Memo #113
By Nelson Rand – nelsonrand [at] hotmail.com
Dramatic changes appear to be underway in Burma since a quasi-civilian government took office in March 2011.
Although there are many uncertainties over the extent and sincerity of the new government’s initiatives for reforms, which have been both political and economic, one thing is clear: the reforms that have been initiated in Burma since March 2011 have been the most significant in over half a century. The country is at a critical juncture, and while it is still too early to tell just how developments will play out, for the first time in years there is reason to be optimistic about Burma’s political direction.
The Myitsone Dam decision is a telling example of the extent of recent changes – to put a stop to a Chinese-backed mega project such as this would have been unthinkable a year ago. This is an opportunity for engagement that Canada should take up.
Part 1 – Political reform in Burma (1:53 min)
Part 2 – Burma’s president meeting Aung San Suu Kyi (1:16 min)
Part 3 – Halting construction on Burma’s Myitsone Dam (1:02 min)
Part 4 – Why such strong opposition to the Myitsone Dam? (1:02 min)
Part 5 – Canada’s Burma policy (1:28 min)
An update on the Thailand flood and political situation featuring Nelson Rand:
Part 1 – Political situation in Thailand (2:12 min)
Part 2 – Managing Thailand’s floods (1:46 min)
About the Interviewee:
Nelson Rand – Canadian journalist based in Bangkok who has been covering insurgencies and political protests in Thailand for the past 6 years.