LFM News Service 1-11-19

Homes Levelled by Storm in Mon State
An unseasonal storm hit Kalegauk Island in Ye Township, Mon State on Tuesday causing damaged to more than 300 houses, according to local sources.  Read More

A Glimpse into Karen Culture in Yangon
When the sound of frog drums and buffalo horns filled the air at the Arlane Ngarsint Pagoda on a particularly nippy dawn last Sunday, hundreds of Karen people gathered in the compound fell silent as it formally signalled the start of the celebration of the Karen New Year’s Day in Yangon.  Read More

Frustrated Farmers Give Melons Away as Border Checkpoint Remains Shut
Melon growers gave away around 50 tons of watermelons in Sagaing Region’s Monywa on Monday in a protest against the closure of a key border checkpoint for fruit exports in the Muse border trade zone on the Myanmar-China border.  Read More

Rakhine rebels kill 13 Myanmar police in brazen raids
Thirteen Myanmar police officers were killed in raids Friday by ethnic Rakhine rebels, the army said, in a brazen, co-ordinated attack on the country's Independence Day which adds a dangerous new dimension to conflict in the restive western state.  Read More

Myanmar army to launch ‘crackdown’ on Rakhine rebels: govt
Myanmar has called on its military to "launch operations" against ethnic Rakhine rebels behind a deadly attack on four police stations last week, a government spokesman said Monday, as a surge of violence forces thousands more from their homes  Read More