Myanmar morning news for December 20, 2019

Myanmar Govt to Develop Offshore Gas With Total, Woodside and Local Company
Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise will work with domestic company MPRL E&P Co. and energy companies from Australia and France to produce gas from offshore reserves.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar Villagers Call For Compensation For Land Lost to China-Backed Development Project
Villagers in Myanmar’s Kachin state are calling for compensation for farmland lost to a Chinese-backed development project, for which authorities have pledged to pay only for destroyed crops, sources say.
— Radio Free Asia

Aung San Suu Kyi Says Genocide Trial Against Myanmar Neglects Key Facts
Myanmar’s defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who led the nation’s team to the International Court of Justice to address a case alleging genocide against her country’s Rohingya Muslim minority, delivered her first public speech since the hearings on Wednesday evening.
— Bloomberg Quint

Myanmar eases visa rules for five countries
The government will relax its visa regulations for five more countries from January 1 as part of its effort to attract more foreign visitors to the country, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Immigration Officials Nab Growing Number of Illegal Chinese in Shan State
More than 240 Chinese nationals were arrested for illegally entering Myanmar through Shan state during the first half of the year, mostly to look for work, a state immigration official told RFA on Thursday.
— Radio Free Asia

Over 463 tons of illegal timbers seized across Myanmar in single week
Myanmar authorities seized over 463.2 tons of illegal timbers across Myanmar in a week this month, according to the Information Ministry on Thursday.
— Xinhua

State Counsellor attends opening of Manaung solar plant, meets locals
Chairperson of the Border Area and National Races Development Affairs Central Committee State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday attended the opening ceremony of a solar power plant in Manaung, Rakhine State and met with local people.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar hopes to export corn to Thailand
Traders are discussing plans for Myanmar to export one million tonnes of corn seeds to Thailand. An agreement between the two countries is expected before year-end, said U Min Khaing, chair of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.
— Myanmar Times

MSME Agency launches regional action plans during first annual conference
The MSME Agency held its 1st annual conference and launched the Regional MSME Action Plans for collaboration of the central agency and its regional branches to promote MSME sector.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar court dismisses charges against bus driver accused of raping toddler
A court in Myanmar on Wednesday (Dec 18) dismissed charges against a nursery school bus driver accused of raping a toddler, in a case that generated great public interest because of widespread doubts that the defendant was guilty.
— The Straits Times

Mines Explode in Rakhine State’s Manaung Township Ahead of Myanmar State Counselor’s Visit
Despite three mine explosions occurring in the area just hours before her arrival, Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi completed her scheduled itinerary of events in Rakhine State’s Manaung Township on Thursday morning.
— Irrawaddy

Plans to develop new coastal tourism area in Yangon Region
The Yangon Region government has announced that it is planning to upgrade the Sel Ein Tan coastal area near Letkhokkon Beach in Kungyangon township to become a tourist destination, the region’s tourism officials say.
— Myanmar Times

HDBank opens representative office in Myanmar, ties up with Viettel
The Hồ Chí Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank, HDBank, on Wednesday opened a representative office in Myanmar and signed a comprehensive co-operation agreement with Viettel Global Investment JSC, which are expected to help promote economic growth, trade and investment.
— Eleven Myanmar

Posco International completes solar power system in Myanmar
Posco International has completed a solar power system in Manaung Island, Myanmar, to provide electricity to around 1,000 households, the firm said Thursday.
— Korea Herald

Audit report points out MPF’s misappropriation of money
Police forces under the Myanmar Police Force at the Ministry of Home Affairs are found to misuse Ks over 610 million, according to the six-month audit report from April to September 2018, submitted by Union Auditor-General Maw Than, at the session of the Union Parliament on December 17.
— Eleven Myanmar

Government tapers growth forecast for fiscal 2019-20
The Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry has released preliminary forecasts for fiscal 2019-20.
— Myanmar Times

State Counsellor delivers speech at the opening of Manaung Solar Plant
“I would like to extend warm wishes to the Union Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Rakhine State Chief Minister and cabinet members, Rakhine State Hluttaw Speaker and Hluttaw representatives, department heads, officials of POSCO Daewoo Corporation, invited guests, local residents and everyone in attendance at this opening ceremony of the solar power plant.”
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Consumer affairs agency fielding more complaints
The Myanmar Consumer Affairs Department said that the number of complaints it receives is growing, with most related to telecommunications service.
— Myanmar Times

Mines Explode in Rakhine State’s Manaung Township Ahead of Myanmar State Counselor’s Visit
Three mines explode in Rakhine State’s Manaung Township ahead of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to solar project in the area; no one hurt and event proceeds as planned.
— Irrawaddy

With all hands on deck to fight Malaria, eradication is possible
Myanmar has seen a dramatic decline in malaria cases from about 600,000 cases and 972 deaths in 2009 to 76,518 cases and 19 deaths in 2018, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Health and Sports.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Police Slam Court for Freeing Suspect in Toddler Rape
A police commander has broken the law by identifying the child rape victim and refuses to investigate two teenage boys whose father is a police officer.
— Irrawaddy

Prostitution law – the root of discrimination and exploitation
The Sex worker community and NGOs have desperately called for amendments to Myanmar’s 70-year-old antiquated prostitution law.
— Mizzima

Reaching new heights in Yangon
High-end condominium projects are becoming more common in Yangon, but even so the project we look at this week stands out.
— Myanmar Times

Rate of inflation remains steady
The annual rate of inflation in Myanmar, based on the Consumer Price Index, stood at 8.6 per cent in October, according to a report released recently by the Central Statistical Organization, under the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry, state media reported.
— Mizzima

Legal Team Defended Myanmar to ‘Best of Their Ability’ at ICJ, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Says
In a televised address, State Counselor says Myanmar’s legal team at the ICJ defended the nation to the best of their ability and in the interests of peace and harmony.
— Irrawaddy

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing calls on Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Gaing in Viet Nam
Commander in Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation visited the Vietnamese Defence Ministry yesterday morning, where they were welcomed by Chief of General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang with a Guard of Honour.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Malaria outbreak kills 19 in Myanmar last year
A total of 19 people died of malaria in Myanmar last year, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports on Thursday.
— Xinhua

Second Amyotha Hluttaw concludes its 14th Regular Session
The 18th-day meeting of the 14th regular session of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw was held yesterday where a question and answer session was held, a bill discussed, Hluttaw Speaker summarized the Hluttaw session and announced the successful completion of the present regular session of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Nine refugees voluntarily return to Rakhine State
Two families of refugees comprising nine people have voluntarily returned from Bangladesh to Maungdaw township in Rakhine State, local officials said Wednesday.
— Myanmar Times

Treasury bonds gain momentum
The market for government bonds is picking up and now covers the budget deficit, but some players say the Central Bank of Myanmar needs to do more to boost sales.
— Frontier Myanmar

Lawyer for street performers Peacock Generation withdraws from cases
The lead lawyer for a street performer group that faces charges for performances mocking the Tatmadaw (military) during Myanmar’s traditional New Year is withdrawing from the case, saying the country’s justice system is unfair.
— Myanmar Times

Joint committee on Amending 2008 Constitution holds meeting 71/2019
The Joint Committee on Amending the 2008 Constitution held its meeting 71/2019 at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Building D in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Thousands Renew Protests in India Against Citizenship Law 
Protesters again take to the streets of Indian cities to rally against a new citizenship law seen as anti-Muslim; Karnataka state imposes curbs on public gatherings.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar State Counsellor visits Rakhine town despite explosions
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday arrived in Manaung town, which was rocked with explosions a few hours ago.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar delegates call on CM
Imphal, December 18 2019: Myanmar delegates, who are in the State capital to take part in an international seminar, called on Chief Minister N Biren Singh at his official residence today.
— E-pao

Feature photo Eric DeLuca / Translators without Borders

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on Arabic Language Day, December 18.

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).

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