• OPINION

  Ethnic armies fight for a federal future

  Oped, Larry Jagan, Published on 07/04/2021

  » Myanmar's ethnic armies have effectively declared war on the country's military government, increasing the prospect of civil war. In the face of the army's continued violence against civilian protesters -- the death toll is now more than 600 in the last nine weeks -- many of the country's ethnic leaders felt impelled to take drastic action.

• OPINION

  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.

• OPINION

  Ethnic parties give wake-up call to NLD

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 06/11/2018

  » Analysts are poring over the results of Myanmar's by-elections which took place on Saturday, vainly trying to read the tea leaves, and perhaps reading too much into them. But it was certainly a wake-up call for both major parties -- the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and the previous governing party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) -- but the lessons that can be drawn for the future are limited.

• BUSINESS

  Myanmar banks feel the heat

  Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 23/09/2019

  » The fragile state of Myanmar's banking industry remains a problem for the government as it strives to liberalise the financial sector and create a genuine market-based economy. A mini-run on local banks earlier this month underscored how shaky public confidence is.

• WORLD

  Myanmar businesses stumble on corporate responsibility

  Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 30/10/2017

  » Many foreign investors are shying away from Myanmar because of the government's apparent failure to prioritise economic development and the violence in Rakhine state. Local businesses also complain of government inertia. But ministers still insist that the country is on the verge of a major economic breakthrough.

• OPINION

  Rakhine violence leaves Aung San Suu Kyi reeling

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 28/08/2017

  » Myanmar's restive western state of Rakhine erupted into violence on Friday, leaving the government's efforts to find a solution to the communal tension there in tatters. Insurrection and arson engulfed large areas around Maungdaw and Buthidaung.

• OPINION

  Myanmar's peace process stumbles on

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 19/03/2018

  » Myanmar's peace process is precariously poised with Panglong -- or the national peace conference as it is formally called -- set to meet in May. Several more ethnic groups -- including the Wa -- have agreed to sign the national ceasefire agreement (NCA). But, despite this, the peace process is in danger of disintegrating.

• OPINION

  Myanmar's military commander-in-chief on the rise

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 02/02/2018

  » Myanmar's military chief, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, has become the man of the moment in the country's unfolding political crisis. While he and the country's civilian leader, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, may not trust each other, he has become increasingly her indispensable ally amid the increasing international turmoil surrounding the government's handling of the Rakhine crisis.

• OPINION

  Suu Kyi should heed Pope's suggestion on UN role

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 04/12/2017

  » Pope Francis' visit to Myanmar last week was an overwhelming success and may provide the much needed spark to ignite the government's peace process and its efforts to bring reconciliation to the country's violence-torn western region of Rakhine. The Pope's message was loud and clear: the only way forward for Myanmar was "love and peace", the title used for his visit.

• WORLD

  Myanmar renews SEZ push

  Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 02/10/2017

  » Myanmar's special economic zones (SEZs) are a central part of a revitalised economic strategy in which increased manufacturing activity will play a key role. And breathing renewed life and energy into stagnant or stalled SEZs has moved to the top of the government's agenda.

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