Environment Land Lead Story Natural resources News
Two years after a brutal police crackdown against protesters at the Latpadaung copper mine site, Amnesty Int’l has issued a press release highlighting ongoing problems with the project.
Lead Story News Peace Process Refugees
The Border Consortium says that the increase in military presence in the region is being increasingly driven by resource extraction and commercial development.
Development Land Lead Story News
A coalition of ethnic NGOs says the draft National Land Use Policy is flawed because it overlooks traditional shifting agricultural practices in Burma.
UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee has expressed concern about “possible signs of backtracking” that could undermine Burma’s reform process, according to a UN press statement released yesterday.
Human Rights Lead Story Media News
The Myanmar Journalists Network met with Information Minister Ye Htut on Tuesday to discuss their concerns about the rising number of legal actions lodged against media employees.
Foreign Affairs Labour Issues Lead Story News
Akie Abe, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, gave a speech at the “Myanmar Festival 2014” in Tokyo on 18 October urging Japan’s business leaders to think of Burma as a potential long-term business partner rather than a source of cheap labour.
A Burmese helicopter pilot injured in an emergency landing on 27 September was found dead in a remote Kachin State forest on Thursday by a rescue team, according to the Htoo Foundation.
AAPP-B said on Thursday that only one of the 3,073 detainees released on 7 October in a presidential amnesty was on their list of political prisoners.
Thai co-pilot of missing helicopter is now safe and receiving treatment, according to a spokesperson for the Htoo Foundation.
President Thein Sein ordered the release of 3,073 prisoners on Tuesday, but it’s unknown how many political prisoners remain in jail.
Economy Finance Lead Story News
Burma’s Foreign Bank Licensing Committee awarded preliminary licenses to nine foreign banks on Wednesday, and Japanese banks were by far the biggest winners.
Analysis Contributor Lead Story
Japan’s approach to foreign investment, characterised by poor transparency and an indifference to human rights, is becoming a threat to Burma’s fragile reform process.
