March 12 - 18, 2012

myanmartimes
Myanmars first international weekly Volume 31, No. 618 1200 Kyats

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Ministry scraps jet fuel price rise plan: airlines

By Zaw Win Than STATE-RUN Myanma Petroleum Products Enterprise last week reversed its plan to sell aviation fuel to domestic airlines at the market rate after lobbying from the tourism industry. The change would have seen domestic fares on most routes rise about 20 percent, with fuel surcharges on a handful of routes due to increase US$25 for foreign travellers and K18,000 for locals. Domestic airlines were planning to introduce the fuel surcharge rise on March 8 but were informed by MPPE on March 6 that it had decided to keep aviation fuel at K2500 a gallon (4.57 litres). MPPE a Ministry of Energy business had announced in late February that from March 1 it would no longer sell fuel at a fixed rate, although it was not immediately clear how much prices were expected to rise. Airlines responded by immediately upping surcharges, although pushed back their introduction by a week after complaints from agents and customers. All domestic airlines received an announcement from the ministry on March 6 in which the ministry said it would sell aviation fuel at the old fixed rate, said a spokesperson from the public relations and customer services department at Air Bagan. We will refund any customers who paid the additional fuel surcharge. Yangon Airways also announced on March 6 that all passengers who paid the higher fuel surcharge could get a refund at the airlines head office in MMB Tower, Mingalar Taung Nyunt township. A spokesperson from Diethelm Travel said the company welcomed the change of policy from the stateowned enterprise and domestic airlines. After we were informed [of the surcharge increase] at short notice on February 28, we discussed the issue with private tourism bodies like [Myanmar Marketing Committee] and [Union of Myanmar Travel Association] and sent a letter to the ministry requesting it to reconsider the fuel surcharge increase. MMC and UMTA helped us a lot in this matter, said Ma Than Than Swe, tour manager at Diethelm Travel. Finally we were quite happy with the ministrys announcement on March 6. I think in future if the fuel price is going to go up or down, they should inform us a bit earlier, rather than giving us very short notice, she said.

Wheels

16 pages I n s I d e

A SPECIAL FEATURE
Pic: Ko Taik

Smaller parties struggle amid NLD media storm

Challenges mount for small opposition parties ahead of April 1 by-elections
Why are you, the media, always focusing on the NLD? Us smaller parties are also going to contest the by-elections, said U Khin Maung Swe from the National Democratic Force (NDF). Most of the media only covers Daw Aung San Suu Kyis campaign trips, agreed U Kyaw of the New National Democracy Party. We dont blame you but [the media coverage] should be fair. The lack of interest from the media is a relatively new challenge for the parties that contested the November 2010 election. After the NLD opted not to contest the poll, the NDF and other opposition groups, such as the Democratic Party (Myanmar), received a significant number of column centimetres before and after election day. However, their relatively poor showing in that election and the return of the NLD has prompted a number of members including some senior officials to cross over to the NLD. As they prepare for next months poll, the parties also face many of the same issues that dogged their attempts to win seats in 2010, including a lack of financial and human resources, the first past the post voting system, and concerns over advanced votes and vote buying. Party officials said they expected to win fewer seats on April 1 than in 2010, when the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won almost 80 percent of all national and regional constituencies. Both the USDP and NLD will contest all 48 seats, while the National Unity Party (NUP) is fielding 23 candidates. In contrast to 2010, when the aim was to field as many candidates as possible so that voters had a third option after the USDP and NUP smaller parties have instead opted to focus their efforts on by-election constituencies in which they enjoy strong support. The Democratic Party (Myanmar) will contest only the Pyithu Hluttaw seat of Mingalar Taung Nyunt, where chairman U Thu Wai will run against Daw Le Le Thin from the USDP, Daw Phyu Phyu Thin from the NLD, U Kaung Myint Htut of the Myanmar National Congress and U Phone Myint from the New National Democracy Party. U Thu Wai said the partys campaign budget K1 million, just one-tenth of the maximum allowed, and the use of one vehicle was nothing compared to the resources of the USDP and NLD. We have conducted three or four campaign events so far, he said. When my rival from the USDP campaigns, she travels around in a convoy of more than 10 vehicles. The NLD is also campaigning with four or five vehicles. More page 4 THE darlings of Myanmars print media in 2010, smaller opposition political parties are struggling to break through blanket media coverage of the National League for Democracys campaign activities. Senior officials from several parties told The Myanmar Times last week that by neglecting nonNLD candidates, they believed the media could be failing in its duty to keep voters properly informed. They argue they have not been given enough opportunities to present party policies and introduce candidates to voters through the media, harming their chances of winning seats on April 1.

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Pic: Kaung Htet

Myanmar/Burma name game takes a new twist

NOT long ago, when one of my articles appeared in another publication, all references to Myanmar were changed, without my approval, to Burma. Even a mention of The Myanmar Times was altered to The Burma Times, despite the fact that no such newspaper exists. While embarrassing, it was not unusual. Many analysts, who spoke about Myanmar and Yangon, found their quotes altered to refer to the old colonial names Burma and Rangoon. As far as the editors of these publications were concerned, it was more important to make a point than to report the truth. But that was then and this is now, and like Saul on the road to Damascus, they have experienced a startling conversion following the revolutionary steps undertaken by the newly elected government in Myanmar. Those steps have included releasing political prisoners, easing restrictions on the media, granting visas to expatriate oppositionists and journalists, and even giving free rein to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the nations pro-democracy icon. As a result, the colonial dinosaurs in their fusty editorial backwaters have been put in a fix. Not only is it palpably dishonest and unethical of them to keep mangling peoples quotes, but by continuing to do so they appear out of step with Myanmars reforms. So, quickly and quietly, in order not to alert outsiders to their embarrassing volte-face, they have embraced the formerly hated terms. Consider the Bangkok Post, for instance: Thailands flagship English-language daily, a mouthpiece of the Democrat Party, and a forthright proponent of freedom and democracy (dont laugh). Until days ago, this great organ, whose masthead motto is The Newspaper You Can Trust, routinely bastardised reports so that all references to Myanmar were changed to Burma. Now, however, a reset button has been pressed and all references to Burma are changed to Myanmar. Thus, last week, Aung Zaw, the founder of Irrawaddy, a magazine laudably devoted to the pro-democracy movement, was quoted in the Bangkok Post as saying he hopes to publish a magazine in Myanmar, not in

Burma. Even more hilarious was the way, in the same article, the selfrighteous editors hit the reset button again and referred to the DVB as the Democratic Voice of Myanmar. Perhaps we should not scoff, for the Thai medias reporting about Myanmar is traditionally suffused with wild speculation, brutal opacity and a shocking tendency to include an occasional accurate statement. One subject they have not explored in any detail, however, and yet is of great fascination, is which foreign country Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will visit first after next months by-elections. No one doubts that she and most of her partys candidates will win and become MPs, and that soon after the European Union will lift its trade and investment restrictions on Myanmar. At that time, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said she will start to accept some of the myriad invitations she has received from nations around the world. She has always said that her first visit will be to Norway, which awarded her the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and thus thrust her name onto the worlds stage. But recently, she has been displeased by the way the Norwegian government has called for the immediate elimination of sanctions and has urged businessmen to start investing in Myanmar. The EU and the United States have always said they will not lift sanctions until Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gives the word. And she does not look kindly on anyone else, even the Norwegians, trying to usurp that power. So she is now likely to go somewhere else first and then travel to Oslo. Probably, it will be Kuala Lumpur, since she recently received a personal invite from Malaysias veteran diplomat Razali Ismail, who also visited government leaders and the newly released former prime minister U Khin Nyunt. When Daw Suu gets to KL, she will speak about Myanmar, not Burma. And then the dodos will all waddle into line.

Above: NLD supporters at a rally in Nay Pyi Taws Dekkinathiri township on March 5. Above right: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speaks at a campaign event in Pobbathiri township. Below right: A supporter in Nay Pyi Taw holds a sign saying, Amay Suu, may you be healthy. Below left: A member of Mandalay Bike Adventures rides to Mandalay airport on March 3 to greet the NLD leader. Pic: Yadana Htun

Pic: Kaung Htet

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Pic: Kaung Htet

March 12 - 18, 2012

Largest crowds yet greet Daw Suu Kyi in MDY

THEIR bodies already covered in a slick of sweat, the group of bicycle riders tear along the concrete highway in the cool air of the early morning. All wearing red T-shirts with National League for Democracy logo, they are heading to Mandalay International Airport, about 20 kilometres southwest of the citys downtown area. We started our trip at 6am and it will take about two hours to get to the airport to welcome Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Its tiring but we want to grab this once in a lifetime chance, said Ko Kyin Kyin, a member of Mandalay Bike Adventures, a group established by amateur riders in the city. Competing against faster motorcycles, about 50 members of the group rode to greet the NLD leader on March 3 on her arrival in the city. Normally bereft of traffic, on this morning theres a long line of vehicles at the airport. Loaded with people of all ages, they have been waiting since the early morning for a glimpse of their political hero. Shortly before 9am, someone shouts: Shes coming. Shes wearing green. A loud cheers alerts the rest of the waiting crowd and together they chant wishes for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the NLD leader starts her trip from the airport to Aung Pin Lal field in Chanmyartharsi township to make a public speech. Its been more than nine years [since Daw Aung San Suu Kyis last visit] and Ive never seen such a huge crowd. The vehicles following her convoy even fill the opposite lane and everywhere there are people in bright red, Mandalay journalist Ko San Yu said, pointing towards the sea of smiling people. Some tie shawls with NLD logos on their foreheads and some hold paper fans with the partys symbol. Carrying small and large versions of the NLD flag, which bears a golden fighting peacock and white star on a red background, people continuously shout Amay Suu (Mother Suu) all the way along the road from the airport to Aung Pin Lal. Because of the crowds, it took Daw Aung San Suu Kyis convoy four hours to complete a trip that would normally take just one and a half. In the soft summer rain, Aung Pin Lal field, which can normally hold about 40,000 people, is swamped by a huge crowd. NLD chief spokesperson U Ohn Kyaing, who will contest Mandalays Mahaaungmyay township in the April 1 by-elections, told The Myanmar Times that the rallies in Mandalay from March 3 to 6 had been the partys biggest to date, with the NLD deploying about 4000 youth members to ensure Daw Aung San Suu Kyis security. Its got to be a record! exclaimed Daw Aye Kywe, who travelled from her home in Mandalays outlying Oboe ward to the citys downtown area the previous day to hear Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speak. Mandalay has shown its enormous support and love for Daw Suu, more than other towns. Everyone has come out to welcome her theres no one left at home. In the crowd, Ma Wai Wai Myaing, who lives near Aung Pin Lal field, attempts to get a glimpse of the NLD leader as she tries to shelter her eight-month-old child from the gentle rain. Ive been waiting here since morning and my knees are starting to hurt but Im so happy. I really wanted to see her. I stared at her up there on the stage until my neck became too sore, said Ma Wai Wai Myaing. The visit to Mandalay came after weeks of campaigning that seemed to sap some of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis strength. She made only short speeches, and on one occasion had to leave the stage after feeling ill. As on her other trips, she highlighted the importance of the rule of law in her speeches. Some people think that rule of law is the duty of the politicians. Thats not true. Its the concern of all the workers, civil servants and farmers. We need rule of law for our security. Thats why our NLD will work for rule of law, she said. Its impossible for the people to enjoy improvements in their lives if they dont have security.

NLD confident it can win in capital

By Win Ko Ko Latt DAW Aung San Suu Kyi urged Nay Pyi Taw residents to make the right decision when casting their ballots on the April 1 by-elections, during her two-day campaign in the capital last week. She said she was confident National League for Democracy candidates could win in Nay Pyi Taw, despite the fact it was a Union Solidarity and Development Party stronghold in the November 2010 poll. We decided our candidates would come and compete in Nay Pyi Taw for the byelections because I believe the people will make the right decision, she told voters in Nay Pyi Taws Dekkinathiri township on March 5, the first day of her two-day campaign trip. We are mentally taking a risk by coming to Nay Pyi Taw and making our candidates compete in Nay Pyi Taw constituencies. in your minds that the state cannot stand on its own, without the people. The people are the most fundamental part of the state. The NLD and the people needed to cooperate to combat fraud and rigging in the byelections, she said, adding that the party would conduct voter education programs to ensure ballot forms were completed correctly. We are trying to conduct a voter education program in Nay Pyi Taw. If any electoral fraud takes place, we will object to the Union Election Commission. To be a developed country, we have to raise the living standard of farmers, businessmen and government staff, she said. Our countrys most precious possessions are not gas or jade, it is our people.

We decided our candidates

would come and compete in Nay Pyi Taw because I believe the people will make the right decison.

She also said National League for Democracy wanted to develop a peoplecentred democratic system. All of you should bear

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

Four political objectives

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

Four economic objectives

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

Four social objectives

88 Generation leaders deny rumours of rift with NLD

By Shwe Yinn Mar Oo and Yamon Phu Thit THE 88 Generation group has denied rumours of a cooling in relations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The group has pledged its support for the NLD leader but talk of discord began to appear after its members did not attend a party rally that coincided with their recent visit to Myitkyina. So far we havent had any disagreement with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi or her party from our point of view. We can work together for the long term, the groups most prominent member, Min Ko Naing, said at a press conference in Yangon on March 4. He said the NLD leader always encouraged frank discussions between the two groups and the rumours were probably due to the nature of [their] organisations. Maybe there are some controversial issues at the lower levels of the organisations but its difficult to know what those are. throughout the country. In recent weeks it has conducted tours of Ayeyarwady and Mandalay regions and Kachin State. A transparent community is not a society that is closed or in the dark our objective [is for] the role of the people [to become] higher and more important, he said. Another student leader, Ko Ko Gyi, said the 88 Generation wanted to encourage individual development and the creation of a society that was fearless. If we see barriers towards establishing a transparent community we will raise it with the authorities and we will also discuss the desires of the people [with them], he said. Ko Htay Kywe, another student leader who was released from prison in January, said the group would strive to create unity across all age groups. Following its trip to Myitkyina, the 88 Generation released a statement on February 28 calling for political dialogue that could bring about genuine peace and create a union based on freedom and equality.

88 Generation members speak at a press conference in Yangon on March 4. Pic: Shwe Yinn Mar Oo He said the group stood by its statement in January that it supported Daw Aung San Suu Kyis decision to take part in the coming by-elections. Its not only concerning the election campaign, the student leader said. We will help Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Following the release of many of its top leaders in a January amnesty, the 88 Generation also announced it would work to build peace and transparency

La Nia to bring rain, cooler temperatures: DMH

THE lower half of Myanmar can expect cooler than average temperatures for the rest of March, an official from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) said last week. In its monthly forecast, the department said Ayeyarwady, Bago, Tanintharyi and Yangon regions and Kayin, Mon, From page 1 Rakhine and southern Shan states should expect belowaverage temperatures, while Mandalay and Magwe regions will likely see above-average temperatures. The official said the lower temperatures were the result of the La Nia weather system and could run through to June. Rain is expected in March in these areas because of easterly winds and the impact of La Nia and this could last until June. La Nia is also expected to bring rain in April and May in some areas of the country, he said. Even after the La Nia system ends, its impact can last one or two more months. Generally speaking, rain is expected in some regions throughout summer and this will mitigate some of the heat, he said. The department has also forecast eight to 10 days of rain in Tanintharyi Region and Kachin State, five to seven days in upper Sagaing Region and Shan, Kayin and Mon states and two to four days for the remaining areas of the country in March. Aye Sapay Phyu

Smaller parties
Nevertheless, he said he was contesting the seat which he lost narrowly to U Aung Kyi of the USDP in 2010 out of loyalty to his supporters. I decided to participate in the election at the urging of some residents. However, most of my supporters in the previous election turned against me and sided with the NLD. These voters came and told me that all our parties are the same, they are all democratic, he said. He expressed concern that the first past the post system would result in the vote being split between democratic parties, as occurred in a large number of constituencies in 2010, and said a preferential voting system should be introduced for the 2015 general election. Smaller parties have formed a Friendship Group to ensure that they dont field

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candidates against each other where possible but the NLD has rebuffed any attempts to coordinate with minor parties, party officials said. U Khin Maung Swe said his party, which will field 13 candidates across Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, Ayeyarwady and Magwe regions and Kachin State, was facing not only financial difficulties but also a smear campaign. People are spreading rumours about our party to lessen the peoples trust in us, he said, declining to name which group was responsible. Established by former NLD members who disagreed with that partys decision to boycott the 2010 election, the party has regularly faced fierce criticism from hardcore NLD members and opposition activists both at home and abroad. Nevertheless, he said the party was determined to give voters an extra option when they cast their ballot.

In all constituencies, we will face candidates from both the USDP and NLD. Our party is poor and our candidates have to use their own money to campaign, U Khin Maung Swe said. He said the party would be watching all of its rivals closely to ensure they adhered to rules on campaigning, including the K10 million budget per candidate. All need to compete fairly to get precious votes from people. We will watch closely whether these elections are really fair. The election field is artificially crowded in some constituencies by an amendment to the Political Party Registration Law that requires parties formed since the 2010 election to field at least three candidates. The most well-known among this group is probably the Thingangyun township-based New National Democracy Party, formed by renegade

NDF members in early 2011. The party will field candidates in the Yangon Region constituencies of Mingalar Taung Nyunt, Mayangone and Dagon Seikkan. We cant compete with the two largest parties in terms of spending power on campaigning but we have made sure that we are well organised so that we still have a chance of winning, said U Kyaw, one of the partys two Yangon Region Hluttaw representatives. The partys grassroots campaigning style worked to good effect in 2010, when it recorded a clean sweep of all four constituencies in Thingangyun township. We will see on April 1 whether the election is fair or not, he said, before adding: It is important that those who are always talking about rule of law also respect the law [on campaigning]. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

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Lawyer for Thai Yi workers applauds tribunal decision

By Noe Noe Aung and Soe Sandar Oo WORKERS at a Yangon factory have returned to work after a Ministry of Labour dispute resolution tribunal awarded them a pay rise, ending an almost month-long strike. A lawyer for the approximately 1800 workers from Thai Yi footwear factory in Hlaing Tharyar township hailed it as the most just, most fair, and best [labour] decision ever. The tribunal decided to raise workers regular pay to K120 an hour and basic monthly salary to K51,000, U Aung Thurein Tun told The Myanmar Times on March 2, adding that the monthly salary did not include overtime. Previously workers received K75 an hour for a basic salary of K40,000. The decision was announced on March 1 after workers submitted the case to the ministry for adjudication on February 22. Workers from the factory began their strike on February 6 after the factorys owner cut their salary from K17,000 to K10,000 for the 10-day Chinese New Year break. They called for an increase in hourly pay from K70 to K100, increased overtime pay and a rise in their holiday allowance from K6000 to K8000 a month. They had also requested decreased salary cuts for taking sick leave and leave on public holidays, as well as minor infringements, such as accidentally making too much noise while working. They negotiated on five separate occasions with the owner but were unable to

NUP member appeals by-election rejection

A NATIONAL Unity Party member rejected from running in the April 1 byelections on citizenship grounds is lobbying the Union Election Commission to be reinstated. The Yangon Region Election Sub-commission rejected Daw Sandar Myint from standing as a candidate in Mingalar Taunt Nyunt on February 23 because at least one of her parents was not a citizen when she was born, as required under the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law. However, earlier this month she filed an appeal on the basis that the law contravenes section 120(b) of the constitution, which states that every citizen has the right to be a candidate if both parents are citizens. The Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law added more criteria, Daw Sandar Myint said at a press conference on March 9. It contradicts the 2008 state constitution. My parents both had a National Registration Card (NRC) when I applied to run as a candidate but the commission rejected me because my parents were not citizens when I was born. Further complicating matters is the fact that Daw Sandar Myint competed in the 2010 general election as a candidate in Lanmadaw. She said the commission also questioned her eligibility in 2010 but eventually allowed her to run. This time they didnt let me explain, and didnt even send me a written notification, she said. I would like to know why I do not have chance to compete in this by-election even though I competed in the 2010 election. I want to ask the commission, is it a free and fair election? Because I no longer think it is. They also said not everyone who holds an NRC is a citizen. I dont understand how that can be. U Aye Thein, a lawyer and Yangon Region Hluttaw representative, said the National Unity Party was backing Daw Sandar Myints campaign to be reinstated. In the case of Daw Sandar Myint, she has the right to be candidate under both the 2008 constitution and Citizenship Law enacted in 1982, said U Aye Thein, a member of the Yangon Region Hluttaw Legal Affairs Committee. We want the commission to decide this case based on the 2008 constitution because in every country, the constitution is the supreme law of the state. Ei Ei Toe Lwin

Workers vote during a strike at the Thai Yi factory in Yangons Hlaing Tharyar township. Pic: Kaung Htet reach an agreement with the factorys Taiwanese owner. However, about 400 workers resumed work with improved pay conditions on February 22. The tribunal heard the dispute on February 28 and all workers resumed work the following day, ahead of the tribunals decision, said U Aung Thurein Tun. Both the owner of the factory and the Ministry of Labour declined to answer questions when contacted by The Myanmar Times. While the result was a mostly satisfying one for workers, one lawyer involved in the strike said it had shown that they were still unable to access the rights afforded them under the Labour Organisation Law, which was promulgated in late 2011. Mr Steve Marshall, liaison officer to Myanmar for the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which assisted the government in drafting the labour law, said there were still several steps that the government needed to take before workers would be able to form unions, as permitted under the labour law. The ILO was consulted in January on the drafting of the Administrative Rules supporting the Labour Organisations Act the consultation went well and we understand that the draft is currently with Cabinet for approval prior to being signed off by Minister of Labour. Once they are promulgated and the Chief Registrar of Unions is appointed there is no physical impediment to the act coming into force all that is then required is the political decision of the President to issue the appropriate instruction, he told The Myanmar Times by email recently. It would be good for all, and especially the government, if it were in force with a few unions registered before our governing body meeting in late March. Mr Marshall said the ILO has no role in individual strikes but does follow such events and can provide advice in respect of general policy and procedural options for the handling of disputes.

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The importance of consultation

By Eugene Quah AS Edmund Burke once said, Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny. For decades Myanmar has been plagued by laws that bring out the worst in human nature; laws that create perverse incentives, and enable and encourage those who wield power to exploit it at the expense of others. Many have suffered as a result. It is widely recognised that a sound legal framework is crucial to support national development. Many also acknowledge that the legal system is replete with antiquated laws that are clearly inappropriate for contemporary Myanmar society. The overarching legal architecture of the 2008 Constitution has enabled many actors from the former government to shine. Many who have stepped into key roles have demonstrated that they have the interests of the people at heart and it is clear that they are determined not to follow the same path as their predecessors. There is no turning back ... but where will we be led by this road paved with good intentions? While Myanmar has many pressing needs, the process of law reform should not be rushed. Regardless of the intentions of the legislature, to make drastic changes in haste is to tempt fate and risk disaster: something as trivial as a single word out of place can have far-reaching and unintended consequences. Better outcomes are more likely to be achieved if the government opts for unhurried transition rather than overnight transformation. The time invested in systematic planning will pay dividends in the many years to come. In addition to attenuating the speed of change, it is important that the legislative process incorporates formal consultation procedures that enable all stakeholders to participate insofar as is practicable. There are many reasons for this. One is quality control. Sound research and proper consultation serve as a bulwark against bad laws. Criticism and feedback are much more valuable prior to the enactment of a law, than after. Research and consultation will help to illuminate issues where there are legal black holes and grey areas, and provide valuable insights into how the law can address problems before they occur. potential negative impacts upon local businesses, manual labourers, women and the environment? And how can these impacts be minimised? There are no easy answers, and a plethora of problems will undoubtedly arise. However, the aims and objectives of the laws are less likely to be realised if the legislation is drafted and enacted in a rush or without public participation. To ascertain what is attractive to foreign investors, one might start by comparing laws from countries that are investment alternatives. However, it would also be wise to seek the opinion of experts, and consult existing and potential foreign investors. One way to identify stakeholders and learn about their interests is to establish a committee (or better yet, a law reform commission) and make a call to the public for submissions. In short, one might say that the answers are to be found by asking the people. Without proper consultation, there is a risk that the laws will be neither appropriate nor adapted for the local context: laws that bear sweet fruit in one state may fail to blossom in another, and it is too easy to overlook the idiosyncratic features of a country like Myanmar. Failure to consult increases the risk that the laws will not achieve their intended objectives. Slowing down the process of law reform and taking a more thorough and participative approach will lead to better outcomes for all concerned. Bills must be made publicly available and accessible. Processes and mechanisms for public consultation and debate, and for inter-ministry cooperation and coordination, should be developed. A departure from the traditional top-down approach to lawmaking would be another significant step towards democracy for Myanmar and one that is needed without delay. Without this, there is a real danger that the current government will unwittingly follow the path of its predecessors, and leave yet another disastrous legislative legacy for the people of Myanmar and future generations. (Mr Quah is an Australian lawyer who lives in Myanmar. His interests include Myanmar law, legal education and, of course, the rule of law. He can be contacted at eugeneq@gmail.com.)

A member of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw speaks at a session on March 1. Pic: AFP Occasionally a person may possess what appears to be foresight, but no human is blessed with omniscience. Those involved in law reform should not only examine legislation from neighbouring countries but also study how those laws have been applied and what the effects were. One must also give consideration to how the law fits into the legal and institutional framework, and the political, economic, and social environment of that particular jurisdiction. It would not be wise to enact a law because everyone else is doing it. submitting bills. If people who are not given an opportunity to have their say are adversely affected by the laws which inevitably happens, irrespective of whether a law is good or bad they will not only criticise the law but also blame the government. Being able to demonstrate that laws were formulated with public consultation helps to mitigate the degree of responsibility attributed to the government for any undesirable impacts that follow, and allows the government to deservingly take credit for facilitating the generation of the positive outcomes. with a formal channel to express their concerns and discontent in a civilised manner. One positive example is postapartheid South Africa. When embarking on legal reform, Nelson Mandela wisely decided not to rely exclusively on experts and instead encouraged the community to participate in law reform (using a law reform commission). Finally, when formulating legislation it is crucial to consider how the proposed laws would interact with other existing and proposed ones. Thus, the engagement of lawyers (both practitioners and

a Without proper consultation, there isforrisk that the laws will be neither appropriate nor adapted the local context.
As many people including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz have pointed out, being a late bloomer means that one has the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others, which is certainly a better alternative to copying them blindly. Consultation is not only in the interests of the people upon whom the laws will impact, but also lawmakers. Members of parliament must be able to ascertain the desires of voters in their constituencies in order to represent them not least because they (and their parties) will be held to account in future elections. Union-level organisations must allow all stakeholders the opportunity to provide input before drafting and Public participation also gives the government increased legitimacy in the eyes of the international community. If a government is clearly seen to seek input from its citizens, it can hardly be described as authoritarian. It would also represent a significant break with the past and make it harder for countries and advocacy groups beyond the borders of Myanmar including those that are often referred to as media to argue otherwise. Having legislative processes that provide real opportunities for participation gives citizens confidence in their government, and thereby reduces the likelihood of civil unrest. It provides citizens academics) and inter-ministry coordination is also essential. Let us consider an example: the much-anticipated law concerning foreign investment. What would an ideal law look like? There is, of course, no right answer: what may be a godsend for one person may be a curse for another. However, for all intents and purposes let us assume that the general aim is to attract foreign investment, spread its benefits as evenly as possible and minimise the negative impacts upon individuals. How can we know what will be attractive to foreign investors? What are the interests of the different stakeholders, and how should they be balanced? What are the

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The Mail Box

Dear Editor, The Vietnam experience of economic reforms by Adam McCarty in last weeks issue of The Myanmar Times is a free second-hand lesson. We should learn from it and take what is suitable for our current situation. Vietnams growth has occurred because it did the right thing at the right moment when making economic reforms. This article should be read by policy makers, senior ministry managers director generals and directors and advisory groups. I hope The Myanmar Times and other journals translate it into Myanmarlanguage to reach a wider readership. Thank you again for a very informative and valuable article. Best regards, Myo Aung (Retired)
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MyanMar tiMes March 12 - 18, 2012

Expat businessman restores remote pagoda in Cambodia

By Aung Shin and May Sandy THE restoration of a Myanmar-style stupa in a remote corner of Cambodia has brought the two countries closer together, a senior Cambodian official said last week. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Ms Men Sam An said at a ceremony on March 3 to mark National Culture Day that the pagoda, in the western province of Pailin, would also help promote the practice of Buddhism in her country. Ms Men Sam An was speaking one day ahead of a formal ceremony to inaugurate the restored Aung Sular Mani pagoda and hoist its hti. The ceremony was conducted in traditional Cambodian and Myanmar style and was attended by senior officials from Cambodia and Myanmar as well as local residents. Minister for Religious Affairs Thura U Myint Maung told The Myanmar Times at the ceremony that he was pleased to see the Cambodian governments keen support for the restoration project. We are Buddhist countries. We need to help each other so that our religion flourishes in our countries. I also hope to see friendlier relations between Cambodia and Myanmar in the future [as a result of this restoration project], the minister said. Aung Sular Mani was built in 19th century by immigrants from Myanmar, who are known in Cambodia as the and the Myanmar immigrants. A few months after getting permission from local authorities [to restore the pagoda], I also signed an agreement with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts for the restoration, he said. I brought all the technicians from Myanmar, for masonry, bronze casting and the stainless steel structure. We took great care so that the pagoda was restored in the Myanmar style. The restoration expense is estimated as US$1.5million for almost two years period. U Pyone Maung Maung, whose company is implementing an e-passport project with the Cambodian government, said he wanted to expand construction work at the pagoda to include a new platform on its southern side, rebuilding stairways on the western and eastern sides, a museum and retaining walls for Bodhi trees in the pagoda compound. Well-wishers in Myanmar can make a donation by contacting Innwa book store in Yangon. Mr Ee Chhean, governor of Pailin a Khmer Rouge stronghold well into the 1990s paid tribute to U Pyone Maung Maungs efforts to restore the site. We extend our gratitude to Mr Pyone Maung Maung and his people for their best efforts, said Mr Ee Chhean, a former Khmer Rouge commander. This is not only something we are proud of but also a place where local people can pay homage. It could also become a major tourist attraction for Pailin.

Rail ministry agrees to K5.5b budget cut

By Soe Than Lynn HLUTTAW representatives have praised Minister for Rail Transportation U Aung Min for agreeing last week to cut K5.5 billion (about US$6.7 million) from his ministrys budget to free up cash for a proposed civil servant pay rise. Of the 10 Union Ministers who fronted the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on March 5, U Aung Min was the only minister who proposed specific budget cuts for 2012-13. Representatives were so pleased that Rail Transportation Minister U Aung Min came out as the first minister who was committed to cutting budgets to make pay rises possible, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Bago, U Kyin Thein, told The Myanmar Times. It would be good if the other ministries could be as generous as [U Aung Min]. Only then will the plan approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to increase wages come to fruition. Similarly, U Nay Kaw, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Thandaung, said: [U Aung Min] postponed some projects to next year and suspended others. We are pleased that he stated clearly what he would do. [Pay rises] are approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw so the union ministers should do as much as they are able to. In recent weeks, the parliament and government have engaged in a lively debate over whether to implement Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Manns bold proposal to set the minimum salary for civil servants at K100,000. The government has said the pay rise would blow out its budget deficit and be fiscally irresponsible. In response, the hluttaw has called on ministries to suspend or cancel projects that are not cost effective or immediately necessary. U Aung Min told the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw that his ministry had also discussed deferring K4.5 billion slated for the manufacture of locomotives, passenger coaches and freight wagons to the 2013-14 fiscal year. However, as this was to be paid for by loans from China he said it could not be reallocated to cover the civil servant pay rises. The K5.5 billion reduction would come from deferring or suspending construction of railway lines, he said. Translated by Thit Lwin

The ceremony to inaugurate the restored Aung Sular Mani Pagoda in Cambodia. Pic: Aung Shin Kola. The Kola established themselves in Pailin, an area once famous for its gemstones, and were later joined by a sizeable Shan community. However, both the Kola and Shan disappeared from Pailin during the Khmer Rouge era, and the exact origins of the Kola have been the subject of debate. U Pyone Maung Maung, chairman of the South East Asia Net (SEANET) company, heard about the ruined stupa in 2010 and contributed the funds to restore it after receiving permission from the regional governor and Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. I heard the story about the stupa

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March 12 - 18, 2012
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Briefs
Decision in maritime border dispute expected this week
THE International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea will hand down a decision this week in Myanmars longrunning maritime boundary dispute with Bangladesh. The tribunal said in a statement on March 9 that Judge Jos Luis Jesus, who is presiding over the tribunal in the case, would announce a judgement from 11:30am on March 14 in Hamburg, where the tribunal is based. Oral proceedings in the Bay of Bengal case were held from September 8 to 24, 2011, with Bangladesh calling on the tribunal to set the boundary permanently at what it says the two sides agreed in 1974. Myanmar has requested a boundary based on the principle of equidistance, which would leave Bangladesh at a disadvantage because of the concave nature of its coastline. The decision will mark the first time the tribunal has been required to determine a maritime boundary. Thomas Kean

Canada FM commends govt, calls for free, fair by-elections

By Shwe Yinn Mar Oo and Thomas Kean CANADAS foreign minister has reiterated the importance of the April 1 by-elections being free and fair, following an historic visit that saw him meet President U Thein Sein and confer honorary citizenship on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr John Baird said in a statement following his March 7-8 visit the first to Myanmar by a Canadian foreign minister that there was palpable optimism in the streets of Yangon and that the government had taken several very positive steps since taking office in March 2011. I commend President Thein Sein and his government for their commitments to reform, he said. Burma has taken several very positive first steps toward democratic development and change; we hope that the progress made to date will continue and lead to further reforms. We will be watching, in particular, the by-elections on April 1. But the true test will be in the weeks and months that follow. Canada has been a strong opponent of repression in Burma. Change must be sustained so that the will of the Burmese people can turn their hopes of a better, brighter future into reality for all. During his visit Mr Baird met President U Thein Sein, Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin and Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann in Nay Pyi Taw. On March 8 he arrived in Yangon for a meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who he described as truly inspiring. The minister also presented honorary Canadian citizenship to the Nobel peace laureate one of just four people to have received the honour. Meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, one of Burmas great champions of change, was quite a moving experience a definite honour for me personally, Mr Baird said. Her dedication to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law is truly inspiring. I am proud to count her as an honorary Canadian. On this International Womens Day, it also strikes me that there is no stronger female role model for girls around the globe than this woman who has devoted her life to furthering the cause of democracy in the interests of the well-being of her fellow citizens. Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he said Canada would work with Australia, the United Kingdom, European Union and United States to monitor the fairness of the by-elections. We will all be watching together collectively the election result, watching how allegations about electoral irregularities are dealt with on election day. I think that there is a keen desire from all of our partners to play a big role in future of the country but we are going to hold our judgment for a few weeks, he said. He said the by-elections would be an important factor in whether Canada decides to lift any of its sanctions against Myanmar. I will be very thrilled to begin to lift Canadian sanctions against the current government here but obviously we want to watch [the by-elections] very closely, he said. We are very concerned to learn about a good number of vote irregularities, which parties are bringing forward to the government through the [election] commission officials. However, the Network of Canadians in Myanmar said that sanctions that prohibit development aid and support for Myanmar civil society should be lifted immediately. In a statement released to coincide with Mr Bairds visit, the group also called on Canada to review its current policy towards Myanmar, scale up humanitarian and development aid and increase its diplomatic presence inside the country. Bold moves from U Thein Seins government need to be matched by bold moves from Ottawa, said Mr Daniel Gelfer, an independent consultant and spokesperson for the network. Canada stands a better chance of promoting sustainable change in Myanmar by engaging, rather than not.

Correction
A photograph that accompanied the article The complexities of a war on opium published in the March 5-11 edition of The Myanmar Times featured an incorrect caption. The photo of used syringes was taken at a nongovernment harm reduction project site. We regret any confusion.

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SanoFi-aVenTiS, a company organized under the laws of France and having its principal office at 174 Avenue de France, 75013 Paris, France is the owner and sole proprietor of the following Trademarks:-

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Telecommunications services and notably transmission of information via radio, telephone, televisions, and computer terminals through internet web sites regarding healthcare; Transmission of information for others in the field of healthcare, communication of information addressed to patients or healthcare professionals via computer, internet, television, and radio; Providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for the transmission of messages among computer users concerning healthcare, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical and medical developments. (International Class 38) Custom manufacture, storage and delivery of products in the field of healthcare. (International Class 40) Education and training in the field of healthcare; arranging of seminars, conferences and congresses in the aforesaid field; publication of magazines, books and guides, digital and electronic tools for information and training in the health care field. (International Class 41) Scientific and technological services, namely chemical research, biological and pharmaceutical research, design and development of computer software and databases, clinical studies all in the field of healthcare. (International Class 42) Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care; consulting in the field of pharmaceuticals and healthcare; providing medical information and awareness campaigns programs in the field of healthcare. (International Class 44) Any unauthorised use, imitation, infringements or fraudulent intentions of the above marks will be dealt with according to law. Tin Ohnmar Tun & The Law Chambers Ph:09 73150632 Email : law_chambers@seasiren.com.mm (For. Domnern Somgiat & Boonma, Attorneys at Law, Thailand) Dated. 12th March, 2012

Reg. Nos. 4/6049/2011 for Intl Class 1, 4/6050/2011 for Intl Class 3,4/6051/2011 for Intl Class 5, 4/6052/2011 for Intl Class 9, 4/6054/2011 for Intl Class 10, 4/6055/2011 for Intl Class 16, 4/6056/2011 for Intl Class 35, 4/6057/2011 for Intl Class 38, 4/6058/2011 for Intl Class 40,4/6059/2011 for Intl Class 41, 4/6060/2011 for Intl Class 42&4/6053/2011 for Intl Class 44 Used in respect of:-Chemicals for use in the manufacture of pharmaceutical or cosmetics preparations and substances. (International Class 1) Non-medicinal preparations for hygiene, for skin care and maintenance; body hygiene products; cosmetic preparations; soaps; dentifrices.(International Class 3) Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations sold under prescription or over the counter; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic substances adapted for medical use; chemical preparations for medical or pharmaceutical purposes; vaccines; food for babies; plasters, materials

Medical, surgical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopaedic articles; suture materials; imaging apparatus and X-ray apparatus for medical use. (International Class 10) Printed matter on media of all kinds; newsletters, newspapers, magazines, periodicals, books, journals, posters distributed in relation to the field of healthc. (International Class 16) Business consultation services; Consultation services, namely, providing consumer information regarding products; Advertising and marketing services; Distribution services, namely, delivery of products and information about pharmaceutical products; Business administration and management in the fields of healthcare; Distribution of printed promotional materials in the field of healthcare; Promoting public awareness campaign regarding healthcare. (International Class 35)

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March 12 - 18, 2012
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Govt agrees to Kaladan impact assessments

By Cherry Thein THE Union Government will take measures to reduce the environmental and social impact of an India-backed transport project on the Kaladan River, officials say. It has also agreed to ramp up information dissemination programs concerning the US$120 Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, which is being implemented in Chin and Rakhine states. The declaration comes after some press reports raised concerns about the impact of the project and questioned whether residents in the project area would really benefit. In recent months, national non-government organisations have also launched a campaign for greater transparency of the transport project, which will see the Kaladan River upgraded from Sittwe in Rakhine State to Paletwa in Chin State, from where a 129-kilometre highway will be built to the border with India. Sittwe Port is being redeveloped for the project, which is funded by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and designed to both increase bilateral trade and create a new route for trade with Indias landlocked northeastern states. The port and inland water transport aspect of the project is scheduled for completion in 2013, with work already underway. On February 20, Dr Aye Maung, chairman of the Rakhine Nationals Development Party, raised the concerns of Rakhine State residents in the Amyotha Hluttaw. Minister for Transport U Nyan Tun Aung replied that the government would coordinate with India to conduct environmental and social impact assessment in order to reduce any negative effects from the project. The minister also said rumours that the Peoples Hospital and Myoma Market in Sittwe would be moved were untrue, and residents in Odan ward along the river would also be unaffected as the project area was far from privately owned land. Speaking at a press conference on February 15 with representatives the Myanmar Port Authority and Inland Waterways Authority of India, presidential adviser U Ko Ko Hlaing said the government would in the future conduct environmental and social impact assessments before green-lighting large development projects. He said there would inevitably be some impact on a minority of people as a result of the Kaladan project but the government would do its best to keep it to a minimum. We cant deny there will be an impact but we can decide to find a way to reduce the negative impact. It is the duty of the majority to care for those who have to make sacrifices for this project, he said. Myanmar Port Authority managing director U Cho Than Maung said his organisation was ready to cooperate with NGOs that are working for the sake of residents in the project area. We cant know or hear all voices from the local residents, but we will cooperate with local NGOs and work together. We are thankful that NGOs help locals to be heard. We only want to do what is beneficial for the country, he said. We will work to help people to understand the project and reduce their worries. We will also let them know the benefits of the project. In December, the Kistpanaddi Working Group, comprising 15 national NGOs, sent a letter to the Union Government urging it to take steps to reduce the environmental, social and health effects of the Kaladan project. Since then, the government has permitted the Kistapanaddi Working Group to begin raising awareness about the project and to provide basic knowledge on environmental issues to communities in Rakhine and Chin states. Officials from India said they were also ready to work with Myanmar to develop a better understanding of the project. Mr N Unni, project coordinator from the Inland Waterways Authority of India, said the Kaladan transport corridor was a least damaging project and clean project, with few environmental or social drawbacks and many economic benefits. The location of the planned river port had been shifted from Kaletwa further downriver to Paletwa, which has reduced the amount of dredging required by about 95 percent, he said. Dredging will now take place at only four or five sites to ensure a minimum depth of two metres, and no rock blasting or land acquisitions will take place, he said. Although we have a [Detailed Project Report] prepared in 2003, we plan to update the report and survey work to ensure that both countries benefit. Speaking in the Amyotha Hluttaw, the Minister for Transport said the project will bring many benefits for the region. Rakhine and Chin states will have better transport that creates [opportunities] to deal with foreign trade and have other benefits such as regional development along the Kaladan River, abundance of job opportunities, border trade opportunities and better transport means in the region, U Nyan Tun Aung said. He said the project would allow 6000-tonne vessels to dock at Sittwe, while 300tonne jetties would be built at Sittwe and Paletwa. Moreover, Myanmar would get six 300-tonne vessels and the benefits of a stable water course along the Kaladan River and the emergence of a highway from Paletwa to India-Myanmar border, he said. U Ko Ko Hlaing said the government welcomed constructive criticism but he also warned journalists to ensure their reports were accurate and free from bias. If you point out weaknesses in the wrong way, consider whether you are helping the country. Because we all are working for the sake of the country, he said. Kistpanaddi Working Group member Salai Isaac Khen, the executive director of Gender and Development (Myanmar), said he expected the government to live up to its promises to residents in the project area. We trust the government will do good things and bring benefits for the sake of the poor people of this region, he said.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meets ethnic party representatives

By Win Ko Ko Latt DAW Aung San Suu Kyi last week urged ethnic political parties to cooperate with the NLD to ensure the byelections are free and fair and internal peace is achieved. All political parties need to understand that the holding of free and fair by-elections is an essential issue for our country, she told ethnic parliament representatives at Nay Pyi Taws Royal Kumudra Hotel on March 6, during her two-day visit to the capital. She said election commission officials needed to ensure the election was fair both on polling day and in the campaign period. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also said her party would carry out respectfully the wish of the ethnic people. Representatives of ethnic parties said they were willing to cooperate in parliament

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meets representatives from ethnic parties in Nay Pyi Taw on March 6. Pic: Kaung Htet with NLD representatives that win seats in the poll. U Sai Thant Zin, an Amyotha Hluttaw representative from the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, told Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that he was very proud that she had accepted responsibility for finishing the work of Bogyoke Aung San. Amyotha Hluttaw representative Dr Aye Maung, of the Rakhine National Development Party, said that even government officials now talk about the spirit of Panglong and the rule of law. We all know that we cannot go down the path we want to go without you.

UN to implement Inle project

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin UNITED Nations Development Program is preparing to implement a US$2.6 million environmental conservation project at Inle Lake focusing on the 256-square mile watershed area of Kalaw Creek. The program, which will run until the end of 2013, is mostly supported by the Norwegian government and will be implemented in cooperation with residents and national nongovernment organisations. A major focus of the project will be collaboration with residents, said U Tun Paw Oo, a UNDP environmental expert. He said the agency started a feasibility study in late January to guide project implementation. This project will be implemented based on the desires of area residents. We are now in discussions with them about what they want to do and then we will do our own analysis and work out which activities are most beneficial for the sustainable development of Inle Lake, U Tun Paw Oo said. UNDP will also invite nongovernment organisations to a workshop to discuss the scope and direction of the project. At the workshop we discuss in detail the proposed programs and decide which will be most effective and successful over the two year life of the project. So many activities are needed at Inle Lake but we have to choose the one that is most important, said U Ba Than, a forestry adviser with UNDP. The project is expected to focus on reforestation, environmentally friendly livestock breeding, water and sanitation, research and education. A national-level workshop on environmental conservation at Inle Lake will also be held as part of the project. UNDP selected the Kalaw Creek watershed as the site for the project because it had higher rates of deforestation, sedimentation and environmental degradation compared to the 28 other creeks that flow into Inle, said U Tun Paw Oo. The most important point is that [residents] have to maintain their home themselves. Thats why we are giving them the chance to take part in this project, both before and during implementation, he said. [UNDP] now focuses on what [residents] want and we will provide technical and financial support. U Ohn, vice president of the Forest Resource and Environment Development Association (FREDA), said that most conservation projects at Inle Lake were relatively unsuccessful because of a lack of cooperation between NGOs and residents. Activities often end as soon as the project period is over, he said. If I get the chance to take part in this project, I want to start organic farming at Inle Lake because residents use a lot of chemical fertiliser. These fertilisers end up in the water, which is also used for drinking and cooking. This is very dangerous for health.

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By Juliet Shwe Gaung YANGONS Sedona Hotel hosted an international geology conference on March 1 and 2 that brought together more than 250 participants from around the globe. GeoMyanmar 2012 was organised by Myanmar Geosciences Society, with assistance from the Myanmar Engineering Society and geological research groups in Singapore and Australia. It discussed the regional and national geology, stratigraphy and the tectonics, along with how the petroleum and mineral resources found within Myanmars boundaries can be exploited. The conference featured keynote addresses from Dr AHG Mitchell and Dr Khin Zaw, both of whom have contributed greatly to Myanmar and regional geological study in the past two decades. In his opening address, chairman of Myanmar Geosciences Society Dr Win Swe welcomed the 50 international geologists and Myanmar geoscientists working abroad and looked to encourage greater future participation in the field. The principal objectives [of this conference] are to promote the progress of geosciences in Myanmar, to encourage wider, more effective and systematic arbitration of geosciences and to develop strategies to reduce the impact of natural and man-made hazards, he said. He said Myanmar is endowed with rich mineral resources but is also prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. He said these risks, coupled with the riches under the ground and a growing population, meant geoscience would have a large role to play in the safeguarding and developing the country. All buildings should be built according to the necessary geoscience and engineering principles and proper regulations, said Dr Win Swe. Myanmar is an exciting place to conduct research or to undertake mineral exploration or to identify natural hazard potential. Dr Khin Zaw, who has a PhD in economic geology from the University of Tasmania in Australia, said Myanmar had to ensure its environment was preserved as companies exploited its natural resources. Dont let them make a hole and leave you to fill it in. You must have special funding for environmental conservation. In countries such as Thailand, they build golf courses and resorts after the mining work is finished. he said. In 2011 Myanmar held a bidding process for 18 onshore oil and gas blocks that saw nine blocks auctioned to seven companies. An official close to the Ministry of Energy said another six onshore blocks were being prepared for joint ventures between Russian and domestic firms. Russian companies, as well as the embassy officials, often come and meet the Ministry of Energy. Russia is really interested in working with our country not only in oil and gas but also in hydropower, mining and other fields, the person said. U Aung Kyaw Htoo, assistant director of the ministrys Energy Planning Department, said that 10 onshore blocks and 26 offshore blocks were being explored. He said some of the 34 unexplored onshore blocks would be put up for auction soon, adding that there are also 26 offshore (including seven in shallow water less than 60 metres or 200 feet in depth) available to potential investors. The conference was also attended by some companies

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GeoMyanmar spruiks Myanmars mineral riches

said Myanmar represented a good opportunity. He said Jogmec and the Department of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration (DGSE) under the Ministry of Mining signed an agreement to commence a regional exploration survey in January, which had already been partially undertaken. He said a survey team had toured Shan State in February and discovered an antimony deposit. We are going to do more [surveys] in other locations around the country looking for different minerals. We are talking with DGSE for our next survey plan, he said. After the survey is complete Jogmec would give the results to Japanese companies and help them to make agreements to extract the deposits. Mr Yoshikazu Yaguchi, project director of Jogmecs Overseas Exploration Division, under the Oil and Gas Upstream Technology Unit, said he would soon bring 10 companies to Myanmar to meet ministry officials and talk about offshore blocks. We are interested in several offshore deepwater blocks, he said.

Dr U Thein delivers an address at the GeoMyanmar 2012 conference in Yangon on March 1. Pic: Juliet Shwe Gaung that are preparing to invest in Myanmar. PetroVietnam, which is exploring the M-2 block in the Gulf of Mottama, recently held talks with the Ministry of Energy to explore a deepwater block off the coast of Tanintharyi Region and was also interested in some onshore blocks, said an energy consultant who attended the conference. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Energy said Japan was showing great interest in investing in Myanmars oil and gas industry. Mr Toshihiko Hayashi, director general and chief geologist of Metals Exploration Department under Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (Jogmec) who participated the conference,

MIC chief invites wider foreign investment

MYANMAR wants to attract investment from a wide range of different nations instead of relying on one major source as has been the case in recent years, Myanmar Investment Commission chairman U Soe Thein said last week. We would like to invite not just Japan, China or the EU [to invest in Myanmar]. Im thinking about my country and my people and its very important that factories should be green and safe for the environment and [peoples] health, he said at the meeting with 82 European businesspeople, members of Young Presidents Organisation and World Presidents Organisation at the Governors Residence in Yangon on February 1. At this moment it is a little bit difficult but very soon, it will be what you want to have, said U Soe Thein, who is also Minister for Industry. The delegations were visiting Myanmar to investigate possible investments in services including hotels and tourism, financing and manufacturing. All the delegates who spoke to The Myanmar Times said the country badly needed to upgrade its telecommunications network. U Soe Thein said it was 90 percent sure that some sanctions imposed by Western nations would be eased in coming months, and the government would have the chance build relationships with the West. We have to change a lot of things and there are many difficulties to overcome, he added. Loi Hein Group chairman Dr Sai Sam Htun, who organised the meeting, said: Our country has opportunities [to explore] and we invite all countries to invest because our country needs to balance [investment]. We dont too want to rely on only one country ... We want to open up to the whole world and let it participate in the development of our country. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Myanmar amounted to about US$40 billion until December, with most expenditures resourcebased projects such as mining, power and oil and gas, Myanmar Investment Commission statistics show. The leading investors were China and Thailand. MIC deputy director general U Aung Naing Oo said at least $4 billion in FDI will enter Myanmar in the 2012-13 year, which begins April 1, based on preliminary enquiries by Japanese and European investors. We expect to see investments from Japan as extensions from their operations in Thailand and have seen a lot of trade delegations visiting us, he said. U Soe Thein said that Myanmar wanted to attract investment in industries that created jobs, such as agriculture and manufacturing. We would like to give top priority to the small- and medium-enterprise sector because it creates jobs. We would also like to bring investment in our agriculture industry because we have a lot of land and believe there is a lot of potential to develop agro-based industry, he said. He added that Myanmars position between India and China meant it also attracted steady interest from companies from those nations. He said that a lot of Indian businesspeople have recently visited to explore investing in the agriculture industry, particularly in rubber plantations. He added that tourism is another sector that is attracting interest, particularly with Myanmar hosting the Southeast Asian Games in 2013 and chairing ASEAN in 2014. U Soe Thein said an updated foreign investment law had been drafted by MIC with assistance from international consultants and would soon be put before the hluttaws. He added that it was crucial that the law protected investors, the environment and mitigated the risk of adverse social impacts. It must also be accompanied by a financial sector that was transparent, accountable and had auditing mechanisms, he added.

MPRL begins drilling A-6 exploration well

By Juliet Shwe Gaung MPRL E&P began drilling its Pyi Thar-1 exploration well at block A-6 off the Rakhine offshore on March 3, the company said in a press release. The exploration is a joint venture between the company and the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, under the Ministry of Energy. U Than Htay, the Minister for Energy, U Thein Aung, Chief Region for Ayeyarwady Region, and U Moe Myint, chief executive officer of MPRL E&P, as well as other officials attended the ceremony. Pyi Thar-1 exploration well will be drilled vertically down to a depth of 4585 feet and then sidetrack by 5094 feet. The drilling process is expected to take about 35 days, the March 5 press release said.

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Time to move Myanmar agenda forward: Stiglitz

YANGON Here in Myanmar, where political change has been numbingly slow for a half-century, a new leadership is trying to embrace rapid transition from within. The government has freed prisoners of conscience, held elections, begun economic reform and is intensively courting foreign investment. Understandably, the international community, which has long punished Myanmars authoritarian regime with sanctions, remains cautious. Reforms are being introduced so fast that even renowned experts on the country are uncertain about what to make of them. But it is clear to me that this moment in Myanmars history represents a real opportunity for permanent change an opportunity that the international community must not miss. It is time for the world to move the agenda for Myanmar forward, not just by offering assistance, but by removing the sanctions that have now become an impediment to the countrys transformation. So far, that transformation, initiated following legislative elections in November 2010, has been breathtaking. With the military, which had held exclusive power from 1962, retaining some 25 percent of the seats, there were fears that the election would be a facade. But the government that emerged has turned out to reflect fundamental concerns of Myanmars citizens far better than was anticipated. Under the leadership of the new president, U Thein Sein, the authorities have responded to calls for a political and economic opening. Progress has been made on peace agreements with ethnic-minority insurgents conflicts rooted in the divide-and-rule strategy of colonialism, which the countrys post-independence rulers maintained for more than six decades. and the opportunity that it represents is undeniable. But many of the international sanctions, whatever their role in the past, now seem counterproductive. Financial sanctions, for instance, discourage the development of a modern and transparent financial system, integrated with the rest of the world. The resulting cash-based economy is an invitation to corruption. Likewise, restrictions that prevent socially responsible companies based in advanced industrial countries from doing business in Myanmar have left the field open to less scrupulous firms. We should welcome Myanmars desire for guidance and advice from multilateral institutions and the UN Development Programme; instead, we continue to limit the role that these institutions can play in the countrys transition. Whenever we withhold assistance or impose sanctions, we need to think carefully about who bears the burden in bringing about the changes that we seek. Opening up trade in agriculture and textiles and even providing preferences of the kind that are offered to other poor countries would likely benefit directly the poor farmers who make up 70pc of the population, as well as create new jobs. The wealthy and powerful can circumvent financial sanctions, though at a cost; ordinary citizens cannot. We have seen the Arab Spring blossom haltingly in a few countries; in others, it is still uncertain whether it will bear fruit. Myanmars transition is in some ways quieter, without the fanfare of Twitter and Facebook, but it is no less real and no less deserving of support. Project Syndicate Joseph Stiglitz is a professor at Columbia University, a Nobel laureate in economics, and the author of Freefall: Free Markets and the Sinking of the Global Economy.

MOGP Summit coming March 27-29

PRESS RELEASE M YA N MA R s M i n i s t r y o f Energy and the Centre for Management Technology will co-host the Myanmar Oil, Gas and Power Summit on March 27-29 in Yangon, organisers said last week. Dramatic changes afoot i n M y a n m a r h ave w h e t t h e a p p e t i te o f fo re i gn investors who are eyeing a slice of the frontier markets rich and large economic potential. Notwithstanding the long road still ahead, Myanmars political changes in recent months have been breathtaking. The lightning-fast pace of reforms has so far included renewed ties with the United State, luring investors with an eight-year tax break, plus imminent lifting of EU and US sanctions. Myanmar s strategic location at a crossroads in Asia and i t s re s o u rce s h ave n ow increasingly made the country of interest to both Western nations and its neighbouring Asian countries. Held in Yangon and themed Gearing Up for the Emerging Oil & Gas Opportunities, t h e co n fe re n ce re f l e c t s on operational issues like processes involved in securing upstream oil and gas exploration ventures, and key challenges, drivers and new opportunities in Myanmars oil and gas industry. The main highlight of the conference will be the official opening address by U Than Htay, the Minister for Energy. Together with an impressive array of experts, some of the vital topics to be discussed include the latest terms and conditions, plus the role of Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise in Production Sharing Contracts by U Htin Aung, Director General of the Ministry of Energys Energy Planning Department. MOGE will also host official sessions on the countrys petroleum geology outlook and oppor tunities for exploration and production (by U Tin Maung Yee); natural gas exploration and demand scenario in Myanmar (U Zaw Aung); and domestic and trans-national oil/gas pipeline development (U Tun Thwe). N a m i t a S h a h , g e n e ra l m a n a g e r o f To t a l E & P Myanmar, will overview the companys corporate social responsibility and sustainable development activities. DFDL Mekong Groups legal counsel, James Finch, will explore legal, taxation and other approval processes for investment ventures i n M ya n m a r s u p s t re a m oil and gas sector; John Vautrain, an independent energy industry consultant, will present Energy 2020: Environment and Resources; James Rockall, chief executive officer and managing director of World LP Gas Association, will present Opportunities for Growing LPG in Myanmar, with details on necessary preconditions to ensure a safe and reliable market development plus anticipated areas of growth; Daw Hla Hla Kyi, director of planning at Myanmar Petroleum Products Enterprise, and U Tin Zaw Kyi, divisional marketing officer of Myanmar Petrochemical Enterprise, will discuss the domestic markets potential for petroleum products and LPG; Control Risks head of Asia analysis Andrew Gilholm w i l l p re s e n t M a n a gi n g Country Risk in Energy and I nfrastruc ture Projec ts; Dr Somchet Thinaphong, managing director of Dawei Development Company Ltd, will update attendees on the companys infrastructure development projects at the Dawei deepsea project, as well as progress at the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone project and Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project; and a senior Ministry of Electric Power official will provide an overview of the countrys electricity outlook and demand. To access full agenda of the MOGP Summit, visit the events website at http://www. cmtevents.com'/aboutevent. aspx?ev=120316.

Joseph Stiglitz sits with U Myint and Ronald Findlay at a seminar in Yangon in February. Pic: Stuart Deed My Columbia University Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not only released from colleague Ronald Findlay house arrest, but is now pointed out that one of campaigning hard for a them, 91-year-old U Hla parliamentary seat in Aprils Myint, who had held a professorship at the London by-elections. On the economic front, School of Economics, was the unprecedented transparency father of the most successful has been introduced into development strategy ever the budgetary process. devised, that of an open Expenditures on healthcare economy and export-led and education have been growth. That blueprint has doubled, albeit from a low been used throughout Asia in base. Licensing restrictions recent decades, most notably in a number of key areas in China. Now, perhaps, it have been loosened. The has finally come home. I delivered a lecture in government has even committed itself to moving Myanmar in December t o w a r d s u n i f y i n g i t s 2009. At that time, one had to be careful, given the exchange-rate system. The spirit of hope in the governments sensitivities, country is palpable, though even about how one framed some older people, who saw the countrys problems earlier moments of apparent its poverty, lack of rural relaxation of authoritarian productivity, and unskilled rule come and go, remain workforce. Now caution has cautious. Perhaps that is why been replaced by a sense of some in the international urgency in dealing with these community are similarly and other challenges, and by h e s i t a n t a b o u t e a s i n g awareness of the need for Myanmars isolation. But technical and other forms of most Myanmar sense that assistance. There is much debate about if changes are managed well, the country will have what explains the rapidity of embarked on an irreversible Myanmars current pace of change. Perhaps its leaders course. In February, I participated recognised that the country, in seminars in Yangon and once the worlds largest rice Nay Pyi Taw, organised by exporter, was falling far one of the countrys leading behind its neighbours. Perhaps they heard the economists, U Myint. The events were momentous, message of the Arab Spring, owing both to large and or simply understood that, actively engaged audiences, with more than three million and to the thoughtful and Myanmar living abroad, it moving presentations by was impossible to isolate two world-famous Myanmar the country from the rest of economists who had left the the world or prevent ideas country in the 1960s and from seeping in from its were back for their first visit neighbours. Whatever the reason, change is occurring, in more than four decades.

Auto World Journal to launch soon

ADVANCED Media Group last week unveiled plans to publish Auto World Journal to cater to the publics growing need for information about all things automotive, a company spokesperson said last week. The journal will be released in late March or early April, said U Zaw Nyein Oo, AMGs chief executive officer. We have received permission from the ministry [of information], we are now working tirelessly to prepare our first issue as soon as possible. We plan to launch a website to accompany the journal, he added. A sample edition of Auto World Journal was released in the first week of March, he said. Since the governments implementation of the overage car substitution plan [in September], I believed there would be a new era in our countrys car market, so I decided to invest in the media to provide news to the public, he said. Our journal will also present and cover all new models that are suitable for our country, he added. However, he said the companys bid to establish the journal had not been easy, in part because he did not have much experience in the industry. I must admit that we have faced some obstacles in our journey to publish a news journal but I do see light at the end of the tunnel, he said. The first few steps were hard for me but I believe I can set a stable platform for my publication very soon because I have been blessed with some good friends. Daw Aye Win, a journal seller in Kyeemyindaing township, said the car industry was hot news. Since the overage cars substitution plan was unveiled in September, journal sales have increased and I think thats partly because people are desperate for news about the car market, she said. I think many journals are working hard to include news about the car market and information about different popular cars, she added. Im sure that a publication that specifically focused on cars would sell well. Aung Kyi

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might be. The official rate is used for government revenue and for imports by some state-owned enterprises. As a result, state revenue is grossly underestimated and some critics say it is likely vast sums of that money have been kept off the books and quietly smuggled out of the country into offshore bank accounts held by cronies of the former government. They may have repatriated some of the funds to snap up state assets that were sold off during an extremely opaque privatisation boom that took place just over a year before the armys transfer of power to the civilian government. Since 1977, the kyat has been pegged to the International Monetary Funds (IMF) special drawing rights, with $1 equalling K6.4. U Myint, chief economic adviser to President U Thein Sein, warned in a paper in June that the currency could destabilise Myanmar and urged the government to ask the IMF for help. A team of IMF advisers came in January to look at reforming the currency and unifying the rates. Myanmar is one of only 17 countries that still have dual exchange rates and even the IMF has only three experts on how to unify them. Successful implementation of reforming the exchange rate system is one of the key factors for economic development, said the documents, part of a presentation made by the Central Bank on March 1. It said the multiple exchange rates had led to appreciation pressure and volatility. There was therefore an obligation to unify the exchange rates, with the aim of adopting a managedfloat exchange rate system with the goal of domestic price stability. The value of the kyat will be determined by the demand and supply of the market, it added. All government institutions would have to use the prevailing market rate, which would bring transparency to the state budget and fiscal policies, it said, acknowledging this would be a shock. Measures would be prepared to address speculative activities and panic effects in the foreign exchange market. Market information and surveillance systems would be introduced and other and security in the AsiaPacific region. But half a century of isolation has taken its toll on the former British colony. The barriers to progress are formidable: US and European sanctions, woeful infrastructure, weak investment laws, a crippled banking system and a shortage of skilled workers. Some expect sanctions to begin to be lifted if byelections on April 1, in which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will run for parliament, are free and fair. A November 2010 general election was widely criticised as a sham. The Central Bank also called for harmonisation between fiscal and monetary policies and better monitoring of the economy, along with improvements to the banking sector. A possible increase of FDI inflows and remittances will contribute to the national economic development, it said. Reuters

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Myanmar to float kyat, unify forex rates

YANGON Myanmar will begin a managed float of its currency in the fiscal year from April and develop an interbank money market, according to Central Bank of Myanmar documents obtained by Reuters, ending a fixed-rate currency system that has stifled investment and fuelled a black market. The plan for Myanmars boldest economic reform yet was laid out by central bank deputy governor Maung Maung Win in documents seen by Reuters on March 6 that said preparations to unify the dual exchange rate should be made by the end of this month. That would be followed over the next 12 months by a managed currency float of the kyat and the introduction of an interbank currency market, which would allow authorities to intervene and influence the rate. From 2013-14 onwards, Myanmar would aim to entirely eliminate the informal currency market, the documents said. Last March the former

A tourist changes US dollars at an official currency exchange counter on Thein Byu Road in Yangon recently. The counters use a market rate, determined daily, rather than the official exchange rate. Pic: Kaung Htet Asian central banks would help the authorities develop the capacity to run the new market, the central bank said. The reforms are likely to heighten debate over Myanmars economic potential. As big as France and Britain combined, the resource-rich country sits strategically between India, China and Southeast Asia with ports on the Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea, all of which have made it a coveted energy-security asset for Beijings western provinces. Bordering five countries, Myanmar offers multiple avenues of Asian engagement as US President Barack Obama shifts focus from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan towards economic growth

The value of the kyat will be

determined by the demand and supply of the market.

military government made way for a nominally civilian government that embarked on a major reform drive, freeing hundreds of prisoners of conscience, loosening media controls and engaging with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. Officially, US$1 buys a little over K6 but unofficially the exchange rate is closer to K800. The kyats unofficial rate, used in most transactions, has jumped from more than K1000 a dollar in 2009 as foreign money has flowed into the timber, energy and gem sectors, while the government also auctioned off state-owned assets, with payments made in kyat. The strengthening of the kyat has hurt exporters and foreign currency earners both within Myanmar and abroad. The Central Bank documents did not indicate what the free market rate

CORRECTION:
In Issue 616 we reported in a story headlined Yoma Strategic eyes Myanmar growth that Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic Holdings had announced its intention to buy 70 percent of the Thanlyin Star City housing development, specifically 135 acres of land. In fact, Yoma Strategic is proposing to acquire 70 percent of the economic interests in relation to the land development rights (LDRs) related to the project and not the land directly. As a foreign company Yoma Strategic cannot buy land in Myanmar. The economic interests refer to rights to the economic benefits that may be derived from the LDRs, such as profit from a sale of a unit in Star City. We apologise for any inconvenience this error has caused.

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Job watch
Mandarin Teacher Needed
A Mandarin Teacher position is open for the 2012-2013 school year at the International School Yangon (ISY). Experienced candidates should send their CV references to officeisy@ gmail.com

Greece clinches landmark debt swap

By John Hadoulis ATHENS Greece clinched a high-stakes debt swap on March 9, paving the way for an urgent bailout needed for the stricken eurozone member to avoid default. Some 83.5 percent of its private creditors tendered bonds for exchange, amounting to approximately 172 billion euros (US$230 billion) of debt, the Greek finance ministry announced early on March 9. The success of the debt swap plan means Greece will be able to avoid a devastating default as early as March 20 that could have cost the eurozone one trillion euros and sent shockwaves around the globe. A little before the official takeup rate was announced, IMF head Christine Lagarde said the risk of crisis in the eurozone has been removed for now. As we speak, it looks like its going through, Lagarde said in an interview with US broadcaster PBS adding that the real risk of a crisis, of an acute crisis, has been, for the moment, removed. The participation is solidly higher than the 75pc threshold Greece had said it wanted to proceed with the deal and the Greek government now intends to activate so-called collection action clauses that will force holdouts to also join the deal. The International Institute of Finance, a global bank association that had helped broker the deal, on March 9 welcomed the result which it said would give Greece breathing space to implement tough reforms. The very strong and positive result provides a major opportunity now for Greece to move ahead with its economic reform program, while strengthening the Euro areas ability to create an economic environment of stability and growth, said Deutsche Bank head Josef Ackermann, who also chairs the IIF. The IIFs managing director Charles Dallara added the voluntary exchange reduces the risks of contagion in the markets, while it enables Greece to build on the strengths of the reform efforts themselves. And directors from the International Monetary Fund have tentatively planned to meet to weigh a new loan for Greece on March 15, spokesman Gerry Rice said on March 8. The EU and IMF have said that a participation rate of 95pc is necessary to reduce Greek debt to a sustainable level of 120pc of gross domestic product in 2020. The writedown is the biggest attempted so far, overshadowing Argentinas $82-billion default in 2002, the equivalent of 73 billion euros at the time. AFP

UNFPA Vacancy Notice

No.2012/001
Position Title Grade Duty Station Issue Date Closing Date Type/Duration of Appointment : Human Resources Associate : SB-3 Peg2 (SC - 6) : Yangon, Myanmar : 12 March 2012 : 28 March 2012 (5:00pm) : 1 Year

Applications are invited from interested Myanmar nationals for the post of Human Resources Associate. Applications should be addressed to UNFPA Representative. Attention : Operations Manager RoomA07, UNFPA, No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon. Email : myanmar.office@unfpa.org For details on duties and responsibilities, educational and other requirements, please see the vacancy announcement posted at UNDP billboard. No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon and UNFPA website (http://myanmar.unfpa.org) Applications will be considered only when meeting all requirements set in detailed vacancy announcement.

Greece intends to accept the consents received and amend the terms of all of its Greek law governed bonds, including those not tendered for exchange, the government said in a statement. Once enacted, the clauses are expected to boost final

participation in the debt swap to 95.7pc, the ministry said. But the clauses could also trigger anti-default insurance contracts, known as credit default swaps, whose net value was estimated at 3.2 billion euros ($4.3 billion) in February.

China cuts growth forecast

By Robert Saiget BEIJING Chinas premier last week cut the Asian giants growth target to 7.5 percent for 2012 in a key annual speech focused on economic expansion, stability and military might ahead of a leadership change. Wen Jiabao, who will step down as prime minister next year, said China faced many difficulties and challenges as he delivered his opening address to the annual session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC), Chinas parliament. The 2012 NPC session is the last before a handover of power that begins later this year, and leaders are anxious to ensure the worlds second-largest economy grows at a steady pace while keeping a lid on social unrest. Wen also said Chinas military needed to be better prepared to fight local wars, a day after the Asian powerhouse announced its defence spending would top US$100 billion in 2012 an 11.2pc increase on last year. The lower growth target, down from 8pc last year, is an official acknowledgement that Chinas export-driven economy is slowing as Europes debt crisis and the sluggish recovery in the United States hurt demand for its goods. Chinas economy expanded by 9.2pc last year, slowing from a blistering 10.4pc in 2010, as global turbulence and efforts to tame high inflation put the brakes on growth. We are keenly aware that China still faces many difficulties and challenges in economic and social development, Wen said in his annual speech at the opening of the 10-day gathering in Beijings Great Hall of the People. There is downward pressure on economic growth. Prices remain high. Regulation of the real estate market is in a crucial stage. Expanding domestic demand was a key focus this year, Wen said, announcing increased investment in low-cost housing, social security, education and higher wages as Beijing seeks to reverse the trend of a widening income gap.

Website:
www.esearchmyanmar.com

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

Vendors wait for customers at a vegetable market in southwest China's Chongqing municipality on March 8. Pic: AFP China typically exceeds the annual growth target unveiled every March, and most economists are predicting gross domestic product growth of 8-8.5pc this year. Wen vowed to maintain property restrictions introduced in the past two years to rein in surging real estate prices that had risen out of the reach of many ordinary Chinese. The inflation target was set at 4pc for 2012, unchanged from last year, after consumer prices rose 5.4pc in 2011, causing concern about the prospect of social unrest in the country of more than 1.3 billion people. Maintaining social stability is high on the agenda at the annual parliament meeting, attended by about 3000 delegates from across the country. Unveiling its 2012 budget, the finance ministry said public security spending would increase by 11.5pc to 701.7 billion yuan this year more than the 670 billion yuan earmarked for national defence. Wen also highlighted the sensitive issue of government land grabs, a major cause of public unrest in China, where almost 50pc of the population still lives in the countryside. Speaking a day after landmark elections in the southern village of Wukan, where a revolt last year put the growing public anger over land seizures in the spotlight, Wen said farmers rights to land must not be violated. He also said China should enhance the ability of its military to win local wars under information age conditions, amid concern about Beijings growing assertiveness over its territorial claims. Chinas military budget has seen doubledigit increases every year for much of the last decade, worrying the US, which is expanding its own military power in Asia. The NPC has limited power and the meeting serves more as a grand rally exalting the ruling Communist party than a forum for real parliamentary debate. Most decisions are made ahead of time, but this years event will be closely watched for indications of which leaders will join the Politburo Standing Committee, the highest decision making body in the country, later this year. President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen and five other leaders are due to relinquish their positions on the Standing Committee at a congress later this year that will also announce their replacements. During the meeting, which ends on March 14, the legislature is also expected to approve proposed changes to the countrys Criminal Procedure Law, which activists fear will legalise secret detentions. AFP

E-mail: esearch@yangon.net.mm

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management, had spent 135 billion yen ($1.68 billion) in the following years to wipe out the losses via a series of complex financial moves, acquisitions and over-priced consultant fees, making it one of the countrys biggest ever financial scandals. Meanwhile, the Tokyo prosecutors again arrested four of the six men named in the indictment on suspicion of falsifying corporate statements in other financial years. The three disgraced former Olympus officers and financial adviser Akio Nakagawa officially will now be investigated with view to further charges that they lied in Olympus financial documents relating to fiscal 2008, fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010. Olympus Corp also faced the same fresh suspicions in the three years, the prosecutors said. The 92-year-old firm apologised for troubles caused to stakeholders. We take the indictment seriously and we are resolved to continue strengthening the structure of our corporate governance, it said in a brief statement. The trio of former Olympus officers had been named by the companys special investigation panel as central figures among a small group of top executives that hid and tried to get rid of the losses in secret. The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission on March 6 urged prosecutors to sue the men and the company. The Tokyo Stock Exchange said criminal charges against the company would not in themselves mean Olympus would be expelled from the bourse. We will consider whether to delist Olympus or not if prosecutors disclose fresh facts, but an indictment on facts we already know is not a condition for delisting, an exchange spokesman told AFP. The scandal, which has seen Olympus haemorrhage value on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, erupted in a blaze of international publicity when British chief executive and president Michael Woodford was sacked in October. Following his sacking, Woodford questioned the firms past acquisition deals and the outsized consultant fees it had paid. AFP

MyanMar tiMes

Olympus, former officials charged in Japan

By Kyoko Hasegawa TOKYO Prosecutors said on March 7 they had charged scandal-hit Olympus and three former senior executives over a huge loss cover-up at the company that rocked confidence in corporate Japan. It came as the 20day detention period of former president Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, named as a key player in a scheme to shift US$1.7 billion of losses from the camera-makers balance sheet, expired. Tokyo District prosecutors said Kikukawa, two other former Olympus executives, Hideo Yamada and Hisashi Mori, and three financial advisers falsified the companys balance sheet in fiscal 2006 and 2007. The same charge was also laid against Olympus as a corporate entity, reflecting the prosecutors view that the alleged crime was also an act of the organisation, not only of an isolated group of corporate executives. If found guilty, the company faces up to 700 million yen ($8.7 million) in fines. The individuals may face fines up to 10 million yen ($120,000) and up to 10 years in prison for a guilty verdict under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. The indictment only covers a portion of roughly 100 billion yen ($1.24 billion) in investment losses the firm incurred in the 1990s, as outlined by a special panel of lawyers and former judges commissioned by Olympus. The panel found that Olympus, under the corrupt

Li Ka-Shing is Asias richest person: Forbes

HONG KONG Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing has reclaimed the top spot as Asias richest man after a seven-year gap, unseating Indias Lakshimi Mittal in the latest Forbes billionaires list released on March 8. The 83-year-old Li is worth US$25.5 billion, according to Forbes, overtaking Londonbased Indian steel barron Mittal, who lost $10.4 billion last year as shares in his ArcelorMittal, the worlds biggest steelmaker, plunged. Mittal, who also dropped out of the global top 10 for the first time since 2005, is now estimated to be worth $20.7 billion. Li, nicknamed superman for his long-running business success, started out in business as a maker of plastic flowers and now commands a vast empire with interests including property telecoms, utilities, ports and retail. One in every seven residences in Hong Kong, a southern Chinese city of seven million people, was built by Lis companies, which also handle 70 percent of the former British colonys port traffic, according to Forbes. The second richest Asian on the Forbess annual list is Indias Mukesh Ambani with $22.3 billion. His wealth declined as shares of his oil and gas conglomerate, Reliance Industries, dropped in value amid falling gas output. Globally, Li rose from the 11 th spot to ninth on the worlds richest ranking, while Ambani and Mittal took the 19th and 21st spots respectively. Mexican telecoms czar Carlos Slim topped the world list with a $69 billion fortune. The top 20 Asian billionaires were collectively worth $264 billion last year, $15 billion poorer than the previous year due to weak global financial markets. Choppy stock markets took the sheen off the worlds billionaire factory, hurting the fortunes of its wealthiest, Forbes said. Indians continued to dominate among the Asians with eight in the top 20, despite a weakening rupee and a slowing economy. All eight were less well off than in 2011 except for pharma entrepreneur Dilip Shanghvi. AFP

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Construction material prices flat as rains approach

By Noe Noe Aung PRICES for most construction materials have bucked the normal seasonal trend by remaining flat, several wholesalers said last week. The one commodity that is rising in price is bricks, said U Than Tun, the owner of U Than Tun and Brothers brick wholesale shop in South Dagon township. Brick prices will continue rising because the regular brick making season is nearly finished, he said. He said that when the monsoon arrived in late April or early May, many brickmakers would shutter their operations because the bricks are made and baked in the open. Production will not restart until October or November. Many brickmakers and developers have already started to stockpile bricks while the price is still low but that is also pushing up demand and prices, he said. Bricks were trading for K78-K90 but would likely rise to K90-100 by the end of March, U Than Tun said. Prices will stay at that level or even rise until the rains stop, he added. He said another factor was helping to drive brick demand a rumoured government directive to owners of industrial zone plots to build factories or sell the plots. Ive heard the government is forcing landowners at industrial zones to develop their plots, he said. Daw Mi Mi Tun, the manager of Shwe Myittar wholesale shop in Insein township, said several factors were keeping most construction material prices low this year. She said supply had kept pace with demand, which was about the same as last year. Daw Mi Mi Tun said the strong kyat had meant wholesalers had been able to easily and cheaply purchase enough supplies from abroad, especially Thailand. She added that it was also easier for companies to import supplies than it had been in previous years. U Aung Myint, the owner of Yadanar Aung bricks,

Brick prices have increased slightly in the past months but the market has been otherwise flat. Pic: Kaung Htet sand, cement and gravel wholesale shop in Mingalar Taung Nyunt township, said other construction material prices had stayed flat for the dry season and not gradually increased, as is normally the case. Even bricks had increased in price only marginally, he added. In my opinion prices are unlikely to change much more this summer, although I do expect brick prices to increase in mid-April after the Thingyan festival because production will start to wind down, U Aung Myint said. He said that brick prices were K75-K98 in early March and might increase to K80-100 in the coming month. Prices increased slightly two months ago but are calm now, he said. He added that demand for other construction materials was about the same as last year. The most popular cement, Elephant brand from Thailand, is selling for about K4900 a bag [49 kilograms], while Diamond, which also comes from Thailand, costs about K4700, he said. He said gravel was selling for about K60,000 a pitch (100 cubic feet). Daw Thandar, the owner of Naing 9 construction materials wholesale shop in Insein township, confirmed that prices for most goods had been flat this dry season. And I dont think prices will increase in the next two or three months, actually I think they are likely to fall a little, she said, adding that demand was slightly higher than during the same period last year. But Daw Ohnmar, the owner of Shwe Myitta wholesale construction materials shop in South Dagon township, said demand was stronger last year. Our sales last year were much better but that differs from shop to shop and Im not able to comment on the whole market, she said. She added that 10millimetre-thick iron bar was selling for K60,000 a tonne, down from K64,000 in November.

SHINE Construction Co.,Ltd. (Member of Shine Group of Companies) Job Vacancy for Local Service Shine Group Of Companies is urgently required for high motivate, energetic & dedicated foreign person for the following position: Job Title 1. Manager For Trading 2. Engineer For Construction & Decoration 3. Architect Location Yangon, Myanmar Job Title (1) (i) MBA Marketing (ii) Sufficient knowledge in banking microfinancing (iii) Contribute to overall business strategy and to manage the implementation of business plan especially for Oversea Trading Sector (iv) Must be able lo draw the proposal of market expansion Plans Job Title (2) (i) Degree in Engineering (Civil)/Master Degree Holder (ii) Must be able to manage and operate to achieve good quality and progress in construction and Decoration for highrised buildings (iii) Sufficient knowledge in banking microfinancing Job Title (3) (i) Degree in Architectural / Master Degree Holder Preferred. (ii) Must be able to manage and create special architectural Design for highrised buildings For all posts: - Age 35 to 40 - At least 5-years working experiences in related field - Excellent computer skill, communication skill, English 4-skill and management skill Interested and Qualified persons are requested to send application with update CV, recent photo, copy of NRC or Passport and other required documents to the following address not later than ( March - 24th - 2012 ) Shine Group of Companies No. 29, Ground Floor, Gyo Phyu Street, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon Region, Myanmar. Tel : 951 385 340~4, Fax: 951 250 485 Email : shine@myanmar.com.mm.shine-con@wimaxmail. net.mmsbinehrdept@gmail.com Website : www. shineconstructioncompany.com ( 1 ) Post ( 3 ) Post ( 1 ) Post

Updated Colliers report shows Yangon supply shortfall

By Staff Writers MYANMARS major commercial city is witnessing the effects of the countrys rapid transition from international pariah to exciting new frontier market, according to the latest property report for Yangon by Colliers International Thailand. Hotels, serviced apartments and office space in good locations are in significant demand from companies wishing to explore the opportunities as well as tourists looking to visit a country where time seems to have stood still, for now. We saw it coming, but not this fast, said Tony Picon, associate director of research at Colliers. We basically stopped offering the H1 2011 report for sale some weeks ago in anticipation of the latest H2 2011 report but many still demanded it, such is the surge in interest, he added. The latest report covers all main real estate sectors in Yangon, all of which have seen movement in the past six months with occupancies up and prices rising to match. Existing and future supply is limited for all sectors as a reflection of the previous negative sentiment but the sudden reversal is only just beginning to lead to new projects being planned, said Mr Picon. With demand rising, new supply will take some time to be able to catch up and rates in all sectors are set to rise as a result, he said. And with a new investment law still in the pipeline, sanctions not yet lifted and many other pieces of the jigsaw still not in place, the effects of the supply shortage have a long way to run even once the obstacles have been addressed, Mr Picon said. He said the condominium create a form of legal title as well as potentially offering some form of foreign ownership. The updated Yangon Property Report adds an overview of Nay Pyi Taw. Patima Jeerapaet, managing director of Colliers, said that the influx of new hotel rooms would aid the hosting of the SEA Games in 2013, as well as the many ASEAN events that will accompany Myanmars chairmanship of the bloc in 2014. There is a significant amount of construction taking place to get this of the country and more importantly for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibition events, he added. Mr Picon said he viewed the current situation regarding investors in Myanmar as something akin to a Grand Prix. They are kicking the tyres and doing the practice rounds before jockeying for position on the starting grid, he said, describing the influx of delegations visiting the country but with most still playing a waiting game. The less risk averse will start to enter the market on the basis of new laws supporting investment and a much improved financial system, a key concern for investors we meet, he said. He added that numerous opportunities would arise in coming months because the government was in the process of tendering buildings and land in Yangon and other parts of the country after administrative functions were moved to Nay Pyi Taw and Colliers had been involved in consultancy for this bidding process. Many are in prime locations and can be key iconic buildings both colonial and new build that can reflect a future Yangon that is on the cusp of a new beginning.

We saw it coming, but not this fast.

market in Yangon was healthy in 2011 with a strong uptake in new supply coming from local buyers and with demand also coming from outside of Yangon, especially people from Mandalay looking for a second home. However, an issue for condominiums remains the lack of legal status, such as strata title. This creates problems, such as inadequate property maintenance caused by the lack of a juristic person to administer the property. However a new condominium law could city ready for these events and in little time many components of a modern city are taking shape such as modern retail centres and upper scale hotels, Mr Patima said. However, Mr Patima said he had some concerns over the long-term viability of some developments. What happens when all the athletes, spectators and dignitaries are gone? There isnt one embassy located in Nay Pyi Taw at present so the city must work towards attracting visitors for other reasons such as part of a travel itinerary

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that attract homebuyers, according to residents and real-estate professionals. The Olympics will cost about 9.3 billion (US$15 billion), an expense borne by the British government, lottery revenue and local authorities. About 75 pence of every pound spent by the Olympic Delivery Authority goes to the rejuvenation of east London, according to the games website. I n v e s t m e n t l i n ked to the Olympics has boosted the supply of homes in the area without increasing demand to match, said Yolande Barnes, residential research director at property broker Savills. That may keep housing prices depressed. A demand shift will be needed, she said. In todays market, youre not going to see house-price inflation unless you see a flow of equity into the area. Stratford, where Westfield Group opened Europes largest urban shopping mall last year, needs to become as attractive to buyers as the west London neighbourhood of Fulham, Barnes said. Prices in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham rose 5pc last year. Newham spreads from Stratford, where the Olympic Park is based, past the home of the West Ham United soccer team to East Ham on the regions border with Barking & Dagenham. Few signs of revitalisation are visible in the neighbourhood of Plaistow about 2 miles southeast of the Olympic stadium. British home prices rose in February as first-time buyers tried to make purchases before a tax exemption expires in March, the Nationwide Building Society said last week. Recent Olympic Games have done little to lift overall property values in some host cities, according to a study by New York University. Researchers studied the change in residential real estate prices in six Olympic host cities over 16 years and contrasted them with similar metropolitan areas. Only two hosts had a bigger rise in home prices, said the studys author, Constantine Kontokosta. Its unlikely that Olympics will give a significant, long-term economic boost to London, he said, because Olympic-related investments tend to have a low return and high opportunity cost in relation to other potential investments to improve livability and economic strength of a city. Home prices vary greatly in Newham, said Verdi, the Keatons broker. For 255,000 pounds ($411,000), a buyer can get either a newly refurbished threebedroom house in the Plaistow neighbourhood or a one-bedroom apartment in Stratford, less than 2 miles away. The Olympics may have had an effect on the western side of Newham, but its a large borough with very different characteristics in its central and eastern areas, Jones Langs Neale said. Bloomberg News

MyanMar tiMes

Londons poorest area waits for games boost

By Chris Spillane LONDON The east London borough hosting the 2012 Olympic Games had the citys biggest decline in home prices even after the government spent billions of pounds on projects to revitalise the capitals poorest area. Prices in Newham, where the opening ceremony will be held July 27, fell 2.5 percent last year compared with a 2.8pc gain in London overall, Jones Lang LaSalle estimates. Property values in the three other areas benefiting most from Olympic investment all rose, according to the Chicago-based broker. Theres still a lot more infrastructure that needs to be built in Newham before you see significant rises in house prices, said Nick Verdi, a real-estate broker who works for Keatons about a mile [1.6 kilometres] from the Olympic Park. Its been a very flat market. Newham, with about 270,000 residents, had the lowest average income among London boroughs and the eighth lowest in England in 2010, according to a survey by the Department of Communities and Local Government. While areas closest to the Olympic Park will benefit from improved rail services, sports venues and new businesses, much of the borough lacks infrastructure and amenities such as schools and restaurants

Rows of residential properties in the borough of Newham, as the London 2012 Olympic Park is seen on the horizon in London, on February 23. Pic: Bloomberg Blocks of public housing projects, known as council estates, are bisected by business streets lined with discount liquor stores, betting shops and fast-food outlets. Residents say improvements in Stratford are making it worse for the other parts of Newham by drawing people away. Theres too many people here and too much crime, said Jahangir Alom, 36, a shopkeeper at Bengal Supermarket in Plaistow. The population is moving to Stratford because of that. Renewal projects linked to the Olympics include upgraded rail links that can transport passengers between Stratford to Londons Kings Cross in seven minutes, the construction of more than 2800 homes, one of Britains largest tree planting projects and the cleaning of almost 2 million tonnes of contaminated soil. London 2012 truly will be remembered as the regeneration games, due to the scale of change that is being delivered, Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt told a conference of business leaders in 2008. Overseas investors or buyers able to make large cash down payments are more likely to look for homes in central London rather than eastern neighbourhoods, said Jon Neale, a residential research director for Jones Lang.

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MPT more than halves SIM purchase prices

By Htoo Aung MYANMAR Posts and Telecommunications slashed the prices of the muchanticipated next batch of mobile telephone connections by up to 60 percent. However, the launch, which begins on March 14, still fell far short of some consumers expectations. MPT announced via staterun media that GSM and CDMA 450MHz connections will cost K200,000, while WCDMA and CDMA 800MHz lines will be K250,000. The rollout officially begins on March 14, with GSM lines available for purchase and use countrywide, except for Yangon and Mandalay regions, where the infrastructure is not ready yet, the release says. Nay Pyi Taw will be added on March 28, while the rest of Mandalay Region and Yangon Region will be added on April 9. WCDMA lines can be used countrywide, except for Yangon and Mandalay regions, from April 9. price but its still far too high and many people cannot afford to buy them, said U Kyaw Naing, 50-yearold businessman who lives in Mingalar Taung Nyunt township. The price needs to be low enough that everybody can afford to buy one, he added. Ma Ei Ei, a 27-year-old accountant, said she would buy a connection soon. I was planning to buy a mobile when they were K500,000 but then I heard that prices would be reduced so I waited. But now theyre K200,000 so I will definitely buy one. I was even thinking of buying a phone a while ago through a hire purchase agreement but I didnt like the deal I was offered, she said. But its definitely good news for the public if prices are lower, she said. Ko Nay Myo Hein, a software programmer who lives in Kyeemyindaing township, said: Ive been waiting for K200,000 mobiles to be released and its a really good development for the public.

Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications last week announced price cuts of up to 60 percent on new mobile phone SIM cards. Pic: Yadanar Yangon and Mandalay will be included from April 23, the release said. The release said an announcement on when the CDMA 800MHz and CDMA 450MHz connections could be used nationally would be made later but did not specify a date. The release said calls made between 11pm and 7am would be charged at K25 a minute, half the normal rate. An official from MPTs mobile department said SMS charges would remain unchanged at K25 each. Most people use phones during the day for business but make calls to family at home, so its good to see MPT reducing call charges at night, said U Kyaw Myint, a civil servant who lives in Sanchaung township. However, while connection fees have been reduced, they remain too high according to some, particularly in the wake of Shwe Pyitagons recent failed efforts to introduce SIM cards for K5000. MPT has reduced the

Google boss lays out future vision at worlds top tech fair
By Richard Carter HANOVER, Germany Googles executive chairman Eric Schmidt cast a sciencefiction vision of the future as the worlds top tech fair opened last week, with the German IT sector predicting record sales in 2012. Think back to Star Trek or my favourite the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Much of what those writers imagined is now possible, said Schmidt. Translating ... voice recognition, electronic books. The people who predict that intelligent robots, virtual reality or self-driving cars will soon be commonplace are right, he added. Governments will be able to spot the economic makings of a crisis before they happen and doctors will be able to accurately predict the outbreak of disease before anyone feels it, predicted Schmidt. The tech boss was speaking at the opening ceremony of the CeBIT, the worlds biggest high-tech fair in the northern German city of Hanover, with 4200 exhibitors from 70 countries expected to wow punters with their latest gadgets. This year, the fair was to focus on the possibilities offered by cloud computing, the concept of storing data remotely rather than on individual machines, as well as managing trust, or the hot topic of internet security. Declaring the fair officially open, Chancellor Angela Merkel returned to this theme of managing trust, saying it was especially important among world leaders as they battled to solve the global economic crisis. Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, this years partner country at the CeBIT, expressed the hope that technology, when put to human interests, can certainly produce a true revolution for the well-being of the people at large. During the fair, tech giants Samsung, Sharp, Microsoft, Google and Facebook will be showing off the latest ultra-thin tablet computers and the smartphones of the future for work as well as futuristic, weird and wacky gadgets for fun. Among the highlights is a robot that can make your lunch and a car that can change its length to slot into tricky parking spaces. Others include a virtual eraser for wiping out traces of potentially embarrassing mistakes on the internet, a system for protecting smartphones from eavesdropping and a mobile device for asthmatics to assess the air quality. And in the run-up to the fair, the German IT sector published new forecasts saying it expected to shrug off the eurozone debt crisis and register record sales this year. IT industry lobby BITKOM said it expected sales growth of 1.6 percent this year to 151.0 billion euros (US$199 billion), pinning its hopes on the futuristic cloud computing technology. If confirmed, this would be a significant improvement on the 0.5pc gain seen last year in the sector and the first time sales have topped the 150-billion-euro ($201 billion) mark. The debt crisis in Europe has not been able to touch the German high-tech sector yet. Companies order books are filled nicely, said Dieter Kempf, the bodys president. The IT sector is doing much better than the general economy and is therefore acting as a stabilising factor, Kempf told reporters, presenting the new forecasts. The positive trend in the sector should feed through into the labour market, BITKOM added, predicting an additional 10,000 jobs would be created this year. The most meteoric growth was likely to be registered by cloud computing, which has proved to be a complete change in the way the sector operates, he said. This sector was expected to enjoy growth in Germany of 37pc per year on average until 2016. This year, the cloud computing business was expected to grow by 47pc to 5.3 billion euros ($7.1 billion). Despite the bullish forecasts, BITKOM said that the IT sector in Europe would underperform other parts of the world. In China, the sector was expected to grow by 9.7pc, in the United States by 3.1pc, in the whole 27-nation EU by 1.8pc and in Japan by 1.1pc. At a global level, the sector is expected to grow by about 4pc this year, according to BITKOM forecasts. AFP

Trade Mark CauTion

NOTICE is hereby given that Beauty Solutions, Ltd a company incorporated in the United States of America (New York) and having its principal office at 411 Fifth Avenue, Suite 804, New York, NY 10016 is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: -

(reg: no. iV/12231/2011) in respect of: - Cosmetics, nail care preparations, eye shadow, lip care preparations, lip creams, cosmetic pencils, lipstick, lip gloss, eye creams, mascara, face cream, skin moisturizers, perfumes, eye blush, wrinkle creams and sticks, skin cream and products for applying cosmetics, cotton swabs and blotting sheets Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for Beauty Solutions, Ltd P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 12th March, 2012

FRAN WILSON

Facebook star Zynga opens online playground

SAN FRANCISCO Facebook games star Zynga last week opened an online playground where users can enjoy hit titles without having to visit the worlds top social network. Zynga.com launched with CastleVille, Words With Friends, CityVille, Hidden Chronicles and Zynga Poker, along with a promise of lots more social games by the San Francisco-based firm and outside developers. Zynga.com is designed to make it easier for you to play with friends, Zynga founder Mark Pincus said in a blog post. Weve invested heavily to build a network and infrastructure tuned for delivering social gaming at scale. Zynga played up its online games community as an expansion of its partnership with Facebook rather than a quest for more independence. Zynga rose to success on the popularity of its titles at Facebook, where millions of users enlist friends in either collaborative or competitive online play ranging from poker to growing virtual crops or building cartoon cities. Zynga.com is connected to the Facebook social graph so game play and the actions of friends involved will follow users between the online venues, Zynga general manager Manuel Bronstein told AFP. I see this as a great manifestation of our relationship with Facebook that goes deeper into gaming, Bronstein said. In the morning you may check your news or social feeds on Facebook and then play games, but late in the afternoon you might just want to play, so you go to Zynga.com Along with keeping people connected with Facebook play companions, the Zynga website features ways to speed up progress in games and find zFriends who share ones passion for certain titles. Zynga.com was also crafted as a platform on which third-party developers could make titles available to the 240 million people who play the companys games each month. Zynga jumped into the stock market with a billion-dollar listing in December. Offering 100 million shares one seventh of the companys total at US$10 each, the maker of Facebook games FarmVille, Mafia Wars and Words With Friends was valued at a whopping $7 billion. Zyngas stock price rose slightly to $14 a share on the NASDAQ in afterhours trading that followed the launch of the online games community. Zynga games are free to play but the company makes money by selling virtual in-game goods to players and serving up advertising. The company sees the potential for revenue to grow if players flock to zynga.com. AFP

Syrian minister quits; death toll nears 8500

DAMASCUS Syrias deputy oil minister resigned on March 8 to join an anti-regime revolt, as UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan urged more diplomacy rather than militarisation to end the crisis in Syria. The developments came as activists said almost 8500 people had been killed since the uprising against the government of President Bashar al-Assad began a year ago. Abdo Hussameddin announced his resignation in a video posted by activists on YouTube, saying he was joining the ranks of the rebels. I am joining the revolution of the people who reject injustice and the brutal campaign of the regime, which is seeking to crush the peoples demand for freedom and dignity, he said in the video. The defection was quickly welcomed by Syrian opposition leader Burhan Ghalioun, who told AFP he expects more government officials and politicians to follow suit. I hail the deputy minister who defected and I call on all government members and public servants ... to abandon this regime and join the ranks of the revolution for freedom and dignity, said Ghalioun, head of the Syrian National Council, the main opposition group. Former UN chief Annan told reporters in Cairo he had urged the Syrian opposition to come together to work with us to find a

TiMESWORLD
solution that will respect the aspirations of the Syrian people. He also warned against further militarisation of the crisis, amid a groundswell of international support for arming the rebels. I believe further militarisation will make the situation worse, Annan said after talks with Arab League secretary general Nabil al-Arabi. Annan, who was to head to Damascus on arch 10, warned of the possible impact of Syria on the region if there is any miscalculation. I hope that no one is very seriously thinking of using force in this situation, he said, adding that diplomatic efforts should be kept up. After he spoke, Britain said it was following the United States in considering providing non-lethal help to rebel groups. On March 7, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Washington was looking at delivering non-lethal aid to Syrias rebels, hinting at the first direct US assistance to the forces seeking Assads downfall. Asked if the US was ready to deliver communications equipment to Syrian rebels, Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee: Id prefer to discuss that in a closed session but I can tell you that were considering an array of nonlethal assistance. AFP

March 12 - 18, 2012

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A boy gestures while celebrating Holi, the festival of colours, in Kolkata on March 8. Holi is a Hindu spring festival celebrated in India and Nepal on the last full moon day of the winter season. Pic: AFP

MP resigns over made up nose job story

CAIRO An Egyptian Islamist MP was forced to resign from parliament and from his party after claiming that he was injured in a carjacking, when he had in fact had a nose job, his party said on March 5. A bruised and bandaged Anwar alBilkimy had appeared on television the previous week saying he was the victim of a carjacking by gunmen who beat him and stole 100,000 Egyptian pounds (US$16,500). But doctors and medical staff at a hospital in Cairo came forward and said that the MP, who belongs to the conservative Islamist party al-Nur, had in fact been undergoing rhinoplasty at the time. In a statement on its Facebook page, Al-Nur said its chief Emad Abdel Ghafur had gone to see Bilkimy on March 5 and confirmed that the whole story had been made up. AFP

Ties with Russia based on issues: US

WASHINGTON The White House said on March 8 its relationship with Russia was based on issues, not personalities, as the return of Vladimir Putin poses fresh questions for reset US-Kremlin relations. President Barack Obamas reinvigoration of relations with Russia is regarded by aides as a signature foreign policy success, but recent spats with Moscow and Putins presidential election win have cast doubt on future cooperation. Our policy towards Russia is based on our interests and not on personalities, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, when asked whether Obama would be as friendly with Putin as he has been with President Dmitry Medvedev. The reset policy that the president pursued after he took office, with Russia, produced benefits for US national security interests, US commercial interests. We obviously look forward to continuing to cooperate and work with Russia where we agree on issues. And thats regardless of who the president is. Putin has adopted a more confrontational posture towards the West than that used by Medvedev, whose personal style seemed to be closer to that of Obama than that of Putin, a hardnosed former KGB man. Some analysts have also questioned whether the rising political opposition Putin has encountered in Russia will lead him to adopt nationalistic and populist stances which could cause conflict in US relations with Moscow. Washington has reacted cautiously to Putins election and said it hoped that Moscow would carry out an independent probe after foreign monitors found the results of the March 4 poll had been skewed in Putins favour. I believe the international observers noted that Mr. Putin won a majority of the vote. But we also note the irregularities that have been reported, Carney said. The State Department said on March 5 that it hoped that with the election out of the way, Russia would turn its attention to helping to solve the Syria crisis. Russia and China have twice used their veto in the UN Security Council to block international action against the regime in Damascus of President Bashar al-Assad, earning an angry US response. AFP Earlier report, P. 29.

Trade Mark CauTion

NOTICE is hereby given that Sapporo Holdings Limited a company under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 20-1, Ebisu 4-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8522, Japan is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: -

HIV study links infection rate, access to treatment

GENEVA A new study to achieve high coverage shows that people living in of antiretroviral therapy, areas where uptake of HIV both for the benefit of people treatment is high are less living with HIV and for the likely to acquire the virus communities in which they than in places where few are live, said De Lay. The research on data given care, UNAIDS said on collected in KwaZulu-Natal March 8. province The research found that in by the Africa Centre for These findings areas where antiretroviral Health and Population are extremely therapy uptake is above 30 Studies marks percent, the first time important. uninfected that the people are positive impact of antiretroviral therapy 38pc less likely to acquire on infection rates has been the virus. It is the first time that we proven for a community, said have been able to show such the UN agency. T h e s e f i n d i n g s a r e results in a population setting extremely important, said an important finding which UNAIDS program divisions will help guide the AIDS deputy executive director response, said Frank Tanser from the research centre in Paul De Lay. UNAIDS encourages all the University of KwaZulucountries and communities Natal. AFP

Trade Mark CauTion

Castrol Limited, a company organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales, of Wakefield House, Piper Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 1RE, United Kingdom, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

reg. no. 1172/2012 in respect of Class 04: Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; fuels; additives for fuel. 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 Castrol Limited P. O. Box 60, Yangon. E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 12th March, 2012

(reg: no. iV/1048/2012) in respect of: - Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks; fruit dinks and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages; low-malt beer; non-alcoholic beers; non-alcoholic beer flavored beverages; carbonated drinks (refreshing beverages); extracts of hops for making beer; whey beverages; vegetable juices (beverages) Intl Class: 32 Alcoholic beverages (except beers); Japanese liquors [in general]; western liquors [in general]; alcoholic beverages of fruit; Chinese liquors [in general]; flavored tonic liquors; beer-flavoured sparkling malt liquor; beerflavoured alcoholic beverages containing a saccharide and a hop as main ingredients Intl Class: 33 Retail services or wholesale services for liquor; retail services or wholesale services for carbonated drinks (refreshing beverages) and non-alcoholic fruit juice beverage; retail services or wholesale services for tea, coffee and cocoa Intl Class: 35 Services for providing food and drinks; temporary accommodation; providing foods and beverages; public house services for the provision of drink; wine bar services; self-services cafeteria services; self-services restaurants; snack bars; cafe services; cafeteria services; club services for the provision of food and drink; cocktail lounge services; bar services; bistro services; restaurant services Intl Class: 43 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for Sapporo Holdings Limited. P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 12th March, 2012

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Moving atoms images recorded for first time

PARIS Scientists revealed last week that they had recorded the first real-time images of atoms moving in a molecule, a feat that captured movement lasting less than one millionth of a billionth of a second. The exploit entailed directing an ultra-fast laser onto molecules of nitrogen and of oxygen. Its pulse of light knocked a single electron out of its orbit around one of the atoms. The electron tumbled back onto the molecule, causing a tiny collision that, like ripples in a pond, proved a backlight of energy. Sensors picked up a movement of joined atoms vibrating. The research, published in the journal Nature on March 7, was headed by Louis DiMauro, a professor of physics of Ohio State University. The molecules that were studied are very simple oxygen and nitrogen make up most of the atmosphere but the hope is to progress to imaging of more interesting fare. Drug designers could be among the beneficiaries. You could use this to study individual atoms, DiMauro said in a press release. But the greater impact to science will come when we can study reactions between more complex molecules. Looking at two atoms thats a long way from studying a more interesting molecule like a protein. In a separate technical breakthrough, also reported in Nature, physicists at the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) used microwaves to manipulate anti-matter atoms, once a staple of sci-fi but now one of the big frontiers of particle research. In theory, there should be equal amounts of matter and its opposite, known as anti-matter, as a result of the Big Bang that created the cosmos. But clearly there is not, otherwise the physical Universe would not exist. When a matter atom meets an anti-matter atom, they cancel each other out in a burst of energy. So, for some reason, there is a far greater abundance of matter than anti-matter. Scientists poring over this mystery have laboured to find out more about elusive anti-matter atoms. In recent years, they have isolated anti-atoms and then stored them but handling them is a fiendishly hard task, given the risk of destroying them through mere contact. The latest achievement, led by the so-called ALPHA team at CERN in Geneva, entailed confining antihydrogen atoms in a magnetic trap and bombarding them with microwaves. The energy kick forced the atoms out of the trap, providing some vital clues about their properties an anti-atomic fingerprint, in the scientists words. AFP

An image of the sun released by the US National Aeronautical and Space Administration on March 7 showing a huge solar flare that generated the biggest radiation and geomagnetic storm the Earth has experienced in five years. The colour-coded image combines observations by NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths and shows the flare on the upper left of the suns surface. Pic: AFP/NASA

Higgs breakthrough is near, predict US-based physicists

WASHINGTON US-based physicists said last week that their experiments confirm those from a major European atom-smashers that have narrowed the range where the elusive Higgs boson particle could be hiding. The results come from the now-defunct Tevatron collider, which closed down in September after nearly a quarter century, though physicists continue to analyse its data in the hunt for the socalled God particle. The Higgs boson is the missing link in the standard model of physics and is believed to be what gives objects mass, though it exists only in theory. The end game is approaching in the hunt for the Higgs boson, Jim Siegrist, Department of Energy associate director of science for high energy physics, said on March 7. This is an important milestone for the Tevatron experiments and demonstrates the continuing importance of independent measurements in the quest to understand the building blocks of nature. Physicists at the Fermi National Acceleratory Laboratory in Illinois said in a statement that their data might be interpreted as coming from a Higgs boson with a mass in the region of 115 to 135 GeV (gigaelectronvolts). That result includes the slightly more narrow constraints announced in December 2011 by scientists at CERNs Large Hadron Collider the worlds largest atom-smasher, on the FrenchSwiss border. The CERN (European Center for Nuclear Research) experiments, carried out by a consortium of 20 member nations, have shown a likely range for the Higgs boson between 115 to 127 GeV. GeV is the standard measure for the mass of subatomic particles. However, none of the hints so far have been enough for physicists to announce that the particle has been discovered, or to claim there is enough evidence to say for certain that it exists. AFP

Alien seeds threaten Antarctica, says study

WASHINGTON Foreign seeds are hitching rides on scientists and tourists to the Antarctic and could eventually upset the ecology of the warmest patches of the remote land, international researchers said. Invasive species are thought to be among the most significant conservation threats to Antarctica, especially as climate change proceeds in the region, said the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on March 6. The research is the first attempt to quantify the threat of invasive plants and their potential effect on Antarctica. People unwittingly carry 9.5 seeds on average into Antarctica, with the estimated 7000 scientists working in the region likely to have more seeds, or propagules, on them than the 33,000 tourists who visit annually. Marc LeBouvier, a French researcher on the team, told AFP that the areas at risk include just one to two percent of the land mass which is not covered by ice. Invasive species are a global problem but the issue is particularly sensitive on islands where ecosystems are more fragile, he said. The risk in the Antarctic is an upset to the balance of the ecosystem which may result in the gradual replacement of native species with imported ones, which have the capacity to eliminate local plants. The risks are greatest along the Antarctic Peninsula, in the coastal ice-free areas near the Ross Sea and in parts of East Antarctica, the study said. An invasive grass species called Poa annua, two wind-dispersed vascular plant species of South American origin and two exotic springtail species are believed to be among the new plants taking up residence in Antarctica. The research was conducted during the first summer season of the 2007-2008 International Polar Year and included interviews and luggage checks involving 5600 people arriving aboard ships or planes. AFP

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Briefs
Hostages die in failed rescue bid
ABUJA A British and an Italian hostage kidnapped in Nigeria nearly a year ago were killed on March 8 in a failed rescue operation. The deaths of Chris McManus and Franco Lamolinara were announced by British Prime Minister David Cameron who said he took responsibility for authorising the operation, at Sokoto, in far northwestern Nigeria. Cameron said he had given the go-ahead for a rescue after credible information was received about the location of the two men.

Super Tuesday boosts Romney

BOSTON, Massachusetts Mitt Romneys campaign said on March 7 it would take an act of God for rivals to win the Republican presidential nomination, but the party is bracing for a rough, divisive fight well past Super Tuesday. Romney collected six victories the previous day in the 10-state voting bonanza including Ohio, the pivotal battlefield which he won in a nailbiter against his most persistent challenger, Rick Santorum. While Romney boosted his pole position in the race to become the Republican Partys nominee against President Barack Obama in November, he failed to deal a knockout blow to Santorum, a religious conservative who held his own by winning three states in the Midwest and South, or to former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who won the southern state of Georgia. But in the aftermath of Super Tuesday, team Romney was confident their candidate was marching inexorably toward the 1144 delegates needed to ensure victory, with about 40 percent of the needed delegates in hand. All we have to do is keep doing what were doing, and we can get the nomination, a senior Romney campaign official said on March 7 as he broke down the results for reporters at Romneys headquarters in Boston. The former Massachusetts governor has fended off surges Despite setbacks, millionaire businessman Romney, 64, can boast that he is a survivor, despite lingering scepticism among his party about his conservative credentials. He came from behind to win Florida and Ohio, two swing states that Republicans must win to claim the White House. Romneys Ohio win, narrow as it was, denied Santorum his central argument that he alone can compete against Obama in working-class, Midwestern swing states. Opportunities for decisive delegate hauls have dwindled to just two dates. Five states vote on April 24, including New York and Santorums native Pennsylvania, with a total of 231 delegates at stake, while June 5 has 299 delegates, including in voter-rich California. Each state is allocated a certain number of delegates to the Republican Partys summer convention which will crown the nominee, and those delegates are divided up among the winners of the state votes. Deeply-conservative Kansas was to vote on March 10. The delegate-rich southern states of Alabama and Mississippi told hold primaries on March 13. All three states could prove a challenge to Romney, and hand victories to either Santorum or Gingrich. AFP

Fraudster ordered to forfeit $330m

CHICAGO Financier and cricket mogul Allen Stanford must forfeit US$330 million in assets tracked down by prosecutors investigating his $7 billion Ponzi scheme, a US jury said on March 8. Stanford was convicted on March 6 of 13 fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges. Prosecutors said Stanford stole $2 billion from investors to fund his lavish lifestyle.

Militias vow to give up key sites

TRIPOLI Libyan militias who helped oust Moamer Kadhafi have promised to turn over to the interim government strategic sites, such as airports and border crossings, that they have held since capturing them in last years uprising. The commitments were made as the government in Tripoli struggles to exert its control over the country, and as Libyas proposed national charter was unveiled at a conference in Misrata ahead of June elections to a constituent assembly that will finalise a new constitution.

from several rivals in recent months, winning when it counted most in states such as Florida and Ohio, even as he has struggled to connect with core conservatives. The campaign official insisted that Romneys increased lead over his opponents and diminishing opportunities on the calendar for major delegate hauls, make a clear case that the

nomination is an impossibility for Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich. For those guys, its going to take some sort of act of God to get to where they need to be on the nomination, the official said. Yet they remain in the race, denying Romney the opportunity to put a negative Republican campaign behind him and turn his attention

to ousting Obama from the White House. I think the long slog continues for Mitt Romney towards the nomination, Dante Scala, a professor of politics at the University of New Hampshire, told AFP. However, Super Tuesday left little doubt in analysts minds that Romney will eventually secure the nomination.

Suicides in US Army Clinton urges China to show soared after Iraq war, its rise is in worlds interest reveals military study
PARIS The number of suicides in the US Army rose by 80 percent after the United States launched the war on Iraq, American military doctors reported on March 8. From 1977 to 2003, the tally of army suicides had trended slightly downwards, and was far below civilian rates. But it started to curve upwards in 2004, the year after the US-led invasion, according to their analysis, published in the British journal Injury Prevention. In 2008, 140 army personnel committed suicide, a figure 80 percent higher than in 2004 when measured in person-years, a benchmark used by health experts, and much higher than in civilian society, it found. This increase, unprecedented in over 30 years of US Army records, suggests that 30 percent of suicides that occurred in 2008 may be associated with post-2003 events following the major commitment of troops to Iraq, in addition to the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, says the paper. Those who died were overwhelmingly male, young, white, in the lower military ranks and likelier to have had a history of depression and other mental disorders. The rise mirrored an increase in consultations and hospitalisation for mental health. From 2003, these rates nearly doubled. The 2008 rate indicates that more than one-fifth of all active-duty soldiers had an ambulatory [walk-in] visit for a mental health disorder, implying a prevalent public health problem, warns the study. In 2008, nearly a third of the suicides occurred among troops who had never deployed, which highlights the need to provide counselling for young soldiers facing pre-combat stress, it adds. The study was headed by Michelle Canham-Chervak of the US Army Public Health Command, using information from the Army Behavioral Integrated Data Environment. It is a data bank that combines several national military sources, including details about medical consultations, diagnoses and treatment. The study dissected the figures for 2007 and 2008, and compared these with previous years. AFP WASHINGTON US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week called on China to show in concrete ways that its rise is in the worlds interest, saying that Beijing needs to take greater responsibility. In a wide-ranging speech on relations between the Pacific powers, Clinton renewed US calls on China to protect the rights of foreign businesses, adjust the unfair value of its currency and improve its human rights record. Clinton adamantly rejected perceptions in Beijing that the United States is trying to contain China, and insisted that a stronger and more prosperous China would ultimately benefit both countries. But Clinton said that Chinas growth means that it cannot have it both ways by asking to be treated as a rising power in some areas and as a developing nation with fewer responsibilities in others. The world is looking for China to play a role that is commensurate with its new standing and that means it can no longer be a selective stakeholder in world affairs, Clinton said at the US Institute of Peace on March 7. It is understandable that the international community wants some confidence that a countrys growing power will be used for the benefit of all, Clinton said. Given the historic challenges to security and stability posed by rising powers, they do have a special obligation to demonstrate in concrete ways that they are going to pursue a constructive path, she said. Clinton recognised that China has taken a greater leadership role in a

Monarch begins diamond jubilee tour

LEICESTER Queen Elizabeth II was welcomed by a cheering crowd of thousands in Leicester on March 8 as she began her diamond jubilee tour of Britain, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, and Prince Williams wife, Catherine. While other royals are touring Commonwealth states around the world to mark the diamond jubilee, the sovereign, 85, and Prince Philip, 90, are visiting every region of Britain. The pace is slow and steady to suit their ages with the visits spread out between now and July. AFP

Will it explain its military buildup

number of areas, including through its contribution to anti-piracy operations off Somalia and in efforts toward global recovery from a crippling recession. But Clinton said China needed to answer questions about its policies elsewhere and referred to the bloodshed in Syria. Will it use its power to help end brutal violence against civilians in places like Syria? Clinton asked. Will it explain its military buildup and the ultimate goals of its military strategies, policies

and programs... to reassure its neighbours, to avoid misunderstandings and to contribute to maintaining regional security? China announced on March 4 that its military spending would top $100 billion in 2012. Clinton renewed calls on China to address economic concerns including the value of the yuan, which US officials say is artificially undervalued, and spoke of long and profound disagreements over human rights. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, addressing the same forum by video link from Beijing, called on Washington to honour its commitments on Tibet and self-governing Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, so as to prevent setbacks in USChina relations and ensure their steady growth. China is committed to peaceful development. We hope that the United States will see Chinas development in the right and objective way and take more steps to increase our mutual trust, Yang said. The conference marked the 40th anniversary of US president Richard Nixons history-changing trip to China. AFP

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Americas obsession with Israel

Comment
by Shmuel Rosner
IN mid-December last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with all due respect, declined a request to write an op-ed for The New York Times. In his rejection letter, Netanyahus senior adviser, Ron Dermer, claimed to have counted up Times (and International Herald Tribune) articles and concluded that of the 20 articles related to Israel published between September and November 2011, 19 portrayed Israel in a negative light. It would seem, he wrote, as if the surest way to get an op-ed published in The New York Times these days, no matter how obscure the writer or the viewpoint, is to attack Israel. If one puts aside for a moment the question of pro- or anti-Israel bias, it does seem that the surest way to get an op-ed published anywhere in the United States is to write something about Israel. Since I received a request to write this article for Foreign Policy, Ive visited its web sitedaily and counted the articles on different topics and countries. You can try it yourself using the search engine: Israel was written about more than Britain, Germany, Greece, India, or Russia. Counting mentions of Israel in various American forums is an old habit of mine. Four years ago, in the run-up to the 2008 US presidential election, I begged the candidates to resist the temptation to constantly talk about Israel or express their profound love for the Jewish state. I wrote then: Last week in the vicepresidential debate, Israels name was mentioned 17 times. China was mentioned twice, Europe just once. Russia didnt come up at all. Nor Britain, France, or Germany. Needless to say, my advice has not been heeded. In December 2011, I listened to the Republican presidential candidates compete to prove their friendship with Israel at a meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition. (Mitt Romney promised to visit Israel before visiting any other country; Newt Gingrich said that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on the first day of his presidency.) In early January, like many other journalists from many other foreign countries, I travelled to Iowa to cover the Republican caucuses and had to wonder again about writers from other countries: Do they not feel neglected amid all this talk about my country? In the more than one dozen campaign events I attended, I did not hear one word about Japan or Russia or Germany or France or Italy. Europe was mentioned occasionally, as in, President Obama wants the United States to become like Europe, and we have to stop him. China was mentioned sporadically; Brazil, maybe once. Israel? Every time. Theres more than one reason that Israel became a topic of such constant conversation among American writers, opinionmakers, politicians, and policy wonks. Undeniably, Israel is interesting. It is conveniently located in an area that is continuously a producer of dramatic news, a place to which journalists resolution of the conflict. Or did it make a complicated situation even worse, by giving the sides more reasons to invest much of their energy on spin and public manipulation, instead of solving the real problems? Naturally, Israeli leaders would prefer less attention be paid to the conflict with the Palestinians and more to feel-good start-up nation kinds of stories. Then there are other issues on which attention is both a blessing and a curse at the same time notably Iran. Israels policy on Iran is built around pushing the world toward action (be it sanctions or attack), and it depends upon the attention the story is getting from the media. Click-bait headlines like Will Israel Attack Iran? ensure that the issue stays front and centre in the minds of US policymakers. On the other hand, the more attention the Israeli angle of this story gets, the more it appears that Irans nuclear program is really just a local concern and not the global threat that the Israeli leadership wants to portray it as. The more Irans nuclear program is perceived as an Israeli issue, the greater the risk that Israel will be blamed for the negative consequences of the tension, such as higher oil prices. There is also the very real danger that, should it come to war, Americans will view the destruction of Irans nuclear capability as something Israel should handle on its own, rather than supporting an international coalition that would have a much better chance of neutralising the threat. The overrepresentation of Israel in the American public square is at times a headache and at times a cause for celebration. Some might argue that the high level of US support for Israel could not survive without it. In any event, keeping a low profile often a necessity for effective diplomacy is impossible for Israel. Foreign Policy (Shmuel Rosner, a Tel Aviv-based columnist, is political editor of the Jewish Journal).

US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) during their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on March 5. Their talks were dominated by concerns over Irans nuclear program. Pic: AFP the politics: Israel is a tool with which candidates for office hammer one another. Thats to say nothing of the fact that American Jews, while a tiny minority of the US population, are well represented among journalists. This makes Israel not just a topic of constant conversation, but can also make the conversation itself quite bizarre to the untrained eye. News sites, blogs, and busy writers matters would probably quickly get bored and lost in the petty details of these debates and others. Israel is to American writers what football is to the general public: Everybody seems to be an expert, or at least believe he or she is one. Its not just the number of mentions and articles written about my country that is perplexing; its also the number of uninformed comments and unworthy observations. But far bloodier conflicts around the world get only a fraction of the coverage that the smallest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process garner. More consequential issues cant possibly compete with the hype and the controversy following every trivial progress or setback in this never-ending story. Take a quick look at the list of the bloodiest world conflicts and compare the coverage they are getting with

Israel is to American writers what football is to the general public: Everybody seems to be an expert, or at least believe he or she is one.
can easily travel and from which they can easily write the one country in the Middle East that doesnt violently prevent the media from doing its job. Then theres the special relationship factor: Israel is a US ally, and a strong and vocal lobby of both Jews and Christians is working to preserve the two countries ties. It is a place for which many Americans have a special affinity for religious reasons, meaning that any story on Israel is likely to generate both page views and impassioned comments. There is also can dedicate their time to arguing about the content of some tweets of the new New York Times Jerusalem correspondent; weeks of enraged debate can be wasted on foolish comments made by left-leaning thinktank bloggers. Dont get me wrong: In both cases Im with those thinking the tweets and the comments were outrageous. But I also must admit that this level of scrutiny and never-ending discussion is rarely given to other countries and that most readers without a high level of interest in Israel-related One notable case the one that seemed to have irked the prime minister was a New York Times op-ed claiming that Israel is only interested in promoting gay rights as a way of pinkwashing away its sins against the Palestinians. Another example, by columnist Eric Alterman writing in the Forward, made the ludicrous claim that Israel is becoming a theocracy. There is of course the old journalistic saw that if it bleeds it leads, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has spilled more than enough blood. the coverage that the IsraeliPalestinian conflict receives in almost every American publication. How much have you read in The New York Times about violence in Honduras recently? How much did you hear about Syrias autocratic regime before the latest eruption of murderous infighting? Has there been proper coverage and analysis of the recent growing tensions in the South Caucasus? This raises the question of whether all the attention showered on Israel and the Palestinians has brought them one inch closer to

US rejects Irans warning over nuclear talks pressure

WASHINGTON The United States last week rebuffed an Iranian warning that new nuclear talks would fail if they were used to exert pressure, demanding assurances Tehran was not building an atomic bomb. We will demand that Iran live up to its international obligations that it provide verifiable assurances it is not pursuing a nuclear weapon, White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One on March 7. The warning came after Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani warned that the talks offered by the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany would fail if they were used to pressure Tehran. Carney said the United States was clear-eyed about its approach, given that Tehran declined to discuss its nuclear program in previous rounds of talks. We will not relent in our efforts through sanctions and other measures to isolate and pressure Iran, he said. Actions are what matter here, and we will judge Iran by its actions. President Barack Obama meanwhile said he expected it would quickly become clear if Iran was serious about easing concerns about its nuclear intentions in the talks. On March 6, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the world powers, said she hoped for real progress in the talks, to be held at a time and place yet to be announced. In a February 14 letter to Ashton, Irans chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Tehran was ready to resume the deadlocked negotiations at the earliest opportunity as long as the world powers respected its right to peaceful atomic energy. At the last talks between the two sides held in Istanbul in January 2011, Iran refused to address questions on its nuclear program, laying down what diplomatic sources said were pre-conditions such as a lifting of sanctions. The possible resumption of talks comes despite an apparent deadlock between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran over the Islamic republics nuclear program which world powers want to be central to the talks after two visits to Tehran in January and February. In a report circulated to IAEA member states on February 24 ahead of a meeting of its board in Vienna last week, the nuclear watchdogs Yukiya Amano repeated that he has serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Irans nuclear program after the visits. During the two trips Iran again rejected a November IAEA report outlining a range of suspicious activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device as based on false intelligence, Amano said. Iran also denied access to the Parchin military complex where the IAEA believes explosives testing for nuclear warhead research took place, making a last-minute offer to allow access to another site which the IAEA rejected. The two sides had major differences on how to proceed, Amano said, with no other visits planned. Iran denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons, saying its nuclear program is peaceful, and has disputed the IAEAs version of events. The IAEA says that because Irans lack of necessary cooperation it is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities. AFP

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The nuclear industry bounces back

TOKYO Last years Fukushima disaster plunged the nuclear industry into its deepest crisis since Chernobyl, but dire predictions that atomic power would have to be abandoned have proved incorrect. Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes when the tsunami caused reactors at the plant to overheat, spewing radioactive plumes into the air and sparking a mad rush to stop the reactors from exploding. As engineers battled to prevent a catastrophe to rival Chernobyl in 1986, some analysts declared the much-trumpeted nuclear renaissance, driven by surging energy demand and the need to move away from fossil fuels, was dead. However, a year from the March 2011 crisis, commentators and those within the nuclear industry itself are saying the future of atomic power is brighter than ever. Fukushima did cause a slowdown in plans for new reactors and prompted a focus on an energy mix that I think will include more natural gas and a little more renewables, said Colette Lewiner, an energy specialist at French consultancy Cap Gemini. But it wasnt the end of nuclear, contrary to what perhaps was being predicted after the accident. The most visible impact was closer scrutiny and in some countries tougher safety standards for existing plants, said Lewiner. But hardly anything changed on the strategic view for an energy source that already provides for nearly a sixth of the planets electricity needs. While a few countries are turning away from atomic energy, several more are forging ahead with plans to bolster nuclear power. France and Britain have both declared they will proceed with nextgeneration reactors, the United States has approved its first nuclear plant since 1978, while China and India remain on course for building scores of reactors in the coming years. In 2011, about 60 countries approached the International Atomic Energy Agency about Basically, the general long way in the intervening In Japan, the last of starting nuclear programs, the IAEA said in February. the countrys 54 reactors consensus for the long term 12 months. John Ritch, director We expect that this is expected to be shut is reduce nuclear power year Vietnam, Bangladesh, down within weeks of the but not stop it, he said. Its g e n e r a l o f t h e W o r l d United Arab Emirates, anniversary of the disaster more reasonable to increase Nuclear Association in Turkey and Belarus will in the face of a bitter the use of other energy London, argued that the start building their first backlash against a once- s o u r c e s a n d g r a d u a l l y industry had inadvertently emerged stronger nuclear power from Fukushima. plants, said the By focussing on agencys deputy In the past 10 years, most major governments additional safety director general, and better design, Kwaku Aning. have concluded that they will need nuclear. the industry Only Italy, had reassured which abandoned reduce nuclear while countries eager for a nuclear after Chernobyl, trusted power source. But the closure is unlikely taking additional safety secure gigawatt source of Switzerland which has electricity, he said. approved plans to phase to be permanent, given measures. In the past 10 years, most On March 5, IAEA chief out its five plants by 2034, the countrys hunger for and Germany which has energy, said Shinichiro Yukio Amano said nuclear major governments in the declared it will scrap nuclear T a k i g u c h i , e x e c u t i v e power had become safer world have analysed their by 2022, are moving away senior researcher at Japan since the disaster and that energy and environmental the industry had come a needs for the 21st century, Research Institute. from the energy source. and have concluded that they will need nuclear, Ritch said. After Fukushima, those countries re-evaluated, and with few exceptions, mainly Germany, reaffirmed their original decisions. Patrick Criqui, an economist at Frances National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), said Germany is going to be an interesting real-life experiment about whether the switch to a renewablesbased system will work. In the short term, the answer is no. Its open to debate whether they can achieve this ambitious goal in the long term. Fukushima has been widely described as a disaster, but so far no fatalities have been attributed to it. Even so, the cost in fear, disruption and economic losses is huge. Estimates of the bill vary enormously, from tens of billions to hundreds of billions of dollars, depending on whether this comprises only cleaning up the site or compensating evacuees as well. Such figures are ready ammunition to those who say the true costs of nuclear are underestimated. It took a severe accident like Fukushima to show (Japan) that the power utilities are incapable of handling the costs, leaving the state to foot a huge bill, said Ryutaro Kono, an economist with BNP Paribas in Tokyo. AFP

Researcher looks to China for spinal injury cure

HONG KONG One of the worlds leading researchers into spinal cord injuries says China could hold the key to a cure that he has been searching for since he met late actor Christopher Reeve in the 1990s. US-based Dr Wise Young first used the word cure in relation to his work after a conversation with Reeve, the Superman hero who became quadriplegic in an equestrian accident in 1995. Reeve contacted him looking for help and the two became close friends. The actor died of heart failure in 2004 at the age of 52, having devoted his life to raising awareness about spinal cord injuries and stem-cell research. But it was a star of a different sort, Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, who set Young on the path he believes has brought a cure closer than ever, thanks to groundbreaking clinical trials of stemcell therapy he is conducting in China. Everybody assumed that Im doing this in China because I wanted to escape George W. Bush, but thats not the case at all, Young told AFP in an interview, recalling the former US presidents 2001 decision to effectively stop federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. I started the clinical trials in 2005 here in Hong Kong ... mainly because of a promise that I made to a young woman. Her name is Sang Lan. Sang crushed her spine during a routine warm-up exercise at the Goodwill Games in New York in 1998. She met Young as she underwent treatment and rehabilitation in the United States during the next 12 months. Her parents came to me and asked whether or not there would ever be a cure for her, and I said were working very hard on it, recalled Young, who was by then one of the leading US experts on spinal cord injuries. When she went back to China after doing her rehabilitation in New York she cried and asked how would therapies go from the United States to China. In those days China was still relatively poor and backward so she didnt think that any therapy would be coming from China. So I started in 1999 to talk to all the spinal cord doctors in China. He said the result was China Spinal Cord Injury Net, the worlds largest clinical trial network for spinal cord therapies. Established in Hong Kong in 2005, it is about to expand to Europe, India and the United States. Were testing umbilical cord blood-cell transplants into the spinal cord combined with Regeneration is a slow process. The trials also involve intensive walking exercises for some of the severely injured participants at the Army General Hospital in Kunming, southwestern China. In two sessions of three hours each, six days a week, the patients sculpt their nerve fibres into shape, Young said. He likened it to running a marathon every day. By comparison, Reeve did about two hours of exercise daily. The families are there cheering them on. Theres a mass effect, said Young in his tiny office in central Hong Kong, where he was born into a business family in 1950. They are joshing with each other, saying Im going to beat you today. Theres that kind of atmosphere that allows you to do it six hours a day and once it becomes a routine you keep going. One of the tragic and littleknown side effects of the countrys booming economy is the rise in car accidents and building site accidents, leading to soaring numbers of spinal injuries. Chinese researchers to offer stemcell treatments at high prices, without any clinical proof that their methods are effective. But Young said such problems existed everywhere. For him, the real story about China is how it has gone from the backwater of Sang Lans day to a country at the cutting edge of spinal cord research. Chinese government spending on biomedical research is at least on a par with the United States, and the legal framework governing its clinical standards is second to none, the doctor said. Its turned 180 degrees from the time Sang Lan was asking how will therapies get to China. Now Americans want to go to China, Young said. This is not what I would have said to Sang Lan back in 1998, but it is possible that the cure for spinal cord injury will actually come from China. Young does not use the word cure lightly. Before I met (Reeve) I was very reluctant to use the word cure... Its very scary to use because when you use the word cure youre committing yourself to a goal that most scientists feel uncomfortable with, he said. Were not going to be able to make the body exactly the same as it was before the injury. What we should do is get (patients) to a point where you cant tell that they have been injured, and I think that is an achievable goal. AFP

Dr Wise Young played a key role in establishing the China Spinal Cord Injury Net, the worlds largest clinical trial network for spinal cord treatment. Pic: AFP promote the growth of the nerve fibres. Each component of the combination therapy needs to be tested separately before they are brought together in the third and final phase, due to take place in the coming years if all goes well. The results so far have been promising, although its still too early to draw conclusions about recovery of movement, Young

The families are there cheering them on. Theres a mass effect.
lithium treatments, said Young, professor in neuroscience at Rutgers University, New Jersey. At about 20 centres in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, stem cells are injected into patients damaged spines to help regenerate nerves, while lithium is used to said. What we can comfortably say right now is that the procedure seems to be quite safe. Nobody has lost any function, he added. We dont expect people to be jumping out of bed and running marathons after this. Chinas rate of chronic spinal cord injuries has increased more than 10-fold since 1995, and another 80,000 people are added to the list every year, said Young. Growing demand for therapies has led some unscrupulous

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Israel gets assurances from Obama over attack on Iran

WASHINGTON Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu left Washington on March 6 with assurances that the United States is prepared to use force to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, but just not yet. Netanyahu, who met President Barack Obama on March 5 and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on March 6, put the world on notice that his patience was wearing thin and, if necessary, he would launch unilateral strikes. As prime minister of Israel, I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation, he told 13,000 delegates in a keynote speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference on the evening of March 5. Unfortunately, Irans nuclear program has continued to march forward. Israel has waited... for diplomacy to work, weve waited for sanctions to work. None of us can afford to wait much longer. Sitting beside the president at the White House before going into talks on March 5, Netanyahu told Obama that Israel must remain the master of its fate, in a firm defense of its right to mount a unilateral strike. Obama, who assured Netanyahu that he has Israels back, stressed that he sees a window for diplomacy with Iran, despite rampant speculation that Israel could soon mount a risky go-it-alone military operation. Obama publicly kept to a meet its security needs. I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, he said. As Ive made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests. World powers on March 6 responded to Irans new willingness to discuss the nuclear issue with an offer of talks, which Obama said would quickly show whether the Islamic republic was serious about avoiding war. Obama, seeking a second term in November, argued that Iran was now feeling the bite of tightening sanctions though cautioned he did not expect a breakthrough in a first set of negotiations. In Brussels on March 6, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, speaking on behalf of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, reiterated an offer to resume talks with Tehran, which denies it is seeking the bomb. The Obama administration says it does not believe Iran has taken a decision to develop a nuclear weapon, or that the time is right for military action, preferring to give biting new sanctions time to work. But Israel, which sees a possible Iranian nuclear weapon as a threat to its very existence, claims Iran may be on the cusp of breakout capability when it could quickly build a nuclear weapon. AFP

US defends use of lethal force against American citizens

CHICAGO US Attorney General Eric Holder last week defended the governments use of lethal force against American citizens abroad as legal and necessary to protect the nation against terror attacks. The speech marked the first time a senior US official has publicly justified in legal terms the drone attacks that are believed to have killed at least three US citizens on foreign soil in recent months, including key al-Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaqi. Given the nature of how terrorists act and where they tend to hide, it may not always be feasible to capture a United States citizen terrorist who presents an imminent threat of violent attack, Holder said in a speech at a law school in Chicago on March 5. In that case, our government has the clear authority to defend the United States with lethal force. Holder outlined the circumstances under which an operation using lethal force in a foreign country, targeted against a US citizen who is a senior operational leader of al-Qaeda or associated forces, and who is actively engaged in planning to kill Americans, would be lawful. Such circumstances included that a thorough review had determined the individual posed an imminent threat of violent attack against the United States and that capture is not feasible. The operation would be conducted in a manner consistent with applicable law of war principles, Holder said. Holder denied the attacks amounted to assassinations or unlawful killings, saying the practice can only take place in full accordance with the Constitution. Our legal authority is not limited to the battlefield in Afghanistan... We are at war with a stateless enemy, prone to shifting operations from country to country, he said. Our government has both a responsibility and a right to protect this nation and its people from such threats. Civil rights groups have condemned the September killing of Awlaqi in Yemen in a US raid. Critics argued it was illegal for the US military to kill an American citizen on the battlefield, after no attempt to indict him. The American Civil Liberties Union which last month filed a lawsuit seeking the release of documents authorising targeted drone strikes, such as the one on Awlaqi criticised Holders comments. Few things are as dangerous to American liberty as the proposition that the government should be able to kill citizens anywhere in the world on the basis of legal standards and evidence that are never submitted to a court, ACLU national security project director Hina Shamsi said in a statement. AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington on March 5. Pic: AFP far more dovish line on the Iran issue and appeared notably at odds with Netanyahu over just how immediate was the Iranian threat. This notion that somehow we have a choice to make in the next week or two weeks or month or two months is not borne out by the facts, he told a news conference on March 6. But addressing AIPAC on March 4, Obama recognised Israels right to take action on its own and said he was prepared to use force if necessary to snuff out an Iranian nuclear threat. Obama acknowledged Israels sovereign right to make its own decisions about what is required to

Sarkozy defends campaign pledge Russian opposition defiant after to halve number of new arrivals Putins presidential poll victory
PARIS President Nicolas that while immigration complained on March 6 that Sarkozy said last week could remain a boon for they were being used as that there were too many France in many areas, it pawns in the election, after immigrants in France, as must be controlled more first Le Pen then Sarkozy and the countrys presidential tightly through tougher finally his prime minister election campaign became residency qualifications for Francois Fillon criticised the production of halal and caught up in issues of religion newcomers. Over the five-year term kosher meat. and identity. Frances problems are Defending a re-election I think that to restart the campaign promise to cut the process of integration in good so major, as we are in a number of new arrivals in conditions, we must divide period of crisis, so how can half, Sarkozy bluntly declared by two the number of people the issue of kosher meat that Frances attempts to we welcome, thats to say to and halal meat be a major integrate foreign arrivals into pass from 180,000 per year to problem for France? asked the Grand Rabbi of France, its culture and society had 100,000, he said. Sarkozy also announced Gilles Bernheim. become paralysed. The French Our system Council of the of integration is working more We have too many foreigners Muslim Faith slammed what it and more badly, said was the use because we have too many foreigners new plans to limit welfare of Muslims as scapegoats in on our territory and we can benefit payments available to the election campaign. The unusually strong no longer manage to find immigrant workers to those them accommodation, a job, who have enjoyed residency r e a c t i o n s f r o m t h e a school, Sarkozy said on for ten years and have worked communities came a day after Fillon urged Muslims and for half that time. March 6. The hardening of his tone Jews to consider scrapping Sarkozy has been accused of tacking to the right in came after a week in which the outdated slaughter rules. France will vote in the the run up to the April 22 issue of Muslim immigration first round of the French and in particular Islamic first round of a presidential presidential election in order and Jewish dietary practice election on April 22, followed to recruit voters tempted by has surged to the fore in the by a second-round run-off on anti-immigrant candidate national debate, upsetting May 6. All recent opinion polls forecast that the Socialist religious leaders. Marine Le Pens platform. J e w i s h a n d I s l a m i c Partys Francoise Hollande But, in a television i n t e r v i e w , h e i n s i s t e d c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s will win. AFP MOSCOW The Russian opposition last week defiantly vowed to wage a sustained campaign of protests after police detained hundreds in rallies on March 5 against Vladimir Putins crushing victory in presidential polls the previous day. The tense demonstration descended into chaos and violence when police roughly arrested a hard core who had tried to stage a sit-in protest on a central Moscow square. Police said they arrested 620 people there and at a similar event in Saint Petersburg. Those detained in Moscow included the anticorruption crusader Alexei Navalny the movements charismatic but divisive figurehead. All were released by March 6, police said, but several face court hearings that could hand them 15day jail terms. Tens of thousands will be coming out on the streets of Moscow and other cities and refusing to leave, Navalny told reporters after being released. We will keep doing this until our demands speeches at rallies during his campaign. I was amazed when he said that the first time, calling them enemies, he told Moscow Echo radio station. He said Putins comments were humiliating and Russias rulers must apologise. Putin won the March 4 election with 63.6 percent of the vote and will serve for a six-year term that if he is reelected could extend to 2024 making him Moscows longest-serving ruler since Stalin. But European monitors have raised concerns and the opposition, whose leaders were excluded from the polls, have vowed to make protests a permanent feature of the Russian strongmans new presidency. The awakening of society, the Vedomosti daily said in an editorial about the difficulties Putin faces on his Kremlin comeback. The possible return of Putin for two more terms has brought on fears of stagnation and despair, it said. AFP

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin early last week after his decisive election triumph. Pic: AFP are met. The spectre of unrest has overshadowed what was meant to be Putins triumphant return to a post he held with virtually no dissent from 2000 to 2008 before his four-year stint as prime minister. The former KGB spy is due to be sworn in at the Kremlin on May 7. The last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on March 6 slammed Putin for dismissing the opposition movement as enemies in

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In China, a victory over corruption

WUKAN, China Residents in a Chinese village that has become a symbol of resistance against corruption elected a new leadership committee on March 4, ending a two-day poll viewed as a landmark in the authoritarian state. The vote for a sevenmember committee governing Wukan village came months after residents staged bold protests and overthrew leaders they said had run the village like local emperors, stealing their land for years. We thank you for your approval, and we understand the... hopes villagers have put in us, Lin Zulian, who was elected head of the committee, told residents after the results of the vote. We will definitely reach our goals... and we will definitely do a good job, he said, to loud applause, standing in a line with the six other elected members. Villagers in Wukan in the southern province of Guangdong began protesting in September in what was then seen as just another bout of social unrest in China, where land grabs have become a major source of discontent. But when Xue Jinbo one of the protest leaders died in police custody in December, villagers took their protest a step further, barricading roads leading into Wukan and facing off with security forces for more than a week. Then, unexpectedly, Communist Party authorities backed down and promised villagers rare concessions, including pledges to investigate the land dispute and allow village polls to be held in an open manner a first in Wukan. For two days, villagers took their turn at makeshift wooden voting booths before casting their ballots in large metal boxes. We all feel its been a success. Its had a big influence on people, and I think its improved Wukan villagers awareness, said Hong Tianbin, head of a committee appointed to oversee the voting process. More than 6800 villagers over 81 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the election on March 3. But when the results came out in the evening, only two candidates had received the required number of votes to make it through, and organisers announced a second round would take place the next day. Lin who led the protests last year and was provisionally appointed head of Wukan after the incumbent was thrown out was one of the successful contenders. Yang Semao, another villager, was elected deputy head. Residents on March 4 voted for the remaining five positions on the committee. Most of those elected were protest leaders. Direct elections for a committee representing villagers have taken place in China for decades, but candidates are typically put forward by authorities to avoid them challenging the higher echelons of power, and often run unopposed. In Wukan, leaders had held power for decades without being challenged, and residents say they had never allowed village polls Wang has been praised for his deft handling of the situation in Wukan. Zheng Yongnian, politics professor at the National University of Singapore, said he had implemented other smallscale reforms in Guangdong to decentralise power. Its an important step in Chinas political process... He is trying to make it so the government manages less, but well, said Zheng. In Wukan, Zhang said the committee had bold plans that included resolving the land issues, improving sanitation and rebuilding old houses. In a notable difference to other villages, Lin Zulian, who was elected head of the committee, was also appointed party chief of Wukan several months ago a position that wields more authority. The power often resides with the party secretary, who is appointed by the township government, said Graeme Smith, an expert on rural China at the University of Technology in Sydney. Its a little bit meaningless if the guy who ultimately has the say in the village is not elected by the villagers. So thats the radical departure in Wukan. But experts still questioned how much the village committee would be able to improve things. In the end, the real power resides two rungs up the chain in the county government, which has enormous discretionary power, said Smith. If youre talking about meaningful democracy, it has to happen at that level. AFP

A Wukan resident votes in the southern Guangdong province village on March 4. The election of a new leadership committee in the village came after residents protested against leaders accused of behaving like little emperors. Pic: AFP to go ahead openly, instead selecting members behind closed doors. The election took place under the watchful eyes of authorities, with a visible but not overbearing police They want to build it up to make it into a model village. However, experts are sceptical about the importance of the election. There are two aspects Unlike in Wukan, where leaders ruled uninterrupted for over 40 years, other villages in China have held direct elections for decades, although they do not always proceed smoothly and the

Its an important step in Chinas political process.

presence in the village. Wukan residents are encouraged by the response from authorities towards their grassroots-level campaign. Authorities say they want to make Wukan an experiment in democracy and an economic experiment, said Zhang Jiancheng, 26, one of seven members of the new leadership committee in Wukan, in the prosperous southern province of Guangdong. to the Wukan events the protests and the village election, said Xiong Wei, a Beijing-based grassroots democracy activist who spent months in Wukan. The protests will be difficult to replicate elsewhere, as the success of protests in Wukan was due to several specific elements such as the number of people living in Wukan, how united they are. But he said the voting process could easily be emulated. committees wield little power. Wang Yang the hugely influential party boss of Guangdong, who is widely viewed as politically progressive has played down the significance of the vote. What they did was implement (the laws) in a very complete way, correcting the way in which the elections had been held in the past, he said in Beijing last week.

Congress drubbing tarnishes Rahul Gandhis shine

NEW DELHI Dismal results from state elections on March 3 have raised serious doubts over the ability of Rahul Gandhi, often tagged Indias prime minister-in-waiting, to live up to his destiny. Rahul, the son, grandson and great-grandson of Indian premiers, led campaigning in the Uttar Pradesh elections, addressing 200 rallies in scattered villages and towns to try to boost the Congress party vote in the key state. But the first real test of his political skills and popularity resulted only in humiliation when Congress finished fourth in the count, gaining just six more seats than in the previous state poll. The results prove that the charisma of Rahul Gandhi failed to charm the voters, R.K. Mishra, a political science professor at Delhi University, told AFP on March 7. The Congress will not just have to change their political strategy but also find a new way to project Rahul. Congress has struggled for decades in UP state elections, where regional parties hold increasing sway, and Gandhi family advisers have faced accusations that they placed their man in a no-win situation. The question is whether the amount of time and energy invested by Rahul Gandhi in UP was worth it, political analyst Parsa Venkateshwar Rao said. To those of us outside the party it doesnt seem like it was. Rahul, 41, a boyish bachelor, took the defeat on the chin, accepting responsibility and admitting that he would need to do some detailed thinking after receiving a very good lesson from voters. But there was no sign that Rahul, whose appetite for the constant demands of political life has often been doubted, had any intention of giving up. My entire effort will be to help the Congress party stand up in UP and that one day, we win there, he said. I view my work as trying to improve the political system of this country and that will continue. Some party workers feel the time has come for Rahuls popular sister suffocated, say observers. He carries that GandhiNehru stamp which the party believes impresses some people, political commentator Akshaya Mishra wrote on The First Post news website. It refuses to accept that the electorate has long stopped being enamoured by the legacy business, Mishra added. Sonia declined to comment directly on Rahuls performance when she reacted to the election results on March 7, saying instead that the main issue was the partys poor organisation in UP. Despite the setback, Rahul remains the partys unofficial candidate to succeed Manmohan Singh, 79, as prime minister of the Congress-led national government. Criticised for policy drift, reform U-turns and for being increasingly out of touch with Indias political pulse, Singh has also suffered from a series of political scandals implicating senior members of his government. Some observers argue that Rahuls drubbing in the UP polls should not be taken as a touchstone for his chances in the next general election due by 2014. At the national level, people vote for parties. Things are different because in the local polls people prefer their local leaders, Rajendra Dayal, a political scientist at Delhi University, told AFP. Rahul did not even have the manpower to man polling booths in UP and unless you have a very welloiled organisation, a party has very little hope in the state, he added. Others suggest it is time that Rahul, who is often accused of staying aloof from daily political battles, got his hands dirty trying to revive the party that could yet carry him to power. He can no longer persist with his disingenuous stunt of insulating himself and his politics from the disarray (within the Congress government), wrote Arati Jerath in the Times of India. In the minds of the voters, there is little distinction and if Brand Manmohan Singh looks tarnished, Brand Rahul too has suffered. AFP

Congress party general secretary Rahul Gandhi on the campaign trail in Uttar Pradesh state ahead of the March 3 elections. Congress lost heavily in Uttar Pradesh and achieved a clear victory in only one of the five states in which elections were held, showed results released on March 6. Pic: AFP Priyanka to step out from her brothers shadow and expand her profile beyond that of an irregular electiontime campaigner. The Congress party remains broadly loyal to the family that draws its prestige from Jawaharlal Nehru, independent Indias first premier, as well Nehrus daughter Indira Gandhi and Rahuls father, Rajiv, who were both prime ministers. With Rahuls mother Sonia holding the reins as Congress president, any opposition within the party to the Gandhis is rapidly

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a country where millions still live on less than US$1 a day. Can those delegates really represent the people has our country really become rich? posted one user next to a photograph of Li Xiaolin daughter of former premier Li Peng -- in a pink Pucci suit said to cost nearly $2000. Is this a Peoples Congress meeting or a luxury brand meeting? Li is a member of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), an advisory body that meets alongside the National Peoples Congress (NPC), Chinas parliament, and includes television stars and wealthy entrepreneurs. Another accused CPPCC delegates of hypocrisy for parading their branded clothes and bags worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of yuan in front of the Great Hall of the People in the capital. Yang Lan, a wellknown talk-show host and businesswoman nicknamed Chinas Oprah Winfrey, was snapped carrying a Marc Jacobs handbag, attracting criticism both for extravagance and for being behind the times the bag, apparently, was several seasons old. Are these representatives of two meetings, or elites showing off their wealth? posted one user of Sinas weibo, using the popular name for the NPC and CPPCC gatherings being held in Beijing last week. Who will safeguard the rights and benefits of the poor? Chinas government is struggling to maintain what it calls a harmonious society amid an unprecedented economic boom that has brought huge income disparities and rampant corruption. On March 5, Chinas Premier Wen Jiabao promised to focus on raising the incomes of ordinary people as he opened this years NPC session with a speech laying out the governments priorities for the year. AFP

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Fashion conscious NPC delegates attract criticism

BEIJING The annual gathering of Chinas parliament is traditionally a chance for delegates to show off their finery, but this year some have found their designer gear under scrutiny from a web-savvy public. Images on Chinas weibos popular microblogs similar to Twitter of delegates in expensive branded clothes have generated criticism in

China ups defence budget to $100b

BEIJING China said last week its military spending would top US$100 billion in 2012 a double-digit increase on last year in a move likely to fuel concerns about Beijings rapid military build-up. The defence budget will rise 11.2 percent to 670.27 billion yuan ($106.41 billion), Li Zhaoxing, a spokesman for Chinas national parliament said on March 4, citing a budget report submitted to the countrys rubber-stamp legislature. The figure marks a slowdown from 2011 when spending rose by 12.7 percent but is still likely to fuel worries over Chinas growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region and push its neighbours to forge closer ties with the United States. Li described the budget as relatively low as a percentage of gross domestic product compared with other countries and said it was aimed at safeguarding sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity. We have a large territory and a long coastline but our defence spending is relatively low compared with other major countries, Li told reporters. It will not in the least pose a threat to other countries. China has been increasing its military spending by double digits for most of the past decade, during which time its economy, now the worlds second largest, has grown at a blistering pace. The Peoples Liberation Army the worlds largest with an estimated 2.3 million troops is hugely secretive about its defence programs, but insists its modernisation is purely defensive. The rapid military build-up has nevertheless set alarm bells ringing across Asia and in Washington, which announced in January a defence strategy focused on countering Chinas rising power. Analysts said the smallerthan-expected increase in spending this year was an attempt by Beijing to ease concerns in the United States and the region about its growing military might. It is doubtful whether the message will get across because most countries know that the real budget is at least double the published one, said Willy Lam, a China expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Lam said funding for modernising the countrys military was not included in the published budget, which mostly covered salaries for defence personnel and maintenance of existing equipment. Money for research and development of modern weaponry comes from elsewhere, he said. Taiwan-based PLA expert Arthur Ding said the still considerable growth in this years budget would push regional countries to try

Beijing calls on US to respect its interests

BEIJING China on March 6 called on the United States to respect its interests in the Asia Pacific, as Washington seeks to boost its influence in the region. Chinas territorial disputes with countries including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam have intensified in recent years and its neighbours have accused Beijing of behaving aggressively. We are ready to work with the United States and other countries in this region to develop an Asia Pacific that enjoys greater stability and development, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told a news conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the countrys parliament, the National Peoples Congress. At the same time we hope the United States will respect Chinas core interests and concerns. Yang also told reporters that China-US relations were moving forward and Beijing welcomed a constructive role by the United States in this region. President Barack Obama unveiled a new US defence strategy in January aimed at countering Chinas growing power, drawing strong criticism from Beijing which says it poses no threat to any other nation. AFP

Chinas President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao (right) at the opening session of the National Peoples Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5. The annual meeting of Chinas parliament is the last under the current leadership. Pic: AFP to build closer ties with the United States. I think the regional countries will be really concerned about that, Ding told AFP. Tokyo has repeatedly questioned Beijings military intentions. A Japanese government-backed report last month warned that Beijings assertiveness in the South China Sea could soon be replicated in neighbouring waters. China lays claim to most of the South China Sea, including the disputed Spratly Islands, which are also claimed in whole or in part by Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Beijing and Tokyo also have a long-standing dispute over an uninhabited but strategically coveted island chain known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, which lies between Japan and Taiwan in the East China Sea. AFP

Protect farmers rights: Wen

BEIJING Farmers rights to their land must not be violated, Chinas premier told parliament on March 5, a day after elections in Wukan village, a symbol of resistance against official land grabs. In a speech to mark the opening of Chinas National Peoples Congress, Premier Wen Jiabao said farmers rights must be protected. Farmers rights to the land they contract to work on, to the land on which their houses sit, and to proceeds from collective undertakings, are property rights conferred by law, and these rights must not be violated by anyone, he said. Land grabs cause more than 65 percent of rural Chinas mass incidents the one-party governments euphemism for large protests says the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. AFP

RP, US plan war games

MANILA The Philippines said last week it would hold large-scale military exercises with the United States next month near an area where it is locked in a tense sea territorial row with China. The manoeuvres, an annual event which this year will involve nearly 7000 troops, will reinforce the close military ties between the longtime allies, armed forces chief Lieutenant General Jessie Dellosa said on March 7. The cooperation between the two armed forces manifests the unswerving dedication and commitment of our security forces towards a more stable and secure Asia-Pacific region, Dellosa said in a statement. About 4500 US troops will join 2300 Filipino counterparts in various exercises on the main island of Luzon and in Palawan from April 16 to 27. Palawan is an island on the Philippines southwest coast facing the South China Sea. China and Taiwan claim all of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims to parts of it. The territorial dispute over the waters, which are believed to sit atop vast deposits of gas and oil, has for decades been regarded as one of Asias potential military flashpoints. China claims waters close to the western edge of Palawan. However waters to the eastern side of Palawan are uncontested by China. AFP

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Setback for Congress in state polls

N E W D E L H I S o n i a Singh when asked if he would Gandhi, president of Indias be replaced amid mounting ruling Congress party, vowed questions about the 79on March 7 to correct the year-olds leadership of his mistakes that led to a mid- scandal-tainted government term drubbing in local polls. half-way through its second We will have to sit down mandate. There is no question (of and look at the situation and the results in every single replacing him), she said. Singhs administration state and then together work out a plan to correct the has spent much of the last mistakes we have made, two years fighting corruption Gandhi told reporters in scandals, from the Delhi a rare news conference Commonwealth Games to the bungled sale of telecom appearance. Congress, which runs licences in 2008. Of the five states which the federal government, won outright in only one held elections, Congress won of five states and suffered only one with a clear majority a humiliating defeat in northeastern Manipur. As well as losing by politically vital Uttar Pradesh (UP) where the future of a landslide in UP, it lost power in Goa the Gandhi and failed to political dynasty was We have to pull dislodge the ruling party in put to the test. Sonias son ourselves up and Punjab. As well as Rahul, 41, next get going. the success in line in the in Manipur, political family Congress and widely tipped as a future prime scored a wafer-thin victory in minister, led campaigning mountainous Uttarakhand, in the northern state of 200 but without a majority, million people and had vowed meaning it must now try to revitalise the left-leaning to cobble together a ruling coalition with smaller party. But Congress slumped to allies. In Uttar Pradesh, Indias fourth place and increased its presence only marginally most populous state, the in the 403-seat assembly to regional Samajwadi Party 28 elected members, showed (SP) won by a landslide, results published on March marking a comeback for a movement headed by a 6. Every election is a lesson former wrestler which draws for us whether we win or support from low-caste lose, Italian-born Gandhi, farmers and Muslims. Their victory led to the wife of assassinated former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, demise of one of Indias most colourful politicians, lowtold reporters. We have to pull ourselves caste leader Mayawati whose scandal-plagued stint as chief up and get going. The media-shy leader also minister ended on March 7 defended under-fire premier with her resignation. AFP

Briefs
Gilani pressured on graft cases
ISLAMABAD Pakistans top court on March 8 told Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani to ask Switzerland to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, demanding a compliance report be submitted by March 21. The Supreme Court has been asking the government to write to the Swiss to re-open the cases since late 2009 when it revoked a political amnesty freezing legal proceedings against key politicians. On February 13, Gilani was charged with contempt over the governments refusal to write to the Swiss. If found guilty, he could be jailed for six months and disqualified from office.

Images released by the Ministry of Defence in London last week of six British soldiers killed in Afghanistan when their armoured vehicle was hit by a bomb near the city of Lashgar Gar, in southern Helmand province, on March 6. The soldiers ranged in age from 19 to 33. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident, which brought the number of British dead in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion to 404. Pic: AFP/British Ministry of Defence

Vietnam jails 29 for human trafficking

HANOI A Vietnamese court has jailed 29 people linked to a human trafficking ring that sent teenage sex slaves to China, a court official said March 8 after a week-long trial in Hanoi. Gang ringleader Vu Van Cong, 28, was sentenced to 26 years in prison by the Hanoi Peoples Court in a verdict delivered on March 7, the official told AFP. The 28 others were given sentences ranging from 22 years in prison to a 10month suspended sentence.

No more disruption from floods, pledges Thai PM on Japan visit

TOKYO Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last week pledged floods would never again disrupt business in the kingdom as she sought to reassure investors during a trip to Japan. The Thai premier said she had ordered the establishment of schemes to help companies get back on their feet from the disaster that knocked businesses sideways last year. I have reaffirmed to the Japanese government and business leaders that the Royal Thai government is committed to ensuring that the devastation caused by such disasters will never happen again, she told reporters in Tokyo on March 7 during a joint news conference with her Japanese counterpart. (The Thai government) has expedited assistance to affected factories in order to rehabilitate their operations as soon as possible, she said, adding it had created a fund to subsidise disaster insurance for businesses. As many as one in 10 Japanese companies in Thailand said they were considering leaving the country in the wake of the flooding, which crimped supply chains and hammered profits. The Thai government has since launched a charm offensive as it seeks to reassure investors that the kingdom remains a good place to do business. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Thailand and Japan, which mark the 125th year of diplomatic relations this year, share the same basic values and remain strategic partners. The two countries agreed to enhance cooperative relations in the areas of space, railway and information computer technology development at a time that Thailand needs to build infrastructure following the floods, he said. Japans Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano, who met Yingluck earlier, proposed the sale to Thailand of Japans observation satellite system to help the country monitor and forecast flood damage. The months-long floods took a heavy toll on Thailands industrial heartland north of Bangkok, with many factories forced to close temporarily. AFP

Japanese whalers fail to meet target

TOKYO Japan has ended this seasons whale hunt in the Antarctic Ocean having killed less than a third of its original target of about 900 of the mammals, the Fisheries Agency said on March 9. Japanese whalers killed 266 mink whales and one fin whale, the agency said. The catch was smaller than planned due to factors including weather conditions and sabotage acts by activists, an agency official said.

Cheers, jeers for maids day off in Singapore

SINGAPORE Singapores decision to grant foreign maids a weekly day off was welcomed last week by social workers and rights groups, but some employers grumbled and critics said the move falls short of international labour standards. Announcing the change, Minister of State for Manpower Minister Tan Chuan Jin said on March 5 the mandatory weekly rest day would apply to maids whose work permits are issued or renewed from January 1, 2013. Employers who need the services of their maids on their rest day must compensate them. The decision by Singapores Manpower Ministry to grant foreign domestic workers a weekly rest day is an important reform, Human Rights Watch said in a statement. But the New York-based watchdog said the move, which came after years of lobbying by welfare groups, still falls short of international standards as it will take effect only in 2013 and does not offer other forms of labour protection. More than 200,000 women from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India work as maids in Singapore. Some maids never get a day off during their first two-year contract. The lack of adequate Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, said in a statement. Nisha Varia, senior womens rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, said a day off is critical for a domestic workers physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. But one Singaporean employer, banker Jacqueline Ng, expressed concern that some maids could abuse their Its not that we are inhumane, but they will be very difficult to control. What I am saying is with this mandatory day off, as an employer I dont feel secure because we have no control (over) who they mingle with. A businesswoman, Poon Boon Eng, told the Straits Times newspaper that the new rule is really bad news for women who are Singapores decision was hailed by Indonesia on March 8. We certainly welcome it and we are very grateful, Indonesias manpower minister Muhaimin Iskandar said. Its what we have been striving for and we are very appreciative. All countries should accord Indonesian workers recognition as formal workers. What are the rights of formal workers? Guaranteed holiday, social security and other basic rights. Indonesia has taken stiff measures on placement procedures following cases of mistreatment of its workers abroad, including unpaid salaries, violence and sexual abuse. The government had enforced a moratorium on sending workers to three countries Jordan, Kuwait and Malaysia, said the Jakarta Globe newspaper. AFP

Thai wildlife raid nets tigers, lions

BANGKOK Thai authorities seized more than 200 live animals, including tigers and lions among other rare species, in a raid on an illegal wildlife supplier on March 8, police said. The owner cannot provide legal documents for the five tigers, so he was charged with violating the Wild Animal Preservation and Protection law, Lieutenant Colonel Adtapon Sudsai of the Nature Crime Police told AFP. The raid on a compound in eastern Saraburi province was based on evidence found last month at a house in Bangkok where officers caught four men chopping up a tiger. AFP

Can you imagine if she has a day off. What will happen?
protection has made livein domestic work a highly stressful occupation and many women in such situations find it difficult to cope with the social isolation and demands of the job, said social worker Bridget Tan. As a result, many of them suffer from anxiety, depression and loneliness, Tan, founder and president of the private group freedom. Ng said she had to send an Indonesian maid home recently after the helper was found to have contracted venereal disease. She told AFP that her maid, who did not enjoy a regular day off, had refused to say how she got the disease. Can you imagine if she has a day off. What will happen? Ng asked. working. I need to rest on Sundays too, she said, adding that she would rather compensate her helper for a foregone rest day. Human Rights Watch said Singapores labour-protection rules lag behind those of other places with many migrant workers such as Hong Kong, where maids already enjoy a day off every week.

Time out
MMPO gives members new voting power
By Nyein Ei Ei Htwe THE Myanmar Motion Picture Organisation is undergoing restructuring this month, with new voting powers being given to actors, directors, producers and scriptwriters, organisation members said last week. U Nyunt Win, U Kyi Soe Tun, U Aung Lwin, U Sein Tin and U Aung Myint Myat have been voted patrons of the restructured organisation, and U Soe Moe, Bogalay Tint Aung and a few others are expected to join them soon, said former actor and director U Zin Wine. He said the positions of chair and other officials will be determined by votes from actors, directors and others in the film industry, while patrons will pick election dates and prepare voting slips. I hope to have a good leader who can work for us with all his heart, someone from among our own ranks who will already understand our feelings. Im sure this will contribute to the improvement of Myanmars film industry, he said. U Zin Wine said directors would also like to see censorship rules become less restrictive. Previously there were 10 points on the list of censorship guidelines, but in December four of these were abolished, including admonitions that films should be free from obscenity, that they should not denigrate the rights of children and teenagers, that they should portray good moral behaviour, and that they should be free from depictions of criminal acts. But many directors say this is not enough. U Zin Wine suggested that a better approach would be to give filmmakers the freedom to make the films they wanted, but also the responsibility to deal with any consequences. Director Mg Myo Min agreed, adding that despite the lifting of some censorship restriction, the domestic video market was continuing its long downward tumble into irrelevance. There seem to be new opportunities on the horizon for the film industry, but Im afraid the changes might come too late, he said. He said that as soon as the restructuring of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organisation is complete and censorship rules are eased, organisation members must travel to rural areas to reopen cinemas and rebuild District Video Committees with members eager to improve the film industry. But Mg Myo Min said he did not believe much had really changed in the film industry in recent months. He also agreed with U Zin Wine that no single person or committee should have the power to decide what constituted an acceptable film. A free and open system means that the audience should have the opportunity to decide whats good and what isnt, he said. Director Kyaw Zaw Linn said filmmakers were asking for reductions in censorship rules, not to misuse the opportunities but rather to boost their creative output for the benefit of audiences. For a long time weve had many different ideas but weve been restricted to re-creating the same basic plot, so people have become bored with watching Myanmar movies. I havent been affected yet by the lifting of some restrictions in December because Im still fulfilling contracts made under the old censorship rules. Kyaw Zaw Linn agreed that greater freedom would come with greater responsibility. For example, if we get permission to film at a particular location, we must thank those who gave permission and be careful not to disturb or destroy the site while shooting, he said. As we get more freedom, all duties will be on our shoulders. There is great potential for filmmakers to become selfish in their pursuit of creating a good film, so we need to watch out for such problems and solve them directly, he said. By Zon Pann Pwint ARTIST Aye Min said he first became interested in painting old buildings in Yangon when he noticed a dilapidated mosque on Shwebontha Road in 1993. The mosque, with its front arch, looked uncared for but it was still stately, he said Since then he has made dozens of watercolour paintings of colonial-era buildings in Yangon, including the old railway headquarters on Bogyoke Road, Bogyoke Market, Yangon Railway Station, the High Court building and Yangon City Hall. Thirty-eight of these paintings were on display at an exhibition titled Old Buildings of Yangon at Trish Gallery, Min Kyaung Street, Dagon township, from March 3 to 11. Colonial structures are aesthetically appealing and old, and their artistry has inspired me to paint a series of famous buildings throughout Yangon, Aye Min said. They contrast sharply with more modern structures, which are square in shape with four-cornered windows, which dont hold much interest for artists. He compared the aesthetic appeal of colonial buildings to that of temples in Bagan. From a distance the temples in Bagan look miraculous. And like the old buildings in Yangon, they are filled with wonders. The closer you look, the deeper you will see, he said. Aye Min said that in addition to well-known administrative buildings, he also painted some of the old residential buildings in downtown Yangon. Some of these have since been demolished because of their age, but they still exist in my paintings, he said. He added that he was

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Artist preserves buildings in impressionist paintings

Aye Min poses with some of his watercolour painting at Trish Gallery in Yangon on March 7. Pic: Yadanar proud that Yangon was home to so many old, beautiful structures, and he also felt pleased that he was able to capture their splendour in his watercolours. He said he preferred an impressionist, rather than a realist, approach in his paintings. I dont draw the buildings in detail because it would look too much like a photograph. I use a more impressionist technique so the viewer will feel the art first and later notice which building is being depicted, he said. Aye Min said he normally sees old buildings through the eyes of an artist. When I visit Bogyoke Market, for example, I dont see the shops with all their products for sale. I stand gazing into the structure of the building. Im always surprised by its splendour, he said. Artist U Hla Tin Htun, vice chairman of Myanmar Tr a d i t i o n a l A r t i s t s a n d Artisans Organisation, which is headquartered at the market, agreed that the old building held great value in and of itself. When Cyclone Nargis struck [in May 2008], some of the old roofing tiles were blown into the street. I kept a few as pieces of memorabilia. Theyre stamped with the year of production, 1886. And the cobblestones on the streets in the market are still undamaged even though theyre more than 100 years old, he said. The building also holds an important place in the history of Myanmar art. Bogyoke Market was the base for activities by the Burma Art Club, which held art exhibitions on the first floor of the main building starting in 1920. It has also housed the Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Organisation in 1969, he said. Another building painted by Aye Min that holds great significance for many people is the sprawling Secretariat Office on Bo Aung Kyaw Street, where Bogyoke Aung San was assassinated on July 19, 1947. U Win Nyein, chief editor of The Rays of Light journal, and Teen and Shwe Amutay magazines, said he worked at the Secretariat from 1967 to 1997, as assistant director of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue. I graduated in 1967 with an economics degree, and back then graduates were often hired as apprentices at the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, U Win Nyein said. I wanted to work in the Trade Department but my father said working in the Secretariat was too good an opportunity to miss. He said I should be proud to work in the building so I took the job and stayed until 1997. Despite the buildings fame, he said it was in poor repair during the time he worked there. Some areas of the roof leaked. When it rained, people could row boats across the office. The floor was also uneven and full of small holes, he said. U Win Nyein added that Yangon was rich with prominent colonial buildings that needed to be saved from deterioration. Like Mandalay Palace and Strand Hotel, which are perfectly preserved, historic buildings from the colonial era and the time of the Myanmar kings should be preserved so they dont lose their original character, he said.

Poet surprised by nomination for Freedom of Expression Award

By Nuam Bawi DIRECTOR, screenwriter and poet Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi has been nominated for the Freedom of Expression Awards 2012, organised by the Index on Censorship and scheduled to be held in London on March 28. Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi who was named to the awards shortlist in the Arts category along with Russian arts collective Viona, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat said the nomination came as a surprise. I do many projects but I never do them with the expectation of getting any awards. I didnt even know this award existed until I was nominated, but Im very happy to know that theyre aware of my work and have noticed what Im doing, he said. Im also happy that they recognised me as a poet because Ive never won an award for my poetry before, he said. Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi has been a poet for 20 years, and only more recently became involved in filmmaking with this breakthrough movie Eaih Met Ah Lon (Beyond the Dream), released in 2008. Along with comedian Zaganar, he also cofounded the Art of Freedom Film Festival, held in Yangon last January. Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, who said he plans to travel to London for the ceremony, said that even though he was happy to be nominated, he did not expect to win the award. Ai Weiwei is also on the shortlist. He is very famous and his work is great. I dont know anything about the other two nominees, but being up against Ai Weiwei is enough, he said. But of course I will be very happy if I get the prize. According to Index on Censorships website, the Freedom of Expression Awards are aimed at highlighting individuals and organisations that have made the greatest contributions to the fight against censorship though journalism, technology, advocacy and the arts.

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Human trafficking film to air on MRTV

By Nyein Ei Ei Htwe THE Music Television End Exploitation and Trafficking (MTV EXIT) campaign has produced a documentary on human trafficking in Myanmar, which will premiere on MRTV and MRTV-4 later this month, the films director said last week. The film, titled Enslaved, was produced by MTV EXIT in partnership with the Central Body for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons (CBTIP), Myanmars Ministry of Home Affairs, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Australian Government Aid Program (AusAID), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). According to the MTV EXIT website (www.mtvexit. org), Enslaved documents the real-life experiences of people involved in the trafficking chain. Three brave survivors tell of their harrowing experiences: Kyi Kyi, a woman trafficked to China for marriage; Ko Min, a man trafficked onto a fishing boat in Thailand; and Vatsana, a woman sold by a friend to carry out domestic labour for over 10 years with no pay in Thailand, the website said. Mr Matt Love, the films director and the Myanmar campaign director for MTV EXIT, told The Myanmar Times that he hoped the documentary would educate viewers about human trafficking and the need for all nations to cooperate in stopping the problem. We created a specific story with the experiences of three victims, police officers and NGOs workers in Myanmar. We also worked with local production teams and we hope to present a strong message to the audience, he said. The documentary is narrated by rock vocalist R Zar Ni, who said he accepted the job because he knew that human trafficking was a big problem in Myanmar. We s t a r t e d w o r k i n g on the film last June and finished recently. I narrate the story, which is about people from Myanmar being trafficked to China and other countries. The film also includes interviews with real victims, R Zar Ni said. By watching the documentary we can learn about trafficking and understand the feelings of the victims. It is everyones responsibility to end trafficking, but first they need to know how to end it. Enslaved marks MTV EXITs second foray into Myanmar to make a documentary about human trafficking. The first visit occurred in 2009 as part of a film exploring the issue across Asia. For the first film we interviewed trafficking victims from Myanmar, the Philippines and Malaysia, Mr Love said, adding that celebrities from different countries took part in the project, including singer Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein from Myanmar He said MTV EXIT has been making educational documentaries about human trafficking since 2004, using music and local celebrities to help raise public interest. Our campaign mainly focuses on Asia, even though trafficking is happening all over the world. According to UN records, half of all victims come from Asia, he said. Mr Love said the specifics of the human trafficking problem differ from country to country. Most Myanmar women are trafficked to China for marriages and Myanmar men are trafficked to Thailand to work in the fishing industries, he said. He said his organisation, in cooperation with the Myanmar government and non-government organisation partners, starting conducting research for Enslaved in Myanmar about nine months ago. We researched human trafficking and found recent stories for the documentary, so I believe we made a film that can highlight the people of the country, he said. and the opportunity to represent Myanmar at international tourism exhibitions. Application forms are available at No 1010, 10 th Floor, Yuzana Tower, Shwegondine, Bahan township, Yangon; tel 01552-762.

Mohan Rai (centre) and Shaman Parvati Rai (L) perform a ritual at the Shamanistic Studies and Research Centre in Kathmandu on February 16. Pic: AFP

Urban Nepal shamans help Westerners find lost souls

By Frankie Taggart KATHMANDU Her body begins shaking as she mumbles an ancient shaman mantra to the beat of a double-sided drum, coaxing snake spirits out of a young Nepali man who has lost his soul. Iron bells around Parvati Rais white shirt ring as she jumps and writhes in a trance, her headdress of peacock feathers waving wildly as she flings her arms over her patient. In the background, a w e s t r u c k We s t e r n e r s watch the animistic ceremony performed not high in a mountain pass, but in a comfortable modern property in suburban Kathmandu. The boy has lost his soul and we are helping him find it, says Mohan Rai, founder of the Shamanistic Studies and Research Centre Nepal, as he helps the ethnic Kirati healer complete the ageold ritual. After decades of modernisation when witch doctors were almost wiped out, urban shamans are e n joy i n g a re n a i ssa n c e among Nepals metropolitan middle class and Westerners looking to be healed, cleansed or spiritually awakened. Mohan Rai, 80, has been on the frontline of the revival since setting up his centre in 1988 to breathe new life into a practice he says has been left behind by science, technology and the big world religions. Shamanism is 75,000 years old. But it is dying out in the villages and I want to keep these traditions alive, said Rai, who is critical of the mainstream religions and governments he believes have plotted to kill off shaman practices. I have thousands of students a year and, more and more, they are Westerners looking for something else where Western medicine has failed. Some of my students are also medical doctors looking to integrate shamanism into their own work. Shamans, known in Nepal as dhami-jhankris, claim to find the lost souls of the sick by travelling between three worlds connected by an upside down tree called Kalpa Vriksha, the tree of immortality. They say they commune with the deities and spirits both benign and malignant inhabiting each world. To b i a s We b e r, 3 3 , a German farmer travelling in Nepal, said he was drawn to shamanism after becoming interested in healing but disillusioned with Western medicine. Shamanism can complement what doctors and nurses in the West are able to do, he said. If you have broken your arm you go to a hospital but there is also so much you can get from the spiritual side of healing which people never experience. Rai, who is married to two sisters and speaks English, German, Spanish, French, Sherpa, Tibetan and Hindi, has enjoyed a colourful life. Born into a Bhutanese farming community, he grew up helping his father, a powerful and well-known shaman with healing rituals for the sick in his village. After a stint in the British army as part of Nepals legendary Gurkhas and time as a trekking guide and mountain rescuer, he was led back to shamanism via working with foreign anthropologists locating witch doctors among the countrys indigenous tribes. He realised the healing art was of great interest to the developed world and set up his research centre to spread the message, employing shamans from Himalayan mountain communities. In his centre sits a photograph of a six-yearold German boy whom Rai says he healed after the youngster, riddled with cancer, was given just two years to live. He also relates the story of a paralysed man he helped to walk within just a few healing sessions. Australian Laura Martino is taking a course at Rais centre and wants to help people in her home town of Melbourne reconnect with their spiritual side. I came here with a totally open mind, which I had to because of some of the amazing experiences Ive had here, like trips to the mountains and sleeping in graveyards, she said. I think the Western world has lost something in its approach to healing and we really need to get in touch again with nature. Shamanism has had its critics, however, in a country where ancient superstitions can have a devastating effect. Last month villagers in southern Nepal beat a neighbour and burned her alive because their shaman had told them she was a witch. The crime caused widespread revulsion, with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai appealing to Nepalis not to listen to the accusations of shamans. In villages especially, faith healers are from the local community while Western medicine practitioners are from cities and towns and are often regarded as outsiders, said Ravi Shankar, a professor at the Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara, Nepals second city. Many academics in the West believe that shamans rely on the placebo effect the tendency of any treatment, even an ineffective one, to cause improvements in health simply because the recipient believes it will work. Even doctors who distrust Nepals shamans have in the past relied on their services, training them to use rehydration salts to t reat diarrhoea and administer antibiotics in pneumonia cases. There is the negative aspect where diseases like epilepsy and mental illness are regarded as entirely due to supernatural causes and modern medical treatment is neglected, said Shankar. But then this was the case in the West also about 150 years ago. AFP

Events Flash
with ...

Nuam Bawi

Indian Filmfest
The Indian Film Festival will be held at Nay Pyi Taw Cinema in Yangon from March 10 to 14, Myoma Cinema in Mandalay from March 19 to 23, and Cherry Lwin Cinema in Pyin Oo Lwin from March 25 to 29. Films will include 3 Idiots, Krrish, Pokkiri, Om Shanti Om, Aladin and AnjaanaAnjaani.

Ticket exchange
Music fans who purchase any five original albums released by Bo Bo Music Production are eligible to receive a free ticket to a hip-hop concert at Myawsin Kyun, Kandawgyi Park, on March 25. Proofs of purchase can be exchanged for tickets at Bo Bo Enterprise, No 34, 1 st Floor, 101st Street, M i n g a l a r Ta u n g n y u n t township, Yangon; tel 01205-905.

Miss Myanmar
The Miss Myanmar Competition will be held on March 25, with the winner receiving K3 million

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flounces at the hem, paired with structured little tops and jackets and high leather gloves. I aim for a modern femininity, but not your grandmothers vintage, Ma said. Twenty-two shades of whites, layered for full effect, run down into royal blue and blacks via a signature nightingale plumage print, used on ankle-length silk jersey dresses. Gold zippers run around the clothes, up the sleeves of a little jacket, perfecto-style, or fastening a curvy flounce across the hips of a baby lamb bodice which unzips to create a simple everyday top. You can see this woman go shopping or go to a Sunday flower market, she can go to a movie, or be sitting in a bar or cafe in all types of situations. While Western designers regularly mine Asian traditions for ideas, with Belgiums Dries Van Noten building his look this week on antique Chinese prints, Ma does not claim a specific Chinese lineage. People will ask me How is this Chinese? she said. Its true my aesthetics were shaped by my Chinese roots, but I wasnt really brought up with the Mao suit jacket. With a mother who worked at the United Nations, a university professor father and a grandmother who played the piano and made me toast, she explains hers was not a typical Chinese life. Some people think Im from London, others from China but thats the point, fashion is international. She also points out that Shanghai where France ruled a large concession until 1946 was heavily influenced by Paris in the jazz age. You use your language in a modern way. Is it China? Is it not China? It is, and it is not at the same time. And thats what makes it modern. What Ma does feel, however, is the need to counter the notion of Made in China as a byword for lower-grade goods. Its approachable, but its difficult, she said. Two years ago, Ma showed her work as part of an event dubbed China in Paris, backed by the China National Garment Association and the French fashion federation, that aims to introduce young Chinese designers to Paris. But she later decided she would rather go it alone. I want people to come to the show, and judge the clothes in a fair way, not because of a Chinese connection. That said, Ma admits she has received welcome support from the fashion media in China, with the Chinese editions of Vogue, Marie-Claire and Elle signing up to her Paris show. AFP

MyanMar tiMes

Chinese designer finds home in Paris

By Emma Charlton PARIS When Chinese designer Masha Ma first came to Paris, she had a style revelation as she was sipping coffee on a street corner. Just next to me, I saw this woman dressed exactly in my look, sitting there looking absolutely stunning in a beautiful blouse and long skirt, said the vivacious 30year-old, who last week held her first Fashion Week show in the city, Now if I can see my woman just like that on the street, then I guess this is my city, said the petite designer, bobbed jet black hair parted over one eye and long navy silk coat above black boots. Ma was invited by the French fashion federation to join the official Paris Fashion Week calendar this year, as one of 22 nationalities in the line-up. She arrived from London where she trained at Central Saint Martins school of fashion, working as a student for Alexander McQueen among others, and going on to show three seasons at London Fashion Week. Raised by her grandmother in Shanghai, she left for the British capital aged just 16, having decided, inspired by an article about McQueen, that she wanted to paint people with fabric. While London, she says, is the

Chinese fashion designer Masha Ma (left) works on one of her creations worn by a model in Paris on March 1 as part of the Paris Fashion Week Fall 2012. Pic: AFP perfect place for a young designer, after a decade in the city, It was about time for Paris. London is all about originality. They are always looking for the next new thing, and you get right up there, really quickly. But its all about the looks, the level of finish is not so important. Paris is more about authenticity. They really appreciate quality, said the designer, who sees pristine finishings as key for her young ready-to-wear brand, snapped up by Dolce and Gabbanas Milan designer store among others. London was for the cool young girl, now my woman has an understanding of her body, she wants to portray herself with more depth. Inspired by an Oscar Wilde poem, The Nightingale and the Rose, her autumn-winter collection centres on body-hugging sheath dresses and long skirts, with curved

Hungarian writer asks for asylum

MONTREAL Jewish writer Akos Kertesz of Hungary is seeking asylum in Canada because of a political campaign against him, sources close to him in this country confirmed last week. Kertesz, 80, winner of the Hungarys most prestigious literary prize the Kossuth, arrived with his wife in Montreal on February 29. Since then, he has curbed his availability to media so as not to influence his refugee bid, the source also said. After Kertesz slammed wartime Hungarys role in the Holocaust in an article published last August, a political campaign was mounted against him, not only by the Budapest city hall but also from within the government and parliament, a statement said on March 4. Following the political campaign by the progovernment press, Mr Kertesz suffered threats and harassment, he felt his life was in danger, it added. It quoted Kertesz as saying: I did not make my decision against Hungary or the Hungarian people but against the current government. I hope to be able to return again to a human and democratic Hungary. The article, published by Am e rik a i Ne psza va, a Hungarian-language newspaper in the United States, described wartime Hungarians as genetically subservient for their role in the Holocaust and slams them for failing to admit responsibility for the deaths of more than 400,000 Hungarian Jews. AFP

eNtertaiNmeNt News
March 12 - 18, 2012
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Ayeyarwady Bank Branch Opening

Whitney Houston will left everything to daughter, nothing to ex husband Brown

LOS ANGELES Whitney Houston left all of her assets to her daughter Bobbi Kristina, born from her troubled marriage to singer Bobby Brown who gets nothing, according to her will published last week. Bobbi Kristina, 19, will receive the proceeds from all of the late singers money, furniture, clothing, personal effects, jewellery and cars, according to the will published by news show Inside Edition. The inheritance will be placed in a trust until she is 21. She will get more money when she turns 25, and the rest when she is 30. Houstons mother, Cissy, is the wills executor, with her brother Michael and sister-in-law Donna trustees. A copy of part of the will, first drafted in 1993 and amended in 2000 when she was still married to Brown, was published on the shows website. The last testament states that if her daughter had died before Houston, her assets would have been shared between her ex husband, her mother Cissy and other relatives. Houston was found dead on February 11 in a Los Angeles hotel room, aged 48. She was laid to rest in a New Jersey cemetery next to her late father, after a funeral ceremony celebrating her life on February 18. The singer of hits including I Will Always Love You sold more than 170 million records during a nearly three-decade career, but fought a long battle against substance abuse while trying to keep her performing talent alive. AFP

Mr Alvin Law

Ko Zaw Win Shane

U Zaw Zaw

Pyay Ti Oo

Ko Nay Nay Hlwan Moe

Dr Aung Tun Thet

Power Family Donation Ceremony

Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa to take year off

TOKYO Celebrated Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa is to take a year away from the podium as he struggles to recover after a battle with cancer, his office said last week. The 76-year-old maestro, who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer in 2010 and was treated for a hernia last year, had planned to conduct four concerts in Japan from March 17 but had decided to cancel the performances. Unfortunately, Ozawas condition has not improved enough to conduct, and it has been decided that the four concerts will be cancelled, the statement said, adding that he would not conduct until at least February next year in order to concentrate on recovery on the advice of his doctors. Ozawa has had a long career spanning the globe, spending nearly three decades at the Boston Symphony Orchestra before moving to Vienna in 2002 to become musical director for the Vienna State Opera. AFP
U Tun Aung Kyaw and Daw Aye Aye Tin family

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious composer dies in London, aged 86

LONDON Robert B Sherman, the composer of the Mary Poppins song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and other Disney classics, has died in London aged 86, his publicist said last week. He died peacefully [on March 5], a spokeswoman for Stella Richards Management said, without giving any further details. New York-born Sherman and his brother Richard worked as staff composers for Disney between 1960 and 1973, during which time they wrote more than 200 songs for 27 films and two dozen television productions. These included Chim Chim Cher-ee, another hit from the 1964 film Mary Poppins, which won them an Oscar for best song. They also won the Academy Award for best score for the movie. Bob Sherman wrote the lyrics and his brother, known as Dick, composed the music, following in the footsteps of their songwriter father Al Sherman. They were also responsible for hits such as Its a Small World and I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book, and composed the scores for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Charlottes Web among others. Shermans son Jeffrey confirmed his death in a Facebook posting on March 5. My Dad, Robert B. Sherman, passed away tonight in London. He went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death. He loved life and his dear heart finally slowed to a stop when he could fight no more, he said. AFP

Guests

Kwaii Japanese Restaurant Opening

Ma Su Pyae Sone Naing

Attendees

U Soe Hlaing and Daw Hnin Nwe Hlaing

U Myo Myint

Chefs and staffs

Chat Chat Premium I-Care Opening

Hollywood mogul Weinstein gets Frances top honour

PARIS President Nicolas Sarkozy on March 7 personally presented Frances highest honour to Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer who pushed French movie The Artist to Oscar glory. Weinstein, accompanied by his wife, was given the Legion of Honour award in the presidents office in the Elysee palace in central Paris, officials said. The Elysee said the award was planned before the silent movie The Artist crowned its spectacular awards season success by winning five Oscars, including the Best Picture prize late last month. Weinstein, the 59-year-old cofounder of Miramax Films, scored Oscar glory for the second year running with The Artist, after last years win for The Kings Speech. After The Artist triumphed at the Cannes film festival last May, Weinstein snapped up the US distribution rights, and turned an arthouse movie into a mainstream hit feted by critics and the public alike. AFP

Ko Myo Thu and staff

Staff

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soCialite
March 12 - 18, 2012
SOCIALITE launched her week on February 27 by madly rushing to TCL Showroom opening ceremony in Botahtaung township, the Lakme Cosmetics dealers dinner at Traders Hotel, and the annual dealers party for Grand Wynn Group of Companies at Chatrium Hotel. The following day she attended the dealers dinner party for MCG Company (CHIGO) at Traders Hotel, and on Leap Day (February 29) she made her way to the Ayeyarwady Bank branch opening in Botahtaung township. On March 1 Socialite took part in the opening ceremony of Kawaii Japanese restaurant at Junction Maw Tin Centre. Two days later she attended the Chat Chat Premium i-Care Centre opening in Sanchaung township, as well as the launch of the Bar One 4 Gastropub on Kanbawza Road. The following day she brought the week to a mellow end at the Power familys donation ceremony at Min Kun Monastery.

MyanMar tiMes
MCM Academy Predictors Lucky Draw

Ko Than Htut Win

Ma May Thinzar Aung

Ma Hnin Hnin Swe and Ma Nan Htwe

Ma Chuu Lae Lae Wai

Lakme Dealers Dinner

TCL Showroom Opening

Ko San Oo, Ko Thet Win and Ko Htwe

U Nay Myo Aung U Myo Myint, U Min Khine, U Myo Thein and guests

Ko Than Soe, Ko Hlaing Win Aung and Ko Phyo Wai Ma Mu, Daw Tin Tin Swe and Daw Swe Zar Lwin Ko Kyaw Shwe, Ko Zaw Lin and Ko Myo Aung Kyaw

Ms Shen Balag and Ms Steal Pana Tula

Aunty Mya

Grand Wynn Group of Companies Annual Dealers Party 2012

U Steven Kyaw Thu

Ma Thitsar

U Phone Cho

Thinzar Wint Kyaw

Hnin Htet Htet Wai and Yu Thandar Tin

Bar One 4 Gastropub Opening

Guests

Ma Su Myat, Ma Chit Chit Win, Daw Thu Thu Latt and Aunty Khin

Anaga and Than Thar Win

Ma Hnin Lae Yee, Khin Phone, Ma Ye Mon Thu, Ma Chit Chit Win and Ko Ye Pyae Zaw

travel
March 12 - 18, 2012
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MyanMar tiMes

AirAsia seen riding out rare rough patch

KUALA LUMPUR After a decade of unbroken success, expansion and accolades, recent events have brought budget airline pioneer AirAsia and its flamboyant boss Tony Fernandes down a little closer to earth. Fernandes, who built AirAsia into one of aviations biggest successes, will this month cease unprofitable London and Paris routes served by long-haul unit AirAsia X in the first step back for his fast-growing low-cost network. Malaysia-based AirAsias 2011 profits were halved to US$186 million due to rising fuel costs and global uncertainty. Competitors are also proliferating, and the company faces allegations of poor service and deceptive practices. But despite the unfamiliar negative news, the route pullback and a resulting refocusing on Asia could leave Fernandess empire even stronger, more focused and still a step ahead of its competition, analysts said. Their prospects remain very strong, said Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard & Poors in Singapore, citing continued healthy forward bookings and effective management. It is still the leading lowcost carrier in this part of the world and will be for some time yet. Fernandes, 47, took over near-dead AirAsia in 2001 and, with his motto Now everyone can fly, built it into Asias largest no-frills carrier, tapping into the wanderlust of the regions emerging middle class. Routes spread quickly in Southeast Asia and the 2007 launch of AirAsia X extended the reach to China, India and later Europe. But the days of global expansion seem over, for now. Besides London and Paris, Mumbai routes

AIRLINE OFFICES
Air Bagan Ltd.(W9)

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

Air China (CA)

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

Bangkok Airways (PG)

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

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

AirAsia aircraft sit on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. Pic: AFP were chopped in January and Delhi flights stop this month. Analysts said the group, which currently serves about 80 cities worldwide in more than 20 countries, appeared to have discovered the limits of the budget airline model. What AirAsia X has found out is that once flights get up to nine, 10 hours or more, you struggle to make money with the low-cost model [due to fuel costs and the need for enhanced passenger services], said Brendan Sobie of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. The European foray was useful for marketing. Fernandes, who already owned the Lotus now renamed Caterham Formula One team, bought English Premier League team Queens Park Rangers last year, allowing him to emblazon AirAsias logo across player jerseys. People in Europe know about [AirAsia] now. It was good for marketing. Now, when they come to Asia they know they can fly around on AirAsia, said Sobie. But the pullback means a greater focus on the profitable Asian market. We intend to concentrate capacity in our core markets of Australasia, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea where we have built up stable, profitable routes within an infrastructure that supports low-cost services, AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani said recently. AirAsia X will now focus on medium-haul flights within Asia, while AirAsia continues with routes up to four hours flight from its Kuala Lumpur hub. Shukor said no-frills travel makes up about 15 percent of passenger traffic in Southeast Asia but will reach up to 35pc by 2020. Questions remain for AirAsia, however. Analysts said the impact of a share swap and partnership with flag carrier and onetime bitter rival Malaysia Airlines (MAS), announced in August, remained to be seen. Aimed at rescuing lossmaking MAS, it would eliminate direct competition on many routes. But MAS is seen as struggling badly and could turn out to be a drag on AirAsia, Shukor said. AirAsia also faces persistent complaints over sudden cancellations of under-booked flights, confusing booking procedures and unexpected charges. Australian regulators in January filed a lawsuit alleging AirAsia concealed the final price of flights on its website. The company has said it took corrective action. However, Sobie said little lasting impact on the bottom line was expected as budget travelers remain a resilient crowd. AFP

Air India

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

Myanmar Airways International(8M)

A worker polishes the replica of the mask of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun before the start of the Internationale Tourismus Boerse travel trade show in Berlin on March 5. Pic: AFP

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

Optimistic outlook for Egyptian tourism

BERLIN Egypts hard-hit tourism sector is facing a new start after a difficult 2011 but there is reason for optimism, the Egyptian tourism minister said last week. The minister, Munir Fakhri Abdel-Nur, told a press conference ahead of the ITB travel trade show, which opens on March 7, that Egypts invitation to be guest of honour was a milestone. Abdel-Nur told reporters after German Economics Minister Philipp Roesler inaugurated the show: Its a new beginning at the right time after 2011 which was a turning point. He said that it would be an understatement to say it was a difficult year for the tourism industry, more than a year after the uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak. But he said there were positive signs of better times ahead while acknowledging that much remained to be done. The road will be long and sometimes bumpy but we are confident, he said. We are seeing some positive signs, he added, pointing to the economy. And he voiced regret that media attention focused on events in Cairos Tahrir Square, which he said did not represent the situation in other parts of the country where calm prevailed. Since early 2011, Egypts economy has been weakened by a fall in tourism and a collapse of foreign exchange reserves. About 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries took part in the ITB show, which ended on March 11. AFP

Malaysia Airlines (MH)

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

Silk Air(MI)

Thai Airways (TG)

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

Vietnam Airlines (VN)

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

Domestic Airlines
Yangon Airways(YH)

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

Air Bagan Ltd.(W9)

Tourism Myanmar Update

Jazz nights at the Ritz The Ritz Exclusive Lounge at Chatrium Hotel will host jazz music nights, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout March. The Hotels resident band will play between 8.30pm until 11.30pm. The hotel also runs daily happy hours from 7pm to 9pm, with buy one get one free and special offers on select items, plus complimentary tidbits. The Ritz Exclusive Lounge opens daily from 7pm to 1:30am on the ground floor of the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon, 40 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon. For more information or reservations, please call (95 1) 544 500 Ext: 6243/ 6244 (or) fb@chatriumygn.net. mm, www.chatrium.com/ chatrium_hotel_yangon

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

AIR KBZ (K7)

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

Air Mandalay (6T)

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

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

Asian Wings (AW)

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

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travel
March 12 - 18, 2012

MyanMar tiMes

DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES

DAYS
FRI FRI MON

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES

DAYS
SUN

Flight
K7 244 K7 245

Dep Arr
13:00 15:50 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 07:30 08:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 14:30 15:00 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 08:00 11:00 11:00 12:00 15:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:45 08:30 11:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:30 14:30 15:00 15:00 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 07:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 15:00 15:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 07:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 15:00 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 10:30 10:30 11:30 12:00 15:00 16:15 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 08:00 11:00 11:00 12:00 15:00 08:35 08:35 08:40 08:55 10:50 14:10 16:30 16:35 17:20 17:50 08:30 08:35 08:35 08:40 08:55 09:25 09:25 11:15 13:25 13:30 13:35 16:20 16:35 17:20 17:20 15:30 16:50 08:20 08:20 07:55 08:35 08:30 09:55 12:55 12:55 13:25 15:55 17:00 07:25 07:55 08:20 08:20 08:20 07:55 08:35 09:25 12:40 12:55 13:25 17:00 08:20 08:20 07:50 08:35 08:05 09:55 12:10 13:10 12:55 13:25 07:55 16:25 17:10 17:00 07:25 07:55 08:20 08:20 08:35 08:35 08:55 08:25 13:30 12:55 13:25 13:55 17:00 17:10 08:20 08:20 07:55 08:35 08:50 08:25 12:25 12:25 12:55 14:25 17:00 17:10 07:25 07:40 07:55 08:20 07:50 08:35 12:35 13:30 12:55 13:25 17:00 08:20 08:30 08:20 08:20 08:35 08:55 09:25 12:25 12:25 13:25 17:00 10:00 10:30 10:40 10:55 12:15 15:10 17:55 18:00 19:25 19:15 09:30 10:00 10:30 10:40 10:55 10:50 11:10 12:40 14:50 14:45 15:00 17:45 18:40 18:45 19:25

DAYS
WED

Flight
W9 009 AW 892 6T 402 6T 332 W9 021 AW 792 YH 738 AW 752 K7 825 6T 502 W9 009 AW 892 6T 406 6T 332 AW 902 6T 402 YH 812 W9 021 K7 229 AW 202 YH 730 6T 502 W9 009 AW 892 6T 406 6T 332 YH 918 6T 402 W9 251 AW 212 YH 731 6T 502 W9 232 YH 728 6T 404 AW 892 6T 402 W9 011 W9 262 YH 812 6T 802 AW 602 K7 623 YH 730 6T 502 W9 009 YH 910 AW 892 6T 406 6T 402 W9 011 W9 256 YH 812 6T 802 AW 212 K7 623 YH 738 6T 502

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

DAYS
SUN

Flight
W9 143 6T 405 AW 891 YH 909 W9 009 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 AW 792 K7 223 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 AW 762 W9 109 AW 792 6T 502 YH 732 K7 223 W9 109 AW 792 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 6T 404 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502 K7 223 YH 910 W9 109 YH 732 6T 502

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

Flight
AW SPL AW 751 W9 115 YH 811 K7 826 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 YH 737 W9 143 AW 892 6T 406 YH 918 W9 011 6T 402 K7 223 AW 792 AW 892 6T 406 YH 918 W9 011 6T 402 K7 223 K7 823 W9 116 W9 143 AW 892 6T 406 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 W9 143 AW 892 6T 406 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 W9 143 AW 892 6T 406 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 AW 911 W9 143 AW 892 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 K7 823 AW 752 AW SPL AW 892 6T 406 YH 918 W9 011 6T 402 K7 223 6T 452 AW 752 W9 116 YH 738 6T 607 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 607 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 607 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 611 W9 309 6T 608 W9 310 6T 612 W9 310 6T 608 W9 310 6T 612 W9 310 6T 608 W9 310 6T 612 W9 310 6T 612 6T 707 AW 301 6T 707 K7 317 K7 317 AW 301 AW 301 6T 707 K7 317 AW 301 6T 708 6T 708 K7 318 AW 302 AW 302 K7 318 6T 708 K7 318 AW 302

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

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

Dep

Arr

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

Dep

Arr

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

Dep

Arr

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

Dep

Arr

YANGON TO NAYPYITAW NAYPYITAW TO YANGON YANGON TO MANDALAY

AW 891 6T 405 AW 911 6T 401 W9 011 6T 801 AW 761 6T 351 K7 824 AW 791 6T 501 K7 228 YH 909 6T 405 AW 891 AW 901 W9 251 6T 401 6T 801 YH 729 AW 761 K7 622 6T 501 6T 405 AW 891 AW 911 6T 401 6T 331 6T 801 AW 751 YH 737 6T 351 K7 824 W9 261 AW 791 YH 731 6T 501 K7 228 YH 909 AW 891 6T 405 AW 901 6T 401 W9 255 6T 331 YH 729 AW 201 K7 622 K7 226 6T 501 YH 731 AW 891 6T 405 W9 251 6T 401 YH 917 6T 331 AW 751 K7 824 AW 211 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 W9 271 6T 403 YH 909 AW 891 AW 911 6T 401 6T 801 YH 729 AW 601 K7 622 6T 501 AW 891 YH 909 AW 891 6T 405 6T 401 W9 255 6T 801 AW 211 AW 751 K7 622 6T 501 YH 634 AW 892 6T 406 6T 402 W9 262 W9 021 YH 728 AW 762 6T 502 K7 825 W9 009 AW 902 AW 892 6T 406 6T 402 YH 910 W9 011 K7 229 YH 812 6T 802 W9 251 W9 150 AW 762 YH 730 6T 502

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

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

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

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

NYAUNG U TO YANGON
MON

HEHO TO YANGON
MON

THUR

8M 233
MI 517

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

TUE

YANGON TO SIEM REAP

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

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

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

TUE

TUE

KUALA LUMPUR TO YANGON

WED

YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR

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

FRI

THUR

WED

WED

FRI

THUR

SAT

SAT

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

FRI

THUR

SUN

SAT

SUN

YANGON TO MYITKYINA
MON TUE THUR FRI SUN W9 255 W9 251 AW 201 W9 255 W9 251 AW 211 W9 255 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:00 06:30 09:25 09:25 09:20 09:25 09:25 08:50 09:25 SUN

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

FRI

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

YANGON TO GUANGZHOU

MYITKYINA TO YANGON
MON TUE THUR FRI SUN MON W9 256 W9 252 AW 202 W9 256 W9 252 W9 256 W9 119 AW 761 YH 727 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 K7 822 6T 801 W9 115 AW 761 YH 811 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 AW 911 W9 119 YH 737 K7 224 AW 791 6T 501 YH 731 AW 761 AW 201 YH 811 K7 224 W9 109 6T 501 YH 731 AW 211 K7 224 W9 109 6T 501 YH 731 K7 822 AW 751 W9 119 YH 811 K7 224 6T 501 YH 731 09:45 12:05 09:35 09:45 12:05 09:45 11:00 11:00 11:00 14:00 15:00 15:00 08:00 08:00 11:00 11:00 11:15 14:00 15:00 15:00 06:30 11:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:00 08:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 14:00 15:00 15:00 12:40 15:00 12:25 12:40 15:00 12:40 12:10 12:10 12:25 15:15 16:10 16:25 09:15 10:20 12:10 12:10 12:40 15:15 16:10 16:25 08:40 12:10 12:25 15:15 15:40 16:10 16:25 12:10 12:10 12:25 15:15 15:25 16:10 16:25 12:10 15:15 15:25 16:10 16:25 09:15 12:10 12:10 12:25 15:15 16:10 16:25

YANGON TO NYAUNG U
MON W9 143 AW 891 6T 405 YH 633 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 W9 143 AW 901 6T 405 AW 891 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 W9 143 AW 891 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 6T 331 K7 242 AW 781 AW 891 6T 405 W9 009 AW 901 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 AW 891 6T 405 W9 009 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 K7 242 AW 891 6T 403 W9 009 6T 401 K7 222 YH 917 6T 801 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:00 06:15 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:45 07:00 15:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 07:00 06:15 06:15 06:30 06:30 06:30 06:30 10:30 07:20 07:35 07:35 07:50 07:50 07:50 08:05 07:20 07:35 07:35 07:35 07:50 07:50 08:05 07:20 07:35 07:50 07:50 08:05 08:05 08:20 17:10 07:35 07:35 07:25 07:50 07:50 07:50 08:05 07:35 07:35 07:25 07:50 07:50 08:05 08:20 07:35 08:30 07:25 07:50 07:50 08:05 11:50

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

YANGON TO SITTWE
MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT SUN

SUN 8M 711

SUN 8M 712

SAT

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

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

YANGON TO HEHO

TUE

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

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

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

SUN

TUE

WED

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

WED

MANDALAY TO YANGON
MON

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

THUR

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

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

THUR

FRI

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

YANGON TO CHIANG MAI

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

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

CHIANG MAI TO YANGON

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

TUE

FRI

YANGON TO MYEIK
TUE

8M 233
MI 517 8M 231 MI 511

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

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

8M 234
TUE MI 512 8M 232 MI 518

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

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

SAT

SAT

THUR FRI SAT

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

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

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

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

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

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

YANGON TO HO CHI MINH

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

HO CHI MINH TO YANGON

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

SUN MON TUE

MYEIK TO YANGON

THUR FRI SAT SUN

YANGON TO PHNOM PENH

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

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

PHNOM PENH TO YANGON

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subject to change without notice

tea Break
March 12 - 18, 2012
the

40
MyanMar tiMes

Uruguay town offers gastronomic charm

By Ana Ines Ciblis PUEBLO GARZON, Uruguay It is a dusty village of 200 nestled in Uruguays back country, with no obvious architectural attraction, which most tourists would drive through without a second thought. But in recent years, the town of Pueblo Garzon, 70 kilometres (40 miles) from the bustling beach resort of Punta del Este, has become a draw for the international jet set looking for peace and quiet along with authenticity and a taste of some unique gastronomy. The transformation of this modest village began eight years ago when renowned Argentine chef Francis Mallmann opened a hotel and restaurant on a site where a grocery store used to be. That attracted some well-heeled visitors and started a trend in the village of dirt roads and lush tropical vegetation. Today, the streets are lined with luxury cars, high-end restaurants and boutiques and plenty of visitors from around the globe willing to spend US$170 for lunch or $780 for a hotel room with rustic charm during the high season of December to February. In the town, which had been a stop for travellers in the mountains and the site of wheat mill, visitors can dine on smashed gigot of lamb, magret of duck with malbec juice and varietal wines from the region. They can stay overnight in rooms with wood-burning chimneys and other refinements. The idea is to allow customers to relax, to take horseback or bicycle rides, to take advantage of nature, silence and good food, and to get away from the city, the beach and the crowds, said Victoria Ubertone, hotel manager at the Garzon hotel and restaurant. The calm is impressive. It is a back country village like a lot of others, but very chic, says Monica Testoni, an Argentine who was vacationing in Punta del Este and made a trip for lunch to Pueblo Garzon. Across the town square, another of a rail link that was abandoned when a wheat mill shut down. There is a change in the outlook for people, says local Mayor Fernando Suarez. The village is finding a new direction. With the towns transformation, more people are seeking to build homes, in some cases hiring local residents for upkeep. Some of those investing, according to locals, include British art dealer Martin Summers, Mick Jaggers tailor and a top executive of the New York Times. This has caused a jump in land prices, so a lot of 400 square metres (4,300 square feet) which used to sell for $1,000 now can go for upwards of $30,000. Suarez said this is not a problem because those who come here respect the essence of the village. But others like Veronica Deliotti, a restaurant worker, wonders if the small town atmosphere is disappearing. O u r c h i l d r e n s f u t u r e i s changing, she said. Sometimes Im afraid. We dont want to lose this tranquility. AFP

Sculptures by Belgian artist William Sweetlove are displayed outside the Alium Art Boutique in Pueblo Garzon, Uruguay, on January 12. Pic: AFP famed Argentine chef, Esteban Aguirre, has recently opened his restaurant and cultural centre called DCepa, encouraged by the success of Mallmann and others. Along with Lucifer, the other upscale restaurant in town, we are trying to round out our offerings for tourists, Aguirre says. The influx of wealthy tourists along with the installation of a food processing plant in 2000 is a godsend for local residents, who had been hoping for a restoration

YOUR STARS
By Astrologer Aung Myin Kyaw
Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

of your life in the direction you wish to go. You must teach yourself to be noble and wise.

Leo

Its time to take better care of yourself and make an effort to find the right balance in your life. Focus on training and learning opportunities that will help you the most in the future. The better your choices, the better the results. The key is to manage your fear by confronting the very things that frighten you the most. It is important not to waste time on spinning cobwebs.

Courage is your password to increasing your role at work and overcoming your frustrations. Performing good deeds will result in spiritual purification and put you on the path to greatness. Lead yourself with self-confidence and know that now is right time to take risks on the road to success. Developing your love life is a process of building mutual trust, for which both partners are responsible.

July 23 - Aug 22

Wine sleuth hunts for quirky bargain bottles to sell online

By Elin McCoy JON Rimmerman, aka the Garagiste, is late. Hes sending out his daily online wine offer from his BlackBerry in his room at New Yorks new Hotel Americano. Its a 2006 Ansata from biodynamic producer Marc Kreydenweiss priced at US$6.99. This red usually goes for two to three times as much. The bottles sell out in an hour. Once a day, Seattle-based Rimmerman, 45, pitches one to several little-known, quirky, artisanal and often stellar collectible wines from small producers in an email that includes no dramatic photos of people, vineyards or labels. Since the mid-1990s, hes relied on prose alone to evoke a wine, a place, and the vicarious thrill of being a wine treasure hunter. I want to give people a dream, he says as we head to the hotels restaurant. His garb is almost zany: lavender sweater, black and white plaid jacket, worn green shoulder bag. Messy grey curls and long sideburns add to a rebel look. Over prosciutto and mozzarella sandwiches, he explains how he managed to take a $500 advance on his credit card to a wine business that generates $25 to $30 million a year from his 2136-square-metre (23,000square-foot) temperature- and humidity-controlled Seattle warehouse. His 120,000 faithful fans worldwide include old friends, violinist Itzhak Perlman and plenty of people in the wine industry. He doesnt advertise, has no partners and says hes never had a business loan. For many years he had no website (now www.garagistewine.com). Rimmerman likes to compare his company to Seattles indie record label Sub Pop, which brought the world the grunge band Nirvana. We t r y t o f i n d t h e important artists in the wine world before the rest of the world does, he says. Hes been known to email offers of his discoveries from the middle of a vineyard. On the road hunting wines for four months every year, Rimmerman has just rolled in from Virginia the most exciting emerging wine region in the country, he says. Next stop: France. We s a m p l e t h e w i n e Rimmerman is offering on March 5. It is a deliciously complex 2008 Domaine Labet Fleur de Marne La Bardette chardonnay ($25) from a young producer in the Jura. It tastes of salt and stones and seems an ultimate wine for seafood. Rimmerman described a previous vintage as pulverised fossils and calcium carbonate caught in the most elaborate intertwined dance with elegant and feminine citric fruit. The native Chicagoans path to wine and food started at the age of five, with the smell of a Cotes-du-Rhone and the taste of Steak Diane. A summer construction job on Starbuckss first Midwest retail shop while he was in law school introduced him to company boss Howard Schultz and how to market and conceptualise a product. He gave up law, moved to Seattle and sourced food products in Europe for a gourmet grocery business. When he brought back local wines and faxed stories about them to a couple of dozen friends, they wanted to buy. Garagiste, named for a group of revolutionary Bordeaux winemakers, grew from there, helped by the new power of the internet. One of Rimmermans finds was cult wine figure Frank Cornelissen. At a trattoria outside Naples, I heard about this guy who was out of his mind making natural wine on the ash and rock slopes of Mount Etna, Rimmerman recalls. He headed south to Sicily in his tiny rental Fiat. Cornelissen, in the middle of harvest, wouldnt see him. Eventually, backpacking friends sleeping on Cornelissons couch convinced the winemaker to talk to Rimmerman. He tasted, bought and then sent the wines to the nearest port in a refrigerated pharmaceutical truck. The offer was the first time Cornelissens wines were sold commercially in the United States. During the late 1990s dotcom bubble, dozens of online wine sites burst on the scene, only to bite the dust a few years later. Others, like Wine. com, morphed from version to version, shedding bosses like so many snake skins. The economic downturn brought a new wave of flash sites offering surplus inventories of expensive labels at discounts of 30 to 70 percent. Sites like WinesTilSoldOut, founded in 2006, superficially resemble Garagiste. They too send out an email offer of one well-priced wine for a limited time, no more than one day. During Winestilsoldouts quarterly Cheapskate Wednesday on February 15, each offer was up for only 15 minutes. Some labels sold out in 45 seconds. The days take? More than $1 million from 87,000 bottles. WinesTilSoldOut, and newer US sites like Gilt Taste, Vitis and Lot 18, which started earlier this month in Britain, dont have the singular personal vision, philosophy of wine and evocative stories of Garagiste. I have to stay ahead; I have to offer things no one else has, says Rimmerman. Next up: the 2009 Fattoria Galardi Terra di Lavoro Roccamonfina, a rich seductive red from Campania, where grapes grow in the volcanic rocks of Vesuvius, for $55. I feel the twitch his customers are addicted to: Can I pass this up? Bloomberg News

Virgo

Pisces

Dont waste time talking about how you plan to do things. Instead, make your intentions known and then turn your strategy into visible action. Doing so can bring about seemingly miraculous results. Your potential for success depends on your individual capacity , inclination and desire to transform your life for the better. Follow your gut instinct, no matter what your mind is telling you.

Feb 19 - Mar 20

Allow no social problems to disturb your mind. You must walk continually toward your fears and play a bigger game with your creative talents. Be grateful for where you are along the journey that is your life. You can expect endless emotional resilience from your partner. Learning to suffer for love is one of the great talents of the human race.

Aug 23 - Sept 22

Libra

Aries

Revealing your emotional tides to the person you love is a way for you to continue to endear yourself to your partner. At the core of your intimate relationship is your mutual ability to transform your innermost emotions into exalted feelings that can be shared between the two of you. The main difference between inactivity and activity is that there are no rewards or results for inactivity.

March 21 - April 19

Know that life is the same for the good as well as the bad. Keep your heart free from hate and your mind from worry. Fill your life with love. The art of personal communication is vital to success. Do not hold yourself back, but show your narrative skills. Gracefully accept and listen to the other persons point of view.

Sept 23 - Oct 22

Scorpio

Taurus

You might find it difficult this week to even get yourself out of bed in the morning, but prevailing in the battle against the comforts of the mattress will be the first step in helping to create a better world. Being superbly fit is a brilliant move that will positively influence every area of your life. The secret to your passion is your great sense of purpose.

April 20 - May 20

Every faculty that is a potential receiver of pleasure is equally open to abusive forces. Learn to answer such ill treatment with moderation. Avoid heated arguments, and instead get your point across using diplomacy and eloquent language. Nurture your personal relationships as you would care for a plant.

Oct 23 - Nov 21

Sagittarius

Gemini

Learn the simple techniques of expressing your subconscious mind. Decide now to make your life grander, greater and nobler than ever before by staying true to your sense of morality and virtue. Keep your needs small but your inspirations high and expectations moderate. Pursue your fortune by learning how to cooperate with your most powerful acquaintances and colleagues. Forging a meaningful relationship with your partner must a true labour of love.

May 21 - June 20

You must not rest on your past victories and become complacent. You have a duty to shine and you must go after what you desire. Never take your eyes off the summit to which you are struggling to climb. The most important principle of time management is concentration, which you must practise willingly. The best way forward is to use a systematic approach.

Nov 22 - Dec 21

Capricorn

Cancer

If you find that people are making negative comments about your work, take the time to discover the root of their discontent. However, avoid obsessing about everything that everyone might be saying about you. If you can balance your social, family and business obligations, you will find it easier to steer the flow

June 22 - July 22

Every challenge is nothing more than a chance to make things better. Understand that the only people with no problems are dead. Take time to solve the interpersonal conflicts that disturb you most. The roadblocks that drive you crazy are the same ones that will open the biggest opportunities once they are overcome. An idea you read in a book could transform the way you communicate with others. Love unbounded can be dangerous and regrettable. For a personal reading contact Aung Myin Kyaw, 4th Floor, 113 Thamain Bayan Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon. Tel: 0973135632, Email: williameaste@gmail.com

Dec 22 - Jan 19

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Matriculation English class can be available. Ph: 09-505-8164. TEaChINg combination of Foreign & Myanmar Style/ Skillful Teachers, Teachers who have got Teaching experience in Singapore,Now back to Myanmar/Teaching for those who need Foreign teaching experience/ Study Guides for Grade 10, 11 and Intl school (ISY, MISY, ILBC, Total, PISM, Crane, MLA, Diplomatic, RV), GCSE, SAT , IELTS, TOEFL , Sayar Bryan, ME ( IT) or Sayar Htet Ph; 09-215-0075, Saya Thet (MBBS)(09-73111782), Korean Native English Teacher Tr.Kim (after 6 pm) 655647/ Tr. Taw Ti ( after 6 pm) 09-730-35744 /Tr. Phyu 09-430- 83117 , Tr. Ahme B.Sc (IC) Ph: 09-73059265, Sayar Min Aung (B.E , IT) (09-492-80490) (Korean English teacher for young learners). guIdE fOR yOuNg Learners if you need to coach your child, you are welcome to contact us. We are ready to support with following subjects, English, Maths, Geography History, Science, Social English Language, Myanmar Language, caroline.zita@gmail. com

or call: 09 732 493 78 REAL EASTE If you need Land, House Apartment, Office Room, Building to buy or sell you are welcome to contact caroline.zita@gmail. com aIRCON & Electrical Engineering Services (Installation,Repairing & Servicing) August Engineering Service. Tel; 09-731-10321, 586509 Email; aes. august@ googlemail. com C.L.T Ladies Fashion Tailoring (Use Centimeter Unit) Bldg. 8, Rm : 1 Yankin Lane Thwe 5, East Yankin, Ph: 09-73025931.

Rs. Verma. B.SC., (Bot), Yangon. (UFL-English), Yangon. Email: rsverma. maynamar@ gmail. com, Ph: 09-730-42604. Add: 125, 43rd St, 5th Flr (R), Botahtaung.

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

Language
MyaNMaR for foreigners. Ph: 09-731-61269. guIdE (For Embassy family and others) When you stay in Myanmar,do you want to ask to your children to learn Myanmar language ? Call-09-732-23668 (ko soe thi aung) fOR fOREIgNERS Interested in learning Myanmar Speaking easily & effectively in a short time with Myanmar English Teacher. Save your time & money. Contact : 09-517 9125. KEEN Intl Language Centre - Progressive Myanmar Language Private Classes for Foreigners who live in Myanmar. Effective Program for new sections are available. For more information, pls contact : keencentre @gmail. com TEaChER Daw Khin Thawda Aung, English Grammar & Speaking in 60 hrs. IELTS, TOEFL, GCE & SAT in 120 hrs. Tel: 556571, 09-508-9368. MyANMAR LANGUAGE Guide (For Embassy family and others) When you stay in Myanmar, do You want to ask to your children to learn Myanmar language? Call: 09-514-6505, 09730-75265. 501846 Ext:191 (Christine) LEARN ENGLISH! In a quiet atmosphere and fun with an experienced teacher Certified in TEFL patient, friendly, organized Enjoys English language: daily conversations, business issues, preparation for examinations. Develop your skills: reading, writing, listening comprehension,conversation, grammar and vocabulary. Mode of work: textbooks, novels, magazines, newspapers, audio, video, etc. To all levels & ages individual classes or groups reviews of leveling! Calls Teacher Min Thant Ph: 0973173175. Email: khinmin@gmail. com LANGUAGE Proficiency- (A) Effective & Scientific way, (B) Intensive Class, (C) Interpreter - part time/ Full time (Under mentioned languages), (D) Hindi/ Myanmar/ English (Basic _ Advance for Embassy staff/ Foreigner/ A group single/ Kids + Teens/ NGO- INGO personal/ (Special rate for national peoples) by an Expert Tutor. (1) Home tuition available in groups or single. (2) Translation of English/ Hindi/ Sanskrit/ Bengali/ Nepali & Myanmar are also available. (3) Business Guide & Agency Services. (4) Partnership business welcome.

For Sale
CANON DIGITAL Camera EOS:50D (Body only)+1extra battery and battery grid (BG E2N) In original package and Camera Guide Magazine. @ 600,000-Kyats(Fixed price) Contact ph: 0949 2-43310. 2 TEa-CuPS Yorkshires Free To Re-Homing Contact: xtionbert @ gmail.com (1) CdMa 800 MHz (09730xxxxx) and used Genuine Samsung Coby SCH-F339 Touchscreen Handset with three colored back cover : 650,000 Ks. (2) USED Geniune SonyEricsson W595 GSM handset with 2GB Memory card : 70,000 Ks. Contact - Ko Sai : 510770 iPhone 4S - 16G Black Brand new. ph:09- 43184138. Tv 21" Toshiba 218*8m + VCD : 80000 SONY 21": 80000/- SAnsung oneset 21": 30000/ 1G, ph; 09501-0830 HD GAME, app (install) iPhone, iPod 6000ks, iPad 8000ks, iTunes : account open (free game,app download) , iOS 5 all iDevices full untethered: jailbreak (power off) iPhone 4s, iPad 2 available. contact :09-514-7480 RazER STaRCRafT 2 Headphone Apple Superdrive New cmda 800mhz + c8500 handset with no internet Ph: 09730-48374 iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch , PSP Services :Jailbreak , game install, Version Upgrade, iPhone4 / 4S sim card cutting, PSP modify + Games Service, Create iTunes account (ygn / mdy), Create Gmail account (ygn / mdy), Ph: 09-73903193 (mandalay only) (1) hR SOfTwaRE Package: Price 200,000. Modules: Employee Management, Time Attendance, Payroll. (Available :Finger Print/ Card). (2)POS Software Package: Price 200,000. Modules: Inventory Control, Purchase, Sale, Account Payable. (Available :Barcode Printer/Scanner). Ph:09504-2775 CaN buy for wish: Narrow of modernness Kaw Lin citys history, history of holy return Buddha, Magazine for pearl sign of Kyaws monastery,

Myanmars poetry of fifty years, another and long Poetry of rains night, fresh time of world, to pleasant days of gold moon, birthday of young daughter, the poems, can buy for wish. Moe Naung (Kawlin) 125, Padamya St, Aungzeyar Quarter, Kawlin city. (Hug saggaing division). SPECIAL DISCOUNT 1. HTC Desire HD 2. Nokia E5. To contact : 09-503-0197 (1) PLATINUM PRO tread mill, almost new, K120,000. (2) New Fibre glass bath tub, economy size, 48"x30" x 16", ideal for bath-rooms with limited space, 3 nos. available, K 1.45 lakhs each. (3) Used foam rubber double mattress, 78"x 66"x 6" K.30,000. (4) Used Yamaha Clavinova electronic piano - K 800,000. Ph: 09-500-3248. Address: 114, Kayebin Rd, Dagon Tsp., near Childrens hospital. IPhONE 3GS - 16G White very very good All accessories with covers iOS 5.0.1 + jailbreak, unlock 250,000 ks. ph: 09-43184138 ChINa Generator (STC20KW, 3 Phase) 1-set (6-lakhs) Ph: 541351, 552729

guITaR guIdE To Home Ph:09-731-94925 uNITEd KaRaTE Aikido Combat Dojo No. 267, 5th Flr Pyay Rd (front of Dagon Center II) Myaynigone, Sanchaung Tel: 09-507-7634, 09567-0442 Monday, Wednesday, 18:00 to 20:00 - Sports Karate Friday, 18:00 to 20:00 Combat Karate (Sayargyi U Thaung Din Style) Member fees - 15,000 Kyats Registrat-ion Monthly - 10,000 Kyats. United Club old members: FOC Registration Monthly 50% off - Moe Lwin.

PROPERTY
HousingforRent
BahaN : New University Avenue lane, Condo, 7F, 1500 SqfT , Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 3 A/C, 1 MBR, 2 SBR ,1PH, 6 LAkhs , (Suitable to Rent for Foreigner),Call-0943200669 BahaN: Golden Valley, Two Story Building, Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 2MB, 2SB, Ph,A/C,GoodNeighborhood, 20 Lakhs, Foreigners welcome. Call - 09-432-00669 BahaN, Takathoyeik mon condo, 7F, 1500 Sqft , Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 3 A/C, 1 MBR, 2 SBR ,1PH, stories building with 30x110 ft land. Backyard lawn and greenery. Very quiet place.1 master bed room and 2 bed rooms. Fully furnished. Best electricity in town. YCDC water. US$ 1200/mt.Can provide phone/internet depend on price. Ph: 09-732-06783 ,09-5010816. SuPERB location for TRUCKS parking in downtown area. 5 minutes drive from Hle Dan Junction. 15 minutes drive to Hlaing Thar Yar, airport. Dhama Thukha Kyaung Rd, Hlaing. 0.8 acres compound: (a) land only (b) 2 x 3-phase industrial power meter (c) 1 x phone landline pls contact 09 5012920 SOUTH OkkALAPA: 10 minutes drive from Sedona Hotel, Mya Thida Housing , Banglow , 2 story building, Fully furnished, Fullyfurniture, 4 MB, 4SB, Ph, A/C, Good Neighborhood, 15 Lakhs, Foreigners welcome. Call - 01-569448, 09731-35900 BahaN. (for Foreigner) Pearl Condo Tower D, 6 floor Fully Furnished about 1780 Sqft, 3BR. US$1800/mt 1 year Contract. Call: 09-5018701. BahaN. Pearl Condo Tower E, 4th floor. Fully Furnished (including kitchen ware) Inclusive of electricity, water, wireless internet, satellite TV channels. about 1780sq ft, 3BR. US$3000/mt (nego) Payable Monthly Call: 09-520-0654

Travel
THINGyAN SALE Promotion Ngapali Beach Tour April 12 To 15 , 2012 ( 3N/4D

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

Public Notice
PhOTOgRaPhy Especially food and interior photography for Hotels & Restaurant Contact ; Sam (Ph : 09731-74404) MyaNMaR COOK Book A unique Myanmar Cook Book with recipes for practical usage, written in English by Daw Ena WinB.FastMo hinga,Ohn no Khauk swear, Shwe taung Khauk swear, etc . . .Rice & CurryChicken Curry, Duck Curry,Prawn Curry etc, Myanmar Style. Available in Yangon (1). Innwa Book Store, Pansodan St. Ph: 389838, 374234. (2). Myanmar Book Centre, Ph: 221271 (3). Bishop store, Old Yaydarshay Rd, Bahan (4).Tab Book Center, Taw win Plaza, Ph: 8600042, 8600043 (Daw Ena Win & Associates) NyOON Book Dealing: Various kinds of Books regarding Business Management, Business & Investing, Accounting, Briefcase Series, Interview skills. English language can be available at Innwa Book Store, A Yone Thit Book Store, TAB Book Centre (Taw Win Centre). Yar Pyae (Mandalay) Book Store & Tun Oo (Mandalay) Book Store. 214, 4th Flr, Corner of Anawrahta Rd & 32nd St, Pabedan, Email: nyoon. bookdealing@ gmail. com Ph: 386693, 09-504-6769. BaBy If you need baby sitter for half day you can contact sharyangle@gmail.com ) Ngapali Beach Fully Package Tours. Including Air Ticket (Round Trip ) 3 star Hotel (3 Night) Meal (Breakfast 3 times , Lunch 4 times , Dinner 3 times) Thandwe Airport to Ngapali Beach car transpor-tation Tour price 490000 Ks / pax Contact person Ms. OUNG [ Ms. Mya Mya Oung, (Tour Manager of Oake Khaung Travels & Tours) Ph: 09-73242224 Oake Khaung Travels & Tours Co.,Ltd: W-1, West Aung San Stadium, Mingalar Taung Nyunt , Tel (off): 01252953, 383968, 707093, 725-858, 706305, 721212, 4413319, 09-730-42266, 09-73042277. Fax: 01-383968 E-mail : oktouroperator @ gmail. com, Website: www. okmyanmar travels.com ELEGANT MyANMAR Tours Company Ltd ! Special Promotion in April 2012 to welcome Myanmar New Year!! Trip to the Virgin Islands in Mergui Archipelago by cruise 6 Days 5 Nights (5 April 2012 to 10 April 2012) 550000 Ks Now (Local) & 720 USD Now (Foreigner) Special promotion trip for launching a new Mergui Princess Boat ! 5 Days 4 Nights (11 April 2012 to 15 April 2012) & (18 April 2012 to 22 April 2012) Kawthaung, 115 Island, Nyaung Wee Island, Myauk Ni Island, Ranong for shopping 660 USD per pax (Foreigner) + 430000 Ks (Local) Book now with us! Email: mergui princess @gmail. com, Ph: 01-401261, +95-9-43064296 6 Lakhs, Ph : 09-73135900 ThINgaNgyuN, 40 x 60 3RC ThuMinGaLar Rd, Good location for car show room and business. ph: 09-430-80638. BahaN, Golden Valley, 0.35 acre Land, big garden, 2 storey, ph line, semi-furnished, 4 MBR, US$ 3000 per month, Ph: 09-5020969 ChINa TOwN apartment, lift, 17x 59', Ph line, 2AC, 2MBR, Jacuzzi, Funished Room, water heater, US$ 1000/ 8 Lakhs per month, Ph: 09-502-0969 MayaNgONE, Pyay Rd, 0.5acre land, 2RC Storey new house, 5 master bed rooms, ph, Fully furnished, big garden, US$ 3500 Per month, Ph: 09-5034954 KaMayuT , Inya Rd 0.3acre land, 2.2RC Storey, 2MBR, 7BR, garden, ph line, US$ 3200 per month, Pls call 09-503-4954 BahaN, : Shwe Gondaing, Condo, 7F, 1500 Sqf , Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 3 A/C, 1 MBR, 2 SBR ,1Ph, 750 USD, (Suitable to Rent for Foreigner), near down town, near golden Vally Call-01-569448, 09-731-35900 BahaN : New University Avenue Lane, Condo, 7F, 1500Sqft , Fully Furnished, Fully Furniture, 3 A/C, 1 MBR, 2 SBR, 1Ph, (Suitable to Rent for Foreigner), 800USD. Call-01569448, 09-731-35900 ChaNTha gONyauNg Executive Codominiums - Penthouse/ Rooms. - 4 rooms, 5 rooms. - Fully Furnished. - Amazing serenity and satisfactory facilities, club restaurant. - 24 hours electricity internet, cable TV. -Brookers welcome. -Interested parties pls call 430078 to 87 (Ext : 0,303), 09-43085887, 09-430-85889, BahaN,Kanbawza Rd, Golden Valley, Bahan, Yangon. 30x30 ft, 2 new

Housing for Sale

MANDALAy, La La - 63, Industrial Zone (40' x 60') 2 Blocks (Can contact directly to Owner, Ph: 01 565751) MANDALAy : 26(B) Rd, between(86/87) Aungmyaytharsan Township. (22 feet X 75 feet ) Ph: 09-504-8704, 02-21915. SOUTH OkkALA, 20' x 60' house, Anawmar 2nd St , Block 13, Ph: 572607, 09-861-8286. BahaN, Locate at Golden Valley 2, Inya Myaing Rd, Total Sqft 14950 (Nearly 15000) Price - 250000 per Sqft. Ph: 513160.

Education
SPaRE just a few hours every week. With steady pace you can achieve, See for yourself at ease! (Home tuition available) Teacher Moe (Retired Lecturer) Contact Ph: 09-560-0747. ABC PRESCHOOL, Subjects : English (4) Skills, Science, Basis Mathematics,Concepts, Myanmar, Hand Work, Drawing & Colouring, Performing Art, Social Studies, Poems , Songs & Rhymes, Excursion. Time Duration ; School Hour:9:00-15:00 (Close only Sat & Sun). English, Chinese Language,Computer Course : Sat & Sun. No.17, Kamarkyi Rd, Thuwunna .Email : preschoolabc@gmail. com SuMMER and regular English Classes: Four skills and grammar will be taught by an experienced teacher with international exposure:An ideal home tutor & will guide your children with special care and attention: Contact: Teacher Maw Maw:ph 09-431 97513 maw. san@gmail.com M.Ed- degree holder English teacher with 35years English teaching experience can be contacted for individual English Speaking, IELTS or Matriculation Classes. Booking for 2012-13 academic year

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

Want to hire
TO hIRE Suitable building to run an office (or) to take relax two bed rooms with bathroom attached About 7 miles from Pathein bridge road side of Pathein Ngwe Saung run way Contact: 09-520-1910, 534580 VILLA OR CONDO (for foreigner) Bahan, Mayankone, Hlaing, Kamayut,Thingankyun, Yankin. RC, MB, SB, Water-Well & YCDC, Good Electricity, A/C, Ph, Attached to Garden, Furnished, Rent Rate - $600 ~ $1000. Pls contact by house owner to Ms. Hnin Si within office hours 9AM to 5PM- 556692, 540995 NEAR yUzANA PLAzA, warehouse to hire. Ph: 546309.

Training
SuMMER SINgINg course 2012 Commencing Date : 7th March, 2012. Completion Date : 30th May, 2012. Sessions (Tue + Thur) 9:00 am to 11:00 am (Wed + Fri) 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Sat + Sun) 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Contact Address : UNIQUE Music Class - No.304 (A-4), Waizayantar Rd, 16/3 Quarter, Thingangyun, Yangon. Tel : 09-430-93361.

Want To Hire
a MNC that is planning to open an office in Yangon is seeking the following for short term and long term lease; Land Crusier, Pajero, and Toyota Hiace, aircon, and must be clean, to include driver. Pls quote on a daily, weekly & monthly lease terms.

Employment
Embassy
ThE EMBaSSy of the Republic of Korea is seeking one personal driver. Requirements : Age 25 to 40 years old. Communication in English (Korean can be assisted). Good Inter-personal skill. Good in Health. The interested person can send the lasted CV form to 97, University Avenue, Bahan, Yangon (Embassy of the Republic of Korea), Ph: 01-527142~44 Contact person: Honey Soe (Admin Department). their existing livelihood activities, starting new income generating activities, provision of community-based Home Care service, training in Self Care, etc. The overall aim of the programme is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of older people and to facilitate their participation in community development. HelpAge International(Myanmar) is seeking qualified & experienced Myanmar national for a Receptionist post: Main responsibilities: Make schedules, greet visitors to the office, undertake responsibilities associated with developing travel itineraries/visit schedules for senior management staff and visitors including flight bookings, visa processing, hotel reservation, travel insurance, etc. Perform other duties as assigned by members of the Senior Management Team. Knowledge & experience: Graduate with at least 2-3 yrs experience in Secretary Field and fluent in English both written and spoken with good interpersonal skills; ability to work for long hours; computer literate, and strong familiarity with typing skills using both Myanmar and English fonts. Interested and qualified candidates are requested to send a Cover Letter and Curriculum Vitae to the Human Resources Unit of HelpAge International Myanmar Country Office, No 10 Kanbawza Avenue, Shwe-taun-gya Ward No. 1, Bahan Township, Yangon OR by email to hr.helpagemyanmar@ gmail. com no later than 5 p.m., Monday, 12th March, 2012. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for interview. SOLIDARITES Int'l (SI) is looking for (1) Deputy Programme Manager : MBA in Agriculture or other relevant University Degree. 4 years of professional experience. Good computer skills in particular for data processing & analysis; proficiency in MS Office. Knowledge of the Chin State and the project area is considered as an advantage. (2) Deputy Programme Coordinator: MBA in Agriculture or other relevant University Degree. 5 years of professionial experience. Proficien-cy in written and spoken English, Fluency in Myanmar language. Excellent writing/ reporting abilities and analytical skills. High computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power Point). Pls submit application (CV, cover letter, references) to the attention of: Caroline Courtois, Programme Coordinator - Solidarites Int'l office : 44-A, Taryarwaddy Lane, Sayar San Ward, Bahan, Yangon or per email: hr.solidarites. rk.mm@ gmail.com, Closing date: 16.3.2012. MEdECINS du Monde (MDM) is seeking (1) Counselor (VCCT) 1 post in Yangon : Graduate or Degree. Good Knowledge in English. Good communication skill. (2) Nurse (ART Counselor) 1 post in Yangon : Graduate or Degree. 1year experience with HIV/ AIDS & ART patients. Basic English. Good communication & counseling skills. Team spirit. Pls submit CV and a cover letter to MDM Yangon Office. 16, Kan Yeik Thar St, Mayan-gone, Ph: 662604, 652658 (OR) Email: hr. mdmmyanmar @ gmail. com MEdECINS du Monde (MDM) is seeking (1) Community Facilitator, 1 post in Pyapon : High SchoolGraduate.Working experience in the field of community facilitation would be an advantage. Fair listen-ing, spoken and writing skill in English is preferable. (2)field Nurse, 1 post in Pyapon : B.N.Sc or degree in Public Health (Health Assistant). Previous working experience in primary health care and MCH would be advantagous. Knowledge of English is an asset. Experience in training/ Teaching. Basic computer skill. (3)Data Clerk - 1 post in Pyapon: B.C.Sc/ B.C Tech/ Other Degree related with InformationTechnology. Previous working experience in database management system would be advantage. Experience working in Health related project is preferable. Know-ledge of English an asset. Experience on Database DesignandDevelopments is preferable. Pls submit CV and a cover letter to MDM Country Coordination Office, Yangon. 47-B, Po Sein St, Bahan. Ph: 542830, Email: hr. mdmmyan mar@mail. com. Manager - M/F (2) Posts : 4 years above experience in related field. Able to handle group & individual Tour Package, highly motivated & resourceful. All applicants must be University Graduate, fluent in spoken & written English, must have excellent interpersonal skill and good computer knowledge. Pls apply the CV with one recent photo, other certificates , NRC copy, Labour registration card, police recommendation letter to Email : snow whitemay56 @ gmail. com Closing Date : within two weeks fOuR RIvERS Travels & Tours Co., Ltd is seeking skillfull for tourism management 2 posts. Closing date within 2 weeks. Ph: 508110, 095064410, 09-5042669. Email: 4 rivers.2012@ gmail.com SMaRT Group of Companies is looking for: (1) Secretary to President - F 1 Post : BachelorDegreeorMaster Degree Holder (preferred English Major or Abroad Education). Computer Literate (MS Office, Email and Internet). Proficiency in oral and written English and Myanmar Language. Minimum two years working experience in Foreign or JV Company (Abroad Working Experience preferred). Attractive Salary. (2) Junior Accoutant M/F 1 Post : Bachelor Degree in Accouting or Finance. Good English both in writing oral communication. 1-3 years related working experience. Attractive Salary. (3) Assistant Civil Engineer - M 1 Post : At least graduate in AGTI (Civil). Age between 25 and 35 years. Good Computer Skill in Microsoft Office & AutoCAD. Fluent in English. At least 2 years working experience. (4) Sales Engineer M 2 Posts : Graduate in AGTI or B.Tech or BE (Electrical Power). Computer Literate. Fluent in English Speaking, Writing and Reading. Able to travel Naypyitaw and other related area. 1 or 2 years experience in Engineering field. (5) Sales & Marketing Executive - M 1 Post : Bachelor Degree in Physics or Any Graduate. Computer Literate in Microsoft Office. Minimum one year experience in Sales & Marketing field. (6) Driver - M 2 Posts : Must have driving license (black or red). Minimum one or two years experience. Pls send CV, 2 passport photos, copy of NRC card, academic transcripts (copy) and testimonial documents to City Bank Bldg, 4th Flr, Banyadala Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt within two weeks. A wELL established medical equipment company is looking for highly motivated engineer to fill in the service engineer post. The candidate must: Possess Bachelor degree in engineering (electronics). Have good command of both written & spoken English. Be willing to travel within Myanmar and abroad. Be self-motivated and have good interpersonal skill. Be under 30 years of age. Interested person can submit their C.V along with recent photograph & contact number to Shwe Padauk Condominium #2C, No.99/A, Myay Nu St, Sanchaung. Ph: 532225, 532226 Ext: 835, (Within 10 days). NEEd a lady junior staff, at least a graduate, aged around 20~25, for an intl trade promotional organizat-ion in Yangon, capable of fluent English, computer knowledge, Japanese language skill as an added value, office logistical & secretarial works with keen interest in teamwork. Pls submit applications attached with bio data, copies of certificates & N.R.C, and a recent photo to (Sedona Hotel Business Suites#04-02, No. 1, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd., Yankin, Yangon) not later than April 6th, 2012. hORIzON International Education Center is looking for qualified & energetic personnel for the following position. All candidates should be good in communi-cation & interpersonal skills. (1). Driver - Male (8) posts: Age between 25 to 50, Can speak English is preferable, Able to drive any car , Driving license should be valid, Friendly, enthusiastic, patient & punctual, Can work long hours, Must be fit in physically and mentally Interested candidates. can come for the Walk-In interview between the office hours. Pls bring CV along with a copy of your credentials to 25(A), Po Sein Rd, Bahan , Ph: 551795, 551796, Applications can be submitted from 8:00am to 5:00 pm until March 23rd, 2012. aBC PRESCHOOL Is looking for qualified Teacher under 25 years old with friendly, patient, self motivated and graduated. Please send application together with update CV photo, education credentials, & reference to preschoolabc@ gmail. com, No.17, Kamarkyi Rd, Thuwunna, Yangon. Only short listed candidates will be contacted for second interview. INTER CONSULTING Group is an international m a n a g e - m e n t consulting company. Aiming to provide a complete solution to its corporate and individual clients from starting to managing their business and services until to the growth stage. With wide range of expertise in industrial, commercial & operational knowledge, Inter Consulting deliver success in term of efficiency, innovat-ion and higher-performance to our clients business. Now we are looking for suitable candidates for the vacancies in our company. Trade Coordinator : Diploma holder, Must experience in freight forwarding company, Must have experience and familiar with import and export procedures, Computer literate, Good interpersonal and communication skill. Pls send detailed resume together with a recent passport size photo and expected salary to: 30 (B) Thanlwin Rd, Bahan. Tel: 09-731-05340, 09731-05353. Closing Date: 17th March. wE aRE urgently seeking for (1) Reservationist for hotels and flights- 2 posts, (2) Sales Person for international clients and quotations -2 posts and (3) Operations Manager -1 post. For position 1 & 2 must have at least 1 year experience in travel agency and for position 3 at least 5 years. Applicants must have good English skills verbal and written. Please contact Uniteam Tours & Travel with you CV until 17 March 2012 by e-mail : info@ uniteam-travel-tours. com or at office- i22 Pan Hlaing Rd, Sanchaung. a SINgaPORE based trading firm having branch in Yangon is looking for an import marketing executive for sales of various items to its customers in Myanmar. Candidates should have back-ground of international trade or shipping and speak/write good English. Interested candidates may forward their C.V to lilani. vatsal@ gmail.com. SPINE aRChITECTS A Local Architectural Firm Seeks Architect (all levels) : Diploma & Work Experience a Plus, All must know AutoCad well. 3-D modeling & Rendering skills a plus. Senior Project Manager : 5 years + experience in design & construction, review & supervision of working drawings, site management, detailing ability. Autocad proficiency a plus but not essential. Civil/ Structural Engineer : 3 years + experience in structural design & construction. ETABS and Autocad proficiency required. M&E Engineer : 3 years experience in design/ installation: Electrical loading calculations & distribution Generator, voltage regulation, switch systems. Air con calculations & system planning Sanitary & piping systems. Low voltage systems (telephone, networking) Lighting. Autocad familiarity will be helpful. Foreign work experience & knowledge of int'l code preferred. Admin Assistant : Any graduate, good communication, English & Computer skills required. one year experience, willingness to learn, self motivated a good team player with positive work attitude. Pls send CV with recent photo, indicating education, work experience & expected salary to SPiNE Architects at 15/A, West Parami Rd, Mayangone (Across RC-2). Ph: 660 996, 667770. Email: admin@ SPiNE architects. com Closing date: 30 March 2012 QUALIFIED individuals interested in competing for the below vacancies should submit their applications directly to the Logistics Media Service Co., Ltd. (1) Marketing & Advertising Manager - - 1 post (2) Senior Account Executive - 7 post (3) Senior Marketing Executive 7 posts (4) Marketing Assistants - 20 posts. Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, & Experience: Bachelors degree holder with 5 years proven experience or MBA with 3 years in marketing & advertising field especially with expertise in media servics industry. Bachelors degree in Economics with 2 years experience or LCCI second level with 2 year experience. Bachelors degree holder with 3 years experience in Marketing & advertising. Bachelors degree holder ability to learn quickly, demonstrate critical thinking, & make situation-appropriate decisions using sound judgment. Outstanding interpersonal & communication skills. Experience working in a high-paced, small company environment. To Apply: Pls submit a letter of interest, a detailed resume listing qualifications & experience with supporting documents & certificates to 297, Rm. 3, 2nd Flr, Corner of Mahabandoola Rd., & Bogalay Zay St., Botahtaung, Yangon or logimedia@ myanmar. com.mm before end of March 2012. ALBA requires experienced part time Art & Music teachers. Prefer teachers familiar with western Art and Music programs. 66, Shwedagon Pagoda Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Ph: 376236, 376314, Email: admin@ albaedu.com NaTIvE English speakers wanted for part time teaching at ALBA. Experience preferred. We have current vacancies. 66, Shwedagon Pagoda Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Ph: 376236, 376314, Email: admin@ albaedu.com (1) BRaNd MaNagER - M/F 1 post : University Degree & higher qualification such as MPA (or) MBA/ Masters degree is an added advantage. 2 ~ 3 years experiences. Excellent written & oral commu-nication skills in English Good computer skills on all common Microsoft applicants. (2) Accountant - F 3 post : B.Com (or) LCCI Level III. 2-3 years experience. Good computer skills on all common Micro-soft applications & accounting software. (3) Sales Executive & Respresentative M/F 6 posts: University Graduate (MBA holder prefer). 2 ~ 3 years experiences. Age 25 ~ 30. Can speak English fluently. Can use MS excel, word,pagemaker. Pls submit a cover letter & detailed CV with relevant document & a recent photo to: Rm 807, 8th Flr, La Pyayt Wunn Plaza, Dagon Tsp. Closing date: 15th March 2012.

INGO Position
HelpAge International is a global network of notfor-profit organi-sations. HelpAge mission is to work with our partners to ensure that people every-where understand how much older people contribute to society and that they must enjoy their right to healthcare, social services and economic and physical security. HelpAge is widening the scope of its work in Myanmar & expanding to new geographical locations. Currently, HelpAge, in collabo-ration with relevant Government agencies and partners, in implementing projects that support older people and other vulnerable groups by strengthening their livelihood and food security, health and DRR capacities in Ayerawaddy,Mandalay & Sagaing Regions. The project activities focus on promoting participatory development approaches for the formation and capacity development of Self Help Groups to reinforce

Local Position
MyaNMaR Women EntrepreneursAssociation (MWEA) is the nonprofit organization in Myanmar. We are currently looking for the following vacancy. Project Manager - 1 post (Yangon) : University Degree /Master Degree in political science, business management with related field. Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in the area of project management of gender related projects. Application must include a cover letter, current CV, copies of relevant academic qualification certificate and a recent passport sized photograph. Application should be address to mwea2008 @gmail.com (or) No.288/290, MWEA Tower, Shwedagon Pagoda Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Only short- isted candidate will be called for interview. Closing Date: March 31, 2012 BLUE OCEAN Travels & Tours Co., Ltd is seeking (1) Tour Operation Manager/Assistant Manager - M/F (2) Post (2) Sales & Marketing

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

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

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS

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

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

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

ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS (NAy PyI TAw)

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

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

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

Tel: 95-67-422088, 422099

ACCOMMODATION LONG TERM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

mt QuiCk guide
March 12 - 18, 2012
BEAUTY & MASSAGE
MYANMAR BOOK CENTRE Nandawun Compound, No. 55, Baho Road, Corner of Baho Road and Ahlone Road, (near Eugenia Restaurant), Ahlone Township. tel: 212 409, 221 271. 214708 fax: 524580. email: info@ myanmarbook.com
the

44
MyanMar tiMes
CONSTRUCTION ENTERTAINMENT GAS COOKER & COOKER HOODS
24 hours Laboratory & X-ray No. 330, Ground Flr, Yangon Intl Hotel, Ahlone Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 218388, (951) 218292 Fax: (951) 218389

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

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

CAFS

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

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

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

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

La Brasserie (International) PARKROYAL Yangon. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. tel : 250388. Qi Foot Spa At Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: +951-662866, 662857 Ext: 1725 Cafe de Angel Always Pure & Fresh No.24, Baho Rd, Ahlone Tsp. tel : 703449 Opening Hour: 9 am to 11 pm

DUTY FREE

GENERATORS
Heavy Equipments & Genset

FITNESS CENTRE
Duty Free Airport Shopping Yangon International Airport Arrival / Departure. tel: 662676 (Airport). office: 90B/1, Inya Road, Kamayut Township. tel: 512534, 500143-5. Espace Avenir 523, Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Tel : 505214, 505222 FIT Club - Rm 101~3, Marina Residence, 8, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Tel : 650634, 650651 Ext:102 Parkroyal Fitness & Spa Parkroyal Yangon. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. Tel: 250388.

SR 22/1, Next to the Pearl Shopping Centre, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. tel: 544 297, 549 527, 700 777 , fax: 558 044. email: eros@ mptmail.net.mm. www.erosspa.com

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

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

HOME FURNISHING

Zen Wellness Care No.62 (A), Room-3, Yaw Min Gyi Street, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: +951-252939.

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

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

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

CHOCOLATE
ISO 9001:2008 (QMS)

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

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

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

BANGKOK, THAILAND

HEALTH SERVICES

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

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

FLORAL SERVICES

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

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

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

Inya Day Spa

BOOK STORES

COLD STORAGE

ELECTRICAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MARINE COMMUNICATION & NAVIGATION

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

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

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

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

MARKET RESEARCH

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

FOAM SPRAY INSULATION

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

Media & Advertising

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

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

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

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March 12 - 18, 2012
Signature Near U Htaung Bo Round, about Bahan Tsp. tel: 546488, 543387.

MyanMar tiMes
SCHOOLS
Kangaroo Child Care 55, Aung Min Gaung 1st Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: 501 568, 09 504 7732. Streamline Education 24, Myasabai Rd, Parami, Myangone Tsp. tel: 662304, 09-500-6916. No.35(b), Tatkatho Yeik Mon Housing, New University Avenue, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel: 951-549451, 557219, 540730. www.yangon-academy.org

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

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

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

PLEASURE CRUISES

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

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

ASIA Language & Business Academy (All classes are taught by native English-speaking teachers), No-66, Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel:+95-1376236, 376314, 384055. http://www.alba-edu.com

Enchanting and Romantic, a Bliss on the Lake 62 D, U Tun Nyein Road, Mayangon Tsp, Yangon Tel. 01 665 516, 660976 Mob. 09-512-7795 operayangon@gmail.com www.operayangon.com The Ritz Exclusive Lounge Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp, Ground Floor, Tel: 544500 Ext 6243, 6244 Horizon Intl School 25, Po Sein Road, Bahan Tsp, tel : 541085, 551795, 551796, 450396~7. fax : 543926, email : contact@horizonmyanmar. com, www.horizon.com ILBC 180, Thunandar 9th Lane, Thumingalar Housing, Thingungyung.tel: 562401.

SOLAR SYSTEM

RESTAURANTS

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

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

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

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

STEEL CONSTRUCTION

City Mart (78th Brahch-Mandalay) tel: 02-71467~9. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) IKON Mart IKON Trading Co., Ltd. No.332, Pyay Rd, San Chaung P.O (11111), Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 95-1-535783, 527705, 501429. Fax: 95-1-527705. Email: salesikon@myanmar.com.mm Ocean Supercentre (North Point ), 9th Mile, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 651 200, 652963. Pick n Pay Hyper Market Bldg (A,B,C), (14~16), Shwe Mya Yar Housing, Mya Yar Gone St, Mingalartaungnyunt Tsp. Tel: 206001~3, Fax: 9000199 Sein Gay Har 44, Pyay Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 383812, 379823. Super 1 (Kyaikkasan) 65, Lay Daunt Kan St, Ph: 545871~73 Super 1 (Shwe Bonthar) 397, Bogyoke Aung San St, Pabedan. Ph: 250268~29 Victoria Shwe Pone Nyet Yeik Mon, Bayint Naung Rd, Kamaryut Tsp. tel : 515136.

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

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

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

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

TRAVEL AGENTS

SUPERMARKETS
Asia Light 106, Set Yone Rd.tel: 294074, 294083. Capital Hyper Mart 14(E), Min Nandar Road, Dawbon Tsp. Ph: 553136. City Mart (Aung San Branch) tel: 253022, 294765. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (47th St Branch) tel: 200026, 298746. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Junction 8 Branch) tel: 650778. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (FMI City Branch) tel: 682323. City Mart (Yankin Center Branch) tel: 400284. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Myaynigone Branch) tel: 510697. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Zawana Branch) tel:564532. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Shwe Mya Yar Branch) tel: 294063. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Chinatown Point Branch) tel: 215560~63. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Junction Maw Tin Branch) tel: 218159. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Marketplace) tel: 523840~43. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm)

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

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

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

REMOVALISTS

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

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

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

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

WATER HEATERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Same as Rinnai Gas cooker and cooker Hood Showroom Address

Water Heater

WEB SERVICES

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

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

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

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

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

Yangon International School Fully Accredited K-12 International Curriculum with ESL support No.117,Thumingalar Housing, Thingangyun Township, Yangon. Tel: 578171, 573149 www.yismyanmar.net Yangon International School New Early Childhood Center Pan Hlaing Golf Estate Housing & U Tun Nyo Street, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon. Tel: 687701, 687702

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

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March 12 - 18, 2012
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Arsenal dream comeback falls short

By Rob Woollard LONDON AC Milan advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on March 6 after Arsenal fell agonisingly short of a remarkable comeback despite an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Italian champions. Arsenal had been left needing to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in European history after suffering a 4-0 first leg thrashing against the Serie A leaders in the San Siro last month. But first-half goals from Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky and captain Robin van Persie fired the Gunners into an improbable 3-0 lead which left the Emirates faithful daring to dream that a miracle was on the cards. However Milan regrouped well after the break and Arsenal were unable to find the fourth goal that would have levelled the tie, leaving the shattered Premier League giants reflecting on a 4-3 aggregate defeat. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praised his sides display. They can only be proud of their performance, Wenger said. The team has fantastic spirit and showed some fight after the first tie, but unfortunately we go out. We have paid the price for a bad first game. Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri meanwhile paid tribute to the way his side had responded after their first half mauling. I just said to them at half-time that we couldnt change what had happened in the first half, Allegri said. But I said to them it was important to remember that even at 3-0 we were still qualified. Im very happy because our objective was to qualify and we have done that. Arsenal had needed to make an early breakthrough to give their hopes of a miracle some momentum and they duly scored the goal they craved after only seven minutes to send the Emirates into raptures. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain swung in an inviting corner from the left, and as the jittery Milan defence appeared to be preoccupied with the position of van Persie, Koscielny popped up unmarked to head home. The goal infused Arsenal with belief and within minutes they were sweeping forward hungrily for more. Arsenals relentless pressing and constant harrying prevented Milan AC Milan striker Robinho (top) vies with Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen during their UEFA Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium, London on March 6. Pic: AFP

from settling into any kind of rhythm. On 26 minutes the second goal that Arsenal had been threatening arrived when Walcott burst down the right and crossed low for van Persie. Thiago Silva intercepted but his weak clearance found Rosicky on the edge of the area and the Czech midfielder took his time and placed his shot low past Abbiati. Shellshocked, Milan desperately tried to steady the ship with half-time looming. But just when it looked like they had

weathered the storm, Arsenal made it 3-0 two minutes before the break. Oxlade-Chamberlain popped up on the right flank and powered into the AC Milan penalty area. The youngsters pace took him through the gap presented by Antonio Nocerino and Djamel Mesbah and when the Milanese duo sandwiched the winger, Skomina looked long and hard before pointing to the spot. Van Persie stepped up to do the honours and put Arsenal within one goal of nirvana.

But Milan returned from the break a far more organised unit, pressing Arsenal with a vigour that had been totally absent in the opening 45 minutes. Arsenals best attempt to level the tie came on 59 minutes, when Gervinho raced clear down the left. The Ivorians low shot took a deflection off Philippe Mexes and struck Abbiatis leg, but the ball bounced only as far as van Persie. For once though the Dutchmans killer touch deserted him, and instead of opting for power he attempted to lift the rebound

over the Milan keeper who was able to save. At the other end, Arsenal lived dangerously, and were fortunate not to concede when Wojciech Szczesnys slack clearance fell to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose shot from distance flew just wide. Szczesny saved Arsenal twice in quick succession in the final 15 minutes, as the home side searched for the final goal, blocking Ibrahimovics low shot and then saving from Nocerino from point-blank range. Yet time ran out for the Gunners and Milan were through. AFP

Five-star Messi lifts Barcelona to another galaxy

By Tim Hanlon BARCELONA Lionel Messi became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League tie as Barcelona routed Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 to reach the quarter-finals with a crushing 10-2 aggregate win on March 7. Messi bettered his previous record of four against Arsenal two seasons ago and now has 12 goals from seven Champions League matches after a majestic attacking performance from the World Player of the Year, prompting Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to hail the Argentine master as the games greatest talent. I am fortunate to have Messi in the team and all I can do is try and create the conditions so that he plays his best football, said Guardiola. You wont see anyone else like him. People said that Di Stefano, Maradona and Cruyff were the best when they were playing and now it is the same for Messi. He is on the throne and it is down to him how long he stays there. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg it was always going to be a tough task for Bayer with Barca unbeaten in 13 European home games and they never appeared likely to end that run. Messi struck twice before the break and then hit a further three after the restart while youngster Christian Tello also grabbed a brace. This time Messi got five. Maybe the next time he will get six. These are only figures but he will always keep trying to get another goal because that is his personality, said Guardiola. In the final minute Karim Bellarabi scored a consolation goal for a shell-shocked German side. Messi but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked. Three minutes before the break and Barca got their second as Messi feinted one way and then the other before slotting the ball into the corner from 12 metres. Messi claimed his hat-trick soon after the re-start from another lob with the German defence failing to track his run. Fabregas knocked the ball over the top and Messi chipped the keeper with his supposedly weaker right foot. With important games ahead, Barca coach Pep Guardiola chose to take off Iniesta and Xavi after 52 minutes with Tello and Seydou Keita coming on. But there was no let up in Barcas thrust and the night went from bad to worse for an already dejected Bayer who had only fleeting glimpses of the ball. They created their first chance nine minutes into the second half when Eren Derdiyok saw a shot from the tightest of angles go wide but then immediately the ball went to the other end of the pitch and Tello added Barcas fourth. He latched onto a Fabregas pass and then showed composure belying his 20 years to calmly slot the ball past the keeper. Bayer had lost their composure at the back and then Leno, who was having a night to forget between the posts, gifted the ball to Messi who slipped the ball in from a tight angle for his fourth. The keeper was again at fault as he allowed a weak Tello shot to squirm underneath him after 61 minutes and could do nothing to stop Messis fifth with six minutes to go as he again finished clinically. In the 90th minute Bellarabi did manage to register a goal for Bayer, curling the ball into the corner. AFP

Bike races kick off quest for SEA Games gold

By Douglas Long A WEEKEND of competitive cycling events will be held in Nay Pyi Taw on March 24 and 25, with the aim of preparing athletes for the Southeast Asia Games slated to be held in Myanmar in December 2013. BMX, downhill mountain bike, cross-country mountain bike and road race events will be held for men and women, under the organisation of the Ministry of Sports and Myanmar Cycling Federation. The road races 120 kilometres for men and 70 kilometres for women will start and end at the cycling training office in Bukwe along Nay Pyi Taw-Tat Kone No 1 Road. The BMX, downhill and cross-country races will be held at Phoe Saung Mountain, marking the first time that competitive events will be held on the new courses designed for the SEA Games. The top three finishers in each event will receive medals, and yet-to-bedetermined cash prizes will also be awarded. Anyone interested in participating in the races can contact the Myanmar Cycling Federation (01-561-336, 09730-56710, 09-492-03303) or Shwe Kyar Bin Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw (067-432 453).

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Bayern Leverkusen during their UEFA Champions League match on March 7 at the Camp Nou. Pic: AFP The Leverkusen coach, Robin Cesc Fabregas but his shot from a Dutt did not hold back in his praise tight angle was saved by goalkeeper Bernd Leno. either. Andres Iniesta has been in good There are no words to describe this performance from them, it was form and forced several fouls on extraordinary, there is no doubt, the edge of the Bayer area, one leading to a yellow card for Simon said Dutt. Without Messi, they are still the Rolfes and another to a free-kick best but with him they are from that Leno had to block from Xavi Hernandez. another galaxy. Bayer were caught out from one of Messi, as always, preferred the their rare forays forward with Barca under-statement to superlatives. Im happy, its great to score a winning possession back and then a five, but the important thing tonight Xavi ball, from inside his own half, was the win and to qualify for the set up Messi to score the opener after 25 minutes. quarter-finals. The Argentine beat the offside Now, no matter who we meet, its going to be very complicated, there trap and lobbed the helpless keeper. are only good sides left in. There was no let up in the Barca Barca went close to taking the lead after 10 minutes when Messi onslaught and an apparently missscampered onto a delightful lob by hit pass from Adriano again found

tImESsPORt
Asian Champions League starts, aims to overcome regional scandals
By Talek Harris SINGAPORE The AFC Champions League kicked off on March 6 with the best of Asian football set to reclaim attention from continuing drama off the pitch. The continental showpiece returned with 16 games from Brisbane to Jeddah, involving five former champions among teams from 10 different countries. South Koreas Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, beaten to the title by Al Sadd in a thrilling penalty shoot-out last November, are hoping to reclaim the trophy they lifted in 2006. Deep-pocketed Guangzhou Evergrande head a trio of Chinese clubs eager to demonstrate the Super Leagues growing clout, while Club World Cup participants Kashiwa Reysol are bidding to bring the title back to Japan. In November, ex-Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadjs winning penalty sealed a shock win over Jeonbuk for Al Sadd, who had been embroiled in a mass brawl on their way to the final, but have failed to qualify this year. This seasons build-up has not been smooth after Indonesias Persipura Jayapura successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against their exclusion for joining a breakaway domestic league. Persipura then lost their play-off to Adelaide United. But Indonesian football was in focus again when FIFA launched a probe into the national teams 10-0 loss to Bahrain on March 2. Officials denied corruption was to blame. Next month, banned Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam will take his case to the CAS after FIFA kicked him out of the sport over accusations of graft. The AFC, now headed by acting president Zhang Jilong of China, could hold a congress this year to elect a new permanent leader in a further shake-up for the regional governing body. Guangzhou, who are bankrolled by a leading property firm and won last years Super League at a canter, will hope to capitalise on their heavy investment in foreign talent including record signing Dario Conca. However, the Argentine midfielder, along with Muriqui, last years Super League topscorer, and fellow Brazilians Cleo and Paulo, were all fined by the club when they reported late for pre-season training. The AFC Champions League has eight groups of four teams with the top two in each qualifying for the knock-out stage, which starts in May. The tournament replaced the former Asian Club Championship in 2003. AFP

March 12 - 18, 2012

Yangon United forward, Milan Jovanovic (middle), jumps for the ball during their first leg Asian Champions League match against Thailands Chonburi FC at Thuwunna stadium on March 7.

Yangon United draw first leg

By Aung Si Hein YANGON United FC kicked off their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) campaign with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Thailands Chonburi FC at home on March 7. Myanmar fans were left surprised at the result against a much higher rated team in Asias alternative to the Champions League. Yangon United had played a friendly game against another Thai team, BEC Tero Sasana, last week, losing 2-0. The teams coach, Mr Robin Ord, had warned things would be harder against Chonburi, but football never follows expectation. The 2012 AFC Cup is the first campaign that Myanmar National League clubs have taken part in, with Ayeyarwady United FC qualified alongside Yangon United. Hailing the solid start, YUFC coach Eric Williams said his aim is to get through the group stage. My team played very well and we should have got 4 goals today, he said. Mr Williams said his team were not intimidated, and played their own game. We have had only four seasons and this is our first AFC Cup. But if I have to compare the quality of our players and the quality of the players they have, maybe our technique is good too, he said. I decided to mix defensive play and counter attacks because Chonburi are technically good and have ambitions to be AFC champions. Withaya Laohakul, the head coach of Chonburi FC, saw things differently, lamenting the missed chances his team spurned. Today we missed many chances to score. I studied YUFC and they are a good counter attacking team but we were missing several key players who could have stopped them, he said. Playing at home YUFC should not have as many as eight players in defence, Withaya Laohakul said. A draw is not a lucky for us; it is unfortunate. If we were lucky, we would have scored seven or eight goals. I will punish my players and resign from the team unless we beat YUFC 5-0 at home. There we always get many goals against our opponents. It didnt take long for the game to get heated, with Chonburis midfielder, Therdsak Chaiman, finding himself in a one-one-one with YUFCs goalkeeper, Naing Zayar Tun, after three minutes. Naing Zayar Tun came rushing out to deny the player space to shoot, but ended up in a collision that saw him substituted through injury while Therdsak was shown a yellow card. The game was end to end, with YUFCs striker, Milan Jovanovic, latching onto a ball on twelve minutes to fire past the goalkeeper, Sinthaweechai, only to see his shot come back off the post. And four minutes later, Chonburis Therdsak was back in action shooting past the keeper only to see his shot ricochet off a defenders foot to go out for a corner. Chonburi repeatedly looked to penetrate a solid YUFC defence and on 22 minutes were unlucky to see their defender, Suttinun Phukhom, head the ball onto the post. YUFC defender Khin Maung Lwin made a last minute interception to stop another powerful strike on 37 minutes. Then, against the run of play, leaving Chonburi in a state of shock, Milan Jovanovic latched onto the ball, passing several defenders to tuck it neatly away for YUFC in the 40th minute. Mr Williams used the chance to change tack, replacing Myo Min Tun with Kyi Lin and telling the team to sit back and soak up the pressure from Choburi before looking to hit on the counter attack. In the second half Chonburi strengthened their midfield to find a way through YUFCs defence, which left them repeatedly exposed to the home teams attacks. With both teams unable to find a way through, the tie looked to end 1-0 win. But neither team would give in till the final whistle blew, with both teams threatening in the three minutes of added time. Kyi Lin should have done better when he found himself free from the last defender, but instead of passing to an unmarked Milan, he fired directly at the keeper who saved. Barely a minute later, Chonburis forward, Sukree Etae took the ball on the adge of YUFCs penalty area and blasted through the wall of defenders to equalise. YUFC will play the second leg at Chonburi stadium, Thailand on April 24. Playing in group G, YUFC also have home and away matches against Hong Kongs Citizen FC and Singapores Home United FC.