Police tackle growing problem of rape after Yangon sees spike in cases this year
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The number of rapes in Myanmar's Yangon has spiked this year, with 97 reported up to the end of August, according to officials.
Most of the victims were underage girls.
Colonel Tin Win, the security and border affairs minister for Yangon Region, told a formal meeting on Tuesday that, of the 97 rapes reported so far this year in the country’s commercial hub, 69 were committed against underage girls.
He also explained about that plans were being implemented for the care of rape victims, along with measures to prevent the crime.
He added that the police were working to increase public awareness of the issue by arranging campaigns in townships across the region and distributing free educational pamphlets to the public with the aim of reduce the incidence of rape this year.
Seventy-four officers across the region have been appointed to take care of the issue, he said.
World’s largest food company arrives for slice of Myanmar pie
Switzerland-based Nestle, the largest food company in the world in terms of revenue, is to build a factory and manufacture its products in Myanmar, according to Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
Nestle’s products include baby food, drinking water, cereals, coffee, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, pet food and snacks. Twenty-nine of Nestle’s brands – including Nescafe, Kit Kat, and Maggi – have annual sales of over one billion Swiss francs (about US$1.1 billion).
Nestle, which has its headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, operates about 450 factories in 86 countries, with nearly 328,000 staff. It is one of the main shareholders of L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetic company.
Well-known food and beverage companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Unilever have already built factories in Myanmar. Others, such as Heineken, Carlsberg, Beer Chang, and Pokka are beginning construction of their factories here.
South Korean construction giant strides in
South Korea’s leading conglomerate, SK Group, has entered the construction business in Myanmar, says the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
The DICA approved SK Group Construction (Myanmar) Co Ltd on September 13. SK Group is involved in a wide range of sectors, including the chemical, petroleum, energy, trading, construction, logistics and telecommunication industries.
Other South Korean firms such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Posco have already entered the Myanmar market. Incheon Airport Consortium has also been chosen by the government to construct the Hanthawaddy International Airport in Bago Region, which will become the largest airport in Myanmar.
Founded in 1953, SK Group has about 120 offices worldwide. In 2011, its net revenue was about US$99 billion and its net income US$1.5 billion.
Migrant workers get five new temporary-passport offices in Thailand
Five temporary-passport issuing offices have been opened in Thailand for Myanmar migrant workers whose visas have expired.
The offices will be opened at Myanmar embassy and consulate services in Ranong, Chiang Mai, Maha Chaing and Surat Thani, where the majority of Myanmar migrant workers live.
The Myanmar government has asked Thai Labour Ministry officials not to arrest migrant workers whose visas expired but to instead provide them with assistance.
The two countries recently reached an agreement to allow Myanmar migrant workers who have been in Thailand for three years to travel home on holiday without incurring visa restrictions.
The many thousands of Myanmar migrant workers with expired visas in Thailand are vulnerable to exploitation from brokers and others demanding high prices to extend their visas or “turn a blind eye”.
Temporary passports have been issued to 1.7 million Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand.
