Myanmar morning news for November 15, 2019

Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi faces first legal action over Rohingya crisis
Aung San Suu Kyi is among several top Myanmar officials named in a case filed in Argentina for crimes against Rohingya Muslims, the first time the Nobel Laureate has been legally targeted over the crisis.
— The Guardian

Myanmar’s Ruling Party Fears Legalizing Gay Sex Would Cost Them Re-election
The country’s leader spoke out in the past about decriminalizing homosexuality, but has taken no action.
— New Now Next

Trade volume from Myanmar-China border camp reaches more than US$ 503 million
Trade volume from Myanmar-China border camp reached more than US$ 503 million within one month from October 1 to November 1 in 2019-2020 fiscal years, up US$ 160 million compared with the same period of last year, according to the official statistics of the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar

Chinese Mega-Project in Myanmar’s Kayin State Sparks Resentment And Worry
Dozens of newly built villas line a street as concrete skeletons of what may become hotels or casinos stand half-finished nearby.
— Radio Free Asia

Monks in Myanmar have a new target
They had travelled for hours, some for days. It didn’t matter. They had made it to Taung Pyone.
— The Economist

Myanmar risks losing forests to oil palm
The Myanmar government has to date handed out more than 400,000 hectares nearly a million acres of oil palm concessions to 44 companies, some of it overlapping with proposed national parks.
— Eco-business

Chinese port and SEZ stoking fear in Rakhine state
Aung Gyi is forced to fish covertly under the shroud of night in western Myanmar waters as China bids to transform the strategically key region into a shipping and industrial hub, squeezing out locals who fear being left behind in the gold rush.
— The Asean Post

Ooredoo said to mull reducing stake in $4b Myanmar arm
Qatari carrier Ooredoo QPSC is considering reducing its stake in its Myanmar unit amid fierce competition in one of the world’s newest mobile-phone markets, people familiar with the matter said.
— DealStreetAsia

Yoma shares surge on $238m capital tie-up with Ayala
Shares of Myanmar conglomerate Yoma Strategic Holdings surged 14% on Thursday morning after announcing a capital tie-up with Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Vietnam, Myanmar hold deputy ministerial-level political consultation
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Permanent Secretary of the Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Soe Han co-chaired the eighth annual political consultation at the deputy ministerial level in Hanoi on November 14.
— VietnamPlus

Plan underway to hold election in all constituencies in Rakhine: UEC
Union Election Commission has a plan to hold the 2020 general election in all constituencies in Rakhine State even though it is unable to compile the list of eligible voters in Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships in Northern Rakhine State, Myint Naing, Spokesperson of the Union Election Commission, told the media at the opening of capacity building course for election at Grand Amara Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on November 13.
— Eleven Myanmar

Rohingyas turn to Argentinian justice system over ‘genocide’
A Rohingya organisation has filed a complaint in Argentina over alleged crimes against the ethnic group in Myanmar, defence sources said.
— Web India 123

Digital literacy seen as crucial to achieving a cashless society
Ko Kyaw Kyaw Win, CEO of online bus-ticketing platform Innoveller, says the biggest challenge Myanmar faces as it adapts to an increasingly digital-driven economy is raising awareness and reducing consumers’ dependence on cash.
— Myanmar Times

Suzuki launches instalment plan for purchases of four models
Automobile company Suzuki Myanmar Motor Co Ltd has announced a new instalment-payment scheme for four models in its local line-up of vehicles. The new scheme is being offered in collaboration with Co-operative Bank Public Co Ltd (CB Bank).
— Myanmar Times

Govt, Northern Alliance postpone meeting indefinitely
Government negotiators and representatives of the Northern Alliance of four ethnic armed groups have indefinitely postponed the resumption of peace talks, according to a member of a non-governmental organisation helping in the negotiations.
— Myanmar Times

Value chain finance could improve agricultural productivity: economists
Value-chain financing is an important aspect of agriculture, Myanmar’s most important industry, that requires more attention, a Yangon University of Economics academic association says.
— Myanmar Times

Tourist numbers to Myanmar rise
The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism recently released data showing that from January to September this year, more than 1.3 million foreign tourists visited Myanmar.
— Myanmar Times

Japanese company to launch microfinance services
Daiwa Securities Group will launch microfinance services in Myanmar through a joint venture, Nikkei Asian Review reported.
— Mizzima

Union Minister U Thant Sin Maung attends 25th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting in Viet Nam
A Myanmar delegation led by Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung attended the opening ceremony of 25th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting and Dialogue Partner Meetings in Hanoi, Viet Nam yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Memory International Film Heritage Festival returns to Yangon
An illustrious exhibition of world-renown films will be returning to our golden city this November, as part of the 7th Memory International Film Heritage Festival.
— Myanmar Times

Italy-Based ENI to Begin Exploring for Oil in Myanmar’s Mandalay Region
ENI, a multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Italy, will explore for oil and gas in eight townships in Mandalay Region, U Tin Win Hlaing, the chairman of the Mandalay regional parliament’s Industry, Energy and Electricity Committee, confirmed to The Irrawaddy.
— Irrawaddy

Russian Baltic Fleet training ship visits Myanmar
The plan of the business call at the port of Yangon that will last four days envisages replenishing shipboard supplies to the required level.
— TASS

BURMA’S INDIGENOUS KAREN COMMUNITIES MOVE TO PROTECT RIVERS, FORESTS
Communities in rural Karen State don’t refer to climate change by name, but they have experienced its negative impacts and are responding.
— Karan News

ICC approves probe into alleged Myanmar Rohingya abuse
The International Criminal Court has approved a full investigation into Myanmar’s alleged crimes against the Rohingya, as the country faces mounting legal pressure worldwide over their fate.
— Frontier Myanmar

The fight for justice over Myanmar’s Rohingya ‘genocide’
Myanmar is facing a barrage of legal challenges from all over the world in an attempt to hold it accountable over the alleged genocide against its Rohingya Muslim population.
— The Sun Daily

Fishermen’s friends: dolphins under threat in Myanmar, but eco-tour group works to save them
Dolphin whisperer U Aung Thinn taps a hand-carved stick on the side of his slender boat and patiently waits. As he spots the dolphins’ grey arches gracefully moving towards him, he gathers his fishing equipment.
— South China Morning News

Clash breaks out between Tatmadaw and TNLA near Kutkai
The armed men of Ta’an g National Liberation Army (TNLA) forced the cargo trucks and passenger buses running on Union Highway to stop and wait near Lwesumsit mountain at the entrance to Kutkai on Lashio-Muse Union Highway in northern Shan State on November 13.
— Eleven Myanmar

Interfaith body holds 3rd advisory forum on national reconciliation, peace in Myanmar
The interreligious body Religions for Peace-Myanmar (RfP-M) organized its third forum for reconciliation and peace at the Thingaha Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Mild quake rattles Yangon, leaves residents sleepless
A mild magnitude 4.1 earthquake jolted the country’s commercial capital late Tuesday night, sending sleepy residents scampering onto the streets for safety.
— Myanmar Times

Pyithu Hluttaw approves Myanmar Insolvency Bill
Myanmar insolvency bill was approved during the fourth-day meeting of the 14th regular session of the Second Pyithu Hluttaw held in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Court Drops Drug Charges Against Rakhine CSO Boss for Lack of Evidence
A Rakhine State court has thrown out drug charges against the chairman of Arakan Rakkhita Group, U Ba Aye, after almost 400,000 yaba pills were found at his farm.
— Irrawaddy

UEC coordinates with political parties ahead of 2020 General Elections
The Union Election Commission held a coordination meeting with political parties with the aim to successfully organize the 2020 General Elections, at the UEC Office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Did you know that Myanmar and Scotland have a shared history?
What do whisky, golf, office buildings, steamboats and drilling for oil have in common? They were all brought to Myanmar in the nineteenth-century by Scottish people.
— Myanmore

World Diabetes Day 2019 observed in capital
World Diabetes Day 2019 was commemorated at the Ministry of Health and Sports in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Konyak Nagas in Myanmar declare its territory as non-infiltration zone
The Myanmar Konyak Union (MKU) which is the apex social and cultural institution of the Konyak Naga in Myanmar has declared its territory within Myanmar as a complete peace and non-infiltration zone and urged all Konyak citizens to foster and uphold peace within its soil.
— Morung Express

Irrawaddy Editor Wins Myanmar’s Top Literary Prize
The Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe wins the National Literature Award for his volume of articles on Myanmar’s political changes and life as a political prisoner.
— Irrawaddy

Italy-Based ENI to Begin Exploring for Oil in Myanmar’s Mandalay Region
Italy-based ENI Co. and local partner outline oil exploration plans in eight townships to Mandalay regional parliament; public consultations due to begin this month.
— Irrawaddy

President U Win Myint attends MRCS conference, anniversary event
President U Win Myint, patron of the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) addressed the MRCS 13th Conference and 80th anniversary event of MRCS held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-2 (MICC-2) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Youth vote still up for grabs in 2020
Unlike Myanmar youngsters in previous generations, today’s youths are somewhat more reserved about their political opinions.
— Myanmar Times

Fourth-day meeting of Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 14th regular session held
The second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 14th regular session held its fourth-day meeting at the Amyotha Hluttaw meeting hall yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo Christian Heimig

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on Tazaungdaing festival, November 12.

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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