Tag: Myanmar

Facebook Whistleblower Accuses Platform of ‘Fanning Ethnic Violence’ in Myanmar and Ethiopia

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen during Tuesday’s Senate hearing cited ethnic violence in Myanmar and Ethiopia as examples of the “destructive impact” that the social media platform has had on society. The former Facebook employee suggested before lawmakers that there is a link between Facebook activity and the violence in the regions. The social media platform’s…


The Chinese Regime’s Engagement With Bad Actors

Commentary The foreign policy of the Chinese regime assumes that the current ruling power in a country is the legitimate ruling power. Consequently, despite an international consensus to the contrary, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) engages with the Burmese junta, as well as with the Taliban. China wants to avoid foreign entanglements and is not…


US Says Burma Junta’s Election Plan Shows Need for ASEAN to Step up Efforts

WASHINGTON—The plan by Burma’s ruling generals to hold elections in two years shows they are stalling for time and the need for Southeast Asian countries to step up pressure on them, a senior State Department official said on Monday. “It’s clear that the Burmese junta is just stalling for time and wants to keep prolonging…


Burma’s Military Leader Declares Himself Prime Minister, Extends Emergency, Promises Election in 2 Years

BANGKOK—Six months after seizing power from the elected government, Burma’s military leader on Sunday declared himself prime minister and said he would lead the country under the extended state of emergency until elections are held in about two years. “We must create conditions to hold a free and fair multiparty general election,” Senior Gen. Min…


China Reports Spike in New Coronavirus Cases on Border With Myanmar

BEIJING/SHANGHAI—China, on July 20, reported the highest daily tally of new confirmed COVID-19 cases since January, driven by a surge in imported infections in Yunnan province, where cases are spilling over from an “alarming spike” in neighbouring Myanmar. Mainland China recorded 65 new confirmed cases for July 19, compared with 31 a day earlier, the…


Burma’s Suu Kyi Hit by New Charges in Mandalay Court

The deposed leader of Burma (also known as Myanmar), Aung San Suu Kyi, is facing four additional criminal charges, filed in a court in the country’s second biggest city Mandalay, her lawyer said on Monday. The legal team has little information about what Suu Kyi was accused of but the charges included corruption and that two…


Australian Govt. Urged to Sanction Burma Military Leaders Immediately

The Australian government is facing renewed calls to place new sanctions on Burma’s (also known as Myanmar) military junta. An analysis (pdf) by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for Australian non-government organisations, has criticised the government’s decision not to impose any new sanctions since the military coup in February, likening…


Southeast Asian Leaders Discuss Burma Crisis With Junta Chief

JAKARTA—Southeast Asian leaders began a crisis meeting on Burma (also known as Myanmar) on Saturday aiming to persuade Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military takeover that sparked turmoil in his country, to forge a path to end the violence. The gathering of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in…


Burma’s Suu Kyi Asks Court to Let Her Meet Lawyers, Activists Urge New Year Defiance

Burma’s (also known as Myanmar) detained government leader Aung San Suu Kyi asked a court on Monday to be allowed to meet her lawyers in person when she appeared at a hearing via video link to face charges brought by the military junta that could see her jailed for years. As Suu Kyi appeared, her…


UK Sanctions Burmese Conglomerate Linked to Military Junta

The British government on Thursday announced sanctions against a Burmese (also known as Myanmar) business conglomerate linked to the military regime. The Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) is being sanctioned for its “involvement in serious human rights violations by making funds available to the military, as well as its association with senior military figures,” the UK…