DOCSLIB.ORG

EIA-Report-State-Of-Corruption.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
EIA-Report-State-Of-Corruption.Pdf State of Corruption The top-level conspiracy behind the global trade in Myanmar’s stolen teak February 2019 ©EIAimage Forests ©EIAimage WeACKNOWLEDGEMENTS would like to thank ABOUT EIA EIA UK Above: Forests in Myanmar CONTENTS 62-63 Upper Street, Ximporae.This report Ut was aut written fugitis restiand editedut atia We investigate and campaign against Front cover: Logs rotting in an London N1 0NY UK Introduction 4 nobitby the ium Environmental alici bla cone Investigation consequam environmental crime and abuse. MTE logyard in East Dagon, T: +44 (0) 20 7354 7960 Yangon, March 2013 cusAgency. aci oditaquates This document dolorem has volla Our undercover investigations E: [email protected] Myanmar’s Forests 5 vendam,been produced consequo with molor the financial sin net expose transnational wildlife crime, eia-international.org fugitatur,assistance qui of int UKaid, que nihicthe Norwegian tem with a focus on elephants,elephants andpangolins Myanmar’s Forest Governance Failures 8 aspedAgency quei for oditaquatesDevelopment dolorem tigers,and tigers, and forestand forest crimes crimes such such as vollaCooperation vendam, (NORAD) conseqci and oditaquates the EIA US JMG Foundation. The contents illegalas illegal logging logging and and deforestation deforestation for Case Study: dolorem volla vendam, consequo PO Box 53343 of this publication are the sole cashfor cash crops crops like like palm palm oil. oil.We Wework to molor sin net fugitatur, qui int que Washington DC 20009 USA The Shadow President – King of Burma Teak 14 responsibility of EIA. safeguardwork to safeguard global marine global ecosystemsmarine nihic tem asped quei oditaquates T: +1 202 483 6621 byecosystems addressing by the addressing threats posed the dolorem volla vendam, consuo molor E: [email protected] Ongoing Smuggling into China 30 EIA expresses its gratitude to the bythreats plastic posed pollution, by plastic bycatch pollution, sin net fugitatur, qui int que nihic eia-global.org individuals who have contributed andbycatch commercial and commercial exploitation of tem asped que n nes ape verrovid Stemming the Tide 37 to this report and who for many whales,exploitation dolphins of whales, and porpoises. dolphins maximolorera doles magni tet ea Environmental Investigation Agency reasons must remain anonymous. Finally,and porpoises. we reduce Finally, the impactwe reduce of voluptas enis as de evel ipsam (UK) Ltd. Company Number: 7752350 Recommendations 42 climatethe impact change of climate by campaigning change by dolendit, voluptam endusci psunto VAT Number: 440569842. Registered tocampaigning eliminate powerful to eliminate refrigerant powerful quibusandit, sitaque enture Environmentalin England and InvestigationWales Agency greenhouserefrigerant greenhouse gases, exposing gases, related UK. Company Number: 7752350 VAT illicitexposing trade related and improving illicit trade energy and Number: 440569842. Registered in efficiencyimproving energyin the cooling efficiency sector. in the England and Wales cooling sector. 2 Environmental Investigation Agency State of corruption 3 Myanmar’s Forests GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT UNDER THREAT Diverse and extensive, Myanmar’s forests In recent decades Myanmar has suffered a form part of the ‘Indo-Burma Hotspot’, one deforestation crisis. of the world’s most important biodiversity areas, featuring a huge range of endemic In the 1990s, the country lost 4.3 million 1 5 ©EIAimage flora and fauna. More than 200 globally hectares of forest and a further two threatened species live in Myanmar’s million hectares between 2002-14.6 The forests, including elephants, tigers, sun country reported 546,000 hectares of forest Top left: Teak log being sawn at Kui Jay bears2 and the Myanmar snub-nosed loss between 2010-15, the third highest Corporation, Taiwan, September 2017 monkey.3 rate worldwide.7 Combined, since 1990 Introduction Myanmar has lost about 20 per cent of its Large forests stretch across the forests,8 reducing forest cover to around The forests of Myanmar are defined by their As the depletion of the forest continues, northern states of Sagaing, Kachin and 290,000 sq km, or 45 per cent of its land monetary value and have been part of the timber traders are pushing deeper into Shan, through the southern region of mass.9 military and economic elites’ profits and, Myanmar to secure supplies, undermining Tanintharyi. These forests range from in some cases, survival for decades. The the rule of law with high-level complicity. coastal mangroves near the Bay of Bengal Although the northern states of Sagaing, entire legal state forestry and timber trade Our attention to the international markets to subtropical hardwood forests in the Kachin and Shan have hosted Myanmar’s sectors have been systematically riddled for teak in both the European Union and mountain regions bordering China and largest forests, they have also experienced with fraud, bribery, corruption and other the United States shows that even with Thailand. the most serious forest loss, with Shan forms of illegality for at least two decades, regulations in place to prevent illegally state estimated to have lost more than undermining any governance reform. sourced timber from entering those These forests are an important source 600,000 ha from 2002-14.10 markets, traders continue to find ways to of food and fuel for Myanmar’s people, Current laws seem to seek the get Myanmar teak to multi-millionaire 70 per cent of whom live in rural areas Deforestation has been accompanied by criminalisation of local people and owners of yachts whose manufacturers where forests underpin basic livelihoods.4 widespread forest degradation, with just through all its policies on resource display an almost ideological obsession Forests remain important to the cultural a third of Myanmar’s forests remaining extraction, including timber, the with Myanmar teak. identity of Myanmar’s many ethnic intact. Government is undermining communities’ groups, whose ancestral beliefs sustain reliance on resources while at the same The Government still promotes as legal indigenous systems that have prevailed Timber extraction is considered the time introducing a centralised system MTE-authorised trade in timber which main driver of forest degradation inside of management they are unable to is part of a large stockpile that has been for centuries. the country’s forest reserve areas. implement, creating even more conflict. held prior to the logging ban, ignoring the Overharvesting has been “long term and decades of corruption and overharvesting systematic, persisting until forests are From 1989 to the present day, Myanmar’s that produced it. exhausted”.25 Nominally legal forestry past military regimes and its current operations by MTE and its subcontractors Government have presented the teak trade In light of this, and with corruption still – which prioritised revenue generation regulated by the forestry department and greasing the wheel of the illegal border – have not allowed forests to recover implemented by the state-run Myanmar trade into China, Myanmar’s people remain between cycles of harvesting.11 Illegal Timber Enterprise (MTE) as being wholly reliant on the goodwill of international logging is also a major contributor to forest legal and sustainable, conducted in trade partners in helping enforce forestry loss in Myanmar, with EIA investigations compliance with the rule of law. This is and timber trade provisions. in 2014/15 revealing how Myanmar’s simply not the case. military and ethnic armed organisations Of all the irregularities encountered both profit from the massive illegal timber A two-year undercover investigation by in Myanmar’s formal teak sector, EIA’s trade.12 the Environmental Investigation Agency findings illustrate how Myanmar teak sold (EIA) into a near-mythic ‘Burmese teak through formal channels is as corrupt and kingpin’ who conspired with and bribed illegal as any blatantly smuggled across the most senior military and Government the border into China. officials in Myanmar has revealed how Far left: Teak tree he was able to establish a secret off-the- Myanmar cannot reform this multi- books system of fraudulent trade in the layered, complex but highly organised Left: Snub-nosed monkey cream of the country’s teak logs. This was international timber trade by itself and 1. International Union for the Conservation of Nature, On the verge of extinction: A look at endangered species in the Indo-Burma Hotspot, run in parallel to, and within, the official it is crucial that the past years of gross 2015. 2. BBC, Viewpoint: Why Burma’s forests must be preserved, 2013. legal trade administered by MTE. corruption and deceit are acknowledged 3. https://www.fauna-flora.org/species/myanmar-snub-nosed-monkey and addressed. 4. Khin Htun, Myanmar Forestry Outlook Study, UNFAO Working Paper No. APFSOS II/WP/2009/07, 2009. 5. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Criminal justice response to wildlife and forest crime in Myanmar: A Rapid Assessment, 2015. Our investigations also took us to the 6. Bhagwat et al, Losing a Jewel – Rapid Declines in Myanmar’s intact forests from 2002-2014, 2017. 7. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015, 2016. Myanmar-China border where, other than For a natural resource so beloved and 8. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010: Country Report Myanmar, 2010 and the state of Myanmar itself, China has culturally important to Myanmar and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015: Country Report Myanmar, 2015. 9. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015: Country Report Myanmar, 2015. played the biggest role of any nation in the its people as teak, allowing its near- 10. Bhagwat et al, Losing a Jewel – Rapid Declines in Myanmar’s intact forests from 2002-2014, 2017. illegal expropriation of Myanmar teak and extinction would be the biggest crime of 11. Thorsten Treue, Oliver Springate-Baginski and Kyaw Htun, Legally and Illegally Logged Out: Extent and Drivers of Deforestation & Forest Degradation in Myanmar, 2016.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Import Law Dekkhina and President U Win Myint Were and S: 25 of the District Detained
    Current No. Name Sex /Age Father's Name Position Date of Arrest Section of Law Plaintiff Address Remark Condition Superintendent Myanmar Military Seizes Power Kyi Lin of and Senior NLD leaders S: 8 of the Export Special Branch, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Import Law Dekkhina and President U Win Myint were and S: 25 of the District detained. The NLD’s chief Natural Disaster Administrator ministers and ministers in the Management law, (S: 8 and 67), states and regions were also 1 (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi F General Aung San State Counsellor (Chairman of NLD) 1-Feb-21 Penal Code - Superintendent House Arrest Naypyitaw detained. 505(B), S: 67 of Myint Naing Arrested State Counselor Aung the (S: 25), U Soe San Suu Kyi has been charged in Telecommunicatio Soe Shwe (S: Rangoon on March 25 under ns Law, Official 505 –b), Section 3 of the Official Secrets Secret Act S:3 Superintendent Act. Aung Myo Lwin (S: 3) Myanmar Military Seizes Power S: 25 of the and Senior NLD leaders Natural Disaster including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Superintendent Management law, and President U Win Myint were Myint Naing, Penal Code - detained. The NLD’s chief 2 (U) Win Myint M U Tun Kyin President (Vice Chairman-1 of NLD) 1-Feb-21 Dekkhina House Arrest Naypyitaw 505(B), S: 67 of ministers and ministers in the District the states and regions were also Administrator Telecommunicatio detained. ns Law Myanmar Military Seizes Power and Senior NLD leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint were detained.
    [Show full text]
  • Shwe U Daung and the Burmese Sherlock Holmes: to Be a Modern Burmese Citizen Living in a Nation‐State, 1889 – 1962
    Shwe U Daung and the Burmese Sherlock Holmes: To be a modern Burmese citizen living in a nation‐state, 1889 – 1962 Yuri Takahashi Southeast Asian Studies School of Languages and Cultures Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences The University of Sydney April 2017 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Statement of originality This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge, the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purposes. I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources has been acknowledged. Yuri Takahashi 2 April 2017 CONTENTS page Acknowledgements i Notes vi Abstract vii Figures ix Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Biography Writing as History and Shwe U Daung 20 Chapter 2 A Family after the Fall of Mandalay: Shwe U Daung’s Childhood and School Life 44 Chapter 3 Education, Occupation and Marriage 67 Chapter ‘San Shar the Detective’ and Burmese Society between 1917 and 1930 88 Chapter 5 ‘San Shar the Detective’ and Burmese Society between 1930 and 1945 114 Chapter 6 ‘San Shar the Detective’ and Burmese Society between 1945 and 1962 140 Conclusion 166 Appendix 1 A biography of Shwe U Daung 172 Appendix 2 Translation of Pyone Cho’s Buddhist songs 175 Bibliography 193 i ACKNOWLEGEMENTS I came across Shwe U Daung’s name quite a long time ago in a class on the history of Burmese literature at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Burma – Myanmar
    BURMA COUNTRY READER TABLE OF CONTENTS Jerome Holloway 1947-1949 Vice Consul, Rangoon Edwin Webb Martin 1950-1051 Consular Officer, Rangoon Joseph A. Mendenhall 1955-1957 Economic Officer, Office of Southeast Asian Affairs, Washington DC William C. Hamilton 1957-1959 Political Officer, Rangoon Arthur W. Hummel, Jr. 1957-1961 Public Affairs Officer, USIS, Rangoon Kenneth A. Guenther 1958-1959 Rangoon University, Rangoon Cliff Forster 1958-1960 Information Officer, USIS, Rangoon Morton Smith 1958-1963 Public Affairs Officer, USIS, Rangoon Morton I. Abramowitz 1959 Temporary Duty, Economic Officer, Rangoon Jack Shellenberger 1959-1962 Branch Public Affairs Officer, USIS, Moulmein John R. O’Brien 1960-1962 Public Affairs Officer, USIS, Rangoon Robert Mark Ward 1961 Assistant Desk Officer, USAID, Washington, DC George M. Barbis 1961-1963 Analyst for Thailand and Burma, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Washington DC Robert S. Steven 1962-1964 Economic Officer, Rangoon Ralph J. Katrosh 1962-1965 Political Officer, Rangoon Ruth McLendon 1962-1966 Political/Consular Officer, Rangoon Henry Byroade 1963-1969 Ambassador, Burma 1 John A. Lacey 1965-1966 Burma-Cambodia Desk Officer, Washington DC Cliff Southard 1966-1969 Public Affairs Officer, USIS, Rangoon Edward C. Ingraham 1967-1970 Political Counselor, Rangoon Arthur W. Hummel Jr. 1968-1971 Ambassador, Burma Robert J. Martens 1969-1970 Political – Economic Officer, Rangoon G. Eugene Martin 1969-1971 Consular Officer, Rangoon 1971-1973 Burma Desk Officer, Washington DC Edwin Webb Martin 1971-1973 Ambassador, Burma John A. Lacey 1972-1975 Deputy Chief of Mission, Rangoon James A. Klemstine 1973-1976 Thailand-Burma Desk Officer, Washington DC Frank P. Coward 1973-1978 Cultural Affairs Officer, USIS, Rangoon Richard M.
    [Show full text]
  • Th E Phaungtaw-U Festival
    NOTES TH_E PHAUNGTAW-U FESTIVAL by SAO SAIMONG* Of the numerous Buddhist festivals in Burma, the Phaungtaw-u Pwe (or 'Phaungtaw-u Festival') is among the most famous. I would like to say a few words on its origins and how the Buddhist religion, or 'Buddha Sii.sanii.', came to Burma, particularly this part of Burma, the Shan States. To Burma and Thailand the term 'Buddha Sii.sanii.' can only mean the Theravii.da Sii.sanii. or simply the 'Sii.sanii.'. I Since Independence this part of Burma has been called 'Shan State'. During the time of the Burmese monarchy it was known as Shanpyi ('Shan Country', pronounced 'Shanpye'). When th~ British came the whole unit was called Shan States because Shanpyi was made up of states of various sizes, from more than 10,000 square miles to a dozen square miles. As I am dealing mostly with the past in this short talk I shall be using this term Shan States. History books of Burma written in English and accessible to the outside world tell us that the Sii.sanii. in its purest form was brought to Pagan as the result of the conversion by the Mahii.thera Arahan of King Aniruddha ('Anawrahtii.' in Burmese) who then proceeded to conquer Thaton (Suddhammapura) in AD 1057 and brought in more monks and the Tipitaka, enabling the Sii.sanii. to be spread to the rest of the country. We are not told how Thaton itself obtained the Sii.sanii.. The Mahavamsa and chronicles in Burma and Thailand, however, tell us that the Sii.sanii.
    [Show full text]
  • No 667/2005 of 28 April 2005 Amending Council Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 Renewing the Restrictive Measures in Respect of Burma/Myanmar
    29.4.2005EN Official Journal of the European Union L 108/35 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 667/2005 of 28 April 2005 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 renewing the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (4) Article 12(b) of Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 empowers the Commission to amend Annexes III and IV on the Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European basis of decisions taken in respect of Annexes I and II Community, to Common Position 2004/423/CFSP (2), renewing restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar. Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 of 26 April 2004 renewing the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar (1), and in particular Article 12 thereof, (5) Common Position 2005/340/CFSP (3) amends Annexes I and II to Common Position 2004/423/CFSP. Annexes III Whereas: and IV to Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 should, therefore, be amended accordingly. In order to ensure (1) Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 lists the that the measures provided for in this Regulation are competent authorities to which specific functions effective, this Regulation must enter into force imme- related to the implementation of that regulation are diately, attributed. Article 12(a) of Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 empowers the Commission to amend Annex II on the basis of information supplied by Member States. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands and Sweden have informed the Commission of changes regarding their competent authorities. Annex II to Regulation (EC) No Article 1 798/2004 should, therefore, be amended.
    [Show full text]
  • Colonial Burma As a 'Problem' in South Asian History
    This is a repository copy of Is it in India? Colonial Burma as a 'Problem' in South Asian History. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/90305/ Version: Accepted Version Article: Saha, J (2015) Is it in India? Colonial Burma as a 'Problem' in South Asian History. South Asian History and Culture, 7 (1). pp. 23-29. ISSN 1947-2498 https://doi.org/10.1080/19472498.2015.1109310 Reuse Unless indicated otherwise, fulltext items are protected by copyright with all rights reserved. The copyright exception in section 29 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 allows the making of a single copy solely for the purpose of non-commercial research or private study within the limits of fair dealing. The publisher or other rights-holder may allow further reproduction and re-use of this version - refer to the White Rose Research Online record for this item. Where records identify the publisher as the copyright holder, users can verify any specific terms of use on the publisher’s website. Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. [email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Is it in India? Colonial Burma as a ‘Problem’ in South Asian History J. Saha School of History, University of Leeds, Leeds Abstract Despite being governed as an integral part of the Indian Empire for over fifty years, it is commonplace for historians to consider Myanmar/Burma as a distinct entity beyond what is usually taken to be South Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • Industry-1 Minister Inspects Win Thuza Shops, No 2 Soap Factory In
    Established 1914 Volume XV, Number 266 14th Waning of Nadaw 1369 ME Monday, 7 January, 2008 Industry-1 Minister inspects Four political objectives * Stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, prevalence of law and order Win Thuza Shops, No 2 * National reconsolidation * Emergence of a new enduring State Con- stitution Soap Factory in Mayangon * Building of a new modern developed na- tion in accord with the new State Consti- tution Four economic objectives * Development of agriculture as the base and all-round development of other sectors of the economy as well * Proper evolution of the market-oriented economic system * Development of the economy inviting par- ticipation in terms of technical know-how and investments from sources inside the country and abroad * The initiative to shape the national economy must be kept in the hands of the State and the national peoples Four social objectives * Uplift of the morale and morality of the entire nation * Uplift of national prestige and integrity and preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage and national charac- Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung visits Win Thuza Shop in Mayangon ter Township.—INDUSTRY-1 * Uplift of dynamism of patriotic spirit * Uplift of health, fitness and education YANGON, 6 Jan— gave instructions on Industries in Hline Committee member Min- standards of the entire nation Minister for Industry-1 U avoiding the shortage of Township, the minister ister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, accompa- items inspected the mainte- Aung Thaung visited No nied by departmental of- The minister also vis- nance of machines and 2 War Veterans Village The minister and party with GMP system.
    [Show full text]
  • Myanmar Illicit Timber Trade Report 15
    Non-sales unedited © United Nations, November 2015. All rights reserved, worldwide. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This publication has not been formally edited. Cover Page Photo: © Stephen Carmody TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Illegal Timber Trade in Myanmar ................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Illegal Wildlife Trade in Myanmar ................................................................................................. 4 2. RESPONSES TO WILDLIFE AND FOREST CRIME ............................................................................... 6 2.1 Competent Law Enforcement Authorities .................................................................................... 6 2.2 Legal Framework for Investigation and Prosecution .................................................................. 11 2.3 Measuring the Impact of Enforcement Activities ....................................................................... 15 3. UNODC PROGRAMME IN MYANMAR ..........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Responsible and Inclusive Business in Myanmar
    Responsible and Inclusive Business in Myanmar Richard Welford Miriam Zieger Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is provided for general purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date at the time of publishing, CSR Asia accepts no responsibility for any loss that may arise due to information contained in this publication. © CSR Asia 2013 RESPONSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE BUSINESS IN MYANMAR Responsible and Inclusive Business in Myanmar June 2013 Richard Welford and Miriam Zieger ABOUT CSR ASIA CSRABOUT Asia CSRis the ASIA leading provider of training, research and consultancy services on sustainableCSR Asia business is the practicesleading inprovider Asia. Throughof training, our officesresearch in Beijing,and consultancy Hong Kong, services Kuala on Lumpur,sustainable Shenzhen business and practices Singapore in A sia.and Through our partnerships our offices inin Beijing,Vietnam, Hong Thailand Kong, andKuala BangladeshLumpur, CSRShenzhen Asia buildsand Singaporecapacity an dand promotes our partnerships awareness ofin CSR Vietnam, in order Thailand to advance and sustainableBangladesh development CSR Asia acrossbuilds thecapacity region. and promotes awareness of CSR in order to advance sustainable development across the region. For feedback or more information please contact: OfficeFor feedback or more information please contact:A, 15/F, WingOffice Cheong A, Commercial Building,15/F, 19-Wing25 Cheong Jervois Commercial Building,Street, Sheung19-25 Wan, Jervois Hong KongStreet, Tel:Sheung +852Wan, 3579Hong 8079Kong Tel: +852 3579 8079 $ enquiry@csr -asia.com [email protected] www.csr-asia.com RESPONSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE BUSINESS IN MYANMAR PREFACE I first visited Myanmar over twenty years ago and to this day I remember the warmth of the people and the beauty of the natural environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Myanmar Maneuvers How to Break Political-Criminal Alliances in Contexts of Transition
    United Nations University Centre for Policy Research Crime-Conflict Nexus Series: No 9 April 2017 Myanmar Maneuvers How to Break Political-Criminal Alliances in Contexts of Transition Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution This material has been funded by UK aid from the UK government; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. © 2017 United Nations University. All Rights Reserved. ISBN 978-92-808-9040-2 Myanmar Maneuvers How to Break Political-Criminal Alliances in Contexts of Transition 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Myanmar case study analyzes the complex interactions between illegal economies -conflict and peace. Particular em- phasis is placed on understanding the effects of illegal economies on Myanmar’s political transitions since the early 1990s, including the current period, up through the first year of the administration of Aung San Suu Kyi. Described is the evolu- tion of illegal economies in drugs, logging, wildlife trafficking, and gems and minerals as well as land grabbing and crony capitalism, showing how they shaped and were shaped by various political transitions. Also examined was the impact of geopolitics and the regional environment, particularly the role of China, both in shaping domestic political developments in Myanmar and dynamics within illicit economies. For decades, Burma has been one of the world’s epicenters of opiate and methamphetamine production. Cultivation of poppy and production of opium have coincided with five decades of complex and fragmented civil war and counterinsur- gency policies. An early 1990s laissez-faire policy of allowing the insurgencies in designated semi-autonomous regions to trade any products – including drugs, timber, jade, and wildlife -- enabled conflict to subside.
    [Show full text]
  • B COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 194/2008 of 25 February
    2008R0194 — EN — 21.12.2011 — 009.001 — 1 This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents ►B COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 194/2008 of 25 February 2008 renewing and strengthening the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar and repealing Regulation (EC) No 817/2006 (OJ L 66, 10.3.2008, p. 1) Amended by: Official Journal No page date ►M1 Commission Regulation (EC) No 385/2008 of 29 April 2008 L 116 5 30.4.2008 ►M2 Commission Regulation (EC) No 353/2009 of 28 April 2009 L 108 20 29.4.2009 ►M3 Commission Regulation (EC) No 747/2009 of 14 August 2009 L 212 10 15.8.2009 ►M4 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1267/2009 of 18 December 2009 L 339 24 22.12.2009 ►M5 Council Regulation (EU) No 408/2010 of 11 May 2010 L 118 5 12.5.2010 ►M6 Commission Regulation (EU) No 411/2010 of 10 May 2010 L 118 10 12.5.2010 ►M7 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 383/2011 of 18 April L 103 8 19.4.2011 2011 ►M8 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 891/2011 of 1 L 230 1 7.9.2011 September 2011 ►M9 Council Regulation (EU) No 1083/2011 of 27 October 2011 L 281 1 28.10.2011 ►M10 Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1345/2011 of 19 December L 338 19 21.12.2011 2011 Corrected by: ►C1 Corrigendum, OJ L 198, 26.7.2008, p. 74 (385/2008) 2008R0194 — EN — 21.12.2011 — 009.001 — 2 ▼B COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 194/2008 of 25 February 2008 renewing and strengthening the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar and repealing Regulation (EC) No 817/2006 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN
    [Show full text]
  • BASELINE STUDY 4, MYANMAR: Overview of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade
    BASELINE STUDY 4, MYANMAR: Overview of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade August 2011 Regional Support Programme for the EU FLEGT Action Plan in Asia Background The European Commission (EC) published a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in 2003. FLEGT aims not simply to reduce illegal deforestation, but in promoting good forest governance, aims to contribute to poverty eradication and sustainable management of natural resources. The European Forest Institute (EFI), an international research organisation with its headquarters in Finland, conducts, advocates and facilitates forest research networking at the pan-European level. Under its Policy & Governance programme, the EFI assists in the EU’s implementation of the FLEGT Action Plan. In 2007, the EU FLEGT Facility was established, hosted and managed by the EFI. The Facility (i) supports the bilateral process between the EU and tropical producing countries towards signing and implementing “Voluntary Partnership Agreements” (VPAs) under the FLEGT Action Plan, and (ii) executes the regional support programme for the EU FLEGT Action Plan in Asia. The FLEGT Asia Regional Office (FLEGT Asia) of the EFI’s EU FLEGT Facility was formally established in October 2009. FLEGT Asia seeks to collaborate and build synergies with existing regional initiatives and partners in Asia. The EU FLEGT Facility is managed and implemented by the EFI in close collaboration with the EU. Goal of FLEGT Asia The goal of the FLEGT Asia Regional Programme is the promotion of good forest governance, contributing to poverty eradication and sustainable management of natural resources in Asia, through direct support of the implementation of the EU’s FLEGT Action Plan.
    [Show full text]