MYANMAR

MYANMAR

Myanmar: Civilizing the military nation


Kyaw Zwa Moe, the English Editor of Irrawaddy has written a piece starting with this title “Civilinising this Militarised Nation” and comes to the conclusion that it may take another three decades. He has reasons to be... More

Arrest of U Wirathu ordered


Myanmar’s Ministry of Home Affairs was ordered Friday to arrest and prosecute Buddhist monk Wirathu for sedition after he made inflammatory comments against the civilian-led government and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi at nationalist rallies, RFA... More

The World Bank is rewarding ethnic cleansing in Myanmar


This month, the World Bank published a proposal for a $100 million development project in Rakhine state, the region of western Myanmar that recently saw the systematic ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya Muslim community. The aim of... More

Myanmar massacre pardons underscore impunity


Where in the world do military personnel convicted for their role in the cold-blooded killings of civilians serve a lighter prison sentence than the journalists who exposed that atrocity? Welcome to “justice,” Myanmar-style. On May 27, Myanmar prison sources... More

Armed and Dangerous: Myanmar’s military goes shopping


Myanmar's military has lavished tens of millions of dollars on the latest lethal hardware, leaning on allies as part of a strategy to become a first-class fighting force. The spending spree comes despite enduring EU and US arms... More

Myanmar military chief pardoned soldiers involved in Rohingya massacre


Seven soldiers jailed by the military for killing 10 Rohingya in Rakhine State in 2017 were released as the result of a pardon from the military chief, according to a military spokesperson. The four officers and three soldiers... More

Myanmar Air Force visits India’s AFS Jorhat for defence cooperation plan


A team of 14 officers and personnel of Myanmar Air Force made a two-day visit to India’s Air Force Station Jorhat on 27 and 28 May 2019, as a defence co-operation plan between India and Myanmar. The... More

Blacklisted arms expert continues to work for Myanmar military


A US-blacklisted senior officer in the Myanmar military, accused of making arms deals with North Korea in defiance of UN resolutions, continues to work with the army as a “weaponry advisor” despite his official service years with... More

War-like situation created by Myanmar army: NSCN (K)


The NSCN (K), the Naga rebel group on Wednesday said Myanmar army has created a "war-like situation" in Naga-inhibited areas in the neighbouring country despite the outfit's ceasefire agreement signed in 2012. "Presently, Myanmar army has created a... More

Economic development not enough to solve Rakhine crisis: UNHCR chief


Filippo Grandi, chief of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said economic development alone would not solve the problems in Rakhine State, but the World Bank’s plan for a US$100-million project would be a big boost... More

20 Myanmar troops killed in Paletwa clashes, says Arakan Army


Nearly two dozen Army soldiers, including some high-ranking officers, were killed in a battle with the Arakan Army (AA) in a remote area of Chin State’s Paletwa Township on Sunday, according to an AA press release. The AA... More

‘Results’ needed from Myanmar over Rohingya return: UNHCR head


Myanmar must "show results" to convince Rohingya refugees to return, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Friday at the end of his first visit to Myanmar since the crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in 2017. A... More

Myanmar: Civilianizing this militarized nation could take another three decades


Believe it or not, Myanmar’s current political transition to democracy is likely to require another 30-year cycle to complete. The country’s powerful military seems determined not to leave politics in the near future, even within a decade. Though... More

Indian and Myanmar navies started their annual coordinated patrol


Indian and Myanmar navies have started their annual maritime coordinated patrol, also called CORPAT, on May 20. This joint exercise will end on May 28. Issues related to terrorism, illegal fishing, drug-trafficking, human-trafficking, poaching and other illegal activities... More

Myanmar’s political prisoners struggle with life after jail


In 2013, after spending more than eight years in jail for owning an independent newspaper during the military government's decades-long rule in Myanmar, Sonny Swe was granted his freedom in a prisoner amnesty. Once out, he was greeted... More

Thousands march in Rakhine to demand end of fighting


Thousands of people, including monks, marched on Sunday in Sittwe township in Rakhine State calling for an end to the fighting between the Tatmadaw (military) and Arakan Army (AA). The demonstrators urged the government to immediately end the... More

China-Myanmar Economic Corridor office opens in Myanmar capital


An office of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor of the China Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (CECCM) was inaugurated in the Myanmar capital on Friday. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the office in Zabuthiri town, Myanmar Deputy Minister... More

WB under fire for Rakhine development plan in Myanmar


Aid groups and human rights advocates have warned the World Bank that a $100m development project it is planning for Myanmar's conflict-riven Rakhine State could worsen tensions in the area. Last Friday, the World Bank published the first... More

Myanmar army chief’s Twitter account suspended over anti-Rohingya hate speech


A Myanmar army general accused of masterminding genocide against the country’s Muslim Rohingya people has had his Twitter account suspended, following complaints about him using the social media platform for hate speech. Min Aung Hlaing, the south-east Asian... More

Foreign firms face scrutiny as UN looks to isolate Myanmar generals


Multinational companies doing business with Myanmar’s military have so far shrugged off calls from activists to cut ties despite ongoing efforts to have the country’s top generals prosecuted for genocide. Even big brand names such as Western Union... More

Myanmar Buddhist nationalists shut down of three Ramadan prayer sites in Yangon


Three temporary Islamic places of worship set up for the month of Ramadan were shut down in South Dagon Township this week after threats from Buddhist nationalists, the area’s general administrative office said Thursday. According to South Dagon... More

COLUMN

Shame and defame: Using hybrid warfare against Chairman NAB

The major reason for the dismal economic situation of the country is corruption and the feudal-type nepotism that sustained it over decades has infested the state and its institutions. Making money from kickbacks by bureaucrats and politicians who are in a position of power, selling jobs and stealing public... More

Yangon’s smart metres: A step towards creating a smart city

Yangon city is introducing state of the art smart metres to control the electricity supply, monitor its usage and bill costumers in parts of the city – in one automated system. “It’s a step towards making Yangon a smart city and improving and extending e-government throughout Myanmar,” Myo Aung... More

India falls in line with others on Afghanistan

After swinging its Iran policy from ‘no dictate from the U.S.’ and compliance only with the U.N sanctions to completely ditching their purchase of oil from Iran and principally following the U.S. policy of isolating and crippling Iran’s economy, India has now also made a major change in its... More

Court ticks off Bangladesh Central Bank for being blatantly pro-rich

Bangladeshi farmers are facing a massive problem with their rice harvest facing low demand and a steep fall in prices. The distressing situation has led some farmers to burn their crops in anger. People are aghast that the agriculture sector can be in such a situation in what is billed... More

Effects of Saffron surge in West Bengal

Bengal and its poll outcome were clearly the sub-text to the 2019 Indian elections, if the main text was whether BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi could come back to power. The BJP is back in power in India and the country is set to witness another term of Modi. In... More

VIDEO-INTERVIEW

video

Exclusive Interview with Bhutan’s Prime Minister


“I will request PM Sheikh Hasina to support us with some (medical) specialists that will be an immediate help for Bhutan” Dr.Lotay Tshering Prime Minister of Bhutan Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Dr. Lotay Tshering, is set to visit Bangladesh on 12th... More

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All offices of the South Asian Monitor will remain close on June 04-07, 2019, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

There will be no publication of South Asian Monitor during this period.

South Asian Monitor wishes its readers and patrons a very happy Eid.

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