Peace Talks Start Between Myanmar and Rebels

BANGKOK — China hosted peace talks between the Myanmargovernment and ethnic Kachin rebels on Monday, as outside pressure grew on both sides to end the intense fighting of recent weeks.

The one-day meeting ended without a firm commitment to stop the clashes, which have left at least several hundred soldiers dead and displaced tens of thousands of civilians in the northernmost reaches of Myanmar, near the Chinese border. But the talks were notable for China’s prominent role in getting both sides to the negotiating table.

Rakhine crisis: Restricted humanitarian access and risk of radicalisation

The latest wave of violence between Rakhine and Rohingya communities in Myanmar's Rakhine state has raised fears of growing radicalisation and regional instability.

The violence raises fears that the crisis could threaten Buddhist-Muslim relations in the wider region [REUTERS]

The violence has left 36,000 displaced, bringing the total number of displaced since June to 110,000. Scores are reported missing at sea and satellite images released by Human Rights Watch revealed the almost-near destruction [PDF] of part of a densely-populated Rakhine town.

U.S. to invite Myanmar to joint military exercises

 
Reuters) - The United States will invite Myanmar to the world's largest multinational military field exercise, a powerful symbolic gesture toward a military with a grim human rights record and a milestone in its rapprochement with the West.

Myanmar will be invited to observe Cobra Gold, which brings together thousands of American and Thai military personnel and participants from other Asian countries for joint annual maneuvers, officials from countries participating in the exercises told Reuters.

the Daily Yomiuri: Japan leads Myanmar aid talks / Aims to support reform efforts, promote investment opportunities

Etsuo Kono and Takeshi Nagata / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

Japan played a leading role in helping Myanmar to settle its outstanding debts at a meeting of donor nations for the impoverished country held Thursday in Tokyo, aiming to support reform efforts and promote investment by Japanese firms.

As Myanmar's largest creditor country, Japan helped to clear the debt that has crippled the country's economic recovery by urging debt relief among other donors.

Moreover, it also pledged at the meeting the resumption of low-interest loans.

"It is essential to support Myanmar's reform efforts and help it rejoin the international community as soon as possible," Finance Minister Koriki Jojima said at the meeting held alongside the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.