December 31, 2015

Rakhine Militants Threaten to Attack on Thailand over Death Sentences Row

A Rakhine (Magh) Militant Outfit named Arakan Army (AA) threatened to attack on Thailand and its Economic Interests  in Myanmar over the death sentences to the two Rakhine (Magh) Burmese by a Thai Court on December 24.

The Thai Court found two Rakhine Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, guilty for the brutal murders of the two British nationals – Killing David Miller, 24, and Raping and then Murdering Hannah Witheridge, 23 — visiting Koh Tao Island in Thailand in September 2014. Miller’s family said after the verdict that they had initial doubts about the investigation but found the evidence against the accused to be “absolutely overwhelming” (AP News).

However, the defendants as well as various Rakhine political groups called it an unfair trial and the protests were held before Thai Embassy in Yangon with protesters chanting ‘we want justice’ and ‘shameless Thai government’ etc.

In a statement released on December 27 2015, the Arakan Army called it ‘Injustice’ and demanded the concerned authorities to appeal against the verdict of the death sentences in 60 days’ time. Else, they would have to use force and raid Thailand’s ‘Nakhon Si Thammarat’ Prison — where the two convicts are currently detained – to rescue the detainees. (Courtesy of Rohingya Vision TV)

Pheu Thai denies role in protests

The Pheu Thai Party has dismissed suggestions that it was behind the Myanmar protests against the Koh Tao murder case ruling.

The move came after Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said he believed the protests had been instigated by those who want to cause problems for the government.

While he did not name anyone in particular, Gen Prawit insisted those behind the protests intend to prevent the government from working smoothly.

Police are investigating who, particularly those in Thailand, might have been involved in instigating protests against the ruling, Gen Prawit said.

His comment came amid demonstrations in Myanmar against last Thursday's sentencing to death of Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 22, for the murders of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, on Koh Tao in Surat Thani province in September 2014. (Courtesy of Bangkok Post: News)

Shoppers show low trust in online shopping services

Customer trust is a major challenge for online shopping businesses in Myanmar, despite their provision of door-to-door delivery services and acceptance of cash payment, according to industry insiders.

An official from Zawgyi Mart Online Shopping Services said: “There is no problem with the delivery services. Delivery service groups and organisations have emerged one after another. In the past, we had to provide the delivery services. Now, delivery services are being offered in cooperation with the Myanmar Post Office. Cash settlement systems are progressing more than before. Services like 2C2P and mobile money are available. Online shoppers can pay using 2C2P at ABC stores. Currently, the major challenge is customer trust. Online shopping has become popular. But five in ten persons said they are not ok with the online shopping. Another point is that customers can return unwanted items. We have a return policy and exchange unwanted materials during the designated period if customers can give a sound reason. It is crucial.” (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)

No plans to reduce or withdraw Yangon-Bangkok flights

YANGON—Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is now operating direct flight between Yangon and Bangkok twice per day, and there is no plan to reduce the number of flights or to withdraw the flight schedules, said Aye Marya Tha, assistant general manager of MAI.

“We can’t cancel the flight schedules because tickets were sold in advance. We make the trip twice a day from Yangon to Bangkok. We have no plan to stop our flights due to the Kho Tao murder verdict. As for MAI, there is no plan to reduce the number of flights and or withdraw the schedules,” said Aye Marya Tha.

In Myanmar, people in major cities, including Tachileik, near the border with Thailand, staged protests demanding the release of two Myanmar migrants who face the death penalty for killing two British tourists on Kao Tao.

Moreover, Myanmar citizens who are working in Japan and Malaysia have protested against the Kho Tao verdict.

On December 24, the Koh Samui District court had given the death sentence to two Myanmar migrants accused of murdering two British nationals on Koh Tao last year. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)

Cabinet approves construction of 69 bridges in Myanmar

New Delhi : The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of 69 bridges including approach roads on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section of the trilateral highway in Myanmar at a cost of Rs. 371.58 crore.

This will impart all weather usability to the TKK road section, which is also part of the route for the proposed Imphal-Mandalay bus service. It will improve connectivity between India and Myanmar and facilitate the movement of goods and traffic.

During the visit of then prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to Myanmar in May 2012, it was agreed, at the request of Government of Myanmar, to undertake construction of 71 bridges in the Tamu – Kyigone – Kalewa (TKK) road section of the Trilateral Highway. (Courtesy of Free Press Journal)

Vice President attends 16th Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference

With a key-note address from the Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham, the 16th Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference was opened in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, he called on traditional medicine practitioners to conduct research on safety, quality and potency of the country’s indigenous medicines and to cooperate with pharmacologists, foresters, agriculturalists and medical experts to conduct scientific research.

The vice president also encouraged practitioners across the country to expose and preserve the potent herbs grown in Myanmar’s jungle and to reproduce, cultivate and produce them.

Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham also urged them to begin records of therapy, saying that it is a must for all the traditional medicine practitioners. The pros and cons of their therapies are to be put on record and these records need to be systematically compiled so as to disclose the findings with firm evi dences, he added. (Courtesy of Myanmar President Office)

'Policemen' nabbed for trying to rob Myanmar migrants

The police have arrested two men for allegedly impersonating as policemen and trying to rob two Myanmar nationals in Johor Baru yesterday.

Johor Baru Selatan police chief Sulaiman Salleh said they were arrested by five police motorcycle patrolmen at 8.15pm at a house in Jalan Sentosa, Larkin, as they were beating up the Myanmar nationals with a stick.

He said the two suspects had identified themselves as policemen to the Myanmar nationals by showing them certain red cards.

"They started beating their victims with a stick and ordered them to produce their passports," he said in a statement.

Sulaiman said the motorcycle patrolmen also seized a stick, a police authority card in the name of one of the suspects and a motorcycle. (Courtesy of Malaysiakini)

18 Myanmar refugees held during search Operation

Hyderabad: Keeping in view of the arrest of three sympathisers of Islamic State from Hyderabad, ensuing New Year celebrations and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, the South Zone police on Tuesday conducted a massive cordon and search operation in the Old City.

The operation was conducted in several colonies located in Bahadurpura police station limits by closing seven exit routes in the locality. During the operation, the police identified 18 Myanmar refugees among which six persons were staying illegally. As many as 68 bikes and 28 autos were detained for not having valid documents.  (Courtesy of The Hans India)

Thai, Myanmar Foreign Ministers call for calm

BANGKOK — With growing protests over the death sentences imposed by a Thai court on two Myanmar migrant workers for murdering a pair of British tourists, foreign ministers from both countries called for calm yesterday.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters that he had spoken via telephone with his Myanmese counterpart, Wunna Maung Lwin — with the latter expressing his understanding that the case was not final and would continue through the appeals process.

Both ministers also said that they did not want to see the demonstrations escalate to the point of affecting diplomatic relations.

Mr Don said that the ministry was preparing translated summaries of the court’s decision in Burmese and English and would furnish them to the Myanmar ministry to distribute to the public. (Courtesy of TDAYonline)

OJK Targets Bilateral Cooperations With Thailand, Myanmar in New Year

Jakarta. Indonesia's financial regulator, the Financial Services Authority, known as OJK, has set a target to seal bilateral cooperations with two Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the first quarter of the new year.

Thailand and Myanmar will be the first two nations in the Asean bloc to form such cooperations with Indonesia ahead of the 2020 target of wider banking sector liberalization as set out by the Asean Banking Integration Framework.

OJK Chairman Muliaman D. Hadad said Indonesia is committed to solidifying bilateral cooperations with all countries in the bloc, so Asean members can enjoy reciprocal interactions.

By the first quarter of next year only two nations — Thailand and Myanmar — can settle banking sector bilateral cooperations with Indonesia, while the remaining nations still needing further discussions.

"Currently, we are awaiting for answers from Malaysia. There are things cannot be settled right now about the payment system. Overthere, the payment system also involves the private sector," Muliaman said recently.

The bloc — with a combined population of 600 million and a total gross domestic product of around $3 trillion — will roll-out economic integration on Jan. 1, 2016. (Courtesy of Jakarta Globe)

Unresponsive govt brings shame to parliament: Shwe Mann

Union parliament speaker Shwe Mann said the government implemented very few proposals approved by the parliament, leading the parliament to lose face. 

The speaker made the comment following the explanation offered by the Ministry of Mines about the recently frequent landslides in Hpakant, Kachin State, where jade mining is accelerating with the use of heavy machinery and the responses of MPs during a parliamentary session in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. 

"Both important and ordinary proposals came to me. Some were verbal complaints. When it comes to the Hpakant issue, complaints come to the lower house or the Union parliament depending on the situation. If a proposal is important, the parliament must make a decision. The decision we made may be right or wrong because we have to do it promptly. I will send a message to the president. Then, we will listen to the clarification of a representative sent by the president before we give necessary advice," said Shwe Mann. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)

Sagaing residents protest against squatting rapist

The residents of Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, staged a protest against the failure of an ex-convict to adhere to the judgement of the court on Monday.

Three years ago, Judge Myint Chit Kyaw sentenced Kyaw Naing to one year in prison for violating Section 417 of the Penal Code by raping an underage girl who was deaf and mute. The court also ordered him to give a plot of land to the girl as compensation in a civil suit. Kyaw Naing has been squatting on the land he gave as compensation since he was released from prison.

Local residents incensed by his behaviour staged a protest and called for immediate justice for the violated party.

“We received a land plot as compensation by the court’s judgement. But Kyaw Naing has trespassed into it since he was released. We have filed a case against him. We want the land back,” said the mother of the girl. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)

Chinese Ambassador meets SNLD leaders

YANGON—Hong Liang, the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, discussed cooperation on regional development tasks in Shan State with the top leaders of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) at the house the party’s chairman, Khun Tun Oo, yesterday. 

Khun Tun Oo, party vice chairman Sai Saw Aung, general secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin and technical supports officer Sai Kyaw Nyunt attended the meeting with the ambassador.

“The Chinese ambassador remarked that Myanmar and China have enjoyed close relations for a long times. He said he would like to provide regional development tasks to Shan State in cooperation with the SNLD because the Shan State borders China,” said Sai Saw Aung, the vice chairman of the SNLD. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)