Latest news with #GlobalNewLight
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Myanmar junta chief confirms year-end election plan
Myanmar's junta chief said the country plans to hold elections in December and January, state media reported Thursday, pressing ahead with polls denounced as a sham by international monitors. The military deposed Myanmar's civilian government in a 2021 coup which sparked a many-sided civil war, but has promoted its election plans as a pathway to peace. With members of the former government locked away, opposition groups set to boycott the vote and huge tracts of the country controlled by anti-junta rebels, observers say a fair poll is impossible. State newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar said junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, speaking at a conference in the capital Naypyidaw on Wednesday, "pledged that the election will be held in December this year and January next year". It is not clear whether the junta plans to hold the election in phases -- a potential sign it would struggle to guarantee security on a single nationwide polling day -- or whether the timetable includes a campaign period. On Wednesday, the United Nations' special rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said the junta is "trying to create this mirage of an election exercise that will create a legitimate civilian government". "You cannot have an election when you imprison and torture and execute your opponents, when it is illegal to report the truth as a journalist, when it's illegal to speak out and criticise the junta," he told reporters in Geneva. Junta forces have suffered stinging territorial losses to pro-democracy guerrillas and powerful ethnic armed organisations in recent months. Military backing from China and Russia is letting it stave off defeat, analysts say, but huge areas of the country are set to be beyond the reach of any junta-organised democratic exercise. A junta census held last year to prepare for the poll admitted it could not collect data from an estimated 19 million of the country's 51 million people, in part because of "significant security constraints". "We are currently making the necessary preparations to hold the elections as widely and extensively as possible," Min Aung Hlaing said, according to a transcript of his conference speech in The Global New Light of Myanmar.
CNA
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Myanmar junta chief confirms year-end election plan
YANGON: Myanmar's junta chief said the country plans to hold elections in December and January, state media reported on Thursday (Jun 26), pressing ahead with polls denounced as a sham by international monitors. The military deposed Myanmar's civilian government in a 2021 coup which sparked a many-sided civil war, but has promoted its election plans as a pathway to peace. With members of the former government locked away, opposition groups set to boycott the vote and huge tracts of the country controlled by anti-junta rebels, observers say a fair poll is impossible. State newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar said junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, speaking at a conference in the capital Naypyidaw on Wednesday, "pledged that the election will be held in December this year and January next year". It is not clear whether the junta plans to hold the election in phases - a potential sign it would struggle to guarantee security on a single nationwide polling day - or whether the timetable includes a campaign period. On Wednesday, the United Nations' special rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said the junta is "trying to create this mirage of an election exercise that will create a legitimate civilian government". "You cannot have an election when you imprison and torture and execute your opponents, when it is illegal to report the truth as a journalist, when it's illegal to speak out and criticise the junta," he told reporters in Geneva. Junta forces have suffered stinging territorial losses to pro-democracy guerrillas and powerful ethnic armed organisations in recent months. Military backing from China and Russia is letting it stave off defeat, analysts say, but huge areas of the country are set to be beyond the reach of any junta-organised democratic exercise. A junta census held last year to prepare for the poll admitted it could not collect data from an estimated 19 million of the country's 51 million people, in part because of "significant security constraints". "We are currently making the necessary preparations to hold the elections as widely and extensively as possible," Min Aung Hlaing said, according to a transcript of his conference speech in The Global New Light of Myanmar.
BreakingNews.ie
10-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Myanmar's military government chief meets Chinese leader
The chief of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, has met with President Xi Jinping of China for the first time since seizing power four years ago, state media said. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Mr Xi pledged to provide assistance for recovery after Myanmar's devastating earthquake in March and to help efforts to end the country's civil war. Advertisement The two leaders met onFriday in Moscow on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. The report said they also discussed 'bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation in all sectors, and cooperating in regional stability and peace'. China has been using its influence with ethnic rebel organisations to ease their pressure on the military government in an apparent effort to stabilise it. The meeting took place in Moscow (Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP) The Chinese government, along with Russia, is a major arms supplier to Myanmar's military in its war against pro-democracy and ethnic minority resistance forces. Advertisement Beijing is also Myanmar's biggest trading partner and has invested billions of dollars in mines, oil and gas pipelines, and other infrastructure. Its interests in security in Myanmar are especially strong because the two nations share an 890-mile border. China's government has maintained good working relations with Myanmar's ruling military, which is shunned and sanctioned by many Western nations for the army's February 2021 takeover from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and for major human rights violations. It is also one of the countries providing major relief and reconstruction assistance after the 7.7-magnitude March 28 earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people in Myanmar and injured more than 5,100. The quake worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis, with more than three million people displaced from their homes and nearly 20 million in need due to the war, according to the United Nations. Advertisement Beijing has been concerned about instability that threatens its interests in Myanmar since Myanmar's army suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats over the past few years, especially in areas near the Chinese border.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Myammar's military government chief has first meeting with China's leader since taking power in 2021
BANGKOK (AP) — The chief of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has for the first time since seizing power four years ago met with President Xi Jinping of China, a top ally of his military government, state-run media in the Southeast Asian nation reported Saturday. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Xi pledged to provide assistance for recovery after Myanmar's devastating earthquake in March and aid in efforts to end the country's civil war. The two leaders met Friday in Moscow on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Its report said they also discussed 'bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation in all sectors, and cooperating in regional stability and peace.' Cooperation discussed as Beijing seeks to shore up military government China has been using its influence with ethnic rebel organizations to ease their pressure on the military government in an apparent effort to stabilize it. China, along with Russia, is a major arms supplier to Myanmar's military in its war against pro-democracy and ethnic minority resistance forces. Beijing is also Myanmar's biggest trading partner and has invested billions of dollars in mines, oil and gas pipelines, and other infrastructure. Its interests in security in Myanmar are especially strong because the two nations share an 890-mile (1,440-kilometer) border China's government has maintained good working relations with Myanmar's ruling military, which is shunned and sanctioned by many Western nations for the army's February 2021 takeover from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and for major human rights violations. It is also one of the countries providing major relief and reconstruction assistance after the 7.7-magnitude March 28 earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people in Myanmar and injured more than 5,100. The quake worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis, with more than 3 million people displaced from their homes and nearly 20 million in need due to the war, according to the United Nations. Beijing has been concerned about instability that threatens its interests in Myanmar since Myanmar's army suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats over the past few years, especially in areas near the Chinese border. An offensive began in October 2023, by the ' Three Brotherhood Alliance, ' comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, was able to quickly capture towns and overrun military bases and command centers and strategic cities along the Chinese border in northeastern Shan state. It was widely seen at the time as having Beijing's tacit support to help stamp out rampant organized crime activities in areas controlled by ethnic Chinese. In early 2024, Beijing helped broker a ceasefire, but that quickly fell apart when the alliance launched new attacks. Myanmar's ruling generals and China's government showed concern as pro-democracy guerrillas and armed ethnic minority groups, sometimes working hand in hand, gained the initiative in fighting. Beijing put pressure on rebel groups to yield key captured town The alliance's offensive lost momentum after China shut down border crossings, cut electricity to Myanmar towns and took other measures to discourage the fighting. Under increasing pressure from Beijing, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, withdrew its forces and administration authorities last month from the strategically important town of Lashio in northeastern Myanmar, which hosts a major regional military headquarters but which the rebel group seized in August last year. A member of the MNDAA told The Associated Press on Saturday that the army's soldiers had already re-entered and and reestablished themselves in bases inside the town at the end of April. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information. Tar Pan La and Lway Yay Oo, spokespersons for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, said during an online press conference on May 4 that local residents had been facing difficulties as China and Myanmar's military government blocked trade into areas it controlled. Tar Pan La said China had continuously urged the group both in person and through messages to avoid clashes along the border and areas of Chinese investments. The TNLA said in a statement released on its Telegram channel on Saturday that the military carries out daily airstrikes in areas it controls, although it extended until the end of May a ceasefire it declared in the wake of the earthquake.
The Independent
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Myammar's military government chief has first meeting with China's leader since taking power in 2021
The chief of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has for the first time since seizing power four years ago met with President Xi Jinping of China, a top ally of his military government, state-run media in the Southeast Asian nation reported Saturday. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Xi pledged to provide assistance for recovery after Myanmar's devastating earthquake in March and aid in efforts to end the country's civil war. The two leaders met Friday in Moscow on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Its report said they also discussed 'bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation in all sectors, and cooperating in regional stability and peace.' Cooperation discussed as Beijing seeks to shore up military government China has been using its influence with ethnic rebel organizations to ease their pressure on the military government in an apparent effort to stabilize it. China, along with Russia, is a major arms supplier to Myanmar's military in its war against pro-democracy and ethnic minority resistance forces. Beijing is also Myanmar's biggest trading partner and has invested billions of dollars in mines, oil and gas pipelines, and other infrastructure. Its interests in security in Myanmar are especially strong because the two nations share an 890-mile (1,440-kilometer) border China's government has maintained good working relations with Myanmar's ruling military, which is shunned and sanctioned by many Western nations for the army's February 2021 takeover from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and for major human rights violations. It is also one of the countries providing major relief and reconstruction assistance after the 7.7-magnitude March 28 earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people in Myanmar and injured more than 5,100. The quake worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis, with more than 3 million people displaced from their homes and nearly 20 million in need due to the war, according to the United Nations. Beijing has been concerned about instability that threatens its interests in Myanmar since Myanmar's army suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats over the past few years, especially in areas near the Chinese border. An offensive began in October 2023, by the ' Three Brotherhood Alliance, ' comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, was able to quickly capture towns and overrun military bases and command centers and strategic cities along the Chinese border in northeastern Shan state. It was widely seen at the time as having Beijing's tacit support to help stamp out rampant organized crime activities in areas controlled by ethnic Chinese. In early 2024, Beijing helped broker a ceasefire, but that quickly fell apart when the alliance launched new attacks. Myanmar's ruling generals and China's government showed concern as pro-democracy guerrillas and armed ethnic minority groups, sometimes working hand in hand, gained the initiative in fighting. Beijing put pressure on rebel groups to yield key captured town The alliance's offensive lost momentum after China shut down border crossings, cut electricity to Myanmar towns and took other measures to discourage the fighting. Under increasing pressure from Beijing, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, withdrew its forces and administration authorities last month from the strategically important town of Lashio in northeastern Myanmar, which hosts a major regional military headquarters but which the rebel group seized in August last year. A member of the MNDAA told The Associated Press on Saturday that the army's soldiers had already re-entered and and reestablished themselves in bases inside the town at the end of April. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information. Tar Pan La and Lway Yay Oo, spokespersons for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, said during an online press conference on May 4 that local residents had been facing difficulties as China and Myanmar's military government blocked trade into areas it controlled. Tar Pan La said China had continuously urged the group both in person and through messages to avoid clashes along the border and areas of Chinese investments. The TNLA said in a statement released on its Telegram channel on Saturday that the military carries out daily airstrikes in areas it controls, although it extended until the end of May a ceasefire it declared in the wake of the earthquake.
