Myanmar (6do encyclopedia)



Myanmar, officially known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a Southeast Asian country with a population of approximately 54 million. Myanmar is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the east, Thailand to the southeast, Bangladesh to the west, and India to the northwest. The country is predominantly Buddhist, with other minority religions such as Christianity and Islam.

Myanmar has had a long and complex history, with evidence of early human settlements dating back to the Paleolithic era. The region was ruled by a number of different kingdoms and empires over the centuries, including the Pyu, Mon, Bagan, Ava, and Toungoo dynasties. Myanmar was also colonized by the British in the 19th century, and gained independence in 1948.

In recent years, Myanmar has faced a number of challenges, including ongoing conflicts between the government and various ethnic groups, human rights violations, and economic struggles. However, the country has also experienced periods of growth and development, particularly in the areas of tourism and foreign investment.

Geography and Climate

Myanmar is a country situated in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north, Laos to the east, Thailand to the southeast, Bangladesh to the west, and India to the northwest. The country has a total land area of approximately 676,578 square kilometers (261,228 square miles).

Myanmar has a tropical climate, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season typically runs from May to October, with heavy rainfall and occasional flooding. The dry season usually runs from November to April, with cooler temperatures and less rainfall.

The country is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including elephants, tigers, leopards, and various species of primates. Myanmar also has a diverse range of ecosystems, including forests, jungles, mountains, and coastal regions.

Government and Politics

Myanmar is a presidential republic, with the President serving as both the head of state and head of government. The country has a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities) and the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives).

The government has frequently been criticized for human rights abuses, particularly against ethnic minorities such as the Rohingya people in the Rakhine state. The military has also played a significant role in the country’s politics, with a number of military coups and interventions throughout Myanmar’s history.

Economy

Myanmar is a developing country with a mixed economy, with both public and private sectors playing a role. The country’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly rice cultivation, as well as natural resources such as oil, gas, and minerals.

Myanmar has faced a number of economic challenges in recent years, including currency devaluation, inflation, and a lack of foreign investment. However, the country has also experienced periods of growth and development, particularly in the areas of tourism and foreign investment.

Culture and Society

Myanmar is a culturally diverse country, with a range of ethnic and linguistic groups living within its borders. The majority of the population is Buddhist, with other minority religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism also present.

The country has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional arts and crafts such as pottery, weaving, and lacquerware still being practiced today. Myanmar is also known for its cuisine, which includes dishes such as mohinga (a fish broth noodle soup) and tea leaf salad.

Myanmar’s literature, music, and film industries have also experienced periods of growth and development over the years. The country has produced a number of notable writers, musicians, and filmmakers, including U Win Tin, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Zarganar.

Tourism

Myanmar has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years, with visitors attracted to the country’s stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and unique way of life. Popular tourist destinations in Myanmar include the ancient city of Bagan, Inle Lake, and the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. The government has made efforts to promote sustainable tourism and preserve the country’s cultural and environmental resources.

Conclusion

Myanmar is a complex and diverse country with a rich cultural heritage and a range of economic and political challenges. Despite these challenges, the country has remained resilient, with periods of growth and development in a number of different areas. As Myanmar continues to navigate its path forward, it will be important for the government and society at large to work towards greater economic and political stability, while also preserving the country’s unique cultural heritage and natural resources.


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Being Jewish and critical of Israel can make you an outcast. I should know

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-12 19:00


Australian journalist Antony Loewenstein writes about his experiences as a Jewish journalist who has spoken out about Israel's treatment of Palestinians. His writings have attracted a considerable amount of hatred and abuse from some quarters of the Jewish community. Loewenstein argues that Jewish history has obviously had a profound effect on the thinking of Jews throughout the world. However, he also believes that the greatest tragedy of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the failure of most Jewish people to question Israeli actions and philosophy. Loewenstein argues that the creation of the state of Israel was the result of a collision between Zionism and Arab nationalism, with the consequential displacement of Palestinians. Loewenstein blames the "continuously disastrous policies of successive Israeli governments" for ensuring that there will never be peace on the holy land.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/being-jewish-and-critical-of-israel-can-make-you-an-outcast-i-should-know-20230405-p5cyfa.html
Myanmar soldiers reportedly kill and burn bodies of 19 villagers, including four children

The Globe and Mail

23-05-12 17:04


Soldiers from Myanmar's military killed 19 villagers, including four children, in a raid on Nyaung Pin Thar village in Bago region, according to eyewitness and independent media reports. The attack, which the military has not commented on, may have been retaliatory following an attack by resistance forces opposing army rule, according to sources. Accounts of the killings and allegedly photos were posted on social media, and the same day human rights monitoring group Myanmar Witness released a report accusing the army of beheadings and other atrocities aimed at instilling terror in those resisting it.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-myanmar-soldiers-reportedly-kill-and-burn-bodies-of-19-villagers/
Reports: Myanmar soldiers kill and burn bodies of 19 villagers, including 4 children

The Toronto Star

23-05-12 16:43


At least 19 villagers, including four children, were killed and their bodies burned by the Burmese military during a raid on Nyaung Pin Thar village, which may have been in retaliation for an attack by rebels. This comes as human rights group Myanmar Witness released a report claiming that Myanmar’s military is carrying out atrocities, including multiple beheadings, to spread terror among the population and fighters. The report highlighted an army unit in Sagaing, which is home to armed resistance, where at least 33 villagers were killed in eight incidents from late February to early April.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/asia/2023/05/12/reports-myanmar-soldiers-kill-and-burn-bodies-of-19-villagers-including-4-children.html
U.S.-Thai Relations Have An Alliance Problem

Foreign Policy

23-05-12 14:45


Regardless of the outcome of Thailand's upcoming national election, the kingdom's prevailing foreign policy orientation towards China is set to result in further weakening of its treaty alliance with the US. Last year marked the US’ strongest period in Thailand since the coup, with key visits, agreements and strategic partnerships cementing relations between the two nations. Meanwhile, Beijing's relations with Thailand hit a rare rough patch, with issues arising around closed land borders, curbing the export of Thai goods and buyers struggling to purchase Thai condominiums. Thailand's political leaders responded with concern to China's policy changes driven by ideology, including an absence of tested mRNA vaccines. Chinese pressure on the high-speed rail project between Kunming and Bangkok also put a strain on relations.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/12/united-states-thai-relations-alliance-china-problem/
Representatives from 25 Indian Ocean nations discuss security, economic growth and cooperation

The Toronto Star

23-05-12 14:16


Representatives from 25 Indian Ocean nations met in Bangladesh to discuss regional economic growth, cooperation and security as the Indo-Pacific grows in importance. The region has emerged as an important area because it has gradually been becoming a theater of geopolitics, reflecting concerns about how countries will align themselves in the complex world order, particularly in relation to the war in Ukraine. The vast Indian Ocean is vital for global trade and energy resources, but also faces challenges such as piracy, terrorism and geopolitical tensions. China attended the conference as an observer, while Myanmar was not invited because of continuing violence following its military’s seizure of power.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/asia/2023/05/12/representatives-from-25-indian-ocean-nations-discuss-security-economic-growth-and-cooperation.html
Myanmar residents flee floodwaters in powerful cyclone's aftermath

CBC

23-05-15 21:57


Cyclone Mocha raised seawater to 3.6 meters along the western coast of Myanmar, leaving about 1,000 people trapped until rescuers evacuated them. The cyclone, which reached wind speeds of up to 209 km/h, also caused over 700 injuries to the about 20,000 people sheltering in buildings in Sittwe township. In Bangladesh, about 2,000 homes were destroyed and over ten were injured in Cox's Bazar, with 10,000 homes damaged on Saint Martin’s Island and Teknaf. Despite the impact, the full extent of the damage is still unclear in Myanmar, one of Asia’s least developed countries.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/myanmar-cyclone-rescue-efforts-1.6844179
Many Rohingya Muslims killed after cyclone hit western Myanmar - residents, NGO

Reuters

23-05-16 02:45


Numerous Rohingya Muslims perished when Cyclone Mocha struck western Myanmar over the weekend, according to reports. Local media outlet Myanmar Now reported that the disaster accounted for 22 fatalities in Rohingya settlements, while Partners, a non-governmental organization in the area, described the damage inflicted as "major". The Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, have long been subjected to persecution and lived in refugee camps across the border in Bangladesh after fleeing violence.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/many-rohingya-muslims-killed-after-cyclone-hit-western-myanmar-residents-ngo-2023-05-16/
Record­ed ex­e­cu­tions rise to high­est in five years: Amnesty

Al Jazeera

23-05-16 01:51


Human rights organization Amnesty International has said that in 2022, 883 people were executed, a five-year high for known executions, and that drug-related offenses were the cause of around 40% of all of the executions carried out last year. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa carried out 90% of known executions outside China, while around 40% of the executions carried out last year were for drug-related offenses and took place in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/16/recorded-executions-rise-to-highest-in-five-years-amnesty
Hong Kong leader says China’s sentencing of US citizen exposes national security threats

The Toronto Star

23-05-16 08:35


Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, has used the life imprisonment sentencing of a US citizen in eastern China on spying charges to further justify the semi-autonomous region's need for vigilance against national security risks hidden in society. Lee was appointed to his position after being unanimously voted in by Beijing following draconian new security legislation. His comments follow the arrest of John Shing-Wan Leung whose trial and charge details are unavailable, although it is notable that he had links to pro-Communist Party organisations. The implications of the sentencing are likely to further exacerbate already strained tensions between Beijing and Washington, especially as the US has refrained from commenting on the case, and as President Biden travels to Japan for the G7 summit and to Papua New Guinea, a nation prioritised by the Beijing government for its increased military and economic expansion in the Pacific region.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/asia/2023/05/16/hong-kong-leader-says-chinas-sentencing-of-us-citizen-exposes-national-security-threats.html
US asks In­dia to check ‘con­tin­ued tar­get­ed at­tacks’ on mi­nori­ties

Al Jazeera

23-05-16 08:06


The US State Department has called on India to condemn persistent violence against religious minorities, ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating in its annual report on religious freedom that there have been ongoing attacks in the country against Christians and Muslims. A senior US official said he was "saddened" by the situation and called on India to condemn the "dehumanising" language used in relation to the country’s religious minorities and hold violent actors accountable. Muslim citizens comprise almost 14% of India's 1.4 billion population.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/16/us-asks-india-to-check-continued-targeted-attacks-on-minorities
Amnesty: Executions worldwide increased by 53% in 2022, rose in Iran, Saudi Arabia

The Toronto Star

23-05-16 13:13


Executions worldwide rose by 53% in 2022 compared to the previous year, with a sharp increase in Iran and Saudi Arabia, according to a report from Amnesty International. The number of executions in Iran rose by 83% to 576, while in Saudi Arabia, the number tripled to 196. The report, which records executions in 20 countries, also criticised Indonesia, which has “one of the highest numbers of new death sentences in Asia”, for sentencing an unsustainable 112 new people to death, 94% of which were related to drug offences. China, North Korea and Vietnam all failed to reveal data on the death penalty.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/asia/2023/05/16/amnesty-executions-worldwide-increased-by-53-in-2022-rose-in-iran-saudi-arabia.html
India witnessed ‘targeted attack’ on religious minorities in 2022

The Independent

23-05-16 12:38


Throughout 2022, attacks were carried out against members of religious minority communities in multiple states in India, the US State Department said. Such groups include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits and Indigenous communities. The department’s annual report stated there were “continued targeted attacks” on those minorities, occurring under the rule of prime minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The report comes ahead of Modi’s states visit to the US in September, nine years after his appointment as prime minister. US officials said they were saddened by the persistence of religious violence in India.

https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/religious-violence-us-state-report-b2339707.html
‘At least a hundred’ feared dead after Cyclone Mocha

The Independent

23-05-16 12:11


Cyclone Mocha, the deadliest storm ever to hit Myanmar, is feared to have killed over 100 people. AFP news agency has quoted several local leaders in the western region of the country who have said the death toll stands at 41. However, many others are missing and feared dead, with activists raising concerns that relief efforts are being hampered in Myanmar because of government restrictions. At the same time, Cyclone Mocha has affected Bangladesh and northeast India, leading experts to highlight a rise in cyclonic activity in South Asian waters linked to rising ocean temperatures and global heating.

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cyclone-mocha-death-myanmar-bangladesh-b2339778.html
Global Executions Highest in 5 Years, Amnesty International Says

NY Times

23-05-16 16:04


At least 883 people were executed globally in 2022, according to a report by Amnesty International, a 53% increase from the previous year’s total of 579. More than 90% of the killings were carried out by three countries, Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia, while it is believed that China executed or sentenced to death "thousands" of people. The report questioned the transparency of these unofficial statistics. The study stated many of the deaths were for drug-related offences, which international treaty bars the death penalty for. Four countries abolished the death penalty during the year: Central African Republic, Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/world/middleeast/executions-2022-amnesty-international.html?searchResultPosition=1
Myanmar and Bangladesh begin cleaning up, counting casualties after devastating Cyclone Mocha

The Toronto Star

23-05-16 15:52


A cyclone has caused widespread destruction, at least 21 deaths and has left hundreds of others believed missing in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Cyclone Mocha made landfall with winds of up to 130 miles per hour on 5 May. Myanmar took the greatest impact from the storm, with 11,532 houses, as well as schools, hospitals and government buildings, damaged. Bagan, one of Myanmar’s major tourist attractions, was also damaged. The 21 reported dead, and many of the missing, came from ramshackle displacement camps in Myanmar, populated by members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, who lost their homes in a 2017 counterinsurgency campaign.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/asia/2023/05/16/myanmar-and-bangladesh-begin-cleaning-up-counting-casualties-after-devastating-cyclone-mocha.html
2023 Thai Election Results: An Opposition Win but Unclear Path Ahead

CSIS

23-05-16 20:30


Thailand's opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties have won by a significant margin over their conservative and military-backed counterparts, according to initial results from the first national elections since 2019. The Move Forward Party won 151 seats, marking the largest share of seats and outperforming expectations, with 32 of the 33 seats in Bangkok. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai won 141 seats and the Bhumjaithai Party came third with 71 seats. The party led in most preelection polls, but rumors of a Pheu Thai alliance with Palang Pracharat may have cost them much of the pro-democracy youth vote.

If the two opposition parties can manage to form a coalition government, Pheu Thai will now serve as junior partner. The easiest path to 376 would be to invite Bhumjaithai into a coalition, but it seems neither side is ready for that yet. Move Forward has positioned itself as a reformist party, promising to draft a new constitution. However, Bhumajaithai and most of the Senate seem unwilling to amend Article 112 of Thailand’s criminal code, which prohibits criticism of Thailand’s monarchy. The United States will find it much easier to work with a democratically elected Thai government, rather than a military dictatorship, as the two sides would be able to repair some of the lingering distrust of the last decade under Prayuth’s rule.


https://www.csis.org/analysis/2023-thai-election-results-opposition-win-unclear-path-ahead

The ‘Skeletons’ in Big Oil’s Closet

NY Times

23-05-16 18:51


Environmental groups and 12 Italian citizens are suing Italian oil company Eni for knowingly causing climate damage by continuing to extract oil. The case marks the first of its kind in Italy. The allegations levelled against Eni, an Italian multinational integrated oil and gas company, are similar to those brought against Exxon and Shell. Following the exposure of company researchers’ early work on how much burning fossil fuels would affect climate change, both Exxon and Shell were accused of public deception. The resulting litigation has led to multi-billion dollar claims for damages. In 2021, Shell was declared liable for causing climate change and ordered to cut emissions by a Dutch court. Despite denials of wrongdoing by Eni, University of Miami professor Geoffrey Supran suggests that an avalanche of discovery will weaken companies’ defences, overburdened by simultaneous legal actions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/climate/climate-eni-oil-companies.html?searchResultPosition=5
Hundreds feared dead in Myanmar after cyclone hits strife-torn west

Nikkei Asia

23-05-16 23:54


Hundreds of people have been feared dead after the Cyclone Mocha hit Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims, as rescue efforts remain hampered by damage to infrastructure. The region has a large population of Rohingya Muslims, a persecuted minority that successive Myanmar governments have refused to recognise. Myanmar has been gripped by political and economic chaos since the military overthrow in a coup in 2021. The storm was the worst since Cyclone Nargis swept across parts of southern Myanmar killing nearly 140,000 people in 2008 while being one of the few times the region has experienced a storm of cyclonic strength.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Natural-disasters/Hundreds-feared-dead-in-Myanmar-after-cyclone-hits-strife-torn-west
Slurping Spaghetti and other food photo contest winners

BBC

23-05-16 23:32


The Candy Man by Jon Enoch won top prize in the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition. The photograph of a Mumbai candy seller was taken as part of a personal project, capturing the colourful displays of Indian vendors hoping to attract buyers. Other winners included images of life in Vietnam, chef Adua’s kitchen in Italy and the process of pulling sugar in China. The exhibition of winners can be seen at the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol from 20 May to 11 June.

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-65549869