Myanmar Morning News For March 29

Myanmar Struggles to Find New Generation of Leaders to Resist Military
Two years after taking office, the graying leadership of Myanmar’s ruling party lacks a new generation to inherit power, risking the pro-democracy camp’s ability to check the power of its military rivals.
— The Wall Street Journal

Lawyers for Reuters reporters ask Myanmar court to dismiss case
Lawyers for two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar asked a court on Wednesday to throw out the case, saying there was insufficient evidence to support charges against the pair, who are accused of possessing secret government papers.
— Reuters

Myanmar Picks a New President, but He’ll Still Be No. 2
A longtime loyalist to Myanmar’s civilian leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was chosen on Wednesday to be the country’s new president, a largely ceremonial role in which he is expected to be the official conduit for her authority.
— The New York Times

MyTel launches 4G services
Myanmar’s fourth operator MyTel has launched 4G services, and plans to expand its network to all 15 states and regions of the nation next month.
— Telecom Asia

Can Myanmar’s Libraries Help Combat Human Trafficking?
In June, the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report moved Myanmar up to Tier 2 on its watch list, acknowledging “significant efforts” to combat human trafficking and forced labor in the country. For a country undergoing rapid reform and still grappling with a transition to democracy, the news was welcome, but caught some by surprise.
— The Asia Foundation

What’s Behind the New India-Myanmar Naval Exercise?
On March 25, India and Myanmar kicked off what the Indian Navy characterized as a maiden navy exercise of its kind. Though the engagement itself was quite basic, its significance nonetheless bears emphasis given the active month for India-Myanmar naval ties more generally as well as the broader trends underway in the bilateral relationship and wider region.
— The Diplomat

MYANMAR: NEW PRESIDENT MUST DO MORE TO HOLD PERPETRATORS TO ACCOUNT
Responding to the appointment of Win Myint as the new President of Myanmar, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said:
— Amnesty International

Myanmar Military head calls for development, not finger-pointing
Myanmar Military Commander in Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has called on the country to work for the nation’s development by drawing lessons from the past rather than pointing fingers and allotting blame, noting the problem of underdevelopment due to armed conflicts in the country.
— Mizzima

Former Myanmar Child Soldier Given Two-Year Prison Term For Describing Forced Abduction
A court in Myanmar’s former capital Yangon today handed a former child soldier a prison term of two years at hard labor following his conviction for describing his abduction and forced military service in an interview last year with RFA’s Myanmar Service.
— Radio Free Asia

Bangladesh sees boom in meth smuggling from Myanmar
Bangladesh security forces have seized nearly nine million methamphetamine pills in less than three months as a massive influx of Rohingya refugees brings increased smuggling from Myanmar, officials said on Tuesday.
— Frontier Myanmar

Continue pressure on Myanmar to take back Rohingya: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated her call to the international community to continue pressure on Myanmar to take back its nationals from Bangladesh.
— Gulf-Times

Four Myanmar migrants face death sentence, in Ranong murder trial
Thailand’s Ranong district court is expected to deliver its verdict tomorrow on the fate of four young Myanmar migrant workers charged with the 2015 murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl.
— Frontier Myanmar

International partnerships drive transparency among Myanmar companies
Good corporate governance is what attracts investors, such as International Financial Corporation (IFC), for companies, according to the findings revealed by the latest transparency report.
— The Myanmar Times

China ready to promote bilateral ties, Xi tells Myanmar’s new president
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday congratulated U Win Myint on his election as Myanmar’s new president, saying China would like to promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level.
— Xinhua Net

Myanmar, China exchange views on bilateral economic cooperation
Business communities of Myanmar and China exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in economic, trade and investment here on Monday.
— Mizzima

The ASEAN Committee for Culture and Information (ASEAN-COCI), Myanmar
The Association of South East Asia Nation (ASEAN) is trying to promote mutual cooperation in the region with the spirit of equality and partnership that focus on the peace, progress and prosperity.
— The Global Newlight of Myanmar

Minister urges prompt construction of tarred road linking Dawei SEZ and Thai border
The construction of a two-way tarred road linking Dawei Special Economic Zone and the Thai border is a first step, and the project should be implemented as quickly as possible, said Union Minister for Commerce Dr Than Myint, who is also chairman of Myanmar Special Economic Zone Central Work Committee.
— Eleven Myanmar

Karen village leaders call on Suu Kyi to defend them from military incursions
The leaders of two village tracts in Myanmar’s Kayin (Karen) State released a letter yesterday calling on State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to use her influence to end military incursions into their territory.
— Coconuts Yangon

Feature photo Christopher Michel

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 March 29 added by Leakhena Khat on March 29, 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.