Proceedings of the 2006 Burma Update conference... Assessing political/military developments after the departure of Khin Nyunt 1. The political situation in Myanmar 1 Vicky Bowman 2. A Burmese perspective on prospects for progress 18 Khin Zaw Win 3. Of kyay-zu and kyet-su: the military in 2006 36 Mary Callahan 4. Conflict and displacement in Burma/Myanmar 54 Ashley South 5. Foreign policy as a political tool: Myanmar 2003–2006 82 Trevor Wilson Assessing the economic situation after the 2001–2002 banking crisis 6. Myanmar?s economy in 2006 108 Sean Turnell 7. Transforming Myanmar?s rice marketing 135 Ikuko Okamoto 8. Industrial zones in Burma and Burmese 159 labour in Thailand Guy Lubeigt vi Implications of current development strategies for Myanmar?s environment 9. Environmental governance in the SPDC?s Myanmar 189 Tun Myint 10. Environmental governance of mining in Burma 218 Matthew Smith 11. Spaces of extraction: governance along the riverine 246 networks of Nyaunglebin District Ken MacLean 12. Identifying conservation issues in Kachin State 271 Tint Lwin Thaung ..... Despite deteriorating economic and developmental conditions, worsening environmental problems, and troubles arising from the unresolved status of its ethnic minorities, Myanmar seems no closer to a political resolution. Myanmarâ�?„?s economy continues to stagnate, with severe implications for its people. Low levels of international assistance have exacerbated the situation. Myanmarâ�"the State, Community and the Environment examines the missed opportunities by government and opposition groups to find a way out of the political impasse and improve the standard of living of the people of Myanmar. This collection provides insights into the countryâ�?„?s economic development, in particular the vital rice-marketing sector and the attempts to expand existing industrial zones. It focuses, for the first time, on Myanmarâ�?„?s environmental governance with in-depth case studies, and on the increasing need for effective environmental protection and sustainability.