Myanmar Monitor Weekly
Politics
Peace summit in Myanmar draws to a close without resolution
The last day of the landmark UN-backed peace summit in Naypyidaw drew to a close a day earlier than expected on 3 of September without a concrete resolution. The summit, which began on 31 August gave more than a dozen rebel groups the opportunity to come to the table and make their voices heard. Three rebel militaries refused however to participate and the United Wa State Army stormed out after it was only granted observer status.
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Hundreds protest in Myanmar over Suu Kyi’s panel on Rohingya Muslims
Hundreds rallied in Rakhine State on 6 September against an advisory commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan to find solutions to the conflict between the country’s Buddhists and minority Rohingya Muslims. The plight of the Rohingya has raised questions about Aung San Suu Kyi’s commitment to human rights and represents a politically sensitive issue for the NLD. The protesters expressed frustration with what they called a “foreigners’ biased intervention”.
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Economy
4G wireless service takes off in Myanmar
Myanmar has stepped into the era of the fourth generation of mobile technology, with the three leading wireless carriers rapidly shifting to 4G services. Qatar’s Ooredoo built up its 4G wireless network infrastructure in Myanmar’s four major cities by the end of August and Norway’s Telenor Group and state-owned Myanma Posts and Telecommunications are seeking to enhance their 4G operations with new mobile licenses at the scheduled spectrum auction in October.
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Foreign Affairs
Ahead of Suu Kyi visit, Obama weighs Myanmar sanctions relief
The United States is considering further easing sanctions against Myanmar ahead of Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to the White House on 14-15 September, US officials told media. US President Barack Obama is expected to decide on the extent of sanctions relief after consultations with Suu Kyi to gauge how far she wants Washington to loosen the screws on Myanmar’s still-powerful military. Obama will also meet Suu Kyi during the East Asia summit in Laos 6-8 September.
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Myanmar and India need to settle payment woes, says UMFCCI
Myanmar’s rigid banking system is restraining trade potential with India, one of the country’s largest trading partners, according to U Myo Thet, vice president at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). Many Indian traders want to deal in rupees, which delayed payment as local traders need to settle in US dollars. A history of currency instability and complex trade sanctions means that a lot of foreign exchange transactions relating to international trade with Myanmar are completed offshore.
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