Tun Mon Thet, Thiri Khit Oo (NSS) - May 29

YANGON - Miss Cecilia Isabel Garcia Pineda who is participating in Miss Grand International 2024 as Miss Honduras showed an offence against Myanmar opposing an ideal behaviour of a Miss arguing that if Myanmar hosts the Miss Grand International 2024, her life and security will not be safe due to the civil war. She stated it in her resignation letter as giving up the Miss Grand Honduras.  

After the news has been circulated on social sites by subversive media, the Miss Grand International Organization released an announcement on its Facebook page that Miss Grand International 2024 will no longer be held in Myanmar.  

In fact, it has already been officially announced since 2023 that next year will be held in Myanmar. Miss Honduras seems lacking aware of it when she started competing for the national crown.  

There have been comments made by experts that Miss Honduras should respect the ethics that a Miss should keep and should not accuse of Myanmar conflicts without the on-ground knowledge. It is considered as a blemish and just assaulting other country. 

In addition, some audience commented that Miss Cecilia Isabel Garcia Pineda is degrading Miss ethic by herself in a manner that disrespects the Southeast Asian country.

Myanmar audiences have been expecting to host Miss Grand International 2024 in Myanmar. However, Miss Cecilia Isabel Garcia Pineda’s manner broke all expectations of Myanmar audiences even though it is an alternative turn for Myanmar to host the event.  

After 2021 political transition in Myanmar, series of military assaults have been launched by the terrorists and ethnic armed troops. Taking advantages of the country’s political instability, the West-backed news media frequently fabricate false news to halt the incoming foreign investments and tourism industry aiming to impose defects in the national prestige and foreign currency income. 

However, most areas where conflicts have been arising in remote and rural sites in the country. In the urban cities such as Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Pyin-Oo-Lwin, Taunggyi and many big cities remain non-con­taminated by the conflicts. 

In April 2024, a travel blogger couple namely ‘Dabble and Travel’ from London visited Yangon just before Thingyan Festival and they made filming out and about in Yangon, especially in downtown independently and voluntarily. 

None of the authorities nor Tatmadaw security forces have interrupted them or forced to stop presenting and filming. The couple fully enjoyed their trip in Myanmar along with filming and presenting the vlog. In early days of May 2024, the couple uploaded two vlogs on their YouTube channel where they visited, what they had learned from and what they enjoyed in the commercial city of Myanmar. 

Thus, it is obser­ved that no matter what foreigners or locals, for those who stay in line with laws and do not break the laws, they will not be assaulted or arrested or charged in Myanmar. 

Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Latin America, has been regarded as listed in the world’s highest  crime rates. Reports also stated that the Central American country is packed with widespread violent crime, robbery, kidnapp­ing, rape, violent gang activity, narcotics and human trafficking as local police lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to those serious crimes. 

Another prominent drawback in Honduras is the counterfeit market. Reports also described that counterfeit goods such as medicine and clothing are frequently seized across the country.