Myanmar morning news for October 8

India’s Rohingya refugees struggle with hatred, fear as first group is expelled
Hours after Indian TV channels flashed that the country was deporting seven Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, Sahidullah said he received a call from his nephew: “Uncle, please get us out of here. They will send us back too.”
— Reuters

EU to hit Cambodia with trade sanctions, says Myanmar may follow
BRUSSELS: The European Union told Cambodia on Friday (Oct 5) it will lose its special access to the world’s largest trading bloc, and said it was considering similar trade sanctions for Myanmar in a toughening of EU policy on human rights in Southeast Asia.
– Channel News Asia

Trials and Tribulations for Myanmar’s Travel Industry
On Monday, Myanmar granted visa exemptions for some Asian countries, which I think is a good move for the country’s tourism industry as tour season is drawing near. So what is your take on the visa exemptions?
—The Irrawaddy

Bangladesh court asks government why jailed photographer should not get bail
Bangladesh’s High Court issued a notice to the government on Sunday (Oct 7) asking it to justify why a prominent social activist should not be granted bail, in a case widely seen as a test for freedom of speech.
— Channel News Asia

Myanmar may lose EU trade privileges
The European Union warned Myanmar on Friday it could lose trade privileges over its “blatant violation of human rights”, as the international backlash over the Rohingya crisis grows.
— Mizzima

Psychologist’s Guide to Good Mental Health in Modern Myanmar
With World Mental Health Day falling next week, The Irrawaddy spoke to Dr. Hannah Kyaw Thaung, an Irish-Burmese clinical psychologist, for her advice on maintaining good mental health in modern Myanmar. Hannah gained her doctorate in clinical psychology in the UK where she worked for a number of years before coming to Myanmar in 2013 to establish a private psychology clinic, Marble Psychological Services.
— The Irrawaddy

Concern rising over fate of Rohingya refugees sent home by India: UNHCR
Prior to their return, the men were moved from Silchar prison in Assam province, near the border with Bangladesh – where they had been in detention since 2012 – to the province of Manipur, bordering Myanmar.
— AEC News Today/PR Newswire (media release)

Over 1,600 foreign tourists arrive in Mandalay just after three days of visa exemption
More than 1,600 foreign tourists entered Mandalay through Mandalay International Airport within three days after visa exemptions had been granted for some countries outside of ASEAN such as Japan, South Korea, Macao (Macau) and Hong Kong, according to the region’s Immigration and Population Department.
— Eleven Myanmar

Legislation in the works to regulate multi-level marketing
Following the government’s prohibition of multi-level marketing via a notification dated September 18, consumer rights advocates and other experts have come out to say more must be done to educate the public about the drawbacks of the system.
— Myanmar Times

Political unity needed at home to counter neighbour offensive
SUBSERVIENCE and capitualistic policies that successive governments of Bangladesh have showed towards its close neighbours has had the concept of the freedom and sovereignty of Bangladesh almost at stake.
— NewAge

‘Safe, Dignified and Sustainable Return’ of Refugees Not Yet Possible: UNHCR
Despite government representatives citing Myanmar’s readiness to take back Rohingya refugees at the recent UN General Assembly in New York, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ spokesman Andrej Mahecic mentioned in a statement on Friday that current conditions in northern Rakhine State’s strife-torn Maungdaw District are “not conducive for safe, dignified and sustainable return” of Rohingya refugees currently in neighboring Bangladesh.
— The Irrawaddy

Heavy rain causes flooding of several homes in Loikaw
The ward has no electricity after the transformer has been inundated and the local residents are facing difficulties in cooking their meals since the firewood is wet as well, he continued.
— BNI

China Taking Active Steps to Counter Western Influence in Myanmar: U.S. Report
A recent U.S. report portrays China as seeking privileged access and influence inside Myanmar in order to further its geostrategic interests, while taking steps to counter the influence of Western countries—particularly the U.S.—especially along the China-Myanmar border.
— The Irrawaddy

Myanmar may lose EU trade privileges over Rohingya abuse
The European Union warned Myanmar on Friday it could lose trade privileges over its “blatant violation of human rights”, as the international backlash over the Rohingya crisis grows.
— Coconuts Yangon

Scrutinising committee to be formed to re-check 90 acres of natural floating island in Mongthauk
Under the guidance of the President Office, a scrutinising committee will be formed to look over 90 acres of natural floating island in Mongthauk, Nyaungshwe Township, Shan State, the proposal submitted by Myanmar Naing Groups.
— Eleven Myanmar

Military Road Construction Through UWSA and RCSS Areas Sparks Fear of Attacks
A Shan rights group has reported that the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) is building a new military strategic road in southern Shan State which threatens the safety of 200 Shan internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Loi Lam area, near the northern Thai border.
— The Irrawaddy

Leaders of NCA signers to meet with State Counsellor and military chief
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and key leaders of the 10 armed ethnic groups that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) will meet on October 15 to try to iron out differences to speed up the peace process.
— Myanmar Times

UWSA releases 100 ethnic Wa Christians
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) on Friday freed 100 ethnic Wa Christians it had detained, but continues to hold more than 100 ethnic Lahu Christians in a crackdown on religious freedom in mountainous territory it controls, RFA reported.
— Mizzima

MTSH’s share price falls in the wake of boardroom row
Yangon-listed Thilawa SEZ Holding Ltd’s (MTSH) stock has seen a drop in share price as a row which engulfed its board directors brewed, leading to a resignation of its chief operating officer.
— Myanmar Times

Surbung Airport may not be completed on time due to lack of budget
Construction of the Surbung Airport in the Chin State’s Falam Township may face delays due to lack of budget, the Minister of Construction and Transportation U Sui Thio said.
— BNI

Mon State set to issue licences for salt farming
The Mon State government will issue licences for salt farming through the Salt Industry Department, an official said.
— Myanmar Times

Madrassas a place of prayer and peace for Rohingya kids
Inside a stifling bamboo shanty, eight-year-old Saleema Khanam throws a bright yellow shawl over her head and steps out into the enormous Bangladesh refugee camp tightly clutching her treasured Koran.
— Coconuts Yangon

Dutch bank, Maha to deploy digital agri-lending suite
FMO, a Dutch development bank, has announced its partnership with Myanmar-based Maha Agriculture Microfinance (Maha) and US-based Harvesting Inc to provide a grant that would help make lending to Myanmar farmers more efficient.
— Myanmar Times

UN blasts India’s deportations
The UN voiced alarm Friday over India’s deportation of seven Rohingya men to Myanmar despite warnings they could face persecution in a country where the military is accused of genocide against the Muslim minority.
— Mizzima

Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement: Burma Army Attacks on Karen Villagers, Displacing 340 Villagers – Clear Violation of NCA
The frontline humanitarian organization, Free Burma Rangers have reported that the Burma Army is continuing to attack civilians and reinforce its troops in Karen State.
— BNI

India deports seven ‘illegal immigrants’ to Myanmar despite UN protest
India on Thursday went ahead with deporting seven Rohingya men to Myanmar, despite UN warnings that they faced persecution in the country.
— Mizzima

Complete ban placed on rice exports in Muse
Executive committee of the rice trade center in Muse issued a statement saying that it has placed a total ban on rice exports in Muse.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar torches $1.3m of illegal wildlife parts
Elephant skins, clouded leopard remains and tiger bones were among a $1.3 million haul of illegal wildlife incinerated Thursday in Myanmar’s first ever public event of its kind against the illicit trade.
— Mizzima

China agrees to continue Kyaukpyu project based on results
The first phase of Kyaukpyu deep seaport project will be implemented with US$1.3 billion investment and China agreed to continue the project based on economic gains, said Dr Than Myint, Union Minister for Commerce and Chairman of Central Committee of Special Economic Zone.
— Eleven Myanmar

Former information minister call for Reuters retrial
Myanmar’s former information minister on Thursday called for a review and retrial of a case involving two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in prison for breaching a law on state secrets, RFA reported.
— Mizzima

Education spending to increase to Ks 2,175 bn this fiscal year
The government has planned to spend Ks 2,175 billion, which is more than ever previous years, on Myanmar’s education sector in 2018-2019 fiscal year as educational investment contributes most to long-term national development, said Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s economy expects to grow 7.4 pct this FY 2018-19
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) has forecast that Myanmar’s economy is expected to grow 7.4 percent in this new fiscal year 2018-19 which started on October 1.
— Infosurhoy

Luxury Furniture Market 2018-2023 Growth, Vendors, Trends, Challenges, Drivers, and Technology Leadership
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— The Tactical Business

Not real politicians but plotters against people’s politics
Last week we witnessed a big gathering at Suhrawardy Uddayn arranged by BNP. Many people expected that it will be a mammoth gathering.
— The Independent

Feature photo UCL

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges World Post Day, October 8.

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 8 added by Maria Mirasol Rasonable on October 8, 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.