Thursday, November 17, 2016

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Arakan State Advisory Commission Calls Off Visit to Maungdaw

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 07:31 AM PST

A member of the Kofi Annan-led commission says they canceled the trip due to instability on the ground and concerns for their safety.

The post Arakan State Advisory Commission Calls Off Visit to Maungdaw appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Rangoon to Relocate Street Vendors

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 07:03 AM PST

In an effort to manage Rangoon's congested roads, the city's municipal authority designates three locations for vendors expected to launch next week.

The post Rangoon to Relocate Street Vendors appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Two USDP Lawmakers Lose Seats After Election Tribunal Ruling

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 06:10 AM PST

A post-election tribunal rules that the election of two USDP lawmakers in Mandalay's Yamethin Township is invalid, reversing the election results.

The post Two USDP Lawmakers Lose Seats After Election Tribunal Ruling appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma’s Electricity Demand Predicted to Nearly Double By 2020

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 06:02 AM PST

Electricity consumption throughout Burma is limited to 2,500 megawatts per day, but could reach more than 4,500 megawatts by 2020.

The post Burma's Electricity Demand Predicted to Nearly Double By 2020 appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Vietnam, Neighbors Told to Close Illegal Wildlife Markets

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:59 AM PST

Countries in the Greater Mekong region including Vietnam have failed to close their illegal wildlife markets says WWF.

The post Vietnam, Neighbors Told to Close Illegal Wildlife Markets appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

President’s Office Spokesman Responds to Allegations of Rights Abuses

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:52 AM PST

U Zaw Htay: Access for media will be considered 'when situation is stable.'

The post President's Office Spokesman Responds to Allegations of Rights Abuses appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Commerce Minister Waffles on Inquiry About Rising Food Costs

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 03:59 AM PST

U Than Myint spent the 10-minute answering period reciting theories to Parliament on the correlation between inflation and rising prices.

The post Commerce Minister Waffles on Inquiry About Rising Food Costs appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Arakan Information Committee Formed

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:36 AM PST

The committee of seven aims for fast release of information related to the ongoing security situation in Arakan State.

The post Arakan Information Committee Formed appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Burma Refugee Doctor Wins Humanitarian Prize for Clinic in Thailand

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 10:28 PM PST

Starting in 1988 with only four beds, the clinic now provides surgery, dentistry, vaccinations and HIV prevention to more than 75,000 patients a year.

The post Burma Refugee Doctor Wins Humanitarian Prize for Clinic in Thailand appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Dollar Exchange Rate Climbs, Shakes Up Burma’s Business Community

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 10:22 PM PST

The US dollar exchange rate—at its highest since the new government came to power—has Burma's business community looking for better trade policy.

The post Dollar Exchange Rate Climbs, Shakes Up Burma's Business Community appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Hundreds Flee Arakan Violence

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 10:12 PM PST

Residents report boats pushed away by Bangladeshi border guards and people gunned down as they cross the Naaf River separating Burma and Bangladesh.

The post Hundreds Flee Arakan Violence appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Govt to Resume Harvesting Timber

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 05:26 PM PST

The government will resume the harvest of aged timber in northern Burma but will keep a moratorium on harvesting timber along the Pegu mountain range.

The post Govt to Resume Harvesting Timber appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

Health Challenges Continue in Naga After Measles Outbreak

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 04:30 PM PST

Burma's remote Naga region still faces challenges in meeting basic health care needs following a measles outbreak last summer.

The post Health Challenges Continue in Naga After Measles Outbreak appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

National News

National News


Laws must protect the people: Speaker to MPs

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:38 AM PST

Legislation must represent the best interests of the people, the Speaker of the lower house has urged, calling on MPs to ensure the law serves to protect the country's citizens.

Yangon govt to offer low-cost housing to ‘real’ squatters

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:37 AM PST

The Yangon Region government is in the process of arranging low-cost housing for "real squatters" in the commercial capital, Yangon's security and border affairs minister told the regional legislature yesterday.

6000 school buildings in ‘dangerous’ need of upkeep: deputy minister

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:34 AM PST

Nearly 6000 school buildings are so badly in need of repairs that they are considered "dangerous", according to a Ministry of Education official.

Street vendors to be banned on Yangon’s busiest roads

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:27 AM PST

Yangon's 11 busiest roads will soon be free of street vendors, an official from Yangon City Development Committee's Department of Administration told The Myanmar Times yesterday.

Myanmar ranks last in ASEAN tobacco control study

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:12 AM PST

With out-of-date policies, cheap access, and ubiquitous usage, Myanmar ranks last in tobacco control, according to a survey of the region released last week.

Freelance miner shot by soldier in Hpakant altercation

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:10 AM PST

A jade miner was shot in Kachin State's Hpakant township following a brief confrontation between miners and Tatmadaw soldiers, according to a state MP.

Settlement, apology ends strike at slipper factory

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 11:08 PM PST

Some 600 disgruntled workers at the Myanmar DYC slipper factory in Mingaladon township ended their strike yesterday, after labour officials mediated a settlement and a Korean supervisor of the operation apologised for allegedly abusive conduct, according to the workers and a factory official.

Renewed push to legalise migrant workers in Thailand to start later this month

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 11:07 PM PST

Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand will be issued with Certificates of Identity before the end of November, in a joint effort by the Thai government and Myanmar's Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.

Sagaing community divided over sweeteners from controversial military-run sulfuric acid factory

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 11:03 PM PST

Villagers and civil society are divided over what to do with community development funds from a controversial sulphuric acid factory operator, amid ongoing concerns about the potential health risks posed by the facility.

First rock garden opens at Mandalay University

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 11:00 PM PST

The country's first geological rock garden, which will showcase fossils and the world's oldest rocks, opened in Mandalay University's Department of Geology yesterday.

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News


Commentary on "Learning from the past"

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 08:01 PM PST

It is really a positive development that Myanmar Historical Commission has been formed and tasked with writing an objective history.


Important is that pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history writing timeline would need to be demarcated.

While the former two periods of pre-colonial and post-colonial could be based on available documents domestically and internationally, the post-colonial period of parliamentary, military, plus the recent quasi civilian-military eras or periods would be based more on oral history, besides printed documents that have been produced by the regimes of the day and also critical literature that were published during the corresponding periods.

As the military era was based on the sole "Bamar and military supremacy" approach and propaganda, which still has sizable followings until today under the recent quasi civilian-military rule, this needs to be corrected. And it is here that the historian would need to tell history as it is and not in anyway being influenced by anybody's pre-concieved idea, if history is to be treated as history and not propaganda.

Tons of guidelines on how to write history objectively is available today for the Myanmar Historical Commission and it only needs to have a look at it and make use of them accordingly.

Link to the story:http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/learning-from-the-past