Myanmar citizens' international freedom lowest in Asean

According to the annual global ranking of countries based on the freedom of travel enjoyed by their citizens, among Asean member states, Myanmar is at the bottom of the chart.

The Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index 2014 showed that people holding a Myanmar passport can travel to 42 countries without a visa, putting the country at the 86th among 219 countries. 

Top of the chart among Asean countries is Singapore. The country moved up a spot to be ranked fifth in the world – tying with Switzerland and New Zealand. Last year, free-visa access was granted by 167 countries. 

Singapore moves ahead of Greece and Australia, both of whom it previously shared sixth position with in the last index. 

Its ranking is the highest among Asean countries, showing the highest international freedom for its citizens. Trailing behind is Malaysia, at the 8th spot in the global ranking, as Malaysian passport holders can travel to 166 countries without the need to apply for a visa.

In the third place among Asean members, Brunei's passport allows its citizens visa-free travel to 150 countries.

In the fourth place in Asean, Thailand sees its global ranking at 62, with visa-free travel granted by just 69 countries. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, Henley & Partners noted that a Singaporean passport allows "easier access to key destinations" such as the US, Canada, Australia, India and China.

For instance, Singapore is one of a handful of countries together with Japan and Brunei to be allowed visa-free access (of not more than 15 days) to China, while it is only the sixth nation to be granted the use of Australia's SmartGate automated border processing system.

At the top of the Index, jointly, were Finland, Sweden, Germany, the United States and Britain. Citizens of these countries are able to travel visa-free to 174 destinations.

 

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Yangon New Town Project cancelled

Deutsche Presse-Agentur

The mayor of Yangon today cancelled an US$8 billion project to expand Myanmar's biggest city after a public outcry over the scheme's lack of transparency.

The Yangon regional government in August announced a plan to build a massive new town on 30,000 acres (12,140 hectares) of land on the western edge of Yangon. It awarded the tender to Myanmar Say Ta Nar Myothit Public Co Ltd, which was registered as a business in December. 

Following an outcry over the lack of information that had been made public about the deal, Yangon Mayor Hla Myint said earlier this month that the authorities would re-open the contract for an open-tender process.

But just hours before a debate on the city project began in the regional assembly on Friday, he announced it had been scrapped. 

"The Yangon regional government cancels the project and also a contract with Myanmar Say Ta Nar Myothit Plc," Hla Myint told the regional parliament.

Lawmakers welcomed the announcement.

"They [Yangon authorities] should try to get approval for such a big project from parliament and choose the developer with transparency," said Nyo Nyo Thin, a regional lawmaker.

"They should not treat the people of Myanmar like idiots," she said.

 

 

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Rakhine women hold placards reading ‘Stop violence on Woman’, ‘Protect the life of women’, ‘No violence to get peace in Rakhine State’ as they march to mark the International Peace Day on September 21./EPA 

 

 

 

Ceasefire optimism rises 

Myanmar Eleven

The Union Peace-making Work Committee, Nationwide Ceasefire Coordinating Team and representatives of political parties will hold tripartite talks for the second time tomorrow when they meet at the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon.

The invitations were sent out while negotiators from the Union government and armed ethnic groups were ironing out the final details of a nationwide ceasefire agreement at a series of meetings that began on September 22. 

Tun Tun Hein, a member of the executive committee of National League for Democracy party, said the NLD had been invited and it would attend. He said the invitation letter provided little information about the agenda for the talks.

Zo Zam, chairman of the Chin National Democracy Party, hinted that the meeting might discuss the final draft of the nationwide ceasefire agreement. He described the talks that began on September 22 as “exciting” and said they were progressing better than expected. “In my opinion, we were expected to fail, but we have overcome many obstacles,” Zo Zam said.

“There is no turning back now,” he said, adding that it was negotiators from the Union Peace-making Work Committee who suggested a second meeting with representatives of political parties should be held. Representatives of political parties were invited to a meeting with Union and ethnic peace negotiators for the first time on August 18.

The meeting focused on issues related to local peace, attendees said.

Negotiators from the Union government and armed ethnic groups have committed to holding a meeting to iron out a framework for political dialogue between the two sides within 60 days of signing a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The political dialogue – expected to focus on federalism and resource-sharing agreements – is scheduled to begin within 90 days of the signing of the ceasefire and to proceed within the agreed upon framework.

Prior to the meetings that began on September 22, representatives from both sides expressed optimism that they would agree upon a final draft of the nationwide ceasefire agreement, which some have described as a vital – but far from final – step to ending the 60 years of civil war that has plagued Myanmar’s independence.

 

 

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Yangon New Town Project cancelled

Deutsche Presse-Agentur

The mayor of Yangon today cancelled an 8-billion-dollar project to expand Myanmar's biggest city after a public outcry over the scheme's lack of transparency.

The Yangon regional government in August announced a plan to build a massive new town on 30,000 acres (12,140 hectares) of land on the western edge of Yangon. It awarded the tender to Myanmar Say Ta Nar Myothit Public Co Ltd, which was registered as a business in December. 

Following an outcry over the lack of information that had been made public about the deal, Yangon Mayor Hla Myint said earlier this month that the authorities would re-open the contract for an open tender process.

But just hours before a debate on the city project began in the regional assembly on Friday, he announced it had been scrapped. 

"The Yangon regional government cancels the project and also acontract with Myanmar Say Ta Nar Myothit Plc," Hla Myint told the regional parliament.

Lawmakers welcomed the announcement.

"They (Yangon authority) should try to get approval for such a big project from parliament and choose the developer with transparency," said Nyo Nyo Thin, a regional lawmaker.

"They should not treat the people of Myanmar like idiots," she said.

 

 

-

 

31594521

Rakhine women hold placards reading Stop violence on Woman, Protect the life of women, No violence to get peace in Rakhine State as they march to mark the International Peace Day on September 21./EPA 

 

 

 

Ceasefire optimism rises 

Myanmar Eleven

The Union Peace-making Work Committee, Nationwide Ceasefire Coordinating Team and representatives of political parties will hold tripartite talks for the second time tomorrow when they meet at the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon.

The invitations were sent out while negotiators from the Union government and armed ethnic groups were ironing out the final details of a nationwide ceasefire agreement at a series of meetings that began on September 22. 

Tun Tun Hein, a member of the executive committee of National League for Democracy party, said the NLD had been invited and it would attend. He said the invitation letter provided little information about the agenda for the talks.

Zo Zam, chairman of the Chin National Democracy Party, hinted that the meeting might discuss the final draft of the nationwide ceasefire agreement. He described the talks that began on September 22 as “exciting” and said they were progressing better than expected. “In my opinion, we were expected to fail, but we have overcome many obstacles,” Zo Zam said.

“There is no turning back now,” he said, adding that it was negotiators from the Union Peace-making Work Committee who suggested a second meeting with representatives of political parties should be held. Representatives of political parties were invited to a meeting with Union and ethnic peace negotiators for the first time on August 18.

The meeting focused on issues related to local peace, attendees said.

Negotiators from the Union government and armed ethnic groups have committed to holding a meeting to iron out a framework for political dialogue between the two sides within 60 days of signing a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The political dialogue – expected to focus on federalism and resource-sharing agreements – is scheduled to begin within 90 days of the signing of the ceasefire and to proceed within the agreed upon framework.

Prior to the meetings that began on September 22, representatives from both sides expressed optimism that they would agree upon a final draft of the nationwide ceasefire agreement, which some have described as a vital – but far from final – step to ending the 60 years of civil war that has plagued Myanmar’s independence.