Myanmar morning news for May 12, 2020

Myanmar to launch its first satellite in 2021 with Japan’s help
Myanmar plans to launch its first satellite in 2021, using Japanese technology. Engineers and researchers in the country will develop an ultrasmall satellite and launch it into Earth orbit with the help of Japan’s Hokkaido University and Tohoku University.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Myanmar authorities to charge, fine those caught not wearing masks while outside
Those who leave the house without wearing a mask will be charged under the Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease Law and fined K5000 said NLD Central Information Committee Member U Kyaw Aye Naing on May 11.
— Myanmar Times

All Signs Point to a Worsening of Myanmar’s Rakhine Conflict
With the military’s new ceasefire excluding Rakhine State, and a tough young general promoted to Tatmadaw HQ, the war with the Arakan Army can only get worse.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar to Receive $2B in COVID-19 Relief from Int’l Development Organizations
The support would fund the implementation of Myanmar’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar, UNHCR, UNDP extend MoU on Rohingya repatriation
The MoU is aimed at creating a conducive condition for voluntary and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya from Bangladesh.
— Dhaka Tribune

Tourism operators expect recovery in two years at best
Myanmar’s tourism industry is expected to remain closed for the rest of the year due to COVID-19 restrictions, operators said.
— Myanmar Times

Yangon-based highway buses to resume after May 15
The Yangon-based highway buses are scheduled to resume on May 15, according to the highway bus operators at the Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Terminal.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Rebel Coalition Calls for Military to Extend Ceasefire to Rakhine
Ethnic armed groups say the Myanmar military must extend its recently announced unilateral ceasefire to include conflict zones in Rakhine and Chin states.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar cautious as garment factories re-open
Myanmar state counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi says garment factories resuming operations must be closely monitored, even after passing safety inspections, to ensure business owners continue to enforce safety measures and protect lives.
— Ecotextile

Video Shows Myanmar Forces Beating Five Civilians on Navy Vessel in Rakhine State
Men dressed in plainclothes believed to be government soldiers punched and kicked five blindfolded civilians detained on a Myanmar Navy vessel in war-ravaged northern Rakhine state, according to a video of the assaults obtained by RFA and relatives who identified the victims.
— Radio Free Asia

COVID-19 Cases: National tally stands at 180
Laboratory tests of the National Health Laboratory (Yangon) on the 187 samples and 166 samples by the Department of Medical Research, totalling 353, on 11 May afternoon have showed NO new case.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar’s aquaculture exports hit hard by COVID-19
Myanmar’s aquaculture and fisheries sectors are suffering from the collapse in the export trade that has accompanied the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— The Fish Site

UN agencies, partners fly COVID-19 test kits into Myanmar
Humanitarian agencies of the United Nations and their partners have launched an emergency air-bridge from Kuala Lumpur to Yangon to ferry in supplies to fight the coronavirus, a UN spokesman said on Monday.
— Xinhua

391 former Myanmar detainees arrive back from Malaysia
A total of 391 Myanmar detainees who have served their punishments in Malaysia arrived back home yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

State Counsellor seeks monitoring of factories for virus
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said factories across the country should be closely monitored to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
— Myanmar Times

Yangon govt sues pastor for holding sermons that infected 70 with COVID-19
U Saw David Lah, a Christian pastor who tested positive for COVID-19 in Yangon (Case 50), is being sued by the authorities for a holding sermon at a center in the township earlier this year.
— Myanmar Times

COVID-19: Odd-even vehicle plan to begin in Dimapur from tomorrow
Following the order of the office of the Dimapur commissioner of police, the odd-even scheme for vehicular movement in the commercial hub of Nagaland will begin on May 11 and will continue for a period of seven days till May 17.
— East Mojo

Thailand seeks 50,000 men for hire aboard fishing boats
Despite adverse effects of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Thailand’s fishing industry is currently looking to hire as many as 50,000 men to go out to sea aboard trawlers, said a senior government official on Sunday (May 10).
— The Star Online

Ministries discuss progress of schoolbook production, distribution
The Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Education held the 2/2020 coordination meeting yesterday on the progress of production and distribution of schoolbooks for 2020-2021 academic year.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Mandalay Steps Up Mask Campaign with Fines as City Begins to Reopen
Mandalay and other cities have begun issuing fines to anyone found outside with their face uncovered.
— Irrawaddy

First Siam Makro store in Myanmar opens its doors
The first Siam Makro store in Myanmar has opened its doors as the Thai-based cash & carry operator eyes the fast-growing foodservice sector in the rising country Myanmar.
— Retail News

Slow grid rollout shows why Myanmar should join the personal energy revolution
Myanmar should rethink its electrification plan to acknowledge the worldwide growth of personal energy, which could make traditional grid connections redundant in some areas.
— Frontier Myanmar

New mining permits to be be approved soon: ministry
Myanmar will approve the applications of up to 158 new medium and large-scale exploration and extraction mining permits, said U Thein Soe, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC).
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Hostels Cut Rent as COVID-19 Closures Hit Workers
Numerous hostels in Yangon’s industrial hub, Hlaing Tharyar, are helping tenants cope with the closure of their factories.
— Irrawaddy

Govt land surveyor facing corruption charges in Taungdwingyi Tsp
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) received a report to take action against the Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistics regarding necessitated payments related to rights and the right to use vacant, fallow and virgin lands within Taungdwingyi Township.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

China trains Tatmadaw medics assigned to COVID-19 centre
Medical experts from China’s People’s Liberation Army have trained Tatmadaw (military) medical workers assigned to the COVID-19 centre in Yangon, the Tatmadaw said on May 10.
— Myanmar Times

Commerce Ministry holds video conference on “Doing Business” cooperation
The Ministry of Commerce convened a video conference on “Doing Business” cooperation at the ministry yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Senior General inspects installation of COVID-19 testing machine, meets with NDAA (Mongla), UWSA (Wa) representatives
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing arrived at the military hospital in Kengtung Township in eastern Shan State to inspect the installation of COVID-19 testing machine RT-PCR (Thermocycler ROTOR GENE-6000) on 10 May.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Hundreds of tonnes of maize discarded at border every day
About 100 tonnes of corn is being thrown daily into the Shweli River after exports to China were suspended along the Namkham-Muse gates in Shan State, residents told The Myanmar Times.
— Myanmar Times

MoRA&C designates religious buildings as community based quarantine centres
Union Minister Thura U Aung Ko presided over a meeting with officials on preparations for facility quarantines.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Younger Myanmar Military Officers Promoted to Key Roles in Reshuffle
In an apparent bid to retain his influence after he retires, military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has handed out key promotions to a number of younger officers.
— Irrawaddy

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Joint Bill Committee holds meeting
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Joint Bill Committee held a meeting on allotment of the additional Union Budget for 2019-2020FY at the Building D of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Social and economic needs of Myanmar must be assessed and planned not only for the coming months but also for the post COVID world: State Counsellor
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wrote on her Facebook page yesterday that the social and economic needs of Myanmar must be assessed and planned not only for the coming months but also for the post COVID world.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) releases statement on the announcement to enforce ceasefire
Statement No (4/2O2O) 11 May 2020.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo Greater Mekong Subregion Program
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, May 17.

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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