Myanmar Morning News For May 22

Mekong rethinks drug policy as syndicates pump meth from Myanmar
The production of synthetic drugs in the Mekong Region – and Myanmar in particular – has reached “alarming levels”, the United Nations said today as regional anti-drug authorities meet to negotiate a new strategy.
— Frontier Myanmar

MPs push for Myanmar regime to face international criminal court
The UK must support efforts to refer Myanmar’s regime to the international criminal court over evidence of state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing of Rohingya people and human rights abuses, according to MPs on the international development select committee.
— The Guardian

Myanmar judge to rule on evidence allegedly taken from Reuters reporters’ phones
A Myanmar judge will rule on Tuesday whether to allow the submission of evidence police say they obtained from the mobile phones of two Reuters reporters arrested in December for alleged possession of secret documents.
— Reuters

Myanmar Urges Rohingya to Leave ‘No-Man’s Land’ on Bangladesh Border
Myanmar authorities have resumed using loudspeakers to urge the nearly 4,000 Rohingya taking shelter on a sliver of land between the border fences of Bangladesh and Myanmar to leave, sparking fresh panic among the refugees over their imminent future.
— The Irrawaddy

Myanmar drug woes to spur on peace deals
Myanmar has promised to speed up peace efforts with ethnic minority groups in order to better tackle drug trafficking across its borders.
— Bangkok Post

Kachin Activists Charged With Defamation to File Appeal With Regional Supreme Court
A lawyer for two Kachin activists charged by the military with criminal defamation for leading an antiwar protest in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina, during which demonstrators called for the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones, will appeal to the regional Supreme Court to drop the cases.
— Radio Free Asia

Hong Kong paper manufacturing company to invest in Bago
A Hong Kong listed company is seeking to construct a paper production plant in Myanmar’s southern Bago region, Xinhua reported on 21 May quoting state media.
— Mizzima

Myanmar government to help fisheries continue Saudi exports
The Myanmar government has announced to work closely with the country’s seafood companies in meeting trade requirements by Saudi Arabia and continue fish exports to the Middle East nation
— Far Eastern Agriculture

Myanmar invites foreign investments in insurance sector
Myanmar authorities are inviting foreign investments in the country’s insurance sector, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported recently.
— The Borneo Bulletin

Myanmar is on a Sri Lankan path to impunity
In the northern town of Kilinochchi, the former political headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is now the base for the Sri Lankan army’s 57th Infantry Division.
— Asia Times

Casino expansion on the cards for Myanmar?
Myanmar’s Ministry of Home Affairs is looking to amend the country’s gambling law to allow the casino industry to open up, however Shaun McCamley, a partner at Global Market Advisors, suggests that the new legislation could still be a way off.
— Casio-Review

Elite Petrochemical launches first private-sector LPG project in Myanmar
Elite Petrochemical Co launched its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Terminal and Port Facility at the Thilawa Special Economic Zone on Saturday. The terminal is the first private sector-led LPG investment open for business in the country.
— The Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s Planning and Finance Minister Submits Resignation
Planning and Finance Minister U Kyaw Win has submitted his resignation to the president amid reports that he is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI), sources close to the matter told The Irrawaddy.
— The Irrawaddy

Lack of economic direction, strategy leading to Myanmar brain drain
A lack of economic reform, direction and strategy by Myanmar’s leaders is resulting in a draining of young talent from the country, said U Myint, economist and former chief adviser to the president, during the launch of the World Bank’s report, Myanmar Economic Monitor, on May 17.
— The Myanmar Times

Myanmar to Postpone Third Round of Peace Talks With Ethnic Militias
Myanmar must postpone its third round of nationwide peace talks planned for May because the ethnic militias that have already signed the government’s peace accord say they have to attend other meetings this month to prepare for the country’s political dialogue.
— Radio Free Asia

Yangon Residents Oppose $93M Development Plan, Cite Environmental Threats
Lawmakers and residents opposed the Yangon government’s proposed development plan in the city’s Mayangone Township, citing that the more than US$93 million project would pose environmental threats to the neighborhood.
— The Irrawaddy

Singapore tops investors list in Thilawa SEZ
Till late April, the total investments of 17 countries in Thilawa Special Economic Zone reached over US$ 1.374 billion, with Singapore topping the list with over US$ 503 million, according to the Thilawa Special Economic Zone Management Committee.
— Eleven Myanmar

Government Invites Expressions of Interest In Elevated Expressway Project
The Union government has invited expressions of interest from local and foreign companies to develop Yangon’s first elevated tollway.
— The Irrawaddy

Press freedom at risk in Myanmar today
Press freedom in Myanmar is eroding as journalists and other media workers face increasing restrictions in connection with their work.
— Committee to Protect Journalists

Myanmar Embassy in Pakistan Undergoes Emergency Security Upgrade
Myanmar’s Embassy in Pakistan has spent hundreds of millions of kyats on tightened security measures amid reports that the site has been targeted by terrorists due to the Rakhine issue.
— The Irrawaddy

NRGI launches open jade data website to promote transparency
The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has launched a new website -http://openjadedata.org – which is the first ever portal to publish data related to Myanmar jade.
— The Myanmar Times

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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 May 22 added by Leakhena Khat on May 22, 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.