Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Myanmar looks east again in search of legitimacy
Oped, Larry Jagan, Published on 17/04/2026
» Myanmar understands it needs to reach out to the world if it is to end its isolation and roll back the sanctions much of the West has levied against it. To this end, the men in green, now in civilian clothes, are seeking the support of traditional allies -- China and Asean, especially Thailand -- as well as Bangladesh and Pakistan, in an effort to reset foreign policy and regain international acceptance.
Anti-coup crackdown takes fatal turn
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 01/03/2021
» Myanmar's security forces have unleashed a concerted crackdown on the country's peaceful protesters leaving 23 dead and thousands injured throughout the country in the last two days. In planned pre-emptive strikes, the police moved ruthlessly to disperse and arrest protestors preparing to join yesterday general strike. "They used teargas, stun grenades and fired live ammunition indiscriminately into the crowds," said Soe Soe, a young university student at a protest site told the Bangkok Post.
New democracy demands unleashed
Oped, Larry Jagan, Published on 12/11/2020
» Millions of Myanmar voters went to the polls last Sunday to voice their overwhelming support for democracy and their opposition to the military's involvement in politics. Throughout the country, people queued patiently and peacefully -- sometimes for up to two hours in the hot sun -- to mark their ballot papers in the polling stations.
Pandemic poll drives reform demands
Oped, Larry Jagan, Published on 04/11/2020
» Myanmar goes to the polls on Sunday in a critical election that will determine the country's future direction. At issue is the country's fragile political balance -- between the civilian government and the still very powerful military -- and more importantly, give renewed impetus to the current government's drive to reform the country and the constitution. This election gives the voters the chance to decide whether the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, led by the charismatic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, will be given a renewed mandate to push forward on the country's tentative reform path and strengthen its democratic institutions.
Suu Kyi stands up to lawsuit avalanche
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 25/11/2019
» Myanmar's top leaders -- both military and civilian -- have been shell-shocked by the avalanche of international legal cases they are now facing. In the space of days, three cases have been lodged in separate courts, all intended to make the Myanmar government and the country's military leaders accountable for the horrendous events that unfolded in strife-torn western Rakhine state during military operations over the last three years. These forced nearly a million Muslims, or Rohingya as they call themselves, to flee to safety in Bangladesh.
The Panglong peace process is precariously poised
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 28/10/2019
» Myanmar's stalled peace process is precariously poised, and may now be in danger of falling apart all together, as mistrust and hostility between some of the ethnic groups and the military worsened significantly. The fragile relationships between the three key players deteriorated further on the eve of the anniversary of the signing of a key peace pact, and the hopes of kick-starting negotiations and bringing the groups back to the table took a tumble for the worst.
Charter challenge
Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 18/02/2019
» Pro-democracy forces in Myanmar have launched a new bid to change the country’s constitution. With 18 months left before the 2020 elections, the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) has initiated a process in parliament that it hopes will amend the military-drafted charter — and give the party an appealing campaign issue. It is the latest evidence that the country has been plunged into “Syndrome 2020” in the lead-up to the elections.
Myanmar steps up financial reforms
Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 24/12/2018
» The government of Myanmar is finally putting its long-anticipated plans for economic liberalisation into overdrive. In the past few weeks it has announced numerous reforms -- including insurance liberalisation and further easing of restrictions on foreign banks, the establishment of a credit rating bureau and the formation of a "project bank" to encourage investment, especially from abroad.
Myanmar struggles with its Rakhine conundrum
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 14/06/2018
» In the face of relentless international criticism, Myanmar is struggling to develop a new strategy to cope with the problems of Rakhine, and the need for a reconciliation process. This week the government has been discussing their new approach with the UN secretary-general's newly appointed special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener -- a Swiss career diplomat, who also recently served as ambassador to Thailand.