Amnesty International strips Myanmar’s Suu Kyi of ‘conscience’ award
Amnesty International has withdrawn its most prestigious human rights prize from Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing the Myanmar leader of perpetuating human rights abuses by not speaking out about violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
— Reuters
Former journalist describes night of intimidation, abuse at police hands
A former Democratic Voice of Burma reporter has decided not to pursue charges over what he says was a night of physical abuse and intimidation at the hands of Yangon police, but will instead lodge complaints with three international bodies, he told…
— Coconuts Myanmar (paywall)
Myanmar forum targets chemicals as Asean awash in synthetic drugs (video)
Senior counter-narcotics officials from around the world met in the Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Daw last week in an attempt to thrash out policies to stem the flood of synthetic drugs throughout the region.
— AEC News Today
Case dropped against Eleven Media journalists facing incitement charges
The incitement case against three Myanmar journalists who reported critically on the financial management of Yangon’s government has been withdrawn, their lawyer told AFP Friday, in rare good news for the country’s beleaguered press.
— Frontier Myanmar
China to finance Myanmar port
Chinese financing for the first phase of a US$7.2 billion deep-water port development project in the southwest Myanmar town of Kyaukphyu has been agreed.
— KHL
Meth Seizures Up in Myanmar, SE Asia
Drug seizures reported across Southeast Asia indicate this year will be another record high for methamphetamine production in Myanmar.
— Voice of America
Consumer goods imports rise by 12.5 per cent
Myanmar’s consumer goods imports rose by 12.5 per cent to touch US$411.6 million during the first 33 days of the present fiscal year 2018-2019 compared with the same period last year, according to figures released by the Ministry of Commerce, state media reported.
– Mizzima
Myanmar relaxes limits on foreign bank lending, but legal uncertainty persists
The Central Bank of Myanmar has announced new rules enabling foreign banks to lend to local companies, in a move that should promote greater competition and new opportunities for businesses.
— Frontiere Myanmar
Peace Commission to meet as ceasefire signatories withdraw from peace process
The government’s Union Peace Commission has scheduled a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw this week to address the recent decision by the two largest ethnic signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement to suspend their involvement in state-led peace talks.
— Frontiere Myanmar
Explosives Kill Two in Northern Shan
Two people were killed and two more were wounded by a pair of explosives in northern Shan State on Sunday, according to relatives and media.
— The Irrawaddy
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi calls for more foreign investment
Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday (Nov 12) called on foreign businesses to invest in what she called “the last frontier of South-east Asia”, saying her government is working hard to make the business environment more attractive for investors.
— Straits Times
Aung San Suu Kyi beckons investors to Myanmar despite troubles
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday implored foreign investors to take a punt on Myanmar — Southeast Asia’s “final frontier” — but warned its resources are not open for exploitation at the cost of its people.
— Frontier Myanmar
Rohingya returns only ‘at their freely expressed wish’ – UN refugee chief
In a statement, on Sunday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, said that repatriation of refugees “is premised upon the free and informed decision by refugees … to return.”
— news.un.org
24-Hour Electricity in Rakhine to Be Delivered by End of Year
A 30-billion-kyat project to provide 24-hour electricity to four townships in Rakhine State will be completed in December, according to the Department of Electric Power Transmission and System Control under the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.
— The Irrawaddy
Analysis: KNU Reiterates Hiatus in Peace Talks
The Karen National Union (KNU) is standing firm on its decision to temporarily suspend its participation in ongoing peace talks, but will seek solutions to overcome the impasses facing the peace process through informal negotiations, it said in a statement.
— The Irrawaddy
Rohingya flee refugee camps in Bangladesh, as Myanmar prepares for first returnees
Dozens of Rohingya Muslim families on a list of refugees set to be repatriated to Myanmar later this week have fled from camps in Bangladesh where they were living, a Rohingya leader said on Monday, even as Myanmar prepares to begin receiving them.
— Reuters
Thousands of Myanmar migrants return home from Thailand amid crackdown
Thousands of Myanmar migrant workers have been returning from Thailand as Bangkok intensified a crackdown on illegal workers, according a statement from the Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs.
— Myanmar Times
US seeks more ways to help strife-torn Rakhine, Kachin states
The visit of Richard Albright, the US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to Myanmar last week was aimed at finding ways on how the United States can help in rehabilitating and developing the strife-torn Rakhine State, an embassy statement said.
— Myanmar Times
Government guarantees security for refugees
The government guarantees the security for the refugees who are set to return to northern Rakhine later in the week, according to officials of a committee handling the repatriation and resettlement of the returnees.
— Myanmar Times
Health and Sports Ministry to use five digital mobile X-ray Roms
The Ministry of Health and Sports will use five digital mobile X-ray Roms with the aim of scanning for more possible TB patients, said Dr Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports.
— Eleven Media
Coca Cola is producing world class soft drinks: Coca Cola Myanmar
US based Coca Cola Company has invested US$200 million to produce world class soft drinks in Myanmar since the beginning of their business in Myanmar, announced Coca Cola Myanmar.
— Eleven Media
Over 2,200 refugees to be processed in second week of November
Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye said that 2,251 refugees would come back to Myanmar as first batch on November 15. This first batch of over 2,000 Bengali refugees will be taken from Ngakhura waterway gate and Myanmar will verify them by five verification teams.
— BNI
President proposes new ministry to promote investment
President U Win Myint has proposed the formation of a new Union-level ministry to boost local and international investment and to make that investment socially and environmentally responsible.
— The Irrawaddy
Defence lawyers submit objection letter in landmark judicial corruption case
Lawyers representing former Yangon Region advocate general and four other judicial officials accused of accepting bribes to pervert justice submitted a letter on Friday to the Yangon Region High Court objecting to the testimony of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
— Frontier Myanmar
NLD denies 2020 general election deal news report
Vice-Chairman 1 of National League for Democracy (NLD) party, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, said that Aung San Suu Kyi did not make a compromise with anyone including retired Senior General Than Shwe for the forthcoming 2020 general elections.
— BNI
Myanmar’s first dry port opens for business
KM Terminal & Logistics Ltd (KM) and Resource Group (RG) officially opened two separate dry port projects in Ywar Thar Gyi, Yangon yesterday.
— Myanmar Times
Amid concerns, KNU to continue non-participation in peace process
The Karen National Union (KNU) has failed to resolve issues related to its participation in the ongoing peace process and has decided to continue its temporary non-participation in talks with the government.
— Myanmar Times
Businesses positive over growth prospects
Mandalay is poised to become the second-largest hub for growth after Yangon, the city’s chief minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung said at the Mandalay Business Forum held over the weekend.
— Myanmar Times
Chaung Thar Beach to hold Beach Festival
To attract more visitors to Chaung Thar Beach, Tourism Promotion Festival will be held at the beach for three days starting from November 19 to November 21.
— Eleven Myanmar
Kayin residents want monitoring of cement factories’ operations
Residents living near two cement factories in Hpa-an Township in Kayin State have called on the government to ensure transparency in the operation of the plants in order to protect their health amid reports they are already using coal for power.
— Myanmar Times
24-Hour electricity in Rakhine to be delivered by end of year
A 30-billion-kyat project to provide 24-hour electricity to four townships in Rakhine State will be completed in December, according to the Department of Electric Power Transmission and System Control under the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.
— The Irrawaddy
Drug rehab centres placed under different ministries
Three drug rehabilitation centres currently under the management of the Ministry of Home Affairs will be transferred to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and the Ministry of Health and Sports, said Police Colonel Shwe Nyar Maung of the Anti-Narcotic Task Force.
— Myanmar Times
Feature photo Human Rights Watch
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for Tolerance, November 16.
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 November 13 added by Mark Roy on
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A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.
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