Welcome to the Myanmar morning news roundup by AEC News Today, your one stop for Myanmar news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.
Over 100 Myanmar workers arrested in Thai immigration crackdown
Thai authorities arrested more than 100 Myanmar nationals working in Maesot and the surrounding area on February 27 as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration, Eleven reported today.
— Coconuts Yangon
Myanmar accuses UN envoy of bias over Rohingya violence
The Myanmar government has hit out at UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee’s latest comments on people who have fled Rakhine state, saying it disagrees with her statements and finds them “unfortunate”.
— Channel NewsAsia
Parliament approves German loan for locomotives project
Yesterday Parliament approved the Ministry of Transport and Communications proposal to take out a Euro 5 million loan from the KFW known as German Government-owned Development Bank to upgrade the Locomotive Shed (Ywahtaung) under the Myanmar Railways (MR).
— Eleven
Myanmar: 160 killed in clashes with rebels in Shan
Clashes with ethnic rebels in Myanmar’s southeastern Shan State have killed more than 160 people including 74 soldiers, according to the military Tuesday.
— Anadolu Agency
Myanmar citizens in Singapore cast their votes for the 2017 by-elections
Myanmar eligible citizens residing in Singapore have begun voting early for the upcoming 2017 by-elections.
— Eleven
Myanmar slowly making life easier for foreign investors
AN ISSUE that foreign investors often struggle with in Myanmar is the inability to import and sell their products directly.
— The Nation
Himalaya Airlines makes Myanmar its fourth international market
Himalaya Airlines launched its second new route of 2017 on 24 February. Having started service to Kuala Lumpur on 10 February, the carrier has now added Yangon (RGN) in Myanmar to its network from Kathmandu (KTM).
— anna.aero
Myanmar education offers Thailand a lesson in pluralism
In a sign of what the future may offer, two major reports on Myanmar’s education system released by Save the Children and the Asia Foundation underline what can be achieved by ethnic communities educating themselves. The reports detail the rise of ethnic basic-education providers (EBEP) in Myanmar, a local response to the policy of ultra-nationalist “Burmanisation” – equivalent to ongoing “Thai-ification” here.
— Prachatai English
Addressing drug problems in Myanmar
This policy briefing was drafted by a group of local and international organisations with indepth knowledge and extensive experience of drug-related issues in Myanmar. It is structured around a set of five strategic interventions, each of which comes with concrete recommendations that are adapted to the Myanmar context. It contains reliable, up-to-date information and examples of evidence-based practices from Myanmar and around the world.
— Transnational Institute
Myanmar plans to establish diplomatic relations with seven nations
Myanmar is extending its hand in friendship to seven small nations, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
— Myanmar Times
Mandalay to fulfill clean water demand by 2020
Mandalay City Development Committee’s Water and Sanitation Department has kicked off a plan to supply 100 percent of the demand for drinking water to all seven townships within the district by 2020.
— Myanmar Times
Independent centre reports on nation’s natural resources
The Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Centre (ENAC) (Union of Burma), has released a report recommending greater government emphasis on the possession, management, share of revenues and impact of the country’s natural resources during the second 21st Panglong Conference.
— Myanmar Times
Fruits of labour: Following Myanmar’s produce trail
From north to south, east to west – much of the produce that is available to Yangon’s residents has travelled from far-flung corners of the country.
— Frontier Myanmar
MYANMAR NOW HAS AN INDIE FILM SCENE. SEE THEIR STUFF THIS WEEKEND.
A Burmese monk’s conflict between his calling and rapidly changing society will be featured at weekend edition of what’s billed as the only festival bringing independent films from Myanmar.
— Khaosod English
Myanmar’s Cardinal Bo calls for ‘green theology of liberation’
Warning of the dangers of ecological crisis, especially its impact on the poor, Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon addressed participants Monday (Feb. 27) on the opening day of the 17th Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious, saying, “Today, we face an environmental holocaust — it is a scary moment.”
— National Catholic Reporter (blog)
The muzzling of the Myanmar Times
Myanmar’s English newspaper of record has outlasted the jailing of one of its founders for contrived offences, a suffocating censorship regime not lifted until 2012 and a controversial early connection with the junta. It may not outlast its current management.
— Frontier Myanmar
Road plan seen as vital for Naga Region
A new axis for the Leshi-Lahe road is being sought so that it can form the basis of a road network for the whole Naga Region, MP Maung Tae said.
— Eleven
7.9 per cent inflation rate expected in next FY
The average inflation rate is expected to reach 7.9 per cent in next fiscal year, according to the summary report on the Union Budget for 2017-2018 fiscal year.
— Eleven
Yangon residents honor Ko Ni, Nay Win at Yangon airport
Yangon residents gathered at the Yangon International Airport yesterday to mark the month that has passed since lawyer U Ko Ni and heroic taxi driver Nay Win were killed there by a hired gunman.
— Coconuts Yangon
Hlaingthaya fire kills one, destroys 50 homes
A fire broke out in Hlaingthaya Township’s Dinesu Ward at about 5:30pm yesterday, killing a woman and burning down more than 50 homes. The site of the blaze was near the Pun Hlaing Golf Resort and Hlaingthaya Industrial Zone-6.
— Coconuts Yangon
22 Yangon townships to see decrease in water supply from March 1-6
If you hadn’t heard by now, Yangon is having a mini collective freak-out as news that the water supply in certain townships will be cut off for nearly a week have spread across social media.
— Coconuts Yangon
NLD brings defamation suit against Pathein couple over Facebook post
The head of the National League for Democracy chapter for Chaungtha Village has sued a teacher and her husband under section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law over Facebook post that is allegedly defamatory toward State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.
— Coconuts Yangon
Feature photo: John Le Fevre
The Myanmar morning news roundup is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Stella-maris Ewudolu
Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.
She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.
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