Week in review: Myanmar

The Rail Transportation Department ran four successful tests after the plan to replace local trains with trams was approved last December. 

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided technical aid for the project, which will cost more than US$6 million (Bt216 million). The route spans more than 10km, connecting downtown from Pazundaung Township to the uptown area of Htawligwae.

JICA also provides funding and know-how to upgrade Yangon’s circular rail line, to raise its speed to 65kmph. The track is being replaced. The number of stations will be reduced and new Japanese carriages have been ordered.

 

‘Country of the Year 2015’

Myanmar was voted “Country of the Year 2015” by The Economist thanks to improvement in the nation.

“Five years ago it was a larcenous dictatorship where even pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, were banned from newspapers. In November Miss Suu Kyi’s party won 77 per cent of the vote. The army, which retains huge privileges, appears ready to share power. It could still go wrong. (Myanmar still treats the Rohingya and other minorities disgracefully.) But the country’s transition to something resembling democracy has come faster than anyone dared expect,” the magazine said.

 

4th telecom licence 

International telecom operators were invited to submit expressions of interest to join a 

consortium of local companies, which will be awarded the fourth telecom licence. The licence 

is expected to be awarded next year. 

Foreign partnership is welcomed in the consortium, called the Myanmar National Telecom Holding, according to Myanmar Times. 

The 11 local companies in the consortium are Myanmar Technologies and Investment Corp, Myanmar ICT Development Corp, Myanmar Agribusiness, Shwe Pyi Tagon Telecommunication, Golden Land East Asia Development, Myanmar Edible Oil Industrial, Myanmar Industries Alliance, Myanmar Agriculture and General Development, International Power Generation, Royal Yatanarpon Telecom and Mahar Yoma.

Bagan entry fee

The entry fee to Bagan heritage sites will be collected in kyat from January 1, according to the Ministry of Culture. The plan was to be adopted on November 1 but was delayed. 

The fee will be Ks25,000, equivalent to the current US$20 (Bt720).

The move is also an attempt to reduce dollarisation. The authorities have complained about the poor condition of dollar bills. 

 

More electricity 

Having begun supplying power directly to Myanmar’s 230 kV transmission grid for just 10 months, Hong Kong-based VPower was awarded two more projects with a total capacity of 223MW for the country. The 5-year contracts involve the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and Myingyan industrial city. 

In Kyaukphyu, VPower will be doubling the power generation output to 90MW. 

The 133MW power installation in Myingyan will power a state-owned steel mill. 

Both gas-fired projects are set to go into 

operation in March 2016. 

 

Arrests continue 

A total of 32 political activists were sentenced to prison terms of between one month and two years in November and 23 other activists were detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ monthly report.

A total of 127 political prisoners were languishing in jail at the end of November and 477 activists were on trial.

One political prisoner was released in November and 20 prisoners participated in hunger strikes that began in October. Six political prisoners out of 20 were in poor health.

Among the arrests in November, Lin Htet Naing, vice-chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, was detained on November 3 for involvement in the Hledan protest march against the National Education Law in March. 

Facebook users Chaw Sandi Tun, Khun Jarli and poet Maung Hsaung Kha are on trial for defaming the army.

Shan refugees still in camps

Shan refugees from Haipa, Nantpar Phoo and Kone Nain villages in Monghsu city are still unable to return to their homes.

An elder said a group led by a monk tried to return but government forces told them to wait for two more months. An elder said warning shots were fired in the air, forcing the group to return to a refugee camp, which is getting more crowded. 

Refugees in Monghsu are currently living in three monasteries and tents in five open fields. There are around 1,000 refugees at the camps.

 

120 human-trafficking cases

Around 120 cases of human trafficking were reported in the first 11 months of this year, and most of the victims were taken to neighbouring China, according to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.

Yangon reported the highest number of cases at 17. 

The trafficking victims included 398 men and 210 women. Among them, 478 are adults, 46 are youths and 93 are children. About 549 victims were saved from human trafficking, and 68 remain in illegal custody, according to the Unit.