by Maung Zarni – Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia

Changes in Myanmar over the past three years have indeed been dizzying. A cursory look at the turn of events since 201 in will persuade any doubters of the genuineness of the country’s transition. The question, however, is where it is transitioning to and how best to understand the transition?

After their visits to Myanmar, Thomas Carothers and Larry Diamond, two of the world’s leading scholars of democratization, reached a similar conclusion: Naypyidaw’s goals, definition and modus operandi of ‘democracy’ are at odds with the essence of a representative government.

Bangkok Post

Myanmar’s reform-minded government may fall short of fulfilling its commitment to free all political prisoners by the end of this year, a member of the committee reviewing prisoners’status said on Saturday.

“The number of political prisoners is falling, but it will not reach zero because the authorities are detaining more and more activists,” said Bo Kyi, a member of the government-appointed committee.

During a visit to Britain in July, Myanmar President Thein Sein pledged to release all political prisoners remaining in Myanmar by the end of this year.

His government has released hundreds of political prisoners since it took office in 2010, and has also implemented other wide-ranging political reforms.

By Nava Thakuria

 Guwahati: While the new looked President of Burma (Myanmar) propagates news about the reform & peace process across the globe, serious doubts have been raised by various rights group on the actual developments in the ground. The Burmese President Thein Sein continues claiming about success in the peace process with various ethnic armed outfits, but his government has recently denied the permission to an UN representative to visit the active warzone of Kachin. The denial to Tomás Ojea Quintana, who is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, in his Kachin mission shows the gap between the words and the ground reality.

By HANNA HINDSTROM

The United States has vowed to strengthen its military relationship with Burma, shortly after issuing another warning to Naypyidaw that it must sever its defence ties with North Korea.

US Ambassador Derek Mitchell met with the head of Burma’s armed forces Min Aung Hlaing in the Burmese capital this week to discuss legal practices in military combat. Burmese state media described the meeting as a “cordial” effort to strengthen defence relations between the two countries, emphasising the army’s “important role” in Burma’s democratisation process.

“This dialogue is consistent with continuing efforts to build mutual understanding in order to promote human rights awareness, and promote the values and activities of a modern, disciplined and respected military that acts according to international norms,” said Derek Mitchell on Thursday.