Stories from Quick Reads and Burmese
Myanmar Now Sells Cheap SIM Cards
Great news for mobile phone users in Myanmar. Authorities from different divisions and states will start selling[my] mobile SIM cards for CDMA and WCDMA network at only 1500 kyats or about 2 US Dollars. Just five years ago, a SIM card in Myanmar could cost more than $2000.
Request Google to Look into Myanmar
Many Burmese netizens requested[my] the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information who met with Google's Southeast Asia Country lead for Public Policy and Government Affairs to convince the company not to block Google Play in Myanmar and to put Burmese (Myanmar) language in Google Translate.
Myanmar Hit by 6.8 Magnitude Earthquake
An earthquake with a magnitude 6.8 hit the towns of Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, Shwe Bo and Sagaing in Myanmar at 7:40 a.m (GMT+6:30). According to reports, 4 workers died and 25 were injured at the construction of a bridge[my] in Shwe Bo. The earthquake was the strongest to hit...
Myanmar: Newspapers Now Printed in Color
Government-sponsored newspapers in Myanmar are now printed in color, this was announced [my] by the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Information on his Facebook. There are only three major daily papers in Myanmar, all published in monochrome version except on special occasions like Independence Day. Weekly publications by other local media...
Myanmar to Ban Viber?
An engineer from Myanmar's Ministry of Communication has warned[my] that Viber and other VOIP services might be banned in the country because of revenue losses of the state and the absence of contracts between ministry and the users. Internet users immediately criticized the statement.
Myanmar: 500 Prisoners Released
More than 500 prisoners in Myanmar are expected to be released[my] this week. A number of netizens assume that it's a political tactic in preparation for the president's trip to the United States.
Myanmar: Increase in Insurance Buyers Due to Natural Disasters
Ko Ko Aung blogs [my] about the increasing number of insurance policy buyers due to natural disasters in Myanmar, although numbers remain relatively small compared to other countries.
Myanmar: Reshuffling the Cabinet
In a bold move, Myanmar President Thein Sein reshuffled[my] his cabinet by appointing non-army officers and removing controversial ministers. Among those replaced included the Minister of the Ministry of Electric Power who was criticized for the electricity shortage last summer and the Minister of the Ministry of Information who is...
Thailand: Police Collect Wedding Fees from Myanmar Workers
Htoo Chit wrote [my] about the illegal wedding fees collected by Thai police from Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand.
Myanmar: Abused Child Goes to Court Without Lawyer
Wira Thu, a monk activist, wrote[my] about an ‘unfair’ trial where a 14-year old girl victim in a child labor case appeared in the court without a lawyer.
Debit Cards in Myanmar
Starting September 2012, Myanmar consumers would be able to use[my] debit cards serviced by the Myanmar Payment Union. Using a credit/debit card as a mode of payment in Myanmar has never been popular though it was once introduced in 2000 but cancelled in 2002.
Myanmar: Curfew in Kyaut Taw, Rakhine State
A curfew has been imposed [my] in Kyaut Taw, Rakhine State, where another riot has occurred between the Rohingya and Rakhine ethnic groups. Myanmar government army troops were sent in to maintain security.
Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi as New Parliamentary Committee Head?
Netizens discuss [my] whether Aung San Suu Kyi could succeed as the head of the Rule of Law and Tranquility Committee in Myanmar's parliament.
Myanmar: Appeal to Global Community
The Muslim Organisation of Myanmar has appealed [my] to the international community to stop threatening the country, manipulating and propagating news and insulting the national flag and country's leaders regarding the Rohingya issue and the violence in the western part of the country.
Myanmar: Netizens Cheer Release of more Political Prisoners
Myanmar netizens welcomed[my] the release of more political prisoners on July 3, 2012. About 24 activists/politicians were released and some believed that it boosted the country's transition towards democracy.