Contemporary Myanmar: Challenges to Political Process And
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Political Monitor No.27
Euro-Burma Office 25 October - 7 November 2014 Political Monitor 2014 POLITICAL MONITOR NO. 27 OFFICIAL MEDIA PRESIDENT CONDUCTS HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL MEETING President Thein Sein held a high-level political meeting with the 2 Vice-Presidents, military leaders, the 2 Speakers from both houses of parliament and representatives from 6 prominent political parties on 31 October in Naypyitaw. In his address, President Thein Sein stated the 3 main agendas of the meeting – continuation of democratic transition and political process, ways to strengthen peace process for national reconciliation as well as to successfully hold the 2015 elections. The President emphasized that the talks was to establish a common vision and called on all political forces to refrain from resorting to confrontational approaches and that the success of the political reforms hinges on the ways in which the peace process evolves. He also emphasized it was important for the government, the Hluttaws, the ethnic armed organisations and the Tatmadaw to work together to conclude the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and urged all those present to openly express their opinions in achieving the best means to solve Myanmar’s challenges. Present at the high level dialogue were Vice Presidents Dr Sai Mauk Kham and Nyan Tun, Speakers of both the Upper and Lower House Khin Aung Myint and Thura Shwe Mann, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the Union Election Commission Chairman Tin Aye, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief -
Political Monitor No.13
Euro-Burma Office 23 – 29 March 2013 Political Monitor 2013 POLITICAL MONITOR NO.13 OFFICIAL MEDIA PRESIDENT U THEIN SEIN RECEIVES UNSG’S SPECIAL ADVISER MR VIJAY NAMBIAR The Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Burma/Myanmar, Mr. Vijay Nambiar, arrived on 21 March to begin a five-day working visit to at the invitation of the Burmese government. Mr. Nambiar met Burmese President Thein Sein and Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin on 25 March in Naypyitaw. The Special Envoy was briefed on the recent outbreak of violence in Meiktila, the on- going reform process in the country and further cooperation between Burma/Myanmar and the United Nations. He also visited the camps in Meiktila for those displaced by the recent communal unrests. On 24 March while in Meiktila, the Special Adviser accompanied by the Chief Minister of Mandalay Region met with leaders of the different communities, religious leaders and representatives of affected families and exchanged views on how to avoid future violent outbreaks from reoccurring and resolve the present crisis in a peaceful manner.1 PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN RECEIVES BELGIAN DELEGATION A 12-member delegation led by Minister-President Mr. Kris Peeters of the Government of Flanders of Belgium was received by President Thein Sein in Naypyitaw on 25 March. During the official talks, the leaders discussed the role of Belgium companies in river conservation, electricity production and wind energy in Burma/Myanmar, investments in manufacturing foodstuff, livestock, mining, IT services and human resources development in the country. The visiting Belgium delegation also held separate meetings with the Minister for Transport and Livestock and Fisheries and discussed implementation of comprehensive water management project for Ayeyawady River by SBE Company from Belgium and visited the Myaseinyaung Milk Processing Plant in Pobbathiri Township.2 VICE-PRESIDENT DR SAI MAUK KHAM RECEIVES FRENCH MINISTER FOR DEVELOPMENT French Minister for Development Mr. -
Political Monitor No.6
Euro-Burma Office 1 to 11 February 2011 Political Monitor POLITICAL MONITOR NO. 6 THAN SHWE TO HEAD EXTRA-CONSTITUTIONAL “STATE SUPREME COUNCIL” Although the SPDC regime had indicated that it would hand over state power to President Thein Sein and his government, junta chief Senior-General Than Shwe has now revealed that he will personally lead a newly created council called the “State Supreme Council”, which, as its name implies, will be the most powerful body in the country, according to sources in Nay Pyi Taw. Two bodies have now emerged in the new government's administrative structure that observers say will have powers that reach—either directly or indirectly—above and beyond the powers of the new civilian executive and legislative branches. The first is the 8 member State Supreme Council, not mentioned in the 2008 Constitution. The second is the 11 member National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), which is in the 2008 Constitution and will be led by Thein Sein. “The State Supreme Council will become the highest body of the state. While it will assume an advisory role to guide the future governments, the body will be very influential,” says a source close to the military. The members of the State Supreme Council will include: 1 Sr-Gen Than Shwe former SPDC Chair (78) 2 V-Sr-Gen Maung Aye former SPDC Vice-Chair (74) Speaker, Pyithu 3 Thura Shwe Mann former SPDC member, General (64) Hluttaw 4 Thein Sein former SPDC Lt-Gen (66) President 5 Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo former General (61) Vice-President 6 Tin Aye former SPDC Member, Lt-Gen Ordinance A yet unidentified senior military 7 general A yet unidentified senior military 8 general As required by the 2008 Constitution, the NDSC will be made up of: 1. -
Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham Extends New Year Greetings To
THENew MOST RELIABLE NEWSPAPER LightAROUND YOU of Myanmar Volume XXI, Number 232 2nd Waxing of Nadaw 1375 ME Wednesday, 4 December, 2013 INSIDE Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham extends SARSODAW DAY AND New Year greetings to Shan national race LITERARY NAY PYI TAW, 3 Dec— AWARDS Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham wished Shan MAUNG HLAING PAGE-8 New Year, sharing his wish NATO says Karzai for a year of a wide range of freedoms and social failure to sign pact and economic develop- would end Afghan ment meeting international mission standards that will be born together with peace in his greetings to Shan nationali- ties at Hsin Shweli theater in Lashio where the Shan New Year Festival that wel- comes Shan year 2108 was PAGE-3 celebrated today. Japan emperor, Now is the time when empress attend peace process is progress- welcoming ing to a certain extent and it is expected to translate the ceremony in India process into a success soon, he added. Next, the Vice-Pres- ident observed traditional cultural stage performanc- es, departmental and cul- tural booths and cordially greeted local people. Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham presents cash assistance to eye patients at Lashio hospital.—MNA This is the 17th time as Shan New Year Festival sociation. Shan New Year calendar, it is learnt. day meal to 50 members of the festival has been held was organized by Shan falls on 1st waxing of Na- Then, the Vice-Presi- Sangha in the cave of Yan PAGE-3 since 1996. This year's Literature and Culture As- daw according to Myanmar dent offered provisions and Taing Aung Hsutaungpyae Colombian MyotU Pagoda. -
Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham Calls for Taking Measures to Prevent Under 18-Year Marriage, to Assist in Reducing Unwanted Pregnancies
THENew MOST RELIABLE NEWSPAPER LightAROUND YOU of Myanmar Volume XXI, Number 87 5th Waxing of Waso 1375 ME Friday, 12 July, 2013 Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham calls for taking measures to prevent under 18-year marriage, to assist in reducing unwanted pregnancies Vice-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Dr Sai Mauk Kham addresses ceremony to mark World Population Day.—MNA N AY P YI T AW, 11 the World Population under one and five and he added. July—Vice-President Dr Day 2013 at Thingaha morality rate of pregnant Meanwhile, Myanmar Resident Sai Mauk Kham has called Hotel, here, today, the mothers, he added. should prepare to solve for taking measures to Vice-President said In Myanmar, the upcoming challenges of Repre- prevent marriage under 18- that Myanmar has been population of women aged socio-economy issues as the year and having pregnancy implementing the tasks between 15 and 19 has country’s aged population is sentative before 20 years old and for reproductive health reached about 2.9 million rapidly increasing, expecting for assisting in reducing adopted at the International while the country has a to reach 10% of the country’s of UN- unwanted pregnancies in Conference on Population population of about 60 population in 2015, said Dr FPA Ms attempts to prevent teenage and Development as part million. According to Sai Mauk Kham. pregnancies. of efforts for reducing reproductive health survey He also called on Janet E In his opening speech morality rate of children, in 2007, out of 1000 aged the people to continue to at the ceremony to mark especially children aged beween 15 and 19, 17 girls conserve Myanmar’s fine Jackson. -
Political Monitor No.24
Euro-Burma Office 11-17 August 2012 Political Monitor 2012 POLITICAL MONITOR NO. 24 OFFICIAL MEDIA VICE-PRESIDENT ADDRESSES PEACE-MAKING WORKING COMMITTEE, EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF PEACE TO BURMA’S FUTURE Chairman of the Union-level Peace-making Working Committee Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham addressed the committee at its first ever meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on 12 August. The Vice-President said that the purpose of the meeting was to explain the progress of the government’s peace measures, to rally the participation of all stakeholders in peace making process in regions where initial peace deals have been reached and to acquire suggestions of how to establish peace in regions where it has yet to be established.1 He explained that the peace-making process has 3 steps, which include discussions at 1) the State level, 2) the Union level and 3) the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw level.2 He added that the reason why the government is committing to peace is to develop the socio-economy of the country as the over 50-year armed conflicts have wasted time and wealth of the country. Therefore, he urged efforts to fulfil the socio economy needs of those who exchanged arms for peace. Finally, the Vice-President stated that the government is committed to peace and stressed the importance of peace to bring about the development of Burma and get it off of the LDC list, and called on those present to make an all-out effort to achieve these goals.3 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ISSUES STATEMENT ON KACHIN STATE VISIT, KACHIN WOMEN’S GROUP DEMANDS MHRC CONDUCTS IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION INTO ABUSES The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MHRC) published a statement on 14 August regarding their visit to Kachin State from 23 to 27 July where they met officials from the regional government as well as witnesses of human rights violations. -
Old and New Competition in Myanmar's Electoral Politics
ISSUE: 2019 No. 104 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore |17 December 2019 Old and New Competition in Myanmar’s Electoral Politics Nyi Nyi Kyaw* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Electoral politics in Myanmar has become more active and competitive since 2018. With polls set for next year, the country has seen mergers among ethnic political parties and the establishment of new national parties. • The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party faces more competition than in the run up to the 2015 polls. Then only the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) represented a serious possible electoral rival. • The NLD enjoys the dual advantage of the star power of its chair State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and its status as the incumbent ruling party. • The USDP, ethnic political parties, and new national parties are all potential contenders in the general elections due in late 2020. Among them, only ethnic political parties may pose a challenge to the ruling NLD. * Nyi Nyi Kyaw is Visiting Fellow in the Myanmar Studies Programme of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. He was previously a postdoctoral fellow at the National University of Singapore and Visiting Fellow at the University of Melbourne. 1 ISSUE: 2019 No. 104 ISSN 2335-6677 INTRODUCTION The National League for Democracy (NLD) party government under Presidents U Htin Kyaw and U Win Myint1 and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been in power since March 2016, after it won Myanmar’s November 2015 polls in a landslide. Four years later, the country eagerly awaits its next general elections, due in late 2020. -
Vol 3 No 3 May-Jun 2014.Pmd
Vol 3 No 3 May-June 2014 INSIGHT SOUTHEAST ASIA Looking Eastwards From New Delhi Vietnamese Students at the Temple of Learning, Hanoi Photo Courtesy : Udai Bhanu Singh Southeast Asia & Oceania Centre Bimonthly Newsletter INSTITUTE FOR DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSES Contents Editor: Editor's Note Country Profile Dr. Udai Bhanu Singh Indonesia Commentary China-Vietnam Spat in the South China Sea/East Sea Dr Udai Bhanu Singh Editorial Team: Malaysia-India relations under Narendra Modi's leadership Sampa Kundu Suseela Devi Chandran News Track ASEAN ASEAN-India Northeast India-Look East Policy Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Southeast Asia and Oceania Philippines Centre Singapore Institute for Defence Studies Thailand and Analyses Vietnam Centre Activities for May and June No. 1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantt, New Delhi – 110 010 Tel. (91-11)2671 7983, Fax: (91-11)2615 4191 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.idsa.in 1 EDITOR’S NOTE he developments in the months of May and June are covered in this issue. As readers Twould be aware, although the Newsletter is called Insight Southeast Asia, the intention is to include Oceania as well. This issue carries a country profile of the archipelagic nation, Indonesia. There are two commentaries- one on Malaysia-India relations and another on the China-Vietnam spat in the South China Sea/East Sea. The months of May and June were important for regional organization developments as also development in individual countries. Myanmar got the opportunity to showcase its progress as it went on to host the ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw. -
Revised As of August 5, 2013 Public Disclosure Authorized
Revised as of August 5, 2013 Public Disclosure Authorized THE WORLD BANK GROUP Public Disclosure Authorized 2012 Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors Public Disclosure Authorized Summary Proceedings Tokyo, Japan October 12, 2012 Public Disclosure Authorized 8845_CH00_FM_pi-viii.qxp:8845_CH00_FM_pi-viii 7/25/13 3:43 PM Page i THE WORLD BANK GROUP 2012 ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE BOARDS OF GOVERNORS SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS Tokyo, Japan October 12, 2012 8845_CH00_FM_pi-viii.qxp:8845_CH00_FM_pi-viii 7/29/13 5:26 PM Page ii THE WORLD BANK GROUP Headquarters 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Facsimile: (202) 477-6391 Website: www.worldbank.org 8845_CH00_FM_pi-viii.qxp:8845_CH00_FM_pi-viii 7/25/13 3:43 PM Page iii INTRODUCTORY NOTE The 2012 Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group, which consists of the International Bank for Reconstruc- tion and Development (IBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Development Association (IDA), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), held jointly with that of the International Monetary Fund, took place on October 12, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. The Honorable Riad Toufic Salameh, Governor of the Bank and the Fund for Lebanon served as the Chairman. The Summary Proceedings record, in alphabetical order by member countries, the texts of statements by Governors, the resolutions and reports adopted by the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group. The texts of statements concerning the IMF are published separately by the Fund. Jorge Familiar Vice President and Corporate Secretary THE WORLD BANK GROUP Washington, D.C. -
177 China's Myanmar Dilemma
CHINA’S MYANMAR DILEMMA Asia Report N°177 – 14 September 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... i I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 II. BEIJING NAVIGATES MYANMAR’S POLITICS ..................................................... 2 A. BILATERAL RELATIONS ...............................................................................................................2 B. UNITED NATIONS.........................................................................................................................4 1. The Security Council veto ...........................................................................................................4 2. Beijing’s reaction to the Saffron Revolution ...............................................................................6 3. Ensuring aid after Cyclone Nargis...............................................................................................8 4. Detention and trial of Aung San Suu Kyi ....................................................................................9 C. CHINA AND THE OPPOSITION........................................................................................................9 D. CHINA AND THE ETHNIC GROUPS...............................................................................................10 III. DRIVERS OF CHINESE POLICY.............................................................................. -
San San Win, Dr
Dagon University Research Journal Vol.10 57 Political Development in Myanmar since 2011 San San Win 1 Abstract Since 2011, the new democratic government or semi-civilian government led by President U Thein Sein had conducted democratic reforms which ended fifty years of authoritarian rule. As a result, western countries lifted sanctions and provided economic assistance to Myanmar. Myanmar’s relations with western countries also improved significantly. Besides, under the civilian government since March 2016, a more open democratic environment has emerged. Despite existing challenges, the government has tried hard for democratic transactions under the leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. So, this paper focuses on political development in Myanmar since 2011 under the two democratic governments. Keywords: Myanmar, democracy, reforms, politics, development, relations Research Questions The research questions brought up for this paper are: How did Myanmar’s political culture change from authoritarian rule to democratic one? What are the basic causes for development of cordial relations with western countries? How did the situation of politics under the two democratic governments develop? And what are the challenges for both governments in nation building and foreign policy processes? Research Method This research will be conducted through critical analytical method. Most of the analysis will mainly refer to the newspapers of Myanmar, prior researches, books, periodicals, journals, website & online sources. Hypothesis Since 2011, Myanmar’s political culture peacefully changed from authoritarian rule to democratic one, and both the two democratic governments (USDP and NLD) tried to develop nation building, state building and foreign policy processes. Introduction Since early 2011, Myanmar has embarked on a remarkable path of political and economic reforms, departing from five decades of authoritarian rule. -
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DOUG RICHARDS SEVEN CONTINENTS: SEVEN DECADES Contents Foreword by the author . .9 . 1. From Bhuna to Burma. 11. 2. A dog called Doug . 30 3. 2015 and all that . 43 4. Running reflections and Rio. 54. 5. Brazilian bugs and butterflies. .71 . 6. The problem with wine . 84 7. Cutting it fine in Sydney . 99 8. Don’t be afraid to scare yourself. 115. 9. Red sand and sunsets . 127 10. Family, friends and farming sheep . 143 11. Three score years and ten. 161. 12. Bake, lake and shake. 173. 13. Maxwell hitches a ride . .188 . 14. A whale of a time. .206 . Chapter 1 From Bhuna to Burma ‘And the journey hasn’t ended yet.’ These were the words with which I finished my previous book, Running Hot & Cold, and as it turned out I wasn’t wrong. As before, it was no free-flowing journey through life but the usual mixture of euphoria followed by disappointment, and repeat. Yes, I am the same ageing pensioner who, as a teenage boy who hated running, jumped on a bus when out of sight of his teachers during a school road run, to conserve his youthful energy. The same young man who believed sport was something you watched with a pint in your hand, rather than something you took part in. Even my token attempts at playing cricket were merely a prelude to the shenanigans in the bar after the match. But eventually it caught up with me. Struggling to console a crying child because running up a single flight of steps had left me out of breath, I vowed to run a mile the next morning.