Government
National government
MPs and human rights commission spar
Parliamentarians criticised the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission on 28 July, while discussing a report, about the commission’s work over the last year. The commission has been working to get human rights curriculums in primary schools and law schools across the country. Amyotha Hluttaw MP U ...
ASEAN deadlocked on South China Sea after Cambodia blocks statement
Southeast Asian nations failed to find common ground on maritime disputes in the South China Sea on July 24 after Cambodia stuck to its demand the group make no reference to an international court ruling against Beijing in a statement, diplomats said. ASEAN is now facing ...
ASEAN and the logic of collective action
The ten member states of ASEAN aspire to “One Vision, One Identity, One Community.” Their foreign ministers meeting in Laos this July demonstrated again how far the distance is between goal and reality. Like the European Union, the regional organization of Southeast Asia is pulled ...
Banks expect up to 5m low-income earners to register for welfare
The government Savings Bank, Krungthai Bank and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives expect 3 million to 5 million low-income earners will sign up for state welfare when registration opens from tomorrow to August 15. Those eligible are Thai citizens aged 18 years and ...
Ties with Vietnam ‘strong’
Bilateral relations between Thailand and Vietnam have come to a peak recently, opening a new chapter to bring mutual benefit, but rival sentiments may cause negative impacts, panellists said on 12 July. Speaking at a seminar on “Enhancing Vietnam-Thailand Relations for Common Prosperity, Sustainable Development and ...
Govt to meet again with armed Kokang groups
The government is planning to meet with the three armed ethnic groups from the Kokang region that had been excluded from last year’s so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement, according to government peace negotiator U Hla Maung Shwe. The three groups have been fighting the Tatmadaw since ...
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 ...
