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ISSUE 725 | APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Obama to return this year

TIM MCLAUGHLIN timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com UNITED States President Barack Obama will return to Myanmar later this year, a senior State Department ofcial says. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns announced the trip in a speech on April 8 at the launch of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York. Mr Burns said that Mr Obama will travel later this fall to Myanmar, China and Australia to attend a series of regional meetings. Mr Burns said that Mr Obamas planned visit shows an enduring commitment to enhancing security, prosperity, human dignity, and effective regional architecture across the Asia-Pacic. The trip has not yet been conrmed by the White House. In November 2012 Mr Obama became the rst sitting US President to visit Myanmar when he stopped in Yangon en route to Cambodia to attend the ASEAN Summit. He held talks with President U Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi before saying in a speech that he had come to extend a hand in friendship to Myanmar. However, the tone of Mr Obamas second visit to Myanmar is likely to be somewhat cooler given ongoing human rights concerns and recurring communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims, particularly in Rakhine State. Mr Burns emphasised that the US is deeply worried about the violence in Rakhine State and the governments decision to curtail the activities of humanitarian organisations.
BUSINESS 16

IN PICTURES
PHOTO: RUBN SALGADO ESCUDERO

A procession of Shan princes

Ethnic Shan boys dance while sitting on the shoulders of older male relatives during a procession through the streets of Chiang Mai, Thailand, on April 5, the second day of the Poy Sang Long festival. The festival culminates on the third day with an ordination ceremony.

Magazine market facing extinction

Loss of advertising dollars and growing postal charges could sound the death knell for monthly publications.
THE PULSE 35

Orwell: a critic in Katha

The sleepy river town offers a unique and nostalgic glimpse of British Burma and the world Eric Arthur Blair inhabitated as a colonial police officer.

Govt accuses Britain of Rakhine interference

Britain calls in Myanmar ambassador to push for return of foreign aid to Rakhine.
NEWS 3

2 THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Page 2
THE INSIDER: The local lowdown & best of the web
Department in order to carry out an interview about a scholarship program. DVB has denounced the sentencing, and his lawyer Thein Tun (no relation to Mr Pepsi) says the verdict will be appealed. Despite all the government ofcials pledges of press reform, we believe the jailing of Zaw Pe is an obstacle to media freedom in the country, and we call for the unconditional release of the reporter and his co-defendant, read a statement issued by DVB. Zaw Pe is not the rst journalist to be sentenced for trespassing in recent months, with Eleven Medias Ma Khine having served three months for defamation, trespassing, and allegedly using abusive language while interviewing a lawyer about a legal dispute in eastern Kayah State, according to a statement from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Ma Khine was the rst reporter to be imprisoned since U Thein Seins political prisoner amnesty in 2012 which saw 14 journalists released. Another case currently going through the legal system is, of course, the four journalists being put through the wringer over trespassing and charges that fall under the 1923 Burma State Secrets Act. While reporting on issues like an alleged nuclear facility almost certainly requires a good deal more tiptoeing than, say, a piece on scholarships, its denitely a concern that a journalist can be handed a prison sentence for disturbing an onduty civil servant. In early 2014, it was announced that Myanmar had climbed six places to 145th in the 180-country Press Freedom Index. In an announcement certain to annoy card-carrying 969ers, Time magazines Hannah Beech has won the English-language Magazine prize for The Face of Buddhist Terror at the annual Human Rights Press Awards in Hong Kong. This is the 18th year that the Foreign Correspondents Club Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Journalists Association and Amnesty International Hong Kong have joined to recognize outstanding reporting in the area of human rights.

online editor Kayleigh Long | kayleighelong@gmail.com

Myanmars media reforms herald a new era in the glorious democratic transition

A reporter for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Zaw Pe, is staring down the barrel of a one-year prison sentence after being found guilty of trespassing and disturbing a civil servant on duty or, for what it sounds like from details currently available, committing a fairly benign and routine act of journalism. In 2012. The charges were levelled over an August 2012 incident where Zaw Pe visited the Magwe Region Education

Once was Burma ...

Archival material provided by Pansodan Gallery

Happy Thingyan from NOW! Magazine. Photo: Htet Aung Kyaw ( Studio- HAK)

Style

Statement

The Face of a Human Rights Award

that everyone was asleep. She didnt press the issue and left immediately. While Im grateful for the lie-in, the lack of tenacity on the enumerators part is a bit upsetting. Id been really excited about lling in the forms.

April Fools joke goes too far

Census skips hung-over household

With the census now all but wrapped up, anecdotal evidence would seem to point to a decent number of homes being skipped over altogether. Id assumed my home would also miss out. But, the morning of April 6, an enumerator came to the door of my apartment. She was met by my shirtless, crapulent housemate who explained

An April Fools report claiming that one of Taiwans beloved pandas had been infected by parasites and could be euthanised went too far, the upset mayor of Taipei said last week. The story, published on the homepages of Next Media websites in Hong Kong and Taiwan, claimed that Yuan Yuan, mother of the rst Taiwan-born panda cub Yuan Zai, was seriously ill. Taipei Zoo ofcials have been discussing euthanizing her... much like Copenhagen Zoo recently did with its giraffe Marius, the story said. The story sparked immediate concern from local media, and saw the concerned Taipei government rush to check with zoo authorities whether it was true.

All the three pandas have been in good shape, Taipei mayor Hua Lungbin said, according to a spokesperson. We dont know the motive of the story. The joke has been taken too far. Fortunately the reports were not picked up on by staff at The New Light of Myanmar, who generally take their commitment to panda-related coverage every bit as seriously as that of elephant births, municipal works and the release of ngerlings. With AFP

In brief:

Local rasta unimpressed at enumerator skipping over his house and thus denying him the chance to put 914 and human being on the census form Expat wrestled with immense white guilt while swilling free champagne at April 5 TS-1 gallery launch in Yangons dockyards

Next week:

Two women hospitalised after a violent scufe over the last pack of tampons at CityMart

www.mmtimes.com
ANALYSIS

NEWS EDITOR: Thomas Kean | tdkean@gmail.com

News 3

Doubts over log export ban

Conict in Kachin State will make it difficult for government to stop exports to China, experts say

Govt accuses Britain of interfering in Rakhine

EI EI TOE LWIN TIM MCLAUGHLIN newsroom@mmtimes.com PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson U Ye Htut has accused Britain of interfering in Myanmars internal affairs after it summoned the Myanmar ambassador in an effort to convince the government to allow humanitarian aid activities to resume in Rakhine State. The president has already explained to the secretary general of the UN [Ban Ki-moon] that the government has taken the necessary measures to ensure the safety and protection of all international organisations [working in Rakhine State], U Ye Htut said. So we dont need to say anything more. U Ye Htut, who is also a deputy minister for information, also took issue with Britains usage of the term Rohingya in a statement issued following the meeting with the ambassador. He said no official documents from the British colonial period had ever referred to Muslims in Rakhine State as Rohingya. Its unreasonable for the British to now urge recognition of the term, he said. It appears they are trying to intervene in our internal affairs and we dont accept it. Britains Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire summoned ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn on April 7 to discuss the continued restrictions on aid organisations working in Rakhine State. On February 28 the government ordered Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) to leave the state, while mob violence in March forced aid workers to ee. The UK said this meant that an already dire situation had deteriorated further. [H]undreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Rakhine, mainly from the Rohingya community, are not receiving vital medical and humanitarian aid, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development said in a statement released after the meeting. The statement added that Mr Swire had pressed Myanmar to urgently to restore humanitarian access to all communities in need, and to ensure the security of humanitarian aid workers and all communities in Rakhine State.

BILL OTOOLE
botoole12@gmail.com

EXPERTS say an export ban on raw timber that came into effect on April 1 could have a limited impact because of a lack of clarity from the government on how the ban would work in practice, as well as the effects of the conict in Kachin State. This confusion could allow unscrupulous merchants to continue selling illegally cut timber across international borders, particularly in northern Myanmar where enforcement is weak because of conict. Now theres a strong push in the [Myanmar Timber Merchants Association] and the [Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry] to clamp down on illegal logging, but its not clear to me what illegal logging in this context actually means, said Kevin Woods, a researcher with the NGO Forest Trends who specialises in Myanmars timber sector. Does that mean that logging is being done by villagers and then sold to businessmen without the explicit permission of [the ministry]? Or could it also mean, as I feel it should logging being done by crony companies in natural, unmanaged forests? None of that is clear to me from any statement made by any government officials. Logging has also been a continued source of conict in Kachin State, where the Tatmadaw has launched attacks against Kachin Independence Army troops on the pretext of cracking down on the illegal timber trade. U Win Myo Thu, co-founder of the environmental NGO EcoDev, said that very little of the timber that crosses the border into China is actually logged in border areas. EcoDevs eld researchers have found most of the logs actually come from areas controlled by the government, such as Sagaing Region and parts of southern Kachin state, he said.

The tough terrain and conicts in Kachin State make it difficult to track which groups are responsible for felling and transporting the timber. To be able to say [logs are] really illegal we really need to track the chain of custody, he said. [But] many of these logs begin in the deep jungle. Neither the government nor EcoDev has the resources to send monitors into areas that are both isolated and potentially dangerous. Beyond the physical limitations of investigating the illegal timber trade, U Win Myo Thu said powerful groups have a vested interest in keeping it alive. He warned that they may try to stymie government reform initiatives in the sector. There are cronies doing this business, also many armed groups that deal in this business Its difficult to enforce the law. [Its] basically enemies becoming business partners, said one observer of the timber industry in Kachin State, who asked not to be named. Clearly to get logs from Sagaing into China, there has to be a collusion of interests on both the government and KIO side for that to happen, and its also very clear that the KIO is taxing the timber trade through their controlled checkpoints on the road. [But] according to local informants the timber seems to be very much predominantly coming from Myanmarcontrolled areas. The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry could not be reached for comment, while senior KIA official General Gun Maw declined to comment last week. In an interview with The Irrawaddy in February, however, he conceded that there were people who benet from this trade on both sides. Instead of blaming each other, we mainly have to nd a way to solve the issue of illegal logging, he said. The ban on raw timber exports was announced by the government in late 2012. It argued that the ban was necessary to preserve what is left of Myanmars natural forests, while at the same time creating jobs and generating higher export revenues by sawing timber before it is exported.

Ye Dike stages a bizarre protest at St Marys Cathedral in downtown Yangon in May 2013. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

Actor Ye Dike jailed for drug possession

EI EI THU 91.eieithu@gmail.com ACTOR Ye Dike has been slapped with a six-year jail term for possession that authorities say should serve as a deterrent to others in the industry engaged in drug use. Ye Dike was arrested in Bago Regions Kyauktaga township in July 2013 with 16 grams of hashish, police said. A police sergeant from Kyauktaga said the township court handed down the sentence on April 7. He said police had initially tried to also charge the actor with drug use but a medical checkup revealed no traces of illicit substances in his body. The decision of the judge is fair. The section for drug possession carries a potential jail term of ve to 10 years, so you can say he got off lightly with only six, said the sergeant, who asked not to be named. I heard some other celebrities are using drugs. I hope they consider what has happened to Ye Dike and avoid using drugs completely. The trial took longer than expected because most defence witnesses failed to appear as scheduled, he said. On November 12, November 26 and December 2 the defence witnesses were absent. Director Nyi Nyi Zaw, who had worked frequently with Ye Dike on movies produced by Satori Films, said the decision was unfair and the defence was planning to appeal. He said the judge had not taken the defence witnesses seriously. The judge thought that because he is an actor people love him and they were willing to lie at the trial. The judge thought the witnesses were fake, Nyi Nyi Zaw said. Even if the actor does have to serve the six-year term, Nyi Nyi Zaw said Satori would welcome him back into their lms. Ye Dike is a good person and has done a lot for the public. He does not deserve this punishment. After the sentencing, some of the actors fans said they thought he had got a lengthier term because police wanted to use him as an example. Im very sad for Ye Dike, said Ma Phue Phue, 23. I think he was sacriced for all of the drug-using celebrities as a way for the authorities to say they will take action against anyone, no matter how famous they are.

4 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

YCDC backflips on car parking charges

NOE NOE AUNG MG ZAW newsroom@mmtimes.com YANGON City Development Committee has reversed a decision to do away with parking fees across the city after just one year. Motorists will now have to pay K200 an hour to park in 20 parts of Yangon. The committee auctioned the rights to collect parking fees to private companies for the 2014-15 nancial year, which began on April 1. YCDC has given licences to companies to collect car parking fees as of April 1, said Ko Maung Zaw, who won an auction for the right to collect parking fees in one downtown location. The winners of the auctions will pay from K30,000 to K500,000 a day to the committee, said the winner of the auction for parking on Bo Aung Kyaw Road in downtown Yangon, who asked not to be named. He has employed a dozen staff to collect fees on the street, which borders Kyauktada and Botahtaung townships. The amount you can collect differs dramatically depending on the area you win in the auction. Some areas you can earn a lot, while others its just a small amount. YCDC has designated how much the winners of each area have to pay on a daily basis, he added. The committee removed all parking fees in Yangon from April 1, 2013. At the time officials said it was because they had received many complaints from motorists. However, a spokesperson from YCDC described it as a one-year exemption put in place while YCDC repaired footpaths around the city. We are not changing our policy. The committee just gave a one-year exemption because the roads and pathways were being repaired last year, said U Myo Lwin from the Department of Roads and Bridges. The committee has been collecting parking fees since 1996 and we allowed free parking in 2013-2014. Now we issued new contracts again, starting from this year. Thats all, he said. In Mandalay, meanwhile, municipal authorities began charging an additional K100 for each hour a vehicle is parked in an effort, they said, to combat traffic congestion. Previously, cars had to pay a at fee of K300 and motorcycles K100, but this will now only cover the rst hour. The charges are collected by staff from companies that have won tenders to levy parking fees at around 40 sites in the city. A senior official from the Mandalay Regions revenue department said the tax would help to relieve congestion in the citys downtown area as it would discourage people from parking on busy streets. Increasing the tax can decrease traffic. People will be more reluctant to stop their vehicle for a long time, the official said. The arrival time of the vehicle will be written on the tax receipt. And then we will calculate the charge based on the time that the owner comes back and leaves the parking spot. But residents said they were sceptical the increased charges would have any impact. There is always bad traffic in front of the stores on the main roads but how will this solve that problem? They come to the shops because they have money. For those people, K100 for one hour is nothing, said Ko Thet Naing from Maha Aung Myay township.

Wa army considers nationwide ceasefire cooperation

WA LONE walone14@gmail.com YE MON yeemontun2013@gmail.com THE United Wa State Party, which controls the countrys largest ethnic army, will soon decide whether to participate in nationwide ceasere talks along with other armed ethnic groups, a spokesperson said. The UWSP has so far shunned the efforts of other armed groups to negotiate collectively with the government, most recently through the Nationwide Ceasere Coordination Team, on the grounds that it already has a ceasere. However, the UWSP attended the April 5-7 peace talks in Yangon at the invitation of the governments Union Peace Making Committee the rst time it has participated in talks with other armed ethnic groups. Wa information officer U Aung Myint said its involvement in the peace process may increase in coming months. We understand that the nationwide ceasere aims to strengthen the old state-level and union-level ceasere agreements that we have signed so we will discuss the issue, he told reporters on April 5. We have reached a compromise with the government for 25 years. There has been developments in our region and the living standards have improved, he said. Regardless of whether it takes part in the nationwide ceasere negotiations, he said the UWSP has already committed to participating in the political dialogue that will follow the signing of the nationwide ceasere agreement. [The Wa leadership] said clearly that there is no ghting between the government and the Wa so they dont need to take part in ceasere talks. They said they are ready and waiting for political dialogue, Minister U Aung Min told The Myanmar Times. Just a day later, on April 6, a separate delegation led by UWSA deputy secretary general, Pauk Yu Yi, met Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw and discussed the development of the Wa region, state media reported. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

A Toyota Probox lies beside a Yangon street underneath a bus in March 2013. Photo: Ye Naung

Car import rules help law-breakers escape

Police are struggling to investigate accidents because vehicles are mis-registered

AYE NYEIN WIN

ayenyeinwin.mcm@gmail.com

EASED restrictions on car imports make it easier to break the law and harder to be caught, officials say. Police and government sources say that when importers buy ID documents from others to get import licenses, the resulting mismatched records in the government database make it hard for police to track down drivers who break road rules. [Some drivers] run away after accidents, said Police Lieutenant Win Lwin of the Yangon Traffic Police Force. Sometimes we trace the address that is registered with the Road Transport Administration Department [RTAD]. We nd the place but they have no car. That happens when importers hire the [household list] and national identity card from others. Starting May 2012, anyone with a national identity card can get one import licence after showing proof of funds by placing US$5000 in a bank account. To get around the one-car limit, small-time car importers and brokers buy the requisite paperwork

from other people for around K50,000, said Pol Lt Win Lwin. The resulting mis-registration of ownership details delays police when investigating accidents. Sometimes [when tracing addresses] we see only a lot and no house. And the real owner is at another address, he said. In one case, Pol Lt Win Lwin added, an accident was only resolved nine months later after the car involved happened to be spotted by police in Kyeemyindaing township. We cant do anything if the importer bought the cars with anothers identity card and they did not change the name, said deputy director general U Min Min from the Ministry of Commerce. After cars are sold, new owners rarely change the name in which they are registered because of the taxes that would have to be paid. Previously a cars registration could only be extended by showing the identity card and household list of the person in whose name it was registered, which created an incentive to ensure the car was registered in the name of the real owner. However, this rule was recently changed so that the registration could be extended by showing only a valid identity card. RTAD director U Thaung Lwin said his department registers vehicles

only if all documents are provided according to Ministry of Commerce procedures. He blamed the problems with registration on brokers giving out misinformation. In our country there are a lot of brokers. They always lie and the people always believe them, so our department is always trying to solve these problems caused by brokers, he said. The government should consider the best way to make things convenient for the public and also for the related departments. U Soe Htun from Farmer Auto said he believed only tax-paying citizens should be allowed to import cars. I think the government should allow car imports only by people who pay taxes to the government, he said. If the government cant change the policy, they should at least make sure the privilege of importing a car is not misused. Car broker U Aung Than Win said the borrowing of identity documents to import cars was widespread among brokers and small companies. They cant afford to open a car sales centre so they import cars this way and park them in a car dealers compound for K200 a day, he said. It also means they dont have to pay sales tax to the government like a car sales centre.

Labour activists decry government interference

KYAW PHONE KYAW k.phonekyaw@gmail.com LABOUR rights activists have accused the government of interfering in the process of selecting representatives for the countrys workers in an international conference. The accusation came at a press conference called by Action Labour Rights (ALR) and Labour Rights Defender and Protector (LRDP) on April 4. ALR president Ko Thurain Aung said the government had instructed each labour union to choose its representatives at the ward, township and district levels three weeks ago. It had also given some selected labour organisations a free pass straight to the national conference, bypassing the elections at the lower levels. Elected representatives will gather at a meeting in Myanmar to decide who will to attend the International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva in June. The activists said trade union members had been able to select their representatives freely in 2012 and 2013, without interference from the government. They said the recent instruction violated Article 3 of ILO Convention 87, which states that workers and employers organisations shall have the right to elect their representatives in full freedom. Labour representatives should be selected by workers. The government cant give us these instructions, Ko Thurain Aung said, adding that selection by the government would be a violation of ILO convention. LRDP spokesperson Daw Ei Shwe Sin Nyunt said workers could be intimidated in expressing their views to the conference via representatives selected by the government. Ko Thurain Aung told reporters the government had organised the selection ceremony for townshiplevel representatives at Kanaung Hall in Hlaing Tharyar township on April 4 rather than let the trade unions organise it themselves. The annual ILO conference, to be held in June, brings together governments, employers and workers to discuss labour-related problems in their various countries. The government can choose its own representative, but not those of the workers, said the liaison officer for Labour Rights Clinic, Ko Chit Oo Maung, saying the problem would be raised with the ILO. Workers organisations said the conference had imposed sanctions on the Myanmar government before, and that the new government wanted to ensure the presence of friendly representatives. The Ministry of Labour could not be reached for comment.

6 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Adoxy imports halted over advertising

Yangon company accused of advertising food supplement as a wonderdrug that could cure HIV, diabetes and other diseases

SHWE YEE SAW MYINT

poepwintphyu2011@gmail.com

HEALTH authorities have temporarily suspended a local rms licence to distribute an imported cell food product after nding it had been misleadingly advertised as a medical cure-all. The Food and Drug Administration revoked Zin Biotests licence for Adoxy cell food on March 31, said Dr Tun Zaw, director of the administrations Food Safety Department. We found that the company had issued misleading advertising. On their yer they showed photos of patients before and after treatment and said that their product could cure HIV, diabetes and other diseases like a medicine. Actually we only approved it as

a food supplement, Dr Tun Zaw said. He said the FDA would not remove Adoxy from the market but had asked the Ministry of Commerce to issue a temporary ban on any more imports. The ministry issued Zin Biotests import licence for the product in May 2013 based on the FDAs recommendation. Zin Biotest owner Dr Tin Tun Lwin refused to comment last week. In an interview last month he denied being responsible for the advertising promoting Adoxys medicinal properties. I never said Adoxy cell food was a drug and could cure cancer, diabetes and non-communicable diseases. Its our customers who say so, he said, adding that at least 800 patients buy Adoxy cell food each day. Adoxy is sold through network marketing to 100,000 customers nationwide, according to staff at Dr Tun Tun Lwins Saytanartun clinic, on Lanmadaw townships 12th Street.

One Adoxy user is cancer patient U Myint Kyaw, who began taking it about two months ago after learning about the product from a neighbour, who had started taking it after seeing the yer. [My neighbour] said it would make me feel better, he told The Myanmar Times recently. U Myint Kyaw said Dr Tun Tun Lwin offers free medical consultations and tells patients how to obtain a bottle of Adoxy at K35,000, which was also conrmed by staff at the clinic.

Approximate number of patients who buy Adoxy each day

800

Despite the apparently positive reviews from customers, Myanmar Medical Council member Dr Mya Thein Han said people should be aware that Adoxy was not a medicine. However, attempts to spread the word have proven controversial. Last month Dr Tin Tun Lwin threatened a local newspaper with legal action after it reported that Adoxy had not been approved as a medication. Dr Tun Zaw said it was the rst time the FDA had taken action against an import licence holder for misleading advertising. We are now trying to strictly enforce rules against misleading advertising, he said. Offenders will face harsher punishments once the government enacts rules and regulations for the Consumer Protection Law, which was approved by parliament last month. As The Myanmar Times reported last week, entrepreneurs accused of producing or selling

goods that are misleadingly advertised can be investigated by a dispute settlement team appointed by a consumer protection central committee. In particular, the law prohibits businesses or individuals from making health or nutritional claims without scientic evidence. Businesses found to be in violation of the law can receiving a warning or a severe warning, be forced to pay compensation to consumers, be temporarily prohibited from distributing the incriminating goods, have the goods removed from the market or destroyed, and have their business licence temporarily suspended or permanently revoked. Certain acts of misleading advertising, harassing advertising, advertising that degrades competitors and the sale of adulterated merchandise are made a criminal offence with nes of up to K5 million and/or imprisonment of up to three years.

Sri Ksetra treasures to go on display abroad for the first time

A LANDMARK exhibition opens in New York next week exploring the ancient kingdoms of Southeast Asia and introducing to the outside world the rst treasures from Myanmar seen abroad. The Metropolitan Museum of Art spent ve years preparing the exhibition of Hindu-Buddhist sculptures from a region and ancient culture little known in the United States. It features 160 stone, terracotta and bronze sculptures, of which 22 are from Myanmar - the rst pieces of art loaned by Yangon after emerging from decades of international isolation. The rest from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Britain, France and elsewhere in the United States complete an exhibition that only the vast resources of the Metropolitan could pull off. Most of these powerful works of art have rarely if ever been on view outside their home countries, said the Mets British director Thomas Campbell. We are especially honoured that the government of Myanmar has signed its rst-ever international loan agreement in order to lend their national treasures to this exhibition. The beautifully presented and painstakingly curated Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia 5th to 8th Century opens on April 14 and runs until July 27. Around 6.2 million people visited the Met in each of the last two years, a new audience for these ancient treasures and for Myanmar, which only emerged from international sanctions in 2012. Curator John Guy said Southeast Asia was dismissed by ancient geographers as that place beyond India and before China, but produced some of the greatest Hindu and Buddhist art to survive. The exhibition tracks the period when both faiths took root in the region from India, absorbed into local belief systems and giving rise to the nation states of today. It took two years a long and rigorous process to negotiate the loans from all the countries, Mr Guy said. Myanmar is new at this and I have to say they behaved in an extraordinarily professional manner, he added. Before coming to New York, some objects had travelled only once: by cart from the ancient city of Sri Ksetra where they were excavated in 1924-26 to the local museum. As in the case of several other

Pickup prices slashed in latest import tax change

STUART DEED stuart.deed@gmail.com AYE NYEIN WIN ayenyeinwin.mcm@gmail.com DUAL-CAB pickup trucks have emerged as the key beneciary of the latest round of the Ministry of Commerces tax cuts on vehicle imports, say industry sources. The cuts, which were announced in late March and quickly spread through car trading websites and social media, are most pronounced for dual-cab pickups, which have been reduced in price by 60 percent. Paul Varley, general sales manager for Capital Automotive, which is selling Ford, Land Rover/Range Rover and Jaguar vehicles in Myanmar, said the reduction would see the most basic Ford Ranger pickup cut in price by more than 20pc from about K50.6 million to K40.5 million. Mr Varley said the changes came into effect on April 1, the start of Myanmars nancial year. However, the way the tax cuts were disseminated to the public shows a continued weakness in the governments ability to deliver news quickly and clearly to the people: Auto traders said they were notied by customers of the impending cuts and not forewarned by the ministry. Pickup trucks have become popular vehicles on Myanmars less-thanperfect roads. However, it has been the two-door or single cab trucks that have been the biggest sellers because they are classed as commercial vehicles by the ministry. This classication allows Capital Auto, Mazda and soon other manufacturers to sell them brand new, with multi-year warranties, at a comparatively low cost. The cheapest Ranger costs just K21.2 million or slightly less than US$22,100. The sharp pricing, which matches the cost of a 10-year-old second-hand Toyota Rav 4, has been a hit with consumers, Mr Varley said. For Ranger as a whole we have exceeded our expectations but feel we still have many opportunities ahead, particularly with eet business, Mr Varley said. Between individual models, for example single cab/double cab and RAP Cab we have seen a lot of uctuation in sales as new vehicles have been released and then with taxation. Initially we sold lots of single cabs, then the RAP Cab or extra cab arrived in Myanmar and that started to dominate sales. Now we may well see a swing again, Mr Varley said, adding that the changes do not affect single-cab pricing. I think more than anything it just gives the double cab a more even playing eld with single cabs. Many of our eet customers are looking for double cabs for contracts they have around Myanmar but often found it an expensive option compared with the single cab or RAP Cab. Now there is more choice available.

Price drop for some dual-cab pickup trucks as a result of recent tax changes

20%

A fragment from a narrative relief that is among the items lent by Myanmar to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for a new exhibit. Photo: AFP

countries, cabinet-level approval was required. Its appropriate, Mr Guy said. Were asking to borrow their national treasures and bring them half way around the world. This is an enormous act of faith on their part. Mr Guy said the region could expect spin-off benets such as enhanced tourism and cultural cooperation. When the exhibits return to Myanmar in August, for example, two conservators will go to work on objects that in the end were deemed too fragile to travel to New York. As important as the exhibition is,

we would never put a single object at risk, said Mr Guy, an expert with 20 years experience and contacts in the region. While many of the masterpieces come from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, the standout contribution from Myanmar is a sixth-century sandstone slab that covered a relic chamber in Sri Ksetra. Mr Guy described it as an extraordinary object, beautiful in its own right and the way it functioned, offering almost magical protection to the chamber, makes it a very potent object. AFP

He added, however, that most imports are affected by the change: The taxation change sees a reduction in nearly all models in the cost of the KNN or registration of the vehicle. In most cases the vehicles come down a taxation banding. Mr Varley said these include a reduction in registration costs for Land Rover products from 100pc to 80pc, while costs for Jaguar XJ and Jaguar XF models have been reduced from 80pc to 50pc. In a separate development, the Ministry of Rail Transportation has announced reduced vehicle registration fees starting from April 1. Fees payable to the Road Transport Administration Department for cars with 1350cc or smaller engines are reduced from 35pc to 30pc, 13512000cc engines from 80pc to 50pc, and 2001-5000cc engines from 100pc to 80pc. Personal importers would expect to pay up to K1 million less, depending on vehicle capacity, said car dealer U Aung Min Zaw.

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News 7 CRIME IN BRIEF

Three months in jail for farmland activists
Two activists who demonstrated against farmland conscations and the arrest of farmers were sentenced to three months in jail by Kyauktada township court on April 1. On January 18, U Win Cho and Ko Nay Myo Zin, coordinators of the Myanmar Social Life Development Network, led about 200 farmers - representing 34 villages in 14 townships - in a rally at Mahabandoola Park in Kyauktada township. The crowd carried placards calling for the release of detained farmers and for conscated farmland to be returned. Both activists were convicted for protesting without permission under section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law.

Thangyat groups flout municipal order on programs

SI THU LWIN sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com MANDALAYS Thingyan entertainment troupes are refusing to submit their performances to a committee set up by the city to vet their content. The thangyat committee admitted this week that they had yet to receive any programs for their approval. Traditionally, troupes of thangyat players celebrate the water festival with songs, chants, dances and plays. The performances were banned for decades because they often have an anti-authoritarian slant. In Mandalay, the content of these is supposed to be pre-approved by the thangyat committee set up by Mandalay City Development Committee. Mandalay NLD has said its Khut Daung Kye Phyu thangyat troupe the name translates to ghting peacock with white star will not seek permission either for its slogans or for the design of its decorated oat. Other groups have said they will likewise ignore the government order. Our troupe is going to tour [Mandalay] as representatives of the NLD. We didnt submit our chants or oat design to the committee or seek their permission because we thought they might withhold it. We informed them we would tour around the town, taking responsibility for our own troupe, U Tin Htut Oo, chair of Mandalay NLD, told The Myanmar Times. He said thangyat troupes performed during the Thingyan festival to pay respects to older people and entertain residents with music, but without using chants that could harm a group or an individual. The deadline for submission of slogans and oat designs to Mandalays Thingyan Thangyat Committee, part of the Mandalay Thingyan central organising committee, was April 6. No troupes have submitted their programs to the committee yet, U Than Lwin, head of the Department of Public Relations and Information of MCDC, told The Myanmar Times on April 7. The committees rules ban chants that can damage the prestige of the state and its government, harm national unity, do not conform to Myanmar culture, or cast aspersions on individuals or groups, according to U Kyaw Than Tun, head of the regional office of the Department of Public Relations and Information. Not all troupes are following the NLDs lead. Ma Nay Su Hlaing, of the all-women Tamar Yeik thangyat troupe, said she planned to submit details of her performance before the festival begins. Weve been performing thangyat in the water festival for three years. We never use words that can harm others dignity. We submitted our slogans and the committee approved them. Nothing was rejected. But Ko Myo Kyaw Aung, of the Aung San Maung troupe, said his group had not applied for permission this year or last year. In this transition to democracy, I dont want to apply for permission, he said. Translation by Thiri Min Htun

Conductor absconds after allegedly setting bus ofce alight

Protesters wait to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi outside her residence in Yangon on April 5. Photo: AFP

Daw Suu refuses to meet land protesters

Two groups of demonstrators gather outside NLD leaders house in three days
WA LONE walone14@gmail.com A SECOND land protest has taken place outside Daw Aung San Suu Kyis University Avenue home although this time the National League for Democracy leader refused to meet with the demonstrators, citing ill health. Twenty farmers whose land has been conscated for the Thilawa Special Economic Zone gathered outside her house on April 5. Her doctor, Dr Tin Myo Win, told the farmers she was unable to meet them. The demonstration came two days after more than 100 protesters gathered outside her home on April 3 to demand the Nobel laureates assistance in resolving a land dispute. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads the parliamentary Rule of Law, Peace and Stability Committee, told demonstrators she would consult with the Lawyers Network to see if she could help the protesters. However, she stopped short of making any promises on possible outcomes. We hope [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi], as chair of the rule of law committee, can help us, said Daw May Theingi Oo. The protesters were evicted from Mayangone township in 2003 after the government auctioned the land on which they were living to U Aik Lin, owner of construction rm Great Nine. Altogether 293 households were evicted to make way for the Taw Win Cherry Housing project, which was built from 2004 to 2006. didnt take any action. We protested because we had no other choice, she said. But Great Nine manager U Nay Linn Oo said the former residents had already received compensation ranging from K1 million to K15 million. Only ve of the 293 houses didnt accept the compensation. We took legal action against them and removed them under a court order in 2006, he said. We have all the legal documentation and other evidence so we are ready for any legal action. Meanwhile, activist Ko Htin Kyaw, who led the April 3 protest, was charged by Bahan township police under section 18 of the peaceful protest law for allegedly demonstrating without official permission.

A small roadside ofce that supervises Dina buses on Mingalardon townships Htaukkyant Road was set on re on April 4 evening, with a rogue employee the prime suspect. The buildings lone staffer reported that he left the ofce about 5pm on April 4 to go home. Witness say a re started at about 6pm. While it was quickly put out by neighbours, both the building and documents inside were destroyed. The next morning, upon arriving at his workplace only to nd it in ruins, the staffer reported the re to police. Ofcers say a bus conductor is now being sought in connection with the blaze. Toe Wai Aung, translation by Thiri Min Htun

Roadside arrests made in Hpa-an

We protested because we have no other choice.

Daw May Theingi Oo Land dispute demonstrator

Police in Hpa-an township, Kayin State, say they have broken up a drug trafcking ring after arresting a married couple allegedly carrying narcotics on their motorcycle on March 30. The pair were stopped in Khalauknoae village and found to be carrying 95 amphetamine-type stimulants. They said the drugs came from another woman and upon searching her home, police seized more pills as well as cash and a mobile phone. The three were charged under sections 15, 19(a), 20(a) and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. Aung Kyaw Min

The group demonstrated outside Taw Win Cherry on March 25 to April 2 but the sites owners refused to negotiate with them. The protesters accused Great Nine of not paying fair compensation and also said legal documents held by the company may not be genuine. Daw May Theingi Oo said they had tried to seek redress through the legal system but all the court ignored us and the government

Correction
The photo caption for the article White cards: the juntas toxic legacy, published in the April 7-13 edition of The Myanmar Times, featured an incorrect translation of a sign held by a protester. The Myanmar-language sign reads, Respect those who are not Muslim. We regret the error.

8 News
Managing Director, Editor-in-Chief MTE & MTM Ross Dunkley rsdunkley@gmail.com Chief Operating Ofcer Wendy Madrigal madrigalmcm@gmail.com Deputy Chief Operating Ofcer Tin Moe Aung tinmoeaung.mcm@gmail.com EDITORIAL Editor MTE Thomas Kean tdkean@gmail.com Editor MTM Sann Oo sannoo@gmail.com Chief of Staff Zaw Win Than zawwinthan@gmail.com Editor Special Publications Myo Lwin myolwin286@gmail.com Features Editor MTE Douglas Long dlong125@gmail.com Business Editor MTE Philip Heijmans pheijmans13@gmail.com World Editor MTE Fiona Margaret Macgregor onamacgregor@hotmail.co.uk The Pulse Editor MTE Whitney Light light.whitney@gmail.com Sport Editor MTE Tim McLaughlin timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com Chief Sub Editor MTM Aye Sapay Phyu Business & Property Editor MTM Tin Moe Aung tinmoeaung.mcm@gmail.com Timeout Editor MTM Moh Moh Thaw mohthaw@gmail.com MCM BUREAUS Mandalay Bureau Chief Jeremy Mullins jeremymullins7@gmail.com News Editors (Mandalay) Khin Su Wai, Phyo Wai Kyaw Nay Pyi Taw Bureau Chief Hsu Hlaing Htun hsuhlainghtun.mcm@gmail.com DIGITAL/ONLINE Digital Division Director Bridget Di Certo bridgetdicerto@gmail.com Online Editors Kayleigh Long, Thet Hlaing kayleighelong@gmail.com, thet202@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHICS Director (Photographer Division) Kaung Htet Photographers Boothee, Aung Htay Hlaing, Thiri PRODUCTION zarnicj@gmail.com Art Directors Tin Zaw Htway, Ko Pxyo Assistant Head of Production Zarni MCM PRINTING uhtaymaung@gmail.com Printing Manager Htay Maung Factory Administrator Aung Kyaw Oo (3) Factory Foreman Tin Win SALES & MARKETING ads.myanmartimes@gmail.com National Sales Director Jesse Gage Jesse.m.gage@gmail.com Deputy National Sales Directors Chan Tha Oo, Nay Myo Oo, Nandar Khine, Nyi Nyi Tun Classieds Manager Khin Mon Mon Yi classied.mcm@gmail.com ADMIN, FINANCE & SYSTEMS Chief Financial Ofcer Mon Mon Tha Saing monmonthasaing@gmail.com Deputy HR Director Khine Su Yin khinesu1988@gmail.com Publisher Dr Tin Tun Oo, Permit No: 04143 Director of IT/System Kyaw Zay Yar Lin kyawzayarlin@gmail.com CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION Consulting Director Stuart Alan Becker stuart.becker@gmail.com ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928 Facsimile: (01) 254 158 The Myanmar Times is owned by Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd and printed by MCM Commercial Printing 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.

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

FEATURE
Solidarity Party (USDP) but there are also four opposition MPs: U Win Myint from the National League for Democracy; U Ba Shein from the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party; and Sai Thina Kyaw and Nan Wa Nu from the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party. Others non-MP members are recruited based on personal relationships, according to member U Tin Latt, founder of auditing rm MAT. Once identied as potential members, they are then asked to submit a CV for review before being appointed. The Tatmadaw also has a presence. Colonel Htay Naing, Colonel Myint Ko Ko and Colonel Tint San serve as personnel representative members of the military and handle defence-related issues. MPs are only the representatives of the public, of the voters. So we have to guide them for making good laws and good procedures, said commission member U Than Maung, who spent 15 years in the Attorney Generals Office before joining the Yangon office of Singaporean law rm Kelvin Chia Partnership. In some cases they dont have any idea how to make a law or rule or notication. Commission members who hold full-time jobs, like U Tin Latt and U Than Maung, contribute in their spare time. Others have taken on more active involvement. U Toe Naing Mann said he stepped back from day-to-day operations at his company RedLink Communications three years ago to focus solely on the commissions activities. The group was initially told to focus on ve areas budget, taxation, national planning, nance and banking. It was later also asked to look at issues surrounding the 2008 Constitution. While members were unwilling to discuss its specic recommendations for constitutional change, U Than Maung described it as a major focus for the group in the coming year. The committees recommendations for the super amendment, as he called it, have been submitted directly to Thura U Shwe Mann, bypassing the Constitution Review Joint Committee set up by parliament. Commission members based in Yangon often travel to the capital when they are called on by Thura U Shwe Mann. Sometimes they are approached for advice on an issue, while at other times a particular law that falls within their realm of expertise requires discussion. The groups behind-the-scenes activities have included everything from lobbying the government to move faster on banking reform to resolving legal disputes and suggesting constitutional amendments. It also regularly advises parliamentary committees on law-making issues.

ITTING behind his dark wooden desk in an office in Yangons MICT Park, U Toe Naing Mann, an internet tycoon turned legal adviser and son of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann, is demonstrating his view of a checks and balances in Myanmar using a set of tea mugs. He excitedly slides one mug across the table; it represents, he says, a law produced by a ministry of the central government. He slides another mug toward it a law put forward by parliament and then quickly pulls the rst back. The response of the parliament has forced the government to react, he says, and engage in a system of debate that has been missing from Myanmars political landscape for the decades Myanmar was under military rule. This push and pull approach is essential for the countrys emerging democracy, U Toe Naing Mann argues. But he doesnt only talk of its importance; the heavy-smoking businessman with a PhD in geology has quietly gone about putting his words into action through the Commission for the Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues, a powerful parliamentary body of which he is a key member. Since its formation in November 2011, it has operated virtually in secret, holding no press conferences

Even the few parliamentarians who do have access to resources dont know how to use them.
U Myat Thu Yangon School of Political Science

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann established the Commission for the

and making none of its reports available to the public. Its 57 members are selected on the basis of their expertise and ties to the speaker and serve one-year terms. Insiders say that the commission has become one of the most inuential bodies in Myanmars political landscape. The group of parliamentarians, retired civil servants, technocrats and military officers has been called Thura U Shwe Manns brains trust and was formed to address the lack of resources that continues to plague lawmakers in Nay Pyi Taw. Nay Pyi Taws resources problem When Myanmars parliamentarians convened for the rst time in January 2011 in Nay Pyi Taw they did so with little support. There was no library to draw information from and no senior lawmakers to provide guidance. Parliamentarians had just a handful of staff if they were lucky enough to have any at all. Three years later, little has changed. There is a lack of resources. Even the few parliamentarians who do have access to resources dont know how to use them, said U Myat Thu, who co-founded the Yangon School of Political Science in 2011 in part to address the issue. Thura U Shwe Mann went about lling this resource gap on his own, compiling a handpicked commission that would provide him with people who could provide valuable assistance in shaping important laws. Commission members now gather three days a week every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at a main office in Nay Pyi Taw and a second branch in Yangon to discuss possible policy changes and amendments to some of Myanmars 400 odd laws. Headed by Deputy Speaker U Nanda Kyaw Swa, the 18 MPs in the commission are mostly drawn from the ruling Union Development and

All the spea

It meets in secret and the discussions are never discussed publicly. Legal Affairs and Special Issues is the most inuential body in

the judge ignored the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs under a cloud of corruption. After hearing U Khine Maung Yis question and the response from the judicial ofcial, Thura U Shwe Mann asked the commission to examine the complaint. Twelve of its members then heard the case, and the judicial representative at the meeting was forced to admit that an incorrect decision was made. It has now been forwarded back to a parliamentary committee for redress. Law-making focus While the case highlights the breadth of the commissions activities, its primary focus has been on drafting legislation. The group has been at the forefront of a larger shift over the past 18 months that has seen parliament take on more of the responsibility for law writing. Laws that are submitted by the government today are also subjected to signicantly more parliamentary scrutiny than two or three years ago. Despite their relationship to Thura U Shwe Mann, those interviewed insisted that the commission is apolitical. They described their role as advising members of parliament and lending their expertise where necessary. In keeping with government formality, U Toe Naing Mann refers to Thura U Shwe Mann only as speaker with no hint of their familial ties. In recent interviews with The Myanmar Times, members described a number of major victories over the past three years, including persuading the government to reduce overly ambitious mobile phone penetration targets in the Telecommunications

TIM MCLAUGHlIN
timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com

Number of members on the Commission for the Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues

57

Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. www.mmtimes.com Head Ofce: 379/383 Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928 Facsimile: (01) 254 158 Mandalay Bureau: Bld Sa/1, Man Mandalar Housing, 35th Street, between 70th and 71st streets, Yan Myo Lone Quarter, Chan Aye Thar San Township. Tel: (02) 65391, 74585. 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 TawPyinmana. Tel: (067) 23064, 23065 Email: capitalbureau@myanmartimes.com.mm

He [Thura U Shwe Mann] asks them, Is this good or not? Is this right or wrong? He cant know himself so he asks the group. They solve these problems, they say, This is right, and he responds that way, said U Khine Maung Yi. An MP from the National Democratic Force, he is not on the commission but has seen rst-hand the impact it can have. In late 2013, U Khine Maung Yi submitted a question to parliament about a controversial land dispute legal case in the early 1990s, in which

Law and lobbying for a new Central Bank Law, which was passed in July and gives greater independence to the bank. When the idea of a new Central Bank Law was rst oated, U Toe Naing Mann said, some officials in the Ministry of Finance and other parts of the government were opposed to the idea of giving the bank independence. The commission was able to force the Ministry of Finances hand by producing its own law, which Thura U Shwe Mann could have submitted to MPs for consideration. Faced with the choice of accepting the commissions draft and having to play by our rules, as U Toe Naing Mann put it the ministry rushed to complete its own version instead. The group has made a concerted effort to remain extremely lowprole. Though the group recently moved to a new Yangon office on Thanlwin Road in Bahan township, its discussions are rarely shared with the public. Two members of the commission contacted by The Myanmar Times declined to be interviewed. Those who agreed to speak refused to discuss certain topics, which they described as condential. Those involved say their position out of the public eye means they are able to speak more openly and frankly

www.mmtimes.com

News 9
Others outside of the commission continue to struggle with limited access to resources, leaving a small number of individuals particularly Thura U Shwe Mann with far more law-making repower. It is an imbalance that some experts warn could lead to ordinary being sidelined from the legislative process. The commission is not necessarily accessible to most legislators. The risk, therefore, is that it becomes a sort of thinktank for the speaker, boosting his command of the technical issues, and thereby enhancing his ability to push his agenda strengthening the already very powerful role that the speaker has, said Richard Horsey, an independent political analyst based in Yangon. What the legislature really needs is solid library and research staff, and expert technical staffers, available to all representatives, so that they are better able to engage in policy debates and make informed decisions in a transparent way, Mr Horsey said.

In change of tack, govt reveals NKorea talks

Tim McLaughlin timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com Wa Lone walone14@gmail.com A NORTH Korean delegation visited Nay Pyi Taw over the weekend for meetings with senior government ofcials. While Myanmar and North Korea developed friendly ties in the nal years of military rule, under President U Thein Sein the government has moved closer to South Korea with Myanmar seemingly eager to strike a more balanced engagement across the divided Korean peninsula. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Thant Kyaw received Kim Myong Gil, a director general in North Koreas foreign ministry, according to state media. The delegation, which arrived on April 3 and departed on April 6, also met U San Lwin, director general of the political department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Details of the discussions were scant, with state reports saying only that the trip aimed to further bilateral relations. The visit follows a February 19 meeting in Nay Pyi Taw between Vice President Sai Mauk Kham and Kim Sok Chol, North Koreas ambassador to Myanmar, during which the two focused on mutual amity and development, according to state media reports. Meetings with North Korea have typically been secretive. While details still remain scarce, Nay Pyi Taw now appears keen to make clear that talks between the two nations are taking place, perhaps to head off longstanding rumours of weapons dealings that have often dogged their relationship. The string of meetings with North Korean officials comes as the Myanmar government ramps up its ties with Pyongyangs neighbours to the south and at a time when tensions between the two Korean states are running high. Nay Pyi Taw said in early March that it is moving ahead with plans to build a memorial to commemorate the victims of the 1983 Martyrs Mausoleum bombing by North Korean agents that killed 17 South Korean nationals. The monument, an act of sympathetic soft diplomacy, signals the governments readiness to move forward and expand ties with South Korea, a country that could provide substantial investment in Myanmar and already has a long-term presence in the country through oil and gas company Daewoo. The monument announcement followed a visit to Seoul by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin in late February his second visit in two years. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se asked his counterpart for increased cooperation in addressing security cooperation on the Korean peninsula, particularly in terms of North Koreas nuclear capabilities. North Korea has never accepted responsibility for the 1983 attack, which prompted U Ne Win to sever diplomatic ties with the North immediately. It would be 25 years before a Myanmar foreign minister again visited Pyongyang. In May 2012 President Lee Myung-Bak became the rst South Korean head of state to visit Myanmar since the attack. U Thant Kyaw, who was appointed deputy minister in a cabinet reshuffle in late August 2012, has emerged as the governments point person for dealings with the Korean peninsula, making his own three-day trip to Seoul from March 9-12. Relations between Myanmar and North Korea have been a major concern for Western nations particularly the United States as they re-engage with Myanmar. Washington has consistently pushed for Nay Pyi Taw to sever ties with Pyongyang. While diplomatic ties were not reestablished until 2007, Myanmar and North Korea began to rebuild relations in the early 2000s. Cooperation extended to Myanmar purchasing arms from the cash-strapped North and there were rumours, which have since largely been discredited, of collaboration on nuclear technology. Myanmar has always insisted its dealings did not violate United Nations Security Council resolutions on North Korea. However, in December 2013 the continuing cooperation prompted the US Treasury Department to sanction three Myanmar companies Asia Metal Co Ltd, Soe Min Htike Co Ltd and Excellence Mineral Manufacturing Co Ltd along with Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Nyunt Oo for alleged involvement in arms trading with North Korea. The revenues from these continuing military sales directly support North Koreas illicit activities, said David Cohen, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and nancial intelligence, in a statement at the time. We will continue to target this activity in Burma, and the region, as we work with our international partners to shut down North Koreas dangerous and destabilizing weapons proliferation.

The risk is that it becomes a sort of thinktank for the speaker ... enhancing his ability to push his agenda.
Richard Horsey Independent political analyst

eakers men
Thura U Shwe Manns Commission for the Assessment of Myanmars new political landscape that youve never heard of
with lawmakers and each other, without the fear of disagreements being aired publically. The result is that meetings can get quite heated, with people not afraid to pound their sts on the table, U Toe Naing Mann said. Members point to the Central Bank Law as an example of a new form of power-sharing that forces different pillars of the state to actively engage in the lawmaking process. But at the same time they acknowledged that some members of the government see the commissions actions as a direct threat to their power.

Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues in November 2011. Photo: AFP

But catching up to the well-established commission will take time, funding and institutional support at a time when, according to U Myat Thu, many MPs are already looking toward the 2015 vote and the ght for re-election. Commission members are eagerly speaking of trips abroad and meetings with more international visitors. Unsurprisingly, U Toe Naing Mann and other commission members are quick to downplay suggestions that other lawmakers may be marginalised by their work. The commission exists to aid all MPs, regardless of their political affiliations, they insist. Their suggestions are just that suggestions and it is up to MPs whether the advice is accepted. If they like it [an idea], they use it, U Toe Naing Mann said. If not, they can toss it away. Additional reporting by Ei Ei Toe Lwin and Thomas Kean

10 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Criticism as DVB reporter gets jail sentence

YE MON yeemontun2013@gmail.com MEDIA gures have slammed what they call an outrageous and unfair decision to jail a reporter for covering a dispute on education department premises. Magwe Township Court sentenced Democratic Voice of Burma reporter U Thura Thet Tin and a students parent, U Win Myint Hlaing, to one year in jail on April 7 for trespassing in an education office and obstructing officials on duty. Magwe Region Education Office assistant officer U Maung Ngwe led a lawsuit against the pair on August 25, 2012, after they had questioned officials about the qualications of students being sent to Japan under the Kizuna Project. U Toe Zaw Latt, the agencys Yangon bureau chief, told The Myanmar Times the reporter was given the one-year jail term under sections 353 and 448 of the Penal Code. The verdict contravened the media law and was unfair, he said, adding, The reporter was taking a video recording during office hours. Its outrageous that he is being sentenced for trespassing. We have to question the degree of press freedom in our country. He said township judge U Man Hauk Nuan read the sentence so softly that the two defendants, their lawyers and many of the people in the courtroom could hardly hear. The Democratic Voice of Burma issued a statement saying it believed the legal action against U Thura Thet Tin and U Win Myint Hlaing was a restriction on media freedom, despite government pledges, and demanded their unconditional release. U Myint Kyaw, secretary of Myanmar Journalist Network, said that the verdict was disappointing and unfair. Reporters are feeling threatened by the regional government, he said. The network plans to conduct an online campaign against the sentence. The decision is also likely to intensify scrutiny on the trial of four journalists and the chief executive of Yangon-based Unity journal for allegedly violating the Official Secrets Act by reporting on an alleged chemical weapons factory. Their trial is also taking place in Magwe Region, in Pakkoku township.

Local fishermen show off a catch of nga kone ma fish, which they rely on due to depleted stocks of other more profitable species. Photo: Khin Su Wai

Drop in fish stocks a threat to rare dolphin

Department plans release of farmed sh to protect the Irrawaddy dolphins cooperative shing practice

KHIN SU WAI
jasminekhin@gmail.com

THE government plans to release farmed sh into the Ayeyarwady River to protect both the Irrawaddy dolphins and their unique practice of shing cooperatively with shermen in Mandalay Region, the Department of Fisheries said last month. U Han Win, an officer from the Environment and Endangered Aquatic Animal Conservation Unit, said adequate sh stocks are the main factor in keeping the dolphins a threatened species listed as protected in Myanmar and their relationship with people alive. Irrawaddy dolphins are known for their cooperative shing technique, in which they work together with shermen through a number of different signals. When sher-

men are ready to work, they call the dolphins by tapping the side of their boats with a wooden stick. The dolphins signal to the shermen to follow by slapping their ns on the surface of the water, and then lead them to the area where they can catch the most sh. Dolphins indicate when to cast the net by a ick of their tail, and then eat the sh around the nets as well as those discarded on the riverbank. The depletion of sh stocks, however, sends a worrisome signal for both people and dolphins. The good species are hard to nd these days, U Han Win said. Instead they can catch nga khon ma. The price of a viss [1.6 kilograms] is K700-800. Because of that the shermen dont bother to go out shing. Ko Kyaw Hla Thein of the Wildlife Conservation Society said catches have depleted from previous years, when shermen could expect to bring home 40-48kg of sh. Local shermen always caught sh with the dolphins. Now that they are

catching fewer sh it makes them have less interest in cooperative shing, he said. To protect the dolphins and ensure this time-honoured and mutually benecial practice continues, U

The good [sh] species are hard to nd these days ... Because of that the sherman dont bother to go out.
U Han Win Department of Fisheries ofcial

Han Win said the department plans to release 500-800 nursed advanced ngerlings into the dolphins habitat

as part of twice-monthly conservation surveys. He added that the ngerlings would be nga myit chin, a good sh species, and that the release would begin as soon as the season is right. I think we can begin releasing ngerlings into the dolphins habitat in August this year, U Han Win told The Myanmar Times. Because of the unique spectacle of the cooperative shing practice, the department sees the release of ngerlings as a possible tourist draw, with temporary oating sh ponds planned for selected villages where tourists visit such as Sein Pan Kon, Myay Zone and Myit Kan Gyi. U Han Win said the department tried to set up eco-tours last year. Even though tourists came, the benets failed to trickle down to the villagers themselves, he said. Now the owners of motorboat and tourism companies are not interested in the dolphin-watching trips. Thats why were pioneering this effort, as an example for them, U Han Win said.

Bus ticket prices soar as festival nears

In another annual tradition, highway bus lines hike fares for seats during water festival and government does little to stop them
AUNG KYAW MIN THAN NAING SOE KYAY MOHN WIN newsroom@mmtimes.com AS the water festival approaches, bus passengers on the Yangon-Mandalay route are getting soaked. In what some say is a tradition as venerable as drenching passers-by with water, ticket prices have soared, with some more than doubling in price as the holiday looms, customers complain. The K8000 price of a ticket from Yangon to Magwe has already reached K15,000, supposing there is a bus running. Services are curtailed during the New Year holiday period, which falls from April 8-13 this year, though services to Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Pyin Oo Lwin will run through the holiday. Already there are no tickets available for a range of Upper Myanmar destinations, including Mandalay, Kyaukpadaung, Myingyan, Bagan-Nyaung Oo, Sagaing, Pyin Oo Lwin, Lashio, Magwe, Yenangyaung, Minhla, Thayet, Aunglan, Pakokku and Monywa. Part of the problem is the lastminute rush to buy tickets by hopeful passengers who have not booked early, a ticketing officer from Nan Htike Taw Win said. Ko Nyunt, a native of Magwe now in Yangon, said there was a black market in bus tickets. Tickets to lower Myanmar destinations like Bago, Nyaunglaypin, Zayyawaddy, Pyay, Maubin, Kyaiklat, Pyapon, Mawlamyinegyun, Myaungmya, Pathein, Nyaungdon, Hinthada and Myanaung are also in heavy demand, though prices have not risen to the same extent. Ko Thaung Htike, who hopes to return to Magwe from Mandalay during Thingyan, said he paid K10,000 for a ticket that would normally cost K6000 three weeks ago. They told me the price had gone up because of Thingyan, he said. Increasing inter-city bus ticket prices before Thingyan is a kind of tradition. It causes a lot of trouble for people trying to get home. Nan Ni Ni Lwin, of Namhkam in northern Shan State, said the problem was few buses are running during the holiday period. Thats why we have to pay more. MandalayNamhkam ticket prices increase every year by more than half. It is not difficult to buy a ticket. You just have to be sure the bus is running. But getting a ticket to some other destinations has proven difficult. They wouldnt let us book in March. Then, when we tried to buy in April, they said there were no tickets left, said Daw Khin Aye Mu of Minbu in Magwe Region. Officials say the price-gouging is against the law but little has been done to stop it. We tell operators not to increase ticket prices before Thingyan, said U Tun Win Aung, secretary of the Mandalay Divisional Management of Highways bus committee. We have trouble keeping prices down as the water festival approaches. If people complain to us we can take action under the regulations, said Yangon Region Supervisory Committee for Motor Vehicles deputy head U Myo Win. Translation by Khant Lin Oo

100%
Increase in some intercity bus fares during the Thingyan period

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News 11

British Council launches $7 million English project

PYAE THET PHYO pyaethetphyo87@gmail.com A TWO-YEAR project to develop English language teaching will see 50 language teachers from the UK spreading out to work in schools across Myanmar as part of an agreement between the British Council and the Ministry of Education. We will conduct this training program for local English lecturers who are now teaching English in colleges and universities and afterward they will relay [what they have learned] to young teachers and trainees, U Ko Ko Tin, director general at the ministrys Department of Education Planning and Training, said at a signing ceremony last month. Set to launch in September and run until August 2016, the project will cost 4.2 million (nearly US$7 million). Costs will be shared equally between the United Kingdoms Department for International Development and the Myanmar branch of the British Council, which is the UKs international organisation for education and cultural relations. The funding will pay for 50 English experts from the UK to be appointed in universities and colleges of Myanmar, U Ko Ko Tin said. They will train 1300 local English lecturers from 19 education colleges, two education universities and Yangon Universitys National Centre for the English Language. The British Council will also work with the education ministry to draft policy initiatives, build links to the UK, improve education at all levels, establish research centres and assess the qualications of language teachers. The agreement is the result of two years of planning, British Council Myanmar director Kevin Mackenzie told The Myanmar Times, and gained further momentum after President U Thein Sein visited the UK in July 2013 and asked British Prime Minister David Cameron to provide teacher trainers for Myanmars schools. The teacher training sector is most fundamental to making progress in higher education, basic education and vocational education sectors while the country carries out practical education reforms, U Thein Sein said at the time. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

In the shadow of the census, a health emergency unfolds

IDPs are dying without access to medical treatment, while supplies are running low following INGO pullout

FIONA MACGREGOR newsroom@mmtimes.com UNDAY, March 30: Mahmoud Thrakis, 5, died without medical care after suffering post-appendix operation complications. Monday: Rusmai Ga, 1, died without medical care after contracting an infection and developing a fever. Tuesday: Mahmad Farouk, 40, father of four, died without medical care from symptoms related to diabetes. Three fewer people for enumerators to count when they arrived in the Thaechaung IDP camp on April 1 for the rst census in Myanmar in 30 years. As it happened, however, most people living in the camp on the outskirts of state capital Sittwe did not have their details recorded. As the enumerators passed from house to house, refusing to collect information from anyone who identied themselves as being Rohingya, a humanitarian disaster was unfolding just inside the walls. Speaking the day after his granddaughter Rusmai Ga died on March 31, Mahmoud Sayad explained how he had taken the baby to Dapaing Hospital, a facility within the camp that had been overseen by INGOs until they were evacuated from the area last week following violent attacks, but there was no one there. There was no ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] so we could not get a referral to take the baby to Sittwe State Hospital, the 54-year-old camp resident said. If the situation continues in this way there will be no one left alive because of lack of medical care. For months foreign and local organisations had been warning the census would provoke ethnic tensions in regions across the country. Their predictions have proved devastatingly accurate in Rakhine State. The region is the scene of conicts between ethnic Rakhine and a Muslim minority who call themselves Rohingya. The government and most Rakhine insist they are Bengali - illegal immigrants from over the border in Bangladesh. The months leading up to the census have seen accusations of bias toward Muslim patients turn into threats and attacks against INGOs nally leading them to halt all operations. Now people are dying without access to medical care and looming food and water shortages have provoked warnings of an imminent humanitarian disaster. The three in Thaechaung are just a few of those who have passed away in the days since international aid organisations stopped

State health workers deliver supplies to the Thetkyalpin IDP camp near Sittwe April 2. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

providing hospital referrals and bringing in medical supplies. With no international health support left at all, an already precarious situation has worsened.

There was no ICRC so we could not get a referral to take the baby to Sittwe State Hospital.
Mahmoud Sayad Father of Rusmai Ga, who died in a Sittwe IDP camp on March 31

State health leaders said they are trying to nd ways to get the most seriously ill residents of IDP camps to hospital now that the ICRC is unable to facilitate referrals. In the camps around Sittwe, however, their efforts will come too late for many. Mahmad Farouk, 40, died on April 1 of complications arising from

diabetes. His wife and the mother of his four young children, Husana Begum, 33, can hardly speak through her tears. I am very sad because my husband did not get any medication, she said as she looked at his body, wrapped in cloth, on the wooden oor of their home. There was no ICRC. If my husband had got to Sittwe [Hospital] he would still be alive. U Aye Nyein, head of the Rakhine State Health Department, told The Myanmar Times that it was unclear when INGOs, including MSF, would return. We had been working on a handover with MSF and during those discussions the union minister had a meeting with the president of MSF in which there were discussions [about MSF resuming work] ... But that was before the crisis, he said, referring to the recent anti-INGO violence. U Aye Nyein described a series of innovative emergency measures being undertaken to try and arrange urgent hospital evacuations for people in the camps. On April 2, The Myanmar Times spoke to staff from the Myanmar Health Assistant Association as they brought tuberculosis medicine into the camp in collaboration with

the Ministry of Health. However, U Aye Nyein said most local state health workers were too scared to enter the camps, which made it hard for the government to provide assistance. He said international pressure had also complicated the provision of aid for state authorities. Before [the state health department] just had to negotiate between the [Buddhist and Muslim] communities but now we also have to [negotiate with] the UN agencies. And the situation looks set to worsen. On April 2 international humanitarian organisations who had been working in the camps said some IDP camps had sufficient drinking water for only the next 10 days. Food supplies were expected to run out within a fortnight. At Baw De Baw 2 IDP camp outside Sittwe, camp residents who gathered on April 2 in the shade of a teashop said food was already running out. Rations were last delivered on March 16 and more supplies should have arrived on March 30 but there were no INGO workers to deliver it. We have very little left, food, medicine, soap for keeping things clean, said Ali, 28. We need everything.

12 News
FEATURE

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Red Bridge memories still burn bright

Brutal killing of students on the banks of Inya Lake marked with the handing over of the student union ag to a new generation of activists
Students mark the 26th anniversary of the Red Bridge killings on the banks of Inya Lake on March 16. Photo: Thirisu

WA LONE
walone14@gmail.com

THE students fanned out across the wide road, almost 4000 of them in total marching together behind a student union ag bearing a peacock. They had set out from Rangoon University on March 16 for Regional College 2 in Hlaing township, where they were planning to combine with other students to protest against General Ne Wins hated socialist government. As they headed north along Pyay Road, the demonstrators slowly passed the White Bridge, which leads from the road up to the bank of Inya Lake. And then the soldiers arrived. Vehicles laden with machine guns blocked the road in front of the marchers, while police also moved in from behind. With the lake on the right and the high walls of an affluent Kamaryut township neighbourhood on the left, the protesters were trapped. The police showed no mercy, driving up to the protesters in trucks and attacking them viciously. We didnt know where to go there was nowhere to escape. [Hundreds] of students were arrested, said Ko Htay Kyawl, a former Yangon University student and 88 Generation leader who took part in the march. Ko Htay Kyawl managed to escape and the next day he and others continued their anti-government activities, telling crowds in the downtown area about the military crackdown. But the memories of the day never left him. I remember vividly that a female student was hit terribly hard on her neck by a policeman. I saw her fall down on the bank of Inya Lake, he said. When the violence ended, an unknown number of students had been killed. Many more would die under police torture, but it was the large pools of blood on the ground near the White Bridge that became lodged in popular memory: The incident quickly became known as the tadarni ayay akhin, or Red Bridge unrest. The crackdown failed to deter the demonstrations against the socialist regime, with more protesters turning out in even larger numbers on March 18. Outrage over the Red Bridge incident prompted the government to establish an investigation commission, but this did not divulge how many students were killed, conceding only that 41 students had suffocated inside a prison van on March 18. No action

has ever been taken over the killing of the students on Pyay Road. I cant say for sure many students were killed by police in the Red Bridge unrest. I dont think anyone knows exactly how many died, said Ko Htay Kyawl. While the government still refuses to acknowledge that the incident took

If you were there at the time, you would still be able hear the sound of the crying and see the blood of the young students.
Ko Mya Aye 88 Generation leader

place, activists are beginning to speak out. Last month, they marked the 26th anniversary of the tadarni unrest. Around 100 former and current students of Yangon University assembled on the bank of Inya lake on March 16 to recognise the sacrices made by students more than two-and-a-half decades ago. In a formal message to the ceremony, National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the tadarni killings highlighted the countrys social, economical and political problems, many of which have still not been resolved. She also paid tribute to the sacrices made by the students. We all have to take responsibility for achieving democracy and human rights, which are still very much needed in our country, she said. Today the grass-covered bank of Inya Lake near the White Bridge is a popular place to rest under large, shady trees.

But for activists who lived through the tadarni unrest the peace and quiet is little more than a facade. If you were there at the time, you would still be able to hear the sound of crying and see the blood of the young students, who were just trying to bring about change during that terrible period 25 years ago, said another student leader, Ko Mya Aye. While the activists who took part in last months ceremony said they hoped to never again see such bloodshed, they, like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, stressed the need to continue the ght for democracy. They pointed to nearby Yangon University, once one of the premier educational institutions in Southeast Asia but now just a shadow of its former self, as an indication of how far the governments reforms still have to go. Ko Mya Aye said national reconciliation could only be achieved if those activists who have sacriced their lives for the country like those killed on March 16, 1988 are formally recognised.

It was a sentiment shared by many others at the ceremony. We will not retaliate but we will never forget, said Ko Hla Myo Naung, a former Rangoon University student. Times have changed, however: Twenty-six years on, the students who lived through the tadarni killings are in their 40s, or older. Some have continued to a play a prominent political role, while others have drifted away. At last months ceremony, the ag of the student union was passed on to the new generation of student activists who have emerged since Myanmars political liberalisation got underway. In the hot March sun, they held the ag aloft in the breeze as Ko Htay Kyawl read a statement urging them to continue the ght against dictatorship. Both new and old students alike committed themselves to the democratic cause and paid tribute to the sacrices of their brothers and sisters on that bloody day in March 1988.

U Tay Za backs first Myanmar Everest summit attempt

SHWEGU THITSAR khaingsabainyein@gmail.com THE ag of Myanmar may soon utter from the worlds highest peak, thanks to the largesse of tycoon U Tay Za. A team of the countrys most experienced mountaineers is setting off this month for a two-month trip to Kathmandu, Nepal, which will be their base for an assault on Mount Everest. Though Myanmar is the only country in Southeast Asia that can boast icy peaks, there are very few mountain climbers. The ve men preparing for their hike on top of the world are among the most skilled. As well as realising the dream of most mountaineers by scaling the 8848-metre (29,029-foot) Everest, the Myanmar team will also study Nepals success in becoming the foremost destination for adventure sports lovers and devotees of nature and hiking in the wild. The US$100,000 expedition is being supported by the Htoo Foundation, Htoo Group subsidiaries Air Bagan, Aureum Palace, Myanmar Treasure Resort and AGD Bank, and the Myanmar Hiking and Mountaineering Association. One of the reasons to go to Mount Everest is to learn the techniques. We will hike from the Nepal side. Since our country is the only one in Southeast Asia that has icy mountains this can become [an attraction] as our tourism industry grows, said U Sai Kyaw Wunna Soe, one of the ve hikers. The team will study Nepals advanced environmental maintenance and research techniques. Myanmar is starting to feel the impact of global warming. Protecting our environment is a way of showing love of our country, and is a national responsibility, he added. Mount Everest is not only a challenge for mountaineers, but also the source of indescribable feelings for anyone who has faced death to get to the top. We will risk our lives to raise the Myanmar ag atop Mount Everest, representing the whole nation. Everest lies at the heart of the Himalayas, one of 16 peaks more than 8000 metres high (24,000 feet). More than 200 climbers have died in the attempt to conquer it and many of their bodies still lie on its slopes, protected from decomposition by the intense cold. There could be some changes in time because of the weather and the ight. If an emergency arises, we will have a support group in Yangon. We also have friends in Nepal to help us with equipment, said Ko San Win Kyaw, officer in charge of the tour. Myanmar has the highest mountains in Southeast Asia, Khakabo Razi, and Gamlang Razi, which are both more than 19,000 feet high. It has several others above 10,000 feet but mountaineering is not a popular pastime in Myanmar, says U Sai Kyaw Wunna Soe. All team members U Namar Johnsin, U Kee Yoe Dwe, U Ye Min Thu, U Sai Kyaw Wunna Soe and Sai Kyaw Thu Htwe have extensive climbing experience in the Himalayas and elsewhere, and some of them work for the Htoo Company. While no Myanmar climbers have reached the summit, one year ago Myanmar Times photographer Ko Boothee Thaik Htun and David Mo Tun Kyaw hiked to Everest Base Camp, where they were snowed in and had to be rescued by helicopter. The trip coincided with the 60th anniversary of the rst conquest of the mountain by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. We had a Nepalese guide and it took 11 days to ascend. We did not actually reach the peak of Mount Everest, but got to the Everest Base Camp, where we raised our Myanmar ag. On our last night, there was a snowstorm, with temperatures of -30 Celsius, said Ko Boothee Thaik Htun. Translation by Hein Htet Aung

$100,000
Anticipated cost of the Everest expedition

14 News

Views
AUNG NAING OO

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Myanmar and the ripe moment

sides are ghting an unwinnable war. This thinking has allowed negotiations to begin. At the very least, such a reasoning has led to negotiations with varying degrees of expectations. Some want to test the water to see if the conict can be resolved on the table rather than on the battleeld. Some truly believe that there has never been a better time for Myanmar to negotiate an end to the civil war. However, if some think the current situation does not constitute an optimal condition for negotiation or do not consider it a mutually hurting stalemate, then there is the possibility that the current negotiations will drag on. The greatest fear is a resumption of hostilities. Beyond this simple analysis, one may need to look at the complexities of the armed conict and peacemaking conditions in Myanmar. Unlike conicts elsewhere, Myanmar has many armed ethnic groups. Officially there are 16 groups, but more are asking to be included in the negotiations. The predicament for the government is that allowing groups not on list to be around the table may encourage the proliferation of armed groups. Their exclusion, however, may also be a source of continuing conict. Then there are some 5000 militia groups scattered throughout Myanmars conict areas. This is an absolutely alarming gure for anyone familiar with any peace negotiations. Some of them are allied with the government while some ght alongside their ethnic brethren. Some exist just to make money on the pretext of defending their communities. They regularly upset the fragile balance of Myanmars peace process. On the government side, the executive is leading the negotiations with the help of the armed forces, or Tatmadaw, and the Union Parliament, or Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. As it stands now, extra-constitutional issues for example, changes to the constitution in relation to federalism are being discussed that are beyond the jurisdiction of President U Thein Seins government. For talks to result in a way out that is agreeable to the armed groups, the government will also need the qualied consent of the armed forces and the parliament. Equally crucial to the already complicated picture are issues such as resources, arms smuggling, geopolitical conditions, and political and economic reforms. Another often-cited obstacle is the deep-seated distrust that is hard to dissipate. Then there are smaller groups that are making bigger demands because they have more to lose from the current negotiations. There are also policy issues. Chief among them is the policy of all-inclusiveness, which is necessitated by the large number of armed groups involved. It is a great idea politically salient and practically essential. But a side effect of the policy is that it provides all groups big or small with similar powers. If one is not ready to enter negotiations or wants to prolong the process for whatever reason, then progress is very likely to be stymied. So what might be Zartmans turning points windows of opportunity to herald a ripe moment in Myanmars current situation? For me, two such turning points are the reintroduction of democracy and the election of U Thein Sein as president.

newsroom@mmtimes.com

IN a book called Elusive Peace that he co-wrote and edited in 1995, I William Zartman described what he called a ripe moment for negotiations to end an armed conict. However, at the same time he cautioned that it is most difficult to dene and to nd the appropriate moment for negotiations. Zartman explained that turning points should herald the ripe moment. But at the core of the ripe moment, he outlined three conditions a mutually hurting stalemate, a presence of valid spokespersons and a formula for a way out that were necessary for successful negotiations. Considered against the conditions Zartman proposed, where does Myanmars peace process stand? For a start I strongly believe we do have all these conditions if not in full then to a large extent. The current round of negotiations to end the armed conict in Myanmar has been going on for more than two years. Fourteen out of 16 armed ethnic groups signed bilateral truces. Negotiations on a nationwide ceasere agreement are nearing completion. All protagonists the government of Myanmar and each armed ethnic group have formal structures, and identiable and recognised leaderships. Whether they have assumed leadership positions through formal elections or not, they have represented their groups in battle and in

Myanmar Peace Center official U Hla Maung Shwe (right) speaks with an ethnic official in Yangon on April 4. Photo: Thiri

negotiations. Most crucially, they have support within their communities and can make decisions, meeting the valid spokespersons condition. In Myanmar now there is also a formula for a way out: political dialogue that the government has promised time and again to nd a solution to end the war. This is what the ethnic groups have demanded for years. The government has also promised that these political negotiations will be all-inclusive. The key element of the formula is the establishment of federalism, which is also the major ethnic demand. Political dialogue will iron

out what sort of federalism or what kind of power-sharing and reintegration arrangements we can all agree upon. But at least for now we can safely say that Myanmar has a formula for a way out of 64 years of armed conict. Myanmar has met the last of Zartmans three conditions. But how about the very rst condition a mutually hurting stalemate? One may not dene the situation in Myanmar as such. But what we have is something similar to an impasse that is not conducive to all parties concerned. In fact, there is acknowledgement tacit or open that all

Number of militia groups in Myanmar, according to government sources

5000

While democracy has enabled multiple avenues for conict resolution to be explored, tried and tested, the presidents personal commitment and willingness to negotiate peace with armed ethnic groups has changed the conict landscape. Without doubt, the picture would not look as it does today without the collective response that armed ethnic leaders have shown toward the governments peace overtures. That being said, one has to be realistic. The successful conclusion of a conict goes beyond the ripe moment. Most importantly, a ripe moment does not last forever. For the conict to end in Myanmar this ripe moment will have to seized and seized with the conviction that there is only one way forward.
Aung Naing Oo is associate director of the Peace Dialogue Program at the Myanmar Peace Center.

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Colop Stempelerzeugung Skopek Gesellschaft m.b.H. & Co. KG, a company incorporated in Austria, of Dr. Franz Armingstr. 5, 4600 Wels, Austria, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 6502/2007 in respect of Intl Class 16: Office requisites (except furniture), especially stamps (including self-inking stamps), inking pads, ink for stamps, cases for stamps and holders for stamps. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Colop Stempelerzeugung Skopek Gesellschaft m.b.H. & Co. KG P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 14 April 2014

COLOP

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Indonesia joins the pack against China

ROGEr mITTON

Does the parliament stand for cronyism?

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News 15

newsroom@mmtimes.com

SITHU AUNG MYINT

rogermitton@gmail.com

A REMARKABLE strategic red line has been crossed in the past few weeks. The ramications for this region are hard to predict but unlikely to be pleasant. In short, Indonesia has decided to stand up to China by openly siding with the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei in refuting Beijings claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. That claim, epitomised by a notorious nine-dash line snaking along the coast of Southeast Asian states, means that every piece of land, even if close enough to be visible from the beach, belongs to Beijing. It is an astonishing claim that is being brutally enforced in a manner that makes Russias occupation of Crimea look like a schoolboy prank. Finally, it has forced Indonesia, the leading member of ASEAN, to get off the fence and join its colleagues in telling China to back off. Until now Indonesia has tried to stay out of this fearsome territorial dispute. Now that it has teamed up with the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam, it means a cohesive regional bloc is now ranged against the Red Dragon. What made Jakarta jump into this snake pit? Well, consider Beijings decade-long incremental occupation of vast swathes of the sovereign territory of ASEAN members, including most recently that of Indonesia. Ten years ago, Chinese naval forces occupied Mischief Reef, some

A protester shouts slogans during a rally in front of a building housing Chinese consular offices in Manila on April 2. Photo: AFP

700 kilometres from China but barely 200km from the Philippine coast and thus well within that countrys 320km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Despite Manilas protests, the Chinese erected a settlement on the reef, including a multi-storey building, a wharf, radar facilities and a helipad and hoisted plenty of red ags of the Peoples Republic of China. Later, Scarborough Shoal, only 198km west of Subic Bay, was occupied, and now Beijing is trying to secure the Second Thomas Shoal, which is even closer to the Philippine coastline. China has also repeatedly taken similar actions against islands lying within Vietnamese territorial waters. Recently it also sent warships into the waters off East Malaysia and declared indisputable sovereignty over the James Shoal, only 80km off the coast of Sarawak. Now, Jakarta has been drawn into the battle after Chinese shing vessels were caught operating in waters close to Indonesias Natuna Islands. Suddenly, Jakarta has realised that Beijings nine-dash line takes in a chunk of its Natuna Island EEZ

and that if it doesnt act fast, Mischief Reef-type structures are going to appear off its coastline. Last week, Indonesias Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa waded into the dispute and said that the nine-dash line was unacceptable and that he wanted an explanation for Beijings aggressive moves. Concurrently, Manila has submitted its case against Beijings maritime land grab to a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea tribunal. China has refused to participate and has tried to bribe Manila to drop the case by offering trade benets and a mutual withdrawal from Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines has stood rm. Now that Manila has the clear public backing not only of Malaysia and Vietnam, but also powerhouse Indonesia, it elevates the whole issue to a much more volatile and dangerous level. As the American scholar Ann Marie Murphy said this month, Indonesias public declaration that it has a maritime conict with China is a potential game changer. Tensions in the South China Sea are likely to rise further. And that is putting it very mildly.

FOREIGN investors have many issues to consider before investing in Myanmar, including the investment laws, regulatory framework, poor infrastructure, monetary policy and political uncertainly. Some of these factors have hindered foreign investment inows. One sector in which foreign investment is restricted is banking. On March 19, the Pyidaugnsu Hluttaw debated whether Myanmar should allow foreign banks. But what did the Central Bank propose, how did MPs respond and what was speaker Thura U Shwe Manns stance? The answers prompt a further question: Who does the parliament stand for? Central Bank deputy governor U Soe Min soon explained the banks plans for foreign banks. He said Myanmars private banks have a limited capacity to lend because they lack capital and are unable to get support from other institutions. If foreign banks are permitted, both foreign investors and local private banks can borrow money from them. The previous policy required foreign banks to open representative offices and then to engage in joint ventures with local rms. He warned that this could harm the economy as the process would take a long time during which businesses would be starved of capital. Accordingly, the Central Bank is taking steps to accept foreign banks as jointventure companies or Myanmar basednancial institutions. The presentation did not go down well in the hluttaw. U Aung Thaung, a former Minister for Industry who is now chair of the Pyithu Hluttaw Banks and Financial Development Committee, opposed the proposal on the grounds that local private banks are not strong enough to

withstand competition from foreign banks. The process should be delayed until they are in a position to compete, he said, adding that the most important thing is to support local banks to be stronger and healthier. U Aung Thaungs sons run IGE Group of Companies, which in 2010 was granted a licence to run United Amara Bank. Some MPs agreed with him. Even the speaker, Thura U Shwe Mann, spoke out in favour of U Aung Thaungs comments, arguing that nancial organisations, the government, the parliament and the Central Bank should rst help local banks become competitive. Thura U Shwe Mann then instructed the Central Bank to negotiate with monetary committees, experts from the parliament, other groups and local private banks before allowing foreign banks to begin operations. He drew parallels with last years telecom licence tender, which he described as a missed opportunity because the government initiated it before local companies were prepared to compete with foreign rms. Thura U Shwe Manns sons run telecoms rm RedLink Communications. The speaker seems to be indicating that he thinks it is a mistake that a handful of local entrepreneurs missed a big opportunity to grow richer, instead of considering the interests of the 60 million other people in Myanmar and the overall development of the communications sector, which could drive the growth of the countrys economy. The Central Bank deputy governor made clear why foreign banks should be allowed as soon as possible and explained why this was in the interests of the country as a whole. It is also in the interests of the majority of both local and foreign rms indeed, some are already preparing for the arrival of foreign banks. It may mean fewer opportunities for some local private bankers some of whom would certainly fall into the crony class but everyone else will benet tremendously. The hluttaw likes to call itself the peoples parliament. But in this case, who does it stand for: the people or the cronies? Translation by Zar Zar Soe

16 THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Business
ADB president meets with U Thein Sein, pledges support
BILL OTooLE botoole12@gmail.com ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao pledged to continue supporting the development of Myanmar, while also pushing for more reforms in a variety of sectors during a meeting with president U Thein Sein and several government ministers earlier this week in Nay Pyi Taw, the ADB said in a release last week. Mr. Nakao commended Myanmars program of economic and social reforms and reaffirmed ADBs support for the countrys push to accelerate growth and to cut poverty, the April 6 release states. He stressed the importance of continuing to pursue sound economic policies, enhancing structural reform, and boosting the investment climate. Since resuming operations in Myanmar in 2012, the ADB has focused on loan assistance for power and transport projects. While the ADB plans to continue to support such projects, Mr. Nakao emphasized the importance of ensuring development projects include the necessary safeguards to protect fragile environments and affected communities read the statement. The statement suggests that Myanmar could reach upper middleincome status by 2030 if it overcomes development challenges, but currently about a quarter of the population lives below the national poverty line. The meeting last week came only days after the ADB released its annual Asian Development Outlook report, which painted an optimistic picture of the countrys economic prospects. Economic growth for the year to end March 2014 is estimated at 7.5% and this is expected to pick up to an annual rate of 7.8% for each of the next two fiscal years, the report states.

Magazine market on verg

ZAW HtIKE
zawhtikemjn1981@gmail.com

IN BRIEF
Kempinski agrees KBZ hotel deal after Marriott pulls out
Swiss hotel chain Kempinski AG has entered a deal with Kanbawza Group of Companies to manage a hotel in Nay Pyi Taw, after US giant Marriott pulled out of the project. U Moe San Aung, deputy director at the Kanbawza Group of Companies, told The Myanmar Times that Kempinski and Kanbawza signed the deal in late March. The Kempinski Nay Pyi Taw is scheduled to open on May 1, ahead of the ASEAN Summit which later that month. The property will be fully owned by Kanbawza. The deal has not been formally announced and a Kempinski spokesperson said only that Myanmar is a market Kempinski is interested in and is exploring opportunities for entry. Kanbawza was originally working with Marriott on the project, but the US hotel giant pulled out of the deal because of a dispute related to quality control. According to U Moe San Aung, Marriotts rigorous inspections of the hotel construction site in Nay Pyi Taw were putting the project behind schedule. Marriott declined to comment on the failed deal. Kempinski operates 75 hotels in 30 countries, including the Siam Kempinski in Bangkok. Thailand Crown Property Bureau has been the majority shareholder in the company since 2004. Tim McLaughlin, additional reporting by Aung Shin

MYANMARS once-booming magazine market is shrinking fast, and many publications may be on the verge of extinction, industry experts say. The problems include the proliferation of TV channels, loss of advertising and an increase in postal rates that has decimated their foreign circulation. With these trends, I think two years is the maximum time our literary magazines can survive. Most pop magazines also will not be able to survive much longer than the literary magazines, said U Win Thura, editor in charge of Mahaythi, one of the countrys most prestigious literary journals. Were celebrating our thirtieth anniversary this August. We will go on as long as we can, but if we cannot go forward, we will just stop publication. he said. There are about 10 marketable literary magazines and about 15 popular magazines published monthly. In 2012, the government increased postal rates for sending publications overseas vefold, inicting a heavy blow on sales, as the magazines foreign market represents 30 percent of their total circulation. U Win Thura said, Mahaythi had a circulation of 400 in Singapore alone before the increase. Since then, weve lost the foreign markets and our business has nearly collapsed, as local demand for monthly magazines had been already decreasing year by year. It is not possible for us to try to expand the local market against this trend. According to market experts, monthly magazines have been losing readership for about ve years, since TV channels such as MRTV-4, 5 Network and Sky Net came on the scene. Business in book rental shops in residential areas decreased sharply after 2010, and has fallen by 80pc in

A shopper sifts through magazines at a book shop in downtown Yangon. Photo: Aung

the past three years. The shops lend out books by the day for about 10pc of their value. Magazines are also priced beyond the pocket of their readers at K2500-K3500 each. The collapse of the book rental shops was the rst wave to hit market for monthly magazines. Increasing the postal rates was the second, said U Win Nyein, chief editor and publisher of the literary magazine Shwe Amyutay, a 10-year-old journal that sponsors the annual Shwe Amyutay Literature Award.

Prior to the collapse, monthly magazines would sell in overseas markets with large Myanmar migrant worker communities, particularly in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and the US. Now, sending the magazines to ASEAN countries costs K2000-K2500, and mailing to Japan, Australia and the US costs from K10,000 to K15,000 four or ve times the cost of the publication. Myanmar readers abroad can no longer afford them. How can we sell magazines abroad

BUSINESS eDItOR: Philip Heijmans | pheijmans13@gmail.com

17

Nay Pyi Taw property market on the rebound

ProPErtY 20

Clothes sales rise ahead of Thingyan

BUSINESS 19

Exchange Rates (April 9 close)

Currency
Euro Malaysia Ringitt Singapore Dollar Thai Baht US Dollar

Buying
K1313 K294 K758 K29 K958

Selling
K1331 K295 K768 K30 K968

ge of extinction

Dangerous levels of mercury left for waste by gold miners

KYAW PHonE KYAW newsroom@myanmartimes.com.mm THE gold mining industry is dumping an estimated 16.3 kilograms (36 pounds) of mercury a dangerous and toxic mineral into Myanmars waterways per day, from where it is entering the food supply and potentially poisoning the population, a former government official has warned. Despite its toxicity, mercury use is largely unregulated, while those exposed to it are usually unaware of the potential consequences, former deputy director of the Ministry of Mines, U Sein Myint, said during a press conference in Yangons Myaynigone Plaza on March 18. U Sein Myint, who worked at the ministry for 32 years, said systems to manage mercury waste are virtually nonexistent. We cant control mercury [use] as it can be easily bought everywhere in Myanmar, he said. It is not a restricted product ... For now, gold production is low compared with the population but if it is used widely, it is a great problem. U Sein Myint said little research had been done into mercury use but a 2000 survey by Ministry of Mines estimated daily usage at 16.3kg. He said that mercury discharged into the water supply does not disappear, so as more of the mineral is used its impact will continue to increase. The former deputy director was speaking to reporters as part of a workshop on safe ways to dispose of mercury in the production of gold mining that was organised by civil society organisation Spectrum Sustainable Development Knowledge Network. U Sein Myint said it would be safer to use cyanide than mercury but the government restricts the use of cyanide to state-run mining projects. While cyanide is also dangerous, unlike mercury it can be neutralised when released into the environment, he said. Gold deposits abound throughout

A gold miner uses fire to extract gold from rocks collected outside of Yangon. Photo: Staff

Htay Hlaing

when the postal price is ve times the price of the magazine? In the past two years ago, Ive lost my foreign markets, and 40pc of my circulation, said U Win Nyein. According to the market experts, the production cost of a single magazine nearly meets that of the shelf price. For literary magazines, the cost can be as much as K2000 per issue that sells for K2500. This margin is no longer sustainable as circulations shrink. While popular magazines are in a

stronger position, carrying a reasonable amount of advertising, they are suffering as many advertisers have switched to the new TV channels. Until about a year ago, advertising revenue covered the gap between the K5000-K5500 cost of production per copy and the sale price of K3500, and only four or ve out of 15 pop magazines are thought to have enough advertising to keep them aoat for much longer. MorE on bUSInESS 18

Myanmar, from Kachin and Shan states in the north to Mandalay and Sagaing regions in central Myanmar and Mon State and Tanintharyi Region in the south. Chemistry expert U Khin Maung Nyo said the challenge is not nding gold but educating businesses and individuals on how it can be safely mined. They wont stop nding [gold], said U Khin Maung Nyo, who holds a doctorate in chemistry. So we have to deal with problems that will come along with [nding] it. You cant just

say, Stop looking for gold. We must nd the safest way to mine it, he said. He said health problems, including brain diseases and infertility, can arise when people come into contact with sh or other products that have absorbed mercury. Mercury use is not only a concern in Myanmar. There are an estimated 10-15 million unregulated gold miners in 70 countries around the world, according to news reports, which said small-scale mining is the largest source of mercury pollution after the burning of fossil fuels.

Hot weather riles up local poultry prices

MYAt NoE Oo myatnoe.mcm@gmail.com HOT temperatures killing off livestock has forced local chicken prices up by more than double has the markets are receiving less supply, experts said. The price of chicken has grown 133 percent to reach K7000 per viss (1 viss equals 1.6kg or 3.6lbs) of chicken, up from K3000 in January, say vendors. This season, demand is up and beef, fish and pork have also risen in price, said U Myo Thant, general manager of the Myanmar Livestock Federation, adding that though seasonal temperatures affect meat prices, 2014 has proven to be particular bad for the market. There is no air conditioning in chicken pens, so the birds lose weight and die. Production cannot keep pace with demand, he said. Another factor in the price rise is the use of chickens in religious ceremonies, said vendor U Tun at the South Okkalapa market. The numbers being bred have not fallen, but their weight is down, said livestock federation vice president Daw Hla Hla Thein, adding that three chickens now weigh the same as two under normal conditions.

Current price of poultry per viss on the local market after hot weather has cut down live stock.

7000

KYAT

Eggs are collected from chickens at a local farm. Photo: Staff

18 Business

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

The Fine Print

Important changes in tax law

SEbAStIAn PAWLItA sebastian@pwplegal.com AUnG ko LAtt aung@pwplegal.com SEVERAL laws have been passed recently that bring important changes to income tax, commercial tax and stamp duty effective 1 April. The Tax of the Union Law, enacted on 28 March, unifies income tax rates for income from business, professional, property, employment and other sources. Individuals now have to pay between 0 percent and 25pc of their income to the government. The highest bracket kicks in for an annual income of K30,000,000. Previously, the highest tax rate was 20pc for employment income and 30pc for non-employment income. The annual personal allowance is maintained at 20pc of total income, provided it does not exceed K10,000,000. The spouse allowance and the child allowance have been increased to K500,000 and K300,000 respectively. The income of companies incorporated in Myanmar is still taxed at 25pc and the income of non-resident foreigners at 35pc. Anybody with undisclosed income (now relabelled as income that escaped assessment) has to pay income tax on it if the tax authorities find out about it. If the purchaser of a house, for instance, cannot show that his money is from taxed sources, the tax authorities so far have requested 30pc of the purchase price as income tax. The 2014 Tax of the Union Law reduces this rate for a lot of owners of unreported income: Such income, if discovered, is now subject to tax at a rate ranging from 5pc to 30pc. The highest rate kicks in if the tax authorities discover that the amount of unreported income exceeds K300 million (approx US$300,000). This may result in some taxpayers being tempted to underreport, as even if they are found out they may still have saved taxes, although by illegal means. The capital gains tax rates in the oil and gas industry are maintained at 40-50pc, depending on the amount of the capital gain. However, the tax now is to be paid in kyat, even if the seller was paid in a foreign currency. The Law Amending the Income Tax Law, enacted on 24 March, introduces the concept of tax-deductible donations. The deductible amount is capped at 25pc of total income. Furthermore, the law clarifies that income from trading in securities is classified as business income. The Law Amending the Stamp Act, enacted on 28 March, does away with the difference between contracts in kyat and contracts in dollars. Section 20 used to state that stamp duty charged as a fraction of the value was always 1pc if the contract expressed this value in a foreign currency. Now, the tax rates set forth in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act apply to all contracts, irrespective of the currency. On the whole, this could result in a considerable reduction of foreign investors exposure to stamp duty. The law furthermore reduces the tax rate for a conveyance from 5pc to 3pc, but adds a surcharge of 2pc if immovable property is transferred. Such a surcharge has always been in place in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. As a result, the transfer of immovable property is now uniformly subject to 5pc duty throughout the country, down from 7pc in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. This may result, together with the lower income tax rates on income that escaped assessment in a livelier real estate market.
Sebastian Pawlita and Aung Ko Latt are consultants with Polastri Wint & Partners Legal & Tax Advisors.

Legal & tax insight

IN PICTURES

A vendor in Yangon sells betelnut and other tobacco products ahead of the Thingyan New Year. Photo: Philip Heijmans

COMMENT

Building wealth accumulation plans for foreigners in Myanmar

AnDrEW WooD enquiriesmyanmar@fsplatinum.com EXPATS living in Myanmar you have access to some very favourable wealth accumulation plans which you will not see back home. Expats everywhere have access to these because they are structured internationally in tax havens and available from anywhere in the world. However, they are available only through professional advisers. In Myanmar there are no registered or established international advisers, though a very small number are available to counsel clients while visiting here. Just as there are no international banking services available here yet, this is also the case for nancial services. International advisory rms are poised to enter the country to offer services to expatriates. This will eventually be expanded to Myanmar nationals when licences are available for investment advice. Most people do not even know that the Myanmar Securities and Exchange Centre (MSEC) even exists. There are two companies listed: Forest Products JV Corp and Myanmar Citizens Bank. The 2013 Securities Exchange Law allows the exchange to list between ve and 10 companies in 2015 and from 10 to 20 by 2017. The eventual ultimate total is set at about 70 companies. Despite the introduction of the exchange and the fact that some may nd investing attractive, it is likely initially to be a rather volatile market. International investors and particularly expats may steer away from it in favour of the global opportunities that will assist them more adequately with wealth accumulation. Nevertheless, some of the international mutual funds that specialise in Asian equities will probably start to pick up exposure to these equities in time. Such fund managers tend to restrict their exposure by spreading their holdings over a signicant number of individual corporate holdings. Thus it is always unlikely that such funds would have more than 1-2 percent total exposure to Myanmar markets for a number of years. Condence is always one of the key factors for any investor before he or she takes the plunge to begin wealth creation. Financial service providers will slowly start to enter the country and in time such condence will build. In the meantime, access to international nancial planning and execution services will slowly begin to build based on the current system.
Andrew Woodis executive director of Bangkok-based firm Platinum Financial Services Limited.

TRADEMARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE

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MAGAzInE contInUED from 16 Industry observers say almost every magazine, literary or popular, gives away more than 1000 copies free to advertisers or for promotions. One literary publisher, who requested anonymity, said, Customers are being told the magazine they want has sold out, but the truth is these magazines have not been delivered to the shops for some time. Pop magazines print only for advertisers, and they have fewer advertisers than before. They survive by asking models who have wanted to appear on the cover in the past to pay up to K2,500,000 for the privilege. U Win Thura of Mahaythi said, We try to grab the interest of advertisers by telling them our circulations are still strong. But I think the businessmen know more about the market than we do. Thats why theyve switched to TV. U Win Nyein and U Win Thura said that their circulations were 10,000 and 6000 respectively before the increase in postal rates, but in the past two years they have lost about half of their readers. Since literary magazines dont have advertisements any more, our survival prospects have deteriorated, said U Win Thura. Some of our friends in pop magazine publishing are suffering for the same reason. Daw Sabei Aung, vice general manager of Neilsen-MMRD, a US-Myan-

EtonHouse
Myanmar Registration Numbers. 4/7546/2013 for Intl Class 41 & 4/7547/2013 for Intl Class 43 Used in respect of : Educational services, provision of private educational services; enrichment school services, play school services. (International Class 41) Provision of child care services; consultancy and advisory services in relation to child care services. (International Class 43) Any fraudulent or unauthorised use or imitation of the above mark will be dealt with according to law. Tin Ohnmar Tun, Tin Thiri Aung & The Law Chambers Ph: 0973150632 Email:law_chambers@seasiren.com.mm (For. ETONHOUSE International Holdings Pte. Ltd., Singapore) Dated. 14th April, 2014

Magazines are displayed in a shop in Yangon. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

mar joint venture market survey company, told The Myanmar Times that 70 pc of the advertising of both local and foreign businesses in Myanmar goes to TV channels and only 20pc to 30pc to print media. And a marketing manager for a media group, who requested anonymity, said nearly all print media had lost about 40pc of their regular advertisers when a number of daily newspapers were launched following the relaxation of media rules one year ago. Daw Ei Phu Aung, chief editor of Sunday, a weekly pop paper, said that only four or ve such publications en-

joyed reasonable advertising revenue and many were struggling to survive. So many of us cannot afford to employ staff and have to run with only three or four people, or only freelancers, she said. Faced with possible extinction in the next two or three years, some publishers are considering nixing their print publications for an online-only one. I launched an online version of Shwe Amyutay six months ago. Ive told my friends in this business I think magazines could disappear unless they make the switch. But they are not very interested, said U Win Nyein.

www.mmtimes.com

Business 19

Onshore block signings delayed

AUnG SHIn koshumgtha@gmail.com UNEXPLAINED issues involving oil exploration and production have contributed to a months-long delay in the signing of contacts with international companies to exploit the countrys oil and gas resources. In a ceremony last October in Nay Pyi Taw to announce the 10 companies selected to tender for the 16 onshore blocks, the Ministry of Energy said contacts would be signed within three months. We are still awaiting the contract signing. It is supposed to happen in May. I have no comment on why the process is being delayed, said an ofcial from the Energy Planning Department (EPD) on April 9. We are going to discuss with these companies agreements on production sharing and improved petroleum recovery. They have to carry out environmental and social impact assessments, including Corporate Social Responsibility, within six months of the agreement. The contacts would then be signed in November or early December, said U Pe Zin Tun, director general of EPD. ONGC of India, Eni of Italy, Petroleum Exploration (PVT) of Pakistan, Petronas Carigali of Malaysia, Pacic Hunt Energy of Canada and MPRL of the British Virgin Islands won two blocks each. Brunei National Petroleum, CAOG of Luxembourg, Russias JSOC and Thailands PTTEP won one block each. A total of 10 Myanmar companies have been selected to partner them in exploration and production activities. MOGE, the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, and the international companies are expected to sign contacts on production sharing and improved petroleum recovery, amounting to a total of 13 PSC and 3 IPR contacts for the 16 blocks. The MOE conducted the rst onshore tender exercise in 2011, when six international companies were selected for eight onshore blocks. The exploration and production activities of those blocks began last year. The existing onshore blocks have a daily production rate of 7450 barrels of crude oil and 65 million cubic feet (mcf ) of natural gas. The MOE planned to produce 500bcf of natural gas and more than 3 million barrels of crude oil in 2013-2014 nancial year. Myanmar has a potential 0.42 trillion cu ft in onshore elds according to the ministrys survey last year.

Tempered enthusiasm for the ASEAN economic community

BRIDGEt DI CERtO
bridget.dicerto@gmail.com

BUSINESS profile

FOR Chew Seng Kok, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) set to launch in January 2015 is not a nebulous concept too far off or too unwieldy to take shape. For Mr Chew, the AEC will shape the future of ASEAN. We need more excitement about the AEC, said Mr Chew, regional managing partner of ZICOlaw. In our view, [AEC] is going to happen. It may not be that everything happens on January [2015], but the direction is there, the momentum is there. And it will be up to Myanmar, as ASEAN chair in this, the nal year before the official launch of the AEC, to keep this momentum going, Mr Chew said. If Myanmar can push the agenda for the liberalization of many sectors it would be doing a good job [as chair].

The 2015 launch date for a fully integrated ASEAN economy is, however, too ambitious, Mr Chew conceded. The pace with which it happens it will not be as fast as we like. Mr Chew said momentum toward liberalisation and integration was stoked by creating awareness of the benets the AEC offered member states and the inclusion of private sector actors in the conversation. I dont think the benets have been fully appreciated. Today you see yourself as a market of 60 million versus 670 million in ASEAN you suddenly have a bigger market and a good company that has a good product could have a market ten times the size of its country, he said. The other tangible benet was increased cross-border investment, a trend that has already benetted the banking sectors in ASEAN countries, Mr Chew said. While international investors have cited the benets of an

Chew Seng Kok. Photo: Supplied

ASEAN economic community, there are still hesitations amongst the domestic constituency, he added. You cant force a government.

Nationalism and protectionism will affect the pace of integration. When it becomes a question of whether a big chunk of your population feels that it is not seeing a benet countries put up barriers. Mr Chew said there were already fears among garment industryheavy countries such as Indonesia and Cambodia that liberalisation of the sector would starve local business and see manufacturing move to cheaper countries like Myanmar. [Cambodia and Indonesia] would be concerned about a sudden opening-up because it could cause a lot of people to become unemployed. I can generally say the level of awareness [of the AEC] differs among the countries. I mean countries like Singapore and Malaysia and even Cambodia are more ready. Some of the countries because they are far behind in terms of their development may not be ready. We all believe it is coming, but boy can we move faster, he said, adding that those in the private sector often feel their views are not brought forward.

IN BRIEF
Apartment sales at Royal Maylikha reach 60 percent
Sales of apartment units in the Royal Maylikha Luxury condominium building in Yangons Mayangone township has hit 60 percent, said the chief marketing executive of Sustain Company, Daw May Thin Kyu, who is handling the condo. Construction of the 8-storey, 57-apartment building began in December 2012 and owners should be able to take possession early next year, she said. Prices range from K5.5 billion to K7.5 billion for apartments from 2500 square feet to 3200 sq ft. The complex has a pool, tness centre, coffee shop, security and parking for 72 cars. The condo can sustain an earthquake of 8.5 magnitude, said Daw May Thin Kyu. Myat Noe Oo

20 Business
WASHINGTON AbUJA

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Iranian, Chinese indicted for exports

A CHINESE man, an Iranian and two Iranian rms were charged in the United States with conspiring to export devices to Iran that can serve to enrich uranium, an indictment unsealed April 4 said. Sihai Cheng, 34, was arrested on February 7 at Londons Heathrow Airport. Londons Metropolitan Police force said Mr Cheng had already appeared at a court in the capital and was awaiting his next appearance. US prosecutors say Shanghaibased Mr Cheng conspired with Seyed Abolfazl Shahab Jamili of Tehran and the Iranian companies Nicaro Eng. Co. and Eyvaz Technic Manufacturing Co to export US-made pressure transducers. The devices, which are a type of sensor, can be used in gas centrifuges to convert natural uranium into a form that can be used for nuclear weapons, the indictment said. MKS Instruments Inc. in Andover, Massachusetts produced the parts. According to the indictment, Mr Cheng would ship the transducers to Iran upon receiving them in China.

Nigeria becomes Africas new biggest economy

NIGERIA has become Africas biggest economy, leap-frogging South Africa, after the government announced a long-overdue rebasing of the countrys gross domestic product earlier this month. The new calculations take into account changes in production and consumption since the last time the exercise was carried out in 1990, including an added focus on communications and the movie industry. The data indicated that the economy grew to US$453 billion in 2012, instead of $264 billion as measured by the World Bank for that year. South Africas economy was at $384 billion in 2012, according to the World Bank. Estimates for 2013 indicated further expansion to $510 billion, Nigerias chief statistician, Yemi Kale, told a news conference in the capital, Abuja. Nigeria has moved to be the largest economy by GDP size in Africa and has moved to be the 26th largest economy in the world, nance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said. On a per capita basis, Nigeria is number 121 in the world. So, we have a total GDP size where we have moved up to 26th, the former World Bank managing director added. The widely expected results are based on calculations taking into account a range of new sectors and industries that were negligible or nonexistent in 1990. They include the mobile telephones market Africas largest music and the hugely popular local lm industry, Nollywood. Nollywood, for example, was now worth 853.9 billion naira ($5.1 billion) or 1.2 percent of GDP. The rebased GDP numbers imply that the level of economic activity is much higher than previously reported, the nance ministry said in a statement, adding that the economy was becoming more driven by the service sector. It indicates a clearer picture of Nigerias economic landscape, and the signicant opportunity for growth and wealth creation in the Nigerian economy. South African economists pointed South Africa, which has struggled to go beyond 3.5pc since. Global investors have been eyeing Nigeria as a potential boom market, along the lines of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) 10 years ago. But economists have warned not to take the new gures at face value, given that South Africa the continents only G20 member has fewer people and is streets ahead in areas such as infrastructure and governance. Mr Okonjo-Iweala said GDP per capita in Nigeria was now $2688 up from $1555 in 2012 taking the country from 135th position in the world to 121st. GDP per capita in South Africa in comparison was $7508. Mr Kale for his part said the gures should not be seen as an end in themselves but should be used to help the government shape policy for the future. The next rebasing was planned for 2015, with the results out in 2016, he added. For ordinary Nigerians most of whom still live on less than $2 a day the rebasing is likely to have little effect, but it will improve the countrys balance sheet and its credit rating and promote it from being a low-income economy. Nevertheless, Nigeria still faces an immense challenge in terms of infrastructure decits. Slow ports, bad roads and a lack of electricity are some of the major factors hampering business activity. Bismarck Rewane, the head of the Lagos-based Financial Derivatives Company said the exercise could only be meaningful if it impacts positively on the living standards of the people. Nigerians will still buy petrol at the same price, they will still have the same amount in their pockets, electricity is not going to improve on Monday morning, he said. So, the exercise is a journey from reality to vanity, he added. South Africa will continue to remain the most competitive economy, despite Nigerias new status, he added. AFP

Value of more than 1000 MKS pressure transducers ordered by Sihai Cheng in 2011

$1.8

MILLION

A worker inspects facilities on an upstream oil drilling platform at the Total oil platform at Amenem, 35 kilometers away from Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta. Nigeria has overtaken South Africa as the continents largest economy. Photo: AFP

Publicly available photographs of Irans Natanz enrichment facility show numerous MKS pressure transducers attached to Irans gas centrifuge cascades, the indictment said. Mr Cheng began doing business with Jamili and Nicaro around November 2005 and had since sold the Iranian national thousands of Chinesemanufactured parts with nuclear applications, according to US prosecutors. Jamili, in turn, informed Mr Cheng via email that the customer for the parts was in fact Eyvaz, which was supplying the material to the Iranian government. Mr Cheng subsequently sent the parts directly to Eyvaz at times. The conspiracy to obtain the MKS pressure transducers began around February 2009 following a query from Eyvaz. Between April 2009 and January 2011, Mr Cheng then placed orders for more than 1000 MKS pressure transducers for a value of more than US$1.8 million. Most orders included 30 to 100 units, as Jamili warned Mr Cheng of critical control condition and boycott by USA government, the indictment said. Western powers and Israel suspect Iran is covertly pursuing a nuclear weapons capability alongside its civilian program, charges adamantly denied by Tehran. Irans oil-reliant economy has struggled under US-led sanctions aimed at curtailing its nuclear ambitions. The so-called P5+1 group Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany hopes to reach a nal accord with Iran by July 20 to lift all sanctions in exchange for Iran scaling back its program to the point where it would be difficult if not impossible to develop nuclear weapons. AFP

out that their country remains the most important economy in the continent despite being overtaken by Nigeria as Africas biggest. South Africa will remain one of the important economies of the continent, though this rebasing will be a signicant step in establishing Nigeria as a true African powerhouse, said Investec portfolio manager, Roelof Horne. Economist Dennis Dykes, at South Africas Nedbank said Nigerias new position as Africas largest economy should be viewed positively. Its important that economies were measured accurately ... it gives potential investors a good picture of activity, he said. The news gures should help South African investors identify new opportunities in Nigeria, especially in areas that were previously not fac-

tored in. Dykes said South Africas $7508 GDP per capita, higher than Nigerias $2688 was still the most important measure of the economy. Being Africas number one is denitely a great condence booster for Nigeria, but it wont change much, he added. With 170 million people, Nigeria is about three times the size of South Africa and has enjoyed high rates of growth, notwithstanding widespread corruption, poor governance, rampant oil theft and a raging Islamist insurgency in the north. According to the International Monetary Fund, Nigeria averaged 6.8pc annual growth from 2005 to 2013 and was projected to grow this year at a rate of 7.4pc. That compares to a little over ve percent between 2005 and 2008-9 in

Local clothes sales US allows Boeing to sell up ahead of festival plane parts to Iran
WASHINGTON First business between the two countries in nearly 40 years
THE United States has issued a licence allowing Boeing to do business with Iran for the rst time since the US embargo of 1979, a company spokesman told AFP. The licence covers a limited period of time and allows Boeing only to provide them spare parts that are for safety purposes. Boeing will still not be allowed to sell new planes to Iran, the spokesman said. The license was granted by the US Treasury Department in the context of an interim deal between world powers and Iran over its nuclear program signed in November, the spokesman added. At the end of February, another US company, General Electric, indicated it had requested permission to sell spare airliner parts to Iran, but so far it has not received a response. The United States and European nations have imposed severe economic sanctions on Iran in recent years aiming to pressure Tehran to reduce permanently, or at least long term, the scope of its nuclear activities to make it extremely difficult for it ever to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has always denied any such ambition. The sanctions were partially lifted in January, after Iran agreed to freeze a part of its contested program. The West and Tehran are currently negotiating a denitive agreement which would guarantee Irans nuclear program would be peaceful, and would ultimately lead to all sanctions being lifted. Washington severed diplomatic relations with Iran in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution. AFP MYAt NoE Oo myatnoe.mcm@gmail.com SHORT skirts and of all things leather coats are the height of fashion for this years water festival. Clothing stores are reporting a big increase in the number of shoppers seeking out something different to get soaked in. This year demand for clothes is up compared to last year, said Poe Ei Phyu, owner of Pretty Girl Fashion Shop located in Dagon Centre. She said the brisk business was mainly coming from customers shopping for leather coats and short skirts of various colours and fresh new designs. Daw Nilar, owner of Pinki Fashion Shop, a wholesale outlet in Mingalar Market, said that she had seen a similar trend, adding that the approach of Thingyan stimulated people to buy new clothes. Last years festivities were overshadowed by the violence in Meikhtila. But this year eager buyers are pushing sales up, said Ma Hnin of Khitayar

fashion shop in Thaketa township. Sales are up about 50 percent. People are very excited at Thingyan water festival and they want a new dress. Short skirts are selling this year, said Daw Nilar.

People are very excited... and buy a new design dress this year short skirts are the most selling .
Daw Nilar Pinki Fashion Shop

Shopper Ma Ei Mon Htwe, 22, said she had decided to buy a coat of the latest design and colour scheme.

JOB WATCH

Job Vacancy The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently looking to recruit a highly motivated and energetic individual to join our team as a Finance Manager. DFID is based at the British Embassy, Yangon. For more information and details on how to apply, please visit the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassyrangoon/about/recruitment Deadline for submission of applications will be on 27 April 2014.

NEW VACAnCIES APPLY NOW!

Business Development manager Marketing manager Sales and distribution manager Brand manager Logistic officer Medical doctor Project manager Sales engineer Site engineer Chief Accountant Accountant HR Manager HR Executive Legal executive Secretary Passenger service agent ( airline) Receptionist Customer service

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Myanmar is inviting qualified candidates to apply for the following positions: Sr. Title and level Duty Station Position Deadline 1. Finance Officer- Capacity Building, Monitoring and Assurance (LICA-6) Yangon National 2 April 2014 2. Senior Strategic Advisor Rural Development (IICA-3) Naypyitaw International 4 April 2014 3. Rural Development Specialist (LICA-7) Naypyitaw National 4 April 2014 The benefit package for the above positions includes an attractive remuneration, 30 days annual leave and 10 holidays per year, medical insurance (only for national positions), learning and development opportunities and a challenging work environment with 250 national and international colleagues. All applications must be made through the UNOPS E-recruitment System. Please go to https:// gprs.unops.org and click on the post that you are interested in applying for. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact UNOPS directly on the numbers below. For any quires please do not hesitate to contact UNOPS at 95 1 657 281-7 Ext: 147

No. 851/853 (A/B), 3rd Floor, Room (7/8), Bogyoke Aung San Road, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 229 437, 09 49 227 773, 09 730 94007 Email: esearch@yangon.net.mm, esearch.myanmar@gmail.com www.esearchmyanmar.com www.facebook.com/esearchmyanmar

22 THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Property
PYAE THEt PHYo pyaethetphyo87@gmail.com NAY Pyi Taws ailing property market is showing signs of rebirth as cautious interest from residential buyers and industrial investors gathers momentum, industry players said. After the government inaugurated Nay Pyi Taw as the countrys executive and administrative capital in 2006, under the coaxing of the then-military government the property market in the Bago Region city ballooned. Land prices rushed skyward, peaking in about 2009 when average land values of K300,000 per plot in 2005, surged to K10 million or more. After transitioning to quasi-civilian government in 2011 the property market in Nay Pyi Taw cooled to pre-2006 prices. Most of the land owners have known about past high prices, so they now wait and see whether prices will increase, said U Kyaw Swar Myint, secretary of the Myanmar Real Estate Association of Nay Pyi Taw. He said 8000 to 10,000 square foot blocks in popular Dekkhina Thiri township were selling for between K20 million and K120m in 2014 compared with between K35 and K150 before 2011. However interest is starting to grow in industrial or commercial ventures as well as residential purchases, real estate agents said. Transactions and rents are up again with the purpose of making investment or settlement for second homes, said Ko Atee from Shwe Latpan Real Estate Agency. On the commercial front, office buildings and car showrooms have increased in recent years, Ko Atee said. [Investors] see more transparent process for inviting tenders for government projects, so it attracts many companies and they open offices here to compete in the bidding process, he

BUSINESS eDItOR: Philip Heijmans | pheijmans13@gmail.com

Nay Pyi Taw property sees resurgence

A man walks through a housing project in Nay Pyi Taw. Photo: Staff

said, adding that Nay Pyi Taws priceper-square-foot in almost all townships was lower than prices in the traditional commercial hubs Mandalay and Yangon. Alongside commercial and industrial growth in the administrative capital, the residential market is showing signs

of turning the corner, industry players said. Transactions and renting numbers are increasing for people seeking to create a second home in Nay Pyi Taw, Ko Atee said. U Kyaw Swar Myint said the residential market was being helped by govern-

ment policies to provide high-quality infrastructure like roads and electricity and also the earmarking of certain townships for residential purposes. Special zones 1 and 2 in Ottara Thiri township are still restricted for buying and selling activities to be residential purposed, he said, adding that inter-

est from major property developers in entering the market had also peaked interest in residential property. Gearing sales toward residential buyers was a way to avoid market speculators inating prices but was not boosting population numbers, U Kyaw Swar Myint said.

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

Building codes to be implemented this year

Codes bring Myanmar in line with ASEAN standards

NOE NOE AUnG

noenoeag@gmail.com

Movin with class

This large, detached, newly renovated two storey landed house in its own compound is in Thalawaddy Street, 7 Mile, Mayangone township. It is convenient both for Ocean Shopping Center. The house occupies 3600sqft of land, while the whole property totals at 1600sqft. The house is uniquely foreign in style and boasts four master bedrooms, two living rooms, ve bathrooms a shrine, kitchen and veranda. The house is built in last ve years and has been renovated. The seven air conditioners make it cool and airy, while the place comes fully furnished, offering a telephone land line, power meter, generator and tube well. It is in a convenient for travel location though not necessarily close to downtown. Tin Yadanar Htun

Location : Mayangone township, 7 Mile, Thalawaddy Street Price : $4 million per month (Negotiable) Contact : Estate Myanmar Real Estate Agency Phone : 09-43118787 09-73114860

THE nationwide building codes which have been drafted last year are likely to be issued before the end 2014, an official from Myanmar Engineering Society (MES) said last week. The draft of the codes was done in mid of 2013. Now we are refining it and I think we can issue it in this year, U Aung Myint, vice president of MES told The Myanmar Times on April 8. The Ministry of Construction, MES and UN HABITAT, including government officials, professionals and developers, are working together for the building codes of Myanmar which began in 2011, July and was estimated to be finished in 2015. The draft alone is complete, but still we want to make it acceptable for everyone. So we still have some stuff to do like discussing with contractors and developers to be more accurate with the codes,

said U Aung Myint. The committee worked to draft the code in accordance with ASEAN building standards to bring it into line with neighbouring countries, U Than Myint, a member of MES said. He said that the first phase of the draft building code centres on protection against earthquakes and strong winds the two most common natural disasters encountered here. He added that it was important that the codes be ready and in place by 2015 when the ASEAN Free Trade Area comes into full effect and foreign developers will likely be able to compete here. A member of Myanmar Engineer Forum said that it is possible that the code is more about guidelines rather than legislation. Representatives of the ministries of Construction, Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement, and Science and Technology, as well as from YCDC, the Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development, the Association of Myanmar Architects, the Fire Brigade Department, Myanmar Geosciences Society and professionals from other sectors are involved in the project.

Quote of the week

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Transactions and renting numbers are increasing for people seeking to create a second home in Nay Pyi Taw.
Ko Atee, Shwe Latpan Real Estate Agency

Humour outwits govt censors in Vietnam

WORLD 29

tokYo

Japan eyes hi-tech power work abroad

TWO Japanese companies have agreed deals to develop advanced coal-red power plants in Malaysia and Myanmar as part of a government drive to export energy efficiency technology to emerging markets, a report said on April 6. The Japanese government is seeking to promote the export of ultra-supercritical (USC) pressure technology power plants to meet expected growing demand in emerging economies, the Nikkei business daily said. USC power plants are the most efcient in the world, generating hotter, higher-pressure steam than conventional units resulting in signicantly lower carbon dioxide emissions, Nikkei said. Japanese trading rm Mitsui has agreed to oversee the construction and operation of a plant in Malaysia with two USC generators that can each produce one million kilowatts of energy, the daily said. Mitsui, partnering with government-affiliated infrastructure group 1Malaysia Development Berhad, is expected to sign a formal contract with the Malaysian government by this summer, Nikkei said. The project is valued at about 360 billion yen (about US$3.48 billion) and will come online in 2018. Under the plan, Toshiba will deliver steam turbines to the plant to be built in Jimah, south of Kuala Lumpur, while Japanese heavy equipment maker IHI will provide boilers, Nikkei said. In addition, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking has reached a deal to extend loans for a 260 billion yen USC power generation project in Myanmar, the daily said. Japanese heavy machinery makers will take part in the construction of the plant with an output of 1.28 million kilowatts in cooperation with Thai engineering rm Toyo-Thai Corporation Public Co., it said. The two companies will start the construction by the end of the year and aim to start the plant in 2018. AFP

Frances Lafarge, Holcim create global concrete giant

SWISS cement group Holcim and French rival Lafarge are merging to create the biggest global concrete group worth 40 billion euros (US$55 billion), with an eye to booming construction in emerging markets, they said last week. The deal, a major event in the global construction industry described in a joint statement as a merger of equals, will be based on the offer of one Holcim share for one Lafarge share. The two groups together have a stock market value of 40 billion euros, Holcim chairman Rolf Soiron told a press conference. The companies made a commitment to sell assets to pre-empt antitrust objections from competition authorities. Mr Soiron said these disposals would account for annual sales of $6.88 billion, two-thirds of which would occur in Europe. Lafarge assured that the deal would not lead directly to plant closures. On the Swiss stock market, the price of Holcim shares jumped 3.37 percent to 82.90 Swiss francs in morning trading. In Paris, Lafarge shares were up 3.06pc to 66.05 euros. Their stocks had already risen sharply on April 4 to rumours of merger talks. The new company will be called LafargeHolcim and will have a unique position in 90 countries and will be evenly balanced between developing countries and countries with strong growth, the rms said in a join statement. They highlighted the match of their activities since Lafarge has a strong presence in Africa and Holcim in Latin America. However they both have big and competing interests in Europe. In Zurich, stock analyst Ute Haibach at brokers J Safra Sarasin said the deal should result in more balanced exposure in emerging markets. At stock brokers Aurel BGC in Paris, analysts said that the merger would be long and complex but was

GEnEVA

Swiss cement group Holcim and French rival Lafarge are merging to create the biggest global concrete group worth US$55 billion euros. Photo: AFP

technically possible. Figures in the statement show that the new giant will employ 136,000 people across the countries where it operates, have annual sales of $44 billion and underlying prots of $8.5 billion. The deal would generate economies of scale of $1.9 billion over three years. LafargeHolcim will be in a powerful position as a supplier of cement for concrete, a key material in the construction of buildings and infrastructure. It is a sector in which new technologies are being used increasingly in materials, including cement. Building supply companies have been expanding in emerging countries where they see huge opportunities for growth from the construction of buildings and infrastructure. But both companies are facing sluggish conditions in the European construction industry.

Soiron said the merger offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver substantially better value to customers with more innovation, a wider range of products and solutions and to raise returns for shareholders. The combined group would be uniquely positioned to take advantage of growth in developed markets and the worlds fastest growing economies, he said. Lafarge chief executive Bruno Lafont said the merger would set up the most advanced group in the construction industry, for the benet of our clients, our employees and our shareholders. The new rms chairman will be Holcims Wolfgang Reitzle, with Lafarges Mr Lafont becoming its chief executive officer. Holcim and Lafarge will each have seven seats on the new rms board. The headquarters of the com-

pany will be in Switzerland but Mr Lafont told the press conference that the new entity would not pull out of France, where the downsizing of industrial companies is a hot political issue. The companies are aiming to complete the deal by the rst quarter of 2015. Shares in the new rm will be listed on stock exchanges in Paris and Zurich. Founded in Switzerland in 1912, Holcim employs 71,000 people, with production sites in about 70 countries and a market presence on every continent. In notched up net sales of 19.7 billion Swiss francs ($22.2 billion) in 2013. Lafarge began as a French limestone-quarrying company in 1833, and now employs 65,000 people in 64 countries, with annual sales of 15.8 billion euros ($21.7 billion). AFP

24
HONG KONG

Science & Technology

Internet Hall of Fame inducts Nepalese teacher

A NEPALESE educator who transformed the way of life in more than 150 remote Himalayan villages by connecting them to the internet was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame. Mahabir Pun spent more than a decade providing wireless internet services to villages which had lacked even a telephone service, opening up access to education, commerce and health care. I am a strong advocate of a free internet, I want the internet to be available to people living under the poverty line, Mr. Pun told AFP in an interview in Hong Kong, where the Internet Hall of Fame held its annual awards ceremony. Pun was inspired by the internet in the US, where he studied for university in the early 1990s, and was able to connect his native village of Nangi using television dishes and homemade antennas in 2002. He has since built a network connecting 175 villages to free wireless internet services, and plans to continue providing the service to other remote villages in the country. I want to try my best to breach the physical divide that is there between rural areas and urban areas, rich countries and poor countries, Pun said. The 59-year-old said villagers had no concept of the internet when he introduced the network, but were still very curious and eager to use it. They now use it for communication, education and trade. If they wanted to buy a buffalo, they could immediately nd who was selling a buffalo Mr. Pun said. Villagers in the past had to walk for days to other locations to inquire about the availability of products they were seeking, due to a lack of telephone lines. AFP

IN PICTURES

Union Minister U Myat Hein from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology observes the rst video call ever to connect over Telenors nascent 3G network. Telenors oft-stated goal is to provide wireless service networks to the entire country within ve years. Aung Kyaw Nyunt

Adultery website tests the law in S. Korea

NOEL Biderman insists he has no problems sleeping at night after launching an adultery hook-up site in South Korea where marital indelity is a crime punishable by up to two years in prison. Mr. Biderman is the CEO of Canada-based AshleyMadison.com slogan: Life is short. Have an affair which claims more than 25 million subscribers in 35 countries and launched in South Korea last month. Within a week, 46,000 people had signed up and Biderman said the company was targeting a membership of around 500,000 or 1 percent of the total population. The website is no stranger to Asia, having already launched in Japan, India and Hong Kong, but South Korea offers particular challenges given a 1953 statute that criminalises adultery. Mr. Biderman believes the law is hopelessly outdated but still heeded legal advice not to attend the South Korea launch in person. He insists that his website simply facilitates an activity that is universal and crosses all social and geographical boundaries. Indelity is present in Asian culture, in the same way that it is present in every other culture in the world, he told AFP in a telephone interview from New York. But not every Asian government sees that as a reason to welcome AshleyMadison. Singapores Media Development Authority banned the website in November, saying it constituted an attack on our family values and public morality. Like Singapore, South Korea is modern but socially conservative, particularly when it comes to the internet. Last year about 23,000 Korean webpages were deleted, and another 63,000 blocked, at the request of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), a largely government-appointed body. The main targets were pornography, prostitution and gambling. KCSC official Song Myung-Hoon told AFP that the commission had been closely monitoring AshleyMadison since its launch. We know this website is problematic and are discussing internally what to do with it, Mr. Song said, while acknowledging there was nothing inherently criminal about the website. South Koreas adultery law is not much of a deterrent, and conviction usually results in a suspended sentence rather than actual jail time. As an offence, it can only be prosecuted on complaint, and any case is closed as soon as the plaintiff drops the charge. Whereas 216 people were given prison terms under the law in 2004, that gure had dropped to 42 by 2008. But it remains on the statute books, despite half a dozen referrals for review to the countrys Constitutional Court, and there is no great groundswell of opinion to have it removed. In 2011, a Christian pastor was jailed for 18 months for having a decade-long affair with a woman whose wedding he had officiated at, after her husband named them both in an adultery complaint. Socially conservative groups have already denounced the Korean-language version of AshleyMadison. Its ridiculous, legally and morally, said Lee Kum-Sook, a member of the Seoul-based civic group Healthy Family. Adultery is a punishable crime here, although people still do it secretly. But promoting it so openly on the internet will make the problem even worse, Lee said. The fact that married people secretly have affairs even when illegal is a cornerstone of Mr. Bidermans argument for embracing AshleyMadison. And he rejects suggestions that his website could be held responsible for a married woman who nds herself on trial for having an affair with someone she met on the site. I dont struggle going to sleep at night over that, he said. The point is that people are going to have affairs no matter what avenues are open or closed to them. So why not provide them with a discreet way to do it? Its an alternative to affairs in the workplace, which risk exposure, humiliation and dismissal. If anything, our website will help keep people out of the courts, he said. There was no doubting the enthusiasm of the early members of the websites Korean version. A prole drafted and posted by AFP claiming to be that of a married woman garnered 60 responses in 24 hours from men ranging in age from their 20s to late 50s nearly all of them self-identied as married. While some decided that sending naked seles with their messages was the best way forward, others looked to conjure up some sympathy. Im a married man and my life is always so tense because I have to take responsibility for ve members of my family, wrote one 55-year-old. I want a girlfriend. How far we can go depends on we feel for each other, he said. Song Myung-Hoon from the KCSC indicated that the commissions monitoring of AshleyMadison was partly focused on whether subscribers might use the site for illegal activities. We can shut down the website if there is evidence of anything like online prostitution for example, Mr. Song said. Mr. Biderman says the sites own moderators would block anyone found engaging in anything like prostitution, and added that other members were quick to complain if they felt they were being solicited. This is not an online brothel. Its a social network for like-minded people, he said. I am not in the sex business. I am not selling sex. AFP

SEOUL

Science & Technology

25
Gadget Reviews
Editors note: water-proof does not necessarily mean Thingyan-proof by Myo Satt

Sparks fly over US plan to shift internet role

IT could be a difficult breakup between the US government and the internet. A plan unveiled last month would see the US relinquish its key oversight role for the internet, handing that over to the global multistakeholder community. US officials say the move is part of a longstanding effort to privatise the technical oversight of the internet. But it comes amid growing international pressure for Washington to step back from what some countries claim is a dominant role in the Internet. Tensions have been exacerbated by the outcry over leaked documents showing the National Security Agencys vast surveillance capabilities, feeding concern that the US manipulates the internet for its own purposes. Some critics argue, however, that Washington is giving away the internet, posing long-term threats to online freedom and commerce. Representative Marsha Blackburn contends that the US shift will allow countries like China and Russia, that dont place the same value in freedom of speech, to better dene how the internet looks and operates. Some observers say the US is seeking to avoid the more extreme step of handing control over to a more politicised body, such as an arm of the United Nations. There have been a lot of fairly wild suggestions of how internet governance should be changed, said US lawyer Greg Shatan. Mr. Shatan participates in working groups of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a non-prot organisation that took over some of the functions in 1997 under an agreement with the US government. In late 2012, a group of countries voted against the United States on a telecom treaty Washington said could open the door to regulation of the internet by the UNs International Telecommunications Union. A lot of these governments are not looking for a free and open internet, Shatan told AFP. They are looking for a moderated, controlled internet. But the US announcement calling for a new oversight system by September 2015, says Mr. Shatan, blunts that effort and could help bring swing states back in line with Washington. The US Commerce Department ofcial heading the key unit in charge of the internet, Lawrence Strickling, said at a forum on April 4 that Washington is handing over what is largely a clerical task in verifying the accuracy of the internets so-called root zone. And he added that nothing will happen unless we have a consensus on governance that also meets the US criteria of avoiding a government-led or intergovernmental plan. Robert McDowell, a Hudson Institute fellow and former US telecom regulator, worried the decision might create a void. The worst-case scenario would include foreign governments, either directly or through intergovernmental bodies, snatching the soon-to-be untethered technical functions for their own purposes, Mr. McDowell said in a blog. Information Technology & Innovation Foundation analyst Daniel Castro says in a report that without US oversight, ICANN would not be accountable to anyone, and would be motivated only by the interests of those individuals who control the organisation. The change sought by Washington would end the US role in what is on the surface a dull, technical responsibility. But these issues can become controversial, such as establishing new domains like .corruption, .amazon and the adult-oriented .xxx. During a visit to the US capital, ICANN president and chief executive Fadi Chehade told lawmakers he saw no change in the way the internet would operate. The multi-stakeholder community has demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to govern itself over the past 16 years, allowing the internet to ourish, he said. Chehade sought to debunk the idea that the US is giving away the Internet. This announcement shows the world Americas values, he said. Were sending a message to the world that we trust the multi-stakeholder model. A group of Republican lawmakers introduced a bill that would block the US withdrawal pending an analysis on the legal authority to cede these functions. In the month of March alone, weve seen Russia block opposition websites, Turkey ban Twitter, China place new restrictions on online video and a top Malaysian politician pledge to censor the internet if hes given the chance, said Representative John Shimkus, one of the measures sponsors. There are real authoritarian governments in the world today who have no tolerance for the free ow of information and ideas. But Carolina Rossini of the New America Foundations Open Technology Institute said the bill could have the opposite effect and further empower critics who favor a governmental or intergovernmental model for the Internet. AFP

WASHINGTON

Fujilm (XP60) The camera can take photos up to 20 feet underwater. It is also designed to protect against dust and sand. Boasts a 16.4MP resolution, CMOS sensor and 5X Optical zoom. LCD display is 2.7 inches wide. Perfect for documenting your Thingyan adventure. K160,000

Canon PowerShot (SX220) and Marine Case This combination camera and waterproof case has a 12.1 MP resolution and uses a CMOS sensor. The camera has a solid 14X optical zoom, and the built-in GPS allows you to track the location of every picture. K330,000

Huawei Ascend D2 One of several dust and waterproof phones from Huawei. Has a builtin 16 GB storage and 2GB RAM. Suitable for taking photos in any direction with its 1.3MP resolution front camera and 13MP rear-camera. Also includes LED ash light. K430,000

Huawei Honor 3 A cheaper version of the Ascend, this dust/waterproof phone has 8Gb of storage built-in and 2GB of RAM. The resolution of the front facing camera is 1.3MP while the rear camera is 13MP. K259,000

IN PICTURES

A robot of the category Standard Platform League plays a ball during the RoboCup German Open 2014 in Magdeburg, eastern Germany on April 4. Around 950 participants from 16 countries participate in the three-day tournament. The robots are required to master a variety of disciplines, including communication, soccer, rescue and dance. Photo: AFP

-Translation by Thiri Min Htun Cameras available at: No 3, Central Tower, Anawrahta Rd, between 39th St and 40th St. Ph: 01-392 693, 01-398 298 Phones available at: Huawei Showroom (4) No 129,(Room-1802), Shwe Pyi Aye Yeik Mon, Bargyar Rd, Kyun Taw (South) Ward, Sanchaung Tsp. Ph: 01-230 4749, 09-420030055

26 THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

World
PERTH
TWO fresh signals have been picked up in the search for missing Malaysian ight MH370, raising hopes on April 9 that wreckage will be found within days even as black box batteries start to expire. Australian ship Ocean Shield detected the signals on April 8 to match a pair of transmissions picked up over the weekend that have been analysed as consistent with signals from the planes ight data recorder, the head of the search said. Ocean Shield has been able to reacquire the signals on two more occasions, late yesterday afternoon and later last night, said Angus Houston, head of the Joint Agency Coordination Centre. The Australian ship has now picked up four transmissions, crucial information as searchers try to pinpoint the crash zone for the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 that disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board. Officials had feared that the signals which were initially picked up might not be detected again, particularly since the batteries on the black box tracking beacons have a normal lifespan of about 30 days. The new transmissions, found in the same broad area as the previous two, lasted for ve minutes and 32 seconds and about seven minutes respectively, Mr Houston said. Yesterdays signals will assist in better dening a reduced and much more manageable search area on the ocean oor, Mr Houston said. I believe we are searching in the right area but we need to visually identify the aircraft before we can conrm with certainty that this is the nal resting place of MH370. Mr Houston again urged caution for the sake of the families of those aboard the ight which mysteriously vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, and said the search for more signals would go on. Hopefully with lots of transmissions well have a tight, small area and hopefully in a matter of days well be able to nd something on the bottom that might conrm that this is the last resting place of MH370, Mr Houston told reporters. The hunt was now narrowing, with experts conrming the rst transmissions were consistent with black box recorders. The analysis determines that a very stable distinct and clear signal was detected at 33.331kHz and that it consistently pulsed at a 1.106-second interval, Mr Houston said. They therefore assessed that the transmission was not of natural origin and was likely sourced from specic electronic equipment. They believe the signals to be consistent with the specication and description of a ight data recorder. Authorities have been searching a linear arc produced from satellite data and believed to represent the last stretch of the planes ight path. While Chinas Haixun 01 vessel initially reported some acoustic signals at the southern end of this trajectory, these have not occurred again, Mr Houston said. No other ships will be allowed near the Ocean Shield, as its work must be done in an environment as free of noise as possible, but a modied RAAF AP3C Orion was parachuting sonar buoys into the vicinity. These will oat on the surface and have a hydrophone attached dangling 1000 feet (305 metres) below to hope-

WORLD EDITOR: Fiona MacGregor

Plane could be found in days

fully pick up any emissions, although officials warned these could be dulled by thick silt on the seabed. With the clock ticking on how long the black boxes could feasibly continue to transmit, Mr Houston said it would not be long before a US-made autonomous underwater vehicle called a Bluen 21 would be sent down to investigate. Mr Houston said officials were probably close to using this device because the last acoustic signal was very weak, indicating the batteries were running down. I dont think that time is very far away, he said. He said the Ocean Shield could search six times the area with the towed pinger locator that could be done with a sonar on the Bluen. Up to 11 military aircraft, four civil planes and 14 ships were searching on April 9 over a zone covering 75,423 square kilometres (29,000 square miles), Australias Joint Agency Coordination Centre said. The focus of the search area is 2260 km (1400 miles) northwest of Perth. The case of the missing jet has bafed aviation experts and frustrated the families of those on board, two-thirds of whom were Chinese. Despite extensive searches on the ocean surface, no debris has yet been found but Mr Houston said the visual searching would continue. The retired Air Chief Marshal voiced optimism despite the challenges of searching 4.5km (2.8 miles) below the surface in a remote patch of the Indian Ocean. I am now optimistic that we will nd the aircraft, or what is left of the aircraft, in the not too distant future, he said.

IN PICTUREs

Central African Christian people sell cas Republic has left 1.6 million people a third been killed in a wave of sectarian violence African Union and French peacekeeping

Russian agents
THE United States accused Russia on April 8 of sending its agents to stoke a aring secession crisis in eastern Ukraine that Moscow itself conceded could spill over into civil war. The blunt US charge came as Ukraines embattled leaders waged an uphill battle to keep their culturally splintered nation of 46 million together after the February ouster of a proKremlin president and subsequent loss of Crimea to Russia. An eery echo of the Black Sea peninsulas separation sounded on April 6 when militants, many of them masked, stormed a series of strategic buildings across a swathe of heavily Russied eastern regions and demanded that Moscow send its troops for support. Ukraine mounted a counter-offensive on April 8 by vowing to treat the separatists as terrorists and making 70 arrests in a nighttime security sweep aimed at proving the Kremlins involvement in the secessionist movement. An urgent deployment of forces saw Kiev also regain control of an administration office in Kharkiv and the security service headquarters of Donetsk. But Kalashnikov-wielding militants still held on to the main police building in the nearby city of Lugansk after breaking into its massive weapons cache and releasing several activists who had been accused of plotting a coup. Ukraines state security service said on April 8 it had established that the

DONETSK

A relative of passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 cries as she prays at the vigil in the Metro Park Hotel in Beijing on April 8. Photo: AFP

TOKYO

Final whaling mission kills over 250

JAPAN killed 251 minke whales during the 2014 Antarctic hunt, in what is expected to be the last research whaling mission in the Southern Ocean after an international court ruling. According to data released by Japans Fisheries Agency on April 8, the catch was more than double last years tally of 103 minke whales, but much smaller than the target of 935. The whalers caught no n whales during the hunt, which ran between January 3 and March 13, the agency said. Japan is a signatory to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which bans commercial hunting, but has insisted its operation was research, even though it acknowledged the meat from the animals ended up on dinner tables. Militant environmentalist group Sea Shepherd has annually sent its vessels to the Southern Ocean to confront the whalers, and has in the past taken credit for the vastlyreduced catch. The United Nations International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled last week that the program was a commercial hunt disguised as science, vindicating claims by opponents, notably Australia. In the wake of the verdict, Japan said it was cancelling the annual Antarctic mission for the rst time in more than a quarter of a century. Japan has another research whaling program that operates in the northwestern Pacic. Analysts say Japan will likely have to review this program in the Pacic in light of the UN court ruling. AFP

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Internet humour lets Vietnams bloggers escape the censor

world 29

20 years after Rwanda genocide lessons can still be learned

world 30

Celebrities add colour to Indonesias presidential poll

World 33

PRETORIA

Pistorius decribes the moment girlfriend died

OSCAR Pistorius returned to the witness stand April 9, giving horrifying testimony about his vain attempts to stem girlfriend Reeva Steenkamps blood loss and save her life using plastic bags and utility tape. I was really trying to stop the bleeding, I was really trying to help Reeva breathe, said Mr Pistorius, still struggling to retain his composure on a third day of testimony. I was trying to hold Reevas head with my hand to put pressure on it, he said, outlining the brutal and ultimately fatal results of gunshots to the hip, arm, hand and head. Reeva had already died while I was holding her, he said. There was nothing more I could do for her. Mr Pistorius returned to the stand after breaking down uncontrollably on April 8 while testifying that he red four shots at Ms Steenkamp through a toilet door, and then found her lifeless body. Mr Pistorius claims he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder. He was charged with her murder on Valentines Day last year. I was overcome with fear, the athlete had testied in a trembling voice. Before I knew it, Id red four shots at the door, he said, describing his actions after he thought an intruder had made a noise in the bathroom in the dead of night. Mr Pistorius has been called as a witness in his own defence. On April 9 he continued with a rst-hand account of what happened after emergency responders arrived. Mr Pistorius faces a life sentence if found guilty of murdering 29-year-old Steenkamp. The Olympians initial evidence focused on countering the prosecutions portrayal of him as reckless and obsessed with fast cars and guns. From April 7 defence lawyer Barry Roux had gently painted the portrait

Oscar Pistorius speaks with a family member during his trial in Pretoria on April 7. Photo: AFP

ssava on the road from Boda to Mbaiki on April 8. The crisis in the strife-torn Central African of the population in urgent need of food, the United Nations said April 6. Thousands have across the Central African Republic that has lasted for more than a year, despite the presence of troops. Photo: AFP

behind Ukraine split: US

Lugansk militants had rigged its regional centre with explosives and were holding 60 people against their will, not letting them leave the building and return home. But the agency did not explain why it was making the announcement two days after the actual raid or say how it had gained information from inside the heavily fortied building. Hundreds of pro-Russians also remained holed up inside the Donetsk administration centre a day after proclaiming the creation of a sovereign peoples republic and demanding that an independence referendum be held before May 11. We have formed a provisional government in Donetsk, separatist leader Vadym Chernyakov told AFP inside the occupied building. The 33-year-old said his forces intended to control the regions airport and railway stations in order to maintain order. The heart of Donetsk itself was a mesh of razor wire and hastily assembled barricades of old tyres that could be set on re in case the riot police decided to mount an assault on the regional government seat. But calm had returned to the city of Kharkiv after a night of violence. Months of deadly political turmoil threaten not only to break up the vast nation on the European Unions eastern frontier along its ethnic divisions but also plunge Moscows relations with the West to a low that may take decades to repair. US Secretary of State John Kerry appeared to cast aside the last vestiges of diplomatic decorum on April 8 by explicitly accusing the Kremlin of sending operatives into eastern Ukraine in order to foment unrest. Everything that weve seen in the last 48 hours, from Russian provocateurs and agents operating in eastern Ukraine, tells us that theyve been sent there determined to create chaos, Mr Kerry told US lawmakers. British Foreign Secretary William Hague backed up that message by noting the areup bore all the hallmarks of a Russian strategy to destabilise Ukraine. And NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen reaffirmed on a visit to Paris that Moscow, its forces now massed along Ukraines eastern frontier, would be making a historic mistake if it were to intervene in Ukraine any further. But Mr Kerry said he intended to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Europe next week to discuss preparations for possible four-way talks with Ukraine and EU diplomats. The increased tensions helped Europes main stock markets to retreat further on April 8. Londons FTSE 100 dropped 0.49 percent to close 6590.69 points, while in Paris the CAC 40 shed 0.25 pcto 4424.83 points. The DAX 30 in Frankfurt fell 0.21 pc to 9490.79 points. The EUs executive Commission is set to create a support group for Ukraine to help stabilise the countrys economy and to assist with political reform, an official said April 8 The group will be made up of several dozen people and is expected to be led by Stefan Fuele, the commissioner for enlargement and neighbourhood policy. He will work with the Ukrainian authorities to determine the aid and assistance they need to stabilise the economy, the political situation, and help with reforms,the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The EU unveiled a huge aid programme for Ukraine in March, promising at least 11 billion euros (US$15 billion) worth of loans, donations and business deals. Brussels has also offered Kiev a sizeable reduction in customs duties when trading with the bloc as part of benets expected to save the country some 500 million euros a year. For its part, the IMF has announced $14 - 18 billion, although the payout will be conditional on a number of measures, including Ukraine increasing the price of gas and freezing civil service salaries. The Wests anxiety stems in part from Russian President Vladimir Putins vow to use all means necessary to protect his compatriots in Ukraine. Moscow is further demanding a decentralisation of power that could push Ukraines east further out of Kievs reach and into what the West fears may turn into the Kremlins permanent ambit. The Russian foreign ministry put still more pressure on Kiev on March 7 by accusing it of making military preparations [in eastern regions] that are fraught with the risk of unleashing a civil war. AFP

of a young man marked by a fatherless childhood, the early death of his mother, physical disability and recurring crime. Mr Pistorius had begun his second day of testimony with a description of how he met the vivacious law graduate and how they quickly grew closer. Mr Roux also dealt with three other unrelated charges against the accused: ring a gun through a moving cars sunroof; again in a crowded restaurant; and also the possession of illegal ammunition. Though these might not have come before court in different circumstances, it is possible prosecutors added them to the murder charge to attempt a character sketch of Mr Pistorius. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. Mr Pistorius is likely to remain on the stand most of the week as his extensive testimony is expected to be followed by gruelling and lengthy crossexamination. In the ve weeks since the trial began, the world-famous Paralympian has appeared fragile and sometimes annoyed, frequently crying in court. He was physically sick when the gruesome details of Ms Steenkamps death were discussed. Eventually set down for three weeks, the trial could run until midMay, possibly even longer. AFP

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan market bomb leaves at least 20 dead

A BOMB tore through a bustling fruit and vegetable market in Islamabad on April 9, killing at least 20 people, police said, the latest violence to hit government peace talks with the Taliban. The blast took place around 8am at the wholesale market close to the Pakistani capitals twin city Rawalpindi, as hundreds of grocers and sellers gathered to trade. The bombing, the deadliest to hit Islamabad since a huge truck bomb at the Marriott Hotel in 2008, left a 1.5-metre (ve-foot) diameter crater at the site, which was littered with body parts and guava fruits drenched in blood, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The attack comes as the government tries to negotiate an end to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistans (TTP) campaign of violence. Talks began between government and TTP intermediaries in February, but more than 160 people have been killed in attacks since the start of the process, leading many to question its worth. Jameel Hashmi, a senior Islamabad police official, told AFP the blast had killed at least 20 people and wounded 69. The TTPs main spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said the group had nothing to do with the attack and urged the government to nd those responsible. Eyewitness Muhammad Tahir described the carnage as the bomb detonated. The blast took place around 8:00, when we were standing there. Bodies were ying everywhere. Bodies were ying at the height of 20 to 25 feet, he told AFP. Senior local administration official Nauman Yousuf told AFP it was a planted bomb. A bomb disposal official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the device hidden in a fruit box weighed 5 to 6 kilograms (11 to 13 pounds) and was packed with nuts and bolts to cause maximum carnage. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in Japan, of 1-1, Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

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NEW DELHI

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Reg. No. 6037/2012 in respect of Industrial oils; lubricants; lubricating oils; engine oil. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 14 April 2014

The controversial aide behind Indian PM bid

FOR a politician running on a platform of clean government having a key aide facing murder and extortion charges could be seen as a liability, but not by the man tipped to be Indias next prime minister. Narendra Modi, the hardline Hindu nationalist leading the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into elections this week, rst met former stockbroker Amit Shah in the 1980s when both of them were volunteers. Over the years, Mr Shah, a portly and bearded 50-year-old, has become his closest condante and key political manager. He is widely expected to take a senior role in any future Modi-run administration. Everyone in the party understands that the shortest path to Modi goes via Shah, said one party insider, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. Mr Shah was in the eye of a storm after reportedly telling supporters to see Indias parliamentary polls as an opportunity for revenge against the left-leaning ruling Congress party. Speaking in an area torn apart by sectarian hatred last August, he will face a criminal investigation after branding the government as one that protects and gives compensation to those who killed Hindus. More than 50 people died in the district of Muzaffarnagar in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where several BJP members were already facing charges of inciting violence against Muslims. Mr Modi is reviled by many of Indias Muslims due to religious riots in Gujarat in 2002 when he was chief minister. At least 1000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed. In May 2013, Mr Shah was appointed chief strategist for Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP must triumph for Modi to stand any chance of emerging as Indias next prime minister when results are announced on May 16. Opponents, including Minority Affairs Minister Rahman Khan, accused him of trying to polarise voters and even deliberately stoking tensions in a state with a long history of sectarian killings. What I can tell you is that there is a Modi wave not just in Uttar Pradesh but across the country, Mr Shah told AFP on sidelines of an event in Delhi in March. The latest polls show the party likely to win more than half of the 80 seats up for grabs, but it has faced criticism for elding two candidates linked to the Muzaffarnagar riots. Obviously, he [Mr Shah] is one of our wisest political heads and the man in charge of UP. He would be giving key inputs for candidates nomination, a senior party leader told AFP on condition of anonymity. Even those colleagues who resent his aloofness acknowledge Mr Shahs acumen and respect his uninching loyalty to Mr Modi. His patron has

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., a Company incorporated in Japan, of 1-1, Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 4329/2009 in respect of Industrial Oils; lubricating oils; lubricants. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 14 April 2014

Amit Shah (centre), gestures as he arrives to attend a BJP Central Election Committee meeting in New Delhi on March 13. Photo: AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Fujitrans Corporation, a Company incorporated in Japan, of 7-41, Irifune 1-chome, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 455-0032 Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 2561/2014 in respect of Import-export agencies; Consulting service relating to business of harbor facilities; Consulting services relating to managing business relating to harbor facilities; Consulting services relating to construction and repair of harbor facilities ; Operating and managing business relating to harbor facilities; Planning of building harbor facilities; Guiding, navigating and instruction service of arriving and departing vessels; Rental of warehouse spaces; Providing vessel mooring facilities; Self-storage services; Rental of storage places; Parking services; Customs clearance services; Customs brokerage; Insurance brokerage; Repair and maintenance of vessels; Repair and maintenance of automobiles; Repair and maintenance of electrical generators; Truck transport; Cargo ship transport; Freight packaging; Transport brokerage; Warehousing services; Cargo unloading; Navigating and consulting on loading and unloading cargoes; Educational, instructional services relating to arts, crafts, sports and general knowledge; Arranging, conducting and organizing of seminars. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Fujitrans Corporation P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 14 April 2014

reciprocated, sticking by him through multiple scandals. The biggest of those stems from the alleged extra-judicial killing in 2005 of accused gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauser Bi in western Gujarat state, where Mr Modi has been chief minister since 2001. Mr Shah, then Gujarat home minister, has been charged with being a co-conspirator in what federal investigators claim was a staged shootout to eliminate Mr Sheikh, who was part of an extortion racket. Gujarat police claimed Mr Sheikh was a terrorist plotting to kill Mr Modi. In 2010, Indias federal police charged Mr Shah with murder, extortion, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy. He insisted he was innocent, but immediately resigned. In a country where allegations against politicians are commonplace and police are widely viewed as corrupt, Mr Modi weathered the storm by defending Mr Shah as the victim of a conspiracy. Convictions in India, especially of politicians, usually take years if not decades to secure in the log-jammed court system. Amid a BJP election publicity

blitz portraying Mr Modi as a corruption-free man of action, the charges against Mr Shah have gone largely unmentioned. Mr Shah gained a reputation during his eight-year stint as Gujarats home minister for a swift and often deadly crackdown on crime. In another controversial case on his watch, four people including two teenagers were gunned down in another alleged extrajudicial killing in 2004. In September 2013 a former top Gujarat policeman, DG Vanzara, released an explosive letter from prison accusing Mr Shah of dirty tactics. He was also implicated last November in a scandal dubbed stalkergate, in which alleged transcripts of conversations between him and policewere released by investigative news website Gulail. In them, Mr Shah purportedly orders officers to trail a woman at the behest of saheb, a Hindi term for boss, ordering them to report every movement of the young architect, particularly if and when she met any male friends. Mr Shah again dismissed the report as a conspiracy hatched by Congress. AFP

DAMASCUS

Syrian army takes key rebel town

SYRIAS army seized the rebel-held town of Rankus on April 9, state media reported citing a military source, as the regime extends its control over the strategic Qalamun region. Units of the Syrian army have now accomplished their operation in the Rankus area and restored security and stability after eliminating a large number of terrorists, state media said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, had earlier conrmed that the army entered the area and is engaged in erce ghting and heavy shelling. The group said 28 rebels had been killed in the Qalamun area as well as in Eastern Ghouta, elsewhere in Damascus province, in ghting between April 7 and 8. Rankus is about 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Damascus and was home to 20,000 people before the conict in Syria began in March 2011. Syrian troops backed by pro-regime militiamen and Lebanons Shiite Hezbollah movement have captured most of the Qalamun region, which lies along the border with Lebanon. The key highway between Damascus and Homs also runs through the region. Last month, the regime dealt a major blow to the opposition by seizing its last key bastion in the region, the town of Yabrud. AFP

www.mmtimes.com

International World 29

Humour outwits censor

A CRITICAL blog post could mean a prison sentence in communist Vietnam, but a satirical image of Cinderella which mocks the ruling elite is more likely to slip past the censors. The countrys roughly 33 million internet users, armed only with laptops and a sense of humour, are driving broader social change in the authoritarian nation than scores of imprisoned rebrand bloggers, experts say. changed or remixed as it spreads. While still not as widely used in Vietnam as in the United States or China, theres a lot of growth to come, said Ben Valentine, an American writer for The Civil Beat website which examines memes and viral media. Its very exciting, he added. While censorship is extremely harmful socially, it can breed intense creativity. It is difficult for Vietnams government to stop the spread of memes. Facebook is already is under a partial unofficial block that is easily circumvented by some 22 million Vietnamese who have accounts, and shutting it down totally risks upsetting, and even radicalising, otherwise content citizens. This is an example of the Cute Cat Theory of Digital Activism, a term coined by academic Ethan Zuckerman in 2008. Tools such as Facebook, widely used to share cute cat pictures, baby photos or seles, can also be used for political content. Any tool that allows cute cat images to spread is a tool that can allow activist messages to spread. So that is a challenge for authoritarian regimes, said American artist and writer An Xiao Mina, who describes memes as the street art of the internet. And under authoritarian regimes that use keyword search algorithms to delete messages, the activist message becomes the cute cat, said Mina. So to show support for dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, whose name has been blocked on Chinas hugely popular Weibo microblogging site, people use photos of sunower seeds a reference to one of his works. One of the most popular incubators of memes on the Vietnamese internet is HaiVL the name means funny or hilarious in Vietnamese which opened two years ago and now gets 1.5 million visits a day. The site censors openly political content and blocks repeat offenders, but much of the content touches on sensitive issues in society using humour. Everyone wants to be happy. I think HaiVL has helped many people to be happier by making them laugh more, said Vo Thanh Quang, cofounder and CEO of the company that runs the site. The Tuyet Bitch Collective remixes Disney cartoons into satirical memes. In seven months they have acquired a quarter of a million followers on Facebook. Another catalyst for change is the rise of viral videos, shot on smartphones, that have prompted mainstream media coverage and even jail terms in the case of two nursemaids caught abusing children. This is to me one of the most signicant, cool things about the modern internet in Vietnam ... Hold to account abuses of power, said Anh-Minh Do, an editor at the Tech in Asia website. When two policemen were caught on camera brawling in the street, the video went viral after it was set to Star Wars music with lightsabres digitally added. We can all laugh at police and laugh at the authorities. Because everybody knows about the corruption and stuff, he said. Those kind of things are being brought into the light. AFP

HO CHI MINH CITY

An ersatz civil society is emerging out of this.

Patrick Sharbaugh Digital culture researcher

From their calls for the health minister to resign a cause so popular that a state-run newspaper briey took up the campaign to amusing attacks on ham-sted censorship, Vietnams evergrowing ranks of internet users are nding their voice. The kids creating and sharing these images dont think of it as activism, for the most part. Theyre not necessarily campaigning for anything. Theyre just making jokes, said Patrick Sharbaugh, a digital culture researcher who has worked in Vietnam. An ersatz civil society is emerging out of this, he said. Criticised over a spate of baby deaths after routine vaccinations, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien was the target of hundreds of memes including unattering photos of her with the words, Without me, how would funeral services thrive. In a one-party communist country where public loudspeaker systems still broadcast official news twice daily and all media are state-run, the space the internet creates is important. At the forefront of the revolution is the meme, an idea or piece of content, similar to viral content, but

Aman uses his tablet to look at a sFacebook page in Hanoi on March 28. Photo: AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Fujitrans Corporation, a Company incorporated in Japan, of 7-41, Irifune 1-chome, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 455-0032 Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:Reg. No. 2563/2014 in respect of Import-export agencies; Consulting service relating to business of harbor facilities; Consulting services relating to managing business relating to harbor facilities; Consulting services relating to construction and repair of harbor facilities ; Operating and managing business relating to harbor facilities; Planning of building harbor facilities; Guiding, navigating and instruction service of arriving and departing vessels; Rental of warehouse spaces; Providing vessel mooring facilities; Self-storage services; Rental of storage places; Parking services; Customs clearance services; Customs brokerage; Insurance brokerage; Repair and maintenance of vessels; Repair and maintenance of automobiles; Repair and maintenance of electrical generators; Truck transport; Cargo ship transport; Freight packaging; Transport brokerage; Warehousing services; Cargo unloading; Navigating and consulting on loading and unloading cargoes; Educational, instructional services relating to arts, crafts, sports and general knowledge; Arranging, conducting and organizing of seminars. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Fujitrans Corporation P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm

FUJITRANS CORPORATION

Dated: 14 April 2014

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Nihon Seimitsu Sokki Kabushiki Kaisha, also trading as JAPAN PRECISION INSTRUMENTS, INC., of 2508-13, Nakago, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

30 World International
COMMENT

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Reg. No. 1605/2011 in respect of Intl Class 10: Sphygmomanometers; heart rate monitors; pulse monitors; pulse oximeters; electrocardiographs; sphygmomanometer cuffs; manometers for sphygmomanometer; sensors for pulse oximeter measuring amount of oxygen; massage apparatus; body-fat monitors; clinical thermometers; surveillance cameras for medical use; medical apparatus and instruments. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Nihon Seimitsu Sokki Kabushiki Kaisha P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 14 April 2014

What we must learn from Rwandas genocide

BAN Ki-moon TODAYin the Central African Republic, government and community leaders are struggling to help the country nd the path of peace. On [April 7] I joined the people of Rwanda in commemorating the 20th anniversary of the genocide, the reverberations of which are still being felt across an arc of uncertainty in Africas Great Lakes region and in the collective conscience of the international community. Each situation has its own dynamics. So does the Syrian conict, which each day claims new victims. But each has posed a complex, life-and-death challenge: What can the international community do when innocent populations are being slaughtered in large numbers and the Government is unable or unwilling to protect its people - or is among the very agents of the violence? And what can we do to prevent these atrocities from occurring in the rst place? The genocides in Rwanda and Srebrenica were emblematic failures of the international community. The scale of the brutality in Rwanda still shocks: an average of 10,000 deaths per day, day after day, for three months, with hateful radio broadcasts inaming and inciting Rwandans to kill Rwandans. The international community has since made important strides in acting on the lessons of these awful events. We are now united against impunity, epitomised by the establishment of the International Criminal Court. International and UN-assisted tribunals, including the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, are pursuing accountability and having a discernible deterrent effect on would-be violators of basic international norms. In a landmark judgement, a former head of state has been convicted of war crimes. The international community has endorsed the responsibility to protect; states can no longer claim that atrocity crimes are a domestic matter beyond the realm of international concern. Growing numbers of governments and regional organisations are creating mechanisms dedicated to genocide prevention. The United Nations and its partners are more frequently deploying human rights monitors to trouble-spots: eyes and ears that show Governments and non-state actors alike the world is watching. And since such crimes take planning, we are targeting the key risk factors, from the lack of institutions to grievances left unaddressed. We are also acting more robustly to protect civilians, including from rampant sexual violence. Assertive peacekeeping approaches have defeated one of the most brutal militias in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United Nations opened the gates of its peacekeeping installations in South Sudan to shelter tens of thousands of people from deadly threats. Twenty years ago, such steps would have been unthinkable. Today, this is deliberate policy, an example of our new Rights Up Front initiative in action a lesson of Rwanda made real. These situations remain fragile, but the thrust is clear: more protection, not less. However, this work has faced regular setbacks. The end of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009 led to tens of thousands of deaths and again in itself, a sign of continuing failure. Over the past decade, the Central African Republic has struggled for global awareness of its plight, and over the past year has suffered the collapse of the state, a descent into lawlessness, and gruesome mass killing that has instilled widespread terror and sparked an exodus. People are exploiting religious identity in the ght for political objectives, threatening a longstanding tradition of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. I appeal to the international community to provide the military support urgently needed to save lives, get police back on the streets and enable people to return to their communities. The African Union and France have deployed troops, but efforts by the European Union to launch a force have so far come to naught. There is an equally pressing need to start a political process in which reconciliation gures prominently. Any further spread of violence may engulf the wider region. When the collapse of a country is this profound, the challenge may seem insurmountable. Yet history proves otherwise. The sustained support of the international community has helped Sierra Leone and Timor Leste make dramatic transformations. Rwanda has registered notable gains in development, and other countries have healed after unspeakable violence. The Central African Republic can walk the same path. I will continue to stand with the government in charting a course that can build the stable and prosperous country its resources and traditions can make possible. The international community cannot claim to care about atrocity crimes and then shrink from the commitment of resources and will required to actually prevent them. Global leaders should do more to prevent the preventable, and to counter the cruelty taking place before our eyes. People everywhere should place themselves in the shoes of the vulnerable, from Syria to the Central African Republic, and ask themselves what more they can do to build a world of human rights and dignity for all. Let us show people facing dire threats that they are not alone or abandoned and that the lifeline they need is on its way. BAN Ki-moon is Secretary-General of the United Nations.

TRADE MARK CAUTION

City Football Group Limited, a company incorporated in United Kingdom, of Etihad Stadium, Etihad Campus, Manchester M11 3FF, United Kingdom, is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:-

Reg. No. 3382/2014

Reg. No. 3383/2014 in respect of Class 41: Sports club services; fan club services. 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 City Football Group Limited P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 14 April 2014

CITYZENS

10,000
The average number of people killed each day during three months of genoicide in Rawanda in 1994 a systemic failure by the United Nations to speak up and act. For more than three years, the international community has remained divided over the response to the situation in Syria, providing only a fraction of the necessary humanitarian funding while fueling the re with arms to both sides in the mistaken belief in a military solution. The world needs to overcome these moral blind spots. Member states may have rival denitions of national interest, or be unwilling to take on new nancial or military commitments. They may be daunted by complexity and risk, or concerned that discussions about an imminent crisis in other countries might one day focus on their own situations. But the results of this indifference and indecisiveness are clear: the bloodshed of innocents, shattered societies, and leaders left to utter the words never again, again and

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Fujitrans Corporation, a Company incorporated in Japan, of 7-41, Irifune 1-chome, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 455-0032 Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 2562/2014 in respect of Import-export agencies; Consulting service relating to business of harbor facilities; Consulting services relating to managing business relating to harbor facilities; Consulting services relating to construction and repair of harbor facilities ; Operating and managing business relating to harbor facilities; Planning of building harbor facilities; Guiding, navigating and instruction service of arriving and departing vessels; Rental of warehouse spaces; Providing vessel mooring facilities; Self-storage services; Rental of storage places; Parking services; Customs clearance services; Customs brokerage; Insurance brokerage; Repair and maintenance of vessels; Repair and maintenance of automobiles; Repair and maintenance of electrical generators; Truck transport; Cargo ship transport; Freight packaging; Transport brokerage; Warehousing services; Cargo unloading; Navigating and consulting on loading and unloading cargoes; Educational, instructional services relating to arts, crafts, sports and general knowledge; Arranging, conducting and organizing of seminars. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Fujitrans Corporation P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 14 April 2014

FUJITRANS

CAIRO

Morsi appeal for new judges rejected

AN Egyptian appeals court rejected on April 9 a request that new judges be appointed for two trials involving ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, judicial officials said. The trials are part of a sweeping crackdown waged against Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood since the army overthrew him in July, and the former president could face the death penalty if convicted. The court is now expected to set a date for the resumption of each of the two trials involving jailbreak and espionage charges, the officials said. Defence lawyers had requested that a new panel of judges examine both cases involving Mr Morsi and Brotherhood gures, complaining about a soundproof glass cage in which the accused are held when the court is in session. The special dock is designed to stop Mr Morsi and other defendants from interrupting the proceedings, as they have done in the past. The recusal request was also motivated by the alleged taping of a private conversation between the defendants and their defence team, after a newspaper leaked talks between Mr Morsi and lawyer Selim al-Awa. The court also ned two defendants, Brotherhood leader Mohammed al-Beltagui and Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazi, 6000 Egyptian pounds (more than US$850) for each trial, as the recusal request had been made in their names. Mr Morsi and 130 other defendants, including Palestinian and Lebanese militants, are accused of organising jailbreaks and attacking police stations during the 2011 uprising that toppled autocratic president Hosni Mubarak. Prosecutors allege the attacks on police stations and the jailbreaks, in which Mr Morsi and other political prisoners escaped, were a Brotherhood-led conspiracy to sow chaos in Egypt. In the espionage trial, Mr Morsi and 35 others are accused of conspiring with foreign powers, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Shiite Iran to destabilise Egypt. Mr Morsi is also on trial for inciting the murder of protesters during his presidency. The ousted Islamist is to face a fourth trial for insulting the judiciary, but no date has yet been announced. Since Mr Morsis ouster, more than 1400 have been killed in a crackdown, according to Amnesty International, while housands have been jailed.

www.mmtimes.com

International World 31
MANILA

US and China debate cyber-war

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has urged China to pursue a more open dialogue about cyber-warfare and other sensitive issues to avert potential crises between the two powers, officials said. Mr Hagel was in Beijing on April 8 with his counterpart General Chang Wanquan in Beijing a day after Chinese officers allowed the Pentagon chief to tour the countrys rst aircraft carrier in Qingdao, a rare move by the usually secretive Peoples Liberation Army. US officials said the visit to the carrier marked a promising step by the Chinese but the two sides remained deeply divided over regional territorial disputes, the threat posed by North Korea and cyber-spying, with each side trading accusations of digital espionage. The US is keen to see China be more open about its cyber capabilities to defuse tensions and avoid an inadvertent conict, a senior defence official said. We have tried to be as open and transparent on that as we can be. And we would like to see them be able to reciprocate, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. We very recently shared with them some basic doctrine on cyberspace, on how were approaching the challenges in cyberspace, the official told reporters travelling with Mr Hagel. But the Chinese so far had not reciprocated, said the official, conrming a New York Times report.

BeiJinG

Evil birth control law wins out

PHILIPPINES highest court approved a birth control law on April 8 that supporters said would transform the lives of millions of poor Filipinos, in a major defeat for the powerful Catholic Church. The RH law is not unconstitutional, Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te told reporters, announcing a ruling that struck down more than a dozen petitions against the reproductive health law by church groups. The church had led street protests denouncing the law as evil, and at one point threatened to excommunicate the president. The law requires government health centres to hand out free condoms and birth control pills, as well as mandating that sex education in schools. It also requires that public health workers receive family planning training, and post-abortion medical care is legalised. The Catholic Church had led a successful campaign for more than 15 years against any form of family planning laws in the Philippines. Philippine President Benigno Aquino deed church pressure and signed the law into effect in December 2012, but the Supreme Court quickly suspended it amid church petitions . This monumental decision upholds the separation of church and state and affirms the supremacy of government in secular concerns like health and socio-economic development, legislator Edcel Lagman, the principal author of the law, said. AFP

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chinas Chang Wanquan review guards in Beijing on April 8. Photo: AFP

The United States is investing heavily in a new cyber warfare command and suspects PLA units are behind an increasing number of digital attacks on government and US corporate networks. China, however, accuses the US of waging its own cyber offensive after revelations of far-reaching electronic espionage by the US National

Security Agency, including media reports the spy service hacked into telecoms giant Huaweis network. During his Asia tour, which included a visit to Tokyo, Mr Hagel has stressed that as a great power China has to live up to its responsibilities, suggesting Beijing should respect its smaller neighbours and adopt a more transparent approach

in its relations with the US military. Mr Hagel wants to have a frank discussion with Chinese leaders about those responsibilities, the defence official said. Beijing and Tokyo are embroiled in a bitter row over disputed islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan, with the tensions raising concerns about the possibility of a clash. - AFP

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JAKARTA

International World 33

Celebrities aim for Indonesias presidency

A WHITE jumpsuit stretched over his bulging belly, an ageing crooner known as Indonesias Elvis launches into song ahead of April 9 elections, one of a parade of celebrities standing as candidates or acting as cheerleaders in the campaign. Rhoma Irama, who was seeking support for his own presidential bid and the Islamic party backing him, is part of a star-studded push for votes in the legislative polls, which set the stage for the presidential elections in July. The tactic seems to be working among some supporters. Bro Rhoma I love you, bro Rhoma for Indonesian president, screamed one woman wearing a purple headscarf at his Jakarta concert as she danced vigorously. But while the presence of celebrities adds colour to the elections, analysts say the trend highlights the woeful state of political life in Indonesia 16 years after dictator Suharto left power. Parliament is regarded as one of the countrys most corrupt institutions, with several lawmakers having been jailed for graft in recent years and pictures of MPs asleep in session regularly splashed across the press. Political observers say celebrities are lling a void left by more serious contenders who are disillusioned with the system. Activists from civil society with the capacity to lead are not interested in taking part in the elections, said Syamsuddin Haris, a political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. They feel the political culture is still very poor and they will not be able to change the system even if they are voted in. The growing celebrity trend at this years parliamentary election has been the so-called caleg cantik literally the beautiful legislative candidate. Former Miss Indonesia beauty pageant nalist Soraya Hapsari, swimsuit model Destiara Talita, and dangdut singer Camel Petir are all hoping their high prole and good looks can propel them to office. Despite concerns over the celebrity trend, there is little doubt that a gure well-loved by the public can boost a partys popularity. At Mr Iramas recent outdoor gig, the hundreds of fans attending seemed overwhelmed as the man known as the king of dangdut, a popular type of Indonesian music, sang the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. While the presidency is likely out of the devout Muslim stars reach, polls indicate the party backing him, the Islamic-based National Awakening Party (PKB), will increase its share of the vote to 7 or 8 percent. That would be a good result and buck the trend of falling support for Islamic parties in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country, as voters move away from picking parties based solely on religious grounds. Observers also point to other factors in the PKBs success, however. It received a boost when the head of fast-growing airline Lion Air, Rusdi Kirana, joined the party and got involved in planning and bankrolling its campaign.

Indonesian musician Rhoma Irama performs during a legislative campaign in Jakarta on March 24. Photo: AFP

While some celebrities will make it into parliament, Mr Irama is unlikely even to be able to run at the presidential polls, observers say, as his party wont win the required support at the legislative elections to put forward a candidate.

Nevertheless, the colourful singer who has been widely mocked for seeking the presidency, in particular for a campaign poster which depicts him wearing a turban while riding a white horse, insists he can win. People underestimate me because

they dont know who Rhoma really is, he told AFP during a recent interview at his Jakarta house. They think I know nothing about politics ... but my songs all these 40 years contain political messages about corruption, human rights. AFP

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GE T

GERS O FIN N

THE PULSE EDITOR: WHITNEY LIGHT light.whitney@gmail.com

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

IT

George Orwells post in Burma ve years of boredom, without even the sound of trumpets inuenced his whole literary career. Visitors to Katha today will nd the place quite as he left it, a setting in which to drink warmish gin-and-tonics and imagine stories of colonial-era passion and treachery

Orwell lived in this house in Katha from 1926-1927. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

YO

Royal Lake (today Kandawgyi Lake), Rangoon, 1895. Photo: Supplied

Burmese Provincial Police Training School in Mandalay, 1923; Orwell is standing third from the left in the back row. Photo: www.georgeorwellnovels.com

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the pulse 35

Searching for the essence of colonial times

K
By Amaury Lorin
derelict structure sits under tall tropical trees in the middle of a sadly abandoned garden. With a replace still full of ashes on the ground oor and a gorgeous wooden stairwell, it is easy to imagine Orwell and his daily life there. Typical 1920s wooden chairs still occupy a corner, covered by dust and cobwebs. Two streets south, the two-storey police station where Orwell served still exists too. Born in 1903 in India to a middle-class family his father had served in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service Orwell attended Eton College (1917-1921), one of the best nurseries for future officers of the British Empire. There he contributed to various college magazines. His mediocre academic results, however, didnt qualify him for a better position than Assistant District Superintendent of Police in Burma, a country that had a rather bad reputation among the British Empires civil servants because of its difficult climate and its remoteness from Britain. Yet Orwell served there for ve years (19221927), the longest ones in [his] life. The young man arrived at the age of 19 and was posted to what were then remote small towns: Myaungma, Twante, Syriam, Insein, Moulmein and Katha, his last posting. Nationalism was rising during these years, leading up to the great rebellion of 1931, which the British ercely repressed. A truth-teller with a keen sense of social justice, Orwell composed his masterpiece as a meticulous and dark description of a repressive colonial society. His insights communicate that world better than any sociologist ever could. Alcoholism symbolises the moral corruption of both the colonisers and the colonised a problem that Orwell witnessed and suffered from himself in the tropics. As Orwell presents it, drink is the cement of Empire; and British Empire is a despotism with the theft of raw materials as its nal object. Orwell wrote, The lie that were here to uplift our poor black brothers instead of to rob them [] corrupts us in ways you cant imagine. Theres an everlasting sense of being a sneak and a liar that torments us and drives us to justify ourselves night and day. He could not be clearer about what he later called the imperial racket, that is to say the endless venality of greedy colonists. Passion, contrasting with brutal racism, is among the main themes of Burmese Days. John Flory, a good-hearted British timber merchant with empathy for the local people, suffers a growing desire for Elizabeth Lackersteen, a 22-year-old blonde arrived in Upper Burma from Paris in search of a husband. Orwell treats competitions in both love and politics between European benefactors as well as colonial encounters with great dramatic force. For example, the admission of the rst Burmese member to Kyauktadas club the spiritual citadel, the headquarters of British power and the only one in Burma that can be proud never to have admitted any Easterner among its members, becomes a key plot point. It reveals the racism of the white members. The most arrogant of them treat Burmese people as Negroes; the shyest call them natives. But they all despise the local people with a sense of moral superiority, exploit them and, if necessary, keep law and order with whips and guns. In Orwells Burma, the local women make convenient concubines, otherwise prostitutes; they can be dismissed at any time. The men are cooks, gardeners, servants or peasants; they are part of the landscape. But if any one of them ever climbs above his or her station in the eyes of the British to become, for example, a medical doctor, nothing is more urgent than to cut down their aspirations to equality. Orwells personal experience of Burma was of profound disenchantment with the dehumanising effects of colonisation. From a political point of view, Orwell, a pessimistic man, was considering colonialism as a form of totalitarianism. A tropical policeman despite himself, Orwell remained lifelong conscious of an immense weight of guilt. He felt viscerally disgusted with any form of authoritarianism for the rest of his life after his stay in Burma. In this sense, this founding experience had decisive inuence on Orwells whole prolic literary output. In order to hate imperialism, you have got to be part of it, he wrote in The Road to Wigan Pier. Of course Burmese Days is not an objective picture of the colonial truth: Its initial intent was to reveal the corrupting effects of the colonial situation to metropolitan readers in the 1930s. It might even be unfair and wrong in some aspects. Unsurprisingly, some reactions to Burmese Days were very critical, especially among Orwells former police colleagues. But Orwell could rely on much support from his unwavering anti-colonialist friends, Bertrand Russell, John Strachey, Leonard Barnes and Leonard Woolf (husband of Virginia Woolf), all members of Londons famous Bloomsbury Group. Daring to write in the mid-1930s that colonisation was a political and moral dead-end required great courage. Orwell, a committed writer, later produced new evidence of his courage by denouncing both the condition of the labour classes in Britain as well as Stalinist totalitarianism. He also fought and was wounded on the side of the Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Yet the foundations of Orwells prophetic future world are partly Burmese: The totalitarian regime of Big Brother in Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949, foretold Burmas military regime (19622011). The posthumous adjective Orwellian was properly applied to the daily life of Burmese people during the ve decades of military regime they endured. Orwell, the prophet as Myanmar people simply call him, was a major gure of European interwar anti-colonialism, making political writing a proper art. ATHA is an isolated harbour of almost 24,000 inhabitants by the magnicent Ayeyarwady River in Sagaing Region in Upper Myanmar and bordering the mountains of Shan State in the east. It is where Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name, George Orwell, lived from 1926 to 1927 as an officer of the British Imperial Police Force. And on rst glance nothing seems to have changed there since. The setting of his rst novel, Burmese Days, in which he describes Katha as a ctional place called Kyauktada, has remained intact in this neglected outpost of the former British Raj. The sketch-map Orwell himself drew still functions. Between the river and the jungle lay the club, the church, the pagoda, the hospital, the jail and, nally, the cemetery. Hiring a bicycle and exploring for a few hours excites the historical imagination. Sleepy Katha offers a unique and nostalgic glimpse of what British Burma really was. Slowly wandering through its colonial relics is like reading an open-air history book. Locals are delighted to direct you even in the wrong direction unless you prefer to follow Orwells trail on your own. First published in the United States in 1934 under Orwells real name and seven years after he resigned from the police force, Burmese Days came to the attention of British readers a year later. His British editor, Victor Gollancz, was apprehensive that such a ferocious criticism of British colonialism might precipitate a libel case. Orwell, however, could not countenance what he had witnessed without writing it down. The landscapes of Burma, which, when I was among them, so appalled me as to assume the qualities of nightmare, afterwards stayed so hauntingly in my mind that I was obliged to write a novel about them to get rid of them, he justied in The Road to Wigan Pier (1937). Although many visitors to Myanmar read Burmese Days, few take time to make the trip to Katha. The slow way on the Ayeyarwady River between Mandalay and Katha is, however, never boring. Disembarking from the ferryboat, a riverfront pagoda welcomes you just beyond the quay. Several buildings mentioned in his partly autobiographical novel still stand, although none is clearly marked as such. The former British Club today hosts the headquarters of a state cooperative and stands behind the tennis club (1924), a single court in Klablan Street (Club Street). British gentlemen wearing shining black boots and khaki jodhpurs used to try to forget the suffocating heat, the rigours of exile and the violence of the monsoons by drinking lukewarm gin and tonic there. A street north is Orwells black-wood and red-brick house, which was actually nished in 1928, after he departed. It can still be visited: The Translations of Burmese Days into Myanmar language have been rather few, especially before the countrys independence (1948). Yet Myanmar Orwell fans are trying to encourage the authorities to restore the authors house in Katha. An international literary tourism program devoted to Orwells memory could without doubt be developed there before Orwells last traces in Myanmar, beautifully captured by Emma Larkin (Finding George Orwell in Burma), irreparably disappear. British actor Ralph Fiennes (Schindlers List, The English Patient), a fan of Orwell and, since recently, a lm-maker, is said to be working on a lm adaptation of Burmese Days. He might play Florys role. Putting such a powerful and moving historical ction on the screen is certainly a great prospect. Could this, however, sound like the end of genuine Katha? Meanwhile, people there whisper that Florys ghost still haunts the rst oor of Orwells house at night.
Amaury Lorin is a French Yangon-based historian, journalist and consultant. He is the author of Nouvelle histoire des colonisations europennes (XIXe-XXe sicles) (France University Press, 2013) and the founder of Myanmar Challenge.

A critic in Katha

HOW tO Get there Katha can be reached either by ferryboat up the Ayeyarwady River. The Shwe Keinnery leaves Mandalay at daybreak and takes 22 hours (40 hours in dry season) to reach Kathas harbour. Departure every other day at variable times. US$10-50. You can also take a 12-hour train ride from Mandalay, or travel by road. The nearest airport is upstream, at Bhamo. Where tO stay The choice of accommodation in Katha is very limited. The wooden Ayeyarwady Guest House on Strand Road offers the best, clean rooms in town with a view on the river. $18/ night per person. Where tO eat Dont visit Katha for its gastronomy. You can, however, have a tasty grilled sh at Shwe Sisa, a nice bar situated above the river.

36 the pulse
Book Review

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

How to cook like a bona de aunty

WHITNEY lIGHT GARLIC and pomelo. Pickled tea leaves and peanuts. Salted sh and coconut. The combinations of Myanmar cuisine are baffling to the newcomer. If youre keen to gain uency in these avours, however, you might start with Mohana Gills latest offering, Myanmar: Cuisine, Culture and Customs (which could also have been titled Cooking with Shrimp Powder). The Pathein-born chef and cookbook author is known for award-winning volumes Available at Monument Books, K35,000 on vegetarian food (not Myanmar-specic), but here she returns to her roots to cooking shows through in the offer recipes reminiscent of her choice of chapters. You will nd a childhood family traditions. section on sh, but none on meat. The rst third of the book also Only a few recipes call for chicken. offers a picture-book-style overview Instead, shes included 12 salads of the country, with photographs and eight soups, as well as solid depicting street life and cultural sections on sweets and snacks, sites from Pyin Oo Lwin to Naw true to the variety of fried and Pyi Taw. Detailed captions describe gelatinous treats available at street Buddhist customs and religious stalls everywhere. practices as well as a bit of preAll of the ingredients called modern and colonial history for are readily available at local basics which will be familiar to markets and City Mart if you most visitors but make for a nice know what youre looking for. take-home souvenir or gift. Fortunately Gill includes a photoThe recipe collection is the illustrated glossary for things main draw. In clear wording, Gill like roselle leaves, pennywort describes how to make local staples and snake gourd. It might have and favourites like pickled tea leaf included a few more items and salad, pennywort salad, mohinga related tips. What does a fresh lab and buttersh curry. No recipe has lab bean look like? Can you eat the more than seven concise steps and skin of a green mango? all are paired with beautiful food Still, Myanmar provides an photography. excellent introduction for the Gills interest in vegetarian foodie adventurer.

Their weight in gold

How material wealth creates spiritual energy in some of the worlds costliest holy places

PETER RaNGER

EARLY US$3 billion, or at least 5 percent of Myanmars current annual gross domestic product thats the estimated value of the umbrella atop the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. As it stood overlooking everything it seemed to explain all about Burma, Rudyard Kipling wrote about it. Shwedagon is more than a national symbol. It is Myanmars Fort Knox. Its main stupa alone is plated with nearly 22,000 solid gold bars, and estimates of the pagodas total gold range from 9 to 60 tonnes. The official reserve of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, for comparison, is 7.4 tonnes. During British colonial times, it was said Shwedagon contained more gold than the deposits of the Bank of England. According to the pamphlet given on entry to the pagoda, there is over half a tonne of gold in Shwedagons umbrella alone. Its also set with over 5500 diamonds the largest of which is similar in size to one that Sothebys auctioned for $10-12 million. Its main spire boasts 2300 rubies, sapphires, and other gems, and 4000 golden bells. And none of this includes the gold, jewels, and 21st-century LED displays that swirl around many of the Buddhas and hundreds of other buildings on the pagoda platform. Add the value of all this to the other precious construction materials used not to mention the mindboggling amount of labour invested over the centuries in installation, maintenance and security and the true value of Shwedagon could

Shwedagons main stupa is plated with 22,000 gold bars. Photo: Zarni Phyo

easily be a multiple of the 5pc GDP estimate. Myanmar is not the only place where religious organisations display their wealth in such a dramatic and open manner. Barcelonas Baslica de la Sagrada Famlia (Basilica of the Holy Family) has been under construction for more than 130 years and will nally be complete sometime in the middle of this century. The Sagrada Famlia is expiatory, or donation-funded. Visitors are charged an entrance fee of 24 (about $33) that covers everything from the audio guide to tower access. Posted notices clearly state that the money is being spent on the construction of the cathedral. Locals arent charged for entry to Shwedagon, but most do invest in it nancially. At this and other pagodas and holy sites across Myanmar, vendors sell owers, incense, gold leaf, all to be offered at the site. At a pagoda in Bagan, I purchased a square centimetre of gold for K100 (about US$0.13) and applied it directly to a Buddha statue. At the Swal Daw Pagoda in the outskirts of Yangon, the 10-pack of gold leaf I bought was placed in a basket and, with a pulley and a little help from an assistant, hoisted to the top spire where someone else would apply it for me. While purchased for a seemingly nominal cost, the gold had in fact been sold to me at a rate of $7500 per ounce, nearly six times the current international market rate. And I wasnt the only one buying it: At the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda near the oating market in Inle, I saw ve ancient Buddha statues so covered in layers of gold leaf that they looked more like Michelin men than Sammasam-buddhas, beings who reach perfect enlightenment. What do visitors to these ostentatious yet holy places get in return? Its useful to reect on why Shwedagon was built on Singuttara Hill in the rst place: Structures built on top of hills rise up above their surroundings, commanding more attention and energy than anything else around and leading the eye skyward. In Buddhism, the upward pull is not to heaven as it is in Catholicism, nor even to the location of the nirvana state. Rather, it is an opening of the body and an encouragement to the contemplation of something greater. The designs of the pagoda and the Sagrada Famlia inspire us because they play into universal principles of beauty, such as the gravitational pull on an arc and Phi, the golden ratio. Phi is a geometric relationship which is exhibited in the spiral of a nautilus, the seed pattern of a sunower, and, in human designs, Mount Meru in India, the Chartres Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and Apple stores far and near. When we see it in architecture, it evokes a

response from a part of the human psyche where science and mysticism meet in deep-rooted biological ways that surpass human understanding. We are moved, touched, lifted. The great works draw our eyes upward and, at best, open a window to our souls. The question, then, is not whether these religious displays of wealth have a value beyond their monetary cost. Its whether the opportunity cost is worth it. Pope Francis recently said, How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor! And its hard to deny that these displays and collections of religious wealth are often in stark contrast to the living standards of many of the religions own ock. Given the poverty of so many of the worlds Catholics, the Vaticans treasure trove inestimable given all the priceless artistic works is one staggering example of this division. But the life of a Catholic slumdweller in Italy lays bare the same divide between the church and its people as does the life of a Buddhist taxi driver in Yangon whose family lives in the hatchback while he picks up passengers. The cathedrals and collections, though, do generate economies of their own. And in Myanmar, pagodas provide construction and maintenance jobs, probably steer some graft and administrative fees to local officials and, perhaps more importantly, serve as part of a social welfare system for Myanmars roughly 600,000 monks, nuns and novices a group that outnumbers the militarys ranks of 400,000. The display of wealth also emits its own energy, drawing together believers to a place of heightened attention and in doing so creating an informal sangha, or community. Gold is a good example of this draw: Universally prized for its scarcity and beauty, it has little actual utility, and instead represents the effort and energy used to create the wealth thats necessary to obtain it. Myanmars tradition of purchasing gold leaf dates to the 15th century when the Mon Queen Shin Sawbu gave her weight in gold to Shwedagon. The contributions have been continuing ever since. The gilding of religious buildings and objects does use energy that could have created houses, healthcare, new shing equipment or other worldly goods. But participating in such seemingly wasteful contributions as gold-leaf donations does have redeeming social quality. Whether in Catalonia or Myanmar, ostentatious displays can speak of a wealth that is not only material but also spiritual. Collecting and displaying riches is one way of creating places that are and feel sacred, full of spiritual energy, where visitors, congregants and the sangha can get closer to their respective ideals.

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the pulse 37

On the river docks, an old shed becomes an art gallery

ZON PANN PWINT

zonpann08@gmail.com

Ivan Pun (centre) and team members at TS1. Photo: Pun + Projects

N the banks of the Yangon River, a rusty warehouse that used to stockpile rice and other goods has a new set of doors. On April 5, the weather-beaten building surrounded by busy dock workers and vendors opened as Transit Shed No1, an art gallery, handicraft shop and restaurant with spotless glass entranceways into a sky-lit white-walled interior that could be in London or New York. The warehouse caught the imagination of Ivan Pun, a Hong Kong-born former journalist, about a year ago. Hed been hunting around the city for a suitable spot for his new enterprise for almost a year. Often

he looked at vacancies in old colonial buildings. But the warehouse off Strand Road piqued his interest, and he started to plan the gallery last July. The place had to be at the center of Yangon, said Pun, who is the son and employee of Serge Pun, the businessman who owns the Yangonbased real estate company Serge Pun Associates. The place is full of life, vibrant and interesting. From the gallery doors is spectacular scenery. Ferries sail across the inky river, vendors sell traditional hot snacks, dock workers transport heavy loads and commuters come and go. I have been here [in Yangon]

over two-and-a-half years. I have seen changes and progress in the art industry, and I have noticed something new especially in the contemporary artworks of the young generation. I want to be part of this development, Pun said. Nathalie Johnston, director of Transit Shed No1 (TS1, for short), said the gallery intends to bring more international attention to Myanmar contemporary artists. Our goal is to give a space for artists whose artworks are something different, who normally wouldnt get a space to show their work, she said. Located between Lanthit and Kaingtan No 1 jetties, in Seikkan township, the gallery opened with a

solo show by Phyoe Kyi called Just Me and My Mom. In silkscreen prints on Shan paper, the artist portrays himself as a child with his mother. Phoe Kyi was inspired by his strong attachment to his widowed mother. His father passed away when he was just a year old. Since graduating from the Yangon Arts and Culture University in 1998, the Shan State native has produced many landscape paintings. His passion for silk-screening began in 2010 after a stint in his friends silkscreen workshop. Living in Taunggyi, there are not many venues for artists to earn their living by selling paintings, Phoe Kyi said. Ive been depending

on my mother for my whole life, and she occupies my mind all the time. Nothing else matters to me apart from my concern about her work and her health. Every day I am thinking and living for her. In fact, he said, he didnt intend to draw his mother all the time. Whenever he drew, it just turned out that way. My artworks are inspired by my love, satisfaction and dissatisfaction with her, he said. She is always a subject for my artwork. I dont work any other subject.
Just Me and My Mom is on show at Transit Shed No 1 every day until April 30 from 8am-6pm.

38 the pulse

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Discovering a sea-to-sky paradise

Just a short journey from Taipei, Taroko Gorge and the surrounding area offer spectacular views and rst-rate holidaying

TaIwaN

WASHINGTON

Tiesto to DJ in support of US foreign aid

The superstar Dutch DJ Tiesto will headline a one-day electronic music festival near Washington to build support for US aid to end global poverty, organisers said Monday. He voiced hope in a statement that the June 26 show will benet organisations that help the millions of kids who are battling abuse and even dying from diseases that have known cures. The Thank You Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion between Washington and Baltimore will also feature electronic artists Above & Beyond, Krewella and Alvin Risk. The event is a spinoff of the Global Citizen Festival, which has taken place annually since 2012 at New Yorks Central Park and was headlined last year by Stevie Wonder. The Global Citizen Festival is largely free of charge, with 54,000 tickets distributed last year in exchange for advocacy activities such as signing petitions. The Thank You Festival will give out 100 tickets for advocacy with the rest for sale. Some 29,000 children under age ve die every day, mostly from preventable diseases, according to UNICEF. LONDON

Facebook craze of women pictured eating on trains sparks anger

Transport authorities in London said Monday they were powerless to stop a bizarre Facebook craze involving photographs of women eating on underground trains. The page, entitled Women Who Eat on Tubes, encourages contributors to send in photographs and anecdotes of women eating while on Londons underground transport network. By Monday, the page had more than 16,000 members, despite claims it was just the latest example of so-called stranger shaming on social media. Others have expressed concern that people posting on the website reveal further details such as when the photograph was taken and on which Tube line. Some of the women appearing on the page have had their features obscured, but many others are clearly recognisable. Responding to the furore, Steve Burton, the director of enforcement for Transport for London, said anyone who felt threatened should contact the police. Taking photos on the Tube isnt illegal, but we ask anyone doing so to ensure that they use common sense and respect for other passengers, he said. The people behind the page have defended the idea, saying in a statement the page is observational not judgemental. It doesnt intimidate nor bully. Subjects are embraced and cherished. We celebrate and encourage women eating food on Tubes, we do not marginalise them.

Some trails in Taroko Gorge National Park require a permit. Photo: Bridget Di Certo

BRIDGET DI CERTo

HE suspension bridge sways dramatically across a wide, shallow river to the left. To the right, an ornate red gate marks the entrance to Taiwans Taroko Gorge National Park one of the seven natural wonders of Asia. Taiwan and its capital, Taipei, are regular transit stops for travellers journeying from Asia to the United States but are often overlooked as holiday destinations. Yet the island offers visitors a rich variety of geography and history to explore, and navigation is easy via the highspeed train network or domestic ights. Covering over 92,000 hectares, the park sweeps from the eastern coast inland about two hours drive south of Taipei. A dramatic prehistoric glacier has carved a steep marble gorge through Tarokos towering mountain range, which is one of the highest in Taiwan. The park is a must for motorcyclists, rock climbers or nature enthusiasts and can be covered in two days, though explorers will want to take more. As soon as you round the rst bend into Swallows Grotto you know just why this natural phenomenon draws thousands of tourists a day. The pristine landscape is unparalleled. Smooth and rounded marble boulders at the base of the river bed have been buffed to shades of pearl made brilliant under the bright midday sun. Pastel-blue mountain water gurgles down the riverbed that thins and widens through the various twists and turns of the gorge. Towering above is a dense, sub-tropical rainforest set on steep mountain inclines that disappear in the permanent low-lying cloud. A single tourist route weaving through the gorge can be explored

either on an organised tour bus or a privately rented car or scooter. While the bus provides the most stress-free option, a car or scooter provides far superior itinerary control, which any nature-lover and especially photographer will savour. With a number of stop-andpark points of interest, visitors can embark on gentle hikes through the vibrant terrain of Taroko to encounter waterfalls, suspension bridges and even an Indiana Jones-esque water cave. Some trails require a permit, something that requires a degree of forward planning, and in some instances a guide.

Swallows Grotto draws thousands of tourists a day. The landscape is unparalleled.

The closest city is Hualien itself a hopping town with great food and nightlife. Hualien is in the middle of Taiwan, along the eastern coast, and offers a range of accommodation. It is worth venturing a little south down the coast, however, to a series of remarkable home-stays on the edge of the Pacic. One recent and glamorous addition to accommodation around Hualien is IF-Ocean. The 11-bedroom manor is perched atop a hill and boasts an uninterrupted view of the ocean from the frontfacing rooms and of the ascending mountains from the rear-facing

rooms. Run by a brother and sister team and their family, the villa has been attractively built with exquisite decorations in all of the private ensuite rooms. With Wi-Fi, a fully stocked kitchen at your disposal and retreatready rooms, the bed-and-breakfast is perfect for rest and relaxation. It offers its own tour itinerary for those looking to make the most of a quick and easy weekend away from Taipei. For those with a little bit more time, the Taroko Aborigine Leader Village is the only hotel accommodation offered inside the park, tucked into a high and hidden plateau between mountain peaks. Established ve years ago, the hotel is inspired by Taiwans indigenous culture, evident from the style of the private wood cabins, the museum-like decor and the arrangement of hotel infrastructure in a circle with a communal park in the middle. The Taroko aborigines are identiable by their tattooed faces. Taroko women would receive their tattooed cheeks and lips when they had mastered the art of weaving and boys received their chin and forehead tattoos when they had mastered woodwork. The hotel staff are conversant in all things Taroko aborigine and the dining room is open to nonguests to sample traditional foods at lunch or dinner. Wild boar is an important main dish in Taroko cuisine. Slow roasted, the meat is succulent and smokey and it is served in ample portions at Leader Village. Following the hearty set menu, hotel staff perform a two-hour educational and entertainment program that showcases the musical talents and cultural customs of the Taroko people. The best time of year to travel are Taiwans summer and autumn months between June and November.

KYRGYZSTAN: Models display creations by designer Madina Tapayeva of the Kyrgyz fashion studio Samshit during a Fashion Week in Bishkek on April 4. Photo: AFP

BERLIN

Worlds oldest message in a bottle reaches granddaughter

A message in a bottle tossed in the sea in Germany 101 years ago, believed to be the worlds oldest, has been presented to the senders granddaughter, a museum said April 7. A sherman pulled the beer bottle with the scribbled message out of the Baltic off the northern city of Kiel last month, said Holger von Neuhoff of the International Maritime Museum in the northern port city of Hamburg. This is certainly the rst time such an old message in a bottle was found, particularly with the bottle intact, he said. Researchers then set to work identifying the author and managed to track down his 62-year-old granddaughter Angela Erdmann, who lives in Berlin. She was rst able to hold the brown bottle last week at the Hamburg museum. Inside was a message on a postcard requesting the nder to return it to his home address in Berlin. That was a pretty moving moment, Erdmann said. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Von Neuhoff said researchers were able to determine based on the address that it was 20-year-old bakers son Richard Platz who threw the bottle in the Baltic while on a hike with a nature appreciation group in 1913. A Berlin-based genealogical researcher then located Erdmann, who never knew Platz, her mothers father who died in 1946 at the age of 54. The Guinness World Records had previously identied the oldest message in a bottle as dating from 1914. It spent nearly 98 years at sea before being shed from the water. AFP

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the pulse food and drink 39

For a festive holiday, add more sauce

food
Typically cranberry sauce is good with pork or turkey, and this fancy version is no exception. It can also be dessert. 1 tin SW cranberry sauce 2 tbsp butter 3 cardamom seeds 4 cloves Salt PHYo ARbIDaNs phyo.arbidans@gmail.com Melt the butter in a non-stick pan on low heat. Saut the cardamom seeds and cloves for 1 minute. Add cranberry sauce and mix well to combine. Remove the sauce from the heat from time to time. Make sure not to boil it.

Apple and lemon sauce on biscuits. Photo: Phyo

AS A SAUcE FOR mEAt No sugar needs to be added if youre serving the sauce with meat. Add salt and pepper to taste. FOR DESSERt Dissolve 2 tablespoons brown sugar in 1 tablespoon of warm water. Pour the mixture into the sauce and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Let cool. You can be creative with fresh fruits and cranberry sauce. Try cutting a sponge cake into halves and lay the cranberry sauce in the middle. Put a thin layer of sauce on the top of the cake and arrange fresh fruits on it.

CRANBERRY SAUcE
Ready-made cranberry sauce is available off the shelf, but I like to add my own spices for better flavour and aroma.

HILE we celebrate the New Year, some of you will likely be staying at home to enjoy time with your family. Here are a few fun and delicious recipes that will please everyone including the kids. For the apple-lemon sauce, I use Granny Smith apples. The sauce can be served cold or warm. Its great on biscuits I like Marie brand served with afternoon tea. Sponge cake would also work. For something different, try serving the sauce warm with pork. If you intend to use it this way, make it with only 1 teaspoon of sugar. I use natural sugar because I worry about the chemical content of rened sugar.

ApplE aND lEMoN saUcE 4 Granny Smith apples 1 lemon, juice and zest 1 tbsp brown sugar 1/8 tsp salt Peel apples and discard cores. Cut into cubes. Place in mildly salted water to stop their turning brown. Grate the lemon zest and squeeze out the juice. Set aside. In a sauce pan, add 2 tablespoons each of lemon juice and water for each apple. Heat the apples and liquid. When it boils, turn the heat down, cover with a lid and simmer. When the apples are soft, add lemon zest and sugar. Let cool. Use a blender to make the sauce smooth. Serve warm or cold. The sauce can keep in a glass jar in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Restaurant Preview

Italian and Asian restaurant to launch at Kokine swimming club

NYEIN EI EI HTwE nyeineieihtwe23@gmail.com PLATES of crispy shrimp tempura, sliced seasonal fruits and glasses of wine lured visitors eyes to the tables by the swimming pool. An international cuisine restaurant is set to launch in mid-May at the Kokine swimming club in Bahan, but many visitors have been coming already to relax in the peaceful surroundings and sample the Chinese foods that are available right now. Owned by a Myanmar citizen who lived in the United Kingdom for many years, the restaurants specialty is planned to be Italian, though a chef has yet to be found. Florian Frank, its marketing director, has big dreams for the establishment that he hopes will have a loyal following soon. We dont have many staff, but everyone we have is incredibly welltrained and ready for this ongoing project, Frank said. As for nding an Italian chef, if we cant nd one thats qualied we cant open. This place stands for quality and we have to have it, 100 percent. With pools on either side of the restaurant, a large space is available for lawn parties and ceremonies. Theres also a plan to open a bar on top of a small hilltop on the grounds. We plan to host fashion shows, wine tasting events and jazz bands on the lawn. We dont have permission to launch it yet, but were trying, Frank said. For the moment, the restaurant is hosting company staff parties and special celebrations with Chinese food noodle dishes, shrimp tempura, fried rice, mixed vegetables and the like. Theres also a bar. Soon we will serve wines and many cocktails at cheap prices, like K800 for a glass. Right now, everyone can get delicious ice-creams at our restaurant. Running a successful restaurant requires well-trained staff, and so far thats been somewhat difficult to nd, added Frank, who used to work as a barman and waiter. He continues to train the current staff. You can see many waiters in a restaurant, but if theyre not qualied the customer will surely be in trouble. Now we have only a few staff, but Im proud that they are really focused and have long experience, he said. Frank said theyre mainly interested in getting a Myanmar crowd of customers, though many foreigners have discovered it in the couple of months its been open. More than 40 Chinese dishes are available priced between K1500 and K4000. In the morning, the Myanmar traditional breakfast mohinga and fried rice is served for K800. A peaceful escape in the middle of Yangon its a welcome and promising picture to look forward to.

An oasis in the city. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

Socialite

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

SAIs House Party at Flamingo Bar

The crew behind London-based SAIS House Parties hosted an event in Yangon on April 4, with local and special guest artists including J-Me, G Tone and DJ Ko Thu. Proceeds helped to raise funds for Myanmar orphans. Photos: IMA/Emmanuel Maillard

SAI SAI and Jay

J-Me

Pyi Thar, Ye Ngwe Soe and Eiad Dhi

Sam Htet, Paul Cosgrove and Rick Hein

Michael Phyo, DJ Kabar and DJ ET

X-Box

OKI 7th anniversary show

OKI the detergent company celebrated its 7th anniversary with super vocalists together with hundreds of customers till midnight of April 4 in Peoples Park. The fans were looking ne for their favourite singers.
Ko Phyo Tom Peter and Shady

Springeld fashion shop launch

Springeld fashion shop launched at Junction Maw Tin Center in late March. The store features mens and womens wear to match with the seasons and current styles.

Oliver and Winyee

Allison from Project Hub

Pre-Thingyan party at Project Hub

About 25 entrepreneurs, start-ups and representatives of private sector development projects gathered at the Hub to celebrate Thingyan on April 8. Project Hub is Yangons rst co-working space, offering locals and foreigners a hip and low-cost office environment from which to launch new businesses. Photos: IMA/ Emmanuel Maillard
Ni Ni Khin Zaw

Thaw Myo Naung

Models

Rich Gems sales promotion

The jewellery store held a special Thingyan sales promotion, as it has in years past, on March 30 in its gallery on U Wisara Road.

Marcus Allender

Alex

Daw Lu Lu and Daw Win Min Thit

Customers

Michele Kevin Arne and Liat Make-up Lin Lin and friends

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Socialite

Dominik Burckgard

Bic Leu, May Thu Khine, May Thway Ko

Amanda Liao and Htet Myat Oo

Kenson Gan

Sett Hlaing and Khin Thu Thu

Kan Win Oung and Jeremiah Whyte

Lwin Oo Maung

Ivan Pun

Mimi Wu and Henry Cox

Phoe Kyi

Sam Necker and Mark Collins

Aung Myint

Mya Marlar Han, Si Thu Tun

Christopher Owen

Khin Thu Thu

Transit Shed No 1 opening

On April 5, a once rusty old warehouse near Wardan Jetty started a new life as an art gallery and shop featuring Myanmar traditional handicrafts, with dozens of people in attendance for the opening of Just Me and My Mom by artist Phoe Kyi. The gallery, called Transit Shed No 1, is the brainchild of Ivan Pun, son of businessman Serge Pun. Nathalie Johnston is its director.

Ilaria Benini and Thomas Poletto

Desiree and Eiad Dhi

Ivan Pun and friends

Robert Berg and his wife, Jalin

Ivan Pun, Jesse Vaughan and Charles Chong

42 the pulse travel

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES

YANGON TO NAy PyI TAW Flight Days Dep FMI A1 1,2,3,4,5 7:30 Y5 777 1,2,3,4,6 7:45 FMI A1 6 8:00 FMI B1 1,2,3,4,5 11:30 FMI A1 7 15:30 FMI C1 1,2,3,4,5 16:45 NAy PyI TAW TO YANGON Flight Days Dep FMI A2 1,2,3,4,5 8:50 FMI A2 6 10:00 FMI B2 1,2,3,4,5 13:00 FMI A2 7 17:00 Y5 778 1,2,3,4,6 17:30 FMI C2 1,2,3,4,5 18:05 YANGON TO MANDALAy Flight Days Dep YH 909 1,2,5,7 6:00 YH 917 3 6:00 YJ 891 Daily 6:00 K7 282 Daily 6:30 YJ 901 1,2 6:10 YJ 901 3 6:30 YH 917 1,2,4,5,6,7 6:10 Y5 234 Daily 6:15 6T 401 Daily 6:20 YH 833 2 7:00 YH 831 4,6 7:00 W9 201 Daily 7:30 K7 266 Daily 8:00 K7 642 Daily 8:30 8M 6603 2,4,7 9:00 YJ 751/W9 7751 5,7 10:30 YJ 761 1,2,4,6 10:30 K7 844 Daily 11:00 YJ 211 5,7 11:00 YJ 201 2,3,4 11:00 YJ 601/W9 7601 6 11:00 YH 737 3,5,7 11:15 YH 727 1 11:15 YH 729 4 11:15 YH 729 2,6 11:15 W9 251 2,5 11:15 YJ 003 3 11:30 K7 226 2,4,6 13:00 6T 501 7 14:30 6T 501 1 15:00 W9 129 Daily 15:00 YH 731 2,3,4,5,6 15:00 YH 731 7 15:00 YJ 7211/W9 211 1,2,3,4,6,7 15:30 YJ 7211/W9 211 1,2,3,4,6,7 15:30 MANDALAy TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 901 1,2 7:50 YH 910 1,2,5,7 7:40 YJ 901 3 8:10 Y5 233 Daily 8:10 Arr 8:30 8:25 9:00 12:30 16:30 17:45 YJ 891 Daily YH 918 1,2,4,5,6,7 6T 402 1,2,3,4,5,6 6T 402 7 YH 918 3 W9 201 Daily W9 144 Daily Y5 132 3,5,6,7 K7 267 Daily K7 823 2,4,7 YH 832 6 YH 834 2 YH 832 4 K7 643 Daily YJ 212 7 YJ 212 5 YJ 202 2,3,4 YJ 762 1,2,4,6 YJ 602/W9 7602 6 YJ 752/W9 7752 5 W9 120 1,3,6 YH 732 7 YH 728 1 K7 227 2,4,7 6T 502 1,7 W9 129 Daily YH 732 2 YH 732 3,4,5,6 W9 211 Daily 8M 6604 2,4,7 YJ 752/W9 7752 7 YH 738 3,5,7 YJ 004 3 YH 730 2 8:20 8:30 8:45 8:45 9:10 9:10 9:20 9:30 10:20 11:25 11:30 12:00 12:30 12:35 15:00 15:00 15:30 16:05 15:40 15:55 16:30 16:40 16:45 16:50 16:50 17:10 17:10 17:10 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 18:00 18:00 10:15 10:45 10:45 11:05 11:05 11:05 10:45 10:30 12:25 14:25 15:20 13:55 13:55 16:25 16:25 16:55 16:55 17:30 17:05 18:00 17:55 18:45 18:10 18:15 19:00 18:35 18:35 19:15 19:15 18:30 18:45 18:50 19:25 19:25 YJ 7141/W9 141 Daily 6T 401 1,2,3,4,5,6 6T 401 7 YJ 901 6 YH 918 3 YH 910 1,2,5,7 YJ 901 1,2 W9 144 Daily K7 283 Daily YJ 7211/ W9 211 5 YH 732 1 YH 732 7 6T 502 7 6T 502 1 YJ 7211/ W9 211 1,2,3,4,6,7 W9 211 Daily YH 732 3,4,5,6 7:55 7:55 7:55 8:05 8:25 8:25 8:35 8:50 10:40 17:05 17:20 17:25 17:35 17:40 17:55 17:55 17:55 10:55 10:45 11:05 9:25 11:05 9:45 9:55 10:10 12:00 18:25 18:40 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:15 19:15 19:15 HEhO TO YANGON Flight Days Dep W9 141 Daily 8:35 YJ 7141/W9 141 Daily 8:50 YJ 891 Daily 9:05 YH 918 1,2,4,5,6,7 9:35 6T 402 1,2,3,4,5,6 9:35 K7 283 Daily 9:45 W9 201 Daily 9:55 YH 918 3 9:55 K7 267 Daily 11:10 YH 506 2,3,6,7 11:55 W9 204 Daily 12:25 K7 829 1,3,5 13:50 K7 845 Daily 15:15 W9 120 1,3,6 15:45 YJ 762 1,2,4,6 15:20 YJ 212 5 15:45 6T 501 7 15:55 YH 728 1 16:00 YH 738 3,5,7 16:40 W9 129 Daily 16:25 YH 732 1,2, 16:25 YH 732 3,4,5,6 16:25 YH 730 4 17:40 YANGON TO SIT T WE Flight Days Dep 6T 607 1 11:15 6T 605 2,3,4,5,6 11:15 YJ 7309/W9 309 1,3,5,6,7 11:30 K7 422 Daily 13:30 6T 605 7 14:00 SIT T WE TO yANGON Flight Days Dep 6T 608 1 13:00 YJ 7309/W9 309 1,3,5,6,7 13:10 6T 606 2,3,4,5,6 13:35 K7 423 Daily 15:40 6T 606 7 16:20 YANGON TO MyEIK Days Dep 1,3,5,7 7:00 Daily 7:00 1,3,5,6 7:45 MyEIK TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,5,7 11:25 Daily 11:30 1,3,5,6 12:10 Arr 10:40 10:55 10:15 10:45 10:45 12:00 11:05 11:05 12:25 14:00 13:35 15:05 18:10 17:55 17:30 16:55 18:55 18:10 18:50 18:35 18:40 19:15 18:50 K7 422 6T 605 Daily 7 13:30 14:00 14:25 14:55 ThANDWE TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 7141/W9 141 Daily 10:05 6T 605 2,3,4,5,6 12:25 YH 512 1 12:10 YH 506 5 12:10 YH 506 2,3,6,7 13:10 YJ 7307/W9 307 2,4 13:35 6T 608 1 14:05 YJ 7309/W9 309 1,3,5,6,7 14:05 K7 422 Daily 14:40 6T 605 7 15:10 YH 506 4 16:35

Arr 9:50 11:00 14:00 18:00 18:10 19:05

Arr 10:55 15:00 13:05 13:05 14:00 14:25 15:00 14:55 17:00 17:45 17:25

Domestic Airlines
Air Bagan Ltd. (W9) Air KBZ (K7)
Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, Fax : 515102

Arr 7:40 7:40 8:05 8:40 7:35 7:55 8:30 7:30 8:25 8:40 8:40 8:55 10:05 12:20 10:10 12:25 12:25 14:10 12:25 12:25 12:25 13:25 13:25 12:55 14:15 12:40 12:55 14:25 16:30 16:25 16:55 17:10 16:40 16:55 16:55

YANGON TO MyITKyINA Flight Days Dep YH 831 6 7:00 YH 833 2 7:00 YH 831 4 7:00 K7 642 Daily 8:30 YJ 201 2,3,4 11:00 W9 251 2,5 11:15 MyITKyINA TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YH 832 4 10:35 YH 832 6 12:55 YH 834 2 13:25 YJ 202 2,3,4 14:05 K7 643 Daily 14:05 W9 252 2,5 16:05 YANGON TO HEhO Flight Days Dep YJ 891 Daily 6:00 YH 917 3 6:00 YH 917 1,2,4,5,6,7 6:10 W9 141 Daily 6:15 6T 401 1,2,3,4,5,6 6:20 K7 282 Daily 6:30 W9 201 Daily 7:30 K7 828 1,3,5 7:30 K7 822 2,4,7 7:30 K7 266 Daily 8:00 YJ 751/W9 7751 5 10:00 YJ 751/W9 7751 7 10:30 YJ 761 1,2,4,6 10:30 YH 505 2,3,6,7 10:30 K7 844 Daily 11:00 YH 737 3,5,7 11:15 YH 727 1 11:15 W9 203 Daily 11:00 W9 119 1,3,6 11:15 6T 501 7 14:30 W9 129 Daily 15:00 YH 731 1,2,3,4,5,6 15:00

Arr 10:05 10:35 10:35 10:50 13:50 14:10

Tel: 372977~80, 533030~39 (Airport), Fax: 372983, Hot Line: 373766

YANGON TO NyAUNG U Flight Days Dep YJ 891 Daily 6:00 YH 909 1,2,5,7 6:00 YH 917 3 6:00 YH 917 1,2,4,5,6,7 6:10 YJ 901 1,2 6:10 W9 141 Daily 6:15 6T 401 Daily 6:20 YJ 7141/W9 141 Daily 6:20 YJ 901 6 6:30 K7 282 Daily 6:30 W9 143 Daily 7:15 YJ 601/W9 7601 6 11:00 6T 501 7 14:30 6T 501 1 15:00 YH 731 1,2,7 15:00 YH 731 3,4,5,6 15:00 W9 211 Daily 15:30 YJ 7211/W9 211 5 15:30 YJ 7211/W9 211 1,2,3,4,6,7 15:30 NyAUNG U TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 891 Daily 7:35 YH 918 1,2,4,5,6,7 7:45 W9 141 Daily 7:50

Arr 13:55 15:20 15:50 16:55 16:25 19:00

Arr 12:40 13:15 12:55 15:25 16:00

Air Mandalay (6T)

Tel : (Head Ofce) 501520, 525488, Fax: 525937. Airport: 533222~3, 09-73152853. Fax: 533223.

Asian Wings (YJ)

Tel: 951 515261~264, 512140, 512473, 512640. Fax: 951 532333, 516654

Arr 7:20 8:25 8:25 7:45 8:20 7:35 7:40 7:40 7:50 7:50 8:35 13:05 17:20 17:20 17:20 17:55 17:40 16:50 17:40

Arr 9:55 9:45 9:35 9:25

Arr 10:15 10:45 10:40

Arr 8:50 9:55 9:35 8:20 9:20 9:30 9:40 8:45 10:20 9:15 11:10 11:40 11:40 11:55 15:00 12:40 12:40 12:10 12:25 15:40 16:10 16:25

Arr 15:00 14:55 15:00 17:00 17:45

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5)

Tel: 95 9 400446999, 95 9 400447999, Fax: 01 860 4051

Yangon Airways(YH)

Tel: (+95-1) 383 100, 383 107, 700 264, Fax: 652 533.

FMI Air Charter - Sales & Reservations

Arr 9:15 9:05 9:45

Flight YH 633 K7 319 6T 707

Tel: (95-1) 240363, 240373 / (+95-9) 421146545

Domestic
6T = Air Mandalay W9 = Air Bagan YJ = Asian Wings K7 = AIR KBZ YH = Yangon Airways FMI = FMI AIR Charter Y5 = Golden Myanmar Airlines

Flight YH 634 K7 320 6T 708

Arr 13:25 13:35 14:10

YANGON TO ThANDWE Flight Days Dep W9 141 Daily 6:15 YJ 7141/W9 141 Daily 6:20 YH 505 2,3,6,7 10:30 YH 505 4 10:30 YH 511 1 11:00 6T 605 2,3,4,5,6 11:15 6T 607 1 11:15 YH 505 5 11:30 YJ 7307/W9 307 2,4 11:30 YJ 7309/W9 309 1,3,5,6,7 11:30

Arr 9:35 9:50 13:10 11:35 12:10 12:10 13:50 12:10 13:20 13:50

Subject to change without notice

Day 1 = Monday 2 = Tuesday 3 = Wednesday 4 = Thursday 5 = Friday 6 = Saturday 7 = Sunday

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse travel 43

aPRIL 14 - 20, 2014

INteRNatioNal FLIGHT SCHEDULES

Flights PG 706 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 TG 302 PG 708 8M 331 PG 704 Y5 237 TG 306

WEEKLY PReDICTIONS
LeO | July 23 Aug 22 Great isnt what you do, its how you do it. Great doesnt mean you have to be the biggest, but it means being the best at bouncing up after a fall. Know that integrity is perhaps the most important of leadership qualities. Remember that a cadet will not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate anyone else that does. Your personal interests should come last if you wish to inuence others.

YANGON TO BANGKOK Days Dep Daily 6:15 Daily 7:40 Daily 9:50 Daily 10:30 Daily 14:55 Daily 15:20 Daily 16:30 Daily 18:25 Daily 18:15 Daily 19:45

Arr 8:30 9:25 11:45 12:25 16:40 17:15 18:15 20:20 20:05 21:35 Arr 9:45 10:20 14:05 19:35 23:15 22:45 Arr 5:00 12:25 14:40 14:45 15:50 23:40 23:45 Arr 12:55 12:50 16:30 16:30 20:05 20:05 21:00 Arr 21:55 Arr 13:15 16:15 22:15 Arr 16:15 Arr 15:55 18:20 18:20 Arr 16:10 Arr 21:30

Flights 8M 603 Flights PG 722 Flights TG 303 PG 701 8M 336 TG 301 PG 707 PG 703 TG 305 8M 332 PG 705 Y5 238

MANDALAY TO gaya Days Dep 4 11:10 NAYPYIDAW TO BANGKOK Days Dep 1,2,3,4,5 19:30 BANGKOK TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 7:55 Daily 8:50 Daily 10:40 Daily 13:00 Daily 13:40 Daily 16:45 Daily 17:50 Daily 19:15 Daily 20:00 Daily 21:05

Arr 12:15 Arr 22:30 Arr 8:50 9:40 11:25 13:55 14:30 17:35 18:45 20:00 21:30 21:55 Arr 7:15 8:00 11:45 17:20 20:55 20:15 Arr 9:20 10:45 14:50 15:45 17:10 18:25 18:35 23:35 Arr 13:15 Arr 8:00 11:15 11:15 13:50 14:40 14:40 16:15 Arr 10:25 16:30 15:50 Arr 9:55 Arr 11:40 11:15 14:00 Arr 18:10 Arr 18:10

DON MUEANG TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep Arr FD 2760 Daily 10:50 12:15
Flights MU 2029 Flights 8M 604 Flights PG 721

KUNMING TO MANDALAY Days Dep Daily 13:55 gaya TO MANDALAY Days Dep 4 13:15 BANGKOK TO NAYPYIDAW Days Dep 1,2,3,4,5 17:00

AQUARIUS | Jan 20 Feb 18

Arr 13:50 Arr 16:20 Arr 19:00

YANGON TO DON MUENG Flights Days Dep DD 4231 Daily 8:00 FD 2752 Daily 8:30 FD 2756 Daily 12:15 FD 2754 Daily 17:50 FD 2758 Daily 21:30 DD 4239 Daily 21:00 YANGON TO SINGAPORE Flights Days Dep MI 509 1,2,6,7 0:25 8M 231 Daily 8:00 Y5 233 Daily 10:10 SQ 997 Daily 10:25 3K 586 2,4,6 11:20 TR 2827 Daily 19:05 3K 588 1,3,4,6 19:15 YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR Flights Days Dep 8M 501 1,3,5,6 8:55 AK 1425 Daily 8:30 MH 741 Daily 12:15 8M 9506 Daily 12:15 8M 9508 Daily 15:45 MH 743 Daily 15:45 AK 1421 Daily 16:45
Flights CA 906

International Airlines
Air Asia (FD)
Tel: 251 885, 251 886.

No man can have selfcondence if he is not convinced that he is qualied to perform the job he is assigned. An old saying goes, Success breeds success. You must understand one important fact about expertise and its ability to make you great: Dont forget that acquiring the expertise is not automatic. Develop yourself through positive mental imagery.

DON MUENG TO YANGON Flights Days Dep DD 4230 Daily 6:30 FD 2751 Daily 7:15 FD 2755 Daily 11:10 FD 2753 Daily 16:35 FD 2757 Daily 20:15 DD 4238 Daily 19:30 SINGAPORE TO YANGON Flights Days Dep SQ 998 Daily 7:55 3K 585 1,3,4,6 9:10 8M 232 Daily 13:25 MI 518 Daily 14:20 Y5 234 Daily 15:40 TR 2826 Daily 17:05 3K 587 2,5 17:05 MI 520 5,7 22:10
Flights CA 905 Flights AK 1426 MH 740 8M 9505 8M 502 8M 9507 MH 742 AK 1420

Air Bagan Ltd.(W9) Air China (CA) Air India

PISCeS | Feb 19 March 20 Determined simulations in the mind are rehearsals for success. Know that every department and every unit is important in the vast scheme of things. Lead by personal example whenever you can. Be ready to focus and make a contribution. Decide on a plan of action and assign deadlines for accomplishment. Be cheerful in everything you do and especially in personal relationships.

VIRgO | Aug 23 Sept 22 Counselling means a one-on-one meeting. You can discover what bothers and what pleases the person you are counselling. Of course, you should be ready to answer all questions in a straightforward manner. In addition, dont be afraid to ask questions yourself. Know that recognition is a powerful human motivator. Make human nature an ally.

Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, Fax : 515102

Tel : 666112, 655882.

Tel : 253597~98, 254758. Fax: 248175

Bangkok Airways (PG) Condor (DE)

Tel: 255122, 255 265, Fax: 255119

Tel: + 95 1 -370836 up to 39 (ext : 810)

Dragonair (KA)

YANGON TO BEIJING Days Dep 3,5,7 14:15

BEIJING TO YANGON Days Dep 2,3,4,6,7 8:05 KAULA LUMPUR TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 6:55 Daily 10:05 Daily 10:05 1,2,3,5,7 12:50 Daily 13:30 Daily 13:30 Daily 15:05

Tel: 95-1-255320, 255321, Fax : 255329

ARIeS | Mar 21 Apr 19 Cheerfulness has a positive effect on morale. Its a good habit to impart your knowledge to others through encouragement. You must make an effort to build an effective community. You dont necessarily have to put yourself in personal danger. Know that everything that can go wrong will go wrong, yet you must carry on. Pay attention and take action to x problems.

LIBRA | Sept 23 Oct 22 Always take some form of corrective action when discipline is needed. George Washington said, To bring men to a proper degree of subordination is not the work of a day, a month or a year. Maintain a high standard of discipline according to your social standards. Make sure your people have the opportunity to develop their skills. Listening to your lover is sometimes more valuable than your complaints.

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5)

Tel: 95 9 400446999, 95 9 400447999, Fax: 01 860 4051

YANGON TO GAUNGZHOU Flights Days Dep 8M 711 2,4,7 8:40 CZ 3056 3,6 11:25 CZ 3056 1,5 17:30
Flights CI 7916 Flights CA 906 MU 2012 MU 2032

Malaysia Airlines (MH)

Tel : 387648, 241007 ext : 120, 121, 122 Fax : 241124

YANGON TO TAIPEI Days Dep 1,2,3,5,6 10:50 YANGON TO KUNMING Days Dep Daily 12:15 1,3 12:20 Daily 14:50

Myanmar Airways International(8M)

Tel : 255260, Fax: 255305

Silk Air(MI)

GUANGZHOU TO YANGON Flights Days Dep CZ 3055 3,6 8:40 CZ 3055 1,5 14:40 8M 712 2,4,7 14:15
Flights CI 7915 Flights MU 2011 CA 905 MU 2031

Tel: 255 287~9, Fax: 255 290

Thai Airways (TG)

Tel : 255491~6, Fax : 255223

YANGON TO CHIANG MAI Flights Days Dep W9 9607 4,7 14:20

Flights VN 956

Vietnam Airlines (VN)

TAIPEI TO YANGON Days Dep 1,2,3,5,6 7:00 KUNMING TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3 8:25 Daily 10:45 Daily 13:30

Fax : 255086. Tel 255066/ 255088/ 255068.

TAURUS | Apr 20 May 20 Every little job is essential to the whole scheme. If you want high morale in your colleagues, you must constantly monitor what is going on in your social circle and be ready to take action to do something about it. Build mutual condence by demonstrating real concern for those you lead. Love is impossible to build without mutual understanding and individual responsibility.

SCORPIO | Oct 23 Nov 21 Mere wishing for success will get you nowhere. You must have denite interests continually renewed, and you must give the mind something specic and tangible to work upon. Your biggest problem is how to keep your mental energy at a high level. Try to discover new things in old surroundings and new aspects in everyday tasks. Think less about right and wrong and more about intellectual value.

Qatar Airways (Temporary Ofce)

Tel: 379845, 379843, 379831, Fax: 379730 Tel: 371867~68, Fax: 371869.

YANGON TO HANOI Days Dep 1,3,5,6,7 19:10

Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG) Nok Airline (DD)

YANGON TO HO CHI MINH CITY Flights Days Dep Arr VN 942 2,4,7 14:25 17:10
Flights QR 919 Flights 8M 403 Flights 0Z 770 KE 472 Flights KA 251 Flights NH 914 Flights 8M 401 Flights 8M 601 Flights BG 061 Flights 8M 7702 8M7502 Flights TG 2982 PG 710 Flights FD 2761 Flights MU 2030

Tel: 255050, 255021, Fax: 255051

YANGON TO DOHA Days Dep Daily 7:40 YANGON TO PHNOM PENH Days Dep 3,6 16:50 YANGON TO SEOUL Days Dep 4,7 0:35 2,3,4 23:35 YANGON TO HONG KONG Days Dep 1,2,4,6 1:10 YANGON TO TOKYO Days Dep Daily 21:45 YANGON TO SIEM REAP Days Dep 1,3,6 8:35 YANGON TO GAYA Days Dep 3,5,6 7:00 YANGON TO DHAKA Days Dep 1,4 19:30 YANGON TO INCHEON Days Dep Daily 23:35 4,7 0:35 MANDALAY TO BANGKOK Days Dep 1,2,4,6 9:30 Daily 14:05

Arr 11:10 Arr 19:15 Arr 9:10 07:45+1 Arr 5:35 Arr 06:45+1 Arr 10:45 Arr 8:20 Arr 20:45 Arr 8:05 9:10 Arr 11:55 16:30

CHIANG MAI TO YANGON Flights Days Dep W9 9608 4,7 17:20

Flights VN 957

International
FD & AK = Air Asia TG = Thai Airways 8M = Myanmar Airways International Y5 = Golden Myanmar Airlines PG = Bangkok Airways MI = Silk Air VN = Vietnam Airline MH = Malaysia Airlines CZ = China Southern CI = China Airlines CA = Air China KA = Dragonair Y5 = Golden Myanmar Airlines IC = Indian Airlines Limited W9 = Air Bagan 3K = Jet Star AI = Air India QR = Qatar Airways KE = Korea Airlines NH = All Nippon Airways SQ = Singapore Airways DE = Condor Airlines MU=China Eastern Airlines BR = Eva Airlines DD = Nok Airline AI = Air India BG = Biman Bangladesh Airlines

HANOI TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,5,6,7 16:50

HO CHI MINH CITY TO YANGON Flights Days Dep Arr VN 943 2,4,7 11:40 13:25
Flights QR 918 Flights 8M 602

GeMINI | May 21 June 20 Effective practice is a day-to-day, not a once-aweek or once-a-month, activity. Nothing can replace the inspiration and lift that comes from determination. Praise people whenever you can, and you will see them respond as a thirsty plant responds to water. Your logic must be psychologically very sound in order to win the cooperation of others, including your spouse or loved ones.

SAgITTARIUS | Nov 22 Dec 21 Praise is effective and costs nothing at all. Believe that your praise will help your people achieve success. To get the maximum motivational mileage, you should praise as soon as possible after the praiseworthy behaviour occurs. It is important to get involved with protecting the integrity of the award. Know that sometimes you must reprimand and discipline.

DOHA TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 20:30 GAYA TO YANGON Days Dep 3,5,6 9:20

Arr 6:15+1 Arr 12:30 Arr 21:40 Arr 22:35 23:45 Arr 17:15 Arr 23:45 Arr 18:30 Arr 22:35 23:25 Arr 9:50 13:20

PHNOM PENH TO YANGON Flights Days Dep 8M 404 3,6 20:15

Flights KE 471 0Z 769 Flights NH 913 Flights KA 250 Flights BG 060 Flights 8M 7701 8M 7501

SEOUL TO YANGON Days Dep 2,3,4 18:45 3,6 19:50 TOKYO TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 11:45 HONG KONG TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,5,7 21:50 DHAKA TO YANGON Days Dep 1,4 16:15 INCHEON TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 18:45 3,6 19:50

CANCeR | June 21 July 22 It is a mistake to build a wall between yourself and those you lead. A wall will prevent all but good news from getting through to you. If you accept no difference of opinion, youll get none. You must frequently check on how easy it is for people to make an appointment with you. Review criticisms and make thoughtful adjustments, including in love affairs.

CAPRICORN | Dec 22 Jan 19 Each man must not only think of himself but of his buddy ghting alongside him. Know yourself as a brave person to inspire more brave people. Focus on the common purpose and give recognition whenever possible. You must share your different visions. Without vision you cannot have an objective. Emotional communication creates an atmosphere of love.

MANDALAY TO DON MUENG Days Dep Arr Daily 12:45 15:00 MANDALAY TO KUNMING Days Dep Daily 14:40
Arr 17:20

Subject to change without notice

Day 1 = Monday 2 = Tuesday 3 = Wednesday 4 = Thursday 5 = Friday 6 = Saturday 7 = Sunday

BANGKOK TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep TG 2981 1,2,4,6 7:25 PG 709 Daily 12:00

AUNG MYIN KYAW 4th Floor, 113, Thamain Bayan Road, Tarmwe township, Yangon. Tel: 09-731-35632, Email: williameaste@gmail.com

44 the pulse tea break

Universal Crossword
Edited by Timothy E. Parker

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

SUDOKU PACIFIC

FROSTY BUTT By Luke Cayon

ACROSS 1 Deep gulf 6 Highlight reel accompaniment 11 Certain Beatles lady 14 One of the Allman Brothers 15 Americas bird 16 Fighter at Vicksburg 17 Sellers hoped-for number 19 Tarzan beast 20 Beach playthings 21 Sports complexes 23 To ___ is human ... 26 Drag before a jury 27 Bit of glitter 28 Type of doll or economics 30 Orbital high point 31 My Cherie ___ 32 Smoothing tool 33 Sail afore the foremast 36 British title 37 Speak at length 38 Popular sandwich option 39 Not the longest dashes 40 Deceptive appearance 41 Large water conduits 42 Doesnt act conservatively 44 It holds one cup 45 Jeans magnate Levi 47 Experienced office holder 48 Important time 49 Frolic 50 Part of A/V 52 ___-Wan Kenobi 53 Kind of insurance 58 The Blacklist network 59 Remove from a hard drive 60 A days march 61 It can be rolled or batted 62 Wigwam kin 63 Submarine locator DOWN 1 Toothpaste-certifying org. 2 Mass transit carrier 3 Chatter incessantly 4 Pinking shears sound 5 Washington post 6 Answer 7 Theyre good listeners 8 Some special effects (abbr.) 9 Untouchables target 10 British aristocracy 11 Breakfast staple 12 Country in the Himalayas 13 Way too big for ones britches, say 18 ___ dItalia (cycling event) 22 Reverse from WSW 23 Avoid 24 Subject of Caesar 25 Hotel amenity 27 Outpouring, as of words 29 Word with date or process 30 Amo, amas, I love ___ 32 Is inquisitive 34 Word with tube or circle 35 Iraqs main port 37 Win a no blinking contest 38 Frat T 40 Haute cuisine patron 41 Feelings of spite 43 Nixon in China role 44 Carbonated drink 45 Breakfast pastry 46 Cat, informally 47 Blender option 50 Cathedral section 51 Sgt. Snorkels dog 54 Drink like a 46-Down 55 Actor McKellan 56 Tax pro 57 Always used by a poet?

DILBERT

BY SCOTT ADAMS

PEANUTS

BY CHARLES SCHULZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

BY BILL WATTERSON

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Laugh all the way to the bank when you rent this space.
The tea break page is being re-formatted in readiness for our move to a daily cycle. It may look something like this in the future. Our market research shows that a page like this attracts a large number of readers, who loyally read it every day. Ring Marketing Department to book this space permanently and laugh all the way to the bank with the extra business coming in your door.

Telephone us now on +951 392 928

The Essentials
EMBASSIES Australia 88, Strand Road, Yangon. Tel : 251810, 251797, 251798. Bangladesh 11-B, Than Lwin Road, Yangon. Tel: 515275, 526144, email: bdootygn@ mptmail.net.mm Brazil 56, Pyay Road, 6th mile, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 507225, 507251. email: Administ. yangon@itamaraty.gov.br. Brunei 17, Kanbawza Avenue, Golden Velly (1), Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 566985, 503978. email: bruneiemb@ bruneiemb.com.mm Cambodia 25 (3B/4B), New University Avenue Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 549609, 540964. email: RECYANGON @ mptmail.net.mm China 1, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 221280, 221281. Danmark, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17. Egypt 81, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 222886, 222887, Egyptembassy86@ gmail.com France 102, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 212178, 212520, email: ambaf rance. rangoun@ diplomatie.fr Germany 9, Bogyoke Aung San Museum Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 548951, 548952, email: info@rangun. diplo.de India 545-547, Merchant St, Yangon. Tel: 391219, 388412, email: indiaembassy @ mptmail.net.mm Indonesia 100, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Rd, Yangon. Tel: 254465, 254469, 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 Rd, Yangon. Tel: 549644-8, 540399, 540400, 540411, 545988, fax: 549643 Kuwait 62-B, Shwe Taung Kyar St, Bahan Tsp. Tel : 01-230-9542, 2309543. Fax : 01-230-5836. 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, email: mwkyangon@ mptmail.net.mm Nepal 16, Natmauk Yeiktha, Yangon. Tel: 545880, 557168, fax: 549803, email: nepemb @mptmail.net.mm Norway, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17 Fax 01- 9669516 New Zealand No. 43/C, Inya Myaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-2306046-9 Fax : 01-2305805 Netherlands Diplomatic Mission No. 43/C, Inya Myaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-2305805 North Korea 77C, Shin Saw Pu Rd, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 512642, 510205 Pakistan A-4, diplomatic Quarters, Pyay Rd, Yangon. Tel: 222881 (Chancery Exchange) Philippines 50, Sayasan Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 558149-151,Email: p.e. yangon@gmail.com Russian 38, Sagawa Rd, Yangon. Tel: 241955, 254161, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia No.287/289, U Wisara Rd, Sanchaung. Tel : 01-536153, 516952. Serbia No. 114-A, Inya Rd, P.O.Box No. 943, Yangon. Tel: 515282, 515283, email: serbemb @ yangon.net.mm Singapore 238, Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 559001, email: singemb_ ygn@_ sgmfa. gov.sg South Korea 97 University Avenue, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 5271424, 515190, fax: 513286, email: myanmar@mofat. go.kr Sri Lanka 34 Taw Win Road, Yangon. Tel: 222812, Switzerland No 11, Kabaung Lane, 5 mile, Pyay Rd, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 534754, 507089. Thailand 94 Pyay Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 226721, 226728, 226824 Turkish Embassy 19AB, Kan Yeik Thar St, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel : 662992, Fax : 661365 United Kingdom 80 Strand Rd, Yangon. Tel: 370867, 380322, 371852, 371853, 256438, United States of America 110, University Avenue, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 536509, 535756, Fax: 650306 Vietnam Bldg-72, Thanlwin Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 511305 UNITED NATIONS ILO Liaison 1-A, Kanbae (Thitsar Rd), Yankin Tsp, Tel : 01-566538, 566539 IOM 318 (A) Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon.Tel 01-210588, 09 73236679, 0973236680, Email- iomyangon@iom.int UNAIDS 137/1, Thaw Wun Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel : 534498, 504832 UNDCP 11-A, Malikha St, Mayangone tsp. Tel: 666903, 664539. 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. UNIAP Rm: 1202, 12 Fl, Traders Hotel. Tel: 254852, 254853. UNIC 6, Natmauk St., Bahan, tel: 52910~19 UNICEF 14~15 Flr, Traders Hotel. P.O. Box 1435, Kyauktada. Tel: 375527~32, unicef.yangon@unicef. org, UNODC 11-A, Malikha Rd., Ward 7, Mayangone. tel: 01-9666903, 9660556, 9660538, 9660398. email: fo.myanmar@unodc.org UNOPS 120/0, Pyi Thu Lane, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp. Tel: 951-657281~7. Fax: 657279. UNRC 6, Natmauk Rd, P.O. Box 650, TMWE Tel: 542911~19, 292637 (Resident Coordinator), WFP 5 Kan Baw Za St, Shwe Taung Kyar, (Golden Valley), Bahan Tsp. Tel : 2305971~6 WHO No. 2, Pyay Rd, 7 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Tel : 6504056, 650416, 654386-90. ASEAN Coordinating Of. for the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, 79, Taw Win st, Dagon Tsp. Tel: 225258. FAO Myanma Agriculture Service Insein Rd, Insein. tel: 641672, 641673.

General Listing
ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS
No. 12, Pho Sein Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon Tel : (95-1) 209299, 209300, 209343, 209345, 209346 Fax : (95-1) 209344 E-mail : greenhill@ myanmar.com.mm Hotel Yangon 91/93, 8th Mile Junction, Tel : 01-667708, 667688. Inya Lake Resort Hotel 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 662866. fax: 665537. MGM Hotel No (160), Warden Street, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. +95-1-212454~9. www. hotel-mgm.com MiCasa Hotel Apartments 17, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp. tel: 650933. fax: 650960. Windsor Hotel No.31, Shin Saw Pu Street, Sanchaung. Yangon, Myanmar. Ph: 95-1-511216~8, www. hotelwindsoryangon.com Yuzana Hotel 130, Shwegondaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, tel : 01-549600 Yuzana Garden Hotel 44, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp, tel : 01-248944

YANGON No. 277, Bogyoke Aung San Road, Corner of 38th Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) 391070, 391071. Reservation@391070 (Ext) 1910, 106. Fax : (951) 391375. Email : hotelasiaplaza@gmail.com

Asia Plaza Hotel

ACCOMMODATION Long Term

Golden Hill Towers 24-26, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. tel: 558556. ghtower@ mptmail.net.mm.

Avenue 64 Hotel No. 64 (G), Kyitewine Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 09-8631392, 01 656913-9 Chatrium Hotel 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe. tel: 544500. fax: 544400.

Happy Homes
REAL ESTATE & PrOpErTY MANAGEmENT

No.7A, Wingabar Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : (951) 546313, 430245. 09-731-77781~4. Fax : (01) 546313. www.cloverhotel.asia. info@cloverhotel.asia Clover Hotel City Center No. 217, 32nd Street (Upper Block), Pabedan Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 377720, Fax : 377722 www.clovercitycenter.asia Clover Hotel City Center Plus No. 229, 32nd Street (Upper Block), Pabedan Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 377975, Fax : 377974
www.clovercitycenterplus.asia

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 ParkroYal Yangon, Myanmar 33, Alan Pya Pagoda Rd, Dagon tsp. tel: 250388. fax: 252478. email: enquiry.prygn@ parkroyalhotels.com parkroyalhotels. com.

Tel: 09-7349-4483, 09-4200-56994. E-mail: aahappyhomes@ gmail.com, http://www. happyhomesyangon.com Marina Residence 8, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 6506 51~4. fax: 650630.

17, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp. Tel: 650933. Fax: 650960. Email : micprm@ myanmar.com.mmwww. myanmar micasahotel.com

ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS (Nay Pyi Taw)

Royal White Elephant Hotel No-11, Kan Street, Hlaing Tsp. Yangon, Myanmar. (+95-1) 500822, 503986. www.rwehotel.com Sakura Residence 9, Inya Rd, Kamaryut Tsp. tel: 525001. fax: 525002. Savoy Hotel 129, Damazedi Rd, Kamayut tsp. tel: 526289, 526298, Sedona Hotel Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin. tel: 666900. Strand Hotel 92 Strand Rd. tel: 243377. fax: 289880. Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966. The Grand Mee Ya Hta Executive Residence 372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan Tsp. tel 951-256355 (25 lines). Traders Hotel 223 Sule Pagoda Rd. tel: 242828. fax: 242838. Winner Inn 42, Than Lwin Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 503734, 524387. email: reservation@winner innmyanmar.com

(Nay Pyi Taw)

For more information about these listings, Please Contact - classied.mcm@gmail.com

Emergency Numbers
Ambulance tel: 295133. Fire tel: 191, 252011, 252022. Police emergency tel: 199. Police headquarters tel: 282541, 284764. Red Cross tel:682600, 682368 Trafc 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 Ofce 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.

Confort Inn 4, Shweli Rd, Bet: Inya Rd & U Wisara Rd, Kamaryut, tel: 525781, 526872

Reservation Ofce (Yangon) 123, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Dagon Township Tel : 951- 255 819~838 Royal Kumudra Hotel, (Nay Pyi Taw) Tel : 067- 414 177, 067- 4141 88 E-Mail: reservation@ maxhotelsgroup.com

No. (356/366), Kyaikkasan Rd, Tamwe Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Ph: 542826, Fax: 545650 Email: reservation@ edenpalacehotel.com

AdVertising
WE STARTED THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY IN MYANMAR SINCE 1991

M A R K E T I N G & C O mm U N I C A T I O N S

A D V E R T I S I N G

M-22, Shwe Htee Housing, Thamine Station St., Near the Bayint Naung Point, Mayangone Tsp., Yangon Tel : 522763, 522744, 667557. Fax : (95-1) 652174 E-mail : grandpalace@ myanmar.com.mm

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

THE MYANMAR TIMES aPRIL 14 - 20, 2014 ADVERTISING & MEDIA

MYANMARBOOKCENTRE 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

co working space

FITNESS CENTRE

Gems & Jewelleries

Best Jewels No. 44, Inya Road, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2305811, 2305812.

Media Relations, Event Management & Strategic Communications Hotline : 09 730 81 787 Email : tharapa.myanmar @gmail.com

Marina Residence, Yangon Ph: 650651~4, Ext: 109 Beauty Plan, Corner of 77th St & 31st St, Mandalay Ph: 02 72506

AIR CONDITION
Yangon La Source Beauty Spa 80-A, Inya Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: 512380, 511252 Beauty Bar by La Source Room (1004), Sedona Hotel, Tel : 666 900 Ext : (7167) LS Salon Junction Square, 3rd Floor. Tel : 95-1-527242, Ext : 4001 Mandalay La Source Beauty Spa No. 13/13, Mya Sandar St, Chanaye Tharzan Tsp. Tel : 09-4440-24496. www.lasourcebeautyspa.com

car rental
Car Rental Service No. 56, Bo Ywe St, Latha Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-246551, 375283, 09-2132778, 09-31119195. Gmail:nyanmyintthu1983@ gmail.com,

No. (6), Lane 2 Botahtaung Pagoda St, Yangon. 01-9010003, 291897. info@venturaofce.com, www.venturaofce.com

Duty free

Balance Fitnesss No 64 (G), Kyitewine Pagoda Road, Mayangone Township. Yangon 01-656916, 09 8631392 Email - info@ balancetnessyangon.com

The First Air conditioning systems designed to keep you fresh all day Zeya & Associates Co., Ltd. No.437 (A), Pyay Road, Kamayut. P., O 11041 Yangon, Tel: +(95-1) 502016-18, Mandalay- Tel: 02-60933. Nay Pyi Taw- Tel: 067-420778, E-mail : sales.ac@freshaircon. com. URL: http://www. freshaircon.com

coffee machine

Duty Free Shops Yangon International Airport, Arrival/Departure Mandalay International Airport, Departure Ofce: 17, 2nd street, Hlaing Yadanarmon Housing, Hlaing Township, Yangon. Tel: 500143, 500144, 500145.

Life Fitness Bldg A1, Rm No. 001, Shwekabar Housing, Mindhamma Rd, Mayangone Tsp. Yangon. Ph: 01-656511, Fax: 01-656522, Hot line: 0973194684, natraysports@gmail.com

Air Con Sales & Service No. 2/1, Than Thu Mar Rd, Thuwunna Junction. Tel : 09-4224-64130

illy, Francis Francis, VBM, Brasilia, Rossi, De Longhi Nwe Ta Pin Trading Co., Ltd. Shop C, Building 459 B New University Avenue 01- 555-879, 09-4210-81705 nwetapintrading@gmail.com

Engineering

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

Lemon Day Spa No. 96 F, Inya Road, Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 514848, 09-732-08476. E.mail: lemondayspa.2011 @gmail.com

CONSTRUCTION

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

No. 52, Royal Yaw Min Gyi Condo, Room F, Yaw Min Gyi Rd, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 09-425-307-717

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

One-stop Solution for Sub-station, M&E Work Design, Supply and Install (Hotel, High Rise Building Factory) 193/197, Shu Khin Thar Street, North Okkalapa Industrial Zone, Yangon. Tel: 951-691843~5, 9519690297, Fax: 951-691700 Email: supermega97@ gmail.com. www.supermega-engg.com

No. 20, Ground Floor, Pearl Street, Golden Valley Ward, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel : 09-509 7057, 01220881, 549478 (Ext : 103) Email : realtnessmyanmar @gmail.com
www.realtnessmyanmar.com

Diamond Palace Jewelry Shop (1) - No. 663/665, Mahar Bandoola Rd, Yangon. Tel : 01-371 944, 371 454, 371 425 Shop (2) - No.1103/1104/ 1105, Ground Fl, Taw Win Center, Yangon. Tel : 01-8600111 ext :1103, 09 49307265 Shop (3) - No.B 020, Ground Fl, Junction Square Shopping Center, Yangon. Tel : 01-527 242 ext : 1081, 09 73203464 Shop (4) Ground Fl, Gamonepwint Shopping Mall, Kabaraye Pagoda Rd, Yangon. Tel : 01-653 653 ext : 8205 09 421763490 info@seinnandaw.com www.seinnandaw.com www.facebook.com/ seinnandaw

Japan-Myanmar Physiotherapy Clinic. Body Massage - 7000 Ks Foot Massage - 6000 Ks Body & Foot Massage 12,000 Ks No.285, Bo Aung Kyaw Rd, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon. 09:00 AM - 09:00 PM Tel : 09-8615036

24 Hours Laboratory & X-ray, CT, MRI, USG Mammogram, Bone DXA @ Victoria Hospital No. 68, Tawwin Rd, 9 Mile, Mayangon Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 9 666141 Fax: (951) 9 666135

FLORAL SERVICES
Ruby & Rare Gems of Myanamar No. 527, New University Ave., Bahan Tsp. Yangon.

24 Hrs International Clinic Medical and Security Assistance Service @ Victoria Hospital No.68, Tawwin Rd, 9 Mile, Mayangon Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: +951 651 238 +959 495 85 955 Fax: +959 651 398 www.leomedicare.com Myittar Oo Eye Hospital 499, Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Ph: 09-527381. Pearl Dental 29, Shwe Taung Tan St, Lanmadaw Tsp. Ph : 01-226274, 09-730-39011 9:30 Am To 9:00 Pm

ENTERTAINMENT

CONSULTING
Learn to dance with social dancing 94, Bogalay Zay St, Botataung T/S, Yangon. Tel : 01-392526, 01-1221738

BOOK STORES
Myanmar Research | Consulting | Technology

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

Shwe Hinthar B 307, 6 1/2 Miles, Pyay Rd., Yangon. Tel: +95 (0)1 654 730 info@thuraswiss.com www.thuraswiss.com 150 Dhamazedi Rd., Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 536306, 537805. Email : yangon@ monument-books.com 15(B), Departure Lounge, Yangon Intl Airport. #87/2, Crn of 26th & 27th St, 77th St,Chan Aye Thar Zan Tsp, Mandalay. Tel : (02) 24880.

FloralService&GiftShop 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

sales@manawmaya.com.mm www.manawmayagems.com

Tel: 549612, Fax : 545770.

The Lady Gems & Jewellery No. 7, Inya Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2305800, 09-8315555

FASHION & TAILOR

GENERATORS

courier SerVice
DTDC Courier and Cargo Service (Since 1991) Yangon. Tel : 01-374457 Mandalay. Tel : 09-43134095. www.DTDC.COM, dtdcyangon@gmail.com Door to Door Delivery!!! Sein Shwe Tailor, 797 (003-A), Bogyoke Aung San Rd, MAC Tower 2, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Ph: 01-225310, 212943~4 Ext: 146, 147, E-mail: uthetlwin@gmail.com 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.

BEAUTY & MASSAGE

California Skin Spa NO 32.B, Inya Myaing Road, Yangon. (Off University Road) Tel : 01-535097, 01-501295. Open Daily : (10 AM - 8 PM)

Foam spray Insulation

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

No.(68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Hunt line: +95 1 9666 141, Booking Ext : 7080, 7084. Fax: +95 1 9666 135 Email: info@witoriya hospital.com www.victoriahospital myanmar.com, Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ WitoriyaGeneralHospital

Home Furnishing

GIFT PRODUCT

Foam Spray Insulation No-410, Ground Fl,Lower Pazuntaung Rd, Pazun taung Tsp, Yangon.Telefax : 01-203743, 09-5007681. Hot Line-09-730-30825.

22, Pyay Rd, 9 mile, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 660769, 664363.

Sole Distributor of Red Ginseng from Korea Ginseng Corporation

GAS COOKER & Cooker Hoods

Tel: 01-374851, 394360 Stores:Coreana @ Junction Square / Mawtin, UNIQHAN @U Wisara Rd; MBICenter. No.16, 87th st.

Bldg-D, Rm (G-12), Pearl Condo, Ground Flr, Kabaraye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 557448. Ext 814, 09-730-98872.

HEALTH SERVICES
Worlds leader in Kitchen Hoods & Hobs Same as Ariston Water Heater. Tel: 251033, 379671, 256622, 647813

Yangon : A-3, Aung San Stadium (North East Wing), Mingalartaungnyunt Tsp. Tel : 245543, 09-73903736, 09-73037772. Mandalay : No.(4) 73rd St, Btw 30th & 31st St, Chan Aye Thar Zan Tsp. Tel : 096803505, 09-449004631.

98(A), Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel: 553783, 549152, 09-732-16940, 09-730-56079. Fax: 542979 Email: asiapacic. myanmar@gmail.com. Dent Myanmar Condo C, Rm 001, Tatkatho Yeikmon Housing, New University Avenue Rd, Bahan. Ph: 09-8615162.

European Quality & Designs Indoor/ Outdoor Furniture, Hotel Furniture & All kinds of woodworks No. 422, FJVC Centre, Ground Floor, Room No. 4, Strand Road, Botahtaung Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 01-202063-4, 09 509-1673 E-mail: contact@ smartdesignstrading.com www.royalbotania.com, www.alexander-rose.co.uk

THE MYANMAR TIMES aPRIL 14 - 20, 2014 REMOVALISTS

S.B. FURNITURE

TRAVEL AGENTS

No-001-002, Dagon Tower, Ground Flr, Cor of Kabaraye Pagoda Rd & Shwe Gon Dine Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 544480, 09-730-98872.

Tel : 01-9000712~13 Ext : 330 09-4200-77039. direct2u@mmrds.com

housing
Bld-A2, Gr-Fl, Shwe Gabar Housing, Mindama Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. email: eko-nr@ myanmar.com.mm Ph: 652391, 09-73108896

Relocation Specialist Rm 504, M.M.G Tower, #44/56, Kannar Rd, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 250290, 252313. Mail : info@asiantigersmyanmar.com

Quality Chinese Dishes with Resonable Price @Marketplace by City Mart. Tel: 01-523840 Ext.109 Edo Zushi 290-B,U Wisarya Rd, 10 Ward, Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon. Tel : (09)259040853 Open daily 11:00~23:00

Executive Serviced Ofces Ocean Center (North Point), Ground Floor, Tel : 09-731-83900 01-8600056
www.hinthabusinesscentres.com

Tel : 01-4413410

Asian Trails Tour Ltd 73 Pyay Rd, Dagon tsp. tel: 211212, 223262. fax: 211670. email: res@ asiantrails.com.mm Shan Yoma Tours Co.,Ltd www.exploremyanmar.com

Rentals at Pun Hlaing Service Apartment Homes and Apartments PHGE Sales & Marketing, Hlaing Tharyar Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 951-687 800, 684 013 phgemarketing@gmail.com www.punhlainggolfestate.com

Paint
Worlds No.1 Paints & Coatings Company

Crown Worldwide Movers Ltd 790, Rm 702, 7th Flr Danathiha Centre, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Lanmadaw. Tel: 223288, 210 670, 227650. ext: 702. Fax: 229212. email: crown worldwide@mptmail.net.mm

Delicious Hong Kong Style Food Restaurant G-09, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: 01-508467-70 Ext: 114 Heaven Pizza 38/40, Bo Yar Nyunt St. Yaw Min Gyi Quarter, Dagon Township. Tel: 09-855-1383 UnionBarAndGrill 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung, Yangon. Tel: 95 9420 180 214, 95 9420 101 854 www.unionyangon.com, info@unionyangon.com

Easy access to CBD Fully furnished facility Company setup for $1,000 Office available from $360 only

Water Heaters

Tel: + 95 1 374851 Email : info@jkmyanmar.com www.jkmyanmar.com (ENG) www.3ec.jp/mbic/ (JPN)

Logistics
Sole Distributor For the Union of Myanmar Since 1995 Myanmar Golden Rock International Co.,Ltd. #06-01, Bldg (8), Myanmar ICT Park, University Hlaing Campus, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 654810~17.

The Global leader in Water Heaters A/1, Aung San Stadium East Wing, Upper Pansodan Road. Tel: 01-256705, 399464, 394409, 647812.

KAMY Group Intl Co., Ltd. International Transport and Logistics No. 363-D, Ground Floor, Bo Aung Kyaw St (Upper), Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 951 245491, 09-4202-87291. Fax : 951 245491 Email : gm@kamygroup.com www.kamygroup.com

Marine Communication & NaVigation

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

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

World famous Kobe Beef Near Thuka Kabar Hospital on Pyay Rd, Marlar st, Hlaing Tsp. Tel: +95-1-535072

1. WASABI:No.20-B, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp,(Near MiCasa), Tel; 09-4250-20667, 09-503-9139 Myaynigone (City Mart) Yankin Center (City Mart)

Serviced Ofce, Virtual Ofce, Business Services, Hot Desking Tel: +(95) 01 387947 www.ofcehubservices.com

Made in Japan Same as Rinnai Gas Cooker and Cooker Hood Showroom Address

Water Heater

Water solution
No. (6), Lane 2 Botahtaung Pagoda St, Yangon. 01-9010003, 291897. info@venturaofce.com, www.venturaofce.com

Company Limited

Aekar

Enchanting and Romantic, a Bliss on the Lake 62 D, U Tun Nyein Road, Mayangon Tsp, Yangon Tel. 01 665 516, 660976 Mob. 09-730-30755 operayangon@gmail.com www.operayangon.com

SCHOOLS

PLEASURE CRUISES

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.

STEEL STRUCTURE
Horizon Intl School 25, Po Sein Road, Bahan Tsp, tel : 541085, 551795, 551796, 450396~7. fax : 543926, email : contact@horizonmyanmar. com, www.horizon.com

Water Treatement Solution Block (A), Room (G-12), Pearl Condo, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. Hot Line : 09-4500-59000

Water Treatment

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

Office Furniture

Moby Dick Tours Co., Ltd. Islands Safari in the Mergui Archipelago 5 Days, 7 Days, 9 Days Trips Tel: 95 1 202063, 202064 E-mail: info@islandsafari mergui.com. Website: www. islandsafarimergui.com

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.

22, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. tel 541997. email: leplanteur@ mptmail.net.mm. http://leplanteur.net

Design, Fabrication, Supply & Erection of Steel Structures Tel : (+95-1) 122 1673 Email : Sales@WECMyanmar.com www.WEC-Myanmar.com

Commercial scale water treatment (Since 1997) Tel: 01-218437~38. H/P: 09-5161431, 09-43126571. 39-B, Thazin Lane, Ahlone.

RESTAURANTS
Mon - Sat (9am to 6pm) No. 797, MAC Tower II, Rm -4, Ground Flr, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Lamadaw Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (951) 212944 Ext: 303, 09-4200-91393. info@centuremyanmar. com. www.centure.in.th Road to Mandalay Myanmar Hotels & Cruises Ltd. Governors Residence 39C, Taw Win Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (951) 229860 fax: (951) 217361. email: RTMYGN@mptmail.net.mm www.orient-express.com

G-01, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: 01-508467-70 Ext: 106

Olympians Learning Hub No. (80-G), Thanlwin Rd, Shwe Taung Gyar, Ward-2, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 95-9-5016430 95-9-425329571 www.olympiansmyanmar. com

SUPERMARKETS
Capital Hyper Mart 14(E), Min Nandar Road, Dawbon Tsp. Ph: 553136. City Mart (Aung San) tel: 253022, 294765. City Mart (47th St Branch) tel: 200026, 298746. City Mart (Junction 8) tel: 650778. City Mart (FMI City Branch) tel: 682323. City Mart (Yankin Center Branch) tel: 400284. City Mart (Myaynigone) tel: 510697. City Mart (Zawana Branch) tel:564532. City Mart (Shwe Mya Yar) tel: 294063. City Mart (Chinatown Point) tel: 215560~63. City Mart (Junction Maw Tin) tel: 218159. City Mart (Marketplace) tel: 523840~43. City Mart (78th Brahch-Mandalay) tel: 02-71467~9. IKON Mart No.332, Pyay Rd, San Chaung. Tel: 535-783, 527705, 501429. Email: sales-ikon@ myanmar.com.mm

WEB SERVICE

Good taste & resonable price @Thamada Hotel Tel: 01-243047, 243639-41 Ext: 32

REAL ESTATE

G-05, Marketplace by City Mart. Tel: 01-523840 Ext: 105

Home Outdoor Ofce 99 Condo, Ground Floor, Room (A), Damazedi Rd, Kamayut Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 09-2504-28700 info@decorum.mm.com

Real Estate Agent Agent fees is unnecessary Tel : 09 2050107, 09 448026156 robinsawnaing@gmail.com

a drink from paradise... available on Earth @Yangon International Hotel, No.330, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 09-421040512

Yangon Intl School Fully Accredited K-12 International Curriculum with ESL support No.117,Thumingalar Housing, Thingangyun, Tel: 578171, 573149, 687701, 687702.

Web Services All the way from Australia world-class websites/ web apps for desktop, smartphone & tablets, online shopping with real-time transaction, news/magazine site, forum, email campaign and all essential online services. Domain registration & cloud hosting. Talk to us: (01) 430-897, (0) 942-000-4554. www.medialane.com.au

Singapore Cuisine Super One Super Market, Kyaikkasan Branch, No. 65, Lay Daung Kan Rd, Man Aung Qtr, Tamwe Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-542371, 09-501-9128

serVice office

VISA & IMMIGRATION

Bldg-A2, G-Flr, Shwe Gabar Housing, Mindama Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. email: eko-nr@ myanmar.com.mm Ph: 652391, 09-73108896

For House-Seekers

with Expert Services In all kinds of Estate Fields yomaestatemm@gmail.com 09-332 87270 (Fees Free) 09-2541 26615 (Thai Language)

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.

Monsoon Restaurant & Bar 85/87, Thein Byu Road, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 295224, 09-501 5653.

BUSINESS CENTRE #77/2b, DhammaZedi Rd, Corner of U Wisara Rd, SanchaungTsp, Yangon. Tel: +95 931 323 291 info@serv-smart.com www.serv-smart.com

Get your Visa online for Business and Tourist No need to come to Embassy. #165. 35th Street, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon. Tel: +951 381200, 204020 travel.evisa@gmail.com

HOW TO GET A FREE AD

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Education
Montessori Myanmar (English Education Center). Accredited by IMC Bangkok (Since 1991), Our Montessori curriculum includes: Practical Life Exercises. Sensorial Training. Language Development. Mathematics. Cultural Studies. Botany & Zoology. History. Creative Art. Music and Movement. Cooking. Physical Development. Social & Emotional Development. Learning through play. 55(B), Po Sein Rd, Bahan, Yangon, Tel: 546097, 546761. Email: imm. myn@gmail.com English for Young learners : Build confiden ce in commu nicating in English. Build strong foundation in English for further education. Introducing reading with variety of books. Using Int'l syllabuses such as Oxford, Collins & Cambridge ,etc. Lesson will be conducted in English. Taught by qualified & internationally experience teacher. English for Adults Speak fluently in various situations. Improve your pronunciation and increase your vocabulary. Communicate effectively in everyday situations. English for social, study, overseas travel and work purposes. Teacher Yamin - Ph : 291-679, 292176, 09-250-136695 Tr.Kaung Myat : For International School, Guide & Lecturer, Special for Maths, Geometry, Algebra I&II, Calculus. Ph: 09-73142020. geometry500@ gmail.com Study guide and home visit for LCCI level 1,2 and 3. Ph : 09-4311-0463 NPNG study coach 10th standard specialist. Ph: 09-2506-96329. Email: npngfc@gmail.com Ph: 09-2507-90200 English Escort Service : Are you a sophisticated lady living in Yangon? Do you want to go out to dinner or a social event with a genuine Englishman as your partner? Wining and Dining. I am happy to arrange this. There are many amazing restaurants and clubs in Yangon which would make for a perfect venture. You have to be able to speak good English. For further details, please contact me by email: n.setterington@gmail. com 'Want to create that professional marketing campaign in English but lack the English skills to do so? Straight from England, our marketing man will do this for you''. Tel: 09 250790200 or email: n.setterington@ gmail.com Owner want to rent (or) sale. Call Maureen: 09518-8320. Prime Engineer Co., Ltd. Building (A), Room (501), Yuzana Housing Compound. New Yaetarshae Rd, Bahan, Yangon, Myanmar, Office (+95) 9 31337444, Email: primeengineering @outlook.com Service Office you can trust. Business Service for foreign investors. 905, 9F, Panchan Tower, Corner of Dhamazedi Rd & Bagayar Rd, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 01503895, Email :yangon_ info@v2m.jp, http:// www.v2m.jp phone: 09-2507-90200 Dating@Yangonlive , We are an Englishlanguage dating site based in Yangon. Are you wanting to meet that special person and you do not know how to do it?We are here to help you. You are dealing with real people at Dating@ Yangonlive. Face to face meetings can be arranged, if required, between you and us to discuss your specific requirements. We will not only help you design your profile but will let you know of places and events in Yangon where you should go. In the first instance, email us at dating.yangonlive@ gmail.com and we will send you our Personal Details Form. Simply complete this form, attach some recent photos and we will add you to our dating lists that are updated constantly. To start with, while we build our database there is no charge for our service. You can request our dating list by email: dating.yangonlive@ gmail.com FOR FOREIGNERS Want to learn Myanmar Speaking at your home? Contact : 09-517-9125, 09-861-1052 WITHIN 24 hours can make you confidient in Myanmar language speaking and scripts! Teacher Phyu Phyu Khin 09-4930-8926, phyuporcupine@gmail. com, No.56 I, Thiri Marlar Lane, 7.5 mile, Pyay Road, Yangon. ENGLISH Grammar for all classes. Ph: 09-5413847. CHINESE for all grades. Ph: 09-541-3847. MYANMAR for Foreigners, Ph: 092501-50791. ENGLISH for Adults &Young Learners 100 % face to face classroom based lessons, Small classroom sized, limited seats, Variety of learning resources Experienced, internationally qualified teacher who get the best out of you, whatever your level. Offer courses that build your confidence for practical situations and improve important areas such as Speaking and Listening in English. English for young learners : Teacher Yamin - Ph: (01) 291679, 09250-136695. Game Cartridges and accessories, Spirit Camrea: The Cursed Memoir (with box and user guide booklet), 20000 Kyats, Rabbid Rumble (with box and user guide booklet) 20000 Kyats, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (with box and user guide booklet) 24000 Kyats, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (with box and user guide booklet) - 30000 Kyats, Project X Zone (with box and user guide booklet) - 30000 Kyats, 3DS Game Cartridge Holder (24 Slots) - 17000 Kyats, Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL - 30000 Kyats. Prices are negotiable. Ph: 09507-9980. GSM SIM Card, 0951........., Ph : 09-250137955. MacbooK Pro (2012 Model ) Intel Core i5 Ram 4GB H.D.D 500GB Mac OS 10.9 + Window 7. Price : 920000. Ph: 09-4200-50651 LaPtoP Lenovo Core i3 Ram 2gb HDD 500 GB like new condition HP Core i5 (Third Generation) Ram 4GB 500HDD Graphic 1GB Just like new condition HP Core i3 Third generation Ram 2GB HDD 500 Graphic 1GB - 300000 Acer Core 2Dua -170000. Ph: 093177-5707

By FAX : 01-254158 By EMAIl : classied.mcm@gmail.com By MAIl : 379/383, Bo Aung Kyaw St, Kyauktada Township, Yangon.

HOW TO GET MORE BUSINESS FROM AS LITTLE AS K.5,000.

BUy sPace ON THESE PAGES CAll: Khin Mon Mon Yi - 01-392676, 392928

Property
Housing for Rent
49 Street, middle block, 6th Floor (1500 Sq ft) (25 X60), Puzundaung Tsp,1 MBR with Bath Tub, western toilet, 1BR, Teak wood floor, Hot & Cold shower, Bath tub, 4 Air con, Laundry room, Tilling floor Kitchen, Fully finished, Very comfort walk up stair, Nice and Clean excellence location in Yangon. Call us - 095076675, 09250013963, 095039498 INYA RD, 2 storey building. 50 x 64 ft. 1st Flr: 4 bedrooms bathroom attached. Shrine room. G F: guest toilet, living room, dining room, kitchen. Garage & 2 small storage rooms. Asking rent fee: $4000/ per month. Interested parties, Ph: 09-73212443, 09-51-26285. OFFICE or Apartment, Golden View Condo (Room facing to Kandawgyi Lake & Shwedagone Pagoda), 2400 sqft, fully furnished, 2 MBR, 2 BR, Living room, lobby, dining, kitchen. Ph: 09-513-3958. (1).Sanchaung, Shin Saw pu St, 1250 sqft, 1MBR, 2SR 4A/C, 16 Lakhs (2) Near India Embassy, 28 x 50,Hall, 13 Lakhs, Near India Embassy, 1720 sqft, MBR,1SR, 16 Lakhs Shwe dagon pagoda Rd, 2400 sqft, 3MBR, 4A/C, F.F, 20 Lakhs (Near Aung San Market) (5).Near Dagon Center, 2000 sqft, 1MBR, 3SR, 5A/C, F.F, 29 Lakhs. Ph: 09-4921-4276, 09-421177105 (1).Driving from Yankin Center 20minutes, 1600 sqft, 1MBR, 2SR, 3A/C, F.F, 18 Lakhs (2).May Thu Condo, 1600 sqft, 2MBR, 1SR, 3A/C, F.F, 20 Lakhs (3).Golden Valley, 40x60, 3MBR, 2SR 6A/C,2RC $5000 (4).Near Inya lake, 67' x 65', 2MBR, 2SR, 6A/C, 2RC, $5000 (5). Near, U.S.A Embassy, 100 x 100, 4MBR, 9A/C, 2RC $8000 (11).Parami Rd, Small Lane, 40 x 60, 2MBR, 2SR ,4A/C, 2RC, (6).Near Uwerisara Rd, 100 x 100, 5MBR, A/C, Ph, 2RC, $8000. Ph: 09-4921-4276, 09-421177105 BAHAN, (1) Shwe Than Lwin Condo, 3600 sqft, Ph, 5 A/C, fun for rent 40 Lakhs. (2)6 Miles, Shwe Hinthar Condo, 2400 sqft, Ph, 5 A/C, F.F, 50 Lakhs (3) New University Avenue Rd, 3 Flr, 1500 sqft, 1 MBR, 1 BR, F.F, 3 A/C, Ph, US$ 1500, (4) New University Avenue Rd, 2 Flr, 2400 Sqft, 3 MBR, Ph, 5 A/C, F.F, 25 Lakhs. Call Maureen : 09-518-8320 (No Agents Please) Office SPace Renntal @ MICT Park.approx 8000 Sq Ft /floor and 3 floors available for rent. Suitable for large/small company Large space, hall type set up. Equipped with elevator. Prime Location of IT industry. Pls contact us for detail at bahosi.fil@gmail.com or Michael at 09-4927-5757 BAHAN, New University Avenue Rd, Near KBZ Bank, 25 x 50 (6th Floor), 3BR, 4 Aircons, Ph: 094316-4162. MICT ParK, top tier office space, 8000 sqft. Fiber internet, central aircon, offices/meeting rooms set up. Suitable
th

Home teaching , KG - to - Primary 6 (International schools). Ph: 09-4200-87050 international Montessori Myanmar (English Education Center) Accredited by IMC Bangkok (Since 1991). Our Montessori curriculum includes: Practical Life Exercises, Sensorial Training, Language Development, Mathematics, Cultural Studies, Botany & Zoology, History, Creative Art, Music and Movement, Cooking, Physical Development, Social & Emotional Development. Learning through play. 55(B), Po Sein Rd, Bahan, Yangon. Tel: 546097, 546761. Email: imm. myn@gmail.com study Guide: You can be an honor roll student too!. Sometimes, school work is tough, but with a little help you can accomplish great things. I can ensure that you have that extra time and attention you need to succeed. I am a qualified tutor, with straight A's in A Levels and four years of experience. I tutor students from Grade 1-12, IGCSE, A Levels, Pre-University level and SAT I and II. If interested contact me at 09-5190543 and we will set up a meetiing to discuss your academic needs. Cindy: 09-519-0543. Literature study and world history for IB and SAT up to 12 Grade , it is right to enjoy reading classic principle of written English & critical thinking If you had tried as much as you can to follow the lesson and you will get good experiences and skill. This program will help you capability and fill your luck of knowledge.. Middle school students can study in a small class for literature and language art. Beginners, Intermediate Spanish and French can also be inquired.U Thant Zin, 28, 3 B, Thatipahtan St, Tarmwe. Ph: 09-31021314, 09-503-5350. BA (Eng) Dip in English (YUFL) Int'l school, private school, KG to Primary 4 for Home Guide. Ph: 09-42003613. igcse, Secondary 2, 3, 4, Physics, Mathematics B & Pure Mathematics, Practice with 20 years old question. Allow individual or section. Only 5 students for one section. Near Hledan Sein Gay Har. Ph: 094500-25213, 524617. give your child the best possible start to life at International

We provide the following Training, CISCO, CCNA, CCNP, MICROSOFT, MCSA, MCSE, LAB, EC-COUNCIL CEH, SECURITY ADMIN. w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / imcscompany, 09-450016040.

Decent Myanmar Training School Personal Management & Business Management Trainings Basic English Grammar IELTS preparation English for Specific Purpose-ESP. (1) Spoken English (2) Business Writing (3) Business English (4) English for Marketing (5) English for HRM (6) English for Media (7) English for IT (8) English for Law (9) English for Marine Engineering (10) English for Medicine 29/ B, Rm 7, Myay Nu St,

Travel
Mergui Princess is a fast and comfortable liveaboard with 3 airconditioned master bed rooms with bathroom attached, 2 air-conditioned king size bed rooms, 3 air-conditioned twin rooms which can accommodate 18 clients and 5 crew members. It is 80 feet long. What is Mergui? Mergui Archipelago, located in southernmost part of Myanmar (Burma), comprises over 800 beautiful islands. Due to its virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an amazing diversity of flora & fauna and very beautiful underwater scenes and marine life. www.elegantmyanmar. travel, w w w. merguiprincess. com,www.mergui.org info@elegantmyanmar. travel. Elegant Myanmar Tours : (20), Bldg (E), Mya Yeik Nyo Hotel Compound, PaLe Rd, Bahan, Yangon, Tel: +95-1-401261, 8550120. Global Asia Myanmar Travels & Tour Co., Ltd:167, 1st Flr, 38th St (Middle), Kyauktada Tsp, Ph : 391619, 09-4306-7325, 094925-5980. Email : global asiamyanmar@ gmail.com, www. globalasiamyanmar. com.mm

Language
FOR Foreigners We do teach Myanmar Language at your home. Contact us, we will give you very good teaching. English for adults & young learners, we will teach fact to fact at home or group teaching. Chinese for all grades, adults & young learners, fact to face at home or group teaching. Japanese for all classes. Contact us : 09-421147821, 01-243420. English Teaching Coming from England I offer top quality English teaching and English coaching so that given time and practice you will speak and write English like native English speakers do. You need to have a reasonable knowledge of English to start with as I do not speak Myanmar. My teaching involves a mixture of face face teaching and correspondence teaching. For more details contact us either by email: Kensington. yangon@gmail.com or

for large international conglomerates. Will also consider a sale. Please contact us for details. jasonwongjp@gmail. com 09-4211-02223 CLASSIC STRAND Condo, 2200 sqft comme cial / residence for sale or rent. 3rd floor, wide open layout, 14 foot ceilings. Gym, cafe, facilities. Prime downtown location, close to strand hotel/union bar. jasonwongjp@gmail. com 09-4211-02223 Classic Strand, 3 bed 2 bath, modern design/decor, wide open layout, 1550 square feet, 8th floor corner unit river view. $3600/month. Strand Rd, 5min walk to Hilton/Center Point offices.jasonwongjp@ gmail.com, 09-421102223 CENTRAL CITY Residence minutes from Park Royal, marble/ hardwood premium fittings, modern design. 4 rooms 3 bathroom (2 master w/ attached bath) 1955sqft Starting from $3800/ month unfurnished. jasonwongjp@gmail. com, 09-4211-02223 bahan, Kanbawza Avenue, 2 Storey building on 0.25 acre, 4 Bedrooms attached with Bathroom, Tube Well, Phone, Voltage Regulator, Contact: 535985, 513193 (Only Office Hours). Office sPace , 8000 sqft in MICT park. Fiber internet, large international conglomerates. Also for sale if interested buyer. Please contact us for details. jasonwongjp@ gmail.com 09-8421102223

Housing for Sale

Chaung Tha (Near Pathein) , Brick 25' x 50' on 40' x 70' of Land, with well, 300 gallon water tank, Septic tank, Solar power, 200m from beach, 500m from village, 390 Lakhs/ US$ 39000. Call 09-4250-10128, Email: howww@gmail.com, akhinmoeato@gmail. com. MICT ParK, top tier office space, 8000 sqft . Fiber internet, central aircon, offices/meeting rooms set up. Please contact us for details. jasonwongjp@gmail. com 09-4211-02223 Yoe Gyi Chaung, Naung Yoe St, A 64, 25' x 60', Grand. Ph: 09-5129575, 09-512-9577 CLASSIC STRAND Condo, 2200 sq ft commercial/residence for sale or rent. 3rd floor, wide open layout, 14 foot ceilings. Gym, cafe, facilities. Prime downtown location, close to strand hotel/union bar. jasonwongjp@gmail. com 09421102223 Pyan Ma Nar land : No.4311, Yar zarthar ni toe chet, Poul long 2, Yar kokt yart, Pyan ma nar Town, Nay Pyi Daw. Explanation: land area (40' x 60'), fance is bark wire with concrete pole. Near Main Rd. you have any question, please call me or email me. Ph:094210-21621, 09-254001189 Dagon TSP, Ground Floor, 24' x 50'. No. 66/B, Room - (7/B), Yawmingyi Street, Dagon. Ph : 249196, 249427, 09540-8575.

Expert Services
Effective English Marketing Do you want to produce an effective marketing or advertising campaign in English but lack the English skills and marketing ideas to do so. I can help you to achieve this. I have a background in successful English marketing and advertising, including the internet, in the United Kingdom. I will work with you so that your company produces eye-catching marketing & advertising that attracts customers attention. The result being increased sales. I can also help you design marketing strategies for reaching new customers. For more details contact us either by email: Kensington. yangon@gmail.com or

For Sale
CAR, Toyota Prado, 2006 Model/ White Colour Left Hand Drive /4Doors Very Good Driving Condition (No Accident) Only serious buyer can contact. Ph : 09-5150751 Original 3DS

Huawei C8813 (CDMA 800 MHZ) Black Colour with full accessories and original box . 2 months used only very good condition with 2 covers . Price 75000 Kyats. Ph: 09-7300-4430. CAR, Mazda RX 8 [Sport Type] [2007 Model] [pearl white] (PS, PW, AC, SRS, ABS, HDD TV, Security System, Cyclone Engine) Ph: 09-3300-2898.

Training
Web Development & Design Training Sat&Sun - 1:00pm3:00pm. Contact: 094211-44937

THE MYANMAR TIMES aPRIL 14 - 20, 2014

FREE
Employment
is seeking (1). Senior Internal Auditor M/F 1 Post (2).Senior Accountant - M/F 2 Posts (3).Accountant - M/F 2 Posts (4).Construction Accountant - M/F 2 Posts (5).Secretary - M 1 Post (6).Export/ Import Agent - M/F 4 Posts (7). Architect - M/F 3 Posts (8).Admin Assistant M 4 Posts (9). Health & Safety Manager - M 1 Post (10).Site Manager M 2 Posts (11).Driver - M 1 Post. For all posts must have at least 3-5 years experiences in related fields. For 1 to 10 must have at least Bachelor Degree holder or other equivalent qualification in the related fields. Closing date : 17th April 2014. CV or Resume, Copies of Certificates & Degree, Copy of NRC, Recent photo to : 906, 9th floor, Yuzana Tower, Shwe Gone Dine Junction, Bahan. Ph: 09- 540-7508, 09-202-5420 Email: assthr.szbd@gmail.com CHATRIUM HOTEL Royal Lake Yangon Leading Five Star Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar with its headquarter in Bangkok, is now seeking highly energetic and motivated candidates for the following positions: (1).Japanese Sales Manager - M/F 1 Post (2).Training Manager - M 1 Post. Interested candidates should apply with full CV/Resume indicating position of interest, qualifications, educational background, employment records and recent photo not later than 30.4.2014. Only short-listed candidates will be notified by phone for interview. Email : hr.chry@chatrium. com Ph: 01-544500 , 01-544500 HR Dept. Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon , No.40, Natmauk Rd , Tamwe Tsp. Yangon. Win Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd. is seeking (1). Hotel Manager - M/F1 Post:UniversityGraduate. Excellent English communication skill, both written & spoken. 5 year experience in related field. (2). Operation Manager - M/F 1 Post: University Graduate. Excellent English communication skill, both written and spoken. 5 year experience in related field. (3).Front Office Manager - M/F 2 Posts : University Graduate. Good command of English & Computer Proficiency. 3 years experience in related position. (4).Sales & Marketing Manager M/F 1 Post : University Graduate. Excellent English communication skill, both written and spoken. Experience in sales & marketing field at least (4) years (5). Asst. Sales & Marketing Manager M/F 3 Posts : University Graduate. Excellent English communication skill, both written and spoken. Experience in sales & marketing field at least (2) years (6).Sales Executive - M/F 2 Posts : University Graduate. 4 skills of English and excellent computer skill. - Good personality. 1 year experience in related field. Work Place for the posts of Sr. No. 4 will be in Yangon. Work Place for the posts from Sr. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 will be in Nay Pyi Taw. Pls submit their CVs with a recent photo, Labour Registration Card, copy of NRC, Educational Certificates, copy of recommendation letter from police station at the residing area to Rm (203), Shwe La Young Tower, Shwe Hintha Condo, Pyay Rd, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon, Ph: 507480, 654504 Email : whrcoltd. ygn.hr@gmail.com within 14 days. ANGEL FASHION Group Company is seeking (1)Online Marketing Manager - M/F 2 Posts : Direct Marketing, Marketing communication (Online marketing & social media), Market Research, Public relations (PR), Event Management, Presentation kits, Managing Suppliers, Management diploma in sale and marketing (2)Web Developer - M/F 2 Posts : At least Degree /Diploma in Computer, Science, Basic Database Experience ing (MySQL, Postgre , Qracle), HTML, Javascript CSS, 1 Year experience (3)IT Technical - M/F 2Posts : Experience at Windows and Network, System application & Hardware : troubleshooting , My SQL Database - Can use Microsoft Access. 1 Year experience. (4) Photosho - M/F 2 posts : Photshop CS3 , Can use Internet Email Facebook, Scanner / Printer, 2 years experience in photo experience, Any graduate, Age 25 ~ 30, Pls submit CV form with Passport with necearry documents to Bldg 15, Rm 1, Aung Tha Pyay St, Mingalar Taung Nyunt. Ph :292889 , 205181. angelhrdept@gmail.com MEDIA LANE, The Creative Agency is seeking (1)HTML & CSS Developer - 5 posts : Salary: K 200,000 (2)Wordpress Developer - 3 posts : Salary: K 250,000 (3) Web Content Editor - 10 posts : Salary: K150,000 (4) Web Representative candidates will be contacted for interviews. LUCKEY BIRD Group of Companies is leading IT Company in Myanmar in the field for ICT industry since September 1999. (1)Sale & Marketing Executive - 5 piosts : 2 years experience in related fields, Fluent in English,UniversityDegree holder, . Pls apply the CV with Photo, Educational documents, Labour card copy, NRC copy to 355, RM 106, Thein Byu Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt, Yangon. Contact : Ms Khin Thandar Soe, Ph: 01-399011, 01-248167. Closing date 20th April. (1)School Accountant - M/F 1 post in Yangon : Bachelor Degree with CPA or ACCA or LCCI Level III+IV, Fluent in English & Myanmar, Good command in ITMS word, excellent in Excel, Good Team Player, ect., (2)Trainee Production Assistant/ Cashier - M/F 1 post in Yangon: Bachelor Degree, English(not fluent), MS-literate, Good at Administration, little knowledge of technical & finance. For all posts :Salary negotiable. Applications are submitted to Win Naing at YFS house : 51E, U Po Tet Lane, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone, Yangon (or) via email to yfs.yfs@googlemail.com by 30 April, 2014. URGENT NEED: Account - F 1 post : Media Buyer - F 5 posts: Good written & spoken communication Bachelor Degree of law, Be granted a Certificate of Lawyer Profession, 4 years experience, (4) Receptionist: Graduated high school or higher, (5) Wholesales Executive (FPT Client), University or college graduation (Economy, Trading, Business Management or Information techno logy are priority), 2 year experiences, (6) Wholesales Executive (FPT Client) : University or college graduate (Economic, Trading, Business Management, IT or communication technology graduate are priority), (7)Admin Head (Hotel): 5yearsexperience in Admin Head, or the same position at Hotel, Management skills, (8) Business Executive (Hotel) : 3 ~ 5 years experience, Interested in Sales for Hotel, Ability to manage living area, Good at Japanese. For all posts : Good command of English & computer skill. Pls submit to 60 A, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha St, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. 01-218223, 221668. goodjobs@fpt.com.vn, theingi2@fpt.com.vn (1).Senior Internal Auditor - M/F 1 Post (2).Senior Accountant - M/F 2 Posts (3). Accountant - M/F 2 Posts (4).Construction Accountant - M/F 2 Posts (5).Secretary - M 1 Post (6).Export/ Import Agent - M/F 4 Posts (7). Architect - M/F 3 Posts (8).Admin Assistant M 4 Posts (9).Health & Safety Manager - M 1 Post (10) Site Manager - M 2 Posts (11).Driver M 1 Post. For all posts : 3 ~ 5 years experiences in related fields. For 1 to 10 : Bachelor Degree holder or other equivalent qualification in the related fields. Pls submit CV or Resume, Copies of Certificates & Degree, Copy of NRC, Recent photo to 906, 9th flr, Yuzana Tower, Shwe Gone Dine Junction, Bahan. Ph: 09 -540-7508, 09-202-5420 Email: assthr.szbd@gmail.com Closing date: 17th April 2014, A Leading Shipping Company is seeking (1).Sales Executive : University degree, Age above 25; Superior oral & written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills and exhibit good judgment, & function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment, Have good grasp of the English language, Be a Computer literate able to use computer effectively & efficiently, Background experience relating with sales & marketing/ export/import/trading. (2).Junior network/ support engineer : OS Administration Software Installation, Setup, Repair & Trouble shooting, Configuration on Windows Server 2003/ Windows Server 2008/XP/7/8 1 ~ 2 year experience in IT field, good knowledge on LAN/WAN & networks, experience in system integration, OS administration. Good knowledge on Microsoft Outlook/Exchange Server 2003/2007/2010. Pls send resume & cover letter with a recent photograph by email to star2013.collette@ gmail.com We are seeking a driver male. Age would be 40 above. Contact are 398495, 09-501-1330 Total Business Solution company is seeking for (1.) Civil Engineer - who graduated Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering with experience in relative field 3 ~ 5 years, good writing & speaking in English language. (2). Civil Engineer who graduated Bache lor degree in Civil Engineering with experience in relative field more than 10 years, good writing and speaking in English language. (3).Quantity Surveyor Engineer -who graduation Bachelor degree in Engineering with experience in relative field 5 ~ 10 years, good writing and speaking in English language. TBS Company Ltd : Wai Zayanter Tower, Rm (704), 6th floor, Thaingan Guan, Yangon. Ph: 092560-83232, 09-401604493 Centure Myanmar, a leading office furniture provider in Myanmar, is seeking (1) Sales manager - 2 posts : (2) Sales Executive - 2 posts (3)Showroom manager - 1 post (4) Showroom Sales - 2 posts (5) Delivery& Installation member - 4 posts (6) Chief accountant - 2 posts (7) Driver - 1 post. We offer a young and international working atmosphere and search for competent and dedicated employees to grow with our expanding business. Be part of the team and send your application letter and CV to hr@centuremyanmar. com! Decorum : You love design furniture and are looking for a new challenge? Decorum is looking for committed Sales staff: (1)Sales manager - 1 post (2) Sales Executive - 2 posts (3) Showroom manager - 1 post (4) Showroom Sales 3 posts. Send your application & CV to hr@ decorum-mm.com! Trends Design Furnishing Co., Ltd (MNC) is seeking; (1) Accountant (URENT) LCCI Level II and above with 3 years experience in accounting & finance. Computer literate & good in English. AutoCAD (2)Draftman (Urgent) Computer literate & excellent knowledge in AutoCAD including 3D. Prefer male with the age of under 35. 3 years experience in the same field. (3)Admin cum Receptionist Any graduate with 2 years experience in related field. Able to communicate well in English. Pls send resume to trendsdesignfurnishings @gmail.com for above positions. The Lab wine & Tapas Bar, a new conceptual restaurant is opening soon in Yangon is seeking talented, dynamic and motivated team members. We are looking for 1 x Sous chef, 2 x cooks, 4 x waitresses, 1 x outlet supervisor, 1 x bar supervisor, 1 x bartender & 1 x cashier. Competitive salaries are proposed along meal and transportation packages. Contact us through info@thelabyangon.com or contact Amine @ 09-250018200. A fair English proficiency is required. eastern Shining Star Travels & Tours is seeking Int'l & Domestic Air Ticketing. Hotel Reservation (Local/ International). Tour guide/ Interpreter services/ Meditation Tours. Car Rental/ Boat Rental/ River Cruises. Visa Application. Pack age Tours/ Individual Tours (FIT)/ Tailor Made Tours/ Festival Tours. Balloon Over Bagan. Golf Tours No.284(B), First Flr, 40th St, Upper, Kyauktada, Yangon, Ph: 01-392685, 09-73157452. (1)Program Coordi nator-1 Post (2)EOC Officer - 1Post (3) Assistant Cook - 1 Post (4) Security Guard - 1 Post. Pls send application letter, CV & related documents to Myanmar Red Cross Society (Head Office) Yazatingaha Rd, Dekkhinathiri, Nay Pyi Taw. Ormrcshrrecruit ment@gmail.com For more information & application, pls visit to www.myanmarred crosssociety.org Pls mention Position Title in subject if you apply. A well-established company is looking for highly-motivated person to fill in the position of Account : LCCI Level 3 Certificate, Good command of written & spoken English 2 years experience as accountant. Able to handle multi-currency accounting. Able to prepare balance sheets and statement of account. Hard-working & adaptable.Age under 35 years. Pls submit application form along with the C.V & recent photo graph to : Rm(2/C), Shwe Padauk Condominium, 99-A, Myay Nu St, Sanchaung, Tel : 525748. ( 1 ) M echanical Engineer - 5 Posts, (2) Civil Engineer - 5 Posts - We are seeking for the self energetic and motivated engineers Graduate in Bachelor of Engineering English Literate, Computing skills in Microsoft Office, Auto CAD, willing to travel and stay in remote areas any interested candidates can apply CV with 3 recent photos, Degree Certifiate and other Qualification Certificate, Labour Card, NRC Card, Recommendation from police station, Family member list to the United Engineering Co., Ltd. Corner of Wayzayantar & Yadanar Rd, Thingangyan, Tel : 571878, 571877. (1)FO Supervisor - 2 posts (2)HR Manager - 1 post (3) HR Assistant 2 posts (4) Receptionist - 4 posts (5) Opeartion Executive 1 post (6) Electrical Engineer (EP) - 2 posts(7) Aircon Asst; - 2 posts(8) FME Casher 2 posts(9) Waiter 4 posts (10) Waitress 2 posts (11) IT Staff - 2 posts. Pls submit to Asia Plaza Hotel, HR Department -277, 38 St, Corner of Bogyoke Rd, Kyauktada. Ph:391-070 Ext 110 (1)Chief Engineer M 1 Post (2)Architect - M/F 1 Post (3)Asst; Architect (Draftman) - M/F 1 Post,(4) Q S Engineer - M/F 1 Post(5) Asst; Engineer or Site Engineer - M/F 1 Post, (6) Sale & Marketing Manager - M/F 2 Posts, (7) Sales Executive M/F 2 Posts, (8) Driver M 3 Posts, (9) General Worker - M 5 Posts. Pls submit CV, Photo with necessary documents to Pandora Trading Co., Ltd. (B-202), Aung Chan Thar Housing, Shwe Gondine Rd, Bahan Ph: 09-500-0088, 09-31280038, within 10 days. global Pharma is seeking (1)Sales & Marketing 5 Post. (2) Medical Rep: 5 Post. (3) F.D.A 5 Post. Pls submit to (2.D), Thamada Condo, Yaw Min Gyi Ward, Dagon Tsp, Contact: Ph: 09-73161128, 387623, 386672. golden Spirit Co., Ltd is seeking Site Engineer: (1) B.E (Civil) 1 Post. (2) G.T.C (Civil) 1 Post. (3) B.E (Engineering) 1 Post. (4) G.T.C (Engineering) 1 Post. Pls submit to (2.D), Thamada Condo, Yaw Min Gyi Ward, Dagon Tsp. Ph: 09-731-61128, 387623, 386672. Required 1 personal Instructor for Taekwondo martial art to train in my home. Pls contact to Ph: 09-2502-77047.

UN Positions
THE United Nations World Food Programme, would like to make following job Announcement in Myanmar Times English Version, free column, going to be published on earliest issue. (1) Programme Officer (Livelihood) NO-AYangon (2) Admin Assistant SC-4 Pangkham. Please send the applications with UN P-11 to WFP HR Unit. No. 5 Kanbawza St, Shwe Taung Kyar (2) Ward, Bahan, Yangon. Email: wfpmyanmar.vacancy@ wfp.org COB 27 April 2014 The United Nations World Food Programme is seeking HR Assistant GS-4 Yangon. Pls send the applications with UN P-11 to WFP HR Unit. No. 5 Kanbawza St, Shwe Taung Kyar (2) Ward, Bahan Tsp, Yangon Email: wfpmyanmar. vacancy@wfp.org COB 20 April 2014

For consultancy teams, the EOI should identify who is proposed as the Team Leader and who is the Co-consultant(s). CVs & EOIs should be submitted by 22nd April 2014 to :70, Shwe Yadana St, Ward (1), Kamayut, Yangon. Email: swissaid. myanmar@gmail.com the Int'l Montessori Myanmar is seeking Nursery/ Pre-K/ KindergartenLead teachers & Assistant teachers. A Kinder garten teacher who is loving, caring & understand early childhood education with ECCD certification is preferred, but we will train the right person who is willing to get certificated at a later date. Both are full time positions, Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 4:00. Pls email CV through imm.myn@gmail.com or contact 55 (B), Po Sein Rd, Bahan, Yangon, Tel: 546097, 546761.

Local Positions
We are the first domestic Joint Venture airline in Myanmar formed on 6th. October 1994. We are seeking for highly motivated, self disciplined, dynamic and aggressive people to fill the following vacancy positions based in Yangon. (1).Manager (Aircraft Maintenance) - 1 Post : M-1 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with 10 years apprenticeship. (2). Manager (Aircraft Technical Services) - 1 Post : Degree in Engineering orAerospace discipline (other compatible qualification or experience may be considered), Chartered Engineer, minimum 7 years experience in engineering, strong aviation engineering knowledge, preferably in aircraft systems discipline. (3).Assistant Manager (Aircraft Maintenance) - 1 Post: Degree in Engineering orAerospace discipline (other compatible qualification or experience may be considered), minimum 5 years experience in engineering, strong aviation engineering knowledge, preferably in aircraft systems discipline. (4).Senior Aircraft Mechanic / Aircraft Mechanics 1 Post: Any bachelor degree with minimum 10 years working experience, preferable with the knowledge of aviation engineering. (5).Finance Manager - 1 Post: B.Com, C.P.A or any graduate with, ACCA or equivalent, M.B.A with 10 years experience in any kind of business, Computer literate with ability to apply computerized accounting. (6). Secretary to the Board of Directors - 1 Post : Any graduate and more than 5 years experience (Air line service experience is preferable), leadership of the board of directors office of Air Mandalay, integrity, loyalty, pleasant personality with good interpersonal relation, high degree of availability, proficiency in English and Myanmar and both typing skill, and computer literate. (7).Assistant Manager (HR) - 1 Post : any graduate with 5 years experience in relevant field. All applicants must have good interpersonal and managerial skills, able to communicate in English. Those interested may apply with resume, and relevant documents to Manager, Admin and HR Department, not later than 30th April 2014 at 4:00 p.m. Air Mandalay Limited, No.34 Shwe Taung Gone Avenue, Bahan, Yangon. Ph. 01501520, 525488, Email: info@airmandalay. com SHWE ZABU DEIK Construction Co., Ltd.

Ingo Positions
Dan Church Aid, DCA Myanmar is currently looking for an efficient & motivated person to fill the position of FAC to support the future work of DCA in Myanmar. Finance & Administration Coordinator (FAC) in Yangon. Contract Duration: 2 years with possibility of extension. The salary range is 1.450.000 3.150.000 Kyats/monthly for Myanmar Nationals, for expatriates the salary level is according to the DCA salary scales for local expatriate positions. Annual bonus and severance pay (only for Myanmar nationals), 1.25 days per month for annual leave, 15 official holidays per year, personal accident/ medical insurance, learning & development opportunities (including visits to DCA HQ and Regional Offices in South Asia and SEA) and a challenging and stimulating working environment. To Apply: Pls submit CV, application letter and contact details of two references to hpmi@ dca.dk and adj@dca. dk Pls quote reference: DCA Finance & Admin Coordinator application. A detailed Job Description is available on request from Ms. Hlaing Phyu Min, hpmi@dca.dk. Closing Date: 18th April 2014 (Friday) swissaid is seeking a Finance Officer in Yangon : University degree in relevant field or any degree with diploma in financial management or accounting. 3 years of general accounting/ finicial management & reporting. Qualified candidates should submit an application letter & a detailed CV to 70, Shwe Yadana St, Ward 1, Kamayut. Ph: 01-539639, 516276. Applications can also be submitted by email to Email: swissaid. myanmar@gmail.com Closing date : 22nd April 2014. swissaid is seeking a Myanmar Consultant (or a team of Myanmar consultants) for this consultancy. Skills: Extensive experience in Community Forestry, including evaluating and designing Community Forestry projects. This includes technical forestry experience and experience in strategies/ approaches related to food security, incomes, markets etc. Experience in evaluating capacity building approaches and projects. Pls submit CVs and an Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI, a maximum of two pages, should include relevant experience and interest, avaliability and cost expectations.

- 10 posts : Salary: K120,000 plus bonuses (5) Web Designer - 5 posts : Salary: K250,000 - K350,000 (6)Project Lead - 1 post : Salary: K350,000 - K500,000 (7) Executive Secretary - 1 post : Salary: K250,000 K500,000. Bring resume to 58B, Myanmar Gon Yaung Housing, Than Thu Mar Rd, Tamwe, Yangon. Online Submission: http://career.com.mm/ company/media+lane/ Trouble submitting? Call: 01-430-897, 01-430-013, 09-4200-0-4554 Closing date 31.4.14 A new established boutique public relation company is seeking a young and energetic staff to join the team. (1) Public Information Assistant - F 1 Post (2) Office Secretary - F 1 Post (3) Administration Assistant - F 1 Post. Need good English and able to translate Myanmar to English in general, Minimum 1 year experience in the similar position, Able to use Words, Excel, Power Point and Email, Able to work with team, multitasking and work under pressure with minimum supervision, Excellent interpersonal skills. Office hour - 9 am to 5 pm (Only week days) If you are interested in growing your experience with us please send an application including CV with expected salary to pandpmedia.com@ gmail.com or No.(17), Shwe Tha Pyay Yeik Mon(2), Nawarat St, Tharketa, Yangon not later than 25th April 2014. Only short listed

Skill in English. Effective computer knowledge. Pls submit application with CV,recent passport photo & copy of all relevant documents to DANALINN Service Co.,Ltd : No(8), Nguwar 3 St, ward (5), Myakanthar villa, Hlaing Tsp, Ph 01.505724, 01.538552 Horizon Int'l School is looking for (1) Teacher : For Primary School: Myanmar Language, Music, PE, For Secondary School: Myanmar language, Music, PE, ICT. For High School: Mathematics, Economics, For Kinder gartens: Swimming : 4 years experience, (2) Kindergarten Asst Teachers / Lab Assistant - F 3 posts :Age 20 to 25, University graduate, Proficient in English, Computer literacy, (3). Supervisor - M 2 posts : Age 25 ~ 40 years, Passed matriculation examination, Good command of English, Pleasant & helpful skills, Must have supervisory skill & 5 years experience. Pls submit a cover letter, a resume/CV, a copy of relevant diploma (certificate) & a current photo to the Recruitment team at recruitment@ horizonmyanmar.com or to Horizon Po Sein Campus, Po Sein Rd 25, Bahan, Yangon on/ before April 30, 2014. Ph: 543926,551795, 551796 FPT Myanmar Co., Ltd. is seeking (1) ICT Sales : Graduate from ICT University, 3 ~ 5 years experience, (2) Recruitment Consultant : Graduate, (3)Legal Consultant : A

50 Sport

THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

Chelsea leave Mourinho aiming high

LONDON

Clubs spirited effort has the manager upbeat

Mourinho regularly complains about the lack of top-level goal-scorers in his squad and he hailed Bas decisive contribution after electing to send him on instead of Fernando Torres in the 66th minute. Hes a good guy, a good professional, a good group man. Im very happy for him, said the Portuguese. The fact I played him before Nando made him feel that he doesnt have the number three striker on his back and his enthusiasm was fantastic. his dash was purely motivated by a desire to impart some tactical instructions. It was not to celebrate. It was to tell the players how we have to play the last minutes, he said. In that moment they want to celebrate, to think the game is over, and they forget that you still have three plus three or four minutes [of stoppage time] to play. The only black marks for Chelsea were a booking for Branislav Ivanovic that rules him out of the rst leg of their semi-nal and a calf injury to Eden Hazard that Mourinho said could keep him out for two weeks. For PSG it was a second successive quarter-nal defeat on away goals, after last seasons elimination at the hands of Barcelona. They were left to rue a series of missed chances when the score was still 1-0, notably an effort that Edinson Cavani put over the crossbar, and coach Laurent Blanc said that his side could not use the supposed inferiority of Ligue 1 as an excuse. We cant hide behind that, he said. You guys [journalists] often denigrate Ligue 1 compared to the Champions League, but we cant always use that as an excuse. We cant change it. Ligue 1 is what it is. In my opinion, the tie between PSG and Chelsea came down to not much. Id attribute it more to Chelseas experience at this level compared to us. I think the familiarity with playing these matches ultimately makes the little difference. Id ag that up instead of the supposed weakness of Ligue 1. AFP

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho hailed his sides special spirit after a dramatic late goal by Demba Ba propelled them into the Champions League semi-nals at Paris Saint-Germains expense. Despite trimming PSGs 3-1 aggregate lead through Andre Schuerrle, Chelsea were heading out of the competition until Ba bundled home in the 87th minute of April 8s quarter-nal second leg at Stamford Bridge to send his team through on away goals. The London clubs comeback carried echoes of their 2012 success over Napoli, when they overcame a 3-1 rst-leg loss in the last 16 with a 4-1 win before going on to beat Bayern Munich on penalties in the nal. While Mourinho has often declared that his team are a work in progress and described the victory over PSG as nothing extraordinary he said the belief that his players had shown augured well for the last four. Were in the semi-nals and if the quarter-nals had eight fantastic teams, imagine the four that are going to reach the semi-nals, he said. Anything can happen. A big opponent is waiting for us in the semi-nals, but I think it doesnt matter who. They know that we are the team with special spirit, even if we are not at the maximum of our potential. Asked if he would like to face former club Real Madrid in the last four, Mourinho replied, No. It doesnt matter. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico [Madrid], Bayern Munich, Manchester [United], it doesnt matter.

Anything can happen. A big opponent is waiting for us in the seminals.

Jose Mourinho Chelsea manager

He started to give problems to Paris that normally they dont have in their league because normally theres a different style of approach. On his goal, Ba told ITV, It all happened so quick. I saw the ball and it was in the goal. I just do what I have to do when I get chances. I didnt have chances this season, but tonight I took it. Mourinho celebrated Bas goal by gambolling down the touchline toward his players, but he said that

Chelseas striker Demba Ba beats Paris Alex Costa (left) in the air during their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match at Stamford Bridge in London on April 8. Photo: AFP

Brazil study forecasts Cup gains

WORLD Cup-related spending will give Brazil a major shot in the arm, tripling a US$4.2 billion contribution to the economy made at last years Confederations Cup, a study by the Institute for Economic Research Foundation (FIPE) revealed on April 7. The study for state tourist board Embratur estimated the June 12-July 13 tournament should more than triple last years $4.2 billion gain which emanated from a total $9 billion spending at the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal. The expectation is that the World Cup will generate three times this value, a Tourism Ministry statement said. Brazil has invested more than $11 billion on new stadiums and infrastructure as the giant Latin American nation of 200 million stages its rst World Cup since 1950. But many citizens are appalled at the price tag in a country whose public services and infrastructure are in urgent need of a major overhaul. Last year, more than a million people took to the streets during the Confederations Cup to protest at spending on the tournament and World Cup. The April 7 study showed that 58 percent of the cash generated by the Confederations Cup remained in the six host venues the World Cup will have 12 with the remainder being distributed countrywide. This result shows that the impact of the tournament is not restricted to match venues. The impact is for the whole of Brazil, Tourism Minister Vinicius Lages said in the report. Brazils economy, after a period of strong growth over the past decade, has faltered more recently and last month Standard & Poors lowered the countrys credit rating to BBB-, the lowest level for investment grade debt. Moodys rating agency signalled last week that the World Cup would have only a minor effect on the economy as a whole, although it forecast some sectors such as retail, food and beverages, accommodation and advertising would benet. Brazil expects to welcome some 600,000 foreign visitors to the World Cup and some three million domestic tourists are expected to crisscross the country. The two-week Confederations event saw 303,000 jobs created and the World Cup will see some 48,000 jobs created in tourism alone, according to the National Confederation of Commerce. The World Cup is expected to boost GDP by around 0.5 percent, analysts forecast. AFP

SAO PAULO

Farah faces London marathon baptism of re

BRITAINS double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah makes his eagerly awaited marathon debut in London on April 13, but has his work cut out with the jump-in distance and competition from top Kenyans and Ethiopians. Kenyas elite runners say they have little to fear from the newcomer to the distance, predicting a baptism of re for Farah as he grapples with uncharted racing territory coupled with seasoned marathon veterans setting a punishing pace. The 32-year-old 5,000m and 10,000m track star spent the better part of the winter training in Kenyas high-altitude Rift Valley region in a bid to raise his game and compete against the worlds best. Leading the elite eld is Kenyan Wilson Kipsang, who holds the world record after clocking a spectacular 2:03.23 in Berlin last year and has won London in 2012. Observers of the sport see Farah as being capable of running a time of around 2:06. Its not going to be easy [for Farah] and hes not likely to win, Kipsang told AFP. Farah caused a scare last month when he collapsed after the New York City Half Marathon, in which he came in second behind Kenyas Geoffrey Mutai and failed again to break the one hour mark for 21.1km (13.1 miles), something his competitors manage on a regular basis. Mutai, who regularly trains with Kipsang, will also be racing London and will be a fearsome competitor having won the New York marathon twice, as well as Berlin and Boston, where he clocked an unofficial world best of 2:03.02. Still, Mutai said the Somaliaborn Farah will be something of a dark horse in the pack. Hes actually very t and he will give us a big push in London, Mutai said. Fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai, another rival who holds the London marathon course record of 2:04.40, said Farahs only hope would be if the Kenyans and Ethiopians set out at too fast a pace and hit the wall repeating what happened a year ago. Im only hoping the runners do not try to break each other down in the ght for the lead during the early part of the race like we did last year, to our own detriment, he said. Early pace-setting will be provided by the legendary Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, who is under instruction to take the athletes through the rst 30km of the 42.2km course at the worldrecord pace. AFP

NAIROBI

A man celebrates the opening of the Beira Rio Stadium on April 5. Photo: AFP

www.mmtimes.com
PORTO

Sport 51

Ronaldo of knees, saves careers

ENOWNED as the Ronaldo of knees, pioneering Portuguese surgeon Jose Carlos Noronha is saving the careers of top world football players who feel the dreaded, career-threatening crack of a torn ligament. A tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, one of the main stabilisers at the centre of the knee joint, is a potential careerkiller and one of the most feared injuries among footballers. But Noronha was credited in the worlds sporting press with performing a miracle cure when he operated on Real Madrids Pepe in December 2009 and the Portuguese international recovered in time for the 2010 World Cup. Now the Colombian international Radamel Falcao is hoping for a similar reprieve after going under Noronhas knife for the same injury on January 22 this year, less than ve knee cap, and uses it as a graft to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in an operation lasting barely half an hour. I think the secret of a quick recovery is in the placing of the graft, Noronha said, It needs to be xed at the base of the torn ligament. It is the same technique the surgeon used on the 28-year-old Falcao who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during a French Cup match in January. Noronhas fame rst began to spread after he operated on Cesar Peixoto, a veteran Portuguese international who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in 2003. Without him, I would certainly have had to stop playing a long time ago, Peixoto said. Its not for nothing that they call him the Messi or the Ronaldo of knees. The injury is a traumatic event for a professional player. I will never forget the day it happened to me, said Peixoto. It was in Marseille in 2003, during a Champions League match with my club at the time, FC Porto. Just after the 60th minute, I felt a crack. He had to be rushed off the pitch. After a quick examination, it was obvious he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament and would need urgent surgery. Ten years ago, it would, very often, have meant the end of a career, said the midelder, who now plays for top-league Gil Vicente but who played for Benca until 2012. His doctors decided to call Noronha, who at that time was not treating famous players. Six months later, however, Peixoto was ready to play again and Noronhas name was being spoken of in football teams around the world. The surgeon now works both with the Porto team and GestiFute, a management agency with players including Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo. Noronha plays down his success, however. Its just the fact of working in the world of football that has brought me a certain fame, he said. AFP

Monacos Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (left) poses with former Argentinian player Marcelo Gallardo on April 6 in Monaco. Photo: AFP

Without him, I would certainly have had to stop playing a long time ago.
Cesar Peixoto Portuguese footballer

months before the opening of the World Cup in Brazil. Noronha is one of the worlds foremost practitioners of a new keyhole surgical repair, which allows players to get back to tness and the pitch more quickly. He does about 100 of the operations a year, working every Monday in the private Trindade Hospital in Porto, a city on Portugals northern coast. Today, he is operating on a young amateur footballer who got injured over the weekend.

After adjusting his mask over his mouth and nose, the surgeon calmly cuts into the knee of his patient, who is under general anaesthetic. In one hand, Noronha holds an endoscope an optical tube with a light to guide him which is inserted into the body through an incision. In the other, he wields his instruments. Each surgical movement within the joint is relayed to a television monitor. With small, precise movements, Noronha removes a section of the patellar tendon, which lies over the

Doctor Jose Carlos Noronha prepares for a knee surgery at the Trindade hospital in Porto on March 24. Photo: AFP

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52 THE MYANMAR TIMES APRIL 14 - 20, 2014

SPORT EDITOR: Tim McLaughlin | timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com

Brazil looks for World Cup boost

SPORT 50

Sooner the better, says McIlroy

AUGUSTA

Golfer hopes to be the rst from Ireland to win the Masters

ORY McIlroy cannot begin to contemplate a career where he will be ineligible to have breakfast in the Masters Champions Locker Room at Augusta National. McIlroy singled out the likes of Greg Norman and Ernie Els,who have both been denied such an opportunity and then witnessed younger players who grew up idolising them succeed at Augusta. There is defending champion Adam Scott, who as a youngster had pictures of Norman about his bedroom. Then theres Els, the best golfer to come out of South Africa since Gary Player, graciously but no doubt painstakingly having to congratulate Masterswinning countrymen Trevor Immelman and Charl Schwartzel. Its why McIlroy desperately seeks to become the rst Irish golfer to be tted out with a green jacket. It has to be tough because you can look at someone like Greg Norman seeing Adam win last year, said McIlroy. Then theres Ernie[Els] and he sees Trevor [Immelman] winning, he sees Charl [Schwartzel] win, and he sees all these young South Africans playing so well, like Louis [Oosthuizen] going so close in a playoff against Bubba [Watson], said McIlroy. Ernie should have won in 2004 when [Phil] Mickelson birdied two of the last three. Its why Im determined at 24 that I dont want to get to that point when Im 44. So thats why it would great to win one Masters sooner rather than later. Its why I just cannot contemplate a career without a green jacket as the Masters just stands out from the other majors because we go back to the same venue every year. And Id be disappointed if I ended my career and wasnt able to go up and have breakfast in the Champions Locker Room. While rain washed out much of the rst official practice round on April 7 McIlroy will now be smiling when he steps onto the 10th tee. Not only did the recent ice storm bring down the famed Eisenhower Tree, but it also felled the large overhanging branch down the left side of the 10th fairway that McIlroy collected during his gut-wrenching 2011 Masters meltdown. McIlroy was made aware the storm had brought down the huge branch from Rorys Tree when playing a practice round in the leadup to this years Masters. Whenever the members play Augusta there is a guy has a beverage cart parked on the 10th tee and he mentioned it to me when I was up there Tuesday before heading to Houston, said McIlroy. He just said to me, Oh that branch, its not there anymore. And then when I looked it was gone, broken off in the ice storm and Augusta had to take it away. So while the ice storm nally granted the late US President Dwight

I just cannot contemplate a career without a green jacket as the Masters just stands out from the other majors.
Rory McIlroy Irish golfer

IN PICTURES

Lights out: Thar Thae Ta Pwint fails to stand before the referees 10 count after being knocked out by Arr Mann during the fourth round of their boxing match on April 6 at Peoples Park in Yangon. The bout was part of a larger outdoor sevenmatch card. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

Eisenhower his lifelong request, nature has delivered McIlroy some justice for him to savour. And if McIlroy believes Gods hand can help him win at Augusta then theres the bizarre statistic that on the four occasions Tiger Woods has not contested a Major an Irish golfer has succeeded Padraig Harrington 2008 British Open and 2008 PGA, McIlroy 2011 US Open and Darren Clarke 2011 British Open. Thats good omen, he said smiling. Im not that superstitious but maybe it gives you an extra bit of Oh, I might have a bit of an extra chance this week. McIlroy arrived into Augusta late on April 6 following a condencelifting nal round 65 to share seventh place in the Shell Houston Open. It was his best-ever round in four appearances in Houston. AFP