Myanmar morning news for March 24, 2020

Myanmar confirms first coronavirus cases
Myanmar confirmed its first cases of of the deadly novel coronavirus late on Monday (Mar 23) after weeks of increasing scepticism over the under-developed Southeast Asian nation’s claims to be free of the disease.
— CNA

Myanmar eases visa rules for in-country foreign employees
Myanmar has eased visa extension rules for foreigners based in the country in response to growing travel restrictions and flight cancellations.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar to Deport 86 Chinese Migrants for Illegal Residency After Yangon Bust
A total of 86 of 118 Chinese people will be deported for violating Myanmar’s immigration rules, according to Yangon Region’s Ministry of Immigration and Human Resources.
— Irrawaddy

CMP businesses import raw materials worth $1 bln as of 13 March
Imports of raw materials by CMP businesses have been valued at US$1.028 billion between 1 October and 13 March in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, an increase of $39 million compared with the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Yangon shopping centres and markets to stay open
“There are rumours circulating around social media that markets and shopping centres in Yangon will be shutdown.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar resumes rice exports to China
Myanmar has resumed suspended rice exports to China at Muse 105th mile on Myanmar-China border, said U Than Oo, Secretary of Bayintnaung Brokerage Center.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar produces around 27 million tons of paddies annually
Myanmar has 17.8 million acres of paddy fields and produced around 27 million tons of paddies annually, announced Central Statistics Organization by quoting the Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistics (DALMS).
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar in denial with zero Covid-19 case claim
Officials claim recent mysterious deaths are not Covid-19 related and that citizens are protected by nation’s unique diet and lifestyle
— Asia Times

Suzuki to invest $109m to raise Myanmar factory capacity fourfold
Suzuki Motor announced on Monday that it will increase production at one of its factories in Myanmar. It will introduce a new line for four-wheeled vehicles at its plant in southeastern Yangon that will handle tasks like painting car bodies. Suzuki has two factories in the country.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Arakan Army Attacks Military Training School in Myanmar’s Minbya Township
The Arakan Army on Monday attacked a regional military training school in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state, sparking fighting in nearby areas that left casualties on both sides, spokesmen from the two armies and a local lawmaker said.
— Radio Free Asia

COVID-19: Updates on Stay Permits and Business Visas in Myanmar
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FocusCore Myanmar Company Limited has updated its rules and regulations with the official processes for the first-time applicants of stay permits and for renewals of stay permits and business visas for foreign workers in Myanmar.
— Myanmore

Two killed, two injured in landslide in central Myanmar
Two men have been killed with two others injured in a landslide at a stone cave in Myanmar’s central Mandalay region, according to a release of the Home Affairs Ministry on Monday (March 23).
— The Star Online

US recalls 67 Peace Corps volunteers from Myanmar
The United States is recalling its 67 Peace Corps volunteers teaching English in schools across Myanmar, as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens around the world, a US Embassy spokesperson said in Yangon on Monday.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Prepares Quarantine Centers as Official COVID-19 Count Remains at Zero
The government is preparing stadiums, apartments, a meditation center and other sites to serve as quarantine centers for people arriving from areas hit badly by COVID-19.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar-China border trade zone to be developed in Kachin’s Kan Paik Ti
The Kachin State government this month signed an MOU with Myanmar Hein Investment Development Co to develop a border trade zone at Kan Paik Ti township in Waingmaw, Kachin State, which is near the Myanmar- China border.
— Myanmar Times

Mining, drugs and conflict are stretching the AIDS response in northern Myanmar
“People who inject drugs can access harm reduction services and HIV treatment, but they still don’t go for them. Why?” asked Deputy Director-General of Communicable Diseases of the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports, Thandar Lwin, while searching for ways to respond to the drug-related HIV epidemic in northern Myanmar.
— UNAIDs

Sixty cleaning staff let go in Yangon airport slowdown
Sixty employees of Mingalar Sky, which provides cleaning at Yangon International Airport, have been laid off due to the sharp decline in the number of travellers using the airport, a labour union leader said Sunday.
— Myanmar Times

MoHS’s nationwide coordination and command centres come into operation to monitor Covid-19
The Ministry of Health and Sports has initiated its coordination and command centres to control measures against Covid-19 in the country amid worries about high risk of the viral disease due to the returnees from the countries and territories with the confirmed cases of pandemic.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Yangon Bus Service to continue operating
Despite a drop in the number of Yangon Bus Service (YBS) passengers due to fears of a coronavirus outbreak, YBS services will continue to run as normal, according to a statement made by the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) on March 22.
— Myanmar Times

Myawady-Thai border gates closed
The government of Thailand has closed the Thai-Myanmar friendship bridges No. 1 and No. 2 yesterday and today respectively, Kayin State Hluttaw Representative U Than Zin Aung said.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar urges migrant returnees from Thailand to self-quarantine
Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS) urged migrant returnees from Thailand to self-quarantine as it is not possible for facility quarantine to a large number of people all together, state-run media reported on Monday.
— China.org

Awareness campaigns for COVID-19 conducted at philanthropic centres in Nay Pyi Taw
Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung led an awareness campaign for the COVID-19 at the two philanthropic centres under the management of a monastery and a nunnery in Pubba Thiri Township in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

State Counsellor receives Mr. Ola Almgren, UN Resident Coordinator for Myanmar
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi received Mr. Ola Almgren, UN Resident Coordinator for Myanmar, at 2:20 pm on 23 March 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar releases endangered turtles into Chindwin River
Conservationists have begun reintroducing a critically endangered turtle species in its original habitat in the upper Chindwin River.
— Myanmar Times

Amyotha Hluttaw passes Myanmar Telecommunication Commission Bill
The Amyotha Hluttaw held its 12th-day meeting of the 15th regular session yesterday, and discussed asterisk questions, tabled a motion and reported a one-year extension of the term of a committee.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Declaration of Unlawful Association
Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs Nay Pyi Taw Order No. 1/2020 15th Waning of Tabaung 1381 ME (23 March 2020) Declaration of Unlawful Association 1.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Telenor Myanmar, CB Life launch digital micro-insurance service
Telenor Myanmar and CB Life Insurance have launched a digital micro-insurance product dubbed ‘SateChaLife’. The product will be available for all Telenor customers through the MyTelenor App and Telenor Myanmar website.
— Telecompaper

MIFER Union Minister U Thaung Tun receives World Bank Country Director Gevorg Sargsyan
U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Chair of Working Committee to Address the Possible Impacts of COVID-19 on the Country’s Economy, received Mr. Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Director of the World Bank Group at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Film industry offers assistance against COVID-19
Myanmar Motion Picture Organization (MMPO) and Forever Group donated K10 million and K20 million for the protection against, containment and treatment of COVID-19 respectively yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

India to import 400,000 tonnes of black gram from Myanmar
India’s government announced on March 19 that it will purchase an additional 400,000 tonnes of black gram beans, known locally as matpe, from Myanmar this year.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s Military Braced for Coronavirus Outbreak: Spokesman
Myanmar’s military says it is well-prepared for a possible coronavirus outbreak with teams of medics and quarantine measures in place.
— Irrawaddy

Govt extends social security payments deadline to 3 months
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population issued an order (No. 63/2020) dated 20 March extending the deadline for social security payments from 15 days to three months in accordance with the Article 100 of Social Security Law (2012).
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar govt readies facilities for possible quarantine
The Yangon Region Government has prepared 500 apartment units and two 300-bed hospitals for quarantine purposes, should the COVID-19 virus strike the city, according to Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein.
— Myanmar Times

World Meteorological Day
By Kyaw Lwin Oo (Moe Zala) The date of the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 23 March 1950 has been named World Meteorological Day.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Pyithu Hluttaw receives veterinary health, national library bills
The 12th-day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 15th regular session was held yesterday where asterisk questions were raised and a report read.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Deadline for social security payments extended
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population issued an order extending the deadline for social security payments from 15 days to three months in accordance with the Article 100 of Social Security Law (2012), state media reported.
— Mizzima

Long Way to Go but Marching to It: 20 Years of Pushing Political Reform in Myanmar
A letter from Myanmar’s Assistance Association for Political Prisoners on the 20th anniversary of their founding shows how far the country has come and how far is left to go.
— Irrawaddy

Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment Camp inaugurated in Myanmar
The Embassy of India in Yangon in collaboration with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Jaipur, India and U Nu Daw Mya Yi Foundation is organizing a 23-day 3rd Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Yangon from 19 March to 10 April, 2020.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Banyan Tree eyes Myanmar expansion with new joint venture
Banyan Tree Holdings and Myanmar Treasure Hotel & Resort Group Company (known as Htoo Hospitality) have signed a joint venture agreement for the formation of a hotel management business.
— Breaking Travel News

MoHS confirms two Coronavirus cases
Following is the full-text of the news release on monitoring of COVID-19 (11:45 p.m., 23-3-2020) issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports. 1. A 36-year-old male Myanmar national with an American green card from Tiddim, Chin State, arrived in Myanmar on 13-3-2020.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Untouchable Articles in Myanmar’s Constitution
The Irrawaddy presents what the military and its proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party did not want to be changed in the 2008 Constitution.
— Irrawaddy

Tatmadaw families donate for COVID-19
A donation ceremony for medicine and equipment for COVID-19 was held at the Defence Services Orthopedic Hospital in Mingaladon Township, Yangon Region, yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo IOM UN Migration

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, March 24.

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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