ASEAN may hold key to Rakhine crisis
At the end of the 33rd ASEAN summit in Singapore on November 15, Singapore formally handed over the symbolic gavel of ASEAN chairmanship to Thailand, which it last held in 2009. The one-year rotating term will officially begin on January 1.
— The Myanmar Times
Myanmar’s tourism slump
Faced with dwindling tourist numbers from the West, Myanmar is pulling out all stops to woo visitors closer to home. It has relaxed visa rules to visitors from China, South Korea and Japan and aims to bring about half a million of them over to Mandalay this year.
— The Asean Post
Watch the Mon artisans of Bilu Kyun make rubber bands and other handicrafts (video)
Ever wondered how rubber bands are made? Quite likely not, but by now (hopefully) we’ve sparked your curiosity.
— AEC News Today
Work on Muse-Ruili Economic Cooperation Zone to begin soon
The first of three projected economic zones along the Myanmar-China border will be implemented soon between Shan State’s Muse and China’s Ruili, Deputy Commerce Minister U Aung Htoo said.
— The Irrawaddy
Enter the dragon
The Myanmar government needs to ensure that mega Chinese investment projects truly serve the national interest.
— Frontier Myanmar
The artery of Yangon
Ambitious plans are being made for a pipeline in Yangon that plays a vital role in the communities through which it passes, and not only because it carries water.
— Frontier Myanmar
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi calls for peace in speech which avoids mention of Rohingya crisis
Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is facing international criticism over her country’s crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, called on Saturday (Dec 1) for “a culture of peace” to end conflict between communities.
— The Straits Times
Telenor seeks answers over Rakhine telecom tower snipers report
Telenor Myanmar says it is seeking talks with the authorities over a Rohingya news agency’s report that troops used one of its telecoms towers to shoot civilians during the Tatmadaw’s clearance operation in Rakhine State last year.
— Frontier Myanmar
Suu Kyi to be stripped of freedom of Paris award: mayor’s office
Paris city will strip Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary freedom of the French capital over her failure to speak out against a crackdown on Myanmar’s Rohingya minority, a mayor’s spokeswoman said Friday.
— Mizzima
Myanmar ex-dictator meets allied Pa-O militia leaders
Former military dictator U Than Shwe took a rare break from private life on Wednesday to meet with ethnic Pa-O leaders at his home in Naypyitaw, where he urged them to abandon their old faith in karma and devote themselves to building roads and educating their children.
— The Irrawaddy
Upper House passes bill increasing penalty for child-rape cases
The Upper House of Parliament on Friday approved a bill amending the Penal Code to provide for 20-year and life imprisonment sentences in cases of rape in which the victim is less than 12 years of age.
— The Irrawaddy
Details of alleged bribery heard in Yangon judicial corruption case
Plaintiff U Moe Naing of the Anti-Corruption Commission gave a detailed account at the Yangon Region High Court on Friday of how former Yangon advocate general U Han Htoo and four other defendants had accepted bribes before dropping a case against the alleged murderers of popular comedian Aung Yell Htwe.
— Frontier Myanmar
Further defence witnesses left to be examined in Advocate Ko Ni murder case
The trial of the advocate Ko Ni murder case needs to examine defence witnesses Pol. Col. Win Min Thein and 21 more witnesses. The trial has been underway for nearly two years.
— Mizzima
Police witness in U Ko Ni murder trial skips hearing again
A police colonel and key witness in the murder trial of prominent lawyer U Ko Ni failed to appear at a court hearing on Thursday. U Ko Ni, who was a legal adviser to the ruling National League for Democracy, was gunned down outside Yangon International Airport in January 2017.
— The Irrawaddy
Two bombers using M 150 energy drink bottles given lengthy prison terms
Two men who used M 150 energy bottles filled with chemicals to cause explosions in November 2016 at the Yangon South Dagon Myothit Immigration Office, Capital Hypermarket and an oil pipeline were given lengthy prison sentences Thursday.
— Mizzima
Border trade increases by over $ 200 million
From October 1 to November 23 of 2018-2019 fiscal year, the total border trade hit US$ 1229.143 million, up US$ 204.844 million compared with the same period last year, according to the Commerce Ministry.
— Eleven Media
Gov’t is trying every possible ways to make the country get out of debt: Minister
Myanmar is still mired in debt, and the government is trying every possible ways to make the country get out of debt, said Soe Win, Union Minister for Planning and Finance, at Myanmar Commerce Fair-2018 in Yangon on December 1.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar exports over 215,000 cattle in two years
More than 215,000 head of cattle worth US$261.26 million (K413.77 billion) have been exported in the past two years, a senior Commerce Ministry official said.
— The Myanmar Times
Hlawgar power plant to get upgrades
Ministry of Electricity and Energy will upgrade Hlawgar power plant before the summer of 2019. Upon completion, the power plant can generate an additional 336,000 kilowatt-hours a day
— Eleven Media
Sweden contributes $43 Million to UNOPS-managed access to Health Fund in Myanmar
Although healthcare has improved in Myanmar in recent years, the most vulnerable people still lack basic maternity and child healthcare, as well as healthcare for tuberculosis, HIV and malaria.
— Relief Web
Nepal, Myanmar sign trade, investment agreement
Nepal and Myanmar have inked a pact on trade and investment today. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Kyaw Tin, minister for International Trade and Cooperation of Myanmar signed the agreement in the presence of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, who is in Kathmandu to participate in the ongoing Asia Pacific Summit.
— The Himalaya Times
Suu Kyi stresses trade relations and investment on Nepal visit
During a visit to the Nepal Chamber Expo-2018 in Kathmandu, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi stressed the importance of trade between the two countries and talked about the opportunity of investing and doing business in Myanmar.
— Mizzima
Construction sites struggle as skilled workers head overseas
Daw Hay Mar, a trader, can only shake her head when talking about the high expenses she incurred in constructing a storage building and workers quarters because of poor workmanship.
— The Myanmar Times
Memories bets on tourist boom in Myanmar
The group targets growth by augmenting its asset base and increasing income streams through the acquisition of good properties
— The Business Times
City Hall lit in orange
The UN Women backed ‘awareness of violence against women’ campaign kicked off in Myanmar with the symbolic changing of light bulbs at Yangon city hall to a glowing orange in order to show public recognition of the world-wide problem.
— The Myanmar Times
Religion Ministry defends minister after labeling unnamed faith ‘extreme’
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture has asked the public for a “tolerant interpretation” of the minister’s recent remarks after he appeared to refer to Islam as an “extreme” religion putting Myanmar’s majority Buddhists in danger.
— The Irrawaddy
Care to explain? Minister of Religious Affairs’ remarks criticized for racist overtones
An Islamic scholar has fired back after Thura Oo Aung, Myanmar’s minister of Religious Affairs and Culture, made remarks widely perceived as racist at the recent funeral of controversial monk U Thuzana, a figure known for stoking religious tensions between Muslims and Buddhists.
— Coconuts Yangon
Trade in Muse trade center ice cold for two months
Transaction activities in Muse border trade center had stopped for two months now, according to Ministry of Commerce. Myanmar earned US$537 million from Muse border trade center from October 21 to November 23 in 2018-19 FY and it earned over US$733 million in the same period during the last fiscal year.
— Eleven Media
Illegal goods still being smuggled to Bangladesh
Smugglers are still thriving on getting narcotics and other goods across to Bangladesh despite tightened security in border areas and constant arrests, according to police reports.
— Eleven Media
ZTE Myanmar sees a shift towards fixed broadband, 5G infrastructure in next two to three years
Yan Xiao, Vice President of ZTE Corporation, CEO of ZTE Myanmar, believes the next two years will mark a crucial turning point for the country’s telecommunications industry. Driven by demand for high-quality video content, competition will intensify, forcing the sector to upgrade and innovate to keep up with the pace of change.
— The Myanmar Times
Responsible tourism awards night set for December 11
The country’s leading tour operators, accommodation options and tourism innovators will be revealed at the Myanmar Responsible Tourism Awards on December 11, organisers have announced.
— Frontier Myanmar
Myanmar seeks to attract investors in upcoming Invest Myanmar Summit 2019
With over 800 targeted participants, Invest Myanmar Summit 2019 is a perfect opportunity to build your business network by meeting key influencers and decision makers.
— Mizzima
Exhibition for Rakhine and Chin traditional textiles
Hakha Township in Chin State is normally a sleepy place, nestled away in the hills and away from city bustle, but for a short time this weekend it is going to be hosting the “Debroke Flower/A Hen and Her Chicks” Rakhine and Chin traditional textile exhibition at the Chin Cultural Museum (Van Hre Villa).
— The Myanmar Times
Mon State govt to fund Mon National Day celebrations
The Mon State government will provide 50 million kyats (US$31,300) for the upcoming 72nd Mon National Day commemoration in early 2019, officials said.
— BNI
Union Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung inspects homes, roads in Rakhine State
Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung met with Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu in Sittway on 29 November and coordinated matters relating to regional development, human resources development, as well as road, bridge and low-cost housing construction works.
— Ministry of Information
Sanitary landfill project under way at Hteinpin dumpsite
The sanitary landfill project will be implemented at Hteinpin dumpsite in Hlaingtharyar Township in Yangon, with the use of Fukuoka Method, according to Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe’s facebook.
— Eleven Media
Water samples of Thanzit River to be tested at two laboratories in line with ASEAN manual
Water samples of the Thanzit River in Rakhine State will be tested at two laboratories in line with ASEAN Marine Water Quality Management Guidelines and Monitoring Manual to measure water pollution of the river, said Dr Ye Myint Swe, deputy minister for natural resources and environmental conservation.
— Eleven Media
iMyanmarHouse.com introduces online applications for home loans
Online applications are now available to seek home loans and there have been over 100 applicants within days after iMyanmarHouse.com announced online application.
— Eleven Media
Bangladeshi police rescue 10 Rohingya bound for Malaysia
Bangladeshi police rescued 10 Rohingya refugees, including six women, and arrested a suspected human trafficker who was about to take them by boat to Malaysia, officials said Friday.
— Radio Free Asia
Little trust, little hope for Myanmar’s faltering peace try
When Karen National Union (KNU) representatives held an emergency meeting earlier this month at their jungle headquarters along the Thai-Myanmar border, the ethnic group’s leaders weighed their continued participation in the government’s peace process.
— Asia Times
Kachin refugees seek warm winter clothing
Warm clothes and food are urgently needed for Kachin refugees as biting cold weather sweeps the country’s north, especially for the more than 40,000 displaced people in makeshift camps in areas controlled by the Kachin Independence Army, aid workers said.
— The Myanmar Times
How to revive Myanmar’s peace process
Myanmar’s two largest armed ethnic groups to have signed the government’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) – the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) – have suspended participation in the country’s peace talks.
— The Myanmar Times
What Myanmar must do before taking back a single refugee
he governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar’s plans to start repatriating Rohingya refugees from the Cox’s Bazar area ran into difficulty when not a single Rohingya volunteered to return.
— CNN
Meet the Swiss woman charged with bringing peace to Myanmar
How do you help a country from which nearly a million people have fled, where the government is divided between civilians and soldiers, and where top people are accused of genocide? This is the task facing Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland.
— Swiss Info
Rohingya Repatriation: ‘Do the right thing’, Bangladesh writes to Myanmar
Following the November 15 failed attempt to begin the Rohingya repatriation process, Bangladesh has communicated with Myanmar to reiterate the concerns of the refugees on Sunday.
— Dhaka Tribune
The Kachin IDP crisis: Myanmar’s other humanitarian disaster
As the world’s attention focuses on the Rohingya, the Myanmar army stands accused of targeting another group in Kachin.
— Al Jazeera
Lost idol: New wave of Myanmar youth activists look beyond Aung San Suu Kyi
Myanmar youth activist and television host Thinzar Shun Lei Yi would once have called herself one of Aung San Suu Kyi’s greatest fans. Now, she is one of her most vocal critics.
— The Peninsular Qatar
Uniting ethnic Karen armed groups 90 per cent successful
Karen State Border Guard Force General Secretary Col. Saw Chit Thu said that they were about 90 per cent successful in their negotiations for reuniting ethnic Karen armed splinter groups.
— Mizzima
Hilton Myanmar wins award from AmCham
Hilton in Myanmar has been recognized once again for its continued commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) at the recent 2018 AMCHAM CSR Excellence Awards.
— Mizzima
Ludu Daw Amar: Speaking truth to power
As the 103rd anniversary of Ludu Daw Amar’s birth was yesterday, The Irrawaddy revisits this story from October 2002 about the journalist’s life.
— The Irrawaddy
A Myanmar general kicked off Facebook can still glorify military at grandiose museum
In the colossal museum built by Myanmar’s military to honour itself, the General barred from Facebook has his face up everywhere. His portrait graces the cavernous entrance hall of the museum, with its soaring ceilings and marble floors.
— Today Online
Myanmar needs a First Amendment
It is difficult for journalists in Myanmar to imagine the freedom of expression that our American counterparts enjoy under the US Constitution.
— Frontier Myanmar
A brief commentary on Burma’s/Myanmar’s civil war
This brief analysis is written, because Burma’s long civil war has become an enigma for historians, journalists, academics and especially peace brokers, who based their study and analyses mainly on propaganda of those in power and politically motivated writings during the Cold War.
— BNI
Mawlamyine by the old Moulmein Pagoda
Many people know the name ‘Moulmein’ from the poem ‘Mandalay’ by Rudyard Kipling. Looking over the town from the ‘old Moulmein Pagoda’, the young bard of the British Empire depicts an English soldier being seduced by the “tinkly temple-bells” and pining for a “neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land”.
— The Myanmar Times
Feature photo UNHCR/Roger Arnold
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, December 5.
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 3 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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