Point of No Return
Having fled waves of violence, more than 900,000 members of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority now languish in refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh. A Reuters investigation has found the Myanmar government is taking steps that threaten to make the purge of the Rohingya permanent.
— Reuters
Myanmar peace crucial for China’s security
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army jointly issued a declaration on December 12, claiming that in support of Myanmar government’s efforts to achieve national reconciliation and peace, they were willing to join hands with the government to solve military conflicts and political issues through dialogue.
— The Global Times
International organisations continue to withdraw honours from Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi
For many years, Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was the darling of the international community, lauded by global organisations and political leaders for her decades-long struggle to bring democracy and reform to the country.
— Channel News Asia
Special Report: Myanmar’s moves could mean the Rohingya never go home
Myanmar’s leaders are promising to bring home hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled a brutal military crackdown. But the government, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is taking steps that make their return increasingly unlikely.
— Reuters
Clashes Between Arakan Army And Myanmar Troops Force Villagers to Flee Homes in Buthidaung
Intensified fighting between an ethnic armed group and Myanmar forces in northern Rakhine state has driven more than 300 villagers in Buthidaung district to flee to safety, causing further upheaval in one of the areas affected by a violent crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, a local village head said Friday.
— Radio Free Asia
Insein Prison official denies riot rumors
A prison official confirmed to the Daily Eleven on December 17 that the rumours spread around in social media about Insein prison riot are false.
— Eleven Media
Little hope for land returns despite President’s order to give back seized land in Mon State
There is no hope of for land returns as the staff and supervisors on ground are weak in implementing the guidelines of the President, who directed authorities to return seized land, when he arrived in Mon State, according to the state-based civil society organizations.
— Eleven Media
WY ecstasy tablets worth over 200 million kyats seized in Maungdaw Township
The Myanmar Police Force said that it had seized 1,140,000 WY ecstasy tablets worth 228,000,000 million kyats, hidden in Ma Ma instant noodle cartoons in a room in the municipal market, Myoma West Ward, Maungdaw township.
— The Irrawaddy News
Kachin bridge collapse cuts key route for China trade
A Bridge on Myanmar’s border with China collapsed last Friday as a convoy of trucks loaded with rare earth mineral ore crossed, sending one vehicle plunging into the Ayeyarwady River and cutting off a key trade route between the two countries.
— The Myanmar Times
Treatment and rehabilitation works to increase in lieu of punishment
According to the new amendments to drug laws, addicts will no longer be taken penal action against and as a result, there may be increase in treatment and rehabilitation works.
— Eleven Media
Secretary-General of Asean visits Taungpyo Letwei
Secretary-General of Asean Mr. Lim Jock Hoi and party visited reception centers in Taungpyo Letwei on December 17 morning.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar appeals to the EU to reconsider GSP withdrawal
Myanmar appealed to the European Union (EU) not to withdraw the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) rights granted to garment and fishery industries in Myanmar as tens and thousands of workers may lose their jobs, sources said.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar to export about 5,000 ampoules of anti-venom this fiscal year
Myanmar is coordinating plans to export about 5,000 ampoules of anti-venom in the current 2018-2019 fiscal year while efforts are being made to produce up to 200,000 or 300,000 ampoules yearly depending on local and foreign demand, said Khin Maung Cho, Union Minister for Industry.
— Eleven Media
Govt coordinating with military to lay out federal plan next year
The Myanmar government is coordinating with the military to present the federal system it has accepted in 2019, said Dr Min Zaw Oo, executive director of Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar Couple, Children Murdered in Thailand
Thai police are searching for three suspects who were seen arguing with the couple over a cow the night of the attack, said U Zayar, a community volunteer.
— The Irrawaddy News
Peace Process Will Remain in Deadlock if Single Army Issue Cannot Be Resolved
The issue of establishing a single army will remain an obstacle to the ongoing peace process as long as the stakeholders of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) and the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) both hold their positions on the current conditions of the agreement, according to peace observers and stakeholders.
— The Irrawaddy News
Government asked to ratify the 1990 migrant workers treaty
A Labour rights network has urged the government to ratify the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers as part of International Migrants Day today.
— The Myanmar Times
Ministry launches seeds website to boost farmers’ productivity
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has launched the Myanmar Seed Portal, which aims to help farmers access information about seeds with the help of foreign experts.
— The Myanmar Times
Education chief warns about padded pay cheques
Education Minister U Myo Thein Gyi warned education officials throughout the country not to claim expenses other than their salaries in their pay cheques.
— The Myanmar Times
Organisations appeal against withdrawal of trade favour by the EU
In a joint statement released yesterday, businesses and trade unions appealed against the withdrawal of the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) currently enjoyed by Myanmar.
— The Myanmar Times
Parliament Approves $94M Loan From Korea For Govt Data Center
Myanmar’s Union Parliament has approved a $93.8-million loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea to help pay for the construction of a centralized e-government data center.
— The Irrawaddy News
Armed Group, Locals Report Myanmar Air Force Attack in Rakhine
The Myanmar military’s air force attacked positions held by the Arakan Army in northern Rakhine State’s Kyauktaw Township on Tuesday, according to locals and the armed group.
— The Irrawaddy News
Award-winning director calls on men to prevent violence against women
Sein Lyan Tun, the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Forever White Ribbon Film Festival 2018, has called on men to be become involved in the movement to prevent violence against women.
— The Irrawaddy News
Inflation spikes ahead of Central Bank’s rate liberalisation plans
Inflation in Myanmar has hit a two-year high of 8.2 percent since August, up from 5.5pc last year as a result of a steep drop in the value of the local currency against the US dollar, rising food prices and a recent spike in global oil prices, according to the World Bank.
— The Myanmar Times
Govt approves 35 small-scale projects for Rakhine
The government has approved 35 projects to be carried out by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Rakhine State, the agencies said in a statement.
— The Myanmar Times
Myanmar Enacting Trademark Law as Part of New Framework
Military-run Myanmar is on the cusp of enacting its first trademark law. The Southeast Asian country has been developing a government framework since the ruling junta allowed democratic elections in 2015. The trademark bill, which has been approved by both houses of the country’s Parliament, now moves to President Win Myint for his signature.
— Bloomberg Law
Myanmar onto new mineralised system
ust weeks after finding mineralisation in an area previously thought to be waste material at its flagship Bawdwin project in central Myanmar, Myanmar Metals has now discovered yet another new mineralised system to be known as the Yegon Ridge lode.
— The West Australian
APAC Digest: NZ-based LearnCoach gets $1.5m; Myanmar’s Greenovator bags grant
Greenovator, a Myanmar-based agri-mobile platform that helps farmers improve agricultural output and income, has raised a six-digit funding from the GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund backed by UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Australian Government, according to an announcement.
— Deal Street Asia
Foreign remittances hit over K73b in two months
Foreign remittances by 1.5 million Myanmar nationals working abroad totalled K73 billion (US$46.02 million) in July and August, according to the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
— The Myanmar Times
Historic documents to be shown in Nay Pyi Taw for two days
History buffs will get a chance to see historic documents, including the Maha Bandoola palm leaf writing and the Yandabo treaty, at a rare exhibit at the Myanmar International Convention Centre on Thursday and Friday.
— The Myanmar Times
Monywa holds 16-day activism for Elimination of Violence against Women
Sixteen days of activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women was held in Monywa, Monywa District, Sagaing Region, on December 9.
— Eleven Media
Shwe Kyun Thar island resort to open
Shwe Kyun Thar Resort, situated in the middle of Ayeyawaddy River in Seibin Kyun village, Kyauk Myaung Township in Sagain Region, will be opened on December 31, according to Sagaing Region tourism development committee.
— Eleven Media
Looking to cruise ships to boost tourism
Dancers wearing the eight major ethnic costumes of Myanmar stood on the dock unmindful of the sweltering humidity and the hustle and bustle of the Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa one recent evening.
— The Myanmar Times
Inspiring women of Myanmar
When it comes to women’s empowerment, all speakers at the Inspiring Women of Myanmar, a forum held recently at the Yangon University’s Arts Hall, stressed the importance of education and technology.
— The Myanmar Times
Episode 56: A Yangon housing dispute
This week, Doh Athan meets the residents of a housing estate in northern Yangon that is at the forefront of a dispute related to the land on which the project was built.
— Frontier Myanmar
Wild waters: Pyin Oo Lwin
For the fifth installment in our travel series focused on wild swimming spots, we explore canopy shrouded streams, trek through the jungle to giant waterfalls and profile one jaw-dropping spot that remains off limits due to conflict.
— Frontier Myanmar
Feature photo Thierry Falise/ILO
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges International Human Solidarity Day, December 17.
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 December 19 added by Mark Roy on
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A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.
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