The truly independent non-partisan website on Myanmar/Burma
Fragile peace in the Golden Land - Visit of Norway's FM Aftenbladet - 27 January 2012 Translated extract: Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was clearly touched by his visit to the fragile country, and realizes that it is a formidable task to bring Myanmar into the world community. "Yes, there has to be much political groundwork here. But if there is anything that makes me, if not optimistic, at least hopeful, it's the recognition of the reality I have heard during all my discussions."
Myanmar has just started (as a tourist destination). In Yangon this is easy to see. Tourists are more visible than before, it is easier to get press visas. "One of the major challenges when they open up is that there will be a rush of tourists, and this is mostly good. But there will also be an influx of investors, organizations and the entire spectrum. If not handled properly, it could almost make matters worse."
A trio of articles by Elliott Prasse-Freeman on "Whither Burma?"
Elliott Prasse-Freeman is Founding Research Associate Fellow, HR+SM Program, and Advisory Board Member, Sexuality, Gender, and HR Program at Harvard Kennedy School.
Burma has shown progress to move towards democracy Senate Floor statement by Senator McConnell - 26 January 2012 Extract: "I want to briefly address my colleagues on a very important trip I took recently to a country that, for much of the past 50 years, has ranked among the world’s most isolated and oppressed by its own government. Many of us wondered if things would ever change in Burma. But after my recent visit, I’m pleased to say that change is clearly in the air.
“It appears that Burma has made more progress toward democracy in the past six months than it has in decades. As one who has taken a strong interest in Burma for over 20 years, and as the lead author in this chamber of an annual sanctions bill aimed at encouraging the Burmese government to reform, this is welcome news."
Derek Tonkin writes: Senator McConnell also stated that Suu Kyi's party "won 80% of the vote in a free and fair election in 1990." In fact the National League for Democracy won only 52% of all votes cast (59% of all valid votes) in an election which on the actual day was as free and fair as the November 2010 elections, but which The New York Times had described prior to voting day as "a particularly unconvincing variety of Burmese puppet show" and whose likely integrity as a free and fair election The Economist had dismissed "as a macabre joke". Davos 2012: Video Address by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Text of the address delivered in Davos on 26 January 2012 In her message, she called on the world community to support the Burmese people’s efforts to truly democratize their country and to all them to make a contribution to global affairs. “A year on (from last year’s audio message), I can say we have taken steps toward meeting those challenges,” Suu Kyi said. “We are not yet at the point of a great transformation, but we have a rare and extremely precious opportunity to reach such a point.” She emphasized that “an important step that will take us nearer to a truly revolutionary breakthrough will be the inclusion of all relevant political forces in the electoral and legislative processes of our country.”
Symbolically significant: the presence in Davos this year of Industry Minister U Soe Thein, which Suu Kyi described as a “sign of the positive changes that have been taking place in our country.” In apologizing for not being able to attend the gathering in person, Suu Kyi explained that she is currently occupied with preparing her party to contest by-elections on April 1, which will be the NLD’s first chance to seek a role in government since it won a majority in the parliamentary elections of 1990, a victory that the military regime refused to recognize. Latest News and Comment
IMF applauds Myanmar reforms Agence France-Presse - 25 January 2011 The International Monetary Fund has published its analysis of Myanmar for the first time since 1999, applauding recent reforms but stressing the need to move further to stabilize the economy. It said Myanmar's economy, coming out a long period of stifled activity under an autocratic military regime, would grow about 5.5 percent this fiscal year, ending in March, and 6.0 percent the next. But it said reforming the "complex" exchange rate system is a top priority, and that will need to come with other broad adjustments and management reforms to maintain macroeconomic stabilit "The new government is facing a historic opportunity to jump-start the development process and lift living standards," the head of the IMF mission to Myanmar said in a statement at the conclusion of its annual Article IV Consultations.
US hopeful on sanctions, but action may be slow Reuters - 24 January 2012 U.S. sanctions, launched in 1988 and expanded by five laws and four presidential directives, could prove tough to unravel quickly as the Obama administration monitors whether Myanmar genuinely embraces democracy, promotes civil liberties and ends strife with ethnic groups. "We're looking at it. We're reviewing right now what's available to the president, what's available to Congress, what makes the most sense," said Democratic Senator John Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "I think we have to take some measures in response to what is happening over there. But I don't think anybody's yet decided on exactly what the sequencing is."
Derek Tonkin writes: The Myanmar economy, in desperate need of capacity and restructuring, faces its toughest test in the intransigence of US congressional politics, the complexities of US sanctions legislation and the inertia of the US democratic system in this presidential election year. There are no votes to be won on Myanmar policy, so no politician is likely to feel inclined to take political risks in this context. On the other hand, the opportunity for grandstanding is not to be missed. Latest News and Comment
Norwegian companies "readying for Burma" Democratic Voice of Burma - 24 January 2012 Norway’s foreign minister will head to Burma soon to continue to push for reform in the country, and says the changing landscape there could turn looming Norwegian investment into a constructive force that can integrate Burma into the global economy. The government in Norway announced last week that it would drop sanctions on Burma, although it continues to align itself with remaining EU sanctions on the country. Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told DVB in an interview that the country would now push for “normal relations” with Naypyidaw. This will include “investment, jobs, welfare … [and] integration of Myanmar [Burma] into the international economy,” he said, adding that “Norwegian companies should start preparing for that”. Støre said that Norwegian officials would soon hold a roundtable on responsible investment in the country.Burma: The glimmers of hope must not be stifled The Huffington Post - 24 January 2012 William Hague and Kevin Rudd say that real and enduring change is not assured, but the glimmers of hope must not be stifled. Reforms "give us hope that reformists within Burma's government now have the upper hand. But Burma's reform process is just beginning. The move towards democracy warms our hearts but we must keep our heads cool at the same time. Decades of isolation have left Burma's new government with very limited capacity to implement reform, even where political will is there. That is why it is so important that the international community reinforces the momentum for reform."
Derek Tonkin writes: This presentation by two Western politicians should be taken in tandem with the sober and perceptive assessment of Myanmar's reform programme also published today in The Lowry Interpreter by Andrew Selth, Research Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute. He concludes: "For the time being, she [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] seems prepared to work with Thein Sein in achieving national reconciliation and incremental reform. This is a pragmatic strategy but it carries risks. It has already upset some of her supporters. It will also be difficult to sustain. For there will come a time when pressure will build for Burma's 'disciplined democracy' to give way to a genuinely representative system of government. That may prove the real test of the President's reform program."
Burmese band feels pinch of foreign sanctions Voice of America News - 23 January 2012 Burma's loosened political and social controls have been a boon to artists such as punk rock band Side Effect, which this year turned to the Internet to raise money for their debut album. Last week, they learned that their online fundraising campaign with the U.S. website indiegogo.com was frozen by the U.S. Office for Foreign Asset Control. The fund's $2,840, which they hoped would also help them buy a drum kit, has been refunded to donors. Side Effect front man Darko C. feels the band has been unjustly targeted. "No it's not fair, we're not working for the government. We're just a group of musicians. We're kind of lost at the moment," he said. "The sanctions ruined our dream. It doesn't make any sense, so maybe they should do some reconsideration."
Note by Network Myanmar: The fact that the Voice of America, the leading broadcasting institution of the US Federal Government, has chosen to publicise this unfortunate affair only adds to its poignancy. Has the US Administration perhaps encouraged them to do so? EU Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on Burma/Myanmar Press Office European Council - 23 January 2010 The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) "welcomes the remarkable programme of political reform undertaken by the Parliament and Government", removes travel bans on the President, Vice-Presidents, Cabinet Members and Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament, promises to support economic development and progressive engagement by the World Bank and IMF, and looks forward to a visit by Catherine Ashton, High Representative, to the country.
Derek Tonkin writes: In sharp contrast to previous Council Conclusions, those adopted on 23 January 2012 are as positive and supportive as the Council felt able, with neither explicit nor implicit criticism of the situation in Myanmar. The Council looks forward to "the further easing or lifting of restrictive measures in the Council's 'Decision' by the end of April". The FAC meeting at which this could be decided is due to take place on 23 April 2012.
Interview with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Washington Post - 20 January 2012 Lally Weymouth runs a companion interview with Suu Kyi, following her interview with the President. Suu Kyi made the following points:
The Commander-in-Chief can take over all powers of government at any time he feels it to be necessary.
I think the president is genuine about reform. I think there are those who support him in the government.
The U.S. has laid out very clearly what the conditions are for the removal of sanctions.
All the major political prisoners have been released.
The reason we want to get into parliament is not because we expect to do all our work in parliament.
I think very few people expected him [Thein Sein] to become head of state.
I don’t want to be president, but I want to be free to decide whether or not I want to be president of this country.
There is no real freedom of the press yet.
That’s where we would like our friends to help: foreign aid in the right way; development aid that is not frittered away to those who are administering the funds.
There is so much to be done - this is why I am keen on an assessment by the World Bank as a first step towards finding out what we need to do.
Derek Tonkin writes: Suu Kyi would seem, with respect, to have misunderstood the Constitution. Article 40, in Chapter 1 on "Basic Principles", states that the Commander-in-Chief "has the right to take over and exercise State sovereign power" but only "in accord with the provisions of the Constitution". The provisions on the declaration of a State of Emergency occupy the whole of Chapter XI. According to Article 410 in this Chapter, it is the President who "may, after consulting with the National Defence and Security Council, promulgate an ordinance and declare a state of emergency." Article 418 also provides that "the President shall declare the transferring of legislative, executive and judicial powers of the Union to the Commander-in-Chief to enable him to carry out necessary measures to speedily restore its original situation in the Union."
The Commander-in-Chief's "right" formulated briefly in Article 40, which was first released as Article 28(c) in September 1993 in what was known as the "104 Basic Principles" and has since remained virtually unchanged, should surely be interpreted in accordance with the detailed provisons of the Constitution.
Constitutions, however, are rarely an impediment anywhere in the world to Army commanders bent on staging a coup.
Thura Shwe Mann dismisses talk of 'military coup' - Myanmar Times 23-29 January 2012 In a clear reference to concerns expressed by Suu Kyi, the Speaker of the Lower House, Thura Shwe Mann said: “We want to develop like other leading countries and we wish to have good relations with them. It can only happen if we implement democracy. We can’t say exactly when we will become a democratic country, but I want to say that we are changing rapidly and working on the track of democracy. However, I don’t want to blame those who are concerned about a military coup because we have only recently retired from the military. But whether it will happen or not – I think you all can be the judge.”
President Thein Sein gives his first foreign interview Washington Post - 20 January 2012 During the interview in Naypyitaw which the President gave to veteran Washington Post correspondent Lally Weymouth, he discussed the issues facing the present government, noting that there is a lot of encouragement from the people; that he believes the government has already accomplished the steps sought by Western countries (on release of political prisoners, allowing Suu Kyi to participate in the political process, holding elections); that it will take time to secure 'eternal peace' in the country; that sanctions have harmed the interests of the people and did not affect the previous government; that Suu Kyi could become a minister if appointed and agreed by parliament; that he would like to see sanctions eased and eventually got rid of altogether; that they have no nuclear program or military cooperation with North Korea and are in the process of signing the additional IAEA protocol; that the two main requirements are peace and stability, and economic development; that investors will come only when sanctions have eased.
Burma: The glimmers of hope must not be stifled
that reformists within Burma's government now have the upper hand. But Burma's reform process is just beginning. The move towards democracy warms our hearts but we must keep our heads cool at the same time. Decades of isolation have left Burma's new government with very limited capacity to implement reform, even where political will is there. That is why it is so important that the international community reinforces the momentum for reform."
be taken in 
