The Third Pole explores how the military coup will affect Chinese-backed dams along Southeast Asia’s last free-flowing river
Category: Myanmar
Myanmar junta to sell more timber in search for hard currency
Myanmar’s military regime will hold further timber auctions on June 23 and 24 as it seeks to raise hard currency to fund its coup. Three separate auctions were held in late May in which nearly 10,300 tons of timber were sold for around US$5 million (8.2 billion kyats).
Myanmar launches second tender for utility-scale PV
Despite an ongoing military coup and increasing instability, the government of Myanmar has decided to move forward with another tender for the development of utility-scale solar.
Myanmar junta to sell copper worth US$51 million
Myanmar receives a share of copper cathode from the copper mines it operates as joint ventures with Chinese-run mining companies. The Irrawaddy has found that when copper cathode and other metals were sold under tender by previous governments, most of the buyers were Chinese firms.
Andaman forests need longer intervals between repeat logging for recovery: study
In the Andaman archipelago where selective logging is practised by the forest department, an interval of 10-25 years between logging events is not sufficient for the forests, especially deciduous forests, to recover from the first logging cycle.
China-backed AIIB leaves door open to lending to Myanmar’s junta
The statement comes as governments and companies with interests in Myanmar are under increasing pressure to sever links with the country’s military junta after it overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s administration and cracked down on protesters.
How Climate-Smart Villages achieve food security during the pandemic
The study looked at three CSVs: Chhouk (Cambodia), Htee Pu (Myanmar), and Himbubulo Weste (part of Guinayangan CSV in the Philippines).
Myanmar junta looks to line its pockets and fund the coup with massive auction of illegal timber
EIA Forests campaigners have learnt that the brutal military junta which seized control of Myanmar on 1 February is seeking an injection of hard currency by selling off thousands of tonnes of illegal timber to international markets.
CITES and FAO hold joint workshop in support of the verification of timber legality in the Lower Mekong Region
Verifying the origin of timber destined for export and ensuring its legality is a crucial aspect of trade regulations under CITES. Most of the countries in the Lower Mekong Region have a general understanding of the “legal acquisition findings” requirement but none have published national guidance to ensure that the verification of the legal acquisition is done systematically and in a transparent manner.
HRW, NGOs Call on Thai Firm to Back off on Myanmar Oil Deals
“By expanding business ties with the Myanmar military as it carries out a bloody crackdown, the Thai state-owned PTT has shown little regard for the lives and freedom of Myanmar’s people,” said Shayna Bauchner, an Asia researcher for the watchdog group.