Myanmar Morning News for March 2

Welcome to the Myanmar morning news roundup by AEC News Today, your one stop for Myanmar news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.

Death sentence upheld for Myanmar pair over killings
Two Myanmar men convicted of killing a pair of British backpackers on a Thai holiday island have lost their appeal against the death sentence, a prosecutor said Wednesday, a ruling made without their defence lawyers present.
— Gulf Times

Myanmar fishery export income set to double
THOUGH MYANMAR’S fishery export income took a dive for three straight years until 2015, industry players hold high hopes to rebound, given the slight increase last year and the potential continuation of growth this fiscal year ending on March 31.
— The Nation

Australian team helps protect Myanmar farmers from snake bites
Myanmar farmers are trapped in a vicious cycle that leaves them especially vulnerable to snake bites. Rice attracts rodents, and rodents attract snakes; and if a snake bites a farmer, chances are that farmer has neither the money nor the means of transportation to ensure her own survival. The cost of survival is sure to deepen her poverty and dependence on farming.
— Coconuts Yangon

KBZ Bank Resumes Services for Rohingyas
After temporarily freezing the bank accounts owned by the Rohingyas and blocking them from doing financial transactions, the Maungdaw branch of the KBZ (Kanbawza) Bank has resumed its normal services for the Rohingya today (on Feb 28), it has been reported.
— Rohingya Vision

Hundreds of Rohingyas Face Arbitrary Trials
More than 200 Rohingya civilians arrested in northern Maungdaw on 14th November 2016 are now facing arbitrary trials and subjected to long-term imprisonments, reports say.
— Rohingya Vision

Unilever responds to rights campaign, commits to Rohingya protection
Last week, rights activists concerned with the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar launched a new strategy in an effort to end the repression characterized by the United Nations recently as tantamount to “ethnic cleansing”. They sought the help of business, and business responded.
— Coconuts Yangon

Govt suspends controversial Banchaung coal mine
The Myanmar government has suspended operations at the 2,100-acre Banchaung coal mine in Dawei Township, Taninthayi Region, Eleven reported today.
— Coconuts Yangon

Mother of deaf Myanmar refugee killed by RTD train: ‘My heart is broken’
The family of a deaf refugee from Myanmar who was killed Feb. 19 by an RTD train during testing on the new R Line says it is heartbroken over his death, which his family says may have been preventable.
— Denver Channel

Indian Navy asks Myanmar to send proposal for training facilities
The Indian Navy on Wednesday responded positively to a visiting Myanmar Navy delegation’s request for training facilities, asking the nation to send a proposal.
— Hindustan Times

Myanmar nationals nabbed sneaking into Malaysia
Twenty-five Myanmar nationals, 24 men and 1 woman, were caught attempting to sneak across the border into Malaysia from a village in Sadao district on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

First China-Myanmar tourism cooperation forum kicks off in Nay Pyi Taw
A China-Myanmar tourism cooperation forum, the first of its kind, kicked off in Myanmar’s capital of Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday.
— Mizzima

Independent centre reports on nation’s natural resources
The Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Centre (ENAC) (Union of Burma), has released a report recommending greater government emphasis on the possession, management, share of revenues and impact of the country’s natural resources during the second 21st Panglong Conference.
— Myanmar Times

Agricultural sector and SMEs to receive private bank loans
The Central Bank of Myanmar will make it compulsory for local private banks to grant a minimum percentage of their loans to the agricultural sector and the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector, Central Bank director general U Win Thaw told the Myanmar Times.
— Myanmar Times

NLD appoints new Mon chief
Mon State parliament has approved the appointment of MP Dr Aye Zan, who represents Kyaikto Township constituency no2, as chief minister.
— Eleven

Shwedagon Pagoda receives US$60m in donations
The accumulated donations to Shwedagon Pagoda topped US$60 million, according to the Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs.
— Eleven

Money transfer can be smoothly made between Myanmar and US
Money transfers to the United States can now be made by opening a Settlement Account at KBZ Bank.
— Eleven

General Mya Tun Oo hopes 100 percent peace will surely prevail in time of Suu Kyi-led government
General Mya Tun Oo, Chief of General Staff, said he hoped that 100 per cent peace would reign across the country under the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
— Eleven

Thai mine ‘destroyed Myanmar water sources’
PEOPLE in Heinda district in Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region have been deprived of clean water, amid claims that a tin mine operated by a Thai firm has contaminated the river and water sources with heavy metals.
— Eleven

Hlaingthaya airbed factory workers on strike over night shift
More than 200 workers from Spim Sun Pleasure air mattress factory in Yangon Region went on a strike yesterday citing their unwillingness to work night shift as the main reason.
— Eleven

Money transfer can be smoothly made between Myanmar and US
Money transfers to the United States can now be made by opening a Settlement Account at KBZ Bank.
— Eleven

Feature photo: John Le Fevre

The Myanmar morning news roundup is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Myanmar Morning News Roundup For March 2 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on March 2, 2017
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.