Friday, August 23, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

It Takes Two to Tango

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 08:26 AM PDT

While Myanmar has undertaken necessary preparations for the safe return of its displaced in Bangladesh, Bangladesh has failed to do the same, argues a guest contributor.

Myanmar ‘Has No Fourth Estate’, Mandalay Chief Minister Says of Media’s Role

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 08:13 AM PDT

Demonstrating a shaky grasp of the law, U Zaw Myint Maung insists the press is wrong to claim it plays a key role in Myanmar's democracy.

Do Myanmar’s Generals-Turned-Politicians Have a Plan B for the Presidency?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 07:37 AM PDT

In 2015 the NLD derailed ex-junta chief Sen-Gen Than Shwe's master plan; there is little to suggest the military's allies could win the 2020 vote legitimately.

Parliamentary Debate on Myanmar Constitutional Reform Gears Up

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 07:16 AM PDT

Military-appointed and USDP lawmakers renewed their opposition to the Charter Amendment Committee, a means of amending Myanmar's Constitution created by the NLD.

Myanmar Military Helicopters Attack Rebels in Northern Rakhine: AA, Locals

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 05:53 AM PDT

Local residents, lawmaker report heavy, daylong clashes in Minbya Township; witnesses say helicopters strafe and bomb mountains, forests in Minbya, Mrauk-U.

Myanmar Military Says It Will Hold Peace Talks With Ethnic Armies in Shan State

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 05:35 AM PDT

Talks to be held in Kengtung; spokesman declines to name the ethnic groups involved; announcement follows Chinese ambassador's expression of support for peace process.

Rebels Detain 8 Alleged Myanmar Military Troops in Shan State

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 05:01 AM PDT

TNLA officials say the eight were dressed as civilians and traveling without weapons in Shan State. The military says it has no report of missing or detained soldiers.

Student Film Festival Leaves Myanmar Audiences Wowed

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 01:45 AM PDT

In just its 2nd year, the University Students Film Festival has become an important incubator of young filmmaking talent; 10 shorts competed for the top prize this year.

No Rohingya Return to Myanmar on Dhaka’s Official Repatriation Date

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 12:55 AM PDT

The Bangladesh government earlier told Myanmar that nearly 3,500 refugees would return to Maungdaw on Thursday, but none arrived.

When Myanmar’s Women Were Given a Seat at the Table

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 09:46 PM PDT

The list of attendees to the Burma Roundtable Conference on Myanmar's partition from British India was entirely male, until a mass of women in Yangon demanded otherwise.

Cambodia Says EU Rice Tariffs Hurting Farmers

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 09:45 PM PDT

Half a million farmers have been hurt by sharp declines in exports, Cambodia said, after the EU imposed tariffs on the Southeast Asian nation over human rights concerns.

Canadian Consulate Suspends Travel to China for Hong Kong Staff

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 09:34 PM PDT

The decision, which the consulate is not elaborating on, comes days after a British Consulate employee went missing while visiting Shenzhen, in mainland China.

As Students Map the Weather, an Indian Village Bests Its Water Woes

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 09:20 PM PDT

An educational weather station at a village school in southern India is teaching children about climate change and helping their parent's harvest more from their land.
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Thursday, August 22, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Venerable Myanmar EAO Leaders Plead for End to Fighting

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 07:30 AM PDT

While decrying the increased fighting taking place in Shan State, leaders still remain reluctant to point fingers, understanding rebel groups that feel unrecognized.

Chinese Ambassador Says Beijing Stands with Myanmar on Rohingya Issue

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 06:49 AM PDT

Rohingya groups say conditions not right for repatriation; in meeting with Myanmar Army chief, ambassador also calls for end to ethnic alliance's attacks in Shan State.

Healing Images: Exhibition Showcases Works by Art Therapy Patients

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 06:44 AM PDT

At Myanmar's Aung Clinic, patients struggling with mental illness find a path to wellness in painting. JoSaZo is displaying their works in a new exhibition, 'The Room'.

Despite Critical Remarks, Malaysia Keen to Invest in Myanmar

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 05:56 AM PDT

"Politics don't create jobs, only economies create jobs," the Malaysian ambassador said, despite his government's past criticism of Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya.

Locals Say Officials Took Bribes, Freed Illegal Loggers in W. Myanmar

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 02:32 AM PDT

Villagers and lawmakers in Gwa Township, in western Myanmar's Rakhine State, say local police and forestry officials replaced a captured boat with a decoy as a cover.

Myanmar Military Evacuates Foreigners Trapped by Clashes in Kutkai

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 01:39 AM PDT

28 people from US, Canada, HK, China, Taiwan flown to Lashio and then to Yangon; concerns mount for northern Shan State's tourism industry amid ethnic offensive.

Flat-Packed Cities: Wooden Skyscrapers Sprout Over Concrete Concerns

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 09:57 PM PDT

Growing environmental concerns over concrete and rapid advances in engineered wood, wooden structures are sprouting across Europe, North American and the Asia Pacific.

Frontline View: Making the Case for Violence in Hong Kong Protests

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 09:40 PM PDT

"I have thrown rocks … I have also been hit by police with batons. We're all slowly getting used to this. We have to," a "peaceful, middle-class" Hong Kong student said.

Former Indian Finance Minister Chidambaram Arrested in Corruption Case

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 09:19 PM PDT

In a scene watched across India, police scaled a wall to enter the minister's home. A Supreme Court lawyer, he has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

In Myanmar’s Commercial Capital, Mayor’s Sidewalk Store Plan Draws Criticism

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 08:11 AM PDT

A plan by Yangon's mayor to create mini convenience stores on the platforms of the city's already overcrowded bus stops has drawn the ire of citizens and lawmakers alike.

At Talks in China, Beijing Urges Myanmar Rebel Groups to Stop Fighting

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 07:52 AM PDT

Special envoy Sun Guoxiang tells northeast-based EAOs their attacks are 'unacceptable'; govt welcomes China's efforts but says peace deal can only be reached in Myanmar.

Thai, Indian Firms Selected to Supply Power, Gas to Myanmar New City Near Yangon

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 05:59 AM PDT

PTT Group, IGL Consortium are preliminary choices to supply mega-project across river from Myanmar's commercial capital.

Militia Leader, Wife Dead in Alleged Rebel Attack in Northeast Myanmar

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 05:07 AM PDT

U Win Maung, a militia leader in Myanmar's Shan State, and his wife were killed by rebel-fired mortars and grenades Tuesday evening, according to the military.

Ethnic Alliance Says 30 Myanmar Army Troops Killed in Northern Shan

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 04:52 AM PDT

Military denies losing any soldiers as ethnic groups' offensive focuses on Kutkai Township; aid groups say thousands of civilians displaced, many trapped without food.

German Firm to Advise Central Bank of Myanmar on Licensing Foreign Lenders

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 04:31 AM PDT

Roland Berger Co. selected from among four consultants; govt plans to allow foreign banks, insurers to provide retail banking services next year.

Myanmar Police Captain Killed as Convoy Hit by Mine Blasts in Rakhine

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 12:46 AM PDT

Four police also wounded in two explosions; in separate incident, Myanmar military sergeant killed as artillery shell strikes home in Minbya.

S. Korea to Increase Radiation Testing of Japanese Food

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 09:30 PM PDT

Relations between the two are their worst in years, with a trade row rooted in a decades-old dispute over compensation for South Korean forced labor.

State Dept Approves Possible $8B Fighter Jet Sale to Taiwan: Pentagon

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 08:55 PM PDT

China has already denounced the widely discussed sale, one of the biggest yet by the United States to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.

US Commander Says Cracks in Asian Alliances a Worry Amid N. Korea, China Threats

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 08:47 PM PDT

A worsening spat between Japan and South Korea over forced labor during World War II has already spilled over into trade and threatened to derail security cooperation.
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Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

US, Japan Vow to Back ‘Responsible Investment’ in Myanmar

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 08:00 AM PDT

Speaking at Yangon forum, State Counselor highlights her government's investment-friendly reforms, welcomes 'balance and stability' offered by US and Japanese businesses.

Schools Closed, Villagers Flee Amid Fighting in Myanmar’s Northeast

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 07:17 AM PDT

Amid increased fighting in Shan State between armed rebels and the Myanmar military, more than 3,000 have become displaced, including about 150 school children.

Singing Soldiers Burnish Myanmar Military’s Image on Global Stage

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 06:59 AM PDT

As an ethnic alliance mounted a major offensive at home, the Tatmadaw's talented musicians brought the military glory at the International Army Games in Moscow.

Will Myanmar’s Formal Peace Negotiations Get Back on Track?

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 06:56 AM PDT

Proposals elucidated by the Union government at peace talks in Chiang Mai on Monday offer little that's new in terms of ideas for moving Myanmar's peace process forward.

Fatal Landslide Raises Alarms Over Myanmar’s Natural Disaster Preparedness

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 06:14 AM PDT

With increasingly erratic weather brought on by global warming, disaster-prone Myanmar must improve its planning and preparedness or face increasing losses of life.

UK Rights Group Expands ‘Dirty List’ of Companies with Ties to Myanmar Army 

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 05:56 AM PDT

Burma Campaign UK adds 38 firms including Apple, Google, Huawei to list of businesses with links to Tatmadaw or projects abusing human rights, environment.

Rebel Strikes Cast Shadow on China’s BRI Projects in Myanmar

Posted: 20 Aug 2019 04:20 AM PDT

Ethnic alliance's attacks in areas crucial to the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor raise doubts about the two countries' 'peace will follow development' strategy.

Elderly in HK Look to China for Affordable Care

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 10:43 PM PDT

A growing number of seniors are moving to the mainland in search of cheaper retirement options.

A British Decision on India that Led to a Key Demand from Myanmar

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 09:46 PM PDT

On this day in 1917, Britain issued a statement that would lead to Myanmar's first request to be separated from British India, a goal that would take 20 years to achieve.

China Pig Farmer Profits Soar After Disease Wipes out Third of Herd, Boosts Prices

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 09:39 PM PDT

Breeders that have managed to keep the fatal African swine fever off their farms are now reaping rewards, with some ready to set record profits of $200 a hog.

Hong Kong Leader Sees “Way Out” of Chaos Through Dialogue

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 09:26 PM PDT

Repeating that the controversial extradition bill that ignited protests in the city is "dead," Carrie Lam said Sunday's peaceful protest may offer a way forward.
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Monday, August 19, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

China Condemns Myanmar’s Ethnic Rebels for Shan State Fighting

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 07:20 AM PDT

At a Beijing press conference, China's foreign ministry condemned the recent attacks, which occurred in parts of Myanmar that border China and are home to BRI projects.

Myanmar Military Chief Inspects Airliner Assembly in Russia

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 07:14 AM PDT

Army releases few details of senior general's visit; experts say transport plane is too expensive for military.

In Myanmar’s Shan State, Villagers Wounded, Trapped, and Living in Fear

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 06:42 AM PDT

With ongoing fighting between the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, and armed ethnic rebel groups in their own backyards, villagers in northern Shan State's Kutkai Township fear for their own safety and wellbeing, as neighbors wounded in the crossfire find themselves cutoff from access to medical care. At least two civilians are now wounded and in […]

Myanmar’s Cross-Border Trade with China Halted by Clashes

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 05:31 AM PDT

Destruction of bridges, road closures cause trade in Shan State border town of Muse—normally worth $3 million a day—to dry up.

Myanmar Ruling Party Suspends Chief Research Officer for ‘Overstepping Authority’

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 03:42 AM PDT

At its Executive Committee Meeting on Sunday, the NLD suspended U Myo Yan Naung Thein from office, but refused to explain what exactly the official had done wrong. 

Rebel Fighters Attack 2 Towns in Myanmar’s Shan State

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 12:42 AM PDT

Army repels 200 ethnic troops who attacked Lashio, Kutkai towns on Sunday; Tatmadaw says EAOs are trying to cut off communication, trade routes.

Myanmar’s First Postwar Political Mass Meeting

Posted: 19 Aug 2019 12:00 AM PDT

Seventy-four years ago today, at the Nay Thurein Meeting, the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League objected to Churchill's proposal for only partial Burmese independence.

India Turns Tables on Traffickers with Child-Friendly Courts

Posted: 18 Aug 2019 09:22 PM PDT

Child trafficking victims in India have long faced a traumatizing court system, but a new, "child-friendly" system—with couches and chocolates—aims to change all of that.

Hong Kong Readies for More Mass Protests After Huge, Peaceful Rally

Posted: 18 Aug 2019 09:04 PM PDT

On Sunday, an estimated 1.7 protested peacefully in Hong Kong, despite a chaotic previous week. Still, more strikes are planned through the city for the coming week.
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Saturday, August 17, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

One Killed, 4 Hurt as Rescue Team Hit by RPG, Sniper in Myanmar’s Shan State

Posted: 17 Aug 2019 01:49 AM PDT

Two more bridges destroyed, army base attacked as rebel alliance continues offensive in NE Myanmar.

‘Myanmar Is Not Cursed, or a Failed State’

Posted: 16 Aug 2019 08:30 PM PDT

This week, The Irrawaddy sits down with NLD lawmaker U Aung Kyi Nyunt to discuss the long road to democracy, and the merits of Myanmar's 'obligation-based' society.
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