US delegation to talk sanctions

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1 HEARTBEAT OF THE NATION 1200 Ks. ISSUE 696 SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Obama s investment rules under fire, but no plans for a review TIM MCLAUGHLIN timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com WHEN they were unveiled in May, the United States government s Burma Responsible Investment Reporting Requirements were touted by Washington as the cornerstone of the Obama Administration s policy for transparent business re-engagement with Myanmar. However, just a handful of reports have been filed on the US embassy s website and the requirements have drawn the ire of both businesses, which see them as an unnecessary hurdle, and human rights groups, which say they are not stringent enough to ensure US businesses respect human rights. For larger firms it may be less of an issue, but for smaller firms, the cost of time and resources necessary to comply can be considerable, and could be a deterrent to new investment, said Lisa Burgess, spokesperson at the US Chamber of Commerce, which has opposed the reporting requirements since they were first announced. Despite displeasure from both sides, The Myanmar Times understands that no further changes to the reporting requirements are being considered. Two public comment periods were held last year prior to the first reports being posted on July 1. MORE ON NEWS 6 PAGE 8 Photo: Ko Taik Department warns of heavy rain, flooding Monsoon season might be drawing to a close, but the wet weather is set to continue this week. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has forecast heavy rain for lower Myanmar including Yangon through to the end of the month, and has warned of the potential for flooding. NEWS 3 One-quarter of land concessions unused Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation reveals 25 percent of the almost 4 million acres given to Myanmar companies has not been developed. NEWS 7 DICA to increase workforce by 40pc A key investment regulatory body is set to add scores of new staff to cope with the increased number of inquiries and applications from local and foreign investors. FEATURE 20 Thandaung open to tourists? Not quite yet The Myanmar Times tests the limits of an apparent loosening of travel restrictions in a colonial-era hillstation east of Taungoo. BUSINESS 25 Rakhine govt pins recovery on industry The violence in Rakhine State in 2012 shattered the state s economy but regional government officials are confident of attracting investors to a number of new industrial zones. Stay connected with The Myanmar Times US delegation to talk sanctions A joint State Department and Department of Treasury delegation will visit Myanmar this week to meet a range of stakeholders and discuss the impact of changes to the US sanctions regime over the past 18 months. NEWS 4

2 2 THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Page 2 online editor Kayleigh Long kayleighelong@gmail.com THE INSIDER: The local lowdown & best of the web Drink driver A New Zealand man has received treatment for serious head injuries after crashing a homemade motorised bar stool on his way home from the local watering hole. The 62-year-old man was leaving a pub some 50km north of Auckland when the accident took place. He was driving on the road without a helmet, on what police described as a go-kart with a barstool mounted on top. Whether alcohol was involved will be part of our investigation, Inspector Mark Fergus said. Top Dog A dog found in central Kiev has made headlines, after a man noted its striking resemblance to Russian head of state Vladimir Putin and sent its picture to a local news site. The Moscow Times picked up the story, and reported that the dog is thought to be a mix of a Staffordshire terrier and a German shepherd. The Times noted a further (if somewhat tenuous) similarity beyond the mutt s piercing gaze: The canine even looks like it has dressed to be a head of state, as the white markings on its chest seem to form a furry tie. Flasher on the loose in Hledan Reports surfaced last week of a foreigner in Yangon exposing himself to passers-by in Hledan, with a local journal citing several incidents near the overpass. Further details are scant, but Page 2 will be following the story closely. Any information can be sent to the address listed top-right, and will be handled with the utmost discretion. Grumpy Cat inks Friskies deal An internet celebrity feline, the so-called Grumpy Cat, has inked a lucrative deal as the face of Friskies. Grumpy Cat, real name Tardar Sauce, shot to fame when its owners posted photos of the then-five-month-old on Reddit in September Further videos were posted on YouTube, in order to combat claims the cat s image had been digitally altered. The owners claim the cat and its inexplicable perma-frown has already earned six figures for endorsements prior to the Friskies contract the numbers for which they declined to elaborate on. When Myanmar was Burma... Archival material provided by Pansodan Gallery Style Statement Poster for 70s film Five Bullets starring Zaw Lwin, Ant Kyaw and Khin Aung May Myint Moh for NOW! magazine. Photo: Htet Aung Kyaw (StudioHak)

3 In desperation, IDPs turn to theft BILL O TOOLE botoole12@gmail.com WITH their food supplies running low, some people in both official and unofficial internally displaced persons camps in the Sittwe area have taken to stealing livestock and other supplies from local villages, sources living in and near the camps have told The Myanmar Times. U Aung Win, a Rohingya man who lives close to a Muslim IDP camp near Sittwe, said the incidence of theft has increased noticeably since the beginning of August. They have nothing, no accommodation, no water, no electricity... so some go [to nearby villages] and steal buffalo, he said, adding that there have been at least five thefts near his home in the past two weeks. The IDP camps are home to thousands of Muslims many of whom describe themselves as Rohingya but are officially known in Myanmar as Bengalis who were displaced by violence in Rakhine State in Lacking citizenship and their freedom of movement restricted by local laws, many in unofficial IDP camps and Rohingya villages are essentially cut off from the outside world and from the rations and other assistance offered by the United Nations. A report released in August by the UN estimated that the restrictions on movement and UN access to camps meant about 36,000 people across Rakhine State are isolated from international assistance, leaving them at risk of water-borne illnesses, malnutrition, and other highly communicable diseases. Individuals in isolated [communities] or [unofficial camps]... have also been adversely impacted [by the violence], either directly socially or economically, with limited or no access to basic services including markets, education and health care, said the report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The report highlighted food security as the most pressing issue these groups face. A resident of Bodupa village, who asked not to be named, said thefts have also become a common occurrence in his area. Since he lost his home in the riots last year, the man has been staying with friends near the Bodupa IDP camp. For one year now [many people] EXCLUSIVE A Muslim woman walks through a camp for internally displaced persons at Mizigawon near Sittwe in Rakhine State. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing have had no regular access to food, he said. It s not only cattle but other materials are stolen as well. He said that only one week earlier bricks, roofing and other materials had been stolen from the home in which he is staying. I don t want to accuse these people of being thieves, he said. They are vulnerable. They are trying to solve their problems. For one year now [many people] have had no regular access to food. Resident Bodupa village in Sittwe In many cases the Muslim IDPs are stealing from local Muslim families and the theft of one or several pieces of livestock can mean the loss of their livelihood. Some are only poor families... They lose everything they have. They must ask for help from their friends or family, so it causes even more problems, said the resident. Though police and local security enforce a curfew in the IDP camps and Muslim villages, residents say that the large number of IDPs the UN estimates the figure has risen by about 50 percent since last year s violence, to 144,000 as of August means that there are simply not enough police to properly enforce the curfew. Reports differ on what happens to the livestock and materials after they are stolen. U Aung Win said that the thieves sell the animals to smugglers going to Bangladesh, while another source in the camps said the stolen goods are being distributed in the camps to meet the short-term needs of residents. U Win Myaing, a spokesperson for the Rakhine State government, said reports that some IDPs are running short of food are completely false. Contrary to the UN s report, he said that all displaced peoples in Rakhine are well taken care of, with aid and rations only being denied to individuals and groups who refuse to acquiesce to the regional government s demand that they register as Bengalis not Rohingya. Laws restricting the movement of Muslims are necessary to protect the security of the state, he said, adding that the IDPs have a history of violent acts toward local authorities. As for the reports of theft, he said it was yet another story fabricated by IDPs to drum up sympathy from the outside world. News 3 Only a quarter of confiscated land being used: minister HSU HLAING HTUN hsuhlainghtun.mcm@gmail.com LESS than one-quarter of all land concessions awarded to private companies have actually been developed, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has revealed, as it called on regional governments to move faster on resolving land disputes. More than 6400 companies have been awarded concessions totalling million acres. However, only 955,796 acres about 24.3 percent is being used, the ministry said. The figures were revealed as Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Myint Hlaing warned at a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on September 17 that companies which have not used land concessions for their stated aim would be stripped of the right to use the land. The latest figures also represented an increase on the 3.42 million acres that the ministry said had been awarded to private companies and state bodies to March 31, During the meeting, U Myint Hlaing also instructed region and state governments to resolve land disputes submitted to a parliamentary investigation commission within one year. Regional governments and Nay Pyi Taw Council need to solve this problem because the public is hurting. They should report to the union government monthly on what actions they have taken, U Myint Hlaing told government officials. Each state and region government has formed a taskforce to handle the issue and the minister said they must check completely and then resolve the problem according to existing laws. U Myint Hlaing said the Central Farmland Management Committee and Central Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Committees could help the taskforces to resolve particularly complex disputes. He said the parliamentary commission had received 745 complaint letters, including 565 relating to confiscations by the Tatmadaw. The September 17 meeting comes after parliamentarians expressed frustration over the seemingly slow progress the government was making in implementing the commission s recommendations. MILLION 3.93 Acres of land awarded to private companies for projects On August 29, the second-last day of the seventh session, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann sent a formal message to President U Thein Sein urging him to speed the process up out of goodwill and sympathy toward farmers and civilians living in poverty, according to media reports. Earlier in the session, almost 40 MPs debated a proposal from commission chairman U Tin Htut calling on the government to move faster on land disputes. U Win Myint of the National League for Democracy said the slow progress was the direct result of the disobedience of these bodies, which are delaying their tasks. Translated by Thae Thae Htwe

4 4 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 US delegation to hold talks on sanctions TIM MCLAUGHLIN A UNITED States delegation will visit Myanmar this week to assess the ongoing impact of its sanctions regime, the country s embassy in Yangon has confirmed. The joint State Department and Treasury Department delegation will travel to Myanmar to learn from US companies and other stakeholders about their experiences doing business in-country and discuss how the US government can support their endeavours, an embassy spokesperson said. The delegation will meet US businesses, government officials, civil society organisations and Myanmar companies. The delegation will discuss US sanctions policy and share information on the remaining sanctions. The members will discuss the impact of the easing of US sanctions over the past year on economic and political reforms taking place. The spokesperson declined to comment further on the visit. The Myanmar Times understands that one focus of the visit will be an assessment of individuals and enterprises on the Treasury Department s Specially Designated Nationals (SND) list. US companies are prohibited from working with firms on the list, which has ruled out partnerships with many of Myanmar s most prominent business identities, including U Tay Za of Htoo Group and U Zaw Zaw of Max Myanmar Group. In February the Treasury Department eased restrictions against four Myanmar banks: Asia Green Development Bank, Ayeyarwady Bank, Myanma Economic Bank, and Myanma Investment & Commercial Bank. Though all four banks remain on the SDN list they were granted permission to engage in financial transactions with US instiutions. The most recent addition to the list was made on July 2 when Lieutenant General Thein Htay, head of the Directorate of Defense Industries (DDI), was added for acting for or on behalf of DDI to buy military equipment and material from North Korea in contravention of United Nations sanctions. Thein Htay has disregarded international requirements to stop purchasing military goods from North Korea, the revenues from which directly support North Korea s illicit activities, Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said in the statement released at the time. IN PICTURES A three-storey floating hotel under construction in Mandalay is set to open early next year, the developer says. U Htun Htun, a director of GC Myanmar, said work began in March on the 250-by-70-foot Kaba Soneseeyar Hotel, which is 70 percent complete. The hotel will have more than 40 rooms and is being built in the style of a royal barge, or karaweik. Si Thu Lwin U Win Htein stands by comments on Meiktila violence BILL O TOOLE botoole12@gmail.com NATIONAL League for Democracy MP U Win Htein said he does not regret comments that have prompted some of his constituents in Meiktila to petition for his removal from parliament. The Pyithu Hluttaw representative sparked controversy in mid-august when he told Weekly Eleven that the violence that wracked the town in March and left more than 40 people dead made him feel ashamed to be from Meiktila. Speaking from a hospital bed in Nay Pyi Taw last week, U Win Htein said he doesn t feel any regret... I spoke clearly and truthfully. A petitioner named U Kyi Kyi Aye told Mizzima that U Win Htein s comments showed that he was not on the side of Buddhist residents in the town. They plan to gather signatures from at least 1 percent of voters in the town and file a petition to the Union Election Commission (UEC) by the end of September to recall U Win Htein. As The Myanmar Times has reported, parliamentarians are reluctant to pass a bill submitted by the UEC in 2012 that would enable MPs to be removed through the recall procedure, which is outlined in section 396(b) of the constitution (see related story page 19). The constitution states that after constituents submit a petition with at least 1pc of signatures, MPs can be removed if they are found guilty of high treason; breach of any provision of the constitution; misbehaviour; not meeting the qualifications of a hluttaw representative; or inefficient discharge of duties. U Win Htein first came to prominence during the 1988 uprising as a close adviser to then-nld chairman U Tin Oo. After U Tin Oo was placed under house arrest and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi became the party s de facto leader, he became a confidante of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He has been imprisoned many times since 1988 for his activism, including a 14-year sentence that ended when he was released in 2010 under an amnesty. It was during this period in prison that he contracted a severe case of malaria, the after-effects of which he still battles today. When he spoke to The Myanmar Times last week he was resting in the Nay Pyi Taw hospital after suffering I don t like injustice and unfairness. They had no reason to [kill] those people. U Win Htein National League for Democracy MP for Meiktila a dizzy spell during a workshop in parliament. Discussing the violence in Meiktila, he said it was not only the rioting he found upsetting but the lack of action from local police and security forces. On March 22 people reported that crowds had surrounded a place where Muslims were hiding, he said. Some police were separating the crowds from the Muslims... I told the police officers and the village administrators to order the crowd to disperse, but they didn t do anything. He said that from there the crowd became bolder, eventually breaking through the police lines and dragging Muslims into the crowd while the police simply watched. U Win Htein said he saw at least four people beaten to death. When he tried to stop the mob they threatened to turn on him. I don t like injustice and unfairness. They had no reason to [kill] those people, he said. Many observers, both inside and outside Myanmar, have criticised the country s politicians for not taking a stronger stand against the anti-muslim violence that has gripped several parts of the country in the last year. Many of the criticisms are directed at U Win Htein s party leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who during her recent trip to Poland fielded several pointed questions about what she could do to stem the violence. U Win Htein said he believes the criticism of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been unfair but he is unsure whether she will follow his lead and take a more clear-cut stand on the violence. I don t know whether she will or not. It is up to her, he said. He said he disagreed with criticism that she is shying away from the issue because it is a sensitive subject. In our [NLD] manifesto it says we will look out for the welfare of all people despite religious differences. She is following that manifesto. One Meiktila resident, who asked not to be named, said there is a feeling in the town that U Win Htein is out of touch with the general populace, especially on issues relating to Muslims and the riots. His comments in the news journal only confirmed, for some, the suspicion that U Win Htein is siding with Meiktila s Muslims over its Buddhists. U Win Htein rejected any suggestion that he supported one group over the other. I do not have sympathy particularly for Muslims, but for all people who have recently been persecuted, he said. While he said he doesn t believe the petition is likely to have him kicked out of parliament, U Win Htein said that if he is forced to resign he will return to Meiktila and continue his political activities. No matter what happens, I will be fine.

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6 6 News THE MYANMAR TIMES September 23-29, 2013 MP calls for another constitution review body US business reporting rules draw fire on multiple fronts Soe Than Lyn AS lawmakers in committee debate possible changes to the 2008 Constitution, one MP wants to set up a new committee to redraft the country s basic law concerning ethnic minority armed groups. The committee would include not only parliamentarians but also legal experts, government officials, representatives of armed ethnic groups and more ethnic leaders. If we have a chance of open discussion, we can get a perfect constitution that can be accepted by all, including armed groups, Amyotha Hluttaw representative U Sai Paung Nap said at a ceremony to mark International Day of Democracy on September 15. The proposal has already met with resistance. Amyotha Hluttaw representative U Phone Myint Aung told The Myanmar Times that an elected representative who had sworn loyalty to the constitution had no business making such a proposal. For an MP who promised to be loyal to the constitution, this is beyond the limits of what is permissible. The constitution is still in force, said U Phone Myint Aung. We have to go step by step. This is not the time to talk about establishing a drafting committee. Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Zaw Myint Maung of the National League for Democracy said his party had already set up its own committee to get feedback from the public and channel it into the parliamentary body. The NLD has seven members on the constitution review committee. The NLD wants to change the 2008 constitution and seek national reconciliation. We will seek advice from the public, he said. Translated by Zar Zar Soe continued from news 1 The reporting requirements stipulate that US companies report new investment in Myanmar exceeding US$500,000 and any investment made with the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). Payments of $10,000 made to the Myanmar government, related agencies or officials all need to be flagged, along with the purchase of property or any contact with the Tatmadaw. Companies also need to outline steps being taken to respect workers rights and the environment. Companies submit two versions of the reports one that is made public and a second version that may contain sensitive information, like trade secrets, and is kept by the State Department. Both reports are reviewed by officials at myriad offices within the US State Department, including the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; the Bureau of East Asia Affairs; and the Office of the Sanctions Coordinator. The State Department can ask for more information or clarification if it deems it necessary. After being reviewed, the public reports are then posted on the website of the US embassy in Yangon. Annual reports are due 180 days after the $500,000 investment mark is surpassed and thereafter each year on July 1. To date just five reports have been posted all on the first two days after the reporting system was launched. But US business organisations say that the reporting requirements are an unnecessary obstacle for smaller firms, but will not hold back large companies, such as Coca-Cola or General Electric, which have both ramped up their business in Myanmar in the past year. (Neither responded to repeated requests for comment.) A spokesperson at the US-ASEAN Business Council told The Myanmar Times that it believed the requirements represent a particular burden to smaller companies that may look to make the jump [to Myanmar] that could effectively stall or fully prevent companies from making even small investments. In contrast to these business organisations, rights groups say that the reports have thus far failed to provide adequate information regarding companies activities. In a joint letter to President Barack Obama, 27 Myanmar rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, the Institute for Asian Democracy and Physicians for Human Rights, urged the administration to force companies to include more data in the reports to address what they described as serious informational gaps. Four specific shortcomings were highlighted in the letter based on an examination of the five reports released publicly to date. The groups called for further disclosures from passive investors, who are not required to report on details of worker rights, anti-corruption, and environmental policies and procedures. Rights groups feel that this distinction could lead to companies skirting requirements. If all investment funds with a passive relationship to their Burmese investment targets were to take the same position, U.S. capital could flood high-risk sectors such as extractives, plantation agriculture, and infrastructure development without providing the transparency needed to ensure that these investments are not in fact harming U.S. foreign policy interests, the letter warned. The groups said they were also concerned by the lack of a requirement to identify Myanmar partners; the failure of at least one company Crowley Chief executive officer for ASEAN of US firm General Electric, Stuart Dean (right), speaks at a ceremony to open the company s office in Yangon on May 23. Photo: Boothee 5 The number of public reports from US firms that have been released through the US embassy s website Marine Services to publish policies and procedures related to human rights, the environment, labour, land acquisition and corruption; and the need for proper tracking of investment to ensure reports were made when the $500,000 threshold was met. Companies should not be lulled into thinking that meeting them [reporting requirements] is sufficient, said Lisa Misol, a senior researcher on business and human rights at Human Rights Watch. [Companies] will have to go much further to truly grapple with the human rights risks they could confront. Two investment funds that have already submitted reports, Capital Bank and Trust Company and Capital International Inc, described themselves as passive investors for the purposes of the reporting requirements. In a joint statement to The Myanmar Times they said, Any human rights issues that may affect companies are considered by our investment professionals as part of the investment management process. Crowley Marine Services did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Hercules Offshore, which has also submitted a report, responded to initial s but not to questions submitted by The Myanmar Times. Advocacy group EarthRights International reiterated many of the problems outlined in the letter from human rights groups in its own evaluation of the public reports in July. It said that while the group was pleased to see the US dictate such requirements they leave much room for improvement. Paul Donowitz, ERI s campaign director, said the lack of penalties for companies that fail to meet the reporting requirements was yet another problem that could undermine the system. Penalties or other consequences for failure to comply with the rules should be found in the rules, he said. [T]his is a major shortcoming.

7 News 7 Investment office set for recruitment campaign SANDAR LWIN sdlsandar@gmail.com IN another sign that investment in Myanmar is picking up, the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration plans to expand its workforce by almost 40 percent to cope with its growing workload, an administrative official has told The Myanmar Times. It will also open offices in regional and state capitals, with the first of the new branch offices to open in Mandalay in April The new recruits are needed to process the growing number of company registration applications and investment proposals from foreign and local companies, admin and accounts department director U Linn Htut said last week. The directorate is expanding because its current capacity can t cover the workload. The workload has increased since the investment laws were enacted and now almost all staff are working overtime, he said. The directorate will add 62 staff to its Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon offices in the coming months to reinforce its existing 163-member workforce. We are recruiting 32 low-ranking staff across all [seven] departments in the directorate and the other 30 will be sent by the Union Civil Service Board in November, he said. The directorate has also issued a tender to buy office furniture and equipment, including 45 tables, 13 steel cupboards, seven computers and six printers. A director from DICA s Yangon Region branch, Daw San San Myint, said her office is sorely in need of more staff. But she was unsure whether the recruiting drive would be enough to overcome the shortage. Of course new staff are absolutely needed. To be honest, this round of recruitment won t be enough to cover the current workload and we will need even more, she said. Not only is the workload increasing but also the variety of work. There are more permitted business types so we are getting more inquiries and need to answer all of them. At the same time, we have to collect facts and data and also answer questions from journalists, she said. The directorate will also open branches in regional centres, with priority given to those where investment and business activity is highest. To be honest, this round of recruitment won t be enough. Daw San San Myint DICA director We will open a Mandalay branch around April 2014 and then will continue opening offices in other states and regions. The cities with better business opportunities and more activity, such as Pathein in Ayeyarwady Region and Dawei in Tanintharyi Region, will be given preference, U Linn Htut said. The directorate was formed in 1993 and is responsible for a range of tasks, including processing documentation from the Myanmar Investment Commission; scrutinising and appraising proposed investment projects; monitoring and reporting on permitted projects; and registering and administering companies, joint ventures, partnerships and associations. Workers excavate mound 37 at the Pyu city of Sri Ksetra in Bago Region s Pyay township. Photo: Supplied Pyu museums get makeover ahead of Heritage List assessment visit CHERRY THEIN name@myanmartimes.com.mm SITE museums at three ancient Pyu cities are being restored as part of Myanmar s bid for the sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage List in mid A team of experts from the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will assess the museums at Sri Ksetra in Bago Region s Pyay township, Hanlin in Sagaing Region s Shwebo township and Beikthano in Magwe Region s Taungdwingyi township during a visit next month. ICOMOS advises the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on its World Heritage List. The Ministry of Culture s Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library has put together a team to manage restoration at site museums in collaboration with local experts in museology, archaeology and history. The groups are responsible for restoring items some of which are kept in vaults and national museums for their safety labelling artefacts and upgrading buildings in cooperation with museum officials. U San Win, chairman of the government committee that prepared the nominations for the sites, said ICOMOS experts would make two visits to assess the sites for possible inclusion. The first assessment in late October will cover Sri Ksetra and Beikthano. The second will cover Hanlin but we haven t got confirmed dates for it. Local experts will join them when they make the assessment, he said. He said the team will assess whether development is taking place near the sites and if their authenticity is being properly maintained. The team will also check data in the submissions and examine the legal environment for safeguarding cultural and memorial zones. A decision based on the ICOMOS assessment of the Pyu cities will be made at the 38 th session of the World Heritage Centre in June 2014, he said. We all need to work well to achieve the aim of inclusion on the list, U San Win said. Myanmar ratified the World Heritage Convention in April While it currently has no sites on UNESCO s World Heritage list, in 1996 Myanmar submitted a tentative list of eight cultural sites with technical support from UNESCO. In 2012, Myanmar received a technical contribution from UNESCO and a 400,000 (US$513,000) financial contribution from the Italian government to assist with the listing of the three Pyu cities. A formal application was submitted later that year. Under the project, UNESCO is bringing in international expertise to assist the government in strengthening its ability to safeguard its cultural heritage in accordance with World Heritage Convention standards.

8 8 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief (MTE) Ross Dunkley Editor-in-Chief (MTM) Dr Tin Tun Oo Chief Operating Officer Wendy Madrigal Director Non-core Assets Wai Linn General Counsel and Deputy Editor-in-Chief Zaw Myint Views Weak Hanoi punishes its critics EDITORIAL Editor MTE Thomas Kean Editor MTM Sann Oo Chief of Staff Zaw Win Than Editor Special Publications Myo Lwin Business Editor MTE Jeremy Mullins World Editor MTE Douglas Long The Pulse Editor MTE Manny Maung Sport Editor MTE Tim McLaughlin Online Editor MTE Kayleigh Long Chief Sub Editor MTM Aye Sapay Phyu Business Editor MTM Tin Moe Aung Property Editor MTM Htar Htar Khin Timeout Editor MTM Moh Moh Thaw Senior Editor MTM Thet Hlaing Nay Pyi Taw Bureau Chief and Chief Political Reporter Soe Than Lynn News Editor (Mandalay) Khin Su Wai Head of Translation Dept Ko Ko Head of Photographics Kaung Htet Photographers Boothee, Aung Htay Hlaing, Thiri PRODUCTION Head of Production & Press Scrutiny Liaison Aung Kyaw Oo (1) Art Directors Tin Zaw Htway, Ko Pxyo MCM PRINTING Head of Department Htay Maung Warehouse Manager Ye Linn Htay Factory Administrator Aung Kyaw Oo (3) Factory Foreman Tin Win ADVERTISING National Sales Director Khin Thandar Htay Deputy National Sales Directors Chan Tha Oo, Nay Myo Oo, Nandar Khine, Nyi Nyi Tun Classifieds Manager Khin Mon Mon Yi ADMIN, FINANCE & IT Finance Manager Mon Mon Tha Saing HR Manager Nang Maisy Publisher Dr Tin Tun Oo, Permit No: Information Technology Manager Kyaw Zay Yar Lin ROGER MITTON THERE was a time when it was possible to buy genuine wartime propaganda posters in Vietnam. Most date from what the Vietnamese call the American War and one example, a large diptych of two women, adorns the wall near my desk. The serene-looking woman on the left, a porter for the Viet Cong, wears a dark shirt and carries a pack of heavy rifles on her back; it is dated 1975, the year the war ended. On the right, a younger, more coquettish woman wears a stylish blue ao dai dress and carries a bunch of red flowers; it is dated 1995, almost a decade after the doi moi economic reforms were introduced. The picture is called Calendar Girls, Then and Now (Beauty and Strength). For reasons that will become clear, it is better not to reveal the artist s name in case he might be persecuted for his work by the authorities. That kind of thing is happening a lot in Vietnam these days, especially to artists and writers, academics and journalists, and most of all to internet users. Many of these have set up blogs, using a nom de guerre, where they post articles and images expressing anger at the Hanoi government s inept management of the country. They complain that their lives are shackled, and their motto, adopted from Pink Floyd s hit, Another Brick in the Wall, is We Don t Need No Thought Control. It is nice to imagine sticking little quote balloons on the Beauty and Strength painting to indicate the two women are speaking these words. If they did, they would likely be put in prison, for the Vietnam Communist Party regime has turned on young bloggers and others who dare, even mildly, to chastise or ridicule its policies. Across the country, hundreds of online scribes have been detained on Soldiers take part in a ceremony to mark the changing of the guard at the mausoleum of late Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi on September 9. Photo: AFP charges of discrediting party leaders and posing a threat to national security. Last month, Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, lamented the jailing of Nguyen Phuong Uyen and Dinh Nguyen Kha because they had disseminated political views. He called it a scathing indictment of everything that is wrong with human rights in Vietnam. It reveals a rights-repressing government determined to gag its own citizens and a lapdog judiciary eager to do the bidding of its political masters, Robertson said. Soon afterwards, the Communist regime went even further and passed another repressive measure called Decree 72, which bans the sharing of general information through social media. That means internet users in Vietnam can only send personal information; they cannot quote, gather or summarise material from the press or government websites. And they certainly cannot put quote bubbles on pictures to indicate people saying scurrilous things about Ho Chi Minh s penchant for young ladies or the Politburo s fondness for single malt whisky. Metaphorically speaking, however, that pretty well sums up what the successful Communism Cafe in Hanoi has been doing - and for which it has landed in deep doodah. Owned by a well-known singer, Linh Dung, the place is festooned with Beauty and Strength, namely vintage propaganda images, many of which have been satirically embellished. Its menus, for example, are written on pages from Marx and Lenin, and quotes by these great men, including Ho Chi Minh, have been edited to make them appear, well, rather silly. Now, Commies love concrete, but they hate satire. It just drives them bonkers. So the security services are investigating Dung s cafe for its blasphemous decorations. Their actions are really due to the fact that it is so popular. The Hanoi regime is petrified at the way Vietnam s new tech-savvy generation holds it in almost total contempt. Cue the launch of yet another brutal assault on free speech. It is a morally ugly and spiritually weak move. And it is destined to fail. The beauty and strength of the country s young bloggers will prevail in the long run. DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Circulation & Distribution Director Jesse Gage distmgr@myanmartimes.com.mm ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Telephone: (01) , Facsimile: (01) administration@myanmartimes.com.mm The Myanmar Times is owned by Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd and printed by MCM Commercial Printing with approval from MCM Ltd and by Shwe Zin Press (0368) with approval from MCM Ltd. The title The Myanmar Times, in either English or Myanmar languages, its associated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the Managing Director of Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. Head Office: 379/383 Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Telephone: (01) , Facsimile: (01) Mandalay Bureau: Bld Sa/1, Man Mandalar Housing, 35 th Street, between 70 th and 71 st streets, Yan Myo Lone Quarter, Chan Aye Thar San Township. Tel: (02) 65391, Fax: (02) 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, capitalbureau@myanmartimes.com.mm Heavy rain expected until end of September AYE SAPAY PHYU ayephyu2006@gmail.com THE monsoon is on the way out but don t expect any respite from the rain this week. Weather experts have warned that the final 10 days of September could see torrential rain and even flooding in parts of lower Myanmar, with the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasting heavy rainfall for Ayeyarwady, Yangon and Tanintharyi regions and Rakhine State. The monsoon was strong already and there have been a series of typhoons in the South China Sea that have given it extra strength, department deputy director U Kyaw Lwin Oo said. The remnant of a storm that passed over Vietnam will move west at the end of this week and this will bring more rain to southern and lower Myanmar and the Sittoung River Basin. The heavy rain can cause hazards such as flooding and landslides. He said that thunder showers and torrential rain more than Pedestrians negotiate flooding in downtown Yangon on September 16. Photo: Ko Taik 3 inches (76 millimetres) of rainfall can be expected, especially in coastal areas. The department has also forecast that a low pressure area will form in the Bay of Bengal and intensify into a depression by the end of the month. U Tun Lwin, a former director general of the department, said on his Facebook page that rainfall will be heaviest in the southern Ayeyarwady delta, and Mon and Kayin states from September 20 to 23 because of rain-producing easterly winds from a storm remnant. Recent heavy rainfall has already pushed a number of rivers above their danger levels, displacing more than 11,000 people in Kachin, Kayin and Shan states and Bago, Mandalay and Sagaing regions as of September 18. In the first 18 days of the month, 45 relief camps were set up, said U Aung Kyaw, assistant director of the Relief and Resettlement Department. Camps in some areas, such as Hpa-an [in Kayin State], have been opened many times this year because of the frequent flooding, he said. Rivers above their danger levels include the Ayeyarwady and Dokhtawaddy in central Myanmar, the Sittoung in Bago Region, the Thanlwin in Kayin State and the Ngawun in Ayeyarwady Region.

9 News 9 Chin groups call for transparency over mine EI EI TOE LWIN eieitoelwin@gmail.com CHIN political parties and residents are calling for transparency over a Chinese-backed project, with some warning that the project could lead to a repeat of the unrest seen at the Letpadaung copper mine. Geological studies of the Mwe Taung Phar Taung area on the border of Chin State s Tiddim township and Sagaing Region s Kale township show three deposits of mixed nickel and iron capable of providing nearly 17,000 tonnes of pure nickel annually. A survey carried out by Chin political parties, civil societies and MPs from September 2 to 9, however, shows that many residents in the area are concerned about the potential impact on their businesses and the environment. There are at least 14 villages that rely on the mountain, said U Zo Zam, chairman of the Chin National Party and a Chin State Hluttaw representative for Tiddim, said at a press conference in Yangon on September 16. Locals are concerned for their livelihoods because they don t know the details about the project. It s necessary to implement the project transparently. The Chin political parties have issued a joint statement listing seven demands concerning the project, including enacting a law on profit allocation from natural resources, improved environmental protections and more dialogue with locals, since many don t know exactly what s happening with the project. We are concerned our present situation will be destroyed by the project, said U Thang Pi, who lives in Tiddim township. According to the survey, one point of concern is that both companies linked to the project are Chinese. Financial backing nearly US$500 million is reportedly coming from North Mining Investment, while Kenbo is implementing the project. The poll showed residents feel Chinese companies focus only on their own interests and neglect those living nearby. Neither company is connected to the controversial China-backed copper mine at Monywa but residents say they are concerned that they will face similar land confiscations and evictions at Mwe Taung. They warned this could lead to potential unrest. We are now worried, said U Lian Thwung from the Chin Mountain Resources Watch Group. Villagers [at Letpadaung] are in trouble because of them. There are a lot of land disputes We are concerned our present situation will be destroyed. U Thang Pi Tiddim township resident there. There can be no faith in Chinese companies whatsoever. At a meeting on September 7 between four Chin political parties and the Chin State government, state officials said those wanting to know more about the Mwe Taung project would need to get the details from the central government, U Zo Zam said. The state government said there is no agreement between the Union Government and North Mining Investment. We will contact the relevant governments, companies and embassies to inform them of the facts we have now. Then we will try to discuss [the project] in a meeting with union officials. We will also ask some advice from international groups, U Zo Zam said. However, state-run newspaper Myanmar Ahlin reported on March 30 that North Mining Investment had taken over the project because another Chinese company, Kan Bau, had been given permission but failed to implement the project. The paper also said that the Chin State government would get US$500,000, or 2 percent of the profits, each year. Chin National Party general secretary Salai Ceu Bilc Thang said if the project goes ahead the state should get significantly more profit. The Union government should get at least 51pc of the profit, he said. And the Chin State government should get at least 20pc. Neither of the Chinese firms could be reached for comment last week. Translated by Thiri Min Htun A fire balloon prepares to launch during the 2011 festival. Photo: Phyo Wai Kyaw Pyin Oo Lwin balloon festival set for liftoff PHYO WAI KYAW pwkyaw@gmail.com SI THU LWIN sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com ORGANISERS of this year s Pyin Oo Lwin fire balloon festival have promised it will be no less spectacular than the 2012 event, which featured about 80 decorated hot air balloons. The festival, which is being held for the ninth time, will run from November 14 to 18. Both day and night competitions will be arranged during the event, organizing committee member Kyaw Htay Ko said last week. We will give a healthy amount of prize money to the winners; it certainly won t be less than last year, he said. The top prize winner in 2012 received K3.5 million, while a range of smaller prizes were also handed out. The festival will also include a photo contest like in previous years, he said. We will give prizes in both day and night categories.

10 10 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 TRADE MARK CAUTION A Marini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.r.l a company incorporated in Italy, having office at Via dei Sette Santi, 3, Firenze, Italy, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trade Mark: Reg.No.IV/ 7612 /2013 in respect of Pharmaceutical products. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trade Mark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. Khine Khine U, Advocate LL.B, D.B.L, LL.M (UK) For A Marini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.r.l 205/5, Thirimingalar Hous; Strand Rd., Yangon. Dated. September 23, 2013 TRADE MARK CAUTION JOCKEY INTERNATIONAL, INC. of 2300, 60 th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140, U.S.A, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trade Marks: Reg. No. IV/2557/1995 Renovations begin at Pyin Oo Lwin hotels EI EI THU 91.eieithu@gmail.com TWO state-owned, colonial-era hotels in Pyin Oo Lwin that were leased to private firms in a tender earlier this year are being renovated and expanded in preparation for the coming peak tourist season, staff say. The formerly state-run Gandamar Myaing and Nan Myaing hotels were leased to private companies by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in June. The tender for eight stateowned hotels attracted little attention and a number of industry sources contacted were unaware it had even taken place. The ministry released only the names of the winning bidders and no details of the contracts. U Tun Tun Win from Malikha Automobile Company won the tender for Gandamar Myaing Hotel, agreeing to pay K10 million (US$10,3500) a month for 15 years, said a staff member from the hotel, who asked not to be named. The hotel was transferred to U Tun Tun Win on July 16 and has been closed for extensive renovations. They are improving the hotel facilities and adding more rooms, the staff member said, adding that the hotel had five rooms. They will also hire new staff and raise the room rates after the work is finished, she said. Six civil servants who were formerly assigned to the hotel have returned to their ministries in Nay Pyi Taw or elsewhere, she said. But we don t all want to move because we are happy here and will continue working at Gandamar Myaing Hotel. Meanwhile, Nan Myaing Hotel, which was leased to Daw Ban Moe of National Trading Company for 15 years, has also closed temporarily, a staff member said. It will reopen for high season. We are adding more rooms MILLION KYAT 10 The monthly fee the government will receive from the private firm leasing Gandamar Myaing Hotel and hiring more staff as well, the staff member said, adding that prices would also rise. However, the tender for a third property in Pyin Oo Lwin, Thiri Myaing Hotel, will be conducted again after a disagreement over the winning bid, a staff member at the hotel said. I think the floor price is too high for the company. Now it is still being run by the government, the staff member said. Thiri Myaing Hotel was formerly known as Candacraig and is set on 7 acres of gardens. Built in 1904, it was a chummery house for the Bombay Burmah Trading Company during the colonial period and hosted Eric Blair, who would later find fame as the writer George Orwell. Gandamar Myaing Hotel, formerly known as Croxton, and Nan Myaing Hotel, formerly Craddock Court, were built about the same time. All three have suffered from decades of underinvestment while under state control. Daw Nan Mon Khan from Royal Park View Hotel in Pyin Oo Lwin said she welcomed the additional competition. It won t affect us whether they are state run or private, she said, adding that the number of foreigners visiting Pyin Oo Lwin was lower than normal because of the unrest in Meiktila in March. However, bookings for the coming season are strong, she said. Illegal fishing linked to Irrawaddy dolphin deaths Several of the critically endangered dolphins have been found dead in the river this year Reg. No.IV/2558/1995 GYAWKEE Reg. No. IV/ 5855 /1996 used in respect of Clothing, footwear, headgear. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trade Marks or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. Khine Khine U, Advocate LL.B, D.B.L, LL.M (UK) For JOCKEY INTERNATIONAL, INC. #205/5, Thirimingalar Hous; Strand Rd., Yangon. Dated. September 23, 2013 TRADE MARK CAUTION HOGAN LOVELLS INTERNATIONAL LLP of Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG, United Kingdom, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trade Mark:- HOGAN LOVELLS Reg.No.IV/2858/2010 Reg.No. IV/7805/2010 Reg.No. IV/6617/2013 in respect of Class 45: Legal services; legal research services; searching, registration, administration and exploitation of trade marks and other Industrial Property rights for others; notary services; professional consultation with regard to the aforementioned services; making information available on the Internet in relation to the aforementioned services. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trade Mark or other infringements will be dealt with according to law. Khine Khine U, Advocate LL.B, D.B.L, LL.M (UK) For HOGAN LOVELLS INTERNATIONAL LLP #205/5, Thirimingalar Housing, Strand Rd., Yangon. Dated. September 23, 2013 ayephyu2006@gmail.com AYE SAPAY PHYU OFFICIALS say they believe a number of Irrawaddy dolphins found dead on the Ayeyarwady River this year suffered injuries related to illegal fishing. The comments come amid concern over a possible decline in the population of the extremely rare freshwater dolphin, which is considered critically endangered. U Han Win, an assistant fishery officer at the Department of Fisheries Environment and Endangered Aquatic Animal Conservation Unit, said the body of an Irrawaddy Dolphin had been found in Mandalay Region s Patheingyi township on August 31. The body was already partly decomposed when we found it and had no skin so we think it had been dead 10 days, said U Han Win. It was hard to find injuries on the dolphin so we can t pinpoint the exact cause of death but because of the size of the dolphin we believe it was affected by man-made factors, such as fishing with a battery or a net, he said. It is about four feet in length, whereas an adult dolphin is about twice that. Because it is a young dolphin it is less likely to have died of natural causes, he said. U Han Win said it was one of a number of dolphins found this year that they believe have been killed by humans, either directly or indirectly. One dolphin was small and there were injuries on his body. We believe he was chased by the battery fishers because they thought he was a fish. Another one is also young The body of an Irrawaddy dolphin found in the Ayeyarwady River near Mandalay. Photo: Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Team and the villagers who found it said it had fishing net wound around its tail, he said. In an effort to boost declining dolphin numbers, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries created a 74-kilometre-long protected area on the Ayeyarwady River between Kyaukmyaung and Mingun in Sagaing Region in December The protected area also seeks to maintain the unique culture of cooperative fishing between humans and dolphins. As The Myanmar Times reported last year, this culture is under threat because of the growth in illegal fishing and, in particular, fishing with batteries. Conservationists and residents say that because of the battery fishing dolphins are now afraid to approach vessels, Battery fishing has become common not only at night but also during the day. U Han Win Department of Fisheries and government officials have struggled to stop the fishermen, who are often armed and work in groups. U Han Win said battery fishing is particularly common from October to May when fishing conditions are best. In the past two years, battery fishing has become common not only at night but also during the day, he said. The impact of this fishing on dolphin numbers is not yet known but U Han Win said a survey earlier this year on the Ayeyarwady River between Mandalay and Bhamo found 50 dolphins, fewer than in 2012, when about 70 were spotted. At least 21 dolphins are thought to live in the protected area in Mandalay and Sagaing regions. We can t confirm the number has declined. We couldn t access some tributaries in Shwegu and Bhamo townships in Kachin State because of security concern. We will do another survey in January and February of next year, he said.

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12 12 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Barefoot College brings brighter future SHWEGU THITSAR SIX Myanmar women returned home from India on September 16 after spending six months studying solar power at a school devoted to helping poor people master technologies useful for village life. The women travelled to the village of Tilonia in Rajasthan to what was known as the Social Works and Research Centre when it opened in 1972 but is now better known as the Barefoot College. Aged between 42 and 59, and having left school without matriculating some after the fourth grade they are the first Myanmar participants in a Barefoot College program U Aung Naing Oo of the Myanmar Peace Center speaks at a press conference on September 16. Photo: Ko Taik that trains semi-literate women to install, repair and manage solar electrical equipment. The program estimates it has helped electrify over 1000 villages and brought 99 million litres of fresh water to villages, as well as holding day and night classes in everything from literacy to solar electricity for students from India, Africa and Asia. The Indian government provided full scholarships for study, travel and living expenses, while Bank of America donated the cost of the solar electrical equipment. U Aung Myint Oo, deputy minister of livestock, fisheries and rural development, described the six women as an inspiration. It is unthinkable that these six semi-literate Myanmar women from remote villages travelled abroad to study solar assembly. Their desire to light up their remote villages is highly TRADE MARK CAUTION A Marini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.r.l a company incorporated in Italy, having office at Via dei Sette Santi, 3, Firenze, Italy, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trade Mark: Reg.No.IV/5957/2013 in respect of Pharmaceutical products. commendable. It is an inspiration to all people in Myanmar that women of their age can learn something really important for their communities, he said at a press conference to welcome them back last week. In addition to installing a solar electricity system in every household in their villages, the women have committed to taking responsibility for all repairs and, together with a village solar committee, will be responsible for managing the grid. Households have agreed to pay a low monthly fee for the electricity, which goes toward the salaries of the solar engineers, as well as repairs and battery replacement. Four of the six women Daw Naw Aye Sein, Daw Hla, Daw Aye Myint and Daw Kyin Yi are from Tha War Daw village in Kyaikto township, Mon State. The other two participants, Daw Sapay Tin and Daw Hla Ngwe, are from Bago Region s Paukkaung township. I am going to use my studies to benefit my region, said Daw Naw Aye Sein. Also, I will teach my children about this subject. Daw Kyin Yi said she had at first been afraid to study abroad because she had never been to a foreign country before, although she had travelled outside of her region. I don t understand their language but I tried to remember the number and colour [to learn] how to use solar, she said. Another student, Daw Hla, who left school after grade four, said her life changed immediately after she was selected to study at the Barefoot College. It was so amazing when I learned the authorities were searching for uneducated women to send to study abroad, she said. Deputy minister U Aung Myint Oo said that the participation of women like the Barefoot College participants is critical to sustainable rural development and the government s peoplecentred development policy. These women s work is entirely in line with our ministry s mission in regard to rural development, he said. We hope to work with them and many others like them so that we can transform our rural areas sustainably. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trade Mark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. MPs, government officials and other dignitaries attend the International Day of Democracy event on September 15. Photo: Soe Than Lynn Ethnic rights dominates democracy day ceremony WIN KO KO LATT winkolatt2012@gmail.com ETHNIC rights were the main focus of discussions at an International Day of Democracy ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on September 15, participants said. The ceremony, with the theme strengthening voices for democracy, featured addresses from Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Aung Myint, while Union Solidarity and Development Party vice chairman U Htay Oo read a message from President U Thein Sein. In his speech, U Khin Aung Myint stressed the importance of teaching democratic concepts in the country s schools so that our people can practice a mature expression of democracy. The people are the key actors in implementing democracy. And because they occupy such a vital place, the people need to be familiar with democracy and practise its precepts everywhere, he said. He also discussed the recent formation of the constitutional review committee, saying it showed the maturity of our parliamentary institutions. This task is one which will enhance our democracy. And in this task, too, the people are key... We will all need to carry out this task in a way that will most close[ly] reflect, and be most appropriate for, the practical situation in Myanmar. But while the keynote speakers focused on the broader issues of TRADE MARK CAUTION Myanmar s nascent democracy, most of the 19 political party representatives who were also given the chance to speak focused on ethnic rights, Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Hsipaw U Ye Tun said. In his own presentation, U Ye Tun, a member of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, said that the breakup of the highly centralised Soviet Union showed that Myanmar had to devolve more power to state and region governments and parliaments. Although we are building a democratic country, we have yet to establish a peaceful federal union that guarantees WIN KO KO LATT winkolatt2012@gmail.com A Marini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.r.l a company incorporated in Italy, having office at Via dei Sette Santi, 3, Firenze, Italy, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trade Mark: MENARINI Reg.No.IV/ 6369 /2013 in respect of Pharmaceutical products. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trade Mark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. THE government should respect the wishes of the Kachin people and completely abandon the Myitsone Dam, the secretary of a Kachin political party says. U Phau Lar Gam Phan of the Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State made the comments at a ceremony to mark International Day of Democracy in Nay Pyi Taw on September 15. President U Thein Sein stopped the project until the end of his term, saying that he would respect the people s wishes. But we demand that it be stopped forever, he said. equality, unity and development for all ethnic groups, he said. However, he also warned that when demanding their rights ethnic minorities need to control themselves not to be extreme. U Sai Paung Nap, general secretary of the Wa Democratic Party, echoed his call for a real federal system. Justice, freedom and equality will only appear if a real federal system is established, he said. International Day of Democracy was established in 2008 and has been marked in Myanmar since Translated by Thiri Min Htun Kachin party calls for Myitsone cancellation The US$3.6 billion project at the confluence of the Maikha and Malikha rivers is backed by China Power Investment Corporation. Following a public outcry President U Thein Sein suspended the dam in September U Phau Lar Gam Phan said residents forced to move from the Myitsone area for the dam should be allowed to move back to their original homes. It is certain that they can only be at ease in their old homes, not the new place, he said. He said his party would oppose any attempt by a post-2015 government to resume the project. This is the desire of the Kachin people. Translated by Zar Zar Soe TRADE MARK CAUTION Johnson & Johnson of Johnson & Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08933, USA, is the assignor and Berlin-Chemie AG of Glienicker Weg 125, Berlin, Germany, is the assignee, the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trade Marks: PRILIGY Figurative Reg.No.IV/4981/2004 Reg.No.IV/7199/2005 Reg.No.IV/8273/2013 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trade Marks or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. Khine Khine U, Advocate LL.B, D.B.L, LL.M (UK) For A Marini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.r.l 205/5, Thirimingalar Hous; Strand Rd., Yangon. Dated. September 23, 2013 Khine Khine U, Advocate LL.B, D.B.L, LL.M (UK) For A Marini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.r.l 205/5, Thirimingalar Hous; Strand Rd., Yangon. Dated. September 23, 2013 Khine Khine U, Advocate LL.B, D.B.L, LL.M (UK) For Johnson & Johnson and Berlin-Chemie AG #205/5, Thirimingalar Hous; Strand Rd., Yangon. Dated. September 23, 2013

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14 14 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 A rare victory in the battle over industrial water pollution kyaymonewin@gmail.com KYAY MOHN WIN COMPLAINTS from residents may have prompted a Sagaing Region distillery to clean up its act on polluted waste water but an environmental engineer involved in the project says the move contrasts with a much murkier situation nationwide. He estimates only one in 10 Myanmar factories treat effluent properly before releasing it into waterways. Of the factories that should have effluent treatment plants, only about 10 percent of them have a plant and use it, said U Khin Maung Win, who has worked on a number of effluent treatment projects. I think it is because our people have little technological knowledge about this. He made the comments earlier this month as Shwe Bayinma distillery in Shwebo township announced that after 27 years of releasing chemicals directly into nearby waterways it had opened a K300 million treatment plant, which was built by Yangon firm MWEP, of which U Khin Maung Win is managing director. The move came after residents living near the distillery complained its runoff was causing a bad smell and polluting the area. A study by MWEP showed the waste water was 30 times more polluted than average household effluent. U Khin Maung Win said the level of pollution in waste water released from the distillery was dangerous but not uncommon. Industrial waste water often includes high levels of contaminants, he said, and nearly all of it is untreated before release. The chemicals in waste water vary depending on what the factory produces. Battery factories release lead, while the waste water from some electronics factories contains cyanide and arsenic. Leather factories are likely to discharge water laden with chromium. It also depends on the raw materials and technology employed at the factory, U Khin Maung Win said. He singled out agricultural industries and food producers as the worst water polluters, because their waste seriously depletes oxygen levels. One reason for the pollution is the scarcity of local engineers and companies with the skills to tackle the problem, while the cost of working Waste water from a factory in Hlaing Tharyar township flows into a waterway last week. Photo: Boothee Of the factories that should have effluent treatment plants, only about 10pc of them have a plant and use it. U Khin Maung Win Environmental engineer with a foreign company is too high for most. U Khin Maung Win said the government should take control of the issue and offer incentives to factory owners to install the equipment needed to treat waste water. The waste-water treatment process costs so much [the government] shouldn t just put pressure on private companies owners. Administrative departments need to cooperate with [owners]. U Khin Maung Win said improvements in urban planning and infrastructure would help companies minimise their environmental impact. When a town or village is built in foreign countries, they also build a wastewater treatment plant. The city development committee has to pay for the cost of building the plant. The city development committee is also responsible for installing sewers systematically to convey waste water from the households to the effluent treatment plant, he said. Water and electricity supplies, as well as sewers and sewage treatment systems, should be considered essential infrastructure, he said. At the same time, both local and foreign companies should not be allowed to build factories without first showing how they will treat waste water. Factories and industrial zones must also have effluent treatment plants, he said. In June, Mandalay City Development Committee invited tenders to build a waste-water treatment plant in the city s industrial zone and the winning bidder is expected to be announced this month, said former industrial zone management committee member U Tin Win. Established in 1991, the zone has about 1700 factories. Stronger environmental protection measures are needed, U Tin Win said. I think in future business owners will be obliged to build the effluent treatment plants. Ko Mg Mg Oo, secretary of Mandalay-based environmental group Seinyaungso, said he hopes the project has a tangible impact and is not simply designed to improve the zone s image. As far as I know, no factories in the industrial zone are treating their waste water before it is released. We heard that there was a treatment plant in the zone previously but when we went there all we could find was the basement of an old factory, he said. I hope [the waste water treatment plant] is not just for show because there is a nearby village that has been affected by the waste water from the industrial zone. Translated by Win Thaw Tar Mandalay a hotspot for human trafficking THAN NAING SOE thennaingsoe@gmail.com MANDALAY is the country s hotspot for human trafficking and officials need to pay more attention the problem, the region s chief minister said last week. Six of the seven townships that comprise urban Mandalay are high on a new Myanmar Police Force report on human trafficking hotspots, chief minister U Ye Myint said during a ceremony marking Anti-Human Trafficking Day on September 13. China is the preferred destination for human traffickers, he said, accounting for 80 percent of all cases from Myanmar, according to the MPF s anti-human trafficking taskforce. It s a very dangerous situation and we need to be alert, U Ye Myint said. We need to pay attention. After China, 10pc of victims are trafficked to Thailand, while 6pc are sent to Malaysia. Most of the remainder are trafficked internally for forced labour, particularly prostitution. A total of 119 townships were listed in the report and six Mandalay townships Aung Myay Thar San, Chan Aye Thar San, Maha Aung Myay, Chan Mya Tharsi, Pyigyitagun and Patheingyi were among the 42 considered the worst for human trafficking. Most human trafficking cases involve forced marriage, forced labour, and sexual exploitation and prostitution. Children are also trafficked for forced adoption or to become beggars. From 2006 to August 2013, there were 120 confirmed cases of human trafficking in Mandalay Region, with 156 males and 174 females arrested. A total of 257 victims were rescued, U Ye Myint said. In 2012, the government formed community-based monitoring groups to strengthen efforts to combat human trafficking. The groups monitor their communities and inform police about human trafficking activities. They are overseen by administrative departments, as most members of the groups are from ward administrative offices. U Ye Myint said the groups have had a tangible impact in the fight against traffickers. By having community-based monitoring groups our preventative measures will be more effective and we can understand the issue of human trafficking more clearly. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

15 BRIEFS Nay Pyi Taw Luxembourg to fund tourism industry training Luxembourg has agreed to provide 5 million euros (US$6.77 million) for development of human resources in the tourism industry, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said last week. Deputy Director U Myint Tun Oo said the funding would be used to implement projects included in the Tourism Master Plan, which was drafted with assistance from the Asian Development Bank. Now they [Luxembourg] have been studying the industry for two months, he said. We hope they can help to train ministry staff, conduct vocational training and help with the [BA] tourism course at the [National Management College] in early Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has also agreed to implement one tourism project in the master plan but negotiations are continuing over which project it will be. U Thet Toe Lwin, deputy chairman of the Union of Myanmar Travel Assocation, said service levels in the industry are improving but still lower than in other countries in the region. The hotel staff, tour guides and also drivers need more access to training opportunities, he said. Wa Lone Yangon Maritime university signs deal with Swedish counterpart Myanmar Maritime University has signed an agreement with Sweden s World Maritime University to collaborate on learning management and e-learning systems. The two institutions celebrated the signing at a ceremony at Yangon s Sedona Hotel on September 14. Minister for Transport U Nyan Tun Aung thanked WMU president Bjorn Kjerfve for the contribution. Learning management and e-learning systems is not only good for MMU s students, but also for teachers of maritime education, he said. E-learning can support longterm opportunities for the maritime education sector, he added. The main goal of e-learning is to share knowledge and collaborate among maritime institutes, college and maritime experts. Mr Kjerfve said he was proud to visit Myanmar, which is home to 45 WMU graduates. I hope more Myanmar students will come to WMU with the financial assistance of the Myanmar government and business community. Shwegu Thitsar, translated by Thiri Min Htun Dalai Lama weighs in on riots THE Dalai Lama on September 17 urged Myanmar monks to act according to their Buddhist principles, in a plea to end the deadly violence against the country s Muslim minority. Those Burmese monks, please, when they develop some kind of anger towards Muslim brothers and sisters, please, remember the Buddhist faith, the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader told reporters at an annual human rights conference in the Czech capital, Prague. I am sure... that would protect those Muslim brothers and sisters who are becoming victims, the Dalai Lama said. Sectarian clashes in Rakhine State last year left about 200 people dead mostly Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship and 140,000 others homeless. Having drawn criticism for her failure to clearly condemn the violence, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said Myanmar s constitution had to change for the ethnic violence to end. The ethnic problem will not be solved by this present constitution which does not meet the aspirations News 15 of the ethnic nationalities, she told reporters at the Forum 2000 conference on September 17. We ve got to give our people a sense of security first. They must feel they have equal access to justice. If somebody is afraid of being attacked by people from another community, you can t expect them to sit down and talk to one another. A committee of parliamentarians have until the end of the year to produce a report with their recommended changes to the constitution. The Dalai Lama, 78, who fled his homeland for India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, also said there was too much emphasis on we and they in the world, and that this century should be a century of dialogue, not wars. He and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, both Nobel Peace laureates, met privately on the fringes of the Prague conference on September 15. AFP Historic bridge under water as lake floods PHYO WAI KYAW pwkyaw@gmail.com HLAING KYAW SOE hlaingkyawsoe85@gmail.com THE rising waters of the Dokhtawaddy River have threatened to completely submerge a Mandalay icon the historic U Bein Bridge in Amarapura. The 1.2-kilometre-long teak bridge spans Taungthaman Lake, which is fed by the Dokhtawaddy River. The lake s waters began rising sharply on September 14 before reaching the bridge walkway two days later its highest level since 2006, residents said. The bridge is about 15 feet [4.5 metres] above the water and now the water is even touching some parts of the walkway, U Soe Lwin, a boat man on Taungthaman Lake, said on September 16. Exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Prague on September 15. Photo: AFP The lake is being fed not only by the river but run-off from [Mandalay and Amarapura]. The water level has started to go down today though. As of September 20, the water level was about 1.2 metres (4 feet) below the bridge walkway. Last week s flooding was not as serious as 2004, when water rose about 1 foot (30 centimetres) above the top of the bridge s walkway. Some rest houses on the bridge were damaged and the bridge, which is about 150 years old, was subsequently closed for repairs. The high water level of Taungthaman Lake meant flooding also affected nearby Yadanarpon University, where students are sitting their annual exams from September 16 to 25. Roads leading to the university were inundated, making travel difficult. Tourists are helped into a boat at Taungthaman Lake on September 16. Photo: Phyo Wai Kyaw But Taungthaman village administrator said the exams were continuing as scheduled. Some students didn t know about the floods as there was a holiday just before the exams started and this meant some students had trouble getting here, U Khin Zaw said on September 16. The officials are helping to give directions so that students avoid the flooded roads. The water was down a bit this morning and I hope it will keep going down. Ko Hlaing, a 27-year-old former student, said he visited the university on September 16 out of nostalgia for his university days. The scenes reminded him of the flooding that occurred in 2004, he said. At that time we had to take boats to get into the university compound as there were not raised walkways linking the classrooms. It wasn t exam time when it happened though, he said. Nay Pyi Taw China donates shelters for displaced China has donated removable modular houses that will be used to shelter people displaced by violence in Rakhine State and by natural disaster in Sagaing and Mandalay regions, an official said last week. U Chun Hre, director of the Relief and Resettlement Department, said 350 modular houses arrived in Myanmar in late August and were sent to affected areas in early September. These houses will be used for the people... who were displaced by communal violence [in 2012] and an earthquake [in 2011]. We already sent 150 houses to Rakhine and also distributed some to Mandalay and Sagaing, he said. Six engineers from China are conducting training in Mandalay Region s Singu township on how to construct the modular houses. He said the two-storey houses measure 458 square feet and feature a steel frame and zinc roof. Aye Sapay Phyu

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17 Photo: Gamlang Razi Facebook page News 17 Govt to launch nonformal middle schools Ministry of Education starts work on curriculum to expand into middle schools a program that is designed to get school leavers back into the classroom The Gamlang Razi expedition team poses at the mountain s summit last week. Climbers reach Gamlang Razi summit KAYLEIGH LONG kayleighelong@gmail.com A TEAM of US and Myanmar mountaineers has successfully ascended one of Myanmar s highest peaks, in the remote north of Kachin State, on the eastern edge of the Himalayas. The Htoo Foundation-sponsored expedition aimed to confirm the exact height of Gamlang Razi as some believe it could prove to be higher than Hkakabo Razi, which is normally cited as Myanmar s and Southeast Asia s highest mountain. Upon reaching the summit the team used GPS data to pinpoint Gamlang s mean sea level height as metres (19,259 feet), with a 2m margin for error. Previously, digital data had put the height of Gamlang Razi at about 5850m (19,192 feet) above sea level. Official confirmation and further details will be made available at a press conference in Yangon after the team returns to Yangon. Tibetan, Kachin and even Asia s only Pygmy tribe. The expedition is sponsored by Htoo Foundation and Phonyin Tours, with significant donations of equipment and other resources from Black Diamond, Goal0, Jupiter Systems, Kate s, Mad Rock, Mammut, MSR, Nemo, Osprey, Patagonia, Probar, Salewa, Seek Outside and Sony. poepwintphyu2011@gmail.com SHWE YEE SAW MYINT THE Ministry of Education plans to launch a non-formal education program targeting former students who stopped studying after completing primary school. The program will complement a free program already operating in 80 townships that enables school leavers to complete primary school through two years of non-formal training. The expanded program is likely to remain free for students and will give them the chance to complete grades six through nine outside normal school hours. They will then be able to return to the classroom to complete their final two years of high school. The curriculum for the nonformal education program will be drafted over the next two years under a project funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It will then be submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval, after which a pilot project will be launched. The ministry s Department of Myanmar Education Research Bureau is taking the lead on the project, deputy director Daw Nyunt Nyunt said. She said the first steps toward drafting the curriculum were taken in early August, when a six-day workshop with representatives from various Ministry of Education departments was held. The new program seeks to offer educational opportunities to the millions of students who drop out of school each year, particularly those who leave after completing their primary education. Ministry figures show that while 60 percent of children finish primary school only one-third of these just 20pc of all children continue to middle school. Most parents in the villages don t send their children to middle school because they think that having a primary education is enough. They send them to work instead, said Daw Mu Mu Aung, deputy director of the Department of Educational Planning and Training. She said access to middle schools in rural areas, where road infrastructure is often poor, is also an issue. Most villages don t have middle schools, she said. Myanmar has 65,556 primary schools but just 3356 middle schools. Ministry officials said that while Myanmar boasts an official literacy rate of 95pc, functional literacy is thought to be significantly lower, with a 2001 survey putting it at 83pc. UNESCO declined to be interviewed about the project and referred questions to the Ministry of Education. A large portion of the story to be documented is the remote villages that we will pass through. Eric Daft Expedition photographer The Gamlang Razi ascent could prove something of a stir in the mountaineering community. Hkakabo Razi is officially listed at 5881m above sea level but this figure is a matter of some contention. The Gamlang Razi expedition team says Hkakabo Razi s height has been derived from a number of sources. The first Survey of India maps give its elevation as 5887m (1923) and 5881m (1925). The second figure is the most commonly used. Satellite imaging confirmed this height in the leadup to summit attempts in 1995 and 1996 but post-wwii Russian and Chinese maps put its elevation at a mere 5691m. Google Earth lists it at 5780m, while a Harvard Map Library researcher using two data set extrapolation techniques reckoned it at 5758m. Expedition photographer Eric Daft described the Gamlang Razi region as one of the least travelled areas on the planet. A large portion of the story to be documented is the remote villages that we will pass through and stay in, Mr Daft told the Teton Valley News. Most of them are only accessible on foot and their inhabitants vary from

18 18 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Intha groups ready for electoral training CHERRY THEIN INTHA community groups are preparing to conduct electoral awareness training in Shan State s Nyaungshwe township later this month to prepare voters for the 2015 election, in a move that could threaten the support base of a local political party. Civil society organisations from the Inle area, led by Justice Movement for Community (JMC), Gone Saung Maung Mae and National Good Governance Individual (NGI), will hold a three-day workshop in late September. JMC member Daw Yu Hlaing Thinn said the workshop will teach about the electoral system, political system, electoral fraud, why it is important to vote and how to vote. It will also cover human rights issues. She said that the groups want Inle residents to be better prepared for the next election than in In the past election we did not have enough electoral knowledge, she said. We have to initiate electoral knowledge as early as possible so that we don t make similar mistakes as in the 2010 election and will have our own best choice for candidate in 2015 election. The workshop has faced opposition from local government officials and ethnic leaders as well as funding problems, but the civil society groups plan to press on regardless, inviting residents from hundreds of villages across 35 village tracts. Ethnic leaders and local government officials are still sensitive about political issues... They do not stop us from doing it but they are unhappy for our program and harass participants later on, she said. Inle residents voted overwhelmingly for representatives from the Inn National Development Party in the 2010 election. The party beat candidates from the Union Solidarity and Development Party to win four seats in the 2010 election but the Intha community is divided over its representatives, who some say do not work for the whole Intha community. We voted for that party because they used our Intha logo. We had high hopes but they let us down, said Daw Yu Hlaing Thinn. U Tun Myint Tun from Myanigone village in Nyaungshwe township said the party had sensed that residents were unhappy and might not vote for it in 2015 and has started to focus more on Intha development. The party started cooperating with a private company earlier this month to supply cheaper electricity to Inle Lake, he said. He said party chairman U Win Myint, a minister for Intha affairs in the Shan State government, had not done The Inn National Development Party campaigns in the Inle Lake area ahead of the 2010 election. Photo: Kaung Htet enough to address issues that matter to Intha people. We asked him to help us when land was being taken for tourism projects in Inle Lake and he ignored it. But a member of the Inn National Development Party, U Yea Aye, played down any suggestion of conflict with the NGOs and said he appreciated their efforts to improve electoral knowledge. We are happy to share and learn from them, he said. I believe that they are also working for the development of the Intha... We are ready to help them if they ask us. He said the party also welcomes criticism or suggestions from the community. We never say we are perfect... People can tell us whatever they feel or how they think of us. We will listen and try and respond to criticism. Organisers of the training also said it is not designed to harm or benefit any party s electoral chances. Rather, it is aimed at empowering voters and improving understanding of their rights and responsibilities. U Si Thu Aung from the Shan Kyaung Myae organisation said the last election was plagued by many cases of electoral fraud but people were too afraid to complain. The groups hope that the training can help ensure fraud is not an issue in 2015, he said. People fear politics because they don t understand it, he said. We need to help them. He also expressed frustration at the opposition the groups have encountered from local authorities. We are just doing what the president is always talking about so we can t understand why some people try to make it more difficult for us... Sharing electoral awareness, civic education and information about human rights is not a crime. We want to trust the new government and we appreciate what the president has said about reforms in Myanmar but these reforms should not take place only in Nay Pyi Taw or Yangon or Mandalay but also in small communities like ours too. The groups developed the workshop plan after attending an 11-day civic education program in Taunggyi in May that was run by The Other Space Foundation with support from Polish Aid. The project aims to support and mobilise grassroots organisations in ethnic minority regions, particularly in the context of the 2015 election. It focuses on the need for the voters to be educated and [make a] conscious choice, a spokesperson from Polish Aid said. UEC waits on electoral system change proposal WIN KO KO LATT winkolatt2012@gmail.com THE head of the Union Election Commission says preparations for the 2015 election will only begin after a decision is made on which voting system to use. Chairman U Tin Aye told The Myanmar Times on the sidelines of the International Day of Democracy ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on September 15 that the commission is still waiting for the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to decide whether to switch from first-past-thepost voting. We haven t started anything yet. Unless they make a decision, we can t do anything, he said. In mid-2012, an alliance of minor opposition parties began lobbying the commission and President U Thein Sein to introduce a form of proportional representation. The commission forwarded the proposal to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and then-speaker U Khin Aung Myint referred it to the newly formed constitutional review committee on July 1. The commission said in April that a decision on which system to use in the 2015 election has to be made this year so that it has enough time to implement changes before the election. Changing to a more complex proportional voting system is likely to entail nationwide voter education campaigns. Asked whether proportional representation would be too difficult for voters to understand, U Tin Aye said, There are different forms of proportional representation so we will wait to see what type [MPs] choose. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

19 News 19 Election commission pushes MPs on recall bill EI EI TOE LWIN UNION Election Commission boss U Tin Aye has urged parliamentarians to resume debate on the MP recall bill as soon as possible. Speaking at a press conference in Yangon on September 14, he said their decision to stall debate on the bill meant they had failed to properly follow the constitution. Under section 396(b) of the constitution, the commission is responsible for settling complaints if 1 percent of an electorate s constituents sign a petition to remove their MP. However, the provision requires the parliament to approve legislation for it to come into effect. To date, MPs have refused to pass a bill submitted by the commission in mid2012 because they say the 1pc provision is too low. Last month they suspended debate on the bill and forwarded it to the constitutional review committee for consideration. But U Tin Aye said that the concerns of MPs were unfounded because the petition is only the start of the recall process. MPs can only be removed if an investigation finds the complaint is justified, he said. It s true that it is easy to get 1pc of voters but we won t remove an MP whenever there is a complaint. It has to be decided after investigating step by step according to the law, he said. He said that under section 397 of the constitution, which states that the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall enact the necessary laws on matters relating to recall, MPs had to reopen the debate and finalise the bill. The draft should be discussed in the hluttaw. They have no right to suspend it. Members of parliament swear to abide by the constitution so they have to enact the law. They said the people s desire is the desire of the hluttaw. If so, the hluttaw is responsible for fulfilling people s desires when they present their desires to the hluttaw, U Tin Aye said. The draft should be discussed. They have no right to suspend it. U Tin Aye Union Election Commission chief He said that four MPs are currently facing recall petitions from their constituents but the commission is powerless to act because parliament has refused to pass the bill. The MPs include Tanintharyi Region Hluttaw representative U Khin Zaw from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); Pyithu Hluttaw representative Daw Khin Thanda from the National League for Democracy; Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Han Sein from the USDP; and Amyotha Hluttaw representative U Salai Khuai Yan from the USDP. I have a duty to settle the problem if there is a complaint from 1pc of constituents but I can only solve it if the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw enacts the law. Translated by Thiri Min Htun LOGISTICS MEDIA SERVICES CO.,LTD. YANGON HEADQUARTER: Tel: (951) , , , (959) , Fax: (951) , sales.theredbook@gmail.com MANDALAY BRANCH: Tel: (952) 74460, (959) , , Hluttaw awards news outlets, writers SOE THAN LYNN soethanlynn@gmail.com THE Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has singled out The Myanmar Times for praise for its comprehensive coverage of the national parliament. To mark International Day of Democracy on September 15, the Hluttaw Office recognised 11 local newspapers and journals for their coverage of parliament but asked The Myanmar Times chief political correspondent, U Soe Than Lynn, to accept the award on behalf of all publications. Two foreign media groups, Radio Free Asia (RFA) and the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), were also recognised for their coverage of the parliament sessions. These 13 news media are continuously present in every hluttaw session since they have been allowed to cover sessions of parliament, said U Khin Maung Oo, a director of the Hluttaw Office. Among them, The Myanmar Times attended every hluttaw meeting without absence, so we decided the newspaper should receive the award on behalf of all. Other publications included in the prize were Weekly Eleven, The Voice, 7Day News, Yangon Times, Popular, Thura U Shwe Mann presents an award to The Myanmar Times chief political correspondent U Soe Than Lynn on September 15. Photo: Supplied Street View, Golden Nation, D-Wave, Shae Saung and The Messenger. Other honorees were Sky Net s Hluttaw Channel, which provides 24- hour coverage of parliamentary activities, and writers U Ko Ko Maung Gyi and U Kyaw Win. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

20 20 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 FEATURE Thandaung opening up? Not quite yet The opening of new areas of the country to foreigners has resulted in confusion, with tourism industry sources reporting that travellers trying to reach these mostly unexplored regions are still being turned back by local officials. Editor Douglas Long decided to try his luck by travelling to the recently opened hill station of Thandaung Gyi in Kayin State with decidedly mixed results DOUGLAS LONG WHEN the Ministry of Home Affairs earlier this year released a list of previously restricted areas that are now open to foreign tourists, Thandaung in Kayin State caught my eye. I knew it was an old British hill station located east of Taungoo and therefore not terribly remote from Yangon but not much else. Quick research revealed that there are actually two Thandaungs: Thandaung Lay, 21 kilometres (13 miles) east of Taungoo, and Thandaung Gyi, another 23km east, and at a much higher elevation. The ministry s list designates Thandaung Gyi as an area where prior permission is not needed but where travel is The government says foreigners can come to our town, but when they get here you say they have to leave. Resident of Thandaung Gyi permitted only in downtown areas. Earlier this month I travelled there to find out how the town s new designation as an open area is understood on the ground. The results were messy but rewarding. I travelled with two Myanmar friends, and a week before the trip one of them called the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Nay Pyi Taw to confirm that Thandaung Gyi was now open and no special permit was required. The news was not encouraging. The man on the other end of the line spent 30 minutes checking with others in his office before giving a strong recommendation to seek prior permission. The request, he said, would go all the way up to the deputy minister of hotels and tourism for approval, which struck us as a cumbersome process that could take weeks or months. We received more troubling advice once we reached Taungoo in Bago Region, where we spent one night before heading up to the old hill station. We consulted local resident Dr Chan Aye, who leads popular elephant-tracking trips into the Bago Yoma west of Taungoo. Technically, Thandaung Gyi is open to foreigners, but if you don t have permission, you might be asked to turn back, he said. He added, though, that he had never tried to take foreigners there, so he wasn t certain about the current situation. The staff at Hotel Amazing Kaytu flat-out recommended that we not try the trip. One staff member predicted that we would be turned back at the checkpoint at the Sittoung River on the eastern edge of Taungoo. He explained that just a few weeks earlier, a group of Japanese tourists had tried to travel to the hill station, only to be stopped in their tracks at the first checkpoint. Immigration officials had later visited the hotel and given staff a hard time for trying to send foreigners to Thandaung Gyi. But we also made a phone call from Taungoo to the Zion Baptist Church, which runs a basic guesthouse in Thandaung Gyi. They countered the negativity by assuring us there would be no problems, adding TRADE MARK CAUTION JFE ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA (JFE ENGINEERING CORPORATION), a company incorporated in Japan, of 8-1 Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:- J&M Reg. No. 9748/2013 J&M STEEL Reg. No. 9749/2013 in respect of Int l Class 6: Framework of steel for bridges; framework of steel for buildings; drainage of metal for bridges or buildings; steel structures for building or construction; steel structures for bridge; metal guard fences for bridges; metal decks for bridges or buildings; steel guardrails for bridges; posts for steel guardrails; bridge fall prevention device; metal bridge-rails for bridges; bars for metal bridge-rails; pre-engineered steel bridges; metal guardrails for roads; barriers or crash barriers of metal for roads; cables of metal, non-electric; cable joints of metal, non-electric; metal expansion joints for bridges or buildings; clips of metal for cables and pipes; linkages or cable linkages of metal, non-electric; cable saddles of metal. The guesthouse perches amid the mist-covered mountains of Thandaung Gyi in Kayin State. Photo: Douglas Long that a couple of foreigners had recently come up on motorcycles and spent the night. There was one quirk in our travel plans: I had decided to ride my bicycle from Taungoo to Thaundaung Gyi, possibly becoming the first foreigner to cycle along the 44km stretch. My friends would follow in a car. Being avid photographers, they would be making frequent stops to take pictures so our overall travel speeds wouldn t be much different. We left Taungoo about 7:30am, and as we travelled east I was happy to see that the dreaded Sittoung River checkpoint was unmanned. The jubilation was short-lived, however, as I was stopped at another checkpoint about 5km further on. I got there before my friends and the appearance of a lone foreigner on a bicycle stirred up a storm of astonishment: Eyes widened, jaws slackened, betel quid threatened to drop from open mouths onto the ground. An immigration official immediately asked to see my travel permission papers. My heart palpitated. Playing dumb, I handed over my passport. The official found my visa page and asked if I had photocopies of my passport, which I did not. He turned his back and made a call on his mobile phone. During his muffled conversation, I heard him repeat the words foreigner and seqbein (bicycle) about 10 times each. In the meantime, another official wandered over and started making hand gestures indicating that I would have to turn around and return to Taungoo. The situation was not looking good. Just then, my friends pulled Int l Class 19: Concrete slabs for bridges; concrete materials for construction, erection or fabrication of floating bridges or floating piers; concrete road pavement boards; concrete floor boards for piers; concrete floor boards for multi-story parking lots; drainage for bridges or buildings (not of metal); bridgerails (not of metal); guardrails of fiber-reinforced plastics or resins; bridge bearings of rubber; elastic joints of rubber for bridges; leakage prevention materials of metal for bridges or roads. Int l Class 37: Construction; construction consultancy; construction information; bridgeworks; construction of bridges; erection of bridges; fabrication of bridges; inspection, repair and maintenance of bridges; painting or coating of bridges; construction of buildings or roads; inspection, repair and maintenance of buildings or roads; aseismic resistant works of bridges, buildings or roads. 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 JFE ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA P.O. Box 60, Yangon makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 23 September 2013 up in their car and explained to the officials that I was a journalist who was planning to write about Thandaung Gyi. This news which two years ago would have ensured that I was sent packing back to Taungoo, if not all the way to Yangon International Airport for an enforced flight to Bangkok somehow helped clear the air. We were allowed to proceed on the understanding that I would make photocopies of my passport in Thandaung Gyi and drop them off at the checkpoint on the way back to Taungoo. Three hours and 1200 metres (3960 feet) of elevation gain later Thandaung Gyi sits at 1260 metres above sea level I pedalled up to the second checkpoint, located about 100 metres beyond the optimistic Welcome to Thandaung Gyi sign and within sight of the town. The immediate reaction among the immigration officials was no, I could not enter the town. My Myanmar friends again came to the rescue, bargaining the officials into an agreement that I could enter the town but not spend the night. With a little more discussion, it was decided that I could enter and might even be able to spend the night if it was okay with the people running the Zion Church guesthouse. So it was that our one-carand-one-bike parade rolled triumphantly into Thandaung Gyi. We stopped to buy snacks at a shop run by a woman of Nepalese descent named Daw Suu, who told us that the previous week two Americans had come to town but were told to leave before sundown. As if on cue, at that moment we were approached by a policeman who demanded to know how I had managed to reach the town without being turned back. We explained that my presence was obviously acceptable, as evidenced by the fact that immigration had let me through both checkpoints. The police officer wandered away, scratching his head in confusion. That wasn t the end of it, of course. We were warmly welcomed by the family that runs the Zion Church, who invited us into their home and offered us food and coffee. While we were arranging to spend the night at the guesthouse, Officer Friendly Number 2 came a-knocking. No, he started to explain, I could not spend the night in Thandaung Gyi, and furthermore One of the women from the church interrupted his spiel. The government says foreigners can come to our town, but when they get here you say they have to leave. Well, it doesn t make sense, she said politely but firmly. She also couldn t help pointing out that I was from the media and would write about my experience. Having been filled in on my background in Myanmar, she added, He s not even a tourist. He s been living here for many years, and he s also married to a Myanmar national. The police officer beat a hasty retreat, having decided that these mitigating factors somehow made it acceptable for me to spend the night, and we encountered no further problems during our stay in Thandaung Gyi. On the afternoon of our arrival we ran into a captain in the Myanmar army named Maung Htwe, who managed a small factory that processed locally grown black tea for use by soldiers. He expressed dismay when we told him about the hassles we had faced reaching the town. Thandaung Gyi is open. Everyone can come, Captain Maung Htwe said. When he found out I was a writer, he thanked me profusely for coming to promote the town as a tourist destination. That s something I d be happy to do. The question remains, however, whether Thandaung Gyi can yet be considered a viable tourist destination.

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22 22 News THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Moderate earthquakes rock Mandalay AYE SAPAY PHYU A SERIES of earthquakes measuring from 4.0 to 5.4 on the Richter Scale damaged buildings near Thabeikkyin township in Mandalay Region on September 20, government officials said on September 21. We have received telephone reports that three earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.0 to more than 5.0 jolted the Thabeikkyin and Khin Oo area in Mandalay Region, U Aung Khine, the deputy director general of the Department of Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw, said on the morning of September 21. There was some damage in Khin Oo and Kanbalu in Sagaing township, but we are also waiting for more detailed reports on the damage. The strongest earthquake, with a magnitude 5.4, struck at 6:55pm. Its epicentre was 6.5 kilometres (4 miles) northwest of Thabeikkyin and about 105km (65 miles) north of the Mandalay seismological observatory, according to an announcement from Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH). An official from the department said the first earthquake, measuring 4.0, occurred at 5:58pm, while the second, a 5.0 tumbler, hit at 6:23pm. They were centred about 8km (5 miles) south of Thabeikkyin. The quakes occurred along the Sagaing Fault. Some pagodas in Thabeikkyin were damage by the seismic activity, the official said. The DMH said the earthquakes were felt in several townships in northern Mandalay and southern Sagaing regions, as well as in some areas of northern Shan State. The Myanmar Earthquake Committee posted on its Facebook page on September 21 that very weak buildings and structures might be affected by the earthquake. It also stated that if a large-scale seismic activity occurred in currently flooded areas near Mandalay, it could cause rapid fluctuations in water levels that could be as dangerous as the tsunamis due to the flood level. Mandalay Hill pagoda trustees introduce new tourist charge SI THU LWIN sithulwin.mmtimes@gmail.com FOREIGN tourists visiting Mandalay Hill will be required to pay a K2000 entrance fee from October, the board of trustees has announced. Board chairman U Thein Tun said the fee would go directly toward the upkeep of the pagoda. It s not the same as the charge paid to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. This fee replaces the old camera use charge, he said. Most tourists don t want to pay the camera fee so although we have to arrange many things for foreigners we get nothing back. This new charge is designed to raise more funds to do renovations at the pagoda and beautify the hill. The increase has not gone down well with some in Mandalay s tourism industry, however. U Win Zaw Oo, secretary of the Mandalay branch of the Myanmar Tourist Guides Association, said the issue had resulted in some clashes between trustees and tour guides. He said that tourists already pay US$10 for a Ministry of Hotels and Tourism ticket that grants them entry to a range of sites around Mandalay, including Mandalay Hill, and charging extra could hurt the city s image. We don t think the trustees should be collecting entrance fees The entrance to Mandalay Hill. Photo: Si Thu Lwin like this at the pagoda, he said. A new board of trustees was installed at Mandalay Hill in September 2012 and has introduced sweeping changes at the pagoda, including widespread repair works and the demolishing of illegal shops. The board has also proved adept at raising more funds, with revenue of K600 million generated over the past year. U Thein Tun said the board has used the money to make visits enjoyable and comfortable for both locals and foreigners. We have also posted security guards on the pagoda platform and security cameras as well so tourists and pilgrims will be safe during their visit, he said. Trustees also recently cleared vendors to expand sightseeing areas at the hilltop pagoda, which offers stunning views of Mandalay, the Ayeyarwady River, Sagaing hills and the Shan plateau. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

23 Illicit drug arrests on rise in Mandalay SI THU LWIN MANDALAY police have seized illicit drugs valued at more than K2.3 billion in the first eight months of this year - almost as much as in all of However, the value of seizures were still far below the K billion seized in 2011, Mandalay Region Minister for Border Areas and Security Colonel Aung Kyaw Moe told the Mandalay Region Hluttaw on September 16. The minister said 172 cases involving 274 individuals had been uncovered between January and August, compared to 203 cases involving 326 people, in which drugs valued at K2.429 billion were seized. Mandalay Region Minister for Border Areas and Security Colonel Aung Kyaw Moe addresses the hluttaw on September 16. Photo: Si Thu Lwin In 2011, 158 cases resulted in 280 people being prosecuted, he said. He was speaking in response to a question from Daw Tin Tin Mar of Chan Aye Thar San 2, who said that drug dealing was on the rise in Mandalay and asked whether there was any plan for a police crackdown on dealing in drugs that ruin our youth. Col Aung Kyaw Moe replied that police had organised two special antidrugs taskforces, one for the northern part of Mandalay Region and the other for the southern part, to tackle the problem. It is also monitoring waterways, airports and border gates, he said. Once we seize drugs, we continue investigating to work out what the main source is. Translated by Win Thaw Tar Irrawaddy Literary Festival heads to Mandalay in 2014 KHIN SU WAI jasminekhin@gmail.com KYAY MOHN WIN kyaymonewin@gmail.com AFTER success in Yangon earlier this year, the Irrawaddy Literary Festival is moving to Mandalay in 2014, organisers say. Preparations are already in full gear to build on the popularity of last year s ground-breaking event, with Mandalay set to play host to more international and Myanmar authors, renowned journalists and even a nightly film screening during the festival. A handful of literary agents will also be on hand - quite possibly seeking new talent. The location also has its own place in literary folklore. The event will be held from February 14 to 16 on the grounds of Kuthodaw Pagoda, which, with its 729 white marble tablets containing inscriptions of the Buddhist canon, is often referred to as the world s largest book. In June, the site, just south of Mandalay hill on 12th Street, was added to the Memory of the World Register of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UN- ESCO). The Mandalay event will feature some familiar faces from this year s festival as well as a number of new names recognisable both in Myanmar and abroad, with 20 international and Myanmar authors, journalists and literary agents expected to attend. These include the winner of this year s Man Asian Literary Prize, Tan Twan Eng, author of The Garden of Evening Mists. The novel was also It's no longer a question of just Syria. It has a lot to do with his personal credibility. Aaron David Miller Former Middle East U Pe Myint Irrawaddy Literary Festival. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing News 23 shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in Historical biographer and human rights journalist Caroline Moorehead, who has written about many of the 20th century s most notable people, will also be a featured guest. Several broadcast journalists, including Dame Joan Bakewell and Martha Kearney, both of the BBC, are also attending for the first time. Organising committee Dr Aung Myint said the holding of a literary festival in Mandalay is long overdue. This is very good opportunity for Mandalay, Dr Aung Myint said. We should have had a festival like this long ago. We have an opportunity now for our famous scholars to meet up with their international colleagues. Dr Aung Myint said he will meet with the founder and director of the festival, Jane Heyn, at the end of October to hammer out more details about the festival. The festival will take place amidst a fairground atmosphere with a host of stalls and entertainment, including nightly movie screenings. Movie producer Lord David Puttnam has given special permission by festival organisers to present David Puttnam Movie Season, which will feature movies such as Midnight Express, The Mission, The Killing Fields and Chariots of Fire. The festival s website says authors Thant Myint-U and Pascal Khoo Thwe will both reappear at the festival, following on from their involvement in this year s event, which was held in February. Similarly, Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans, and former BBC correspondent Fergal Keane will both take part again. There will also be a range of panel discussions and paper readings, including many from Myanmar authors and academics. More than half of the papers will be read by writers from upper Myanmar, said Dr Aung Myint, who will give a presentation on traditional medicine in Buddhist literature. More information about the Irrawaddy Literary Festival can be found at com/. Digital processing to speed up shipping HSU HLAING HTUN hsuhlainghtun.mcm@gmail.com IMPORTING and exporting by sea will become quicker and easier as officials study ways of simplifying procedures to get ships in and out of the country s ports with less delay. The Department of Marine Administration, Myanma Port Authority and the International Maritime Organisation held a seminar from September at Myat Taw Win Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss the new electronic procedures, which are designed to reduce paperwork. We need faster information flow between ports and relevant departments and to reduce administrative obstacles. I hope the seminar can help us do this, said deputy transport minister U Han Sein. Seminar participants looked at documentary requirements covered by the Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Travel and Transport Better known as the FAL convention, it covers immigration, customs, and health and security matters when ships arrive at, stay in and depart from ports. If we can establish international standards, it will be easy to work with international shipping. If we reduce unnecessary paperwork in our procedures, we can complete them more quickly, said U Ye Myint, director of the Department of Marine Administration. Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, China, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia have signed the FAL convention. Now we know what Myanmar needs to do in sharing information with minimal paperwork when ships come and go, said the department s deputy director, U Aung Min. Translated by Thiri Min Htun

24 24 THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Business Reform still required for effective taxation AYE THIDAR KYAW MYANMAR must continue pressing firms to pay their taxes to generate state revenues, as the lists of the top corporate taxpayers show significant holes, according to experts. Although tax collection efforts have improved in recent years, a list of the largest taxpayers for the fiscal year released last week shows a number of prominent domestic firms failed to make the list. The Ministry of Finance announced a taxation revenue target of K2.2 trillion (US$2.3 billion) for the fiscal year through improved collection efforts in various sectors. Earlier this year, a government official said up to 80 percent of companies BILLION $2.3 Government tax target in skipped out on paying some taxes. Kanbawza Bank paid the most income tax last fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Finance-composed list. The bank s vice chairman U Than Lwin said its commitment to paying taxes built trust for the bank, and added there is little room to avoid taxes given the government-mandated supervisory requirements for banks. Banks cannot make fake audits and we have to submit our profits [to the Ministry of Finance] so a couple of leading banks made the list, he said. Murao Tatsuo, a lawyer and founder of Cast Consulting (Myanmar) said that though taxation rules had been amended in Myanmar, collection ef- Income Tax 1. Kanbawza Bank Ltd 2. Myanmar Brewery Ltd 3. IBTC ltd 4. Myanmar CP Livestock 5. Shwe Taung Development 6. Co-operative Bank 7. Max (Myanmar) Construction 8. Dagon Beverages 9. Shwe Me 10. Asia World Commercial Tax 1. Myanmar Brewery 2. Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar 3. Dagon Beverages 4. IBTC Co., Ltd 5. Myanmar CP Livestock 6. City Mart Holding 7. Premier Coffee 8. Yathar Cho Industry 9. Max (Myanmar) Construction 10. Straits Greenfield Ltd (Sedona Hotel in Yangon) forts could function more effectively. If the government doesn t collect a huge amount of tax, it means the government doesn t have a sufficient budget to do any infrastructure or education development, he said. Improved expertise for relevant government ministries and more pressure on companies could improve revenue collection, he added. I think some persuasion is necessary, he said. In addition, Mr Murao said the government should not rely only on the largest firms to generate tax revenues and should also improve collection efforts on smaller companies and individuals. Money in foreign accouts is being put under the magnifying glass. Photo: Aye Zaw Myo Foreign bank account rumours draw govt ire ayethidarkyaw@gmail.com AYE THIDAR KYAW OFFICIALS moved to combat rumours that the World Bank refused to cancel government debt after it had learned Myanmar stashed some US$11 billion in foreign bank accounts. Myanmar has foreign reserves worth $7.6 billion in overseas bank accounts, according to Central Bank officials, denying reports spread in recent weeks by local media and online that the figure was much larger. Finance minister U Win Shein also claimed the World Bank had not refused to cancel government arrears after learning of Myanmar s foreign accounts. We intend to transparently publish [information pertaining to the accounts], but the rumors concerning the World Bank are totally wrong and we are willing to show evidence, he said at a Nay Pyi Taw press conference on September 20. Myanmar inked a deal with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation in January for a bridge loan intended to allow the country to pay back its $900 million debt with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Myanmar had originally stopped making payments on the debt in 1987, but by clearing up arrears the country will be able to access credit from the World Bank in the future. The World Bank did not totally cancel the debt because [Myanmar] is not one of the poorest and most highly indebted countries, said U Win Shein. Myanmar holds foreign reserves in corresponding banks in many different countries, he added. A World Bank press release earlier this month also downplayed concern from Myanmar holding money in accounts abroad. It is common practice for governments to hold reserves in foreign bank accounts in order to facilitate importation of goods and services and management of the exchange rate, it said in a statement. According to local media, Jelson Garcia of Bank Information Center claimed that World Bank decided not to cancel Myanmar s debt entirely after learning of its large foreign accounts. The World Bank stated in the release that Mr Garcia does not represent the bank.

25 BUSINESS EDITOR: Jeremy Mullins 25 Nissan drives into Bago BUSINESS 26 Speculators eye Dala bubble PROPERTY 32 Exchange Rates (September 20 close) Currency Buying Selling Euro Malaysia Ringitt Singapore Dollar Thai Baht US Dollar K1310 K300 K778 K31 K974 K1325 K305 K783 K31.50 K977 Economic focus for Rakhine relief Decision-makers pin hopes for revival in Rakhine State on business though critics point to a hard sell for investors FIONA MACGREGOR fionamacgregor@hotmail.co.uk WHEN ethnic tensions erupted into bloody riots in Rakhine last year the immediate toll of the destruction to life and property was graphically evident. Less instantly obvious was the long-term financial fallout. It has hit not just those who lost breadwinners, businesses and property in the riots, but also the entire state and Myanmar s international reputation as a stable place to do business. As concerns grow about the impact of Rakhine s troubles on foreign investment, some experts say a focus on the economic costs of sectarianism can help change attitudes. It s an idea that is increasingly making itself felt and can be heard from diverse and influential figures including government ministers, opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, religious figureheads and business analysts. When the national government announced earlier this month it was launching the tender process for the Kyaukpyu special economic zone in the south of Rakhine, ministers downplayed the trouble and THOUSAND 120 Number of displayed people still living in Rakhine camps sought to assure international investors that they had nothing to fear from local tensions. U Maung Maung Thein, deputy finance minister and vice chairman of the Kyaukpyu SEZ bid evaluation committee, said, The conflict is not very huge, not a gigantic problem... They are not insurmountable problems. It can be tackled in due course. Rakhine s newly appointed minister for planning and economics, U Maung San Shwe, last week assured The Myanmar Times that we will provide 100 percent security for investors. We won t let the conflicts continue anymore. Yet Rakhine State government officials do acknowledge the violent clashes between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims which left over 200 people dead and 140,000 homeless last year have had a significant impact on the economy, scaring off foreign investment from the resourcerich state. With tensions remaining high on both sides and over 120,000 people, mainly Rohingya, still living in camps for displaced people, long-term social solutions remain vague at best, and concern over violent flareups remain. At present attempts to prevent conflict seem more focussed on tough policing around the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps rather than boosting economic strength. Rakhine s finances have been affected by fallout from the violence, said U Mra Aung, former state minister for planning and economics who is now responsible for development affairs. Due to the crisis, investors from foreign countries are not brave enough to come. Because of that finances of Rakhine State are a little bit not okay, he said last month. He said to help address the problems, ministers are considering building a special industrial zone at Ponnakywn township some 60 kilometres (37 miles) outside of state capital Sittwe in a separate project from Kyaukpyu. The proposed zone could provide up to 100,000 jobs in light industry. A feasibility study is currently underway, and according to financial analysts the proposal could help ease ethnic disputes as well as boost state coffers. Jeremy Rathjen, vice president of research at Myanmar financial consultants Thura Swiss, said, It is definitely possible that developing an economy could relieve tensions. The tensions in Rakhine are not just social and religious tensions, they are economic ones too. He said an industrial zone could help change perceptions and the status of the Rohingya in Rakhine because there would be a demand for labour. Many people in Myanmar consider the Rohingya to be illegal immigrants. That is something that remains unclarified because of the citizenship law, which is a key issue, he said. He added that if the Rohingya were to be given some kind of legal status, even if it were just temporary work permits that allowed employment in factories in the special industrial zone, it could help raise their status. If you look at the US, many of the people who are pro-immigration are business leaders because they need workers. If a lot of entrepreneurs were to start factories in Rakhine then they might well be pro-rohingya because they could provide labour. It is a view which allows for some optimism, but such is the divide between the ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities right now that it is difficult to envisage them working side by side on a production line. Much of the Rohingya population may have worked in lowlevel jobs before the troubles, but such roles play a vital part in propping up the rest of the economy, especially in a port town like Sittwe where manual labour is in high demand. Most wealthier Rohingya businesspeople have long since fled the area, taking their money with them. Small businesses formerly run by Rohingya remain closed, their owners often surviving on handouts in the IDP camps next door. Government attempts to set Khin May Htway, 36, is a Rakhine Buddhist who lost her home in the conflict. She has moved to a government-built settlement on the edge of Sittwe, where she sells ornaments. Photo: Fiona MacGregor up official markets in the camps have been met with distrust by residents. I don t want to open a business here because I don t want to stay here. I want my old shop in Sittwe back, explained one 31-year-old Rohingya IDP. Although many former Rohingya business properties in Sittwe have been taken over by Rakhinese, a large number remain empty or ruined from the riots. Even the streets in Sittwe remain unswept because there is no one to do the job. They are struggling to get porters at the port, international NGO workers in the area pointed out. So far the potential contribution the Rohingya people could be making to the state s economic recovery is not enough to ensure they are welcomed back to the community. Thousands of Rakhine Buddhists also lost their homes and businesses in the riots. In the large new settlement created for Rakhine IDPs on the edge of Sittwe, small enterprises sprang up within days of people moving in last month. There is no lack of entrepreneurial spirit, but scars from the conflict remain and there is a distinct lack of will to do business with the Rohingya community. However even political groups who were previously accused of promoting anti-muslim tensions are recognising the economic need for change. U Aye Maung, chairman of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, said his party plans to make a proposal to the township government to create a SEZ where Arakanese and Rohingya can do business. The local government should protect the livelihood of both the Arakanese and of the Bengalis, he said, though he went on to reaffirm his belief that the two communities should mostly live and work separately, at least for the next five or ten years. Meanwhile influential religious leaders are also starting to put out the message that allowing the conflict to continue leads to economic suffering for the entire population. Earlier this month Daw Aung San Suu Kyi met for behind the scenes talks with senior Rakhine Buddhist monks in Yangon. The NLD leader has faced international criticism for not tackling head-on the human rights abuses of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, while simultaneously drawing condemnation from many within the country when she has spoken out on the highly sensitive issue. During the meeting on September 8, she and the most venerable Alodaw Pyei Sayar Daw Due to the crisis, investors from foreign countries are not brave enough to come. U Mra Aung Government official Kyi discussed the impact of last year s violence in Rakhine on the state s economy, said the venerable Ashin Kumara, who attended the meeting. He added Sayar Daw Kyi had said peace must be established if the economy in Rakhine was not to suffer and that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that if rule of law was established the sector could perform confidently. Finding a solution to the human tragedy in Rakhine may seem far away, but factions looking at its economic potential offer a possible solution. However, persuading investors it is a safe place to do business may be more difficult. At the moment the risk is so high that foreign investors are not going to touch it, but Rakhine with its border and coastal position could do a lot to attract investment, said Mr Rathjen. According to state ministers potential investors from China and Japan have expressed interest in the SEZ outside Sittwe. Mr Rathjen said Asian investors tended not to be so adverse to the political repercussion of investing in a controversial region such as Rakhine. The potential to repair Rakhine s reputation is there. It s going to take time, but people have short memories and in two or three years time [foreign investors] won t remember the trouble, as long as there isn t more of it. Used car roadblock removed CAR sale centres can now import later-model used vehicles following a government decision to ease restrictions at the beginning of September, said Yangon-based dealers. Dealers that have already imported and sold 100 vehicles may apply to import used models dated from 2008 to 2011, said U Soe Htun with Farmer Auto. Previously dealers could import and sell models manufactured from 1997 to 2007, while later used models were restricted to personal imports only. We welcome the change in policy, as we need to worry about less paperwork and can now sell more varieties of cars, said Shwe Baho Auto official Ko Nyi Nyi Zaw. He added that although Shwe Baho had not yet completed the requisite forms to import the later models, it supports the policy as it will attract customers to dealers who formerly imported their own used vehicles. Other dealers were less optimistic the eased rules may jump-start profit margins in an increasingly competitive sector, as more dealers set up shop. The car trading market for us is currently slow, said SKK Auto official Ko Chan Kyaw Kyaw. However the policy is changed, I don t think it can change the overall situation. Aye Nyein Win

26 TRADE MARK CAUTION 26 Business THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 NOTICE is hereby given that Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Limited of 137 High Street, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, DE 14 1 JZ is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: - WORTHINGTON (Reg: No. IV/557/2013) in respect of: - Beer, ale, stout, lager and porter 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 Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Limited P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013 PATENT CAUTION NOTICE is hereby given that SUWEI Association, a company organized under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 3-6, Honcho 4-chome, Kawaguchishi, Saitama Japan is the owner and sole proprietor of the following patent:- invention/entitle:- MAGNESIUM METAL-AIR BATTERY (Reg: No. IV/7986/2013) That the Company holds Japan Patent Application No /2012 and Japan Patent No granted on 8 February, The said Owner claims all rights in respect of the above Patent invention and any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said patent will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for SUWEI Association P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013 TRADE MARK CAUTION NOTICE is hereby given that CELIA a company incorporated in FRANCE, and having its principal office at La chaussée aux moines, 53400,CRAON, FRANCE is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: - TIANJIN An Alstom worker surveys hydropower parts manufactured by the firm. Photo: Supplied Alstom s eyes on Myanmar power AUNG SHIN koshumgtha@gmail.com LARGE French conglomerate Alstom is aiming to set up a representative office in Myanmar, looking to take advantage of opportunities in the country s hydropower sectors, chairman and CEO Patrick Kron said. The firm which was the main supplier for China s Three Gorges Dam among a number of other Asia projects plans to open a country representative office in Yangon, eyeing projects in electricity generation and transmission, he said. We are coming to Myanmar, Mr Kron told The Myanmar Times at the launch of its generator factory in Tianjin, China on September 17. We are closely monitoring Myanmar and its infrastructure development. The firm first began working in Myanmar s energy sector in Alstom also aims to work with international financial institutions such as the World Bank to provide funding for developers and construction companies for the projects. Its products generate 25 percent of the world s hydropower, and Myanmar is one market with a lot of potential, said Alstom executive vice president Jerome Pecresse. Alstom has developed several hydropower projects in Southeast Asia, and is also making a push to expand in Laos and Myanmar. The firm has set up a 100 million (US$135 million) generator manufacturing facility in Tianjin, 240 kilometres (149 miles) from Beijing, aiming to take advantage of growth in the Asia Pacific region. The factory will be able to produce up to 26 of the company s large turbines and generators a year. Alstom has been in China since 1995 through a 51pc-owned joint venture with a state-owned partner. The Fine Print Legal & tax insight Nissan to build Bago auto plant SU HLAING TUN hsuhlainghtun.mcm@gmail.com JAPANESE automaker Nissan plans to build a US$74 million automobile manufacturing facility in Myanmar to be completed by 2015, said Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosan. The factory in Bago Region will be able to produce 10,000 units annually and will employ some 300 local employees, he said at a September 20 press conference in Nay Pyi Taw. It will help ensure our cars are affordable, because they will be made locally, said Mr Ghosan. The plant will produce Nissan automobiles and spare parts, and will be operated in conjunction with its area partner Tan Chong Group from Malaysia, which has sole right to distribute Nissan vehicles in Myanmar. MILLION $74 Nissan s investment in the factory Mr Ghosan downplayed concerns over electricity supply and infrastructure support, claiming the government would provide assistance in the area, though he said it would take time to reach the company s goals. Of the $74 million investment, $50 million is slated for construction and employee wages, with the remainder earmarked for CSR projects, he added. Tan Chong Group deputy chairman Dato Tan Heng Chew said the Myanmar market would be a strong force for growth in the Indochina region. Rival firm Suzuki restarted its vehicle assembly plant in Myanmar in May. Translated by Zar Zar Soe (Reg: Nos. IV/1588/2010 & IV/4236/2013) in respect of : - Pharmaceutical preparations, drinks and dietetic substances adapted for medical use, food for babies, milk and milk products for babies. Class: 5 Milk and milk products, soya milk, meat, fish, poultry and game, meat extracts; preserved, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables, jellies, jams, compotes, eggs, edible oils and fats, butter, charcuterie, salted meats, crustaceans (not live), cheese, yoghurt, cream, milk beverages where milk predominates, prepared meals based on the above products. Class: 29 Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, tapioca, sago, artificial coffee; flour and preparations made from cereals, soya meal, bread, pastry and confectionery, edible ices; honey, treacle; yeast, baking-powder; salt, mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice for refreshment, pizzas, pancakes, cookies, cakes, rusks, chocolate, beverages based on cocoa, coffee, chocolate or tea, prepared meals based on the above products. Class; 30 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 CELIA P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013 Making property work for JVs SEBASTIAN PAWLITA sebastian@pwplegal.com NAN KIN KHAM nan@pwplegal.com IN a common scenario, a Myanmar citizen has acquired land and intends to contribute it to a joint venture with a foreign partner with the capital and the know-how to develop it. The difficulty the partners face is: How can the land be transferred to the joint venture given that it is prohibited for foreign-invested companies to own immovable property? Strictly speaking, Myanmar citizens also cannot own land. In Myanmar, the concept is that all land is owned by the state who administers it for the people. However, Myanmar citizens can obtain a land grant or a freehold. These are long-term leases from the state with elements of ownership, as the lease is easily renewable and can be sold to other citizens and passed on by way of inheritance. Foreigners this includes foreign-invested companies cannot obtain a land grant or a freehold. The Transfer of Immovable Property Restrictions Act of 1987 only allows them to lease immovable property (land and/or buildings) for a period of up to one year. The lease is renewable, but it may of course be an unsatisfactory situation for the foreign tenant to be at the mercy of the landlord every year. Foreign-invested companies operating under an MIC permit, however, are not subject to the limits imposed by the Transfer of Immovable Property Restrictions Act. They may lease land for the duration of their project. The permissible duration depends on the type of the project. If, for instance, the company is to operate a factory, the MIC may allow a project term of 20 to 30 years. The Foreign Investment Rules contain absolute upper limits (30 years for agricultural and 50 years for other projects with the possibility to renew twice for 10 years each), but the project terms approved by the MIC would often be shorter. If foreign-invested companies can only obtain a normal lease and are barred from having a land grant or a freehold, how can the local partner contribute land to the joint venture company? Unlike in other countries in the region with foreign ownership restrictions, there are no specific legal procedures in Myanmar for land contributions to joint venture companies with foreign shareholders. The solution to this problem seen in practice is for the local partner (landlord) to enter into a lease agreement with the joint venture company (tenant) for the sake of form and to state in the lease agreement that the rental fee has already been paid in advance for the entire rental period. Alternatively, the local partner contributes cash to the joint venture company and leases the land out to the company in return for actual rental payments. Some experts have voiced concern, however, that these practical solutions amount to an illegal circumvention of the prohibition to transfer land to foreigners. We do not think so as in no case could the foreigninvested joint-venture company enjoy possession of the land for longer than the period permitted by the MIC, but regulatory clarification would be welcome. There is also a tax issue: As the only way for the local partner to contribute land to the joint venture company is via the detour of a lease agreement, the local partner has taxable rental income. This runs counter to the idea of a capital contribution which normally results in (nontaxable) income from dividends. Again, regulatory clarification would be welcome. Often, land is the only asset that the local partner to a joint venture can or wants to contribute, and matters should not be made too difficult for the local partner. Sebastian Pawlita and Nan Kin Kham are with Polastri Wint & Partners Legal & Tax Advisors.

27 Mandalay in smuggling haul Authorities collect billions of kyat worth of smuggled goods but claim it barely makes a dent Business 27 CB to offer debit abroad THAN NAING SOE thennaingsoe@gmail.com MANDALAY Region officials have seized some K6.3 billion (US$6.3 million) worth of goods in the nine months since a dedicated anti-smuggling unit was formed, though billions of dollars of goods illegally cross the border each year, officials said. The haul comes from policing efforts by the national-level Consumer Protection and Illegal Trade Control Committee on the Muse-Mandalay and Myawady- Yangon corridors, representing 1805 separate cases, said Mandalay regional minister for national planning and economic development U Aung Zan. Import figures indicate the illicit goods seized so far are just a fraction of total smuggled items entering Myanmar, he said. Electronic and food products are the most frequently intercepted illegal imports, though statistics also show a gap between the levels of officially imported engine oil, cigarettes, beer and alcohol and the amount actually consumed by the Myanmar market, he said. Thailand reported exporting some $1.3 billion worth of goods Officials check fish exports near the border with Thailand in this archive picture. Photo: Aye Zaw Moe to Myanmar in the financial year, but Myanmar reported importing $188 million from Thailand, resulting in a discrepancy of over $1 billion. U Aung Zan said the size of illegal trade with China is likely even larger. Stronger government steps to control illegal trade would raise tax revenue and improve the safety of goods, he said, adding reforms within the Customs department and more funding would also streamline the process. The Consumer Protection and Illegal Trade Controlling Committee s mobile teams were set up in November 2012 and began seizing illegal goods at the beginning of The committee s other tasks include checking domestic and international ports and airports and keeping watch over wholesale shops, stores and shopping centres in cities for illegal goods. Translated by Thiri Min Htun CO-OPERATIVE Bank (CB) debit card holders will likely be the first able to access cash from their Myanmar accounts when travelling in foreign countries, said CB managing director U Pe Myint. The bank has successfully trialed withdrawals on its Mastercard-brand debit cards in China, Singapore and Thailand, and plans to test withdrawals in England and the US shortly, he said. We are preparing the infrastructure and waiting to serve our customers, he said, adding Central Bank regulators are currently reviewing the service before approving it. A Central Bank official said it is weighing allowing all banks working with international partners to allow debits abroad. The service is very new for Myanmar, and we have to consider any problems for the banks, he said. As long as the transfer is from the current account [rather than the savings account] we won t place a restriction on it. CB was the first Myanmar bank to ink an agreement with Mastercard in September 2012, launching its debit card network at ATMs and points of sale such as restaurants and hotels in Myanmar. The firm is planning to expand its offering through payment systems such as Visa and China Union Pay. Other banks contacted by The Myanmar Times said they were interested in offering similar services, but had not yet made concrete moves to do so. Aye Thidar Kyaw BRIEFS Farmers company raises capital Farmers Development Public Company raised K20 billion (US$20 million) since its September launch to begin investing in rural projects, though some farmer representatives said small investors speculating in stocks is a risky way to improve their well-being. Founded by some 40 partners, the company aims to work in sectors such as rural electrification and affordable housing, said company official U Kyaw Swar Soe, who is also chairman of the Myanmar Farmers Development Party. The firm also intends to establish a Farmers Development Bank pending government approval, and also awaits legislation changes allowing foreign investment in the banking sector. Shares in the enterprise will be offered to the public at K1000 each, though some said investing would be a risky proposition. Myanmar Farmers Association chairman U Soe Tun said increased cooperation with the government would likely yield stronger results for farmers than investing in a public company. It might be that if business goes poorly, investors could loose K500 for every K1000 share. How could they proceed if the shares are only worth K1? he said. He added he is pushing for increased private and public sector cooperation instead. Nyan Lynn Aung Engineering firm eyes oil and gas French engineering firm Technip opened its doors in Yangon last week, aiming to work with domestic onshore and offshore oil and gas firms. It already operates in conjunction with Daewoo and Total in Myanmar and aims to also work with Petronas and PTT, said Technip senior vice president KK Lim. Myanmar is a new market, not only for energy, but for a lot of other businesses too, he said. The firm currently employs 21 engineers locally, and expects to expand to 50 employees by the end of Mr Lim declined to discuss future projects in detail, but said the firm would support energy companies to search for and develop their fields. Paul Scheicher and Nyann Lynn Aung

28 Job watch The Associated Press is looking for a reporter to become part of a tightknit team of journalists covering Myanmar s transition. The ideal candidate should be curious, energetic and keen to tell all sides of a story. In addition to monitoring both traditional and social media for breaking news, he or she should have a strong network of sources, the ability to spot the unusual and identify new trends, and to operate independently. Fluency in both written English and Burmese is a must; previous experience at a news agency or daily paper is preferable. Interested parties please contact Todd Pitman at tpitman@ap.org The Associated Press invites applications for the position of Videojournalist, based at its bureau in Yangon, Myanmar The position involves covering news events across Myanmar. Coverage of sports events, entertainment events, and feature stories may also be required. Candidates must be resourceful and self-motivated, able to work independently but also as part of a team. He/she must be an avid follower of news and must be up-to-date with all issues in Myanmar. Knowledge and Experience: The ability to operate a video camera in a newsgathering role. The ability to edit video in linear format Excellent written and spoken English is required. Fluency in written and spoken Burmese is required. Experience in desk and field producing would be an advantage though not essential. Interested parties, please contact Jerry Harmer at: jharmer@ap.org PATH is an international nonprofit organizationthat transforms global health through innovation. Having just recently opened an office in Myanmar, PATH currently seeks qualified candidates looking for an opportunity to make a positive impact on the health of people in Myanmar. The following two available positions, Finance and Administrative Assistant (Temporary) and Project Manager, will be based in our Yangon office. Finance and Administrative Assistant (Temporary) will be primarily responsible for reception tasks, includinganswering telephones,welcoming visitors, and managing the receipt and distribution of post; procurement tasks,includingobtaining quotations and the selection process, and maintainingfile and folder organization on the office network. This position will also support staff travel, including hotel and flight reservations, car rental and acquiring government approval for field visits; maintain office petty cash; and,undertake other administrative and financial tasks, as assigned. Knowledge, skills and experience required: Solid computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel;organized and with an attention to detail; good communication skills; proven interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team; excellent Myanmar and English language skills. Applicant must have a university degree and at least two years relevant experience. Experience working with an INGO is an advantage. For more details and to apply for the position of Finance and Administrative Assistant (Temporary), please send a CV and application letter by to smyint@path.org. Project Manager, Rice Fortification in Myanmar will work with key government ministries and partners to coordinate all aspects of advocacy and rice fortification policy development. The Project Manager will take a lead role in planning, execution, monitoring and tracking performance of the project,liaise with partners in food production for quality assurance of products. Responsibilities also include the preparation of technical and program summary reports for internal and external audiences and writing up articles for publications. The Project Manager will maintain compliance and procedural documentation within PATH standards and regulatory requirements. Knowledge, skills and experience required: A Master s Degree in Nutrition and/or Public Health or other directly related field with a minimum of five years progressive, directly related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience in public health, nutrition,advocacy and communications. Strong management skills with experience working with international organizations, multilateral companies, distributors and farmers. Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills in English and proficiency in the local language (Myanmar) is required. For more details and to apply for the position of Project Manager, please visit the jobs section of the PATH website ( and apply on-line. Applications for this position will not be accepted via Business THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Parami talks oil and gas Parami Energy Development is a branch of the Parami Group of Companies, working in the oil and gas industry in Myanmar. Parami CEO U Ken Tun here discusses Myanmar s energy sector, including his view of investment, local requirements, production and exports IN the last bidding round in 2012, the government awarded seven international exploration companies a total of nine onshore blocks. Now we have a historic bidding round for around 48 blocks currently ongoing. The government requires investors to partner with local companies when bidding for onshore and shallow water blocks, and forbids local companies operating in deep water blocks. It seems to me that the government does not want local companies to take substantial risk in deep water, where it costs up to US$100 million to drill a well. On the other hand, this policy will deter Myanmar companies from having access to the knowledge and knowhow for deep water operations forever. The Myanmar Citizens Investment laws encourage Myanmar companies to work together with international investors in kind or in cash. Resources are depletable. We should learn from the experiences of other countries such as Norway, Malaysia, Trinidad, and Australia. Most of them use revenue from the oil and gas sector to develop the local economy and local capabilities, and income created by local companies enables them to become more competitive regionally. The old model of a brokerage mentality is no longer relevant. So, we hope our government takes a far-sighted approach to use the current opportunity to facilitate local companies involvement in the oil and gas sector to be more competitive and to acquire a professional skill set. For example, operators in Myanmar spent around $270 million in The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Myanmar is inviting qualified candidates to apply for the following positions: Sr. Title and level Duty Station Position Deadline 1. Programme Officer (LICA 6) Yangon National 25 September Field Finance Assistant (LICA 3) Yangon, Magwe, Pyapon National 25 September 2013 The benefit package for the above positions includes an attractive remuneration, 30 days annual leave and 10 holidays per year, medical insurance, learning and development opportunities and a challenging working environment with 200 national and international colleagues. For details please visit UNOPS website and click on the post you are interested in applying for. All applications must be made through UNOPS E-recruitment system. If you have further queries, please contact Ext: 149 Want to be part of a team bringing positive impact directly to families within Myanmar? Join us and you will too, because at UNFPA, everyone counts. Applications are invited from interested Myanmar Nationals for the following positions. Sr. Title and Level Type of Contract Duty Station Deadline 1. National Programme Officer-RHCS (SC-9) Service Contract Yangon 7 October Finance Assistant (SC-5) Service Contract Yangon 7 October Programme assistant (G-5) Fixed-Term Yangon 7 October 2013 Applications should be addressed to UNFPA Representative. Attention: International Operations Manager, Room A07, UNFPA, No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon. myanmar.office@unfpa.org U Ken Tun Parami CEO ANALYSIS Parami Group CEO U Ken Tun. Photo: Supplied 2009 for procurement, which grew to almost $1 billion in With the new investment coming in and more companies taking up blocks, we expect service industry revenue to grow to become a multi-billion dollar sector in the future. But the sad part of the story is local companies are struggling to compete with each other in the less value added segments of service industries, such as logistics, catering and providing local supplies (I hope we do not end up selling bananas too). The local content share in operators spending currently amounts to less than 5 percent, while most of the professional services go to service companies abroad. I understand the government sent out a directive two years back to operators requiring 25pc of their service spending to be sourced from local goods and services. However, since then we ve found no productive follow up on that directive. The president wants our GDP to double by 2015, but most people in the government have overlooked direct and indirect income from services in Myanmar s oil and gas sector. Instead, the focus is around income generated from export of gas. Supposing we can train local service companies to target 30 to 40pc of the total revenue spent UNFPA Vacancy Notice For further details, please see the vacancy announcement posted at UN billboard. No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon and also at UNFPA website ( Applications will be considered only when meeting all requirements set in detailed vacancy announcement. by oil and gas firms on services, it will generate direct income of US$300 to 500 million with great indirect benefits flourishing back to the Myanmar economy. Instead, this income flies very quietly away over our country. There are a lot of challenges to be overcome to make this happen. Government, investors and local industry need to work hand-in-hand to achieve a common goal and to make sure current development in energy is sustainable. Shale gas in the US has been very successful because there is the strong supporting local industry base, meaning investors can minimise risk, save on costs and improve operational efficiency if we have a competitive local supporting industry. I also urge fellow local companies to work very hard to define and add the value to their offerings. There is no free lunch any more; the old model of a brokerage mentality is no longer relevant. In order to survive, we need to be competent. As you all know Myanmar is exporting over a billion cubic feet of gas a day (bcfd) to Thailand from Petronas and Total projects. Very soon, we will be exporting an additional 600 million cubic feet a day of gas, making Myanmar the number one gas exporter in Southeast Asia, followed by Indonesia. This is not to be proud of as we are struggling with power shortages. There are plans for the addition of more than two gigawatts (GW) of new gasfired power plants. An additional 500 to 600 million standard cubic feet per day of gas will be needed for these newly signed MOUs. Where is the additional gas going to come from? Some possibilities are renegotiating with existing producers, improve efficiency of existing gas turbines to produce more power and incentivising the operators to expedite their exploration, drilling and development programs. Or we can even claim our state participation in kind instead of the current system of taking cash payments. In conclusion, I think it is time for the government and the private sector to sit down and come up with a far-sighted solution to avoid any regrets in ten or twenty years. Tax gripes for mango traders KYAE MONE WIN kyaymonewin@gmail.com MANGO traders near the Chinese border complained they are still charged a tax on fruit exports officially abolished three years ago, said an official with the Mandalay-based Mango Association. Exporters from Muse s wholesalers are routinely charged K50 per standard box of mangos to ship the fruit abroad, said association vice chairman Ko Nay Lin Maung Maung. We submitted a complaint to the Myanmar Fruit and Vegetables Producers and Exporters Association, with no response, he said. We want to know the reason we have to pay this tax. He added the tax had been hiked to K90 a box after complaining to government officials. Some 95 percent of Myanmar s mango exports head to China, with Muse as the major market for the fruit, he said. We are still having to pay taxes though the government created a tax break for fruit exports they average K3500 a tonne. Translated by Zar Zar Soe

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31 Property 31 Tokyo man forced out for second Olympics Redevelopment plans catch up with a Tokyo resident again as the city succeeds in its bid for the world sporting spectacle SHIGEMI SATO TOKYO S successful bid to host the Olympics made much of plans to reuse venues built for Japan s last Summer Games. But for Kohei Jinno, redevelopment for 2020 means eviction again just like in While much of Japan celebrated Tokyo s victory at last week s meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Buenos Aires, 79-year-old Mr Jinno was cursing his luck. In 1964, his home and business were torn down to make way for an Olympic park around the main stadium for the Tokyo Games. Now he has been told he must move again to make way for the stadium s redevelopment and expansion in time for I don t want to see the Olympics at all, said Mr Jinno. Deep inside, I have a kind of grudge against the Olympics. The first Tokyo Games marked Japan s arrival as a modern country with a roaring economy. They were a Deep inside, I have a kind of grudge against the Olympics. Kohei Jinno Tokyo resident chance for Tokyo to shine. Futuristic Olympic venues shot up all over Tokyo as a bullet train was built, along with a metropolitan highway network and an airport monorail. The energy and symbolism could not be missed: Japan had risen from the ashes of World War II. The 2020 edition is sparking another orgy of infrastructure investment, albeit on a smaller scale, but still providing a boon to Japan s construction industry. The capital plans to spend around 400 billion yen (US$4 billion) on Olympics-related facilities, including the athletes village and media centres. Of 35 Olympic sites in Tokyo, 20 will be newly built mostly on the city s fast developing waterfront for such sports as swimming, basketball and hockey. Roads will be built or repaired at a cost of $5.5 billion. Some 85 percent of venues will be located within eight kilometres (five miles) of the $1.1 billion Olympic Village which will be constructed on landfill not far from the upscale Ginza district. The crown jewel of Olympic construction, an 80,000-seat main stadium, will be built with a retractable roof at a cost of $1.3 billion with a shape that calls to mind a cycle helmet or a spacecraft on the site of the old Olympic stadium. But its enlarged footprint will see it spreading over Mr Jinno s flat and the tobacco shop he runs inside a small market at the aged Kasumigaoka apartment complex. The housing project was built in 1963 just a block from the old stadium in the vast wooded outer garden of a shrine in central Tokyo. Some 200 households at Kasumigaoka, where one third of the population are aged 70 and older, will have to move somewhere else. The city has offered them spaces in three other municipal apartment complexes and Tokyo resident Kohei Jinno sweeps in front of his apartment. He is slated to be evicted for a second time to make way for an Olympic stadium. Photo: AFP the government said it would have rebuilt the stadium regardless of the outcome of the IOC meeting. But Mr Jinno insists it will be difficult for people especially the elderly to cultivate new relationships in a new environment. Probably I may go where you cannot set up a tobacco shop. That means I will lose my reason for living, he said. After he was evicted in 1964, Jinno survived on car-cleaning work in another town, earning just enough to rent a tiny room for his family of four, until 1966 when he was allotted a home and a shop at Kasumigaoka. He believes the huge sums being spent on the Olympics would be better spent in the country s northeast, which was ravaged by the 2011 tsunami. I feel very upset because they will spend a lot of money on the new stadium after decades of pouring taxpayers money into the old stadium to maintain something that is only used a few times a year, he said. Tokyo has insisted its Olympic project will help the disaster-hit area to recover and will bring a welcome boost to the spirits of people there. Two-and-a-half years after the earthquake and resulting tsunami killed 18,000 and sparked a nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima, about 290,000 people are still living in temporary accommodation. Kuniyuki Mori, 86, has lived in the city of Fukushima, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the devastated plant, for more than two years since being forced to leave his home near the coast. I want something to be done about our lives now, not something for the Olympics seven years from now, he told the local newspaper Kahoku Shimpo. AFP Charges in Bengali bridge scandal CANADA has charged a former executive of the Quebec engineering firm SNC-Lavalin with bribing an official in Bangladesh, police said last week. Kevin Wallace, 46, is accused of bribery in connection with a probe into the award of a contract related to the construction of a bridge in Bangladesh, according to charges unveiled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Mr Wallace was released with conditions and a promise to appear in court. In April the World Bank barred the Canadian group and some 100 of its subsidiaries from bidding on bank projects following allegations the company offered bribes to win the contract for the four-mile (six kilometre) bridge in Bangladesh. The bank also cancelled a US$1.2 billion loan amid allegations of corruption involving Bangladeshi officials. SNC-Lavalin spokesperson Lilly Nguyen said the company seeks a rapid end to all questions linked to this issue and we will continue to support the authorities in their investigation. The police also brought against Canadian citizen Zulfiquar Ali Bhuiyan and Abul Hasan Chowdhury, who is from Bangladesh. Their alleged role in the bridge affair was not specified. In February 2012, police also charged two former SNC Lavalin employees in the same case. They were named as Ramesh Shah and Mohammad Ismail. AFP Smoking and secession calls Spanish casino bluff TWO mega-casino development projects in Spain faced an uncertain future due to a smoking ban in public places and a push for independence in Catalonia. Investor interest in the Barcelona World project, which envisages six large tourist complexes with casinos, shopping centres and hotels south of Barcelona, would dry up if the northeastern region of Catalonia were to split from Spain and leave the EU, the president of the project, Xavier Adsera, has warned. There is a red line for investors which is that Catalonia continues to be a part of the European Union for questions of financial and legal security, he said last Wednesday during a presentation at the Esade business school in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. His comments came two days after European Commission competition regulator Joaquin Almunia said the EU was concerned over the economically powerful region s independence push and warned that if a part of a EU member state secedes the segregated part is not an EU member. Hundreds of thousands of Catalans formed a 400-kilometre (250-mile) human chain last Wednesday, demanding a referendum on breaking away from Spain. Barcelona World is due to start being built south of Barcelona during the first half of next year with the opening scheduled for mid Meanwhile a rival mega-casino project dubbed Eurovegas planned for near Madrid by US billionaire Sheldon Adelson s Las Vegas Sands was in doubt due to a 2011 law which bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces, including bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Mr Adelson has been pressuring the Spanish government to exempt the Eurovegas project from the anti-tobacco law, one of the strictest in Europe, but this has been fiercely opposed by antismoking campaigners. We run the risk that it will go elsewhere if we don t regulate right now the There is a red line for investors, which is that Catalonia continues to be a part of the [EU]. Xavier Adsera Casino developer legal question regarding smoking, the president of the regional government of Madrid, Ignacio Gonzalez, said last Tuesday amid reports that Mr Adelson was thinking of changing the location of the project to Tokyo which just beat Madrid in the race for the 2020 Olympics. The Eurovegas project is backed by Spain s ruling conservative Popular Party, which has said that it is considering bending its tobacco law to let punters light up inside the Madrid mega-casino project. Spain is still struggling to overcome the aftermath of a decade-long property bubble that imploded in 2008, destroying millions of jobs. The jobless rate dipped to percent in the second quarter thanks to summer hiring in the tourist sector, slightly below the record 27.16pc posted in the first quarter. AFP

32 32 Property THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 HOUSE OF THE WEEK Living in luxury This apartment in Royal Yaw Min Gyi Condominium comes fully stocked with the amenities for a luxurious lifestyle. The newly built property boasts a swimming pool and even a small theatre to watch films. It sits near schools, markets and convenient transportation links in Dagon township. The 2700-square-foot unit stretches over two floors, and has a total of three bedrooms with large windows to allow a flood of natural light. It boasts a living room large enough to fill with amenities, though the place already comes fully furnished and with seven air conditioners. The lovely kitchen and dining room are separated and well-decorated. Ei Thae Thae Naing Location Price Contact : Yaw Min Gyi Lane, Dagon township : $7500 (per month to rent; negotiable) : Moe Myint Thaw Thar Real Estate and General Service Phone : Sleepy Dala in property price surge Quiet township across the river from Yangon sees intense real estate speculation following bridge announcement PAUL SCHEICHER paulscheicher@gmx.at MYAT NYEIN AYE myatnyeinaye11092@gmail.com IT S been a roller coaster ride for property prices in Dala township, across the Yangon River from the city s downtown. Its rural houses and vacant lots have seen prices rise to become some of the most valuable property in Myanmar in recent weeks, though experts warn it shows early signs of a bubble that could quick deflate. Although local residents say the township had long been the scene of some speculation in real estate due to its proximity to Yangon, interest in Dala property took off following the announcement of plans to build a bridge from the city some three months ago. Ma Thit Thit, an agent at Dala Real Estate Agency, said an exceptional 2500-square-foot property has fetched as much as K30 billion (US$30 million) in recent weeks, more than a thousand times what it cost earlier this year, at K18 million. Realty agent Ko Tin Htun Oo said it is now common for about 20 potential buyers a day to take a serious look at properties available on the township s market, aiming to cash in on the area s potential. People say that property prices in Dala could be among the highest in the world, he said. As soon as people heard about the new bridge, people travelled from Yangon to invest, and local residents sold their houses and land, he said. The township is replete with ragsto-riches stories, and local residents say many of their former neighbours with land titles had sold their properties, using the proceeds to purchase fancy cars and houses in townships such as Dagon and Thingangyun. Yet industry insiders warn the high prices many not be sustainable in Dala township. One key issue is that the bridge the announcement of which did much to foster the burst in speculation may be years away from completion. People say that property prices in Dala could be among the highest in the world. Ko Tin Htun Oo Real estate agent A man rides his bike past two vastly different houses in Dala township. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing Ko Tin Htun Oo said that if there s little evidence the bridge is coming, the bubble on the market may quickly burst. We hope the bridge will be built one day soon, he said. Nevertheless, the market is showing few signs of slowing. The average price for a 1200-square-foot lot near a road in Dala hit K40 million last week, from K26 million a month ago. Yet not all Dala residents share Ko Tin Htun Oo s enthusiasm for the bridge. Shop owner Ma Nilar said the surge in prices pushed up rent for area residents, as new owners took over their land. Farmers said they expect the bridge to usher in waves of development, pushing them to locate further afield or leave the business entirely. U Kyaw Aye, a farmer, said he has contemplated selling his land to take advantage of the high prices, but does not know where he would move to or what he would do. Construction safety crucial MYANMAR officials say they are prioritising improved health and safety in the domestic construction industry. Poor knowledge and unsafe behaviour routinely affect work at Myanmar s construction sites, said Yangon City Development Committee Building Department official U Kyaw Kyaw Htun. There s always a chance of workplace accidents at project sites, he said. Strong government enforcement of safety rules and regulations would assist in mitigating problems during construction, he added. He pointed to Singapore s practices in the sector as exemplary for preventing accidents, where workers are required to attend safety classes and supervisors complete relevant safety courses. - Htar Htar Khine

33 Science & Technology 33 WANGQUING Doomed deer to feed China s elusive tigers HIGH in the mountains of northeastern China, conservationists looking to preserve the endangered Amur tiger the world s largest living feline are releasing deer into the area for the big cats to kill and eat. Hundreds of the animals, also known as Siberian tigers and scientifically as Panthera tigris altaica, once roamed the lush pine and oak forests of Manchuria, but only around 20 still survive in the wild. Historically, China s shamanistic Manchu people both revered and hunted tigers, with the Qing dynasty Kangxi emperor claiming to have killed 135 with bow and musket, according to Peter Dekker, an independent researcher of Qing dynasty weapons. China was once home to several tiger subspecies, but now their legacy endures more in folklore Where there are mountains, there are tigers, goes one old saying than in the flesh. Conservationists cite increased human settlement, logging and poaching of tigers for use in Chinese medicine and their prey as among reasons for the dramatic population fall. The prey numbers are very low in comparison to other countries, said Rohit Singh of global conservation organisation WWF s Tigers Alive Initiative. WWF has a project to increase deer numbers in the Jilin Wangqing National Nature Reserve in an effort to give the tigers and the even more endangered Amur leopards a chance to thrive and multiply. In 2012 a total of 37 deer were released into the area, while last month a similar number were let go to feed the felines. But the tigers appetite is huge. Dale Miquelle, Vladivostok-based director of the Wildlife Conservation Society s (WCS) Russia Program, said one tiger needs to kill about 50 deer or wild boar a year to survive, and a prey population about 10 times that size was needed for the kill rate to be sustainable. Whether it be red deer or sika deer or wild boar, you need a relatively large number of animals, he said by phone from Russia, home to a far bigger Amur tiger population estimated at about Ultimately the process will be about making sure that these [prey] animals are protected from poaching and that they have the area to expand their populations and that their habitat isn t being destroyed by other MOSCOW Amur tiger a.k.a. Siberian tiger Panthera tigris altaica Population: about 20 in China in Russia World s largest felines: Adult males ( kg) Adult females ( kg) Threats: - Illegal trade in fur and bones for traditional medicine - Habitat loss 180 km MONGOLIA Source: WWF/WCS activities, he said. The Wangqing reserve is part of a corridor linking the Amur tiger population in China with the one in Russia, less than 100 kilometres (62 miles) away. The corridor is very important for tigers, said Tang Lijun, deputy director of the reserve s administration bureau, adding steps had been taken to sharply reduce logging work in the area to help preserve it. Measures include schemes to provide forest workers with alternative sources of income as logging work declines, such as stakes in fish, fungus and other farming ventures. Estimates for worldwide wild tiger numbers run between about 2700 to 3200, said Joseph Vattakaven, a WWF conservation adviser and expert on the felines, down from an estimated 100,000 a century ago. Given the extremely low tiger and leopard numbers in northeastern China, sightings are rare. The last time a WWF camera trap caught an image of a tiger was in April 2012, but Mr. Miquelle said devices in China s Hunchun Nature Reserve, part of the corridor and where WCS has a program, had yielded views of at least four different tigers this year. Footage collected by WWF last month showed an adult male Amur leopard scientific name Panthera pardus orientalis and the world s most endangered feline walking through the Wangqing reserve forest, stopping to emit a sizeable yawn before stepping over a fallen tree limb RUSSIA Wangqing nature reserve CHINA Distribution area Current range Historical range and heading out of view. As recently as the 1970s Amur tiger numbers in China and Russia were about equal at approximately 150 each, Mr. Vattakaven said, but the Russian population rose because of protection and other efforts. Joe Walston, Asia executive director for WCS, added from New York, If it hadn t been for Russia there now would be no wild tigers in China. So the test really is for China to build on the efforts that have gone on in Russia. A key factor, he added, was that China should avoid major infrastructure projects that will divide and break up tiger habitats. Mr. Dekker, who is based in Amsterdam, said that for the Manchu who ruled China from 1644 to 1911 tigers were a worthy foe and to be fought with spears rather than bow and arrow. Manchu men were expected to show their manliness by facing animals in the wild, preferably beating them in their own game, he said via e- mail although emperors would also use bows or firearms in casual hunts. The rulers were keen to preserve tiger populations to ensure they could continue their sport, he added. It was not extensive hunting that did it for the tiger. The WWF s Mr. Singh said that while there were important ecological reasons to save tigers, they paled before one compelling fact. It s such a charismatic species, he said. You can t just lose it. It s such a beautiful species. AFP Russia threatens to block Facebook over drug ads RUSSIA on Thursday threatened to block Facebook for allegedly publishing ads for illegal designer drugs on its website. The state media watchdog said it had added Facebook to a blacklist and that the social network would be blocked within three days if the violations were not resolved. Facebook responded swiftly to the threat, within hours removing the ads which led users to a site selling the designer drug Spice and other synthetic narcotics. A spokesman for the company told the Russian tech site Digit.ru that the ads were the result of a bug. The tussle was the latest episode in what appears to be a continuing crusade by Russian conservatives to challenge US web giants in Russia. The investigation into Facebook was prompted by a complaint from Ruslan Gattarov, a senator from the ruling party, United Russia, who has recently campaigned against alleged breaches of Russians rights by major US internet firms. This has shown that there are no untouchable companies if the law is broken, they must react, and if they don t, they can expect to be blocked, the senator told the ITAR-TASS news agency after Facebook pulled the ads. Mr. Gattarov had said earlier this week that he wanted Facebook to face a fine of several million dollars. The ads had apparently appeared on the site for some time, but authorities only acted after Mr. Gattarov formally complained, independent channel TV Rain reported. Mr. Gattarov on Thursday called for Facebook to open an office in Russia. The absence of permanent premises for the company in the country has long been a gripe for the Russian government. Mr. Gattarov, who heads the presidential council on developing internet use, has in recent months called for the law enforcement agencies to investigate Apple and Twitter over alleged violations of users privacy and argued that Gmail violates Russia s constitution. Mr. Gattarov has been a particularly vocal critic of the US National Security Agency s (NSA) surveillance programmes. AFP LONDON Ethical smartphone unveiled in UK A device billed as the world s first ethically sourced smartphone was unveiled in London this week, but despite thousands of pre-orders its designer says the project remains a huge gamble. The Dutchman behind the Fairphone says it avoids sourcing materials from conflict zones or using factories with poor labour practices, taking as its model the coffee and banana fair-trade industry. More than 15,000 people have already ordered the new handset, which sells for 325 (US$440) and is due to start shipping in December, but designer Bas van Abel said ethical business was far from easy. The responsibility is enormous, he told AFP at the unveiling of the Fairphone s prototype at the London Design Festival. These 15,000 people trust me. If the factory which makes the devices is engulfed by an earthquake, I am going to have to refund them one by one. When I think about it I can t even sleep or eat. The Fairphone prototype looks much like its competitors, Apple s iphone and Samsung s Galaxy, but the designers say there is a world of difference. Fairphone describes itself as a social enterprise that has essentially crowd-sourced its funding from the thousands of people who have ordered the device without ever actually seeing one. Mr. Van Abel, a 36-year-old father-of three, had initially focused on finding a way to ethically obtain coltan, a mineral which is vital for mobile phones whose extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo feeds one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II. Realising that cobalt was also used extensively to make handsets, Mr. Van Abel quickly broadened his ambition to building a smartphone embodying social and environmental values all along the production chain. The Fairphone is also designed to be less energy-hungry and more easily recyclable than current smartphones. It is still manufactured in China, like the iphone whose maker Apple has faced pressure to better oversee often-poor manufacturing conditions in China since 13 workers for one of its suppliers committed suicide in But Mr. Van Abel says that he is trying to change the system where it is at its worst. If we [take production] to Australia we feel like we re avoiding the real issue, he argued, adding that locating in such a country could also affect the price of the handset. Fairphone is in talks with several operators including Vodafone and Dutch group KPN, but is reluctant to give away the handsets cheaply or for free as part of a network deal. We understand that this represents a lot of money but giving away a phone for free removes all of its value and people don t hesitate to throw it away as soon as there is a slight problem, said Tessa Wernink, Fairphone s director of communications. Making the handsets easily disposable would defeat Mr. Van Abel s hopes of creating a new business model. An outsider might see Fairphone as a group of activists claiming the whole industry is rotten, but it is not that at all, he argued. We want to be part of the system, not to fight against it but to change it from the inside. We want to be part of the system...to change it from the inside Bas van Abel Fairphone Designer Apple and Samsung are giants in need of a shake-up, he believes. Samsung, Apple and all the big players have made so many innovations in the last years that they actually made the existence of Fairphone a possibility, he stressed. Fundamentally the big companies are stuck, he explained. It s not fun for them to read in the newspapers that another Chinese worker has committed suicide in one of your factories. They would do something, but the system prohibits them, he stated. This is why we want to change it. AFP

34 34 THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 World WORLD EDITOR: Douglas Long SYDNEY Australian PM abolishes climate watchdog AUSTRALIA S new conservative government on September 19 abolished an independent climate change commission set up by the previous Labor administration, as part of its plans to streamline bureaucracy. The Climate Commission was set up to provide apolitical and reliable information to the public about the science of climate change, emissions targets and international action being taken. But Prime Minister Tony Abbott s conservative coalition, which plans to repeal Labor s tax on corporate pollution and is the first post-war Australian government not to have a science minister, said an independent body was not needed and the role would be assumed by the Department of the Environment. As part of the coalition s plans to streamline government processes and avoid duplication of services, the commission s function to provide independent advice and analysis on climate change will be continued by the Department of the Environment, said new Environment Minister Greg Hunt. Climate Commission head Tim Flannery argued that there was a strong need for independent and accurate information on climate change as propaganda aimed at misinforming the public increases. I believe Australians have a right to know, a right to authoritative, independent and accurate information on climate change, he said. Australia, which is among the world s worst per capita polluters due to its reliance on coal-fired power and mining exports, has just experienced its warmest 12 months on record. Average temperatures throughout the country in the year to August 31 were 1.11 degrees Celsius (2.0 degrees Fahrenheit) above the long-term average. AFP OKUMA Abe demands end to Fukushima leaks JAPAN S Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Fukushima s operator to fix radioactive water leaks as he toured the crippled nuclear plant on September Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tours Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, Japan on September 19. Photo: AFP 19, less than two weeks after assuring the world the situation was under control. Mr Abe also said he stood by assertions he made at a meeting of Olympic chiefs that the effect of contaminated water was contained. Those reassurances, given at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Buenos Aires, were seen as key to Tokyo s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games. The September 19 visit came as it emerged that just months after the March 2011 disaster, authorities allowed operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) to shelve costly plans to deal with groundwater over fears it would push the massive utility into bankruptcy. Hundreds of tonnes of groundwater are becoming contaminated daily as they mix with highly polluted water used to cool the broken reactors. The water then flows out to sea. Mr Abe s visit was part of a campaign aimed at reassuring the world about the state of the plant, more than two-and-a-half years after it was battered by a huge tsunami. TEPCO has poured thousands of tonnes of water onto the Fukushima reactors to tame meltdowns sparked by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The utility says they are now stable but need more water every day to keep them cool and to prevent them running out of control again. Much of that now-contaminated water is being stored in temporary tanks at the plant, and TEPCO has so far revealed no clear plan for its disposal. AFP IN PICTURES ZAMBOANGA A dancer performs the Nepalese m Festival in Kathmandu on Septem of gods and ruler of rains. Photo: Philippine troops fight Mu PHILIPPINE security forces killed eight Muslim rebels on September 19 as they hunted the remnants of a guerrilla force hiding in homes of a major city and believed to be holding hostages. A soldier also died, the military reported, bringing the death toll from 11 days of street battles in the southern port city of Zamboanga to at least 114. The fresh casualties came as an international human rights monitor issued a report alleging human rights abuses by both sides, including the rebels deliberately picking out Christians to use as human shields. Both sides need to do all they can to prevent further loss of civilian life, Human Rights Watch Asia director Brad Adams said. TRADE MARK CAUTION BRIEFS NOTICE is hereby given that KIM, Sang Hyun of B-932, SK HUB SU, 650-4, Guro 1-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, Korea is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:- nanodefense (Reg: No. IV/7984/2013) in respect of :- Painting machines; air brushes for applying colour; atomisers [machines]; painting machines for coatings {paints}; coating machines for oil coating materials; coating machines for water-repellent paints; coating machines for synthetic resin paints; water-repellent paints coating machines for smart phone; waterproof paints coating machines for mobile telephones; surface coating machines for portable telephones Class: 7 Waterproofing of smart phone; waterproofing of portable telephones; coating of smart phone; coating of portable telephones; coating of portable telephones surfaces; coating and surface finishing of machines; tinting treatment, being surface coating; treatment and processing of plastics Class: 40 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 KIM, Sang Hyun P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013 Brasilia Brazil s Rousseff postpones US state visit Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on September 17 postponed a state visit to Washington over allegations of US cyberspying on her country. Ms Rousseff announced the decision after discussing the spying row with US President Barack Obama on September 16 in a telephone call. The two presidents decided to postpone the state visit since the outcome of this visit should not be conditioned on an issue which for Brazil has not been satisfactorily resolved, a statement from Ms Rousseff s office said. The statement reflected Brasilia s clear irritation over disclosures that the US National Security Agency spied on her communications and on the state-run energy giant Petrobras. The disclosures were based on documents obtained by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. AFP Tehran Iran frees political prisoners In a sign that Iran s government is loosening its grip on domestic security, several political prisoners, including a prominent human rights lawyer, were released on September 18. Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer who had been accused of insulting the government, was among those freed, according to her husband, Reza Khandan, who notified news agencies of his wife s release and also posted the news on his Facebook page. Ms Sotoudeh had been convicted of acting against national security, as well as spreading propaganda against the government, and was serving a six-year sentence that began in She defended several well-known political activists in Iranian courts and is a member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which was founded by the Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi. The Washington Post Harare Zimbabwe opposition says sanctions lift will expose Mugabe Zimbabwe s main opposition on September 19 hailed moves by the European Union to lift sanctions against the government and its allies, saying this would expose President Robert Mugabe s failures. Mr Mugabe often blames targeted sanctions by the United States and EU for his country s severe economic decline. An EU diplomat said on September 17 the bloc would lift sanctions against the company that controls one of the world s largest diamond fields. The proposed lifting of sanctions will remove the excuse by President Mugabe s government that they are failing to govern because of sanctions. They were blaming everything on sanctions, including their own corruption, said Douglas Mwonzora, a spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. EU sanctions were originally imposed against Mugabe and his allies in 2002 on the grounds of political violence, human rights abuses and the failure to hold free and fair elections. AFP Moscow Appeal for Russian opposition leader Navalny set for Oct 9 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on September 20 that the appeal hearing on his embezzlement conviction has been set for October 9, with the Kremlin critic risking a five-year jail term if the guilty verdict is upheld. The hearing of my appeal is set for October 9, Mr Navalny wrote on Twitter. Mr Navalny, whose strong showing in Moscow mayoral polls earlier this month proved his credentials as the leader of Russia s opposition to President Vladimir Putin, was convicted of embezzlement in July but was unexpectedly freed pending an appeal. The charismatic 37-year-old lawyer led a well-organised campaign as a candidate for Moscow mayor, winning a surprisingly high 27 percent of the September 8 vote against Kremlin-backed incumbent Sergei Sobyanin. A court in the northwestern city of Kirov convicted Mr Navalny of embezzlement in an obscure timber deal in 2009 when he was acting as an unpaid adviser to the region s governor. He was jailed immediately after the verdict, but in a surprising twist, a higher court ordered him freed the next day after prosecutors said he should be released because he was registered as a candidate in the Moscow mayoral polls. AFP

35 35 Cambodian opposition party urged to join parliament WORLD 36 Rescue workers search for mudslide victims in Mexico WORLD 43 Indonesia hosts beauty pageant for Muslim women WORLD 40 WASHINGTON Obama and Rowhani mull a meeting at UN ask dance during the fourth day of the Indra Jatra ber 19. The week-long festival celebrates Indra, the king AFP slim rebels in city battles Hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) gunmen entered Zamboanga, a major southern trading centre with 1 million residents, on September 9 in an effort to derail negotiations aimed at ending a decadeslong Muslim insurgency. Three military brigades, or about 4500 soldiers, have been deployed to neutralise the rebels, according to national military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala. But the rebels have frustrated the military efforts and prevented a fullout assault by hiding in residential neighbourhoods and holding residents hostage. The military said the rebels may still be holding about 25 civilians. The military has given varying estimates of how many rebels are believed to still be holding out, from 30 to 70. It has reported killing 94 rebels and detaining another 93. It said the fighting has also left 13 members of the security forces as well as seven civilians dead. The civilians included a two-year-old boy who had been among those being used as human shields by the rebels, and a sixyear-old girl hit by a stray bullet at an evacuation centre. Human Rights Watch detailed one incident in which it alleged the military shot repeatedly at a group of rebels who were using Christian hostages as human shields. Military spokesman Mr Zagala denied soldiers had fired at hostages or committed other abuses. If there are human shields we refuse to fire. If we had not been following this policy this fight would have been over a long time ago, he said. AFP STEPHEN COLLINSON AFTER a flurry of diplomatic smoke signals, Iran and the United States are sizing up the gamble of a presidential close encounter at the United Nations this week that could open a first crack in 30 years of enmity. In letters, statements, television interviews and even tweets, both sides have been gingerly testing attitudes and appetites for detente on either side of their metaphorical iron curtain. With no diplomatic relations, the countries can only communicate over the airwaves or through intermediaries, but that could change at the UN General Assembly s General Debate, which will run from September 24 to 27 and from September 30 to October 1. Neither side is ruling out what would be a historic first handshake between the president of the Islamic Republic and the president of the United States. Iranian President Hassan Rowhani, a conservative with a pragmatic political streak, was elected in June promising to ease Iran s tortured foreign relations and US-led sanctions that buckled its economy in a bid to punish a nuclear drive. Mr Rowhani, who offered flexibility in negotiations by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has spurred curiosity in Washington, which is mustering for a new round of so-far fruitless nuclear diplomacy between Iran and world powers. President Barack Obama, meanwhile, is promising to test Mr Rowhani s seriousness and the political space he has back home to talk with the American Great Satan. White House spokesman Jay Carney, sending his own signal toward Tehran, noted lots of interesting things coming out of the Iranian capital. Mr Obama and Mr Rowhani have both acknowledged in interviews that they have exchanged letters, prompting hopes they may stage a show of mutual respect in the UN corridors of power. But even a brief handshake would represent a political gamble by both men, and could backfire with critics and cause diplomatic blushes if the choreography goes wrong. There has been a lot of talk, back and forth, about something informal a handshake, a brief exchange of greetings in a hallway. It could happen, but it may not happen, said Jim Walsh, a research associate at MIT s Security Studies Program. There is risk for both sides. It waves a red flag to domestic opponents back in Tehran and Washington. The White House says there are no meetings scheduled between Mr Rowhani and Mr Obama but has repeatedly declined to rule out a faceto-face chat. Mr Rowhani took a similar tack in an NBC interview broadcast last week, saying, Anything is possible in the world of politics. Karl Inderfurth, a former US assistant secretary of state for South Asia, said that some kind of pull aside between Mr Obama and Mr Rowhani was possible at the United Nations, but he counselled that the Iranians should be allowed to dictate the running, as hardliners were ready to pounce. The US has to be very careful that it doesn t make President Rowhani s life more difficult back in Tehran, Mr Inderfurth said. One of the reasons why talk of an Obama-Rowhani meeting has generated so much excitement is because it is a reversal of the usual Iranian sideshow at the UN: ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad s tirades against Israel. Like Rowhani, Mr Obama faces domestic constraints. Some sceptical Democrats and hawkish Republicans warn that Mr Rowhani s charm offensive is a ruse to drag out nuclear talks and get Tehran closer to the atomic bomb that it denies coveting. But some Iran watchers say that even a quick meeting between Mr Obama and Mr Rowhani could offer the stop-start talks between the permanent five members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany and Iran, a jolt of momentum before their expected resumption within weeks. Washington and Iran also have much to discuss on Syria, where they are backing rival sides in the brutal civil war. The US has to be very careful that it doesn t make President Rowhani s life more difficult back in Tehran. Karl Inderfurth Former US assistant secretary of state for South Asia As they weigh the risks of a meeting, Mr Obama and Mr Rowhani must also consider the flip side that a chance not taken may not come again. In 2000, US President Bill Clinton went to the UN hoping to meet then Iranian president Mohammad Khatami at another elusive moment of promise in the Washington-Tehran chill. The encounter that had been expected never happened, leaving bruised feelings on both sides. Within months, hopes of a breakthrough were crushed with hardliners again on the rise in Tehran. AFP

36 36 World Asia-Pacific THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 WASHINGTON Obama to make rare Malaysia stop SHAUN TANDON BARACK Obama will pay the first visit by a US president to Malaysia in a half-century on a four-nation Asia tour next month, the White House said earlier this month. Mr Obama will attend summits in Indonesia and Brunei and also visit the Philippines, a longtime US ally that supports greater military ties, during the October 6 to 12 trip. The last US president to visit Malaysia was Lyndon Johnson in US relations with the Muslimmajority nation soured during the tenure of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a strident critic of the West. The White House said Mr Obama will visit Malaysia to take part in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, an initiative on job growth that the US leader designed as a way to reach out to the Islamic world. Mr Obama will also meet Prime Minister Najib Razak to highlight our growing bilateral ties with Malaysia, a White House statement said. Mr Obama, who spent part of his youth in Indonesia, has put a priority on building relations with Southeast Asia, seeing the fast-growing and largely US-friendly region as neglected in the past. The trip is part of his ongoing commitment to increase US political, economic and security engagement with the Asia Pacific, the statement said. Mr Obama will take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali, Indonesia, and then head to the sultanate of Brunei for the East Asia Summit. Russia traditionally participates in the regional meetings, potentially giving Mr Obama his next opportunity to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia has spearheaded a proposal for Syrian President Bashar al-assad to put his chemical weapons under international control, at least temporarily halting a US push for a military strike in retaliation for the regime s alleged use of the weapons. Michael Green, who was the top Asia adviser to former President George W Bush, said Mr Obama s muddled message on Syria could cast a pall over his public reception in Malaysia and Indonesia. If the process that the Russians have manufactured goes nowhere, which is very likely, and we re back to debate and possibly the use of force. That is not the context that you want to take into countries like Malaysia or Indonesia, said Mr Green, senior vice president for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mr Obama will be paying the first visit by a US president to the Philippines, a treaty-bound US ally and former colony, since Mr Bush in AFP PHNOM PENH Cambodian king urges opposition to join govt CAMBODIA S king appealed to opposition lawmakers on September 18 to drop a planned boycott of parliament for the sake of national unity following strongman premier Hun Sen s disputed election win. In a royal letter to 55 elected opposition lawmakers, King Norodom Sihamoni said he would preside over the first meeting of the lower house on September 23. I would like to invite his and her excellencies to attend the first meeting of the National Assembly in order to show national unification and unity, Mr Norodom Sihamoni said. It is the first time that Mr Norodom Sihamoni has intervened to resolve a political crisis since he took the throne in While he is the official head of state, he has no political power. In the past his father, former King Norodom Sihanouk, actively intervened to resolve political deadlock, particularly after elections. The royal message came a day after Cambodia s two main political parties said they were nearing an agreement to end a stalemate over controversial elections held in July. Mr Hun Sen, who has ruled for 28 years, held talks with opposition leader Sam Rainsy on September 16 and 17 in the wake of violent clashes the previous weekend in which one civilian was shot dead and several wounded. On September 16 Mr Hun Sen and Buddhist monks demonstrate over election results in Phnom Penh on September 17. Photo: AFP Mr Sam Rainsy, a French-educated former banker, agreed to heed the king s call for an end to the violence, to set up a mechanism to bring about election reform in the future and to continue negotiations, according to a joint statement that gave few details. The two sides remained at odds over the opposition s demand for the creation of an independent truth committee to investigate the disputed polls. Mr Sam Rainsy s Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) has left open the possibility of further protests, after wrapping up three consecutive days of mass rallies in the capital on September 17. The opposition has blamed the authorities for the death of a protester who was shot during a clash in Phnom Penh on September 15, on the fringes of a mass demonstration that drew an estimated 20,000 people demanding an independent probe into the vote. International rights groups accused the security forces of firing live ammunition an allegation denied by the authorities. Security forces fired smoke grenades, tear gas and water cannon at rock-throwing protesters. Six men were charged by Phnom Penh Municipal Court with intentional violence and destruction of public property for their alleged role in the clashes, rights activists said. AFP BANGKOK Thailand jails bomb suspect THAILAND on September 18 sentenced a Swedish citizen of Lebanese origin to two years and eight months in prison for possession of materials that could be used to make a bomb. Atris Hussein, 49, was arrested in January last year after a tipoff from Israel s secret services that Hezbollah members planned to attack Thailand during the New Year. He was convicted for possessing about 2800 kilograms (6173 pounds) of ammonium nitrate, which is commonly used in agriculture but when mixed with other substances can make a bomb. Its possession requires a permit in Thailand. The court found him guilty of illegal armament possession and sentenced him to four years in jail, but due to his useful testimony during the investigation and hearing, his sentence is reduced by one-third to two years and eight months, a judge said. The court said investigators could not prove Mr Hussein had links with Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite Muslim group blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Washington. Mr Hussein, who had faced a maximum of five years in jail, denied the charges and the alleged links to Hezbollah. Before his arrest, the United States had warned of a threat of a terrorist attack on tourist areas in Bangkok. A smiling Mr Hussein hugged his wife and daughter after the ruling. When asked how he felt, he replied, I m happy. His lawyer Wittaya Buranasin said the defence would appeal. The investigation process should follow the law. Hussein himself said clearly he did not have a lawyer present when he was questioned, Mr Wittaya said. AFP

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40 40 World Asia-Pacific THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 GENEVA UN probe exposes N Korean abuses JONATHAN FOWLER A UN-MANDATED investigator on September 17 spotlighted unspeakable atrocities in North Korea s political prison camps, citing survivors who saw babies drowned, had relatives killed before their eyes and lived on vermin. Michael Kirby said he aimed to draw up a list of violators within the regime after hearing testimony from North Koreans who had escaped Pyongyang s clutches. Testimony heard thus far points to widespread and serious violations in all areas, said Mr Kirby, who steers a landmark commission of inquiry on North Korea set up in March by the UN Human Rights Council. The commission listened to political prison camp survivors who suffered through Testimony heard thus far points to widespread and serious violations in all areas. Micheal Kirby Commission of inquiry on North Korea childhoods of starvation and unspeakable atrocities as a product of the guilt by association practice, punishing other generations for a family member s perceived political views or affiliation, he told the council. Mr Kirby, a judge on Australia s High Court from 1996 to 2009 and former UN Cambodia envoy, said he was reminded of the dark days of World War II when he heard the testimony of the victims. An image flashed across my mind of the Allied soldiers Russian, American, British at the end of the Second World War and the discovery of prison camps in the countries that had been occupied by Nazi forces, Mr Kirby told reporters. The secretive Stalinist regime has refused to let his team whose other members are Serbian human rights campaigner Sonja Biserko, an expert on war crimes; and Marzuki Darusman, Indonesia s former attorney-general into the country. But he said satellite imagery of North Korea s camps, coupled with chilling testimony from those who managed against all the odds to flee, provided clear evidence of massive violations. Among the stark testimony were those from a man imprisoned from birth who lived on rodents, lizards and grass, and witnessed the public execution of his mother and brother; a woman who saw a fellow inmate forced to drown her own baby in a bucket; and a man obliged to burn the corpses of starved inmates and scatter their ashes on vegetable patches. North Korea has long been under international sanctions over its nuclear program, but Mr Kirby said full accountability for rights violations was also essential. We will seek to determine which state institutions and officials carry responsibility for gross human rights violations proved to have been committed, he said. Mr Kirby said North Koreans had been arrested for watching foreign soap operas or having religious beliefs, and the regime had engaged in massive military spending as the population starved. North Korean diplomat Kim Yong-ho denied the allegations, telling the council the evidence had been fabricated by forces hostile to his country, and singling out Washington, Tokyo and Brussels. North Korea said those behind the allegations were human scum, but Mr Kirby shot that down, challenging Pyongyang to come clean. An ounce of evidence is worth far more than many pounds of insults and baseless attacks. So far, however, the evidence we have heard has largely pointed in one direction and evidence to the contrary is lacking. AFP JAKARTA Indonesia holds Muslim answer to Miss World ANGELA DEWAN A NIGERIAN woman tearfully prayed and recited Koranic verses as she won a beauty pageant exclusively for Muslim women in the Indonesian capital on September 18, a riposte to the Miss World contest that has sparked hardline anger. The 20 finalists, who were all required to wear headscarves, put on a glittering show for the final of Muslimah World 2013, strolling up and down a catwalk in elaborately embroidered dresses and stilettos. But the contestants from six countries were covered from head to foot, and as well as beauty they were judged on how well they recited Koranic verses and on their views on Islam in the modern world. After a show in front of an audience of mainly religious scholars and devout Muslims, a panel of judges picked Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola from Nigeria as the winner. While the event in a Jakarta shopping mall paled in comparison to Miss World on the resort island of Bali, in which scores of contestants are competing, Ms Ajibola was nevertheless overwhelmed. Upon hearing her name, the 21-yearold knelt down and prayed, then wept as she recited a Koranic verse. She said it was thanks to almighty Allah that she had won the contest. She received 25 million rupiah (US$2200) and trips to Mecca and India as prizes. Ms Ajibola said before the final that the event was not really about competition. We re just trying to show the world that Islam is beautiful, she said. Organisers said the pageant challenged the idea of beauty put forward by the British-run Miss World pageant and also showed that opposition to the event could be expressed nonviolently. Eka Shanti, who founded the pageant three years ago after losing her job as a TV news anchor for refusing to remove her headscarf, bills the contest as Islam s answer to Miss World. This year we deliberately held our event just before the Miss World final to show that there are alternative role models for Muslim women, she said. But it s about more than Miss World. Muslim women are increasingly working in the entertainment industry in a sexually explicit way, and they become role models, which is a concern. Hosted by Dewi Sandra, an Indonesian actress and pop star who recently hung up her racy dresses for a headscarf, the pageant featured both Muslim and pop music performances, including one about modesty, a trait the judges sought in the winner. The pageant, which also featured bright Indonesian Islamic designerwear, is a starkly different way of protesting Miss World than the approach taken by Islamic radicals. Thousands have taken to the streets in Indonesia in recent weeks to protest Miss World, denouncing the contest as pornography and burning effigies of the organisers. Despite a pledge by Miss World organisers to drop the famous bikini round, radical anger was not appeased, Members of a hard-line Indonesian Muslim group stage an anti-miss World beauty pageant rally in Jakarta on September 14. Photo: AFP Newly crowned Muslimah World 2013 Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola of Nigeria speaks to the audience in Jakarta on September 18. Photo: AFP and the protest movement snowballed. The government eventually bowed to pressure and ordered the whole pageant be moved to the Hindu-majority island of Bali, where it opened on September 8. Later rounds and the September 28 final were to be held in and around Jakarta, where there is considerable hardline influence. But there are still fears that extremists may target the event. The US, British and Australian embassies in Jakarta have warned their nationals in recent days of the potential for radical attacks. More than 500 contestants competed in online rounds to get to the Muslimah World final in Indonesia, one of which involved the contenders comparing stories of how they came to wear the headscarf. The contest was first held in 2011 under a different name and was only open to Indonesians, Ms Shanti said, but after the media began comparing it to Miss World, it was rebranded as a Muslim alternative to the world-famous pageant. Because of its popularity, organisers accepted foreign contestants this year for the first time, with Iran, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Nigeria and Indonesia represented. AFP TRADE MARK CAUTION BRIEFS SATAKE CORPORATION, a Company incorporated in Japan, of 7-2, Sotokanda 4-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:- PIKA-SEN GRAND Reg. No. 5879/2013 in respect of Int l Class 7: Optical sorting machines for grains. 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 SATAKE CORPORATION P. O. Box 60, Yangon makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 23 September 2013 Hanoi Vietnam villagers admit to lynching dog-snatchers Hundreds of villagers in northern Vietnam have signed a petition admitting taking part in the lynching of two suspected dogsnatchers last month, state media reported on September 16. The petition is an apparent attempt to prevent police singling out seven villagers accused of killing the two men in August. The pair were allegedly caught trying to steal dogs. An official from the Danh Thang commune, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the petition had drawn hundreds of signatories because hundreds of people attacked the thieves rather than the seven under suspicion, according to Thanh Nien newspaper. Dog meat is a traditional delicacy in Vietnam, usually eaten at the end of the lunar month. Due to its popularity, there has been a rise in reported thefts of pet dogs in rural areas. The two men, who were reportedly aged 41 and 37, were set upon as they stole dogs in the village, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Hanoi. Bangkok Former Malaysia communist fighter dies in exile Malaysia s renowned former communist fighter Chin Peng, who led a guerrilla campaign against British colonial rule, died in exile in Thailand on September 16, according to his military liaison. The 89-year-old, who left Malaysia five decades ago, had been hospitalised in Bangkok for several years. He died this morning of cancer, said General Pisarn Wattanawongkiri, a former Thai military commander and point of contact between Mr Chin Peng and the authorities. Born Ong Boon Hua in Malaysia s north, Mr Chin Peng was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire and won two medals for helping the British fight the Japanese in Malaya during World War II. He later led the communist party, backed by China, in a guerrilla campaign against the British colonial and Malaysian governments before and after independence in Bangkok Thai police seize prohibited animals Thai police on September 17 said they had seized almost 200 live protected pangolins, which are prized in China and Vietnam as an exotic meal and for use in traditional medicine. The animals were discovered on September 16 in two pickup trucks that were stopped by highway police in the province of Udon Thani in the country s northeast. The drivers fled the scene, abandoning their vehicles, Udon Thani police chief Boonlue Kobangyang said. The animals are believed to have been destined for China or Vietnam, via Laos. They will be returned to a nearby Thai national park where they are thought to have been captured. The small mammals are nearly entirely covered with scales, which are highly sought after in Vietnam and China as a remedy for allergies and to help male potency. AFP

41 LA PINTADA Grim search for victims in buried Mexican village LETICIA PINEDA AND PEDRO PARDO THE broken church steeple of La Pintada lay sideways atop a mountain of mud, toppled after earth tumbled from a hill and buried half the Mexican village of 400 people. Few homes were spared by the mudslide that crashed on the mountain hamlet, leaving 68 people missing and turning La Pintada into a grim symbol of the fierce storms that lashed Mexico for days and killed nearly 100 people nationwide. The devastation resulted from the dual onslaught of Hurricane Manuel on the west coast and sister storm Ingrid on the east coast that drenched most of Mexico, damaging bridges, roads and tens of thousands of homes. Around 100 soldiers and police officers arrived in the village on September 19, some by helicopter, others after an exhausting seven-hour hike on a road covered by landslides. Wearing surgical masks, they dug in the mud for victims, removed pieces of broken homes and chopped collapsed trees with machetes. Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, who visited the site and spoke to survivors, said two bodies had been pulled from the mudslide so far. The municipality s mayor has said that 15 victims were pulled out by residents in recent days. A stray dog rummaged for food on the debris. A pickup truck was pushed by the mud onto a building s white column. The mudslide ended its mad descent in the village river. The ghostly silence was only broken by the noise made by soldiers moving debris. A stench wafted from the mess of mud and buried homes. A light rain fell, and misty clouds surrounded what was left of La Pintada. The rescuers arrival was delayed over fears that water gushing from the hill could unleash a new torrent of mud. MOSCOW McCain: Putin doesn t believe in Russians US Senator John McCain penned a blistering column for a Russian news website on September 19, telling the Russian people that their President Vladimir Putin is a dissentquashing tyrant who doesn t believe in you. The senior US lawmaker and 2008 Republican presidential nominee accosted Mr Putin and his associates for rigging elections, imprisoning and murdering opponents, fostering corruption and destroying Russia s reputation on the world stage. I am not anti-russian, Mr McCain wrote in the piece for Pravda.ru website. I am pro- Russian, more pro-russian than the regime that misrules you today. Mr McCain earlier in the month said he intended to write an op-ed piece for Russian media after Mr Putin had his own column published in The New York Times. The website Pravda.Ru is not known as a serious news source and has nothing to do with the newspaper Pravda published by the Communist Party, which was the country s most important paper in the Soviet era but has now fallen into obscurity. Some observers have said Federal police search for bodies in La Pintada, Mexico, on September 19. Photo: AFP On September 16, a rumbling noise came down the hill as children played football, women prepared corn tortillas for an independence day lunch and other villagers prayed in the church. People were in the church asking God to stop the rain, said Roberto Catalan, a 56-year-old farmer whose six children and wife immigrated to the United States. The earth had been bubbling. When we heard a bang, we ran out. The only thing left from the church was its steeple, with the bells dangling precariously over mud and the white cross hanging down. Jose Minos Romero, 12, said he was playing football with 10 other children and was only saved because my mother called me. But he added, My friends died. Guerrero state Governor Angel Aguirre said many people survived because that the publishing company Pravda.ru is bankrolled by the Kremlin, as it also runs websites that are staunchly pro- Putin and full of stories smearing his opposition. Mr McCain s piece was sent to both Pravda publications, his office said. Mr Putin said on September 19 he had not read Mr McCain s piece but mocked his desire to appear in Pravda newspaper, saying this showed his lack of knowledge of Russia. The fact that he wants to be published particularly in Pravda shows that he has a lack of information, Mr Putin told the Valdai Club of international Russia experts. Its level of circulation in the country is minimal. Mr Putin said he would have welcomed Mr McCain s attendance at the annual Valdai discussion of Russian politics and identity held in the northwestern Novgorod region. Mr Putin in his widely quoted New York Times piece criticised President Barack Obama s plan to bomb Russia s ally Syria, demanded that Moscow s plan to secure Syria s chemical weapon stockpiles be given time to work and slammed [President Putin and his associates] punish dissent and imprison opponents. They rig your elections. They control your media. John McCain US senator Washington for relying solely on brute force to conduct its international affairs. In a blunt, often personal counter-punch that ran more than 800 words, Mr McCain wrote that he bears no ill will toward the Russian people, only the country s government that he says ignores humanity s inalienable rights of life, liberty they celebrated independence day in the village square, But many boys had stayed home. Ediberto Tabarez, the mayor of Atoyac de Alvarez, the municipality that oversees La Pintada, said about 20 homes were buried. As rescuers looked for bodies, survivors picked up their belongings, corralled wet dogs and grabbed parakeet cages as horses roamed around. We re going to leave the village. The smell will contaminate everything, said Victor Gonzalez Maldonado, a 33-year-old coffee grower. Osorio Chong said 20 to 30 survivors decided to stay behind. They don t want to leave because they hope to find their relatives, he said. The rescue work has begun. It s very complicated. It won t be easy. It won t be just a few days. AFP and the pursuit of happiness. President Putin and his associates do not believe in these values. They don t respect your dignity or accept your authority over them, wrote Mr McCain, who was a staunch supporter of US Mr Obama s early plan for a military strike against Syria for that regime s apparent use of chemical weapons. They punish dissent and imprison opponents. They rig your elections. They control your media. They harass, threaten and banish organisations that defend your right to selfgovernance. He brought up the case of Sergei Magnitsky, the Russian lawyer whose death in prison three years ago became a black mark on Russia s human rights record. Mr Putin, in his third term as president, is not enhancing Russia s global reputation. He is destroying it, Mr McCain said. He has made her a friend to tyrants and an enemy to the oppressed that is untrusted by countries seeking a more peaceful and prosperous world. President Putin doesn t believe in these values because he doesn t believe in you, Mr Mc- Cain said. AFP BENISHEIK International World 41 Boko Haram attack kills at least 87 A GRUESOME attack in Nigeria s northeast by Boko Haram Islamists disguised in military uniforms and armed with heavy weapons has killed at least 87 people, a state government official said on September 19. The Islamist insurgents also burnt scores of homes and buildings in the September 17 assault, according to locals who reported seeing corpses littering the roadside. Boko Haram fighters set up checkpoints in the Benisheik area and gunned down motorists and travellers who tried to flee, according to multiple eyewitness accounts. Eighty-seven bodies were recovered in the bush and our people are still searching for more, Saidu Yakubu of the Environmental Protection Agency in northeastern Borno State told journalists. He briefed reporters who accompanied Borno s Governor Kashim Shettima to the scene of the massacre. Details of the attack in the town that has been previously been targeted by Boko Haram first emerged on September 18. They came in droves, driving about 20 pickup trucks, said a security source stationed in the town, who requested anonymity. He said the insurgents were armed with anti-aircraft guns, in the latest indication that Boko Haram has bolstered its arsenal in recent months. Mallam Isa Manu, a motorist who escaped unhurt, told journalists in the Borno state capital Maiduguri that the Islamists wore military uniforms, a tactic the insurgents have used previously. According to army General Mohammed Yusuf, who also briefed the governor, troops ran out of ammunition while combating the assault. Mr Shettima described the attack as barbaric and un-islamic and pledged financial aid to the victims of Boko Haram s latest slaughter. The motivation behind the attack was not immediately clear, but Boko Haram members have repeatedly carried out revenge attacks against residents over the emergence of vigilante groups that have formed to assist the military. Residents said the attackers singled out people from Borno, while letting people from other regions pass through checkpoints. Benishiek was also the scene of deadly clashes on September 8 between suspected Boko Haram gunmen and vigilantes. The insurgents say they are fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria s mainly Muslim north, but their aims have repeatedly shifted and much of their violence has largely targeted defenceless civilians. In mid-may, Nigeria declared a state of emergency across the northeast, Boko Haram s stronghold, and launched a sweeping offensive aimed at crushing the group s four-year insurgency. While the military has claimed major successes in the campaign, a spate of recent violence indicates that the group s capacity to strike has not been significantly hampered. The phone network in Borno has been switched off since the emergency measures were imposed, a move the military said was aimed at blocking the Islamists from coordinating attacks. But some have suggested that the lack of phone service has prevented civilians from sounding the alarm during attacks. AFP TRADE MARK CAUTION Chanaporn Electric Co.,Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of Thailand, and having its principal place of business at business at 430 Moo 2 Kaewsukkho Rd., Bannklongsuan, Prasamutjadee, Samutprakarn 10290, Thailand is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trademark:- (Reg. No. 3434/2013) (Reg. No. 3433/2013) In respect of: Int l Class 09: Bracket for fluorescent tubes and starter; rail for fluorescent tubes and starter; electric switch; plugs; sockets; outlet, all included in Class 9. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trademark will be dealt with according to the existing law of the Union of Myanmar. U Kyi Naing, L.L.B, L.L.M, H.G.P For Chanaporn Electric Co.,Ltd. Tilleke & Gibbins Ltd., 17 th Floor, Sakura Tower, 339 Bogyoke Aung San Road, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Republic of the Union of Myanmar Dated : 23 rd September 2013

42 42 World International THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 CAIRO Egypt arrests Muslim Brotherhood spokesman EGYPT S army-backed authorities arrested the spokesman of the Muslim Brotherhood on September 17, the latest member of the Islamist organisation to be jailed since a July 3 coup, security sources said. An arrest warrant had been issued for Gehad al-haddad, who was active on social networks, as part of a crackdown that followed the military s overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi Approximate number of Muslim Brotherhood members arrested since July Mr Haddad had managed to escape arrest for weeks until police found him in a Cairo apartment along with other Islamist figures, including the former governor of Qaliyubiya TRADE MARK CAUTION NOTICE is hereby given that Casio Keisanki Kabushiki Kaisha (Casio Computer Co., Ltd.) a company organized under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 6-2, Hon-machi 1-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: - CASIO (Reg: Nos. IV/4589/2003 & IV/5814/2013) in respect of : - Scientific, nautical, surveying, electric, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signlling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; computers, calculating machines, data processing apparatus and equipment, word processors, electronic typewriters and ink ribbons for electronic typewriters, electronic calculators, electronic calculators with a game, pocket computers, peripherals and terminals for computers; magnetic data carriers, recording discs, memories, discs and tapes; cash registers including electronic cash registers; automatic sheet feeders, image scanners (input devices for computers); IC cards, ROM/RAM cartridges; electronic calculators having the functions of telephone book, address book, calendar, schedule book and memo book; electrostatic and thermal copying machines; AC adapters, battery packs, wireless remote controls, LCD cells; apparatus for recording, transmission and/or reproduction of sound and/or images including sound recording and reproducing apparatus, dictating machines, radio/cassette tape recorders, audio tapes, compact disks, compact disk players; video tape recorders, video tapes, video cameras, video tape recorders combined with a video camera, video tape recorders with a television receiver; TV sets, projection apparatus, radio receivers and transmitters, transceivers, earphones and headphones, still cameras, stroboscopic lamps, video printers, loud-speakers, sound amplifiers, telephone sets, cordless telephone sets, radio pagers, automatic telephone dialers, telecommunication apparatus such as telex apparatus and facsimile telegraphy apparatus; electronic translators; automatic vending machines and machines for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, fire-extinguishing apparatus; computer programs; computer system programs, software for electronic games, blood pressure meters; handheld personal computers; personal digital assistants; personal computers; computer peripherals; printers for computers; computer software for use in database management, for word processing, for use as a spread sheet; computer software for a personal computer for use in achieving data exchange between a personal computer and a wristwatch or a digital camera; electronic calculators; scientific electronic calculators; electronic personal organizers; digital cameras; printers province Hossam Abu Bakr, the sources said. They were seized in the Nasr City neighbourhood, where Morsi supporters for weeks had held protests demanding his reinstatement and clashed with security forces. Mr Morsi and top figures of his Muslim Brotherhood movement, including supreme guide Mohamed Badie, are also in jail and facing trials. Since Mr Morsi s overthrow by the army on July 3, more than 2000 members of the Brotherhood have been arrested. In August, the military-backed interim government launched a crackdown on two pro- Morsi protest camps in Cairo, including in Nasr City, in which hundreds of people were killed. Mr Haddad s arrest come as a court on September 17 ordered the freezing of the assets of senior Brotherhood leaders, including Mr Badie, his two deputies Khairat al-shater and Rashad Bayoumi, as well as Salafist leader Hazem Abu Ismail and preacher Safwat Higazi. The five are currently detained, accused of inciting the murder of protesters opposed to Mr Morsi. Around 15 Islamist politicians have already had their assets frozen as part of the crackdown that has fractured the organisational structure of the Brotherhood. AFP NEW YORK CITY Occupy marks second anniversary OCCUPY Wall Street returned to the streets of New York on September 17 to mark the second anniversary of the birth of the protest movement. Some 250 people gathered at midday in Zuccotti Park in Manhattan s downtown financial district, where the movement first gained ground. As police kept a close eye, the activists marched up Broadway to Washington Square. The demonstrators carried signs with a multitude of messages. One read, Too much deregulation. Disarm the Pentagon, read another. The Occupy movement was born in New York on September 17, 2011, when a group of youths put up tents in Zuccotti Square to protest social and economic inequality with the slogan, We are the 99 percent. It quickly spread to other for digital cameras; LCD television sets; vehicle navigation system consisting of computer software featuring a database of map coordinates and locations, a global positioning satellite receiver, electrical cable and documentation all sold as a unit; cellular telephones; electronic label printers; radio pagers; radios; compact disk players; MP3 players; audio and video tape recorders; pre-recorded audio cassettes and videotapes featuring music, movies, video games; motion picture films featuring entertainment and general information, namely, music, vaudevilles, plays, comic chats, speeches and lectures; parts and fittings and accessories for all the aforesaid goods Class :9 Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewellery, precious stones; electronic watches and clocks, electronic watches having data processing functions and all other horological and chronometric instruments; wrist watches having a function of transmitting and receiving data to and from an electronic personal organizer or a personal computer; autonomous radio controlled watches; parts of and fittings and accessories for all the aforesaid goods Class: 14 Musical instruments including electronic musical instruments, electronic musical keyboards; parts of and fittings and accessories for these goods including stands and carrying bags for musical instruments, foot volumes, sustain pedals, drum pads and electronic drumsticks; synthesizers being electronic musical apparatus or instruments; automatically controlled rhythm boxes for use with or incorporation into electronic musical instruments for providing rhythmic accompariment; and parts and fittings thereof Class: 15 Games including pocket size electronic games, playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; decorations for Christmas trees; game machines; billiard equipment; go game equipment (Japanese board game); shogi game equipment (Japanese chess); dice; sugoroku games (Japanese Parcheesi); dice cups; diamond games; chess games; checkers; conjuring apparatus; dominoes; mahjong equipment; toys and dolls; toys for domestic pets; baseball gloves, boxing gloves; fencing gloves; golf gloves; nets for sports; protective paddings (parts of sports suits); shin guards; wax for akis; fishing tackle; sporting and gymnastic equipments Class: 28 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 Casio Keisanki Kabushiki Kaisha (Casio Computer Co., Ltd.) P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013 A protester marks the second anniversary of Occupy Wall Street in New York on September 17. Photo: AFP US cities but fizzled out due to a lack of hierarchy and clear goals. The tent camps were subsequently raided by police. In New York, authorities went in early on November 15, 2011, to clean up the square. I was here at the beginning, said Jason Woody, an activist marking the anniversary. It s funny because a lot of people like to say that Occupy is dead, but it s not exactly what happened, the 29-year-old added. Instead, he said, people took what they learned by coming together back to their home communities to start other movements there. The things we did here did inspire people in all parts of the world, to stand up and take control, he said. It has been a long hard journey We changed the conversation in this country. AFP TRADE MARK CAUTION NOTICE is hereby given that ACE COOK KABUSHIKI KAISHA (ACE COOK CO., LTD.) a company organized under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 12-14, 1-chome, Esaka-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademarks: - ACECOOK (Reg: No. IV/5826/2013) (Reg: No. IV/5827/2013) The above two trademarks are in respect of : - Curry, stew and soup mixes; instant curry; pre-cooked curry; instant stew; pre-cooked stew; instant soup; pre-cooked soup; instant miso soup; pre-cooked miso soup. Class:29 Cereal preparations; noodles; udon noodles [uncooked]; oat flakes; oatmeal; dried cooked-rice; enriched rice [uncooked]; pasta-wrappings for gyoza; corn flakes; powder of sweetened bean jam [Sarashi-an]; artificial rice [uncooked]; spaghetti [uncooked]; somen noodles [very thin wheat noodles, uncooked]; instant udon noodles; instant soba noodles; instant Chinese noodles; Chinese-Japanese style dry noodles with soup base (so-called instant Ramen); instant stir-fried noodles; soba noodles [Japanese noodles of buckwheat, uncooked]; Chinese noodles [uncooked]; bean-starch noodles [Harusame, uncooked]; bread crumb; Chinese rice noodles [Bifun, uncooked]; dried pieces of wheat gluten [Fu, uncooked]; canned cooked rice; macaroni [uncooked]; pounded rice cakes [Mochi]. Class:30 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 ACE COOK KABUSHIKI KAISHA (ACE COOK CO., LTD.) P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013

43 DAMASCUS Syrians dance to forget war SAMMY KETZ WHEN night falls in Damascus, gaggles of determined revellers head out on the town seeking to drown out the thunder of outgoing artillery fire with the boom of music. The shells are raining down on suspected rebel positions in suburbs just a few kilometres away, but while most people lock themselves fearfully in their homes, some head out to try to forget the war on their doorstep. I come here for a change of atmosphere, says Mohammad, a 25-year-old car salesman who has clearly had a drink or three. There is joy here, he says of the nightclub in the upscale Shaalan neighbourhood, where the barman juggles bottles of spirits. I want to live. I don t want to hear any more bad news. On the dance floor, customers shake to a track popular among supporters of President Bashar al-assad s regime. Don t ask me how or why, it s the army that protects us, the lyric goes. You and I salute General Maher, the song continues, a reference to Mr Assad s brother, who heads the elite army Fourth Division but is in fact a colonel. Among the performers is Mudi al-arabi, a 22-year-old rapper who returned to Damascus just two months ago after spending the previous two years living in Morocco. He is determined to keep up a happy-go-lucky lifestyle despite the constant threat of death. Everyone s going to die some day, but the Syrian people love life and the most important thing is to be happy, he said. If the United States attacks us, I m sure our army will defend us. Guys come here with their TRADE MARK CAUTION NOTICE is hereby given that Miroglio Fashion S.r.l. of Via Santa Margherita 23, Alba, Cuneo, Italy is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark: - ELENA MIRO (Reg: No. IV/7129/ 2012) in respect of:- Bleaching preparations for laundry use; cleaning, polishing scouring and abrasive preparations; soaps; perfumes; essential oils, bath oils, body oils, cosmetics, namely foundation creams, lipsticks, blushes and rouges, colouring pencils, eye shadows, mascara, eyeliner, face powder for face and body; nail varnishes and lacquers, skin creams and lotions, tonics, sun tan and sun block lotions and creams, after-shave lotions, hair lotions, body lotions, hand lotions, moisturisers, dentifrices Int l Class 3 Spectacles, lenses, sunglasses, glasses, frames for spectacles, cases for spectacles, clothing for protection against fire Int l Class 9 Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewellery, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments Int l Class 14 Bags, leather goods, namely leather cases, leather purses, leather travelling bags, leather wallets, leather suitcases and leather travelling sets, imitation leather, purse; valises; handbags; attaché cases; umbrellas Int l Class 18 Woolen fabrics and fabrics of natural and artificial fibres to be used in the manufacture of clothing Int l Class 24 Articles of clothing, namely coats, jackets, raincoats, sweaters, cardigans, belts, scarves, skirts, suits, dresses, shorts, shirts, trousers, blouses, T-shirts, sport jackets, cloaks, hats and swimsuits, shoes and boots Int l Class 25 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 Miroglio Fashion S.r.l. P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013 friends or with their girlfriends to forget the week s routine. Mr Arabi s songs are heavy with nostalgia for the Damascus of before the war when there were regular music festivals Now he performs just once a fortnight at private parties. Since the uprising against Mr Assad s rule erupted in March 2011, the authorities have been wary of public gatherings, and it has become difficult to get the necessary authorisations. It s hard to get permission from the security services, Mr Arabi said. Everyone s going to die some day, but the Syrian people love life and the most important thing is to be happy. Mudi al-arabi Syrian rapper The nightclub does brisk business despite the war raging outside. We stay open until 2am. It s going well, said 29-year-old manager Bashar, who asked that the club s name not be mentioned. I m afraid someone might do us harm because they think we shouldn t be having fun while people are dying. The club is one of a dozen still open in Damascus 30 months into a conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people and reduced some of the capital s suburbs to rubble. Where Ahmad, a 22-year-old student, decides to go depends on where my friends want to meet. There are even some clubs where the champagne is still flowing. At one Damascus hotel, some 200 salsa lovers meet up every Thursday the start of the Syrian weekend to dance together to Cuban rhythms. Yara, 22, drives 25 kilometres (15 miles) twice a week to the Bulgarian cultural centre in the Malki district, where she takes salsa, merengue, cha-cha and tango lessons in preparation for the weekly night out. Here, I m different. I feel happy. We ve all become friends, said the young economics graduate. A dozen couples practise on the dance floor, under the watchful gaze of their two teachers. We dance to get rid of our negative energy, said 30-year-old Fadi, who has a day job with the United Nations. Before the war, the Syrians didn t used to be so active. Now, we ve understood life is short and that we need to live fully, said Mayss, 28, a personal assistant for a telecommunications company director In old Damascus, the Baik Bash Hotel runs karaoke nights for lovers of traditional Arabic music. The club s owner, Arwa, is the proud mother of Mohammad Bash, who reached the semi-finals in the regional Star Academy singing competition. He loves coming here to sing along with his friends, said Arwa. AFP TRADE MARK CAUTION NOTICE is hereby given that Guccio Gucci S.p.A. a company organized under the laws of Italy and having its principal office at Via Tornabuoni 73/R, Firenze, Italy is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trademarks: - GUCCI (Reg: Nos. IV/3353/1997 & IV/4829/2013) (Reg: Nos. IV/3352/1997 & IV/4830/2013) (Reg: Nos. IV/3350/1997& IV/4831/2013) (Reg: Nos. IV/3351/1997& IV/4832/2013) The said four trademarks are in respect of:- Soaps, perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions, dentifrices Int l Class: 3 Glasses, eyeglasses, sunglasses, frames and parts and fittings thereof Int l Class: 9 Jewellery, precious stones, horological and chronometric instruments and parts and fittings thereof Int l Class: 14 Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery Int l Class: 18 Clothing, footwear, headgear Int l Class: 25 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 Guccio Gucci S.p.A. P.O.Box. 26, Yangon, Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013 BRASILIA International World 43 Rich nations scolded for climate stance BRAZIL, China, India and South Africa on September 16 chided developed nations for not doing enough to curb greenhouse gases. In a joint statement issued after talks in the city of Foz de Iguacu, climate negotiators from the four countries making up the BASIC group said developed nations current commitments on emissions reductions and on financial support were not enough. Ministers reiterated their concern with the inadequacy of developed countries current commitments on emissions reductions and provision of financial and technological support, the statement noted. Attending the gathering were Brazilian environment minister Izabella Teixeira, her South African counterpart Edna Molewa, China s climate high representative Xie Zhenhua and India s environment secretary V Rajagopalan. AFP TRADE MARK CAUTION NOTICE is hereby given that Viacom International Inc. (a Delaware Corporation) and Viacom Hearty Ha! Ha!, LLC (a Delaware Limited Liability Company) trading as Comedy Partners (a New York Partnership) a partnership established under the laws of New York, United States of America and having its principal office at 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, United States of America is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:- (Reg: No. IV/ 11346/2012) in respect of :- Broadcasting and telecommunications services; cable and satellite transmission services; wireless mobile phone services; providing downloadable ring tones, music, mp3 s, graphics, games, video images and information for wireless mobile communication devices; providing wireless transmission of uploading and downloading ring tones, voice, music, mp3 s, graphics, games, video images, information and news via a global computer network to a wireless mobile communication device; voting and polling through a wireless mobile communication device; sending and receiving voice and text messages between wireless mobile communications; providing on-line voting system via the Internet or a wireless communication device; Internet services which should be understood to include communication services, namely transmitting streamed sound and audio-visual recordings via the Internet. Class- 38 Entertainment services; production, preparation, exhibition, distribution and rental of television and radio programs and of films, animated films and sound and video recordings whether or not through interactive media, among which the Internet; production of live entertainment features, the production of television entertainment features; TV programming featuring music; the publication of books, magazines and periodicals; production and rental of educational and instructional materials; organization, production and presentation of events for educational, cultural or entertainment purposes, whether or not through interactive media; organization, production and presentation of competitions, contests, games, quizzes, exhibitions, sporting events, shows, road shows, staged events, theatrical performances, concerts, live performances and audience participation events; organization of interactive games; production of sms-quiz programs; entertainment and education; all aforementioned services also rendered via a global computer network and other (interactive) communication networks, including the Internet. Class-41 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 Viacom International Inc. (a Delaware Corporation) and Viacom Hearty Ha! Ha!, LLC (a Delaware Limited Liability Company) trading as Comedy Partners (a New York Partnership) P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: Dated: 23 rd September, 2013

44 44 World Feature THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 LUZHAI China transformation leaves rural elderly poor and depressed As more young Chinese people move from rural to urban areas, their elderly parents are often left behind to fend for themselves, writes Simon Denyer THE elderly couple sat on their metalframe bed surrounded by the detritus of their lives: hopelessly worn-out shoes, empty tin cans, dried-out corncobs, plastic bags, filthy clothes, all strewn across the uneven dirt floor. On a small table, two dirty cups sat beside an old television and an overturned electric fan. Their five daughters have all moved away from the village of Luzhai in eastern China and are working with their husbands in China s booming cities. Ma Jinling, 81, and his wife, Hou Guiying, don t own a phone or know where their children are living; their daughters rarely visit and even more rarely help financially. The frail Mr Ma survives, as he always has, by tending his small plot of land. If you see a house in very bad condition, it must have old people living in it. Cai Rucai Chinese doctor If he doesn t farm, we won t have enough food to eat, 71-year-old Ms Hou said, her hair in pigtails and her hands shaking as she spoke. When we run out of money for our medical bills, we just stop treating ourselves. We can live like this, it s okay. But please, don t let us become really ill. Decades of societal turmoil radical communism followed by rampant capitalism have frayed the ties that once bound China s families together. In a country famous for its Confucian traditions of filial obedience, tens of millions of elderly Chinese are being left behind by the country s transformation, suffering poverty, illness and depression. It has become such a serious problem that the Chinese government put into effect a law in July allowing parents to sue their children if they failed to visit and support them. Many rural children don t treat their parents that well, said Zhao Yaohui of Peking University, co-author of a recent study of the problems facing China s oldest people. For centuries, patriarchs controlled their families limited resources in the countryside. But now, Mr Zhao said, The rural elderly don t have that much power or property they can use to buy their children s respect and support. Among China s 185 million people older than 65, nearly one in four is living below the poverty line, more than one in three struggles with daily activities and 40 percent show significant symptoms of depression, the survey showed. The results were worse in China s villages than in the cities, where pensions are much higher. In rural areas, the elderly are nearly three times as likely to be poor as the average resident. Mao Zedong s attempts to redraw China s society and remove all trace of its ancient traditions weakened family ties as hundreds of millions of villagers were forced to work on collective farms from 1958 onward. Loyalty to Mao was supposed to trump family bonds, and the Cultural Revolution saw close relatives denounce and humiliate each other. Deng Xiaoping s economic reforms that followed in the 1980s failed to fully repair the damage, with communal land parcelled out and separate plots leased to individual farmers. While in neighbouring India land is typically owned by the male head of the household, giving the patriarch influence over his extended family, in China the elderly often have distinct plots of land from their children. China s massive rural-to-urban migration has put additional, extreme pressure on the nation s social fabric. Whereas about 70pc of the rural elderly lived with their adult children in 1990, that figure had fallen to 40pc by 2006, according to a 2012 World Bank report. The neighbouring villages of Luzhai and Gonggou, in China s Anhui Province, bear testament to these profound social changes. One in five people in the towns is older than 60. New houses, often clad in shiny ceramic tiles, have sprung up everywhere. Built by villagers who have left for migrant work in the cities, many homes lie vacant. In between them nestle tiny, tumbledown red brick houses. If you see a house in very bad condition, it must have old people living in it, said local doctor Cai Rucai. In Gonggou, 87-year-old Dou Shengli lives with his 85-year-old wife, He Xiuying, in a typically disorderly one-room house. Although they have two sons living nearby and three daughters, the couple gets little help with their living expenses and An elderly man bicycles past newly built houses mostly shuttered and empty as their young owners work in the cities in a village near Fuyang, Anhui Province, China. Photo: The Washington Post In Gonggou, China, 87-year-old Dou Shengli lives in a typical one-room house with his 85-year-old wife He Xiuying. Photo: The Washington Post medical costs. They have their own families to look after. If they have money, they spend it on themselves and nobody takes care of us, said Ms He, a folded washcloth over her grizzled hair in the late summer heat. My first son wants to build a new house and even came to ask us for money. The couple survive on the government s modest rural pension of 60 yuan (less than US$10) a month. I don t have money to buy vegetables, she said, so we just grow what we can. The rapid aging of China s society is one of the nation s most profound economic challenges. By 2053, the number of senior citizens is expected to grow to 487 million people, or 35pc of the population, compared with just over 12pc now, according to the China National Committee on Aging. There will be more retired Chinese people than the entire US population by that date. But even before then, the country faces the prospect of growing old before it grows rich. Chinese citizens who have grown up under the one-child policy could end up caring for two parents and four grandparents each as they enter late middle age, a potentially crippling economic burden. The government has gradually rolled out a pension plan for rural senior citizens since 2009; a new national cooperative medical insurance system has also helped defray healthcare costs for old people. But the benefits are spread thinly over a vast population, and the government will struggle to fund a dramatic improvement in social welfare spending if the Chinese economy continues to slow. Mindful of that growing burden, Premier Li Keqiang vowed last month to cut red tape to encourage foreign investment in Western-style nursing care. But this is unlikely to do much to plug the gap. In 2012, in another attempt to repair the damage of its own social engineering, the Chinese government updated a 700-year-old collection of well-known folk stories showing examples of how children mostly sons showed their devotion to their parents. Instead of romantic tales like He Strangled a Tiger to Save His Father or the more mundane He Picked Mulberries to Serve His Mother, the new government directives suggested children take their parents on vacation, call them on the weekend or teach them how to use the internet. But it is far from clear whether anyone took notice. Indeed, the government s own rules are still regressive; strict residence registration requirements force migrant workers to leave their parents behind in the villages, because the elderly can access state medical benefits only if they stay at home. In the end, most of the burden of caring for China s elderly will inevitably fall on their children. Many Chinese children still care for their parents much better than many of their counterparts in the West and not because the government tells them to. But it is equally clear that the old assumptions about loyal Chinese sons are no longer as uniformly valid as they once might have been. In Gonggou, Cai Wushi, 94, lives alone; her children come when she needs firewood, but otherwise she sits at home alone all day. My eyes don t work well, but I can still hear, she said, a lone tooth protruding from her mouth. But I am not useful anymore. The Washington Post

45 BELGRADE Ex-IMF head helps Serbs DISGRACED former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn pledged on September 17 to do his best to help Belgrade revive its ailing economy as he began to advise the Serbian government. It s not going to be easy There are some real problems but I think it s possible to solve them, Mr Strauss- Kahn said at a press conference held jointly with Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Mr Strauss-Kahn said that after a thorough analysis of the economic situation in Serbia, his team will see with the government what kind of advice we can provide. But the 64-year-old warned that the most difficult task was up to the government. It s always easier to be an advisor than to be the government, which has to undertake and implement decisions, said Mr Strauss-Kahn. The former IMF chief stressed that contact with the Serbian government was established through the head of the Arjil investment bank, Wladimir Mollof, who has a contract with Belgrade and who had asked him to join the team. Mr Strauss-Kahn said that during the first three months of his collaboration with Belgrade he would work for free and added that later remuneration would be considered afterward. Asked by journalists whether Mr Strauss-Kahn s involvement in alleged sexual scandals in the past could harm Photo: AFP Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn speaks in Belgrade on September 17. the Serbian government s image, Mr Vucic said that the only thing Belgrade was interested in were his competences in economic issues. Mr Strauss-Kahn resigned from his IMF job following his 2011 arrest over an alleged sexual assault on a New York hotel maid, but eventually reached an undisclosed financial settlement with his accuser. French prosecutors have said he will face trial on pimping charges along with 12 others over an alleged prostitution ring. We are not ashamed to say that he knows much more about economy than all of us... and that in his address book he has more contacts from the world of finances than all of us together in the government, Mr Vucic said. Mr Strauss-Kahn, who was once considered a serious candidate for the French presidency, has recently sought to return to public life, appearing at economic conferences in France and abroad and setting up an office in Paris. But he said in July that his political career was over, and he was instead working as an economic adviser. International Monetary Fund experts believe the Serbian government needs to introduce severe budget cuts, including public administration costs and pensions. Serbia s economy shrank 1.7 percent in 2012 while unemployment rose to 24pc. Its growing public debt has already exceeded 60pc of gross domestic product. AFP TEHRAN International World 45 Iranian president tells US to stop invading Mideast JASON REZAIAN IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani urged the United States on September 16 to stop invading the Middle East and said that the new American emphasis on diplomacy could help to return stability to Syria. The comments by Mr Rouhani were the first since the United States and Russia struck a deal to reduce Syria s stockpile of chemical weapons. The Iranian leader made clear that he welcomed the deal, but he also used the moment to warn Washington and its allies against any further use of force. The US and Europe know the gruesome effects of war in this region, Mr Rouhani said. They know that they did not achieve their goals in previous wars. As for Syria, he said, We are happy that a war has been averted and will do our best to make sure one does not begin. Mr Rouhani was speaking to commanders of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian leader, who took office last month, has signalled a desire to improve relations with the West, but his comments served as an indication that longstanding mistrust between Washington and Tehran will not diminish easily. The remarks came a day after US President Barack Obama acknowledged that he and Mr Rouhani had corresponded by letter in recent weeks. They also came after a visit to Israel in which Secretary of State John Kerry assured leaders that the United States remained determined to curb an Iranian nuclear program that Washington says is aimed at producing nuclear weapons. In remarks that he directed at the United States, Mr Rouhani said, You are uninvited guests. Stop invading the region. You must not practice Iranophobia. We do not need your intervention. Mr Rouhani also dismissed the oft-repeated claim that Iran wants to replace US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia as the Middle East s main military power. Leaders of those and other Arab countries say a more powerful Iran threatens regional security. The mistake of the West is that they think Iran is looking for an opportunity to rule over the region. We do not want to have military rule over the region, and if we are powerful today our strength is through dialogue, Mr Rouhani said. Iran is Syria s closest ally, and it has provided support to Syrian forces and to the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia in the civil war that pits the Damascus government against a loose and divided grouping of rebel forces. The Washington Post BRIEFS Zagreb Croatia charges ex-minister over WWII crimes Croatia s first post-independence interior minister was charged on September 17 over the killing of civilians at the end of World War II, in the first indictment of its kind in the country. Josip Boljkovac, 93, is suspected of ordering detention and killing of 21 civilians as a senior member of the partisan communist secret service OZNA, a statement from prosecutors said. The civilians, from the Duga Resa region southwest of Zagreb, were accused of collaborating with the country s Nazi-allied Ustasha regime. They were arrested and killed in May and June 1945, the prosecutors said. In 2011, Mr Boljkovac was detained for a month as part of a probe into the crimes. At the time he denied the allegations. Kigali Rwanda s ruling party scores landslide in parliamentary poll Rwanda s ruling party scored a landslide win in parliamentary elections, taking percent of the vote, the Electoral Commission said on September 17. Far behind the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) came two parties that are independent in name but that act like de facto RPF allies: the Social Democrats with 13.03pc and the Liberals with 9.29pc respectively. No other party or independent scored more than 0.6pc of the vote, the commission s executive secretary Charles Munyaneza told a press conference. The results are based on 100pc of votes counted but are technically still provisional, Mr Munyaneza said. Gao UN peacekeepers desert Mali posts A group of 160 Chadian troops from the United Nations peacekeeping force in Mali have deserted their posts in a dispute over pay and conditions. A Chadian army captain claiming to be the leader of the deserters said his men had left their posts in the northeastern town of Tessalit overnight on September and were heading to the city of Gao. There are 160 of us. We left the Amachache camp in Tessalit to claim better living conditions and demand our wages too, said the officer, who did not wish to be named. We have been in Mali for nine months and many of us haven t been paid that is not good. An officer from the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali said more than 150 soldiers had left without permission. Athens Greek police hold neo-nazi following murder Greek police have arrested a neo-nazi after a left-wing militant was stabbed to death in a fight near Athens, a police source said on September 18. The 34-year-old victim died in hospital from knife wounds after the fight broke out around midnight in the Keratsini suburb, west of Athens. According to preliminary enquiries, the dead man was a member of a small left-wing group called Antarsia. The suspect in the killing, a 45-year-old member of the Golden Dawn neo-nazi group, was in possession of a knife when he was arrested, police said. News reports said the fighting started outside a cafe over a football argument that degenerated due to the protagonists political leanings. AFP TRADE MARK CAUTION Standard Chartered PLC, a company incorporated in England, of 1 Basinghall Avenue, London EC2V 5DD United Kingdom, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:- Reg. No. 6540/2013 in respect of Class 9: Apparatus for processing card transactions and data relating thereof and for payment processing; apparatus for verifying data on magnetically encoded cards; encoded cards; cartridges, discs, tapes, cards and other recording materials, all for collecting, processing and/or storing data and for bearing computer programs and data; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; video recordings; cash registers, calculating machines, apparatus for input, output, storage and/or processing of data; data processing equipment, computers; computer software and programs; computer hardware; computer memories; computing apparatus and print-out apparatus; printers; magnetic cards; magnetically encoded and smart (programmable) cards; telecommunications apparatus, telephones; communications apparatus and installations; pagers; telephone answering machines. Class 16: Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes; non-encoded cards; printed matter, books, booklets, catalogues, magazines; periodical publications; manuals; travellers cheques, money orders, money drafts; cheques; cheque books; cardboard and plastic cards; materials for recordal of computer programs and data; book binding materials; stationery; writing instruments; files and folders; document wallets; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture); instructional and teaching material (except apparatus); plastic materials for packaging (not included in other classes). Class 36: Internet banking; banking services provided for paying bills by telephone; financial, banking, credit and insurance services; commodity trading; insurance and life assurance services; insurance broking services; actuarial services; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs; valuations and financial appraisals of property; property acquisition and managements services; rental, letting and lease of properties; rental of office space; leasing services; administration of financial affairs; trustee services; charitable fund raising services; administration of mutual funds; mutual funds services; cash management services; factoring services; invoice discounting services; cash dispensing services; loan services; mortgage services; mortgage broking services; provision of security for loans; bail bonding services; credit services; lease purchase financing, hire purchase financing; credit card, charge card, cash card, cheque guarantee card, payment card and debit card services; registration services for credit cards, charge cards, cash cards, cheque guarantee cards, debit cards, payment cards, financial cards and purchase cards; card and cash replacement services; user incentive schemes relating to the use of credit cards, charge cards, cash cards, debit cards, payment cards, financial cards and purchase cards; rental, hire and leasing of equipment for processing financial cards and data relating thereto; processing of data relating to card transactions and other payment transaction; provision of finance, money exchange and money transmission services; currency services, bureau de change services; foreign exchange services; merchant banking and investment banking services; investment and savings services; investment management services; brokerage of bonds, securities, commodities and futures; market making services; securities valuation services; share underwriting services; securities lending services; dividend collection services; payment collection services; underwriting services; unit trust services; investment trust services; securities services; personal equity plan services; tax services; financial planning and investment advisory services; investment and financial management services; financial research services; pension fund services; provision of financial information; electronic stock transfer services; safekeeping, administration and valuation of investments; collateral agency services; securities custody services; safe custody services; consultancy, information and advisory services relating to all the foregoing. 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 Standard Chartered PLC. P.O. Box 60, Yangon makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 23 September 2013

46 O Y U R F I N G E R S O N I THE PULSE EDITOR: MANNY MAUNG manny.maung@gmail.com T THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 T E G Traditional kickboxing an ancient sport makes a revival ANDRE MALERBA TIT, nit, thone, lay, ngar The red-corner fighter appears down for the count after receiving a direct knee-strike to the head. The referee indicates this with his right hand, while helping to steady the wounded warrior with his left. Chauk, khun nit Before the referee can reach eight, however, the fighter gives the nod to continue. Face puffy, blood streaming from cuts above each brow, he advances toward his opponent. Both of them know there are no victories by decision, only two options: win by knockout or a draw. To emerge victorious requires only one good strike. A destabilising kick to the knee takes the red-corner fighter down to the floor yet again. The referee signals the end of the match, declaring it a draw, and with determination and heart belying his small, wiry teenage frame the dazed fighter picks himself up again. There are no awards given to the two combatants tonight, just scattered applause. Only their pained expressions stand testament to the physical strain they have endured. This is let wei, the ancient art of Burmese boxing. In contrast to Thailand s muay thai, which is better known, let wei has remained under Myanmar s veil. Travel restrictions and the brutality of certain techniques have stopped fighters from competing outside the country. Developed for use by the Burmese military in the 12 th century, it has only recently begun to gain momentum as a promoted, commercialised fighting sport. It wasn t until the country gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1948 that rules were introduced, which makes the sport quite young as a professional endeavour. Of the many let wei fighters only a few have made an international name for themselves. Lone Chaw is perhaps the most famous and something of a local legend. After retiring at age 36, Lone Chaw found his way by teaching at a school started by Win Zin Oo, whose guidance he d been under since Originally named KLN Group and founded in 1986, the school was renamed Thut Ti (Courage) Myanmar Boxing Club in 2012, and is popular among Myanmar and expats alike. Their goal is to train young let wei fighters looking to compete in professional fights. Win Zin Oo hopes to properly promote let wei to help it become more popular both in and outside of Myanmar. Looking toward the future, Win Zin Oo would like to see policymakers understand let wei and other types of boxing, and provide the proper funding to let the sport grow and prosper. Shan Go, one of the current professional fighters and an assistant trainer at Thut Ti, fought most recently at Thein Phyu stadium. Win Zin Oo said of the fight, I really admire him for his courage to get into the ring with a fighter heavier and taller than he is. There are no weight classes in let wei fights, meaning fighters must sometimes choose between battling someone much heavier than they are or no fight at all. Though there was no knockout and the fight ended in a draw, Shan Go showed his courage and determination as he battled through three brutal five-minute rounds. Known for strong jabs, Shan Go has earned the fight name Lay Nyo Shin, which means The Archer. As brutal as let wei is, traditionally the fights were even fiercer. Single matches often lasted more than an hour and death was not an uncommon outcome. As time went on, rounds were introduced. Fifteen three-minute rounds were then reduced to 12, 10 and now five for professional, main-event fights. However, let wei continues to be the bloodiest of the Indo- Chinese martial arts, at least when it comes to professional competitions. Head-butts, knuckle rakes, takedowns and striking an opponent as he falls are all allowed. If a fighter is knocked out he may choose to continue; a count of eight is given before the decision is made. Hand wraps are used in lieu of gloves, with a small folded towel placed over the knuckles for protection. In many ways let wei is indicative of Myanmar s current state of flux, the ancient mixed with the new. Asked if he thought let wei would eventually be watered down like muay thai, Win Zin Oo responded, Even now people say [a] head strike is very dangerous, [an] elbow strike is very dangerous It is a fighting sport. It is not a temple. It is not a church. It is fighting. Fighting is competition There is risk.

47 the pulse 47 Brutal, but beautiful. Let wei is Myanmar s version of traditional kickboxing. Photo: Andre Malerba

48 48 the pulse THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Documenting a troubled history, Myanmar looks to Cambodia In setting up a centre to reflect on decades of human rights abuses, a Myanmar organisation is using the records of Cambodia s notorious Tuol Sleng prison as inspiration POPPY MCPHERSON WHEN Chit Min Lay first visited Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh last month, the cramped cells and blood-splattered walls were eerily familiar. It looked just like his jail : the concrete box in Myanmar where he spent 14 years as a political prisoner. He saw the photographs of victims and turned away. I didn t dare to see their faces because I lost my friends in prison. I didn t want to see these horrible things. About 14,000 men, women and children were tortured and killed in Tuol Sleng, which the Khmer Rouge called S-21. During his month-long stay in Cambodia, 38-year-old Chit Min Lay returned several times to the genocide museum it has now become, in order to see how a place of execution had been turned into a place of education. He talked with Chum Mey, one of a handful of known S-21 survivors. The 82-year-old is one of two former inmates who came back to the place they were detained to sell memoirs, take pictures and talk to visitors. The pair spoke for a long time, and took photos together: two former prisoners, separated by a few hundred miles. Chit Min Lay and fellow Burmese activist Nang Htoi Rawng have spent the past month working with the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), which collects documentation and evidence about the Khmer Rouge regime. Their visit to Phnom Penh was part of the Unofficial Truth Project, an initiative of the Network for Human Rights Documentation- Burma (ND-Burma), a coalition of 12 organisations aiming to establish an accurate historical record of abuses in Myanmar s own history, which can be drawn upon to lobby for justice and be used as evidence in any future tribunals. According to Han Gyi, a coordinator for ND-Burma, the reason for the unofficial title is to make clear this is not a government program. It s not the truth that s unofficial, it s the project, he wrote in an . Since ND-Burma was formed in 2005, the network, which is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has built up a human rights network within Chit Min Lay and friends gather at the Documentation Center of Cambodia. Photo: Supplied Myanmar. Their work has included developing a website which uses open-source software, into which members can input information. A low-key liaison office in Yangon was established in November 2012, but the group intends to set up a more permanent presence in the future. I want to try to have a museum like Tuol Sleng, because we face the same problems as Cambodians, Chit Min Law said, sitting in DC-Cam s office a few days after his visit to the prison-turned-museum. Unofficial Truth Project In 1998, a decade after thousands were killed when troops fired on mass demonstrations in Yangon in August 1988, Chit Min Law was sentenced to 31 years in Mawlamyine prison in Myanmar s Mon State, after participating in the August student protests when he was in his early twenties. A literary man, Chit Min Lay was denied the ability to read or write while in Mawlamyine If they saw a piece of paper, they would punish me and punishments included beatings, starvation and a feared isolation room. You couldn t go outside, you couldn t see anything there was no light in that room. Today, Chit Min Lay works for the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Organisation as deputy in charge of the education sector. The organisation is part of ND-Burma and the Unofficial Truth Project. He wants to document what happened to him and many of his friends who were also arrested, some of whom died in prison from malnutrition and torture, according to the activist. I want to show the next generation that we were arrested by the military junta. I want to inform. He laughed at the suggestion that he might be afraid. No, I am never afraid. I think, even if they arrest me, maybe they will release some men. But he added that seeing how Cambodia has recorded its past makes him hopeful for the future of his own country. I used to be Burmese For Youk Chhang, the director of DC- Cam, who has travelled to Myanmar five times, the partnership between Myanmar and Cambodia comes naturally. Why? Because I am them, he said, with a grin, speaking in his Phnom Penh office. The floor is covered with the remnants of his classes with the Myanmar students: books and A3 paper sheets with phrases like physical documents, film documents, and interview documents written on them in blue felt tip. I am Cambodian, but I used to be Burmese thirty years ago, said Chhang, laughing. I can see myself in them when they talk it s just like how Cambodians talked in the 1980s and 90s. There are so many parallels: politics, culture, religion. When it comes to refugees, when it comes to wish lists or ideas for change they re so similar. The similarities don t end with Tuol Sleng. In the 1980s, Cambodia was under Vietnamese occupation. As part of the notorious K5 project, between 140,000 and 380,000 Cambodians were forced to clear, secure and mine the densely forested border region. Thousands died from malaria alone while others fell victim to landmine explosions. Pro-democracy advocates were subject to a swift crackdown, at the same time that hundreds of students were being arrested in Myanmar. The similarities date even further back, added Chit Min Lay. While Cambodia was colonised by the French, the British claimed Myanmar. Both countries secured independence in the mid-20th century Myanmar in 1948 and Cambodia five years later. Independence was followed in both countries by coups: the onset of the Lon Nol era in Cambodia, and in Myanmar, that of the military junta. And although Myanmar has made significant steps toward democracy since 2011, there is still some way to go, a description that has been applied to both Cambodia and Myanmar in different circumstances. While the pre-publication censorship of the domestic press was removed, many publications self-censor, fearing reprisal. The government has allowed the release of political prisoners but citizens continue to face arrest for unauthorised public protest, and government activity remains opaque. Many of those military men responsible for the brutal crushing of the 1988 uprisings retain power in parliament. So too, in Cambodia, do former Khmer Rouge cadres leaders remain in government. We have the same stigma, Chit Min Lay said of the two countries shared and painful legacy. Meanwhile, Chhang refers to a psychological scar. More than two decades after the Khmer Rouge regime crumbled, Chhang, who was separated from his family aged 13 and forced into slave labour during Pol Pot s rule, admits he still feels remnants of the old fear. When I was a little boy in the city when I was 11, I thought that all the ice-cream men were spies, he said, referring to the anxious period before the Khmer Rouge took control of Phnom Penh. Now, today, when I drive and see the beggars at the traffic lights, I think, Oh God, if I don t give him money, I will be in trouble with the Khmer Rouge. Documentation and collaboration For Chhang, the collaboration with Myanmar activists is also an opportunity to put to rights mistakes made in the documentation process within Cambodia. Continued on page 49

49 the pulse 49 Mathemania competition challenges school kids ZON PANN PWINT HORIZON International School held a Mathemania competition on September 15, hosting about 3200 students from four cities across the country, representing both government and international schools. The competition was simultaneously held at Horizon International schools in four separate locations: Yangon, Mandalay, Taungyi and Sagaing. The benefit of this contest was to boost interest in mathematics and build up critical thinking skills for the contestants, said Ma Ohnmar Win, a marketing executive at Horizon International School. Students from the primary to high school level participated in the event and became more eager about mathematics by taking part in the competition, she said. The puzzles were challenging for the students and they gained self-confidence when they were able to answer the more difficult ones. We hope this will give them confidence to know they can always overcome hurdles in life, Ma Ohnmar Win said. Schooling should be a part of this learning curve, she added. Students answered questions, grouped into five categories: arithmetic, visual/spatial, counting, patterns and logical reasoning. The results will come out September 27 and there will be five grand prizes and a top 20 score, including special prizes for each category. Lawka Amon s book fair will delight both art and book lovers. Photo: Zar Ni Phyo Art book fair at Lawka Amon library School children concentrate during their maths lessons. Photo: Supplied ZON PANN PWINT zonpann08@gmail.com ART from around the world is on display this month at the Lawka Amon library in downtown Yangon. The month-long event will display a variety of books displaying Asian to European art, such as 1000 Masterpieces of European Painting, Van Gogh and Art Through the Ages. U Kyi Win, owner of the Lawka Amon reference library, said he usually does not keep the books at the library to be put on display because they are expensive and rare. However, he said, since the library opened in 2012 many regular visitors have been art lovers and often ask about art books prompting him to organise this month s display. I hope the art books will hold the interest of connoisseurs, he said. The fair will provide an opportunity for patrons to look through the artists artworks printed on paper and read the biographies of wellknown artists from around the world. The Lawka Amon reference library will display original art books in the English language from September 17 to October 17 at the library, which is located in Kyauktada township, No 30/34, 2B, first floor, 39 th Street on the lower block. Continued from page 48 I feel very honoured to have this opportunity to fulfil my regret. What I could have done for Cambodia I can do for Burma, he said. The process will be complex. After DC-Cam was established in 1995, Chhang had to persuade the government to co-operate by establishing a reputation for objectivity. ND-Burma, as a group of organisations, will likewise need to avoid undermining the appearance of impartiality. Documentation is very political. You need a strategy to do it properly, said Chhang. DC-Cam has collected some 1 million documents from a multitude of sources both within Cambodia and beyond. These range from Khmer Rouge notebooks to telegrams and old photographs. For its part, ND-Burma has catalogued more than 5000 separate cases of human rights abuses or crimes in its data system, though they have yet to be independently verified. Chhang said access to documents with critical information may be easier in Myanmar, but the repercussions of recording abuse can still be severe. ND-Burma members fieldworkers put themselves at great risk to document human rights violations, said co-coordinator Han Gyi. Security risks mean monitoring can t take place openly, especially in certain areas. One of these is Kachin State, in the north of the country, where Nang Htoi Rawng was born. The coordinator of the Documentation and Research Program at the Kachin Women s Association Thailand (KWAT), she was elected to represent that organisation in ND-Burma last year. One of her responsibilities is fieldwork data verification, which involves documenting human rights violations by the state. These include interviews with victims, and photos of the wounded and injured. The 28-year-old is now based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but goes back to her hometown once a year to find houses burned to the ground and villagers left desperate. Since 2001, there have been violations happening all over Kachin State. We have been documenting but we need to have a legal system. Ultimately, she wants to see a tribunal like the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, but first there must be reconciliation. I just want them to be accountable for what they have done for more than 50 years, she said. Black August After two weeks in Cambodia, Chit Min Lay was asked by Chhang to file a report on his experience. He was here in August, a month that has particular resonance for the activist, who calls it black August. It was August when he was arrested during the pro-democracy uprisings in It was August when the protests happened in This, in part, is what he reported from Cambodia: I miss my country. But August is not black for me here. I see rays of light in the future. The Phnon Penh Post

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51 the pulse 51 Photos record lost tribal traditions ZON PANN PWINT THE Hkahku women of Kachin State no longer wear amber earrings. The Chin no longer tattoo their faces. And the Wa no longer hunt heads. These are some of the changes in Myanmar culture observed by American-born artist Richard K Diran, who has seen parts of Myanmar that most residents have never visited. Inspired by the book Burma and the Upper Shan States, a five-volume work written in 1900 by the former Scottish administrator Sir James George Scott, Diran set out on his quest. I was compelled to follow in his footsteps, Diran told The Myanmar Times by . He stumbled on indigenous peoples of regions long untouched by time, and took pictures of them. His 70 photographs, depicting the more than 40 different ethnic groups he has visited in repeated trips to this country since 1980, will be shown at an exhibition entitled The Vanishing Tribes of Burma at Inya Lake Hotel from September 28 to 30. I asked my guide, who spoke Bre and English, what they were saying.he said they thought I must be a prawn since all of my skin had been boiled off. Richard Diran Photographer Myanmar s vanishing tribes are captured through the lens by photographer, Richard Diran. Photo: Supplied I began to travel and photograph ethnic minorities in every corner of the country. For a while, they had been virtually unchanged since the time of Sir George Scott. But now so much has changed, he said. He added that that the antique silver rupee jewellery once widespread throughout the hills has now been replaced with cheap aluminium. Though the peoples of Myanmar have not disappeared, their cultures and traditions are vanishing fast or have already disappeared. Diran describes his exhibition as the most comprehensive and complete collection of the Myanmar tribes in the world. Recalling his most memorable experiences, he described a visit to the Naga Hills shortly after the government allowed foreigners to travel in I stood on a path in the hills alone as hundreds of Naga warriors came over the top yelling, with spears and shields of ox hide. It was like a movie, he added. During a 1987 trip to Kayah State, he met people who had never seen a white man. The Bre girls were whispering to one another and laughing as they saw me. I asked my guide, who spoke Bre and English, what they were saying,. He said they thought I must be a prawn since all of my skin had been boiled off. Diran said he is quite certain that most people in Myanmar have never seen with their own eyes the vast and diverse cultures which exist in their country. Many of these places were closed off due to local conflicts, and even today some of these areas are not completely safe for travel, he said. I would like to visit the places again. Others might have changed so much. Footballer dabbles at the art of acting Sarpay Beikman thirst to get independent administration SOUTHERN Myanmar FC striker Thura Aung is now starring in a different field he has reinvented himself as an actor. The former Myanmar National League player has made his debut video Friends courtesy of Satori Creative Works. Now styling himself Daung, the 21-year-old is following in the footsteps of College Jin Nay Win, the former footballer who became a twotime Myanmar Academy Award winner not to mention the UK strikerturned-model David Beckham. I was a footballer before getting into this field a striker with Southern Myanmar for two years. I was crazy about football. Then my friends advised me to change my career and become an actor, said Daung (the name means peafowl in Myanmar, a symbol of courage). He was picked up by Satori after a stint as a model. Ko Myo Zaw, Satori s managing director, said he had selected Daung among 39 hopefuls from almost 500 amateur actors from Mandalay and Yangon. We cast the 39 in the movies and videos we produced, said Ko Myo Zaw. From those 39, Satori then selected 14, who performed before a panel of 15 judges. The film production company Satori Creative Works also manages the actor Ye Deight, who now faces narcotics charges in Bago Region. We started looking for new actors when Ye Deight got involved with this case. We hope to continue working with him once this is resolved, said U Ye Naing Moe, one of the directors of Satori and director and chief trainer of Yangon Journalism School. Nandar Aung NUAM BAWI hknuambawi@gmail.com A BOOKSHOP specialising in translated literature is seeking to establish itself independently from the Ministry of Information in order to make more works originally written in multiple languages available to a Myanmar readership. A representative of Sarpay Beikman Book Shop based in Yangon, said breaking away from the government department would allow the company to rebuild demand for translated works, which he said has fallen in recent years due to poorly translated works. Sarpay Beikman needs to be run independently and so we are now working with friends to set up an independent administration so that we can freely distribute translated works which will truly benefit the public, said U Myo Myint Maung the general manager of the government s Printing and Publishing Enterprise, which owns the book store. Operating under the ministry creates a lot of limitations and we would be able to provide a better service to the public if we were independent, he added. Sarpay Beikman was originally named the Burmese Translation Society, founded in 1947 by former prime minister U Nu, who held the top role on three separate tenures. The association was established with the aim of giving the public access to world culture, literature and education. The name was changed to Sarpay Beikman (Palace of Literature) in 1963 when the association was put under the Ministry of Information. For now our aim to become independent is still at the planning stage and we will have to work with a lot of scholars to achieve this, but we are starting to do that now, said U Myo Myint Maung. He added only a small fraction of books published in Myanmar today are translated works. Of the works that are translated it is very rare that they are works that are of benefit to the public. Mostly it will be martial arts novels and the like, U Myo Myint Maung said. He added although the market for translated literature in Myanmar is now low, it had once been in high demand. U Myo Myint Maung said that in the past, the country had better translations from Myanmar to English. I believe that if there s not a demand for something, it will disappear. In the past our country was under the British government, and our staff worked in the English language so they were very good at translation. If better translated works could be provided, there would be an increased demand again in the future.

52 52 the pulse tea break THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker SUDOKU PACIFIC DID YOU HEAR THAT? By Mary Jersey ACROSS 1 Baseball catchers 6 Reunion member 10 Discovery monitor 14 From Hawaii, 1973 Elvis album 15 Anger 16 Bye words? 17 Italian coins, formerly 18 TV dinner, e.g. 19 Change the style of 20 About to land 22 Washington, D.C., attraction 23 Audio part? 24 Bicuspid coating 26 Cattle classes 30 Building contractor s job 32 Volcano s discharge 33 It may be found near a drain 35 Buoy one s spirits 39 Makes a declaration 41 Director Howard 42 Liz of 30 Rock 43 Pullman sleeper 44 Aid illegalities 46 Tucked in for the night 47 Blue Mountains 49 Over 51 Alternative to a Mercedes or BMW 54 Hot Springs, for one 55 Jack-in-the-pulpit plant 56 Time not long past 63 Certain golf shot 64 A famous one is golden 65 Prosequi lead-in 66 Crinkly cabbage 67 Like an exam sans pencils 68 If I Only Had a Brain composer Harold 69 Keep it notation 70 Large carrying bag to say the DOWN 1 Able to go into men s rooms 2 Russian skater Kulik 3 Unit of pressure 4 How s? 5 Like windows and geishas 6 Combat covering 7 Instead of 8 Mongolia s capital, Bator 9 Performed a pinochle maneuver 10 All in the Family producer 11 Crosswise to a ship s keel 12 Edge along 13 Circular coral reef island 21 Hide-and-seek spot 25 Away in a Manger, for one 26 Have a big mouth 27 All-night dance party 28 Continuously 29 Hearing aid 30 Sun-baked brick newton 34 Bring unwillingly 36 Dais kin 37 Low digits 38 Pigskin receivers 40 Actor LaBeouf 45 Record, old-style 48 Timber problem 50 Nicholson film Knowledge 51 Kid s ball game 52 Buddhist in Nirvana 53 Duplicity 54 Stone marker 57 Dollar overseas 58 Bed frame segment 59 Arthurian era, e.g. 60 She performed with Duke and Dizzy 61 Alternatives to lagers 62 Monthly bill, for many DILBERT BY SCOTT ADAMS PEANUTS BY CHARLES SCHULZ CALVIN AND HOBBES BY BILL WATTERSON PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Laugh all the way to the bank when you rent this space. The tea break page is being re-formatted in readiness for our move to a daily cycle. It may look something like this in the future. Our market research shows that a page like this attracts a large number of readers, who loyally read it every day. Ring Khin Thandar Htay our National Sales Director to book this space permanently and laugh all the way to the bank with the extra business coming in your door. Telephone us now on

53 the pulse food and drink 53 Clammed up? This garlic-tomato sauce is sure to get your mouth watering Clams in garlic-tomato sauce. Photo: Phyo PHYO'S COOKING ADVENTURE Fried eggplant with tomatoes (background). Photo: Phyo LATELY I ve been feeling inspired by Spanish tapas. After finding precooked, frozen clams at the supermarket, I tried a few new dishes and am so far happy with the results. Of course, you can also find clams at the market if you like your seafood fresh. The first dish, clams in tomato sauce with lots of garlic, can be served on toast and also makes an ideal complement to pasta. The second, fried eggplant with tomatoes, is a versatile side for steaks, bbq, pasta, rice and even simple toasted bread. CLAMS IN A GARLIC-TOMATO SAUCE (SERVES 6) 300 grams frozen cooked clams 1 onion, diced ½ teaspoon paprika 8 whole tomatoes, peeled 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves 4 cloves garlic, sliced 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Thaw the clams in a sieve so the melting ice can drain off. Do not speed the process by using a microwave. Sprinkle a few pinches of salt overtop to keep them fresh. Prepare the tomatoes by bringing them to a boil in a sauce pan and peeling away the skin. Blend them together until they form a paste. Add vegetable oil into a pot and heat it over a medium heat. Then, sauté the onions until they become translucent. When the onions are ready, remove pan from heat and add tomato paste and paprika. Mix together, return to heat and fry for two minutes. Add tomato juice and let the mixture boil. After boiling for a few minutes, turn the heat down and simmer for 45 minutes to further cook the onions and tomatoes. When the sauce is thick enough neither runny nor sticky add the sliced garlic and clams. Add salt for taste as well as a generous amount of fresh crushed black pepper. Stir well and cook for 5 more minutes. Garnish with coriander and serve with rice or toasted bread. FRIED EGGPLANT WITH TOMATOES (SERVES 6) 5 medium eggplants (the longer the better) ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil 4 peeled tomatoes, diced and boiled 3 cloves garlic, sliced Cut the eggplant into 1½cm cubes and let marinate for a few minutes in ¼ teaspoon of salt to prevent the eggplants from going darker. Heat oil in the frying pan. When the oil is hot enough, fry the eggplants in batches. When the eggplant cubes are soft, transfer them onto a plate lined with kitchen paper to soak away the excess oil. Next, fry the garlic with the leftover oil in the pan. When the aroma of garlic starts to come out, add the diced, boiled tomatoes and fry for a couple of minutes. Return fried eggplants to the pan, mix with garlic and tomatoes, and fry for 5 minutes more. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste. TIPS Remove pan from heat momentarily when adding tomatoes to avoid spattering. SHOPPING Frozen clams can be found in the freezer section at City Mart Marketplace. They are pre-cooked and ready to use. FOODIE QUOTE Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good. Alice May Brock, of Alice s Restaurant fame NEXT WEEK Asian-style seafood Golden meals at Shwe Sa Bwe MANNY MAUNG manny.maung@gmail.com AFTER reading Jenny McIntyre s article about Shwe Sa Bwe in May, an on the Yangon Expat Forum prompted me to head out to the converted villa, located just north of Inya Lake. Shwe Sa Bwe is the brainchild of Francois Stoupan, and trains apprentices from all over Myanmar into being top chefs and skilled staff in the food and beverage industry. They train for nine months with a commitment to stay in the country and support the local economy after. Often, they ve landed roles at high-end restaurants and hotels around the country, but some of the best stay on to continue training new apprentices at Shwe Sa Bwe. Arriving at the converted villa which houses the Shwe Sa Bwe training facilities and restaurant, it s easy to notice the care that s been taken in restoring the rooms. A spacious entrance makes way to beautifully low-lit rooms decorated with local photos, providing an ambience that promises a friendly relaxing affair. Stoupan himself shows us around the premises, taking us into the kitchen area where hot and cold rooms have Shwe Sa Bwe Malikha Road, Yangon Food: 9 Drink: 9 Service: 9 Atmosphere: 10 X-factor: 10 Value for money: 10 Total Score: 9.5/10 Pork vitello, tonnato-style. Photo: Manny Maung been separated and hygiene is at the highest standard. I m delighted to see the Queen of Pastry, Soe Myat Thwe, at the desert station teaching a new apprentice what she knows. Shwe Sa Bwe s twin concepts of nurturing new talent and promise of commitment to good food seemed to be coming full circle right before my eyes. But seeing all that was making me hungry and I was eager to order. The menu changes every two weeks and differs from lunch to dinner, so there are plenty of options if you re eager to try more. I opted for the three course selection (K26,000), starting with pork vitello, tonnato-style with asparagus and green beans. My dining companion opted for the half-cooked tuna on parmesan bread, fresh watermelon and lemon leaf dressing (what I actually wanted but we decided to go for different selections and max out on flavour). The pork was sliced perfectly thin and the creamy dressing balanced by the palate-cleansing asparagus. It was the same with the tuna, with the watermelon providing and unusual balance to the intensity of the fish and the parmesan. I chose the roasted sea bass which came served in tandoori and bacon foam. There was good depth of flavour and I wasn t really sure what to do with the foam, but a spoon helped me scoop it all up. The veal came out a perfect medium-rare. The only thing I can complain about is overeating bread the again (which I rate highly). For dessert, opera cake and lemon meringue (the lemon meringue I took home as a takeaway because I knew if I didn t finish it, I d be thinking about it all the next day). All the tips are divvied out amongst staff and payment for your meal goes into the training facilities and administration costs. If you re feeling like collecting some karma points and having a great meal, Shwe Sa Bwe comes as the first recommended choice. Mid-Autumn moon cakes not so magical MID-AUTUMN heralds the Chinese tradition of giving away moon cakes to celebrate Chang E, the mythical moon goddess of immortality. The mid-autumn festival in China is considered one of the most auspicious on the Chinese lunar calendar, and it s a time when businessmen and families are expected to present their clients with this unusual cake considered a symbol of good fortune. The only problem is moon cakes are somewhat divisive. Not exactly a chocolate torte or an almond flan, the cakes can be an onslaught to the Western palate where sugar reigns supreme in the domain of the dessert. What promised to be sweet chocolate was actually a tart black sesame paste and what promised to be a zesty orange centre was in fact, salty egg yolk the egg yolk representing the moon. Green tea moon cake. Photo: Thirlu Black sesame moon cake. Photo: Thirlu A tasting of the Chatrium hotel s new range of moon cakes procured varying reactions from tasters. One taster said, The green tea moon cake would go better with a steaming mug to sip between bites there s a reason green tea drinkers don t spoon sugar in their tea as English tea-drinkers do, lest the sweetness overpower the refreshing flavour. Another taster said she preferred the sesame paste as the others were slightly too sweet. But yet another taster claimed, It s like glue in my mouth what are you trying to do to me?! Whatever the results of my social experiment, I am happy to know that the goddess of immortality may look down on me with favour, for having shared such an auspicious custom. Manny Maung

54 54 the pulse socialite THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Cherry Oo lucky draw Now How! Cosmetic new brands launch Ko Phyo Mg Mg Kyu, Ko Zaw Zaw and Ko Myo Aung Daw Khin Aye Myint Satori new actor press conference Ma Thuzar Tun Nang Khay Mar Moe Yu San Daung, Samuel, Gone Yi Kyaw and Pyae Phyo Aung Taw Win Center lucky draw U Myo Zaw Shwe Tha Mee Su Myat Noe Kyaw Yoon Me Oo Phoo Pwint Thakhin Tasanee JCU Graduation ceremony Ye Aung Khant Si Thu Sithu Lwin and wife U Ko Ko Htwe Dale Anderson Sandra Harding Moe Aung Yin Awarding ceremony for Logo Designs Competition Ma Thandar Moe and Ma May Thawdar Ko Kyaw Khine and Ko Aung Ko Lwin Daw Htate Tin Hnin, H.E. Mr. Hagay Moshe Behar and U Than Swe Chokdee Dimsum launch Torsak Jaruwong Wittahaya, Ko Myat Htoo, Chutigaveeravvth, Thanathum Kanhanttana, Thjanun Chavasirikulthon and Ko Hlaing Min Win Ma Nang Su Khine, Ma Hnin Yu Hlaing and Ma Yu Yu Shan

55 the pulse socialite 55 ILDEX Myanmar 2013 opening ceremony NYEIN EI EI HTWE WHEN the going gets tough, Socialite likes to unwind with a head massage and a good hairwash at the hairdressers. But, there was no time for that as she raced about her week at the usual hectic pace. Socialite first attended Cherry Oo lucky draw in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, before making it to Taw Win Center for another lucky draw on September 10. The following day, she was at Ushido hair designs training at Central hotel (but missed out on getting her hair done). Socialite also attended the opening ceremony of ILDEX Myanmar 2013 trade fair at Tamadaw Hall on September 12, and on September 13, she was at the SR College price awarding ceremony at Western Park. She finally managed to slow the pace on the weekend, sitting down to a delicious array of dimsums at Chokdee Dimsum restaurant launch. It was a good way to recharge for more fun, next week. SR College graduation ceremony Singapore Airlines 1 st anniversary Ma Khin Hnin Soe Myat Thiri San and Baby Moe Wein Ng, Chua Kian Hwa, Lim Wei and Ma Phyu Ko Min Thant, Ma Moe and Ko Aung Thant USHIDO hair designs training Michelle A Tun Ma Toe Toe Yee Richard

56 56 the pulse travel THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES YANGON TO NAY PYI TAW MANDALAY TO YANGON NYAUNG U TO YANGON YJ 761 1,2,4 11:00 12:10 YANGON TO MYEIK Flight Days Dep Arr 6T :00 7:55 FMI A1 1,2,3,4,5 7:30 8:30 FMI A1 6 8:00 9:00 FMI B1 1,2,3,4,5 11:30 12:30 FMI A1 7 15:30 16:30 FMI C1 1,2,3,4,5 16:30 17:30 NAY PYI TAW TO YANGON Flight Days Dep Arr FMI A2 1,2,3,4,5 8:50 9:50 FMI A2 6 10:00 11:00 FMI B2 1,2,3,4,5 13:00 14:00 FMI A2 7 17:00 18:00 FMI C2 1,2,3,4,5 18:00 19:00 YANGON TO MANDALAY Flight Days Dep Arr Flight Days Dep Arr Y5 233 Daily 8:10 9:25 YJ 892 1,2,3,4,5,6 8:30 10:25 YH 918 1,2,3,4,5,7 8:40 10:45 YH :40 10:35 YJ 143/W ,2,3 9:20 10:45 6T 402/K ,3,4,5,6,7 8:55 10:55 K7 223 Daily 8:55 11:00 W ,5,6,7 9:10 11:05 W9 144 Daily 9:20 10:45 W ,2,3 9:25 11:20 Y ,5,6,7 9:30 10:30 6T :00 12:00 K ,4 10:35 12:00 K ,5 10:55 12:20 YJ 202 1,2,4 11:30 12:25 YH 834 1,7 12:00 13:25 YH 832 3,5 12:30 13:55 Flight Days Dep Arr YH :05 9:25 YJ 891 Daily 7:45 8:15 YH 917 1,2,3,4,5,7 7:45 10:45 YJ 143/W ,2,3 8:35 10:45 YH :05 9:25 YJ 143/W ,5,6,7 8:05 10:45 K7 222 Daily 8:05 11:00 K7222/6T 401 2,3,4,5,6,7 8:05 10:55 6T :10 12:00 YH 732 1,2,3,7 16:55 18:15 YH 732 6,5 17:25 18:45 6T 502/K7 225 Daily 17:40 19:00 W ,2,3 17:40 19:00 W9 129 Daily 17:25 18:45 K7 225 Daily 17:45 19:00 YJ 751/W :00 12:10 YH 727 1,5 11:15 12:40 YH 737 3,7 11:15 12:40 K ,6 11:45 13:00 W ,2,3 14:45 15:55 W ,5,6,7 14:30 15:40 6T 501/K7 224 Daily 14:30 15:40 K7 224 Daily 14:30 15:45 YH 731 6,5 14:30 15:55 HEHO TO YANGON Flight Days Dep Arr YJ 892 1,2,3,4,5,6 9:15 10:25 YH :25 10:35 YH 918 1,2,3,4,5,7 9:35 10:45 6T 402/K7223 2,3,4,5,6,7 9:45 10:55 Flight Days Dep Arr K7 319 Daily 7:00 9:05 YH 633 1,3,4,5,7 7:00 9:15 MYEIK TO YANGON Flight Days Dep Arr YH 634 1,3,4,5,7 11:25 13:25 K7 320 Daily 11:30 13:35 YANGON TO THANDWE Flight Days Dep Arr 6T :15 12:10 6T :30 15:05 THANDWE TO YANGON Flight Days Dep Arr 6T :25 15:00 6T :20 16:15 W :00 8:05 YJ 891 1,2,3,4,5,6 6:10 8:15 YH 917 1,2,3,4,5,7 6:10 8:40 Y5 234 Daily 6:15 7:30 6T 401/K7222 2,3,4,5,6,7 6:30 8:35 K7 222 Daily 6:30 8:40 YJ :30 8:25 K ,5 6:45 8:10 K ,4 6:45 8:10 YJ 201 1,2 7:00 8:25 YJ 211 5,7 7:00 8:25 YH :00 8:40 YJ 143/W ,2,3 7:00 9:05 W9 251 Daily 7:00 9:05 6T :00 9:40 YJ :00 8:55 YH 833 1,,7 7:30 9:10 W ,2,3 7:45 9:10 YH 831 3,5 8:00 9:40 8M ,4,7 9:00 10:10 YJ 751/W ,7 10:00 11:55 YJ :30 12:25 W :30 11:55 K7 624 Daily 10:30 11:55 YJ 751/W :30 12:25 YJ :00 12:25 YJ 761 1,2,4 11:00 12:55 YJ 751/W :00 12:55 YJ 601/W :00 12:25 YH 737 3,7 11:15 13:25 YH 727 1,5 11:15 13:25 YH 729 2,4,6 11:15 14:15 YH 731 1,2,3,7 14:30 16:10 YH 731 5,6 14:30 16:40 W ,2,3 14:45 16:40 K7 224 Daily 14:30 16:35 6T 501/K7 224 Daily 14:30 16:35 YJ :35 14:00 K ,4,7 12:50 16:00 YJ :30 17:25 W ,3 15:45 17:10 YJ 762 1,2,4 16:35 18:00 YH 732 1,2,3,5,7 16:10 18:15 YH :40 18:45 W ,5,6,7 16:40 18:45 YH 728 1,5 16:45 18:10 YJ 725/W :50 18:15 6T 502/K7 225 Daily 16:50 19:00 K7 225 Daily 16:50 19:00 W ,2,3 16:55 19:00 K7 625 Daily 17:10 18:35 8M ,4,7 17:20 18:30 YH 738 3,7 17:25 18:50 W :30 19:35 W :35 19:00 YJ 725/W :50 19:15 YH 730 2,4,6 18:00 19:25 YANGON TO NYAUNG U Flight Days Dep Arr YH 917 1,2,3,4,5,7 6:10 7:45 YJ 891 Daily 6:10 7:30 6T 401/K ,3,4,5,6,7 6:30 7:50 K7 222 Daily 6:30 7:50 YH :30 8:05 YH :30 8:05 YJ 143/ W ,2,3 7:00 8:20 6T :00 8:55 YH 731 1,2,3,7 14:30 16:55 W ,5,6,7 14:30 17:10 6T 501/K7 224 Daily 14:30 17:20 W ,2,3 14:45 17:25 YH 731 6,5 14:30 17:25 K7 224 Daily 14:30 17:25 YANGON TO MYITKYINA Flight Days Dep Arr YJ :00 9:50 YJ :00 9:50 YJ :30 9:50 YJ 201 1,2 7:00 9:50 K ,4,7 7:30 11:05 W :30 13:25 K7 624 Daily 10:30 13:25 YJ :00 13:50 MYITKYINA TO YANGON Flight Days Dep Arr YJ :05 17:25 YJ 211 5,7 10:05 13:25 YJ 202 1,2,4 10:05 12:55 K7 625 Daily 15:40 18:35 W :05 19:00 YANGON TO HEHO Flight Days Dep Arr YH 917 1,2,3,4,5,7 6:10 9:35 YJ 891 1,2,3,4,5,6 6:10 9:00 6T 401/K7222 2,3,4,5,6,7 6:30 9:30 K7 222 Daily 6:30 9:30 YJ :00 8:10 YH :00 9:25 6T :00 10:35 W ,5,6,7 7:30 9:40 K ,3,5 7:30 8:45 W ,2,3 7:45 9:55 YJ 751/W ,7 10:00 11:10 W ,3, 10:30 11:40 K7 223 Daily 9:45 11:00 W ,5,6,7 9:55 11:05 W ,2,3 10:10 11:20 6T :50 12:00 K ,3,5 13:50 15:05 W ,3 15:00 17:10 YJ 762 1,2,4 15:50 18:00 YJ :50 14:00 W ,2,3 16:10 19:00 YJ 752/W :55 18:05 W ,5,6,7 15:55 18:45 YH 731 5,6 15:55 18:45 YH 728 1,5 16:00 18:10 6T 501/K7 224 Daily 16:00 19:00 K7 224 Daily 16:00 19:00 YH 738 3,7 16:40 18:50 K ,6 17:25 18:40 YANGON TO SIT T WE Flight Days Dep Arr 6T 611 2,4,7 11:00 12:25 6T :15 13:15 6T 611 3,6 11:30 12:55 K7 426 Daily 12:30 13:50 6T :30 13:55 SIT T WE TO YANGON Flight Days Dep Arr 6T 612 2,4,7 12:45 14:10 6T 612 3,6 13:15 14:40 6T :35 15:00 K7 427 Daily 14:05 15:25 6T :15 16:15 Domestic Airlines Air Bagan Ltd. (W9) Tel : , , , Fax : Air KBZ (K7) Tel: ~80, ~39 (Airport), Fax: Air Mandalay (6T) Tel : (Head Office) , , Fax: Airport: ~3, Fax: Asian Wings (YJ) Tel: , , ~3. Fax: Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5) Tel: , , Fax: Yangon Airways(YH) Tel: (+95-1) , , , Fax: FMI Air Charter - Sales & Reservations Tel: (95-1) , / (+95-9) Domestic 6T = Air Mandalay W9 = Air Bagan YJ = Asian Wings K7 = AIR KBZ YH = Yangon Airways FMI = FMI AIR Charter Y5 = Golden Myanmar Airlines Subject to change without notice Day 1 = Monday 2 = Tuesday 3 = Wednesday 4 = Thursday 5 = Friday 6 = Saturday 7 = Sunday

57 the pulse travel 57 YANGON TO BANGKOK PG 706 Daily 7:15 9:30 8M 335 1,2,3,4,7 9:00 10:45 TG 304 Daily 9:50 11:45 PG 702 Daily 10:30 12:25 TG 302 Daily 14:55 16:50 8M 331 1,5,6 16:30 18:15 PG 704 Daily 18:20 20:15 Y5 237 Daily 18:05 19:50 TG 306 Daily 19:45 21:40 YANGON TO DON MUENG FD 2752 Daily 8:30 10:20 FD 2754 Daily 17:50 19:35 YANGON TO SINGAPORE MI 509 1,6 0:25 5:00 8M 231 Daily 8:00 12:25 Y5 233 Daily 10:10 14:40 SQ 997 Daily 10:25 14:45 8M 6232 Daily 11:30 16:05 3K 586 Daily 11:30 16:05 MI 517 Daily 16:40 21:15 YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR 8M 501 1,3,6 7:50 11:50 AK 1427 Daily 8:30 12:50 MH 741 Daily 12:15 16:30 MH 743 Daily 15:45 20:00 YANGON TO BEIJING CA 906 2,3,4,6,7 14:15 21:55 YANGON TO GAUNGZHOU 8M 711 4,7 8:40 13:15 CZ ,6 11:20 15:50 CZ ,5 17:40 22:15 YANGON TO TAIPEI CI ,2,3,5,6 10:50 16:15 YANGON TO KUNMING MU ,3 12:20 18:35 MU ,4,5,6,7 14:40 18:00 CA 906 2,3,4,6,7 14:15 17:35 YANGON TO CHIANG MAI W ,7 14:20 16:10 YANGON TO HANOI VN 956 1,3,5,6,7 19:10 21:30 YANGON TO HO CHI MINH CITY VN 942 2,4,7 14:25 17:10 YANGON TO DOHA QR 619 1,4,5 8:15 11:15 YANGON TO PHNOM PENH 8M 403 3,6 16:50 19:15 YANGON TO SEOUL 0Z 770 4,7 0:35 9:10 KE 472 Daily 23:35 08:05+1 YANGON TO HONG KONG KA 251 1,2,4,6 01:10 06:00 YANGON TO TOKYO NH 914 1,3,6 21:30 06:40+1 YANGON TO KOLKATA AI 228 1,5 14:05 15:05 MANDALAY TO BANGKOK TG 782 2,3,5,7 9:30 11:55 MANDALAY TO DON MUENG FD 2761 Daily 12:45 15:00 INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES MANDALAY TO KUNMING MU 2030 Daily 14:40 17:20 BANGKOK TO YANGON 8M 336 1,2,3,4,5 6:15 7:00 TG 303 Daily 7:55 8:50 PG 701 Daily 8:50 9:40 TG 301 Daily 13:00 13:45 PG 703 Daily 16:45 17:35 TG 305 Daily 17:50 18:45 8M 332 Daily 19:15 20:00 PG 705 Daily 20:15 21:30 Y5 238 Daily 21:10 21:55 DON MUENG TO YANGON FD 2751 Daily 7:15 8:00 FD 2753 Daily 16:35 17:20 SINGAPORE TO YANGON SQ 998 Daily 7:55 9:20 3K 585 Daily 9:10 10:40 8M 6231 Daily 9:10 10:40 8M 232 Daily 13:25 14:50 MI 518 Daily 14:20 15:45 Y5 234 Daily 15:35 17:05 MI 520 5,7 22:10 23:35 BEIJING TO YANGON CA 905 2,3,4,6,7 8:05 13:15 KAULA LUMPUR TO YANGON AK 1426 Daily 6:55 8:00 MH 740 Daily 10:05 11:15 8M 502 1,3,6 12:50 13:50 MH742 Daily 13:30 14:40 GUANGZHOU TO YANGON CZ ,6 8:40 10:30 CZ ,5 14:45 16:35 8M 712 4,7 14:15 15:50 TAIPEI TO YANGON CI ,2,3,5,6 7:00 9:55 KUNMING TO YANGON MU ,3 8:20 11:30 CA 905 2,3,4,6,7 12:40 13:15 MU ,4,5,6,7 13:30 13:55 CHIANG MAI TO YANGON W ,7 17:20 18:10 HANOI TO YANGON VN 957 1,3,5,6,7 16:35 18:10 HO CHI MINH CITY TO YANGON VN 943 2,4,7 11:40 13:25 BANGKOK TO MANDALAY TG 781 2,3,5,7 7:25 8:50 DOHA TO YANGON QR 618 3,4,7 21:05 07:00+1 PHNOM PENH TO YANGON 8M 404 3,6 20:15 21:40 SEOUL TO YANGON KE 471 Daily 18:40 22:30 0Z 769 3,6 19:50 23:25 TOKYO TO YANGON NH 913 1,3,6 10:30 15:30 HONG KONG TO YANGON KA 250 1,3,5,7 21:45 23:30 KOLKATA TO YANGON AI 227 1,5 10:35 13:20 DON MUEANG TO MANDALAY FD 2760 Daily 10:50 12:15 KUNMING TO MANDALAY MU 2029 Daily 13:55 13:50 International Airlines Air Asia (FD) Tel: , Air Bagan Ltd.(W9) Tel : , , , Fax : Air China (CA) Tel : , Air India Tel : ~98, Fax: Bangkok Airways (PG) Tel: , , Fax: Condor (DE) Tel: up to 39 (ext : 810) Dragonair (KA) Tel: , , Fax : Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5) Tel: , , Fax: Malaysia Airlines (MH) Tel : , ext : 120, 121, 122 Fax : Myanmar Airways International(8M) Tel : , Fax: Silk Air(MI) Tel: ~9, Fax: Thai Airways (TG) Tel : ~6, Fax : Vietnam Airlines (VN) Fax : Tel / / Qatar Airways (Temporary Office) Tel: , (ext: 8142, 8210) 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 Subject to change without notice Day 1 = Monday 2 = Tuesday 3 = Wednesday 4 = Thursday 5 = Friday 6 = Saturday 7 = Sunday NEW YORK Mornings in Manhattan L.V. ANDERSON I AM not a morning person. I require three cups of coffee, sipped slowly over the course of an hour or two, before I feel capable of even sending an to or making small talk with another human being. I never, ever leave my apartment before the crack of 9, except on the rare, traumatising occasion that I have an early flight to catch out of JFK. According to Cameron Gidari, I m approaching life in New York all wrong. In his new ebook, Manhattan Before8, Gidari argues that the Big Apple most charming time is between sunrise and 8 am. In eight chapters with titles like My Favorite Photography Spot, and My Favorite City Walk, Gidari describes his experiences hitting the town early in the morning. He also makes a hard sell for getting up early: Before 8 AM, a city of 1.6 million people crammed onto a thirty-four-square-mile island suddenly becomes your private sanctuary, open to explore and enjoy before it is descended upon by the masses, he writes. Like most morning people, Gidari immediately earned my skepticism. Then I read a line in Manhattan Before 8 that piqued my interest: My morning philosophies center around a common theme: crowd avoidance. I d always thought my distaste for getting up early was correlated with my misanthropic tendencies but was it possible I could avoid people more effectively if I awoke before dawn? I had to find out. And that s how it happened that last Friday night, I set two alarms and prepared for an early-morning adventure cycling through Manhattan. My plan was to investigate four of Gidari s recommendations watching the sun rise from the Brooklyn Bridge, drinking coffee at Sunrise over Manhattan, New York. Photo: The Washington Post Ninth Street Espresso in Alphabet City, strolling the length of the High Line, and eating breakfast at a health restaurant called Hu Kitchen near Union Square and to find out what solitary morning pleasures I d been missing out on in seven years of living in New York. I discovered that not only are there fewer New Yorkers out and about early in the morning, but in many cases they are also nicer New Yorkers. The occasional people I encountered fell into roughly six categories: Police officers. They are distinctly friendlier than their 9-to-5 colleagues. As I was waiting at a red light to enter the Brooklyn Bridge bike and pedestrian path, the officer who was manning the intersection smiled at me and waved me through. Joggers. One of the first people I saw was a cute jogger making his way toward Manhattan. My bike promptly fell over. Teenagers. As I was watching the sunrise from the Brooklyn Bridge a group of six or seven fresh-faced young things approached. They told me they d stayed up all night and looked at me funny when I told them I d woken up for the express purpose of watching the sun rise.. Garbage collectors. I passed four or five garbage trucks on my way from my apartment in Brooklyn to Ninth Street Espresso. Babies. There were quite a few of them. Dogs. A a cute, chubby, elderly German shepherd lazing on the sidewalk. I looked up and saw many other dogs, large and small, trotting up and down Fifth Avenue on leashes. On my early-morning adventure, I found more peace and quiet than I ve ever witnessed before on the streets of New York. But it didn t come close to the peace and quiet I know I ll always be able to find in my bed. Slate

58 58 the pulse international THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Bubble trouble hits Hong Kong jade sales CELINE GE PRIZED as a magical imperial stone, jade is a status symbol of the super rich in Asia, but rocketing prices in the top-end of the market have left traders in Hong Kong struggling to find buyers. With the cost of high-quality raw jade and jade products surging repeatedly in the past eight years, prices tags are now becoming prohibitive and experts predict the bubble must soon burst as buyers are stepping back. Driven up by the appetite of wealthy Chinese, the rising cost of jade is also being fuelled by fears of a shortage in supply from Myanmar, the key source. Consumers cannot accept the current high prices, therefore, no deal is reached, Hong Kong jade dealer Li Kwong-kei told AFP at the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, held on September 13. Li, who has participated in the fair for more than 10 years, said it was quieter than in 2011 and We are forced to raise prices it is increasingly hard to get high-quality raw jade from Myanmar. If you do not pay more, the good raw materials will be owned by the others, Li added, holding a green jadeite bangle with a price of US$260,000. I have decided to wait for the prices of high- and mid-end jade to drop, said Judy Chen, a Taiwanese buyer at the fair. It appears to me that their prices are kind of at the peak. Small businesses have also been affected stallholders at Hong Kong s famous outdoor jade market while away hours chatting with their neighbours, as customers remain sparse. I have seen some of my peers quit their businesses, said 54-year-old stall owner Wong Fung-ying. The prices are high while the market is quiet. Jade holds mythical properties in China, where it is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring better health. With no international pricing The highly prized imperial jadeite originates from the northern hills in Kachin State, Myanmar. Photo: AFP system, values have been increasing since 2005 as the newly rich in China have bought up jade products. Seen as a classier option than gold, it has become a status symbol. Dealers are now worried that quality raw jade from Myanmar is dwindling as the country plans to process and sell its own jade products. Myanmar keeps its cards close to its chest in a famously murky trade, and rumours are rife among dealers about its plans as the country opens up economically. Jade dealer Liang Jianhui, based in southern China s Guangdong province and one of 7000 buyers at the gem auction in Myanmar s capital Nay Pyi Taw in June, said that he could no longer afford to buy highquality jade. I set aside more than 2 million euros for the auction, only to find that I am too poor to win a bid for one single piece of top-end jade, said Liang. If a piece of raw jade sold for 100,000 euros [$133,600] in the past, people would make an offer of 500,000 euros for the same one this year. One dealer said Chinese buyers had backed out of collecting their jade after having second thoughts about the high prices, while another said Chinese bidders had gone in high Vin Diesel returns as purposely to put the raw jade out of reach of their rivals. Up to 90 percent of the world s jadeite the most sought-after type of jade is mined in the northern Myanmar town of Hpakant and hundreds of tonnes are transported to state gem auctions, which have until now been held at least twice a year. But in 2013 there was only one major auction, which saw the number of jade lots down by 38 pc compared with the previous auction in March 2012, according to local media quoting official figures, although it was still reported to have reaped $2.4 billion in sales. What they want now is not only to export raw materials, but also to process jade domestically and sell it to China, said Li Lianju, a deputy director of Yunnan Land and Resource Department, who oversees the jade trade between Myanmar and China s Yunnan province, a major commercial hub for the gemstone. The value of raw jade rises more than twentyfold after being carved and turned into rings, bangles or necklaces, said Zu Engdong, head of gemology at Kunming University of Science and Technology in Yunnan. So it makes full sense for the Myanmar to process jade themselves. Some fear Myanmar will close the jade mines altogether or slow down production to protect jade sources. Fighting in Kachin State may also have affected jade mining. What is certain is that prices for those buying raw high-grade jade are astronomical, trickling down to merchants who are upping prices to maintain their profit margin. Yunnan s Li says prices of lowergrade jade are already dipping. The bubble of low-to middle-end jade has burst first given the little fear of raw material shortage, he said. While prices of high-end jade are likely to jump after the raw material from the June auction is processed, Li predicts such surges cannot continue in the face of lack of trade. By the end of the year, the prices will start to drop from the sky, Li said. AFP Riddick in violent, but fun, sci-fi thriller STEPHANIE MERRY TWELVE years after bringing the grunting, crazy-eyed and musclebound Riddick to life in the sci-fi thriller Pitch Black, Vin Diesel reunites with director David Twohy for a third instalment, a more complicated film with a simple title, Riddick. As the movie opens, Riddick, an escaped convict with silvery eyes and permanent night vision, finds himself stuck on a foreign planet where he s been left for dead by one of his many enemies. Riddick is horribly injured with a compound fracture, but it turns out one of his talents is DIY medicine. He makes himself a cast using just armour and nails, which he screws into his own leg. Grotesque as it is, the scene is a mere amusebouche for the bloodshed to come. The planet is a doozy, with maniacal dogs and giant scorpions, but Riddick has a keen sense of survival, so he makes a nice little life for himself and his new pet, a killer puppy. But deep down, Riddick just wants to return to his home planet of Furya. Knowing he has a bounty on his head, he broadcasts his whereabouts to lure mercenaries, whose ship he plans to steal. Sure enough, two competing groups land and start their hunt. The first is led by an idiotic hothead named Santana (Jordi Molla), whose comeuppance is all but assured by his arrogance. The other team falls under the more likable Johns (Matt Nable), whose motives are mysterious. He is more interested in talking to Riddick than killing him and collecting a reward. What ensues is a movie that s more about these two groups than about the title character. Riddick sets off a game of cat-and-mouse, only there are two cats and the mouse remains in the shadows. Riddick must be unacquainted with Occam s Razor the idea that the right solution is usually the simplest one because he solves problems in the most elaborate FILM REVIEW ways possible. There is solid evidence he could dispatch his attackers while bound and blindfolded, but Riddick prefers to create intricate scenarios. He may not be in a huge rush to get home after all. Riddick can be cheesy and silly, not to mention excessively violent, but it s also fun. The story moves quickly along, and even when the outcome is plain, the journey remains entertaining. Diesel looks like an oaf but makes for a winning antihero. It s almost enough to make you wonder what he could accomplish if he stopped reprising the same roles again and again in the Fast and Furious franchise, not to mention this series. Regardless, this probably isn t the last we ll see of Riddick. The Washington Post Riddick is screening everyday at Thwin Cinema, Bogyoke Aung San Road in Yangon, until September 26. Screening times: 10am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm, 6:30pm, 9:30pm WEEKLY PREDICTIONS SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Creativity is the key to building the life you want to lead, and you must create a change of scene as soon as possible. Your daily experience of doing good deeds could lead to a golden opportunity that will change your life for the better. Be clear about the persona you want to present, and spend more time thinking about it. Learn more about the value of understanding in relationships. PISCES Feb 19 - March 20 Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement, and nothing under the sun is accidental. You are responsible for your life and even in some degree the lives of others around you, and you should bear this responsibility with a constant awareness of your own mortality. Courage is doing what you re afraid to do, and you will have to experience the unexpected every so often. ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 The aged should be respected and revered. There should be mutual understanding and appreciation within your family. Love and respect for relatives and elders is the beginning of love and respect for all members of society. The divine will repay faith with faith and faithlessness with faithlessness. You should awaken to higher consciousness to attain the inner knowledge of all spheres. TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 You should see directly that all physical and mental phenomena share the characteristic of suffering. Set your mind cleverly face to face with the object. Learn what is true in order to do what is right: This sums up the whole duty of humanity. Your life will be lightened with the blessing of compassion and a liberated heart, which can win for you the love of beauty. GEMINI May 21 - June 20 Unthinking application of force can have a very destructive effect. Be sure to treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. Avoid confusing the issue with unnecessary complications, and reflect on how many unjust and wicked things are done from force of habit alone. Though you can motivate yourself to launch an action, success might need the love of another. CANCER Jun 21 - Jul 22 Everybody is different and there is more than one method of doing the same thing. Talk yourself into being joyful. Throughout your life, develop the quality of imperturbability. You should learn to think optimistically and hopefully. Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. In the course of time, it will bring out the best outcome you can hope for. LEO Jul 23 - Aug 22 VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 AUNG MYIN KYAW 4 th Floor, 113, Thamain Bayan Road, Tarmwe township, Yangon. Tel: , williameaste@gmail.com Decision-making is the art of arriving in one s own mind upon an opinion or course of action. Make sure your life doesn t get too comfortable and cushy. Your life s purpose is to understand and develop the power of your spirit, which is vital to your mental and physical wellbeing. When your chosen course of action is difficult to follow, subordinate your emotions to your management skills. A powerful technique for achieving greater inner peace is to foster awareness of how quickly negative thinking can deepen insecurity and spiral out of control. Permit no thought attack to intrude upon your imaginative function. Learn to live in the present moment with a sense of calm, and accomplish your goals with a high sense of duty. Take no sudden action for any purpose, but be sure to keep any promise concerning love. Faults give rise to improper behaviour that hurts others without reason. Know clearly that karmic responsibility might be postponed, but never escaped. Engage your thoughts, and treat others not only with kindness and respect but alsowith affection and a smile. Make eye contact. You will start to notice favourable changes in yourself. Rule yourself without emotion and according to the law. SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 Everyone loves to talk to someone who truly listens. Your inner engine is powered by great dreams and fuelled with high social discipline. Your special intuition can transform your life as it develops in the new generation. Master and practise all the elements of love to cultivate the higher desires of the spirit toward a royal path to spiritual realisation. SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 Do not fail to perceive what lies dimly in the distance, while doing your best to resolve issues closer to hand. Enjoy talking about leadership with good leaders. People always gravitate toward those who help them flourish and shrink from those who diminish them. The most important single ingredient in the formula for your success is knowing how to get along with people. CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19 A politician once popular now encounters widespread dislike. Keep the big picture in the forefront of your mind, remain unselfish in your efforts and use diplomacy with your peers. You might want to resist the temptation to fight for your ideas if they are not very good ideas. In bringing about a desired outcome, keep many strings to your bow. Love needs endurance always.

59 EMBASSIES Australia 88, Strand Road, Yangon. Tel : , , , , , , fax: Bangladesh 11-B, Than Lwin Road, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: , bdootygn@ mptmail.net.mm Brazil 56, Pyay Road, 6 th mile, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: Administ.yangon@ itamaraty.gov.br. Brunei 17, Kanbawza Avenue, Golden Velly (1), Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: bruneiemb@ bruneiemb.com.mm Cambodia 25 (3B/4B), New University Avenue Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: , mptmail.net.mm China 1, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: , Danmark, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , Fax Egypt 81, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: , , egye mbyangon@ mptmail. net.mm France 102, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: , , ambaf rance. rangoun@ diplomatie.fr Germany 9, Bogyoke Aung San Museum Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , info@rangun. diplo.de India , Merchant St, Yangon. Tel: , , mptmail.net.mm Indonesia 100, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Rd, Ambulance tel: Fire tel: 191, , Police emergency tel: 199. Police headquarters tel: , Red Cross tel:682600, Traffic Control Branch tel: Department of Post & Telecommunication tel: , Immigration tel: Ministry of Education tel:545500m Ministry of Sports tel: , Ministry of Communications tel: Myanma Post & Telecommunication (MPT) tel: Myanma Post & Tele-communication (Accountant Dept) tel: , Ministry of Foreign Affairs tel: , Ministry of Health tel: Yangon City Development Committee tel: HOSPITALS Central Women s Hospital tel: , Children Hospital tel: , Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital tel: Naypyitaw Hospital (emergency) tel: Worker s Hospital tel: , , The Essentials Yangon. Tel: , , , fax: , indonesia.com.mm Israel 15, Khabaung Street, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , fax: , info@ yangon.mfa.gov.il Italy 3, Inya Myaing Road, Golden Valley, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: , ambyang. mail@ esteri.it Japan 100, Natmauk Rd, Yangon. Tel: , , , , , fax: Embassy of the State of Kuwait Chatrium Hotel, Rm: 416, 418, 420, 422, 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe Tsp, Tel: North Korea 77C, Shin Saw Pu Rd, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , South Korea 97 University Avenue, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: , myanmar@mofat. go.kr Lao A-1, Diplomatic Quarters, Tawwin Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , fax: , Laoembcab@ mptmail. net.mm Malaysia 82, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: , , mwkyangon@ mptmail.net.mm Nepal 16, Natmauk Yeiktha, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: , Norway, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel: Fax Pakistan A-4, diplomatic Quarters, Pyay Rd, Yangon. Tel: (Chancery Exchange) fax: , pakistan@ myanmar.com.mm Philippines 50, Sayasan Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , fax: , p.e. yangon@gmail.com Russian 38, Sagawa Road, Yangon. Tel: , , fax: , rusinmyan@mptmail.net.mm Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia No.287/289, U Wisara Rd, Sanchaung Tsp. Tel : , , fax : Serbia No. 114-A, Inya Rd, P.O.Box No. 943, Yangon. Tel: , , yangon.net.mm Singapore 238, Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , singemb_ ygn@_ sgmfa. gov.sg Sri Lanka 34 Taw Win Road, Yangon. Tel: , fax: , slembassy. yangon@gmail.com The Embassy of Switzerland No 11, Kabaung Lane, 5 ½ mile, Pyay Rd, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , Fax: , Ext: 110 Thailand 94 Pyay Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , Turkish Embassy 19AB, Kan Yeik Thar St, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel : , Fax : United Kingdom 80 Strand Rd, Yangon. Tel: , , , , , fax: United States of America 110, University Avenue, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , Fax: Vietnam Bldg-72, Thanlwin Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: vnemb myr@ cybertech.net.mm Emergency Numbers Yangon Children Hospital tel: , , Yangon General Hospital (East) tel: , , Yangon General Hospital (New) tel: , , , Yangon General Hospital (West) tel: , , Yangon General Hospital (YGH) tel: , , , ELECTRICITY Power Station tel: POST OFFICE General Post Office 39, Bo Aung Kyaw St. (near British Council Library). tel: INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Yangon International Airport tel: YANGON PORT Shipping (Coastal vessels) tel: RAILWAYS Railways information tel: , UNITED NATIONS ILO Liaison 1-A, Kanbae (Thitsar Rd), Yankin Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : , Fax : IOM 12th Flr, Traders Hotel, 223, tel: ext UNAIDS Rm: (1223~1231), 12 Fl, Traders Hotel. tel: , , fax: UNDCP 11-A, Malikha St, Mayangone tsp. tel: , fax: UNDP 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tel: fax: UNFPA 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tsp. tel: UNHCR 287, Pyay Rd, Sanchaung tsp. tel: , fax UNIAP Rm: 1202, 12 Fl, Traders Hotel.tel: , UNIC 6, Natmauk St., Bahan, tel: 52910~19 UNICEF 14~15 Flr, Traders Hotel. P.O. Box 1435, Kyauktada. tel: ~32, fax: unicef. yangon@unicef. org, UNODC 11-A, Malikha Rd., Ward 7, Mayangone. tel: , , , , , fax: fo.myanmar@unodc.org UNOPS Inya Lake Hotel, 3 rd floor, 37, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp. tel: ~7. Fax: UNRC 6, Natmauk Rd, P.O. Box 650, TMWE tel: ~19, (Resident Coordinator), fax: , WFP 3 rd -flr, Inya Lake Hotel, 37, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: ~6 (6-lines) Ext: WHO 12A Fl, Traders Hotel. tel: ASEAN Coordinating Of. for the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, 79, Taw Win st, Dagon Tsp. Ph: FAO Myanma Agriculture Service Insein Rd, Insein. tel: , fax: ACCOMMODATION- HOTELS Asia Plaza Hotel YANGON No. 277, Bogyoke Aung San Road, Corner of 38 th Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) , Reservation@ (Ext) 1910, 106. Fax : (951) hotelasiaplaza@gmail.com Avenue 64 Hotel No. 64 (G), Kyitewine Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel : , Chatrium Hotel 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe. tel: fax: No.7A, Wingabar Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : (951) , ~4. Fax : (01) info@cloverhotel.asia Clover Hotel City Center No. 217, 32nd Street (Upper Block), Pabedan Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : , Fax : Clover Hotel City Center Plus No. 229, 32nd Street (Upper Block), Pabedan Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : , Fax : Confort Inn 4, Shweli Rd, Bet: Inya Rd & U Wisara Rd, Kamaryut, tel: , No. (356/366), Kyaikkasan Rd, Tamwe Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Ph: , Fax: reservation@ edenpalacehotel.com M-22, Shwe Htee Housing, Thamine Station St., Near the Bayint Naung Point, Mayangone Tsp., Yangon Tel : , , Fax : (95-1) grandpalace@ myanmar.com.mm No. 12, Pho Sein Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon Tel : (95-1) , , , , Fax : (95-1) greenhill@ myanmar.com.mm General Listing Hotel Yangon 91/93, 8 th Mile Junction, Tel : , Inya Lake Resort Hotel 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: fax: No. 205, Corner of Wadan Street & Min Ye Kyaw Swa Road, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon. Myanmar. Tel: (95-1) ~ 3, ~ 61, Fax: (95-1) info@myanmarpandahotel.com myanmarpandahotel.com PARKROYAL Yangon, Myanmar 33, Alan Pya Pagoda Rd, Dagon tsp. tel: fax: enquiry.prygn@ parkroyalhotels.com parkroyalhotels. com. Royal White Elephant Hotel No-11, Kan Street, Hlaing Tsp. Yangon, Myanmar. (+95-1) , MGM Hotel No (160), Warden Street, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar ~9. www. hotel-mgm.com Savoy Hotel 129, Damazedi Rd, Kamayut tsp. tel: , , Sweet Hotel 73, Damazedi Road, San Chaung Tsp, Ph: Sedona Hotel Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin. tel: Strand Hotel 92 Strand Rd. tel: fax: Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: , Thamada Hotel 5, Alan Pya Phaya Rd, Dagon. Tel: , Traders Hotel 223 Sule Pagoda Rd. tel: fax: Winner Inn 42, Than Lwin Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: , reservation@winner innmyanmar.com Yuzana Hotel 130, Shwegondaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, tel : Yuzana Garden Hotel 44, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp, tel : ACCOMMODATION LONG TERM HAPPY HOMES REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Tel: , aahappyhomes@ gmail.com, happyhomesyangon.com Golden Hill Towers 24-26, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. tel: ghtower@ mptmail.net.mm. Marina Residence 8, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp. tel: ~4. fax: MiCasa Hotel Apartments 17, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp. tel: fax: Sakura Residence 9, Inya Rd, Kamaryut Tsp. tel: fax: The Grand Mee Ya Hta Executive Residence 372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan Tsp. tel (25 lines). ACCOMMODATION- HOTELS (Nay Pyi Taw) Reservation Office (Yangon) No-123, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Dagon Tsp Tel : ~838 Hotel Ayeyarwady (National Landmark, Zeyar Thiri Tsp, Nay Pyi Taw) Tel : , reservation@ maxhotelsgroup.com Reservation Office (Yangon) 123, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Dagon Township Tel : ~838 Royal Kumudra Hotel, (Nay Pyi Taw) Tel : , reservation@ maxhotelsgroup.com AIR CONDITION The First Air conditioning systems designed to keep you fresh all day Zeya & Associates Co., Ltd. No.437 (A), Pyay Road, Kamayut. P., O Yangon, Tel: +(95-1) , Mandalay- Tel: Nay Pyi Taw- Tel: , sales.ac@freshaircon. com. URL: freshaircon.com BARS (Nay Pyi Taw) 50 th Street 9/13, 50th street-lower, Botataung Tsp. Tel Green Garden Beer Gallery Mini Zoo, Karaweik Oo-Yin Kabar.

60 THE MYANMAR TIMES september 23-29, 2013 Lobby Bar Parkroyal Yangon, Myanmar. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. tel: Strand Bar 92, Strand Rd, Yangon, Myanmar. tel: fax: , Advertising WE STARTED THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY IN MYANMAR SINCE 1991 Marketing & communications A d v e r t i s i n g SAIL Marketing & Communications Suite 403, Danathiha Center 790, Corner of Bogyoke Rd & Wadan Rd, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) , , admin@ advertising-myanmar.com com BEAUTY & MASSAGE Marina Residence, Yangon Ph: ~4, Ext: 109 Beauty Plan, Corner of 77th St & 31st St, Mandalay Ph: Monsoon Promotions!! La Source Beauty Spa (Ygn) 80-A, Inya Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel: , La Source Beauty Spa (Mdy) No. 13/13, Mya Sandar St, Between 26 x 27 & 62 & 63 St, Chanaye Tharzan Tsp, Mandalay. Tel : La Source Beauty Spa Sedona Hotel, Room (1004) Tel : Ext : (7167) LS Saloon Junction Square, 3rd Floor. Tel : , Ext : Opening In August Lemon Day Spa No. 96 F, Inya Road, Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , E.mail: No. 52, Royal Yaw Min Gyi Condo, Room F, Yaw Min Gyi Rd, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: BOOK STORES Innwa Book Store No. 246, Rm.201/301, GF, Pansodan Street (Upper Block), Kyauktada Tsp. Tel , Dhamazedi Rd., Bahan T/S, Yangon. Tel: , Room 308, 3rd Flr., Junction Center (Maw Tin), Lanmadaw T/S, Yangon. Tel: , Ext (B), Departure Lounge, Yangon Int l Airport. 45B, Corner of 26th & 68th Sts., Mandalay. Tel: (02) yangon@monumentbooks.com MYANMAR BOOK CENTRE Nandawun Compound, No. 55, Baho Road, Corner of Baho Road and Ahlone Road, (near Eugenia Restaurant), Ahlone Township. tel: , fax: info@ myanmarbook.com CONSULTING Myanmar Research Consulting Technology Shwe Hinthar B 307, 6 1/2 Miles, Pyay Rd., Yangon. Tel: +95 (0) info@thuraswiss.com car rental Fully maintained operating leases (self drive) NEW Left Hand Drive Pickup Trucks Commercials Trucks Refrig. Trucks MYANMAR EXECUTIVE LIMOUSINE SERVICE HOT LINE: 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 coffee machine illy, Francis Francis, VBM, Brasilia, Rossi, De Longhi Nwe Ta Pin Trading Co., Ltd. Shop C, Building 459 B New University Avenue , nwetapintrading@gmail.com communication International Calling Card No.004, Building (B), Ground Floor, Yuzana St, Highway Complex Housing, Kamayut Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : , ~2 info@vmg.com mm, Cooper Valves Exotic Alloys for Severe Service, Myanmar Sales Representative mlwin@coopervalves.com Construction Zamil Steel No-5, Pyay Road, 7½ miles, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (95-1) ~04. Fax: (95-1) zamilsteel@ zamilsteel.com.mm NS BlueScope Pte Ltd Diamond Condo Bldg A, Rm 301, Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : khin.thu@ bluescopesteel.com co working space No. (6), Lane 2 Botahtaung Pagoda St, Yangon , info@venturaoffice.com, Co-Working/Event Space Affordable & central projecthubyangon.com Duty free Duty Free Shops Yangon International Airport, Arrival/Departure Tel: (Ext: 206/155) Office: 17, 2 nd street, Hlaing Yadanarmon Housing, Hlaing Township, Yangon. Tel: , , FASHION & TAILOR Sein Shwe Tailor, 797 (003-A), Bogyoke Aung San Rd, MAC Tower 2, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Ph: , ~4 Ext: 146, 147, uthetlwin@gmail.com ENTERTAINMENT Dance Club & Bar No.94, Ground Floor, Bogalay Zay Street, Botataung Tsp, Yangon.Tel: , danceclub. hola@gmail.com (Except Sunday) Engineering 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: ~5, , Fax: supermega97@ gmail.com. FITNESS CENTRE Balance Fitnesss No 64 (G), Kyitewine Pagoda Road, Mayangone Township. Yangon , info@ balancefitnessyangon.com Life Fitness Bldg A1, Rm No. 001, Shwekabar Housing, Mindhamma Rd, Mayangone Tsp. Yangon. Ph: , Fax: , Hot line: , natraysports@gmail.com No. 20, Ground Floor, Pearl Street, Golden Valley Ward, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel : , , (Ext : 103) FLORAL SERVICES Foam spray Insulation Foam Spray Insulation No-410, Ground Fl,Lower Pazuntaung Rd, Pazun taung Tsp, Yangon.Telefax : , Hot Line GAS COOKER & Cooker Hoods World s leader in Kitchen Hoods & Hobs Same as Ariston Water Heater. Tel: , , , Yangon : A-3, Aung San Stadium (North East Wing), Mingalartaungnyunt Tsp. Tel : , , Mandalay : No.(4) 73rd St, Btw 30th & 31st St, Chan Aye Thar Zan Tsp. Tel : , Gems & Jewelleries Ruby & Rare Gems of Myanamar No. 527, New University Ave., Bahan Tsp. Yangon. sales@manawmaya.com.mm Tel: , Fax : GENERATORS No , Bo Aung Kyaw St, Yangon-Pathein highway Road. Hlaing Tharyar tsp. Tel: , , Fax: , mkt-mti@ winstrategic.com.mm HEALTH SERVICES 98(A), Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon. Tel: , , , Fax: asiapacific. myanmar@gmail.com. 24 hours Cancer centre No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) Fax : (951) Hour International Medical Victoria Hospital No. 68, Tawwin Rd, 9 Mile, Mayangon Township, Yangon, Myanmar Tel: , Fax: /7 on duty doctor: Website: One Stop Solution for Quality Health Care No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) Fax : (951) info@witoriyahospital.com Website : Home Furnishing 22, Pyay Rd, 9 mile, Mayangone Tsp. tel: , Bldg-D, Rm (G-12), Pearl Condo, Ground Flr, Kabaraye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: Ext 814, 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: , contact@ smartdesignstrading.com S.B. FURNITURE No , Dagon Tower, Ground Flr, Cor of Kabaraye Pagoda Rd & Shwe Gon Dine Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: , Floral Service & Gift Shop No. 449, New University Avenue, Bahan Tsp. YGN. Tel: , , Market Place By City Mart Tel: ~43, ~46, Ext: 205. Junction Nay Pyi Taw Tel: ~ ~15, Ext: 235. Res: , eternal@ mptmail.net.mm One Stop ENT Center No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) Fax : (951) info@witoriyahospital.com Website : INSURANCE EXPATRIATE HEALTH INSURANCE Tel: (09) thinthinswe@poe-ma.com RISK & INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Tel: (09) robert.b@poe-ma.com Floral Service & Gift Centre 102(A), Dhamazaydi Rd, Yangon.tel: Summit Parkview Hotel, tel: , ext. 173 fax: sandy@ sandymyanmar.com.mm. 24 hours Laboratory & X-ray No. (68), Tawwin Street, 9 Mile, Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : (951) Fax : (951) LEGAL SERVICE U Min Sein, BSc, RA, CPA.,RL Advocate of the Supreme Court 83/14 Pansodan St, Yangon. tel: uminsein@mptmail.net.mm

61 SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 THE MYANMAR TIMES MARINE COMMUNICATION & NAVIGATION Top Marine Show Room No-385, Ground Floor, Lower Pazundaung Road, Pazundaung Tsp, Yangon. Ph: , OFFICE FURNITURE Open Daily (9am to 6pm) No. 797, MAC Tower II, Rm -4, Ground Flr, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Lamadaw Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (951) Ext: 303 gmail.com Road to Mandalay Myanmar Hotels & Cruises Ltd. Governor s Residence 39C, Taw Win Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: (951) fax: (951) RTMYGN@mptmail.net.mm REAL ESTATE Aye Yeik Tha Real Estate Mobile: , Real Estate Agent Agent fees is unnecessary Tel : , robinsawnaing@gmail.com Schenker (Thai) Ltd. Yangon 59 A, U Lun Maung Street. 7 Mile Pyay Road, MYGN. tel: , fax: sche nker@mptmail.net.mm. Bo Sun Pat Tower, Bldg 608, Rm 6(B), Cor of Merchant Rd & Bo Sun Pat St, PBDN Tsp. Tel: , , , , RESTAURANTS Good taste & resonable Hotel Tel: , Ext: 32 Real Estate Agency Bld-A2, Gr-Fl, Shwe Gabar Housing, Mindama Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. eko-nr@ myanmar.com.mm Ph: , realwin2012@ gmail.com Tel : , a drink from paradise... available on International Hotel, No.330, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: Bld-A2, Gr-Fl, Shwe Gabar Housing, Mindama Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. eko-nr@ myanmar.com.mm Ph: , Tel : (Fees Free) REMOVALISTS 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: ~17. Relocation Specialist Rm 504, M.M.G Tower, #44/56, Kannar Rd, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: , Mail : info@asiantigersmyanmar.com Crown Worldwide Movers Ltd 790, Rm 702, 7th Flr Danathiha Centre, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Lanmadaw. Tel: , , ext: 702. Fax: crown worldwide@mptmail.net.mm TOP MARINE PAINT No-410, Ground Floor, Lower Pazundaung Road, Pazundaung Tsp, Yangon. Ph: Moby Dick Tours Co., Ltd. Islands Safari in the Mergui Archipelago 5 Days, 7 Days, 9 Days Trips Tel: , info@islandsafari mergui.com. Website: www. islandsafarimergui.com Quality Chinese Dishes with Resonable by City Mart. Tel: Ext.109 Heaven Pizza 38/40, Bo Yar Nyunt St. Yaw Min Gyi Quarter, Dagon Township. Tel: Legendary Myanmar Int l Shipping & Logistics Co., Ltd. No-9, Rm (A-4), 3rd Flr, Kyaung St, Myaynigone, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , , Mobile legandarymyr@ mptmail.net.mm Enchanting and Romantic, a Bliss on the Lake 62 D, U Tun Nyein Road, Mayangon Tsp, Yangon Tel , Mob operayangon@gmail.com INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI MYANMAR (Pre-K, Primary) 55 (B) Po Sein Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon, Tel: , imm.myn@gmail.com SERVICE OFFICE 1. WASABI : No.20-B, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp,(Near MiCasa), Tel; , Myaynigone (City Mart) Yankin Center (City Mart) UnionBarAndGrill 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung, Yangon. Tel: , info@unionyangon.com UnionBarAndGrill Executive Serviced Offices Tel : No. (6), Lane 2 Botahtaung Pagoda St, Yangon , info@venturaoffice.com, No. 5, U Tun Nyein Street, Mayangone T/S, Yangon. Tel : , , lalchimiste. restaurant@gmail.com No. 372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan T/S, Yangon. Tel : , (Ext : 3027) zawgyihouse@ myanmar.com.mm SCHOOLS Delicious Hong Kong Style Food Restaurant G-09, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: Ext: 114 Indian Fine Dining & Bar Bldg No. 12, Yangon Int l Compound, Ahlone Road. Tel: , , sales@corrianderleaf.com The Ritz Exclusive Lounge Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp, Ground Floor, Tel: Ext 6243, 6244 Horizon Int l School 25, Po Sein Road, Bahan Tsp, tel : , , , ~7. fax : , contact@horizonmyanmar. com, Yangon International School Fully Accredited K-12 International Curriculum with ESL support No.117,Thumingalar Housing, Thingangyun Township, Yangon. Tel: , Yangon International School New Early Childhood Center Pan Hlaing Golf Estate Housing & U Tun Nyo Street, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon. Tel: , WATER SOLUTION Water Treatement Solution Block (A), Room (G-12), Pearl Condo, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. Hot Line : WATER TANK TRAVEL AGENTS Shan Yoma Tours Co.,Ltd G-05, Marketplace by City Mart. Tel: Ext: 105 Ocean Center (North Point), Ground Floor, Tel : World famous Kobe Beef Near Thuka Kabar Hospital on Pyay Rd, Marlar st, Hlaing Tsp. Tel: PLEASURE CRUISES G-01, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: Ext: 106 No.430(A), Corner of Dhamazedi Rd & Golden Valley Rd, Building(2) Market Place (City Mart), Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : (Ext-309), PAINT World s No.1 Paints & Coatings Company 22, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. tel leplanteur@ mptmail.net.mm. Monsoon Restaurant & Bar 85/87, Thein Byu Road, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: , For House-Seekers with Expert Services In all kinds of Estate Fields yomaestatemm@gmail.com Kohaku Japanese Restaurant Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp, Lobby Level, Tel: Ext 6231 The Emporia Restaurant Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Tsp. Lobby Level, Tel: Ext 6294 City Mart (Marketplace) tel: ~43. City Mart (78th Brahch-Mandalay) tel: ~9. IKON Mart No.332, Pyay Rd, San Chaung. Tel: , , sales-ikon@ myanmar.com.mm Asian Trails Tour Ltd 73 Pyay Rd, Dagon tsp. tel: , fax: res@ asiantrails.com.mm Car Rental with English Speaking Driver. (Safety and Professional Services). Tel : robinsawnaing@gmail.com PE WATER TANK Tel : , , , theone@yangon.net.mm WATER TREATMENT Commercial scale water treatment (Since 1997) Tel: ~38. H/P: , B, Thazin Lane, Ahlone. WATER HEATERS SUPERMARKETS Capital Hyper Mart 14(E), Min Nandar Road, Dawbon Tsp. Ph: City Mart (Aung San Branch) tel: , (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (47th St Branch) tel: , (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Junction 8 Branch) tel: (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (FMI City Branch) tel: City Mart (Yankin Center Branch) tel: (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Myaynigone Branch) tel: (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Zawana Branch) tel: (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Shwe Mya Yar) tel: (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Chinatown Point) tel: ~63. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Junction Maw Tin) tel: (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) The Global leader in Water Heaters A/1, Aung San Stadium East Wing, Upper Pansodan Road. Tel: , , , Water Heater Made in Japan Same as Rinnai Gas Cooker and Cooker Hood Showroom Address VISA & IMMIGRATION Get your Visa online for Business and Tourist No need to come to Embassy. # th Street, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon. Tel: , travel.evisa@gmail.com

62 FREE HOW TO GET A FREE AD BY FAX : BY classified@myanmartimes.com.mm, advertising@myanmartimes.com.mm BY MAIL : 379/383, Bo Aung Kyaw St, Kyauktada Township, Yangon. General HOW TO GET MORE BUSINESS FROM AS LITTLE AS K.5,000. BUY SPACE ON THESE PAGES CALL: Khin Mon Mon Yi , Property Computer LYNNTECHNO (5-10% Discounts) Computer Network, Maintenance PABX Telephone, CCTV Camera. Ph: , I.C.S system solution (One- Stop services) Computer Maintenance, Wireless Router Confi guration, Window OS & Software Installation, Internet & Netowrk services direct to the Company, Office & Home. Available Contract service. Weekly for Only Monday. Ph: Education IGCSE, Secondary 3, 4 Physics, Maths B, Pure Maths Practice with 15 years old questin. Ph: BZM English language center. English speaking, listening & grammar class. Only 6 students for one section. Students comfortably can learn in the cozy atmosphere classroom with air-conditioning, sophisticated classroom facilities & lecture chairs. 3 to 5 pm, except saturday. 3 days a week for one section. Students are warmly welcome who want to spend their time effectively & who are enthusiastic & motivated person. Also allow one- to - one (home tuition).teacher Zin Mar Myint (got certificate from British council & TKT certificate from cambridge) Ph: Shwe ohn pin villa (new), Yanshin Rd, Yankin. STUDY HOME for General English (4 skills) Language from Basic. Who want to study home in private time and need study guide only English Grammar for children. Let's join us Now! Contact: IGCSE : For those who are going to take Cambridge IGCSE coming October/ November will be tutored and trained by a professional straight A*s holder with twelve years of teaching experience & an international school graduate. Hp: MATHEMATICS : If your child (Grade 9 to 10 from YIS, ISM, ISY & Yangon Academy) is difficult to learn in Algebra 1, 2 & Geometry, pls contact : Daw Naing Naing Aung, B.Com (Q) No. (6), Thuketa St, Baukhtaw, Yankin. Ph : , SPECIAL for Maths : For Int'l School - Grade IX,X,XI&XII, Geometry, Algebra I & II, Calculus. Tr.Kaung Myat : BE(PE) Ph OIEC (LMD) IGCSE results: Eng 90, Maths 92, Pure Maths 92, Chem 91, Phy 93 Hp: IGCSE Foreign & Local Teacher IGCSE/GCE 'O' (all subjects), BCA, SAT, IELTS, TOEFL, Maths Courses, English Courses, Grammar. Ph: www. facebook.com/ superstarigcse IGCSE, Secondary 2,3,4 Physics, Mathematics B & Pure Mathematics Practice with 20 years old questions. Allow individual or section. Only 5 students for one sectin. Near Heldan Sein Gay Har. Ph: , OIEC LMD Students attend OIEC only and passed IGCSE/GCE O Exam with all subjects As including A* (all distinctions) at one sitting. Sec 2, 3 & 4 (grade 8, 9 & 10) students also attend IGCSE at only OIEC for one year and passed the exam with all distinctions. Parents/ guardians who enroll their children at OIEC for IGCSE course can come and see the results of past IGCSE/GCE O results. Do you want your child to be one of them? Hp: GUIDE for 2 nd M.B., B.S Classes Expert Services REAL ESTATE Agent If you're an expatriate needing to find an apartment or house in Yangon, Min Thu can help. He has experience & is very reliable. Call Min Thu on or thecleverson@ gmail.com INTERNET Advertising Do you advertise in TV or billboards? Facebook has over 1,000,000,000 users worldwide everyday and 8,000,000 users in Myanmar. We provide Internet advertising services such as advertising in facebook, Google, YouTube, YAHOO!, etc. If you are interested in advertising locally or internationally, pls contact MOBILE Container office, Mobile Clinic, Garments on Hanger GOH for Multipack Engineering Services Limited : (420/422), Rm 301, 3rd Flr, Corner of Strand Rd & Botahtaung Market St, Botahtaung, Yangon, Tel : , , , For Rent NEW BELTA Saloon Car (Model:2008) with English speaking driver who own his car No. 6F/8728 by monthly payment price 5.5 lakhs Kyats only. Contact : Ms Mya Mya Aung : , For Sale LENOVO Yogo 13" Intel Core i5 Ram 4GB S.S.D 128GB Multi Touch Screen (10 Month Warranty Card) Price : Ph : ASUS A42J Intel Core i7 Ram 4GB H.D.D 500GB Garaphic 2GB. Price : Ph : % NEW SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultra Book Intel Core i5 Ram 8GB H.D.D + SSD Display Year 6 Month International Warranty. Price : Ph : EPSON Slip Printer (include all accessories and cable) Model_ TM- U220D. Color- Black. Price:145,000 Ks. 2ply roll paper 20 packs. Ph: A REDLINK Wimax CPE to sell with $350,000 kyats. The Wimax Plan is Gold Plus and you can upgrade it later on. Please contact the number below to get more details. Tel : % NEW SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultra Book Intel Core i5 Ram 8GB H.D.D + SSD Display Year 6 Month International Warranty. Price : Ph : SAMSUNG Galaxy S3 White Price : Ph : OLD. POSTAGE Stamps from about (140)countries with over (4000) stamps. contact MSI BOARD P4 Dual Core, CPU 3.2 ghz Ram 2 Gb, Hdd 500 GB VGA 512 MB, DVD RW (ASUS) Viewsonic 19 ', UPS Green Tech 650 W. Ph: AUDI A 6, Quattro, 2005, 3, 2 L Gasoline Engine, AWD, Ph: BRAND NEW IPAD 2 16GB (Packing) 1 Year Full Apple Warranty. Price: Ph : IPHONE 4S 16GB white official unlock Lated Full Paid HD Game/App installed 99% Like new original accessories and packing box ( ks) contact : (1).HTC Desier VC (98%) Full Accessories, Box and Cover (Black) Ks /- (2). Samsung Galaxy SIII (99%) Full Accessories, Box & Cover (Gray) Ks /- (3). CDMA 800MHz Sim Card 73xxxxx / Internet Ks /- Ph: HOME FURNITURE (Second hand). Contact : , tztztz78@gmail. com (1)PC ONE SET View sonic 20" Monitor, MB- 775,CPU-Intel Dual Core 2.8,RAM-2GB,HDD- 500G, Ks.200,000. (2)Printer Samsung Printer 1610 ML with new cartridge, Ks.50,000. Pls call General GUEST Care Hotel : 107(A) Dhamma Zedi Rd, Kamayut, Bahan P.O, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (95-1) , , reservations@ guestcarehotel.com. com COFFEE CIRCLES Coffeehouse & Restaurant. Menu: Excellent Coffee (In- House Roasting), European & Asian Cuisines, Wines, Cocktails, Bakery & Pastry. Open Daily: 7:00 am to 12:00 midnight. 107(A) Dhamma Zedi Rd, Kamayut, Bahan, Yangon, Tel: , CoffeeCircles@ gmail.com www. thecoffeecircles. com Facebook.com/ CoffeeCirclesMyanmar NEO Coffee and Food. Menu: Coffee, Bakery, and Food. Open Daily: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Junction Square Shopping Center and City Mart@ Thamine Junction, Yangon Facebook.com/ NeoCoffeeandFood Language TO FOREIGNERS : If you want to learn Myanmar Language at your home. Contact : THE GREAT New for Foreigners : We are offering easiest way to learn Myanmar Language at your home. If you would like to learn it,join us Now! we are offering fair fees for you! Contact: MYANMAR Language Guide (For Embassy family and others) When you stay in Myanmar, do you want to ask to your children to learn Myanmar language? Call: (Christine) Public Notices AMERICAN IDOL (cosmetics) : Now move to Sea Green Tower: 313/323, 8 Flr, 9-C, Corner of Mahabandoola Rd & Bo Aung Kyaw St. Ph: , Training MANAGING Your Emotions Program : 1. Theories of Emotion. 2. Emotional Development. 3. Arousal and Emotion. 4. Emotions and Moods. 5. Love, Passion & Positive Emotions. 6. Emotions as Foundations for Social Behavior. 7. Emotional & Relational Intelligence (ERQ) 8. Controlling Emotions. Duration : 8-Week. Day : Friday & Saturday (6:30-8:00 pm). Fees : 80,000 Ks. Start Date : September 27, Add : 8, 6th Flr (Right), Chan Thar St, Sanchaung. Ph : , Travel FLEET 24Seven : Fully maintained operating leases (self drive). New left hand drive Pickups, Commercials, Trucks & Refrig. Trucks. www. fleet24seven.com NYAN MYINT THU Car Rental Service : Ko Nyan Myint Win Kyi (MD) - 56, Bo Ywe St, Latha, Yangon, Myanmar. Ph : (+95) , Hp:(+95) il:nyanmyintthu1983@ gmail.com, nmt@nyan myintthucarrental. com, colwinkyi@ gmail.com. Web:www. nyanmyintthucarrental. com Want to Buy APPLE : Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, imac, Mac Mini iphone 5, 4S, 4, ipod 5, 4 ipad 2, 3, 4, Mini Wifi Only & Wifi + 4G, Apple TV, Apple Mouse A.K Mobile Ko Myo San. No 124, 31 St(Middle) Pabedan. Ph: USED Or Brand New Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, imac, Mac Mini ipad 4 Wifi Only & Wifi + 4G iphone 5, ipod 5 Samsung S4 HTC One. Ph : CHERRY QQ3 (Taxi). Pls contact; WE want to buy Marine Generator operation and maintenance manual books and Marine main engines operation and maintenance manual books(b&w or Yanmar Or UEC, etc..pls contact For Sale /Rent THANLYIN, Star Ciyt Condo (Pent House): Building A1, Type E. Rm 710 E Pent House (1752 Sqft) MBR (1), Single Room (3) Dinning Room, Living Room. Contract : , , HousingforRent KYAUKTADA, 6 Stories building : Bogyoke main Rd, near to Department of Human Settlement & Housing. directly opposite Saint Mary s Cathedral Church, Yangon city, 18' x 53'. Ph: MAYANGONE, (1)7 Mile, 3500 Sqft,1 MR, 2 SR, 2 RC, 2500 USD. (2)9 Mile, 5800 Sqft,3 MR, some of furnish, 2 RC, 3000 USD. (3) 9 Mile, A1 St, 8500 Sqft, 5 MR,1 SR, fully furnish, 2 RC 8000 USD. Ph: BAHAN, (1)Near Japan Embassy, 1100 Sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, fully furnish 1600 USD. (2).Golden velley, 1RC,4000 Sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, 2500 USD. (3).Golden velley,than Lwin road2rc, 6500 Sqft, 3 MR, 6500 USD. (4).Golden velley, near ISY school, 2 RC,4200 Sqft, 2 MR, 2 SR, 4500 USD. (5).Pearl condo, 1250 Sqft, 1 MR, 2SR, 1546 USD. (6).Kandaw gyi Tower, 1500 Sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, fully furnish 2500 USD. (7).Near Kandawgyi Park, 1600 Sqft, 2 MR, 1 SR, fully furnish 2000 USD. (8). Near Kan daw gyi hotel, 1000 Sqft, 3 FL,1 MR,2 SR, fully furnish, 800 USD. Ph: (1)DAGON, Royal Yawmin Gyi Condo, Sqft 1900, M1- S2-FF, Wifi Internet, Swimming Pool, Car Parking, US (2)Royal Rose Condo, Sqft-900, M1- S1-FF, Wifi Internet, Swimming Pool, US- 1600, , KAMAYUT, Near Hledan Junction, 1400 sqft, fully furnished & fully facilitated, no need to pay agent fee, only foreigners are welcomed. US$ 1700 per month. Ph: GOLDEN VALLEY, (1) Than Lwin St, 5600 Sqft, 5 MR, 2 SR, 2 RC, 8500 USD. (2).4200 Sqft, 3 RC, 3 MR, good for office, 4000 USD. (3). near ISY school, 1 RC, 4200 Sqft, 2 MR,2500 USD. (4).near ISY school, 2700 Sqft, 2RC, 1 MR, 2 SR, 2200 USD. (5).near USA Embassy, 4200 Sqft, 2 RC, 3 MR, 1 SR, 7000 USD. Ph: OFFICE space for rent : 1200 sqft@orchid Hotel, 9000 sqft@orchid Hotel (City Hall). Pls contact : ext 131, , Add : Orchid Hotel, 91, Anawrahta Rd, Pazundaung. AHLONE, 331 Strand Rd, Ahlone. It is 3 bedroom 2 bathroom, 1900 square feet, 8th floor penthouse condominium. $2700/ month. Furnished at tenant's request., jasonwongjp@gmail.com CONDO, Pho Sein Condo, 1750 sqft, fully renovated, 2MBR, 1 BR, 4 aricons, No agent pls. Owner : , KYAUKTADA, 194, 33 St (Upper), Service Apartments: 3rd/ 4/5 Flr. Fully finished, Furniture, Air corn & TV satellite. Suitable to rent for foreigner. Ph: , SANCHAUNG, Ma Kyi Kyi Condo, 2400 sqft, 2 MB, 2 BR, 4 A/C,25 Lakhs. Maureen : MAYANGONE, 8 Mile, MTP Condo, 1500 sqft, 2 MB, 3 A/C, Ph. 20 Lakhs. Maureen : CONDO for rent : Near British Council on Strand Road, Fully-funished Condo Excellent River View 1500 sqft, 1 MB, 2 BR, 5 A/C, Ph, 25 Lakhs. Ph: APARTMENT for Leasing Dagon, Samone St, 3 Flr, 139sqm, 1MBR, 1 BR, 4A/C, USD 1800/month, Fully Furnished Ring: Colliers int'l Myanmar on or NEAR YUZANA PLAZA, Aung Thapyae St, 1100 square feet, 1 MBR, 2 common rooms, parque, floor tiles & wall tiles, fully decored and line phone, 2 nd floor. also suitable for office & foreigners. ph: , , BAHAN, Moe Myint San Condo, 2400sqft, 5 A/C, Ph, skynet, f.f. 25 Lakhs(2)Pearl Condo, 1500 sqft, p.f, 4 A/C, 15 lakhs. Ph : SERVICED Apartments & Office Accommodation to rent on behalf of Landlords. Pls contact : Ron Chaggar : , Hsu Sandi : at Colliers International Myanmar Leasing Department. OFFICE SPACE for Rental: Pansondan Tower, Pansondan (Central) Block, 1700 Sqft, 2 service lifts, Hall Type, Monthly Rental US$ Ph: , , HousingforSale LANDS for sale suitable for making Industrial buildings in large area. Buyers can Contact Us on (There is no pay for Agents & Third party... Warmly welcome the buyers. LASHIO : Ward 12, 2Acres Land including the main house and 2storey building. In downtown and Very Good place for business. Price: negotiable. Ph: , MAYANGONE, 8 Mile, MTP Condo, 1500 sqft, 2 MB, 3 A/C, Ph Lakhs. Maureen : Want to Rent SANCHAUNG, Ma Kyee Kyee St, Moe Myint San Condo: 28' x 75' (2100 sq.ft) 2nd flr. 2 MBR, 2 BR, 4 A.C, water heater, furnitures. Price : 23 lakhs. Ph: , LANMADAW, 12 St, The whole 8 unit (lift). For hotel, education. Ph: NEED SIMPLE HOUSE with at least 4 bedrooms, 2 toilets & if possible, near to public transportation. Occupancy in November. Willing to pay 8 lakhs. Contact Ha Min Shwe at

63 THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 Employment FREE Embassy DIPLOMAT seeks experienced private driver. Must be able to drive RHD/AT and LHD/MT cars. Sufficient command of English a must. Good working conditions. Tel.: " UN Positions IOM Int'l Organization for Migration is seeking(1) Project Evaluator 1 post in Yangon. (2)Monitoring & Eva luation Assistant 1 post in Yangon. Pls submit an application letter & an updated CV with a maximum length of 3 pages including names and contact details of 3 referees (copies of certificates & further documents are not required at this stage) to Int'l Organization for Migration (IOM), Mission in Myanmar - Yangon Office, 318-A, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. hryangon@iom. int, Closing date: Ingo Positions MEDECINS Sans Frontieres - Holland (AZG) is seeking Project Head Mechanic 1 post in Maungdaw Project, Rakhine State: Higher education in car mechanics. 2 years previous experience in car mechanics. Excellent command of English. Able to write reports. Pls send application letter, CV, passport photo, copies of education qualifications & references to: HR Coordinator, MSF- Holland/ AZG (Yangon Coordination), 59, Aye Yadanar St, Thirigon Villa, Thingangyun Tsp, Yangon. Or through rakhine-esd-recruiting@ oca.msf.org, Closing date : MYANMAR Red Cross Society is seeking Branch WASH Officer (CBHDP focus on MNCH) 1 post in Falam: University Degree or AGTI. 2 years' experience in Wat San related activities in CBHD. Red Cross Volunteer or Resident in the project areas is 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 WORLD Vision Myanmar is seeking Community Development Facili tator (Food Security Project) in Kachin State: University Bachelor Degree in any discipline. Prior experience of working in community development preferred. Must provide a clean criminal background. Pls submit resume (clearly identify the post you apply) by post to HR Department, World Vision Myanmar or in person to application drop-box at No (18), Shin Saw Pu Rd; Ahlone, Sanchaung PO or send to myajobapps@wvi.org Closing date : September 25, MEDECINS du Monde (MDM) is seeking (1) Project Manager 1 post in Hopin, Kachin State: Completed University Degree in any of following specialities: Public Health, Medical Science, Social Work, Public. Administration, Program Management. 3 years working experience in NGO's, possibly in Health programs, out of which 2 years in senior management position. Fluent in English (oral & written). (2)Logistics Supervisor 1 post in Pyapon: Bachelor or Master Degree. 3 years experience as logistician. Fluency in Myanmar & English (both oral & written).pls submit CV& a cover letter to MDM Country Coordination Office, Yangon, No.47, Po Sein St, Bahan, Yangon. Ph: , , office. mdmmyanmar@gmail. com MYANMAR Red Cross Society is seeking (1) Project Officer (CBHD) 1 post in Nay Pyi Taw. University Degree or advanced education, certificate in health/ social science, management or other relevant subject. 2 years experiences in health related field. (2) Field Assistant 1 post in Nant San in Southern Shan State: High school level. 2 years experiences in MRCS activities. For all posts : Effective English language skills. Effective Computer knowledge. Pls send application letter, CV & related documents to Myanmar Red Cross Society Head Office, Yazathingaha Rd, Dekhinathiri, Nay Pyi Taw. Or mrcshrrecruitment@ gmail.com, Closing date: MEDECINS Sans Frontieres - Holland (AZG) is seeking Cashier 1 post in Yangon: Diploma of secondary education. 2 years experience in finance as a cashier or similar position. Good written & spoken English and Myanmar. Excellent computer skills. Pls send application letter, CV passport photo, copies of education qualifications and references to: HR Coordinator, MSF- Holland/ AZG (Yangon Coordination), 59, Aye Yadanar St, Thirigon Villa, Thingangyun, Yangon. Or through msfh.myanmar. recruitment@gmail. com, Closing date: 26 th September 2013 THE INT'L HIV/AIDS Alliance is seeking The Administrative Assistant : Excellent interpersonal skills & a positive attitude to working with PLHIV, sex workers & men who have sex with men. a university degree, 2 years experience. Good knowledge of using Microsoft Office. Fluent Myanmar & English. Pls submit application including a letter of interest & complete CV to an Administrative Officer, Int'l HIV/AIDS Alliance : 12/F, Pyi Thu St, 7 miles, Mayangone, Yangon or via to admin@alliance.org. mm or ao.alliancemm@ gmail.com Closing date: Local Positions MYANMAR Survey Research (MSR) is looking for (1) Inter national Consultant in Yangon: 3 years experience in a research space - ideally social and public policy research; superb data analytical and report writing skills; excellent communication skills and ability to build rapport with people for a range of backgrounds. (2) Chief Accountant - M/F 1 post; CPA or ACCA or other relevant qualification, 5 years experience in accounting & auditing, good English communication skills, computer literate. Pls submit CV with recent photo and relevant documents to #55, Maha Bandoola Garden St, Yangon. msr@ myanmar.com.mm within three weeks. NS BluescopePte Ltd Myanmar Branch Office is looking for (1) Marketing & Communications Manager : Bachelor s degree in Marketing/ Communication or Archi tecture, Engineering or Construction related technical course. 5 years experience in building materials, construction and/or steel industry. Competency & experience in business development, customer service, event management, & development of communications materials. Supervisory/ Management skills. Good computer literacy. Good command of English & Myanmar. (2) Technical Support Engineers : Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Architecture or Science. 2 ~ 3 year experience in building materials, construction and/or steel industry. Experience with product technical specification & customer service. Good computer literacy. Good command in English and Myanmar. Applications with CV, covering letter, copy of Identity, other qualifications & documents by to khin.thu@ bluescopesteel.com or in person. 301, Pyay Rd, Diamond Condo A, Kamayut, Yangon, Ph: , www. bluescopesteel.com. Closing date : 23 September, interviews starting from 24 September. INTERNATIONAL developer & construction company is seeking : Senior consultant (full-time or part-time): be familiar with the Rangoon land and real estate market; be familiar with the process of land and real estate transactions; familiar with the relevant government land development, construction & trading of relevant laws and regulations; have certain contacts and relationship with YCDC and government; fluent in English communication skills, speaking Chinese is preferred. development manager and sales manager. Job requirements: familiar with Rangoon traffic route and real estate market; understand the relevant government land and property transactions related laws and regulations; familiar with land transaction and leasing, at least more than one year working experience in real estate company; fluent in English or Chinese communication skills Ph : , , , braver2013ww@ gmail.com MiTA ISBC Company is seeking Business Analyst - F 3 posts: Any graduate, preferably having Master Degree in Business Administration, Engi neering, English, Economics, Marketing, Management; Age 20 ~ 30, Experience less than 5 years (fresh graduates can also apply). Candidate should be proficient in MS office, internet & applications, have good knowledge in market research, liaison, data collection, analyzing information, report writing & presentation. Should be able to work independently with minimum supervision & be initiative. Candidate must be fluent in speaking & writing English. Pls application with CV including contact details to hrm.mm@mitaservices. com.sg at the earliest possible. Closing date: 30 September Applications with CV will be evaluated in batches and positions will be filled up on first-come firstserved basis. ASIA Language & Business Academy (ALBA) urgently requires a part-time Native English teacher for our pre-kg program. Pls contact: , , admin@ albaedu.com A TOURISM company in Myanmar is looking for (1).Sales & Operation Admin Staff 1 post: Manage Oversea invoicing and payment. Follow up with supplier Adding products for bookings Identify new products. Cancelling un-required products. Regular monitor invoice & deposit pending. Develop and Implement sales report. Monitor guides, airlines, Other services suppliers information updated (2)Contracting Manager 1 post : Ensure hotels are re-contracted within the specific deadlines. Identify musthave hotels within a destination & contract where appropriate. Undertake to travel or maintain relationship with hoteliers & operation team. Negotiate addedvalue deals and special offers for GIT/ Series/ Incentive Advised preferred partner hotels & negotiate the exclusive deals. Regularly monitor competitor pricing. Address & resolve any standard/ service level issue with suppliers. Ensure hotels are inspected & details information updated in factsheet. Monitor hotel tariffs and selling rates. Pls send full resume stating qualification, experience, supporting documents, current & expected salary, a recent passport photo & contact details to adminmyanmar@ phoenixvoyages.com or ph: or before 30th September (1).MARKETING Executive (Logistics Division) - F 1 post : Age 25 ~ 35, Any graduate, Good communication in English 4 skills,computer literate in MS office,good interpersonal skill, ability to work independently, self motivated, teamwork & co-ordination skill. Must be smart working, energetic & aggressive, Pls summit CV together with working experience, Academic certificates, Recent photo & NRC card to Rm 17, 5th flr, 348/352, Corner of Merchant Rd & Bo Myat Htun St. Botahtaung. Tel: ~189, or marketingone@ sedate.biz, sedate@ Due to continuous growth and expansion in Myanmar, WEATHERFORD is seeking the energetic and qualified Field Service Engineers to support the ongoing operation in the country. Field Engineer Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or higher in Science or Engineering Good verbal and written communications in English Able and willing to work offshore Engineering experience in oil & gas industry is preferable PC & Office Software proficient Able to manage client relationships Other duties as required, assigned by manager For those interested, please submit application with full resume, a recent photograph and expected salary to: WEATHERFORD PO Box 743 Yangon, Myanmar to: recruitment.wpes@gmail.com cybertech.net.mm. ARYU THUKHA Specialist Hospital, Lashio is seeking suitable person for the following positions. (1).Nurses - 3 posts (2)Laboratory technician - 2 posts (3). Radiographer - 2 posts. Requirements : Dip. In Nursing. B.Med.Tech. (Lab technology). B.Med. Tech. (Medical imaging). Interested candidates can enquire at A COMPANY with Services (Hotel & Management Projects) in Myanmar is looking for (1) Accountant - 1 post (2) Assistant Accountant - 1 post (3)Sales Executive - 1 post (4) Receptionist & Administrative - 2 posts (5) General Cleaning - 3 posts (6) Security staffs - 2 posts. Pls send full resume stating qualification, experience, supporting documents, current and expected salary, a recent passport-sized photo and contact details to sboc. yangon@gmail.com or ph : or before 30th September WE WANT, There is available for Receptionist position who can speak and understand English well. Prefer who already passed LCCI 1 & 2. Call: CENTURE is one of the leading office furniture providers in Myanmar. We are looking for "Performers", who apply the same standard to their work and who want to enhance their skill and competence. Join us and rise over expectations in a modern & dynamic work ambience. Our Open Positions (English and Computer skill required) (1)Sales Manager - 2 positions M/F Your management experience and sales expertise will advance our performance. (2) Sales Executive - 5 positions M/F Join our Sales Team with your market knowledge & strong customer orientation. Pls forward your application until 30th September 2013 to: Mail mailhrdepartment@ gmail.com Address: Rm (402), 4th Flr, Bldg-C, Dagon Centre, San Chaung Tsp, Yangon. Ph: , INTERNATIONAL Furnitures from KOREA (ENOB Sofa, Cloth Cabinets, Kitchen Cabinets and Others Furnitures) Company Limited is searching Sales & Marketing Executive : University graduate, 3 years experience in related fields, Age under 40, Must go & promote Hotels, Restaurant & others places, Computer skills & fluent in English. Ph : january.snow81@ gmail.com REQUIRED urgently in Limited Foreign Company, salary as per experiences & market standard. Designation: Receiptionist : 3 years experience, Age : No bar. Salary: As per market standards. Nationality: Indian(Preferred) / Other with English Speaking & writing skills. Responsibility: To do receptionist duty needfully. Note:The candidate will have good personality, can nicely conversation with phone which coming from customers, from MD,VP& other oversea staff & outsider & can do other receptionist job. Contact details: , , , , ID: zmtcool@ gmail.com, jyoti.b227@ gmail.com, jyoti.b227@ rediffmail.com NESTLE is the world s leading Nutrition, Health & Wellness Company is seeking (1)Nutrition Advisor Supervisor : Bachelor s Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Doctor, Pharmaceutical or related fields. 3 year experience. Computer & English literacy. Willing to travel (2)Channel Sales Supervisor-NP Myanmar (based in Yangon) :Bachelor s Degree in Business Administration or related education degree. 3 years experience. Computer literacy & Intermediate English communication skills. (3)Sales Trade Development Manager : Bachelor s Degree in Business Administration or relevant educational degree. 5 years experience. Computer literacy & English communication skills. Willing to travel. Pls submit complete detailed resume to Nestle Trading (Thailand) Ltd. (Myanmar Representative Office): Flr 11th Centerpoint Towers, 65 Corner of Sule Pagoda Rd & Merchant St, Kyauktada, Yangon. Ph: Or to zinhnaung_a@ nestlemyanmar.com.mm (OR) tztzha@gmail.com (1).PRODUCTION Control Manager (2). Assistant Factory Manager : Secondary education or above, Fluent in English or Chinese, 5 Years or above experience in garment business, Know-how in HR, Shipping and Accounting procedure, Good relationship & connecting with local government depart ment. (3).Account Supervisors: University holder in accounting or related field. 3 years or above hand on experience in related industry, English Or Mandarin Speaking, Good knowledge of MS office & Exel, 5 years or above experience in garment business. Pls contact to , Gmail- Kamtexsz@gmail.com EXOTISSIMO Travel is looking for French Tour Operator : Working experience in tourism related field is preferred. Pro-active,team spirit, good organisational and problem solving skill. Excellent interpersonal skills & communication skills. Strong sales & customer service focus. Possess computer proficiency : Microsoft word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint. Good communication in English & French (Written & Spoken). Pls send a detailed resume with recent photo & other relevant documents to HR Manager at 147, Shwe Gone Dine St, West Shwe Gone Dine Ward, Bahan, Yangon, memecho@exotissimo. com FAMILY Entertainment Group Co., Ltd is seeking (1)Sales Manager - M 2 Posts (2)Sales Execu tive(dealer Sales) - M 2 Posts (3)Internal Auditor - F 2 Posts (4)Credit Controller - F 2 Posts (5) Senior Accountant - F 2 Posts (6)Animator - M 2 Posts (7)Movie Planner (International Movie) - M 2 Posts (8)Translator - M/F 2 Posts (9)Network Administrator - M 2 Posts (10)System Administrator - M 2 Posts (11)Database Administrator - M 2 Posts (12)Senior Technician - M 2 Posts (13) Technician - M 2 Posts (14)Helpdesk Operator - M 2 Posts (15) Office Secretary - F 2 Posts (16)Showroom Sales - F 2 Posts (17) Computer Operator - F 2 Posts (18) Driver - M 5 Posts. Pls submit to (5 Network) : 34/B, New University Avenue St, Yangon. Ph: ~7 jobs.5nw@gmail.com (1)ARCHITECT: 1 post (M/F)- B.Arch or M.Arch. Resourcefulness, creativity, imagination & vision. Proficiency with Computer Aided Design-CAD is an added advantage. Ability & willingness to travel to the proposed locations (if necessary). (2)Civil Engineer: 1 post (M/F)- BE-Civil or ME-Civil. Proficient in Microsoft office. Ability to calculate bill of quantity. Ability and willingness to travel and base at the proposed locations. English in preferable. Pls submit an application letter with updated resume detailing your experience (if have), knowledge, skills, expected salary together with 2 referees & other supported documents to HR department: 77, Pyi Htaung Su Avenue Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon, Ph: Job Wanted AN EXPERIENCED writer, editor, translator, interpreter with good communication skill and proficient in English 4skills is looking for a full time or part time job stationed in Pyin Oo Lwin. contact at mail: maw. san@gmail.com

64 64 Sport THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 HONG KONG Hong Kong Marathon launches anti- selfie campaign A CAMPAIGN against selfies is urging runners at the Hong Kong Marathon not to take pictures of themselves with their mobile phones after a pile-up at this year s event, organisers said on September 17. The crush was reportedly triggered after a woman stopped to take a picture of herself at the start of her race. Organisers ruled out a complete ban on mobile phones as impractical, but said they were using Facebook, television and radio to promote the anti-selfie message in the run-up to the next event on February 16. It is almost impossible to ban competitors from bringing their mobile phones, William Ko, chairman of the marathon organising committee, told AFP. What we ve been trying to do is to get the message across to take The problem was that a number of runners were trying to take selfportrait pictures using their smartphones. Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng Standard Chartered chief executive WELLINGTON Kiwi prodigy Ko hints at pro decision TEEN golf sensation Lydia Ko returned home to New Zealand last week saying her anticipated decision on turning professional was on hold for two months while she focused on school work. Conjecture about when the prodigy will join the paid ranks has surrounded Ko ever since she became the youngest winner of a professional golf tour event when she won the New South Wales Open as a 14-year-old in Now 16 and fifth on the LPGA rankings, Ko is a four-time winner alongside the professionals but has been unable to accept more than US$2 million in prize money and millions more in endorsements as she remains an amateur. She fuelled speculation about her future after finishing second in the Evian Championship in France on Sunday, hinting she was close to joining the LPGA Tour full time. The next time you see me I may be a pro, she said after finishing two strokes behind 32-year-old Norwegian Suzann Pettersen. But Ko arrived back in Auckland saying her focus now was on upcoming school exams and golf care of yourself and to take care of other runners. For the race itself we will have officials to hold some message boards to remind people not to take photos at the start, on the route or at the finish because it is dangerous. The annual marathon event, which started 18 years ago and is sponsored by Standard Chartered bank, includes half-marathon and 10-kilometre competitions as well as the full 26.2-mile (42.2 km) marathon distance. The pile-up in February 2013 happened at the start of the 10-kilometre race after a woman competitor dropped her phone as she was trying to take the snap, according to local media. As she bent to pick it up runners behind her tripped over her, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported at the time, including Hong Kong triathlete Joyce Cheung Tingyan, who went on to win the women s 10k despite her fall. Standard Chartered chief executive Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng has called on organisers to stop competitors taking photos of themselves to avoid carnage at the next event. The problem was that a number of runners were trying to take selfportrait pictures using their smartphones. What we are trying to do is to encourage people not to do that, the SCMP quoted Hung as saying. Arrangements for February s races were announced Monday, with organisers saying the total enrolment quota would be 73,000 1,000 more than in AFP had to take a back seat. I ll be doing study pretty much every day. I don t want to see my golf clubs for about two months, she said. I ve got exams until mid-november. I have had some invitations to tournaments from the end of November to December, but I haven t said yes or no at the moment because I m going to concentrate on studies. We are thinking if I play them I might be pro then, that s what I was saying [in France], but I don t have a date. There hasn t been a clear decision on when. I may not be pro then. Ko, who has never missed a cut, said she did get annoyed at being constantly hounded about when she would turn pro, and added prize money was not a consideration for now. I don t care about the money, the Korean-born Ko said, The best prize is something that my mum and aunt organised. I got to meet my favourite Korean actor [So Ji-Sub] and they organised for me to meet him and that is the best prize I have been able to get. For now. AFP TOKYO New home-run breaks barriers IN the traditional world of Japanese baseball, breaking with the past is not easy but a beefy Caribbean slugger has shattered one of its most historic records in a season marked by controversy over a bouncy new ball. When Wladimir Balentien, a 29-year-old former major-leaguer from Curacao, smacked his 56 th and 57 th home runs of the season on September 15 against the Hanshin Tigers, it ended a stubbornly defended mark which had stood for nearly 50 years. It came just a few months after Japanese baseball chiefs were forced to admit to secretly introducing a new ball designed to bounce further off the bat, a move that has been credited with a surge in home runs. The Yakult Swallows outfielder s exploits finally toppled the Japanese record of 55 homers in a season set by Sadaharu Oh, a legend of domestic baseball whose mark set in 1964 had withstood earlier challenges by foreign players and not always fairly. In 1985, American Randy Bass reached 54 home runs with two games to play against the mighty Yomiuri Giants, Japan s fabled team then managed by Oh. But every time Bass, of the Hanshin Tigers, stepped up to the plate at Tokyo s Korakuen Stadium, the Giants pitchers intentionally walked him by throwing unhittable pitches, in an unsporting bid to preserve Oh s record. I was thinking I had two games left to break it. But we were playing the Giants and Sadaharu Oh was their manager, Bass told AFP in a telephone interview from his home in Oklahoma. I had no idea they were going to walk me. I thought that I would have an opportunity to break or tie the record. First time up, the catcher said gomennasai [sorry] and I walked four pitches in a row. The iconic Oh, Japan s answer to Babe Ruth, denied ordering his Balentien. Photo: AFP Japan s Yakult Swallows outfielder Wladimir Balentien and a mascot raise the boards to the game in Tokyo on September 15. Photo: AFP pitchers to walk Bass. But Keith Comstock, an American pitcher for the Giants, later revealed that one of the team s coaches had imposed a US$1,000 fine for every strike thrown to Bass. It was a similar story in 2001 when America s Tuffy Rhodes of the Kintetsu Buffaloes faced the Daiei Hawks, again managed by Oh, having reached 55 home runs to tie the record. Again the pitchers refused to throw strikes, and again Oh denied any collusion as Rhodes went homerless for the rest of the season. However, Hawks battery coach Yoshiharu Wakana gave a revealing insight after the game, telling reporters, It would be distasteful to see a foreign player break Oh s record. Venezuela s Alex Cabrera also tied the record in 2002, and also saw good pitches dry up. Balentien, with some 18 games still to play this season, now has the opportunity to put distance between his record and the mark set by Oh, who was quick to offer his congratulations. It s overwhelming that he has hit a home-run at a rate of one for every two games. I am looking forward to seeing how far he will go, said the 73-year-old. In Balentien s favour this season was the secret introduction of a new ball designed to improve bounce off the bat, whose arrival was finally admitted in June after months of denials. The ball, credited with a surge in home runs, was brought in after Japan spent two seasons with a much less bouncy ball. Homers had fallen to 939 in 2011 and 881 in 2012, compared with 1,605 in But the most telling aspect of Balentien s record was the response from other teams and fans, who appeared unaffected by the prospect of one of Japan s most fabled marks falling to a foreigner. Underhand tactics from opposing teams were noted by their absence, and fans of all persuasions got behind

65 Sport 65 hero celebrate his 56 th and 57 th home runs after LONDON Dallaglio urges quick resolution over Europe TWO-TIME European Cup-winner Lawrence Dallaglio has urged rugby s governing bodies to preserve the competition or risk the southern hemisphere continuing to dominate the Rugby World Cup. The future of the tournament is up in the air after English and French clubs gave notice to leave at the end of the season after a fractious series of negotiations. An Anglo-French Cup is a possibility, but Dallaglio, who won the tournament in 2004 and 2007 with Wasps, believes that would play into the hands of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. The only time the World Cup has landed in the northern hemisphere in seven tournaments was when Dallaglio s England side, led by Martin Johnson, won it in 2003 in Australia. And the former number eight says the European Cup must pit the best against the best or it will damage prospects of the Webb Ellis Trophy staying north of the equator when England host the World Cup in My view is very simple, Dallaglio told reporters at an event to mark the beginning of a two-year countdown to the global tournament. Given that all but one of every World Cup has been won by the southern hemisphere, those responsible for organising the best 2003 The only year the World Cup has been won by a team from the Northern Hemisphere. Julian Savea of New Zealand (left) is tackled by JJ Engelbrecht of South Africa during the Rugby Championship Test rugby union match in Auckland on September 14. Photo: AFP tournaments in this part of the world have got a duty and obligation and a responsibility to make sure the best players are playing against the very best players on the biggest stage of all especially in the build-up to a Rugby World Cup. As a former rugby player, the players need and want to be having the best competitions in this part of the world for the players to play in. That is what the various unions and umbrella organisations that sit around the table have got the responsibility to do. I would be enormously disappointed if I was not playing in the best competition of all, having played in that competition many times before. It is a wonderful competition and it gives us an edge that every country in Europe would be foolish to under estimate. We have all got the same interests at heart because Ireland, Scotland, France, Wales and Italy all need a successful World Cup as well. It is in our best interests that we all play each other. ERC, who currently run the European and Challenge Cups, have invited all interested parties to another meeting in Dublin on October 23. Meanwhile, English club owners were due to meet on Wednesday to clarify their stance in the ongoing saga, which mainly involves money and qualification issues, and the Rugby Football Union are keen to find a resolution. Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the RFU, said: It is important for the game as a whole English rugby and European rugby that we get these negotiations settled. They have got to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. We want to see a meritocratic competition in Europe, not only in terms of the competitive element, but in terms of the financial distribution, and obviously our clubs are very keen on that. AFP the Swallows slugger in his quest to make history, indicating a new, more inclusive attitude. I like the fact that the opposition team cheer for me, and they want somebody to take advantage and break the record, Balentien said last week, after tying Oh s mark. Every time I go up to the plate I can hear the whole stadium cheering for me, added the former Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds player. Forget about what happened a couple of years ago they just want somebody to go further and be the new single-season home-run king. Long-time journalist and broadcaster Marty Kuehnert believes the success of New York Yankees star Ichiro Suzuki, who has broken records in the United States, and other Japanese athletes abroad has helped change the mindset towards foreign players. Part of it has to do with the fact that Ichiro got the opportunity to be pitched fairly to in the US and set his records, he said. It was very clear they were not pitching around him to prevent him getting the record. I think the success of Japanese abroad in sports like baseball, soccer and tennis has changed the mentality in recent years. I think that has probably changed the attitude of a lot of people. With the original home-run king s place in history long since secured, Bass, who so nearly broke the record in 1985, believes Japanese baseball can afford to move on. Sadaharu Oh has had that record for so long, Bass said. He will be remembered as a legend in Japan, but records are there to be broken. There shouldn t be any silly games to stop that. AFP IN PICTURES Sumo smackdown: Byambajav Ulambayar of Mongolia throws Kelly Gneiting (bottom) during the men s heavyweight competition at the US Sumo Open on September 15, 2013 in Los Angeles. Photo: AFP

66 66 Sport THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 SINGAPORE Economic uncertainty hits Asian golf ASIA has long been regarded as the dynamic growth engine for world golf but economic uncertainty is now hitting the sport with three tournaments cancelled and another reeling. In recent months, the prestigious Singapore Open, India s biggest tournament and a million-dollar event in South Korea have all fallen by the wayside as sponsors withhold support. The much-loved Hong Kong Open is also without a title sponsor and is propped up with public money, while the Asian Tour s new Vietnam Masters has been postponed from September to January at its co-sponsors request. It all points to a challenging environment for a sport which has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past decade in Asia, but may now be losing its fizz. Ben Poon, managing editor of Golf Asia magazine, jokingly compares it to a sinking ship. It s all down to the economic environment, he told AFP. Asia s main golf circuit, the Asian Tour, has enjoyed steady expansion over its 10 seasons so far, while rival tour OneAsia has also grown since its arrival in In that time Asian economies have prospered, but a slowdown of growth in China, a crisis in India and concerns over Southeast Asia have soured the mood. Mardan Mamat of Singapore swings during the King s Cup golf tournament at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club in Thailand s Khon Kaen on November 30, Photo: AFP Asia s end-of-year golf round remains studded with lucrative, imported events, including the CIMB Classic, the BMW Masters, the WGC-HSBC Champions and the World Cup, offering combined prize money of more than US$30 million. But with about 20 international events scheduled across the Asia-Pacific region in the last few months of this year, it s no surprise that some are crowded out. The Singapore Open, previously billed as Asia s major and with a $6 million purse last year, is the glaring omission from this year s schedule. Its promoters are promising it will return next season, but the date, venue and sponsor are all unknown. Meanwhile India s European Toursanctioned Avantha Masters has been shelved after its main sponsor withdrew due to the current economic condition, including a plunging rupee. And the Hong Kong Open, long a cornerstone of Asian golf, is without a sponsor and is relying on government funds to help pay its prize money. The event has also lost its place among the European Tour s important end-of-season tournaments, while its traditional home, the Fanling course, is at risk of disappearing under a new housing development. David Parkin, director of tour operations for OneAsia, admitted that for potential sponsors now, putting money into tournaments is not the highest priority. Whilst there are new sponsors out there, getting them on board, certainly in Asia, is not easy, he told AFP. We lost a tournament this year in Korea [the Charity High1 Resort Open], which was unfortunate, Parkin added. The European Tour has also lost tournaments during the continent s long period of economic turbulence, and last month it was even forced to deny rumours of a buy-out by America s PGA Tour. Parkin said for a tournament with a $1 million dollar purse, a sponsor would expect to spend a total of $2 million factoring in other costs. In return, the company gets exposure for its brand through TV and other media. But he remained confident about the outlook and expected OneAsia to add three or four more tournaments next year, up from its current roster of 10. It s not easy. Like any sporting organisation we have to give more for the money that s being spent. Fortunately for us, we re in a growing market, he said. According to Poon, a major part of Asia s problem is the long-standing turf war between the Asian Tour and OneAsia, which he said makes potential sponsors hesitate before spending their marketing budgets on golf. When the economy is good it s no problem. They [the two tours] can have their own sponsors. But now it s coming to the crunch, said Poon. Either they come to a solution or one will die out. The only way to move forward is to come to a compromise. However, a truce does not appear likely. At the end of the day, the Asian Tour are doing what they re doing. We re trying to concentrate on what we re doing. We will carry on doing that, said Parkin. AFP WASHINGTON Redskins nickname sparks protests but no change NATIVE Americans are protesting the nickname of the NFL s Washington Redskins and while there are signs the league is listening, the team s owner has vowed never to make a change. One Native American group, the Oneida Nation, had protesters at the Redskins September 15 game in Green Bay and bought radio advertising time to promote their stance against a nickname they consider racist. The word Redskins is deeply hurtful to Native Americans, the commercial said. It is what our people were called as our lands were taken. It is the insult Native American parents heard as their children were taken, and, sadly, it is the racial slur the NFL continues to use to describe the team that represents our nation s capital. It is simply wrong to use the offensive term Redskins to sell anything, much less an NFL team. Asked about the nickname issue on September 18, Redskins star quarterback Robert Griffin III said, I can t really dive into that. I m not Native American. We re not in that authority to know what to do with that. Asked if his reluctance to speak came from a team edict, Griffin said, It s not a team directive. I just don t know what to say about Native Americans. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who in June defended the Redskins name in a letter to US lawmakers, told Washington radio station WJFK last week that the league needs to listen to the growing chorus of objections. We need to do everything that s necessary to make sure that we re representing the franchise in a positive way, Goodell said. If we are offending one person, we need to be listening and making sure that we re doing the right things to try to address that. Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins plays against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 15. Photo: AFP It s a far cry from the defence of the nickname Goodell made in a June 5 letter to 10 members of the US Congress, who urged him to reject the name. Goodell s letter described the Redskins nickname as a unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect and from its origin represented a positive meaning distinct from any disparagement that could be viewed in some other context. Neither in intent nor use was the name ever meant to denigrate Native Americans or offend any group. Goodell s softened stance toward change could force the hand of club owner Dan Snyder, whose most recent public comment on the matter came last May to USA Today. We will never change the name. It s that simple. Never, Snyder said. But around the United States, some publications have chosen not to use nicknames in describing Washington s NFL team as well as Major League Baseball s Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves, who each have long-term Native American mascots and monikers as well. The Redskins heritage dates to the team s 1932 birth in Boston, where they were first nicknamed Braves because they played in the home ballpark of baseball s then-boston Braves. When they relocated in 1933 to Fenway Park, home of the rival Red Sox, the name was changed to Redskins and it was retained when the club moved to the US capital in Six months after the move, a volunteer marching band was formed and the Redskins Band s trademark song was created Hail to the Redskins, with such lyrics as Braves on the warpath, fight for old DC still sung today but references to scalp em and we want heap more having been removed more than 30 years ago. US House of Representatives delegate Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa introduced a bill in May that would strip the team of the trademark rights to the name Redskins in the wake of a petition by a group of Native Americans who claim the term is offensive. US Representative Betty McCollum, co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, declared Goodell s defence of the nickname twisted logic and a statement of absurdity when it was issued three months ago. AFP LOS ANGELES Former boxing champ Ken Norton dies at 70 FORMER boxing champion Ken Norton who was considered one of the greatest heavyweights of his era, died on September 18 of a heart attack, his manager said. He was 70. The fighter was best known for beating Muhammad Ali in 1973, breaking the Hall of Famer s jaw in the process. Norton passed away at an Arizona care facility, said friend and manager Patrick Tenore. His wife called me and said Ken had passed away, Tenore told AFP. Norton, who suffered a stroke last year, ended his brilliant career with a record of 42 wins, seven losses, one draw and 33 knockouts. He fought in the 1970s era of magnificent heavyweights a group that also included Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Leon Spinks and Jimmy Young. 33 Knockouts recorded by Ken Norton during his pro boxing career. They called us handsome. Muhammad they called pretty. But the fairest of them all Ken Norton, Foreman wrote on his Twitter page on September 18. What a loss to all of us. Other tributes also quickly poured in for Norton. My heart has been heavy since hearing the news earlier today, boxer Larry Holmes wrote on Twitter. He was a good man. #RIP #KenNorton. Norton was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, and was an award-winning athlete in American football and track and field at Jacksonville High School. His prowess on the gridiron earned him a scholarship to Northeast Missouri State University. He started boxing during his fouryear stint in the United States Marine Corps, which he joined in In March 1973, Norton shocked the boxing world by winning a split decision over Ali at the San Diego Sports Arena. He would go on to fight Ali twice more, losing both times in a split decision later in 1973 and by a unanimous decision in 1976 at Yankee Stadium. In 1974, Norton fought and lost to Foreman in Venezuela for the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight titles. The fight was stopped in the second round after Foreman knocked him down three times. Norton, who was nicknamed The Black Hercules, also fought Holmes, losing his title late in his career to the up-and-coming heavyweight in It was the first defence of the WBC title for Norton, who fought in the era where championship fights lasted 15 rounds. Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson said he met Norton when Tyson was still an amateur boxer. Today a great man passed away, Tyson wrote on Twitter. A legend in the boxing world and a good man. Norton had what some called an unconventional style. He would lean forward, backing his opponent up while holding both arms up high and across his face like he was looking through the bars of a gridiron helmet. That style helped him win scores of fights and after he retired he starred in movies, appearing in about 20 Hollywood films. The character of Apollo Creed in Rocky was originally going to be played by Norton, but when he backed out of the role, Carl Weathers took the job. Norton was involved in a serious car accident in 1986 on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles. He recovered, and three years later he was inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame. AFP

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68 68 THE MYANMAR TIMES SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2013 SPORT EDITOR: Tim McLaughlin Sport Economic troubles hit Asian golf circuit SPORT 66 SINGAPORE Match-fixing kingpin busted THE notorious alleged mastermind of a global match-fixing ring was in custody in Singapore last week after a crackdown on one of the gangs linked to hundreds of rigged football games worldwide. A source told AFP that Singaporean businessman Dan Tan, full name Tan Seet Eng, was among 14 people held in raids this week. Police said the gang s suspected leader was arrested, without giving a name. His arrest appears to be a step forward in Singapore s fight against match-fixing syndicates linked to scandals in several countries including Italy, Germany and Hungary. Dan Tan was among 12 men and two women arrested. He and four others in the group were denied bail. They are being held under a law, usually applied to criminal gangs, which allows for detention without trial. A statement from Singapore s police and anti-corruption bureau said those held in the 12-hour operation were suspected of being part of an organised crime group involved with match-fixing activities. Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble, who has previously called for Dan Tan s arrest, described the operation as an important step in cracking down on an international match-fixing syndicate by arresting the main suspects in the case, including the suspected mastermind. Chris Eaton, former head of security for football s world governing body FIFA, told AFP the arrests are very significant operational steps against one particular Singapore gang for fixing matches and creating betting frauds. European policy agency Europol has linked criminal gangs in Singapore to revelations that hundreds of games worldwide, including World Cup qualifiers, were targeted by fixers. Dan Tan s name first came to Robin van Persie (left) of Manchester United scores against Bayer Leverkusen in Manchester on September 17. Photo: AFP prominence when arch Singaporean fixer Wilson Raj Perumal was arrested and jailed for rigging matches in Finland. Perumal said he was a doublecrossed associate of Dan Tan. But the ethnic Chinese businessman has protested his innocence. Why I m suddenly described as a match-fixer, I don t know. I m innocent, he told Singapore s The New Paper in 2011, his only known media interview. Italian investigators have since issued a warrant for Dan Tan s arrest over the wide-ranging calcioscommesse, or football betting, scandal, which implicated a swathe of big names and clubs. In May Singapore police said Tan was assisting investigators in Singapore. In the same month he was charged in Hungary over the alleged manipulation of 32 games in three countries. Eaton, a former Interpol officer and now the director of Sport Integrity at the Doha-based International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), described Tan s detention as a very significant arrest. Neil Humphreys, a Singaporebased football writer, said the wealthy Asian state had taken its time in making arrests as authorities wanted to compile enough evidence to take down the entire syndicate. Match-fixing has proved a chronic and growing blight on football and it hit the headlines again this week after six men were charged over a multi-million dollar scam in Australian state soccer. Reports said Perumal was involved, despite being under police protection in Hungary. But despite the arrests in Australia and Singapore, the ICSS s Eaton said global football remains in crisis because of the match-fixing scourge. Remember, this is only one gang. There are other international gangs operating, he said. Sport, football particularly remains in crisis and it is important that we have global action... to match these national actions. Experts say match-fixers who honed their skills in Singapore and neighbouring Malaysia have since spread to other leagues, providing a link between local gangs and Asian betting syndicates. AFP BRIEFS Sydney Del Piero named Sydney FC captain Alessandro Del Piero was on September 18 appointed captain of Australian club Sydney FC for the upcoming season, with the Italian superstar calling it a great honour. He has played a major role in increasing attendances, television audiences and media interest in the domestic A-League and has signed on for a second season. Del Piero is no stranger to being skipper, having captained Italian giants Juventus for 11 years. He has also skippered the national side. AFP Yangon Myanmar third in SEA Games kempo tournament The Myanmar national kempo team fought its way to a spot at the podium during last week s Five Nations Kempo tournament in Yangon finishing third overall in the medal haul. Myanmar athletes collected three gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals at the tournament, which was held at Thuwana Indoor Stadium from September 14 to 15. Along with Myanmar, a total of 61 athletes from Indonesia, Timor Leste, Laos and Vietnam competed. Before the Southeast Asian Games, this kempo tournament was held to give international experience to Myanmar athletes and also for other nations to see how Myanmar, the host nation, is preparing, said Zaw Win, coach at the Myanmar Kempo Federation. Kyaw Zin Hlaing Indianapolis Browns trade ex-top pick Richardson The Cleveland Browns traded former number three overall draft pick Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts, the National Football League club announced on September 18. The Colts gave up a first round pick in 2014 for running back Richardson, who had been touted as the centrepiece of the Browns rebuilding campaign. Richardson finished with 1317 total yards and 12 touchdowns last season for the Browns. AFP

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