National News

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• NLD could draft new constitution
• NLD to look West, but not ignore its tough neighbours
• Ministries set for months-long review and overhaul
• Disaster spotlights segregation policies
• More political prisoners set for release next week
• River pirates caught after clash with police
• The far north: life on the Rakhine State border
• Researchers learn from quake aftermath
• Koh Tao verdict an ‘extreme miscarriage of justice’: report
• NLD defends ‘experimental’ cabinet as pressure builds

NLD could draft new constitution Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT The National League for Democracy may scrap efforts to amend the constitution and instead seek to write a new charter, a legal adviser to the party has revealed.

NLD to look West, but not ignore its tough neighbours Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT Revered in the West almost as much as at home, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi may steer Myanmar's foregin policy to a westward pivot to some degree, although the Nobel Peace Prize winner has already shown she understands the realities of dealing with powerful Asian neighbours.

Ministries set for months-long review and overhaul Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT Don"t expect quick changes. That was the message emanating from Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi announcing a restructuring of government ministries that could take up to two months.

Disaster spotlights segregation policies Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT As many as 40 people travelling to a market and a hospital from displaced person camps in Rakhine State remained missing yesterday after their boat capsized in bad weather at sea, with nine children among the 22 bodies recovered.

More political prisoners set for release next week Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT More political prisoners are to be freed over the coming week, a senior government official said yesterday, as three more were released from prisons in Mandalay Region.

River pirates caught after clash with police Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT River pirates wielding knives and Molotov cocktails have been arrested near Mandalay, after they allegedly robbed a coal barge and attacked police.

The far north: life on the Rakhine State border Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT The tension starts even before you arrive. The 54-mile (87.2-kilometre) trip from Sittwe to Buthidaung, Rakhine State, takes six hours by what they call a speedboat. Part of the reason it takes so long is that the craft is heavily overloaded with passengers, most of whom have no ticket. So you have plenty of time while aboard to consider the fate of the ferry Aung Takon 3, which sank a year ago off this same coast with the loss of who knows how many people, because they didn't have tickets either.

Researchers learn from quake aftermath Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT Local and international experts are studying last week's magnitude-6.8 earthquake that rumbled Sagaing Region and was felt across the country. No deaths or serious damage was reported, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement announced the following day.

Koh Tao verdict an ‘extreme miscarriage of justice’: report Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT Legal advisers working on the appeal of two migrant workers sentenced to death in Thailand say they have strong case for the verdict to be overturned. They say the original sentence was based on "circumstantial" evidence only and represented "an extreme miscarriage of justice".

NLD defends ‘experimental’ cabinet as pressure builds Posted: 21 Apr 2016 02:30 PM PDT The start has been, critics say, inauspicious. With its penchant for secrecy, missteps, odd choices and sudden shifts, the new National League for Democracy government has so far failed to impress with its choice of cabinet ministers.

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