Myanmar Morning News For May 16

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore to offer support for gold exchange market
The operators of gold exchange in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore have offered the Myanmar government professional and technical support in order to establish a bourse in the country for trading the precious, according to the Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association (MGEA).
– Myanmar Times

Govt must build capacity to attract responsible businesses: MCRB
Myanmar’s aim to become Asia’s last frontier may not be realised if the government fails to urgently address the challenges it faces in promoting responsible businesses, according to Vicky Bowman, director of Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.
– Eleven

China’s deepening imprint on Myanmar in Mandalay
In a dusty corner of Mandalay, rows of Chinese nationals sit impassively by tables lined with white cloth on a betel-splattered sidewalk. Burmese traders crowd before them, holding up chunks of raw jade or sacks of bangles in a bid to interest them. The prospective buyers scrutinise the offerings, rejecting some with a flick of their finger.
– The Straits Times

UPDJC agree on self-determination proposal for individual states
Members of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) have agreed to put a policy proposal that suggests that states and regions have the right to draw their own constitutions in future.
– Myanmar Times

Dozens of refugees have died in Malaysian detention centres, UN reveals
At least two dozen refugees and asylum seekers have died in Malaysia immigration detention centres since 2015, the United Nations refugee agency has told the Guardian.
– The Guardian

A Wrench in Myanmar’s Peace Process
Last month, a group of seven ethnic armed opposition groups (EAOs) established the Union Political Negotiation Dialogue Committee (UPNDC) as an alternative to the civilian government’s 21st Century Panglong Conference.
– The Diplomat

Paradiso Cinema to build 45 cinemas across Myanmar this year
Paradiso Cinema has planned to build 45 cinemas across Myanmar this year, and one will open soon in Pyapon township of Ayeyawady Region.
– Eleven

36 investment proposals permitted under two old laws
For the first month of this fiscal year, 36 businesses, approved under two older investment laws, have been permitted to operate, according to Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) secretary U Aung Naing Oo.
– Myanmar Times

Cheaper MPT calls to Malaysia, Thailand
Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) launched a new package which allows customers to make phone calls to Malaysia and Thailand at K50 per minute from May 9.
– Myanmar Times

2,000 hepatitis C patients to receive free treatment
Under a hospital-based treatment programme, a plan to provide free medical treatment for 2,000 hepatitis C patients from public hospitals will begin in the last week of May, according to Dr Than Tun Aung, the deputy director general of the Public Health Department.
– Eleven

Meeting: Authorities and NaTa La villagers left Rohingyas in Dilemma
Authorities held a meeting with Wa Peik villagers to relocate them to IDPs (Internally Dispalced Camps) labelling hem as model villages on 12th May 2017, according to locals.
– Rohingya Vision

More Than 200 Civilians Flee Villages Amid Rising Tensions in Northern Shan State
More than 200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) including ethnic Shan and Palaung (Ta’ang) civilians have arrived in Namtu Township, northern Shan State, since last week, pressuring the town’s dwindling IDP camp food supplies, according to community leaders.
– The Irrawaddy

Feature photo Marc Veraart
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).

Introducing The AEC News Today Mobile App

In an era of hectic schedules where time is precious, the AEC News Today mobile app enables you to stay up to date with the latest Asean news on governance and policy issues affecting the Asean Community while you are on the move and whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

See full details, including our AEC News Today Mobile App Privacy Statement here: Stay up to Date With The AEC News Today Mobile App.

Download the AEC News Today mobile app from Google play or the App stores by clicking the icons below.

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 May 16 added by John Le Fevre on May 16, 2017
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.