• DISPUTED BURMESE MONASTERY ISSUE IN CHIANGMAI RESOLVED!
• THE LADY CALLS FOR LAWS TO PROTECT ETHNIC NATIONALITIES!
• NEWEST ATTACK ON SSA!
• PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN’S 22-24 JULY VISIT!
• TALIBAN WARNS NAYPYITAW!

Cartoon
Tips for root-tracers: Run for the President!

Think Piece
I think the answer (for 2015) is some kind of mixed electoral system, in which there is a substantial if not full proportionality in the distribution of votes into seats but at the same time people can identify individual representatives that speak for them. One of the interesting things I found is growing interest in proportional representation and I think people in Burma are looking at it seriously and thinking about it now.

Larry Diamond, professor of Sociology and Political Science at Stanford University, The Irrawaddy, 24 July 2012

We think that American companies by practicing as they do in other parts of the world-social responsibilities, environmental responsibilities, dealing with ethnic minorities in a very constructive way – can actually augment, assist and facilitate the reform process.

Robert Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment, after a visit to Burma, Irrawaddy, 23 July 2012

Three P’s of responsible development

A focus on people, ensuring that development reaches the people most in need;
On planet, ensuring that development does not short-change natural resources
And on partnership, ensuring that development is done in coordination with other development agencies, civil society and the private sector

“Tempering the mad rush to Myanmar”, Curtis S. Chin, Asian Institute of Technology, former US ambassador to Asian Development Bank, 2007-2010, Bangkok Post, 26 July 2012

The World
20 July 2012
A week after the historic meeting ended, Asean members issue joint statement reaffirming “non-use of force by parties” in the South China Sea, thanks to shuttle diplomacy by Indonesian FM Marty Natalegawa. (Jakarta Globe)

22 July 2012

The Ghawar Field in Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil field. It produces about 5 million barrels of oil a day – more than 6% of the world’s total. (Ripley’s Believe it Or Not!)

26 July 2012
Thailand set to lose status as the world’s top rice exporter, ending nearly 50 years in the top spot, says US Department of Agriculture:
India 8 million tons
Vietnam 8 million tons
Thailand 6.5 million tons
Pakistan 3.75 million tons
US 3.45 million tons
Others 6.75 million tons
Total 35.45 million tons
(Bangkok Post)

27 July 2012

Star-studded opening of Olympics in London. (Agencies)

International Relations
25 July 2012

Pakistani human rights advocate Ansar Burney refused visa to come to Burma on a fact-finding mission regarding Rohingyas. (Mizzima)

27 July 2012
Pakistani Taliban issues call to defend Muslims in Burma’s Arakan State. (AFP)

Thai-Burma Relations
22 July 2012
18 migrants, including 2 underaged, forced to work on a Thai fishing boat, rescued by Thai police in Trat, 300 km southeast of Bangkok. (DVB)

23 July 2012
Kantana, a Thai film company, will be making a full-length movie about ET (E-Thi), celebrated Burmese fortune teller, says she at a press conference in Bangkok today. (Irrawaddy)

23 July 2012

PM Yingluck Shinawatra and President Thein Sein agree to connect Dawei Economic Zone with Laem Chabang deep sea port in Thailand’s eastern seaboard. (Reuters)

24 July 2012
Burmese embassy counselor Naing Htoon says the Thai government will let a Burmese monk to head the disputed Sai Moon monastery in Chiangmai. (Irrawaddy)

24 July 2012
Labor minister Aung Kyi, coming with President Thein Sein to Thailand, meets 5 NGOs, including MAP, at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok. Labor rights activists raise the issue of workplace violations. (Irrawaddy)

25 July 2012
Court sentences 92 Thais to 3 years for immigration offenses and 6 months for cutting down forest. Investigations going on as to why the farmers have 3 bulldozers and more than 30 vehicles as well as a cache of weapons in their possession. (BBC)

Politics/ Inside Burma
27 July 2012

Immigration minister Khin Yi informs Lower House up to 100,000 primary school teachers will carry out door-to-door census in 2014 and 20,000 middle school teachers will check the list for 11 million households in the whole country. About 2% of the population may be left out because of ongoing fighting. (Mizzima)

Ethnic Affairs
13 July 2012
Chin National Front (CNF) forms Public Consultation Committee in Matupi. (Khonimthing)

22 July 2012

PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO) delegation, led by Khun Myint Tun, flies to Taunggyi for talks. They are received by Naypyitaw negotiator U Aung Min’s aide Chit Ko Ko. (SHAN)

22 July 2012
United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) issues rejecting Naypyitaw’s union level talks 8-point guideline. It announces 7-point counter guideline calling for a broad-based convention, monitored by international observers, the decisions of which must be implemented by all. It hopes to accomplish it by 2015. (SHAN)

25 July 2012
Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) opens liaison office in Kayah State capital Loikaw today. It is attended by Chief Minister U Bu Reh and KNPP chief liaison officer Khu Daniel. Two more liaison offices are to be opened in Shadaw and Phasawng townships. (SHAN)

25 July 2012
Aung San Suu Kyi calls for laws protecting the rights of ethnic nationalities supporting proposal by T. Khun Myat, Shan State MP, to enact laws to protect them. (Irrawaddy)

27 July 2012
Naypyitaw has selected Laos as a venue for the next round of talks with Kachin Independence Organization, according to KIO sources. (Irrawaddy)

Shans/ Shan State
22-23 July 2012
Shan seminar in Rangoon resolves to continue teaching Shan in each township in close cooperation with the Shan Sangha. (SHAN)

27 July 2012
The 2 day bi-annual meeting of top Shan State Army (SSA) South members is expected to end today. The leadership has decided to go ahead with the peace process it had kick-started in December despite misgivings expressed by some, according to a senior source. (SHAN)

Economy/ Business
23 July 2012
Burma’s revenue from foreign trade hit nearly $ 5 billion in three months, April-June, reports Weekly Eleven:
Exports $ 2.37 billion
Imports $ 2.41 billion
Over $ 1 billion came from border trade. (Mizzima)

Human Rights
20 July 2012
300 farmers in Rangoon demonstrate in front of Pinlae Kothwe company, one of the 16 companies that allegedly seized 10,000 arcs of land from them. (DVB)

25 July 2012
Observers shocked by monks emerging as leaders to enforce denial of humanitarian assistance to Muslims:

• Issuing pamphlets telling people not to associate with the Rohingya community
• Blocking assistance from reaching them
• Some monasteries openly refusing to accept international aid, alleging it is biased in favor of the Rohingya
• Having prominent activists like Ko Ko Gyi in the forefront
• Proposing that there should be concentration camps for the Rohingya

(The Independent)

26 July 2012
Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) yesterday premiered its short movie Yon Htwet Khwint (Right to struggle free), which depicts Burmese women held bondage by outmoded family norms. It will be aired again by Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) on Sunday. (SHAN)

Environment
23 July 2012
Research says China’s carbon dioxide levels soared in 2011:
US 17.3 tons per person
EU 7.5 tons per person
China 7.2 tons per person
In volume term, China and US are No.1 and 2 world emitters: 29% and 16% of global CO2 respectively. (AFP/Bangkok Post)

27 July 2012

Lashio and Kengtung in flood. (SHAN)

27 July 2012

Heavy rainfall causes flood in Mongla and Panghsang. Some 60 buildings on the Ma (Mongla), including 16 hotels, and 5 homes on the Kha (Panghsang), inundated. (SHAN)

Drugs
9-15 July 2012

Jason Eligh, UNODC country manager, says he has 4 programs in Shan State and is implementing in close cooperation with several agencies: Central Government, state government, World Food Program, PaO National Organization, Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and village and village tract leaders. (Myanmar Times)

23 July 2012
Pol Gen Priewpan Damaphong says Myanmar will soon extradite Naw Kham’s aide to China. The aide is believed to hold all the key details and knows the motive behind the murders. (Bangkok Post)

27 July 2012
Naypyitaw refuses to let go Aung Myat, Naw Kham’s aide to Chinese authorities, saying he was not captured but had surrendered voluntarily. (SHAN)

War
22 July 2012
Shan State Army (SSA) South unit in Mongpiang township attacked by Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 360. LIB 360 retreats after 3 hours. This is the 25th clash. (SHAN)