UK to back Myanmar peace efforts

17 April, 2013
Foreign Affairs
The government’s top peace negotiator for ethnic conflicts Aung Min, is touring the United Kingdom this week to discuss Myanmar’s peacemaking efforts with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Secretary William Hague and other UK officials. Officials discussed how British experts could best support further progress in Myanmar. “We agreed on the need to take forward negotiations to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Kachin State, and to address the hostility behind the recent outbreak of anti-Muslim violence in Meiktila,” Hague said in the statement.

EU set to lift Myanmar sanctions, except on arms

17 April, 2013
Foreign Affairs
The European Union is expected to lift all sanctions on Myanmar next week, except for an arms embargo, in recognition of the “remarkable process of reform” in the country. Last year the EU suspended most sanctions on Myanmar for one year, but is now expected to lift them permanently. The move, approved by EU ambassadors and is waiting ministerial approval, will allow European companies to invest in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi says no easy answer to sectarian violence

17 April, 2013
Politics
Speaking to students at Tokyo University on Wednesday while on a visit to Japan, Aung San Suu Kyi made rare comments on sectarian violence in Myanmar, but said she was “not a magician” and will not be able to solve long-running ethnic disputes. She stressed the importance of establishing rule of law and added that Myanmar’s courts do not meet democratic standards as they are dominated by the executive.

China Plays Nice, Shifts Blame for Tensions

16 April, 2013
Political Security

China looks to work with its ASEAN neighbours amidst growing tensions and conflicts, and instead shifts the blame onto the US for exacerbating the matter

• China’s Defence Ministry Spokesman Yang Yujun has indirectly shifted blame to the US for the growing tensions in the Asian-Pacific region, claiming that they stem from the US having emboldened these countries with its presence and support, influencing them in a time when political relations between China and the US have been strained.
• Despite the conflict and tension with its Asian-Pacific neighbours, China seems to be showing signs of cooperation, working together with the US, Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam in a joint maritime military exercise to prepare for several disaster scenarios
• Further developing ties with ASEAN, this year marks the 55^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia and has thus been dubbed “The Year of China-Cambodia Friendship” after Chinese leadership had recently met with Cambodian delegates to reinforce the all-around strategic cooperation partnership between China and Cambodia.

Aid workers find Myanmar difficult

16 April, 2013
Foreign Affairs
Aid workers trying to address the needs of Myanmar communities affected by religious violence are hindered by intimidation, humanitarian officials say. A British government report on Myanmar said political progress has been made since democratic elections in 2010, though religious, political and civil rights were still under threat. Human rights organizations have questions regarding Myanmar’s commitment to reforms because of ongoing violence pitting Buddhists against the minority Muslim community.

Japan to help boost Myanmar’s rice industry through imports and investments

15 April, 2013
Economy
Japan is helping to boost Myanmar’s quest to regain its status as a top rice exporter by importing long-grain rice. Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation Ltd (MAPCO) is entering a joint venture with Japanese trading house Mitsui and will be building four processing plants to produce rice for exports, to manufacture food products and produce power. This will be set up as part of the Integrated Rice Complex Project, which aims to produce 400,000 tons of rice per year.

Foreign Companies in China Seeks ASEAN Alternatives

11 April, 2013
Trade and Investment

• China experiences shrinking workforce and rising wages, partially driven by the ‘one child policy’ and an ageing population
• Foreign investors in China considers moving production bases to Cambodia, and now Cambodia surpasses China in terms of foreign investment per capita
• Coupled with concerns in food safety within China, foreign food processors and agricultural companies are moving to Thailand

Offshore Gas, Oil Bids Open

13 April, 2013
Economy
Major Western oil companies BP, Shell and Chevron are tipped to be among the likely bidders for 30 new offshore exploration blocks now being offered for licensing by Myanmar’s Ministry of Energy. Other large firms expected to make offers include China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Petronas of Malaysia, PTTEP of Thailand and India’s GAIL—all state-owned enterprises. Bidders can apply for up to three blocks, of which 11 are in shallow water and 19 in deep water. Shallow water licenses will require a local partner but the deeper water blocks can be wholly foreign operated due to the technical expertise and cost involved. The closing date for bids to the Ministry of Energy is 14 June. Meanwhile, the government is considering reviewing and perhaps renegotiating existing natural resources deals as it prepares to sign the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which is a voluntary regime that sets high standards of financial disclosure, governance and environmental criteria.

Thein Sein pleads for unity in New Year speech

13 April, 2013
Politics
Thein Sein dedicated his New Year speech on Sunday to promoting religious unity as the nation remains tense after a wave of rioting last month. Myanmar’s New Year, known as the Thingyan, is a hugely popular celebration in which people throw water at each other to symbolise the washing away of the previous year’s bad deeds.

Myanmar’s test run census goes without hiccup

13 April, 2013
Politics
Myanmar government, with help from the UN Populations Fund (UNFPA), test ran a pilot census last week. The official census – the first in 31 years – will take place in March and April next year, when 100,000 enumerators will visit every household in the country in 12 days. Estimates to the population of the country vary wildly: according to the World Bank, Myanmar’s population is 48 million; the Asian Development Bank says it is 60 million; and the International Monetary Fund lists the population at 64 million.