Among 11,574 prisoners freed during the President Thein Sein’s government included 2,374 murderers and 1726 rapists, says deputy minister Kyaw Kyaw Tun for Ministry of Home Affairs.
Responding to a question raised by MP Phone Myint Aung during a parliamentary discussion yesterday, he said that other prisoners included 97 who were jailed for defamation, 5,064 robbers, 334 who were convicted of vandalising, and 1,979 who were convicted of physical assaults.
He added that the number of prisoners on death row is 181 during the current government and 33 of them were freed under amnesties in 2012 and 71 freed in 2014. He added that there has been no execution since 1988. (Courtesy of The Nation)
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Indian ambassador talks trade, connectivity, and the ‘dignity’ of the Myanmar election
26 January, is the 67th Republic Day of India. H.E. Mr. Gautam Mukhopadhaya, Ambassador of India to Myanmar, talked to Mizzima Editor-in-Chief Soe Myint about a range of issues including Indian-Myanmar relations, the Act East Policy, the potential for improved trade and investment between the two countries and his positive view of the Myanmar elections.
Mizzima: I would like to start with a question about PM Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy. What does this mean for India’s neighbours, particularly Myanmar?
The foundations for Look East and Act East are the same, in the sense of the priority and importance that we give to our relations with East Asia, including Southeast Asia, in terms of culture and economy, and other related areas. But the primary difference between the two, is one of action and implementation. It is about implementation of projects which we have already committed to in an efficient manner. And secondly, in terms of energy. Prime Minister Modi has displayed an extraordinary energy in conducting his Act East Policy. During the last one and a half years, we have seen visits, high level visits, state-level visits, between China and Japan, and the Prime Minister has visited Mongolia, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, two East Asia-ASEAN summits including one in Myanmar and one recently in Kuala Lumpur. And, at another level, interactions within ASEAN mechanisms as a dialogue partner have been going on. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Mizzima: I would like to start with a question about PM Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy. What does this mean for India’s neighbours, particularly Myanmar?
The foundations for Look East and Act East are the same, in the sense of the priority and importance that we give to our relations with East Asia, including Southeast Asia, in terms of culture and economy, and other related areas. But the primary difference between the two, is one of action and implementation. It is about implementation of projects which we have already committed to in an efficient manner. And secondly, in terms of energy. Prime Minister Modi has displayed an extraordinary energy in conducting his Act East Policy. During the last one and a half years, we have seen visits, high level visits, state-level visits, between China and Japan, and the Prime Minister has visited Mongolia, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, two East Asia-ASEAN summits including one in Myanmar and one recently in Kuala Lumpur. And, at another level, interactions within ASEAN mechanisms as a dialogue partner have been going on. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Risks loom for Myanmar’s Kyaukphyu Economic Zone
The end of 2015 saw a series of major announcements and decisions regarding Myanmar’s latest special economic zone (SEZ) in Kyaukphyu township of Rakhine State. In late December, Myanmar’s government approved the demarcation of land for the SEZ and awarded tenders to develop the SEZ to a CITIC Group-led consortium.
The Kyaukphyu SEZ is a key part of Myanmar’s drive to attract foreign direct investment. It is one of three such zones set up since the military-backed USDP took over power from the Tatmadaw military junta via elections in 2011. Kyaukphyu’s SEZ includes three projects: a deep-sea port, an industrial park, and a housing project. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
The Kyaukphyu SEZ is a key part of Myanmar’s drive to attract foreign direct investment. It is one of three such zones set up since the military-backed USDP took over power from the Tatmadaw military junta via elections in 2011. Kyaukphyu’s SEZ includes three projects: a deep-sea port, an industrial park, and a housing project. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Aung San Suu Kyi’s Role Causes Friction With Myanmar’s Army
Myanmar— Aung San Suu Kyi’s pledge to place herself “above the president” in this nation’s future government is causing friction with the army, which will still have significant control after the handover of power.
Insiders in the incoming government say that choosing a figurehead president to front for Ms. Suu Kyi makes perfect sense. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former political prisoner is barred by law from becoming president because she was married to a British national. Her children are British too.
What else is she to do after her party won last year’s national elections, they say. But such a move would likely complicate a drawn-out negotiation with the army over who really governs the country. (Courtesy of WSJ)
Insiders in the incoming government say that choosing a figurehead president to front for Ms. Suu Kyi makes perfect sense. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former political prisoner is barred by law from becoming president because she was married to a British national. Her children are British too.
What else is she to do after her party won last year’s national elections, they say. But such a move would likely complicate a drawn-out negotiation with the army over who really governs the country. (Courtesy of WSJ)
Seven foreign firms keen on Myanmar licence
Seven foreign companies have expressed interest in Myanmar's fourth mobile licence, it emerged on Monday.
This is according to a report by Reuters, which cited Chit Wai, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). The identity of the firms has not been disclosed, but they have all submitted expressions of interest (EOIs).
Now it is up to the MCIT to select a preferred bidder and apply to the Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) for a licence, which will be valid for 15 years. (Courtesy of totaltele.com)
This is according to a report by Reuters, which cited Chit Wai, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). The identity of the firms has not been disclosed, but they have all submitted expressions of interest (EOIs).
Now it is up to the MCIT to select a preferred bidder and apply to the Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) for a licence, which will be valid for 15 years. (Courtesy of totaltele.com)
Aung San Suu Kyi meets Myanmar army chief as power transition looms
Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's powerful army chief held fresh talks on Monday (Jan 25) on the country's dramatic political transition, days before a military-dominated legislature hands over to the most democratic parliament in generations.
The discussions are the latest effort to smooth the transfer of power following a landslide victory for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in November elections, which is set to transform the once-cloistered nation after decades under military rule.
The meeting saw "friendly and open discussions about the formation of a new government, the transition, post-election peace and stability, the parliament and peace process", according to a statement posted on the NLD's official Facebook page late on Monday. (Courtesy of The Straits Times)
The discussions are the latest effort to smooth the transfer of power following a landslide victory for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in November elections, which is set to transform the once-cloistered nation after decades under military rule.
The meeting saw "friendly and open discussions about the formation of a new government, the transition, post-election peace and stability, the parliament and peace process", according to a statement posted on the NLD's official Facebook page late on Monday. (Courtesy of The Straits Times)
Dawei SEZ project sparks hopes and worries
There is a small hut with a thatched roof overlooking the Andaman Sea in Dawei, Tanintharyi Region. Near the hut, there is a milestone engraved with the letters KM 0+000 denoting the beginning of the road.
At present, there is only a wide road and vast fields but the area will soon be a flourishing major economic hub for neighbouring countries including Thailand and Myanmar. It is the site of the Dawei deep-sea port, the largest in the country, with a project area spanning thousands of square kilometres.
Currently, only a few people come to the area and it is just a seaside village. These people take photos to remember their trip and they return to where they came from. It is hard to say how much this area will change over the next five years. But local people and businessmen have high hopes for the mega deep-sea port project which initially took shape as a plan by the Thai and Myanmar governments in 2008. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
At present, there is only a wide road and vast fields but the area will soon be a flourishing major economic hub for neighbouring countries including Thailand and Myanmar. It is the site of the Dawei deep-sea port, the largest in the country, with a project area spanning thousands of square kilometres.
Currently, only a few people come to the area and it is just a seaside village. These people take photos to remember their trip and they return to where they came from. It is hard to say how much this area will change over the next five years. But local people and businessmen have high hopes for the mega deep-sea port project which initially took shape as a plan by the Thai and Myanmar governments in 2008. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
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