Myanmar&#39;s Aung San Suu Kyi is standing by the country&#39;s central bank governor, despite concerns from commercial bankers, government advisors and some of his own officials at the pace of reform on his watch. 
 
Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) chief Kyaw Kyaw Maung is one of the last junta-era civilian officials to remain in a senior post since Suu Kyi&#39;s National League for Democracy (NLD) took power earlier this year facing sky-high expectations that it can transform a country impoverished by decades of military rule. 
 
Reuters interviews with about two dozen government advisors, CBM insiders, economists and banking executives found widespread criticism that reform of the stunted financial sector was not being driven from the top - vital in a heavily top-down culture. 
 
&quot;The keys to the castle sit in the central bank,&quot; said Hal Bosher, advisor to the chairman and chief executive officer of Yoma Bank, one of the country&#39;s biggest commercial lenders. 
 
Stalled reforms cited by people who spoke to Reuters included the development of a robust interbank market, building a bond market and relaxing overly stringent lending regulations. 
 
The reforms are necessary, they say, to keep Myanmar&#39;s economy growing rapidly and attract investment. 
 
Defenders of the central bank say that, by not liberalising too fast, it is promoting stability in the maturing financial system and avoiding dangerously fast credit growth. 
 
In a speech at a meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Lima late last year, Kyaw Kyaw Maung himself said the transition to a modern financial system was complex and would take time. 
 
RULE OF LAW 
 
According to a senior NLD economic advisor Suu Kyi is aware of the concerns, but, shortly after her landslide win in an election in November, a decision was made to keep Kyaw Kyaw Maung in his position. 
 
&quot;Her judgment was we can`t have a situation where our first act in a democratic government committed to the rule of law she tries to oust the central bank governor,&quot; the advisor said. &quot;That is the type of thing that happens in Venezuela and Zimbabwe.&quot; 
 
Although the law gives the government little scope to sack a central bank chief, many in the private sector had hoped the 77-year-old governor could be persuaded to retire, banking executives and officials said. 
 
Han Tha Myint, a senior NLD official who sits on the newly formed National Economic Coordination Committee (NECC), and a second senior advisor both confirmed that a decision had been taken not to seek to replace the CBM chief. 
 
Kyaw Kyaw Maung, who rarely speaks to the media or makes public appearances, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. An interview request was declined by the CBM, which also declined to answer questions submitted by Reuters by email. 
 
Suu Kyi&#39;s spokesman, Zaw Htay, said the governor`s five-year term, which ends in 2018, was laid down by law. 
 
SECOND STINT 
 
Kyaw Kyaw Maung headed the central bank for a decade from 1997 to 2007, a period of international isolation. He was reappointed for a second stint in 2013 by then President Thein Sein, who led a quasi-civilian government of former generals. 
 
&quot;His only quality was experience,&quot; said lawmaker Soe Thane, who was a minister in the president`s office at the time. 
 
Thein Sein&#39;s term in office, which began in 2011, launched a period of wide-ranging political and economic reform. A managed float was adopted for the kyat currency in 2012 and the CBM was granted independence from the finance ministry in July 2013. 
 
Defenders say the bank has become more open during Kyaw Kyaw Maung`s second spell in charge. 
 
&quot;The bank is transparent about it &ndash; the previous government didn`t tell investors anything about its movements,&quot; said Aung Thein Tun from Young Investment Group, a Myanmar conglomerate. 
 
Nine foreign banks were given licences to operate in Myanmar on a limited basis in October 2014, with another four granted licences last year. 
 
But there have been no major announcements on modernisation of the financial system since then. 
 
Vikram Nehru, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think-tank, said he was concerned that reforms at the CBM had come to a &quot;virtual standstill&quot;. 
 
TWO CRISES 
 
Last year a crisis threatened to destabilise Myanmar`s nascent financial system, as the CBM`s efforts to prop up the kyat even as the black market exchange rate fell contributed to a shortage of dollars and increased currency speculation. 
 
&quot;The Central Bank did not act, he [Kyaw Kyaw Maung] just sat still,&quot; said a second senior advisor from the government`s NECC. 
 
Another CBM official said the governor&#39;s thinking had been shaped in a closed era when the junta could hold the official exchange rate at six kyat per dollar, despite it changing hands at 800 or more on the black market. 
 
&quot;He simply doesn&#39;t get you can&#39;t do this anymore,&quot; said the official, adding that only pressure from the president`s office and IMF forced the central bank to change course in mid-2015. 
 
In 2003, during Kyaw Kyaw Maung&#39;s first stint as governor, a bank run prompted by the collapse of several small finance companies saw a large number of private lenders fail. 
 
Then, the central bank failed to provide liquidity to banks to limit the contagion, wrote Sean Turnell, an economics professor at Australia`s Macquarie University who advises Suu Kyi, in his 2009 book &quot;Fiery Dragons: Banks, Moneylenders and Microfinance in Burma&quot;. 
 
(Reuters)

Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) chief Kyaw Kyaw Maung has been criticised for the pace of economic reform in the country

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is standing by the country's central bank governor, despite concerns from commercial bankers, government advisors and some of his own officials at the pace of reform on his watch. Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) chief Kyaw Kyaw Maung is one of the last junta-era civilian officials to remain in a senior post since Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) took power earlier this year facing sky-high expectations that it can transform a country impoverished by decades of military rule. Reuters interviews with about two dozen government advisors, CBM insiders, economists and banking executives found widespread criticism that reform of the stunted financial sector was not being driven from the top - vital in a heavily top-down culture. "The keys to the castle sit in the central bank," said Hal Bosher, advisor to the chairman and chief executive officer of Yoma Bank, one of the country's biggest commercial lenders. Stalled reforms cited by people who spoke to Reuters included the development of a robust interbank market, building a bond market and relaxing overly stringent lending regulations. The reforms are necessary, they say, to keep Myanmar's economy growing rapidly and attract investment. Defenders of the central bank say that, by not liberalising too fast, it is promoting stability in the maturing financial system and avoiding dangerously fast credit growth. In a speech at a meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Lima late last year, Kyaw Kyaw Maung himself said the transition to a modern financial system was complex and would take time. RULE OF LAW According to a senior NLD economic advisor Suu Kyi is aware of the concerns, but, shortly after her landslide win in an election in November, a decision was made to keep Kyaw Kyaw Maung in his position. "Her judgment was we can`t have a situation where our first act in a democratic government committed to the rule of law she tries to oust the central bank governor," the advisor said. "That is the type of thing that happens in Venezuela and Zimbabwe." Although the law gives the government little scope to sack a central bank chief, many in the private sector had hoped the 77-year-old governor could be persuaded to retire, banking executives and officials said. Han Tha Myint, a senior NLD official who sits on the newly formed National Economic Coordination Committee (NECC), and a second senior advisor both confirmed that a decision had been taken not to seek to replace the CBM chief. Kyaw Kyaw Maung, who rarely speaks to the media or makes public appearances, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. An interview request was declined by the CBM, which also declined to answer questions submitted by Reuters by email. Suu Kyi's spokesman, Zaw Htay, said the governor`s five-year term, which ends in 2018, was laid down by law. SECOND STINT Kyaw Kyaw Maung headed the central bank for a decade from 1997 to 2007, a period of international isolation. He was reappointed for a second stint in 2013 by then President Thein Sein, who led a quasi-civilian government of former generals. "His only quality was experience," said lawmaker Soe Thane, who was a minister in the president`s office at the time. Thein Sein's term in office, which began in 2011, launched a period of wide-ranging political and economic reform. A managed float was adopted for the kyat currency in 2012 and the CBM was granted independence from the finance ministry in July 2013. Defenders say the bank has become more open during Kyaw Kyaw Maung`s second spell in charge. "The bank is transparent about it – the previous government didn`t tell investors anything about its movements," said Aung Thein Tun from Young Investment Group, a Myanmar conglomerate. Nine foreign banks were given licences to operate in Myanmar on a limited basis in October 2014, with another four granted licences last year. But there have been no major announcements on modernisation of the financial system since then. Vikram Nehru, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think-tank, said he was concerned that reforms at the CBM had come to a "virtual standstill". TWO CRISES Last year a crisis threatened to destabilise Myanmar`s nascent financial system, as the CBM`s efforts to prop up the kyat even as the black market exchange rate fell contributed to a shortage of dollars and increased currency speculation. "The Central Bank did not act, he [Kyaw Kyaw Maung] just sat still," said a second senior advisor from the government`s NECC. Another CBM official said the governor's thinking had been shaped in a closed era when the junta could hold the official exchange rate at six kyat per dollar, despite it changing hands at 800 or more on the black market. "He simply doesn't get you can't do this anymore," said the official, adding that only pressure from the president`s office and IMF forced the central bank to change course in mid-2015. In 2003, during Kyaw Kyaw Maung's first stint as governor, a bank run prompted by the collapse of several small finance companies saw a large number of private lenders fail. Then, the central bank failed to provide liquidity to banks to limit the contagion, wrote Sean Turnell, an economics professor at Australia`s Macquarie University who advises Suu Kyi, in his 2009 book "Fiery Dragons: Banks, Moneylenders and Microfinance in Burma". (Reuters)

Myanmar leader Suu Kyi stands by country's central bank chief

Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi expects China to support historic peace talks with armed groups near the countries&#39; troubled joint border, she said today during a landmark visit overshadowed by a stalled dam project. 
 
&quot;We do believe that as a good neighbour China will do everything possible to promote our peace process,&quot; Suu Kyi told reporters in Beijing ahead of meeting China&#39;s President Xi Jinping. 
 
&quot;China, as a neighbour which shares a very important border along which there are many ethnic armed groups, is important in its goodwill,&quot; she added. 
 
Myanmar will hold a long-planned conference with armed ethnic groups later this month, as Suu Kyi targets peace as a prelude to rebooting the economy after her party won a landslide election victory. 
 
&quot;If you ask me what my most important aim is for my country, that is to achieve peace and unity among the different peoples of our union,&quot; Suu Kyi said. &quot;Without peace, there can be no sustained development.&quot; 
 
Several complex ethnic conflicts, with some groups fighting the government for decades, simmer across Myanmar&#39;s poor and militarised borderlands, hampering efforts to build up the country&#39;s economy after the end of junta rule. 
 
Some of the groups have ethnic and cultural links to the neighbouring Chinese province of Yunnan, and the porous border is notorious for trade in drugs, arms and precious stones. 
 
Suu Kyi&#39;s first major foreign trip since her civilian administration took power in March has been dominated by the $3.6 billion Beijing-backed Myitsone dam, on hold since protests in 2011. 
 
China has been pressing for its resumption ever since. 
 
Suu Kyi confirmed that Myanmar had set up a committee to review the project, without saying whether it would be resumed. 
 
&quot;It is for the commission to find out what the best answer is,&quot; she said. &quot;I cannot say now what the best solution is.&quot; 
 
&#39;Beijing manipulating Myanmar&#39;s resources&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Beijing was instrumental in shielding Myanmar&#39;s former junta rulers from international sanctions while Suu Kyi, now state counsellor, languished for over a decade under house arrest as a democracy activist. 
 
At the time Myitsone, originally designed to supply most of its electricity to China, was seen as emblematic of Beijing&#39;s economic dominance over Myanmar. 
 
The state-run Global Times acknowledged that a &quot;real breakthrough&quot; on the dam was unlikely during the visit, but insisted: &quot;It is only a matter of time before the project will be resumed.&quot; 
 
The newspaper, which is close to the ruling Communist Party also chided people in Myanmar who claim that Beijing is exploiting the country&#39;s resources. 
 
&quot;The misguided thought is the result of people&#39;s impulse at the initial stage of democratisation and the manipulation of the Western media,&quot; it said. 
 
Myanmar has drawn closer to the United States during its transition to civilian rule. 
 
But the state-run China Daily said in an editorial that Suu Kyi&#39;s visit showed she was a &quot;political realist&quot; who realises the importance of &quot;reassuring&quot; China. 
 
Suu Kyi insisted that she would pursue the same &quot;non-aligned&quot; foreign policy as her predecessors. 
 
Domestically, job creation and agricultural development were top priorities following her administration&#39;s first 100 days in office, she said. 
 
&quot;The 100 days have not made a great difference to the economic scene in Burma. The more important projects will start taking off in the next three to four months,&quot; she said. 
 
She vowed to follow a different development strategy than the export-led model favoured by China and other East Asian countries. 
 
&quot;There are many people who still think that the way to economic development is through garment factories,&quot; she said. 
 
&quot;But I sometimes wonder if that is very 20th century, and we&#39;re now in the 21st century.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Myanmar will hold a long-planned conference with armed ethnic groups later this month as Suu Kyi targets peace as a prelude to rebooting eco

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi expects China to support historic peace talks with armed groups near the countries' troubled joint border, she said today during a landmark visit overshadowed by a stalled dam project. "We do believe that as a good neighbour China will do everything possible to promote our peace process," Suu Kyi told reporters in Beijing ahead of meeting China's President Xi Jinping. "China, as a neighbour which shares a very important border along which there are many ethnic armed groups, is important in its goodwill," she added. Myanmar will hold a long-planned conference with armed ethnic groups later this month, as Suu Kyi targets peace as a prelude to rebooting the economy after her party won a landslide election victory. "If you ask me what my most important aim is for my country, that is to achieve peace and unity among the different peoples of our union," Suu Kyi said. "Without peace, there can be no sustained development." Several complex ethnic conflicts, with some groups fighting the government for decades, simmer across Myanmar's poor and militarised borderlands, hampering efforts to build up the country's economy after the end of junta rule. Some of the groups have ethnic and cultural links to the neighbouring Chinese province of Yunnan, and the porous border is notorious for trade in drugs, arms and precious stones. Suu Kyi's first major foreign trip since her civilian administration took power in March has been dominated by the $3.6 billion Beijing-backed Myitsone dam, on hold since protests in 2011. China has been pressing for its resumption ever since. Suu Kyi confirmed that Myanmar had set up a committee to review the project, without saying whether it would be resumed. "It is for the commission to find out what the best answer is," she said. "I cannot say now what the best solution is." 'Beijing manipulating Myanmar's resources' Beijing was instrumental in shielding Myanmar's former junta rulers from international sanctions while Suu Kyi, now state counsellor, languished for over a decade under house arrest as a democracy activist. At the time Myitsone, originally designed to supply most of its electricity to China, was seen as emblematic of Beijing's economic dominance over Myanmar. The state-run Global Times acknowledged that a "real breakthrough" on the dam was unlikely during the visit, but insisted: "It is only a matter of time before the project will be resumed." The newspaper, which is close to the ruling Communist Party also chided people in Myanmar who claim that Beijing is exploiting the country's resources. "The misguided thought is the result of people's impulse at the initial stage of democratisation and the manipulation of the Western media," it said. Myanmar has drawn closer to the United States during its transition to civilian rule. But the state-run China Daily said in an editorial that Suu Kyi's visit showed she was a "political realist" who realises the importance of "reassuring" China. Suu Kyi insisted that she would pursue the same "non-aligned" foreign policy as her predecessors. Domestically, job creation and agricultural development were top priorities following her administration's first 100 days in office, she said. "The 100 days have not made a great difference to the economic scene in Burma. The more important projects will start taking off in the next three to four months," she said. She vowed to follow a different development strategy than the export-led model favoured by China and other East Asian countries. "There are many people who still think that the way to economic development is through garment factories," she said. "But I sometimes wonder if that is very 20th century, and we're now in the 21st century." (AFP)

Myanmar's Suu Kyi expects China to support peace process

Accusations that Beijing is exploiting Myanmar&#39;s resources are manipulated by Western media, a state-run Chinese newspaper said today, with de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on a visit overshadowed by a stalled dam project. 
 
Suu Kyi&#39;s first major foreign trip since her civilian administration took power in March has been dominated by the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam, on hold since protests in 2011. 
 
Beijing has been pressing for the resumption of the Chinese-backed project ever since. 
 
Suu Kyi is due to meet with China&#39;s President Xi Jinping today, after Beijing said the democracy champion had agreed to &quot;set up an investigation committee to appropriately solve&quot; the dam issue. 
 
The state-run Global Times acknowledged that a &quot;real breakthrough&quot; on the dam was unlikely during the visit, but insisted: &quot;It is only a matter of time before the project will be resumed.&quot; 
 
It also chided people in Myanmar who claim that Beijing is exploiting the country&#39;s resources. 
 
&quot;The misguided thought is the result of people&#39;s impulse at the initial stage of democratisation and the manipulation of the Western media,&quot; it added. 
 
Beijing was instrumental in shielding Myanmar&#39;s former junta rulers from international opprobrium while Suu Kyi, now state counsellor, languished for years under house arrest as a democracy activist. 
 
At the time Myitsone was seen as emblematic of Beijing&#39;s economic dominance over Myanmar. 
 
In 2011 a quasi-civilian government halted the project, originally designed to supply most of its electricity to China, in a surprise move after local protests. 
 
Now that Suu Kyi&#39;s National League for Democracy is in power, the Global Times said, &quot;Myitsone dam does not have to be reviewed from a political perspective anymore&quot;. 
 
The United States funded some of the non-governmental groups opposing the dam, according to classified documents released by WikiLeaks. 
 
The state-run China Daily said in an editorial that Suu Kyi&#39;s visit showed she was a &quot;political realist&quot; who realises the importance of &quot;reassuring&quot; China. 
 
Myanmar has drawn closer to the United States during its transition to civilian rule. 
 
At the same time, Myanmar needs to get Beijing onside as it pursues historic peace talks with armed groups on its border. 
 
Suu Kyi on Thursday was greeted with military honours in Beijing, where she met Premier Li Keqiang, telling him: &quot;At present, there are complex changes in the world.&quot; 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Local media has refuted reports saying China has been exploiting Myanmar's resources

Accusations that Beijing is exploiting Myanmar's resources are manipulated by Western media, a state-run Chinese newspaper said today, with de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on a visit overshadowed by a stalled dam project. Suu Kyi's first major foreign trip since her civilian administration took power in March has been dominated by the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam, on hold since protests in 2011. Beijing has been pressing for the resumption of the Chinese-backed project ever since. Suu Kyi is due to meet with China's President Xi Jinping today, after Beijing said the democracy champion had agreed to "set up an investigation committee to appropriately solve" the dam issue. The state-run Global Times acknowledged that a "real breakthrough" on the dam was unlikely during the visit, but insisted: "It is only a matter of time before the project will be resumed." It also chided people in Myanmar who claim that Beijing is exploiting the country's resources. "The misguided thought is the result of people's impulse at the initial stage of democratisation and the manipulation of the Western media," it added. Beijing was instrumental in shielding Myanmar's former junta rulers from international opprobrium while Suu Kyi, now state counsellor, languished for years under house arrest as a democracy activist. At the time Myitsone was seen as emblematic of Beijing's economic dominance over Myanmar. In 2011 a quasi-civilian government halted the project, originally designed to supply most of its electricity to China, in a surprise move after local protests. Now that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is in power, the Global Times said, "Myitsone dam does not have to be reviewed from a political perspective anymore". The United States funded some of the non-governmental groups opposing the dam, according to classified documents released by WikiLeaks. The state-run China Daily said in an editorial that Suu Kyi's visit showed she was a "political realist" who realises the importance of "reassuring" China. Myanmar has drawn closer to the United States during its transition to civilian rule. At the same time, Myanmar needs to get Beijing onside as it pursues historic peace talks with armed groups on its border. Suu Kyi on Thursday was greeted with military honours in Beijing, where she met Premier Li Keqiang, telling him: "At present, there are complex changes in the world." (AFP)

Beijing does not exploit Myanmar: state media?

China and Myanmar are set to sign deals to build a strategic bridge near their border and two hospitals in the Southeast Asian country, a Myanmar official said today, as leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets high-level officials in Beijing.&nbsp; 
 
Suu Kyi, who is barred from the presidency by a junta-drafted constitution but holds several government posts including that of foreign minister, arrived in China on Wednesday evening.&nbsp; 
 
She is scheduled to meet Premier Li Keqiang today and President Xi Jinping on Friday, with the fate of a suspended Chinese-funded hydropower project in northern Myanmar in the balance. 
 
&quot;Grant agreements will be signed on the construction of two hospitals and a bridge between the two sides during this visit,&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Aye Aye Soe, deputy director-general at Myanmar&#39;s ministry of foreign Affairs, told Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
The two hospitals will be built in Myanmar&#39;s two largest cities, Yangon and Mandalay, she said.&nbsp; 
 
The bridge is aimed to improve transport and communication between the countries and will be built in Kunlong town, 32 km (20 miles) from the border in northeastern Myanmar.&nbsp; 
 
Kunlong is on the way to a border checkpoint and near the Kokang region where an ethnic Chinese rebel group fought Myanmar&#39;s military last year.&nbsp; 
 
Aye Aye Soe declined to give further details, including the terms of financing of the projects or the timeframe.&nbsp; 
 
The visit is Suu Kyi&#39;s first major diplomatic foray as de facto leader after a new government took power in April following her National League for Democracy&#39;s sweeping election victory in November. 
 
The China-funded $3.6 billion Myitsone dam project was planned for the confluence of two rivers that form the Ayeyarwady river, but has been stalled since 2011, when former President Thein Sein suspended the project amid widespread opposition on environmental grounds.&nbsp; 
 
China has been pushing for work to restart on the dam, which under the original plans would have sent 90 percent of its power to China. A Myanmar government commission reviewing the project - as well as other proposed hydropower dams, including several on the Thanlwin river - is expected to report by November 11.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

The visit is Suu Kyi's first major diplomatic foray as de facto leader after a new government took power in April

China and Myanmar are set to sign deals to build a strategic bridge near their border and two hospitals in the Southeast Asian country, a Myanmar official said today, as leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets high-level officials in Beijing. Suu Kyi, who is barred from the presidency by a junta-drafted constitution but holds several government posts including that of foreign minister, arrived in China on Wednesday evening. She is scheduled to meet Premier Li Keqiang today and President Xi Jinping on Friday, with the fate of a suspended Chinese-funded hydropower project in northern Myanmar in the balance. "Grant agreements will be signed on the construction of two hospitals and a bridge between the two sides during this visit," Aye Aye Soe, deputy director-general at Myanmar's ministry of foreign Affairs, told Reuters. The two hospitals will be built in Myanmar's two largest cities, Yangon and Mandalay, she said. The bridge is aimed to improve transport and communication between the countries and will be built in Kunlong town, 32 km (20 miles) from the border in northeastern Myanmar. Kunlong is on the way to a border checkpoint and near the Kokang region where an ethnic Chinese rebel group fought Myanmar's military last year. Aye Aye Soe declined to give further details, including the terms of financing of the projects or the timeframe. The visit is Suu Kyi's first major diplomatic foray as de facto leader after a new government took power in April following her National League for Democracy's sweeping election victory in November. The China-funded $3.6 billion Myitsone dam project was planned for the confluence of two rivers that form the Ayeyarwady river, but has been stalled since 2011, when former President Thein Sein suspended the project amid widespread opposition on environmental grounds. China has been pushing for work to restart on the dam, which under the original plans would have sent 90 percent of its power to China. A Myanmar government commission reviewing the project - as well as other proposed hydropower dams, including several on the Thanlwin river - is expected to report by November 11. (Reuters)

Deals on the cards as Myanmar's Suu Kyi visits China

Muslims make up just over two per cent of Myanmar&#39;s population, government census figures showed today, undercutting claims by Buddhist hardliners that Islam poses a threat to the dominance of their faith. 
 
Full details from the 2014 count, the first of its kind in decades, was withheld for almost a year to avoid stirring tensions in the Buddhist-majority nation ahead of elections that propelled Aung San Suu Kyi&#39;s pro-democracy party to power. 
 
Islamophobia has rippled across Myanmar in recent years, with Buddhist nationalists sending alarmist messages about the growth of the Muslim population.&nbsp;But the new data affirms that Buddhists make up 90 per cent of the population of 51.48 million.&nbsp;They are followed in number by Christians (6.3 per cent) and Muslims (2.3 per cent or over 1.1 million people). 
 
However, the survey does not include the one-million strong stateless Rohingya Muslim minority, who were banned from self-identifying during the census taking.&nbsp;Added together, their number doubles the country&#39;s share of Muslims to around four per cent -- an estimate that has been in circulation since the last census in 1983. 
 
&quot;Some were worried that there could be a significant difference in the numbers of each religion,&quot; Thein Swe, minister of labour, immigration and population told reporters in the capital Naypyidaw as he released the data.&nbsp;&quot;But there is not much difference when compared with the census data in 1983.&quot; 
 
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which supported Myanmar&#39;s government in carrying out census, said the figures should extinguish incendiary rhetoric.&nbsp;&quot;It is time to replace speculation with fact,&quot; the UNFPA&#39;s Janet E. Jackson said in a statement. 
 
But the UNFPA hit out at the Rohingya&#39;s exclusion from the data as &quot;a serious shortcoming of the census and a grave human rights concern&quot;. 
 
Hardliners under pressure&nbsp; 
 
More than 100,000 Rohingya were displaced by deadly clashes with Buddhists in 2012 and now live destitute in camps in western Rakhine state.&nbsp;They are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on their movement and access to basic services. 
 
Just days before the census was carried out in 2014, Buddhist nationalists accused the international community of bias towards Muslims and attacked humanitarian offices in Rakhine, forcing aid workers to flee. 
 
De facto premier Suu Kyi has faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance on the Rohingya or publicly condemning two recent attacks on mosques in other parts of the country.&nbsp;But her government has made moves in recent weeks to rein in the Ma Ba Tha, a monk-led movement at the fore of anti-Muslim protests in recent years. 
 
At the core of their ideology is the belief that Myanmar&#39;s Buddhist identity is under attack from Muslims and other ethnic minorities, despite the country hosting such groups for generations. 
 
Under the previous military-backed government, the nationalist group successfully lobbied for the passage of controversial race and religion laws that rights groups say discriminate against women and religious minorities.&nbsp;Earlier this month Suu Kyi&#39;s religion minister warned the group could be disbanded if it uses hate speech to stoke conflict. 
 
(AFP)

Islamophobic Buddhist nationalists sent alarmist messages about the growth of the Muslim population, but stats peg it at only 2.3%

Muslims make up just over two per cent of Myanmar's population, government census figures showed today, undercutting claims by Buddhist hardliners that Islam poses a threat to the dominance of their faith. Full details from the 2014 count, the first of its kind in decades, was withheld for almost a year to avoid stirring tensions in the Buddhist-majority nation ahead of elections that propelled Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party to power. Islamophobia has rippled across Myanmar in recent years, with Buddhist nationalists sending alarmist messages about the growth of the Muslim population. But the new data affirms that Buddhists make up 90 per cent of the population of 51.48 million. They are followed in number by Christians (6.3 per cent) and Muslims (2.3 per cent or over 1.1 million people). However, the survey does not include the one-million strong stateless Rohingya Muslim minority, who were banned from self-identifying during the census taking. Added together, their number doubles the country's share of Muslims to around four per cent -- an estimate that has been in circulation since the last census in 1983. "Some were worried that there could be a significant difference in the numbers of each religion," Thein Swe, minister of labour, immigration and population told reporters in the capital Naypyidaw as he released the data. "But there is not much difference when compared with the census data in 1983." The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which supported Myanmar's government in carrying out census, said the figures should extinguish incendiary rhetoric. "It is time to replace speculation with fact," the UNFPA's Janet E. Jackson said in a statement. But the UNFPA hit out at the Rohingya's exclusion from the data as "a serious shortcoming of the census and a grave human rights concern". Hardliners under pressure More than 100,000 Rohingya were displaced by deadly clashes with Buddhists in 2012 and now live destitute in camps in western Rakhine state. They are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on their movement and access to basic services. Just days before the census was carried out in 2014, Buddhist nationalists accused the international community of bias towards Muslims and attacked humanitarian offices in Rakhine, forcing aid workers to flee. De facto premier Suu Kyi has faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance on the Rohingya or publicly condemning two recent attacks on mosques in other parts of the country. But her government has made moves in recent weeks to rein in the Ma Ba Tha, a monk-led movement at the fore of anti-Muslim protests in recent years. At the core of their ideology is the belief that Myanmar's Buddhist identity is under attack from Muslims and other ethnic minorities, despite the country hosting such groups for generations. Under the previous military-backed government, the nationalist group successfully lobbied for the passage of controversial race and religion laws that rights groups say discriminate against women and religious minorities. Earlier this month Suu Kyi's religion minister warned the group could be disbanded if it uses hate speech to stoke conflict. (AFP)

Myanmar population census data undercuts Buddhist hardliner claims

A Yangon court, for the second time this week, laid additional charges dating from 2012 against a former monk and leader of Myanmar&#39;s Saffron Revolution, a member of his legal team said today.&nbsp; 
 
The new charges against Nyi Nyi Lwin, better known by his ordination name&nbsp;Gambira, came just one day before he was set to be released following an arrest in January for allegedly entering Myanmar illegally from neighbouring Thailand.&nbsp; 
 
Thazin Aye, one of his lawyers, said today&nbsp;that Gambira was charged with trespassing at the Thanlyin Township Court for allegedly breaking into monasteries in 2012 that had been sealed by the government.

&quot;After his appearance at the court today, Nyi Nyi Lwin was sent back to Insein Central Prison by the government,&quot; she said. 
 
He was charged with the same offence in a separate Yangon township court on Tuesday. 
 
Aung San Suu Kyi&#39;s National League for Democracy (NLD) won Myanmar&#39;s November election, but the military&nbsp;which ruled the Southeast Asian nation until 2011, remains powerful. 
 
The general administration department, a body that oversees the country&#39;s sprawling bureaucracy and is controlled by the military, brought the new charges against Gambira. 
 
Nyan Win, a spokesman for the NLD, criticised the case. 
 
&quot;Personally&nbsp;I think there were weaknesses from the prosecutor&#39;s side in procedural and legal aspects. There wasn&#39;t enough transparency in handling it,&quot; he said. 
 
He said efforts to assist Gambira had not yet been discussed by the party. 
 
In 2007, Gambira emerged as a leading figure in a mass protest over living conditions and the oppressive rule of then-dictator Than Shwe that was dubbed the Saffron Revolution. 
 
The government cracked down harshly in response, opening fire on protesters and sweeping up those who took part. A report from the United Nations found that at least 31 were killed by security forces and thousands arrested.&nbsp; 
 
Gambira&#39;s sentence of 68 years for his role in the protest turned him into one of Myanmar&#39;s most prominent political prisoners. He was released in 2012. 
 
Amnesty International, which has repeatedly called for his release, has said that he is a prisoner of conscience and that he suffers from &quot;serious mental health issues&quot;. 
 
Following his release in 2012, Gambira said&nbsp;that he faced solitary confinement, beatings and sleep deprivation while behind bars. 
 
His captors, he said, were &quot;very rude and cruel&quot;. 
 
(Reuters)

The new charges against Nyi Nyi Lwin are for allegedly breaking into monasteries that were sealed by the government in 2012

A Yangon court, for the second time this week, laid additional charges dating from 2012 against a former monk and leader of Myanmar's Saffron Revolution, a member of his legal team said today. The new charges against Nyi Nyi Lwin, better known by his ordination name Gambira, came just one day before he was set to be released following an arrest in January for allegedly entering Myanmar illegally from neighbouring Thailand. Thazin Aye, one of his lawyers, said today that Gambira was charged with trespassing at the Thanlyin Township Court for allegedly breaking into monasteries in 2012 that had been sealed by the government. "After his appearance at the court today, Nyi Nyi Lwin was sent back to Insein Central Prison by the government," she said. He was charged with the same offence in a separate Yangon township court on Tuesday. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won Myanmar's November election, but the military which ruled the Southeast Asian nation until 2011, remains powerful. The general administration department, a body that oversees the country's sprawling bureaucracy and is controlled by the military, brought the new charges against Gambira. Nyan Win, a spokesman for the NLD, criticised the case. "Personally I think there were weaknesses from the prosecutor's side in procedural and legal aspects. There wasn't enough transparency in handling it," he said. He said efforts to assist Gambira had not yet been discussed by the party. In 2007, Gambira emerged as a leading figure in a mass protest over living conditions and the oppressive rule of then-dictator Than Shwe that was dubbed the Saffron Revolution. The government cracked down harshly in response, opening fire on protesters and sweeping up those who took part. A report from the United Nations found that at least 31 were killed by security forces and thousands arrested. Gambira's sentence of 68 years for his role in the protest turned him into one of Myanmar's most prominent political prisoners. He was released in 2012. Amnesty International, which has repeatedly called for his release, has said that he is a prisoner of conscience and that he suffers from "serious mental health issues". Following his release in 2012, Gambira said that he faced solitary confinement, beatings and sleep deprivation while behind bars. His captors, he said, were "very rude and cruel". (Reuters)

Myanmar court frames new charges against 'Saffron Revolution' leader

A group of men from a village in central Myanmar destroyed a mosque in the first serious outburst of inter-religious violence in months, coinciding with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, the country&#39;s persecuted Muslim minority. 
 
Villagers from Thayethamin, a remote settlement a two-hours&#39; drive northeast of Myanmar&#39;s largest city, Yangon, destroyed the mosque on Thursday after a dispute over its construction, and beat up at least one Muslim man, media and a police spokesman said. 
 
Religious tensions simmered in Myanmar for almost half a century of military rule, before boiling over in 2012, just a year after a semi-civilian government took power. 
 
Hundreds died in clashes in northwestern Rakhine State between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, leading to the organised expulsion of Rohingya by Rakhine mobs. More violence between Muslims and Buddhists in other parts of the country followed in 2013. 
 
Photographs that circulated on social media on Friday, purportedly from the village, showed a seriously damaged building, furniture scattered along the streets and a large group of men roaming around, some armed with sticks. 
 
Further details of the incident were unclear. Reuters was unable to verify the photographs. 
 
&quot;Things are well under control now and action hasn&#39;t been taken against anyone yet,&quot; said colonel Zaw Khin Aung, spokesman of the Police Headquarters based in Myanmar&#39;s capital, Naypyitaw. 
 
The violence coincides with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, a 1.1-million group of Muslims living in apartheid-like conditions in Rakhine since the 2012 violence. 
 
Country leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won in a landslide in historic November elections, faces a daunting task of resolving ethnic and religious tensions and ending human rights abuses in the state. 
 
On Monday, she told the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, that the government would not use the term &quot;Rohingya&quot; because it viewed it as inflammatory. 
 
The Rohingya identify themselves by that name. Many have lived in Myanmar for generations, but many Myanmar Buddhists call them &quot;Bengali&quot; - a term implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. 
 
Suu Kyi has appealed to people not to use either term, and instead refer to the &quot;Muslim community in Rakhine State&quot;. 
 
The UN on Monday called on the Nobel peace prize winner to make putting an end to the abuses the government&#39;s &quot;top priority&quot;. It said that the violations, which include executions and torture, may amount to crimes against humanity. 
 
(Reuters)

Abuses against Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya population include executions and torture, and may amount to crimes against humanity

A group of men from a village in central Myanmar destroyed a mosque in the first serious outburst of inter-religious violence in months, coinciding with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, the country's persecuted Muslim minority. Villagers from Thayethamin, a remote settlement a two-hours' drive northeast of Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, destroyed the mosque on Thursday after a dispute over its construction, and beat up at least one Muslim man, media and a police spokesman said. Religious tensions simmered in Myanmar for almost half a century of military rule, before boiling over in 2012, just a year after a semi-civilian government took power. Hundreds died in clashes in northwestern Rakhine State between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, leading to the organised expulsion of Rohingya by Rakhine mobs. More violence between Muslims and Buddhists in other parts of the country followed in 2013. Photographs that circulated on social media on Friday, purportedly from the village, showed a seriously damaged building, furniture scattered along the streets and a large group of men roaming around, some armed with sticks. Further details of the incident were unclear. Reuters was unable to verify the photographs. "Things are well under control now and action hasn't been taken against anyone yet," said colonel Zaw Khin Aung, spokesman of the Police Headquarters based in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw. The violence coincides with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, a 1.1-million group of Muslims living in apartheid-like conditions in Rakhine since the 2012 violence. Country leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won in a landslide in historic November elections, faces a daunting task of resolving ethnic and religious tensions and ending human rights abuses in the state. On Monday, she told the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, that the government would not use the term "Rohingya" because it viewed it as inflammatory. The Rohingya identify themselves by that name. Many have lived in Myanmar for generations, but many Myanmar Buddhists call them "Bengali" - a term implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Suu Kyi has appealed to people not to use either term, and instead refer to the "Muslim community in Rakhine State". The UN on Monday called on the Nobel peace prize winner to make putting an end to the abuses the government's "top priority". It said that the violations, which include executions and torture, may amount to crimes against humanity. (Reuters)

Mosque demolished in Myanmar as religious, ethnic tension rise

Myanmar`s Aung San Suu Kyi arrives today in Thailand where she is expected to be garlanded by her adoring compatriots, hundreds of thousands of whom have sought work and sanctuary from war across the border. 
 
It is Suu Kyi`s highest profile overseas visit since her pro-democracy party took power in April, ending nearly half a century of military domination. 
 
Her government has seeded hopes for a new era of prosperity that could eventually convince the army of low-paid Myanmar labourers in Thailand to return home. 
 
The two Southeast Asian neighbours have travelled in starkly different directions in recent years. 
 
While Myanmar`s junta has rolled back its chokehold on politics, last year allowing the freest elections in decades, Thailand remains in the grip of a military that seized power in 2014. 
 
As Myanmar`s democracy champion, Suu Kyi is expected to receive a rock star welcome during a visit to a fishing village in Samut Sakhon later Thursday. 
 
The port, just outside Bangkok, is the seat of Thailand`s huge seafood industry and home to more than 100,000 low-paid Myanmar labourers. 
 
The visit &quot;fills me with hope,&quot; Myanmar migrant Thon Barami, 50, told AFP at the scruffy port. 
 
&quot;We have problems here in Thailand. She might help us with labour rights... people all around the world will listen to her,&quot; she added. 
 
The fishing sector has been battered by revelations of the use of slave labour and the widespread exploitation of workers. 
 
The scandals have prompted threats of sanctions by the European Union -- a key market for the multi-billion-dollar Thai seafood 
industry. 
 
Seeking to escape poverty at home, some one million registered Myanmar migrant workers form the backbone of Thailand`s manual workforce. 
 
Tens of thousands of others work illegally, with some estimates putting the total number of Myanmar nationals in Thailand at three million. 
 
Rights groups say migrants -- legal and otherwise -- are vulnerable to unscrupulous officials, trafficking gangs and employment agencies who charge huge sums to get them poorly paid work. 
 
Their low status also sees them treated with scorn and mistrust by many Thais. 
 
&quot;They all want to go home, but they are just waiting for the economic situation (in Myanmar) to improve significantly,&quot; explained Andy Hall, a migrant rights activist with an office in the port town. 
 
The nemesis of Myanmar`s generals throughout a quarter-century of struggle for democracy, the Nobel laureate will meet with the leader of the Thai junta in Bangkok on Friday. 
 
But her schedule does not include a single press conference as Suu Kyi continues to fiercely control her government`s messaging. 
 
The 71-year-old is officially Myanmar`s foreign minister and state counsellor, but also the de facto leader of her country despite a military-era constitution that bars her from the presidency. 
 
It is unclear if she will make a scheduled trip to a refugee camp in Ratchaburi province on Saturday.&nbsp; 
 
It is one of nearly a dozen camps in Thailand holding more than 100,000 refugees who have fled conflict in Myanmar.&nbsp;Many are ethnic Karen displaced by war with Myanmar`s army. The violence abated following a 2012 ceasefire, but conflict with other ethnic rebel groups continues. 
 
Thailand, which does not accept refugees, wants to repatriate camp residents -- some of whom have been born on Thai soil but are barred from citizenship. 
 
Suu Kyi is also not scheduled to visit any of the Thai centres holding hundreds of Rohingya boat migrants, a Muslim group who have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar. 
 
Campaigners say her failure to throw her moral weight behind the stateless minority is a boon to Myanmar`s Buddhist hardliners who loathe the Rohingya and say they are illegal immigrants. 
 
In a sign of the sensitivity clouding the Rohingya question, a talk at the Foreign Correspondents` Club in Bangkok just ahead of Suu Kyi`s arrival was cancelled on military orders. 
 
(AFP)

Seeking to escape poverty at home, some one million registered Myanmar migrant workers form the backbone of Thailand's manual workforce

Myanmar`s Aung San Suu Kyi arrives today in Thailand where she is expected to be garlanded by her adoring compatriots, hundreds of thousands of whom have sought work and sanctuary from war across the border. It is Suu Kyi`s highest profile overseas visit since her pro-democracy party took power in April, ending nearly half a century of military domination. Her government has seeded hopes for a new era of prosperity that could eventually convince the army of low-paid Myanmar labourers in Thailand to return home. The two Southeast Asian neighbours have travelled in starkly different directions in recent years. While Myanmar`s junta has rolled back its chokehold on politics, last year allowing the freest elections in decades, Thailand remains in the grip of a military that seized power in 2014. As Myanmar`s democracy champion, Suu Kyi is expected to receive a rock star welcome during a visit to a fishing village in Samut Sakhon later Thursday. The port, just outside Bangkok, is the seat of Thailand`s huge seafood industry and home to more than 100,000 low-paid Myanmar labourers. The visit "fills me with hope," Myanmar migrant Thon Barami, 50, told AFP at the scruffy port. "We have problems here in Thailand. She might help us with labour rights... people all around the world will listen to her," she added. The fishing sector has been battered by revelations of the use of slave labour and the widespread exploitation of workers. The scandals have prompted threats of sanctions by the European Union -- a key market for the multi-billion-dollar Thai seafood industry. Seeking to escape poverty at home, some one million registered Myanmar migrant workers form the backbone of Thailand`s manual workforce. Tens of thousands of others work illegally, with some estimates putting the total number of Myanmar nationals in Thailand at three million. Rights groups say migrants -- legal and otherwise -- are vulnerable to unscrupulous officials, trafficking gangs and employment agencies who charge huge sums to get them poorly paid work. Their low status also sees them treated with scorn and mistrust by many Thais. "They all want to go home, but they are just waiting for the economic situation (in Myanmar) to improve significantly," explained Andy Hall, a migrant rights activist with an office in the port town. The nemesis of Myanmar`s generals throughout a quarter-century of struggle for democracy, the Nobel laureate will meet with the leader of the Thai junta in Bangkok on Friday. But her schedule does not include a single press conference as Suu Kyi continues to fiercely control her government`s messaging. The 71-year-old is officially Myanmar`s foreign minister and state counsellor, but also the de facto leader of her country despite a military-era constitution that bars her from the presidency. It is unclear if she will make a scheduled trip to a refugee camp in Ratchaburi province on Saturday. It is one of nearly a dozen camps in Thailand holding more than 100,000 refugees who have fled conflict in Myanmar. Many are ethnic Karen displaced by war with Myanmar`s army. The violence abated following a 2012 ceasefire, but conflict with other ethnic rebel groups continues. Thailand, which does not accept refugees, wants to repatriate camp residents -- some of whom have been born on Thai soil but are barred from citizenship. Suu Kyi is also not scheduled to visit any of the Thai centres holding hundreds of Rohingya boat migrants, a Muslim group who have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar. Campaigners say her failure to throw her moral weight behind the stateless minority is a boon to Myanmar`s Buddhist hardliners who loathe the Rohingya and say they are illegal immigrants. In a sign of the sensitivity clouding the Rohingya question, a talk at the Foreign Correspondents` Club in Bangkok just ahead of Suu Kyi`s arrival was cancelled on military orders. (AFP)

Myanmar's Suu Kyi visits troubled diaspora in Thailand

The European Union ambassador to Myanmar, Roland Kobia, urged the new government to take &#39;meaningful actions&#39; regarding the contentious Rohingya issue in a news conference in Yangon today. 
 
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights that the government will avoid using the term &quot;Rohingya&quot; to describe a persecuted Muslim minority in the country&#39;s northwest, an official said on Monday. 
 
Kobia said the EU welcomes the new government &#39;assuring commitment&#39; to address the sensitive issue, insisting the government to &#39;listen&#39; more to the community in Rakhine and to &#39;act accordingly&#39;. 
 
&quot;Terminology issues are important, we know because they refer to wider and deeper principles but we believe that the situation in Rakhine also deserves urgent and meaningful action on the ground,&quot; Kobia said. 
 
Members of the 1.1 million group, who identify themselves by the term &quot;Rohingya&quot; and live in apartheid-like conditions, are seen by many Myanmar Buddhists as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. 
 
The term is a divisive issue. 
 
The EU also announced to donate a total of Euros 688 million ($776.61 million) to Myanmar in development aid, focusing on various areas including education, rural development and good governance. 
 
(Reuters)

The European Union has also announced that it will donate Euros 688 million to Myanmar in development aid

The European Union ambassador to Myanmar, Roland Kobia, urged the new government to take 'meaningful actions' regarding the contentious Rohingya issue in a news conference in Yangon today. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights that the government will avoid using the term "Rohingya" to describe a persecuted Muslim minority in the country's northwest, an official said on Monday. Kobia said the EU welcomes the new government 'assuring commitment' to address the sensitive issue, insisting the government to 'listen' more to the community in Rakhine and to 'act accordingly'. "Terminology issues are important, we know because they refer to wider and deeper principles but we believe that the situation in Rakhine also deserves urgent and meaningful action on the ground," Kobia said. Members of the 1.1 million group, who identify themselves by the term "Rohingya" and live in apartheid-like conditions, are seen by many Myanmar Buddhists as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The term is a divisive issue. The EU also announced to donate a total of Euros 688 million ($776.61 million) to Myanmar in development aid, focusing on various areas including education, rural development and good governance. (Reuters)

EU urges Myanmar to take meaningful action on Rohingya issue

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