Myanmar morning news for December 27

Hundreds of villagers continue to flee fighting in Rakhine
More than 1,500 people across three townships in northern Rakhine State have been displaced by fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) since clashed broke out in October, according to local civil society groups.
— The Irrawaddy

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo: Lawyers outline the case for acquittal at appeal hearing
Lawyers acting for two Reuters reporters jailed for breaching the Official Secrets Act submitted seven reasons why the pair should be acquitted at an appeal hearing at Yangon Region High Court on December 24.
— Frontier Myanmar

Myanmar seized illegal trade worth over K5 billion this year
In order to fight illegal trade, Myanmar has been increasingly seizing illegally imported products through border routes.
— Myanmar Business Today

Central Bank’s intervention of buying US$34 million has impact on market
Parliament Public Accounts Committee member Than Soe (Economics) said that the intervention of the Central Bank in the market by buying US$34 million within two days at the rate of 1,570 Kyat per dollar had an impact on the market.
— Mizzima

Myanmar earns US$495 M from rice and broken rice export
Myanmar earned over US$495 million from over 1.4 million tons of rice and broken rice export from April to November in this year, according to Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
— Eleven

Myanmar forced Rohingya from their homes. Now it’s trying to make the exodus permanent.
Ethnic cleansing, phase two, confronts the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar who were victims of a brutal uprooting beginning in August 2017.
— The Washington Post (opinion)

Telenor’s 4G/LTE coverage reaches 90% of all townships in Myanmar
Telenor Myanmar has announced that its 4G/LTE network now covers more than 300 townships, which is 90% of the whole country. In September, Telenor set an ambitious goal of bringing 4G/LTE network to 300 townships by the end of the year.
— Myanmar Business Today

As clashes continue, IDPs in Rakhine State face food shortages
‘Rakhine local social organizations have provided things to those IDPs. I don’t think they will be able to provide things for next wave of IDPs,’ a social worker said.
— BNI

Territorial management and disputes main obstacles for peace process: JMC-U Secretary
Despite ethnic armed forces getting on board with the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), they are still unable to set defined territories such as ceasefire areas and controlled areas. These are the big challenges of peace process according to Joint Monitoring Committee at Union Level Secretary (1) Dr. Shwe Kharr.
— Eleven Media

Tatmadaw says it will halt operations in Shan and Kachin to resuscitate peace talks
Negotiators have expressed hope that the military’s decision to halt operations in Shan and Kachin states for four months can resuscitate deadlocked peace talks.
— Frontier Myanmar

Gunfire exchanged just three days after ceasefire statement issued
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) issued a statement saying that they fought with Tatmadaw (government troops) just three days after the Tatmadaw issued a statement saying that they would ceasefire in five regional command areas to allow peace talks.
— Mizzima

Tatmadaw’s peace overtures: Tactical military move or an offer of real olive branch?
The statement from the Tatmadaw comes after three ethnic armed groups that had previously been frozen out of the peace process – the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) – said following negotiations in China’s Yunnan Province on December 12 that they were willing to stop fighting and resolve conflicts through negotiation.
— BNI

Myanmar policeman found killed in northern Rakhine state
The bullet-riddled body of a Myanmar policeman was found in northern Rakhine state, government media said Sunday, as tensions rise in the hotspot where the Rohingya crisis erupted last year.
— The Nation

Arakanese arrested for intelligence officer’s murder, beaten in custody: friends, relatives
A member of the Arakan National Party (ANP) was arrested in Yangon on Dec. 15 in connection with the murder of a military intelligence officer and is in poor health after four days of interrogation by the Military Security Affairs Unit, according to a friend and a relative.
— The Irrawaddy

Helicopters used in Rakhine, says AA
Arakan Army (AA) and government military troops were fighting fiercely in Rakhine State and the AA said that the government military had used helicopters in attacking them.
— BNI

Analysis: four-month ceasefire prompts cautious optimism
Positive news came at the end of the year with the military’s announcement of a temporary ceasefire effective in conflict areas in the north and northeast of Myanmar which prompted notes of welcome from some ethnic leaders and observers.
— The Irrawaddy

Pa-O ethnics stage a protest in Taunggyi for justice
More than 1000 Pa-O people staged a protest over the death of five Pa-O ethnic nationals by RCSS/SSA in Loilin. These five Pa-O were allegedly killed by an attack from RCSS/SSA, prompting this protest that demanded justice for their fallen brethren as well as safe and secure lives for the rest of the people.
— Eleven Media

India, Myanmar conduct first ever military exchange programme
The effort aimed at promoting mutual trust between the defence forces of Myanmar and India is part of the latter’s strategy to counter increasing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region.
— Sputnik News

Landmines create fear among Yephyu township farmers
Afraid of stepping on mines, locals in the Tanintharyi township are opting not to harvest their areca nuts. Locals in Tanintharyi’s Yephyu Township have said they are afraid to harvest crops due to recent landmine explosions in the area.
— BNI

State Counsellor attends ground breaking ceremony of Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala)
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi attended the ground breaking ceremony of Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala) on December 24. The construction of the bridge has begun and people from Korea will be constructing the bridge.
— Eleven Media

Karen community make declaration on Salween Peace Park
The Karen community have officially opened what they call the Salween Peace Park in Karen State in order to protect the region’s environment. The park was officially opened on 18 December.
— BNI

States and Regions Laws to be amended
Mon State legislative assembly deputy speaker Dr Aung Naing Oo said the Union Parliament had a plan to amend laws enacted by States/Regions legislative assemblies and they would be amended only after collecting the opinions of local assemblies.
— BNI

Parliament passes proposal calling for development projects in least developed rural areas
Lower House of Parliament has approved the proposal calling for projects for the development of life of ethnic nationals living in undeveloped rural areas. The motion, submitted by Lower House MP Ar Moe Hsi for Khaunglanphu Constituency, was approved during a parliamentary session of Lower House held in Nay Pyi Taw on December 19.
— Eleven Media

Northern Alliance’s EAOs support Tatmadaw’s statement on ceasefire and eternal peace
The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) issued a statement on December 23, mentioning that the statement on ceasefire and eternal peace released by Tatmadaw (defence services) was totally supported as it is a crucial step toward peace process.
— Eleven Media

Plans afoot to arrest counterfeiters as govt know source of fake notes, says Zaw Htay
Authorities are trying to expose and arrest counterfeiters as they know where fake K10,000 notes come from and which numbers are fake, said President’s Office spokesperson Zaw Htay.
–Eleven Media

GA will be put under Union Government Office Ministry very soon
President Office spokesman Zaw Htay said that they had adopted policy and guidelines for shifting the General Administration (GA) Department to put it under the Union Government Office Ministry from the current Home Ministry.
— BNI

Myanmar-India Manipur business Matching Investment Conference and Exhibition held
The Indo-Myanmar Manipur Business Matching Investment Conference and Exhibition is being held at Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MRCCI), in Mandalay.
— Mizzima

Remittance from migrant workers reaches nearly K40 billion in eight months
The amount of money sent by migrant workers through legal channels has reached K39 billion during the period from January to August 2018.
— Myanmar Business Today

Average inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index increases
The average inflation rate, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased to 6.66 per cent in November from 6.34 per cent in October, according to a recent report issued by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO), under the Ministry of Planning and Finance, state media reported.
–– Mizzima

Government to raise taxes on imports
In an effort to reduce imports, the Ministry of Planning and Finance will levy more tax on imports instead of placing tax on locally produced products with high quality that can replace the imported products, according to U Soe Win, Union Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Finance
— Myanmar Business Today

LSE-listed Myanmar Strategic Holdings picks 8% stake to fully own MS English
MSH, which previously owned 92 per cent in the company, has taken over MS English, which holds the rights to the Wall Street English franchise.
— Deal Street Asia

Yoma Land to launch City Loft in StarCity in January 2019
Yoma Land has revealed details of City Loft, a new real estate offering targeting the underserved middle-income market in Yangon.
— Mizzima

Recognizing those sacrificing for political system reform move form important part for national reconciliation
Recognizing those who sacrificed their lives for changing political system form an important component for national reconciliation, said Ko Ko Gyi, Chairman of People’s Party. The remarks of Ko Ko Gyi, one of the 88 Generation political figures, came from the ceremony to commemorate the 25 anniversary of the death of former colonel Sein Mya at Dhama Piya Monastery in Thingangyun Township on December 23.
— Eleven Media

Myanmar wins award for research on biomass production
The Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University was selected among participants from 182 countries as this year’s winner of the Energy Globe Award in Japan.
— Myanmar Times

Plugging the service gap in Kayin State
Scholarships funded by a foundation with historic links to Myanmar have been turning dreams into reality for deserving students for 25 years.
— Frontier Myanmar

Authorities plan to reduce teak and hardwood production in 2019-20 FY
Authorities are planning to reduce teak and hardwood production by 2019-20 FY, said Ohn Win, Union Minister for Resource and Environmental Conservation on December 21. The union minister said the respective state and region governments should provide help to establish plantations in state owned land plots. All state and region governments need to supervise to ensure that laws, by-laws and rules and regulations are followed.
— Eleven Media

Past-expiry date medicines abundant in Myanmar: Union Minister for Health and Sports
Union Minister for Health and Sports said that there are many expired medicines in Myanmar at the ceremony of opening a clinic at the Ayeyar Express car gate in Hlaing Tharyar Township on December 23.
— Eleven Media

On a quest to take Myanmar’s film industry to new heights
Few people would have thought it likely that a young IT technician working in Singapore would turn out to be one of the driving forces in Myanmar’s film industry today. But this is exactly what happened to famed local director ArKar
— The Myanmar Times

Yangon celebrates Christmas for the second time
The second Yangon City Christmas is underway in Yangon from December 23rd to 25th . It will be held at seven places in Yangon.
— Eleven Media

Many vocalists to perform in Pyin Oo Lwin flower festival on X’mas Day
Many vocalists including Zaw Paing, Bo Phyu, Aung Htet, Pho Pyae, Irin Zin Mar Myint, Lane Maw Thi, Jewel and Chan Myae Maung Cho will entertain at the Pyin Oo Lwin flower festival on Christmas Day.
— Eleven Media

Highway to hell: the degradation of the Yangon-Pathein road
The mismanagement of the Yangon-Pathein highway has raised questions about build-operate-transfer contracts awarded to private companies by the former junta.
— Frontier Myanmar

Ministry of Health and Sports to build more staff housings in 2019
Ministry of Health and Sports is planning to build more staff housings in 2019, sources said. At the present, the ministry is building over 830 staff housings in 2018-19 FY for the government employees under the ministry. T
— Eleven Media

Free clinic opens at Dagon Ayeya Highway Bus Terminal
The Ministry of Health and Sports has opened a clinic in the compound of Dagon Ayeya Highway Bus Terminal in Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon Region, to provide healthcare services for passengers and transfer emergency patients to hospitals.
— Eleven Media

‘Only thanks to my AIDS this project exists’
When Eric Trutwein discovered two decades ago that he was HIV positive, he returned to his Magway Region hometown to die. But his health improved, and he has built a new life through a guesthouse and a school for orphans.
— Frontier Myanmar

Scrutiny for Myanmar Academy Awards 2018 to take 3 months
Scrutiny for Myanmar Academy Awards 2018 that started in the second week of this month will take about three months, said Aye Kyu Lay, secretary of the Academy award scrutiny board.
— Eleven Media

Concerts to be organized in major cities on New Year Eve
Music concerts will be organized in major cities of Myanmar including Yangon and Mandalay on the night of New Year Eve with performances from top vocalists and bands.
— Eleven Media

Messages of hope and despair
Hope, peace and despair were among the themes explored when Myanmar and foreign artists gathered in Yangon for the country’s second international performance art festival.
— Frontier Myanmar

Feature photo Human Rights Watch

This week’s morning news photo features a defining moment, event, or situation from 2018 for each country as chosen by our editors.

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 26 added by Mark Roy on December 26, 2018
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Mark Roy

With a decade of experience as an editor and journalist, Roy has edited mastheads across Australia and Southeast Asia, from the remote island communities of the Torres Strait to Cambodia’s only award-winning newspaper, The Phnom Penh Post.

A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.