Week in Review

She was scheduled to meet key figures including President Thein Sein, Union Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann, as well as Suu Kyi. 

On Thursday, Jolie visited refugee camps in Kachin State. An 80-year-old woman said: “She asked a lot of questions about what we are doing, what we need and how many families are there. I knew she was a foreigner, but I didn’t know who she was. I didn’t know what to say.”

Jolie also met people who are working on human rights and interfaith relations, and groups carrying out projects to promote women’s rights, voter education and participation ahead of the November 8 elections.

 

Yangon electric train on track 

An electric train will start operating in Yangon in October, according to the Ministry of Rail Transportation.

The government and the Japan-based West Corp sealed a deal for the supply of equipment. 

The train will be run from Pansodan to Htawlikwae in Ahlon Township along the Yangon waterfront in the first phase in October, and from Pansodan to Lansadawn in the second phase in December. The fares are still unspecified.

Construction of the dual-gauge railway and electric poles is due to start soon. The Yangon Electricity Corp will provide the five megawatts needed to run the train. The speed will be set at up to 40 kilometres per hour. 

Two coaches with three compartments and a single compartment coach are being prepared for the service.

 

Most tourists come from Asia 

At least 70 per cent of foreign tourists coming to Myanmar are from Asian countries, the Myanmar Tourism Sector Wide Assessment reported.

SWIA, developed by the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business in partnership with its co-founders, the Danish Institute of Human Rights and the Institute of Human Rights and Business, showed that most travellers come from Thailand, Japan, South Korea and China, and most stay at an average of one week.

 

Japan bank pushes for more FDI

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (BTMU) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration in Tokyo that aims to strengthen collaborative efforts in promoting investment from Japan to Myanmar. This initiative will allow BTMU corporate customers to identify potential partners to invest in Myanmar. 

Yasushi Itagaki, BTMU general manager – global planning division, said it was hoped the deal would result in a greater exchange of information on investment opportunities in Myanmar for BTMU’s customers. 

 

ADB helps Customs Dept on goods release 

The Asian Development Bank is supporting the Customs Department in developing its authorised economic operators scheme, a new system that aims to simplify and expedite the release of imports and exports and help the country catch up with Asean counterparts.

At a three-day workshop, customs officials began developing the scheme, which will allow trade operators with a good record of customs compliance and a solid commercial management system record to receive a range of trade facilitation benefits, including quicker customs processing, ADB said in a statement.

It said the move ensured adherence to the Asean Economic Community blueprint and the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, and put the country is in line with important World Customs Organisation international standards and the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.

 

Obstacles to federal system

The Parliamentary Committee for International and Inter-parliamentary Affairs’ report submitted to the Upper House listed a plethora of challenges hindering the implementation of the federal democracy system in Myanmar. 

The list includes armed conflicts, widespread corruption, wastage and depletion of natural resources, a lack of infrastructure and investment, the slow progress in achieving a nationwide ceasefire, racial and religious discrimination and conflicts, a resistance to business transparency and the need for amendments to the 2008 constitution.

The report was compiled as a cooperative venture with the Hanns Seidel Foundation. 

It urged more meetings between civilian, military, government and ethnic leaders to obtain solutions more quickly, as the continuing existence of problems such as the slow pace of achieving a nationwide ceasefire will cripple the building of a federal system.

 

Pressure on Shwe Mann

Military personnel have filed a complaint against Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann in a bid to have him removed from his role of seeking amendments to the charter. On his Facebook page, ex-General Shwe Mann said he was ready to take responsibility “because my efforts were in the best interests of the country and the people. I am also ready to face legal action”. The complaint focused on the move to amend Section 436(a) and end military veto power in the legislature.

 

Campaign for political prisoners

The Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS) says it will continue its “Sunday Campaign” to free all political prisoners.

As part of the campaign, FPPS members visit families of farmers, workers and students recognised as political prisoners every Sunday to offer them comfort and encouragement. It started in Yangon. 

“The government claims there are no political prisoners. The Remaining Political Prisoner Scrutiny Committee was abolished. The remaining political prisoners are now characterised as criminals,” said FPPS secretary Tun Kyi. 

He added that the prisoners should be given the right to participate and run in the upcoming election.

FPPS wrote to President Thein Sein last month calling for the release of political prisoners before the election. It estimates more than 130 political prisoners are in jail and more than 400 are facing legal action for political activities.