Week in Review: Myanmar

Jeff Lo, country manager of Asus Indochina and Thailand, said the demand for the company’s products has significantly increased in the country.
 He is optimistic about Myanmar’s booming IT market following the gradual improvement of Internet coverage there.

EU fish deal signed
Marine products can now be exported to Europe under the European Union-Myanmar Trade Development Programme signed on October 6.
The TDP will be implemented with the
technical assistance of GIZ and 10.5-million-euro funding.
After fish, the export of bean sprouts will soon be allowed.

Funds sought to fight cyber crimes
Major Tun Nay Win said Myanmar police need a bigger budget to combat cyber crimes which are on the rise in tandem with the higher number of mobile phones.
He said more e-commerce activities are expected to increase the crimes, as most SIM cards are unregistered.
Under the Telecommunications Law, violators are subjected to a prison sentence of up to three years and fines. Yet, charges can be filed only with the consent from the Communications and Information Technology Ministry.

Two Facebook users arrested
Two people have been arrested over their military-related Facebook postings.
Khum Jaa Lee was charged for posting a photo of Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing being stepped on. He is the husband of International Women of Courage Award recipient May Sabe Phyu.
Chaw Sandi Tun was arrested for a post that allegedly compared the colour of the military’s uniform to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s sarong. Chaw Sandi Tun was involved with the student protest march against the National Education Law and is a member of the National League for Democracy’s election committee.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said this restriction of freedom of expression directly contradicts democratic principles and the government’s commitment to promote political reform and respect human rights. The US called for their immediate and unconditional release.

Clothes most pawned items
Most of the items being pawned are clothes followed by gold accessories, according to pawn shops.
Moe Kyaw, a pawnbroker in Yangon, said most people need money for groceries. They usually pawned the items in the morning.
They are subjected to 10-15 per cent interest rate.

Floods affect border trade
Heavy rain disrupted transportation around the Myanmar-India border, bringing trade between the two countries to a temporary halt. Roads in Chin State were heavily damaged.
Landslides in Kayah State killed 18 people, including two children.

Strong NLD campaigns
As many as 10,000 people gathered in Ayeyawady Region in a rally to support the National League for Democracy (NLD). Its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, also started a
campaign in Rakhine State. On her way home, she will give a speech in Ayeyawady Region.
Unable to reach the Coco Islands earlier, the party’s candidate Win Mai planned to start the campaign there tomorrow.

Thousands of migrants cast votes
Thousands of Myanmar migrants overseas cast their advance votes from Thursday to yesterday. More than 34,000 expats applied to vote, including over 20,000 living in Singapore.
Voting was carried out at 44 embassies and consular offices in 37 countries.
In Singapore, some were denied the chance to vote despite applying for an advance ballot.
People living  Mayangon Township ward are not on the voter list.

Students get heavy sentences
A Mandalay court handed heavy jail
sentences to Yadanabon University students who have spent months behind bars.
The court sentenced Naing Ye Wai, chairman of the student Union, and Aung Hsan Oo, Jit Tu and Nyan Lin Htet, to three months in prison under the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, three months under the Penal Code and six months for state defamation.