Myanmar Morning News For February 8

Eight countries push UN to take up Myanmar Rohingya crisis
Britain, France, the United States and five other countries asked the UN Security Council on Wednesday (Feb 8) to discuss the fate of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees driven from Myanmar, diplomats said.
— Channel NewsAsia

Myanmar workers go on trial for accusing Thai chicken farm of abuse
Migrant workers from Myanmar who accused a Thai chicken farm of a litany of abuses went on trial for defamation on Wednesday in a landmark case between workers and an employer.
— Reuters

Myanmar’s place at Cobra Gold draws US criticism
Lawmakers are demanding Myanmar’s exclusion from the Cobra Gold military exercises next week, amidst pressure for more American sanctions in response to atrocities against Rohingya Muslims.
— Bangkok Post

Myanmar upscales HIV services
This UNAIDS video talks about the effort in Myanmar to make HIV medication and treatment more broadly accessible to people in the country.
— Ucanews (video)

The US is going to participate in military drills with Myanmar after accusing the country of ‘ethnic cleansing’
Lawmakers are demanding Myanmar’s exclusion from US-led military exercises in neighboring Thailand next week amid pressure for more American sanctions in response to atrocities against Rohingya Muslims.
— Business Insider UK

Government of Myanmar partners with PDC to reduce disaster risk and vulnerability
Faced with ongoing threats from extreme cyclones, earthquakes, floods, landslides, and wildfires, the Government of Myanmar continues to advance initiatives to protect the 53 million people within its borders. Most recently, Myanmar officials reached a new milestone aimed at increasing national resilience and disaster risk reduction capacities through a joint endeavor with Pacific Disaster Center (PDC).
— ReliefWeb

Beyond the Rohingya: Myanmar’s Other Crises
With Rakhine state in the international spotlight, Myanmar’s abuses in Kachin state continue with little global notice.
— The Diplomat

Myanmar Anti-Corruption Commission discusses with UNDP
Aung Kyi, chairman of Myanmar Anti-Corruption Commission and secretary San Win met with director Peter Batchelor, Myanmar resident director of United Nations Development Programme-UNDP, and Chritophoros Politis, chief technical adviser at the office of Myanmar Anti-Corruption Commission, on February 6.
— Eleven Myanmar

Total to develop LNG project, continue offshore production work in Myanmar
Myanmar is planning to double the supply of electricity in the country over the next two years with power generated by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet an expected domestic shortfall.
— Myanmar Times

Loan disbursement plan to prioritise less developed regions
Sixty per cent of the total loan granted by Japan International Cooperation Agency will be disbursed under the Credit Guarantee Insurance System. Priority will be given to less developed regions and states for the loan disbursement plan, according to the Small and Medium Industrial Development Bank.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar army ‘continuing to force Rohingya out of the country’ through rape and starvation says Amnesty
The Burmese military is still pushing the Rohingya minority out of their homes through forced starvation, the fear of abduction, and the looting of their property, according to new evidence from Amnesty International.
— Telegraph

Myanmar and South Korea sign MoU to build logistics hub
Myanmar and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a logistics hub of international standard in Yangon, Xinhau reported on 6 February.
— Mizzima

Myanmar: Fresh evidence of ongoing ethnic cleansing as military starves, abducts and robs Rohingya
The Myanmar security forces’ devastating campaign against the Rohingya population in northern Rakhine State is far from over, Amnesty International said today, as it published new evidence of ongoing violations that have forced hundreds more people to flee in recent weeks.
— Amnesty International

Interview: The Associated Press ‘Needs to Apologize to Myanmar And Correct The Report’
Foreign media organizations operating in Myanmar have come under heavy fire by authorities eager to suppress their reports on the crisis in Rakhine state, where the country’s military conducted a brutal military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims following deadly attacks on police outposts by the Muslim militant group the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
— Radio Free Asia

Pristine Ayeyarwady coastline flagged for new $10bn industrial zone
A large engineering firm is proposing a deep-sea port and industrial zone in a hard-to-reach part of Ayeyarwady Region’s western coast, bringing with it road and rail connections to Yangon.
— Frontier Myanmar

Over 150 villagers forced to flee after fighting in Kutkai
Clashes between the Myanmar army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in eastern Myanmar’s Shan state have forced more than 150 residents of the town of Kutkai to flee to safety to Theinni town, RFA has reported.
— Mizzima

Govt to sign nationwide ceasefire agreement with two more ethnic armed groups on Feb 13
The government will sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union at Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw on February 13.
— Eleven Myanmar

Feature photo Jaume Escofet

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 8 added by Leakhena Khat on February 8, 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.