Govt seeks to define "political prisoner"
A government-backed parliamentary committee will be set up to define the term "political prisoner", following President Thein Sein's July pledge to release all such prisoners by the end of the year. The move was discussed at a meeting last Friday between
“Community-based organisations and political parties are required to work together to find a comprehensive definition of political prisoners. It will then be passed as law,” said Bo Kyi, joint-secretary for the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
US to help ease Myanmar into Asean Economic Community
The United States will provide assistance to Myanmar to participate in the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
The AEC is scheduled to launch on December 31, 2015 and aims to bring regional economic integration. Myanmar’s Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development is tasked with involving Myanmar in the AEC, despite lagging in preparations compared to its neighbours.
Local firms pour over Bt23 bn into construction
Local companies have invested over 713 billion kyat (Bt32.1 billion) in the construction sector, mainly in apartment blocks in Yangon, according to officials. The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration said its figures showed investment in the real-estate market by Myanmar companies is topping that of foreign firms. “Lately apartment buildings, office apartments and hotels have been constructed mostly by local investors,” said Than Myint, chairman of the Committee for Quality Control of High-rise Building Projects.
In Yangon, the 34-floor Diamond Inya Palace, the 27-floor Diamond Valley Rise apartments, and large housing projects Yadana and Ayeyarwon, and 51st street and Shwedon, are all under construction.
