March 30 - April 8, 2012

myanmartimes
Myanmars first international weekly Volume 32, No. 621 1200 Kyats

tHe

Free, fair elections can heal the wounds of the past

SUNDAY April 1 marks an important milestone in Myanmars transition to democracy. Millions of voters will select 45 representatives for national and regional hluttaws from a pool of more than 150 candidates. For the first time in 22 years, the National League for Democracy will have representatives on ballot forms. The excitement and colour

Editorial
of the short campaign period marks a welcome departure from the atmosphere of fear that pervaded much of the 2010 general election. With a few exceptions, the byelection campaign has been transparent and fair, and the election commission and regional authorities should be applauded for overseeing this.

It is important that this newfound political freedom continues not only through to midnight on April 1 but also in perpetuity. The people of Myanmar have been deprived of this right for too long. The future of democracy in Myanmar rests on participation participation from political parties, the media, the public, exiled and internal activist groups,

armed insurgent groups and all other stakeholders. Voting on election day is just one act of political participation, albeit a very visible act. The greater the political input from all sectors of the society, the better the countrys chances of securing peace and prosperity. These by-elections represent an opportunity to banish the disappointment that many experienced

in 2010. A free, fair and transparent poll would mark another important step forward on the path towards reconciliation and the value of this should not be understated. The response of the election commission to complaints of errors on some voter lists has been heartening, and attempts should made to rectify these and any other weaknesses experienced

before, after and during the vote in future elections. What we should not forget about the 2010 election is those brave candidates and voters who refused to bow to calls for a boycott. Without the 3000 candidates and 22 million people who voted on November 7, 2010, Myanmar would not be where it is today. More page 4

On Armed Forces Day, activists send a message of peace

Young people hold candles at a Prayer for Peace ceremony at Judson Church in Yangons Kamaryut township on March 27. About 400 people attended the multi-faith event, which was held to raise awareness about the conflict in Kachin State and was organised by Kindness Womens Group. Full story page 5. Pic: Ko Taik

Govt to float currency April 1

YANGON The government announced last week an overhaul of its antiquated currency system as part of burgeoning reforms to modernise an economy left in disarray by decades of military rule. A managed floating exchange rate will be adopted from April 1, allowing market forces to determine the value of the kyat while leaving room for the central bank to influence its value, state media said on March 28. It described the move as the first step towards unifying the nations various exchange rates. Its a very positive move. It injects a degree of rationality into policymaking that was notable by its absence in the previous regime and for much of the past 50 years, said Mr Sean Turnell, a Myanmar economic expert at Macquarie University in Sydney. It removes many of the difficulties and corruption incentives that have been in place with this dual system, he added. Myanmar has a highly complex exchange rate regime, with official, semi-official and unofficial rates. The official government rate which is widely ignored is fixed at around just K6 to the dollar, while in stark contrast the rate on the flourishing black market stands at about K800. The official rate will now be replaced with a market-determined rate, according to a central bank announcement published in the state-run New Light of Myanmar. It did not say at what rate the kyat would be floated or exactly how it would be managed. Experts saw the multiple-rate system as a way for the regime to funnel revenues from natural gas sales into secret accounts by recording payments at K6 a dollar and then exchanging them at the much higher informal rate. Burmas public accounts have really been starved of money because state-owned enterprise earnings have just been filtered off into various other accounts, said Mr Turnell. More page 4

News
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

2
MyanMar tiMes

No media allowed near poll stations: EC

By Soe Than Lynn JOURNALISTS will be forbidden from taking photographs or conducting interview within 500 metres of a polling station on April 1, the head of the Union Election Commission said last week. Journalists can collect news and photos only outside the polling station. But no interviews are allowed within a radius of 500 yards; if we receive complaints that any photographs are being taken or any interviewing is disrupting a candidate or voter, we will take legal action against [those responsible], commission chairman U Tin Aye said at a press conference on March 28. Journalists will not be admitted to polling stations. Those who will freely vote and cast a secret vote will have to be free of disruption, he said. The restrictions were announced in a document p r o v i d e d b y t h e P r e ss Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD) to media organisations titled Dos and donts for the media covering the by-elections of Myanmar. However, the provision banning journalists from working within 500m of polling stations was not included in the Englishlanguage version of the document. U Tin Aye refused to respond when asked whether it was the commission or the Ministry of Information that had prescribed the rules concerning how journalists would be able to cover the elections. He added that despite the restrictions the election commission wanted the media to help make the elections free and fair. He also conceded that there were some weaknesses in the previous 2010 election and said that laws and by-laws had been amended and the election sub-commissions operations more transparent. Political parties had weaknesses and so did the election commission because of legal incompetence and [organising the elections] over a short span of eight months, U Tin Aye said. In response to a question on when the results of the election would be released, U Tin Aye replied: It is not necessary to be hasty but to be correct so we will do it carefully. As this time the volume of work is not as large as the previous [election], the election results are expected to come out within a week. According to the commission, 170 candidates had registered to contest the by-elections, which will be held in 48 constituencies. However, the final number of candidates will be 157 because two had been disqualified and voting had been cancelled in three constituencies in Kachin State. The commission said candidates from 15 parties would contest 129 Pyithu Hluttaw seats, which had a combined total of 4,682,040 eligible voters, along with 6083 polling stations. Meanwhile, 1,669,192 from 114 wards and 910 villages in 18 townships would be eligible to vote for an Amyotha Hluttaw representative at 2103 polling stations. An additional 133,330 voters would have the chance to vote for a region hluttaw representative, U Tin Aye said. Translated by Thit Lwin

Commission turns down applications Electoral roll grows in to cast advance votes in Nay Pyi Taw Mingalar Taung Nyunt
By Win Ko Ko Latt ELECTION commission officials in Zabbuthiri township have rejected applications from some civil servants to cast an advance vote, sources in Nay Pyi Taw told The Myanmar Times said last week. Daw Sandar Min, the National League for Democracys candidate for the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Zabbuthiri, where an estimated 37,000 of 54,000 voters are civil servants, said about 100 applications had been rejected on the grounds they didnt conform with electoral laws. In the 2010 general election, there were 17,094 advance votes cast in Zabbuthiri from a total of 75,517 votes. We have learnt that the applications to cast advance votes that do not conform to the law by some government staff were turned down by the commission, Daw Sandar Min said. I am very much grateful to officials at the ward election sub-commission in Bawgathiri ward. More than 100 [advance] votes can have a considerable impact, she said. The news was also Those inside the constituency but afflicted by leprosy, elderly, in labour, under policy custody and in hospital are entitled to cast an advance vote, along with civil servants, Tatmadaw members and police who are on duty on polling day. This time there may not be as many advance votes as in the previous election. Actually, there is not enough assistance to ensure the elderly and ill are able to cast an advance vote, said U Min Thu, the NLD candidate for Ottarathiri. While Union Election Commission chairman U Tin Aye, President U Thein Sein and Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann have all reiterated that the by-elections will be free and fair, U Min Thu said the pledge needed to be abided by at the district, township, and ward and village levels. All the parties and organisations will have to understand that cleanliness in the elections is necessary in our country, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in Nay Pyi Taw on March 6 while meeting with representatives from ethnic parties. Translated by Thit Lwin By Kyaw Hsu Mon THE number of eligible voters in Yangons Mingalar Taung Nyunt township has risen by almost 40,000 since parties were given the chance to amend voter lists, candidates said last week. The election commission gave parties until March 24 to apply to make corrections to voter lists and while this has resulted in some names being removed from the roles, such as deceased people, it has resulted in new voters being added. U Kaung Myint Htut of the Myanmar National Congress said he initially believed there were only 95,000 eligible voters in the township but the latest lists from the commission showed about 130,000. There are two kinds of additional names one is internationally created by some people, others are migrant workers from other areas of the country, he said. This is a weakness of the Ministry of Immigration they dont have proper data on family registration. U Kaung Myint Htut said he hadnt applied to add or remove names from voter lists. However, he said prominent Union Solidarity and Development Party members, including U Htay Oo, had complained to the commission in early March that in many constituencies migrant workers had been left off the electoral roll. U Phone Myint from the New National Democracy Party confirmed that the number of voters in Mingalar Taung Nyunt had risen from about 95,000 when the lists were first announced to 133,089 on March 28. We have just been encouraging residents to inform us if they are not on the lists, he said. I dont think there will be fraud related to this rise in the number of voters. The campaign manager for National League for Democracy candidate Daw Phyu Phyu Thin said the partys members had found many additional voters by going door to door through the township. The commission told us to submit these lists of extra voters before March 24 but we have found even more since then and cant do anything, the campaign manager said. There are also some people who are not living in this township but are still on the lists so we are checking them closely.

National League for Democracy supporters at a rally in Dekkhinathiri township in early March. Pic: Kaung Htet confirmed U Nyi Aung Tha, the election sub-commission chairman from Bawgathiri ward in Zabbuthiri. The applications from more than 100 employees from some departments to cast advance vote were turned down after being scrutinised, he said. Not every application is allowed. He said those approved to cast an advance vote would do so on March 30 and 31. With 8667 civil servants, Bawgathiri ward is home to the largest number of government staff in the township, said U Nyi Aung Tha. While its difficult to predict, it appears that the number of advance votes cast in Zabbuthiri will be down on 2010, if only because the number of eligible voters has declined by about onethird. Nobody has applied to cast an advance vote in our ward, said a spokesman from the Mingalar Theikdi Ward Election Sub-commission. Among those eligible to cast an advance vote are Tatmadaw members, students, trainees, prison inmates and those receiving treatment in hospital who are staying outside their constituency.

Trade Mark CauTion

eYGn LiMiTed a company incorporated under the laws of the Bahamas, of One Montague Place, East Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trademark:-

reg: nos. 1791/1989, 1731/2003 in respect of Class 35: Provision of busniess information; business management; and consulting services; accounting and auditing services. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trademark will be dealt with according to law. u nyunt Tin associates, Intellectual Property Law Firm P.O. Box 592, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 951 375754, Fax: 951 254321 Email: info@untlaw.com For eYGn LiMiTed Dated: 2nd April, 2012

ernST & YounG

3
the

News
MyanMar tiMes March 30 - April 8, 2012

UN aid convoy reaches Kachin State displaced

YANGON A UN convoy of urgently needed humanitarian assistance has reached conflictaffected areas of Kachin State. This is a major step forward and follows sustained advocacy on the part of the UN with both the government and Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), UN resident and humanitarian coordinator Mr Ashok Nigam said in Yangon. The convoy of four trucks and two other UN vehicles arrived in the KIO-controlled township of Sadang from Myitkyina on March 24. Food assistance for more than 1000 people for one month is being provided, along with a variety of non-food items ahead of the monsoon season, which is likely to begin in May. It was the second time the government has allowed the UN to access KIO-controlled areas since armed conflict between government troops and the Kachin Independence Army broke out last June. The last convoy allowed into the area was in December. We now need to make these convoys a regular occurrence, Mr Nigam said. According to UN estimates, more than 60,000 people have been displaced by the conflict, including 20,000 in government-controlled areas and up to 40,000 in KIO-controlled areas. Several thousand others are believed to be in China staying with host families. Following the governments request for support, in September 2011 the UN, with the support of international and local NGOs, undertook an inter-agency assessment of nearly 6000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in five government-controlled townships in Kachin State. Major needs identified included emergency supplies, water and sanitation, food, medical assistance and education materials. At the time, there were about 20,000 IDPs in Kachin State and the northern part of Shan State, but by December their numbers had grown to over 55,000. The UN and international agencies have had regular access to IDPs in government-controlled areas, but not in KIO-controlled areas, leaving the latter largely dependent on charity groups and local authorities. Aid agencies do not see a speedy solution and about 60,000 people in Kachin and Shan states could need sustained humanitarian assistance for at least a year. Food insecurity is also likely to prevail until at least the end of 2013, since many IDPs left their farms and lost their harvests. Longerterm assistance will be needed to rebuild lives in their areas of origin. We hope this access to people in need will be sustainable and we will be able to continue to provide assistance to those in need, regardless of where they are, said Mr Hans ten Feld, country representative of the UN Refugee Agency in Myanmar. IRIN

A man stands on a shipping container at Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa in Kyauktan township as a fire rages in the background on March 26. Pic: Kaung Htet

Port fire causes $5m damage

By Noe Noe Aung A MASSIVE blaze at the Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa last week caused US$5 million damage, destroying teak and hardwood logs that were at the port ready for export. The March 26 fire at the port, located about 25 kilometres south of Yangon in Kyauktan township, took about 16 hours to bring under control, said an official from the Yangon Region Fire Services Department in Kyauktada township. The fire lasted for a number of hours. It started about 2pm on March 26 and ended about 6am on March 27, the department head told The Myanmar Times on March 27. The fire continued to smoulder until about 2:40pm on March 27, according to a spokesperson for Thanlyin township Fire Services Department. The department said in a statement that the logs, which were owned by a Chinese company called CIFG, were ignited after a passerby dropped a cigarette that caught fire on a nearby bush before spreading to the logs and a nearby supply of coal. Approximately 3000 tonnes of teak and 4000 tonnes of hardwood valued at $5 million were destroyed from a stockpile of about 30,000 tonnes, the department said. Workers at the port terminal, which opened in 1997 and is owned by Hutchison Port Holdings, said they tried to extinguish the fire but the flames spread quickly through the stockpile. Altogether 370 firemen and 77 reserves responded to the fire, bringing it under control about midnight. Nobody was injured in the blaze, according to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), which also attended the scene. The fire was unstoppable but no one was injured. We arrived at about 5pm and the flames were not under control they were getting bigger and bigger, said an MRCS member. The compound with the logs was adjacent to a site filled with about 2000 recently imported vehicles. More than 1000 of these vehicles, as well as 30 heavy machines and 25 shipping containers, were moved away from the fire as a precautionary measure.

News
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the
MYANMAR CONSOLIDATED MEDIA Ltd. Chief Executive Officer & Editor-in-Chief (MTM) Dr. Tin Tun Oo management@myanmartimes.com.mm drtto@myanmartimes.com.mm Editor-in-Chief (MTE) Ross Dunkley rsdunkley@gmail.com Chief Operating Officer U Wai Linn wailin@myanmartimes.com.mm Strategic Management Committee Dr. Tin Tun Oo (Chairman) Committee members Dr. Khin Moe Moe, Ross Dunkley, Bill Clough, U Min Sein, U Myint Maung, U Wai Linn, Thomas Kean (Editor-MTE) and U Zaw Myint (Editor-MTM) Senior Management Consultant U Myint Maung myintmaung@myanmartimes.com.mm oomyintmaung@gmail.com EDITORIAL newsroom@myanmartimes.com.mm Editor MTE Thomas Kean tdkean@myanmartimes.com.mm Editor MTM U Zaw Myint editormtm@myanmartimes.com.mm Editor Special Publications U Myo Lwin myolwin@myanmartimes.com.mm Business Editor MTE Stuart Deed stuart.deed@gmail.com World Editor MTE Geoffrey Goddard geoffrey@myanmartimes.com.mm Timeout Editor MTE Douglas Long editors@myanmartimes.com.mm Deputy Editor MTM U Win Nyunt Lwin winnyunt@myanmartimes.com.mm Business Editor MTM U Nyunt Win nyuntwin81@gmail.com Property Editor MTM Htar Htar Khin property@myanmartimes.com.mm Timeout Editor MTM Moh Moh Thaw Deputy News Editors Kyaw Hsu Mon, Yadana Htun Chief Political Reporter Shwe Yinn Mar Oo Contributing Editor Ma Thanegi mthanegi@mptmail.net.mm Head of Translation Dept U Ko Ko Head of Photographics Kaung Htet Photographers Aye Zaw Myo, Thet Htoo, Yadanar Manager Special Projects U Wai Linn wailin@myanmartimes.com.mm Book Publishing Consultant Editor Col Hla Moe (Retd) Editor: U Win Tun MCM Bureaus Mandalay Bureau Chief U Aung Shin koshumgtha@gmail.com Nay Pyi Taw Bureau Chief U Soe Than Lynn PRODUCTION production@myanmartimes.com.mm Head of Production & Press Scrutiny Liaison U Aung Kyaw Oo (1) Head of Graphic Design U Tin Zaw Htway MCM PRINTING printing@myanmartimes.com.mm Head of Department U Htay Maung Warehouse Manager U Ye Linn Htay Factory Administrator U Aung Kyaw Oo (3) Factory Foreman U Tin Win ADVERTISING advertising@myanmartimes.com.mm Sales & Marketing Manager Daw Linn Linn Soe Lwin linnlinn@myanmartimes.com.mm Account Director U Nyi Nyi Tun Classifieds Manager Daw Khin Mon Mon Yi classified@myanmartimes.com.mm Upper Myanmar Marketing Manager U Nay Myo Oo ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Finance Manager Daw Mon Mon Tha Saing finance@myanmartimes.com.mm Assistant Admin Manager Daw Nang Maisy Publisher Dr Tin Tun Oo, Permit No: 04143 Systems Manager U Khin Maung Thaw webmaster@myanmartimes.com.mm DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Manager Daw Thin Thin Thet Paing distmgr@myanmartimes.com.mm Deputy Manager U Ko Ko Aung circulation@myanmartimes.com.mm ALL ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928 Facsimile: (01) 254 158 Email: management@myanmartimes.com.mm The Myanmar Times is owned by Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd and printed by MCM Commercial Printing (licence provided by Swesone Media (08102) with approval from MCM Ltd and by Shwe Zin Press (0368) with approval from MCM Ltd). The title The Myanmar Times, in either English or Myanmar languages, its associated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the Managing Director of Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd.

4
MyanMar tiMes
Stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, prevalence of law and order Strengthening of national solidarity Building and strengthening of disciplineflourishing democracy system Building of a new modern developed nation in accord with the Constitution

Four political objectives

Building of modern industrialized nation through the agricultural development, and all-round development of other sectors of the economy Proper evolution of the market-oriented economic system Development of the economy inviting participation in terms of technical know-how and investment from sources inside the country and abroad initiative to shape the national economy must be kept in the hands The of the State and the national peoples

Four economic objectives

Uplift of the morale and morality of the entire nation of national prestige and integrity and preservation Uplift and safeguarding of cultural heritage and national character Flourishing of Union Spirit, the true patriotism Uplift of health, fitness and education standards of the entire nation

Four social objectives

Scandals take gloss off the myth that is Singapore

THERES a smart new saying in Singapore: When you drink sparkling water, remember whats in the bubbles. The Lion City has been fizzing along successfully for half a century now, but an awful lot of its sparkle suddenly appears to be tainted with flatulent air. There have been many embarrassing incidents over the past year, but the one that really dented Singapores image was the revelation of extensive corruption within senior levels of the civil service. Only a handful of cases have so far come to light, but as the adage goes: If you see one cockroach in the kitchen you know there are lots more around. In January, the head of the Central Narcotics Bureau, Peter Lim Sin Peng, and the director of the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Ng Boon Gay, were dismissed for alleged corruption. That staggering news came just two months after senior officials at the Singapore Land Authority were given hefty jail terms for their involvement in a US$10 million fraud. The sheer magnitude of that incident severely shook public confidence in the internal controls of Singapores government agencies and ministries. Then, astonishingly, it was reported that a Home Affairs Ministry senior official had been convicted of forgery and thrown in the slammer. Most recently, it has been revealed that other civil servants, including a school principal, are being probed for From page 1 It all comes on top of other shameful incidents, like waistdeep downtown floods, serious security lapses and Decembers train network breakdown, which left thousands of commuters trapped in a subterranean hell. And it led to a predictable loss of support for the long-ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP) in last years election and an even louder wake-up call when the partys favoured candidate almost lost the presidential election. To its credit, the PAP quickly moved to address several issues that had alienated voters so much. One was the way ministers and senior bureaucrats, despite presiding over several debacles, continued to receive grossly inflated salaries. Indeed, they are the highest ministerial wages in the world, or at least they were until they were slashed by more than a third after the election setback. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong now takes home just US$1.7 million annually, not $3 million as before. While the reduced levels are an improvement, they are still far too high and further highlight the rich-poor divide in a nation with the worlds highest proportion of millionaires and one of its flimsiest social security safety nets. With Singapores inflation rate recently hitting a three-year high of around 5.5 percent, its poor folks and there are plenty of those in its old housing estates are hurting even more. As the opposition politician, Tan Jee Say, said: For the poor, having the best airport in the world doesnt affect them as they rarely travel. And having a lot of fizz and sparkle doesnt help either, if its tinged with the fetid odour of corruption and ineptness.

Commuters wait for a train at Sengkang station on Singapores northeast line on March 15 as a screen shows the train service between Harbourfront and Outram Park not functioning due to a power outage. Pic: AFP using their positions to procure the services of online hookers. An illicit internet prostitution ring in Singapore involving government officials! My God, what is the world coming to? What is worse than the scandals themselves is the way the political leadership appears to have tried its best to cover them up. The revelations about the corrupt CNB and SCDF directors did not come from the government, but from a brave Chinese-language daily which had the moxie to publish them without waiting for official confirmation. Only then did the Home Ministry issue a statement and rather shockingly added that arrests had been made a month earlier but had not been made public. That explains the talk about bubbles of flatulent air pervading the Singapore bureaucracy and of the government seeking to expunge them before they reach the publics nostrils. No wonder Singapore, which once held the coveted top spot on Transparency Internationals corruption index, fell to fifth place last year.

Govt to float currency

In a sense this is a real signal that the new government is serious about reform because this closes off a channel of money that the previous generals were only too eager to get hold of. At the invitation of the new government, a team of experts from the International Monetary Fund visited Myanmar in October to offer advice on reforming the forex market and unifying its multiple rates. The unusual request, by a government that previously regarded international institutions with suspicion, was seen as an indication of the gravity of the currency market disarray and a tentative sign Myanmar was warming to

Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. www.mmtimes.com Head Office: 379/383 Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928 Facsimile: (01) 392 706 Mandalay Bureau: No.180, 74th Street, (Bet. 31st & 32nd streets) Chan Aye Thar San Township, Mandalay. Tel: (02) 24450, 24460, 65391, 65392 Fax: (02) 24460 Email: mdybranch@myanmartimes.com.mm Nay Pyi Taw Bureau: No. 10/72 Bo Tauk Htein St, Yan Aung (1) Quarter, Nay Pyi Taw-Pyinmana. Tel: (067) 23064, 23065 Email: capitalbureau@myanmartimes.com.mm

economic reforms. IMF deputy managing director Mr Naoyuki Shinohara told reporters in Bangkok on March 27 that the Washingtonbased institution was helping Myanmar to build a strong financial system. Our activity in Myanmar is basically in technical assistance, capacity building, especially in the area of central banking, exchange rate policy and statistics, he said. In those basic areas we are trying to work together with the authorities in Myanmar to strengthen capacity. AFP

Free, fair elections

If the parliament had been formed with representatives from only one ethnic, religious

or political group, Myanmars progress towards democracy would have undoubtedly been slower and less inclusive. The valuable role that these people have played is another reminder of the importance of participation. Much has happened since the 2010 election nearly oneand-a-half years ago. Those looking for more evidence of the dramatic shift that has occurred in Myanmar need only look towards President U Thein Seins speech in Pathein on March 24. The election commission alone is not enough to organise free and fair elections. Respective political parties, our government, media and the entire people will have to cooperate with the

commission, the president said. Winners and losers will emerge in the by-elections We all need to work together to ensure that the outcome is accepted by all the people. All political parties need to understand that the decision made by the people is [the] key decision. This is a welcome sentiment, and it needs to be respected not only on April 1 and in the days that follow the vote but also again in 2015, when the entire nation including, hopefully, areas where voting was cancelled in 2010 and this weekend will go to the polls. Only through free and fair elections with outcomes that reflect the will of the people can the wounds of the past be healed.

5
the

News
MyanMar tiMes March 30 - April 8, 2012

New building to open this week at Yangons Jivitadana Sangha Hospital

By Cherry Thein A NEW six-storey building at Yangons Jivitadana Sangha Hospital will open on April 2, an official from the hospitals management committee said last week. Hospital president U Maung Maung told The Myanmar Times that the new building would allow the hospital to accept more patients and offer a better level of service. The building is special, for monks only, and we will be able to accept an extra 32 inpatients [but] we also need more staff and volunteers, he said. According to the vinaya the code of conduct for the clergy monks and nuns should stay in separate housing and use different facilities. Construction work began in December 2010 and the expansion is estimated to have cost K860 million, mainly paid for by hospital management and donors. U Maung Maung said the hospitals management committee would now turn its attention to renovating the 50-bed hospital building established for nuns. The hospital is the only one that will offer free medical treatment to outpatients, including Buddhist monks and nuns. We have already built a fence for the clinic and are paving the main road leading to the clinic. The ground is field soil and we need time to level it so that its suitable for a building. We hope to complete the clinic this year, he said. The Jivitadana Sangha Hospital relies on donations in cash or in kind to support its work and employs 32 paid and 150 volunteer doctors, from both Myanmar and overseas. In addition to providing free medical treatment to clergy members, the hospital offers treatment to lay patients at a discount. It has inpatient accommodation for 100 monks, 50 nuns, and 10 male and 10 female lay patients and treats more than 300 outpatients each day. Our hospital is a nongovernment organisation that offers a humanitarian service. As an NGO we always try to work for the sake of others although the basis of the organisation is religion, we are offering medical services regardless of religion, he said.

Compensation paid to families of boat accident victims

By Aung Kyi STATE-RUN Myanma Insurance has paid K500,000 to the families of each of the 26 people who died after the Patheinthu 11 boat sank in the Ayeyarwady delta on March 20. U Sein Min, deputy general manager of Myanma Insurance, said the compensation was given on March 26. Myanma Insurance paid out K13 million for the 26 victims through officials at Myanma Insurances regional office in Pathein in the presence of the officials from Ayeyarwaddy Region administrative office on March 26, he said. The Patheinthu 11 was carrying about 100 people when it capsized at around 2:45pm on March 20 near Kanseik village in Ngapudaw township while travelling from Pathein to Ngapudaw in Ayeyarwady Region. The bodies of 26 people were recovered and another 72 were rescued, an officer from Ngapudaw township administrative office told The Myanmar Times last week. Most of the passengers were women and children, including some students returning from sitting their matriculation exams in Pathein, U Sein Min said. Of the 26 victims, 21 were female and five were male. Eight were under 10 years of age, he said. He said an initial payment of K200,000 had been paid to the families of 24 of the victims on March 24. Those who suffered injuries in the accident can also apply for up to K400,000 compensation from Myanma Insurance by submitting their medical treatment records from Pathein Hospital. Under the Myanmar Insurance Law and policies imposed since 1975, Myanma Insurance pays out compensation to thirdparty victims of accidents of any vehicles in the country. Compensation is paid after the victims are identified by Myanma Insurance and the relevant state and region administrative office. The sinking of the Patheinthu 11 has been blamed on driver error, with witnesses reporting that the boat failed to slow down as it made a turn to approach the jetty in Kanseik.

Donor U Khin Nyunt (second left) gets a tour of the expanded of the Jivitadana Sangha Hospital in Yangons Bahan township earlier this month. Pic: Ko Taik for Buddhist nuns in the country, he said. We have planned and consulted with the nuns hospital management to extend more medical service to women also. U Maung Maung said the hospital was also looking at expanding the number of specialist treatments it offered, which currently include eye, ear, nose, throat, dental care and more. Meanwhile the management committee has started working on a clinic in Mingalardons Pearl quarter

Prayer ceremony highlights plight of Kachin refugees

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin RELIGIOUS and ethnic groups last week gathered for a prayer ceremony for peace in Kachin State to mark Armed Forces Day. Held at Judson Church in Kamaryut township, the ceremony was organised by Kindness Womens Group and attracted about 400 people from a range of political, civil society and non-government groups. Participants prayed for eternal peace in Kachin State, lighting a candle and singing hymns from various religions in a show of solidarity for those displaced by the fighting. Reverend U A Ko Lay, pastor of Judson Church, said such a multi-faith gathering was very rare in Myanmar. Let us pray to God deeply and profoundly because we are praying for the sake of the country, he said. Today there is a peace process going on in Kachin State but at the same time there is still fighting. We have to pray for the leaders who are discussing peace, for leaders who are administering the country and the people who are working for the national interest. We even have to pray that the byelections are held freely and fairly. Organisers said that while participants were from different ethnic and religious groups they shared a common vision of peace for Myanmar. We held this event for the first time on March 3, said Daw Nang Pu, secretary of Kindness Womens Group. We would like to pray for Kachin refugees and also for the by-elections. We believe God must bring peace to our country and create the funding and rations needed for the refugees from international donors because of our prayers. 88 Generation student leader U Min Ko Naing urged greater public participation in the peacebuilding process, citing the example of the Myitsone Dam. It is not enough for leaders from both sides to discuss the issue. This process cannot create peace. The president halted Myitsone because of the desire of the people. People from different sectors participated and tried to stop the project, he said.

Armed Forces Day parade held

NAY PYI TAW Commanderin-Chief General Min Aung Hlaing defended the armys political role and vowed to protect the constitution last week at the first Armed Forces Day parade since military rule ended. Gen Min Aung Hlaing said on March 27 unelected military representatives sitting in parliament were acting in the national interest and just performing a national political duty. I would like to say that the Tatmadaw is just participating in the leading role of national politics of the country with its true national spirit as well as the union spirit, he said. The general was speaking to about 13,000 troops at a relatively low-key parade for Armed Forces Day, which marks the day Myanmar troops rose up against the Japanese in 1945 towards the end of World War II. It was the first Armed Forces Day celebration since a quasi-civilian government took power on March 30 last year, ending nearly five decades of outright military rule. The armed forces retain much of their power, however, with 25 percent of seats in parliament reserved for the military under the 2008 constitution enacted by the then ruling junta. Our Tatmadaw has to respect and obey as well as preserve the state constitution, which is the same as our countrys life, together with all nationals, Gen Min Aung Hlaing said. I would like to say that our Tatmadaw will protect and maintain the constitution as its main duty while building a new modern and developed democratic nation, he said. President U Thein Sein, a former general, was not present at what was a purely military affair, with just 400 guests, including officials, war veterans and media. AFP

So in the case of Kachin State, we have to do like the Myitsone Dam. We must be brave and dare to speak out. Moreover we must launch a campaign. We have to shout the words and desires of the victims so that people around the world can hear them. We need to attract attention to this issue both at home and abroad. Daw Nang Raw, a project manager at Nyein Foundation, agreed that activists would have to do more than pray to bring about peace. People need to do as much they can for the attainment of peace, we need more practical action, she said. In this prayer ceremony, I pray seriously that women [who are in refugee camps] do not think of themselves as simply victims of war because they may be the people who can initiate the movement to stop this war. U Thawbita from Thae Inn Gu Monastery in Hmawbi township said peace was one of the countrys immediate needs. Peace wont happen just by talking about it. We need to create real peace for all people, he said.

CommeNt
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

6
MyanMar tiMes

Myanmars economic future: SKo

By Rick Rowden AS Myanmar embarks on an unprecedented opening up of its economy to Western investors and multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, the country stands at a crossroads in terms of its future economic policy choices and national economic development trajectory. Such choices may well set Myanmar on a path that determines whether 30 years from now it looks more like an industrialised South Korea or a resourcecursed Nigeria. As the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and a legion of Western bilateral donor agencies prepares to enter Myanmar with technical assistance, policy advice and perhaps financial aid, they will bring a development model based on the laissezfaire principles of free trade and free market theories. This approach will call on Myanmar to lower its trade protection before its smaller industries are competitive in international markets, potentially blocking its future industrial development. It will suggest that Myanmar not use public development banks but instead rely on private and international banks, which will likely leave affordable commercial credit out of reach for many companies. And it will advise Myanmar not to adopt a strong industrial policy to develop its manufacturing and services sectors over time, but instead stay focused only on its comparative advantages in natural resources extraction. Myanmar should reject this approach. Not only has this free trade/free markets approach stifled industrialisation efforts in many developing countries over the past few decades, it is important for decision-makers in Myanmar to understand that this model is not at all how the rich countries themselves industrialised successfully. In fact, the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, Japan, Asias Four Tigers (Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan) and even China all gave the state a very strong role in supporting the development of their domestic industries over many decades, opening up only after they were competitive in international markets. This support included temporary trade protection, public development banks or central bank policies that provided long-term/ low-interest commercial credit, and extensive public technology policies banks to promote economic development, the IMFs narrow approach to inflationtargeting, which leads to higher interest rates, will likely contribute to keeping commercial credit out of the reach of many domestic companies. But Myanmar can avoid making the mistakes of others. It should heed the advice given by Professor Joseph Stiglitz, who cautioned other developing countries: Dont do as the US says, do as the US did. By this he means rather than following the Washington Consensus approach to free trade and free markets, developing countries should instead do what the rich countries did. One of the crises in the field of economics over the past 30 years is that it has moved increasingly into mathematics and abstract theory and has all but lost any history of the actual economic policies used. This history of what the rich countries each did during their own early decades of economic transformation into manufacturing and services is today no longer taught in many university economics departments. And yet, knowing this history is crucial. It is especially important to get two of the best books written on this history translated into the Myanmar language as soon as possible so that policy makers and others in Myanmar can move beyond the abstract rhetorical debates and simply know what the rich countries did and when they did it. The first, Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Prespective (2002), is by a South Korean economist, Ha-Joon Chang, who teaches at Cambridge University in the UK. The second is called How Rich Countries Got Rich and Why Poor Countries Stay Poor (2007) by Erik Reinert, a Norwegian historian of economic policy based in Oslo. History shows that, although each case is

The free trade/ free markets approach was not at all how the rich countries themselves industrialised successfully.
to advance research and development (R&D) and innovation the near total opposite of the advice the IMF and World Bank will bring to Myanmar. Although Myanmar has made recent efforts to scaleup social spending and is c o n si de r in g expanding assistance for small-scale farmers, the IMFs brand of fiscal conservativism could prevent it from making the big, up-front, long-term capital investments that are needed to build up the underlying transportation, health and education infrastructure upon which future productivity depends (public investment as a percent of GDP). Despite important new thinking in monetary policy about a broader set of tools that could be used by central

unique, almost all countries that have industrialised successfully have done so first behind high levels of trade protection and subsidy support often for decades at a time and only liberalised their trade once their firms were able to be competitive in overseas markets. Careful timing, pacing

The Mail Box

Dear Editor, Occasionally in The Myanmar Times, local and mostly foreign analysts discuss issues related to transforming our legal system. It is indeed the right thing for them to do at the right time and in the right place and these observers are obviously sympathetic to the challenges Myanmar faces as it changes into democracy. I would like to convey my appreciation to them. Recently, I read carefully several critiques and comments, especially those made by Mr Eugene Quah, on changing the legal system. Though Mr Quah has not yet touched on a specific legal issue, his writings indicate a keen interest in Myanmar law. His focus seems to be very beneficial and he could be very helpful in formulating good laws if given the chance. I agree with Mr Quah that we need to conduct research on forthcoming laws to ensure they meet the desires of the public before being promulgated. In this respect please allow me to suggest to the media, including The Myanmar Times, to select some crucial legal issues that are important to the majority of the people and conduct public opinion surveys to work out a consensus among a selected stratum of Myanmar citizens and legal practitioners from both the public and private sectors. This practice is being applied in most democratic countries. I understand that it would initially be difficult but it will give people another means of showing dissatisfaction than protesting and marching in the streets. Surveys could also be expanded to other sectors, including political, economical and social issues. If it could put into practice it would be a great leap forward for freedom of speech. Perry Han Shin

Got something to say? We want to hear from you. Address all correspondence to the Editor, The Myanmar Times (English). We endeavour to respond to all correspondencei n a timely manner. Address: 379-383, Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada township, Yangon. Telephone: (+951) 392-928, 253-642. Fax: (+951) 392-706 Email: your.myanmar.times@gmail.com

and sequencing of opening Myanmars industries to the global economy will be vital. These are things that the rich countries figured out for themselves and their own industries hundreds of years ago. Myanmar must also know these lessons of historical best practices and reject the free trade/free markets approach that will inevitably be suggested by Western donors. Myanmar should explore a wider range of viable alternatives for more successful economic development, including policies to target higher employment and public investment, and enhance its domestic productive capacities. It should also seek to build a strong developmental state with institutions capable of executing effective industrial policies. Critics are correct in pointing to some very unsuccessful instances of industrial policy in developing countries. But they are often selective in their criticisms, ignore successful cases and do not account for why industrial policies worked so well in the US, Europe and East Asia but failed so badly in Africa and elsewhere. Some earlier efforts at industrial policies failed because they were used

inappropriately, with poor sequencing, and were driven by political considerations and corruption rather than economic analyses or strict efficiency grounds. In Latin America, the industrial policies were often kept in place too long, and were too inwardly focused on small domestic markets, neglecting the need to develop international competitiveness. In contrast, the political economies of East Asian countries included institutions that tended to enforce stricter rules for which industries got subsidies and trade protection that were cut off when they failed to meet performance targets. They also adopted a more outward orientation in their industrialisation strategies. Yet, crucially, this history says more about how industrial policies should be implemented not if they should be implemented. Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Myanmar should also be concerned about the future success of industrialisation. Building the future domestic tax base is inextricably linked to adequately financing the social sectors goals they support, such as greater public spending on health, education, women, small

7
the

News
MyanMar tiMes March 30 - April 8, 2012

orea or Nigeria? Hluttaw urged to

the country a few rungs higher on the development ladder. It needs FDI that also provides many positive forward and backward linkages for other smaller domestic manufacturing and services firms in the economy, something less likely to occur in special economic zones. Simply throwing the doors open to any and all kinds of FDI would be to miss this important point. Of course, making the case for building a strong developmental state in the current national context of Myanmar is a hard case to make. Under the current context, many feel as though the government has already helped a handful of large and wellconnected companies too much, and that this has not benefited the many smaller companies. So it is understandable that on the face of it, arguing for maintaining the ability of the state to provide such strong support for domestic companies may seem inappropriate. But current inequalities among companies only reflect how Myanmar may look today. It is important for Myanmar to consider how important it will be in 10, 20 or 30 years to have a strong state capable of enabling many of todays SMEs to grow up over time into larger and more competitive firms. But the ability of Workers at a Super Seven the state to provide this Stars car assembly plant support over time with in Yangon. Pic: Seng Mai trade protection, subsidised credit and technology, and other supports is likely to be greatly undermined if Myanmar adopts the free trade/free markets approach to development strategy. Myanmar should take farmers and the environment. abstract as though the Although Western donors needs and interests of the its time to consider how w i l l e n c o u r a g e C S O domestic private sector best to slowly manage its participation in the Poverty are the same as those integration into the global Reduction Strategy Paper of foreign investors. But economy on its own terms, process of consultations, it this type of rhetoric is not and not be rushed into will also be necessary for helpful because right now taking important decisions citizens groups in Myanmar Myanmar needs to think u n n e c e s s a r i l y q u i c k l y t o e n s u r e t h e c o u n t r y more explicitly about how because of the commercial adopts a serious long-term the needs and interests of pressures of others. If Myanmar is prevented industrialisation strategy its own domestic small and that can adequately finance medium-sized enterprises from building a strong its future social spending. (SMEs) are different from developmental state capable of executing an Because donors will effective industrial expect CSOs to stick policy because of narrowly to their IMF and World poverty reduction Bank advice, it mandates, it will Myanmar should take its may ensure that be incumbent upon its manufacturing CSOs to take the initiative and ensure time to consider how best to and services sectors never take off, they get publicly involved in this much slowly manage its integration leaving it looking broader discussion into the global economy on more likee Nigeria than th South about economic Korea that it can development its own terms. one day become. strategies. They will need to make this (Rick Rowden is a discussion happen. Western donors will talk those of foreign investors, development consultant who about poverty reduction and take steps to support recently visited Myanmar. Previously he worked as an and economic growth and them accordingly. M o s t f o r e i g n d i r e c t inter-regional advisor for the while these are of course important, Myanmar must investment (FDI) coming United Nations Conference keep its eye on the different into Myanmar now and in on Trade and Development and broader question of the short term is focused on (UNCTAD) in Geneva and economic transformation the extractive industries, as a senior policy analyst for into manufacturing and but Myanmar needs to also non-government organistion services over time, and the attract FDI in manufacturing ActionAid. He is currently steps it must take today and services of the kind that a doctoral candidate in to make this happen. The can improve the skills and economics at Jawaharlal donors will talk about technological capability of Nehru University in New the private sector in the its current workforce, lifting Delhi.) By Soe Than Lynn PYITHU Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann last week warned parliamentarians to ensure the governments activities were in conformity with the law, after a bill committee report found that the government had improperly bypassed parliament on three major decisions in 2011. In a message to representatives on March 23, the speaker said that while the government was carrying out its duties in good faith, some of its actions may not have conformed with the constitution. In particular, he cited the formation of and allocation of funding to the National Human Rights Commission, the raising of pensions in June 2011 and the decision to keep wages for unionlevel officials, such as government ministers, the same as under the State Peace and Development Council. The formal message, which was read out by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Aung Myint, stated that these three actions should be assessed closely to ensure they were legal and if not the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw should help to regularise their status. The speaker added that the endeavours of the executive and legislature must reflect the rule of law and collaboration between the two bodies should set a good example for the country. Thura U Shwe Manns comments were backed up by the findings of a Joint Bill Committee report into the activities of the Union Government that was read out by committee chairman U Mya Nyein to parliament the same day. It is found that only

investigate legality of govt decisions

the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw may amend, supplement or withdraw remunerations, allowances and insignia for union level personnel. Regarding pension raises they should have been put in budget bills according to section 103 of the constitution, he said. Additionally, the committee found the National Human Rights Commission had been formed improperly because the government had not sought the approval of parliament. The bill committee report said that if union-level personnel wanted to enjoy remunerations less than they are designated, the government should seek the approval of the hluttaw to amend the law. Pension raises should also be included in the union budget bill when it is submitted to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the report said. Translated by Thit Lwin

Central Bank to sign capital market MOU

By Aye Thidar Kyaw THE Myanmar Central Bank will sign a Memoriam of Understanding (MOU) with the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Daiwa Institute to support the development of the capital market, according to U Maung Maung, director of Central Bank. At present, they are waiting for the approval of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, as they prepare technical support, he said at the ASEAN +3 Asian Bond Market Initiative (ABMI) meeting at Traders hotel on March 22. This is the first phase of the program that started in June 2011 and ends in May 2012, said the Central Bank vice chairman, U Maung Maung Win, adding that they will propose to the ASEAN Secretariat to be more specific in the second phase. To align with the ASEAN Economic Community according to the AEC blueprint 2015, Myanmar needs to

TiMESbusiness
integrate a free flow of investments and freer flow of capital under the single market and implement a productive phase strategy. In order for a capital market to develop in Myanmar, a bond market should be developed as a first step, he said. A retired rector of Yangon Institute of Economics, U Maw Than, said that he welcomed the MOU signing having been involved with the Daiwa institute on this issue for the last 15 years. He said that in order for public companies to flourish in Myanmar, a capital market needs to develop and the government should be encouraging and helping companies to register publicly. When public companies are flourishing, shares will transfer from one person to another. Now there are about 20 public companies in Myanmar and they cannot work well, he said. He said the main purpose of the capital market will be to draw money into countrys economy from peoples private savings.

March 30 - April 8, 2012

9
the

MyanMar tiMes

MOGP Summit attracts strong interest

for energy to prop up their economies. The three-day event was jointly organised by the Centre for Management Technology from Singapore and Myanmars Machinery and Solutions Co. It featured presentations from key government energy officials on upstream and downstream oil and gas ventures and hydropower projects. Foreign experts also spoke on the legal issues of working in Myanmar, international energy demand, corporate social responsibility and risk management. The timing of the summit closely follows the announcement by MPRL E&P, a British Virgin Islands-registered firm, that it had discovered gas in its A-6 block in the Bay of Bengal. The government, through the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), has also signed production sharing contracts (PSCs) with two of seven domestic and foreign firms to explore nine onshore blocks that were awarded in a recent round of auctions, with more contracts expected to be inked in the coming months. Each of the presentations were followed by a round of questions from delegates, and some of the most challenging questions came from serving or former MOGE officials. Following a presentation by a MOGE official on potential natural gas demand in coming years, one former official described projected demand, which followed a linear curve, as pessimistic and pointed to the exponential growth in demand that Thailand saw after it began exploiting its gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand. Mr James Finch, a lawyer for DFDL Mekong Group and a long-time Myanmar resident, delivered a presentation on legal and taxation issues that will international companies interested in working in Myanmar should expect to face. Mr Finch used an amusing anecdote concerning his search for the house where Rudyard Kipling allegedly wrote the Jungle Book near the Rakhine State beach resort of Ngapali to give potential investors some idea of the challenges they will face doing business in Myanmar. International energy consultant and chairman of activities on the first day of the conference, Mr John Vautrain, used his presentation to look at changes in international energy and fuel demand. He said Asia had bucked the international trend by increasing its demand even as the financial crisis took hold in 2008. Mr Vautrain described natural gas as the story of the future, with an explosion in the growth of gas infrastructure projects globally. Mr Jack van Lint, vice president of business development for Oiltanking Asia Pacific, said the two presentations on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) had caught his attention. I think the LPG presentations highlight that a low increase in income levels for people means they will be able to afford to buy LPG, he said, citing the increase in fuel consumption in Brazil as an example. However, he warned that if subsidies on fuel were not removed and adequate infrastructure was not built, foreign investors would likely stay away. Mr Makar Titov, marketing department manager at seismic firm DMNG Company, which sponsored a booth outside the main summit hall, said of the event: This means Myanmars [exploration and production] market is developing very quickly. Were very happy to see so many people here. DMNG opened a processing centre in Yangon in 2011 and is working with a number of international companies in Myanmar to process and format seismic data.

A man makes a correction on the board at the Myanmar Securities Commission on Sule Pagoda Road, Yangon. Pic: Aye Zaw Moe

By Stuart Deed THERE has never been a better time for international companies to explore Myanmars oil and gas industry, the countrys energy minister told attendees at the Myanmar Oil, Gas and Power Summit. The March 27-29 event at Traders Hotel opened with Minister for Energy U Than Htays keynote address to more than 330 participant from 35 countries. I assure you that there has never been a better time to come to Myanmar to search for opportunities in the oil and gas sector, U Than Htay said. U Than Htay said the government, which took over on March 30, 2011, had undertaken a number of economic and political reforms in part aimed at easing restrictions and improving transparency for potential investors. Given the changes in policies and rules, Myanmar is witnessing increasing interest from other countries in terms of investment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, he said. The international community is also seeing the governments moves as positive. U Than Htay said Myanmars energy industry had always been attractive to international investors and he expected this trend to continue. Myanmars energy sector has been successful in bringing foreign direct investment [FDI] into the country. The electricity and the oil and gas sector are bringing in the largest [amount of] FDI into Myanmar, he said. Myanmar is situated between India to the west and China to the east. These two big countries are developing very fast and have an insatiable hunger

DFDL Mekong Group legal counsel James Finch delivers his presentation at the MOGP Summit in Yangon on March 28. Pic: Boothee

BusiNess
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

10

Job watch

Reforms seeds hope for farmers

By Felipe Villamor BAGO Recent reforms in Myanmar have planted a seed of hope that the country can turn back the clock on five decades of military rule and isolationism to once more become the rice bowl of Asia. With rich natural resources and a strategic position between China and India, Myanmar was seen as one of Southeast Asias star prospects in the years after independence from Britain in 1948. But international economists left the army out of their reckoning and following a military coup in 1962, the former governments economic mismanagement resulted in the once-thriving agricultural sector tumbling into ruin. Storage problems and illmaintained rural roads mean that much produce rots before it can ever reach market. However, experts point out that Myanmar still has the vital water and land resources to rebuild its agricultural sector. This represents an incredible opportunity for Myanmar because almost uniquely amongst the countries of Southeast Asia and beyond, it has an incredible, vast supply of water, and water is fast becoming the critical element that countries need for agriculture, University of Macquarie (Sydney) professor Sean Turnell said. Weve got this country with a vast amount of water resources, with the most fertile soil imaginable, this country was the rice bowl of not only Asia but the British Empire as well, he said. And here it is with agriculture neglected for 50 years, extraordinarily unproductive, but of course from that low base you can get extraordinary growth. However, change comes slowly to Myanmars sprawling fields, where farmers till the land from dawn to dusk as they have done for generations, with little reward for their back-breaking labour. I am old, but I have to farm the land for 16 hours a day to pay off my debts, lamented U Ohn

MyanMar tiMes

Diplomatic Mission seeks Translator / Interpreter

Qualifications Required:
1. Collage or University studies. 2. Minimum two years interpreting and translating in English. 3. Fluent speaking/reading/writing in English and Myanmar. 4. Must have the ability to do basic research and analysis in a variety of technical subject matter fields in order to become familiar with the technical terminology involved in each subject matter field in which required to translate. 5. Must have basic knowledge of MS Office applications such as Word, Excel and MS outlook. Eligible candidate may submit application to Human Resources Office, P.O. Box 521, GPO, Yangon not later than April 9, 2012.

A farmer transporting fertiliser to his farm in Bago Region on February 20. Pic: AFP Thaung, as he worked in a rice paddy in Bago Region, northeast of Yangon. The 75-year-old farmer shares a tiny hut with his five children, 15 grandchildren and two prized water buffalo. To plant his 28 hectares (70 acres) this season, he borrowed about K200,000 (US$250) from a cooperative controlled by the regime, a large sum in a country where about one-third of the population lives in poverty. He also had to pay for permits, or local taxes, for every hectare tilled. My family is surrounded by rice we cannot eat because we have to harvest and sell it, he said, his leathery face creased by years under the tropical sun. U Ohn Thaung has no granary of his own, so his harvest gets sold at a break-even price to a local trader, and the little money he earns goes to his creditors and to buy seed a vicious cycle that has also trapped his sons and grandchildren. Myanmars civilian government has pinned its hopes on a lifting of international sanctions to bring back Western investment. But experts say the authorities must do a lot more themselves on the economic front. The International Monetary Fund last month said Myanmar had the potential for 6 percent economic growth in 201213, if it pressed ahead with modernisation, free-market reform and measures to stabilise the economy. It welcomed land reform proposals, currently being debated in parliament, that would give farmers plantation title deeds for the first time in a country where the government has historically claimed ownership of all land. But the IMF also said that Myanmars farmers needed easier access to credit, through both state lenders and microfinance. Like U Ohn Thaung, 34-yearold U Zaw Moe was born into a farmers life. I had no chance to get out, that is the simple truth, he said. With two toddlers and another baby on the way, U Zaw Moe said he was pinning his hopes of a better life on reforms promised by the government which took power last year. Each day in the fields is a struggle to live, he said, hunched on the ground picking beans. Indeed, Myanmar has a long way to go to catch up on its past production of rice. They used to export around 5 million tonnes of rice every year [60 years ago], now it has declined. Last year it was around 700,000 tonnes, Mr Hiroyuki Konuma, regional assistant director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, told AFP. So as things change in Myanmar itself, we have a lot of expectations that Myanmar will have more access to fertiliser and other agricultural inputs... that will help Myanmar to get more inputs that it needs for it to facilitate further rice export growth, he said. AFP

Myanmar poised to let in foreign banks

By Patrick Barta
Website:

www.esearchmyanmar.com

Apply Now!
Sales and Marketing manager (pharmaceutical) Brand manager Sales manager Tour operation Manager Tour operation Assistant Tour Sales manager Sales girl - 30 staff (Fresher) Sales boy- 30 staff (Fresher) Engineers (BE/ME/) Accountants Secretary Human Resources Manager No.851/853, 3rd Floor, Bogyke Aung San Road, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon. Tel: 222963/ 229406/ 229437/ 728261 E-mail: esearch@yangon.net.mm

BANGKOK Myanmars government is likely to allow foreign banks into the country by 2015 and will also pass a new foreign investment law in the coming months, a senior official at Myanmars biggest commercial bank said last week. U Than Lwin, deputy chairman of Kanbawza Bank and a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, said he also believes Myanmars Central Bank will likely cut interest rates because rates in the country are higher than in neighbouring Southeast Asian nations. The present deposit rate is 8 percent, he said, while lending rates are set at 13pc. He didnt say exactly when he thought rates could go lower. U Than Lwin was speaking at an investment seminar in Bangkok organised by Colliers International Thailand and Universal Link Services Co, as well as the Nation Group, a media company. The moves are expected as part of a broader opening of Myanmars economy that has included reforms aimed at attracting more foreign capital after decades of harsh military rule. Myanmar remains subject to Western

economic sanctions, including US rules that block financial transactions with the country. But many analysts believe Western governments will ease those rules or drop them entirely in the coming year in recognition of the countrys reforms. If there is any doubt, you can rest assured that this time around we are really changing, U Than Lwin said. There is political will from the government. Myanmars financial system remains primitive by international standards. The country only recently got its first ATMs, and credit cards are not available. The country employs a confusing multiple exchange-rate system, though Myanmars government is widely expected to change that in favour of a single exchange rate soon, possibly as early as next month. U Than Lwin said that KBZ Bank Myanmars biggest commercial bank in terms of assets was hoping to get ahead of those changes by expanding its branch network. He said Myanmars banks were working to install Swift systems so they can initiate correspondence relationships with foreign banks, especially in Southeast Asia and Japan. He said they were also negotiating with companies such as Visa for possible applications in Myanmar, though he didnt elaborate.

He said the new foreign-investment law, which is expected to offer tax holidays for foreign investors and make it easier to set up businesses there, would be done sometime in the next few months. In addition to re-writing Myanmars foreign-investment law, he said, the government was also drafting a new banking law that would aim to give Myanmars central bank more independence in setting rates. Right now, it follows fiscal policy, which is not proper. Economists have long worried Myanmars Central Bank lacks the independence necessary to manage a more robust and open economy, but steps to bolster the bank could resolve those concerns. U Than Lwin said he expected the banking law to be done in the next several months. Despite those changes, U Than Lwin said it will be in the interests of foreigners to wait for the final touches on these laws before rushing into the country. He said that under existing financial laws in Myanmar, there are still no provisions for foreign investors to have local borrowing facilities, though they can open accounts in local banks. But by 2015, he said, it is likely Myanmar will let offshore banks operate in the country to help foreign investors fulfil liquidity needs. Wall Street Journal

11
the

BusiNess
March 30 - April 8, 2012

MyanMar tiMes

Taxation overhaul set for April 1: officials

By Aye Thidar Kyaw THE tax base will be expanded from April 1, Ministry of Finance and Revenue officials told the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry on March 26. The ministry will reduce income and commercial tax but will expand the base of taxpayers, sources at the meeting said. The [proposed] amounts are moderate and we want all people to pay taxes but with more ease, said U Myat Maw, director general of the ministrys Internal Revenue Department. generally be cut by half, to 5 percent, but some commodities that are harmful to the environment or health or come from extractive industries, such as oil and gas, teak and other woods, jade and gems, cigarettes and liquor, will be taxed at a higher rate. Tax on cigarettes will rise to 100pc from 75pc, teak logs and cuttings is raised to 50pc from 25 pc; other hard wood logs and cuttings are up to 50pc from 20pc. However, if taxes are too high or are not up to date, it is difficult for most people to pay them, U Myat Maw said. Car tax and tax on jade and gems will remain the same, while tax on diesel is set to go down to 8pc from 90, petrol will drop to 10pc from 170pc while natural gas is to go up to 8pc from 0pc. U Myat Maw said that the problem of tax avoidance was widespread, with limited public respect of tax officials, many of whom were seen as easy to corrupt. Taxation is one of the main incomes for a country and those revenues should be transferred into the budget transparently, said UMFCCI president U Win Aung. In the 2012-13 fiscal year, the Internal Revenue Department collected about K1.57 trillion (about US$2 billion) from varied taxes, an increase of about 30pc on the previous year, he said. In the 2011-12 year Myanmar collected about K1.063 trillion in taxation, the meeting was told. Our country has opened its doors [to the international community] and we will take the ASEAN chairmanship soon, so we need to harmonise with neighbouring countries by reforming our economic policies, said deputy director U Aung Moe Kyi. He said it was natural that a nations taxation system evolved in line with its political and economic changes. However, taxation revenues in Myanmar compared to its gross domestic product did not match those of the region. Economists and statistics said during the meeting that because of the old official rate, which valued the dollar at K6, sectors such as agriculture enjoyed lenient taxation that encouraged tax avoidance.

MFF to boost shrimp production

By Soe Sandar Oo MYANMAR shrimp farmers are to start using an Israeli technique to increase production and boost the price of shrimp by changing their gender, an official from the Myanmar Fisheries Federation said last week. We are arranging to farm freshwater male shrimp as it can earn a higher price. Males are bigger than females and have stronger demand, said U Han Tun, vice chairman of the Federation. The technique involves altering the DNA of the shrimp to change the sex and differs from hormone-based treatments commonly used by other Southeast Asian countries. They feed females a hormone medicine for five to 10 days and after that they breed them, he said. U Win Kyaing, general secretary of Myanmar Fisheries Federation, said the current farming of fresh water shrimp faced many difficulties because of reoccurring weaknesses in the species. The female shrimp stop growing when

Pic: Ko Taik A seller dishes out shrimp at a local shrimp market in Yangon on March 25. they are pregnant, unlike the males. And when the males shed their skin they are more vulnerable and females often kill and eat them. This is one reason why we have lower production in shrimp farming, he said.

taxes ifhigh ...areis too it difficult for most people to pay them.

Because were reducing taxes we believe that people who have not paid tax in the past might be willing to do so now. And for people who have been paying their taxes regularly will probably pay less than they have in the past, he said. Ministry officials reportedly said during the meeting that income taxes would be reduced, with different rates levied on singles, married couples and those with children. Workers paid in foreign currencies would also be taxed at the same rate as those earning kyat following the unification of the exchange rates in April. Ministry officials said commercial taxes will

Trade Mark CauTion

eXXon MoBiL CorPoraTion, a New Jersey corporation, of 5959 Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, Texas 75039-2298, U.S.A., is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:-

reg. no. 470/1988 in respect of Solvents for use in the manufacture of inks.

reg. no. 1260/1986 in respect of Solvents for use in industry and agriculture; non-aqueous dispersants for synthetic and natural resins; solvents or dispersants for adhesive, cleaning, polishing and protective coating and protective coating formulations. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Marks will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for eXXon MoBiL CorPoraTion P. O. Box 60, Yangon Dated: 30th March, 2012

ProPerty
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

12
MyanMar tiMes

Pathein-Ngapudaw road opened

By Noe Noe Aung A NEW road linking Pathein with Ngapudaw in Ayeyarwady Region was opened to the public on March 25. The Ministry of Construction started the road in late 2008. Daw Khin Hla Myint, the ministrys assistant engineer for Pathein, told The Myanmar Times that the regions infrastructure was underdeveloped. Ayeyarwady Region is a delta and is prone to natural disasters like Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The regions infrastructure is underdeveloped and people have previously had to rely on water transportation, which is one reason why so many people were killed during Nargis they were trying to escape the storm on the waterways, she said. But now if there was any disaster people could escape by roads that connect the different towns, she added. Although Ngapudaw township was not one of the areas hit hardest by Nargis, it was until March 25 one of the areas that had not been linked with a new road, she added. The Pathein-Ngapudaw road is 12 feet wide (about 3.6 metres), more than 20 miles long (32 kilometres) and features two lanes. U Than Win Myint, another Ministry of Construction assistant engineer, said the ministry has also built three bridges to cross two streams and a river on the route between Pathein and Ngapudaw.

Myanmar lures hoteliers

MYANMAR is stepping up auctions of land plots in prime locations in Yangon for hotel development. Authorities are rushing to address a room shortage as foreign investors and tourists begin flocking back to the country. Myanmar is embarking on reforms and opening up after 50 years of isolation under military rule. The country will also be the site of the SEA Games 2013 and the Asean Summit 2014, creating even more demand for hotels. Thinn Htut Thidar, CEO of Myanmar-based Universal Link Service Co Ltd, a business consultant and expert on the country, says all land plots and properties the government selected for bidding are in prime locations in Yangon. In the first phase of the bidding in late January, 25 properties were offered. Some of them were old buildings suitable for either renovation or new construction while some were vacant plots. Only two were reserved as heritage sites and allowed only for renovation. There will be many more buildings or land plots the government plans to open bidding for in the next phase. They need hotels, as the current supply is not enough. In Myanmar, all land is owned by the government, which in turn leases it to the private sector for 30, 60 or 90 years. Among all property segments in Yangon, hotels are the most attractive for investors as the supply, particularly four- to five-star, is scarce, Mrs Thidar told the Bangkok Post. Myanmar now has about 25,000 hotel rooms nationwide. Most are threeto four-star establishments, while five-star ones account for 5 percent. This year, international chains such as Sofitel and Marriott will enter the former capital. Mrs Thidar said foreign investors were welcome in the property sector but they need to form joint ventures with local companies. Foreign shareholding can be up to 99pc. Land prices and value in Yangon are soaring, like in Hong Kong and Singapore, she added. Another interesting sector for investment is industrial estates in economic zones. Mrs Thidar is a former deputy director of the International Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Commerce of Myanmar. Her company is a group of experts and experienced retired senior government officials from the trade and investment sector. According to research by the property consultant Colliers International Thailand, there are 1730 upscale hotel rooms in downtown, inner-city and outer areas of Yangon, compared with Bangkok and its more than 15,000 upscale or luxury hotel rooms on offer. No new hotel rooms have been added in Yangon since 1998, while serviced apartments number just 700 units, unchanged from 2003. Paradorn Kunkongkaphan, managing director of the Myanmar-based MK Group of Companies, says the group wants to invest in and develop a five-star hotel in Yangon this year. For the past decade, there have been no new hotels in Yangon. Only a handful of the existing ones are fourto five-star with only five sites, he said. Most hotels were invested in by foreign investors. The group will invest through a subsidiary, as it has had a presence in Myanmar

A view of Traders Hotel in Yangon. Pic: Myanmar Times archive for two decades. With a total of 29 subsidiaries and 400 employees, it has expertise in retailing and is a distributor for the Thai consumer product giant Saha Groups ICC International and the Thailand-based retail giant Central Marketing Group. It also has a joint venture in Myanmar with Berli Jucker, owned by Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi. The business growth rate in Myanmar was around 5-10pc a year until 2008. In the past few years, it was in an astounding range of 50pc and 100pc. We see positive growth and a bright future, Mr Paradorn said at a seminar with Myanmar experts held last week by Colliers International Thailand. Throughout its 20-year presence in Myanmar, MK Group faced many obstacles, particularly logistic ones and high transport costs, as well as currency fluctuations. In the retail sector, Colliers reports that the average occupancy rate of retail space in downtown Yangon, innercity and outer-city areas rose less than 1pc over the past six months. The outer-city areas were the most active, with an occupancy rate of almost 99pc in the second half of 2011. For the condominium sector, the average selling price of newly launched units in 2010 and 2011 increased from US$1000 per square metre to $1300 downtown and from $1000 per sq m to $1100 in outer-city areas but dropped from $1300 to $1000 in inner-city areas. The definition of condominium in Myanmar is unlike that in Thailand. They call it a condominium if it has an elevator but call a building an apartment if has no lift, said Tony Picon, associate director at Colliers. Units on the ground and second floors have higher prices than upper floors, the reverse of what is typical in Bangkok. Office space in Yangon is also limited. There was 60,000 sq m of space last year, with 17,000 sq m added in 2010 alone. The total office space across Yangon was only half of what is offered at Bangkoks Empire Tower, at more than 140,000 sq m. Bangkok Post

Thailand plans US$70 billion infrastructure investment: PM

BANGKOK Thailand will spend more than US$70 billion on infrastructure over the next five years, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said as she outlined the challenges facing the country after last years floods. In an address on March 24 to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Yingluck said her government would pursue an economic policy aimed at boosting domestic demand. It would also approve a five-year plan to invest around $72 billion in infrastructure and property enhancing Thailands longterm competitiveness and to improve the quality of life of Thai people, she said, pointing to a planned high speed train line from Bangkok to the northern city of Chiang Mai. Separately, she said the country would invest $11.4 billion in water management measures to ensure there was no repeat of the devastating floods which left more than 800 dead and deluged hundreds of thousands of homes. Last years disaster also hit supply chains for Japanese automakers and Yingluck said steps would be taken to protect investment zones and industrial areas. AFP

13
the

ProPerty
March 30 - April 8, 2012
slid by half from its 1991 peak, Japan Real Estate Institute data show. The central banks decision for additional monetary easing and setting an inflation target of 1pc will help boost land prices in the six major cities by 10pc, Otani at Deutsche Bank reported. Housing-related expenditures and production totalled 67.5 trillion yen ($820 billion), according to the land ministry. That includes 41.4 trillion yen of spending on construction and electricity and housing related production is estimated at 26.1 trillion yen, it said. Housing is the one sector that has the highest multiplier, said Koll of JPMorgan. You buy a house, you buy an air conditioner, you buy a washing machine and you buy a television. Nothing gets the economy going as housing. Bloomberg News

MyanMar tiMes

Boomers lift Japanese property market

By Kathleen Chu and Katsuyo Kuwako TOKYO Japans shrinking economy is poised to get a lift from the children of baby boomers taking out their first mortgages with rates close to a three-year low. As many as 19.1 million people, or 15 percent of the Japanese population, are 3539 and 40-44 years old, the second- and third-largest, government data show. Combined, the two groups are roughly double the size of the postwar baby boom generation now in their early 60s, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Japan is in a demographic sweet spot, said Jesper Koll, head of equity research at JPMorgan Chase. Children of baby boomers are now at their late 30s and early 40s. That is where the demand is going to be coming from. Echo baby boomers reaching the age to purchase their first home will give a boost to a housing market that accounts for about 15pc of Japans gross domestic product at a time when the nation is struggling to recover from last years earthquake and some companies are suffering from unexpectedly bad earnings results, pushing up the unemployment rate. The Bank of Japan has maintained rates near zero for 17 years, benefiting home buyers, who are enjoying one of the lowest financing costs in the world. The 10-year fixedmortgage rate has declined to 3.65pc at Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ, a unit of Japans biggest listed bank, compared with 4.1pc a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The countrys home loan costs may decline further as the benchmark bond yield stays around 1pc. It was 1.1pc on March 16 after closing the year below 1pc on December 30 for the first time since 2002. Japanese banks are sitting on a lot of cash because of the Bank of Japans monetary easing policy and the yield has declined, said Yoji Otani, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, who forecasts a 4pc increase in housing starts for the year ending March. The housing market is quite strong because the bond yields remain low and the Japanese government provides housing incentives such as tax breaks. Japans housing starts rose for a second year in 2011, gaining 2.6pc to 834,117 units, according to the land ministry. The gain in housing starts has boosted mortgage sales for the first time since at least 2007, according to a report from Credit Suisse Group. They surged 44pc to 2.61 trillion yen in 2011 after the government introduced fixed-rate mortgages, the Zurich-based lender said. Housing starts gained to the third highest level in history in 1987 when the baby boomers, those born from 1947 to 1949,

Japan could benefit from a wave of property sales to baby boomers in the 30s and 40s, a banking official said. Pic: Bloomberg News/Tomohiro Ohsumi reached the age to buy their first home, government data showed. The age of home buyers who are between 35 and 39 and in their 40s represents a market share of 44pc, according to a survey by Recruit Co, a human resources and information service provider. The central bank indicated on March 13 that it will keep using monetary policy to tackle deflation. The BOJ unexpectedly added 10 trillion yen (US$121 billion) to an asset-purchase program and set an inflation goal on February 14 in a bid to revive the economy. About 20,000 job cuts have been announced so far this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6 in January from a three-year low of 4.1pc in September. BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said on February 6 the nations economic condition is severe because of deflation and the strong yen. Japans economy contracted less than the governments initial estimate last quarter, shrinking an annualised 0.7pc in the three months ended December 31, the Cabinet Office said on March 8, compared with a preliminary estimate of a 2.3pc contraction. The government has introduced tax breaks and low interest rate policies in a bid to boost the housing market. It recently extended tax breaks on mortgage payments and increased the credit limit for donations made for home purchases by as much as 50pc to 15 million yen (about $181,000). Those changes have made it easier for the second generation to purchase their homes, Masahiro Mochizuki, an analyst at Credit Suisse, said. The governments policy will help boost the housing market, said Mochizuki, who estimates down payments at about 10pc of the total cost of a home. Without a large amount, people can easily purchase a house with low interest rates. The Japan Housing Finance Agencys fixed-rate mortgage program covers up to 90pc of a homes purchase amount. Even as mortgage rates remain low, more can be done to boost the housing market, according to Deutsche Banks Otani. Tax breaks offered by the Japanese government to boost home purchases are only about one-tenth of tax incentives in the US and less than the 70pc that is available in Germany, according to data provided Japans land ministry. Japan has been blighted by price declines and sluggish economic growth since an asset bubble burst two decades ago. An index of residential land prices has

teChNology
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

14
MyanMar tiMes

Patent requests US ups private sectors role in spaceflight in Europe reach record last year
By Jean-Louis Santini PARIS Patent requests in the Europe reached a record high in 2011, in a telling sign that companies are determined to stay on the cutting edge despite a debt crisis and an uncertain economy. In total 244,437 requests for patents were filed in 2011 at the Munich-based European Patent Office, the bodys annual report showed. That is 3.7 percent more than 2010. The office, which centralises requests from 38 European nations, maintains a strict qualitative control and on average approves four requests out of 10. In 2011, the office approved 62,115 patents, 6.9pc more than 2010. Companies have responded very differently [to the crisis] than in 20082009 when we saw a huge drop [in requests], said EPO president Benoit Battistelli. The financial crisis is still here, but the vast majority of businesses have decided to not sacrifice research and development investment, he said. Companies have absorbed the idea that to develop advantages in an increasingly globalised world, and where new competitors arrive in force, innovation must be maintained, Battistelli said. Patents are the most effective way to do that, he said. For world tech giants, patents have become a key battleground and companies now defend their technology in courtrooms around the world, brandishing patents as their claim to new riches. Internet giant Yahoo in March filed a suit against Facebook in a California court, accusing the social networking giant of infringing on 10 patents. Microsoft and Apple last month filed complaints with the European authorities against Googles Motorola Mobility in an increasingly bitter patent war between technology giants. Apple is already embroiled in a multi-continent patent fight with South Koreas Samsung. These court cases are spectacular in terms of the sums involved, but we cant say there are more [court cases] today than before, the EPO chief said. But when you are aiming to dominate the world mobile phone or smartphone market, the economic and financial stakes are so great that all means available are used, Battistelli said. Fundamentally, this shows that patents have become a strategic tool for companies, he noted. If we have companies that are willing pay tens of millions of dollars to buy patents, then patents have a greater strategic value. Based in Munich, the office employs 7000 people on a budget of 1.7 billion euros (US$2.26 billion). But 62pc of requests come from outside Europe, with a quarter coming from the United States alone and with Asia playing an increasing role. China and Korea together accounted for 32pc of requests last year. This is no surprise to Battistelli. With Asia becoming more global, China in particular is becoming more and more an economy of innovation, he said so much so that China overtook France in patent requests last year, applying for 16,946 patents, up from a mere 160 in 2000. In Europe, Germany leads patent activity with 33,181 requests, ahead of Frances 12,107 requests. Siemens made the most patent demands with 2235 requests, ahead of Netherlands-based Philips and Koreas Samsung. Patents in 2011 chiefly concerned medical technology, followed by electric machinery, energy and computers. Earlier in March, the World Intellectual Property Organisation said global patent filings also set a new record in 2011 with annualised growth of 10.7pc. AFP WASHINGTON The first flight of a commercial vessel to the International Space Station in late April will signal a bigger role for the private sector and open up space tourism opportunities, industry experts and lawmakers say. SpaceX, owned by internet entrepreneur and PayPal founder Elon Musk, made history with its Dragon launch in December 2010, becoming the first private company to send a spacecraft into orbit and back, under a contract from NASA. But its demonstration flight to the ISS next month, carrying 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of dried food, is a key test for the private sector, following the space agencys decision to axe its space shuttle program. George Nield, associate administrator for commercial space transportation at the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said NASAs decision was an opportunity for businesses to step in. We are all well aware of the historic change that has taken place in the US space program with the retirement of the space shuttle, he told lawmakers on the House science sub-committee on space and aeronautics. While it is certainly true the launch marked the end of an era, it also represented the beginning of what I am confident will be an exciting future in space for our nation. Based on market studies, we expect to see this type of activity result in a US$1 billion industry within the next 10 years, he said of increasing commercial interest in space. SpaceX said on March 20 that NASA has not yet granted final approval of the launch date, pending completion of the Flight Readiness Review, currently expected April 16. But April 30 has been pencilled in as the date that that it will jet off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, with

assistance from NASA. NASA, which ended its shuttle to the ISS in July 2011, now wants to delegate that task to the private sector and has channelled $270 million to companies such as SpaceX, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Blue Origin. In a draft budget submitted to Congress in February, President Barack Obama requested $829 million to develop commercial flights to the ISS, partly to end US reliance on Russian craft to deliver astronauts and re-supply the station. The US currently has to pay Russia to take its astronauts to the station, where the mission has been extended until 2020, on Soyuz craft. The latest SpaceX launch should pave the way to more journeys into space for

non-astronauts. John Spencer, president and cofounder of the Space Tourism Society, told AFP that rich businessmen had been crucial in developing commercial interest in space, but costs should eventually drop and make such travel affordable. What happened over the last 10 years is half a dozen multi-billionaires from outside the space community entered the space industry, he said. We see space tourism and space ports growing over the next several decades into an international industry with tens of thousands of people going off to have a unique space experience, said Spencer, who has been involved in the industry since it was first conceived in the 1980s. AFP

Chinas Huawei banned from Oz broadband project

SYDNEY Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has been blocked from bidding for contracts on Australias ambitious national broadband project, reportedly due to concerns about cyber-security. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard defended the move as in the national interest, without commenting on the governments reasons for barring Huaweis involvement in the massive A$35.9 billion (US$37.5 billion) project. The National Broadband Network [NBN] is a huge infrastructure project ... and you would expect that as a government we would make all of the prudent decisions to make sure that that infrastructure project does what we want it to do and weve taken one of those decisions, Gillard told reporters on the sidelines of a nuclear summit in Seoul. A source familiar with the deal confirmed media reports that Huawei was told not to bother tendering for equipment contracts on the project late last year due to security concerns about cyber attacks from China. Huawei, a major telecoms equipment maker founded by a former Peoples Liberation Army engineer, had reportedly been endorsed by the government corporation implementing the NBN, NBN Co, but Canberra intervened. Attorney-General Nicola Roxons office said the NBN, which aims to connect 93 percent of Australian homes to superfast fibre-to-thehome internet by 2017, would become the backbone of Australias information infrastructure. As such, and as a strategic and significant government investment, we have a responsibility to do our utmost to protect its integrity and that of the information carried on it, a spokesman for Roxon told AFP. Huawei expressed disappointment in the decision but said it was hopeful of playing a role in the NBN in future. While were obviously disappointed by the decision, Huawei will continue to be open and transparent and work to find ways of providing assurance around the security of our technology, said Jeremy Mitchell, director of corporate affairs at Huawei Australia. Individuals and governments around the world are still coming to grips with the emergence of the new China which is an innovation leader. While network security is an issue for all vendors, the real risk is missing out on the innovation China has to offer. Mitchell said Huawei was involved in the building of broadband networks in Britain, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia and was on track to become the worlds largest telecoms equipment vendor this year. You dont get to that level of success unless you have customers that trust your company, your staff, and your technology, he said. Huaweis technology is used to build mobile phone networks around the world. It has repeatedly denied any links to the Chinese military, but has also run afoul of regulators and lawmakers in the United States. Roxons spokesman said Canberras stringent approach to the network was consistent with the governments practice for ensuring the security and resilience of Australias critical infrastructure more broadly. It is not the first time Asian cyber fears have hit major telecoms deals in Australia the 2001 takeover of Cable & Wireless Optus by Singapores SingTel was heavily scrutinised due to espionage fears. Singtels links with Huawei, a major supplier of its equipment, also dogged Optus bid to run the NBN before the government decided to fund it as a state project. AFP

TiMESWORLD
WASHINGTON A US man who lost his lips, nose and teeth in a 1997 gun accident has received the most extensive face transplant to date, said doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Richard Lee Norris, 37, had undergone several life-saving and reconstructive surgeries after the accident but had limited use of his mouth and, before the surgery, appeared as though his lower face and nose had been mashed in. In a 36-hour operation on March 19-20, doctors at the US medical center carried out the most extensive full face transplant completed to date, including both jaws, teeth, and tongue, the center said. The transplant included all facial soft tissue from the scalp to the neck, including the underlying muscles to enable facial expression, and sensory and motor nerves to restore feeling and function, chief plastic surgeon Eduardo Rodriguez said in a statement. Our goal is to restore function as well as have aesthetically pleasing results, he added. Norris had spent the past 15 years living as a recluse, wearing a surgical mask and only shopping at night in order to avoid being stared at, said a report by MSNBC. The worlds first full face transplant took place in Spain, with doctors at Vall dHebron hospital in Barcelona showing the result of the procedure in July 2010. The first successful partial face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on Isabelle Dinoire, a 38-year-old woman who had been mauled by her dog. AFP

March 30 - April 8, 2012

15
the

MyanMar tiMes

US surgeons perform most extensive face transplant

Syria accepts Annan peace plan

The Syrian government has written to the Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan accepting his sixpoint plan, endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, Annans spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said in a statement issued in Geneva. Mr Annan views this as an important initial step that could bring an end to the violence and the bloodshed, provide aid to the suffering, and create an environment conducive to a political dialogue that would fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, he said. Fawzi said Annan had written to Assad asking Damascus for immediate action, including the release of people detained in Syria during the past year. Mr Annan has stressed that implementation will be key, not only for the Syrian people, who We will judge Assads sincerity and seriousness by what he does, not by what he says, Clinton told reporters. Meanwhile, Syrias opposition factions took a step towards unity at a meeting in Istanbul on March 27. The conference decided that the SNC (Syrian National Council) is the formal interlocutor and formal representative of the Syrian people, said a statement read to journalists after two days of talks the Turkish city. Earlier on March 27, Annan, a former UN secretary general, held talks in Beijing with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who pledged his support for his mediation efforts as did Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when Annan visited Moscow on March 25. AFP

Photographs released by the University of Maryland Medical Center on March 27 showing before and after images of full-face transplant recipient, Richard Lee Norris, 37. Pic: AFP/University of Maryland Medical Center

DAMASCUS Syria has accepted a proposal crafted by Kofi Annan designed to end the bloodshed in the country, the envoys spokesman said on March 27. UN-Arab League envoy Annan, speaking from Beijing, cautioned that the key to peace was implementing his six-point plan, as monitors reported at least another 31 people killed in Syria. That brought the total to almost 10,000 in the year-long uprising. In Istanbul, opposition factions agreed late on March 27 to name the Syrian National Council as their representative and called on President Bashar al-Assad to pull back his tanks to show he was serious about peace. Annans plan includes calls for a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire and access to all areas affected by the fighting in Syria.

A young refugee of the violence in Syria at a shelter in the Lebanese city of Arsal on March 26. Pic: AFP US Secretary of State Hillary are caught in the middle of this tragedy, but also for the region Clinton said Syrias reported and the international community agreement had to be backed up with action. as a whole, Fawzi said.

Brazen thief seeks job at wrong house

CAPE TOWN A thief in South Africa was caught red-handed when he knocked on the door of a house asking for work wearing the clothes that had earlier been stolen from the owners. When I opened the door I was surprised because he was wearing our clothing, the owner, who did not want be named, was quoted as saying by The Times newspaper on March 27. The man knocked on the front door of the house in East London, in South Africas Eastern Cape, on March 25 to ask for gardening work wearing the owners shoes, socks, belt, a pair of trousers and one of his fiances blouses. The resident then went to check his storeroom, where items were being stored ahead of a move, which he saw had been looted. I could not believe the audacity of this guy, he said. I detained him after that and called the police but they did not pitch after 45 minutes. The robber managed to get away but was later nabbed by security guards, the report said. AFP

Obama, Gilani pledge efforts to salvage anti-terror alliance

SEOUL US President a f t e r s o m e e x t e n s i v e A m e r i c a n a p o l o g y a n d B a r a c k O b a m a a n d study, the nature of this taxes on NATO convoys in recommendations put to Pakistans Prime Minister relationship. I think its important parliament, to be debated Yousuf Raza Gilani vowed on March 27 to to get it right. I think its as a possible precursor to rescue a troubled anti- important for us to have reopening NATO supply t e r r o r a l l i a n c e w h i c h candid dialogue, to work lines for the Afghan war. A NATO investigation almost ruptured over 10 through these issues. Both leaders expressed i n t o t h e N o v e m b e r 2 6 months of mistrust and a desire to stabilise and strike on the Pakistanrecriminations. The leaders met on the secure the situation in the A f g h a n i s t a n b o r d e r s i d e l i n e s o f a n u c l e a r long Afghan war, which concluded that both the security summit in Seoul, in has been beset by setbacks, international alliance and the highest-level exchange including a massacre of P a k i s t a n i f o r c e s m a d e mistakes in the incident between the two sides findings rejected by since the killing of Osama bin Laden in a Its important for us to Pakistan. US officials said the clandestine US raid on US president expressed Pakistani soil last May have candid dialogue... respect for Pakistani chilled ties. sovereignty as the Another breach in the relationship opened Afghan civilians by a US leaders delicately set about i n N o v e m b e r w i t h t h e soldier and attacks on restoring trust between mistaken killing of 24 N A T O t r o o p s b y t h e i r their two governments in Pakistani soldiers in US colleagues in the Afghan the clear-the-air meeting. This was a meeting that air strikes, which prompted security forces. We are both interested made important progress Islamabad to curtail American drone strikes in a stable and secure in both sides being able and cut NATO supply lines Afghanistan and a stable to hear directly from one and secure region, Obama another about what their into Afghanistan. views are of the various There have been times said. Gilani said: We are i n t e r e s t s o n w h i c h w e I think we should be candid over the last several c o m m i t t e d t o f i g h t i n g have cooperated, said m o n t h s w h e r e t h o s e against extremism. We want Ben Rhodes, a top Obama relations have had periods stability in Afghanistan aide. But Rhodes, a deputy of strains, Obama told and Pakistan. W e w a n t t o w o r k national security adviser, reporters as the meeting together with you, he declined to go into details began. about what kind of counterBut I welcome the fact told Obama. Pakistani lawmakers terrorism operations the that the parliament of Pakistan is reviewing, h a v e d e m a n d e d a n two men discussed. AFP

world
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

16
MyanMar tiMes

Fishing vessel lost in tsunami is first to have crossed Pacific

VANCOUVER A fishing boat lost in the Japanese tsunami a year ago has been found off Canadas west coast, authorities said on March 24. An aerial inspection suggested that there was no one on board, Transport Canada spokeswoman Sau Sau Liu told AFP. The 65-metre (210-foot) vessel was spotted on March 20 by a Canadian Forces aircraft on a routine surveillance patrol and its Japanese owner has been notified, said Transport Canada. A military photo showed the ship, streaked with rust but intact, floating 278 kilometres (150 nautical miles) off the southern coast of Haida Gwaii islands, about 1500 kilometres (930 miles) north of Vancouver. The vessel is considered an obstruction to navigation, Transport Canada said in a statement, adding that it was being monitored for pollution. The ship is the first, and largest, item confirmed to have crossed the Pacific Ocean to North America from Japans devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Near Midway Atoll in the deep Pacific, a Russian ship spotted an intact seven-metre (20-foot) Japanese boat from Fukushima last autumn, along with debris such as a television and other household appliances, the University of Hawaii said. Ocean researchers based in Hawaii are monitoring the debris from the tsunami, which they earlier predicted would reach western North America early next year. Earlier this month, Canadas western province of British Columbia and the western US states of Washington, Oregon and California signed an agreement to coordinate management of the tsunami debris when it reaches shore, and to return items of sentimental value to Japan. The Japanese fishing boat spotted on March 20 was not expected to reach landfall for another 50 days, said a media statement by Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, who has a special interest in marine issues. AFP

An image released by the Vatican Press Office on March 25 of Pope Benedict XVI wearing a Mexican sombrero as he arrives to lead an open-air mass attended by more than 500,000 people at a park in Silao, in Mexicos central Guanajuato state. The 84-year-old pontiff, who was on his first visit to Spanish-speaking Latin America, left Mexico on March 26 to begin a two-day visit to Cuba. Pic: AFP/Osservatore Romano

Pakistan airstrike charges ruled out, says US paper

WASHINGTON The US military has decided that no service members will face disciplinary charges for a NATO airstrike in November that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, The New York Times reported on March 24. A Pentagon investigation found late last year that both US and Pakistani troops were responsible for the exchange of fire. But it noted that the Pakistanis had fired first from two border posts not on coalition maps and that they kept firing even after the Americans tried to warn them that they were shooting at allied troops. Pakistan rejected these conclusions. The US military launched a second inquiry to determine whether any American military personnel should be punished. This recently completed review had come up with a negative conclusion, the Times reported, citing three unnamed military officials. Officials said the Americans fired in self-defence, the report said, and any other mistakes had been the result of battlefield confusion. Pakistani-US relations plummeted after the killing of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in a military operation carried out inside Pakistan last May without Pakistans knowledge and sank further after the 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the November clash. AFP

Adviser defends Obama over comments on slain teenager

WASHINGTON A top White House adviser lashed out on March 25 at critics who said President Barack Obama spoke out of turn in his impassioned remarks days earlier on the shooting of an unarmed black teenager. The president spoke out, I thought, very powerfully. And in fact theres been broad agreement, almost universal agreement, including (from) the people running for president, that there ought to be a thorough investigation of this, said David Plouffe, a longtime confidant and advisor to the president, speaking told ABC television. Asked his reaction to fatal shooting on February 26 of Trayvon Martin, 17, Obama on March 23 called called for national soul-searching over the tragedy, adding, If I had a son, hed look like Trayvon. Obamas candid remarks about the teens shooting elicited visceral reactions from commentators who are divided over whether the US president was right to comment on the raciallycharged case. The sharpest pushback came from former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who said Obamas remarks were divisive and uncalled for. What the president said, in a sense, is disgraceful. Its not a question of who that young man looked like, said Gingrich. Any young American of any ethnic background should be safe, period. We should all be horrified, no matter what the ethnic background. Is the president suggesting that, if it had been a white whod been shot, that would be OK, because it wouldnt look like him? Thats just nonsense. In response, Plouffe called Gingrichs remarks irresponsible, reckless. Those comments are reprehensible, Plouffe said on ABCs This Week program. The tragedy of losing a young person, any young person, no matter the gender or the race. Its a tragedy for the country. And, obviously, to make sure a thorough investigation is done both at the local level and the federal level, Plouffe said. In contrast to the comments from Gingrich, the other Republicans in the presidential race issued guarded statements, only doing so after the president made his. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said it was, in his view, entirely appropriate that the district attorney to be looking into this and to have called a grand jury to find out what the facts are. Former Pennsylvania governor Rick Santorum passed up on the invitation to criticise the president, calling the shooting heinous. There has been widespread public outrage throughout the United States over Martins fatal shooting by a white Hispanic crime watch volunteer, amid protests demanding justice in an incident. Martin died after being shot while walking in the gated community in the central Florida city of Sanford. The shooter, self-appointed watch captain George Zimmerman, 28, was released after claiming he acted in self-defence. AFP

Trade Mark CauTion

NOTICE is hereby given that SanYo SHokai LTd. of 1-2-20, Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1050022, Japan is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: -

Louisiana win boosts Santorums hopes

WASHINGTON Republican gay marriage, has won Obama into the ground with concerns of economically presidential hopeful Rick 11 out of 34 nominating overwhelming negative hard-pressed families. The Republican race now Santorum said on March contests so far, largely on the ads, Santorum told CBS 25 his latest victory on the back of strong support from television, alluding to moves away from the South, campaign trail shows he evangelical Christians and Romneys better financed where Santorum dominated can beat frontrunner Mitt the partys most conservative campaign which has spent and Romney has failed to win h e a v i l y o n r a d i o a n d a single state, to primaries in Romney and secure the members. the more moderate territories But his stand on hot- television advertising. crucial swing states that Barack Obama must be of Wisconsin, Maryland and button social issues is a decide US elections. S a n t o r u m s w e p t t h e worry to the Republican defeated period. In the the US capital, Washington, southern state of Louisiana establishment, which thinks swing states I lead Barack on April 3. Polls show that Romney with 49 percent of the vote such hardline views could Obama by four points and has a big lead in on March 24, easily Wisconsin, a northern defeating Romney (26.7pc), former House We have to have someone who can beat him state bordered by Illinois and Michigan where speaker Newt Gingrich he has already won (15.9pc), and Texas on the issues and connect with voters. nominating contests. congressman Ron Paul Santorum has vowed (6.1pc). B u t t h e c o m f o r t a b l e turn-off the independent governor Romney loses by to fight all the way to the Republican convention triumph barely dented voters who will ultimately four points, he said. We have to have someone in August if Romney has Romneys commanding decide the outcome of the who can beat him on the issues not by then won the 1144 advantage in the race to general election. Santorum, however, said and connect with voters, delegates needed to clinch secure the Republican nomination to take on the win in Louisiana was Santorum added, alluding the nomination. Romney has an estimated incumbent Democrat Barack proof that he is better placed to Romneys perceived Obama in a November 6 than former Massachusetts weakness among ordinary 5 6 5 d e l e g a t e s , w h i l e governor Romney to take on Americans, many of whom Santorum has 256, showed general election. see the multi-millionaire and leading website Real Clear S a n t o r u m , a R o m a n Obama. Governor Romney will former venture capitalist as Politics early this week. Catholic and fervent AFP opponent of abortion and not be able to pound Barack being out of touch with the

(reg: no. iV/12618/2011) in respect of: - Handbags; boston bags; shoulder bags; business card cases; clutch bags; tote bags; credit card cases; vanity cases (not fitted); key cases (leatherware); wallets; umbrellas; clothing for domestic pets; carry-on bags; travelling trunks Class: 18 Clothing; cardigans; sweaters; trousers; skirts; mens wear; jackets; blouses; polo shirts; tee-shirts; jeans; sweat shirts; one-piece dress; coats; scarves (scarfs); shawls; mufflers; neckties; socks and stockings; stockings; tights; blouson; swimsuits; underwear (underclothing); pajamas; headgear for wear; childrens wear; bandanas (neckerchiefs); gloves (clothing); belts for clothing; garters; sock suspenders; waistbands for clothing; suspenders (braces); footwear; boots; sandals Class: 25 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for SanYo SHokai LTd. P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 2nd April, 2012

17
the

world
March 30 - April 8, 2012
The elder Merah was on March 25 taken from the French polices antiterrorist headquarters in a Paris suburb before an investigating judge in the citys central courts. He was indicted for complicity in the murders and conspiracy to prepare acts of terrorism. As police surrounded Mohamed Merahs Toulouse apartment last week, the gunman claimed responsibility for all three attacks. In the first two incidents he shot dead three soldiers in attacks in Toulouse and nearby Montauban and on March 19 at a Jewish school in Toulouse, he shot dead a teacher, 30, his sons aged five and four, and a sevenyear-old girl. Thousands of people paid homage to the victims throughout France on March 25. Politicians and religious leaders joined a silent procession in the district of Toulouse where the attack on the Jewish school took place. Were marching this afternoon to defend the values of France we love: Solidarity, respect for others, justice, Frances chief rabbi Pierre Cohen said. Hassen Chalghoumi, the imam of Drancy, just north of Paris, paid a tearful tribute to the victims. He had come to the march to denounce the violence and to say that Islam, it isnt that, he told reporters later. AFP

MyanMar tiMes

Charges laid against serial killers brother

PARIS The brother of an Islamist gunman whose murder spree shocked France was charged on March 25 with complicity in the attacks, as thousands of people across the country paid homage to the victims. Abdelkader Merah denied any involvement in the three attacks claimed by his younger brother Mohammed Merah, 23. Mohammed Merah, who said he had links to alQaeda, was killed on March 22 in an exchange of gunfire after a siege with police at his apartment in Toulouse, southwest France. Abdelkader Merahs lawyer Anne Sophie Laguens on March 25 denied earlier reports that he had said he was proud of his brothers actions. He is not at all proud of the acts of his brother, as was said in the press, she told reporters in Paris. He strongly condemns them. Her client denied all the charges against him, she said. Police and prosecutors have described Abdelkader Merah, 29, as a more radical Islamist than his brother. They considered him a hardline Islamist who had played a part in radicalising his younger brother, a police source said. During the siege however, Mohammed Merah had told police he had taught himself from the Koran while in prison, dismissing the idea that his brother had influenced him.

British PM under pressure over donor funding row

LONDON Britains prime minister bowed to pressure on March 26 and published details of who attended private meals for Conservative party donors, as pressure mounted for a full inquiry into the funding row. David Cameron published details of the meetings, a day after the treasurer of the Conservative Party resigned for having tried to sell access to the premier to wealthy supporters. Peter Cruddas was filmed by The Sunday Times newspaper boasting he could secure donors a private dinner with Cameron and an opportunity to shape government policy, for donations of 250,000 (US$396,000). In a bid to quell the scandal, Conservative minister Francis Maude told lawmakers in parliament that his party hoped to restart long-stalled reforms on party funding. But Ed Miliband, the leader of the main opposition Labour party, rejected that as a smokescreen and dismissed Camerons decision to launch an internal Conservative party inquiry as completely inadequate. Repeating a call for a full investigation, he told parliament: This is about the prime ministers chief fundraiser seeking cash for access. And in a pointed jibe at

British Prime Minister David Cameron during an address in London on March 26 at which he confirmed hosting dinners for supporters at his Downing Street residence since coming to power in 2010. Pic: AFP the prime ministers absence from the chamber, he accused Cameron of being too ashamed to face lawmakers himself because he has got something to hide. Earlier on March 25, Cameron broke into a previously scheduled speech to the Alzheimers Society in London to confirm that he had hosted three dinners for supporters at his official Downing Street residence in London since coming to power in 2010. He had met other donors at a fourth event there, he said. But none of these had been fundraising events and they had largely involved old friends, he said. Peter Cruddas has never recommended anyone to come to dinner in my flat, nor has he been to dinner there, he added. Hours later, he released a list of donors who had attended private lunches and dinners with him at Chequers, his official residence in the English countryside to the west of London. Cameron also promised to publish all such future dinners, compile a register of major Tory donors who attend party fundraising events, and draw up new guidance for ministers on lobbying. The prime minister added that the row had proved there was an urgent need for party funding reform after years of disagreement between his Conservative party, which relies on individual donations, and trade-union funded Labour. Cameron had already condemned Cruddas filmed remarks as completely unacceptable and wrong. But his Downing Street office had initially rejected calls to publish details of his meetings with donors. Then came Camerons abrupt change of tack in his speech and the release of the statement a few hours later. AFP

Strauss-Kahn charged with pimping

PARIS Former political allies the opinion polls to beat Sarkozy in of his high profile and links to the o f d i s g r a c e d f o r m e r I M F c h i e f the elections May 6 second-round Socialist Party in the midst of a Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to run-off, but the gap between the two heated campaign. As a result of behaviour that is distance themselves on March 27 has narrowed in recent days. On March 26, Strauss-Kahn was purely his own business, Mr Straussafter he was charged with pimping less than a month before presidential called in by investigating magistrates Kahn has found himself largely in the northern French city of Lille because of his fame thrown to the elections. Prosecutors said the 62-year- to be charged two days earlier than wolves, by coincidence less than a month before a major election, old former Socialist minister and expected. He firmly declares that he is not Malka said. presidential favourite had been Strauss-Kahns name came up as released late on March 26 on 100,000 guilty of these acts and never had euros (US$135,000) bail after being the least inkling that the women he police were investigating a pimping charged with aggravated pimping met could have been prostitutes, operation that saw sex workers from said Richard Malka, one of Strauss- brothels over the Belgian border as part of an organised gang. being brought to France for orgies in The former world statesmans Kahns lawyers. It goes without saying that we high-class hotels in Lille and Paris. implication in a lengthy series of Strauss-Kahn admits that he took scandals and court cases has proved an will ask for the cancellation of part in some of embarrassment these parties, one to his party, of which was said which once As a result of behaviour that is purely his own to involve women hoped he would being flown to bear its colours in next months business, Mr Strauss-Kahn has found himself largely Washington to entertain him presidential because of his fame thrown to the wolves while he was race. still managing I n s t e a d , director of the former party leader Francois Hollande is standing this decision, said another of his International Monetary Fund. He has denied knowing the escorts as the Socialist candidate against lawyers, Henri Leclerc. In a statement, prosecutors said: were paid. incumbent right-winger Nicolas Using prostitutes is not illegal in Sarkozy, while Strauss-Kahn Dominique Strauss-Kahn was prepares a defence against a charge placed under judicial control and France, but prosecutors are seeking was forbidden from contacting proof that Strauss-Kahn was aware that carries a 20-year prison term. Its a private matter. Its painful, d e f e n d a n t s , c i v i l p l a i n t i f f s , the parties were arranged by an but not something that I have to witnesses and the press regarding organised pimping ring and paid for by other guests misusing company make a political judgement about, the procedures. Strauss-Kahn has never broken funds. Hollande said, on France Bleu radio, Several Lille-based businessmen as he began another day on the the law, Malka insisted. Through this prosecution they are trying to and policemen have been accused campaign trail. The current leader of the party, create a new crime punishing clients of taking part in the ring. StraussMartine Aubry, told France Inter of prostitution where the law does Kahn told police he did not suspect the women were prostitutes because radio: The page has turned. I have not provide for this. He also suggested that Strauss- he was introduced to them by senior no comment to make today. Hollande remains the favourite in Kahn was being pursued because police officers. AFP

Trade Mark CauTion

By Virtue of a Declaration of Amendment of Trademark Ownership dated 31 January 2012, PMPI LLC has merged into Philip Morris International Finance Corporation on 27 September 2010, then Philip Morris International Finance Corporation changed its name to Philip Morris Global Brands Inc. on 1 October 2010. PHiLiP MorriS GLoBaL BrandS inC., a company under the laws of Delaware, U.S.A, and having its registered office at 9711 Farrar Court, Richmond VA 23236, U.S.A, has now become and is the sole and exclusive owner and proprietor of the following trademark:-

MARLBORO Roof Device (w/MARLBORO & Red Border)

(reg. no. iV/701/2000) (reg. no. iV/1798/2012) used in respect of:- All goods in Class 25, namely, clothing, including boots, shoes and slippers Any unauthorized use, infringement or fraudulent imitation of the said trademark will be dealt with according to law. Thein Aung B.Sc., R.L., D.B.L Advocate
MYanMar TradeMark and PaTenT LaW FirM

E-mail: mtpip@mptmail.net.mm for eCCLeS & Lee Solicitors Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys, Hong Kong. Dated. 2nd April, 2012

19
the

world
March 30 - April 8, 2012

MyanMar tiMes

Briefs
Border clashes raise war fears
JUBA Sudanese warplanes hit South Sudans oil-rich border region on March 28 in an escalation of violence between the rival states, as international concern mounted over a return to an all-out war. Sudanese warplanes on March 26 launched air raids on newly independent South Sudan, while the rival armies clashed in heavy battles. Both sides claim the other started the fighting, the worst since South Sudan declared independence from Khartoum last July after decades of civil war.

Titanic director makes record-setting dive

WASHINGTON Titanic director James Cameron described a desolate and alien environment on the bottom of the sea after a record-setting solo submarine dive to the deepest point in the worlds oceans on March 26. Cameron plunged about 11 kilometres (seven miles) down the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific, the first one-person mission to the lowest point of the oceans. I felt like I in the space of one day had gone to another planet and come back, he said, saying the ocean floor was a completely featureless, alien world. Speaking after resurfacing from the mission, the Canadian filmmaker-explorer described the barren ocean floor as not unlike the surface of the moon. The experience of hurtling down the yawning chasm of the ocean in his specially designed submersible, Deepsea Challenger, was like falling through darkness thats something that a robot cant describe, he added. The voyage was the first manned expedition to the trench in more than half a century and the culmination of more than seven years of planning. in marine biology, microbiology, astrobiology, marine geology and geophysics, and captured photographs and 3D moving images. Cameron is the first person to make a solo dive to the Pacific Ocean trench. The last dive of any kind there was made by a two-man team in a brief expedition in 1960. After a faster-than-expected, 70-minute ascent, Camerons sub, bobbing in the open ocean, was spotted by helicopter and plucked from the Pacific by a research ships crane, organizers said. National Geographic said Cameron had reached a depth of 10,898 metres (35,756 feet). Because of its extreme depth, the Mariana Trench is cloaked in perpetual darkness and the temperature is just a few degrees above freezing. The water pressure at the bottom is a crushing 12,600 tonnes a square metre (eight tons a square inch) or about a thousand times the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level. The images collected by Cameron will be used to make a 3-D feature film, which is expected to be broadcast on the National Geographic Channel. AFP

Hacking suspect cleared in UK

LONDON The former News of the World US editor will face no further legal action in the investigation into phone hacking at the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid, the Press Association news agency reported on March 27. James Desborough was held in August last year on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications for the defunct Sunday tabloid. The Press Association said a Scotland Yard statement that a man was today released from bail with no further action, was referring to Desborough.

James Cameron in the Deepsea Challenger after his dive on March 26, in photo released by National Geographic. Pic: AFP/Mark Thiessen/ National Geographic The journey down to the Challenger of six hours because of problems Deep valley of the Mariana Trench, with the ocean crafts hydraulics southwest of Guam, took two system. Being able to make the journey hours and 36 minutes, said the mission organised with National was the culmination from my perspective of a lifelong dream, Geographic. Cameron, 57, told reporters in a he said, adding he hopes to be able phone news conference that he was to continue to marry his love of at the bottom of the ocean for a little exploring the depths of the sea with more than two and a half hours, and his work as a director. He collected samples for research had to cut short the planned stay

Obama asks Moscow for space on missile shield

SEOUL US President Barack Obama on March 27 told President Dmitry Medvedev last week that he had little flexibility to address Russias objections to a US missile defence shield before his November re-election bid. Obama was picked up on an open mic privately explaining his position to Medvedev in an exchange heard by some reporters, during their meeting on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit in Seoul on March 27. The US leader told Medvedev, in their last meeting before Vladimir Putin is inaugurated as president in May, that on all issues, but particularly missile defence it was important for Russia to give him space. Medvedev replied Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space, said a transcript of the exchange carried by ABC News. The exchange appeared to indicate that Obama believes he has little leverage to conclude deeply divisive foreign policy election issues in a campaign year and also that he is confident he will win re-election. The White House insisted it was committed to implementing the missile defence shield, despite Russian objections but said the longstanding and difficult issues meant it would take time to conclude a deal. Since 2012 is an election year in both countries, with an election and leadership transition in Russia and an election in the United States, it is clearly not a year in which we are going to achieve a breakthrough, said deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes. The US-backed system has been bitterly opposed by Russia and has remained one of the main stumbling blocks in Moscows recent relations with Washington. NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on March 27 that the bloc intended to announce the deployment of the first interim phase of the defence shield at a summit in Chicago next month. AFP

Stalled nuclear talks to resume, says Iraq

TEHRAN Long-stalled talks between Iran and world powers are to be revived on April 13 at a place yet to be agreed, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying on March 28 by official media. Salehi announced the date as he welcomed visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tehran for a two-day visit, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. The venue will be announced in coming days, IRNA quoted Salehi as saying. Salehi added that Iran considered Istanbul the location of the previous round of talks, which collapsed in January 2011 the best place but that options were still being discussed. Irans principal nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, would announce any agreement on where the talks will take place, Salehi said. The discussions are to be held between Iran and the socalled P5+1 group comprising the five permanent UN Security Council members the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China plus Germany. The office of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the P5+1, had said as recently as March 27 that no date nor venue had yet been agreed. Western diplomats accredited to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna also been saying up to March 27 that they were not aware of any agreement fixing the place and date of the talks. The talks carry hopes of defusing a tense international showdown over Irans nuclear activities that has sent oil prices soaring. Israel has brandished the threat of possible military action against Irans nuclear sites, while the United States has put its energies into sanctions and diplomacy but has not ruled out the military option. Erdogan arrived with a large delegation that included the Turkish ministers for foreign affairs, energy, economy, and urban development and the environment. Turkish intelligence and military officials, and the head of Turkeys Atomic Energy Organisation, Zafer Alper, were also with him. Erdogan was to hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, IRNA said. Dicussions were to focus on Irans nuclear program, the conflict in Syria, regional issues and bilateral relations, it said. Turkey, a NATO member that has agreed to host facilities for a missile shield that could be used against Iran, has refused to back Western sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program because they would curb vital oil imports from its neighbour. AFP

Israeli opposition gets new leader

JERUSALEM Israels former defence minister Shaul Mofaz roundly defeated his rival for the leadership of the countrys opposition party Kadima, taking nearly two-thirds of the vote, the party said on March 28. In a statement, Kadima said Mofaz had taken 61.77 percent of the primary votes to oust his rival, incumbent faction leader Tzipi Livni. Livni, a former foreign minister and one of the first to join the Kadima party when it was formed in 2005, took 37.23pc of the vote, the statement said.

Pope criticises US embargo on Cuba

HAVANA Pope Benedict XVI on March 28 entered the controversy about the 50-year US economic embargo on Cuba, saying such measures unfairly burden the Cuban people. Leaving Cuba after a two-day visit, the pope denounced the embargo imposed by Washington, saying such restrictive economic measures imposed from outside the country unfairly burden its people. Relations between Cuba and the US have been cold since Fidel Castro overthrew the US-backed Batista regime in 1959 and established a communist state on the US doorstep. AFP

Israel protests over settlements probe move

JERUSALEM Israel was last week lodging protests with several European countries who voted in favour of a UN Human Rights Council resolution ordering an investigation of Jewish settlement activity. Israel had already summoned Belgium and Austrias ambassadors to the foreign ministry to discuss the March 22 decision by the Human Rights Council to authorise a probe into the impact of settlements on Palestinian rights, an Israeli official told AFP on March 27. We will also be protesting to Norway and Switzerland, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Most of the other countries who voted for this probe are part of the automatic Muslim majority that is systematically anti-Israel, he said. Israel has sharply criticised the council for authorising the inquiry, and on March 26 the foreign ministry said it would cut contact with the body to protest the decision. There was a decision by the foreign ministry to sever work contacts with the organisation, ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP on March 26. There wont be working relations with them, conversations, passing papers, making visits, exchanging information, consulting one another, attending meetings, he added. The US ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, defended the Jewish states response to the councils resolution. I understand Israels feelings about the commission, he told Israeli public radio on March 27. Its a body that has constantly been obsessed with Israel and has unfairly focused on Israel to the exclusion of major other human rights issues that really cry out for attention. Thats something most hypocritical. The resolution authorising the probe was adopted by the 47member council by 36 votes in favour and 10 abstentions. Only the United States voted against it. In an unrelated development earlier last week, Israels Supreme Court on March 25 rejected a deal that would have given the government three years to evacuate Migron, the West Banks biggest and oldest settlement outpost, court documents showed. The court said it would extend a deadline it set last year from March to August 2012, but that it could not approve any further delay. The Israeli government had sought court approval for a deal it agreed with Migrons residents after the court ordered the outpost to be dismantled last August. The ruling said Migron was one of the most difficult and unusual cases when it comes to outposts, noting that it was built on privatelyowned Palestinian land. AFP

world
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

20
MyanMar tiMes

Egyptian military hits back at criticism from Islamists

CAIRO Egypts ruling generals lashed out on March 25 at the Muslim Brotherhood over its questioning of the militarys continued support of the cabinet, while urging the Islamists to look to the future with the spirit of cooperation. The military in a statement expressed extreme indignation over Brotherhood comments the previous day that questioned its motives in supporting the government, which the Islamists accuse of stalling the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak. It also called on all to be aware of historys lessons, to avoid past mistakes we do not want to see repeated, and to look to the future with the spirit of cooperation. In an its unusually strongly worded statement, the Brotherhood said the governments performance had been the biggest failure, referring to unrest, judicial interference, stalling of reforms, fuel shortages and dwindling foreign reserves. The Muslim Brotherhoods political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, has been pressuring the military to sack the cabinet and appoint an FJP-led government after it won a crushing victory in parliamentary elections. But the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power after the popular uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, has stood by the cabinet and its head Kamal Ganzuri. When we called for the resignation of the said media reports, with Islamists also represented among the remaining 50 members chosen from outside parliament. Liberal lawmakers had walked out on the vote in the joint parliament and senate session on March 24, accusing the Islamist majority of trying to dominate the crucial panel. The new constitution will replace one annulled by the ruling military after Mubarak was ousted last year. The FJP, the largest party in the parliament, has the biggest representation on the panel, followed by the ultra-conservative Salafi Al-Nur party. Only six women three from the parliament and senate and the rest from civil society were appointed, along with a few Coptic Christians who make up about 10 percent of Egypts population of about 80 million. The 50 people appointed from outside parliament include a member of the ruling military council, a senior Muslim Brotherhood member seen as the groups religious guide, judges, lawyers and an activist who lost both eyes in clashes with police. The official Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website on March 25 that the Islamists had the support of almost 40pc of panel members elected from outside parliament and about 75pc of its lawmakers. AFP

Ahmadinejad speech triggers US walkout at regional conference

DUSHANBE A US delegation walked out of a regional conference in Tajikistan on March 26 after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lambasted US policy on Afghanistan as the source of all the countrys troubles. Ahmadinejad launched his tirade against Washington at a conference in the Tajik capital Dushanbe attended by leaders of Afghanistans neighbours as well as a US delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake. The cause of all the ills in Afghanistan is the presence on Afghan soil of NATO forces and above all those of the United States, the Iranian president told the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA). As the firebrand Iranian president was giving his speech, Blake pointedly led the US delegation out of the conference hall. Encounters even at multinational regional conferences between the United States and Iran are extremely rare. The two countries ended diplomatic relations in the wake of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and ties have remained severed ever since. Tensions are rising again over Irans nuclear program and Washington has never ruled out military action. Ahmadinejad, whose country shares a long border with Afghanistan, said that US forces had gone into the country with the aim of encircling the entire region. They went into Afghanistan using the pretext of the fight against terror and now under the same slogan they are surrounding Russia, India and China, Ahmadinejad said. We want foreign troops to leave Afghanistan in the shortest time, he added. The conference which is also being attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari is the fifth such meeting since 2005 and aims to boost cooperation in rebuilding Afghanistan. AFP

Egyptian lawmakers ahead of the vote on March 24 for a 100-member panel that will draft the countrys new constitution. Pic: AFP government, its head refused, and this was unfortunately supported by the military council, the Brotherhood said in its statement. If anyone intends to recreate the former corrupt regime with new faces, the people are willing to move in order to revive their revolution and protect their ship from sinking at the hands of people with no sense of responsibility, it said. Last month, a lawsuit was brought before the Supreme Constitutional Court arguing that the parliamentary election was unconstitutional due to its complex voting system. The Islamists said they fear the military council could push through the lawsuit should they insist on Ganzuris removal. In another development last weekend, parliament elected an Islamistdominated panel to draft a new constitution. Thirty-nine of the 50 lawmakers chosen for the 100-member constituent assembly are Islamists,

Wade ousted in Senegal

DAKAR Thousands of people celebrated in the streets of Dakar early on March 26 after Senegalese opposition candidate Macky Sall defeated President Abdoulaye Wade in his controversial bid for a third term in office. The real winner remains the Senegalese people, former prime minister Sall, 50, said after his victory following the run-off presidential vote on March 25. Wade called Sall to offer his congratulations and admit defeat, scotching fears that the 85-year-old would try to cling to power after 12 years as president. Macky president This time we have it We have won, shouted revellers in Dakars Independence Square. Unrest in the run-up to the first-round vote on February 26 claimed six lives in Senegal, hailed as one of west Africas success stories and the only country in the region never to have suffered a military coup. As the octogenarian president defiantly pushed for a third term in office in the face of fierce internal and international criticism, many expected the worst after the second-round vote. Wades defeat and his promptness in acknowledging it came as a relief to those who feared the election would derail one of Africas pioneer democracies. AFP

Trade Mark CauTion

NOTICE is hereby given that aLBerTo-CuLVer CoMPanY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, with offices at 2525 Armitage Avenue, Melrose Park, Illinois 60160, United States of America, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trade mark:-

(reg: nos. iV/65/2002 & iV7132/2011) The said Trade mark consists of the English word VO5 in ordinary block letters and the numeral 5. in respect of: Hair preparations Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for aLBerTo-CuLVer CoMPanY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 2nd April, 2012

21
the

world
March 30 - April 8, 2012
Garcia, about 1600 kilometres (1000 miles) south of the tip of India. But US officials said operations are crowded, with little room to expand. In addition, the bases future is uncertain; the US lease will expire in 2016. Partly as a result, US officials are eyeing another coral atoll 2700 kilometres (1700 miles) to the east: the Cocos Islands, a remote Australian territory. US and Australian officials said the atoll could be an ideal site not only for manned US surveillance aircraft but for Global Hawks, an unarmed, high-altitude surveillance drone. The US Navy is developing a newer version of the Global Hawk, known as the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance drone, or BAMS, that is due to become operational in 2015. Aircraft based in the Cocos would be wellpositioned to launch spy flights over the South China Sea. Pentagon officials said they are intrigued by the potential offered by Perth and the Cocos Islands, as well as another Australian proposal to build a new fleet base at Brisbane, on the east coast. But US officials cautioned that nothing has been decided. They also emphasised that the US military is interested in operating only as a guest and is not seeking to develop its own bases. Peter Leahy, a former Australian army chief, said the agreement to deploy US Marines in Darwin is the first step as the military partnership expands. I think the discussions are well advanced and will lead to quite substantial arrangements, said Leahy, director of the National Security Institute at the University of Canberra. Marines are important and I love them dearly, but the decisive plays in this region will come from the Navy and Air Force. Hugh White, a former Australian defence official, said that the Australian security alliance with the United States is essential but that Beijing could perceive the moves as too bellicose. This is all about China, of course, said White, a professor of strategic studies at Australian National University in Canberra. Australia is in a very complicated position in this. None of us want to live in an Asia dominated by China, but none of us want to have an adversarial relationship with China. The Washington Post

MyanMar tiMes

US, Australia seek closer military ties

THE United States and Australia are planning a major expansion of military ties, including possible drone flights from a coral atoll in the Indian Ocean and increased US naval access to Australian ports, as the Pentagon looks to shift its forces closer to Southeast Asia, officials from both countries said. The moves, which are under discussion but have drawn strong interest from both sides, would come on top of an agreement announced by President Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard in November to deploy up to 2500 US Marines to Darwin, on Australias northern coast. The talks are the latest indicator of how the Obama administration is rapidly turning its strategic attention to Asia as it winds down a costly decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The US government is finalising a deal to station four warships in Singapore and has opened negotiations with the Philippines about boosting its military presence there. To a lesser degree, the Pentagon is also seeking to upgrade military relations with Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Although US officials say the regional pivot is not aimed at any single country, analysts said it is a clear response to a rising China, whose growing military strength and assertive territorial claims have pushed other Asian nations to reach out to Washington. The Pentagon is reviewing the size and distribution of its forces in northeast Asia, where they are concentrated on Cold War-era bases in Japan and South Korea. The intent is to gradually reduce the US military presence in those countries while enhancing it in Southeast Asia, home to the worlds busiest shipping lanes and to growing international competition to tap into vast undersea oil and gas fields. I n t er ms o f y o u r o v e ra l l influence in the Asia-Pacific zone, the strategic weight is shifting south, said a senior Australian official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the military talks. Australia didnt look all that important during the Cold War. But Australia looks much more important if your fascination is really with the Southeast Asian archipelago. Australia is a long-standing ally of the United States and one of its closest partners in intelligence and military matters. More than 20,000 Australian troops spent

US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at a joint news conference at Parliament House in Canberra last November. Talks between the two countries on closer military cooperation follow Obamas announcement during his Australian visit last year that the US would deploy up to 2500 US Marines in Darwin. Pic: AFP time in Iraq between 2003 and 2009. About 1500 Australian troops are in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led coalition. An official interim review of Australias military basing structure recently concluded that the chances of the country coming under direct military attack are currently remote. But it urged the government to strengthen its forces along the northern and western coasts, near where most of its mineral wealth is concentrated and where

by Craig Whitlock
be used for deployments and operations in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean by the US Navy. Specifically, the review suggests that Stirling be upgraded in part so it could service US aircraft carriers, other large surface warships and attack submarines.

ANALYSIS

take an interest in what the Australians are doing and want to do. Perths drawback is its isolation. It is about 3840 kilometres (2400 miles) south of Singapore, and 2560 kilometres (1600 miles) southwest of Darwin. But Pentagon officials say they are looking at the location because it could give the Navy a sorely needed place to refuel, re-equip and repair ships on the Indian Ocean. Australia is the only ally that

the Ocean as need to spend We seemoreIndianon, where an area that wewell developed a little time we have fewer relations with countries, compared to the western Pacific.
its defenses are relatively sparse. Australia is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and has become Chinas leading supplier of coal and iron ore. The strategic review also advised the government to tailor its basing plans by considering US security interests. For instance, the review urges a major expansion of the Stirling naval base in Perth, its primary port in western Australia, noting that the installationcould also Australian officials said a decision about Stirlings future is not imminent, but the Pentagons interest has intensified recently. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is scheduled to visit Perth and Darwin this month, following up on a February visit to Australia by Admiral Mark Ferguson, the vice chief of naval operations. The Australians have been one of our oldest, strongest allies, Mabus said in an interview. Its fair to say that we will always we have on the Indian Ocean, said a senior US defence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss strategic planning. We see the Indian Ocean as an area that we need to spend a little more time on, where we have fewer well developed relations with countries, compared to the western Pacific. Elsewhere in the Indian Ocean, the United States operates a key joint naval and air base on the British island territory of Diego

Afghan peace efforts doomed without UN, says think-tank

KABUL The West wants to pull out of Afghanistan with or without a settlement and attempts to negotiate with the Taliban are unlikely to lead to lasting peace, a report by a respected think-tank said on March 25. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group condemned desperate and dangerous moves by Hamid Karzais government to bring Taliban, the allied Haqqani Network and other insurgents to the negotiating table. If a deal appeared to give the Taliban preferential treatment it was likely to spark a significant backlash from the Northern Alliance, Hezb-i Islami and other major factions, it said. Without a sustainable settlement, after international forces pull out all indicators point to a fragile political order that could rapidly disintegrate into a more virulent civil war, the ICG report said. Afghanistan has seen several periods of vicious conflict in its recent history, with the mujahedin resistance against Soviet troops followed by civil war among the various groups. The hardline Taliban regime of 1996-2001 never controlled the whole of the country, and since it was deposed it has been waging an insurgency of its own against Karzais government and the Western forces backing it. The international communitys most urgent priority is to exit Afghanistan with or without a settlement, the ICG said. The negotiating agenda has been dominated by Washingtons desire to obtain a decent interval between the planned US troop drawdown and the possibility of another bloody chapter in the conflict. But the document warned: No matter how much the US and its NATO allies want to leave Afghanistan, it is unlikely that a Washington-brokered powersharing agreement will hold long enough to ensure that the achievements of the last decade are not reversed. It said the process should instead be mediated by the United Nations. Progress towards negotiations in Afghanistan has been long, slow and complicated, with no sign of a deal being struck, or even substantive talks. Fake envoys have at times hoaxed Kabul, and a purported Taliban representative last year killed Karzais top peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani and himself with a bomb hidden in his turban. Kabul has said several times that it is in negotiations with the Taliban, who insisted in turn that they were only prepared to talk to the Americans, who say the process should be Afghan-led. In January the Taliban announced they would open an office in Qatar to facilitate talks, but demanded prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay should be transferred to the Gulf country. They said they were pulling out of the process after a US soldier killed 17 Afghan civilians in Kandahar province on March 11. Gavin Sundwall, spokesman for the US embassy in Kabul, refuted the ICG reports findings, saying it was based on inaccurate information and false perceptions and Washington had a long-term commitment to Afghanistan. Afghanistan and other countries in the region agree that the best way to achieve a stable, peaceful Afghanistan is to achieve some kind of inclusive political settlement, he said. Such a deal would have to see the Taliban completely break from al-Qaeda, end violence, and accept the Afghan constitution and its protection of minority and womens rights, he added. This is an Afghan process, and the United States will do what we can to help in that process, he said. AFP

AsiA
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

22
MyanMar tiMes

News Corp faces accusations of pay-TV piracy plot

SYDNEY Rupert Murdochs News Corp on March 28 faced a fresh barrage of allegations over its conduct, with an Australian newspaper claiming it had a secret unit that promoted pirating of payTV rivals. The Australian Financial Review said the company sabotaged its competitors by promoting high-tech piracy that damaged Austar and Optus at a time when News Corp was moving to take control of the Australian pay-TV industry. The newspaper, which belongs to News rival Fairfax, said the evidence was unearthed during a four-year investigation, as it began releasing 14,000 emails concerning one of the groups security subsidiaries. It follows the BBCs flagship current affairs show Panorama on March 26 making similar charges against the company in Britain, and increases pressure on News Corp. which is already under siege over a phone-hacking scandal. Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the allegations needed to be referred to police while Treasurer Wayne Sawn said the story was concerning. News Corp has consistently denied any role in fostering piracy in pay television. In a statement, its Australian arm News Limited said the report was full of factual inaccuracies, flawed references, fanciful conclusions and baseless accusations. The Australian Financial Review claimed a secret unit of former policemen and intelligence officers within News Corp known as Operational Security crippled the finances of competitors such as Austar and Optus. They did so by cracking the codes of smart cards issued to customers of the services and then selling them on the black market, giving viewers free access and costing the broadcasters millions of dollars, it said. Austar is the subject of a takeover bid by Foxtel, which is part-owned by News Corp. AFP

Briefs
Activist dies from self-immolation
NEW DELHI A Tibetan exile died in New Delhi on March 28 from injuries suffered when he set himself alight two days earlier. Jamphel Yeshi had doused his clothes in fuel, lit himself and run screaming down a road as his body was engulfed in flames. His death came as police detained 100 other activists protesting against the arrival in the city of Chinese President Hu Jintao. The Chinese leader was in New Delhi to attend a meeting of the BRICS group of countries, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Defiant Pyongyang vows to go ahead with rocket launch

SEOUL North Korea vowed on March 27 to go ahead with a rocket launch, snubbing demands from US President Barack Obama and other world leaders were are in Seoul for a summit on combating nuclear terrorism. The Norths plan to launch a long-range rocket this month overshadowed the 53-nation summit, which was meant to focus on the threat of uranium and other nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists. Obama devoted much of his three-day South Korean visit to its neighbour, repeatedly denouncing the rocket launch while emphasising the United States is not hostile to the Norths people. North Korea responded on March 27 by saying it would go ahead with what it calls a peaceful satellite launch, saying every nation has this right, and called on Obama to drop his confrontational mindset. The US head of state said he had no hostile intention towards us, said a Pyongyang foreign ministry spokesman quoted by the official KCNA news agency. The North said it would judge whether Obamas remarks were genuine or just another hypocrisy depending on whether his country applies a double standard to the launch. The United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries say the launch would be a long-range missile test, banned under UN resolutions and breaching a US-North Korean deal last month. Chinese President Hu Jintao, whose country is North Koreas sole major ally, also reportedly expressed serious concern at Pyongyangs plan during a meeting with Obama on March 26. On the second and final day of the summit on March 27, Obama was focused on the nuclear threat from non-state actors and not the nuclear-armed North. The security of the world depends on the actions that we take, he said in a speech to delegates at the start of

RP warlord denies election rigging

MANILA A feared political warlord and ally of former president Gloria Arroyo pleaded not guilty on March 26 to allegedly helping rig senatorial elections in the Philippines. Former governor Andal Ampatuan, 70, made his plea before being swiftly taken back to jail. Ampatuan and several family members are among 64 people on trial for the politically-motivated massacre in 2009 of 57 people in his southern home province of Maguindanao.

Pham Thanh Binh, 58, the former chairman of stateowned Vietnamese shipbuilding group, Vinashin, in the Peoples Court in Haiphong on March 27. He was one of nine Vinashin executives who went on trial over debts totalling more than US$4 billion that nearly bankrupted the shipbuilder. The nine executives were arrested in August 2010 for defying state regulations. Pic: AFP

Thai police hold 22 for call centre scam

BANGKOK Thai police on March 28 arrested a gang of 15 Chinese and seven Taiwanese who operated a call centre scam that conned more than US$300 million out of people in China, officials said. They were seized at an upmarket rented house in Bangkok which they used as their base, along with hi-tech equipment such as routers and internet telephones. The gang called people in China and convinced them to transfer money via ATM by pretending they were calling from their bank or the police.

Trade Mark CauTion

NOTICE is hereby given that Bayer aktiengesellschaft, a company organized under the Law of Germany KaiserWilheim-Allee, 51373 Leverkusen, Germany is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trade mark-

US President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Myung-Bak, look for their places for a group photo of leaders at the nuclear security summit in Seoul on March 27. Pic: AFP the day. Obama in 2009 declared his vision of a world without nuclear weapons and the following year hosted a Washington summit, aimed at securing or destroying the worlds stocks of plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU) by 2014. We are fulfilling the commitments we made in Washington. As a result, more of the worlds nuclear material will never fall into the hands of terrorists who would gladly use it against us, Obama said. Whats also undeniable is that the threat remains. There are still too many bad actors in search of these dangerous materials and these dangerous materials are still vulnerable in too many places. But as a consequence of the Seoul summit, more of our citizens will be safer from the danger of nuclear terrorism, Obama declared. Highlighting the threat, an Interpol representative told the session there was lots of evidence that alQaeda would use nuclear weapons if it had them, said German delegation sources. Interpol said there were 3000 cases in 119 countries in which nuclear material had gone missing. Chinas Hu, in his opening speech, noted good progress since 2010 but said the situation remains grave. He said his country would deepen cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency and help countries that want to convert reactors from HEU fuel to low enriched uranium. Summit host, South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, said the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear terrorism pose a grave challenge to peace. The world still has some 1600 tons of HEU and 500 tons of plutonium enough to make more than 100,000 nuclear weapons, Lee said, calling for firm commitments to action. AFP

(reg: nos. iV/4458/2000 & iV/9107/2011) in respect of:- Chemical products for industrial purposes; plastics, artificial and synthetic resins in the raw state; isocyanates and polyesters as raw materials for adhesives; adhesives; chemical products for manufacture of plastic coatings and plastics film; chemical products as impregnating agents for leather, paper and textile manufacture; chemicals products as finishes for textile manufacture Class: 1 Artificial and synthetic resins in the form of semifinished goods; adhesives; plastics film; rubber, rubber substitutes Class: 17 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for Bayer aktiengesellschaft P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 2nd April, 2012

deSModur

Tongans farewell reformist king

NUKUALOFA Tongas reformist King George Tupou V was borne to his final resting place on March 27 by some 1000 black-clad pallbearers in a solemn funeral ceremony steeped in Polynesian and Christian ritual. During a six-year reign, Tupou, 63, paved the way for a transition to democracy in the South Pacific Island nation of 100,000 people. He died on March 18 during a trip to Hong Kong. AFP

23
the

AsiA
March 30 - April 8, 2012
arguments that restrictions on maids were unconstitutional and discriminatory. The three-judge panel on the court of appeal unanimously established in law. It is a fundamental principle in international law that a sovereign state has the power to admit, exclude and expel aliens, Court of Final Appeal until we get justice. Rights advocates said the ruling sent the wrong message to other Asian nations that relied Hong Kong, a financial and banking centre of some seven million people, including almost 300,000 foreign domestic helpers mainly from Indonesia and the Philippines. Lestari said foreign maids should not be treated any differently to other foreigners who flock to the semi-autonomous former British colony to find work as lawyers, bankers, accountants and managers. Most are eligible to apply for permanent residency, granting them additional rights and access to government services, after they have lived in the city for at least seven years. What makes us different from others? We work very hard, we support our families too, Lestari said. We are bound by Hong Kong immigration policies and yet they use it to exclude us, this is clear discrimination. AFP

MyanMar tiMes

HK court overturns ruling on maids

HONG KONG Hong Kongs court of appeal on March 28 overturned a landmark ruling that opened the door for thousands of foreign maids to claim residency in the southern Chinese city. It must be up to the sovereign authority to decide the extent to which the status of permanent resident should be conceded to foreign nationals, Judge Andrew Cheung wrote in a 66page judgement accepting the governments appeal. The High Court ruled on September 30 last year that Philippine domestic worker Evangeline Banao Vallejos had the right to request permanent residency status, something that had been denied to foreign maids until then. But the government argued that the authorities had discretionary power to decide who was eligible for residency, rejecting

principle in international law that a sovereign It is a fundamentalpower to admit, exclude and expel aliens state has the
accepted that argument, saying the High Court could not override the governments authority to decide who can live in the city and who cannot. The decision will come as a Cheung wrote. Vallejoss lawyers said they would take the case the first of its kind in Asia to the Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kongs highest court. on low paid maids from less wealthy countries to toil at jobs locals do not want. Its not just about staying in Hong Kong we dont want to be excluded, Asian Migrants

The interpretation of the law creates a second-class citizen.

major blow to tens of thousands of maids who could have been eligible for residency status if the Vallejos case had been The interpretation of the law creates a second-class citizen, lawyer Mark Daly told AFP. We will continue on to the Coordinating Body spokeswoman Eni Lestari said outside court. The group represents more than 10,000 foreign maids in

Leung must restore trust: analysts

HONG KONG Hong Kongs new leader will struggle to balance the interests of powerful tycoons with those of the people after he secured Beijings blessing to guide the city to democratic elections in 2017, analysts said on March 27. A 1200-member committee stacked with pro-Beijing elites on March 25 chose former property consultant Leung Chun-ying to take over from outgoing Chief Executive Donald Tsang in July, in a vote that excluded most of Hong Kongs seven million people. The small-circle election fell under the One Party, Two Systems arrangement by which China has ruled Hong Kong since its 1997 handover from Britain. Alarmingly for Leung and his backers on the mainland, he failed to win the vote of key business leaders on the election committee, such as Asias richest man, Li Ka-shing. Most people have reservations about Leung because he has been seen as beholden to Beijings support, Chinese University history professor Willy Lam said. There will also be problems because he doesnt enjoy the support of big business groups... He has to do a lot of work to conciliate the powerful elites. Observers said that with only 61 percent of the election committees v ote th e l o w e s t o f a n y c h i e f executive since the handover the man commonly known as CY could not rest on his laurels. The immediate challenge facing Leung is daunting. He has to bridge an unprecedented political divide arising from the cut-throat race between the two pro-establishment camps, the South China Morning Post said in an editorial. since 1997. Li, the 83-year-old billionaire whose Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa are two of Hong Kongs leading conglomerates, refused to switch support from pro-business candidate Henry Tang after Beijing dropped Tang in favour of Leung following a string of embarrassing scandals. As the unprecedented split in the establishment camp widened, the pro-Beijing and pro-business Liberal Party urged its 29 election committee delegates to cast blank ballots in protest. We expect it will be tough for (Leung) in the next five years. We believe at this stage the government needs to think how it can restore public confidence, Liberal Party chairwoman Miriam Lau said after the vote. We will monitor the government to ensure it does not jeopardise Hong Kongs core values, economic development, business environment and the livelihood of Hong Kong people. City University political scientist Joseph Cheng said the southern citys increasing economic dependence on the mainland would push Leung even further into Beijings political debt. Perhaps Leungs most difficult challenge will be paving the way for full suffrage in the next chief executive election in 2017, as promised by Beijing. In his victory speech, he pledged to work towards an enhanced democracy with an open and fair election system. Hong Kongers are rightly sceptical that Beijing will ever allow such a thing. Mr Leung should prove them wrong, the Financial Times said in an editorial on March 27. AFP

Trade Mark CauTion

eXXon MoBiL CorPoraTion, a New Jersey corporation, of 5959 Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, Texas 75039-2298, U.S.A., is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:reg. no. 436/1983 in respect of lubricating oils and greases.

D T E

ESSO 4-T reg. no. 3956/1994

in respect of all goods in Class 4.

MOBIL 2758/2008 SUPER reg. no.

in respect of Motor Oils. reg. no. 1049/1976 in respect of Oils, greases and waxes of all kinds and similar products for lubricating, illuminating, heating and fuel purposes, thick oils and greases and petroleum products for lubricating.

It noted that he received only 17.8pc of the vote in a mock election by the University of Hong Kong on Saturday. More than half of the 223,000 voters rejected all the candidates and returned blank ballots. Had there been a popular vote, it would have been inconclusive, the Post said, calling Leung the weakest leader-in-waiting the city had seen

reg. no. 3696/1994 in respect of industrial and marine lubricants.

nuTo

SParTan
reg. no. 3703/1994 in respect of industrial oils and greases.

uniVoLT
reg. no. 3697/1994

reg. no. 3698/1994

Gillards popularity dives after state poll rout

SYDNEY The popularity of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillards ruling Labor party plunged to a six-month low in polls published on March 27 after a devastating defeat in Queensland state elections. Centre-left Labor slipped four percentage points from the previous fortnights survey to have just 43 percent of the overall vote taking alliances with minor parties into account against conservative Liberal/National coalitions 57 percent. And support on a singleparty basis fell to just 28pc, Labors lowest showing since September, showed to a Newspoll of 925 voters conducted as the party was crushed at elections in the northern state of Queensland on March 24. Queensland Labor is likely to retain only seven seats in the state parliament to the conservative oppositions 78 in a result seen as a dire warning to Gillards fragile national government ahead of elections due next year. The Newspoll, published in The Australian newspaper, put Gillard ahead of opposition leader Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister, 40pc to his 37pc. But more people were dissatisfied (58pc) than satisfied (31pc) with her performance. Gillard has a majority of just one seat in the federal parliament and her popularity has been hit by campaigns against the introduction of new taxes on corporate pollution and mining profits. A damaging row with her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, who tried to make a dramatic comeback earlier this year, has also damaged Labors image. AFP

SuPerFLo
in respect of automotive lubricants. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Marks will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for eXXon MoBiL CorPoraTion P. O. Box 60, Yangon Dated: 30th March, 2012

Time out
Five scriptwriters start work on Aung San biopic
By Nuam Bawi FIVE writers on March 22 started work on the script for a film about the life of Bogyoke Aung San, according to members of the Bogyoke Aung San Film Executive Board, which is overseeing the project. The scriptwriting groups consists of executive board members Zaw Thet Htwe and Min Htin Kokogyi, joined by professional scriptwriters Chit Oo Nyo, Nyein Min and Kyi Soe Tun. We will write together in one room so we can all agree on the script, and so we can put aside our other professional and personal works until June, which we have fixed as our deadline, Zaw Thet Htwe said. If anyone is absent from the group the others will continue writing because we need to finish by the deadline. He said all the writers had the same idea about how to present Bogyoke Aung San to the audience. Of course we will still argue when we have different concepts, but in the end we will choose the best option for the script, he said. Zaw Thet Htwe also said the group would hold workshops and discussions about Myanmar history with scholars while working on the script to help minimise differences. He said that after the script is completed in June, the group will double-check all the facts for accuracy. After that, the script will be finalised, translated into English, and sent to a script doctor from Hollywood who can point out the weaknesses. Although the film will be a historical biopic, it will focus on the humanity of its subject, Zaw Thet Htwe said. This is a biographical film about a person who sacrificed his life for our country but we would like to present it as humanly as possible, he said. We will not present him as a hero or intellectual throughout the film. We will show him as a human who can feel sorrow, happiness and anger. He added that because there was limited time in the movie, they would be unable to include all of the many personal and political incidents that occurred during Bogyoke Aung Sans short life. Therefore, there would be no need to uncover every biographical detail before making the film. But director Sithu Kyi Soe Tun, who has won five Myanmar Academy Awards, said it was necessary to collect as much data as possible. We should find out as much as possible about the hero because there might be some facts that we dont know but might interest the audience. The most important thing is to provide the key facts that will be interesting and beneficial for the audience, he said. Executive board member Zaganar said the film project would also get international support. Now we are holding discussions with three overseas groups to produce the film, but were still unsure who we will collaborate with, he said. He named the Weinstein Company, which produced The Artist, which this year won five Oscars; Stephen Goldblatt, who did the cinematography for the Oscar-winning film The Help; and an Irish company that produced Michael Collins. We also welcome advice on the script from any readers who want to contribute ideas, Zaganar said.

25
The Myanmar Times March 30 - April 8, 2012

Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein performs during a concert. Pic: AFP/Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein

Local pop stars brace for lyrical revolution

By Kelly Macnamara YANGON With a flamboyant wardrobe and a divas voice, shes seen as Myanmars Lady Gaga a rare pop star in a country where years of isolation have left musicians reliant on borrowed foreign tunes. Singing Myanmar translations of international hits like Bon Jovis You Give Love a Bad Name, Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein is famed for her feathered masquerade masks, rhinestone glamour and dramatic ball gowns. But she shrugs off the Lady Gaga comparison, saying she was shocking fans with her outfits in an eight-year career well before the US star made it big: No offence, but its the truth. And unlike the eccentric American songstress, her costumes do not reveal much leg or cleavage, in keeping with local customs. The Myanmar pop singer, who grew up idolising far away megastars, describes decades of political isolation as like being locked up in a cold, dark cave some people around the world even didnt notice we exist. The 30-year-old graduated with a medical degree but says she gave up training to become a doctor because people kept recognising her in hospital after her television performances. Still I am happy because I can make a change in the lives of millions of people around my country. I could make them happy, she said at her home in Yangon. Myanmar pop is dominated by copies of international tunes, from the power ballads of Celine Dion to the soft rock strains of Rod Stewart, accompanied by sometimes incongruous Myanmar lyrics about heartbreak and failed love. Only a few artists are able to struggle into the mainstream in the country, where rampant piracy has suffocated the music industry and strict censorship controlled everything from lyrics to outfits. But sweeping reforms after the end of junta rule last year raise the prospect of exposure to the influence and copyright laws of the outside world and hopes of a shake-up that could revitalise the music scene. Myanmar has indicated it will review its copyright laws to bring them into line with international standards, although it is unclear when that process might take place. The move could require copy acts to apply for permission from intellectual property owners to translate their songs into Myanmar providing an incentive for artists to write their own lyrics. Government moves to relax control of the internet mean music fans can now access thousands of tunes on the YouTube video-sharing website. For most of Myanmars population, however, pop means street corner stalls selling pirated copies of films and music videos. Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein described piracy as uncontrollable, with fake copies of her videos undercutting sales of her albums, which retail for around US$2. She said piracy legislation would be the first step to normalising copyright laws which could dramatically change her repertoire and is hopeful that the move could help build a music industry with enough money to support new artists and original songwriting. Douglas Long, editor of the entertainment section at The Myanmar Times, said unchecked piracy meant you dont have producers who are willing to back bands and film projects. It would be nice to see a system here where bands feel more comfortable breaking new ground or creating a distinct Myanmar scene, he said. One act trying to forge its own sound is the Me N Ma Girls, a five member girl band who write their own songs in English and Myanmar, including one urging Myanmars diaspora around the world to return and help development. Their Australian manager Nikki May, who is based in Myanmar, hopes that by creating its own music the band will find it easier to flourish on the world stage, without getting in trouble for singing unauthorised covers. If there are copyright issues [musicians] are never going to be able to get outside Myanmar so theyre never going to be able to represent their country, she said. The band says other artists have now started to say they will focus on original material in the future. The big stars are starting to do it so it will be easier to influence the new ones, said 21-year-old Ah Moon. Me N Ma Girls have seen a lightertouch censorship as reforms swept the country in the last year meaning they were the first act to be allowed to wear coloured wigs in their videos. But their attempt to blend tight traditional costumes with energetic Western-style dance moves continues to pose a logistical challenge. Getting a gig is also difficult in the conservative country, where women playing in bars is equated with the sex industry, said May. It is not just the girl bands that struggle to play live, with only a handful of venues permitted to host concerts and support upcoming acts. Now we have a lot of new bands waiting for the opportunities to play, said Darko C, the lead singer of indie rock group Side Effect, who cite 1990s grunge legends Nirvana as their greatest inspiration. The band recently made headlines after an American website refused to send them the nearly $3000 raised through an online appeal to release their debut album, fearing to do so would breach US sanctions. Side Effect whose drumless drummer Tser Htoo practises on piles of books at home are rarely paid for gigs and Darko C, who describes sanctions as lame because they hurt ordinary people, runs a small tailor shop to get by. He said the band was committed to playing from the heart and laid down a challenge to the countrys copy stars. You have this great vocal, but you are not Shakira or Lady Gaga, or Jon Bon Jovi or Green Day, so who are you? Show me what youve got! AFP

Pakistan censors ban Indias James Bond

ISLAMABAD Pakistan has banned Indias James Bond, outlawing a high-octane Bollywood action flick in which an Indian secret agent thwarts Pakistani spies from detonating a nuclear bomb in Delhi. Agent Vinod, which grossed US$9.7 million on its opening weekend, shows an Indian agent jetting around the world, dodging assassins to save his country from nuclear Armageddon plotted by rogue Pakistani spies and terrorists. Saif Ali Khan, its producer and star, has defended the film, but unsurprisingly Pakistani censors took a dim view. The film contains antiPakistan material, the Film Censor Boards deputy chairman Ashraf Gondal said. L a s h k a r - e - Ta i b a , t h e Pakistani terror group that the film shows ISI agents colluding with, was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead and which ruptured peace talks between India and Pakistan for three years. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947 and came to the brink of nuclear conflict in 2002. Our film shows that there are good Pakistanis and bad Pakistanis. There are people who want to be friends with India and there are people who want to create trouble in India. We have shown both the sides, Khan said last week. Although Pakistan is among the top five Bollywood markets, the country has frequently banned films for allegedly maligning Pakistan or Muslim sensitivities. AFP

timeout 2
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

26
MyanMar tiMes

They call it sneery: mixed reaction for film on Myanmar

By Douglas Long IN one of the more peculiar moments in Robert Liebermans recent documentary They Call It Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain, the director is sitting in a truck at the bottom of Mount Kyaikhtiyo in Mon State, waiting to be driven up to the Golden Rock. The lorry is crammed with Buddhist pilgrims, but Mr Lieberman gives his attention to another foreigner seated next to him, who quite ominously explains that the trucks frequently veer off the winding road as they make their way to the top of the mountain, plunging into deep ravines and killing everyone on board. The drivers, the man further explains to the camera, are not bothered by the prospect of dying. On the contrary, they consider it an honour to sacrifice their own lives while performing the meritorious deed of carrying pilgrims to one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Myanmar. To back up his story, the man cites The Myanmar Times, which is he says carries articles about these tragic accidents on a weekly basis. Foreigners who have never been to Myanmar might have little reason to doubt the veracity of the mans tall tale. He is, after all, a subject in a documentary, and good documentaries are meant to be all about revealing the truth. But those who live in Myanmar or who possess reasonable knowledge of the country will immediately recognise the man for what he is: a charlatan unable to resist the compulsion to impress others with special knowledge about the supposed dangers of visiting exotic locales like Myanmar. Those of us working at The Myanmar Times were doubly amused by the account: In my nine years at the newspaper, I have neither read nor edited a single story about trucks plunging into the abyss at Mount Kyaiktiyo, much less published such stories every week. We might easily excuse the inclusion of this buffoon in the film as an instance of the wool being pulled over the eyes of Mr Lieberman and editor David Kossack, but at the same time it illustrates the risk of documentaries serving as an inadvertent vehicle for misinformation if careful choices are not made about what to include and what to keep out. Mr Lieberman is an American director, novelist and physics lecturer at Cornell University, and They Call It Myanmar is getting unprecedented attention from media and audiences in the United States. The film, according to a statement released by the producers, purports to be an attempt to put a human face on the country rather than a message film. The movie was edited down from about 120 hours of footage shot by Mr Lieberman during four trips to Myanmar from 2008 to 2010. He had first visited the country while working on short films for tuberculosis prevention. The timing of the films release could not have been better. With Myanmar ostensibly moving toward some form of democracy, and with perennial newsmaker Daw Aung San Suu Kyi now taking part in the political process, the country is, as Mr Lieberman said in an email to The Myanmar Times, suddenly hot news. As a result, They Call It Myanmar has in recent weeks been shown to soldout audience in most major East Coast cities in the United States. The film is playing at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 3 before moving on to cinemas in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Diego. Thats not to say that the positive attention is based entirely on fortunate timing: Ccontrast the buzz surrounding They Call It Myanmar with the poor reception for French director Luc Bessons The Lady, a biopic about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi released earlier this year that has garnered few positive comments from either critics or audiences. Mr Liebermans film features many beautiful scenes shot in different regions of Myanmar, a testament to what can be accomplished by a single person using a high-quality handheld video camera. There are also plenty of home-video-quality scenes shot with a shaky hand, but rather than detracting from the movie, these support the press statements assertion

Robert Lieberman gives a presentation in Yangon in January. Pic: Thandar Khine the covert gathering of information will reveal truths previously unknown to the outside world. While its worth noting that Mr Lieberman only occasionally strays from the well-trod tourist path, where foreigners with still cameras and small video cameras are a common sight, They Call It Myanmar does provide an informative introduction to the country for those who have never been here, particularly on the subjects of culture, history and poverty. The film opens with an introduction to the use of thanakha, ubiquitous throughout the country but wonderfully unfamiliar to One of these moments was the coupling of an image of volunteers sweeping the platform at Shwedagon Pagoda with a voiceover of the narrator speaking about lack of employment opportunities in Myanmar. Uninitiated viewers might assume from this scene that sweeping pagodas is a form of paid employment in Myanmar, rather than a means for Buddhists to perform selfless deeds, thereby gaining merit toward their next life. This might seem like a minor point foreigners, but when Ive described this scene to Buddhist friends in Yangon who have not seen the film, the reaction has ranged from mild disapproval to deep shock that a director could be so poorly informed about the subject of his movie. The handful of Christians I surveyed were more forgiving. (When asked in Yangon about the pagoda-sweeping slip-up, Mr Lieberman placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of the films editor.) Some audience members at the January screening in Yangon also questioned the title of They Call It Myanmar, about which Mr Lieberman responded that he thought the title was somewhat ambiguous: I mean, who is they? he asked the audience. Of course when foreigners t a l k a b o u t M y a n m a r, particularly those like Mr Lieberman who make a point of referring to the country as Burma, there is really only one they from which to choose. It would be a stretch to assume that the word is a reference to the povertystricken people depicted in the film. One anonymous Myanmar national who helped Mr Lieberman with the film, presumably before knowing what the title would be, even refused to attend the screening in Yangon. [Mr Lieberman] insists its fair but I object very strongly to the title, which sounds sneery. I have told him, and others, that we call it Myanmar because its the original name of the country, the person in question said in an email to The Myanmar Times. Outsiders do not know or care about the reality of the name Burma as opposed to Myanmar, because Burma was coined by the Brits and Myanmar is the name etched in stone during the Bagan period, 1235AD to be exact, the email continued. One audience member at the Yangon screening also asked Mr Lieberman whether he believed the country had changed since the November 2010 election, to which the director responded that he thought there were no changes on the ground. There have been huge changes politically, but people are still trying to feed themselves, he said. Of course it would be absurd to expect Myanmar, even under the most benevolent leadership, to solve its deeprooted poverty issues in a few months, and in the next breath Mr Lieberman did acknowledge that there has indeed been a different kind of change, of the sort that is important to people in Myanmar in ways that most Westerners can barely imagine; that is to borrow the title from a book by Aung San Suu Kyi the freedom from fear. Im less afraid [in Myanmar] than I was a year ago, Mr Lieberman said.

Outsiders about the do not know or care reality of the name Burma as opposed to Myanmar.
that while in Myanmar, Mr Lieberman shot video constantly, even though it was forbidden and risky for him to do so. This point, that the footage was shot clandestinely despite admonishments from locals that filming in Myanmar is extremely dangerous, is repeatedly driven home in press coverage of the movie published in the US, a brilliant bit of PR that helps sell tickets to Western audiences who have come to accept the paradigm that any media report from Myanmar involving newcomers, and later provides a quick lesson on the countrys recent history. Other scenes document the poor state of the healthcare system and the widespread use of child labour. Reviews from international critics have been favourable, but its also instructive to compare these glowing reports with comments from local viewers, who saw the film when it was screened in Yangon in January. Like international audiences, they appreciated the overviews of history and traditional culture, which serve as effective introductions to the country for foreigners. But there are also those pesky moments that are likely to pass unnoticed by most overseas viewers but were troublesome from the local perspective.

Events Flash
with ...

Nuam Bawi

Movie screening
The film Roman Holiday will be screened at Laurel Art Academy (No 1/5 C, Pearl Condominium, Bahan township, Yangon) on April 1 at 2pm. Entry is free.

will hold a solo exhibition at the Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Organisation at Bogyoke Aung San Market from March 30 to April 4.

Thingyan concert
A traditional Myanmar performance titled ThanChat featuring famous comedians such as Mit Tar, Kuh Tho, Bay Luh Wah and Ah Yine will be held at Public Park in Yangon on March 30 from 6pm to 11pm. A fun fair will be held on the same site starting at 3pm. Tickets cost K5000 and K10,000, and are available at Regent Business Academy (Narnattaw Street, Shwe Kein Na Ri Housing, Kamaryut township), Nobody and Ko Ko Beauty Salon.

Rock concert
Alex, Reason, Wanted, G-Latt, Cobra, Artichoke, The Lads, Thone Zar Nyi and Pyramid will perform live at Myawsin Kyun in Kandawgyi Park on April 9. Tickets cost K5000 and are available at City Mart and Ko Ko Beauty Salon.

Solo Exhibition
Artist Shwe Htay Maung

27
the

timeout 3
March 30 - April 8, 2012
worships at the auroral altar night after long, frigid night, all though the Alaskan winter with 10 or 12 cameras. Anderson is one of a handful of photographers who make a living by catching the fleeting northern lights on film. And only on film, because only film can produce the highresolution images he seeks. In a digital world, Anderson is strictly analogue. No batteries, no electronics, he says. His prize camera is a handbuilt giant he calls FrankenCam. Each frame of film is about 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, much bigger than the film used in conventional cameras. Its images have a resolution of 40 megapixels, about twice as many as the best digital camera. He found the oversize lens he needed at an auction in Switzerland, a hunk of finely rounded surveyors glass rumoured to have flown reconnaissance on French fighter jets and Israeli drones. At US$1500, he says, it was a bargain. Andersons cameras dont have shutters, because he needs to manually control the long exposures he requires. Instead, he prepares to shoot by removing the lens cap and then holding the blackpainted bottom of a coffee can in front of the aperture and waits. When a sky dance commences, he pulls back this black hat and magic streams onto film. Im lens-capping like your great-great-grandfather did 100 years ago, he says. This is extreme aurora photography. When his calling calls, Anderson packs the van and motors north, hour after hour, seeking some spot that hes previously seen and sketched and imagined as a pristine frame for a sky show. Hell find it again, that copse with an opening aimed at the saw-toothed profile of Denali; or that one small lake back-dropped by the spiky Wrangell Mountains; or that cabin up on stilts, unbroken snow sloping up to it, pines standing like silent sentinels. The main thing is to put the time in, he says. Maybe

MyanMar tiMes

Fleeting northern lights frozen on film

By Brian Vastag DENNIS Andersons auroral epiphany arrived when he was 14. It was the night of April 1, 1975, and as he looked north from his home in Livingston, Montana, the sky exploded. You had lots of rays and curtains and arcs and bands and lots of motion. It was almost a religious experience to be in the middle of that, to see the whole sky on fire, dancing, says Anderson, now 51 and living in Homer, Alaska. Primed by that sense of wonder, Anderson now

Pic: Dennis Anderson Dennis Anderson, who lives in Alaska, created Ghost Tree in 2003 with conventional camera gear.

For River Above, River Below, Dennis Anderson visited the Gulkana River in moonlight. Pic: Dennis Anderson it doesnt happen tonight or I might want to stay closer sheets of yellow, sky-bursts tomorrow. Maybe you get to my vehicle and keep it of green, ribbons of red, lucky and it happens next running. If I shut it off for a cosmic curtains waving in the week. Sometimes you run few days, it might not want stellar breeze. The sun comes up, the out of time and you have to to start up again. He scrapes away snow auroral lights go down, and come back next year. Triggered by a restless to pitch a tent. He saws Anderson ticks the shot off sun, auroras can appear branches, gathers kindling. his hit list. Twice, and only twice, year-round. But by May, the He boils water on the vans Alaskan days are long, the engine, throws in an egg, t e n d r i l s o f b l u e h a v e nights short. So Anderson makes some soup. He settles descended from the heavens. works through the winter. his tripods into hard patches. Andersons Franken-Cam Sometimes hes away from He carefully loads the film; captured this rarest of his wife and home for two or some of it now costs $35 auroral hues. It was absolutely vivid, per exposure. He frames three weeks at a time. Im basically camping, in the shot, just so. Then he just the bluest of blues, he says. Ive spent thousands survival mode, he says. I hunkers; then he waits. And sometimes, once of hours doing this. You do have a place to sleep. I dont necessarily have a heat in a while, when the sun think youve seen it all, then source. If Im out where the is properly fitful and the suddenly you see something temperature is 30, 40, 50 clouds obligingly scarce, new. The Washington Post [Fahrenheit] below or more, nature performs: undulating

Scans reveal rare documents inside 17th century statue

By Emi Kolawole THE hospital admissions sheet simply read: Name: Buddha; DOB: 1662. The 350-year-old patients visit started with a routine x-ray in the summer of 2008. But doctors discovered there were signs of an unknown mass inside his head and yet another inside his stomach objects that his new caretakers were intent on identifying and extracting if at all possible. The x-ray wasnt detailed enough to make a proper diagnosis, so doctors at Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville cleared the schedule and ordered a CAT scan. After a trip through the scanner, receiving a radiation dose higher than any human could endure, doctors and Buddhas caretakers were a step closer to identifying the mysterious masses. But why stop there when they could get more detail? An endoscopy was scheduled roughly two weeks later at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. And, after three scans at two medical centres, doctors, with the help of Buddhas caretakers, were able to identify the mysterious masses: rare religious texts. It was a surprising discovery. The statue actually represents Korean bodhisattva, or bodhi for short, and his caretakers are curators at the University of Floridas Samuel P Harn Museum of Art who, until then, had no idea the documents were inside the statue. The two sets of documents inserted only months after the statue was carved were written in two separate languages. One set was written in Korean and the other is a dharani written in a combination of Chinese and a Nepalese script called Ranjana. While the documents have not been fully translated, segments of the text were discovered to be the Lotus Sutra one of the most sacred texts in Buddhism. Last week the bodhi made his debut as part of the universitys collection in the new Cofrin Asian Art wing at the Harn. The wooden statue, which represents a being that refrains from achieving enlightenment out of compassion and a desire to help others on their own path to Nirvana, was previously part of John D Rockefeller Jrs collection. The bodhi was acquired by the University of Florida in April 2008 for an undisclosed amount. Harn Museum curator Jason Steuber oversaw the acquisition of the bodhi and its eventual trip through the x-ray, CAT scan and endoscopy procedure. We started [the x-ray] very early in the morning, Steuber said. In the beginning, the process required only two staff members at Shands: one doctor and a digital x-ray technician. But soon the team started to grow. Eventually we had almost the entire [radiology] department, said Steuber. People were taking pictures with their cell phones and otherwise spreading the word. Eventually the head of radiology ordered Buddha sent for a CAT scan for a more detailed look inside. It was so beautiful, Steuber said. Thanks to the x-ray and CAT scan, curators discovered a tremendous amount of information, he said. Prior to the tests, curators had no idea the statue was carved from a single piece of wood, except for a few pieces, such as the hair knot, hand, ears and base. The ears, hand and base are attached with hand-made iron nails. Without the scans, said Steuber, it would have been impossible to see the handmade nails inside, or the documents stored in the abdomen and head. Curators were able to retrieve the documents inside the bodhisattvas abdomen, but the pages inside the head will likely never be removed, since it would require damaging the face of the sculpture. The accessible documents are featured alongside the bodhisattva for the first time as part of the Harns exhibit. The endoscopy images of the documents inside the head, meanwhile, serve as evidence of their existence and state. While mummies, among other large artefacts, generally get the CAT scanner treatment, according to Steuber, its a special treat to have access to this type of scan for Korean art. The collaboration, while not a first, serves as an example of the discoveries that result when science, history and the arts converge. The Washington Post

A side view of a 350-year-old Korean bodhisattva statue shows the gilt-wood exterior. The statue underwent an x-ray and other medical tests to uncover secrets hidden inside.

Pic: Samuel P Harn Museum of Art

eNtertAiNmeNt News
March 30 - April 8, 2012
Lo`real Summer Spring Collection Launch Getamait music performance
the

28
MyanMar tiMes

Ko Chan Nyein

Chit Su Wai, Ma Me Me Khine and Chit Thu Wai

Ko Moe Naing

Mr JP Thomassin, Ma Esther, Mr Gary and Mr Dylan

Phone Hlyan and friend

Ko Nay Lin

Ms Michelle Mulcahy

Adidas New Branch Launch

Model

Ma Shwe Sin, Ms Jane Soon, Moh Moh Myint Aung and Daw Kyin Poh Ma Ei Thae, Ma Thin and Ma Ei Pont Ko Han Sein and U Nay Aung

Ogawa 3rd Anniversary

Ko Han Sein and friends

Sai Sai Kham Leng, Maung Maung Aye and John

Wutt Hmone Shwe Ye

Sai Sai Kham Leng

Daw Ye Ye Myint

Jenny

Ma Nilar Saw

Dr Mya Thidar Swe Tin

Sai Sai Kham Leng

Diamond Palace Gems Shop Opening

M Seng Lu

Pwint

Jyu Ni Hitoe Skin Care Launch

Daw Nan Thu Zar, Ya Wai Aung and Ma Hnin

Arial Thu Ta

Thet Mon Myint

Ma April and Dr Aung Kyaw Oo

Awn Seng

Ma Htwe Nan Aung and Mr Iiori

Lamin Eain

Nay Min

29
the

soCiAlite
March 30 - April 8, 2012
Pakistan National Day

MyanMar tiMes

Col Muhammad Tariq Farid Khan and wife HE Pehin Dato Rahmani Dato Basir, B-G Md Shahidul Higue, HE Maj-Gen Anup Kumar Chakma Daw Su Nyunt Oo, U Win Shein, HE Mr Qazi Khalilullah and MrsFarzana Khail Qazi

HE Li Junhua, HE Sebastianus Sumarsono and wife, HE Maria Helen M Barber (right)

SOCIALITE launched her days with a fantastic event at the Loreal cosmetics India Ambassador Summer Spring Collection product show Dr V S Seshadri at Inya (1) restaurant on March 19. On the following day, she attended the New Star Gems and Jewellery health seminar at Traders Hotel. On March 22 she joined the 3rd anniversary of Ogawa at Chatrium Hotel. The next day she headed to Taw Win Centre for the launch of new branch of Adidas footwear, followed by Pakistan National Day at Chatrium Hotel in the evening. Socialite didnt miss the opening ceremony of a new branch of SK II cosmetics, nor the opening ceremony of Diamond Palace at Junction Square Centre and the Jyu Ni Hitoe skin care launch at Traders Hotel on March 24.

Ocean Thingyan Discount Fair

Ganier Lucky Draw Prize-giving Ceremony

Aye Mya Phyu, Lay Pyae and Bay Bae

Su Myat Thaung

New Star Gems and Jewellery Health Seminar

Ma Amy Hlaing, Ko Pyae Nyein Lu and Ma Htwe Mon Kyaw

Moe Yan Zon

Dr Aung Khin

Dr Mya Thein Han

Dr Myint Maung Maung

Daw Nu Nu Yee

Daw Yin Shwin

May Than Nu

SK II Cosmetic Branch Opening Ceremony

Ma Win and friends

Aung Ye Lin

Aung Than Toe

trAvel
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

30
MyanMar tiMes

Asia gets new budget airline

By Marc Lavine SYDNEY Australian flag carrier Qantas and China Eastern Airlines said last week they will launch a new Hong Kongbased budget airline next year aimed at cashing in on Chinas booming aviation market. The new low-cost Asian carrier, Jetstar Hong Kong, will fly shorthaul routes, including in China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, the partners announced. The move marks a major expansion of Jetstar, Qantass budget brand, which flies domestic Australian and Asian routes, and comes as the embattled carrier struggles to refocus on Asia, the worlds fast-growing aviation market. This is a unique opportunity to capitalise on the enormous potential of the Greater China market, where the penetration of low-cost carriers is less than 5 percent, Jetstars Chief Executive Bruce Buchanan said. Jetstars fares will be 50pc less than existing full-service carriers, which weve seen create new travel demand in our markets across Asia because it enables people to make more trips, more often. Qantas and China Eastern which will each have an equal stake in Jetstar Hong Kong told the Australian Stock Exchange that the new airline would have a maximum capitalisation

AIRLINE OFFICES
Air Bagan Ltd.(W9)

56, Shwe Taung Gyar Street, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, Fax : 515102 Air Asia (FD) 33, Alan Pya Pagoda Rd, Ground Flr, Parkroyal Hotel, Yangon. Tel: 251 885, 251 886.

Air China (CA)

Building (2), corner of Pyay Rd and Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Hotel Yangon, 8 miles, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 666112, 655882.

Bangkok Airways (PG)

Yangon. Tel: 255122, 255 265, Fax: 255119

#0305, 3rd Fl, Sakura Tower, 339, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Kyauktada Tsp,

Air India

A combo of file photographs shows the logos on the tail of a Qantas jet (left), an Eastern Airlines jet (centre) and a JetStar jet. Pic: AFP of US$198 million. Jetstar Hong Kong, which will be a pioneer in the China budget market, will launch with a fleet of three Airbus A320s, but will increase that number to 18 by 2015. We believe there are huge opportunities in the Jetstar low fares model throughout Asia, including Greater China, said Shanghaibased China Easterns chairman, Liu Shaoyong. Greater China boasts a travel market of almost 300 million passengers a year, which is forecast to grow to 450 million by 2015 as middle class spending and travel surge in the vast nation, according to Qantas. The announcement comes little more than a fortnight after Qantass Asian plans were dealt a blow when talks with Malaysian Airlines over a premium joint-venture Asian airline collapsed. Qantas is instead moving to build on the successful business model of budget Jetstar, which has branded operations in Singapore, Vietnam and Japan, by boosting traffic through more affordable travel. We see tremendous potential for the Qantas Group in Asia and were looking forward to working more closely with China Eastern Airlines to deliver on it, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said. Qantas in August announced plans to establish a joint-venture in Asia as it repositions itself towards the region and seeks to turn around its loss-making international arm as the global industry struggles. While its talks with both Malaysia and Singapore on a new Asian airline failed, the plans sparked a fierce domestic backlash, with Australian unions concerned the move would see jobs sent abroad. The ensuing acrimony world and digging into the airlines bottom line. In February Qantas announced it would slash at least 500 jobs and cut costs after an 83pc slump in first-half net profits. Jetstar Hong Kongs base will give it a China springboard and a home in one of Asias key aviation hubs, through which around 40 million passengers pass each year. The number of Chinese people travelling internationally is growing at an incredible rate, said John Lee, chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum, an Australian tourism lobby group, welcoming the announcement. An estimated 70 million Chinese travelled overseas in 2011 and thats expected to grow to 110 million by the end of the decade as household incomes continue to rise. Investors also welcomed the news, with Qantass share price jumping 2.6pc to A$1.775 after the announcement. AFP

75, Shwe Bon Thar St, Pabedan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 253597~98, 254758. Fax: 248175

Myanmar Airways International(8M)

08-02, Sakura Tower, 339, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Kyauktada Tsp, Ygn. Tel : 255260, Fax: 255305

Malaysia Airlines (MH)

An estimated 70 million Chinese travelled overseas in 2011 and thats expected to grow to 110 million by the end of the decade as household incomes continue to rise.

335/357, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 387648, 241007 ext : 120, 121, 122 Fax : 241124 339, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, 2nd Floor, Sakura Tower, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 255 287~9 , Fax: 255 290

Silk Air(MI)

Thai Airways (TG)

#11-01, Sakura Tower, 339, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Kyauktada Tsp, Ygn. Tel : 255499 Fax : 255490

Vietnam Airlines (VN)

#1702, Sakura Tower 339, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon. Fax 255086. Tel 255066/ 255088/ 255068.

between management and unions saw Joyce ground the entire Qantas fleet in October, stranding thousands of passengers at airports around the

Domestic Airlines
Yangon Airways(YH)

Tourism Myanmar Update

MiCasa holiday deals From April 10 to 22, MiCasa Hotel Apartments is offering Happy Thingyan Package deals for two people (US$95 a night) or four people ($180), including buffet breakfast, tea and coffee, water, internet access, and use of swimming pool and health club. A Thingyan Buffet Lunch special will be available from April 13 to 16 for $12 a person, including a glass of draught beer, while freeflowing Myanmar draught is included in the Myanmar New Year Buffet Dinner on April 17 ($18). On Easter Sunday (April 8), a buffet dinner with Tiger draught will be available for $19 a person. For reservations and inquiries, call 01-650-933, ext 121/122. Oyster special at Kohaku Through the end of April, Kohaku Japanese Restaurant at Chatrium Hotel is serving up kaki (oyster) specials in various styles, including steak, furai, hoiru, shioyaki and bata. Kohaku opens daily for lunch and dinner at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon, 40 Natmauk Road, Tarmwe township, Yangon. For information or reservations, call 01-544-500, ext 6231; or email fb@chatriumygn.net.mm. Jazz nights at the Ritz The Ritz Exclusive Lounge at Chatrium Hotel is hosting jazz music nights, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in March, from 8:30pm to 11:30pm. The hotel also runs daily happy hours from 7pm to 9pm, with buy one get one free and special offers on select items, plus complimentary tidbits. The Ritz Exclusive Lounge opens daily from 7pm to 1:30am on the ground floor of the Chatrium Hotel, 40 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon. For more information contact 01544-500, ext 6243~4; fb@ chatriumygn.net.mm, www. chatrium.com/chatrium_ hotel_yangon. Salads and sandwiches The Peacock Lounge at Traders. Hotel has opened a salad and sandwich station, which is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Food is available for takeaway or for eating in the lounge. For more information contact 01-242828, ext 6456 or 6434.

166, MMB Tower, Level 5, Upper Pansodan Rd, Mingalar Taungnyunt Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (+95-1) 383 100, 383 107, 700 264, Fax: 652 533.

Air Bagan Ltd.(W9)

56, Shwe Taung Gyar Street, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, Fax : 515102

AIR KBZ (K7)

33-49,Corner of Bank Street & Maha Bandoola Garden Street, Kyauktada Tsp,Yangon, Myanmar Tel: 372977~80, 533030~39 (Airport) Fax: 372983

Air Mandalay (6T)

146, Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon Tel : 501520, 525488 (Head Office) 720309, 652753, 652754 (Airport Office), Fax: 525 937

The Myanmar Marketing Committee (MMC), the marketing arm of Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board, aims to market and promote Myanmar as a destination to develop the Myanmar tourism industry. For more information please visit our websites www.tourism-myanmar.com or www.tourismmyanmar.org or contact Winnie at Traders Hotel, Level 3, Business Center, No 223 Sule Pagoda Road, GPO Box 888, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: +951 242 828 Fax: +951 242 800 Email: mmc-pr@tradersyangon.com.mm

Asian Wings (AW)

No.34(A-1), Shwe Taung Gyar Street, Bahan Township,Yangon.Myanmar. Tel: 951 516654, 532253, 09-73135991~3.Fax: 951 532333

31
the

trAvel
March 30 - April 8, 2012

MyanMar tiMes

DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES

DAYS
FRI FRI MON

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES

DAYS
SAT

Flight
K7 244 K7 245 AW 891 6T 405 AW 911 6T 401 W9 011 6T 801 AW 761 6T 351 K7 824 AW 791 6T 501 K7 228 YH 909 6T 405 AW 891 AW 901 W9 251 6T 401 6T 801 YH 729 AW 761 K7 622 6T 501 AW 891 AW 911 6T 401 6T 331 6T 801 AW 751 YH 737 K7 824 W9 261 AW 791 YH 731 6T 501 K7 228 YH 909 AW 891 AW 901 6T 401 W9 255 6T 331 YH 729 AW 201 K7 622 K7 226 6T 501 YH 731 AW 891 W9 251 6T 401 YH 917 6T 331 AW 751 K7 824 AW 211 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 W9 271 6T 403 YH 909 AW 891 AW 911 6T 401 YH 729 6T 801 AW 601 K7 622 6T 501 AW 891 YH 909 AW 891 6T 401 W9 255 6T 801 AW 211 AW 751 K7 622 6T 501

Dep Arr
13:00 15:50 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 07:30 08:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 14:30 15:00 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 08:00 11:00 11:00 12:00 15:00 06:15 06:30 06:30 07:00 10:45 11:00 11:00 12:00 13:30 14:30 15:00 15:00 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 07:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 15:00 15:00 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 07:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 15:00 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 10:30 10:45 11:30 12:00 15:00 16:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 08:00 11:00 11:00 12:00 15:00 15:30 16:50 08:20 08:20 07:55 08:35 08:30 09:55 12:55 12:55 13:25 15:55 17:00 07:25 07:55 08:20 08:20 08:20 07:55 08:35 09:25 12:40 12:55 13:25 17:00 08:20 07:50 08:35 08:25 12:10 12:10 13:10 13:25 07:55 16:25 17:10 17:00 07:25 07:55 08:20 08:35 08:35 08:55 08:25 13:30 12:55 13:25 13:55 17:00 17:10 08:20 07:55 08:35 08:50 08:25 12:25 12:25 12:55 14:25 17:00 17:10 07:25 07:40 07:55 08:20 07:50 07:50 13:30 12:10 12:55 13:25 17:00 08:20 08:30 08:20 08:35 08:55 09:25 12:25 12:25 13:25 17:00

DAYS
TUE

Flight
W9 009 AW 902 AW 892 6T 402 YH 910 W9 011 K7 229 YH 812 6T 802 W9 251 W9 150 AW 762 YH 730 6T 502 W9 009 AW 892 6T 332 6T 402 W9 021 6T 802 AW 792 YH 738 AW 752 K7 825 6T 502 W9 009 AW 892 6T 332 AW 902 6T 402 YH 812 W9 021 K7 229 AW 202 YH 730 6T 502 W9 009 AW 892 6T 332 YH 918 6T 402 W9 251 AW 212 YH 731 6T 502 W9 232 YH 728 6T 404 AW 892 6T 402 W9 011 W9 262 YH 812 6T 802 AW 602 K7 623 YH 730 6T 502 W9 009 YH 910 AW 892 6T 402 W9 011 W9 256 YH 812 6T 802 AW 212 K7 623 YH 738 6T 502

Dep Arr
08:30 08:35 08:35 08:55 09:25 09:25 11:15 13:25 13:30 13:35 16:20 16:35 17:20 17:20 08:30 08:35 08:45 08:55 14:10 15:35 16:40 17:10 17:50 17:50 17:20 08:30 08:35 08:45 08:50 08:55 13:10 14:10 15:45 16:00 17:15 17:20 08:30 08:35 08:45 08:50 08:55 13:35 16:30 17:10 17:20 17:35 17:45 08:00 08:35 08:55 09:25 10:50 13:10 15:35 16:40 16:55 17:15 17:20 08:30 08:35 08:35 08:55 09:25 11:20 13:10 13:30 16:00 16:55 17:10 17:20 09:30 10:00 10:30 10:55 10:50 11:10 12:40 14:50 14:55 15:00 17:45 18:40 18:45 19:25 09:30 10:30 10:10 10:55 15:10 17:00 18:45 18:35 19:15 19:15 19:25 09:30 10:30 10:10 10:15 10:55 14:35 15:10 17:10 17:25 18:45 19:25 09:30 10:30 10:10 10:45 10:55 15:00 17:55 19:25 19:25 19:00 19:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:10 12:15 14:35 17:00 18:05 18:20 18:45 19:25 09:30 10:00 10:30 10:55 11:10 12:45 14:35 14:55 17:25 18:20 18:35 19:25

DAYS
SAT

Flight
AW 891 6T 403 W9 009 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 6T 801 W9 143 AW 891 YH 909 W9 009 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 AW 792 K7 223 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 AW 762 W9 109 AW 792 6T 502 YH 732 K7 223 W9 109 AW 792 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 6T 404 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 W9 255 W9 251 AW 201 W9 255 W9 251 AW 211 W9 255 W9 256 W9 252 AW 202 W9 256 W9 252 W9 256 W9 119 AW 761 YH 727 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 K7 822 6T 801 W9 115 AW 761 YH 811 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 AW 911 W9 119 YH 737 K7 224 AW 791 6T 501 YH 731 AW 761 AW 201 YH 811 K7 224 W9 109 6T 501 YH 731 AW 211 K7 224 W9 109 6T 501 YH 731

Dep Arr
06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 10:30 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 17:50 08:10 17:25 17:55 18:05 08:10 08:40 17:20 17:25 17:25 18:05 18:10 08:10 17:25 17:25 17:55 18:05 08:10 08:40 17:25 17:55 18:05 08:10 17:25 17:55 18:05 08:10 08:40 08:45 17:25 17:55 18:05 08:10 08:40 17:25 17:55 18:05 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:00 06:30 09:45 12:05 09:35 09:45 12:05 09:45 11:00 11:00 11:00 14:00 15:00 15:00 08:00 08:00 11:00 11:00 11:15 14:00 15:00 15:00 06:30 11:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:00 07:35 08:30 07:25 07:50 07:50 08:05 11:50 07:20 07:35 07:50 07:25 07:50 07:50 08:05 19:10 11:15 18:20 19:15 19:25 11:15 10:00 18:40 18:20 18:45 19:25 19:30 11:15 18:20 18:45 19:15 19:25 11:15 10:00 18:20 19:15 19:25 11:15 18:20 19:15 19:25 11:15 10:00 10:05 18:20 19:15 19:25 11:15 10:00 18:20 19:15 19:25 09:25 09:25 09:20 09:25 09:25 08:50 09:25 12:40 15:00 12:25 12:40 15:00 12:40

Flight
K7 822 AW 751 W9 119 YH 811 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 AW SPL AW 751 W9 115 YH 811 K7 826 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 YH 737 W9 143 AW 892 YH 918 W9 011 6T 402 K7 223 AW 792 AW 892 YH 918 W9 011 6T 402 K7 223 K7 823 W9 116 W9 143 AW 892 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 W9 143 AW 892 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 W9 143 AW 892 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 AW 911 W9 143 AW 892 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 K7 823 AW 752 AW SPL AW 892 YH 918 W9 011 6T 402 K7 223 AW 752 W9 116 YH 738 6T 611 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 607 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 612 W9 310 6T 612 W9 310 6T 612 W9 310 6T 612 W9 310 6T 608 W9 310 6T 612 W9 310 6T 612 6T 707 AW 301 6T 707 K7 317 6T 707 6T 707 K7 317 AW 301 AW 301 6T 707 6T 707 K7 317 6T 707 AW 301 6T 708 6T 708 K7 318 AW 302 6T 708 AW 302 6T 708 K7 318 6T 708 6T 708 K7 318 6T 708 AW 302

Dep Arr
08:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 14:00 15:00 15:00 07:30 10:30 11:00 11:00 12:30 14:00 15:00 15:00 11:00 09:05 09:20 09:35 09:40 09:45 10:00 16:55 09:20 09:35 09:40 09:45 10:00 15:15 16:45 09:05 09:20 09:35 09:45 10:00 09:05 09:20 09:35 09:45 10:00 09:05 09:20 09:35 09:45 10:00 08:55 09:05 09:20 09:35 09:45 10:00 15:15 17:15 08:55 09:20 09:35 09:40 09:45 10:00 16:45 16:45 17:20 11:15 13:00 11:15 13:00 09:00 13:00 11:15 13:00 11:15 13:00 11:15 13:00 11:15 13:00 12:55 15:00 12:55 15:00 10:40 15:00 12:55 15:00 12:55 15:00 12:55 15:00 12:55 11:30 07:00 11:30 12:30 11:30 11:30 12:30 12:45 07:00 11:30 08:00 12:30 11:30 12:45 15:55 15:55 16:40 17:15 15:55 11:30 15:55 16:40 15:55 12:25 16:40 15:55 17:15 09:15 12:10 12:10 12:25 15:15 16:10 16:25 08:40 11:40 12:10 12:25 13:45 15:15 16:10 16:25 12:25 10:15 10:30 10:45 10:35 10:55 11:15 19:10 10:30 10:45 10:35 10:55 11:15 16:30 17:55 10:15 10:30 10:45 10:55 11:15 10:15 10:30 10:45 10:55 11:15 10:15 10:30 10:45 10:55 11:15 11:05 10:15 10:30 10:45 10:55 11:15 16:30 18:25 10:05 10:30 10:45 10:35 10:55 11:15 17:55 17:55 18:35 12:40 14:45 12:40 14:45 10:25 14:45 12:40 14:45 12:40 14:45 12:40 14:45 12:40 14:45 14:20 16:45 14:20 16:45 12:05 16:45 14:20 16:45 14:55 16:45 14:20 16:45 14:20 13:30 09:05 13:30 14:00 13:30 13:30 14:00 14:50 09:05 13:30 10:00 14:00 13:30 14:50 17:55 17:55 18:10 19:20 17:55 13:35 17:55 18:10 17:55 14:25 18:10 17:55 19:20

Flight
MON FD 3771 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 8M 331 PG 704 FD 3773 TG 306 TUE FD 3771 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 8M 331 PG 704 FD 3773 TG 306 WED FD 3771 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 8M 331 PG 704 FD 3773 TG 306 THUR FD 3771 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 8M 331 PG 704 FD 3773 TG 306 FRI FD 3771 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 8M 331 PG 704 FD 3773 TG 306 SAT FD 3771 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 8M 331 PG 704 FD 3773 TG 306 SUN FD 3771 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 8M 331 PG 704 FD 3773 TG 306

Dep

Arr

Flight
SAT 8M 231 MI 511 8M 6232 MI 517 SUN 8M 231 MI 511

Dep

Arr

Flight
MON 8M 336 FD 3770 TG 303 PG 701 PG 703 FD 3772 TG 305 8M 332 TUE 8M 336 FD 3770 TG 303 PG 701 PG 703 FD 3772 TG 305 8M 332 WED 8M 336 FD 3770 TG 303 PG 701 PG 703 FD 3772 TG 305 8M 332 THUR 8M 336 FD 3770 TG 303 PG 701 PG 703 FD 3772 TG 305 8M 332 FRI 8M 336 FD 3770 TG 303 PG 701 FD 3772 PG 703 TG 305 8M 332 SAT 8M 336 FD 3770 TG 303 PG 701 PG 703 FD 3772 TG 305 8M 332 SUN 8M 336 FD 3770 TG 303 PG 701 PG 703 FD 3772 TG 305 8M 332

Dep

Arr

Flight
SAT MI 512 8M 6231 8M 232 MI 518 MI 520 SUN MI 512 8M 232 MI 518 MI 520

Dep

Arr

YANGON TO HEHO NAYPYITAW TO YANGON YANGON TO MANDALAY

YANGON TO BANGKOK
08:30 10:15 08:50 10:35 09:50 11:45 10:55 12:50 16:30 18:15 16:40 18:35 17:40 19:25 19:45 21:40 08:30 10:15 08:50 10:35 09:50 11:45 10:55 12:50 16:30 18:15 16:40 18:35 17:40 19:25 19:45 21:40 08:30 10:15 08:50 10:35 09:50 11:45 10:55 12:50 16:30 18:15 16:40 18:35 17:40 19:25 19:45 21:40 08:30 10:15 08:50 10:35 09:50 11:45 10:55 12:50 16:30 18:15 16:40 18:35 17:40 19:25 19:45 21:40 08:30 10:15 08:50 10:35 09:50 11:45 10:55 12:50 16:30 18:15 16:40 18:35 17:40 19:25 19:45 21:40 08:30 10:15 08:50 10:35 09:50 11:45 10:55 12:50 16:30 18:15 16:40 18:35 17:40 19:25 19:45 21:40 08:30 10:15 08:50 10:35 09:50 11:45 10:55 12:50 16:30 18:15 16:40 18:35 17:40 19:25 19:45 21:40

08:00 12:25 10:10 14:45 11:25 15:50 16:40 21:15 08:00 12:25 10:10 14:45

BANGKOK TO YANGON
07:10 07:55 07:10 07:55 07:55 08:50 09:15 10:05 15:00 15:50 16:25 17:10 17:50 18:45 19:25 20:10 07:10 07:55 07:10 07:55 07:55 08:50 09:15 10:05 15:00 15:50 16:25 17:10 17:50 18:45 19:25 20:10 07:10 07:10 07:55 09:15 07:55 07:55 08:50 10:05

07:55 09:20 09:10 10:35 14:10 15:35 14:20 15:45 15:20 16:40 07:55 09:20 14:10 15:35 14:20 15:45 15:20 16:40

SUN

SUN

8M 233
MI 517

14:15 18:40
16:40 21:15

WED

NYAUNG U TO YANGON
MON MON

HEHO TO YANGON

YANGON TO SIEM REAP

WED 8M 401 SAT 8M 401 08:50 11:25 08:50 11:25

8M 234
MON MH 740 8M 502 AK 850 TUE MH 740 8M 502 AK 850 WED MH 740 AK 850 THU MH 740 8M 502 AK 850 FRI MH 740 8M 502 AK 850 SAT MH 740 AK 850 SUN MH 740 8M 502 AK 850

19:40 21:05
10:05 11:15 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:45 10:05 11:15 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:45 10:05 11:15 15:40 16:45 10:05 11:15 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:45 10:05 11:15 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:45 10:05 11:15 15:40 16:45 10:05 11:15 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:45

KUALA LUMPUR TO YANGON

TUE

TUE

YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR

MON 8M 501 MH 741 AK 851 TUE 8M 501 MH 741 AK 851 WED MH 741 AK 851 THU 8M 501 MH 741 AK 851 FRI 8M 501 MH 741 AK 851 SAT SUN MH 741 AK 851 8M 501 MH 741 AK 851 WED CZ 3056 THUR 8M 711 SAT CZ 3056 09:00 13:00 12:15 16:30 17:15 21:30 09:00 13:00 12:15 16:30 17:15 21:30 12:15 16:30 17:15 21:30 09:00 13:00 12:15 16:30 17:15 21:30 09:00 13:00 12:15 16:30 17:15 21:30 12:15 16:30 17:15 21:30 09:00 13:00 12:15 16:30 17:15 21:30 11:20 15:50 08:45 13:15 11:20 15:50 08:45 13:15

TUE

THUR

WED

WED

WED

THUR

THUR

15:00 15:50 16:25 17:10 17:50 18:45 19:25 20:10 07:10 07:10 07:55 09:15 07:55 07:55 08:50 10:05

FRI

FRI

FRI

SAT

SAT

THUR

SAT

SUN

15:00 15:50 16:25 17:10 17:50 18:45 19:25 20:10 07:10 07:10 07:55 09:15 07:55 07:55 08:50 10:05

SUN

YANGON TO MYITKYINA
MON TUE THUR FRI SUN

GUANGZHOU TO YANGON
WED CZ 3055 THUR 8M 712 SAT CZ 3055 08:50 10:30 14:15 15:45 08:50 10:30 14:15 15:45

YANGON TO GUANGZHOU

FRI

SUN

YANGON TO SITTWE
MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT

16:25 17:10 15:00 15:50 17:50 18:45 19:25 20:10 07:10 07:10 07:55 09:15 07:55 07:55 08:50 10:05

MYITKYINA TO YANGON
MON TUE THUR FRI SUN MON

SUN 8M 711

SUN 8M 712

YANGON TO TAIPEI
MON CI 7916 WED CI 7916 FRI CI 7916 14:00 19:25 14:00 19:25 14:00 19:25

TAIPEI TO YANGON
MON CI 7915 WED CI 7915 FRI CI 7915 09:55 12:45 09:55 12:45 09:55 12:45

SAT

YANGON TO NYAUNG U
MON W9 143 AW 891 YH 633 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 W9 143 AW 901 AW 891 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 W9 143 AW 891 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 K7 242 AW 781 AW 891 W9 009 AW 901 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 AW 891 W9 009 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 K7 242 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 07:00 15:00 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 07:00 07:20 07:35 07:50 07:50 07:50 08:05 07:20 07:35 07:35 07:50 07:50 08:05 07:20 07:35 07:50 07:50 08:05 08:20 17:10 07:35 07:25 07:50 07:50 07:50 08:05 07:35 07:25 07:50 07:50 08:05 08:20

YANGON TO HEHO
12:10 12:10 12:25 15:15 16:10 16:25 09:15 10:20 12:10 12:10 12:40 15:15 16:10 16:25 08:40 12:10 12:25 15:15 15:40 16:10 16:25 12:10 12:10 12:25 15:15 15:25 16:10 16:25 12:10 15:15 15:25 16:10 16:25

YANGON TO KUNMING
TUE CA 906 14:15 17:35 14:15 17:35 14:15 17:35 14:15 17:35 14:15 17:35 WED CA 906 THUR CA 906 SAT SUN CA 906 CA 906

15:00 15:50 16:25 17:10 17:50 18:45 19:25 20:10 07:10 07:10 07:55 09:15 07:55 07:55 08:50 10:05

KUNMING TO YANGON
TUE CA 905 12:35 13:15 12:35 13:15 12:35 13:15 12:35 13:15 12:35 13:15 WED CA 905 THUR CA 905 SAT SUN CA 905 CA 905

SUN

SITTWE TO YANGON
MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT SUN MON TUE

TUE

TUE

SUN

YANGON TO KOLKATA
Mon FRI IC734 IC734 13:30 16:40 13:30 16:40

15:00 15:50 16:25 17:10 17:50 18:45 19:25 20:10

KOLKATA TO YANGON
Mon FRI IC733 IC728 10:00 14:55 15:50 16:40

WED

WED

YANGON TO SINGAPORE
MON 8M 231 MI 511 08:40 13:05 10:10 14:45

YANGON TO CHIANG MAI

THUR W9 9607 SUN W9 9607 12:00 13:30 12:00 13:30

SINGAPORE TO YANGON
MON MI 512 8M 232 MI 518 07:55 09:20 14:10 15:35 14:20 15:45

CHIANG MAI TO YANGON

THUR W9 9608 SUN W9 9608 14:30 15:00 14:30 15:00

MANDALAY TO YANGON
MON YH 634 AW 892 6T 402 W9 262 6T 802 W9 021 YH 728 AW 762 6T 502 K7 825 08:35 08:35 08:55 10:50 13:20 14:10 16:30 16:35 17:20 17:50 10:00 10:30 10:55 12:15 14:45 15:10 17:55 18:00 19:25 19:15

THUR

YANGON TO MYEIK

THUR

8M 233
MI 517 TUE 8M 231 MI 511

14:15 18:40
16:40 21:15 08:00 12:25 10:10 14:45

YANGON TO HANOI
MON VN 956 WED VN 956 FRI SAT VN 956 VN 956 19:10 21:30 19:10 21:30 19:10 21:30 19:10 21:30

8M 234
TUE MI 512 8M 232 MI 518

19:40 21:05
07:55 09:20 14:10 15:35 14:20 15:45

HANOI TO YANGON
MON VN 957 WED VN 957 FRI SAT VN 957 VN 957 16:35 18:10 16:35 18:10 16:35 18:10 16:35 18:10

WED THUR

FRI

FRI

FRI SAT SUN

8M 233
MI 517 WED 8M 231 MI 511 8M 6232 MI 517 THUR 8M 231 MI 511

14:15 18:40
16:40 21:15 08:00 12:25 10:10 14:45 11:25 15:50 16:40 21:15 08:00 12:25 10:10 14:45

8M 234
WED MI 512 8M 6231 8M 232 MI 518 THUR MI 512 8M 232 MI 518 MI 520

19:40 21:05
07:55 09:10 14:10 14:20 09:20 10:35 15:35 15:45

Domestic
6T = Air Mandalay W9 = Air Bagan AW = Asian Wings K7 = AIR KBZ YH = Yangon Airways FD & AK = Air Asia TG = Thai Airways

International
8M = Myanmar Airways International PG = Bangkok Airways MI = Silk Air VN = Vietnam Airline MH = Malaysia Airlines CZ = China Southern CI = China Airlines CA = Air China IC = Indian Airlines Limited W9 = Air Bagan 3K = Jet Star

YANGON TO HO CHI MINH

TUE VN 942 14:25 17:10 14:25 17:10 14:25 17:10 THUR VN 942 SUN VN 942

HO CHI MINH TO YANGON

TUE VN 943 11:40 13:25 11:40 13:25 11:40 13:25 THUR VN 943 SUN VN 943

MYEIK TO YANGON
MON TUE

07:55 09:20 14:10 15:35 14:20 15:45 15:20 16:40

YANGON TO PHNOM PENH

WED 8M 401 SAT 8M 401 08:50 12:50 08:50 12:50 FRI

PHNOM PENH TO YANGON

WED 8M 402 SAT 8M 402 13:50 15:15 13:50 15:15

WED THUR

8M 233
MI 517 FRI 8M 231 MI 511 8M 6232 MI 517

14:15 18:40
16:40 21:15 08:00 12:25 10:10 14:45 11:25 15:50 16:40 21:15

8M 234
MI 512 8M 6231 8M 232 MI 518 MI 520

19:40 21:05
07:55 09:10 14:10 14:20 15:20 09:20 10:35 15:35 15:45 16:40

Subject to change without notice

FRI SAT SUN

YANGON TO GAYA
WED 8M 601 SAT 8M 601 09:00 10:30 09:00 10:30

GAYA TO YANGON
WED 8M 602 SAT 8M 602 11:30 15:00 11:30 15:00

teA BreAk
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

32
MyanMar tiMes

Organic wine on rise in France as growers go bio

YOUR STARS
By Astrologer Aung Myin Kyaw
Aquarius
Optimism is the best policy for leading yourself from triumph to triumph in the long journey of life. Discriminate clearly between truth and falsehood, and learn to associate with others but blame nobody. Follow the path of human duty, just as the sun sends its energy without fail to all the planets in the solar system.

Jan 20 - Feb 18

Pisces

Get rid of pessimistic thoughts that will block your way to new horizons or destroy your hope for future gain. Members of the opposite sex might try to change the way you communicate. Seek advice from a mentor on how to best plan for the future. Now is not the time to take risks in financial matters, and its best to temporarily defer all travel plans.

Feb 19 - Mar 20

Aries

The key word for this period is legacy. Greatness comes from starting something that does not end with you. Stop worrying about death and embrace a path whose repercussions will continue beyond your lifespan. Remember the words of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu : There is no situation that is not transformable. There is no person who is hopeless.

March 21 - April 19

Taurus

Get into great shape and work with a coach. By caring for yourself, you will be able to give more to others. Commune with nature and you will be more enjoyable to be around. Be careful about influences that might create unexpected twists on a path that had seemed straight and clear-cut. Reflect on what you want to stand for and what your impact will be.

April 20 - May 20

Gemini

Be aware of small, insignificant acts that might grow in influence and eventually have a big impact on your life, both positive and negative. Do volunteer work to the best of your ability. Taking pride in the small miracles that result from your efforts will help boost your selfconfidence. Choose your professional challenges wisely.

May 21 - June 20

Cancer Xavier Planty, head of Chateau Guiraud premier grand cru classe, poses at his wine estate in Sauternes, France, on February 23. Pic: AFP By Laurent Abadie BORDEAUX, France Organic wine is gaining ground in France where a Bordeaux Sauternes grand cru, the highest classification level, has just been awarded the official biological farming (AB) logo. Chateau Guiraud 2011 will be the first of the regions top Sauterne wines to carry the logo, some 15 years after one of its owners, Xavier Planty, first started to experiment with organic farming. The sweet white wine made from a mixture of semillon and sauvignon blanc grapes has been grown for hundreds of years in this southwestern French region, but production today involves neither artificial pesticides, nor fertilisers, nor herbicides. It all started in 1996 when Planty decided he was fed up with the constant chemical treatment of his cornfields and of his own private 15 hectares (37 acres) of vineyards. Two years earlier, a friend of his who spent his whole life treating fields with chemicals had died of cancer. So Planty decided to work differently. He started off with a 12 hectare (29 acre) vineyard to learn the ropes and suffered a number of setbacks. But working alongside an agricultural engineer, he began to regenerate the soil with liquid manure to replenish the grassy vegetation that grows naturally around vine stock. Rather than feed the soil with fertiliser we feed it with bacteria. Its easy to go bio, Planty said. Risks such as mildew (a mould that nearly wiped out French vineyards in the 19 th century) are closely monitored, and long range weather forecasts allow time to plan preventative treatments, he said. Its incredible to see how the fauna and flora have returned, he said, speaking of his pleasure at seeing butterflies and insects I hadnt seen in a long time. An insect census of Chateau Guirauds 100 hectares of vineyards found 635 different varieties, compared to fewer than 200 in conventional vineyards. To h e l p e x p a n d b i o diversity, some 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) of hedges have been planted to help protect insects and feed them in the spring. The multiplication of insects which feed on vine predators has allowed Planty to dispense completely with insecticides since 2004. French organic vineyards doubled between 2007 and 2010 and then increased again 28 percent between 2009 and 2010 to reach 50,268 hectares (124,214 acres). These vineyards were run by 3945 producers, up by 30pc between 2009 and 2010, who made some 322 million euros (US$426 million) from their wine. While Chateau Guiraud was the first Bordeaux grand cru to experiment with organic growing, Chateau Fonroque, a Saint-Emilion grand cru, was first to win the organic label in 2006. The Aquitaine region, around the Garonne river, is today the third largest in the country to experiment with organic vineyards, behind Languedoc-Roussillon and Provences-Alpes-CoteDazur, respectively, in southwest and southern France. Aquitaine now has 300 organic-certified vineyards and 400 working their way to it, even though few of these include top wines. But change is afoot, according to many vineyard owners. There are people who grow organic but dont say so because some consumers are still prejudiced against the idea of organic wine, according to the Aquitaine bio growers association. Others, who arent certified, say they are doing it, but forget to mention they are just testing a few rows of vines, it added. For us, its not marketing, its our philosophy. We want as many people as possible to follow suit, said Caroline Blondeel, in charge of customer relations at Chateau Fonroque. Chateau Fonroque offers advice to all wine growers who want to try their hand at organic farming not only to protect the environment, but to protect people who work in the vineyards. As for the wine itself, natural treatment allows for greater effect from the soil itself, which allows for more aromas, according to Blondeel. AFP

Take the time to manage your affairs with courage, lest you be overwhelmed by the great waves of opportunity and challenges that are coming your way. What you do today will create the foundation for tomorrows activities. A precious gift is coming your way from someone who appreciates your virtuous nature. Take care with how you treat your partner, as there are no insignificant acts in a love relationship.

June 22 - July 22

Leo

Rather than looking after your own selfish needs, dedicate some energy to performing noble deeds and offering your skills and services to fellow human beings. Escape from the pit of darkness, where there is no chance for good fortune. Take on heavy responsibilities with an optimistic outlook, and you will find yourself on the path to glorious success.

July 23 - Aug 22

Virgo

Make the best use of time in your social relations right now. Be ready to create a vivid mental picture of exactly how you will achieve your goals. Wisdom denotes the pursuit of the best ends by the best means. Ask the best questions to invite the best answers, and design your life with optimal thinking. Have the courage to say no.

Aug 23 - Sept 22

Libra

Take care to make sure that your aggressive mental approach is coupled with a constructive attitude rather than degenerating into anger and negativity. Be aware of the universal truth that nothing stays the same for very long, and adjust your approach accordingly. You can win any challenge that life throws in your direction by taking the time to understand the nature of the problem as fully as possible.

Sept 23 - Oct 22

Scorpio

Think deeply about the words of former US president Dwight D Eisenhower, who said he makes a practice of avoiding hating anyone. He did this, he said, by simply trying to forget anyone who was guilty of taking despicable action toward him. At the same time, be aware that the best solutions are not found by running away from the problem.

Oct 23 - Nov 21

Sagittarius

World wine consumption up in 2011

PARIS World consumption of wine increased slightly in 2011 thanks to added consumers in the United States and China, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine said earlier this month. The organisation, an intergovernmental industry group, said 242 million hectolitres (mhl) of wine were drunk last year, up 0.7 percent from 2010. In Europe, consumption fell by 500,000 hectolitres with a slight increase in France, but a contraction in Italy. German consumption grew while wine drinking fell in Spain, Britain and Portugal, the organisation said. The United States, the worlds second biggest wine consumer by volume, saw wine consumption rise 900,000 hectolitres to 28.5 mhl, while China wine drinking shot up by 1.5 mhl to 17 mhl. In 2011, France retook its position as the worlds top wine producer with an output of 49.6 mhl, dethroning Italy. US production fell 10.3pc from the previous year to 18.7 mhl. AFP

Actions always speak louder than words. The time to act for the benefit of yourself and others is now. The deepest craving in the nature of man is the desire to be appreciated. Speak ill of no man, but make a practice of singing the praises of everyone you know.

Nov 22 - Dec 21

Capricorn

There is a suitable reward for every virtue and an appropriate punishment for every sin that a man commits. The cause of conflict is nothing but selfish craving. The winds of cold war are blowing all over the world. You will be in conflict with nature, but be careful to never allow your mind to submit to delusion. For a personal reading contact Aung Myin Kyaw, 4th Floor, 113 Thamain Bayan Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon. Tel: 0973135632, Email: williameaste@gmail.com

Dec 22 - Jan 19

Computer
I.C.S system solution (Online services) Computer Maintenance, Wireless Router Configuration, Window OS & Software Installation, Netowrk services direct to the Company , Office & Home. Available contract service. Antivirus Software (License) : 8,500 Ks. Ph: 09 540 9712 SAI POn POn Computer Services (On Call) Networking & CCTV installation. Ph:09- 43052564 ,09-730-85511. TRUST Computer TutorZaua Kandawlay, 09730-22743, zauatahan @gmail.com. Graphic, Video editing, DTP, Basic. Reasonable price. Effective tutoring. MY InTERnET CAfE shop is 33 computers & included 3 special rooms. Good business place and main road. Two service ( ADSL & WIMAX) ph :502928, 09-540-8250. COMPUTER Basic: Course: TypingMyanmar / English, Using Internet / Email, Printing & Scanning, MicrosoftWord / Powerpoint. Fees : 20,000 Mon to Fri: Sat-Sun. Advance ProgramingFees 100,000. 3month Course: C#/VB window and web application project. Microsoft SQL Server 2005/2008/2008R2. Real Web Hosting. 3Month, Mon Web Fri, Sat to Sun. Programming BasicFees 40,000. 2 month Couse: Visual Studio C#,VB (OOp Fundamental, Multi Threating etc) Mon to Fri:Sat Sun: Ph:09-504-2775. METdC Computer Center: I Office Course10000/-, DTP Course15000/-, Photoshop20000/-, Graphic Design- 25000/-, Auto CAD- 25000/-, Thuwunna, Ph: 705484, www. ahmatadaryi.

Time Duration ; School Hour:9:00-15:00 (Close only Sat & Sun). English, Chinese Language, Computer Course : Sat & Sun. No.17, Kamarkyi Rd, Thuwunna .Email : preschoolabc@gmail. com SUMMER and regular English Classes: Four skills and grammar will be taught by an experienced teacher with international exposure: An ideal home tutor & will guide your children with special care and attention: Teacher Maw Maw:ph

Kandawlay, Yangon SEARCH PROPERTY Online : Are you looking to buy, rent, sell or rent out your property? Please visit us at: www.eainsearch.com or call: 09 732 493 78

Language

MYAnMAR Language Guide : (For Embassy family and others) When you stay in Myanmar, do u want to ask to your children to learn Myanmar language? Call: 09-514-6505, 09730-75265 , 01-501846 Ext:191(Christine)

teacher Certified in TEFL patient, friendly, organized Enjoys English language: daily conversations, business issues, preparation for examinations. Develop your skills: reading, writing, listening comprehension, conver-sation, grammar and vocabulary. Mode of work: textbooks, novels, magazines, newspapers, audio, video, etc. To all levels & ages individual classes or groups reviews of leveling! Calls Teacher Min Thant Ph: 0973173175. Email: khinmin@gmail. com

For Rent
CAR REnTAL : If you want to rent the car (Yangon area or Outside Yangon Area), Mark II Saloon, Reasonable price, with air condition, Skillful Driver. Call : Mr Ohn Htay. Ph: 0949285142 CAR: Model : 90 Mark II Car No: 7A, Color: Dark Gray, Car Condition: Fine, Price : 5.5 lakhs per 1 month (Negotiable), Contact Person : Mr. Win Lwin Thant, Contact Ph : 09-43039613 HAvE YOUR OffICE at the prestigious central towers for only 39000 kyats a month. Pls call 09-492-47013, 01-377151. For more details about the facilities and services offered.

09-431-97513 maw. san@gmail.com

Expert Service

Education

STUdY GUIdES for Grade 10, 11 and Intl school (ISY, MISY, ILBC, Total, PISM, Crane, MLA, Diplomatic, RV) GCSE, SAT , IELTS, TOEFL, Teachers who have got Teaching experience in Singapore, Now back to Myanmar/ Teaching combination of Foreign and Myanmar Style/ Skillful Teachers, Saya Bryan M.E(IT) 09-2150075 , Tr. Ahme B.Sc ( IC) Ph: 09-730-592 65, Saya Htet B.E(IT) Ph: 09-215-0075, 09730- 35744, Saya Thet (MBBS) 09-731-11782, Korean Native English Teacher Tr. Kim (after 6 p.m) 655647 , Tr. Phyu 09430 83117 , Sayar Min Aung 0949 280 490 SPARE just a few hours every week. With steady pace you can achieve, See for yourself at ease! (Home tuition available) Teacher Moe (Retired Lecturer) Ph: 09-560-0747. ABC PRESCHOOL, Subjects : English (4) Skills, Science, Basis Mathematics, Concepts, Myanmar, Hand Work, Drawing & Colouring, Performing Art, Social Studies, Poems , Songs & Rhymes, Excursion.

SEARCH PROPERTY Online : Are you looking to buy, rent, sell or rent out your property? Please visit us at: www.eainsearch.com or call: 09 732 493 78 WE provide:(1) Buying vehicle One Stop Service for Scrappedear-owners and taxpayers. (2)Courier Service for documents and goods to Singapore. (3) Applying Licence in Nay Pyi Taw. (4) Arranging Bank Documents. (5) Arranging Shipping Documents & Transportation. (6) Distribution Services. (7) Finding Oversea Customers. (8) Air Cargo and Sea Cargo Services. (9) Services for Trading, Banking and Shipping to any country via Singapore. Winner Ocean Trading Co., Ltd :75/B, 15 St, Middle Block, Lanmadaw. Ph: 01-03450030, 01212985, 09-430-88422, 09-516-1716. TRAnSLATIOn: Those who are looking for a competent translator; I provide English to Myanmar and Myanmar to English. Specialize in Novel, business and ngos materialsetc: Pls Contact Daw Maw Maw San ph: 09-431-97513 mail: maw.san @ gmail. com REAL PROPERTY Service If you want to buy, sell or rent Land, Condominium, apartment, house Office and need advice regarding with property, contact 0973135900,01-569448. dOwnLOAdInG Service :We offer services for downloading large file with fair price. Just contact us. info. futuretech. mm@ gmail. com Ph: 09-5160225,09-515-0720 COMPUTER TUTOR :Basic, DTP, Video, editing, Graphic, Zaua. Ph:09-730-227 43 zauatahan @ gmail. com No. 7, 7A, 89th St,

GRACES SPEECH and Drama Academy. Class available for Business Communication Course , Speech and Drama , Effective Reading class, and Ballet class. For more information , please contact to Graces Academy, Tel : + 730 97836, Email : annie. san@graces-studio. net. HOME TUTIOn japanese language regular course (basic, inter) jpn going course, myanmar language for japanese. Ph: 09-7303-2296 EnGLISH language at your home. Interested persons kindly contact ph : 09-430-57719, 09730-21435. MYAnMAR for foreigners. Ph: 09-73161269. GUIdE (For Embassy family and others) When you stay in Myanmar,do you want to ask to your children to learn Myanmar language ? Call-09-732-23668 (ko soe thi aung) fOR fOREIGnERS Interested in learning Myanmar Speaking easily & effectively in a short time with Myanmar English Teacher. Save your time & money. Contact : 09-517 9125. KEEn Intl Language Centre - Progressive Myanmar Language Private Classes for Foreigners who live in Myanmar. Effective Program for new sections are available. For more information, pls contact : keencentre @gmail. com TEACHER Daw Khin Thawda Aung, English Grammar & Speaking in 60 hrs. IELTS, TOEFL, GCE & SAT in 120 hrs. Tel: 556571, 09-5089368. MYAnMAR LAnGUAGE Guide (For Embassy family and others) When you stay in Myanmar, do You want to ask to your children to learn Myanmar language? Call: 09-514-6505, 09730-75265. 501846 Ext:191 (Christine) LEARn EnGLISH! In a quiet atmosphere and fun with an experienced

(1) CdMA 800 MHz (09730xxxxx) and used Genuine Samsung Coby SCH-F339 Touchscreen Handset with three colored back cover : 650,000 Ks. (2) USED Geniune SonyEricsson W595 GSM handset with 2GB Memory card : 70,000 Ks. Contact - Ko Sai : 510770 iPhone 4S - 16G Black Brand new. ph:09- 43184138. Tv 21" Toshiba 218*8m + VCD : 80000 SONY 21": 80000/- Sansung oneset 21": 30000/ 1G, ph; 09-501-0830 Hd GAME, app (install) iPhone, iPod 6000ks, iPad 8000ks, iTunes : account open (free game,app download) , iOS 5 all iDevices full untethered: jailbreak (power off) iPhone 4s, iPad 2 available. contact :09-514-7480 RAzER STARCRAfT 2 Headphone Apple Superdrive New cmda 800mhz + c8500 handset with no internet Ph: 09-730-48374 iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch , PSP Services :Jailbreak , game install, Version Upgrade, iPhone4 / 4S sim card cutting, PSP modify + Games Service, Create iTunes account (ygn / mdy), Create Gmail account (ygn / mdy), Ph: 09-739-03193 (mandalay only)

up, Bridal makeup, Male grooming and so on for both Pro and Begginer level. My works can be seen on www. facebook. com/Makeup.Flora and you can contact me directly at 01 80 10 912. Flora (Thet Thet ) GUITAR GUIdE To Home Ph:09-731-94925

PROPERTY
HousingforRent
BAHAn, Apartment along New University Ave Rd, Good electricity & water essential. Fully furnished with 2-3 rooms with attached toilet. Rent Rate - USD500 to USD700 per month. (6 month advance rental). Rental period 1 to 3 years. Pls contact : 09512-8095 - Ma Thinzar Oo BAHAn: Golden Valley, Two Story Building, Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 2MB, 2SB, Ph,A/C,GoodNeighborhood, 20 Lakhs, Foreigners welcome. Call - 09-432-00669 BAHAn, Takathoyeik mon condo, 7F, 1500 Sqft , Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 3 A/C, 1 MBR, 2 SBR ,1PH, 6 Lakhs, Ph : 09-73135900 THInGAnGYUn, 40 x 60 3RC ThuMinGaLar Rd, Good location for car show room & business. ph: 09-430-80638. BAHAn, Golden Valley, 0.35 acre Land, big garden, 2 storey, ph line, semi-furnished, 4 MBR, US$ 3000 per month, Ph: 09-5020969 CHInA TOwn apartment, lift, 17x 59', Ph line, 2AC, 2MBR, Jacuzzi, Funished Room, water heater, US$ 1000 / 8 Lakhs per month, Ph: 09-502-0969 87 (Ext : 0,303), 09-43085887, 09-430-85889, BAHAn, Kanbawza Rd, Golden Valley, Bahan, Yangon. 30x30 ft, 2 new stories building with 30x110 ft land. Backyard lawn and greenery. Very quiet place.1 master bed room and 2 bed rooms. Fully furnished. Best electricity in town. YCDC water. US$ 1200/mt.Can provide phone/internet depend on price. Ph: 09-732-06783 ,09-5010816. SUPERB location for TRUCKS parking in downtown area. 5 minutes drive from Hle Dan Junction. 15 minutes drive to Hlaing Thar Yar, airport. Dhama Thukha Kyaung Rd, Hlaing. 0.8 acres compound: (a) land only (b) 2 x 3-phase industrial power meter (c) 1 x phone landline pls contact 09 5012920 SOUTH OKKALAPA: 10 minutes drive from Sedona Hotel, Mya Thida Housing , Banglow , 2 story building, Fully furnish-ed, Fullyfurniture, 4 MB, 4SB, Ph, A/C, Good Neighborhood, 15 Lakhs, Foreigners welcome. Call - 01-569448, 09-73135900 BAHAn. (for Foreigner) Pearl Condo Tower D, 6 floor Fully Furnished about 1780 Sqft, 3BR. US$1800/mt 1 year Contract. Call: 09-5018701.

Travel

Public Notice

For Sale

vOLvO 740 GLE (1990 Model) [ New Body with WRTA ] [ 4u/ ] [ ABS Airbag, AC, PS, PW, MP3 Player ] [ Mileage : 53000 Km ] Contact : 09-492-75744 AdSL (Bagan/MPT), WiMax (Bagan), Broadband (Bagan), McWill Contact : 09730-84143 HR SOfTwARE Package: Price 200,000. Modules: Employee Manage-ment, Time Atten- dance, Payroll. (Avail-able: FingerPrint/ Card). POS Software Package: Price 150,000. (Modules: Inventory Control, Purchase, Sale, Account Payable. (Available :Barcode Printer/ Scanner). Contact Ph:09-5042775. SHARP Aircon (1.5 HP), Window Type, Brand new special price/offer for projects & hotels. Ph: 206001. URGEnT To sell foe Internet cafe shop At main road (Ba Ho road), Sanchang. 33 computers sets,15kv generator, 4 air conds. 100 Lakhs, Negotiable, Contact : 01-502928, 09-540-8250. RAzER Starcraft 2 Headphone , Apple Superdrive New, HTC sensation XE Beat, Dual Core 1.5mhz, Memory 768mb, 8MP Camera with beat earphone Used Price - 380000. Ph: 09-73048374 CAnOn dIGITAL Camera EOS:50D (Body only) + 1extra battery and battery grid (BG E2N) In original package and Camera Guide Magazine. @ 600,000-Kyats (Fixed price) ph:09-49243310. 2 TEA-CUPS Yorkshires Free To Re-Homing Contact: xtionbert@ gmail.com

An IndIvIdUAL VB.net trainer who can teach during Water Festival Holidays can call: 09500-6752, 09-5187487. PHOTOGRAPHY Especially food and interior photography for Hotels & Restaurant Contact ; Sam (Ph : 09731-74404) MYAnMAR COOK Book A unique Myanmar Cook Book with recipes for practical usage, written in English by Daw Ena WinB.FastMo hinga,Ohn no Khauk swear, Shwe taung Khauk swear, etc . . .Rice & CurryChicken Curry, Duck Curry,Prawn Curry etc, Myanmar Style. Available in Yangon (1). Innwa Book Store, Pansodan St. Ph: 389838, 374234. (2). Myanmar Book Centre, Ph: 221271 (3). Bishop store, Old Yaydarshay Rd, Bahan (4).Tab Book Center, Taw win Plaza, Ph: 8600042, 8600043 (Daw Ena Win & Associates)

nYAn MYInT THU Car rental service : 56, Bo Ywe St, Latha. Ph: 246551, 375283, 09645-0599 THInGYAn SALE Promotion Ngapali Beach Tour April 12 To 15 , 2012 ( 3N/4D ) Ngapali Beach Fully Package Tours. Including Air Ticket (Round Trip ) 3 star Hotel (3 Night) Meal (Breakfast 3 times , Lunch 4 times , Dinner 3 times) Thandwe Airport to Ngapali Beach car transpor-tation Tour price 490000 Ks / pax Contact person Ms. OUNG [ Ms. Mya Mya Oung, (Tour Manager of Oake Khaung Travels & Tours) Ph: 09-73242224 Oake Khaung Travels & Tours Co.,Ltd: W-1, West Aung San Stadium, Mingalar Taung Nyunt , Tel (off): 01252953, 383968, 707093, 725-858, 706305, 721212, 4413319, 09-730-42266, 09-73042277. Fax: 01-383968 E-mail : oktouroperator @ gmail. com, Website: www. okmyanmar travels.com

Housing for Sale

100 160 ft in Mawhbi area , near by Htin Son village. Hp:09-431-09290. LASHIO : 2Acres Land including the main house and 2storey building. In downtown and Very Good place for business. Price: negotiable Ph: 09515-8738 MAndALAY : 26(B) Rd, between (86/87) Aungmyaytharsan Township. (22 feet X 75 feet ) Ph: 09-504-8704, 02-21915. SOUTH OKKALA, 20' x 60' house, Anawmar 2nd St , Block 13, Ph: 572607, 09-861-8286. BAHAn, Locate at Golden Valley 2, Inya Myaing Rd, Total Sqft - 14950 (Nearly 15000) Price - 250000 per Sqft. Ph: 513160.

Training

SInGInG Lessons: Professionally trained singing teacher for students of all levels. Please contact 665648. GUITAR Class To Home Ph-09-731-94925 .nET Programming : Home (1) C#.Net, (2) Asp.Net, (3) Sql Server, (4) Other Programming Concept With Project Contact me:Thanda 09731-63643 MAKEUP Artist from Bangkok is in Yangon for 2 months and avaliable to give private makeup classes in both English and Burmese in request. Availiable subjects are Basic Makeup Application, Products Information & Usageof Knowledge, Highlighting & Contouring, Film/TV makeup, Photography makeup, Events make-

ELEGAnT MYAnMAR Tours Company Ltd ! Special Promotion in April 2012 to welcome Myanmar New Year!! Trip to the Virgin Islands in Mergui Archipelago by cruise 6 Days 5 Nights (5 April 2012 to 10 April 2012) 550000 Ks Now (Local) & 720 USD Now (Foreigner) Special promotion trip for launching a new Mergui Princess Boat ! 5 Days 4 Nights (11 April 2012 to 15 April 2012) & (18 April 2012 to 22 April 2012) Kawthaung, 115 Island, Nyaung Wee Island, Myauk Ni Island, Ranong for shopping 660 USD per pax (Foreigner) + 430000 Ks (Local) Book now with us! Email: mergui princess @gmail. com, Ph: 01-401261, +95-9-43064296

Want To Buy

USEd LAPTOP, Note- book, Netbook, MacbookPro, Samsung Galaxy Tablet, Digital Camera, External Hardisk, Used Phone Nokia Blackberry HTC Sony Ericsson Samsung Galaxy S2 Galaxy Note, Huawei Apple Ipod Touch 4G Iphone 3gs iphone 4, 4s handset Ipad Ipad2) Ph: 09-517-8391

MAYAnGOnE, Pyay Rd, 0.5acre land, 2RC Storey new house, 5 master bed rooms, ph, Fully furnished, big garden, US$ 3500 Per month, Ph: 09-503-4954 KAMAYUT , Inya Rd 0.3acre land, 2.2RC Storey, 2MBR, 7BR, garden, ph line, US$ 3200 per month, Pls call 09-503-4954 BAHAn, : Shwe Gondaing, Condo, 7F, 1500 Sqf , Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 3 A/C, 1 MBR, 2 SBR ,1Ph, 750 USD, (Suitable to Rent for Foreigner), near down town, near golden Vally Call-01-569448, 09-731-35900 BAHAn : New University Avenue Lane, Condo, 7F, 1500Sqft , Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 3 A/C, 1 MBR, 2 SBR, 1Ph, (Suitable to Rent for Foreigner), 800USD. Call-01569448, 09-731-35900 CHAnTHA GOnYAUnG Executive Codominiums - Penthouse/ Rooms. - 4 rooms, 5 rooms. - Fully Furnished. - Amazing serenity and satisfactory facilities, club restaurant. - 24 hours electricity internet, cable TV. -Brookers welcome. -Interested parties pls call 430078 to

Rent / Sale
TaMWaE: Lovely Banglow, 2 Story, 1 MB, 2SB, 50x100' Yard, Fully Furnished, 1Ph, 9 Lakhs, Foreigners welcome. Call - 01-569448, 09731-35900

Want To Hire
A MnC that is planning to open an office in Yangon is seeking the following for short term and long term lease; Land Crusier, Pajero, and Toyota Hiace, aircon, and must be clean, to include driver. Pls quote on a daily, weekly & monthly lease terms. vILLA OR COndO (for foreigner) Bahan, Mayankone, Hlaing, Kamayut,Thingankyun, Yankin. RC, MB, SB, Water-Well & YCDC, Good Electricity, A/C, Ph, Attached to Garden, Furnished, Rent Rate - $600 ~ $1000. Pls contact by house owner to Ms. Hnin Si within office hours 9AM to 5PM556692, 540995 nEAR YUzAnA PLAzA, warehouse to hire. Ph: 546309.

Employment
INGO Position
MEdECInS du Monde (MDM) is seeking field Logistician, 1 post in Yangon : Graduate or degree. At least 2 years experience in Logistic Field. Fluent oral and written English. Good Computer skills (Microsoft Office, Advenced Excel, MS windows, Internet & Email. Interested & qualified applicants should submit CV and a cover letter to MDM Yangon Office 16, Kan Yeik Thar St, Mayangone , Yangon. Tel: 662604, 652658. Email: hr. mdmmyanmar@ gmail. com, Closing Date: th 5 April, 2012. CARE Myanmar organization is seeking the following positions. (1) Senior Program Officer (Partnership) Mindat, Southern Chin State (Reannounce-ment) - 1 post Closing date: 5th April 2012 (Friday) (2) field Office Coordinator Lashio - 1 post. Closing date: 5th April 2012 (Friday) Qualify women are strongly encourage to apply . Pls request the detailed Terms of Reference at the CARE Myanmar office during office hours (8:30 to 5:00) between Monday to Friday or can obtain by email: recruitment @care.org.mm Care International in Myanmar 17A, Pyi Htaung Su St, Sayarsan Rd, Sayarsan North-West ward, Bahan, Yangon. Tel: 401419, 401420, 401421 A d M I n I S T R AT I O n Officer [Restoring family Links (RfL) Unit]: 1 Post, Grade: D, Report to: Restoring Family Links Coordinator, Place of Assignment: Head Quarter (Nay Pyi Taw) : University Degree in Social Work, Education, Administration or other relevant area. Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written. Experience with translating documents required. Well developed computer skills, with demonstrated competence in Excel & Word (English & Myanmar) Significant experience in office management/ administration. Experience of financial administrat-ion, petty cash manage-ment. Experience interviewing clients or handling social work cases is desirable but not essential. Experien-ce supervising and supporting volunteers desirablebutnotessential. Experience delivering trainings desirable but not essential. Well organized, efficient, with excellent attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines. Well developed interperso-nal & communications skills, including experience handling clients who may be in distress. Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks, take initiative and problem solve. Able to work well in a team and deal with stressful situations. Ability to travel anywhere in Myanmar at short notice. Commitment to learn, open to change and willing to try new things. Interested persons should submit: a letter of application, relevant documents and CV, to U Khin Maung Hla, Executive Director, Myanmar Red Cross Society, Nay Pyi Taw before 6th April 2012, 4:30 PM. national. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills. Education and experience requirements: University degree - Bachelors Degree or equivalent in Management or related field. Higher degree or certification preferable. Minimum of five 5 years of experience in human resource management. Experience in financial management of US Government awards and sub awards a must, preferably USAID. Experience with bilateral/ multilateral donors a plus. Audit experience preferred. Professional experience in the region or knowledge/ experience of similar setting is highly desirable. Interested candidates are invited to submit an application letter and detail curriculum vitae along with relevant supporting documents, a recent passport size photograph, contact details and two referees addressed to the following contact not later than April 09, 2012 (Tuesday).Administration Department Pact No.497, 1st Floor, Tower-B, Diamond Condominium, Pyay Road, Ward-8, Kamaryut Township, Yangon, Tel: 501373, 501383 and 523933 (Ext: 806). Fax: 501373. E-mail: pactmyanhr@yangon. net.mm Remark: Only short listed candidates will be notified. SAUnn YA nAnT Co., Ltd is seeking a motivated, efficient, and experienced and dedicate candidate for Sales Executive (Male/Female) (2) posts : This candidate must be University Graduate. Fluent in Spoken and written English. Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skill. Good Computer knowledge. 2 years experience in Related Fields is more preferable. Interested applicants should send detail update CV with application letter to Room 402, Dagon Center Building - C, Myaynigone, Sanchaung Township or email : centuremyanmar@ gmail. com. Closing Date : 3rd April 2012. Short list candidate will be contacted. MYAnMAR Red Cross Society is seeking Senior Project Assistant, 1 post in Health Division, MRCS Headquarter (Nay Pyi Taw). Initial three months probation contract with extension as subject to performance appraisal. Qualifications and skills: University Graduate. Minimum one year experience in a project management and administration. Proven computer skills (MS word, Excel, Page Maker, Power Point) in both Myanmar and English Language. Strong Interpersonal communication skill. Able to travel project sites. Effect English language skill is an advantage. Interested persons should submit; a letter of application, relevant documents and CV, Copy of Recommendation letter from Township Police Station, Copy of Labor Registration Card, Copy of Good Health Certificate from Township Health Centre and one passport photo (Cover letter and CV documents only need to be sent via e-mail) to U Khin Maung Hla, Executive Director, Myanmar Red Cross Society, Nay Pyi Taw before 6th April 2012, 4:30 PM. Only short listed candidates will be contacted for a personal interview. MYAnMAR Red Cross Society is looking for Communication Officer for DRR Programme, 1 post in Nay Pyi Taw. Qualifications & Skills Requirements: University graduate, diploma or strong field experience related to. Minimum of 3 years experience in communication sector. Strong oral & written communication skills. Translation skills (Myanmar & English). Effective English languages skills (written and oral). Very good Computer literacy (word, excel, PowerPoint, outlook express). Strong creativity, graphic skills and use of graphic software. Interested persons should submit: a letter of application, relevant documents and CV, Copy of Recommendation letter from Township Police Station, Copy of Labor Registration Card, Copy of Good Health Certificate from Townships Health Centre and one passport photo (Cover Letter CV documentsonlyneedtobe sent via e-mail) to U Khin Maung Hla, Executive Director, Myanmar Red Cross Society, Nay Pyi Taw before 30th April 2012, 4:30 PM. Only short listed candidates will be contacted for a personal interview. IML Co., Ltd Vacancy Announcement Our organization is looking for efficient and competent employees for following duties and responsibilities. For all posts, working experience for 2 years in related job and fluency in written and spoken Myanmar and English is mandatory criteria for application. (1). Receptionist - F (1) post: Any graduate with good communication skills and good personality, Age below 25 years, Basic knowledge on MS Office and Internet (2). Marketing Manager/ Marketing Executive M/F (2) posts : Medical Doctor (or) Medical Technologist (or) Pharmacist in consideration, Able to travel from place to place within countries, Experience on MS Office, Excel & Power Point (3). Clinic Manager - M/F (1) post: Medical Doctor (or) Nurse in consideration (4). Graphic designer cum Admin Assistant M/F (1) post : Any graduate with creative thinking, Any client with available driving license in favor. (5). Site Medical Officer- M (20) posts : Working experience for minimum 5 years in favor, Prefer any client who has experienced in Oil and Gas (onshore & offshore) and mining industries,Age not older than 55 years. Requirements:Applicant should submit their application letter, current CV with passport size photo, contact details, copy of professional license, certificates, referees and copy of any testimonies in a sealed envelope indicating Position applied to HR Office, Rm (210), 1st flr, Yangon International Hotel, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Township, Yangon. Dead Line for all applicants: 20.04.2012 GRAnd IMPERIAL is looking for Sales & Marketing staff - M/F(3) Graduate. At Least 2 years experie- nce. Age Between 25-30 years. Experience prefer- red. Pls, send application together with update CV, photo & other data reference to gimperial @ myan mar.com.mm, Ph:523536, 09-73008077 SEEKInG the following full-Time positions at various locations in Yangon. IT, Accountants, Cashiers, Receptionists, Guest Relation Officers, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Office Clerks, Purchasers, Storekeepers, Housekeeping,Laundry Attendant, Securities, Barista, Public Area Attendant (Cleaner) , Electriction, Plumber . Interested persons can submit CV with one recent photo, bio data, education certificates, NRC copy, labor registration card in person at ECO Apartment - Pearl Condominium Tower E, Ground Flr No. Ga 21, Kabaaye Pagoda Rd, Yangon or email at mashwemee@gmail. com. Contact Ph: 01557488, 09-564-0880. WE recognise that the single most important force in our organisation are our employees. Thanks to them, Maybank Group has now grown from Malaysia domestic leadership to a strong regional presence. As we expand our international net-work, we rely more than ever on the talent and energy of our employees. As part of our expansion plan, we invite ambitious, open-minded and driven individuals to join Maybank Yangon RepresentativeOfficeas:Assistant Rrepresentative Job description: To support Chief Rep in liaising with and report to principal office on operational matters. To deal with Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, Inland Revenue Department and any other government agency as the need arises. To handle booking keeping for the office and deal with bank for banking related matters. To oversee office administration, IT and maintenance (including fixed assets), etc., Requirements: Candidate must possess at least a Bachelors Degree, Post Graduate Diploma or Professional Degree in Business Studies/ Administration/ M a n a g e m e n t , Economics, Marketing, Finance/Accountancy/ Banking, Commerce or equivalent. At least 5 year(s) of working experience in Banking. Good networking within the Banking community. Good command of English language. Computer literate in Microsoft Office (Excel, Words & Power Point). Application Procedure: Interested applicants are to send in your resumes to Maybank Yangon Representative Office, 7th Floor, Centrepoint Towers. No 65, Corner of Sule Pagoda Road & Merchant Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon. Before April 9, 2012. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. wAnTEd: Freelance architect/designer to renovate foreigner penthouse downtown Yangon. Are you young, ambitious, creative, daring, seeking fame? Contact: yangonbrother01 @ gmail.com wEREQUIREthefollowing positions for > Container TEU 2000 & TEU 4500 : Masters, Chief Officers, 2nd Officer, 3rd Officer, Chief Engineers, 2nd Engineers, fTR , OS, MTM, C/CK, MESSMAn. Interested candidates are invited to personally visit: Bernhard Schulte ShipmanagementCrew Service Centre (Myanmar) Ltd : F/S 1, Shwe Marlar Yeikmon, Bayint Naung Rd, Kamaryut, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 515031, 536805 wE REQUIRE the following positions for > Chemical Tanker Class 2,3 & LPG vsls: Masters, Chief Officers, 2nd Officer, 3rd Officer, Chief Engineers, 2nd Engineers, FTR, OS, MTM, C/CK,ESSMAN. Interested candidates are invited to personally visit: Bernhard Schulte ShipmanagementCrew Service Centre (Myanmar) Ltd : F/S 1, Shwe Marlar Yeikmon, Bayint Naung Rd, Kamaryut, Yangon, Tel: 515031, 536805 SInGAPORE based company is looking for Consultant (.Net/Java) based in Yangon. The candidate will be working from home for the first 3 months. Attracted salary will be offered according to experience. Interview will be conducted in Yangon in the first 2 weeks of April, 2012. Any interested person, please send CV/ Resume to myanmarhr @ mevo.com.sg. URGEnT Vacancy: We are looking for experience professio-nal with the creative, global thinking, pro-active & self motivated candidate for our Account Department of the following position: (1) accountant - 1 post (Female) - B.Com CPA/ ACCA degree holder, 3 years experience in accounting field is preferred, Able to use accounting software. Must be computer literate. Language proficiency. Team player with excellent interpersonal & communication skills. For Multi duty stations. Can work under high pressure. Pls apply in person with the supporting documents and recent photo to below address: No.100 (A), Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan, Yangon - (OR) by e-mail to cm.myanmar@ phoenixyoyages.com (For local service only). QUARTO Products is one of the leading Fine Food & Wine Distribut-ion Company in Myanmar. We are seeking for the following vacancies; (1) accountant (Manager) - M/F 1 Post :Financial Controller with at least 10 years accountant job experience. Must possess Leadership qualities & foreign company work expe-rience preferred. (2) accountant (Supervisor) - M/F 1 post : At least 5 years accounting related work experience and foreign company work experience preferred. Possessed ACCA certificates. (3) assistant accountant - M/F 1 post : B.com or LCCI Level III. Age less than 30 with minimum 1 or 2 years experience at related field. Good command of English & computer knowledge preferred. (4) Admin & HR Manager - M/F 1 post : Possessed a degree in Human Resource related studies with several years international working experience.(5)Customer Service Assistant - M/F 2 posts : Experience in International hotels preferred with good command of English speaking skills. (6) Operation Staff - M 3 posts : Young male graduate, hardworking with physical ability to move stock, past experience with managing inventory preferred. (7) Management Trainees - M/F 5 posts : Young graduates who are ambitious to become top management. Possessed a sharp mind and strong characters. You can apply with cover letter, CV with 2 recent photos, copies of NRC card, labor registration card, Police recommendat-ion letter, others educational references & experience to 5 ( B/ D) , Bayint Naung Lane, 550768, 530237. SAIL Marketing & Communications is seeking experienced advertising agency executives to serve international clients. (1) Client service manager. (2) Media manager. Please apply at 790 Bogyoke Rd and Wadan Rd Junction Suite403, Danathiha Center Lanmadaw, Yangon, Myanmar Ph: 951-211870, 951224820. GREATER Man Int'l Trading Co., Ltd is seeking : (1) Business development Executives 2 Posts : Can set a business Plan and must have business acumen. BBM or BBA graduated are preferable. (2) Sales Executive - 2 Posts : Should have automobiles & machinery related knowledge. Engineer-ing back groud with CAN DO attitude in indispensible. (3) accountant - 2 Posts: Can Prepare income statement and should have two years related experiences with good will. Age over 25 is preferable. (4) assistant Mechanic - 2 Posts : Candidate must possess at least a professional certificate from any field. 2 years of experience in the related field is required for this position. All candidates must be energetic enthusiastic and result oriented. Sociable & interested in vehicles, automobiles & related parts. Fluent English, Computer literate and speaking Chinese is preferable. Candidate must be able to travel if works is demanding. Pls submit application to Summit Prak View Hotel, Rm: 220, 221, Alone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. InTER GROUP of Companies is a leading management consulting company based in Singapore. We are inviting suitable candidates to join our team for Myanmar operation in the following job opportunity: Admin assistant : Degree or Diploma Holder. Must familiar with import and export procedures. Good communication & interpersonal skills. Computer Literate. Able to work independently & efficiently in a fast-paced environment . Pls submit your detailed resume with one recent passport photo and together with copies of educational certificates and testimonials to Inter Consulting Co., Ltd : 30 (B-1), Rm 601, 6th Flr, YadanarInnya Condo, Than Lwin Rd, Bahan , Yangon, (Opposite of Fruit Market) Tel: 01-7310 5353 , 01-7310 5340 Email: hr@ icononline. net not later than 6th April 2012. wE ARE looking for highly motivated, creative & energetic individual for Blue Oasis Restaurant & Bar: Restaurant Manager: 1 Post (Male), assistant Restaurant Manager : 1 Post (Male), For F & B Service Assistant Manager 1 Post (Male/ Female), Supervisor 2 Posts (Male/Female), Head waiter/waitress 4 Posts (Male/Female), Waiter 8 Posts, Waitress 8 Posts , Cashier 2 Posts (Male/Female), For Kitchen Thai Chef 2 Posts, assistant Thai Chef 2 Posts, Butcher 3 Posts (Male/Female), Commis I & II 2 Posts, Cook Helper 2 Posts, Sanitation Workers 2 Posts (Male/Female), For Resident - Admin/ Computer 1 Post (Male), Store Incharge 2 Posts, accountant 1 Post, For Others - driver 1 Post. Apply to Human Resources DepartmentNo.199, 34th st, Upper Block, Kyauktada Tsp. HORIzOn Int'l Kindergarten is expanding the classes. So that, we are looking for the enthusiasticcolleagues. (1) assistant Teacher - F 20 Posts: University Graduate. Must be proficient in English. Comfortable working with young learners. (2) Office Secretaries - F 2 Posts : Univeristy Graduate. Must be proficient in English. Has basic accounting knowledge. Good letter writing skill. (3) nurse - F 2 Posts: Certificate or diploma in related field. Good command of English. Comfortable working with young learners. Interested candidates may submit within a couple of week with a cover letter, a resume/ CV, a copy of relevant Diploma (certificate) & a current photo to the following address: Horizontal Intl Kindergarten (Po Sein Campus). 5/A, Po Sein Rd, Bahan, Ph: 548452. No.58/B, Shwe Hinn Thar St, 12 Ward, 6 Mile, Pyay Rd, Hlaing, Ph: 511595. (1) PLAnnInG Manager M/F 1- Must be a MBA/ DMA or relevant degree holder with at least 5 years experience. Understand & commit to ISO system. Can survive in challenging culture/ spirit. Benefit will be from USD 200 to USD 800 based on achieve-ment. (2) Operation Manager - M/F 1post: Must be a MBA/ DMA or relevant degree holder with at least 5 years experience. Able to manage to achieve targets. Understand and commit to ISO system. Can survive in challenging culture/ spirit. Benefit will be from USD 200 to USD 800 based on achieve-ment. (3) Brand Sales Manager - M/F 2 posts: Able to launch and maintain a product brand in market. Must be a degree holder with 4 years experience. Preferable with relevant diploma or certificate. Understand and commit to ISO system. Benefit will be from USD 200 to USD 800 based on achievement. (4) Sales Manager - M/F 8 posts: Able to manage sale (team) to achieve target. Must be a degree holder with 4 years experience. Benefit will be from USD 150 to USD 700. Remark for No. 1 to 4 posts: All middle level managers are welcome to challenge to an entrepreneur program after achieving satisfactory results. Computer literature skill is preferable for all posts. (5)ManagementTrainee (for Junior Management Posts) M/F 10 posts: Must be a degree holder with 3 years experience. Preferable with relevant diploma or certificate that matches to working experience or interest. Self-motivation, strong in any point with cando spirit. Benefit will be from USD 100 to USD 300 based on achievement. Suitable posts will be assigned only after management trainee period based on your talent. Remark for No.5 posts: All the selected candidate will be offered to have free management training under the title of Basic Management Concepts & How to solve problem effectively & efficiently before provisional recruitment. Computer literature skill is preferable for all posts. Pls submit application to E-mail: peterxu. purchase @gmail. com nEEd a lady junior staff, at least a graduate, aged around 20~25, for an intl trade promotional organizat-ion in Yangon, capable of fluent English, computer knowledge, Japanese language skill as an added value, office logistical & secretarial works with keen interest in teamwork. Pls submit applications attached with bio data, copies of certificates & N.R.C, a recent photo to (Sedona Hotel Business Suites#04-02, No. 1, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd., Yankin, Closing date: April 6th, 2012. SAvOY HOTEL is urgently looking for (1) Chief Engineer - 1 post 5 years experience . (2) HR/Payroll Assistant - 1 post : 2 years experience. (3) Reservation assistant - 1 post (4) Waiter/Waitress - 3 posts. For position 3 & 4 1 year experience in hotel fields. Applicat-ion letter by email to operations @ savoy hotel-yangon. com or 129, Dhammazedi Rd, Yangon. Tel: 526298, 526289. InCEPTA Pharmaceutical Ltd is looking for Medical Promotion Officer (MPO) - 4 posts :Preferably science graduate with 1-2 year experience. Interested candidates are requested for a walk-in-interview in the following address with updated CV in between 10-12 am and 3-5 pm everyday from 14th March to 10th April 2012. Incepta Pharmaceuti-cal Ltd. No.92/94, Rm #3B, 52nd St, Pazun-daung. Ph: 294859, 09-519-0127. WE are urgently seeking (1) General Manager M 1 Post : Any Graduate or Higher Degree (MBA is preferable). Age 3545. 7 years experience. knowledge in English. (2) HR Manager - M/F 1 Post : Any graduate, more preferable MBA degree or DMA diploma holder. Age 30 ~ 45. 5 years experience. Demonstrable experience in Microsoft Office, especially Access & Excel. Effective spoken & written English. (3) Business development Manager - M/F 1 Post : Any Graduate or higher degree (MBA is preferable). Age 35-45. 5 years experiences . Good command of English, Computer literate. (4) dy Manager/ Asst: Manager - M/F 1 Post: Any Graduate (MBA is preferable). Age 35 ~ 45. 3 years experience. Ability to communicat-ion with English. Computer literate. (5) Senior Executive (Commercial) - M/F 2 Posts : Working experience in commercial Fields (Export, Import documentation). Age under 35. 3 years experience. Good command of English/ Chinese is preferable. Computer literate. For 5 & 6 : Must be staying in Northern Shan State alternative-ly. (6) Senior Account-ant - M/F 2 Posts : B.Com, B.Act, CPA or Higher Degree. Age 30-45. 5 years experience. Must be staying in Northern Shan State alternatively & meal are arranged during in Shan (Nam Kham). Good command of English/ Chinese is preferable. (7) Busi-nessdevelopment Executive - M/F 2 Posts : Any Graduate. Age under 35. 1 ~ 2 years experiences in Business development & Tender field. Good command of English. Computer literate.(8) Manager for Executive Office - M/F 1 Post : Any Graduate (MBA is preferable). Age 35-45. 5 years experience in Cooperative multiple tasks with all concerning depart-ment. Good command in English . Computer literate. Pls submit an application letter, with full CV detailing experience, knowledge and skills. Pls include the names and contact details of referees to the HR Department by email to hrd1@ pristinemyanmar. com or PO Box 428 or No.B/7, Taw Win Rd, 9 Mile, Mayangone, within 2 weeks.

Local Position
PACT in Myanmar is currently seeking a motivated, experienced and dedicated candidate for the position of Administration Manager for projects in Myanmar. Qualifications: Myanmar

The Essentials
EMBASSIES Australia 88, Strand Road, Yangon. tel : 251810, 251797, 251798, 251809, 246462, 246463, fax: 246159 Bangladesh 11-B, Than Lwin Road, Yangon. tel: 515275, 526144, fax: 515273, email: bdootygn@mptmail.net. mm Brazil 56, Pyay Road, 6th mile, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. tel: 507225, 507251, 507482. fax: 507483. email: Administ.yangon@ itamaraty.gov.br. Brunei 317/319, U Wizara Road, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. tel: 526985, 524285, fax: 512854 email: bruneiemb@ bruneiemb.com.mm Cambodia 25 (3B/4B), New University Avenue Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. tel: 549609, 540964, fax: 541462, email: RECYANGON @mptmail. net.mm China 1, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. tel: 221280, 221281, 224025, 224097, 221926, fax: 227019, 228319 Egypt 81, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. tel: 222886, 222887, fax: 222865, email: egye mbyangon@mptmail. net.mm France 102, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. tel: 212178, 212520, 212523, 212528, 212532, fax: 212527, email: ambaf rance. rangoun@ diplomatie.fr Germany 9, Bogyoke Aung San Museum Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. tel: 548951, 548952, fax: 548899 email: info@rangun. diplo.de India 545-547, Merchant Street, Yangon. tel: 391219, 388412, 243972, fax: 254086, 250164, 388414, email: indiaembassy @mptmail. net.mm Indonesia 100, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. tel: 254465, 254469, 229750, fax: 254468, email: kukygn @indonesia.com.mm Israel 15, Khabaung Street, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. tel: 515115, fax: 515116, email: info@ yangon.mfa.gov.il Italy 3, Inya Myaing Road, Golden Valley, Yangon. tel: 527100, 527101, fax: 514565, email: ambyang.mail@ esteri.it Japan 100, Natmauk Road, Yangon. tel: 549644-8, 540399, 540400, 540411, 545988, fax: 549643 Embassy of the State of Kuwait Chatrium Hotel, Rm: No.416, 418, 420, 422, 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe Tsp, Tel: 544500. North Korea 77C, Shin Saw Pu Road, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. tel: 512642, 510205, fax: 510206 South Korea 97 University Avenue, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. tel: 527142-4, 515190, fax: 513286, email: hankuk@ kore mby.net.mm Lao A-1, Diplomatic Quarters, Tawwin Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. tel: 222482, fax: 227446, email: Laoembcab@ mptmail. net.mm Malaysia 82, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. tel: 220248, 220249, 220251, 220230, fax: 221840, email: mwkyangon@mptmail. net.mm Nepal 16, Natmauk Yeiktha, Yangon. tel: 545880, 557168, fax: 549803, email: nepemb @mptmail.net.mm Pakistan A-4, diplomatic Quarters, Pyay Road, Yangon. tel: 222881 (Chancery Exchange) fax: 221147, email: pakistan@ myanmar. com.mm Philippines 50, Sayasan Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. tel: 558149-151, fax: 558154, email: p.e. yangon@gmail.com Russian 38, Sagawa Road, Yangon. tel: 241955, 254161, fax: 241953, email: rusinmyan@mptmail .net.mm Serbia No. 114-A, Inya Road, P.O.Box No. 943Yangon. tel: 515282, 515283, fax: 504274, email: serbemb@ yangon.net.mm Singapore 238, Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. tel: 559001, fax: 559002, 559922, email: singemb_ ygn@_ sgmfa. gov.sg Sri Lanka 34 Taw Win Road, Yangon. tel: 222812, fax: 221509, email: slembassy. yangon@gmail.com, info@slembyangon.org, www.slembyangon.org Thailand 94 Pyay Road, Dagon Township, Yangon. tel: 226721, 226728, 226824, fax: 221713 United Kingdom 80 Kanna Road, Yangon. tel: 370867, 380322, 371852, 371853, 256438, 370863, 370864, 370865, fax: 370866 United States of America 110, University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Yangon. tel: 536509, 535756, 538038, fax: 650306 Vietnam Building No. 72, Thanlwin Road, Bahan Township, Yangon. tel: 511305, fax: 514897, email: vnemb myr@ cybertech.net.mm Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia No.287/289, U Wisara Rd, Sanchaung Tsp. tel : 01-536153, 516952, fax : 01-516951 UNITED NATIONS ILO Liaison Officer Rm (M1212~1220), 12 Fl-A, Traders Hotel. 223, tel: 242 393, 242811. fax: 242594. IOM 12th Flr, Traders Hotel, 223, tel: 252560 ext. 5002 UNAIDS Rm: (1223~1231), 12 Fl, Traders Hotel. tel: 252361, 252362, 252498. fax: 252364. UNDCP 11-A, Malikha St, Mayangone tsp. tel: 666903, 664539. fax: 651334. UNDP 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tel: 542910-19. fax: 292739. UNFPA 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tsp. tel: 546029. UNHCR 287, Pyay Rd, Sanchaung tsp. tel: 524022, 524024. fax 524031. UNIAP Rm: 1202, 12 Fl, Traders Hotel.tel: 254852, 254853. UNIC 6, Natmauk St., BHN tel: 52910~19 UNICEF 14~15 Flr, Traders Hotel. P.O. Box 1435, KTDA. tel: 375527~32, fax: 375552 email: unicef.yangon@unicef. org, www.unicef.org/myanmar. UNODC 11-A, Malikha Rd., Ward 7, MYGN. tel: 666903, 660556, 660538, 660398, 664539, fax: 651334. email: fo.myanmar@unodc.org www. unodc.org./myanmar/ UNOPS Inya Lake Hotel, 3rd floor, 37, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 951657281~7. Fax: 657279. UNRC 6, Natmauk Rd, P.O. Box 650, TMWE tel: 542911~19, 292637 (Resident Coordinator), fax: 292739, 544531. WFP 3rd-flr, Inya Lake Hotel, 37, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 657011~6 (6-lines) Ext: 2000. WHO 12A Fl, Traders Hotel. tel:250583. ASEAN Coordinating Of. for the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, 79, Taw Win st, Dagon Township. Ph: 225258. FAO Myanma Agriculture Service Insein Rd, Insein. tel: 641672, 641673. fax: 641561.

General Listing
ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS
Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe. tel: 544500. fax: 544400. Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966. fax: 227995. Thamada Hotel 5, Alan Pya Phaya Rd, Dagon. tel: 243639, 243640, 243641. Traders Hotel 223 Sule Pagoda Rd. tel: 242828. fax: 242838. Winner Inn 42, Than Lwin Rd, Bahan Tsp. tel: 535205, 524387. email: winnerinnmyanmar @gmail.com Yangon YMCA 263, Mahabandoola Rd, Botataung Tsp. tel: 294128, Yuzana Hotel 130, Shwegondaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, tel : 01-549600, 543367 Yuzana Garden Hotel 44, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp, tel : 01-248944

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS

Charted Certified, Certified Public Accountants. tel: 09-5010563. drtinlatt@matglobal.com

AIR CONDITION
Chigo No. 216, 38 Street (Upper), Kyauktada Tsp, tel : 373472

No.7A, Wingabar Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : (951) 546313, 430245. 09-731-77781~4. Fax : (01) 546313. www.cloverhotel.asia. info@cloverhotel.asia Confort Inn 4, Shweli Rd, Bet: Inya Rd & U Wisara Rd, Kamaryut, tel: 525781, 526872 Golden Aye Yeik Mon Hotel 4, Padauk Lane, 4th Word, Aye Yeik Mon Housing, Hlaing. tel: 681706. Hotel Yangon No. 91/93, 8th Mile Junction, Mayangone. tel : 01-667708, 667688. Inya Lake Resort Hotel 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 662866. fax: 665537. Orchid Hotel 91, Anawrahta street, Pazundaung Township, Yangon, . Tel: 399930, 704740, 293261. E-mail: orchidhotel@myanmar. com. mm.

ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS (NAy PyI TAw)

The First Air conditioning systems designed to keep you fresh all day GUNKUL Engineer supply Co., Ltd. No.437 (A), Pyay Road, Kamayut. P., O 11041 Yangon, Tel: +(95-1) 502016-8, Mandalay- Tel: 02-60933. Nay Pyi TawTel: 067-420778, E-mail freshaircon@gkmyanmar. com.mm. URL: http:// www.freshaircon.com General 83-91, G-F, Bo Aung Kyaw St, Kyauktada Tsp, tel : 706223, 371906

Reservation Office (Yangon) 262-264, Pyay Road, Dagon Centre, A# 03-01, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 95-1-501937, 536255, 09-520-0926.
The Oasis Hotel (Nay Pyi Taw)

ASTROLOGER
Saya Min Thoun Dara Astrologer No(2), Maha Wizaya Pagoda North Stairway, Dagon Tsp. tel: 296184

Tel: 95-67-422088, 422099

ACCOMMODATION LONG TERM

No. 205, Corner of Wadan Street & Min Ye Kyaw Swa Road, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon. Myanmar. Tel: (95-1) 212850 ~ 3, 229358 ~ 61, Fax: (95-1) 212854. info@myanmarpandahotel .com http://www. myanmarpandahotel.com Panorama Hotel 294-300, Pansodan Street, Kyauktada Tsp. tel: 253077. PARKROYAL Yangon, Myanmar 33, Alan Pya Pagoda Rd, Dagon tsp. tel: 250388. fax: 252478. email: enquiry.prygn@ parkroyalhotels.com Website: parkroyalhotels. com. Savoy Hotel 129, Damazedi Rd, Kamayut tsp. tel: 526289, 526298, Seasons of Yangon Yangon Intl Airport Compound. tel: 666699. Sweet Hotel 73, Damazedi Road, San Chaung Tsp, Ph: 539152 Sedona Hotel Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin. tel: 666900. Strand Hotel 92 Strand Rd. tel: 243377. fax: 289880. Easy Expat Accommodation Specialist in Yangon. Tel: 09-730-33776. Eco-Apartment Fully Furnished Ga 21, Pearl Centre (Pearl Condo), Bahan Tsp. Tel: 557488. Espace Avenir No 523, Pyay Rd, Kamaryut Tsp. tel: 505213-222. Golden Hill Towers 24-26, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. tel: 558556. ghtower@ mptmail.net.mm. Marina Residence 8, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 6506 51~4. fax: 650630. MiCasa Hotel Apartments 17, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp. tel: 650933. fax: 650960. Sakura Residence 9, Inya Rd, Kamaryut Tsp. tel: 525001. fax: 525002. The Grand Mee Ya Hta Executive Residence 372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan Tsp. tel 951-256355 (25 lines). fax: 951-256360. email: gmer@ mptmail.net.mm, www. grandmeeyahta.com Yangon City Villa (Residence) Pyay Rd, 8 Mile Junction, MYGN, tel: 513101

BARS
50th Street 9/13, 50th street-lower, Botataung Tsp. Tel-397160.

Green Garden Beer Gallery Mini Zoo, Karaweik Oo-Yin Kabar.

Emergency Numbers
Ambulance tel: 295133. Fire tel: 191, 252011, 252022. Police emergency tel: 199. Police headquarters tel: 282541, 284764. Red Cross tel:682600, 682368 Traffic Control Branch tel:298651 Department of Post & Telecommunication tel: 591384, 591387. Immigration tel: 286434. Ministry of Education tel:545500m 562390 Ministry of Sports tel: 370604, 370605 Ministry of Communications tel: 067-407037. Myanma Post & Telecommunication (MPT) tel: 067407007. Myanma Post & Tele-communication (Accountant Dept) tel: 254563, 370768. Ministry of Foreign Affairs tel: 067-412009, 067-412344. Ministry of Health tel: 067-411358-9. Yangon City Development Committee tel: 248112. HOSPITALS Central Womens Hospital tel: 221013, 222811. Children Hospital tel: 221421, 222807 Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital tel: 543888. Naypyitaw Hospital (emergency) tel: 420096. Workers Hospital tel: 554444, 554455, 554811. Yangon Children Hospital tel: 222807, 222808, 222809. Yangon General Hospital (East) tel: 292835, 292836, 292837. Yangon General Hospital (New) tel: 384493, 384494, 384495, 379109. Yangon General Hospital (West) tel: 222860, 222861, 220416. Yangon General Hospital (YGH) tel: 256112, 256123, 281443, 256131. ELECTRICITY Power Station tel:414235 POST OFFICE General Post Office 39, Bo Aung Kyaw St. (near British Council Library). tel: 285499. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Yangon International Airport tel: 662811. YANGON PORT Shipping (Coastal vessels) tel: 382722 RAILWAYS Railways information tel: 274027, 202175-8.

INYA1 Resturant & Bar No.(1), Inya Road, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: 01-527506 email: inyaone@gmail.com www.inya1.com

Strand Bar 92, Strand Rd, Yangon, Myanmar. tel: 243377.fax: 243393, sales@thestrand.com.mm www.ghmhotels.com

Lobby Bar PARKROYAL Yangon, Myanmar. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. tel: 250388.

mt QuiCk guide
March 30 - April 8, 2012
ADvERTISING
wE STARTEd THE AdvERTISInG IndUSTRY In MYAnMAR SInCE 1991

36
the

MyanMar tiMes

Inya Day Spa 16/2, Inya Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 537907, 503375.

SAIL Marketing & Communications Suite 403, Danathiha Center 790, Corner of Bogyoke Rd & Wadan Rd, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 211870, 224820, 2301195. Email: admin@ advertising-myanmar.com www.advertising-myanmar. com

Room - 4021, 3 Floor, Taw Win Centre. Ph: 8600111 (Ext:4021), 09-803-2581.
rd

MYANMAR BOOK CENTRE Nandawun Compound, No. 55, Baho Road, Corner of Baho Road and Ahlone Road, (near Eugenia Restaurant), Ahlone Township. tel: 212 409, 221 271. 214708 fax: 524580. email: info@ myanmarbook.com

CONSTRUCTION

ENTERTAINMENT

GAS COOKER & COOKER HOODS

24 hours Laboratory & X-ray No. 330, Ground Flr, Yangon Intl Hotel, Ahlone Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 218388, (951) 218292 Fax: (951) 218389

CAFS

BEAUTY & MASSAGE

Qi Foot Spa At Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon. Tel: +951-662866, 662857 Ext: 1725 Zen Wellness Care No.62 (A), Rm-3, Yaw Min Gyi St, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: +951-252939.

Zamil Steel No-5, Pyay Road, 7 miles, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (95-1) 652502~04. Fax: (95-1) 650306. Email: zamilsteel@ zamilsteel.com.mm

Dance Lessons Mon-Fri 12:00 to 23:00. Sat-Sun 10 am to 8 pm Fun dancing Friday nights with Filipino musicians 4, U Tun Myat St, Tamwe. Tel: 01-541 550 The Uranium Dance Studio Pearl condo Bldg (C), 2nd flr, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 09731-42624, 09-514-0404.

Yangon : A-3, Aung San Stadium (North East Wing), Mingalartaungnyunt Tsp. Tel : 245543, 09-730-37772. Mandalay : Room No.(B,C) (National Gas), 35th St, Btw 80th & 81st, Chanayetharzan Tsp. Tel : 09-6803505, 02 34455, 36748, 71878.

La Brasserie (International) PARKROYAL Yangon. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. tel : 250388. Cafe de Angel Always Pure & Fresh No.24, Baho Rd, Ahlone Tsp. tel : 703449 Opening Hour: 9 am to 11 pm

DUTY FREE

GENERATORS
Heavy Equipments & Genset

FITNESS CENTRE
Espace Avenir 523, Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Tel : 505214, 505222 FIT Club - Rm 101~3, Marina Residence, 8, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Tel : 650634, 650651 Ext:102 Parkroyal Fitness & Spa Parkroyal Yangon. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. Tel: 250388.

A Little Dayspa No. 475 C, Pyi Road, (Between Sweety Home & Shwe Kant Kaw Silk) Kamayut, Yangon. Tel: 09-431-28831.

La Source Beauty Spa 80(A), Inya Rd, Kamayut. tel: 512 380, 511 252. Sedona Hotel, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 666 900 My Way Diamond Condo, Bldg(A), Rm (G-02), Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 52717, 09 51 70528

We are moving to: 17, 2nd street, Hlaing Yadanarmon Housing, Hlaing Township, Yangon. Tel: 500143, 500144, 500145.

Winning Way No. 589-592, Bo Aung Kyaw St, Yangon-Pathein highway Road. Hlaing Thayar Tsp. Tel: 951645178-182, 685199, Fax: 951-645211, 545278. e-mail: mkt-mti@ winstrategic.com.mm

24 hours Cancer centre No. 330, Yangon International Hotel, Ahlone Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 218388, 218292 Fax: (951) 218389

INYA1 Resturant & Bar No.(1), Inya Road, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: 01-527506 email: inyaone@gmail.com www.inya1.com Traders Caf Traders Hotel, Yangon. #223, Sule Pagoda Rd. Tel: 242828 ext: 6519

EDUCATION CENTRE
MHR Business & Management Institute 905, 9th floor, Modern Iron Market(Thanzay Condo) Lanmadaw St. tel: 707822. NELC (Nelson English Language Centre Young Learner & Adults No 53, Dhamayon Street, Myaynigone, Sanchaung Tsp. tel: 534287 NLEC 82 Anawrahta Rd, Corner of 39 St, Kyauktada Tsp. tel: 250225. RV! Centre Yangon Tel: 535433, 541886, 242410, 250388 Ext: 333. email: ask@rvcenre.com.sg The British Council 92, Strand Rd, Kyauktada Tsp. tel: 254658.

HOME FURNISHING

Traders Hotel, 5th Floor Tel: 242828,Ext: Coreana. Sedona Hotel, Mandalay Ground Fl. Tel: 02-36488, Ext: Coreana

BATTERY

CHOCOLATE
ISO 9001:2008 (QMS)

Mr. Betchang No.(272), Pyay Rd, DNH Tower, Rm No.(503), 5th flr, Sanchaung Tsp, Tel: 095041216 The Yangon GYM Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966. Traders Health Club. Level 5, Traders Hotel Yangon#223 Sule Pagoda Rd, Tel: 951 242828 Ext: 6561

22, Pyay Rd, 9 mile, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 660769, 664363. Home Plus Trading Co., Ltd. No. 457, Aung San Stadium, Mingalartungnyunt Tsp. tel: 394888. Fax: 393008.

24 hours Medical centre No. 330, Ground Flr, Yangon Intl Hotel, Ahlone Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. 24 hour Call Centre : (951) 218 445 Clinic : (959) 4921 8159 Office : (951) 218 446 Fax : (951) 218 389 www.leomedicare.com
Shimmering Gold Services Co., Ltd.
vICTORY fOR LIfE

BANGKOK, THAILAND

HEALTH SERvICES

SR 22/1, Next to the Pearl Shopping Centre, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 544297, 549527, 700777. email: eros@ mptmail.net.mm.

Proven Technology Industry Co., Ltd. No. FS 14, Bayintnaung Rd, Shwe Sabai Yeik Mon, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 951-951-701719~20, 527667, 531030, 531041, 530694. Fax: 527667, 531030. http//www. toyobatterymyanmar.com.

G-A, Ground Floor, Pearl Center, Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Yangon. Tel: 09 500 6880 Email: chocolateheaven. sale@gmail.com

FLORAL SERvICES

81, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel: 548022, 542979, 553783, 09-8030847, 09-730-56079. Email: asiapacific. myanmar@gmail.com.

VEJTHANI MYANMAR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE No.125(C), West Shwe Gon Dine Road, Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar. 01-3449977. Hot Line: 09-507-1111, 01-555448, 555998. vejthani@myanmar.com.mm www.vejthani.com

Lemon Day Spa No. 96 F, Inya Road, Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 514848, 09-732-08476. E.mail: lemondayspa.2011 @gmail.com Saw Peter Foot Reflexology Oil Massage, Body Massage, Foot Massage. Any time you want at your place. Tel : 09-518-8047.

BOOK STORES

COLD STORAGE

ELECTRICAL

LEGAL SERvICE
U Min Sein, BSc, RA, CPA.,RL Advocate of the Supreme Court 83/14 Pansodan St, Yangon. tel: 253 273. uminsein@mptmail.net.mm

Innwa Book Store No. 246, Rm.201/301, GF, Pansodan Street (Upper Block), Kyauktada Tsp. Tel. 389838, 243216, 374324, 514387

Est. 1992 in Myanmar Cold Storage Specialist, Solar Hot Water Storage Solutions. Tel: 09-504-2196, 09-73194828. E-mail: gei.ygn2@ gmail.com, glover2812@ gmail.com

Est. 1992 in Myanmar Electrical & Mechanical Contractors, Designers, Consultants. Tel: 09-504-2196, 09-73194828. E-mail: gei.ygn2@ gmail.com, glover2812@ gmail.com

Floral Service & Gift Shop No. 449, New University Avenue, Bahan Tsp. YGN. Tel: 541217, 559011, 09-860-2292. Market Place By City Mart Tel: 523840~43, 523845~46, Ext: 205. Junction Nay Pyi Taw Tel: 067-421617~18 422012~15, Ext: 235. Res: 067-414813, 09-49209039. Email : eternal@ mptmail.net.mm

Agent Office, 5th Floor, Junction Centre (Maw Tin), Lanmadaw Township, Yangon. Myanmar. Ph: 09-731-56770, 09-5117584, Fax: 01-516313, myanmarmeditour@gmail. com Bumrungrad Intl Rm 238, Summit Parkview Hotel, Dagon Tsp. tel: 723999, 211888. Ext: 8238.

MARINE COMMUNICATION & NAvIGATION

Floral Service & Gift Centre 102(A), Dhamazaydi Rd, Yangon.tel: 500142 Summit Parkview Hotel, tel: 211888, 211966 ext. 173 fax: 535376.email: sandy@ sandymyanmar.com.mm.

Top Marine Show Room No-385, Ground Floor, Lower Pazundaung Road, Pazundaung Tsp, Yangon. Ph: 01-202782, 09-851-5597

Foral Service & Gifts shop No.2, Corner of Khay Mar St & Baho Rd (Near Asia Royal Hospital), Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. email: yangonflorist@ myanmar.com.mm. Tel: 01-510406, 09-73184714.

No. 365/367, Bo Aung Kyaw st (Upper), IHBC, Kyauktada Tsp. Tel: 392484 , 389824, 09803-0166. Fax: 392590. Email: radiant.aesthetics @gmail.com. Web: www. kembanganradiant.com

MARKET RESEARCH

MMRD Research BLDG C, New Mingalar Market, 10-story BLDG, 8 & 9 flr, Coner of Mill St & Banyardala Rd, Mingalar Taungnyunt Tsp. Tel: 200326, 200846, 201350. Fax: 202425.

FOAM SPRAY INSULATION

Acupuncture, Medicine Massage, Foot Spa Add:No,27(A),Ywa Ma Kyaung Street, Hlaing Township, Yangon. Tel: 01-511122, 526765. Piyavate Hospital (Bangkok) Myanmar Represent ative (Head office) Miba Gon Yee Business Group, No.506, 5th-fl, Yuzana Twin Tower, (No.8, Pangyan Tower) Cor of Dhama Zedi & Bargayar Rd, SCHG Tsp. Tel: 500600, 500800, 500900. Fax: 539799. hotline: +9595018777. piyavate@ myanmar.com.mm www.piyavate.com PHIH-Specialist Clinic FMI Centre (4th Floor) #380, Bogyoke Aung San Road, Pabedan Tsp. tel: 243 010, 243 012, 243 013

Media & Advertising

Foam Spray Insulation No-410, Ground Floor, Lower Pazuntaung Road, Pazuntaung Tsp, Yangon. Telefax : 01-203743, 09730-26245, 09-500-7681. Hot Line-09-730-30825.

FURNITURE
NatRay Co., Ltd. Rm 807, La Pyayt Wun Plaza. tel : 01-370833, 370836

Intuitive Design, Advertising, Interior Decoration Corporate logo/Identity/ Branding, Brochure/ Profile Booklet/ Catalogue/ Billboard, Corporate diary/ email newsletter/ annual reports, Magazine, journal advertisement and 3D presentation and detailed planning for any interior decoration works. Talk to us: (951) 430-897, 553-918 www.medialane.com.au 58B Myanma Gon Yaung Housing, Than Thu Mar Road, Tamwe, Yangon.

37
the

mt QuiCk guide
March 30 - April 8, 2012
Signature Near U Htaung Bo Round, about Bahan Tsp. tel: 546488, 543387.

MyanMar tiMes
SCHOOLS
ASIA Language & Business Academy (All classes are taught by native English-speaking teachers), No-66, Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel:+95-1376236, 376314, 384055.

OFFICE FURNITURE
Schenker (Thai) Ltd. Yangon 59 A, U Lun Maung Street. 7 Mile Pyay Road, MYGN. tel: 667686, 666646.fax: 651250. email: sche nker@mptmail.net.mm.

Streamline Education 24, Myasabai Rd, Parami, Myangone Tsp. tel: 662304, 09-500-6916. No.35(b), Tatkatho Yeik Mon Housing, New University Avenue, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel: 951-549451, 557219, 540730. www.yangon-academy.org

Monday to Saturday (9am to 6pm) No. 797, MAC Tower II, Room -4, Ground Floor, Bogyoke Aung San Road, Lamadaw Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 212944 Ext: 303 sales.centuremyanmar@ gmail.com www.centure.in.th

Kohaku Japanese Restaurant Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp, Lobby Level, Tel: 544500 Ext 6231

PLEASURE CRUISES

Bo Sun Pat Tower, Bldg 608, Rm 6(B), Cor of Merchant Rd & Bo Sun Pat St, PBDN Tsp. Tel: 377263, 250582, 250032, 09-511-7876, 09-862-4563.

Bldg No. 12, Yangon Intl Compound, Ahlone Road. Tel: 09-431-85008, 09-731-60662. sales@corrianderleaf.com

Enchanting and Romantic, a Bliss on the Lake 62 D, U Tun Nyein Road, Mayangon Tsp, Yangon Tel. 01 665 516, 660976 Mob. 09-512-7795 operayangon@gmail.com www.operayangon.com The Ritz Exclusive Lounge Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp, Ground Floor, Tel: 544500 Ext 6243, 6244

RESTAURANTS

Horizon Intl School 25, Po Sein Road, Bahan Tsp, tel : 541085, 551795, 551796, 450396~7. fax : 543926, email : contact@horizonmyanmar. com, www.horizon.com ILBC 180, Thunandar 9th Lane, Thumingalar Housing, Thingungyung.tel: 562401.

SOLAR SYSTEM
The Brightest AC CFL Bulb 21, 9th St, Lanmadaw Tsp. Ph: 212243, 216861, 216864. spsolarstation@ gmail.com. www. spsolarstation.com

STEEL CONSTRUCTION

Moby Dick Tours Co., Ltd. Islands Safari in the Mergui Archipelago 4 Days, 6 Days, 8 Days Trips Tel: 95 1 202063, 202064 E-mail: mobydicktours@ gmail.com. Website: www. moby-dick-adventures.com

24 hours open. 5, Alan Pya Phaya Rd, Dagon Tsp, inside Thamada Hotel. tel 243640, 243047, Ext: 32.

22, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. tel 541997. email: leplanteur@ mptmail.net.mm. http://leplanteur.net Tiger Hill Chinese Restaurant Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp, Lobby Level, Tel: 544500 Ext 6253 Traders Gourmet Corner Level 1, Traders Hotel, #223 Sule Pagoda Road, Kyauktada Tsp. Tel : 242828 ext : 6503 Traders Gallery Bar Level 2, Traders Hotel, #223 Sule Pagoda Road. tel: 242 828. ext: 6433 Traders Lobby Lounge Level 1, Traders Hotel, #223 Sule Pagoda Road. tel: 242 828. ext: 6456

Lunch/Dinner/Catering 555539, 536174 Road to Mandalay Myanmar Hotels & Cruises Ltd. Governors Residence 39C, Taw Win Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. tel: (951) 229860 fax: (951) 217361. email: RTMYGN@mptmail.net.mm www.orient-express.com Black Canyon Coffee & International Thai Cuisine 330, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. Tel: 0980 21691, 395052. email: blackcanyon@ yangon. net.mm.

ILBC IGCSE SCHOOL No.(34), Laydauntkan Road, Tamwe Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 542982, 545720, 549106,545736,400156 Fax: 541040 Email: info@ilbc.net.mm www.ilbcedu.com ISM Intl School W 22/24, Mya Kan Thar Housing, Hlaing Tsp. tel:530082, 530083. International School Yangon 20, Shwe Taung Kyar St, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 512793.

PEB Steel Buildings 60 (A), Halpin Road, Yangon. Tel: 01-218223, 218224. Fax: 218224. marketing@pebsteel.com. mm www.pebsteel.com.mm

SUPERMARKETS
Asia Light 106, Set Yone Rd.tel: 294074, 294083. Capital Hyper Mart 14(E), Min Nandar Road, Dawbon Tsp. Ph: 553136. City Mart (Aung San Branch) tel: 253022, 294765. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (47th St Branch) tel: 200026, 298746. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Junction 8 Branch) tel: 650778. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (FMI City Branch) tel: 682323. City Mart (Yankin Center Branch) tel: 400284. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Myaynigone Branch) tel: 510697. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Zawana Branch) tel:564532. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Shwe Mya Yar Branch) tel: 294063. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Chinatown Point Branch) tel: 215560~63. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Junction Maw Tin Branch) tel: 218159. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Marketplace) tel: 523840~43. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (78th Brahch-Mandalay) tel: 02-71467~9. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) IKON Mart IKON Trading Co., Ltd. No.332, Pyay Rd, San Chaung P.O (11111), Yangon,

Myanmar. Tel: 95-1-535783, 527705, 501429. Fax: 95-1-527705. Email: salesikon@myanmar.com.mm Junction Mawtin Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Cor of Wadan St. Lanmadaw Tsp. Tel: Junction Square Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: Ocean Supercentre (North Point ), 9th Mile, Mayangone Tsp. Tel: 651 200, 652963. Pick n Pay Hyper Market Bldg (A,B,C), (14~16), Shwe Mya Yar Housing, Mya Yar Gone St, Mingalartaungnyunt Tsp. Tel: 206001~3, Fax: 9000199 Sein Gay Har 44, Pyay Rd, Dagon Tsp. Tel: 383812, 379823. Super 1 (Kyaikkasan) 65, Lay Daunt Kan St, Tel: 545871~73 Super 1 (Shwe Bonthar) 397, Bogyoke Aung San St, Pabedan. Tel: 250268~29 Victoria Shwe Pone Nyet Yeik Mon, Bayint Naung Rd, Kamaryut Tsp. Tel : 515136.

TRAvEL AGENTS

No.5, U Htun Nyein St, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 656611, 09-431-35406. Email: info@ mesamisyangon.com Monsoon Restaurant & Bar 85/87, Thein Byu Road, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 295224, 09-501 5653.

Asian Trails Tour Ltd 73 Pyay Rd, Dagon tsp. tel: 211212, 223262. fax: 211670. email: res@ asiantrails.com.mm Htoo Travels 209/c, first flr, Shwe Gonedaing Rd, Bahan. Tel: 548554, 548039. Sun Far Travels & Tours 27, Ground flr, 38th st, Kyauktada Tsp. Tel: 380888.

PAINT
No.430(A), Corner of Dhamazedi Rd & Golden Valley Rd, Building(2) Market Place (City Mart), Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-523840(Ext-309), 09-73208079.

Admissions Office: No. 44, Than Lwin Road, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel: 535433, 09-850-3073. Email: rviacademygn@ rvcentre.com.sg

TOP MARINE PAINT No-410, Ground Floor, Lower Pazundaung Road, Pazundaung Tsp, Yangon. Ph: 09-851-5202

REMOvALISTS

Crown Worldwide Movers Ltd 790, Rm 702, 7th Floor Danathiha Centre, Bogyoke Aung San Road, Lanmadaw Township. tel: 223288, 210 670, 227650. ext: 702. fax: 229212. email: crown worldwide@mptmail.net.mm

Italian delicatesse & Ice-cream No.150, Dhamazadi Rd, Bahan Tsp. (Monunent Book Shop) Open Daily 9:00am to 7:00pm. Italian Ice-cream, Pasta, Pizza & Bar (2) G/F, City Mart, Myaynigone Centre. tel : 508469, 508470 ext. 113 Open Daily 9:00am to 10:00pm.

No. 105/107, Kha-Yae-Bin Road. between Pyi Daung Su Yeik Tha (Halpin) and Manawhari Road/Ahlone Road, Dagon Tsp. Tel/Fax: 538895, Tel: 09730-29973, 09-540-9469.
padonmar.restaurant@ gmail.com. www.myanmarrestaurantpadonmar.com

WATER HEATERS

Legendary Myanmar Intl Shipping & Logistics Co., Ltd. No-9, Rm (A-4), 3rd Flr, Kyaung St, Myaynigone, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 516827, 523653, 516795. Mobile. 09-512-3049. Email: legandarymyr@ mptmail.net .mm www.LMSL-shipping.com

House of Memories Piano Bar & Restaurant Myanmar Cuisine & International Food 290, U Wizara Rd, Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon. tel: 525 195, 534 242. e-mail: houseofmemories 9@gmail.com

Pansweltaw Express Cafe: 228, Ahlone Rd, Ahlone Tsp. Tel: 215363 (1)-Rm-309, 3rd flr, Ocean, East Point Shopping Center, Pazundaung Tsp. Tel: 397900 Ext: 309. (2)G-Flr, Ocean North Point Shopping Center. Tel:652959, 652960, Ext: 133. www.pansweltaw.com E-mail: pansweltaw@ myanmar.com.mm

1. WASABI : No.20-B, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp,(Near MiCasa), Tel; 666781,09-503-9139 2. WASABI SUSHI : Market Place by City Mart (1st Floor). Tel; 09-430-67440 Myaynigone (City Mart) Yankin Center (City Mart) Junction Mawtin (City Mart)

95, Anawrahta Rd. Tel:296552, 293754. 336, Pyay Rd, Sanchaung Tsp. Tel: 526456. New University Avenue, 551521, 551951, 553896. U Wisara Rd, Tel: 524599, 501976.

The Global leader in Water Heaters A/1, Aung San Stadium East Wing, Upper Pansodan Road. Tel: 251033, 09-730-25281.

Phoenix Court (Chinese) PARKROYAL Yangon. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. tel: 250388.

Kandawgyi (Royal Lake) Park, Yangon. (opposite of Eye Hospital) Ph: 556837, 556838. Fax: 556875. E-mail: whitericeyangon@gmail.com www.whiterice-myanmar. com

LANGUAGE
Bilingual Language Centre Teaching Myanmar to Non-Myanmar No.7 (Gournd Floor), Thu-Kha-Main Street, Myaynigone, San Chaung. Tel: 09-500-6431, nyalinphyu@gmail.com

INYA1 Resturant & Bar No.(1), Inya Road, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: 01-527506 email: inyaone@gmail.com www.inya1.com

Yangon International School Fully Accredited K-12 International Curriculum with ESL support No.117,Thumingalar Housing, Thingangyun Township, Yangon. Tel: 578171, 573149 www.yismyanmar.net Yangon International School New Early Childhood Center Pan Hlaing Golf Estate Housing & U Tun Nyo Street, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon. Tel: 687701, 687702 Kangaroo Child Care 55, Aung Min Gaung 1st Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: 501 568, 09 504 7732.

Same as Rinnai Gas cooker and cooker Hood Showroom Address

Water Heater

WEB SERvICES

Shiki-Tel (Japanese) PARKROYAL Yangon. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. tel: 250388.

World-class Web Services Tailor-made design, Professional research & writing for Brochure/ Catalogue/e-Commerce website, Customised business web apps, online advertisement and anything online. Talk to us: (951) 430-897, 553-918 www.medialane.com.au 58B Myanma Gon Yaung Housing. Than Thu Mar Road, Tamwe, Yangon.

sPort
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

38
MyanMar tiMes

Alonso wins rainy, crazy Malaysian GP

By Talek Harris SEPANG, Malaysia Ferraris Fernando Alonso won the rain-interrupted Malaysian Grand Prix in thrilling style on March 25 to claim his first victory in eight months and throw the early title race wide open. Alonso survived a lengthy rain suspension, a rash of spins and mishaps and a strong challenge from Saubers Sergio Perez to finish the years second race ahead of the Mexican driver, with McLarens Lewis Hamilton third. Spains Alonso, a twotime world champion, was nobodys pre-race favourite in the clunky F2012, but he emerged from the chaos caused by torrential rains at the head of the pack and doggedly clung on for victory. Its an unbelievable result and a great job from the team, Alonso said. We maximised the potential we had in our hands. Its a tough time for us at the moment but we will remember this Sunday [March 25]. Perez pushed hard for his first win and looked set to steal victory from Alonso until he dramatically overshot a turn on lap 50. But he still managed seal his maiden trip to the podium and Saubers best result since they reverted to the ownership of their founder, Peter Sauber, in 2009. I wanted the win and I thought it was possible, once the safety car withdrew for lap 14, it was the signal for some frenzied action as drivers dived into the pits for intermediate tyres on the drying track. Button smashed up his front wing in the collision with HRTs Karthikeyan and needed his third pit stop, pushing him way down to 21st. On lap 18 Alonso led followed by Perez, Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel and Raikkonen. Vettel and Raikkonen both nipped past Rosberg on laps 23 and 24 to leave the German world champion behind Hamilton in third spot. Alonso was driving his unloved Ferrari to the limit, but his big lead was whittled down to just a couple of seconds by Perez before both joined the rush to pit for slick tyres around lap 40. When they resumed Alonso was seven seconds in front but Perez was soon back on the Spaniards tail, setting up a gripping dogfight in the closing laps distracted only by a nasty puncture for Vettel, who slipped back. But when Perez went offcourse with six laps to go, Alonso was able to claim his first win since the British Grand Prix last July and conclude a remarkable weekend for the Ferrari camp. The first five drivers are separated by just 13 points in the overall standings as the 20-stop season heads to the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 15. AFP

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain powers his car through the rain during Formula Ones Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on March 25. Pic: AFP smiled the Mexican, who is rumoured to be in Ferraris sights to replace the struggling Felipe Massa. It never happened but Im very happy and proud with this second place. Red Bulls Mark Webber was fourth with former world champion Kimi Raikkonen fifth for Lotus. German great Michael Schumacher, who started third on the grid, span early in the race and finished 10th. But there were no points for McLarens Jenson Button, who won last weeks season-opener in Australia, after he collided with Indias Narain Karthikeyan and dropped to the back of the pack, finally coming in 14th. Red Bulls reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel also endured a torrid day as a spectacular rear tyre blowout left him in 11th. After days of mostly dry weather, black clouds rolled over Sepang and the rain fell, right on cue, as the Malaysian anthem was played. Pole-sitter Hamilton, who was passed by Button at the front of the grid From page 40 the riders starting one at a time with the goal of getting to the bottom of the narrow 1.5 kilometre (1 mile) track as quickly as possible. The fastest time of 2 minutes, 53 seconds was clocked by Myat Thuya Zaw (Institute of Sport and Physical Education), while second and third places were taken by Soe Thant from the institute (2 minutes, 55 seconds) and Aung Naing Tun from the Mandalay Free Riders (3 minutes, 18 seconds) respectively. Sai Aung Hlaing Sai (Mandalay Free Riders) and Ben Rowse (Bike World) rounded out the top five. The BMX races attracted five male and two female competitors. The top three in the mens event were Zar Ni, Thuya Zaw and Kyaw Tun Oo, in that order, all from the Institute of Sport and Physical Education. Lway Aye Shwe Yin from the institute won the womens race. John Singh, chief commissar for the Myanmar Cycling Federation (MCF), described the weekend of racing as very fine. At present we are doing our best to prepare for the SEA Games. We have new, young bloods coming up and I think the future is golden in Melbourne last week, survived a furious challenge from his team-mate at the start and he emerged from the first corner with his lead intact. But as the cars kicked up plumes of spray, it was only a matter of time before they started spinning and the first casualty was wet-weather maestro Schumacher, who dropped down the field. The rain immediately turned torrential and Ferraris Massa was the first in for wet-weather tyres, followed immediately by the other drivers in a chaotic few minutes in the pit lane. Lotuss young Frenchman Romain Grosjean span into the gravel and out of the race, Mercedes Nico Rosberg went off-course and Button radioed that the last sector was like a lake before the safety car came out on lap seven. And as the rain came down in buckets, the race was suspended shortly afterwards, evoking memories of Buttons stormshortened victory in 2009. But less than an hour later they were back out and

Cullen secures maiden title with Indonesia Open win

JAKARTA - Australian golfer Nick Cullen stumbled to his first professional title on March 25, winning the US$1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesian Open the first event of this years OneAsia schedule. The left-hander carded a two-over-par 74 to hold off a brave challenge from David Smail, pipping the a different climate and food. Cullen looked to be cruising to victory with five holes to play, leading the chasing pack by four shots. However a triple bogey at the fourteenth and shots picked up elsewhere meant he was level with Smail, American David Oh and Japans Yoshikazu Haku with two holes to play. An impressive birdie at the seventeenth and a neat up and down on the final hole was enough to beat Smail, who shot a threeunder-par 69, by one shot. Cu llen fin ished with a four-round aggregate of nine-under-par 279 and earned a cheque for $172,000. Haku, Oh, and New Zealands Michael Long finished tied for third, two shots off the pace. Long carded a 65, the lowest round of the week. The next OneAsia event is the Volvo China Open at Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin, to be played from April 19 to 22. The OneAsia circuit was established in 2009 as a joint venture between the PGA Tour of Australasia, the China Golf Association, the Korean Golf Association and the Korean PGA. AFP

I have been practicing hard

and playing well but I didnt know what to expect when I came here.

New Zealand player to victory by just one shot. This means the world to me, 27-year-old Cullen said afterwards in comments released by tournament organisers. I have been practicing hard and playing well but I didnt know what to expect when I came here. It is only my second time playing in Asia and its very different compared with playing at home particularly with

A cyclist careers downhill during the mountain bike cross Taw on March 25 Pic: Douglas Long for them. We have a camp we need some electronic where our athletes train timing equipment to be around the week under the more perfect, he said. Third-place mountain guidance of a South Korean bike cross-country finisher coach, he said. M r S i n g h s a i d t h e Charlie Nathanson, a events in Nay Pyi Taw laboratory consultant for would help not only the quality control for clinical athletes but also the MCF laboratories, said the race in preparing for next years course designed for the SEA Games was fantastic. SEA Games. I was really surprised. This was the first national-level event for Its great and its hard and cross-country, downhill and Im sure [the MCF] can do a BMX ever held in Myanmar. good job for the SEA games, It is a great experience for he said. The race had great us, especially for the down organisation, its been a hill event, learning how to fantastic atmosphere, and communicate. We looked at its just fantastic to come the events [at the 2011 SEA here. Its a nice place to Games in Indonesia] and organise the whole event.

country race in Nay Pyi However, he added that the local cyclists had quite a bit of work to do before they could be competitive at the international level. Some of the Myanmar cyclists were much better than I expected, but in general its quite clear that theres a bit to be done for the cycling here in the country, Mr Nathanson said. The total prize list for the entire weekend of racing was K4.96 million, including K330,000, K180,000 and K130,000 respectively for the top three finishers in each event.

39
the

sPort
March 30 - April 8, 2012

MyanMar tiMes

Kalou strike gives Chelsea edge on Benfica

By Rob Woollard LISBON Chelsea took a huge step towards the last four of the Champions League here on March 27 after scoring a 1-0 victory over Portuguese giants Benfica in their quarterfinal first-leg match. A 7 5 th- m i n u t e s t r i k e from Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea a hard-fought win at the Stadium of Light after Benfica had carved out the better chances but failed to land the knockout blow against their Premier League opponents. The result also represented vindication for interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo, who had taken a huge gamble by surprisingly omitting veterans Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien from his starting line-up. The win puts Chelsea firmly on course to reach their sixth Champions League semi-final in nine seasons heading into next weeks return leg. Its terrific, you couldnt have hoped for a better result, a delighted Di Matteo said. I thought we looked good defensively. For 90 minutes we had to run and tackle, and I had to select a team that had the energy to compete. Nothing is over. There is still another 90 minutes to play. But we will have home advantage and we will try and qualify. Di Matteo admitted he had taken a risk by opting to start with goalscorer Kalou. Hes come into the team after a long spell out, he got the goal and had a great game, he said. I didnt think it was a gamble but sometimes in life you have to take a little risk. With the fact we are playing all these games, it was important to select a team that had the energy for a high-tempo game. A subdued first half saw neither side manage to get a grip on the game, with Chelsea failing to get a shot on target until Raul Meireles tested Artur with a fierce low strike on 40 minutes. Benfica were scarcely much better, although the movement of Oscar Cardozo and Nicolas Gaitan had hinted at the home sides attacking threat. Cardozo had been the first to draw a save from Petr Cech on 11 minutes, Chelsea forward Fernando Torres (centre) shoots at goal during their UEFA Champions League football match against Benfica at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, on March 27. Pic: AFP but his tame header from Gaitans cross on the left was comfortably gathered by the Chelsea goalkeeper. Gaitan was back in the thick of it on 20 minutes, threatening the Chelsea area following a quick freekick only to shoot wide after getting goal-side of John Terry. Chelsea forays into Benfica territory were few and far between, with Fernando Torress high and wide shot on 22 minutes the sum total of their early efforts. Benfica had one of the few attempts on goal in the 33 rd minute when Bruno Cesar cut in from the right and shot, but again Cech was equal to the challenge, collecting the effort with relative ease. It looked as if Chelsea were going to go an entire half without testing the Benfica goal before Meireles finally found his range five minutes before the break. Ashley Cole picked out the Portuguese midfielder in space near the edge of the area and he unleashed a powerful low drive that Artur parried behind. Benfica came out for the second half with a far greater sense of purpose and threatened the Chelsea goal twice in the opening five minutes. Only a desperate goal-line clearance from David Luiz prevented a Benfica goal on 48 minutes, the Brazilian defender blocking Cardozos thumping shot from the edge of the area. Two minutes later Benfica were back on the attack, Pablo Aimar jinking forward and feeding Cesar, who tested Cech with a dipping long-range shot. Yet Chelsea also had a golden opportunity to open the scoring on 53 minutes. Torres curled in an inviting cross from the left but the unmarked Kalou could only head over from eight metres with the goal begging. Benfica remained in the ascendancy but Chelsea again were given a clear chance on goal on the 60minute mark. A long clearance by Cech somehow eluded all of Benficas defence and found Juan Mata, who touched past Artur to go through on goal. The acute angle proved too much for the Spaniard, however, and his shot cannoned back off the upright. Yet Benfica continued to look the likeliest to score, and Axel Witsels deflected long-range shot flew just over on 65 minutes after a desperate block from John Terry. A brilliant Cech save from Jardels powerful closerange header then denied Benfica on 67 minutes as Chelsea survived again. But with 15 minutes to go Chelsea struck with a goal from nothing. Ramires, whose pace down the right had troubled Benfica all evening, once again surged down the flank into space. The Brazilian midfielder fed Torres, who looked up and picked out Kalou, who jabbed home from close range to stun the Stadium of Light into silence. Benfica never recovered their rhythm and Chelsea held on as the Portuguese side were beaten at home in Europe for the first time this season. AFP

Rooney keeps lucky United ahead in hunt for record title

By Neil Johnston MANCHESTER - Wayne Rooney kept Manchester United on course for a record 20th title after hitting the winner in a 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford on March 26. Rooneys 21st top-flight goal of the season, which arrived towards the end of the first half, proved enough to see off spirited midtable opposition. The result sent Sir Alex Fergusons side, who have won their last six league games, three points clear of neighbours Manchester City at the top of the table with eight games remaining. It was far from vintage United, but with their next four games against teams in the bottom six, it is difficult to see where United are going to slip up. For an hour we played very well and we made some decent opportunities but you have to give credit to Fulham, Ferguson told Sky Sports. They had more left than we did in the last 15 minutes. I think they had a claim [for a penalty], theres no doubt. We had a claim in the first half. Maybe the referee was thinking about that, but certainly Michael Carrick caught Danny Murphys heel. Having destroyed struggling Wolves 5-0 in their last outing, United were hoping Fulham would prove equally obliging opponents with the league delicately poised. Fulham spent the opening exchanges penned inside their own half. But this was a night for patience as United struggled to impose themselves until Rooney struck three minutes before the interval. Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs headed an early chance straight at keeper Mark Schwarzer while Patrice Evra proved an unlikely goal threat in the 32nd minute with an overhead kick which flashed narrowly wide. But the ruthless finishing which was so evident eight days earlier at Molineux was missing as Fulham created just as many chances as United before the interval. Not for the first time this season, Clint Dempsey was his teams main goal threat. The United States international twice tested David De Gea in the space of a few minutes, his second effort a lovely attempted curler from the edge of the area which had Uniteds Spanish keeper diving at full stretch to claw away. Yet just when Fulham thought they had survived the opening half without damage, Rooney pounced from close range after Jonny Evans had teed-up the striker from Ashley Youngs 42nd minute cross following a mistake by John Arne-Riise. The sighs of relief could be heard all around the ground. United, who meet City in what could be a winner-take-all game on April 30, dominated possession after the interval but were unable to add to their tally. Schwarzer was forced into action when Giggs played the ball over the top for Antonio Valencia, who seemed likely to score, but his shot was straight at the Australian international. With 15 minutes remaining, United spurned a glorious chance to double their advantage. Schwarzer, who had an excellent game, twice denied Young before Giggs had a goal-bound effort blocked by Brede Hangeland. United survived a scare in the 89th minute when Fulham substitute Danny Murphy went crashing inside the penalty area following a Michael Carrick challenge. But referee Michael Oliver waved away Fulhams appeals for a penalty as United hung on for their ninth win in 10 league games. Fulham manager Martin Jol thought that it had been the wrong decision. I feel it was a difficult decision, it always is for a penalty, said the Dutchman. I think you should send Michael Carrick off and I think everyone in the stadium was expecting it. Ive seen it many times before, you have to be brave to give a penalty like that here. AFP

Manchester United forward Ashley Young (centre) has his shot saved by Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford on March 26. Pic: AFP

MFF threatens to sue Hansson

By Aung Si Hein

tImESsPORt
By Douglas Long MYANMAR cyclists kicked off their long build-up to the 2013 Southeast Asia Games with a weekend of racing in Nay Pyi Taw on March 24 and 25, organised by the Myanmar Cycling Federation and sponsored by Myan Shwe Pyi Ltd Caterpillar dealership. The schedule featured road races on March 24, followed by BMX, mountain bike crosscountry, and mountain bike downhill competitions the next day. The races marked the first time competitive events were held on the cycling courses designed for the 27 th SEA Games, slated to be held in Myanmar in December 2013. The road race, which started at 7:20am, attracted 43 male cyclists and seven women. The mens 120 kilometre (74 mile) race started calmly enough, with the riders staying in one group as they pedalled their way out of Nay Pyi Taw. A few half-hearted attacks on downhill stretches of the course were quickly brought back by the stronger riders. The first selection occurred about 30 kilometres (18 miles) into the race, when a group of 11 cyclists pushed the pace while ascending a short, steep hill, leaving the others struggling in their wake. The front group consisted of Phyo Wai Zin, Chit Ko Ko, Myo Thiha and Kyaw Kyaw Do (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation); Myint Aye, Kyaw Myo Hlaing and Win Hlaing (Ministry of Finance and Revenue); Kyaw Min Oo and Aung Phyo Wai (Maxxis); and Abrial and Australian rider Ben Rowse (Bike World). The front 11 did not stay together for very long, splitting in half a few kilometres later on the next big climb. Making the cut up front were Mr Rowse, Phyo Wai Zin, Chit Ko Ko, Myo Thiha, Kyaw Myo Hlaing and Aung Phyo Wai, and by the halfway point of the race they had forged a gap of 3 minutes, 13 seconds over the next group on the road. The cyclists had enjoyed a tailwind on the way out of town, but after the turnaround

March 30 - April 8, 2012

Cyclists kick off Games preps

AFTER the surprise resignation by Stefan Hansson while in Vietnam, the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) announced on its website on March 23 plans to take legal action against its former technical director. The MFF said it intends to hold Mr Hansson to the terms of his contract and potentially report the case to FIFAs Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to terminate his coaching licence unless he formally apologises for his return to Vietnam without MFF approval. While Mr Hansson cited an unclear position, losing his coaching role to the newly appointed South Korean coach, Park Sung Hua, the MFF said in its statement he had repeatedly failed to fulfil the job requirements since assuming the role on December 15, 2011. As technical director, Mr Hansson was expected to introduce short and long-term programs for the development of Myanmar football, develop grassroots feeder programs for the Myanmar National League (MNL), provide technical workshops and give technical advice to the national teams, including the U-21s, U-19s and womens teams, provide management assistance in developing players and referees, and file monthly reports to the federation, it said. The MFF accused him not only of violating his contract but also negatively using the media. Despite tending his resignation via email on March 18, an MFF spokesperson told The Myanmar Times the organisation only found out via media reports. The federation has struggled with foreign coaches, repeatedly lasting no more than a year, due to a perceived failure to succeed in regional tournaments. However, this singular marker of success may prove damaging for the development of the sport in the county, and cause foreign coaches to question becoming involved with the federation, according to several coaches working in Myanmar. I dont know much about his [Mr Hansson] relation with MFF but they should change their approach if they only hire coaches to target championships, said Jose Alves Borges, the head coach of Yadanarbon FC. If I was appointed to coach a national team, I would not do it to be champions but build the team. It should be about targeting the development of young footballers through clubs. From them, the national selections can be built. The process takes a minimum of three years. Only then can you hope to gain a championship, he said. Eric Williams, the head coach of Yangon United FC said the MFF needs to find a better way of working collaboratively with foreign coaches to find success. MFF should sit down and discuss more with foreigners. These guys have coached in many countries and have a lot of experience. MFF should listen to them and should also give them time for success because development wont happen overnight, he said.

Cyclists strain uphill during the road race in Nay Pyi Taw on March 24. Pic: Douglas Long on the out-and-back course they faced 60 kilometres of pedalling into a strong headwind that sent dust clouds billowing across the road and considerably slowed the pace of the race. The front six riders looked set to battle it out for top honours, but with 40 kilometres (25 miles) to go Myo Thiha had to drop back when his right pedal broke, leaving five in the lead group. About 1 kilometre later Chit Ko Ko launched a devastating attack on the longest, steepest hill on the course, leaving the other riders gasping for breath. His Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation teammate Phyo Wai Zin caught back on the descent, while Mr Rowse, Kyaw Myo Hlaing and Aung Phyo Wai formed their own small group behind and laboured into the headwind. Chit Ko Ko and Phyo Wai Zin blazed their way toward the finish line, and it was clear that they would take the top two spots, but with about 6 kilometres to go the teammates touched wheels, causing Phyo Wai Zin to lose control of his bike and hit the pavement at high speed. He was up in a flash and back on his bike, while Chit Ko Ko, with frequent looks over his shoulder, was clearly divided about whether to get to the finish line as quickly as possible or sit up and wait for his teammate so they could cross the line together. He finally decided to forge on alone, winning the race with a time of 3 hours, 21 minutes and 52 seconds. Phyo Wai Zin came home 36 seconds later, and then spectators had to wait more than 4 minutes to see who would round out the top five. In the end it was Aung Phyo Wai, Kyaw Myo Hlaing and Mr Rowse, in that order. The womens 70 kilometre (43 mile) road race was won by Mu Mu Aye (Original Group), who finished in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 35 seconds, a massive nine and half minutes ahead of second place rider Aye Aye Thin (Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries). The top three was rounded out by Lway Aye Shwe Yin (Institute of Sport and Physical Education) who finished a further 5 minutes, 31 seconds back. The wind was still howling the following morning, shrouding the mountain biking and BMX courses at Mount Pleasant in a haze of red dust. The weather conditions did not seem to bother the 38 men who tackled the first national-level cross-country mountain bike race to be held in Myanmar. The event was contested over six laps on the rigorous 4.1 kilometre (2.5 mile) course designed for the SEA Games, which featured plenty of steep hills, sharp turns and deep sand. The top two places were sorted within seconds of the start of the race, as Sai Aung Khant (Institute of Sport and Physical Education) blazed down the first hill and through the tricky 150-degree righthand turn at the bottom with a small gap over Ben Rowse (Bike World), with the rest of the field pedalling madly to limit their losses. Sai Aung Khant maintained his lead position throughout the race, covering the 24.6 kilometres (15 miles) in 1 hour, 11 minutes and 36 seconds. Mr Rowse finished in second place, 5 minutes and 13 seconds behind, leading home a multinational bloc of riders sponsored by Bike World, including Charlie Nathanson from Sweden, Tom Howe from Britain and Kyaw Hlaing from Myanmar in third, fourth and fifth places. Eighteen men entered the mountain bike downhill race, More page 38

By-elections Special
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

2
MyanMar tiMes

MPs will follow our lead: NLD

NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win on the partys preparations for the by-elections
By Shwe Yinn Mar Oo
What is the NLDs campaign strategy? Our campaigning tactics are based on our election statement. Im trying to hand it out to people. During our campaigning, we had to face many difficulties, such as voter lists with many errors. We realised that this was the result of ward and village election committees not having enough offices, staff or equipment. What if these issues are not resolved by April 1? We have one polling agent and one assistant polling agent [for each ward or village]. We have ordered the two agents to check the voter lists for errors and told them to object to the commission if there are voters listed incorrectly. What are the differences between this by-election and the 2010 election when the NLD did not take part? If you wanted to check the voter lists in 2010, you had to pay K200 for each page. So it would have cost a large amount money and I dont think any political party could have copied these lists, except perhaps the Union Solidarity a n d De ve l o p m e n t Pa r t y (USDP). So it was difficult to check the lists properly. Have you used these voter list errors to test whether the byelections will be free and fair?
A National League for Democracy rally in Mingalar Taung Nyunt township. Pic: Yadana

USDP actions speak louder than words: U Htay Oo

Senior USDP member and Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Htay Oo tells Shwe Yinn Mar Oo of the adverse effects that will be experienced if a product is not as good as its advertisement a thinly veiled reference to the National League for Democracy

We are very worried about saying too early that the byelections will be free and fair. We are trying to ensure they are free and fair by amending and correcting the voter lists. This is not only a job for the NLD but also other parties. What will you do if you believe the by-elections are not fair? All elections have weaknesses, all over the world. We cant say the election is unfair if those weaknesses are small. We should only decide if it is free and fair after we have analysed all aspects. Now, the closer we

get to election day the more problems that have arisen. But whether it is free and fair will largely depend on how poll officers supervise their polling stations and how we point out their weaknesses and gaps on the day. There are barely 40 seats up for grabs in the national parliament on April 1. How much effect do you think the by-elections can have on the transition to democracy? In terms of the overall number of seats, it is only a small percentage. But even

with this small amount we can still work for the interests of our people. We can introduce and vote on bills and ask questions. We believe other representatives will follow us because all of our activities are for the people. How many of the 47 seats that the NLD is contesting do you expect to win? We estimate we will win around 40 places but we are trying to win all 47. (Note: This interview was conducted before by-elections were postponed in Kachin State.) Translated by Zar Zar Soe

Independent candidate U Khin Hlaing, Mayangone

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin
Why should the people of Mayangone vote for you? I dont want to tell people from Mayangone township to vote for me. They need to make this decision for themselves based on what they think is best. So in my campaign pamphlet, there are no words like, Lets vote for U Khin Hlaing. Rather than getting votes, my main focus is to distribute political thinking and knowledge among the people as a leader of the Nagani politician network. But most people from Mayangone township have high political knowledge so I believe they know who the best person is and they can make the right decision on April 1. You were also an independent in 2010 when you contested an Amyotha Hluttaw seat in Ayeyarwady Region and got more than 70,000 votes.What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an independent candidate? The main difficulty is the voter lists. They are not correct and the situation is quite complicated. The other thing is the election commission which is still under the control of the present government and not independent. It should be re-organised properly with committee members at the regional level, state level, township level and quarter level who are elected by the people. I do not want to talk about the unfairness of the election commission in the 2010 election. A strong point is that these 2012 by-elections will need to be free and fair because I think that will be a prerequisite if the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is to be successful in the 2015 election. The USDP will only get support and trust from the international and local communities by holding by-elections that are free and fair. The other thing is that this by-election is essentially an exercise to build trust between democratic groups and members of the present government. What pledges have you made on the campaign trail? I do not give the people promises because promises cannot be realised on their own. They can only be realised with public participation so I tell them what can I do and invite them to participate in my activities. I said before that people from Mayangone township have great political knowledge. There are very few places in the country where there is higher political knowledge. So if I win I will conduct political awareness campaigns in the 329 other townships so that they become like Mayangone. If I lose, I will support the person who is elected by the people of Mayangone because I respect their choice. I will also continue to do political awareness campaigns through my network, which has more than 1000 members. Ho w a r e y o u f u n d i n g y o u r campaign? I use my own funds. My Zawtika company has many subsidiaries. How do you define free and fair? I just want to say that the 2012 byelections should be free for people and fair for the government and election commission. All of the people must have the freedom [to vote how they like] and the government and commission that are holding the elections must be fair.

Independent for Meiktila, Daw Myint Myint Aye

By Kyaw Hsu Mon
Why do you think people in Meiktila should vote for you? Im a resident of Meiktila township so I will prioritise the development this region if I win. Id like to promote the living standards of locals. Id also like to try to mend the cases of bribery and corruption found in government personnel but I believe that will take some years to change. Another long-term issue is childrens education. One issue we can work on instantly is the living standards of farmers. I want to help them fetch a reasonable price for their paddy. These are the issues that I would prioritise [if elected]. Id like to say that, although I have no party backing, my campaign is not weak. Because of the activities of the [National League for Democracy] and the political situation over the past 20 years, more than 200,000 voters from Meiktila ... have got to know me. I helped them in regards to violations of human rights. I can represent the Meiktila people in the hluttaw and Im ready to cooperate with anyone if it is good for my constituents. What is your promise to voters? Myanmar has not reached a perfect state of democracy yet. There are still cases where human rights are being violated. The promise that I can give immediately is that I will help them with human rights violations. How did you get funds for campaigning? I used my own money. I plan to use nearly K10 million for my campaign ... I have been to more than 300 villages so far. What is a free and fair election? I have no experience of voter lists because I didnt contest the 2010 election. My main difficulty is that I havent got a lot of time [to campaign]. But I think there wont be much fraud in the byelections. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

ow has the USDP gone about campaigning for the by-elections? Do you feel that youve got the publics support in the areas where youve been campaigning? The aim of the USDP is for the state and public to enjoy stability and development. As much as we can, we are doing things to help people enjoy stability and to do the things needed to bring [economic] benefits to the people. We are doing so not only in the [45] places where by-elections will be held but also in the rest of the country. Our party did constructive tasks in the past and is doing them now. If there are any incomplete works, we vow to complete them if circumstances permit. People are aware of the constructive things that we have actually done rather than just talked about and are comparing our activities with the words uttered by those who did not have practical activities. The people are pleased with our practical activities that benefited them and we are also delighted. We are satisfied with the public support [we have received] because what we are doing are tasks that are practically beneficial to the public. Do you believe that the April 1 by-elections will be free and fair? All elections are free and f a i r [ i n My a n m a r ] . T h e various levels of the election commission are thoroughly overseeing elections. Just as our party is trying to contest the by-elections, other parties are doing the same. Yo u r p a r t y w o n t h e overwhelming majority of seats in the 2010 general election. How will these byelections compare to that poll? There were 1154 seats contested in the 2010 general election, whereas there are [45] seats in by-elections. Though in 2010 some parties did not contest or objected to the election, they are contesting the by-elections.

This is different from the previous election. I believe that they are contesting [the by-elections] in the interests of the state and people. Yo u s a y t h e e l e c t i o n commission will ensure the election is free and fair. Will you still arrange for monitors at the polling booths to check the counting of votes? We are going to [assign m o n i t o r s ] a c c o rd i n g t o the rules of the [election] commission. We have faith in the public and the people in charge of the polling booths. How important are these

People are aware of the constructive things we have actually done and are comparing our activities with the words of those who did not have practical activities.
by-elections given there are only 45 constituencies being contested? There are only [45] seats so yes it is very few. But I believe that the [decision of some political parties] to participate in the democratic process with goodwill will be a powerful force. How many seats do you anticipate you will win in the by-elections? Every party has confidence that it will win all the seats it is contesting. Voters are convinced by the candidates that have proved that they are doing practical tasks and have the ability to contribute, rather than just uttering [platitudes]. We believe in the public. Translated by Thit Lwin

3
the

By-elections Special
MyanMar tiMes March 30 - April 8, 2012
Members of the Democratic Party (Myanmar) walk underneath a National League for Democracy banner during a campaign event in Mingalar Taung Nyunt township earlier this month. Pic: Ko Taik

Can peace trump political divisions?

By Bo Bo

MEMBERoftheNationalLeague for Democracy canvasses for votes in a village in Thongwa township, Yangon Region, where the partys candidate, Daw Su Su Lwin, is running against the Union Solidarity and Development Party and National Democratic Force. This is not as easy as we might expect; he needs to explain to voter not only his partys agenda, but also its logo, which will be placed on the ballot form when they go to vote on April 1. Voters are confused between the logos, with one party having a peacock and the other a large bamboo hat (khamauk). We have to explain often which logo is for the NLD, he says. While you might think most people know the NLD is represented by the fighting peacock and the NDF the khamauk, its not necessarily the case. Many people still think that the [khamauk] is the symbol of the NLD. Nevertheless, many in Thongwa are behind Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party. Ill vote for Daw Aung San Suu Kyis party because of our late General Aung San were so grateful for what he did, says U Khin Kyaing, a Thongwa resident in his 50s. We owe him a lot so I think now is the right time to give some credit to his daughter. Otherwise I would feel guilty that I wasnt doing enough for General Aung San. On April 1, some might expect a repeat of the 1990 election, when the NLD won more than 80 percent of all seats. That might happen but the dynamics of the by-elections

are markedly different from both 1990 and 2010. Obviously, its not a nationwide poll, and in 1990 the vote was for a constitutional assembly (to draft a new constitution) rather than a legislative assembly, or parliament. This time the NLD also faces very different opponents, in the form of the USDP and NDF. The latter was formed by ex-NLD members who disagreed with the partys decision to boycott the 2010 election and, led by U Khin Maung Swe and Dr Than Nyein, both of whom were once NLD executive members, it won 16 seats. In his partys policy speech on MRTV recently, U Khin Maung Swe said his party stood up for voters who otherwise wouldnt have had a chance to vote for an opposition party candidate in the 2010 general election. Were a party that kept loyal to the people by giving them the chance to vote for these progressive changes in the 2010 election, he said. But the bitterness of the split between the NDF and NLD has left a bad taste in the mouths of many voters, and served as a reminder of the personal and ideological conflicts that have afflicted political parties in Myanmar for much of the past century. We want to see more positive c h a n g e s by c o o p e r a t i n g a n d coordinating with each other to move this country forward to real democracy, said Ko Kyaw Kyaw Thann, a 20-year-old resident of Yangon Regions Hlegu township. We dont want to see a bitter split among these groups. We dont want to see long arguments and fights here again and again. Politics in some ways is a study of

the countrys various institutions. Political scientists will tell you that the stronger a countrys institutions, the stronger its democracy. For a country transitioning to democracy, institutions such as political parties, the military, parliament, government and educational centres among others are vitally important. Divided political parties cannot become strong institutions. However, the divisions in Myanmar run far wider than politics, to ethnicity,

We want to see more positive changes by cooperating and coordinating with each other to move this country forward to real democracy.
society and religion. This is perhaps because after the military coup in 1962, the countrys institutions with the exception of the military gradually collapsed, one after the other. But divisive politics seems to have always been rife on Myanmar soil, from the colonial period to today. However, there are people Ill call them statesmen, rather than politicians who seem to be emerging as potential bridges across

the political divide. I became a USDP member not because I am interested in the USDPs activities but because I believe that the USDP is strong on all fronts and its candidates would win easily, said a member of the Mon State Hluttaw, who asked not to be named. So I joined the USDP to work for the people, not for the USDP Its not clear how many other . parliamentarians have a similar story, but its probably more than you would think. NDF Pyithu Hluttaw representative Daw Tin Nwe Oo said all elected and non-elected bodies had to work together to move the country further down the path of democracy. So far I havent seen any serious political divisions in parliament in terms of which party were representing, but there are great differences [between representatives] in terms of individual skills and ability to do good for the country, she said. Some committees are doing a good job because they contain better qualified parliamentary representatives, regardless of the party they represent. The NLDs decision to contest the April 1 by-elections has had a dramatic impact on Myanmar politics and many of the partys 47 candidates are expected to win if the vote is free and fair, as the Union Election Commission has promised. One question many are contemplating is what will result from its participation, once some of its candidates are elected to the hluttaws. A common thread running between the campaign speeches of most political parties was the pledge

to carry out national reconciliation. Its sometimes strange to see how their speeches and their actions are different, said Ko Kyaw Nyi, a graduate student at Yangon Institute of Economics. They just say national reconciliation because we all want it but then they bitterly fight with each other instead of looking for common ground. However, I support Daw Aung Suu Kyis decision to take part in this election [because it shows pragmatism]. In her recent campaign tour, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that she would work with the army to institute real democratic changes, perhaps referring to the appointed military representatives in parliament, as required by the 2008 constitution. I love that message. It makes a lot of sense, especially at this time when the current government is reforming and soldiers are also participating in changing some terrible laws or updating them through cooperating with the elected [representatives], said U Sein Myo Myint, a Tarmwe township resident who works as a taxi driver. While the national reconciliation line or some variant is trotted out by political parties ahead of every election, many are hopeful that this time will be different and that the April 1 by-elections can provide a boost to the peace process. I hope this election will result in a real national reconciliation process that could go some way to solving ethnic conflicts, said Daw Khin Thandar, a primary school teacher from North Dagon township. I also hope to see real democracy and I think both are more likely now that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is involved.

By-elections Special
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

4
MyanMar tiMes

By-election raises high interest of locals in Mandalay

By Yadana Htun
HE promise of a free and fair vote and the return of the National League for Democracy have heightened interest in the by-elections in Mandalay, despite the city only having one vacant constituency. Eight candidates will contest the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Mahar Aung Myay well above the by-election average of three per constituency while residents of another five seats in rural Mandalay Region will also head to the polls on April 1. But it is in urban Mandalay where the byelections have attracted most attention, said U Hla Ko, the candidate from the National Democratic Force (NDF). People critised the previous election as being unfair. This time, the election commission guaranteed to make it fair and the parties are also monitoring the whole by-election process. So I think even the candidates who lose will feel that competing in the by-elections was worthwhile. This is also one reason why public interest is higher, said U Hla Ko, who is standing for election for the first time. In the 2010 general election, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won all seven Pyithu Hluttaw seats in Mandalay, as well all Amyotha Hluttaw constituencies. It also lost only two seats to the Democratic Party (Myanmar) and Shan Nationalities Democratic Party in the 76-member Mandalay Region Hluttaw. NLD candidate U Ohn Kyaing said his partys decision to register and compete in the byelections had reinvigorated interest in politics in Mandalay. In the 1990 election, I was elected as a representative in Mandalay and noticed that both old and young people here were very [politically] active. I always remember their eagerness at that time, he said. When I came to Mandalay this month for our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyis trip, I found that young people are more active than ever before. It shows the movement to democracy in Mandalay has not decreased, rather that people are paying even more attention to politics. National Unity Party (NUP) candidate U Tun Kyi agreed the NLD was still influential among Mandalay residents but said it was hard to predict how that would play out on April 1. Everything is changing quickly and we cant predict who will get the majority of the votes. People are watching how flexible the government has been. Whether the people can vote freely or not and whether they dare to vote for the one they like or not will depend on the flexibility of the government, said U Tun Kyi, whose party won the second-largest number of seats in 2010, with a total of 63. Along with representatives from five parties, voters in Maha Aung Myay will have three independent candidates to choose from on April 1. But it is the USDP that is expected to provide the greatest test for the NLD. The NLDs participation has raised peoples interest because people respect Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, said USDP candidate U Than Tun, a former lieutenant colonel who retired from the army in 2007, after which he served as director general of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism for Mandalay Region until 2010. But its not the only reason. In the previous election, it was hard for people to choose from lots of different candidates because it was a national poll. But in the by-election, there are fewer constituencies and the candidates have been carefully selected.

Voices from Maha Aung Myay tsp

Ma Nyome, 29, housewife Who do you think will win and why? I already know that the NLD will win here after seeing the peoples attitude towards Daw Aung Sann Suu Kyis recent trip to Mandalay. We have been on her side since 1988. We have high hopes for her and believe that she will make the changes [we need]. How will you choose who to vote for? Personally, Ill vote for the one I trust. Although Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not a candidate in Mahar Aung Myay, Ive already decided to vote for the NLD because I believe that Amay Suu can make us get real democracy and the NLD is her party. So Ill choose the NLDs candidate, U Ohn Kyaing. Did you vote in 2010? I didnt vote in 2010 election because I couldnt find the party that I like. What are the most important issues for you? There arent any particular issues that stand out but I see there are many things to do for the people who are facing poverty. Do they feel secure for their health and education? Not yet. We cant even give much aid to street children. These are the problems the government should solve at once. We want real change. Prove it by solving these issues. How do you rate the performance of the new government and will this influence whether you decide to vote for the USDP? I dont mean the things that the new government has done are not good. Some are good. But there are many needs, and the changes they have made are just the tip of the iceberg. [The changes] are not effective on the ground yet. I feel like they still have not done well enough to get my vote. What do you expect the NLD to be able to do if it wins many seats on April 1? I believe that Amay Suu can do the things ... People listen to her. In my opinion, the NLD cant win all 48 seats because Nay Pyi Taw is the government area and there are lots of government staff there. But I believe the NLD will win more than 40 places. U Saw Lwin, 77, small business owner Who do you think will win and why? The NLD is still a significant influence on people and they also have human capacity. After the USDP they have the , largest number of members. How will you choose who to vote for? Im in my 70s so I have many experiences of voting. I see NLD members have been doing politics by sacrificing their time and lives. I can trust the NLD candidate more than the other candidates we dont even clearly know what their background is. Did you vote in 2010? I didnt vote in 2010 because I found that there were mistakes in the voter lists so I didnt feel [the election] was fair. What are the most important issues for you? We want to get a government that can really make rule of law. How do you rate the performance of the new government and will this influence whether you decide to vote for the USDP? I think the new government cant make the changes yet as much as we expected. It still needs to make more concrete movements. Its too early to say whether we will vote USDP or not. If they really change, of course, we will consider voting for them. What do you expect the NLD to be able to do if it wins many seats on April 1? As the NLD has vowed to introduce rule of law, I believe they can do it. But I dont expect the NLD to win the majority of the 48 seats. They might win half of them because their opposition, the USDP is a big party and a winning , party.

Above: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi leads National League for Democracy campaigning in urban Mandalay last month. Pics: Yadana Htun, Phyo Wai Kyaw

5
the

By-elections Special
MyanMar tiMes March 30 - April 8, 2012

Shan State vote hints at ethnic divide

ASHIO In Myanmars restive borderlands, home to ethnic minorities suspicious of the ruling elite, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis popularity is no guarantee of victory for her party in this weekends byelections. The closely watched polls are expected to propel the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader into parliament for the first time, marking a dramatic return to mainstream politics for her party after years on the sidelines. But the April 1 by-elections could also highlight the pro-democracy champions uneasy relations with restive ethnic minorities who bore the brunt of the generals repression during almost half a century of military rule. In Shan State, wedged between China, Laos and Thailand to the east and the rest of Myanmar to the west, the NLDs main rival appears to be not the ruling lions but the white tiger Shan Nationalities Democratic Party. I will support the white tiger, said Daw Nann Muu, a 35-year-old farmer from a village in Lashio township. I do not know Aung San Suu Kyi, she said. The SNDP came second behind the NLD in a 1990 election whose result was never recognised by the then military rulers. It is now the second-biggest party in parliament, thanks to a strong showing in vast Shan state home to six million

people in a 2010 election that was marred by complaints of fraud and by the exclusion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Its leaders are confident they can repeat their success in the April 1 vote, which is to replace lawmakers who gave up their seats in parliament to join a nominally civilian government dominated by former generals. Whenever we visited villages, people welcomed us gratefully and supported us, said U Sai Aung Sar, a senior SNDP official in Lashio. We dont worry that the NLD is participating in this election. Aung San Suu Kyi has been travelling around the country with her kindness for the people. Whoever participates, its good if they work for the country and people. With only two seats at stake in Shan State out of 45 available on April 1, it is unlikely to be a pivotal battleground, and in any case the by-elections cannot threaten the ruling partys majority in parliament. But a defeat for the NLD in Shan would make it harder for the party to claim to enjoy the support of the nations various ethnic groups, and would do little to soften the Nobel laureates image as an ethnic-majority leader. Civil war has plagued parts of the country since it won independence from Britain in 1948. The extent to which minority communities feel discriminated against is often not well understood by the

Ethnic Shan women sell food at a village near Lashio in northern Shan State last week. Pic: AFP

Bamar majority, said Jim Della-Giacoma, Southeast Asia project director at the International Crisis Group think-tank. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is well regarded in ethnic communities, but many minority people see her first and foremost as a member of the Burman elite. He said the Apr il 1 vote represented a lost opportunity for the NLD to join hands with ethnic minority parties in areas where they are strongest. The decision by the NLD to run in all seats and the belief that it could win in all seats did antagonise some minor and ethnic groups. They probably have legitimate

worries that their interests will be trampled on as the NLD tries to find its own place in the corridors of power, Della-Giacoma said. It is a perception that NLD candidate U Sai Myint Maung, a 65-year-old lawyer, is striving to dispel. Ive been telling voters that the NLD is not a Bamar party or a Shan party. The NLD is the party of all ethnicities, he said. There are signs that the efforts are bearing fruit, even though the local NLD c a n d i d a t e s a re n o t we l l known in Shan state, home to various ethnic groups and several rebel armies. I voted for the white tiger in 2010. But this time, many

will vote for Daw Suu. I hope she will work for us to have a better ethnic life, said U Sam Nap, a 46-year-old ethnic Wa who is a traditional doctor. The government has agreed tentative ceasefires with many of Myanmars rebel ethnic groups, but ongoing fighting in Kachin State that has displaced tens of thousands of people has cast a shadow over the peace process. On March 23, however, the authorities postponed the by-elections in three Kachin constituencies, citing security concerns, barely a month after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself campaigned in the region. There has been speculation that if she wins a seat in

parliament Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could take on a role as mediator between the government and the rebels, but observers say the opposition leader is likely to tread cautiously. She cant be seen to be too close to ethnic minority political interests, nor can she be seen to be endorsing some of the policies that have been implemented in many ethnic minority areas, said Mr Nicholas Farrelly, a n e x p e r t o n My a n m a r issues at Australian National University. The ethnic issue strikes at the heart of the difficulties that Myanmar and its politicians are likely to face in the years ahead, he said. AFP

Shan party confident of Lashio win

U Sai Hsaung Hsi, vice chairman of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, on his partys activities as it seeks to win four seats on April 1
By Soe Than Lynn
Te l l u s a b o u t y o u r p a r t y s campaigning so far. We will contest four seats; two seats for the Amyotha Hluttaw in [Shan States] Lashio and Sagaing Region and two seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, in Kalaw and Mogaung. For the Lashio Amyotha Hluttaw seat, there are five townships Lashio, Tang-yan, Thein-ni, Mongyai and Konglong. Representatives from the SNDP that won the Pyithu Hluttaw seats of Thein-ni, Tang-yan and Mongyai in 2010 are campaigning in these regions. In Lashio, five of the 12 quarters are mostly comprised of Shan. In our campaigning in these constituencies we have also held meetings with Hindu, Gurkha and Muslim groups and conducted political talks. The votes from Lashio will be scattered between the SNDP , NLD, USDP and Kokang party. But , we try vigorously to get the votes that we got in the past election; we are campaigning continuously. We are satisfied with the conduct of our election campaigns. Do you think the coming by-elections will be free and fair? Why? Yes, of course. All people in Myanmar have become politically active. They have also become more politically aware as well. For example, because of the media they know how to vote, not to cast an invalid vote and to vote for the person that they really want. Then, the issue of advanced votes will not be seen as in the 2010 election because candidates have the voter lists. So the prospects for a free and fair election are positive. How will you watch the polling stations so that voting conforms to the election law? We have chosen delegates for the main polling stations. They were trained by a non-government organisation and understand the voting procedures well. They have also been trained to speak out if they find something that is not in accord with the law. They dont need to be scared of the election officials at this time when the focus is on transparency. What are the differences between the 2010 election and these byelections? Oh, there are many differences. In 2010, people were scared to establish a party or to contest the election. Now the situation is transparent and the feeling of fear has declined. Voters have become active and understand politics. They are more interested in it and feel like they can vote properly based on their desire. The election commission has also given instructions for the by-elections to be free and fair. The hluttaw has also continuously urged that the byelections be free and fair. Advanced votes wont interfere with the results of this by-election. Moreover, the international community will have its eye on the election because the NLD is participating. How important are the by-elections for democracy in Myanmar? The international community is interested in the coming by-elections and in particular whether they are free and fair. It is a kind of pre-election, or advance election, for 2015, and is a very important election. We can also say it is an election that will test the peoples desire. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

Shan Nationalities Democratic Party vice chairman U Sai Hsaung Hsi in Nay Pyi Taw. Pic: Kaung Htet

By-elections Special
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

6
MyanMar tiMes

In inner Yangon, a humanitarian worker turns to politics

By Kyaw Hsu Mon
THE tune of the campaign song of the National League for Democracy drifts across a decrepit patch of road in M i n g a l a r Ta u n g N y u n t township, where workers from Yangon City Development Committee are laying a fresh stretch of concrete. The campaign office of candidate Daw Phyu Phyu Thin, located on the second and third levels of an apartment building, is filled with young volunteers and items being sold to raise funds for her campaign. In the corner sits a bespectacled woman in her 40s wearing a string of jasmine flowers around her neck.Widely known for heading a HIV/AIDS clinic in South Dagon, Daw Phyu Phyu Thin had to entrust her humanitarian work to others after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi anointed her the partys candidate for Mingalar Taung Nyunt. Yet it is a duty she seems to relish. When The Myanmar Times visited last week, she was hard at work collating the names of voters who had been left off the electoral roll to submit to the election commission. The names were collected by volunteers who went door to door through the township, she said. The initial voting lists said there were more than 97,000 voters in Mingalar Taung Nyunt but then it rose to 99,000 after we collected the names of other voters but its not absolutely finalised yet, Daw Phyu Phyu Thin said in a recent interview. She is one of five candidates in Mingalar Taung Nyunt, a closely watched constituency with 20 wards and 68 polling stations. However, Daw Phyu Phyu Thin said she had seen little campaigning from the other parties contesting the seat. From her interactions with residents, she said that improving education and health services were the top priorities. We found that some people have terribly poor health and are really struggling to earn a living, basically on the side of the road. Some parents also came to us and said that they were not happy with the education that their children were receiving, she said. Lack of registration documents has also become an issue as the vote draws nearer, she said. People who need temporary family member lists will have difficulty voting in the byelections, she said, adding that some residents said they couldnt get a National Registration Card because of their religious views. Ive made a record of what the people have told me and I will work for them for the long term. Daw Phyu Phyu Thins campaign will continue until April 1 and she expected to spend about K6 million, well below the K10 million limit.

Pic: Yadanar Daw Phyu Phyu Thin, the National League for Democracy candidate for Mingalar Taung Nyunt, accepts a bouquet of flowers from a young supporter earlier this month.

Daw Aung San Su Kyi told us to use our own money for campaigning so we had to hold fairs to raise enough money. One surprise for Daw Phyu Phyu Thin was that Mingalar

Taung Nyunt residents had not asked her what she would do for them if she was elected to the hluttaw. They just ask about their rights, the right to live freely wtih law and order, she said.

Everyone has a desire to be liberated they have been oppressed for more than 20 years, she said. All people, rich or poor, would like to see a change in Myanmar politics. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

By Yamon Phu Thit

88 Generation forms Election Watch Group Nay Pyi Taw residents, candidates predict fair poll
the election process and how their level of knowledge could be improved. We are going to publish general advice and recommendations based on the monitoring process. And if we see examples of cheating during the election, we will inform the public and the international community. T h e g r o u ps a c t i v i t i e s w i l l include pre-monitoring of the poll, monitoring on election day and publishing a report based on the information that it collects. Local people are responsible to monitor the election at the same time as international observers keep their eyes on it, said Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, a data analyst from Election Watch Group. The group has assigned residents o f c o n s t i t u e n c i e s w h e re byelections will be held to act as election observers and instructed them to record any unusual or illegal activities that take place at polling stations. We w i l l m a i n l y f o c u s o n the responses from our citizen o b s e r ve r s. Howe ve r, we a l s o welcome the views of the public, and their observations on their respective constituencies, said Ko Win Kyaw, a spokesperson for the Election Watch Group. The draft election report will be published within a week of the election and a final report will be released in both English and Myanmar languages within a month. Information collected by the group will also be published on the groups Facebook page, Election Monitoring Network 88. Those who want to report cases of cheating or any other observations about the by-elections can contact the group at the 88 Generation office on (01) 577-656 from 6am to midnight or email them on 88generation@gmail.com or info@ generationwave.org.

THE 88 Generation student organisation last week formed Election Watch Group to monitor and assess the fairness of the April 1 by-elections. We f o r m e d t h i s g r o u p t o monitor whether the election is fair and transparent, said Min Ko Naing, a leading member of the 88 Generation group. The group was formed on March 24. It is an independent civil society organisation and will cooperate with other election monitoring groups and political par ties, student leader Ko Ko Gyi said at a press conference in Yangon on March 23. We will analyse and assess the whole election and figure out the requirements [for future elections], Ko Ko Gyi said. He gave the example of voter education, saying the group would try and assess how well voters understand

By Win Ko Ko Latt
SERVING and retired civil servants in Zabbuthiri and Pobbathiri townships say they do not feel pressured to vote for the incumbent USDP. The Union Election Commission has instructed sub-commissions that the vote should be free and fair, emphasising that advance votes which are cast with little scrutiny or oversight should only be used when absolutely necessary. Sources said last week that heads of government department had not ordered their staff to cast advance votes and had not issued any instructions on which party to vote for. Nevertheless, some could still feel pressured to vote for the USDP. I think most of the government staff will vote with their own desire, said an official from the Ministry of Construction who attended Daw

Aung San Suu Kyis campaign rally in Zabbuthiri township on March 5. There are more than 54,000 eligible voters in Zabbuthiri township, of which more than 37,000 are believed to be civil servants. We will vote for the party in our heart, said an official at the Ministry of Information. Candidates also said they expected residents in Nay Pyi Taw constituencies to be able to vote freely on April 1. I believe civil servants will vote freely, said Daw Sandar Min, the National League for Democracy candidate for the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Zabbuthiri. When I campaigned in the apartments of civil servants, they welcomed me encouragement. They showed visibly that they want to see change as well, she said. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

Nay Pyi Taw by-elections: too close to call

By Win Ko Ko Latt
Y- E L E C T I O N S i n four Pyithu Hluttaw constituencies in Nay Pyi Taw are shaping as among the most difficult to predict in the country, residents and candidates agree. The National League for Democracy and incumbent Un i o n So l i d a r i t y a n d Development will go head to head in Dekkhinathiri and Zabbuthiri, while U Kyi Myint of the National Unity Party will also be in the running for Ottarathiri and independent U M y i n t T h a n Lw i n i n Pobbathiri. However, nobody appears under any illusions where the main competition will be. The USDP will be our partys main competitor, said NLD candidate for Ottarathiri U Min Thu. Similarly, USDP candiate for Zabbuthiri U Win Htay said he was expecting strong competition from NLD opponent Daw Sandar Min. Even in Zabbuthiri township,

the NLD will provide strong competition for the USDP as , it will in all vacant seats. U Win Htay is contesting the seat that President U Thein Sein won in the 2010 general election with more than 80 percent of all votes cast. I never expected to be a USDP candidate in a constituency like Zabbuthiri its a big responsibility for me but I believe that I will win this byelection, he said. Campaigning in the capital got underway on February 10, and candidates from the two parties have since visited almost all wards and villages in their constituencies, with the NLD the more active. On March 5 and 6, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited the capital and campaigned with her partys candidates in the four townships, telling voters she believed they would make the right decision. USDP canvassed more than [its main rival the] National Unity Party in the 2010 general election, said Dr

Aung Than, chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw District Election Sub-commission. But now in these by-elections the NLD is canvassing more than the USDP . I have been to nearly all wards and villages in my constituency, said the NLDs U Min Thu. Some villages invited me to come and canvass even where we hadnt yet opened a ward or village office. But USDP candidate U Win Htay said his campaign had been as comprehensive as that of his NLD opponent and he was confident of success. I have been to every nook and cranny of the township for my campaign and I can say that not everyone is optimistic. Some are pessimistic, but most voters support us, he said, adding that he had the twin advantages of being a resident and a long-time members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, the USDPs predecessor. Zabbuthiri and

Pobbathiri are among the most fascinating of the byelection constituencies, as most residents are serving and retired civil servants and military personnel. The constituencies have almost 100,000 eligible voters between them. Daw Sandar Min, the NLD candidate for Zabbuthiri, said she had campaigned right across her constituency, including nine wards that were mostly home to civil servants. [Government staff ] have no pressure which party to vote for. They seem to support me and I believe I will win this by-election, she said. Though I am not a resident of Zabbuthiri, I have been involved in the movement for democracy and human rights in Myanmar since 1988. Most of the Nay Pyi Taw residents that The Myanmar Times interviewed indicated that they planned to vote for the NLD, saying that they respected and trusted Daw

Aung San Suu Kyi and her party because of their 23-year campaign for human rights and democratic reform. Ko Phyo, a 26-year-old Pobbathiri township resident, said he would vote for the NLD candidate, U Phyo Zayar Thaw, better known as the hip hop artist Zayar Thaw. I will vote for Zayar Thaw. I like the NLD slogan that says, if you support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, vote for Zayar Thaw, he said. However, others said they would vote for the USDP because it had built roads and provided electricity, and to show support for the government, which mostly comprises USDP members. Most residents from my village will vote for the USDP because they can build roads and give us electricity. And I will also vote for the USDP because my parents plan to, said Ko San Min Htoo, a 25year-old resident of Thae Kgyi Kone village in Zabbuthiri township.

In an indication of the sensitivity of the election in Nay Pyi Taw, civil servants contacted by The Myanmar Times refused to discuss their voting plans on the record. We have already decided in our minds who to vote for, said one employee at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. We will bravely vote for the peoples party we have been waiting to do this for 22 years. By-election candidates in Nay Pyi Taw Dekkhinathiri: U Maung Shein (USDP), U Naingan Linn (NLD) Pobbathiri: U Thar Htay (USDP), U Phyo Zayyar Thaw (NLD), U Myint Lwin Than (independent) Zabbuthiri: U Win Htay (USDP), Daw San Dar Min (NLD) Ottarathiri: U Hla Thein Swe (USDP), U Min Thu (NLD), U Kyi Myint (National Unity Party)

7
the

By-elections Special
MyanMar tiMes March 30 - April 8, 2012

In Mandalay, voter knowledge remains an issue for parties

CHOOSING who to vote for was easy for Ko Si Thu in the 2010 general election he put a mark beside the names of all of the candidates. There were many candidates on the ballot form. I didnt know who I should vote for and I didnt find any that I preferred so I marked next to all of them. I voted for them equally, said the 21-year-old farmer from rural Sagaing Region. Ko Si Thu doesnt remember how many and which parties competed in his constituency, or the names of the candidates. He doesnt know who won. He still doesnt realise that his ballot would have been rejected because he voted for more than one candidate. This time, Ko Si Thu said he knew that the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) would compete in his township. In every teashop in his village, the campaign posters of both the USDP candidate and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sit side by side. I wasnt very interested in voting last time. But this time, the NLD competes in the byelection and Im following it much more closely because of their participation, he said. However, Ko Si Thu knows only that the NLD is led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He has high expectations for what she can achieve if shes elected to parliament. I love Daw Suu because shes the daughter of General Aung San. I heard that shes well educated. I have a photo of her but Ive never seen her in real life. I believe that Daw Suu can make improvements to the current political situation. I expect that she can help us to get basic infrastructure, like water and electricity, he said. Like Ko Si Thu, Ko Kyaw Lu, 38, live in Sagaings Taung Yin village. He said he had already decided who he would vote for, although he doesnt know the names of any candidates standing for election. All the candidates said good things during their campaigns. Though we believe that no one will destroy his or her own country, we dont believe all the promises. We will only believe them if they actually work for our basic needs. In my life, nothing has changed yet. I have to try by myself to get water and electricity with a battery. No one helps us, said Ko Kyaw Lu, who grows plum trees. However, he feels that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can make a difference to life in his village if he votes for the NLD. At the moment, Daw Suu is very popular in my village. Twothirds of the residents are on her side. I automatically feel that she can help us. For many, a vote for the NLD is a vote for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and this has even been the partys campaign slogan in some areas. The widespread lack of knowledge about the electoral process and political system worries some candidates, who say there are many misconceptions about voting. People dont clearly know

In depth with Yadana Htun

why they should vote, who they should vote for and how they should vote. People especially from rural areas dont even understand basic facts about why votes are rejected. Some people told us they put a tick beside the name of their favourite candidate but also crosses against the other candidates, said National Unity Party (NUP) candidate U Tun Kyi, who will contest the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Maha Aung Myay in Mandalay. He said this lack of knowledge could impact the result of the election and not only through invalid votes. Some dont know how to vote so they ask the staff from the voting station and they follow what the staff say. We faced these issues in the [2010] election, he said. But he said it was better that voters openly ask for help rather than being shy. It is human nature to sometimes be scared to ask something that you think everybody else knows already. People are afraid that others will look down on them so they ask the staff at the polling station rather than other voters. Its okay if the staff can be trusted but if not there can be problems, he said. He said the government should have given parties more time to prepare for the vote so they could focus on voter education as well as campaigning, particularly in rural constituencies. We had to apply to register as a candidate in February and the by-election is April 1 so we had only about one month a very short time to educate voters. In coming elections, the parties should raise awareness about how to vote and the government should give them more time to prepare. The NLD has made some effort to integrate voter education into its campaigning activities, with the assistance of actors, singers and artists. U Ohn Kyaing, the partys candidate for Maha Aung Myay, said they were also distributing sample ballots so that voters could clearly understand the voting process and avoid casting an invalid vote. The NLD has also had to clear up confusion among voters over its peacock logo it formerly used a bamboo hat but this was appropriated by the National Democratic Force in 2010. We show them where to mark the right sign and how to do it. We explain to them what they should and shouldnt do to ensure their ballot is not rejected. We also warn the voters not to get confused with the logos of the parties. Its very important that they dont vote incorrectly, said U Ohn Kyaing.

Election commission staff count votes at a polling station in Nay Pyi Taw on November 7, 2010. Pic: Hein Latt Aung

Will invalid votes be a factor in election results?

By Kyaw Hsu Mon

ITH a high turnout expected on April 1 and the government and election commission promising a free, fair and transparent poll, experts have urged voters to take greater care when casting their vote than in 2010, when large numbers were declared invalid. The number of lost or cancelled ballots ranged from 6.43pc for Amyotha Hluttaw constituencies to 7.4pc for State or Region Hluttaw constituencies, according to official figures. This was significantly lower than in 1990, when 12.3pc of votes were declared ineligible, but varied widely between constituencies; in the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Hpakant, for example, 13,255 of 70,297 votes were invalid. People are more interested in the April 1 by-elections than the previous election because NLD will be contesting most constituencies, said Ko Nay Zaw Than, a businessman from Lanmadaw township who closely follows politics. But it is important when voting that people fill out their forms correctly and also choose the best person to represent them, instead of focusing on a personality or party. In the lead up to the poll, parties have also urged voters to be careful when filling out their ballot form, and have in some cases distributed how to vote information. Foreign diplomats and government officials who have visited Myanmar recently have also encouraged the government to conduct more

awareness raising activities to ensure the public knows how to vote. St a t e - r u n m e d i a a l s o published articles on March 17 about invalid votes, urging readers to fill out their ballot forms correctly, while state television has broadcast short educational programs. State media also explained the advanced voting system and who is eligible to cast an advanced vote another major issue in 2010. According to the Union Election Commission, there are several reasons for which a vote can be declared invalid. These include votes without a

types of invalid ballots: those where voters had made an accidental error, and those that had been deliberately defaced. When we counted the votes, we found that some voters had put a mark outside the specific box. This kind of error is often made by old people; they dont realise they arent putting the mark where they are meant to, she said. However, others deliberately marked all boxes, making their vote invalid, because they didnt want to support any of the candidates, she said. We also had to reject some votes because they had no

We found that some voters had put a mark outside a specific box ... they dont realise they arent putting the mark where they are meant to.
confirmation mark from the election commission, votes without the signature of the chief of the polling station, votes without any marks, votes with unclear marks, votes that the chief polling officer decided were false, votes that show the identity of the voter and torn votes. However, former ballot officers said they expected fewer mistakes in the coming by-elections because voters would have more experience. Daw Tin Tin, a middle school teacher who oversaw a polling station in North Okkalapa township in 2010, said there were two main signature of the chief polling officer. But this was rare. When it was crowded, the chief officer got confused and missed signing the ballot form for some voters, she added. Another teacher who served as chief polling officer in Myitkyina township, Kachin State, said that many people only knew the emblem of the parties and this was sometimes a source of confusion. Others made mistakes while voting because they were overexcited, she said. One retired woman accidentally put her National Registration Card into the

ballot box instead of her vote card. She had to wait until after we had counted the votes to get her ID back, she said. Some also showed their dissatisfaction with all of the candidates by putting a large cross through the entire ballot form, the teacher said. Yangon Region Hluttaw representative U Kyaw of the New National Democracy Party said party volunteers were essential during ballot counting when poll officers decided when vote cards had been filled out correctly. In 2010, volunteers from our party complained most about the period when votes were being counted at the polling station, particularly w h e n v o t e s w e re b e i n g declared invalid, he said last week. Some votes for our party a n d o t h e r p a r t i e s w e re incorrectly declared invalid so the volunteers complained to the teachers and other people counting the votes. Then some security, who werent even volunteers from the USDP, they encouraged people to vote for the USDP. That was another big problem that the smaller parties faced in the last election. But we dont want to look back to the past, we want to look forward to the byelections. He said his party could not appoint volunteers to all 252 polling stations in Mingalar Taung Nyunt, Mayangone and Dagon Seikkan constituencies where its candidates would compete on April 1. But we are not afraid of the powerful parties we will compete with them as much as we can. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

By-elections Special
March 30 - April 8, 2012
the

8
MyanMar tiMes

Hluttaw reps ready for arrival of NLD

By Soe Than Lynn
ITH as many as 47 National League for Democracy members poised to enter parliament, sitting hluttaw representatives have encouraged the party to put aside personal or ideological differences for the good of the country. Representatives expect more vigorous debate in the parliament if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD candidates win seats in the by-election but said the party should aim to foster a positive atmosphere that furthers national reconciliation efforts. There will be more differences [of opinion] in the hluttaws when the NLD is present. Debates must happen among parties, its not a problem, just an aspect of democratisation. But the main issue is how to work for national reconciliation. We w a n t t o s p e e d u p democratisation within the framework of national reconciliation, said U Thein Nyunt, representative for Thingangyun for the New National Democracy Party. Little is known about the NLDs policies on many issues, and it has campaigned on a platform of rule of law, national reconciliation and amending the 2008 constitution. In a speech broadcast on state television on March 14, NLD chair Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the party would also focus on poverty alleviation through job creation, and improving education standards and public health services. U Thein Nyunt said the party should rethink its policy on the constitution and look for ways to achieve its aims without making amendments. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should analyse how she

A Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representative speaks during a session on March 1. Pic: AFP

can apply [the constitution] in such a way that it helps to reach her goals, he said. We know that the 2008 constitution could cant be changed without approval of the Tatmadaw and Union Solidarity Development Party representatives so what we have done is tried to find a way to work for the interests of the country and the people under the constitution as it stands now. I have prioritised finding ways to use the constitution efficiently rather than change it. We will have to wait and see how the NLD make its political moves in parliament

when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrives and the constitution will be a good indicator. A key question is how the party, and in particular Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, will work with members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), particularly former members of the military government. U Myo Thant, the USDP representative for Yedashe, was one of several representatives who said they would support the NLD on worthy issues but cautioned against simply agreeing with everything Daw Aung San Suu Kyi says if she is elected.

We will applaud any issues that have benefits for the people regardless of which party the representative is from or who they are. For example, all of us agreed on the proposal for an amnesty for prisoners submitted by U Thein Nyunt, U Myo Thant said. Likewise, we will support [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] if she makes a proposal that has a similar beneficial impact on the people and we will object if her suggestions seem less practical for the people as well. It is too early to say that the parliament will be better than before if the NLD is in it

but it is sure there will be more intereattractive when NLD comes, he said. Many MPs agreed that the NLDs presence would improve the credibility of the hluttaws both at home and abroad. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of General Aung San, our father of i n d e p e n d e n c e, a n d s h e has led the people towards democracy since 1988. Not only will the honour of the parliament be increase but there will be more credibility with such a trustworthy and reliable person, said Dr Aye Maung, an Amyotha Hluttaw

representative and chairman of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP). The strength of the democratic forces will increase in the parliament and there will be more awareness from the international community, improving relations between the hluttaws and international community, he said. They will also help us to get rid of old laws that are not harmonised with the modern world and to create a real multi-party system in the hluttaws. Some representatives e x p re s s e d c o n c e r n t h a t the divisions between the parties and representatives could intensify in such a way that it harmed the working relationships that have formed since the parliament first convened in January 2011. However, for the most part they are expecting a more productive and effective parliament. We have to continue to measure proposals based on how much benefit they will bring the people, regardless of which person or party submits them, said U Sai Hsaung Hsi, the vice chairman of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and representative for Kyaukme. But I hope and expect that we will see positive proposals from the NLD. U Khine Maung Yi, representative of Ahlone and a member of the National Democratic Force, said: There will more strong action within the hluttaws when the NLD wins seats and this will enable us to tackle those remaining issues that require bold and fearless discussion. The legislative sector will become more powerful with the NLD on its side. Im expecting more debates but I think that will be a positive step. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

Election predictions

U Yan Kyaw
Independent Pyithu Hluttaw candidate for Pazundaung in the 2010 election
I cannot predict exactly [what will happen on April 1]. Based on what Ive read if the 2012 byelections are really free and fair, I believe the National League for Democracy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will get the majority of votes. I urged the people to vote for the candidate who is really working for their regions affairs and the affairs of the public as a whole. Ei Ei Toe Lwin

U Aye Lwin
Chairman of Dagon Seikkan Industrial Zone
I think that the NLD will win in at least 80 percent of constituencies in the by-elections if there are no dirty tricks. It looks like a football match if the referee isnt biased, and the current champions play fairly, there is an 80pc chance [the NLD] will win. The referee and the opposing team should play fairly. The other constituencies will be shared between the USDP and ethnic minority parties, I think. But I believe that the by-elections will be fair. Juliet Shwe Gaung

Maung Wuntha
Senior journalist and political analyst
From what I have seen the NLD is campaigning harder than any other party they are conducting campaigns in every constituency. I hear that the people are interested [in the by-elections] and I think theres a high chance that the NLD will win the most seats. People are mostly voting based on the party. I think the by-elections will be free and fair ... but even if the upper levels want the election to be fair, there may be some problems if lower ranks make bad decisions. Shwe Yinn Mar Oo

U Ko Ko Hlaing
Author and chief political adviser to President U Thein Sein
One of the two big parties will win [the most seats]. And, some ethnic minority parties can also win in their constituencies. Of course, its hard to predict the result of any election. Theres no such thing as a perfect election but, generally, it will be free and fair. Parties should make a real effort to get the voter lists correct. The election commission is also ready to amend the lists. [Amending] voter lists is something that all should participate in. Sandar Lwin

U Thiha Saw
Editor-in-chief of Myanmar Dana and Open News Weekly
The NLD will win the largest number of constituencies somewhere above 50 percent. In some constituencies the NLD will compete only with the USDP. Elsewhere the NLD will also compete with ethnic parties. These groups havent campaigned much because they already have seats in the hluttaw but I think the NLD could struggle a bit when they compete with these ethnic parties. Myat May Zin
Translated by Thiri Min Htun