World Politics
The Revolt against the Junta Can Succeed
20th June 2021 It is becoming apparent that there is a possibility that the revolt against the Junta could succeed. This unlikely possibility is because the Tatmadaw can’t get on top of the dissenters and close down the country. They are finding it impossible to gain control nationally, with
UN Vote on Myanmar
19th June 2021 A vote took place in the UN on stopping the supply of arms to Myanmar. The results are below. The UN General Assembly has stopped short of calling for a global arms embargo against Myanmar’s military, even as it took the rare step of urging member
Feeble Old Man Bores Putin
Let me tell you about the mainstream media. They are different from you and me. They are, they tell themselves, the gatekeepers of truth, and that does something to them. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are. They see the world differently. All pastiches
Military Take More Casualties
18th June 2021 Below is a press release from the US embassy in Yangon. It confirms the devastation I reported a few days ago. It is nice to see that sources are still holding good. The activists are striking back in Yangon at selected targets. An army truck with regime
‘They Are Us’ Is Group Think on Steroids
Society is made up of lots of different family units: some are close and strong, others disjointed and alienated. My father once naïvely attempted to heal a long standing family rift by getting parties who had not spoken to each other for years together to talk, hopefully forgive and let
Frontier Director on Trial in Myanmar
17th June 2021 We have an update on the Managing Editor of Frontier who was arrested at Yangon airport in May. Frontier Myanmar’s managing editor Danny Fenster today appeared in a special court in Yangon’s Insein Prison to face a charge under section 505-A of the Penal Code,
Worst Could Be Yet to Come for New Zealanders’ Perceptions of China
Geoffrey Miller Victoria University Of Wellington – Te Herenga Waka democracyproject.nz Geoffrey Miller is an international analyst at the Democracy Project. He has lived and travelled extensively in the Middle East and is a fluent Arabic speaker. The latest “Perceptions of Asia” survey from the Asia New Zealand Foundation, released
China Moves on Myanmar
15th June 2021 The monsoon has started in Myanmar and is hitting IDP camps in the jungle with devastating effect. Meanwhile, manoeuvring is going on in the background as the Junta tries to get International acknowledgement of its legitimacy. This has implications beyond the region for the west. The Myanmar
‘World’s Greatest Leader’ Snubbed by G7… Again
This year’s G7 summit should be of special interest to New Zealanders, not because of who was there and what was discussed — but who and what wasn’t. The G7 itself includes, of course, Britain, the US, Canada and Japan. This year Australia was invited for the second time
The Destruction Continues
14th June 2021 While the destruction goes on, the global players are struggling to find a resolution to the problems. The US is putting pressure on the ASEAN nations who run the risk of alienating the US and slipping into China’s orbit. Myanmar is heading for failed state status.
IINZ Calls for Immediate Halt to NZ Funding of Hate and Incitement
IINZ israelinstitute.nz The Israel Institute of New Zealand is calling on the New Zealand government to stop funding hate and incitement. Co-director, Dr David Cumin says “A recent EU-funded report has shown what has been clear for decades: the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Palestinian Authority-
The Destruction Continues
13th June 2021 The destruction of facilities essential for everyday life continues and in Chin State, one of the coffee processing factories supported by the DaNa Facility was destroyed. The DaNa facility is a 5-year programme supported by UKaid and won 2nd prize in one of the business planning competitions.