The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar’s ‘People’s Weatherman’ Dies
• Myanmar Election Commission Seeks to Abolish Military Polling Stations for 2020 Election
• Myanmar Coffee Specialist Wins ASEAN Business Award
• Myanmar’s SNLD Condemns Murder of 3 Party Members in Northern Shan State
• 13 Killed When Coach Slides off Road in Myanmar’s Mandalay
• AA Releases 25 Hostages, Blames Myanmar Military for Deadly Bombing
• Chinese Envoy Meets Members of Myanmar’s Northern Alliance in Yunnan
• The Day Japan Signed War Reparations for Myanmar
• Kachin Medic From Myanmar Working With FBR Killed in Syria
• China’s Xi Urges Cooperation to Bring Down Trade Barriers
• N. Korea Says US Terrorism Report Makes Talks Difficult
• Malaysia Aims to Locate Another $4.3 Billion in 1MDB-Linked Assets

Myanmar’s ‘People’s Weatherman’ Dies Posted: 05 Nov 2019 06:07 AM PST Lifelong meteorologist U Tun Lwin died on Monday. He was 72.

Myanmar Election Commission Seeks to Abolish Military Polling Stations for 2020 Election Posted: 05 Nov 2019 05:51 AM PST Myanmar's election commission has proposed draft reforms to Parliament that would let military personnel and their family members cast votes outside military barracks.

Myanmar Coffee Specialist Wins ASEAN Business Award Posted: 05 Nov 2019 05:46 AM PST Myanmar's Genius Coffee has won a regional business prize for a second year running. The founder says he wants to drive up quality to break into the luxury market.

Myanmar’s SNLD Condemns Murder of 3 Party Members in Northern Shan State Posted: 05 Nov 2019 04:14 AM PST The Shan National League for Democracy has demanded the authorities act to stop civilian deaths in northern Shan State.

13 Killed When Coach Slides off Road in Myanmar’s Mandalay Posted: 05 Nov 2019 04:05 AM PST Two of three coaches taking Buddhist pilgrims from Mon State to Sagaing Region crash, leaving 13 dead and 27 injured.

AA Releases 25 Hostages, Blames Myanmar Military for Deadly Bombing Posted: 05 Nov 2019 03:54 AM PST The Arakan Army has released 25 civilians abducted from a ferry in Rakhine last week but is still holding an unknown number of security personnel hostage.

Chinese Envoy Meets Members of Myanmar’s Northern Alliance in Yunnan Posted: 05 Nov 2019 01:20 AM PST Chinese envoy Sun Guoxiang meets Northern Alliance members in Yunnan province, urges continued engagement with peace process, according to TNLA.

The Day Japan Signed War Reparations for Myanmar Posted: 05 Nov 2019 12:03 AM PST On this day in 1954, Myanmar secured a pledge from Japan to pay reparations for violence and damage caused to the country under Japanese occupation during World War II.

Kachin Medic From Myanmar Working With FBR Killed in Syria Posted: 05 Nov 2019 12:00 AM PST Zau Seng, a Kachin medic and cameraman working with the US-based Free Burma Rangers relief group in Syria, is killed in a mortar strike by Turkish-backed forces.

China’s Xi Urges Cooperation to Bring Down Trade Barriers Posted: 04 Nov 2019 10:32 PM PST Chinese President Xi Jinping says countries need to remove trade barriers, vows to provide more market and investment opportunities.

N. Korea Says US Terrorism Report Makes Talks Difficult Posted: 04 Nov 2019 10:23 PM PST North Korea's inclusion on Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism preventing progress on denuclearization talks, Pyongyang says.

Malaysia Aims to Locate Another $4.3 Billion in 1MDB-Linked Assets Posted: 04 Nov 2019 10:10 PM PST Malaysian authorities say they are working with five countries to locate $4.3 billion still unaccounted for in 1MDB financial scandal.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• A Weatherman’s Memoir
• Student Objections to Tree Cutting Halt Projects at Myanmar’s Yangon University
• Media Twisted Suu Kyi’s Comments on Constitutional Change: NLD
• Myanmar’s Nagaland Rebels Expel Peace Representatives
• Three Village Chiefs Shot Dead in Myanmar’s Shan State
• Myanmar Artist Khit Bhone Mo’s Deft Touch With Death
• Indian Man Dies, Lawmaker Still Held After AA Abduction in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
• Myanmar Farmers Say Govt Failing to Buy Rice at Floor Price
• On Rohingya, Myanmar Will Not Shirk From Responsibility: Suu Kyi
• Thailand Says New Asian Trade Deal to Be Signed in 2020
• Chinese State Media Urge ‘Tougher Line’ in Hong Kong After Xinhua Targeted

A Weatherman’s Memoir Posted: 04 Nov 2019 07:14 AM PST To mark the passing of Myanmar weatherman U Tun Lwin, whose warnings about Cyclone Nargis fell on deaf ears in 2008, The Irrawaddy revisits a 2015 review of his memoir.

Student Objections to Tree Cutting Halt Projects at Myanmar’s Yangon University Posted: 04 Nov 2019 06:55 AM PST University of Yangon suspends ring road, landscaping projects as students, teachers object to cutting down of trees.

Media Twisted Suu Kyi’s Comments on Constitutional Change: NLD Posted: 04 Nov 2019 06:48 AM PST The State Counselor's remarks on charter change were misinterpreted by Nikkei Asian Review as well as domestic media that ran stories based on the interview, NLD says.

Myanmar’s Nagaland Rebels Expel Peace Representatives Posted: 04 Nov 2019 06:37 AM PST The National Socialist Council of Nagaland has expelled five jailed members for calling on the group to sign the government's ceasefire agreement.

Three Village Chiefs Shot Dead in Myanmar’s Shan State Posted: 04 Nov 2019 06:02 AM PST Three village chairmen reportedly came to Kyaukme to ask for help to stop the forced recruitment of villagers. They were shot dead ahead of the daytime meeting.

Myanmar Artist Khit Bhone Mo’s Deft Touch With Death Posted: 04 Nov 2019 05:08 AM PST The painter Khit Bhone Mo passed away less than two weeks before his exhibition 'Saffron' opened at Yangon Book Plaza this month.

Indian Man Dies, Lawmaker Still Held After AA Abduction in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Posted: 04 Nov 2019 02:28 AM PST Indian man's body returned along with eight survivors after AA abducts boat passengers in Kyauktaw; Chin State Upper House lawmaker from NLD still detained.

Myanmar Farmers Say Govt Failing to Buy Rice at Floor Price Posted: 04 Nov 2019 02:01 AM PST Rice farmers in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Region say the government has yet to purchase any of their paddy though the market price has fallen below the government's minimum.

On Rohingya, Myanmar Will Not Shirk From Responsibility: Suu Kyi Posted: 03 Nov 2019 11:32 PM PST Speaking at the ASEAN-UN Summit, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi responds to UN chief's comments on Rohingya return by saying Myanmar open to 'practical' solutions.

Thailand Says New Asian Trade Deal to Be Signed in 2020 Posted: 03 Nov 2019 09:52 PM PST ASEAN sets sights on February 2020 signing date for world's largest trade bloc, including China, despite new demands from India.

Chinese State Media Urge ‘Tougher Line’ in Hong Kong After Xinhua Targeted Posted: 03 Nov 2019 08:54 PM PST Beijing's China Daily newspaper calls for "tougher line" against Hong Kong protesters after Xinhua news agency and other buildings associated with China are targeted.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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Why Have Thousands of Myanmar’s Workers Taken to the Streets This Year? Posted: 01 Nov 2019 08:00 PM PDT This week, The Irrawaddy looks at the state of Myanmar's labor dispute resolution laws with union leaders U Thet Hnin Aung and Daw Khaing Zar Aung.

Book Examines Moral Basis of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Concept of Democracy Posted: 01 Nov 2019 06:52 PM PDT Daw Aung San Suu Kyi presents democracy as a moral value, author Michal Lubina argues in his analysis of the State Counselor's political thought.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Lawyer, Poet, Ex-Army Captain Sued by Myanmar Military for Charter Change Remark
• Remand for AA Chief’s Relatives Extended as Myanmar Police Seek Counterterrorism Charges
• Yangon Timeout
• Social Media Video of Brutal Murder by Alleged Armed Group in Myanmar Draws Public Criticism
• In Myanmar, Courts Increasingly Used to Silence Criticism of Military and Govt
• Water Polluted by Myanmar Military-Run Cement Plant Causes Health Issues in Karen State
• Minimum Wage Fails to Keep Up With Cost of Living, Myanmar Labor Group Says
• 46 Rohingya Return to Myanmar’s Rakhine State
• Our Right to Information Is Inseparable From Our Right to Expression
• The Day in 1980 When Color TV Arrived in Myanmar
• Malaysia-Singapore Rail Link Back on at Lower Cost: Mahathir
• Cheaper Solar Power Gains Ground in Southeast Asia
• Hong Kong Braces for Mass Rally Over Weekend After Halloween Clashes

Lawyer, Poet, Ex-Army Captain Sued by Myanmar Military for Charter Change Remark Posted: 01 Nov 2019 07:19 AM PDT A court case in Tanintharyi Region has opened into trio who advocated constitutional change at a public meeting.

Remand for AA Chief’s Relatives Extended as Myanmar Police Seek Counterterrorism Charges Posted: 01 Nov 2019 06:18 AM PDT The sister and brother-in-law of Arakan Army chief Tun Myat Naing remain in custody as the police continue their bid to charge the couple with terror financing.

Yangon Timeout Posted: 01 Nov 2019 06:13 AM PDT Local music, Turkish food by chefs straight from Istanbul, a performance art film and farmers and makers markets are all on in Yangon this week.

Social Media Video of Brutal Murder by Alleged Armed Group in Myanmar Draws Public Criticism Posted: 01 Nov 2019 06:08 AM PDT A video went viral on social media showing alleged members of an armed group asking a victim for his final wishes before beating him to death.

In Myanmar, Courts Increasingly Used to Silence Criticism of Military and Govt Posted: 01 Nov 2019 05:14 AM PDT This week's jailing of a satirical performance troupe continues a worrying trend of official legal action against critics of the government and military.

Water Polluted by Myanmar Military-Run Cement Plant Causes Health Issues in Karen State Posted: 01 Nov 2019 05:00 AM PDT Testing by environmental group ALARM shows that polluted water in Hpa-an is dangerous to humans and may be the result of a coal-powered cement factory run by the military.

Minimum Wage Fails to Keep Up With Cost of Living, Myanmar Labor Group Says Posted: 01 Nov 2019 04:07 AM PDT The minimum wage needs to be raised to keep up with the cost of living, the Confederation of Trade Unions in Myanmar says; survey findings to be released this month.

46 Rohingya Return to Myanmar’s Rakhine State Posted: 01 Nov 2019 03:51 AM PDT Nearly 400 Rohingya have now voluntarily returned to Rakhine State, independent of resettlement negotiations between the Myanmar and Bangladeshi governments.

Our Right to Information Is Inseparable From Our Right to Expression Posted: 31 Oct 2019 11:48 PM PDT Ahead of the Int'l Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, it's worth reflecting on the link between the right to information and the right to expression.

The Day in 1980 When Color TV Arrived in Myanmar Posted: 31 Oct 2019 11:33 PM PDT On this day in 1980, color television broadcasts came to Yangon with the help of Japanese funding.

Malaysia-Singapore Rail Link Back on at Lower Cost: Mahathir Posted: 31 Oct 2019 10:57 PM PDT Railway line from Malaysia's Johor state to Singapore to proceed after cost lowered by a third, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says.

Cheaper Solar Power Gains Ground in Southeast Asia Posted: 31 Oct 2019 10:49 PM PDT Southeast Asia's total solar power capacity could triple to 35.8 gigawatts by 2024 as the cost of the energy source continues to fall.

Hong Kong Braces for Mass Rally Over Weekend After Halloween Clashes Posted: 31 Oct 2019 10:06 PM PDT Clashes disrupt Halloween festivities in Hong Kong as police fire tear gas at anti-government protesters; another rally planned for Saturday.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar Security Forces, Civilians Rescued; Ferry Owner, Crew Interrogated After AA Abduction
• Take a Trip Around Myanmar in a Single Meal
• Mine Blast in Myanmar’s Sagaing Leaves One Dead, Three Badly Burned
• Yangon Orders Closure of Unlicensed Luxury Spa in Myanmar’s Historic Secretariat
• Buddhist Monk Accused of Aiding Ethnic Armed Group Tortured by Myanmar Military
• Myanmar Court Freezes Bank Accounts of Fugitive Monk U Wirathu
• In Vietnam’s ‘Billionaire Village’, Migrant Cash Can Buy a Palace
• In Indonesia, ‘Bride Kidnapping’ Tradition Fuels Child Marriage Despite Ban
• US Must Confront China’s Communist Party: Secretary of State
• Hong Kong Braces for Halloween Protest March to Famous Party Zone

Myanmar Security Forces, Civilians Rescued; Ferry Owner, Crew Interrogated After AA Abduction Posted: 31 Oct 2019 07:28 AM PDT Out of more than 45 hostages taken by the Arakan Army, 15 have been rescued, including 10 members of the security forces, Myanmar's military says.

Take a Trip Around Myanmar in a Single Meal Posted: 31 Oct 2019 06:45 AM PDT Sampan's Supper Club brings together dishes by several of Yangon's best ethnic restaurants and serves them up in one delicious—and educational—multi-course meal.

Mine Blast in Myanmar’s Sagaing Leaves One Dead, Three Badly Burned Posted: 31 Oct 2019 06:07 AM PDT Police say they will check the Htoo Han Thit mining company's safety record after a methane explosion kills one, injures three in Sagaing.

Yangon Orders Closure of Unlicensed Luxury Spa in Myanmar’s Historic Secretariat Posted: 31 Oct 2019 05:57 AM PDT The Yangon City Development Committee says a Singaporean luxury spa in Yangon's Secretariat building has to be closed, as it has been operating without a license.

Buddhist Monk Accused of Aiding Ethnic Armed Group Tortured by Myanmar Military Posted: 31 Oct 2019 03:40 AM PDT A monk in northern Shan State says Myanmar army soldiers detained and tortured him after finding radio equipment and uniforms from an ethnic armed group in his monastery.

Myanmar Court Freezes Bank Accounts of Fugitive Monk U Wirathu Posted: 31 Oct 2019 02:21 AM PDT Court in Yangon issues warrant freezing the assets of firebrand monk U Wirathu, including two bank accounts; he has been on the run from a sedition charge since May.

In Vietnam’s ‘Billionaire Village’, Migrant Cash Can Buy a Palace Posted: 30 Oct 2019 11:45 PM PDT Cash remitted by migrant workers bought houses that would otherwise be unobtainable in Vietnam's Do Thanh, the home of three victims found dead in a truck in the UK.

In Indonesia, ‘Bride Kidnapping’ Tradition Fuels Child Marriage Despite Ban Posted: 30 Oct 2019 11:08 PM PDT Activists in Indonesia are working with village elders to end the practice of kidnapping girls for marriage, which has been falsely justified in the name of tradition.

US Must Confront China’s Communist Party: Secretary of State Posted: 30 Oct 2019 10:39 PM PDT China seeks international domination and must be confronted, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warns.

Hong Kong Braces for Halloween Protest March to Famous Party Zone Posted: 30 Oct 2019 10:24 PM PDT Hong Kong tightens security as anti-government protesters plan to defy police ban and march to Lan Kwai Fong, a popular entertainment area, on Halloween.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Five Members of Performance Troupe Jailed for Satirizing Myanmar Military
• Myanmar Military’s Promises of Charter Change Fail to Impress Ethnic MPs
• US Asst Secretary Pledges Continued Cooperation During Myanmar Visit
• ‘Myanmar Army Will Be Responsible if We Are Forced to Attack’: Ethnic Alliance
• Health Foundation Chief Looks to Ban Smoking in Yangon
• NLD Picks Campaign Chiefs for Myanmar’s 2020 Election
• Controversial High-End Spa in Myanmar’s Historic Secretariat Building Not Licensed
• Thai King Fires More Officials for ‘Extremely Evil’ Conduct, Poor Performance
• US Set to Disappoint Asia With Downgraded Delegation for Bangkok Summits
• Far More People at Risk of Rising Seas Than Feared: Climate Study
• Hong Kong Bars Activist Joshua Wong From District Poll

Five Members of Performance Troupe Jailed for Satirizing Myanmar Military Posted: 30 Oct 2019 07:26 AM PDT Five performers belonging to the Peacock Generation Thangyat Troupe sentenced to a year in jail with labor for satirical skit deemed to undermine the military.

Myanmar Military’s Promises of Charter Change Fail to Impress Ethnic MPs Posted: 30 Oct 2019 06:57 AM PDT Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing claims changes to the Constitution will bring peace but ethnic parties say his MPs in Parliament oppose reform.

US Asst Secretary Pledges Continued Cooperation During Myanmar Visit Posted: 30 Oct 2019 06:45 AM PDT US Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell visited Yangon, Sittwe and Naypyitaw this week and offered continued support for democracy and development.

‘Myanmar Army Will Be Responsible if We Are Forced to Attack’: Ethnic Alliance Posted: 30 Oct 2019 06:19 AM PDT Brotherhood Alliance of AA, TNLA, MNDAA says Tatmadaw continues to attack its areas and will be responsible for the consequences if the group is forced to defend itself.

Health Foundation Chief Looks to Ban Smoking in Yangon Posted: 30 Oct 2019 03:24 AM PDT The People's Health Foundation is looking to stamp out smoking across Yangon to prevent harm from passive smoking.

NLD Picks Campaign Chiefs for Myanmar’s 2020 Election Posted: 30 Oct 2019 03:17 AM PDT The National League for Democracy showed confidence in its prospects for the 2020 election as it announced which officials will lead the party's campaigns.

Controversial High-End Spa in Myanmar’s Historic Secretariat Building Not Licensed Posted: 30 Oct 2019 02:14 AM PDT Secretariat Trust board member says Dé Béau Wellness Center, which recently opened to much controversy in the iconic building in Yangon, lacks a business license.

Thai King Fires More Officials for ‘Extremely Evil’ Conduct, Poor Performance Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:27 PM PDT Thai king dismisses four more palace officials for 'extremely evil misconduct' and 'adultery', just a week after firing six aides and his royal consort.

US Set to Disappoint Asia With Downgraded Delegation for Bangkok Summits Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:19 PM PDT Washington scales down participation in next week's EAS, ASEAN summits in Bangkok, exacerbating regional concerns over China's rising influence.

Far More People at Risk of Rising Seas Than Feared: Climate Study Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:16 PM PDT New climate study finds land occupied by 300 million people—many of them living in six Asian countries—faces annual flood risk by mid-century.

Hong Kong Bars Activist Joshua Wong From District Poll Posted: 29 Oct 2019 10:58 PM PDT Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong says city's decision to ban him from running in local election is 'politically driven'.

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