Politics and Public Policy
Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe have been released after serving over 500 days in prison. The two were freed on 7 May by a Presidential pardon, in a case that had captured international attention due to its implications for free speech. The reporters had been convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act, while reporting on a massacre of 10 people in Rakhine State.
The move to release the two reporters was heralded by foreign governments as a positive step, though some diplomats and press freedom advocates have stated they should not have been convicted. The pardon was also clouded by a Reuters report only three weeks that the soldiers that had been convicted for their role in the massacre had themselves been quietly released in November.
Ultimately, while Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe may now be accepting Pulitzer prizes, the Myanmar government’s handling of the Rakhine crisis and press freedom are likely to continue to damage relations between Naypyitaw and the West. While there still is a lack of clear political support in the EU for the withdrawal of the GSP, this recent kerfuffle around the releases is damaging to the initial line that the freedom of the Reuters journalists is progress.
Business and Economy
The China-U.S. trade war has taken a new turn that will have major ramifications for Myanmar. The United States has taken the step of sanctioning Huawei, a move which imperils its business not only in the U.S. but in markets around the world.
Huawei has a sizeable presence in the Myanmar mobile environment. Deputy Director General of the Posts and Telecommunications Department, Ministry of Transport and Communications U Soe Naing recently praised Huawei for its support in building up Myanmar’s ICT network. It has been expected that Huawei was to play a central role in Myanmar’s continued interest in developing 5G, fiber optic, and smart city capabilities. It remains to be seen how the recent American actions against Huawei will play out in Myanmar, where they are taking place against a backdrop of a complicated Sino-Myanmar relationship.
This coverage of developments in Myanmar’s political and economic transition was prepared by Vriens & Partners, a corporate advisory firm focusing on government relations and political risk in Southeast Asia. If you are interested in learning more about our services, please visit our website or email [email protected]
