Myanmar morning news for August 8

Myanmar seeks Thai investment in entire fisheries value chain
The fishing industry is a key economic driver in both Thailand and Myanmar. Now, new opportunities are open to Thai investors as Myanmar is seeking advance fishing technology and financial assistance from foreign countries, especially Thailand. Our correspondent Sirakij P. has more details.
— News Today (video)

Myanmar’s captured elephants ‘die younger’ than domestic-born
Asian elephants snatched from the wild and conscripted to haul logs in Myanmar’s timber industry live on average five years less than working elephants born in captivity, researchers said Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Singapore Pledges Continued Support for Myanmar
Singapore’s foreign minister said the city-state and current ASEAN chair would continue to support Myanmar’s economic development and peace process through its many challenges.
— The Irrawaddy

Locals Say Wa Army Conscripting Girls For Military Training
The event, scheduled for mid-April, will mark the 30th anniversary of the UWSA signing a ceasefire with the central government after splitting from the Communist Party of Burma. Girls and women selected to perform in the parade must train for nine months in preparation—parents of recruits say that this involves marching, reception, and coordinated performances.
— BNI

Myanmar’s currency crisis could ‘bring down the government’: economist
The danger of Myanmar’s ongoing currency crisis, characterized by the sharp depreciation of the Myanmar kyat against the US dollar, must not be underestimated, said economist Dr. U Myint at public forum on the exchange rate at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) in Yangon on Aug. 4.
— Coconuts Yangon

Two Mon parties, 21-member Mon representative group agree on five points for merger
The MUC leader Nai Kyan Yit and the 21-member Mon representative party leader Nai Ta La Nyi signed the agreement after the dialogue was held at Taw Win Hinthar Hotel in Mawlamyine on Monday (August 6) afternoon.
— BNI

Bangladesh must improve conditions for refugees, scrap island plan: HRW
Almost one million Rohingya Muslims forced out of Myanmar now live in southern Bangladesh, with 700,000 of them arriving after the latest crackdown on the stateless minority started in August last year.
— Mizzima

Prostitution, exploitation and the need for change
PROSTITUTION IS big business in Myanmar though it’s not sex workers who are cashing in on the world’s oldest service industry, but their pimps, brothel keepers and corrupt officials, including members of the Myanmar Police Force.
— Frontier Myanmar

All witnesses in Reuters reporters’ case have now been examined
The Director of Yangon Journalist School (YJS) Ye Naing Moe, friend of the accused Walone, and Thant Zin Soe, were examined as defence witnesses yesterday.
— Mizzima

Tatmadaw Soldier, Relatives Shot Dead in Hsipaw
Among ethnic armed organizations active in the area, there is no history of ambushing the family members of Burma Army soldiers, one analyst says.
–BNI

800 more villagers flee fighting in Shan State
A fresh clash between rival ethnic armed groups in Myanmar’s war-torn Shan state forced more than 800 villagers to flee their homes and seek shelter in Buddhist monasteries on Monday according to an RFA report quoting an NGO worker and a village chief.
— Mizzima

Myanmar takes steps towards reform
For close to eight years, Myanmar has been on a journey of economic, social and political reform as it rejoins the world economy after decades of isolation under ruinous military rule.
— Myanmar Time

Hong Kong lingerie company abandons Myanmar factory without informing workers
A Hong Kong-based lingerie and swimwear company abandoned its factory in Myanmar without informing hundreds of workers or paying them their salaries for last month.
— Coconuts Yangon

State Counsellor receives Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, received His Excellency Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, at 10am yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nay Pyi Taw.
— Eleven Myanmar

Thai-Myanmar border commerce to double by 2026
The value of border trade between Thailand and Myanmar is expected to double to UScopy2 billion by 2026, says the assistant spokesman of the Prime Minister’s Office.
— Bangkok Post

Unseen Photos From 8888 Uprising to Go on Display
Of the many local photographers who documented the popular protests against the Ne Win regime in 1988, only Htein Win was able to keep his negatives.
— The Irrawaddy

Myanmar pushes financial inclusion to reduce poverty
The financial sector is expected to focus on giving low-income individuals access to affordable financial services as a means to reduce poverty, as adult access to formal service has increased by 18 percent over the past five years.
— Myanmar Times

USDP-Led Alliance Protests Rakhine Investigation Commission
The formerly ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which is backed by the military, and its allies have protested against the newly formed commission of inquiry into rights abuses in Rakhine, citing fears of “foreign intervention.”
— The Irrawaddy

81 out of 88 points as to Rakhine issue proposed by Kofi Annan’s Commission already implemented and remaining points considered as long-term matters to be coped with step-by-step: Aung San Suu Kyi
Eighty-one out of 88 points in respect of Rakhine issue proposed by Kofi Annan’s Commission have been already implemented, but remaining points must be coped through a step-by-step approach as they are considered as long-term matters, said State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
— Eleven Myanmar

Jet Ma takes lessons from life’s challenges
Before the building was burned down, there used to be 61 shops, which sold second hand books, some Myanmar Mohinga shops and umbrella repairs shops. She managed up to five second-hand book shops.
— Myanmar Times

Fears impact Myanmar project
Myanmar has scaled back plans for a US$7.3bn Chinese-backed port on its western coast after concerns it could result in a large debt.
— PortStrategy

Seeing gold in Red Sandalwood seeds jewelry
Red Sandalwood seeds, primarily grown in the upper regions of Myanmar, are once used to measure the weight of gold.
— Myanmar Times

Kachin state is in danger of landmine
The villages in Hsinbo region, Myitkyina Township, Kachin State is now in danger of landmine and cattle were killed due to step on the landmine, locals say.
— Eleven Myanmar

Feature photo David Russo

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 August 8 added by Maria Mirasol Rasonable on August 8, 2018
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Maria Mirasol Rasonable

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Maria Mirasol Rasonable graduated with a Bachelors Degree in journalism from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines.

She previously covered police rounds for Philippine Daily Inquirer as a trainee before becoming editorial staff at Gospel Komiks under the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA-MG), Santa Mesa, Manila where she wrote lifestyle and trending fashion and styles articles.