Monday, September 2, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Govt Aiding Effort to Seek Pardons for 2 Myanmar Workers on Death Row in Thailand: Minister

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 05:47 AM PDT

U Thein Swe says Myanmar working with Thai officials as calls grow for govt to help the men, whose confessions in the 2014 double-murder case are widely seen as forced.

Meeting Between Rebels, Myanmar Govt Peace Team ‘Just for Show’: TNLA Official

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 05:24 AM PDT

No agreements reached, says Brotherhood Alliance spokesman, who accused the govt of organizing Saturday's talks in Keng Tung under pressure from China.

CSOs Call on Rebels, Myanmar Military to End Fighting

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 05:13 AM PDT

A joint statement from 26 local groups demanded justice for the deaths of two mothers and their children by mortar blast in Myanmar's Shan State over the weekend.

Myanmar Military to Court-Martial Troops over Mass Graves in Rakhine

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 02:12 AM PDT

Court of Inquiry finds troops may not have followed regulations; hundreds of bodies were found near Gutar Pyin village in Buthidaung Township after 2017 clash with ARSA.

Myanmar Govt Restores Internet Access to Parts of Rakhine, Chin States

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 01:46 AM PDT

Four Rakhine State townships remain under an internet ban from the communications ministry, as fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army continues.

Two Myanmar Nationalists Jailed for Shutting Down Muslim Prayer Sites

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 01:10 AM PDT

The pair, who led a mob that shut down three temporary Ramadan worship locations in Yangon in May, were handed one-year sentences for incitement.

Head of Bangladesh’s Rohingya Relief Agency Replaced Days after Mass Rally at Refugee Camp

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 12:44 AM PDT

He is the 2nd official in 2 days to be reassigned amid speculation over who was behind Aug. 25 rally that drew hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who earlier fled Myanmar.

Police Officer in Western Myanmar’s Rakhine State Stabbed to Death

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 11:13 PM PDT

Police Sub-lieutenant Zaw Min Htay is the third officer killed in attacks on police in Ponnagyun and Kyuaktaw townships in the past two weeks. Details are forthcoming.

Kashmiri Militant Calls for Pakistan Military Intervention in Disputed Region

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 09:41 PM PDT

His call underlines growing domestic pressure on Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Kahn to take robust action after India stripped Kashmir of its special status on Aug. 5.

China, US Kick Off New Round of Tariffs in Trade War

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 09:31 PM PDT

The US began imposing 15 percent tariffs on a another batch of Chinese goods at a key time of year for American retailers. Trade groups warn of lost jobs and sales.

Hong Kong on Edge After Weekend of Clashes, Airport Disruption

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 09:11 PM PDT

Still, Monday seems to have brought a relative calm, with trains running, shops opening and workers on their way to the office, though the protests continue.
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Sunday, September 1, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Day a Popular Myanmar Newspaper Was Taken Over by the Govt

Posted: 31 Aug 2019 08:19 PM PDT

On this day 55 years ago, The Mirror Daily, a frequent critic of Gen. Ne Win's government, was nationalized by the dictator, ushering in five decades of censorship.
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Saturday, August 31, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Five Myanmar Civilians Including Toddler Killed by Mortars in Shan State as Peace Talks Held

Posted: 31 Aug 2019 04:45 AM PDT

Army blames rebels for strike but extends truce for 3 weeks as EAOs and govt negotiators discuss bilateral peace deals in Keng Tung.

What do Recent Rebel Attacks Say About Myanmar’s National Security

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 08:30 PM PDT

This week, The Irrawaddy's English editor, Kyaw Zwa Moe, discusses national security and armed clashes in Shan State with Myanmar peace expert Dr. Min Zaw Oo.
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Friday, August 30, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Military-Backed Firm Rejects Minister’s Account of Power Meter Bidding Problems

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 07:11 AM PDT

MEHPCL denies claims made in Parliament by the deputy electricity and energy minister that the firm violated tender guidelines and set its prices too high.

Our Goal is Federalism and Democracy for All Ethnicities: KNU

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 06:39 AM PDT

The Irrawaddy sits down with the Karen National Union general secretary for a wide-ranging discussion of the groups' roles and goals in Myanmar's peace process.

Future of Korea and Myanmar: A Win-Win for Peace and Prosperity

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 05:38 AM PDT

As ROK President Moon Jae-in prepares to visit Myanmar, Seoul's engagement with the country has never been deeper.

The Irrawaddy Senior Reporter Sued Under Myanmar Telecommunications Law

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 05:32 AM PDT

A Myanmar court gave the go-ahead for online defamation charges to proceed against Moe Myint over his coverage of a disputed hotel investment in Ngapali.

Hilton Says Myanmar’s Bright Economic Outlook Bodes Well for New Yangon Hotel

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 05:23 AM PDT

308-room Hilton Times City to open in downtown Yangon in 2021; company cites this year's strong growth forecast and a projection of 7 million tourist arrivals next year.

Myanmar Military Detains, Releases 7 After Bus Burns: Shan Locals

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 05:22 AM PDT

A Kachin religious leader told The Irrawaddy that the military detained the civilians in Kutkai Township for six hours near where a bus burned down the previous night.

The Lantern Serves Creative Takes on Traditional Vietnamese Classics

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 01:42 AM PDT

From a crispy-fried lobster and mushroom ravioli appetizer to a fresh take on pho, this Vietnamese restaurant in the Melia Hotel satisfies from start to finish.

LexisNexis to Help Develop Property Data System for Myanmar’s Commercial Capital

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 12:57 AM PDT

Yangon govt signs MOU with data analytics firm to conduct an initial analysis for the system, which is aimed at addressing city's shortage of housing information.

UWSA Says 14 Thais among Drug Smugglers Held in Northeast Myanmar

Posted: 30 Aug 2019 12:22 AM PDT

Total of 53 traffickers detained with 7 million yaba pills, weapons, after brief gunfight near Thai border in eastern Shan State, ethnic army says.

Myanmar’s First Ambassador to Japan Appointed During WWII

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 10:20 PM PDT

Dr. Thein Maung was named Myanmar's first ambassador to Japan—under the Japanese-ruled government of Dr. Ba Maw—on this day in 1943.

New Rules, New Debts: Slavery Fears Rise for Migrant Workers in Thailand

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 09:30 PM PDT

Predatory employers and poor oversight leave millions from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos vulnerable to exploitation and modern slavery in Thailand's low-skilled sectors.

Chinese Troops in Hong Kong Won’t “Sit on Hands” if Situation Worsens: China Daily

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 09:21 PM PDT

The editorial in the communist party newspaper comes a day after China rotated new troops to the city. It said the soldiers are not there for symbolic purposes.

Hong Kong Democracy Activist Joshua Wong Among 3 Arrested Before Weekend Protests

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 09:11 PM PDT

"He was suddenly pushed into a private car on the street," Wong's political party Demosisto said on its official Twitter account.
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Thursday, August 29, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Peace Team, N. Alliance to Meet in Keng Tung on Aug. 31

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 07:05 AM PDT

Talks with four ethnic armed groups to be held on the last day of the Myanmar military's truce in the region; bilateral peace deals expected to be discussed.

Myanmar Military Denies Losing Troops in Clash with AA in Northern Rakhine

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 06:55 AM PDT

Military spokesperson not only rejects the ethnic army's claim on the death tolls but denies social media rumors that a military outpost had been taken.

Insistence on Voluntary Rohingya Repatriation to Myanmar Lacks ‘Moral Imagination’

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 06:33 AM PDT

The tired formula being offered as a solution to the Rohingya crisis by the UN and other players is unlikely to offer a lasting solution—and could even be disastrous. 

Rebels Blame Border Instability, Peace Breakdown on Myanmar Military

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 05:45 AM PDT

The Brotherhood Alliance issued their most sharply-worded statement yet, accusing the Myanmar military of targeting civilians and of violating war crimes.

Police Arrest 9 of 21 Kayah Farmers Accused of Trespassing by Myanmar Military

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 04:45 AM PDT

Twelve still at large after arrest warrants issued for protesters who demanded return of land seized by military; local residents lament lack of help from govt.

Court Jails Ailing Myanmar Filmmaker for a Year for Criticizing Military

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 04:34 AM PDT

U Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi convicted of defamation over Facebook posts questioning military's role in politics; he has liver cancer, as well as heart and kidney problems.

Myanmar’s Second Biggest City Receives Smart City Award 2019

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 03:47 AM PDT

Mandalay, the historic royal capital, has been undergoing a high-tech, e-government makeover since 2017—efforts a government-tech award summit in Bangkok recognized.

Thai Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentences for 2 Myanmar Migrant Workers

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 01:11 AM PDT

Lawyers say they will seek pardon from Thai king after court rejects pair's appeal against their controversial convictions for the 2014 murders of 2 British tourists.

TNLA Destroys Bridge, Targets Myanmar Military Battalion in Shan State

Posted: 29 Aug 2019 01:00 AM PDT

The attacks mark the third major highway bridge bombing by an alliance of rebel groups along major trade routes in northern Shan State in the past two weeks.

Thailand to Acquire 120 US Armored Vehicles

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 09:51 PM PDT

BANGKOK—Thailand’s military plans to acquire 120 American-made armored vehicles by 2020, with the first batch of 10 arriving next month, a Thai defense ministry source told Reuters on Wednesday. The United States curbed military aid to Thailand following a 2014 army coup, but ties are improving after disputed elections this year that officially restored civilian […]

China Rotates Hong Kong Troops as Protesters Call for Democracy

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 09:35 PM PDT

China described the troop movement as routine and foreign diplomats expected it. Still, the timing is likely to hit a nerve with the city's still-active protest movement.

India Set to Outlaw Six Single-Use Plastic Products on Oct 2: Sources

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 09:22 PM PDT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading efforts to scrap such plastics by 2022, is launching the campaign on the birth anniversary of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

NLD Have Constitution to Thank for Current Position: Myanmar Military Lawmaker

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 06:17 AM PDT

The military-drafted charter, which the ruling party seeks to amend, allowed a peaceful handover by the previous administration, Maj. Thuzar Shwe says.

Arakan Army Raids Myanmar Military Base in Northern Rakhine

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 05:51 AM PDT

The Arakan Army claims to have killed 30 Myanmar military soldiers in a raid that also captured ammunitions and prisoners of war; the military denies significant losses.

Myanmar Military Sues Kachin Religious Leader for White House Comments

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 04:57 AM PDT

At Oval Office meeting last month, Kachin Baptist Convention chief Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson urged President Trump to support religious freedom and federalism in Myanmar.

Municipal Official in Myanmar Capital Cleared on Bribery Charges

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 04:06 AM PDT

U Min Lwin Soe was arrested in 2017 and charged with accepting bribes from two butchers seeking to have their closed shop reopened. On Wednesday, his case was dismissed.

Most ASEAN Members Back Myanmar’s Repatriation, Aid Efforts in Rakhine

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 01:57 AM PDT

Naypyitaw supported by most of the bloc's members after Indonesia tables resolution on Rohingya crisis at Bangkok meeting of regional parliamentarians.

Amid Fighting, Suu Kyi’s Office Minister Pledges Border Stability with China

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 12:19 AM PDT

At a meeting in Beijing, U Kyaw Tin Swe told the Chinese foreign minister that Myanmar appreciates China's assistance on Rohingya repatriation and peace in Myanmar.

Shan Group Urges Release of Brothers Held for Raid on Myanmar Military Academy

Posted: 28 Aug 2019 12:18 AM PDT

Youth network, lawmaker and fellow teachers insist the pair have never been involved with ethnic armed groups, and say their prolonged detention by police is unlawful.

The Day the British Sentenced Peasant Rebel Leader Saya San to Death

Posted: 27 Aug 2019 10:08 PM PDT

On this day in 1931 a colonial tribunal sentenced the leader of the largest peasant rebellion against British rule to be hanged.

Chemicals, Plastic Makers to Focus on Curbing SE Asia Plastic Waste

Posted: 27 Aug 2019 10:06 PM PDT

An alliance of global plastic and consumer goods makers funding a $1 billion anti-plastic waste program said it will prioritize Southeast Asia—the largest ocean polluter.

Ground Shifts in Indonesia’s Economy as Conservative Islam Takes Root

Posted: 27 Aug 2019 09:53 PM PDT

Online preachers promoting more conservative interpretations of Islam are gaining ground in the world's most populous Muslim country, sparking profound economic trends.

Hong Kong Violence Becoming More Serious, but Govt in Control, says Lam

Posted: 27 Aug 2019 09:31 PM PDT

The Beijing-backed leader said she still seeks dialogue but that it's the wrong time to set up an independent inquiry into the crisis—a central demand of protesters.

‘Water Women’ Quench Thirst of Central India’s Parched Villages

Posted: 27 Aug 2019 09:20 PM PDT

As rivers, reservoirs and wells go dry across a parched region of 20 million, about 600 "Jal Sahelis," or water women friends, are trying to fix perennial water woes.
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