The new system collects biometric and biographic information from residents
In February 2021, the military staged a coup in Myanmar, citing allegations of “electoral fraud” by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party in the 2020 general elections. We've been monitoring the country since and registered the rise in authoritarian narratives and practices from the military. Our researchers have been on the frontlines of understanding Myanmar's media ecosystem and the many shifts in the narratives spread by the military junta.
One of our researchers wanted to dive deeper into the junta's attempt to implement an electronic biometric identification system, and how that would worsen the country’s human rights situation. The result is the story you can read below, written by our researcher based in Myanmar, whose identity will be kept private for security reasons.
Read more: Myanmar’s E-ID system means progress or surveillance?
The Department of Consumer Affairs of Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce and the Myanmar Rice Federation jointly launched the Myanmar Rice Online (MyRO) website to transform the country's rice industry.
A ceremony to launch the digital platform MyRO was held in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, businesspersons and media.
Read more: Myanmar launches digital platform to modernise rice industry
Myanmar will launch an online land database soon, said Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Thaung Tun.
The online land database will be introduced to provide transparency regarding land ownership, said the minister during a webinar on a ‘New Way of Working with Government’ organised by Myanmar’s British Chamber of Commerce.
Chairman of the State Administration Council, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who overthrew the civilian government on 1 February 2021, said that Nay Pyi Taw will be shaped like green, clean and smart city.
The state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar quoted Min Aung Hlaing to be saying that “many opportunities will come out for the nation in shaping Nay Pyi Taw as a green city, clean city, and smart city. Hence, efforts must be made to the improvement of agriculture and livestock farming through better management and various ways.”
Read more: MM: Nay Pyi Taw to be implemented as a green, clean, and smart city: SAC leader
While the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the global tourism industry, the popular resort town of Phuket is turning the crisis into an opportunity by remaking itself into a smart city and eco-friendly holiday destination.
Thanks to the Phuket City Development project, smart-flow technology will be used to collect tourist data and electric vehicles will be a fresh transportation alternative for vacationers in the near future. The recent advent of the innovative Banpu Next e-Ferry is another step in boosting awareness of sustainable tourism among local residents and marine tour operators.
Read more: MM: Phuket embraces electric energy to limit pollution, promote eco-tourism