Tuesday, September 10, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Into the Forest With Myanmar’s Bamboo-Shoot Harvesters

Posted: 10 Sep 2019 07:15 AM PDT

In the rainy season, Irrawaddy Region farmers venture into the mountains and battle mosquitoes and snakes to supplement their income by harvesting the popular food.

Activist Detained Over Karen Martyrs Day Commemoration

Posted: 10 Sep 2019 07:09 AM PDT

Naw Ohn Hla, chairwoman of the Karen Women's Union, was detained under unlawful assembly charges; after declining to request bail, she was taken to Insein Prison.

Two Decapitated Bodies Found in Market in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

Posted: 10 Sep 2019 05:55 AM PDT

Headless, mutilated bodies of Arakanese men dumped in Kan Htaung Gyi market; incident is latest in series of brutal, unsolved killings of civilians in northern Rakhine.

Ethnic Armed Group Drafts Civilians in Myanmar’s Shan State

Posted: 10 Sep 2019 04:46 AM PDT

The Restoration Council of Shan State is accused of engaging in forced recruitment in northern Shan after conscripting 10 Ta'ang civilians to join its military.

Curfew Continues in Northern Myanmar’s Kokang Over Concerns About Armed Conflict

Posted: 10 Sep 2019 04:22 AM PDT

Government officials have extended a long-running curfew in Kokang Self-Administered Zone again amid concerns about stability in northern Shan State.

Workers Protest Lack of Fishing Rights in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Region

Posted: 10 Sep 2019 03:41 AM PDT

Fishery workers' application for rights to fish in lakes rejected in favor of wealthy businessmen, they say.

Myanmar’s First Railroad to Get ADB-Assisted Upgrades

Posted: 10 Sep 2019 12:53 AM PDT

Upgrades to the Yangon-Pyay railroad—Myanmar's oldest—will reduce total travel time from 8 to 4.5 hours, the transport ministry says.

Ninety-Nine Malaysian Couples Tie the Knot on Auspicious Day

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 10:27 PM PDT

At a mass wedding held at a Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, the 99 couples took part in an annual rite for Chinese Buddhist couples looking to wed.

Typhoon Lashes Japanese Capital, One Dead, Power, Transport Disrupted

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 09:53 PM PDT

Deadly, record-breaking winds and stinging rain canceled 160 flights and scores of trains, brought landslides, destroyed one bridge and left 930,000 without power.

Huawei Drops Lawsuit Against US Over Seized Equipment: Court Filing

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 09:39 PM PDT

But, the company said, it is disappointed the US refused to provide a full explanation for the "arbitrary and unlawful" detention of the equipment for two years.

Monday, September 9, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Foreign Investment in Myanmar Set to Miss Target: MIC

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 06:26 AM PDT

Foreign investment in Myanmar is expected to miss its target for the fiscal year, according to the Myanmar Investment Commission.

Myanmar State Pharmaceutical Factory Official Arrested on Corruption Charges

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 05:44 AM PDT

The general manager of Burma Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) is facing 10 years in prison on corruption charges for allegedly mismanaging state funds.

Three Myanmar Rebel Groups Announce 1-Month Ceasefire in Northern Shan State

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 04:47 AM PDT

To 'build trust' ahead of peace talks on Sept. 16-17, Brotherhood Alliance vows not to attack Myanmar army; despite the move, shelling is reported in Kutkai.

Ethnic Conflict Puts Village Leaders in Myanmar’s Shan State at Risk

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 04:09 AM PDT

Village leaders in northern Shan State face threats and extortion from ethnic armed groups, making it hard to find people willing to fill the role of village head.

Korea-Myanmar Industrial Complex to Begin Construction This Year

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 02:56 AM PDT

The $110-million project—a first for economic cooperation between Korea and Myanmar—is set to begin construction in Yangon this year and be completed by 2024.

Buddhist Monk Faces Colonel’s Lawsuit for Criticizing Myanmar Army

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 02:46 AM PDT

Mandalay-based monk U Sein Ti Ta is being sued by an army colonel for a social-media post in which he questioned the motives of military commanders.

Myanmar CSOs Begin Countdown to Internet Shutdown’s 101st Day

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 02:01 AM PDT

The groups are calling on all to abstain from internet use on Sept. 30 in solidarity with those living under internet shutdowns in western Myanmar's Rakhine State.

The US-ASEAN Maritime Exercise: Why Myanmar Matters

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 01:48 AM PDT

The US military has done nothing wrong yet; by partnering with them on ASEAN-wide projects, Myanmar helps build a rules-based order in the region and the world.

Myanmar Military Drops Case Against Kachin Leader over Conversation with Trump

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 12:33 AM PDT

Officer had sued Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson after he urged Trump to back federalism, religious freedom in Myanmar; US State Dept. last week voiced concern about the case.

Woman Killed as Typhoon Lashes Tokyo Area

Posted: 08 Sep 2019 11:07 PM PDT

Flights canceled, train lines closed, more than 900,000 lose power as storm brings winds of more than 200 kph.

Hong Kong Students Form Human Chains after Weekend of Protests

Posted: 08 Sep 2019 10:59 PM PDT

They demand release of jailed protesters; HK warns foreign govts not to interfere as pro-democracy activists call for US assistance; China vows to crush 'secessionism'.

The Death of British Burma’s Anti-Colonial Monk

Posted: 08 Sep 2019 07:00 PM PDT

On this day in 1939, anti-colonialist monk U Ottama passed away, leaving behind a legacy of non-violent resistance and powerful rhetoric.

Saturday, September 7, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


No End in Sight to Myanmar Military, Northern Alliance Fighting

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 08:30 PM PDT

This week, The Irrawaddy discusses recent peace talks between armed rebels and the Myanmar military in China and the mounting civilian burden in northern Shan State.

The Day Gen Aung San Established the Myanmar Army

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 07:00 PM PDT

On this day in 1945, Gen. Aung San signed an agreement with the British in the Sri Lankan city of Kandy to establish the Myanmar army.

Recalling the Day When I Was Reborn

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 06:00 PM PDT

Life as I knew it ended when the military regime jailed me, but I left prison in 1999 with new strengths; many in Myanmar have undergone a rebirth of one kind or another.

Friday, September 6, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Mandalay University Rector Faces Probe over Canteen Contract

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 07:33 AM PDT

Ministry of Education investigates a food court construction contract at the university; students claim it did not follow procedures and their signatures were faked.

Restriction on Rohingya Use of Internet Data in Bangladesh Triggers Debate  

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 05:27 AM PDT

Some say crime in the camps is aided by unregistered SIM cards and massive data usage. Others say blocking the internet will only invite greater crises.

Myanmar Soldiers Sentenced to 20 Years After Civilian Killings

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 05:15 AM PDT

Two Myanmar military soldiers were sentenced to 20 years in prison for desertion after allegedly killing seven civilians in Karen State and now await trial for murder.

Leaving Prison, Ex-Child Soldier Calls for Peace in Myanmar’s Shan State

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 04:25 AM PDT

Ko Aung Ko Htwe, who was jailed for describing life as a child soldier, says conflict motivated by self-interest, not political goals.

Rights Activist in Myanmar Sentenced for Giving Judge Broken Scales of Justice

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 02:48 AM PDT

An activist in Myanmar's Kachin State who faces prison under the Peaceful Assembly Law saw his sentence extended Friday after giving a pair of broken scales to a judge.

Police Detained, Forestry Officials Investigated Over Bribes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

Posted: 06 Sep 2019 02:12 AM PDT

An investigation found the officials accepted 600,000 kyats in bribes to set traffickers of illegally logged timber free—and replaced their seized boat to cover it up.

Myanmar Ambassador Meets with 2 Migrant Workers on Death Row in Thailand

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 11:48 PM PDT

Envoy tells the pair the government is working on their behalf to seek a royal pardon for their murder convictions, widely viewed as flawed.

Myanmar’s Yangon Intl Airport Reopens

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 11:16 PM PDT

Operations are back to normal at Myanmar's major international airport, after shutting down for 19 hours Thursday when an aircraft skidded off the runway.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe: From Liberator to Oppressor

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 11:09 PM PDT

Even his harshest critics admitted to his tactical brilliance. Robert Mugabe, the freedom fighter turned power-obsessed authoritarian, has passed away.

The Day Myanmar’s Independence Hero Tied The Knot

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 10:20 PM PDT

On this day in 1942, Gen. Aung San, shortly after joining the Japanese to drive the British out of Myanmar, married Daw Khin Kyi.

Hard Right: Political Divide Deepens in Thailand

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 10:10 PM PDT

Thailand's illiberal "yellow camp" conservative nationalists have turned up their social media rhetoric against progressive opponents with a new term: "nation-haters."

US Voices Concern Over Myanmar Army’s Lawsuit Against Religious Leader

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 09:47 PM PDT

The Myanmar military's criminal complaint against the Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson "seeks to unduly limit his freedom of expression," the US State Dept. said on Thursday.

Taiwan Warns Solomon Islands of China ‘Debt Trap’ in Diplomatic Switch

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 09:39 PM PDT

The "Flashy infrastructure" promised by China has severely damaged local ecosystems and infringed sovereignty, a spokesperson for Taiwan's foreign ministry warned.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine


Myanmar Army Says It Recaptures Village in Buthidaung from AA

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 07:29 AM PDT

Rebel group denies it was in Oo Yin Tha; some local residents say the Myanmar military entered the empty village and torched all the homes.

Bosses of Myanmar’s Controversial New Yangon City Project See Major Shakeup

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 05:33 AM PDT

Two of the five directors of the company to develop New Yangon City, which involves a corruption-tinted Chinese company, have been replaced.

Rally in Northern Myanmar Highlights IDPs Plight

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 05:17 AM PDT

IDPs and civil society organizations gathered in Kachin State's capital to draw attention to the plight of Myanmar's displaced persons as clashes continue in Shan State.

Dengue Fever Kills 68 in Myanmar in 8 Months 

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 05:11 AM PDT

Dengue fever has infected over 10,000 people in Myanmar this year, most of them children. The highest number of cases have been in Irrawaddy Region, followed by Yangon.

Myanmar, South Korea Sign Major Agreements on Trade, Investment and Finance

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 04:26 AM PDT

On the 2nd day of his visit, Korean President Moon Jae-in tells Yangon forum Seoul aims to be a key partner, oversees 5 MOU signings, including on New Dala City Project.

Thai Park Chief Questions DNA Evidence in Case of Missing Karen Activist

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 03:54 AM PDT

A Thai National Parks official has said he doubts the results of a DNA test that indicate a missing Karen activist was murdered in 2014.

Flights Delayed at Yangon Airport After Myanmar Military Plane Skids Off Runway

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 02:20 AM PDT

No one was hurt when an engine failure caused a Y-8 military plane to skid off the runway, but inbound flights from China and several ASEAN nations were held up an hour.

The Day Three Myanmar Banknotes Suddenly Became Worthless

Posted: 04 Sep 2019 11:03 PM PDT

On this day in 1987, Gen. Ne Win's government abruptly demonetized three banknotes in a move that caused financial hardship for many and hastened the end of his rule.

North Korea Tells United Nations to Cut International Aid Staff

Posted: 04 Sep 2019 10:13 PM PDT

The international pariah said the world body's programs have failed "due to the politicization of UN assistance by hostile forces," according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Bangkok Tops Paris, London as World’s Most-Visited City: MasterCard

Posted: 04 Sep 2019 09:30 PM PDT

The new statistics are welcome by Thai officials, who had worried recently over drops in foreign arrivals. MasterCard Inc. recorded 22.8 million visitors this past years.

Thai Garment Factory Investigated by Starbucks After Illegal Wages Exposed

Posted: 04 Sep 2019 09:21 PM PDT

The expose raises questions about Thailand's ability to inspect garment factories and protect workers across the country.

Hong Kong Leader to Meet Media After Killing Extradition Bill

Posted: 04 Sep 2019 09:06 PM PDT

After killing the controversial bill Wednesday, Carrie Lam is due to speak to the media before departing for a trip to China's Guangxi province on Thursday afternoon.