National News

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• Kachin activist jailed for six months over Facebook post
• 52 political prisoners released in amnesty
• Groups demand Saffron leader’s release
• Police to protect Kachin poppy destroyers
• Verdict expected today in trial of Kachin activist
• Police aim to quiet frenzy over kidnapping fears
• Objection to NLD ethnic minister dismissed
• Confusion over candidates for Speaker posts
• MPs delay return to state and region hluttaws until Feb 8
• Disaster-prone year uses fraction of possible emergency fund

Kachin activist jailed for six months over Facebook post Posted: 22 Jan 2016 05:00 AM PST KACHIN humanitarian worker Patrick Kum Jaa Lee was jailed today for six months by Hlaing township court for posting on his Facebook account an "inappropriate" image of the Tatmadaw commander in chief.

52 political prisoners released in amnesty Posted: 22 Jan 2016 03:28 AM PST MORE than 50 political prisoners, including one New Zealander, have walked free from prisons across Myanmar today, in a presidential amnesty for over 100 inmates.

Groups demand Saffron leader’s release Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST The wife of a former monk and prominent leader of the 2007 Saffron Revolution was denied permission to visit her jailed husband yesterday.

Police to protect Kachin poppy destroyers Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST More than 1000 activists of a Christian-based anti-narcotics group are to have police protection after getting the go-ahead from the Kachin State government to destroy over 1600 hectares (4000 acres) of opium poppy fields.

Verdict expected today in trial of Kachin activist Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST An Optimistic defence attorney was yesterday looking forward to a court victory by his client, an activist charged with making fun of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Police aim to quiet frenzy over kidnapping fears Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST Mandalay police are trying to quell child-snatching rumours that have sparked hysterical mobs, including an incident that resulted in a man being beaten to death last week.

Objection to NLD ethnic minister dismissed Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST An attempt to unseat an elected National League for Democracy representative due to questions over his ethnicity has failed. A tribunal formed by the Union Election Commission dismissed the objection on January 20.

Confusion over candidates for Speaker posts Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST Daw Aung San Suu Kyi responded testily yesterday to reported leaks about the National League for Democracy's selection of candidates for the position of Speaker in both houses of parliament, even as a veteran aide confirmed that the choices were made to promote national reconciliation.

MPs delay return to state and region hluttaws until Feb 8 Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST Ready or not, newly elected parliamentarians will get their first taste of the big league on February 8 when state and region hluttaws are set to start.

Disaster-prone year uses fraction of possible emergency fund Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST In a year of disastrous floods, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation accounted for more than 62 percent of total emergency expenditure, parliament heard yesterday. Yet barely over one-tenth of the K100 billion emergency fund under the president's control was utilised.

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