A year-long investigation into the multi-million-dollar charcoal market and how it moves from the villages of Myanmar into Chinese smelters. A trader turns off his truck’s engine at yet another checkpoint and, again, the soldiers ask him for cash. His truck is filled with charcoal from Myanmar, destined for factories in China’s mountainous southwest province […]
Govt urged to establish Belt and Road taskforce
September 6, 2017 by
From tackling illegal border trade to constructing Kyaukphyu SEZ, the to-do list for Belt and Road in Myanmar is very long. THE Myanmar government is urged to take a proactive role and form a taskforce to carve out its involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). An adviser to the National League for Democracy-led […]
Myanmar’s Military Holds Key to Further Reform
August 22, 2017 by
What does Myanmar need to push through a successful democratic transition? It must build strong institutions, transform the economy, and end decades of conflict between ethnic armed groups and government forces, among numerous other challenges. Yet, these enormous tasks seem trivial when compared to what is probably the biggest obstacle to further democratic reform: the […]
Yangon Chief Minister Apologizes to Military Chief
July 24, 2017 by
YANGON — Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein apologized to the Myanmar Army Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing for comments that the military called confrontational. The chief minister said there were no civil-military relations in the democratic era and that the military’s commander-in-chief was the same as the level of director-general according to the […]
Tiger and ABC Extra Stout Brands Return to Heineken after Two Decades
February 10, 2016 by
Two beer brands – Tiger and ABC Extra Stout – have returned to the Dutch beer maker Heineken’s portfolio of brands from the military-owned Myanmar Brewery Limited (MBL). The two brands were produced and distributed in Myanmar by MBL since 1995. After EU economic sanctions were imposed on Myanmar, Heineken left the country and MBL […]
How Will Myanmar’s Past Play Into Its Post-Election Future?
December 21, 2015 by
Post-election horse-trading has begun in earnest in Myanmar, hinting at the contours of a new power-sharing arrangement between elected and military forces. As National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi holds private meetings with senior military leaders, including an unprecedented session with influential former dictator Senior General Than Shwe, questions are rising about […]
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi sends new MPs to parliament school
December 18, 2015 by
Aung San Suu Kyi is sending her newly-elected MPs on a crash course on Myanmar’s parliament as they prepare to take their seats for the first time early next year, her party said today. The veteran campaigner’s National League for Democracy party won a thunderous majority in landmark November polls that are set to tip […]
Chinese Jade Miners in Overdrive Ahead of New Myanmar Government
December 18, 2015 by
Using heavy earth-excavators and explosives, miners have been tearing into Myanmar’s northern hills in recent months, in a rush to excavate more jade from the world’s richest deposits of the gemstone before a new government takes office next year. Acres of forest have been felled, leaving behind craters, barren cliffs and a web of dirt […]
