Myanmar Morning News For February 28

EU Agrees to Prepare Sanctions on Myanmar Generals
European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to prepare sanctions against Myanmar generals over the killings of Rohingya Muslims and to strengthen the EU arms embargo, accusing state security forces of grave human rights abuses.
— The Irrawaddy

Facebook says page of firebrand anti-Rohingya Myanmar monk removed
Facebook has removed the page of a Myanmar monk once dubbed the “Buddhist Bin Laden” for his incendiary posts about Muslims, the company confirmed, as it faces pressure to clamp down on hate speech.
— Channel NewsAsia

Challenging the dominance of cash in Myanmar
Cash is still dominant in Myanmar. Despite the governmental reforms in 2017, cash is still the preferred payment method. That could be about to change. Myanmar is ready to buck the trend. It could move straight from cash to mobile payments without adopting card payments.
— Asean Today

Canada gravely concerned by Myanmar’s jailing of journalists
Canada is gravely concerned by the imprisonment of two Reuters journalists in Myanmar, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday, adding that ethnic cleansing had taken place in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
— Reuters

Myanmar drawn into China’s shadow: report
Myanmar has been drawn into the sphere of influence of its superpower neighbour – China – advancing the Chinese geostrategic interests through the so-called “Guanxi” diplomacy as Western powers retreat from the country, a local think tank has said in a report.
— The Myanmar Times

Aung San Suu Kyi Should Oppose Myanmar Military or Resign, Says Fellow Nobel Prize Winner
Myanmar leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should try to stop military atrocities against Rohingya civilians or resign, fellow Nobel laureate Tawakkol Karman said on Monday.
— The Irrawaddy

Aging population rises fast in urban areas: study
Numbers of older people have been rising faster in urban areas than they are in rural places, according to a study by the Labour, Immigration and Population Ministry.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar drops airport contract with Japan-Singapore group
Myanmar and a consortium including Japanese contractor JGC have essentially canceled an agreement to build an airport near this city, reportedly due to differences in cost estimates.
— Nikkei Asian Review (metered paywall)

Berlin conference organisers block Myanmar speakers
Organisers of a conference on alleged genocide in northern Rakhine State held Monday in Berlin barred representatives from Myanmar from participating in the event, said officials.
— The Myanmar Times

Japan to increase investments in Myanmar and boost trade: JCCM and UMFCCI agreement
The government of Japan understands the geopolitical importance of Myanmar and that China is seeking to increase its leverage in this nation. Equally, in many areas of the economy of Myanmar, it is abundantly clear that Japan can assist this nation in terms of capital, investments, the utilization of high technology, and respective complementary factors.
— Modern Tokyo Times

Protesters in Myanmar’s Bago Region Call For Abolishment of Military-Drafted Constitution
More than 100 people in south-central Myanmar’s Bago region staged a protest on Tuesday calling for the abolishment of the country’s 2008 constitution, in a reprise of grassroots demonstrations demanding the scrapping of the military-drafted charter that filled the streets before Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian party came to power.
— Radio Free Asia

4 Myanmar border troopers wander into Bangladesh territory
Four members of Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP), who wandered into Bangladesh territory at Teknaf, have been sent back after a flag meeting.
— Dhaka Tribune

Flagship HIV/AIDS project launched in Myanmar
Myanmar has launched an HIV/AIDS Flagship (UHF) project to be implemented in five regions and states with the highest rate of HIV infection, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported yesterday.
— The Borneo Bulletin

Gov’t Cannot Act Against Rowdy Monks Without Backing of Society, Minister Says
A lack of consensus in society about the political role of Buddhist monks is making it difficult for the government to act as certain monks become ever more reckless in their behavior, in defiance of the Buddhist Order’s code of conduct, said Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko.
— The Irrawaddy

Squatters may be a problem during Yangon Railway Station upgrade
Problems in relocating thousands of squatters occupying the Yangon Railway Station’s existing premises are expected to arise as upgrades and construction take place in the area over the next eight years.
— The Myanmar Times

Myanmar Digest: Singapore SMI to expand coffee chain; Lankan MFI to start ops
Singapore Mainboard-listed SMI is looking to expand its brand, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, in Myanmar while Sri Lanka’s CBC Myanmar Microfinance Co Ltd will also start its microfinance operations in the country.
— DealStreetAsia

Japanese agency will help Myanmar improve its shrimp production
Myanmar shrimp and prawn exporters are facing a growing shortage of supplies due to the erosion of their natural habitats and unsuccessful breeding techniques, a recent study concludes.
— FIS

Construction ministry plans affordable housing in four regions
The Ministry of Construction has submitted a proposal to borrow 15 billion yen (K188 billion) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the construction of low- and medium-cost housing in Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Magway and Sagaing regions.
— Frontier Myanmar

Controversial Recall Bill Needs More Time, Lawmakers Told
Proposed legislation that would allow for impeachment proceedings against sitting lawmakers will need more time to craft even after years of work, a member of the Union Election Commission (UEC) told a session of the Upper House of Parliament on Tuesday.
— The Irrawaddy

Feature photo Jean-Marie Hullot

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 February 28 added by Leakhena Khat on February 28, 2018
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.