Opinion Archives - DVB Multimedia Group

Category: Opinion

Opinion: Suu Kyi’s dilemma over a free press

Aung San Suu Kyi is treating the press in Burma poorly, and that may impede her efforts to democratise the conflict-wrought country.

Analysis Ethnic issues Lead Story Opinion Peace Process

Post-Panglong, peace process challenges remain

The second session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference made substantial progress that offers a beacon of hope for sustainable peace in Burma, but key hurdles remain.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story Opinion

Transparency lacking, visa blacklist continues to bar rights advocates

A visa blacklist still bars hundreds of people from entering Burma. The government must be more transparent about the roster and its justification, Burma Campaign UK’s Mark Farmaner writes.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story Opinion

Rethinking Burma’s waterways through Foucault’s biopolitics

Perspectives on Burma’s waterways have been polarised into two competing positions: focusing on developing its vast hydropower potential and advocating for local communities’ needs and concerns.

Analysis Contributor Ethnic issues Lead Story Opinion

On marriage equality and the state of Burma’s Union

With last week’s Union Day commemorations, some thoughts on the state of Burma’s quest for national reconciliation and an end to decades of civil war.

Analysis Contributor Human Rights Lead Story Opinion

In NLD era, why do political prisoners remain?

Nearly a year since the NLD formed a government, prisoners of conscience remain, and people are still being targeted for peaceful political activities.

Analysis International Relations Lead Story Opinion

Trump on Burma still a mystery

US President-elect Donald Trump has not made any public statements on what his administration’s policy toward Burma will be, but he is unlikely to take a strong personal interest in the country as his predecessor has.

Analysis Arakan Conflict Human Rights Lead Story Opinion Rohingya

Tipping point: Rohingya youth driven to radicalisation

Experts have warned that decades of treating the Rohingya as a thorn in the nation’s side is tantamount to doing the legwork for forces that would seek to radicalise the next generation of Rohingya.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

‘Groupism’ and sectarian violence in Arakan

By not seeing ethnic groups like the Rohingya or the Rakhine as unitary collective actors, we are better able to avoid the trap of attributing collective responsibility.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

Burma still has work to do to end doubts about WMD ambitions

Burma is moving in the right direction, but until it fulfills all its international commitments on WMDs, doubts will remain.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

SEZ managers must be versed in rights

In August, Burma’s newly elected government overhauled the senior figures heading the administrative framework for governing Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Union Vice-President Henry Van Thio replaces former president Thein Sein[…]

Analysis Ethnic issues Lead Story News Opinion Peace Process

Everybody should be part of Panglong

The Panglong Conference must be as inclusive as possible if it is to succeed in remaking Burma, says UN special rapporteur on human rights Yanghee Lee.

Analysis Contributor Health Lead Story Natural Disasters News Opinion

Spreading Burma’s spirit of compassion on World Humanitarian Day

It is little wonder that local humanitarian organisations and CSOs are such a central part of Burma’s social fabric given the country’s unparalleled culture of compassion and generosity in the face of suffering.

Analysis Contributor Human Trafficking Lead Story News Opinion Rohingya

Why the lull in human smuggling can’t last

Only a coordinated effort among the region’s countries will have a lasting impact on human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

Analysis Contributor Ethnic issues Lead Story Military News Opinion

How to build a bottom-up federal union

In a democracy, power sharing should flow upwards from the people, not downwards from the elite — and Burmese federalism should reflect this fact.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

Myitsone and the failure of China’s ‘anti-ethno-politics’ approach

China’s refusal to acknowledge the ethno-political dimension of opposition to the Myitsone dam could mean that the project is doomed to failure.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

Panglong II: What’s in it for Burma’s ethnic minorities?

Burma’s ethnic minorities need to think carefully about how to get the most out of Aung San Suu Kyi’s plans to revive the “Panglong Spirit”.

Analysis Lead Story News Opinion

Suu Kyi gets top marks in Thailand

Burma’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi impressed her Thai hosts last week with her forthright manner and clear advice on the migrant issue.

Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

The road to Dawei is paved with empty promises

Aung San Suu Kyi should think again if she believes that going ahead with the Dawei Special Economic Zone project is a good way to create jobs in Burma.

Analysis Contributor Ethnic issues Lead Story News Opinion

Peace in Suu Kyi’s time?

Burma’s new leader is vague about her plans to end decades of conflict, but some see new opportunities for peace under a democratically elected government.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

Burma’s road to ‘liberal authoritarianism’

Deep divisions in Burmese society could make it difficult for the country to achieve real democracy.

Analysis Contributor Lead Story News Opinion

Resolving ethnic issues is the key to unlocking US sanctions

The Obama administration’s policy is an indication of the importance of ethnic minority issues in US-Burma diplomatic relations. It also reflects the sentiment of the international community.