Myanmar's parallel government grapples with foreign investment dilemma

National Unity Government says it will not push companies 'into a corner'

Myanmar's military has tried to control the widespread civil disobedience movement's access to telecommunications and social media in the aftermath of its coup on Feb. 1. © Reuters

JOHN LIU and RORY WALLACE, Contributing writers

May 26, 2021 22:24 JST

BANGKOK/TAIPEI -- Myanmar's National Unity Government, a parallel government set up by lawmakers elected in November's general election, has had to adopt a more realistic approach to the way companies like Norway's Telenor and the investment community conduct business.

"The military has been using various means to threaten and extort money," Tu Hkawng, the NUG's environment and natural resources minister, told Nikkei Asia in an interview from an undisclosed location. "Companies such as Telenor have no choice but to follow these instructions due to security concerns."