FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

40% live in war zones

40% live in war zones

Documents presented at the Union Peacemaking Working Committee meeting with civil society organisations showed around 40 per cent of Myanmar citizens live in areas that regularly see armed conflict. About 650,000 people have been forced to leave their h

The government and ethnic armed groups had nine official meetings so far to achieve a national ceasefire accord, in addition to more than 5,000 discussions among ethnic armed groups. 
Fresh fighting between the Myanmar army and Kachin Independence Army broke out on September 21. A total of 218 villagers took refuge in camps.
Clashes also broke out between government forces and the Shan State Army (SSA) on Thursday, leaving one dead and seven injured as villagers fled, according to SSA. There have been more than 200 clashes reported between the Tatmadaw and the SSA since both sides signed a ceasefire in 2011.
 
Activist in Dutch award list
Phyo Phyo Aung, 27, general secretary of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, is among 30 nominees for the Netherlands’ Human Rights Tulip Award.
She won the Citizen of Burma 2015 award. The Human Rights Tulip Award will be announced in December.
Joining the march to commemorate the International Day of Peace in Yangon last week, demonstrators also demanded the release of all detained students. 
The Former Political Prisoners Society also pressed the government to release all political prisoners before the general election.
 
Pledge against illegal logging
Myanmar and Chinese officials pledged to jointly combat the illegal timber trade.
Fu Gui, deputy director from China’s forestry management department, said China would increase cooperation with Myanmar to combat smugglers and timber traders.
A report by the Environmental Investigation Agency showed the Chinese timber trade last year amounted to about US$25 billion (Bt900 billion), 18 per cent of which was from Myanmar and 12 per cent was tamalan or rosewood, worth between $3 billion and $4.6 billon. Of that, Myanmar received about $200 million in return. China illegally imported 18,000 tonnes of Myanmar tamalan in 2014, the report said.
Army to accept victorious party
Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reiterated that the military will accept the victory of any party in the upcoming election. The military has not instructed its staff on how they should vote, he added.
All parties are continuing with their election campaigns, which would run until November 6. 
Violent cases were reported ahead of the election. A member of National League for Democracy (NLD) was beaten in Ayeyawady Region. The NLD also claimed young people destroyed a campaign poster portraying its candidates in the region.
Criticism about errors on voter lists continued as well as fears of vote rigging. NLD member Win Htein said that errors may cause violence on voting day.
In the 2012 by-election, he said, voters had to bring their national identity cards and the household record lists to the polling stations. This may be repeated and lead to violence. 
Rice exports resume
The Commerce Ministry issued temporary rice export licences, lasting 30-45 days, allowing shipments to resume after two months of suspension following floods.
Exports are, however, limited to 500 tonnes.
 
Electrification 
The World Bank approved a $400-million loan, connecting 750,000 households to the grid 
by 2021 and extending off-grid electricity to another 500,000 households.
Under the National Electrification Plan completed in 2014 with the bank’s help, 100 per cent access to electricity is envisaged by 2030 and the process would require total investment of $6 billion. At present, 7.2 million households or about 70 per cent have no electricity. The plan calls for 50 per cent access by 2020, 75 per cent by 2025 and universal access by 2030. 
Signs of overheating 
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Myanmar’s economy to expand by 8.5 per cent this fiscal year and 8.4 and 8.3 per cent in the next two fiscal years, respectively. 
Yet, it sees signs of overheating. Inflation is expected to hit 13.3 per cent this fiscal year, from 7.4 per cent the previous year. The IMF has called for measures to handle fiscal deficits and further strengthen monetary policies.
 
Kempinski bags Mekong Tourism Alliance Award
Kempinski Hotel Nay Pyi Taw won the “Best Five Star Hotel of the Year 2015” at the Mekong Tourism Alliance Awards after it was recognised for its quality services and excellent reputation in the Myanmar tourism and hospitality industry.
The awards were established to foster a greater sense of pride and achievement for professionals and organisations in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 
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