Myanmar Morning News For January 18

Myanmar police kill seven ethnic Rakhine protesters
The violence occurred after more than 4,000 ethnic Rakhine Buddhists gathered in Mrauk U on Tuesday to protest at a ban on the annual commemoration of the fall of the ancient Arakan kingdom.
— BBC

Myanmar must reverse laws and practices that perpetuate military impunity – ICJ
Myanmar’s government must take concrete action to counteract decades of military impunity for human rights violations, the International Commission of Jurists concluded in a report published today.
— Mizzima

Local businesses fret over minimum wage hike
Many business organisations in Myanmar have lodged objections against improving daily wages as approved by the National Committee for Designating Minimum Wage earlier this month.
— Eleven Myanmar

UN chief and rights groups raise concerns over Rohingya deal
Concerns are growing among United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups over an agreement between the Bangladesh and Myanmar governments to repatriate several hundred thousand Rohingya refugees within two years.
— The Guardian

Acer, Excel Myanmar to help Myanmar buses go cashless
Taiwan’s multinational hardware and electronics company Acer Inc. is working with Excel Myanmar to introduce a cashless payment system on all public buses in Myanmar’s commercial center of Yangon.
— Focus Taiwan

Government, entrepreneurs cooperate to develop gems and jewelry market
The government will work together with local jewelers to raise interest and create a market for processed Myanmar gemstones and jewelry made locally, U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of the Yangon Region Government, said during the opening ceremony of the Yangon International Gems and Jewelry Fair.
— Myanmar Times

Murder, abuse rife among Mon State fishermen
Forty-seven fishermen died at sea off the coast of Mon State’s Ye Township in 2017, topping 2016’s figure by two, according to police data. Many of these deaths were murders or the result of bullying.
— Coconuts Yangon

Who Dares Speak Truth to Power in Myanmar?
Why the fate of the two detained journalists is intertwined with the future of the political transition of Myanmar.
— The Diplomat

Myanmar is just a game for China
As the Myanmar government’s violent policy towards its Rohingya Muslims drew increasing international condemnation in 2016, the country’s sometime icon of democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, declined to speak out for the persecuted minority.
— Dhaka Tribune

IFC, Regulators Assess Corporate Governance of Myanmar Firms
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is working with Myanmar regulators to benchmark the corporate governance practices of Myanmar companies against international standards to help them improve performance, according to a statement. Numerous studies show that stronger governance helps companies operate more efficiently and manage risks better.
— Mizzima

Myanmar Post overhaul earns stamp of approval
An overhaul launched in 2014 has enabled Myanmar Post to impress its customers with a cheap and reliable delivery service, although its speed still lags behind other options.
— Frontier Myanmar

China, Myanmar launch joint oceanographic research
Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03, carrying a team of scientists, arrived at Myanmar’s Thilawa Port Wednesday morning to jointly conduct oceanographic research in Myanmar’s waters.
— Xinhua Net

MYANMAR: INVESTIGATE POLICE KILLINGS OF RAKHINE STATE PROTESTERS
Reacting to the police shooting dead at least eight protesters in Mrauk-U in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said:
— Amnesty International

Myanmar Metals has drill bit turning to upgrade lead, zinc and silver resources
Myanmar Metals Ltd (ASX:MYL) has the drill bit turning with the intention of upgrading resources at the Bawdwin Lead-Zinc-Silver Project in Myanmar.
— Proactive Investors

Firebrand foreign media critic Aung Hla Tun appointed Deputy Information Minister
The Union government appointed veteran journalist U Aung Hla Tun as Deputy Minister for Information, elevating a strident critic of foreign media as the country reels from international condemnation over last year’s crisis in Rakhine State.
— Frontier Myanmar

Feature photo Bernard Oh

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 January 18 added by Leakhena Khat on January 18, 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.