The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• AA Claim Seizure of Myanmar Battalion Commander After Heavy Fighting
• Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Still Barred From Presidency as Proposed Charter Change Fails
• Jubilee Hall—From Colonial Social Hub to Hotbed of Myanmar Independence Activity
• Nationalists Protest in Naypyitaw Against Constitutional Amendments
• Myanmar Prepared to Ease Coronavirus Impact on Economy: Suu Kyi
• Myanmar Touts $200M in Drug Seizures in Military-Backed Militia Territory
• Is Myanmar’s Democracy Lost in a Labyrinth of Constitutional Amendment?
• Myanmar State Counselor’s Public Meetings Draw Criticism Amid Coronavirus Fears
• US Urged to Downgrade Thailand in Annual Human Trafficking Report
• Japanese PM Calls for Event Cancellations for Another 10 Days to Prevent Spread of Virus

AA Claim Seizure of Myanmar Battalion Commander After Heavy Fighting Posted: 11 Mar 2020 06:42 AM PDT The Arakan Army says it has detained 20 Myanmar troops, including a battalion commander, and found over 20 soldiers dead after heavy fighting near the Kaladan River.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Still Barred From Presidency as Proposed Charter Change Fails Posted: 11 Mar 2020 06:33 AM PDT Unelected military lawmakers and their USDP allies have successfully blocked an NLD proposal to scrap the Constitution's ban on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi becoming president.

Jubilee Hall—From Colonial Social Hub to Hotbed of Myanmar Independence Activity Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:59 AM PDT Rangoon's Jubilee Hall, one of British Burma's architectural landmarks, survived bombing raids and earthquakes, but fell to the socialist regime's wrecking ball in 1985.

Nationalists Protest in Naypyitaw Against Constitutional Amendments Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:45 AM PDT Nationalists have protested in Naypyitaw against NLD attempts to change Article 59(f) of the Constitution, which bars Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency.

Myanmar Prepared to Ease Coronavirus Impact on Economy: Suu Kyi Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:07 AM PDT The State Counselor said Tuesday that the government has plans in place to ensure the coronavirus outbreak does not lead to an economic crisis but gave few details.

Myanmar Touts $200M in Drug Seizures in Military-Backed Militia Territory Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:49 AM PDT Over 11 days, the Myanmar military has seized drugs and paraphernalia worth nearly US$200 million in an area controlled by a military-backed militia in northern Shan State.

Is Myanmar’s Democracy Lost in a Labyrinth of Constitutional Amendment? Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:20 AM PDT As the long process to amend Myanmar's Constitution appears lost, The Irrawaddy sits down with lawmakers U Aung Thein and U Sai Tun Aye to look for a way out.

Myanmar State Counselor’s Public Meetings Draw Criticism Amid Coronavirus Fears Posted: 10 Mar 2020 11:26 PM PDT The State Counselor's public meetings around the country—held despite her government's advice against such gatherings—have been criticized amid concerns over coronavirus.

US Urged to Downgrade Thailand in Annual Human Trafficking Report Posted: 10 Mar 2020 11:13 PM PDT Rights groups say Thailand has made little progress in efforts to protect fishing and garment workers from neighboring countries.

Japanese PM Calls for Event Cancellations for Another 10 Days to Prevent Spread of Virus Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:58 PM PDT Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked sports and cultural officials to cancel events for another 10 days so that coronavirus prevention efforts can be assessed.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar’s Military Retains Important Political Role as NLD’s Key Charter Reforms Fail to Pass
• Environmental Activist Faces Arrest in Myanmar’s Karen State, Rights Groups Object
• Myanmar Employee of US Citizen’s Cannabis Farm Gets 20 Years in Prison
• Myanmar’s NLD to Pick General Election Candidates in Late April
• Major Powers Beat a Path to Prominent Kachin Party’s Door in Northern Myanmar
• Indian Govt Shuts Key Border Trade Gate with Myanmar Over Coronavirus Fears
• Myanmar Indie Rockers The Peacists Take Fans on a ‘Journey to the Stars’
• WHO Chief Says Threat of Coronavirus Pandemic ‘Very Real’
• Myanmar Army Sues Reuters, MP for Defamation Over Report on Fatal Shelling
• Indian PM Cancels Dhaka Trip After Bangladesh Detects Coronavirus

Myanmar’s Military Retains Important Political Role as NLD’s Key Charter Reforms Fail to Pass Posted: 10 Mar 2020 06:50 AM PDT The NLD's proposals to curb the extensive political role granted to the military by the Constitution have failed to win the required support of over 75 percent of MPs.

Environmental Activist Faces Arrest in Myanmar’s Karen State, Rights Groups Object Posted: 10 Mar 2020 05:35 AM PDT Rights groups have demanded the Karen State government drop charges against a Karen River Watch activist who joined a ceremony to pray for protection from water pollution.

Myanmar Employee of US Citizen’s Cannabis Farm Gets 20 Years in Prison Posted: 10 Mar 2020 05:17 AM PDT A local irrigation technician was sentenced to 20 years in prison for supposedly helping a US citizen to operate an alleged marijuana plantation in Mandalay.

Myanmar’s NLD to Pick General Election Candidates in Late April Posted: 10 Mar 2020 04:13 AM PDT Although no date has been set for the next general election, the National League for Democracy says it will pick candidates next month.

Major Powers Beat a Path to Prominent Kachin Party’s Door in Northern Myanmar Posted: 10 Mar 2020 04:09 AM PDT Officials from India, the US and China held separate meetings with the leadership of the Kachin State People's Party last week, in a sign of the area's strategic importance.

Indian Govt Shuts Key Border Trade Gate with Myanmar Over Coronavirus Fears Posted: 10 Mar 2020 03:24 AM PDT Authorities in Manipur State have closed the Tamu-Moreh border gates indefinitely over coronavirus concerns, significantly hurting India-Myanmar border trade.

Myanmar Indie Rockers The Peacists Take Fans on a ‘Journey to the Stars’ Posted: 10 Mar 2020 01:22 AM PDT Proudly 'old school' Yangon indie rockers The Peacists released their debut full-length album on CD last month—and quickly sold out every copy.

WHO Chief Says Threat of Coronavirus Pandemic ‘Very Real’ Posted: 09 Mar 2020 10:40 PM PDT With more than 100 countries reporting confirmed cases of coronavirus, the threat of a global pandemic is 'very real', WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said.

Myanmar Army Sues Reuters, MP for Defamation Over Report on Fatal Shelling Posted: 09 Mar 2020 10:26 PM PDT Police say the military has sued Reuters over a story in which an MP accused the military of firing shells that killed two Rohingya women; the Tatmadaw blames the AA.

Indian PM Cancels Dhaka Trip After Bangladesh Detects Coronavirus Posted: 09 Mar 2020 10:01 PM PDT Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has canceled a visit to Bangladesh after the country reported its first cases of coronavirus.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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Shadowy Drug Lord Wei Hsueh-kang’s Influence Still Felt in Myanmar’s Wa Region and Beyond Posted: 08 Mar 2020 07:30 PM PDT The reclusive drug lord Wei Hsueh-kang still wields significant influence in the Wa army, as surprised Myanmar peace negotiators learned at a recent meeting in China.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Flashpoints: Myanmar’s Eight Most Hotly Contested Constitutional Amendment Proposals
• This Week in Parliament
• Irrawaddy Business Roundup

Flashpoints: Myanmar’s Eight Most Hotly Contested Constitutional Amendment Proposals Posted: 06 Mar 2020 06:32 PM PST Parliament will vote on constitutional amendments next week. The most contentious are those put forward by NLD and ethnic MPs seeking to oust the military from politics.

This Week in Parliament Posted: 06 Mar 2020 06:30 PM PST The Irrawaddy briefs you on the week that was in the national legislature.

Irrawaddy Business Roundup Posted: 06 Mar 2020 05:30 PM PST Despite the lack of any coronavirus cases in Myanmar, the virus has hit factory supply chains, the dollar exchange markets and the export sector.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• China’s Retention Walls in Wa Region Prompt Visit by Myanmar Border Officials
• Detained Myanmar Journalists Physically Abused by Karen Border Guard Force
• Myanmar Military Helicopter Crashes Carrying Foreign Military Attachés: No Deaths
• Promoting Gender Equality Can Contribute to Peace, Justice in Myanmar
• Lawsuit Against Yangon Water Bus to Move Ahead, Fuel Bills Still Unpaid
• Italy Reports 148 Deaths From Coronavirus, With Over 3,800 Infected
• Chinese President Xi Postpones State Visit to Japan Amid Virus Outbreak
• Thailand Begins Disinfecting Packages Sent From Abroad

China’s Retention Walls in Wa Region Prompt Visit by Myanmar Border Officials Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:26 AM PST Officials checked for possible soil erosion on Myanmar's side of the border, following the building of Chinese retention walls on the Myanmar-China water boundary.

Detained Myanmar Journalists Physically Abused by Karen Border Guard Force Posted: 06 Mar 2020 03:21 AM PST Two journalists detained by a Myanmar military-backed Border Guard Force in Karen State say the armed group beat and threatened them.

Myanmar Military Helicopter Crashes Carrying Foreign Military Attachés: No Deaths Posted: 06 Mar 2020 03:08 AM PST A Myanmar military helicopter carrying 15 people has crashed in northern Shan State although no deaths have been reported.

Promoting Gender Equality Can Contribute to Peace, Justice in Myanmar Posted: 06 Mar 2020 01:10 AM PST Ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday, the British and Norwegian ambassadors call for greater inclusion of women in Myanmar's peace process.

Lawsuit Against Yangon Water Bus to Move Ahead, Fuel Bills Still Unpaid Posted: 06 Mar 2020 12:40 AM PST Petro & Trans has said it is likely to bring legal proceedings against Yangon Water Bus operator Tint Tint Myanmar Co. next week.

Italy Reports 148 Deaths From Coronavirus, With Over 3,800 Infected Posted: 05 Mar 2020 09:03 PM PST The death toll from the coronavirus in Italy has reached 148, with more than 3,800 infections, the government said.

Chinese President Xi Postpones State Visit to Japan Amid Virus Outbreak Posted: 05 Mar 2020 08:51 PM PST Chinese President Xi Jinping has put off his state visit to Japan, which was scheduled for April, due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Thailand Begins Disinfecting Packages Sent From Abroad Posted: 05 Mar 2020 08:33 PM PST Despite WHO assurances that it is safe to receive mail from affected countries, Thailand is disinfecting all packages from overseas amid coronavirus fears.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar’s Army Refuses Shan IDPs Access to Village Amid Ongoing Clashes
• NLD Constitutional Amendments Would Disrupt Democratic Transition: Military MPs
• Myanmar Journalist Detained by Karen Border Guard to Be Released
• US Man Charged in Cannabis Case Fled Myanmar for US on New Passport
• Korean Air Suspends Direct Flights Between Seoul, Yangon Due to Coronavirus
• South Korea Confirms 145 New Coronavirus Cases; Total Tops 5,700
• California Declares Emergency Over Coronavirus as Death Toll Rises in US

Myanmar’s Army Refuses Shan IDPs Access to Village Amid Ongoing Clashes Posted: 05 Mar 2020 06:22 AM PST Around 300 internally displaced people were turned away by Myanmar's military as they tried to reach their homes because clashes continue with the rebel RCSS.

NLD Constitutional Amendments Would Disrupt Democratic Transition: Military MPs Posted: 05 Mar 2020 03:57 AM PST Military MPs are united in condemnation of the National League for Democracy's attempts to amend the 2008 Constitution, ensuring the reforms will be rejected next week.

Myanmar Journalist Detained by Karen Border Guard to Be Released Posted: 05 Mar 2020 03:49 AM PST The military-backed Karen State Border Guard Force detained a journalist in Myawaddy on Wednesday and will release her Thursday evening.

US Man Charged in Cannabis Case Fled Myanmar for US on New Passport Posted: 05 Mar 2020 02:02 AM PST A US man facing 15 years in jail for allegedly running a marijuana plantation fled to the US last year while on bail after being issued a new passport by the US Embassy.

Korean Air Suspends Direct Flights Between Seoul, Yangon Due to Coronavirus Posted: 04 Mar 2020 10:55 PM PST Korean Air has suspended all flights between Seoul and Yangon until April 25 as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread rapidly in South Korea.

South Korea Confirms 145 New Coronavirus Cases; Total Tops 5,700 Posted: 04 Mar 2020 09:16 PM PST The total number of cases of coronavirus in South Korea has passed 5,700; the worst-hit city, Daegu, is suffering from a shortage of hospital beds.

California Declares Emergency Over Coronavirus as Death Toll Rises in US Posted: 04 Mar 2020 09:00 PM PST The governor of California has declared a statewide emergency as the US state reported its first coronavirus death; the number of fatalities in the US has risen to 11.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar Parliament to Vote on Proposed Constitutional Amendments Next Week
• 11 Factories in Myanmar Close Due to Lack of Orders, Raw Materials
• Kachin State Inks Border Business Park Deal With China-Myanmar Joint Venture
• Parami Pizza Adjusts Well to Downtown Hotspot
• Myanmar Military Seizes US$64M of Drugs in Shan State
• The Day Myanmar’s First Steam Tram Began Operating in Yangon
• In Eastern Myanmar , the Karen Watch Over a Revolutionary Forest
• Myanmar Garment Factory Closes As COVID-19 Cuts Supplies
• Coronavirus Cases Top 90,000 Worldwide: WHO Chief
• As Myanmar Farmers Lose Land to Erosion, Sand Mining for Singapore Is Blamed
• Australian Stores Ration Toilet Paper Amid Coronavirus Panic Buying
• Global Supplier India Curbs Drug Exports as Coronavirus Fears Grow

Myanmar Parliament to Vote on Proposed Constitutional Amendments Next Week Posted: 04 Mar 2020 05:22 AM PST After nearly a week of tense debate, the Parliament Speaker announced that MPs will begin voting on March 10 on whether to accept proposed amendments to the Constitution.

11 Factories in Myanmar Close Due to Lack of Orders, Raw Materials Posted: 04 Mar 2020 05:20 AM PST Labor activists claim factories looking to break trade unions are exaggerating the impact of supply disruptions linked to the coronavirus in order to justify closures.

Kachin State Inks Border Business Park Deal With China-Myanmar Joint Venture Posted: 04 Mar 2020 04:26 AM PST Kachin State has signed an MOU to develop a border business park with a joint venture between a Chinese company and a firm linked to a government-allied Kachin militia.

Parami Pizza Adjusts Well to Downtown Hotspot Posted: 04 Mar 2020 03:31 AM PST Parami Pizza Downtown is serving up a storm on Strand Road with authentic Italian dishes and an intoxicating range of drinks.

Myanmar Military Seizes US$64M of Drugs in Shan State Posted: 04 Mar 2020 03:26 AM PST The military seized drugs, chemicals and equipment in northern Shan State's Kutkai Township, the constituency of the Union Parliament Speaker.

The Day Myanmar’s First Steam Tram Began Operating in Yangon Posted: 04 Mar 2020 03:23 AM PST On this day in 1884, the first steam tram took to the streets of Yangon, covering passengers in soot and embers, and ushering in a new era of modern transport in Myanmar.

In Eastern Myanmar , the Karen Watch Over a Revolutionary Forest Posted: 04 Mar 2020 02:33 AM PST Amid the world's longest-running ethnic insurgency, Karen people have initiated a conservation project that advances a vision for peace and self-determination.

Myanmar Garment Factory Closes As COVID-19 Cuts Supplies Posted: 04 Mar 2020 01:49 AM PST A garment factory in Ayeyarwady Region with a history of labor issues has closed and left 1,000 workers without jobs after the coronavirus outbreak cut off its supply chain.

Coronavirus Cases Top 90,000 Worldwide: WHO Chief Posted: 03 Mar 2020 09:49 PM PST The World Health Organization has announced that the number of coronavirus cases worldwide has passed 90,000, with 3,110 deaths.

As Myanmar Farmers Lose Land to Erosion, Sand Mining for Singapore Is Blamed Posted: 03 Mar 2020 09:48 PM PST Mon State farmers are losing land to erosion along the Salween River; they blame Singapore sand-mining firms, but the companies and the Myanmar government deny any link.

Australian Stores Ration Toilet Paper Amid Coronavirus Panic Buying Posted: 03 Mar 2020 08:47 PM PST Major grocery store chains in Australia have been forced to ration toilet paper after consumers panicking over the coronavirus began stocking up.

Global Supplier India Curbs Drug Exports as Coronavirus Fears Grow Posted: 03 Mar 2020 08:39 PM PST India, which is the world's largest supplier of generic drugs, has restricted exports of dozens of pharmaceuticals due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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