Week in Review: Myanmar
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World Heritage The government is planning to add the southern slopes of Hkakabo Razi (5,881 metres) into its list of protected areas, with the aim of adding it to the Unesco World Heritage tentative list.
World Heritage
The government is planning to add the southern slopes of Hkakabo Razi (5,881 metres) into its list of protected areas, with the aim of adding it to the Unesco World Heritage tentative list.
The nomination would be made only when the regional government in Kachin State and residents agreed, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) member Than Zaw said.
Environmental Conservation Department under the Ministry of Forestry, the UN cultural agency Unesco and WCS were cooperating to educate residents in preservation and conducting surveys on biodiversity.
Sedona’s luxury wing opens
The Inya Wing, a five-star tower attached to the Sedona Hotel Yangon, has opened.
The US$80 million (Bt2.91 billion) tower boasts 431 rooms designed by award-winning Singapore firm Forum Architects together with design firm Studio HBA, bringing the total number of rooms to 779.
Goh York Lin, Myanmar president of Keppel Land International, said the expansion targets both business and leisure travellers.
Mingun entrance fee raised
Foreign visitors to the Mingun area in Sagaing Region will now have to pay a Ks5,000 (Bt140) entrance fee. The fee was raised from Ks3,000 as the regional government is scrambling for new funds to support development projects and renovation of ancient archeological sites.
Mingun is home to an uncompleted 18th-century pagoda built by King Bodawpaya that would have been the largest in the world. The world’s largest ringing bell, originally meant to accompany the unfinished pagoda, is also one of the area’s attractions.
Non-inclusive ceasefire pact
Myanmar Peace Centre official Hla Maung Shwe said the government would sign a ceasefire agreement with eight ethnic rebel groups this month. A meeting took place last weekend to set the signing date.
Ten groups refused to sign as the |government insisted no agreement |with three groups fighting in the Kokang Self-Administered Area.
The leaders of 18 out of 21 groups met in Chiang Mai during September 28-30. Some insisted the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) should involve all |parties for true peace.
Labour disputes
Employers and employees agreed |to settle their disputes at a tripartite meeting soon, following complaints stemming from the minimum wage enforcement.
Workers called for amendments to layoff-compensation rates.
Trade deficit exceeds $2 billion
Myanmar’s trade deficit in the first five months of this fiscal year reached US$2.2 billion, according to the Commerce Ministry.
In the latest assessment, the International Monetary Fund mentioned the increasing downside risks to growth and stability in the near term. Among the factors is the widening current account deficit, as low gas prices pressured export earnings and may lead to lower-than-expected foreign investment.
Sydney university’s help
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) announced educational support to about a million children in Myanmar, firstly those in conflict areas.
Not all children above 5 can afford primary education. The Education Ministry’s data showed primary education was offered to 98.75 per cent of the children in the 2013-2014 school year.
Rare crime
A gang stabbed a 16-year-old teenager to death and raped his wife in the diplomatic zone in Nay Pyi Taw, behind the Junction Centre.
On their way home, they were attacked by four men on two motorcycles, according to police records. The husband, Chit Naing Oo, was stabbed and died on the spot.
Ko Ko Aung, chief of Nay Pyi Taw police, said an investigation is underway but he admitted the crime was quite big.
Farmers’ outcry
More than 200 farmers from five villages in Pantanaw, Ayeyawady region, staged a protest claiming the rights to their 1,000-acre land, which is part of the fish farming area of Pho La Min Trading.
They sent letters to President Thein Sein and the regional government in April. The farmers said they have documentation to prove their ownership, while the company said it had permission from the southwest military command since 1999.
Foreign aid
On behalf of the German government, KfW announced a grant of
