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ISSUE 691 | AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013 EDITORIAL 3

MPs warned not to use farmland conflicts to win votes

IN PICTURES

Missing the real issues in Rakhine

The media has jumped on criticism of UN human rights envoy Tomas Quintanas conduct during meetings with Buddhist leaders in Sittwe to undermine his mission.
NEWS 7

Photo: AFP

Myanmars SOE THAN tallest man, Ko LYNN Win Zaw Oo, left Myanmar last soethanlynn@gmail.com week for lifeTHE head of a land investigation saving surgery commission has warned MPs not to use land disputes for political gain as in Singapore parliamentarians express concern that after donors farmers are vulnerable to exploitation pledged to by politicians, activists and brokers. U Tin Htut, chairman of the com- support the cost mission investigating land disputes, told the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on Au- of his medical gust 16 that farmers were frustrated at treatment. Ko the lack of inaction from the governWin Zaw Oo, ment on the issue. There are growing concerns about who stands at some people instigating or exploiting 2.33 metres, farmers by persuading them to protest. This is an issue across the country. So suffers from a all MPs, including me, should avoid rare condition [using land issues] to win votes for personal or political gain, U Tin Htut said. known as His comments came during a de- acromegaly, bate on the involvement of state and region governments in resolving land which can lead disputes and implementing the find- to gigantism ings of the commission. MPs agreed that the Union Government should when it develops submit a report to parliament on in puberty.
what actions it has taken in regard to land disputes at least once every two months. MORE ON NEWS 13
NEWS 10

Police probe gunwielding general

After initially refusing to act on complaints that Major General Soe Shein threatened farmers with a gun, police in Nay Pyi Taw say they expect to complete an investigation into the incident this week.
BUSINESS 27

The federation strikes back

The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry has rebutted allegations that its finances lack transparency, and that senior members have used the federation for personal benefit.
THE PULSE 44

Aussie soft rockers hit Y angon

Patchy rain did not deter a sizeable crowd from catching a breath of Australian band Air Supply, with proceeds from the concert to help educate children in Myanmars border areas.

Govt in spotlight on constitution

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann has put the pressure back on the government in the debate over the future of Myanmars constitution, telling reporters that any changes will require the support of the executive. His comments come just weeks after a 109-member committee was formed to review the constitution. NEWS 3

2 THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Page 2
THE INSIDER: The local lowdown & best of the web
A bark thats not worse than a bite The Chinese zoo that came to international attention last week after its so-called African lion was found to be a large, hirsute dog has closed temporarily for rectification. The zoo in the Peoples Park of Luohe, in the central province of Henan, replaced exotic exhibits with common species, according to the state-run Beijing Youth Daily. The zoos supposed African lion was exposed as a fraud when the dog used as a substitute a Tibetan Mastiff started barking. Three other species housed incorrectly in the zoo reportedly included two coypu rodents in a snakes cage, a white fox in a leopards den and another dog in a wolf pen. Number of Thai mobiles outstrips population The number of mobile subscriptions in Thailand has exceeded its population since 2010, but the issuing of 3G licences to the countrys main telco operators has seen the uptake rate soar. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission reckons the total number of mobile subscriptions to be 90 million, representing some 131 percent of the countrys population. Internet penetration in the country was estimated to be 26.5 pc in 2012.

online editor Kayleigh Long | kayleighelong@gmail.com

Museums treasures revealed online

The California-based J. Paul Getty Museum has launched its Open Content Program at www. getty.edu/about/opencontent.html, initially releasing online over 4600 rare images from its unparalleled collection of manuscripts, drawings, paintings and sculptures by the worlds most renowned artists. Users can trawl through the archive by category or search by keyword.

Navajo Nation hooked up after 13-year wait

In the US, the semi-autonomous Navajo Nation has cut the ribbon on a data centre which will provide the internet service promised 13 years ago by then-president Bill Clinton. The Navajo Nation, which covers portions of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, now has a US$8 million data centre. This had been under debate and development since 2000, when Clinton found that a 13-year-old girl who had won a new laptop was unable to connect to the internet. Navajo leaders believe the poverty-stricken 44,154 square-kilometre region will be greatly benefited by access to the facilities. The project has aided the push for major network developments in the area, with more than 30,000 households and 1000 businesses to be brought online.

When Myanmar was Burma...

Archival material provided by Pansodan Gallery and Kirt Mausert

Style Statement
Cover of 50s book His Love, translated by Ngwe Hmyar for Social Publishing House Five-time Myanmar Academy Award-winner turned monk Kyaw Hein (left) in the 80s

Emeral Nyein for NOW! Magazine. Photo: Pyay Han (Color Max)

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EDITORIAL

News 3

Media should focus on the real issues in Rakhine State

TOMAS Quintana, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, makes headlines whenever he visits Myanmar. This is not surprising. He is outspoken too outspoken for many, as he often draws attention to uncomfortable truths. But many who have met Mr Quintana, including staff at The Myanmar Times when he visited our office in February, have found him to be sincere in his desire to report on and improve the human rights situation in Myanmar. He has campaigned on many important issues, including political prisoners and the culture of impunity in the military. Anyone who disagrees with his observations should have the right to express their views, through a peaceful protest, Facebook post or opinion article. Reasoned and rational debate is essential if the vast divides in Rakhine State, and elsewhere in Myanmar, are to be bridged. But the controversy over his latest visit represents an unhelpful distraction. Certain publications and online media groups have drawn attention to photos of Mr Quintana meeting Buddhist and Muslim community leaders in Rakhine State and accused him of failing to show respect for monks by sitting cross-legged and not removing his socks. Many have tried to use this to support their view that he is biased against the Rakhine community. If those present at the monastery in Sittwe were offended by Mr Quintanas actions, they should have quietly expressed that to him directly rather than let others seek to undermine his mission. It is sad that some publications have jumped on this issue either to push their own agendas and beliefs or cater to the populist and often racist sentiments that they have cultivated in recent years. Unfortunately, this reporting creates further divisions between the Buddhist and Muslim communities, not only in Rakhine State but across the country. A recent article by Eleven Media Group, Quintana shows disrespect to Buddhist monk, locals say, was particularly disappointing. The article quoted a United Nations Refugee Agency spokesman in Geneva as calling for for dialogue between the government and Bengalis. What the spokesman actually said was that UNHCR wants to see dialogue between the government and IDPs.

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann talks to members of the media in Nay Pyi Taw on August 16. Photo: AFP

Constitutional change in hands of govt: Shwe Mann

Amendments will require the support of the review committee and executive, speaker says

Some journals have jumped on the issue of Mr Quintanas conduct in Sittwe to push their own agendas and beliefs.
It could be an innocent mistake but the misquotation hints at the broader problems in the polarised media coverage of Rakhine State. Its time for all journalists and editors to lift our game. The media has an important role to play as an educator and shaper of opinions. Publications should use this power constructively and not seek to undermine those working for a future in which all can enjoy their fundamental human rights.

WIN KO KO LATT
winkolatt2012@gmail.com

PROPOSED changes to the constitution will require both parliament and government support if they are to be approved, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann says. The extent to which the constitution can be amended depends on the [constitutional review] committee ... [But the] administrative body also needs [to participate] in the amendment process, Thura U Shwe Mann told reporters in Nay Pyi Taw on August 16. While he did not elaborate, his comments appear to be a reference to the 25 percent of seats in parliament filled by military MPs appointed by the commander-in-chief. Changes to the constitution

requires support from more than 75pc of MPs and, in some cases, a majority at a national referendum. U Ye Tun, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Hsipaw, said he believed Thura U Shwe Mann was referring to internal USDP dynamics rather than parliamentary procedure. President U Thein Sein and members of his government have some influence over USDP representatives so I think this is what Thura U Shwe Mann may be referring to, he said. In contrast to Thura U Shwe Manns comments, President U Thein Sein has publicly stated that constitutional change is up to the parliament rather than the executive. Nevertheless, momentum is building behind calls for constitutional change and last month the hluttaw formed a 109-member committee to review the constitution. Thura U Shwe Manns party, the Union Solidarity and Development

Party (USDP), has 52 representatives on the committee, while 25 are from the military and seven from Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD). All 18 parties with at least one MP are represented on the committee. Committee member U Kyi Myint said the body was yet to begin reviewing the constitution. I do not know when we will start, he said last week. A focus of the debate over constitutional change has been section 59(f ), which sets out the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates. In their current form they bar Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency because her children are British citizens. Thura U Shwe Mann said MPs would consider deeply whether to change the eligibility criteria but warned they would not bow to outside pressure. One representative alone cannot amend the criteria for

who can be president. All representatives must participate and they must follow the wishes of the people. Thura U Shwe Mann also acknowledged that some political parties and armed ethnic groups want to abolish the constitution rather than amend it. It is their opinion. It is the duty of parliamentarians and the people to do what is best for our country, he said.

4 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Deaths prompt calls for security reform

FIONA MACGREGOR newsroom@myanmartimes.com.mm RECENT killings in Rakhine State have dashed hopes that the disbandment of the controversial Na Sa Ka border security force would ease tensions in the conflict-hit region, sources in the area say. At least three Muslims died one after allegedly being tortured in the Sittwe area earlier this month amid clashes between IDP camp residents and police. Muslim IDPs and community leaders told The Myanmar Times that the disbandment of Na Sa Ka on July 12 has had little impact on the conduct of security forces in the state. [T]here needs to be a properly trained and disciplined force to look after security in this area. The police at the moment are not properly trained and that is a serious problem. When people were injured in the shooting the police did not take them to the hospital, said U Aung Win, a spokesman for the Rohingya, or Bengali, community in Sittwe. While the Na Sa Ka was mostly based in the border townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, it has regularly been deployed in other parts of the state since violence broke out in June 2012, sources said. A resident of the Baw Du Ba camp, where at least one person died after being shot by police on August 9, said the situation was just the same as when the Na Sa Ka was in charge. We are very disappointed in the police and we do not want the police to stay here. If they did not stay here there would be no violence. Most police members are Rakhine people and so they are hostile to the Rohingya, he said. The Baw Du Ba resident said the tense confrontation was only brought under control when the army arrived and told camp residents that if they returned to their dwellings the soldiers would ensure the police left the camp. He said people in the camps had some faith in the army but none in the police. Rakhine State government spokesman U Win Myaing told reporters that the violence in the camps last week had been arranged by Rohingya to coincide with the visit of United Nations human rights envoy Tomas Quintana. They want to show to the international community the Rakhine State government is neglecting them, he said. Mr Quintana arrived in Myanmar on August 11. The first stop on his 10day mission was Rakhine State, where he was greeted by Rakhine protesters who accused him of bias in favour of the areas Muslim community. During his visit the UN refugee agency called for dialogue between IDPs and the government. We believe this is key to avoiding further violence, the agencys spokesman Adrian Edwards said in Geneva on August 13. The recent violence was sparked by the discovery of the body of a Muslim fisherman near the Aung Daw Ji camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) outside of Sittwe in the early hours of August 9, which prompted protests at the Aung Daw Ji that resulted in a police station being set on fire. Residents at nearby Baw Du Ba camps then set up roadblocks to stop police officers from reinforcing their colleagues at Aung Daw Ji. and life can be better. The deaths have put the spotlight back onto security officials in Rakhine State following the abolition of Na Sa Ka by President U Thein Sein on July 12 just prior to his visit to Europe. The announcement came after three women were shot dead by police in Mrauk Oo township on June 4 and two IDPs were reported killed in Pauktaw township on June 27. Na Sa Ka, or Border Immigration Headquarters, was an inter-agency force established in 1992 made up of approximately 1200 immigration, police, intelligence and customs officials. It was accused of serious human-rights violations against the Rohingya by a number of international organisations. State government sources in Rakhine confirmed to The Myanmar Times last week that ministers there had not been alerted to the plans before the presidents announcement. David Mathieson, a Myanmar researcher with Human Rights Watch, described the disbandment of the agency as a hollow gesture. The Rakhine State authorities and national government have to end the culture of abuse and impunity that the police force enjoys in these areas, and that must include the complete removal of all former Na Sa Ka personnel and prosecuting members of the police or military that abuse any members of the Muslim or Rakhine Buddhist communities, he said. Three fatal shooting [incidents] in a couple of months demonstrate the systematic repression of the Rohingya population in IDP camps ... and the failure of the security forces to guarantee their safety.

Police look on as a building burns in the Rakhine State capital Sittwe in June 2012. Photo: Boothee

Police opened fire on the protesters at both camps, killing two and leaving about a dozen seriously injured, including a 13-year-old boy. Another two men reportedly died in the shootings but The Myanmar Times was unable to confirm this. At about 6pm the police [in Baw Du Ba] opened fire and one man was killed and eight injured, the Baw Du Pa camp resident said. The man who died had been shot in the back and witnesses said he had been leaving the protest when he was fatally wounded. Police said the fisherman had died in an accident but his body showed signs of battery, including head injuries,

missing front teeth and skin blistering that his widow said looked as if it had been caused by boiling water. Sources within the camp claimed the 48-year-old man had been attacked and killed by police after he told other residents he had witnessed officers consorting with a prostitute. U Aung Win said a proper investigation was needed into how the fisherman had died a call that was echoed by the mans 35-year-old widow. She also called on the authorities to restore peace in the IDP camps. The government needs to control the police, she said. I want to say to the authorities to keep the law and order so there can be peace in the camps

Rakhine aid workers resigning over social media threats

FIONA MACGREGOR newsroom@myanmartimes.com.mm THREATS are forcing Myanmar workers to quit their jobs helping victims of violence in Rakhine State, it has emerged. International aid organisations working in the conflict-hit state say anti-Rohingya campaigners are targeting their staff on social media after learning their identities. A source from a major international aid organisation working in the region said the group had seen a significant number of local members resign after threats to them and their families were posted on Facebook pages. It makes me very sad the way things have developed here. When I first came here I had Rakhine friends who understood what we were doing in the camps but now I cant tell them anything because they dont think we should be helping the Rohingya people, said the aid worker. It has been very difficult for Rakhine staff who are picked on by the local community if they are seen to be helping Muslim people and a lot of them have resigned because of this. It makes things very difficult. There are more than 80 international aid organisations now based in Sittwe following last years violence between Rakhine Buddhists and the minority Muslim population, who call themselves Rohingya and are more commonly referred to as Bengalis in Myanmar. The violence left more than 140,000 people, mainly Muslim, homeless and about 200 people dead. Rakhine victims of the conflict have expressed anger at what they see as bias in the aid effort, with senior figures in the community complaining that international organisations have focused on the needs of Rohingya population over those of the Rakhine. Earlier this year the problem of staff intimidation was highlighted by international medical and humanitarian aid organisation Mdecins sans Frontires (MSF) International. MSF said its medical teams faced threats and hostility. In pamphlets, letters and Facebook postings, MSF and others have been repeatedly accused of having a pro-Rohingya bias by some members of the Rakhine community. It is this intimidation, and not [lack of] formal permission for access, that is the primary challenge MSF faces, it said. Our repeated explanations that MSF only seeks to provide medical aid to those who need it most is not enough to forestall the accusations. At the time the organisation called on the authorities to do more to make it clear that threatening violence against health workers is unacceptable. However, the reports of staff resigning suggest the problem has worsened over recent months. Contacted about the question of staff resignations in the face of threats and intimidation, a spokeswoman for MSF said, I can confirm that this remains an issue today, which obviously impacts our ability to provide medical, humanitarian assistance to people who need it. The spokeswoman added that while Rakhine workers were particularly vulnerable, MSF staff from other parts of Myanmar working in Rakhine State have also come under attack on social media.

6 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Police avoid more violence in Maubin

Seven farmers charged over deadly clashes in February remain on the run and local authorities are making no effort to bring them in

SHWE GU THIT SAR

khaingsabainyein@gmail.com

OFFICIALS in Ayeyarwady Regions Maubin district say they are treading carefully to avoid a repeat of clashes in February that saw a policeman killed and more than 40 people injured. Arrest warrants have been issued for nine people over the clashes but only two have been arrested and sources say police are afraid to approach the men. They face nine charges each, including murder, with the two in custody due to appear in Maubin district court on August 9. U Aye Thaung, the head of the Maubin district administrative office, said no effort is being been made to bring the other seven people into custody as it is dangerous to go and arrest them where they live. Farmers involved in the land dispute in the Palaung villages in Ma Let Toe village tract have been charged and warrants issued but some are still on the run, he said. They didnt appear in court when they were summoned, and are living in the fields But we didnt make any police go and arrest them because we dont want to see a repeat of the violence earlier this year. On February 21, villagers from the Ma Let Toe area launched a protest over the confiscation of 550 acres of farmland in the mid-1990s by a private company, Orchard Co Ltd. The 550-acre tract is part of a larger, 2000-acre parcel

A policeman stands guard in Maubin township, Ayeyarwady Region, on February 27, one day after a policeman was killed and up to 40 people wounded during a protest over land ownership. Photo: AFP

that the company acquired for a fish farm. However, violence broke out on the sixth day of the protest. One policeman was killed, while 29 were injured along with 11 civilians. The protesters allege that members of the police force sparked the clashes by assaulting some women in the crowd. U Aye Thaung said the farmers that the police have charged are also illegally cultivating between 30 and 40 acres

at the centre of the dispute and could face further charges. They are growing paddy on the restricted area, on the land that is owned by the company, he said. One of the charged farmers who is still on the run, U Kyaw Min, told The Myanmar Times that they were growing as much as 50 acres of paddy illegally. We have not been asked to appear in court but we have heard that they will come and arrest us, he said.

Efforts to resolve the dispute through negotiation have so far been unsuccessful, he

We dont want to see a repeat of the violence.

U Aye Thaung Maubin district administrator

said, with farmers rejecting the companys compensation offer of K25 million (about US$25,600) for all of the land. U Aye Thaung said the most recent round of talks was held on June 2 at the Maubin township administration office and included the township administrator, farmers, officials from Orchard and a prominent monk, Shwe Nya War Sayadaw. The negotiations failed because only half of the farmers agreed to accept the compensation. The rest want to get their land back because the company confiscated [550] acres of land for fish farming but didnt implement this business, he said. No further negotiations are planned and the farmers have submitted letters of complaint to the president and relevant government departments. Orchard declined to answer questions last week. U Kyaw Min indicated farmers would not accept compen-

sation and said the offer of replacement land was a decision by the company, not the result of negotiation. We just want to grow on our ancestral land, he said. But the company could potentially face challenges to its ownership because of its apparent failure to develop the fish farm. Under the Farmland Nationalisation Act, known as La Na/39, the state can take back land if the owner does not implement the stated business within six months. The Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Act, which came into force in 2012, sets a time limit of four years. U Maung Win, secretary of the Agriculture and Farmer Federation of Myanmar, which was officially established in September 2012 and has members in more than 60 of Maubins 88 villages, said just 15 acres of the land confiscated by Orchard have been developed. The bamboo grown on these fields is just for show, he added. U Maung Win said the confiscation had consigned the farmers to poverty and the violence in February was a sign of their desperation. He said the demand to give the land back was a fair one and criticised rich people in Myanmar for wanting to take land from poor farmers for their businesses. The farmers lives will recover if they get back their land that was unfairly confiscated by the company, he said. However, Ko Htaik Htaik from the Pyo Khin Thit Foundation, which was formed in 2012 and runs development programs in Maubin township, said the lack of ownership documents made it hard to assess the farmers ownership claims. Only 21 farmers can show evidence that they previously owned the land. There are a lot of people who are saying they own the land but do not have any documentation, he said. The company offered compensation of K25 million. The farmers can ask for more than that if they want but they are just demanding to give back their land. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

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News 7

Police probe gun-wielding major general

PYAE THET PHYO pyaethetphyo87@gmail.com POLICE in Nay Pyi Taw say they expect to complete an investigation this week into complaints that a prominent general pulled a gun on farmers when tensions boiled over in a longrunning land dispute. As The Myanmar Times reported last month, the farmers allege that Major General Soe Shein, a personal staff officer of former Senior General Than Shwe, pointed a gun at them and threatened to shoot during the July 5 confrontation. Police in Aye Lar village initially refused to act on the complaint submitted by Ko Aung Than Oo and Ma Khin Thint. In late July, however, Lewe township police station began interviewing witnesses. U Soe Min Thein, the head of the township police force office in Lewe township, said on August 13 that police plan to interview 10 witnesses as part of their investigation, which they expect to finish in the third week of August. He conceded there had been delays in investigating the complaints but said this was because some witnesses had been sick or travelling. The police force office in Nay Pyi Taw has instructed me to conduct the investigation based on [farmers] complaint and report the findings to the head of the township police force. The township police force will take it from there, he said. Based on the evidence, he said, the township police office will decide whether to forward it to the court. The alleged confrontation occurred after Maj Gen Soe Shein accused the farmers of cultivating land he acquired in 2010-11 under Myanmars land laws because it was officially listed as vacant. The farmers say he acquired it improperly because he did not disclose that they were already farming it. Maj Gen Soe Shein told The Myanmar Times on July 11 that he had repeatedly warned the villagers not to cultivate his land. He did not deny threatening them with a gun. Lewe residents say they have received assistance from Daw Sandar Min, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Zabuthiri township from the National League for Democracy, in their efforts to get the authorities to investigate their allegations against Maj Gen Soe Shein. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

IN PICTURES

This long-exposure photograph taken on August 12 shows the Milky Way in the clear night sky near Yangon. The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year in August when the Earth passes through the debris and dust of the SwiftTuttle comet. Photo: AFP

8 News

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Educating Myanmar: Why cash alone is not enough

CURTIS S CHIN JOSE B COLLAZO THE announcement on July 10 that Australia would grant A$100 million (US$89 million) to support Myanmars education reform was no doubt welcome news for a sector long starved of funding and international support. But in any discussions of how best to reform and improve education, the nations policy makers, development partners and parents must also recognise that money alone will not be enough to raise educational standards. Thats a three-decades-old lesson from the United States that has relevance in todays Myanmar. This year marks the 30th anniversary of A Nation at Risk: The Imperative For Educational Reform, a landmark report that chronicled the sad state of the US education system. Released in 1983, the report was a clarion call, documenting how US students were woefully underperforming academically. Thirty years later, many of the reports findings are still relevant today in the US, one of the richest nations in the world. More surprisingly, they also have relevance here in Southeast Asia, including in Myanmar, one of the regions poorest nations. In the 1980s, declining test scores, increasing illiteracy and inadequately trained teachers were the symptoms of a US educational system in crisis. A rising tide of mediocrity, it was said, threatened the US very future as a nation and a people. The report concluded that the product of this broken system was a workforce ill-equipped to compete. As Myanmar continues to open to the world, and all 10 members of ASEAN prepare for the increased competition for jobs and investment that may well come with the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), more and more of the regions citizens are understandably worried about the shortcomings of their own educational systems. In the US, the 1983 report put education reform on the national agenda. Local, state and federal reform efforts followed and subsequent efforts albeit with mixed results continue to this day. US President George W Bushs No Child Left Behind program and President Barack Obamas Race to the Top initiative are the latest examples. Today, across Asia, nations are in a race to move beyond the current economic model of low-end, exportorientated manufacturing and climb the value-added supply chain. Greater profits, job creation and a higher standard of living beckon. Accomplishing this, however, will require an educated, skilled workforce that is able to design and manufacture increasingly technologically advanced products. Long cut off from the rest of the region, Myanmars educators have a particularly steep journey ahead of them. There is little surprise then that Myanmars leaders, of all political parties, continue to seek assistance from development partners to upgrade all levels of education in the nation. The Australian aid agency, AusAid, was one of the latest to respond to appeals for funding. Policy makers though should pay heed to lessons learned from a simi-

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THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

A teacher, students and parents at a Basic Education High School in Yangons Hlaing township. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

lar show me the money response in 1980s America and parts of presentday Asia by those seeking to improve education systems. The first impulse in the US then often was to focus on increasing educational funding and resources. In one example, some hoped a Commodore 64 computer on every American students desk would lead to better-educated students. But educational reform, whether in 1980s America or 2013 Myanmar, needs to be much more than about money spent. In nearby Thailand, a government initiative to provide tablet computers to students is being lauded by some as helping expose young Thai students to new technologies, and criticised by

in science, and 14th in reading comprehension. Singapore spends less on education than the US, at 3.3pc of GDP, but punches well above its weight in terms of results, ranking two in math, four in science, and five in reading comprehension. It might be unfair to compare the US, a nation of 315 million, with Singapore, a small nation state of only 5 million. Yet, whether large or small, nations must recognise that simply providing additional funds for education will not necessarily produce smarter or more employable students. Take the example of Malaysia, which spends 5.1pc of its GDP on edu-

Increases in educational funding need to be accompanied by a modernised, innovative curriculum with a large dose of accountability for all stakeholders.
others as being more about awarding lucrative government contracts than improving educational results. Other efforts in Thailand have focused on closing small schools, with proponents arguing that bigger, better-funded educational programs will provide economies of scale and make better use of government funds. In the US, years of increased educational funding have not gotten the results once envisioned. This is an important lesson that developed and developing nations, including Myanmar, should also take note of. The World Banks 2012 World Development Indicators show that US public expenditure on education as a percentage of its GDP is 5.4 percent. Yet, scores from the most recent Program for International Student Assessment has US students failing to break into the top 10 in the subjects tested. US students ranked 25th in math, 17th cation. Despite this level of funding, one of the highest in the ASEAN region, standardised math and science test scores have actually decreased, according to the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. Whether in the US or Asia, increased funding for education does not automatically translate into academic success. Funding is only one part of the equation. In Myanmar, increases in educational funding need to be accompanied by a modernised, innovative curriculum with a large dose of accountability on the part of all stakeholders involved, including government leaders, education administrators, teachers, parents and students. Barriers to change must be removed. Pockets of innovation and change should be spotlighted and nurtured, and cautions raised about the

Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. www.mmtimes.com Head Office: 379/383 Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928 Facsimile: (01) 392 706 Mandalay Bureau: No.178, 74th Street, (Bet. 31st & 32nd streets) Chan Aye Thar San Township, Mandalay. Tel: (02) 24450, 24460, 65391, 65392 Fax: (02) 24460 Email: mdybranch@myanmartimes.com.mm Nay Pyi Taw Bureau: No. 10/72 Bo Tauk Htein St, Yan Aung (1) Quarter, Nay Pyi Taw-Pyinmana. Tel: (067) 23064, 23065 Email: capitalbureau@myanmartimes.com.mm

appropriateness of one size fits all development programs that might have worked elsewhere but are unsuitable to Myanmar. Longstanding bureaucracies, hierarchies and traditions whether in Myanmar or at the many multilateral development banks and bilateral aid agencies with the best of intentions and eagerness to help should not prevent innovative new pilot programs from taking root and moving forward, including in professional and technical education. Collaborative partnership between educators, parents, students, and public and private partners aimed at providing a holistic, interactive education to students of all ethnicities and religions should be explored. This could well include public-private partnerships focused on agriculture, tourism and other industries that are present and potential employers of significant numbers of young people. More funds in resource-starved Myanmar will certainly be part of the solution to the problem of the nations cash-starved, if not broken, educational institutions. Capacity building of educators and changing outdated school curricula and education policies will be critical, and that too will cost money. But policy makers should take a lesson from the US and other countries that have tried, and not succeeded, in spending their way out of mediocrity into excellence. So as development agencies continue to rush into Myanmar, it is worth pausing. Before rapidly increasing and spending educational budgets, serious attention must also be paid to what sort of reforms and results that money will buy.
Curtis S Chin served as US ambassador to the Asian Development Bank from 2007 to 2010. He is a managing director with advisory firm RiverPeak Group. Jose B Collazo is a frequent commentator on Southeast Asia and an associate of RiverPeak Group. They can be contacted on riverpeakgroup@gmail.com.

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News 9

Fresh arrests as residents reject Letpadaung mine deal

EI EI TOE LWIN
eieitoelwin@gmail.com

MONYWA residents have vowed to continue pushing for the release of activist Daw Naw Ohn Hla, who was arrested on August 13 during a protest against the US$1 billion Letpadaung copper mine project. Police arrested 10 women but later released nine after they signed a guarantee to not reoffend. Daw Naw Ohn Hla, whom police have charged under section 505(b) of the Penal Code and section 18 of Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Protest Law, is due to appear in court on August 27. About 300 villagers demonstrated in downtown Monywa, calling for the project to be cancelled, for amendments to the 2008 constitution and for the disbandment of a committee implementing the findings of an investigation commissions report into the mine project. Protesters have accused police of using excessive force to stop their demonstration, which was technically illegal under the protest law because their

application to demonstrate had been rejected. We set off from Ayetharyar jetty at 2pm holding posters and vinyl signs. We protested peacefully but when we arrived on Bogyoke Street at 3:30pm the police arrived and dragged protesters away. Finally, they violently arrested 10 women, said U Aung Than Myo of Tone village, which is inside the Letpadaung project area. The protesters then followed the police to the station and waited outside, calling for the release of the detained women. Seven women from Saetal, one from Alae Taw and one from Myokyopyin village were later released at about 7:30pm, U Aung Than Myo said. But Daw Naw Ohn Hla is still in police custody. We will continue to seek her release. Participants said the rejection of their protest application and the arrests contravene pledges made by President U Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that Monywa residents would be allowed to protest peacefully under Myanmars existing laws. We requested nine times to No 1 police station in Monywa for permission to hold a peaceful protest in Monywa but they rejected the applications every time and gave us nonsensical

reasons, said Ma Than Than Kyu of Saetal village. We understand that the president and Daw Suu have already said that the government will allow us to protest if we want to do so peacefully and submit an application for permission to the respective police station in line with the law. But in practice it is not possible, she said. The government has blamed instigators for the ongoing unrest in the Letpadaung area. Speaking to parliament on July 25, Minister for the Presidents Office U Hla Tun, who heads the committee formed to implement the findings of the Letpadaung Investigation Commission that was led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, said people who were not local residents had instigated villagers to commit harsh actions. Due to instigation, there were 19 legal demonstrations and 49 illegal demonstrations from March 3 until today, he said. One of the recommendations of the commission was for the contract between the government and the projects investors, Chinas Wanbao Mining and army-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, to be renegotiated. The government unveiled the new terms on July 25. Many residents remain opposed to

the project, however. Ko Aung Myint Thein from Moekyopyin village said residents of 11 villages have already agreed not to accept any compensation. The government has set a deadline of September 30 for affected households to take the compensation to which they are entitled. We dont accept any compensation as we totally reject the new contract. We only want to end the project, said Ko Aung Myint Thein. Money cannot guarantee our livelihood. We want to get back our land. We are farmers we cant do anything without our land. We are not interested in what the committee says. We havent enjoyed any benefits from this project yet. U Chit Khin, chairman of the Letpadaung Taung Salvation Committee, said there was a major lack of trust between residents and the government over the project. Although U Hla Tuns committee has guaranteed the villagers compensation, jobs, environmental safeguards and corporate social responsibility projects, they remain sceptical that they will see any benefits. We want to allow this project if it is really beneficial for the sake of the country and local villagers, U Chit Khin said. But at the moment we are just waiting to see whether they keep their promises.

Flash floods leave one dead in Shan State

AYE SAPAY PHYU ayephyu2006@gmail.com FLASH floods in eastern and northern Shan State late last week killed one person, while another remains missing, the director of the Relief and Resettlement Department said on August 14. The official said a flash flood hit Kengtung in eastern Shan State late on the night of August 9 after heavy rains deluged the area. The flood inundated some quarters of Kengtung, as well as villages in the surrounding township, he said. A report we have received from our office in Kengtung stated that one man living near a stream in Kat Wone village in Kengtung township has been missing since the flood hit on August 9, the official said. The report added that a man on his way back from his farm was drowned in a flash flood at Naung Thit village in Hsipaw township in northern Shan State at about 2:30pm on the same day. He said a total of 35 houses in flood-affected areas of Kengtung township were inundated with mud up to 5 feet (1.52 metres) deep, while about 50 acres of farmland across three villages have been overwhelmed by sand. U Htoo Hlaing, an officer from the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in Kengtung, said that about 1600 people in the township had been affected. Water to a height of about 7 feet (2.134 metres) flooded 28 houses in Ka Htike village tract. Yesterday, the water subsided and residents returned to clean their houses, he said on August 14. MRCS assisted residents by supplying fresh drinking water, family kits and kitchen sets to affected families on August 11. Today, a team from the township health department went to the affected villages. He added that the temporary relief camp in Kengtung was closed on August 13. According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, received record rainfall record of 3.86 inches (98 millimetres) in the 24 hours to 9:30am on August 10.

Ministry to ban milk powder ads through FDA Law

SHWE YEE SAW MYINT poepwintphyu2011@gmail.com HEALTH authorities are sticking to the motto that breast is best and plan to introduce a ban on advertising and marketing of breast-milk substitutes aimed at children up to two years of age, ministry officials said last week. The provisions will be included in the Food and Drug Administration Law, which the officials expect will be enacted within three months. It will be acted upon if we get approval from the minister, said Dr Htin Linn, assistant director at the Ministry of Healths National Nutrition Centre. We have already finished the draft law and shown it to the minister and department heads. The code stipulates that there should be no promotion of breast-milk substitutes, bottles and teats to the general public; that neither health facilities nor health professionals should have a role in promoting breast-milk substitutes; and that free samples should not be provided to pregnant women, new mothers or families. Companies and organisations that disobey the rule would face punishment under the law, Dr Htin Linn said. We can see that most powdered even if an advertising ban is introduced. Ko Nyein Chan Swe from Thet Paing Soe Company, which distributes the Humanar milk substitute, said if an advertising ban is brought in his firm will instead focus on marketing its products direct to customers and health professionals. For example, we can do promotions where we set up games and activities inside the supermarket to attract customers, he said. The main purpose of the new provisions is to reduce the child mortality rate in Myanmar by promoting exclusive breastfeeding, said Dr Kyaw Win Sein, a nutrition specialist at UNICEF. The Ministry of Healths policy is to encourage exclusive breastfeeding of infants to at least six months of age but UNICEF data shows only 23.6 percent of children are exclusively breastfed. Other children are not breastfed for many reasons some are cultural and some are due to a lack of knowledge, Dr Kyaw Win Sein said. Breastfeeding promotes health for both mother and infant and helps to prevent disease, he said. If children do not have enough nutrition they can more easily suffer from infections or diseases and even die.

A child walks in front of an ad for milk powder in downtown Yangon. Photo: Ko Taik

milk companies are breaking international conventions on marketing in Myanmar by doing promotion at private and public hospitals and advertising but we cant punish them because theres no law against it yet, Dr Htin Linn said. He added that the draft law includes a provision stopping doctors from accepting financial assistance from milk

powder companies. Experts from the United Nations Childrens Fund, the World Health Organization and the Ministry for Health have been working with legislators and lawyers on the provisions to be included in the law since last year. But milk substitute distributors appear confident that they will still be able to find ways to promote their products

10 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Tallest man heads abroad for treatment

MYANMARs tallest man left for Singapore last week to receive medical treatment in a dramatic race against time to save his life. Ko Win Zaw Oo, who is 7 feet 8 inches (2.33 metres) tall, is suffering from gigantism syndrome, a condition responsible for his significantly aboveaverage height. The diagnosis followed expert testing of Ko Win Zaw Oos brain and hormone production in local hospitals and clinics in July, liver specialist Dr Khin Maung Win said at a press conference last week. Neurosurgeon Dr Myat Thu said Ko Win Zaw Oos height resulted from the excess growth hormone production by the anterior pituitary gland, which began when he was aged 18. The operation on the pituitary gland will be performed at Singapore General Hospital, where the patient is expected to spend about two weeks. Ko Win Zaw Oo, 36, comes from Htone Pauk Chaing village in Magwe Regions Natmauk township. Supporters have raised more than US$10,000 toward the costs of the operation, which could cost up to $40,000, said Dr Khin Maung Win. Our aim is to protect him from premature death, he said. Yamon Phoo Thit

FEATURE

Big Zaw: Myanmars friendly giant

BIG Zaw has known he was different since a teenage growth spurt sent him soaring above his neighbours in a remote Myanmar village. Now at 7 feet 8 inches he is believed to be the countrys tallest man, and a recent rise to fame means he can finally seek treatment abroad for the health condition behind his towering height. My friends call me Big Zaw, said Ko Win Zaw Oo, who at 2.33 metres is significantly taller than the 1.68m (five feet six inches) average Myanmar man. I do not fit in an ordinary car. When the doctor brought me here, he had to hire a truck, said the 36-yearold, who was given access to healthcare after a story about him in state media this year sparked a flurry of interest from reporters and medical experts. He is now set to undergo surgery in Singapore for a pituitary gland tumour which causes the body to produce excessive growth hormones because the procedure is too advanced to be carried out in Myanmar. Ko Win Zaw Oo, who left Myanmar on August 15, said he was anxious about the trip. I have only seen a toy plane before, so I feel a bit worried about having to fly. But if it is for my health, I must do it, he said ahead of his departure, adding that he was concerned about the future costs of treatment.

Ko Win Zaw Oo poses for a photo at Yangon Airport on August 15. Photo: AFP

His height brings day-to-day challenges. Ko Win Zaw Oo has gone barefoot for most of his life in his rural village in Magwe Region, where his parents and three sisters scratch a living from growing peanuts and sesame seeds on a couple of acres of land. While his family was able to make extra-large longyi for him, custom-

made footwear was far beyond the familys modest means. His condition also means he tires easily and is unable to hold down regular employment, although he says he can help out in village construction because he does not need a ladder. Shy but friendly, Ko Win Zaw Oo attracts stares when he travels but at home people are accustomed to him.

We see him every day in our village ... so we do not really think of him as being extraordinarily big, said his cousin, Ko Than Htoo. Doctors say Ko Win Zaw Oo appears to have stopped growing but that his condition carried future health risks. He needs to be cured, said U Myatthu Mynn, part of the medical team travelling with him to Singapore on a trip funded by private donations from Myanmar and Singapore.

We see him every day in our village ... so we do not really think of as being extraordinarily big.
Ko Than Htoo Ko Win Zaw Oos cousin

He explained that the procedure which usually involves accessing the pituitary gland at the base of the brain through the nose or an incision in the mouth is too specialised for Myanmars hospitals. Ko Win Zaw Oos condition acromegaly can lead to gigantism when it develops in puberty and is extremely rare. Accurate data for Myanmar is unavailable, but Britains Pituitary Foundation said only around four to six new cases per million people are diagnosed each year. It said health risks include diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems with a reduced life expectancy compared to the normal population. Doctors said only one other extremely tall person has been recorded in recent memory in Myanmar. Daw Zee Kwet Sein, who is believed to have died in the 1970s, was left blind by her condition and her exceptional height saw her exhibited at fairs in the countrys central region. Ko Win Zaw Oos recent fame had led him to consider the possibility of a film career to help support his family, although he would rather start a business with his sisters. But the condition takes its toll. I cannot move quickly like the others do. I feel depressed about that sometimes, he said, adding that he does not expect to have a family of his own but hopes medical care will secure his future. After the treatment is finished it will be enough to live my life, even if it does not change my appearance. AFP

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News 11

RNDP pushes to tighten voting eligibility criteria

BILL OTOOLE
botoole12@gmail.com

Doctors meet in NPT over road toll

AYE NYEIN WIN ayenyeinwin.mcm@gmail.com THE cost of road accidents to countries in the Southeast Asian region is more than wars, disasters and disease, a traffic police chief says. And now health experts have launched an initiative to gather more data on accidents in a bid to reduce and prevent them. About 20 doctors from major hospitals throughout the country are taking part in the discussion on strengthening injury surveillance, which was to be held in Nay Pyi Taw on August 18. They include representatives from Yangon General, North Okkalapa, Nay Pyi Taws 1000-bed hospital, Mandalay General and Magwe General hospitals. A regional adviser from the World Health Organisation also took part. Road accidents cost the [Asia-Pacific] region about US$100 billion a year. By 2030 the WHO anticipates that 25 percent of health budgets will be devoted to care arising from accidents. They cost more than wars, natural disasters and diseases, said Police Colonel Kyaw Htwe, commander of Nay Pyi Taw traffic police. In the Yangon municipal region alone, between January and June this year, 158 people died and 1407 people were injured in 938 accidents, he said. Health data suggest that accidents are the second-largest cause of death after disease but the leading cause of disability. However, Dr Thit Lwin, head of orthopaedics at the University of Medicine 1, said more reliable statistics on road accidents in Myanmar are needed, particularly for injuries. The accident-related data we have does not represent the whole country, but is drawn from just five hospitals. We need to analyse the data more closely, he said. There are more than 3 million vehicles in the country. Although there are few motorcycles in downtown Yangon, there are many elsewhere. There has been a recent change in the type of injuries and the level of seriousness because people dont follow traffic rules. We need to know how many disabilities have been caused by accidents, because we have no exact figures.

THE Rakhine Nationalities Development Party plans to introduce legislation during the current session of parliament that would only allow people with a National Registration Card to vote but has denied the move is aimed at disenfranchising the Muslim Rohingya group. The party is seeking to amend election laws that give any eligible citizen, associate citizen, naturalized citizen or holder of temporary certificate the right to vote. RNDP chairman U Aye Maung said the proposed change was primarily designed to protect the rights of the Rakhine ethnic group, who he said is in danger of being overwhelmed by Bengali illegal immigrants. If we give Bengalis political rights, we will lose control of the region ... Bengalis living peacefully in Rakhine have the right to work and the right to move freely, but they should not have the right to vote, he told The Myanmar Times last week. However, he said the law is not intended to target Muslims specifically but rather to protect national sovereignty.

Bengalis living peacefully in Rakhine have the right to work and the right to move freely, but they should not have the right to vote.
U Aye Maung Rakhine Nationalities Development Party

He said that because Myanmar cannot properly police its borders, many people hold identity documents who should not have them and under the current laws this also gives them the right to vote. Many are not real citizens; some have Chinese blood, some have Indian blood. Given that a large percentage of Muslims in Rakhine State do not hold an NRC, a number of sources said the proposed law is part of a campaign to stop them from voting in future elections. In 2010, a handful of Rohingya, or Bengali, politicians were elected to state and national legislatures. One of them is U Shwe Maung, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Buthidaung in northern Rakhine State for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). He said the RNDP can propose any law it wants but he would strongly oppose efforts to strip nonNRC holders of voting rights. They want to cause harm to the Muslim people, he said. He said the RNDPs justification for the proposed legislation is not credible and sounds like an excuse. The Rakhine people have been accusing Rohingya of being illegal immigrants since in-

dependence [in 1948], he said. U Aye Maung said his party would also seek to have anybody who identifies themselves as Rohingya removed from parliament. He described U Shwe Maung as a dangerous person with ties to a powerful, international Rohingya military group known as the Rohingya Soldiers Organization. U Shwe Maung described the accusations as ridiculous nonsense. [U Aye Maung] wants, at the same time, to remove our voting rights and remove us from parliament ... We were officially elected. But Muslim politicians are not the only political leaders concerned by the proposal. One Shan politician, who asked not to be named, said the law could affect the voting rights of a wide range of ethnic minorities, particularly those affected by internal conflict. We have so much internal fighting. So many people have to flee their homes. Many have lost their NRC cards, he said. The politician said he had raised the issue directly with President U Thein Sein last month and explained to the president that he thought the change would be unfair. However, he predicted a long and acrimonious debate in the hluttaw when it is raised. Its a big problem coming, he said. U Aye Maung said members of recognised ethnic groups, such as the Shan, Kayan or Kachin, should not be worried about losing their voting rights as they can make special arrangements with their local governments. However, he did not elaborate on what form these arrangements would take. It is unclear how the major parties will vote on the proposed change. The National League for Democracy did not respond to a request for comment, while USDP vice chairman U Htay Oo said the party did not discuss the issue during its executive committee meeting last week and for now has no comment. We will examine [the proposal] when it is introduced in the parliament. The USDP certainly has enough MPs to snuff out the proposal. However, there is a possibility that it could turn against its own Rohingya MPs and approve the change in a bid to win support from ethnic Burmese communities, many of which also appear to oppose greater rights for the Rohingya. In Rakhine State, the move would most affect young people, said U Aung Win, a Rohingya activist in the Sittwe area. He told The Myanmar Times that the state government had issued only a handful of NRCs to Muslims since 1990, leaving almost an entire generation without cards. His own children sent applications to Nay Pyi Taw four years ago and have never received a response, he said. U Win Myaing, a spokesperson for the Rakhine State government, agreed that very few NRCs have been issued to Muslims in Rakhine State in the past two decades but insisted that it was due to applicants having insufficient proof of citizenship, and not systematic discrimination against Muslims. An NRC is already necessary for many aspects of life in Myanmar. Without documents, people face difficulties in a number of civil processes; for example, ... getting married [and] placing requests for travelling outside their village/township, said Steve OBrien, a spokesperson for the United Nations Refugee Agency in Yangon.

A dog sleeps on a pile of sand. Photo: Douglas Long

Dog sanctuary idea floated to combat rabies in Mandalay

HLAING KYAW SOE hlaingkyawsoe85@gmail.com FEAR of rabies and other diseases spread by stray dogs has prompted a Mandalay veterinary surgeon to call for a dog sanctuary to be built. A plan to put the dogs down by poison has not been implemented because it conflicts with Buddhist principles, said one Mandalay-based vet. Mandalay City Development Committee is responsible for removing stray dogs, but MCDC hasnt carried out a plan to poison them because it is not a suitable solution according to Buddhism. The best way to deal with the problem is to create a sanctuary, because people are at risk if the dogs roam freely in public, said the vet, who asked not to be named. A plan to vaccinate dogs against rabies ran into problems because they were hard to track. We can vaccinate pets and dogs in monasteries, but not dogs in the markets and on the street. A fenced sanctuary would help us to control infection. Ministry of Health figures show about 200 people died from rabies in Myanmar last year, a four-fold increase on 2011, when about 50 died. The veterinarian said controls on the import and export of animals to prevent the spread of disease were also required. Traders should be able to prove that the dog was vaccinated before it crosses the border, whether entering or leaving the country, he said. A sanctuary would require funding, either from government or donors, as well as trained staff, he said. Mandalay dog lover U Thein Htun Aung said that he hoped a dog sanctuary could be created through cooperation between vets and donors. These days, stray dogs are caught and illegally exported to China [to be eaten]. They should be taken care of. The sanctuary would also help to control rabies, he said. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

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News 13

MPs agree to review controversial laws

SOE THAN LYNN
soethanlynn@gmail.com

PARLIAMENTARIANS have asked the Joint Bill Committee to review President U Thein Seins recommended changes to two recently approved bills. The president has publicly expressed concern over the Region/ State Hluttaw Law 2013 and the AntiCorruption Law, which were both approved by parliament last month, and indicated that he may submit them to the Constitutional Tribunal for review.

U Thein Sein said the Region/State Hluttaw Law 2013 requires greater separation of powers between the three branches of government, while the Anti-Corruption Law is too focused on bribery and does not meet Myanmars requirements under the United Nations Convention against Corruption. His messages to the hluttaw were read out by speaker Thura U Shwe Mann on August 13 and U Kyaw Naing Htay, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Inndaw, proposed that they be submitted to the joint committee. U Kyaw Naing Htay said the president seemed to have misunderstood how the parliament operates.

In reality, the parliament is working in accordance with the constitution and parliamentary laws. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaws Joint Bill Committee should review the presidents two messages, U Kyaw Naing Htay. On the criticism over the AntiCorruption Law, U Kyaw Naing Htay said it had originally been called the Anti-Bribery Bill but was changed at the presidents request. When the president sent his proposed changes to this bill to the hluttaw, the Joint Bill Committee refused to change the bill title on the grounds that it was mainly focused on bribery and the word corruption has a wide range of meanings. If the bill was

called Anti-Corruption, most of the original draft that the two parliaments worked on for seven months would be useless, he said.

The parliament is working in accordance with the constitution and parliamentary laws
U Kyaw Naing Htay Pyithu Hluttaw representative

However, most MPs voted for the presidents recommendation so the hluttaw agreed to change the bill title. Now the president said again that additional information should be added so that the bill matches the term corruption. If he puts these suggestions together with his recommendations, the discussion on this bill may go in a more positive direction. U Aung Myint, an Amyotha Hluttaw representative from Kayin State, seconded the proposal. Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann announced it had been approved without objection and the presidents two messages will be recorded in the parliament under section 21 of the hluttaw law. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

Ministry, press council meet to ease tensions Twelve tax

SANDAR LWIN sdlsandar@gmail.com FOLLOWING months of acrimony over the draft print media law, the Ministry of Information and the Interim Press Council have agreed to work more closely on the future legal framework for the industry. At a press conference on August 12 attended by Minister for Information U Aung Kyi and council chairman U Khin Maung Aye, they announced that they would negotiate to resolve their disagreements over the ministry-drafted Printers and Publishers Enterprise Bill. In recent months the council has rejected the bill and has drafted its own version, which it is lobbying MPs to submit to parliament for consideration. To improve communication between the ministry and the council, both sides will appoint a liaison person, council vice chairman U Thiha Saw said. During the meeting, the ministry explained how it was approaching the task of media reform. U Aung Kyi said the ministry prepared media bills based on what he described as a social responsibility model. We have just left the authoritarian model and we have set the libertarian model as our goal, he said. But at the moment the media market is heavily centred on big cities like Yangon and Mandalay and without symmetric dissemination of information within the society, the libertarian model cant be used. So we are using a social responsibility model as an intermediate goal, the minister said. Lets say, perhaps after one decade, when the dissemination of information is even to an extent between rural and urban area, then we can use a libertarian model, like in America, he said. We want to promote all kinds of

proposals withdrawn ahead of overhaul

SOE THAN LYNN soethanlynn@gmail.com

Press council chairman U Khin Maung Aye (left) and Minister for Information U Aung Kyi (centre) at a press conference on August 12. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

media organisations, such as commercial media, public service media, national media, community media, charity media and not only in print but in broadcast and other areas. So we have prepared the bills to set up the necessary legal framework for these industries. U Thiha Saw said that while the council broadly agreed with the ministrys concept it was concerned that the laws would impact either directly or indirectly on media freedom. We can agree with the social responsible theory in general [and] ... we accept media pluralism. There should be diverse media organisations, he said.

But [under the draft Printing and Publishing Enterprise Law] the business registration process is managed by the ministry. That allows the executive branch to indirectly influence print media. We dont want any direct or indirect influence on the media industry through these laws, he said. Both parties also agreed that media organisations and journalists have to follow a code of ethics but there remains a gulf on how to handle violations. The press council wants self-regulation with those who violate existing laws, such as on defamation, to face legal action while the ministry wants to mete out punishments itself.

Our bill also includes regulatory sections. Journalists have to be ethical ... [and] those who commit crimes have to face charges under the relevant laws, which have already been enacted. Deputy Minister for Information U Ye Htut said the ministry should have the authority to issue an injunction order against publications that encourage gambling, pornography, terrorism or discrimination based on race or religion. Despite disagreement on many aspects of what the media industrys new legal framework should look like, U Khin Maung Aye said both sides were committed to continuing to negotiate on our differences.

CONTINUED FROM NEWS 1

Land dispute commission

Following the discussion, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann urged MPs and the media to assist farmers who have been charged or punished because they cannot show evidence of land ownership. Their colleagues and the media need to act as witnesses that these farmers have owned the land since before, he said. We must help them by being strong witnesses even if they havent got proof of ownership. Some farmers may have committed an offence when they were trying to get back their land. We need to help people in these cases by submitting an appeal for them.

We must also help the farmers work within the law. Lieutenant Colonel Saw Shwe, a Tatmadaw Pyithu Hluttaw representative and head of the investigation commissions sub-group on Chin and Rakhine States, said many brokers persuade farmers to pursue land ownership claims. The group that he heads has received more than 200 complaint letters, of which it has assessed 90 and reported its recommendations to the hluttaw. It is easy to return land but it is more important to make sure we give it back to its real owner, Lt Col Saw Shwe said. There are many brokers who persuade farmers saying they will

help them get their land back. These brokers include law experts and lawyers We have to take legal action on those. He said that the committee had uncovered cases where government officials had confiscated land for personal gain and would take legal action against the perpetrators. Our commission is working based on the principle that we should minimise the suffering of the farmers whose lands have been confiscated. We will take action against everyone who should be punished. We wont be lenient even if the accused is a government minister, he said. Some government officials are holding lands by putting them in the name of their wife, children or

other relatives. We need to examine these cases carefully and make sure the land is returned. This problem has occurred because farmland was confiscated in some places by the authorities in collaboration with businesspeople. And some government department or ministries seized farmland and then rented it back to the farmers. We have to check all cases and give the land back to the real owner. He said this principle also applied to land seized by the military. The Tatmataw has started returning land it has taken but the process is slow because each case is being examined in detail. Translated by Thiri Min Htun and Zar Zar Soe

TWELVE tax-related proposals have been withdrawn from the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and will be resubmitted as bills during the next session. The proposals had been submitted during the sixth session of parliament and MPs had agreed to discuss them. However, speaker Thura U Shwe Mann said on August 15 that the MPs who drafted the proposals wanted them to be withdrawn and resubmitted as draft legislation as they believe this will be a more effective means of achieving their aims. Under parliamentary rules, MPs can only withdraw their proposal with majority support. The proposals all focused on elements of taxation for the 2013-14 financial year, which began on April 1. We will use these proposals as the basis for making amendments to tax laws during the next [eighth] hluttaw session, Thura U Shwe Mann said. The proposals covered a wide range of issues, including profit-sharing ratios and transparency in the mining sector and the reviewing of excise duties. U Lun Thi, a former minister for energy, submitted proposals on taxes in the mining, forestry and energy sectors, while U Maung Toe, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Minhla, urged the government to abandon the production sharing contracts currently used by the Ministry of Mines on the grounds they can lead to losses for local businesses and are not suitable in a market-oriented economy. However, not all proposals were withdrawn. U Ba Shein, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Kyaukpyu, objected to the withdrawal of U Win Myints motions on taxation. These included hiring more staff in the Ministry of Finance to scrutinise the list of individual and company taxpayers on a biannual basis, for government ministries to give all tax income to the Ministry of Finance and to only issue instructions on income tax after receiving parliamentary approval. I think U Win Myints proposal is so important for the state and its citizen that it should be discussed during the next session if it is not convenient to discuss it now, U Ba Shein said. The other 12 proposals were withdrawn without objection after Thura U Shwe Manns explanation. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

www.mmtimes.com

News 15
Nuns walk on the platform of Shwedagon Pagoda during celebrations to mark its 2600th anniversary in March 2012. Photo: Boothee

NGO leaders push for voluntary registration

CHERRY THEIN t.cherry6@gmail.com NGO leaders say they are hopeful that the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will consider a proposal to make registration under a draft association law voluntary, following a meeting with MPs last week. About 60 NGO and civil society representatives met 80 MPs in Nay Pyi Taw on August 15 to discuss the draft and present their proposed amendments. NGO leaders pushed MPs to change the draft so that registration is not compulsory, arguing that the 2008 constitution states that groups can form freely. If the law is adopted, they say it should be called the Association Registration Law and sections on punishment for non-compliance should be removed. We hope that the hluttaw will adopt our proposals in their upcoming deliberations over the draft, said Daw Nwe Zin Win, chair of the National NGO Network. For the time being, we will wait and see whether there is a good result. We expect they will listen to all CSOs, she said. Daw Nwe Zin Win said the meeting was important because there had previously been a lack of consultation with non-government groups over the draft. The draft law was prepared by the Pyithu Hluttaw Public Affairs Management Committee and published in state media on July 27 along with a note inviting the public to study it and submit comments before it is debated in the parliament. Civil society groups are critical of the current draft, particularly the centralised registration process and punishments for individuals that violate provisions of the law. They argue it will discourage smaller groups from undertaking much-needed community activities and that the drafting process has been rushed and lacking in broad consultation. Prior to the August 15 meeting, representatives from 281 local NGOs met to analyse and propose changes to the draft. Until the new law is enacted, non-government organisations are also calling for the current registration law, which dates to 1988, to be suspended.

Shwedagon entrance fee set to hit US$8

CHERRY THEIN t.cherry6@gmail.com THE entrance fee at Shwedagon Pagoda for foreign visitors will rise from US$5 to $8 from October 1, the pagodas board of trustees has announced. Trustee U Win Kyaing said the additional revenue would be used to pay for the installation of English signs around the pagoda, as well as English maps of the site that will be given to foreign visitors. Trustees have also built a new elevator at the pagodas southern entrance, he said. It is the first change to the entrance fee since it was set at $5 in 1995. We want to provide better services to tourists when they visit the pagoda and to cover the cost we are raising entrance fees, U Win Kyaing said. These kinds of services are standard in other countries. We also plan to release pamphlets in Thai and Chinese after English and we have created a Shwedagon pagoda website and Facebook page, he said. Ankish Jain, an Indian national who lives in Yangon, said he did not mind paying $8 to enter the pagoda but the services currently offered to foreign visitors were poor. No information or any kind of guidance is not provided at the pagoda. When a foreigner leaves the pagoda they still know almost nothing about it, he said. One Yangon resident who visited the pagoda last week said the increase was a good idea. It should have been $8 before. It is still less than the entrance fees charged for famous places in other countries, he said. Tourism industry stakeholders said the increase was unlikely to deter foreigners from visiting the pagoda. Sanjeev Gupta, the chief executive officer of The Corriander Leaf restaurant in Yangon, said an extra $3 doesnt matter much to tourists, particularly for package tourists, as entrance fees are managed by the tour company. More than 345,000 foreigners visited the pagoda in 2012, paying about $1.75 million in entrance fees. With tourist numbers expected to rise steadily in coming years, the higher entrance fee is likely to generate several million dollars in additional income a year for the pagoda.

ABSDF upbeat after union-level talks

Student army says next round of negotiations will focus on removing it from list of banned organisations under Unlawful Associations Act

EI EI TOE LWIN
eieitoelwin@gmail.com

THE All Burma Students Democratic Front says it is optimistic about peace talks with the government after signing a 12-point agreement at unionlevel talks in Yangon last week. Both sides agreed to hold a further round of negotiations in November at the talks, which were held at the Myanmar Peace Center on August 10. The agreement came five days after a statelevel agreement was signed. We really appreciate the agreement [with the government] and we believe that it is a new step toward

We dont want to waste our forces anymore and we want the right to utilise them for the sake of the country.
Comrade Than Khae ABSDF chairman

bringing about peace and national reconciliation. We want to work together with other ethnic groups at every new step, said ABSDF chairman Comrade Than Khae. He said that while ABSDF members were pleased they has been allowed to travel inside Myanmar to attend talks and share their thoughts freely with the public, they want future discussions to focus on removing the group from the governments list of unlawful organisations. The ABSDF was listed under the Unlawful Association Act, along with the National Coalition Government of the Union of the Burma, Federation of Trade Unions of Burma and National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas, in 2006. Its members have fought alongside the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation, the Shan State Army-South and other armed ethnic groups. Members of, or anybody providing assistance to, organisations listed under the 1908 law face a possible jail term of two years. The two sides are expected to discuss the issue in more detail at the next round of talks. We understand that weve got [the right to travel and negotiate] before the ABSDF is officially removed from the unlawful association list. We must continue to discuss this issue, Comrade Than Khae said. The August 10 peace talks focused

ABSDF chairman Comrade Than Khae speaks at statelevel peace talks in Yangon on August 5. Photo: Boothee

on peace and national reconciliation; the release of political prisoners; the establishment of peace teams to observe ceasefire agreements; and the opening of liaison offices in Kalay, Three Pagoda Pass, Muse and Loikaw. Participants also agreed to a further

round of union-level peace talks in November to discuss removing ABSDF members from blacklists and withdrawing criminal charges against some members. Our members have been charged with violating a number of different

laws, including section 17(a) [of the Unlawful Association Act], said Comrade Myo Win, who is also the fronts vice chairman. We have reached an agreement with the government to reassess these individual cases. U Aung Min, the head of the government negotiating team, said that the president had stated his intention to free all political prisoners by the end of the year. U Aung Min said that ABSDF members who met the criteria for political prisoners would also be freed soon. However, he warned that those convicted of violent crimes would not be freed before the end of their term. It would be unfair if we released somebody who has been convicted of a crime where they had been involved in causing harm to another person, he said, adding that the government had formed a committee to oversee the process of releasing prisoners. The ABSDF was founded in 1988 by students who fled to Myanmars border areas following a bloody military crackdown. Its members sought to overthrow the military regime and install a democratic government by fighting alongside ethnic armies. Over 25 years, 629 ABSDF members have died and 490 have been wounded, the group says. We dont want to waste our forces anymore and we want the right to utilise them for the sake of the country, Comrade Than Khae said.

16 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Tributes flow for journalist Maung Wuntha

EI EI THU
91.eieithu@gmail.com

PROMINENT author and journalist U Soe Thein better known by his pen name Maung Wuntha passed away on August 11 at a private hospital in Yangon, after battling cancer for more than a year. His journalism career spanned almost five decades and was punctuated by a successful run for parliament as a National League for Democracy (NLD) representative in the 1990 election and then three periods of imprisonment for political activities. After being released from prison a third time in 2001 he returned to journalism and in 2010 founded political affairs publication Pyithu Khit (The Peoples Age). Despite establishing the weekly journal to cover the 2010 election, Maung Wuntha maintained a healthy scepticism for Myanmars political transition. In recent years he was appointed to senior positions in leading industry bodies, including secretary of the Interim Press Council, and was widely respected by senior and young journalists alike for his integrity and commitment to the profession. Pyithu Khit chief of staff Ko Nyan Hlaing Lin told The Myanmar Times last week he felt so sad to lose his teacher. Our country is changing and Maung Wuntha provided important coverage of the political scene so it is

also a loss for our country, he said. Ko Arr Mahn, executive editor of 7-Day News, said the industry had lost one of its giants. Maung Wuntha had a wealth of experience. It is a loss for our country and all journalists. He was fighting with his pen since before we were even old enough to write and expressed his words freely un the paper, he said. Now we can write freely and the country is changing to a new way. I just feel so sad that he is not able to write about it.

Right up until his last breath he fought so that all writers and journalists could enjoy freedom of expression.
U Tin Oo National League for Democracy

Born on April 17, 1945, in Waw township, Bago Region, he began writing articles in high school and was a student leader at Rangoon University in the early 1960s. He was expelled after the military coup in 1962 and a warrant was issued for his arrest but after the 1964 amnesty he became a journalist, working for the Working Peoples Daily, New Light of Myanmar, Hanthawaddy and Van-

guard Daily as a reporter, editor, and columnist. In 1977 he was awarded a National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) fellowship for professional journalists and attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He was dismissed from the stateowned media for his involvement in the 1988 uprising. After the coup he joined the NLD and was appointed a member of its central executive committee. He was elected as the representative for Waw in Bago Region in the 1990 election but imprisoned from 1989-90, 1990-92 and 1996-2001. He took up journalism again after his release in mid 2001. He published more than 60 books, specialising in political biographies and translations of works on international affairs. Until shortly before his death he was writing regular columns for more than six magazines. He was also a member of the selection committee for the National Literary Awards and chairman of the National Press Award Committee. He was elected chairman of the Myanmar Journalists Association in August 2012 and vice chairman of the Interim Press Council the following month. He passed on his knowledge to younger journalists both informally and formally through various media training programs in Yangon. National League for Democracy patron U Tin Oo said he learned many valuable lessons from Maung Wuntha. I had a great deal of respect for him, for his experience in literature and media, he said. When we first met he was a writer but after 1988 he dedicated himself to the democratic cause.

Maung Wuntha speaks at a conference in Yangon in March 2012. Photo: Staff

He was an honourable man in every way. Right up until his last breath he fought so that all writers and journalists could enjoy freedom of expression. 88 Generation leader Min Ko Naing recalled a time when a prisoner in a Myanmar jail looked wistfully up at the moon between the iron bars and muttered, Damn, the moonlight is bright. Another prisoner told him, Dont

blame the moon Nature is innocent. The man who soothed his friend is Saya Maung Wuntha, he said. Not only did he have a love of the beauty of nature but he also showed that courtesy and a gentlemanly response can defeat harsh words and rudeness. Maung Wuntha was buried at Yay We cemetery on August 14. He is survived by his wife Daw Myint Myint, four children and two grandchildren.

www.mmtimes.com

News 17

BRIEFS
Thandwe Trail for Buddhists over June 2012 bus killings

Six Buddhist men will face trial later this month over the lynching of 10 Muslim bus passengers as sectarian unrest convulsed Rakhine State last year, officials said. Scores of people died in violence between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine state in the days after the June 3, 2012, bus attack, which saw the passengers dragged from the vehicle and killed by a mob. The apparent trigger for the attack was the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman a few days earlier in Thandwe district. Three Muslim men were later convicted. The men have been charged with murder because of their involvement in killing people on a bus, a police official said on August 15. The court hearing will start on August 26, he said, adding the men were all Buddhists and had been arrested after an investigation. The group was arrested last month and appeared in a local court on August 13 to hear the charges, an administrative official said, also requesting anonymity. AFP

Job agencies angry over deposit rules

SHWEGU THITSAR
Zebras bound for Mandalays zoo are loaded onto a truck at Nay Pyi Taws Safari Park on August 12. Photo: Pyae Thet Phyo khaingsabainyein@gmail.com

Rare animals sent to Yangon, Mandalay

PYAE THET PHYO pyaethetphyo87@gmail.com ZOOS in Yangon and Mandalay last week welcomed some new and endangered residents. The five animals were permanently transferred from the Nay Pyi Taw Safari Park to Yangon and Mandalay on August 12. A young female white tiger named Snow was sent to Yangon, while a male zebra named Yan Gyi Aung and a female zebra, Yon Yon, were sent to Mandalay along with a pair of single-humped camels, said Ko Yan Min Naing from the Safari Park administration office. This is the first time weve sent endangered species from the Safari Park. We wanted to give people in other cities a chance to see them, he said. We have also plan to send other rare species in future if we can get approval from the Department of Forestry. The Nay Pyi Taw Safari Park opened in 2011 and covers 291.52 acres. Nay Pyi Taw also has a 165-acre zoo that was built in 2006. Both of the parks are managed by Htoo Group under a 10-year contract with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry. The company also runs the Yangon and Mandalay zoos. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

Yangon MAI and AirAsia to offer Hajj flights

JOB placement agencies for seamen have complained about new rules issued by the Department of Marine Administration requiring the agencies to pay a K5 million deposit when they renew their licences. The deposit was one of 16 new rules issued by the department on July 17. The department says the deposit is needed in case companies fail to pay government fees or properly compensate sailors. The agencies say they should not have to pay the new deposit as they already paid a US$5000 deposit to the department when they began operating. U Naing Myint from HNN Marine Resources (YGN), which was established more than 20 years ago, said agencies were unhappy that the department had not discussed the changes with them before the order was issued. He said the dispute highlights why the industry should instead be overseen by the Ministry of Labour, as it is in most other countries. The department should have discussed it with us before it issued the order, he said. Our agencies are the ones who are

really trying to help sailors find jobs. The department has never made any effort to grow the market for Myanmar sailors. It just tries to control us. Although we have changed to a new government, I think the department is getting stricter instead of liberalising and going further away from international standards. He said agencies that tried to withdraw their original deposit were told they could do so at the rate of K6 to US$1. The agencies plan to lobby senior government officials about the dispute. We will show them we are not just going to do whatever they want, U Thein Myint said. U Phone Myat Lu, president of the Myanmar Seafarers Employment Services Federation, agreed that there should be less state interference in the industry. The only state agency that actually finds jobs for sailors is the Five Star Line. The rest are found by agencies, not the department, he said. Under the new rules, agencies have to pay K500,000 for a temporary licence, or K1 million for a three-year licence, in addition to the deposit of K5 million. They can withdraw the deposit if they lose their licence or return their licence to the department. Agencies are also required to pay K5000 for each month of a sailors contract to cover department service fees. The Department of Marine Administration declined to comment on the new rules. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

Myanmar Airways International has signed an agreement with AirAsias long haul subsidiary to offer Hajj flights in October and November. MAI and AirAsia X will operate flights from Yangon to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from October 3-8, with return flights between Jeddah the gateway to Mecca and Yangon from November 12-18, MAI spokesperson Daw Aye Mra Tha said last week. The airlines will use Airbus A330-300 planes that can carry up to 375 people. Passengers will be given a larger-than-normal luggage allowance of 35 kilograms for the trip, and will also be allowed to bring an additional 10kg of holy water back from Mecca, she said. Ei Ei Thu

Mandalay GP criticises doctors for poor bedside manner

A leading general practitioner has called on Myanmar doctors to show more respect for their patients. Dr Myint Oo, the secretary of the General Practitioners Society, said earlier this month that he believed some doctors have forgotten the art of dealing with people and empathising with patients. He made the comments at the launch of a training program in Mandalay organised by the Myanmar Medical Association. From this training program doctors will know the rights of patients and there will be more respect between doctors and patients, Dr Myint Oo said. He said the association plans to organise teams in Yangon, Mandalay and Pathein to get feedback from patients at hospitals that can then be submitted to administrators. The teams will also seek to resolve any disputes that arise between patients and medical professionals. Shwe War Lwin, translated by Thae Thae Htwe

18 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

MPs chide govt on tax changes

Orders and notifications on taxation need legislative approval under the constitution, parliamentarians argue

SOE THAN LYNN

soethanlynn@gmail.com

PARLIAMENTARIANS are taking on the government in another battle over the limits of executive and legislative power this time over tax rules. At a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session on August 8, MPs approved a proposal from Mon State Amyotha Hluttaw representative Daw Yi Yi Myint to review tax changes - particularly to court fees and stamp duty - that have been imposed by the Ministry of Finance. She said the governments new tax rules had not been approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The proposal was seconded by Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Thingangyun U Thein Nyunt, Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Htantapin U Sein Tun and Shan State Amyotha Hluttaw representative U Sai Paung Nap. It was approved with no objections. MPs agreed to review the tax framework at the next session of parliament. They also criticised the ministrys collection methods, particularly the setting of a tax collection quota for townships. Representatives said this meant businesses in smaller or less prosperous townships have to pay more tax than those in wealthier townships. Following the discussion, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann said that regulations, orders or

announcements, directions and provisions are considered laws and therefore the responsibility of parliament. The governments taxation regulations, announcements and directions on court fees and stamp duty are really skyrocketing high, he said. [They] may still become law but MPs will discuss it in the parliament. Rather than take on parliament, Minister for Finance U Win Shein said the ministry would seek to amend the necessary laws as soon as possible. He said his ministry would also coordinate so that taxes collected by the Ministry of Health are also laid out in legislation rather than orders or announcements. He said he believed that input from MPs could help make the tax system fairer for all citizens. U Thein Nyunt said the changes to court fees and stamp duty were extreme and created hardship for many Myanmar citizens. Not only working-class but even middle-class people struggle paying these taxes. They have to pay nearly K1.5 million to file a civil suit, up from just K15,000 in the past. That means a lawsuit will probably cost at least K10 million, said U Thein Nyunt, who is a lawyer. However, he said the debate over the tax changes took on an even greater significance when considered in the context of defining executive and legislative powers. If we dont point out these taxes, it could appear that parliament is neglecting its role under the constitution. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

A train bound for Taungbyone during the 2012 nat festival arrives at a station. Photo: Si Thu Lwin

Authorities promise tight security on nat festival trains

SI THU LWIN sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com MYANMA Railways has promised to maintain tight security on trains during the Taungbyone Nat Festival in Mandalay, which started last week and runs to August 21. Railway guards will provide tight security for people travelling from Mandalay to Taungbyone, said U Thet Soe, deputy general manager of Mandalay Regions Transportation Department. Especially, we want to warn all travellers about the danger of pickpockets, and we will broadcast warnings via loudspeakers in Thayezay, Taungbyone and Madaya stations. We will also strictly prohibit people from riding on the train engines and carriage roofs, he said. U Thet Soe said Myanma Railways had already carefully checked its engines, carriages and the lines leading to Taungbyone before the festival commenced. It will run eight special trains during the festival to cater to return trips from Mandalay to Taungbyone on top of the regular six trains a day. A fare from Mandalay to Taungbyone costs K250, with the shorter Thayezay-Taungbyone leg K100. Anyone caught riding without a ticket will be fined three times the normal fare. The first train from Mandalay departs at 3am, and the last train leaves Taungbyone at 8:20pm. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Maharishi Vedic University Limited, a Company incorporated in Malta, of 54 Marsamxett Road, Valletta, VLT 1853, Malta, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 1686/2013 in respect of Class 41: Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities; education services relating to health; adult education services relating to management; conducting of courses relating to business management; conducting of instructional seminars relating to time management; educational services relating to management; production of course material distributed at management seminars; production of video tapes for corporate use in management educational training; providing training courses on business management; provision of instruction courses in general management; publication of work manuals for business management; conducting workshops and seminars in personal awareness; educational and entertainment services, namely, providing motivational and educational speakers in the field of self and personal improvement; personal development courses; providing assistance, personal training and physical fitness consultation to corporate clients to help their employees make physical fitness, strength, conditioning, and exercise alterations in their daily living; providing assistance, personal training and physical fitness consultation to individuals to help them make physical fitness, strength, conditioning, and exercise improvement in their daily living; provision of courses of instruction relating to personal time management; personal development courses; personal fitness training services featuring aerobic and anaerobic activities combined with resistance and flexibility training; provision of courses of instruction relating to personal time management; provision of training courses in personal development;

Maharishi

meditation training; teaching of meditation practices. Class 42: Scientific and technological services and research and design related thereto: industrial analysis and research services; design and development of computer hardware and software; architecture; design of interior decor. Class 44: Medical services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; massage services; information services relating to massage; dietary and nutrition guidance; health clinic services; meditation services; energy healing services, namely, stress management and stress reduction counseling for individuals to enhance their lives; physical therapy evaluation, identification, and management of movement dysfunction to restore, maintain, and promote optimal physical function preventing the onset, symptoms and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities resulting from disease, disorders, conditions, or injuries; health related stress management services; conducting telephone and in-person personal lifestyle wellness assessments [physical and mental health services]; health related consultancy services relating to personal behaviour; consulting in the field of health and wellness to bring about personal happiness; personal therapeutic services relating to muscle re-education; personal therapeutic services relating to circulatory improvement; providing health related healthy lifestyle and nutrition services, namely, personal assessments, personalized routines, maintenance schedules, and counseling; providing health related wellness services, namely, personal assessments, personalized routines, maintenance schedules, and counselling. 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 Maharishi Vedic University Limited P.O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 19 August 2013

PTTEP denies wrongdoing over energy blocks

THOMAS KEAN tdkean@gmail.com THAI energy firm PTTEP has denied any wrongdoing in its acquisition of the MD-7 and MD-8 deepwater blocks, saying it has a policy of not paying bribes in exchange for exploration licences. Chief executive Tevin Vongvanich made the comments to The Bangkok Post in response to an August 5 report in The Myanmar Times that quoted senior industry sources as saying that the manner in which the blocks were awarded to the Thai company earlier this year had been a factor in the recent removal of energy minister U Than Htay. The report made no mention of bribes being paid for the blocks. The company was awarded the concessions just months after a planned tender of 30 shallow and deepwater blocks was delayed in September 2012 over transparency concerns. The tender is expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2014 but does not include the MD-7 and MD-8 blocks. Mr Tevin said negotiations for these blocks had begun in early 2010 and the decision to award them to PTTEP had been approved by the cabinet. We talked to the Myanmar government for many years, and have yet to start drilling in the two blocks, so we dont know if we will find gas, oil or anything, he was quoted as saying. Mr Tevin said his company strictly adhere[s] to transparency when doing business. We are a publicly listed company with a lot of auditors such as the Office of the Auditor-General of Thailand, as well as shareholders and the Securities and Exchange Commission, he said. It is easy to audit us and examine how the company operates. Thai Minister for Energy Pongsak Raktapongpaisal also rejected suggestions bribes had been paid. PTTEP is majority-owned by the stateowned company PTT. We would not let this happen, Mr Pongsak told The Bangkok Post. The Ministry of Energy has never made it clear why the blocks were awarded without using a bidding process. When the present tender was postponed in September 2012, an official from Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise told The Myanmar Times that corruption in the Ministry of Energy had been facilitated by the lack of a competitive bidding system.

www.mmtimes.com

News 19

Coffee growers get wake-up call from govt on plantations

Less than one third of the 18,000 acres given to private firms in Pyin Oo Lwin are producing coffee beans
KYAY MOHN WIN kyaymonewin@gmail.com PARTICIPANTS in a decade-old project to boost coffee production in Mandalay Region are being pushed to get their plantations going. Companies must start growing coffee on land zoned for coffee plantations under the scheme by the 2014 growing season, the head of the Department of Industrial Crops Development in Pyin Oo Lwin district said. Of the 18,000 acres in Pyin Oo Lwin and neighbouring areas zoned as coffee plantations, only 40 percent is being used to produce coffee. Only 5400 acres have reached the point where coffee can be harvested. The coffee project has been running since the 2001-02 financial year It is now more than 10 years old, U Myint Swe said at a coffee growing and producing workshop last month. Of the investors who were granted working permits for coffee plantation some have been successful with their coffee businesses but some investors havent started their plantations yet. Thats why Mandalay Region government has set Myint Swe said. While land disputes may be an obstacle for some, these cases are now being discussed in the hluttaw, U Myint Swe added. An independent coffee expert, U Kyaw Win, said some companies yet to plant are growing the shady trees needed to shelter the coffee shrubs. But some of the land [under the project] is not being used for anything, he said. He suggested many of the companies lack the technical expertise to make the plantations a success. The coffee plants on some of the land died because the wrong techniques were used, he said. And it is difficult to make a profit even when the plantation is up and running. Those wishing to give up entirely and change crop can apply to the government, he said. If land owners would like to change to another crop because their lands arent suitable for a coffee plantation, they must present [their request] to the Central Committee for the Management of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands, he said. They can substitute other crops if the authorities give approval. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

Palaung accuse govt troops over latest clash

THE Ta Aung National Liberation Army has accused government forces of attacking one of its drug eradication teams just 12 days after the two groups met for peace talks. The most recent clashes, according to the TNLA, took place on August 12 at Konslam village in the Mong Ngaw area of Kyaukme township. The battle lasted about 30 minutes and the TNLA said it killed two Tatmadaw soldiers and suffered no casualties. The figures have not been independently verified and a government spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. The July 31 peace talks, which took place in Muse, northern Shan State, were the first between the two sides since the TNLA was formed in 1992. The government side was led by chief negotiator U Aung Min and also featured the commander of Northeastern Region Command Brigadier General Aung Soe. Colonel Tar Bone Kyaw, a cofounder of the TNLA, represented the group. The talks did not yield a ceasefire but the two groups agreed to hold further discussions in Namhkam township. While they initially said these would be held within 10 days no date has yet been set. Tim McLaughlin

Coffee grown near Pyin Oo Lwin. Photo: Staff

a time limit to start growing coffee plants on the land, he said. He said the department isnt sure yet what action it will take against those who do not meet the deadline but added that he believed it was better to encourage stragglers

rather than punish them. Our department is going to urge investors [to get started] by giving coffee-growing training, holding workshops on coffee-growing and visiting coffee plantations and showing them how to grow it, U

Yangon energy projects to begin in January

YANGONS municipal authorities are considering two projects to turn rubbish into electricity and compressed natural gas, with a planned starting date of early 2014, U Than Lwin Oo, head of Yangon City Development Committees Pollution and Cleaning Department said last week. He said the organic waste would be separated at the sites and treated to extract the resulting gases, which would be burned to create power or converted into CNG. He said waste-to-energy plants are planned at rubbish dumps in Htein Pin in Hlaing Tharyar township and Dawei Chaung in North Dagon township. Eleven companies have already been shortlisted and were required to submit detailed proposals to YCDC on August 7. The winning submissions are expected to be announced in about two months, he said. I hope that we can announce the tender winning companies by the end of October or early November, he said. Then the projects should be started in January 2014. What technologies they [the plants] will use, how much the companies will invest and how much electricity they can produce will be stated in the final proposal. The power generated by these plants will be beneficial to the public. Aye Sapay Phyu

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Thai Nakorn Patana Company Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Thailand, and having its principal place of business at 94/7 Soi Yimprakrob, (Ngamwongwan 8), Ngamwongwan Road, Muang District, Nonthaburi Thailand, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trademarks:-

Reg. No. 4/4690/2013 in resp ec t of C lass 5: Pharmaceuticals and/ or Pharmaceutical Preparation for relief of upper gastrointestinal bloating, pressure, fullness or stuffed feeling.

Reg. No. 4/4696/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation to use topically for the symptomatic relief of the muscular aches and pains, sprains, sport injuries and insect bites.

Reg. No. 4/4679/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for relieves allergic condition of the conjunctiva, particularly due to dust or allergic substaces.

Reg. No. 4/4689/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in the symptomatic treatment of acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis and spondylarthritis.

Reg. No. 4/4697/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for the treatment of dermatophyte infections of the skin tinea corporia, tinea cruris, tinea pedis, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff and scalp itch.

Reg. No. 4/4686/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Contraceptives.

Reg. No. 4/4691/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for reduce sputum and relieves cough. Reg. No. 4/4698/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for the treatment of Herpes simplex virus infections, Varicella infections (Chickenpox) Herpes zoster (Shingles), genital herpes and herpes labialis.

Reg. No. 4/4678/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for broad spectrum anthelmintic effective against pinworm, whipworm, roundworm, hookworm, threadworm.

Reg. No. 4/4692/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for relief of coughs due to common cold, influenza bronchitis, bronchial asthma and expectorant.

Reg. No. 4/4675/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for topical application in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory of various skin disorders.

Reg. No. 4/4693/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation Antimicrobial lozenge for the treatment of infections in the oral cavity.

Reg. No. 4/4680/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Contraceptives.

Reg. No. 4/4684/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for the treatment of bacterial diarrhea, dysentery, enteritis and gastro-intestinal infections.

Reg. No. 4/4694/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for symptomatic relief of allergic reaction, such as sneezing, nasal discharge, itching, allergic conjunctivitis, chronic urticaria and other allergic dermatologic disorders.

Reg. No. 4/4656/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for relief of fever and pains.

Reg. No. 4/4687/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for the treatment of dermal fungal infections; tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis, candidiasis.

Reg. No. 4/4695/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for symptomatic relief of nasal congestion, running nose, sneezing due to the common cold including allergic rhinitis.

Reg. No. 4/4681/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for treatment of acute and chronic diarrhea. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trademarks will be dealt with according to law. U Nyunt Tin Associates International Limited Intellectual Property Division Tel: 959 4500 59 247-8, 951 375754, Fax: 951 254321 Email: info@untlaw.com For Thai Nakorn Patana Company Limited Dated: 19th August, 2013.

Reg. No. 4/4688/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for topical use in the treatment of dermatitis with allergic and inflammatory conditions.

Reg. No. 4/4682/2013 in respect of Class 5: Pharmaceuticals and/or Pharmaceutical Preparation for the treatment of wounds.

www.mmtimes.com

News 21

BRIEFS
Yangon Local company to offer cruise berths

Travellers looking to explore the open seas or just drop anchor and relax can now book tickets on an international cruise ship touring Southeast Asia, thanks to an agreement between local travel agency Asias Green Myanmar and Italys Costa Cruise Group. Packages range from three to seven nights and take in destinations such as Phuket and Langkawi, said U Aung Myo Oo, director of Asias Green Myanmar, the Myanmar company selling the tours. Berths are aboard the Costa Victoria, which can carry up to 2394 people and features a duty-free shop, live entertainment and restaurants. The Costa Victoria is going to beautiful places in the world, U Aung Myo Oo said. Costa Cruises operates a fleet of 14 ships, which make a total of 130 trips to 250 destinations yearly. While Myanmar is not currently among its scheduled stops, U Aung Myo Oo said he expects that to change in coming years. This ship will be arriving our country one day because we have many beautiful scenic places, he said. Costa Cruises shot to prominence in January 2012 when one of its vessels, the Costa Concordia, ran aground off the coast of Italy. The ship capsized, killing 32 people. Ei Ei Thu

Kalaw residents accuse lead miners of damaging land, water

THAN NAING SOE thennaingsoe@gmail.com MINING companies in southern Shan State are dumping refuse from their lead mines in the area and polluting land and drinking water, a local development association says. The Danu Literature, Culture and Regional Development Association said 18 mining companies working in Kalaw townships Baw Sai area do not dispose of waste from the mines properly. said repeated complaints to the regional government have only brought temporary respite. We have made a number of complaints to the Shan State government about the environmental impacts caused by the disposal of waste from the mines, he said. The authorities have inspected the mines in response to our complaints, which resulted in brief halts to mining. But the operators did not stop for long so far our complaints have not been effective. Recently, 340 residents from Muye, Ywar Houng, Yay Phyu, Myo Soe and Sesat villages signed a letter of complaint and submitted it to the township administrative office in Kalaw. Residents of Baw Sai said the mines are destroying agricultural land and harming water supplies to the villages. The mines operate in the mountains and some need to extract 200 tonnes of soil to get 1 tonne of mineral, a Baw Sai villager told The Myanmar Times. When it rains, the stone and loose soil flows down onto our farmland at the foot of the mountain and from there it washes into our rivers and ponds. U Than Tun, from Tha Yat Pin Hla village, said many of the companies disregard the law and act with impunity.

When it rains, the stone and loose soil flows down onto our farmland.
Baw Sai resident

Workers outside a lead mine in the Baw Sai area of Shan States Kalaw township. Photo: Supplied/KMT

The larger mines are run by Good Power Star, Pyae Shan Paing and Myay Gabar. Residents said the investors are Chinese but have Myanmar identity documents. The first mines were established in about 2005. Association chairman U Soe Aung

They pay no attention to us, he said. At night they sometimes mine quite close to our villages. U Soe Ngwe, a member of the Danu ethnic minority, said many of the areas inhabitants have limited education and few have official land ownership documents making them easy prey for the companies. Our ethnic minority is neither well

educated nor well represented by government officials, said U Soe Ngwe, who is from Yay Phyu village. [We] are mostly labourers. If these companies illegally seize our land then well be forced to become tenants forever. Neither the township administrative office nor the mining companies could be reached for comment last week. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

Mandalay Bus associations issue loans to companies

Highway bus and motor vehicle supervisory committees in Mandalay have issued loans to bus owners to help them upgrade their vehicles. The loans were handed out on August 15, with the owners of 21 vehicles borrowing K1 million (about US$1000) each. The low-interest loans are to be paid back within 10 months and the interest will be used to provide financial assistance to the families of drivers, conductors and passengers injured or killed in road accidents. It is the 16th time the associations have issued loans, with 98 owners benefiting to date from the service. Aung Ye Thwin, translated by Zar Zar Soe

Mandalay Red Cross conducts first aid training for tour guides

Tour guides and hospitality workers in Mandalay Region have been offered first aid training by the Myanmar Red Cross Society, a representative of the Myanmar Tour Guide Association says. [After receiving training] tour guides can help their guests immediately if something happens during a trip which is far from clinics and hospitals, said Ko Win Zaw Oo from the associations Mandalay branch. The three-day course, held from 9am-4:30pm on August 17-19 at the Mandalay Red Cross office, was limited to 50 trainees. Further training dates will be announced. Shwe War Lwin, translated by Zar Zar Soe

22 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Shan govt struggling to stop illegal timber trade

THAN NAING SOE thennaingsoe@gmail.com THE Shan State government has asked the army to help control the growing problem of illegal logging, the states forestry minister says. Shan State Minister for Forestry and Mines U Sai Aik Paung told The Myanmar Times in a recent interview that illegal logging was particularly difficult to combat in Momeik and Mabain townships because of a lack of stability and threats to forestry officers. Illegal timber extraction is growing. Because of the lack of stability in Mong Mit and Mabain townships people are taking this opportunity and timber is being stolen and sold in China, U Sai Aik Paung said. He said the armed gangs that steal the timber had even killed forestry officers who tried to stop them. We sent the army a letter asking for help because it is not easy to stop illegal logging in these areas, he said. One forestry officer was killed. Another was shot and sent to Mandalay Hospital for treatment. We also asked the army to set up roadblocks in the Namhkam and Muse areas. U Sai Aik Paung also said regional governments should be given more opportunities to manage and benefit from natural resources. The Shan State government has proposed resources be split 50-50 between the central and regional governments. We have proposed to the president that 50 percent of natural resources be given to the region or state government where they are extracted and the rest
Timber trucks in Muse township near the border with China. Photo: Supplied

Airport tender winners to start work this year

SHWEGU THITSAR khaingsabainyein@gmail.com A SERIES of airport upgrades will bring tens of millions more airline passengers flooding into the country over the next few years, the government says, with work set to begin by this November. U Kyaw Soe, the director general of the Directorate of Airport Standards, Supervision and Inspection of the Department of Civil Aviation, made the comments last week as the government announced the consortiums selected to carry out the work. Tenders will be awarded to three main companies and three supporting companies in the building or upgrading of three international airports. The project will start in three months, but negotiations with the companies are continuing. Well decide on the basis of their presentations, especially the design details. The final contracts will be signed when the presentations are submitted to the Myanmar Investment Commission, he said. Pioneer Aerodrome Services, a branch of Asia World, won the contract for the largescale renovation of Yangon International Airport. The project for Mandalay International Airport has gone to Japan-based MitsubishiJalux Inc, while the Hanthawady International Airport project has been awarded to South Korea-based Incheon Airport Consortium. Hanthawady Airport, located near Bago township, will comprise 6800 acres. The developers will upgrade the 1940s-era Kyauk Taing Nan airport at an estimated cost of US$600 million, said U Kyaw Soe. We plan to be able to accommodate 12 million passengers in the first stage of the project, and to extend its capacity to 30 million passengers. There will be two runways, and it will accommodate the Airbus A380, the biggest plane in the world. Yangon Airport will continue to be used for charter and VIP flights and domestic routes, while Mandalay International Airport is slated to become an air logistics hub. The large-scale reconstruction of Yangon International Airport is scheduled for completion in 2015, while the upgrade of Mandalay International Airport is expected to finish in 2014. The first phase of the Hanthawady International Airport project will be completed in 2017. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

go to the Union Government. We dont know if it will be approved but we think it is fair and should be accepted. In terms of timber, he said the constitution granted region and state governments no authority over how it is managed and this had also hampered efforts to combat illegal logging. More than 150,000 tonnes of teak was produced in Shan State in 2012-13 but the Shan State government doesnt even know which company has got a permit to take what amount of teak

from which forest area, he said. In future these permits should only be issued with the recommendation of the state government. Currently, the only forestry opportunities are in terms of bamboo, bamboo shoots, charcoal, aloe wood and honey. Everything else goes to the central government. He said the regional government was already putting proceeds from mining permits into a rural development fund. Translated by Thae Thae Htwe

Writer Min Lu passes away

POET and writer Min Lu, who penned more than 40 novels in a four-decade career, passed away on August 14 at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer. Though I knew he wouldnt stay long, the news of his death still came as a shock, said his long-time friend and fellow writer, Ma Thida (Sanchaung). I felt sad and unprepared for it. There are many romantic comedy writers but ... he was unique and he can never be replaced, she said. Min Lu, whose real name was Nyan Paw, was born to famous director and writer Thar Du and headmistress Daw Khin Nyo in 1954 in Yangon. He wrote poems under a pseudonym for Tawya Kyaung Phonegyi, a placard newspaper produced by Yangon University when he studied philosophy from 1972 to 1977. He started his career as a writer soon after his first short story was published in Yoteshin Padaethar magazine in 1976. His first novel, Pan Kyaung (Flower School), was published in 1977 under what would eventually become his regular penname Min Lu. He was especially prolific between 1977 and 2001, and some of his novels have been adapted into films. In 1989 Min Lu was arrested for his poem Bartway Phyit Kone Kya Pi Lae (What Happened?). The poem was published as a pamphlet and distributed unofficially. Min Lu is survived by his wife and two daughters. Zon Pann Pwint

TRADE MARK CAUTION

FRS Hotel Group (Lux) S.a r.l., a company organized and existing under the laws of Luxembourg, of 37, rue d Anvers, L-1130 Luxembourg, Grand- Duchy of Luxembourg, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 4424/2013 in respect of Class 36: Real estate affairs; accommodation apartments; apartment house and residential property management; accommodation management services; sale, renting and leasing of apartments, flats, buildings, houses, condominiums and other residential accommodation; real estate development and management services; granting and managing the rights of others to use real estate properties; granting and managing the right to use apartments; residences, and fractional interest real estate properties to vacation club members; services relating to apartments; residences, fractional interest properties, vacation club members, club memberships, vacation real estate time sharing, real estate time sharing; provision of housing accommodation; leasing of accommodation on behalf of others; rental of apartments; rental of flats; service apartments; services relating to commercial properties, shopping centers and shopping malls, and real estate of all kinds, and facilities relating thereto; services relating to the sale of time-share and interval ownership properties; services relating to the exchange of real estate properties including time share and interval ownership properties; membership services relating to time sharing of properties; provision of information on real estate, apartments, real estate time sharing facilities and leasing of apartments; real estate time sharing; vacation real estate time sharing; membership services relating to timesharing of properties; financial services; services relating to mortgages; credit card services; monetary services; providing safe deposit box services; insurance services; including all of the aforesaid services provided electronically or online from

FAIRMONT

a computer database or via the Internet; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the aforesaid services. Class 43: Services for providing food and drinks; temporary accommodation; hotel and resort services, hotel accommodation services, housekeeping services; reservation services for hotel accommodation; room hire; making reservations and bookings for temporary lodgings; making reservations for long and short term stays in apartments and condominiums; private residence and social club services, including child care services, bookings for restaurants and meals, banquet and social functions for special occasions; provision for conference facilities, banqueting services, bar, caf, restaurant services, cocktail lounge and coffee shop services, food cooking services, catering services; providing of facilities for conventions and exhibitions; including all of the aforesaid services provided electronically or online from, a computer database or via the Internet; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the aforesaid services. Class 44: Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for humans and animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services; provision of health spas, saunas, steam rooms, and massage parlours; provision of massages; Turkish baths; beauty parlours and beauty services; hairdressing and barber services; aromatherapy services; health care, beauty care, body, skin, and hair care services; nursing homes; rest homes; convalescent homes; including all of the aforesaid services provided electronically or online from a computer database or via the Internet; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the aforesaid services. 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 FRS Hotel Group (Lux) S.a r.l. P.O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 19 August 2013

www.mmtimes.com

News 23

Thailand to give leg up to prosthetics program

YAMON PHOO THIT
yamon89@gmail.com

Travel agencies could get outbound licences this year

EI EI THU 91.eieithu@gmail.com MYANMAR travel companies should be able to apply for licences to offer international tours by the end of the year, an official from the Union of Myanmar Travel Association said earlier this month. While many local companies offer packages to Southeast Asian countries and further afield, the lack of a licensing process leaves both agencies and clients at risk, said U Naung Naung Han, secretary general of the UMTA. He told The Myanmar Times the licensing scheme would protect customers should problems arise on their trip. None of the Myanmar travel and tour companies have an outbound licence for overseas travel, he said. That is very important because if they are running without a licence and they have problems, no one will help them solve it. If the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism issues outbound licences, travellers from Myanmar who have trouble with their agency or company during a trip can legally prosecute them, and also we, the UMTA, can officially resolve [the problem]. He said licences have not been issued in the past because of government rules that Myanmar nationals could not hold foreign currency. He said the government had indicated it will reverse its stance if companies agree to abide by regulations over insurance, fees and the licence validity period. We hope that it will be within this year, U Naung Naung Han added.

THAILAND will help Myanmar improve care for those who have lost limbs by providing prosthetic legs and setting up a prosthetic unit at a Yangon hospital, the Thai ambassador to Myanmar said last week. The long-term project is being launched to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries on August 24, ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata told The Myanmar Times. Under the project, prosthetic legs will be provided by the Prostheses Foundation, a charity established by the Thai royal family. At the same time, Thailand will help set up a prosthetic unit at Yangons National Rehabilitation Hospital in Mayangone township. As part of the project, well send three children who are in need of prosthetic limbs to Thailands Chiang Mai to provide free prostheses services, the ambassador said. We want everything [to be] longlasting. Thats why we came up with the idea to set up a unit to provide prostheses service at NRH from October onward. Once we open the unit, the ampu-

Outbound licences will be a positive step ... We can deal frankly with foreign companies.
Daw Pwint Nwe Aung Managing director, Gracious Vacation

A child receives a prosthetic leg from Thailands Prostheses Foundation in October 2012. Photo: Kaung Htet

tees living in Yangon and neighbouring areas are able to come and apply the artificial legs. The embassy will provide the equipment for the prostheses services to the hospital and staff will be trained at the Prostheses Foundation in Thailand. Later the embassy plans to expand the project to other areas of the country, such as Mandalay.

We will provide technical knowhow and management skills for the staff in NRH. It is the transfer of Thailands widely recognised prosthetic technology, the ambassador said. This contribution will be another symbol of friendship between Thailand and Myanmar, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of our diplomatic relations.

Representatives from other travel companies echoed this sentiment. Outbound licences will be a positive step, said Daw Pwint Nwe Aung, managing director of tour company Gracious Vacation. We can deal frankly with foreign companies and legally It will bring savings for our company. The UMTA plans to pass on its recommendations for outbound licences to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

24 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Surprise find made during royal restoration project

Workers uncover foundations of a building while digging toilet on construction site
KHIN SU WAI jasminekhin@gmail.com A PROJECT to restore three examples of Mandalays 19th century royal heritage has led to a surprising discovery, as workers unearthed evidence of an unexpected additional building while digging a toilet on one of the construction sites. The wooden pillars discovered by accident are believed to be from a rest hall for Buddhist monks who were sitting examinations, U Win Myint Hlaing said, and are located near the Thudhamma Assembly Hall, just outside the walls of Mandalays palace. Their number and placement indicates a structure far larger than the assembly hall, said U Win Myint Hlaing of Win Family Construction, one of the engineering firms overseeing the project. Amazingly, the pillars of the newly found building exceed those of Thudhamma [Assembly Hall], he said. This [building] is also larger than Shwe Nan Daw Monastery. When King Mindon founded Mandalay as the countrys royal capital in 1857, he built seven key sites: the palace, the moat, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Ahtumashi Monastery, a Buddhist scripture repository known as Pitakat Taik Taw, Thudhamma Assembly Hall and Mahapahtan Ordination Hall. Most of the buildings were destroyed by fire in 1890, with further damage to the area sustained during World War II. Only the moat and Kuthodaw Pagoda emerged unscathed, though the palace and Ahtumashi Monastery have since been rebuilt in their original styles. The restoration project, as its planning committee announced in February, will excavate and restore the remaining three sites: the ordination hall, the assembly hall and the scripture library. The foundations of each While the construction is being carried out using traditional Myanmar building methods, with the goal of matching the historical record as closely as possible, U Win Myint Hlaing said a concession has had to be made on one of the original building materials: teak. The cost of teak and the difficulty of finding pieces large enough for the project mean concrete must be used instead. The [original] wooden pillars were made of teak but we cannot make the floor and the pillars with timber it is rarely used in buildings today, U Win Myint Hlaing said. One area resident, U Myint Maung, 69, said many bits of burned wooden pillars have been pilfered from the site over the years. When I was 14 or 15 years old, many pieces of wooden pillars could be seen, but visitors came and removed pieces from the site because of its sweet smell, he said, adding that he believed the pillars were made from fragrant sandalwood. The team has been studying another building constructed during the reign of King Mindon, near Thigazar Creek in Mandalay, to gain further insight into the styles of the time, particularly the distinctive windows, which could be easily propped open for ventilation. U Win Myint Hlaing said each of the three new royal buildings will include a public gallery showing relevant documents and examples of the original foundations, including bits

Amazingly, the pillars of the new building exceed those of the Thudhamma Assembly Hall.
U Win Myint Hlaing Win Family Construction

Workers rebuild the Thudhamma Assembly Hall in Mandalay. Photo: Khin Su Wai

building were staked out in April, with three engineers and 150-200 workers a day carrying out excavations at each site. U Win Myint Hlaing estimated it would take three or four months to rebuild the Thudhamma hall, with the final architectural details taking much longer than that. The building will be rebuilt based on its original foundations.

of rock, slabs of brick and pieces of wooden pillars. The costs of the project is estimated to exceed K2 billion (US$2 million) and is being covered by donor U Kyaw Win, who said the construction of the new buildings will be a way to earn merit for his deceased parents and grandparents. One of the projects main issues was how to gain access fairly to land owned by Basic Education High School 8 Aung Myay Tharsan. Ko Nada Soe, who is in charge of the site, told The Myanmar Times that negotiations are now complete, due in no small part to U Kyaw Wins generosity. We plan to construct a new building for the school, he said. The donor said he is willing to [spend] whatever is needed so the project can happen. As well as donors, workers and

engineers, the project has brought together architect Tampawaddy U Win Maung, senior monks and government officials, all of whom, according to one of the engineers, are collaborating to ensure the project is a success. At Sayadaws willingness, we want to have the restorations finished by kason [the start of next years rainy season], he said, so that a Buddhist literature exam can be held at the site. However, some tourism industry experts say they do not expect the new sites will catch the imagination of foreign visitors. Other sites that have been rebuilt, such as the royal palace, are not popular with visitors, said freelance tour guide Ko Win Zaw Oo. Rebuilding is not the same as renovating the original structure.

UN to survey HIV economic impact

YAMON PHU THIT yamon89@gmail.com A NATIONWIDE survey to assess the socioeconomic impact of HIV at the household level will be launched in mid-October, the United Nations Development Programme announced last week. The survey will canvass those living with HIV and other members of their households, and will cover such topics as employment and income; consumption, savings and assets; education; health; other disabilities; migration; and access to information, treatment, support and care. The survey will represent the first national assessment of the impact of HIV in this country. It follows a preliminary UNDP survey of 1800 people in 25 townships which was conducted between January and October of last year. Findings from that survey revealed that nearly 25 percent of those living with HIV had been denied employment due to their HIV status; 10pc had been subject to discrimination while working; and more than 63pc of households had been forced to sell their property in order to cover the costs of medical care. UNDP program analyst U Maung Maung Kyaw said one of the notable weaknesses in Myanmars HIV strategy is inadequate understanding of and attention to the impact of the HIV epidemic on people living with HIV, and absence of appropriate remedial measures. This comprehensive study will help us to have deeper understanding and provide recommendations on impact mitigation to strengthen national strategies on HIV/AIDS, poverty reduction and social protection, he said. The project is being conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health, national and international partners, civil society organisations and academic institutions.

Kachin gold mine owner to take claim to state government

SU HLAING HTUN hsuhlainghtun.mcm@gmail.com A WOMAN who says armed men destroyed her gold mine in Kachin State in May plans to take her appeal to the states chief minister if township officials do not award her compensation. Daw Myint Myint Aye says that on May 23 a group of 40 armed men trashed the Hpakant township mine, which she was leasing from Annanta Mogoke Satwyne Company, and destroyed machinery valued at K103 million. As The Myanmar Times has previously reported, an investigation was launched after Daw Myint Myint Aye reported the matter to the townships authorities on June 1. However, Daw Myint Myint Aye says the initial investigation by township officials in July focused on her business and whether she had acquired the lease legally, rather than on the actions of the alleged perpetrators. She refused to sign a statement after the hearing and submitted a complaint to Daw Aung San Suu Kyis rule of law committee in Nay Pyi Taw. However, Daw Myint Myint Aye said she was satisfied with a second hearing that was held on August 4 that examined the destruction to her mine. The investigation is said to have been completed, she said. We have been told that we dont need to be interrogated anymore. But we dont know what action will be taken. If theres no progress Ill go and appeal to the chief minister directly. The investigation was ordered by the Kachin State government and conducted by five officials, who represented the township administration office, the township police force and the Department of Mines. U Tin Maung Than, a Department of Mines official who was on the investigation team, said he could not comment on the matter because the team was still working. We are interviewing both parties and will try to recommend a fair result. The administrators will decide how to resolve it. Translated by Zaw Winn

26 THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Business
Prices of jade jewellery have tripled since 2005, according to Hong Kong traders who expect prices of the discreet gem to continue rising at double digit rates annually
HONG Kong jewellery collector Dennis Sun has been buying jade for three decades. Lately, it has been harder to snag the perfect piece as mainland Chinese buyers drive prices through the roof. At a Christies auction in May, he watched a jadeite ring sell for about HK$20 million (US$2.6 million), or five times its estimated price. Last month, he bought a jade bangle for almost HK$1 million even though the colour and quality were not what he had hoped for. The prices went up so high. If I dont buy it now itll only get more expensive later, he said. The value of the precious gem is surging with Chinas wealthy snapping up jade necklaces, rings and bracelets as long-term investments. They are counting on the stones steady ascent to provide safety as Shanghais stock market languishes, much of the bond market remains closed to retail investors and even gold prices have plunged. About 90 percent of the worlds jadeite, the most precious version of the stone, comes from mines in Myanmar. Prices are surging because demand is outpacing supply, said Humphrey Yen, an instructor at the Hong Kong Institute of Gemmology. Even so, buyers may find it hard to cash out as there is a lack of an internationally recognised market or a price standard for the gemstone, Mr Yen said. Without standard international pricing systems, buyers and sellers rely on subjective valuations by jewellery experts, or use auction bids as a gauge. They will have to rely on auction houses to facilitate a trade, or trade it between collectors, said Mr Yen. Otherwise, they need to establish connections to jewellers. Best known as a green gem, jade comes in colours such as red, yellow, white and lavender. Its price has doubled at auctions over the past five years with more than half of Sothebys recent jadeite sales coming from Chinese buyers, said Terry Chu, deputy head of Sothebys jewellery department in Asia. The Chinese rush for the stone is aiding international auction houses and jewellers, while providing revenue to Myanmar, one of Asias poorest nations. A jade and gem auction in June fetched over $2 billion for the Southeast Asian nations government, which says the Chinese are its biggest customers. Chinese buyers are, however, not assured of quick returns. Even as you own a top-quality jadeite stone, you cant simply cash out like you trade your stocks; you must find a buyer whos willing to pay, said Mr Sun. Its not for speculators or day-traders. While jade doesnt guarantee big money, he is hopeful it can protect his wealth against increases in inflation. Jade has been seen as an imperial stone since the Qing dynasty. Jadeite, called fei cui in Mandarin, is believed to ward off evil spirits and symbolises purity and longevity in China. It is cut by hand, said Kent Wong, managing director of Chow Tai Fook, Chinas largest jewellery chain. Jade is a generic term for both jadeite and nephrite, two distinct ornamental stones. The softer nephrite, which is less rare and sourced from parts of China and the Middle East, is used mainly for carving. As the Chinese have grown wealthier and more sophisticated in their tastes, they have favoured jades subdued allure over flashier stones. An austerity campaign by President Xi Jinping that seeks to curb extravagant official spending is giving the stone an added boost. Jade is more discreet than gold or diamonds and likely to benefit from better demand for less conspicuous products, said Aaron Fischer, an analyst at CLSA. Mr Sun, who says he buys as a collector and not as a speculator, estimates the value of a necklace he bought some time ago has almost tripled to about HK$100 million. The stock market in China, where the economy is poised for the weakest expansion since 1990, has fallen 7.2 percent this year. Even global bullion prices have plunged this year, reaching $1,180.50 per ounce on June 28 in London, the lowest level in almost three years. With a limited set of traditional investment options, wealthy Chinese have poured money into art and property. Nearby in Hong Kong, investors in search of new investments are snapping up taxis and licences. While the Chinese have also raised spending on pricey items such as diamonds as incomes have risen, jade holds a special place because of a long cultural tradition. Mr Sun says his father taught him how to pick out a good piece of jade. He loves the gem because its colour is vivid and every piece different. By buying jade and diamonds, we are essentially buying natural resources, which is a relatively safe long-term investment, he said. It will surely beat inflation. For Chinese jewellers, gross margins on gold items are in the midteens, compared with 40-50pc on sets

Jade price surges on Chinese de

The price went up so high. If I dont buy [jade] now it will only get more expensive.
Dennis Sun Jewelry collector

An employee inspects a jade ring at a Chow Tai Fook Jewelry store in Hong Kong. The bracelets as long-term investments, though buyers are not assured of quick returns.

with gems such as jade or diamonds, said Mr Fischer. Chow Tai Fook says that if an investor wishes to sell the gem, it buys from them. The Hong Kong-based company

recently sold a jadeite bead necklace for over $1.3 million and expects to keep capitalising on that demand. Mr Wong says jade prices have almost tripled since 2005 and are

BUSINESS EDITOR: Vincent MacIsaac | biz.news.myanmar@gmail.com

27

North Korea unveils its own smartphone

BUSINESS 30

Chinese tycoon still vying for deal in Iceland

PROPERTY 32

Exchange Rates (August 16 close)

Currency
Euro Malay Ringitt Singapore Dollar Thai Baht US Dollar

Buying
K1290 K295 K768 K31 K971

Selling
K1300 K300 K773 K32 K973

emand

Federation rebuts allegations of financial misconduct

SU PHYO WIN
suphyo1990@gmail.com

value of the precious gem is surging as Chinas wealthy snap up necklaces, rings and Photo: Bloomberg

likely to rise at a compounded rate of 15-20pc each year. One VIP customer recently showed Mr Wong his jade collection. The client, a property developer in Northern China, had built up

a set of more than 100 jadeite bangles, each costing at least 1 million yuan ($163,000). His jade, Mr Wong said, was simply portable wealth. Bloomberg

ALLEGATIONS that senior members of the countrys largest business federation misused its funds by mortgaging its Yangon headquarters and lending the money to private companies are false, central executive committee members of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry told a press conference on Augusts 17. U Myint Soe, president of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association and a member of the federations central executive committee, said that under its internal rules and regulations the federation was entitled to mortgage the headquarters. U Win Aung, president of the federation, said the mortgage was taken out to provide the federation with funding to operate and that the decision had been approved by the federations central executive committee. We were in a poor financial condition when we took out the mortgage [in 2011], he said, adding that the mortgage of K2 billion from Kambawza Bank has been repaid. Fridays press conference, which drew more than 50 reporters and photographers to the federations headquarters, followed a meeting on August 14 of the central executive and executive committee to discuss a row that began at the federations annual general meeting on July 13. Twelve members of the federation publicly protested against a resolution to endorse the latest financial report, saying the report lacked transparency and that they had not been given time to review it. They also accused senior members of the federation of cronyism and launched a campaign to remove them.

U Tin Maung Sint, a member of the central executive of the Myanmar Rice Federation and a leader of the protest group, said this campaign is continuing. He said that by mortgaging its headquarters and lending the funds at interest, the federation violated its internal rules, national rules and regulations for associations, and possibly, laws. He said a lawyer began reviewing documents related to the mortgage and other financial transactions on August 17 and that the documents and a report will be forwarded to ministries for investigation this week. U Tin Maung Sint also said he will hold a press conference this week to deliver what he described as the final blow against the federations leadership. The dispute began at the federations first democratic election on June 15, after scanners brought in to count the ballots failed to read them.

Some members disputed the subsequent ballot count, which was done by hand and lasted until 3am the next day due in part to the numerous rounds of voting that had to be conducted to fill posts in each level in the federation. Senior federation members say the federation also lacked a mechanism to cope with public controversies and questions from reporters. At last weeks meeting, they formed a 12-member media-relations team. U Win Aung said monthly press conferences will be held to update reporters about the federations activities. Media relations president U Hla Maung Shwe said the federations leadership was eager to take responsibility for its actions and insisted that every financial transaction was legal, documented and accounted for. Additional reporting by Vincent MacIsaac

UMFCCI central executive committee member U Myint Soe displays a financial document at a press conference last week that was held to respond to allegations of financial misconduct by the federations leadership. Photo: Zarni Phyo

Thanlwin hydro projects to be revived, official says

AUNG SHIN
koshumgtha@gmail.com

MYANMAR plans to give the green light to three of six hydroelectric projects to begin construction on the Thanlwin River within three months, a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Electric Power said on August 16. We plan to build six hydropower projects on the Thanlwin River, said the official who asked not to be named. Feasibility studies on three of the projects have already been completed, but we need to have more detailed discussions before we are ready to sign memorandums of agreement regarding the projects. Studies have been sent to the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney Generals Office, he said. Following approval,

the government aims to sign joint ventures with companies to proceed, which will likely be a three-month process. The hydro projects will be the first of their kind since President Thein Sein halted the Myitsone dam in 2011. The controversial dam was to be constructed at the confluence of the Maykha and Malikha rivers in Kachin State. Construction of a number of other hydroelectric projects also ground to a halt after the presidents decision. The three projects with completed feasibility studies are Kunlong on the upper Thanlwin River, with an estimated capacity of 1400 megawatts, Naungpha with a capacity of 1000MW, and Manntaung with 200MW. All three have Chinese firms as the joint venture partner. The three hydro projects still awaiting feasibility studies from Thai or Chinese joint venture partners are Maineton on the upper Thanlwin with a 7110MW capacity, Ywarthit with a 4000MW capacity and Hat Gyi at 1360MW, the official said. We believe it would take between

four and 10 years to implement each of the projects once we have agreements in place, he said. The official said the current government had shifted its focus from previous administrations to prioritise environmental and social impacts. We are discussing with the Chinese companies about how the projects will affect communities living nearby and help to develop the areas. All of these issues will be included in any agreements, he said. The Thanlwin River passes through China, Myanmar and Thailand. China plans to build 27 dams on the river,

We plan to build six hydropower projects on the Thanlwin River.

Official Ministry of Electic Power

which the Mekong Energy and Ecology Network official said could aversely affect the entire river as political borders do not match up with ecological ones. The concept of an international river, and cooperation with every country along the river working together, has been developed and practiced in many parts of the world, but not in the Mekong region, said the networks director, Witoon Permpongsacharoen. Future agreements ought to require that Myanmar receives 25 percent of electricity generated by the projects for free, with the right to buy another 25pc from the operator, he said. With 76pc of Myanmar off the grid, electricity demand in the country will continue to rise, according to the ministry official. In the future, we are going to provide more electricity for domestic use from hydropower projects, he said. Myanmar is proceeding with planning or work on some 45 hydropower projects at present, primarily in conjunction with Chinese firms, he said. Regulatory concerns are gaining in importance because we have been

questioned by parliamentary members and other government ministries about the social and environment issues resulting from projects, which was not the case under the old government.

Clarification
The cost of the rice-pledging scheme referred to in our August 4 report Move to aid farmers may devastate sector was reported as being estimated to be US$250 million by the Myanmar Development Research Institute-Center for Economic and Social Development. Economists at MDRI-CESD, however, derived that figure from a scenario that was used to illustrate how costly such a policy can become. The actual cost could be higher or lower and would depend on multiple policy decisions and market factors.

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Johnson & Johnson, a corporation incorporated in the United States of America, of One Johnson & Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08933, U.S.A., is the Owner of the following Trade Mark-

28 Business

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

IP laws ahead of WTO target

JEREMY MULLINS Jeremymullins7@gmail.com IMPROVED intellectual property laws could be introduced in Myanmar as early as the start of next year, officials drafting the laws say, adding they will provide a more stable framework for investors well ahead of the World Trade Organisations latest deadline of 2021. The proposed laws covering copyright, design, trademark and patents would replace legislation that dates to the colonial period and fill a legal void, said U Thein Aung, an IP consultant assisting with the drafting. The legislation is slated to include a number of flexibilities, including provisions to override patent rights in pharmaceutical production through a compulsory licensing process administered by the Ministry of Health. Work on the intellectual property laws began about 10 years ago, U Thein Aung said, though it has faced significant opposition from certain segments of the population, who say cracking down on counterfeits would cause some domestic prices to increase. Some say that we need goods with the cheapest prices, good technology at the cheapest prices, so we dont need to enact the laws, U Thein Aung said. However, he said international investors were keen to do business in places with strong intellectual property rights. For our country, we need to enact a new IP law because we want to welcome foreign investment. Myanmar and other least developed countries recently received an extension from the World Trade Organisation requirements to comply with the international standard agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The deadline was extended to 2021 in June from the previous date of July 1, 2013. According to Peter Fowler, US regional intellectual property attach for Southeast Asia, moving forward with the legislation several years before the WTO deadline was a domestic decision made by Myanmar, and therefore this particular timeframe is not something the US does or does not support. He added, however, that the US urged Myanmar to move forthrightly in enacting IPR legislation which meets the needs of a country in the 21st century and take the neces-

INVOKANA
Reg. No. 13793/2012 in respect of Intl Class 5: Human pharmaceutical preparations. 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 Johnson & Johnson P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 19 August 2013

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Cadbury UK Limited, of PO BOX 12, Bournville Lane, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 2LU, United Kingdom, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

A clerk stacks a shelf at a pharmacy in Yangon. New legislation protecting intellectual property will give the health ministry some leeway with patents on medicines. Photo: Staff

CHOCLAIRS
Reg. No. 5878/2013 in respect of Intl Class 30: Chocolate, chocolates and non-medicated confectionery; frozen confectionery; candy including toffees; ice cream and frozen confections; biscuits and wafers. 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 Cadbury UK Limited P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 19 August 2013

sary steps to ensure measures are effective. U Thein Aung said Myanmars patent law will include provisions allowing for the compulsory licensing of pharmaceutical products to an entity other than the patent holder if the Ministry of Health deems it important for the countrys sake. The practice is allowed under international treaties but has proven controversial in some cases. Sivaramjani Thambisetty, lecturer in IP law at the London School of Economics, said that compulsory licensing measures are often perceived as a threat to large pharmaceutical companies largely because research and development costs are extremely high with estimates ranging between US$800 million and $4 billion per drug and only a

We need to enact a new IP law because we want to welcome foreign investment.

U Thein Aung IP consultant

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Daikin Industries, Ltd., a Company incorporated in Japan, of Umeda Center Bldg., 4-12, Nakazaki-Nishi 2-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan,, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

small proportion of products eventually turn a profit. There is therefore enormous pressure on the successful drugs to be profitably even excessively priced in order to subsidise all the other research avenues that failed, and also to keep this sector a profit-making one, she said. Some firms claim they are unlikely to enter countries that rely on compulsory licensing, Ms Thambisetty said, adding the debate was more complex as overall only a small portion of pharmaceutical research activities were directed specifically at the disease burden of poorer countries. However, she said compulsory licensing was an important tool allowing developing countries like Myanmar to respond to public health needs, though the real test lies in how the rules around compulsory licensing are formulated and used. Paul Cawthorne, Asia access campaign coordinator for Mdecins Sans Frontires, said that since Myanmar is pushing forward with amending and rewriting its patent law, it was also being encouraged, with support from the World Health Organization and UN agencies, to ensure that TRIPS flexibilities, including the right to use compulsory licensing, are included as a safeguard.

The Fine Print

Reg. No. 5404/2010 in respect of Air conditioning apparatus and installations; Air purifying apparatus and installations; Ventilation apparatus and installations. 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 Daikin Industries, Ltd . P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 19 August 2013

SKY AIR

Legal & tax insight

New door for FDI may open

ALESSIO POLASTRI alessio@pwplegal.com LAST weeks article (Still too early for private equity firms), analysed one of the most controversial aspects of the Myanmar legal system: Foreigners cannot acquire shares in local companies and as a result locals are not allowed to transfer shares to foreigners in a 100 percent locally owned entity. We also suggested that it would be very important for the national economy to remove this restriction and allow foreign investors to inject capital in existing small and medium companies. Now, the new Myanmar Citizens Investment Law (MCIL) has been enacted. It is intended to provide local businesspeople and companies with benefits and rules similar to those already provided to foreign investors. Among other provisions, locals can benefit from five years of tax exemptions on income tax, protection against nationalisation and remittance of foreign currency overseas. In other words, this law has been drafted on the basis of the Foreign Investment Law (FIL) with certain amendments to provide Myanmar citizens with benefits in order to operate on competitive terms and conditions against foreigners. However, among all these provisions which have been positively accepted by local businessmen there are few words that truly intrigue me. Article 16, item e, can be translated as follows: [the investor is] entitled to transfer and sell some portion of his shares or all shares to any foreigner or to any foreign company in accord with the Foreign Investment Law. This wording is exactly what I was hoping to see one week ago. According to Article 16, item e, a local businessperson has the right to transfer part of or all his or her shares in a company to foreigners with the prior consent of the Myanmar Investment Commission. The commission apparently will be the same authority to handle investment under the umbrella of the Foreign Investment Law. Given that the MCIL has been enacted so recently, is totally untested and some inputs are expected over the next months (ie more rules and regulations will be issued in due course to integrate missing provisions), it may be too early to state that locals can now freely transfer shares to foreigners with approval of the MIC. However, on a speculative basis and with the relevant precautions, we can make some considerations. A foreign investor willing to inject capital in an existing business that is 100pc locally owned, as we have seen, was prevented from doing so before the MCIL. However, relying on the theoretical interpretation of Article 16, local businesspeople can potentially apply for an investment permit upgrading the company to a Myanmar Citizen Investment company and propose to MIC that part of the investment shall include the transfer of shares to a foreign individual/ company in exchange of certain assets (ie capitals, know-how, patents). In such a case, ideally as soon as the transfer of shares has taken place, the same company shall automatically fall under the umbrella of the Foreign Investment Law given the fact that there would be a new foreign shareholder. From a practical perspective, this shift from the MCIL to the FIL should not cause any issue given that the Myanmar Investment Commission is the only option (no matter whether a company is under the umbrella of the MCIL or FIL) and it will have the opportunity to monitor the implementation of the investment plan any time. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, we can only discuss on a speculative basis as the actual magnitude of Article 16 of the MCIL is unclear. It may be interpreted in an extensive way (allowing transfer of shares) or, vice versa, ignored. However, I am very confident that it will be only a matter of time before the Myanmar legal system will be aligned with other jurisdictions in the region.
Alessio Polastri is a consultant at Polastri Wint & Partners Legal & Tax Advisors in Yangon.

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www.mmtimes.com

Business 29

Tata targets building materials, machines

HTAR HTAR KHIN htar29@gmail.com INDIA-BASED Tata International will export heavy construction equipment to Myanmar at the start of September, said the companys country head for Myanmar, Sunil Seth. Tata International, a trading arm of the Tata Group, has been exporting products to Myanmar for seven months, Mr Seth said on August 13. While it has previously focused on products such as metals, minerals, leather and agricultural products, it is now filling orders for construction equipment, which it sees as a growth market. Were expecting that the demand [for construction machinery] in the future will be very positive because plenty of infrastructure development has to take place in Myanmar, he said, noting the company anticipates particularly high demand for basic building materials such as steel and readymixed concrete (RMC). The equipment to be imported includes cement batching machinery for RMC, line pumps, boom pumps and transit mixers. Steel King was the first local company to buy concrete batching plants from Tata. Weve bought the readymixed concrete batching machinery for US$1.2 million and it will arrive in Yangon in a month, Steel King director U Kyaw Soe said. Steel King is building an RMC manufacturing factory at the Thaketa Industrial Zone, which is expected to be completed within three months. U Kyaw Soe said being able to produce RMC will allow the company to become a one-stop service for the construction industry.

New airport taking off

JEREMY MULLINS Jeremymullins7@gmail.com INCHEON airport officials will arrive in Myanmar later this month from South Korea to negotiate the development of Hanthawaddy International Airport, a Korean embassy official said last week. Incheon International Airport-led consortium was announced by Myanmar state media on August 10 as preferred bidder to build the airport, which is slated to become the countrys largest with a possible price tag of US$1.1 billion. Negotiations between Incheon officials and Myanmars Department of Civil Aviation are to begin at the end of August and may take two or three months to complete. Discussions will encompass areas such as traveler capacity, infrastructure connections, and the relative roles of Yangon and Hanthawaddy airports, said Korean embassy counselor and deputy chief of mission Park Jae-kyung. Myanmar tourism insiders say existing airport facilities are rapidly approaching capacity of about three million passengers, requiring either an expansion of Yangon International or construction of a new one. Adding together international and domestic traffic, [Yangon airport] is reaching that ceiling, said U Phyo Wai Yar Zar, managing director of All Asia Exclusive Travel Company. The airport project is very important for the direction of tourism in Myanmar. Although the Hanthawaddy site is farther from Yangon than the existing airport, requiring up to an hour and a half of travel time on current roads, constructing a highway could reduce that time significantly, he said. With a capacity of up to 12 million passengers annually, Hanthawaddy will ultimately be larger than Yangon International, according to a statement from Koreas ministry of transport. U Phyo Wai Yar Zar said both airports could serve as international gateways, rather than one for domestic and the other for international flights. Yangon International could be run more efficiently to alleviate shortterm capacity problems, he added. The Incheon consortium includes South Korea firms Halla Engineering and Construction, Kumho Industrial, Lotte Engineering and Construction and POSCO ICT, according to Koreas ministry of transport The airport will be developed under a build-operate-transfer agreement that will see it handed over in 2067, it said. Construction began at Hanthawaddy in 1993 but ceased in 2004. The back-up tenderer is comprised of a consortium of Yongnam Holdings Limited and Changi Airport Planners and Engineers, both of Singapore, and Japans JGC Corporation.

Firms prepare for upcoming IPOs

AUNG SHIN koshumgtha@gmail.com FINANCIAL consultancy Thura Swiss and accounting firm Win Thin & Associates signed a memorandum of understanding last Thursday to work together to provide services for firms intending to list on the planned Yangon stock exchange. The exchange is garnering significant interest from Myanmar firms, with 60 companies having expressed interest in listing on it when it opens in 2015, according to Thura Swiss CEO Aung Thura. We are happy to see many private companies looking to go public and trade their shares in the open market, he said at the MoU signing. We think these public companies will play a vital role in the countrys development. Domestic firms are enthusiastic about listing, but doing so requires meeting rigorous accounting standards, properly structuring assets and equity, and issuing a prospect, he said. Myanmar companies are still missing these links required to become a public company, U Aung Thura said. Registration should be the last stage of becoming a public company. The two firms aim to work together in guiding interested companies through the initial public offering process. Thura Swiss said it also plans to apply for a brokerage licence when the exchange opens. Although the bourse is scheduled for a 2015 launch, Win Thin & Associates managing partner U Moe Kyaw said it is possible it will open earlier. The Unions Parliament has been drafting the stock exchange law over the last month, he said. So it will likely be ready to launch before 2015. Our local public companies must be systematic in preparing for the exchange.

Job Vacancy Announcement

The IMF Resident Representatives Office in Myanmar, located in Yangon, has an opening for a local economist. Job Description: The successful candidate is expected to contribute to information gathering and economic analyses relevant to the IMF work program in Myanmar. In particular, he/she will monitor economic and related political developments and policies; collect, analyze and maintain databases; prepare analytical and research notes as necessary; maintain effective contacts and relationships with the Union Government technical staff and donor institutions; and assist visiting missions. More specific responsibilities will depend on the skills and experience of the selected candidate. Qualifications: The successful candidate should preferably have an advanced degree in economics and at least five years of relevant working experience. He/she should have a strong background in macroeconomics and data management skills. Knowledge of Myanmar government policies and practices would be a plus. He/she should have excellent written and oral communication skills in English and in Myanmar language. Personal qualities needed include sound judgment and strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. Compensation: Compensation will depend on candidates qualification and experiences, and will be guided by the United Nations salary scale in Myanmar. A medical insurance plan will be paid for by the IMF. Initial contract will be for one year and renewable subject to satisfactory performance. We invite interested candidates to submit applications by August 30, 2013. IMF Resident Representative in Myanmar Inya Lake Hotel, Room 240 37, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road Mayangone Township Yangon Fax: 95-01-663149

30 Business

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Job watch
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
1. Business Development Manager 2. Receptionist 3. Clinic Doctor (Yangon based) 4. Offshore or remote site Doctor (28 day rotation) 5. Nurse (Yangon based) Please obtain the detail job description from cherry.aung@internationalsos.com,Myanmar. recruitment@internationalsos.com or from the following address; International SOS, Inyalake Hotel, 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road,Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: +95 1 657 922 , Fax: +95 1 667 866 Closing date of application: 6th September 2013

N Korea unveils secure, homemade smartphone

NORTH KOREA, one of the most isolated and censored societies on the planet, has unveiled what it says is a domestically-produced smartphone. Industry analysts say the Arirang, built around Googles Android OS, is likely manufactured in neighbouring China, however. The existence of the phone, named after a famous Korean folk song, came to light during a factory inspection by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un at the weekend. During the tour, Mr Kim was given a detailed briefing on the performance, quality and packing of the Arirang hand phone, Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Some analysts suggest the Arirang is aimed at getting North Koreans to use an officially approved phone that can be properly monitored. While internet access is virtually non-existent in North Korea, which comes bottom of any media freedom survey, the country is not a complete IT desert. Cell phones were introduced in 2008 through a joint venture with the Egyptian telecom firm Orascom, which says there are now 2 million users in North Korea. A domestic intranet was launched in 2002 and some state bodies have their own websites. It is a natural progression for an impoverished country desperate for investment, but in North Korea the economic imperative is always weighed against the potential for social disruption. Subscribers to the sole cell phone system provider, Koryolink, can call each other, but not outside the country. The intranet is similarly cut off

SEOUL

UNFPA Vacancy Notice No.2013/009

Want to be part of a team bringing positive impact directly to families within Myanmar? Join us and you will too, because at UNFPA, everyone counts. We are seeking an experienced operations specialist to join our team as you help support implementation of the historic 2014 Population and Housing census. If youre looking for an opportunity to make a difference, thrive in a challenging yet rewarding teamwork environment and have a strong operations background, then wed love to hear from you. Position Title : Field Coordinator (Taunggyi) Grade : SC8 Duty Station : Taunggyi, Myanmar Issue Date : 19 August 2013 Closing Date : 1 September 2013 (5:00pm) Duration of Appointment : 1 Year Applications are invited from interested Myanmar nationals for the post of Field Coordinator (Taunggyi). Applications should be addressed to UNFPA Representative. Attention: International Operations Manager RoomA07, UNFPA, No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon. Email : myanmar.ofce@unfpa.org For further details, please see the vacancy announcement posted at UN billboard. No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon and also at UNFPA website (http://myanmar.unfpa.org) Applications will be considered only when meeting all requirements set in detailed vacancy announcement.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspects the production process of the new touch-screen mobile phone Arirang in a factory at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Photo: AFP

from the rest of the world, allowing its very limited number of users to exchange state-approved information and little more. Access to the full-blown internet is for the super-elite only, meaning a few hundred people, possibly 1,000 at most. For all the regimes efforts, the information barrier erected around North Korea has, in recent years, begun to lose some of its prophylactic power. Smuggled Chinese mobile phones allow people near the border to connect with Chinese servers and make international calls, while re-wired TVs allow access to outside broadcasting.

The KCNA report on Mr Kims factory visit noted that the young leader praised the Arirangs developers for coming up with a product that provides the best convenience to the users while strictly guaranteeing security. KCNA photos of the factory visit show workers with the finished phones, inspecting, testing and packing them. There are no pictures of an actual assembly line. Despite KCNAs reporting that the handsets are made at the factory, they are probably made to order by a Chinese manufacturer and shipped to the factory where they are inspected before going on sale, said Martyn Williams, who runs the

North Korea Tech website. Steven Millward on the Tech In Asia website reached a similar conclusion. Possibly, the whole smartphone is made in China, and only the final boxing is done in the rather sparse plant that Kim Jong-Un toured, Mr Millward said. In February, a picture of Kim Jong-Un with a smartphone triggered fevered speculation about which brand was favoured by the leader of one of the worlds most repressive nations. After ruling out an Apple iPhone or a Galaxy from South Koreas Samsung, the consensus was an HTC phone made in Taiwan. AFP

NEW DELHI
UNFPA Vacancy Notice (Re-advertisement) No.2013/005
Want to be part of a team bringing positive impact directly to individuals and families within Myanmar? Join us and you will, because at UNFPA, everyone counts. We are seeking a creative and dynamic individual to join our growing communications effort as you help drive our country programme on population, gender equality and reproductive health and reproductive rights forward and to the next level. If youre looking for an opportunity to make a difference, thrive in a challenging yet rewarding teamwork environment and have a strong communications background, then wed love to hear from you. Position Title : NationalProgramme Officer, (Advocacy, Communication and Resource Mobilization) Grade : NO-B Duty Station : Yangon, Myanmar Issue Date : 12 August 2013 Closing Date : 26 August 2013 (5:00pm) Duration of : 1 Year (possible extensions) Appointment Applications are invited from interested Myanmar nationals for the post of National Programme Officer, (Advocacy, Communication and Resource Mobilization). Applications should be addressed to UNFPA Representative. Attention: International Operations Manager RoomA07, UNFPA, No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon. Email : myanmar.ofce@unfpa.org For further details, please see the vacancy announcement posted at UN billboard. No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon and also at UNFPA website (http://myanmar.unfpa.org) Applications will be considered only when meeting all requirements set in detailed vacancy announcement.

SYDNEY

India moves to aid rupee

INDIA pledged last week to curtail some imports to narrow a record current account deficit and arrest a sliding currency as a sharp contraction in industrial output underlined the weakness of Asias third-largest economy. Industrial output shrank by an unexpectedly large 2.2 percent in June from a year earlier, government data showed on August 14, outstripping market forecasts of a 1.2pc drop. Weak domestic demand is weighing on manufacturing production, said Moodys economist Glenn Levine. The figures came as the government strove to put the once red-hot economy back on track, pledging new steps to narrow the gaping current account deficit the broadest measure of trade that has alarmed global ratings agencies and driven the rupee to record lows against the US dollar. The central bank has taken a number of measures to increase short-end interest rates and this has contained the depreciation of the rupee to some extent, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told parliament. But we have to do more to contain the current account deficit, to reduce volatility in the currency market and to stabilise the rupee, he said. The Reserve Bank of India, the central bank, has said it can only ease high interest rates to spur economic growth once the rupee steadies. Mr Chidambaram said the government will impose additional measures to reduce imports of gold, silver, oil and some non-essential goods. Gold and oil are the biggest contributors to the current account deficit. The government will allow state-run firms to raise funds abroad through quasi-sovereign bonds to help finance the current account shortfall, he added. AFP

Pizza firm takes first slice of Asian market

AUSTRALIAS Dominos Pizza Enterprises (DPE) said last week it is expanding into Asia, taking a 75 percent stake in the fast-food brands Japanese business for 12 billion yen (US$123.4 million). The Brisbane-based company will acquire the interest in Dominos Pizza Japan, which has that countrys third-largest pizza delivery chain, by partnering with current owner Bain Capital Domino Hong Kong. The acquisition represents an exciting opportunity to leverage our proven track record of successfully growing the Dominos network to deliver shareholder value, said Don Meij, the Australian business managing director and chief executive. Japan is a strategic location for future expansion, providing access to a large market which is well suited to significant new store roll-outs and the relocation of stores to higher traffic locations with improved image and formats. The Australian business holds the master franchise rights for the Dominos brand in Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Monaco and The Netherlands, and is the largest franchisee for the brand in the world. The acquisition increases DPEs total store network to over 1,200 stores, further cementing DPE as the leading international Dominos franchisee, Mr Meij said. The purchase, which will be funded via a combination of debt and equity financing, is expected to be completed before the end of September 2013. The Australian business also announced financial results on August 14 for the year to June 30, reporting an underlying net profit of AUS$30.4 million, up 13pc on the previous year. AFP

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Myanmar is inviting qualified candidates to apply for the following positions: Sr. 1. 2. 3. 4. Title and level Duty Station Myanmar-English-Myanmar Translator Home based (Re-advertised) (LICA 6) Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (NOC) Yangon Human Resources Associate (LICA 4) Yangon Finance Assistant (Accounts Monitoring, Yangon Reconciliation and Reporting) (LICA 3) Position National National National National Deadline 19-August-2013 19-August-2013 25 August 2013 29 August 2013

For details please visit UNOPS website https://gprs.unops.org and click on the post you are interested in applying for. All applications must be made through UNOPS E-recruitment system.

www.mmtimes.com
TOKYO

Business 31

Corporate profits double in Japan

JAPANS top listed companies doubled earnings last quarter from a year earlier, exceeding already high forecasts and generating support for the economic recovery effort of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. With almost all of the Nikkei 225 Stock Average companies reporting, profit surged 103 percent and beat analyst estimates by 16pc, the most in two years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Companies topping estimates range from Toyota and Sony to Shiseido and Kobe Steel. The magnitude and breadth of the profit surge means Japans leading companies have the money to help stoke the economy through investment, dividends and higher wages which would aid Mr Abes effort to break two decades of stagnation. my further. Capital investment by enterprises fell at a 0.4pc annual pace last quarter, according to Mondays GDP report by the Cabinet Office. Japanese companies are benefiting from Mr Abes economic policies, including the weakening of the countrys currency. The yens 19pc drop from the same quarter a year earlier made Japanese cars, auto parts, machinery, electronic components and home appliances more competitive abroad. The earnings recovery shows Japans big companies are ahead of the broader economy. Gross domestic product rose an annualized 2.6pc, after gaining 3.8pc the previous quarter. The Nikkei 225 companies have the most cash per share in more than a decade, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Cash rose 19pc last quarter for the 219 companies that have reported, the steepest jump in at least nine years, the data show. The companies had an average of 3,250 yen ($34) of cash and equivalents per share, the most since at least 2000. Toyotas cash and marketable securities rose 11pc to $37 billion as of the end of June, the most among listed non- financial companies in Japan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The automaker is bucking the broader trend with capital spending and research expenditures set to jump 10 percent this fiscal year. Toyota, whose earnings were boosted by the weaker yen, is also paying workers the highest bonuses since 2008 while planning higher dividends. Japans six biggest carmakers reported total net income of about 848 billion yen for the quarter ended June, beating analyst estimates by 14pc. Toyota raised its forecast for annual profit to 1.48 trillion yen this month from a May forecast of 1.37 trillion yen, citing better than expected margins. Its unusual for a company to be raising their forecasts this early on, said Nicholas Smith, a Tokyo-based strategist at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. Things are finally coming together for

There will definitely be more capital spending, and increased spending will definitely stimulate the economy further.
Takashi Aoki, Fund Manager, Mizuho Asset Management

A pedestrian looks at the electric stock indicator in the window of a security company in Tokyo on August 13. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed up 347.57 points or 2.57 percent to 13,867.00, as the sagging yen supported the market while investors were also upbeat on a report that Japan may slash corporate taxes. Photo: AFP

them. Sony, Japans largest consumer electronics exporter, raised its annual sales forecast 5pc, citing the weaker-thanexpected currency, after reporting firstquarter profit of 3.48 billion yen, beating analysts estimates. The Nikkei companies surpassing

Slumping corporate investment has hindered the recovery, with gross domestic product figures released today showing companies cut spending for a sixth straight quarter. The first quarter got the fiscal year off to a great start, said Takashi Aoki, a fund manager at Mizuho Asset Management, which oversees about US$33 billion. There will definitely be more capital spending, and increased spending will definitely stimulate the econo-

Average amount profits surged in the second quarter from a year ago for companies on the Nikkei 225.

103%

of analyst estimates by 16pc compares with 2.8pc for the 449 companies in the Standard & Poors 500 Index that have reported so far, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The US indexs members had an aggregate 3.6pc earnings-per-share growth, the data show. Japans broader Topix index, which includes more than 1,600 companies, showed total earnings per share reported last quarter beat analysts estimates by 14pc, while profit jumped 93pc. Nippon Yusen, Mitsui OSK Lines and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, the countrys three biggest commercial fleets, returned to profit in the first quarter as a weaker yen boosted repatriated earnings. A shift from overseas growth to investing in Japan, where decades of stagnant growth and an aging popula-

tion have discouraged expansion, has become a measure of success for Mr Abes efforts to revive growth. Since his Liberal Democratic Party won power in December, the prime minister has shot two arrows aimed at ending 15 years of deflation and reviving growth. The first was a monetary policy that doubled purchases of bonds to pump cash into the economy. The second was a fiscal stimulus plan that boosted government spending. Gains at exporters have sparked the countrys biggest stock rally since 2005, prompting consumers to spend more, said Toshihiro Nagahama, chief economist at Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo. Retailer profits are gaining as higher share prices provide a wealth effect to consumers, he said. Bloomberg

SINGAPORE

Clampdown on foreign workers likely to erode employment surge

TONY COUSENS spent more than S$100,000 (US$79,000) to find waiters and housekeepers for the Ramada and Days Hotels. Months after the two establishments opened here, he is still about 100 people short. Mr Cousenss plight underscores the new reality for Singapore. Its economy probably delivered the decades biggest employment surge among 33 advanced economies in the decade to 2014, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. But annual jobs growth may halve in the coming years from its 2007 peak as Singapore widens a clampdown on foreign workers, Bank of America estimates. This tightening of the foreign-labour market wont go away, said Mr Cousens, the general manager. Jobs take longer to fill, especially if youre very demanding on the culture and the behavior of the individuals and specifying Singaporeans. The shortage is set to worsen as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pursues a fouryear campaign to reduce the reliance on foreign workers, whose growing presence pushed up home prices and spurred a voter backlash. The government may tighten rules on hiring non-Singaporean medium-skilled workers after previous measures restricted cheap overseas labour, according to DBS Group Holdings, Mizuho Bank and Bank of America. An estimated 58.4 percent of Singapores population will be employed in 2014 compared with 49.5pc in 2004, the largest increase among the 33 markets, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Rankings. The jump in employment stems from the fact that the government essentially opened the floodgates and welcomed foreign talent with open arms, said Michael Wan, a Singapore- based economist at Credit Suisse Group. I expect employment to start to slow over the next few years as the most onerous tightening measures take effect in 2014 and 2015, he said. Singapore will probably add about 100,000 jobs annually in the coming years, down from a record 234,900 in 2007, said Chua Hak Bin, an economist at Bank of America. Government statistics show a 10.1 percentage-point rise in the employment ratio for its total population from 2004 to 2012, compared with an 8.98 percentage-point gain from 2004 to 2014. The Manpower Ministry said employment climbed in the past decade because of the citys efforts to build a conducive environment for both global and local companies, which created job opportunities. We recognise that our employment rates will not increase indefinitely, the ministry said in an emailed response to queries. Like many developed economies, our population is aging, which means that our local workforce will grow more slowly. The ministry said it will upgrade workers and keep unemployment low. The growth in Singapores work force will slow to 1-2pc a year through 2020, from an average 3.3pc in the past three decades, the government said in January. Mr Lee is trying to steer the economy through an aging population and the declining foreign-labour supply by prodding companies to produce more with less manpower and hire older Singaporeans, as well as increasing the birth rate. The need to address those challenges while balancing demands for affordable housing, better public transportation and assistance with living costs have often featured in his speeches. Mr Lee is due to make his annual televised National Day Rally speech to the nation on Aug. 18. Under the latest labour-market tightening measures announced in February, companies must pay higher levies for lowerskilled foreign employees over the next two years and cut the proportion of overseas workers in some industries. Choking the supply of all these lowwage foreign workers is creating difficulties for many companies, and it is inflationary, said Irvin Seah, an economist at DBS. They have already been shifting the focus of the tightening towards the mid-skilled foreign workers, he said, adding it will remain the direction in coming years. The citys unemployment fell to a fiveyear low in the last quarter of 2012 as companies hired more local workers. Bloomberg

Faster growth in HK
HONG KONGS economy grew more than estimated in the second quarter on consumer spending and investment, prompting the government to raise its fullyear growth forecast. Gross domestic product rose 0.8 percent in the April-June period from the previous three months after a 0.2pc gain in the first quarter, the government said on August 16. It said that growth this year will be between 2.5pc and 3.5pc. In May it estimated growth at 1.5-3.5pc. Bloomberg

32 Property
HOUSE OF THE WEEK

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Going green
If you are looking for quiet, shady solitude, your best bet is to head out of town. This weeks house is a two-hour drive from downtown, in South Okkalapa township. Situated in the quiet Mya Thida Housing Estate, it provides a relaxing environment. The house is a simple, two-storey building painted light green. The ground floor has a single bedroom, kitchen and dining room. The upper floor has one double room and two single bedrooms. The floors are parquet. Although it has five air conditioners, the house is not fully furnished. Leafy trees around the property give the 2400-squarefoot compound a cozy feeling. The concrete yard, however, leaves little space for a garden. Ei Thae Thae Naing Location : Mya Thida Housing Estate, South Okkalapa township Rental price : K2 million (US$2050) Selling price : K900 million Contact : (Mya) Panthakhin Real Estate and General Service
Photos: Ko Taik

Phone : 01 229648, 09 43127288, 09 730 97581

Singapore developers eye buyers in Myanmar

HTAR HTAR KHIN htar29@gmail.com SINGAPORES biggest real estate developer, Far East Organization, is shifting the focus of its promotions in Myanmar from residential to commercial spaces. At a property and sales exhibition, held August 17-18 at Yangons Parkroyal Hotel its 14th in Myanmar since 2010 the company pitched Singapore as a good match for Myanmar property investors looking for business properties. In the past, we mostly brought residential projects, but this time weve chosen projects preferred by Myanmar buyers, like commercial warehouses and office space, said Ko Kyaw Min Zin, team leader for Myanmar sales. Properties in the six projects being promoted ranged from S$1.7 million (US$1.34 million) to S$5 million. Since 1960 Far East Organization has built more than 1000 high-end condo projects in Singapore. The seminar was coorganised with two other Singapore-based agencies, Rock Estate Management and Maverick Estate Company.

REYKJAVIK

Chinese tycoon still hopes to sign Icelandic land deal

A CHINESE property tycoon who wants to build a resort in the Icelandic wilderness still hopes to clinch a deal with authorities in Reykjavik despite two failed attempts, his representative said on August 17. Huang Nubo, founder of Chinese property firm Zhongkun Group, is negotiating a deal that would see municipalities in northeastern Iceland buy the land and lease it to him, said his Icelandic representative Halldor Johannsson. Mr Huangs latest bid comes after Iceland in 2011 denied his request to buy 30,000 hectares of a wilderness area known as Grimsstadir a Fjoellum, citing foreign ownership laws. He planned to build a tourist resort and create Europes biggest nature reserve, a US$200-million investment. A 2012 request to lease a much smaller plot of land was left dangling, until a new centre-right government came to power in Iceland last May and said it would look more favourably on foreign investments. Now Mr Huangs company has developed a business model in which an Icelandic firm called Zhongkun Grimsstadir, which is owned by Beijing Zhongkun, would rent about 1 percent of the land in the Grimsstadir wilderness area as well as some 2,000 hectares of other land that is currently for sale, said Mr Johannsson. We have had very good cooperation with the municipalities in northeast Iceland, he said. Ownership of the land now for sale will... be in an Icelandic company, owned by the municipalities in the area. Everything will be done in accordance with Icelandic laws and regulations, he added. The present government has emphasised economic growth and prosperity in its policies. We think that our plans go well with that emphasis. Under Icelandic law, foreigners who own more than 20pc in an Icelandic company cannot lease land for more than three years at a time unless the agreement can be terminated within a year. Mr Huang is seeking an exemption on that clause. Icelandic Interior Minister Hanna Birna Kristjansdottir told public service radio RUV on Thursday that her ministry was carefully studying the request but that no decisions were expected in the near future. I am definitely... more positive on foreign investment than the former government was, she said. However, she also noted that the government is not going to tear up every single matter and reconsider them. Iceland, still recovering from a 2008 economic collapse, in April became the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China, as Beijing looks to gain a foothold in the resource-rich, strategically important Arctic. AFP

The present government has emphasised economic growth and prosperity ... our plans go well with that.
Halldor Johannsson Representative of billionaire Huang Nubo

Rock villa frightens its neighbours

A BEIJING resident has built a huge house among what looks like a pile of rocks dotted with trees on top of a 26-storey apartment block in the capital. Neighbours have complained about Chinas latest architectural oddity, which covers more than 1,000 square metres, saying they fear it could cause the structure to collapse on top of them, the Beijing Morning Post reported. The rocks, said to be imitation shells rather than solid stone, have trees and bushes growing among them, as in classical Chinese landscape painting. Poking out from between them, sections of the house underneath can be seen -- a blue-framed window here, a balcony under a curved roof there. At least two neighbours have moved out because of the construction work, which has been going on for years, the paper said. Others complained about damage to pipes and walls in their units, it said. We feel this is extremely unsafe. What if the top collapses in rain and wind storms? What if our ceiling collapses? the paper cited an unnamed 26th floor resident as saying. Authorities have posted notices that the villa in the Haidian area in the west of the city is illegal, it added. Houses standing on top of multistorey buildings are not unknown in China, where a rising property market is making land more and more expensive. A developer in central China built 25 luxury villas on top of a shopping mall, which became migrant workers residences after authorities declared them illegal, Chinese media reported earlier this month. The fate of the rockery building remains unclear, and law enforcement is often applied selectively in China. Land disputes have become more frequent as officials and developers seek to cash in on the property boom, so that the government has reportedly forbidden housing demolitions without the owners consent. AFP

A villa built on top of an apartment block in Beijing has caused residents below it to fear for their safety. Photo: AFP

www.mmtimes.com

Science & Technology 33

New critter discovered in South American forests

A LAP-SIZED critter that looks like a mix between a raccoon and a teddy bear was unveiled Thursday as the first new carnivore in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years. Scientists say the olinguito has actually been around for ages, in zoos, museums and in the forests of Ecuador and Colombia, but was mistaken for its larger cousin, the olingo. A big clue that this treecrawling animal was something unusual was that it never wanted to breed with the olingo, experts said. The new species, named Bassaricyon neblina, is now understood to be the smallest member of the same family as raccoons, kinkajous and olingos. With wide, round eyes and tiny claws that help it cling to branches, the olinguito can jump between trees. It feasts mainly on fruit but also eats insects. Its discovery, which took a decade of research, is described in the August 15 edition of the journal ZooKeys. As part of the journey, scientists realized that museum specimens of the olinguito had been collected from higher elevations 5,000 to 9,000 feet (1,500-2,700 meters) above sea level in the Andes Mountains than olingos were known to inhabit. DNA analysis was also done to differentiate the olinguitos from their cousins. The olinguito was smaller with a differently shaped head and teeth. Its orange-brown coat was also longer and denser. And when researchers took to the South American forests to see if the creatures were still around in the wild, they were not disappointed. They found plenty of olinguitos in the cloud forests of the western Andes, and noted that the creatures are active at night. The 2-pound (1-kilogram) animals also appear to prefer staying in the trees and have one baby at a time instead of several. The cloud forests of the Andes are a world unto themselves, filled with many species found nowhere else, many of them threatened or endangered, said Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History. We hope that the olinguito can serve as an ambassador species for the cloud forests of Ecuador and Colombia, to bring the worlds attention to these critical habitats. Mr. Helgen and his fellow researchers on the project estimate that 42 percent of historic olinguito habitat has already been converted to agriculture or urban areas. There are four sub-species of the olinguito, and they are not being classified as endangered. Experts believe there must be many thousands of them, possibly even in Venezuela and Peru. At least one olinguito from Colombia was exhibited in several zoos in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s,

WASHINGTON DC

An olinguito, a new species of carnivore which has been newly discovered in South America, is seen in a tree plotting its next move. Photo: AFP

researchers said. Back in the 1920s, a zoologist in New York was said to have found the olinguito so unusual that he thought it might be a new species, but he did not publish any research to document the discovery. Proving that a species ex-

ists and giving it a name is where everything starts, said Mr Helgen. This is a beautiful animal, but we know so little about it. How many countries does it live in? What else can we learn about its behaviour? What do we need to do to ensure its conser-

vation? According to the Smithsonian, the most recent new meateating mammal found in the Western hemisphere was the Colombian weasel in 1978. A mongoose-like carnivorous mammal that is native to Madagascar was found in 2010. AFP

Black market SIMs prices up K30,000 since launch

AUNG KYAW NYUNT
zeezee383@gmail.com MOBILE phone stores say the prices of SIM cards in Yangons black market are rising, as high demand leaves buyers who havent been able to snag a card in one of the local lotteries subject to whatever unofficial sellers want to charge. I am hearing that K200,000 GSM SIM cardsare selling on the black market for K240,000, said U Htet Lin Kyaw, general manager of Mr Fone Telecoms Centers head office in South Okkalapa township. And K250,000 WCDMA SIM cardsare selling on the black market for K270,000, including the contracts. Black market prices are not steady because people who need SIM cards buy at the brokers price, he added. Other dealers provide slightly different figures, but all agree prices are escalating. Demand for K1500 GSM SIM cards is the same as for K200,000 GSM SIM cards, said Daw Thidar, manager of Mobile Country in Kyauktada township, who has also observed an increase. So K1500 GSM SIM cards are worth over K10,000, though they havent risen as high as K200,000 GSM SIM cards and K250,000 WCDMA SIM cards have on the black market, said Daw Thidar. I am hearing K200,000 GSM SIM cards are selling for K220,000 on the black market, including contract, said Daw Tin Htar Wai, the owner of Mingalarbar Mobile Gallery Sales and Services Center in Mayangone Township. K200,000 GSM SIM cards with internet are K230,000, she said, adding K250,000 WCDMA SIM cards are going for K260,000 to K270,000.

Qatari telco sets sights on 3G

JEREMY MULLINS Jeremymullins7@gmail.com QATAR-BASED telco Ooredoo aims to launch 3G mobile services in Myanmar next year, rolling out coverage of 35 to 40 percent of the population in the first year of operations, according to the senior representative for Ooredoo in Myanmar, Ross Cormack. The firm was one of two successful applicants alongside Norways Telenor for Myanmar mobile licences in June, catching attention with plans to invest US$15 billion over the first 15 years of domestic operations. Ooredoo expects to review and receive the actual licence later this year and put up a $200 million performance bond after the government has published the telecoms law, Mr Cormack said a Yangon press conference Friday. We estimate we will launch six months after receiving the license, so next year he said. The firm aims to build over 1000 base stations in the first year, with about 35-40 percent population coverage, and intends to cover 97 pc of Myanmars population and 85 pc geographically within five years. The entire network is slated to be 3G, meaning data will be available wherever there is coverage, he said. However, Mr Cormack declined to announce pricing points, adding they would be announced closer to the firms launch but would be attractive. Weve learned people think [existing] service is expensive. Weve learned people think its expensive to get a SIM card. And weve learned people want data services, he said. Mr. Cormack said Ooredoo intends to hire about 1000 employees over the coming year, and directed job seekers to begin applying at the firm. Ooredoo was optimistic about the markets potential, he said. We are incredibly fortunate to have been selected as the result of the biggest competition the world has ever seen for mobile licences, he said, adding there had been 92 applicants for the two available licenses.

IN PICTURES public demonstration at a shopping

mall parking lot in Higashi Ibaraki province, 100 km (62 miles) northeast of Tokyo. The Kabutom, 11 meters (36 feet) in length and weighing 17 tonnes, can walk with its six legs and can also blow smoke from its nose. Photo: AFP

The robot Kabutom RX-03 gets a

34 THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

World
SYDNEY
AMY COOPES THE conservative frontrunner to become Australias next prime minister declared this is our country as he unveiled a tough new temporary visa policy on August 16 that would strip boatpeople of basic rights. Tony Abbott, who opinion polls show is on track to win September 7 national elections, said he planned to return to punitive refugee policies of the former conservative administration, also flagging an axing of appeal rights for failed asylum claims. This is our country and we determine who comes here, Mr Abbott told reporters, deliberately harking back to the ruthless stance of veteran LiberalNational coalition leader John Howard. Abbotts policy will see the 32,000 boatpeople currently awaiting processing by Australia, and any future arrivals, placed on three-year temporary protection visas if they are found to be genuine refugees. They will be forced into an indefinite work-for-welfare program, denied permanent residency or family reunion rights, and stripped of any appeal avenues over their refugee claim. Mr Abbott has already announced plans for a militaryled patrol operation off Australias northwest coast, where people-smuggling ships typically make their way from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, vowing to turn the boats back. His latest policy was condemned as cruel by refugee activists and the left-wing Greens Party, who described it as posturing by Mr Abbott on the sensitive political issue. This is a Tony Abbott stunt to thump his chest and look tough, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told reporters. There is no national emergency, there is a humanitarian emergency, and nothing Tony Abbott has offered today does anything to deal with that. Under Mr Howards socalled Pacific Solution last decade, refugees who arrived on people-smuggling boats were banished to Nauru and Papua New Guinea and held behind razor wire in spartan detention camps for a prolonged period. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, an advocacy and activist group, said Australia would be the only country in the developed world to deny refugees the right of appeal under Mr Abbott, accusing both major

WORLD EDITOR: Douglas Long | dlong125@gmail.com

Our country: Abbotts harsh Australia refugee plan

parties of effectively abandoning the UN Refugee Convention. The ruling Labor party unwound many of Mr Howards policies when it took office in 2007 in favour of a more humanitarian approach, but successive years of record boat arrivals saw it return to offshore processing in the Pacific and roll out an even tougher scheme. Under current Labor policy launched in July in a bid to stem the ever-growing tide of boatpeople all unauthorised maritime arrivals are sent to impoverished PNG and Nauru for permanent resettlement, regardless of whether they are found to be refugees. Immigration Minister Tony Burke said temporary visas had not worked as a deterrent last time they were used, and denial of appeal avenues would be unlikely to withstand a legal challenge. People that get on boats under our governments policy dont get Australian visas at all, Mr Burke said of Mr Abbotts irrelevant pledges. So the only possible reason to make an announcement like theyve made today is for a political desire to look tough and mean just for the hell of it. AFP

A supporter of Egypts ousted president Mohamed Morsi gestures during clashes with riot police in Cairo

Egyptian dead unb divisions persist

ABIGAIL HAUSLOHNER INSIDE the al-Imam mosque, the aftermath bore the stench of death. Relatives fought desperately to stall the decay of dead bodies laid in rows. They sprayed air freshener over corpses and hauled crude blocks of ice into the humid space to place on shrouded chests. This was where supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi had carried many of their dead after the shocking violence of a day that claimed more than 570 civilian lives. And this was where more than 150 bodies still lay at midday on August 15, the ice melting into the carpeted mosque floor. In Islam, immediate burial is considered a sign of respect for the dead, and families typically do so as quickly as possible. But the corpses had become victims again, this time of divisions that only hardened across Egypt after the government raided two sprawling protest camps on August 14. Egyptian authorities said the killings came as a matter of national security; Morsi supporters called them horrific crimes. And grieving relatives said hospital morgues were refusing to accept bodies rapidly decomposing in the Cairo heat. They said police and other officials had added obstacles to an already confusing maze of bureaucratic paperwork that requires government inspectors to sign a pre-burial certificate specifying the cause of death. Some cited claims that authorities wanted the documents falsified to omit mention of gunshot wounds. My love, Dawlat Said Marzouk said, her eyes creased and wet beneath her black veil as she sat beside the body of her teenage son. She stroked his head, his charred face covered by a white funeral shroud. If they shot him dead, she wondered, why did they have had been burned alive as police set fire on the night of August 14 to an improvised hospital at the site of the main sit-in. But to many, the truth seemed as hazy and overwhelming as their grief. He loved electronics. He wanted to be an engineer, Ms Marzouk said, methodically stroking her sons face as water pooled around his corpse on the floor. By late in the day, the area outside the al-Imam mosque

CAIRO

BRIEFS
Los Angeles California court rejects gay marriage ban bid
sanitation programs by five UN agencies in the country for 2013, $98 million is still needed, the world body said. External assistance continues to play a vital role in safeguarding the lives of millions, UN resident coordinator Ghulam Isaczai said in a statement. North Korea faces chronic food shortages and suffered from famine in the mid-1990s that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. International aid, particularly from the United States and South Korea, has dried up in recent years amid tension over Pyongyangs nuclear program. from Kevi village in Zimbabwe. He had a clear mind of his birth place and lineage. He had no means of support and was sleeping rough and living hard, said Mr Batshu. But eyewitnesses told local media that the frail old man put up resistance as he was bundled into a deportation van.

Californias Supreme court has rejected a last-ditch attempt to revive the states ban on samesex marriage. Supporters of Proposition 8 a controversial ballot measure approved by voters in 2008 that banned same-sex marriage had requested that the measure continue to be enforced in California. The backers argued that a 2010 ruling by a federal judge which declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional should be ignored. However the request was dismissed by the California Supreme Court in a ruling on August 14. The court did not release its reasons for the dismissal of the petition. The attempt to resurrect Proposition 8 came after the US Supreme Courts historic June 26 decision ruling that samesex marriage opponents had no legal standing to appeal the federal judges 2010 ruling which overturned the ban.

Washington WP says website hacked by Syrian group The Washington Post said on

Gaborone Scandal as Botswana deports 90-year-old

United Nations UN calls for US$98m in aid for N Korea

The United Nations is in urgent need of US$98 million to finance emergency aid for the people of North Korea, the UN coordinator for the impoverished country said on August 15. Of the $150 million needed to maintain food, health and

The Botswana government on August 15 defended its decision to deport an ailing 90-year-old Zimbabwean man who is believed to have lived in the country for seven decades. Facing public outcry over the deportation, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Edwin Batshu told parliament that illegal immigrant Alfred Khumalo had asked to be sent home because he was sleeping rough. Immigration officials found Khumalo earlier this month at a hospital in Botswanas central region, where he was receiving treatment, reportedly for a stroke. The minister said the nonagenarian told officials that he was

August 15 its website was hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army, becoming the latest media organisation victimised by the group that backs strongman Bashar al-Assad. A note to readers said The Washington Post website was hacked today, with readers on certain stories being redirected to the site of the Syrian Electronic Army. The newspaper said it was working to resolve the issue. The hacker group has been linked to attacks on the websites or Twitter feeds of numerous media organisations including AFP, The Financial Times, the Associated Press and the satirical news site The Onion. Also last week, the hackers hit the Facebook and Twitter accounts of the New York Post. The group has claimed the news media has been biased in its coverage of the deadly conflict in Syria. AFP

I think we have to continue against the coup in a peaceful way. For now, our focus is to give the martyrs their proper end.
Khaled al-Tantawy Muslim Brotherhood Official

to burn him, too? Such numbness suffused Cairo on August 15 as Morsi supporters struggled to come to terms with the deadliest day in the more than 30 months of political struggle that have racked the country since the toppling of president Hosni Mubarak. Khaled al-Tantawy, a Muslim Brotherhood official, said the bodies of many victims had been burned to hide the crime. He and other Morsi supporters speculated that some

had become a macabre museum of the previous days horrors. Men paced in the sun, clutching bloodied clothes and rags. One man stood silently, holding a partially burned Quran for all to see. A list of names covered the backs of Morsi posters that had been strung across the mosques metal gate. Each time a group burst through the doors bearing another body, the crowd shouted, There is no god but God. Some sprayed comrades with

35

Brazil grills Kerry over spying accusations

WORLD 41

North and South Korea come to agreement on industrial park

WORLD 43

Defiant Cambodia opposition appeals election results

WORLD 42

PARIS

Frances devils advocate Verges dies at 88

JACQUES Verges, the provocative French lawyer who earned the nickname devils advocate by defending a series of highprofile criminals from Klaus Barbie to Carlos the Jackal, died in Paris on August 15 aged 88. mobility since a fall a few months ago. We knew the end was near but we didnt know it would come so soon, he said. Born in Thailand in 1925 to a father from Reunion Island and a Vietnamese mother, Mr Verges was a communist as a student and later supported the Algerian National Liberation Front in its fight for independence from France. After securing the release of Algerian anti-colonialist militant Djamila Bouhired, he married her. Mr Verges went on to become a high-flying lawyer, making headlines around the world thanks to a client list that included some of the most infamous names of modern times: Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie, Venezuelan revolutionary Carlos the Jackal, former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz and ex-Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic. One of his last high-profile cases was the defence in 2011 of his long-time friend, Cambodias former communist head of state Khieu Samphan, who faced charges of crimes against humanity over the 1975-1979 Khmer rule. Then aged 86, the short, bespectacled Verges delivered a pithy riposte to prosecutors who had spent two days detailing the horror the country suffered under the Khmer Rouge regime, during which up to 2 million people died through starvation, torture and execution. The prosecutions version of events sounded like a novel written by Alexandre Dumas about what happened in Cambodia, said Mr Verges in a 10-minute speech, laced with a hint of irony and an occasional suppressed smirk. Attacking prosecutors fantastical view of reality, he told the court, Remember what Monsieur de Talleyrand, Napoleons foreign minister, another bandit, said: Everything that is excessive is vain. Everything you said was excessive and therefore vain. May the tribunal remember that. I hope I havent wasted your time. Thank you very much, concluded Mr Verges in a trademark summing-up. Mr Verges life story reads like a novel, but there was one chapter that he preferred to leave unopened: from 1970 to 1978, when he left his wife and children and disappeared. He has referred to this period as the dark side of his life, leading to much speculation about these missing years. Among the more persistent theories are suggestions that he fostered ties with Palestinian militants, that he passed through Congo or that he lived in Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Mr Verges himself said he passed through to the other side of the mirror. Its highly amusing that no one, in our modern police state, can figure out where I was for almost 10 years, he told German newsweekly Spiegel in a 2008 interview. On his return, he became the champion of extremists from both left and right. He was an advocate of Palestinian violence against the imperialism of Israel but he also defended neo-Nazi bombers and leapt at the chance to expose what he saw as establishment hypocrisy in the Barbie trial. Most of his clients lost their cases, but Mr Verges flair was in courtroom provocation, attacking the prosecution and maximising the publicity of his defendants cause. Once asked by France Soir newspaper in 2004 how he could defend Saddam Hussein, after he said he was prepared to represent the Iraqi dictator, Mr Verges replied, Defending Saddam is not a lost cause. Its defending [then-US president George W] Bush that is the lost cause. Mr Verges, a lover of thick Robusto cigars and author of some 20 books, had his colourful life portrayed in the 2007 Cannes Film Festival documentary Terrors Advocate and starred in his own play in France, called Serial Defender. In his Spiegel interview, Verges caused a storm when he said, I would have defended Hitler. AFP

Its highly amusing that no one, in our modern police state, can figure out where I was for almost 10 years.
Jacques Verges French lawyer
on August 14. Photo: AFP

buried as
water to cool them from the sun - just as they had for weeks in the protest camps, where thousands had gathered to call for Mr Morsis return. But those overrun camps had become wastelands of rubble by August 15, occupied by police. Many of those who fled said there was no new plan for Mr Morsis supporters, no clear path forward after the government assault and the ugly fury that erupted across the country in the hours that followed. Many of the Brotherhoods top officials, including Mr Morsis inner circle and the former president himself, have been held virtually incommunicado since the July 3 coup that ousted them. In the wake of the raid, other Islamist leaders appeared to disappear into hiding. Egyptian prosecutors say they have issued arrest warrants for several on charges of incitement to violence and murder. Mr Tantawy said he had no idea what had become of his boss, Mohamed El-Beltagi one of the accused. I think we have to continue against the coup in a peaceful way, Mr Tantawy said uncertainly on August 15. For now, our focus is to give the martyrs their proper end. Then well start from tomorrow. But others said increasingly violent confrontations between Morsi supporters and their civilian opponents suggested that the Islamist groups politicians, who have long preached nonviolence, had lost their control over the people. You cannot guarantee how the people will respond to this, said Sanaa Ali Mohamed, whose brother had been shot through the heart on August 14 as he gathered with others in the Rabaa al-Adawiya field hospital, deep inside the sit-in. He called us 15 minutes before he died, Ms Mohamed said. At the end, he told us, We are under siege. Near the citys main morgue in the crumbling Cairo neighbourhood of Sayeda Zeinab, more bodies filled the muddy streets as families waited for pre-burial paperwork. Most of those corpses lay on simple wooden boards or scraps of plastic; the melting ice blocks on their chests sent streams of blood-tinged mud running downhill along the pavement. Cars, ambulances and hearses jostled on a nearby side street, and fights broke out among the relatives shoving for space among the bodies. No one is more dead than the others! a man carrying a corpse shouted as two groups began to shove each other, vying for a place in an unmoving queue that wound toward the mosques locked door. Only God knows what comes next in the countrys grisly course, said Ms Mohamed, the grieving sister and Morsi supporter. But were not going to change our minds. The Washington Post

Mr Verges died of a heart attack around 8pm in the house where 18th century enlightenment philosopher Voltaire once lived an appropriate setting for an iconoclast who devoted his life to defending unpopular causes, according to his publishing house Pierre-Guillaume de Roux. The ideal place for the last theatrical act that was the death of this born actor who, like Voltaire, cultivated the art of permanent revolt and volteface, said the publisher in a statement. Christian Charriere-Bournazel, the head of Frances main bar association, said Mr Verges had lost a lot of weight and

French lawyer Jacques Verges. Photo: AFP

TEHRAN

MPs approve 15 of Rowhanis cabinet picks

IRANS parliament on August 15 approved all but three of President Hassan Rowhanis 18 cabinet picks, allowing the government to start work, parliament speaker Ali Larijani said. He said on live television the proposed ministers of education, Mohammad Ali Najafi; oscience, research and technology, Jafar Mili-Monfared both considered close to reformists and sports and youth, Massoud Sontani-far, were rejected. Among the key nominations approved by the conservative-dominated parliament were Mohammad Javad Zari as foreign minister and Bijan Zanganeh for the oil portfolio. Voting was on a candidate-by-candidate basis and not on the cabinet as a whole. Mr Rowhani now has three months to fill the three posts left vacant. Mr Zanganeh, who is highly respected in the energy industry and on the international scene, already served as oil minister between 1997 and 2005 under reformist president Mohammad Khatami. But he faced heavy criticism during the four days of parliamentary debate on newly elected Rowhanis nominations, for his ties to reformists and over alleged corruption in oil contracts. As for the new foreign minister, Mr Zarif, who holds a US doctorate in international law, served as the Islamic republics ambassador to the United Nations between 2002 and 2007. He also played a leading role in nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers from 2003 to 2005, at a time when Mr Rowhani led his countrys delegation. Mr Rowhani has said the priority of his all-male team of technocrats will be to tackle Irans economic crisis and its disputed nuclear program in a bid to lift several rounds of punishing Western sanctions. In an address to parliament at the start of the debate on August 12, Mr Rowhani laid stress on Irans ailing economy and condemned the Western methods of applying pressure. International sanctions have crippled the once-lucrative oil sector, cut its access to global banking and contributed to soaring inflation, which has hit around 40 percent. He added that in the field of diplomacy, the government was going to try to tackle this international challenge while defending the nations will to hold on to its nuclear rights in the face of Western charges of working to build an atomic bomb. AFP

Iranian President Hassan Rowhani speaks during a parliament session in Tehran to elect the cabinet members on August 15. Photo: AFP

36 World International
NAIROBI

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

MSF leaves Somalia following attacks

AYMERIC VINCENOT MEDICAL aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) closed all its operations in war-torn Somalia on August 14, warning of growing insecurity, after 22 years of working in the Horn of Africa troublespot. The closure of our activities is a direct result of extreme attacks on our staff, in an environment where armed groups and civilian leaders increasingly support, tolerate or condone the killing, assaulting and abducting of humanitarian aid workers, MSF president Unni Karunakara told reporters. The pullout by MSF, an aid agency that has earned a reputation for working in the toughest of conditions, is a major blow to the reputation of the internationally backed government in Mogadishu. We are ending our programs in Somalia because there is an increasing imbalance between the risks and compromises that our staff must make and our ability to provide impartial care to the Somali people, Mr Karunakara said in the Kenyan capital. MSF has treated more than 300,000 people so far this year alone in Somalia, a statement added. Mr Karunakara, who said MSFs activities had been put under unparallelled levels of risk, cited the killing of two staff in Mogadishu in December 2011 and subsequent release of the gunman as well as the kidnapping of two MSF workers from the Kenyan refugee camp Dadaab in October 2011. The two kidnapped staff, Spanish are trying to help. The closure of MSF medical operations in at least 11 sites including in the capital Mogadishu, where MSF runs the only intensive care unit for children will impact hundreds of thousands of the most needy Somalis, he said. Many of those areas are not under the control of central government, including Burao in the self-declared independent region of Somaliland, Galkayo in the northeastern Puntland region and the flashpoint southern port of Kismayo. Operations were also shut in areas under the control of the extremist Shebab, who had allowed MSF to work despite expelling almost all other international aid agencies. As MSF announced the pullout, Shebab gunmen stormed their compound in Dinsor in the southern Bay region. Shebab fighters broke in, ordered all the staff to leave and have taken everything, including their laptops, said a local MSF worker, who asked not to be named. Gunmen entered the hospital and set up base there, ordering patients to leave, said Ali Mohamed, a resident in Dinsor. Last year, MSFs more than 1500 staff provided more than 624,000 medical consultations and admitted more than 41,000 patients to hospitals. Armed groups targeted MSFs already insufficient funding, Mr Karunakara said, and the tolerance of these abuses by civilian leaders had taken away what little access to medical care is available to the Somali people. Somalias embattled government, selected in November in a UN-backed process, was hailed at the time by the international community as offering the best chance for peace in Somalia since the collapse of central government in 1991.

Somalis wait for medicine at a medical clinic run by Doctors Without Borders near Mogadishu on July 8, 2008. Photo: AFP

women working as logisticians, were released last month after 21 months in captivity in Somalia. But MSF said that wider attacks had forced it to make the painful decision to shut operations. Respect for humanitarian principles, always fragile in conflict zones, no longer exists in Somalia today, Mr Karunakara added. There have been dozens of attacks against people, against vehicles, hospitals Weve just reached our limit, he said, adding that 16 MSF staff have been killed in Somalia since 1991. In Washington, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States was disheartened

by the conditions that have forced Doctors Without Borders to withdraw from Somalia. While some progress has been made by the African Union Mission in Somalia and the Somali national security forces to improve security, she said, kidnappings, attacks on civilians, and the recent al-Shabaab attacks on the UN and Turkish facilities underscores that security in Somalia remains a critical concern. Unfortunately, al-Shabaab has continued to demonstrate their intent to disrupt the efforts of aid workers. We condemn any actions to impede humanitarian aid efforts, including attacks on aid workers and those they

Respect for humanitarian principles, always fragile in conflict zones, no longer exists in Somalia today.
Unni Karunakara President of Doctors Without Borders

A 17,700-strong African Union force fighting alongside the national army has forced Shebab fighters from a string of towns in the past two years. But Somalias often ragtag security forces, incorporating multiple militia forces into its ranks, has also been repeatedly accused by rights groups of a string of abuses. AFP

BOSTON

Bomb duo say not guilty

TWO college friends of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty on August 13 to charges of impeding investigators pursuing the perpetrators of the deadly finish-line attack. Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, both 19-year-olds from Kazakhstan, had been indicted by a grand jury on August 8 of obstructing justice with the intent of impeding the investigation into the April 15 attack that left three dead and scores injured. Mr Kadyrbayev and Mr Tazhayakovs parents were present when they appeared before federal judge Marion Bowler in orange prison jumpsuits. Their next day in court was set for September 26. Federal prosecutor Stephanie Seligmann said 15 to 20 witnesses would testify during a trial expected to last two weeks. If convicted, Mr Kadyrbayev and Mr Tazhayakov could face up to 20 years in prison and deportation from the United States. The grand jury indictment stems from the Boston-wide manhunt for brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who allegedly planted two pressure-cooker bombs near the finish line of the world-famous race. Prompted by a text message from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to go to his college dormitory room and take whats there, Mr Kadyrbayev and Mr Tazhayakov removed a laptop computer, fireworks and other items, prosecutors have asserted. They then allegedly took the items to their apartment in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where the items were subsequently stuffed into a garbage bag and put in a dumpster outside, the US attorneys office said. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed amid a shootout with police later that night, while his younger brother was later arrested hiding inside a small boat in a nearby backyard. AFP

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International World 37

UN condemns Syria aid worker death

THE UNs Palestinian refugee agency on August 14 condemned the killing of one of its staff members in Syria, saying eight agency workers had now died in the countrys two-year civil war. UNRWA strongly condemns the killing of Mr Imad Abdelhafeez, the eighth staff member to lose his life in the Syria conflict, and the second in less than a month, it said in a statement. Mr Abdelhafeez disappeared on August 7 and his body was found the following day with signs of gunshot wounds, said the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. The facts surrounding his death had not yet been verified, UNRWA said, while adding there were indications that kidnappers may have been involved. Mr Abdelhafeez was based in central Damascus. UNRWA has nine registered camps in Syria for Palestinian refugees who fled or were forced from their homes when the state of Israel was created in 1948, as well as their descendants. In June, between 12 and 15 percent of the Palestinian refugee population of Syria had fled the country, according to UNRWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi. About 70-80pc of the approximately 530,000 registered Palestinians in Syria had at that time been displaced. AFP

CORRECTION
Released Palestinian prisoner Hosni Sawalha prays at the graves of his parents, who died while he was in an Israeli jail, in the village of Azmut in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank on August 14. Photo: AFP

In the Cautionary Notice appearing in this paper of 11th February, 2013, Page-36, the correct address of Trademarks and is as follows:-

Freed Palestinians are embraced and reviled

Mixed emotions were unleashed last week when Israel started releasing a small number of Palestinian prisoners as part of a bargain to bring the Palestinian Authority back to the negotiating table
WILLIAM BOOTH HOSNI and Mohammed Sawalha said they felt a happiness that is almost indescribable, but they looked shaky and exhausted, chain-smoking and downing coffee as they stood for hours on August 14 to receive a line of well-wishers who embraced the cousins, kissed their cheeks, posed for photos with them and told them that they were heroes, home at last. The Sawalha boys were just 16 and 17 when they left their village and boarded a bus in the Tel Aviv suburbs on December 2, 1990. Witnesses recalled that they rode a few stops, sitting in the back, and then rose to shout Allahu Akbar! (God is great!) before stabbing to death Baruch Heisler, 24, an ultra-Orthodox Jew on his way to yeshiva to study. On August 14, the cousins were among the first of 26 Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel as part of a deal brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry to bring Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his negotiating team back to the table, starting with a meeting in Jerusalem on August 14. Israel says an additional 78 prisoners will be released over the next nine months, if negotiations progress. The deal was a bitter pill for Israel to swallow, so bitter that ahead of the initial release, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a spoonful of sugar to the right-wing members of his shaky coalition government, announcing plans for up to 3000 new housing units in the West Bank. To many Jewish Israelis, and especially the relatives of the victims, the prisoners are murderers. To the Palestinians, they are soldiers who fought to end the occupation of their homeland. I dont feel hatred, Yosef Heisler, the father of Baruch, said in an interview. I think they are base murderers who dont need to be alive. They murdered in cold blood. But what difference does it make what I think or dont think? The Heislers live in the ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem. They said they were surprised to learn that the men who killed their eldest son were among those to be released. No one asked us, Yosef Heisler said. Peace is something every human being yearns for. The question of the price is another thing, said Mr Heisler, who is in his 70s. If Baruchs murderers were released as part of a peace agreement, it would have been a lot easier for me that at least it was for something worthwhile to humanity, worthwhile to the people in the world. But for zero just to talk is something else, he said. I have nothing to ask them. Mr Abbas welcomed 11 of the 26 freed prisoners to the government compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah on August 14. He kept his speech short. We welcome our brothers who have left the darkness of prison into the light of freedom and tell them they are the first, but that there are other brothers who, too, will leave soon, he said. We shall not rest until they are all with us. prosecutors. In addition to killing Mr Heisler, the cousins used their knives to slash three girls on the bus, who survived. Another Palestinian who joined the Sawalhas in the attack was fatally shot by Israeli police at the scene. The violence garnered just a few paragraphs in US newspapers. At the time, Israeli security officials blamed the attacks on heightened emotions and extremism stoked by Iraqi leader Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait and the threatened Western-led effort to oust his troops that became the first Iraq war. The cousins were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Asked whether he had any regrets, any remorse, Mohammed Sawalha said he preferred not to answer directly. What happened, happened. Talking about the future is better than talking about the past. Lets talk about the future, he replied. Asked again, he said, If you asked the Jews are they sorry for the massacres at Jenin, Hebron, Gaza, what will they say? If I say I am sorry, will it bring anyone back? Mr Sawalha, 40, speaks in a hoarse whisper. He has trouble hearing. He is not married and has no children. His father said he hoped to marry his son off soon. For the rest of his life, Sawalha will receive a pension from the Palestinian Authority. His cousin, Hosni, said that maybe something good will come from their release. Maybe we will make peace, he said. It is possible, isnt it? Among the well-wishers were local officials and politicians. Tayseer Nasrallah, a member of the Palestinian National Council and a leader of Fatah, came to pay his respects and triple-kiss the cousins on their cheeks. For us, they are like prisoners of war, Mr Nasrallah said. They were resisting the occupation, and they were freedom fighters. Their release gives a boost to Abu Mazen, he added, using the popular name for Mr Abbas, and this release will also protect him politically. Will that help the peace process? Mr Nasrallah tilted his head in a sign of regret. I am not optimistic that we will achieve our goals, he said. The Washington Post

65 Quai Georges Gorse, Boulogne-Billancourt 92100 France

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I dont feel hatred. I think they are base murderers who dont need to be alive.
Yosef Heisler Father of murder victim Baruch Heisler

DURABLEND SYNPOWER
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VALVOLINE

After the speeches and a visit to the tomb of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the Sawalha cousins were driven back to their home. Azmout is a hillside village on the outskirts of Nablus, where the limestone dust coats the leaves of the olive trees like snow. In the centre of town, beside an old mosque, yellow flags of Mr Abbass Fatah party fluttered. In 1990, before the Oslo Accords, before Mr Arafat won a Nobel Peace Prize, alongside Israelis Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin, Fatah sponsored armed militant groups. The flags show a pair of fists and two automatic rifles crossed. The Sawalha cousins were Fatah activists when they staged their deadly attack in December 1990, according to Israeli

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38 World International
BAMAKO

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

SEROQUEL
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Keita nabs presidency in Mali after rival concedes

STEPHANE BARBIER MALIS former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was set for victory in the presidential election runoff after his rival conceded defeat, and now faces a daunting task of rebuilding a country reeling from more than a year of turmoil, including a military coup and war. Electoral and security sources said Mr Keita widely known as IBK had pulled ahead with two-thirds of votes counted after second-round vote on August 11. Although official results had not been announced, Mr Keitas rival Somaila Cisse conceded defeat on August 12. I went to see him to congratulate him and wish him good luck for Mali, said Mr Cisse. Malis first election since 2007 was seen as crucial for unlocking more than US$4 billion in aid promised by international donors who halted contributions in the wake of last years coup that ignited an Islamist insurgency and a French military offensive. The government had until August 16 to make public the result of the run-off, called after none of the 27 candidates in the first round on July 28 secured an outright majority. But a source close to Malis election commission said that with nearly two-thirds of the ballots counted, IBK is well ahead. Unofficial estimates obtained by AFP from Malian security sources also put Mr Keita, 68, comfortably in the lead. Mr Keita has become known for his blunt speech, his refusal to compromise and his reputation for toughness.

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HYPROX

Malian presidential candidate Ibrahim Boubacar Keita casts his vote at a polling station in Bamako on August 11. Photo: AFP

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During his campaign, he vowed to unify Mali if elected. For Malis honour, I will bring peace and security. I will revive dialogue between all the sons of our nation and I will gather our people around the values that have built our history: dignity, integrity, courage and hard work, he has said. The European Unions election observation mission gave a positive assessment of the vote, saying it complied with international standards in 99 percent of Malis polling stations. Whoever is elected will be elected with democratic legitimacy. That is my belief, mission chief Louis Michel said in Bamako, adding that there had been a leap forward in terms of democracy in this country.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton welcomed what she called a credible and transparent election, according to a statement from her office. Ms Ashton pledged EU support for efforts to build a durable peace and restore national unity in the west African country. Mr Keita and Mr Cisse lost out in 2002 to Amadou Toumani Tour, who was overthrown by a military junta in March last year just weeks before the end of his final term in office. The return to democratic rule will allow France to withdraw most of the 4500 troops it sent to Mali in January to oust al-Qaeda-linked extremists who had occupied the north in the chaos that followed the coup. The country of more than 14

million remains the continents third-largest gold producer, but its $10.6 billion economy contracted by 1.2pc last year. Widespread poverty has contributed to unrest in the north, with several armed groups vying for control in the vacuum left when the Islamists fled. The region is home predominantly to lighter-skinned Tuareg and Arab populations who accuse the sub-Saharan ethnic groups who live in the more populous and prosperous south of marginalising them. A UN peacekeeping mission integrating more than 6000 African soldiers was charged with ensuring security on August 11 and in the months after the election. By the end of the year it will have grown to 11,200 troops and 1400 police. AFP

WASHINGTON

CIA admits to snooping on Noam Chomsky

JOHN HUDSON FOR years, the Central Intelligence Agency denied it had a secret file on MIT professor and famed dissident Noam Chomsky. But a new government disclosure obtained by Foreign Policy magazine reveals that the agency did in fact gather records on the antiwar iconoclast during the 1970s. The disclosure also reveals that Mr Chomskys entire CIA file was scrubbed from Langleys archives, raising questions as to when the file was destroyed and under what authority. The breakthrough in the search for Mr Chomskys CIA file comes in the form of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For years, FOIA requests to the CIA garnered the same denial: We did not locate any records responsive to your request. The denials were never entirely credible, given Mr Chomskys brazen antiwar activism in the 1960s and 1970s. Now, a public records request by FOIA attorney Kel McClanahan reveals a memo between the CIA and the FBI that confirms the existence of a CIA file on Mr Chomsky. Dated June 8, 1970, the memo discusses Mr Chomskys antiwar activities and asks the FBI for more information about an upcoming trip by antiwar activists to North Vietnam. The memos author, a CIA official, says the trip has the ENDORSEMENT OF NOAM CHOMSKY and requests ANY INFORMATION about the people associated with the trip. After receiving the document, Foreign Policy sent it to Athan Theoharis, a professor emeritus at Marquette University and an expert on FBI-CIA cooperation and information-gathering. The June 1970 CIA communication confirms that the CIA created a file on Chomsky, said Mr Theoharis. That file, at a minimum, contained a copy of their time, he said. Its worth noting that the destruction of records is a legally treacherous activity. Under the Federal Records Act of 1950, all federal agencies are required to obtain advance approval from the National Archives for any proposed record disposition plans. The archives are tasked with preserving records with historical value. Clearly, the CIAs file, or files, on Chomsky fall within these provisions, said Mr Theoharis. Its unclear if the agency complied with protocols in the deletion of Mr Chomskys file. The CIA declined to comment for this story. What does Mr Chomsky think? When Foreign Policy presented him with evidence of his CIA file, the famous linguist responded with his trademark cynicism. Some day it will be realised that systems of power typically try to extend their power in any way they can think of, he said. When asked if he was more disturbed by intelligence overreach today, given the latest NSA leaks, or by intelligence overreach in the 1970s, he dismissed the question as an apples-to-oranges comparison. What was frightening in the 1960s into early 1970s was not so much spying as the domestic terror operations, COINTELPRO, he said, referring to the FBIs program to discredit and infiltrate domestic political organisations. And also the lack of interest when they were exposed. Foreign Policy

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Some day it will be realised that systems of power typically try to extend their power in any way they can think of.
Noam Chomsky American dissident

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TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Kraft Foods Schweiz Holding GmbH a company organized under the laws of Switzerland and having its principal office at Chollerstrasse 4, 6301 Zug, Switzerland is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademarks:-

(Reg: Nos. VI/3936/1996 & IV/5821/2013) (Reg: Nos. IV/3934/1996 & IV/5822/2013) The above two trademarks are in respect of :Chocolate, chocolate products and chocolate confectionery Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademarks or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for Kraft Foods Schweiz Holding GmbH P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 19th August, 2013

MILKA TOBLERONE

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Jal Hotels Co, Ltd., of 4-11, Higashi-shinagawa 2-chome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2424/1999, IV/5707/2002, IV/4848/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Soaps, dentifrices, shampoos, hair lotions, cosmetics International Class: 3 The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2425/1999, IV/5708/2002, IV/4849/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Razors, knives, forks, spoons International Class: 8 The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2426/1999, IV/5709/2002, IV/4850/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Stationeries, writing pads, envelopes, coasters of paper, prints, other products of paper International Class: 16 The said trade mark is registered under Registration No. IV/2427/1999, IV/5710/2002, IV/4851/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Tablewares (not of precious metal), cups, toothbrushes International Class: 21 The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2428/1999, IV/5711/2002, IV/4852/ 2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Towels International Class: 24 The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2429/1999, IV/5712/2002, IV/4853/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Bathrobes, nightwears, bath caps, slippers International Class: 25 The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2430/1999, IV/5713/2002, IV/4854/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Car parking International Class: 39 The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2431/1999, IV/5714/2002, IV/4855/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Providing sports equipment International Class: 41 The said trade mark is registered under Registration Nos. IV/2432/1999, IV/5715/2002, IV/4856/2006 & IV/7320/2013 in respect of:Hotel management, providing hotel accommodation, providing food and drink, beauty salons International Class: 43 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 Jal Hotels Co, Ltd., P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 19th August, 2013

Tunisian demonstrators protest against the countrys Islamist-led government in Tunis on August 13. Photo: AFP

Tunisia president urges unity govt as rivals rally

ANTOINE LAMBROSCHINI SUPPORTERS and opponents of Tunisias Islamist-led government held rival rallies marking national womens day on August 13, as the president proposed a national unity cabinet to bridge the crippling political divide. The feuding camps held separate commemorations amid deep divisions over the balance to be struck between secularism and democracy following the 2011 overthrow of veteran strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The mainly secular opposition accuses the moderate Islamist Ennahda party that leads the government of eroding womens rights and of failing to take strong enough action against hard-line Islamists accused of murdering two prominent secular politicians this year. Ennahda insists it has the right to lead the government after emerging as the largest party in an October 2011 election for a constituent assembly but has called on its opponents to join a broader governing coalition. Dissident groups said tens of thousands of people joined the opposition rally in Tunis, commemorating the anniversary of the 1956 law that gave Tunisian women rights then unequalled in the Arab world. Demonstrators chanted slogans both for womens rights and against Ennahda. Tunisian women are free, out with the Muslim Brotherhood, they shouted. Tunisian women are Muslim but not Islamist. Women accounted for the majority of the much smaller crowd that responded to the governments call for a demonstration in the capitals central Habib Bourguiba Avenue, epicentre of the revolt that overthrew Mr Ben Ali. army of Egypts elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi after massive street protests has sharpened divisions in Tunisia. Ennahdas supporters are determined that after long years of repression under Mr Ben Ali, the party not be denied a share of power. Ennahdas secular ally, President Moncef Marzouki, called for a government of national unity to end the political standoff that has gripped the country since the July 25 murder of opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi. There must be a governsition and the powerful UGTT trade union. His comments came after more than four hours of talks overnight between Ennahda party chief Rached Ghannouchi and UGTT leader Houcine Abbassi in a bid to find a compromise. The 500,000-strong UGTT has been touted as a possible mediator between the government and the opposition. It does not back the oppositions call for the dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly. Mr Marzouki urged the assembly, whose speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar earlier this month suspended its work over the crisis, to resume drafting a much-delayed constitution. The government of Prime Minister Ali Larayedh refuses to resign, offering instead to broaden the ruling coalition, and has called for a general election to be held in December after completion of the new charter. Government critics say Ennahda has been too passive in dealing with radical imams who have called for the return of polygamy and child brides practices banned in 1956. The party drew further criticism last year when it called for sexual equality to be replaced in Tunisias new post-revolution constitution by complementarity of the genders. AFP

There must be a government of national unity in which all political parties are represented.
Moncef Marzouki Tunisian president

The people still want Ennahda, the pro-government demonstrators chanted. We will sacrifice our blood and our soul for the sake of legitimacy, they called in reference to the partys 2011 election win. The July 3 overthrow by the

ment of national unity in which all political parties are represented, Mr Marzouki, whose role is highly symbolic, told Shems-FM radio. He was echoing Ennahda positions that reject the forming of a government of technocrats as demanded by the oppo-

ASHGABA

Turkmen leader unveils monument to father

TURKMENISTANS president has unveiled a 5-metre-high bust of his father, a retired interior ministry official who is still alive, state television reported on August 13. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, a dentist by profession, took over power after the death of eccentric dictator Saparmurat Niyazov, who renamed the month of April after his mother as part of a bizarre personality cult. The Turkmen president was shown bowing respectfully to the bronze bust on a granite pedestal depicting his father Myalikuguly Berdymukhamedov, 81, a retired interior ministry lieutenant colonel. State television praised the presidents father as an example of conscientious, selfless service to his people and his beloved Fatherland. The bust is in a camp for interior ministry troops on the edge of Ashgabat, which is also named after the presidents father, who appeared in public in February voting in presidential polls. The complex already includes a museum devoted to the presidents father, who retired in 1982. Among the exhibits are his uniform, telephone and typewriter, as well as a carpet embroidered with a line from a poem he wrote: Lets plant more grain. AFP

www.mmtimes.com
KONDUGA BRASILIA

International World 41

Brazil confronts Kerry over alleged US spying

MOISES AVILA BRAZIL warned US Secretary of State John Kerry on August 13 that failure to resolve the row over Washingtons electronic spying could sow mistrust between the two countries. Brazil was outraged by media reports of widespread US phone and internet eavesdropping based on information leaked by fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota told reporters after talks with Kerry that revelations about the vast US global surveillance network posed a new challenge in our bilateral relationship. If the implications of this challenge are not satisfactorily resolved, they run the risk of casting a shadow of mistrust over our work, he said. Practices which harm the sovereignty and relations of trust between states and violate the individual freedoms which our countries so cherish must be stopped. Mr Kerry, who is on his first trip to South America since he assumed his post in February, said that Brazil is owed answers with respect to those questions and they will get them. We will have this dialogue with the view to make it certain that your government is in complete understanding and complete agreement with what it is that we must to do provide security, not just for Americans, but for Brazilians and the people of the world, Mr Kerry said. US officials have defended the surveillance programs as entirely lawful measures that have helped foil dozens of terrorist attacks around the world. Brazil, Latin Americas economic powerhouse, has sought to assert regional independence from Washington. Mr Kerry arrived here on August 12 from Colombia, where he also defended Washingtons electronic espionage. I think its very obvious to everybody that this is a dangerous world were living in, Mr Kerry told reporters in Bogota on August 12. We are necessarily engaged in a very complex effort to prevent terrorists from taking innocent lives in many different places. Based on documents leaked by Mr Snowden, the daily O Globo reported last month that Washington eavesdropped on Brazilians phone calls and internet communications. A spy base in Brasilia, part of a worldwide network of 16 such stations operated by the US National Security Agency, also intercepted foreign satellite transmissions, it claimed. O Globo also published an NSA document that seemed to indicate that the Brazilian embassy in Washington and the Brazilian mission to the United Nations in New York were targeted by the US spy agency. Mr Snowden, who was granted asylum in Russia on August 1 after spending more than five weeks in a Moscow airport transit zone, is said to now be at an undisclosed location in the country. In fence-mending remarks, Mr Kerry took pains to acknowledge emerging Brazils growing international profile. The United States recognises and welcomes and greatly appreciates the vital leadership role, the increasing leadership role, that Brazil plays on the international stage, he said. He cited Brasilias participation in global peace initiatives, its promotion of human rights and its efforts to help maintain peace in some parts of the world, notably Haiti. AFP

A staff member on August 6 inspects a school in Mamudo, Nigeria, that had been attacked by Boko Haram on July 6. Photo: AFP

Nigerians flee town after mosque slaughter

RESIDENTS fled the northern Nigerian town of Konduga on August 13 after suspected Islamists disguised as soldiers shot dead dozens of people in a mosque just before morning prayers. The massacre in Konduga in the embattled northeastern state of Borno happened on August 11 and has been blamed on the Islamist group Boko Haram, responsible for hundreds of deaths in the region. A separate attack on August 10 in Ngom village in the nearby Mafa district left 12 people dead, according to local officials. Details have been slow to emerge amid a phone blackout imposed by the military in the area. An AFP reporter saw residents streaming out of Konduga carrying suitcases on August 13, as Bornos Governor Kashim Shettima visited the town with journalists. One woman said she was heading with her two daughters to the state capital Maiduguri roughly 30 kilometres (18 miles) away after her husband and son were shot dead in the attack. They were killed by Boko Haram in the mosque, she said, requesting anonymity. Officials had previously given a death of toll of 44, but local leaders later said that 47 people had been killed. Zanna Masu Yale, district head in Konduga, said that 43 bodies were counted in the morning, but we discovered four more corpses later, adding that 36 people had been injured. Resident Babagana Bulama said the gunmen arrived in the town early in the morning of August 11 as people were gathering for morning prayers at a mosque in the Tsohuwar Kasuwa area. They came through the western side of our town in a convoy of cars. They were in military camouflage, he said. Boko Haram has previously worn military uniforms while carrying out attacks.

3600
People left dead by the Boko Haram insurgency, which started in 2009 The attacks were believed to be in revenge over citizen vigilante groups forming to help the military battle Boko

Haram, which has been waging an insurgency since 2009. The violence came as Nigerias military pursues an offensive in the countrys northeast aimed at ending the insurgency, with a state of emergency declared in the region in May. The military has encouraged the formation of vigilante groups to help authorities arrest members of Boko Haram. Despite showing some successes, many fear the vigilantes will make matters worse. Boko Harams insurgency has left at least 3600 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces. The military has claimed major successes with its offensive, but its version of events is difficult to verify with authorities having cut phone lines in many areas and access to remote locations restricted. AFP

ROME

WASHINGTON

Napolitano rebuffs White House touts immigration reform Berlusconi requests

ANDREW FRYE ITALIAN President Giorgio Napolitano last week rebuffed lawmaker requests to spare former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from his punishment for tax fraud and said court verdicts must be respected. Any definitive sentence, and the subsequent requirement to apply it, cant but be accepted, Mr Napolitano said on August 13 in an emailed statement. That goes for the case at the centre of attention today as with every other one. The head of state was asked to intervene after an August 1 ruling by Italys top court exhausted Mr Berlusconis appeals and made the conviction definitive. Lawmakers in Mr Berlusconis People of Liberty Party (PDL) threatened to resign in protest over the verdict and called on Mr Napolitano to grant a pardon. The PDL is the second-biggest force in Prime Minister Enrico Lettas makeshift coalition of rival parties. Mr Napolitano urged Mr Berlusconis allies to maintain their backing for Mr Lettas three-month-old government. The 88-year-old president said he hasnt received a formal request for a pardon. I am naturally aware of the risks that can arise from political tensions, Mr Napolitano said. However, a crisis for the government, formed with great effort little more than 100 days ago, would be fatal. Sentenced to four years in prison, Mr Berlusconi, 76, is unlikely to spend a day in jail, given Italys effort to reduce prison populations and the leniency traditionally accorded to criminals over the age of 70. The PDL is seeking to soften the impact of the verdict on Mr Berlusconis political career. People sentenced to more than two years in prison are barred from running in elections and serving in parliament, following a law passed in December by ex-Premier Mario Montis administration. Bloomberg THE White House released a report on August 13 indicating that naturalisation of undocumented immigrants would be a boon for the US economy as it pressed the House to approve immigration reform. The bill, already passed by the Senate, would provide a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, an act the White House says would boost US GDP by US$1.4 trillion over 10 years, citing outside estimates. The White House report showed an increase in total income for all Americans by $791 billion, $184 billion in additional state and federal tax revenue, and the creation of 2 million jobs over the same period. Legal status without the option for citizenship, as proposed by some members of Congress, would result in less economic benefits, the White House claimed. The report said the legalization-only approach violates a basic principle of our country: that anyone, no matter where they came from, can become an American citizen if theyre willing to work for it and take on the responsibilities of citizenship. Immigration reform faces an uncertain fate in the Republican-led House, where some members are reluctant to pass what they call amnesty for those who broke the law by entering the country. In a bid to win over conservatives, the bipartisan bill prescribes a 13-year transition period for any illegal immigrant

New US citizens take the oath of allegiance during a naturalisation ceremony in Fairfax, Virginia, on August 13. Photo: AFP

seeking citizenship and includes a vast expansion of border security. It requires immigrants to pass background checks, pay fees, fines and back taxes, learn English, gain employment and, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, stay out of trouble. The Senate adopted the bill, which has been praised by President Barack Obama, on June 27.

Immigration reform was a major campaign promise of Mr Obama, who was swept into his second term last November with overwhelming support from minorities. In recent weeks, the president has insisted on the benefits that naturalisation would create for the economy, particularly in the consumer and real-estate sectors. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that TEIJIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA (TEIJIN LIMITED) a company organized under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 6-7, Minamihommachi 1-chome, Chuo-ku Osaka Japan is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

42 World Asia-Pacific
PHNOM PENH

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Cambodian opposition appeals poll results

CAMBODIAS opposition party on August 14 appealed against preliminary official election results that handed a narrow victory to strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen despite allegations of widespread fraud. The results, released on August 12 by the National Election Committee (NEC), found the incumbent premiers long-ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) had edged the hotly disputed election, taking 3.2 million votes to the oppositions 2.9 million. The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has rejected the results, demanding an independent probe into its allegation that the election was tarnished by massive vote-rigging. Party officials lodged a complaint with the NEC on August 14. We are demanding that the NEC reviews its mechanisms and processes, senior opposition official Kuy Bunroeun told reporters. The CNRP cannot accept the results, he said, adding they were far different from his partys tally that shows it won the election with an estimate of 63 seats in parliament. Cambodia has been stuck in a political impasse since the CPP claimed victory in the July 28 vote, with the military deployed in the capital Phnom Penh after the opposition threatened mass demonstrations. The final results giving the number of seats won should have been released last week, but the NEC said the political deadlock means they will now be announced by September 8. Due to the complaints [from CNRP], the release of the final results will be delayed, said NEC secretary general Tep Nytha. The CPP claims it secured an estimated 68 of the 123 lower house seats available, losing 22 seats since the last polls. The CNRP was said to have won 55. If confirmed, it would be the ruling partys worst election result since 1998. The opposition, which has threatened to boycott parliament, has called on the UN to help resolve the dispute to protect the victory of the people. AFP

TEIJIN
(Reg: Nos. IV/3080/1995 & IV/6736/2013) In respect of: - Pharmaceutical preparations Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for TEIJIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA (TEIJIN LIMITED) P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 19th August, 2013

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Yum! Brands Inc., a company organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina, U.S.A., and having its principal office at 1441 Gardiner Lane, Louisville, Kentucky 40213, U.S.A. is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademarks:-

YUM BRANDS
(Reg: No. IV/6343/2013)

BANGKOK
(Reg: No. IV/6344/2013) The above two trademarks are in respect of:Business management and consultation for restaurants and franchise services, namely, offering assistance in the establishment and operation of restaurants. - Class: 35 Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation. - Class: 43 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademarks or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates For Yum! Brands Inc., P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 19th August, 2013

ASEAN vows unity on South China Sea

SOUTHEAST Asian nations on August 14 vowed unity in pressing China to accept a binding code of conduct for handling disputes in the South China Sea, the Thai foreign ministry said. Competing claims to the sea have for decades stirred tension in the region, and the waterway, which is believed to sit atop vast deposits of oil and natural gas, has long been seen as one of Asias potential military flashpoints. Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed to speak in one voice while seeking an early conclusion of a code of conduct, a foreign ministry spokesman said, without giving a timeframe. The ministers, who held a two-day informal meeting in Thailands Hua Hin resort town on August 13 and 14, will meet Chinese officials in Beijing at the end of the month. ASEAN will have to speak with one voice and be unified. This does not mean speaking against anyone ASEAN is united so its easy to discuss and talk with it, the spokesman said. The code of conduct should have the objective of enhancing confidence between ASEAN and China and preventing any untoward incidents from taking place in the South China Sea. ASEAN has been trying for more than a decade to secure agreement from China on a legally binding code of conduct. China claims nearly all of the sea, even waters approaching the coasts of neighbouring countries. It has resisted agreeing to the code, wary of giving any concessions that may weaken its claim. A regional security forum in June saw ASEAN bridge internal divisions over the code. Last year Cambodia, a staunch ally of China and ASEANs chair at the time, had refused to endorse a Philippine push for a tougher line with Beijing on the issue. On August 14, Cambodias deputy prime minister agreed to the unified ASEAN position on the code, the Thai spokesman said after the two-day discussions ended. ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia, as well as Taiwan, also claim parts of the sea. AFP
Photo: AFP

A protester tears a Japanese military flag during a demonstration in

Japan PMs reference to

PM Shinzo Abes speech came after politicians War II by visiting a Tokyo site that enshrines con
ANTOINE BOUTHIER CONSERVATIVE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke with two decades of tradition on August 15 by omitting any expression of remorse over Japans past aggression in Asia on the anniversary of its 1945 surrender. Mr Abes speech which came after nearly 100 lawmakers including two cabinet ministers visited a controversial war shrine avoided typical words such as profound remorse and sincere mourning to atone for those who suffered as Tokyos Imperial army stormed across East Asia. The omission was sure to anger China and South Korea, which have bristled at Mr Abes talk about overhauling Japans pacifist constitution, while visits to the Yasukuni shrine enrage neighbours who see it as a symbol of Tokyos imperialist past. Mr Abe also avoided a promise typically given by past Japanese premiers to uphold [Japans] pledge not to engage in war. I will never forget the fact that the peace and prosperity we are enjoying now was built based on the sacrifice of your precious lives, Mr Abe said in a reference to the 2.5 million war dead honoured at the shrine. Yasukuni enshrines citizens who died in World War II and other conflicts, including 14 top convicted war criminals such as General Hideki Tojo, who authorised the attack on Pearl Harbor that drew the United States into the war. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, after the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Visits to the Yasukuni site by Japanese politicians anger neighbouring nations, which view them as a painful reminder of Tokyos aggression in the first half of the 20th century, including a brutal 35-year occupation of the Korean peninsula. Mr Abe, who stayed away from the shrine on August 15 but who reportedly sent a ritual offering via an aide, added in his speech that Japan would do its utmost to ensure permanent world peace. Security was tight with hundreds of police surrounding the leafy shrine in the heart of Tokyo, as right-wing

TOKYO

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Pizza Hut International, LLC, a company organized under the laws of the state of Delaware, U.S.A., and having its principal office at 14841 N. Dallas Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75254, U.S.A. is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

(Reg: No. IV/6741/2013) In respect of: - Meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; milk and milk products; edible oils and fats. Cl: 29 Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastry and confectionery; ices; sugar; honey, treacle; yeast, bakingpowder; salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice; pizza, pizza pie crusts, pizza dough; pizza sauce. Cl:30 Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation. Cl: 43 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 Pizza Hut International, LLC, P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 19th August, 2013

ASEAN ministers pose for a group photo during the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Hua Hin, Thailand, on August 14.

www.mmtimes.com
SEOUL

Asia-Pacific World 43

S Korea urges family reunions

JUNG HA-WON SOUTH Korean President Park Geun-Hye on August 15 called for the first family reunions with North Korea in three years, a day after the two nations agreed to reopen a joint industrial zone. In a speech marking the anniversary of Koreas liberation from Japanese rule in 1945, Ms Park urged Pyongyang to open its heart and agree to a meeting next month for families left divided for decades by the Korean War. The South Korean leader also welcomed the agreement on the Kaesong industrial park, which she said could start inter-Korea relations anew after months of sky-high tensions. Separately, police fired a water cannon to break up a protest in central Seoul calling for better relations with North Korea, Yonhap news agency said. Some 140 students meanwhile were detained by police over another rally, it reported. I hope that the North will open its heart so that the divided families can be reunited around the Chuseok holiday, Ms Park said, referring to a traditional Korean harvest festival that this year falls on September 19. Millions of Koreans were left separated by the 1950-1953 war. The last round of reunions to allow ageing relatives to meet for
Taipei on August 15 to mark Japans World War II surrender. Photo: AFP

a few days under Red Cross auspices took place in 2010, when as in previous rounds there were scenes of high emotion. About 72,000 South Koreans nearly half of them aged over 80 are still alive and waiting for a chance to join the highly competitive family reunion events, which select only up to a few hundred participants each time. South Koreans are allowed only in very rare circumstances to cross the heavily militarised border. I have so much hope this time, Song Il-Whan, a 77-yearold who was separated from his two siblings when he was 14, told Yonhap. Look how old I am now ... I really wish I could meet them this time, said Song, adding he had been applying for the family reunion program for the past 15 years with no success. North Korea last month proposed holding talks on resuming the family reunion program in conjunction with discussions about the Kaesong industrial complex. But it retracted the offer after Seoul insisted that the two issues should be dealt with separately. The Seoul-invested industrial zone, built just north of the border in 2004 as a rare symbol of cooperation, ground to a halt in April after remaining immune to cross-border political swings for years.

Pyongyang, angered at a joint South-US army drill coming after it conducted a nuclear test in February, withdrew all its 53,000 workers from Kaesong. Seoul soon pulled out all its company managers. Six previous rounds of talks since April had foundered on the Souths insistence that the North take full responsibility for the crisis and provide a binding guarantee that it would not close the complex again. Pyongyang had refused to do so. But last weeks agreement suggested a compromise in which the North accepted the worker pullout had closed Kaesong, while both sides promised jointly to ensure the zone remained open in the future. However, the two sides failed to set a precise date for the resumption of operations at Kaesong, and the South sounded a note of caution after the deal was announced. This agreement is not an end but only a beginning, its chief negotiator Kim Ki-Woong told reporters. Still, the agreement drew support from the US and from UN chief Ban Ki-moon, and analysts said it should clear the way for cooperation in other fields, despite North Koreas warnings against the latest set of US-South Korea drills starting on August 19. AFP

s speech skips to WWII remorse

commemorated the 68th anniversary of Japans surrender during World victed war criminals, raising the ire of neighbouring countries
nationalists carried flags calling on visitors to pray for Japans heroic war dead. Yoshitaka Shindo, internal affairs and communications minister in Mr Abes cabinet, made an early morning visit followed by about 90 other lawmakers later in the morning. It was my personal decision to come here, Mr Shindo told reporters, adding it was a private matter that should not affect Japans diplomatic relations. Another cabinet member, Keiji Furuya, also made the trip. Consoling the souls of war dead is purely a domestic issue, Mr Furuya told reporters. This is not something that other countries are supposed to criticise or interfere with. Mr Abe gave a ritual offering earlier this year when nearly 170 lawmakers visited the shrine for a spring festival, grabbing international headlines and sparking diplomatic protests. On August 13, Seoul lashed out ahead of this weeks anniversary, saying our government and people will never tolerate such visits. We once again stress that there should be no trips by top Japanese politicians to the Yasukuni shrine, South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-Young told reporters. Even at home there is significant opposition to Yasukuni, including among some relatives of those honoured there, who say it glorifies war and the darker chapters in Japans history. war zone knowing Japan would lose, 69-year-old Sumiko Iida said. Im absolutely against wars. Chinese state media on August 14 reported Mr Abes decision, relayed by the Japanese press and government sources, not to visit the notorious shrine. Earlier in the week, the 35th anniversary of Japan and China normalising diplomatic relations passed quietly. Ties remain frosty following maritime skirmishes over a set of East China Sea islands that are disputed by both countries. Observers have warned that the contested islands, which are believed to harbour mineral resources beneath their seabed, could be the flashpoint for military conflict between the two Asian giants. Tokyo is locked in a separate territorial dispute with Seoul. Mr Abe has mostly focused his attention on reviving Japans economy since sweeping December elections, but he has also mulled changing the pacifist constitution imposed on Japan by the United States and its allies after the war. AFP

New Zealand quake city opens cardboard cathedral

CHRISTCHURCHS cardboard cathedral officially opened on August 15, replacing the neo-Gothic structure destroyed in a 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people in New Zealands second-largest city. Completion of the innovative structure, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, marks a major milestone in the citys recovery from the devastating 6.3-magnitude quake that levelled much of the downtown area, acting dean Lynda Patterson said. The old cathedral symbolised the city in many ways, and we think this cathedral is a symbol that Christchurch is regrouping and rebuilding, she said. The community has a cathedral again. Its a place where people can come for quiet contemplation in the city centre and somewhere we can hold concerts and art exhibitions. Built from 600-millimetre (24-inch) diameter cardboard tubes coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants, the cathedral is a simple A-frame structure that can hold 700 people. Despite the unusual building material, it has a design life of 50 years, with the Anglican Church planning to use it as a cathedral for at least a decade while it builds a permanent replacement for the late 19th century building lost in the quake. It has a concrete base, with the cardboard tubes forming two sides of the A-frame and containers helping brace the walls. One end of the cathedral will be filled with stained glass, and a polycarbon roof will help protect it from the elements. It is the most ambitious piece of emergency architecture attempted by Mr Ban, who has forged a reputation for using low-cost, easily available materials to build structures in disaster zones from Rwanda to his native Japan. The project has not been without setbacks. It was originally slated for completion in November last year and the budget has reportedly increased from NZ$4.5 million (US$3.6 million) to around NZ$7 million. Last month, some sections of cardboard tubing became sodden and wrinkly when a torrential downpour hit before the roof was completed, although they were swiftly cut out and replaced. Patterson said it was a relief to finally stage the buildings dedication service on August 15. Plans for a permanent replacement of the original cathedral have not been completed, with many in Christchurch pushing for any new structure to include a recreation of the imposing spire that dominated the citys skyline before it toppled in the quake. AFP
Photo: AFP

Consoling the souls of war dead is purely a domestic issue.

Keiji Furuya Japanese Cabinet Member

For many, however, walking down the shrines stone paths lined with cherry trees past imposing gates dedicated to Shinto Japans animist religion is part of a ritual far removed from politics. My father held me only once before heading to the

The first service takes place on August 4 inside the Anglican Church of New Zealand in Christchurch.

THE PULSE EDITOR: MANNY MAUNG manny.maung@gmail.com

GERS O N I F N

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

IT

Yang

GE T

YO

Revenue raised from concert ticket sales will be donated to help educate children in border areas
NUAM BAWI
delay only increased the crowds anticipation until Russell Hitchcock, wearing a white shirt and black, sleeveless coat, led the band out onto stage and yelled: Mingalarba adding that it was difficult to learn Myanmar words. Air Supply played 15 of its best-known songs, including Just As I Am, Every Woman in the World, The One That You Love, One More Chance, Dance With Me, Here I Am, Lost in Love and Making Love to the crowds delight. The selection gave the crowd the chance to hear songs that many people had grown up with for the first time live, as more bands from the 1980s come to visit Myanmar, following on from Michael Learns to Rock. After performing The Power of Love, lead guitarist Graham Russell sang a new song that he had never performed before called I Wont Stop Loving You. After finishing, Russell explained that the song is dedicated to the soldiers who died in

hknuambawi@gmail.com

ATCHY rain couldnt deter a sizeable crowd from catching a breath of Australian outfit Air Supply at the bands performance at Myanmar Convention Centre on August 15. Even a 40-minute delay caused by a traffic jam failed to dampen the spirits of the audience, who also turned up to see perennial favourites Iron Cross, led by Lay Phyu, Ahnge, Myo Gyi and Wyne Wyne, play for an hour. Iron Cross warmed up the crowd with 13 original songs before a 20-minute interlude to allow Air Supplys support team to set the stage for the events headline act. But the

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse 45

Air Supply
Air Supplys soft-rock tunes lure a sold-out show in Yangon on August 15. Photos: Ko Taik

gon connects to

Cloud princess to head to the City of Angels

LWIN MAR HTUN THE sixth annual Myanmar Film Festival in Los Angeles will be held on September 15. The event aims to promote Myanmars budding filmmakers and their works to a North American audience. Put on by the Network of Myanmar American Association (NetMAA), a not-for-profit organisation founded in early 2006, the film festival is an opportunity to engage with non-Myanmar communities. The Myanmar Film Festival not only targets the Burmese community in Los Angeles, said U Aung Naing, one of the organisers of the event. We are trying to attract a multi-cultural audience who can appreciate the nuances of our culture. The main objective of the festival is to raise awareness and promote a greater appreciation of cinema by showcasing films that depict diverse perspectives of Burmese culture. U Aung Naing said the festival also aims to promote Myanmar filmmakers who are trying to expand their network in North America, helping expose them to the film and media industry outside South East Asia. The festival itself does not have a specific theme because we didnt want to limit what could be entered, he said. The festival will feature four documentaries and a drama. The documentaries to be screened are: My Grandfathers House (directed by Shunn Lei Swe Yee), a story about the home of Thakin Htein Win, one of the founders of Burmas independence movement; The Clinic (Aung Min, Jeu and The Maw Naing), a story exploring the relationship between a 45-yearold doctor and his clients; Bungkus (Lay Thida), based on a true story about a Chin girl torn between loyalty and love; and Koran and Karate (War War Hlaing), a documentary that looks into Yangons Myanmar-Muslim community. The feature film is Tein Minthamee yek Danaryi (The Legend of the Cloud Princess), directed by Nay Paing. The Legend of the Cloud Princess tells the story of two characters, one of whom will be played by the actress Nawarat, said U Aung Naing. It reflects the values and identity of the Burmese community and is set against the scenery of Bagan. Nawarat says she will leave Yangon on September 10 to attend the film festival. I really hope that audiences will take to the film, as I feel like I gave a lot of myself to it, she said. She added, And I hope that I also receive a warm welcome too.

Myanmar during the Second World War, adding that his father was the only survivor from 200 young men who joined up from his town. Air Supply closed their performance with their greatest hit All Out Of Love, causing most of the crowd to hum along out of tune. Throughout the gig, the crowd sang along to the more popular songs, strong evidence if it was needed of the number of times Myanmar singers have covered Air Supplys hits. The band hails from Australia and consists of singer-songwriter and guitarist Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock. The band had a string of hits in the early 1980s and has sold more than 100 million albums. The concert was organised by Htoo Foundation and Bagan Entertainment and was initially planned as a free event. However, a Htoo Foundation spokesperson said the organisers had been forced to charge K25,000 per ticket when they were unable to secure Thuwanna Stadium as

the venue. The switch to MCC, which has a maximum capacity of 30,000, necessitated charging more for tickets, he said. At first we organised this concert with the aim of making it free of charge but because its monsoon we could not find a venue with enough capacity, so we had to sell tickets instead, the spokesperson said. Revenue raised from ticket sales as well as food and beverage earnings will be donated to help educate children in border areas. Kyaw Thu Oo, a spokesperson for Bagan Entertainment, said, About 30 percent of our population is children under the age of 15. And the highest poverty rates are in Chin, Rakhine and northern Shan states, as well as Tanintharyi Region. Children in these areas must work for a living and support their families, rather than going to school, even for basic education. Basic education plays a crucial role in the development of a country and we would like to do what we can to help out.

46 the pulse

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Miss Supranational Myanmar 2013 secures a spot with her super-natural talents

Living well in Myanmar

Give cigarettes a swift kick in the butt
CHRISTOPH GELSDORF, MD
livingwellmyanmar@gmail.com

NYEIN EI EI HTWE nyeineieihtwe23@gmail.com PHOLDING a fine tradition of ignoring convention, Myanmars contestant for an international beauty pageant was unveiled without needing to her clothes off to her bikini at an event at Traders Hotel on August 14. Khin Wint Wah was selected as Myanmars contestant to compete at the Miss Supranational pageant, from August 17 to September in Belarus, along with beauties from 98 other nations. Khin Wint Wah out-answered 99 others in a contest in Myanmar that did not involve the usual beauty parade. The tests and questions were really difficult and it was all focused on general knowledge, she said. Im worried that people dont know me. Many people think I was chosen unfairly because there was no grand show in front of the crowd. But you all can check the tests and questions on the website. Khin Wint Wah said she admired Miss Myanmar and Miss International, Nang Khin Zay Yar as her role models. Miss Supranational Myanmar national director, Han Zaw Latt, said few Myanmar understood the difference between modelling Miss contests. A Miss is a public figure who represents her country and takes part in a scholarship program. We want to show off Myanmars beautiful and intelligent women to the world, which is why we organised the pageant, Han Zaw Latt said. He added that the Miss Supranational Myanmar organisation had received warm praise from the international body but also attracted its share of rumour and misunderstanding from the local crowd. We are inexperienced, and this was our first attempt to host an international beauty pageant, but the international organisation liked our efforts. Because we didnt hold a grand beauty contest, some people did not believe it was legitimate. However, the Miss Supranational 2013 organisation has accepted our winner as a contestant, Han Zaw Latt added. The Miss Supranational 2013 pageant program for Myanmar kickedoff on May 21 and applications for contestants had to be submitted by the last week of July. After several weeks of testing, Khin Wint Wah was chosen as the winner, and her answers to a general knowledge test were sent to the pageants authority on July 18. Khin Wint Wah then began her training for the international contest on July 22. The Miss Supranational Pageant is recognised by the World Beauty Association and was founded in 2009. The first pageant was held in Poland. The winner of the 2013 event in Belarus will be paid US$30,000; the first runner-up will receive $10,000; $5000 will go the second runner-up; and the third runner-up will receive $3000 in prize money. There will also be many other awards, such as a peoples choice award, swimwear award, evening gown award and a best costume award will also be handed out.

NO smoking. Seriously do not smoke. If youre 20, smoking will slow your recovery from injury. If youre 30, it increases your chance of breast cancer. If youre 40, smoking compromises the longevity of your heart, lungs, brain, kidney, bladder, etc. And the impact only gets worse as you get older. If youve already started, the bad news is that Myanmar is not an easy place to give up smoking. Cigarettes here are cheap, ingredients are low quality, smoking is allowed in most places, social stigma is rare and public health campaigns are minimal. The good news is that, when I talk to patients about smoking, I find everyone already knows its bad for them. Therefore, our conversations usually focus on when and how to stop. The timing of quitting, however, is dependent on both the willingness and the confidence of the smoker. On a scale of one to 10, I ask patients, what is your desire to stop smoking? What is your confidence in being able to stop? This helps us start the discussion. Once were talking about the issue, an unwilling person may need reminders of the dangers of smoking, while someone who wants to stop but has low confidence may need help creating a plan to help them follow through. Doctors consider addiction in two ways physiologically and behaviourally. First, a smoker is biochemically addicted to nicotine. Each cigarette prevents the onset of physical and mental agitation. We can treat this addiction by adding up daily tobacco consumption and then offering a matching dose of replacement gum or patches.

At the same time the smoker is addicted to the process of smoking a cigarette. Certain places and times trigger the desire, and we can treat this addiction by changing a persons daily behaviours. Altering the physical environment associated with smoking means not just throwing out ashtrays and lighters but also moving the chair you smoke in, putting a photo of your kid in the car, visiting a different tea shop, avoiding the shop that sells you cigarettes and so on. Also, for the times of day when you usually smoke, its important to have alternative small pleasurable activities at the ready cough drops, a game on the phone, a call to a friend, a healthy snack. Patients who quit smoking usually say its one of the hardest things theyve ever done. But they do it for many reasons: knowing its bad, a lingering cough, pregnancy, social awkwardness, impotence, finances, putting kids at risk for asthma and failing organs are just some of the possible motivations. If you have tried and failed to quit smoking in the past, dont be discouraged. Having stopped for any period of time in the past improves your chances of succeeding in the future. Talk to your doctor about helping you try again. The more support you have, the easier it will be. When my patients try to quit, I ask them to pick a quit date, circle it on the calendar, then tell family, friends and co-workers about the decision. The hope is to create a sense of obligation that makes success more likely. Then, on the quit date, everyone else should call the patient to congratulate them on stopping smoking. Conversely, if you know someone else who smokes, or is at risk of starting, help them change their mind. Become a part of the effort to get more people to quit than start smoking in Myanmar.

All the fun, none of the sun with new show Happy Beach
FANS of homegrown comedy will have something new to discuss at the tea shop with the arrival of Happy Beach on two MRTV channels this October. Filmed at Hotel Ace on Chaung Thar beach, the series set to air on Channel 7 and the forthcoming For Comedy channel follows the trials and tribulations of hotel staff as they grapple with the demands and predicaments of a revolving series of guests. As in all comedies set in hotels Brit comedy classic Fawlty Towers comes most famously to mind even the best intentions of staff dont usually come out as expected, resulting in a series of mistakes and misunderstandings. Among the cast are comedians from anyient performers Myanmar Five Star. Filming began on location in March under the guidance of director Maung Thi, who said the shoot is now complete. But while the show was slotted to debut this month, dubbing and editing are still being completed, according to producers Media Kabar Creative Services. The release date has now been pushed to October. The groups previous collaboration with MRTV-4 was The Sign of Love, which billed itself as the first Myanmar drama series. Nandar Aung

Miss Supranational Myanmar says she won the crown by studying hard. Photo: Ko Taik

48 the pulse

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

The spirit of Mardi Gras in SHAN STATE

M
Travels to remote regions of Myanmar and Cambodia have shed little light on animist beliefs but provided plenty of opportunities to sample the local rice wine, writes Douglas Long
Y wife and I arrived at the ethnic Eng village of Banglue on a special day: The entire adult population had taken the day off work to get rip-roaring drunk on locally brewed rice wine. The occasion was an annual festival during which all labour is suspended so the men can travel in a group from house to house, eating and drinking at each one, behind which the women follow in their own group. The idea, explained our guide Francis a Catholic of mixed Akha/ Lahu parentage was to indulge in copious amounts of food and alcohol consumption before the arrival of the rainy season and the three-month Buddhist Lent period. It was Banglues own version of Mardi Gras. Upon entering the village, we were invited into a house where about 20 men were gathered, most of them sipping rice wine from small cups, while others drank from a communal pot using thin bamboo straws. The group welcomed us with smiles. They were happy to share their throatsearing brew. We drank despite the flecks of black debris floating in our cups the astronomical alcohol levels must surely obliterate any harmful organisms, I assured myself. We politely declined sampling from the plate of rancid fish displayed on the hosts dining room table. The trek to Banglue, located near Kengtung in eastern Shan State, had not been particularly gruelling. Sure, it was mostly uphill, and yes, my wife Thandar Khine and I had tackled the hike in mid-May, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. But the walking distance from where we parked the car was only 3 kilometres (2 miles), which we covered in 40 minutes of casual ambling including a pause to toss twigs at a small cobra we saw hiding along the trail, in a fruitless effort to elicit some movement from the poorly concealed serpent. The relative ease of access is one reason Banglue is among the most popular day-treks in the Kengtung area. Another reason is the appeal of the village itself, a picturesque collection of 26 wooden houses built on the side of a steep hill. The 100 or so Eng who live in Banglue still wear traditional black costumes on a day-to-day basis, and many continue the habit of chewing a local variety of betel nut that turns their lips and mouths black. The practice has earned the Eng the nickname blackteeth people among other ethnic groups in the area. I had first visited the village in 2004, at which time the residents seemed unprepared to welcome tourists. Back then, the dogs were angry and hostile, the children either frowned or ran in terror when they spotted me entering
The Eng people from Banglue in Shan State chew a particular type of betel nut that stains their teeth black. Photo: Douglas Long

the village, and no one rushed out of their homes to sell me handicrafts. Things were different during this years visit. By the time we left the drinking hut, word had spread that tourists were in the vicinity, and the women temporarily abandoned their house-to-house wine-tasting tour to ambush us with a heap of handmade hats, necklaces and bracelets. As the inebriated men staggered their way to the next pit stop, Thandar Khine and I found ourselves enveloped in a flurry of

inside the shamans house included a hanging altar crafted from animal skulls bound together with twine where offerings were made to ensure a successful hunt and a huge drum that was only played two or three times a year on special religious holidays. Francis was able to supply only the vaguest explanations about the Engs religious beliefs, which clearly existed somewhere beyond the confines of the minutely documented, recorded and dissected cult of the 37 nats (spir-

When people die, they are gone from the earth, he said. But where they went he had no idea, and he didnt care to speculate. And how did he think the human race, the earth and the universe were created? By gods? By a cosmic explosion? Did the Kruy have any creation stories? We dont know about those things, the elderly man laughed. All we care about is praying to our village spirits. Coincidentally, like those in Banglue,

The Eng are animists, and the relics inside the shamans house included a hanging altar crafted from animal skulls bound together with twine.
fluttering fabric and clinking jewellery. After much haggling and a few unnecessary purchases, we broke free from the mobile souvenir market and caught up with the mens group at their last stop of the day, the village shamans house. We were invited inside for another bout of drinking, but we were told that if we touched any of the religious objects, we would have to pay an unspecified fine. The Eng are animists, and the relics its). This was a more rustic, pastoral animism whose adherents see spirits in every rock, tree and trickling stream. It wasnt clear whether our guides oblique answers were based on his inability (or unwillingness) to answer questions about Eng religion, or whether the beliefs themselves were hazy and poorly defined. Ive encountered both circumstances in my travels, and not just in Myanmar. In Battambang, Cambodia, I once had the misfortune of hiring a Buddhist guide who responded to my questions about spirit worship by saying that animists were ignorant and superstitious, and that their beliefs werent worth discussing. On a separate trip, I had a somewhat more positive experience. In 2010 I travelled to Ratanakiri province in northeastern Cambodia with a Khmer guide who took great pains to accommodate my questions about the religious beliefs of the animists there. In the remote, ethnic Kruy village of Preung Lok, we sat under a shady tree talking to a group of local elders, with my guide acting as translator. Concerning my first question about the worship and appeasement of nature spirits, the groups leader explained that trees can have good or bad spirits. When theres a bad spirit, we cut the tree down and have a ceremony to banish the spirit. We make offerings to trees with good spirits and pray for protection for the village, he said. Attempts at deeper scrutiny of local spiritual beliefs met resistance, and the rest of my questions elicited either confusion or mild amusement. On the subject of life after death, the Kruy elder said there was no such thing as reincarnation. the animists of northeastern Cambodia proved themselves quite fond of sipping cheap, noxious rice wine through bamboo straws. With the religious conversation having run its course, we abandoned the unseen nature spirits in favour of those that were more palpable the type whose presence can be detected by the way they burn the throat on the way down. Back in Banglue, Eng Mardi Gras started petering out around noon. The drinking group broke up, each man heading home to sleep off his ricewine-and-sour-fish daze so he would be ready to head back into the fields early the next morning. Among the questions that our guide was unable to answer satisfactorily: Why did a village of animists hold a once-a-year Mardi Gras to mark the approach of Buddhist Lent? And why did it occur more than two months ahead of this years July 22 start of the Lent period? The villagers are 90 percent animist and 10 percent Buddhist, Francis explained, without really explaining. Perhaps he was suggesting that the Eng were Buddhist enough to mark the coming of Lent, but animist enough to do so according to their own esoteric calendar. Obstructed once again by a veil of vagueness, I didnt press very hard for more information. The summer sun was raining hot spears onto the Shan hills, and we still had a few more ethnic villages to visit before circling back to our parked car. Already firmly in the grip of my own rice-wine stupor, I could only hope there were no more localised pre-Lenten festivals to enjoy along the way.

Villagers in Ratanakiri, Cambodia share simliar animist traditions to the Eng people of Banglue in Shan State. Photo: Douglas Long

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the pulse 49

Watch Docs in Yangon:

Upcoming film fest to highlight human rights docos
WITH a geographic spread stretching from Chile to Pakistan, and topics ranging from civil rights to urbanisation, the upcoming Watch Docs in Yangon will feature 14 documentaries over three days on September 5-7. A movie and human rights event, Watch Docs in Yangon will be held at the American Center in Dagon township. Festival organisers say audiences will enjoy free entry for some of the worlds best documentaries, and theyre hoping the combination will get people watching and talking. By organising Watch Docs in Yangon we are hoping to trigger discussions between festival participants on the most timely and controversial challenges around the globe, organisers said in a statement. The majority of the movies are screening in Myanmar for the first time ever. One of the most exciting components of the festival will be workshops led by Polish directors Jan Czarlewski and Piotr Stasik. Manny Maung

Daw San San Nwe was arrested on two separate occasions, both times as a prisoner of conscience. Photo: Ko Taik

Shedding light on dark experiences

Female ex prisoners break their silence in new book
ZON PANN PWINTT
Tae Pae Darpaemae Chin Thae (Alone but Lion) and Mahuyar Akyin Htaung (Onyx Prison) which is into its second print run. I thought there would be many women prisoners who had bitter stories to tell but had not had the chance to tell them yet, she added. Daw San San Nweh said she was able to track down the other nine authors because she had spent time in prison with them, and was later able to convince them to relate their experiences. She said the book will not please all readers because its authors are not professional writers, although all the accounts are true. When a woman is imprisoned, her family left behind is usually thrown into chaos, she explained. My children were grown up enough to care for themselves when I was in prison so my family wasnt in a state of disorder, but some of my fellow prisoners experienced this problem. She added that when a man is imprisoned, his wife is expected to take care of the children and help her husband in prison. When political prisoners are arrested, they cannot bring anything with them. Women have the additional trouble of coping with their period every month; they dont have a spare change of clothes and have to appear in court in the same clothes they were wearing at the time they were taken in, she explained. Keeping female prisoners in such conditions strips them of their dignity. I am still feeling bitterness. Ma Cho Nwe Oo is one of the co-authors of the compilation. She recounted her story: The worst thing was that I spent 50 days of confinement as a political prisoner in the same clothes that I was wearing before a verdict was even reached. She also felt terrible guilt, having to see her own parents worrying about her and being intimidated and chased by secret police while she was incarcerated. My parents came to harm when I was in prison, Ma Cho Nwe Oo said. And when they came to prison, they were made to sit on the dirty floor in order to shame them. Sometimes, the officials didnt allow my parents to leave food for me and they endured that pain when they knew that I wasnt going to be able to eat. Another author, Ma Pyone Pyone Aye also felt the strains of life outside while she was held as a political prisoner. Her mother, who took responsibility for her three daughters, died in 1998 when both she and her husband were both jailed. For Daw San San Nwe, the lack of reading or writing materials to help pass the time really made her suffer. I got cheroots sometimes, which are made with roasted tobacco encased in a cylinder made from newspaper and dried corn husk. When I finished smoking the cheroot, Id pull it apart to read the newspaper. I became accustomed to using this method to quench my thirst for reading. The contributors of Nay Laung Khan Pan Thatin are Daw San San Nwe (Thayawaddy), Ma Cho Nwe Oo, Daw Nge Ma Ma Than (a cousin of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) Khin Ma Gyi, Mo Mo Aye, Pyone Pyone Aye, Ma Thida, Khin Nyein Thit, Mar Mar Oo, May Ei Khin. The book, published by Lin Lun Khin Publishing House is available at good book stores, and priced at K2500.

Watch Docs in Yangon

When : 10am-5pm on September 5, 6 and 7. Where : American Center For more information: Watch Docs in Yangon Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/225893047561222/ Parent festival site: www.watchdocsinyangon.com (click flag in upper right for English language) To entre the film competition: www.solidarityshorts.org

zonpann08@gmail.com

EN former female political prisoners have released a book detailing their experiences in detention. The book, Nay Laung Khan Pan Thatin (The News of the Sunburnt Flower), was edited by former political prisoner and author Daw San San Nweh (Thayawaddy) and co-written by nine others. The release follows a string of books from other recent political prisoners, such as leaders of 88 Generation Students Association Ko Mya Aye (Moe Kaung Kin Hnite Tain Taik Myar Clouds in the Sky); Ko Jimmys Lamin Sandar Inle Kantha (The Moon in Inle Lake), stitched together true stories from prison with tales from his imagination, while comedian Zaganars books Pahtama (First) and Dutaya (Second) showed the funny side of the darkest situations. However, the latest release marks a significant departure since it was written exclusively by women and details the unique challenges they faced behind bars, said Daw San San Nweh, who was imprisoned twice from 1989 to 1990 and from 1994 to 2001. The other nine authors are not noted writers but their accounts were edited by Daw San San Nweh. I have often been asked to write about my experiences in prison at a time when many former political prisoners, who are known in the political field, wrote their accounts, said Daw San San Nweh, a novelist whose portfolio includes Ta Kaung

50 the pulse tea break

Universal Crossword
Edited by Timothy E. Parker

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

SUDOKU PACIFIC

HELTER SHELTER By Monnie Wayne

ACROSS 1 A gem of a lady? 5 Wooden footwear 10 Cantina offering 14 Sub ___ (secretly) 15 Tie a quick knot? 16 Islamic prayer leader 17 Be abundant (with) 18 Up and about 19 French door part 20 It may be reached in a hospital 23 Made from flax 24 Volcano shapes 25 Elf or fairy 28 K-i-s-s-i-n-g place 30 Stew vegetable 31 Mississippi delta feature 33 Animal doctor 36 Requiring a handyman 40 Harper Valley ___ 41 Live Free or Die, for New Hampshire 42 Flat-topped tableland 43 Drug cooked up in labs 44 Anheuser-Busch is one 46 Barbecue chefs wear 49 Theres Something ___ Mary 51 Revealing, as the key to a mystery 57 Apple remnant 58 Conforming to the rules 59 Bygone days 60 Burden of proof 61 Department and river of France 62 Luxurious retreats 63 Outdoor wedding rental 64 Contemptuous expression 65 Cause of rage against the machine? DOWN 1 Supper scraps 2 Versifier 3 On a slow boat to 4 Resembling ewe? 5 Calm or tranquil 6 Carrolls adventuress 7 Physics particle 8 Subject to further consideration 9 Exhibit an inclination 10 Proceed cautiously 11 At great speed, at sea 12 Pond glider 13 Theyre meaningful to the superstitious 21 Soused 22 Freeze over 25 ___ Slidin Away 26 Closely confined (with up) 27 Soap actress Sofer 28 Green party? 29 Fish eggs 31 Either-or alternative 32 90 degrees from starboard 33 A lake, from a hotel room 34 Whiskey source 35 Russias Nicholas, for one 37 Change ones story? 38 Com preceder 39 Februarys birthstone 43 Demure 44 Basement fixture, for many 45 Bearskin ___ 46 Fancy tie 47 Cell or rotary item 48 Encore presentation 49 College Station athlete 50 Alarming sound 52 Afflictions 53 Advertising material? 54 African antelope 55 Like some advanced exams 56 Where worms may be served

DILBERT

BY SCOTT ADAMS

PEANUTS

BY CHARLES SCHULZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

BY BILL WATTERSON

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

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

Telephone us now on +951 392 928

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse food and drink 51

For a regular pulse, tuck into garbanzo beans

PHYO'S COOKING ADVENTURE
GARBANZO BEAN COUSCOUS INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4) 35-40 grams coriander (about a handful) 2 tins (125 grams) garbanzo beans 5-6 dates onion 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon paprika 6 boiled tomatoes, diced 1/3 cup passata 1 cup uncooked couscous 1 cup boiling water 2 tablespoons cooking butter 2 teaspoon lemon zest salt to taste 1 tablespoon lemon juice lemon wedges (optional) fried red dried chillies (optional)
Garbanzo (chickpeas) and cous couse Photo: Phyo

phyocooking@gmail.com

TS Mediterranean month at my house, and it can be at your house as well with the help of a few quick and easy recipes. And why not? Mediterranean food is rich with antioxidants and naturally healthy. Plus, the base ingredients tomatoes, spices, rice and beans are all easily found here in Myanmar. If you check your fridge and cupboards, you may even have everything you need already. Local masala stands in for Moroccan spices easily, but if youve got the real deal on hand, feel free go with that instead. Both of this weeks recipes use garbanzo beans, which you may know as chickpeas. Make sure to fully drain off the liquid from the tinned variety, as many manufacturers use that to load up the salt content. Once drained and washed, however, regular servings of garbanzo beans have been shown to have all sorts of health benefits. As well as being a great source of fibre, theyve been proven to help fight blood sugar and cholesterol problems. I chose this weeks second recipe because I wanted to introduce couscous to my readers. In Myanmar we often use semolina for our sweet desserts and sometimes even

heatproof bowl and pour in 1 cup boiling water. Mix and immediately cover with aluminum foil or other tight lid for 5-7 minutes until the couscous has absorbed all the water. Then, uncover and fluff with a fork. Add butter to a frying pan and melt over medium heat, spreading to cover the whole surface of the pan. Add couscous and mix well. Add grated lemon zest and salt for taste, then add lemon juice and toss well. When the curry is ready, remove from heat. Dish up couscous onto a plate, then spoon curry on the top. Serve with lemon wedges and fried red dried chillies. TIPS Remove saucepan from heat when adding tomato paste, which may spit when the pot is very hot. For more curry, add more chopped boiled tomatoes. SHOPPING Couscous is available at Quarto Products on Inya Road and other big supermarkets. Passata (a thick Italian tomato paste) is also available at QP. Masala, particularly Kalarlay brand, is available at any supermarket. QUOTE People who love to eat are always the best people. Julia Child, US chef, author and television personality. NEXT WEEK: Mediterranean month continues

in mohinga. Im sure youll find couscous an easy alternative to rice. GARBANZO BEAN SALAD INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4) 2 tins (125 grams) garbanzo beans 3 tablespoons olive oil a pinch of salt black pepper to taste 2 teaspoons masala 3 tomatoes onion 50 grams rocket leaves 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 teaspoons sugar salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION Open tins, drain off liquid and wash beans gently under running water to reduce saltiness. In a large bowl combine beans, olive oil, salt, black pepper and masala. Mix well and let set at least 45 minutes for flavours to spread. Meanwhile, halve tomatoes, remove seeds and slice into wedges about as wide as your finger. Slice onion, wash well and pat dry. Wash rocket leaves and pat dry. When bean mixture is ready, add in tomatoes, onions, rocket, lemon juice and sugar. Toss well, adding additional salt and black pepper to taste as desired. Serve immediately.

PREPARATION Wash coriander, including stems. Dice stems and pick leaves. Remove beans from tin and wash under running water to remove saltiness. Pit dates and chop roughly. Slice onion. Add olive oil to saucepan and heat over medium heat. Saut onions until transparent, add tomato paste and fry for 2 minutes. Add paprika and fry for few seconds, then add diced boiled tomatoes. Let boil, then add passata and mix well. Turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add beans and chopped dates, mixing well. Simmer for another 10 minutes or until sauce becomes paste-like. Meanwhile, add couscous to a

Wine Review
R W ED IN E
Pigmenum Cahors Malbec 2008 Being anything but boring, this Malbec has a full body and light finish. Raspberries meet chocolate notes and sorbet. A drink for all occasions.

Safe and sound at the Corriander Leaf

Local curry house proves its still one of the best
MANNY MAUNG manny.maung@gmail.com ITS been awhile since Ive eaten Indian food, so when the opportunity arose I felt I should do it in style. The Corriander Leaf has become one of those oftreviewed Yangon institutions, but I felt another visit would be worthwhile to see if they had kept pace with the high praise they had received previously. When I dropped by on a recent evening, there was a calm vibe despite a large crowd of diners clustered in the middle of the room. I chose to dine upstairs where there werent so many guests and it felt slightly more private. As a side benefit, I ended up being attended to by four different waiters, so I was very well looked after. The dcor is sparse and somewhat tacky for my taste, but the place is clean and smells of heavenly spices. The menu has an extensive list of dishes from Northern India and also caters to halal dining. I chose some of my favourites: vegetable kofta in a cream sauce, mutton rogan josh, and roti bread with a mixed raita on the side. The food came out piping hot within 10 minutes of ordering. The roti bread was one of the best Ive eaten, and was not at all oily. The kofta was great, with a good chewy texture, although there were only about five small rolls in the cream sauce, so a larger portion would have been appreciated. The mutton was soft and fell apart nicely. It was great to be eating Northern Indian fare that wasnt overly rich or oily, and the raita yoghurt brought the flavours together perfectly. Another reason to visit the Corriander Leaf is their extensive wine selection. Although leaning more to the middle and expensive end of the spectrum, there is good variety and quality to the wines available. The Corriander Leaf also provides a take-away and delivery service.

Score

9/10
K

15,000

Roti bread and curries served at the Corriander Leaf. Photos: Manny Maung

W W HIT IN E E

Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Sharp and zesty, this Sauvignon Blanc is great after being left at room temperature for about 10 minutes out of the fridge. Be careful with the cork as easily aerates.

The Corriander Leaf

Ahlone Road, Building 12, Yangon International Compound. Ph: 09 43185008, 01 230330369 Food: 8 Drink: 7 Service: 9 Atmosphere: 7 X-factor: 7 Value for money: 7 Total Score:

Score

7/10
K

19,000

7.5/10

52 the pulse socialite

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

48th Singapore National Day celebration

Jenny Low, Philip Low, Jessica Ng and Wilfred Lai U Myint Swe, Daw Khin Thet Htay, U Soe Thane, Robert Chua and Hisayo Chua Ng Cheong Yew and Petrina Bey Jonathan Adhi and Linda Herawaty

First National Insurance launch

Nam Sik Ahn Tin Moe Lwin Dr. Maung Maung Thein U Aung San

Beatrice Gutknecht

The Standard restaurant opening

Samsung Companys Dealer night

Myo Thein Tin Zar Kyaw Daw Khin Aye Thit U Aye Min Thein Ko Bo Thurein

Ko Nge and Ma Mee Mee

Ramco Cement seminar

Herry Murali, Sein Win, Myint Aung, Dr. Pyone Pyone Han and Prakesh Ko Nge and his staffs

Medical Insurance Expo

Tun Tun Oo and Aye Aye Min

Golds opening ceremony

Tin Ma Ma Aye Min Than

www.mmtimes.com
NAUM BWAI
hknuambawi@gmail.com

the pulse socialite 53

SOCIALITE likes to think shes a lady of style, but shell admit to having some fine competition when she attended this years Miss Supranational Mynmar 2013 event to see the gorgeous Khin Wint Wah crowned as Myanmars representative in the international beauty contest. The 19-year-old student will be heading to Minsk in Belarus for the finals, which take place on September 6, and Socialite wishes her the very best of luck. Miss Khin Wint Wah is Myanmars debut entrant in the event, making her big news in the beauty world, but Socialite had newsworthy events of when she attended the opening of Associated Presss new office at the Strand Hotel on August 6. It was a busy day for your social reporter in which she also attended Ramco Cements Intro Seminar at Park Royal Hotel and the Medical Insurance Expo at Traders hotel. After all that business she was in need of some leisure by Monday August 8, so it was off to Bahan Township for the grand opening of The Standard Restaurant there and a taste of what Yangons latest eatery had to offer, before popping into the Samsung Companys dealer night at Sedona Hotel. The next day it was a return to Sedona for Socialite as she joined in the 48th Singapore National Day celebrations. Evening saw her attend a rather glam event marking the actress Phway Phways Birthday Party at My Garden Restaurant. No rest for the social, but at least the close of the weeks tour had a healthy theme as Socialite attended Perfectils new vitabiotic product launch at Park Royal Hotel on Thursday August 11. And because Socialite never likes to miss an opportunity to show off her social life this weeks pages include a few pictures from events from past weeks which havent been published before.

Associated Press news agencys new office opening event

Kathleen Carrool Myat Thura Ayako Fuji and Ross Dunkley

Wai Yan, Yadana Htun and U Khin Maung Win

U Thein Aung

Nan Myat Phyoe Thin

Perfectil vitabiotic product launch

Phway Phways Birthday Party

Director, Wyne Actress, Phway Phway

54 the pulse travel

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES

YANGON TO NAY PYI TAW Flight 6T 401 FMI A1 FMI A1 FMI B1 FMI A1 FMI C1 Days 1 1,2,3,4,5 6 1,2,3,4,5 7 1,2,3,4,5 Dep 7:00 7:30 8:00 11:30 15:30 16:30 Arr 7:55 8:30 9:00 12:30 16:30 17:30 MANDALAY TO YANGON Flight Days Dep Y5 233 Daily 8:10 YJ 892 2,3,4,6,7 8:30 YJ 892 5 8:10 YH 918 Daily 8:40 YJ 143/W97143 1,2,3 9:20 6T 402/K7 223 2,3,4,5,6,7 8:55 K7 223 Daily 8:55 YJ 892 1 8:30 YJ 902 1 8:40 W9 201 4,5,6,7 9:10 W9 144 Daily 9:20 W9 201 1,2,3 9:25 Y5 132 3,5,6,7 9:30 6T 402 1 10:00 YJ 202 3 10:05 K7 227 2,4 10:35 K7 627 1,5 10:55 YJ 202 4 11:00 YJ 762 6 12:35 K7 845 2,4,7 12:50 YJ 202 1 15:30 W9 120 1,3 15:45 YJ 602 6 15:40 YJ 762 1 16:05 YJ 782 2 16:10 YH 732 1 16:10 YJ 212 5 16:30 YJ 762 2,4 16:35 YH 732 2,3,4,5,6,7 16:40 W9 129 4,5,6,7 16:40 YH 728 1,5 16:45 6T 502/K7 225 Daily 16:50 K7 225 Daily 16:50 W9 129 1,2,3 16:55 K7 625 Daily 17:10 8M 6604 2,4,7 17:20 YJ 725/W9 7752 7 17:20 YJ 212 7 17:20 YH 738 3,7 17:25 W9 511 2 17:30 W9 252 2 17:35 YJ 725/W9 7752 3 17:50 YH 730 2,4,6 18:00 YANGON TO NYAUNG U Flight Days Dep YH 917 Daily 6:10 YJ 891 1,2,3,4,6 ,7 6:10 YJ 891 5 6:30 6T 401/K7 222 2,3,4,5,6,7 6:30 K7 222 Daily 6:30 YJ 143/ W9 7143 1,2,3 7:00 6T 401 1 7:00 YJ 781 2 14:30 W9 129 1,2,3 14:45 W9 129 4,5,6,7 14:30 6T 501/K7 224 Daily 14:30 YH 731 1 14:30 YH 731 2,3,4,5,6 14:30 YH 731 7 15:00 K7 224 Daily 14:30 Arr 9:25 10:25 11:00 10:45 10:45 10:55 11:00 9:55 10:35 11:05 10:45 11:20 10:30 12:00 12:55 12:00 12:20 12:25 14:00 16:00 17:25 17:10 17:05 17:30 18:15 18:15 18:35 18:00 18:45 18:45 18:10 19:00 19:00 19:00 18:35 18:30 18:45 18:45 18:50 19:35 19:00 19:15 19:25 NYAUNG U TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 891 7 7:45 YH 917 Daily 7:45 YJ 891 2,3,4,6 7:45 YJ 143/W9 7143 1,2,3 8:35 YJ 143/W9 7143 4,5,6,7 8:05 K7 222 Daily 8:05 6T 401 2,3,4,5,6,7 8:05 YJ 891 5 8:55 YJ 891 1 7:45 6T 401 1 9:10 YH 732 1 16:55 YH 732 2,3,4,5,6,7 17:25 6T 502/K7 225 Daily 17:40 W9 129 1,2,3 17:40 W9 129 Daily 17:25 K7 225 Daily 17:45 YANGON TO MYITKYINA Flight Days Dep YJ 201 4 6:00 YJ 211 7 6:00 YJ 211 5 11:30 YJ 201 3 7:00 K7 844 2,4,7 7:30 W9 251 2 10:30 K7 624 Daily 10:30 YJ 201 1 11:00 MYITKYINA TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 202 4 9:35 YJ 211 7 9:05 YJ 211 5 14:35 YJ 202 3 10:05 K7 625 Daily 15:40 W9 252 2 16:05 YJ 202 1 16:30 YANGON TO HEHO Flight Days Dep YJ 891 7 6:10 YH 917 Daily 6:10 YJ 891 2,3,4,6 6:10 YJ 891 5 6:30 6T 401/K7222 2,3,4,5,6,7 6:30 K7 222 Daily 6:30 6T 401 1 7:00 YJ 761 6 7:00 YJ 901 1 7:00 W9 201 4,5,6,7 7:30 K7 828 1,3,5 7:30 W9 201 1,2,3 7:45 YJ 751/W9 7751 5 10:00 YJ 761 1 10:30 YJ 751/W9 7751 7 10:30 W9 119 1,3, 10:30 YJ 761 2,4 11:00 YJ 751/W9 7751 3 11:00 YH 727 1,5 11:15 YH 737 3,7 11:15 Arr 9:50 10:45 10:25 10:45 10:45 11:00 10:55 11:00 9:55 12:00 18:15 18:45 19:00 19:00 18:45 19:00 K7 826 W9 129 W9 129 6T 501/K7 224 K7 224 YH 731 2,6 1,2,3 4,5,6,7 Daily Daily 2,3,4,6 11:45 14:45 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 13:00 15:55 15:40 15:40 15:45 15:55 Flight YH 634 YJ 302 K7 320 6T 708 6T 708 YJ 302 MYEIK TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,4,5,7 11:25 2 11:25 Daily 11:30 2 11:55 6 15:40 4,7 15:10 Arr 13:25 13:35 13:35 13:55 17:40 18:45

NAY PYI TAW TO YANGON Flight FMI A2 FMI A2 FMI B2 FMI A2 FMI C2 Days 1,2,3,4,5 6 1,2,3,4,5 7 1,2,3,4,5 Dep 8:50 10:00 13:00 17:00 18:00 Arr 9:50 11:00 14:00 18:00 19:00

YANGON TO MANDALAY Flight YJ 211 W9 512 YJ 891 YJ 891 YH 917 Y5 234 6T 401/K7222 K7 222 YJ 201 K7 626 K7 226 YJ 201 YJ 901 YJ 143/W97143 W9 251 6T 401 YJ 761 W9 201 8M 6603 YJ 751/W9 7751 YJ 761 W9 251 K7 624 YJ 751/W9 7751 YJ 201 YJ 761 YJ 751/W9 7751 YJ 601 YH 737 YH 727 YH 729 YJ 211 YH 731 YH 731 W9 129 YJ 781 K7 224 6T 501/K7 224 YH 731 Days 7 3 1,2,3,4,6 5 Daily Daily 2,3,4,5,6,7 Daily 4 1,5 2,4 3 1 1,2,3 Daily 1 6 1,2,3 2,4,7 5 1 2 Daily 7 1 2,4 3 6 3,7 1,5 2,4,6 5 1 2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3 2 Daily Daily 7 Dep 6:00 6:00 6:10 6:30 6:10 6:15 6:30 6:30 6:00 6:45 6:45 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:45 9:00 10:00 10:30 10:30 10:30 10:30 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:15 11:15 11:15 11:30 14:30 14:30 14:45 14:30 14:30 14:30 15:00 Arr 7:25 8:05 8:15 7:55 8:40 7:30 8:35 8:40 7:55 8:10 8:10 8:25 8:25 9:05 9:05 9:40 8:55 9:10 10:10 11:55 12:25 11:55 11:55 12:25 12:25 12:55 12:55 12:25 13:25 13:25 14:15 12:55 16:10 16:40 16:40 15:55 16:35 16:35 16:40

Arr 9:20 8:50 14:20 9:50 11:05 13:25 13:25 13:50

Arr 12:25 12:25 18:35 12:55 18:35 19:00 17:25

HEHO TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 892 7 8:40 YJ 892 2,3,4,6 9:15 YJ 902 1 9:25 YH 918 Daily 9:35 YJ 892 5 9:50 6T 402/K7223 2,3,4,5,6,7 9:45 K7 223 Daily 9:45 W9 201 4,5,6,7 9:55 W9 201 1,2,3 10:10 6T 402 1 10:50 YJ 762 6 11:50 K7 829 1,3,5 13:50 W9 120 1,3 15:00 YJ 762 1 15:20 YJ 762 2,4 15:50 YJ 762 6 11:50 W9 129 1,2,3 16:10 YJ 752/W9 7752 5 16:55 W9 129 4,5,6,7 15:55 YH 731 2,3,4,6 15:55 YH 728 1,5 16:00 6T 501/K7 224 Daily 16:00 K7 224 Daily 16:00 YJ 602 6 16:25 YH 738 3,7 16:40 K7 827 2,6 17:25 YANGON TO SIT T WE Days Dep 5 11:15 3,7 11:30 Daily 12:30 1 12:30 2,4,6 14:30 SIT T WE TO YANGON Days Dep 3,7 13:15 5 13:35 Daily 14:05 1 14:15 2 16:15 4,6 16:15 YANGON TO MYEIK Days Dep Daily 7:00 2 7:00 1,3,4,5,7 7:00 2 7:30 6 11:15 4,7 12:45

Arr 9:50 10:25 10:35 10:45 11:00 10:55 11:00 11:05 11:20 12:00 14:00 15:05 17:10 17:30 18:00 14:00 19:00 18:05 18:45 18:45 18:10 19:00 19:00 17:35 18:50 18:40

YANGON TO THANDWE Flight Days Dep 6T 605 5 11:15 6T 607 1 12:30 THANDWE TO YANGON Flight Days Dep 6T 605 5 12:25 6T 608 1 15:20

Arr 12:10 15:05

Arr 15:00 16:15

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

Air KBZ (K7)

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

Air Mandalay (6T)

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

Asian Wings (YJ)

Tel: 951 516654, 532253, 09-731-35991~3.Fax: 951 532333

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5)

Tel: 95 9 400446999, 95 9 400447999, Fax: 95 9 73256067

Arr 7:45 7:30 8:40 7:50 7:50 8:20 8:55 16:40 17:25 17:10 17:20 16:55 17:25 17:25 17:25

Arr 8:25 9:35 9:00 9:35 9:30 9:30 10:35 8:10 9:10 9:40 8:45 9:55 11:10 11:40 11:40 11:40 12:10 12:10 12:40 12:40

Flight 6T 605 6T 611 K7 426 6T 607 6T 611

Arr 13:15 12:55 13:50 13:55 15:55

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

FMI Air Charter - Sales & Reservations

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

Domestic
Arr 14:40 15:00 15:25 16:15 18:10 17:40 6T = Air Mandalay W9 = Air Bagan YJ = Asian Wings K7 = AIR KBZ YH = Yangon Airways FMI = FMI AIR Charter Y5 = Golden Myanmar Airlines Arr 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:30 13:15 14:55

Flight 6T 612 6T 606 K7 427 6T 608 6T 612 6T 612

Flight K7 319 YJ 301 YH 633 6T 707 6T 707 YJ 301

Subject to change without notice

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

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse travel 55

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES

Flights PG 706 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 TG 302 PG 708 8M 331 PG 704 Y5 237 TG 306 YANGON TO BANGKOK Days Dep Daily 7:15 Daily 9:00 Daily 9:50 Daily 10:30 Daily 14:55 Daily 15:20 1,5,6 16:30 Daily 18:20 Daily 18:05 Daily 19:45 Arr 9:30 10:45 11:45 12:25 16:50 17:15 18:15 20:15 19:50 21:40 Arr 10:20 19:35 Arr 5:00 12:25 14:40 14:45 16:05 16:05 21:15 Arr 11:50 12:50 16:30 20:00 Arr 21:55 Arr 13:15 15:50 22:15 Arr 16:15 Arr 18:35 18:00 17:35 Arr 16:10 Arr 21:30 MANDALAY TO KUNMING Flights Days Dep MU 2030 Daily 14:40 Flights 8M 336 TG 303 PG 701 TG 301 PG 707 PG 703 TG 305 8M 332 PG 705 Y5 238 BANGKOK TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 6:15 Daily 7:55 Daily 8:50 Daily 13:00 Daily 13:40 Daily 16:45 Daily 17:50 Daily 19:15 Daily 20:15 Daily 21:10 Arr 17:20 Arr 7:00 8:50 9:40 13:45 14:30 17:35 18:45 20:00 21:30 21:55 Arr 8:00 17:20 Arr 9:20 10:40 10:40 13:25 14:50 15:45 17:05 23:35 Arr 13:15 Arr 8:00 11:15 13:50 14:40 Arr 10:30 16:35 15:50 Arr 9:55 Arr 11:30 13:15 13:55 Arr 18:10 Arr 18:10 DON MUEANG TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep Arr FD 2760 Daily 10:50 12:15 KUNMING TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep MU 2029 Daily 13:55 Arr 13:50

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

YANGON TO DON MUENG Flights Days Dep FD 2752 Daily 8:30 FD 2754 Daily 17:50 Flights MI 509 8M 231 Y5 233 SQ 997 8M 6232 3K 586 MI 517 YANGON TO SINGAPORE Days Dep 1,6 0:25 Daily 8:00 Daily 10:10 Daily 10:25 Daily 11:30 Daily 11:30 Daily 16:40

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

Peyote seekers on mind-bending missions

MEXICO

DON MUENG TO YANGON Flights Days Dep FD 2751 Daily 7:15 FD 2753 Daily 16:35 Flights SQ 998 3K 585 8M 6231 VN 943 8M 232 MI 518 Y5 234 MI 520 Flights CA 905 SINGAPORE TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 7:55 Daily 9:10 Daily 9:10 2,4,7 11:40 Daily 13:25 Daily 14:20 Daily 15:35 5,7 22:10 BEIJING TO YANGON Days Dep 2,3,4,6,7 12:40

Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, Fax : 515102 Tel : 666112, 655882. Tel : 253597~98, 254758. Fax: 248175

Bangkok Airways (PG) Condor (DE)

Tel: 255122, 255 265, Fax: 255119 Tel: + 95 1 -370836 up to 39 (ext : 810)

CAROLA SOLE

YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR Flights Days Dep 8M 501 1,3,6 7:50 AK 1427 Daily 8:30 MH 741 Daily 12:15 MH 743 Daily 15:45 Flights CA 906 YANGON TO BEIJING Days Dep 2,3,4,6,7 14:15

Dragonair (KA)

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

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5) Malaysia Airlines (MH)

Tel: 95 9 400446999, 95 9 400447999, Fax: 95 9 73256067 Tel : 387648, 241007 ext : 120, 121, 122 Fax : 241124

YANGON TO GAUNGZHOU Flights Days Dep 8M 711 4,7 8:40 CZ 3056 3,6 11:20 CZ 3056 1,5 17:40 Flights CI 7916 Flights MU 2012 MU 2032 CA 906 YANGON TO TAIPEI Days Dep 1,2,3,5,6 10:50 YANGON TO KUNMING Days Dep 1,3 12:20 2,4,5,6,7 14:40 2,3,4,6,7 14:15

KAULA LUMPUR TO YANGON Flights Days Dep AK 1426 Daily 6:55 MH 740 Daily 10:05 8M 502 1,3,6 12:50 MH742 Daily 13:30 GUANGZHOU TO YANGON Flights Days Dep CZ 3055 3,6 8:40 CZ 3055 1,5 14:45 8M 712 4,7 14:15 Flights CI 7915 Flights MU 2011 CA 905 MU 2031 TAIPEI TO YANGON Days Dep 1,2,3,5,6 7:00 KUNMING TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3 8:20 2,3,4,6,7 12:40 2,4,5,6,7 13:30

Myanmar Airways International(8M)

Tel : 255260, Fax: 255305

Silk Air(MI)

Tel: 255 287~9, Fax: 255 290

Thai Airways (TG)

Tel : 255491~6, Fax : 255223

Vietnam Airlines (VN)

Fax : 255086. Tel 255066/ 255088/ 255068.

Qatar Airways (Temporary Office)

Tel: 01-250388, (ext: 8142, 8210)

YANGON TO CHIANG MAI Flights Days Dep W9 9607 4,7 14:20 Flights VN 956 YANGON TO HANOI Days Dep 1,3,5,6,7 19:10

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

CHIANG MAI TO YANGON Flights Days Dep W9 9608 4,7 17:20 Flights VN 957 HANOI TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,5,6,7 16:35

YANGON TO HO CHI MINH CITY Flights Days Dep Arr VN 942 2,4,7 14:25 17:10 Flights QR 619 YANGON TO DOHA Days Dep 1,4,5 8:15 Arr 11:15

HO CHI MINH CITY TO YANGON Flights Days Dep Arr VN 943 2,4,7 11:40 13:25 BANGKOK TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep TG 781 2,3,5,7 7:25 Flights QR 618 Arr 8:50

YANGON TO PHNOM PENH Flights Days Dep Arr 8M 403 3 16:50 19:15 Flights 0Z 770 KE 472 YANGON TO SEOUL Days Dep Arr 3,4,6,7 0:35 9:10 Daily 23:35 08:05+1 Arr 6:00

DOHA TO YANGON Days Dep Arr 3,4,7 21:05 07:00+1

ISELE Beker, a 26-year-old Argentinian, trudged for hours in scorching sun to the sprawling Wirikuta desert, craving peyote, the cactus hallucinogen locals in Mexico deem sacred. Joined by three Mexican friends, Beker was living her dream as part of a new wave of tourists taking a trip for a trip in this case to see where Lophophora williamsii takes her. Did you strike gold yet? she asks her Mexican friends anxiously after a 700-kilometre (435-mile) hitchhike as they search the desert floor for the small, spineless cactus full of psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. The drug is technically illegal, but for centuries it has played a role in indigenous culture in northern Mexico and Texas, where it is part of transcendence and meditation practices in cultures such as the Wixarika, or Huicholes in Spanish. So much so, that this remote corner of San Luis Potosi state has become a bit of a promised land for those who have trekked here to try peyote, despite the logistical challenges, since the 1960s. The tourists just keep trickling in. They have not been deterred by the difficult topography, and there is no indication they have paid any heed to rusty, metal signs announcing regularly that Harvesting and selling peyote is a federal crime. Nor has the legal ban done anything to change the availability of local guides who, when they hear the magic words from tourists We want to go out to the desert sidle up and quietly offer their services. Cesar, one of Giseles friends, who wanted to keep his last name private, recalls his favorite saying: You do not find peyote. It finds you. When the group locates what they have come for, the rituals start in earnest.

Typically, people ask permission to enter the Wirikuta desert where the indigenous people believe the universe was created. An offering is made to the peyote plant once its collected and people are careful not to uproot it. The peyote is splashed with water and its small button-shaped fleshy parts are consumed. It is like a fruit, fleshy but very bitter, says Gisele. Native people consider the plant to be the symbolic heart of the deer god, as well as their communication hotline to their gods. Every year, the local community treks to Quemado hill led by a shaman who gives blessings and makes offerings to the peyote. Soaking up the mystical feel of the place, Mexican native Eliana bites on her peyote. Its like going inside your own spirit, she says. When I finish, I am going to think some more and then I am leaving. Many people experience heightened senses, synaesthesia, vomiting and other side effects while on the drug. Chris Biddle, a 32-year-old South African, said he and his girlfriend felt connected to nature, but that the experience is not for everybody. Local expert Jose Luis Bustos, 67, underscored that people who disrespect peyote may end up paying a price. Peyote is not a drug, he said. It is a sacred plant. And it must be treated with great respect, because if someone does something bad, the plant just may punish him, treat him badly. Others have voiced concerns about foreigners who come from around the world only, to die alone in the desert, or wind up in local psychiatric facilities. Mayor Hector Moreno warned, Peyote is exclusively for [indigenous] Huichol culture. The rest of us are only supposed to promote its preservation and respect for it. AFP

YANGON TO HONG KONG Flights Days Dep KA 251 1,2,4,6 1:10 Flights NH 914 Flights AI 228

PHNOM PENH TO YANGON Flights Days Dep Arr 8M 404 3 20:15 21:40 Flights KE 471 0Z 769 Flights NH 913 SEOUL TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 18:40 2,3,5,6 19:50 TOKYO TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,6 10:30 Arr 22:30 23:25 Arr 15:30 Arr 23:30 Arr 13:20

YANGON TO TOKYO Days Dep Arr 1,3,6 21:30 06:40+1 YANGON TO KOLKATA Days Dep 1,5 14:05 Arr 15:05

MANDALAY TO BANGKOK Flights Days Dep Arr TG 782 2,3,5,7 9:30 11:55 MANDALAY TO DON MUENG Flights Days Dep Arr FD 2761 Daily 12:45 15:00

HONG KONG TO YANGON Flights Days Dep KA 250 1,3,5,7 21:45 Flights AI 227 KOLKATA TO YANGON Days Dep 1,5 10:35

Subject to change without notice

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

Mexican peyote fruit is a mind-altering hallucinogenic when eaten. Photo: AFP

56 the pulse international

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

Gravity-defeating feats
Taekwondo black belts rise to the occasion to help develop cultural ties between Korea and Myanmar
LWIN MAR HTUN
lwinmarhtun.mcm@gmail.com

AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

AQUARIUS | Jan 20 - Feb 18

WEEKLY PREDICTIONS
LEO | Jul 23 - Aug 22 There is a lot that depends on the conditional elements of a relationship. Dedicate yourself to friendship through both the thick and think of it. A solution to a challenge that you are facing at the moment is be the leader others want to follow. Maintain that visionary independence and you will succeed.

Think about yourself as a life manager as though you were another self who had been hired to manage your life wisely. The key to success is perseverance and getting the job done whether you feel like it or not. Life decisions are to take place at the heart level while daily decisions take place at the head level. Challenge your assumptions.

UMPING up to an incredible height, the taekwondo black-belt first pivots on his heel, leaps and swings at warp speed to complete a jumping reverse hook kick, mid-air. His aim a solid piece of wood, which he manages to splinter in half as easily as he would a sesame-snap cracker. Its a definite crowd-pleaser. The performance is part of a Korean martial arts demonstration at the Wonderful Taekwondo! Beautiful Korea! cultural exchange show held on August 10 in Yangon. Korean pop culture (better known as K-pop) has steadily been growing in popularity in the country and Korea has been swift to capitalise on it. The cultural exchange provided a showcase of Korean culture such as classical dance and the martial arts sport of taekwondo to eager Myanmar fans. It even included K-pop musical renditions of popular songs that many in the crowd knew. The cultural expos was also aimed at promoting trade and relations between the two countries.

PISCES | Feb 19 - March 20 Remember the principle of reciprocity. But you will get more than what you give and you should never expect others to give you something that you are unwilling to give yourself. Take steps reinvigorate life where matters of the heart are concerned.

VIRGO | Aug 23 - Sep 22 The cycle of suspicion and discord in social relationships must end in order to maintain mutual trust and respect. Negative stereotypes towards you are because of the influences and obsession of superstitious attitudes that others harbour.

ARIES | Mar 21 - Apr 19

Jumping reverse hook kicks and high-kicking Taekwondo techniques are performed as part of a Korean cultural exchange show in Yangon on August 10. Photo: Boothee

LIBRA | Sep 23 - Oct 22 LA powerful mental transformation will help bring out your courageous, self-reliant and self-assured qualities which will help build trust in relationships. The opinions of others can add value to your outlook. Giving to others in need is also investing into the karma bank.

Myanmar and Korea already have ties in politics, business, culture and sport, said U Thaung Htike, Myanmars deputy minister for sport. Taekwondo is also popular here and a lot of instructors from Korea come here

as selectors for taekwondo as well as football. I hope that Myanmar and Korea will have even stronger ties through continuing relationships among our young people, he added.

An abundance of creative energy will belong to you. You should strive to express it wherever and whenever you can. Maintain your enthusiasm for supporting the things that are right you have to believe in something to accomplish things so that you can be emotionally harmonious.

Two-year project aims to promote ethnic literature

DOUGLAS LONG dlong125@gmail.com THE British Council in Yangon has kicked off a two-year literary project whose goals include developing and showcasing Myanmars ethnic minority writers and their communities, enabling freedom of expression through creative methods and promoting a global appreciation of Myanmar literature. The Hidden Words Hidden Worlds project was inaugurated with a creative writing methodologies workshop held at Last Leaf Gallery on Pansodan Street from August 5 to 8. The workshop was led by British poet David Byrne co-editor of a bilingual anthology of Myanmar poetry titled Bones Will Crow and attracted the participation of about 20 wellknown members of the local literary community, including Han Zaw and Khin Myint Oo. Lucas Stewart from the British Council, who is acting as the literature adviser for Hidden Words Hidden Worlds, explained that in the first year of the project, the workshop participants will pass their creative writing knowledge on to ethnic writers, who will, in turn, lead similar workshops for people in their own communities. Sixty community members will be selected to participate in these four regional workshops producing a short story on the subject of their choice in their regional language, Stewart said. He said a three-member panel will select the three best short stories from each of the four regional workshops based on literary merit, upholding the traditional literary forms of the region and general readability. In the second phase of the project, which will start in April 2014, the 12 selected short stories, plus one from each of the ethnic workshop instructors, will be translated from their regional language into Myanmar and published inside the country as a multilingual anthology. The second phase will also hopefully see the anthology translated into English through UK-based partners, but this depends on future funding opportunities, Stewart said. Although the material presented in Byrnes workshop was rooted in Western-style writing methods, Stewart said the Yangon-based instructors and ethnic writers will collaborate to produce workshop content that focuses on [traditional ethnic] forms of literature. Participant Han Zaw said the Yangon workshop was a good experience that encouraged original expression and taught participants how to pass their knowledge on to other writers. He also supported the idea of teaching these methods to ethnic writers. We must pass these creative writing methodologies on to ethnic writers. We need to support freedom of expression for ethnic groups and encourage them to write in their own language, he said. Ethnic minorities need to have the same opportunities, the same rights to express themselves as all other citizens of Myanmar.

TAURUS | Apr 20 - May 20 Every moment can be a golden one if only you could realise it. The difficulty lies in that you are allowing your mind to be clouded instead of finding problem solving solutions. Once you know that something is not going to threaten your emotional or physical wellbeing, you will be committed.

SCORPIO | Oct 23 - Nov 21 Consider your partner to be the most important person in the world. Confide with them and youll be able to future plan. Singles should take social events up in their calendars the stars are favourable toward finding that perfect mate. Love is hidden but its there if youre willing to take the leap.

GEMINI | May 21 - June 20 You can have anything you want, but you just cant have everything you want. Be grateful for the things that are in your life. Remember the saying: The great thing in this world is not so much where you are but what direction you are moving.

SAGITTARIUS | Nov 22 - Dec 21 The conditions are favourable toward finding those opportunities that let your talents shine. Try not to take up arguments this week, especially if you dont have your facts in order. For those in professions that require debate, be particularly careful about this. Think: wider perspectives.

Calling all shutterbugs in Mandalay

SI THU LWIN sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com Photographers in Mandalay looking to brush up their skills will be interested to know that next months 15-day training course taught by an acclaimed local photographer still has a few spots left. U Kyaw Win Hlaing has been honoured with more than 180 photography prizes, including four best photographer awards.He will be giving lessons on digital photography, studio lighting, photo structure and introduction to photo editing. Learners will be taught both theoretical and practicalskills for taking day and night scenes of landscapes and models, U Kyaw Win Hlaing said, adding the courses will help those aiming to be professional. The fifth of an ongoing series, the course will be held September 9-23 at High Tech Computer Training School on 29th Street, between 71stand 72nd streets, in Chan Aye Tharsan township. Enrollment is limited but those interested in applying can call 09450061686 or 09-8632313 for further details. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

CANCER | Jun 21 - Jul 22 Making mistakes can be an excellent way to learn. Rise above the foolish people around you and dont succumb to pressure. Be superior in knowing that you are virtuous of heart and intentions. If something pops up to make you uncomfortable, leave it be for now and tackle it after the next moon.

CAPRICORN | Dec 22 - Jan 19 Suppressed emotions are like poisonous electronic vibrations which can make physical health weaken slowly. Be constructive in making your hopes and aspirations become a reality. Your value and worth will be met if you manage yourself according to the laws of karma.

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

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 17, Kanbawza Avenue, Golden Velly (1), Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 566985, 503978, 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, fax: 227019, 228319 Danmark, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17, Fax 01- 9669516 Egypt 81, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 222886, 222887, email: egye mbyangon@ mptmail. net.mm France 102, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 212178, 212520, email: ambaf rance. rangoun@ diplomatie.fr Germany 9, Bogyoke Aung San Museum Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 548951, 548952, email: info@rangun. diplo.de India 545-547, Merchant St, Yangon. Tel: 391219, 388412, email: indiaembassy @ mptmail.net.mm Indonesia 100, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Rd, Yangon. Tel: 254465, 254469, 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 Rd, Yangon. Tel: 549644-8, 540399, 540400, 540411, 545988, fax: 549643 Embassy of the State of Kuwait Chatrium Hotel, Rm: 416, 418, 420, 422, 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe Tsp, Tel: 544500. North Korea 77C, Shin Saw Pu Rd, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 512642, 510205 South Korea 97 University Avenue, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 5271424, 515190, fax: 513286, email: myanmar@mofat. go.kr Lao A-1, Diplomatic Quarters, Tawwin Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 222482, fax: 227446, email: Laoembcab@ mptmail. net.mm Malaysia 82, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 220248, 220249, email: mwkyangon@ mptmail.net.mm Nepal 16, Natmauk Yeiktha, Yangon. Tel: 545880, 557168, fax: 549803, email: nepemb @mptmail.net.mm Norway, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17 Fax 01- 9669516 Pakistan A-4, diplomatic Quarters, Pyay Rd, 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 Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia No.287/289, U Wisara Rd, Sanchaung Tsp. Tel : 01-536153, 516952, fax : 01-516951 Serbia No. 114-A, Inya Rd, P.O.Box No. 943, Yangon. Tel: 515282, 515283, email: serbemb @ yangon.net.mm Singapore 238, Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 559001, email: singemb_ ygn@_ sgmfa. gov.sg Sri Lanka 34 Taw Win Road, Yangon. Tel: 222812, fax: 221509, email: slembassy. yangon@gmail.com The Embassy of Switzerland No 11, Kabaung Lane, 5 mile, Pyay Rd, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 534754, 512873, 507089. Fax: 534754, Ext: 110 Thailand 94 Pyay Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 226721, 226728, 226824 Turkish Embassy 19AB, Kan Yeik Thar St, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel : 662992, Fax : 661365 United Kingdom 80 Strand Rd, Yangon. Tel: 370867, 380322, 371852, 371853, 256438, fax: 370866 United States of America 110, University Avenue, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 536509, 535756, Fax: 650306 Vietnam Bldg-72, Thanlwin Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 511305 email: vnemb myr@ cybertech.net.mm UNITED NATIONS ILO Liaison 1-A, Kanbae (Thitsar Rd), Yankin Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-566538, 566539 Fax : 01-566582 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., Bahan, tel: 52910~19 UNICEF 14~15 Flr, Traders Hotel. P.O. Box 1435, Kyauktada. tel: 375527~32, fax: 375552 email: unicef. yangon@unicef. org, www.unicef.org/myanmar. UNODC 11-A, Malikha Rd., Ward 7, Mayangone. tel: 01-9666903, 9660556, 9660538, 9660398, 9664539, 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 Tsp. Ph: 225258. FAO Myanma Agriculture Service Insein Rd, Insein. tel: 641672, 641673. fax: 641561.

General Listing
ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS
No. 205, Corner of Wadan Street & Min Ye Kyaw Swa Road, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon. Myanmar. Tel: (95-1) 212850 ~ 3, 229358 ~ 61, Fax: (95-1) 212854. info@myanmarpandahotel .com http://www. myanmarpandahotel.com PARKROYAL Yangon, Myanmar 33, Alan Pya Pagoda Rd, Dagon tsp. tel: 250388. fax: 252478. email: enquiry.prygn@ parkroyalhotels.com parkroyalhotels. com. 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).

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

Asia Plaza Hotel

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

ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS (Nay Pyi Taw)

Royal White Elephant Hotel No-11, Kan Street, Hlaing Tsp. Yangon, Myanmar. (+95-1) 500822, 503986. www.rwehotel.com MGM Hotel No (160), Warden Street, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. +95-1-212454~9. www. hotel-mgm.com Savoy Hotel 129, Damazedi Rd, Kamayut tsp. tel: 526289, 526298, 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. Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966. Thamada Hotel 5, Alan Pya Phaya Rd, Dagon. Tel: 243639, 243640. Traders Hotel 223 Sule Pagoda Rd. tel: 242828. fax: 242838. Winner Inn 42, Than Lwin Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 503734, 524387. email: reservation@winner innmyanmar.com 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

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

Reservation Office (Yangon) No-123, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Dagon Tsp Tel : 01-255-819~838 Hotel Ayeyarwady (National Landmark, Zeyar Thiri Tsp, Nay Pyi Taw) Tel : 067-421-903, 09-4920-5016 E-Mail : reservation@ maxhotelsgroup.com

(Nay Pyi Taw)

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

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

AIR CONDITION

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.

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

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

No. 12, Pho Sein Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon Tel : (95-1) 209299, 209300, 209343, 209345, 209346 Fax : (95-1) 209344 E-mail : greenhill@ myanmar.com.mm Hotel Yangon 91/93, 8th Mile Junction, Mayangone. Tel : 01-667708, 667688. Inya Lake Resort Hotel 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 662866. fax: 665537.

ACCOMMODATION LONG TERM

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

HAPPY HOMES
REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Tel: 09-7349-4483, 09-4200-56994. E-mail: aahappyhomes@ gmail.com, http://www. happyhomesyangon.com

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

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

A Little Dayspa No. 475 C, Pyi Road, Kamayut, Yangon. Tel: 09-431-28831. MYANMARBOOKCENTRE Nandawun Compound, No. 55, Baho Road, Corner of Baho Road and Ahlone Road, (near Eugenia Restaurant), Ahlone Township. tel: 212 409, 221 271. 214708 fax: 524580. email:info@ myanmarbook.com

FITNESS CENTRE
Co-Working/Event Space Affordable & central projecthubyangon.com 01-1221265.

GEMS & JEWELLERIES

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

DUTY FREE

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

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

COFFEE MACHINE
Duty Free Shops Yangon International Airport, Arrival/Departure Tel: 533030 (Ext: 206/155) Office: 17, 2nd street, Hlaing Yadanarmon Housing, Hlaing Township, Yangon. Tel: 500143, 500144, 500145.

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

ADVERTISING
WE STARTED THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY IN MYANMAR SINCE 1991

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

A D V E R T I S I N G

No. 52, Royal Yaw Min Gyi Condo, Room F, Yaw Min Gyi Rd, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 09-425-307-717, 09516-6699.

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

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

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

No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) 9 666141 Fax : (951) 9 666135 Email : info@witoriyahospital.com Website : www.witoriyahosptial.com

CONSTRUCTION

ENGINEERING

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

Tel: 549612, Fax : 545770.

HOME FURNISHING

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

Spa Paragon Condo B#Rm-106, Shwe Hinthar Condo, Corner of Pyay Rd & Shwe Hinthar St, 6Mile, Yangon. Tel: 01-507344 Ext: 112, 09-680-8488, 09-526-1642.

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

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

Natural Gems of Myanmar No. 30 (A), Pyay Road (7 mile), Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 01-660397, 654398~9. E-mail: spgems.myanmar @gmail.com

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

CONSULTING

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

GENERATORS

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

BEAUTY & MASSAGE

BOOK STORES
Myanmar Research | Consulting | Technology

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

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

Shwe Hinthar B 307, 6 1/2 Miles, Pyay Rd., Yangon. Tel: +95 (0)1 654 730 info@thuraswiss.com www.thuraswiss.com

ENTERTAINMENT
Dance Club & Bar No.94, Ground Floor, Bogalay Zay Street, Botataung Tsp, Yangon.Tel: 392625, 09-500-3591 Email : danceclub. hola@gmail.com
(Except Sunday)

Traders Health Club. Level 5, Traders Hotel Yangon#223 Sule Pagoda Rd,Tel:951242828Ext:6561 The Yangon GYM Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966.

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

S.B. FURNITURE

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

HEALTH SERVICES

COOPER VALVES

FLORAL SERVICES
98(A), Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel: 553783, 549152, 09-732-16940, 09-730-56079. Fax: 542979 Email: asiapacific. myanmar@gmail.com.

INSURANCE

La Source Beauty Spa (Ygn) 80-A, Inya Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: 512380, 511252 La Source Beauty Spa (Mdy) No. 13/13, Mya Sandar St, Between 26 x 27 & 62 & 63 St, Chanaye Tharzan Tsp,In ning Mandalay. Ope ust Tel : 09-4440-24496. Aug La Source Beauty Spa Sedona Hotel, Room (1004) Tel : 666 900 Ext : (7167) LS Saloon Junction Square, 3rd Floor. Tel : 95-1-527242, Ext : 4001 www.lasourcebeautyspa.com

n oo !! ns ns Mo otio m o Pr

150 Dhamazedi Rd., Bahan T/S, Yangon. Tel: 536306, 537805. Room 308, 3rd Flr., Junction Center (Maw Tin), Lanmadaw T/S, Yangon. Tel: 218155, Ext. 1308. 15(B), Departure Lounge, Yangon Intl Airport. 45B, Corner of 26th & 68th Sts., Mandalay. Tel: (02) 66197. Email: yangon@monumentbooks.com

Exotic Alloys for Severe Service, Myanmar Sales Representative mlwin@coopervalves.com www.coopervalves.com

FASHION & TAILOR

CO WORKING SPACE
Sein Shwe Tailor, No.797 (003-A), Bogyoke Aung San Road, Corner of Wardan Street, MAC Tower 2, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, Ph: 01-225310, 212943~4 Ext: 146, 147, E-mail: uthetlwin@gmail.com

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

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

EXPATRIATE HEALTH INSURANCE Tel: (09) 49 58 02 61 thinthinswe@poe-ma.com

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

24 hours Laboratory & X-ray No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) 9 666141 Fax : (951) 9 666135

RISK & INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Tel: (09) 40 15 300 73 robert.b@poe-ma.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

FOAM SPRAY INSULATION

24 hours Cancer centre No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) 9 666141 Fax : (951) 9 666135

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.

GAS COOKER & COOKER HOODS

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

24 Hour International Medical Centre @ Victoria Hospital No. 68, Tawwin Rd, 9 Mile, Mayangon Township, Yangon, Myanmar Tel: + 951 651 238, + 959 495 85 955 Fax: + 959 651 398 24/7 on duty doctor: + 959 492 18 410 Website: www.leo.com.mm One Stop Solution for Quality Health Care

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.

MARINE COMMUNICATION & NAVIGATION

One Stop ENT Center No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) 9 666141 Fax : (951) 9 666135 Email : info@witoriyahospital.com Website : www.witoriyahosptial.com

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

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

AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013 THE MYANMAR TIMES

OFFICE FURNITURE

REAL ESTATE
Enchanting and Romantic, a Bliss on the Lake 62 D, U Tun Nyein Road, Mayangon Tsp, Yangon Tel. 01 665 516, 660976 Mob. 09-730-30755 operayangon@gmail.com www.operayangon.com 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) JunctionMawtin(CityMart) UnionBarAndGrill 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung, Yangon. Tel: 95 9420 180 214, 95 9420 101 854 www.unionyangon.com, info@unionyangon.com www.facebook.com/ UnionBarAndGrill

SERVICE OFFICE

WATER TANK

Open Daily (9am to 6pm) No. 797, MAC Tower II, Rm -4, Ground Flr, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Lamadaw Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (951) 212944 Ext: 303 sales.centuremyanmar@ gmail.com www.centure.in.th

Aye Yeik Tha Real Estate Mobile: 09-518 8320, 09-507 4096.

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.

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

PE WATER TANK

Tel : 01-684734, 685823, 09-7307-6589, 4500-48469. theone@yangon.net.mm

RESTAURANTS
FREE House-Hunting Service with English Speaking Expert. Tel : 09 2050107 robinsawnaing@gmail.com

WATER TREATMENT

SUPERMARKETS
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) tel: 294063. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Chinatown Point) tel: 215560~63. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Junction Maw Tin) tel: 218159. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Marketplace) tel: 523840~43. City Mart (78th Brahch-Mandalay) tel: 02-71467~9. IKON Mart No.332, Pyay Rd, San Chaung. Tel: 535-783, 527705, 501429. Email: sales-ikon@ myanmar.com.mm Junction Mawtin Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Cor of Wadan St. Lanmadaw. Ocean Supercentre (North Point ), 9th Mile. Tel: 651 200, 652963. Commercial scale water treatment (Since 1997) Tel: 01-218437~38. H/P: 09-5161431, 09-43126571. 39-B, Thazin Lane, Ahlone.

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

Win
Real Estate Agency Our Services - Office, House & Land (For Rent) (Agent Fees Free) Tel: 09-5018250, 73202480. realwin2012@gmail.com

Good taste & resonable price @Thamada Hotel Tel: 01-243047, 243639-41 Ext: 32 Acacia Tea Salon 52, Sayar San Rd, Bahan Tsp, Tel : 01-554739.

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

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

WATER HEATERS

Lunch/Dinner/Catering 555539, 536174

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

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

For House-Seekers

with Expert Services In all kinds of Estate Fields yomaestatemm@gmail.com

Tel : 09-332 87270 09-4203 18133 (Fees Free)

PAINT
Worlds No.1 Paints & Coatings Company

REMOVALISTS

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

No. 5, U Tun Nyein Street, Mayangone T/S, Yangon. Tel : 01-660 612, 011 22 1014, 09 50 89 441 Email : lalchimiste. restaurant@gmail.com

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

Monsoon Restaurant & Bar 85/87, Thein Byu Road, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 295224, 09-501 5653. No. 372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan T/S, Yangon. Tel : 01-380 398, 01-256 355 (Ext : 3027) Email : zawgyihouse@ myanmar.com.mm

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

Water Heater

WEB SERVICES

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

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

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.

Ocean Center (North Point), Ground Floor, Tel : 09-731-83900 01-8600056

SCHOOLS

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

PLEASURE CRUISES

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

Quality Chinese Dishes with Resonable Price @Marketplace by City Mart. Tel: 01-523840 Ext.109

Delicious Hong Kong Style Food Restaurant G-09, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: 01-508467-70 Ext: 114

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

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.

Heaven Pizza 38/40, Bo Yar Nyunt St. Yaw Min Gyi Quarter, Dagon Township. Tel: 09-855-1383

Indian Fine Dining & Bar Bldg No. 12, Yangon Intl Compound, Ahlone Road. Tel: 01-2302069, 09-43185008, 09-731-60662. sales@corrianderleaf.com

INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI MYANMAR (Pre-K, Primary) 55 (B) Po Sein Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon, Tel: 01-546097, 546761. imm.myn@gmail.com

TRAVEL AGENTS

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: info@islandsafari mergui.com. Website: www. islandsafarimergui.com

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

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

The Ritz Exclusive Lounge Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp, Ground Floor, Tel: 544500 Ext 6243, 6244

Road to Mandalay Myanmar Hotels & Cruises Ltd. Governors Residence 39C, Taw Win Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (951) 229860 fax: (951) 217361. email: RTMYGN@mptmail.net.mm www.orient-express.com

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.

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

The Emporia Restaurant Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp. Lobby Level, Tel: 544500 Ext 6294

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

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

Custom web design and development. Scalable, optimized sites and responsive design for mobile web. Facebook apps, ads and design. Hosting and domains. Myanmars 1st socially and eco responsible IT company. Get in touch: sales@mspiral.com and 09 7316 2122. www.mspiral.com

VISA & IMMIGRATION

Car Rental with English Speaking Driver. (Safety and Professional Services). Tel : +95 9 2050107 robinsawnaing@gmail.com

Check Eligibility Business Visa And Tourist Visa No need to come to Myanmar Embassy travel.evisa@gmail.com

HOW TO GET A FREE AD

FREE
General
Business
As including A* (all distinctions) at one sitting. Sec 2, 3 & 4 (grade 8, 9 & 10) students also attend IGCSE at only OIEC for one year and passed the exam with all distinctions. Parents/ guardians who enroll their children at OIEC for IGCSE course can come and see the results of past IGCSE/GCE O results. Do you want your child to be one of them? Hp: 09-732-55281 GUIDE for 2nd M.B., B.S Classes 09-517-3808. SAYA SAW AUNG (Ex.A.P), Chemistry Classes for Int'l School (sec-levels), IGCSE Cambridge Int'l AS & A Level & SAT-2, Ph: 09500-5470. FOR IGCSE (Edexcel & Cambridge) & Secondary students Regular tuition classes Home tuition classes Exam preparation classes All subjects available Contact: Tr. Pyae Phyo Kyaw 09-508-8683 TR. KAUNG MYAT (Special for Maths) BE(PE) For Int'l Courses Geometry, Algebra I & II, Pre Calculus.Ph : 09-731-42020 Email : kaungmyatoo251@ gmail. com ONE-STOPInt'lEduCentre Foreign & Local Teacher IGCSE/GCE 'O' (all subjects) www.facebook. com / superstarigcse theinhtikesan01@gmail. com. 09-732-55281, 09513-9298 "SCHOLAR Teaching Organization" founded with ME,BE and Master Degree holder with 12 years experience in teaching field.Role and Responsibility: Making the students develop problem solvingskills, critical thinking skills & I.Q & E.Q enriching skills, Int'l Schoo (ILBC, Total, MISY, ISY, PISM, Horizon, ISM, network, CISM, MIS,MLA,ES4E,DSY RV). All grades, All Subjects .....Singapore MOE Exams (AEIS, -AEISexam), SAT, IGCSE, IELTS, TOFEL... Tr.Daniel Caulin : 09-2150075 Tr.Bryan : 09-420070692. MATHS (home tuition) Are you need in IGCSE, GCE O & A, SET 1 & 2 mathematic, I can set up your ability. Sa Ya Henry(BE) Ph: 09-4210-13498 TUTORING SERVICE : Secondary I, II, III & IV (All subjects) IGCSE (All subjects) All Int'l School Students. Ph:09732-0 4820, 09-422550085, 09-4201-05 422. STUDY Home for General English (4 skills) Language from Basic. Who want to study home in private time and need study guide only English Grammar for children. Let's join us Now! Ph: 09-4210- 37619

BY FAX : 01-254158 BY EMAIL : classified@myanmartimes.com.mm, advertising@myanmartimes.com.mm BY MAIL : 379/383, Bo Aung Kyaw St, Kyauktada Township, Yangon.

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

BUY SPACE ON THESE PAGES CALL: Khin Mon Mon Yi - 01-392676, 392928

Property
ENGLISH General, Business English and Conversation English taught by experienced and qualified native speaker. Specialist in Vocational English - Hospitality, Retail, Management Skills, Marketing Management, Business Development and Tourism Industries. Also IELTS Preparation, assistance with essays and assignments. Email maryjane.denton@ gmail. com THE GREAT NEW for Foreigners : We are offering easiest way to learn Myanmar Language at your home. If you would like to learn it,join us Now! we are offering fair fees for you! Contact: 09-421037619 STARTING now Basic Grammar, Basic English 4 Skills, IELTS Foundation, Basic English Speaking Course, Oversea English Speaking Courses. Can offer Home style teaching & individual teaching. Ph: 09-73215521 ARE YOU a native speaker of English? Do you want to learn to speak, read, write or listen in Myanmar, Chinese and Japanese (all levels)? No. 757, 3rd Flr, Lanmadaw, Ygn (in Chinatown). theinhtikesan01@gmail. com 09-513-9298 MYANMAR Langauge teaching for foreigners, I customize times, days and place of the learners. Teachers Htay Win 094252-95641. Email htaywin74@gmai.com 3 days 160000 kyats for one person. Chaungtha Beach HotelMax, Belle Resort + Transportation + breakfast, lunch, Dinner 65000 kyats for one person.(1 night) 120000 kyats for one person (2 night) Ph: 09-500-59037, 09-31294519 AMAZING Oriental Travel & Tours Co., Ltd. Aung Kyaw Htun, Director, 09540-4040, No, 351, 1st Flr, Lower Kyimyindaing Rd, Ahlone, Yangon, Tel: + 95 1 229853, + 95 9 4201-27800, 4201-27900, Email: amazingorient-travels@ gmail.com, www. amazingorienttravels. com SEVEN STAR Tours, Rm 4-B, Sein Yadanar Condo, No.21/C, Sein Yadanar St, Ward (1), Kamayut, Yangon. Tel: 507261, 507264, 094015-41044, 09-401541055, Fax: 507273. Email: sevensta@ m y a n m a r. c o m . m m s e v e n s t a r. t o u r s @ mptmail.net.mm ANGEL Travels & Tours Co., Ltd. Myanmar, Ancient - Asia, Daw Khet Khet Director, No.30 (A,B), 5th Flr, Bo Moe St, Myaynigone, Sanchaung, Yangon, Tel: (95-1) 501123, 580221, Email: angel@ myanmar.com.mm

AKH Family Life Sciences Marketing Groups is the business of MedicoMarketing, FMCGmarketing, Advertising or otherwise Promoting the sale of Pharmaceuticals Products or Consumer Products. We are specializing in direct pharmaceutical market ing services & FMCG marketing services including of recruiting, training, organizing & managing sales & marketing field forces in Myanmar. We offer long-term partnerships in representing pharma ceutical companies or FMCG who wish to increase their products' awareness & sales in markets & the medical environment in our country. Contact : 09-5169368, 09-4224-86379.

Expert Services
AUGUST Engineering Service (Aircondition & Electrical) Installation, Repairing & Maintenance. Tel:09731-10321, 09-31268502. Email; aes. august@gmail.com AUNG Professional Translation Professional Translation from Myanmar to English and English to Myanmar. For Translation, Technological Subjects, Education, Contract, Advertising, Movie, Literature,etc. With Various Services on paper, electronic file, recording and other relevant matters. both regular & express with expert service. 09732-11907, 09-73082069. Email :aung. translation@gmail.com REAL ESTATE We have Lands for sale suitable for making Industrial buildings in large area. Buyers can Contact Us on 09-450059037 (There is no pay for Agents & Third party ... Warmly welcome the buyers)

Computer
I.C.S system solution (One-Stop services) Computer Maintenance, Wireless Router Configuration, Window OS & Software Installation, Internet & Netowrk services direct to the Company , Office & Home. Available Contract service . Weekly for Only Monday. Ph: 09- 540-9712. (1)MONEY CHANGER software for Computer System. Changing one from another currency. Buy & Sale Currency with receipt. Enable to Show External Display for daily exchange rate. LED board not included (Separate charge For Upgrade) (2)Travel & Tour Booking Software. Ph:09-730-75931, Email: zinmyintzx@gmail.com

For Sale
ASUS A42J Intel Core i7 Ram 4GB H.D.D 500GB Garaphic 2GB Price : 480000. Ph : 09501-6694 99% NEW SINGTECH W540EU Ultrabook Intel Core i3 (3rd) Ram 4GB H.D.D 500GB Intel HD Graphic 4000 Price : 360000. Ph : 09-31288077 IPHONE 4S 32GB white official unlock 98% new (370000ks) contact : 09514-7480.

Education
IGCSE, Secondary 2,3,4 Physics, Mathematics B & Pure Mathematics Practice with 20 years old questions. Allow individual or section. Only 5 students for one sectin. Near Heldan Sein Gay Har. Ph: 09-450025213, 524617. OIEC LMD Students attend OIEC only and passed IGCSE/GCE O Exam with all subjects

NEW IPAD 32GB, WiFi Only, White Color, all accessories, box & cover. Asus Nexus 7, 32GB, 3G + Wi-Fi, Black Color, all accessories, box & cover. Sony Ericsson Xperia ray, White Color, all accessories, box & cover. Ph : 09-514-6483 EPSON SLIP PRINTER (include all accessories and cable) Model_ TMU220D Color- Black Price : 145,000 Ks 2ply roll paper 20 packs Ph: 09-503-6050 APPLE IPHONE 4 [with original box with full accessories, officially unlock in Singapore] Price : 270000 Kyats. Ph : 09-44-800-6520 CAR, Toyota Crown [2002 Model] [pearl white 2 tones, 2500 Cc] (Premium Package, Original TV, PS, PW, Swing AC, SRS, ABS, DVD, Sun Shade) Nissan Tiida Latio [ 2007 Model] [pearl white , 1500 Cc] (M grade, Original TV, PS, PW, AC, SRS, ABS, DVD, Smart Key, Push Start, Gray Back Grass) Toyota Corolla Van [1998 Model, 1500 Cc, Silver Color] (L Extra, PS, AC, SRS, ABS) : CC / ---- Mazda Scrum Truck [2003 Model, 660 Cc] (AC, PS, 2WD, Manual Gear) Ph : 09-492-75744 ANTIQUE CAMERA of Agfa brand from Germany which is over 100 years and it can still be available to use with Isochrom 120 Film. If you are interesting for it, please contact; Ph: 01538321, 09-310-59596, 09-4308-4000. 99% NEW SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultra Book Intel Core i5 Ram 8GB H.D.D + SSD Display 13.3 1 Year 6 Month International Warranty. Price : 720000. Ph : 094200-50651 2 MONTH USED Samsung Galaxy S2 White Color 16GB With Original Accessries Version 4.1.2 Price - 200000. Ph:09730-48106

HousingforRent
CONDO for rent : Near British Council on Strand Road, Fully-funished Condo Excellent River View 1500 sqft, 1 MB, 2 BR, 5 A/C, Ph, 25 Lakhs. Ph: 09-730-60078. (1) NEAR KAN DAW GYI Hotel, (apartment) 900 Sqft 1MR,2 SR, fully furnish 750 USD. (2). Golden velley, 1 RC, 8200 sqft, 1 MR, 2SR, fully furnish, 2500 USD (3).Golden velley, 2 RC, 3000 sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, 2200 USD. (4). Golden velley, 3 RC, 9600 sqft, good for office 5000 USD. (5). Golden velley, 2 RC, 8500 Sqft, 2 MR, 2SR, 6000 USD. (6). Golden velley, near Inyar road, 3 RC, 4500 sqft, 6 MR, 8000 USD. (7). 7 Mile, 2 RC, 8500 Sqft, 2 RC, 3 MR, 1 SR, some of furnish, 3000 USD. Ph:09-4201-14749 (1) NEAR PEARL CONDO, 1 RC, 3500 Sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, 2000 USD. (2)Chaungthargon young condo, 2200 Sqft, 1 MR, 2SR, fully furnish, swimming pool, health club. 2200 USD. (3) Pearl condo , 2000 Sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, 1800 USD. (4) Parame Rd, 2 RC, 4500 Sqft, 4 MR, fully furnish , 5500 USD. (5) Near new university avenue, 2 RC, 4500 Sqft, 3 MR, fully furnish, 6000 USD. (6) Inyar Rd, 1 RC, 8000 Sqft, 3 MR, 15000 USD.

Training
WEB DEVELOPMENT & Design Training Sat & Sun - 3:00pm-5:00pm. Contact: 09-4211-44937 IELTS/SAT Teacher Training Are you a native speaker of English? Do you want to become a IELTS/SAT English Teacher? We train you practically. No. 757, 3rd Flr, Lanmadaw (in Chinatown). theinhtikesan01@gmail. com 095139298

36099, Hsu Sandi : 094210-14128 at Colliers International Myanmar Leasing Department. OFFICE SPACE for Rental: Pansondan Tower, Pansondan (Central) Block, 1700Sqft, 2 service lifts, Hall Type, Monthly Rental US$ 4000. Ph: 09-731-54071, 01514802, 530756 FOREIGNERS : A modern compact 2650 sq.ft floor area single-storied 3 bedroom house, with two gate entrances, spacious lawn, garden and compound on 0.4 acre plot of land, situated in quiet locality within walking distance from International School and only 3 miles from downtown Yangon. If interested please contact phone 537061, 703493, 09-511-9421. No brokers please. SANCHAUNG, On Pyay Rd, near Int'l Schools, Dagon Centre, City Mart (Myenigone) and Alliance Francaise. Newly renovated, 3rd flr, 1500 sq ft (30' x 50'), 1MB+2SB, 3AC, land line phone. Teak parquet, spacious bathroms and western kitchen. Clean, airy, full light of day, security and carparking. No high buildings around. Can be furnished, if required. Good location for NGO office / residence. Ph 09732-39525.

Travel
NYAN MYINT THU Car Rental Service : Ko Nyan Myint Win Kyi (MD) - No 56, Bo Ywe St, Latha, Yangon, Myanmar. Ph : (+95) 01-246551, 01-375284. Hp:(+95)09-2132778. il:nyanmyintthu1983@ gmail.com, nmt@ nyanmyintthucarrental. com, colwinkyi@ gmail.com. Web:www. nyanmyintthucarrental. com VIRGIN LAND TOURS : Visa Services, Worldwide Air Ticketing, Worldwide Hotel reservation, All kind Transportation Rental, Inbound & Outbound Tour Operator, Tour Guide Services. Ph. 018610252, 09-512-3793, 09-520-2643 NATTHMEE Classical Travels : Taunggyi-InlyKalaw-Pindaya ( july 18) hotels + Transportation + breakfast, lunch, Dinner Package Trip for 3 night 4 days 180000 kyats for one person. BaganPopa (july 18) hotels + Transportation + breakfast,lunch,Dinner Package Trip for 2 night

Want to Buy
EMBASSY of Pakistan intends to purchase 1 x car sedan model 2013 automatic (not higher than 2000 cc) for official use. Sealed bids are invited from interested parties at the following address:"Embassy of Pakistan Diplomatic Quarters Pyay Road, Yangon BUY & EXCHANGE used Apple Iphone Samsung HTC Sony Huawei Used Laptop notebook Netbook macbook pro & table ipad etc.. contact -09-517-8391 SUPER CUSTOM : Model 99,2000. Ph: 09518-8320. USED APPLE IPHONE Samsung HTC Sony Huawei Used Laptop notebook Netbook macbook pro and table ipad etc.. contact : 09517-8391

General
EXCELLENT Creation Co., Ltd. DVD/ VCD/ CD (Audio & Data) Manuf acturing. Professional HD/DV Camera, Rental, Making, Editing. Video & Music Production/ Distribution. DVD/ VCD Duplicating. Maha myaing Cinema (Insein). Add: 162-164, Top Flr, Pansodan Rd (Middle), Kyauktada, Yangon. Tel: 254560, 254564.

Language. MYANMAR : Within 24 hours can make you get confidient in Myanmar Language and scripts! Teacher Phyu Phyu Khin : 09- 4930-8926 (phyuporcupine@gmail. com)

(7) Golden velly, near ISY school, 2 RC, 2 MR, 2 SR, 45OO USD. (8) May Kha housing 3 RC, 3000 Sqft, fully furnish (1800 USD). Ph: 09-4921-4276, SANCHAUNG, Ma Kyi Kyi Condo, 2400 sqft, 2 MB, 2 BR, 4 A/C,25 Lakhs. Maureen : 09-518-8320 MAYANGONE, 8 Mile, MTP Condo, 1500 sqft, 2 MB, 3 A/C, Ph. 20 Lakhs (2)8 Mile, MTP Condo, 1500 sqft, 2 MB, 3 A/C, Ph. Maureen : 09-518-8320 APARTMENT for Leasing Dagon, Samone St, 3 Flr, 139sqm, 1MBR, 1 BR, 4A/C, USD 1800/month, Fully Furnished Ring: Colliers int'l Myanmar on 09-4210-32600 or 094210-14128. NEAR YUZANA PLAZA, Aung Thapyae St, 1100 square feet, 1 MBR, 2 common rooms, parque, floor tiles & wall tiles , fully decored and line phone, 2 nd floor. also suitable for office & foreigners. ph: 09516-7767, 09-517-0481, 09-401-538760 BAHAN, Moe Myint San Condo, 2400sqft, 5 A/C, Ph, skynet, f.f. 25 Lakhs(2) Pearl Condo, 1500 sqft, p.f, 4 A/C, 15 lakhs. Ph : 09-518-8320. SERVICED Apartments & Office Accommodation to rent on behalf of Landlords. Pls contact : Ron Chaggar : 09-313-

HousingforSale
MAYANGONE, 8 Mile, MTP Condo, 1500 sqft, 2 MB, 3 A/C, Ph. 3000 Lakhs. Maureen : 09518-8320. LANMADAW, (25'x50') 12th St, the whole 8 unit (lift), For Hotel, Education, Ph: 09-566-1037. CORNER LAND 36 ft x 43 ft and house 1 billion ks. (10,000 Lakhs) (negotiable) - On Insein Road, near Hledan (near DaNuPhyu Daw Saw Yi Restaurant), Kamayut Township, a good place for business. Complete documentation of the land, with water, electricity & 1 landline phone installed. Ko Ye : 09-4201-01705. email: j.xylar@gmail.com BEACH LAND for sales - 30 min by boat from NGAPALI in St Andrews bay - Maung Shwe Lay village. 3,5 acres - possible to extend - suitable for hotel or private villa. 100 meter beachfront. Send email for more information: edwinbriels@ gmail.com or call 09-7319 9668 (English) or 09-4500 03312

Want to Rent
"A COUPLE, no kids and pets looking for a fully furnished small condo in a nice area. Contact lulanita.bbb@gmail.com."

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

FREE
Employment
Based Health First Aid) 2 posts in MRCS-Nay Pyi Taw and frequently travel to program areas: University graduate. Effective computer knowledge. Effective English language skill. (3)Nurse - 1 Post in Sittwe: University degree/ Diploma in nursing care. Valid license and official registration. Basic English fluency. Able to speak local language preferable. Pls send application letter, CV & related documents to Myanmar Red Cross Society Head Office, Yazathingaha Rd, Dekkhinathiri, Nay Pyi Taw. Or mrcshrrecruitment@ gmail.com FRENCH RED CROSS is seeking Senior Head of Delegation Assistant 1 post : Myanmar Citizen. Master degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to the position applied for. Excellent spoken and written skills in Myanmar and English, including the ability to write quality reports and give clear presentation. French is an asset. Computer literacy in both Myanmar and English. Applications (including and references) should be submitted to French Red Cross Office : At the intention of Finance/ Administration/ HR Manager - 42, 1st Flr, Strand Rd, Botahtaung, Yangon. Tel: 09-73159942, Email: fin.mgr. myanmar.frc@gmail. com, Cc:hod.myanmar. frc@gmail.com, hr. officer.myanmar.frc@ gmail.com Closing date : 19th August 2013 com.sg at the earliest possible. Closing date: 30 September 2013. Applications with CV will be evaluated in batches and positions will be filled up on first-come firstserved basis. NYLECT Technology (Myanmar)Ltd., isseeking Senior Professional Accountant 1 post. Interested candidates can send CV: susan@ nylect.com.vn or lahihtusan@gmail.com Contact Number: 01 855 1480, 09-4203-09073 SAVOY HOTEL, Yangon is urgently looking for (1)Guest Relation Manager - 1 post : 3 years experience in related field and very good English skill and interpersonal skill. (2) Gardener - M 1 post : 2 ~ 3 years experience in gardening. (3) Personal Driver - M 1 post : 3 years experience in driving car. Application letter by email to savoy.hra@gmail.com or 129, Dhammazedi Rd, Yangon. Tel: (95-1) 526298, 526289. ORION Business Group is seeking (1)Site Engineer - 1 post : BE (Civil), 2 years as site engineers post in local and oversea (2)Site Engineer -1 post : BE(Mechanical), 2 years as site engineers post in local and oversea (3) QS - F 2 posts : 2 years experience in local and oversea (4) Accountant - F 2 posts : 2 year experience in accounting field, Microsoft office, Preferred English language proficiency, Good communication & team player (5) Accountant - F 2 posts : Fresh graduate who fast learner are welcome to apply, Basic knowledge of Microsoft office. Pls apply with require document such as copy of ID, household list, recommendation letter from police station, labour card and education certificates to No.512/B, Waizanyantar Rd, 4 ward, South Okkalapa Ph: 01 571236, 09-731-13092 before 31.8.2013. IF you are confident, well presented, service oriented and meet the following requirements: (1) Senior Marketing Executive F- University Graduate (IATA/ UFTAA diploma would be advantage), AT least 3 years experiences in related field. Self motivated, initiative, capable of doing under pressure. (2) Public Relations Officer FUniversity Graduate. Able to do process of visa application and administrative functions. (3) Marketing Assistant F - University Graduate, Computer literate, Willing to learn & eager to do team work. Anyone who meets the above mentioned requirements, send us a detailed CV with 2 passport photos & copy of NRC card and census as well as other testimonials. Indicate kindly the position you are applying for on the front of the envelope and sender's name, address and contact phone number on the back. Closing date 21-8-2013. Short listed applicants will be notified at the Yangon Airway's Headquarters Admin Department : 166, MMB Tower, Upper Pansodan Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt, Yangon. CESVI is seeking Short Term Collaboration with an Agronomist in Yangon: A University degree in agriculture or in any related discipline. Sound knowledge of agriculture practices in Myanmar, use of fertilizers & their availability. Excellent knowledge of Myanmar and English languages. Timeline and reporting requirements: The proposed collaboration will be developed in 6 weeks between August & October 2013. Closing date : 22nd August 2013. Pls apply CV & Cover Letter only to be sent to: cesviapplication@gmail. com or hard copies to be sent to Cesvi Country Office:111-A University Avenue, Kamayut, Yangon, Tel: 511147, 513884. WE are 1 of the Marketing Group for Pharmaceuticals Products in Myanmar has urgently seeking (1)Team Leader - M/F 1 Post : More than 1 year experience in related field. (2) Medical Representatives - M/F 5 Posts : B.Pharm, B.Sc (or) any graduated. Experience candidate is more prefer to welcome. Willing to traveling around the area. Active & Self motivation. Good personality. Any candidate who interested, pls contact urgently on Ph: 09-4224-86379, 094211-47477, Closing date : 31st August 2013. URGENTLY required! An Operations Manager in an International School, male/female, any university graduate, Age 45 ~ 60, must be fluent in English (Speaking, Reading and Writing), must have management experience,working experience interna tionally is an advantage. Pls send C.V to gkl1950@ gmail.com. KELVIN CHIA Yangon Ltd is a foreign legal consultancy firm is seeking (1) Lawyers who will work on a variety of corporate & commercial matters & transactions in Myanmar. If you are a Myanmar-qualified lawyer with strong English language skills, you are invited to apply to join our Myanmar practice group. Myanmar nationals admitted to intl bars are also welcome to apply. Training will be provided. Applicants may email to klm@kcyangon.com (2) Corporate Affairs Executive/Assistant As a corporate affairs executive/assistant, you will be involved with business development, networking, market research & liaison work. Applicants should be proficient in English, energetic & selfmotivated. All nationalities are welcome (Myanmar, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, etc). If you are interested, then pls email application and curriculum vitae to kk@kcyangon.com A LEADING Shipping Company is seeking (1) SeniorAnalyst - 1 Post (2) Programmers - 2 Posts. Requirements: Degree in Computer Science/ Information Technology or other relevant courses. Knowledge & experience in Asp .Net (VB, C#), MS SQL Server, MS Excel, MS Access, Crystal Reports etc. Candidate with relevant working experience with Visual Basic 6.0 will be at advantage. Selfmotivated and able to exercise independent judgment to assigned duties. Pls send updated CV to star2013.collette@ gmail.com later than 26th August, 2013. www. meridian shippinggroup. com for the Companys information. HOTELOpeninginYangon (1).Hotel Manager - 1 Post (2).Front Office Supervisor - 1 Post (3). HK Supervisor - 1 Post (4).Food & Beverage Supervisor - 1 Post (5) Business Law Adviser -1 Post (6).Chief Accountant - 1 Post (7). Receptionist Staffs (8). Housekeeping Staffs (9). Kitchen Staffs (10). Waiters and Waitress ( 11 ) . M a i n t a i n e r s Staffs Add:194 / 33 St, Kyauktada, Yangon. Ph:09 730 94644, 09731-57992, 01- 1221664 Email : hoteldts51@ gmail.com MAKEITHAPPEN Int'l Company Limited is the First Authorized Reseller from Apple Inc and the Master Franchise of Thai Chokdee Dimsum. Recruiting Now!, Marketing & Sales: Marketing & Sales Manager, Marketing & Sales Executive. Service: Restaurant Manager, Waiters. Others: Store Manager, Operation & Administratioin Manager, Technical Coordinators, Office Admin. Qualifications Required: Over 18 years. Degree holders preferable. Willing to learn & energetic. hospitalities experience preferable. Service Oriented : 330, Alone Rd, Shop (6,7) Yangon Int'l Hotel, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 09-850-1361, 09-73048638. Email: myanmar. makeithappen@gmail. com AMARA GROUP Co., Ltd is looking for (1) Front Office Manager 1 Post (Ngapali). (2) Guest Relation Officer 1 Post (Ngapali). (3) Sous Chef 1 Post (Ngapali). (4) Demi Cher 1 Post (Ngapali). (5)Chief Account 1 Post (Ngapali). (6) Accountant 1 Post (Ngapali). (7) Executive Housekeeper 1 Post (Ngapali). (8) Restaurant Manager1Post(Ngapali). (9) Hotel Manager 1 Post (Kalaw). (10)Demi Chef 1 Post (Kalaw). (11)Sous Chef - 1 Post (Kalaw). (12) Sous Chef - 1 Post (Mandalay). Demi Chef 1 Post (Mandalay). (13) Sales Manager - 1 Post (Yangon). Be part of a dynamicteam&contribute to the hotels success with your expertise and experience. We look forward receiving your CV in English. Contact: amaragroup.mmw@ gmail.com, moemoe@ amaragroup-myanmar. com, Ph: 663347, 652191, No.6, Tayza Rd, Kyan Khin Su Quarter, Mingalardon, www. amaraoceanresort.com, REQD. URGENTLY in Limited Foreign Company (1).2(Two) highly skilled & experiences Drivers for Lexus/Land Cruiser/ Pajero for Full Time basis. Salary no Bar for right candidates & will be as per skills, experiences & Market Standards. (2)Senior Accounts & Admin Executive (Female Candidate Preferred) with 1-5 years experiences in Accounts &Admin Deptt. & hands on Knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, Tally Software with fluent in English & Liasoning works. Salary is no bar for the right candidate & will be as per skills, experiences & Market Standards. Pls send resume with latest passport photo to : jyoti. b227@gmail.com,jyoti. b227@rediffmail.com, zmtcool@gmail.com. You can also call in +952025, 09-731-64230, +95-1-371374. MYA& MINN (MYANMAR) Industrial Trading Co., Ltd is seeking (1) Admin & Account Assistant (Basic Salary) - M/F 1 Post : Basic IT skill, Familiar with MS Office, Any graduate, Diploma/ certificate, LCCI Level 2, Prefer with working experiences (2)Sales & Marketing (Basic Salary + Sales Commission) - M/F - 3 Posts: Any graduate, Diploma/Certificate, Prefer with related working experiences & basic IT skill. Pls send CV, Photocopies of proven documents, 2 passport recent photos, National Identification Card to : 1035, #03-01, Thu Min Galar Rd, (6) Quarter, South Oakalar Pa, Yangon (OR) email: myanminn.myanmar@ gmail.com, latest by 22nd August 2013 (OR) 22nd ~ 24th August 2013 (10:00 ~ 16:00 Hrs) walkin interview. Ph: 09-5171264, 09-4210-90421 EXECUTIVE Assistant To provide professional support to the company CEO through : Effective communication prioriti zation & organization, Liaise between company depart ment/offices, managers, Manage meetings & appointments, travel schedules, invitations, meeting minutes, Arrange travel (flights, hotel bookings, visas, etc.), Develop & maintain categorized filing & document systems, Maintain high level of discretion & confidentiality. Qualifications:University degree,Age26~40,Fluent in Myanmar & English (ability to translate highly desirable), Excellent interpersonal skills & ability to liaise effectively with high level and foreign clients, government officials, Experience in similar position preferred, Attractive salary based on experience & qualification. Pls submit CV and a cover letter to thandaster@gmail.com within two weeks. REALFITNESS is seeking (1)Receptionist - F 1 post : Age 20 ~ 28. Fluent in English. Relevant work experience. Can us internet, email, fax & copier . (2)Fitness Trainer - M/F 2 posts : Age 21 ~ 35. Certificate in gym personal training/ physical fitness. Can speak English (3) Cleaner - M/F 2 posts : Age 25 ~ 35. English Basic. Relevant work experience. Pls submit CV, labour card, copy photo with necessary docments to 20, Ground Flr, Pearl St, Shwe Taung Gyar Word, City FM Compound, Bahan. Ph: 01-1220881, 09509-7057, 01-549478 ext 103. Closing date : 31.8.2013

UN Positions
IOM Int'l Organization for Migration is seeking (1) Budget Monitoring and Reporting Assistant in Yangon. Desired Qualifications: University degree in Business Administration or related fields, preferably with a graduate degree in Management, Business Administration, or Accounting. 3 years related experience with int'l humanitarian organizations. (2) Office Driver in Yangon: Valid Driving License. Knowledge of drivinig rules and regulations & skills in minor vehicle repair. 3 years of experience as a driver with safe driving record. Good knowledge of written & spoken English. (3)Nurse Counselor 1 post in Mawlamyine, Mon State. Pls submit CV to IOM Mission in Myanmar - Yangon, 318-A, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Tel : 210588, 09-73140212, 09-861-0126, Email: hryangon@iom. int, www.iom.int IOM Int'l Organization for Migration is seeking Community Facilitator in Mawlamyinegyun, Ayerwaddy Region: Must have a client-oriented & result-orientated mindset & uphold the programme valuesof caring, innovating, partnering, demonstrating compe tence & working for positive change. 2 years progressively responsible experience in working with commu nity based health programs (preferably in the field Maternal & Child health, Primary Health Care) with an INGO, LNGO, UN agency. Ability to undertake travel out of Mawlamyinegyun town to villages. Pls submit CV to IOM Mission in Myanmar - Yangon, 12th Flr, Traders Hotel, 223, Sule Pagoda Rd, Yangon, Email: iomyangon@iom. int, Tel: 252560, 254008

Ingo Positions
CHILDFUND Myanmar is seeking Program Officer Korea Partnership Support (Mandalay) in Mandalay: Bachelor's degree in specific discipline and/or equivalent experience. Strong commitment to children's rights & well-being. 3 years experience in int'l development. Excellent in coordination. Excellent communications skills in English. Strong computer skills, with familiarity in using Microsoft Office suite applications (particularly Word, Excel & Power Point). Pls send application letter (clearly stating that the application is for MDY duty station), CV with at least 2 referees, along with 1 passport picture attached and stating the expected salary, closing date : 23 August 2013. Pls send no certificate scans and limit email size to 1MB. Pls sent by email to: childfundmmhr@ gmail.com THE INT'L HIV/AIDS Alliance is seeking : The Finance Officer : a registered accountant & 3 years relevant finance experience. Excellent interpersonal skills and a positive attitude to work with marginalised populations and people living with HIV. Fluent Burmese & strong English skills are essential. Pls submit application including a letter of interest and complete CV to Executive Director, Int'l HIV/AIDS Alliance, No.12/F, Pyi Thu St, 7 miles, Mayangone, Yangon or via email to admin@alliance.org. mm & ao.alliancemm@ gmail.com by 23 August, 2013 "The Int'l HIV/AIDS Alliance is committed to equal opportunities and

welcomes applications from appropriately qualified people from all sections of the community." PLAN Myanmar is seeking Security Manager. Assignment Type: Fixed term contract 3 years : Citizen of Myanamr, 3 ~ 5 years experience in security management, Good understanding of in-country security related issues & their relation to Plan's contexts. Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are required to submit, in English, a cover letter, CV and details of at least 2 referees via E-mail only to: Myanmar.CO@planinternational.org Closing date : August 19, 2013. WORLDVISIONMyanmar is seeking (1)Driver cum Logistics Assistant in Hmawbi, Yangon : a High School Graduate. 3 years experiences & holding valid license. Ability to communicate in English & Myanmar effectively. Must provide a clean criminal background. (2)Adminstration Assistant in Pathein, Delta Regin (3) Community Develop ment Facilita tor (Maternal Newborn & Child Health) in Thayetchaung, Launglone & Palaw, Tanintharyi: University Bachelor Degree in any discipline. 1 year experience. Competent in used of Microsoft Word, Excel & Power Point. Good communication skills in English. Pls submit resume (clearly identify the post your apply) by post to HR Department, World Vision Myanmar or in person to application drop-box at No 18, Shin Saw Pu Rd; Ahlone, Sanchaung PO or send to myajobapps@ wvi.org Closing date :for 1 & 2 : 19 August, for 3 : August 21. SOLIDARITES Int'l (SI) is seeking Logistics Manager in Sittwe : 4 years of professional experience in Logistics field with INGO/ NGO. University Degree or Diploma (preferably in Logistics Or related proven experience in similar area.). Knowledge of IT management & MS office. Fluent in English & Myanmar. Pls submit application (CV, cover letter, references) at: Solidarites Int'l office Application for Logistics Manager Position/ Sittwe - 44-A, Tharyarwaddy Lane, Bahan, Yangon or per email: recruitment@ solidarites-myanmar. org (thanks to use basic excel, word or pdf format). Deadline: 30-8-2013. D E U T S C H E Welthungerhilfe is seeking Program Coordination Officer in Yangon : University degree in a relevant disciplines e.g. Social sciences, Management, Development Studies etc. 5 years practical experience with NGO/ UN. Excellent in both oral & written English & Myanmar (mother tongue speaker). Knowledge of other national languages spoken in Myanmar is an asset. Pls submit an application letter detailing why they are interested in the position and an updated CV including education qualifications, contact number & contact details of at least 2 professional references to: Regina. Feindt@welthungerhilfe. de, moemoe.lwin@ welthungerhilfe.de MYANMAR RED Cross Society is seeking (1) Resources Mobilization Officer 1 post in Nay Pyi Taw: Bachelor's degree. Over 2 years experience in Marketing. Effective English language skill. Red Cross Volunteers are preferable. (2)Program Officer (Community

Local Positions
LEGENDARY Myanmar Co., Ltd. is seeking (1) Custom Clearance M/F 2 Posts. (2)Tour Operator - F 2 Posts: 1 year experience in relative field. All applicants must be University Graduate, Spoken & Written English, Excellent interpersonal skill and good computer knowledge. Pls apply CV with 2 recent photo, NRC copy, Labour registration card Police recommendation letter & other document to 9, Rm A-4, 3rd Flr, Kyaung St, Myaynigone, Sanchaung. RECEPTIONIST-Urgently Qualifications: University degree, Effective interpersonal skills & ability to communicate with foreign clients. Must be fluent in English. Pls submit CV & cover letter to Jobs_so@ myanmaraccess.com Want a career? Edulink Australia is hiring for the following positions: Customer Service Officer - 3 Posts, Marketing Manager, Customer Relationship Manager. For more information please email info@edulinkaustralia. com or ph:09-421119895 MiTA Myanmar @ ISBC Company is inviting applications from Myanmar national candidatesfortheposition: Business Analyst - F 3 posts : Any Graduate candidates, preferably having Master Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, English, Economics, Marketing, Management; Age 20 ~ 30, Experience less than 5 years (fresh graduates canalsoapply).Candidate should be proficient in MS office, internet & email applications, have good knowledge in market research, liaison, data collection, analyzing information, report writing & presentation. Should be able to work independently with minimum supervision & be initiative. Candidate must be fluent in speaking & writing English. Pls email application with CV including contact details to hrm.mm@mitaservices.

62 Sport

THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

IN PICTURES

Split decision: Dina Galiakbarova (R) lunges for Olga Kharlan during the womens team sabre final at the 2013 World Fencing Championships in Budapest, Hungary on August 12. Photo: AFP

Injuries force Bartoli to retire M

Wimbledon. Bartoli, citing a string of injuries, dropped the bombshell shortly after losing in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters to Romanias Simona Halep. The top French star suffered a stunning 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Halep. Its time for me to retire and to call it a career. I feel its time for me to walk away actually, said the 28-yearold. The announcement comes two weeks before Bartoli was scheduled to compete in the US Open in New York. Seeded eighth at the Cincinnati event, Bartoli said Wimbledon helped her reach the top of her game but also took a toll on her physical and mental wellbeing. Ive been a tennis player for a long time, and I had the chance to make my biggest dream a reality, said Bartoli, who won over US$11 million in prize money during her 13-year career. I felt I really, really pushed through the ultimate limits to make ARION Bartoli made a shock retirement announcement on August 14, ending her career just weeks after winning I really felt I gave all the energy I have left inside my body. It [Wimbledon] will stay forever with me, but now my body just cant cope with everything. Bartoli, ranked seventh in the world, has battled a series of injuries over the past few years. She has played just three matches since winning Wimbledon and after withdrawing from several hardcourt events in July due to abdominal muscle injuries. She won a match last week in Toronto over American Lauren Davis but lost to 33rd-ranked Magdalena Rybarikova the next day. I have pain everywhere after 45 minutes or an hour of play, Bartoli said. Ive been doing this for so long. And, yeah, its just bodywise I just cant do it anymore. Bartoli, who turned pro in 2000, has been coached most of her career by her father, Walter, who is a doctor. Besides Wimbledon, Bartoli won seven other WTA Tour titles, beginning with Auckland in 2006. Her most recent, prior to Wimbledon, were both in 2011 at Eastbourne and Osaka, Japan. Its been a tough decision to take. I dont take this easily, she said. Bartoli said simply walking was

CINCINNATI

Marion Bartoli of France announces her retirement from professional tennis during the Western & Southern Open on August 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo: AFP

it happen. But now I just cant do it anymore, she said. Ive been through a lot of injuries

since the beginning of the year. I really pushed through and left it all during that Wimbledon, she added.

now difficult for her, adding that her hips and lower back also bothered her almost constantly. My Achilles is hurting me a lot, so I cant really walk normally after a match like that, especially on the hard court when the surface is so hard, she said. And my shoulder and my hips and my lower back. My body is just done. The player, known for her quirky mannerisms and non-stop fidgeting on the court, said she spoke to her father by phone about the decision. He knows, more than anyone, how much I worked and what I did to make it happen, to make my dream a reality, she said. He is proud of me. He is proud of what I did and he kind of knew I just couldnt do it anymore. He kind of felt it. Bartoli didnt say what she plans to do next but insists this is the right time to move on. Im sure I will find something. I just need a bit of time to kind of settle down, said Bartoli. Its fine. I have the right to do something else as well. Ive been playing for a long, long time, and its time for me now. It is. AFP

French sports minister worried by Russias anti-gay law

FRANCES sports minister on August 12 told her Russian counterpart that Paris was worried by the adoption of a law banning gay propaganda for minors that risks overshadowing the 2014 winter Olympic Games in Sochi. French Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron told AFP that she said at a meeting with Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko in Moscow that France was clearly opposed to all discrimination based on sexual orientation. I was able to tell my Russian counterpart that France was worried by the adoption and implementation of the law ... which challenges the freedom of expression of any person, whether they are LGBT or not, who wants to speak out on this subject, she said. The hugely controversial law has sparked calls for a boycott of the games but Fourneyron indicated that France agreed with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron that a boycott would not be appropriate. We think that it is much more our duty to continue to try and alert the Russian authorities to the problems created by the law, she added. Russian President Vladimir Putin in June signed into law legislation that punishes the dissemination of information about homosexuality to minors but which activists say can be used for a broad crackdown against gays. The Russian authorities have said that all athletes will be free and safe to compete at the Sochi Games regardless of their sexual orientation but must obey Russian law. Foreigners found guilty of violating the law can not only be fined up to 5,000 rubles (US$156) but face administrative arrest of up to 15 days and eventual deportation. The head of Russias Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov on August 12 reaffirmed the official line that while all athletes were welcome in Sochi they would have to obey the controversial law. We will do everything to make sure that all our guests feel comfortable and safe, Russian news agencies quoted Zhukov as saying. If a person does not announce his opinions [about homosexuality] in the presence of children then no measures will be used against him citizens of a non-traditional sexual orientation will be able to take part without any problem in the competitions or any other events, he added. The interior ministry meanwhile issued a statement insisting that there would be no discrimination at the Games, saying such allegations were aimed at undermining trust in the event. AFP

MOSCOW

Protesters holding anti-Putin posters march past Downing Street in London on August 10. Photo: AFP

www.mmtimes.com
LONDON

Sport 63

Lambert lifts lid on England dream debut

NGLAND striker Rickie Lambert admits heading the winning goal against Scotland with the first touch of his international debut was a dream come true. Lambert completed a remarkable ragstoriches tale at Wembley on August 14 when the Southampton forward came off the bench in the 66th minute and two minutes later bagged the goal that gave his country a 3-2 friendly win over old rivals Scotland. After a career spent mostly in the lower leagues, Lambert is enjoying an Indian summer to his career and his bullet header from Leighton Baines corner was the crowning glory. Rejected by Liverpool as a youngster and then released by Blackpool in 2000 aged 18, Lambert was forced to work in a factory putting lids on jars of beetroot while he tried to keep his football career alive by training with minnows Macclesfield. It was my first touch. Its probably the best header Ive headed in my life, Lambert said. Thats what Ive been dreaming of probably all my life. It means so much. It was a corner. Obviously I fancied myself and I managed to get rid of my marker and get a firm header. If thats the only moment Im going to have in an England shirt , hopefully not, I couldnt have wished for it to have been any better. For it to have gone like that was a dream come true. Lamberts Wembley heroics were a far cry from the humble beginnings in the game. couples third child earlier that day. After years plying his trade on the games least glamourous stages, Lambert has relished every moment of his England experience, from training with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere, to pulling on the shirt for the first time and then finally getting his taste of the limelight. I was trying to play it cool as if it wasnt bothering me but deep down I wanted to scream. It was brilliant, Lambert said. Ive got to say a big thank you to the lads who made me feel welcome. I had respect for them anyway but being with them for a few days Ive got a lot more respect. Lambert returned to club duty with the Saints against West Bromwich Albion on the opening weekend of the Premier League season on August 17, but he hopes to earn another for England in next months qualifiers. Thats my first one. Im going to try to make it more in the future. Definitely, he said. England captain Steven Gerrard, a fellow Liverpudlian, has no doubts that Lambert has done enough to be involved in the future. Rickie getting the winner was fantastic for him, Gerrard said. It gives us another option up top going into the qualifiers. Its a great story. Any young kid watching who is starting at the bottom, youve just got to believe and work hard. Rickie is a great example. You can work all the way to the top. AFP

England striker Rickie Lambert rises above the Scotland defence to head in Englands third goal at Wembley Stadium in London on August 14. Photo: AFP

He eventually earned a contract with Macclesfield and was able to quit the beetroot factory, but even then he spent several seasons far from the spotlight with the likes of Stockport, Rochdale and the Bristol Rovers before finally getting his big break with thenLeague One club Southampton.

Inspired by Lamberts goals, Saints returned to the Premier League in 2012 after backtoback promotions, but their unheralded striker wasnt finished yet. He scored 15 times in his firstever top-flight season to help Southampton avoid relegation, and in the process

earned admiring glances from England manager Roy Hodgson. When Daniel Sturridge and Andy Carroll were ruled out of the Scotland clash, Hodgson decided to give Lambert his first call-up, making it a double celebration for the 31-yearold after his wife gave birth to the

Sport
64 THE MYANMAR TIMES AUGUST 19 - 25, 2013

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

Wimbledon champion shocks tennis world with retirement

SPORT 62

Booted
NAY PYI TAW

Myanmar Football Federation suspends Khine Htoo for next season after final match brawl

Khine Htoo Photo: Nay Pyi Taw FC

KYAW ZIN HLAING kyawzinhlaing91@gmail.com HE Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) announced on August 13 that Nay Pyi Taw FC defender Khine Htoo will be banned for the 2014 season for a vicious kicking Yangon Uniteds Yang Aung Kyaw in the head. The penalty was the stiffest of those handed down to players and club officials involved in an ugly clash during the Myanmar National Leagues final game of the 2013 season. The match between Nay Pyi Taw FC and Yangon United on August 4 was halted after only 37 minutes of play when fighting broke out in the stands and on the field. Though Khin Htoo will be forced to sit on the sidelines for a year, the ruling stopped short of the lifetime ban that some fans speculated was looming. Nay Pyi Taw FC coach Myo Hlaing Win, who himself was banned for the first three games of the 2014 season and fined K500,000, believed the ban was excessive. I take no issue with my punishment, Myo Hlaing Win said. But the penalties for my players were severe, especially for Khine Htoo. An entire season ban is harsh and it not only hurts him as a player, but also hurts the team, Nay Pyi Taw FC, because he is our main defender. Other Nay Pyi Taw players facing penalties include midfielder Zaw Lin, who was suspended for the first five

Nay Pyi Taw FC fans toss seats on to the field at Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw on August 4. Photo: Yangon United

matches of 2014 and fined K500,000 for his role in the fracas. Tin Zaw Moe and reserve keeper Zaw Myo Oo also face five match bans and were fined K200,000 each. The teams technical consultant,

Myo Win, was banned for the first three matches of the upcoming season and fined K500, 000, MFF officials said. Nay Pyi Taw FC will be required to pay to repair half of the dam-

age wrought on the Wunna Theikdi Stadium after their fans destroyed 150 seats, railings and advertisement boards estimated at about K30 million in value. Additionally the team has lost the right to host first round matches in the

2014 season at its home ground. Fans were unruly from the start of the match and emotions boiled over when Yangons Dan Htan was tackled in the 32nd minute of play and referee Hla Min awarded a penalty to Yangon United. Angered by the decision, a Nay Pyi Taw FC fan rushed the field in an attempt to attack the official. The fan was stopped by Nay Pyi Taw FC players who escorted him off the field, and play resumed. But five minutes later, Khine Htoo kicked Aung Kyaw and fights erupted in the stands and on the pitch. Unable to stop the fighting, officials called the match with Yangon United winning 1-0. Striker Cezar scored the matchs lone goal. The match was the first MNL event to take place at Wunna Theikdi Stadium. The 30,000 seat stadium was constructed as the centrepiece of new facilities for the Southeast Asian Games which open in December. Yangon United was largely spared from the wrath of MFF officials, with striker Kyi Lin the only member of the team being penalised. He was banned for the first three matches of the 2014 season and fined K500,000. MFF officials said they had decided on the punishments after investigating numerous video recordings of the match and subsequent fighting. Twelve spectators involved in the clash were arrested and charged with destruction of public property. They have not been sentenced. Translated by Thae Thae Htwe