Government
National government
Armed forces chief thanks NCA signatories for ‘constructive cooperation’
Myanmar Army Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing thanked ethnic armed groups that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement last year for their “constructive cooperation,” while indirectly criticizing other groups. The armed forces chief alluded to NCA non-signatory groups “expanding their forces.” He urged them to eschew “dogmatism” and ...
China calls for calm After Brexit, seeks ‘stable and united’ EU
China called for a calm response to the U.K.’s unprecedented Brexit vote, saying a “stable and united European Union was in the interest of all parties.”“The decision of leaving the EU has an impact on everything, and we believe all related parties must calm down ...
Premier decries ‘disrespect’ over ASEAN South China Sea statement
Prime Minister Hun Sen on 20 June slammed reports that Cambodia had succumbed to pressure from China and helped kill a strongly worded ASEAN statement on the South China Sea dispute, even as he parroted Beijing’s pre-emptive dismissal of an upcoming Hague ruling on the issue. ASEAN ...
Cambodia spoiled ASEAN statement on sea: reports
Cambodia helped to scupper an ASEAN joint statement on the South China Sea last week, according to news reports, an echo of the success it had killing a similar statement when it was chair of the regional bloc four years ago. The Foreign Affairs Ministry issued its ...
Financial commission moves to reapportion union budget
The Financial Commission hopes to reapportion the 2016-17 Union Budget, looking to allocate more funds to the education, health and social welfare sectors. Zaw Htay, President’s Office spokesperson, told The Irrawaddy on 16 June that Vice President Myint Swe manages the budgets of Union-level ministries and agencies, ...
Vietnam, Cambodia issue Joint Statement
At the invitation of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, H. E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , and Madame Nguyen Thi Hien led a high – level Vietnamese delegation to pay a ...
UNFC proposes more negotiations prior to Suu Kyi meeting
The United Nationalities Federal Council, an alliance of nine ethnic armed groups, has told Burma’s peace delegation that it would like to hold additional talks with lead negotiator Dr. Tin Myo Win before meeting State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Tun Zaw, the secretary of the ...
Rangoon division parliament demands crackdown on drugs
On 14 June, more than a dozen National League for Democracy lawmakers in the Rangoon Division parliament demanded that authorities crack down on big-time drug dealers and smugglers in the city, who keep evading arrest, citing the worsening effect of drugs on Rangoon’s youth. “One of ...
EC, NLA unnerved by referendum-law challenge
The chiefs of the Election Commission and the National Legislative Assembly showed confidence on 9 June the draft charter referendum remained on course despite the latest decision by the Constitutional Court. The controversial words are “violent, aggressive, rude,” which the petitioners find vague and subjective and open ...
New Members Appointed to Burma’s Investment Commission
The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) was reshuffled on 7 June to include 11 new members, the President’s Office announced on 8 June. Kyaw Win, Minister of National Planning and Finance, was appointed chairman, and Than Myint, Minister of Commerce, was appointed vice chairman. Aung Naing Oo, former secretary ...
