Myanmar morning news for August 3

Asean backs latest Rakhine probe
Asean foreign ministers welcomed the newly established so-called independent commission to investigate human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
— The Nation

Thousands displaced in Cambodia by flooding of Mekong
Nearly 1,000 families residing in provinces along the Mekong River had been evacuated to safe areas as of Tuesday, while 1,133 houses in Kratie province had been inundated, according to provincial authorities.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Experts have low expectations for new Rakhine probe panel
While the rest of the country was focussed on the widespread flooding across Myanmar during the past week, the government revealed the members of an independent commission that will investigate alleged human rights abuses in northern Rakhine State.
— Myanmar Times

ASEAN offers help over floods to Myanmar
Lim Jock Hoi, ASEAN secretary general, said in an open letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that the ASEAN Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) and the secretariat in Jakarta stand ready to provide any assistance to a member, according to Myanmar Times.
— ThaiPBS

Myanmar endures worst of Mekong monsoon floods
Monsoon rains have pummelled the Mekong region in recent days with Myanmar bearing the brunt of flooding that has forced 150,000 to flee and threatens to destroy levees shielding thousands of homes.
–ChannelNewsAsia

MADB provides over Ks 60 billion loan to over 80,000 Rakhine farmers
The Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank (MADB) has loaned over Ks 60 billion to over 80,000 farmers from the Rakhine State during this monsoon agricultural season.
— BNI

India denies border dispute with Myanmar
India on Wednesday said there was no border dispute between India and Myanmar and the demarcation of nine pillars was being worked out in a complete understanding with its neighbour, timesnownews.com.
— Mizzima

New parliament speaker assumes post
U Mahn Win Khaing Than handed over his role as Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (joint parliament) speaker to Pyithu Hluttaw (lower house) Speaker U T Khun Myat on Wednesday, which marked 30 months of parliament’s second term. The transfer was mandated by the constitution.
— Myanmar Times

Flooding Displaces More Than 200 People, Damages Paddy Fields in Lashio
More than 200 people have been forced to flee their homes following flooding caused by heavy rains in northern Shan State’s Lashio Township.
— BNI

Aung San Suu Kyi display removed from Canadian Human Rights Museum
Myanmar‘s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is being removed from a display at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, globalnews.ca has reported.
— Mizzima

Heavy rain causes landslides on Nanyun-Shinbweyan road
Heavy rain caused landslides on a portion of road connecting between Nanyun and Shinbweyan, which is a part of Ledo Road, on July 31 and transportation has been cut off, sources said.
— Eleven Myanmar

Exclusive: Myanmar scales back Chinese-backed port project due to debt fears – official
Myanmar has scaled back plans for a Chinese-backed port on its western coast, sharply reducing the cost of the project after concerns it could leave the Southeast Asian nation heavily indebted, a top government official and an advisor told Reuters.
— Reuters

Flood-affected victims still need aids on Kawt-lon Island
“Our entire island was submerged. The water level has dropped by two feet now. Even though the water level has dropped, we still need food. The water won’t drop quickly. We still need aids if there is a plan to continue to support us,” Saw Myo Maung Maung, administrator of Mya-lay Village Group, told KIC News.
— BNI

Two medical staffs assigned to each flood relief center
A total of 47 flood relief camps are in operation in flood-hit Mon State and two medical staffs are assigned to each relief center, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.
— Eleven Myanmar

Ta’ang Villager Shot Dead by Masked Assailant in Hsipaw
A 44-year-old man was shot dead by a masked gunman in Hsipaw Township, last week, with no suspects in custody.
— BNI

Ministry forced to ditch ‘$1,000 in cash per tourist’ entry demand
The government reveals they have ditched the demand for tourists to possess US$1,000 in cash upon arrival, a week after the initial announcement was made, after the backlash from businesses.
— Myanmar Times

No reply from RCSS to prevent further clashes: TNLA
Even though Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) sent a formal letter to Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) to hold a meeting in order to prevent further clashes in northern Shan State, the RCSS has yet to respond, said Col. Mai Eike Kyaw, spokesperson of the TNLA.
— Eleven Myanmar

Fears grow as flooding displaces 130,000 in Myanmar
Fears that embankments could burst under fresh rains mounted Wednesday in flooded southeastern Myanmar, where more than 130,000 people have been forced from their homes and a dozen people killed.
— Mizzima

BGF beat up two KBC youth pastors in Sadon
The Border Guard Force (BGF) beat up two youth pastors with the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) in Sadon area, Kachin State on Monday (July 31) after the pastors tried to negotiate with the BGF not to destroy the homes of local residents while they were clearing the drains.
— BNI

Justice for Myanmar’s farmers
When the National League of Defence won the general elections in 2015, paving the way for Myanmar’s first non-military president in over half a century, many farmers sensed a renewed hope for the nation.
— The Asean Post

Suu Kyi to be deleted from Canadian human rights museum exhibit
References to Myanmar’s state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi are being removed from an exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg after months of public criticism of her refusal to stand against the Myanmar military’s mass expulsion and murder of Rohingyas.
— Coconuts Yangon

New Myanmar Rakhine commission denounced
A new commission set up by Myanmar to look into human rights abuses in Rakhine state has been criticised by observers on Tuesday as a “political gimmick”, as the country tries to stave off further censure over its treatment of its Rohingya Muslims.
— The Asean Post

Myanmar to allow visa-free entry for Japanese, Korean tourists
Myanmar will start granting visa-free entry to tourists from Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) in October to attract more visitors from Asia, according to Japan’s Kyodo News.
— SaigonOnline

Feature photo David Stanley

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Myanmar morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Myanmar news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Myanmar morning news for August 3 added by Maria Mirasol Rasonable on August 3, 2018
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Maria Mirasol Rasonable

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Maria Mirasol Rasonable graduated with a Bachelors Degree in journalism from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines.

She previously covered police rounds for Philippine Daily Inquirer as a trainee before becoming editorial staff at Gospel Komiks under the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA-MG), Santa Mesa, Manila where she wrote lifestyle and trending fashion and styles articles.