Legislation is being introduced across Southeast Asia to combat fake news in the name of preserving social harmony. In practice, however, it is too often used by long-sitting regimes as a tool to discredit political opponents ahead of critical events such as elections and referendums. As a result, democratic values like freedom of expression and […]
Lawmakers Rebuke Construction Ministry Over Handling of Road Contracts
August 8, 2018 by
NAYPYITAW — The Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday passed a proposal to urge the government to keep companies true to their contracts after accusing the Construction Ministry of failing to adequately monitor firms it hires to build and maintain roads using the BOT — build, operate, transfer — system. Though the companies collect the […]
PM Modi to Indian diaspora in Myanmar: ‘We aren’t merely reforming India, but transforming India’
September 19, 2017 by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day bilateral visit to Myanmar, justified decisions like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) terming them as ‘tough’ while addressing the Indian diaspora in Yangon on Wednesday. “We never shy away from taking big and tough actions for the benefit of India because we consider the […]
In Myanmar and Thailand, two militaries moving in opposite directions
February 8, 2016 by
Kevin Rafferty says as the generals in Myanmar cede power in the historic handover to civilians, Thailand’s ruling junta should remember the dangers of prolonged military rule on a nation’s economy and social fabric. Who would ever have imagined it – singing karaoke, dancing and joking. This was not some theatre vaudeville event but the […]
U Aung Thaung, Burmese Politician Accused of Abuses, Dies at 74
July 27, 2015 by
YANGON, Myanmar — U Aung Thaung, a senior Burmese politician who was implicated in violence against dissidents and accused of personal corruption, died on Thursday in Singapore. He was 74. His death, in a hospital, was caused by complications of a stroke, said U Win Tin, an official in his party and the editor of […]
China’s Myanmar Conundrum
April 29, 2015 by
Myanmar’s political transition has spawned debates and deliberations in policymaking circles and strategic communities across the world. The economic and strategic spinoff of the political changes has generated immense attention and interest. Not least in China. As recently as 2011, prior to its “opening up,” Myanmar was not only considered cut off from international engagement, […]
Myanmar military to maintain political role, president says
March 23, 2015 by
Myanmar’s military will maintain its role in politics in order to support a transition to democracy but will eventually submit to civilian rule, President Thein Sein said in an interview broadcast on Friday. YANGON: Myanmar’s military will maintain its role in politics in order to support a transition to democracy but will eventually submit to […]
Yangon to host voter education programmes this month
March 9, 2015 by
Programmes to educate voters in Yangon Region will commence in the middle of March under the guidance of election monitoring organisations. Local civic organisations in Yangon Region met for the first time on March 3 to discuss the implementation of the programmes in ten townships. “The authorities in Yangon Region and in 10 townships that […]
