- THEIN SEIN AMONG 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE!
- SANCTIONS EASED, BUSINESS CAN’T WAIT!
- THEIN SEIN’S ONE YEAR ACHIEVEMENTS!
- U AUNG MIN VISITS KARENNI!
- WILL THE LADY ATTEND PARLIAMENT?
Cartoon
Tips for politicians: Would you like the remark if you were in the people’s shoes?
Think Piece
The lack of skilled people in the relevant ministries means reform will not happen overnight.
Asia Sentinel, 16 April 2012
We have 4,124 reasons here why we don’t trust ceasefire.
Saw Nya Ter, whose land was confiscated and sold by the military in 2006, Bangkok Post, 22 April 2012
The World
17 April 2012
Beginning July, Thailand will serve as country coordinator for Asean-China relations, in turbulence due to South China Sea disputes. (TN)
19 April 2012
Survey by the University of Chicago on the number of people who believe in God:
The Philippines 94%
Chile 88%
USA 81%
Atheism widespread in Scandinavia and former Soviet Union. Belief in God generally declining worldwide, but not in Russia, Slovenia or Israel. (AFP/Bangkok Post)
21 April 2012
Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda, who meet the leaders of 5 Mekong countries, in Tokyo, pledges to provide ($ 7.5 billion) in development aid until 2015.
Tokyo also presents a list of 57 infrastructure projects planned in the region. They include:
- roadway connecting Burma to Thaialnd
- East-West economic corridor
- Development of deep sea port and industrial zone in Dawei
(Bangkok Post)
International Relations
17 April 2012
Kurt Campbell, US Assistant Secretary of State hold talks with Gautam Bambawale, joint Secretary of external affairs. Topics include democratization in Burma and China’s assertiveness in South China Sea, which India claims as the property of the world. (Nerve. In)
17 April 2012
US Treasury issues license authorizing financial transactions of a range of non-profit projects and programs in areas such as good governance, health, education and sport. (Reuters)
18 April 2012
Aung San Suu Kyi is planning to visit Norway in June, says Norwegian foreign ministry. Reports for Burma however say she has yet to receive a passport. (BBC News)
Thai-Burma Relations
19 April 2012
Myawaddy district authorities is traveling to territory held by DKBA to identify possible resettlement locations for Thai-based refugees, according to DKBA officials. (DVB)
20 April 2012
Minimum wages in Burma increased this month, 1,500 baht to 3,000 baht a month. This compares to about 5,100 baht in Vietnam and 2,700 baht in Cambodia, says Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). It estimates 3.5 million Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, compared with a combined 200,000 from Combodia and Laos. As the minimum wage in Burma is still one fourth of Thailand. FTI Vice Chiangmai Tanit Sorat thinks it might be 5 years before a significant number of Burmese workers leaving Thailand. (Bangkok Post)
19 April 2012
Deputy-labor minister Myint Theint meets Thai labor minister Phadermchai Sasomsap to discuss hiring of 200,000 Burmese workers to fill positions in Thailand, according to Anusorn Kraiwatnusorn, adviser to Thai labor ministry. Burma also requests extension of Nationality Verification (NV) period for Burmese nationals working in Thailand from the earlier deadline 14 June, due to delay in opening the NV centers in Bangkok, Samut Prokam, Samut Sakhon, Chiangmai and Surat Thani. The center should begin work next week. (Bangkok Nation)
20 April 2012
In his first press briefing with Bangkok-based media, deputy labor minister Myint Thein says Naypyitaw’s mission is to ensure overseas migrants receive standard rights protection and can still send money home, more than $ 3.6 billion. (Bangkok Post)
Politics/ Inside Burma
17 April 2012
Editorial in New Light of Myanmar recounts achievements made during the past year:
- Free and fair by-elections
- Some sanctions “lifted”
- Parliament acting as check and balance
- Peace talks and agreements
- New legislation to lure more foreign direct investments in the making
- Foreign exchange rate allowed to float
- More transparency to boost “good governance and clean government”
(Mizzima)
Ethnic Affairs
9 April 2012
National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) Khaplang faction signs 5 point agreement with Union level peacemaking group. (New Light of Myanmar) Nagas have Nagaland state in India and Naga Self Administered Zone in Sagaing Region – Editor
11 April 2012
New Mon State Party (NMSP) and U Aung Min meet in Moulmein to discuss deployment of troops and local development. (DVB)
16 April 2012
42 KIA soldiers (militiamen not soldiers, according to KIA) surrender to the Burmese military. (Irrawaddy)
19 April 2012
United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an 11 member alliance, says it is now ready to meet U Aung Min, Naypyitaw’s chief negotiator, who has offered to parley with it since December 2011. (SHAN/Agencies)
21 April 2012
U Aung Min, one of Naypyitaw’s two chief negotiators, meets Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) in Maehongson. He has no plans to meet other groups, including the Shan State Army (SSA) and the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). (SHAN)
Shans/ Shan State
11 April 2012
Shan State Army delegation meets Burma Army’s Triangle Region Command in Kengtung on how best to implement the agreements made in December and January. The two sides agree to clear up different interpretations of the agreements next month. (SHAN)
17 April 2012
United Wa State Army (UWSA) holds 23rd anniversary of “peace building” with a military parade at Mongpawk. (DVB)
19 April 2012
Ten monasteries in Shan State ordered evicted from Mya Sein Taung (near Taunggyi) on 27 March by the Sangha Nayaka Council, saying they were within the premises of Eastern Region Command. (DVB)
22 April 2012
U Aung Min talks to PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO) via phone. The two sides hope to hold a formal state-level meeting next month, according to PNLO secretary Khun Myint Tun. (SHAN)
Economy/ Business
20 April 2012
A Chinese company building the pipelines is rerouting the Namtu river. Four residents have lost their land after “renting” it to the company. (DVB / SHAN)
Human Rights
14 April 2012
Three Air Force officers in Mergui sentenced to 7-20 years in prison on April 9 for violating the Electronic Act. One of them is Captain Nay Lin Dwe. (RFA)
17 April 2012
Reverend Gambira, after being refused sanctuary by several monasteries, disrobes, says his mother Daw Yay. (Irrawaddy)
20 April 2012
Local people in Namkham township against creation of a development zone including a bridge across the Ruili into China. Beijing’s HAHA, together with Burma’s May Hung and Pwint Phyo, have proposed 35,000 acres to be reserved for the project. Many are going to lose their lands, says Sai Kyaw Ohn, MP. (DVB)
19 April 2012
Time magazine’s list of 100 most Influential People for 2012 includes Thein Sein but miss out on Aung San Suu Kyi. (Irrawaddy)
Drug
20 April 2012
Thailand announces 12 million baht ($ 400,000) bounty for 25 drug smugglers including:
Naw Kham 2,000,000 baht ($ 66,666)
Yishay 1,000,000 baht ($ 33,333)
Nakhanmway 1,000,000 baht ($ 33,333)
(Statement)
War
18 April 2012
Two clashes between Manpang People’s Militia Force (PMF) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Lashio township’s Mongyaw and Panghoong. (SHAN)
19 April 2012
India successfully test-fired Agni-V nuclear-capable rocket with a range of more than 5,000 km. (Agencies)
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