Monks step in to avert clashes at mine site - Online Burma/Myanmar ...

MYANMARTIMES 

No. 675, April 29 - May 5, 2013 Heartbeat of The Nation www.mmtimes.com 

THE 

1200 kyats 

Monks step 

in to avert 

clashes at 

mine site 

Scores injured in latest violence at 

Letpadaung after villagers begin 

ploughing land inside curfew zone 

U Myat (Sonny) Swe (left) is greeted by former colleagues from ‘The Myanmar Times’ at Yangon airport on April 

24, a day after his release from Taunggyi Prison. Pic: Kaung Htet 

‘I feel half empty,’ says MT co-founder 

By Nan Tin Htwe and 

Jessica Mudditt 

AS part of a government amnesty 

that saw 93 prisoners released on 

April 23, U Myat (Sonny) Swe, cofounder 

of The Myanmar Times, was 

released from Taunggyi Prison in 

Shan State after serving more than 

eight years of a 14-year sentence. 

But he says he feels “half empty” 

because his father, a former senior 

Military Intelligence official, remains 

behind bars. 

U Myat Swe was imprisoned 

in 2005 after being convicted of 

bypassing censorship regulations at 

The Myanmar Times. 

He arrived at Yangon airport at 

11am on Wednesday and was greeted 

by about 30 colleagues from the 

company, as well as by his wife, Daw 

Yamin Htin Aung, and his 18-year-old 

son, Nicholas Swe. 

“I’m happy to see my family, old 

colleagues and friends. But I’m not 

fully happy, as my father is still inside,” 

U Myat Swe said in an interview at 

The Myanmar Times’ office. 

“I feel half empty,” he said. “I 

thought both my father and I would 

be released together, but it didn’t 

happen.” 

His father, former Brigadier General 

Thein Swe, is serving a term of 152 

years in Myingyan Prison, and U Myat 

Swe said he is not in good health. 

U Myat Swe said that before he was 

released he had only six months left to 

serve on his term because it had been 

reduced several times under previous 

amnesties. 

More page 4 

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin 

MONKS have intervened to 

avoid a potentially bloody 

confrontation between 

villagers and police near 

the Letpadaung mine. 

It came after clashes 

between police and 

protesters on April 24 and 

25 left scores injured and 

resulted in three protest 

leaders being arrested. On 

April 26 about 500 villagers 

demonstrated to call for 

the release of the detained 

people by midnight. 

About 300 police formed 

three lines in front of the 

protesters near Wettmay 

village at about 2:30pm, 

said U Ba Htoo, a member 

of the Yangon Public Service 

Network. 

“They warned us they will 

shoot if we passed the third 

line. They were ready to 

shoot us,” he said. 

“We stood 500 yards from 

the first line and asked them 

to release the three people 

but they didn’t response and 

just warned us again. At 

3:30pm, we went back to the 

villages because the monks 

requested us to and we didn’t 

want to get injured again,” 

he said. “But it doesn’t mean 

we will give up our protest 

campaign – we’ll try again.” 

Ko Aung Than Myo of Tone 

Ywa village said one of the 

detained, Ko Aung Soe, is a 

member of the Yangon Public 

Service Network, while the 

other two are area residents. 

The violence erupted 

on April 24 after police 

and local officials ordered 

villagers to stop ploughing 

fields owned by Ma Yi Yi 

Win and Ko Win Kyaw, 

from Setal and Moegyopyin 

villages respectively. 

The fields are within an 

area where a Section 144 

curfew remains in place. 

State media said on April 

25 that the confrontation left 

three villagers and 15 police 

officers injured. 

But activists accused 

police of instigating the 

violence and said they 

returned the following day 

and fired on the villagers, 

injuring one man. 

“Dozens of police arrived 

and threatened us and told 

us to stop our works but 

we refused the order … 

they started the violence 

by beating up some of the 

villagers,” said Ko Aung 

Than Myo. 

“At the time, there were 

30 people there so we went 

back to the villages and 

asked other people to help 

and eventually there were 

almost 70 of us,” he said. 

Ko Aung Myint Thein 

from Moegyopyin village 

said police used excessive 

force to disperse the villagers 

on April 25, leaving three 

people seriously injured. 

“Ko Tin Zaw from Ton 

Ywa village was shot and he 

is in Monywa Hospital. Two 

others were also wounded 

and in hospital. They are 

in a critical condition. More 

than 20 other villagers were 

also injured but didn’t need 

treatment at hospital,” Ko 

Aung Myint Thein said. 

More page 4

Comment 2 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Oh Daw Suu, 

where art thou? 

Asian Focus 

In Depth 

with 

Roger Mitton 

THE recent disappearance of 

Myanmar’s pro-democracy icon Daw 

Aung San Suu Kyi is the saddest news 

for a long time. 

It was hard enough when the human 

rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit 

vanished in Bangkok in 2004 when 

investigating allegations of torture by 

police officers. 

Similarly shocking was the 2007 

abduction of Jonas Burgos, an 

advocate for landless peasants, in 

a shopping mall in the Quezon City 

district of Manila. 

Then, just four months ago, Sombath 

Somphone, the Lao educator and 

rights activist, was stopped by the 

police in Vientiane and later dragged 

off in a pickup truck. 

None of them have been seen again. 

Now comes the mysterious 

disappearance of Daw Aung San 

Suu Kyi, whose friends and close 

associates suspect was engineered by 

the military leaders and their megarich 

cronies. 

If so, they have been unusually 

cunning and replaced her with a 

lookalike double, as has been done 

elsewhere in the past for political 

figures as varied as Winston Churchill, 

Henry Kissinger and Saddam Hussein. 

Let us try to recap how this dastardly 

act occurred. 

In 1988, when she returned to 

Myanmar, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 

became a fearless advocate for a 

secular, multiparty democracy, free 

from state-sanctioned corruption, drug 

dealing and ethnic cleansing. 

She rebuked the military dictators 

for misgoverning her resource-rich 

nation and impoverishing its people – 

and in the process she won the Nobel 

Peace Prize, while enduring house 

arrest most of the time. 

Then, in 2010, she was released 

from detention and permitted a 

degree of political latitude that was 

unprecedented. 

She campaigned around the country, 

won a seat in parliament and even 

travelled overseas to collect her Nobel 

prize and be feted by world leaders in 

Washington, London and Paris. 

Then, suddenly, she vanished – or 

at least the real Daw Aung San Suu 

Kyi that we all know vanished. In 

her place another lady appeared, 

assuming the same name and having 

a similiar appearance. 

This new creature, a Faustian 

figure, like a distaff Lee Kuan Yew 

or Hun Sen, promptly jumped into 

bed with the generals and their wellheeled 

sidekicks. 

“It’s genuine, I’m fond of the army,” 

she gushed on the BBC’s Desert Island 

Discs show – while picking “Here 

Comes the Sun” by the Beatles and 

“Green Green Grass of Home” by Tom 

Jones among her songs. 

Was this the real Daw Aung San 

Suu Kyi – praising army officers 

who, let us remember, recruited child 

soldiers, pillaged and raped ethnic 

minorities, and murdered hundreds of 

civilian protesters in 1988 and 2007? 

No, it must be an impostor, because 

the woman even lauded the cronies, 

gleefully accepting cash donations at 

a party fundraiser from people like 

U Tay Za and U Kyaw Win, whose 

ill-gotten millions, along with their 

Ferraris and Rolls-Royces, came 

from military contracts and other 

activities. 

Furthermore, this Daw Aung 

San Suu Kyi decoy endorsed the 

Letpadaung copper mine, co-owned by 

a Chinese military conglomerate and 

the army-owned Union of Myanmar 

Economic Holdings. 

This long-controversial project has 

displaced hundreds of farmers and 

turned a bucolic rural area into a kind 

of hellish lunar landscape that would 

challenge Hieronymus Bosch. 

Even after security forces fired 

white phosphorus munitions on 

protesting farmers, the Daw Aung 

San Suu Kyi mimic reiterated that she 

backed the mine and she chastised the 

peasants for demonstrating against it 

without permits. 

Final proof of this decoy charade 

came when Muslims in Meiktila, 

Yangon and Rakhine State were 

slaughtered by gangs of rightwing 

Buddhists from the majority Bamar 

community – Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 

heartland vote bank. 

Did the Lady stand up and rage 

against these pogroms? She did not. 

It was so unlike the real Daw Aung 

San Suu Kyi that the only explanation 

possible is that it is a diabolic militaryhatched 

scheme whereby she has 

been abducted and replaced by a 

sycophantic stooge. 

Let us hope someone frees her – and 

soon. 

Dear editor, 

AS an Australian who 

has lived in and enjoyed 

the beauty of Myanmar, 

including the people, for 

eight months, with my 

Burmese-born wife, I have 

found The Myanmar Times 

to be an invaluable source of 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during a press conference in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on 

January 30. Pic: AFP 

information and considered 

opinion, presented with 

balance and reason. I see 

it as part of the education 

system. 

The community needs to 

be informed, taught and 

challenged to think and act. 

The high level of smoking 

is a challenge. I fear for the 

Editor Mailbox 

20 million children under 

15. What is their health 

future? More education on 

the risks of smoking and 

secondary smoke is needed. 

Teashops are a buzz. They 

are great but sadly there 

are cigarette lighters and 

smokers everywhere. Nonsmoking 

areas are needed. 

Shopping recently at a 

large department store, I 

had to grab my wife as she 

tripped on a raised tile. On 

showing staff, they looked 

bemused, as if nothing was 

wrong. 

Understanding the 

principle of duty of care, 

as well as occupational 

health and safety, 

is improving but everyone 

needs to be more fully 

informed. As private general 

insurance companies are 

established, public liability 

claims will eventuate, 

especially with increasing 

tourism. 

The “what’s the problem?” 

attitude is not sustainable. 

I know from 20 years of 

experience in the insurance 

industry. 

Please continue to be part 

of the education diet of this 

great country. 

Graham Goodall 

Got something to say? We want to hear from you. Address all 

correspondence to the Editor, The Myanmar Times (English). We 

endeavour to respond to all correspondence in a timely manner. 

Address: 379-383, Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada township, 

Yangon. Telephone: (+951) 392-928, 253-642. Fax: (+951) 392-706 

Email: your.myanmar.times@gmail.com

3 

Pressure grows on govt 

to publish Rakhine report 

Investigation commission’s report sent to president but not released to public 

In Depth 

with 

Ei Ei Toe Lwin 

AS an international human 

rights group criticises the 

government over last year’s 

violence in Rakhine State, 

pressure is growing for the 

release of the government’s 

own investigation report. 

The long-awaited report of 

an investigation commission 

into the Rakhine violence is 

in the hands of President U 

Thein Sein – but it is still 

not clear whether or when 

the report will be made 

public. 

Presidential spokesperson 

U Ye Htut confirmed that 

the president received the 

Rakhine report on April 

22, one day ahead of the 

extended deadline. “The 

president is studying the 

report, and we cannot 

yet confirm whether the 

report will be made public 

or not,” U Ye Htut, who is 

also deputy information 

minister, told The Myanmar 

Times on April 24. 

In the meantime, Human 

Rights Watch released its 

own 153-page report on 

April 22, titled All You Can 

Do is Pray: Crimes Against 

Humanity and Ethnic 

Cleansing of Rohingya 

Muslims in Burma’s Arakan 

State. The HRW report 

is strongly critical of the 

government, claiming that 

it engaged in a campaign of 

ethnic cleansing against the 

Rohingya that continues to 

this day through the denial 

of aid and restrictions on 

movement (see related story 

page 21). 

Commission member Ko 

Thura, better known as the 

comedian Zaganar, said on 

April 23: “We have submitted 

final report to the president’s 

office, with copies in both 

Myanmar and English. But 

I can’t say whether it will 

be published.” Zaganar said 

that, at 105 pages long, the 

report might be too big to 

publish in the state-run 

media, as has been done 

with other reports. 

The commission plans to 

hold a news conference at 

the Myanmar Peace Centre 

at the end of April to explain 

its findings. “We’ve printed 

500 books about the report 

to be distributed at the 

conference,” said Zaganar. 

The President’s Office 

announced the formation of 

the 27-member committee on 

August 17, 2012 to look into 

the causes of the violence in 

Rakhine State the previous 

May and June and to make 

recommendations. The 

report was due to be filed 

by November 16. Since the 

report was not complete at 

the time – more unrest broke 

out in late October – the 

commission filed an interim 

report that has not been 

made public. 

The government has 

said it will abide by the 

commission’s findings and 

recommendations. 

Commission member U 

Aung Naing Oo hinted that 

the findings would differ 

from those of Human Rights 

Watch. “International 

observers might take a 

different view of Rakhine 

than local people. We must 

study the views of all parties 

to the conflict, not just one 

side. Above all, we must 

study the local context in 

detail. But we shouldn’t 

neglect criticisms,” said U 

Aung Naing Oo, who is also 

director of the Myanmar 

Peace Centre’s peace 

dialogue program. 

“Our report contains 

advice that we believe to be in 

the best interests of the state 

and the people, especially in 

terms of ensuring a lasting 

peace in Rakhine State in 

the long term,” he said. 

U Shwe Maung, a Pyithu 

Hluttaw representative for 

Buthidaung in Rakhine 

State, said the president 

should publish the 

report in the interests of 

transparency. 

“I assume the report’s 

recommendations are in 

the best interests of both 

communities. Peaceful 

co-existence is the most 

important point. I would be 

prepared to back the people’s 

demands in that respect,” 

said U Shwe Maung, who 

is a member of the Union 

Solidarity and Development 

Party. 

By Tim McLaughlin 

OFFICIALS from Human 

Rights Watch say the 

government has been 

unwilling to discuss the 

group’s recent report, which 

accused security forces of 

ethnic cleansing and crimes 

against humanity in Rakhine 

State. 

Mr Phil Robertson, the 

deputy director of Human 

Rights Watch’s Asia division, 

and the group’s Myanmar 

researcher, Mr Matthew 

Smith, arrived in Myanmar 

on April 24 to meet officials 

from civil society groups, UN 

agencies, Yangon embassies 

and the government. 

“We have been seeking 

meetings with the 

government but getting no 

reply,” said Mr Robertson. 

“We are prepared to engage 

them and this is an issue that 

isn’t going to go away.” 

The government’s only 

reaction to the damning 

report came from presidential 

spokesperson and Deputy 

Minister for Information U 

Ye Htut. Shortly after its 

release on April 22, he posted 

a message on his Facebook 

page saying it was biased (see 

related story page 21). 

Mr Robertson described 

U Ye Htut’s comments as 

a “shoot the messenger” 

reaction and challenged 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Government stonewalls 

visiting HRW officials 

the government to make a 

“substantive response”. 

In the week since it was 

released, the use of the term 

“ethnic cleansing” in the 

report’s title has become a 

point of contention. 

Comedian and former 

political prisoner Zarganar, 

who is a member of an 

investigation commission 

established to probe the 

Rakhine State conflict, 

dismissed the report and 

urged others to wait for 

the commission’s findings. 

Myanmar National Human 

Rights Commission secretary 

U Sit Myaing, Aung Myo 

Min from Human Rights 

Education Institute of 

Burma and members of 88 

Generation all told Mizzima 

that they strongly rejected 

the use of the term “ethnic 

cleansing”. 

But Mr Robertson said that 

Human Right Watch stood by 

its decision. 

“Human Rights Watch 

doesn’t use heavy words like 

ethnic cleansing and crimes 

against humanity without 

justification,” he said. “We are 

not into hyperbole. We are not 

into exaggeration.” 

Mr Robertson said it is 

important that people read 

the 150-page report before 

drawing conclusions and 

“sounding off to the press”. 

“People look at the title and 

have a visceral reaction.”

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

4 

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NGOs divided over latest 

political prisoner release 

The Former Political Prisoners Association accuses the government of ignoring the plight 

of hundreds of prisoners who remain behind bars and refuses to back April 23 amnesty 

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin 

ACTIVISTS working with a 

committee established by the 

government to free political 

prisoners are divided over the 

latest prisoner release. 

Almost 60 political prisoners 

were freed under an amnesty 

on April 23 but hundreds 

remain behind bars, according 

to activists. 

The Former Political 

Prisoners Association confirmed 

59 political prisoners were 

freed from eight prisons on 

April 23 and 24. However, a 

spokesperson for the group 

said it had not supported the 

amnesty because many more 

political prisoners who it had 

proposed releasing were still 

in jail. 

“Most prisoners [in the latest 

amnesty] were freed from 

Tharyarwady Prison. Many 

of them are from Shan armed 

forces [and their release was] 

proposed by a Shan party,” 

said U Thet Oo, a spokesperson 

for the association’s News and 

Information Committee. 

From page 1 

Villagers, police clash 

An April 25 report in the staterun 

New Light of Myanmar 

said members of the Yangon 

Public Service Network were 

behind the unrest and had 

“instigated the villagers to 

commit harsh acts against 

security forces”. 

“Due to their instigation, 

the crowed started throwing 

stones at the security forces,” 

the report said, adding that 

security forces arrested three 

people and fired three warning 

shots in the air, pushing the 

crowd back. The report said 

some villagers even threw 

handmade “fire bombs” and 

wielded sticks and swords 

against police, who fired rubber 

bullets into the crowd. 

The report warned that 

“punitive actions will be 

taken against those who were 

taken into custody for their 

anarchic acts and those who 

committed unrest and violence 

will be exposed and taken into 

custody”. 

But villagers said they would 

continue to defy police and 

work their land, regardless of 

the section 144 order. 

“We don’t care what [the 

police] say. They declared [a 

“The committee members 

proposed a list of prisoners for 

the amnesty … They asked 

us to sign the list to show our 

agreement. But most of them 

did not meet our criteria [for 

the definition of a political 

prisoner] … so we didn’t signed 

it,” he said. 

The committee, led by 

Minister for the President’s 

Office U Soe Thein, was formed 

on February 6 to ensure all 

political prisoners are released. 

It invited a number of political 

parties, activist groups and 

individuals, including the 

National League for Democracy, 

Shan Nationalities League for 

Democracy, 88 Generation, 

Former Political Prisoners 

Association, Assistance 

Association for Political 

Prisoners (Burma) and 

comedian Zaganar, to help it 

identify those who should be 

released. 

“But they release prisoners 

that they want. They don’t 

care about our views,” said 

U Thet Oo, adding that the 

amnesty was a response to 

the European Union’s decision 

to lift sanctions. “Now we are 

preparing to respond to the 

amnesty.” 

Altogether 93 people were 

‘ They release the prisoners that they want. 

They don’t care about our views.’ 

released under the amnesty, 

which was ordered by 

President U Thein Sein on 

September 17 under section 

204(a) of the constitution and 

section 401(i) of the Code 

of Criminal Procedure “to 

ensure all inclusiveness in 

political processes and further 

strengthening the amity 

between the countries and 

on humanitarian and social 

grounds”. 

Comedian Zaganar said he 

signed the committee’s list of 

prisoners for release “because 

I don’t want anyone to be in 

prison”. 

He said political parties and 

civil society groups initially 

believed there were still 630 

political prisoners in Myanmar 

jails, but after consulting with 

the committee the number had 

declined to 360 because some 

had already been freed and 

others had “disappeared”. 

Zaganar said more amnesties 

were likely in the near future. 

“The [committee] said to us 

that they would granted this 

amnesty … as a first batch 

and they will propose that the 

president release others who 

are still in prison.” 

NLD spokesperson U Nyan 

Win said he also signed the 

committee’s prisoner release 

list but was unsure about which 

other groups had supported the 

amnesty. 

“We do not completely 

agree with the committee on 

everything but it doesn’t mean 

we are against their [amnesty],” 

he said. 

Police stand in the last of three lines facing about 500 protesters near Wettmay village on April 

26, in front of a sign that warns they will shoot if approached. Pic: Supplied/Han Wai Aung 

curfew] in the whole region. We 

will do our work. The owners 

of that land haven’t sold it to 

anyone and haven’t accepted 

any compensation,” Ko Aung 

Than Myo said. 

“We won’t give up on our goal 

of protecting the Letpadaung 

area. We don’t care what 

methods they use,” he said. 

The clashes are not the first 

at the mine between police and 

pro testers; on November 29, 

2012, police broke up a protest 

camp with incendiary smoke 

grenades in a pre-dawn raid, 

leaving almost 100 – including 

many monks – injured. 

An investigation commission 

set up just days after the raid 

confirmed police used the 

grenades but could not clarify 

how they got them or who 

ordered their use. 

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MT co-founder freed 

“I was in prison for eight years 

and five months. Now my 

family is my priority. I will 

push for my father’s release. I 

can say nothing about work at 

the moment.” 

But his former partner at 

The Myanmar Times, Mr Ross 

Dunkley, said U Myat Swe’s 

release would “undoubtedly” 

have an effect on the ownership 

struggles that have plagued 

the company in recent years. 

Mr Dunkley is facing several 

criminal charges following an 

altercation with the wife of his 

business partner, Dr Tin Tun 

Oo, which occurred following 

tense negotiations over the 

future of the company. 

Mr Dunkley called on Dr Tin 

Tun Oo, who bought U Myat 

Swe’s shares at a reduced price 

when he was forced to sell them 

in 2005, to return them to the 

company’s founder. 

“U Myat Swe is entitled to 

buy back his shares back at no 

more than the price his family 

was paid for them all those 

years ago,” he said. 

“To be honest, I think he 

should get the shares back 

for free. Once this issue is 

resolved, we will push on to 

realise our joint ambitions. 

“There hasn’t been a day 

in this past eight-and-a-half 

years that I haven’t thought 

of him and his situation: 

being in prison, being unjustly 

detained for doing nothing 

wrong. It’s a sad episode that 

has finally [ended]. Now I 

only wish to see his father 

released.” 

Mr Dunkley and U 

Myat Swe established The 

Myanmar Times in 2000. Its 

parent company, Myanmar 

Consolidated Media, Ltd, 

remains the only foreigninvested 

media organisation 

in Myanmar.

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

6 

Not so cheap 

now: SIMs 

resold for up 

to K30,000 

The resale market for K1500 SIM 

cards takes off within hours of release, 

while Nay Pyi Taw residents wonder 

where their 50,000 cards have gone 

By Htoo Aung and 

Pyae Thet Phyo 

HUNDREDS of thousands 

of CDMA SIM cards were 

released to the public 

yesterday through quarter 

administrative offices for 

K1500, but cards are already 

trading for 10 times that 

amount on the resale market. 

Several sources said cards 

were trading for K15,000 

to K20,000 within hours of 

the release, as many people 

missed out on buying them 

at the official price. 

“The SIM cards are now 

valued at anywhere from 

K10,000 to K30,000. People 

who don’t need them just 

resell them. I bought one 

for K10,000 from my friend 

when he said he would sell 

his one,” said IT technician 

Ko Kyaw Aung. 

Some observers expressed 

surprise that the cards 

were issued by MECTel, 

a telecommunications 

arm of the military-owned 

Myanmar Economic 

Corporation, a move that 

had not previously been 

announced. Top-up cards 

for the new SIMs are also 

manufactured by MECTel. 

There was also 

disappointment in Nay Pyi 

Taw, where it appeared 

ward offices had not received 

instructions about how to 

distribute SIM cards. About 

50,000 were allocated for 

sale in the capital, the 

Ministry of Communications 

and Information Technology 

said. 

“I still haven’t been told 

anything yet but people have 

been arriving here since the 

early morning,” an official 

from Pyimana township’s 

general administration office 

said yesterday. 

“Up to now we haven’t 

known how many [SIMs] will 

An official conducts a 

lucky draw in Bahan’s 

Yedashe quarter. Pic: 

Aung Htay Hlaing 

A student pulls names out of a container during a lucky draw in Bahan’s Yedashe quarter. Pic: Aung Htay Hlaing 

be given. Nor have we had an 

idea whether application 

is submitted,” an official 

from the Zabuthiri township 

general administration office 

said. 

This left many Nay Pyi 

Taw residents disappointed. 

“We don’t know how to 

manage the release of the 

SIM cards in Nay Pyi Taw. 

I came [from my village] at 

7am to buy a SIM card but it 

was a waste of time because 

the local administration 

office said they didn’t know 

anything about selling the 

cards,” said Ko Phoe Lay 

from Kywal Chin village in 

Nay Pyi Taw’s Ottarathiri 

township. 

Myanma Post and 

Telecommunication chief 

mobile engineer U Htay Win 

confirmed on April 23 that 

no quota had been devised 

for how to distribute the 

cards allocated to Nay Pyi 

Taw. As a capital territory, 

it does not come under the 

control of a state or region 

government, which had been 

given control of distribution. 

“If there are disputes 

over the distribution of lowpriced 

SIM cards, it’s up to 

the relevant state or region 

government to resolve it. The 

ministry won’t intervene,” he 

said. 

But in many Yangon wards 

the distribution process 

appeared to go smoothly, 

even though many residents 

went home disappointed. In 

Bahan’s Yedashe quarter, 

484 people took part in a 

lucky draw for 86 SIM cards. 

Administrator U Phay 

Tike Aung said a 10-person 

committee was formed to 

oversee the lucky draw, 

which was conducted in 

public. He said he had 

worked hard to ensure the 

process was transparent, and 

had had difficulty sleeping 

in recent days because he 

was worried about receiving 

complaints. 

“The SIM card that I won 

will help me communicate 

with everyone. It will also 

help me with my business,” 

said Yedashe quarter 

resident Ko Nyi Nyi Oo, 39. 

– Translated by Thit Lwin 

and Zar Zar Soe 

Residents queue up 

for hours for cards 

By Than Naing Soe 

SOME residents in 

Mandalay queued up for 

three hours yesterday to be 

the first to get their hands 

on a K1500 SIM card. 

In Mandalay the cards 

were sold on a “first-come, 

first-served” basis, said the 

administrator of Yan Myo 

Lone ward in Chan Aye 

Tharsan township. 

“Residents started 

lining up outside the ward 

administrative office at 

5am, but we started to 

sell [the cards] at 8am,” 

he said. 

Mandalay Regional 

Minister for Transport and 

Communications U Kyaw 

San said 32,400 SIM cards 

were distributed in urban 

Mandalay, while 31,600 

cards were sold across 

the region’s seven other 

districts. 

While the 64,000 SIM 

cards allocated to Mandalay 

was barely half the number 

given to Yangon, residents 

in Mandalay still had fewer 

difficulties obtaining a card 

because of the region’s 

smaller population. 

In some high-income 

areas there were almost no 

buyers, while in other wards 

residents said they were 

too busy: Ma Yin Yin Mar 

from Aung Pin Lae ward in 

Chan Mya Tharsi township 

said few of her neighbours 

bothered to queue up for the 

SIM cards because they had 

to go to work. 

Yangon was allotted 

119,000 of the K1500 cards, 

with 30,000 of those reserved 

for civil servants, and these 

were distributed through a 

lucky draw system.

7 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

China ‘shocked’ 

over comments 

on talks: embassy 


A CHINESE official says he is “deeply 

shocked” by a government minister’s 

comments that Kachin peace talks 

planned for earlier this month were 

delayed because China refused to allow 

international observers to attend. 

Mr Xiong Guofeng, secretary to the 

China’s ambassador to Myanmar, 

was responding to an April 19 report 

on Radio Free Asia in which Minister 

for Environmental Conservation and 

Forestry U Win Tun was quoted as 

saying that China opposes the presence 

of monitors from the United States, 

United Kingdom or United Nations at 

the talks. 

“China seemed to be reluctant to 

invite representatives of the United 

Nations, the US and Britain to be 

present at the talks. China showed its 

reluctance to the Kachin side, not to the 

government side. The invitation was 

made by the Kachin side,” U Win Tun 

was quoted as saying. 

Mr Xiong said the he was not 

authorised to comment on whether 

the minister’s comments would affect 

China’s role in the peace talks. 

U Win Tun’s comments came after 

China rejected allegations from the 

Kachin Peace Network that the 

delay was over its reluctance to allow 

observers. The talks were due to be held 

on April 6 in Myitkyina. 

The Chinese embassy said in a 

statement on April 7 that it “feels regret 

for [the] lack of factual basis” in media 

reports in which the Kachin activist 

group alleged Chinese interference in 

the peace process. 

“Chinese side is willing and always 

ready to render its humble support and 

assistance to the peace talk between the 

two sides in the future, as requested 

by the Myanmar government, helping 

them get long-term peace through peace 

talk,” the statement said. 

But KIO spokesperson U La Nan 

backed up the Kachin Peace Network’s 

allegations. 

“China proposed to us that it was 

proper to invite Asian observers. They 

are not willing to let Western countries 

sit at the round table and see what they 

are discussing in regards to the Kachin 

issue,” he told The Myanmar Times 

earlier this month. 

A spokesperson for the Peace-talk 

Creation Group, a Kachin-based 

organisation that is helping to arrange 

the meetings, said on April 24 that no 

date had been set for the next round 

of talks. 

PNLO chairman Colonel Khun Okkar (right) at a press conference on March 23. Pic: Boothee 

PNLO chairman to resign this week 

A LONG-TIME opponent of the 

government is to step down from 

his post citing health reasons 

this week. Colonel Khun Okkar, 

chairman of Pa-O National 

Liberation Organisation, said 

it was time to hand over his 

responsibilities to the next 

generation. 

He will formally resign at the 

organisation’s annual conference 

to be held from April 28-30 in 

Mae Hong Song, Thailand. 

Col Khun Okkar has been 

campaigning for the rights of 

the Pa-O ethnic group since 

1972, and has been chairman 

of PNLO since 2009. He is also 

general secretary of the United 

Nationalities Federal Council 

(UNFC), a position he will 

continue to hold. 

According to the Pa-O National 

Liberation Organisation 

constitution, a chairman’s term 

is three years. 

“I don’t want to serve another 

term. I’m ready to hand over to 

whoever is duly elected chairman 

by the conference,” said Col 

Khun Okkar, adding: “But that 

doesn’t mean I’m giving up 

politics. I will continue fighting 

for genuine democracy in any 

other role.” 

Thailand. Pa-O political 

forces, civil societies, women’s 

organisations and observers 

will attend the conference to 

discuss local politics, foreign 

relations, social issues and future 

directions. 

During Col Khun Okkar’s 

chairmanship, the PNLO signed 

a ceasefire agreement with the 

government in August 2012 and 

then held union-level peace talks. 

“I’m satisfied with my actions 

during those three years,” said 

Col Khun Okkar. 

– Ei Ei Toe Lwin

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

UMTA re-election 

slated for April 28 

By Yu Yu Maw 

The Union of Myanmar 

Travel Association will make 

a third, and final, attempt 

to elect a new executive 

committee this weekend – 

more than six months after 

the original election, a source 

within the organisation has 

told The Myanmar Times. 

Results of an earlier 

election on October 7, 2012, 

were annulled as fewer than 

50 percent of members voted. 

Representatives from 

several travel companies 

spent seven hours venting 

their frustrations at 

the meeting about the 

association’s “lack of 

leadership” with regard to 

exorbitant hotel room rates. 

After annulling the 

results of that election in 

late October, the committee 

drafted rules for a new 

election to be held in 

December but the meeting 

was later cancelled. 

The Ministry of Hotels and 

Tourism will supervise the 

new election on April 28 and 

three members have been 

chosen to oversee the process: 

U Yan Win, chairman of 

the Myanmar Tourism 

Federation (MTF); U Khin 

Zaw, managing director of 

the Tour Mandalay Travel 

Company; and U Win Kyi, 

a principal of the Hotel and 

Tourism training centre run 

by Yangon’s Kandawgyi 

Palace Hotel. 

There are 610 members of 

the UMTA and each company 

must send at least one person 

to the meeting to cast a 

vote. All members of the 

association are being advised 

to attend the meeting. 

The source said they were 

not sure if Minister for Hotels 

and Tourism U Htay Aung 

Results of an 

earlier election 

were annulled. 

will attend the upcoming 

election, which will be held 

at the Inya Lake Hotel. The 

ministry and committee 

members will hold meetings 

this week to discuss the 

agenda, the source said. 

A chair, two vice chairs, 

a general secretary, two 

assistant secretaries, a 

treasurer and 22 executive 

members will be selected in 

the election. 

The election committee 

had previously instructed 

members not to discuss the 

re-election with journalists. 

Villages cut off as hot 

season bites at Inle Lake 

By Aye Sapay Phyu 

RESIDENTS at Inle Lake 

are worried about a possible 

repeat of the 2010 drought, 

which saw large swathes 

of the water body dry up 

completely. 

No pre-monsoon rain has 

fallen in the lake’s catchment 

area yet, and water levels 

are significantly down on the 

pre-Thingyan period, with 

just 1 foot (30 centimetres) of 

water remaining at the jetty 

at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. 

“The water level normally 

keeps going down until 

Kasone [in May] so villagers 

are worry about seeing 

the same situation as in 

2010. It will not be good 

if we have no rain in next 

10 or 15 days,” said U Tin 

Soe, joint secretary of the 

Intha Literature, Culture 

and Regional Development 

Association. 

He said the water level had 

dropped about five inches 

over the past two weeks, 

effectively cutting off some 

villages from water transport. 

“Almost no pre-monsoon 

rain has fallen in the lake 

area this year. Instead of 

rain we saw thick fog at the 

Boats berth on the canal linking Nyaungshwe and Inle Lake. Pic: Win Oo Tan 

lake, even in the afternoon. 

There was less water from 

streams that flow into the 

lake and water was flowing 

quickly out of the lake,” 

said U Tin Soe, who lives 

in Tha Pyay Pin village on 

the lake’s west bank. “As a 

result, some villages, such as 

Heya Ywama, Minchaung, 

Lin Kin and Tha Pyay Pin, 

are difficult to access by 

waterways.” 

U Win Oo Tan, general 

manager of Aureum Palace 

Resort at Inle Lake, said 

the low water level made it 

difficult for boats to approach 

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, 

the holiest Buddhist site in 

southern Shan State. 

“If we don’t see rain in May 

the situation will be serious. 

The water level has dropped 

day by day – it decreased 

about 8 inches to 1 foot in just 

20 days. The weather is very 

hot and there are no trees in 

the area,” he said. 

Travelling to other popular 

tourist sites on the lake, 

such as Indein, Samkar 

and Alotawpauk Pagoda, 

is also more difficult, with 

boats having to take slower 

alternative routes. 

U Kyaw Kyaw Oo, a staff 

officer in the Irrigation 

Department, said the low 

water level was the result 

of both a 36 percent drop in 

monsoon rainfall last year 

8 

and no serious pre-monsoon 

rain in 2013. 

“Last monsoon we had 

about 30 inches of rain in 

Nyaung Shwe, below the 

average of about 47 inches. 

That is the main reason 

that the level of the lake is 

down this year. The deputy 

minister for agriculture and 

irrigation visited the area on 

April 20. Since yesterday our 

department has been working 

to clear waterways to ensure 

convenient transportation 

near Phaung Daw Oo and 

other areas,” he said on April 

22, adding that the water 

level near Phaung Daw Oo 

was about 2 feet, and just 1 

foot near the pagoda’s jetty.

9 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

US officials continue 

dialogue with navy 


THE navy’s top brass met 

United States officials in 

Nay Pyi Taw last week in 

another indication of the 

country’s strong desire to 

engage with Myanmar’s 

military and its naval 

realignment to the Asia- 

Pacific region. 

US naval attaché Captain 

Sean Cannon, defence 

attaché Colonel William 

Dickey and US ambassador 

to Myanmar Derek Mitchell 

met Commander-in- Chief 

of the Navy Vice Admiral 

Thura Thet Swe on April 23. 

A US embassy 

spokesperson said the 

group met Vice Admiral 

Thura Thet Swe as part 

of an “ongoing discussion” 

with Myanmar’s military 

leaders. 

He said the US is 

continuing to take “a 

measured and calibrated 

approach” to engagement 

with the Tatmadaw. 

“We are talking about 

role of the military. We 

want to get more exposure 

to the military and more 

interaction with the 

military here. It is good for 

the relationship for that to 

happen,” the spokesperson 

said. 

Vice Admiral Thura Thet 

Swe was promoted to head 

of the navy in August 2012 

when his predecessor U 

Nyan Tun was appointed 

vice president following the 

retirement of Thiha Thura 

U Tin Aung Myint Oo. 

Capt Cannon is stationed 

in Bangkok, while Col 

Dickey, of the US Army, is 

based at the US embassy in 

Yangon. 

Nilanthi Samaranayake, 

a research analyst at CNA, 

a not-for-profit research and 

analysis organisation based 

in Virginia, said that the 

visit showed “US interest 

in incremental engagement 

with the Myanmar Navy”. 

This maritime 

engagement, though still 

cautious, is likely to focus on 

more than military-related 

naval issues. 

“There is much worthy of 

maritime coordination, such 

as humanitarian assistance 

and disaster relief,” Ms 

Samaranayake said, citing 

the US Navy’s efforts to 

provide aid following the 

destruction of Cyclone 

Nargis in 2008. 

The meeting is not the 

first between officials 

from the two navies since 

Washington began warming 

to President Thein Sein’s 

reformist government. 

On November 18, 2012 

– a day before President 

Barack Obama’s landmark 

trip to Yangon – Myanmar 

naval officers toured 

amphibious assault ship 

USS Bonhomme Richard 

while it was in the Andaman 

Sea. 

“The dialogue provided 

an opportunity to have a 

frank and open discussion 

with the Burmese military 

on human rights and rule 

of law issues and concerns,” 

the US Pacific Command 

said in a statement at the 

time. 

These nascent 

interactions fit with the 

broader realignment of 

US naval activities from 

the Middle East to the 

Asia-Pacific region. Last 

year US Defence Secretary 

Leon Panetta said the US 

Navy will reposition 60 

percent of its warships into 

Asia by 2020 and increase 

the number of military 

exercises it conducts in the 

region. 

Highway police monitor cars on the Yangon-Mandalay Highway. Pic: Su Hlaing Tun 

Police catch hundreds in camera blitz 

By Su Hlaing Tun 

ALMOST 500 drivers have been nabbed 

speeding on the Yangon-Mandalay Highway 

during a month-long police blitz. 

Police Colonel Nay Win from the 

Highway Police Force said 489 drivers 

had been charged with speeding on the 

highway since April 1 – an average of 

more than 40 a day, because the police 

force did not monitor the highway over 

the 10-day water festival break. 

In one case, the driver of a Toyota 

Landcruiser was caught speeding at 167 

kilometres an hour, two-thirds above the 

100km/h limit. 

Pol Col Nay Win said the blitz was not 

designed to generate income through fines; 

drivers are not given the option of an onthe-spot 

fine and instead have to appear in 

court in Yangon, Mandalay or Nay Pyi Taw, 

depending on where the alleged speeding 

offence took place. 

“We are charging them so they have to go 

to court, where judges can enlighten them 

about dangerous driving. We are trying to 

train them to drive within the speed limit,” 

said the police colonel. 

“We have to explain patiently to them 

that our task is not to get fines.” 

Fines are, however, levied at the court. 

Those appearing in Yangon or Mandalay 

have to pay fines totaling K31,500, while at 

Nay Pyi Taw the total is just K1500. 

“As soon as possible we will make the 

fines equal,” Pol Col Nay Win said. 

– Translated by Zar Zar Soe

Upper Myanmar 10 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Govt to pay K20b 

compensation over 

Paunglaung dam 

By Win Ko Ko Latt 

THE government will pay out K20 billion (about 

US$22.5 million) in compensation to residents of 

23 villages forced to move for the Paunglaung hydro 

dam project, a Ministry of Electric Power official 

says. 

The 140-megawatt dam in southern Shan State’s 

Pinlone township is scheduled for completion in 

2014. 

“We will give K11 billion to cover resettlement, 

including moving their houses, making new farms 

and compensating for trees that were lost. The rest 

will be used to build new monasteries, a school, 

water and electricity supply, Buddhist temples and 

so on,” said U Win Naing, an assistant director from 

the ministry. 

He said that the government will give K600,000 to 

cover the cost of clearing each acre of farmland, while 

K450,000 will be given to compensate for the lower 

agricultural productivity of the new site. Those who 

previously had no farmland will receive K300,000 

to cover the cost of developing two acres, he said. 

He said compensation will be given in two 

payments, with 50 percent handed out prior to 

moving and the remainder after moving. 

The 23 villages comprise 2474 households and 

9755 people. 

“I received K2.5 million for my house and K300,000 

for two acres of new farmland. I am pleased with the 

government compensation,” said U Kyaw Myint from 

Shan Kone village. 

On April 8, the government handed out K1.418 

billion to 539 households in six of the villages. 

Protests fail to deter MCDC housing plan 

By Phyo Wai Kyaw 

and Si Thu Lwin 

PLANS to develop low-cost housing in 

Mandalay will go ahead, Mandalay City 

Development Committee says, despite 

protests from people who were evicted 

from the land being used for the project. 

“We are planning this project so that we 

offer good quality housing at the cheapest 

price possible,” senior committee official 

U Tun Kyi said on April 23. “We will be 

talking to engineers and contractors on 

April 26.” 

The houses are slated for Chan Mya 

Tharsi township in the southeast of the 

city, in a section bounded on the north 

and south by 44 th and 48 th streets, and 

on the east and west by Yuzana Street 

and the Mandalay-Pyin Oo Lwin railway. 

The plan is to build four four-storey 

buildings, with a total of 5000 rooms. 

MCDC issued a tender for the project in 

February. 

The project, however, was beset by 

controversy before it even started. 

Removal of the area’s former residents 

by MCDC in August and September 2012 

led to violent clashes. 

U Aye Thein, a senior member of a group 

called the Peace and Public Fairness 

Association, which has campaigned 

on behalf of the evicted residents, said 

protests were planned if the dispute is 

not resolved “fairly”. 

He was quoted in Mandalay journal 

Myanandar as saying that the former 

residents had been told they would be 

given the first chance to buy housing 

New committee planning 

in the new complex but they were not 

satisfied with this offer. 

While MCDC says the residents bought 

land in the area illegally, one resident 

countered that MCDC knew about the 

land sales and did nothing to stop them. 

U Tun Kyi said that those who object 

to the removals – and the housing 

anti-extremist sermon day 

People tend to a woman injured in a confrontation between MCDC staff and 

Chan Mya Tharsi residents in August 2012. Pic: Phyo Wai Kyaw 

By Aung Ye Thwin 

project – are misunderstanding MCDC’s 

motivations. “We removed the landowners 

who wrongfully bought ownership 

documents. Some (former residents) 

object to the project because they don’t 

understand the good intentions of the 

government. We will continue with the 

project and hope to get started soon.” 

Mandalay traders 

issue warning on jade 

Sitagu Sayadaw will lead effort to counteract extremist ‘969’ campaign 

By Khin Su Wai 

THE Venerable Sitagu 

Sayadaw will lead a 

sermon in Mandalay next 

month aimed at combating 

the spread of “extreme 

opinions”, particularly the 

“969” campaign, organisers 

of the event say. 

“We are arranging to 

hold a preaching event 

with Sitagu Sayadaw and 

other monks to control 

extreme opinions found 

on the 969 campaign 

preaching CDs. We also 

hope to distribute recording 

of Sitagu Sayadaw’s 

sermon,” said Daw Amar 

Ni of the newly formed 

Committee of Prevention 

for the Creation of Riots 

(Mandalay). 

The location and date of 

the event has not yet been 

confirmed, she said. 

The committee was 

established shortly 

after the Meiktila riots 

as a means of publicly 

opposing hateful messages. 

Daw Amar Ni said the 

movement to strengthen 

the voices who oppose the 

violence is spreading to 

other regions and more 

than 80 young National 

League of Democracy 

members have recently 

joined the Mandalay group. 

Daw Amar Ni said she 

and others involved in the 

committee felt the need 

to act after realising the 

impact the “969” sermons 

were having on friends and 

family. 

“My son listened to 

extreme Buddhist doctrine 

at our neighbour’s house,” 

she said. 

“After the violence that 

took place in Meiktila, I 

realised that extremist 

opinions are widely spread 

… the aim of the committee 

is to give real information 

and wipe out the rumours. 

“We aim to ensure that 

this democratic country 

has freedom of worship.” 

The committee’s efforts, 

she said, are already 

having an effect. During 

‘ After the violence that took palce 

in Meiktila, I realised that extremist 

opinions are widely spread.’ 

Thingyan, Daw Amar Ni 

said rumours began to 

spread in Mandalay that 

someone had been splashed 

with acid in Pyin Oo Lwin. 

“We were able to spread 

the message that the 

rumour was not true after 

we enquired at clinics and 

hospitals with the help of 

young monks from the Asia 

Alin Yaung Monastery,” 

she said. 

The committee has 

also distributed 20,000 

pamphlets with signatures 

and quotations from monks 

who oppose the violence. 

It was established after 

collaborating with local 

monks and other religious 

leaders to educate the 

public, she said. There 

are seven sub-committees 

within the committee. 

Ironically, one of 

committee’s leading 

members is Sayadaw 

Wirathu, who has been 

accused of initiating the 

969 campaign, which 

encourages Buddhists to 

only frequent businesses 

run by other Buddhists. 

The committee also 

features Sayadaw U 

Satetita from Asia 

Alin Yaung Monastery, 

Sayadaw U Withuta from 

the Yay Taw Monastery 

and Sayadaw U Tayzar 

Bartha from the Kan 

Tat Kone Monastery. – 

Translated by Zar Zar Soe 

BUYERS at Mandalay’s 

jade market are urging 

officials to crack down on 

fake jade sales, which they 

say have increased since the 

start of the year. 

The jade market in Maha 

Aung Myay township has 

always had its share of 

fraudsters, said gem dealer 

U Swe. But the problem 

has grown significantly and 

is harming the market’s 

reputation among foreign 

and local jade buyers, he 

said. 

“Officials should take 

action against them 

effectively. The centre 

will be disgraced if foreign 

visitors buy these fake 

stones. In China, the 

officials put up photos of 

fake gem sellers around the 

gem trading center if they 

arrest them, along with a 

brief explanation of how 

they cheat buyers,” he said. 

“Their techniques can’t 

trick the experienced gem 

dealers, so they target 

visitors,” he said, adding 

that little had been done to 

crack down on the practice. 

Most of the methods for 

producing fake jade have 

A trader at the Mandalay 

jade market. Pic: Aung Ye 

Thwin 

been imported from China, 

one gem dealer said. These 

include dyeing or pouring 

plastic liquid onto cheap 

stones to make them appear 

better quality. 

Gem dealers at the Maha 

Aung Myay market said 

people who show foreign 

visitors around the market, 

such as tour guides, should 

have a good knowledge about 

how the market operates. 

If possible, they should 

encourage their clients to 

work only with trusted gem 

dealers. – Translated by Zar 

Zar Soe

11 

Trial begins for 

seven accused over 

killing of monk 


THE second hearing in 

the trial of seven Muslims 

accused of killing a 

Buddhist monk during 

unrest in Meiktila last 

month was held on 

Tuesday, a police official 

said. 

The death of the monk 

prompted an escalation 

of the Meiktila unrest, 

which saw more than 40 

people killed. The monk, 

U Thawbita from Hanzar 

village in Thazi township, 

was killed on March 20 

while visiting Meiktila to 

buy items for a donation 

ceremony. 

“The first hearing was 

on April 22 and we had 

the second hearing on 

April 23,” said an official 

from Meiktila’s No 2 police 

station. The accused are 

next due in court on April 

29. 

The head of the station, 

U Myint Than, is acting as 

the plaintiff in the case. He 

sent the case to Meiktila 

District Court on April 10 

and U Aye Lwin, head of 

Central 

Myanmar 

sees seven 

tremors in 

22 days 

the district court, accepted 

the case. 

“The [seven suspects] 

are accused of killing a 

Buddhist monk and have 

been charged with murder, 

causing serious injuries, 

arson, and aiding and 

abetting,” he said. 

He said six lawyers 

are representing the 

defendants, while the 

‘ The court will 

decide whether 

they are guilty.’ 

prosecution has one lawyer. 

He refused to comment 

further, other than that 

security had been tightened 

around the court. “The 

court will decide whether 

they are guilty,” he said. 

Meiktila residents said 

they were following the 

case closely and wanted to 

see an impartial judgement. 

“We are interested in the 

case but unfortunately the 

court won’t let people in to 

watch,” said Ko Thu Ra, 32. 


REHABILITATION efforts 

in Meiktila should be 

completed within three 

months, an official said 

on April 20, a month after 

violence broke out in the 

Mandalay Region town. 

A dispute in a gold shop 

on March 20 sparked days 

of bloody violence in the 

town, which left at least 

44 people dead. The unrest 

later spread to Bago Region. 

“Our recovery plan for 

Meiktila won’t take as long 

as in Rakhine State because 

there was not as much 

damage and it was not as 

widespread. Recovery will 

likely be completed within 

two or three months,” U 

Sa William French, deputy 

director of the Relief and 

Resettlement Department, 

told The Myanmar Times 

in Meiktila. 

He said the government 

has enough food for those 

displaced, with more than 

6000 bags of rice and other 

items. As of April 20, about 

K490 million in donations 

in cash and kind had been 

received. 

The United Nations 

Office for the Coordination 

of Humanitarian Affairs 

said in a situation report 

released on April 9 that 

more than 8400 displaced 

people were still living in 

relief camps, while 1594 

homes were destroyed or 

damaged by arson. Some 

will be transferred to other 

locations as the schools 

they are staying in are due 

to reopen, U Sa William 

French said. 

“Under the first step of our 

rehabilitation plan we sent 

refugees from the Teacher 

Training College to the 

transportation school. ... We 

are also planning to relocate 

2317 refugees staying at 

government schools to other 

places,” he said. 

Mandalay Region 

Attorney General U Ye 

Aung Myint said the 

regional government plans 

to build low-cost houses, at 

an estimated cost of K3.5 

million each, for those who 

lost their homes in the 

violence. 

Upper Myanmar 

However, he would not 

say when construction 

would begin. 

“We will wait for the 

situation to be stable. If we 

think it is okay between the 

two communities we will 

start building houses,” U Ye 

Aung Myint said. 

But Ma Nge, a 30-yearold 

Muslim resident of 

Thirimingalar ward whose 

home was destroyed, said 

the financial and emotional 

impact of the violence will 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Meiktila recovery complete 

within three months: official 

Monks walk past a burning truck during riots in Meiktila 

in late March. Pic: Si Thu Lwin 

linger long after houses are 

rebuilt. 

She said she cannot 

afford to send her sixyear-old 

son to school and 

worries whether “he may 

be discriminated against 

because I am Muslim”. 

“We have lost everything, 

including my father [who 

was killed in the violence]. 

I do not know what to do in 

the future. Refugee camps 

only can give us food,” she 

said. 

SEVEN minor earthquakes 

were recorded between April 

1 and 22, the Department of 

Meteorology and Hydrology 

said. 

The first earthquake was 

recorded about 11pm on 

April 3 and measured 5.5 

on the Richter scale. The 

epicentre of the quake was 

49 miles south of Nay Pyi 

Taw, or 190 miles southwest 

of the Mandalay earthquake 

measuring centre that 

records seismic events. 

The next day, a second 

earthquake hit at 5:30am, 

40 miles southwest of Nay 

Pyi Taw, and was measured 

at 4.7. Just before 10pm that 

night, another earthquake, 

this one with a force of 5.4, 

struck 40 miles southwest of 

Nay Pyi Taw. And at 1:15pm 

the next day, on April 5, an 

earthquake measuring 3.5 

on the Richter scale struck 

33 miles west of Taungoo. 

On April 12, another 

quake shook the area 29 

miles southwest of Nay 

Pyi Taw just after 3pm, 

measuring 4.8. A week later, 

on April 18, an earthquake 

struck 50 miles northwest of 

Katha, with a measurement 

of 4.5. Yet another was 

felt on April 22, this one 

measuring 4.6, five miles 

north of Haka in Chin State. 

Four earthquakes were 

recorded in January, while 

three were detected in 

March – Than Naing Soe, 

translated by Thit Lwin

Upper Myanmar 12 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Ten charged over 

anti-CNPC protest 

in Rakhine State 

China-backed oil pipeline targeted by residents of Maday 

Island, who issued a set of nine grievances over the project 

By Myat May Zin 

and Soe Than Lynn 

TEN residents of Maday 

Island are facing prison 

terms after they allegedly 

protested without 

permission over a Chinabacked 

oil pipeline. 

About 200 residents took 

part in the protest outside a 

China National Petroleum 

Corporation construction site 

on Maday Island in Rakhine 

State on April 18, citing a list 

of nine grievances, including 

low wages and compensation 

for land acquisitions. 

The protest was organised 

by the Maday Island 

Development Association. 

The group’s chairman, U 

Tun Kyi, said he had twice 

applied twice for permission 

to hold the protest, in 

December and March, but 

on both occasions had been 

denied. 

On April 19 and 20, local 

officials charged 10 protest 

organisers, including U Tun 

Kyi, with violating section 18 

of the peaceful protest law. U 

Tun Kyi said the authorities 

had instructed those charged 

not to leave Rakhine State 

without permission. All 10 

were bailed and will soon 

face court. 

The protest came just 30 

minutes after a meeting 

between association 

members and officials from 

CNPC, the main investor 

in the oil pipeline, a CNPC 

spokesperson told The 

‘ A main point 

is that wages 

for locals who 

work on the 

Chinese projects 

are so low.’ 

Myanmar Times. 

“At 1:30pm on April 18 the 

group of protestors led by U 

Tun Kyi met us and discussed 

their nine points and they 

signed an agreement. I can’t 

understand why they then 

went out and protested at 

2pm after the meeting. We 

already explained about the 

land compensation issues 

and promised to improve 

transportation on the 

island in early May,” the 

spokesperson said. 

“We also didn’t request 

the local authorities arrest 

them. As far as I know, the 

police station just asked 

why their protest was held 

without permission and then 

they were able to return 

home after a few hours,” 

he said. 

The spokesperson 

conceded that the process of 

compensating landowners 

was difficult because most 

land on Maday Island was 

officially registered as 

vacant. 

“We already finished 

compensation for longterm 

land rent [of 30 years] 

but in some areas where 

land is being rented on a 

short-term basis it has not 

been concluded because the 

ownership is unclear. Most 

land at Maday Island is 

vacant land. We already 

applied to the government 

to use those areas but U 

Tun Kyi, who led the protest, 

asked us to compensate 

the residents. In those 

complicated areas we are 

An official stands in front of hundreds of protesters outside a China National 

Petroleum Corporation construction site on Maday Island on April 18. Pic: Supplied 

yet to pay compensation.” 

U Tun Kyi said most 

residents did not have 

official land ownership 

documentation. “They are 

working and living there on 

the land of their ancestors. If 

[CNPC] doesn’t compensate 

residents who can’t show 

land ownership certificates 

we will continue to push for 

the rights of our people,” 

he said. 

“They also promised to 

improve transportation on 

Maday Island after May 7 

when we met with them. 

If they don’t start these 

projects we will protest 

again, whether we have 

permission or not.” 

One resident told The 

Myanmar Times that wages 

were also an issue. 

“A main point is that wages 

for locals who work on the 

Chinese projects are so low, 

and also the compensation 

given for farmland is low. 

So we protested to demand 

our desire … we need to 

demonstrate like that to 

get a reasonable wage 

and compensation for our 

farmland,” the resident said 

on April 22. 

CNPC is one of several 

investors in oil and gas 

pipelines that will link 

Rakhine State with China’s 

Yunnan Province. Only the 

oil pipeline passes through 

Maday Island. 

Meanwhile, on April 20, 

two senior members of 

the Rakhine Nationalities 

Development Party 

departed for China at 

the invitation of the 

China Communist Party. 

Chairman Dr Aye Maung 

and U Zaw Aye Maung were 

among 10 politicians invited 

on the eight-day trip. 

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Man kills himself at 

second attempt 

A MAN who survived a 

suicide attempt hung himself 

later the same day, 

police in Mandalay said. 

The 27-year-old man, 

originally from Yangon’s 

Htantabin township, hung 

himself with electrical 

cables in a Myanmar CP 

Livestock office in Chan 

Myar Tharsi township on 

April 8. 

The man was not employed 

by the company. 

“At about 6am the same 

day, he attempted to commit 

suicide by throwing 

himself into the path of an 

oncoming truck laden with 

rocks. He survived because 

the truck managed to stop 

in time,” a police official 

said. – Si Thu Lwin 

Fewer accidents 

during NPT Thingyan 

FEWER injuries and 

deaths from vehicle accidents 

were reported during 

Thingyan festivities in Nay 

Pyi Taw this year, police 

said. 

“There were fewer pandals 

than last year so traffic 

police could better control 

vehicles,” Lance Corporal 

Soe Min of the Traffic Police 

Force said on April 22. 

This year’s festival saw 

nine accidents in the Nay 

Pyi Taw area. Thirty-eight 

people were injured, while 

six people were killed. 

While sobering, these 

numbers were an improvement 

on 2012, when 93 

people were injured and 10 

killed in 15 accidents. 

– Pyae That Phyo 

No plan to raise 

Dhammazedi bell 

THE Ministry of Culture 

has no immediate plans to 

raise the Dhammazedi Bell 

from the Yangon River, an 

official said last week. 

The ministry was responding 

to reports in local journals 

and online forums quoting 

writer Chit San Win, who 

said the ministry has already 

hatched a plan to recover the 

bell. But an official from the 

ministry’s Department of Archaeology, 

National Museum 

and Library rejected the report 

on April 22. 

“We have many other priority 

projects so there’s no 

way we can look at doing it 

this year, although in the 

past we have made several 

studies into the bell,” he 

said. – Cherry Thein

13 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Activists criticise ICG over U Thein Sein peace prize 

By Bill O’Toole 

THE International Crisis 

Group awarded President 

U Thein Sein its annual 

“Pursuit of Peace” award at 

a black-tie dinner in New 

York on April 22, in a move 

that has puzzled and even 

outraged opposition groups 

inside Myanmar. 

Minister for the President’s 

Office U Aung Min accepted 

the award on behalf of U 

Thein Sein, who did not 

attend the ceremony. Past 

winners include Bill Clinton 

and George HW Bush. 

The decision was first 

announced in December 

and has only become more 

controversial since then as 

a result heavy fighting in 

Kachin State and deadly 

riots in central Myanmar. 

In both cases, U Thein 

Sein was accused of not doing 

enough to stem the violence. 

The dinner was also held 

just hours after Human 

Rights Watch released a 

report alleging that the 

army and U Thein Sein’s 

government were guilty 

of an “ethnic cleansing” 

campaign against Rohingya, 

or Bengali, communities in 

Rakhine State. 

The International Crisis 

Group’s representatives 

in Brussels, New York, 

and Jakarta could not 

be reached for comment. 

However, a statement on 

the group’s website said: “[U 

Thein Sein’s] leadership has 

seen decisive action towards 

improving Myanmar’s 

relations with the political 

opposition and liberalising 

past repressive laws. He 

has made significant strides 

in ending the country’s 

decades-long internal 

conflicts, securing ceasefires 

with all but one of the ethnic 

armed groups.” 

The group also says that 

“[k]ey challenges remain 

to be addressed [that are] 

a legacy of Myanmar’s 

authoritarian past”. 

U Khun Htun Oo, a 

prominent Shan politician, 

told The Myanmar Times by 

phone from Lashio that the 

awarding of the prize was 

“premature”. He said the 

peace process “hasn’t gone 

so far” and the government 

often “says one thing and 

does another”. 

“We still have fighting 

between the government 

troops and [Shan State 

Army],” he said, despite 

the government agreeing 

an initial ceasefire with the 

Shan group in December 

2011. 

“We need to do a lot to 

implement law and order 

before” anyone in Myanmar 

deserves a peace award, he 

said. 

Ma May Sabe Phyu, a 

program director with the 

Kachin’s Women’s Peace 

Network, said she was 

unsure whether U Thein 

Sein deserved a prize. “I 

will say that during his 

administration there 

have been over 100,000 

[internally displaced people] 

in Kachin [State] … as a 

civil society group we don’t 

see any peace,” she said. 

Ma May Sabe Phyu said 

receiving the award could 

be a positive symbolic step 

for the country and inspire 

progress, but added that U 

Thein Sein has more work to 

Politician calls for stricter 

controls on party financing 

do to prove he is “interested 

in peace.” 

The President’s Office 

could not be reached for 

comment but in a video 

played at the reception, U 

Thein Sein said: “This is a 

time for possibilities. ...We 

must chart a collective path 

towards something better – a 

society that is open, inclusive, 

tolerant, and respectful of 

individual dignity. 

“I am mindful of the 

challenges. But, I am also 

heartened to know that 

we have friends in the 

international community 

who will keep us diligent 

and honest, but pick us back 

up if we stumble.” 

Commission 

invites civil 

society to help 

out with poll 

U Thein Nyunt criticises major parties for accepting foreign donations and using state funds 

By Soe Than Lynn 

U THEIN Nyunt has used a 

meeting with the Union Election 

Commission to call for clearer 

regulations on party fundraising, 

and criticise the major parties over 

their income sources. 

The New National Democracy 

Party chairman said at the 

Electoral Stakeholders Roundtable 

Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on April 

26 that the commission and other 

groups need to ensure that parties’ 

funds have been acquired legally 

and are used in accordance with 

the law. 

He said “some powerful 

political parties” – an oblique 

reference to the National League 

for Democracy, of which he was 

formerly a member, and the Union 

Solidarity and Development Party 

– are receiving money and other 

assistance from abroad or using 

state money and materials. 

“If they accept foreign assistance 

thinking it is for the party’s 

[community activities], not for the 

party’s political activities, it still 

contravenes the law, which bans 

‘directly or indirectly’ receiving 

foreign help for the party’,” said the 

Pyithu Hluttaw representative for 

Thingangyun. 

“Using money and materials 

from the state or assistance from 

abroad is a controversial issue, and 

the Union Election Commission 

need to … give an exact definition 

on taking foreign assistance and 

using state money in political 

parties before the 2015 election. If 

the current law isn’t clear, a new 

law should be presented to the 

hluttaw. We will all support it.” 

He said foreign financial support 

had historically been an important 

issue in Myanmar, citing the role 

China played in supporting the 

Burma Communist Party. 

“Any party that receives overseas 

support for its network and thinks 

that it doesn’t concern its political 

activities needs to understand that 

the party is at risk of coming under 

the influence of a foreign country 

sometime in the future,” he said. 

Twenty-one political parties, 

including the NLD and USDP, 

attended the meeting, along with 

Myanmar civil society groups and 

non-government organisations, 

such as the 88 Generation, 

Myanmar Egress and Yangon 

New National Democracy Party chairman U Thein Nyunt (left) talks with Union Election Commission 

chairman U Tin Aye outside the April 26 meeting in Nay Pyi Taw. Pic: Soe Than Lynn 

School of Political Science, 

and government officials and 

presidential advisers. 

International groups were also 

invited, with representatives 

from UN agencies, bilateral 

aid agencies, the International 

Institute for Democracy and 

Electoral Assistance, International 

Foundation for Electoral Systems 

and Asia Foundation all present. 

The morning session featured 

expert input on voter registration 

and political party financing, while 

the afternoon session focused on 

voter education and civil society 

election monitoring. 

U Thein Nyunt was one 

of six party representatives to 

discuss party financing. Election 

commission member Dr Daw Myint 

Kyi responded by outlining the 

ways parties could legally generate 

income, including membership 

‘ If the current law isn’t clear, a new law 

should be presented to the hluttaw. 

We will all support it.’ 

fees, donations and party-owned 

businesses. 

She said the funding system 

allowed in a country related to the 

level of its democratic development, 

the political knowledge of its people 

and the finances of the state. 

She said that funding was 

important for parties because 

of the high cost of registering 

candidates, the need to spend 

money on campaigning and the 

potential court costs related to 

filing an objection over election 

results. 

She said it was important 

that funds received by parties 

are recorded and managed 

“systematically”, preferably with 

the help of an accountant or other 

expert. 

A representative for the Chin 

National Party said the registration 

fee should be reduced to enable 

smaller parties to compete, and 

the government should subsidise 

the appointment of parties’ poll 

station representatives. 

“We should also be allowed to 

receive financial support from 

Chin family members who are 

overseas and restrictions on party 

fundraising should be relaxed,” the 

representative said. 

– Translated by Thiri Min Htun 

and Thit Lwin 

By Nan Tin Htwe 

PREPARATIONS for the 2015 

elections are already underway, 

says the chairman of the Union 

Election Commission, who 

has called for the increased 

participation of civil society groups. 

“I’m calling for suggestions and 

advice, and will try to prepare 

everything this year. But I want 

to say that I can do nothing after 

2013 because there [won’t be 

enough] time left,” said U Tin 

Aye. 

On April 26, the commission 

met civil society groups that 

monitored the 2012 by-election 

to discuss the challenges that the 

observers faced, as well as UEC’s 

current challenges, at its office in 

Nay Pyi Taw. 

U Tin Aye said civil society 

participation was critical, 

particularly given the 

commission’s inadequate budget, 

staffing and equipment. 

The civil society groups 

included Myanmar Network for 

Free Election, Karen Women’s 

Action Network, Myo Myanmar 

and Kumudra Foundation. 

Ko Myo Yan Naung Thein, 

director-in-charge of the free 

election network, said the 

registration process for observers 

should be simplified. 

“Anyone should be able to 

observe an election,” he told the 

meeting. “At the moment, the 

registration process has to go 

through the Ministry of Home 

Affairs. I think the commission 

should handle registration.” 

Karen Women’s Action Group 

director Daw Susanna Hla Hla 

Soe said the commission should 

educate voters about their 

rights, as her group saw some 

voters being ill-treated at polling 

stations. 

U Tin Aye said the commission 

would work with the ministries 

dealing with ethnic affairs to help 

overcome the language barrier in 

ethnic areas. 

Daw Susanna Hla Hla Soe 

also warned of possible tensions 

following the 2015 election 

as Myanmar is still an infant 

democracy. 

“There will be strong competition 

between two big parties,” she said 

referring Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 

National League for Democracy 

and the Union Solidarity and 

Development Party. “There 

might be tension if some people 

are not happy with their results.”

15 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Sittwe relief 

camp residents 

attack officials 

over census 

By Kyaw Hsu Mon 

ABOUT 200 residents of a large 

camp for displaced Muslims 

attacked immigration officers 

as they collected household 

information in preparation for 

next year’s national census, 

a Rakhine State Government 

spokesperson said. 

The dispute at the camp in 

Thatkepyin village, about 10 

kilometres from the state capital 

Sittwe, occurred on April 26 

when the officers tried to list 

the ethnicity of camp residents 

as Bengali. Some of the camp’s 

residents refused, saying they 

would only sign as Rohingya. 

‘ They hit them with 

stones because they 

wanted to be listed 

as Rohingya.’ 

About 70,000 Muslims 

displaced by rioting in June and 

October 2012 are thought to live 

in the camp. 

“It happened at about 11am, 

while the immigration officers 

were in the middle of a group 

of Bengalis. They hit them with 

stones because they wanted to be 

listed as Rohingya,” government 

spokesperson U Win Myaing told 

The Myanmar Times. “They said 

that if the immigration officers 

didn’t accept them [as Rohingya] 

that they would fight.” 

Several officers suffered minor 

injuries in the incident, he said. 

“President U Thein Sein 

already announced to the world 

that we don’t have Rohingya in 

our country but they still want 

to show the world that they 

are Rohingya. In my personal 

opinion, some people or some 

groups are behind this incident,” 

U Win Myaing said. 

Rakhine Pyithu Hluttaw 

representative U Aung Mya 

Kyaw said two officers were 

hospitalised following the 

incident. 

Meanwhile, a post on the 

Rohingya Blogger Facebook page 

said immigration officers had 

used violence when entering the 

nearby Baw Du Pha camp, which 

is also in Sittwe township. The 

report said the officials at that 

camp also tried to get residents to 

register as Bengalis, rather than 

Rohingya. The post also carried 

photos of an injured teenage boy 

and said he had been shot with 

a rubber bullet. 

However, comments on the 

page said the camp’s residents 

had formed a “human wall” to 

stop and attack the officers. 

Immigration officials entered 

the camps to collect data as 

preparation for next year’s 

census. In March 2014, Myanmar 

will conduct its first census 

since 1983 in cooperation with 

the United Nations Population 

Fund. 

U Win Myaing said 

preparations had begun in late 

2012 but it was the first time 

officials had tried to collect data 

in the Thatkepyin camp. 

“It is an extremely difficult 

to get information about the 

situation inside the Bengali 

camp … I feel that they are 

scared of people knowing what 

their real population is,” he said. 

Sittwe resident Ko Aung Hla 

Kyaw said the confrontation 

came a few days after some 

camp residents visited Sittwe 

and got into an argument with 

the town’s Muslim population. 

Sittwe’s Muslims, he said, do not 

like the people in the camp, who 

have mostly come from near the 

border with Bangladesh. 

U Win Myaing said the 

violence was hindering regional 

development efforts. “The guest 

must follow the rules of the host 

– that is essential,” he said. 

Police lead Ko Ye Min Oo from Bahan Township Court on April 22. Pic: Aung Htay Hlaing 

Activist Ye Min Oo facing more charges 

By Naw Say Phaw Waa 

DETAINED political activist Ko 

Ye Min Oo was last week charged 

a third time, apparently over his 

involvement in recent religious 

violence. 

Ko Ye Min Oo, secretary of the 

Federation of Students’ Unions 

(Organising Committee), had 

previously been charged for inciting 

unrest under section 505(b) in 

Bahan and Kyauktada township 

courts. On April 22, he was charged 

in Thaketa Township Court under 

section 153, a similar charge to 

505(b). 

Following the Thaketa hearing, he 

was taken to Bahan Township Court, 

where about 40 supporters, including 

15 monks, were waiting for him. 

Supporters said he had not been told 

he would be taken to Thaketa court 

before the Bahan hearing. 

The situation became heated 

when police only allowed monks to 

enter the courtroom and speak with 

Ko Ye Min Oo. 

“They didn’t even let the media 

meet me. The fourth pillar is very 

important for our country, which is 

going towards democracy, and they 

are afraid to let the media meet me. 

This is not democracy, even though 

they are saying it is democracy. 

There needs to be transparency 

while we are going on the road of 

democracy,” Ko Ye Min Oo told The 

Myanmar Times at Bahan court. 

Ko Ye Min Oo’s lawyer, U Kyaw 

Hoe, said it was still unclear what 

he had been charged for, as the 

prosecution’s case so far had not 

been very specific. 

“I don’t know what to say 

because the allegations of Police 

Officer Yu Kyi at Bahan court on 

April 8 were not specific about Yae 

Min Oo’s case. The police officer 

didn’t mention anything, he just 

said Ye Min Oo was charged under 

section 505b of the Penal Code for 

allegedly committing an action 

that could incite people to commit 

an offence against the state or 

public tranquillity,” U Kyaw Hoe 

said. 

Ko Ye Min Oo’s family and 

supporters said they believe his 

arrest is linked to recent communal 

violence, citing Ko Ye Min Oo’s 

involvement in protests concerning 

unrest in Rakhine State. He was 

living in a monastery in Bahan 

township when he was arrested in 

late February. 

“I just found out that my brother 

was sent to Thaketa Township 

Court this morning. None of his 

family members knew about it until 

now. The police said Ko Ye Min Oo 

was charged under section 153 for 

inciting the monks and civilians,” 

said his brother, Ko Ye Min Aung. 

Tarmwe market shopkeepers to defy YCDC order 

By Noe Noe Aung 

SHOPKEEPERS at the 

Yarpyae Market in Tarmwe 

township are planning 

to defy an order from 

municipal authorities to 

vacate by May 1 unless they 

are they are given proof that 

they will be given spaces in 

the redeveloped project. 

Aung Kaung Kyaw 

Construction will redevelop 

the market into a 12-storey 

building and has apparently 

promised shopkeepers they 

will each be given a plot. 

But shopkeepers say they 

do not believe either Yangon 

City Development Council 

(YCDC) or the developer. 

“We want some proof from 

the company or YCDC,” 

shopkeeper Daw Khin Mya 

Mya said on April 26. 

“They said they will give us 

shops in the redevelopment 

but only verbally. We want 

to see a contract as proof 

in case there’s a problem 

later,” she said. 

“We are not saying that 

we won’t move out but this 

is our business and we’ll 

be ruined if we can’t get 

our shops back after the 

building is finished.” 

YCDC’s Department of 

Markets told shopkeepers 

on April 7 of the planned 

relocation but did not 

say where they would be 

temporarily relocated to. 

Daw Cho Cho Myint, 

another shopkeeper, said: 

“YCDC said a company will 

build a 12-storey building 

here but they didn’t show 

us any designs and the 

official did not answer our 

questions about where the 

temporary market would 

be.” 

She added that a separate 

official held a meeting 

with shopkeepers before 

Thingyan but did not 

provide much information. 

“The officer just said we 

would be given space at 

Bo Sein Mhan ground [in 

Bahan township] until the 

construction is finished,” 

greengrocer Daw Myint 

Myint Aye said. “He said we 

should submit applications 

for permits to operate in 

that temporary market but 

we have since been told that 

the first location has been 

changed. 

“Another YCDC official 

told some shopkeepers that 

we would have to move to 

a government market in 

Tarmwe township,” she 

said. 

“It’s become obvious to us 

that we can’t trust any of 

the verbal promises we’ve 

been given.” 

Yarpyae Market was built 

in 1989 and almost all of 

the shopkeepers have been 

working there since then, 

Daw Myint Myint Aye said. 

She added that there are 

nearly 600 shops in the 

market and more than 300 

shopkeepers. 

“It will not be okay for 

us to work in government 

market because the prices 

of our competitors will be 

lower. And I’m not sure that 

our customers will follow us 

if we have to move,” said U 

Kyaw. 

But U Aye Soe, chief 

executive officer of Aung 

Kaung Kyaw Construction, 

said the company will 

honour its agreement 

and give spaces to the 

original owners when 

the redevelopment is 

completed. 

“I promise that we will 

ensure all shopkeepers are 

given space, even if YCDC 

changes its plan,” he said. 

“But shopkeepers have to 

talk to YCDC about moving 

to a temporary market 

because that has nothing 

to do with us,” he added. 

“We have made an 

agreement with YCDC and 

we will start building work 

as soon as the site is handed 

over. We have already built 

a space for shopkeepers at 

the government market in 

Tarmwe – everything is 

ready for them if they are 

willing to move.” 

He added that 

shopkeepers will be given 

space in the ground floor of 

the redevelopment, which 

will include parking in the 

basement and on the second 

floor. All other floors will be 

residential, he said. 

“The project will take two 

years and could be finished 

by the end of 2015,” he said. 

“We finished a similar 

project at the Thingangyun 

Market, even though we had 

so many challenges to face 

in meeting the construction 

deadline. 

“But I kept my promise 

and all the shopkeepers 

were given ground-floor 

spaces. The shopkeepers at 

Yarpyae Market don’t need 

to worry.”

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

UN report details 

Myanmar’s place in 

global drug trade 

16 

By Bill O’Toole 

A NEW report from the United 

Nations Office of Drugs and Crime 

has detailed the increasingly 

interconnected world of organised 

crime and smuggling in East Asia, 

shedding light at the challenges 

facing both Myanmar and the 

region. 

“This report outlines the 

mechanics of illicit trade: the 

how, where, when, who and why 

of selected contraband markets 

affecting this region,” UNODC 

deputy executive director Mr 

Sandeep Chawla said at the 

report’s launch in Sydney on 

April 16. 

The report, “Transnational 

Organized Crime in East Asia 

and the Pacific”, is being touted 

as “the first of its kind” because it 

surveys many dozens of statistics 

and studies published by Asian 

governments, NGOs and UN 

agencies in the 10 years to April 

2012. 

The scope of the report is vast, 

covering the sale of counterfeit 

pharmaceuticals in China, illegal 

logging in Cambodia and tiger 

poaching in Vietnam, and it 

illuminates the role Myanmar 

plays in regional and global trade 

in illicit substances, including 

drugs. 

“Today, almost all of [East 

Asia’s] heroin production in 

the region is confined to the 

politically-contested parts of 

Myanmar,” the report says. The 

report details how chemicals used 

to refine heroin are smuggled into 

Shan State from China’s Yunnan 

Province, where the drug is made, 

and then smuggled in turn back to 

China, where it feeds the addiction 

of over one million users. 

In the case of amphetamine, the 

report explains how manufacturing 

yaba has become one of the few 

industries where Myanmar can 

beat its neighbours in the region. 

“There is evidence of domestic 

production in most of the countries 

of this region, but two countries 

have advantages that allow them 

to undercut local prices. The 

first is Myanmar, where political 

instability in Shan State and the 

special regions adjoining China 

has provided cover for large-scale 

drug manufacturing.” 

The authors state in a “threats 

summary” at the end of the 

chapter on illicit drugs that this 

manufacturing appears to be 

prolonging armed conflicts in 

both Shan and Kachin states, as 

rebel armies are loathe to give 

up territory and lose lucrative 

markets. 

The report also seeks to show 

how the problems of one nation 

can affect an entire region. “These 

transnational criminal activities 

are a global concern now. Illicit 

profits from crimes in East Asia 

and the Pacific can destabilise 

societies around the globe. Dollars 

from illicit activities in East Asia 

can buy property and companies 

and corrupt anywhere. We need 

to talk about this, and organise a 

coordinated response now,” said 

Govt unveils education 

policy changes for 2013 

Poppy plants lie on the ground after police destroyed a field in Shan State in January 2012. Pic: Reuters 

Mr Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC 

representative for Southeast Asia 

and the Pacific. 

The report ends with a detailed 

series of recommendations for 

stemming the massive flow of 

illegal goods, one of which simply 

says, “Prioritise Myanmar”. 

“Recent positive political 

developments in Myanmar ... 

provide a window of opportunity 

to effectively address opium, 

heroin and [methamphetamine] 

production in the country,” it 

says. 

“Poppy-growing areas are 

becoming more accessible to law 

enforcement intervention, and 

there is high-level pressure from 

the president to eliminate poppy 

cultivation.” 

But it warns that “international 

experience clearly indicates that 

crop elimination efforts must 

be accompanied by effective 

alternative development 

strategies if the livelihoods [and 

human rights] of poor farmers are 

to be protected, and the benefits 

are to be sustained.” 

Civil society plans 

national education 

conference for June 

Minister announces changes at three-day seminar, 

including steps to tackle high school drop-out rates 

By Yhoon Hnin 

THE Ministry for Education will 

make almost 30 policy changes for 

the 2013-14 school year, including 

extending primary and secondary 

schooling from 11 to 12 years. 

Other policies will see the high 

school-leaving rate tackled through 

improving the transfer of students 

from primary to secondary schools, 

applying pressure on parents 

to keep their children in school 

and providing more than 11,000 

scholarships. 

The recommendations of the 

recently completed Comprehensive 

Education Sector Review will also 

be implemented, while teachers 

will receive training in childcentred 

education techniques and 

be provided teaching aids. 

The policy changes were 

announced by Minister for 

Education Dr Mya Aye at the end 

of a three-day seminar at Yangon 

University on April 25. 

Other new policies will see school 

councils established by the end of 

July, the scouts program developer 

further and more private schools 

opened in accordance with Ministry 

of Education rules. 

The seminar – which was hosted 

by the Ministry of Education 

and attended by professors, 

teachers, and regional educational 

representatives – centred around 

six different reports, each dealing 

with a different area of concern. 

“We are planning to upgrade 

Myanmar education in line with 

ASEAN standards. The workshops 

will discuss the difficulties 

and barriers facing Myanmar 

education. Then we will find out 

which education sector needs to 

change its ways,” Dr Mya Aye said 

in his opening address on April 23. 

“We are planning to implement 

a long-term project for education 

development which will take 20 

years. In the short term, we will 

divide this project into four sectors 

of five years. 

“Making free elementary 

education compulsory, offering 

scholarships, increasing teacher 

recruitment and upgrading basic 

education infrastructure are part 

of this plan.” 

The reports focused on topics 

including the Comprehensive 

Education Sector Review, 

upgrading basic education, preelementary 

education and teacher 

training centres. 

Dr Mya Aye also said the 30 

percent increase in the education 

budget would allow the ministry 

to upgrade and improve existing 

buildings, and build more sports 

facilities. 

The infrastructure works will 

result in a reduction in classroom 

sizes in the long term, as the new 

classrooms can accommodate a 

maximum 50 students. 

There is also money in the budget 

for the recruitment of new teachers, 

he said. 

English pilot 

program to be 

launched in 

three schools 

By Yhoon Hnin 

THREE schools have been selected 

for a pilot project to improve 

the quality of English teaching, 

Minister for Education Dr Mya 

Aye has announced. 

Speaking at a conference on 

upgrading national education at 

Yangon University on April 23, 

the minister said the objective 

was to uncover weaknesses in 

education and to fill the gaps. 

The schools are Basic Education 

High School 1 Bahan, Basic 

Education Primary School 2 

Kamaryut and an elementary 

school in Pyinmana township, 

Mandalay Region. The project 

will examine teaching methods 

and the assessment of students. 

“If these three schools are 

successful in implementing the 

pilot project then we will apply 

these methods to other schools. I am 

negotiating with the British Council 

and trainers from Singapore for 

the teaching of English in basic 

education,” Dr Mya Aye 

The minister also said a political 

science department would soon 

open in Yangon University. 

By Aung Shin 

CIVIL society groups are 

planning to hold a national 

conference on education 

reform in June, the National 

Network for Education Reform 

said at a meeting in Yangon 

last week. 

The conference, to be 

held on June 8 and 9, will 

include participants from 

the network’s member 

organisations, as well as social 

associations, political parties, 

education experts and other 

individuals. 

The venue and program 

will be announced after a 

network meeting on May 7 

but organisers have already 

decided that they will focus 

on gathering the public’s 

views on what a national 

education policy should look 

like. Organisers say the 

conference will be the first 

on education organised by 

the non-government sector in 

“decades”. In February 2012, 

the government convened a 

Development Policy Options 

conference in Nay Pyi Taw 

that focused primarily on 

health and education policy. 

Dr Thein Lwin said the 

government’s conference was 

organised through a “topdown” 

approach, while the 

network’s would focus on 

giving perspectives from the 

ground level. 

“National education 

policy is the main focus 

[of the conference],” said 

National Network for 

Education Reform member 

Dr Thein Lwin. “This policy 

must be focused on public 

opinion. We are also going 

to discuss other education 

sectors, accountability and 

responsibility, management, 

objectives, curriculum 

suggestions, evaluation and 

exam systems and vocational 

education.” 

The Education Network, 

an initiative of the National 

League for Democracy of 

which Dr Thein Lwin is also a 

member, will donate K200,000 

towards covering the cost of 

holding the conference, he 

said. 

Outcomes of the conference 

will be reported to a Pyithu 

Hluttaw education committee 

and could be reflected in 

legislation submitted during 

the next session of parliament, 

which begins in June, Dr 

Thein Lwin said. 

Union Solidarity and 

Development Party Pyithu 

Hluttaw representative Dr 

Mya Oo proposed the creation 

of a national education law 

at a parliament meeting in 

November, 2012. The NLD 

has also been pushing hard 

for an overhaul of education 

policy. 

In addition to the upcoming 

national conference, NNER 

has already started running 

regional education seminars. 

NNER was formed following 

an education seminar in 

Yangon on October 6-7, 2012 

and includes political parties, 

activist networks like the 88 

Generation, non-government 

groups and monastic, 

Christian and private schools.

17 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Farmers still waiting 

for factory payout 

Double trouble for Mandalay trains 

Firemen extinguish a blaze that broke out on an upper-class carriage parked 

at Mandalay Railway Station on April 21. Officials said the fire, which caused 

extensive damage, was started by an unattended cigarette. The blaze came just 

two days after another upper-class carriage was damaged in a fire started by an 

unattended mosquito coil. Pic and caption: Si Thu Lwin 

By Su Hlaing Tun 

FARMERS in Nay Pyi 

Taw who lost land to the 

expansion of a state-run 

cement factory are closer 

to receiving compensation 

that was promised to them 

in January. 

The head of the factory said 

the official documentation 

for the compensation 

was now at the township 

survey department and the 

compensation would be paid 

after they were submitted 

to the Land Administration 

Committee in Nay Pyi Taw. 

The farmers 

apparently secured more 

than US$200,000 in 

compensation from Nay 

Pyi Taw City Development 

Committee for 170 acres 

of land confiscated in 

December 2012 for the 

expansion of the factory. 

The factory said it would 

pay K1.2 million for each 

acre of paddy land and K1 

million for other types of 

cultivable land, and the 

compensation is thought 

to be the highest paid in 

the Nay Pyi Taw Council 

area, which comprises eight 

townships. 

However, the head of 

the cement factory said 

the compensation amount 

would be decided by the 

Land Administration 

Committee, casting doubt 

over whether farmers will 

receive the figure promised. 

“We can’t confirm when 

the compensation will give 

because we haven’t got 

an exact list of the land 

for which we need to pay 

compensation. The list of 

farmland is at the township 

Survey Department. The list 

will then be given to the Land 

Administration Committee 

and compensation will 

be paid according to the 

rate determined by the 

committee,” the head of 

the cement factory told The 


“Some people claimed 

compensation for land 

where nothing had ever 

been grown – they shouldn’t 

do that. We were only 

able to reach a deal with 

them when we said we 

would hand the case to 

the Land Administration 

Committee,” said another 

official from the factory. 

Factory officials said 

four rates of compensation 

would be used based on 

the category of the land. 

This appeared to contradict 

the earlier arrangement, 

whereby farmers would 

receive K1 million or K1.2 

million an acre. 

Additionally, there is 

disagreement over the 

number of acres for which 

compensation will be paid, 

ranging from 143 acres to 

305 acres. 

Farmers said they wanted 

the issue to be resolved as 

soon as possible. 

“We made a deal to get 

K1 million for an acre of 

farmlands but we don’t 

know exactly when we’ll 

get it. It would be great 

if it was before the rainy 

season starts though so 

we can start cultivating 

our other land,” said Ko 

Aung, a farmer from the 

Aungchantha area. 

“We have to grow the 

crops in the farmlands 

according to the season. 

We only know that business. 

Rumours are spreading 

neighbouring villages 

that we get a lot of money 

for our farmland but we 

still haven’t got anything. 

We’d like to be given the 

compensation fairly and 

quickly,” said a farmer who 

grows sugarcane near the 

cement factory. – Translated 

by Thiri Min Htun

Features 18 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Hluttaw library gets a helping hand 

Foreign experts train library staff as part of a project to build information and research services for Myanmar’s MPs 

By Maria Danmark 

MEMBERS of the national 

parliament are increasingly 

making use of the powers 

afforded them in Myanmar’s 

new political system: not 

only are they questioning 

ministers on a wide variety 

of topics, but they are also 

enacting new legislation and 

revising existing laws. 

Despite their 

industriousness, MPs 

still face challenges in 

implementing the system 

of checks and balances 

outlined in Myanmar’s 

constitution. 

One of these is access to 

information. A February 

study of 40 MPs by the Inter- 

Parliamentary Union (IPU) 

found many wanted more 

research to support their 

work in the parliament. 

Based on an assessment 

mission in July 2012, the 

IPU started a short-term 

project on December 13 

to establish a parliament 

library in the Pyidaungsu 

Hluttaw. Unlike in many 

other countries, however, 

they still have to do most 

of the research themselves. 

“In more mature 

parliaments, the members 

of parliament often don’t 

find the information by 

themselves, because they 

don’t have the time to look 

it up in a book. They have 

support staff to do that. 

Here the MPs have to do 

everything by themselves, 

because they have no office, 

not all of them have a 

computer and they don’t 

have enough support staff,” 

said Ms Moire Fraser, one of 

the experts attached to the 

IPU project. 

In early 2013, there 

was about one support 

staff for every MP in the 

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. In 

mature parliaments the 

ratio is usually two to three 

support staff for each MP. 

“If you look at senators 

in the United States, then 

they have around 30 staff 

members to support them,” 

Ms Fraser said. 

It is estimated that it 

will take about three years 

to establish an effective 

information and research 

service in the library for 

the MPs. The Pyidaungsu 

Hluttaw library already has 

a current collection of 20,000 

books but most of them are 

sorted by donor rather than 

Ms Moire Fraser, a parliament library expert from Australia, with hluttaw staff at a research workshop in Nay Pyi 

Taw on April 8. The workshop was conducted under an Inter-Parliamentary Union project. Pic: Maria Danmark 

subject. The focus in the 

coming months will be to 

develop the collection. 

“The collection is 

reasonable, but there are 

not as many newspapers, 

journals and video clips. 

Now they have to focus on 

current information for MPs 

like government reports, 

comparative information 

and statistics in the 

collection,” Ms Fraser said. 

She said another challenge 

for the library was that 

education for librarians in 

Myanmar often focuses on 

academic libraries, which 

are different from those in 

parliaments. 

“There is a big focus on 

the collection here, but a 

parliament library should 

have a focus on the services 

and the MPs. It should 

be about taking the book 

down from the shelf and 

finding the answers for the 

members that will help 

them do the work, whether 

it is debating in the chamber 

or committee, making the 

law or policy work,” Ms 

Fraser said. 

The first phase of the 

project will also involve 

training the library staff and 

library committee so they 

can assist MPs in finding the 

right information. This is 

particularly important given 

it is thought that two-thirds 

of MPs do not know how to 

use the internet. 

“In other parliament 

libraries 95 percent of the 

work is done on computers 

and the last 5pc is the books. 

But the research training 

that we are giving now is not 

what we would think of as 

full tailored parliamentary 

research. It will come later, 

when we have the right 

kind of staff to do it. But 

what we are doing now 

is simply improving their 

searching for information 

and [teaching] how to 

present it for the members,” 

Ms Fraser said. 

The latest workshop in 

internet research focused 

on how to find information 

about Thailand and South 

Korea. Meanwhile, two 

groups of library staff are 

going to visit the parliament 

libraries in these countries 

to see how they work and in 

particular offer services to 

the MPs. 

“I hope that we can share 

our experience and that 

the parliament libraries in 

Asia can work together, but 

first we have to reach the 

same standards,” said Ms 

Sunida Boonyanon from 

the parliament library in 

Bangkok. 

During her visit she 

supplied an example of 

the Thai parliamentary 

library’s collection policy 

to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw 

library, as the latter does 

not have any policies, rules 

or regulations yet. 

Library staff readily 

concede they need assistance 

and training so they can 

better serve MPs. 

“Since we haven’t had 

a hluttaw library for 30 

years, we don’t have much 

experience with a parliament 

library, so I would like to 

observe the library in [South] 

Korea – how they supply the 

MPs’ needs and how they 

support the staff of the MPs,” 

said the library’s assistant 

director, Daw Ni Ni Aye, who 

was an academic librarian 

for 22 years before arriving 

in the hluttaw library. 

She said she is looking 

at ways to encourage more 

MPs to use the library. 

“We plan to open another 

reading room for the 

MPs, just near the Pyithu 

Hluttaw, where we will 

provide computers and 

newspapers. In that way 

we can attract users and at 

the same time promote what 

kinds of services they can get 

from the hluttaw library,” 

Daw Ni Ni Aye said, adding 

that she hopes the library 

will provide assistance to up 

to 100 MPs during the next 

session, which will begin in 

late June. 

So far, almost 20 MPs 

have used the facilities in 

the library. But Ms Fraser 

says whether there are 

MPs in the library is not an 

important indicator. 

“In other parliaments you 

would expect the library 

to come to the MPs. The 

library staff need to go 

where the members are. 

The MPs don’t know what 

kind of service they can get 

here. The next workshop 

will probably be focused on 

preparing a brochure and 

how to communicate the 

message out to the MPs,” Ms 

Fraser said. 

The IPU project runs until 

the end of 2013. If it is 

not extended, the project 

is likely to be taken over 

by the United Nations 

Development Program: the 

agency’s three-year, US$150 

million Country Program 

Action Plan approved on 

April 8 contains a focus on 

strengthening institutions 

of democratic and local 

governance, including 

the development of the 

parliament library.

19 

NLD health 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Govt to distribute 300,000 HIV test kits 

group plans 

first activities 

By Yamon Phu Thit 

THE National League for 

Democracy’s health network 

will conduct its first outreach 

activity with a visit to Yangon’s 

Dagon Seikkan township next 

month, where it will provide free 

health screening and treatment 

to residents, the network’s 

president said last week. 

The National Health Network 

will provide screening for 

hypertension, diabetes, cervical 

cancer and breast cancer, 

network president Dr Tin Myo 

Win said. The expenses will be 

covered using some of the K400 

million raised at an event on 

April 6. 

A mobile team of volunteers 

will be sent to the township to 

ensure that all residents have 

access to the network’s services. 

“Everything will be free of 

charge,” he said. “We chose this 

township because most of its 

residents are poor. 

“We plan to provide treatment 

to the patients according to their 

requirements. For example, by 

providing medicine or surgery.” 

The network established the 

service as a means of tackling 

common diseases and health 

problems in Myanmar that 

respond well to early detection 

and treatment. 

Dr Tin Myo Win said the 

visit to Dagon Seikkan is a pilot 

project ahead of a larger rollout 

to other parts of the country, 

including Ayeyarwady and Bago 

regions and Mon and Kayin 

states. 

Speaking at the fundraising 

event on April 6, NLD leader 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the 

network also planned to send 

doctors to remote areas that are 

neglected by the state system, 

and also ensure hospitals have 

enough medicines. 

But to expand its activities, 

the network will need to raise 

significantly more than K400 

million, said Dr Tin Myo Win. 

Network vice president Dr 

Than Aye said it will hold music 

shows, sporting events and 

health talks to generate more 

donations. 

The NLD launched the 

National Health Network in 

early February. 

By Shwe Yee Saw Myint 

THE Ministry of Health plans to 

distribute 300,000 HIV test kits 

to rural areas in order to help 

identify – and contain – the spread 

of the virus. 

“These test kits are for pregnant 

women and their husbands in rural 

areas, so they can get HIV tests 

done,” said Dr Tun Nyant Oo, a 

spokesperson for the ministry’s HIV 

department. “Now we are training 

medical staff, such as midwives, 

nurses and assistants, on how to use 

these test kits.” 

The program, which began with 

support from the Global Fund, will 

see kits distributed to medical staff 

in 250 of Myanmar’s 330 townships 

over the next two months. 

According to government 

figures,0.8 percent of pregnant 

women in Myanmar are infected 

with HIV.Prevalence nationwide 

among those aged 15 and over was 

estimated at 0.53pc in 2011, with 

8300 new infections occurring each 

year and 216,000 people living with 

the disease. 

These numbers may appear high, 

but Dr Tun Nyant Oo says they are 

likely to understate the real size 

of the HIV-infected population – 

something the new test kits will 

help to correct by making blood 

tests possible in more areas of the 

country. 

“This figure cannot show the real 

number of HIV-infected people in 

Myanmar because in rural areas 

there are no blood test centres. 

People can’t check their blood easily 

and they don’t know their status 

A HIV test kit of the kind that will soon be sent to rural areas. Pic: MSF 

themselves,” Dr Tun Nyant Oo 

added. 

While the new kit will make 

testing for HIV blood antibodies 

easier than previous tests, the kit 

will give only preliminary results. 

For absolute certainty, follow-up 

laboratory tests will be needed. 

“After staff have conducted a blood 

test with the kit, patients will have 

to bring the blood sample to their 

nearest township hospital blood test 

center,” Dr Tun Nyant Oo said. 

In some areas, he said, patients 

can also be tested anonymously at 

public health department offices. 

Regardless of the method used, Dr 

Tun Nyant Oo said it was important 

to undergo a follow-up test if the 

preliminary results indicated a 

patient was HIV-positive. 

“When you get an HIV test done, 

you either make sure that HIV is 

something that you do not have 

and do not have to worry about 

spreading, or you make sure you seek 

treatment as soon as possible. There 

are many benefits to early treatment 

that can be taken advantage of when 

HIV is caught in its earliest stages,” 

he added. 

Still, getting an accurate test is 

only the first struggle in curbing 

the spread of HIV in Myanmar. 

While about 125,000 people require 

antiretroviral treatment, only 35pc 

receive it. Last year alone, 18,000 

people died of HIV-related diseases, 

at a rate of about 40 a day, according 

to official figures.

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Ministry issues 

tender for Bagan 

zone fee collection 

By Yu Yu Maw 

THE government is set to 

outsource the collection 

of tourist entrance fees at 

Bagan, in a move that is 

likely to see tolls rise at the 

archaeological site. 

Organisations have 

until April 30 to submit 

a proposal. The Ministry 

of Culture issued 10 

guidelines when it 

announced the tender 

in mid-April, with the 

winning bidder required 

to give either US$2 million 

each year or 85 percent of 

earnings to the ministry. 

While private companies 

are allowed to take part, 

the ministry said it 

would give preference to 

“approved” tourism bodies. 

“We don’t have enough 

staff to handle the collection 

of zone fees and we hope 

the private sector can use 

these fees effectively for 

tourism development. It 

will mean we can also get 

steady revenue each year 

without having to collect 

UNICEF Vacancy Notice 

(For Myanmar Nationals only) 

Post Title: Child Protection in Emergencies Officer, based in Myitkyina 

(Temporary Appointment for 364 days) 

Level: NO-B with good benefits 

Purpose: To 1) support the Child Protection Programme team in 

implementation of Child Protection in Emergency activities including 

response to emergencies as well as emergency preparedness and risk 

reduction activities to support the overall Child Protection sub-sector 

(Protection Sector) in Myanmar, with a particular focus on Kachin State 

and 2) assist in monitoring and verification under the Action Plan for the 

Prevention of Recruitment and Release of Children from the Myanmar 

Armed Forces as well as monitoring and verification of grave child rights 

violations in Myanmar. 

Requirements: 

• Preferably advanced university degree in Social Sciences. First level 

University degree may be accepted in exceptional circumstances; 

• Specific training or experience in the area of disaster mitigation, 

preparedness and response and programming for children and young 

people desirable; 

• At least 2 years progressively responsible professional work experience 

in Child Protection in emergencies, disaster assessment, preparedness and 

response; 

• Current knowledge of development issues, policies and approaches in the 

Child Protection sector in Myanmar, especially in disaster management 

and preparedness. 

• Current knowledge of emergency response issues, policies as well as 

social programming policies and procedures in international development 

cooperation; 

• Excellent spoken and written English and Myanmar; 

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and have drive and passion; 

• Ability to cope with stressful and difficult conditions and political/cultural 

sensitivity; 

• Analytical skills and ability to compile and analyze data; 

• Previous work experience and local knowledge of Kachin State an asset. 

Detailed Job Description may be requested by writing to UNICEF 

Myanmar: thoo@unicef.org 

Please note that: 

1. UNICEF does not discriminate in regard to race, ethnicity and gender or 

persons living with disabilities. 

2. UNICEF fosters a climate of impartiality, fairness and objectivity and 

assures the equitable application of UNICEF regulations, rules and policies. 

3. Female qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. 

4. UNICEF is a smoke free environment. 

Qualified candidates may submit application with updated CV to 

UNICEF Myanmar Office to: jobs.yangon@unicef.org) 

Closing date: 10 th May, 2013 

fees ourselves,” a Ministry 

of Culture spokesperson 

told The Myanmar Times. 

Among the organisations 

planning to submit a 

proposal is the Myanmar 

Tourism Federation. 

Secretary U Phyoe Wai 

Yarzar told The Myanmar 

Times that the federation 

had agreed to take part in 

the tender at a meeting on 

April 24. 

He said it was better for 

a non-government entity 

to collect zone fees and the 

outsourcing would support 

the processes of tourism 

promotion and regional 

development. 

While the federation’s 

proposal is still being 

drawn up, he said it would 

opt to give 85pc of income 

to the ministry rather than 

pay the annual $2 million 

fee. 

It will also propose 

raising the entrance fee 

from $10 to $15. 

On April 25, members 

of the federation’s 11 subassociations 

met to work 

on the proposal. 

Army, officials evict 


EIGHT families who defied 

an eviction notice from the 

Tatmadaw have been forced 

from their homes in South 

Dagon township in a predawn 

raid. 

The raid occurred in the 

early hours of April 24 and 

the families said at a press 

conference later the same 

day that their homes and 

businesses were destroyed. 

“There were 150 police, 

military and [township 

officials] led by a lieutenant 

colonel and a major from 

the No 533 Light Infantry 

Regiment who came to our 

place around 5am,” said 

Daw Myint Myint Khaing, 

a housewife whose small 

workshop was demolished. 

“They were destroying our 

shops and houses before we 

even woke up.” 

In 2000, Daw Myint 

Myint Khaing’s family and 

seven other households 

rented the land from No 303 

Light Infantry Regiment, 

she said. In 2005, the land 

was transferred to the No 

533 regiment and residents 

were allowed to continue 

paying rent. 

“Rentals were increased 

every three or four months, 

but we paid whatever 

they demanded,” she said. 

“For me, I paid K56,000 a 

month for a 2400-squarefoot 

compound. This year, 

on March 15, the military 

issued an eviction notice. 

But we didn’t move out as 

we don’t have anywhere 

to go. 

“We begged them to keep 

letting us pay the rent to 

live here because we don’t 

have any other place to go, 

but they didn’t take it. … 

They issued another notice 

on April 22 and then on 

April 24 they destroyed our 

houses by force.” 

While the families did not 

argue with the legality of 

the eviction, the method and 

level of force used is likely to 

raise concerns. 

Daw Yin Mya, 71, was 

asleep in her home with 

her 13 family members 

when the soldiers arrived. 

When she realised what was 

happening, she abandoned 

her belongings and fled. 

“I didn’t even wake up. 

They were destroying our 

homes like they didn’t even 

care about the people in the 

house,” she said. “I am an 

old woman and if I couldn’t 

get out from my house in 

time, what will they do? I 

called for my grandchildren 

and we had to run away 

from the house, from the 

destruction.” 

Her granddaughter also 

witnessed the raid. 

“They pulled everything 

out from the house. And 

they piled our furniture 

and clothes on the road. 

Our houses and shops 

were on the ground,” the 

granddaughter said. 

After being forced to 

leave, the families, totalling 

about 70 people, were given 

20 

eight Yangon families 

TRADE MARK CAUTION 

Taco Bell Corp., a company incorporated in the State 

of California, U.S.A., of 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine, 

California 92618, U.S.A., is the Owner of the following 

Trade Marks:- 

Reg. No. 2705/2013 

Reg. No. 2706/2013 

Reg. No. 2707/2013 

Reg. No. 2708/2013 

Reg. No. 2709/2013 

Reg. No. 2710/2013 

Government workers tear down homes in South Dagon on April 24. Pic: Supplied 

Reg. No. 2711/2013 

Reg. No. 2712/2013 

refuge by the Myanmar 

Journalist Network, which 

also helped them organise 

the press conference. 

“I can’t even think 

where we will stay and 

sleep tonight. We have big 

families. There are children 

and employees in families. 

We are totally in trouble,” 

said Daw Myint Myint 

Khaing. 

Attempts to contact the 

South Dagon township 

administrator were 

unsuccessful, with The 

Myanmar Times being 

told repeatedly that he 

was unavailable to answer 

questions about the 

eviction. 

Reg. No. 2713/2013 

in respect of “Class 29: Meat, fish, poultry and game; 

meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits 

and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; milk and 

milk products; edible oils and fats. Class 30: Coffee, tea, 

cocoa and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and sago; flour 

and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastry and 

confectionery; ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, bakingpowder; 

salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); 

spices; ice; tortillas, tacos, burritos, nachos and other 

prepared Mexican foods for consumption on or off the 

premises. Class 43: Services for providing food and 

drink; temporary accommodation”. 

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 Taco Bell Corp. 

P.O. Box 60, Yangon 

E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm 

Dated: 29 th April, 2013

21 

Shan rights 

group accuses 

army of using 

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Security forces involved 

in Rakhine killings: HRW 

human shields 



THE Shan Human Rights Foundation 

has alleged that Tatmadaw soldiers 

fighting in northern Shan State used 

civilians as human shields during a 

recent three-day offensive. 

The group said that the incident 

occurred on April 15 outside of the 

town of Tang Yan, west of the Thanlwin 

River, a day after fresh clashes between 

Tatmadaw and Shan State Army-North 

soldiers broke out. 

The SSA-N is the armed wing of the 

Shan State Progress Party. 

“A group of about 50 young men 

and women travelling to celebrate the 

water festival were apprehended by 

Burmese troops, and forced to walk 

in front and behind them as human 

shields, to ward off attacks by Shan 

troops,” the group said in an April 22 

statement. 

“They were forced to leave their 

motorbikes at the side of the road, 

and walk behind and in front of the 

Burmese troops from Nam Lao to Mong 

Kao, before they were released and 

allowed to go back to their homes.” 

The move was part of a larger 

offensive undertaken by nine Tatmadaw 

battalions to push SSA-N soldiers from 

their position south of Tang Yan. 

SSA-N spokesperson Major Sai La 

told the Shan Herald Agency for News 

that four Tatmadaw soldiers had been 

killed in the fighting, which ended on 

April 16. A Tatmadaw spokesperson 

could not be reached for comment or 

to confirm the figure. 

U Sao Yawd Maung from the 

Restoration Council of Shan State, 

the political wing of the Shan State 

Army-South, told The Myanmar Times 

that the current spate of skirmishes 

had started about March 24, despite 

the SSA-N agreeing a preliminary 

ceasefire with the government in 

December 2011. 

The latest fighting prompted around 

700 people to flee their homes for Tang 

Yan, where they are being housed in a 

monastery, said Shan Human Rights 

Foundation U Kham Harn Fah. 

The group said that on April 15 

the Tatmadaw fired about 50 mortar 

rounds into two villages, damaging 

homes and a market and injuring at 

least two civilians including a child. 

MMA urges youth to use hotlines 

By Yamon Phu Thit 

THE Myanmar Medical Association has 

called on young people to make use of its 

health hotlines, after receiving fewer than 

500 enquiries since launching the service 

18 months ago. 

The hotlines were set up in September 2011 

under the association’s Youth Development 

Program so that young people could ask 

about health issues, particularly HIV/AIDS 

and reproductive health, that they were too 

embarrassed to discuss in person, said Ko 

Zin Moe Win, a junior project officer with 

the program. 

“We received about five or six phone calls 

a day on average,” Ko Zin Moe Win said, 

adding that a higher number had been 

expected when the service was launched. 

“We need to promote it more so there is more 

awareness that this service is available. 

“It can be dangerous for young people to 

do unsafe things if they do not have enough 

knowledge.” 

The service has two lines – a “White 

Line” for men and a “Pink Line” for women 

SECURITY forces in Rakhine 

State directly supported the 

killing of Rohingya and Kaman 

Muslims during communal 

violence in the region last year, 

Human Rights Watch said last 

week, in allegations that were 

immediately rejected by the 

government. 

The New York based nongovernment 

organisation, which 

monitors the state of human 

rights worldwide, detailed its 

findings in a 150-page report, 

All You Can Do Is Pray, released 

on April 22. A government 

spokesperson responded within 

hours, dismissing the report as 

“one-sided”. 

But Human Rights Watch said 

the military’s alleged actions 

constitute ethnic cleansing and 

crimes against humanity. 

“While the state security forces 

in some instances intervened to 

prevent violence and protect 

fleeing Muslims, more frequently 

they stood aside during attacks or 

directly supported the assailants, 

committing killings and other 

abuses,” the report said. 

The worst violence occurred 

on October 23 in Mrauk-U 

township’s Yan Thei village, 

where at least 70 people were 

killed after riot and local police 

as well as Tatmadaw soldiers 

disarmed Rohingya citizens 

who were attempting to protect 

themselves from an advancing 

mob. 

After promising to protect 

the Rohingya, who are more 

commonly referred to in Myanmar 

as Bengalis, the security forces 

gave up and instead aided the 

Rakhine attackers, Human 

Rights Watch said. 

“The Arakanese beat and 

killed us very easily. The security 

did not protect us from them,” 

one 25-year-old survivor told the 

organisation. 

The day-long attack claimed 

the lives of 28 children, 13 of 

whom were under the age of five, 

according to the report. 

Human Rights Watch said 

it also uncovered evidence of 

four previously unknown mass 

graves in Rakhine. In one grave 

– that are manned by “well-trained” health 

professionals, Ko Zin Moe Win said. 

He said data showed that 66 percent of 

callers were men, and most calls came from 

Yangon and other urban areas. Most callers 

are aged 16 to 25 and the most frequently 

raised topics were HIV/AIDS, venereal 

disease, sexual habits, pregnancy and birth 

spacing. Callers are required only to give 

their name and address. 

“Young people may feel embarrassed to 

talk about sex-related issues, even with their 

parents, as sex education is rather weak in 

this country,” said Ma Kyi Pyar Nyein Chan 

Zaw, a consultant with the hotline program. 

“They will not get right information if 

they don’t have the chance to ask frankly,” 

she said. “From what we see, it’s not that 

young people don’t have the knowledge, it’s 

that they are just uncertain about particular 

issues and need advice. We welcome all 

young people to discuss freely but have a 

zero-tolerance policy on abusive language.” 

The number for the White Line is 09-7321- 

2226 and for the Pink Line is 09-7321-2227. 

The lines are staffed from 10am to 5pm 

each day. 

Violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state 

Human Rights Watch report alleges Myanmar has waged a “campaign of ethnic cleansing” 

against Rohingya Muslims 

MYANMAR 

NAYPYIDAW 

RAKHINE 

Home to some 

800,000 Rohingya 

Muslims 

Source: HRW 

CHINA 

THAILAND 

in Sittwe, witnesses told Human 

Rights Watch researchers that 

police dumped the naked bodies 

of 18 Rohingya, some of whom 

had their hands and feet bound. 

One child was among the dead. 

Mr Phil Robertson, deputy 

director of Human Rights 

Watch’s Asia Division, told The 

Myanmar Times the violence 

was partly driven by “a heartfelt 

fear” in the Rakhine community 

“of being trapped between the 

Burman and the Muslims”. 

“The Arakanese believe there 

is a credible threat against 

them,” he said, adding that 

Human Rights Watch believed 

this to be untrue. 

He said this has led to 

the spread of “outlandish” 

RATHEDAUNG 

DISTRICT 

Saw violence 

in both June 

and October 

BANGLADESH 

MAUNGDAW 

At least 180 people died 

in outbreaks of 

Buddhist-Muslim violence 

in June and October 2012 

BUTHIDAUNG 

Mass grave 

discovered 

Some 13,000 Rohingya 

left by boat in 2012, 

according to UN estimates 

SITTWE 

Sittwe 

Bay of Bengal 

misinformation, including 

rumours of weapons caches 

hidden in mosques and links to 

terror group Al-Qaeda. 

Despite President U Thein 

Sein’s promise to “reveal the 

truth behind the unrest” and 

“find solutions for communities 

with different religious beliefs 

to live together in harmony”, 

the government has failed to do 

either, the organisation said. 

A 27-member commission 

formed on August 17, 2012 

submitted its final report into the 

violence, which flared up in June 

and October, to the president 

on April 22. Chaired by Dr Myo 

Myint, a retired director general 

from the Ministry of Religious 

Affairs, the commission was 

80 km 

KYAUKTAW 

MRAUK-U 

PONNAGYUN 

MINBYA 

PAUKTAW 

Violence in June 2012 

Violence in October 2012 

Displaced persons camp 

since June 

Displaced persons camp 

since October 

MYEBON 

MYANMAR 

RAKHINE 

KYAUKPHU 

More than 125,000 

Rohingya have been 

forcibly displaced 

RAMRI 

MUNAUNG 

ANN 

Mass grave 

discovered 

TOUNGOP 

initially given a three-month 

deadline, and an extended 

deadline of March 31 was also 

missed. The final report is yet to 

be made public. 

Presidential spokesperson and 

Deputy Minister for Information 

U Ye Htut slammed the report 

in a Facebook post shortly after 

its release. 

“The report compiled by 

Human Rights Watch is based 

on one-sided data and the words 

used in the report will not be 

accepted,” he said. 

He also questioned the timing 

of the report’s release, which 

coincided with the European 

Union’s (EU) meeting to discuss 

whether to lift sanctions against 

Myanmar.

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

22 

FMI residents rattled by cat burglar 

By Htar Htar Khin 

RESIDENTS of FMI Garden City 

in Hlaing Tharyar say they no 

longer feel safe in their homes 

following a string of burglaries 

over the past three months. 

A spokesperson for the housing 

development’s management board 

confirmed to The Myanmar Times 

that there have been four breakins 

since February 9. 

One homeowner, who did not 

want to be named but who works 

in a senior position at a private 

bank, told The Myanmar Times 

that a burglar made off with 

more than K54 million in cash 

and jewellery in a brazen theft in 

early March. 

“On the night of March 3 we 

left our house to go and see the 

doctor because my daughter was 

ill,” he said. “We left at about 5pm 

and returned at 7pm to find that 

our house had been burgled. The 

thief broke into our safe and stole 

more than K54 million in cash and 

jewellery.” 

He added that another burglary 

had taken place on April 7 at a 

friend’s house at FMI. 

“We are all very concerned about 

this but we have not seen any 

increase in security at the housing 

project.” 

He added that the modus 

operandi of the thief appeared 

to be the same in both break-ins. 

“I heard the April 7 break in took 

place on Orchid Street but nothing 

was stolen because the owner 

came home and scared the thief 

away. We spoke to the officers at 

the Hlaing Tharyar Police Station, 

who told us they believe the 

burglar in both instances is the 

same individual,” the owner said. 

“The managers of the 

development should be taking 

this seriously and hiring more 

security,” he said. 

“But so far they have said 

that they have provided enough 

manpower and security.” 

‘ The managers of 

the development 

should be taking 

this more seriously 

and hiring security.’ 

He said he had informed the 

Hlaing Tharyar Police Station of 

the burglary at his home on March 

3 but no progress has been made 

in solving the crime. 

U Than Naing, a sergeant at the 

Hlaing Tharyar Police Station, 

said the burglaries have not been 

solved yet but rejected accusations 

that the police were not doing 

enough to enforce security. 

JOB VACANCY 

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE 

INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANT 

SALARY USD $1440 PER MONTH 

The Australian Embassy in Yangon is a medium sized diplomatic agency representing the Australian 

Government in Myanmar. It is staffed by employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and 

Trade, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and 

AusAID. 

The AFP Investigative Assistant (IA), works alongside the AFP Senior Liaison Officer (SLO), providing 

advice on and engagement with Myanmar law enforcement agencies, and assisting Australian 

staff to progress the work of the AFP in Myanmar. The IA will support the AFP’s law enforcement 

engagement and capacity building function in Myanmar; manage engagement and correspondence 

with Myanmar enforcement officials on behalf of the SLO; undertake research, analysis and reporting 

on law enforcement issues, including translation of documents, and accompany the SLO to official 

meetings with Myanmar law enforcement and provide interpretation where required. 

The AFP is seeking an exceptionally well organised individual, a multi tasker who can work under 

pressure, demonstrates initiative and takes pride in their work. 

The application form, selection criteria and duty statement can be obtained from the Australian 

Embassy, 88 Strand Road, or the Australian Embassy website at: http://www.burma.embassy.gov. 

au/rang/home.html. 

Applications should be lodged at the Australian Embassy or emailed to austembassy.yangon@ 

dfat.gov.au together with a two page summary addressing the selection criteria and a copy of your 

CV with one recent passport sized photo. The closing date for applications is 

4:00 pm on 17 May 2013 

Qualifications and Experience 

The appointee should have the following qualifications and experience: 

• Proven strong liaison and interpersonal skills, including an ability to liaise with contacts at all 

levels. This requires clearly developed skills in cultural sensitivity. 

• Proven high level written and oral communication skills in English and Myanmar including 

translation of documents and interpretation at events. 

• Demonstrated high level of administrative organisation and prioritisation skills including the 

ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team, and working 

under pressure and to meet deadlines. 

• Demonstrated skills to manage challenges by identifying and applying innovative solutions, and 

• Demonstrated competence in the use of computer software including Microsoft Office 

Note: 

1. The Australian Embassy does not discriminate in regards to race, ethnicity, gender and age. 

2. Only those candidates whose qualifications and experience are of further interest will be 

contacted for an interview. 

“We are handling more than 

just the FMI estate, we are 

responsible for all of Hlaing 

Tharyar township,” he said. 

“We are trying to catch the thief, 

and people should not blame us. 

We have many responsibilities and 

we’re quite disappointed to hear 

complaints from people saying that 

we’re not doing enough,” he said. 

U Than Naing said Hlaing 

Tharyar is a difficult township to 

police because many vendors and 

workers stay there temporarily. 

The spokesperson for the 

development’s management said 

four burglaries had taken place 

– on February 9, March 3, April 7 

and April 17. 

“FMI has never suffered from 

many break-ins until the start of 

this year,” he said. “We have more 

than 50 security guards in the 

development at the entrance and 

doing patrols but there are 1600 

houses in the compound. 

“We do plan to add more 

manpower to boost safety.” 

The spokesperson said the 

development’s management is 

cooperating with police to try and 

solve the break-ins and identify 

the burglar. 

“Homeowners are saying that 

security is weak but everybody 

knows what the security 

arrangements are – and we have 

also distributed information 

booklets to encourage residents 

to be more conscious of their own 

By Cherry Thein 

MYANMAR will host 

a regional civil society 

organisation conference 

in 2014 when it takes up 

the rotating ASEAN chair 

position, a Thailand-based 

Myanmar NGO says. 

At a meeting in Brunei 

on April 6-8, the ASEAN 

Civil Society Conference’s 

management committee 

agreed to hold the forum in 

Myanmar next year after 

getting the agreement of 

all participants, said Daw 

Khin Ohmar, coordinator of 

Burma Partnership. 

Also known as ASEAN 

People’s Forum, the 

conference aims to bring 

together organisations and 

individuals in a way that 

enables them to exchange 

experiences and perspectives 

on human rights and other 

issues, she said. 

“The forum can help 

civil society groups in each 

ASEAN country share and 

A man rides a bike ast the entrance to FMI City in Hlaing Tharyar 

township. Pic: Boothee 

security and report suspicious 

behaviour,” he said. 

“But the police have told us that 

the thief is quite clever since he 

has not been caught.” 

He also urged homeowners to be 

more careful. 

“We found that the homeowner 

who was burgled on April 17 did 

not lock the door,” he said. 

He said management also plans 

to install CCTV cameras but could 

not say when the system would 

be put in. 

“We don’t want these things to 

happen and want all residents 

Myanmar to host ASEAN 

People’s Forum next year 

Job Vacancy 

submit statements and 

recommendations to their 

government so that they can 

take action or enact policies 

on the issues,” she said. 

“We hope all civil society 

organisations and interested 

individuals can join the 

forum in Myanmar and 

express their perspectives 

openly and work for a better 

future.” 

She said about 300 

civil society organisations 

working on peace and 

security, the environment, 

land issues, women’s and 

children’s issues, migration 

and refugees, ethnic minority 

issues and religious conflict 

attended the Brunei meeting 

earlier this month. 

Twelve people from 

Myanmar, including 

members of Burma 

Partnership, Kaung Rwai 

Social Action Network, 

Myanmar Women’s 

Organisation and Karen 

Women’s Association 

(Thailand), took part in the 

conference. 

“Verybest Law Offices” is one of the most fast-growing law firms 

in Japan. We are looking for ambitious and experienced lawyers 

for our Yangon office to work as adviser to foreign companies 

especially Japanese. The ideal candidate shall be a lawyer with 

extensive experience of corporate cases and/or contract cases. 

Candidates with excellent business-level English skills are 

preferable. We seek proactive candidates who can excel under 

our truly global and expanding work environment. Eager and 

ambitious and applicants without relevant and satisfying work 

experience however with respectful english language skills can 

also apply. 

Please download the application form from the following URL, fill 

it up in English and send it to the following e-mail address. 

http://www.vbest.jp/en/rec/ 

recruit-info@vbest.ip 

Verybest Myanmar Company Limited. 

here feeling safe and secure.” 

But the owner of the home 

burgled on March 3 said he plans 

to sell his house and move from 

the estate “as soon as possible” 

because of the incident. 

“I chose to live in FMI City 

because I thought it was safe but 

this break-in has changed my 

mind because I no longer believe 

it’s safe to live here,” he said. 

“I believe there are a lot of 

poor workers living in Hlaing 

Tharyar now, and I feel as if the 

environment has changed in the 

past two years.” 

Unilever 

to help 

association 

with SEA 

Games food 

ATHLETES competing in 

the Southeast Asian Games, 

to be held in Nay Pyi Taw 

later this year, can look 

forward to Myanmar-style 

dishes, as well as a full range 

of international cuisine. 

Myanmar Restaurant 

Association, which is 

catering the event, has 

signed an agreement with 

Unilever Food Solutions to 

provide technical assistance. 

Association vice chairman 

U Khin Aung Htun said 

Unilever is providing the 

assistance for free. 

“Catering for the games 

is a great honour, which we 

really appreciate. We lack 

international experience, 

so we’ve asked [Unilever] to 

help ensure international 

standards of hygiene and 

so on. They have a lot of 

experience. We want to 

ensure the best possible 

service,” association member 

U Kyaw Myat Moe said. 

About 5000 athletes and 

sporting officials are expected 

to attend the games. They 

will enjoy a varied menu 

that will include Myanmar 

traditional foods. 

“We will get international 

experience and promote 

our traditional foods to an 

international clientele at 

the same time,” said U Kyaw 

Myat Moe. 

Unilever has invited 

association officials to 

Thailand to start training 

ahead of the opening of the 

games in December. 

– Yu Yu Maw

News 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Tourism industry plots 

path to sustainable growth 

New rules require hotel 

owners to get permission 

to open from both the 

tourism and enviornmental 

conservation ministries. 

Pic: Douglas Long 

24 

INTERNATIONAL arrivals in 

Myanmar topped one million in 

2012, up an impressive 30 percent 

from the year before. The country, 

which was recently voted the “top 

travel destination” by readers of 

the British magazine Wanderlust, 

is also attracting the attention of 

international hotel chains. 

Tourism still plays a relatively 

small role in Myanmar’s economy, 

at least compared to its neighbours. 

The ASEAN Travel and Tourism 

Competitiveness Report 2012 says 

international tourism receipts in 

Myanmar were equivalent to just 

0.2pc of GDP in 2011, compared 

to a regional average of 4.6pc. The 

majority of visitors are from Asia, 

mainly Thailand (16pc) and China 

(12pc). 

The presence of a military 

government had discouraged 

tourists in the past but economic 

liberalisation and political reforms 

have brought a new wave of curious 

visitors. This has accordingly created 

new opportunities for investors, 

some of which were highlighted 

at the Myanmar Hospitality and 

Tourism Conference held in Yangon 

at the end of February. 

In his welcome letter posted on 

the conference website, Minister 

for Hotels and Tourism U Htay 

Aung pushed for the development 

of higher quality accommodation. 

“People in the industry have 

demanded [that] international 

standard hotel rooms in 

Yangon should be developed to 

accommodate the influx of tourists 

coming to Myanmar. Therefore, as 

Myanmar opens her doors to both 

corporate and leisure travellers, 

it presents myriad opportunities 

for foreign investors to seek 

partnerships and collaboration to 

meet the immediate needs of the 

industry,” he wrote. 

Myanmar has 787 hotels and 

guesthouses that can provide 

28,291 rooms. Demand is already 

outstripping supply, pushing hotel 

prices up to many multiples of 

what they were only one year ago. 

“Tourist infrastructure is very 

limited and all the hotels are full, 

which has led to a price hike,” U 

Aung Myat Kyaw, chairman of 

the Union of Myanmar Travel 

Association, said in March. 

But foreign investors are already 

moving to fill this market gap. 

Shangri-La, the Asian luxury hotel 

group, is developing two 21-storey 

towers of 120 serviced apartments 

each. The project, which was 

started in the late 1990s but put 

on hold, is expected to be completed 

by the third quarter of this year. 

Shangri-La is also developing an 

adjoining 800-room hotel, as well 

as commercial tower adjacent to its 

Traders Hotel in Yangon. 

Other projects are underway: 

data from the Ministry of Hotels 

and Tourism shows that foreign 

investors are financing hotel 

developments that would add more 

than 6700 rooms. 

But hotel space is just one gap 

needing to be filled. Paved roads 

and improved public transport, 

easy international banking and 

reliable telecommunication 

services are also in the works, with 

major upgrades planned ahead 

of the Southeast Asian Games in 

December. 

Direct access to Myanmar by air 

is still limited, but this is changing. 

Last year Condor Airlines began 

offering flights to Yangon from 

Frankfurt, Germany, becoming the 

first European airline to do so. This 

was only the second route offered 

outside Asia, after Qatar Airways’ 

Doha-Yangon flight. 

With this sudden influx 

of interest in the sector, the 

government has recognised 

the need to develop a structure 

and guidelines for the industry, 

stressing an interest in socially 

inclusive and environmentally 

sustainable projects. A Myanmar 

tourism master plan is due to be 

published this month. 

The ministry has expressed the 

need to consider all aspects of the 

tourism industry and manage the 

potential downsides as well as 

encouraging foreign investment. 

“Myanmar is changing rapidly, 

but it is important we keep our 

roots,” U Aung Myat Kyaw said. 

“Our country is about people, 

culture and religion. We must 

move in the right direction.” 

Hoteliers complain on 

licence approval waits 

Amid tourism surge, many hotels unable to open because of red tape 

By Yu Yu Maw 

AS foreign tourists and investors 

pour into the country, hoteliers 

claim delays in granting operating 

permits to run their businesses 

are costing them – and maybe the 

country – money. 

In most cases, the hotels have 

already been built and are simply 

waiting for approval to open. 

“There are shortages of 

hotel rooms at all the tourist 

destinations. The Ministry of 

Hotels and Tourism should speed 

up the granting of licences when 

the need is so immediate. At the 

moment there is some blockage,” 

said one hotel owner, who says he 

has been waiting a year for a hotel 

licence in Bagan. 

Anyone wanting a licence to 

run a hotel has to go through 

several stages, starting with the 

township municipal, health and 

fire-fighting departments. The next 

step is the Ministry of Hotels and 

Tourism in Nay Pyi Taw. In Bagan, 

approval from the Department 

of Archaeology is also required. 

Delays can occur at any stage of 

the process, hoteliers say. 

U Myint Swe, chairman of 

Mandalay Hoteliers’ Association, 

said one source of delay was 

missing documentation. He said 

the association was working to 

assist applicants to speed up the 

process. 

The Ministry of Hotels and 

Tourism also said it was ready to 

help the hoteliers who explained 

their difficulties to the ministry. 

Minister for Hotels and Tourism 

U Htay Aung said at a meeting 

with hoteliers that those who are 

facing delays should email him to 

resolve the problems. 

“I am ready to help them by 

taking the matter up with the 

relevant department. Getting 

approval for a hotel does not only 

concern the Ministry of Hotels and 

Tourism; it’s also related to other 

departments … the ministry can 

only authorise the granting of a 

hotel licence,” he said, adding that 

he accepted there was a need for 

“more hotel rooms to overcome the 

current shortage”. 

Nature Land Hotel owner U 

Than Shwe said the ministry could 

cut down the steps required for the 

granting of a licence, and show 

more flexibility. 

“For example, there may be 

a guest house that offers hotel 

standards, but has fewer than 

20 rooms. The ministry could 

give them a permit. There are so 

many grounds for delay, including 

the location of the hotel and the 

surrounding environment.” 

A particular issue has arisen at 

Inle Lake, where new rules require 

hoteliers to also get approval from 

the Ministry of Environmental 

Conservation and Forestry. “Some 

hotels at Inle are waiting for 

licenses. The hotels ministry 

says they need approval from 

the Ministry of Environmental 

Conservation and Forestry, but 

no such approval was required 

last year. 

“This is a big problem for 

hoteliers who have already built 

in the protected areas,” said U 

Win Oo Tan, vice chairman of 

Taungyi Hoteliers’ Association. 

“The hoteliers just want the two 

ministries to settle this question.”

TIMESBUSINESS 

Garment sector plots bright 

future, with Western help 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

25 

Domestic fashion 

industry thriving 

By Myat May Zin 

By Soe Sandar Oo 

THE lifting of European Union 

sanctions on April 22 might 

herald a bright future for 

Myanmar’s garment sector 

if the country can benefit 

from the generalised system 

of preference status, which 

lowers import tariffs, in the EU 

and United States. 

U Myint Soe, chairman 

of the Myanmar Garment 

Manufacturers Association 

(MGMA), said at the start of 

a business matching event 

between Myanmar and Hong 

Kong garment and textile 

industries on April 24 that 

Myanmar might be granted 

GSP status on June 4. 

“EU sanctions were lifted 

last Monday and hopefully we 

will be granted GSP status 

by the US on June 4,” he 

told the 30 representatives at 

the meeting, which was held 

at the Union of Myanmar 

Federation of Chambers of 

Commerce and Industry. “This 

is the huge opportunity for 

international companies to 

invest in Myanmar’s garment 

sector.” 

“If we can get GSP status 

from the US it will mean we 

can do more business with 

international companies. 

They will be able to invest in 

Myanmar and be assured that 

they can get access to the EU 

and US markets,” he said. 

U Myint Soe said 

Myanmar’s garment sector 

had many incentives for foreign 

companies, including tax 

breaks, cheap labour and an 

attractive foreign investment 

law. However, he said electricity 

shortages in the hot months 

were problematic but expected 

the shortages would be solved 

by the government, which is 

working to ensure adequate 

supplies. 

Myanmar’s garment exports 

hit a high of about US$826 

million in 2001, just before 

the United States announced 

Workers stitch garments at a garment factory in Yangon last week. Pic: Aung Htay Hlaing 

a ban on imports. But by 

2012, the value of exports had 

recovered to more than $900 

million, with more than 75 

percent shipped to Japan and 

South Korea. Less than $200 

million worth of goods were 

sent to Europe. 

U Aung Win, MGMA vice 

chairman, told The Myanmar 

Times: “We have continuously 

made and exported garments 

since 1993. We are waiting for 

GSP status but we must also 

ensure that our quality levels 

meet the standards required 

for those markets.” 

He added that there are more 

than 300 garment factories in 

Myanmar. 

Daw San San Myint, 

deputy director of Myanmar 

Investment Commission’s 

Yangon branch, which opened 

on April 10, said most of the 

information requests handled 

by the office since it was opened 

have concerned the garment 

sector. She added that 25 of 

40 requests have been about 

the sector. 

“MIC has to explain to 

investors about the foreign 

investment law first, especially 

equity ownership ratios, as 

well as taxation,” she said. 

“Companies from Singapore, 

Hong Kong and Taiwan have 

shown the greatest interest 

so far but I think there might 

be investments made from the 

EU and possibly Canada too 

if Myanmar is granted GSP 

status,” she said. 

Mr Lewis Leung, president 

of Price Edward Road 

Management in Hong Kong, 

which operated garment 

factories in Myanmar from 

1995 to 2000, said Myanmar 

could compete with Cambodia 

and Bangladesh if it receives 

GSP status. 

“Myanmar can compete with 

them but the profit won’t be as 

high as in Bangladesh,” he said. 

“I am interested in investing in 

Bago Region because it is so 

near to Yangon and has a large 

available workforce,” he said. 

He added that the quality of 

Myanmar’s garments is good. 

However, U Myint Soe 

said companies would 

need to increase their 

awareness of international 

standards, especially labour 

rights and conditions. But 

the MGMA, International 

Labour Organisation and 

labour activists would assist 

companies in this effort. 

He added that the average 

wage for a garment worker is 

about $100 a month. 

U Myat Thin Aung, 

chairman of the Hlaing 

Tharyar Industrial Zone, said 

many international companies 

operate garment factories 

in Thailand but might shift 

production to Myanmar if it is 

given GSP status. 

“But we still need to solve the 

electricity shortages and high 

land prices,” he added. 

MIC data shows that 

most garment production 

in Myanmar – about 60pc 

– is cutting, manufacturing 

and processing work, which 

provides quick profits to 

operators but does not help the 

nation to build a manufacturing 

base since all raw materials are 

imported from abroad. 

UNDAUNTED by the former sanctions regime, 

Myanmar’s home-grown garment industry is 

thriving, industry experts say. They attribute the 

success to the industry’s ability to cater to local 

tastes. 

Over the past five years, local garment brands 

have been taking over more space because of their 

competitive price and good quality, some say. Unlike 

export-oriented businesses, they can employ and 

pay staff year-round without the need to wait for 

orders from overseas. 

“We can pay the same wages throughout the year, 

without night-work and overtime, because we are 

operating the factory regularly. We know the tastes 

of Myanmar women and what kind of designs they 

prefer. Normally we copy the designs from Thai 

garments,” said Daw Sein Lae Lae, owner of Dear 

Brand garment factory in Shwe Pyi Thar township. 

The factory has more than 400 workers. 

“Garments produced for the local market create 

much less stress for our workers than garments 

meant for export. Sometimes factories producing 

for export have to pay penalties for not meeting 

requirements. We can do our best for our own brand. 

If we don’t maintain our quality, customers will 

choose another brand,” she said. 

“We import the raw materials for our product from 

China, especially Shanghai. Power cuts here push 

up the production cost. But I have to look after my 

workers even when profits dip,” she said. 

She added that it is rare for local factories to 

employ their own designers. Instead, they copy 

Chinese or Thai designs and modify them for local 

preferences. 

“We do face a problem of design copy from 

competitors, and from China,” said Daw Phyu Phyu 

Sein, owner of Spike garment factory, which employs 

more than 1500 workers. 

“When our new design creates a lot of demand, 

copies come on to the market within weeks. We 

have our own designer, who designs for the whole 

country. Some factories produce garments only for 

one city, and some are oriented towards other states 

and regions. 

“We intend our designs to be suitable for women 

of all ages. We sell more than 20,000 products for a 

single design, and every month we produce many 

different types. So far we are only producing for the 

domestic market, but we aim to extend overseas 

as well, including to Malaysia and other countries, 

although we may have to adjust our design for the 

overseas markets,” she said. 

There are also many small- and medium-sized 

garment businesses; some do not even have factories 

and outsource the work to larger producers but use 

their own designs. One such brand is Dancer, which 

targets the middle class with designs that change 

every season, said its owner, Ma Nilar. 

“We have no factory but produce our own designs 

and cut the finished goods. We work closely with 

other small clothing businesses,” she said.

Business 26 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Halving of fishing season 

prompts industry debate 

By Myat Nyein Aye 

FISHING operators say they 

support a recent decision to 

reduce the fishing season to 

45 days, from three months, 

to help fish populations 

recover. They say illegal 

operators from Thailand and 

China are using sophisticated 

technology to boost their 

hauls, and stripping the seas 

bare in the process. 

A fishing company 

owner in Yangon, who 

did not want to be named, 

said there are many illegal 

boats trawling commercial 

fishing grounds in 

Myanmar’s territorial waters 

using technologies that are 

unavailable to domestic 

operators. He added that the 

illegal foreign operators were 

able to bribe officials during 

the previous government 

to ignore their activities, 

but added that many in 

the industry hope the new 

government will take the 

issue seriously. 

He added that even if the 

foreign boats were allowed 

ASEAN single market push in hardest phase: Aquino 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 

– Southeast Asia’s efforts to 

create a single market by 

2015 are in their hardest 

phase owing to protectionist 

reflexes on sensitive sectors, 

Philippine President 

Benigno Aquino said. 

Despite the challenges, 

however, ASEAN leaders 

are working hard to meet the 

target, Aquino told reporters 

on April 24 in Brunei where 

he is attending ASEAN’s 

annual summit. 

“They have finished with 

the easy parts but the 

accomplishments will not be 

as fast as in discussing the 

hard parts. When you reach 

that point, there can be 

some protectionist measures 

taken by each economy,” 

Aquino said. 

“But since we are focused 

on reaching the target, 

to operate during the 45-day 

open season, efforts must be 

made to regulate catches – to 

ensure boat owners did not 

take more than the limits. 

“I like the idea of protecting 

our fisheries because our 

recent catches have been 

50-percent of what we have 

seen in previous years,” he 

said. “The former government 

also closed offshore fisheries 

but it had no effect – we 

are hoping that the new 

government will be more 

successful in protecting 

fisheries,” he said. The 

Ministry of Livestock and 

Fisheries made the decision 

to shorten the annual open 

fishing season from three 

months to 45 days – from 

May 1 to June 15 – in mid- 

April as a response to falling 

catches that have seen 

average yields fall by 80pc 

since 1979. The ministry’s 

decision was discussed 

everyone who believes that 

one community is beneficial 

to everybody concerned will 

really try hard (to reach the 

goal).” 

in depth at a Myanmar 

Fisheries Federation meeting 

in mid-April during which 

a number of stakeholders 

vented their thoughts. Daw 

Toe Nandar Tin, treasurer 

of the Myanmar Fishery 

Products Processors and 

Exporters Association and 

chairwoman of Anawa Devi 

Fishing, expressed her 

frustration with the change 

at the meeting. 

“From an expert point of 

‘ Closing the season will not be effective. ’ 

view, catches are falling and 

we must conserve Myanmar’s 

water resources,” she said. 

“But from a businessperson’s 

point of view, there are many 

difficulties. The government 

should consider the needs 

of businesspeople whose 

operations will be affected,” 

she said. 

Those who want the season 

to remain unchanged argue 

that even if Myanmar’s 

fishing companies comply 

Philippine President Benigno Aquino arrives for a 

meeting at the ASEAN summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, 

in Brunei, on April 25. Pic: AFP 

ASEAN, a region of 600 

million people in 10 countries, 

wants to establish a common 

market and manufacturing 

base so that it can better 

with the new rules, foreign 

fishermen will not comply, 

making the effort to conserve 

the supply pointless. 

“If Myanmar’s fishing 

season is cut to only six week 

the fisherman won’t get 

money from their work, but 

other neighbouring countries 

will come and catch fish from 

our waters,” Daw Toe Nandar 

Tin said. “So closing the 

season will not be effective.” 

U Maung Maung Soe, 

chairman of the Yangon 

branch of the Myanmar 

Marine Fisheries 

Association, said the 

association was opposed 

to the reduction of the 

fishing season but members 

have not complained to the 

ministry about the decision. 

He said closing the season 

early will hurt families that 

rely on fishing. 

“There are 700 fishing 

ships in Yangon; workers and 

their families depend on those 

ships,” he said. “And there 

are cold storage factories and 

dry fish works that will stop 

running if the fishing season 

is reduced.” 

compete as a group with 

giant neighbours such as 

China and India in terms of 

trade and investments. 

ASEAN attracted 7.6 

percent of the world’s foreign 

direct investment in 2011, 

up from 4.3pc in 2006, 

Jaspal Bindra, Standard 

Chartered’s chief executive 

for Asia, wrote in a column 

in the Borneo Bulletin on 

April 25. 

Philippine Trade 

Secretary Gregory Domingo 

said ASEAN had already 

achieved up about three 

quarters of its targets 

relating to its single-market 

goal since beginning the 

process in 2007. 

But he also emphasised 

there were many challenges, 

including a framework to 

open up the services sector 

such as banking, insurance, 

telecommunications and 

retail within ASEAN. 

Another challenge is 

harmonising customs 

procedures and putting them 

online so that businesses can 

see them real-time, Domingo 

told a media briefing held 

with Aquino. 

On trade in goods, 

agriculture is also among the 

most difficult sectors to fully 

liberalise, Domingo said. 

“If their agriculture sector 

is large, they will protect it 

because there are a lot of 

farmers (affected),” he said. 

Analysts have said that 

ASEAN has achieved much 

in cutting tariff barriers 

to trade in goods, but 

still has a lot to do before 

the end-of-2015 target in 

opening up the services 

sector by removing nontariff 

hurdles. 

“ASEAN is fully aware of 

that and they’re now trying 

to do an inventory of those 

non-tariff barriers so that we 

can eliminate them one by 

one,” Domingo said. – AFP 

Fisheries sector not 

ready for EU markets 


DESPITE the removal of 

European Union sanctions, 

most fisheries products 

exporters have failed to 

position themselves to enter 

the EU market, industry 

observers say. 

Moreover, production of 

fisheries goods has fallen 

60 percent since last year 

because of reduced marine 

catches and a prolonged 

weakness of the US dollar, 

which has led many 

farmers to scale back. 

The fisheries industry is 

calling for government 

assistance, especially lowinterest 

loans, to help revive 

production. 

“There are more than 

80 cold-storage factories 

in Yangon but only 13 of 

them can export to the EU 

because the others don’t 

have the necessary Good 

Management Practice 

(GMP) certificates. They 

are not even trying to get 

one,” said U Myo Nyunt, 

an executive committee 

member of the Myanmar 

Fisheries Products 

Processors and Exporters 


Speaking to The Myanmar 

Times on April 24, he 

said: “The association has 

By Soe Sandar Oo 

DOMESTIC energy 

companies should focus on 

providing services to support 

future oil and gas exploration 

projects in Myanmar, the 

chief executive officer of a 

Myanmar oil and gas firm 

said last week. 

U Ken Tun, chief executive 

of Parami Energy, said it 

is widely believed that 

most money made from 

Myanmar’s energy industry 

is earned through the export 

of natural gas. 

“Most people think that 

most of the money earned 

from the energy sector comes 

from selling natural gas but 

actually it is not,” he told The 

Myanmar Times. “Energy 

operators are spending 

more money after Western 

sanctions were eased but 

all of the money spent on 

services should go to domestic 

companies, which provides 

income for the country and 

increase gross domestic 

product,” he said. 

He added that few 

domestic energy companies 

have the capacity to perform 

major works such as building 

shells, drilling wells, building 

pipeline and constructing oil 

refineries. 

On April 11, the Ministry 

of Energy released a list 

of 59 companies that has 

passed prequalification 

requirements for the second 

round of onshore block 

bidding. Only one Myanmar 

company – MPRL E&P – 

was included on the list of 

“potential bidders who have 

good technical competency, 

financial capability and well 

experience in petroleum 

urged factories to get the 

certificate and offered them 

assistance to do so, but only 

one factory has joined up.” 

“Even though, the ASEAN 

Free Trade Area will begin 

in 2015, the factories can get 

permission to export only if 

they have that certificate. 

But most factories are not 

interested,” he said. 

Association treasurer 

Daw Toe Nandar Tin said 

fisheries products have 

fallen by nearly 60pc. “Fish 

farmers can’t farm enough 

fry, and marine fishermen 

aren’t catching enough,” 

she said. 

As a result of trading losses 

caused by the unfavourable 

exchange rate with the 

US dollar, the number of 

commercial fish ponds has 

been allowed to decline from 

220,000 nationwide five 

years ago to only 70,000, said 

U Than Lwin, chairman of 

the Myanmar Fish Farmers 


“We had to borrow from 

the government because of 

our trading losses. We lost 

our investment when we 

had to repay the loans, so 

we have no more to invest. 

Production is down, but the 

government doesn’t help 

us. Government aid would 

enable us to start up again,” 

he said. 

Focus on services first, 

says energy magnate 

exploration”. Expressions 

of interest for a separate 

bidding round for 30 offshore - 

both shallow- and deepwater 

- blocks are not required until 

June 14. 

A Myanma Oil and Gas 

Enterprise official said 

Myanmar could learn 

from the example set by 

Malaysia, whose service 

companies are well regarded 

internationally. 

“Malaysia started doing 

oil and gas servicing more 

than 30 years ago,” he 

said. “Malaysia invited 

international service 

companies to work in the 

country but required them 

to enter into joint-ventures 

with domestic companies, 

which boosted the capacity 

and finances of those firms,” 

he said. 

He added that Norway has 

also earned extensive wealth 

from providing services to oil 

and gas projects. 

“Myanmar companies 

should be encouraged to 

form joint-ventures with 

international service firms 

but it’s important there be 

no brokers,” he said. 

A spokesperson for a 

domestic energy company 

based in Kamaryut township, 

who did not want to reveal 

the company’s name, said 

Myanmar is attracting 

international companies 

with its favourable 

operating environment 

and potentially lucrative 

oil and gas concessions. He 

added that by investing in 

forming service companies, 

Myanmar firms could profit 

from exploration activities 

regardless of whether any 

natural gas deposits are 

found and can be exploited.

27 

Hluttaw to discuss 

tax reform at 

next sitting of 

parliament in June 

Business 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Bank and Finance Development 

Committee member says state needs 

to collect more revenues 

By Aye Thidar Kyaw 

THE Pyidaungsu Hluttaw 

will debate a tax reform 

bill that will be submitted 

by the Ministry of Finance 

and Revenue when it sits 

again in mid-June, MPs 

say. 

U Win Myint, secretary 

of the hluttaw’s Bank and 

Finance Development 

Committee, said the 

ministry plans to discuss 

the bill, which is aimed 

at boosting collection of 

commercial, income and 

state lottery tax, as well 

as stamp duty, in next 

hluttaw session. 

“We will discuss 

whether taxpayers follow 

the current rules and 

regulation ... because there 

are many weaknesses in 

our country’s taxation 

system, meaning it does 

not contribute properly to 

the gross domestic product 

(GDP),” he said. 

He added that the 

ministry plans to collect 

4.5 percent of GDP in the 

2013-14 fiscal year – a 

target of about K2.2 trillion 

(about US$2.5 billion), 

while nations such as Laos 

and Cambodia collect about 

10pc on average, he said. 

U Win Myint said 

commercial tax accounted 

for 41pc of revenue in the 

2012-13 year, while income 

tax was a further 48pc. 

“We want to use revenue 

to boost spending on health 

and education,” U Win 

Myint said. 

He added that 

representatives will 

discuss tax law and the 

rules and regulation 

only in the Pyidaungsu 

Hluttaw, adding that a 

focus will be on income tax. 

U Win Myint said it was 

common for companies to 

avoid paying the tax they 

owed through such actions 

as lying about how much 

they paid employees as 

salaries. 

“We will discuss the 

possibility of what the 

minimum wage should be 

considered appropriate for 

everyone,” U Win Myint 

added. 

Several ministries have 

been testing e-government 

systems to reduce tax 

avoidance and corruption 

for several years. And 

the ministry is trying to 

implement an open tax 

office in April next year 

to collect identification 

numbers and other data, 

several sources said. 

Pyithu Hluttaw 

representative for 

Aung Myay Thar Zan 

in Mandalay Region, U 

Ko Gyi, said he would 

discuss commercial tax 

when the bill is put before 

parliament. 

He said the Ministry 

of Finance and Revenue 

changed its collection of 

commercial tax in the 2012- 

13 fiscal year by putting the 

onus on traders to pay tax 

on profits, instead of levying 

tax from the capital but few 

people knew of the move. 

‘ We want to 

use revenue to 

boos t spending 

on health and 

education.’ 

“There is a lot of tax 

avoidance among traders 

because they don’t know 

the process. I would like 

to suggest to the ministry 

that it runs an information 

campaign to tell people 

about the changes, and try 

to make taxes suitable to 

encourage people to pay 

them,” he said. 

He suggested that 

taxation on tobacco, 

liquor and log exports be 

doubled, while the import 

tax on palm oil should be 

increased 10-fold to 50pc. 

“I would like to change 

these tax rates because 

these products are harmful 

to peoples’ health, reduce 

job opportunities, and kill 

small- and medium-sized 

enterprises.” 

Myanmar bank workers counting kyat in Yangon in September 2011. Pic: AFP/ Soe Than Win 

Kyat falls early in new year 

By Aye Thidar Kyaw 

THE US dollar strengthened 

by about 1 percent last week 

from pre-Thingyan levels 

following recent falls in 

international gold prices 

and reduced interest in the 

car market, market sources 

said on April 22. 

On April 22 the dollar was 

trading for K880 to K888 in 

formal markets, and about 

K900 informally, sources 

said. The Central Bank of 

Myanmar’s website set the 

official rate for April 22 at 

K882 to the dollar, with 

private banks allowed to 

trade the currency within 

a band of 0.08 percent of 

this rate. 

Further interest in the 

dollar was stoked on April 

9 at a finance workshop in 

Yangon attended by Pyithu 

Hluttaw speaker Thura 

U Shwe Mann and held 

at the Union of Myanmar 

Federation of Chambers of 

Commerce and Industry. 

U Win Kyaing, general 

secretary of the Myanmar 

Fisheries Federation, said 

an exchange rate of K1000 

to the dollar was a workable 

figure for primary producers 

such as fish farmers and 

farmers. 

He added that many 

farmers are heavily in 

debt and some have ceased 

working their farms in 

recent years as the kyat 

has strengthened – making 

exports unprofitable. 

“I don’t know why the 

US dollar exchange rate is 

below K1000 but I can say 

that farmers cannot escape 

from suffering because of 

this,” he said. 

U Win Kyaw urged the 

government to do what it 

could to boost the dollar’s 

value and help farmers find 

markets for their produce. 

Kanbawza Bank vice 

chairman U Than Lwin said 

Japan’s central bank has 

recently sold treasury bonds 

to weaken the yen and 

boost the competitiveness 

of Japan’s exports. U Than 

Lwin said the central bank 

of Japan’s efforts to devalue 

the yen and boost exports 

had worried its main 

competitors – China and 

South Korea. But he added 

that Myanmar’s government 

should follow a similar path 

to prioritise exports, and 

needs to weaken the kyat 

to do so. 

“The exchange rate is 

essential when the central 

bank sets monetary policy. 

We can imitate to Japan’s 

central bank to an extent 

but Myanmar has a lot of 

money that enters and exits 

the country through [the 

illegal] hundi network ... 

which is totally different to 

Japan,” he said. 

He said the Myanmar 

Central Bank’s daily 

exchange rate, which is 

set by currency auctions 

that started in April 2012, 

also relies on the informal 

market rate. He said the 

bank must be able to set a 

stronger monetary policy 

and be able to adjust interest 

rates and intervene in the 

market when necessary. 

“However, the Central 

Bank cannot manage all 

these tasks yet because it’s 

reforming and reorganising 

itself at the moment – I 

think it needs more experts,” 

U Than Lwin said. 

A Ministry of Commerce 

official said Myanmar had 

an export deficit in the 

2012-13 financial year that 

he said the government is 

trying to reverse in coming 

years by setting a stable 

exchange rate, as has been 

suggested by international 

financial institutions. 

“Moreover, the hundi 

market survives, even 

though the government has 

liberalised the remittance 

system in previous years. 

We need to renew our focus 

on fighting that network.” 

Job Vacancy 

The British Embassy is currently looking to recruit a highly 

motivated and energetic individual to join our team as a Corporate 

Services Manager. 

For more information and details on how to apply, please visit the 

link below: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/britishembassy-rangoon/about/recruitment 

Deadline for submission of applications will be on 5 May 2013.

Business 28 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Job watch 

Car market stalls, say traders 

MTV EXIT is inviting qualified candidates to 

apply for the following Yangon based positions: 

POSITION 1: Myanmar Campaign Coordinator 

POSITION 2: Country Partnerships Manager 

Fluency in English and Myanmar language 

required. Full job descriptions can be found at 

www.mtvexit.org/jobs. To apply please send 

resume and cover letter to hr@mtvexit.org 

UNFPA Vacancy Notice 

No.2013/005 

Position Title : Programme Analyst (Advocacy, 

Communication and Resource 

Mobilization) 

Grade : NOB 

Duty Station : Yangon, Myanmar 

Issue Date : 29 April 2013 

Closing Date : 13 May 2013 (5:00pm) 

Duration of Appointment : 1 year (Initial) 

Applications are invited from interested 

Myanmar nationals for the post of Programme 

Analyst (Advocacy, Communication and 

Resource Mobilization). 

Applications should be addressed to UNFPA 

Representative. 

Attention : International Operations Manager 

RoomA07, UNFPA, No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon. 

Email : myanmar.office@unfpa.org 

For details on duties and responsibilities, 

educational and other requirements, please see 

the vacancy announcement posted at UNDP billboard. 

No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon and also at 

UNFPA website (http://myanmar.unfpa.org) 

Applications will be considered only when 

meeting all requirements set in detailed vacancy 

announcement. 

UNFPA Vacancy Notice 

No.2013/004 

Position Title : Project Assistant 

Grade : SC - 5 

Duty Station : Sittwe, Rakhine State 

Issue Date : 29 April 2013 

Closing Date : 13 May 2013 (5:00pm) 

Duration of Appointment : Up to December 2013 

Applications are invited from interested 

Myanmar nationals for the post of Project 

Assistant. 

Applications should be addressed to UNFPA 

Representative. 

Attention : International Operations Manager 

RoomA07, UNFPA, No.6, Natmauk Road, 

Yangon. 

Email : myanmar.office@unfpa.org 

For details on duties and responsibilities, 

educational and other requirements, please see 

the vacancy announcement posted at UNDP 

billboard. No.6, Natmauk Road, Yangon and 

also at UNFPA website (http://myanmar.unfpa. 

org) 

Applications will be considered only when 

meeting all requirements set in detailed vacancy 

announcement. 

Website: www.esearchmyanmar.com 

Apply Now! 

♦♦Sales and Marketing manager (pharmaceutical) 

♦♦Brand manager 

♦♦Sales manager 

♦♦Tour operation Manager 

♦♦Tour operation Assistant 

♦♦Tour Sales manager 

♦♦Sales girl - 30 staff (Fresher) 

♦♦Sales boy- 30 staff (Fresher) 

♦♦Engineers (BE/ME/) 

♦♦Accountants 

♦♦Secretary 

♦♦Human Resources Manager 

No.851/853, 3 rd Floor, Bogyke Aung San 

Road, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon. 

Tel: 222963/ 229406/ 229437/ 

728261 

E-mail: esearch@yangon.net.mm 

By Myat May Zin and Aye 

Thidar Kyaw 

YANGON’S automotive market 

is nearly at a standstill after 

major national holidays and the 

outbreak of religious conflict, 

traders said last week, two 

roadbumps that are only the 

latest in a turbulent period for 

the industry. 

U Soe Moe, a vehicle trader 

who has been in business 

for 13 years, said potential 

buyers have been scared off by 

communal violence in Mandalay 

and Bago regions last month. 

“The conflict in other parts 

of Myanmar has hit the car 

market badly,” he said. “Only 

people who have already paid 

deposits are buying. Everybody 

else is more worried about other 

things.” 

Last December, the Ministry 

of Commerce changed the way 

it set the cost, insurance and 

freight values of imported 

vehicles, all of which are used 

to determine the taxes owed. 

Traders said the changes caused 

a temporary lull in the market 

but when trading started again 

in January, most prices were 

lower. 

However, U Soe Moe said a 

recent rumour – a common issue 

in automotive trading – had 

again destabilised the market. 

“A rumour, which I think was 

an April Fool’s joke, circulated 

that the ministry would allow 

people to import vehicles 

made in 2004 or later freely. It 

confused the market.” 

U Win Myint, a deputy general 

manager at the Ministry of 

Commerce, recently denied 

rumours that may have led 

some potential consumers to put 

the brakes on a new purchase. 

Claims that owners of 

illegally imported cars can pay 

K4 million to get a legal licence, 

that duty would be reduced, 

or that “the government is 

going to allow brand-new car 

showrooms” were all quashed. 

“We don’t have any plans or 

APEC warns on currency battles, property bubbles 

SINGAPORE – Asia Pacific economies 

must refrain from competitive currency 

devaluations and are vulnerable to speculative 

buying in the housing market, the APEC 

grouping’s research arm said. 

Massive inflows of funds from industrialised 

economies into the region where they can get 

higher returns have pushed local currencies 

to appreciate, eroding competitiveness in the 

global markets, APEC’s Policy Support Unit 

said in a research paper. 

The paper, released last week ahead of 

a meeting of Pacific Rim trade ministers 

in Surabaya, Indonesia, said competitive 

currency devaluations could lead to bigger 

trade imbalances. 

“It is of concern that the attempt to 

Auto traders say the market is flat after Thingyan as a result 

of communal violence but expect sales to pick up again before 

June. Pic: Ko Taik 

announcements about these,” 

he said. 

U Win Myint also spoke out 

against rumours that new 

automobile factories would be 

opened, saying the domestic 

market demand would be 

insufficient. “A factory can 

only open if people buy about 

100,000 a year for only one 

brand,” he said. 

Other factors may make this 

month a particularly slow one 

for sales. U Soe Moe said April 

is always a quiet period for 

automobiles and other major 

purchases. 

“April includes the long New 

Year holiday and many people 

believe that if they start the new 

year by spending money, they 

will spend the whole year doing 

so.” He added that he hoped 

trading would recover soon, but 

wasn’t sure whether it would 

come back fully “before school 

starts again”. 

U Thein Than, treasurer 

of the Myanmar Automobile 

Trading Centre (Yangon 

branch), said the relocation of 

the Hantharwady car market 

on March 3 had also affected 

the market. He added that the 

new site, on Min Ye Kyaw Swar 

Street near Pyay Road, is only 

a temporary location – and the 

regain competitiveness may result in a 

simultaneous currency intervention by 

monetary authorities,” said the unit, the 

research arm of the Asia Pacific Economic 

Cooperation (APEC) forum. 

“If that were to occur, it would create larger 

imbalances in the patterns of global trade 

and investment,” the paper said, adding it 

was crucial for APEC “to remain committed 

to refrain from competitive devaluation of 

currencies”. 

The paper said the 21-member APEC 

should grow 4.2 percent this year and 4.7pc 

in 2014, from a 4.1pc expansion in 2012. 

However, it said challenges remain, 

including lingering risks of a fallout from 

the eurozone debt crisis and the impact of 

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. Communications Analyst (LICA 5) Yangon National 30-Apr-2013 

2. Conflict Sensitivity and Yangon International 3-May-2013 

Peacebuilding Advisor (IICA 3) 

3. Portfolio Manager (LICA 7) Yangon National 6-May-2013 

4. Public Health Analyst (MNCH) (LICA 6) Yangon National 7-May-2013 

5. MNCH Specialist (IICA 2) Yangon International 8-May-2013 

market will be moved again 

soon. 

“We have heard about a new 

hospital funded by National 

League for Democracy 

chairperson Daw Aung San Suu 

Kyi and speaker of the Pyithu 

Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann, 

following a meeting on April 9,” 

he said. “The new hospital will 

be built at the temporary car 

market so we have already sent 

letters to Daw Aung San Suu 

Kyi and the hluttaws asking for 

a new venue,” he said. 

The automobile industry 

has undergone significant 

changes since September 2011, 

when the government first 

allowed private importing of 

automobiles. Data provided 

by the Ministry of Commerce 

to April 8, 2013 shows that 

a total of 145,796 vehicles 

have been imported under the 

new regulations, at a value of 

nearly US$1 million. Of the 

imports, 80 percent were cars 

and the remainder either buses 

or trucks. The totals include 

nearly 70,000 vehicles imported 

as part of the overage car import 

substitution programs, while 

61,000 were brought in by 

foreign currency earners and 

individual importers, and just 

under 15,000 were imported by 

For details please visit UNOPS website https://gprs.unops.org/pages/ viewvacancy/VAListing.aspx 

and click on the post you are interested in applying for. All applications must be made through 

UNOPS E-recruitment system. 

sales centres. 

While some traders are 

hopeful that foreign automobile 

investors will help invigorate 

the market now that sanctions 

by European countries have 

been eased, further imports may 

not provide the acceleration in 

the market that sellers have 

been looking for. 

In January 2012, the 

government allowed foreign 

currency earners such as 

sailors, diplomats and trading 

companies to import cars. 

In addition, as of last May, 

every citizen holding a foreign 

currency account at a bank 

in Myanmar can individually 

import a car with an engine 

no larger than 1350 cubic 

centimetres in capacity and 

made in or after 2007, with no 

import tax charged. As a result, 

business at some car sales 

centres has nearly stopped. 

Long traffic jams in Yangon 

may also be keeping the price 

of imported cars at a standstill, 

in spite of a recently rising 

exchange rate, according to U 

Aung Than Win, a car dealer 

from Min Ye Kyaw Swar Street. 

“Car import prices are not up 

even though the dollar value 

is up [against the kyat]. That’s 

mainly due to demand. The 

number of cars is surplus to the 

conditions of Yangon’s traffic 

system. People will not buy 

anymore.” 

U Aung Than Win added 

that the prices of many models 

have actually fallen between 

K500,000 and K1 million in 

April alone. 

“Dealers don’t make profits 

any more,” U Aung Than Win 

said. “We have to pay K10 

million first (to buy a new car), 

but we’re not even certain to 

make a profit of K200,000 or 

K300,000.” 

In spite of the recent downturn 

– and the uncertain road ahead 

– many dealers have no choice 

but to carry on. 

“We will keep going because 

we have been here for many 

years.” 

large capital inflows from developed countries 

seeking larger returns in emerging markets. 

“The recent large scale monetary easing 

programs pursued by some advanced 

economies have raised some concerns of 

possible currency intervention by other 

monetary authorities,” the paper said. 

It did not name any country, but analysts 

fear Japan’s recent efforts toward monetaryeasing, 

which includes allowing a sharply 

weaker yen to boost Japanese exports, 

could prompt other countries to take similar 

devaluations and trigger a currency war. 

The paper also raised a red flag about 

speculative buying that has sent property and 

stock prices skyrocketing, and urged regional 

policymakers to take steps to prevent asset 

bubbles. 

“There are ongoing concerns about the 

health of public finances and the banking 

system, especially in Europe, as well as price 

pressures on property and stock markets,” 

said Denis Hew, the APEC Policy Support 

Unit’s director. 

In Hong Kong, where the property market 

is driven by demand from overseas buyers, 

residential property prices in 2012 were 

higher by 88pc compared to 2007 levels, it 

said. 

Average house price in Singapore in 2012 

was 24pc higher than in 2007, it added. 

The paper cited data by property 

consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle saying direct 

investment flow into real estate worldwide 

should reach US$500 billion this year, up 

13pc from last year, with a substantial portion 

likely to enter the Asia Pacific. – AFP

29 

Business 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Electric power ministry to 

consider coal power plant 

YCDC has not acted on a pre-Thingyan threat to tear 

down unauthorised billboards. Pic: Kyawt 

Billboards remain 

as YCDC deadline 

comes and goes 

In Depth 

with 

Soe Sandar Oo 

MYANMAR is considering a 

proposal from Indonesia to 

build a coal-burning power 

station but approval will 

only be granted if it meets 

international standards of 

environmental protection, 

officials say. 

Currently Myanmar 

has only one coal-based 

power station, in Pinlaung 

township, Shan State, 

according to the Ministry 

of Electric Power. 

A ministry spokesperson 

told The Myanmar Times 

on April 26: “Indonesia is 

interested in building a 200 

megawatt (MW) capacity 

coal-powered station. But 

first we have to assess the 

potential environmental 

damage.” 

If the Indonesian proposal 

meets international 

standards, it could help 

expand Myanmar’s 

electrical power production 

capacity, he said, adding: 

“We welcome investment 

in electricity because we 

need more power for the 

future.” 

“Indonesia exports plenty 

of coal, so they have lots of 

experience. Myanmar could 

benefit from the technology, 

the employment, and 

financially” from the plan, 

he said. 

They possible investment 

could either be a jointventure 

with the Ministry 

of Electric Power, or 

100 percent funded by 

Indonesia, he added. 

The investors need to 

borrow the money from the 

World Bank or ADB, which 

would assess whether their 

proposal met international 

standards, he said, adding: 

“A coal-powered station 

could produce from 120MW 

to 200MW. But the greater 

the yield, the greater the 

possible damage to the 

environment”. 

An official from the 

ministry’s hydropower 

department said Myanmar’s 

electricity relied heavily on 

hydropower, and ways could 

be found to supplement that 

energy source. However, any 

such proposal would have to 

be examined from the point 

of view of its environmental 

and social impact. 

There are 20 hydropower 

electric stations and 10 

natural gas stations in 



A YANGON City 

Development Committee 

threat made in early March 

to seize advertising billboards 

following the Thingyan 

holiday has lapsed, with 

no action by municipal 

authorities. 

“We announced that 

YCDC is going to seize 

billboards operated by 

private companies after 

March 31,” a spokesperson 

for YCDC’s Department of 

Administration said in mid- 

April. 

“Now we are surveying 

all the billboards in Yangon 

and I think YCDC will begin 

taking billboards down after 

Thingyan,” the spokesperson 

added. 

The March 31 YCDC 

announcement said 

billboard leases that had 

been authorised in the 2012- 

13 financial year, which 

ended March 31, would not 

be renewed in the following 

financial year. However, 

YCDC will continue to allow 

billboards under its control. 

U Aung Kyaw Oo, the 

managing director of Idea 

digital inkjet printing 

and signs, said YCDC’s 

announcement left 

advertising companies that 

specialised in billboards 

completely in the dark about 

their futures. 

“YCDC announced that if 

businesses want to advertise 

their products on billboards 

legally they would have to 

work with YCDC,” he said. 

“We also heard that YCDC 

will seize billboards that 

were not in compliance with 

its order. But we really don’t 

know what’s going on – all we 

know is that we can’t accept 

new orders and just have to 

wait and see what happens,” 

he said. 

In August last year, YCDC 

announced that it would 

standardise billboard sizing 

in Yangon to clean up the 

streets. At first it announced 

that there would only be three 

sizes of billboards across the 

city. 

However, the March 

2013 announcement said 

companies would need to 

apply to the Department 

of Administration – and 

inferred that only one size 

(45 feet by 15 feet) would be 

allowed. Billboards cost up 

to K20,000 a square foot and 

the cost to change the design 

is at least K50,000, U Aung 

Kyaw Oo said. 

MAI 

25 x 4 

International Management Group 

ASEAN 2014 Web Portal Establishment 

for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

in The Republic of The Union of Myanmar 

Publication reference: NOR/2013/COMP2/PORTAL/001 

The International Management Group (IMG) intends to award 

a supply contract for the ASEAN 2014 Portal Establishment for 

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Republic of The Union of 

Myanmar with the financial assistance from the Government of the 

Kingdom of Norway. 

The tender dossier is available for download at the IMG website: 

http://www.img-int.org/Central/Public08/PublicTenders.aspx 

Tender dossier is also available for collection at the International 

Management Group Office Yangon: Royal Yaw Min Gyi Condo, 

Room 506, Building 52, Yawmingyi Street, Dagon Township, 

Yangon, Myanmar; Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. 

The deadline for submission of tenders is 9 May, 2013 at 13:00 

Yangon local time at the address mentioned above- hand delivery 

only. Late tenders will not be considered.

Property 30 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Wall Street bets big on single family homes 

By Michael Fletcher 

MIAMI – Big investors are 

pouring unprecedented 

amounts of money into 

real estate hit hard by the 

housing crash, bringing 

those moribund markets 

back to life but raising the 

prospect of another Wall 

Street-fueled bubble that 

won’t be sustainable. 

Drawn by the prospect 

of double-figure profit 

margins on rents and the 

resale of homes whose 

prices plummeted in the 

crash, hedge funds, Wall 

Street investors and other 

institutions are crowding 

out individual home buyers. 

If the chain of easy credit 

and dangerous leverage 

that started on Wall Street 

fanned the housing bubble 

and eventual crash, some 

analysts find it disturbing 

that major investors are 

the ones snapping up the 

bargains – and eventual big 

profits – left in its wake. 

“There is the possibility 

that Wall Street and the 

banks and the affluent 

1 percent stand to gain 

the most from this,” said 

Jack McCabe, a real 

estate consultant based in 

Deerfield Beach, Florida. 

“Meanwhile, lower-income 

Americans will lose 

their opportunity for the 

American Dream of building 

wealth through owning a 

home.” 

Real estate executives 

say institutional investors 

– which in some cases are 

bidding on hundreds of 

homes a day – account 

for as much as 70 percent 

of sales in some Florida 

markets. Over the past 

two years, analysts say, 

they also have accounted 

for most of purchases in 

other parts of the country 

where housing prices are 

rebounding sharply. 

The influx of investors 

may explain why home 

prices have been rising in 

parts of the country most 

affected by the housing 

crash, despite high jobless 

rates and relatively few new 

mortgages being issued by 

lenders. In the past year, 

prices have risen 23pc in the 

Phoenix area, 15pc in Las 

Vegas, 9pc in Tampa and 

11pc in Miami, the Case- 

Shiller home-price indexes 

show. Nationally, prices are 

up more than 8pc over the 

past year. 

“I don’t know whether 

things are as good as 

they seem to be. A lot 

of properties are being 

occupied by institutional 

investors, not the end 

user,” said Scott Kranz, 

co-principal of Title Capital 

An Orlando, Florida, man stands in front of the home his parents built by hand before it was reposssessed in 

October 2007 following the sub-prime lending collapse. Pic: AFP 

Management, a firm that 

helps big investors scout, 

buy and manage homes 

in Florida. “The end user 

would need to see a great 

increase in jobs, availability 

of mortgage money and a 

loosening of the reins that 

have been holding them 

back. But all the economic 

indicators are that we are 

not at that point.” 

The ability of investors to 

make cash deals is helping 

them buy a large portion of 

the distressed homes that 

continue to flood the market. 

Property brokers and others 

in Florida say traditional 

buyers – even those able to 

qualify for financing in a 

still-tight mortgage market 

– are finding it difficult 

to compete with the cash 

and market savvy of large 

investors. 

“The investors are 

making it hard for a 

regular homeowner 

to buy a property,” said 

Robert Russotto, a broker 

with Better Homes and 

Gardens Real Estate in Fort 

Lauderdale, Florida. “They 

are getting outbid by people 

with cash.” Russotto noted 

that out of the 20 home sale 

contracts he is completing, 

17 of the buyers are major 

investors. 

Before the housing crash, 

big investors almost never 

wanted single-family 

homes, largely because of 

slow returns and the moneydraining 

hassle of managing 

tenants in often far-flung 

properties. 

But with prices still 

depressed and with low 

interest rates and high stock 

prices limiting prospective 

returns elsewhere, major 

investors see the prospect 

of healthy profits in singlefamily 

homes. 

“Residential property 

is an on-fire asset class,” 

said Kranz, noting that his 

firm has ploughed more 

than US$100 million into 

residential real estate for 

investors in the past year 

‘ There is the possibility that Wall Street and the banks and 

the affluent 1 percent stand to gain the most from this.’ 

and is on course to spend 

$250 million to buy an extra 

2000 homes in 2013. 

At Title Capital 

Management, nearly four 

dozen analysts and lawyers 

are glued to computer 

monitors – some seven 

days a week – hunting 

for deals among the flood 

of foreclosures that have 

bedeviled this state. 

Aided by its proprietary 

software, Title Capital sizes 

up each home for square 

footage, special features and 

the prices and rents they 

can command. The firm’s 

legal team then scrubs 

each property for liens 

and title problems before 

determining a price that 

would allow its clients on 

Wall Street and elsewhere 

to turn a tidy profit. 

The company bids on 

about 200 houses a day, 

making it one of the largest 

players in Florida that help 

hedge funds and other Wall 

Street firms buy distressed 

properties. It is proving to 

be a lucrative niche. 

Last year, famed investor 

Warren Buffett said on 

CNBC: “If I had a way of 

buying a couple hundred 

thousand single-family 

homes, I would load up on 

them. It’s a very attractive 

asset class now. I could buy 

them at distressed prices 

and find renters.” 

A growing number 

of private-equity groups 

have done as much. Over 

the past year, Blackstone 

has amassed a portfolio of 

20,000 rental homes worth 

$3 billion, spokesman 

Peter Rose said. American 

Homes 4 Rent, a firm run 

by warehousing magnate 

B Wayne Hughes, has 

bought about 10,000 rental 

properties, news reports 

show. 

The strategy makes sense, 

as a shrinking share of 

Americans own their homes. 

After more than a decade 

of robust increases, the 

national homeownership 

rate peaked in 2004 at 

69.2pc. Since then, it has 

been in steady decline, 

falling to 65.4pc at the 

end of 2012, show Census 

Bureau figures. 

The big investor activity 

is pushing up prices, which 

is good for the large number 

of homeowners whose 

mortgages are larger than 

their home’s values. But 

for people being shut out of 

the biggest bargains offered 

by the housing market, 

it means a longer, slower 

slog to building equity. It 

also raises the spectre of 

future price declines when 

investors lose interest 

or decide to dump their 

properties. 

“Clearly the investors are 

moving markets in some 

places,” said Dean Baker, 

co-director of the Center 

for Economic and Policy 

Research and author of a 

popular housing blog. “In 

some markets at the bottom 

end, you are looking at 30 

or 40pc gains year-to-year. 

That is frightening to me. At 

some point the music stops. 

The investors if they get 

hurt, that is their problem. 

But invariably a lot of other 

people will get caught up 

in that.” 

But as things stand, 

many investors say the 

opportunities are growing, 

particularly in Florida. 

The data firm RealtyTrac 

reported this month that 

one in 104 properties in 

the state had received a 

foreclosure filing in the first 

three months of 2013, the 

highest rate in the nation. 

On top of that, nearly half 

of the homeowners with 

mortgages owe more than 

their houses are worth, 

which means many more 

foreclosures are on the way. 

Investors think foreclosures 

could surge for up to five 

more years. 

Dallas Wharton, cofounder 

of Delavaco 

Residential Property Trust, 

a real estate investment 

firm in Fort Lauderdale, 

is ready. The firm, which 

is backed by Canadian 

investors, started out with 

14 homes two years ago and 

now has 700. Meanwhile, 

Delavaco is preparing for 

a public offering on the 

Toronto Stock Exchange 

that Wharton hopes will 

raise as much as $40 million. 

Wharton said his company 

is riding a lucrative wave. 

It is able to scoop up 

many homes for $60,000 

or $70,000, which is just 

‘ The investors 

are making it 

hard for a regular 

homeowner to 

buy a property.’ 

a fraction of the building 

costs. After making repairs, 

the company rents them 

out for as much as $1700 a 

month. The firm’s biggest 

client is the federal Section 

8 program, which subsidises 

the rents of low-income 

tenants. Delavaco notes 

that Section 8 provides 

“over 60pc” of the firm’s 

revenue. 

“That’s a pretty good 

opportunity,” Wharton 

said, adding that investors 

help stabilise communities 

even as they make money. 

“If the end user does not 

have the ability to enter 

in the market, and they do 

down the road, have they 

missed an opportunity? 

Perhaps. But if it weren’t 

for investors, where would 

the market bottom be? 

What would happen to 

neighbourhoods if homes 

were just to sit there and 

rot?” – Washington Post

31 

Greece 

offers 

residency 

to foreign 

investors 

ATHENS – Greece will be 

offering residence to non- 

EU investors purchasing 

or renting property 

over 250,000 euros 

(US$326,000), in a bid to 

revive its moribund real 

estate industry, officials 

said last week. 

The initiative, voted into 

law by parliament the week 

before, comes in response 

to strong demand from 

Arab, Chinese and Russian 

investors, the officials from 

the interior ministry and 

property groups told a 

news conference. 

Valid for five years 

and open to renewal, the 

residence plan follows 

similar measures adopted 

by Hungary, Spain and 

Portugal in the past. 

“Finally, the property 

market can move out of 

its paralysis a little,” said 

Stratos Paradias, head of 

the confederation of Greek 

home owners. 

The permits will enable 

the holders, their spouses 

and children under the 

age of 18 to freely travel – 

though not work – in the 

Schengen area for three 

consecutive months at a 

time. 

The recession gripping 

Greece for a sixth straight 

year and heavy taxation 

has crippled the country’s 

construction industry 

that was previously one of 

pillars of the economy. 

– AFP 

Former owners 

battle Asia World 

over Hledan site 

Owners say they were promised apartments at 

the development by former Yangon commander 


THE 24 former owners of a plot of 

land now occupied by the Hledan 

Center in Kamaryut township are 

battling with the developer, Asia 

World, to be given apartments and 

additional land they say there were 

promised. 

“Asia World promised us that we 

would be given apartments when we 

vacated the land in 2003,” said Daw 

Cho Cho Mar, one of the formers 

owners. “At that time, the company 

promised us an apartment in the 

building, and told us that it would 

take three years to build. But the 

construction period was actually 10 

years,” she said. 

The land covers 1.522 acres and 

belonged to 24 owners. 

Daw Cho Cho Mar said the 

owners had waited for 10 years 

for the building to be finished but 

‘ We don’t care if Asia 

World has lost money 

– that’s the company’s 

problem.’ 

Asia World had never offered any 

compensation for the delays. She 

added that Asia World met owners in 

November last year, many of whom 

told the company’s representatives 

that the delays had cost them 

thousands of dollars in rent. 

In 2003, the government told 

owners of a plan to build the Land 

Mark building at Hledan Junction 

and asked the owners to vacate. Daw 

Cho Cho Mar said the owners were 

told the Land Mark building would 

be a 28-storey building – and every 

owner would be given an apartment 

when it was finished. 

“At that time, Yangon Region 

Commander Myint Swe promised us 

that we would not suffer for leaving 

our land and said we would be given 

an apartment each,” she said. “But 

Hledan Center was built instead – 

and there are only eight floors.” 

Daw May Oo Kyaw, a spokesperson 

for Asia World, said the company has 

not opened Hledan Center yet and 

could not provide any comment until 

that happened. 

The Department of Human 

Settlement and Housing 

Development gave 68 apartments 

to 49 families that vacated their land 

to make way for the building, 

U Aung Htun, the department’s 

director, said during meeting with 

the former owners on November 23, 

2012. He added that the other 15 

people would have their rents paid 

by DHSHD. 

However the November meeting 

broke down when Asia World officials 

and the former owners clashed. 

“That meeting had to be 

stopped because the Asia World 

representatives were just telling us 

about their problems,” said Daw Ni 

Ni Aung, a former land owner. “We 

were so angry because that was the 

first meeting we had had with the 

company in 10 years and we wanted 

to negotiate about the apartments 

we were promised.” 

Asia World project manager U 

Pone Nyunt told the former owners 

of the many difficulties the company 

had faced during construction and 

explained why the building could not 

be 28 storeys high. 

He said the company expected to 

lose from K6 billion to K10 billion on 

the project as a result. 

Property 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

The former owners of the land occupied by Hledan Center are 

demanding that Asia World provide apartments they say they were 

promised in the development. Pic: Ko Taik 

“We just want an apartment that’s 

worth the same as our land was,” 

said Daw Ni Ni Aung. 

“We don’t care if Asia World has 

lost money on the project – that’s the 

company’s business. 

“We have waited 10 years and 

it’s time Asia World paid us back 

for the years that we’ve had to live 

somewhere else and for the company 

to compensate us for what we have 

lost. 

“Where we have lived has always 

been temporary, none of us has 

viewed these places as our home.”

Technology 32 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Tech start-ups to boom Down Under, predicts study 

SYDNEY – Tech startups 

could be worth A$109 

billion (US$111 billion) to 

the Australian economy by 

2033 – on a par with retail 

or education – and create 

half a million jobs, a report 

for Google has found. 

The Pricewaterhouse- 

Coopers (PwC) study “The 

Startup Economy”, released 

on April 23, said that by 

global comparisons there 

is “no better time to be an 

entrepreneur in Australia”, 

with some 1500 tech startups 

and support for the 

industry expanding rapidly. 

Were growth to accelerate 

to a rate of 5600 new startups 

by 2023, PwC said the 

sector could account for 1.1 

percent of gross domestic 

product, from 0.1pc 

currently. 

Ten years later, in 2033, 

that figure would be 4.0pc, 

the PwC study said. If 

achieved, it would mean 

540,000 new jobs. 

The report called for 

Australia to flaunt its 

technological successes, 

which include the invention 

of WiFi Internet technology 

and bionic Cochlear hearing 

technology. 

It also boasts several global 

success stories in the startup 

sector, including investor 

firm Computershare 

and software developer 

Atlassian, among whose 

clients are Boeing, NASA, 

Sony, HSBC and American 

Express. 

But Google Australia, 

which commissioned the 

study, said tapping the 

sector’s potential would 

require hard work, including 

increasing the success rates 

for start-ups and boosting 

computer science education. 

Some 1100 of today’s 

1500 start-ups are expected 

to fail by the end of 2013 

and numbers of domestic 

computer science graduates 

have fallen two-thirds in the 

past decade. 

“In the short-term it’s 

estimated we’ll need 

to have 2000 more tech 

Reddit offers apology for 

Boston blast witch hunts 

entrepreneurs drawn from 

the existing workforce each 

year,” said Alan Noble, 

engineering director at 

Google Australia. 

“My hope for the longterm 

is that success will 

breed success.” 

The report said greater 

government funding for 

early-stage projects would 

be needed, with current 

levels at one-tenth that of 

the United States and onetwentieth 

that of Israel. 

The government could 

also play a major role as 

a buyer of tech start-up 

services, with spending in 

the sector last year totalling 

A$41 billion. 

Industries such as 

finance, manufacturing, 

mining and healthcare all 

had significant scope for 

tech start-ups, with few 

firms yet targeting those 

sectors, the report said. 

“A strong homegrown 

tech sector is vital to future 

Australian jobs and wealth,” 

Noble said. – AFP 

SAN FRANCISCO – Reddit 

apologised last week for 

being a rallying point 

for online witch hunts 

as amateur sleuths used 

the social news website to 

expose those behind the 

bombing at the Boston 

Marathon. 

“Though started with 

noble intentions, some 

of the activity on Reddit 

fueled online witch hunts 

and dangerous speculation 

which spiralled into very 

negative consequences 

for innocent 

parties,” 

Reddit general 

manager Erik 

Martin said in a 

blog post on April 22. 

“We all need to look at 

what happened and make 

sure that in the future we 

do everything we can to 

help, and not hinder, crisis 

situations.” 

Reddit along with some 

of its users and moderators 

apologised privately to the 

family of a missing college 

student wrongly implicated 

during a quest to use crowdsourcing 

to identify who 

was behind the bombing, 

said Martin. 

“The Reddit staff and the 

millions of people on Reddit 

around the world deeply 

regret that this happened,” 

Martin said. 

The San Franciscobased 

news-sharing 

platform maintained that 

Reddit, overall, served as 

a “great clearinghouse” 

for information in the 

aftermath of the April 15 

twin blasts that killed three 

and wounded 200. 

“The vast majority 

of these activities were 

positive,” Martin said. 

“They provided a way for 

people to stay informed, 

as well as a place to just 

discuss, cope, and try 

to make sense of what 

happened.” 

Reddit traffic hit a peak of 

about 272,000 users when 

reports hit that a second 

suspect was captured, 

according to Google 

Analytics figures cited by 

the service. Reddit is a 

subsidiary of US news giant 

Advance Publications. 

Self-anointed cyberdetectives 

took to social 

media en masse in the days 

after the bombing, sharing 

and analysing photos and 

videos from cellphones, 

cameras and TV coverage 

of the bombing, near the 

Boston marathon finish 

line. 

Taking the lead from the 

official investigation, the 

online manhunt notably 

focused on people with 

black rucksacks, posting 

and highlighting photos of a 

‘ The Reddit staff…deeply regret that this happened. ’ 

string of potential suspects 

– sparking warnings of 

vigilantism. 

One of the main forums 

for online Boston bomber 

sleuths was Reddit, 

where a subreddit – a 

space for discussion on a 

particular subject – called 

findbostonbombers was 

used to exchange comments 

and images. 

Images of Blue Robe 

Guy, Running Away Guy, 

Brown Sweatshirt Guy 

and others have been 

analysed in minute detail 

on sites including Reddit 

and 4chan. 

One of the main forums 

for online Boston bomber 

sleuths was Reddit, 

where a subreddit – a 

space for discussion on a 

particular subject – called 

findbostonbombers had 

been used to exchange 

comments and images. 

“I don’t think we know 

yet whether crowd-sourced 

investigation like the 

Reddit one can work, since 

this is really 

very new,” 

Cindy Cohn of 

digital rights 

non-profit group 

the Electronic Frontier 

Foundation told AFP. 

“Real law enforcement is 

a skill, and even they get 

it wrong sometimes with 

horrible results for those 

affected,” she said, citing 

cases of mistaken identity 

at the 1996 Atlantic 

Olympics and the 2004 

Madrid bombings. 

“So it’s important 

that amateurs trying to 

help exercise discretion 

and avoid jumping to 

conclusions.” – AFP 

Objects printed with 3D printers at the “Inside 3D 

Printing” conference and exhibition in New York on 

April 22. The two-day exhibition featured tutorials 

and seminars offering ideas on how to invest in 

and use 3D printing as well as the latest products 

and services from leading manufacturers and 

developers. Pic: AFP 


NOTICE is hereby given that HA LI FA PTE LTD 

of 257 PANDAN LOOP Singapore 128434 is the Owner 

and Sole Proprietor of the following trademarks: - 

(Reg: No. IV/14162/2012) 

(Reg: No. IV/14163/2012) 

BALLGUS 

(Reg: No. IV/14164/2012) 

(Reg: No. IV/14165/2012) 

BoBo 

(Reg: No. IV/14161/2012) 

the above five trademarks are in respect of: - 

“Fish, sea food and meat food products, derived from fish, 

seafood and meat; prepared meals consisting substantially 

of fish, seafood and meat processed food products, all 

prepared from chicken, beef, lamb, caviar, crayfish and 

other crustaceans, cuttlefish, fish, herrings, lobsters, octopi, 

mussels, prawns, salmon, sea cucumbers, shellfish, shrimps, 

squids, tuna and seafood; fish and chicken ball and/or cake; 

vegetable ball and/or cake; prawn ball and/or roll; fish or 

chicken roll; food product consisting primarily of fish or 

chicken; crab meat products; octopus ball and/or cake; 

vegetable food products with fish or chicken; bean curd; 

bean curd ball with fish and/or chicken; dried bean curd with 

fish/chicken; prepared vegetable products; canned fish, meat, 

poultry and vegetable; chilled foods consisting predominantly 

of fish, meat and poultry; frozen seafood products; frozen fish 

products; frozen meat products; meat, preserved; preserved 

prepared meat; preserved seafood; processed meat products; 

processed seafood” – Class: 29 

“The bringing together for the benefit of others a variety of 

goods, enabling customers to conveniently view and purchase 

those goods in a retail store, in a wholesale outlet, from a 

mail order catalogue, from a general merchandise catalogue, 

by telecommunications or from a global computer network 

web site (excluding the transport thereof), all in the field of 

food products, all the aforesaid services also provided on-line 

from a computer database or via the global communications 

network or by means of telecommunications; hypermarket 

retailing; retail sale of prepared meat and meat products 

(butcher’s shop); export-import agency services; importexport 

agency services; export agency services; export 

promotion services; export services, not being transport 

services; import services, not being transport services; 

franchising services [group purchasing, group advertising]; 

procurement services for others (purchasing goods and 

services for other businesses); ordering services (for others); 

advertising; business administration; business assistance; 

business information; business management; business 

project management; information, advisory and consultancy 

services in relation to all the aforesaid services” – Class: 35 

“Services for providing food and drink; takeaway services; 

takeaway food and drink services; preparation of food and 

drinks; preparation and provision of takeaway food and 

drink; consultancy services in relation to food and beverages 

preparation; food and drink catering; food cooking services; 

consultancy, advisory and information services relating 

to the aforesaid services; information, advisory and 

consultancy services in relation to food and beverages and 

the provision of food and drinks” – Class: 43 

Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said 

trademarks or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt 

with according to law. 

U Kyi Win Associates 

for HA LI FA PTE LTD 

P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. 

Phone: 372416 Dated: 29 th April, 2013

TIMESWORLD 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

33 

Asia on guard 

as bird flu 

threat spreads 

TAIPEI – Asian countries 

urged renewed vigilance 

against a spread of H7N9 

bird flu last week after 

Taiwan reported a case 

of the deadly strain, 

the world’s first outside 

mainland China. 

The self-governing island 

on April 25 urged its 

residents to take “enhanced 

precautions” when visiting 

China – placing Shanghai, 

Beijing and five Chinese 

provinces on particular alert 

for travellers after at least 

22 deaths were confirmed 

there. 

Taiwan’s Centers for 

Disease Control (CDC) 

confirmed on April 24 that a 

53-year-old Taiwanese man, 

who had been working in 

the eastern Chinese city of 

Suzhou, showed symptoms 

three days after returning 

home via Shanghai on 

April 9. The man, who was 

infected in China, has been 

hospitalised since April 16 

and is in a serious but stable 

condition, it said. 

There have been at 

least 111 confirmed cases 

of human infection with 

H7N9 avian influenza 

in China, including the 

fatalities, figures from 

Chinese authorities and the 

World Health Organisation 

showed on April 25. 

State news agency Xinhua 

reported early on April 26 

that the eastern province 

of Jiangxi had reported its 

first case. Xinhua, citing 

local health authorities, 

said a 69-year-old man was 

in a critical condition in 

hospital. 

On April 25, the WHO 

maintained its global 

advisory for combating the 

bird flu, urging against 

contact with live poultry 

but not recommending any 

restrictions against travel 

to China. 

The “enhanced 

precautions” urged by 

Taiwan’s CDC were in 

line with WHO advice, 

counselling people to avoid 

going to poultry markets, 

stay away from anyone 

with a fever and eat only 

thoroughly cooked bird 

meat and eggs. 

WHO experts said on 

April 24 that H7N9 was a 

particularly lethal influenza 

virus but that there was 

no proof yet of sustained 

transmission between 

humans. 

Chinese researchers 

reporting in The Lancet on 

April 25 confirmed poultry 

as a source of the virus 

and also said they found no 

evidence of person-to-person 

transmission. 

Asian nations stressed 

they had measures in place, 

pioneered during a deadly 

outbreak of Severe Acute 

Respiratory Syndrome 

(SARS) a decade ago. – AFP 

Bangladeshi volunteers and rescue workers 

search for survivors amid the rubble of a 

collapsed eight-storey garment factory near 

Dhaka on April 25. The death toll in the country’s 

worst industrial accident rose to 324 early on 

April 27. Full report, P. 38. Pic: AFP 

Pressure increases on Obama over Syria 

WASHINGTON – U S 

President Barack Obama 

issued a new warning to 

Syria on April 26 that using 

chemical weapons would be 

a “game changer” as he faced 

rising pressure at home and 

abroad to intervene in the 

civil war. 

But a day after US 

officials said they suspected 

that the deadly agent sarin 

had already been used in 

small-scale attacks, Obama 

warned Washington must 

act prudently and establish 

exactly if, how and when 

such arms were used. 

Obama, who had 

previously told Syrian 

President Bashar al-Assad 

the use of chemical weapons 

would cross a “red line,” 

promised a “vigorous” US 

and international probe into 

the latest reports. 

But he appeared wary of 

launching military action 

based on initial intelligence 

reports of chemical weapons 

use, even as other official 

comments and media 

suggested that is exactly 

what had happened. 

Obama did reiterate that 

the use of chemical weapons 

would be “a game changer,” 

as he met Jordan’s King 

Abdullah II in the Oval 

Office. 

“I think all of us, not 

just in the United States 

but around the world, 

recognise how we cannot 

stand by and permit the 

systematic use of weapons 

like chemical weapons on 

civilian populations,” he 

said. 

But the US leader, who 

has been reluctant to plunge 

the US military into action 

in Syria after extricating 

it from Iraq, warned: “We 

have to act prudently. We 

have to make assessments 

deliberately.” 

Adding to the political 

pressure on Obama, the 

Syrian opposition urged the 

UN Security Council to take 

immediate steps, possibly 

even by imposing a no-fly 

zone. 

And British Prime 

Minister David Cameron 

said the growing evidence 

that Assad had turned 

chemical agents on his 

own people was “extremely 

serious.” 

The fighting in Syria, 

which the UN says has left 

more than 70,000 dead since 

March 2011, showed no 

signs of abating on April 26, 

with fresh clashes outside 

the capital, Damascus, and 

elsewhere throughout the 

country. – AFP

World 34 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

EU hails pact between Serbia and Kosovo to normalise ties 

LUXEMBOURG – The 

European Union unlocked its 

door to Serbia and Kosovo on 

April 22 in reward for striking 

a landmark agreement to 

normalise ties and turn the 

page on the last searing 

trouble-spot in the Balkans. 

But in the ethnically split 

northern Kosovo town of 

Kosovska Mitrovica, 10,000 

angry Kosovo Serbs protested 

against the accord, accusing 

Belgrade of “betraying” them 

and “abandoning” its former 

province. 

LONDON – Two campaign 

groups called last week for 

Britain to stop recruiting 

16 and 17-year-olds to its 

armed forces, a practice 

that has been abandoned 

by most countries. 

Child Soldiers 

International and 

ForcesWatch said on 

April 23 that Britain’s 

Ministry of Defence 

(MoD) wasted up to 

£94 million (US$143 

million) a year by 

recruiting minors, 

who it said were twice 

as expensive to train 

as 18-year-olds. 

But the MoD said the 

report ignored the benefits 

that a military career 

offered young people, and 

said it had no plans to 

change its policy. 

In Brussels, the deal 

garnered praise from EU 

ministers and officials after 

the European Commission 

recommended the launch 

of formal negotiations on 

Serbia’s entry into the EU 

and talks to strike a special 

pact with Kosovo. 

This “is a game-changer 

for Kosovo, for Serbia, for 

the whole region,” said 

the commissioner for 

enlargement, Stefan Fuele. 

“The rubicon has been 

passed,” said Swedish 

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, 

a key longtime player in EU- 

Balkans relations. “I think it 

is a very big achievement.” 

However officials also 

cautioned that seeing the 

normalisation of ties through 

would be a test for Kosovo 

and Serbia, which fought a 

1989-1990 conflict. 

“Implementation will be 

difficult,” Bildt said. 

Serbia hopes to be given a 

date to start long-awaited EU 

accession talks at a summit 

in June after clinching the 

deal with Kosovo on April 19, 

‘ It is a very big achievement. ’ 

the last remaining hurdle in 

lengthy efforts to win a berth 

in the bloc. 

Kosovo, whose 2008 

declaration of independence 

British military urged to 

stop recruiting teenagers 

Child Soldiers 

International – which 

campaigns primarily 

against the use of child 

soldiers in armed conflicts 

in Africa and Asia – said 

fewer than 20 countries 

continue to recruit soldiers 

from the age of 16. 

“The large majority of 

countries worldwide now 

recruit only adults aged 18 

or above into their armed 

forces,” the London-based 

charity said. 

“The UK is the only 

member of the European 

Union and only permanent 

member of the UN Security 

Council still recruiting 

from age 16.” 

In a report co-authored 

by the British campaign 

group, ForcesWatch, the 

charity said under-18s 

were more likely to join the 

infantry, where the risk of 

fatality in Afghanistan has 

been five times that faced 

by the rest of the army. 

Young troops were also 

more likely to suffer posttraumatic 

stress disorder, 

sexual harassment and 

bullying, it claimed, 

while money is wasted on 

training minors because 

‘ The UK is the only member of the European 

Union...still recruiting from age 16.’ 

they take longer to develop 

their skills and have a 

higher drop-out rate. 

The report argued that 

while under-18s are banned 

in Britain from many 

activities considered harmful 

– including drinking alcohol 

and smoking – they are 

allowed to risk their lives in 

the military. 

The Ministry of Defence 

denied that it was wasting 

tens of millions of pounds a 

year by recruiting minors. 

“We do not recognise the 

figures suggested in this 

report, which ignores the 

benefits and opportunities 

that a military career 

offers young people,” a 

ministry spokesman said. 

“We continue to 

actively recruit across 

all age groups and as 

part of our duty of 

care to our recruits no 

young person under 

the age of 18 years 

may join our armed forces 

without the formal written 

consent of their parent or 

guardian. 

“There are currently 

no plans to revisit the 

government’s recruitment 

policy for under-18s, 

which is fully compliant 

with United Nations 

Conventions.” – AFP 

is recognised by all but five 

of the 27 EU states, has 

its eyes on a Stabilisation 

and Association Agreement 

with the EU – less than 

membership, but a big step 

towards embracing the bloc. 

Slovenia is so far the 

only member of the former 

Yugoslavia to have entered 

the bloc. 

The green light from 

Brussels came as the 

governments of both Serbia 

and Kosovo approved the 

deal brokered by EU foreign 

PARIS – French lawmakers 

defied months of angry 

protests on April 23 to 

approve a bill that is to make 

France the 14th country 

worldwide to legalise samesex 

marriages. 

Opponents of the law 

vowed to fight on, quickly 

filing a constitutional 

challenge and promising 

more demonstrations to 

pressure President Francois 

Hollande into backing down 

from signing the bill. 

In its second and final 

reading, the lower house of 

parliament, the National 

Assembly, voted 331 to 225 

to adopt the bill allowing 

homosexual marriages and 

adoptions by gay couples. 

Socialist Justice Minister 

Christiane Taubira hailed 

the approval of the bill as a 

“historic” moment. 

Soon after the law was 

voted through, lawmakers 

from right-wing parties filed 

a legal challenge with the 

constitutional council. 

Senators from the main 

opposition UMP and other 

policy chief Catherine Ashton 

aimed at settling the fate of 

some 40,000 ethnic Serbs 

in northern Kosovo who 

refuse to recognise Pristina’s 

authority. The text of the 

accord has yet to be made 

public by the EU, but media 

reports in Kosovo said the 

Kosovo Serbs will have 

their own police and justice 

representatives, working 

under Pristina’s authority, 

in the few areas where they 

comprise a majority of the 

population. – AFP 

French MPs approve 

same-sex marriages 

right-wing parties said “the 

definition of marriage, a 

fundamental principle... 

cannot be modified by a 

simple law”. 

Provisions allowing 

adoption by gay couples 

violate “fundamental 

principles” of France, 

including “the principle of 

human dignity and equality”, 

they argued. 

The Catholic Bishops’ 

Conference of France 

expressed its disappointment 

at the law and Bishop 

Bernard Podvin told AFP of 

his “deep sadness”. 

“Democracy has spoken,” 

he said. “But such a 

controversial law will not 

produce social cohesion.” 

But for Nicolas Gougain, a 

spokesman for Inter-LGBT, 

France’s leading gay rights 

group, the law was a victory 

for equality and democracy. 

The constitutional council 

has a month to make a 

ruling, but the government 

expressed confidence that 

the constitutional challenge 

would be dismissed. – AFP 


NOTICE is hereby given that JAPAN TOBACCO 

INC. a company organized under the laws of Japan and 

having its principal office at 2-2-1 Toranomon, Minatoku, 

Tokyo, Japan is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of 

the following trademark: - 

(Reg: No. IV/1525/2013) 

in respect of:- “Tobacco, whether manufactured or 

unmanufactured; smoking tobacco, pipe tobacco, 

hand rolling tobacco, chewing tobacco, snus tobacco; 

cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos; substances for smoking 

sold separately or blended with tobacco, none being for 

medicinal or curative purposes; snuff; smokers’ articles 

included in Class 34; cigarette papers, cigarette tubes 

and matches” - Class 34 

Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the 

said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will 

be dealt with according to law. 


for JAPAN TOBACCO INC. 



35 

Briefs 

Brothers planned 

NY attack: Mayor 

NEW YORK – The brothers 

accused of staging the 

Boston Marathon bombings 

planned to detonate 

more explosives in Times 

Square as they were being 

hunted by police, 

New York Mayor Michael 

Bloomberg said on April 

25. 

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev confessed 

the plan to Federal 

Bureau of Investigation 

agents in his hospital bed, 

Bloomberg said, calling it a 

“horrific reminder that we 

remain targets for terrorists.” 

• More reports, P. 32. 

166 on hunger strike 

at Guantanamo 

WASHINGTON – More 

prisoners have joined a 

hunger strike to protest 

against their indefinite 

detention at the US-run 

Guantanamo military 

prison, with 92 out of 166 

detainees refusing food, a 

spokesman in a statement 

said on April 24. 

The hunger strike began 

on February 6, lawyers for 

the detainees said. – AFP 

UK newspapers spurn 

press watchdog plan 

LONDON – British 

newspapers last week 

rejected government plans 

for a state-backed press 

watchdog and published 

their own proposal for selfregulation 

in the wake of 

the phone-hacking scandal 

at Rupert Murdoch’s News 

of the World. 

The three main political 

parties struck a deal in 

March for a beefed-up 

regulator underpinned 

by law, which they 

said was needed to 

rein in the excesses 

of Britain’s raucous 

tabloid press. 

But the newspaper 

industry on April 25 

unveiled its own plans 

for a self-regulatory 

system without any state 

involvement, saying the 

government proposal to 

set up a watchdog by a 

so-called royal charter 

threatened press freedom. 

“A number of its 

recommendations are 

unworkable and it gives 

politicians an unacceptable 

degree of interference 

in the regulation of the 

press,” said a statement 

coordinated by the 

Newspaper Society, the 

industry body. 

The rival regulatory plan 

proposes fines of up to £1 

million (US$1.5 million) and 

prominent corrections, just 

as the government scheme 

does. 

But it demands more 

public consultation to allow 

newspapers and magazines 

to have their say on the 

terms of the royal charter. 

Newspapers say the plan 

threatens press freedom. 

It also opposes any legal 

underpinning of the 

regulator. 

The government said it 

would consider the proposal. 

But campaign group 

Hacked Off said newspapers 

were “defying the will of 

parliament”. 

“This desperate move by 

editors and proprietors – 

rejecting the royal charter 

agreed last month by all 

parties in parliament and 

due to be approved by the 

queen in days – is only the 

latest proof that most of 

the industry has learned 

no lessons from the Leveson 

experience,” it said. 

The government proposal 

was agreed in March in 

response to the findings 

of the Leveson Inquiry, 

a probe into the ethics of 

the press set up by Prime 

Minister David Cameron in 

2011 after the News of the 

World scandal. 

The plan involves 

the creation of a 

press watchdog 

under a royal charter, 

a special document 

used to establish 

organisations such as 

the Bank of England and 

the BBC. 

The statutory element is 

that the charter itself would 

be protected by a separate 

law stating that all charters 

passed after March 1, 2013 

could only be modified by a 

two-thirds parliamentary 

majority. 

Newspapers and free 

speech advocates say that 

any underpinning in law, 

no matter how vague, would 

restrict free speech. – AFP 

MOSCOW – President 

Vladimir Putin last week 

denied the existence of 

any elements of Stalinism 

under his rule but warned 

there needed to be “order 

and discipline” in modern 

Russia. 

“I do not see any 

elements of Stalinism 

here,” Putin said on April 

25 in his annual questionand-answer 

session with 

Russians amid growing 

criticism from activists 

over a crackdown on civil 

society. 

“Stalinism is linked to 

the cult of personality, 

mass violations of the law, 

repressions and camps.” 

But he added: “This 

does not mean that we 

should not have order and 

discipline.” 

Putin insisted that 

present-day Russia could 

not be compared with the 

Stalin era, however, saying 

that now there are no 

political prisoners. 

“People are punished for 

breaking laws or breaching 

the rights of other people,” 

he said, citing Pussy Riot 

punk band, two of whose 

members have been jailed 

for two years in remote 

prison camps for an anti- 

World 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Putin says there’s no 

Stalinism in Russia 

Russian President Vladimir 

Putin during the questionand-answer 

session last 

week. Pic: AFP 

Putin performance in a 

church. 

Millions of Soviet citizens 

were sent to prison camps 

or executed under Stalin’s 

rule, while millions also died 

in horrific famines blamed 

on his brutal agricultural 

polices. 

“There is nothing like this 

in Russia and, I hope, never 

will be again,” said Putin. 

However rights groups in 

Russia have accused Putin 

of using Stalinist repression 

techniques, including the 

jailing of opponents and 

impeding the work of NGOs 

with repressive laws. – AFP 


Dreamwell, Ltd. a company incorporated in the United 

States of America, of 2215-B Renaissance Drive, Suite 

12, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, U.S.A., is the Owner of 

the following Trade Marks:- 

Reg. No. 12495/2012 

in respect of “Class 20: Furniture, mirrors, picture 

frames; goods (not included in other classes) of 

wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, 

whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum 

and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics; 

mattresses; mattress foundations; box springs and 

pillows. Class 24: Textiles and textile goods, not 

included in other classes; bed covers; table covers; 

sheets; blankets; mattress pads; bedding clothes”. 

Simmons 

Reg. No. 12496/2012 

SMART RESPONSE 

Reg. No. 12497/2012 

in respect of “Class 20: Furniture, mirrors, picture 

frames; goods (not included in other classes) of 

wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, 

whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum 

and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics; 

mattresses; mattress foundations; box springs and 

pillows”. 

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 Dreamwell, Ltd. 

P. O. Box 60, Yangon 


Dated: 29 April 2013

World 36 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Assailants on fault lines between countries and culture 

COMMENT 

by Fouad Ajami 

THE world, in all its tangled 

webs, will be read into the 

Boston bombing suspects. 

For some, the Tsarnaev 

brothers are Chechen 

avengers, young men seared 

by the long war in Russia’s 

“southern backyard.” For 

Vladimir Putin and his 

regime, this deed of terror 

in an American city is, 

doubtless, a vindication of 

the iron fist with which the 

Russians fought their long 

war against Chechnya, proof 

of the malignancy of the 

Islamist menace. 

Foes of immigration 

can be expected to offer 

the Tsarnaev brothers as 

evidence that a nation that 

throws its gates wide open 

courts this kind of calamity. 

One way or the other, the 

matter of Islamist radicalism 

hovers over this episode. 

There are other testimonies 

that speak to the puzzlement 

of our time, to the difficulty of 

drawing hard lines between 

cultures in conflict. 

A classmate who knew 

Dzhokar, the younger of 

the two brothers, from 

Cambridge Rindge and Latin 

School described him as a 

cool guy, a regular American 

kid on the wrestling team. 

Another classmate, Ty 

Barros, describes a boy 

who liked sport 

and listened to 

rap music and 

hung out with 

other kids in the 

neighbourhood. Dzhokar 

never discussed religion and 

politics, this acquaintance 

adds. Pamela Rolon, a 

residential adviser in the 

dorm where Dzhokar lived, at 

University of Massachusetts 

at Dartmouth said that the 

young man “studied hard and 

spoke English beautifully.” 

The world outwits us, 

furrows run across it: We 

look for fixed identities 

and whole, intact worlds, 

and we find instead the 

shaking up of continents, 

the intermingling of peoples 

and ways. 

For me, the earliest 

evidence of the foreign birth 

of the bombers was not their 

features, as we saw them 

in the grainy early footage, 

but the baseball caps – one 

turned backward – and the 

backpacks. 

This was Americanism 

as the two assailants 

understood it – easily 

available, the kind that could 

slip across boundaries, evade 

detection. American urban 

culture fashioned the look, 

but it is now the property of 

one and all. 

We know the pattern. 

These assailants live on the 

seam between countries and 

cultures. 

Think of Faisal Shahzad, 

the young Pakistani who, 

three years ago, sought to 

detonate a car bomb in Times 

Square. He had driven his car 

from his home in Bridgeport, 

Connecticut. He had worked 

for Elizabeth Arden and 

completed that all-American 

degree, the MBA. The US 

was his home and wasn’t; 

Pakistan, the land of his 

birth, was no longer home. 

It could no longer answer 

his needs. 

No ‘intel’ can find and identify this unsettled breed. 

He came to militant Islam 

after personal failure and 

disappointment. For him, the 

faith had become a weapon. 

He found it online, on the 

World Wide Web – that mix 

of modern technique and 

belligerent enmities. 

Of all that has been said 

and written about this breed 

of “nowhere men” who have 

risen to war against the very 

messy world that forged 

them, the most poignant was 

said about the Lebanese-born 

terrorist, Ziad Jarrah, who 

is thought to have been at 

the controls of the plane 

forced down by its heroic 

passengers in Shanksville, 

Pennysylvania, on September 

11: “He never missed a party 

in Beirut and never missed a 

prayer in Hamburg.” 

The pampered boy of an 

affluent family was unhinged 

by a radical reading of 

the faith that 

he found in 

the storefront 

mosques in 

Hamburg. 

Modernity failed and 

unsettled Jarrah. 

There are echoes of 

Jarrah’s story in reports 

about the older Tsarnaev 

brother, Tamerlan. Like 

Jarrah, Tamerlan was in his 

mid-20s. He had become a 

legal US resident in 2007; he 

had shown no early interest 

in Islam. His passion was 

boxing, but then Islam 

entered his life through the 

social media. Civilisational 

battles were once waged by 

warriors who donned the 

garments of different lands 

and spoke the languages of 

different worlds – the Moors 

on one side, the Castilians 

on the other. The borders 

were easy to see and to make 

out. The global landscape is 

different today. It is boys 

with baseball caps who 

carry death and ruin in their 

backpacks. 

Home is neither in the 

lands of their birth nor in the 

diaspora communities where 

people flee the fire and the 

failure of tormented places. 

No “intel” can find and 

identify this unsettled breed 

–ordinary neighbourhood 

types who step forth to do 

battle against a modernity, 

and an order, they had once 

yearned for. 

– Bloomberg News 

(Fouad Ajami is a senior 

fellow at the Stanford 

University’s Hoover 

Institution and author of 

The Syrian Rebellion). 

Blasts suspect charged in bedside hearing 

BOSTON, Massachusetts 

– Boston bombing suspect 

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev could 

face the death penalty after 

being charged on April 22 

for his alleged role in the 

attacks that left three people 

dead and 200 wounded. 

The teenager was said 

to be alert as he was 

arraigned in his hospital 

bed on charges of using 

and conspiring to use a 

weapon of mass destruction, 

and malicious destruction 

of property by means of 

Pic: AFP 

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. 

deadly explosives, the US 

Department of Justice said. 

If Tsarnaev, 19, a 

naturalised US citizen 

of Chechen descent, is 

convicted of the federal 

charges, he could be 

sentenced to death. 

“We’ve once again shown 

that those who target 

innocent Americans and 

attempt to terrorise our 

cities will not escape from 

justice,” said US Attorney 

General Eric Holder. A first 

court hearing was set for 

May 30. 

The unsealing of the 

federal charges against 

Tsarnaev, who suffered 

gunshot wounds to the head, 

neck, legs and hand before 

his capture late on April 

19, came as White House 

spokesman Jay Carney said 

he would not be deemed an 

“enemy combatant.” 

“We will prosecute this 

terrorist through our civilian 

system of justice,” Carney 

said after some Republicans 

had called for Tsarnaev to 

have the same status as the 

“war on terror” detainees 

held in Guantanamo Bay. 

Tsarnaev was caught after 

a massive manhunt that 

virtually shut down Boston 

and its suburbs on April 

19. His brother and alleged 

accomplice Tamerlan, 26, 

had been killed in a chaotic 

shootout with police. 

A clearer picture of 

Tsarnaev’s role in the attacks 

emerged with the release of 

an affidavit from an FBI 

agent on April 22, which 

revealed the teenager had 

been caught on film planting 

the second backpack bomb. 

Surveillance footage 

showed Tsarnaev calmly 

walking away from the 

scene after the first bomb 

was detonated, said the 

affidavit. 

Tsarnaev, who remains 

bedridden and hospitalised, 

spoke only one word aloud at 

A monk meditates during a moment of silence held near 

the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 22 to mark 

the first week since the bombings occurred. Pic: AFP 

his bedside hearing on April, 

saying “no” when asked 

whether he could afford a 

lawyer, said a transcript 

of the hearing released on 

April 22. 

Otherwise, the record 

showed he nodded 

when asked whether he 

understood the process and 

the charges against him. 

The federal judge said she 

found him “alert, mentally 

competent, and lucid,” said 

the transcript. 

FBI investigators are 

still hoping to get answers 

from Tsarnaev about the 

brothers’ possible motive 

and learn if other attacks 

were being planned. 

An unnamed US 

government source told 

CNN that “preliminary 

interviews with Tsarnaev 

indicate the two brothers 

fit the classification of selfradicalised 

jihadists,” and 

that international groups 

were not involved. 

Boston Police 

Commissioner Ed Davis said 

on April 21 that the brothers, 

who had been living legally 

in the United States for 

more than a decade, had 

more homemade explosive 

devices and appeared to 

have been planning more 

attacks. – AFP 


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37 

World 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

US, Israel clinch massive weapons deal 

TEL AVIV, Israel – Pentagon 

chief Chuck Hagel and his 

Israeli counterpart on April 

22 hailed a major arms deal 

as a sign of “ironclad” US 

support for the Jewish state 

after talks on Iran’s nuclear 

drive and Syria’s war. 

The US defence secretary, 

who has been accused of 

being too critical of Israel, 

sought to convey a message 

of solidarity on his first visit 

to the region since he took 

office two months ago. 

Speaking at a joint news 

conference with Defence 

Minister Moshe Yaalon in 

Tel Aviv, Hagel confirmed 

the two had agreed on a 

multi-billion dollar weapons 

deal that will see Israel 

receiving an impressive 

array of advanced US 

missiles and aircraft. 

“Today we took another 

significant step in the US- 

Israel defence relationship,” 

Hagel said, reiterating 

Washington’s “ironclad 

pledge” to ensure Israel’s 

military edge in a region 

rocked by turmoil. 

“Minister Yaalon and 

I agreed that the United 

States will make available 

to Israel a set of advanced 

new military capabilities,” 

including anti-radiation 

missiles, radars for fighter 

jets, KC-135 refuelling 

aircraft, and the V-22 

Osprey, which the United 

States has not released to 

other countries, he said. 

Yaalon admitted Israel 

had already “acted” to stop 

advanced weapons from 

falling into militant hands, 

in what was seen as implicit 

confirmation of Israeli 

involvement in a strike on 

an arms convoy inside Syria 

in January. 

He said Israel had laid 

down three “very clear red 

lines” for the regime of 

Syrian President Bashar al- 

Assad, the first of which was 

“not to allow sophisticated 

weapons to be delivered or 

be taken by... Hezbollah or 

other rogue elements.” 

The US defence secretary 

Iraqi president fears 

‘sectarian civil war’ 

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Prime 

Minister Nuri al-Maliki 

warned on April 25 of a 

return to “sectarian civil 

war” as 179 people were 

killed over three days. 

Maliki called for people “to 

take the initiative and not 

be silent about those who 

want to take the country 

back to sectarian civil war,” 

in remarks broadcast on 

state television. 

The violence erupted 

on April 23 when security 

forces moved against antigovernment 

protesters near 

the Sunni Muslim town of 

Hawijah in northern Iraq, 

sparking clashes that left 

53 people dead. 

A wave of subsequent 

unrest, much of it apparently 

revenge attacks for the 

Hawijah clashes, killed 

dozens more people and 

brought the toll by April 25 to 

179 dead and 286 wounded. 

The protest-related 

violence is the deadliest so 

far linked to demonstrations 

that broke out in Sunni 

areas of the Shiite-majority 

country more than four 

months ago. 

The protesters have called 

for the resignation of Maliki, 

a Shiite, and railed against 

authorities for allegedly 

targeting their community, 

including with what they 

say are wrongful detentions 

and anti-terrorism charges. 

The military said the 

operation in Hawijah that 

sparked the clashes was 

aimed at the Naqshbandiya 

Army, which it said had 

infiltrated the ranks of the 

anti-government protesters. 

Two leaders of the 

Hawijah protest said on 

April 25 they would form a 

wing of the Naqshbandiya 

Army in response to the 

April 23 killings. 

“We will take revenge for 

the massacre of Hawijah,” 

protest spokesman Hamed 

al-Juburi said. – AFP 

said he had had “clear, direct 

conversations” with Yaalon 

that covered the threat 

posed by Iran’s nuclear 

program, which Washington 

and much of the West believe 

is a drive for a weapons 

capability, but which the 

Islamic republic denies. 

At a meeting on April 

22 between Hagel and 

Shimon Peres, the Israeli 

president said “your visit 

sends a message that you’re 

determined not to let Iran 

become nuclear. 

“I have full trust in your 

position,” he said, adding 

that diplomacy in dealing 

with Iran was “better but if 

diplomacy won’t be enough 

then all options are on the 

table.” 

US-Israeli relations have 

been strained over how to 

address the Iranian threat 

but Hagel had insisted there 

was no major disagreement 

on the issue. 

Before arriving in Israel 

on April 21 at the start of a 

six-day regional tour, Hagel 

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 

Netanyahu (left) at his office in Jerusalem on April 23. Pic: AFP 

had said the arms deal sent a 

“very clear signal” to Tehran 

that military action remains 

an option to stop it from 

obtaining nuclear weapons. 

Israel, believed to be 

the Middle East’s sole if 

undeclared nuclear power, 

has refused to rule out a 

pre-emptive military strike 

on Iran’s nuclear facilities. 

Hagel said on April 22 that 

“every sovereign nation has 

a right to defend itself”. 

– AFP 


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Asia 40 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

A circus helps bring smiles 

to children in Afghanistan 

KABUL – In a dusty city of grey 

concrete blast walls where there’s 

not always much to smile about, the 

organisers of a children’s circus try to 

provide a splash of colour and some 

moments of joy. 

The Kabul-based Mobile Mini- 

Circus for Children (MMCC) was 

founded in Afghanistan in 2002, 

months after the fall of the hardline 

Taliban Islamic regime which banned 

music and dance. 

Fewer than one million children 

– and no girls – attended school 

nationwide at the time. 

While other NGOs and government 

agencies focused on food, shelter and 

education, MMCC (www.afghanmmcc. 

org) strove to introduce “soft” values 

bringing children together to foster 

a more joyful atmosphere despite 

frequent hardship. 

“It’s a special circus,” said founder 

David Mason, a former salsa and tango 

dance instructor from Denmark. 

“It’s a circus to educate, give 

meaning to life, make children happy, 

make them dream and realise their 

dreams and gain self-confidence and 

inspiration.” 

Professional adult artists tour and 

perform for children throughout the 

war-torn country. 

In the past 11 years, Mason told 

AFP, the circus and its local partner, 

the Afghan Educational Children’s 

Circus, have attracted a total live 

audience of more than 2.7 million 

people in 25 provinces. 

At a show in Kabul on April 21 

to mark World Circus Day, young 

David Mason, co-founder of the 

Mobile Mini Circus for Children, at 

its ceremony in Kabul on April 21 to 

mark World Circus Day. Pic: AFP 

performers in colourful cloaks circled 

a courtyard on rollerskates and 

headscarved girls showed off their 

juggling skills. 

Children performed cartwheels and 

backward somersaults and formed 

human pyramids, dancing and 

clapping to entertain an audience of 

their peers from a camp for internally 

displaced people and an orphanage. 

Conditions in the camps housing 

the country’s half a million internal 

refugees are notoriously harsh. In the 

winter of 2011-2012 about 100 people, 

mostly children and the elderly, lost 

their lives in the cold. 

“When you are living under a plastic 

sheet in a Kabul winter, then... 

hardship and surviving makes people 

forget about living. And then once you 

have survived, there’s nothing much to 

live for,” said Mason, 47. 

The circus works to change that. 

A total of 120 girls and boys attend 

a centre in Kabul after regular school 

hours to learn circus skills before 

they give performances in schools and 

refugee camps. 

“They are semi-professionals,” 

said Mason, co-director of the nonprofit 

body with his partner Berit 

Muhlhausen. MMCC also draws on 

support from almost 100 international 

professionals and volunteers. 

Enjoyment is the main message 

but the circus also stages hour-long 

educational performances starting 

with a Koran recital. They include 

messages lasting for 10-15 minutes 

on the importance of hygiene, school 

attendance, mine awareness and 

malaria prevention. 

Children “never forget the messages 

because the music is there, the story 

is there, compared with traditional 

messages,” Mason said. 

But the overriding message is to 

be happy. “It’s difficult to convince 

academics and people in power that 

having a reason to be joyful is a huge 

achievement, an aim in itself,” he said. 

Every year the circus brings together 

children from across Afghanistan for 

major events such as festivals and 

children’s assemblies. This, says 

MMCC, promotes unity in a multiethnic 

country. – AFP 

Graffiti last week in New Delhi, where the victim of the 

latest rape outrage was a five-year-old girl. Pic: AFP 

Minister defends protests 

NEW DELHI – A senior 

Indian government minister 

said on April 23 that a new 

rape outrage showed that 

“something terrible” was 

happening to society. 

Protests have been taking 

place in New Delhi since it 

emerged that a five-yearold 

girl had been repeatedly 

raped for nearly two days 

after being abducted from 

her home in a working class 

suburb on April 15. 

The attack has reignited 

anger over the shocking 

levels of sexual violence 

in India, which flared in 

December after the fatal 

gang-rape of a student on a 

bus in the capital. 

In an interview with the 

NDTV network, Foreign 

Minister Salman Khurshid 

said that authorities 

needed to listen to what the 

protesters had to say rather 

than simply confront them. 

“We need to take protests 

on board as part of our 

democratic commitment. We 

can’t be upset that somebody 

is protesting... We need to be 

sensitive to people’s anger,” 

said Khurshid, who was 

previously the country’s law 

minister. 

“There’s something 

terrible happening in 

our society. It needs to 

be analysed, it needs to 

be studied, it needs to be 

uncovered.” 

Khurshid’s comments 

followed a speech by Prime 

Minister Manmohan Singh 

in which he called for a 

collective effort to “root out 

this sort of depravity from 

our society”. 

The five-year-old victim 

is recovering in a hospital 

after undergoing surgery 

for severe internal injuries 

suffered during her ordeal. 

Two men have been 

arrested on suspicion of rape 

and kidnap. – AFP 


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41 

ASEAN presses China for talks 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 

– Southeast Asian leaders 

last week called for urgent 

talks with China to ensure 

that increasingly tense 

territorial disputes over 

the South China Sea did 

not escalate into violence. 

The 10-member 

Association of Southeast 

Asian Nations (ASEAN) 

wrapped up a two-day 

summit in Brunei on April 

25 with a chairman’s 

statement in 

which they 

emphasised 

t h e 

importance 

of “peace, stability and 

maritime security in the 

region”. 

Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal 

Bolkiah, the host of the 

talks, told reporters after 

the summit that the leaders 

wanted to “urgently work 

on a code of conduct” with 

China aimed at defusing 

tensions over the strategic 

maritime region. 

The flashpoint South 

China Sea issue dominated 

the meeting, amid growing 

concern among some 

Southeast Asian countries 

over China’s increasing 

aggression in laying claim 

to the waters. 

China says it has 

sovereign rights to nearly 

all of the South China Sea, 

which is believed to sit atop 

huge deposits of oil and gas. 

It is also home to some of 

the world’s busiest shipping 

lanes and richest fishing 

grounds. 

ASEAN members the 

Philippines, Vietnam, 

Malaysia and Brunei, as 

well as Taiwan, also claim 

parts of the sea. 

The competing claims 

have for decades made the 

area one of Asia’s potential 

powder kegs for military 

conflict. China and Vietnam 

fought battles in 1974 and 

1988 for control of islands 

that left dozens of soldiers 

dead. 

Tensions have risen 

again in recent years as 

China has used increasingly 

aggressive diplomatic and 

military tactics to assert its 

authority. 

Among the actions that 

have caused alarm were 

China’s occupation of a shoal 

close to the Philippines’ 

main island last year and 

the deployment last month 

of Chinese naval ships to 

‘ China was never enthusiastic about a code of conduct. ’ 

within 80 kilometres (50 

miles) of Malaysia’s coast. 

ASEAN endured 

unprecedented infighting 

last year as the Philippines 

and Vietnam failed to 

persuade the bloc to send a 

united message of concern 

to China. 

Cambodia, a close China 

ally that held the rotating 

chair of ASEAN in 2012, 

blocked the efforts of the 

Philippines and Vietnam. 

Southeast Asian leaders 

said last week’s summit 

had successfully led to a 

regained sense of unity 

within ASEAN on the issue, 

with Philippine President 

Benigno Aquino praising 

his Brunei host for deft 

diplomacy that helped build 

a consensus. 

Nevertheless, analysts 

said ASEAN’s calls for 

China to agree on a legally 

binding code of conduct for 

the sea would 

likely lead 

nowhere. 

A S E A N 

and China 

first agreed to work on 

a code in 2002, but the 

Asian superpower has since 

refused to discuss it further. 

“China was never 

enthusiastic about a code 

of conduct, as it does not 

want to sign an agreement 

that will constrain its 

sovereignty-building 

activities,” Ian Storey, a 

senior fellow at the Institute 

of Southeast Asian Studies, 

told AFP. – AFP 

Asia 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

The top US military officer, General Martin Dempsey, 

with his Chinese counterpart, General Fang Fenghui, 

at a joint news conference in Beijing on April 22. 

Dempsey, on his first visit to China since becoming 

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October last 

year, told the news conference that the US sought to 

be a “stabilising influence” in the Asia-Pacific region 

and to have a stronger relationship with China. Fang, 

the chief of the People’s Liberation Army general staff, 

said the armed forces of the two countries needed 

to deepen cooperation. “The Pacific Ocean is wide 

enough to accommodate us both,” he said. Pic: AFP 


NOTICE is hereby given that YKK CORPORATION 

of 1, KANDA IZUMI-CHO, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO, 

JAPAN is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the 

following trademark: - 

(Reg: No. IV/14827/2012) 

in respect of: - “Metallic building materials, namely, 

bindings of metal, boards, bolts, brackets of metal for 

buildings, metal joinery fittings for buildings, prefabricated 

buildings of metal, casement windows, cladding for 

construction and building, door bolts, door cases, door 

closures, door fittings, namely, keys and key cylinders, 

hinges, door frames, door handles, door panel, door, door 

stops of metal, fences, fittings of metal for windows, 

namely, metal window sills, crescent, window handles, 

flashing of metal for building, gates, gratings, greenhouse 

frames of metal, small hardware of metal, namely, metal 

gate latches, pulleys, springs, nuts, washers, insect screens 

of metal, jalousies of metal, lining of metal, locks of metal 

for bags, outdoor blinds of metal, reinforcing materials 

of metal for building, namely, waterproof louvers, slide 

shutters, shutters, window shutters, rivets of metal, metal 

roofing, sash fasteners of metal for windows, sash pulleys, 

screw, tiles of metal for building, window frames, windows, 

venetian blinds, bay windows, sidings, curtain walls, 

common metals and their alloys for further manufacturing, 

ceiling boards, all of metal” – Class: 6 

“Non-metallic building materials, namely, synthetic 

boards, ceiling boards, stone for buildings, window glass 

for buildings, window frames, window, panel for building, 

casement windows, doors, door frames, door panels, fences, 

gates, roof coverings, balustrade, marble, granite, andesite, 

sandstone, limestone, tuff, artificial marble, plaster, 

plywood, wall claddings, boards, building timber, moldable 

wood, partitions, insect screen, shutters, tiles for building, 

joinery fittings (not of metal), prefabricated building kits 

(not of metal), cement, all not of metal”- Class: 19 


trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt 



for YKK CORPORATION 



Asia 42 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Musharraf 

arrested 

for murder 

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s 

former military ruler 

Pervez Musharraf was on 

April 25 formally arrested 

over the murder of former 

prime minister Benazir 

Bhutto, prosecutors said. 

The Bhutto case is the 

second of three cases dating 

to his 1999-2008 rule for 

which Musharraf has 

been arrested. The latest 

arrest came a day after a 

Pakistani court refused to 

extend his bail. 

Musharraf will remain 

in his villa on the edge 

of Islamabad where he is 

under a two-week house 

arrest over his decision 

to sack judges when he 

imposed emergency rule in 

November 2007. 

Musharraf is accused 

of conspiracy to murder 

Bhutto, who died in a 

gun and suicide attack in 

December 2007. 

His arrest and 

disqualification from 

contesting elections on May 

11 have been a humiliating 

blow for the former ruler of 

nuclear-armed Pakistan, 

who returned home last 

month promising to “save” 

the country. 

Nobody has been 

convicted or jailed for 

Bhutto’s assassination, 

despite a long-running 

court case. – AFP 

SAVAR, Bangladesh – 

Exhausted rescuers raced 

on April 27 to dig out dozens 

of people found alive in the 

rubble of a Bangladesh 

garment factory complex 

that caved in three days 

earlier as the death toll 

in the country’s worst 

industrial accident rose to 

324. 

Police said they arrested 

two factory owners early on 

April 27 as rescue workers 

pulled two survivors from 

t h e 

wreckage, 

giving 

fresh hope 

to the 

teams of firefighters, police 

and volunteers who worked 

through the night. 

“Two of them were pulled 

out alive just a few minutes 

back (nearly 70 hours after 

the disaster),” deputy chief 

of Dhaka police Shyaml 

Mukherjee told AFP. 

Rescuers were digging in 

a desperate race to reach 

about 50 people found alive 

in the rubble on April 26. 

The discovery of more 

survivors brought new hope 

to the thousands of relatives 

huddled at the site, but an 

intense stench suggested 


Pizza Hut International, LLC, a company incorporated 

in the State of Delaware, U.S.A., of 14841 N. Dallas 

Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75254, U.S.A., is the Owner of 

the following Trade Marks:- 

Reg. No. 2696/2013 

Reg. No. 2697/2013 

Race to save survivors 

as building collapse 

death toll reaches 324 

many bodies were trapped 

in the rubble. 

Some vented their anger 

at the pace of rescue work. 

“I’ve been here since 

Wednesday. We still don’t 

know what happened to 

my aunt and sister-in-law 

who worked at a garment 

factory in the building,” said 

Harunur Rashid. 

“The rescue work is going 

on very slowly. There are too 

many people, yet too little 

work. Had they stepped up 

cutting of the concrete, I 

think they could save quite 

a lot of people,” he said. 

More than 2300 people 

have been rescued alive 

since the collapse but many 

are severely injured. 

Police said they had 

arrested two owners of 

garment factories in the 

collapsed building and 

charged them with “death 

due to negligence”. 

Widespread anger has 

been fuelled by revelations 

that factory bosses forced 

workers to return to the 

Rana Plaza building, which 

collapsed within minutes on 

April 24. 

Police on April 26 battled 

to control huge crowds of 

garment workers protesting 

against the latest tragedy 

in the sector, which is a big 

foreign exchange earner for 

the poor nation. 

Police fired tear-gas 

and rubber bullets at the 

workers – who sew clothes 

for well-known Western 

brands for as little as US$37 

a month – as they blocked 

roads and 

attacked 

factories 

and buses 

in textilemaking 

districts around 

Dhaka. 

The accident has 

prompted new accusations 

from labour activists 

that Western clothing 

companies place profit 

before safety by sourcing 

their products from 

Bangladesh, despite its 

shocking track record of 

deadly disasters. 

The building collapse 

“shows the urgent need 

to improve Bangladesh’s 

protections for worker 

health and safety”, Human 

Rights Watch said. – AFP 

‘ The rescue work is going on very slowly. ’ 









spices; ice; pasta. Class 43: Services for providing food 

and drink; temporary accommodation”. 

North Korea 

spurns talks 

ultimatum 

from South 

SEOUL – North Korea has 

rejected South Korea’s offer 

to open formal talks on 

restarting operations at the 

Kaesong joint industrial 

zone, Yonhap news agency 

said on April 26, citing the 

North’s National Defence 

Commission. 

Seoul had the previous 

day had given the North 

24 hours to agree to 

formal negotiations on the 

Kaesong complex, warning 

of unspecified “significant 

measures” if Pyongyang 

declined. 

“If the South Korean 

puppet force continues to 

aggravate the situation, it 

would be up to us to take 

any final and decisive grave 

measures,” Yonhap cited 

the defence commission 

statement as saying. 

The South’s ultimatum 

had been seen as a thinly 

veiled threat of a permanent 

withdrawal from Kaesong, 

which normally employs 

53,000 workers at 123 South 

Korean firms. 

The industrial zone, 

about 10 kilometres (six 

miles) inside the North, 

was seen as a rare example 

of cooperation across the 

heavily militarised border. 

But Pyongyang pulled 

out its workforce on April 9 

and suspended operations, 

angered by the South’s 

mention of a “military” 

contingency plan to protect 

its staff at the site. 

The South Korean firms 

that usually operate at 

the complex have vowed to 

remain and fight to defend 

their investment whatever 

Seoul’s decision. 

The Korean peninsula 

was already engulfed in a 

cycle of escalating tensions 

– triggered by the North’s 

nuclear test in February – 

when Pyongyang decided 

on April 3 to block all South 

Korean access to Kaesong. 

– AFP 

Briefs 

Anwar holds lead, 

shows opinion poll 

KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition 

leader Anwar 

Ibrahim holds a slight edge 

over Malaysian premier 

Najib Razak ahead of elections 

on May 5, showed an 

opinion poll released by the 

University of Malaysia’s 

Centre for Democracy and 

Elections late on April 25. 

Anwar was considered 

the more qualified prime 

minister choice by 43 percent 

of voters, compared to 

39pc for Najib, who is battling 

to stave off the biggest 

electoral threat to the ruling 

coalition in its 56 years 

in power. 

Campaign ambush 

kills 12 in Philippines 

ILIGAN – Twelve people 

were killed in an ambush 

on a Philippines mayor, officials 

said on April 26, in 

the deadliest of a string of 

violent incidents that have 

marred the campaign for 

May elections. 

Gunmen opened fire on 

a truck carrying Mayor Abdulmalik 

Manamparan and 

his supporters on southern 

Mindanao island late on 

April 25, a local military 

commander said. 

The attack brought to 30 

the death toll from election 

violence since the campaign 

began in February. 

Man rescued five 

days after quake 

BEIJING – A man, 78, has 

been rescued five days after 

an earthquake hit southwestern 

China, killing 196 

and making thousands 

homeless, state media reported 

on April 25. 

He was found by rescuers 

in Muping township, in Baoxing 

County, Xinhua said, 

without giving further details. 

– AFP 

Reg. No. 2698/2013 

Reg. No. 2702/2013 

Reg. No. 2703/2013 









spices; ice; pizza, pizza pie crusts, pizza dough; pizza 

sauce. Class 43: Services for providing food and drink; 

temporary accommodation”. 

Reg. No. 2699/2013 

Reg. No. 2704/2013 

Reg. No. 2700/2013 

Reg. No. 2701/2013 









spices; ice; pizza, pizza pie crusts, pizza dough; pizza 

sauce. Class 39: Food and beverage delivery services. 

Class 43: Services for providing food and drink; 

temporary accommodation”. 



Win Mu Tin, M.A.,H.G.P.,D.B.L. 

for Pizza Hut International, LLC. 





NOTICE is hereby given that Mepha Schweiz AG, a 

company organized under the laws of the Switzerland 

and having its principal office at Kirschgartenstrasse 

14, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland is the owner and sole 

proprietor of the following trademarks:- 

ARTEQUIN 

(Reg: Nos. IV/921/2001, IV/9241/2012 & 

IV/2800/2013) 

in respect of :- “Pharmaceutical products and preparations 

for health care purposes; disinfectants; all being goods 

in.” - Class: 5 

MEPHA 

(Reg: Nos. IV/1179/1998, IV/9238/2012 & 

IV/2801/2013) 

in respect of :- “Pharmaceutical preparations and 

substances.” 


trademarks or other infringements whatsoever will be 

dealt with according to law. 


For Mepha Schweiz AG, 



43 

The Myanmar Times April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Time out 

Cartoonists hope for publishing boon 

By Zon Pann Pwint and Ei 

Ei Thu 

SINCE censorship of print 

media in Myanmar ended 

last year, it has become 

increasingly common for 

weekly journals to publish 

single-panel cartoons 

commenting humorously 

on politicians, social ills 

and current conflicts in the 

country. 

“Cartoons commenting 

controversial issues, such 

as the Letpadaung copper 

mine conflict and delays in 

the distribution of cheap 

SIM cards, have recently 

appeared in local journals,” 

said well-known cartoonist 

Soe Thaw Dar. “But the 

problem is that the cartoons 

are not fresh when the 

journals publish them a week 

late.” 

The situation started 

improving on April 1 when 

several local newspapers 

began publishing daily, 

three of which have carried 

editorial cartoons. 

“I hope more editorial 

cartoons will appear in 

the newspapers that are 

expected to launch daily 

editions soon,” Soe Thaw 

Dar said. 

Cartoonist Shwe Bo also 

hoped that the boom in 

daily publishing will create 

more space for the work of 

cartoonists. 

“Cartoonists have 

gained the freedom of 

creation, but they haven’t 

had a forum to present 

their ideas, opinions and 

creations to the public in 

a timely way,” he said. “I 

expect daily newspapers 

will help us convey our 

ideas and opinions to the 

public without delay.” 

Poet, satirist and cartoonist 

Saw Wai added: “I hope more 

cartoons that comment on 

the everyday things that 

affect our lives today will 

appear in tomorrow’s 

newspapers, if emerging 

newspapers regularly feature 

cartoons.” 

Soe Thaw Dar said 

compensation for a singlepanel 

cartoon is very low, 

with one popular journal 

paying K12,000 but some 

paying as little as K1500. 

“Most journals pay 

around K4000 for a single 

cartoon. On top of that, the 

cartoonists can’t collect 

their payment when the 

editor is out of the office,” 

Soe Thaw Dar said. 

Shwe Bo said that if more 

newspapers print cartoons on 

a regular basis, artists will be 

able to “earn a comfortable 

living”. 

Soe Thaw Dar said the use of 

editorial cartoon in Myanmar 

dates back to before the 

1960s, when newspapers 

like Hantharwady, Oway, The 

New Light of Myanmar and 

MMA tracks use of 

songs at Thingyan 

Cartoon by Soe Thaw Dar 

Mirror featured such work 

as an expression of editor’s 

outlook on the social ills of 

the day 

He said newspapers 

appointed famous 

cartoonists such as U Pe 

Thein and U Aung Shein, who 

also wrote regular columns 

for newspaper. 

“Editors supplied the 

cartoonists with the opinion 

they wanted to convey, 

usually relating to the events 

of the day. The resulting 

cartoons were fresh and 

reflected the current 

situation as well as the views 

of the editor,” Soe Thaw Dar 

said. 

“Today the system is 

different: Cartoonists 

create their own work that 

comments on the failings of 

politicians, the government 

system and current conflicts, 

and then they send their 

cartoons to the journals. 

The editors select what they 

like.” 

He said that nowadays 

most cartoons are derived 

from the feelings and 

opinions of the cartoonists 

themselves, whose ideas are 

driven by current conflicts 

and social problems. 

“For example, many 

cartoons predicting the 

outcome of the Letpadaung 

copper mine issue popped up 

in journals at that time. The 

opinions of the cartoonists 

were expressed in the 

cartoons, many of which 

predicted that the copper 

mine would be cancelled,” 

Soe Thaw Dar said. “It 

seemed like a popular 

subject for cartoons at that 

time, and then the situation 

all went wrong.” 

He added that if more 

cartoons start appearing 

in local newspapers, 

cartoonists must be careful 

to remain faithful to the 

accuracy of events. 

“Like journalists, 

cartoonists shouldn’t show 

strong feelings in favour 

of, or against, one group 

of people or one side in an 

argument. Their works should 

based on fair judgment,” Soe 

Thaw Dar said. 

By Nuam Bawi 

THE Myanmar Music 

Association’s threat to take 

action against unauthorised 

use of music during Thingyan 

water festival has borne 

fruit, and MMA officials said 

last week that there were 

fewer incidents this year 

of performers singing songs 

from other artists without 

permission. 

“We received lists of songs 

from MRTV-4, Channel-7 and 

5-Plus television stations 

detailing the songs that 

would be used for live 

performances during 

Thingyan,” Phyu Phyu Kyaw 

Thein, the association’s 

general secretary, told The 


“Sky Net made their own 

deals with individual artists, 

so there was no problem with 

them.” 

The association released 

an announcement on April 

8, less than a week before 

the start of Thingyan, 

saying that artists must be 

notified and compensated if 

their songs were broadcast 

on television during the 

festival. 

“This type of 

announcement makes it 

easier to build trust between 

artists and broadcasters,” 

said Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein. 

“Otherwise, there will 

always be doubts when we 

work together, and artists 

will worry that their songs 

will be used without giving 

notice.” 

However, not everyone 

cooperated with the request, 

she said. 

“There was one pandal 

in Mandalay that invited 

broadcast media to cover 

their performances, and 

even though some songs were 

broadcast on TV, no deal had 

been made beforehand with 

the artists whose songs were 

performed,” she said. 

“We’ve already received 

all the documents from 

the artists who want us to 

solve the problem, so now 

we are going to lead the 

negotiations.” 

A spokesperson from 

MRTV-4 and Channel-7 told 

The Myanmar Times that 

the situation was confusing 

because some artists 

preferred to deal directly 

with the TV stations rather 

than go through MMA. 

“The MMA announcement 

on April 8 was specifically 

for Thingyan, and as soon 

as we heard it, we sent the 

association a list of songs 

that we planned to broadcast 

during the festival,” said the 

spokesperson, Pyae Phyoe 

Han. 

“It would be useful if MMA 

would create a standard 

system that everyone in the 

music industry can follow 

throughout the year. This 

will make it more convenient 

for us, and it will even help 

us estimate the costs of 

producing our programs.”

Timeout 44 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Art destined for destruction 

Yangon street artists struggle for acceptance even as they are targeted by a low-key war waged by municipal authorities 

By Zon Pann Pwint 

STREET artist Arker Kyaw, 

who gained international 

notoriety for his murals of 

US president Barack Obama 

that appeared in Yangon last 

November, struck again last 

week with a birthday portrait 

of President U Thein Sein. 

The U Thein Sein painting 

appeared in the early morning 

‘All of my murals 

get painted over, 

so I have to be 

pretty thickskinned 

to do this 

work. But I still 

felt a sharp pain 

when I heard my 

work had been 

covered.’ 

hours of April 20 on a wall 

near Chawtwingone traffic 

light in Mayangone township. 

It was a accompanied by 

the message wishing the 

president a happy birthday. 

The mural was short-lived, 

however, as police swarmed 

in at 1pm on the same day 

and covered it with white 

paint. 

“I learned the date of the 

president’s birthday just 

a week beforehand, and I 

wanted to paint his portrait 

to mark of his 68 th birthday 

on April 20,” Arker Kyaw 

said. 

“The Chawtwingone traffic 

light is busy in the morning, 

so I knew that bus passengers 

would see the painting along 

with the words ‘Happy 

Birthday Mr President’. That 

way they would know April 

20 was his birthday.” 

Arker Kyaw said he started 

painting the mural at 4am. 

“A reporter from Seven 

Days journal called me up 

around 1pm the same day 

and told me that he had 

photographed the mural, 

and immediately afterward 

the police had arrived and 

sprayed white paint over my 

work,” he said. 

“All of my murals get 

painted over, so I have to 

be pretty thick-skinned to 

do this work. But I still felt 

a sharp pain when I heard 

my work had been covered.” 

Last November, Arker 

Kyaw created a mural of 

Barack Obama on a wall near 

Kandawgyi Park, just a week 

before the US president’s 

historic visit to Myanmar. 

But the mural was vandalised 

with spray paint later that 

same day. 

He created a new, nearly 

identical Obama portrait a 

few days later on November 

17, on a wall near Excel Tower 

at Shwegondine Junction. It 

was just two days before 

the US president’s arrival in 

Yangon. 

“The same night, on 

November 17, the second 

mural was attacked. A man in 

a private car threw a plastic 

bag containing fresh paint at 

the face of the mural,” Arker 

Kyaw said. 

“As soon as I heard about 

it, I rushed to correct the 

artwork. Only the face of 

the painting was damaged, 

so I was able to correct it 

in time.” 

The second mural ended 

up lasting about one month 

before municipal workers 

painted over it, just before 

construction work started on 

Bloodsugar Politik to rock Hanoi 

A mural of President U Thein Sein in Mayangone township, Yangon, on April 20. Pic: Supplied 

the Shwegondine Junction 

flyover. 

Meanwhile, Yangon 

municipal authorities 

continue waging a lowkey 

war against street art. 

Last December, authorities 

announced a ban on graffiti 

and street art in the city. 

Yangon-based graffiti artist 

Thu Myat said he’s heard of 

no one receiving excessive 

punishment since then. 

“After the ban was 

announced via state 

newspapers and television, 

we did have difficulty getting 

permission to paint on 

buildings where we used to 

paint,” he said. “But we still 

paint on houses and shops 

owned by our friends.” 

He said artists have 

continued painting on 

walls, some officially, some 

commercially and some 

illegally at night. 

“The ban hasn’t had a 

severe effect, and authorities 

seem quite lenient with 

artists. There are no big 

obstacles hindering us from 

painting,” he said. “And no 

artists have been severely 

punished yet for making 

street art.” 

Thu Myat said that before 

the ban was announced, 

artists who were caught 

painting in the street were 

asked to sign a pledge 

promising never to paint in 

the public places. Since the 

ban, penalties have also not 

been severe. 

“Before the ban, I was 

asked once to sign the 

pledge, and some artists 

even spent two days at the 

police station. And last year 

I painted a wall alongside 

a stretch of army-owned 

railroad tracks in Ahlone 

township, and I was caught 

and kept in Ahlone Police 

Station for eight hours,” he 

said. 

“Since the ban started, 

though, none of us have been 

asked to sign the pledge, but 

the police now move quickly 

to whitewash the artwork.” 

Thu Myat said that if 

street artists were given a 

particular place in the city to 

work, the site would become 

a cauldron for the creation of 

new ideas. 

“But artists can’t be 

deterred from working in the 

streets. If we see the police 

we run away, and if we’re 

hopeless at running, we get 

caught,” he said. 

One thing that has changed 

since the December ban was 

announced: There are now 

more police and municipal 

workers prowling the streets 

at night. 

“We see them especially 

along Pyay Road and Kaba 

Aye Pagoda Road, but they 

never bother us. I think 

they’re focused on catching 

reckless drivers, but their 

presence does make us more 

cautious,” Thu Myat said. 

By Nuam Bawi and Ei Ei Thu 

LOCAL pop-punk band Bloodsugar 

Politik will perform at the Artwork 

is Work ASEAN Music Festival in 

Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 11. 

The band’s front man, vocalist 

and guitar player Han Htue Lwin 

(Kyar Pauk), told The Myanmar 

Times that he felt nervous about 

playing at the festival even though 

it was not a competition. 

“They’ll watch us as a band 

from Myanmar, so I’m worried 

they will say the performance is 

bad,” he said, adding that it mark 

the first time the band will play 

outside the Myanmar. 

The one-day Artwork is Work 

ASEAN Music Festival is being 

organised by the US embassy in 

Hanoi in cooperation with CAMA 

Vietnam concert promoters, and 

is intended as a celebration of 

creative Asian youth culture. 

Other musicians performing 

at the event include Thai 

funk act Molam International, 

Vietnam nu-metal band 18+ and 

electronic sound artists Muon 

from Singapore). 

Bloodsugar Politik formed 

last year as a side project of 

popular Yangon band Big Bag. 

The members of both bands are 

the same, but Bloodsugar Politik 

sings original English-language 

songs, while Big Bag focuses on 

Myanmar-language lyrics. 

Other band members are bassist 

Ye Zaw Myo and drummer VNo Tun. 

Bloodsugar Politik’s first 

album One Second Sentence was 

‘ This is a chance to 

present our songs 

on an international 

stage, so we are 

preparing to 

present them as 

well as we can.’ 

released in July 2012 and was 

made available on iTunes late 

last year. 

Han Htue Lwin said band 

members applied to play at the 

festival as Bloodsugar Politik 

so they can perform Englishlanguage 

songs. 

“I’m happy because we 

were invited to perform as 

professionals, so we will be 

able to earn the same amount 

of money as we do when we 

perform in our own country,” 

he said. 

The band will present a 45 to 

55 minute set at the festival, and 

they are now rehearsing 15 songs 

for the event, including two in the 

Myanmar language. 

“We aren’t too accustomed 

to playing our Bloodsugar Politik 

songs, so we’ve been practicing 

two or three times harder than 

we do for gigs in our own country. 

This is a chance to present our 

songs on an international stage, 

so we are preparing to present 

them as well as we can,” Han 

Htue Lwin said. 

He acknowledged that the band 

has no idea what to expect at the 

festival because few people in 

the audience will be familiar with 

their songs. 

“We’ve prepared out minds so 

that even if no one appreciates 

our music, we will give our best 

performance,” he said. 

He added that the band plans 

to play shows in several other 

cities in Vietnam following their 

appearance at the festival. 

Big Bag and Bloodsugar Politik front man Han Htue Lwin (Kyar Pauk) 

performs in Yangon. Pic: Christopher Davy

Timeout 46 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

‘Floating Bliss’ aims for Singapore filmfest 

By Lwin Mar Htun 

THE short film Floating Bliss, 

which explores relations 

among a group of young 

Yangon artists of different 

religious backgrounds, 

will be submitted to the 

Singapore-Myanmar Film 

Festival, scheduled to be 

held in Singapore in July. 

The film’s director, Mg 

Mg Tha Myint, said he was 

inspired to make the film 

by the recent conflicts 

between Buddhists and 

Muslims in Myanmar. 

“At the time of these 

conflicts, a group of young 

artists of different religions 

and ethnicities would meet 

at the river at the bottom of 

Latha Road at a place they 

called the Floating Bar,” the 

director said. 

“When I saw them I 

realised that even though 

they were of different 

religions, they could still 

have fun together. I want 

my film to give the message 

that no matter who you are, 

where you’re from, or what 

your religion might be, the 

main thing is what is in your 

mind.” 

Floating Bliss is the 

second film by Mg Mg Tha 

Myint. His first, Scrap, was 

shown at the 2012 Wathann 

Film Festival in Yangon. 

He said the festival, which 

A still image from the short film 

Floating Bliss. Pic: Supplied 

is being held for the first 

time this year, is organised 

by a Myanmar filmmaker 

living in Singapore. 

“It’s a good opportunity 

for me to get more 

experience as a filmmaker 

and to compete in film 

festival,” he said. 

Mg Mg Tha Myint said 

that even though the film 

is a drama, all the cast 

members are real artists 

who went to the river to 

hang out twice a week. 

“I didn’t impose any fake 

style on them. All the scenes 

from the film are based on 

reality, but there is some 

acting to create continuity 

from scene to scene. But the 

scenes where they’re having 

fun at the waterfront are 

real,” he said. 

The main cast members 

are street artist Arkar Kyaw, 

photographer Saw Win Htut, 

musician Sam and author 

Soe Wai Htun. 

Soe Wai Htun, who is also 

general manager of ART 

Entertainment, said he is 

also collaborating with Mg 

Mg Tha Myint on a film for 

the Human Rights Festival 

to be held in Yangon in June. 

“This is the first time 

I’ve performed as an actor, 

but it wasn’t difficult 

because all the scenes 

reflect my daily lifestyle,” 

he said. “I’m very happy 

‘ I want my film to give the message that no matter who you are, where you’re 

from, or what your religion might be, the main thing is what is in your mind.’ 

and satisfied because my 

first film will hopefully 

compete in a festival in 

Singapore.” 

He said Floating Bliss also 

contained a message about 

keeping one’s priorities 

straight in life. 

“Many young people in 

Myanmar are serious about 

creating music, which is a 

good thing. But some are 

so serious that they forget 

about important things like 

education. I don’t want this 

to happen, so this message 

can also be found in the 

film,” he said. 

Arkar Kyaw told The 

Myanmar Times that the 

film shows young people 

not only having fun but also 

working, which is important 

because “most young 

people in Myanmar don’t 

have dreams or direction”. 

Mg Mg Tha Myint said one 

problem with shooting the 

film was the crowds at the 

waterfront, so they had to 

wait until midnight to shoot 

some of the scenes. 

“After 11pm the crowds 

disappeared and we could 

start shooting. But it was 

also dangerous for us 

because there were some 

drunk people around, but 

we also had a lot of people 

in our own group,” he said. 

Floating Bliss was 

produced by Nut and Butter 

film production and ART 

Entertainment. Following 

the Singapore-Myanmar Film 

Festival, the film will be 

uploaded onto the Youtube 

website so it can be seen by 

people around the world.

47 

Food & Drink 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Phyo’s Cooking Adventure 

Phyo cuts through culture to reveal life’s true taste 

Versatile salads suitable as a snack or side dish 

Main Tips 

Low-salt corn chips are 

better for the salad so you 

can enjoy the delicate taste 

of the dressing. 

Don’t cook the beans in 

boiling water, but rather cook 

them slowly over medium 

heat. 

Corn chip are available at the 

supermarket. 

QUAFFING QUOTE 

“My mom made two 

dishes: Take it or leave 

it.” — Steven Wright 

(American comedian) 

NEXT WEEK 

Mexican-style shredded 

chicken and bean salad 

Red Wine 

La Fleur Du Barril du 

Chateau Haut-Goujon 

2009 

Now is a good 

time to pop the 

cork on this 

full-bodied and 

resolutely 

tannic merlot, 

which is 

just now 

coming into 

maturity. 

Ks 

16,100 

White Wine 

Chateau La Gravelle 

Bordeaux Blanc Sec 

2011 

The season for 

pouring water 

is over, but it’s 

always a good 

time to pour 

wine. Astute 

tasters might 

detect citrus 

and almond 

in this floral 

white. 

Ks 

9,600 

Score BOX 

8/10 

Score BOX 

7/10 

A FRIEND of mine 

introduced me to this 

beautiful Asian-style 

Chinese cabbage 

and crispy noodle 

salad, which 

she made for a 

BBQ dinner we 

both attended. 

I had eaten 

stirfried Chinese 

cabbage and kimchi 

in the past, but this 

was the first time I 

tried fresh Chinese 

cabbage. 

The recipe my friend used 

was actually printed on a 

package of fried noodles. The 

style of those noodles was 

very similar to sar ka lay 

khwe (fried wheat or bean 

paste), which are commonly 

used in Myanmar. You can 

find sar ka lay khwe at 

supermarkets and even at 

snack stalls on the street. 

You can have this salad 

as a snack, and you can also 

add it to your diet plan. It 

works with grilled meat 

and seafood, and you can 

easily adjust the recipe to 

make it more spicy or sour 

according to your taste. 

Some of the ingredients in 

the original recipe are quite 

expensive in Myanmar, so I 

made some adjustments to 

cut costs. 

I have also included a 

recipe for Mexican-style bean 

salad. Pae ka ti par (velvet 

beans) are the best local 

beans for this recipe. They 

are very nice to eat, and I love 

their dense texture. 

RESTAURANT REVIEW 

IT seems like everywhere you 

go in Yangon, there’s an Italian 

restaurant lurking around the 

corner. It’s one of the favoured 

types of Western food in Myanmar, 

and seems more agreeable to the 

local palate than, say, Mexican or 

German food. 

Café Napoli on Shwegondine 

Road is among the more recent 

additions to the Yangon scene. 

The dining room is reasonably 

spacious, with black and white 

chessboard tiling on the floor. The 

lighting is a tad too bright, but 

the music is kept at that perfect 

level where it’s noticeable if you’re 

listening to it, innocuous if you’re 

not paying attention. 

Wine bottles, packages of pasta 

and huge jars of mayo are used 

as decorative elements, as if the 

contents of the supply room had 

spilled out into the dining room. 

There’s a portrait of Napoleon on 

horseback, pointing towards the 

front door so you know how to 

leave the restaurant once you’ve 

finished your meal. 

The menu offers many pages 

of food and drink choices. Each 

main dish was accompanied by 

a tomato and basil salad, which 

were delivered promptly to our 

table. The bruschetta (K3000) 

we had ordered came not long 

after. 

Among our party of three we 

I hope you all had a great 

Thingyan holiday, and I 

wish you all the best for the 

Myanmar New Year. 

Chinese cabbage and 

crispy noodle salad 

INGREDIENTS 

(6 servings) 

1 Chinese cabbage (800- 

850g) 

6 spring onions or shallots 

1 pack of crispy fried 

noodles (sar ka lay khwe, 

80-100g) 

ordered beef lasagna (K4500), 

fettucini carbonara (K4000) and 

seafood paella (K4000). The 

lasagna was hearty and cheesy, 

while the fettucini came out 

delectably creamy and topped 

with bacon cooked to just barely 

pre-crispy perfection. Both dishes 

were deemed delicious and very 

good value for money. 

The paella was judged to be 

“not so bad but not great”, and 

2 or more green chilies 

100g of roasted peanuts 

(crushed) 

Dressing 

¼ cup of white vinegar 

50g of caster sugar 

2 tablespoons of Kikomon 

soy sauce 

2 teaspoons of sesame oil 

¼ cup of peanut oil (fried) 

PREPARATION 

For the dressing, mix all 

Pic: Phyo 

the ingredients in a jar and 

set aside. 

Wash the Chinese 

cabbage and shred it finely. 

Cut the shallots finely and 

diagonally. Remove the skin 

from the peanuts and crush 

them roughly. 

In a big bowl, add the 

Chinese cabbage, roasted 

peanuts, shallots and crispy 

noodles. Pour the dressing 

over the mix just before 

you’re ready to eat. Toss well. 

the friend who ordered it was 

disappointed that although 

the dish was advertised on the 

menu as spicy, the only heat she 

encountered was when she bit 

directly into the single dry chili 

hidden in the rice. 

For drinks, we all went with the 

passable house red wine (K2000 

a glass), but there is also a wide 

array of fruit juices, smoothies, 

freshly brewed coffees and milk 

Mexican bean salad 

INGREDIENTS 

(4 servings) 

3 tablespoons of olive oil 

3 tablespoons of lime juice 

2 teaspoons of nonsweet 

chilli sauce (without garlic) 

¼ teaspoon of caster sugar 

2 cups of shredded lettuce 

leaves 

250g of cherry or grape 

tomatoes 

½ cup of uncooked velvet 

beans (pae ka ti par) 

125g of corn (cooked) 

150g of corn chips 

PREPARATION 

Soak the beans in water 

overnight. Then boil the 

water and add a generous 

amount of salt into the pot. 

Turn the heat down and 

cook the beans until they 

become soft. Drain them 

well. 

Wash the tomatoes and 

halve them. Prepare the 

shredded lettuce. 

For the dressing, dissolve 

the sugar in the lime juice, 

then add the oil and chili 

sauce and mix well. I use 

Myanmar red hot chili sauce 

from Sharky’s because it’s 

similar to Mexican chili 

sauce. Avoid using sweet 

chili sauce. 

In a large bowl, mix 

the cooked beans, corn, 

tomatoes and dressing. Let 

it sit for awhile to allow 

the beans to soak up the 

dressing. Salt to taste. 

When it is ready to serve, 

add the lettuce and corn 

chip and toss well. 

Good food, few surprises at Café Napoli 

Pic: Tom Kean 

Pic: Douglas Long 

shakes on the menu. The meal was 

topped off with slices of fresh fruit 

(mango, papaya and watermelon) 

on ice. 

Café Napoli treads territory 

already occupied by several 

Italian restaurants in Yangon, 

so the decision to eat there 

might sometimes be based on 

convenience: You go because 

the food is good, the prices are 

reasonable, and it just happens to 

be the Italian restaurant closest 

to where you are when you start 

feeling peckish. 

Café Napoli 

287 East Shwegondine Road, 

Bahan township, Yangon; Tel 

01-554-957, 09-420-207233 

Food: 8 

Drink: 8 

Service: 8 

Atmosphere: 7 

X Factor: 7 

Value for Money: 8 

Score BOX 

8/10

Socialite 48 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Mascots members @ Mascots Company 15 th Anniversary 

Mr Gilles Gaiemet @ 

Himoinsa New Product Launch 

Michelle Win and Khin Nandar Kyaw 

@ Park Royal Hotel New Year Donation 

Ceremony 

Guests @ Red Scarf Spa Promotion 

Ko Win Nyunt Lwin and Ko Aye Zaw 

Myo @ Ko Myo Min Tun and Ma Po Po Aung 

Wedding Reception 

Mr Marco @ Himoinsa 

New Product Launch 

Mr Hermann Feial @ 

Park Royal Hotel New Year 

Donation Ceremony 

U Tin Myint @ 

Himoinsa New Product 

Launch 

Ma Thet Su, Ma Nan and Norah @ Ko Myo Min Tun and 

Ma Po Po Aung Wedding Reception 

Ma K @ Mascots 

Company 15 th 

Anniversary 

Dr Win Kyaw @ 

Mascots Company 15 th 

Anniversary 

Model @ Mr and Ms Wanlima 

2013 

Saw Yu Mon and Theint Htoo Eain @ Park 

Royal Hotel New Year Donation Ceremony 

Ma Kyar Phyu @ IKON Mart 

Coffee Class Program 

Ma Thin Thin 

@ Himoinsa 

New Product 

Launch 

Ko Kyaw That Tun, Ma Khin Marlar Aung and Ko 

Pyae Phyo Lin @ IKON Mart Coffee Class Program 

Mr Francois Xavier @ 

Himoinsa New Product 

Launch 

Contestant @ Mr and Ms 

Wanlima 2013 

Min Thaw Tun and Ar T @ 

Yangon Lifestyle Furniture Fair 

2013 

Model @ 

Himoinsa New 

Product Launch 


Wanlima 2013 

Mr Giuseppe, Ms MiKi Ow and U Aung Mya Soe @ IKON Mart 

Coffee Class Program 

Anty Marlar and Thada Marioh (Ms Lorenzo) 

@ Yangon Lifestyle Furniture Fair 2013 


Wanlima 2013 

Ei Chaw Po @ 

Red Scarf Spa Promotion

49 

Socialite 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

HAPPY New Year to 

all of our readers! 

The Thingyan 

SOCIALITE 

WITH NYEIN EI EI HTWE 

holidays flew by 

all too quickly, 

and now it’s time 

for Socialite to get 

back to the work of writing this breathtakingly glamorous 

column. Ready? Let’s go First, there’s a bit of catching up 

to do: Just before the holiday, Socialite attended the launch 

of a coffee class being offered by Ikon Mart in Sanchaung 

township, as well as the Red Scarf Spa promotion event. 

On April 6 she went to the Himoinsa product launch at 

Micasa Hotel, and the next day she dropped by Traders 

Hotel for the Mr and Ms Wanlima 2013 Contest. On April 

9 Socialite was back at Traders for Mascots Company’s 

15 th anniversary celebration. She kicked off the new year 

at Park Royal Hotel’s New Year celebration and donation 

event on April 17. She also attended the wedding reception 

for Ko Myo Min Tun and Ma Po Po Aung at Panda Hotel, 

and wishes all the best for them. 

Bridegroom @ Ko Myo Min Tun and Ma Po Po Aung 

Wedding Reception 

Nat Ray’s Family @ Yangon Lifestyle 

Furniture Fair 2013 

Ma Thuzar, Tin Nilar Win, Daw Kyin Yone, Mu Mu Swe and Thazin @ Ko Myo Min Tun 

and Ma Po Po Aung Wedding Reception 

Red Scarf Spa staff members @ Red Scarf Spa Promotion 

Ko Freddy @ Park 

Royal Hotel New Year 

Donation Ceremony 

Ma Shwe Yee and attendees @ Red Scarf Spa Promotion 

Ma Sint Sint, Ma Yin Yin Win and Ma Su That Hlaing @ 

Himoinsa New Product Launch 

U Lin Lin Htun and Dr Win Kyaw @ Mascots Company 15 th Anniversary 

Ko Sai Kyaw Kyaw and Ma Moh 

Moh Thaw @ Ko Myo Min Tun and Ma 

Po Po Aung Wedding Reception 

Model @ Mr and Ms Wanlima 2013 

Ko Thaw Zin Tun @ Park Royal Hotel New 

Year Donation Ceremony 

Thada Marioh (Miss 

Lorenzo) @ Yangon 

Lifestyle Furniture Fair 2013

Travel 

www.mmtimes.com/images/flight-schedules.pdf 

50 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES 

Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr 

YANGON TO NAY PYI TAW 

MON UB-A1 7:45 8:45 

UB-B1 11:30 12:30 

UB-C1 16:00 17:00 

TUE UB-A1 7:45 8:45 

UB-B1 11:30 12:30 

UB-C1 16:00 17:00 

WED UB-A1 7:45 8:45 

UB-B1 11:30 12:30 

UB-C1 16:00 17:00 

THUR UB-A1 7:45 8:45 

UB-B1 11:30 12:30 

UB-C1 16:00 17:00 

FRI UB-A1 7:45 8:45 

UB-B1 11:30 12:30 

UB-C1 16:00 17:00 

SAT UB-A1 8:00 9:00 

SUN UB-A1 15:30 16:30 

NAY PYI TAW TO YANGON 

MON UB-A2 9:15 10:15 

UB-B2 13:00 14:00 

UB-C2 17:30 18:30 

TUE UB-A2 9:15 10:15 

UB-B2 13:00 14:00 

UB-C2 17:30 18:30 

WED UB-A2 9:15 10:15 

UB-B2 13:00 14:00 

UB-C2 17:30 18:30 

THUR UB-A2 9:15 10:15 

UB-B2 13:00 14:00 

UB-C2 17:30 18:30 

FRI UB-A2 9:15 10:15 

UB-B2 13:00 14:00 

UB-C2 17:30 18:30 

SAT UB-A2 10:00 11:00 

SUN UB-A2 17:00 18:00 

YANGON TO MANDALAY 

MON YH 917 6:10 8:30 

YJ 891 6:10 8:15 

6T 401 6:20 8:25 

YH 909 6:30 8:10 

K7 222 6:30 8:40 

YJ 001 8:00 8:55 

Y5 131 8:00 9:00 

YJ 201 10:00 11:25 

YJ 511/W9 7511 10:00 11:25 

YJ 761 11:00 12:55 

YH 727 11:15 13:25 

K7 622 12:00 13:25 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 16:35 

YH 731 15:00 17:10 

TUE YJ 891 6:10 8:15 

YH 917 6:10 8:30 

6T 401 6:20 8:25 

YH 909 6:30 8:10 

K7 222 6:30 8:40 

Y5 131 8:00 9:00 

8M 6603 9:00 10:10 

YJ 251/W9 7251 11:00 12:55 

YJ 761 11:00 12:55 

YH 729 11:15 14:15 

K7 822 11:30 12:55 

YJ 201 6:00 7:25 

K7 622 12:00 13:25 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 16:35 

YH 731 15:00 17:10 

WED YJ 891 6:10 8:15 

YH 917 6:10 8:30 

6T 401 6:20 8:25 

YH 909 6:30 8:10 

K7 222 6:30 8:40 

Y5 131 8:00 9:00 

K7 622 12:00 13:25 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 16:35 

YH 731 15:00 17:10 

THUR YJ 891 6:10 8:15 

YH 917 6:10 8:30 

6T 401 6:20 8:25 

YH 909 6:30 8:10 

K7 222 6:30 8:40 

YJ 001 8:00 8:55 

Y5 131 8:00 9:00 

8M 6603 9:00 10:10 

YJ 511/W9 7511 10:00 11:25 

YJ 761 11:00 12:55 

YH 729 11:15 14:15 

K7 226 12:00 13:25 

YJ 201 12:45 14:10 

YH 731 15:00 17:10 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 16:35 

FRI YJ 891 6:10 8:15 

6T 401 6:20 8:25 

YJ 211 6:30 7:55 

YH 909 6:30 8:10 

K7 222 6:30 8:40 

YJ 201/W9 7201 7:30 8:55 

YJ 001 8:00 8:55 

Y5 131 8:00 9:00 

YJ 751/W97751 11:00 12:55 

YH 727 11:15 13:25 

K7 824 13:00 14:25 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 16:35 

YH 731 15:00 17:10 

SAT YJ 891 6:10 8:15 

YH 917 6:10 8:30 

6T 401 6:20 8:25 

YH 909 6:30 8:10 

K7 222 6:30 8:40 

K7 244 6:45 8:10 

YJ 001 8:00 8:55 

Y5 131 8:00 9:00 

YJ 517/W9 7517 12:00 13:25 

YJ 601/W9 7601 10:00 11:25 

YJ 761 11:00 12:55 

YH 729 11:15 14:15 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 16:35 

YH 731 15:00 17:10 

SUN YJ 211 6:00 7:25 

YJ 891 6:10 8:15 

YH 917 6:10 8:30 

6T 401 6:20 8:25 

YH 909 6:30 8:10 

K7 222 6:30 8:40 

YJ 001 8:00 8:55 

Y5 131 8:00 9:00 

8M 6603 9:00 10:10 

YJ 251/W97251 11:00 12:25 

YJ 751/W97751 11:00 12:55 

YH 737 11:15 13:25 

K7 622 12:00 13:25 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 16:35 

YH 731 15:00 17:10 

MANDALAY TO YANGON 

MON YH 910 8:10 10:15 

YJ 892 8:30 10:25 

YH 918 8:30 10:25 

6T 402 8:45 10:45 

K7 223 9:00 11:05 

Y5 132 9:30 10:30 

YJ 002 11:00 11:55 

YJ 202 14:30 15:55 

6T 502/K7 225 16:50 19:00 

YJ 762 16:35 18:00 

K7 623 16:40 18:05 

YH 728 16:45 18:10 

YJ 518/W97518 16:50 18:15 

YH 732 17:10 19:15 

TUE YH 910 8:10 10:15 

YH 918 8:30 10:25 

YJ 892 8:30 10:25 

6T 402 8:45 10:45 

K7 223 9:00 11:05 

Y5 132 9:30 10:30 

6T 502/K7 225 16:50 19:00 

YJ 762 16:35 18:00 

YJ 202 10:30 11:55 

K7 623 16:40 18:05 

YH 732 17:10 19:15 

8M 6604 17:20 18:30 

YH 730 18:00 19:25 

K7 823 18:00 19:25 

YJ 252/W97252 18:05 19:30 

WED YH 910 8:10 10:15 

YH 918 8:30 10:25 

YJ 892 8:30 10:25 

6T 402 8:45 10:45 

K7 223 9:00 11:05 

Y5 132 9:30 10:30 

K7 623 16:40 18:05 

6T 502/K7 225 16:50 19:00 

YH 732 17:10 19:15 

THUR YH 910 8:10 10:15 

YH 918 8:30 10:25 

YJ 892 8:30 10:25 

6T 402 8:45 10:45 

K7 223 9:00 11:05 

Y5 132 9:30 10:30 

YJ 002 11:00 11:55 

K7 227 15:50 17:15 

6T 502/K7 225 16:50 19:00 

YJ 762 16:35 18:00 

YJ 516/W97516 17:00 18:25 

YH 732 17:10 19:15 

YJ 202 17:15 18:40 

8M 6604 17:20 18:30 

YH 730 18:00 19:25 

FRI YH 910 8:10 10:15 

YJ 892 8:30 10:25 

6T 402 8:45 10:45 

K7 223 9:00 11:05 

YJ 201/W97201 9:10 11:05 

Y5 132 9:30 10:30 

YJ 002 11:00 11:55 

YJ 212 13:20 14:45 

6T 502/K7 225 16:50 19:00 

YH 728 16:45 18:10 

YH 732 17:10 19:15 

K7 825 17:40 19:05 

YJ 752/W97752 17:50 19:15 

SAT YH 910 8:10 10:15 

YH 918 8:30 10:25 

YJ 892 8:30 10:25 

6T 402 8:45 10:45 

K7 223 9:00 11:05 

Y5 132 9:30 10:30 

YJ 002 11:00 11:55 

YJ 517/W97517 15:50 17:15 

YJ 602/W97602 16:20 17:45 

YJ 762 16:35 18:00 

YH 728 16:45 18:10 

6T 502/K7 225 16:50 19:00 

YH 732 17:10 19:15 

SUN YH 910 8:10 10:15 

YH 918 8:30 10:25 

YJ 892 8:30 10:25 

6T 402 8:45 10:45 

K7 223 9:00 11:05 

Y5 132 9:30 10:30 

YJ 212 11:00 12:25 

YJ 002 11:00 11:55 

6T 502/K7 225 16:50 19:00 

K7 623 16:40 18:05 

YH 732 17:10 19:15 

8M 6604 17:20 18:30 

K7 823 17:20 18:45 

YH 738 17:25 18:50 

YJ 752/W97752 17:50 19:15 

YJ 252/W97252 18:05 19:30 

YANGON TO NYAUNG U 

MON YJ 891 6:10 7:30 

YH 917 6:10 7:45 

6T 401 6:20 7:40 

K7 222 6:30 7:50 

YH 909 6:30 8:55 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 17:20 

YH 731 15:00 17:55 

TUE YH 917 6:10 7:45 

YJ 891 6:10 7:30 

6T 401 6:20 7:40 

K7 222 6:30 7:50 

YH 909 6:30 8:55 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 17:20 

YH 731 15:00 17:55 

WED YH 917 6:10 7:45 

YJ 891 6:10 7:30 

6T 401 6:20 7:40 

K7 222 6:30 7:50 

YH 909 6:30 8:55 

K7 242 6:45 8:05 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 17:20 

YH 731 15:00 17:55 

THUR YJ 891 6:10 7:30 

YH 917 6:10 7:45 

6T 401 6:20 7:40 

K7 222 6:30 7:50 

YH 909 6:30 8:55 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 17:20 

YH 731 15:00 17:55 

FRI YJ 891 6:10 7:30 

YH 917 6:10 7:45 

6T 401 6:20 7:40 

K7 222 6:30 7:50 

YH 909 6:30 8:55 

K7 242 6:45 8:05 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 17:20 

YH 731 15:00 17:55 

SAT YJ 891 6:10 7:30 

YH 917 6:10 7:45 

6T 401 6:20 7:40 

K7 222 6:30 7:50 

YH 909 6:30 8:55 

6T 451 10:45 12:05 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 17:20 

YH 731 15:00 17:55 

SUN YJ 891 6:10 7:30 

YH 917 6:10 7:45 

6T 401 6:20 7:40 

K7 222 6:30 7:50 

YH 909 6:30 8:55 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 17:20 

K7 224 14:15 16:25 

YH 731 15:00 17:55 

NYAUNG U TO YANGON 

MON YH 918 7:45 10:25 

YJ 891 7:45 10:25 

6T 401 7:55 10:45 

YH 910 8:55 10:15 

K7 225 16:40 18:00 

6T 502/K7 225 17:40 19:00 

YH 732 17:55 19:15 

TUE YJ 891 7:45 10:25 

YH 918 7:45 10:25 

6T 401 7:55 10:45 

YH 910 8:55 10:15 

6T 502/K7 225 17:40 19:00 

YH 732 17:55 19:15 

WED YJ 891 7:45 10:25 

YH 918 7:45 10:25 

6T 401 7:55 10:45 

YH 910 8:55 10:15 

K7 225 16:40 18:00 

6T 502/K7 225 17:40 19:00 

YH 732 17:55 19:15 

THUR YJ 891 7:45 10:25 

YH 918 7:45 10:25 

6T 401 7:55 10:45 

YH 910 8:55 10:15 

6T 502/K7 225 17:40 19:00 

YH 732 17:55 19:15 

FRI YJ 891 7:45 10:25 

YH 918 7:45 9:50 

6T 401 7:55 10:45 

YH 910 8:55 10:15 

K7 225 16:40 18:00 

6T 502/K7 225 17:40 19:00 

YH 732 17:55 19:15 

SAT YJ 891 7:45 10:25 

YH 918 7:45 10:25 

6T 401 7:55 10:45 

YH 910 8:55 10:15 

K7 225 16:40 18:00 

6T 502/K7 225 17:40 19:00 

YH 732 17:55 19:15 

SUN YJ 891 7:45 10:25 

YH 918 7:45 10:25 

6T 401 7:55 10:45 

YH 910 8:55 10:15 

6T 502/K7 225 17:40 19:00 

YH 732 17:55 19:15 

YANGON TO MYITKYINA 

MON YJ 201 10:00 12:50 

YJ 511/W9 7511 10:00 12:55 

K7 622 12:00 14:55 

TUE YJ 201 6:00 8:50 

YJ 251/W9 7251 11:00 13:55 

K7 622 12:00 14:55 

WED K7 622 12:00 14:55 

THUR YJ 201 12:45 15:35 

YJ 511/W9 7511 10:00 12:55 

FRI YJ 211 6:30 9:20 

SUN YJ 211 6:00 8:50 

YJ 251/W9 7251 11:00 13:55 

K7 622 12:00 14:55 

MYITKYINA TO YANGON 

MON YJ 202 13:05 15:55 

K7 623 15:10 18:05 

TUE YJ 202 9:05 11:55 

K7 623 15:10 18:05 

YJ 252/W9 7252 16:35 19:30 

WED K7 623 15:10 18:05 

THUR YJ 202 15:50 18:40 

SUN YJ 211 9:05 12:25 

K7 623 15:10 18:05 

YJ 252/W9 7252 16:35 19:30 

YANGON TO HEHO 

MON YH 917 6:10 9:15 

YJ 891 6:10 9:00 

6T 401 6:20 9:20 

K7 828 10:00 11:15 

YJ 761 11:00 12:10 

YH 727 11:15 12:40 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 15:40 

K7 224 14:15 15:30 

YH 731 15:00 16:25 

TUE YJ 891 6:10 9:00 

YH 917 6:10 9:15 

6T 401 6:20 9:20 

YH 711 10:30 11:55 

YJ 761 11:00 12:10 

K7 822 11:30 13:45 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 15:40 

YH 731 15:00 16:25 

WED YJ 891 6:10 9:00 

YH 917 6:10 9:15 

6T 401 6:20 9:20 

K7 826 12:30 13:45 

K7 224 14:15 15:30 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 15:40 

YH 731 15:00 16:25 

Domestic 

6T = Air Mandalay 

W9 = Air Bagan 

YJ = Asian Wings 

K7 = AIR KBZ 

YH = Yangon Airways 

UB = FMI UB Charter 

Y5 = Golden Myanmar Airlines 

THUR YJ 891 6:10 9:00 

YH 917 6:10 9:15 

6T 401 6:20 9:20 

K7 828 10:00 11:15 

YH 711 10:30 11:55 

YJ 761 11:00 12:10 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 15:40 

YH 731 15:00 16:25 

FRI YJ 891 6:10 9:00 

YH 917 6:10 8:40 

6T 401 6:20 9:20 

K7 242 6:45 9:00 

YJ 201/W97201 7:30 9:40 

YJ 751/W97751 11:00 12:10 

YH 727 11:15 12:40 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 15:40 

K7 224 14:15 15:30 

YH 731 15:00 16:25 

SAT YJ 891 6:10 9:00 

YH 917 6:10 9:15 

6T 401 6:20 9:20 

K7 224 6:45 9:00 

YJ 761 11:00 12:10 

K7 826 12:30 13:45 

K7 224 14:15 15:30 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 15:40 

YH 731 15:00 16:25 

SUN YJ 891 6:10 9:00 

YH 917 6:10 9:15 

6T 401 6:20 9:20 

YJ 751/W97751 11:00 12:10 

YH 505 10:30 11:55 

YH 737 11:15 12:40 

K7 822 11:30 13:45 

6T 501/K7 224 14:30 15:40 

K7 224 14:15 15:30 

YH 731 15:00 16:25 

HEHO TO YANGON 

MON YH 918 9:15 10:25 

YJ 892 9:15 10:25 

6T 402 9:35 10:45 

K7 223 9:50 11:05 

6T 501/K7 224 16:00 19:00 

YJ 762 15:50 18:00 

YH 728 16:00 18:10 

YH 732 16:25 19:15 

K7 829 16:30 17:45 

TUE YH 918 9:15 10:25 

YJ 892 9:15 10:25 

6T 402 9:35 10:45 

K7 223 9:50 11:05 

YH 712 11:55 14:00 

6T 501/K7 224 16:00 19:00 

YJ 762 15:50 18:00 

YH 732 16:25 19:15 

K7 823 17:10 19:25 

WED YH 918 9:15 10:25 

K7 243 9:15 11:30 

YJ 892 9:15 10:25 

6T 402 9:35 10:45 

K7 223 9:50 11:05 

6T 501/K7 224 16:00 19:00 

YH 732 16:25 19:15 

K7 827 16:30 17:45 

THUR YJ 892 9:15 10:25 

YH 918 9:15 10:25 

6T 402 9:35 10:45 

K7 223 9:50 11:05 

YH 712 11:55 14:00 

YH 732 16:25 19:15 

6T 501/K7 224 16:00 19:00 

K7 829 16:30 17:45 

YJ 762 15:50 18:00 

FRI YH 918 8:40 9:50 

YJ 892 9:15 10:25 

K7 243 9:15 11:30 

6T 402 9:35 10:45 

K7 223 9:50 11:05 

YJ 201/W97201 9:55 11:05 

YH 732 16:25 19:15 

6T 501/K7 224 16:00 19:00 

YH 728 16:00 18:10 

SAT YJ 892 9:15 10:25 

YH 918 9:15 10:25 

6T 402 9:35 10:45 

K7 223 9:50 11:05 

YH 732 16:25 19:15 

YJ 762 15:50 18:00 

6T 501/K7 224 16:00 19:00 

K7 827 17:10 18:25 

Subject 

to change 

without notice 

SUN YH 918 9:15 10:25 

YJ 892 9:15 10:25 

6T 402 9:35 10:45 

K7 223 9:50 11:05 

YJ 751/W97751 11:00 12:10 

YH 506 11:55 14:00 

6T 501/K7 224 16:00 19:00 

YH 732 16:25 19:15 

YH 738 16:40 18:50 

YANGON TO SITTWE 

MON 6T 603C 7:00 9:05 

6T 611 14:30 15:55 

TUE K7 422 6:45 8:40 

6T 603C 7:00 9:05 

6T 607 11:15 12:40 

WED 6T 603C 7:00 9:05 

6T 607 11:15 12:40 

THRU 6T 603C 7:00 9:05 

6T 611 14:30 15:55 

FRI 6T 603C 7:00 9:05 

6T 607 11:15 12:40 

SAT 6T 607 11:15 12:40 

SUN K7 422 6:45 8:40 

6T 611 11:30 12:55 

SITTWE TO YANGON 

MON 6T 604C 12:35 14:00 

6T 612 16:15 17:40 

TUE K7 423 8:55 10:50 

6T 604C 12:35 14:00 

6T 608 13:00 15:00 

WED 6T 608 13:00 15:00 

6T 604C 12:35 14:00 

THUR 6T 612 16:15 17:40 

6T 604C 12:35 14:00 

FRI 6T 604C 12:35 14:00 

6T 608 13:00 15:00 

SAT 6T 609 13:00 15:00 

SUN K7 423 8:55 10:50 

6T 612 13:15 14:40 

YANGON TO MYEIK 

MON K7 319 7:00 9:05 

TUE K7 319 7:00 9:05 

YJ 301 12:15 14:25 

WED K7 319 7:00 9:05 

THUR K7 319 7:00 9:05 

YJ 301 6:30 8:40 

FRI K7 319 7:00 9:05 

SAT K7 319 7:00 9:05 

SUN K7 319 7:00 9:05 

YJ 301 12:40 14:50 

Domestic Airlines 

Air Bagan Ltd. 

(W9) 

Tel : 513322, 513422, 

504888, Fax : 515102 

Air KBZ (K7) 

Tel: 372977~80, 533030~39 

(Airport) 

Fax: 372983 

Air Mandalay (6T) 

Tel : (Head Office) 501520, 

525488, Fax: 525937. 

Airport: 533222~3, 09- 

73152853. Fax: 533223. 

International Airlines 

Air Asia (FD) 

Tel: 251 885, 251 886. 

Air Bagan Ltd.(W9) 

Tel : 513322, 513422, 504888, 

Fax : 515102 

Air China (CA) 

Tel : 666112, 655882. 

Air India 

Tel : 253597~98, 254758. Fax: 

248175 

Bangkok Airways 

(PG) 

Tel: 255122, 255 265, Fax: 

255119 

Condor (DE) 

Tel: + 95 1 -370836 up to 39 

(ext : 810) 

Dragonair (KA) 

Tel: 95-1-255320, 255321, 

Fax : 255329 

MYEIK TO YANGON 

MON K7 320 11:30 13:35 

TUE YJ 302 14:40 18:15 

K7 320 11:30 13:35 

WED K7 320 11:30 13:35 

THUR YJ 302 8:55 12:30 

K7 320 11:30 13:35 

FRI K7 320 11:30 13:35 

SAT K7 320 11:30 13:35 

SUN K7 320 11:30 13:35 

YJ 302 15:05 18:40 

YANGON TO THANDWE 

MON K7 420 6:45 7:40 

YH 503 10:30 11:35 

6T 601 11:15 12:10 

TUE K7 422 6:45 7:40 

YH 711 10:30 13:10 

6T 607 11:15 13:50 

WED 6T 607 11:15 13:50 

YH 711 12:00 15:30 

THUR K7 420 6:45 7:40 

YH 711 10:30 13:10 

6T 601 11:15 12:10 

FRI YH 503 10:30 11:35 

6T 607 11:15 13:50 

SAT YH 505 10:30 11:35 

6T 607 11:15 13:50 

SUN K7 422 6:45 7:40 

YH 505 10:30 13:10 

6T 601 11:15 12:10 

THANDWE TO YANGON 

MON K7 421 7:55 8:50 

YH 504 11:35 12:25 

6T 602 12:25 13:20 

TUE K7 423 9:55 10:50 

6T 608 14:05 15:00 

YH 712 13:10 14:00 

WED 6T 608 14:05 15:00 

YH 712 15:30 16:20 

THUR K7 421 7:55 8:50 

6T 602 12:25 13:20 

YH 712 13:10 14:00 

FRI K7 243 10:35 11:30 

YH 504 11:35 12:25 

6T 608 14:05 15:00 

SAT K7 245 10:35 11:30 

YH 504 11:35 12:25 

6T 608 14:05 15:00 

SUN K7 423 9:55 10:50 

6T 602 12:25 13:20 

YH 506 13:10 14:00 

Asian Wings (AW) 

Tel: 951 516654, 532253, 

09-731-35991~3.Fax: 951 

532333 

Yangon 

Airways(YH) 

Tel: (+95-1) 383 100, 383 

107, 700 264, Fax: 652 533. 

FMI Air Charter - 

Sales & Reservations 

Tel: (95-1) 240363, 240373 

/ (+95-9) 421146545 

Malaysia Airlines 

(MH) 

Tel : 387648, 241007 ext : 120, 

121, 122 Fax : 241124 

Myanmar Airways 

International(8M) 

Tel : 255260, Fax: 255305 

Silk Air(MI) 

Tel: 255 287~9, Fax: 255 290 

Thai Airways (TG) 

Tel : 255491~6, Fax : 255223 

Vietnam Airlines 

(VN) 

Fax : 255086. Tel 255066/ 

255088/ 255068. 

Qatar Airways 

(Temporary Office) 

Tel: 01-250388, (ext: 8142, 

8210)

51 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

YANGON TO BANGKOK 

MON PG 706 07:15 09:30 

8M 333 08:20 10:05 

8M 335 08:40 10:25 

TG 304 09:50 11:45 

PG 702 10:30 12:25 

TG 302 14:55 16:50 

8M 331 16:30 18:15 

PG 704 18:20 20:15 

TG 306 19:45 21:40 

TUE PG 706 07:15 09:30 

8M 333 08:20 10:05 

8M 335 08:40 10:25 

TG 304 09:50 11:45 

PG 702 10:30 12:25 

TG 302 14:55 16:50 

8M 331 16:30 18:15 

PG 704 18:20 20:15 

TG 306 19:45 21:40 

WED PG 706 07:15 09:30 

8M 333 08:20 10:05 

8M 335 08:40 10:25 

TG 304 09:50 11:45 

PG 702 10:30 12:25 

TG 302 14:55 16:50 

8M 331 16:30 18:15 

PG 704 18:20 20:15 

TG 306 19:45 21:40 

THUR PG 706 07:15 09:30 

8M 333 08:20 10:05 

8M 335 08:40 10:25 

TG 304 09:50 11:45 

PG 702 10:30 12:25 

TG 302 14:55 16:50 

8M 331 16:30 18:15 

PG 704 18:20 20:15 

TG 306 19:45 21:40 

FRI PG 706 07:15 09:30 

8M 333 08:20 10:05 

8M 335 08:40 10:25 

TG 304 09:50 11:45 

PG 702 10:30 12:25 

TG 302 14:55 16:50 

8M 331 16:30 18:15 

PG 704 18:20 20:15 

TG 306 19:45 21:40 

SAT PG 706 07:15 09:30 

8M 333 08:20 10:05 

8M 335 08:40 10:25 

TG 304 09:50 11:45 

PG 702 10:30 12:25 

TG 302 14:55 16:50 

8M 331 16:30 18:15 

PG 704 18:20 20:15 

TG 306 19:45 21:40 

SUN PG 706 07:15 09:30 

8M 333 08:20 10:05 

8M 335 08:40 10:25 

TG 304 09:50 11:45 

PG 702 10:30 12:25 

TG 302 14:55 16:50 

8M 331 16:30 18:15 

PG 704 18:20 20:15 

TG 306 19:45 21:40 

YANGON TO DON MUENG 

MON FD 2752 08:30 10:20 

FD 2756 12:50 14:40 

FD 2754 17:50 19:35 

TUE FD 2752 08:30 10:20 

FD 2756 12:50 14:40 

FD 2754 17:50 19:35 

WED FD 2752 08:30 10:20 

FD 2756 12:50 14:40 

FD 2754 17:50 19:35 

THUR FD 2752 08:30 10:20 

FD 2756 12:50 14:40 

FD 2754 17:50 19:35 

FRI FD 2752 08:30 10:20 

FD 2756 12:50 14:40 

FD 2754 17:50 19:35 

SAT FD 2752 08:30 10:20 

FD 2756 12:50 14:40 

FD 2754 17:50 19:35 

SUN FD 2752 08:30 10:20 

FD 2756 12:50 14:40 

FD 2754 17:50 19:35 

YANGON TO SINGAPORE 

MON MI 509 00:25 05:00 

8M 231 08:00 12:25 

Y5 233 10:10 14:40 

SQ 997 10:25 14:45 

8M 6232 11:30 16:05 

3K 586 11:30 16:05 

MI 517 16:40 21:15 

TUE MI 509 00:25 05:00 

8M 231 8:00 12:25 

Y5 233 10:10 14:40 

SQ 997 10:25 14:45 

3K 586 11:30 16:05 

8M 6232 11:15 15:50 

VN 942 14:25 17:10 

MI 517 16:40 21:15 

WED 8M 231 08:00 12:25 

Y5 233 10:10 14:40 

SQ 997 10:25 14:45 

8M 6232 11:30 16:05 

3K 586 11:30 16:05 

MI 517 16:40 21:15 

THUR 8M 231 08:00 12:25 

Y5 233 10:10 14:40 

SQ 997 10:25 14:45 

3K 586 11:30 16:05 

8M 6232 11:15 15:50 

VN 942 14:25 17:10 

MI 517 16:40 21:15 

FRI 8M 231 08:00 12:25 

Y5 233 10:10 14:40 

SQ 997 10:25 14:45 

3K 586 11:30 16:05 

8M 6232 11:30 16:05 

8M 233 15:05 19:30 

MI 517 16:40 21:15 

SAT 8M 231 08:00 12:25 

Y5 233 10:10 14:40 

SQ 997 10:25 14:45 

8M 6232 11:30 16:05 

3K 586 11:30 16:05 

8M 233 15:05 19:30 

MI 517 16:40 21:15 

MI 509 00:25 05:00 

SUN MI 509 00:25 05:00 

8M 231 08:00 12:25 

Y5 233 10:10 14:40 

SQ 997 10:25 14:45 

3K 586 11:30 16:05 

8M 6232 11:15 15:50 

VN 942 14:25 17:10 

8M 233 15:05 19:30 

MI 517 16:40 21:15 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES 

YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR 

MON 8M 501 07:50 11:50 

AK 1425 08:30 12:45 

MH 741 12:15 16:30 

AK 1421 16:45 21:00 

TUE 8M 501 07:50 11:50 

AK 1425 08:30 12:45 

MH 741 12:15 16:30 

AK 1421 16:45 21:00 

MH 743 16:55 21:10 

WED AK 1425 08:30 12:45 

8M 501 07:50 11:50 

MH 741 12:15 16:30 

AK 1421 16:45 21:00 

THUR AK 1425 08:30 12:45 

MH 741 12:15 16:30 

AK 1421 16:45 21:00 

FRI AK 1425 08:30 12:45 

8M 501 07:50 11:50 

MH 741 12:15 16:30 

AK 1421 16:45 21:00 

MH 743 16:55 21:10 

SAT AK 1425 08:30 12:45 

8M 501 07:50 11:50 

MH 741 12:15 16:30 

AK 1421 16:45 21:00 

SUN AK 1425 08:30 12:45 

MH 741 12:15 16:30 

AK 1421 16:45 21:00 

MH 743 16:55 21:10 

YANGON TO BEIJING 

TUE CA 906 14:15 21:55 

WED CA 906 14:15 21:55 

THUR CA 906 14:15 21:55 

SAT CA 906 14:15 21:55 

SUN CA 906 14:15 21:55 

YANGON TO FRANKFURT 

WED DE 2369 06:10 19:35 

YANGON TO GAUNGZHOU 

MON CZ 3056 17:40 22:15 

TUE 8M 711 08:40 13:15 

WED CZ 3056 11:20 15:50 

THUR 8M 711 08:40 13:15 

FRI CZ 3056 17:40 22:15 

SAT CZ 3056 11:20 15:50 

SUN 8M 711 08:40 13:15 

YANGON TO TAIPEI 

MON CI 7916 10:50 16:10 

TUE CI 7916 10:50 16:10 

BR 288 11:35 17:20 

WED CI 7916 10:50 16:10 

THUR CI 7916 10:50 16:10 

FRI CI 7916 10:50 16:10 

BR 288 11:35 17:20 

SAT CI 7916 10:50 16:10 

BR 288 11:35 17:20 

SUN CI 7916 10:50 16:10 

YANGON TO KUNMING 

MON MU 2032 14:40 18:00 

TUE CA 906 14:15 17:35 

MU 2032 14:40 18:00 

WED CA 906 14:15 17:35 

MU 2032 14:40 18:00 

THUR CA 906 14:15 17:35 

MU 2032 14:40 18:00 

FRI MU 2032 14:40 18:00 

SAT CA 906 14:15 17:35 

MU 2032 14:40 18:00 

MU 2012 12:20 18:10 

SUN CA 906 14:15 17:35 

MU 2032 14:40 18:00 

YANGON TO KOLKATA 

MON AI 234 13:40 16:55 

FRI AI 234 13:40 16:55 

AI 228 18:45 19:45 

YANGON TO CHIANG MAI 

THUR W9 9607 14:20 16:10 

SUN W9 9607 14:20 16:10 

YANGON TO HANOI 

MON VN 956 19:10 21:30 

WED VN 956 19:10 21:30 

FRI VN 956 19:10 21:30 

SAT VN 956 19:10 21:30 

SUN VN 956 19:10 21:30 

YANGON TO HO CHI MINH CITY 

TUE VN 942 14:25 17:10 

THUR VN 942 14:25 17:10 

SAT VN 942 14:25 17:10 

SUN VN 942 14:25 17:10 

YANGON TO GAYA 

MON 8M 601 07:00 08:20 

AI 234 13:40 15:00 

WED 8M 601 07:00 08:20 

FRI 8M 601 07:00 08:20 

AI 234 13:40 15:00 

SAT 8M 601 07:00 08:20 

YANGON TO DOHA 

MON QR 619 08:15 11:15 

TUE QR 619 08:15 11:15 

WED QR 619 08:15 11:15 

THUR QR 619 08:15 11:15 

FRI QR 619 08:15 11:15 

SAT QR 619 08:15 11:15 

SUN QR 619 08:15 11:15 

YANGON TO PHNOM PENH 

WED 8M 403 16:50 19:15 

SAT 8M 403 16:50 19:15 

YANGON TO SEOUL 

MON KE 472 23:40 8:05+1:00 

TUE KE 472 23:40 8:05+1:00 

WED KE 472 23:40 8:05+1:00 

THUR KE 472 23:40 8:05+1:00 

0Z 770 00:35 09:10 

FRI KE 472 23:40 8:05+1:00 

SAT KE 472 23:40 8:05+1:00 

SUN KE 472 23:40 8:05+1:00 

0Z 4763 00:35 09:10 

YANGON SIEM REAP 

MON 8M 401 17:05 19:15 

FRI 8M 401 17:05 19:15 

YANGON TO HONG KONG 

MON KA 251 01:10 05:45 

TUE KA 251 01:10 05:45 

THUR KA 251 01:10 05:45 

SAT KA 251 01:10 05:45 

YANGON TO TOKYO 

MON NH 914 21:30 06:40+1 

WED NH 914 21:30 06:40+1 

SAT NH 914 21:30 06:40+1 

MANDALAY TO BANGKOK 

MON 8M 335 08:25 10:45 

TUE 8M 335 08:25 10:45 

TG 782 09:30 11:55 

WED 8M 335 08:25 10:45 

THUR 8M 335 08:25 10:45 

FRI 8M 335 08:25 10:45 

TG 782 09:30 11:55 

SAT 8M 335 08:25 10:45 

TG 782 09:30 11:55 

SUN 8M 335 08:25 10:45 

TG 782 09:30 11:55 

MANDALAY TO SINGAPORE 

MON Y5 233 08:10 14:40 

8M 335 08:25 15:15 

TUE Y5 233 08:10 14:40 

8M 335 08:25 15:15 

WED Y5 233 08:10 14:40 

8M 335 08:25 15:15 

THUR Y5 233 08:10 14:40 

8M 335 08:25 15:15 

FRI Y5 233 08:10 14:40 

8M 335 08:25 15:15 

SAT Y5 233 08:10 14:40 

8M 335 08:25 15:15 

SUN Y5 233 08:10 14:40 

8M 335 08:25 15:15 

MANDALAY TO DON MUENG 

MON FD 2761 10:45 13:10 

TUE FD 2761 10:45 13:10 

WED FD 2761 10:45 13:10 

THUR FD 2761 10:45 13:10 

FRI FD 2761 10:45 13:10 

SAT FD 2761 10:45 13:10 

SUN FD 2761 10:45 13:10 

MANDALAY TO KUNMING 

MON MU 2030 14:40 17:20 

TUE MU 2030 14:40 17:20 

WED MU 2030 14:40 17:20 

THUR MU 2030 14:40 17:20 

FRI MU 2030 14:40 17:20 

SAT MU 2030 14:40 17:20 

SUN MU 2030 14:40 17:20 

MANDALAY TO GAYA 

TUE 8M 603 11:10 12:15 

THUR 8M 603 11:10 12:15 

SUN 8M 603 11:10 12:15 

BANGKOK TO YANGON 

MON TG 303 07:55 08:50 

PG 701 08:50 09:40 

8M 334 11:30 12:15 

TG 301 13:00 13:45 

PG 703 16:45 17:35 

TG 305 17:50 18:45 

8M 332 19:15 20:00 

PG 705 20:15 21:30 

TUE TG 303 07:55 08:50 

PG 701 08:50 09:40 

8M 334 11:30 12:15 

TG 301 13:00 13:45 

PG 703 16:45 17:35 

TG 305 17:50 18:45 

8M 332 19:15 20:00 

PG 705 20:15 21:30 

WED TG 303 07:55 08:50 

PG 701 08:50 09:40 

8M 334 11:30 12:15 

TG 301 13:00 13:45 

PG 703 16:45 17:35 

TG 305 17:50 18:45 

8M 332 19:15 20:00 

PG 705 20:15 21:30 

THUR TG 303 07:55 08:50 

PG 701 08:50 09:40 

8M 334 11:30 12:15 

TG 301 13:00 13:45 

PG 703 16:45 17:35 

TG 305 17:50 18:45 

8M 332 19:15 20:00 

PG 705 20:15 21:30 

FRI TG 303 07:55 08:50 

PG 701 08:50 09:40 

8M 334 11:30 12:15 

TG 301 13:00 13:45 

PG 703 16:45 17:35 

TG 305 17:50 18:45 

8M 332 19:15 20:00 

PG 705 20:15 21:30 

SAT TG 303 07:55 08:50 

PG 701 08:50 09:40 

8M 334 11:30 12:15 

TG 301 13:00 13:45 

PG 703 16:45 17:35 

TG 305 17:50 18:45 

8M 332 19:15 20:00 

PG 705 20:15 21:30 

SUN TG 303 07:55 08:50 

PG 701 08:50 09:40 

8M 334 11:30 12:15 

TG 301 13:00 13:45 

PG 703 16:45 17:35 

TG 305 17:50 18:45 

8M 332 19:15 20:00 

PG 705 20:15 21:30 

DON MUENG TO YANGON 

MON FD 2751 07:15 08:00 

FD 2755 11:35 12:20 

FD 2753 16:35 17:00 

TUE FD 2751 07:15 08:00 

FD 2755 11:35 12:20 

FD 2753 16:35 17:00 

WED FD 2751 07:15 08:00 

FD 2755 11:35 12:20 

FD 2753 16:35 17:00 

THUR FD 2751 07:15 08:00 

FD 2755 11:35 12:20 

FD 2753 16:35 17:00 

FRI FD 2751 07:15 08:00 

FD 2755 11:35 12:20 

FD 2753 16:35 17:00 

SAT FD 2751 07:15 08:00 

FD 2755 11:35 12:20 

FD 2753 16:35 17:00 

SUN FD 2751 07:15 08:00 

FD 2755 11:35 12:20 

FD 2753 16:35 17:00 

www.mmtimes.com/images/flight-schedules.pdf 

Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr Days Flight Dep Arr 

SINGAPORE TO YANGON 

MON SQ 998 07:55 09:20 

3K 585 09:10 10:40 

8M 6231 09:10 10:40 

8M 232 13:25 14:50 

MI 520 22:10 23:35 

Y5 234 15:35 17:05 

MI 518 14:20 15:45 

TUE SQ 998 07:55 09:20 

3K 585 09:10 10:40 

8M 6231 08:55 10:25 

VN 943 11:40 13:25 

8M 232 13:25 14:50 

MI 518 14:20 15:45 

Y5 234 15:35 17:05 

WED SQ 998 07:55 09:20 

3K 585 09:10 10:40 

8M 6231 09:10 10:40 

8M 232 13:25 14:50 

MI 518 14:20 15:45 

Y5 234 15:35 17:05 

THUR SQ 998 07:55 09:20 

3K 585 09:10 10:40 

8M 6231 08:55 10:25 

VN 943 11:40 13:25 

8M 232 13:25 14:50 

MI 518 14:20 15:45 

Y5 234 15:35 17:05 

FRI SQ 998 07:55 09:20 

3K 585 09:10 10:40 

8M 6231 09:10 10:40 

8M 232 13:25 14:50 

MI 518 14:20 15:45 

Y5 234 15:35 17:05 

8M 234 20:30 21:55 

MI 520 22:10 23:35 

SAT SQ 998 07:55 09:20 

3K 585 09:10 10:40 

8M 6231 09:10 10:40 

8M 232 13:25 14:50 

MI 518 14:20 15:45 

Y5 234 15:35 17:05 

8M 234 20:30 21:55 

MI 520 22:10 23:35 

SUN SQ 998 07:55 09:20 

8M 6231 08:55 10:25 

3K 585 09:10 10:40 

VN 943 11:40 13:25 

8M 232 13:25 14:50 

MI 518 14:20 15:45 

Y5 234 15:35 17:05 

8M 234 20:30 21:55 

MI 520 22:10 23:35 

BEIJING TO YANGON 

TUE CA 905 08:05 13:15 

WED CA 905 08:05 13:15 

THUR CA 905 08:05 13:15 

SAT CA 905 08:05 13:15 

SUN CA 905 08:05 13:15 

FRANKFURT TO YANGON 

TUE DE 2368 14:05 05:10+1 

KAULA LUMPUR TO YANGON 

MON AK 1424 06:55 08:00 

MH 740 10:05 11:15 

8M 502 12:50 13:50 

AK 1420 15:05 16:15 

TUE AK 1424 06:55 08:00 

MH 740 10:05 11:15 

8M 502 12:50 13:50 

MH 742 14:45 15:55 

AK 1420 15:05 16:15 

WED AK 1424 06:55 08:00 

MH 740 10:05 11:15 

8M 502 12:50 13:50 

AK 1420 15:05 16:15 

THUR AK 1424 06:55 08:00 

MH 740 10:05 11:15 

AK 1420 15:05 16:15 

FRI AK 1424 06:55 08:00 

MH 740 10:05 11:15 

8M 502 12:50 13:50 

MH 742 14:45 15:55 

AK 1420 15:05 16:15 

SAT AK 1424 06:55 08:00 

MH 740 10:05 11:15 

8M 502 12:50 13:50 

AK 1420 15:05 16:15 

SUN AK 1424 06:55 08:00 

MH 740 10:05 11:15 

MH 742 14:45 15:55 

AK 1420 15:05 16:15 

GUANGZHOU TO YANGON 

MON CZ 3055 14:45 16:35 

TUE 8M 712 14:15 15:50 

WED CZ 3055 08:40 10:30 

THUR 8M 712 14:15 15:50 

FRI CZ 3055 14:45 16:35 

SAT CZ 3055 08:40 10:30 

SUN 8M 712 14:15 15:50 

TAIPEI TO YANGON 

MON CI 7915 07:00 09:50 

TUE CI 7915 07:00 09:50 

BR 287 07:45 10:35 

WED CI 7915 07:00 09:50 

THUR CI 7915 07:00 09:50 

FRI CI 7915 07:00 09:50 

BR 287 07:45 10:35 

SAT CI 7915 07:00 09:50 

BR 287 07:45 10:35 

SUN CI 7915 07:00 09:50 

KUNMING TO YANGON 

MON MU 2031 13:30 14:00 

TUE CA 905 13:00 13:15 

MU 2031 13:30 14:00 

WED CA 905 13:00 13:15 

MU 2031 13:30 14:00 

THUR CA 905 13:00 13:15 

MU 2031 13:30 14:00 

FRI MU 2011 08:35 11:30 

MU 2031 13:30 14:00 

SAT CA 905 13:00 13:15 

MU 2031 13:30 14:00 

SUN CA 905 13:00 13:15 

MU 2031 13:30 14:00 

KOLKATA TO YANGON 

MON AI 227 10:10 12:55 

FRI AI 227 10:10 12:55 

AI 233 13:30 16:00 

CHIANG MAI TO YANGON 

THUR W9 9608 17:20 18:10 

SUN W9 9608 17:20 18:10 

HANOI TO YANGON 

MON VN 957 16:35 18:10 

WED VN 957 16:35 18:10 

FRI VN 957 16:35 18:10 

SAT VN 957 16:35 18:10 

SUN VN 957 16:35 18:10 

HO CHI MINH CITY TO YANGON 

TUE VN 943 11:40 13:25 

THUR VN 943 11:40 13:25 

SAT VN 943 11:40 13:25 

SUN VN 943 11:40 13:25 

GAYA TO YANGON 

MON 8M 602 09:20 12:30 

WED 8M 602 09:20 12:30 

FRI 8M 602 09:20 12:30 

AI 233 15:00 16:00 

SAT 8M 602 09:20 12:30 

BANGKOK TO MANDALAY 

MON 8M 336 06:15 07:35 

TUE 8M 336 06:15 07:35 

TG 781 07:25 08:50 

WED 8M 336 06:15 07:35 

THUR 8M 336 06:15 07:35 

FRI 8M 336 06:15 07:35 

TG 781 07:25 08:50 

SAT 8M 336 06:15 07:35 

TG 781 07:25 08:50 

SUN 8M 336 06:15 07:35 

TG 781 07:25 08:50 

SINGAPORE TO MANDALAY 

MON Y5 234 15:35 19:05 

8M 336 16:05 07:35 

TUE Y5 234 15:35 19:05 

8M 336 16:05 07:35 

WED Y5 234 15:35 19:05 

8M 336 16:05 07:35 

THUR Y5 234 15:35 19:05 

8M 336 16:05 07:35 

FRI Y5 234 15:35 19:05 

8M 336 16:05 07:35 

SAT Y5 234 15:35 19:05 

8M 336 16:05 07:35 

SUN Y5 234 15:35 19:05 

8M 336 16:05 07:35 

GAYA TO MANDALAY 

TUE 8M 604 13:15 16:20 

THUR 8M 604 13:15 16:20 

SUN 8M 604 13:15 16:20 

DOHA TO YANGON 

MON QR 618 21:05 07:00+1 

TUE QR 618 21:05 07:00+1 

WED QR 618 21:05 07:00+1 

THUR QR 618 21:05 07:00+1 

FRI QR 618 21:05 07:00+1 

SAT QR 618 21:05 07:00+1 

SUN QR 618 21:05 07:00+1 

PHNOM PENH TO YANGON 

WED 8M 404 20:15 21:40 

SAT 8M 404 20:15 21:40 

SEOUL TO YANGON 

MON KE 471 18:40 22:55 

TUE KE 471 18:40 22:55 

WED KE 471 18:40 22:55 

0Z 4753 19:30 23:40 

THUR KE 471 18:40 22:55 

FRI KE 471 18:40 22:55 

SAT KE 471 18:40 22:55 

0Z 4753 19:30 23:40 

SUN KE 471 18:40 22:55 

SIEM REAP TO YANGON 

MON 8M 402 20:15 21:25 

FRI 8M 402 20:15 21:25 

TOKYO TO YANGON 

MON NH 913 11:10 17:05 

WED NH 913 11:10 17:05 

SAT NH 913 11:10 17:05 

HONG KONG TO YANGON 

MON KA 250 21:35 23:35 

WED KA 250 21:35 23:35 

FRI KA 250 21:35 23:35 

SUN KA 250 21:35 23:35 

DON MUEANG TO MANDALAY 

MON FD 2760 08:50 10:15 

TUE FD 2760 08:50 10:15 

WED FD 2760 08:50 10:15 

THUR FD 2760 08:50 10:15 

FRI FD 2760 08:50 10:15 

SAT FD 2760 08:50 10:15 

SUN FD 2760 08:50 10:15 

KUNMING TO MANDALAY 

MON MU 2029 14:00 13:50 

TUE MU 2029 14:00 13:50 

WED MU 2029 14:00 13:50 

THUR MU 2029 14:00 13:50 

FRI MU 2029 14:00 13:50 

SAT MU 2029 14:00 13:50 

SUN MU 2029 14:00 13:50 

International 

FD & AK = Air Asia 

IC = Indian Airlines Limited 

TG = Thai Airways 

W9 = Air Bagan 

8M = Myanmar Airways International 3K = Jet Star 

Y5 = Golden Myanmar Airlines AI = Air India 

PG = Bangkok Airways 

QR = Qatar Airways 

MI = Silk Air 

KE = Korea Airlines 

VN = Vietnam Airline 

NH = All Nippon Airways 

MH = Malaysia Airlines 

SQ = Singapore Airways 

CZ = China Southern 

DE = Condor Airlines 

CI = China Airlines 

MU=China Eastern Airlines 

CA = Air China 

BR = Eva Airlines 

KA = Dragonair 

DE = Condor 

Subject to change without notice 

By Gregory Viscusi 

PARIS — Few historical 

figures have as contentious 

an image as Napoleon 

Bonaparte. 

A military genius, he ended 

10 years of revolutionary 

bloodletting in France, wrote 

a code that still underpins 

many of the world’s legal 

systems, introduced the 

metric system, gave the 

continent its first telegraph 

network and emancipated 

Jews and Christian 

dissidents across Europe. 

At the same time, his 

armies executed prisoners 

and looted art throughout 

Europe. He muzzled the 

press in France and imposed 

his family as rulers across 

Europe, and reinstated 

slavery in French colonies. 

Millions died in his wars, 

though France was as often 

the victim of aggression as 

the aggressor. 

A new exhibition at 

the Paris Invalides War 

Museum makes no effort 

to hide the bad side of the 

emperor whose imprint is 

still felt on every aspect of 

modern France. 

At the start of the show, 

the viewer comes face to 

face with Jacques-Louis 

David’s painting of a dashing 

Napoleon crossing the Alps 

in 1800 on a fine steed. 

The panels make clear the 

painting was a work of 

propaganda, and include 

copies of other paintings that 

show him more prosaically 

riding a sturdy mule in a 

heavy wool coat. 

The display makes ample 

use of such contrasts. David’s 

sketch for his massive 

adulatory painting of 

Napoleon’s 1804 coronation 

is hung next to a drawing by 

English caricaturist George 

Cruikshank showing a 

bratty Napoleon and an 

obese Josephine. 

Travel 

Paris exhibit 

analyses life 

of Napoleon 

Pic: Heymann-Renoult 

The exhibition doesn’t 

have a military theme, even 

if it’s in France’s national 

war museum. There are 

no mock ups of battlefields 

and few weapons on display. 

The show’s title makes it 

clear the emphasis is on 

how Napoleon influenced 

Europe, and how other 

Europeans viewed him. 

Paintings, cartoons, 

statues, newspapers and 

coins show that during his 

rule, portrayals throughout 

Europe ranged from dashing 

liberator to squat tyrant. 

Nine European countries 

shared collections for the 

show, including Greenwich’s 

National Maritime Museum, 

which lent Lord Nelson’s 

uniform from the Battle of 

Trafalgar, complete with 

deadly bullet hole; and the 

Kremlin Museum, which 

sent a Russian general’s 

uniform and standard. 

By the end of his reign, 

Napoleon had made enemies 

of all of Europe. Toward the 

end of the show, a uniform of 

Napoleon is cleverly placed 

surrounded by biographical 

panels of George III of 

England, Ferdinand VII 

of Spain, Czar Alexander 

I, Pope Pius VII, Austrian 

Emperor Francis I, Prussian 

Queen Louise Augusta, and 

the exiled Louis XVII. 

A quote best sums up 

Napoleon’s energetic rule: 

“You kings, defeated, can 

return to your thrones. I, to 

remain, need victories.” 

How right he was, as 

shown by a final statue 

by Vincenzo Vela of an 

emaciated Napoleon dying 

on the faraway island of 

Saint Helena. 

“Napoleon and Europe” 

runs through July 14 at 

Musee de L’armee, 129 

rue de Grenelle, Paris. 

Information: www.museearmee.fr/en/englishversion.html. 

— Bloomberg News 

Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass by Jacques-Louis 

David, shows an idealised view of the crossing that 

Napoleon made across the Alps in 1800.

Timeout 52 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Leonardo finds 

the heat in ‘Da 

Vinci’s Demons’ 

By Hank Stuever 

YOU may have thought (as I 

did) that Leonardo da Vinci 

was old, left-handed and 

gay. But the plucky and 

occasionally fun new drama 

series, Da Vinci’s Demons, 

which airs in Myanmar on Fox 

Movies Premium on Sunday 

nights, begs to differ. 

“I’m ambidextrous,” 

announces a taut, young 

and sexy Leonardo (Tom 

Riley), who also seems to 

have invented the stubble 

trimmer and Supercuts along 

the way to designing the 

paraglider and the helicopter. 

And judging from the way 

high-class Medici mistress 

Lucrezia Donadi (Laura 

Haddock) vigorously (and 

‘ There is just 

enough here to 

enjoy, stopping 

well short of 

enthralling.’ 

toplessly) passes the time 

with Leonardo — time he’s 

supposed to spend painting 

her portrait — well, so much 

for his place in gay history. 

At first look, Da Vinci’s 

Demons predictably resembles 

cable’s many period dramas, 

most of which seem to exist 

to provide employment 

opportunities for British 

actors. The show takes 

liberties wherever it likes 

while remaining within the 

general frame of history; 

there is just enough here to 

enjoy, stopping well short of 

enthralling. 

One byproduct of the 

“golden age of television” is 

that anything cheap can be 

easily made to look better 

than it is. That means a lot of 

one-hour dramas, Da Vinci’s 

Demons included, possess the 

basic, perfected blandness of 

advertising, filled with rolling 

fields, colourful costumes and 

standard editing tricks. When 

Leonardo is struck by an idea, 

his frantic and pretty pencil 

drawings come to life, swirling 

and building around him, much 

like a commercial for, I don’t 

know — software? Soy milk? 

Credit cards? 

Created and written by 

David Goyer (who co-wrote 

Christopher Nolan’s Dark 

Knight Batman films), Da 

Vinci’s Demons breezily 

and capably finds a balance 

between amusing wit and dour 

drama. 

Devil-may-care Leonardo 

is a busy polymath, living 

off the largess of Florence’s 

temperamental Lorenzo 

Medici (Elliot Cowan), who 

tolerates the genius’s antics 

after Leonardo promises to 

devise new military machines 

to ward off the troops of Pope 

Sixtus IV, who heads a cabal 

of evil. It’s the pope (James 

Faulkner) who is burdened 

with playing the vicious gay 

stereotype here, preying like 

a crocodile on young men 

who have the misfortune of 

taking a dip in his vast Vatican 

hot tub. 

Da Vinci’s Demons heads in 

a lot of different directions at 

once, as our easily distracted 

Renaissance Man, Leonardo, 

discovers from a wayward 

mystic that he’s part of a kooky 

lineage of super-geniuses. 

This part of the plot puts 

Leonardo in the dangerously 

ho-hum genre of shows about 

differently abled sleuths 

who see details others don’t 

and whose minds run like 

high-speed broadband while 

the simpletons around them 

remain strictly dial-up. 

But Riley takes the role of 

Leonardo for a real joy ride, 

giving Da Vinci’s Demons a 

spark of invention it would 

otherwise lack. 

— The Washington Post 

DJ Jay’s seventh album 

challenges Myanmar fans 

By Nuam Bawi 

EXPERIENCING a bad case 

of the post-Thingyan 

doldrums? Beaten down by 

the relentlessly hot days of 

summertime? Well it’s time 

to wake up, and there’s no 

better way to give yourself 

a massive energy injection 

than to crank up DJ Jay’s new 

album Done Done Dine Dine 

(the hard-hitting sound). 

Done Done Dine Dine is 

the seventh album by DJ 

Jay, also known as Dhamma 

Phunk, and it’s packed with 

18 tracks inspired by diverse 

forms of electronic music, 

from dubstep and house, to 

glitch-hop and wobble bass. 

Guest performers on the 

album include Anagga, Kyet 

Phah, G-Tone, Kyaw Htut 

Swe, ASH (Aung Hein), Ye 

Naung (PBD Hood), Adino, 

Chicz Co Co, KP, The Un 1k, 

DJ Breezee, Doshy, Htike 

Htike, Glock, and H.rayz. 

DJ Jay — who learned 

his musical craft in China, 

where he studied as a child 

— released his debut album 

House Vibration in 1999 at 

the age of 14. 

His last album, 2010’s The 

Future Sound of Asia (an 

obvious homage to British 

electronic pioneers The 

Future Sound of London), was 

not distributed in Myanmar 

because the censors would 

not allow it to be released 

under the name Dhamma 

Phunk. However, has been 

available for download from 

Amazon and iTunes. 

DJ Jay told The Myanmar 

Times that the three-year gap 

between The Future Sound 

of Asia and the release of the 

new album was the result not 

only of a meticulous creative 

process, but also of a desire 

to wait until more music fans 

in Myanmar became familiar 

with dubstep music. 

Dubstep is a form of 

electronic dance music 

originating in the United 

Kingdom but heavily inspired 

by the syncopated drum 

and bass rhythms that 

characterise Jamaican 

music. 

“I was worried that local 

audiences were unfamiliar 

with dubstep music, but now 

I think they’re quite familiar 

with the sound from being 

broadcast on TV channels 

and on radio as backing 

music,” he said. 

It’s clear that DJ Jay has a 

‘ It’s very easy to attract an 

audience. ... But I wanted to take 

on the challenge of presenting some 

unfamiliar music.’ 

strong sense of the type of 

music he wants to create, 

and he’s made it part of his 

mission to introduce local 

audiences to sounds that 

have not yet become popular 

in Myanmar. 

“It’s very easy to attract an 

audience. I could just remix 

a hit song or create familiar 

electronic house music with 

a soft sound, and I’d be 100 

percent certain to get an 

audience. But I wanted to 

take on the challenge of 

presenting some unfamiliar 

music,” DJ Jay said. 

On the other hand, he said 

dubstep has its own built-in 

attraction, so there’s little 

risk in completely alienating 

music fans here. 

“The bass, sequences and 

arrangements of dubstep can 

uplift our mind and soul, as 

well as being appealing to 

listen to,” he said. 

DJ Jay added that although 

Myanmar fans expect DJ 

albums to consist purely of 

dance music, Done Done Dine 

Dine holds many additional 

surprises for listeners. 

“My music is unlike the 

DJ albums that we normally 

hear locally. For example, 

even the hip-hop I present 

is different from what is 

normally heard here. It’s 

more like glitch-hop, which 

is rapping robot-style. And 

there are wide gaps between 

the beats in my music, like 

broken beats,” he said. 

Done Done Dine Dine was 

released in Myanmar on March 

30. It will see worldwide 

distribution in June through 

iTunes download. 

YOUR STARS 

By Astrologer 

Aung Myin Kyaw 

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) 

Maintain your practice of meditation, and 

understand that close friends who seem to be in 

opposition to you are mostly motivated by greed. 

The more you can remain calm and stable, the more 

you will be free from confusion. Family relationships 

will change for the better, and don’t be surprised 

by the advent of miracles that will help you enjoy 

love and beauty. 

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) 

Your optimistic outlook will elevate your social status to 

a remarkable level. It is now more important than ever 

to adhere to the Golden Rule of doing unto others as 

you would have them do onto you. The keys to leading 

yourself exceptionally well are learning self-management 

and controlling your emotions. 

Aries (March 21 - April 19) 

Proud statements in your relationships will be 

your long and heavy burden, which cannot have 

a good end. Reduce your resistance to uncritical 

self-acceptance and self-applause. Make sure your 

actions are managed by wise decisions. Adjust 

your attitude according to changes in the social 

environment that surrounds you. Immerse yourself 

in the purity of love and pleasure. 

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) 

Visualise yourself overcoming all obstacles. When 

dealing with questions about how to deal with 

difficult situations, the answer lies in changing your 

thinking from negative to positive. Expend energy 

on a healthy relationship that will help bring your 

knowledge into equilibrium. Purify romance that is 

inextricably linked to the realm of sensuality. 

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) 

Maintain a balanced outlook in your perspective of 

the world. Your life will be adventurous and exciting, 

and perhaps a bit unusual. Success is not sexy but 

it’s all about working the basics of excellence with 

a passionate consistency. Qualify yourself by taking 

responsibility for your role in what is not working in 

your life. 

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) 

Abandon your impractical ways and strive to take 

a more sensible approach to life. Avoid obsessing 

over your social duties and family responsibilities. No 

one is able to pass beyond the way of sorrow. Let 

some scope remain for emergencies and unexpected 

events that might come your way. Undertake 

everything in accordance with the philosophy of 

making the right challenge. 

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) 

You must take the leader’s vision to make it reality. 

Strive to replace your blue misconceptions with truth, 

and note its effect on your peace of mind. View your 

relationships through the lens of understanding and 

humanity. Get ready for what you must do in order 

to gain time for contingencies. Let love bloom in its 

own way and according to its own nature. 

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) 

Make everything as simple as possible, because a 

simple idea can have an awe-inspiring effect on the 

world. Remember to give something back and realise 

that all people can contribute to building beauty in 

society. Always focus on quality over quantity, and 

create a harmonious future by performing good deeds 

and social services. 

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) 

Be careful to use information wisely. Impartiality and 

justice for all is of the utmost importance to you in all 

aspects of life. Unexpected social favours will help 

improve your lifestyle. Your desire to become a beloved 

object of affection will come true following a short spell 

of social disturbance. Take steps to release the gloom 

from your heart. 

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) 

Concentrate on quality communication, especially 

when it comes to making financial agreements and 

investments. Improve your level of thought through 

concentration and meditation. Your memory can be 

better than you think, and you should stop your mind 

from sleeping during your waking hours. Remaining 

optimistic will result in emotional satisfaction on the 

road to finding love. 

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) 

Gain experience through free expression and release 

yourself from your emotional tension. Small financial 

steps can lead to a sudden and quantum leap forward 

through careful persistence. Learn to answer ill 

treatment with moderation. Know that every challenge 

is nothing more than a chance to make things better. 

Love is not to be challenged. 

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) 

Being superbly fit is a brilliant move that will positively 

influence every area of your life. Revealing your 

emotional tides to the person you love is a way for you 

to continue endearing yourself to your partner. It’s time 

to take better care of yourself and make an effort to find 

the right mental balance in your life. 

For a personal reading contact Aung Myin Kyaw, 

4 th Floor, 113, Thamain Bayan Road, 

Tamwe Township, Yangon. Tel: 0973135632, 

Email: williameaste@gmail.com

General Property Employment 

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Samsung tabltes. Ph : 

09-450-039844. 

IPAD 4 32GB White + 4G 

(10 Month Warranty) 

Price : 570000. iPad 

3 64GB White Wifi (8 

Month Warranty) Price 

: 460000. Ph : 09-501- 

6694. 

ACER 4775 Intel Core 

i5 Ram 4GB H.D.D 

750GB Graphic nvidia 

1GB Green colour 

Price : 400000. Ph : 

01-248076. 

IPAD 4 32GB White + 4G 

(10 Month Warranty) 

Price : 570000. iPad 

3 64GB White Wifi (8 


: 460000. Ph : 09-501- 

6694 

IPAD 4 32GB White 4G 

iPad 3 32GB White Wifi 

iPad Mini 64GB Black 

WiFi. Ph : 09-501-6694 

DELL INSPIRON N5110 



1GB Display 15.6" 

Red Colour (Like New) 

Price : 550000. Ph : 09- 

501-6694 

(1) SONY TV 2 5 ' " 

Trinitron, TruSurround 

with SRS (2) Yamaha 

Generator, Single 

Cylinder 2.3 KVA, EF 

2600, Petrol Engine 

OHV Engine, Brushless 

Ph: 09-501-2801, 519 

268 

(1)USED ACER LED 

Monitor, Display18.5” , 

Port :VGA, DVI ,Black, 

3 No, K 50,000 (2) 

Used LG LED Monitor, 

Display 18.5”, Port 

:VGA, DVI , Black, 3 

No, K 50,000.No(58/B), 

Myanmar Gon Yaung 

Housing, Than Thu Mar 

Rd, Tamwe. 

CRANE CAR : 25 ton, 50 

ton, 55 ton, 6m3 Truck 

Mixer. Ph: 09-43016006 

RED LINK - Wireless 

Internet 2MB for 

Sale 5,40000 (lakhs) 

Negotiatable) Ph: 09- 

730-65958, 09-506- 

1232. 

ORIGINAL 3DS Game 

Cartridge (Spirit 

Camrea: The Cursed 

Memoir) - 20000 Kyats- 

Original 3DS Game 

Cartridge (Kid Icarus: 

Uprising) - 20000 

Kyats. Ph: 095079980" 

DELL, Acer, ASUS, 

Laptop Core i3, i5, i7 

Ph : 09-450-039844 





400000. Ph : 09-450- 

039844 

95% NEW IPHONE 5 

64GB Black Official 

Unlock With Original 

Box & Accessories. 

Price : 720000. Ph : 

09-450-039844 

IPAD 4 32GB + 4G 

White, iPad Mini 64GB 

Black, iPad Mini 16GB 

Black, iPad 1 64GB + 

3G. Ph : 09-501-6694. 

IPHONE 4G 32GB 

Black. Price : 300000, 

iPhone 4G 16GB Black 

Price : 250000, iPhone 

3GS 32GB Black, Price 

: 150000, iPhone 3GS 

16GB Black, Price: 

120000, Samsung 

Galaxy S3 White, Price 

: 320000, (All Phone is 

Official Unlock). Ph : 

09-450-039844 

IPAD 4 32GB + 4G White 

iPad Mini 64GB Black, 

iPad Mini 16GB Black, 

iPad 1 64GB + 3G. Ph 

: 09-501-6694. 






: 350000. Ph : 248076 

IPHONE 4S 64GB White 

iPhone 4S 32GB Black, 

iPhone 4G 32GB Black, 

iPhone 4G 16Gb Black 

(All Phone is Official 

Unlock) Ph : 09-450- 

039844 





400000. Ph : 09-450- 

0398-44 

IPHONE 4G 32GB Black 

Official Unlock 

Price : 300000 

IPHONE 3GS 32GB 

Price : 150000 iPhone 

3GS 16GB Price : 

120000 Samsung 

Galaxy S3 White. Price 

: 320000. Ph : 09-450- 

039844 

99% NEW IPAD (4rd 

Gen:) 32GB WiFi + 4G 

White With Original 

Box & Accessories ( 11 


: 550000. Ph : 09-450- 

039844. 

Training 

HOTEL AND TOURISM 

Training Centre 

(Yangon). Kandawgyi 

Palace Hotel. Course 

Conducted are: 

Hotel Supervisory 

(Accounting), (Room 

Division), (F&B 

Division) (Level II); 

Front Office Operations 

(Level I); Housekeeping 

Operations (Level I); 

F&B Service (Level I); 

F&B Production (Level 

I); Oriential Food 

Cookery (Level I); 

OPERA (Computerized 

System. Duration: 2 

months (29.4.2013 

to 21.6.2013). Ph: 

394836. 

Travel 

TO FOREIGNERS, TAXI 

service with an English 

speaker. Feel free to 

ask by yourself. Ph: 09 

-517-9125 

NYAN MYINT THU Car 

Rental Service : 56, 

Bo Ywe St, Latha Tsp, 

Ph: 246551, 375283, 

704335, 09-2132778. 

Email:colwinkyi@gmail. 

com, nyanmyintthu@ 

gmail.com 

HousingforRent 

KYAUKTADA,(1) 

Pansodan St(Condo) 

1500 Sqft, 1 MBR, 2SR. 

1750 USD. (2)Pansodan 

St (Condo) Near City 

Mark. 1500 Sqft, 1MBR, 

2SR, 2300 USD. (3) 

Diamond Condo (Near 

Hlae Tan Bridge) 1200 

Sqft, 1MBR, 1SR. 1300 

USD (4) Near UNDP 

Office (750 Sqft) (3+4) 

Flr.Hall Type. USD 

800. (5)Near Taw Win 

Shapping Mall.(Condo). 

1375 Sqft, 2MBR, 1SR 

.very good location 

USD 1800.Ph : 09-492- 

14276. 09- 4211 77105. 

(1) 8 Mile, Kabaraye Villa 

(Condo) 2000 Sqft 1MBR. 

2SR. USD 3000. (2)Near 

Park Royal Hotel, Bo 

yar nyunt St, 1500 Sqft, 

2MBR. 1SR, Fully furnish. 

USD 2000.(3) Near 

Kandawgyi Park, (good 

view condo) 2500 

Sqft , 2MBR, 1SR USD 

3000. (4) Yan Kin Centre 

condo. 1600 Sqft, 2MBR, 

1SR Fully furnish USD 

2069. (5) Pan Hliaing 

Condo, Near Pan Hlaing 

Golf. 1500 Sqft, 2MBR, 

2SR. USD 3500. 09- 4211 

77105. 09-420 114749. 

BAHAN, (1)New 

University Rd, 80' x 60', 

2 storey new house. K 

45 lakhs. (2)Moe Myint 

San Condo, 2400 sqft, 

f f, 5 A/C, 30 Lakhs (3) 

Pearl Condo, 1750 sqft, 

1 MB, 2 BR, 5 A/C, f f, 

25 lakhs. Call Maureen: 

09-518-8320. 

YANKIN, Moe Kaung 

Rd, 50' x 90' RC, 1 

storey house. 25 lakhs. 

Maureen : 09-5188320. 

HLAING, (647), # 8-C, 

Inya View Condominium, 

Pyay Rd. Ph: 09-4200- 

35206, 09-4200-767665. 

(No Agents). 

BAHAN, University 

Avenue compound 85' x 

120, 3 MBR, 1 reading 

room, living room, 

dinning room, kitchen, 

servant quarter, BBQ 

house in the garden, ph, 

3AC. Ph: 09-513-7802, 

534542. 

HousingforSale 

MAYANGONE, 

Apartment 1320 sqft 

4 rooms, 8 mile condo 

apartment to be sold 

direct by First Owner. 

Call 09-514-2568. 

SANCHAUNG, 12.5’ x 

55’, 2 Flr, 1 A/C. 1 ine ph. 

350 Lakhs. Negotiable. 

Ph:09- 501-2801, 519 

268 

MAYANGONE, 9 miles 

Bonyarna Lane, 50'x 

70' garden with including 

house (3700 Lakhs) 

no agent please. Ph: 

09-503-6519, 09-421- 

029911. 

HLAING THARYAR, 129 

(A), Thakin Pholagyi 

5 St 20’x 60’ (Price- 

Negotiable), (Near to 

Shwe Yin Aye Market 

& bus stop) Ph:09-431- 

29221, 09-731-35807 

UN Positions 

IOM Int'l Organization 

for Migration is seeking 

(1) Medical Doctor 

(Officer) - HIV/ AIDS in 

Mawlamyine, Mon State. 

3 month probation with 

possible of extension: 

Myanmar national. 

Advanced university in 

Nursing, Public Health or 

Medicine (must have a 

valid license to practice. 

Good written & spoken 

English & Myanmar 

(speaking Mon and/ or Mon 

would be an advantage). 

Computer literacy, 

including Microsoft 

Office applications. 

(2) Community 

Health Supervisor in 

Mawlamyinegyun Suboffice, 

Ayeyarwaddy 

Region: University degree 

in Medicine, preferably 

with advanc ed studies in 

public and/or community 

health, Should have 

both public health and 

medical background. 3 

years experience with 

community based health 

programmes. Good 

command of English. 

Competent in MS Excel, 

Word processing & Power 

Point. (3)Admin Clerk in 

Mawlamyine, Mon State: 

University graduate. 

2 years of experience 

in clerical work. Good 

understanding of English. 

Knowledge of Microsoft 

Office's software 

package. Local residents 

are encouraged to apply. 

Pls submit application to 

IOM Mission in Myanmar 

- Yangon, 12 th Flr, Traders 

Hotel, No.223, Sule 

Pagoda Rd, Yangon. 

Email: iomyangon@ 

iom.int, Website: http:// 

ww.iom.int 

Ingo Positions 

MEDECINS Sans Frontiers 

- Holland (AZG) is seeking 

(1) Medical Doctor for 

emergency interventions 

on short contracts 4 

posts in Kachin State, 

Rakhine State, Shan 

State: Medical degree. 

Good knowledge of the 

issues surrounding STI, 

HIV/ AIDS & TB. Good 

command of English, 

both written and spoken. 

We offer a 6 month 

contract with possible 

extension. (2) Translator 

3 posts in Sittwe, Rakhine 

Project: Good command 

of English and Myanmar. 

Good computer skill. We 

offer a 6 month contract 

with possible extension. 

(3) Mechanic 1 post in 

Sittwe, Rakhine Project 

: Literate. Significant 

previous mechanical 

experience. Ability to 

learn and adapt to new 

technology. We offer a 

6 month contract with 

possible extension. Pls 

send application letter, CV 

& passport photo, copies 

of education qualifications 

& references to: MSF- 

Holland/ AZG (Yangon 

Coordination) 62A, 

Bawdiyeiktha-Thanlwin 

Rd, Bahan, Yangon. Or 

through msfh.myanmar. 

recruitment@gmail.com, 

closing date : 3 rd May 

2013. 

SOLIDARITES Int'l 

(SI) is seeking Deputy 

Logistics Coordinator 

in Yangon: 4 years of 

professional experience in 

Logistics field with INGO/ 

NGO. University Degree 

or Diploma (preferably 

in Logistics Or related 

proven experience in 

similar area.). Knowledge 

of IT management & MS 

office. Fluent in English 

& Myanmar. Pls submit 

application (CV, cover 

letter, references) to the 

attention of: The Logistics 

Coordinator, Logistics 

Unit - Solidarites Int'l office 

- 44-A, Tharyarwaddy 

Lane, Ward, Bahan, 

Yangon or per email: 

recruitment@solidaritesmyanmar.org. 

SOLIDARITES Int'l is 

seeking (1) Admini 

strative Officer in 

Monywa, Sagaing : 2 

years experience in INGO 

or private organization. 

Fluent in English & 

Myanmar. Knowledge of 

MS office Good in English 

Myanmar typing skill. Pls 

submit application (CV, 

Cover letter, references) 

to: hr.solidarites.mm@ 

gmail.com & copy to : 

mon.admin@solidaritesmyanmar.org 

or in hard to 

Ei Ei Phyu at Solidarites 

Int'l Dry Zone office: 130, 

Zaw Ti Ka St, Yankin, Aung 

Thu Kha Ward, Monywa, 

Sagaing Region. Closing 

date : 30.4.2013. 

SOLIDARITES Int'l (SI) 

is seeking Logistics 

Manager in Monywa/ 

Sagaing Division: 3 years 

experience in Logistics 

field with INGO/ NGO. 

University Degree or 

Diploma (preferably 

in Logistics Or related 

proven experience in 

similar area.). Knowledge 

of IT management & 

MS office. Pls submit 

application (CV, cover 

letter, references) to 

Logistics Coordinator, 

Yangon Logistics Unit 

- Solidarites Int'l office 

: 44-A, Tharyarwaddy 

Lane, Bahan, or per email: 

recruitment@solidaritesmyanmar.org 

Local Position 

MBIS is a private int'l school 

located in Taunggyi, 

Shan State is seeking 

for the academic year 

(2013-2014). Teaching 

Position: 3 posts : Age 

20 ~ 30, Bachelor 

degree (Preferable 

English Major), Thorough 

understanding in Early 

Childhood Care & 

Development, 2 ~ 3 years 

experience with children, 

Must stay in Taunggyi, 

Shan State. Pls apply 

CV along with the recently 

taken photograph, 

recommendation letters 

from Township Police 

Officer & Ya Ya Ka, a copy 

of household registration, 

a copy of NRC & related 

educational documents to 

: MBIS, 72/ 9, Kan Baw 

Za St, Yay Aye Kwinn Qtr, 

Taunggyi, Shan State. 

Email : ceo.taunggyi@ 

gmail.com 

(1).OFFICE MANAGER 

(or) Office Admin 1 

Post :Graduate (Foreign 

graduate preferred but 

not necessary).Good 

in English. Comfortable 

with computers and 

have working knowledge 

of Microsoft Office. Be 

extremely well organized. 

Efficient at executing 

tasks. Able to multitask. 

(2).Marketing - 1 

Post : Graduate (Foreign 

graduate preferred but 

not necessary) . Good in 

English. Result oriented; 

must be able to make 

things happen, meet 

set targets . Must enjoy 

and natural at selling 

and explaining products/ 

services. Able to cold 

call potential customers 

and go out on marketing 

campaigns (mostly will 

be within Yangon) . Any 

experience of education 

related marketing will 

be looked at favorably 

or have a passion for 

education. Other terms, 

applicable for both posts: 

6 working days per week. 

3 month probation period 

during which salary 

will be 20% lower than 

agrees salary. Pls submit 

application CV, 2 passport 

photo with necessary 

documents to HR Dept : 

380 , 10th flr, FMI Center, 

Bogyoke Aung San Rd, 

Pabedan, Closing date: 

30-4-2013. 

WE are currently seeking 

(1). Sales & Marketing 

Executive - M/F 1 Post 

: Any graduate, Good 


Software skills (2). 

Customer Service 

Executive - M/F 1 Post 

: Any Graduate, Good 


Software skills. (3). Data 

Entry - M/F 1 post : 

Any graduate, Excellent 

software skill, Good 

typing skill (Myanmar, 

English) (4).Driver - M 

1 post : Age 30 ~ 50. Pls 

submit application letter 

with personal details, 

qualification details, 

along with copies of 

related documents, 1 

passport photo to Vinco 

Int'l Shipping Co.,Ltd : 

Rm.902, 9th Flr, Strand 

Rd, Ahlone Tower, 

Ahlone. Ph: 212707, 09- 

4200-74913 or via email 

bduvinco@gmail.com 

Closing date: 30th April, 

2013. 

RISK Management & 

Assurance Analyst 2 

Posts : Tertiary qualifica 

tions in Accounting, 

Finance, Commerce (or) 

Economics. Membership 

with professional, 

Accounting (or) 

Auditing Associations. 

Skill requirement : 

Ability to perform end 

to end financial & 

operational reviews. 

Sound understanding 

of Risk management 

framework, Audit 

methodologies & 

process improvement 

principles. Fluent English 

must be able to write 

review findings present 

to senior management in 

English. Comprehensive 

computer skills 

(Accounting Software, 

MS office Word, Excel, 

PowerPoint ). Able to 

type Myanmar and 

English. Minimum 

working experience 

professional experience 

in either accounting 

Auditing (or) related 

positions. Pls submit 

application with detail 

& complete curriculum 

vitae, 2 passport 

photo with necessary 

documents to HR Dept 

380, 10 th flr . FMI Center, 


Pabedan. Closing date : 

30-4-2013. 

APPLE ION Co.,ltd is 

seeking (1)Manager 

- 1 post (2)Marketing 

Executive - 2 posts (3) 

Marketing Staff - 5 

posts (4)Driver-1 post (5) 

Web designer - 1 post. 

Position (1 to 4) are for 

Real Estate services and 

all applicants must be 

graduated and good in 

health, self-motivated and 

active to work in less of 

supervision. Driver must 

possess valid driving 

licence and able to drive 

with good skill in Yangon 

area. Positions (2 and 5) 

are for web developing 

and on-line services. Male 

or female are welcome for 

all position (except Driver 

post) & age between 25 ~ 

40. Relevant experience 

and expertise will 

be good advantage. 

Selected candidates will 

be offered good salary 

plus good commensurate 

package & other benefits 

depend on performance. 

Pls submit to via 

email:Saisimonsai@ 

gmail.com 

SUPER LUCK 

Construction is seeking 

(1) Account Executive 

: B.Com/Dip in L.C.C.I 

Level III, Age under 45, 

3 ~ 5 years experience 

in construction sector, 

Good in English, 

computer literate, able 

to use internet/email/ 

fax, Microsoft Office , 

Skillful in computerized 

accounting, Able to 

prepare financial 

situation report (2) 

Administration Clerk 

: Any graduate, Age 

under 45, 3 years 

experience in a related 

field, Fluent in English, 

Computer literate, able 

to use internet/email/fax, 

Microsoft Office, Able to 

travel and work. 139, 

Damazedi Rd, Bahan. 

Ph: 09-430-32729.

EMBASSIES 

Australia 88, Strand 

Road, Yangon. tel : 

251810, 251797, 251798, 

251809, 246462, 246463, 

fax: 246159 

Bangladesh 11-B, Than 

Lwin Road, Yangon. 

tel: 515275, 526144, 

fax: 515273, email: 

bdootygn@mptmail.net. 

mm 

Brazil 56, Pyay Road, 

6 th mile, Hlaing Tsp, 

Yangon. tel: 507225, 

507251, 507482. 

fax: 507483. email: 

Administ.yangon@ 

itamaraty.gov.br. 

Brunei 17, Kanbawza 

Avenue, Golden Velly (1), 

Bahan Tsp, Yangon. 

tel: 566985, 503978, 

fax: 512854 email: 

bruneiemb@ bruneiemb. 

com.mm 

Cambodia 25 (3B/4B), 

New University Avenue 

Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. 

tel: 549609, 540964, 


RECYANGON @mptmail. 

net.mm 

China 1, Pyidaungsu 

Yeiktha Road, Yangon. 

tel: 221280, 221281, 

224025, 224097, 221926, 

fax: 227019, 228319 

Egypt 81, Pyidaungsu 


tel: 222886, 222887, 

fax: 222865, email: egye 

mbyangon@mptmail. 

net.mm 

France 102, Pyidaungsu 


tel: 212178, 212520, 

212523, 212528, 212532, 


ambaf rance. rangoun@ 

diplomatie.fr 

Germany 9, Bogyoke 

Aung San Museum 

Road, Bahan Tsp, 


548952, fax: 548899 

email: info@rangun. 

diplo.de 

India 545-547, Merchant 

Street, Yangon. tel: 

391219, 388412, 

243972, fax: 254086, 

250164, 388414, email: 

indiaembassy @mptmail. 

net.mm 

Ambulance tel: 295133. 

Fire tel: 191, 252011, 252022. 

Police emergency tel: 199. 

Police headquarters tel: 282541, 284764. 

Red Cross tel:682600, 682368 

Traffic Control Branch tel:298651 

Department of Post & Telecommunication tel: 591384, 

591387. 

Immigration tel: 286434. 

Ministry of Education tel:545500m 562390 

Ministry of Sports tel: 370604, 370605 

Ministry of Communications tel: 067-407037. 

Myanma Post & Telecommunication (MPT) tel: 067- 

407007. 

Myanma Post & Tele-communication (Accountant Dept) 

tel: 254563, 370768. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs tel: 067-412009, 067-412344. 

Ministry of Health tel: 067-411358-9. 

Yangon City Development Committee tel: 248112. 

HOSPITALS 

Central Women’s Hospital tel: 221013, 222811. 

Children Hospital tel: 221421, 222807 

Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital tel: 543888. 

Naypyitaw Hospital (emergency) tel: 420096. 

Worker’s Hospital tel: 554444, 554455, 554811. 

The Essentials 

Indonesia 100, 

Pyidaungsu Yeiktha 

Road, Yangon. tel: 

254465, 254469, 229750, 

fax: 254468, email: kukygn 

@indonesia.com.mm 

Israel 15, Khabaung 

Street, Hlaing Tsp, 

Yangon. tel: 515115, fax: 

515116, email: info@ 

yangon.mfa.gov.il 

Italy 3, Inya Myaing 

Road, Golden Valley, 


527101, fax: 514565, 

email: ambyang.mail@ 

esteri.it 

Japan 100, Natmauk 


549644-8, 540399, 

540400, 540411, 545988, 

fax: 549643 

Embassy of the State of 

Kuwait Chatrium Hotel, 

Rm: No.416, 418, 420, 422, 

40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe 

Tsp, Tel: 544500. 

North Korea 77C, 

Shin Saw Pu Road, 

Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. 

tel: 512642, 510205, fax: 

510206 

South Korea 97 

University Avenue, 


tel: 527142-4, 515190, 


myanmar@mofat.go.kr 

Lao A-1, Diplomatic 

Quarters, Tawwin Road, 

Dagon Tsp, Yangon. tel: 

222482, fax: 227446, 

email: Laoembcab@ 

mptmail. net.mm 

Malaysia 82, Pyidaungsu 


tel: 220248, 220249, 

220251, 220230, 


mwkyangon@mptmail. 

net.mm 

Nepal 16, Natmauk 

Yeiktha, Yangon. tel: 

545880, 557168, fax: 

549803, email: nepemb 

@mptmail.net.mm 

Pakistan A-4, diplomatic 

Quarters, Pyay Road, 

Yangon. tel: 222881 

(Chancery Exchange) 


pakistan@ myanmar. 

com.mm 

Philippines 50, Sayasan 

Road, Bahan Tsp, 

Yangon. tel: 558149-151, 

fax: 558154, email: p.e. 

yangon@gmail.com 

Russian 38, Sagawa 


241955, 254161, 


rusinmyan@mptmail 

.net.mm 

Serbia No. 114-A, Inya 

Road, P.O.Box No. 

943-Yangon. tel: 515282, 

515283, fax: 504274, 

email: serbemb@ 

yangon.net.mm 

Singapore 238, 

Dhamazedi Road, Bahan 

Tsp, Yangon. tel: 559001, 

fax: 559002, 559922, 

email: singemb_ ygn@_ 

sgmfa. gov.sg 

Sri Lanka 34 Taw Win 


222812, fax: 221509, 

email: slembassy. 

yangon@gmail.com, 

info@slembyangon.org, 

www.slembyangon.org 

Thailand 94 Pyay Road, 

Dagon Township, 


226728, 226824, fax: 

221713 

United Kingdom 80 Kanna 


370867, 380322, 371852, 

371853, 256438, 370863, 

370864, 370865, 

fax: 370866 

United States of 

America 110, University 

Avenue, Kamayut 

Township, Yangon. tel: 

536509, 535756, 538038, 

fax: 650306 

Vietnam Building No. 72, 

Thanlwin Road, Bahan 

Township, Yangon. tel: 

511305, fax: 514897, 

email: vnemb myr@ 

cybertech.net.mm 

Royal Embassy of Saudi 

Arabia No.287/289, U 

Wisara Rd, Sanchaung 

Tsp. tel : 01-536153, 

516952, fax : 01-516951 

Emergency Numbers 

Yangon Children Hospital tel: 222807, 222808, 222809. 

Yangon General Hospital (East) tel: 292835, 292836, 292837. 

Yangon General Hospital (New) tel: 384493, 384494, 

384495, 379109. 

Yangon General Hospital (West) tel: 222860, 222861, 

220416. 

Yangon General Hospital (YGH) tel: 256112, 256123, 

281443, 256131. 

ELECTRICITY 

Power Station tel:414235 

POST OFFICE 

General Post Office 

39, Bo Aung Kyaw St. (near British Council Library). tel: 

285499. 

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 

Yangon International Airport tel: 662811. 

YANGON PORT 

Shipping (Coastal vessels) tel: 382722 

RAILWAYS 

Railways information 

tel: 274027, 202175-8. 

UNITED NATIONS 

ILO Liaison Officer Rm 

(M1212~1220), 12 Fl-A, 

Traders Hotel. 223, tel: 242 

393, 242811. fax: 242594. 

IOM 12th Flr, Traders Hotel, 

223, tel: 252560 ext. 5002 

UNAIDS Rm: (1223~1231), 12 

Fl, Traders Hotel. tel: 252361, 

252362, 252498. fax: 252364. 

UNDCP 11-A, Malikha St, 

Mayangone tsp. tel: 666903, 

664539. fax: 651334. 

UNDP 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan 

tel: 542910-19. fax: 292739. 

UNFPA 6, Natmauk Rd, 

Bahan tsp. tel: 546029. 

UNHCR 287, Pyay Rd, 

Sanchaung tsp. tel: 524022, 

524024. fax 524031. 

UNIAP Rm: 1202, 12 Fl, 

Traders Hotel.tel: 254852, 

254853. 

UNIC 6, Natmauk St., BHN 

tel: 52910~19 

UNICEF 14~15 Flr, Traders 

Hotel. P.O. Box 1435, KTDA. 

tel: 375527~32, fax: 375552 

email: unicef.yangon@unicef. 

org, www.unicef.org/myanmar. 

UNODC 11-A, Malikha Rd., 

Ward 7, MYGN. tel: 666903, 

660556, 660538, 660398, 

664539, fax: 651334. email: 

fo.myanmar@unodc.org www. 

unodc.org./myanmar/ 

UNOPS Inya Lake Hotel, 3 rd 

floor, 37, Kaba Aye Pagoda 

Rd, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 951- 

657281~7. Fax: 657279. 

UNRC 6, Natmauk Rd, P.O. 

Box 650, TMWE tel: 542911~19, 

292637 (Resident Coordinator), 

fax: 292739, 544531. 

WFP 3 rd -flr, Inya Lake Hotel, 

37, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 

657011~6 (6-lines) 

Ext: 2000. 

WHO 12A Fl, Traders Hotel. 

tel:250583. 

ASEAN Coordinating Of. for 

the ASEAN Humanitarian 

Task Force, 79, Taw Win st, 

Dagon Township. Ph: 225258. 

FAO Myanma Agriculture 

Service Insein Rd, Insein. 

tel: 641672, 641673. 

fax: 641561. 

No.7A, Wingabar Road, 


Tel : (951) 546313, 

430245. 09-731-77781~4. 

Fax : (01) 546313. 

www.cloverhotel.asia. 

info@cloverhotel.asia 

Confort Inn 

4, Shweli Rd, Bet: Inya Rd 

& U Wisara Rd, Kamaryut, 

tel: 525781, 526872 

No. (356/366), Kyaikkasan 

Rd, Tamwe Township, 

Yangon, Myanmar. 

Ph: 542826, Fax: 545650 

Email: reservation@ 

edenpalacehotel.com 

Hotel Yangon 

91/93, 8 th Mile Junction, 

Mayangone. tel : 01-667708, 

667688. 

Inya Lake Resort Hotel 

37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. 

tel: 662866. fax: 665537. 

MGM Hotel No (160), Warden 

Street, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, 

Myanmar. +95-1-212454~9. 

www. hotel-mgm.com 

No. 205, Corner of Wadan 

Street & Min Ye Kyaw 

Swa Road, Lanmadaw 

Tsp, Yangon. Myanmar. 

Tel: (95-1) 212850 ~ 3, 

229358 ~ 61, 

Fax: (95-1) 212854. 

info@myanmarpandahotel 

.com http://www. 

myanmarpandahotel.com 

PARKROYAL Yangon, 

Myanmar 

33, Alan Pya Pagoda Rd, 

Dagon tsp. 

tel: 250388. fax: 252478. 

email: enquiry.prygn@ 

parkroyalhotels.com 

Website: parkroyalhotels. 

com. 

Royal White Elephant Hotel 

No-11, Kan Street, Hlaing 

Tsp. Yangon, Myanmar. 

(+95-1) 500822, 503986. 

www.rwehotel.com 

Savoy Hotel 

129, Damazedi Rd, 

Kamayut tsp. 

tel: 526289, 526298, 

Seasons of Yangon 

Yangon Int’l Airport 

Compound. tel: 666699. 

General Listing 

Sweet Hotel 

73, Damazedi Road, San 

Chaung Tsp, Ph: 539152 

Sedona Hotel 

Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, 

Yankin. tel: 666900. 

Strand Hotel 

92 Strand Rd. tel: 243377. 

fax: 289880. 

Summit Parkview Hotel 

350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon 

Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966. 

Thamada Hotel 

5, Alan Pya Phaya Rd, 

Dagon. tel: 243639, 

243640, 243641. 

Traders Hotel 

223 Sule Pagoda Rd. tel: 

242828. fax: 242838. 

Windsor Hotel No.31, Shin 

Saw Pu Street, Sanchaung. 


Ph: 95-1-511216~8, www. 

hotelwindsoryangon.com 

Winner Inn 

42, Than Lwin Rd, Bahan 

Tsp. Tel: 503734, 524387. 

email: reservation@winner 

innmyanmar.com 

Yangon YMCA 

263, Mahabandoola Rd, 

Botataung Tsp. tel: 294128, 

Yuzana Hotel 

130, Shwegondaing Rd, 

Bahan Tsp, tel : 01-549600, 

543367 

Yuzana Garden Hotel 

44, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, 

Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp, 

tel : 01-248944 

ACCOMMODATION- 

HOTELS 

Avenue 64 Hotel 

No. 64 (G), Kyitewine 

Pagoda Road, Mayangone 

Township. Yangon. 

09 8631392, 01 656913-9 

Chatrium Hotel Royal 

Lake Yangon 

40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe. 

tel: 544500. fax: 544400. 

ACCOMMODATION- 

HOTELS (Nay Pyi Taw) 

ACCOMMODATION 

ACCOMMODATION 

LONG TERM 

(Nay Pyi Taw) 

Reservation Office (Yangon) 


Dagon Township 

Tel : 951- 255 819~838 

Royal Kumudra Hotel, 

(Nay Pyi Taw) 

Tel : 067- 414 177, 

067- 4141 88 

E-Mail: 

maxhotelsreservation@ 

gmail.com 

Reservation Office (Yangon) 


Dagon Township 

Tel : 951- 255 819~838 

Hotel Max 

(Chaung Tha Beach) 

Tel : 042-423 46~9, 

042-421 33, 

E-mail: 

maxhotelsreservation@ 

gmail.com 

HAPPY HOMES 

REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY 

MANAGEMENT 

Tel: 09-7349-4483, 

09-4200-56994. 

E-mail: aahappyhomes@ 

gmail.com, http://www. 

happyhomesyangon.com 

Golden Hill Towers 

24-26, Kabar Aye Pagoda 

Rd, Bahan Tsp. 

tel: 558556. ghtower@ 

mptmail.net.mm. 

Marina Residence 

8, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, 

Mayangone Tsp. 

tel: 6506 51~4. fax: 650630. 

MiCasa Hotel Apartments 

17, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, 

Yankin Tsp. 

tel: 650933. fax: 650960. 

Sakura Residence 

9, Inya Rd, Kamaryut Tsp. 

tel: 525001. fax: 525002. 

The Grand Mee Ya Hta 

Executive Residence 

372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, 

Pabedan Tsp. 

tel 951-256355 (25 lines). 

AIR CONDITION 

Chigo 

216, 38 St (Upper), 

Kyauktada Tsp, tel : 373472 

The First Air conditioning 

systems designed to keep 

you fresh all day GUNKUL 

Engineer supply Co., Ltd. 

No.437 (A), Pyay Road, 

Kamayut. P., O 11041 

Yangon, Tel: +(95-1) 

502016-18, 

Mandalay- Tel: 02-60933. 

Nay Pyi Taw- Tel: 

067-420778, E-mail : 

sales.ac@freshaircon. 

com. URL: http://www. 

freshaircon.com 

General 

83-91, G-F, Bo Aung Kyaw 

St, Kyauktada Tsp, 

tel : 706223, 371906 

BARS 

50 th Street 

9/13, 50th street-lower, 

Botataung Tsp. Tel-397160. 

Green Garden 

Beer Gallery Mini Zoo, 

Karaweik Oo-Yin Kabar. 

No.(1), Inya Road, 

Kamayut Tsp. 

Tel: 01-527506 

email: inyaone@gmail.com 

www.inya1.com 

Strand Bar 92, Strand 

Rd, Yangon, Myanmar. 

tel: 243377.fax: 243393, 

sales@thestrand.com.mm 

www.ghmhotels.com 

Lobby Bar 

PARKROYAL Yangon, 

Myanmar. 33, Alan Pya 

Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. 

tel: 250388.

MT Quick Guide 56 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

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) 211870, 224820, 

2301195. Email: admin@ 

advertising-myanmar.com 

www.advertising-myanmar. 

com 

BEAUTY & MASSAGE 

Marina Residence, Yangon 

Ph: 650651~4, Ext: 109 

Beauty Plan, Corner of 

77th St & 31st St, Mandalay 

Ph: 02 72506 

Aesthetic Medical Spa 

5 (C), Race Course Condo, 

South Race Course Street, 

Tarmwe, Yangon. 

Mobile: 09-5202781 

dr.face.aesthetic@gmail.com 

LS Salon 

Junction Square, 3rd floor. 

Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp. 

Tel 527242, ext 4001 

La Source Beauty Spa 

~80(A), Inya Rd, 

Kamayut Tsp, 

tel: 512 380, 511 252. 

www.lasourcebeautyspa.com 

Lemon Day Spa 

No. 96 F, Inya Road, 

Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon. 

Tel: 514848, 09-732-08476. 

E.mail: lemondayspa.2011 

@gmail.com 

A Little Dayspa 

No. 475 C, Pyi Road, 

Kamayut, Yangon. 

Tel: 09-431-28831. 

Spa & Boutique Fashion 

No. 24, Inya Road, 

Kamaryut Township, 


Tel: 951 534 654, 

09-73200147 

theredscarf99@gmail.com 

BOOK STORES 

Innwa Book Store 

No. 246, Rm.201/301, GF, 

Pansodan Street (Upper 

Block), Kyauktada Tsp. 

Tel. 389838, 243216, 

374324, 514387 

• 150 Dhamazedi Rd., 

Bahan T/S, Yangon. 

Tel: 536306, 537805. 

• Room 308, 3rd Flr., 

Junction Center (Maw Tin), 

Lanmadaw T/S, Yangon. 

Tel: 218155, Ext. 1308. 

• 15(B), Departure Lounge, 

Yangon Int’l Airport. 

• 45B, Corner of 26th & 

68th Sts., Mandalay. 

Tel: (02) 66197. Email: 

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: 

212 409, 221 271. 214708 

fax: 524580. email: info@ 

myanmarbook.com 

CAFÈS 

La Brasserie (International) 

PARKROYAL Yangon. 

33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, 

Dagon Tsp. tel : 250388. 

Acacia Tea Salon 

52, Sayar San Rd, 

Bahan Tsp, Tel : 01-554739. 

Cafe47 

47-A, Pyay Rd, 7½ miles, 

Mayangone Tsp, 

Tel : 01-651774. 

Traders Café 

Traders Hotel, Yangon. 

#223, Sule Pagoda Rd. 

Tel: 242828 ext: 6519 

COLD STORAGE 

Est. 1992 in Myanmar 

Cold Storage Specialist, 

Solar Hot Water Storage 

Solutions. 

Tel: 09-504-2196, 09-731- 

94828. E-mail: gei.ygn2@ 

gmail.com, glover2812@ 

gmail.com 

CONSTRUCTION 

Zamil Steel 

No-5, Pyay Road, 

7½ miles, 

Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. 

Tel: (95-1) 652502~04. 

Fax: (95-1) 650306. 

Email: zamilsteel@ 

zamilsteel.com.mm 

CONSULTING 

Myanmar Research | Consulting | Technology 

Shwe Hinthar B 307, 6 1/2 

Miles, Pyay Rd., Yangon. 

Tel: +95 (0)1 654 730 

info@thuraswiss.com 

www.thuraswiss.com 

DUTY FREE 

Duty Free Shops 

Yangon International 

Airport, Arrival/Departure 

Tel: 533030 (Ext: 206/155) 

Office: 17, 2 nd street, 

Hlaing Yadanarmon Housing, 

Hlaing Township, Yangon. 

Tel: 500143, 500144, 500145. 

ELECTRICAL 

Est. 1992 in Myanmar 

Electrical & Mechanical 

Contractors, Designers, 

Consultants. 

Tel: 09-504-2196, 09-731- 

94828. E-mail: gei.ygn2@ 

gmail.com, glover2812@ 

gmail.com 

ENGINEERING 

193/197, Shu Khin Thar 

Street, North Okkalapa 

Industrial Zone, Yangon. 

Tel: 951-691843~5, 951- 

9690297, Fax: 951-691700 

Email: supermega97@ 

gmail.com. www. 

supermega-engg.com 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Dance Club & Bar 

No.94, Ground Floor, 

Bogalay Zay Street, 

Botataung Tsp, 

Yangon.Tel: 392625, 

09-500-3591 

Email : danceclub. 

hola@gmail.com 

(Except Sunday) 

FASHION & TAILOR 

Sein Shwe Tailor, No.797 

(003-A), Bogyoke Aung 

San Road, Corner of 

Wardan Street, MAC 

Tower 2, Lanmadaw 

Township, Yangon, Ph: 

01-225310, 212943~4 

Ext: 146, 147, E-mail: 

uthetlwin@gmail.com 

FITNESS CENTRE 

Traders Health Club. 

Level 5, Traders Hotel 

Yangon#223 Sule Pagoda 

Rd, Tel: 951 242828 Ext: 6561 

Balance Fitnesss 

No 64 (G), Kyitewine 

Pagoda Road, Mayangone 

Township. Yangon 

01-656916, 09 8631392 

Email - info@ 

balancefitnessyangon.com 

Sports & Fitness 

Grand Meeyahta 

Executive Residence. 

Shop 4-5, 

Ph: 256355, Ext: 3015, 3204 

09 731 94684 

email: natraysports@gmail.com 

Mr. Betchang 

No.(272), Pyay Rd, DNH 

Tower, Rm No.(503), 5th 

flr, Sanchaung Tsp, Tel: 

095041216 

FLORAL SERVICES 

Floral Service & Gift Shop 

No. 449, New University 

Avenue, Bahan Tsp. YGN. 

Tel: 541217, 559011, 

09-860-2292. 

Market Place By City Mart 

Tel: 523840~43, 

523845~46, Ext: 205. 

Junction Nay Pyi Taw 

Tel: 067-421617~18 

422012~15, Ext: 235. 

Res: 067-414813, 09-492- 

09039. Email : eternal@ 

mptmail.net.mm 

Flora Service & Gift Shop 

No.173(B), West 

Shwegonedaing Rd, 

Bahan Tsp, YGN. 

Tel: 09.731 800 30 

No.75/77, Yaw Min Gyi St. 

Dagon Tsp, YGN. 

Tel: 09.431 432 34. 

Home: 01-577 387, 

Email: rosanafloral.ygn@ 

gmail.com 

GEMS & JEWELLERIES 

Diamond Queen 

75, Oo Yin Lane, 

New University Avenue Rd, 

Bahan Tsp. 

Tel : 01- 548001, 704398 

Diamond & Me 

Junction Square, 

Ground Floor, 

Kamayut Tsp. 

Tel : 01- 527242, (Ext : 1082) 

Ruby & Rare Gems 

of Myanamar 

No. 527, New University 

Ave., Bahan Tsp. Yangon. 

sales@manawmaya.com.mm 

www.manawmayagems.com 

Tel: 549612, Fax : 545770. 

Natural Gems of Myanmar 

No. 30 (A), Pyay Road 

(7 mile), Mayangone Tsp, 


Tel: 01-660397, 654398~9. 

E-mail: spgems.myanmar 

@gmail.com 

GENERATORS 

Winning Way 

No. 589-592, Bo Aung 

Kyaw St, Yangon-Pathein 

highway Road. Hlaing 

Tharyar tsp. Tel: 951- 

645178-182, 685199, Fax: 

951-645211, 545278. 

e-mail: mkt-mti@ 

winstrategic.com.mm 

HEALTH SERVICES 

98(A), Kaba Aye Pagoda 

Road, Bahan Township, 

Yangon. Tel: 553783, 

549152, 09-732-16940, 

09-730-56079. Fax: 542979 

Email: asiapacific. 

myanmar@gmail.com. 

24 hours Cancer centre 

No. (68), Tawwin Street, 

9 Mile, Mayangone 

Township, Yangon, 


Tel : (951) 9 666141 

Fax : (951) 9 666135 

24 Hour International 

Medical Centre @ 

Victoria Hospital 

No. 68, Tawwin Rd, 9 Mile, 

Mayangon Township, 

Yangon, Myanmar 

Tel: + 951 651 238, 

+ 959 495 85 955 

Fax: + 959 651 398 

24/7 on duty doctor: 

+ 959 492 18 410 

Website: www.leo.com.mm 

“ One Stop Solution for 

Quality Health Care “ 

Vibhavadi Hospital 

214. 1st Floor, 

Waizayanter Rd, 

Thingangyun Tsp.Email: 

vibhavadimyanmar @gmail. 

com, Hot line: 09-2011-772, 

09-731-650-45, 09-86-250-86 

PHIH-Specialist Clinic 

FMI Centre (4th Floor) 

#380, Bogyoke Aung San 

Road, Pabedan Tsp. tel: 

243 010, 243 012, 243 013 

HEAVY MACHINERY 

ATC Co., Ltd. 

27 (A), Kaba Aye Pagoda 

Road, Yankin TSP:, 


T & F : 665610, 667498 

atc-admin@wimaxmail.net.mm 

ATC Co., Ltd. 

27 (A), Kaba Aye Pagoda 

Road, Yankin TSP:, 


T & F : 665610, 667498 

atc-admin@wimaxmail.net.mm 

HOME FURNISHING 

22, Pyay Rd, 9 mile, 

Mayangone Tsp. 

tel: 660769, 664363. 

Floral Service & Gift 

Centre 102(A), Dhamazaydi 

Rd, Yangon.tel: 500142 

Summit Parkview Hotel, 

tel: 211888, 211966 ext. 173 

fax: 535376.email: sandy@ 

sandymyanmar.com.mm. 

Acupuncture, Medicine 

Massage, Foot Spa 

Add:No,27(A),Ywa Ma 

Kyaung Street, Hlaing 

Township, Yangon. 

Tel: 01-511122, 526765. 

Franzo Living Mall 

15 (A/5), Pyay Rd, 

A-1, 9 Miles, 

Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. 

Ph: 664026 

FOAM SPRAY 

INSULATION 

Foam Spray Insulation 

No-410, Ground Floor, 

Lower Pazuntaung Road, 

Pazuntaung Tsp, Yangon. 

Telefax : 01-203743, 09- 

730-26245, 09-500-7681. 

Hot Line-09-730-30825. 

GAS COOKER & 

COOKER HOODS 

Piyavate Hospital (Bangkok) 

Myanmar Represent ative 

(Head office) 

Grand Mee Yahta 

Executive Residences. 

No.372, Bogyoke Aung 

San Rd, PBDN. 

Ph: 256355, Ext: 3206. 

Hotline: 09-7377-7799. 

Email: piyavate@cnt.com. 

mm, piyavate.cnt@gmail. 

com, Website: www. 

piyavate.com 

European Quality & 

Designs Furniture 

Suitable for Outdoor or 

Indoor Use 

No. 422 - 426, FJVC 

Centre, Ground Floor, 

Room No. 4, Strand Road 

(Corner of Botahtaung 

Pagoda Road), Botahtaung 

Township, Yangon 11161, 


Tel: 01 202063, 01 202064 

H.P: 09 509 1673 

Fax: 01 202063 

E-mail: contact@ 

smartdesignstrading.com 

Website: www. 

wovenfurnituredesigns.com 

Yangon : A-3, Aung San 

Stadium (North East Wing), 

Mingalartaungnyunt Tsp. 

Tel : 245543, 09-730-37772. 

Mandalay : Room No.(B,C) 

(National Gas), 35th St, 

Btw 80th & 81st, Chanayetharzan 

Tsp. Tel : 09-680- 

3505, 02 34455, 36748, 71878. 

24 hours Laboratory & 

X-ray 

No. (68), Tawwin Street, 

9 Mile, Mayangone 

Township, Yangon, 


Tel : (951) 9 666141 

Fax : (951) 9 666135 

LEGAL SERVICE 

U Min Sein, BSc, RA, 

CPA.,RL Advocate of the 

Supreme Court 83/14 

Pansodan St, Yangon. 

tel: 253 273. 

uminsein@mptmail.net.mm

57 

MT Quick Guide 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

MARINE 

COMMUNICATION & 

NAVIGATION 

Top Marine Show Room 


Lower Pazundaung Road, 

Pazundaung Tsp, Yangon. 

Ph: 01-202782, 09-851-5597 

Media & Advertising 

Intuitive Design, 

Advertising, Interior 

Decoration 

Corporate logo/Identity/ 

Branding, Brochure/ 

Profile Booklet/ Catalogue/ 

Billboard, Corporate diary/ 

email newsletter/ annual 

reports, Magazine, journal 

advertisement and 3D 

presentation and detailed 

planning for any interior 

decoration works. Talk to 

us: (951) 430-897, 553-918 

www.medialane.com.au 

58B Myanma Gon Yaung 

Housing, Than Thu Mar 

Road, Tamwe, Yangon. 

OFFICE FURNITURE 

Monday to Saturday 

(9am to 6pm) 

No. 797, MAC Tower II, 

Rm -4, Ground Flr, 


Lamadaw Tsp, Yangon. 

Tel: (951) 212944 Ext: 303 

sales.centuremyanmar@ 

gmail.com 

www.centure.in.th 

Bld-A2, Gr-Fl, Shwe 

Gabar Housing, Mindama 

Rd, Mayangone Tsp, 

Yangon. email: eko-nr@ 

myanmar.com.mm 

Ph: 652391, 09-73108896 

Bld-A2, Gr-Fl, Shwe 

Gabar Housing, Mindama 

Rd, Mayangone Tsp, 

Yangon. email: eko-nr@ 

myanmar.com.mm 

Ph: 652391, 09-73108896 

PAINT 

World’s No.1 Paints & 

Coatings Company 

Sole Distributor 

For the Union of 

Myanmar Since 1995 

Myanmar Golden Rock 

International Co.,Ltd. 

Level 6, FJV Commercial 

Center, Botahtaung Tsp 

Yangon. Ph-202092-96, 

Fax: 202079 

TOP MARINE PAINT 


Lower Pazundaung Road, 

Pazundaung Tsp, Yangon. 

Ph: 09-851-5202 

PLEASURE CRUISES 

Moby Dick Tours Co., Ltd. 

Islands Safari in the Mergui 

Archipelago 

4 Days, 6 Days, 8 Days Trips 

Tel: 95 1 202063, 202064 

E-mail: info@islandsafari 

mergui.com. Website: www. 

islandsafarimergui.com 

Road to Mandalay 

Myanmar Hotels & 

Cruises Ltd. Governor’s 

Residence 39C, Taw Win 

Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. 

Tel: (951) 229860 

fax: (951) 217361. email: 

RTMYGN@mptmail.net.mm 

www.orient-express.com 

REAL ESTATE 

Win 

Real Estate Agency 

Our Services - Office, 

House & Land (For Rent) 

(Agent Fees Free) 

Tel: 09-501-8250, 

09-732-02480. 

REMOVALISTS 

Relocation Specialist 

Rm 504, M.M.G Tower, 

#44/56, Kannar Rd, 

Botahtaung Tsp. 

Tel: 250290, 252313. 

Mail : info@asiantigersmyanmar.com 

Legendary Myanmar Int’l 

Shipping & Logistics Co., 

Ltd. 

No-9, Rm (A-4), 3 rd Flr, 

Kyaung St, Myaynigone, 

Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. 

Tel: 516827, 523653, 

516795. 

Mobile. 09-512-3049. 

Email: legandarymyr@ 

mptmail.net .mm 

www.LMSL-shipping.com 

Crown Worldwide 

Movers Ltd 790, Rm 702, 

7 th Flr Danathiha Centre, 


Lanmadaw. Tel: 223288, 

210 670, 227650. ext: 702. 

Fax: 229212. email: crown 

worldwide@mptmail.net.mm 

Schenker (Thai) Ltd. 

Yangon 59 A, U Lun 

Maung Street. 7 Mile 

Pyay Road, MYGN. tel: 

667686, 666646.fax: 

651250. email: sche 

nker@mptmail.net.mm. 

Bo Sun Pat Tower, Bldg 

608, Rm 6(B), Cor of 

Merchant Rd & Bo Sun 

Pat St, PBDN Tsp. Tel: 

377263, 250582, 250032, 

09-511-7876, 09-862-4563. 

RESTAURANTS 

Lunch/Dinner/Catering 

555539, 536174 

No.430(A), Corner of 

Dhamazedi Rd & Golden 

Valley Rd, Building(2) 

Market Place (City Mart), 


Tel : 01-523840(Ext-309), 

09-73208079. 

Black Canyon Coffee & 

International Thai Cuisine 

330, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. 

Tel: 0980 21691, 395052. 

Heaven Pizza 

38/40, Bo Yar Nyunt St. 

Yaw Min Gyi Quarter, 

Dagon Township. 

Tel: 09-855-1383 

No.(1), Inya Road, 

Kamayut Tsp. 

Tel: 01-527506 

email: inyaone@gmail.com 

www.inya1.com 

Kohaku Japanese 

Restaurant 


Lake Yangon 

40, Natmauk Road, 

Tamwe Tsp, Lobby Level, 

Tel: 544500 Ext 6231 

World famous Kobe Beef 

Near Thuka Kabar 

Hospital on Pyay Rd, 

Marlar st, Hlaing Tsp. 

Tel: +95-1-535072 

22, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, 

Bahan Tsp. tel 541997. 

email: leplanteur@ 

mptmail.net.mm. 

http://leplanteur.net 

Enchanting and Romantic, 

a Bliss on the Lake 

62 D, U Tun Nyein Road, 

Mayangon Tsp, Yangon 

Tel. 01 665 516, 660976 

Mob. 09-4210-34875 

operayangon@gmail.com 

www.operayangon.com 

Monsoon Restaurant 

& Bar 85/87, Thein Byu 

Road, Botahtaung Tsp. 

Tel: 295224, 09-501 5653. 

Pansweltaw Express Cafe: 

228, Ahlone Rd, Ahlone Tsp. 

Tel: 215363 

(1)-Rm-309, 3 rd flr, Ocean, 

East Point Shopping Center, 

Pazundaung Tsp. 

Tel: 397900 Ext: 309. 

(2)–G-Flr, Ocean North 

Point Shopping Center. 

Tel:652959, 652960, Ext: 133. 

Royal Garden 

Nat Mauk Road, Kandaw 

Gyi Natural Park, Bahan 

Tsp. tel: 546202 

Spicy Forest 

Thai, Korean and 

European Food 

Rm-051/Basement-1 (B1), 

Taw Win Center, Pyay Rd. 

Tel : 09-7320-9566, 

01-8600111 (1151) 

Summer Palace (Chinese) 

Restaurant 

Level 2, Traders Hotel, 

#223, Sule Pagoda Road. 

tel: 242828. ext:6483 

The Ritz Exclusive 

Lounge 


Lake Yangon 


Tamwe Tsp, Ground 

Floor, Tel: 544500 

Ext 6243, 6244 

The Emporia Restaurant 

Chatrium Hotel 

Royal Lake Yangon 


Tamwe Tsp. Lobby Level, 

Tel: 544500 Ext 6294 

Traders Gourmet Corner 


#223 Sule Pagoda Road, 

Kyauktada Tsp. 

Tel : 242828 ext : 6503 

Traders Gallery Bar 


#223 Sule Pagoda Road. 

tel: 242 828. ext: 6433 

Traders Lobby Lounge 


#223 Sule Pagoda Road. 

tel: 242 828. ext: 6456 

Western Park 

Thakhin Mya Park, Ahlone. 

Tel: 225143 

1. WASABI : No.20-B, 

Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, 

Yankin Tsp,(Near MiCasa), 

Tel; 666781,09-503-9139 

2. WASABI SUSHI : Market 

Place by City Mart (1 st 

Floor). Tel; 09-430-67440 

Myaynigone (City Mart) 

Yankin Center (City Mart) 

Junction Mawtin (City Mart) 

SANITARY WARE 

Grohe 

79-B3/B3, 

East Shwe Gone Dine, 

Near SSC Women’s 

Center, Bahan Tsp. 

Tel : 01 401083, 

09-73056736. 

SCHOOLS 

Horizon Int’l School 

25, Po Sein Road, Bahan 

Tsp, tel : 541085, 551795, 

551796, 450396~7. 

fax : 543926, email : 

contact@horizonmyanmar. 

com, www.horizon.com 

ILBC 

180, Thunandar 9th Lane, 

Thumingalar Housing, 

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Sport 58 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

Mayweather, 

Pic: AFP 

time away will 

not weaken him 

LAS VEGAS – American boxing 

star Floyd Mayweather says 

neither jail time nor ring rust from 

a one-year layoff will diminish him 

this week when he returns against 

compatriot Robert Guerrero. 

“Of course I feel unbeatable. I’m 

in the sport where I’m the best,” 

Mayweather said in a Wednesday 

teleconference call. “I’m not 

going into the fight thinking I’m 

beatable.” 

Mayweather, 43-0 with 26 

knockouts, will defend his World 

Boxing Council welterweight title 

against southpaw Guerrero, 31-1 

with 18 knockouts, on May 4 at Las 

Vegas, a year after beating Miguel 

Cotto by unanimous decision. 

It will be Mayweather’s first 

fight since serving two months 

in jail for domestic battery, a fact 

that gives challenger Guerrero a 

confidence boost. 

“Most definitely Floyd 

Mayweather is taking me 

seriously,” Guerrero said. “It has 

been his longest training camp 

in a long time. Being a whole 

year’s layoff, he’s going to feel the 

punches. We’re going after him the 

whole fight. 

“It’s going to take a little time to 

shake that ring rust off.” 

Mayweather, 36, says he is as fit 

as he has ever been and ready to 

face whatever challenge Guerrero 

brings. 

“If that’s his way to psyche 

himself out and build confidence, 

more power to him,” Mayweather 

said. “I’m in tip top condition. 

I’m in great shape. I have been 

working hard.” 

As for jail time, Mayweather 

would not say his stay behind bars 

changed him. 

“It was just an obstacle that 

was in my way,” he said. “I’m 

happy to be home. There’s nothing 

cool about losing your freedom. 

Freedom is extremely important.” 

Mayweather, who will launch a 

six-fight deal over 30 months with 

the Guerrero matchup, has fought 

only four times since December 

of 2007 and says resting his body 

for peak performance is far from 

losing fight fitness. 

“I took a long time off before. I 

just call it a vacation,” Mayweather 

said. “Sometimes the body needs 

time to heal. The body needs time 

to rejuvenate. The body needs time 

to rest.” 

Mayweather hinted at 

retirement after completing his 

latest fight deal, although an 

perfect run would leave him on the 

brink of a 50-fight win streak, and 

said he would wait and see how he 

fared in the ring over the span. 

“I only have 30 months left,” 

Mayweather said. “After this fight 

I’ve got five more fights. That’s 

all I have got to do, finish putting 

those stamps on my legacy. I just 

want to stay active, go out there 

and keep the fans happy. 

“I don’t know yet (if I will retire). 

I don’t know. By 30 months, I’ll be 

pretty close to 40. It might be time 

to get out of the sport. We have 

to see how these next six fights 

play out. 

India’s Tendulkar to bat on at 40 

NEW DELHI – Recordbreaking 

batsman Sachin 

Tendulkar turned 40 on 

April 24 with no plans 

to retire despite media 

speculation and recent 

form suggesting that age 

is finally catching up with 

the “Little Master”. 

Test and one-day 

cricket’s greatest run-scorer 

approaches the game with 

undiminished enthusiasm 

and insists he has much to 

offer despite slipping from 

the dizzying heights he 

reached earlier in his 24- 

year career. 

“People have been talking 

about my retirement since 

2005, but that does not worry 

me at all,” Tendulkar chided 

reporters at a promotional 

event in New Delhi last 

week. 

“Your job is to write, my 

job is to play. I will stick 

to my job and you stick to 

yours.” 

Tendulkar, afforded 

almost religious status 

in India, burst onto the 

world cricket scene as a 

16-year-old in 1989 and 

has played a record 198 

Tests and 463 one-dayers, 

scoring an unprecedented 

100 international hundreds. 

He was singled out by 

Don Bradman but the 

Australian legend’s Test 

average is one of the few 

marks that Tendulkar has 

not been able to threaten, 

with his 15,837 runs 

coming at 53.86. Bradman 

averaged 99.94. 

However, questions over 

his future mounted when he 

struggled for a year to score 

the ton he needed to take him 

to 100 centuries. He finally 

achieved the landmark 

against Bangladesh in 

Dhaka in March 2012. 

Tendulkar, who decided 

not to play Twenty20 

internationals after just one 

match in 2006, announced 

his retirement from one-day 

cricket last December in a 

bid to prolong his glittering 

Test career. 

But his form in the 

five-day format has also 

dipped by his own stellar 

standards. He has scored 

just 1,145 runs in 21 Tests 

at an average of 31.80 since 

being part of India’s World 

Cup-winning team two 

years ago. 

And Tendulkar has not 

added to his tally of 51 Test 

centuries since making 146 

against South Africa in Cape 

Town in January 2011. 

But despite his struggles 

with the bat, the veteran 

is refusing to follow fellow 

modern greats such as 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. works out at the Mayweather Boxing Club on April 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

compatriot Rahul Dravid 

and Australia’s Ricky 

Ponting into retirement. 

Sunil Gavaskar, the first 

man to reach the 10,000- 

run milestone in Tests, 

suggested last year that 

Tendulkar’s reflexes were on 

the slide. Former Australian 

captain Steve Waugh also 

feels he is past his best. 

“He is not playing up to his 

standards,” Waugh said last 

week. “But he himself has to 

decide [on retirement].” 

When India succumbed 

to a Test series defeat 

against England at home in 

December, former skipper 

Sourav Ganguly backed calls 

for Tendulkar to quit. 

“He is getting a long rope 

because of what he has 

achieved,” Ganguly was 

quoted as saying by London’s 

Daily Telegraph newspaper. 

“And I think if I were 

Tendulkar, I would go 

[retire].” 

But Kapil Dev, another 

ex-India skipper, says 

Tendulkar is fit and hungry 

for success even after so 

many years of gruelling 

cricket. “Sachin passes on 

both counts. He could go on 

for years if he wanted to,” he 

told AFP. 

Six months ago, Tendulkar 

admitted in a television 

interview that retirement 

had crossed his mind, but 

said he would take it series 

by series before making a 

final call. 

“I am 39-plus and it is not 

abnormal for me to think of 

retirement,” he said. “I will 

go by what my heart says. At 

this moment, my heart says 

I am OK.” 

There has been speculation 

in the media over whether 

Tendulkar will play in 

India’s next Test outing – a 

three-match away series 

against world number one 

side South Africa starting 

late in the year. 

There is even talk of 

organising two home 

Tests against an unknown 

opponent before the tour 

of South Africa to enable 

Tendulkar to bow out 

with 200 appearances in a 

farewell series. 

But few would be surprised 

if the player, described by 

former India coach Gary 

Kirsten as cricket’s “greatest 

role model”, bats on at the 

top level. 

Tendulkar, who last year 

accepted a government offer 

to take up a nominated 

seat in India’s upper house 

of parliament, the Rajya 

Sabha, has never revealed 

what he wants to postretirement. 

– AFP 

“I want to stay active. The 

busier I am the better it is for me.” 

Mayweather termed Guerrero 

“flatfooted” and called him “more 

like a grappler, a wrestler, than 

a boxer.” 

“Everybody always says what 

they are going to do to me. He’s 

a solid opponent. He talks a good 

game. Now we have to see if he can 

fight as well as he talks.” 

Mayweather said he was ready 

for any punishment Guerrero 

might bring, but ready to adjust 

his style to cope, saying, “You can’t 

By Aung Si Hein and 

Kyaw Zin Hlaing 

MYANMAR’S young female 

weightlifters not only 

got their first chance to 

participate in a competition 

outside of East or Southeast 

Asia recently, but performed 

so well that they were able 

to qualify for the World 

Youth Olympics, which will 

be held in 2014 in Nanjing, 

China. 

Only 15 out of 52 

countries qualified for the 

World Youth Olympics, 

with Myanmar securing 8 th 

position overall. 

The IWF Youth 

W e i g h t l i f t i n g 

Championships were held 

in Tashkent, Uzbekistan 

from April 6 to 13. The 

Myanmar female team won 

three silver and one bronze 

medal. Six Myanmar 

women weightlifters 

competed in Tashkent in 

five of the seven weight 

categories. 

Khine Khine,16, was the 

runner-up in the women’s 

44 kg category, lifting 66 

kg in the snatch, 85 kg in 

the clean and jerk, and a 

total lift of 151 kg to draw 

three silver medals. Risu 

Yan from DPR Korea was 

the winner overall with 

three gold medals. 

Mai Zin Pwint Phyu, 14, 

clinched a bronze medal in 

the 48 kg category, lifting 

71 kg in the snatch. 

The team’s success at 

the IWF games gives hope 

that similar, or greater 

success, is possible at the 

go to a gunfight and basically not 

think you’re going to get shot. We 

have to see how the fight goes.” 

Mayweather will be trained by 

his father, Floyd Snr, rather than 

his uncle Roger because his uncle 

is ill. Mayweather has a strained 

relationship with his father. 

“My thing is to try to leave 

all the negative things behind,” 

Floyd Jnr said. “As far as 

arguments we had in the past, 

that’s in the past. We leave it in 

the past and focus on the future.” 

– AFP 

Female weightlifters impress 

at youth championships 

upcoming 27 th Southeast 

Asia Games, which will 

be held in Myanmar in 

December 2013. Myanmar 

was only able to achieve 

a bronze level for the 

previous SEA Games, vice 

president of the Myanmar 

Weightlifting Federation U 

Kyaw Aung Soe said. 

The Myanmar team – 

both men and women - had 

taken three gold medals, 

four silver and eight 

bronze at the Asian Youth 

Championships, held in 

Yangon last November. 

The men’s team was 

not sent to Uzbekistan 

to compete because they 

did not qualify for that 

international tournament, 

U Kyaw Aung Soe said. 

However, both the men and 

the women will compete 

in the SEA Games in 

December. 

The team’s goal, he 

said, is to win three gold 

medals at the SEA games 

out of 11 overall categories. 

They are now in intensive 

training at the Nay Pyi 

Taw Gold Camp and are 

bound for China on May 

15 for a three–month joint 

training. 

A total of 446 

weightlifters from 52 

countries participated 

in the tournament, but 

the standout performers 

were the Asian athletes, 

according to published 

reports on the website for 

the event. The presence 

of the East and Southeast 

Asian athletes “changed 

the atmosphere,” the 

reports said.

TIMESSPORT 

April 29 - May 5, 2013 

A player walks across an empty court at the 

Thein Byu Tennis Center on April 24 in Yangon. 

Davis Cup matches were scheduled to start at 

the venue on April 22. Pic: Aung Htay Hlaing 

Ayeyawady 

knocked out 

of AFC Cup 

By Kyaw Zin Hlaing 

Davis Cup axed 

over security fears 

By Aung Si Hein 

DAVIS Cup matches scheduled 

to start in Yangon on April 22 

were postponed indefinitely by the 

International Tennis Federation 

after concerns were raised over the 

security of players from participating 

Muslim countries. 

Asia and Oceania Zone Group III 

and IV matches were to take place at 

the Thein Byu Tennis Center from 

April 22 to May 5. 

The postponement came, the 

Oman-based Muscat Daily reported, 

after seven participating nations 

– Oman, United Arab Emirates, 

Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq 

and Yemen – sent a letter to the 

International Tennis Federation 

(ITF) pressing the federation to 

provide proper security for their 

players, officials and fans in the wake 

of anti-Muslim violence that erupted 

in Myanmar last month. 

The ITF confirmed that they had 

received a correspondence but would 

not comment on the content. 

The Tennis Federation of 

Myanmar (TFM) received a letter 

from Myanmar’s Ministry of Sports 

on April 13 informing the federation 

that the ITF had decided to postpone 

the matches. They have not yet been 

rescheduled. 

TFM secretary U Lay Naing 

said the letter failed to properly 

explain the reasons behind the 

postponement. 

“The message came to us on April 

13, which is during water festival. We 

were not prepared to deal with this 

during the holiday,” he said. 

“The reason was not stated in the 

message from the ministry either. 

We were just told to put off the 

tournament.” 

However, the ITF told The 

Myanmar Times on April 23 that 

the recommendation to postpone had 

come from the Tennis Federation of 

Myanmar based “on the advice of the 

Myanmar government.” 

U Lay Naing said that the 

matches for Group III and IV will be 

rescheduled for sometime between 

May and September. 

“It is a big loss for us because we 

want our people to experience a high 

level of the game. But we have lost 

these great chances to boost the 

attitude and quality of our amateur 

players,” he said. 

A member of the Myanmar team, 

Min Min said that the biggest 

disappointment for the squad was 

the loss of home court advantage. 

The announcement is yet another 

embarrassment for Myanmar’s 

nascent tennis program. On April 

5, a Davis Cup tie-break match 

between Pakistan and New Zealand 

at Yangon’s Pun Hlaing Golf 

and Country Club was stopped 

prematurely and awarded to New 

Zealand due to poor court conditions. 

The ruling is under appeal. 

U Lay Naing insisted that the two 

events were not related. 

The ITF decision to postpone the 

Davis Cup matches means Myanmar 

will lose home-court advantage in 

Group IV, where it is drawn alongside 

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Iraq, Jordan, 

Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, 

Singapore and Turkmenistan. 

Group III includes Cambodia, 

Hong Kong, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, 

UAE and Vietnam. 

Yangon United FC through to 

knockout round 

By Aung Si Hein 

YANGON United FC secured a 

spot in the knockout stage of the 

AFC Cup after routing Indonesia’s 

Persibo Bojonegoro FC 7-1 on 

April 24 at Manahan Stadium in 

Surakarta. 

Yangon United becomes the first 

Myanmar football club to move 

beyond the group stage in the AFC 

Cup tournament since teams from 

the country began competing last 

year. 

Forward Cezar scored a hattrick 

and Adama Koné scored 

twice. 

Koné’s goals gave him eight total 

for the competition, he has scored in 

every match of the AFC Cup. 

Though they are through to the 

next round of play Yangon United 

has one remaining match against 

Hong Kong’s Sunray Cave JC Sun 

Hei on May 1. If Yangon United 

wins and they take the top spot in 

Group F it would give them home 

field advantage in the knockout 

stage match against the runners-up 

from Group H. 

Yangon is tied atop Group F with 

New Radiant SC of the Maldives 

with 12 points each. 

Yangon has collected four wins in 

five matches. The team’s only loss 

came on April 9 when they fell 3-1 

to New Radiant. 

SHB Da Nang captain 

Nguyen Minh Phuong 

converted an extra time 

penalty to secure a victory 

for the Vietnamese league 

champions over Ayeyawady 

United 3-2 on April 23 

at Thuwana Stadium in 

Yangon. 

The loss marked the end 

of a disappointing AFC Cup 

campaign for Ayeyawady 

United, which collected a 

mere three points in four 

matches, with three losses 

and only one win. 

“I congratulate all of 

my players today for their 

great play in the first half,” 

Ayeyawady United coach 

Marjan Sekulovski said. 

“SHB Da Nang is a 

professional team and I hope 

that they qualify for the next 

round.” 

Ayeyawady United striker 

Nanda Lin Kyaw Chit scored 

the opening goal in the 23 rd 

minute, but the visitors 

equalised just before halftime 

with a goal from Hyunh Quoc 

Anh in the 41 st minute. 

Substitute Ha Minh Tuan 

scored a minute later putting 

SHB Da Nang up 2-1 heading 

into the break. 

At the start of the second 

half, Ayeyawady striker 

Otomo Satoshi netted a goal, 

knotting the match at 2-2 but 

Ayeyawady then let their 

emotions get the best of them. 

Hein Thiha Zaw and Phyo 

Ko Ko Thein were both sent 

off for reckless play. 

“Ayeyawady United’s 

players couldn’t control 

their emotions but I’m sorry 

that they were shown red 

cards.” SHB Da Nang coach 

Le Huynh Duc said. 

It was then on SHB Da 

Nang captain Minh Phuong 

who delivered on a penalty 

kick two minutes into extra 

time for the win. 

The victory was SHB 

Da Nang’s third in group 

play and moved the team 

into second place in Group 

G behind Kelantan FA of 

Malaysia.

Monks step in to avert clashes at mine site - Online Burma/Myanmar ...

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