Myanmar morning news for July 20, 2020

Myanmar Holds Muted Martyrs’ Day Tribute to Fallen Independence Heroes
Myanmar’s public marked one of the Southeast Asian nation’s darkest moments on Sunday with tributes to slain independence heroes, though the annual Martyrs’ Day gatherings were muted by the coronavirus pandemic due to social distancing measures.
— VOA

Myanmar Military Chief Affirms Support for China’s BRI Projects
In a meeting with the Chinese ambassador, commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing reiterated the Tatmadaw’s support for China’s infrastructure projects in Myanmar.
— Irrawaddy

‘Ugly face’: U.S. and China trade barbs in Myanmar as South China Sea rift deepens
China’s Embassy in Myanmar on Sunday accused the United States of “outrageously smearing” the country and driving a wedge with its Southeast Asian neighbors over the contested South China Sea and Hong Kong, as tensions mount between the superpowers.
— Japan Times

World Bank and Myanmar Sign Pact to Provide Off-Grid Solar Products in Rural Areas
The World Bank has signed an agreement with the Government of Myanmar to provide off-grid solar products to 450,000 people in rural Myanmar.
— Mercomindia

Myanmar continues on its unacceptable path
The evolving dynamics pertaining to Myanmar leaves a lot to be desired. Over the last few weeks, nearly every day has revealed fresh international concern about events taking place in that country.
— The Financial Express

MoI publishes 73rd anniversary Martyrs’ Day memorial books
The Ministry of Information has published memorial books for the 73rd anniversary Martyrs’ Day. A total of 50,000 copies are in Myanmar language and 5,000 copies in English.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar sailor tests Covid-19 positive in Vietnam
A Myanmar sailor has raised Vietnam’s Covid-19 tally to 384 and active cases to 26, the Health Ministry confirmed Sunday afternoon.
— VnExpress

Myanmar uncovers Sino-Pak nexus in arms supply to two rebel groups in Rakhine
New Delhi: Myanmar is believed to have discovered an alleged Sino-Pak axis that is supplying China made arms to two rebel groups in the country’s restive Rakhine province to target Indian assets including Kaladan multi modal project.
— India Times

How the Erosion of Sovereignty Elsewhere Impacts Myanmar at Home
As Myanmar has focused on the fight against COVID-19 in recent months, many of its friends, including the United States, have offered support. But troublingly, at this time of shared struggle across the world, the People’s Republic of China has continued its crackdown on democracy and disrespect for other nations’ sovereignty.
— US embassy

Did A Monk Wear High Heels To Bring Luck To Myanmar’s Ex-Dictators?
The picture has been online since at least July 2019 in reports about a monk in Thailand attending a local funeral.
— Boomlive

140 Myanmar citizens fly back home from Jordan on 19 July
A total of 140 Myanmar nationals who were working for Rich Pine, Century Miracle, and Camel and Vega companies in Jordan returned home yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Special flight arrives in Yangon with WHO’s medical supplies, experts for fight against COVID-19
A special relief flight carrying laboratory equipment provided by the World Health Organization and experts for humanitarian work to provide support to the fight against the COVID-19 in Myanmar landed at the Yangon International Airport yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar: US-China Embassies Get Into A War Of Words Over South China Sea, Hong Kong
On July 19, China’s embassy in Myanmar accused the United States of “outrageously smearing” the nation and “driving a wedge” in its relations with other Southeast Asian countries over the South China Sea and Hong Kong.
— Republic World

Myanmar human rights commission inspects jails, labour camps, correction centres
An inspection team of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission visited jails and labour camps in Yamethin Township, Pyinmana Township and Nay Pyi Taw from 15 to 17 July.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar authorities bolster defences against hate speech | Video
Myanmar authorities are stepping up their fight against an old and lurking enemy – hate speech. This comes as Facebook said recently that it deleted some 51,000 hate speech posts in the first quarter of this year. CNA’s Leong Wai Kit explains why this old foe is back, and how the Myanmar government is trying to silence it.
— CNA

YPS card system to kick off on 21 July
The Yangon Payment System (YPS) will be launched onboard the YBS buses on 21 July, it is learnt. Currently, the YPS cards are being sold starting from 16 July in Yangon region.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Military Claims its Investigators Attacked in Shan State
The military says its probe was sent to investigate an alleged killing by its troops in northern Shan State only to be attacked by the Restoration Council of Shan State.
— Irrawaddy

Bogyoke Aung San Residence Museum in Natmauk
Bogyoke Aung San Residence Museum in Natmauk was the home of his parents U Phar and Daw Suu in Magway Region.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Deputy Minister U Bharat Singh attends Mekong-Japan Industrial & Government Dialogue and AMEICC Working Group on West-East Corridor Development
Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Bharat Singh yesterday attended a Joint Session of the 13th Mekong-Japan Industry and Government Dialogue and the 1st Meeting of 2020 ASEAN Economic Ministers-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) Working Group on West-East Corridor Development (WEC-WG) via.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Shwedagon Monks Say Buddha Statue Resembling Myanmar Dictator Doesn’t Violate Scripture
Buddhist monks in charge of Myanmar’s holiest pagoda say a jade Buddha statue that some say looks like former dictator Than Shwe is fully in line with Buddhist scripture.
— Irrawaddy

Access to Health Fund delivers medical supplies for fight against COVID-19
Medical supplies and laboratory equipment worth US$ 6.2 million to be used for measures against the COVID-19 were handed over by Access to Health Fund to the Ministry of Health and Sports yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Joint Bill Committee discusses Union Tax Bill 2020
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Joint Bill Committee organized a meeting on 2020 Union Tax Bill sent by the Union Government yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

U.S., China Diplomats Spar Online Over Myanmar’s Best Interests
An op-ed by a U.S. diplomat accusing China of eroding Myanmar’s sovereignty led to the two superpowers sparring online over who had the Southeast Asian nation’s best interests in mind.
— Bloomberg

MoLIP, ILO jointly organize coordination meeting of National Complaints Mechanism
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population and the International Labour Organization jointly conducted the first coordination meeting on elimination of forced labour under the National Complaints Mechanism yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar’s 1988 Uprising Leaders Found New Party, Rally Voters of All Ages
This week, The Irrawaddy discusses Myanmar’s 2020 election with U Ko Ko Gyi, a leader from the 1988 pro-democracy protests and founder of the new People’s Party.
— Irrawaddy

CMP factories request MIC to manufacture more PPEs, facemasks
By Nyein Nyein CMP garment factories have requested Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) to manufacture more PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) suits and facemasks, which are the basic health and safety requirements during the pandemic, said MIC Secretary U Thant Sin Lwin.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Conservationists Slam Moves for Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin’s Captive Breeding
Governmental approval of commercial breeding of 90 protected species, including the dolphin, will fail to protect wild animals and could boost the illegal wildlife trade.
— Irrawaddy

UEC holds meeting with CSOs for 2020 General Election
The Union Election Commission (UEC) held a meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to successfully organize the 2020 General Election at the Grand Amara Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Will Outlawing of Polling Stations on Military Bases Change Myanmar’s Electoral Landscape?
Poll monitors are hopeful recent legal changes requiring military voters to cast ballots alongside civilians will boost transparency and lead to fairer results on Nov. 8.
— Irrawaddy

Artists Freed After Anti-Buddhist Claims Dropped Against COVID-19 Mural in Myanmar
Three Kachin State artists spent three months fighting allegations that a depiction of the Grim Reaper spreading coronavirus was supposed to look like a Buddhist monk.
— Irrawaddy

Alms food offered at Yangon City Hall to commemorate 73rd anniversary of Martyrs’ Day
Alms food were donated to senior Buddhist monks as a commemoration service to the martyrs of national independence at the meeting room of the city hall of Yangon City Development Committee at 10:40 am yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Robust policy actions needed to help fishery sector survive
Due to the decrease in the demand of freshwater fisheries sector as there is no export amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the aquaculture sector hit hard those who depending on the sector for their livelihood.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo MingalaGo
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on Burmese Martyrs’ Day, July 19.

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).

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