Myanmar police shoot, injure four in raid on Rohingya camp: witness
Myanmar police shot and injured four Rohingya Muslims on Sunday, after detaining two men accused of smuggling people out of a camp for displaced people in western Rakhine state, a witness and police told Reuters.
— Reuters
Authorities stop boat with more than 100 Rohingya near Yangon
More than 100 Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine State have been detained after Myanmar authorities intercepted a boat near Yangon on Friday.
— Frontier Myanmar
Germany commits 34.5 million EUR in development cooperation
Myanmar and Germany have concluded their bilateral government- to government talks on development cooperation in Nay Pyi Taw.
— mizzima.com
Myanmar authorities detain Rohingya rescued from boat headed to Malaysia
Myanmar authorities on Friday rescued and detained more than 100 Rohingya Muslims from displacement camps in Rakhine state who were stranded at sea as they attempted to reach Malaysia, a police official said.
— Radio Free Asia
Over 100 Bengalis from Sittwe arrested in Yangon as they tried to go to Thailand by boat
More than 100 Bengalis from Nazi refugee camp in Sittwe, Rakhine State, were arrested in Kyauktan Townshp, Yangon Region, as they went to Thailand in a boat, said Lower House MP Aye Mya Mya Myo for the township constituency.
— Eleven Media
Security forces destroy hand-made bomb in Taunggyi
The security forces could safely destroyed a hand-made bomb planted in an attache case on Bogyoke Aung San Street in the front of Taunggyi Myoma Market in Shan State yesterday.
— Eleven Media
Call for independent probe as UNGA adopts resolution
The third committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which deals with issues related to human rights and humanitarian affairs, has unanimously passed a draft resolution, condemning all rights violations in Myanmar and called for an independent investigation into them, including against Rohingya Muslims, to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
— The Independent
Myanmar blames Bangladesh for repatriation failure
Myanmar yesterday accused the Bangladesh government of failing to repatriate the first batch of over 2000 refugees to northern Rakhine State.
— Myanmar Times
UN condemns rights abuses in Myanmar
A key United Nations committee endorsed a resolution on Friday expressing “grave concern” and “strongly condemning” all violations and abuses of human rights against Rohingyas in Myanmar.
— The Daily Star
China offers Myanmar support over Rohingya issue after US rebuke
China supports the Myanmar government’s efforts to protect domestic stability and approach to resolving the Rohingya issue, Premier Li Keqiang told the country’s leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, after US Vice President Mike Pence offered a strong rebuke.
— The Irrawaddy
Premier Li: China supports Myanmar in following path that suits itself
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China values highly ties with Myanmar and supports it to follow a development path that tallies with its own national conditions.
— mizzima.com
Aung San Suu Kyi discusses bilateral ties with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang
Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, who has been in Singapore to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, discussed matters relating to bilateral relations and cooperation with Li Keqiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the Suntec Expo Convention Centre on November 15.
— Eleven Media
New Zealand to support Suu Kyi in finding resolutions to Rakhine issues
New Zealand’s prime minister offered to assist Myanmar’s state counselor’s efforts in finding resolutions to the Rohingya crisis during a bilateral meeting held during the ASEAN Summit in Singapore this week.
— The Irrawaddy
MPC meets Yangon govt representatives over complaint against three Weekly Eleven journalists
Myanmar Press Council (MPC) met with representatives from the Yangon Region government regarding its complaint against three journalists from Weekly Eleven Journal including the chief editor at the council office in Botahtaung Township on November 15.
— Eleven Media
Minister claims refugee returnees intimidated by ARSA
Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Win Myat Aye has claimed the Rohingya who want to return to Myanmar are being discouraged by threats from affiliates of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
— The Irrawaddy
No refugees cross into Myanmar under return deal: official
Not one Rohingya refugee crossed back into Myanmar from Bangladesh on Thursday under a disputed repatriation programme, officials said, with Yangon blaming Dhaka for bungling efforts to start returning the stateless minority.
— mizzima.com
Poachers kill 15 wild elephants in first 9 months, say officials
Fifteen wild elephants were killed by poachers from January to September this year, while five others died of natural causes, the Nature Wildlife Conservation Department said.
— Myanmar Times
Nearly 1.6 million stimulant tablets seized in Insein
Nearly 1,600,000 stimulant tablets were seized stored in a car in a new ware house on Kantkaw Road in Myothit Ward-8 in Insein Township on the evening of November 17, according to Yangon North District Police Force.
— Eleven Media
Gold worth Rs. 3 crore smuggled in from Myanmar; man arrested in Bengal
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized gold worth Rs. 3 crore (US $417,915) which was smuggled into India from Myanmar, an official statement said Sunday.
— NDTV
Public warned about fake Chinese monks roaming Yangon
A senior monk has urged people to inform the authorities about any fake monks who seek donations and sell beads in Yangon.
— Myanmar Times
Most of the fishing boats in Myeik archipelago are not obeyed laws: Taninthayi chief
Most fishing boats in Myeik archipelago are not obeying laws and fishery department needs to educate people widely in the area, said Dr Le Le Maw, Chief Minister for Taninthayi Region.
— Eleven Media
Court continues recording statement by prosecutor in Han Htoo and four case
Yangon Region High Court passed an interim order to continue recording of statement given by prosecutor in the case of former Advocate General Han Htoo and four others in which comedian Aung Ye Htwe was murdered.
— mizzima.com
Chin state woman detained in Mizoram rejects accusations of theft
A woman from Chin State charged with illegal entry to India in the border state of Mizoram says that she left Burma fearing for her personal security—others say it was to avoid paying a debt.
— BNI
MMA star Aung La N Sang to help fight illegal wildlife trade
Aung La N Sang, the most celebrated cage fighter in Myanmar’s history, has been appointed by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Myanmar as its ambassador for fighting wildlife crime.
— The Irrawaddy
Rohingya say prayers of thanks after repatriation halted
Rohingya Muslims living in Bangladeshi refugee camps gave prayers of thanks Friday after threatened repatriations back to Myanmar were halted.
— mizzima.com
Rohingya being ‘bullied’ into not returning, minister insists after none show up for repatriation
The repatriation of an estimated 720,000 Rohingya who fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh amid a brutal military crackdown was to have begun yesterday. Not even one turned up at the border transit point.
— Coconuts Yangon
International leaders ask about Myanmar govt’s handling on Bengali repatriation process
The international government leaders raised questions refereeing to Myanmar government at the 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits how to address Bengali repatriation issue, according to ASEAN Summit community.
— Eleven Media
Leaked data on persecuted minorities like Rohingyas dangerous in wrong hands
Data that could hint at one ethnic minority group resenting another — for instance, in Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis — could prove dangerous in the wrong hands, said Lindsey Jones, a researcher with the London-based Overseas Development Institute.
— The Daily Star
Tourists’ arrival increases in 2018
Over 2.84 million tourists visited Myanmar till at the end of October 2018 and the number of tourists’ arrival in that period is increased a little more than one per cent of the tourists’ arrival in the same period last year, according to Ministry of Hotel and Tourism.
— Eleven Media
Wind energy feasibility studies conducted in nine places
Wind energy feasibility studies have been conducted in three regions and six states, said Dr. Tun Naing, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy.
— Eleven Media
Only three sectors see improvements
Myanmar sees reforms in three sectors—Business launching, the issuance of construction permit and the power supply sector, said Aung Htoo, Deputy Minister for Commerce.
— Eleven Media
RCSS and gov’t peace negotiators hold informal meetings in Chiang Mai
Government peace negotiators and representatives of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) met informally in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand on Friday as part of a series of informal peace talks led by the government …
— The Irrawaddy
Myanmar to export farm fish, prawns to EU countries as of December
Myanmar has been allowed to export farm fish and prawns to European Union countries beginning from December this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.
— Eleven Media
US$24m loan to fund Myawady development
Myanmar will use a US$24.3 million (K38.7 trillion) loan from Thailand to help develop Myawady in Kayin State as a hub of border trade in the East-West Economic Corridor of the Greater Mekong sub-region.
— Myanmar Times
$24.3m NEDA loan to be sought for town development in East-West Economic Corridor of GMS
Relevant union level organizations submitted in Union Parliament a matter of seeking a loan of US$24.3 million from NEDA (Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency) to implement a development project in the towns along the East-West Economic Corridor of the Greater Mekong Sub-region by the Construction Ministry and Katyin State government.
— Eleven Media
Trade volume hits over $ 18.3 billion in mini budget
During the mini budget period from April to September this year, the total trade volume reached US$ 18.3 billion, said Vice-President-1 Myint Swe, at a regular meeting with local entrepreneurs, at Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (headquarters) in Yangon on November 17.
— Eleven Media
Construction ministry receives 12 bids for Yangon elevated expressway
The Ministry of Construction announced on Thursday that it had received 12 applications to build an elevated ring road around Yangon through a public-private partnership, which sources previously said could require as much as US$1.5 billion in private investment.
— Frontier Myanmar
12 companies submit prequalification applications for Yangon Elevated Expressway Phase-1 project
Construction Ministry yesterday released the list of 12 companies which submitted prequalification application for Yangon Elevated Expressway Phase-1 project which will be developed under a Private-Public Partnership by the Construction Ministry and Yangon Region Government.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar Shipyards repairs five vessles and builds one
Myanmar Shipyards is currently repairing five vesssels and building one for Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems, said General Manager Kyaw Kyaw from Myanma Shipyards Dong A joint-ventured company limited.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar earns US$440 M from rice export
Myanmar is exported over US$440 million worth of about 1.3 million tons of rice and broken rice to 43 countries from April to early November in this fiscal year, according to Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
— Eleven Media
Life in Northern Shan State disrupted by intensified armed conflict
Civil society organizations, political parties, and armed groups have said that armed conflict is increasing in northern Shan State, and has been on the rise since the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015.
— BNI
Military announces sudden change in Mon State officials
A state minister of security and border affairs and a member of parliament in Mon State have been replaced, the Tatmadaw (military) announced on Wednesday.
— Myanmar Times
Mon state parliament calls emergency meeting to fill military seats
Two vacant MP positions—including the security and border affairs minister—are expected to be appointed.
— BNI
Jade sales hit over K48 billion
The sales of jade stones reached K48298.49 million at the jade sale festival that took place at Maniyadana Jade Hall in Nay Pyi Taw from November 12 to 17, according to a statement by the Gem and Jade Sale Working Committee.
— Eleven Media
Lack of constructive ideas on display at Pence, Suu Kyi meeting
Remarks about Rohingya refugees by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of this week’s ASEAN summit in Singapore have caused a stir in Myanmar.
— The Irrawaddy
Trump’s double standard on media
The Trump administration on Wednesday spoke out forcefully against efforts by China and Myanmar to punish news reporters and political dissidents.
— Myanmar Times
People’s Party to align with ethnic political parties
U Ko Ko Gyi, one of the leaders of the newly established People’s Party, said the party will align itself with ethnic political parties as its partnership policy.
— The Irrawaddy
Pence says White House media spat incomparable with Myanmar jailings
US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday said there were no double standards at play when he criticised Myanmar for jailing two Reuters journalists, given the White House’s own combative relationship with Washington media.
— mizzima.com
Mineral Development Bank to provide loans to gems, mineral SMEs
Myanmar yesterday opened the first Mineral Development Bank (MDB) to provide banking services to small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the gems and mineral sector.
— Myanmar Times
Yangon CM says region economy run by over 30,000 MSME businessmen
Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein said that there were over 30,000 businesses of Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) registered as business entities in the Yangon Region and they run the region’s economy.
— mizzima.com
Ayeyawady accounts for 52 pc of total outstanding farm loans
Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank (MADB) is unable to collect 52 per cent of outstanding agricultural loans, according to the Ayeyawady Region Government.
— Eleven Media
Illicit imports threaten Myanmar’s e-commerce players
The commerce ministry committed to developing the country’s nascent e-commerce sector as a means to boost trade and create jobs, but the lack of infrastructure and rampant illicit trade pose a serious threat to the emerging industry.
— Myanmar Times
KBZ Bank and Denko Trading top domestic tax payers list
Kanbawza Bank also known as KBZ Bank and Denko Trading Co. Ltd topped the list of top income tax payers list and top commercial tax payers list respectively, according to Internal Revenue Department.
— Eleven Media
Hotel investments continue to rise despite lower tourist arrivals
Singapore-listed company Memories Group Ltd yesterday launched three new hotels in Myanmar, located in Mawlamyaing, Yangon and Mergui, respectively, even as tourist numbers dip and occupancy rates fall across the country.
— Myanmar Times
Moattama Gas Transportation and Telenor Myanmar top foreign tax payers list
Government announced top foreign tax payers list for 2017-18 FY and Moattama Gas Transportation Co. Ltd and Telenor Myanmar Ltd topped the list of top income tax payers list and top commercial tax payers list respectively, according to Internal Revenue Department.
— Eleven Media
Feasibility study to be conducted for Muse railway project
The Ministry of Transport and Communications, China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group, and China Railway Group will be conducting a feasibility study of the Muse – Mandalay Railway Project, Minister of Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung said.
— Myanmar Times
NLD dismisses Mawlamyine finance officer
The Mon State committee of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party dismissed a state parliamentarian from his post as a township-level finance officer and central executive committee (CEC) member.
— BNI
Myo Win appointed as judge of Union Supreme Court
Union Parliament has approved the appointment of Myo Win as judge of the Supreme Court of the Union nominated by the President as there was no objection.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar Acupuncture Therapist Association seeks legalization
Patron of Myanmar Acupuncture Therapist Association and acupuncture therapist Maung Maung Hlaing told Mizzima that they were seeking legalization of acupuncture therapy in Myanmar for treatment of stroke and all kinds of muscle, ligament and joint pains.
— mizzima.com
Helping Myanmar hotels deal with plastic refuse
UN Environment, the Myanmar Responsible Tourism Institute and Thant Myanmar are organising a series of trainings on plastic reduction this November in three key destinations namely Bagan, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw.
— mizzima.com
Myanmar shoppers spend $90,000 in 1 hour during Alibaba’s ‘11.11’ online sale
The local unit of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group sold over $90,000 worth of goods in the first hour of its first-ever online sale aimed at Myanmar shoppers on Sunday.
— The Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s motorbike community is finding its own road
In the last five years Myanmar’s motorcycle community has kicked into high gear.
— Frontier Myanmar
Feature photo Bagus Setyawan/Oxfam
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges World Toilet Day November 19
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 November 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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