region’s annual wet season monsoon..."
Source/publisher: "The Thaiger" (Thailand), "The Nation" ( Thailand)
2020-02-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The energy security concerns of Thailand, India and China greatly determine their relations with Myanmar. In principle, India and China have pledged to cooperate in the field of energy security in order to avoid costly rivalries. In practice, however, commentators expect that the two oilimporting giants will find it more or less impossible to avoid such rivalries. In relation to Myanmar, this seems difficult indeed. The immediate issue is competition between India and China over building a pipeline to transport natural gas from Shwe, a gas field off the coast of Myanmar’s Arakan state. In March 2007, it became clear that China will further consolidate its ties with Myanmar by building a gas pipeline from the Burmese coast to Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province. India’s pipeline plans, negotiated for several years, were finally rejected by the Burmese regime. A South Korean offer to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Myanmar was also turned down. The Chinese plans include an oil pipeline as well, probably running parallel to the gas pipeline and intended to carry Persian Gulf crude oil shipped by tanker to a connecting Burmese port facility. This makes sense considering the oft-cited Chinese argument that an oil pipeline through Myanmar will enhance China’s energy security by serving as an alternative oil supply route bypassing the Strait of Malacca, a waterway of crucial importance for the provision of oil and other necessities to China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Strategic Analysis"
2007-07-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 133.07 KB (20 pages)
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Description: "Because of its geostrategic position and whatever the system of government in place, Myanmar must cope with a series of key security challenges.1 The country is sandwiched between two emerging giants with global ambitions, China and India. It boasts a 2,000km-long coastline opened to the Indian Ocean, through which a large part of the world’s seaborne commerce transit. It offers a gateway to, and from, continental Southeast Asia. In the twenty-first century, this peculiar geographical situation may present considerable opportunities for regional growth and future development in a country long kept away from global flows and Asia’s economic boom.2 But it can also contribute to increased concerns among Burmese ruling elites, starting with the armed forces (or Tatmadaw), over the potential sway neighbouring states, global powers and international institutions may seek to gain in a region known for its abundance of underexploited natural resources.3 In March 2011, the junta formed after the last coup d’état staged by the Tatmadaw in 1988 was disbanded. A startling transition to a semi-civilian administration followed.4 The five-year presidency of ex-general Thein Sein (2011–2016) marked a first phase in this post-junta transitional moment. Under the impetus of a handful of retired high-ranking military officers, Myanmar started to liberalise its polity, returned to a parliamentary form of elected government, allowed its pro-democracy opposition forces to join the political game, and gradually re-engaged with the world, particularly the West. After years of diplomatic isolation and international condemnations led by the United States and the European Union, most sanctions imposed against the country since the 1990s were suspended, then lifted, between 2012 and 2016. Even more, the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) in the legislative polls held in November 2015 and the subsequent formation of an NLD government further rekindled hopes for a gradual, yet palpable, democratisation..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Renaud Egreteau
2017-11-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 690.92 KB (12 pages)
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Description: "Intent on preventing an outbreak of the coronavirus in Myanmar, local officials and members of ethnic armed organizations, or EAOs, along the border with China have imposed travel restrictions, increased health checks, called for monitoring of Chinese workers and, in some areas, imposed fines. The border area — known for its rugged terrain beyond the government's control, enterprising smugglers, and long-simmering ethnic wars — concerns health authorities due to lax checkpoint controls. The measures in Myanmar by both the government and EAOs are being enacted as the number of deaths continue to increase in China, where coronavirus 2019-nCoV was first identified in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. According to the government, there are no confirmed cases or deaths in Myanmar. However, the swift spread of the not fully understood virus has alarmed many, leaving officials to quell rumors born of fear and long-held anti-Chinese sentiment..."
Source/publisher: "VOA" (Washington, D.C)
2020-02-07
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Amid the coronavirus outbreak and panic, over 60 countries suspend flights to China
Description: "228 Taiwanese tourists are trapped in Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay, as the government suddenly suspends flights to Taiwan from the city, citing the escalating novel coronavirus outbreak. Taipei-based Far East International Tourism Group told local media outlets on Tuesday (Feb. 4) that 228 Taiwanese tourists traveling in Myanmar have been told their return flights set for Feb. 8 have been canceled. There are two air carriers operating flights between Taiwan and Myanmar. Taipei-based China Airlines operates flights between Taipei Taoyuan Intl. Airport and Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, and Myanmar Airways runs flights between Taipei Taoyuan and Mandalay, which just began operations last month. Far East International Tourism Group is responsible for tickets sales on behalf of Myanmar Airways in Taiwan. Media report that flights to Yangon remain normal, and only flights to Mandalay have been halted without prior notice. No further information about when Mandalay will resume flights to Taiwan was immediately available..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Taiwan News" (Taiwan)
2020-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar earned US$300.366 million from 1.047 million tons of rice and broken rice exports from October 1 to January 17 in this fiscal year, according to Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF). It earned about US$220 million from over seven million tons of rice export to 56 countries in that period and over US$80 million from over 300,000 tons of broken rice export in the same period, it said. It earned over US$39 million from over 150,000 tons of rice and broken rice exports through border routes in that period. It is over 14 per cent of total rice and broken rice exports. It earned over US$260 million from over 890,000 tons of rice and broken rice exports through maritime routes in that period. They are over 14 and 85 per cents of total rice and broken rice exports respectively. Myanmar exported 2.355 million tons of rice and broken rice and earned US$709.693 million in 2018-19 FY, announced the MRF. Myanmar is using border trade routes and maritime trade routes to export rice and broken rice exports..."
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
2020-02-07
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: " Myanmar’s travel agents have been further hit by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism’s suspension of visas-on-arrival for Chinese tourists and demands that tour operators cancel Chinese trips to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry canceled visas-on-arrival for Chinese visitors on Saturday and on Monday instructed tour operators to suspend all travel services for Chinese tourists and tours from China. By ZARNI MANN 4 February 2020 Yangon – Myanmar’s travel agents have been further hit by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism’s suspension of visas-on-arrival for Chinese tourists and demands that tour operators cancel Chinese trips to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry canceled visas-on-arrival for Chinese visitors on Saturday and on Monday instructed tour operators to suspend all travel services for Chinese tourists and tours from China. The move followed the announcement by the World Health Organization that the coronavirus outbreak was a global emergency. “We have to cancel all of the booked tours for February and the remaining tours are at risk until the end of the peak season. Operations have completely stopped for small travel agencies that only handle Chinese tours,” said a tour operator from Yangon, who asked not to be named. Myanmar had been expecting to receive more Chinese tourists this season than in previous years. “We received twice as many Chinese bookings than last year. We pray the coronavirus can be controlled,” the travel agent said. Myanmar received more than 300,000 Chinese tourists in 2018 and more than 750,000 in 2019, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2020-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Local liquor manufacturers are struggling to stay profitable as competition from illegal importers continues eat into their margins, said U Soe Lwin, chair of The Myanmar Liquor Association (MLA). Legally imported liquors and spirits like whiskeys, rum and gin are taxed upon entry and this is passed on to consumers.
Description: "“The total tax payable for our industry has increased to K200 billion for the 2019-20 year of assessment. The amount of taxes paid by this industry is rising by 25 percent to 30pc every year,” said U Htay Lwin, general secretary of the MLA. Illegal distributors, however, escape taxes and are able to sell liquor at lower prices in the black market. Imports of spirits are tightly restricted in Myanmar and it wasn’t until late 2015 that permitted the import of wines was permitted. However, only hotels and duty-free outlets have been allowed to import spirits and beer thus far. This has led to the proliferation of illegal imports, mostly at the border. The government is in the process of enacting laws intended to relax Myanmar’s existing ban on alcohol imports. Work on a draft legislation has moved to the attorney general for approval, after which it would be presented to the cabinet, according to the commerce ministry. U Win Thaw, a secretary of the MLA, said the main problem with the impending relaxation of the new import policy is that it does not address the black market situation where alcohol is smuggled through our borders without being taxed. He added that the legislation should not only formalise, but level the playing field between local producers and foreign liquor importers. Locally produced liquor brands include High Class, Glan Master and Grand Royal whiskies as well as Mandalay Rum..."
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-02-05
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Tech giant establishes affiliate company with investments to improve telco infrastructure
Description: "NTT Myanmar is officially in business following a multimillion-dollar capital investment, a new wholesale government licence and the opening of an office in Yangon. Operating as an affiliate company of NTT, the technology provider has secured a business-to-business wholesale licence from The Ministry of Commerce to offer technology solutions and managed services to enterprise clients following a capital investment of US$5 million. This is backed by an investment of US$400 million - revealed in December 2019 - to commence the construction of a ‘MIST’ large-capacity submarine communications cable between Singapore, Myanmar and India (Mumbai and Chennai). The construction is part of a strategic joint venture for international submarine cables in Southeast Asia, with Orient Link, to improve data speed and reduce latency..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Channel Asia" (Singapore)
2020-02-03
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar received over 4.36 million foreign visitors in 2019, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has announced. Tourist arrivals of 2019 increased by 23%, compared to the same period of the year 2018 when over 3.55 million foreign travellers arrived in Myanmar, the ministry said. The ministry recently announced granting visa-on-arrivals to ordinary passport holders from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg and New Zealand, who will enter Myanmar through Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw international airports, for a three-year probation period until Dec. 31,2022. Also, visa-exemption days were extended to 30 days for Vietnamese tourists in Myanmar starting from the first day of this month. Meanwhile, the visa exemption pilot program for visitors from Japan, South Korea and China has been recently extended until Sept 30 this year. Foreign travellers visit Myanmar mainly through three international airports -- Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, the border gates as well as via luxury cruise liners. Enditem IN another matter, Myanmar logged 957 drug-related cases, which involved 1,480 suspects within two years, state-run media reported quoting a release from the President Office..."
Source/publisher: "The Star Online" (Selangor)
2020-02-01
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Topic: The Automotive Association of Myanmar (AAM), European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) and other vehicle industry bodies are voicing their opposition to a plan announced by the Ministry of Commerce that would see the providing of vehicle import permits to senior governments officials as an incentive.
Topic: The Automotive Association of Myanmar (AAM), European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) and other vehicle industry bodies are voicing their opposition to a plan announced by the Ministry of Commerce that would see the providing of vehicle import permits to senior governments officials as an incentive.
Description: "Representatives of the British Chamber of Myanmar, European Chamber of Myanmar, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Myanmar, EuroCham Myanmar Automotive Advocacy Group and AAM held a joint press conference on the issue yesterday in Yangon. On January 2, the Ministry of Commerce announced that senior government officials, such as directors general, deputy directors general, and those with a minimum of 25 years of excellent service, would be given import permits for vehicles as rewards for their work. The vehicles approved for import would be determined by the ministry on a yearly basis and would be allowed into the country directly without going through a showroom or car dealership. “If the government goes ahead with this plan, it will affect the whole automotive industry greatly. The image of the industry in Myanmar, which is heavily dependent on foreign investment, will not be good,” said Mr Peter Beynon, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Myanmar. Following the announcement of the plan, the AAM wrote to the Ministry of Commerce asking that the plan be reviewed or shelved. The AAM said the plan would raise feelings on unfairness among people who have to pay taxes to the government for the cars they buy through ordinary channels and also cause price instability in the local car market. The AAM further stated that the plan would damage companies assembling vehicles for sale in the local market, and car sales centres owned by local companies..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-01-30
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: The Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations this month announced tax exemptions for investments in selected sectors in all 14 states and regions in Myanmar and the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory.
Description: "The key investment sectors in Myanmar’s states and regions are mainly agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure. Now, the government is expanding the areas of investment for businesses to five priority sectors and streamlining the process in the states and regions. The top five priority investment sectors in Chin State are hotels and tourism, power, agriculture and its related services, livestock production and breeding, and urban development and industrial zone. Any investment in these sectors qualifies for seven years of tax exemption. “Some projects which generate above 30 MW of electricity are progressing with negotiations ongoing between the Ministry of Electricity and Energy and investors,’’ U Soe Htet, the Minister for Chin State Development Affairs, Electricity and Industry, told The Myanmar Times. Chin State has only two investment projects and ranks lowest where investment in this country is concerned. The top five priority investment sectors in Kayah State are hotels and tourism, agriculture and its related services, manufacturing, power, and mining..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-01-28
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Increasing conflict between Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups and government forces during the last year has increased civilian casualties amid mounting allegations of war crimes. With the U.N.’s International Court of Justice order that the country "take all measures within its power" to prevent any acts of genocide against ethnic Rohingya Muslims, who fled the country amid a bloody military crackdown in 2017, other ethnic minorities that have been fighting for decades over control of resource-rich territory are coming forward to voice their concerns over past documented atrocities, also carried out by the Myanmar military. The mountainside village of Pain Lone in Shan State was the site of such conflict last fall between government forces and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an armed ethnic group based in the region, panicking students scrambling for cover as their afternoon classes were ending. "The sound of the helicopters was very terrifying and the loud explosions falling around the village were terrible,” recalls local instructor U Maung Chone, who teaches in the remote mountain settlement.“ It doesn’t matter if they are falling in the town or just in the area. The explosions were very frightening for the kids,” the 45-year-old said, adding that he’d never seen army helicopters in more than two decades of teaching..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "VOA" (Washington, D.C)
2020-01-26
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Things seemed to be looking very bright this year for Myanmar’s tourism industry, which was poised to attract a record number of tourists after two years in doldrums due to the humanitarian crisis in northern Rakhine State.
Description: "At the end of last year, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said the number of foreign arrivals, including business travellers and border traders, rose by 23 percent to 4.36 million, up from 3.55 million the previous year. But the upward momentum of the industry took a big hit with the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus in China. Government data showed that Chinese nationals accounted for nearly a third of the over two million tourists who visited the country last year, a 152pc increase from the previous year. The coronavirus outbreak in China has killed 170 people since it was first reported on December 31. At least 20pc of tourist bookings from China have been cancelled, and Chinese airlines have suspended their flights to Myanmar’s key cities of Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay as part of the effort to contain the disease. “Group tours have been cancelled,” said U Khin Zaw, adviser to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. “Chinese travellers are more afraid now than when Cyclone Nargis hit the country. It affects the entire tourism sector.” U Khin Aung Tun, vice chair of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, said that before the outbreak, bookings from China reached over 200,000. “The main point is that we need to protect our country. If something happens here, the numbers of foreign tourists here may decline.” Eden, Myanmar’s leading hotel group, said that about 25 percent of its tourist bookings had been cancelled in recent days..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar received over 4.36 million foreign visitors in 2019, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism on Wednesday. Tourist arrivals of 2019 increased by 23 percent, compared to the same period of the year 2018 when over 3.55 million foreign travellers arrived in Myanmar, the ministry said. The ministry recently announced granting visa-on-arrivals to ordinary passport holders from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg and New Zealand, who will enter Myanmar through Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports, for a three-year probation period until Dec. 31, 2022. Also, visa-exemption days were extended to 30 days for Vietnamese tourists in Myanmar starting from the first day of this month. Meanwhile, the visa exemption pilot program for visitors from Japan, South Korea and China has been recently extended until Sept. 30 this year. Foreign travellers visit Myanmar mainly through three international airports -- Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, the border gates as well as via luxury cruise liners..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-01-29
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: " Myanmar attracted investment capital of over 1.83 billion U.S. dollars from permitted foreign enterprises in first quarter of present fiscal year 2019-2020 which started in October last year, said a release issued by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Tuesday. From Oct. 1, 2019 to Jan. 24 of this FY, the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) gave the nod to 100 foreign enterprises. At a recent meeting of the commission earlier this month, a total of 23 foreign enterprises with investment capital of over 433.8 million U.S. dollars were approved by the MIC. Creating 11,951 local employment opportunities, the investments from the recently approved enterprises entered the country’s power, real estate, livestock and fisheries and manufacturing sectors, respectively. Meanwhile, the MIC gave the green light to 39 Myanmar citizen investment enterprises with over 647.6 billion kyats (431.7 million U.S. dollars) as of Jan. 24 in present FY 2019-2020..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-01-28
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-29
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Description: "Myanmar’s efforts to reverse a legacy of isolation began with the quasi-civilian government led by then-president U Thein Sein. From 2011–2015, his government undertook a series of political, economic and social reforms that built the foundation for future democratic development. Key reform initiatives under his administration included renewed engagement with ethnic armed forces, a relaxation of press censorship, liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, increased autonomy of the Central Bank of Myanmar and improvement of the budgetary and taxation system. The government also attempted to improve private sector development by reducing red tape to ease business costs and attract foreign investment. During U Thein Sein’s presidential term, Myanmar became one of the fastest growing economies in ASEAN, with an average growth rate of 7.3 per cent. The country also achieved the Human Development Index’s medium-ranked member status. Major challenges remain despite these positive developments: land disputes, informal settlements in cities, inadequate basic infrastructure and most importantly an unstable political situation due to conflict in Rakhine, Shan and Kachin states. The political landscape of Myanmar changed dramatically after the second general election in 2015 when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won a majority of seats in the people’s parliament, national parliaments and sub-national parliaments. The new government was immediately confronted by existing and new challenges. A few months before the elections, 12 out of 14 regions and states were affected by flooding that damaged 1.9 million acres of farmland causing the price of rice to increase. A 20 per cent drop in net inflow of FDI and a growth rate sinking to 5.9 per cent (from the average 7.3 per cent growth rate of president U Thein Sein’s administration) also made 2016 a difficult year for the new government..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
2020-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar’s economy continues to show resilience despite the ongoing global slowdown and domestic uncertainties, according to a new World Bank report released today. The Myanmar Economic Monitor for December 2019 estimates that Myanmar’s economy grew at 6.3 percent in 2018-19, marginally higher than 6.2 percent in 2017-18. Economic growth is expected to reach 6.4 percent in 2019-20, helped by growing investment in the transport and telecommunications sector and planned infrastructure spending by the government before the 2020 elections. The service sector is the main driver of growth in Myanmar and is expected to grow by 8.4 percent in 2018-19. A slow recovery in tourism related services is offset by robust growth in wholesale and retail trade. The industrial sector is expected to grow by 6.4 percent, on the back of strong manufacturing growth offsetting slower growth in construction. Despite seasonal floods and volatile demand, agriculture output growth is projected to be stable at 1.6 percent, with greater diversification in production and export destinations, but remains below potential..."
Source/publisher: "Modern Diplomacy"
2020-01-18
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Vietnam to the right of me, Myanmar to the left, Thailand stuck in the middle…. Myanmar’s 2019 tourism figures improved 15% to give the country 1,324,000 tourist arrivals through the main airport at Yangon. Officials released the 2019 visitor data for Yangon Airport, which excludes cross border arrivals and arrivals through Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw airports, the country’s two other international aviation gateways. Once overland arrivals at border checkpoints are counted, the annual inbound tourist numbers are expected to swell to around 4 million for the full 2019 year. But the numbers fall well short of the projections made for 2020 which said there would be 7.5 million tourist arrivals by the end of the last decade by the Asian Development Bank. The projections were made by a detailed report on Bumese tourism back in 2013. In 2019, Asian tourist emerged as the dominant supply with 1,060,396 arrivals at Yangon airport last year, an increase of 20%. This compares with 142,443 arrivals from Western Europe, 0% growth for 2019..."
Source/publisher: "The Thaiger" (Thailand)
2020-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar exported about 30,000 tons of rice worth US$8.8 million through maritime trade from December 22 to 27, according to figures from Ministry of Commerce. About 8,000 tons of rice is exported to Asian countries and about 3,000 tons of rice is exported to EU countries. About 18,000 tons of rice is exported to African countries and 25 tons of rice is exported to a new market, Puerto Rico. It exported about US$2 million worth of over 6,600 tons of rice to China and Thailand via border trade centers, according to the ministry. Myanmar exported over 3,500 tons of rice from Muse 105-mile border trade center, about 600 tons of rice from Chinshwehaw border trade center, about 1,400 tons of rice from Lweje border trade center, about 80 tons of rice from Kanpikete border trade center and more than 1,100 tons of rice from Techilek border trade center..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
2020-01-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar’s 2019 tourism performance improved 15% to give the country 1,323,994 tourist arrivals through the country’s main gateway Yangon airport. Officials released the year’s visitor data for the Yangon aviation gateway which excludes arrivals overland and through Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw the country’s two other international airports. Once overland arrivals at all border checkpoints are counted, the annual performance could reach 4 million in 2019. But that is a far cry from the 2020 forecast of 7.5 million outlined in the country’s tourism masterplan 2013 to 2020 that was funded by the Asian Development Bank. However, for the country’s travel industry, airline arrivals at Yangon airport are considered an accurate yardstick to measure the success of worldwide tourism promotions. In 2019, Asia emerged as the dominant supply region accumulating 1,060,396 arrivals an increase of 20%. This compared with just 142,443 arrivals from West Europe that recorded zero growth over 2018. China drives the growth in Asian markets, delivering 344,268 arrivals up by a massive 75% and replacing Thailand as the top supply market. Thailand now the second-largest market closed the year with 229,852 arrivals an increase of 2%..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "TTR Weekly" (Bangkok)
2020-01-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Upon his visit to Laos in November 2017, Xi Jinping wrote in an open letter, published in English and Lao in Laotian mainstream media, that “there is a high degree of complementarity between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the strategy of Laos to transform itself from a landlocked to a land-linked country.” He further described the China-Laos Railway, the flagship of the BRI in Laos, as "(t)he transportation artillery that will drive the development of Laos (and that) is a dream coming true.” These lines point to two central features of China’s BRI. One is its embracing of the “Chinese Dream”, already extended as China’s “Asia-Pacific Dream”; the second is, more importantly, its discursive power of scripting China’s geopolitical and economic interests in the rhetoric of its partners’ national development strategies. As the land-linked strategy has been already advertised by the Laotian government for more than two decades, the BRI in Laos is, rather than breaking new ground, an intensified and accelerated continuation of already existing development strategies and policies..."
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Source/publisher: "The Business Times" (Singapore)
2020-01-13
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Few countries in Asia have a recent history as turbulent as Myanmar. The election of the National League for Democracy in 2015, which followed the freeing of party leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, caused companies and civil society organizations to return and ignited a fresh optimism about the country's future. But just as quickly as Myanmar's fortunes rose, they seemed to fall. The military responded to violence in Rakhine state with a brutal and deadly crackdown of the Rohingya minority, while the government has arrested journalists and rights advocates. In just a few short years, Myanmar's international image has plummeted and its hopes for prosperity have been set back. Aung San Suu Kyi has gone from being a revered Nobel Peace laureate to a leader accused of abetting crimes against humanity. Why did Myanmar's hopeful democratic transition go wrong? And what happens next? In the latest episode of Asia In-Depth, Thant Myint-U, author of the recent book The Hidden History of Burma, talks to Asia Society Executive Vice President Tom Nagorski about the tough questions surrounding Myanmar's transition..."
Source/publisher: "Asia Society" ( New York)
2020-01-10
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) recently approved six more investment enterprises from both home and abroad, said a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Saturday. The enterprises, which will create over 1,300 local employment opportunities, were given the go-ahead at the commission's meeting held on Friday. With investment capital of 257.8 million U.S. dollars and 60.2 billion kyats (40.1 million U.S. dollars), the permitted enterprises engaged in the country's power, manufacturing, hotel and other services sectors, respectively. Meanwhile, the commission approved 39 foreign enterprises with investment capital of over 1 billion U.S. dollars in first two months of present fiscal year 2019-2020 which started in October, the DICA's figures said..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-01-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Myanmar witnessed an economic slowdown in fiscal 2019, with GDP growth downgraded to 6.5 percent from 6.8pc in 2018, and foreign direct investments (FDI) hitting just 70pc of official targets. The economy also took a hit from slowing global growth and uncertainty arising from the trade war between China and the US.
Description: "But the Myanmar government also took progressive measures to boost the economy. It led further liberalisation in various sectors of the economy and took steps to address the country’s power shortage. It also announced new tax reductions and reliefs aimed at boosting state coffers and economic activity, garnering applause from the business community. During the year, the government took efforts to attract FDI in spite of the ongoing Rakhine crisis and lawsuit filed against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice by Gambia, which tarnished the country’s image as an investment destination. Among them were a string of investment forums held in the states and regions, which were aimed at drawing investors to rural areas like Rakhine and Chin. Here are the top ten events in business and investments that shaped the Myanmar economy in 2019: 1. Insurance sector liberalised Five insurance firms – British Prudential, Japanese Dai-ichi Life, Hong Kong AIA, US Chubb and Canadian Manulife – finally received licenses to operate in Myanmar in late November after a two-year delay. In addition, six insurance JVs of foreign and local firms also received the green light. The three JVs for non-life insurance are AYA Myanmar General Insurance and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance; Grand Guardian General Insurance and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance; and IKBZ Insurance and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2019-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: " Myanmar earned over 2.49 billion U.S. dollars from export of finished industrial goods in the first three months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Thursday. As of Dec. 27 of this FY, the export of finished industrial goods or manufacturing goods export topped the list among other export products. This FY's figures increased by over 718.5 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last FY 2018-2019 when it fetched over 1.77 billion U.S. dollars. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others to foreign trade partner countries. During the period, the country's export totaled over 4.56 billion U.S. dollars while its import shared over 4.57 billion U.S. dollars, the ministry's figures said..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-01-09
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Rights groups have been calling on companies to cut ties with Myanmar military responsible for Rohingya atrocities
Description: "A leading global money transfer service Western Union has stopped using a military-owned bank as one of its agents in Myanmar, rights groups said. Western Union is one among the most recognizable names on the Dirty List of the international companies for doing business with military in Myanmar. The list was published by two rights campaign groups -- Burma Campaign UK and International Campaign for the Rohingya -- in December 2018. In an e-mail to Burma Campaign UK on Wednesday, Western Union said it has ended contract with Myawaddy Bank, a subsidiary of military business conglomerate Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL), with immediate effect, said a joint statement by the advocacy groups. Western Union could not be reached for a comment, but an official at Myawaddy Bank confirmed the development to Anadolu Agency. "Western Union services are no longer available from our bank. It is Western Union’s decision to end the contract," the official told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media. The campaign groups said that Western Union has now been removed from the Dirty List. Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said that Western Union is the biggest company so far to end a business relationship with a military-owned company..."
Source/publisher: "Anadolu Agency" (Ankara)
2020-01-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Topic: Economy, Markets, ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office, Tourism, E-Commerce, Myanmar
Topic: Economy, Markets, ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office, Tourism, E-Commerce, Myanmar
Description: "It was reported recently that the ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) had given Myanmar’s economy a positive outlook for the fiscal year of 2019 to 2020, expecting it to expand by 7.1 percent up from 6.8 percent in the previous fiscal year. This is largely thanks to reform momentum, improving business sentiments, growth in manufacturing, tourism related expansion and stronger fiscal spending. According to AMRO, the five key sectors with growth potential in Myanmar this year are (1) the tourism industry, (2) property, (3) insurance, (4) digital transactions and (5) the stock exchange business. Looking at the tourism industry, several measures have been taken to attract tourists. Among these measures is the easing up on visa requirements. Beginning 1 October last year, tourists from Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Russia were given visas on arrival for US$50 each at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports. Even more recently, on 1 January, the government of Myanmar relaxed its visa regulations for five more countries. Travellers from the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Hungary and Austria will be given visas on arrival when entering the country for the next three years. There have also been a slew of new flight routes coming in and out of Myanmar and neighbouring countries including India, China, Cambodia, and Thailand all throughout 2019..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The ASEAN Post" (Malaysia)
2020-01-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: But manufacturing activity across Asia showed signs of recovery as recent survey data indicated growth in late 2019.
Description: "China's factory activity expanded at a slower clip in December, pulling back from a three-year high the previous month as new orders softened, a private survey showed on Thursday. But business confidence shot up amid thawing trade tensions with the United States, offering some support for the cooling economy. Beijing and Washington agreed last month on an initial deal that will de-escalate their prolonged trade war. More: Date set for US-China trade deal sends world markets to new high Singapore slump: Economic growth falls in 2019 on trade woes Hong Kong economy to shrink in fourth quarter, says finance chief The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for December eased to 51.5 from 51.8 the previous month missing analysts' expectations that the reading would hold steady. But it remained above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction for the fifth straight month..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
2020-01-02
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "With gross domestic product (GDP) growth consistently above 5 percent throughout this decade, and in double digits for much of the previous decade, Myanmar has been one of South East Asia’s fastest-growing economies for quite some time. What’s more, this newly liberalised nation is being touted to likely continue growing expeditiously well into the 2020s. That said, recent years have seen Myanmar’s growth showing a distinct sign of waning from its once lofty heights: Some believe this ongoing slowdown may continue over the next few years. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), for instance, recently stated that Myanmar’s economy appears to be losing momentum. “Myanmar’s economy is expected to gain steam over the medium term albeit at a somewhat slower pace than previously envisaged and subject to greater downside risks” was the IMF Executive Board’s recent assessment. Part of the concern over Myanmar’s economic outlook is directed at the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which came to power in 2016 after a thumping election victory put an end to decades of military rule. But since then, the NLD has come in for much criticism for the economy’s overall performance, as well as the slow pace at which reforms are being enacted that would enable Myanmar to make the full transition into a liberalised market economy. Perhaps the economic underperformance of recent years is understandable. After all, achieving peace in all regions of the nation continues to remain elusive, meaning that the government has been primarily focused on reconciliation before it can move ahead with other priorities, such as bringing about economic prosperity. Even today, tensions persist, not only between the NLD and the military but also between the military and armed ethnic groups in various parts of the country..."
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Source/publisher: "International Banker"
2019-06-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Many problems can be sheeted home Aung San Suu Kyi – even if there are few critics willing to suggest alternatives.
Description: "Talking to business owners across a variety of sectors in Yangon in January this year, the mood was universally glum. Big-spending Western tourists were staying away in droves, concerned over human rights abuses. Bureaucratic red tape was clogging up business and investment, and the country remains a logistics nightmare. More than halfway through its five-year term, it is clear Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) was chronically under-prepared for government and has strikingly failed to get a grip on the economy. Yet Myanmar’s increasingly troubled economy tends to get overlooked, amid the armed conflicts that could tear the country apart. In particular, headlines are dominated by the Rohingya tragedy that has seen more than 700,000 flee to Bangladesh, and the ongoing civil war across Kachin and Shan states in the north of the country. The World Bank, in its half-yearly update on Myanmar in December, cited softening consumption, slowing investment. and rising production-cost pressure from fuel price increases and the depreciation of the local currency, the Kyat, which has fallen by 16% against the US dollar in the past 12 months. Myanmar’s GDP growth is also forecast to fall, while almost every other measure of economic activity is also softening. The risks, the World Bank says, are all on the downside..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Interpreter"
2019-02-16
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: Ministers on Friday agreed to regularly share intelligence and carry out more coordinated anti-trafficking operations.
Description: "Five Southeast Asian countries, China, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) agreed on Friday to improve intelligence sharing and law enforcement operations to fight drug trafficking in the region by transnational crime groups. Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle - northern Myanmar and parts of Thailand and Laos - has long been a hub of illicit drug production and trafficking. More: Asia's Meth Boom Golden Triangle's drug production surges amid opioid worries Has the decade-old war on drugs in Asia succeeded? While opium cultivation and heroin refining have fallen in the past decade, the area is now at the heart of the Asia-Pacific methamphetamine trade, which the UNODC estimates to be worth as much as $61.4bn in 2018, up from an estimated $15bn just five years earlier..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
2019-11-16
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The second Belt-Road Forum (BRF) was held in Beijing from 25-27 April 2019. The three-day event was organized to promote the ‘Belt-Road Initiative’ (BRI) - President Xi Jinping’s multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure development and investment venture. The Summit was attended by 40 global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, China’s two closest allies. The gathering was larger than the first Summit held in 2017, which had just 29 participants. Among the new entrants were Austria, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Thailand. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte became the first G7 leader to join the BRI. India stayed out for the second time on grounds of sovereignty given that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) traverses through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). BRI has come under fire due to lack of transparency, weak institutional mechanism, scepticism about Chinese loans leading to debt trap, and poor environmental record. Besides, it is being perceived as an exclusive ‘Chinese Club’. With new deals aggregating US$ 64 billion signed and 283 concrete deliverable outcomes, despite criticism particularly from the US and its allies, the grand plan apparently remains on track and is gaining international traction. With a view to dispel growing concerns, the focus of this second Forum was on projecting BRI as an attractive investment destination. President Xi staunchly defended the Belt-Road, assuring its ‘win-win’ outcome..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)" (New Delhi)
2019-05-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Not long ago, Beijing’s perspective towards Nepal was limited to that of a ‘good neighbour’ only.1 Though the presence of about 20,000 Tibetans in Nepal has been an issue of major concern to Beijing, it has carefully managed its relations with Nepal which it sees as a strategic geographic zone in the Himalayan valley. The Chinese outlook seems to be changing fast as evident from the outcomes of President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Nepal on October 12-13, 2019. With growing emphasis on strengthening bilateral cooperation especially on building sub-regional connectivity,2 Beijing seems to be orchestrating a Himalayan approach in its relations with Kathmandu – revealing a grander Chinese policy in making. On the side-lines of his Nepal visit, President Xi’s article published in Nepali newspapers sketched a bigger Chinese ambition with a view to forge “strategic and long-term” cooperation between the two sides.3 Stressing on a ‘renewed friendship’, Xi’s article was a curtain raiser to the joint statement which outlined resolute Chinese goals to promote “trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network” in the region. Such ambitions are not unusual in Chinese strategic calculus — a similar approach could be noticed in China’s interactions with other immediate neighbours such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar in particular. What is striking about China’s recent outreach to Nepal is its effort to transform the relationship into a comprehensive partnership, aiming to integrate with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the Himalayan valley..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)" (New Delhi)
2019-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: For instance, the Kara-Balta oil refinery -- Kyrgyzstan's largest Chinese investment -- has faced significant problems with overcapacity in the recent years.
Description: "Chinese infrastructure projects under its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiatives in Central Asia, Pakistan and Myanmar are projected to lose money due to underutilisation and could potentially cause more harm than good, a prominent US think-tank said in a report on Thursday. In its latest report on China, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said India has expressed significant hesitation toward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China. Leaders in New Delhi opted out of both the 2017 and 2019 Belt and Road Forums. In addition to being generally skeptical of the BRI, one specific major concern is building of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through Kashmir, it said. Economic considerations further complicate these concerns, the CSIS said in its report. "BRI infrastructure projects in Central Asia, Pakistan and Myanmar are projected to lose money due to underutilisation and could potentially cause more harm than good, it said. For instance, the Kara-Balta oil refinery -- Kyrgyzstan's largest Chinese investment -- has faced significant problems with overcapacity in the recent years..."
Source/publisher: "News 18" (UK)
2019-12-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "In an endorsement of ongoing efforts to reform the economy, Myanmar has been named one of the top-20 most-improved countries in the World Bank’s 2020 ease of doing business index. The index – part of the “Doing Business 2020” report – lists the economies that have recorded the greatest improvement in their ease of doing business score. The bank identified five recently implemented initiatives that have strengthened the business environment. In terms of regulatory and legal measures, the reforms cited include the City of Yangon’s decision to impose stricter qualification requirements for architects and engineers, along with a new companies law that strengthens minority investor protections and boosts transparency by mandating fuller disclosure of transactions. To streamline bureaucratic processes, the government, via the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, launched an online company registration platform, simultaneously digitising and merging several previously existing procedures..."
Source/publisher: "The Borneo Post" (Malaysia)
2019-12-08
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: AIA, Chubb and others hope for rich pickings in South-East Asia’s most populous mainland country
Description: "Ko phoe thar is a cheery 22-year-old liquor-store clerk from Mandalay, a city in central Myanmar. Death, and other less-certain future misfortunes, are far from his mind. A host of insurance companies newly arrived in the country would like to change that. Last week the finance ministry issued licences to foreign life insurers for the first time. Five—aia, Chubb, Dai-Ichi Life, Manulife and Prudential plc—have been permitted to operate as wholly owned subsidiaries. Others are required to find local partners. Foreign insurers have long licked their lips at the prospect of moving into Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: "The Economist" (London)
2019-12-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: " The 2019 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Exposition opened Thursday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, aiming at boosting sub-regional trade and investment. More than 2,000 merchants from home and abroad are expected to attend the five-day event, which has set up 1,800 booths in five exhibition halls, covering investment and trade, culture and tourism, featured commodities of Lancang-Mekong countries and other areas. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Dianchi Forum was held on the same day, focusing on cross-border economic cooperation and the construction of a pilot free trade zone. It also consists of several parallel sessions including the China-Laos and China-Cambodia investment symposiums, according to the organizer. Lu Pengqi, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said such activities will help deepen economic and trade cooperation between Lancang-Mekong countries..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-11-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: ‘What’s your take on Aung San Suu Kyi?’
Description: "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was in his element Monday morning as he welcomed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the University of Louisville. The Kentucky Republican served as interviewer for an onstage discussion with Pompeo, who is widely known to be the preferred candidate of McConnell and other senior Republicans for the Senate seat in Kansas being opened by the pending retirement of GOP Sen. Pat Roberts. While McConnell did not ask the former CIA director and House member from Kansas about his interest in running for that Senate seat next year (at least not on stage), the question and answer session hit on some of McConnell’s other favorite topics. “What’s your take on Aung San Suu Kyi?” McConnell asked in his closing question at the event hosted by the McConnell Center. The Senate majority leader has long been the leading voice on U.S. policy toward Myanmar, having a decades-long association with Suu Kyi, whose holds the title of State Counsellor, where she leads the civilian government of the country also known as Burma..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Roll Call" (USA)
2019-12-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "When you read this, I won’t be around. I am bound for Asia: Hong Kong and then onto Myanmar (Burma). It is probably the longest, scariest trip I have ever taken. If you are a praying person, please stop and say a prayer for me. It isn’t the first time I have been to Asia. In 1974, I was getting ready to graduate from Bible College when I was asked to join a mission team for the summer in Hong Kong. There were four girls and two guys on our team named “The Harbingers” (Messengers). One of the students was Wong Yan Wing who was in my graduating class. He was returning to his homeland and taking a team with him to lay a foundation for a new church work in Mei Foo Sun Chuen. Nearly all the schools in Hong Kong were operated by churches. They were thrilled to have a group of college students come and present a program consisting of music, drama and art. I was the “art” portion of the program and drew a picture of a rock wall surrounding a garden while Wing beautifully sang the hymn “In the Garden.” I may have done some drama, also. In Hong Kong they say or write the last name first and the first name last. So “Wong Yan Wing” was “Wing Wong” to us or just “Wing.” He used to say, “My father’s name is ‘Ling,’ my name is ‘Wing,’ I have a sister named ‘Ying’ and a brother named ‘Ming.’ So, when you call our house be sure you don’t ‘Wing’ the ‘Wong’ number!” Ha! I still think that’s funny..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Havre Daily News" (USA)
2019-12-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The US economy ended 2018 with a whimper and a 1.1 per cent annual rate of gross domestic product growth, and then started the first quarter of 2019 with a bang – 3.1 per cent growth. The economy has since settled back to 2 per cent or less, where it seems likely to linger unless major shocks occur. The world economy is slowing, too, but fears of an escalation in China-US trade tensions or a very disorderly Brexit have eased. Three cuts in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve, along with large liquidity injections to prevent disorderly short-term money markets, have helped keep the economy turning over, if not humming. Consumers keep spending, but business investment is sluggish. Monetary authorities have eased about as much as they can. Short and long interest rates in the United States are now zero in real terms – adjusted to remove the effects of inflation and reflect real borrowing costs and yield – and negative in nominal terms in much of Europe and Japan. A major question mark is China. It has not resorted to extremely expansionary credit growth or very large government deficits. Its economy is officially growing at about 6 per cent a year, but many outside experts suggest that the actual growth rate is 2 to 3 percentage points lower than that..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
2019-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "British Prudential, Japanese Dai-ichi Life, Hong Kong AIA, US Chubb, and Canadian Manulife have been permitted to issue life insurance policies in Myanmar with their fully-owned subsidiary, more than six months after the five insurers were granted provisional licences. According to Prudential, Myanmar has a fast-growing middle class, as well as an increasingly urbanised and tech-savvy population. The country has around 57 million mobile subscriptions, with a mobile penetration of around 105%. The insurer will attempt to harness its wide-ranging digital capabilities and broad range of offerings in Asia, and implement a digital-led strategy, complemented by face-to-face distribution, to broaden access to life insurance in Myanmar, the insurer said in a statement. The department also granted licences to three life and three non-life joint ventures between foreign and local firms - AYA Myanmar General Insurance and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance, Grand Guardian General Insurance and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, and IKBZ Insurance and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance..."
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Source/publisher: "International Investment"
2019-11-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) recently approved five more investment enterprises from home and abroad, said a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Saturday. The local and foreign investment enterprises which will create over 1,001 local employment opportunities were approved at the commission's meeting held on Friday. The permitted enterprises will engage in the country's power, livestock and fishery, and real estate sectors. Meanwhile, Myanmar attracted over 292.1 million U.S. dollars' foreign direct investment in manufacturing, other services and real estate sectors in October, first month of present fiscal year 2019-2020. Regionally, Yangon region attracts 60 percent of both local and foreign investments, followed by Mandalay region with 30 percent and the rest flows into other regions and states..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "OUE Lippo Healthcare (OUELH) is venturing into Myanmar with stake acquisitions in two joint venture companies that own three hospitals, one medical centre and two clinics. This will give the company presence in the key cities of Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi, the subsidiary company of OUE Limited said on Thursday. OUELH’s wholly owned units have signed a sale and purchase agreement with Waluya Graha Loka to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Yoma Siloam Hospital Pun Hlaing Limited (YSHPH), and a 35 per cent stake in Pun Hlaing International Hospital Limited (PHIH), for US$19.5 million in all. The vendor is considered an associate of Stephen Riady, the non-independent, non-executive director of OUE Lippo Healthcare. It is also an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of property company Lippo Karawaci. Both YSHPH and PHIH are joint venture companies with First Myanmar Investment (FMI), which is part of the enlarged Yoma Group that also comprises SGX-listed Yoma Strategic. FMI, which has businesses in real estate, health care, financial services, and tourism, is also the first company listed on the Yangon Stock Exchange..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Business Times" (Singapore)
2019-01-10
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "There are three major components to China’s global ambitions: The Belt and Road Initiative, 5G, and the South China Sea. Simone Gao: I mean in the history of the world, very few power or no power has been able to dominate both land and sea, you know, at the same time. But China, through belt and road initiative is trying to do that. John Sitilides: One of the benefits of having a command economy is you can plan out what your objectives are and then order your corporations, your banks, your lending institutions, your industrial leaders to undertake the policies you need to achieve the goals under a command economy. Huawei has secured 5G contracts with over 60 countries around the world, many of which are U.S. allies, despite American warnings over cybersecurity concerns. John Sitilides: China probably has its single most effective lobbying operation in Brussels, than anywhere else in the world. Simone Gao: What do you think China’s final goal is in the South China sea and what is America’s plan on China?..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Epoch Times" (New York)
2019-11-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar tycoon Win Aung is open to foreign investment in the listed industrial-estate provider he oversees, following Ayala Corp's tie-up with a firm traded on the nation's fledgling stock exchange. In an interview in Yangon, Win Aung said a stake sale is an option as he plans to expand Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings, which operates a manufacturing zone where 109 firms have opened factories or plan to do so. "We'll need more capital and technology," Win Aung, the firm's chairman, said on Thursday (Nov 28). "Detailed plans will be revealed later after the authorities officially allow foreigner participation on the Yangon Stock Exchange." Myanmar is trying to expand a stunted bourse that currently has just five stocks by allowing overseas purchases of domestic equities from 2020. The Philippines' oldest conglomerate Ayala is investing in one of those five - First Myanmar Investment - via an US$82.5 million convertible loan that will become a 20 per cent shareholding when rules permit. The four-year-old Thilawa special economic zone is viewed by some as the largest in Myanmar. Japanese, Thai and Malaysian firms account for the bulk of the factories located there, according to Win Aung..."
Source/publisher: "The Straits Times" (Singapore)
2019-11-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: The Tatmadaw has a long reach into commercial interests. Companies accountable to a growing range of stakeholders need to assess their exposure to the military.
Description: "RISK and opportunity have always accompanied investors in Myanmar. The recent initiatives by both the United Nations (UN) and the US to ensure that foreign direct investment (FDI) only enriches civilian enterprises and not Myanmar's powerful military-backed entities make it imperative for foreign investors keen on operating in Myanmar to be very sure about the background and military links of their partners. In August this year, the UN's Independent International Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar released an 111-page report outlining how companies affiliated with the Tatmadaw (Myanmar's armed forces) have supported "extensive and systematic human-rights violations against civilians in the Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states." The UN report urged companies to stop doing business with firms linked to the military, in particular the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL). Primarily owned by the Ministry of Defence, MEC and UMEHL between them control businesses that range from golf resorts and sugar mills to telecommunications, breweries and gemstones..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Business Times" (Singapore)
2019-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: UK Prudential, US Chubb, AIA and others granted licenses to tap previously state monopolized sector
Description: "Myanmar has injected new life into its laggard insurance industry with today’s (November 28) issuance of licenses to a handful of foreign companies, including UK Prudential, Japan’s Dai-ichi Life, Hong Kong’s AIA, US Chubb and Canadian Manulife. The Ministry of Finance authorized the widely anticipated but long delayed move to allow foreign insurers to operate in the local market as 100% wholly owned subsidiaries. It also provided for local-foreign joint ventures, with six life and non-life insurance licenses approved for Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Taiyo Life and Nippon Life. The announcement marks a significant step towards financial sector liberalization, allowing foreigners access to one of the last largely untapped insurance markets in the world. The move follows on other market-opening measures granted to the education, retail and wholesale sectors under the current administration..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Asia Times" (Hong Kong)
2019-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar earned over 2.28 billion U.S. dollars from export to foreign countries as of Nov. 15 in fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Wednesday. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others to foreign trade partner countries. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 15, manufacturing goods were mainly exported, earning 1.12 billion U.S. dollars' capital, following by minerals with 526.8 million U.S. dollars. This FY's total export increased by over 568.9 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last FY 2018-2019 when it was 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the country's total foreign trade reached over 4.59 billion U.S. dollars as of Nov. 15 this FY, with 2.3 billion U.S. dollars' import value..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-11-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Sign up for Next China, a weekly email on where the nation stands now and where it’s going next. By many measures, China’s Belt and Road Initiative has been a monumental success. Since 2013, when China launched the effort to expand trade links, more than 130 countries have signed deals or expressed interest. The World Bank estimates some $575 billion worth of energy plants, railways, roads, ports and other projects have been built or are in the works. But President Xi Jinping’s signature effort has also come in for criticism, including accusations that China is luring poor countries into debt traps for its own political and strategic gain. The mixed reviews abroad and worries at home about the cost have led China into something of a reboot as it tries to increase transparency, improve project quality and reduce financial risks..."
Source/publisher: "Bloomberg News" (USA) via Washington Post" (USA)
2019-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) came into effect on June 11 for Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. The remaining ASEAN member states will complete the ratification process later this year. The deal was first signed and agreed in November 2017 to increase economic cooperation, reduce taxes, and increase investment between regional markets and Hong Kong. Analysts have noted that with ongoing trade tensions, Hong Kong businesses are keen to expand investment opportunities in Southeast Asia, and particularly in Vietnam. At the end of 2018, Hong Kong businesses had invested more than 1,300 projects in Vietnam on key sectors such as textiles and garments, real estate and investments. Many expect these numbers to improve following the AHKFTA. Vietnam and Hong Kong trade Vietnam is Hong Kong’s third largest trade partner and biggest export market in ASEAN. In the first five months of this year, Hong Kong accounted for 30.4 percent of total FDI investment in Vietnam, equaling US $5.08 billion. Hong Kong’s importance as an entrepôt for trade between mainland China and Vietnam will continue to grow at a much faster pace with the FTA coming into force. Re-exports of goods of ASEAN origin through Hong Kong to China have been growing at an annual average rate of 6.4 percent since 2012..."
Source/publisher: "Vietnam Briefing" (Vietnam)
2019-06-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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