#MYANMAR: Military Gov't Siezes Soros Organization's Bank Accounts

[world politics news]

The military government in Myanmar, in place after a coup provoked by widespread accusations of voter fraud plagued the country’s recent election, has now seized the bank accounts of George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.

After taking control of the country in a military coup provoked by allegations of voter fraud earlier this year, the Myanmar military government has seized several bank accounts belonging or affiliated with George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, and has announced arrest warrants for 11 members of the organization in the country “on suspicion of giving financial support to the civil disobedience movement against the military junta.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

BREAKING: #MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi, Others Arrested By Military In Apparent Coup

[world politics news]

Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other government officials are being held in custody by the military - according to multiple sources. 

"We have to assume that the military is staging a coup," a spokesman for Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy Party says after the arrests.

The arrests come amid escalating tensions between the civilian government and the powerful military, triggering concerns of a coup.

The 75-year-old former civil rights campaigner, Aung San Suu Kyi, won national elections in 2015, and was allowed to form a government with the military's approval, which prompted some to call her a sell-out to the military government. Other parties also questioned the fairness of the 2015 elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi Addresses Human Rights Complaints Against Gov't

[world politics news]

Aung San Suu Kyi said she "feels deeply" for the suffering of "all people" caught up in conflict-torn Rakhine state in her first comments on the crisis since the latest violence began last month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MYANMAR: Legislator Says Nation's Largest City Becoming A Lawless "Ruin"

[world politics news]

Yangon city is a “ruin” in every sector, with law and order being mostly ignored, according to MP Sandar Min, a legislator from the Seikgyi Khanaungto constituency.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MYANMAR: Parliament Ends Law Former Gov't Used To Stifle Dissent

[world politics news]

Parliament voted today to abolish the Emergency Provisions Act, which, since its passage in 1950, was widely applied by the former military government to stifle political activists by threatening harsh penalties, including a potential death sentence for leaking state secrets.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MYANMAR: New Gov't Slashes Cabinet Size From 36 To 21 In Cost-Saving Measure

[world politics news]

Myanmar’s parliament on Monday voted to axe a third of ministries in the new cabinet led by newly-elected President Htin Kyaw, a loyal and longtime aide to the leader of the election winning National League for Democracy. In his first public speech since being elected, Htin Kyaw - an Aung San Suu Kyi confidante - stated that the country would save about US$4 million during the government's five-year term by reducing the numbers of ministries from 36 to 21.

#MYANMAR: "Proxy" Elected President To Serve In Place Of Aung San Suu Kyi

[world politics news]

Parliament elected Htin Kyaw as the country's new president, representing the longtime opposition National League For Democracy Party of Aung San Suu Kyi, who are now governing after 54 years of direct or indirect military rule. Suu Kyi will effectively serve as a shadow president, but is constitutionally forbidden from serving in the office - a parting indignity demanded by the former military government.

#MYANMAR: Smiles Fade As Military & Newly-Elected Gov't Hit Snags Over Transition To Full Democracy

[world politics news]

A deepening rift has opened between Burma’s powerful military and Aung San Suu Kyi, sources say, threatening the democracy leader’s prospects for forming a successful government. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won elections last November, but the military remains are strong part of governing, taking a quarter of seats in parliament and barring her from becoming president.

Pictured: Burma’s commander-in-chief, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, left, and National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

#MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi's Party Wins 80% Of Vote In Landmark Election

[world politics news]

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is on track for a majority in parliament, taking about 80% of declared seats in Sunday's election. The military, which automatically gets a quarter of the seats in parliament, said it would recognize and cooperate with the new government.

Pictured: Army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who congratulated the NLD on its performance in the polls.

#MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi's Party May Win Big In Sunday's Election

[world politics news]

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) appears set to win a large number of seats in Myanmar's national elections on Nov. 8 against the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party. There are around 6,200 candidates from 93 political parties competing for 30 million votes.

#MYANMAR: Parliament Rejects Bill To Remove MPs With 1% Recall Petitions

[world politics news]

With opponents calling it undemocratic - and aimed at removing the current speaker of parliament - legislators rejected a bill that would have allowed members to be recalled and removed by one percent of their constituents. Some felt the move was too close to the November election.

#MYANMAR: Parliament Votes To Keep Military Veto Over Reforms

[world politics news]

Myanmar's parliament has failed to remove the army's veto over constitutional change, dealing a blow to hopes for fuller democracy. The bill received a majority of MPs' votes but not the 75% needed for passage. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is expected to see big gains against the ruling party in an election likely to take place in the fall.

#BURMA: Members of New Parliament Approved Bill to Triple Their Own Salaries

[world politics news]

Among the first bills passed by the freshly convened parliament was to raise their own salaries, and those of regional legislators. Salaries for the 2015-16 term will rise from US$292 to $1,000/month. Regional legislators get a raise from $195 to $487/month. US$1 is = 1025.50 Burmese Kyat.

#MYANMAR: Nationalist Buddhist Monks Inspire Bills Restricting Inter-Faith Marriage; Religious Conversions

[world politics news]

#MYANMAR

Parliament Readies New Environmental/Conservation Law [world politics news]

#MYANMAR

Activists Say Law Against Peaceful Protests Violates 2008 Constitution [world politics news]

#MYANMAR

Speaker Says Constitution Should Be Amended to Allow Aung San Suu Kyi Pres. Run [world politics news]

The Constitution should be amended to allow opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to run for president in 2015, says Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann, who chairs the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party. Article 59 bars candidates with a spouse or children who are foreign citizens. Her late husband and her children are British citizens.

#MYANMAR

National League For Democracy Party: Most People Want New Constitution [world politics news]

#MYANMAR

Ethnic Coalitions Drafting Possible Federal Constitution [world politics news]

#MYANMAR

Yangon, HQ of Oppo Party, To Ban Future Gatherings "Without Permission" [world politics news]