Despite the continuing transition to civilian rule in Burma, also called Myanmar, the military retains a large interest in the country’s economy. Suspicions about the military’s influence were raised last week when its investment company, Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd., won an arbitration award in a dispute with its Singaporean partner in Myanmar Brewing Ltd., makers of the country’s best-selling Myanmar Beer. A director of the military-owned company took the unusual step of saying, “The conduct of this arbitration shows our commitment to the rule of law and ... due process.”
