Myanmar morning news for December 10

Ethnic Army Clashes With Myanmar Forces, Leaving Casualties on Both Sides in Myanmar’s Rakhine
Myanmar troops clashed with Arakan Army soldiers in remote parts of northern Rakhine state’s Buthidaung and Rathaedaung townships, leaving casualties on both sides during fighting this week, the military-owned news service Myawady reported on Friday
— Radio Free Asia

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey criticised for ‘tone deaf’ Myanmar tweets
Twitter’s chief executive has been criticised for promoting Myanmar as a tourist destination despite widespread allegations of human rights abuses in the country.
— BBC News

Myanmar court jails anti-war protesters for defaming military
A Myanmar court jailed three activists on Friday for defaming the military during anti-war protests, amid growing concern about a clamp-down on civil society.
— Reuters

Thousands of Myanmar women forced into marriage in China: study
Thousands of vulnerable women and girls from northern Myanmar are being trafficked to China and forced to marry, a study said Friday, offering a rare look at an issue that grips the conflict-hit borderlands.
— AFP

Penang police bust Myanmar human trafficking syndicate
A human trafficking syndicate was busted after police arrested three Myanmar nationals, two men and a woman, under ‘Ops Pintas’, here, today.
— Malay Mail

How Myanmar Benefits from the US-China Competition in the Indo-Pacific
Myanmar’s government has played its cards well in the U.S.-China competition for influence.
— The Diplomat

Quash conviction of Kachin activists, authorities told
Authorities in Myanmar should quash the convictions of three ethnic Kachin activists found guilty of defaming the military, NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today.
— The Myanmar Times

In northern Rakhine State, a standoff over citizenship guarantees
A standoff over citizenship guarantees and concerns about safety have diminished the likelihood of large-scale repatriation, with government officials saying Rohingya demands are “impossible”.
— Frontier Myanmar

Don’t let Aung San Suu Kyi off the hook for her role in the Myanmar genocide
Last week, a prominent Buddhist teacher defended Aung San Suu Kyi, the Buddhist Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Myanmar civilian leader, against criticism that she is party to genocide. Khin Mai Aung explains why that defense doesn’t hold up.
— Lion’s Roar

Myanmar Minister Draws Rebuke For ‘Extremist Religion’ Remark on Rohingya
Myanmar’s minister of religious affairs has been rebuked by “top leaders” for using the term “extremist religion” to refer to Islam in recent racially charged comments he made referring to the country’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority, said a government spokesman on Friday.
— Radio Free Asia

Gov’t Departments to Have Their Own Corruption Prevention Units
Stepping up his administration’s anti-graft efforts, President U Win Myint has approved the creation of corruption-prevention units within government departments.
— The Irrawaddy

Rohingya sent back to Myanmar camps hungry and in debt
Fleeing Rohingya Muslims sold ration books to help pay hundreds of dollars to traffickers in order to flee squalid Myanmar camps by boat, only to be stopped at sea and forced back destitute, the refugees told AFP on Friday.
— Mizzima

Joint Communique signed between the United Nations and the Government of Myanmar to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence in Myanmar
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten, signed a Joint Communique between the Government of Myanmar and the United Nations to address conflict-related sexual violence in Myanmar.
— Relief Web

Myanmar forms steering committee for implementation of Belt and Road projects
Myanmar has formed a steering committee for implementation of tasks relating to the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative, according to the government’s Gazette Friday.
— Mizzima

China port pact in focus as (Indian) President visits Myanmar
President Ram Nath Kovind’s first visit to Myanmar starting on Monday will be an occasion to build upon the strong bilateral relationship with India’s biggest link in the Asean region.
— Times of India

Indonesia sends agricultural experts to Myanmar
Through the Directorate of Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia has sent two agricultural experts to Myanmar to provide quality improvement training in the field.
— Antara News

Over 70,000 Kachin IDPs face food shortage
Food supplies cannot be transported through Chinese territory to over 70,000 Kachin Internally Displaced People (IDPs) staying along the Sino-Myanmar border because of a war game being conducted by the army of the People’s Republic of China.
— Mizzima

‘Sittwe Port in Myanmar is ready for operations’
Sittwe Port in Myanmar, being administered by the Ministry of External Affairs under the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project to facilitate connectivity between the mainland and the north eastern states of the country is “ready” for operations, an official said on Friday.
— Hellenic Shipping News

Magwe inks deal for wind power feasibility study
An agreement has been signed by Magwe regional government and Infra Capital Myanmar-ReEx to carry out feasibility studies for a wind power project in the region.
— The Myanmar Times

Myanmar-China border trade in focus
The early implementation of bilateral border trade cooperation zone and the promotion of border trade, and investment between Myanmar and China were during a meeting earlier this week the Ministry of Commerce has announced.
— The Myanmar Times

MAB to provide SME loans without collateral
Myanmar Apex Bank Ltd (MAB) will provide loans for SMEs based only on the companies’ income and expenditure, senior MAB officials announced.
— The Myanmar Times

Tax collection procedures improving, but more progress needed
As the tax to GDP ratio for Myanmar is lower than that of its regional peers, successive governments have prioritised more efficient tax collection.
— The Myanmar Times

More foreign investments expected in Ayeyarwady
Investors eyeing expansion opportunities in Myanmar might want to consider Ayeyarwady Region, where the government is now prioritising developments in the agriculture, livestock and marine, forestry, industry, infrastructure, transportation and tourism sectors, said regional chief minister U Hla Myo Aung.
— The Myanmar Times

Posco Daewoo to construct free solar plant in Myanmar
Posco Daewoo, the trading unit of Posco, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a solar plant that it will build for free of charge on an island in Myanmar in hopes of boosting ties with the country, the company said Sunday
— Korea Herald

Myanmar, S Korean company launch solar power plant in Rakhine state
A stake driving ceremony has been held in Manaung township, Myanmar’s Rakhine stake to build a solar power plant which can supply 24-hour electricity to more than 1,000 households, Myanmar News Agency reported yesterday.
— Borneo Bulletin

New Criminal Case Opened Against Rogue Businessman
Police have begun an investigation into the complaint of a private bank against a company for their failure to repay a 1.5 billion kyats ($644,000) loan, said officials of Pabedan Township Police Station in Yangon.
The Irrawaddy

People at heart of balanced growth
Ministers and senior policymakers across Asia and the Pacific gathered in Bangkok last month to focus on population dynamics at a crucial time for the region. Their goal: to keep people and human rights at the heart of the region’s push for sustainable development.
— The Myanmar Times

Myanmar urged to let aid agencies help
The Myanmar government needs to work with the international community to resolve the turmoil in Rakhine State, Knut Ostby, UN resident humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, said.
— The Myanmar Times

Hluttaw leaders meet to boost cooperation
Speakers and deputy speakers of the 14 regional and state parliaments met in Nay Pyi Taw this week to discuss ways to improve cooperation among them and with the Myanmar parliament.
— The Myanmar Times

‘Myanmar Has Come a Long Way’ on Reproductive Rights
Janet Jackson ended her nearly 20-year career with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as the agency’s representative in Myanmar. She retired last month.
The Irrawaddy

Landmine Explosion in Northern Rakhine Kills Two
Two men were killed in a landmine explosion Thursday night along a road in northern Rakhine State linking Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships, where the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) have been fighting recently.
The Irrawaddy

Fighting HIV
Ma Hla Myat (not her real name) discovered she was HIV positive after her husband died of AIDS.
— The Myanmar Times

Information Minister Embraces the Propaganda Machine He Inherited
Relations between the National League for Democracy-led government and local media have turned sour lately. The situation must be addressed by the government.
The Irrawaddy

Fixing justice with the tools at hand
How to radically improve criminal procedure in Myanmar without spending much money or having to rewrite any laws.
— Frontier Myanmar

Asian Highway 1 revisited
In Kayin State, the upgrade of one of the country’s most important highways has been brought to a standstill and the blame game is in full swing.
— Frontier Myanmar

Welcome to Maungdaw
A media trip to northern Rakhine State becomes an exercise in government obstruction and disorganisation.
— Frontier Myanmar

Exhibition highlights textile and garment industry
With more than 130 brands from 13 countries’ showcases, the 7th Myanmar International Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition (MTG) took place at the Yangon Convention Center this week, highlighting the vibrant textile and garment industry in Myanmar and an unexpected spin-off from the US-China trade war.
— Frontier Myanmar

This Myanmar law makes Facebook posting a dangerous game
Despite the threat of jail in February of this year, Ko Swe Win, editor-in-chief of the nonprofit news site Myanmar Now, refused to apologize. The year before he had shared a critical story on Facebook about ultranationalist Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu, known to stoke tensions against Myanmar’s Muslim community.
— Ozy

Govt promises workers better healthcare
Registered workers in Nay Pyi Taw may get better access to healthcare because of a cooperation project between the Social Security Board (SSB) and May May Special Clinic in Thapyaekone Market.
— The Myanmar Times

Queen Sein Don’s monastery patiently awaits rejuvenation
It’s a sunny, peaceful day on the grounds of the monastery. Aside from gongs and the occasional distant recitations, it’s mostly just the sounds of birds, or some traffic from outside.
— The Myanmar Times

Rogue elephant carrying young child charges past procession in central Myanmar
Everything about the donation procession for the local pagoda — a routine sight in villages around Myanmar — was going according to plan. Right up until the elephant went off script.
— Coconuts Yangon (video)

Spend a Winter’s Afternoon Chatting over a High Tea
Melia Hotel Yangon’s new high tea set is a sweet and savory delight. Relax with friends during this sweater-weather season over a tea or coffee set served up amid the beautiful, white interiors of the hotel’s Olea Mediterranean Restaurant.
The Irrawaddy

Feature photo Oriental Review.org.

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges Human Rights Day December 10.

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 December 10 added by Mark Roy on December 10, 2018
View all posts by Mark Roy →

Bio
Latest Posts

Mark Roy

With a decade of experience as an editor and journalist, Roy has edited mastheads across Australia and Southeast Asia, from the remote island communities of the Torres Strait to Cambodia’s only award-winning newspaper, The Phnom Penh Post.

A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.