Shangri-la to revive twin towers project
THE ghostly concrete husks on the southern fringe of Kandawgyi Lake are among Yangon’s most discussed buildings. And they are set to get tongues wagging again, with the developer dusting off plans to turn the mothballed towers into serviced apartments.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Parliament opens with focus on budget, corruption
IN Myanmar’s sprawling parliamentary complex, lawmakers flexed their newly democratic muscles last week. Some drafted anti-graft legislation for corrupt nations or clamoured for transparency on a typically secret national budget. (Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Perceptions of world leaders often differ
IT is odd how foreign observers often have a different perception of a country’s political leader than citizens of that country do.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Time for talk on sanctions is over
ALMOST a decade ago, a Singaporean friend left me lost for words when he said that Myanmar had closed its economy off through its human rights violations, ethnic conflicts, political deadlock, and lack of the rule of law, transparency and progress towards democratisation. How could I respond? He was right. To a certain extent we had isolated ourselves, with our actions encouraging the West to impose economic sanctions.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Peace possible if KIO adjusts demands, says govt negotiator
A PEACE agreement in northern Myanmar is within reach if the Kachin Independence Organisation changes some of the language it uses in negotiations, a senior Kachin political figure said last week.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
88 Gen backs reformers, Daw Suu Kyi
LEADERS of the 88 Generation student movement say they want to work “hand-in-hand” with reformers across the political spectrum and also support the role of Daw Aung Suu Kyi.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Parties to assist CNF with liaison offices
CHIN political parties are assisting the Chin National Front to open liaison offices in their state, a party leader said last week.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
McCain calls for poll observers
UNITED States senator John McCain has called on the government to allow international observers into the country to monitor the by-elections on April 1.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Media law to protect rights of journalists, says ministry
A MUCH-ANTICIPATED media law has moved one step closer to promulgation, with the Ministry of Information forwarding a draft of the law to the Attorney General’s Office for review, an official said last week.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Daw Suu Kyi receives Benazir Bhutto prize
DAW Aung San Suu Kyi has received her second international prize in a month, after the Pakistani government awarded her the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Award for Democracy.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Myanmar begins opening doors to foreign journalists
FOR many years Myanmar has been a challenging country for foreign journalists to report on, with access difficult and accurate information hard to come by. The election of November 2010 and the subsequent release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi garnered unprecedented attention, yet for the most part it remained impossible for foreign journalists to work in Myanmar legally.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Exile media group eyes homecoming
The Chiang Mai-based managing editor of Mizzima News Agency, U Sein Win, on the prospect of daily papers and his organisation’s plans to return to Myanmar
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
UN, govt open urban development institute in downtown Yangon
A NEW urban development institute will seek to support national poverty reduction efforts, its backers say.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Developer denies hotel charges
THE developer of a hotel under construction in Yangon’s Thingangyun township has hit back at residents’ claims that it will damage the reputation of their quarter, saying the hotel will cater to tourists and is being built for the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
New visitor record for Shwedagon in 2011
GROWTH in visitor numbers at Shwedagon Pagoda has outpaced that of the tourism industry as a whole, with the national landmark welcoming almost 30 percent more tourists in 2011 than the previous year, the pagoda’s board of trustees said last week.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Break ties with North Korea, urges McConnell
WASHINGTON – The top US Senate Republican said last week he could back easing sanctions on Myanmar if it advances a host of democratic reforms and breaks off any military relationship with North Korea.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Government plans census for Dec 2014
THE government plans to conduct a national census in December 2014, Minister for Immigration and Population U Khin Yi said earlier this month. If it goes ahead as scheduled, the census will be the first since 1983.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Peace agreements top priority, pres adviser tells HK conference
PEACE agreements with ethnic minority groups have become the most pressing issue for the government, an adviser to President U Thein Sein told a conference in Hong Kong last week.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Ministry working on hotel star ratings
THE Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is introducing a star rating system at hotels across the country, a ministry spokesperson said.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
Generals adapt to new life as lawmakers
NAY PYI TAW – Two years ago they were military officials. Today some sit in uniform in Myanmar’s parliament while others have donned civilian attire to become lawmakers. For all, it’s time to learn a new job.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
India defends project after review call
FIFTEEN non-government organisations have submitted a letter to the Union Government and state governments in Rakhine and Chin states calling on them to “reconsider” an India-backed infrastructure project.
(Volume 31, No. 612 - January 30 - February 5, 2012)
