There is only one charitable interpretation of why narco-barons and their associates are quietly taking over Myanmar's private sector: The government is prepared to turn a blind eye to the process in the overriding interests of securing peace, integrating insurgent-held areas into the national mainstream and, at the same time, promoting economic development -- if necessary with dirty money.

CNN: BUSINESS IS BLOOMING

As the arch political fixer, Mr Mukherjee was an obstacle to reform, since it involves overriding the interests of some coalition partners and, often, may be unpopular with voters.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

Although for developers like Urban Splash or the Environment Trust, or similar private, trust or charity based organisations, there is the scope to listen to residents, for most large developers, their overriding concern is to their shareholders whose interests (profit maximisation) are opposite to those of local residents (community focus, low energy-cost housing, etc.).

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