Our Fight For Press Freedom irrawaddy.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from irrawaddy.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
One year after Myanmar s military toppled the country s elected government over unproven voting fraud claims, the nation of 54 million people is wracked by conflict and facing economic collapse.
Updated Timeline: Tracing Military’s Interference in Myanmar Election
Myanmar army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends a commemoration of 73rd Anniversary of Tatmadaw (Navy) Day at Thilawa Port in Yangon on Dec. 24, 2020. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
6.6k
By San Yamin Aung 20 January 2021
YANGON Even before Myanmar’s voters went to the polls in November’s general election, the country’s powerful military began flexing its political muscles, criticizing the government for the electoral body’s handling of preparations for the polls and raising doubts over whether the election was free and fair.
Its threats and warnings in the run-up to the election even prompted concerns over the possible threat of a coup. At that time, many were relieved after the military chief’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing vowed to respect the people’s will on election day.
‘A New Normal’: Key Figures in Myanmar Reflect on 2020 A New Normal’: Key Figures in Myanmar Reflect on 2020
5.6k
By The Irrawaddy 31 December 2020
The year coming to an end is a globally unsettling one. It would be interesting how people view the hardships they faced during this unusual year of 2020 and what silver linings they saw as well as what the incoming year means to them.The Irrawaddy’s Kyaw Phyo Tha and Nyein Neyin bring you thoughts and experiences from some prominent figures in different faiths, environment, art, humanitarian, business and others in Myanmar.
(Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy)
Myanmar’s Economic Year in Review
Myanmar s business hub, Yangon. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
4.8k
By Nan Lwin 25 December 2020
YANGON The Myanmar government began 2020 with high expectations that it would be the year the economic liberalization and reforms it introduced during the previous four years would begin to bear fruit. However, the COVID-19 pandemic upended its plans, slowing Myanmar’s economic growth to 1.7 percent in fiscal 2019-20 from 6.8 percent in 2018-19, not only hammering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the tourism and garment/textile sectors, but also delaying important economic events and activities needed to spur foreign direct investment (FDI).