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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Friday, February 14, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

‘We Have Never Talked About Secession’: RCSS Chief

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 06:53 AM PST

Gen. Yawd Serk, the head of one of Shan State's largest ethnic armed groups, talked to The Irrawaddy about the peace process and his relationship with Myanmar's military.

Myanmar’s President Calls for Military Not to Meddle in Politics

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 06:38 AM PST

Myanmar's President U Win Myint has quoted Gen. Aung San to demand the military stop meddling in politics during a ceremony to unveil a statue of the independence hero.

How Does the NLD’s Push to Amend Myanmar’s Constitution Differ From the USDP’s?

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 05:25 AM PST

Like the NLD, the USDP once tried to amend the charter, launching its bid in Parliament in 2013. What are the key differences between the two parties' approaches?

Yangon’s Italian Food Festival Returns With Wine, Cheese and Culture

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 03:37 AM PST

The Italian Embassy throws its second Italian Food Festival on Feb. 23 with fine food and wine as well as activities including chances to make your own pizza and mozzarella.

Police Failed on Victoria Rape Case: New Home Affairs Minister

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 01:44 AM PST

On his first day as home affairs minister, Lt-Gen Soe Htut said police failed to build a proper case in the high-profile rape of a toddler known as Victoria in Naypyitaw.

Tourists’ Porn Video Shot at Myanmar’s Bagan World Heritage Site Provokes Outrage

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 12:50 AM PST

A porn video shot by two Italians at a pagoda in World Heritage-listed Bagan and posted online has prompted calls for harsh penalties for badly behaved foreign tourists.

Artillery Shell Strikes School, Injuring 21 Young Students in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 11:52 PM PST

The Arakan Army and the Myanmar military are trading blame as yet another shell strikes a village, this time injuring 21 young students at a school in Buthidaung.

The Day When Ho Chi Minh Visited Myanmar

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 11:30 PM PST

On this day in 1958, Vietnam's communist leader Ho Chi Minh arrived in Myanmar for a goodwill visit, bolstering bilateral ties between the two nations.

China Reports 5,000 New Coronavirus Cases as Death Toll Hits 1,380

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 10:01 PM PST

China said the number of deaths from coronavirus on the mainland rose to 1,380; passengers on a cruise ship barred from five countries finally went ashore in Cambodia.

Japan Confirms First Coronavirus Death as More Infections Reported

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 09:23 PM PST

A woman in her 80s has become the first Japanese person to die of coronavirus; she lived near Tokyo and had not traveled outside the country recently.

China Mulls Delaying Parliament Amid Virus Outbreak

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 08:56 PM PST

The Chinese government is considering delaying the opening of the annual National People's Congress as the coronavirus epidemic continues to spread.
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Thursday, February 13, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The House That Shaped Myanmar’s History

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 06:52 AM PST

The Aung San Museum in Yangon is where the independence leader wrote his speeches and prepared the Panglong Agreement. Decisions made there continue to shape Myanmar.

Myanmar Labor Activists Fined for Factory Protest

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 06:05 AM PST

Yangon labor activists say they have lost trust in government – with the November election looming – after they were prosecuted for asking the authorities for help.

Myanmar Military Chief Expected to Appoint Loyalists as Reshuffle Looms 

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 05:40 AM PST

The recent appointment of an officer seen as loyal to Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing as Home Affairs chief is expected to be followed by a shake-up of the Tatmadaw's top brass.

Chinese State Firm, HK’s VPower to Implement Three Electricity Projects in Myanmar

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 05:24 AM PST

A joint venture between a Chinese state-owned company and Hong Kong's VPower will invest in three power projects in Myanmar with total capacity of 900 megawatts.

Facebook Removes More Than 20 Accounts, Pages Linked to Myanmar Military-Backed Mytel

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 01:51 AM PST

Facebook has removed a total of 23 accounts and pages linked to military-backed telecom operator Mytel for 'coordinated inauthentic behavior'

Bangladesh Police Arrest Eight in Trafficking Crackdown After Boat Tragedy

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 01:46 AM PST

Bangladesh police have arrested eight suspected traffickers in Cox's Bazar over Tuesday's boat sinking in the Bay of Bengal that killed 15 Rohingya women and children.

Coronavirus Death Toll Leaps in China’s Hubei Province; Party Bosses Sacked

Posted: 13 Feb 2020 12:33 AM PST

The death toll from the coronavirus in China's Hubei surged by a daily record of 242 and daily cases jumped by 14,840 under a new diagnosis method.

Cruise Ship Shunned Over Coronavirus Fears Arrives in Cambodia

Posted: 12 Feb 2020 11:57 PM PST

The cruise ship MS Westerdam, which was barred entry by five countries amid the coronavirus outbreak, has been allowed to anchor near Cambodia's port of Sihanoukville.

First Group of Japanese Evacuees From Wuhan Completes Quarantine

Posted: 12 Feb 2020 11:40 PM PST

Nearly 200 Japanese people evacuated from China amid the coronavirus outbreak have been allowed to go home after two weeks of quarantine at sites near Tokyo.
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