Week in Review: Myanmar
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Mobile penetration grows According to official data, the mobile penetration rate rose sharply in 2015 to 63 per cent with 32.6 million SIM cards in use, an 18.2 per cent increase compared to the end of 2014, when 9.3 million SIM cards were in use.
In 2013, the penetration was only 10 per cent.
Of all the phones used, some 60 per cent are smartphones.
In 2010, Myanmar had a million handsets with 2-per-cent penetration, which rose to 2.4 million handsets with 4.8 per cent penetration in 2011, 3.1 million handsets with 6.1 per cent penetration in 2012 and 6 million handsets with 9.5 per cent penetration in 2013.
Myanmar aims to raise the penetration rate to more than 90 per cent by 2020.
Building code
The country plans to enforce a new building code nationwide this year. The Construction Ministry, UN Habitat, MES and experts drew up the code. Drawing upon experience in the US, Singapore, the UK and India, the code is modified to fit Myanmar’s conditions.
The law aims to bring Myanmar’s construction up to global standards.
UN Habitat and Myanmar Engineering Society (MES) will jointly provide the know-how at technological schools.
Peace summit
After several delays, a union peace summit has been scheduled for January 12 with armed ethnic groups to push for national reconciliation, cease armed conflict and resolve problems peacefully. Groups that did and did not sign the October 15 ceasefire pact will attend.
Some 700 representatives are expected to attend, including 75 from government committees, 75 members of parliament, 150 military representatives, 150 representatives from ethnic armed groups, 150 from political parties, 50 ethnic delegates and 50 guests.
The summit will wrap up on January 23.
Security bill approved
Parliament approved the National Defence and Security Council Bill despite protests.
The security bill was submitted to parliament on December 21, and the clause that stirred the most criticism was the one that said no legal action could be taken against a former president for activities in the line of duty.
There is also concern that the armed forces would exercise power through the council, which would be comprised of the president, two vice-presidents, speakers of both houses, commander-in-chief of the defence services and his deputy and ministers of defence, foreign affairs, home affairs and border security.
Trade deficit
Trade deficit has exceeded US$4 billion (Bt143.8
billion), as trade value has hit $19 billion from April to December 18. Between the 2014-2015 fiscal year, trade reached $28.1 billion. Last year’s trade balance showed a deficit of US$4.9 billion.
Against gold mines
The Myanmar Mineral Entrepreneurs Federation in
eastern Shan State has toughened its stance against gold mines.
While legal mines are expected to honour their mine-closing plans, all newcomers will be prohibited, it said. No licences will be issued for mining in Nahailon Village, Tachileik. Tachileik is already home to over 60 official gold mines.
Students dismissed
Freed from jail for protesting against the education law, three students - Aung Hsan Oo, Jit Tue and Nyun Lin Htet – found themselves dismissed from Mandalay’s Yadanarpon University.
Earlier, four Yadanarpon students, including Naing Ye Wai, chairman of the student union, had to restart this academic year.
Aung Hsan, vice chairman of the union, said they would fight to maintain their status and take their case to the Human Rights Commission.
Farmers face trial
A trial against 12 farmers from Yaypu village, Shan State, kicked off last month. They face charges of trespassing and vandalism.
The farmers claim the military grabbed their land and destroyed their crops to build barracks.
FPPS eyes political party status
The Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS), formed in 2011 to free political prisoners, plans to transform itself into a political party with platforms to pursue internal peace and national reconciliation.
The organisation began accepting applications for membership on New Year’s day.
Youth centre demands
Members of the Myanmar Youth Centre demanded
participation in the country’s political and peace talks, as well as a platform for youths’ input on resolving conflict in ethnic minority areas.
They filed the demand in a meeting between members of youth organisations and Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the National League for Democracy, at the office of the Rule of Law, Peace and Stability Committee at the Parliament Building in Nay Pyi Taw.
Protest against Kyaukphyu project
Civic organisations petitioned the government to stop the 4,289-acre Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and
the Nayputaung development projects, citing lack of
transparency.
They said farmers would be affected by the projects.
Health Ministry strives to curb polio outbreak
The Health Ministry administered polio vaccines to 360,000 children in 15 townships after two children were diagnosed with a rare vaccine-derived polio virus in April and October in Maungdaw, Rakhine State.
Ten townships in Rakhine State, two in Chin State and one each in Magway, Ayeyawady and Bago regions received the vaccinations.
