Myanmar morning news for October 31

Thousands flee as fighting erupts in Myanmar
At least 1,600 people have fled their homes and taken refuge at monasteries after fighting erupted among ethnic armed groups in Myanmar’s Shan State.
— UCA News

Rohingya refugee crisis hits Myanmar’s economy
While the Rohingya crisis and the escalating problems in Kachin and northern Shan State are grabbing headlines, Myanmar’s sagging economy and the withdrawal of investment by Western nations threaten to hit the largely impoverished nation the hardest.
— UCA News

Business groups speak out against potential withdrawal of EU GSP
Meanwhile, The Myanmar Times understands that a statement co-signed by six European business groups has been addressed to the monitoring mission, arguing that withdrawing GSP “will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on the most vulnerable people in Myanmar while also closing the door to the spread of European standards with regard to responsible business.”
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar auto portal on fast track amid surging demand
THOUGH the lack of stable automobile policies in Myanmar is holding back the potential for an auto boom, CarsDB.com, the nation’s largest automobile marketplace, is confident it will be able to maintain its annual two-fold growth in revenue, according to Wai Phyo Kyaw, co-founder and chief operating officer of the company.
— The Nation

Myanmar Labor Groups Urge EU Not to Drop Crucial Trade Preferences
Myanmar labor organizations urged visiting European Union delegates on Monday to reconsider the possible withdrawal of trade preferences that allow the developing country tariff-free access to the bloc, under threat from Brussels in response to alleged ethnic cleansing of ethnic Rohingya during a 2017 military campaign.
— Myanmar News.Net

Myanmar’s Ethnic Armies to Meet to Sort Out Approach to Stalled Peace Process
Some of the five ethnic armed groups that have not signed Myanmar’s nationwide cease-fire accord will attend talks with the committee responsible for holding political dialogue and convening peace conferences, as stakeholders in the country’s stalled peace process continue to iron out their differences, those involved said on Tuesday.
— Radio Free Asia

By-election will be a litmus test for political parties: analysts
The November 3 by-election may only involve a contest for 13 constituencies across the country, but analysts say it will serve as a litmus test of the relative strength of political parties ahead of the 2020 general elections.
— Myanmar Times

Mottama completes structure of Myanmar’s first high-rise steel building
Mottama Holdings said on Tuesday it has completed the structure of Myanmar’s first high-rise steel building, a US$80 million office tower in Yangon called M Tower that the company is building through a joint venture with a Hong Kong investor.
— Frontier Myanmar

First Group of Rohingya to Be Repatriated Next Month
Dhaka and Naypyitaw have agreed to repatriate the first group of Rohingya to Myanmar by mid-November, Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary M. Shahidul Haque announced on Tuesday.
— The Irrawaddy

Peace commission to meet with Northern Alliance groups in China
Ta Phone Kyaw said this will be the second meeting of the commission with the alliance, which is composed of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
— Myanmar Times

Govt Says Karen Armed Group Not to Blame For Stalled Peace Process
The Myanmar government said it did not blame the Karen Nation Union (KNU) for setbacks in the national peace process following the ethnic armed group’s recent decision to temporarily suspend participation in negotiations.
— The Irrawaddy

Stoking the Embers of Fear in Rakhine State
The recent arrest of three Arakanese youth activists has come to the fore of Rakhine State’s political scene, a typically unpredictable affair complicated by regional strife.
— The Irrawaddy

MPT to offer comprehensive eBook service for all readers
Myanmar Post and Telecoms (MPT), the country’s biggest telecommunications company, announced its first eBook service in the country earlier this month.
— Myanmar Times

KNU releases statement on leaking of letter to NRPC
The Karen National Union (KNU) said the authorities are responsible for keeping confidential information secure after its letter, which was addressed to the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRC)’s chair Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was leaked online, according to its statement which was released on the KNU Headquarters Facebook page on October 29.
— BNI

Lung cancer on the rise in Myanmar
Over 80 percent of patients who suffer lung cancer smoke or use other tobacco products, says a senior doctor at the Yangon Speciality Hospital.
— Myanmar Times

One Child Killed, Four Injured in Kesi Bomb Explosion
One child was killed and four more were hurt after playing with a bomb abandoned by the Burma Army in Kesi Township, central Shan State, last week.
— BNI

Competition among telcos leading to better pricing in Myanmar
After emerging from state-owned monopoly, Myanmar’s telecommunications sector is now a growing market for four competitors: state-owned Myanma Posts and Telecom (MPT), Norway-based Telenor, Qatar-based Oredoo, and MyTel, a partnership of local and foreign entities.
— Myanmar Times

Northern Military Alliance Members to Meet Govt Peace Commission
The three Northern Military Alliance members in attendance will be the AA, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. The fourth member, the Kachin Independence Army, is not scheduled to participate in the meeting.
— BNI

First flight from Italy to Myanmar arrives tomorrow
An air link between Italy and Myanmar will be established starting tomorrow.
— Myanmar Times

President Win Myint will cast his vote in Tamwe constituency
President Office spokesman Zaw Htay said that President Win Myint would cast his vote in person in Tamwe constituency in the by-election to be held on November 3.
— Mizzima

Mon Party strives to obtain official registration faster
“After holding a meeting on November 3, we will try to register by the end of 2018 or in early 2019. The Mon people should not doubt us. There is only one Mon party,” said Nai San Tin, joint secretary (2) of the Mon Party.
— BNI

Indian Coast Guard ships Sujay and Anmol visit Yangon
To further strengthen Bilateral Cooperation between India and Myanmar, Indian Coast Guard ships Sujay and Anmol will visit Yangon, Myanmar from 30 October-03 November 2018 for a goodwill visit.
— Mizzima

Progress in SME financing, but more needed
As some 99 percent of businesses in Myanmar are categorised as small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), anything that can be done to help these businesses can only boost Myanmar’s economy.
— Myanmar Times

The Indian and Myanmar relationship
As the India Embassy begins its 150th Celebrations of Gandhi’s birth, Mizzima’s Myo Thant sat down with the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, H.E Mr Vikram Misri, to discuss the relationship between Myanmar and India.
— Mizzima

Incentives needed to attract investment in special economic zones
A recent survey suggests that Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand have also established SEZs and are offering greater incentives.
— Vientiane Times

Enjoy 30% of Stays at an Eco-Lodge in Myanmar
Myanmar: 30 perfect off at Keinnara Hpa-An Lodge, a collection of eco-friendly wooden cottages situated amid majestic limestone karsts, rice paddies, nut plantations, and teak forests in the remote Karen State.
— Travel Leisure

Feature photo photo-journ.com

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, November 2.

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 October 31 added by Maria Mirasol Rasonable on October 31, 2018
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Maria Mirasol Rasonable

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Maria Mirasol Rasonable graduated with a Bachelors Degree in journalism from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines.

She previously covered police rounds for Philippine Daily Inquirer as a trainee before becoming editorial staff at Gospel Komiks under the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA-MG), Santa Mesa, Manila where she wrote lifestyle and trending fashion and styles articles.