Thursday, February 20, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Lower House Votes to Scrap Polling Stations on Military Bases

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 05:35 AM PST

The Lower House has voted in support of an election commission proposal requiring military personnel and their families to cast their votes outside military barracks.

Military-Initiated Steel Project Costing Myanmar Govt $345,000 in Daily Loan Payments to China

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 04:59 AM PST

Myanmar taxpayers are bearing the burden of repaying the loan to China Development Bank.

Shan Armed Group May Sign Myanmar’s Nationwide Ceasefire

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 04:58 AM PST

The Shan State Progressive Party says it is considering signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement this year if it will move Myanmar towards political reform.

India-Myanmar Cross-Border Bus Service to Operate Soon

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 04:43 AM PST

Mandalay in central Myanmar and Imphal in northeastern India is due to be connected by a bus service from April after 17 years of planning.

KNU to Myanmar Military: Stop Road Building Until Dispute is Settled

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 04:29 AM PST

The Karen National Union and the Myanmar military are struggling with military tensions over road construction in Karen territory as they work to build a stronger ceasefire.

Fighting Closes Schools Ahead of Key Exams in Myanmar’s Chin State

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 03:11 AM PST

Fighting between Myanmar's army and the Arakan Army has forced numerous schools to close across Paletwa in Chin State as vital exams approach in March.

Blaze in Yangon’s Chinatown Injures 15

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 12:43 AM PST

Residents were trapped in elevators and choked by smoke as fire raged through two floors of a mixed-use building.

Myanmar’s Union-Level Ceasefire Monitoring Committee to Meet Next Month

Posted: 20 Feb 2020 12:41 AM PST

The government and 10 ethnic armed groups have agreed to convene the Union-level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee next month after a yearlong delay.

China Says Aerosol Infection Possible in Coronavirus Outbreak

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:59 PM PST

The coronavirus can be contracted by inhaling tiny airborne particles carrying the virus, Chinese officials said; those exposed to high concentrations are most at risk.

Myanmar Reportedly Set to Be Placed on Global Money-Laundering Watchlist

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:54 PM PST

A global watchdog is set to put Myanmar on its money-laundering 'gray list', sources close to an ongoing meeting in Paris said, citing trafficking, regulatory concerns.

Tranquil Thailand’s Gun Culture in Spotlight After Shooting Sprees

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:34 PM PST

A series of deadly shootings has drawn attention to Thailand's widespread gun ownership and the prevalence of illegal firearms in the country.

Batman’s Butler Alfred on Colonialism: Does ‘Burning Down the Forest’ Work?

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 05:30 PM PST

When the Myanmar military, like the British colonial army, hammers a population into desperation, the result may be more destructive than the problem they set out to resolve.
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Wednesday, February 19, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

EU Honors Myanmar Rights Advocates at Fourth Schuman Awards

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 07:08 AM PST

The EU has bestowed its Schuman Awards on a women's rights activist, a human rights lawyer and a satirical troupe who 'carry the flame of freedom for others' in Myanmar.

Accountability Lacking as Civilian Casualties Mount in Myanmar’s Rakhine Conflict

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 06:48 AM PST

The Rakhine conflict is increasingly marked by civilian casualties, for which neither of the warring parties is being held accountable.

Fighting Blocks off Food Supplies to Myanmar’s Chin State Township

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 05:15 AM PST

Fighting between Myanmar's army and the Arakan Army has blocked food supplies to Paletwa in Chin State and left hundreds of civilians stranded.

Timeline: Irregularities & Significant Events from Toddler Rape Case in Myanmar

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 04:50 AM PST

The Irrawaddy provides an overview of key events and controversies in the prominent child-rape case while the culprit is still at large.

Myanmar Ministers Survive Attack on Military Chopper in Rakhine

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 04:46 AM PST

A helicopter with the Union minister for social welfare and the Rakhine State chief minister aboard was shot Wednesday as the two went to visit an IDP camp.

Myanmar’s Garment Factories Face Closure as Coronavirus Blocks Supplies

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 02:51 AM PST

Myanmar's garment factories might be forced to close as China's coronavirus restricts the imports of raw materials.

World Bank: Myanmar Must Push Deeper Reform for Inclusive Economic Growth

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 02:29 AM PST

A new World Bank report says Myanmar's current reforms fall short and urges steps to address economic mismanagement, resource exploitation, conflict and social exclusion.

The Day a Pioneering Myanmar Education Reformer Was Killed

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 10:16 PM PST

On this day in 1957, education reformer U Kaung died in a car crash in India. He initiated free education, expanded the school curriculum and promoted foreign study.

Coronavirus Slows China’s Belt and Road Push

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:30 PM PST

The coronavirus outbreak has dealt a blow to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative across Asia, leaving Chinese staff unable to access projects, and cutting supply lines.

Southeast Asia Courts Local Tourists as Virus Shuts Chinese Out

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:16 PM PST

With restrictions on Chinese tourists due to the coronavirus costing billions of dollars, Southeast Asian travel firms, hotels and airlines are wooing domestic tourists.

Virus Death Toll Tops 2,000 in China; Hong Kong Sees 2nd Fatality

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 08:40 PM PST

China's death toll from the coronavirus has passed 2,000 with more than 74,000 infections; Hong Kong has reported its second fatality.
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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Yangon Photo Festival Spotlights Some of Myanmar’s Pressing Issues

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 07:27 AM PST

Showcasing work by photographers from Myanmar and beyond, the 12th Yangon Photo Festival addresses issues like environmental threats, peace-building and social justice.

Rakhine Parliament Speaker: Myanmar Govt Must Do More to Help IDPs

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 07:05 AM PST

Rakhine State's parliament speaker called on the government to increase aid and allow humanitarian organizations to provide food for those displaced by armed conflict.

At Shan Army HQ, Another Twist in The Tale of Myanmar’s Fragile Peace Process

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 06:48 AM PST

On a cold night in Shan State's Loi Tai Leng recently, army generals shared whiskey with ethnic commanders; what does the uneasy camaraderie signal for the peace process?

Myanmar Postpones Gem Emporium Amid Coronavirus Scare

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 06:36 AM PST

As prospective buyers are mostly from China and Hong Kong, Myanmar has postponed a jade and gems emporium in Naypyitaw next month amid coronavirus fears.

Myanmar Military MPs to Debate Charter Reform en Masse, Defend Political Power

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 06:27 AM PST

Nearly all military-appointed lawmakers will join upcoming debates on constitutional amendments that would reduce the military's power over the government.

Myanmar Lawmakers Submit Bill to Amend Controversial Privacy Law

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 05:50 AM PST

A parliamentary committee has submitted a bill that would amend a controversial law that has been used to put government critics behind bars.

Rakhine Civilian in Sittwe Hospital After Alleged Beating by Myanmar’s Military

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 03:23 AM PST

A Rakhine factory worker says he was beaten by Myanmar's military in his village as fighting with the Arakan Army intensifies.

Military MPs Urge Myanmar Govt: Improve Accountability, Don’t Waste Public Funds

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 03:01 AM PST

Military lawmakers called for the government to end fiscal waste and improve accountability after a recent audit showed some civilian ministries mismanaged their budgets.

The Day Myanmar Lost an Influential Cartoonist

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 10:30 PM PST

On this day in 1953, Myanmar lost the prominent and pioneering cartoonist U Ba Gyan, author of scathing political cartoons and creator of Myanmar's first animated movie.

Gunman Kills Ex-Wife at Bangkok Shopping Mall Days After Mass Shooting

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 10:25 PM PST

A man shot and killed his ex-wife at a busy Bangkok shopping mall, just 10 days after a mass shooting killed dozens in Thailand's northeast.

Deaths Rise to 1,868 in China as Nation Battles Coronavirus Epidemic

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:57 PM PST

Chinese authorities reported another 98 coronavirus fatalities Tuesday, taking the country's death toll to 1,868 from 72,436 cases.

Malaysia to Choose 5G Partners ‘Based on Own Security Standards’

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:41 PM PST

Amid pressure from the US to shun China's Huawei, the Malaysian government says it will choose 5G partners based on its own security needs.

Virus Deals New Blow to Cambodian City Bound to China

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:24 PM PST

In the Cambodia's Sihanoukville, the coronavirus has combined with a ban on online gambling to deal a double blow to the Chinese investment that had fueled local growth.
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Monday, February 17, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Yangon MPs Draft Bill to Rein In Mismanagement of Public Funds

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 06:30 AM PST

Yangon's lawmakers are drafting a law to stop the authorities wasting funds, awarding contracts behind closed doors and failing to pay taxes on profits.  

Ethnic Shanni Reject Move to Grow Naga Territory in NW Myanmar

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 05:41 AM PST

Ethnic Shanni communities in Sagaing Division are speaking out against a move by an ethnic Naga politician to add land to the Naga Self-Administered Zone.

Myanmar Tour Guides Object to Granting Entry to Chinese Tourists With Health Notes

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 04:29 AM PST

Mandalay tour guides say the government's call for travel agencies to ask Chinese visitors for health clearances is motivated by financial concerns, not health worries.

Rakhine Delegation Meets with Myanmar Military Chief, Draws Criticism

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 02:09 AM PST

An ethnic Rakhine delegation led by a senior Arakan National Party member met with Myanmar's military chief Thursday, prompting questions from the Rakhine community.

Operator of Water Bus Service in Myanmar’s Biggest City Faces Lawsuit for Unpaid Fuel Bills

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 01:32 AM PST

Petro & Trans Group said it would sue the operator of Yangon's Water Bus service over nearly $50,000 worth of unpaid fuel bills.

Major Thai Coffee Brand Vows to Repay 200 Debt-Ridden Farmers

Posted: 16 Feb 2020 11:32 PM PST

Thailand's Doi Chaang Coffee has vowed to repay farmers who were forced to borrow money and driven into debt after waiting years for the social enterprise to pay them.

Coronavirus Cases Rise Again in China as Recession Looms for Japan, Singapore

Posted: 16 Feb 2020 09:48 PM PST

The number of new coronavirus cases in China's Hubei province has risen again; a US passenger allowed to leave a cruise ship in Cambodia has tested positive in Malaysia.

Organizers Mulling Scaled-Down Tokyo Marathon Over Coronavirus Fears

Posted: 16 Feb 2020 09:24 PM PST

The number of runners taking part in next month's Tokyo Marathon, the largest such race in Asia, may be scaled back due to the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said.
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Sunday, February 16, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Forgotten General of Burma’s Army

Posted: 16 Feb 2020 02:49 AM PST

Born 107 years ago on Monday, ethnic Karen General Smith Dun has been written out of Burmese military history.

The Day Myanmar Honored an UK MP for His Panglong Efforts

Posted: 15 Feb 2020 06:31 PM PST

In 1981, dictator Gen. Ne Win awarded the British MP Arthur Bottomley the prestigious Aung San Tagun title in recognition of his work on the 1947 Panglong Agreement.
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Saturday, February 15, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

How Can Myanmar Arrive at a Fair Minimum Wage?

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 08:51 PM PST

As Parliament debates amendments to the Minimum Wage Law, The Irrawaddy discusses the state of industrial relations with two leading trade unionists.

Irrawaddy Business Roundup

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 08:30 PM PST

Myanmar lost millions of dollars a day in border trade with China this week due to the coronavirus, but a major foreign investment in the power sector was announced.

This Week in Parliament

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 08:00 PM PST

The Irrawaddy briefs you on the week that was in the national legislature.
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