National News

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• Poll date set for November 8
• Koh Tao murder trial gets under way
• President cancels property projects near Shwedagon
• Military MP warns against decentralisation
• Activists write to president urging amnesty
• Students call for new union building
• Power supply entity approved
• MPs pass marriage law despite warnings
• Charged monks accuse Sangha authorities of misusing power
• Ethnic university admission criteria stricter than for president: Speaker

Poll date set for November 8 Posted: 08 Jul 2015 04:10 AM PDT Highly anticipated parliamentary elections considered a key test of Myanmar's reforms will take place on November 8, according to an official announcement of the date made today by the Union Election Commission (UEC).

Koh Tao murder trial gets under way Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:08 PM PDT Questions over the fairness of Thailand's criminal justice system linger as two Myanmar defendants head to trial for the grisly killing of British tourists last year, a crime they allege they were tortured into confessing to and a case defence lawyers claim lacks equal access to evidence.

President cancels property projects near Shwedagon Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:05 PM PDT President U Thein Sein has instructed the Myanmar Investment Commission to stop controversial property projects near Shwedagon Pagoda, multiple sources have confirmed to The Myanmar Times, as activists announced plans to intensify their opposition to the developments.

Military MP warns against decentralisation Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:03 PM PDT Debate on key amendments to the constitution continued yesterday with the military warning that decentralisation would lead to a worsening of armed conflict.

Activists write to president urging amnesty Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:01 PM PDT The Former Political Prisoners Society yesterday requested a presidential pardon for all political prisoners and jailed activists so they can be released ahead of the general election scheduled for November.

Students call for new union building Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:57 PM PDT Activists also demand an end to the military veto of changes to the constitution.

Power supply entity approved Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:56 PM PDT The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw yesterday backed corporatisation of power supply boards in Yangon and Mandalay, in a shake-up aimed at reducing running costs and the national budget deficit.

MPs pass marriage law despite warnings Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:55 PM PDT Members of parliament yesterday gave final approval to an interfaith marriage bill despite fresh warnings that it would be discriminatory and would violate both the 2008 constitution and international standards.

Charged monks accuse Sangha authorities of misusing power Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:51 PM PDT In another challenge to the prosecution, London Sayadaw, also known as U Ottara, has demanded to know why only he and four other monks are facing charges in the wake of the police raid on Mahasantisukha Monastery.

Ethnic university admission criteria stricter than for president: Speaker Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:49 PM PDT A Chin State MP has complained that admission policies for the University for the Development of the National Races of the Union (UDNR) are still too restrictive, and would exclude many students who might otherwise be qualified.

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