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ISSUE 715 | FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

SCHISMS THREATEN TO DERAIL PRISONER REVIEW COMMITTEE

NEWS 4

MAGWE REGION DRAWS OIL HUNTERS SEEKING BETTER LIFE

BUSINESS 27

Figures in constitution report questioned by MPs

EI EI TOE LWIN eieitoelwin@gmail.com A REPORT presented to parliament last week by a committee set up to review proposals to revise the 2008 Constitution has been met with criticism by some MPs who questioned its validity, with many responses having been submitted late by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The 109-member Constitutional Review Joint Committee was set up last July to seek opinions on the constitution with a view to proposing amendments. Almost 300,000 suggestions for changes were submitted by political parties, NGOs, legal experts and government ministries, covering a wide range of constitutional issues. The original deadline for the committees report was extended from December 31 to January 31, when the committee delivered the results in parliament. The 10-page report divided suggestions received by the public into categories such as amendments, annulments and additions, but did not include suggestions from the committee itself. Some MPs reported that they felt the results were biased, particularly relating to section 59(f ), which currently bars Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency. While popular opinion understands this clause to be the most controversial, the committees report found few suggested it be changed, with an overwhelming majority of those cited saying it should be left alone. MORE ON NEWS 7

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PHOTO: AFP

Performers present a dragon dance during a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong on January 31. Chinese communities across Asia came together to usher in the Year of the Horse, with Mandalay resuming its celebrations after events were cancelled in 2013.

Telecoms licences granted

After many delays, the government last week nally issued operating licences to Ooredoo and Telenor, both of which promised to launch services within six to eight months. BUSINESS 24

2 THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Page 2
THE INSIDER: The local lowdown & best of the web
hoping to catch a glimpse of the winged beastie may be out of luck, with the New Light offering this somewhat cryptic explanation of the farmers intentions: The bird will be shown at the signicant festival, said the owner of the bird. Such bird can not be seen in other seasons.

online editor Kayleigh Long | kayleighelong@gmail.com

An Australian vulture was captured last week by a farmer in Haka, Chin State, when he saw two of the avian nightmares feasting on the bloated corpse of a cow. The brave farmer captured one of the pair, while the other ew away. The New Light of Myanmar reported that the staff of the Myothit wards forestry department said the bird has a wingspan of over two metres, or 6.5 feet wide in stretching wings. The farmer apparently intends on keeping the bird to breed, but just how this will be achieved with only one vulture is not entirely clear. Anyone

HUGE BIRD FOUND IN CHIN STATE

THE COST OF FAME

Myanmar lm industry gures last week complained publicly about the exorbitant fees expected by leading actors, saying this has had a detrimental impact on the quality of local productions. If you calculate the total cost of lms and direct-to-home videos, the leading

When Myanmar was Burma...

Archival material provided by Pansodan Gallery

actors fees takes up half of the total lmmaking costs, a lm producer told Eleven Media, on condition of anonymity. As anyone whos ever caught an overnight bus in Myanmar can conrm, there are approximately seven actors in rotation in local lms so its no surprise this tight-knit elite union has the industry over a barrel. After spending a lot of money on the fees of the actors and actresses, we try to be thrifty by cutting back the costs for hiring other co-actors and the daily expenses of the technician team, another producer said. We cant spend more money to lm and good location sites. So its no wonder that the quality of lms continues to degrade.

YE HTUT INVOKES GITMO

Deputy Information Minister U Ye Htut last week elaborated on the decision to reject calls from civil society and various foreign governments for the authorities to allow an independent investigation into the alleged massacre in Du Chee Yar Tan village in Rakhine State. Speaking with Radio Free Asia on January 30, U Ye Htut invoked Guantanamo Bay as a precedent justifying internal investigation of alleged grave human rights abuses. In the past, when international society proposed that Washington allow them to investigate the alleged abuse of detainees at Guantanamo Bay detention camp, the US rejected it saying it was their own issue. US said they did not need international society to be involved in the process as the country had enough capability to investigate the issue by itself. We have similar such capability as we have organisations to investigate for the issue

PAGE 2 FELICITATES JAPANESE EMBASSY

Post-war British publication Times of Burma, April 1947

A hip-hop show took place last week at Kandawgyi Park in celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Japan. The music oscillated between hip-hop and what could perhaps have been more accurately described as K-pop, or a hostage situation judging by the stoic expressions of the Japanese diplomatic ofcials who remained seated while Smoke Weed Every Day blared from the pile of speakers. All in all, it was a great show and a promising step forward from the likes of Michael Learns to Rock. Thanks, Japanese embassy!

Nan Khin Zayar for NOW! magazine. Photo: Htet Aung Kyaw ( HAK studio)

Style

Statement

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NEWS EDITOR: Thomas Kean | tdkean@gmail.com

News 3

Anger as govt handpicks media for Rakhine briefing

TIM MCLAUGHLIN timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com MEMBERS of the media have criticised the government for only allowing reporters from four local publications to attend a press conference on the recent violence in northern Rakhine State. They have also decried as unacceptable the continuing restrictions on access for international journalists. Only reporters from 7 Days, Eleven Media, Voice and Yangon Times were allowed inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Yangon to hear the governments account of violence that took place in Maungdaw township in mid-January. The Ministry for Information said that the four were chosen because their circulation numbers are the highest. The decision left the bulk of reporters, including one from The Myanmar Times, waiting outside as Deputy Minister for Information U Ye Htut and Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin briefed members of the diplomatic community. Here we have some limits on space so we gave priority for reporters from daily newspapers to attend this occasion, U Ye Htut told journalists afterward. We chose [four publications] for the event based on their circulation. But U Soe Myint, editor-in-chief of Mizzima, said the government should not give preferential treatment to certain media outlets. If [the brieng] is open, it should be open [to all], he said. If it is closed, it should be closed. He also questioned the manner in which local outlets were selected. It is very funny. Does the Ministry of Information have all the records? It was not just local media that were denied access. Ko Thar Nyunt Oo, a reporter for Voice of America who was also forced to wait outside the brieng, said he had sent a request to attend to both U Ye Htut and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier that morning, as per the governments guidelines. But when he arrived at the briefing he was told his name was not on the list of approved media. He called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw but was told the ministry was not responsible for deciding who was granted access. The Associated Press, which has been singled out by the Ministry of Informations News and Periodicals Enterprise for its coverage of the Maungdaw incident, was also barred from attending. The AP has called on the government to enable foreign journalists and publications to visit Maungdaw and verify reports that up to 48 people were killed. Our credibility relies on being accurate and reporting without prejudice, but accurately, so that people can trust AP news. To that end, we reiterate our request to be allowed to visit north Rakhine in order to provide the most accurate account of developments in the region, said John Daniszewski, AP senior managing editor for international news. The government has said that it will allow local media members into Maungdaw but will keep international media out, citing concerns over safety restrictions that U Soe Myint described last week as unacceptable. Additional reporting by Kayleigh Long

Photo: Zarni Phyo Arakan League for Democracy president U Aye Tha Aung speaks at a press conference in Yangon on January 29.

UN will not respond to allegations of falsehood

WA LONE
walone14@gmail.com

Minister decries Indian occupation of border

EI EI TOE LWIN eieitoelwin@gmail.com THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that structures built by Indians on the Myanmar side of the border be destroyed. The request comes as the two countries have agreed to demarcate their more than 1600-kilometre (1000-mile) common border. About 165km of the border remains to be established with the setting-up of marker posts. On January 17 the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approved an agreement between the two governments to complete the demarcation. According to a joint survey conducted last month, homes, a playground, part of a road, some fences and three lampposts were built on Myanmars territory between border posts 76 and 79, some of which have yet to be put in place, U Tin Oo Lwin, vice minister for foreign affairs, told Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on January 28. We will exchange ndings made by both sides and renegotiate in joint working groups on border affairs so we can start the border measurement. We have also demanded that India withdraw their occupation to within a 10-metre zone, he said. Daw Khin Moe Wai, MP for Min King constituency in Sagaing Region, said, Protests have arisen in Kalay and my own constituency. The lack of precise border measurements has led to disputes, as well as drug trafficking, illegal log trade and even illegal entry by Bengalis. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

THE United Nations said last week that it would not respond to accusations that it had issued false reports about alleged deadly conicts in Rakhine State last month. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released a statement on January 24 saying it had received credible information that 40 Muslims had been killed by Rakhine residents of Du Chee Yar Tan village in southern Maungdaw township on January 13. U Aye Win, the spokesperson for the UNs Yangon Office, told The Myanmar Times on January 30 that he could not conrm the number of deaths and injuries, but added that it was certain that at least one person had died. Meanwhile, Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) said it had treated 22 patients on January 14 who

were believed to be victims of violence in Maungdaw township. We have already shared this information with the authorities, but we cannot provide further details, such as the names of the patients, due to doctor-patient condentiality, said Eddy McCall, the communication manager at MSF. Minister of Home Affairs Lieutenant General Ko Ko has blamed UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations for releasing false information about events in Rakhine State, adding that it has made the conicts more complicated.

The people will not forgive such false reporting, which can disturb the rule of law.
Lieutenant General Ko Ko Minister of Home Affairs

The people will not forgive such false reporting, which can disturb the rule of law, the minister said. Members of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) political party have also warned that false information would only increase conicts between communities in Rakhine State. The UN and INGOs will have to be responsible for their decisions, ALD president U Aye Tha Aung said at a press conference in Yangon on January 29. The government took a small group of people consisting of representatives from the Rakhine Investigation Commission, the UNHCR and the UN Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (UNOCHA) to Maungdaw township on January 23, with a report expected to be released soon. However, U Aye Win said the UN has complained to the government that the two UN representatives who went on the heavily monitored trip were handpicked by authorities and were not experts in investigating or assessing conicts.

4 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Govt accused of blocking prisoner review process

BILL OTOOLE
botoole12@gmail.com

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CIVIL society representatives on the presidents Political Prisoner Review Committee have expressed growing frustration with the government side of the group, accusing them of refusing to cooperate and criticising the Presidents Office for failing to address the issue. I am frustrated that we have not accomplished our mission, said one committee member. This is the direct responsibility of the government and president. The committee was established in February 2013 to review the cases of specic inmates and recommend the release of prisoners who were jailed for political motives. One committee member, who asked not to be identied, recalled that he and his fellow activists were initially very happy to be invited into the committee. Their feeling at the time was that their work could serve as a model for how government and civil society partnerships could work to reform different sectors of Myanmar society. However, after one year of working together, the committee member and several of his fellow activists told The Myanmar Times that the government members have done next to nothing to cooperate in their work and have often hindered their efforts. For example, the members say the government has yet to give them an up-to-date list of political prisoners. After many months of prodding, the government provided a list in late 2013 that was clearly many years out of date, as it included the names of two members of the 88 Generation Students who had already been re-

Former political prisoner Tin Htut Paing celebrates after being released from Insein Prison in Yangon on December 31. Photo: AFP

leased and are current members of the committee. In general, the committee member said he and his peers are routinely denied access to legal documents such as arrest records and court reports, both of which are key to establishing which prisoners were unfairly incarcerated. In addition, the committee member said the government has impeded them even in their own investigations, denying them the opportunity to interview prisoners and restricting their travel by claiming safety and security concerns. We cannot visit Kachin State. We cannot visit Rakhine State More people might be detained in those areas, [but] we cannot touch anything, he said, adding, Even though we receive complaints, we cannot do anything. [We] cannot intervene in many cases. When asked about the several amnesties that President U Thein Sein

has ordered since taking office, the committee member dismissed them as empty gestures, saying that the lists of freed prisoners were made without consulting the committee. Like many observers, he pointed out that these amnesties only came at politically opportune moments, such as during the visit to Myanmar by US President Barack Obama or just before the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asia Games. He also pointed out that already this year, 10 civilians in Yangon have been arrested for peaceful demonstrations. The Burmese governments focus is only on the numbers, but its not enough There will be no end of political prisoners without the abolition of unjust laws. Representatives from the Presidents Office or the Ministry of Home Affairs could not be reached for comment.

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World Bank pledges US$2b in development aid to Myanmar

SU HLAING HTUN NAN TIN HTWE newsroom@mmtimes.com THE World Bank announced last week that it would provide US$2 billion to support long-term development projects in Myanmar, including $200 million for the countrys ailing healthcare sector. The president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, made the announcement at the 2nd Myanmar Development Cooperation Forum held in Nay Pyi Taw on January 27. This is a good news for the countrys ambitious plans for universal health coverage by 2030, Mr Kim said. He added that with support from the World Bank, coordination between the government and the private sector can encourage the establishment of more transparent and responsible national-level institutions. Other sectors beneting from the aid will include energy and agriculture. Currently, 70 percent of population still cant access electricity in Myanmar. Children in rural areas still read by candlelight at night, he said. Despite rapid growth in urban areas, there is still slow development in rural areas, with few job opportunities and extreme poverty. Mr Kim stressed that the massive funding announcement targets the poorest people in rural areas of Myanmar. We are increasing our support for the huge reform effort underway in Myanmar because we want to help the government bring benets to poor people even more quickly, he said. Mr Kim said the World Bank was committed to providing more than $700 million to Myanmar before June, but added that the countrys future depends on support from partner organisations and decisive action on the part of state leaders. However, the World Bank president also warned that he would not hesitate to shut down projects in Myanmar if there was any evidence of corruption. We have a very, very strict rule with corruption on every single project . We have done many things in the past to ensure that we battle corruption effectively, he said, adding that evidence of corruption had led him to shut down a project in Bangladesh. I wont hesitate to do that again, said Mr Kim said. He said he felt condent of the World Banks ability to monitor and follow the situation in Myanmar, which ranks 157th out of 175 countries in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index. We have come to agreements with the government. We have come to agreements with the private companies that we support. We have come to these agreements to get the results that we should get, he said. President U Thein Sein said at the forum that the government aims to increase the countrys gross domestic product by 9.1 percent during the 2014-2015 nancial year. By enhancing nancial services like free-interest loans or low-interest loans in major regions and states, and by properly managing foreign direct investment and foreign technical assistance, the government will reach its target, he said. During the forum which was held under the theme Accelerating action for progress through enhancing inclusive coordination the president said Myanmar still requires aid and support from ASEAN, the European Union, Australia and other donor countries. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

We have done many things in the past to ensure that we battle corruption effectively.
Jim Yong Kim President of the World Bank

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News 5

Hugo Swire calls on Tatmadaw to embrace reform

At a press conference in Yangon, the British minister reiterates his support for constitutional amendments
TIM MCLAUGHLIN timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com KAYLEIGH LONG kayleighelong@gmail.com THE United Kingdoms minister of state for the Foreign Office reiterated his countrys calls for an amendment to the Myanmar constitution barring Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president. Hugo Swire, speaking to the media in Yangon at the end of a three-day visit to Myanmar, touched briey on a number of constitutional amendments his government feels need to be addressed. But while he called some amendments including independence of the judiciary and removal of the militarys veto power complex and requiring careful consideration, he said an amendment to 59(f ) would be very simple and very important. This unreasonable restriction was not included in Burmas previous constitutions in 1947 and 1974. I can only assume that the restriction was written into the 2008 constitution in order to prevent one particular individual from ever becoming president, Mr Swire said. This is surely no way to write a constitution. Mr Swire was originally scheduled to deliver his speech at Yangon Universitys Diamond Jubilee Hall but, just hours before the event, was abruptly forced to change the venue to the British Council due to reasons beyond our control. Neither Mr Swire nor the British embassy gave any further explanation on the venue switch, though Mr Swire said he hoped that one day people like me will be able to give speeches there, at the university, that provoke and give cause for debate, seeming to insinuate that the forced relocation was politically motivated. U Zaw Myint, deputy director at the Department of Higher Education, which oversees the Diamond Jubilee Hall, declined to comment when contacted by The Myanmar Times. Mr Swire called on members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the Tatmadaw to take an active approach and embrace constitutional amendments, a decision he said would send strong signals of democratic reform to Myanmar citizens and the international community. He also said that it would give Senior General U Min Aung Hlaing the opportunity to secure a unique

British Foreign Office Minister for Asia Hugo Swire delivers a speech during a press conference at the British Council in Yangon on January 30. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing talks with Hugo Swire during their meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on January 28. Photo: AFP

legacy: to be the commander-inchief whose courage enabled his army to break free of the shackles of the past. Mr Swire met with U Min Aung Hlaing as part of his visit to Myanmar, his second since taking up his position in September 2012, and his rst meeting with Myanmars commander-in-chief since the UK began to reengage with the Tatmadaw. Last month around 30 Tatmadaw officers attended a class titled Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context in Nay Pyi Taw, organised by lecturers from Craneld University and the UK Defence Academy. Mr Swire said he was pleased with the course, which he insisted did not enhance the Tatmadaws military capacity or capabilities, and was buoyed by the attendance of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the closing ceremony along with senior Tatmadaw officers. Though the reengagement was started under General Sir David Richards, the former chief of the Defence Staff, the broadening of UK and Myanmar relations to include the military has continued under his successor, General Sir Nick Houghton. We would love to be at the point we had a regular ow of Burmese ofcers to Sandhurst, to the Defence Academy at Shrivenham, [to] Cranwell, training in the UK. What a wonderful thing that would be an exchange of British officers coming here, Mr Swire said. Bur Mr Swire, himself a graduate of Sandhurst and a former army officer, said Myanmar was not yet ready for these types of exchanges.

He said they would only be possible when the military occupies its proper place in the constitution and is under civilian control. Mr Swire also renewed the UKs calls for a prompt and independent investigation into recent reports of violence in northern Rakhine States Maungdaw township, rst called for in a joint statement issued with the United States on January 17. While some sources say as many

We need to see who is on that investigation committee to make sure that they enjoy the support of the wider community. If it is loaded to one side or the other, the investigation committee itself will lack credibility, which defeats the purpose of having any sort of investigation. Mr Swire also discussed the reports of violence in Rakhine State in meetings with government officials in Nay Pyi Taw on January 28.

I can only assume that the restriction was written into the 2008 constitution in order to prevent one particular individual from ever becoming president. This is surely no way to write a constitution.
Hugo Swire British Foreign Ofce Minister for Asia

as 48 people were killed, the government maintains there were no serious civilian casualties. On January 28 the Myanmar government said it would send the Myanmar Human Rights Commission and senior religious gures to investigate reports of violence between police and Muslims in Maungdaw township, but refused to grant international observers access to the area. Mr Swire welcomed the move, though he said the members of the investigation committee would determine the credibility of the investigations ndings.

I have ... made clear to the Burmese government that I remain extremely concerned by the situation in Rakhine State, and I urged a transparent investigation in to recent reports of people being killed, mainly Rohingya women and children. Urgent action must be taken to enforce the rule of law and ensure justice. The continuing violence is a tragedy which must be stopped and which otherwise risks jeopardising the wider reform process, Mr Swire said. After the talks in Nay Pyi Taw Mr Swire visited Kachin State on January 29.

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6 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Hundreds of bamboo huts line Mann Creek during the Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival. Photo: Staff

Fig.1 Perspective View

Fig.2 Side View 1

Fig.3 Side View 2

Years longest pagoda festival opens this week

TOE WAI AUNG linnhtet.lt@gmail.com THE Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival in Minbu township, Magwe Region, will open on February 4, kicking off the longest annual Buddhist festival in Myanmar. U Win Htay, a member of the Shwesettaw Pagoda board of trustees, told The Myanmar Times that the festival will be held in grand style like in previous years. The festival occurs beside Mann Creek, about 640 kilometres (400 miles) north of Yangon on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River. The site features several pagodas, including Ahtat Settaw Yar, which is reputed to contain a footprint of the Buddha. Another footprint, called Eyunt Settaw Yar, is housed in a pagoda at the bottom of the hill beside Mann Creek. The festival lasts for nearly three months, ending at the conclusion of the Thingyan Water Festival in midApril. We are now building accommodation for pilgrims, which will be nished before the start of the festival, U Win Htay said, referring to the hundreds of temporary bamboo huts constructed annually on the mostly dried-up creek bed. During the last rainy season we installed CCTV in Ahtat Settaw Yar and Auak Settaw Yar pagodas for security, and one donor funded the construction of a balcony at Ahtat Settaw Yar Pagoda for this year, U Win Htay said, adding that roads leading to the site have also been repaired. Ma Kaung Kaung from Yangonbased Tango travel agency said the company will offer pilgrimage tours from Yangon to the festival starting on February 14. Transport will be provided using high-standard buses. We have threeday programs for office staff, departing on Friday night and returning Sunday night, she said. Accommodation is in bamboo huts near Mann Creek, which are suitable for the season. The trip also includes stops at several pagodas on the way back from the festival. The tour costs K50,000 for locals and $95 for foreigners. Translation by Thae Thae Htwe

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We are now building accommodation for pilgrims, which will be nished before the start of the festival.
U Win Htay Shwesettaw Pagoda board of trustees

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CONTINUED FROM NEWS 1 The same was found with sections 435 and 436, two other controversial clauses often singled out by those advocating constitutional reform. Section 435 requires 20 percent of MPs to back reform proposals before they can be discussed in parliament; section 436 requires 75pc of the hluttaw to agree before any changes to the constitution can be considered, and for more than half of eligible voters to approve the change in a nationwide referendum. With the military occupying 25pc of seats another clause that the report does not suggest should be changed most feel the 75pc benchmark for change is an impossible hurdle to overcome. Controversially, the report says that there are 106,102 people who do not want to change section 59(f ) andsection 436 andonly592 people who want to change 59(f ) as well as 524 people who want to change sections 435 and 436. Its unacceptable, U Khaing Maung Yi from National Democratic Force Party said. He criticised the 106,102gure specically, saying it had been created by one partyand did not represent an accurate poll of public opinion. I was shocked when I saw this large amount, U Khaing Maung Yi said.I think that they prepared the list intentionally. Its not easy to get such large amounts [of responses] within a short period. The gure was invented. USDP MP Thura U Aung Ko, the chair of the Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee, said the dramatic opposi-

News 7

US winds down resettlement program on Thailand border

Civil society groups representing refugees from Myanmar have protested against the end of the program and say that political reforms in the country are not yet guaranteed
BILL OTOOLE botoole12@gmail.com THE US State Department began the process of winding down its resettlement program for refugees on the Thai-Myanmar border last week, leaving an estimated 120,000 refugees, mostly Karenni, with an uncertain future. The State Department originally announced its intention to end the program in January 2013. Since the program began in 2005, the department, working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has sent more 73,000 displaced civilians to the United States for resettlement. The closing of the program has sparked outrage among Karenni civil society groups, which say the US and UN are leaving thousands of refugees out in the cold. The US government should wait until the peace process is stable and reform is guaranteed, said Saw Alex Hto, the deputy director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network. The Karen News Group reported last week that a crowd gathered to protest the new policy outside the UNHCR office in Nu Poe Camp in Thailands Tak Province, criticising the UN for ignoring their needs. But Anne C Richard, the assistant secretary at the US State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, said the successful resettlement program has reached its natural conclusion following the January 24, 2014, deadline for Burmese refugees to express their interest in resettlement to UNHCR. After nine years, the program was coming to a natural end. Many who could and wanted to go have already done so, said Vivian Tan, the UNHCRs senior regional public information officer for Thailand. Information campaigns were done in each camp to make sure people knew the deadline was coming up. Michael Bruce, a spokesperson for the Thai-Burma Border Consortium, which provides humanitarian aid to many of the camps along the border, was quick to praise the work of the United States and the UNHCR. Speaking over the phone last week to The Myanmar Times, he explained that when it comes to resettling displaced people, The number one most important component is refugee registration. This is the only part of the resettlement program that is a bit unfair. The Thai government, which is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, has not permitted the UNHCR to visit and register refugees in the border area camps since 2006, meaning that the thousands of refugees who arrived in the country since that time are ineligible to be resettled. The Thai Ministry of Border Affairs could not be reached for comment. Ms Tan said in an email that the UNHCR is not authorised to register Myanmar refugees along the border. But [we] have been advocating with the government that it should reopen registration through its Provincial Admissions Board, which stopped meeting around 2006-7. Ms Tan added that even with the US program closing, resettlement was still possible in countries like Japan, New Zealand and Canada. [We want] to reassure those who remain that resettlement continues to be an option for the most vulnerable if they need it even if the simplied procedures that applied with the former program no longer apply. Ms Tan and Mr Bruce agreed that repatriation to Myanmar is not an option at this time and that the camps would remain home for many refugee for the foreseeable future. This is still a vulnerable population that needs protection, Mr Bruce said.

After nine years, the program was coming to a natural end. Many who could and wanted to go have already done so.
Vivian Tan UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Somegroups who want to protect their own self-interests dontwant to touch 59(f ) and 436.
Thura U Aung Ko USDP MP

tion was in large part due to a signature list submitted after the deadline. One CEC member from the USDP sent the list that was in todays report to the committee, which said 106,102 people dont want to change 59(f) and 436. Most of the people are from Yangon Region. It includes signatures and names but does not mention party afliation, he said. Somegroups who want to protect their own self-interests dontwant to touch 59(f ) and 436 while trying to changethe constitution, he said, but added, Its impossible to change the constitution without touching sections 59(f ) and 436. He said some have been persuading others not to pursue changes to the controversial clauses, and have objected to attempts to do so. U Aung Thein Linn, a South Okkalapa MP and a USDP CEC member, said the 2008 Constitution was approved in the 2007 referendum by the majority of public opinion, with 92.48 percent of all eligible voters reported to have approved it a gure criticised by observers at the time. He said the 106,102 who rejected the critical changes might be part of that 92.48pc. I also swearan oath of loyalty to the 2008 Constitution. Therefore, I have a duty to protect and maintain the constitution, saidU Aung Thein Linn. After the committee put its results to the hluttaw, SpeakerThura U Shwe Mann decided to form a new committee to implement the report, to be discussed in parliament on February 3, with MPs approving his decision. Some, however, continued to express their dissatisfaction. We cant stand any more of the constitution discussion, U Khaing Maung Yi, if they continue working in a tricky way.

8 News
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Patronage, sexism and the way forward

LIAN KUAl SANG naolian@gmail.com MYANMARS transformation from decades of military rule and economic isolation to a market economy with a democratic system of government has rightly been applauded around the world. But as Myanmar passes through a period of rapid change, it is also important to examine ourselves how we see and do things. Some of our traditional views and practises are hindering our progress towards a freer, fairer and more equitable society. One of these is the patronage system, which is rather common in our society. We occasionally award lucrative projects purely based on the bidders connections with someone in power. In a more polite way, you may say the bidder used their network to get the deal. But this process also applies to appointments within a company or organisation; it amazes me that someone can still be given an important and challenging position despite having little or no previous experience or interest in the eld. The patronage system may have some usefulness to both government and private organisations but disadvantages society more broadly. Sadly, while most of us can recognise this, we are not willing to change. Patronage negatively affects us in a number of ways. The rst is that it totally ignores the elements of justice, fairness and transparency by excluding those without connections. Secondly, it discourages others to work harder because they know promotion to a senior position is not necessarily related to performance and suitability. Thirdly, it is only a small leap from patronage to cronyism, favouritism and nepotism. Another harmful cultural trait is sexism, or discrimination against women simply because they are women. While we have been talking a great deal about the need for fairness and equality, gender equality seems to have been largely overlooked. Traditionally, we have tended to believe that women do not have the same capacity as men to take on leadership roles. Obviously this places women at a disadvantage. A few groups and activists have been advocating for womens right but sexism is a common feature in most workplaces. It is a rare to see women in senior positions in any business unless it is privately owned and the woman is related to the owner. In the government, there are also few women holding senior positions. Our society expects a wife to always obey her husband and I believe that we carry this attitude into our workplace. I have even heard people say explicitly that all women are incapable of taking on leadership roles. This happens despite some private or public sector enterprises or bodies having more women in their workforce. A good example would be our universities. While the majority of its academic staff are women there have been few female professors or rectors at Yangon University. On a positive note, the government has recently taken allowed young women to join the military. This is potentially a very big step forward but we still have to see how far women can rise up the ranks. In September 2012 it also appointed the rst female union minister: Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Daw Myat Myat Ohn Khin. hollow until we as a society are willing to ensure equal rights for women and give them access to senior positions and leadership roles. Patronage and discrimination against women are not unique to Myanmar, and exist to varying degrees even in developed countries. But their prevalence here is troubling. My sincere wish is for the people of my country to abandon these antiquated ideas, which were designed to reinforce the status quo, and instead follow a meritocratic system: asystem where awards or appointments are based on capacity and suitability, not on who you know or what your gender is. This will help engender the attitude that if we work hard and build our capabilities there is no limit on what we can achieve in life. For a merit-based system to take root, businesses and government must acknowledge the serious negative impact patronage and sexism have on our workplace and introduce merit-based selection and appointment methods. Secondly, the public and employees need to speak out against these antiquated practices and, where necessary, expose blatant examples. Lets work together to cast off these primitive ideas as Myanmar moves forward.
Lian Kual Sang is a freelance business consultant and entrepreneur from Yangon. He currently is a full-time doctoral student in Australia.

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THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

The real damage occurs when women begin to doubt their own worth and ability.

The real damage occurs when women begin to doubt their own worth and ability because of these attitudes. Some begin to believe they are not on par with men and accept that they cannot make the same contribution in their workplaces or society. They silently accept the promotion of their male colleagues to positions for which, because of their gender, they were not even considered. In the process, we miss out on utilising the skills of some of our best people. Our preaching about the need for fairness and equality will ring

Read all about it: Its not all doom and gloom
Reports that Myanmars media industry is struggling with new freedoms dont match the reality on the ground

TIM MCLAUGHlIN
timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com

Journalists lead a protest against the jailing of Ma Khine, a reporter with Eleven Media Group, in Yangon on January 7. Photo: Boothee

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: Bld Sa/1, Man Mandalar Housing, 35th Street, between 70th and 71st streets, Yan Myo Lone Quarter, Chan Aye Thar San Township. Tel: (02) 65391, 74585. Fax: (02) 24460 Email: mdybranch@myanmartimes.com.mm Nay Pyi Taw Bureau: No. 10/72 Bo Tauk Htein St, Yan Aung (1) Quarter, Nay Pyi Taw-Pyinmana. Tel: (067) 23064, 23065 Email: capitalbureau@myanmartimes.com.mm

THE red pen of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division is gone. Private sector daily publishing has returned after a near-50-year absence. Corner newspaper stands are stacked with publications and have no problem shifting copies to eager readers. But with all the ups of Myanmars growing media sector, many people seem more enthralled with the downs. Instead of celebrating these signicant steps forward, journalists both at home and abroad have quickly developed an enthusiasm for penning obituaries for one of the countrys most vibrant and promising sectors. With almost a gleeful air they conduct a regular death watch on Myanmars edgling media outlets, particularly in the daily print sector. Numerous articles have detailed the failures of some publications, while all but promising the demise of others. Still others concoct dubious, often completely imagined, connections between publications, business tycoons and military officials to discredit local publications and TV stations, portraying them as little more than propaganda rags not worth paying attention to. Perhaps the most offensive criticism is the insinuation that Myanmar journalists are not up to the task of asking difficult questions, or that the press corps is a bunch of self-censoring hacks incapable of

using their newfound freedom. The truth is quite to the contrary. Myanmars media workers, who I count as both colleagues and friends, are some of the most engaging and astute observers of a nation in transition. Journalists are well aware of both the opportunity and increased level of scrutiny that comes with reporting on the country at this time of historical change. It is a position that they are not taking lightly. One journalist recently told me that he had lled his stomach with books on reporting to build up his journalistic acumen. Those who doubt the feisty nature of the press corp should try getting

a question in at a heated press conference or hear the exchanges with government spokesperson U Ye Htut, who is not-so-lovingly referred to by some as the minister for Facebook because of his fondness for the social networking site. The recent imprisonment of Eleven Media Group journalist Ma Khine has been used to present an image of a whole industry on the backslide. Make no mistake, her jailing is most certainly a step in the wrong direction for the development of press freedom but the reaction to her arrest provided a telling illustration of the industrys newly rediscovered voice. Instead of having to rely on the international

community and press freedom groups to condemn the arrest, Myanmar journalists were now able to freely protest the imprisonment. Thousands gathered in Yangon to voice their objection. Journalists in Rakhine condemned the arrest and media outlets across Myanmar carried statements of support for Ma Khine. Other victories for the press have also been misrepresented or ignored. Once-exiled media groups that were forced to report from abroad have returned and generally been successful in transforming into mainstream outlets. MORE ON NEWs 9

www.mmtimes.com

CONTINUED FROM NEWS 9 Multi-platform outlet Mizzima has landed major nancial investment, enabling it to greatly bolster its staff. Democratic Voice of Burma has launched a debate series that has taken on some of the countrys toughest issues, while journalists at the Irrawaddy continue to produce some of the most informative pieces about Myanmar. Ethnic media outlets have become more widely read, distancing themselves from armed groups to provide more unbiased coverage. Local journals have also seen numerous positive developments. Closer to home, a dubious liquidation lawsuit brought against The Myanmar Times was recently tossed out. Despite reports to the contrary, the Sun Rays journal, a popular weekly that in its short life has made a name lampooning political elites and business tycoons, continues to publish, much to the delight of readers and disdain of the government. Efforts to warn or caution publications have failed to stick. And journalists at all publications are beneting from increased access to sources, whether government officials, the man (or woman) on the street or international organisations. Were some newspaper owners short-sighted in their rush to join the daily market? Certainly, but being overeager to publish should hardly be considered a negative. Does the Myanmar government need to take steps to protect and advance press freedoms? Absolutely, but this is an ongoing process not a single battle. But instead of the doom and gloom, something else would also be helpful at this time of rapid change: a little recognition for the hundreds, if not thousands, of Myanmar journalists and editors who have taken the industry so far in the past three years.

A sage message of tolerance from a visionary Lao soldier

ROGER MITTON
such a high prole in the US. But like Myanmar today, Laos half a century ago assumed importance to Washington as a bulwark between Communist China and the free world of Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. The neutralist Captain Kong Le also supported that view, and hence, albeit briey, became an American pin-up boy. How did he do it? Well, after leaving his village, Kong Le joined the army, knuckled down and impressed his superiors. So much so that after serving in northern Laos against the Viet Minh Communists, he was sent for officer training to the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. Promoted to the rank of captain upon his return, he became deputy commander of the powerful Second Parachute Battalion. At that time, rather like Cambodia and Thailand today, Laos was racked by conicts between rival political factions that would not compromise and were backed by rich and powerful interests. Saddened at how his compatriots were killing each other, Kong Le, then only 26, took decisive action. On August 9, 1960, when Prime Minister Phoui Sananikone had taken his ministers to Luang Prabang for a cabinet meeting, Kong Le led his men in a takeover of power in Vientiane. I am for Laos and the Lao

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Years later, Christian Chapman, the US diplomat handling Laos at the time, described it as one of the more shameful acts of the American government. Shameful, and rather stupid, because, like most Lao governments of the day, it did not last long. A year later, another ostensibly neutralist government under Souvanna Phouma took over, and Kong Le, now a general, was reappointed head of the armed forces. Soon afterward, on June 26, 1964, he appeared on the cover of Time - no mean feat, given that, unlike today, it was a reliable and substantive magazine that had huge sales around the world. But as often happened, the neutralist coalition Kong Le favoured to keep Laos unaligned proved unsustainable, and after it collapsed, he endured several assassination attempts. Knowing there was a bullet with his name on it, he wisely ed rst to the US and then Paris, where he died last month at the age of 80. He failed in his bid to seek a middle way, a tolerant neutralist position. As a result, Laos today is governed by the regions most repressive and undemocratic regime. It is an outcome that the intolerant protesters on both sides in Bangkok and Phnom Penh might want to bear in mind. Of course, Kong Les passing was not mentioned in the state-controlled Lao media.

News 9

roger.mitton@gmail.com

IT seems like its yesterday once more, as news reports remind us that it was 50 years ago this month that the Beatles rst visited the United States. The Fab Four played on the famous Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, and made the cover of all the major newspapers and magazines. That same year, another gure, who happened to be from this region, also featured on the cover of Time magazine. He did not make as big a splash as Ringo Starr and his chums, but Captain Kong Le, a soldier from Muong Phalan village, just east of Savannakhet in southern Laos, certainly had his fteen minutes of fame. It seems astonishing now that a poor ethnic minority kid, who had lost his father when he was 10 and who had no family name, could grace the cover of Time and rate

Kong Le on the cover of Time magazine in June 1964.

people, for honesty and purity, and against corruption, the headstrong captain declared. He installed the neutralist Prince Souvanna Phouma as prime minister and assumed command of the armed forces himself. The Thais and Americans, who viewed Souvanna as a closet communist, were aghast and promptly arranged to transfer gold and supplies to the PMs opponents, led by Colonel Phoumi Nosavan. After being initially repulsed by Kong Les forces, the US-backed Colonel Phoumi eventually prevailed. Souvanna was deposed and a rightwing regime installed.

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Miss Narthaya Kirtibhakti of 888 Moo 4, Anusawari Sub-district, Bangkhen District, Bangkok, Thailand is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

10 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

(Reg: No. IV/9239/2013) in respect of :- Ground fault circuit interrupters, voltage surge protectors circuit breakers, switchboards, constant-voltage regulator for electrical measure, distribution boxes [electricity], flashing lights [luminous signals], switch, plug, ballast, starter, power plug. Class: 9 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 Miss Narthaya Kirtibhakti P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416

Dated: 3rd February, 2014

An Oriental Ballooning Company pilot prepares a hot-air balloon for flight. Photo: Sithu Lwin

Balloon flights expand to Inle Lake

SI THU LWIN sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com THE Oriental Ballooning Company is preparing to inate its service by offering hot-air balloon ights over Inle Lake and the surrounding area in southern Shan State, a company spokesperson told The Myanmar Times. Our hot-air balloon service is ready for those who want to see an aerial view of Inle Lake and the surrounding area, said the companys manager, U Zarni. Last November, Oriental Ballooning started offering balloon ights in Mandalay and Bagan for US$320 a person for both locals and foreigners. Most passengers are foreign tourists, U Zarni said. They prefer riding over Mandalay because it has more to see than Bagan. Flights are available in fourseat and eight-seat balloons, which are manufactured in England and flown by experienced English pilots. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

Mandalay gold shops beckoning danger with weak security

KYAE MONE WIN
kyaymonewin@gmail.com

DESPITE growing concerns about burglars targeting gold-selling shops in Mandalay, most such businesses still have poor security and are having trouble nding well-trained guards to hire, shopkeepers said. U Aung from Aung Thamardi gold shop said that in Mandalay there is no security rm that can offer great service. Most security rms dont have enough guards to send to gold shops, which is why I nd and hire my own security staff for my shop, he said, adding that he pays the guards a higher salary than he pays salespeople. Most gold shop owners think they dont need to hire security staff, but I think we should post guards based on the number of customers coming and going from the shop, U Aung said. Having guards is good not only for the shop but also for customers. He said he has hired 42 guards for his three gold shops and his own workplace, and he has also installed CCTV cameras and alarm systems to boost security. I installed CCTV cameras before I hired security staff. By monitoring my shop both electronically and with guards, I can have protection from dangers outside the shop and from thieves inside the shop, he said. It can also help me manage problems that might arise in selling or

buying gold in my shop. U Than Oo, the general manager of Mandalay-based SSS security rm, said most of his companys staff are hired to guard factories and private homes. Our company started in 2003, but its only been in the past two or three years that weve been asked to provide security for small businesses. Among our 60 customers, there is only one gold shop, he said. Now we are having trouble nding enough staff for our customers because there arent many people

If the shop has a wide gate in front or too many entryways and exits, this will be attractive for criminals.
U Aung Aung Thamardi gold shop

interested in working as security guards, he said, adding that there are only ve security rms in Mandalay compared with about 30 in Yangon. In the aftermath of a well-publicised robbery at Maung Kain gold shop this past Christmas Eve, during which the gun-wielding thief was apprehended by staff and bystanders, Weint Sain gold shop is now using metal detectors

and guards for security. Weint Sain owner Daw Phyu Phyu Swe, who runs three gold shops in the vicinity of 84th Street, said she has hired seven security guards. Some are from security rms and some are retired government personnel, she said. Hiring through the security rm is an indirect way of nding staff for our shop, so later I started hiring security staff on my own and offering them a good salary. She added that security guards were essential for gold shops. Were selling precious merchandise, so we need guards for the safety of ourselves and our customers. U Aung suggested that gold shop owners open and close at exactly the same time every day, and also pay attention to the layout and location of their shop. If the shop has a wide gate in front or too many entryways and exits, this will be attractive for criminals. If its located too close to a busy road, a thief can also get away easily, he said. Its also a mistake to stay open late waiting for customers to come. A gold shop should always open and close at the right time. One Mandalay resident surmised that thefts in general were increasing because people face difficulty for their living. If shops that sell high-value merchandise also have weak security, it looks like they are beckoning danger to themselves, he said. Whichever government is in power or whichever political system they use, the people need to take care of the security of their own businesses. Translation By Thiri Min Htun

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THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

President to test new tribunal

SANDAR LWIN sdlsandar@gmail.com THE government appears to be heading for another showdown with the parliament, after President U Thein Sein announced last week he plans to ask the Constitutional Tribunal to examine whether eight new laws conform to the constitution. The decision could reignite a dispute with parliament that erupted in 2012 over the denition of union-level organisations and prompted MPs to impeach the entire tribunal. The submissions will be the rst since a new tribunal was installed in February 2013, with the lower house speaker, upper house speaker and president selecting three members each to sit on the body. The presidents information team announced on January 27 that the eight laws under scrutiny include two pieces of legislation the anti-corruption law and farmers rights protection law approved by MPs in 2013 and six recently amended laws. The six amended laws the Pyithu Hluttaw Law, Amyotha Hluttaw Law, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law, Region and State Hluttaw Law, Union Auditor Generals Office Law and Constitutional Tribunal Law were enacted by the military government shortly before the transition to quasi-civilian rule. The president sent all eight pieces of approved legislation back to MPs with suggested amendments that would, he argued, ensure they conform to the constitution. However, parliamentarians rejected all of the changes. In some cases the president refused to sign the legislation but under the constitution approved bills become law after seven days, with or without the presidents signature. Despite the presidents misgivings on the bills, in some cases he enacted them out of respect for the sentiment of the majority of MPs. In 2012 parliament and the government locked horns over the Constitutional Tribunals ruling that parliamentary committees are not union-level organisations. MPs argued that this made them inferior in status to government ministries and would impede their efforts to hold the government to account. In September MPs impeached the tribunals members for failing to adhere to the constitution and inefficient discharge of duties but not before its members resigned en masse. U Pe Myint, a political commentator and consultant editor at political affairs journal Pyithu Khit (The Peoples Age), said the presidents decision to submit the eight laws would test the independence of the new tribunal. This is the tribunals job, he said. But the last tribunal was forced out because of arguments between the executive and parliament. We will have to wait and see if this tribunal can stand independently or whether it will support one side. Under the constitution only the president, lower and upper house speakers, chief justice and Union Election Commission chairman can make submissions to the tribunal.

Shan shocked as Yawd Serk quits SSA-S

NAN TIN HTWE
nantin.htwe@gmail.com

THE sudden resignation of Lieutenant General Yawd Serk, leader of the Shan State Army-South ethnic armed group, has sent shockwaves throughout the Shan community, both here and overseas. After steady progress toward a nationwide ceasere, and with no obvious successor in sight, supporters have voiced questions and regret about the generals decision. Im sad about this news. I love him and respect him, said 25-yearold Ko Sai Naw, responding to reports of the resignation rst carried by the Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN). The news agency reported on January 15 that Lt Gen Yawd Serk would resign as leader of the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and as chair of its political wing, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA). Lt Gen Yawd Serk, 55, has led the armed group for 18 years since the SSA-S was founded in 1994. SHAN quoted him as saying, I want to hand over to a new leader. But it doesnt mean that I would stop working. I would support the new leader until he could work well. Ko Sai Naw, who lives in Yangon and works as a designer, described Lt Gen Yawd Serk as an unselsh and dedicated leader. He rst met the general last June in Nay Pyi Taw. The visit marked the rst time a Shan ethnic armed group leader met with Myanmar government officials, including the president. The meeting followed a similar visit by the Kayin military leader, Mutu Saypo.

Under Lt Gen Yawd Serks leadership, the RCSS/SSA entered into a political dialogue with the government and received promises for the economic and social development of the Shan, said Ko Sai Naw. For U Sai Htwe, chair of the California Shan Social and Cultural Society, who lives in the United States, the resignation announcement came as a shock. Citing the charismatic generals contribution to the ceasere, he said, Lt Gen Yawd Serk is greatly respected by his comrades. The RCSS/SSA signed the ceasere agreement in 2011. U Sai Htwe questioned the reason given by the general for his resignation at a critical juncture in the peace process when all ethnic armed forces were discussing a nationwide ceasere agreement. I dont accept that 18 years as chairman of the RCSS/SSA is too long, he said, suggesting that the general had doubts about the sincerity of the Myanmar Peace Center but would not withstand public pressure to pursue the peace process. According to the RCSS/SSA, the group has reached 31 agreements on a range of military, economic, social and cultural matters since signing the ceasere. However, the groups spokesperson, Col Sai Hla, told 7 Days News Journal last November that only two of those agreements had been implemented. The Myanmar Peace Centers U Hla Maung Swe said the general was an important person in the peace process. I want him to continue his role as a chairman, but I respect his decision, he said. On January 25, SHAN reported that Union Minister U Aung Min had written to Lt Gen Yawd Serk asking him to keep working for a lasting peace. U Aung Min has described Lt Gen Yawd Serk as his benefactor.

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THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

For Chinese community, a home awa

Chinese clan associations in Yangon maintain ties to regions, towns and even family lines, and assist members in need whether its nancial
NG XINYAO newsroom@mmtimes.com YANGONS Chinatown seems as diverse as China itself perhaps even more so, since its residents both integrate into Myanmar culture and also retain ties and traditions of the particular regions from which their families emigrated. One way the history of the homeland is carried into the houses of the present is through the traditional altars. A centrepiece of the home, these large carved wooden displays are usually located in easy view from the often-elaborate doorways. To those with a trained eye, they serve as a link to the past, relating the background of the family. A familys associations can be classied in several ways, ranging from general to specic. Most broadly, the altar signies ones ethnicity as Chinese relative to, say, Malay or Inthan that of their mother. Clan associations also help those hailing from similar regions, providing social and cultural support whether one is newly arrived or long established. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the fall of the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing, left many in the midst of uncertainty and hardship. Searching for a better life, Chinese from Yunnan, Guangzhou and Hokkien provinces crossed into northern Myanmar. These associations were the migrants harbour away from home a source of food, shelter, jobs and comfort. More than 3 million expat Chinese now hold Myanmar identication, of which two-thirds are from Yunnan, said U Hla Aung, vice president of the Myanmar Yangon Yunnannese Association (MYYA), which was founded in 1911. In the early days, most Yunnanese stayed in the northern areas of Myanmar, but they gradually shifted south to take advantage of the geographical location of the Yangon jetty to export goods to India, said U Hla Aung. There are about 25 Yunnan clan associations in Myanmar, the largest of which is based at Hlaing Mingalar Hall in Yangons Mayangone township. Like everyone else, Chinese settlers over the years have often been caught up in political events, both here and in China. The earliest Yangon branch was located at 30 Latha Road, but it split up from 1968 to 1994 into two camps, U Hla Aung said. The leftists, who moved to a separate meeting place on Bogyoke Aung San Road, were supportive of the Taiwanese Communist Party; the others, who sided with the mainland Chinese party, remained at the original address. In 1994, the idea of combining forces was mooted and took place two years later. This reected that the Yunnanese here were very connected and aligned to the bilateral relations between China and Taiwan.

Estimated number of Yunnan clan associations in Myanmar

25

dian. Identity then breaks down by provincial clans Yunnan, Guangzhou, Hokkien and so on and is sometimes further subdivided into country or town clans Hokkien Province, for example, might include Hokkien Yong Ding or Hokkien Hui An clans. Finally, distinction is made by bloodline, in some ways the most intimate and important of categories. Bloodlines are traced by rst, family name Ong, Lin, Huang and so on and you must be born or adopted into a lineage. Since Chinese society is patriarchal, children take on their fathers surname and follow his ancestral lineage, rather

Leaders of the Myanmar Yangon Yunnanese Association stand in front of Hlaing Mingalar Hall, the groups Mayangone township headquarters. Photo: Zarni Phyo

A clan association shrine in downtown Yangon. Photo: Zarni Phyo

Another association vice president, Sai Aung Kyaw, who is also a member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Yangon Golf Association, said geography traditionally dictated the types of work new immigrants took up. In terms of trade choices, the early Yunnanese coming from west China usually entered the more risky trades in mining and related elds like [gem] polishing and export, as well as timber logging, partly due to the geographic location in the north, Sai Aung Kyaw said. Those from the central provinces of Hokkien and Canton tended to go into restaurants, textile and other manufacturing. As progress comes, and they made more money, some have switched into trade, factory production and value-added services. Today, most members of the clan associations are at least two steps removed from life in China, with thirdgeneration descendants now holding the clan association reins. Despite the closing of Chinese schools in the mid-1960s, many families still encourage their children to speak the Yunnan dialect and carry on traditional celebrations and other customs at home. Many Yunnan parents send their children to external tuition or language schools to learn Mandarin. Sai Aung Kyaw said some Myanmar Chinese have managed, somewhat ironically, to maintain old traditions perhaps even more strictly than those in rapidly modernising China. Ive sent both my children, now aged 10 and 12, to language schools to learn Chinese since they were in pre-nursery, Sai Aung Kyaw said. I also used to attend an external school when I was young. Back then, I had exceptionally long days. Every day I would be at tuition classes from 6am to 8am and 4pm to 6pm to hone my Chinese language skills, then spend the rest of the time learning in a Burmese school. The Myanmar Thye Guan Ong Association (MTGOA) comprises those of Hokkien descent. Based at Sin Oh

Dan Street in Yangons Chinatown enclave, this organisation represents those whose ancestors hailed from Thye Guan township in Chinas Hokkien Province and carried the surname Ong. Our ancestors have been here since the 1880s, said MTGOA honorary director U Aung Sein Lin. In those days, Myanmar was the worlds largest rice bank, on top of other trades. It was a land of opportunities. This organisation helped fellow men look for jobs, supported others in times of difficulties, housed the sick and dying, and even took care of funerals for the poor. Then we were formally founded in 1910.

This organisation helped fellow men look for jobs, supported others in times of difficulties, housed the sick and dying, and even took care of funerals for the poor.
U Aung Sein Lin Myanmar Thye Guan Ong Association

He said the Japanese occupation halted the organisations operations for three years until 1945, but after the war things more or less returned to normal. We used to have another headquarters on 20th Street, but a family that moved in after their own house was destroyed by re claimed ownership and refused to move out. So we bought another unit at Sin Oh Dan Street, he said. U Aung Sein Lin said that the Ong family name is the second most

common among Myanmars Chinese community. For the 12 years leading up to 1956, we had 700 people in the register, and now its around 8001000, he said. Every year we gather ... to honour the birthday of our founding father, Zi Qiao Gong, from whom the Ong family descends. The associations work provides an example of the sort of undertakings typical of all clan associations. It primarily serves to connect and support those from similar backgrounds. Other functions include charity work, helping those in need of nancial or other support, and promoting active citizenry. Common association activities include Chinese New Year gatherings, scholarships for high-performing and needy students, and ceremonies to pay respect to those in the community older than 75. Clan leaders are also occasionally called on to undertake other activities, such as giving blessings at weddings or showing respect at funerals, collaborating for business purposes or acting as intermediaries in business disputes. As air travel prices become relatively more affordable, the group sporadically hosts visiting Ongs from overseas associations and sometimes attends meetings of other clan or trade associations elsewhere. In 1993, the rst global meet-up was held between the Ongs in Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, said U Aye Htun, assistant secretary of the MTGOA. Since then, we have met once every two years. This year we met in Kinmen, Taiwan. We have also hosted many visitors from overseas clans and organised visits to other countries. In between the clan associations, we also notify each other of upcoming changes, developments and so on. When we held our centenary celebration in 2010, we had visitors from 11 countries attend. Clan associations may focus on past bonds but forming new ones is essential to avoid being left behind or losing touch with younger generations.

www.mmtimes.com

News 15

way from home

support, resolving a dispute or offering a wedding blessing
The MTGOA, for example, is constantly striving to adapt to new social communication channels to promote itself at home and globally. One helpful tool is the Facebook page that connects Myanmar Ongs with Ongs in other countries - proof that the internet truly has created a global village. We will have more worldwide gatherings, U Aye Htun said. I have plans for a website and will continue to grow the Facebook page, and maybe send invites from there. Not that all new developments are virtual: The group are also in discussions with neighbours about tearing down its two-storey meeting space and replacing it with a larger eight-storey building, which will house a Chinese language tuition centre, a womens club and a youth club. The MYYA has similar plans and is preparing to open a school that will teach Burmese, English and Mandarin all under one roof. Irrelevance is one of but many challenges the clan associations have faced down, along with Japanese attacks during the war, anti-Chinese movements in the 1960s and four decades of military rule. Today, more than 100 years after they were rst established in Myanmar, the associations maintain their vibrancy and community importance, and serve as testament to the strong bonds that Chinese groups take with them, wherever they go in search of new opportunities.

Cancelled last year, New Year festivities return to Mandalay

JEREMY MULLINS jeremymullins7@gmail.com MANDALAYS largest Chinese organisation has agreed to hold annual New Years festivities later this month, despite cancelling the event in 2013 due to security concerns. Organisers said they carefully considered possible threats to the safety of attendees, as well as wider perceptions of Mandalays Chinese community, before agreeing to press on with the February 13 to 15 celebration, which will be held at Yunnan Hall on 82nd Street. We want to improve the Chinese and Burmese relationships among ordinary people, said U Soe Sein, director at the Myanmar Mandalay Chinese Yunnan Association. Last year the association cancelled its New Years festivities because of perceptions of heightened tension between ethnic Chinese and Burmese in Mandalay. Organisers said they decided that cancelling the event was prudent to protect personal safety and also to maintain a low, apolitical prole for the Chinese community during last years tensions. U Soe Sein said the association tries to avoid controversy and political involvement. Yunnan Hall is just a social centre, and its construction and operations were funded by donation from association members and private companies. It has been holding the event at Yunnan Hall on the rst full moon

An acrobat performs a traditional lion dance. Photo: AFP

after the Chinese New Year since 1983. Last year was just the second time it had been cancelled. U Soe Sein said the three-day event aims to improve relations between people of Chinese descent and other residents of Mandalay, to support local temples and minority groups, and to educate younger people about Yunnanese culture. Chinese traditional dance, modern dance and singing competitions will be held, with organisers expecting between 2000 and 3000 people each day. Around US$30,000 was raised from local companies to hold the event, and no nancial support was received from any governmental body, U Soe Sein said.

Organisers said they felt improved relations between those of Chinese background and the broader community meant the event could go ahead this year. Yunnan Halls membership totals about 8000 families. Along with smaller Fujian and Kokang halls, it is a centre of Chinese culture in Mandalay. The facility includes a temple and indoor hall, and often hosts weddings and funerals for the citys Chinese community. The land was given to the community some 185 years ago, though the structures were rebuilt after World War II. We have a responsibility for the new generation to keep Yunnan culture going, U Soe Sein said.

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News 17

Hundreds of Rohingya found at Thai camp

THAILAND has detained more than 500 Muslim Rohingya refugees, including women and children, who were discovered in a raid on a suspected people-trafficking camp, Thai police said on January 27. Thousands of Rohingya have ed sectarian violence in western Myanmar in rickety boats since 2012, mostly believed to be heading for Malaysia. Rights groups say they often fall into the hands of unscrupulous people-traffickers. Thailand said last year it was investigating allegations that some army officials in the kingdom were involved in the trafficking of Rohingya, who are officially referred to as Bengalis in Myanmar. About 530 Rohingya, including one ve-year-old, were found on January 26 at a rubber farm in southern Thailand near the border with Malaysia, Police Colonel Kan Tammakasem said from Songkhla province. They were hungry and some of them are sick, he said, adding that the Rohingya had hoped to travel to Malaysia. Three Thai men guarding the camp were arrested for sheltering illegal immigrants. The Rohingya men have been taken to detention centres and the women and children to local shelters, according to Chatchawal Suksomjit, deputy commissioner general of the Royal Thai Police. Rights groups have criticised the detention of hundreds of Rohingya in overcrowded and insanitary facilities in Thailand while the government waits so far unsuccessfully for a third country to offer to take them. Myanmar considers its population of roughly 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and most are unable to access citizenship. They face travel restrictions, forced labour and limited access to healthcare and education. Several outbreaks of inter-communal violence between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine State since 2012 have left scores of people dead and about 140,000 people displaced, mainly from the Rohingya minority. Rakhine has been left almost completely divided on religious and communal grounds by the unrest, with many thousands of Muslims living in squalid camps nearly two years after being displaced. AFP

A traffic policeman gestures in front of a hotel hosting ASEAN delegates for the foreign ministers meeting in Bagan on January 15. Photo: AFP

Interpol helps police with ASEAN security

HSU HLAING HTUN
hsuhlainghtun.mcm@gmail.com

THE Myanmar Police Force will receive assistance from Interpol to ensure the security of visitors for major ASEAN meetings this year, a senior official says. Interpol is providing data to prevent terrorists from entering the country by air or land ahead of the meetings, police force spokesperson Police Brigadier General Win Khaung told The Myanmar Times. Interpol has a list of terrorists With this data and other support we can nd out almost immediately if anyone suspicious is crossing the border. We have now carried out security checks at all international border crossings, including illegal routes, he said. As chair of ASEAN Myanmar will host between 300 and 500 meetings during the year, the majority in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon. Some events, such as the ASEAN summits, are likely to attract senior ministers or

even heads of state. Venues will be tted out with x-ray and walk-through screening machines and security cameras, while police will be on hand with mine detectors. Pol Brig Gen Win Khaung said Myanmar Police Force will provide sufcient security for the meetings. I cant say the exact number of ofcers that will be assigned but it will be a comprehensive security arrangement, both in terms of manpower and technology, he said. If senior officials bring their own guards we will cooperate with them. We wont ignore them if they have their own security.

We will also ensure the security of the media and relatives of the diplomats who visit. Weve considered every angle. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

We have now carried out security checks at all international border crossings.
Police Brigadier General Win Khaung Myanmar Police Force

18 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Martyrs of 1300 Revolution to be honoured this month

March, talks and offerings to monks planned to commemorate independence movements coming-of-age

IN BRIEF
Consumer affairs department to expand reach
Consumer protection is to be extended further following its initial rollout in three regions and one state, said U Aung Khaing Oo, director of Mandalay Regions Consumer Affairs Department. The rst ofces were set up late last year in Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Rakhine State. The goal was to educate consumers, producers and civil society groups about consumer rights and complaint resolution. U Aung Khaing Oo said so far the department had received no complaints, but protection processes could be broadened in scope following the passage of the consumer protection bill. U Myo Aung, chair of the Myanmar Consumers Union, said consumer protection would be more effective if all agencies concerned worked together. Myanmar needs to set up a proper consumer protection regime when the ASEAN free trade area takes effect by the end of 2015. Khin Su Wai, translation by Zar Zar Soe

SI THU LWIN
sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com

U Tin Hla, 86, one of the 75th anniversary events organisers, recounts the history of the 1300 Revolution. Photo: Si Thu Lwin

THE 75th anniversary of a crucial uprising against British colonial rule will be commemorated with a march in Mandalay to honour those who died, organisers say, with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi among the gures invited. The 1300 Revolution named for the Myanmar calendar year equivalent to 1939, though the earliest events actually began the year before saw oil eld workers go on strike for better pay and working conditions, rst in Chauk, Magwe Region, then elsewhere. At the time, British officers in the Burmah Oil Company (BOC) were paid K15 a day, while local workers earned just K1. But what started as a local movement soon became a national uprising, comparable only to 1988 in the nations history. Among other demonstrations, oil workers, farmers and activists marched 640 kilometres (400 miles) from Mandalay to Yangon to set up a strike camp at Shwedagon Pagoda. The strike zzled out in 1939: the British raided the camp at Shwedagon, pointedly still wearing their army boots as a means of adding insult to injury. In all, 33 people were killed in the crackdown. The rst was Bo Aung Kyaw, who died on December 20, 1938, when a student blockade of the Secretariat building was broken up by baton-wielding police. In the movements bloodiest day, 17 people were killed in Man-

Moderate quake hits Thabeikkyin

The Martyrs Mausoleum was impressive but it has almost faded away now.
Saya Sue Ngat National Literature Award winner

dalay when police shot into a crowd marching along 26th Street after a February 20 gathering at Mandalays Eaindawyar Pagoda that marked the protests shift from remote oil elds to city streets. In the end, the movements leaders were jailed and the workers demands went unmet. But 20 participants went on to join the 30 Comrades, the group of freedom ghters who invaded with the Japanese during World War II. The 1300 Revolution is now considered a seminal moment of the countrys independence movement, leading to the birth of the country as a modern sovereign state in 1948. Soon after the uprising, a Martyrs Mausoleum to the 17 killed in Mandalay was built at Tha Kywel Kone in Chan Mya Tharsi township using donations from four wealthy citizens. In 1987, a bank note was issued featuring strike leader Thakhin Pho Hla Gyi. But the banknote was soon withdrawn, and the Ministry of Culture closed the mausoleum from 1989 to 2011. To mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the strike, more than 30 groups will offer food to monks at Eaindawyar Pagoda in the early

morning on February 21, organisers say. Seventeen groups holding photos of the 17 martyrs will then walk peacefully and orderly toward the Martyrs Mausoleum Were certain no one will behave badly during the event, said organiser U Min Htet Nyein Chan. Among those invited to attend are NLD leaders Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Tin, along with descendants of the original marchers. A number of public lectures by historians, writers, poets and activists as well as sermons by monks will be given at Eaindawyar February 19-20. Mandalay had the most bloodshed in the 1300 Revolution, National Literature Award winner Saya Sue Ngat told The Myanmar Times. The Martyrs Mausoleum was impressive but it has almost faded away now. So this 75th anniversary is a politically meaningful event to revitalise the Martyrs Mausoleum. As a Mandalay resident, I think we should be proud of this. Organisers said they have so far received enough donations to cover about 60 percent of the cost of holding the event. Business owners from Mandalay have provided many contributions

to us and we hope they will also participate when the ceremony is held, said U Min Htet Nyein Chan. Organisers will also demand that Mandalays 26th Street, along the south side of the Royal Palace, be returned to its former name, Arzarni Road, the Myanmar word for martyr. The stretch has been known as 26th Street since about 1990, when many British place names were replaced with Myanmar names though in this case the shift was not against British inuence but revolutionary fervour. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale was recorded in northern Mandalay last week, in the same area that was hit by a larger quake in November 2012 that killed at least 26 people. The earthquake struck at 7:26pm on January 26 and was centred on a forest about 24 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of Thabeikkyin, according to a recording station in Mandalay. It was felt in nearby Madaya, Singu and Mogok townships but no casualties or damage was reported. Than Naing Soe, translation by Zar Zar Soe

Federalism march unnecessary, police tell protest organiser

The Martyrs Mausoleum in Mandalay. Photo: Si Thu Lwin

A Mandalay resident has been told that his application to stage a protest to demand genuine federalism, increased rights for citizens and a democratic constitution is likely to be rejected because the country is already on the path toward genuine federalism. U Htay Win from Aung Myae Thar San township applied on January 24 to stage a six-hour procession from the junction of 12th and 86th streets to the junction of 22nd and 86th streets on February 9. In his application he said up to 1000 people would take part. However, the head of the townships police force has recommended the township administrator reject the application, arguing that the protest is unnecessary because genuine federalism is already on the way. He also said the large number of participants and the proposed route of the procession could cause unnecessary problems or trafc accidents. Than Naing Soe, translation by Zar Zar Soe

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News 19

CRIME IN BRIEF
Police break up illegal card games
Yangon Region police have launched a crackdown on the use of playing cards for gambling, with arrests made at Hmawbi and Thaketa townships over the past week. Five people were arrested at Hmawbi on January 25. They were found in possession of 110 cards and K19,000. They have been charged under the gambling law and face six to 12 months in prison if found guilty. The owner of the house in which they were arrested was also charged and faces one to three years in jail. In Thaketa, meanwhile, police arrested six men who were allegedly gambling with cards in a vacant stall at a market. They were found in possession of 52 cards and K35,500, as well as other gambling-related items. The men face three to six months in prison if found guilty. 2013, living in the at of Ma Maw Gyi, who had forced the girl to work as a prostitute in Pathein Nyut ward in Tarmwe township. The victim said she had left her house in September 2012 to buy snacks and had met Ma Theingi, aka Ma Thuzar Win, who invited her to work for a high salary in a beauty parlour owned by her mother, Ma Maw Gyi.

Probox catches re while stuck in rubbish dump

Girl forced into sex work at beauty parlour

A Toyota Probox went up in ames last week after getting stuck in mud near a rubbish dump in Yangons Hlaing Tharyar township. Police claim the friction of the spinning tyres on the concrete road produced a spark, which then ignited the car. The burning vehicle was reported to police at 11:20pm on January 26. Police are searching for the owner of the vehicle, who will face a charge of negligence.

A fire rages in a Maungdaw township village on January 28. Photo: Ministry of Information

Muslims blamed for fire in Maungdaw village

TIM MCLAUGHLIN
timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com

A Yangon woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after she enticed an underage girl to work in a beauty parlour in Tarmwe township but then forced her to provide services as a sex worker. The woman was sentenced in Yangons Northern District Court on January 10 under section 24 of the Anti-trafcking in Persons Law. The victims father led a missing persons report for the girl with Mingalardon township police on September 30, 2012. According to the investigation, the victim was found on March 4,

Disabled man killed by car while sleeping on road

A 35-year-old man who police say suffered from a mental disability was hit by a car and killed in Hlaing Tharyar township last week as he slept on the shoulder of the Yangon-Pathein Highway. The man was hit at about 10:30pm on January 25 between Htantabin and Hlaing Tharyar. Police are searching for the driver of the vehicle, who faces charges of culpable homicide and eeing the scene of a crime. Toe Wai Aung, translation by Thiri Min Htun

THE government says a re that destroyed 16 houses in a Rakhine State village on Tuesday night - near the site of an outbreak of violence earlier this month - was started by Rohingya residents, who burned their own homes. The Rakhine State Information and Public Relation Department said in a statement Wednesday morning that police and re officials respond-

ed to the re in Maungdaw townships Du Chee Yar Tan Anauk village at about 8:45pm. While emergency workers extinguished the re a second blaze broke out in another house. When reman went to battle the second re they saw ve Bengalis running away, the statement said. There is no Rakhine village near that village, and the neighbouring villages are just Bengali villages. They ran away after setting re to their houses, it said. The Maungdaw police are still searching for the suspects. They face charges of arson, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years.

Maungdaw was also the site of an outbreak of violence between security officials and Rohingya residents in mid-January. The United Nations and human rights organisations say up to 40 people were killed in a crackdown by security forces and Rakhine residents who entered the village looking for a missing police sergeant. The government has rejected the reports and insists that no civilians were killed or seriously injured. Yesterday it said it would send the Myanmar Human Rights Commission and senior religious gures to investigate the allegations but refused to grant international observers access to the area.

TRADE MARK CAUTION

HISAMITSU PHARMACEUTICAL CO., INC., a Japanese corporation of 408, Tashiro Daikancho, Tosu, Saga, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

20 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

SALONSIP AQUA-PATCH

Reg. No. 1801/1998 in respect of Pharmaceutical, veterinary and sanitary preparations; dietetic substances adapted for medical use, food for babies; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides; herbicides. 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 HISAMITSU PHARMACEUTICAL CO., INC. P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 3 February 2014

Charges filed against Chinese medical clinic

SHWE YEE SAW MYINT
poepwintphyu2011@gmail.com

TRADE MARK CAUTION

POKKA SAPPORO FOOD & BEVERAGE LTD., a Company incorporated in Japan, of 2-29, Sakae 4-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 3380/2013 in respect of Class 32: Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages. 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 POKKA SAPPORO FOOD & BEVERAGE LTD. P. O. Box 60, Yangon. Dated: 3 February 2014

POLICE have led charges against the owner of a traditional Chinese medical clinic in Yangons Lanmadaw township, which health officials allege conducted dangerous surgical procedures without a licence. A township committee set up by the regional government to oversee private clinics and hospitals led a complaint about the clinic, known as Aung Ze Ya Min, to police on January 17, secretary Dr Ei Ei Khin said. We discovered that the clinic on 14th Street was doing surgical operations on haemorrhoids patients, she said, adding that the treatment could be very dangerous for patients who also suffer from diabetes or hypertension. Complaints were also sent to the municipal authorities and the clinics owner, she said. Police have charged the owner under section 32 of a law relating to

We discovered that the clinic on 14th Street was doing surgical operations on haemorrhoids patients.
Ei Ei Khin Township committee to oversee medical clinics

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOHMI BOSAI LTD., a company incorporated in Japan, of 7-3, Kudan-Minami 4-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:private healthcare services for operating without a licence. He faces a jail term of three months to six years, said Police Second Lieutenant Aung Naing Oo from Lanmadaw township. The clinics doctor, who is thought to be a Chinese national, has also been charged. When The Myanmar Times visited Aung Ze Ya Min last week a staff member said the clinic was closing down because it had no patients and the doctor had gone back to China. A spokesperson for Lanmadaw townships general administration ofce said it had inspected Aung Ze Ya Min in November 2013 as part of a broader crackdown on illegal clinics launched in June. It had ordered the owner to close the practice but, instead of closing permanently, he simply reopened at a new location. When we inspected it in November we found that this clinic was not

Reg. No. 8831/2013 in respect of Intl Class 9: Safety apparatus and instruments, namely, fire alarms, anti-theft alarms not for vehicles, gas leak alarms, bells, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, fire hose nozzles, fire extinguishing sprinkler heads, fire extinguishing water spray heads, fire extinguishing drencher heads, fire extinguishing foam heads, fire extinguishing spray nozzles, fire extinguishing monitor nozzles, heat detectors, smoke detectors, flame detectors, gas detectors, fire control panels, fire annunciators and transmitters, fire escapes, fire extinguishers using gas, fire extinguishers using dry chemicals, alarm valves; electrical communication apparatus and instruments, namely, intercommunication phone. 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 NOHMI BOSAI LTD. P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 3 February 2014

NOHMI

Pedestrians walk past the shuttered Aung Ze Ya Min traditional Chinese medical clinic on 14th Street in Lanmadaw township. Photo: Thiri

licensed and also the doctor running it was not licensed to offer this treatment, spokesperson U Than Lwin said. He said that since June the committee has inspected three Chinese traditional clinics in Lanmadaw township and warned their owners to close or face criminal charges. In most cases the owners had refused to obey instructions from local officials and continued to operate, he said. Chinese traditional medical clinics are regularly frequented by patients suffering bone- and joint-related pain and can be widely found in downtown Yangon.

But Minister for Health Dr Pe Thet Khin has previously warned the public to be careful of Chinese traditional medical clinics because many do not follow government instructions. Myanmar has no formal process for registering clinics that offer foreign traditional treatments. To get around this they often bill themselves as Myanmar traditional clinics, while in some cases the owners and practitioners do not realise it is illegal to operate without a licence. Dr Ei Ei Khin said that the lack of a regulatory process for Chinese clinics made it hard for the authorities to stop them from operating.

Water projects focus on rivers, Inle Lake

PYAE THET PHYO pyaethetphyo87@gmail.com THE Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry plans to launch four projects this year under its longterm plan to provide training and education for the comprehensive management of water resources. The projects will be conducted in cooperation with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) as well as with union-level departments related to water resources management, Minister of Environmental Conservation and Forestry U Win Tun said on January 28. The projects include managing water resources in tributaries to the Sittaung River and Bago rivers; monitoring of Inle Lake for water quality, growth of aquatic grass, sedimentation and changes in the area covered by lake water; collecting suggestions for drafting new water resource management policies; and upgrading a water resources laboratory run by the ministry. As the rst step in the implementation of these projects, NIVA conducted a training course on comprehensive water resources management on January 28. The joint effort between the ministry and NIVA is one of the chapters of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Myanmar and Norwegian governments, an official from Forestry Department told The Myanmar Times. We will implement these four plans this year. The NIVA has already conducted a training course, but they have not yet provided funds to carry out the plans, the official said. The Norwegian government has already provided US$2 million through the United Nations Development Program for the conservation of Inle Lake. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

www.mmtimes.com

News 21

Firefighters battle twin blazes

TOE WAI AUNG linnhtet.lt@gmail.com SEPARATE res broke out in Yangons Kyeemyindaing and Bahan townships on the night of January 28, causing a total of more than K14 million in damage (about US$14,000). The rst re started at 9:20pm at Excel Treasure Tower on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road in Bahan township. According to police investigators, the re was caused by a power inverter in Treasure Beauty Salon, owned by U Myint Htwe. Nineteen engines responded to the re, which caused nearly K2 million in damage before it was extinguish around 9:42 pm. The Bahan Police Station has opened the le for the case under Section 285 of the Penal Code (negligent conduct with respect to re or combustible matter). At 11:45pm on the same night, another re broke out at Sinma furniture factory, which is located on the third oor of Thirimingalar Market on Strand Road in Kyeemyindaing township. According to the investigation, the re resulted from dust being sucked into a fan at the factory, causing the motor to jam and overheat. The inferno, which caused about K12.1 million in damage, was extinguished by about 1:30am after 25 re engines responded to the call. Translation by Win Thaw Tar

Ministries ordered to repay debts

EI EI TOE LWIN eieitoelwin@gmail.com TWENTY-ONE ministries have been told to repay debts of more than K500 billion (US$510 million), with the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Finance the top offenders. Presenting a report into the debts from the Auditor Generals Office on January 28, Joint Public Accounts Committee member U Aung Cho Oo said the ministries have been given until March 15 to pay off their arrears. As of November 30, 2013, the Ministry of Energy had the largest debt, at K193.1 billion, followed by the Ministry of Finance with and Ministry of Finance with K148.6 billion. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism owed the least, with a debt of about K7 million. A central audit team overseen by Vice President U Nyan Tun has been tasked with overseeing the settlement of the debts by the March deadline. Meanwhile, seven ministries were also found to owe K453.7 million to the Treasury based on income for the second half of 2012-2013 nancial year, the Auditor Generals Office said. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

Firefighters extinguish flames at Thirimingalar Market in Kyeemyindaing township on January 28. Photo: Zarni Phyo

22 News
FOCUS

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Can a minimum wage law work?

Setting and enforcing a minimum wage is just one step in improving the lives of the countrys workers, say labour activists NOE NOE AUNG
noenoeag@gmail.com

KO Than Htwe, a 19-year-old from a large family, works as a waiter at a hectic teashop in downtown Yangon. Business is booming, so every day Ko Than Htwe gets up at 5:30am and works without rest until the shop closes at 8pm. For all this effort working 13.5 hours a day, seven days a week he earns K35,000 a month, or just under K1200 a day. Than Htwe still manages to see the positive side of his labours; he gets free room and board from the owner of the teashop. The good point of my job is that I dont need to spend money on my living space or on meals, so I can save all my earnings and send them to my family in Kawhmu [in Yangon Region], he said. I enjoy my job. The teashop owner often lets me go out after my working hours are done, but I cant go all the way back home. Ma Chit Chit Tone, 18, works in the warehouse of a prominent shopping mall in Yangon while also enrolled in the rst year of a tertiary distance education course. She earns K95,000 a month about K3166 a day and said her working environment is not inconvenient. Our working hours are 8am to 8pm. I have to work six days a week but very often when the containers arrive we have to work all night long, checking and listing the imported items, she said. We dont get overtime pay for that but the manager provides us with dinner, snacks and transportation at those times. Ma Phway Phway, a 24-year-old garment factory employee, works 13 hours a day, six days a week. Her base salary is K18,700, but with bonuses and overtime she usually takes home

A woman works at a garment factory on the outskirts of Yangon in September 2012. Photo: AFP

about K80,000 a month. But I have to spend K82,500 a month on hostel fees, transportation, meals and so on, without buying new clothes or accessories, she said. So I normally have to borrow money to support my family and then pay it back when I get my salary. Ma Phway Phway is among the many factory workers in Yangons industrial zone who are trapped in a vicious cycle of borrowing money and paying off debts each month. Yangon is so expensive, she said. These are just a few examples of the pay rates for the millions of workers in Yangon, many of whom get by on almost subsistence wages. According to the report Modern Day Slaves, published last month by the independent activist organisation Labour Rights Clinic, 55 percent of factory workers in Yangon earn a basic salary of K24,000 to K35,000 a

month, or K800 to K1166 a day. The other 45pc are upper-level employees such as managers and supervisors who earn higher salaries. The report also said most bluecollar workers in Yangon earn a basic salary of around K30,000 to K40,000, which, like salaries for factory workers, is barely enough to cover daily family expenses. In response to these problems, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw enacted a minimum wage law on March 22 of this year, and a by-law was introduced by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on July 12. The law, which will cover all workers except civil servants, family business owners and seamen, mandates the creation of bodies in each state or region to research the labour market and recommend a minimum wage for their respective state or region to a national committee. This national

body will then set minimum wages, although none have yet been nalised. But some activists point out that not all problems especially the poor living standards of the workers can be solved merely by enforcing a minimum wage. Enforcing a minimum wage law without considering the circumstances

I normally have to borrow money to support my family and then pay it back when I get my salary.
Ma Phway Phway Garment factory worker

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Nippon Denki Kabushiki Kaisha d/b/a NEC Corporation, a Company incorporated in Japan, of 7- 1, Shiba 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 3371/2013 in respect of Intl Class 9: Computer application software, namely, software for mobile phones, cellular phones, smartphones and hand held devices; Computer hardware for upload, storage, retrieval, download, transmission and delivery of digital content; Digital media streaming devices; Digital signage monitors; Digital signal processors; Electronic displays, namely, digital signage; Electronic advertisement and messaging display unit with multi-networking (TCP/IP) capabilities and remote connectivity; Electronic equipment for point-of-sales (POS) systems, namely, pointof-sale terminals, bar code readers, optical readers, advertisement display monitors, keyboards, printers, scanners, radio transmitters, radio receivers, computer hardware, and computer operating software; LCD porjectors used to display advertisements. Intl Class 35: Advertising and business services, namely, securing airtime on all forms of media communications stations, systems, networks, and services for the purpose of promoting the goods and services of others; Advertising and marketing services, namely, promoting the goods and services of others; Advertising and publicity services, namely, promoting the goods, services, brand identity and commercial information and news of third parties through print, audio, video, digital and on-line medium; Advertising, including on-line advertising on a computer network; Agencies for advertising time and space; Creating and updating advertisiing material; Development, operation and

FINECHANNEL

administration of digital signage systems and digital advertising systems for others, namely, providing advertising space by electronic means and global computer information networks. Intl Class 42: Hosting of web sites; hosting of digital content on the Internet and other computer and electronic communication networks; providing search engines for obtaining data via the Internet and other computer and electronic communication networks; application service provider (ASP) featuring software for use in exchanging, distributing, transmitting, sharing, receiving, downloading, displaying, transferring, uploading, editing, collecting, managing, sending, organizing and storing data, information, software applications and geographical and location information; application service provider (ASP) featuring software for use in transmitting, accessing, organizing and managing of text messaging, instant messaging and text; providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer software for social networking; Providing a website featuring technical information relating to computer software provided; Providing computer software consulting services; Application service provider (ASP) featuring proprietary software for use in networked multimedia systems, which disseminate licensed and proprietary news, music, graphics, advertising, marketing, training and other content and announcements in video and audio formats to employees, customers and the public on displays and speakers. 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 Nippon Denki Kabushiki Kaisha d/b/a NEC Corporation P.O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 3 February 2014

of workers would not be a real cure for their plight, said U Chit Oo Maung from the Labour Rights Clinic. Of course the biggest problem for the workers is low payment but there are other hidden problems behind their poor living standards. Even after the minimum wage is determined, problems related to workplace communication, discrimination, salary cuts, forced overtime labour, unsafe working conditions and lack of proper safety equipment will remain, said U Chit Oo Maung. The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has organised two seminars to tackle the minimum wage issue, the most recent occurring on October 10. Beside officials from relevant government departments, hundreds of workers and management representatives also attended. But many of the workers who were there did not seem to be engaged by the presentations, which relied on academic language rather than the vernacular. I came here because my manager told me to but Im afraid of taking part because I dont know what to say, said one employee of a frozen food factory in East Dagon township, echoing the sentiments of many others at the seminar. Among those giving presentations was U Zaw Oo, a researcher from Myanmar Development Research Institute and an adviser to President U Thein Sein; U Win Shein from the Factories and General Labour Laws Inspection Department; and U Myo Aung, a director of the Department of Labour. U Myo Aung said most countries set a minimum wage primarily for the cutting, manufacturing and packaging (CMP) sector, which manufactures garments for export. Besides the CMP sector, we will x the minimum wage based on the desire of the workers but it also has to be balanced with the situation of the country, he said. We know the problems of workers cannot be solved just by enforcing a minimum wage law. We will organise more seminars in the future and invite workers to participate in the discussions so they can keep in touch with the governments progress and express their needs at the same time. Dr Zaw Oo said the minimum wage will take into consideration workers incomes and expenditures, the costs of supporting a family and current consumer prices. According to some research, the production of a worker can improve by increasing his salary. On the other hand, owners can reduce the number of workers if a workers efficiency increases. We need to nd a balance, he said. Activist U Yan Naing Htwe said the government must also exert closer control over factory owners. Otherwise the law will be vain, he said. As an example, he pointed out that in mid-2012, officials from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security drafted the Kanaung Contract, in which the government, factory owners and workers agreed on a set of employment principles. Officials stipulated that basic salary shouldnt be lower than K56,700 a month. The factory owners agreed, but then they twisted it so that for them K56,700 meant overall salary [including bonuses and overtime], said U Yan Naing Htwe. Government officials never complained about this, which is why I have said that if officials cannot control factory owners, we will still have the same problems even after the minimum wage law comes into force.

www.mmtimes.com

News 23
Chan Myae Thukha chairman U Aung Naing. Photo: Si Thu Lwin

Dog lovers issue appeal for donations

HLAING KYAW SOE hlaingkyawsoe85@gmail.com ANIMAL lovers in Mandalay are appealing for donors to help them rescue dogs from traffickers. The money would go to feed the dogs and to build a stronger fence around their sanctuary in Patheingyi township, said the secretary of the Stray Dogs Rescue Group. The group established the 40-by-100-foot (12-by-30-metre) compound in Mekingone village to house dogs from Mandalays Singaing township after they had rescued them from exporters who were going to send the dogs to China, where they would be sold as meat. But the dogs either broke through the makeshift fence of bamboo, tarpaulin and barbed wire, or tunnelled underneath it, said the groups secretary Ma Saw Yu Aye. We built the temporary compound as a matter of urgency when we heard the exporters were rounding up street dogs. We bought the dogs from the exporters and put them in the compound to keep them safe, but they kept getting out, she said. Only 40 dogs are left of the 100 originally accommodated. Ma Saw Yu Aye said her group would accept all stray dogs. But the compound would need a concrete wall and kennels. The group has hired staff to guard the sanctuary and feed the dogs. It takes eight baskets of broken rice and more than a viss of pieces of dried beef, she said (1 viss equals 1.6 kilograms or 3.6 pounds). Though some contributions have come in, the group says it needs another K3-5 million. Ma Saw Yu Aye said her group would look after the dogs for the natural term of their lives, which she put at about ve years. They would also use birth-control methods to keep the dog population down. Translation by Thiri Min Htun

Govt spends K600m on cyclone shelters

AYE SAPAY PHYU ayephyu2006@gmail.com THE government plans to spend K600 million on two cyclone shelters in Rakhine State that can also be used as schools. A deputy director of the Relief and Resettlement Department said a tender was issued to build the shelters, in Pauktaw and Myebon townships, at the end of January, with construction completion scheduled for late March. We invited bids from companies to build the shelters in the last week. The buildings will be one storey, made of reinforced concrete and with a high base. One shelter can hold about 200 people, she said. The shelters will also be used as schools. The cost of construction will be met by the ministry, she said. The government acknowledged it needed to invest more in cyclone shelters in Rakhine after Cyclone Mahasen narrowly missed the region in May 2013. More than 1 million people were evacuated to safer locations as the cyclone approached. The government also announced in 2012 that it planned to build 45 cyclone shelters in Ayeyarwady Region, which was seriously affected by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. It invited support from international development agencies for the projects.

Mandalay charity receives regional prize

SI THU LWIN sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com A MANDALAY philanthropic organisation has been honoured for its social activities by the regional government. Chan Myae Thukha was founded in 2006 to provide funeral services, organise blood donations, support educational needs, care for older people and provide disaster relief. It now has more than 1000 members. Organisation chair U Aung Naing said the award was given in recognition of our social and philanthropic works. Chan Myae Thukhas 20 vehicles operate over a wide area, including Mandalay and Ayeyarwady regions and Mon, Shan, Kachin and Chin states. It provides educational support to more than 130 students and social care to more than 200 elderly people. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

Dogs that have escaped from a Mandalay stray dogs home because it lacks the funding for proper fencing

60

24 THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Business
Ooredoo, Telenor get licences
Foreign operators promise to launch services within six to eight months
PHILIp HEIJMANS pheijmans13@gmail.com AUNG KYAW NYUNT zeezee383@gmail.com AFTER months of delays, the path is nally cleared for global Qatari telecommunications provider Ooredoo and Norway-based Telenor to develop a nationwide mobile network in Myanmar after obtaining operators licences from the government, officials said on Thursday. The government announced in June that the two rms had won an international tender to develop and operate a mobile infrastructure in Myanmar, helping to solidify the quasi-civilian regimes plan to open to the country to foreign investors. Since then, however, the issuance of an operators licence which would allow the two rms to begin building their multi-billion dollar networks has been delayed as lawmakers struggled to put a regulatory framework for the telecom sector in place. On Thursday, the government announced they had nally granted telecommunications licences to both rms, while Telenor and Ooredoo have pledged to launch initial services in cities such as Yangon in the next six to eight months. The licences granted to Telenor and Ooredoo have been accepted by both new operators and will come into effect on February 5, 2014, for an initial duration of 15 years, Minister of Communications and Information Technology U Myat Hein said during a signing ceremony with Ooredoo last week. MORE ON BUSINESS 28
NYAN LYNN AUNG bRIDGET DI CERTO

Labour shortages plague nascen

A SHORTAGE of skilled labour in the garment sector is hampering Myanmars ability to take advantage of increased interest from international investment in manufacturing, industry sources said. Myanmar faces myriad problems in bolstering its edgling garment sector, including transport, logistics, infrastructure and electricity supply. But skilled labour shortage is the most immediate hurdle to industry growth, sector players said. We just cant get the human resources, Ma Myat San Win, director of UMH company, toldThe Myanmar Times. Her voice is echoed by many of Myanmars garment manufacturers who say workers do not yet have the skills required to secure high-end manufacturing contracts. Most factories in Myanmar are willing to take on workers with no experience and train them in-house, Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) development manager Daw Kyawt Kay Thi Win said. The MGMA also has its own training centre and runs a two-week workshop every other month for about 20 workers seeking advanced skills such as quality assurance

We are held back from production while we get the workforce skilled up.
Dr Khin Maung Aye Owner of the Lat War Garment Factory

Garment workers stitch together clothes at a Korean-owned factory in Pyin Ma Bin Industrial Estate in Yangon. Photo: Philip

and mechanical engineering and repairs. But once trained, workers tend to shop around factory owners and ock to where the highest salary is, factory owners said. We are always taking on new employees. We are held back from production while we get the work-

force skilled up, said U Khin Maung Aye, owner of the Lat War Garment Factory on the outskirts of Yangon. But then, most of the trained labour will move from one factory to another where they get paid more salary even if it is only 3 to 5 percent more, he said.

After the EU lifted the last of its trade sanctions in April 2013, three or four new garment factories were launched within a month, including one that hired more than 500 employees. But, U Khin Maung Aye said, the number of start-ups with dollar signs in their eyes far outweighed

BUSINESS EDiToR: Philip Heijmans | pheijmans13@gmail.com

25

A better life on the oilelds

BUSINESS 27

Bogyoke Market row heads to court

pROpERTY 30

Exchange Rates (January 31 close)

Currency
Euro Malaysia Ringitt Singapore Dollar Thai Baht US Dollar

Buying
K1338 K279 K768 K28.8 K980

Selling
K1356 K299 K778 K30.3 K988

nt garment sector
players who had market condence, technology and management skills. But as most factories were simply training workers themselves there was no way for the factories to have the human resources to compete with global heavyweights. The products here might not compete with Vietnams products. Vietnam [has the manpower and skills] to produce 10 products, China can do 15 where we can do only ve, U Myint Soe said. Even so, as political and market unrest plagues Cambodia, Thailand and even Malaysia and China, investors from Europe, America, Japan, Korea and China are turning their minds to Myanmar, he added. The tipping point, at which foreign investors were expected to turn their money, not just their minds, to Myanmar, would be export earnings of K2 billion annually, he added.The governments most recent estimates put this at K1.6 billion. In addition to manufacturing start-ups snatching trained workers from each other, the siren song of Thailands higher wages continues to call workers away from the burgeoning sector in this country. U Myint Soe said more advanced workers often crossed the border in search of higher-paying skilled work not yet available in Myanmars garment factories. Andy Hall, a Bangkok-based migration expert, said about 1.5 million foreign workers were documented in Thailand. Undocumented, perhaps 1 million, Mr Hall toldThe Myanmar Timesby email. The number of documented workers has increased signicantly due to the regularisation policies of the Myanmar/Thailand government(s), he said, adding that the number of undocumented workers in Thai factories was also increasing. Myanmars garment workers have one of the lowest minimum wages in the region at around US$25 to $37 according to a report released by a consortium of labour unions last year, signicantly lower than Thailand and even Cambodia.

Myanmar gets new SEZ law

AYE THIDAR KYAW ayethidarkyaw@gmail.com IN an effort to draw more foreign interest in Myanmars future Special Economic Zones (SEZ), the staterun media last week announced the promulgation of a new SEZ law, superseding the relevant laws adopted by the former military regime in 2011. The new law seems to decentralise decision-making to the SEZ committee, so that central government is no longer involved. This is probably attractive to investors, said advocate U Than Maung, adding that the new law provides for a management committee responsible for administration, management and supervision of the zone. The committee has to protect citizens rights, and solve problems, he said. The law allows seven years income tax exemption for local and foreign investors and eight years for construction companies in designated areas, while those involved have promised further incentives this year. Economist U Maung Aung, of the Advisory Board for Kyaukphyu SEZ, said the new law would encourage developers to speed up construction of the SEZ. This law, especially its tax provisions, seems likely to encourage investors to make huge investments, he said. The Advisory Board is currently seeking a prominent international consultant to work on inviting tenders for developers. We want a fair competition for a developer, said U Maung Aung, adding that the government plans to implement the three SEZs next year. In the 2400-hectare Thilawa SEZ 20km south of Yangon, the government and nine domestic enterprises are providing 51 percent, while a Japanese consortium contributes 49pc. Japanese investors are also being courted to get involved in the Dawei project in southern Myanmar, as the lead developer, Italian-Thailand Development Company, suspended work several months ago.

Japanese ownership equivalent of the Thilawa SEZ that is now under construction

49%

Heijmans

the availability of skilled labour. Most of the new factories coming here in 2012 and 2013 came without any labour force. So they try to poach other skilled workers from other factories, he said. MGMA chair U Myint Soe said that investors in the garment sector in Myanmar were usually experienced

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HOYU KABUSHIKI KAISHA (also trading as Hoyu Co., Ltd.) a company organized under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 501, Tokugawa 1-Chome, Higashi-Ku, Nagoya-Shi, Aichi-Ken, Japan is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

(Reg: Nos. IV/7872/2008 & IV/12302/2013) in respect of:- Hair dyes; hair color preparations; bleaching preparations for hair; color-removing preparations for hair; hair lotions; hair spray; hair waving preparations; hair tonic; hair creams; hair shampoo; hair conditioner; hair treatment cream; cosmetics; toiletries Class 3 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 HOYU KABUSHIKI KAISHA (also trading as Hoyu Co., Ltd.) P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 3rd February, 2014

26 Business

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Japanese trade expo to be held

Country to get rst look into new appliances
MYAT NOE OO myantnoe.mcm@gmail.com IN a sign of continued trade interest from Japan, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) will stage an exhibition next month geared at promoting a variety of products from the long-time partner nation, officials said.

Power lines, healthcare in World Bank $2b loan

THE World Bank announced on Sunday a US$2 billion development program for Myanmar, including projects to improve access to energy and healthcare in the impoverished former military-ruled nation. Bank president Jim Yong Kim, on his rst visit to the country, said half of the funds would be used to expand power supplies, in a country where more than 70 percent of the population does not have access to reliable electricity. We are increasing our support for the huge reform effort underway in Myanmar because we want to help the government bring benets to poor people even more quickly, Kim said in a statement. Expanding access to electricity in a country like Myanmar can help transform a society children will be able to study at night, shops will stay open, and health clinics will have lights and energy to power life-saving technology. Electricity helps brings an end to poverty, he said. The program also includes $200 million to help Myanmar achieve universal health coverage by 2030, the Bank said, noting that only one in four people in the once-isolated country has access to quality healthcare. The Washington-based institution closed its Yangon office in 1987 and ceased new lending after the thenruling junta stopped making payments on debts worth hundreds of millions of dollars left from previous programs. Myanmar last year cleared its arrears to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank with the help of a

Number of Japanese rms expected to participate in Yangons third annual Japanase exhibition

200

Japan Festival 2014 will be held in Yangon at Tatmadaw Hall February 7 to 10 and will showcase Japanesemade electrical appliances, cars and motorcycles, household goods, pharmaceuticals, solar devices, bathroom appliances and cosmetics, said JETRO Myanmars managing director Toshihiro Mizutani. Myanmar companies will also participate alongside the 200 Japanese rms involved. This is our third festival in Myanmar, said Mr Mizutani. We plan to also show the Japan Entertainment Festival at the National Theatre, featuring Japanese and Myanmar professional musicians.

Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group, talks during his meeting with the press at a township hospital on the outskirts of Yangon on January 26. Photo: AFP

$200
Amount given by World Bank to help Myanmar achieve universal health coverage by 2030

MILLION

Japanese bridge loan, enabling the two lenders to resume assistance to the country. President U Thein Sein has overseen a series of dramatic reforms since taking office in 2011, including the release of political prisoners and the election of Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament. In response, the West has begun rolling back sanctions and foreign rms are lining up to invest in the country, eyeing its huge natural resources, large population and stra-

tegic location between China and India. The country was once known as the rice bowl of Asia because of its agricultural riches. But economic mismanagement during nearly 50 years of direct military rule left the country deeply impoverished. Mr Kim is due to meet former general U Thein Sein, other members of the government and opposition and business leaders in the capital Nay Pyi Taw where he will also attend a development forum this week. AFP

PATH is an international nonprofit organization that transforms global health through innovation. Having just recently opened an office in Yangon, PATH currently seeks qualified candidates looking for an opportunity to make a positive impact on the health of people in Myanmar. Project Manager, Introduction of Rice Fortification in Myanmar (Tracking code #5898), will coordinate and manage all aspects of the project including: advocacy and rice fortification policy development with key government ministries, capacity building along the supply chain for fortified rice, and social marketing demand generation activities. They will manage partner relationships and drive the project planning, execution, monitoring, and assessment of the project schedules, deliverables, and donor reporting requirements. Knowledge, skills and experience required: AnMBA and/or MPH/MS degree in Nutrition and/or Public Health, plus 5+ years' progressive, directly related experience. Demonstrated ability to lead teams in health improvement projects, advocacy, communications and social mobilization is required. Strong management skills, ability to respond to diverse work styles and experience working in cross functional and cross organizational teams is required. Should have business negotiation experience, demonstrated success interfacing with stakeholders in all sectors, and experience with building alliances for generating demand for health improvement products. Also desired is experience working with international organizations and private sector companies, especially in the agriculture industry. Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills in English is required, and proficiency in the local language (Myanmar) is preferred. To apply for this position please visit the jobs section of the PATH website (www.path.org) and apply online. Applications for this position will not be accepted via email.

Government expects foreign capital to double in 2013-14

AYE THIDAR KYAW ayethidarkyaw@gmail.com FOREIGN investment in Myanmar is set to more than double this year, the countrys investment commission predicts. MIC anticipates an inow of about US$3.5 billion for scal 2013-2014, compared to last years total of $1.4 billion, said U Aung Naing Oo, director general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). Much of the investment is going to manufacturing, especially the garment industry, he said. Foreign investments had already reached $2 billion as of November, of which 80 percent went into the manufacturing sector. The MIC is still negotiating with foreign companies for about $300 million, with another $1 billion expected to come in from two telecom companies next year. The sources of the investment include countries estranged from Myanmar for many years, including Australia, the US and France, as well as some newcomers like Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates, he said. Foreign direct investment will grow further when infrastructural needs are met. The amount of investment in the extractive industries fell this year. We have to analyse which investments benet us and protect our economy, he said, adding that China and Vietnam were good examples to follow. Investment in small projects can take about six or seven months to negotiate, while larger enterprises can take up to two years, he said, citing Nissan Group, which has just decided to invest after many visits and long discussions. U Aung Min, associate director of MMRD Research Services, said FDI ows into Myanmar had been slow for 20 years before 2011 due to economic sanctions and a poor investment climate. During these years most of the countrys FDI came from Japan, he said, adding that Myanmar had yet to maximise its geographical advantage by developing economic corridors to the Mekong region. If Japanese companies want to move their factories from China to Vietnam or Myanmar, the linkages have to be in place, he said.

[FDI] will grow further when infrastructural needs are met.

U Aung Naing Oo Director general of DICA

www.mmtimes.com
FEATURE

Business 27

A better life on the oilfields

AUNG SHIN
koshumgtha@gmail.com

THE lure of prot to be made from oil hunting is drawing people from their homes and farms to work the handgouged wells of the countrys midsection in Magwe Region. The labour-intensive oileld in Htankine, Minhla township, has developed since 2006 and although oil production has been in decline over the past four months, people are still coming from throughout the region with the hope of earning beyond their typical salary as farmers. I was a farmer before. But I could not earn enough from agriculture because weather conditions have not been good, so I decided to work in the oilelds, oil hunter U Tin Hlaing. Six months ago, U Tin Hlaing brought his family from their home in Minbu township, located 145 kilometres (90 miles) from Minhla township. At rst, he worked as a labourer for another oil hunter, but after a few months started his own well once he was able to save the K1,000,000 needed to buy the land and the drilling gear and machinery necessary to get the job done.

Today, he has a total of seven wells, from which he harvests about one-and a-half-barrels of crude oil a day. He can sell a days harvest for about K100,000, substantially lower than the international rates for crude oil. But success is not guaranteed for an oil hunter. Securing a prospective land plot in the oil-rich Magwe Region plains does not necessarily mean achieving oil yields. But the rewards outweigh the risks as micro-oil producers can earn a promising income, said U Myo Lwin, another oil hunter from Thahmyar village in Natmauk township, Magwe Region. Life is good, as far as food, clothing and shelter are concerned, he said, adding that he worked as a merchant before moving to Htankine seven months ago. I became an oil hunter because the investment was not much, and even though Im not rich yet I can support my two sons schooling, he said. He said that the current market price for crude oil in the area is K120,000 per 50-gallon barrel. Hunters delve 40 to 1000 feet (12-300m) below the surface of the plains to hit the sweet spots in Magwe. If youre lucky, your well can pump one barrel a day in the beginning, he said. I think the yield will fall, but the

well will continue to produce at least one or two gallons a day, said U Tin Hlaing. Labourers earnings, meanwhile, start from as little as K5000 a day, while the more experienced hands who operate machinery could earn four times that. We work in a team of six, each earning K20,000 per day, said Ko Nyo Win Thant, a farmer-turned-oil-driller from Tawchaungkone village in Saku township. Apart from the literal hit-and-miss of drilling for oil, the rudimentary machinery operated by an unskilled work force creates a hazardous working environment. I have experienced re breaking out often here, said U Myint Win, a former farmer from Sakhangyi village in Aunglan township. And sometimes oil workers are injured in accidents during the drilling. Safety problems aside, the inux of prospectors with dollar signs in their eyes has led to a swathe of social turmoil in the elds. Cramped in close quarters, under imsy tarpaulin tents, oil hunters and their families number in the thousands now in Magwe. The characters come from all walks of life here, a crude oil buyer from Dahatpin oileld said. Recently, we have experienced fake

An oil worker wrings out a cloth containing extracted oil from an excavation site in Minhla township, Magwe Region. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

oil such as selling crude oil mingling with other useless things. I have been [fooled] on that, he said. Others complained of the soaring crime rate in the lawless elds. Today prostitutes have been in the oileld. Here the majority of oil workers were young men earning well, so they wont be stingy to pay for that, rig driver Ko Moe Gyi said, adding he hoped the young men remembered to protect themselves with condoms. There is no rule of law here. If any criminal was hiding here, no one would know. I wonder how the government

would conduct the census in 2014 for thousands of people in these oilelds. Nevertheless, oil hunters are in demand and moving throughout Magwe in search of oil-dense land, such as in Dahatpin, about 20 miles from Htankine. Right now, Dahatpin produces more crude than other elds as the average well is 400 feet deep, said Ko Pho Htoo, who became an oil hunter in Dahatpin after giving up farming in Kankone village in Salin township. Business is going well here, he said amid the rising cacophony of workers.

TOkYO

Japanese airline profits tank

Weak currency helps to put losses into the billions
JAPANs two biggest airlines said last week that the weak yen sent fuel costs soaring and prots into a nosedive as they struggled to recover from the global grounding of the Boeing Dreamliner plane last year. However, while the surge in fuel costs, often a carriers single-biggest expense, hit the bottom lines of Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), they said a recovery in international travel helped lift sales. Both companies are US-based Boeings biggest customer for the state-of-the-art plane, which only resumed flying after a months long grounding caused by a series of battery problems forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights. ANA said its net prot dived 36 percent to 33.3 billion yen (US$325 million) between April and December, citing the jump in fuel prices. JAL fared a little better, saying its nine-month net prot turned down 12.2pc to $1.2 billion, despite sales climbing 5.1pc on rising demand for international travel and its cargo service. The weak yen is a major factor holding back their prot, said Masaharu Shirokane, aviation analyst with Nomura Securities. Its a real headache for the Japanese aviation industry and as long as the yen remains weak, their bottom line will remain under pressure. The yen has lost about a quarter of its value against the dollar since late 2012 following a policy blitz launched by Japanese premier Shinzo Abe and his hand-picked team at the Bank of Japan aimed at kickstarting economic growth and beating deation. AFP

WWF MYANMAR VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (WWFMM/001-6/2014) The World Wide Fund for Nature in Myanmar (WWF-Myanmar) is seeking applications from dynamic and highly motivated Myanmar nationals for the following vacancies: 1. Policy Manager 2. Policy Officer 3. Green Economy Senior Policy Officer 4. Green Economy Policy Officer 5. Green Economy Policy Assistant 6. Human Resource Officer Application deadline is open until filled. Detailed Job Description for the position is posted on www.panda.org/jobs, www.panda.org/greatermekong under Jobs. Application documents should be addressed as Document_Yourfullname. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

28 Business The Fine Print

Legal & tax insight

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Shooting straight the best way to invest

ALESSIO POLASTRI
alessio@pwplegal.com

ANYONE who remembers Yangon the way it was just over two years ago the empty roads, the cheap hotels and nothing but a visit from Hillary Clinton to hint that things were about to change can be regarded as something of an old hand. That would explain why I have so often been asked, by investors or by the

merely curious, to share my views on how to get ahead in business here. In dealing with authorities, always be prepared to explain in detail your market approach. Do not expect them to be familiar with procedures in other countries, or with business models considered standard elsewhere. Marshal your arguments and stick to them, supported by the facts. Remember you are talking to politicians and government employees, not businesspeople, or experts in your particular field. Take all the time you need, and

they need, to explain, and to convince them that your approach is commercially viable and will benefit the countrys economy. A local partner in emerging markets can be a valuable asset who can help speed up bureaucratic procedures, facilitate contacts with locals and serve as your alter ego. But picking the wrong partner is a total nightmare. Do your homework before throwing in your lot with someone who is said to have connections. Be especially wary of locals who tell you they have such connections.

Those who really have them do not advertise. They dont have to. But the most important consideration is this: Myanmar will continue to transform itself rapidly for years to come. Your team, your investment and the way you approach the market must be ready to change likewise to adapt to the shifting commercial perspectives and political scenarios.
Alessio Polastri is managing partner of Polastri Wint & Partners

CONTINUED FROM bUSINESS 24 Sigve Brekke, vice president of Telenor Group and head of Telenors operations in Asia, said that the licence comes following an extensive consultation process with the government and international organisations. It [the telecommunications law] now represents an acceptable framework that we believe will go a long way to provide the necessary long-term predictability that Telenor requires when it formally starts operations in Myanmar, he said in a separate statement on Thursday. During the signing ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw last week, representatives from Ooredoo detailed their short and long term rollout plans. Ross McCormack, CEO of Ooredoo, pledged to begin selling affordable SIM cards in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, and Mandalay by the middle of 2014.

UNOCHA MYANMAR VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (UNOCHA/YGN/2014/001) The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is seeking the applications from dynamic and highly motivated Myanmar nationals for the following vacancy. Detailed terms of reference/ requirements for vacancy can be requested at the UNOCHA Office. The position below is Fixed Term Appointment for 1 year with possibility of extension, for multiple duty stations (initial duty station is Sittwe, Rakhine State). Field Coordination Officer (NOA, 1 position) Requirements Bachelor Degree in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field. Minimum 2 years of progressively relevant professional experience in the field of humanitarian/ recovery affairs; knowledge on global policies and guidelines related to humanitarian/recovery affairs and humanitarian reform. Ability to write clearly and concisely in English and local language(s) including verbal translations. Strong computer skills. Proven high-level representation skills, such as speaking at meetings and providing situational analysis. Proven capacity to work effectively in small teams. Experience working in implementation and delivery of humanitarian/recovery projects at the field level is a must. Experience working in a complex settings that requires sound judgment, and operational flexibility. Previous experience in a similar capacity with humanitarian agencies, in particular the UN, preferred. Fluency in English and Myanmar language. Knowledge in any other local languages will be an asset. Candidates should clearly indicate the Vacancy Number and Post Title in their applications, and should submit them together with complete duly filled UN-P11 form, biodata stating personal details, academic qualification and work experience, copies of educational credentials, and a recent passport sized photograph. Applications should be addressed to: Admin and HR Unit, UNOCHA Myanmar Room (211), No (5), Kanbawza Street, Shwe Taung Kyar (2) Ward, Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar (In front of Pearl Condo) Closing Date: Friday, 14 February 2014 (COB) Only short-listed candidates will be notified. Interviews will be competency based.

It [the telecommunications law] now represents an acceptable framework that we believe will go a long way.
Sigve Brekke Vice president of Telenor Group

While low-cost Myanma Posts and Telecommunication SIM cards are offered through a lottery system, the cards are quickly circulated into the black market where they are resold for as much as $450 each. Mr. McCormack said he believed the sheer volume of cards they plan to sell will be able to guard against such a secondary market. Furthermore, he pledged that 97 percent of the population will have access to their 3G networks by the end of 2018, in keeping with their contract with the government. Ooredoo has promised to invest $15 billion for the duration of its licence, which will last 15 years. With 60 million people estimated to be living in Myanmar, just 7.08pc had access to mobile phones as of July, according to government data, while only 5pc has access to the internet. In the short term, as mobile networks are built, the investment and related nancial ows, including licence fees, will add to growth and improve budget revenues, Matt Davies, deputy division chief at the Asia and Pacic department of the International Monetary Fund, told The Myanmar Times. U Than Lwin, economist, deputy chairman of locally owned KBZ Bank and former deputy governor at the Central Bank of Myanmar, said that developing a mobile infrastructure will not only give millions of people access to mobile services, but will pave the way for mobile banking, an alternative banking model that has been wildly successful in countries like Kenya, China and Cambodia.

Promised Ooredoo investment for the duration of its 15-year licence

$15

BILLION

We, as banks, will have more access to rural areas where no [banking] infrastructure exists. During military rule, telecommunications were tightly controlled by the government, who held a monopoly over the sector, while mass communication was looked at as a tool for radicals to spread rhetoric that could lead to change. Despite Thursdays milestone, analysts have said that several challenges stand in the way of Telenor and Ooredoos reaching their launch targets, including the acquisition of land to build the necessary towers as well as the formation of an independent regulator. Operators working in areas close to Myanmars borders will need to compete with subscribers currently making use of Thai and Chinese SIM cards and networks that are likely to be superior to their own for the foreseeable future. Tom Mowat, co-author of Myanmar Telecoms Market: Overview and Emerging Opportunities. has said in the past.

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. 5. Title and level Public Health Analyst (ATM/MNCH), (LICA-6) Communication Officer (NOC) Project Management Advisor(PMA) (IICA2) Field Finance Assistant (LICA-3) Equity and Social Inclusion Analyst (LICA-5) Duty Station Yangon Yangon Nay Pyi Taw Multiple Duty Stations Yangon Position National National International National National Deadline 06 Feb 14 13 Feb 14 13 Feb 14 14 Feb 14 14 Feb 14

The benefit package for the above positions includes an attractive remuneration, 30 days annual leave and 10 holidays per year, medical insurance (for national positions), learning and development opportunities and a challenging work environment with 250 national and international colleagues. All applications must be made through the UNOPS E-recruitment System. Please go to https://gprs.unops.org and click on the post that you are interested in applying for. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact UNOPS directly on the numbers below. For any quires please do not hesitate to contact UNOPS at 95 1 657 281-7 Ext: 147

www.mmtimes.com
MUMbAI HELSINkI

Business 29

India raises interest rate to curb inflation

High consumer prices takes front stage as economists worry that high ination may pose a substantial risk
INDIAS central bank last week announced a surprise quarter-point rise in its key interest rate, signalling that taming inflation is the priority rather than spurring growth months before an election. After a meeting in the financial hub Mumbai, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted the benchmark repo rate, at which it lends to commercial banks, to 8 percent. The cash reserve ratio, the amount banks must keep in hand to withstand financial shocks, was left unchanged at 4pc. The currency rose on the news, firming by about half a rupee to 62.66 rupees to the dollar from a two-month low on January 27. The unit has come under renewed pressure amid investor fears about the impact of a rollback in the US Federal Reserves easy money policy on India and other emerging markets. The decision was a close one this time around, RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, who has steered a hawkish course since he took over last year, told reporters. But we chose to act, he said, adding, Some aspects of inflation continued to be sticky despite a fall in vegetable prices that suggested to us some more medicine was required. The rate hike was unexpected, with most economists forecasting borrowing costs would remain on hold, especially after a fall in the widely watched Wholesale Price Index last month to 6.16pc yearon-year in December from 7.52pc in November. Last weeks announcement disappointed business leaders, who have been clamouring for a rate cut to spur an economy which has been growing at a decade low. Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry, said he was surprised by the decision. This is an opportune time to accord a precedence to growth over inflation, he said. But Mr Rajan said there were still upward pressures on inflation from factors such as rising services prices, which needed addressing resolutely even while recognising the economy is weak and substantial fiscal tightening is likely in the January-March quarter. Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Care Ratings, said, Usually the RBI talks about growth and inflation. But this time it was just inflation and inflation. The signal is, corporates should not expect growth to be driven by interest rate adjustments. The RBI raised rates in both September and October to fight inflation, but then surprised markets by holding them steady in December even after inflation accelerated to a 14-month peak. According to a macroeconomic report on January 28, the central bank expects headline consumer price index inflation to remain above 9pc for the rest of this financial year to the end of March. Todays decision suggests the RBI is not going to be overly focused on the growth angle unless of course [growth] collapses, said Ashutosh Datar, economist at India Infoline brokerage. India must hold by May a general election in which the scandaltainted Congress-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to fare poorly. Mr Singh, a renowned economist, is desperate to see signs of an upturn in the economy, which some analysts forecast will grow below 5pc in the year to March a far cry from near-double digit levels just a few years ago. The RBI said it expects growth of 5-6pc in the financial year 201415. Its next policy review will be on April 1. AFP

Nokia Siemens verification laboratory of Liquid Core in Espoo, Finland. Photo: AFP

Nokia reports drop in mobile sales ahead of Microsoft handover

FALLEN Finnish telecom star Nokia unveiled last week a steep drop in sales of the handset business that it is to soon hand over to Microsoft. The fourth-quarter results provided what was likely a last glimpse of the health of its mobile business before nalising the deal with the US technology giant. Nokias devices and services unit the operations it has agreed to sell to Microsoft recorded net sales of 2.6 billion euros (US$3.6 billion) in the fourth quarter of last year, down 29 percent from the same quarter the year before. The devices and services business also saw an operating prot of 97 million euros in the fourth quarter of 2012 transformed to an operating loss of 198 million euros in the fourth quarter of 2013. Sales of smart devices, primarily the Windows-based Lumia devices, took a hit in the ercely competitive market for smartphones. Our smart devices net sales were affected by competitive industry dynamics including the strong momentum of competing smartphone platforms, Nokia said in a statement. Analysts said the quarterly gures were likely to be scrutinised closely for what they had to say about Microsofts chances of making it in the handset business. Microsoft bought the handset division, so of course they are interested in what shape they will get it, said Sami Sarkamies, an analyst with Nordea. But the decision (to take over the handset business) has been made. Even if the fourth quarter has gone badly, theres no stepping back. For the full year 2013, Nokias devices and services unit reported sales of $14.6 billion, also a drop of 29pc year-on-year. Furthermore, Nokia expects the devices and services business to generate a negative operating margin in the rst quarter of 2014, the Finnish company said in the statement. The struggling Finnish companys plan to sell the handset business to Microsoft for $7.3 billion was announced in early September. The sale of the assets, which include the Lumia smartphone trademark and technology, must take place in early 2014. Once the world leader in mobile phones, Nokia has experienced a spectacular fall in sales since the arrival of Apples touchscreen iPhone in 2007. What [Microsoft] will want to see is what demand and market share Nokia currently has in the world and how popular the devices are against other rivals, said Ishaq Siddiqi, an analyst at London-based ETX Capital. I think its more of a symbolic gauge of what Nokia still means in the smartphone world and what Microsoft can take from there, and then take it apart and make it better. Nokias interim chief executive, Risto Siilasmaa, described the end of 2013 as a watershed moment in Nokias history. I am pleased with the progress we have made thus far in our strategy evaluation and excited by the opportunities ahead, Mr Siilasmaa said in a statement, which added that the new slimmed-down company was more focused, more innovative and more disciplined. AFP

Benchmark repo rate as set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last week

8%

30 THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Property
Yangon gets new exhibition space
MYAT NYEIN AYE myatnyeinaye11092@gmail.com YANGON has a new exhibition and event space after locally based Forever Group last week opened the US$6 million Myanmar Event Park adjacent to Yangon Regional Government offices in Ahlone township. The 4-acre (16,194-square-metre) venue can accommodate 15,000 delegates for a concert, or 30,000 visitors as well as up to 300 booths for an exhibition. As a broadcasting and media company, we needed a space for shooting and events, so we built one, said company spokesperson U Myo Myat Thu. The 6000-sq-m event hall, built by local engineers, is already open. We started building the hall last June and finished at the end of December. We are using it for a book exhibition on January 25-26, said Forever Group director U Myint Zaw. The company will use the space remaining for the use of the public events. Yangon currently has three other major event venues: the Myanmar Convention Centre (MCC), Tatmadaw Hall and Minder Ground, though the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) has recently announced plans to upgrade Mayangone townships MCC into an international standard exhibition hall, said U Nay Win, deputy director of the building department of YCDC. We have a rare and great opportunity to develop exhibition halls in Yangon and that is why we have a plan to build more while upgrading the MCC into a large hall, he said, adding they will tender the property this year offering a 50-year build-operate-transfer agreement.

BUSINESS EDiToR: Philip Heijmans | pheijmans13@gmail.com

IN BRIEF
Home prices in the United States fell slightly in November, the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index showed last week, offering some new evidence that the hot housing market is slowing down. The Case-Shiller index for 20 leading cities fell for the rst time since November 2012, losing 0.1 percent in the month. Nine of the 20 cities lost ground, nine saw prices rise and there was no change in two cities. On a seasonally adjusted basis, prices in November gained 0.9pc. Year-on-year gains remained strong, rising 13.7pc. But with mortgage interest rates rising, analysts said the strong market of the past two years and the double-digit annual price gains could soon be over. Home prices continue to rise despite last Mays jump in mortgage interest rates, said David Blitzer of S&P Dow Jones Indices. Even so, he said, While housing will make further contributions to the economy in 2014, the pace of price gains is likely to slow during the year. Las Vegas, one of the worst-hit cities in the housing crisis, continued to bounce back with a 0.6pc gain in the month, and 27.3pc in the year. Also strong were Miami and San Francisco, where housing price gains driven by booming tech industry salaries have become a political issue. But other hot markets of the past two years, Washington, New York, Chicago, Portland and Denver, all showed a monthly fall. AFP

Washington US home prices edged lower in November: Case-Shiller

A woman walks through a partially closed Bogyoke Market past security cameras. Shopkeepers and management are embroiled in

Bogyoke Market con

After rejecting an eviction notice, the plight of shopkeepers at Yangons iconic jew
declaring they intended to ignore the December 1 eviction notice. Thenotice requested all shop owners vacate their stands by December 31 so renovations could begin on the popular gold, silver and jewelsmith hall. Decrying what they called a manoeuvre to evict them, the retailers publicly cast doubt on the right of the hall owner that had posted the demand. The Private Super World Cooperative extended the eviction date toJanuary 31and issued a counter notice on January 8, demanding an apology, which was not forthcoming. We are suing them in Yangon Region High Court, lawyer U Chit Ko Ko told The Myanmar Times on January 29. The case is scheduled to be heard on February 18, when the shopkeepers will be summoned to appear before a judge, he said. At the heart of the alleged defamation is the shopkeepers stance that the Super World hall, as part of Bogyoke Market, is state-owned property and an eviction can only come from the government, not a private management company. Amyotha Hluttaw representative from No 3 Yangon Region constituency, U Phone Myint Aung, raised the matter in parliament earlier in January, asking how and why the Ministry of Cooperative Property had sold state property to a private company without a transparent procedure to execute the sale and called on parliament to investigate the matter. I just want to know if they had the right to sell it, U Phone Myint said on January 22, saying that the responsible minister had not provided a satisfactory explanation. If someone wants to sell state
SU pHYO WIN bRIDGET DI CERTO

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

A place of my own
Proximity to transportation and good shopping (though far from downtown), and high-quality design justify this newly built apartments fairly pricey rental. Its 1530 square feet contain three bedrooms (one double, two single). Situated on the third oor of the newly built Prime Rose Condo at 8 Mile Junction, the apartment comes fully furnished, with white walls and Korean parquet ooring. Five air conditioners and satellite connections are available, and 24-hour security is provided. Ei The The Naing Location Price Contact : Prime Rose Condo, : K4.5 million (rent) : Moe Myint Thaw Tar 8 mile, Mayangone tsp

Real Estate and General Service Phone : 01 9669061

THE site manager for Super World hall in Yangons Bogyoke Market has launched a civil lawsuit for K600 million in damages against tenants in the popular jewellery market, officials said last week. U Chit Ko Ko, lawyer for U Mg Mg Lwin and Daw Shu Kyi, whose company The Private Super World Cooperative manages the Super World hall, said his clients are demanding that 35 shopkeepers pay the equivalent of US$608,500 in compensation following the loss of dignity they claim to have suffered in a bruising public confrontation with the vendors, who are defying a threatened eviction ahead of renovations We demanded an apology from the shopkeepers, said U Chit Ko Ko, referring to a notice published by the informal union of jewel vendors inthe Mirroron December 21

We will give the rent to the real owner as decided by the hluttaw.
Bogyoke Market shopkeeper

Quote of the week

31

If someone wants to sell state property, that person must be the state ranking official. These facts cannot change.
U Phone Myint , Amyotha Hluttaw representative

US seeks execution for Boston bomber

WORLD 35

Yuzana Plaza shops going out of business

NOE NOE AUNG noenoeag@gmail.com RETAIL shop owners at Yangons Yuzana Plaza said last week that they have led a letter with parliament complaining that they would likely lose their business if the plaza enforces a substantial increase in rent slated for next month. In recent years, several stalls have already been forced out of the market as growing competition in the area, poor building management and rising costs have driven away customers, causing prots to sink, shopkeepers said. The situation is getting harder and harder, Ko Thiha, owner of the Idea Club bag shop, told The Myanmar Times on January 28. While we are struggling with falling market share, compared to high-end malls like Taw Win Centre and Junction Square, the plaza management committee has announced a rent increase. The ve-storey plazas ground oor is dominated by wholesale outlets, which are owned by their operators. The shops on the upper oors of the busy Mingalar Taung Nyunt complex are owned by the company and rented out to the shopkeepers. Shop owners on the rst oor received notice of the increase on January 24, said Ko Thiha, and the remaining shops expect to receive notice soon. The monthly rent for his 750-square-foot shop will rise 17.3 percent from K1.15 million to K1.35 million. With maintenance and electricity bills, well have to pay K1.5 million even before wages, said Ko Thiha. Store owners blame a number of factors for falling demand, including a controversial decision to close the ground-oor shops every Monday. They also cite lack of customer service, poor maintenance and inadequate opening hours, as well as the competition from new shopping centres. Apart from the ground oor, all the other shops are open on Mondays, but most customers think the whole plaza is closed. And Yuzana Plaza is open only from 9am to 5pm. Its not easy to compete with the malls that are open from 9am to 9pm, said Ko Thiha. But he is not going to move, he added. My regular customers know the shop well. Since Ive been here since 1998, its difficult to move and start again somewhere else. Once one of the countrys busiest markets, Yuzana Plaza started losing customers when the glittering new malls started opening a couple of years ago, said U Kyaw Aung, owner of Thin Yadanar jewellery shop. Demand fell by 35-40 percent from 2010 to 2013. Almost every shop is struggling. Many old shops moved out. Now if Yuzana company increases the rent, we can barely cover our costs, he said. Ive heard rents will rise by 20 to 40 percent depending on location and oor area, he added. The Monday closing issue has taken its toll, said U Kyaw Aung. The company chairman sided with the ground-oor owners and said that he would solve it after six months. But its almost a year now, he said. U Soe Myint Thein, owner of Lad N Lass fashion shop on the second oor of the building, said shopkeepers had written a letter of complaint to the chair of Yuzana company, U Htay Myint, a member of Pyithu Hluttaw, on January 24. We asked to meet with the chairman or management committee, but they refused. The management called the representatives of owners to meet one by one, which lacks transparency, he said. A Yuzana Plaza management ofcial declined to speak to The Myanmar Times, or to disclose his name.

onflict to go to court
ellery market has hit the halls of Parliament and now the chambers of court
property, that person must be the state ranking official. These facts cannot change, he said. Deputy Minister of Cooperative Property U Than Tun said the deal had been done to ensure repayment of a government loan taken by the government association charged with managing the iconic downtown marketplace. They sold Super World hall 1 for K35 million and hall 2 for K15 million to U Mg Mg Lwin and Daw Shu Kyi, U Than Tun said. Speaking toThe Myanmar Timeson condition of anonymity for fear of further reprisals in court, agitated shop owners refused to cooperate with the defamation trial. As our case is being discussed at hluttaw, we just need to wait for its decision, one shopkeeper said. The 35 remaining jewellers in Super World hall have not paid any rental charges to the management company since the end of last year. We will give the rent to the real owner as decided by the hluttaw, the shopkeeper said. On January 21, the shopkeepers published a notice saying they would not apologise for any of their actions, which they say did not damage Daw Shu Kyis integrity.

a dispute over who the real owners of Yangons top market are as tenants refuse to pay rent. Photo: Boothee

Shopkeepers at Yangons Yuzana Plaza wait for shoppers last week. Photo: Zarni Phyo

32 Property
MARIEL

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that CANON SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. a company organized under the laws of Singapore and having its principal office at 1 HARBOURFRONT AVENUE #04-01 Keppel Bay Tower Singapore 098632 is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:

IMAGE SQUARE
(Reg: No. IV/8892/2013) in respect of: Class 35 Advertising; business consultancy; office function ; business administration; business management; computerized filed management; database management; office machines and equipment rental; data and image processing; rental of photocopier; photocopying services; document and image copying, duplicating and scanning services; electronic publication of publicity texts; event management services (organization of exhibitions or trade fairs for commercial or advertising purposes); organization of exhibitions for commercial or advertising purposes; providing information, including online, about advertising, business management and administration and office functions; retail services featuring consumer and business electronic products. 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 CANON SINGAPORE PTE LTD P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 3rd February, 2014
The Mariel megaport in Artemisa Province, Cuba, is inaugurated last week. Photo: AFP

Cuba opens megaport with high hopes for increased trade

CUBA officially opened its new Mariel megaport last week, hoping the project will put it on the map as a regional shipping hub despite scant foreign investment and the US economic embargo. Leading the ceremony were Cuban President Raul Castro and his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff, whose country provided technical and nancial help for the ports construction in the joint project. Only the rst 2300 feet (700 metres) of what is slated to be a 2400-meter wharf were inaugurated, with hopes the project when completed will welcome 1 million containers per year. From this moment, Mariel is part of the Cuban and Latin American port system, Mr Castro said. Its the rst phase of the project, we must continue working. After cutting an inaugural ribbon with Mr Castro, Ms Rousseff said, Brazil is proud to be associated with Cuba on this project, the rst large terminal port for containers in the Caribbean. But Mariel, located 28 miles (45 kilometers) west of Havana, still faces major hurdles including lack of investment and the American economic embargo placed on the communist island for the last half-century. The first shipment, unloaded smoothly, was frozen chicken from the United States. Despite the embargo, American farmers can sell food to Cuba as long as Havana pays in cash. Cuba is hoping to establish itself as a regional hub for shipments from Asia after an expansion of the Panama Canal is completed in 2015, allowing for the passing of larger ships carrying up to 12,000 containers. The largest infrastructure project ever launched by Cuba, Mariel will cover some 180 square miles (465 square kilometres) and include a free-trade zone where foreignowned factories can produce goods for other markets. Authorities are hoping the goods redistributed across the Atlantic from Cuba will allow the island nation to reassume the status of commercial nerve center it once held during the Spanish empires grasp on Latin America. Cuban authorities have already indicated that they will target high-tech businesses, particularly in agro-business, biotechnology and information technology. According to Ana Igarza, director of Mariels Special Development Zone (ZED), investment proposals have already been put forth by businesses in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and the Dominican Republic. Ms Rousseff said last week that Brazil wants to be a rst-order economic ally to Cuba. Her government already nanced US$802 million of the rst phase of the project and $290 million toward its freetrade commercial zone. And a logistical base is already in place for foreign businesses related to oil. A highway and railway linking the port to Havana are under construction. But all these projects require capital that is still largely lacking, particularly in light of the US embargo. We need investments of around $3 billion per year, Cuban economist Juan Triana, of the University of Havana, recently estimated. The opening of the megaport comes as the communist country prepares to push through a new law on foreign investment in March meant to attract much-needed capital for the countrys sagging Sovietstyle economic system. Built by the Brazilian company Odebrecht with the help of a $600 million credit from the state, the port will be managed by PSA International of Singapore, which already runs several of the worlds largest ports. Last weeks ceremony was attended by heads of state who participated in the inauguration on the sidelines of the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI. a company organized under the laws of P.R. China and having its principal office at Jinji West Road, Qianshan, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

(Reg: No. IV/4186/2010) in respect of :- air conditioning installations; ventilation [airconditioning] installations and apparatus; air reheaters; radiators, electric; heat accumulators; laundry dryers electric; fans [airconditioning]; air dehumidifiers; air purifying apparatus and machines; cooking apparatus and installations ; extractor hoods for kitchen use; coal gas water heaters; electric water heaters; electromagnetic oven; cooking utensils, electric; electric drinking water dispensers; electric kettles; air humidifiers; pressure cookers [autoclaves], electric; air conditioners for vehicles; fans (parts of air-conditioning installations); filters for air conditioning; heater for vehicles; air dryers; air sterilizers; electric hair dryers; evaporators, sterilizers; sterilizing cupboard; heat exchangers [not parts of machines]; exhaust fans; solar energy water heaters; electric iron pans; heaters for baths; gas burners; air refreshers; refrigerators; microwave ovens [cooking apparatus]; water purification installations; dish washers; egg boilers; electric appliances for making yogurt; steam facial apparatus [saunas]; bread toasters; electric coffee machines; electric foot washers bakers ovens; electric slow-cookers. Class: 11 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 GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI. P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 3rd February, 2014

SOFIA

Bulgaria annuls ban on sale of land to foreigners

BULGARIAS top court last week quashed a controversial ban on land sales to foreigners approved by parliament last year, amid concerns the move violated Bulgarias EU commitments. Parliament breached basic constitutional principles that Bulgaria has a rule of law ... governed by the constitution and the law of the European Union, the constitutional court ruled. Foreigners who were not permanent residents were initially banned from acquiring land in the EUs poorest member for seven years, under a moratorium negotiated by Bulgaria before it joined the EU in 2007. But its parliament voted last October to extend the deal until 2020, in a move proposed by the nationalist Ataka party and backed by leftand right-wing lawmakers. The decision caused an uproar in the local media with legal experts saying it went against the constitution and Bulgarias EU accession treaty commitments. Last weeks ruling was widely expected after a recent statement by Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski that the bill was a bad decision and will be reviewed. AFP

www.mmtimes.com

Science & Technology 33

IN BRIEFS
Robot lovers, rejoice
The world is one step closer to robocat. Many mammals use special hairs on their faces to feel for unseen objects. Researchers realized articial whiskers could help robots sense the world around them, but until now, attempts at whiskerlike sensors have been bulky and inefcient. Using cutting-edge materials, a team of researchers has now developed electronic whiskers with a sensitivity and size mimicking their natural counterparts. The team coated exible strands of silicon rubber with a mix of long chains of carbon atoms, called carbon nanotubes, and tiny bunches of silver molecules, called silver nanoparticles. The carbon nanotubes added exibility and durability while the silver nanoparticles added a way to measure small changes in strain on the whiskers. As each whisker exes, the electrical resistance inside changes. By running a current through the whisker, the researchers measured the change in resistance and, therefore, the amount of ex. This design proved 10 times more sensitive than previous efforts, with each whisker capable of detecting the pressure equivalent of a dollar bill resting on a table, the researchers report online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Genetics. The researchers believe the peppers capsaicin-creating gene appeared after ve mutations occurred during DNA replication, with the nal mutation creating a functional copy. The mouth-burning chemicals likely protected the mutant peppers seeds from grazing land animals millions of years ago, helping the mutant gene spread.

US must renounce spy tactics: climate activists

THE UNITED States and other governments accused of spying on negotiators at crucial UN climate talks in 2009 should publicly renounce such tactics, environmental groups involved in the process said Friday. Climate Action Network (CAN), a grouping of more than 850 environmental groups, reacted to media reports citing a leaked document from rogue US National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden claiming to show the NSA and allies had monitored the communications of other governments ahead of and during the 2009 round of talks in Copenhagen. CAN condemns such actions, said the grouping, an active participant in the annual talks toward sealing a new, global pact to curb Earth-damaging climate change. The work currently underway... already suffers from a dearth of trust between nations. If we are to achieve this monumental deal for the planet, all countries must work on repairing these burnt bridges. The Snowden document, carried by online news site the Huffington Post, states: Analysts here at NSA, as well as our Second Party partners, will continue to provide policymakers with unique, timely, and valuable insights into key countries preparations and goals for the conference. While the outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference remains uncertain, signals intelligence will undoubtedly play a signicant role in keeping our negotiators as well informed as possible throughout the two-week event. According to the Huffington Post, these Second Party partners were the intelligence agencies of Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The document was dated December 7, 2009 the rst day of two weeks of fraught negotiations. The countries who have been accused of spying, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, are among those who have done the most to cause the climate crisis, and can also be leaders in delivering solutions, the CAN said in a statement. But we need a radical shift in ambition and trust to tackle the planetary emergency. The worlds nations have committed to signing a global pact by next year on curbing Earth-warming greenhouse gas emissions, to take effect by 2020. The previous attempt to conclude such a worldwide climate deal was the Copenhagen meeting, which ended in a near-asco without a formal agreement. The United States, the worlds second-biggest carbon emitter after China, is opposed to any kind of a pact that imposes targets on individual nations for curbing greenhouse gas pollution. AFP

PARIS

The case of the astro-carbon

Genetics gets spicey

The hot pepper is one of the most widely grown spice crops globally, playing an important role in many medicines, makeups and meals worldwide. Although the plants so-called capsaicin chemical is well known for spicing things up, until now the genetic spark responsible for the peppers pungency was unknown. A team of scientists recently completed the rst high-quality reference genome for the hot pepper. Comparing the peppers genome with that of its tame cousin, the tomato, the scientists discovered the gene responsible for ery capsaicin production appeared in both plants. While the tomato carried four nonfunctioning copies of the gene, the hot pepper carried seven nonfunctioning copies and one functioning copy, the team reported online Sunday in Nature

Scientists have long been mystied by how large, complex organic molecules like hydrocarbons form so abundantly in the near-vacuum of space, especially when their atomic building blocks are sparse and might interact only rarely. New lab studies suggest that a certain type of organic molecule, instead of being assembled from smaller bits, may instead be produced when ultraviolet light blasts apart the carbon-rich veneer on some types of stardust. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs, which often form when carboncontaining materials like wood, coal, and fossil fuels burn incompletely come in many shapes and sizes, but they all contain three or more rings of carbon atoms; hence the term polycyclic. But graphite, the form of carbon found in pencil lead but also found coating the surface of many particles of interstellar dust, is also made of one-atom-thick sheets of carbon atoms arranged into hexagonal rings. Researchers placed tiny particles of silicon carbide covered with graphite in a vacuum chamber that duplicated the deepspace conditions surrounding many stars (temperatures between 900 and 1500 kelvins and pressures less than one-billionth that found at Earths surface). Then, they bombarded the faux stardust with intense ultraviolet light and bathed it in single hydrogen atoms, which are found in profusion in the environment near stars. Under certain combinations of conditions, large fragments of carbon coating were eroded away, the researchers reported Tuesday in Nature Communications. If the same processes occur in space, it could help explain observations suggesting the presence of PAHs and other organic molecules around distant stars. Washington Post

IN PICTURES TWO traffic robot cops were recently installed in downtown Kinshasa to help tackle the hectic traffic usually experienced in Congolese city. The prototypes are equipped with four cameras that allow them to record traffic ow, the information is then transmitted to a center where traffic infractions can be analyzed. Photo: AFP

34 THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

World
Disputed claims in the South China Sea
China is considering declaring a new Air Defence Identification Zone over the South China Sea, says a Japanese report on Friday
CHINA TAIWAN
(Claims Spratly Islands) Chinese claim Vietnamese claim Paracel islands Philippines Kalayaan** claim Malaysian claim Bruneian claim Spratly Islands Palawan Philippines EEZ* claim Scarborough Shoal

WORLD EDITOR: Fiona MacGregor

IN PICTURES

VIETNAM

PHILIPPINES

BRUNEI MALAYSIA

*Exclusive economic zone **Kalayaan islands, Palawan province

Sources: D.Rosenberg/MiddleburyCollege/HarvardAsiaQuarterly/Phil govt

Beijing eyeing South China Sea, Japan reports

CHINA is considering declaring a new Air Defence Identication Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea, according to a new Japanese report, a move likely to fan tensions in an area riven by territorial disputes. The report on January 31 came months after Beijing caused consternation with the sudden declaration of an ADIZ above the East China Sea, covering islands at the centre of a sovereignty row with Tokyo. Countries in the region are growing increasingly concerned about what they see as Chinas aggressive territorial claims. Working level officials in the Chinese airforce have drafted proposals for the new zone, which could set the Paracel islands at its core and spread over much of the sea, reported the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, citing unnamed sources, including from the Chinese government. The draft was submitted to senior Chinese military officials by May last year, the respected daily publication said. Beijing claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety, even areas far from its shoreline. The countries surrounding the sea have competing and overlapping claims to the area and are in dispute with Beijing, including over the ownership of islands. Many countries, including the US and Japan, use ADIZs as a form of early warning, allowing them to track aircraft approaching their airspace. Planes entering the area are frequently asked to identify themselves and to maintain radio contact with local authorities. Any aircraft causing concern can trigger the launch of ghter jets, which are scrambled to intercept it. The draft says the zone would at a minimum cover the Paracels, and could go as wide as the majority of the South China Sea, the Asahi said. Beijing is still deliberating the extent of the zone and considering the timing of an announcement, the paper said. Japan, South Korea and others reacted with anger in November when Beijing unilaterally declared an ADIZ in the East China Sea. China demanded all aircraft provide ight plans when traversing the area, give their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication, or face emergency defensive measures. The US said it would not comply, and, in what was seen as a challenge to Beijing, promptly ew military planes through it. AFP

An Israeli member of the Taiji Dolphin Action Group, with red body paint to evoke blood curls up on a sheet depicting the Japanese ag during a protest outside the Japanese Embassy in Tel Aviv on January 30 against the killing of dolphins. Photo: AFP

BAnGKOK

Thailand risks civil war, warns analyst

THE deep political split between the Thai governments northern strongholds and opposition heartlands could lead to a violent but low-intensity civil war, Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of South East Asian Affairs at Chiang Mai University in northern Thailand, has warned. At least 10 people have died and dozens more have been wounded in clashes, grenade attacks and drive-by shootings in political violence and antigovernment protests which brought parts of Bangkok to a standstill in recent weeks. And analysts fear there is worse to come. Anti-government protesters have called for embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down to make way for an unelected peoples council to oversee reforms. They say she serving as a proxy for her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006. The anti-government protesters, known as Yellow Shirts, accuse Mr Thaksin, whose Red Shirt support base comes mainly from the rural poor, of orchestrating an assault on Thai social order, which is headed by the nations revered king and supported by the Bangkok-based establishment. An election was due to take place on February 2 amid concerns of violence and intimidation. But there was little hope it would bring any resolution with results expected to face legal hurdles which would render it invalid, according to Election Commission member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn. Mr Somchai said opponents of the election wereexpected to le lawsuits after it took place to have it invalidated. According to Duncan McCargo, professor of Southeast Asian politics at the University of Leeds, the troubles could still end in a military coup, The protestors appear to have no clear political agenda other than a desire to (return) Thailand to an imagined pre-Thaksin era in which the ruling network and its supporters can still call the shots, and provincial voters can be marginalized, he told CNN. In the short term, they are trying to provoke a military coup of some kind.

Afghanistan election campaign laun

AFGHANISTANs election campaign began on February 2 with 11 candidates vying to succeed President Hamid Karzai as the country enters an uncertain new era without the aid of NATO combat troops to ght the Taliban. A dispute between Kabul and Washington over whether a small force of US soldiers stays behind beyond 2014 is likely to dominate the two-month campaign, which will culminate in Afghanistans rst-ever democratic transfer of power. Mr Karzai has ruled the country since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, surviving assassination attempts and the treacherous currents of Afghan political life as billions of dollars of military and development aid poured into the country. He is barred from seeking a third term, leaving an open eld to compete in the April 5 vote, which is likely to trigger a second-round run-off in late May between the two strongest candidates. Tipped to go through to the run-off stage is Abdullah Abdullah, the suave opposition leader who came second to Mr Karzai in the chaotic and fraudriddled 2009 election. Among the other heavyweight candidates are former nance minister Ashraf Ghani, Karzai loyalist Zalmai Rassoul and the presidents low-prole elder brother Qayum Karzai. Afghan politics has been focused for months on the bilateral security agreement (BSA), which would allow about 10,000 US troops to be deployed in the country after NATO withdraws by December. Mr Karzai was expected to sign the deal late last year, but he has stalled and said his successor might now complete negotiations -- plunging relations with the US, Afghanistans key donor, to a fresh low. US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Mr Karzais foot-dragging risked leaving Washington no time to plan its post-combat mission. You cant just keep deferring and deferring because at some point

35

Chinas new year sees worlds largest yearly migration

wOrLD 37

Asian countries leading new era of moon exploration

wOrLD 39

Kenya ghts back against Asias ivory criminals

WOrLD 41

US will extradite Knox if asked, say law experts

THE United States will have little legal argument for turning down an extradition request should Italy seek the return of Amanda Knox for the 2007 murder of her British housemate. In the latest twist in the high-prole case, a court in Florence on January 30 sentenced Ms Knox to 28 years and six months in prison for killing Meredith Kercher in the university town of Perugia. Ms Knox was following the proceedings from her hometown of Seattle in the United States, where she has lived since a previous acquittal in 2011, which Italian prosecutors appealed. Her lawyers now plan to appeal this latest conviction in turn to the Italian Supreme Court, but if they fail Ms Knox could nd herself ying back to a country where she has already spent four years in jail. As popular as she is here and as pretty as she is here because thats what this is all about. If she was not an attractive woman we wouldnt have the group love-in she will be extradited if its upheld, said Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz. While Ms Knox has won a great deal of support in the United States where she is seen as the innocent victim of a miscarriage of justice, Mr Dershowitz said there are no legal grounds for because the Italian system which allows prosecutors to appeal a verdict violates the US legal prohibition on double jeopardy: trying someone twice for the same crime. Legal experts attach little weight to this argument. They always forget she was convicted rst, said Julian Ku, who teaches transnational law at Hofstra University. Ms Knox and her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito served four years in prison for the murder before being released after an appeal led to their 2011 acquittal. The Italian Supreme Court overturned that ruling in 2013, sending the case back for re-trial. Italy must rst le an extradition request with the US State Department, which will then determine if it should ask the Justice Department to detain Ms Knox. She then has the right to challenge her extradition in a US court. The chances of her winning that are not high because there has to be some very strong claim shed have to make to block her extradition, Mr Ku said . A US State Department official conrmed that there is an extradition treaty between the United States and Italy, but declined to comment on the most recent verdict and trial. AFP

CHICAGO

Amanda Knox awaits the latest verdict in the long-running case . Photo: AFP

preventing extradition. Nor would it play well diplomatically, given that the United States demands more extraditions than any other nation, he said. The Italian legal system...is a legitimate legal system and we have a treaty with Italy so I dont see how we would resist, he said. Were trying to get Snowden back how does it look if we want Snowden back and we wont return someone for murder? he asked, referring to fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. Ms Knoxs supporters argue she should be protected from extradition

GENEVA

WASHINGTON

Veteran envoy not disappointed as Syria peace talks achieve little progress
Syrias warring sides have ended their rst peace talks without concrete progress on ending the violence, a political transition or ensuring humanitarian aid for millions in need. The Syrian regime and the opposition representatives got bogged down in a dispute over who was responsible for the violence in the country, as the peace talks in Geneva, which ended on January 31, focused on terrorism. There is of course agreement that terrorism ... is a very serious problem inside Syria, but theres no agreement on how to deal with it, said UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi. The two sides were brought together in Geneva in the biggest diplomatic push yet to end a civil war that has left more than 130,000 dead and forced millions from their homes. While the mere fact of the rivals agreeing on a topic of discussion was seen as a step forward, the rst round of talks ended without any signicant breakthrough. The 80-year-old Algerian has long been one of the most respected envoys in the world, called in when the mission seems impossible. Im not disappointed, because I did not expect any result this rst time, he said of the glacial pace of talks this week. Saying that his dearest hope was end the brutal war, he warns that there is no magic wand. I know that this will not happen in a day, or tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, or next week, he told reporters. With tensions aplenty behind closed doors in the Geneva talks, Mr Brahimi has kept his sense of humour. At this rate, well need 20 years. Youd better hurry up, as I wont be around in 20 years, he purportedly told delegates. AFP

Execution sought for Boston bomber

THE United States is to seek a rare federal death penalty for the surviving young student accused of the Boston marathon bombings, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Attorney General Eric Holder has said. Three people were killed and around 260 wounded on April 15 last year when two bombs made of explosives-packed pressure cookers exploded near the nish line of the Boston Marathon. Mr Tsarnaev, then 19, and his 26-year-old brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev were cornered by police after a four-day manhunt. The elder brother died after an exchange of re with police and Mr Dzhokhar was wounded. The nature of the conduct at issue and the resultant harm compel this decision, Mr Holder said in a statement January 30 on the prosecution of the 20-year-old, a US citizen from a Chechen Muslim family. The former student has pleaded not guilty to 30 federal charges related to the bombings, including 17 serious charges that can carry sentences of death or of life in prison. These charges include using a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, as well as conspiracy and bombing of a place of public use resulting in death, and carjacking. Mr Tsarnaev is also charged in connection with the shooting death of a campus police officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the brothers getaway attempt. The brothers are said to have built the bombs with help from an online al-Qaeda magazine, but are not accused of having received help from any organised foreign terror group. Carmen Ortiz, a federal prosecutor in Massachusetts, home to Boston, said in a statement, We support this decision and the trial team is prepared to move forward with the prosecution. The full trial is likely to begin in the autumn and is expected to take about ve months. Massachusetts abolished the death penalty in 1982, but Mr Tsarnaev is accused under federal law. Of nearly 500 death sentences sought at federal level, only 70 were handed down and there have been only three actual executions since the reinstatement of the federal death penalty in 1988. If Mr Tsarnaev is executed, he will be the rst defendant to be be put to death at federal level since Timothy McVeigh, who went to the death chamber in June 2001 for the Oklahoma City bombing. Richard Dieter, director of the non-prot Death Penalty Information Center, said it was not certain Mr Tsarnaev would be executed, if found guilty. Its just an option on the table. There are many more steps to go in this process. AFP

nch marks new move to democracy

the realities of planning and budgeting collide, the Pentagon chief told reporters on January 30. But US officials concede that they are waiting for a change at the top. Mr Karzai is the elected president of a sovereign nation, and our ability to inuence whatever decisions he makes is limited, Mr Hagel said. Western and Afghan officials say all 11 candidates support the BSA but, except for Mr Abdullah, they have declined to say so publicly for fear of clashing with Mr Karzai. It is in the interest of Afghanistan to sign the BSA, Mr Abdullah said this week. It is better (if) candidates have the courage to talk on behalf of their own people regardless of who is upset. This issue has left Afghan people worried when they want a good election and for a new administration to come in as a result of a good nationwide campaign. Taliban insurgents have threatened to target the campaign, and the Afghan police and army face a major challenge with little support from the dwindling number of NATO troops. The interior ministry hopes to open 6431 of the 6845 polling centres, though fear of insurgent violence could keep turnout low. Only about one-third of registered voters cast their ballots last time -signicantly lower than previous elections and the turnout may decline further. Debate on policy and economics is set to take a back seat to ethnic and tribal loyalties, with runners picking vice-presidential candidates to widen their appeal. Mr Ghani, an internationally renowned academic, shocked many Afghans by selecting General Abdul Rashid Dostum, a warlord accused of multiple human rights abuses who will deliver the Uzbek minority vote. Mr Karzai has vowed to not officially endorse anyone, but several still hope for his covert backing, and the outgoing president is expected to remain inuential after stepping down. AFP

36 World International
SINGAPORE

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Have more babies this year, urges Singapores PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged young couples to have more babies to boost agging birth rates. In his Lunar New Year message on January 30, Mr Lee said the wealthy city-state needed enough children to form the next generation amid concerns over the inux of immigrants. Unfortunately, despite our efforts to promote marriage and parenthood, our birth rates are still too low, Mr Lee, a father of four, said. Mr Lee said Singapores current fertility rate is 1.19 babies per female, down from 1.29 in 2012. Despite a series of so-called baby bonuses to encourage couples to have children, Singapore has not been able to boost its fertility rate to the 2.1 level needed to maintain the native-born population. Its low birth rate has forced the government to rely on foreign workers. Foreigners now comprise a third of the 5.4 million population. The inux, however, has sparked protests and prompted the government to tighten immigration ows in recent years. AFP

KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysias National Monument, Tugu Negara, calls for Allahs blessing on those who died for the countrys peace and freedom. Photo: Vzach

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Kabushiki Kaisha Pulsar International (also trading as Pulsar International Corporation) a company organized under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 1-31-1, Shiroyamate, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademarks:(Reg: No. IV/12297/2013)

ORGAMIN

ORGAMIN-DA
(Reg: No. IV/12298/2013)

ECOLOGYC
(Reg: No. IV/12299/2013) (Reg: No. IV/12300/2013) The above four trademarks are in respect of:Fertilizers: liquid fertilizers; plant growth regulation preparations 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 Kabushiki Kaisha Pulsar International (also trading as Pulsar International Corporation) P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 3rd February, 2014

Malaysian PM appeals for unity amid racial tensions

Malaysias prime minister has appealed for unity and an end to the politics of hate amid soaring racial and religious tensions in the Muslimmajority country. Prime Minister Najib Razak, weakened by an election setback last May, is seen as widely under pressure from conservatives in his ruling party intent on rolling back his reforms and pledges of greater civil liberties. Mr Najib said in a statement on January 30 his government aimed to develop an environment which is conducive to and will help promote national reconciliation. We must all commit to avoid spreading lies and slander, nally putting to rest the politics of hate, he said. Conservative Muslims have raised pressure in recent weeks for minority Malay-speaking Christians to stop using the word Allah, souring relations between the two groups. The conservatives insist the Arabic word is exclusive to Islam, but the Catholic church is challenging this in court, saying their Malay-language bibles contain the word and that they have used it for hundreds of years. Malaysian politics has become increasingly bitter as the 57-year-old Malay-dominated authoritarian government has steadily lost ground in parliament to a multi-racial opposition. The electoral shift has whetted public demands for more reform among opposition supporters. Meanwhile, conservatives within the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) have pushed back against reform, while allied Muslim groups have stepped up rhetoric against non-Muslims, particularly members of the economically powerful Chinese minority. Mr Najib said the ruling establishment must look at becoming more inclusive in our activities and events.

AMIGROW

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Laureus World Sports Awards Limited, a company incorporated in England, of 15 Hill Street, London W1J 5QT, is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:-

Reg. No. 12012/2013

Reg. No. 12013/2013 in respect of Class 35: Promoting sportsmanship and achievements in the fields of sports and athletics; promoting the goods and services of others by arranging for sponsors to affiliate their goods and services with an awards program, a sports competition and sporting activities; promoting the goods and services of others through the distribution of discount cards; distribution of souvenirs and merchandise; sales promotion of event tickets and souvenirs; business management assistance; personnel management assistance; rental of office equipment; accounting; advertising and business services; promotional services through provision of sponsored links to third party websites. Class 36: Charitable fund raising including charitable collections, management and monitoring of charitable funds; providing scholarships for college and other learning institutions; financial services; banking services; affinity card services, namely

LAUREUS

credit, debit and charge services; trustee services; provision of information and advice relating to the aforesaid services. Class 41: Entertainment and educational services; arranging and conducting sporting events and athletic competitions; arranging and conducting an awards program and ceremonies; education services, including providing incentives to people and organisations to demonstrate excellence in the field of sports and athletics through the issuance of awards; television and radio programs featuring sporting events, sports and athletic competitions, awards shows, the history of sports and athletics, historical figures and famous persons in the athletic and sporting fields; arranging and conducting exhibitions in the fields of sports and athletics; providing facilities for sports and athletic events, competitions, and awards; providing sports information by means of telephone and a web site via a global computer network; museums; providing facilities for sports tournaments; providing various facilities for an array of sporting events, sports and athletic competitions and awards programs; providing information on historical and current sports and athletic figures, the history of sports, a sports award program, various sporting and athletic events via a web site by means of a global computer network. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Marks will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A.,H.G.P.,D.B.L. for Laureus World Sports Awards Limited P.O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 3 February 2014

We must all commit to avoid spreading lies and slander, nally putting to rest the politics of hate
Najib Razak Malaysian Prime Minister

We are open to talking to all parties, via parliamentary committees to discuss issues affecting national unity he said. Mr Najib gave no further specics. Senior opposition politician Tian Chua said the three-party opposition alliance welcomed Najibs suggestion but complained that it was overdue and lacked details. It took him so long, nearly nine months after the general election, for him to send a positive note on national reconciliation, he said. Ultimately UMNO leaders have been unable to convince their own rank that this is a good thing. This is where the failure lies, he said, accusing UMNO of stirring tensions. On January 27, two Molotov cocktails were thrown at a Catholic church, raising fears of further strife in the Allah row. About 2.6 million of Malaysias 28 million people are Christians.

www.mmtimes.com
wuZhOu

International World 37

Chinese New Year Bike Army joins worlds largest human migration
TOm hAncOcK THE thrum of motorcycles echoes over a Chinese mountain road, where hundreds of thousands are shunning public transport to take the highway home during the worlds largest annual human migration. Chinas 245 million migrant workers twice the entire population of Japan generally have to travel on jam-packed trains or buses to get to their hometown to see their families for the Lunar New Year. But this year more than 600,000 are expected to ride by motorcycle, according to state-run media, making gruelling journeys of several hundred kilometres for the countrys biggest festival, while a hardened few are even cycling. Im excited. I want to get back home as soon as possible, said Mo Renshuang, a shoe factory worker who stopped to stretch his legs at a rest stop several hours into his 700 kilometre(430-mile) trip. He was heading from Guangdong, one of Chinas richest provinces, to Guangxi one of its poorest regions. Mo has not seen his two children for half a year, he said, and had strapped a supermarket trolley to the back of his motorbike containing a suitcase, two toy cars, a toy horse and a pair of blue childrens boots. Pretty creative, right? he said. More than 158,000 bikers have passed the rest stop in the last fortnight, I have this returning-home mood so I can stay awake. Its excitement I suppose, said Wang Zhekun, 30, an office worker for an autoparts company, who said he had cycled through the night on his red Forever mountain bike. I feel cooler than the motorbike drivers, because my engine is right here, he said, pointing to his wiry body. Si Lingxiang, 21, wobbled up to the rest-stop on a light-framed blue bike he is riding on his 400-kilometre journey from the southern metropolis of Guangzhou to Pingnan in Guangxi. Its my fourth day of cycling, the seat is too small and my bottom aches, said Si, who slept the previous night in an abandoned school guardpost. The rest stop in the city of Wuzhou has proved a publicity coup for the local Communist party committee, whose red banners jostled with posters promoting energy drinks to help with staying awake. Party cadres wish brothers and sisters returning home a safe journey, one read. Nearby, on a public notice board where travellers inscribed their names with a black marker pen, one had written a short poem. My vehicle is cheap, Im old and I have a lot of luggage, braving these windy roads needs courage. it read. If Id known before I travelled this far, Id long ago have bought an expensive car, signed Worker returning home. AFP

Chinese New Year travellers rest with their motorcycles at a pitstop in Wuzhou, Guangxi province, during the worlds largest annual human migration. Photo: AFP

police estimate, as riders sharing the same hometown drive together in convoys and stop for free cups of porridge. There are no buses to my village, said Lu Liangquan, 50, one of more than 3000 to pass by early on January 29 morning, who had balanced a cardboard box of fruit on his bike. Also, if you ride a motorbike you can carry on using it when you get home. The two-wheeled journeys reect huge growth in motorcycle ownership in China, which for years has been both the worlds largest producer and consumer of the vehicles. More than 23

million were sold in 2013 according to industry gures. They have proved popular with workers migrating from Chinas poor countryside to its coastal manufacturing heartlands, who have seen wages rise by up to 10 percent annually in recent years but often still cannot afford a car. Chinas rail and bus network is stretched to breaking point over the New Year, which authorities say will see 3.6 billion journeys, leaving many struggling to buy train tickets. Travelling by motorbike is quicker

than taking the bus, said gardener Huang Zilin, 40, who pulled into the rest stop on a red Yamaha with his wife. We set off at four in the morning, and my legs and feet ache, he added. The riders, who travel on small roads to avoid heavy tolls, and wrap their feet in plastic bags to protect against cold and dirt, have been dubbed the bike army by the Chinese press. Their steeds are an array of bargainpriced Chinese-branded vehicles, alongside Japanese Hondas and Suzukis. But a handful of others were more ambitious and used pedal power alone.

www.mmtimes.com

International World 39
BORDEAUX

Beating a path to the moon

ASIAN nations are leading a new raft of missions to the moon, New Scientist has reported. Last month, China placed a lander and a rover on the lunar surface, ending a 37-year gap in visits to our closest celestial neighbour. But the Chinese spacecraft is not expected to be alone for long. A caravan of international and privately funded missions is on the horizon, including several efforts hoping to prospect for resources to aid future human missions. China had initially said that its Change-3 spacecraft would end up in the moons Bay of Rainbows. But the actual site it will explore may be even more interesting scientically: The Change-3 lander touched down in a dark plain called the Sea of Rains, on the far eastern edge of its targeted landing area. This vast volcanic plain appears to contain some of the youngest lava flows on the moon, as well as rocks ejected by impacts that could be parts of the buried lunar crust. Armed with cameras, a spectrometer and groundpenetrating radar, the missions Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, rover might help to piece together the moons volcanic history. India, Japan and South Korea also have plans to send landers and rovers to explore the moon in the next few years, although they have not yet stated their destinations. Meanwhile, the United States, Russia and several private ventures hope to reach the moons poles by 2018. Orbital data suggest that the polar rocks and craters are lled with water ice, which could be harvested for astronaut hydration, radiation shielding and even rocket fuel. If moon mining plans come to fruition, future lunar outposts could become rest stops for missions headed to Mars and beyond. New Scientist

Resurgent exploration on the moons surface

A rush of lunar probes and landings stormed the moon in the 1950s, 60s and 70s and then it stopped. For three decades after that, space exploration focused elsewhere. But in the past few years, interest in prospecting the lunar surface has returned, with more than a dozen missions on tap for the next decade, planned by both government agencies and private companies.

1959-1976
The first era of lunar-surface exploration began in 1959, when the Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 slammed onto the moon, and ended when Luna 24 returned to Earth in 1976. During that time, NASAs Apollo program completed six manned missions on lunar soil. SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS

1977-2007
No surface missions, although some spacecraft were sent into lunar orbit and several ended their missions by crashing into the moon.

2008-2014
The first spacecraft since 1976 specifically designed hit or land on the lunar surface was an impact probe from the Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008.

China outdrinks France in red wine

CHINA has become the worlds biggest consumer of red wine, outdrinking the wine-loving French for the rst time in 2013, according to a new study. China, including Hong Kong, drank more than 155 million cases of red wine in 2013, according to the study by Vinexpo, which runs wine and spirits trade shows, and the British International Wine and Spirit Research think tank. This placed China ahead of France, which only drank 150 million cases of red wine last year, as well as Italy (141 million), the United States (134 million) and Germany (112 million). Overall, the United States, where white wine has been popular, has been the worlds top consumer of wine since 2011, and its red wine consumption is expected to jump 14 percent in the next ve years, the study found. Demand for wine has surged in recent years in China, the worlds second largest economy with a population of 1.3 billion, driven by a rapid expansion in personal wealth as well as growing demand for foreign products. Meanwhile wine consumption in France has dropped 18 percent since 2007 and Italy also saw a 5.8 pc drop in the same period. There has been a real change in the Chinese mentality. Vineyards are being planted in a massive way and the distribution network has multiplied, said Guillaume Deglise, the director general of Vinexpo. The study showed that global consumption of wine continues to increase. Between 2008 and 2012 it grew 3,23pc and is expected to jump another 4.97pc by 2017. The study also showed that Baijiu, a white Chinese spirit distilled from sorghum, rice or wheat that contains about 38pc alcohol, remains the worlds most consumed liquor. Vodka consumption has dropped 6pc over the past ve years, mainly due to less of it being drunk in Russia. Vinexpo, which holds its trade fairs in Bordeaux in alternate years, shows this year in Hong Kong between May 27 and 29. AFP

UNITED STATES

SOVIET UNION

Ranger Surveyor
(manned) 1959 1960

Luna (impactor) Luna (lander) Luna 17 Change 3 Lander and rover

2013

Apollo

Luna 2 Luna 13 Luna 9 Surveyor 6 Surveyor 1 Surveyor 3 Apollo 12 Ranger 7 Apollo 14 Ranger 9 Apollo 15

CHINA

Luna 21 Apollo 17 Luna 24 Ranger 8 Luna 20 Luna 16

U.S.

LCROSS

2009

Surveyor 5 Apollo 11 Apollo 16

1970

Chandrayaan-1 Moon Impact Probe

2008

INDIA

Surveyor 7
1976

Impactors sent to the south pole in search of water.

2015 AND BEYOND

Robotic missions in development and under study
Some missions will prospect for water and rare-earth elements, among other things.
Chandrayaan-2 Google Lunar X Prize: Change 4 17 teams from at INDIA CHINA least 14 countries are competing to land a Change 5 Luna-Glob 1 lunar rover; first team RUSSIA CHINA set to launch 2015. 2018: Luna-Glob 2 , RUSSIA; Resource Prospector , U.S. and CANADA; International Lunar Network , U.S. and others; Selene-2 , JAPAN; Lunar Lander , EUROPE. Luna-Grunt
RUSSIA

Moon lander
SOUTH KOREA

2014

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

24
Mid 20s: RUSSIA, CHINA, IRAN

Proposed manned landings

SHACKLETON ENERGY CO.

INDIA

JAPAN

GOLDEN SPIKE

Sources: U.S. National Space Science Data Center; NASA; RFSA, ISAS/JAXA, ISRO, ESA, ISA, the Planetary Society, Nature, news reports

PATTERSON CLARK/THE WASHINGTON POST

TOKYO

Japan admits to losing US$5 million submarine

JAPAN has admitted that its navy lost a US$5 million unmanned submarine during a survey last year, with a nine-day search of the ocean oor yielding nothing. The Maritime Self-Defence Force was using the remote-controlled submersible in the Tsugaru strait between Japans main island of Honshu and its northern landmass, Hokkaido, in November, a defence ministry official said. The vehicle was being used to survey the underwater terrain as well as water currents and temperatures, he told AFP on January 29. The unmanned craft, which is 3 metres (10 feet) long and 2m wide, and weighs about 5 tonnes, disappeared after the cable that connected it to a surface ship was severed. Mariners searched the ocean oor in the area for the following nine days, but to no avail, the official said. The ministry has set up a panel to investigate how it was lost, he added. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

IP Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in The Cayman Islands, of C/O Maples Corporate Services Limited of P.O. Box 309, Ugland Houses, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:-

Reg. No. 10319/2013

Reg. No. 10322/2013

Reg. No. 10320/2013 in respect of Class 9: Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signaling, checking(supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; automatic vending machines and mechanisms for coinoperated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers; fire-extinguishing apparatus; Electrical and electronic telecommunications, telephonic and communications apparatus and instruments; data communication apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for the processing, transmission, storage, logging, reception and retrieval of data being in the form of encoded data, text, audio, graphic images or video or a combination of these formats; image processing apparatus, instruments and equipment; photographic apparatus; modems; encoded cards; smart cards; holograms; media for storing information, data, images and sound; blank and prerecorded magnetic cards; smart cards; cards containing microprocessors; integrated circuit cards; electronic identification cards; telephone cards; telephone credit cards; credit cards; debit cards; cards for electronic games designed for use with telephones; magnetic, digital and optical data carriers; magnetic, digital and optical data recording and storage media (blank and pre-recorded); electronic publications (downloadable) provided on-line from computer databases, the Internet or other electronic network; satellite receiving and transmission apparatus and instruments; apparatus for downloading audio, video and data from the Internet; adapters for use with telecommunications and communications apparatus and instruments; radio telephones, mobile and fixed telephones; apparatus for access to broadcast or transmittedprogrammes. Class 16: Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery; or

household purposes; artists materials; paint brushes; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture);instructional and teaching material (except apparatus); plastic materials for packaging (not included in other classes); printers type; printing blocks; magazines (periodicals), commercial directories in a form of paper; Booklets; books; Credit card imprinters, non-electric; Drawing boards; Envelopes [stationery]; Forms, printed; Manuals [handbooks]; Maps (Geographical --- ); Postcards; Printed matter; Newsletters; Newspapers; Publications (Printed --- ); Signboards of paper or cardboard; Periodicals. Class 35: Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions; compilation of directories for publication on computer databases, the Internet or other electronic network; provision of information and advice on the supplying and promoting of the selection and display of goods; provision of promotional information on the supply of goods in the fields of telecommunications; retail services in the field of telecommunications and multimedia goods; the bringing together, for the benefit of others, of a variety of goods in the field of telecommunications and multimedia, enabling customers to conveniently view and purchase those goods, including such services provided on-line from a computer database, the Internet or other electronic networks; arranging and conducting of exhibitions for business purposes; business promotion, research, management, administration, assistance and information services; business strategy and planning services; provision of trade information; provision of directory services; telephone answering for others; providing commercial directory information; Business management consultancy; Commercial administration of the licensing of the goods and services of others; Commercial information agencies; On-line advertising on a computer network; Organization of exhibitions for commercial or advertising purposes; Organization of trade fairs for commercial or advertising purposes; Outdoor advertising; Telephone answering for unavailable subscribers; Telecommunication services (Arranging subscriptions to --- ) for others; Rental of advertising time on communication media; Commercial information and advice for consumers [consumer advice shop]; Computer databases (Compilation of information into --- ); Computer databases (Systemization of information into --- ); information and advisory services relating to the aforesaid services. Class 36: Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs. Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs. Banking services including home, Internet and remote banking; insurance and finance services including such services provided over the Internet or any other electronic network, discount services including discount card services; issue and redemption of tokens, vouchers and points; credit card services; charge card services; provision of electronic payment services including electronic fund transfer services and on-line transaction facilities; administration of funds and investments; provision of information and advisory services relating to monetary affairs and the aforementioned services including the provision of information from a computer database, the Internet or other electronic network; financing and guarantee services relating to telecommunications and communications apparatus and instruments; guarantee services relating to telecommunications and

communications apparatus and instruments; provision of electronic payment services including electronic fund transfer services and online transaction facilities. Class 37: repair and maintenance of telecommunications and communications apparatus and instruments; provision of information, advisory services, consultation services, and assistance relating to the aforementioned services including the provision of such services on-line from a computer database, the Internet or other electronic network. Class 38: Telecommunication, mobile and fixed telecommunication, and satellite, cellular, and radio communication services; hire, leasing and rental of telecommunications, telephonic and communications apparatus and instruments; communication of information (including web pages), data by radio, telecommunications and by satellite; telephone, mobile telephone, message collection and transmission, radio-paging, call diversion, directory enquiries and electronic mail services; transmission, delivery and reception of sound, data, images, music and information broadcast or transmission of radio or television programmes; messaging services, namely, sending, receiving and forwarding messages in the form of text, audio, graphic images or video or a combination of these formats; unified messaging services; voicemail services; video conferencing services; video telephone services; providing telecommunications connections to computer databases, the Internet or other electronic networks; providing access to digital audio, video and data websites from a database, the Internet, or other electronic network; delivery of audio, video and data by telecommunications; telecommunication and communication database services, namely enabling the consumer to download digital content from a network and server to an individual database. Class 41: Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities; education and training including such services provided on-line from a computer, the Internet or other electronic network; providing games; providing on-line electronic publications; publication of electronic books and journals on-line; radio and television entertainment services including those provided on-line from a computer, the Internet or other electronic network; sporting and cultural activities; exhibition services in relation to education, entertainment and training purposes; arranging and conducting of conferences, seminars, symposia, tutorials and workshops; interactive and distance learning courses and sessions provided online via a telecommunications link or computer network or provided by other means; electronic library services for the supply of electronic information (including archive information) in the form of text, audio and/or video information; providing digital music (not downloadable) from a computer database, the Internet or other electronic network; provision of information and advice relating to all the aforementioned services. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Marks will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A.,H.G.P.,D.B.L. for IP Holdings Limited P.O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 3 February 2014

www.mmtimes.com
PARIS NAIROBI

International World 41

Global education crisis is costing $129 billion: UNESCO

A QUARTER of a billion children worldwide are failing to learn basic reading and maths skills in an education crisis that costs governments US$129 billion annually, the UNs cultural agency has warned. Inadequate teaching across the world has left a legacy of illiteracy more widespread than previously thought, UNESCO said in its annual monitoring report on January 28. It said one in four young people in poor countries was unable to read a sentence, a gure that rises to 40 percent in sub-Saharan Africa. That level of illiteracy also affects one-third of young women in South and West Asia. On current trends, the report projected it would take until 2072 for all the poorest young women in developing countries to be literate. The United Nations denes youth as people aged between 15 and 24, although UNESCOs denition varies across regions. Whats the point in an education if children emerge after years in school without the skills they need? said Pauline Rose, the director of the nearly 500-page Education for All Global Monitoring Report. In a third of countries analysed, fewer than three-quarters of existing primary school teachers were trained to national standards, while 120 million primary age children across the world had little or no experience of school, the UNESCO report found. The cost of 250 million children not learning the basics is equivalent to $129 billion, or 10 percent of global spending on primary education, the report said. Thirty-seven countries monitored by the report are losing at least half the amount they spend on primary education because children are not learning, UNESCO said.

Kenya clamps down on Asias ivory smugglers

A COURT in Kenya has imposed a record sentence on a Chinese ivory smuggler, the rst person to be convicted under tough new laws designed to stem a surge in poaching. Tang Yong Jian, 40, was ordered on January 28 to pay 20 million shillings (US$233,000) or else go to jail for seven years. He was arrested the week before carrying an ivory tusk weighing 3.4 kilogrammes (7.5 pounds) in a suitcase while in transit from Mozambique to China via Nairobi, and pleaded guilty to the charges. He has 14 days to appeal the sentence. Ivory trading was banned in 1989 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, an international agreement between governments, but the illegal ivory trade, estimated to be worth up to $10 billion a year, continues to be fuelled by demand in Asia and the Middle East. A spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service, which manages the countrys celebrated national parks, said the ruling would give a much-needed boost to wildlife protection efforts. Its a landmark ruling that sets a precedent for those involved in smuggling, Paul Udoto told AFP, saying stricter sentences will make the killing of wildlife a high-cost business. Its a remarkable precedent, he said, explaining that the fact that smugglers were previously punished with a slap on the wrist was demoralising for park rangers who are frequently outnumbered and outgunned by organised and well-paid poaching gangs. Delivering the sentence, magistrate William Oketch noted that the accused pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, but insisted that he cannot claim ignorance since the ivory trade is a major cause of concern internationally. Hours before the sentence was delivered, another Chinese man was arrested at Nairobi airport in possession of three ivory necklaces, two ivory bracelets, ten pendants and two rectangular blocks of ivory. The passenger was in transit from

Whats the point in an education if children emerge after years in school without the skills they need?
Pauline Rose UNESCO

Tang Yong Jian (right), 40, a Chinese national is on trail in a Nairobi court under strict new laws against ivory smuggling January 27. Photo: AFP

A teacher writes on the blackboard as children look on in Haiti. Photo: AFP

In developed countries including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, immigrant children lag behind their peers, performing far worse on minimum learning targets. Indigenous groups in Australia and New Zealand face similar problems, it said. The report called for global education policies to focus not only on enrolment rates but also on equal access and better teaching. Access is not the only crisis poor quality is holding back learning even for those who make it to school, UNESCO director general Irina Bokova wrote in the reports foreword. She said it was clear that the educational targets set in 2000 by the UNs Millennium Developments Goals would not be reached. Ms Rose said new goals after 2015 must make sure every child is not only in school, but learning what they need to learn. AFP

the Democratic Republic of Congo to Guangzhou when he was arrested, and claimed he bought the items innocently, airport police detective Joseph Ngisa said. Meanwhile, in the West African country of Togo, police seized about 1.7 tonnes of ivory bound for Vietnam and loaded in a container in the port of Lome, the countrys minister of environment and forest resources announced. Five hundred and fty ivory pieces and 77 complete pieces of ivory weighing 1689.45 kilograms were hidden in sacks inside a container loaded with wood destined for Vietnam, said Andre Johnson on January 28. The ivory stock was discovered by a joint security task force checking containers in the port of Lome. A clearing agent was arrested. Investigations are under way to nd members of the ivory traffickers network. The seizure is one of the largest ever recorded by the police in the West African nation. Last August, the police impounded 700.5kg of ivory, mostly from Chad, from a shop in Lome belonging to a

58-year-old Togolese national. Poaching has risen sharply in Africa in recent years, with rhinos and elephants particularly hard-hit. Ivory is sought after for jewellery and decorative objects, while Asian consumers continue to buy smuggled rhino horn, which is composed of keratin, the same material as human ngernails, believing that it has powerful healing properties. Under the new Kenyan law, which came into force a month ago, dealing in wildlife trophies carries a minimum ne of 1 million shillings or a minimum jail sentence of ve years, or both. The most serious wildlife crimes the killing of endangered animals now carry penalties of life imprisonment, as well as nes of up to 20 million Kenyan shillings. In 2012, 384 elephants were poached in Kenya, up from 289 the previous year. Poaching in the country remained high in 2013. Africas elephant population is estimated at 500,000 animals, compared with 1.2 million in 1980 and 10 million in 1900, and they are listed as vulnerable. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY LIMITED, a joint stock company duly organized under the laws of Japan, Manufacturers and Merchants of 3-5-1, Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8426, Japan is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: -

42 World International
CARACAS

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

TV soaps blamed for Venezuelas crime

LATIN American soap operas watched by millions of people every day are feeding Venezuelas spiralling crime rate according to President Nicolas Maduro. But while he accuses the wildly popular telenovelas of spreading negative values, his critics say he is grappling for excuses instead of taking responsibility. Venezuelas reputation as one of the most violent countries in the world was reinforced by the high-prole murder in January of former beauty queen turned actress Monica Spear and her British-born partner on a deserted highway. They were shot in front of their ve-year-old daughter Maya, who was injured. The fatal armed robbery made headlines around the world and prompted Maduro to launch a major campaign against the violence that plagues Venezuela. As part of his response, the socialist president homed in on television, ordering a review of programming on all Venezuelas channels and saying that he would build a new lm and television culture. He particularly had telenovelas in his sights Ms Spear was the star of one of them saying they were spreading anti-values such as death, the cult of drugs, weapons and violence. He recently declared, referring to the popular series De Todas Maneras Rosa: I do not watch novelas because I do not have time, but I saw one where the heroine kills her own mother. How can she be the heroine of the story? Murder rates continue to rise in Venezuela, now up to between 39 and 79 per 100,000 victims annually, according to gures from the government and local NGOs respectively. To put the magnifying glass on the telenovelas in Venezuela is a mistake and it is irresponsible because all Venezuelans know crime has nothing to do with that and is about more complex structural causes, the television writer Leonardo Padron told AFP. The government is trying to hide its own responsibility, he said, adding that 92 percent of homicides go unpunished and that the authorities do not have a rm hand on criminals. In an open letter, the screenwriter writer of De Todas Maneras Rosa, Carlos Perez, said that the character Mr Maduro had criticised was not the heroine of the soap opera, but a wicked woman irreversibly doomed to fail and be punished for her wickedness. The telenovelas always describe a battle of good against evil, and good always reigns over evil, Mr Perez said. Carolina Acosta, a professor of mass media at University of Georgia, also dismissed Mr Maduros criticism. We cannot say that telenovelas incite violence, she said, noting that no studies back up the assertion. Mr Maduros predecessor and mentor, the late Hugo Chavez, in 2011 prohibited the dissemination of popular narconovelas , Colombian or Mexican television series around drug trafficking. In 2010 Mr Chavez called for the production of socialist novelas. Six years earlier, a ruling prohibited scenes of sex or violence on radio and television. It is becoming very difficult to address issues such as sex, drugs or alcohol, Mr Padron added. AFP

(Reg: No. IV/220/2011) in respect of:- Pharmaceutical preparations and substances Class: 5 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 DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY LIMITED P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 3rd February, 2014

ENRIAV

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Revlon Consumer Products Corporation a company organized under the laws of Delaware, United States of America and having its principal office at 237 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, United States of America is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

LUMINOUS-C3
(Reg: No. IV/6764/2013) in respect of :- Cosmetics, including makeup and skin care products primarily for the face Class: 3 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 Revlon Consumer Products Corporation P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 3rd February, 2014

MOSCOW

TRADE MARK CAUTION

ORIENT TOKEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA (also trading as ORIENT WATCH CO., LTD), a company incorporated in Japan, of 4-4, 2-chome, Soto Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

An Aeroflot plane from Russias flagship airline takes off. Photo: Arcturus

Reg. No. 7633/2013 in respect of Intl Class 14: Watches and clocks, their parts and accessories. 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 ORIENT TOKEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA P. O. Box 60, Yangon Dated: 3 February 2014

Russian pilots raise Aeroflot safety fears

A UNION of Russian pilots at Moscows Sheremetyevo International Airport has accused the countrys agship carrier Aeroot of endangering passengers lives by overworking staff in search for prot. The Sheremetyevo Cockpit Personnel Association said that Russias main airline was employing tired pilots who can fall asleep at any moment. Because of Aeroots greed, the safety of citizens is in grave doubt, the association said in a statement on January 28. The company did not address the unions complaint directly when contacted by AFP. But its press service said by email that our passengers and ight safety are top priorities of Aeroot. Russias small regional airlines are notorious for their poor ight safety record. The ight tracker airlineratings. com said Russia witnessed the worlds worst crash of 2013 when 50 people died in a Tatarstan Airlines Boeing 737 that exploded on landing in November in the Volga River city of Kazan. Yet state-controlled Aeroot is believed to have the best record in the country. The planecrashinfo.com site said Aeroot has had only one deadly accident in more than a decade a 2008 crash that killed 88 and was later blamed on a drunken pilot and the carrier has recently taken huge steps to improve its often mocked image. The company joined the SkyTeam alliance in 2006. It has scooped up several awards for eastern European service since and SkyTeam now calls Aeroots eet one of the most modern, youngest and fastest-growing ... in Europe. The national ag carrier this year also burnished its image by becoming the official carrier of the Manchester United football club. Yet its share of the Russian market has been eroded by cheaper local rivals and now stands at just 40 percent a far cry from the days in the Soviet era when it proclaimed itself the worlds largest airline. The airlines statement noted that Aeroot was the rst Russian carrier to enter the [International Air Transport Associations] Operational Safety Audit Registry, and has conrmed the certicate for the fth time in 2013. But the pilots accuse it of failing to compensate them fairly for night ights and thousands of hours of overtime. The dispute stretches back several years and has resulted in a July Moscow City Court ruling for Aeroot to pay out debts owed to pilots over 17 months. The airline has contested the ruling, and the union has since seen three of its leaders jailed on disputed and still unproven embezzlement charges. The pilots blame the arrest on Aeroot managements attempts to discredit their cause. The dispute has even seen the pilots send a letter of complaint to Russian President Vladimir Putin that has thus far gone unanswered. Their cause has also been picked up by the London-based International Transport Workers Federation and the International Trade Union Confederation the worlds largest labour organisation. While aviation companies in Russia have posted record prots, ight crews have been reduced and aviation infrastructure continues to decay, the International Transport Workers Federation said in a letter of support for the Russian pilots last month. That is why the safety standards and infrastructure are still in a very poor situation, the letter said. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

The Savile Row Holding Company Limited, a Company incorporated in Northern Ireland, of 4, Curran Road, Castledawson, Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland BT 45 8AF, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 4287/2007 in respect of Class 3: Toiletries. Class 14: Jewellery. Class 18: Leather goods. Class 25: Clothing, footwear and headgear. 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 The Savile Row Holding Company Limited P. O. Box 60, Yangon - Dated: 3 February 2014

U
GE T

GERS O N I F N

thE pUlsE EditOR: WHITNEY LIGHT light.whitney@gmail.com

THE MYANMAR TIMES fEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

IT

On U Bein Bridge, fading

NYEIn EI EI HTWE

mandalay

YO

nyeineieihtwe23@gmail.com

NE recent winter evening, foreign tourists, local travellers, university students and many others were letting time roll by from a spot on U Bein Bridge, a famous landmark in Mandalay that crosses Taungthaman Lake, which at this time of year is half-dried, exposing agricultural elds. Almost every visitor had brought a smartphone, and all the space on the bridge was taken up with people striking their pose. Then from the crowd, a voice rang out: Photos! Photos! Get yours quick. Just 15 minutes. Memorable proof youve been on U Bein Bridge! It was the sales pitch of one of the many photographers who work the bridge most days of the year, promoting a business thats losing its relevance. Hell take your photo with a digital SLR camera and produce a print from a nearby studio while you wait. Nearby, ignoring the offer, two girls took photos of each other on their smartphones, but the photographers face showed no disappointment. No matter whether they take pictures by my camera for money or not, we help visitors take their photos by their smartphones. Were pleased enough to see so many visitors come

to our town, said Soe Gyi, whos worked as a photographer on the bridge for three years. U Pein, a 163-year-old teak bridge, is the major tourist attraction in Amarapura township, a destination widely promoted by travel agencies. At the same time, it provides a living for many locals, who come there to sell souvenirs, photos and products from local farm and shing industries. As the country develops, many people can buy smartphones with high-quality resolution cameras. Theyre useful, to be sure, but the new tide of cameras is reducing the daily earnings of entrepreneurs with a camera their own or hired from a local shop and it looks to become a major challenge for them this year. Were having more difficulty earning money now. When I started to work as a photographer, smartphones werent very popular and I could earn a lot. But after visitors started coming with smartphones, our income and the number of photographers fell, said Soe Gyi. Photographers say phones have reduced their average daily earnings by two-thirds. Typically, a photo printed on 4-x-6-inch paper costs K500, or K700 if you get it laminated. Out of that, a photographer pockets K100 or K300, respectively. Total earnings on an average day now might come to K5000. We can give customers their photo prints before they leave the bridge, so some visitors still take photos with us although they have phones. And some become our customers after weve helped them take photos with their phones, Soe Gyi said. Mostly its visitors from rural areas that hire the photographers, and that market is becom-

Souvenir photographers work U Bein Bridge. Photos: Phyo Wai Kyaw

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse 45

Sunset on U Bein Bridge. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

photos and a way of life

ing smaller, he said, adding that one reason many photographers dont leave their job on the bridge for brighter opportunities is the attraction of the beautiful view. The scenes change and the visitors change and it attracts even us, natives. In the rainy season, all under the bridge is full of water and the lake is big, but in summer almost all the lake has dried up and there are many kinds of green plants. In winter, there are often beautiful misty sunsets. Another cameraman, Naing Min Tun, a villager from Tha Put Pin, said he left a much higher paying job to become a photographer. In the past, I worked at a dairy, earning much more money, but I was crazy to try photography. Now, as our profession becomes more difficult, we need to think about moving on, but for now Im eager to take pictures, he said. His income on a busy day is roughly K10,000. But there are some other days without even a kyat. U Bein Bridge connects to the village of Taung Tha Man Inn (Yadanar Bon University) to the east and Htan Taw to the west. More than 70 photographers work the west gate and around 50 work the east gate every day. Now, in winter, there are beautiful, hazy sunsets on the lake and visitors come for it, so the west gate is more crowded in the evening. In the morning, more people university students visit the east gate, but east and west photographers dont mix. We just stay at our gate, said Naing Min Tun. Some visitors approach the photographers without hearing the sales pitch, he said, but taking photos still isnt enough to cover his familys expenses. In the rainy season, there are few visitors so I work as a bus conductor on the highway from Amarapura to Monywa. Another photographer, Shu Maung, from Sint Kuu township, said hed never change his profession. Whenever I had free time in my university student days, I liked to hang out on U Bein Bridge and I got close with the photographers and became one myself. But my family wont stand for me doing only this, and the peoples habits of taking photos with smartphones is getting worse. So I take convocation photos at the university when there arent so many visitors, he said. For many photographers, U Bein Bridge is a second home. They start work at about 7am and nish at dark. I eat my meals at the food shops nearby and my whole day out here costs about K2500. So, if I cant earn at least K5000 a day, its not okay, Shu Maung said. He has ambitions of moving on to bigger gigs. I want to be a professional photographer one day. Im trying to get experience on the bridge. Working the bridge has also given him experience of another kind. Over the years, Ive made many memories, but last Thingyan Festival I got a big special one. It was the water festival, and it was so crowded on the bridge that while I was shooting I almost stepped off it. But people caught me suddenly, and I didnt fall into the water. It was unforgettable, but still Ill never hate this bridge, Shu Maung said. As the sun began to set and the sky became gloomy, visitors started to trickle off the bridge. A photographer stood by as two girls took photos of each other with their smartphones. After they left, he continued to holler: Photos! Get your photos! Memorable proof youve been on U Pein Bridge!

46 the pulse
MANILA

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Philippine priests mix sermons with seles

70s, simply how to use the internet, set up Facebook and Twitter accounts and, most importantly, how to make their messages worth reading. One seminarian said that, while some priests already had their own Facebook pages, most did not and one elderly bishop had never even used a computer before. Just typing on the keyboard was a new experience for him, said the seminarian, who asked not to be identied. The Catholic Church is already using social media as a powerful tool to deliver its messages, and Lovett said his students were encouraged by Pope Francis having nearly 3.6 million Twitter followers. The Philippines top clergyman, Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Luis Tagle, is also prominent on social media with his Facebook account attracting more than 450,000 likes. Lovett said it was important for Church leaders to adapt so they could reach the widest audience possible, particularly in countries such as the Philippines where the youth demographic is so strong. The average age of the Filipino population is 23 years. If you want to talk to 23-year-olds, you have to use the language they use, he said. The Philippines is important to the Church because it has about 80 million Catholics the biggest number of any country in Asia a legacy of Spanish colonial rule that ended in 1898. Lovett said one key part of the class, which was also attended by the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, was how to attract and hold the interest of the youth. The old days of putting long homilies [online] and expecting young people to read them is over, he said. Monsignor Crisologo Manongas, 56, said they were also told to use more photographs rather than words. Nowadays, it is pictures that talk, he said. Lovett said he hoped the initial enthusiasm shown by the clergymen would not are out after the class. Because people want to be contacted by their bishops. They want to know that their bishops are out there, he said. Lovett also indicated, however, that the priests had deep reservations that may prevent them from fully embracing the internet. Some bishops said to me, Im afraid I might become addicted to Facebook, he said. Then they asked, If I become addicted, can I pray while Im on Facebook? AFP

OR some of the Philippines most powerful clergymen, stepping off the pulpit and into cyberspace seemed daunting until they took their rst seles and posted them on Facebook. Their initial forays into the brave new virtual world took place in a groundbreaking class for 50 of the Philippines top bishops and monsignors in Manila earlier this month, part of the Catholic Churchs strategy to remain relevant in the digital age. Sean-Patrick Lovett, a program director with Vatican Radio who ew in from Rome to lead the seminar, said Social Media 101 had not been taught to such a group of senior Church gures anywhere in the world before, and he was surprised by his students reactions. Ive never seen bishops so happy and so excited. They were taking pictures of themselves and putting them on Facebook, Lovett said after the three-hour session, which saw the priests partner with younger, more tech-savvy seminarians or nuns to show them the ropes. After half an hour on the web, one bishop became very emotional. People he hadnt heard from in years were contacting him.

Priests show off their new Facebook profiles. Photo: AFP

Bishop Buenaventura Famadico, who leads the major San Pablo diocese near Manila, gave the impression the class was a lightbulb moment for him after years of largely avoiding computers. I am a very private person. I still have a very limited appreciation about the internet and social media, said the 57-year-old. But now there is that opening, about staying in touch with others through Facebook.

Famadico recounted that during the training seminar he opened the webpage of his own diocese and found it was so out of date it still had his predecessor listed in his place. Now I have new friends. I contacted my brothers and sisters abroad. I am very encouraged to upload my thoughts and homilies to my Facebook account, he said. The class involved teaching the clergymen, some of them in their

Yangon Photo Festival turns lens on peace

Nandar Aung nandaraung.mcm@gmail.com THE Yangon Photo Festival can be called the oldest international festival in Myanmar. This month marks the sixth edition of the festival, which started in 2009. This year the main theme is Metta: The Path to Peace. This years theme focuses on very pure things known with Myanmar culture, said Christophe Loviny, artistic director of the festival team, who helped found the event in 2009. Aung San Suu Kyi has said many times that for her, metta is the quality she most appreciates in Myanmar people. But the photographers will show us the opposite of metta: things like war and suffering. He said he and his partner, assistant artistic director Melanie Agron, created the festival with two goals in mind. The rst was to exhibit high quality photography from all over the world for the people of Yangon, thereby promoting freedom of expression. The second was to help train a new generation of photographers and artists and start them on a successful career path. The prizes the festival offers might be big or small, but the participants will all get more experience in creative photography. This festival will be helpful for Myanmar photographers, said Ko Min Zayar, a Myanmar photographer from Reuters news agency and winner of photo competitions. Through the 5th Yangon Photo Festival he had the opportunity to attend a one-week photo workshop in France, he said. Events this year include numerous exhibitions, screenings and lectures hosted by the Institut Francais de Birmanie. There are also photo contests and a performance combining photography and dance. The biggest event is called Yangon Photo Night, which is set for February 15 at the Institut Francais de Birmanie. On that day at 6:30pm, Myanmar More on pulse 47

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse 47

How Myanmar puts its stamp on the world Philately and foreign policy
HEN subjects like soft power and public diplomacy are discussed in online forums, few people have postage stamps in mind, but there has long been a close connection between philately and foreign policy. In themselves, stamps express sovereignty, but they are also examples of political iconography and visual indicators of official attitudes and policies, aimed at both domestic and international audiences. The use of stamps as projections of national identity can be traced back to their origin in 1840, when stamps carrying portraits of Queen Victoria began to be used throughout the British Empire. Even before the Universal Postal Union was formed in 1874 to permit the free ow of international mail, stamps were used to mark a countrys independence,

Andrew Selth

continued from pulse 46 photographers will compete for this years award for Best Photo Essay, which is judged by Daw Aung San Su Kyi and international photography experts, including Hossein Farmani, founder of the Lucie Awards, and Jean Loh of Beaugeste Gallery in Shanghai. Also on February 15, the Thabarwa Metta (Love and Protect the Environment) Photo Contest will be held at the Institut Francais de Birmanie, and audiences will have the opportunity to be part of an artistic project as well as express their views about environment protection. The prizes awarded by the festival will be worth a total of K10 million, including gifts of professional Canon cameras and photo workshops in France. Openings for the exhibitions will be held on February 10 at Pansodan Gallery and on February 11 at Mojo Bar.

stake territorial claims, record military victories, honour statesmen and support multilateral institutions. There are now about 600 stampissuing entities, or authorities, around the world. Over the last century and a half they have produced an estimated 250,000 different designs. Through the use of unique and often striking visual statements in a small two-dimensional space, they have covered themes as farranging as nationalism, history, politics, economics, art, cultural identity and foreign relations. Authoritarian governments in particular have been quick to recognise the propaganda value of stamps and to use them in international campaigns. During the Cold War, for example, the Soviet Union used stamps to trumpet the glories of communism. North Korea is still one of the most prolic issuers of stamps portraying icons of its own and other revolutionary movements. Cubas stamps also display a stubborn attachment to such themes. These days, China has become particularly adept at promoting its relations with other countries through the issue of commemorative stamps, usually celebrating the establishment of diplomatic ties and other major events. It is also possible, through the study of a countrys postage stamps, to see the historical development of its foreign relations. Afghanistans stamp issues between 1948 and 1992, for example, mark the 1973 coup that toppled the monarchy, the 1978 Marxist revolution that overthrew the republic, the Soviet invasion in 1979, the withdrawal of troops in 1989 and the short-lived government that collapsed in 1992. In Myanmars case, successive governments have been quite conservative in their use of postage stamps as diplomatic tools. Issues have been used almost exclusively to promote official programs and mark major events within and outside the country. From independence in 1948 to the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, about 37 percent of stamp issues emphasised broad nationalist themes, while 18pc were on revolutionary and military subjects. During this period, the U Nu and Ne Win governments pursued

strictly neutral foreign policies. A few countries commemorated state visits to and from Myanmar on their postage stamps but no bilateral relationships were recognised on Burmese issues. Rather, emphasis was given to multilateral institutions and international events. Between 1948 and 1988, some 40pc of Myanmars stamps were dedicated to UN-related themes. After a new military government took over in 1988, however, there were a number of signicant changes to this policy. Over the past 25 years, UN-related themes have almost disappeared from Myanmar stamps, probably reecting the deterioration of relations since the UN began to criticise Myanmar for its human rights abuses. Emphasis has been given instead to the achievements of the military regime and political milestones, such as the inauguration of a new government in 2011. At the same time, attention has been paid to Myanmars evolving foreign relations. Myanmar issued a stamp to mark the 30thanniversary of ASEAN in 1997, the year it joined the association. In 2007, Myanmar collaborated with other member states to produce a mini-sheet commemorating ASEANs

Historical stamps of Myanmar. Photo: Andrew Selth

60th anniversary. In 2013, there was another joint issue, this time with Russia, to mark the 65thanniversary of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and that country. No other states have been recognised by Nay Pyi Taw in this fashion. Unlike most other countries, Myanmar has eschewed portraits of prominent individuals. Independence hero Aung San was an occasional exception before 1988, but even his

Stamps are emblematic devices that show how states wish to be seen, by their own citizens and those beyond their borders.
40thanniversary, and in 2012 it issued a set of stamps to mark the 11thASEAN Telecommunications Senior Officials Meeting in Naypyidaw. It is expected that Myanmar will issue a new stamp this year when it assumes the ASEAN chair. In a notable break with past practice, Myanmar and China jointly issued a stamp in 2000 to mark the 50thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. This was followed in 2010 by a stamp to celebrate the face disappeared from stamps (and the national currency) since his daughter began to challenge the military regime. It has been suggested that this was in part because Aung San Suu Kyi bore a striking resemblance to her father. Indeed, when Aung San Suu Kyis portrait was included in a set of eight stamps issued by Norway in 2001, to mark the centenary of the Nobel Peace Prize, the stamps were banned in Myanmar. The countrys opposition leader has appeared on the stamps

of several other countries, and on unofficial issues produced to mark special events, such as her receipt of the Sakharov Prize last year. Another Burmese gure who has been portrayed on foreign postage stamps is former UN Secretary General U Thant. He has been honoured in this way by more than a dozen countries, but not Myanmar, largely because Ne Win resented the global standing of U Nus former secretary. In 2009, the UN Postal Administration issued three stamps to commemorate the 100thanniversary of U Thants birth. The only time a senior Burmese military gure has been portrayed on a postage stamp was in 2000, when a picture of Senior General Than Shwe (then Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council) was included in the worlds largest mini-sheet, issued by Liberia. It depicted the heads of state of all 190 UN members. Some attention is now being paid to postage stamps by academic researchers, but they remain a neglected source. However, they can provide a window onto the domestic and international politics of countries. Stamps are emblematic devices that illustrate how the issuing states wish to be seen, not only by their own citizens but also by those beyond their borders. Given the dearth of reliable information about Myanmars domestic politics and foreign relations, no source should be seen as unworthy of serious consideration. The Lowy Interpreter

48 the pulse

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

The joy and madness of a foreign correspondent

The roving reporter life hasnt come easy, but its always been worth the risk
I can never read this without a lump coming to my throat. Funny, that, because Im a pretty cynical philistine at heart and the worlds madness has made me suspicious of any emotion. But these words, even on rst reading so many years ago, seemed to embody the joy of exploration into all things and all places that make life as a foreign correspondent so wondrously worth living. Yet they also convey the sadness of all those missed opportunities to explore that constantly temper the joy or at least seemed to do so before I took up this job. So many missed rose-gardens, so many doors never opened. Why? God only knows; but I have passed too many and will never knowingly do so again, no matter what the risk. I was left alone on the dark and oddly deserted street and it began to rain. I did not know where to go and there was no one to ask. Yet I still felt strangely excited and I impulsively headed down a darkened passageway that connected with the adjacent parallel street. There I chanced on the Astoria Hotel, which had one single room left. Would I like to see it? I would. It comprised a cot bed in a whitewashed cell up under the eaves and adjacent to a balcony that looked out across the citys dark tempestuous night. Almost suppressing wild laughter, I said Id take it, knowing that I had entered a rose garden and that my life as a roving corsair was truly under way. And it was. And mercifully, it continues. When I returned to Calcutta many years later as a senior correspondent for the news magazine Asiaweek, I did not visit Sudder Street or the Astoria. For, as all rovers know, the key to keeping the madness under control is to continue seeking out new passageways and new rose gardens. And I found another one then. It was the Tollygunge Club, which I came upon by good fortune. I had been booked into a US$300a-night hostelry by a helpful but naive business tycoon in Delhi, who believed that foreign correspondents were well paid. I got them to reduce the rate by 50 percent, but it was still way over my limit. Then an Indian colleague told me about the Tolly Club and said he could sign me in if I wanted to stay there. Thankfully, I accepted his offer. The ancient club is located amid green pastures in a haven of tranquility beside what was then the last stop on Calcuttas single Metro line. I was given a twin-bedded room overlooking the rst tee of the golf course for $45 a night. Early next morning, I met one of the clubs oldest members, the late Bob Wright, walking his labrador and smoking copiously in the crisp morning air. Over a breakfast feast of fresh fruit and curd, scrambled eggs and spicy sausages, toast and coffee, Wright gave me a brilliant rundown of the politics and personalities of West Bengal. As the former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee said, People will talk if they feel comfortable. I tried to scribble everything down, then luxuriated over the morning papers, before dragging myself off for interviews in the city. Then, after an exhausting day driving around in the swamp heat and maddening crowds, I returned to the tranquillity and splendour of Tolly where I had dinner with my Indian journalist friend. The club brochure says Tolly has excellent cuisine. Frankly, it was appalling. The soup was watery and barely lukewarm, the main course inedible, and the sponge cake reminiscent of wartime substitutes. But a large Kingsher beer and my friends company and his
roger.mitton@gmail.com

ROGEr MITTOn

E often think the world is going mad, and if statistics are to be believed, it may be true. Consider that in Victorian England in 1859, there was only one certied insane person for every 535 sane people. Forty years later, at the turn of the millennium, the number of officially mad people had risen to one in every 312 normal folk. A quarter of a century after that, it had shot up to one in every 150. God only knows what the current gure is, but if the pattern persists, scientists say that in 2040 just 30 years hence there will be one crazy person for every sane person. When that happens, we wont be able to tell which is which. In effect, well all be mad. And possibly a lot happier. I nd that reassuring, because a measure of madness is essential for any foreign correspondent, which has been my career for longer than I care to remember. And since its the start of yet another year on the job, let me tell you why it still thrills me. According to newspaper myth, wrote the veteran New York Times correspondent Russell Baker, Reporters are footloose, irresponsible corsairs. It is wrong to call us irresponsible; we are quite the opposite in my experience. But I still love that phrase because it encapsulates what I always wanted to be a roving pirate foraging for treasures of information around the world. It did not come easy. My early years were spent in a series of jobs that paid a decent wage, but were profoundly unfullling. Then, in the aftermath of being sacked from one such job in Vancouver, I summoned up the cojones to stuff a backpack and head off into the unknown. It was a welcome moment of madness. Three months later, I was in India. And it was there, in a New Delhi bookshop, that I bought a copy of Four Quartets by TS Eliot. It still sits over my desk today. There are two passages in it that reverberate in my mind constantly, and which I regularly reach up from my keyboard to re-read. The rst is ttingly on page one: Footfalls echo in the memory Down the passage which we did not take Towards the door we never opened Into the rose-garden.

Driving into Calcutta was an almost Bruegelian journey into some kind of mad heart of darkness, and it thrilled me in a panicky sort of way. I had no idea where I was going to stay.
Im not sure if I was already imbued with this sentiment when, several weeks after Id purchased the book, I arrived in the cauldron of Calcutta. It was early evening, and being alone, I shared a cab into the city with four others. As we drove along in the darkness, we passed open res beside the road and gures would are vividly into view in the smoky, dusty gloom and then quickly vanish. It was an almost Bruegelian journey into some kind of mad heart of darkness, and it thrilled me in a panicky sort of way. I had no idea where I was going to stay. At Sudder Street, I got out with two Japanese girls and we tried several rather seedy-looking guesthouses. The rst was full except for a dormitory; the second was full except for the roof; the third had a double room which the girls took.

Roger Mitton in Nepal, in 1987. Photo: Roger Mitton

exciting tales of reporting in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland made up for it. Fellow correspondents always do. Ben Bradlee also said, The sheer joy and romance of being a foreign correspondent is hard to explain, even harder to exaggerate. Hes right, but there is a downside: Some passageways lead to trouble and opening some doors has nasty consequences. My Raffles Place office was once ransacked and I was later asked to leave Singapore. As well as being followed, photographed and harassed during the years of military rule in Myanmar, I have been roughed up in Vietnam and denied media accreditation in both countries. Ive also been knocked about in parliament, sued in court, and subjected to interrogation at the police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and subsequently jailed. Ive been smacked in the gob in Thailand and publicly chastised by the head of the prime ministers office in Brunei. Ive had my driver threaten to desert me during a nighttime storm in an area of Mindanao under the control of violently active Muslim insurgents. One might ask why such things happen to regular, mild-mannered blokes like me who are just doing their job and behaving as roving corsairs for truth.

But thats why you need a degree of madness. And anyway, I cant say Im complaining when I have a bagful of Calcutta-like memories to look back on and more to look forward to. After that long-ago dinner at Tolly, a taxi came for me early next morning to take me to Dum Dum airport. Dawn was breaking and massed choirs of birds echoed around the golf course. As we drove through the streets, with hundreds of sleeping bodies lined up on the pavements as if for burial, I recalled the other passage from Four Quartets that I love and always re-read. It is aptly on the last page: We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the rst time. I am still exploring. I have told you about Calcutta, but it could have been Ashgabat, La Paz, Moulmein, Tirana, Wamena, Zanzibar or myriad other places where Ive been searching in vain for my starting point. Perhaps I am a little mad. But remember those stats and take a glance at the people around you. Yes, thats right, most of them are insane. So relax. Enjoy the new year. Me, Im off to Rwanda.

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse 49

Novelist strips lustre from the Golden Land

Publishers too eager to cash in on international interest in Myanmar sometimes do readers a disservice
dreadful book notable only for the manner in which it degrades the act of reading would have made it all the way to the printing presses. Based on the title alone, I didnt have high hopes. The Golden Land, as it refers to Myanmar, is a term that has been reduced to triteness through years of overuse by tourism boosters and marketing hacks. Its about as informative and imaginative as titling a story about Australia The Land Down Under or a book about the United States The Land of the Free. The conceit that the main character of The Golden Land, Natalie, nds herself immersed in two very different golden lands Myanmar and Australias Gold Coast just isnt clever enough to justify the banality of the title. Natalie is a dreary Australian woman who, while helping her mother move house, comes across a religious manuscript from Burma dating back to the 19th century. Clearly looking for some excuse to perk up her otherwise unremarkable life, Natalie starts, you know, learning stuff about Myanmar. Her growing interest in the artifact and the faraway country from which it comes leads to such dramatic events as an argument with her husband Mark, which is resolved within about six pages, and eventually to a birthday jaunt to Myanmar. Most of the novels action takes place in Australia, and the great challenge here is making the ordinariness of everyday suburban life seem interesting to the reader a task at which Morrissey fails miserably. John Cheever or AM Homes she aint. Particularly galling is the way the author prattles on at length about Natalie and Marks home renovations, with no clue provided as to why the reader should care. through stilted, unrealistic dialogue, and thus we are left with page after page of telling and very little in the way of showing. These speeches are so frequent, so lengthy and so overwhelmingly didactic that the book as a whole comes across not as a compelling narrative, but as a plea for readers to pressure Myanmars military government to release Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. The problem is that the story was outdated even as it was being written, and Aung San Suu Kyi was set free more than a year before the novel was published. I have nothing against the concept of historical or period novels, but in this case with no interesting plot to follow, and with the characters serving as little more than mouthpieces for an obsolete call to action the book was a relic even before it hit store shelves. If I had to designate a genre for The Golden Land, I would say antisuspense: The stakes are so low for the characters that its impossible to care about anything that occurs in the story. Its obvious from the start that Natalie will end up travelling to Myanmar and that all the crises if such tensionless episodes can be referred to as such will be tied up in a neat package by the end. The only surprise is the secret message hidden within the old Burmese manuscript, which is divulged about ve pages from the end. In a half-decent book, the cheesiness of the big reveal would stand out as a big disappointment. Within the context of The Golden Land, however, its just the last in a long series of assaults on the patience of the reader.
Read more about travel and culture in Myanmar and elsewhere at Douglas Longs blog, Late for Nowhere (latefornowhere.wordpress.com).

Late for Nowhere

New documentary lm library welcomes viewers

Ei Ei Thu 91.eieithu@gmail.com THE rst documentary lm library in Myanmar opened its doors inside the Human Dignity Film Institute in Yangon on January 16. Director Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, founder of the institute, said he had noticed weakness in the quality of documentary lms produced in Myanmar. He hopes the library will give local lmmakers access to more material to learn from. Previously, the institute has made workshops and short-term classes available to aspiring documentarians who are interested in developing their skills alongside international mentors. I thought that is not enough for them to learn from, so I opened this library, Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi said. Its been in the works since 2013. In the library, visitors will nd about 300 international and 30 local documentary lms, all related to human rights issues around the world and including some recent major awardwinning lms such as The Act of Killing, Cutie and the Boxer, Dirty Wars and The Square. Anyone is allowed to view the lms during office hours, without a library card or fees, and all international lms have been translated into Myanmar language. Some people who want to come and see the lms have difficulty with English, so I had them subtitled, Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi said. He collected the lms in the library from international documentary lmmakers and organisations. The Human Dignity Film Institute has three computers in the library to accommodate three viewers at a time. Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi said that young people especially have been coming to watch lms since the day of the opening. In March, about 100 lms will be added, and more will follow each year after. Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi organised the Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Myanmar for the rst time in 2013. Local lmmakers entered 37 lms into the competition, and 50 lms came from international participants. The festival gives several lm awards, including the Daw Aung San Su Kyi Award, the U Min Ko Naing (leader of the 88 Generation) Award and the March 13 Award.
Visit the documentary film library at Room D723, 7th floor, Building D, Thiri Condo, 9 mile Ocean, Pyay Road, Mayangone township, Yangon. Open 10am-5pm weekdays.

dlong125@gmail.com

DOUGLAS LOnG

HE release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in November 2010 was, of course, excellent news for anyone with an interest in Myanmar. It marked, we continue to hope, the countrys emergence from the black hole of despotic rule and the start of steady progress toward some semblance of democratic reform. Aung San Suu Kyis welcome reemergence onto the public stage also served as a green light for hordes of foreign carpetbaggers to come ooding into Yangon with dollar and euro signs shining in their eyes people who had avoided Myanmar like the plague during the hard years, including many who had long supported poverty-sustaining sanctions against the country. The publishing industry was never going to miss out on this opportunity, and in the past few years weve seen the release of everything from slapdash investment handbooks to shoddily researched guides to travel and culture. On the ction side, we have Australian author Di Morrisseys novel The Golden Land (2012), a poorly written story that appears to have been cranked out with all possible speed to cash in on the current interest in Myanmar; I can see no other reason why such a

A terrible novel. Photo: Supplied

Are these never-ending renos meant to be symbolic of Natalies gripping transformation from a boring wife and mother to a boring wife and mother who knows a few things about Myanmar? Or are they a metaphor for the freedom and privilege enjoyed by Australians, while Aung San Suu Kyi is imprisoned in an old, collapsing house that is sorely in need of repairs of its own? Whatever its meant to represent, the repetitious home-renovation subplot isnt insightful enough to serve any purpose other than adding pages to the novel all part of a greater ploy to take a short storys worth of material and stretch it to nearly 400 pages. The sections on Myanmar are only marginally more interesting. Morrissey, who rst visited Myanmar in 2011, wants to teach the reader something about the country but lacks the writing chops to do so in an engaging way. She mostly relies on exposition

50 the pulse tea break

Universal Crossword
Edited by Timothy E. Parker

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

SUDOKU PACIFIC

NICE DEMONSTRATION By Gary Cooper

ACROSS 1 Word before a prayer or a clue 6 Tug-of-war need 10 ___ up (energizes) 14 Inappropriate looker 15 Urn homonym 16 What gives irises their color 17 Go from Cs to Bs, e.g. 20 Arm decoration 21 Absolute power 22 NASAs domain 25 Flower that blooms in the fall 26 Dashing style 30 Ewes offspring 32 Stuffed Italian morsels 35 Awkward state 41 Proceed, say 43 Rubys victim 44 Lip woe 45 Buzz off! 47 One enjoying the sights 48 Ristorante course 53 Little bird of prey 56 Baltic republic 58 Rastas music 63 Revealing too much beforehand 66 Sea eagle 67 Ta-ta in Turin 68 Morning waker-upper 69 This ___ on me! 70 Weigh by lifting 71 Dined at home DOWN 1 Ball thrower? 2 Ottoman official 3 Place for a quarter 4 Politico Gingrich 5 Groups of three 6 Exercisers unit 7 Rowers necessity 8 President ___ (acting head) 9 Green feeling? 10 Some big cats 11 Big to-do 12 Ziti alternative 13 Attendant of Bacchus 18 Bucket go-with 19 Important historic period 23 Reached ground 24 Dependable moneymaker 26 Cogito, ___ sum 27 Vientiane locale 28 Confess openly 29 One of a noted nautical threesome 31 Elaborate inlaid work 33 Parent of 53-Across 34 Oft-flipped items? 36 Rod and Todds animated dad 37 In ___ (existing) 38 Nautical greeting 39 Not gracious, as a loser 40 Nightstand water vessel 42 Hammer or hacksaw, e.g. 46 Submarine sandwich 48 Basil-based sauce 49 Ghostlike 50 Shop-till-you-drop site 51 Population centers 52 What goes in nose to make noise? 54 Prior, to poets 55 Roadster maker 57 Move stealthily 59 Mountain pass in India 60 Way in or out 61 Nay! sayer 62 First garden 64 Nincompoop 65 Waynes World zinger

DILBERT

BY SCOTT ADAMS

PEANUTS

BY CHARLES SCHULZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

BY BILL WATTERSON

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

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

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the pulse food and drink 51

PHYOS COOKING ADVENTURE

Street food in your kitchen

An Indian chicken kebab recipe from the roadside stalls of Myanmar

phyo.arbidans@gmail.com

VE been sick over the past two weeks, and my tastebuds were not working as well as usual.I was craving hot, spicy, sour foods, hoping they would stir up my appetite again. I decided to make chicken kebab, which brings back memories of my childhood.My family used to go toLatha township for dinner at an Indian street stall that sold paratha and kebab, which was very popular at the time. I missed these dishes when I moved to Sydney. When I tried Indian food in that city, it was often too buttery or spicy for my taste. I have to say the Indian food in Myanmar is very easy to eat. Perhaps it is Myanmar-Indian fusion already. So, I have tried to reproduce similar dishes to my liking. I like spices, but not too hot and not too rich. What makes the kebab is the carmelized onion avour, and the secret might be soy sauce. It gives a delicate taste to the meat that makes it more delicious. As a tip, you can use minced chicken, mutton or beef. But you might need to dry it rst.Lots of water comes out during cooking. For the beef chunks, you might need to cook or boil the beef rst.

I have made yoghurt dressing to serve with the kebab.This dish is also suitable to include in a health-conscious diet. PHYOS CHICKEN KEBAB SERVES 4 500-550g (2 pieces) skinless chicken breast 2 green peppers 3 tbsp vegetable oil 4 tomatoes 3 medium onions 3 cloves garlic 2 tbsp masala 1/8 tsp turmeric powder 1/8 tsp salt 3 tbsp light soy sauce 2 tbsp vinegar handful mint leaves or coriander leaves 1 big green or red chilli

Discard the fat from the chicken, wash and drain well.Cut into 2cm cubes and marinate with salt and turmeric powder for half an hour. Slice the tomatoes and onions in circles.Cut the green peppers in halves and discard the seeds.Cut into 1cm cubes.Crush garlic.Set all aside. Add oil to the wok and heat on medium.When hot, fry the onions.Add the tomatoes when the onions become translucent.After 2 minutes, add garlic and green peppers and fry for 3 minutes. Add chicken to the wok and sear it.When the colour of all the chicken is even, cover with lid and fry for another 5 minutes.Stir occasionally. When chicken is tender, set the heat to high.Add soy sauce and vinegar and stir quickly.Add masala.Fry for 3 to 4 minutes to infuse the spices. Then add mint or corianderand remove from the stove. Serve with rice, paratha or naan bread. YOGHURT DRESSING AND VEGETABLE SALAD SERVES 4 125-150g of snow peas 6 lady ngers (medium or large size) 3 spring onions or shallots cup mint leaves

Phyos spicy chicken kebab. Photo: Phyo

3 tbsp yoghurt 3 tsp lime juice 3 cloves garlic tsp salt Wash the snow peas and trim tops and bottoms.Wash the lady fingers and shallots, and slice shallots thinly. Boil water in a big pot and add one tablespoon of salt.When its bubbling, blanch the snow peas for

3 to 4 minutes. Refresh them in icy cold water. Repeat the process for the lady fingers. Drain the ice water and let vegetables dry. Slice into bite-size pieces. For the dressing, combine yoghurt and lime juice in a glass bowl. Add crushed garlic and salt to taste.Add black pepper.Pour over the vegetables.

Japanese comfort food in a cool, calm downtown escape

Whitney Light light.whitney@gmail.com IT takes a keen eye to spot Ryuta, a recently opened Japanese restaurant in downtown Yangon. Without directions, only the most observant of passersby would notice the sliding wood door on the side of nondescript building that faces Bogyoke Road. There are no windows. It is a hole-inthe-wall joint, if there ever was one. It is also a welcome escape, where a minimalist interior compliments a short, simple menu best described as comfort food. Inside it, Yangon seems not to exist. In the serene, air-conditioned haven, old lm and pop songs play non-offensively in the background and the thoughtful management has covered the uorescent light tubes with sheets of handmade paper. A cup of chilled, unsweetened green tea is served almost before you sit down. Seating is limited, but there is a choice of simple wood bar for about eight people, facing the kitchen, or sunken tables for four. I only dined there during lunch hours (open 11:30am-2pm) so my comment is limited accordingly, but several visits showed that service and quality are consistently of a high standard. Be warned, however, that on some occasions the restaurant was unexpectedly closed. There are several set menus to choose from, all of which cost K5000 and come with the iced tea, miso soup, a side salad and a main course of some combination of meat, rice and vegetable. Every meal arrived promptly and a server watched politely from a distance for any indication that I might need more tea or the bill. All of the meals should be more than enough for lunch, although perhaps not enough to satisfy larger appetites. The barbecued chicken meal came with a generous serving of tender chunks of meat stir-fried with shreds of onion in a tasty, sticky soybased sauce on steamed rice, topped with shreds of nori. The miso comes with a few squares of tofu and had a delicious kick of ginger. The side salad is a surprise. On this occasion it was a few wedges of tomato with diced green onion in vinaigrette. The meat with vegetable meal offers the option of chicken or pork. I opted for the latter, which was stirfried with cabbage and carrots and served over rice. Again, tasty, if not quite as tender and bright-avoured as the barbecue. This time the salad was a small, smooth and creamy dish of potato salad. If youre looking for a quick, healthy bite, and to disappear for about an hour, Ryuta is the place.

Ryuta
Ryuta Japanese Restaurant, 249-B 40th Street, corner of Bogyoke Road Food 9 Beverage 8 Service 9 Value for money 7 X-Factor 7

Total Score:

8/

10

Wine This Week

Barefoot Shiraz, California
Barefoot Cellars in Modesto has won thousands of awards over years past, and now boasts on its label that it is the most-awarded brand in US competitions, and its easy to see why. Launched in 1986 out of the home of its founders and acquired in 2005 by E & J Gallo, Barefoot has become somewhat synonymous for great wines at low prices. At under K10,000, this shiraz is exactly what it should be and sure to please most tastes. The wine has a deep ruby colour and the body is medium-light, and the fruit and spicy black-pepper notes are pleasingly understated and clear. Its a perfect one for sipping on its own or paired with anything in a wide range of grilled meat, fatty sh, pasta or grain dishes. Put this one on your list, and youll probably nd yourself reaching for it again and again.

OT FO RE BA

7200
Ryutas simple and modern interior. Photo: Boothee

52 the pulse socialite

India National Day

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

TCL Air-Conditioners gift-giving ceremony

Indian Ambassador Gautan Mukhopadhaya, Minister U Khin Maung Soe and wife

Indonesian Ambassador and wife

U Myo Thein and U Tun Tun Win

Setra lucky draw

MMC City Campus

U Soe Maung

U Kyaw Win

U Khin Win

Ko Khin Maung Lay

U Nay Lin Phyo, Alexander Pulte, Jonathan Britt and Daw Khin Khin Soe

Grand Ballroom 0pening ceremony at Nay Pyi Taw

Springeld fashion shop

Guests

U Tun Myint, U Thant Kyaw, U Tin Oo Lwin and U Thar Aung Nyunt

Max Hotel Group (sales and marketing team)

Guests

Ma Wai Thit Lwin and Ma Khine Thit Lwin

Eaindre Khin

www.mmtimes.com
Doctorates ceremony

the pulse socialite 53

MOH MOH THAW

mohthaw@gmail.com

Mingalabar! fans of Socialite. This week she had very few events. What a relaxing week! There were two events on Tuesday: a dinner party celebrated by Ramco Cement and the lucky draw prize presentation organised by Setra. Then three days passed uneventfully, and she found it as dull as dishwater. Four events on Saturday made up for those lost days: the opening of a new fashion shop called Gripz, a gift-giving ceremony launched by TCL Air Conditioners, the opening of MMC City Campus and the opening of another new fashion shop called Springeld. Sunday was also quite lively. She visited a ceremony honoring doctorates, an India National Day celebration and the opening of the Myanmar Teka showroom. She had a lovely evening on January 30 at the wedding dinner of the vocalist Lin Lin and actress Chit Thu Wai at St Marys Cathedral.

U Kan Zaw, U Dai Xulong and U Myo Aung

Eaint Phu Phu Aung and May Sandy Maw

Myanmar Teka showroom

Lin Lin and Chit Thu Wai wedding

U Myo Hlaing, Ma Aye Marlar, Daw Si Si Mar and U Thein Tun

Ma Kay Zin Moe and Ma Tin Tin Win

Lin Lin and Chit Thu Wai

Ramco Cement

Mr Murali and Daw Pyone Pyone Han

U Myo Thant, U Sein Win and U Aung Htwe

Gripz Fashion Shop

Nan Khin Zayar and Eaindra Kyaw Zin

Ma Moe Ma Ma

54 the pulse travel

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES

YANGON TO NAy PyI TAW Flight Days Dep FMI A1 1,2,3,4,5 7:30 YH 633 3 7:30 Y5 777 1,2,3,4,6 7:45 FMI A1 6 8:00 FMI B1 1,2,3,4,5 11:30 FMI A1 7 15:30 YH 731 3 15:30 FMI C1 1,2,3,4,5 16:30 NAy PyI TAW TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YH 633 3 8:40 FMI A2 1,2,3,4,5 8:50 FMI A2 6 10:00 FMI B2 1,2,3,4,5 13:00 FMI A2 7 17:00 Y5 778 1,2,3,4,6 17:30 FMI C2 1,2,3,4,5 18:00 YH 731 3 19:30 YANGON TO MANDALAy Flight Days Dep YH 917 3,5 6:00 YJ 891 Daily 6:00 YJ 901 2,3,4,5,6,7 6:10 YJ 901 1 6:10 YH 917 1,2,4,6,7 6:10 Y5 234 Daily 6:15 YH 909 1,2,4,6,7 6:00 6T 401 Daily 6:20 K7 222 Daily 6:30 K7 626 1,5 6:45 K7 226 2,4 6:45 YH 833 2 7:00 YH 831 4,6 7:00 YH 921 1 7:00 W9 201 Daily 7:30 YH 633 3 7:30 8M 6603 2,4,7 9:00 K7 624 Daily 10:30 YJ 751/W9 7751 5,7 10:30 YJ 761 2,4,6 10:30 YJ 761 1 10:45 YJ 211 7 11:00 YJ 201 2,4 11:00 YJ 201 3 11:00 YH 729 4 11:15 YH 737 3,7 11:15 YH 729 2,6 11:15 YH 737 5 11:30 YH 727 1 11:15 W9 251 2,5 11:15 6T 807 7 11:30 6T 807 1 12:00 YJ 003 3 12:00 YH 731 2 14:00 K7 224 Daily 14:30 W9 129 Daily 15:00 YH 731 1,4,5,6,7 15:00 6T 501 Daily 15:30 YH 731 3 15:30 W9 211 Daily 15:30 MANDALAy TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 901 2,3,4,6,7 7:50 YH 910 1,7 7:40 YH 918 2,4,6 7:40 YH 918 3 7:40 Y5 233 Daily 8:10 Arr 8:30 8:40 8:25 9:00 12:30 16:30 19:30 17:30 YH 918 YJ 891 YJ 902 YH 921 6T 402 K7 223 YH 918 W9 201 W9 144 Y5 132 YH 633 K7 227 K7 627 YH 834 YH 832 K7 845 6T 808 6T 808 YJ 212 YJ 202 YJ 202 YJ 762 YH 732 YJ 762 YJ 602/W9 7602 W9 120 YH 738 K7 225 YJ 762 W9 129 YH 732 W9 211 K7 625 8M 6604 YJ 752/W9 7752 YH 738 YH 732 YH 738 6T 502 YH 730 YJ 004 YH 730 1,2,4,6,7 Daily 1 1 Daily Daily 5 Daily Daily 3,5,6,7 3 2,4 1,5 2 4,6 2,4,7 7 1 7 2,4 3 2,6 2 1 6 1,3,6 1 Daily 4 Daily 1,4,5,6,7 Daily Daily 2,4,7 7 3,7 3 5 Daily 2 3 6 8:30 8:20 8:30 8:40 8:45 8:55 9:10 9:10 9:20 9:30 9:40 10:35 10:55 11:30 11:50 12:50 13:15 13:45 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:05 16:10 16:20 16:20 16:30 16:45 16:50 17:00 17:10 17:10 17:10 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 17:40 17:50 17:50 18:00 18:00 18:00 10:45 10:15 10:35 10:05 10:45 11:00 11:05 11:05 10:45 10:30 11:05 12:00 12:20 12:55 13:15 16:00 15:15 15:45 16:55 16:55 17:25 17:30 18:20 17:45 17:45 17:55 18:10 19:00 18:25 18:35 19:15 19:15 18:35 18:30 18:45 18:50 20:25 19:00 19:55 19:25 19:25 19:25 K7 222 YJ 901 YH 910 YH 910 W9 144 YJ 902 YH 918 YH 910 6T 351 YH 922 K7 225 W9 211 YH 732 6T 502 Daily 2,3,5,6,7 1,7 2,4,6 Daily 1 3 5 5 2 Daily Daily 1,4,5,6,7 Daily 8:05 8:35 8:25 8:25 8:50 9:15 9:30 9:35 10:50 17:20 17:45 17:55 17:55 18:35 11:00 9:55 9:45 10:30 10:10 10:35 10:50 10:55 13:55 18:40 19:00 19:15 19:15 19:55 Flight W9 141 YH 918 YH 910 YH 910 6T 352 YJ 891 YH 910 YH 918 6T 402 K7 223 YH 918 W9 201 YH 505 W9 204 YH 505 K7 829 6T 808 6T 808 W9 120 YH 728 YH 921 YJ 762 YJ 762 YJ 762 YJ 212 K7 224 YH 738 W9 129 YH 731 YH 731 6T 501 YH 738 YH 731 K7 827 HEhO TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 8:35 3 8:35 3 8:40 5 8:40 Daily 9:00 Daily 9:05 2,4,6 9:20 1,2,4,6,7 9:35 Daily 9:35 Daily 9:45 5 9:55 Daily 9:55 3,7 11:55 Daily 12:25 2,4,6 12:25 1,3,5 13:50 7 14:05 1 14:35 1,3,6 15:45 1 16:00 2 16:25 2,6 15:20 4 15:20 1 15:35 7 15:45 Daily 16:00 3,7 16:40 Daily 16:25 1,6,5,4,7 16:25 3 16:55 Daily 16:55 5 17:05 2 17:10 2,6 17:25 Arr 10:40 10:50 9:50 10:55 11:10 10:15 10:30 10:45 10:45 11:00 11:05 11:05 14:00 13:35 14:30 15:05 15:15 15:45 17:55 18:10 18:40 17:30 18:25 17:45 16:55 19:00 18:50 18:35 19:15 20:25 19:55 19:00 18:20 18:40 YH 511 YH 505 6T 605 W9307 W9 309 YH 511 1 2,4,6 Daily 2,4 1,3,5,6,7 5 10:30 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:30 11:30 13:05 13:40 12:10 13:50 13:50 14:05

Arr 11:05 9:50 11:00 14:00 18:00 18:10 19:00 20:25

Arr 7:40 8:05 7:35 8:15 8:30 7:30 7:40 8:25 8:40 8:10 8:10 8:40 8:40 8:40 8:55 9:40 10:10 11:55 12:25 12:25 12:40 12:25 12:25 12:25 12:55 13:25 14:15 13:40 12:55 12:40 12:55 13:25 13:25 16:10 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:30 17:40 16:55

YANGON TO MyITKyINA Flight Days Dep YH 833 2 7:00 YH 831 4,6 7:00 K7 844 2,4,7 7:30 K7 624 Daily 10:30 YJ 211 5 11:00 YJ 201 2,4 11:00 W9 251 2,5 11:15 YJ 201 3 11:00 MyITKyINA TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YH 834 2 10:05 YH 832 4,6 10:15 YJ 211 5 14:05 YJ 202 2,4 14:05 K7 625 Daily 15:40 W9 252 2,5 16:05 YJ 202 3 14:35 YANGON TO HEhO Flight Days Dep YH 917 3 6:00 YJ 891 Daily 6:00 YH 917 5 6:00 YH 909 2,4,6 6:00 YH 909 3,5 6:10 YH 917 1,2,4,6,7 6:10 W9 141 Daily 6:15 6T 401 Daily 6:20 K7 222 Daily 6:30 6T 351 1,2,3,4,6,7 6:30 W9 201 Daily 7:30 K7 828 1,3,5 7:30 YJ 751/W9 7751 5,7 10:30 YJ 761 2,4,6 10:30 YH 505 3,7 10:30 YJ 761 1,6 10:45 YH 737 3,7 11:15 YH 505 2,4,6 11:00 YJ 201 3 11:00 W9 203 Daily 11:00 YH 737 5 11:30 W9 119 1,3,6 11:15 YH 727 1 11:15 6T 807 7 11:30 K7 826 2,6 11:45 6T 807 1 12:00 YH 731 2 14:00 K7 224 Daily 14:30 W9 129 Daily 15:00 YH 731 1,4,5,6,7 15:00 YH 921 2 15:00 6T 501 Daily 15:30 YH 731 3 15:30

Arr 10:05 10:15 11:05 13:25 13:50 13:50 14:10 14:20

ThANDWE TO YANGON Flight Days Dep W9 141 Daily 9:50 6T 632 1,2,3,4,6,7 10:15 6T 605 Dailys 12:25 6T 632 5 13:00 YH 512 1 13:05 YH 506 3,7 13:10 YH 506 4,6 13:40 W9 307 2,4 14:05 W9 309 1,3,5,6,7 14:05 YH 512 5 14:05

Arr 10:40 11:10 15:00 13:55 13:55 14:00 14:30 14:55 14:55 14:55

Domestic Airlines
Air Bagan Ltd. (W9) Air KBZ (K7)
Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, Fax : 515102 Tel: 372977~80, 533030~39 (Airport), Fax: 372983

Arr 12:55 13:15 17:55 16:55 18:35 19:00 17:25

Air Mandalay (6T)

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

Asian Wings (YJ)

YANGON TO NyAUNG U Flight Days Dep YH 917 5 6:00 YH 909 1,2,4,6,7 6:00 YJ 891 Daily 6:00 YH 917 6 6:00 YH 909 3,5 6:10 YH 917 1,2,4,6,7 6:10 YJ 901 1 6:10 YJ 901 2,3,4,5,6,7 6:10 W9 141 Daily 6:15 6T 401 Daily 6:20 6T 351 1,2,3,4,6,7 6:30 K7 222 Daily 6:30 W9 143 Daily 7:15 YJ 601/W9 7601 6 11:00 K7 224 Daily 14:30 YH 921 2 15:00 W9 211 Daily 15:30 YH 731 1,4,5,6,7 15:00 6T 501 Daily 15:30 NyAUNG U TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YH 917 1,2,4,6,7 7:45 YH 918 5 8:25 YJ 891 Daily 7:35 YH 909 3 7:45 W9 141 Daily 7:50

Arr 8:25 8:25 7:20 9:30 7:45 7:45 7:30 8:20 7:35 7:40 7:50 7:50 8:35 12:20 17:25 17:20 17:40 17:55 18:20

Arr 9:55 9:45 10:30 10:50 9:25

Arr 10:45 11:05 10:15 9:50 10:40

Arr 8:35 8:50 9:55 9:20 8:40 9:35 8:20 9:20 9:30 8:45 9:40 8:45 11:40 11:40 11:55 11:55 12:40 12:25 12:10 12:10 12:55 12:25 13:40 13:50 13:00 14:20 15:25 15:45 16:10 16:25 16:25 16:40 16:55

YANGON TO SIT T WE Flight Days Dep YH 511 1 10:30 6T 605 Daily 11:15 YH 511 5 11:30 W9 309 1,3,5,6,7 11:30 K7 426 Daily 12:30 6T 611 4,6 14:30 SIT T WE TO yANGON Flight Days Dep YH 511 1 12:05 YH 511 5 13:05 6T 606 Daily 13:35 K7 427 Daily 14:05 6T 612 4,6 16:15 YANGON TO MyEIK Days Dep Daily 7:00 5,7 7:00 1 10:30 MyEIK TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 11:30 5,7 11:25 1 14:55

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

Arr 12:05 13:15 13:05 12:55 13:50 15:55

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5)

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

Yangon Airways(YH)

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

FMI Air Charter - Sales & Reservations

Arr 13:55 14:55 15:00 15:25 17:40

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

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

Flight K7 319 YH 633 YH 633

Arr 9:05 9:15 12:45

Flight K7 320 YH 634 YH 634

Arr 13:35 13:25 16:55

Subject to change without notice

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

YANGON TO ThANDWE Flight Days Dep W9 141 Daily 6:15 6T 351 1,2,3,4,6,7 6:30 YH 505 3,7 10:30

Arr 9:35 10:00 13:10

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse travel 55

INteRNatioNal FLIGHT SCHEDULES

YANGON TO BANGKOK Flights Days Dep PG 706 Daily 7:15 8M 335 Daily 8:40 TG 304 Daily 9:50 PG 702 Daily 10:30 TG 302 Daily 14:55 PG 708 Daily 15:20 8M 331 Daily 16:30 PG 704 Daily 18:20 Y5 237 Daily 18:05 TG 306 Daily 19:45 YANGON TO DON MUENG Days Dep 1,3,5,7 8:00 Daily 8:30 Daily 12:50 Daily 17:35 1,2,3,4 20:55
Arr 9:30 10:25 11:45 12:25 16:50 17:15 18:15 20:15 19:50 21:40

MANDALAY TO DON MUENG Flights Days Dep FD 2761 Daily 12:50 MANDALAY TO KUNMING Days Dep Daily 14:40

Arr 15:15

BANGKOK TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep TG 2981 1,2,4,6 7:45 TG 2983 3,5 17:30 PG 709 Daily 12:05 DON MUEANG TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep FD 2760 Daily 10:55
Flights MU 2029 Flights PG 721

Arr 9:00 18:45 13:25 Arr 12:20 Arr 13:50 Arr 19:15

Flights MU 2030

Arr 17:20

NAYPYIDAW TO BANGKOK Flights Days Dep PG 722 1,2,3,4,5 19:45 BANGKOK TO YANGON Flights Days Dep 8M 336 Daily 11:55 TG 303 Daily 8:00 PG 701 Daily 8:50 TG 301 Daily 13:00 PG 707 Daily 13:40 PG 703 Daily 16:45 TG 305 Daily 17:50 8M 332 Daily 19:20 PG 705 Daily 20:00 Y5 238 Daily 21:10 DON MUENG TO YANGON Flights Days Dep DD 4230 1,3,5,7 6:30 FD 2751 Daily 7:15 FD 2755 Daily 11:35 FD 2753 Daily 16:20 FD 2757 1,2,3,4 19:35 SINGAPORE TO YANGON Flights Days Dep SQ 998/MI 5872 Daily 7:55 3K 585 Daily 9:10 8M 232 Daily 13:25 TR 2826 1,6,7 13:10 MI 518/MI 5018 Daily 14:20 TR 2826 2,3,4,5 15:00 Y5 234 Daily 15:35 3K 587 2,3,5 17:20 8M 234 5,6,7 19:25 MI 520/SQ 5020 1,5,6,7 22:10 BEIJING TO YANGON Days Dep 2,3,4,6,7 8:05

Arr 22:45

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

Catching up with a titan of travel guides

HERE have you been, Arthur Frommer? No, we dont mean where in the world, although were curious about your latest wanderings. But where on the bookshelf? For the past few years, weve been watching the Frommers drama, an unwelcome shake-up after more than ve decades of knowing exactly where to nd the trusted travel guides: in bookstores throughout North America. In August 2012, Google purchased the Frommers series and seven months later threatened to halt the publication of future books. But then in April the globetrotting founder swooped in and bought his brand back. Frommer saves Frommers! To nd out where Arthur has been and where hes going, Washington Post travel writer Andrea Sachs caught up with the 84-year-old in early December at his home in New York to hear the story of his career and his latest business moves. Edited excerpts: A guidebook is born The day I graduated from Yale Law School, I was drafted into the Army. I was trained to go to South Korea, but before our unit shipped out, I received orders to go to Berlin. During the time I was stationed in Europe, I couldnt believe my good luck. I utilised every weekend and every three-day pass to go sightseeing. I would go out to an Air Force base and cadge a seat on a plane going somewhere in Europe. I was doing this while all my associates in the Army stayed in the barracks. In the last three weeks of my service, I wrote a little book called The GIs Guide to Travelling in Europe, which I published myself [in 1955]. [Back in New York,] I got a cable that the book had sold out on virtually the rst afternoon it was put on sale. When my rst vacation rolled around, I said to myself, I think I should do this for civilians. I had a one-month vacation and I returned to Europe and went running from one city to the next. I came back and wrote a book called Europe on Five Dollars a Day. Five dollars goes far I had 5000 copies of Europe on Five Dollars a Day printed, and the book literally sold out within an hour after it appeared in the bookstores. Over the next three, four, ve years, the book became a monster. I was in the meantime working 16 hours a day for a law rm, and then Id stay up half the night writing guidebooks. We started publishing other Five Dollars a Day books to New York, to Japan, to the Caribbean. Eventually, I had no choice but to give up the law. I went into the full-time practice of travel publishing. Frommers redux [After reacquiring my brand,] my daughter [Pauline] and I had seven months in which to relaunch the travel guides. We called all the authors, who are scattered all over the world. Weve published 30 separate titles of 2014 editions. The guides go completely against the recent trends in travel publishing. The trend was to print ever more voluminous guides. It became commonplace for a guidebook to be 800 or 900 pages long one of them is even 1100 pages! They started weighing three pounds; theyre like doorstops.

Flights DD 4231 FD 2752 FD 2756 FD 2754 FD 2758

Arr 9:45 10:20 14:40 19:25 22:50

YANGON TO SINGAPORE Flights Days Dep MI 509/SQ 5019 1,2,6,7 0:25 8M 231 Daily 8:00 8M 233 5,6,7 14:00 Y5 233 Daily 10:10 SQ 997/MI 5871 Daily 10:25 3K 586 Daily 11:40 MI 517/SQ 5017 Daily 16:40 TR 2827 1,6,7 15:10 TR 2827 2,3,4,5 17:10 3K 588 2,3,5 19:30 YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR Flights Days Dep 8M 501 1,3,5,6 8:55 AK 1427 Daily 8:30 MH 741 Daily 12:15 MH 743 Daily 16:00 AK 1421 Daily 19:05 YANGON TO BEIJING Days Dep 2,3,4,6,7 14:15

Arr 5:00 12:25 18:25 14:40 14:45 16:20 21:15 19:35 21:35 00:10+1

Arr 12:40 8:45 9:40 13:45 14:30 17:35 18:45 20:05 21:15 21:55

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

Andrea Sachs

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

Arr 7:15 8:00 12:20 17:05 20:25

Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, Fax : 515102

Tel : 666112, 655882.

Tel : 253597~98, 254758. Fax: 248175

Arr 12:55 12:50 16:30 20:15 23:20

Flights CA 906

Arr 21:55

Arr 9:20 10:40 14:50 14:30 15:45 16:30 17:05 18:50 20:50 23:35

Bangkok Airways (PG) Condor (DE)

The whole publishing industry was drowning the traveller in too much information. I felt that people needed smaller books containing the preferences of the authors. We decided to issue a new type of guidebook that would be limited to 256 pages. We call them EasyGuides. On the cover, we say that they are quick to read, light to carry with expert advice in all price ranges. In other words, theyre lighter than a tablet. Weve also published what we called Day by Day guides. We give you itineraries and walking tours that you can pursue for one, two, three or four days of travel. They are about 180 pages long. Modern-day adjustments Theres been a tremendous emphasis in our current guidebooks on substituting apartments and vacation homes for standard hotels. Not only do you save money, but you enjoy a more authentic experience. These are some of the tactics people are using to avoid the conveyor belt of travel. One of the other things that distinguishes our guidebooks is the seriousness with which they are written. We have fun writing them, and theres humour and personality, but we regard travel as a very serious enterprise as not mere recreation but as a means of learning and something thats very important to a civilised life. We encourage our authors to deal seriously with the culture, the lifestyles and the politics of the countries that people are visiting, to emphasise the rewards of putting yourself in a situation where everything is completely different. We regard that as part of the adventure of life. Long live print The evidence is apparently in: The public still desires to carry a print guidebook. You have the phenomenon of e-books, but the print guidebooks are still outselling the e-book eight or nine to one. Now thats not to say that were not going to bring out electronic versions. But the print guidebook is alive and well. A growth spurt We are already planning for the fall of 2014, at which time the number of our guidebooks will double. Well have close to 60 titles. Im 84 years old; I never thought that Id be working as hard as this again in all my life. Travel in the 21st century The world is getting smaller, and travel is becoming more difficult. More and more people have got to travel offseason. Theres always a desire to nd new destinations that arent touristed, or at least to travel in them in a way that permits you to avoid the worst excesses of tourism. I have a picture of myself when I was in the Army. I was in the middle of the Piazza San Marco [in Venice]. I am virtually the only person there. Today its like Times Square on New Years Eve. Spin the globe I went through 30 or 40 years of being in a different place almost every week of my life, hopping around like a madman from one place to another. There are only a couple of places that I havent gotten to. I havent been to Antarctica or Tibet yet, or Sri Lanka. But I enjoy going back to various cities. I love vacationing in Paris, my favorite place on Earth. The Washington Post

Tel: 255122, 255 265, Fax: 255119

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

Dragonair (KA)

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

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5)

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

YANGON TO GAUNGZHOU Flights Days Dep 8M 711 2,4,7 8:40 CZ 3056 3,6 11:35 CZ 3056 1,5 17:40 YANGON TO TAIPEI Days Dep 1,2,3,5,6 10:50

Arr 13:15 15:50 22:05

Flights CA 905

Arr 13:15

Malaysia Airlines (MH)

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

Flights CI 7916

Arr 16:15

KAULA LUMPUR TO YANGON Flights Days Dep AK 1426 Daily 6:55 MH 740 Daily 10:05 MH742 Daily 13:50 8M 502 1,3,5,6 14:00 AK 1420 Daily 17:20 GUANGZHOU TO YANGON Flights Days Dep CZ 3055 3,6 8:35 CZ 3055 1,5 14:40 8M 712 2,4,7 14:15 TAIPEI TO YANGON Days Dep 1,2,3,5,6 7:00 KUNMING TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3 8:25 2,3,4,6,7 13:00 Daily 13:30

Arr 8:00 11:15 15:00 15:00 18:25

Myanmar Airways International(8M)

Tel : 255260, Fax: 255305

Silk Air(MI)

Tel: 255 287~9, Fax: 255 290

YANGON TO KUNMING Flights Days Dep MU 2012 1,3 12:20 MU 2032 Daily 14:40 CA 906 2,3,4,6,7 14:15 YANGON TO CHIANG MAI Flights Days Dep W9 9607 4,7 14:30 YANGON TO HANOI Days Dep 1,3,5,6,7 19:10

Thai Airways (TG)

Arr 18:20 18:00 17:35

Tel : 255491~6, Fax : 255223

Arr 10:35 16:40 15:50

Vietnam Airlines (VN)

Fax : 255086. Tel 255066/ 255088/ 255068.

Qatar Airways (Temporary Ofce)

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

Arr 16:20

Flights CI 7915

Arr 9:55

Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG)

Flights VN 956

Arr 21:30

YANGON TO HO CHI MINH CITY Flights Days Dep VN 942 2,4,7 14:25 YANGON TO DOHA Days Dep Daily 7:30 YANGON TO PHNOM PENH Days Dep 1,3,6 8:35 YANGON TO SEOUL Days Dep 4,7 0:50 Daily 23:35 YANGON TO HONG KONG Days Dep 1,2,4,6 01:10 YANGON TO TOKYO Days Dep Daily 22:10 YANGON TO SIEM REAP Days Dep 1,3,6 8:35 YANGON TO GAYA Days Dep 1,3,5,6 9:00 YANGON TO DHAKA Days Dep 1,4 19:30

Arr 17:10

Flights MU 2011 CA 905 MU 2031

Arr 11:40 13:15 14:00

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 BG = Biman Bangladesh Airlines

Flights QR 919

Arr 11:15

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

Arr 18:10

Flights 8M 403

Arr 12:30

Flights VN 957

Arr 18:10

Flights 0Z 770 KE 472

Arr 8:50 07:45+1

HO CHI MINH CITY TO YANGON Flights Days Dep VN 943 2,4,7 11:40 DOHA TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 21:15 GAYA TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,5,6 11:20 PHNOM PENH TO YANGON Days Dep 1,3,6 13:30 SEOUL TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 18:30 3,6 19:30 TOKYO TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 11:45

Arr 13:25

Flights QR 918

Arr 06:29+1

Flights KA 251

Arr 05:35

Flights 8M 602

Arr 14:30

Flights NH 914

Arr 06:45+1

Flights 8M 404

Arr 14:55

Flights 8M 401

Arr 10:45

Flights 8M 601

Arr 10:20

Flights KE 471 0Z 769

Arr 22:30 23:40

Flights BG 061

Arr 20:45

Flights NH 913

Arr 17:15

MANDALAY TO BANGKOK Flights Days Dep TG 2982 1,2,4,6 9:50 TG 2984 3,5 19:35 PG 710 Daily 14:15

Arr 12:00 21:45 16:40

HONG KONG TO YANGON Flights Days Dep KA 250 1,3,5,7 21:50 DHAKA TO YANGON Days Dep 1,4 16:15

Subject to change without notice

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

Arr 23:45

Flights BG 060

Arr 18:30

56 the pulse
Music Review: Pyan Sone Taing by Sin Pauk

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Sin Pauk sticks to familiar formula on new album

EI EI ThU
91.eieithu@gmail.com

fEBRUARY 3 9, 2014
AQuarius | Jan 20 Feb 18

WEEKLY predictions
Leo | Jul 23 Aug 22 An unexpected experience will be your opportunity to take up a challenge for social justice in your professional arena. Emotional agreement is not enough to ensure the trustworthiness of a competitor, and your capability must be qualied by someone with social inuence. In nancial games, take some risk in order to nd out how to control the social balance.

To improve your quality of life, you must cultivate a new perspective on why you are here on Earth. Start focusing on your higher purpose. The entrepreneur is always an optimist. You must thrive on taking risks that will be big, complex and full of feeling. Working on your life could include travelling. Emotional reactions will swamp you if you ask for them.

IN Pauk started his music career as the bass player for the local alternative band Big Bag, but he soon made it known that he was also interested in singing songs of his own. While still a member of Big Bag, he released two solo soft rock albums: Kalay Ta Yauk Ye Vi Sa (Instinct of a Child) in 2007 and Ah Kyi Ta Chat (Just a Glance) in 2009. While the rst album never caught on with music fans, the second effort included the hit songs Ah Kyi Ta Chat and Inn Yarr Thoe (To Inya Lake), both of which became radio favourites among young listeners. Sin Pauk quit Big Bag after the success of Ah Kyi Ta Chat, freeing him up to focus on his third album Pyan Sone Taing (When Were Back Together Again), which has just been released. The new CD features 12 tracks of the same brand of soft rock and slow pop that Sin Pauk has explored throughout his solo career. Six of the songs were written by Sin Pauk, while the others were penned by popular musicians Linn Nick, Chin Lay, Nay Htike Soe, Saw Linn Mo and Ar Do. Rock bands Lazy Club and Evening Star provide instrumental backing.

Pisces | Feb 19 March 20 Your innate need is to assert yourself. An unexpected communication will cause a quick transition to a new phase in your life. You will feel motivated and happy soon. Enjoy and succeed in learning new skills, and the course will be well worth the money. There are no signs of problems in your relationships and you must keep positive. Love needs courage and an optimistic outlook.

Virgo | Aug 23 Sep 22 You should love this quote from Elbert Hubbard: If what you did yesterday still looks big to you, you havent done much today. You just need to learn to be the best you can be right now. You cant change where you started, but you can change the direction you are going. Keeping promises is great and speaking simply with a smart style is the way to show love and heart.

Cover art for Pyan Sone Taing. Photo: Supplied

Aries | Mar 21 Apr 19 Race against your negative impulses. Build your discipline by consistently performing small acts of courage. The more you nurture the embryo of self-discipline, the more you will mature and manage yourself better. Trust your intuition, and reduce clutter. Being in a loving relationship is vital to your spiritual health. Enrich your existing love relationship.

Libra | Sep 23 Oct 22 Every challenge is nothing more than a chance to make things better. Problems reveal genius and you should see problems as opportunities for improvement. The only way to improve yourself is to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. The key to leading your life well is to learn self-management. You should know when to display your emotions and when to delay them.

Standout tracks include Pyan Sone Taing, a love song about a boy getting back together with his ex-girlfriend, and Ah Yin Taing Min Hla Tal (Youll Always be Pretty), which features touching lyrics about a man who continues to see the beauty in his wife as they grow old together. De Lo Ka Lay Yal (Like This, Baby!) and Nway (Hot Season) are other good examples of Sin Pauks slow but catchy pop. Unfortunately, there isnt much here that sets Pyan Sone Taing apart from Sin Pauks rst two

albums. One listener commented that while the songs are cool and sweet, some are very repetitive, and overall the album suffers from a lack of variety from one track to the next. Sin Pauks cautious approach to music will likely help the singer keep the fans he has already made with his previous albums, but he probably wont attract many new listeners with this latest release. To widen his appeal, he will need to take more chances and show a bit more creativity on future albums.

Taurus | Apr 20 May 20 Desire is the origin of delusion and delusion is the source of desire. Make sure to depend on your character more than upon your IQ. Use daily obstacles as a means to show your talents. Mindful application is the key to designing your way of life according to your skills. Figure out how to actualise your personal vision. Time is a gift of love.

Scorpio | Oct 23 Nov 21 Your vocabulary drives meaning in your life, and the words you use inuence the life you live. Select them wisely. The more aware you become of the quality of your language, the more choice you will give yourself. As you begin to shed light on your personal weaknesses and take responsibility for them, you actually begin the very process of shedding them. See the world through a different set of eyes.

whats On!
ART January 20-February 28 Rare 19th-century photographs of Myanmar, presented by the Embassy of Italy and Yangon Heritage Trust, rst oor, 22-24 Pansodan Street February 4-8 9am-5am (except Monday) Finished and unnished paintings of deceased artist Daw Yee Yee Myint, exhibited for the rst time. Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Organisation, 189-192, East Wing, Bogyoke Aung San Market February 10 7pm Holi exhibition opening. Photographs of the Indian festival of love and spring by Xavier Zimbardo. Presented by the Yangon Photo Festival. Pansodan Gallery, 286 Pansodan Street FILM Nay Pyi Taw Cinema Lone Survivor 2D. Four Navy SEALs ghting al-Qaeda in the mountains of Afghanistan are ambushed. Surrounded by the enemy, they must ght their way out. Directed by Peter Berg Rinsch. Mingalar 2 Cinema Walking with Dinosaurs 3D. An animated feature following a courageous young dinosaur on an incredible adventure through the prehistoric world. Directed by Barry Cook, Neil Nightingale. Shae Shaung Cinema 2 The Monkey King 3D. Based on chapters of Wu Hengens classical novel Journey to the West, Monkey King rebels ght against the Jade Emperor of Heaven. Directed by Cheang Pou-soi. Shae Shaung Cinema 1 The Legend of Hercules 3D. The son of Zeus is betrayed by his stepfather, the king, whom he must overthrow to restore peace to the land. Directed by Renny Harlin. Junction Square Cineplex Frankenstein 3D. Frankensteins creature nds himself caught in an all-out, centuries-old war between two immortal clans. Directed by Stuart Beattie. Mischief Night. A young lady who suffers from psychosomatic blindness is terrorised by a hooded killer. Directed by Richard Schenkman. Junction Maw Tin Cineplex Frankenstein 3D MUSIC February 3 8:30pm Live blues, Mojo Bar, 135 Inya Road February 5 9pm Live jazz and pizza specials, 50th Street Cafe & Bar, 9/13 50th Street February 9 7pm Myanmar Meets Europe A Burmese Hsaing Waing ensemble joins European jazz musicians. Presented by the Goethe Institute at the Institute Francais, 340 Pyay Road
Art at Gallery 65. Photo: Supplied

Gemini | May 21 June 20 A paradigm is simply a way of looking at a circumstance or at life with intellectual vision. Let justice be done, though it may seem wrong in your awed outlook. There is nothing higher than reason, cause and effect. Love must be spontaneous to be spiritual in the beginning and it must remain spontaneous if it is to remain spiritual.

Sagittarius | Nov 22 Dec 21 Not every risk you take and not everything you try will work out as planned. You actually need to be more innovative than the competition. Keep challenging yourself to think better, do better and be better. Confront your limitations. Refuse to be average. Stand for whats best. Commit to being breathtakingly great in all you do. Affairs of the heart need quality advice to examine the psychology of love.

MISC February 5 4:30pm Youth, and Multiculturalism, and Community. A monthly youth forum. All are welcome. American Center, 14 Tawwin Street February 4 7pm InterNations networking night, Mojo Bar, 135 Inya Road February 5 7:30pm International quiz & trivia night, Cuba Bar & Restaurant, 66 Yae Kyaw February 7-9 6-9pm Myanmar International Fashion Week, Junction Square February 9 12-3pm Kidzzomania. A kids dance workshop with Uranium Dance Group. K25,000 and K20,000 for each sibling. The Coriander Leaf Ballroom, Yangon International Hotel, 330 Ahlone Road

Cancer | June 21 Jul 22 Nothing is impossible in your industrious mindset. But know that doing nothing is sometimes a good remedy to develop your creative mind. No man ever became wise by chance. A good habit of self-introspection will make your character noble and gentle, and you can expect your big dreams to come true before long. Love is hopeful and full of happiness.

Capricorn | Dec 22 Jan 19 Pride is something that doesnt get talked about much in business circles. Being a good business is good for business. Success doesnt just occur, so dont wait until the end of your life to become experienced. Collapse the timeline. Get clear on what you need to experience to have a fullling life and then start doing it now. Meet cool people, visit neat places and read deep books. Open your heart sincerely.

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

The Essentials
EMBASSIES Australia 88, Strand Road, Yangon. Tel : 251810, 251797, 251798. Bangladesh 11-B, Than Lwin Road, Yangon. Tel: 515275, 526144, email: bdootygn@ mptmail.net.mm Brazil 56, Pyay Road, 6th mile, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 507225, 507251. email: Administ. yangon@itamaraty.gov.br. Brunei 17, Kanbawza Avenue, Golden Velly (1), Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 566985, 503978. email: bruneiemb@ bruneiemb.com.mm Cambodia 25 (3B/4B), New University Avenue Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 549609, 540964. email: RECYANGON @ mptmail.net.mm China 1, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 221280, 221281. Danmark, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17. Egypt 81, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 222886, 222887, Egyptembassy86@ gmail.com France 102, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 212178, 212520, email: ambaf rance. rangoun@ diplomatie.fr Germany 9, Bogyoke Aung San Museum Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 548951, 548952, email: info@rangun. diplo.de India 545-547, Merchant St, Yangon. Tel: 391219, 388412, email: indiaembassy @ mptmail.net.mm Indonesia 100, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Rd, Yangon. Tel: 254465, 254469, email: kukygn @ indonesia.com.mm Israel 15, Khabaung Street, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 515115, fax: 515116, email: info@ yangon.mfa.gov.il Italy 3, Inya Myaing Road, Golden Valley, Yangon. Tel: 527100, 527101, fax: 514565, email: ambyang. mail@ esteri.it Japan 100, Natmauk Rd, Yangon. Tel: 549644-8, 540399, 540400, 540411, 545988, fax: 549643 State of Kuwait Chatrium Hotel, Rm: 416, 418, 420, 422, 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe Tsp, Tel: 544500. Lao A-1, Diplomatic Quarters, Tawwin Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 222482, fax: 227446, email: Laoembcab@ mptmail. net.mm Malaysia 82, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 220248, 220249, email: mwkyangon@ mptmail.net.mm Nepal 16, Natmauk Yeiktha, Yangon. Tel: 545880, 557168, fax: 549803, email: nepemb @mptmail.net.mm Norway, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17 Fax 01- 9669516 New Zealand No. 43/C, Inya Myaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-2305805 Netherlands Diplomatic Mission No. 43/C, Inya Myaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-2305805 North Korea 77C, Shin Saw Pu Rd, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 512642, 510205 Pakistan A-4, diplomatic Quarters, Pyay Rd, Yangon. Tel: 222881 (Chancery Exchange) Philippines 50, Sayasan Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 558149-151,Email: p.e. yangon@gmail.com Russian 38, Sagawa Rd, Yangon. Tel: 241955, 254161, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia No.287/289, U Wisara Rd, Sanchaung. Tel : 01-536153, 516952. Serbia No. 114-A, Inya Rd, P.O.Box No. 943, Yangon. Tel: 515282, 515283, email: serbemb @ yangon.net.mm Singapore 238, Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 559001, email: singemb_ ygn@_ sgmfa. gov.sg South Korea 97 University Avenue, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 5271424, 515190, fax: 513286, email: myanmar@mofat. go.kr Sri Lanka 34 Taw Win Road, Yangon. Tel: 222812, Switzerland No 11, Kabaung Lane, 5 mile, Pyay Rd, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 534754, 507089. Thailand 94 Pyay Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 226721, 226728, 226824 Turkish Embassy 19AB, Kan Yeik Thar St, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel : 662992, Fax : 661365 United Kingdom 80 Strand Rd, Yangon. Tel: 370867, 380322, 371852, 371853, 256438, United States of America 110, University Avenue, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 536509, 535756, Fax: 650306 Vietnam Bldg-72, Thanlwin Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 511305 UNITED NATIONS ILO Liaison 1-A, Kanbae (Thitsar Rd), Yankin Tsp, Tel : 01-566538, 566539 IOM 318 (A) Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon.Tel 01-210588, 09 73236679, 0973236680, Email- iomyangon@iom.int UNAIDS 137/1, Thaw Wun Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel : 534498, 504832 UNDCP 11-A, Malikha St, Mayangone tsp. Tel: 666903, 664539. UNDP 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tel: 542910-19. fax: 292739. UNFPA 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tsp. tel: 546029. UNHCR 287, Pyay Rd, Sanchaung tsp. Tel: 524022, 524024. UNIAP Rm: 1202, 12 Fl, Traders Hotel. Tel: 254852, 254853. UNIC 6, Natmauk St., Bahan, tel: 52910~19 UNICEF 14~15 Flr, Traders Hotel. P.O. Box 1435, Kyauktada. Tel: 375527~32, unicef.yangon@unicef. org, UNODC 11-A, Malikha Rd., Ward 7, Mayangone. tel: 01-9666903, 9660556, 9660538, 9660398. email: fo.myanmar@unodc.org UNOPS Inya Lake Hotel, 3rd oor, 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), WFP 5 Kan Baw Za St, Shwe Taung Kyar, (Golden Valley), Bahan Tsp. Tel : 2305971~6 WHO No. 2, Pyay Rd, 7 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Tel : 6504056, 650416, 654386-90. ASEAN Coordinating Of. for the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, 79, Taw Win st, Dagon Tsp. Tel: 225258. FAO Myanma Agriculture Service Insein Rd, Insein. tel: 641672, 641673.

General Listing
ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS
Hotel Yangon 91/93, 8th Mile Junction, Tel : 01-667708, 667688. Inya Lake Resort Hotel 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 662866. fax: 665537. MGM Hotel No (160), Warden Street, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. +95-1-212454~9. www. hotel-mgm.com

Happy Homes
REAL ESTATE & PrOpErTY MANAGEmENT

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

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

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

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.

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

ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS (Nay Pyi Taw)

(Nay Pyi Taw)

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

Royal White Elephant Hotel No-11, Kan Street, Hlaing Tsp. Yangon, Myanmar. (+95-1) 500822, 503986. www.rwehotel.com Savoy Hotel 129, Damazedi Rd, Kamayut tsp. tel: 526289, 526298, Sedona Hotel Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin. tel: 666900. Strand Hotel 92 Strand Rd. tel: 243377. fax: 289880. Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966. 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 Windsor Hotel No.31, Shin Saw Pu Street, Sanchaung. Yangon, Myanmar. Ph: 95-1-511216~8, www. hotelwindsoryangon.com Yuzana Hotel 130, Shwegondaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, tel : 01-549600 Yuzana Garden Hotel 44, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp, tel : 01-248944

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

resorts
Eden Hotels & Resorts 23/25, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Golden Valley, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 01-8603204~7

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

For more information about these listings, Please Contact - classied@myanmartimes.com.mm

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

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

Reservation Ofce (Yangon) 123, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Dagon Township. Tel : 951-255 819-838 Hotel Max (Chaung Tha Beach) Tel : 042-423 46-9, 042-421 33. Email : maxhotelsreservation@ gmail.com Sandoway Resort Ngapali Beach, Thandwe. Tel : 043-42233

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

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ACCOMMODATION Long Term

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

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

THE MYANMAR TIMES fEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014 AIR CONDITION car rental

MYANMAR EXECUTIVE LIMOUSINE SERVICE

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FITNESS CENTRE

Gems & Jewelleries

HEALTH SERVICES

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

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

HOT LINE: 09 - 402 510 003 01-646 330 First Class VIP Limousine Car Rental. Professional English Speaking Drivers. Full Insurance for your Safety and comfortable journey Call us Now for your best choice www.mmels.com

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

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

Get the Best Pure Natural Gemstones and Jewellery No. 44, Inya Road, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2305811, 2305812. email : info@bestjewels myanmar.com, Bestjewelsmyanmar.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

coffee machine

Engineering

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

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

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

CONSTRUCTION

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

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

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

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

FLORAL SERVICES

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

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

ENTERTAINMENT

BEAUTY & MASSAGE

150 Dhamazedi Rd., Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 536306, 537805. Email : yangon@ monument-books.com 15(B), Departure Lounge, Yangon Intl Airport. #87/2, Crn of 26th & 27th St, 77th St,Chan Aye Thar Zan Tsp, Mandalay. Tel : (02) 24880. 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

California Skin Spa NO 32.B, Inya Myaing Road, Yangon. (Off University Road) Tel : 01-535097, 01-501295. Open Daily : (10 AM - 8 PM) california-skinspa.com californiaskinspaygn2013 @gmail.com

CONSULTING

Myanmar Research | Consulting | Technology

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

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)

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

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.leomedicare. com. One Stop Solution for Quality Health Care Myittar Oo Eye Hospital 499, Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Ph: 09-527381.

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

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

Tel: 549612, Fax : 545770. Your Most Reliable Jeweller

FASHION & TAILOR

courier SerVice
DTDC Courier and Cargo Service (Since 1991) Yangon. Tel : 01-374457 Mandalay. Tel : 09-43134095. www.DTDC.COM, dtdcyangon@gmail.com Door to Door Delivery!!! Sein Shwe Tailor, 797 (003-A), Bogyoke Aung San Rd, MAC Tower 2, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Ph: 01-225310, 212943~4 Ext: 146, 147, E-mail: uthetlwin@gmail.com Floral Service & Gift Centre 102(A), Dhamazaydi Rd, Yangon.tel: 500142 Summit Parkview Hotel, tel: 211888, 211966 ext. 173 fax: 535376.email: sandy@ sandymyanmar.com.mm.

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

Foam spray Insulation

The Natural Gems of Myanmar & Fine Jewellery. No. 30(A), Pyay Road, (7 mile), Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-660397, 354398-9 E-mail : spgmes.myanmar @gmail.com The Lady Gems & Jewellery No. 7, Inya Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2305800, 09-8315555

No.(68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Hunt line: +95 1 9666 141, Booking Ext : 7080, 7084. Fax: +95 1 9666 135 Email: info@witoriya hospital.com www.victoriahospital myanmar.com, Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ WitoriyaGeneralHospital Vibhavadi Hospital Bangkok, Thailand (Myanmar Branch Ofce) : 214(A-2) Waizayantar Rd, Thingangyun Tsp. Ph: 09-8625086.

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

GENERATORS

Home Furnishing

GAS COOKER & Cooker Hoods

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

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

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

GIFT PRODUCT

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

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.

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

Sole Distributor of Red Ginseng from S.B. FURNITURE Korea Ginseng Corporation

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.

THE MYANMAR TIMES fEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

City Mart (47th St Branch) tel: 200026, 298746. City Mart (Junction 8) tel: 650778. City Mart (FMI City Branch) tel: 682323. City Mart (Yankin Center Branch) tel: 400284. City Mart (Myaynigone) tel: 510697. City Mart (Zawana Branch) tel:564532.

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

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

For House-Seekers

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

Tel : 09-332 87270 09-2541 26615 (Fees Free)

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

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

Pre School and Primary years (Ages 2 to 10) No. 695, Mahabandola Road, (Between 19th & Sint Oh Dan Street), Latha Township, Yangon. Tel :01-382213, 395816 www.imecedu.com

REMOVALISTS
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.

Water Heaters
Monsoon Restaurant & Bar 85/87, Thein Byu Road, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 295224, 09-501 5653. Yangon Intl School Fully Accredited K-12 International Curriculum with ESL support No.117,Thumingalar Housing, Thingangyun, Tel: 578171, 573149, 687701, 687702.

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

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

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

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

Paint
Worlds No.1 Paints & Coatings Company Crown Worldwide Movers Ltd 790, Rm 702, 7th Flr Danathiha Centre, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Lanmadaw. Tel: 223288, 210 670, 227650. ext: 702. Fax: 229212. email: crown worldwide@mptmail.net.mm Quality Chinese Dishes with Resonable Price @Marketplace by City Mart. Tel: 01-523840 Ext.109 Ocean Center (North Point), Ground Floor, Tel : 09-731-83900 01-8600056

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

Marine Communication & NaVigation

Water Heater

Executive Serviced Ofces

www.hinthabusinesscentres.com

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

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.

Tel : 01-4413410 Heaven Pizza 38/40, Bo Yar Nyunt St. Yaw Min Gyi Quarter, Dagon Township. Tel: 09-855-1383 Delicious Hong Kong Style Food Restaurant G-09, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: 01-508467-70 Ext: 114 UnionBarAndGrill 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung, Yangon. Tel: 95 9420 180 214, 95 9420 101 854 www.unionyangon.com, info@unionyangon.com

Water solution

Company Limited

Aekar

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

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

MEDIA & ADVERTISING

Media & Advertising All the way from Australia. Design for advertisement is not easy, reaching to target audience is even harder? We are equipped with great ideas and partners in Myanmar to create corporate logo, business photography, stationery design, mobile advertisement on public transport and billboard/ magazine ads. Talk to us: (01) 430-897, (0) 942-0004554. www.medialane. com.au

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Swiss Business Ofce Center

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

No. 36-38 (A), Ground Flr, Grand Myay Nu Condo, Myay Nu St, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: +95 (01) 230 60 67~71, Tel: +95 (0) 9 250 294 669 Email: sales@sbocyangon.com www.sboc-yangon.com

WEB SERVICE

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

Office Furniture
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. 372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan T/S, Yangon. Tel : 01-380 398, 01-256 355 (Ext : 3027) Email : zawgyihouse@ myanmar.com.mm

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

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

SANITERY WARE

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

TRAVEL AGENTS

RESTAURANTS

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

REAL ESTATE
Good taste & resonable price @Thamada Hotel Tel: 01-243047, 243639-41 Ext: 32 Acacia Tea Salon 52, Saya San Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel : 01-554739 G-01, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: 01-508467-70 Ext: 106

Bath Room Accessories 79-B3/B3, East Shwe Gone Dine, Near SSC Womens Center, Bahan. Tel : 01-401083, 0973011100, 09-73056736

Web Services All the way from Australia. World-class websites, come with usability and responsiveness. Our works include website, web apps, e-commerce, forum, email campaign and online advertisement. Plus, were the authorised reseller for local and international domain names. So, put your worries aside and let us create the awesomeness you deserved online. (01) 430-897, (0) 942-0004554. www.medialane. com.au

SCHOOLS

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

VISA & IMMIGRATION

Furniture Showroom Blk-90, BB2/A, No.2 High Way Road, Mya Ya Mon Housing, 26 Quarter, South Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 09-2500-68186 09-4500-41804 Email : sale.desmark@ gmail.com.

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

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

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

SUPERMARKETS
Capital Hyper Mart 14(E), Min Nandar Road, Dawbon Tsp. Ph: 553136. City Mart (Aung San) tel: 253022, 294765.

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

HOW TO GET A FREE AD

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Property
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ComPuter Services : Software services, Web site services. Ph: 094201-09050.

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Service OFFice you can trust. Business Service for foreign investors. 905, 9F, Panchan Tower, Corner of Dhamazedi Rd & Bagayar Rd, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 01503895, Email :yangon_ info@v2m.jp, http:// www.v2m.jp

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Toyota Belta : 2011 year, 15,000km. almost new condition. $500 / month without driver. Car only. No-broker fee (real owner) Aceyangon79@ gmail.com. Ph : 09-43132872

For Sale

(1)MISUBISHI Canda 10' (hydrolic door) 2007 Engine Power 4900CC Pw, Ac, Ps front butterfly, Lay type 3 Tan, 1 G (190 Lakhs, (2)MISUBISHI Canntar box 10' (2006) Engine power 3000 CC, Pw, Ac, Ps front butterfly, Lay type 2 Tan, 1 G, Price :195 Lakhs, Pls contact : Ma Thanzin : 09-73101896 1250 KVA (1000KW) 500 KVA Cummins Genset Volvo Genset Stamford Alternator Sound Proof Type Sound Proof Type. Ph : 01 525218, 09-5401589, 09-512-4909 MacBooK Pro (2012 Model ) Intel Core i5 Ram 4GB H.D.D 500GB Mac OS 10.9 + Window

7. Price : 920000. Ph: 09-4200-50651 MacBooK Pro (2012 Model) Intel Core i5 Ram 4GB, H.D.D 500GB. Price :920000. Ph:094200-50651 LaPtoP Lenovo Core i3 Ram 2gb HDD 500 GB like new condition HP Core i5 (Third Generation) Ram 4GB 500HDD Graphic 1GB Just like new condition HP Core i3 Third generation Ram 2GB HDD 500 Graphic 1GB 300000 Acer Core2Dua -170000. Ph: 09-31775707 Huawei C8813 ( CDMA 800 MHZ ) Black Colour with full accessories and original box . 2 months used only very good condition with 2 covers . Price 75000 Kyats. Ph: 09-7300-4430. CAR, Mazda RX 8 [ Sport Type ] [ 2007 Model ] [ pearl white, ] (PS, PW, AC, SRS, ABS, HDD TV, Security System, Cyclone Engine) Ph: 09-3300-2898. ASUS A45V Blue Colour Intel Core i5 3rd, Ram - 4GB H.D.D - 500GB Graphic 2GB Price460000. Ph: 09-420050651 Huawei C8813 ( CDMA 800 MHZ ) Black Colour with full accessories and original box . 2 months used only very good condition with 2 covers . Price 80000 Kyats Ph: 09-730-04430) Samsung Galaxy Grand (GT- I9082), GSM, Metallic Blue with full accessories and original box . No error Price 170000 Kyats . Ph:09-502-8020. ASUS A45V Blue Colour Intel Core i5 3rd , Ram - 4GB H.D.D - 500GB Graphic - 2GB Price - 460000. Ph: 09-420050651 ASUS A42J Intel Core i7, Ram - 4GB H.D.D 500GB Graphic - 2GBB Price - 465000. Ph: 094200-50651 (1)motherBoard 775 G41 CPU-Pentinum 2.0 GHz RAM- DDR3 2GB HDD-80 GB (SATA) PSU-500W MonitorAcer 18.5 PC 2 No (2) Motherboard- Asus H61 ME CPU-Pentinum 2.9 GHz RAM- DDR3 2GB HDD-500 GB (SATA) PSU-650W MonitorAOC 18.5 PC 4 No. Ph:09-4224-86337 Original 3DS Game Cartridges & accessories - Spirit Camrea: The Cursed Memoir (with box & user guide booklet) 20000 Kyats. - Rabbid Rumble (with box and user guide booklet) 20000 Kyats, - Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (with box & user guide booklet) - 24000 Kyats, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (with box & user

HousingforRent
Lanmadaw 40/46, Lanmadaw 1 St, Ground Floor, Hong Kong Type, 15' x 50'. with yearly contract. Ph : 09-73181708. CLASSIC STRAND condo. Brand new 3 bed 2 bath. $3250/month. Marble/hardwood fitting, modern layout. Near strand hotel/union bar. jasonwongjp@gmail. com, 09-4211-02223. 6 Bed, 4 bath duplex. 3900 sqft, can be used as residence, office or both. bar. jasonwongjp@ gmail.com, 09-421102223. BAHAN, (1)Golden Velly 2RC, 5700sqft, 2MBR, 2SR .US 4500 (2) Golden velly , near Pearl condo,2RC , 70 x 90, 2MBR, 2SR. US6500 (3) Yankin, Parami St, 2RC, 80 x 60, 4MBR, Fully furnish. US 5500 (4) Parami St, 2RC, 40 x 60, 4MBR,1SR, Fully furnish, US 7000, (5)Moekung Rd, 25 x 80, Hall, US6000. Ph: 09-49214276. BAHAN , (1)New University Avenue Rd, New Condo, 1500 sqft, f.f US$ 3500 (2)Shwe Taung Gyar Rd, 60' x 60, 2 RC storey, f.f US$ 3500 (3)New University Ave Rd, 2 Flr, 44' x 55' , 3 MBR, Ph, f.f 25 Lakhs Maureen : 09-518-8320. B/OKKalar, (1)Thit Sar Rd, RC 3 storey house, US$ 3000 (2)Kamayut, Sanyeiknyein Rd, RC 2 storey house, 35 Lakhs Maureen : 09-518-8320. BAHAN, (1). Golden valley, 2 RC,6000 Sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, 300o USD. (2).Golden valley, 3 RC, 3375 Sqft, good for office, 9 Bed room, 6500 USD. (3).Golden valley, 2 RC, 4500 Sqft, 2 MR, 2 SR, 4000 USD. (4).Golden valley, 2 RC, 5300 Sqft, 4 MR, 2 SR,10,000 USD. (5).University Avenue Rd, 1500 Sqft, 1 MBR, 2 SR, fully furnish 2500 USD. (6).Inya Rd, 3 RC, 8000 Sqft, 4 MR,good for residence & office,12000 USD. Ph: 09-4931-4276. (condo For Rent in University Avenue St), 1MBR, 2SBR, 4AC, Full Fun:, 1350sq, 16 Lakhs, Call-01-569448, 09-43200669. 9 mile condo Mayangone, (1350 sqft), M2, S1, A/C4, Ph 1, fully furniture - 16 Lakhs, Contact: 09-432-00669. war Dan St, Lanmadaw, (25x50), RC 3, S3, Ph, AC 3, 65 Ls, Ph: 569448. MYANGONE,MiniCondo, 2nd flr, 3 bed room, 1 big living room, 1 Dinning room and Kitchen, 3 verandas Full furnished, 2 bath rooms, 3 aircons. Internet, 50'x40', Quiet, 8 mile, Pyay Rd, A-One Compound. Contact Ko Thant Zin: 09-73069754, 653005. Mayangone, 8th Mile, Primrose Condo 3F 1MBR, 2SBR, Living Room, 1 Maid Room, Fully Furnish, Own Car Parking, Two Elevator, Security Card System, Contact: 09-511-1485. MAYANGONE, 4th Flr, Thiri Avenue, Taw Win St, 1500 Sqft, Fully furnish, Yearly Contract. Please contact to owner direct Ph: 200581, 09500-0621 MAYANGONE, 7 mile, Pyay Rd, Si Daw Gyi Condo, 3225 sqft, second flr, 3 MBR with aircons , hot water

General
iF you are thinking to give a book-gift to your loved ones. Meiji Soe's "Culture & Beyond Myanmar" is a unique of its king revealing Myanmar Culture, Beliefs and Superstitions in sector by sector together with photos. Available at Book Stores & MCM Ltd. Ph: 253642, 3922928, 392910. Email: distmgr@myan martimes.com.mm

Language
language Proficiency: Effective & Scientific way. Tutor/ Translator/ Interpreter. (Such language: Hindi/ Sanskrit/ Bengali/ Nepali/ English & Myanmar), R.S. Verma. B.Sc., (Bot), Yangon. (UFL-English), Yangon. E-mail: rs verma. myanmar@gmail.com Phone: 09-730-42604, 09-2501-41473. LANGUAGE Proficiency: Effective & Scientific way. Tutor, Translator, Interpreter. (Such languages : Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Nepali, English & Myanmar) R.S. Verma. B.Sc., (Bot) Yangon. Email:rs verma. myanmar@gmail.com. ph: 09-730-42604. Teaching Myanmar language for foreigners Near Myay Ni Gone City Mart, Shin Saw Pu Pagoda St. Tel: 09 4200 30 782 Teaching English for adults Near Myay Ni Gone City Mart, Shin Saw Pu Pagoda Street. 09 4200 30 782 FOR FOREIGNERS Want to learn Myanmar Speaking at your home? Contact : 09-517-9125, 09-861-1052 WITHIN 24 hours can make you confidient in Myanmar language speaking and scripts! Teacher Phyu Phyu Khin 09-4930-8926, phyuporcupine@gmail. com, No.56 I, Thiri Marlar Lane, 7.5 mile, Pyay Road, Yangon. ENGLISH Grammar for all classes. Ph: 09-5413847. CHINESE for all grades. Ph: 09-541-3847. GIVE your child the best possible start to life at Int'l Montessori Myanmar (English Education Center) Accredited by IMC Bangkok (Since 1991), Our Montessori curriculum includes:

and fully furnished. Kitchen, maid room, 1524 sqft office layout. New building with lift & 2 private car parking slot. Suitable for office with residential., $6500 /month can also sell for $8, 80,000. English speaking 09-512-9655, Myanmar speaking 09732-35432. wincenter. win@gmail.com. (No Brokers Please). (1).Condo with nice view 1500 Sqft, 1MBR, 2 Single bedroom, Ph, 24 Hour electricity, SemiFurnished, Wooden floor, 4 Airconditioners, Newly Renovated, US$ 3000 per month, Ph: 094253-11320 BAHAN, (1)ThanLwin Rd, 70'x90', 3RC, 4 MBR, New and Nice, Garden, Fully Furnished, Fully Airconditioners US$ 6500 per month, (2) Inya Myaing St, Golden Valley, 0.7 Acre land, Big Garden, Ph, 3 MBR, Newly Renovated, 6 Airconditioners, Swimming pool, Price (Negotiate), Ph:094253-11320

HousingforSale
OFFice sPace, 8000 sqft for sale in MICT park. Large international conglomerates are tenants. 18% yield. Please contact for details. jasonwongjp@ gmail.com Classic strand Condominium, 2200 sqft commercial/ residence for sale. 3rd floor, wide open space. 14 ft ceilings. Gym, cafe, facilities. Prime downtown location, close to strand hotel/union bar. jasonwongjp@gmail. com 6 Bed, 4 bath duplex. 3900 sqft, can be used as residence, office or both. $550k USD, negotiable. On Thein Phyu St, very near Monsoon restaurant and around corner of union bar. jasonwongjp@gmail. com OFFice sPace, 8000 sqft for sale in MICT park. Easy to rent out to large international conglomerates,18% yield. Pls contact us for details. jasonwongjp@ gmail.com Classic strand Condominium, 2200 sqft commercial/ residence for sale. 3rd floor, wide open space. 14 ft ceilings. Gym, cafe, facilities. Prime downtown location, close to strand hotel/union bar. jasonwongjp@gmail. com Land & Building for Sales by owner:- 40' x 60' area land & Wood Building Water, Electricity OK & ready for staying No.294, South Dagon18(B) Aung Min Ga La St (Concrete Rd) Ph:01 573881, 09-514-8138

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

Want to Rent
APartment/House - Wanted Couple from Singapore seeks a clean and comfortable house or apartment in quiet neighbourhood not more than 9 miles from city - for long term stay (minimum 1 year) commencing January/ February 2014. Rental USD 2,500 per month. Email to yadana@ victorymyanmar.com or call 094-5005-3669

THE MYANMAR TIMES fEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

FREE
Employment
give clear presentation. French is an asset, 5 years experience in related field/ international NGO. Experience in project management, team building & problem solving methodology. Computer literacy. Open-minded & adap table. Ability to travel frequently to program sites with short notice. Commitment to learn, open to change & willing to try new things. Applications, including CV, references AND Salary Expectation, should be submitted to French Red Cross Office. Note that applications without any of these 3 requirements will not be taken into consideration. This offer will remain open until a suitable candidate is selected. At the intention of Finance/ Administration / HR Manager, French Red Cross Office : 42, 1st Flr, Strand Rd, Botataung,Yangon. Tel: 09-731-59942. Emails: To supp.myanmar.frc@ gmail.com, Cc: hod. myanmar.frc@gmail. com, trans.myanmar. frc@gmail.com solidarites Int'l (SI) is seeking Translator in Sittwe, Rakhine State: University graduate. Very good reporting skills. Excellent level in English. 2 years experience. Pls submit application (CV, cover letter, references) to the attention of: HR Department Solidarites Int'l/ Or drop application on an envelope to - 44 A, Tharyarwaddy Lane, Bahan, Yangon or per email: hr.recruitment. mm@gmail.com, cc: to sit.hr.tech@solidaritesmyanmar.org Computer Operator 2 posts - Any Graduate with IT Diploma. Must have 1 year experience in IT relative field. Good command of Computer Basic skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point). (Microsoft Access is preferable). (2) Computer Technician 1 post - Any Graduate with IT Diploma. Must have at least 1 Year maintenance experience. Interested candidates can apply the CV with 3 recent photos, Education certificates, & Recommendation letters from previous employer(s), copy of NRC card, Labor registration card, Police station recommendation and family member card. Head Office, 23, Thukha Waddy St, Yankin Tsp, Yangon, 11081, Myanmar. Closing Date: 7th Feb 2013. myanmar Red Cross Society is seeking Admin & Finance Assistant (Township Branch Project) 1 post in Falam Township with frequent travel to project sites. Requirements: Myanmar National. Relevant educational background (accounting, finance, administration or equivalent). Minimum two years experience working in a similar position, preferably with a local or international organization. Effective English Language skills. Effective computer knowledge (Microsoft Office and Internet). Red Cross Volunteers are preferable. Please send your application letter, CV and related documents to Myanmar Red Cross Society Head Office, Yazathingaha Road, Dekkhinathiri, Nay Pyi Taw. Or mrcshrrecruitment@ gmail.com Deadline: 21-2-2014. GOLDEN ROCK Travel & Tours is seeking Tour Operator. The candidate for the Tour Operator position should ideally meet the following requirements: Good command of English and Computing Skills, A good personality, Age between 20 & 30, A team player and a person of integrity. Interested candidates possessing the above qualifications can call 01 527 379 or send in their CVs via e-mail to sashan@ visitmyanmar.com Savoy Hotel , Yangon is urgently looking for (1) Human Resources Assistant 1 ~ 2 years experience, good English & good personality (2) Guest Relation Manager - 3 ~ 4 years experience, very good English, good personality (3) Bar Supervisor - 2 ~ 3 years experience, good English and good personality (4) Driver 3 years experience (5) Security - M 2 post, 2 years experience (Casual) (6) Door Girl - F 2 post, good personality (Casual) Application letter by email to generalmanager@ savoyhotel-yangon.com or 129, Dhammazedi Rd, Yangon. Tel: 526298, 526289. Pls mention the desire position on the application letter. We are seeking 3 vacancies of the florist for my floral service & gift shop. Female florists urgently required. Please contact : 09-518-5155. ExPort & ImPort : (1) Customer Service Manger - F 1 post (2) Export & Import Staff - M/F 3 posts (3) Sales & Marketing M/F 2 posts (4)Custom Clearance M/F- 3 posts (5)Operation (packer)-M 5 posts (6) Senior Accountant -F 1 post (7)Cashier - F 1 post. Travel & Tour : (1).Tour Operation Manager - M/F 1 post (2) Operation Staff - M/F 3 post (3) HR Manager - F 1 post Requirement for Qualification, skill & experiences are as per our conversation. Legendary Myanmar: No,9 A-4 3 Flr Kyaung Lane Myaeni Gone, Ph:01-823653,516-795, 503467 hr. legendary myanmar@gmail.com KELVIN CHIA Yangon Ltd is a foreign legal consultancy firm. We invite motivated and committed individuals to join us as (1) Lawyers who will work on a variety of corporate & commercial matters & transactions in Myanmar. If you are a Myanmarqualified 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 & self-motivated. All nationalities are welcome (Myanmar, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, etc). Pls email to kk@ kcyangon.com Elite Int'l School is seeking (1). English Teachers (Foreigner) (2). English Teachers (Local ) (3). Subject Teachers (Secondary & Primary Levels) (4). Music Teachers (5). Drawing Teachers Should you be interested send your detailed CV to 27, Bayintnaung Main Rd, Hlaing, Yangon. Ph: 01-531117 Email:elitein ternationalschool09 @ gmail.com TyPist : High school graduate, Good key board skills & a decent command of the English (spelling, grammar & punctuation) to produce high quality documents, Efficient & pay attention to detail, Can use computer software packages, including Word, Excel & Power Point, Are a good communicator, Produce neat and well-presented work, Are discreet much of the information you will be dealing with will be confidential. Ph: 134 A, Than Lwin Rd, Golden Valley Ward 1, Bahan, (BOX 729 GPO) Yangon. Ph: 526 180. Nestle is seeking (1) Sales Trade Develop ment Manager (Base in Mandalay). Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or rele vant education degree.5 years' experience, in FMCG is preferable. (2) Nutrition AdvisorYangon/ Mandalay/ Mawlamyaing. Bachelor's Degree in Medical, Food Science, Food Technology, Nurs ing, Pharmaceutical or any Science related field. 1 year experience in Nutrition. (3) Marketing Executive-Nestle Professional. Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or related education degree. 3 years experien ce in Marketing. (4) Agronomist . Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture. 1 or 2 years experience. For all posts : Good command of English & Computer literacy. Pls submit complete detailed resume to Nestle Myanmar Ltd, Flr 11th Centerpoint Towers, No.65, Corner of Sule Pagoda Rd and Merchant St, Kyauktada, Yangon, Or email to: zinhnaung a@nestlemyanmar.com. mm (OR) tztzha@gmail. com Searching for serious, confident, experienced taylor (man/woman) for small bag production. Good working conditions, Golden Valley, Yangon. Contact phone for details: 09-504-1359 Myanmar's largest advertising agency seeks a Client Service Representative to serve customers by providing agency service information; managing client communications; and coordinating with management and SAIL employees to deploy advertising services. Requirement : High English ability. Professio nal dress. Highly confident engaging with foreign clients, Market knowledge, Interpersonal skills, Documentation skills. Pls apply to: SAIL Marketing & Communications www. advertising-myanmar. com, 790, Bogyoke Rd and Wadan Rd Junction Suite 603, Danathiha Center, Lanmadaw. Ph: 211870, 224820 A ccountants , General Clerks, Marketing & Sales Persons - M/F : Age above 30 - Urgent Need US$ 1,000 /Month, Free accomodation, Food, Transport Yearly Bonus, Local Allowances, Festival Allowances To work in Nigeria, Lagos. 25 Myanmar are working there. No agent fees, Air Ticket Free, During Vacation with pay CPA or ACCA or M.Ba or B.Com or D.Ma or LCCI or any Accounting Academic Good for English speaking, Computer skill & MYOB & other accounting package. Ph:01-573881, 09-5148138. ParKway Cancer Centre is seeking Medical Doctor - F 1 post : M.B,B.S Graduate with SA MA registration, 2 years experience in medical field, Good com munication in English, Must be able to use computer, internet and Microsoft application with excellent skills. We welcome the candidates who are trust worthy, selfmotivated with positive working attitude. Pls submit: CV with relevant certificates, documents, recommendation letter attach and documents, & expected salary. Rm G-07, G Flr, Diamond Center, Pyay Rd, Kama yut. Tel : 532 438, 532 447, Email : yangon@ canhope.org MarKeting StaFF 2 posts medical products sales experience. Glorious Light Trading Co., Ltd Ph--09-2012304 , 01-391683 A Leading Shipping Company, based in Singapore with business activities in freight forwarding services is seeking (1). Management Trainee (2).Sales Executive: a degree holder from a recognized university, Age above 25; Possess superior oral & written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills and exhibit good judgment, & function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment; Able to speak and write English with proficiency; Able to use computer effectively and efficiently; Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Pls apply via email with a recent photograph to star2013. collette@gmail.com our website at www. meridianshippinggroup. com . The Asahi Shimbun: Japanese newspaper is seeking; Admin and Reporter (Female) - 1 post : Essential English skill in writing & speaking, Age not more than 35, Please send resume to asahiyangon@gmail. com KELVIN CHIA Yangon Ltd is a foreign legal consultancy firm. We invite motivated & committed indivi duals to join us as: Administrative Execu tive : Good written & spoken communication skills in English. Mature and capable of supervising & directing subordinates. Must be well-organized, meti culous, have initiative & execute instructions promptly. Some account ing back ground & experien ce preferred. Pls send full resume stating their current and expected salaries, together with a recent photograph to chw@ kcyangon.com golden Spirit Co., Ltd is seeking Sales & Marketing Director, Sales & Manager / Asst: Sales Manager (area sales & division, Region), Sales Supervisors / Sales Executives, Negotiation skills, good & strong knowledge in sales analysis & reporting system, implement in sales plan, management of sales policy, Target & achievement. Marketing Manager / Asst: Marketing Manager, Marketing Supervisors / Marketing Executives, Brand Manager / Assit: Brand Manager, Sales Manager for Modern Trade Sales Channel, Able to travel anywhere in Yangon : Strong Organizer, High level of energy and mobility, must have a desire to improve operations all the time previous experience, preferably in liquor area good interpersonal & communications skills effectively with all level. Pls send update CV, along with recent photo, a copy of labour registration card, NRC card police recommendation letter, family registration document to 2/D, Thamada Condo Yaw mingyi Ward, Dagon Tsp, Exotissimo Travel Myanmar is seeking(1) Travel Consultant/ Tour Operator - 5 Posts : 2 years experience in Tourism industry with same position, Proactive, team spirit, good organisational & problem solving skill, Strong sales & customer service focus, Computer proficiency, Excellent in English or French (2)HR Executive - 1 post : Preferably minimum Diploma in HRM & above, 1 year of relevant experience, Excellent organizational & time management skill. (Only those with a genuine interest in joining a professional travel company for long-term commitment need apply.) Pls send a detailed resume with recent photo and other relevant documents to HR Manager at No.147, Shwe Gone Dine St, West Shwe Gone Dine Ward, Bahan, Yangon, Email: memecho@exotissimo. com

UN Positions
the Int'l Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Yangon is seeking Security Guard 1 post in Thaton Tsp, Mon State. Interested Organization for Migration (Thaton Sub Office), 9/A, Min Rd (Min Lan), Lake Inn Ward, Thaton Township

Ingo Positions
international Rescue Committee Myanmar is seeking Finance Assistant 3 posts in Paletwa Tsp, Chin State/ Myebon Tsp, Rakhine State/ Loikaw Tsp, Kayah State: University degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a rexognized professional certificate in accounting (CPA or equivalent certificate would be preferred). 2 years of accounting professional experience. Experience with various PC and financial related software (spreadsheets, accounting packages). Pls submit a cover letter & CV to the HR Department. Applications will be accepted by e-mail at: MaiMyaMyintZuTin@ rescue.org or by delivery to the IRC office : Int'l Rescue Committee (IRC), No.33/A, Natmauk Lane Thwe (1), Bocho (2) Quarter, Bahan, Yangon, Closing date : 14 February 2014. actinaid Myanmar is looking for : DIPECHO Consortium M&E Coordinator, (Myanmar Consortium for Community Resilience). Education & Certifications: Degree in relevant field from a reputable university or equivalent management working experience in the development or humanitarian sector. 5 years experience working iin an M&E role in the development or humanitarian sector. Experience of DG-ECHO or EC funded projects; knowledge of DG-ECHO or EC funded donor requirements. Excellent communication and writing skills (Myanmar and English). Technical experience of DRR, CCA or resilience programming. Interested persons should send an application letter along with a current C.V: No requirement of photo or copy of certificates. We will prefer to receive application only through the following address: #No(1), Win Ga Bar Avenue, Shwe Gone Daing, Bahan, Yangon or email Aamyanmar.Job@ actionaid.org or a copy to job.actionaid 509@ gmail.com. Application deadline: 12 February 2014. February 18th & 19th: Face-to-Face Interview & Written Interview. MYANMAR Red Cross Society is seeking (1) Field Coordinator -1 Post (2) Accountability, Equity, Inclusion Officer - 1 Post (3) Branch Project Finance & Admin Officer - 1 Post (4) Field Supervisor - 2 Posts (5) Field Assistant - 1 Post. Application process: Pls send your application letter, CV & related documents to Myanmar Red Cross Society (Head Office) Yazatingaha Rd, Dekkhinathiri, Nay Pyi Taw. Ormrcshrrecruitment@ gmail.com For more information & application, pls visit to www. myanmarredcross society.org Pls mention Position Title in subject if you apply. (1) Admin & Finance Assistant - 1 post Application process: Pls send your application letter, CV and related documents to Myanmar

Red Cross Society (Head Office) Yazatingaha Rd, Dekkhinathiri,NayPyiTaw. Ormrcshrrecruitment@ gmail. com For more information & application, pls visit to www. anmarredcrosssociety. org Please mention Position Title in subject if you apply. norwegian Refugee Council is seeking Logistics Assistant in Yangon: Degree or Diploma in related field and/or related training course. Prior work experience in logistics and procurement. Computer literate with strong MS office. Good communication in both Myanmar & English. Pls submit CV, including application letter & contact detail of two referees (No other supporting documents are required for this stage), to adminhr@ myanmar.nrc.no with cc to ssc@myanmar.nrc. no mail to: HR Officer, NRC, 68, Than Lwin Rd (Corner with Aung Daw Mu St), Bahan, Yangon. closing date : 2nd February 2014 myanmar Red Cross Society is seeking Water and Sanitation Officer 1 post in MRCS-Nay Pyi Taw and frequently travel to program areas: Myanmar National. University Degree in Water & Sanitation, Civil Engineering or related field. 3 years of experience in related community based water & sanitation project. Effective computer knowledge (MS Office, Internet). Red Cross Volunteers are 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. medecins du Monde (MDM) is seeking(1) Methadone Advisor 1 post in Moegaung, Kachin State: MBBS (with valid medical registration: SAMA). 1 year experience as a Methadone medical doctor in the field of Harm Reduction. Fluency in English. Computer skills. (2)Account 1 post in Yangon: Bachelor of Economic (or) Diploma of Accounting. 2 years experience. Fluency in Myanmar & English. Computer skill. Pls submit CV & a cover letter to MDM Country Coordination Office in Yangon. 11(B), Mahar Myaing St, Sanchaung, Yangon. Ph: 01-230 4015, 09-731-71002 Or Email: office.mdm myanmar@gmail.com FondaZione Terre des hommes Italia (TDH Italia) is seeking 1 Civil Engineer: Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent. Command of English. Command of Microsoft Office & Autocad. 2 Work Supervisors: Qualified Surveyor or related Bachelor degree. Good knowledge in similar work experience. Good knowledge in Computer literacy, Basic familiairity with English. Pls submit application with completed information about current job & expected salary incl. CV, photo, references by email or by postal service to : TDH Italia Main Office: 36/A, Inya Myaing Rd, Bahan, Yangon. Tel: 527563, Email: hr.tdhit. mya@gmail.com French Red Cross is seeking Finance, Administration & HR Manager 1 post in Yangon : Master degree or equivalent, Excellent in Myanmar & English, including the ability to write quality reports and

Local Positions
machinery & Solutions Co., Ltd. is seeking (1) Travel Coordinator 1 F, (2) Site Coordinator 1 F/M, (3) Electrical Engineer 2 F/M, (4) Substation Specialist 1 F/M, (5) Distribution Specialist 1 F/M, (6) Social Specialist 1 F/M, (7) Transmission Engineer 1 F/M, (8) Financial Management Analyst 1 F/M, (9) Welder/ Fitter 5 M, Position 1 - must have 1-3 years experience in Hotel/ Tourism/ Travelling/ Business Admin. Position 2 - any bachelor/ Degree prefer electrical engineering with 10-year experience in relevant fields and Good communication, negotiation, excellent interpersonal skill, presentation skill, analytical, planning and reporting skills. Welcome to any retired person who from MEPE. Position 9 must have mini: 5 years experience in relevant fields and holding certified 6G experience as an advantage. All positions will be enable communicate in English (4-skills)/ Internet & E-mail/ Microsoft Office. Those who are interested in challenging job can send Resume to hr.mands.sg@gmail. com with cover letter stated expected salary not later than (15-022014). united Engineering Co., Ltd. is seeking (1)

Recruit! Local Correspondent in Yangon

Excellent skills of English. Welcome local journalist, embassy staff or NGO staff. Basic Salary (800 US$ ~ 1000 US$) + Transportation expense + Telephone Bill & Internet Bill + Daily allowence (in case of duty-trip) Mainichi is a Japanese Daily Newspapers Takayuki KASUGA Bureau Chief, Asia General Bureau If you are interested, please send your CV to the following kasuga-t@mainichi.co.jp

62 Sport

THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

Happy Etoo may stay at Chelsea, says Mourinho

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho said on January 28 that Samuel Etoo may remain at the club next season, despite reports he could return to Spain when his contract expires in June. Mourinho would like to keep the 32-year-old former Mallorca and Barcelona striker, but he says that no nal decision will be taken by player or club until nearer the end of the current campaign. With Fernando Torres out for two more weeks with a knee injury, Etoo has become the London clubs principal striker at a decisive phase in the season. And the Chelsea manager said, We have a very trustful relationship with him. Hes the kind of guy that, with his career, he feels very free and very comfortable making decisions just for himself. He feels good, feels happy. He wants to play for titles. He decided to come here to the Premier League to Chelsea, so Samuel is enjoying his career until the end. Well see what he wants to do at the end of the season. Maybe he wants to go to Mallorca, as he promised his son. Maybe he wants to stay with us, or go and nish his career at Inter [Milan]. He doesnt need titles, he doesnt need money. Asked if he had ruled out Etoo staying put, Mourinho said, Of course not. Hes a big player, even if he doesnt score 25 goals, because his contribution to the team is very high. We are happy. Cameroon star Etoo has struck eight goals since joining Chelsea following a spell at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, including a hat-trick in the recent 3-1 victory over Manchester United. Chelsea will continue their Premier League title challenge when West Ham United visit Stamford Bridge on January 29.
Chelseas striker Samuel Etoo (centre) vies with Stoke Citys defender Ryan Shawcross (right) and midfielder Marc Wilson (left) in London on January 26. Photo: AFP

LONDON

He doesnt need titles, he doesnt need money.

Jose Mourinho Chelsea manager

New signing Mohamed Salah, the 21-year-old Egyptian winger, will not be available following his arrival from Basel as Mourinhos side seek a sixth successive league win. Chelsea trailed leaders Arsenal by two points ahead of the mid-week matches, but Mourinho believes that it is too early to describe his team as potential champions. We are improving a lot the team, the players so the future is good, he said. We are going in a good direction. But this season? I dont think so. He added, I expect to win the next match. We go like this. We try and expect to win the next match. It doesnt matter if the next match

is against a Championship [secondtier] team in the FA Cup, or a Champions League match against a giant. We are going always to try and win the next match. But what we need, as a guarantee, is the evolution of the team. This must be a guarantee. If we see that our team is the same or even worse than it was in September, thats a big problem. If we see that players like [Eden] Hazard, Oscar and Willian and [Cesar] Azpilicueta are not better now than they were six months ago, thats a big problem. These are things that we need. Its compulsory. The evolution of the team and players is compulsory. Results are a

consequence of the evolution. We are doing ne. Lets see what happens. But we always want to win the next match. Thats our culture. You will ask me about playing Manchester City next [on February 3]; a stadium and a team where everyone loses [by] four, ve or six. Ill tell you we want to win. Mourinho also said that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will not be spending a fourth season on loan at Atletico Madrid. The Belgium international was loaned to Atletico shortly after joining Chelsea from Genk in 2011, but when asked if he would remain at the Vicente Calderon next season, Mourinho replied simply, No. AFP

Three Canadian sisters to compete at Olympics

THEIR identical radiant smiles give them away: three Canadian sisters who are inseparable, at the top of their sport and all three headed to Sochi to compete in the Olympics. Freestyle skiers Maxime, Chloe and Justine Dufour Lapointe will become the second sister trio and only the fth siblings to do so. According to sports historians, three Leduc sisters from France competed in the 1960 womens slalom, and the Jerman brothers from Argentina competed in 1976 in crosscountry skiing. As well, three Stastny brothers from Czechoslovakia played Olympic hockey in 1980, and four Tames brothers made up the Mexican bobsled team at the 1988 Games. Maxime, 24, Chloe, 22, and Justine, 19, wear their red and black Team Canada jackets with pride, while their mother also beams in the background, so happy that each of my three girls is realising her dream. When I was 12 or 13 and on the provincial team, thats when I knew that I wanted to go to the Olympics, says Chloe, who will be competing at her second Games in Sochi. In Vancouver in 2010 she came in fth in her sport. For the Dufour Lapointe family, skiing was merely a winter pasttime, when ice and snow prevented them from sailing. Weve been sailing since the age of 16 and were now 53, says mom, who now acts as her girls agent. Wed always be on a boat in the summer and in winter, for outdoor activities, we turned to skiing and it apart, and whatever challenges the future brings they will meet them together, says mom, recalling how they used to play together during long sailing trips. That closeness may someday persist into a new career in fashion, with Chloe doing marketing, Justine being responsible for management and Maxime doing the actual sewing and stitching. Our skills and abilities are complementary, says Chloe, revealing that the three girls would like to launch a clothing line. They have already chosen a possible brand name: 3SDL for three sisters Dufour Lapointe. Oh so cute, interrupts Justine when she spies Chloes nails painted with the Olympic rings and Canadas Maple Leaf ag. Now it is her turn in the chair at a beauty salon attached to the gym in Montreal where the three girls train. Everything is being done to prepare Justine, Chloe and Maxime ranked second, third and fth in the world in their sport, respectively to shine in Sochi, and win gold. They will be competing against moguls champion Hannah Kearney of the United States. For now, they are focused on getting past the nish line and then the nal decision will be in the hands of the judges, says Chloe. On February 8, mom and dad will waiting for them at the bottom of the slope and cheering them on. The best outcome would be to see all three sisters on the winners podium which would be a rst in Olympic history. AFP

MONTREAL

Aussie Exum to enter NBA draft

AUSTRALIAN basketball phenom Dante Exum has decided to enter the 2014 National Basketball Association entry draft, ESPN reported last week. The 18-year-old from Melbourne has decided not to play college basketball and will instead try to go professional. Exum is considered one of the top-rated prospects for the draft and is expected to be chosen in the rst half of the opening round. Some NBA scouts have him ranked in the top ve, ESPN said. Exum gave up his option to play collegiate basketball when he signed a contract with sport agent Rob Pelinka of Landmark Sports Agency. We are excited to be working with Landmark Sports, Exum told ESPN. Exum averaged 18.2 points and 3.8 assists over nine games in last years FIBA U-19 championships and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Exum is the son of former Denver Nuggets draft pick Cecil Exum, who also played at the University of North Carolina. This years draft is considered to be one of the strongest elds in several years. The draft will take place June 26 in New York. AFP

LOS ANGELES

The Dufour Lapointe sisters, (left to right) Chloe, Justine and Maxime,pose on January 21 at the Victoria Park gym center in Montreal. Photo: AFP

was around age three that the girls took their rst skiing lessons. Weve always been adventurous Going skiing with our parents, we always went into the backcountry or to ski-jumping hills. Weve always been adventurous, says Chloe, explaining her passion for winter acrobatics. Maxime, while watching a ski jumping competition at age 10, decided, I want to do that.

Hesitant at the start, her parents eventually realized that their eldest girl had talent and liked it, and soon her younger siblings started to imitate her, recalled family matriarch Johane Dufour. In order to keep up their education, they would cram schooling into four days each week, leaving them free to train on Fridays in order to compete on weekends. These girls have never been

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Sport 63

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64 THE MYANMAR TIMES FEBRUARY 3 - 9, 2014

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

Canadian sisters aim for Olympic history

SPORT 62

Eye of the Tiger

DUBAI

KBZ FC takes Charity Cup

Kyaw Zin Hlaing kyawzinhlaing91@gmail.com KANBAWZA Football Club topped rival and reigning Myanmar National League champion Yangon United Football Club in the Charity Cup held on January 26 at Aung San Stadium in Yangon. KBZ blanked Yangon United 2-0 with strong showing from the sides foreign players. Brazilian defender Junior scored the matchs opening goal at the 55 minute mark. Thirteen minutes later it was newly acquired Croatian striker Tihomir Zivkovic, playing in his rst match in Myanmar, who put the game out of reach. Yangon United was never able to nd its rhythm. Star Kyi Lins play was inconsistent as he continues to suffer from a nagging ankle injury suffered during Decembers SEA Games. Kyaw Ko Ko also had a less than impressive match. The win left Khin Mg Latt, KBZ FC president, with high hopes about the season ahead. Im satised with the match. KBZ team had to be condent to get this Charity Cup. I hope our team will be Myanmar National League champion in 2014, he said. True to its name, the Charity Cup raised an impressive amount of money and football equipment for two local organisaitons. K10 million, raised from ticket sales along with donations from Myanmar Football Federation officials and MNL owners, as well as 100 footballs and 300 jerseys were donated to Htauk Kyant Womens School and Shwegone Dine orphanage.

Woods has Ryder Cup in his sights

felt about playing in the Ryder Cup in Scotland. I dont think Im even on the team right now points-wise. Ive got to get myself there rst. Currently Woods stands outside the top 20 in the standings to make the 2014 US Ryder Cup side, but has the bulk of the new season to make up ground and then captain Tom Watson has three wildcard picks at his disposal after that. It will be fun to play in Scotland, he said. Weve played at the Belfry [England], it seems like forever, moved around to Spain and Wales. But we havent been to Scotland in a very long time. So its going to be nice to go there and play at Gleneagles and have Tom [Watson] as our captain. Woods said he was hopeful that the Americans could have the kind of mix of ages that they enjoyed under captain Freddie Couples in winning the Presidents Cup for the fth time in a row last October. We had a great mix of older guys, middle-aged guys and some new blood

IGER Woods says he is keen to make the US team which will challenge to break Europes recent domination of the Ryder Cup when it returns to Scotland after a 41-year gap at Gleneagles in late September. Woods was part of the team that was overhauled by Jose Maria Olazabals men on the nal day singles at Medinah in 2012 and that brought his record in the biennial team event to having played it six times and been on the winning side only once, in 1999. You know we are looking forward to it, he replied when asked how he

2008
Last year that the United States sucessfully captured the Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods plays a shot during the first round of the 2014 Omega Dubai Desert Classic on January 30. Photo: AFP

in Jordan [Spieth] being only I think 20 at the time. Or was he 19 at the time? He was still so young. The Ryder Cup will take place at

Gleneagles in eastern Scotland from September 26-28 with Europe out to triumph for the sixth time in seven editions. AFP

IN PICTUREs
Racing for Michael: British driver Lewis Hamilton displays a message of support for seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher during the Formula One pre-season test days at Jerez racetrack in Spain on January 28. Doctors on January 30 began bringing Schumacher out of a medically induced coma. He has been in intensive care at Grenoble University Hospital since suffering a ski accident on December 29 in the Alpine resort of Meribel. Photo: AFP

KBZ striker Tihomir Zivkovic celebrates after scoring on January 26 at Aung San Stadium. Photo: Supplied