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ISSUE 701 | OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

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NEWS 3

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Y achting body rejects land grab accusations

Dispute over land used for SEA Games yachting venue at Ngwe Saung is not the federations responsibility, says business tycoon U Moe Myint.
SPECIAL REPORT 6

Policy changes leave workers stranded

A decision in January to change the process of issuing visas to workers heading to Malaysia has left thousands in limbo and growing debt.
BUSINESS 21

Revenue needs to cover spending: World Bank

Despite recent economic gains, further growth in Myanmar continues to be hindered by inefficient tax collecting practices, according to the World Bank.
THE PULSE 41

IN PICTURES

PHOTO: SI THU LWIN

Sixty-three troupes took part in the Kyaukse elephant dance competition at the foot of Shwetharlyaung Pagoda in the lead-up to the full moon of Thadingyut on October 19. The festival was held one day before the national holiday, which marks the end of Buddhist Lent. The colourful competition sees teams and individuals wearing elephant costumes perform various traditional dances.

Piracy-hit music biz pins hopes on new site

The music industry is hopeful that a new online music purchasing website can boost sales and counter the impact of music piracy and file-sharing websites.

Crucial week for peace process

At least 16 armed ethnic groups are expected to gather in Laiza to analyse a draft nationwide ceasefire this week ahead of planned talks with U Aung Min in Myitkyina talks one facilitator said could open the door to political dialogue. NEWS 3

2 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Page 2

online editor Kayleigh Long | kayleighelong@gmail.com

THE INSIDER: The local lowdown & best of the web

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE KICKSTARTERED The Guardian newspaper is
Thousands of lactating mothers gathered across the many islands of the Philipines this week in an attempt to break the world record for massive, public display of breast feeding. While having the record is its own accomplishment, the organizers of the event said their larger goal is to challenge the taboo of public breastfeeding in the large, mostly Catholic nation, as well as push lawmakers to resist lobbying efforts from the makers of baby formula. As first reported by AFP, about 21,000 women are said to have participated, but Guinness World Records committee will need several weeks to get a fully tally of the results.

WERE MILKING THIS STORY FOR ALL ITS WORTH...

reporting that three Turkish citizens have raised over US$55,000 with the aim of placing a full page ad in The New York Times blasting the presidency of Abdullah Gl and calling for support for the protestors still occupying the streets of the restive, transcontinental state. According to The Guardian newspaper, each and every one of the almost 1350 backers have been invited to contribute. We want the world to hear from Turks themselves about whats happening in Turkey, reads a campaign mission statement.

Page 2 favorite Dennis Rodman was in the news again this week, describing the high flying lifestyle of North Korean despot and basketball fan Kim Jong-un. Speaking to The Sun newspaper, Mr Rodman likened to experience to being on a version of Hawaii or Ibiza where Only [Kim Jong-un] lives. Mr. Rodman went on to confirm many of the rumors of extravagance that have long swirled around the Kim family. Everything you want, he has to best, including a yacht that Mr. Rodman described as a cross between a ferry and a Disney boat. By some estimates, Mr Kims regime spent $645.8 million on luxury goods in 2012.

RODMAN DISHES ON KIM

When Myanmar was Burma...

Archival material provided by Pansodan Gallery

Style

Statement

State literature from the late1940s and early 1950s titiled, Being aware of the dangers of electricity

May Grace Parry for NOW! magazine. Photo: Htet Aung Kyaw ( Studio HAK)

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News 3

No chance of Than Shwe return: speaker

FORMER Senior General Than Shwe is worried about Myanmars political situation but could not return to a political role because the separation of powers in the constitution, Thura U Shwe Mann says. [Than Shwe] told me that he is worried about the present political situation, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw speaker said. He did not reveal the reasons for U Than Shwes concern. Speaking to reporters on October 24, Thura U Shwe Mann, who is also chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, said it would be impossible for U Than Shwe to return to politics. We have already set up the parliament, executive and judiciary separately so he cannot be involved in politics, he said. As leader of Myanmar, he did his best for the people with goodwill but everybody knows what the result was. I value his goodwill but we dont have to like the result. Thura U Shwe Mann said he and his family went to U Than Shwes home to pay homage on the full moon day of Thadingyut, which was marked this year on October 19. A high-ranking USDP official, who asked not to be named, said a number of other senior USDP members also paid homage to U Than Shwe, including President U Thein Sein and U Htay Oo. Win Ko Ko Latt

Important week for Myanmars peace process

EI EI TOE LWIN
eieitoelwin@gmail.com

Myanmar Yachting Federation president and businessman U Moe Myint (centre) speaks on October 25. Photo: Zarni Phyo

Yachting federation boss deflects criticism over venue land dispute

TIM MCLAUGHLIN timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com MYANMAR Yachting Federation president and business tycoon U Moe Myint has denied any wrongdoing in a land dispute surrounding the site of the federations new Ngwe Saung venue, which will play host to sailing events during the upcoming Southeast Asian Games. U Moe Myint has spent almost US$17 million on the Ngwe Saung Yacht Club and Marina Development at Bu Kway Gyi village on Ngwe Saung beach, 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Pathein in Ayeyarwady Region. The development is being built by one his companies, Myint & Associates, and when complete will include both a yacht club and a luxury hotel with 34 bungalows and 100 rooms. The venue is 95 percent complete, according to the federation. U Moe Myints company will operate the hotel after the SEA Games finishes, paying annual rent of 1.5pc of income to the Ministry of Sport, with a minimum of K15 million a year. Documents provided to The Myanmar Times at an October 25 press conference show that K9.64 million (about US$10,000) was paid to the Ministry of Sport for the 9.64 acres of prime beachfront land that was used for the development. Residents in the area claim the land was forcibly taken from them in 1997 by local military officials. owners received. In terms of land ownership and ownership issues you have to address the questions to the Ministry of Sport, U Moe Myint said. [The venue] is just a task or responsibility that has been entrusted to us [by the Ministry of Sport]. Federation vice president U Myo Tint said Myanmar company Aung Kyaw Zay had recently completed an environmental impact assessment that also included interviews with residents in the area. He said he could not comment on the report because he had not yet seen it. As previously reported by The Myanmar Times, three brothers U Sein Than, U Soe Lwin and U Kyin Myint say that they owned the land that is being used for the yachting venue until 1997, when Major Yin Sein, who was then secretary of the district Peace and Development Council, strong-armed them into selling their plantations well below the market price under threats of violence. The brothers received just K1200 for each tree as part of the deal. MORE ON NEWS 8

The amount U Moe Myint has spent on the Ngwe Saung Yacht Club and Marina Development at Ngwe Saung

$17

MILLION

U Moe Myint defended the deal for the yachting venue, saying neither he nor the federation were responsible for how the land had originally been acquired or what level of compensation the original

THE coming week is shaping up as a critical one for Myanmars peace process, with two important meetings that could decide how Myanmar moves on from a half-century of bloody ethnic conflict. At least 16 ethnic armed groups will gather in Laiza from October 30 to November 1 to examine a draft ceasefire agreement and decide whether to sign the nationwide ceasefire proposed by the government. All armed ethnic groups, including members of the United Nationalities Federal Council, have been invited to take part in the meeting at the Kachin Independence Organisation headquarters. As of October 25, 16 groups had confirmed their attendance but the KIO did not release their names. Although chief government peace negotiator U Aung Min had requested to attend as an observer, the governments peace team has not been invited, said U Daung Khar, a member of the KIO technical team in Myitkyina. We want to know what will be included in the nationwide ceasefire agreement. We will discuss the draft and find suggestions on political dialogue that we can put to the government, said U Daung Khar. The meeting will be followed by negotiations between the groups who take part in the Laiza conference and the government peace team in Myitkyina on November 3 and 4. U Daung Khar said the two sides would sign an agreement which is likely to contain details on the framework for political dialogue in front of local and international observers, including United Nations special envoy Vijay Nambiar and Chinese special envoy Wang Ying Fan. We will discuss again the points we have already agreed on with the government peace team, said U

Daung Khar said. But we need to get an official agreement on the nationwide ceasefire proposal, he said. The government wants to hold the ceasefire signing ceremony in November and has invited all armed ethnic groups to take part. While some have committed to signing, a number have resisted because of concerns about the framework for subsequent political dialogue. U Shwe Khar, general secretary of the Chin National Front, which has been invited by the KIO to attend the Laiza meeting, said he expects the discussion of the draft ceasefire will generate positive results for all stakeholders.

We will discuss the [ceasefire] draft and find suggestions ... that we can put to the government.
U Daung Khar KIO technical team member

We are preparing now to discuss future political dialogue and confidence-building among the ethnic armed groups, he said. However, peace facilitator U Hla Maung Shwe from the Myanmar Peace Center said the government could not necessarily accept all the ethnic groups proposed changes to the draft. He said the government had written the draft based on discussions with some armed ethnic groups, including the Karen National Union and the Restoration Council of Shan State. I think government will consider points proposed by the ethnic armed groups. If the government agrees with what they ask, the nationwide ceasefire can be held at the end of November, he said. If it happens, we can open the door to political dialogue.

4 News
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Business and industry cannot ignore human rights violations: envoy

BRIDGET DI CERTO bridget.dicerto@gmail.com INVESTORS looking to ride the wave of Myanmars burgeoning economy should not ignore the human rights impact of their activities, a United Nations official warned in a report to the General Assembly on October 24. In his latest report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar Tomas Quintana highlighted the potentially dire consequences if businesses ignore the governments failure to address the most profound human rights abuses in the country. If these shortcomings are not addressed now, they will become increasingly entrenched in areas such as accountability for human rights violations; the rights of ethnic and religious minorities; the rights to peaceful assembly and association; the representation of women in decisionmaking positions; land rights; and human rights and development, the Argentine lawyer wrote in his reports preface. The special rapporteurs report highlights the prevalence of child labour, forced evictions and arbitrary arrests human rights abuses that could negatively impact a corporations reputation both in Myanmar and internationally. The chief executive officer of Myanmar-based business consulting agency Thura Swiss, U Aung Thura, told The Myanmar Times that isolated incidents of unrest or violence were unlikely to deter investors but they would be more concerned about activities that could potentially damage their corporations reputation. Myanmar has only just emerged from sanctions. Companies will be careful about their reputation and may pull out because of reputation [damage], he said. We should see more due diligence in Myanmar than other countries that are already wellresearched. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) economic researcher U Khine Tun likewise said he believed it was unlikely reports of ongoing human rights abuses in the country would directly discourage foreign direct investment (FDI). Instead, [FDI] will [help] prevent exploitation and abuse, U Khine Tun said in an email to The Myanmar Times. The arrival in Myanmar of sophisticated international corporations with hard-won reputations to protect - and shareholders to please - could cultivate a more protected labour force. Complex insurance calculations could be inflated by high degrees of risk in a country, and incoming investors would seek to minimise risk for both financial and reputation damage, U Khine Tun said. The government cannot terminate such unrest, at least in the short run, but has to guarantee [unrest is] not harmful to investments. Such a guarantee can reduce the degree of risk defined by investors, he said. However, Mr Quintana warned against corporate ambivalence to human rights. The Special Rapporteur highlights the dangers of glossing over shortcomings in the area of human rights or presuming that these shortcomings will inevitably be addressed through the momentum of current reforms. The challenge from the outset has been to achieve a transition from the military mindset that prevails within the Government to a democratic mindset that upholds human rights. It is this change that will bring about successful national reconciliation and ensure a tolerant society that does not tackle problems through violence and upholds the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in Myanmar.

A doctor in Rakhine States Kyauktaw township tries to stem the flow of blood from bullet wounds on a Rakhine man following violent clashes between Muslims and Buddhists on October 25, 2012. Photo: Kaung Htet

Quintana warns of a crisis in Rakhine State

Special rapporteurs latest report on human rights in Myanmar accuses the government of failing to tackle the underlying causes of deadly communal conflict

The government... has to guarantee [unrest is] not harmful to investments.

U Khine Tun Economic researcher

TIM MCLAUGHLIN
timothy.mclaughlin3@gmail.com

The UN-appointed official underscored the responsibility of all investors and businesses in Myanmar to abide by the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, a framework adopted by the Human Rights Council in a resolution spearheaded by Argentina, India, Nigeria, Norway and Russia. That 2011 resolution outlines the three pillars of doing business internationally: The duty of a state to protect against human rights abuses, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and victims access to effective judicial and non-judicial remedies. In his report, which heavily focused on communal unrest in Rakhine State, Mr Quintana urged that investors and businesses carry out human rights impact assessments before the start of projects in Myanmar. The guiding principles place an obligation on business enterprises to act with due diligence to avoid infringing on the rights of others and to address adverse impacts with which they are involved.

THE United Nations expert on human rights in Myanmar has said that Rakhine State is facing a profound crisis, with the government failing to address the root causes of religious violence that has left more than 100 dead and another 140,000 displaced. Special rapporteur Tomas Quintana issued the warning in his latest report on Myanmars human rights situation, which he delivered to the UN General Assemblys Third Committee, a body which focuses on human rights, on October 24. There is little evidence that the government has taken steps to tackle the underlying causes of the communal violence or has put in place the policies that are necessary to forge a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous future for the state, his report said. Rakhine State was the scene of widespread clashes in June 2012 between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslims, many of whom are ethnic Rohingya. Violence erupted again in October 2012. Mr Quintana said the governments April report on the unrest,

composed by the Rakhine Investigation Commission, fails to address the issue of impunity and the allegations of widespread and systematic human rights violations against the Rohingya community in Rakhine State. [Myanmar] has not fulfilled its obligation to properly investigate allegations, dating from June 2012, of extrajudicial killings, rape and sexual violence; arbitrary detention and torture and ill-treatment in detention; deaths in detention; and denial of due process and fair trial rights. Mr Quintana visited Myanmar from August 11 to 21 on his eighth and longest fact-finding mission to Myanmar since taking up his position as special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar in 2008. The visit took an ugly turn in the town of Meiktila, where Mr Quintana travelled to assess the effects of religious violence the previous March. As his car approached the town at night it was attacked by a mob of protesters. However, the government later disputed Mr Quintanas description of the attack, claiming town residents were only trying to hand him a letter. The Argentine national was also confronted by protesters in Rakhine State, who accused his previous reports of being biased towards the states Muslims.

Mr Quintana warned that the situation in Rakhine had been a factor in the spread of anti-Muslim feelings to other parts of the country. The situation in Rakhine State has fed a wider anti-Muslim narrative in Myanmar, which is posing one of the most serious threats to the reform process, Mr Quintana told the Third Committee meeting. Along with the issues in Rakhine, the report touched on a number of other human rights concerns. Though he said that he welcomed positive changes that had occurred across many areas, Mr Quintana expressed concern that the government believes human rights issues will be addressed by the reform process and do not need to be specifically targeted. He said this risked worsening the problems. He warned in the report of the dangers of glossing over shortcomings in the area of human rights or presuming that these shortcomings will inevitably be addressed through the momentum of current reforms. If these shortcomings are not addressed now, they will become increasingly entrenched. Mr Quintanas August trip could be his last, as the special rapporteurs mandate runs for six years. The UN Human Rights Council is responsible for deciding if the mandate is to continue. A decision will be made in March.

www.mmtimes.com

News 5

U Shwe Mann backs greater powers for states, regions

SOE THAN LYNN
soethanlynn@gmail.com

PYIDAUNGSU Hluttaw speaker Thura U Shwe Mann has expressed his support of a push for federalism that would give greater rights to states and regions. He said there is confusion over the rights given to states and regions under the 2008 constitution. In countries using federalism, the central government and states share wealth and power. But here there is no such kind of governance and everything is mixed up, he told reporters on October 24. And there are more things that need to be done for decentralisation. The constitution has given some rights to state and region governments but in practice they havent got them. Some rights [that are needed] are also not given by the constitution, he said. There are now hluttaws in each region and state. These hluttaws can enact their laws and this is a form of self-determination. For self-rule, there are state or region governments that have the right to govern their region. But there are some weaknesses for achieving equal rights.

the USDP. Id like to see the chief ministers appointed by state and region hluttaws [instead of by the president]. U Sai Hsaung Hsi said instead of trying to get rid of the military from parliament it would focus on removing the militarys veto over certain actions, such as changing the constitution. We plan to seek to substitute the clause 75 percent and over with 64pc and over or 60pc and over, he said. Asked about this strategy, Thura U Shwe Mann said, It is a good plan and one that is forward-looking. But the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will decide whether it happens. If I say my opinion right now, it will influence the other side. So let me keep it in my mind. Translation by Thiri Min Htun

IN PICTURES

PHOTO: BOOTHEE

Athletes walk around Thuwanna Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Myanmar National Games 2013 on October 26. The games were launched by Special Olympics Myanmar chairman Colonel (retired) U Myo Myint and Ross Cormack, the chief executive officer of Ooredoo Myanmar, one of two new foreign telecoms firms.

Some rights [that are needed] are not given by the constitution.
Thura U Shwe Mann Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker

The Union Solidarity and Development Party chairmans comments will hearten ethnic minority parties in particular, who are hoping that a review of the constitution currently underway in parliament will bring about amendments that devolve more power to states and regions. Shan Nationalities Democratic Party vice chairman U Sai Hsaung Hsi said amendments to the constitution are needed to change the balance of power between the central and regional governments. If there is self-determination and federalism, state and region governments should manage everything and support the central government. At the moment, the central government is supporting the state and region governments, and this means it is centralisation, he said. Another party official, U Sai Thiha Kyaw, said the SNDP would not focus on trying to remove military MPs from parliament or amending the eligibility criteria for the president. Instead, it wants to give regional parliaments the right to elect their chief minister. The chief ministers of the state and region governments are former military officers or members of

6 News
EXCLUSIVE

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Policy change strands Malaysia workers

BILL OTOOLE
botoole12@gmail.com

SINCE January, Ko Htein and four of his friends have gotten used to the four-hour bus journey from their homes in Ayeyarwady Region to Yangon. While the commute doesnt bother them without steady jobs, they have plenty of spare time the message they hear when they get to the employment agency in Tarmwe township does. Be patient, they are told, as they ask their agent again and again for news of their application to work in Malaysia. Changes to the governments policy on sending workers to Malaysia have left thousands of aspiring migrants, like Ko Thein, floundering as they wait months for their passports to be approved.

I feel bad for myself because I am losing money. But I really pity the workers because they have no livelihood.
Yangon-based recruitment agent

Several recruitment agencies said that under the previous policy migrant workers would normally wait two to three months for their passports to be approved, and no longer than six months. However, in January the government introduced new steps to the application process, bringing an

already complex and bureaucratic system to a screeching halt. The changes give the embassy in Kuala Lumpur more control over the process: All applications for work visas must be approved by the embassys new labour attach, and then by a special committee made up of officials from the ministries of labour, immigration and foreign affairs in Nay Pyi Taw. Ko Htein, who served as an informal spokesman for his group in an interview with The Myanmar Times, said the waiting has made their financial situation even worse. To pay the US$900 each that his agent demanded to submit the application, the group borrowed money from illegal moneylenders in Ayeyarwady Region at an interest rate of 10 percent a month. As of the first week of October, they were US$2000 in debt. Ko Thein said this was manageable but only if he is able to get to Malaysia and start earning money soon. In the meantime, Ko Htein, who is 26, also has to support two sisters, his mother, and grandmother back in Ayeyarwady Region. U Aung is a Yangon native who spent most of the 2000s working in Kuala Lumpur. He began as a manual labourer in a factory that shipped electronics parts but by the end was promoted to an administrator in the factory. When his visa expired last year, he expected only a quick visit home to renew it. Like Ko Htein, he received a rude shock and waiting for the chance to work again has quickly depleted his savings. I had to take a loan from my friend just to live ... I cant be patient for much longer, he said. U Aung and Ko Hteins agent, who has been sending workers to Malaysia for more than a decade, said he submits applications on behalf of about 50 people a month. So far this year not a single application has been approved. The agent asked not to be named. While the outbreak of violence between Buddhists and Muslims in

A Myanmar worker arrives at Yangon International Airport from Malaysia on October 8. Photo: Boothee

Malaysia and the countrys subsequent crackdown on undocumented workers in September cast a spotlight on the migrant worker trade, agents say the new rules predate the violence. Neither the Department of Labour in Nay Pyi Taw nor the Myanmar embassy in Malaysia responded to requests for comment and clarification on the policy. I feel bad for myself because I am losing money, said the agent. But I really pity the workers because they have no livelihood. Another agent, who is a leading member of the Federation of Over-

seas Employment Agencies, said the Department of Labour has made the situation more confusing by not issuing an official statement outlining the changes. Instead it has relayed them verbally during meetings with the association. The Burma Workers Rights Committee, based in Kuala Lumpur, estimates there are 500,000 Myanmar migrants in Malaysia, the majority unregistered. As Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have noted, the cost and complexity of working legally encourages migrant workers to

enter and work in Malaysia without documentation. This in turn puts them at risk of abuse and exploitation During his time in Kuala Lumpur, U Aung regularly saw organised crime syndicates, police and even employers subject illegal workers to extortion. The experience made him determined to enter the country legally but that has proved more difficult than he ever imagined. Everything is correct in my application, he said. I want go there fair and legally ... Theres no reason for the government to make me wait this long.

Prepare for three seasons in one day, weather forecasters warn

AYE SAPAY PHYU ayephyu2006@gmail.com IN case you hadnt noticed, it isnt over. Wet weather is expected to continue next month despite the official end of the rainy season, the weatherman says. And weather patterns could be so unstable as to bring hot, wet and cold weather all on the same day. The current weather situation looks similar to the wet post-monsoon conditions of 2011. A series of low-pressure areas in the Bay of Bengal and frequent typhoons in the South China Sea have resulted in rain here, although the monsoon has receded from the country, said U Kyaw Lwin Oo, a deputy director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH). Water vapour that can produce rain is in the air, and November we will need to issue warnings about storms. If there is a storm formation in the bay in November, rain will continue, he said. U Kyaw Lwin Oo said that there are other rain-producing factors during the transitional period from the rainy to the cold season, and conditions will likely remain unsettled until the northeast monsoon wind strengthens to its peak in December. Sometimes we will see the characteristics of all three seasons - winter, summer and rainy [season] - in a single day because of unstable conditions in the transition period, he said. U Kyaw Lwin Oo said night temperatures throughout the country are expected to start falling in the last week of October. The department has forecast aboveaverage rainfall for the Rakhine coast and upper Myanmar in the coming days due to a low-pressure area that crossed India on October 25. More than 3.5 inches of rain (89 millimetres) is forecast for the northern Rakhine coast and some areas of Chin State until October 28, the department says.

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News 7

NLD says survey shows public prefers to amend constitution

EI EI TOE LWIN eieitoelwin@gmail.com NATIONAL League for Democracy researchers say most people they have surveyed would prefer to amend the 2008 constitution rather than write a new one. The party has been conducting a nationwide campaign to improve public awareness of the constitutional issue and to seek the views of the public to inform the constitutional review process taking part in parliament. More than 80 percent [of those surveyed] agreed to amend the constitution rather than redraft it, U Ko Ni, a lawyer and constitutional expert, said on October 21. The party did not reveal how many people it surveyed for the study but said the figure had been reached through a show of hands in each community surveyed. Video was taken of each event and the results have been sent to parliament. The 109-member Constitutional Review Joint Committee, which is scheduled to report its recommendations to parliament by the end of the year, includes seven NLD members. A key issue for the party is that under the current constitution, party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not eligible to be president. Acknowledging that most people lack knowledge of a genuinely democratic constitution because they lived under military rule without a constitution for many years, U Ko Ni said the partys survey team was careful not to influence how people responded. Our campaign reached out to the grassroots level and the villages, but we didnt tell them what they should support. We let people decide for themselves whether to amend or redraft. Most people agreed to amend, said U Ko Ni. The party says the 2008 constitution is inadequate in the way it deals with ethnic rights, a federal system, multiparty democracy, the holding of elections, and checks and balances among the three branches of government. Most of the powers are entrusted to the military commander-in-chief, not the president and the people, said U Ko Ni, citing the 11-member National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) as an instance of military control.

Pilgrims light candles near the platform of Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda during the Thadingyut full moon festival. Photo: Wa Lone

Despite bombings, Kyaikhtiyo festival draws record crowd

WA LONE walone14@gmail.com THE series of bombings that rocked Myanmar in mid-October failed to deter a record number of people from travelling to Mon States Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda for the opening of the pilgrim season. The season officially opened with a ceremony on the full moon of Thadingyut on October 19, and trustees estimated more than 200,000 people visited the mountaintop pagoda also known as Golden Rock over the course of the weekend. In a sign of the heightened tension, trustees hired an additional 40 security guards. Twenty-five CCTV cameras were also installed two months before the ceremony. The lack of rooms in guesthouses and hotels, as well as the high prices very basic rooms started at K20,000, rising to as much as K140,000 a night for a room with a toilet and shower meant many people chose, or were forced, to sleep on the pagoda platform. The attendance this year is a record, said U Htay Win, the head of the pagodas board of trustees. In previous years many people would leave after the ceremony ... but this year it was very crowded until around midnight.

8 News

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A vital, little-known cog in Myanmars reform process

Village-tract administrator clerks form the base of the governments bureaucracy. With few checks on their power, they can both stimulate or stymie community-led reform efforts
BART ROBERTSON b.robertson.consulting@gmail.com IF you look at an organisational chart of the government in one of its many offices, the position of the village-tract administrator clerk will be discreetly located near the bottom, half-covered by the picture frame if included at all. The position is given little attention in the discussion surrounding decentralisation but its perceived irrelevance could not be further from the truth. The lowest levels of government and how they interact with citizens should be the focal point of the decentralisation process unfolding in Myanmar. These clerks wield considerable power and influence in their respective administrative areas and can stymie economic growth and community-led development initiatives running counter to their personal objectives. Consequently, the influence of these officials in the decentralisation process should be reviewed and mechanisms put in place to promote a greater degree of accountability to the citizens they serve. Over the past two years the government has passed numerous policies in an effort to devolve fiscal, administrative and democratic power from the central government to the state and township levels. To this end, the Ward and Village Tract Administration Law of 2012 changed the position of village-tract administrator from government-appointed to elected. This move has been heralded as a definitive sign of the governments commitment to democratic decentralisation and a necessary step toward creating a more responsive local government. The village-tract administrator is often viewed as the lowest level of government. However, village-tract administrator clerks form the base of the governments bureaucratic structure and are the most direct interface between citizens and the government. These clerks have an intimate knowledge of the economic and social influences that affect the village tract. Acting as both the eyes and ears for the administrators, clerks hold a great deal of unchecked power in their respective administrative areas. They may not have the authority to ensure a more responsive decentralised government, as this requires the alignment of all government actors, but clerks do have the administrative authority to prevent development from occurring if they so desire. During a recent CONTINUED FROM NEWS 3 They still hold the badly tattered original deed for the land they inherited from their father in 1972. Until 2011 the men avoided confronting the government but emboldened by the reform process the three mounted a campaign to reclaim the grove in 2012 when they learned it had been given to the Ministry of Sport that year, after laying untouched for 15 years. trip to Ayeyarwady Region, I spoke with several community groups that are facing this problem first-hand. The government has set aside a poverty alleviation budget that Myanmar development organisations and village groups can use to fund development initiatives. This budget is allocated by the General Administration Department, and development initiatives must be approved by the township administrator to receive funding. As part of an NGO development project, the community groups I visited Another community group in the same village tract formed a school board committee so that school budgeting and spending by the headmistress could be conducted in a more transparent manner. For reasons that w e r e never made clear, the clerk ordered the committee to disband shortly Not by a long shot. Politicians are elected to make decisions. The implementation of those decisions should be carried out by an efficient, long-standing bureaucracy that has the technical capacity and familiarity with the local context to do so effectively. Cycling through clerks in every election would remove any chance of developing an institutional memory within local government, likely making them less competent in their work. The Township Development Support Committee, commonly called village elders in Myanmar, is an initiative by the Presidents Office to improve government accountability at a grassroots level. This is an informally elected body, which serves to inform township-level government of community needs. While this committee and its accompanying sub-committee at the village-tract level could serve as a power check to the village-tract clerk position, the committee only serves in an advisory capacity. Like all local governing bodies the committee also runs the risk of falling victim to elite capture. Decentralisation is a convoluted process of trial and error. All goals and actors must be properly aligned for it to work properly. This isnt a once-off shot though: It is a process which will evolve in its own time and play itself out in a variety of unsystematic ways on small stages across the country. The governments decentralisation efforts are to be applauded. The Township Development Committee and other efforts to improve the accountability of local government should also be promoted. While imperfect, their existence opens dialogue on a previously taboo subject and should be viewed as the beginning of a long-term process rather than the end goal. Throughout this process the government must be cognisant of where and how administrative power is devolved. In Myanmar, the decentralisation process started with a push from the top down. It is therefore difficult but necessary to shift the focus from higher levels to lower levels of government, such as the village-tract administrator clerk, where citizens directly engage with the government. The nature of this interaction and the perceptions of citizens and government public servants will ultimately be the yardstick for decentralisation.
Bart Robertson is a freelance development economist in Myanmar.

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THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. www.mmtimes.com Head Office: 379/383 Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928 Facsimile: (01) 392 706 Mandalay Bureau: Bld Sa/1, Man Mandalar Housing, 35th Street, between 70th and 71st streets, Yan Myo Lone Quarter, Chan Aye Thar San Township. Tel: (02) 65391, 74585. Fax: (02) 24460 Email: mdybranch@myanmartimes.com.mm Nay Pyi Taw Bureau: No. 10/72 Bo Tauk Htein St, Yan Aung (1) Quarter, Nay Pyi Taw-Pyinmana. Tel: (067) 23064, 23065 Email: capitalbureau@myanmartimes.com.mm

had created plans for development initiatives to be funded through this budget. However, their plans have little chance of success at the township level if they do not first receive written approval from the villagetract administrator. In one village tract I visited, community groups said that the clerk discredited their development plans and convinced the administrator not to support them. The development plans contain detailed information about the village, including population data that would expose the clerk for corruption. For years the clerk had been syphoning off money from village taxes by underreporting its population to the central government. Similarly, he had also collected fishing fees from 50 boats, yet reported to the government that there were only 30 boats. Other residents of Bu Kway Gyi rallied around the brothers, who spent months protesting and petitioning for fair compensation. They believed that they had reached a breakthrough on March 29 2012 when Pyi Myanmar newspaper published an article that quoted Minister for Sports U Tint San as saying that the land was to be given back to the owners in compliance with public desire. But when they returned to their land they were accused of trespassing

thereafter. The fact that the headmistress is the clerks wife probably had something to do with it. While the sum of these alleged offenses are small in absolute terms, they have a significant impact in determining the development of communities on a micro level. On a national scale the accumulated pilfering of taxes and other unsavoury acts of petty corruption can be significant. This is not to say that all or even a large proportion of villagetract administrator clerks are corrupt. Several other clerks within the same township had a positive relationship with community groups and village leaders and were eager to assist their development initiatives. This example simply serves to highlight the impunity with which even low-level public servants can operate when their power goes unchecked. But what formal accountability mechanisms should be put in place to ensure the clerks are doing an effective job? Should they be elected? by U Soe Nyunt, the deputy director of the Sports and Fitness Department in Ayeyarwady Region, who filed charges against them. They were each sentenced to two months hard labour in October 2012. Despite help from the 88 Generation and lawyers from the National League for Democracy, the brothers remain without their land or fair compensation. Officials from the Yachting Federation and Myint & Associates had

earlier refused to speak to The Myanmar Times and other media organisations about the dispute. Deputy Minister for Sport U Thaung Htike said he was aware of the issues but was dismissive about the brothers claims to the land or the bad publicity the dispute could bring when speaking to The Myanmar Times. It is not my concern, he said. I think it is finished and [the land] belongs to the government.

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Vo Nguyen Giap: Rebel with a cause

ROGER MITTON
roger.mitton@gmail.com

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1968 Tet offensive, which caused a massive death toll among Vietnamese forces. He also spoke out against the invasion of Cambodia in late 1978 and was critical of China, which did not go down well with his colleagues. Soon after, he was sacked from the politburo and became a fringe figure but one that occasionally roared, as he did when he opposed a move to let a Chinese company mine bauxite in the Central Highlands. The regime was mortified but could do little given Giaps age and his popularity with the masses. More importantly, his outbursts emboldened private citizens to criticise the government, notably in online blogs that continue to expose corruption and economic mismanagement. The state security forces round up bloggers, but they cannot stop the relentless surge of internet postings and Giap would almost certainly be happy about that. For unlike them, he had another great virtue: He believed in his goal. As he once said, An army fighting for freedom has the creative energy to achieve things its adversary can never imagine. In contrast, no one in the current VCP really believes in the party anymore.

News 9

TO understand why the Vietnam Communist Party is living on borrowed time, it pays to examine the events surrounding the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap earlier this month. The diminutive Giap, whose name is pronounced Zap, commanded a ragtag band of pro-independence fighters who defeated the French Army at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. That victory made Giap a hero and endeared him to his fellow citizens who had long yearned to be free from French colonial rule. Despite the success, however, he still had detractors in the senior echelons of the VCP. Being the only leader who had been educated in the West, many of his colleagues viewed him as arrogant and impetuous. And they were right. Yet those are traits common to many of historys most famous generals, from Alexander the Great to George Patton. But the leadership did not see it that way and hence their surprise at the outpouring of grief for Giap,

which was so big and spontaneous that it was impossible for them to control as they have in the past. For instance, when the Olympic flame, destined for Beijing in 2008, was carried through Ho Chi Minh City, the route was kept secret and only vetted observers with party connections could watch. Similarly, when former PM Vo Van Kiet, whose critical comments after retirement made him popular, passed away, his death was kept secret for two days to dampen public displays of sentiment. But Giaps extraordinary popularity, coupled with advances in social media, meant the party could no longer do that kind of thing. For starters, Giaps demise was immediately posted on Facebook and the whole country was aware of it before party hacks could do anything about it. Similarly, when more than 100,000 people gathered outside Giaps home in Hanoi and stayed there for days,

Vo Nguyen Giap. Photo: AFP

Despite his success he still had detractors in the senior echelons of the VCP.

many lighting candles and incense the authorities were overwhelmed. Nothing like it had been seen in Hanoi since the death of Ho Chi Minh in 1969 and even Giaps relatives were taken aback. Aside from his triumph at Dien Bien Phu, a key reason for his enduring popularity was the fact that Giap had charisma and was an inspirational speaker who stood out in the otherwise colourless collective leadership. As well, he was not regarded as corrupt and self-serving like other

party figures, nor was he viewed as weak in standing up to China over sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea. But that was not the entire story. The real reason Giap was so beloved was because he spoke up when he felt something was wrong. In the 1960s, he supported peaceful coexistence with the West, which was anathema to many in the partys rigid Marxist leadership. So control of the American War in the south was taken out of his hands, especially after he opposed the

10 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

British PM backs NLD leader over constitution

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron said he would help build international pressure on Myanmar to meet the demands of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for further reforms, as she paid her second visit to the United Kingdom last week. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi says that changes to the constitution are needed notably those that would block her from becoming president after 2015 under a clause barring anyone whose spouses or children are foreign nationals. Her two sons are British nationals through their father, the late scholar Michael Aris. Speaking at Downing Street as he welcomed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to his official residence on October 23, Cameron said Britain would press Myanmar to make the changes. It would be completely wrong for elections to be held under a constitution that really excludes one person, who happens to be the leader of democracy in Burma ... from the highest office in the land, Cameron said. Those would be no elections at all, in my view. Those would not be democratic elections; the constitution has to be changed in that way and in other ways. We will do everything we can to build the international pressure to send the clearest possible message to the Burmese government that these changes must be made. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that while there had been some progress, more reforms are needed in Myanmar. The crucial issue at the moment is to make amendments to the constitution, she said. If the process of democratisation is to move forward, if it is to be sustainable, we have to amend the constitution to make it a democratic one, one that will ensure that the future of our society is going to be rooted in genuine democratic institutions. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Britain on October 23, a day after receiving the EUs prestigious Sakharov human rights prize in Strasbourg. She travelled to Northern Ireland on October 24 to see what lessons from the peace process there can be applied to Myanmar. AFP

Women leaders to receive awards this week

CHERRY THEIN t.cherry6@gmail.com SEVEN prominent women and one organisation will be recognised for their contribution to improving gender equality and womens rights this week. Among those to receive prizes from the Womens Organisation Network are Daw Khon Ja of the Kachin Peace Network, Daw Phyo Let Han of Women and the Media and Daw Nyo Nyo Thin, a member of the Yangon Region Hluttaw. Other awards will go to the Win-Win Foundation, Daw Khin Mi Mi Khine, Daw Nant Thazin Minn, Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe and Daw Shwe Shwe Sein Latt. Daw Mar Mar Cho, coordinator of the Womens Organisation Network, said it was the first time the awards had been handed out. Many women take initiative but they are neglected and marginalised by their own families and by society. Society doesnt appreciate intelligence, ability or intelligence in women, but is quick to condemn womens mistakes, she said. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on October 31 following a two-day forum on gender equality and womens rights at Yangons Inya Lake Hotel on October 29-30. About 250 participants from UN agencies, NGOs, government and the community have been invited to the event, which is being jointly organised by 17 groups. The forum aims to increase womens participation in political, economic and social affairs, said Daw May Sabe Phyu from the Gender Equality Network. We also plan to discuss the role of women in the media. We need to encourage womens participation in every sector so that society becomes more aware of gender issues, she said. Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe of the Karen Womens Empowerment Group said the forum also aimed to promote plans to implement UN treaties on the elimination of discrimination against women. The governments new 10-year strategic plan for the advancement of women will also be discussed. Daw Shwe Shwe Sein Latt of the Phan Tee Eain group said it was essential to strengthen networking among womens organisations engaged in national development. At the first forum in September, two celebrities, Chit Thu Wai and Rebecca Win, were appointed womens ambassadors for lower and upper Myanmar to raise awareness for gender equality and womens rights.

British Prime Minister David Cameron meets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi inside 10 Downing Street in central London on October 23, a day after the NLD leader received the EUs Sakharov rights prize that she won in 1990. Photo: AFP

IN BRIEF
President proposes relocating 50MW plant to Rakhine State
President U Thein Sein has proposed the construction of a 50-megawatt natural gas-fuelled power plant in Rakhine State, one of Myanmars poorest and least developed regions. President U Thein Sein made the proposal in a letter to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on October 18. He said more than US$57 million had been earmarked for the project from a 30 billion yuan (about $4.93 billion) loan made to the government by ExportImport (EXIM) Bank of China. The development project was initially intended for Mawlamyine in Mon State but the president said in his letter that he wanted to relocate the project to Kyaukpyu in Rakhine State because of the availability of natural gas. Several observers, including Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann, have stressed the importance of encouraging development in Rakhine State, particularly following outbreaks of violence between Buddhists and Muslims over the past 16 months. The project is expected to provide a quick boost to the living standards of the areas residents, the president said, adding that the proposed change of location has already been approved by EXIM Bank of China. He had earlier asked parliament on August 9 to approve the plan to build the plant in Mawlamyine. The October 18 letter said another reason for the shift of location is that there are already two power generation projects underway in Mawlamyine. Win Ko Ko Latt, translation by Zar Zar Soe the foundation offers a platform where different groups can come together to discuss issues related to the reform process and prepare policies. The office opening symbolises the foundations long-term commitment to its partnership with all stakeholders involved in the democractic reform process, he said. This year alone, FNF expects to host more than 6000 participants in its seminars, together with partners from the government, parliament, civil society and business community. FNF is also working with the small and medium enterprises (SME) center of the Ministry of Industry. Zaw Win Than dialogue, constitutional reform, land use and natural resources, religious and gender rights, food security, drugs and human rights, as well as language and culture participants between them speak a total of 35 Chin dialects. Weve invited government officials and the peace team led by minister U Aung Min, who said he would come, said Dr Shwe Khar, general secretary of the Chin National Front. He added that the conference would stress the theme of unity and the need for agreed policies, since there were so many ethnic Chin groups. We believe we can build mutual trust and confidence among ethnic Chin. Salai Nhge Pi, secretary of the Chin National Party, said the first and most recent Chin National Conference was held in Falam on February 20, 1948. That date ... was officially recognised as Chin National Day. But we could not hold our anniversary nor any public consultation meetings since then, he said. The government did not allow us to develop our ethnic rights. Ei Ei Toe Lwin

German foundation opens office

Germanys Friedrich Naumann Foundation has opened an office in Yangon to further its efforts to promote freedom and democracy in Myanmar. A fresh political breeze is blowing through Myanmar and the foundation feels very welcome here, said KatrinBannach, the foundations project director for Myanmar, Malaysia and Cambodia. She said FNF has worked for many years in Myanmar and the recent political reform process had enabled it to open an office. Ulrich Niemann, head of the FNFs International Politics Department, said

Chin to unite again, 65 years on

Ethnic Chin campaigners are to hold a national conference in Chin State next month for the first time in 65 years, in what they say is an important step forward for ethnic rights and unity. Political parties, armed groups and civil society organisations representing ethnic Chin are organising the conference, to be held in the state capital Haka from November 12 to 15. Discussion will focus on political

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News 11

Govt seeking ASEANwide exemptions ahead of SEA Games

WA LONE walone14@gmail.com THE government wants to secure bilateral visa exemption agreements with all ASEAN member countries by the end of this year that would enable citizens to visit visa-free for up to 14 days. The government says the agreements are needed to enable as many people as possible to attend the Southeast Asian Games, an official said last week. U Sein Oo, the deputy chief administrator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government also wants to ensure there are no problems issuing visas for travel to ASEAN meetings in 2014, when Myanmar will chair the 10-nation group. We want to avoid any delays and enable people to get free visas and travel around the country for important ASEAN meetings and the SEA Games, he said. Under the governments proposal, the visa exemption agreements would run for five years but can be cancelled at six months notice. Yet some countries appear reluctant to accept the terms, while Singapore and Brunei have not even responded to the proposal. Agreements have already been inked, however, with Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia, U Sein Oo said. A deal with Thailand could be finalised as early as November (see related story right). We expect to sign agreements with all ASEAN countries, he said. The program would have significant benefits for Myanmars tourism sector because most Asian travellers make only short stays, said U Naung Naung Han from the Union of Myanmar Travel Association. The government should be trying to provide a free visa exemption not only for [citizens of ] ASEAN [countries] but also Western countries to enable Myanmars tourism industry to develop rapidly.

Visa deal likely during Yingluck visit: official

ZAW WIN THAN
zawwinthan@gmail.com

We want to avoid any delays and enable people to get free visas ... for important ASEAN meetings and the SEA Games.
U Sein Oo Ministry of Foreign Affairs

THAILAND and Myanmar are expected to sign a visa exemption agreement during Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatras visit next month, a spokesperson from Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week. The agreement will enable Myanmar citizens visiting Thailand by air to stay visa-free for up to 14 days. Thai citizens will also be able to enter Myanmar visa-free under the same conditions. Border crossings are not included under the exemption. We have already proposed a visa exemption We will sign an agreement once the Thai government has approved it. I dont know exactly when we will be able to sign but probably during the Thai prime ministers visit to Myanmar next month, said U Aung Htoo, deputy director general from the ministrys Department of ASEAN Affairs. The Bangkok Post reported on October 22 that the Thai cabinet has already endorsed the foreign ministrys proposal to approve the agreement, enabling Myanmar to enter Thailand visa-free at 23 airports. Barely two

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visits Shwedagon Pagoda during a trip to Myanmar in December 2011. Photo: Kaung Htet

months earlier, the newspaper reported that Thailand was lukewarm on the proposal because of concerns over illegal migrant workers. The report cited a Thai government statement as saying that the visa-free arrangement can be cancelled by either Thailand or Myanmar but they must give 60 days advance notice through their foreign ministries. It could also be cancelled for health or security reasons. The agreement does not include

travellers passing through land border checkpoints, said U Aung Htoo. Recently we signed a visa exemption agreement with Vietnam and it will come into force from October 26. We are also negotiating with the Philippines and hopefully we will reach an agreement very soon, he said. We plan to sign the same agreement with all other ASEAN member countries in order to achieve the 2006 ASEAN Framework agreement on visa exemption by 2015.

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News 15

Judge resigns after hluttaw investigation

A Rakhine State Hluttaw investigation had found High Court judge guilty of misusing her position
WIN KO KO LATT winkolatt2012@gmail.com A RAKHINE State High Court judge has resigned amid accusations of corruption and misuse of power. President U Thein Sein accepted Daw Si Sis resignation on October 22, six days after a parliamentary investigation commission found her guilty of misusing her position. She had the right to refute the report, said U Aung Mya Kyaw, a member of the commission. But it seemed like she didnt dare face the result so she resigned from her position when our commissions report came out. The allegations stem from a 2011 dispute in which 90 people accused a Mrauk Oo woman of cheating them of more than K430 million by offering to buy paddy at above-market rates. They filed a lawsuit against the woman and although both the township and district courts accepted the case, it was dismissed in the high court by Daw Si Si, said Ko San Kyaw, one of those who lost money to the alleged scam. He said the group then submitted a complaint to the Rakhine State Hluttaw earlier this year. Fourteen representatives signed the complaint and forwarded it to the speaker, who in September ordered the five-member commission be set up. Daw Si Si was found guilty after a one-month investigation. The Myanmar Times could not reach her for comment last week. According to section 311 of the constitution, a state or region High Court judge can be impeached for high treason, breach of any provision of the constitution, misconduct, failing to meet the qualifications in the constitution and inefficient discharge of duties. The complainants say that despite the resignation they are unsure how it will affect their case. We havent yet considered how we will proceed, said Ko San Kyaw. First we will discuss it between us and then consult with our lawyers. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

Dignitaries launch the second phase of Sedona Hotel on October 22. Photo: Zarni Phyo

Sedona launches $80m expansion

ZAW WIN THAN zawwinthan@gmail.com ANTICIPATING increasing visitor numbers, Yangons Sedona Hotel is getting a US$80 million, 29-storey new wing. Groundbreaking took place on October 22 in Yangon for the new tower, which will be one of the tallest structures in Yangon and will add about 420 rooms. The new wing should be open in 2016, said Ang Wee Gee, chief executive officer of Singapore-based Keppel Land, which owns the Sedona, at the groundbreaking ceremony. Mr Ang also said the new hotel wing would need another 250 staff, in addition to the more than 500 currently employed at the Sedona. The Sedona is one of just a handful of large high-end hotels in Myanmar. It is currently undergoing a $25 million refurbishment, expected to be completed by the end of the year. Yangon Mayor U Hla Myint said at the ceremony that Myanmar has set a target of attracting more than 3 million arrivals in 2015 and 7.5 million visitors by 2020, and more internationalstandard hotels would be needed to meet demand. We expect to receive about $10.8 billion in tourism revenue by 2020. We are also looking to upgrade our transport infrastructure, as well as the construction of a new airport in Bago, he said. Keppel Land will also be renovating Sedona Hotel Mandalay at a cost of some $7 million.

16 News

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Confusion as Tatmadaw takes Kachin village

Soldiers are refusing to let residents leave a village in Mansi township, say sources
BILL OTOOLE botoole12@gmail.com RESIDENTS of war-torn Kachin State have accused Tatmadaw soldiers of invading and occupying a village in Mansi township, seemingly in violation of an agreement to ease hostilities that the government and Kachin Independence Organisation signed on October 10. Reports from the Kachin Peace Network and several other humanitarian groups based in the region said two Tatmadaw battalions entered Mung Ding Pa village in Mansi on the morning of October 22, exchanging fire with a nearby Kachin Independence Army checkpoint and blocking the villages exits. No casualties were reported. The clash comes only a few weeks after the two sides signed an agreement that committed them to developing a plan to reduce hostilities, as well as keeping major roads and waterways clear. In the peace talks they say good things, but [the Tatmadaw does] things differently, said Reverend Lama Yaw, who helps organise humanitarian efforts for the Kachin Baptist Convention. There have been agreements in treaties, but what happens in reality is different. According to members of the Kachin Baptist Convention working in nearby Bhamo, Mung Ding Pa village is home to around 2000 people, about 20 percent of whom settled there after being displaced by fighting in 2011. When the troops first entered the town, many fled into the nearby jungle. Reverend Lama Yaw said the area is an important route for sending logs to China, making it economically valuable to both sides. About 60 people arrived in Mai Hkawng village, between Mung Ding Pa and Bhamo, a day after the seizure of the village, one aid worker in the region said. They are receiving food and treatment at a church shelter run by the Kachin Baptist Convention. previously occupied Kachin villages and stopped residents from leaving. The strategy, they said, is designed to discourage attacks from KIA soldiers and enable the Tatmadaw to use the villages as bases for future attacks. Im totally confused. At the table theyre talking peace and on the ground they do this, said one aid worker in Mai Hkawng, who asked not to be identified. He attempted to visit Mu Ding Pa on October 23, only to be turned back by a Tatmadaw checkpoint en route. The aid worker said that while government troops appear to be the aggressors in this instance, he feels the KIA should be responsible and not let it distract from the peace process. He said the humanitarian situation in many IDP camps in KIO-controlled areas remains dire and the KIA should be willing to compromise and work toward enabling international aid to reach the camps as soon as possible. Though his local NGO has been providing aid in the camps, he said the build-up of troops in recent weeks has made it impossible for the group to schedule deliveries in the past month. Since fighting restarted in July of 2011, an estimated 100,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting in Kachin. About half are believed to be in areas that international aid organisations do not have access to. There are food and medicine shortages in the KIO camps all over the state, agreed Rev Lama Yaw. These people need external help. The Kachin National Organization, a British-based group that is unaffiliated with the Kachin Independence Organisation, released a statement on October 22 saying the recent violence shows the lack of commitment from the Burma Army to gain sustainable peace and national reconciliation with the ethnic people of Burma. The United Nations and the international community must condemn strongly this new military offensive and make clear that it must be stopped immediately. Representatives from the KIO and Ministry of Defence could not be reached for comment.

At the table theyre talking peace and on the ground they do this.
Aid worker Mai Khawng, Kachin State

Daw Khon Ja, a representative of the Kachin Peace Network, reported that the groups workers in the region have been barred from visiting Mung Ding Pa. An unknown number of people are believed to have been barred from leaving the village, which Daw Khon Ja described as a hostage situation. Both Daw Khon Ja and Rev Lama Yaw said that the Tatmadaw had

The baby giraffe nurses with her mother on October 18. Photo: Pyae Thet Phyo

Giraffe born at Nay Pyi Taw Safari Park

PYAE THET PHYO pyaethetphyo87@gmail.com A HEALTHY female giraffe was born on October 15 at Nay Pyi Taws Safari Park. The newborn, who has not yet been named by zoo officials, is the first child of Thae Su, who delivered her after a 450-day pregnancy. Her father, known as Arnold, is one of six giraffes that arrived at the Safari Park from Africa in October 2010. Thae Su is thought to be about five-and-a-half years old and came to Nay Pyi Taw from Thailands Safari Park Open Zoo. Safari Park administrator U Khin Myint said officials plan to keep the mother and newborn together. We have no plan to transfer her to another zoo, he said. Translation by Zar Zar Soe

18 News
FEATURE

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Behind the byline

A journalism training program supported by UNESCO helps to train a new generation of reporters for Myanmars media industry
MICHELLE SCHANER newsroom@myanmartimes.com.mm MA Myat Noe Oo will do something this November that would have been unthinkable in Myanmar until recently: She will graduate with a bachelor degree in journalism. I want to be a good journalist. I want to be a famous journalist not only in Myanmar, but all over the world, the 19-year-old said. Shes now on her way, thanks to a full-time paid internship at The Myanmar Times. The internship follows an intensive training course conducted by editors from The Myanmar Times and funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In just a few weeks she has had several articles published in the newspaper. Ma Myat Noe Oo, along with two other aspiring journalists Ma Tin Yadanar Htun and Ko Zaw Myo Thein recently completed the free training program, which was designed to teach the basics of news writing, ethics and reporting. It was the third and final course under the project, which was funded through UNESCOs International Programme for the Development of Communication. Some training graduates have continued on at The Myanmar Times beyond their internships, taking fulltime jobs as reporters. Others decided journalism was not their chosen career. All interviewed for this article, however, said that they gained more from the experience than they initially realised. Ko Myo Wyn Nyunt completed his training in April. He said he took the course because he was curious about journalists and what they do. Previously he did not know how news reports came together and this made him distrustful of the media. However, the training helped him realise that journalists need to follow certain rules and principles when reporting.
Ma Tin Yadanar Htun (centre) and Ma Myat Noe Oo (front) during their internship at The Myanmar Times. Photo: Ko Taik

When I see my news article ... [I feel] a kind of happiness.

Ma Su Phyo Win Reporter, The Myanmar Times

Ko Myo Wyn Nyunt is now a freelance writer and preparing himself for further studies. He dreams of being a political reporter or starting a political blog in the future and said the skills he gained will be invaluable for his career. The knowledge and experience that I got from the training helped me

a lot in my work such as finding reliable information sources and writing clearly and simply, he said. For Ma Myat Noe Oo, the training filled in the gaps between what she learned in her degree program and the reality of how news happens at a large privately-owned newspaper. She undertook her bachelor degree at Yangon Universitys National Management College, which has offered journalism courses since 2007. During her degree she interned at state media outlets, including the New Light of Myanmar, Kyemon (The Mirror) and MRTV. She also had a brief internship at Myanmar International, a joint venture between the Ministry of Information and Shwe Than Lwin. Although she learned a great deal both inside and outside the classroom, Ma Myat Noe Oo said she still felt she lacked news sense: how to find news. She said at the state-run media she spent most of her time in the office and did not go out to do interviews. After finishing her degree she took

Geoffrey Goddard teaches trainees during the first UNESCO-supported course in April. Photo: Ko Taik

a job at a small weekly newspaper as a general news reporter. That position, she said, opened her eyes to the difference between learning in school and learning on the job. We always had to go out and try to contact people, she said. I was very stressed because I did not know how to do it It was difficult because it was hard to make contact with others because I didnt know the people. The journal where Ma Myat Noe Oo worked had a limited number of staff, which meant the editor could not train the reporters. She said she did not know if she was doing her job correctly but just did what she was told from day to day. I would write one- or two-source [stories] and sometimes my boss would ask me to just rewrite a press release, she said. Her training at The Myanmar Times taught her a reporter should try to find three sources and sometimes more, depending on the article. I told my boss I couldnt write those stories anymore, she said. I told him I needed more sources. Ma Tin Yadanar Htun, another trainee in the UNESCO-sponsored program, will also be graduating from the National Management College in November. She said she prefers to pursue a career in print rather than broadcast media because print media is more free and will allow her to write and report on topics that most interest her. In college we did not write the news ourselves, said Ma Tin Yadanar Htun. We learned a lot about the writing style, but we didnt really write it. Ma Tin Yadanar Htun also worked for a small weekly paper after graduation, and said she soon came to understand that the journalists job is not easy.

The hard part, she said, was coming up with story ideas every week and sometimes every day. It is difficult to come up with an idea, Ma Tin Yadanar Tun said. One day you have to write one story and the next another. Every day is something new. Before I always wrote the press release. But then I learned that I needed to make phone calls, ask more questions. The training they underwent at The Myanmar Times was conducted by a mix of Myanmar- and Englishspeaking editors, who taught recruits the basics of news writing and how to conduct themselves during interviews

Before I always wrote the press release. But then I learned that I needed to make phone calls, ask more questions.
Ma Tin Yadanar Htun BA (Journalism) graduate and UNESCO trainee

and in press conferences. The course also covered topics such as media ethics and libel. Ramon Tuazon, a communications and information specialist at UNESCOs office in Yangon, said that despite the presence of a formal journalism school, such training programs are still important in Myanmar.

While the freedoms gained in the past year have created a new demand for more specific, advanced journalism training, he said, demand for more competent entry-level journalists is more pronounced. Mr Tuazon said a wide gap remains between what is needed and what is offered. The solution, he said, is for the private sector and university to work together to ensure the industrys needs are met. Ma Su Phyo Win completed the training program in April and started an internship at The Myanmar Times immediately afterward. She now works at the paper as a business reporter. Before the training, Ma Su Phyo Win said, she had no background [in journalism] and I didnt know what news writing was. The training gave her confidence but she said she still was not prepared for the pressure that came from working at a large paper, where she was expected to write several stories a week in both Myanmar and English. The first day I felt the pressure what if I didnt write enough news articles. I thought I would be fired, she said. Now I can do bigger stories. I dont have much experience, but I can do a big news article. If I have a lot of sources who can tell me what has happened I can write very good stories. At first, I was not interested and I didnt know what journalism means, but later I got addicted to journalism. After four months on the job, shes now certain that she wants to be a journalist. While she is also more aware than ever that she still has a lot to learn, day by day and story by story shes gaining knowledge and experience. When I see my news article, by Su Phyu Win, [I feel] a kind of happiness.

www.mmtimes.com

News 19 IN BRIEF
Mandalay MPs to consider infrastructure review body
An MP says the next session of the Mandalay Region Hluttaw will focus on the creation of a regulatory body to ensure public infrastructure development work is carried out properly. The eighth session is due to start on November 4. Though the government is implementing projects for new roads or bridges, they start to be damaged shortly after they are built. U Pyae Win, representative for Maha Aung Myay 2. We hope these are not a waste of money because these public works are done using public funds. We will make a proposal about this in the next hluttaw session. The seventh sitting of the Mandalay Region Hluttaw saw 17 bills approved, covering a wide range of sectors, including supplementary budgets; community forests; excise duties on alcohol; traffic; and freshwater fisheries. Si Thu Lwin, translation by Zar Zar Soe

Police make biggest heroin bust this year

IN PICTURES
PHOTO: KAUNG HTET

Firefighters attend the scene of a blaze in a storage room on the fourth floor of Yangons Theingyi Market on October 20. The fire started at about 8:30pm and was extinguished within 30 minutes. More than US$1000 of goods was destroyed.

Police said last week they have arrested a man with 133 kilograms (293 pounds) of heroin worth US$2 million at local prices Myanmars biggest seizure of the drug this year. The drugs were found on October 20 in Tachileik on the border with Thailand, which is a major destination for smuggled narcotics. One man was arrested and three others are still at large, a police official in the drugs control department said on October 24. Its the biggest seizure of heroin this year, he said on condition of anonymity. State media said the heroin was discovered in bags transported by motorcycle following a tip-off. The worlds second-largest opium producer, Myanmar in May pushed back by five years its goal of eliminating drug production to 2019 following a rebound in poppy cultivation. AFP

Man accused of car fraud commits suicide

THAN NAING SOE thennaingsoe@gmail.com A MAN accused of defrauding Mandalay car dealers of K3 million (about US$3.1 million) has been found dead in his home in what police say was a suicide. Ko Kyaw Khaing Soe, 43, was found hanging from a fan at his Chan Aye Thar San township home at about 5am on October 21. His body showed no other signs of injury. Before his death he had been facing a jail term of up to seven years for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property but just eight days earlier he had promised to resolve his financial disputes. His company, Lin Kabar, had been accused of selling about 150 luxury cars to dealers but failing to arrange registration for the vehicles, leaving the buyers facing additional expenses of about K20 million for each car. In September, his business partner, Ko Aung Ye Lin, published a notice in state-run newspapers accusing Ko Kyaw Khaing Soe of cheating the dealers and disappearing with the money. But on October 13 Ko Kyaw Khaing Soe had promised to sell his assets to pay the money back. I know that the car dealers who gave me money suffered a lot and I want to settle this problem. I will selling my properties as much as I can, Ko Kyaw Khaing Soe said. He said the missing money had been lost in other business ventures. Residents in his ward said they had been concerned about his mental state. We ordered people to take turns guarding him so this wouldnt happen, said ward administrator U Khin Maung Myint. But he told one of them that his mother would come to his house and he asked him to fetch her at 4am. He did it when there is no one in the house. Ko Kyaw Khaing Soe is survived by a wife and two children. Translated by Thae Thae Htwe

We ordered people to take turns guarding him so this wouldnt happen.

U Khin Maung Myint Ward administrator

20 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Business
US interests at a glance
AYE THIDAR KYAW ayethidarkyaw@gmail.com FIVE broad sectors most interest American business people, including natural resource extraction and consumer goods manufacturing through companies such as Colgate, Pepsi Co and Coca-Cola, trade experts said. Other US interests lie in infrastructure development for electricity production and distribution, road construction, and agriculture; where US firms can provide mechanical equipment as well as seeds and fertiliser. In the services industry, the US will be looking to invest in banking and insurance ahead of the national stock market expected to be formed in 2015, trade experts have said in the past. US firms were banned from investing in Myanmar but sanctions were eased in July 2012, which has prompted the arrival of the companies listed above as well as others. However, one trade expert, Eric Rose, earlier this year that a number of operational challenges exist that slow business activity. The most pressing of these is that most US banks are either unaware that they can handle Myanmar transactions or are deliberately refusing to do so, despite approval from the US Treasury Department to work with most of the countrys banks. He said the government and US banking associations are trying to educate banks about this change. Mr Rose added that local banks are still working to reintegrate themselves into international networks and getting money into or out of the country through correspondent banks can be a slow process. The US Chambers of Commerce will open an office in Myanmar on October 31, with at least 25 companies already signed up as members, he said.

Myanmar aims for US duty

AYE THIDAR KYAW
ayethidarkyaw@gmail.com

MYANMARS exporters stand to benefit from duty-free access to the United States by the end of the year under the US Generalized System of Preferences, experts say. The Ministry of Commerce said Myanmar must prove that it has improved labour rights and its property laws in line with the international standards provided by foreign institutions. Trade expert Eric Rose, who made a presentation to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) at a public hearing in Washington in June, said the last review of the GSP, intended to help companies in less developed countries enter one of the biggest consumer markets on earth, expired at the end of June and must be renewed. Myanmar is one country whose exclusion from GSP will be soon be reviewed. The process starts with the USTR office then moves to a subcommittee that makes recommendations to the president, who then decides whether to grant GSP status, Mr Rose said. We hope that Congress can extend the GSP program by the end of this year, said Mr Rose, who is also

$243
Total US investment in Myanmar this year through August

MILLION

Pedestrians walk past a Pepsi billboard at the junction of University Avenue and Inya Road in Yangon. Photo: Staff

director at law firm Herzfeld Rubin Meyer and Rose. The [US] business community

is very interested in renewing the GSP and granting [access] to Myanmar, he said. However, he

added that American businesses were still tentative and making sure they do not make mistakes in

BUSINESS EDITOR: Philip Heijmans | pheijmans13@gmail.com

21

China-Myanmar pipeline operational

BUSINESS 24

Yangon Bayintnaung flyover nearly finished

PROPERTY 26

Exchange Rates (October 24 close)

Currency
Euro Malaysia Ringitt Singapore Dollar Thai Baht US Dollar

Buying
K1330 K302 K782 K31 K970

Selling
K1340 K307 K787 K31.50 K972

free by 2014
labour conditions the original reason for Myanmars exclusion from the GSP system have improved, and has recommended that sanctions be dropped. However, Mr Rose said ILO had also reported that forced labour still occurred in Myanmar, but added that he hoped the issue would be resolved in the next year. Mr Rose added that intellectual property concerns are a huge issue in Myanmar since the legal framework dates to 1911 and does not include trademarks, patents and design acts. U Maung Maung Lay, vice president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), said US companies this year invested about US$243 million in Myanmar through August. But we hope there will more investment coming next year as many sanctions have been eased and Myanmar would like to be reinstated to the US GSP list at the end of this year, said U Maung Maung Lay, who was part of a Myanmar delegation that attended the public hearing in Washington in June. U Maung Aung, a consultant for the Ministry of Commerce, said that the garment sector had the greatest potential for expansion as more than half its total exports before the year 2000 had gone to the United States. The Ministry of Commerce and other concerned ministries have already submitted to the USTR evidence on efforts to eradicate child labour in the products destined for export to the US, as well as on the environmental impact of the industry, he said. U Win Kying, general secretary of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation, said, This is a very important development for us. We have a chance to compete for market share. It was important to produce as much as customers wanted, he said.

Revenue still needs to cover project spending: World Bank

AYE THIDAR KYAW ayethidarkyaw@gmail.com DESPITE economic gains over the last two years, further growth in Myanmar continues to be hindered by inefficient tax collecting practices that has contributed to a government deficit of 3.7 percent in the 2012-13 fiscal year, according to the World Bank. Khwima Nthara, senior country economist at the World Bank, said last week that tax officers do not have the means to properly assess tax forms on an individual basis while being susceptible to bribery. This leaves taxpayers to file taxes themselves using difficult-to-navigate guidelines and tax rates provided by the Internal Revenue Department, under the Ministry of Finance and Revenue. What is important ... is for the government to take the necessary action whenever this is detected and to introduce a system that makes it difficult for such things to happen, he said. We are therefore encouraged that the authorities in Myanmar are strengthening the tax administration system, including through increased taxpayer outreach activities and increased transparency. Along with the current issues, government revenues also stand to suffer as a lack of tax officers serving the public, and hence fewer audits, encourages income and commercial taxpayers to cheat on their forms to avoid paying what they owe. Increased revenues will ensure that the government has more resources available in its budget to spend on development priorities, including infrastructure projects such as roads, power and irrigation, but also to provide more and better services such as in health and education, Mr Nthara said. Myanmars fiscal deficit reached US$443 million in the first half of the 2013-14 fiscal year, according to staterun media. Earlier estimates show the deficit declining to 3.7 percent of the gross domestic product in the 2012-13 fiscal year, down from 4.6pc the year

Khwima Nthara Photo: World Bank

We are ... encouraged that the authorities in Myanmar are strengthening the tax administration system.
Khwima Nthara Senior country economist at the World Bank

before, according to a report released by the World Bank earlier this month. Tax revenues, meanwhile, increased from 3.9pc of GDP in the 2011-12 fiscal year to 6.4pc in 2012-13, although the underlying factors behind this strong tax revenue performance are not clear, it continues. The Ministry of Finance and Revenue is in the process of establishing a large taxpayer office (LTO), which is targeted for completion early next fiscal year. The office will collect information on large companies in an effort to stop them from evading tax, it was revealed at a ministry press conference in September. The Internal Revenue Department collected about K1.57 trillion ($1.62 billion) in the 2012-13 fiscal year, and is targeting about K2.2 trillion in the 201314 fiscal year, which ends in March.

coming to Myanmar. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reported that

CBM deputy resigns

AYE THIDAR KYAW ayethidarkyaw@gmail.com CENTRAL Bank deputy governor U Than Nyein has resigned, state-run media reported on October 24. Governor of the Bank since 2007, U Than Nyein had been serving as deputy governor since July following reorganisation of the board of directors. Though he reportedly stood down a month ago, the presidents office has just issued the announcement. The governor of the Bank is U Kyaw Kyaw Maung, a former chairman of the central bank from 1999 to 2004, and the other two deputy governors are U Set Aung and Daw Khin Saw Oo. Though an expert in banking, U Than Nyein was reported as saying that his apparent demotion was intended to head off criticism from international and other observers of his military background. Under the law governing the central bank, the chairman serves for five years and other senior officials for four years. Both the chairman and vice-chairman have ministerial rank in the office of the president.

IN BRIEF
KBZ launches SEA Debit Cards
KBZ Banks SEA Games debit card will be launched on November 1 for the use of both foreigners and citizens, says the banks deputy chief U Thet Ko Ko Myo. Up to 10,000 cards will be issued, he said. Users can secure a 50-70 percent discount at participating hotels, restaurants and jewellers, and the cards can also be used with the ATMs installed by KBZ bank in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay. Tin Yadanar Htun

These 8 have more than 50 years of experience working with us.

AUNG TUN - Image Setter Operator, Printing Factory 5 years & 11 months KAY KHINE OO Sales & Marketing Representative 6 years & 6 months

'I'm proud of the quality of the newspaper we produce. We have always embraced technology and I hope soon to be training on new state-of-the-art equipment.'

'We are the engine room of the paper and keep it fed by selling advertising. That's important and I take my job very seriously.'

U THANT ZIN - DTP Operator 12 years & 7 months

MOE THUZAR Finance Department 11 years & 4 months

'I'm happy at my job and I enjoy working with so many people for such a long time now. Even those who have left the company never forget it. They always come back to visit us.'

'I've seen the company grow from 30 people to more than 300. Everyone gets paid well and on time at The Myanmar Times.'

KHINE SU YIN Deputy HR Manager 6 years & 7 months

'I started in the distribution department, then became an editorial secretary and now I'm a deputy manager in HR. I love working at The Myanmar Times.'
THOMAS KEAN - Editor 5 years & 6 months

'I've chronicled the changing face of Myanmar through The Myanmar Times. We have been at the forefront of publishing here for a long time now and you could say that we have been a benchmark for the sector. That is quite an achievement.'
U KO KO - Senior Translator 7 years & 1 month

NAN TIN HTWE - Reporter 3 years

'My career is moving forward rapidly and I am now a senior reporter.'

'We are wordsmiths and it is here that new words in the Myanmar language are first born. We are at the epicentre of this continuing evolution.'

Another good reason why we treasure our greatest asset.

Celebrating our 15th year in 2014

www.mmtimes.com

Business 23

Floods send bean prices up

SU PHYO WIN suphyo1990@gmail.com MYAT NOE OO newsroom@mmtimes.com HEAVY flooding in India over the past month has sent the local price of black matpe up 26 percent, exporters said. Bean prices depend heavily on the Indian market the destination for more than 70 percent of total production of all kinds of beans and heavy rains there have cut supply, causing a sharp increase in price to US$630 per tonne, said U Myat Soe, central executive committeememberof the Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association. The bean fields have been destroyed due to flooding and they are now collecting the beans even at harvest time, so the price will still increase, he said. Demand is expected to continue to rise with the approach of the Indian depawali festival as traditional snacks are made with the beans and may continue to increase by Myanmar harvest time in mid-February, said U Myat Soe. Merchants are holding between 150,000 and 200,000 tonnes in stock. Last year, we exported more than 790,000 tonnes of beans, but this year weve exported nearly 660,000 tonnes as of October 11, he said. Despite the increases, current prices are still below Junes recordsetting high of $770 per tonne.

Carlsberg brewery breaks ground

PHILIP HEIJMANS pheijmans13@gmail.com DENMARKS Carlsberg Group is one step closer to becoming the first international brewer to produce beer in Myanmar after the company broke ground on a US$50 million brewery in Bago on October 22, the company announced. Set to become operational by 2014, the brewery is being built on 54 acres of land about 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Yangon in Bago Region. Construction comes only months after the establishment of Myanmar Carlsberg Co Ltd, a joint venture between Carlsberg, as a 51 percent shareholder, and local industrialist U Thein Tuns Myanmar Golden Star (MGS) Breweries. We will have access to good quality water and the famous Bago rice, Carlsberg Groups managing director, Danial Sjogren, stated in the release. Other raw materials such as malted barley and hops will be imported according to Carlsberg Groups high quality global specifications. Although it is too early to tell what brands the factory would bottle, its staple Carlsberg beer is a likely contender, said Ben Morton, vice president of communications at Carlsberg Group. In other markets in Asia, our approach tends to be to offer both local brands and international premium unaffordable to most local consumers, he said. Brewers then look to persuade consumers to trade up to more premium brands as the countrys economic condition improves and consumers can afford what will be aspirational brands. But that is not the only hurdle international brewers face in Myanmar. Joint ventures must cope with widespread infighting between domestic and foreign firms, while the country struggles to find precedence for how to conduct business on an international level. Such is the ongoing dispute between Union of Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL) and Singapore-basedFraser and Neave over Myanmar Breweries Limited, which produces Myanmar Beer. Militaryowned UMEHL is currently seeking to force its foreign partner to sell its majority stake to UMEHL over an alleged breach of contract regarding a share sale. But Carlsberg is not worried about such internal disputes. Myanmar Golden Star Breweries is a successful beverages company in Myanmar who will be able to help us with market entry and expanding our distribution. They were also our partner when we first invested in Myanmar 20 years ago, so we already have a relationship with the company, said Mr Morton.

Carlsberg managing director Danial Sjogren breaks ground on the new brewery on October 22. Photo: Supplied

brands, he said. Carlsberg is not the only brewer with plans to enter the market. In May, Heineken announced that it would build a $60 million brewery near Yangon that would also become operational by 2014. That deal comes in a partnership with Alliance Brewery Co Ltd, which is owned by entrepreneur U Aung Moe Kyaw. Jeremy Cunnington, a senior

alcoholic drinks analyst atmarket intelligence firm Euromonitor, said that where there is room in Myanmar for international premium brands, their impact on the market would take some time. International beer brands such as Carlsberg or Heineken, due to their more premium nature, only tend to take a small portion of sales in emerging markets as they will be

Current price of black matpe per tonne on the international markets

$630

Myanmar is the second-largest exporter of beans in the world after Canada, but India prefers Myanmar beans because the logistics are simpler, said U Zin Oo, the head of office staff at the association. According to commerce ministry statistics, Myanmar earned about $912 million from exporting 1,419,756 tonnes of beans in 20122013, to India, Singapore, China, Vietnam and 46 other countries. The most popular kinds were black matpe, green mung, toor whole and chickpeas. Most beans are grown in Bago, Yangon, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady and Sagaing regions from November to February.

IN BRIEF
Britain approves first nuclear plant in a generation
The construction of Britains first nuclear plant in 20 years was tendered last week to a consortium of statebacked French and Chinese firms, underlining its controversial commitment to atomic power. The government has signed a US$26 billion deal with French energy giant EDF to build two reactors at Hinkley Point C, southwestern England. Also involved in the contract are French group Areva the worlds leading nuclear power company and Chinese nuclear firms CGNPC and CNNC. AFP

24 Business

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Controversial pipeline now fully operational

AUNG SHIN
koshumgtha@gmail.com

The Fine Print

Competition clauses in new Telecom Law

denied, thus slowing down the expansion of competing networks. So the provisions in chapter 11 of the new law restraining telecoms companies from predatory pricing, cartel agreements with vendors/operators and so on came as a pleasant surprise, and appear to signal the intent of the authorities to create a productive and competitive market. If these provisions are applied in practice, a serious competitive market where consumers and subscribers can enjoy lower prices and better service could be the result. At the moment, the legal system of Myanmar has no competition law (and no modern consumer protection laws). The only provision in this regard can be found in the Constitution, whose article 36 states, the Union shall prevent acts that injure public interests through monopolisation and manipulation of prices by any individual or group with intent to endanger fair competition in economic activities. What is needed now is to ensure that no company can take advantage of the lack of regulation. More rules are expected soon to create a comprehensive regulatory framework. But so far, the only apparent sanction is that the regulatory body will only be entitled to warn alleged offenders to desist from bad conduct. It remains to be seen what would happen if the company concerned persists in the same unfair practices.
Alessio Polastri is managing partner of Polastri Wint & Partners. Karina Peng is a partner of Polastri Wint & Partners.

Legal & tax insight

THE controversial pipeline carrying Myanmar gas to China officially reached full pumping capacity last week, the pipeline management company announced on October 24. A spokesperson for the Southeast Asia Crude Oil Pipeline (SEAOP) and Southeast Asia Gas Pipeline (SEAGP) said the 2000-kilometre pipeline was now fully operational, as of October 20. The Myanmar section of the line is 793km long. Referring to reports from Rakhine State residents of leaks or damage to the line, the spokesperson said, We have already inspected all parts of the pipeline area and found nothing wrong. Its now in full operation from the starting point at Kyaukpyu to the station on the Chinese side. The line is designed to carry 12 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year, of which up to 5.2 billion cubic metres of gas a year can be carried in the first phase. The pipeline extends across Rakhine State and Magwe and Mandalay regions, through northern Shan State to Muse on the Chinese border, with unloading points at Kyaukpyu in Rakhine State, Yenangyaung in Magwe and Thaungtha in Mandalay. Myanmar will receive 2.5 billion cubic metres of gas a year from the deal, which will bring in an annual income of US$30 billion over the next 30 years. However the

ALESSIO POLASTRI AND KARINA PENG alessio@pwplegal.com karina@pwplegal.com FAIR competition seems to be one of the forgotten aspects of the new telecommunications law promulgated this October. While most industry observers focus on such important elements of the law as the spectrum, length and conditions of concessions and so on, the clauses governing competition are just as important, not least from the consumers point of view. In line with the general provision of article 36 of the Constitution, the new law (in chapter 11) stipulates that operators are not allowed to practise unfair conduct against other operators that could affect competition. Based on my experience as a telecoms legal consultant, many companies do try to obtain benefits through unfair competition. Even governments often wink at controversial regulations in order to favour their own national telecoms companies (in which those governments are part-shareholders) against other companies. One of the commonest unfair practices is to restrict marketing campaigns or to set floor-pricing regulations. Or, much more brutal, permits to build new towers or to use land may be

An engineer inspects a section of the controversial dual pipeline that will transport gas and crude oil to China. Photo: Staff

pipelines have sparked protests over environmental and safety concerns, and inadequate compensation arrangements for local residents. Critics have also said the contract, which was signed under the military regime, should be revisited and that Myanmar should not be exporting gas when three-quarters of the population lack electricity. Some of the local people have yet to receive compensation, said U Khon Jar, a coordinator from the Kachin Peace Network. We cant stop the pipeline, but at least we get 100 million cubic feet [2.8 cubic meteres] of natural gas a day so we can hope for a better electricity supply. But there

are still questions about regional development, especially in view of the economic conditions of the people who live near the pipeline area, said U Tun Ken, chief executive officer of Parami Energy Group of Companies. Daewoo announced the discovery of the Shwe gas field off the coast of Rakhine in 2004. The government awarded purchasing rights to China in 2008 under an agreement to export 6.5 trillion cubic feet (184 billion cubic metres) over 30 years. The SEAGP/SEAOP, a group of energy companies from China, Korea, India and MOGE (Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise) operates the line.

Volkswagen service centre ready to open in Yangon

Surge of foreign auto-makers entering Myanmar continues
PHILIP HEIJMANS pheijmans13@gmail.com VOLKSWAGEN will open a service centre in Yangon this month through an agreement with Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic Holdings announced last week. The joint service deal was reached with Volkswagen through Yomas majority-held subsidiary German Cars Industry Company (GCI), according to a Yoma press release issued October 23. Set to commence before the end of the month, GCI will offer genuine parts to Volkswagen-branded vehicles already on the road. The addition of Volkswagen to our automotive portfolio strengthens our position in the countrys burgeoning automotive industry, Andrew Rickards, Yoma Strategics chief executive officer, stated in the release. Seizing such opportunities is especially important since Myanmar has the potential to become one of the most important automobile markets in the ASEAN region following the deregulation of the importation of cars. The deal comes amid a blitz of international car brands entering the market that includes the launch of Myanmars first Ford Motor Co dealership earlier this month. Other auto-makers including Nissan, Mazda, Mercedes Benz and Hyundai are currently expanding their presence. We believe that the demand for cars will continue to grow because of infrastructure development and pent[-up] demand, Michael Rudenmark, managing director of the automotive department at Yoma Strategic, told The Myanmar Times. We may see a slowdown in the short term, but long-term, the automotive industry will continue to grow.

220,000
New and used vehicles being imported into Myanmar each year The Ministry of Commerce said earlier this month that since reforms in the sector began in September 2011, some 220,000 new and used vehicles have been imported to Myanmar. Earlier this month, Yoma Strategic Holdings signed a memorandum of understanding with Japans Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Estate to invest in a 2-million-square-foot mixed-use property development in downtown Yangon.

www.mmtimes.com

Business 25

IN BRIEF
Eurozone business activity slows
Eurozone business activity slowed in October, coming off a 27-month high in September to highlight concerns the economy is recovering only slowly from recession, a survey showed last week. The closely-watched Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) compiled by Markit Economics fell to 51.5 points in October from 52.2 in September. Holding above the 50 points boom-bust line, the report suggests the 17-nation eurozone continued to expand at the start of the fourth quarter, having escaped a record 18-month recession.

Fishing industry to cut Thai lines

MYAT NYEIN AYE
myatnyeinaye11092@gmail.com

Credit Suisse almost doubles net profit, but disappoints

Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse posted a soaring third-quarter net profit last week, but still fell far short of analyst expectations amid worsening market conditions. For the July-September period, the bank, Switzerlands second-biggest, made a net profit of US$510 million, nearly double one year ago.

Japan baby milk maker Meiji suspends China sales

Japanese baby milk maker Meiji said last week it was suspending sales in China because of rising costs and increased competition. Meiji, the producer of the Hohoemi and Step milk powder brands, has suffered a slump in sales in the country, a spokesman said. Beijing imposed a ban on milk imports from Japan in 2010, when foot-and-mouth disease broke out in southwestern Miyazaki, but the company continued selling milk powder made in Australia, he said. AFP

THAI fishing boats will not be able to trawl Myanmars territorial waters from March 2014 when a current agreement expires, a spokesperson for the Myanmar Fisheries Federation said in a meeting last week. The decision follows a workshop held by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries concerning Thai fishing rights in Nay Pyi Taw last week. The workshop was attended by the fishing experts, businesspeople and representatives of several industry bodies and was overseen by the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, U Khin Maung Aye. We had discussions about fishing rights and the experts put forward information suggesting that the agreement should not be continued after 2014, said U Han Htun, MFF executive vice president. The outcome of discussions was that Thai

A vendor sorts out the morning delivery of fish at a market in Yangon. Myanmar will not renew a deal that allows Thai fishing boats to trawl in territorial waters. Photo: Staff

It would be better for us if Thai boats cannot operate in Myanmars waters.

U Kyaw Naing Local fishing fleet owner

fishing boats should not be allowed to fish our waters anymore. The ministry will report the results of the workshop and subsequent decision to the government and also try to publicise it before the agreement expires, he said. U Kyaw Naing, a fishing fleet owner, said he was pleased with the decision as Thai boats tend to break the existing agreement, which states that Thai boats can only fish a minimum of 12 miles (16.2 kilometres) off the coast, a provision meant to ensure local fisherman are left with enough fish. It would be better for us if Thai

boats cannot operate in Myanmars waters, he told The Myanmar Times. Daw Toe Nandar Tin, MFF executive committee member, said previous agreements that allowed foreign boats worked on the idea that there was a surplus of fish, which is no longer the case. When we had a surplus in the past, we shared with our neighbours in line with international practices. At that time, the Myanmar fishing business was small and we could only use some of fish. But now our industry needs more fish and our waters are not as well stocked as they were in the

past, she said. She added that proper research on Myanmars marine stocks is required. We have no research or data on our stocks, so we cant know anything for sure. U Win Kyaing, MFF general secretary, said it was clear where foreign investors saw value in Myanmars fishing industry the right to fish its waters. When we meet foreign investors they are more interested in getting the right to fish our waters, he said. They always ask for fishing rights in Myanmar.

Heineken says beer sales Panasonic set to cut 7000 jobs by 2015 down as crisis rolls on
DUTCH brewer Heineken posted a lower-than-expected profit outlook for 2013 after earnings fell by 15 percent year-onyear for the third quarter, blaming this on continuing economic crisis in countries such as Greece. Heineken now expects 2013 net profit to decline in the low single digits on an organic basis, the Amsterdambased group said in a statement. Underlying trading conditions across Europe remains challenging, as evidenced by a weak consumer environment in central and eastern Europe in the third quarter, it added. Troubled countries included Russia, Romania and in Greece where renewed political uncertainty and continued adverse economic conditions led to a doubledigit decline. Heineken posted a net profit of US$666.82 million for the third quarter compared to $784 million year-on-year. Although it did not predict a yearend profit figure, Heineken warned that the recent strength of the euro against key developing market currencies would further slash gains by around 40 million euros. As a consequence, we are accelerating efforts to drive improved efficiencies particularly in Europe through restructuring and other cost related initiatives, Heineken chief executive Jean-Francois van Boxmeer said. AFP PANASONIC is set to cut its chip division workforce in half, axing thousands of jobs as the electronics giant overhauls its battered balance sheet after record losses, Japanese media reports said last week. The plan to shrink Panasonics money-losing semiconductor business could also see it sell off some chip manufacturing plants, the leading Nikkei business daily said, without citing sources. Panasonic, which has chip factories both in Japan and overseas, would axe 7000 jobs from the unit by March 2015 from a total of 14,000 employees, through an unspecified number of layoffs, early retirements

THE HAGUE

TOKYO

and moving workers to other divisions, Nikkei said. Panasonic would take a 50 billion yen (US$510 million) charge over the job reductions for the fiscal year to March 2014, but expects improved earnings to offset the impact, it added. AFP

26 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Property
Job watch
The British Embassy in Rangoon 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/ british-embassy-rangoon/about/recruitment Deadline for submission of applications will be on 10 November 2013.

BUSINESS EDITOR: Philip Heijmans | pheijmans13@gmail.com

Bayintnaung flyover to be finished ahead of schedule

MYAT NYEIN AYE
myatnyeinaye11092@gmail.com

PATH is an international nonprofit organization that transforms global health through innovation. Having just recently opened an office in Myanmar, PATH currently seeks qualified candidates looking for an opportunity to make a positive impact on the health of people in Myanmar. The followine available position, Country Manager, will be based in our Yangon office. The Country Manager (Tracking code: #5750) will be primarily responsible for ensuring high quality programmatic, administrative and financial management of all of PATHs work in Myanmar; facilitating the start-up of country operations in a new office; and, overseeing all project teams. The successful candidate will also be expected to lead strategic interactions with PATHs Headquarters in the United States and Europe, in-country partners, and provide mentoring to staff and teams as they join the organization. Knowledge, skills and experience required: Demonstrated project and staff management skills; expertise in handling complex partner relationships; ability to represent PATH effectively with government and other partners in Myanmar; knowledge of public health and health systems issues (particularly related to maternal and child health, nutrition and immunization); excellent written and spoken English skills. Applicant must have an advanced degree in public health, business, management, or related field plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience; or 12 years of NGO experience with increasing responsibility; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Multi-country experience highly desirable. To apply for the position of Country Manager (#5750), please visit the jobs section of the PATH website (www. path.org) and apply on-line. Applications for this position will not be accepted via email.

TRAFFIC jams around Yangons Bayintnaung commodity exchange centre could be eased earlier than expected as the completion date for the four-way flyover is ahead of schedule, an official said. Construction of the flyover is 93 percent complete, said a spokesperson for Myanmar V-pile, part of First Myanmar Investment (FMI) Company. It could be ready before the target date of December. Cars can start using it if we finish early, said site engineer Daw Soe Soe Tin. But delays in the construction of the second bridge across the Hlaing River could mean continued congestion for a while, she added. The ambitious project links to Hlaing Bridge and Hlaing Tharyar township, while a second span carries the Thamaing railway flyover. One of the reinforced concrete spans is 440 metres (1443 feet) long and will carry a maximum load of 75 tons. The second, 600m long, will carry 60 tonnes. The new eight-lane bridge can carry even container trucks. But we are worried

The nearly completed flyover at Bayintnaung is now expected to open ahead of schedule. Photo: Boothee

440m
Length of the longest concrete span of the nearly completed Bayintnaung flyover, due December

that the other Hlaing River bridge a government project parallel to the existing Bayintnaung Bridge wont be finished at the same time. If the traffic from the flyover can use only one bridge, congestion could result, Daw Soe Soe Tin told The Myanmar Times. Container trucks bring produce from all over the country to the Bayintnaung commodity exchange centre in Mayangone township. Bayintnaung Junction is jammed with traffic half the day. The people who work there will be very glad when the flyover is finished, said a spokesperson for the Bayintnaung commodity exchange service committee.

Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), First Myanmar Construction Company and Thai company TPC Prestressed Concrete will jointly manage the flyovers. The new overpass is one segment of the municipal governments attempt to combat growing traffic in Yangon. On April 10, the Hledan overpass finally opened to traffic after 13-months of construction. But some experts fear that despite the new roads, it will take more than a few overpasses to resolve the issue. Earlier this month, Joan Clos, the executive director of UN-HABITAT, suggested that Yangon should consider imposing restrictions on the number of automobiles allowed to drive in the city.

IN BRIEF
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Myanmar is inviting qualified candidates to apply for the following positions: Sr. Title and level 1. Field Finance Assistant (Roving) (LICA3) 2. Accountability Programme Officer (IICA2) 3. Procurement Associate (LICA4) Duty Station Yangon Yangon Yangon Yangon Position National International National National Deadline 28 October 2013 4 November 2013 4 November 2013 4 November 2013

India starts up controversial Russia-backed nuclear plant

NEW VACANCIES APPLY NOW!

4. Compliance Associate (LICA4)

The benefit package for the above positions includes an attractive remuneration, 30 days annual leave and 10 holidays per year, medical insurance (only for national), learning and development opportunities and a challenging working environment with 200 national and international colleagues. All applications must be made through the UNOPS E-recruitment System (https://gprs.unops.org) and click on the post you are interested in applying for. If you have further queries, please contact 95 1 657 281-7 Ext: 149

Business Development manager Marketing manager Sales and distribution manager Brand manager Logistic officer Medical doctor Project manager Sales engineer Site engineer Chief Accountant Accountant HR Manager HR Executive Legal executive Secretary Passenger service agent ( airline) Receptionist Customer service

Indias largest nuclear plant dogged by protests and multiple delays is generating power and was linked last week to the grid in the countrys south, an official said. The Russian-backed Kudankulam plant is designed to help meet surging demand for electricity in Asias thirdlargest economy where blackouts are frequent. Unit one of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in the state of Tamil Nadu was synchronised with the power grid and is generating 160 megawatts, RS Sundar, site director of the state-run Nuclear Power Corp of India, said in a statement.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI) EOI/MMR/13/01 Catering Services MMR Census The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) Myanmar is looking for catering service companies preferably who can provide: Catering Services for packed lunch/snack for approx. 120,000 people within the 330+ Townships in Myanmar. This activity will take place on the First Quarter of 2014. Interested Suppliers are encouraged to complete the Vendor Response Form on the UNFPA Myanmar Website: http://myanmar.unfpa.org/ . And send it by email to: Myanmar.Office@unfpa.org on or before the 8th of November 2013. This REOI does not require prices at this stage, no enquiries shall be entertained by UNFPA at this stage and the REOI does not constitute a solicitation. A bid may be posted after this REOI and the suppliers who responded will receive the invitation to bid. * Your company shall not have an outstanding or pending bankruptcy, judgment or legal action that could impair your companys ability to continue operating as a going concern.

Ethiopia signs $4b geothermal deal with US-Icelandic company

Ethiopia signed a US$4 billion deal last week with American-Icelandic company Reykjavik Geothermal to develop a 1000-megawatt geothermal farm, officials said. When completed, the project to provide energy for both local consumption and export will be the largest source of foreign direct investment in Ethiopia. This is an epic moment for all of us ... bringing Ethiopia to the forefront of geothermal development, said Reykjavik chief executive officer Gudmundur Thoroddsson. Three-quarters of the project is funded by Reykjavik Geothermal, backed by private investors, while 25 percent will be borrowed. AFP

No. 851/853 (A/B), 3rd Floor, Room (7/8), Bogyoke Aung San Road, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: (951) 229 437, 09 49 227 773, 09 730 94007 Email: esearch@yangon.net.mm, esearch.myanmar@gmail.com www.esearchmyanmar.com www.facebook.com/esearchmyanmar

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

27

The Myanmar cement market is going to be an opportunity for all companies.

Ko Aung Kyaw Myo, sales and marketing manager for Ruby cement

US Capitol dome set for renovation project

PROPERTY 28

Germanys Heidelberg set to import cement

MYAT NYEIN AYE myatnyeinaye11092@gmail.com BURGEONING infrastructure development in Myanmar has led Germanys Heidelberg Cement Group to launch the importation of concrete next month, the companys regional manager has announced. Bangladesh, Brunei and Myanmar branch general manager Marcelion Ugarte has hailed exciting times here. Everywhere we look we can see development: roads, bridges, buildings and hotels. This is just the beginning. There is going to be big demand for concrete over the next few years, he said. The company will import its Ruby brand from a factory in Vietnam, said Ko Aung Kyaw Myo, sales and marketing manager for Ruby cement in Myanmar. As demand grows, we will import from other countries. We would also like to manufacture in Myanmar, but we are looking for the right site and are still studying options. The Myanmar cement market is going to be an opportunity for all companies, he told The Myanmar Times. Selected importers will distribute the cement internally, he added. Founded 140 years ago, Heidelberg Cement operates in 40 countries.

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

KUALA LUMPUR

Tribes protest new dam

HUNDREDS of Malaysian tribespeople blockaded the construction site of a new dam on October 24 which is set to force them from their homes in Sarawak on the island of Borneo, activists said. The Baram dam is the latest in a series of controversial hydroelectric mega-dams planned by the Sarawak government as it pushes economic development in one of Malaysias poorest states. Indigenous Kenyah, Kayan and Penan people began blocking the main entry road to the dams location and the site where the dams developer had stored its heavy machinery on October 23, according to NGO Save Sarawaks Rivers Network. Save Rivers chairman Peter Kallang said in a Facebook posting last week they were camping at the blockade to show their determination against the construction of this bloody dam after being inspired by a blockade that began last month against the filling of the nearby Murum Dam. The groups vice-chairman Raymond Abin told AFP last week the blockade was still going on. The call is to stop the project and all activities related to the construction of the dam because SEB is already starting soil investigation, he said. The building spree of hydroelectric dams has been dogged by controversy as activists allege massive corruption while indigenous people complain it has flooded rainforests and uprooted tens of thousands of people. While the Baram dam is expected to generate 1,200 megawatts of power, activists claim it will flood 400 square kilometres of rainforest (154 square miles) and displace 20,000 tribespeople. AFP

Moving on up
COMING in at a total 3600 square feet, this large, fully furnished home on Airport Avenue Road may be a little far from downtown, but what you sacrifice in location, you gain in beautiful space, modern decor and a quiet and serene environment. The house has an upper floor containing two sizable double rooms as well as one study, while the ground floor has a huge dining room that sits next to a fully equipped kitchen with new appliances. And the icing on the cake outside a beautifully maintained swimming pool will be a sure delight for children and guests. Ei Thae Thae Naing

Location Airport Avenue Road, Mingalardon Township Price K 1.65 billion (for sale) Contact (Mya) Panthakhin Real Estate and General Service Phone 01 229648, 09 43127288, 09 730 97581

State to take back vacant land

PRIVATE individuals and companies with permission to cultivate vacant land should hand it back to the state if they have no plans to grow crops, Mandalay Region authorities said. The regions Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Committee has invited those concerned to a meeting on October 29 to tell them to start growing or return the land. Those who cant implement the

states intention to cultivate vacant land have to give back the lands they were granted, or to sign an agreement that they will start implementation, said U Myint Swe, head of the district office of Pyin Oo Lwins Industrial Crops Development Enterprise on October 23. He said more than 6500 acres of vacant lands had been granted to 167 applicants, and more than 11,700 acres of forest lands granted to 614 applicants. Phyo Wai Kyaw and Hlaing Kyaw Soe

28 Business Property
WASHINGTON

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

US Capitol dome to undergo two-year restoration effort

THE US Capitol dome will undergo its first comprehensive repairs in more than half a century this autumn, installing a donut-shaped canopy to protect visitors to the historic structure, officials said last week. The two-year project to begin in November, aims at repairing nearly 1300 cracks that have emerged in the 9-million-pound (4.1-millionkilogram) cast-iron dome, according to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) office. We must conduct this critical work to save the dome, Stephen Ayers said on the AOC website. From a distance the dome looks magnificent, [but] on closer look, under the paint, age and weather have taken its toll and the AOC needs to make repairs to preserve the Dome, he said. While scaffolding will surround the dome on the outside, a white canopy in the shape of a doughnut will be installed in the interior of the Capitol Rotunda to protect artwork and visitors, whose tours will continue despite the repairs. Delamination of paint on the outer skin of the dome has allowed water to infiltrate the structure and

SOFIA

Bulgaria extends land ban

A CONTROVERSIAL measure that will ban land sales to foreigners until 2020 was by Bulgarias parliament adopted last week, a move the government warned will infringe on the countrys EU commitments. When it joined the European Union in 2007, Bulgaria negotiated a seven-year transition period before it would allow foreigners who were not permanent residents to buy land. Last weeks bill, proposed by the ultra-nationalist Ataka party, extends the ban until 2020. Bulgaria will suffer grave problems with its European image, parliamentary speaker Mihail Mikov warned after the bill was passed with votes from Ataka, the conservative opposition GERB party and the ruling Socialist party. The ban also contradicted some parts of Bulgarias constitution, he said. The Turkish minority MRF party, which opposed the measure, meanwhile vowed to attack the ban in the constitutional court. The ban could prompt an infringement procedure and sanctions by the European Commission, MRF leader Lyutvi Mestan warned. According to Bulgarian media, foreigners will still be able to skirt the ban by registering a company locally and acquiring property in its name. The vote however revealed a shift of allegiance in the divided legislature, with Ataka now joining the opposition after previously supporting the government. AFP

Number of cracks that have developed on the US Capitol dome

1300

The US Capitol dome will undergo its first comprehensive repairs in more than half a century this autumn. Photo: AFP

rust the ironwork. Several of the original windows are cracked, and water stains litter the interior marble, according to the AOC. Construction on the dome began in 1855. Symbolically, work contin-

ued through the US Civil War and the structure was eventually completed in 1866. The Capitol, a worldwide symbol of freedom and democracy, will be the second major Washington landmark enshrouded in scaffolding.

The Washington Monument is encased in an elegant if bulky covering as workers make repairs to the iconic marble tower that was damaged in a rare earthquake in 2011. AFP

COLOMBO

Sri Lanka suspends final approval for casinos

FINAL approval for two casinos involving a total investment of around US$1 billion in Sri Lanka has been suspended after protests from within the ruling coalitions ranks, a minister said last week. A bill giving the two separate casino hotels the go-ahead and granting them a 10-year tax holiday was due to be presented to parliament on October 24. But Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said he has withdrawn the bill, which was meant to grant final approval to the projects after cabinet gave them the green light last month. The government felt that we should withdraw this bill because of the concerns raised by some of our own coalition partners, Mr Abeywardena told reporters. Local firm John Keells Holdings is expected to invest $650 million in a waterfront casino in the capital, in conjunction with a so-far unannounced foreign partner. Australian gambling mogul James Packers company has committed $350 million for a similar development. A party made up of Buddhist monks, which is a member of the ruling coalition, has opposed the casinos, while individual monks have warned they will stage protests if the government goes ahead with the projects. Abeywardena denied the bill has been axed, saying it was being reworked so that the 10-year tax holiday was confined to the hotel operations and not the casino side of the business. He said he expected the bill would be introduced in about a month, with the government hoping to take 5 percent of all casino revenue irrespective of the profits. The bill is expected to be passed when it is eventually introduced because President Mahinda Rajapakses party has a majority in parliament. The tax concessions will be there, but there will be more clarity on what is taxed and what is not. We will also remove any ambiguities in the bill, the minister said. Mr Packer, a billionaire who operates casinos in Melbourne, Perth and Macau and is planning a complex in Manila, has said the Colombo project on the banks of Beira Lake would create 2500 jobs. Sri Lanka is banking on high-end casinos to attract high-rollers and boost tourist arrivals to 2.5 million by 2016 from the current level of about 1 million tourists a year. AFP

Annual number of tourists expected to visit Sri Lanka from 2016

2.5

MILLION

www.mmtimes.com
BANGALORE BERLIN

Science & Technology 29

India sets November 5 for Mars mission launch

SCIENTISTS on Tuesday set November 5 for the delayed launch of Indias first mission to Mars, which was postponed due to problems in positioning a seaborne tracking system. Blast-off for the unmanned Mars Orbiter Mission had to be rescheduled after the state-run Indian Space Agency Organisation (ISRO) said at the weekend that it would be unable to launch as expected on October 28. Two Indian ships have been sent to Fiji in the Pacific Ocean to enable constant tracking of the rocket, but one of them has been late to arrive because of bad weather. The Mars Orbiter Mission has been rescheduled to November 5 and its spacecraft will be launched at 14:36 IST [Indian Standard Time] from Sriharikota spaceport, ISRO spokesperson Deviprasad Karnik told AFP. The 1.3-tonne Orbiter probe will be launched on a 350-tonne rocket from Sriharikota on the Bay of Bengal, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) northeast of Chennai. The nine-month Mars mission was approved by the government and has a budget of 4.5 billion rupees (US 73 million). India says the mission will mark a significant step in its space program, which has already placed a probe on the Moon and is a source of national pride in the country of 1.2 billion. But the spending has also attracted criticism as the government struggles to tackle widespread poverty and massive infrastructure problems. A host of countries have previously launched missions to Mars, including the United States, Russia, Japan and China. AFP

Holocaust memorial app debuts in Munich

SMARTPHONES in Germany are now delivering messages from the past, with a new app launched Wednesday that shows the names and pictures of Holocaust victims to people walking by their former homes. What we envision is a virtual, floating museum over Munich, Martina Bachmann, spokesperson for the app development company based in the southern German city, told AFP. We want to put the fate of Nazi victims into the open, give the victims a face and a biography. For several years in dozens of European cities, pedestrians have been literally stumbling over the names of Nazi-era victims, in small plaques embedded in the street in front of their last known addresses. The Stolpersteine Muenchen app is a virtual version of these memorials, a digital monument against forgetting, the company says. When smartphone users approach a building where a Holocaust victim lived, a photo, birth and death dates, and other biographical details appear on the screen. The app was fashioned after the Stolpersteine project started by Cologne sculptor Gunther Demnig in 1996 as a way to memorialise the genocidal acts of the Nazi regime on a human scale. Stolpersteine literally stumbling blocks were envisioned as a more personal tribute than large Holocaust memorials. By the end of this year, more than 43,500 blocks will be installed in roughly 1000 locations across Europe, according to the projects website. In Munich, though, the blocks are conspicuously absent. The project met with resistance from Munich authorities and leaders of the local Jewish community, who argued victims memories would be desecrated once more as passers-by walked on the blocks. The app currently contains biographies of 200 victims whose loved ones have commissioned stumbling blocks. The physical memorials now sit in storage, or have been installed on private property, due to the controversy. Ms. Bachmann hopes someday the app will complement the physical memorials in Munich. People see something visual, and they remember, Oh, theres an app, and they get more information, Ms. Bachmann said. Just to recognise, here was Mrs. Muller, she lived here with three daughters, it makes it so real, Ms. Bachmann said. It fills you with emotion. Ms. Bachmanns company pARtcours hopes to expand the project to include thousands of names of Roma, Sinti, gay and political victims of the Nazi era. AFP

VIENNA

UN atomic agency suffers malware attack

THE UN atomic agency said Tuesday that some of its computers were infected by malicious software, in its second embarrassing IT slip-up over the past year. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which holds highly sensitive information on its member states nuclear facilities, said, however, that none of its data was compromised. During the past months, some computers operated by the IAEA have been infected by malware, spokesperson Serge Gas said. No data from the IAEA network has been affected. The malware hit data on the USB drives of visitors to the IAEA in Vienna, although the devices themselves were not infected and did not spread the bug further, the IAEA believes. Last November, the IAEA revealed that hackers had accessed one of its computer servers and posted the contact details of some of the watchdogs experts online. Protecting information is vital to the IAEAs work. The agency continuously endeavours to achieve the highest possible level of protection of information, Mr Gas said. AFP

We want to put the fate of Nazi victims into the open, give the victims a face and a biography.
Martina Bachman Spokesperson for Stolperstein Muenchen developers

IN PICTURES This image released October 17, 2013, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on October 9, shows the Comet Ison. The sunward plunging ISON suggests that the comet is intact despite some predictions that the fragile icy nucleus might disintegrate as the Sun warms it. ISON is now predicted to make its closest approach to Earth on December 26, at a distance of 39.9 million miles. Photo: AFP

LIMA

Two mummies found in ancient Peru cemetery

TWO pre-Columbian mummies more than a thousand years old were found in a pre-Incan cemetery in a suburb of Lima, archeologists said Thursday. This is one of the most important finds in more than three decades of excavation, because both mummies are intact, archeologist Gladys Paz told AFP at the foot of the Huaca Pucllana tomb, an ancient religious complex in the Miraflores neighborhood. offerings and a sacrificed companion, Ms. Paz said in reference to the mummified child. This is the third intact find among more than 70 tombs excavated since 1981, when researchers began their work at the Huaca Pucllana, a pyramid-like temple built on six acres (2.5 hectares) of land between AD 100 and 600. In 2010, archeologists discovered the tomb of a woman who was buried with her four children. In 2008, the mummy of a 13-year-old girl was found. The two recent mummies remain unopened in the place where they were found. They will be taken to a lab in the next four to six months to determine the age and sex of each individual. In the tomb, researchers also found seven vessels with feline designs used to drink a matte tea concoction, 12 fabric bags and the remains of three guinea pigs. Dozens of journalists thronged to the site for a chance to catch a glimpse. Project director Isabel Flores said archeologists have yet to search through 40 percent of the Huaca Pucllana, built during the pre-Hispanic Wari culture. There are about 350 huacas in Perus capital region, interspersed among buildings and homes, hinting at Limas pre-Hispanic ancestors. AFP

This is the third intact find among more than 70 tombs excavated since 1981.
Gladys Paz Site Archeologist

The first signs of the tomb were found five days ago, but the process of unearthing the mummies of an adult and child took time. The Pacific Ocean and Limas concrete buildings are visible from part of the huaca a Quechua word for religious sites that towers more than 20 meters (66 feet) high. The grave was found intact with

30 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

World
BEIJING

WORLD EDITOR: Bridget Di Certo | bridget.dicerto@gmail.com

Bo Xilai: rise and fall of a political star

WITH a suave demeanour, well-cut suits and an easy smile, in his heyday Bo Xilai presented a stark contrast to the usual ranks of stiff, buttoned-up Chinese politicians. On October 25 he lost his appeal against a life prison sentence on charges of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, handed down last month after a lurid scandal and the countrys highest-profile trial for decades. In an unusually outspoken performance by a Chinese defendant, he dismissed his wife as insane and a close aide as secretly being in love with her. labour camp. But after Mao died Bo Yibo was rehabilitated and became one of the most powerful men in China. His fathers stature bestowed on the son an impeccable pedigree. For nearly two decades from 1985 he was based in Chinas northeastern rustbelt, first as mayor of Dalian, a decaying port city that he is credited with transforming into a modern investment hub. He brought glamour and attention to the city with signature projects including a mounted female police squad, international fashion show and successful football team. There, he left his first wife, with whom he had one son, for Gu Kailai another privileged child of a general, herself an accomplished lawyer who also studied at Peking University. Yet those who had praised Mr Bo as relatively liberal grew disillusioned, particularly with his ruthless corruption crackdown which saw scores of officials detained and executed. Mr Bo was convicted of taking 20.4 million yuan (US$3.3 million) in bribes. Prosecutors had painted a picture of a high-flying family with piles of cash at home and a villa in France. The couples son Bo Guagua attended elite universities including Oxford and Harvard. But the familys gilded existence fell apart after British businessman Neil Heywood was killed in a Chongqing hotel room in 2011. Ms Gu was convicted of his murder and given a suspended death sentence, normally commuted to life imprisonment in China. AFP

But the familys gilded existence fell apart after British businessman Neil Haywood was killed.
He admitted to having affairs himself, though he insisted on his modesty by saying his underwear was 50 years old. Born in 1949 the year the Party took power in China Mr Bo embraced his leftist streak despite tragedy suffered by his family during the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, a decade of deadly chaos launched by then-leader Mao Zedong in which youths tormented their elders and officials were purged. His father, revolutionary general Bo Yibo, was jailed and tortured and his mother beaten to death, while Bo Xilai himself spent time in a

IN PICTURES
PHOTO: AFP

Cambodian Buddhist monks and supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Democracy Park in Phnom Penh on October 23, 2013. Thousands of Cambodias op high security on October 23, over fiercely disputed elections that extended strongm following bloody protests last month.

COLOMBO

British PM to visit Sri Lankas former warzone

BRITAINS David Cameron is set to become the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lankas war-torn Tamil heartland during next months Commonwealth summit when he will press Colombo on human rights. The British premier is under pressure at home and abroad to boycott the summit over the bloody end to Sri Lankas ethnic conflict but he vowed in a meeting with Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to have some very tough conversations with President Mahinda Rajapakses government. My decision is the right thing for us to do ... and have some very tough conversations with the Sri Lankan government, Mr Cameron said after hosting Myanmar opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in London on October 23. Im not happy with their human rights record. Im not happy with what theyve done following the conflict and well have some very frank conversations to make those points, he said according to a transcript of his comments made available to AFP on October 25. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appeared to endorse Mr Camerons decision, but noted that he should engage all other stakeholders and not just the government. Added Mr Cameron, Very wise words. Ill be going to the north of the country as well, and I think what Aung Sun Suu Kyi has said is absolutely true. If the visit goes ahead, Mr Cameron would become the first foreign head of government to visit Jaffna, the capital of the war-battered north, since Sri Lanka was granted independence from Britain in 1948. Colombo has faced widespread criticism over its failure to probe allegations that 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed by its troops in the last stages of the war in 2009. Britains opposition Labour party has urged Mr Cameron to boycott the summit while Canada has said the decision to allow Colombo to host the gathering was like accommodating evil. A Tamil legislator from Jaffna, Suresh Premachandran, welcomed Mr Camerons remarks and said his main opposition Tamil National Alliance was keen to host the British PM next month. I extended an open invitation to the British Prime Minister last week and I am happy that he has agreed to visit us and see for himself the plight of the Tamil people, Mr Premachandran told AFP. He forecast the unprecedented visit could send a strong message to the Sri Lankan government to clean up its act and demonstrate the international communitys solidarity with the islands minority Tamils. There was no immediate comment from the Sri Lankan government, but official sources said they noted a hardening of Mr Camerons stance against Sri Lanka. He is obviously trying to placate his domestic opposition, an official said declining to be named. British High Commissioner in Colombo John Rankin made it clear last week that Londons concern was not limited to war crimes, but also rule of law and judicial independence in the former colony. Mr Rankin said they expected Sri Lanka to demonstrate its willingness to respect Commonwealth values as Colombo takes over as the chairperson-in-office of the 53-member bloc after the Colombo summit. Mr Rankin said Sri Lanka must probe allegations by Britains Channel 4, which accused the countrys forces of executing surrendering Tamil rebels and shelling civilians in no-fire zones during the civil war. He said Queen Elizabeth II was staying away from the Colombo meeting because she was unable to undertake long trips, but she would be represented by her son Prince Charles. AFP

Screen grab shows Bo Xilai at his hearing on October 25. Photo: AFP

31

Iran spares convict from second execution

WORLD 35

Kenya army denies Westgate Mall looting accusations

WORLD 34

US police kill teenager carrying pellet gun

WORLD 38

SYDNEY

BEIRUT

Australia, Malaysia ink Syria car bomb kills 40, asylum seeker deal children: NGO reports
AUSTRALIA said on October 25 it has struck a deal with Malaysia to disrupt the transit of asylum-seekers through the Southeast Asian nation to Indonesia, where they board boats heading for Australian waters. The arrival of thousands of boatpeople has for years proved a major political headache in Canberra and Immigration Minister Scott Morrison estimated that more than half of those who reach Australia come through Malaysia. He travelled to Kuala Lumpur this week for meetings with Home Affairs Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and said a series of agreements on operational cooperation were thrashed out. I was pleased to reboot our cooperation with Malaysia, he told a regular weekly briefing on border protection operations, adding that Malaysia was a critical geographic link in the people smugglers chain to Australia. Disrupting arrivals at KIA [Kuala Lumpur International Airport] or across the ThaiMalay border or preventing the passage to Sumatra across the Malacca Strait is as critical, and I would suggest even more critical, than anything we do once that boat leaves Indonesia, he said. He did not go into detail of the agreements but flagged better information and intelligence sharing and said joint operations on people-smuggling would start immediately. Kuala Lumpur also agreed to broaden tighter visa arrangements that currently apply to Iranians entering Malaysia to include Iraqis and Syrians, with all three nationalities representing a large number of asylumseeker arrivals in Australia. We will continue our dialogue on further reforms and exclusions to visas on other arrival arrangements, Mr Morrison said, adding that the relationship with Kuala Lumpur was in tip-top shape. Canberra clinched a deal with Malaysia in 2011 to transfer 800 boatpeople to the Southeast Asian country to deter refugees from making the risky journey by removing the incentive of being resettled in Australia. But the plan has never been implemented and was shot down in the Australian parliament by the conservative opposition, led by Tony Abbott, which is now in government. At the time, Mr Abbott and Mr Morrison made clear they objected to the fact that Malaysia has not signed the UN refugee convention. After the plan collapsed, Canberra reopened refugee processing centres on the Pacific nation of Nauru and Papua New Guineas Manus Island, which remain in operation. AFP THE toll from a car bomb explosion at a mosque in Suq Wadi Barada near Damascus on October 25 soared to at least 40, including seven children, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian government and opposition exchanged blame for the carnage in the town. Suq Wadi Barada is under rebel control and ringed by troops loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The toll from a car bomb explosion that detonated after Friday prayers in Suq Wadi Barada has risen to 40, including seven children and a woman, said the Observatory. The number of dead is likely to rise because there are dozens of wounded, most of them in critical condition, it added. State news agency SANA had earlier reported the blast, blaming terrorists, the term the Assad regime uses for forces fighting to oust it. The opposition National Coalition meanwhile blamed the Assad regime for the massacre caused by what it said were two car bombs placed outside the Osama Bin Zeid mosque in Suq Wadi Barada. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited. a company incorporated in Australia of Level 15, 2 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, Victoria 3006, AUSTRALIA, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following Trade Mark:-

DEVONDALE
Reg.No.IV/10719/2013 in respect of Class 29: Foodstuffs and beverages in this class; dairy products; milk and milk products; low fat milk, milk beverages (milk predominating), flavoured milk, flavoured milk beverages, chocolate flavoured milk beverages, coffee flavoured milk beverages, milk-based beverages with added fruit, skimmed milk, semi-skimmed milk, high calcium milk (not for medical purposes), ultra-heat treated (UHT) milk, long life milk, milk with added dietary supplements (not for medical purposes), powdered milk (not for babies); cheese, reduced fat cheese; sliced cheese, grated cheese; low fat cheese; butter, salt-reduced butter, dairy spreads, salt-reduced dairy spreads, low fat dairy spreads, low fat dairy spreads with added dietary supplements (not for medical purposes); cream, thickened cream, long life cream, sour cream, long life sour cream, whipped cream, buttercream; curd; desserts made from milk products (except ice cream and frozen yoghurt); whey; yoghurt, fruit-flavoured yoghurt, yoghurt containing pulped fruits, milk protein for human consumption; lactose-free milk products; dairy-based products in this class; dairy-based sports nutrition products; dairybased sports nutrition products in powder, capsule or tablet form; dairy-based ingredients for sports nutrition products; dairy-based powders; whey-based powders; dairy-based powders with added protein; milk proteins; dairy-based beverages; protein powders for human consumption; lactose-free milk; lactose-free cheese; lactose-free dairy spreads; lactose-free cream; lactosefree yoghurt; whey protein. Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said Trade Mark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. Khine Khine U, Advocate LL.B, D.B.L, LL.M (UK) For Sergio Rossi S.p.A #205/5, Thirimingalar Hous; Strand Rd, Yangon. Dated. October 28, 2013

Rescue Party (CNRP) attend a demonstration at position supporters staged a demonstration amid an Prime Minister Hun Sens nearly three-decade rule,

BRUSSELS

France, Germany demand talks with United States to settle spying rules
FRANCE and Germany want talks to agree to new rules for intelligence relations with the United States by the end of the year after US eavesdropping on German Chancellor Angela Merkels mobile, the EU announced on October 25. The leaders of the 28-state European Union took note of the intention of France and Germany to seek bilateral talks with the United States on what their secret services should and should not do, EU President Herman Van Rompuy told a press conference after a first night of summit talks. The demand from Berlin and Paris, on the back of anger in Brazil and Mexico at agents listening in on their leaders calls too, comes with the aim of finding before the end of the year an understanding on mutual relations in that field. Mr Van Rompuy said other countries could participate alongside Berlin and Paris should they wish, and underlined that British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed with the text as it stands. He added, Of course the UK has a special relationship ... but they are completely on board. Citing deep concern among European citizens after fresh newspaper revelations in Britain claiming 35 international leaders had private calls monitored like Ms Merkel, Mr Van Rompuy said that intelligencegathering remains a vital element in the fight against terrorism. But Mr Van Rompuy stressed that the new understanding the Europeans want applies to relations between European countries as well as to relations with the US. A lack of trust could jeopardise the necessary cooperation in the field of intelligence gathering, he said, adding that a partnership with Washington must be based on respect and trust including as concerns the work and cooperation of secret services. French President Francois Hollande told reporters that a special European cell was already set up to deal with a wave of disclosures concerning Americas ultrasecret National Security Agency from fugitive ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. These experts have to accelerate their work with our American allies, Mr Hollande said, because this is a subject which is not going away. We know there will be more revelations, he said. AFP

German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks at a joint press conference on October 25, 2013, in Brussels. Photo: AFP

32 World International
MOUNT VICTORIA

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Volunteer fire corps vs Australias blazes

GRANT Aitken was just 12 years old when the Rural Fire Service came knocking at his Blue Mountains school west of Sydney, delivering a talk that would change his life. Though he wasnt allowed to start active duties until he was 16, Mr Aitken decided then and there to join Australias volunteer firefighting corps, one of some 70,000 unpaid men and women on the front line of the nations regular fire emergencies. He saw his first action as a teenager just one year after commencing duties in 1997, when he took time out between exams to battle an inferno at Oberon to the west of the mountains. Really I just wanted to help, he said, adding that he joined the local fire brigade after seeing the dramatic consequences of blazes. I remember in 1994, when I was a bit younger, the Grose [Valley] going up, and as a kid watching the public panic. So in 97, when I was old enough to join, I was straight in there to sign up. Three times the size of Australias serving military, the Rural Fire Service the New South Wales state organisation with sister groups in Australias seven other states and territories is the backbone of firefighting operations during Australias dangerous summer months. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been a volunteer firefighter with the RFS for a decade and helped locals with firefighting operations last weekend. Employers are required by law to release members from their day jobs when there are fires burning and most people particularly those in bush areas know someone who serves in the RFS. Now 31, and with some 16 years experience, Mr Aitken is a deputy captain. The mixed blessing of being between jobs meaning he is one of the first on call. He has been on rotating shifts for a week after a sudden firestorm swept through parts of the mountains, razing more than 200 homes. He was on the ground that day battling to save homes. Thursday and Friday [last week] down at Winmalee, that was actually pretty horrific. The fire ran hot. It ran hard and we were pretty much trying to get everywhere, it was a bit hectic, he told AFP. Its hard to describe, because youve got the heat off the fire plus the heat off the weather. Its extremely hot and its exhausting work. I cant really describe it. Its one of those situations where youve got to be there to experience it. On days like those Mr Aitken runs on adrenaline and it isnt until some four or five days later that he says the stress and trauma hit home. There are RFS chaplains the crews can talk to but Mr Aitken says his way of coping is to talk things through with his family, particularly his wife who is also a firefighter. Friendship with his fellow crew members is also vital, both on and off duty. Its very important because if you dont have that camaraderie out there on the fire front and you cant trust the person next to you, thats when bad

Volunteer firefighter Grant Aitken works in a division command vehicle coordinating communications between crews on the ground and Rural Fire Service headquarters, in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. Photo: AFP

Volunteer firefighters look out over the escarpment from the Mt York fire area near Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains, roughly 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Sydney, on October 23, 2013. Photo: AFP

things happen, he said. Mr Aitken is manning the communications caravan at Mount Victoria, relaying messages between crews on the ground and operational headquarters a psychologically testing task on high-risk days like Wednesday last week, with gale-force winds and intense heat hampering crews battling several major blazes in the Blue Mountains. As is the case with many RFS crews, Mr Aitken has left his own property at Woodford, in the path of those fires, to

complete his volunteer duties. He is pragmatic about the dangers. For people who live in these communities fires always going to be a part of their lives because we live in a bushfire-prone area, he said. All too often in wildfire emergencies RFS volunteers who have abandoned their homes to protect others do lose everything, and Mr Aitken said it is hard to describe that feeling, what you feel for the guys. Its one of those things you just dont want to think about. AFP

IN BRIEF
Jakarta Greenpeace slams palm oil giant supplying Oreo, Gillette
Oreo cookies and Gillette shaving cream are among products driving the destruction of Indonesias forests, Greenpeace said on October 22, accusing agri-giant Wilmar International for supplying dirty palm oil to make the grocery items. In its report Licence to Kill, Green peace said that Singapore-based Wil mar, the worlds biggest palm oil processor, was sourcing its oil from illegally cleared land and destroying the habitat of critically endangered Sumatran tigers. Greenpeace said Wilmar was continuing to source palm fruit from plantations on illegally cleared land within Sumatra islands protected Tesso Nilo National Park.

Puerto Princesa 13 Vietnamese poachers arrested in Philippines over sea turtles

Thirteen Vietnamese fishermen were arrested after being found in Philippine waters with a haul of protected sea turtles, police said on October 21. The fishermen were caught off the western Philippine island of Palawan, in waters near the South China Sea where authorities say foreign poaching of endangered or protected species has become a major problem. In recent years, Philippine authorities have frequently caught foreigners, often Chinese, catching or buying sea turtles in the waters off Palawan.

Sydney Canberra becomes first city in Australia to allow gay marriage

Australias national capital on October 22 passed legislation making it the first place in the country to allow gay marriage and said a legal challenge from the federal government would not stop same-sex weddings. Same-sex unions are available in a majority of Australian states but because marriage comes under federal legislation these couples are not formally recognised as married by the government. AFP

www.mmtimes.com
ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON

Asia-Pacific World 33

US Asia pivot strengthening: Admiral

THE United States has significantly increased its warships and aircraft deployed in Asia despite Washingtons budget woes, adding punch to its pivot to the region, a senior naval commander said. Rear Admiral Mark C Montgomery, commander of an aircraft carrier strike group home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan, said the expanded military presence would have a calming effect on simmering tensions and territorial disputes in the region. The strategic rebalancing has resulted in an extremely higher number of surface combatants, cruisers and destroyers that support the strike group, Mr Montgomery told AFP in an interview on October 23 aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the South China Sea. What weve seen is an increase in surface combatant presence here in the Western Pacific ... so these ships are spread throughout those areas, he said, in the interview at the flag bridge of the nuclear-powered supercarrier as fighter jets took off and landed on the deck as part of drills. Having more ships gives us more presence. It allows us to have a greater force. Mr Montgomery said US defence budget cuts and the recent 16-day partial US government shutdown have not affected his command. The shutdown forced President Barack Obama to skip two Asian summits in October, triggering concerns about the extent of US commitment to the region as China becomes more assertive. Operations and maintenance decisions have not affected us. The strategic rebalance is continuing in earnest, the admiral said. We have sufficient funds for our operations ... There is in fact a strategic rebalancing in place that has resulted in more ships and aircraft being out here, he added. Last year, then-United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in Singapore that the Pentagon would shift 60 percent of US naval assets to the Pacific region by 2020 as part of an Asian pivot. Mr Montgomery, a 25-year veteran in the US Navy, said ships and planes from San Diego, California and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii are being deployed to Asia for up to eight months as part of the rebalancing. That gives me a lot more flexibility, a lot more presence, he said. Mr Montgomery commands Carrier Strike Group Five from the nuclearpowered George Washington, which was in international waters in the South China Sea on October 23 when The George Washington heads the largest carrier strike group and the only one home-ported outside the US. It operates in three theatres, including the waters off the Korean Peninsula where tensions between North and South Korea are simmering. It also operates in the sea off Japan where Tokyo and Beijing are locked in a territorial dispute, and in the South China Sea, where China and four Southeast Asian states as well as Taiwan have overlapping claims over territories. Mr Montgomerys carrier strike group held military exercises with South Korea and Japan off the Korean peninsula this month, sparking a sharp rebuke from Pyongyang which denounced the drills as a serious military provocation and an attack on our efforts for peace. Last week the group was cruising the South China Sea while holding smaller military exercises with both the Malaysian navy and air force and later in the month with its Singaporean allies. Im an element of any contingency response. I think a carrier strike group is always a critical element of it, Mr Montgomery said, when asked about the role of his command in any military conflict in the region. China claims almost all the waters in the South China Sea, including those approaching the shores of smaller countries like the Philippines, a former US colony with which Washington has a mutual defence treaty. Manila, which is the most vocal in criticising Chinas alleged aggressive moves in the sea, and Washington are in talks over a deal that will expand US military presence in the Philippines, which evicted fixed US military bases in the early 1990s. Mr Montgomery said the increased US military presence in the region is a stabilising factor. Presence always has an assuring and calming effect, he said. AFP

The strategic rebalancing has resulted in an extremely higher number of surface combatants, cruisers and destroyers that support the strike group.
Rear Admiral Mark C Montgomery US Navy

journalists and other visitors were flown in from Singapore. A carrier strike group packs a powerful punch as it comprises an aircraft carrier, backed by at least one guided missile cruiser, a destroyer, a supply ship and a fast attack submarine. It is a key element in the US strategy of projecting its military power across the world.

This photograph taken on October 24, 2013 in the South China Sea shows a US navy crew member looking through a telescope on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. Photo: AFP

SEOUL

Mongolia to visit NK
MONGOLIAS president will visit Pyongyang next week, becoming the first head of state to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un since he came to power nearly two years ago. A spokesman for Mongolias foreign ministry in Ulan Bator said President Tsakhia Elbegdorj would visit North Korea from October 28. He declined to provide any other details of the trip. Increasingly isolated within the international community over its nuclear program, the impoverished North had asked Mongolia in April to help provide food aid. In November last year, Japan and North Korea had senior-level talks in the Mongolian capital about the issue of North Koreas abduction of Japanese nationals, and Japanese media reported that Mr Elbegdorj might raise the issue during his visit. The presidents trip marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Mongolia was the second country to formally recognise North Korea after the Soviet Union. Kim Jong-Un took over the reins of power in North Korea following the death of his father, Kim Jong-Il, in December 2011. His highest-ranking foreign visitor to date was Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao who attended celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in July. AFP

34 World International
UNICEF Myanmar Vacancy Notice - Temporary Appointments (364 days) (For Myanmar Nationals only) Post Title: Communication for Development Officer, based in Yangon. Level: NO-B with good benefits Purpose: To provide technical support and assistance in the design, formulation, management, execution, monitoring and evaluation of behavioural change and community mobilization and visibility strategy and plan of action in support of birth registration. Requirements:   Advanced University degree in relevant field, e.g., communications, public health, social sciences or a related field combined with relevant experience;  At least three years professional work experience in communication, advocacy and development work;  Possess three years of demonstrated experience in behaviour change communication, community activities, development of communication materials and social research;  Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization; Experience in child-focused programming important; Prior experience within UNICEF/UN context a plus; Fluency in English and local working language. Detailed Terms of Reference for the position may be requested in writing to HR Unit (email: 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 candidates are encouraged to apply. 4. UNICEF is a smoke free environment. 5. Only those candidates whose qualifications and experience are of further interest will be contacted for subsequent test/interview.

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Kenya army took goods in mall siege for safekeeping

KENYAN troops accused of ransacking Nairobis Westgate shopping mall during last months massacre by Islamist gunmen took goods only to ensure their safety, the army chief said October 22. Shop owners including a top-end jewellery store as well as others selling mobile telephones, watches, cameras, expensive suits and lingerie said their stores were completely looted. But speaking in front of the parliamentary committee investigating the four-day siege in which at least 67 people died, army chief Julius Karangi insisted officers did not loot, and took drinks from the supermarket only to quench their thirst. Explaining other goods taken, Mr Karangi called it sanitisation to ensure their safety. Several business owners told AFP that they locked their premises before escaping from the mall only to find them ransacked and with valuables missing when they were allowed back in after the siege. Security camera footage from the mall released over the weekend shows soldiers carrying white plastic bags out of the supermarket, shortly after the al-Qaedalinked Shabaab gunmen carried out a shooting spree, executing children in the shopping aisles. Footage from the second day of the siege, when only the army had access to the mall, shows individual uniformed soldiers putting their guns down in order to have both hands free to ransack shops. Kenyas police chief has threatened

NAIROBI

AKenyan hawker sells DVD movies on the Westgate Mall terrorist attack on October 23, 2013, a month after it happened in Nairobi. Photo: AFP

journalists with arrest after they reported on looting and disarray among security forces during the massacre. Police Inspector General David Kimaiyo told reporters it is very clear that there is [a] limit to media freedom. We are looking within the law very closely for those individuals who in one way or another might have committed crimes ... soon they would be apprehended and appear before the court, and face the consequences of this, he said. Journalists fromKenyas KTN televi-

sion station which like other media outlets has reported widely on the ransacking of the upmarket shopping mall as soldiers battled Islamist gunmen in the four-day siege last month are among those threatened with arrest. You need not inciteKenyans, you need not to distribute or issue statements that can amount to hate speech, and you need not issue statements or reports that could affect the life of another person, Mr Kimaiyo added. AFP

Qualified candidates may submit application with updated CV to UNICEF Myanmar Office to: jobs.yangon@unicef.org Closing date: 4th November, 2013

MANILA

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Engelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG a company organized and existing under the laws of Germany with offices at D-61138 Niederdorfelden, Herzbergstr. 3, Germany, is the Owner and Sole Proprietor of the following trade mark:

Lifestyle diseases are new threat to Asia: WHO

ASIA-PACIFIC countries face serious challenges from lifestyle diseases and ageing populations, the World Health Organizations regional director said on October 21. Western Pacific WHO director Shin Young-soo said such ailments, often arising from a change in diets and less exercise, were sharply rising in Asian nations. He said recent studies showed that as many as 12 percent of Chinese adults had diabetes, while as many as 50pc had a pre-diabetes condition, meaning they were on the borderline of developing the illness. This was a huge jump from the estimated 3pc to 4pc diabetics in Chinas adult population in the 1990s. About 10pc of adults in countries like South Korea, Japan and even Vietnam also had diabetes, Mr Shin told reporters at a WHO regional meeting in the Philippine capital. It is because of the big change in our diets in the last 30-40 years time. There is also a very interesting observation that Asian people ... tend to have more diabetes than Western people, he said. We must have behaviour change. The whole society must tackle the issue, Mr Shin said. Other non-communicable ailments like hypertension and high cholesterol were also on the increase despite the fact that they could all be prevented, he said. Mr Shin said countries such as some Pacific island nations were experiencing diabetes among 40pc of adults while 75 to 80pc were suffering from obesity. Over many years, this will lead to huge healthcare costs. Societies will lose this productive labour power, he warned. AFP

The said Trade Mark consists of a device of leaf. The above Trade Mark is used in respect of the following description of goods, that is to say: Class 5 Pharmaceutical preparations, in particular antitussives, expectorants and preparations for treating diseases of the respiratory tract and the bronchia; veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic substances adapted for medical use. manufactured, imported, sold by or on behalf of Engelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG in the Union of Myanmar. That a Declaration of Ownership in respect of the said Trade Mark has been registered in the Office of the Sub-Registrar, Yangon, on the day of 24th June, 2013 under No. IV/6334/2013. WARNING is hereby given that any fraudulent imitation, unauthorised or improper use of the said Trade Mark or other infringement of the rights of Engelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG in any manner whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. Dated this 28th day of October, 2013. U Kyi Win Associates for Engelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG 53-55 Maha Bandoola Garden Street P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Yangon

WHO Director Dr. Shin Young-soo listens at a press conference on October 21, 2013. Photo: AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

H100
(Reg: Nos. IV/5267/ 2010 & IV/10565/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

HYUNDI ione
(Reg: Nos. IV/2644/ 2010 & IV/10564/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

www.mmtimes.com
TEHRAN

International World 35

Iran spares survivor of execution hanging

IRAN has decided to spare the life of a convicted drug trafficker who survived a hanging, media reports on October 23 quoted Justice Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi as saying. The reports follow calls from within Iran and international rights groups against the man found alive in a morgue being executed a second time. The convict who survived [the death penalty] will not be executed again, Mr Pour-Mohammadi said on October 22 in remarks reported by the official IRNA news agency. All judicial affairs and decisions in the Islamic republic rest with the judiciary, which constitutionally operates independently from the government. The convict, identified only as Alireza M, 37, was pronounced dead earlier this month by the attending doctor after hanging for 12 minutes from a noose at a jail in northeast Iran. But the next day, staff at the mortuary in the city of Bojnourd where his shrouded body was taken discovered he was still breathing. Mr Pour-Mohammadi implied that a second execution would be damaging for Irans image. If he survives, it is not expedient to hang him again, said the minister. AFP

Drones legal, US argues

THE United States hit back on October 22 at charges that its drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen violate international law, arguing that criticism from rights groups does not reflect events on the ground. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both released reports on October 22, detailing civilian casualties in a number of US operations in Pakistan and Yemen. The two groups said the drone strikes they examined appeared to fall short of international laws, and Amnesty suggested that attacks in Pakistan over the last two years may have resulted in unlawful killings that constitute extrajudicial executions or war crimes. Amnesty, citing NGO and Pakistani government sources, said it appeared between 400 to 900 civilians had been killed in more than 300 strikes from 2004 to September. But the watchdog stressed it could not confirm the figures, because the US refuses to release detailed information about individual strikes. According to Human Rights Watch, the US has carried out 80 targeted operations in Yemen since 2009, including strikes from drones, warplanes and cruise missiles killing at least 473 people. We are reviewing these reports carefully, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, on the eve of talks between President Barack Obama and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. To the extent these reports claim that the US has acted contrary to international law, we would strongly disagree. The administration has repeatedly emphasised the extraordinary care that we take to make sure counterterrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable law. Mr Carney also said that by deciding to use drone aircraft against terror suspects, rather than sending in troops or using other weapons, Washington was choosing the course of action least likely to result in the loss of innocent life. The State Department also took issue with the figures on civilian deaths, saying there was a wide gap between the US assessment of casualties and the numbers cited in the reports. Although unwilling to provide US figures in order to protect their sources, State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf insisted Washingtons figures were more accurate. The intelligence community has a lot of streams of information it gets some classified, some from very sensitive platforms, Ms Harf told reporters in a heated briefing. Such information went to US analysts, and thats a much more complete picture than any one or two groups would have just from

WASHINGTON

IN BRIEF
Bandar Seri Begawan Sultan of Brunei introduces tough Islamic punishments
The Sultan of Brunei on October 22 announced the phased introduction of tough Islamic punishments including death by stoning for crimes such as adultery, in the monarchys latest step towards conservatism. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah one of the worlds wealthiest men said in a speech that a new Sharia Penal Code which has been in the works for years had been gazetted October 22 and would come into force six months hereafter and in phases. Based on the details of particular cases, punishments can include stoning to death for adulterers, severing of limbs for theft and flogging for violations ranging from abortion to consumption of alcohol, according to a copy of the code.

Sanaa Yemen teen burned to death for meeting fiance: police

Pakistani Christian minority leader J Salik (right) holds a placard during a protest on October 21, 2013, against USdroneattacks.Photo: AFP

talking to folks on the ground. We do believe our numbers are more accurate, she insisted, although conceded that many areas where drone strikes happen are remote and hard to access. Mr Sharif called on the US to end the drone attacks, which he called a major irritant in ties. AFP

A 15-year-old Yemeni girl has been burned to death for allegedly meeting her fiance before their wedding, police said on October 22, adding that her father was the chief suspect. Prosecutors have charged the 35-year-old over the death of his daughter in the village of Shabaa in the southern highland province of Taez. Killings of daughters, wives or sisters to punish perceived breaches of family honour are not uncommon in Yemen, despite international pressure for more effective action by the authorities to protect women. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

(Reg: Nos. IV/2641/ 2010 & IV/10566/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

HYUNDAI i20

(Reg: Nos. IV/2639/ 2010 & IV/10570/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

HYUNDAI i25

(Reg: Nos. IV/5268/ 2010 & IV/10568/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

HYUNDAI i30

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY a company organized under the laws of Korea (South) and having its principal office at 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul, Korea (South) is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

(Reg: Nos. IV/2640/ 2010 & IV/10571/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

HYUNDAI i35

(Reg: Nos. IV/2638/ 2010 & IV/10569/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

HYUNDAI i40

(Reg: Nos. IV/2642/ 2010 & IV/10567/2013) In respect of: International class 12 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

HYUNDAI i45

www.mmtimes.com

International World 37 IN BRIEF

Vatican City Bling bishop called to explain himself to pope
A big-spending German Cath olic bishop was suspended by the Vatican after controversy over his high-roller lifestyle. Bishop of Limburg FranzPeter Tebartz-van Elst, dubbed the bling bishop by the press for his extravagances, was received by Pope Francis after a tense weeks wait in Rome. A Vatican statement confirmed the audience but did not offer any further details. Bishop Tebartz-van Elst hit the headlines following accusations he took a business-class ticket on a trip to India and squandered money on luxuries. His private quarters in a brand-new bishops palace are reported to have cost about 2.9 million euros (US$3.9 million) and included a 63-square-metre dining room and a 15,000euro bathtub.

Serbians buy solidarity meal for needy poor

EVERY morning at rush hour in a Belgrade bakery, Lidija Milanovic buys her usual breakfast two croissants. But she takes only one, leaving the other for someone who cannot afford it. In Serbia, a country hard-hit by the economic crisis, three young internet workers have launched a website to help the poor which calls on citizens to buy an additional solidarity meal that will be offered to those in need. Its great that someone has found such a simple way to help people, without spending a lot of time or energy, said Ms Milanovic, a 37-year-old businesswoman who learned about the initiative on social networks. Jovana Bogavac, a high-school student queueing behind Ms Milanovic, was curious about what was going on. After hearing an explanation of the project called Solidarity Grub [Solidarna Klopica] she decided to join in. A great idea! In this neighbourhood I often see people digging in garbage cans for food, but I didnt feel comfortable approaching them to offer help. This is the way to do it, she said. Official statistics show that 9.2 percent of Serbias 7.2 million people live in absolute poverty, on less than 1 euro (US$1.35) a day. Almost one-fifth of the population lives on less than 4 euros a day. For children, the number living in absolute poverty rises to 12.2pc, and 6.2pc suffer from malnutrition. Solidarity Grub was started in April by three 20-something employees at internet portal Kioskpages.com, an online catalogue of goods, services and special promotions. They say they were inspired by an online video about people in Italy leaving coffees for the homeless. We liked the idea, coordinator Nina Milos, 24, told AFP. They wanted to offer more so we opted for food. The trio first contacted bakeries, since they wanted lots of people to participate and baked goods are relatively affordable. So far some 60 bakeries have joined in

BELGRADE

Beijing China rail employees punished after spending $137m on receptions

Eight employees of Chinas largest railway building firm have been punished for spending more than US$137 million on receptions, state media reported October 22, the latest move in the leaderships muchpublicised anti-corruption drive. The state-run Global Times newspaper did not give details of the punishment but said another 57 employees of the state-owned China Railway Construction Corporation have been reprimanded, and one faces prosecution. According to the companys March 2012 annual report, CRCC spent 837 million yuan ($137 million) on receptions in one year equivalent to about 10 percent of its 2012 profits. AFP

A Belgrade bakery participates in an initiative called Solidary Grub. Photo: AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that BTC International Limited a company organized under the laws of British Virgin Islands and having its principal office at 4th Floor, Ellen Skelton Building, 3076 Drakes Highway, P.O. Box 3444, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademarks:-

the initiative. Surprisingly, in a country where the unemployment rate stands at 24pc, the action has spread.

Percent of Serbian children living in absolute poverty

12.2

This project is successful because it doesnt require much personal engagement, and the costs are minimal, said psychologist Anika Stojanovic. Also, as previous experience has shown us, people with the lowest or

lower income react faster and stronger to projects like this, because they can imagine themselves in such a needy situation. The most difficult part has been getting out the information to potential users, who have little internet access. To spread the word, the organisers have arranged for large displays publicising the project as well as advertising in free newspapers and networking with homeless shelters and advocacy groups. They have also appealed to local residents to tell the homeless people in their neighbourhood. Mirjana, a jobless mother of three whose family survives on her husbands modest construction workers wages, saw a television report on Solidarity Grub. Her family had been skipping meals and on some days didnt eat at all. Now we have at least one meal every day, said Mirjana, who is in her 40s and travels almost an hour to get free food. She said her family still depends on neighbours who give them food, but what the bakery provides is sometimes enough to cover two meals a day. AFP

BRITISHINDIA
(Reg: No. IV/4827/2013)

(Reg: No. IV/5812/2013)

MADRID

Changing times for long-lunching Spain

SPANISH lawmakers want to shift the country back a time zone and impose more healthy, family-friendly working hours, a tricky job in a land known for siestas and late-night partying. A typical Spaniards working day? Start at 9:00am, stop at 2:00pm to eat until four or five, then start again and work until about 8:00pm, says Nuria Chinchilla, a specialist in work and family life at Spains IESE Business School. No one expects you home before 9:00pm. Some warn this lifestyle which dates from around the 1940s when poor Spaniards would work two jobs to make ends meet is harming their personal lives now. It leads to a lower quality of life, less time spent with the family, lower birth rates, more accidents at work and more school drop-outs because children go to bed too late, the economist says. Her words echo warnings in a report recently approved by parliament, which called for Spain to turn back its clocks, jumping west an hour to the same time zone as Britain and Portugal. Despite lying far to the west of Europe in a line with those countries, mainland Spain has been in the same time zone as central Europe since 1942, when Francisco Francos fascist government adopted it in line with Nazi Germany. Ignacio Buqueras, chairman of the commission that drew up the report, said Spain needs a rational timetable ... eight hours for work, eight hours for rest and eight hours for other activities. The fact that Spain for more than 71 years has not been in the correct time zone causes us to get up too early and sleep on average one hour less than the time recommended by the World Health Organization, said his report. Our timetable is determined more by the sun than by the clock. We eat at 1 oclock in the afternoon and dine at 8, according to the sun, but the clock says it is 3 oclock and 10 oclock, the text said. Shifting the time zone would give Spain more time for the family, for training, for personal life and leisure and would avoid wasted time during the workday, the report said. The report proposes that the government promote a more regular working day, with a maximum one-hour break for lunch, preferably from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, which would also make the mid-morning coffee break unnecessary. These old habits will be hard to break, however. The shake-up would be particularly difficult in the current economic crisis, when for economic reasons, salaries are being cut and workdays are getting longer, says Angels Valls, a researcher in labour relations at the business school ESADE. It is a cultural matter, and the historical roots are hard to change. AFP

(Reg: No. IV/5811/2013) The above three trademarks are in respect of:Clothing, footwear; blouses; tank tops; shirts; polo shirts; T-shirts; sweat shirts; sweat pants; sweaters; pullovers; cardigans; jackets (clothing); vests; coats; dresses; suits; trousers; pants; jeans; skirts; jump suits (clothing); knitted clothing; woven articles of clothing; sports garments (other than golf gloves); camisoles; sleeping garments; pyjamas; loungewear; shawls; scarves; neckties; gloves (clothing); swim suits; underwear; socks; tights; leggings [trousers]; stocking; shoes; sandals; boots; slippers; thongs (footwear); hats; caps (headwear); headbands (clothing); belts (clothing). Class: 25 Business management; business administration; office functions; administration of business affairs; the bringing together, for the benefit of others, of a variety of goods (excluding the transport thereof), enabling customers to conveniently view and purchase those goods in a retail store and from a general merchandise web site in the global communications network; retail services; wholesale service; business advisory services relating to the establishment of franchises; provision of assistance (business) in the operation of franchises; procurement services for others (purchasing goods and services for other businesses); import-export agency services; consultancy, advisory and information services in relation to the aforesaid services. Class: 35 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 BTC International Limited P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

A man rests during the harvest at a vineyard of the winery Raul Calvo in Gumiel de Mercado, region de Ribera del Duero, near Burgos, on October 19, 2013. Photo: AFP

38 World International

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Madagascars lemurs at risk

IMMORTALISED in the hit cartoon Madagascar, real-life lemurs face extinction within 20 years short of drastic action to tackle the poverty driving islanders to poach the primates and destroy their habitat. Each year that passes hastens the decline of the saucer-eyed animals, as the Indian Ocean islands people struggle for survival amid a drawn-out political crisis. As long as there is poverty, we cant expect to prevent the lemurs extinction, said primatologist Jonah Ratsimbazafy from the University of Antananarivo. Cast as a lovable bunch in the Madagascar movies, lemurs occur in the wild only on the island, having evolved separately from their cousins the African ape over millions of years. Madagascar is home to 105 different species of lemur, accounting for 20 percent of the worlds species of primate, in an area spanning less than 1pc of the global habitat of all primates. But crop-burning and wildfires destroy 200,000 hectares of Madagascars forest a year. And the 13pc of its natural forest that remains may disappear within a generation, according to Mr Ratsimbazafy. If this rate of deforestation continues you could say that within 20 to 25 years there wont be any forest left, so no lemurs either, he said. Of the 105 known lemur species, 93 are on the endangered list. An estimated 92pc of Madagascars people live on less than a US$2 a day, and social conditions have worsened on the island since its leader Andry Rajoelina seized power in 2009 with the help of the army. Most foreign aid was suspended, bringing the economy to its knees and putting the country at risk of a food crisis a situation exacerbated by a locust plague this year. Locals eke out a living where they can including by looting precious woods, minerals and lemurs from the forest around them. Small-scale woodcutters also hunt the animals for food while searching for rosewood, according to Tovonanahary Rasolofoharivelo, another primate expert. Often they dont bring enough to eat and woodcutting is hard work, so they eat lemur meat because the animals are easier to catch than birds. Gold-diggers are pushing into the forest too, chipping away at the lemurs habitat. Rangers have to travel far, often camping on the way, to track the diggers, said a guide from the Ranomafana National Park in the southeast of the island. There are many gold prospectors in the park. You can earn up to 100,000 ariary ($46) per gram of gold, said the guide, who asked not to be named. And all the while, crop fields are steadily encroaching on the forest, a little more each year. In tropical countries like Madagascar the soil is very, very poor, explained Mr Ratsimbazafy. One year a farmer plants here, next year he moves, again, and again, and afterwards you have deforestation, the desert. AFP

RANOMAFANA

MOSCOW

Russia drops Greenpeace piracy charges

RUSSIA said on October 23 it had reduced piracy charges against the detained crew of Greenpeaces Arctic Sunrise protest ship to hooliganism, which carries a slightly lighter sentence of seven years. The Investigative Committee said it had taken the decision to reclassify the crime as hooliganism. Russia early this month charged all 30 crewmembers of the ship with piracy after they attempted to scale a state-owned oil platform in a protest against drilling in the Arctic. The piracy charge against the crewmembers, who come from 18 different countries, attracted international criticism. They faced up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of piracy, while the new charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in a penal colony. All 30 are being held in prison pending trial after Russian border guards towed their ship to the northern city of Murmansk.
BrazilianGreenpeace International activist Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel poses during her bail hearing at the Murmansk Regional Court in Russia. Photo: AFP

The Committee said the crew were charged with acting in a group and with using objects as weapons. Russia also charged music collective Pussy Riot with hooliganism

fter they carried out a peaceful proa test against President Vladimir Putin in a Moscow church. Three of the Pussy Riot members were sentenced to two years in a penal colony. AFP

WASHINGTON

US police kill teenager carrying pellet gun

CALIFORNIAN police have shot dead a 13-year-old boy who was carrying a pellet gun that looked like an assault rifle, police and media reports said.

The child, identified as Andy Lopez and described in media reports as popular in his school, was walking down a street on October 22 when sheriffs deputies saw him carrying what appeared to be a rifle. They ordered him to drop it and and at some point immediately thereafter, the deputies fired several rounds from their handguns at the subject striking him several times, according to a statement from the Sonoma county sheriffs office. Once the scene was secured deputies learned that the rifle was a replica of an assault weapon.

Local media reported the victim was 13 years old. Police did not confirm this but hinted at his youth in a statement of condolence. As a father of two boys about this age, I cant begin to imagine the grief this family is going through, said the statement from Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas. The shooting on October 22 has shocked the local community in the city of Santa Rosa, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) northwest of San Francisco. The latest chapter in the epidemic of gun violence in the United States came a day after a 12-year-old boy in Nevada opened fire at his school, killing a teacher, wounding two students and ultimately killing himself. AFP

ZURICH

Switzerlands first sex drive-in a success

SWITZERLANDS first sex drive-in, which opened two months ago in a bid to take prostitution off Zurichs streets, has been a success, the city said on October 22.

A male Indri Indrilemur looks from a tree as he feeds on leaves in a nature reserve in Andasibe, Madagascar.Photo: AFP

After two months I can say that this guarded prostitution site is working, Michael Herzig, director of social services for sex workers, said. Zurich opened the fenced-in site, which is only accessible by car, in an industrial sector on the outskirts of

town in August. The drive-in, approved by 52.6 percent of Zurich voters in a March 2012 referendum, has a track where the sex workers can show off their assets and negotiate a price, and nine so-called sex boxes where they and their clients can park and conclude the transaction. Machines resembling parking metres have been installed. The prostitutes are required to contribute 5.0

Swiss francs (US$5.40) each night in taxes to help Zurich cover the cost of running the place. Security guards are on hand to ensure there is only one man in each car coming in, as well alarm buttons in each sex box, on-site doctors and social workers. We did not have any major problems, such as with pimps, violence or the neighbourhood, Mr Herzig said. AFP

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Chrysler Group LLC, a limited liability company, organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, of 1000 Chrysler Drive, City of Auburn Hills, State of Michigan 48326, United States of America, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that Colgate-Palmolive Company a company organized under the laws of United States of America and having its principal office at 300 Park Avenue, New York NY 10022 USA is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

TRADE MARK CAUTION

NOTICE is hereby given that WRZBURG HOLDING S.A. a company organized under the laws of Luxembourg and having its principal office at 38, boulevard Joseph ll, L-1840 Luxembourg is the owner and sole proprietor of the following trademark:-

Reg. No. 3153/1991 in respect of Motor vehicles, parts and accessories thereof. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for Chrysler Group LLC P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 28 October 2013

JEEP

(Reg: Nos. IV/2693/2003 & IV/10549/2013) In respect of: toothpaste Class: 3

COLGATE CAVITY PROTECTION/03/CRT

(Reg: Nos. IV/1829/ 2004 & IV/10554/2013) In respect of: Clothing articles, footwear, headgear Class: 25 Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for WRZBURG HOLDING S.A. P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

MARITHE ET FRANCOIS GIRBAUD

Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of the said trademark or other infringements whatsoever will be dealt with according to law. U Kyi Win Associates for Colgate-Palmolive Company P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon. Phone: 372416 Dated: 28th October, 2013

www.mmtimes.com
BAGRAM

International World 39

TRADE MARK CAUTION

MSD Oss B.V., a company incorporated in The Netherlands, of Kloosterstraat 6, 5349 AB OSS, The Netherlands, is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:-

Reg. No. 1729/2001 in respect of Medicines and pharmaceutical preparations for human use; oral contraceptives.

GRACIAL THYRAX

Reg. No. 1483/1997 in respect of Medicines and pharmaceutical preparations for human use (Intl Class 5). 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 MSD Oss B.V. P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 28 October 2013

An armoured vehicle is decommissioned in a scrapyard at Bagram Airfield. Photo: Javier Manzano for The Washington Post.

US military gear sold as scrap in Afghanistan

ARMOURED trucks, televisions, ice cream scoops and nearly everything else shipped here for Americas war against the Taliban are now part of the worlds biggest garage sale. Every week, as the US troop drawdown accelerates, the United States is selling 12 million to 14 million pounds (5.4 million to 6.4 million kilograms) of its equipment on the Afghan market. Returning that gear to the United States from a landlocked country halfway around the world would be prohibitively expensive, according to US officials. Instead, theyre leaving behind US$7 billion worth of supplies, a would-be boon to the fragile Afghan economy. But theres one catch: The equipment is being destroyed first to ensure that treadmills, air conditioning units and other rudimentary appliances arent used to make roadside bombs. Many non-military items have timing equipment or other components in them that can pose a threat. For example, timers can be attached to explosives. Treadmills, stationary bikes, many household appliances and devices, et cetera, have timers, said Michelle McCaskill, a spokesman for the Pentagons Defense Logistics Agency. That policy has produced more scrap metal than Afghanistan has ever seen. It has also led to frustration among Afghans, who feel as if theyre being robbed of items like flatpanel televisions and armoured vehicles that they could use or sell no small thing in a country where the average annual income hovers at just over $500. In a nation nicknamed the graveyard of empires, foreign forces are remembered for what they leave behind. In the 1840s, the British left forts that still stand today. In the 1980s, the Russians left tanks, trucks and aircraft strewn about the country. The United States is leaving heaps of mattresses, barbed wire and shipping containers in scrapyards near its shrinking bases. This is Americas dustbin, said Sufi Khan, a trader standing in the middle of an immense scrap yard outside Bagram Airfield, the US militarys sprawling headquarters for eastern Afghanistan. The scrapyard looks like a post-industrial landfill in the middle of the Afghan desert, a surreal outcropping of mangled metal and plastic. Theres a tower of treadmills 50 feet (15 metres) high and an acre of American buses, trucks and vans, stripped of seats and engines. An ambulance is perched unsteadily atop a pile of scrap, like it fell from the sky. A mountain of air conditioning units sits next to a mountain of truck axles. The Bagram scrapyard is owned by Feda Mohammad Ulfat, who helped build the neighbouring base more than a decade ago, transporting gravel and concrete. Now, Mr Ulfat is helping to dismantle the base, taking in thousands of kilograms of American scrap metal every day. I never imagined wed be getting this much stuff, he said. Not all of the equipment reaching the scrapyard was deliberately damaged: Some was already broken after a decade of use. Mr Ulfat decided several years ago that he would invest in it anyway. Some of his friends thought he was crazy, but Mr Ulfat had an idea: The expensive American gear could be melted and reconstituted as raw material for an Afghan building boom. Hed gotten rich on dozens of other contracts with the US military, and he assumed this would be no different. Over the past six months, Americas drawdown has reached a fever pitch in eastern Afghanistan, with dozens of bases being closed. The Pentagon has budgeted $5 billion to $7 billion to ship gear back to the United States. But that sum isnt enough to take everything. Wanting at least a small return on their investment, the US military decided to sell the leftovers for pennies on the pound. Hafizullah, an employee of Mr Ulfats who goes by one name, wandered through the scrapyard one day this month, overseeing the latest delivery, a mix of blast walls and carburetors. With Bagram still the most active base in eastern Afghanistan, aircraft flew over his head incessantly. One helicopter flew particularly close, hovering near the scrapyard. Mr Hafizullah pointed to the Black Hawk and laughed. I cant wait until they start selling those here, he said. The Washington Post

TRADE MARK CAUTION

SCG Trading Company Limited, a company incorporated in Thailand, of 1 Siam Cement Road, Bangsue Sub-district, Bangsue District, Bangkok, Thailand, is the Owner of the following Trade Mark:-

Reg. No. 7616/2013 in respect of Class 31: Seed. Fraudulent imitation or unauthorised use of the said Trade Mark will be dealt with according to law. Win Mu Tin, M.A., H.G.P., D.B.L for SCG Trading Company Limited P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 28 October 2013

TRADE MARK CAUTION

Sealy Technology LLC, (a North Carolina Limited Liability) of One Office Parkway, Trinity, North Carolina 27370, U.S.A., is the Owner of the following Trade Marks:-

A Black Hawk helicopter flies over a scrap yard. Photo: Javier Manzano for The Washington Post

IN BRIEF
Tokyo Japan whitening creams spark 15,000 complaints
More than 15,000 people in Japan have been left with skin blotches caused by a chemical contained in popular skinwhitening creams, the maker of the products said on October 22. Japanese cosmetics giant Kanebo said it had received 15,192 complaints from Japan from users of 54 products containing the whitening chemical Rhododenol, in what has become an escalating public relations nightmare for the company. A third of the complaints are from people with serious symptoms such as at least three blotches or a single patch of discolouration 5 centimetres (2 inches) or more in diametre the company said in a press release. More than 70 people abroad had reported a similar reaction, 54 of them in Taiwan and the others in Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand, a Kanebo spokeswoman said, adding there had been no complaints from mainland China.

Reg. No. 897/1965 Reg. No. 887/1990 Reg. No. 11629/2013 in respect of Mattresses and Sofa Beds, Studio Couches, and Upholstered Chairs.

Patna Principal charged with murder over 23 school meal deaths

Indian police charged a school principal and her husband with murder on October 21 over the deaths of 23 children who were poisoned by a midday meal which was contaminated with pesticide. The children, aged four to 12, fell ill within minutes of eating the lunch of lentils, potatoes and rice cooked at their primary school in a poverty-stricken village in

eastern Bihar state on July 16. The superintendent of police in Saran district, Varun Kumar Sinha, told AFP by pho ne that headteacher Meena Devi and her husband Arjun Rai faced at least five charges including murder and attempt to murder. Police believe the poisoning was done deliberately by the couple, who purchased pesticide two days ahead of the tragedy and then stored the lethal chemical in the same room as cooking items. AFP

Reg. No. 898/1965 Reg. No. 886/1990 Reg. No. 11628/2013 in respect of Mattresses and Box Springs.

POSTUREPEDIC

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 Sealy Technology LLC P. O. Box 60, Yangon E-mail: makhinkyi.law@mptmail.net.mm Dated: 28 October 2013

U
GE T

GERS O N I F N

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

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

IT

YO

Traditions tran
Indian Rangoli folk art celebrated in Yangon
Womens Association of Yangon, organised a traditional Rangoli contest on October 23 at the Indian Embassy auditorium in Kyauktada township. The women created intricate designs on the auditorium floor with coloured-grain rice, flower petals, dyes, glitter and seashells, displayed by candlelight. We feel quite nostalgic because some of us have been living here for so long. We revived the tradition so as to feel at home, IWAY president Shanngamla Thangal told The Myanmar Times at the event. When Myanmar people celebrated Thadingyut, we felt pretty homesick, she added. Rangoli signifies the victory of good over evil, expressed in flowery creations outside the door of the home. Reviving the old traditions helps us to remember, she said. Some IWAY members work at the Indian Embassy or for private companies and organisations, and some are spouses whose husbands are working here. Everyone enjoyed the Rangoli contest. When I told them we would organise it, they were excited, but wondered where they could get the colours and the

Indian expats living in Myanmar celebrate the time-old tradition of Rangoli. Photo: Zarni Phyo

ZON PANN PWINT

zonpann08@gmail.com

EATING homesickness, women came together last week to revive an age-old custom, creating a little piece of India in Myanmar. Members of the IWAY, the Indian

glitter, Ms Thangal said. But we found them around town easily enough. Prizes were awarded for the best displays, and some members performed a traditional dance. I was happy that my group won a prize, said Ma Sandar Win, a Hindu born in Myanmar. All the groups tried their best and the intricacy of each design was very attractive.

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse 41

Music labels try online sales

Myanmar music industry takes steps towards legal downloads
NUAM BAWI
hknuambawi@gmail.com

nsported
When the Myanmar people celebrated Thindingyut, we felt pretty homesick ... Reviving the old traditions helps us to remember

HE Myanmar Music Store is launching a new website on October 27, allowing music-lovers to finally purchase music online and legally. Industry experts said the music industry finally made the call after being plagued by piracy and receiving a massive drop in sales from illegal online downloads. While we are facing the difficulties of physical sales because of piracy, the practice of sharing through the internet continues to strike down the industry, Legacy Music Acadamys managing director, U Ko Ko Lwin said. Were taking the first measure to counter the drop in sales, but we are very late to do this in Myanmar. U Ko Ko Lwin said the shoddy distribution of music was also part of the problem. He said when an album was released on CD, it was difficult to monitor what was being pirated and where. For example, it is sure that there is no shop selling CDs in towns like Kawkareik or Ya Me Thin, he said. Theres no better way to monitor the distribution system, so there is no meaning in punishing people who are copying the material, he said. So to make it easier for all of us, if there is an internet or a mobile phone, they can easily buy songs through our website. U Ko Ko Lwin also said that artists who wanted to just sell singles could now do this via the online system. An option to buy singles is very convenient, not only for the producers but also for the singers, he explained. Its because some producers would like to test a new singer without producing one whole album. Then they can just test

by releasing one song and seeing what the result is like. Likewise, some older singers who want to re-launch their careers have the option of releasing a single at a time. That way, they can also keep in touch with their fans, U Ko Ko Lwin said. But some musicians say the online store wont immediately take off in this country. I dont think this will work well because there are still places that we can download for free, hip- hop artist, Kyaw Htut Swe told The Myanmar Times. If there is a place we can go and download without paying anything, everyone including me, will choose what they want to get for free. Only when we can clear all the free share websites, the online sales will be okay. He has no plans to sell on the online store for now, he said. The request to take down freeshare websites has been lodged by Legacy Music to a number of sites. Mediafire has already taken down their site as a result of us sending a formal request letter, U Ko Ko Lwin said. I hope the others follow suit. U Ko Ko Lwin said he is confident about the uptake of sales online as there is a large market from Myanmar expats overseas. But the site will be hosted separately for the local and international audiences, mainly due to copyright of cover songs by local artists (which will be available only in Myanmar) and processing of payments. In Myanmar, four options for payment are being offered: Gift card, Ypay [like a bank payment with a code to enter upon purchase], SMS and phone billing are now available, while international buyers can pay via PayPal. Fans can start purchasing music online from October 27, by visiting www.myanmarmusic store. com. For more information about payment options, visit www.facebook.com/myanmarmusicstore.

A music fan tests out the new online site, Myanmar Music Store. Photo: Zarni Phyo

42 the pulse
Living well in Myanmar

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Cough syrup for kids not so sweet

CHRISTOPH GELSDORF, MD

Fit at 40: Ethiopian running legend shares his secrets

AGED 40 but barely slowing down, Without pain, no gain. Ethopian running legend Haile He sticks to a strict diet and Gebrselassie says his enduring shuns Western, processed foods. presence in international athletics The Haile diet is no fad, being has nothing to do with fancy foods made up of Ethiopias staple injera or the latest gizmos. an iron-rich, fermented pancake The key ingredient, he said, is plus lots of lean, raw meat. His in the mind. home country also provides him You have to have three things: with an ideal location to train, he discipline, commitment and hard said, with its temperate weather work, said Gebrselassie, a double and high altitude. Olympic gold medallist in the Despite nearing retirement age, 10,000 metres, four-time World he continues to run competitively, Champion over the same distance racing alongside much younger and two-time world record-breaker competitors, including last month in the marathon. when he finished a close third It is this discipline which drives behind his compatriot Kenenisa Gebrselassie to train twice a day Bekele and Britains Mo Farah in and clock a daily average of 35 the Great North Run, a half marakilometres (22 miles). thon in northern England. Preparing for a race I want to show the youngprovides a goal to sters what running means, I commit to, and he want to tell them age is just said some of his a number, he said, flashing best training comes his characteristic wide grin. ahead of a big event. If you think youre old, if He admits you tell yourself youre old, that the workload if youre old mentally, is not getting any then youre old aueasier, with middle-aged tomatically aches and pains physically. ever-present. So AFP fighting through physical pain and mental laziness is important too, he said. One of the secrets, thank you for remindHaile Gebrselassie is fitter than most men half his ing me, is to age and says its due to his mental health. Photo: AFP accept the pain.

livingwellmyanmar@gmail.com

NE of the hardest parts of being a responsible doctor for children is advising parents to refrain from giving certain types of medicines. This becomes particularly challenging when kids develop colds, as they appear to be suffering when they cough and they keep their families awake all night with their symptoms. Parents naturally respond by purchasing a cough syrup or other remedy. But are these medicines safe and effective for use in children? The simple answer is no. Many of the cold medicines available at the drug shop have never been studied in children and therefore have never been proven to be safe. Furthermore, when cold medicines have been researched in children, they consistently show no advantage over placebo in length of symptoms, severity of cough, or quality of sleep for child or parent. All of the following types of cold medicines have been proven to be ineffective: antihistamines, antihistamines with decongestants, antitussives, antitussives with bronchodilators, medicines containing dextromethorphan, and

Echinacea. This encompasses the range of products available from the global pharmaceutical companies that sell western medicine. More worrisome for parents and children is the accumulating evidence that the availability of over-the-counter cold medicines are dangerous for kids. The problem is primarily that caregivers may choose one medicine for fever and then another for cough, when in actuality both medicines have the same ingredient. The resulting exposure to high levels of an active ingredient can lead to overdose. Because of the high number of children admitted to American hospitals with cough medicine overdose, the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended that cough and cold medicines never be used in children under 4 years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics has extended the warning stating, the medications are not effective for children younger than 6 years and their use, and misuse, could cause serious, adverse side effects. The good news is that western medical research has identified a product that is safe and effective in treating cough, and perhaps your child already likes it honey. Several studies have supported using honey at bedtime to help a coughing child, and in 2012 a double-blind randomised control trial the gold standard in medical research confirmed that kids cough

less frequently and less severely, find the cough less bothersome, and that both they and there parents sleep better. A possible mechanism for the effectiveness of honey is it that soothes the throat while also having antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The appropriate amount to give a coughing child is half a teaspoon for under 5 years old, one teaspoon for 6-11 years old, and two teaspoons for children greater than 12 years old. Children less than 1 year old should not take honey because of the risk of botulism [a toxic reaction to bacteria]. Health care providers in Myanmar face a formidable challenge in spreading this knowledge to the public. Advertising for unsubstantiated health products is omnipresent across the country. Parents with even minimal disposable income want to purchase medicines for the health of their children. However, appropriate public health messaging to guide parents is absent. The notion that honey is more effective and safer than packaged pharmaceuticals will likely be slow to gain acceptance. Christoph Gelsdorf is an American Board of Family Medicine physician who sees patients in Yangon and California. He is an honorary member of the Myanmar Medical Association. Reader thoughts and questions are welcomed.

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse 43

Musicians secure fees

Myanmar Music Assocation backs down from new policy after artists argue their case to keep payments equatable
NANDAR AUNG nandaraung.mcm@gmail.com SOME of Myanmars top musicians have stepped in to ensure a fair share of earnings from music sales, resulting in the MMA announcing they would scrap a new allocation of shares that would have seen musicians lose allocations of fees. A proposal to allow advertisers and others to rent the music they want from artists and producers would have seen songs being rented for a fee, with 50 percent of profits going to the producers, 25pc to singers and composers, just 7pc to the musicians and 3pc for studio owners. Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, secretary of the MMA said there were two types of fees that were set to be charged: those songs for rent and for sale. FM and TV channels could also gain permission from the MMA to air songs for a separate fee, she said. We see plenty of websites which use our songs illegally and create free downloads. People dont want to buy songs or albums when they can get free downloads from a website, Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein said. And producers lose their money on albums. But artists said they felt they had to intervene as they felt the allocations were unfair. Weve never interfered in the allocation of fees. But this decision is so unbalanced. A band normally has four or five players. If we have to share 7pc, we get nothing. We asked MMA to allocate us the same amount as to composers and singers, said Rose of Sharons Ko Zaw Latt. After emergency meetings on October 8 and October 15 and pressure from numerous musicians and industry professionals, MMA finally announced that they had scrapped the new allocation percentages in favour of the previous system instituted in 2007, which gives producers, composers and singers 25pc each, 15pc to the musicians and 10pc to the sound engineers.

Sandar Khine with one of her works behind her. Photo: Zon Pann Pwint

Unveiled and uncensored

Bodies of work to be put on display at last in major exhibition of nude paintings
ZON PANN PWINT zonpann08@gmail.com

N art exhibition running in Yangon this week represents a watershed moment for the artists behind the works and their fellow artists across the country. An exhibition of 50 nude paintings is being held from October 27 - 30 at Lokanat art gallery on Pansodan Street. The artists involved in the exhibition, called S + Z II, have taken the body as subject for years, but as the subject is traditionally considered taboo in Myanmar, there has been no exhibit of these works in particular. Artist Sandar Khine has been painting nudes since 2006. Her work has so far been shown mostly in Thailand and Indonesia. When they appeared here at home as part of the quarterly exhibition held at New Treasure art gallery, they were hung, tucked away at the furthest part of the gallery where it was difficult to see them. As the quarterly shows encompassed about 2000 paintings by many different artists, the officials overlooked my paintings, she said. In 2008 Sandar Khine exhibited a show of nude paintings at an exhibition for Myanmar female artists held at Alliance Franaise in 2008. She has also participated in some other group shows, but found the conditions were not always receptive to her work. Once I was asked to obscure parts of the naked bodies in the paintings with cloth, she said. In spite of the lack of understanding, she said that she kept on feeling drawn to the artistic opportunities of the human body. I have never taken art censorship into consideration. I persist in drawing what I want to draw. Thats why the number of paintings have piled up over the past fifteen years, she said. The Lokanat show, which she calls the first-ever big exhibition of my nude paintings in my lifetime, will give the artists and audiences a chance to talk about what is perhaps the worlds oldest artistic subject. I am interested in weight, texture, form, line and composition, said Sandar Khine. Thats why I like to create nude drawings. They were regarded as wholly unacceptable subjects that challenged tradition, but I am happy to draw [the human body] and never think of whether my paintings will be exhibited or not. Sandy, another artist specialising in nudes, also stands firm in her artistic interest.

Sandy studied the art of drawing nudes in Korea. She found it difficult to continue her work here but pushed on regardless, ignoring the roadblocks. She said her work is seldom displayed in galleries, although the support of private clients allows her to pursue the subject. They choose nude paintings rather than the landscape paintings I draw, she said. In any work of art, questions arise about just who, if anyone, from real life is being represented. Thats especially the case with paintings of nudes, Sandy said. When nude paintings come into sight, it arouses a lively controversy over the issue of who the artists model was. Single women here never agree to sit nude for artists, Sandar Khine said. Being Myanmar women, they are naturally too shy. And when she started painting nudes she worked as part of a group of male artists who worked together and hired a model. Later, she said, I hired my own model. She is a mother of children, a close friend of mine. After she sat two or three times for me, she stopping lying there stiffly. She grew more relaxed as she became friendly with me. Once, when she had trouble finding a model, she asked her sister to sit for her and her sister agreed. But when looking for models, Sandar Khine said, its important that artists seek a variety of body shapes, not just those who are celebrity-thin. One of her series in the show portrays an overweight woman in different poses. I feel [traditionally] beautiful women are lacking beautiful curves, she said. My own model is not considered traditionally beautiful; she is overweight. But I think her obvious cruves are beautiful. Sandar Khine said she is happy about the absence of art censors at the art exhibition, and that the artists involved have agreed to hold more shows like it in the future. Another artist involved in the show, Win Pe Myint, previously showed two of his nude paintings in a group exhibition at Lokanat, which otherwise featured mostly landscape paintings. He too is relieved that he can now present his vision of the human body. The art censors no longer visit the galleries, he said. But he added the new found artistic freedom doesnt mean that anything goes. Not every nude painting is art.

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse 45

Smashing pumpkin records in New York

NEW YORK is smashing records as it turns the worlds largest pumpkin into the centerpiece of a haunted garden sculpted entirely out of the fruit for Halloween. The record-breaker, which weighs an astonishing 2,032 pounds (922 kilograms) and was grown in California, went on display October 26 at The New York Botanical Garden. It and other whoppers grown in Canada and the United States will be transformed into a Haunted Pumpkin Garden along with carnivorous plants and other unearthly creatures. Master pumpkin carver Ray Villafane said he would be working round the clock to create the display, which last year was dismantled early due to Hurricane Sandy. Its the biggest pumpkin event here in the US, said the 44-yearold former school teacher, who went professional as a pumpkin carver seven years ago. We get to carve the biggest pumpkins in the world. You cant get much better here in New York City, my home town. Villafane said the main challenge would be keeping the carved pumpkins held up under their giant weight. The secret weapon, he said, was a one inch (2.54 centimeter) iron pipe that he hoped would do the trick. AFP

Young performers at the Myanmar Festival of Disabled Artists in October 2013. Photo: Boothee

Festival of Disabled Artists

ZON PANN PWINT zonpan08@gmail.com IT isnt unusual to host a festival displaying the artistic talents of painters, singers and musical performers, but when those painters, singers, and musical performers are disabled, the performances take on new meaning. About 263 artists with physical disabilities including hearing and visual impairments gathered last week from October 17-19 for the Immense Spectrum Myanmar Arts Festival at the Myanmar Convention Center; a three-day festival which included music, drama, dance, arts and literature. There were deaf drummers and instrumentalists and physicallydisabled dancers. The drummers, part of a Japanese group called, Koshu Roa Taiko, came all the way from Japan after braving a flight through a typhoon in their country. They were met with applause from their peers after their delayed arrival. U Aung Ko Myint, a member of the festivals steering committee said the idea for the event first came up in August 2011. We wanted to show they all have full potential though they have a physically limitation on their lives, he said. It seems incredible to believe that they can sing and play instruments, though they are partially sighted. Though they are physically disabled, they can act in a drama. This kind of festival is a must in our country in order to encourage people with disabilities to realise their full potential and to reveal their artistic talents to the public, he said. Visitors to the audience will be amazed how fine their performances are. The festival was organised by different disability focused organisations in Myanmar and the Nippon Foundation, Japan with the help of Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

Halloween enthusiasts get ready for their holidays by selecting pumpkins at their local pumpkin patches in the United States. The holiday on October 31, is also known as All Hallows Eve, with links to Celtic pagan roots. Photo: AFP

Blind musicians performing at the festival. Photo: Boothee

Call out to documentary enthusiasts

NUAM BAWI hknuambawi@gmail.com THE Human Right Human Dignity International Film Festival is inviting budding documentary makers to take part in documentary workshops this December. The classes will provide technical training and are aimed to help support the local industry. Festival founder Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi said that while amateur filmmakers often had great ideas, there were many weaknesses once the documentary is pulled together. It can also be quite expensive to make a documentary, so we want to show people how to do it within their means, Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi said. He said the classes would involve five weeks of seminar-style lessons as well as support for students in helping them produce a documentary during that time. The completed documentaries will be used as part of the festivities for next years film festival. Those wanting to apply from outside of Yangon can ask for support for their accommodation and living expenses to be covered by the organisation. Applicants can pick up a form at the Human Right Human Dignity International Film Festival office at No.302, 3rd Floor, 7 miles Condo, Mayangone township, and apply by November 8. Forms are also available online at www.hrhdiff.org. For more information, visit the website, or call 09450052392.

46 the pulse tea break

Universal Crossword
Edited by Timothy E. Parker

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

SUDOKU PACIFIC

MOVE DOWN! By Jerry Berns

ACROSS 1 Meet defeat 5 Grains used in distilling 10 Tries for a title 14 Layla singer Clapton 15 Cornhusker State hub 16 More than just suspicious of 17 College studies, collectively 20 Many dull speakers 21 Wager 22 Pub option 23 Common conjunction 24 Damascus native 27 Require 29 Gushes 32 Four score and seven years ___ ... 33 Dos Passos trilogy 36 Breathes life into 38 Trying to impress people, in a way 41 Informal talk 42 Nightmarish street, in film 43 Sphere, to Shelley 44 Priestess in Bizets The Pearl Fishers 46 Stable staples 50 Participates in the Tour de France 52 Old PC monitor 55 Solemn promise 56 Cinnabar, for one 57 Two-person conversation 60 Baja peninsula 63 Actress Faris 64 Lionhearted 65 Em, to Dorothy 66 Confused condition 67 Less loony 68 Wooden legs DOWN 1 Brothers who failed on Wall Street 2 Baltimore blackbird 3 Contract accepter 4 It may bounce off the wall 5 Definitely no Einstein 6 Makes right 7 Stow, as cargo 8 Therefore 9 Pouchlike part 10 Campaign target 11 Begin 12 Eisenhowers command, for short 13 ___ of the Pink Panther 18 Logan Airport abbr. 19 Utterly terrible 24 Sows and boars 25 Eras 26 Thumbs-down votes 28 Some folk acts 30 Discussion group 31 Celebrated twin 34 Bee contestant 35 ___-ski 37 Mortar rounds 38 Venture 39 Steam bath followers, sometimes 40 Namaths Super Bowl 41 Police officer 45 Like some medicinal ingredients 47 Madison or Pennsylvania 48 Hauling around, as a large shopping bag 49 Casual wear 51 Regions 53 Direct (to) 54 Chinese way 57 Butlers home, for a time 58 Flair 59 Pebble Beach hazard 60 On the ___ (fleeing) 61 First digit a toddler is taught, often 62 Its logo features an eye

DILBERT

BY SCOTT ADAMS

PEANUTS

BY CHARLES SCHULZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

BY BILL WATTERSON

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

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

Telephone us now on +951 392 928

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the pulse food and drink 47

PHYOS COOKING ADVENTURE

More eggs, but for dessert!

ESSERTS can be simple and easy to make at home even without an oven. One way to do this is by steaming and the other way, is by refrigerating. For example, a caramel custard pudding can be steamed without flour and can include only eggs, sugar and milk. Preparing it this way results in a texture that is not very spongy but jelly-like. I like it with a caramel sauce. Making the caramel is not difficult once you have a little practice. This weeks technique for making caramel is easier than the one from last week. You also need to understand your stove and the type of pot you have in order for it to turn out right. By paying attention to the way the colour of the sugar changes, it is easy. The secret is to follow the recipe. The second recipe is a mousse made with Nutella, which is a hazelnut and chocolate spread. This is another easy recipe to make after you understand the whisking technique. However, this is not suitable for toddlers under 3-years-old as the recipe includes raw egg whites.

like jelly. Take the custard bowls out and cool. To make the caramel, combine room-temperature water and caster sugar into a saucepan and use high heat to melt the sugar. Shake the saucepan in circles as to not burn the sugar. When the mixture turns golden, remove it from the stove and add hot water slowly into the saucepan. Stir the mixture well. Be careful when handling the hot water and steam from the pot. Set aside and cool. Once cooled down, sprinkle a tablespoon of caramel onto the custard and refrigerate to set. Before serving, remove from the refrigerator about half an hour beforehand and serve at room temperature. NUTELLA MOUSSE (SERVES 6)
Caramel custar pudding (above) and below, Nutella mousse. Photos: Phyo

phyocooking@gmail.com

again. The egg whites should become firm and white. Transfer one third of the egg-white mixture into the Nutella bowl and fold in gently. Repeat the procedure until all the egg-whites are mixed with the Nutella. Separate into four glasses and refrigerate for at least three hours. Serve immediately after taking out from the refrigerator. Fresh organic eggs can be used in both recipes. They are smaller than the caged ones. So be mindful that the portion of eggs used in this recipe is for organic eggs. TIPS To check if the custard is ready, push a thin and flat metal skewer into the custard and pull it out. If its shiny and nothing sticks to the metal its ready to remove from the steamer. QUOTE The radio signal was scrambled, and so were my eggs. I got tired of eating commercial breaks for breakfast. Jarod Kintz, comedian and author NEXT WEEK Poached chicken and quail egg salad

CARAMEL CUSTARD PUDDING (SERVES 4) For making custard 1 organic egg (called taw kyet u) 2 egg yolks cup caster sugar 2 cardamom seeds 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the caramel cup caster sugar 1 tablespoon water 2 tablespoon boiling water PREPARATION For the custard, add milk and cardamom seeds into a saucepan and boil gently over medium-low heat. When it starts to boil, remove from the stove and cool. Discard the

cardamom seeds after the mixture has cooled. During cooling, gently stir in the milk and take care not to form a hard layer on top. Separate one egg yolk and add into a bowl. Add another whole egg, caster sugar and vanilla extract into the bowl and beat well to mix. Bring the cooled, boiled milk into the egg mixture and mix well again. Pour into a ceramic ramekin or a heatproof glass bowl through a sieve. Then cover with aluminium foil. Prepare to steam the bowls in a steamer or in a big pot. Add water into a large pot then place on a rack to the side. Make sure the rack and half of the bowl is under the water. Boil gently. When it starts bubbling let the mixture steam for 15 to 20 minutes or until the custard is cooked. Dont overcook. It should set

4 egg whites 3 tablespoons caster sugar 3 tablespoons Nutella PREPARATION Separate egg-whites and add into a large bowl. Scoop Nutella into a separate heatproof bowl. Add water into a saucepan and boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn down the heat to medium and place the heatproof bowl with Nutella on top of the saucepan. Allow the Nutella to melt and stir often, but be careful not to touch the hot water at the bottom of the bowl. When the Nutella mixture becomes smooth and silky, remove from the bowl from on top of the saucepan. Using an electronic whisk, whisk the egg whites in a bowl until the mixture reaches a soft peak. Add caster sugar into a bowl and whisk

Wine Review
W RED IN E
Alamos Malbec 2011
Full-bodied and heavy with ripe cherries. Strong tannins greet you and there are hints of cocoa, leather and pomegranate, but it is a tad on the sweet side.

Hoover up some Hunan

MANNY MAUNG manny.maung@gmail.com OFFICIALLY open for just one week, the Hunan Kitchen is offering cuisine that remains as authentic as possible to the region. The owners of Hunan Kitchen scoured cooking schools in Chinas Hunan province, selecting a traditionally trained chef and inviting him to Myanmar to work at their restaurant. I was slightly nervous about eating Hunan cuisine, as having had no experience eating it before, I had looked up online to find that it is meant to be even hotter than the scorching Yunnan-style fare. Bracing myself, I headed off to Inya Kanbaung where the restaurant is located. The exterior of the restaurant is sparsely decorated and the atmosphere inside could have done with lower lighting and perhaps some pictures on the new, white walls. But overall, it was clean and the owners were very friendly, both greeting us at the door. As we perused the menu, one of the owners asked how hot we liked our food. I was immediately relieved and explained that I like it spicy, but not so that I needed to visit the hospital the next day. She smiled and said they catered for varying degrees of heat, recommending the crispy fried fish [K6000] to start with a cold beer. We ordered that along with fried beef strips with watercress [K6800], a medium plate of beer duck, which as the name suggests is cooked in beer [K8000], and a plate of stir-fried long beans [K3000]. The portions came out and they were huge. The crispy fried fish (fresh anchovies) was my favourite. The fish were coated in flour and flash fried with chilli, garlic and Yunnan-style peppercorns that slightly numbed the tongue. The beef came out with bamboo shoots and celery instead of celery, but we managed to eat the entire plate, along with the stir-fried long beans. The duck proved to be the most challenging for me. While it was delicious and beautifully presented, I didnt realise the entire duck which included the insides would be served. Choose the medium portion if ordering this dish, as the servings are extremely generous. My experience eating Hunan fare for my first time was mostly positive and I found the owners very eager to please. Go try it for yourself.

Score

8/10
K

15,300

Sileni Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Hunan Kitchen
Inya Kanbaung, corner of Inya Road and Pyay Road, Kamaryut township Ph: 09 6413698 Food: 8 Drink: 7 Atmosphere: 7 X-factor: 7 Service: 9 Value for money: 8 Total Score:

W W HIT IN E E

Pale yellow in colour with a fragrant jasmine bouquet on the nose, this New Zealand drop is perfect for the tropical climate. Refreshing and light, it has a well balanced body and is the perfect fusion of citrus top notes with sweet pears and ripe nectarine on the finish.

Score

9/10
K

7.6/10

Deep-fried anchovies and beer duck from Hunan Kitchen. Photos: Manny Maung

16,100

48 the pulse socialite

LG Launch Pool Bar & Health Club relaunch

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Thant Sin Win, Eaint Myat Thwel, Thanda Sint, Hnin Yee Htwe, May Zin Oo, Aye Aye Khine, Myat Su Win, Wai Yan Soe

Ko Kyaw Htike, Ko Jackie, Ko Thant Sin and Ko Shwe Aye

U Wai Lwin

Khine Thit Lwin

Min Park

Cindy and friends

Shwe FM 4th anniversary press conference

GNC Health Food Store launch

U Win Naing, Dr Khin Soe Soe

Wah So Moe Oo, Marina and Sann Thit La

Snare

Soe Nandar Kyaw

Moe Yan Zon

Khine Lay

www.mmtimes.com
Miss People 2013

the pulse socialite 49

NYEIN EI EI HTWE
nyeineieihtwe23@gmail.com

SOCIALITE hopes all her readers have had a happy Thidingyut. Socialites program was still bumper to bumper with engagements, so her rest was relatively short-lived. On October 15, she attended the GNC Health Food Store and in the same evening, she was seen at Charmz Charity fashion show and auction for new designs at Parkroyal Hotel. On October 18, she went to Shwe FMs 4th anniversary press conference held at Traders Hotel, and for the relaunch of the Pool Bar & Health Club. On October 19, she attended the Dumex event at Lanmadaw township where she learned more about childhood nutrition. The next day, she popped in at a breakfast function at the new clothing store, The Avenue in Bahan township giving her plenty of time to get ready for the Miss People 2013 event that afternoon.

The Trend Myanmar website launch

Yoon Mie Mie Kyaw

Contestant

May Nine

Shelly, Sandy, Khin Swe, Thet Htet San and May Thaw

May Thandar Tun, Myat Hnin Phyu and Khin Chaw Su San

Myat Thu Kyaw

Breakfast at The Avenue event

Ko Tun Tun Paing

Nan Su Oo

Angela Wai

Su Myat Noe Kyaw

50 the pulse travel

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES

YANGON TO NAY PYI TAW Flight FMI A1 FMI A1 FMI B1 FMI A1 FMI C1 Days 1,2,3,4,5 6 1,2,3,4,5 7 1,2,3,4,5 Dep 7:30 8:00 11:30 15:30 16:30 Arr 8:30 9:00 12:30 16:30 17:30 MANDALAY TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YJ 901 2,7 7:40 YJ 902 5,7 7:40 YH 910 1,2,4,6 7:55 Y5 233 Daily 8:10 YH 918 1,2,3,5,6,7 8:20 YJ 902 1 8:20 YJ 892 Daily 8:30 6T 402 Daily 8:45 YJ 902 4 8:50 K7 223 Daily 8:55 W9 201 4,5,6,7 9:10 YJ 143/W97143 1,2,3 9:20 W9 144 Daily 9:20 W9 201 1,2,3 9:25 YJ 002 3 9:30 Y5 132 3,5,6,7 9:30 K7 227 2,4 10:35 K7 627 1,5 10:55 K7 845 2,4,7 12:50 YH 730 4 14:00 YJ 202 1,3 15:30 YJ 202 2,3 15:30 W9 120 1,3 15:45 YJ 212 5 16:00 YJ 202 4 16:00 YJ 212 7 16:00 6T 502 2,3,4,5,6,7 16:05 YJ 602 6 16:20 YH 728 1 16:30 YJ 762 1,4 16:35 YJ 762 2 16:35 W9 129 4,5,6,7 16:40 K7 225 Daily 16:50 YJ 762 6 16:55 W9 129 1,2,3 16:55 YH 732 K7 625 YH 738 8M 6604 W9 511 W9 252 YH 738 YH 730 YJ 752/W9 7752 6T 502 Daily Daily 3,5 2,4,7 2 2 7 2 3 1 17:10 17:10 17:10 17:20 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:50 Arr 10:40 9:45 10:00 9:25 10:15 10:25 10:25 10:45 10:55 11:00 11:05 10:45 10:45 11:20 10:25 10:30 12:00 12:20 16:00 17:45 17:25 16:55 17:10 17:25 18:35 18:05 18:10 18:25 17:55 18:00 18:40 18:45 19:00 18:20 19:00 19:15 18:35 18:35 18:30 19:35 19:00 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:55 YJ 601 6T 501 W9 129 W9 129 K7 224 YH 731 6T 501 6 2,3,4,5,6,7 4,5,6,7 1,2,3 Daily Daily 1 11:00 13:45 14:30 14:45 14:30 15:00 15:30 12:20 16:35 17:10 17:25 17:25 17:55 18:20 YJ 751/W9 7751 5,7 W9 119 1,3, YH 505 4,6 YJ 751/W9 7751 3 YJ 761 1,2,4 YH 505 7 YH 737 3,5,7 YH 727 1 K7 826 2,6 6T 501 2,3,4,5,6,7 W9 129 1,2,3 W9 129 4,5,6,7 K7 224 Daily YH 731 Daily 6T 501 1 10:30 10:30 10:30 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:45 13:45 14:45 14:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 11:40 11:40 11:55 12:10 12:10 12:25 12:25 12:25 13:00 14:55 15:55 15:40 15:45 16:25 16:40 Flight YH 634 K7 320 MYEIK TO YANGON Days Dep 5,7 11:25 Daily 11:30 Arr 13:25 13:35

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

YANGON TO MANDALAY Flight W9 512 YJ 901 YH 917 YJ 901 YJ 891 Y5 234 YH 909 6T 401 K7 222 YJ 901 K7 626 K7 226 YJ 201 W9 251 6T 401 YJ 001 YJ 901 YJ 5533 W9 201 8M 6603 YJ 761 W9 251 K7 624 YJ 751/W9 7751 YJ 201 YJ 211 YJ 761 YJ 601 YH 727 YH 729 YH 737 YH 737 YJ 201 6T 501 K7 224 W9 129 YH 731 6T 501 Days 3 1 Daily 3,5,7 Daily Daily 1,2,4,6 Daily Daily 4 1,5 2,4 2 Daily 1 3 6 6 1,2,3 2,4,7 6 2 Daily 5 1,3,4 5,7 1,2,4 6 1 2,4,6 3,5 7 4 2,3,4,5,6,7 Daily 1,2,3 Daily 1 Dep 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:10 6:15 6:15 6:20 6:30 6:30 6:45 6:45 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:45 9:00 10:15 10:30 10:30 10:30 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:30 13:45 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:30 Arr 8:05 8:05 8:20 7:25 8:15 7:30 7:55 8:25 8:40 8:35 8:10 8:10 8:25 9:05 9:40 8:25 8:25 8:25 9:10 10:10 13:15 11:55 11:55 12:25 12:25 12:25 12:55 13:05 13:10 14:00 13:10 13:40 12:50 15:45 16:35 16:40 17:10 17:30

NYAUNG U TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YH 917 Daily 7:35 YJ 891 Daily 7:45 6T 401 Daily 7:55 YJ 902 6 8:05 K7 222 Daily 8:05 YH 910 3 8:10 YJ 902 5,7 8:25 YH 910 1,2,4,6 8:40 YJ 902 1 9:05 YJ 902 3 9:20 YJ 902 4 9:35 YH 910 5,7 9:40 YJ 202 1 16:15 YJ 212 7 16:45 6T 502 2,3,4,5,6,7 16:50 YJ 602 6 17:05 YJ 202 4 17:15 YJ 762 2 17:20 W9 129 Daily 17:25 W9 129 1,2,3 17:40 K7 225 Daily 17:45 YH 732 Daily 17:55 6T 502 1 18:35 YANGON TO MYITKYINA Flight Days Dep YJ 201 2 7:00 K7 844 2,4,7 7:30 W9 251 2 10:30 K7 624 Daily 10:30 YJ 211 3,5,7 11:00 YJ 201 1,3 11:00 YJ 201 4 11:30 MYITKYINA TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YH 202 2 12:55 YJ 211 7 14:05 YJ 211 5 14:05 YJ 202 1,3 14:05 YJ 202 4 14:35 K7 625 Daily 15:40 W9 252 2 16:05 YANGON TO HEHO Days Dep 3 6:00 Daily 6:00 Daily 6:10 Daily 6:20 Daily 6:30 4,5,6,7 7:30 1,3,5 7:30 1,2,3 7:45

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

YANGON TO THANDWE Flight Days Dep YH 505 4,6 10:30 YH 505 7 11:00 6T 605 2,4,5,7 11:15 6T 607 1,4 11:15 6T 607 6 11:15 YH 511 5 11:30 THANDWE TO YANGON Flight Days Dep 6T 605 2,4,5,7 12:25 YH 512 5 12:35 YH 506 4,6 13:10 YH 506 7 13:40 6T 608 1,3,6 14:05

Arr 13:10 13:40 12:10 13:50 12:40 12:35

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

YANGON TO NYAUNG U Flight Days Dep YH 917 Daily 6:00 YJ 901 1 6:00 YJ 901 3 6:00 YJ 901 5 6:00 YJ 891 Daily 6:10 YH 909 5,7 6:15 YH 909 1,2,4,6 6:15 6T 401 Daily 6:20 K7 222 Daily 6:30 YH 909 3 6:30 YH 921 4 6:30 YJ 901 4,6 6:30 YJ 761 6 10:15

Arr 7:35 7:20 9:05 8:10 7:30 7:50 8:40 7:40 7:50 8:10 8:05 7:50 11:35

Arr 15:45 18:05 17:25 17:25 18:35 18:35 19:00

HEHO TO YANGON Flight Days Dep YH 910 5,7 8:45 YH 918 1,2,3,5,6,7 9:05 YJ 892 Daily 9:15 6T 402 Daily 9:35 K7 223 Daily 9:45 W9 201 4,5,6,7 9:55 W9 201 1,2,3 10:10 YH 506 4,6 11:55 YH 506 7 12:25 K7 829 1,3,5 13:50 6T 501 2,3,4,5,6,7 15:10 W9 120 1,3 15:00 YH 728 1 15:45 YJ 762 1,4 15:50 YJ 762 2 15:50 W9 129 4,5,6,7 15:55 K7 224 Daily 16:00 YJ 762 6 16:10 W9 129 1,2,3 16:10 YH 731 Daily 16:25 YH 738 3,5 16:25 YH 730 4 16:35 YJ 752/W9 7752 5 16:15 YH 738 7 16:55 6T 501 1 16:55 YJ 752/W9 7752 7 17:25 K7 827 2,6 17:25 YH 730 6 17:45 YANGON TO SIT T WE Flight Days Dep 6T 605 2,4,5,7 11:15 6T 607 1,3,6 11:15 K7 426 Daily 12:30 SIT T WE TO YANGON Flight Days Dep 6T 606 2,4,5,7 13:35 6T 608 1,3,6 13:00 K7 427 Daily 14:05 YANGON TO MYEIK Flight Days Dep K7 319 Daily 7:00 YH 633 5,7 7:00

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

Arr 15:00 14:55 14:00 14:30 15:00

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

Air Mandalay (6T)

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

Asian Wings (YJ)

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

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5)

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

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

Arr 13:15 12:40 13:50

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

Flight YJ 901 YH 917 YJ 891 6T 401 K7 222 W9 201 K7 828 W9 201

Arr 8:10 9:05 9:00 9:20 9:30 9:40 8:45 9:55

Arr 15:00 15:00 15:25

Arr 9:05 9:15

Subject to change without notice

www.mmtimes.com

the pulse travel 51

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES

Flights PG 706 8M 335 TG 304 PG 702 TG 302 8M 331 PG 704 Y5 237 TG 306 YANGON TO BANGKOK Days Dep Daily 7:15 Daily 8:20 Daily 9:50 Daily 10:30 Daily 14:55 Daily 16:30 Daily 18:20 Daily 18:05 Daily 19:45 Arr 9:30 10:05 11:45 12:25 16:50 18:15 20:15 19:50 21:40 Arr 10:20 14:05 19:35 Arr 5:00 12:25 14:40 15:05 16:05 16:05 21:15 23:35 20:05 Arr 11:50 12:50 16:30 20:00 Arr 21:55 Arr 13:15 15:50 22:15 Arr 16:15 Arr 18:35 18:00 17:35 Arr 16:10 Arr 21:30 MANDALAY TO KUNMING Flights Days Dep MU 2030 Daily 14:40 Flights 8M 336 TG 303 PG 701 TG 301 PG 703 TG 305 8M 332 PG 705 Y5 238 BANGKOK TO YANGON Days Dep Daily 11:30 Daily 7:55 Daily 8:50 Daily 13:00 Daily 16:45 Daily 17:50 Daily 19:15 Daily 20:15 Daily 21:10 Arr 17:20 Arr 0:15 8:50 9:40 13:45 17:35 18:45 20:00 21:30 21:55 Arr 8:00 17:20 11:45 Arr 9:20 10:45 10:40 14:50 15:45 17:05 23:35 18:25 14:45 Arr 13:15 Arr 8:00 11:15 13:50 14:40 Arr 10:30 16:35 15:50 Arr 9:55 Arr 11:30 13:15 13:55 Arr 18:10 Arr 18:10 DON MUEANG TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep Arr FD 2760 Daily 10:50 12:15 KUNMING TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep MU 2029 Daily 13:55 Arr 13:50

At one with the elephants

THAILAND

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

YANGON TO DON MUENG Flights Days Dep FD 2752 Daily 8:30 FD 2756 Daily 12:15 FD 2754 Daily 17:50 YANGON TO SINGAPORE Flights Days Dep MI 509/SQ 5019 Daily 0:25 8M 231 Daily 8:00 Y5 233 Daily 10:10 SQ 997/MI 5871 Daily 10:25 8M 6232 Daily 11:30 3K 586 Daily 11:30 MI 517/SQ 5017 Daily 16:40 TR 2827 2,3,4,5,7 19:05 TR 2827 1,6 15:35 YANGON TO KUALA LUMPUR Flights Days Dep 8M 501 1,3,6 7:50 AK 1427 Daily 8:30 MH 741 Daily 12:15 MH 743 Daily 15:45 Flights CA 906 YANGON TO BEIJING Days Dep 2,3,4,6,7 14:15

DON MUENG TO YANGON Flights Days Dep FD 2751 Daily 7:15 FD 2753 Daily 16:35 FD 2755 Daily 11:10 SINGAPORE TO YANGON Flights Days Dep SQ 998/MI 5872 Daily 7:55 3K 585 Daily 9:20 8M 6231 Daily 9:10 8M 232 Daily 13:25 MI 518/MI 5018 Daily 14:20 Y5 234 Daily 15:35 MI 520/SQ 5020 5,7 22:10 TR 2826 2,3,4,5,7 17:00 TR 2826 1,6 13:15 Flights CA 905 BEIJING TO YANGON Days Dep 2,3,4,6,7 8:05

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

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

LILLIAN CUNNINGHAM

Bangkok Airways (PG) Condor (DE)

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

Dragonair (KA)

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

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Y5)

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

YANGON TO GAUNGZHOU Flights Days Dep 8M 711 2,4,7 8:40 CZ 3056 3,6 11:20 CZ 3056 1,5 17:40 YANGON TO TAIPEI Flights Days Dep CI 7916 1,2,3,4,5,6 10:50 YANGON TO KUNMING Flights Days Dep MU 2012 1,3 12:20 MU 2032 2,4,5,6,7 14:40 CA 906 2,3,4,6,7 14:15 YANGON TO CHIANG MAI Flights Days Dep W9 9607 7 14:20 Flights VN 956 YANGON TO HANOI Days Dep 1,3,5,6,7 19:10

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

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)

KUNMING TO YANGON Flights Days Dep MU 2011 1,3 8:20 CA 905 2,3,4,6,7 12:40 MU 2031 2,4,5,6,7 13:30 CHIANG MAI TO YANGON Flights Days Dep W9 9608 7 17:20 HANOI TO YANGON Flights Days Dep VN 957 1,3,5,6,7 16:35

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

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

HO CHI MINH CITY TO YANGON Flights Days Dep Arr VN 943 2,4,7 11:40 13:25 BANGKOK TO MANDALAY Flights Days Dep TG 781 2,3,5,6,7 7:25 PG 709 1,3,5,7 12:00 Flights QR 618 Arr 8:50 13:20

YANGON TO PHNOM PENH Flights Days Dep Arr 8M 403 3,6 16:50 19:15 YANGON TO SEOUL Flights Days Dep Arr 0Z 770 4,7 0:35 9:10 KE 472 Daily 23:35 08:05+1 YANGON TO HONG KONG Flights Days Dep KA 251 1,2,4,6 01:10 Arr 06:00

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

PHNOM PENH TO YANGON Flights Days Dep Arr 8M 404 3,6 20:15 21:40 SEOUL TO YANGON Flights Days Dep KE 471 Daily 18:40 0Z 769 3,6 19:50 TOKYO TO YANGON Flights Days Dep NH 913 Daily 10:30 HONG KONG TO YANGON Flights Days Dep KA 250 1,3,5,7 21:45 Flights AI 227 KOLKATA TO YANGON Days Dep 1,5 10:35 Arr 22:30 23:25 Arr 15:30 Arr 23:30 Arr 13:20

HERE are two dozen of us bathing elephants in the silty river. Some young Canadian women, on break from nursing school, take turns photographing each other wading into the current with the five chang, the Thai word for elephant. Farther down the bank, an Irishman who forgot his swimsuit and cant cuff his pants up high enough drops his trousers and scurries into the muddy waters in his briefs. It hasnt rained yet today, even though its summer and monsoon season. Forests cover the distant hillsides. Down here, the earth is exposed and the sunshine feels heavy. We form a small bucket brigade to wash down the animals. Their bodies are covered in wrinkles, but not the loose ones of old age. The wrinkles on an elephant are firm, rough furrows. Even wet, they feel like sandpaper an inch thick. Our guide tells us thats why many of Thailands chang are blind, because the quickest way to punish an unruly elephant is to stab it in the eye. It takes a lot more work to beat one to the point of pain, since the animals hide is so tough. Im visiting a conservation centre for elephants in the Mae Taeng valley, in the mountains of northern Thailand. The Elephant Nature Park is home to 35 pachyderms, who came here blind and disabled from abuse in the logging or tourism industries. The park is one of the few rescue outposts in Thailand, a country that has fewer than 5,000 elephants now, compared with 100,000 a hundred years ago. Elephants here have been hunted, chained, made to perform and beg for money on the streets of Bangkok and sold to circuses in China. Just the day before, Id seen elephant statues adorning Buddhist temples and elephant figurines being sold in markets as totems of luck. And yet standing here in this lush valley, my feet suctioned to the muck of the riverbed as I splash a blind elephant with water from a day-glow green bucket, I cant help feeling that the countrys reverence for this creature seems mostly hollow. You cant say that about Sangduen Lek Chailert, though, the woman who co-founded the sanctuary in 1996. Lek is a small woman, hardly the width of an elephant trunk. At 52, she still has

the long black hair of a teenager. Her smile is big enough to make her eyes squint. Raised in a nearby tribal village, she formed a strong and early bond with a chang that her family tended, which led to her work rescuing the animals. Some have dislocated hips from logging, while others have old gashes from bull hooks - a training device designed to club or jab elephants, depending on which end you use. In almost every case, Lek has needed to raise money to buy the animals from their abusers and bring them to her haven. The elephants roam free across 250 acres of parkland, though they have such big appetites that many of them hover near us and our buckets of fruit all day. Lek has also brought more than 200 dogs to the park, most were rescued after the 2011 floods around Bangkok. Several of the dogs tease a separate herd of elephants that were also feeding by the riverside. They particularly like testing a 3-month old calf, Dok Mai, barking and darting around her stumpy legs. Too young to eat fruit, shes running around crushing any stray melons lying on the ground. The fuzz on her head is still new enough to stand on end. Shes one of the few domestic elephants in Thailand that will escape phajaan, which is intended to break the animals wild spirit. As part of the brutal ritual, owners force the baby elephant into a makeshift cage, starve it for a week and beat it bloody until it reaches a sort of purgatory where it isnt fully dead, but its will to resist is. Only then does the beating stop, when the owners are confident that the elephant will always understand that humans are its ultimate master. As I stand in front of one elephant, her trunk grasping my hand for a moment as though were old friends, it seems a ridiculous thought - that beasts this big could be submissive to something as small as me. Then she inches the trunk out of my palm, angling it toward my face. And blows. A rush of water and air and dust splatters my skin, and the Canadians and I fold over with laughter. The mahouts actually like to see the elephants misbehave. They take it as a sign that the park is doing something right. Living unworked and untethered in this green bowl of the mountains is reviving their spirit, and mine.

YANGON TO TOKYO Flights Days Dep Arr NH 914 Daily 21:45 06:50+1 YANGON TO KOLKATA Flights Days Dep AI 228 1,5 14:05 MANDALAY TO BANGKOK Flights Days Dep TG 782 2,3,5,6,7 9:30 PG 710 1,3,5,7 14:10 Arr 15:05 Arr 11:55 16:35

Subject to change without notice

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

MANDALAY TO DON MUENG Flights Days Dep Arr FD 2761 Daily 12:45 15:00

Tourists bathe a rescued elephant in Thailand. Photo: AFP

52 the pulse international

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Chubby Prince George shown off: Royal christening

OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

AQUARIUS | Jan 20 - Feb 18 You must have a sense of harmony distinct from that of your close friends in order to better bring out your self-concept. Revealing your inner intent to the world could be of value. Find acceptable and even likable ways to disclose your true self or your feelings and needs. Though you will have to worry about financial security and experience hardship, you can come to view the world as safe and hopeful. PISCES | Feb 19 - March 20

WEEKLY PREDICTIONS
LEO | Jul 23 - Aug 22 Being at the top imposes its own set of problems and challenges. Concentrate only on the things you want, and keep your mind off the things you dont want. You must reward yourself, when you achieve even a small success, in anything including breaking a bad habit. Lifes battles dont always go to the strong or the quick. Believe that success is the result of intelligent efforts. Love needs true heart. VIRGO | Aug 23 - Sep 22 True discipline achieves a balance of diligence, not driving. Your personal discipline needs to be directed and within the limits of necessity should fulfil your inner potential. Let yourself have the courage to be patient and the patience to be brave with wit. De-program yourself of negative thinking and inculcate in yourself only positive ideals. Love is not to be satisfied with superficial information. LIBRA | Sep 23 - Oct 22 Establish the habit of doing things at the proper time. Make constructive selfcriticism without hesitation. Try to analyse the nature of your difficulties and identify the sources of problems in social communication. Dont clutter your day with successive engagements. Seek advice from old friends around you, who may be qualified to give something you need. SCORPIO | Oct 23 - Nov 21 Carlyle said, A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men. A misunderstanding is never ended by argument, but by tact, diplomacy, conciliation and sympathetic desire to grasp the other persons point of view. Be quick to offer compliments, and school yourself to control your temper. The essence of love is not to forget and neglect. SAGITTARIUS | Nov 22 - Dec 21 Be determined to develop a sharp sense of concentration leading to greater and greater accomplishment in your various roles. You should always judge your performance on the basis of your present achievement and not what you achieved in the past job or yesterday. You have to make those who come in contact with you feel important. Changes in love should be carefully observed. CAPRICORN | Dec 22 - Jan 19 Ordinary mortals should not expect a better score. The winner sees an answer in every problem but the laser sees a problem in every answer. Never fear failure, as the fear of failure will completely destroy you. Great success comes as a result of turning your negatives into positives, and a great life begins with and depends on big dreams. Love needs not self-deception, but loyalty.

ALICE RITCHIE

RITAINS baby Prince George was christened in a private ceremony on October 23, with his proud parents Prince William and Kate giving the world a rare glimpse of the chubby three-month-old boy. Wearing a frilly cream lace gown, the third in line to the throne was carried into the Chapel Royal of St Jamess palace by his father, his mother Kate close by, elegant in a cream Alexander McQueen outfit. Queen Elizabeth II and the couples parents and siblings, including Williams younger brother Prince Harry, were among just 22 guests at the ceremony, including seven newlynamed godparents. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual head of the worlds Anglicans, performed the baptism, which involves pouring holy water from the River Jordan on the babys head. Television pictures showed the light-haired George Alexander Louis appearing wide awake and calm. He even gave the semblance of waving

at the 87-year-old queen, his greatgrandmother, when his father moved his arm up and down. Hes all ready, William, 31, told the assembled party, which included his father Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, adding, So far, so good. The low-key ceremony reflects the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want their son to have a relatively normal upbringing and have closely guarded his privacy. He has only appeared in public once before, when they left hospital after his birth on July 22. The couple broke with tradition by naming just one royal, Williams cousin and champion horse-rider Zara Philips, among the godparents, with the others being childhood, university and work friends. The ceremony welcomes Prince George into the Church of England,

Life presents you with a series of pictures drawn from your intellect and your imaginative creativity. Your highest social duty is to shoulder the burden according to your qualified management skills. Unexpected problems could threaten your careful attempts at reconciliation and you will become famous accordingly. This is a good time to seek out learning opportunities. Emotional focus can blur clear vision. ARIES | Mar 21 - Apr 19

which he is destined to lead as future king and Defender of the Faith. Prince Harry, and Kates sister Pippa Middleton, who had both been wrongly tipped as potential godparents, both read passages from the Bible. Each of the godparents were asked to commit to providing Prince George with guidance as he grew up. They include Zara Phillips, pregnant with her first child with rugby player husband Mike Tindall; Williams childhood friends William van Cutsem and Earl Hugh Grosvenor; Julia Samuel, who was close to Williams mother Diana; and Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to the private Marlborough College with Kate. Rounding out the list are Oliver Baker, a friend from St Andrews University in Scotland, where the royal couple met, and Williams longtime aide Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former soldier in the elite SAS army unit. AFP

Keep a disciplined intention to make your right action through determined efforts. You must strongly orient yourself toward people and social communication, to develop yourself in a range of important areas of life. By seeking insight and by being willing, you can gain a great deal of social favour. There can be a slow build-up of resentment on both sides of a relationship, and you will have to transform yourself soon. TAURUS | Apr 20 - May 20 The important thing is to generate stimulating ideas that can spark reciprocal changes in relationships. Continually voice your exciting schemes and activities. Concern yourself with universal love. Take responsibility for what must be fixed or left behind. Discard your tendency to huddle at home and hide from the world. Sign on for the long run with unconditional love and renew your impression of mental value. GEMINI | May 21 - June 20 Look beyond petty details and fault-finding to develop a universal compassion and creative solutions for mankinds ills. You have to struggle with the weight of duty and the social impact of responsibility. Challenge yourself to validate your intellectual values and draw on your high imagination to live up to your capabilities. You will be in a position to reap the rewards of your activity.

Britains royal baby, Prince George, is shown off at his christening on October 23. Photo: AFP

CANCER | Jun 21 - Jul 22 Even a seemingly minor event can stimulate profound growth. Try to operate on a different level, from the most mundane and external to the most inward and emotional to feel satisfied and composed. A family reunion may be a powerful source of strength, prompting a reaction to external social problems. Measure how youre doing at any given time, for the value of heart.

South Korea considers first nudist beach

A SOUTH KOREAN province is considering setting up the countrys first nudist beach in an attempt to boost tourism, but is already receiving protests from the public, officials said. The idea was initially put forward by the East Sea-Rim Headquarters (ESRH) a department of the government in the eastern province of Gangwon. The proposal envisages opening a nudist area by 2017 to attract more foreign visitors to a province known for its sandy beaches. We see this project as part of our efforts to promote tourism, an ESRH official said. Despite its rapid modernisation, South Korea remains a largely conservative country and the official said the plan would need the approval of local residents. Without their consent, it will be difficult to push ahead, she said, adding, in fact, weve already received protest calls from some residents since the project was reported. The idea of a nudist beach was first mooted in 2005 but was swiftly discarded because of public opposition. AFP

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

The Essentials
EMBASSIES Australia 88, Strand Road, Yangon. Tel : 251810, 251797, 251798, 251809, 246462, 246463, fax: 246159 Bangladesh 11-B, Than Lwin Road, Yangon. Tel: 515275, 526144, fax: 515273, email: bdootygn@ mptmail.net.mm Brazil 56, Pyay Road, 6th mile, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 507225, 507251, 507482. fax: 507483. email: Administ.yangon@ itamaraty.gov.br. Brunei 17, Kanbawza Avenue, Golden Velly (1), Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 566985, 503978, fax: 512854 email: bruneiemb@ bruneiemb.com.mm Cambodia 25 (3B/4B), New University Avenue Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 549609, 540964, fax: 541462, email: RECYANGON @ mptmail.net.mm China 1, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 221280, 221281, fax: 227019, 228319 Danmark, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17, Fax 01- 9669516 Egypt 81, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 222886, 222887, email: egye mbyangon@ mptmail. net.mm France 102, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 212178, 212520, email: ambaf rance. rangoun@ diplomatie.fr Germany 9, Bogyoke Aung San Museum Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 548951, 548952, email: info@rangun. diplo.de India 545-547, Merchant St, Yangon. Tel: 391219, 388412, email: indiaembassy @ mptmail.net.mm Indonesia 100, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Rd, Yangon. Tel: 254465, 254469, 229750, fax: 254468, email: kukygn @ indonesia.com.mm Israel 15, Khabaung Street, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 515115, fax: 515116, email: info@ yangon.mfa.gov.il Italy 3, Inya Myaing Road, Golden Valley, Yangon. Tel: 527100, 527101, fax: 514565, email: ambyang. mail@ esteri.it Japan 100, Natmauk Rd, Yangon. Tel: 549644-8, 540399, 540400, 540411, 545988, fax: 549643 Embassy of the State of Kuwait Chatrium Hotel, Rm: 416, 418, 420, 422, 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe Tsp, Tel: 544500. North Korea 77C, Shin Saw Pu Rd, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 512642, 510205 South Korea 97 University Avenue, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 5271424, 515190, fax: 513286, email: myanmar@mofat. go.kr Lao A-1, Diplomatic Quarters, Tawwin Road, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 222482, fax: 227446, email: Laoembcab@ mptmail. net.mm Malaysia 82, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, Yangon. Tel: 220248, 220249, email: mwkyangon@ mptmail.net.mm Nepal 16, Natmauk Yeiktha, Yangon. Tel: 545880, 557168, fax: 549803, email: nepemb @mptmail.net.mm Norway, No.7, Pyi Thu St, Pyay Rd, 7 Miles, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel: 01 9669520 - 17 Fax 01- 9669516 New Zealand No. 43/C, Inya Myaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-2305805 Netherlands Diplomatic Mission No. 43/C, Inya Myaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 01-2305805 Pakistan A-4, diplomatic Quarters, Pyay Rd, Yangon. Tel: 222881 (Chancery Exchange) fax: 221147, Philippines 50, Sayasan Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 558149-151, fax: 558154, email: p.e. yangon@gmail.com Russian 38, Sagawa Road, Yangon. Tel: 241955, 254161, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia No.287/289, U Wisara Rd, Sanchaung Tsp. Tel : 01-536153, 516952, fax : 01-516951 Serbia No. 114-A, Inya Rd, P.O.Box No. 943, Yangon. Tel: 515282, 515283, email: serbemb @ yangon.net.mm Singapore 238, Dhamazedi Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 559001, email: singemb_ ygn@_ sgmfa. gov.sg Sri Lanka 34 Taw Win Road, Yangon. Tel: 222812, The Embassy of Switzerland No 11, Kabaung Lane, 5 mile, Pyay Rd, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 534754, 512873, 507089. Fax: 534754, Ext: 110 Thailand 94 Pyay Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 226721, 226728, 226824 Turkish Embassy 19AB, Kan Yeik Thar St, Mayangone Tsp,Yangon. Tel : 662992, Fax : 661365 United Kingdom 80 Strand Rd, Yangon. Tel: 370867, 380322, 371852, 371853, 256438, fax: 370866 United States of America 110, University Avenue, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 536509, 535756, Fax: 650306 Vietnam Bldg-72, Thanlwin Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 511305 UNITED NATIONS ILO Liaison 1-A, Kanbae (Thitsar Rd), Yankin Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-566538, 566539 Fax : 01-566582 IOM 12th Flr, Traders Hotel, 223, Tel: 252560 ext. 5002 UNAIDS 137/1, Thaw Wun Rd, Kamayut Tsp. Tel : 534498, 504832 UNDCP 11-A, Malikha St, Mayangone tsp. tel: 666903, 664539. fax: 651334. UNDP 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tel: 542910-19. fax: 292739. UNFPA 6, Natmauk Rd, Bahan tsp. tel: 546029. UNHCR 287, Pyay Rd, Sanchaung tsp. tel: 524022, 524024. fax 524031. UNIAP Rm: 1202, 12 Fl, Traders Hotel.tel: 254852, 254853. UNIC 6, Natmauk St., Bahan, tel: 52910~19 UNICEF 14~15 Flr, Traders Hotel. P.O. Box 1435, Kyauktada. tel: 375527~32, fax: 375552 email: unicef. yangon@unicef. org, www.unicef.org/myanmar. UNODC 11-A, Malikha Rd., Ward 7, Mayangone. tel: 01-9666903, 9660556, 9660538, 9660398, 9664539, fax: 651334. email: fo.myanmar@unodc.org www.unodc.org./myanmar/ UNOPS Inya Lake Hotel, 3rd floor, 37, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone Tsp. tel: 951657281~7. Fax: 657279. UNRC 6, Natmauk Rd, P.O. Box 650, TMWE tel: 542911~19, 292637 (Resident Coordinator), fax: 292739, 544531. WFP 3rd-flr, Inya Lake Hotel, 37, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 657011~6 (6-lines) Ext: 2000. WHO 12A Fl, Traders Hotel. tel:250583. ASEAN Coordinating Of. for the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, 79, Taw Win st, Dagon Tsp. Ph: 225258. FAO Myanma Agriculture Service Insein Rd, Insein. tel: 641672, 641673. fax: 641561.

General Listing
ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS
Hotel Yangon 91/93, 8th Mile Junction, Tel : 01-667708, 667688. Inya Lake Resort Hotel 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd. tel: 662866. fax: 665537. 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.

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

Asia Plaza Hotel

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

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

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

ACCOMMODATIONHOTELS (Nay Pyi Taw)

(Nay Pyi Taw)

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

Royal White Elephant Hotel No-11, Kan Street, Hlaing Tsp. Yangon, Myanmar. (+95-1) 500822, 503986. www.rwehotel.com MGM Hotel No (160), Warden Street, Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. +95-1-212454~9. www. hotel-mgm.com Savoy Hotel 129, Damazedi Rd, Kamayut tsp. tel: 526289, 526298, Sedona Hotel Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin. tel: 666900. Strand Hotel 92 Strand Rd. tel: 243377. fax: 289880. Summit Parkview Hotel 350, Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp. tel: 211888, 211966. Traders Hotel 223 Sule Pagoda Rd. tel: 242828. fax: 242838. Winner Inn 42, Than Lwin Rd, Bahan Tsp. Tel: 503734, 524387. email: reservation@winner innmyanmar.com Windsor Hotel No.31, Shin Saw Pu Street, Sanchaung. Yangon, Myanmar. Ph: 95-1-511216~8, www. hotelwindsoryangon.com Yuzana Hotel 130, Shwegondaing Rd, Bahan Tsp, tel : 01-549600 Yuzana Garden Hotel 44, Alanpya Pagoda Rd, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp, tel : 01-248944

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

RESORTS

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

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

AIR CONDITION

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

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

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

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

ACCOMMODATION LONG TERM

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

No. 12, Pho Sein Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon Tel : (95-1) 209299, 209300, 209343, 209345, 209346 Fax : (95-1) 209344 E-mail : greenhill@ myanmar.com.mm

HAPPY HOMES
REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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

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

THE MYANMAR TIMES october 28 - november 3, 2013 BUSINESS SERVICE

Lobby Bar Parkroyal Yangon, Myanmar. 33, Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Tsp. tel: 250388. Lemon Day Spa No. 96 F, Inya Road, Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 514848, 09-732-08476. E.mail: lemondayspa.2011 @gmail.com

communication

ENTERTAINMENT

GAS COOKER & Cooker Hoods

HEALTH SERVICES

Fully Scoped Services Convenient Location Superb facility Reasonable price 1km from Sakura Tower Tel : 95-1-374851

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

Advertising
WE STARTED THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY IN MYANMAR SINCE 1991

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

Email : info@jkmyanmar.com www.jkmyanmar.com (ENG) www.3ec.jp/mbic/ (JPN)

International Calling Card No.004, Building (B), Ground Floor, Yuzana St, Highway Complex Housing, Kamayut Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-230-4379, 09-731-74871~2 Email : info@vmg.com mm, www.vmgtelecoms.com, www.ytalk.com.mm

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)

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

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.

Engineering

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

car rental
MYANMAR EXECUTIVE LIMOUSINE SERVICE

M a r k e t i n g & c o mm u n i c a t i o n s

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

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

HOT LINE: 959 - 402 510 003 First Class VIP Limousine Car Rental. Professional English Speaking Drivers. Full Insurance for your Safety and comfortable journey Call us Now for your best choice www.mmels.com

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

BOOK STORES

International Construction Material Co., Ltd. No. 60, Sint-Oh-Dan St, Lower Block, Latha Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2410292, 243551, 09-431-83689, 09-448033905.

Gems & Jewelleries

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

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

No. 44, Inya Road, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2305811, 2305812. email : info@bestjewels myanmar.com, Bestjewelsmyanmar.com

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

BEAUTY & MASSAGE

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

150 Dhamazedi Rd., Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 536306, 537805. Email : yangon@ monument-books.com 15(B), Departure Lounge, Yangon Intl Airport. #87/2, Crn of 26th & 27th St, Chan Aye Thar Zan Tsp, Mandalay. Tel : (02) 24880. MYANMARBOOKCENTRE Nandawun Compound, No. 55, Baho Road, Corner of Baho Road and Ahlone Road, (near Eugenia Restaurant), Ahlone Township. tel: 212 409, 221 271. 214708 fax: 524580. email:info@ myanmarbook.com

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

coffee machine

courier Service
DTDC Courier and Cargo Service (Since 1991) Yangon. Tel : 01-374457 Mandalay. Tel : 09-43134095. www.DTDC.COM, dtdcyangon@gmail.com Door to Door Delivery!!!

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

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

n oo !! ns ns Mo otio m o Pr

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

Duty free

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

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

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

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

Tel: 549612, Fax : 545770.

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

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

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

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

The Lady Gems & Jewellery No. 7, Inya Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2305800, 09-8315555 The Lady Gems & Silk Co operative Business Centre, Room No (32/41), New University Avenue Rd, Bahan Tsp, Yangon. Tel : 09-5200726 theladygems@gmail.com www.thelady-gems.com

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

FLORAL SERVICES

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

Natural Gems of Myanmar No. 30(A), Pyay Road, (7 mile), Mayangone Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-660397, 354398-9 E-mail : spgmes.myanmar @gmail.com

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

Home Furnishing

GENERATORS

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.

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

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

Foam spray Insulation

GLASS

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

International Construction Material Co., Ltd. No. 60, Sint-Oh-Dan St, Lower Block, Latha Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2410292, 243551, 09-431-83689, 09-448033905.

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

OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013 THE MYANMAR TIMES SCHOOLS

S.B. FURNITURE

SANITERY WARE

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

INSURANCE

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

For House-Seekers

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

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

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

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

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

Bath Room Accessories 79-B3/B3, East Shwe Gone Dine, Near SSC Womens Center, Bahan. Tel : 01-401083, 0973011100, 09-73056736 City Mart (Myaynigone Branch) tel: 510697. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Zawana Branch) tel:564532. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Shwe Mya Yar) tel: 294063. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Chinatown Point) tel: 215560~63. (9:00 am to 10:00 pm) City Mart (Junction Maw Tin) tel: 218159. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Marketplace) tel: 523840~43. City Mart (78th Brahch-Mandalay) tel: 02-71467~9. IKON Mart No.332, Pyay Rd, San Chaung. Tel: 535-783, 527705, 501429. Email: sales-ikon@ myanmar.com.mm

REMOVALISTS
EXPATRIATE HEALTH INSURANCE Tel: (09) 40 15 300 73 myanmar.health@poema.com Quality Chinese Dishes with Resonable Price @Marketplace by City Mart. Tel: 01-523840 Ext.109 Bldg-A2, G-Flr, Shwe Gabar Housing, Mindama Rd, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon. email: eko-nr@ myanmar.com.mm Ph: 652391, 09-73108896 Legendary Myanmar Intl Shipping & Logistics Co., Ltd. No-9, Rm (A-4), 3rd Flr, Kyaung St, Myaynigone, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 516827, 523653, 516795. Mobile. 09-512-3049. Email: legandarymyr@ mptmail.net .mm www.LMSL-shipping.com Delicious Hong Kong Style Food Restaurant G-09, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: 01-508467-70 Ext: 114 Horizon Intl School 25, Po Sein Road, Bahan Tsp, tel : 541085, 551795, 551796, 450396~7. fax : 543926, email : contact@horizonmyanmar. com, www.horizon.com

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

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

MARINE COMMUNICATION & NAVIGATION

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

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

PLEASURE CRUISES
Top Marine Show Room No-385, Ground Floor, Lower Pazundaung Road, Pazundaung Tsp, Yangon. Ph: 01-202782, 09-851-5597 Relocation Specialist Rm 504, M.M.G Tower, #44/56, Kannar Rd, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 250290, 252313. Mail : info@asiantigersmyanmar.com

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

PAINT
Worlds No.1 Paints & Coatings Company

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

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

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

WATER SOLUTION

SERVICE OFFICE

Company Limited

Aekar

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

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

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

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

Executive Serviced Offices

www.hinthabusinesscentres.com

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

Tel : 01-4413410

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

WATER TREATMENT

REAL ESTATE
Your Most Reliable & Friendly Real Estate Agency Tel : 09-7308848 01-242370, 394053

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.

Enchanting and Romantic, a Bliss on the Lake 62 D, U Tun Nyein Road, Mayangon Tsp, Yangon Tel. 01 665 516, 660976 Mob. 09-730-30755 operayangon@gmail.com www.operayangon.com 1. WASABI:No.20-B, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp,(Near MiCasa), Tel; 09-4250-20667, 09-503-9139 Myaynigone (City Mart) Yankin Center (City Mart) UnionBarAndGrill 42 Strand Road, Botahtaung, Yangon. Tel: 95 9420 180 214, 95 9420 101 854 www.unionyangon.com, info@unionyangon.com

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

TRAVEL AGENTS

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

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

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

International Construction Material Co., Ltd. No. 60, Sint-Oh-Dan St, Lower Block, Latha Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel : 01-2410292, 243551, 09-431-83689, 09-448033905.

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

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.

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

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

SUPERMARKETS
Capital Hyper Mart 14(E), Min Nandar Road, Dawbon Tsp. Ph: 553136. City Mart (Aung San Branch) tel: 253022, 294765. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (47th St Branch) tel: 200026, 298746. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (Junction 8 Branch) tel: 650778. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) City Mart (FMI City Branch) tel: 682323. City Mart (Yankin Center Branch) tel: 400284. (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) Made in Japan Same as Rinnai Gas Cooker and Cooker Hood Showroom Address

RESTAURANTS
G-01, City Mart (Myay Ni Gone Center). Tel: 01-508467-70 Ext: 106 Good taste & resonable price @Thamada Hotel Tel: 01-243047, 243639-41 Ext: 32 No. 5, U Tun Nyein Street, Mayangone T/S, Yangon. Tel : 01-660 612, 011 22 1014, 09 50 89 441 Email : lalchimiste. restaurant@gmail.com

Water Heater

Real Estate Agency

Email : realwin2012@ gmail.com Tel : 09-732-02480, 09-501-8250

VISA & IMMIGRATION

OFFICE FURNITURE

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

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

Sai Khung Noung Real Estate Co., Ltd. Tel : 541501, 551197, 400781, 09-73176988 Email : saikhungnoung 1995@gmail.com. www.saikhungnoung.com

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

Monsoon Restaurant & Bar 85/87, Thein Byu Road, Botahtaung Tsp. Tel: 295224, 09-501 5653.

No. 372, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan T/S, Yangon. Tel : 01-380 398, 01-256 355 (Ext : 3027) Email : zawgyihouse@ myanmar.com.mm

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

HOW TO GET A FREE AD

FREE
General
Computer Education
experienced teacher. Using International Syllabuses. Available for small groups or Individual. Ph: 01- 291-679 , 09-250136695. TEACHERS who have got Teaching experience in Singapore, Int'l School (primary & seconday levels) AEIS, PSLE, GCSE, SAT, IELTS, TOEFL, English-Myamar Speaking Class for company, Sayar Bryan, (ME) 09-4200-7 0692. "SCHOLAR Teaching Organization" founded with ME,BE & Master Degree holder with 12 years experience in teaching field. Role and Responsibility: Making the students develop problem solving skills, critical thinking skills and I.Q & E.Q enriching skills, Int'l School (ILBC, Total, MISY, ISY, PISM, Horizon, ISM, network, MIS, MLA, ES4E, DSY RV). All grades, All Subjects .....Singapore MOE Exams (AEIS, S-AEIS, IGCSE, IELTS, TOFEL..Tr.Daniel Caulin : 09-215-0075. Tr.Bryan :09-4200-70692. GIVE your child the best possible start to life at International Montessori Myanmar (English Education Center), Accredited by IMC Bangkok (Since 1991), Our Montessori curriculum includes: Practical Life Exercises, Sensorial Training. Language Development, Mathematics, Cultural Studies, Botany & Zoology, History, Creative Art, Music and Movement, Cooking, Physical Development, Social & Emotional Development, Learning through play, 55(B), Po Sein Rd, Bahan, Tel: 546097, 546761, Email: imm.myn@gmail.com EXPERIENCE SAT English teacher, who can come to home, needed for 2 International school students. Pls contact 09501-4443, Between 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. international accounting standards. (1)Financial statements preparation (profit & loss) (2) Financial statements/ performance analysis (3)Strategic planing (budgeting/forecasting) (4)Implementation of internal controls (5) Preparation for external auditor (6)Development standardized accounting procedures. Daw Thin Thin Aung, Accounting Consultant , Ph: 09-420090037. WE have Lands for sale suitable for making Industrial buildings in large area. Buyers can Contact Us on 09-4500-59037. (There is no pay for Agents & Third party ... Warmly welcome the buyers ) WE ARE the one of service Aera 51 group Real Estate. Who want to buy, sell & rent for house, Condo & Industry zone. Contact ph: 01-293-314, 09-403704805. AIR POWER, M & E Engineering Services Pte, Ltd. (Air Con & Electrical - Installation & Services) : 124, Rm 4, Padamya St, Yenatha, Thuwunna. Ph: 01-709-717, 570-086, 09501-4435. AUNG Professional Translation Professional Translation from Myanmar to English and English to Myanmar. For Legal translation, Technological, Diplo matic, Contract, Advertis ing, Movie, Literature, etc. With various services on paper, electronic file, recording & other relevant matters, both regular & express with expert service. 139, 2nd Flr, Bargayar Rd, Sangyoung, Yangon. Ph: 09-73211907, aung.translation@ gmail.com REAL ESTATE AGENT If you're an expatriate needing to find an apartment or house in Yangon, Min Thu can help. He has experience & is very reliable. Call Min Thu on 09-731-38659 or email : thecleverson@gmail.com : Ms Mya Mya Aung : 09-4200-48040, 09-401543732.

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

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

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

Property
511118, 526902, 527770. Email: reservations@ guestcarehotel.com. www. guestcarehotel.com COFFEE CIRCLES Coffeehouse & Restaurant. Menu: Excellent Coffee (InHouse Roasting), European & Asian Cuisines, Wines, Cocktails, Bakery & Pastry. Open daily: 7:00 am to 12:00 midnight. 107(A) Dhamma Zedi Rd, Bahan, Yangon, Tel: 525157, CoffeeCircles@ gmail.com www. theCoffeeCircles. com Facebook.com/ CoffeeCirclesMyanmar NEO Coffee and Food. Menu: Coffee, Bakery & Food. Open Daily: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Junction Square Shopping Center and City Mart@ Thamine Junction, Yangon Facebook.com/ NeoCoffeeandFood seminars,car rental and etc. Welcome anyone contact to Ph : 09-5117890, 01-581878 ASIAN BLISS MYANMAR Car Rental Service. Ph:01543-942, 09-519-1785, 09731-18957. PROFESSIONAL English Speaking Tour Car Driver Mr. SONNY Car Rental Service [Maw @ AUNG (Mya Mya Aung) Guide or English translator/ Interpreter ] !!! I can assist you as your best Tour Car Rental Service. Mr. Sonny: 09-4200-48040 VIRGIN LAND Tours :Visa Services, Worldwide Air Ticketing, Worldwide Hotel Reservation, All Kind Transportation Rental, Inbound & Outbound Tour Operator, Tour Guide Services , Ph: 01-8610252, 09-5123793, 09-520-2643 GREAT ESCAPE Travels & Tours Our services : (1).FIT tour & Group tour package, (2).Hotel reservation, Guide services, (3). Chinese to Mynamar to Chinese translation service (4).Car rental service (5). Visa Application. Contact person : Kelly Dong : 094301-8077 NYAN MYINT THU Car Rental Service : Ko Nyan Myint Win Kyi (MD) 56, Bo Ywe St, Latha, Yangon, Myanmar. Ph : 01-246551, 01375284. Hp:09-2132778. il:nyanmyintthu1983@ gmail.com, nmt@ nyan myintthucarrental. com, colwinkyi@ gmail.com. Web:www. nyanmyintthucarrental. com

HousingforRent
MAYANGONE, (1).9 Mile, A1 St, 3600 Sqft, 2 MBR, 2 SR, USD 3000. (2).7 Mile, 2 RC, 2 MBR, 2 SR, fully furnish, USD 3500. (3).8 Mile, Kabaraye Villa, (2050 Sqft) 3 MBR, fully furnish, USD 3300 (4).9 Mile , Ocean condo, (1300 Sqft),1MBR, 1 SR, fully furnish,USD 1500. Ph: 09-4921-4276. KAMAYUT, YANKIN, (1) Diamond condo, (1250) Sqft, 1 MR, 1 SR, 1500 USD. (2)Near Yankin center, condo, 1250 Sqft, 2 SR, 1 MR, fully furnish, 1600 USD. (3) Near Yankin centre, 2stories, 2 MR, 2 SR, 1500 USD. Ph: 094921-4276.

SOFTWARE (POS, Money Changer, Travel & Tour Booking), Cable & Wireless Networking Service (CPE, RT, AP), Hardware & Maintenance Service, Computer Training Service. Contact: 09- 730-75931, zinmyintzx@gmail.com

For Sale
TOYOTA IQ (2008) 2 Door, Push Start (keyless) Gold Silver colour. prices 135 Lakhs. Ph:09-3335-5535. HUAWEI P1 U9200 white 98%new ,price- 145000Ks, contact : 09-514-7480. MACBOOK Pro 13" Intel Core 2 Duo Ram 4GB H.D.D 750GB Mac OS 10.8.5 + Windown 7. Price : 685000. Ph : 093105-0872 ALPHARD, Mark X, Mark II, Crown. Ph: 09-518-8320. MARK II, Regalia (99mdl), 165 lakhs. Ph: 09-5188320. WIMAX (Bagan). Ph: 09-44800-6520. ENGLISH literature & language arts for middle school in touch with SAT. French class & Spanish can be inquired. U Thant Zin:09-503-5350, 09-31021314. www.facebook.com/ shaping the way. USED Dell, Acer, ASUS Lenovo, & More Laptops Core i3, i5, i7. Ph : 094500-39844 99% NEW SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultra Book Intel Core i5 Ram 8GB H.D.D + SSD Display 13.3 1 Year 6 Month International Warranty. Price : 630000. Ph : 09-4200-50651. MACBOOK Pro 13" Intel Core 2 Duo Ram 4GB H.D.D 750GB Mac OS 10.8.5 + Windown 7. Price : 685,000. Ph : 09-420050651. ORIGINAL 3DS Game Cartridges & accessories Spirit Camrea: The Cursed Memoir (with box & user guide booklet) - 20000 Kyats, Rabbid Rumble (with box & user guide booklet) - 20000 Kyats, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (with box and user guide booklet) - 24000 Kyats, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (with box & user guide booklet) - 30000 Kyats, - Project X Zone (with box and user guide booklet) - 30000 Kyats, 3DS Game Cartridge Holder (24 Slots) - 17000 Kyats, Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL - 30000 Kyats. Prices are negotiable. Ph: 09-507-9980". ASUS A42J Intel Core i7 Ram 4GB H.D.D 500GB Garaphic 2GB Price : 435000. Ph : 09-501-6694 SAMSUNG Galaxy S3 LTE (3G/4G LTE Network) 1.5 GHz Processor Quad Core 8MP LED Flash Camera & Camcorder Android 4.1 Jelly Bean 4.8" Touchscreen-Super AMOLED Plus Display Very good internet speed Brand New. Good Price: 440000 Ks. Negotiable. Ph:09-507-4152.

WILLINGLY give a helping hand to those who are still difficult to answer ABE question papers of Business Management ( Graduate Diploma) for December exams. Pls contact: 09-4211-07662 GIVE your child the best possible start to life at Int'l Montessori Myanmar (English Education Center) Accredited by IMC Bangkok (Since 1991), Our Montessori curriculum includes: Practical Life Exercises, Sensorial Training, Language Development, Mathematics, Cultural Studies, Botany & Zoology, History, Creative Art, Music and Movement, Cooking, Physical Development, Social & Emotional Development. Learning through play. 55(B), Po Sein Rd, Bahan, Yangon, Tel: 546097, 546761, Email: imm.myn@gmail.com FOR IGCSE (Edexcel & Campridge) & Secondary level Regular tuition classes Home tuition Exam preparation classes All subjects available Contact: 09-508-8683. LCCI,Level I, II & III, MYOB. Ph:09-520-0974 ENGLISH literature & language arts for middle school in touch with SAT. setting.plot.maintheme writing .All kinds of student can be learnt. U Thant Zin, 28,3 B, Thatipahtan St, Tamwe. Ph: 09-5035350,09-3102-1314. w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / shaping the way SPECIAL for Maths Algebra I&II, Geometry, Calculus Pre- University Level Tr.Kaung Myat: BE(PE) Ph:09-73142020. TEACHING ENGLISH: English for Young Learners and High School Graduates Qualified and

Rd, 5min walk to Hilton/ Center Point offices. jasonwongjp@gmail. com, 09-4211-02223. MAYANGONE , (1) Kabaraye Pagoda Rd, Ga Mon Pyint condo, 2500 Sqft, 2 MR, 1 SR, fully furnish, 4000 USD. (2).9 mile , Ocean condo, 1500 Sqft, 1 MR, 2 SR, 2500 USD. (3).Kabaraye Pagoda Rd, near Parami Rd, 2 stories, 3 MR, fully furnish , 3500 USD. (4). 7 Mile, U Kyaw Hla St, 3 stories, 5 MR, fully furnish, 8000 USD. (5).9 Mile, 2 stories, 4 MR,USD 2500. Ph: 094921-4276. MAYANGONE, (1)Nice apartment, 1300 sqft, 1 MBR, 2 SR, furnished, ph line, good electricity, US$ 2500 per month, (2)Mindama Rd, 2300

Language
LANGUAGE Proficiency: Effective & Scientific way. Tutor/ Translator/ Interpreter. (Such languages: Hindi/ Sanskrit/ Bengali/ Nepali/ English & Myanmar), R.S. Verma. B.Sc., (Bot), Yangon. (UFL-English), Yangon. Email: rsverma. myanmar@gmail.com, Ph: 09-730-42604. FOR FOREIGNERS Want to learn Myanmar speaking at your home? Contact : 09-517-9125 FRENCH .a small class for reading .writing. speaking and listening can be inquired. You can practice study or reading skill if you need. French language and civilization get more knowledge for further study. Colledge and University students also study for extra curriculum. Spanish can be in quired. U Thant Zin 28, 3-B, Thatipahtan St, Tamwe. Ph:09-503-5350, 09-310-21314. www. facebook.com/shaping the way

Public Notices
CASH REWARD for 13" MacBook Pro that was left behind in a taxi on Bor Yar Nyunt Street at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday October 1st. No questions asked but must include all original data. Pls contact 09-421167228 (English & Burmese speaker available.

Expert Services
A SEASONED accounting prefessional with more than 13 years of experience in various industries. Can provide below services in compliance with

For Rent
NEW BELTA Saloon Car (Model:2008) with English speaking driver who own his car No. 6F/8728 by monthly payment price 5.5 lakhs Kyats only. Contact

Training
BOXING: Do you want to learn international boxing. With properly methods from several ages. Contact: Master high class School cuba boxing, osmarino09@gmail.com, Phone: 09-313-29605, 09-4253-60719.

Want to Buy
APPLE : Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, Mac Mini iPhone 5, 4S, 4, iPod 5, 4 iPad 2, 3, 4, Mini Wifi Only & Wifi + 4G, Apple TV, Apple Mouse A.K Mobile Ko Myo San. No 124, 31 St(Middle) Pabedan. Ph: 09-4500-39844. USED Or Brand New Macbook Pro , Macbook Air, iMac, Mac Mini iPad 4 Wifi Only & Wifi + 4G iPhone 5, iPod 5 Samsung S4 HTC One . Ph : 09-5016694 CHERRY QQ3 (Taxi). Pls contact; 09-4211-31257 WE want to buy Marine Generator operation and maintenance manual books and Marine main engines operation and maintenance manual books(B&W or Yanmar Or UEC , etc..Pls contact 09518-4314

Travel
THE ANY-WAYS Travel & Tours Co : 1225, Pinlon Rd, 35 Ward, North Dagon (Email :- anywaysmyanmar@ gmail.com) was established since early October,2013. The foreign visitors (Tourists, Business or other purpose) are advised to contact us and enjoy our services, such as ticketing,hotel reservation, tour programming, holding

General
GUEST Care Hotel : 107(A) Dhamma Zedi Rd, Bahan, Yangon. Tel:

INSEIN, Free hold land, 1.5 acre, Price negotiable. Contact.: 09-505-3342 BAHAN : A European Style fully furnished apartment at Pearl Condominium, 12th flr, 1700 sqft. Most modern interior decoration. Fully Air conditioned. Best for foreigners. Rent expected USD 2500 per month. Can also sell for USD 3,50,000. Call owner (English speaking 09-508-2244) or (Myanmar speaking 09-735-67890) A CONDO, 7th Floor + Pent House. Bo Chote St & Yee Kyaw St Corner 1700 Sqft, Fully Decorated AC/Hot Water / Lift / Best View. Suitable for office and foreigner. Ph: 09-519-7133. MAYANGONE, (131), Cheery St, Thamine, Double Slab (4th Floor) (23 ' x 48'), 1 MBR, 1SR, Dinning Room, Air Con, Refrigenerator, TV Stan. Ph: 09-4293-33333, 01680-699, 687-376. BAHAN , (1)New University Avenue Rd, new condo, 1500sqft, f.f, US$ 3000 (2)New University Avenue condo, 2000 sqft, f.f US$ 3000. Maureen : 09-5188320. BAHAN , (1)Near Chatrium hotel, condo 1500 Sqft, 2 MBR, 1 SR, 3200 USD. (2). Near Japan Embassy, condo 1200 Sqft, 1 MBR, 2 SR, 1500 USD. (3).Near Sedona hotel, apartment, 1100 Sqft, 1 MBR, 2SR, fully furnish, 800 USD. (4).Golden velley, 1 storie, 2 MBR, fully furnish, 2500 USD. (5).Golden velley, near pearl condo,3 stories, 3 MBR, 4000 USD. Ph : 09-4921-4276. CLASSIC STRAND, 3 bed 2 bath, 1600 square feet, 8th floor corner unit full riverview. $3800/month. Strand

sqft, Mindama Condo, good electricity, 1 master bedroom, 2 single rooms, ph line, furnished , US Dollar 3800 per month, ph: 09-507-4241. YANKIN, Near Yankin Centre, 1450 sqft, Fully furnished, 1 MB, 2 BR, No need to pay agent fee, 09 430 83781 BAHAN,(1).Near Sedona hotel, 1100 Sqft, 1 MBR, 2SR, fully furnish, USD 800. (2).Near Japan Embassy , 1100 Sqft, 1 MBR, 2 SR, fully furnish, USD 1600. (3).Near Park Royal hotel, 1200 Sqft, 1 MBR, fully furnish, USD 2500.(4).New University avenue Rd, 1500 Sqft, 1 MBR, 2 SR, fully furnish, USD 1600. (5). Near Kandawgyi Lake, 20' x 80', 2MBR, 1 SR, fully furnish, USD 2500. (6). Golden velly, 2500 Sqft, 2RC, 1 MBR, 2 SR, USD 2500. Ph : 094921-4276. MAYANGONE, Double Slab, 4th Flr :131, Cheery St, Thamine, 23' x 48', MBR 1, Single Room 1, Dinning Room. Air Con, Refrigenerator, TV. Ph: 09-429-333333, 01680699, 687376 40 X 60, 2 RC, Typical classic Myanmar style with 2 MB, 2 BR, teak parquet floor, fully furnished with teak furniture, Newly installed wiring & voltage regulator. Bathrooms have heaters. No need to pay agent fee, Ks. 20 lakhs per month, 09 430 83781.

HousingforSale
KAMAYUT, Pyay Rd, Diamond Condo, Nicely viwe, new, ph, 4 A/C, own meter, 3600 Lakhs. Maureeen : 09-5188320.

Want to Buy
WE want to buy about (100 ft x 100 ft), (Need to join ownerself), Ph: 09-566-1037.

THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

FREE
Employment
infrastructure, business process management, vendor management, database administration. Ph:01-373001,376245, 09-73154474, 73126761 Ext: 104, 43098643. GRAND PALACE Hotel. is seeking (1).Waiter 4 Posts, (2).Housekeeping 6 Posts, (3).Laundry 4 Posts, (4). Cook 4 Posts, (5). Cook Helper 4 Posts, (6).Security Guard 4 Posts, (7).Maintenance Staff 4 Posts. Pls submit CV to M-22, Shwe Htee Housing, Thamine Station St., Near Bayint Naung Point, Mayangone, Yangon. Ph: 522744, 522763, Email: grandpalace@myanmar. com.mm GARDEN CITY Hotel Construction is looking for (1)Site Engineer/ Super visor. (2)Civil Engineer. (3) M & E Engineer. (4) Accountant. (5) Interior Designer. Location at Yangon. If you are short listed, we will invite you interview. Salary will consider depend on candidate relevant working experience. 2 to 3 years construction experience required. Email: gardencity03@ gmail.com, Pls submit resume to : 66/67, Ayarwon Yeik Thar, Minnandar St, 1 Htu Par Yone, Thakayta, Yangon, Ph: 558933, 450394. AMARA GROUP Co., Ltd is looking for: (1) Executive Chef 1 Post (Ngapali). (2) Sous Chef 2 Post (Ngapali/ Kalaw). (3)Chef De Partie 1 Post (Kalaw). (4)Pastry Chef 1 Post (Ngapali). (5)Accountant 1 Post (Yangon). (6) Spa Therapist 4 Post (Ngapali/ Kalaw). (7)Receptionist 1 Post (Kalaw). (8)Room Attendant 2 Post (Kalaw). (9) Waiter/ Waitress 1 Post (Kalaw). Be part of a young dynamic team & contribute to the hotels success with your expertise & experience. Therefore we offer an interesting work environment, accommodation & an attractive package. We look forward receiving CV in English. Email : hrm@ amaragroupmyanmar. com, Ph: 663347, 652191. No.6, Tayza Rd, Kyan Khin Su Quarter, Mingalardon, Yangon www.amara oceanresort. com, Tel: 663347, 652191. MYANMAR Golden Heart Co., Ltd. is seeking (1) Computer Data Operator - F 1 Post : Age 20-28, Any graduate, more preferable LCCI 3, 1 year Account experiences, Good in accounting software or more preferable in UBS Software, Microsoft Outlook. (2) Sales & Marketing Supervisor - M 3 Posts : Age 23-28. (3) Sales & Marketing Supervisor - M 1 post : (AGTI B-Tech) Age 23-28. For 2 & 3 : Any graduate, 1 year experience in sale & marketing field. (4) Driver - M 1 Post : Age 25 ~ 40. 5 years experience in driving skill. Pls contact with updated CV in English, with one passport photo, copy of labor registration card, NRC card and other supportive documents to 103/104, Kyun Shwe Myaing St, Thuwana, Yangon, Ph : 09-73127269, 09-4211-56774. Email: nilar.vimpex@ gmail.com Closing date :30.11.2013. (1)ENGLISH (speaking , writing) Age 20 ~ 35, for real estate company) M/F 5 posts (2)Chinese (speaking, written) Age 20 ~ 35 - M/F 5 posts (3) Driver, Age 25 ~ 40 - M/F 3 posts. Ph: 09-421177105, 09-4201-14749. CLIENT Servicing Executive - 1 Post. We are looking for a young & outgoing Female to join our Advertising Agency : Enjoys meeting people and have good communication skills. Fluent in oral and written English. Able to work independently and under tight deadlines. Must be a team player. Provides liaison between in-house team and clients. We provide a challenging environment and look forward to meeting suitable candidates for the post. Call : 09-5069346 for an appointment. Salary Negotiable. HORIZON Int'l School is looking for (1).Office secretary - F 1 post : Age under 30. Bachelors degree or Diploma in the relevant field. Sufficient work experience. Good command of English. Computer literate. (2). Assistant Teacher - F 2 posts :Age 20 ~ 35. University graduate. Proficient in English. Comfortable working with young learners. Able to devote oneself to teaching. Friendly, enthusiastic & patient. (3).Receptionist - F 1 post :Age under 30. Bachelors Degree or Diploma in the relevant field. Good command of English. BENEFITS: Attractive Salary, Lunch is also provided, An opportunity to work for an institution where students have lots of outstanding international achievements, Enhance ment training. Pls bring CV along with a copy of your credentials to 235, Shukinthar Myo Patt Rd, Taketa, Yangon. Ph: 450396, 450397, Closing date : 8 November, 2013. All candidates should be good in communication and interpersonal skills. BC FINANCE LIMITED, a licensed microfinance provider, is seeking Office Manager : (Yangon, Magwe Mandalay, Sagaing, Mon, Tanintharyi, Shan) Duties: Supervise staff. Maintain office records, supplies and equipment. Manage, collect and organize accounts and receipts. Organize office operations and systems. Native Myanmar fluency, working knowledge of written & spoken English, experience using computer software, able to type in Myanmar, basic accounting & mathematical skills, good communication & time management skills. Must provide own accommodation. No criminal record. Email CV to: recruitment@ bcfmyanmar.com Loan Officers: (Yangon, Sagaing, Bago, Magwe, Tanintharyi, Shan, Mandalay, Mon) Duties: Execute all aspects of loan and savings process. Maintain a low loan delinquency rate. Native Myanmar fluency, working knowledge of written and spoken English, experience using computer software (Word, Excel), able to type in Myanmar, willing to travel. 1 year field experience as a loan officer in a microfinance organization in Myanmar with personal portfolio of at least 200 clients and low loan delinquency rate. Bachelors degree required, preferably numerate degrees. Must provide own accommodation. No criminal record. Email CV to: recruitment@ bcfmyanmar.com AVENUE 64 Hotel is urgently looking for Assistant Sales Manager : Must have at least 3 years experiences in hotel field, strong interpersonal & communication skill. Interested candidates pls submit your resume with recent photo to No. 201, Building A, Shwehinthar Condo, Pyay Rd, 6 miles alternatively info@ avenue64hotel.com. All applications will research by 28 Oct 2013, we will contact short listed for interview. ASIA LANGUAGE & Business Academy (ALBA) urgently requires part-time English native teacher for our Weekend program.Pls contact: 384055, 376236, 376314. Email: admin@albaedu. com OFFICE RECEPTIONIST - F1 Post : Able to speak English fluently & handle phone complaint, Receive & direct telephone messages to the appropriate person, Be respectable, Answer all incoming calls, re-direct calls as appropriate,take message & handle callers inquiries, Greet & assist visitors, 1 year experience, Age under 25 (2)Drivers - Can speak English a little, Possess licence ( black or red), Follow traffic rules & regulations & maximum speed limit, 2 years driving experience, Age under 50 (3) Project Admin (Temporary PositionAbout 5-months) : Able to type fluently in both English & Myanmar, Able to use Adobe Photoshop & Page Maker, Able to communicate in English & communicate with government departments & travel around Yangon. Pls submit CV, 2 passport photos, with necessary documents to HR Dept 380, 10 th flr, FMI Center, Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Pabedan, Yangon or email: khinnyeinaye@ spa.com.mm Closing date : 10.11.2013. KELVIN CHIA Yangon Ltd is a foreign legal consultancy firm is seeking (1) Lawyers who will work on a variety of corporate & commercial matters & transactions in Myanmar. If you are a Myanmar-qualified lawyer with strong English language skills, you are invited to apply to join our Myanmar practice group. Myanmar nationals admitted to intl bars are also welcome to apply. Training will be provided. Pls submit CV to klm@kcyangon.com. (2) Corporate Affairs Executive/Assistant As a corporate affairs executive/assistant, you will be involved with business development, networking, market research & liaison work. Proficient in English, energetic & selfmotivated. All nationalities are welcome (Myanmar, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, etc). Pls email to kk@ kcyangon.com AYAR SWAN AH Co., Ltd. is seekning (1).Business Analyst - M/F 1 post : To assist with the business planning, market research & business analysis, Preparing presentations, emails & other documentation for business development and implementation. (2). Business Development Executive - M/F 3 posts :Any graduate, 3 ~ 5 years experience, Knowledge in tender project is a must, Can stay in Nay Pyi Taw & travel (Domestic/ Aboard) (3).Senior Accountant F 1 Post :B.Com/ LCCI III, 3 years experiences, Age 27~33, To handle full spectrum of accounts and payroll (4).Network Engineer - M 1 post : Diploma in Networking, To develop and control the IT security policy, To maintain & develop the company internal network systems. Email : hr.ayarswanah@gmail. com Closing Date: 31 October 2013. MYANMAR GOLDEN Heart Co., ltd is seeking (1)Computer Data Operator - F 1 Post : Age 20 ~ 28, Any graduate, more preferable LCCI (3), 1 year experience in account, good in any accounting software or more preferable in UBS Software, Microsoft Outlook (2).Sales & Marketing Supervisor M 3 Posts : Age 23 ~ 28 (3).Sales & Marketing Supervisor (AGTI B-Teach) - M 1 Post : Age 23 ~ 28. For 2 & 3 : Any graduate,1 year experience in sale & marketing filed, (4). Driver - M 1 Post : Age 25 ~ 40. 5 years experience in driving skill. Pls contact with updated CV in English, with 1 passport photo, copy of labor registration card, NRC card and other supportive documents to 103/104, Kyun Shwe Myaing St, Thuwunna.Yangon, Ph : 09-731-27269, 09-421156774 or Email: nilar. vimpex@gmail.com DZ CARD Myanmar Technology Company is seeking Office Staff - F 2 Posts : University degree. Diploma in IT will be preferred. Communication in English. Computer skill MS, Excel, Power Point & using with office equipment. Working experience with Sales & Marketing and Computer Technology preferred. Pls send in complete resumes along with date of availability to email: sangmin.kim02@ gmail.com not later than 30.10.13. Ph: 228004. (1) TOUR OPERATION Manager M/F 1 Post : 3 years experience in travel & tours company. Perfect English language. Able In-bound and Out-bound tours. Strong sales and customer service focus. Above to handle group & individual tour, package & highly motivated & resourceful. (2)Tour Reservation International/ Domestic M/F 1 Post : Any graduate. 1 year experience. Strong sales & customer service focus. Good communication in English. (3)Tour Operation Staff - M/F 1 Post : 1 year experience. Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook. Strong attention to detail while working in fast paced environment. Good communication in English. Pls send a detailed resume with recent photo & other relevant documents to HR Manager in person at 140(B) Damazadi Rd, West Shwe Gone Dine Quarter, Bahan, Yangon. Ph: 510972. LEGENDARY Myanmar Co.,Ltd. Export/ Import Department (1) Customer Clearance - M/F 2 Post. Travel & Tour Department: (2) Tour Operator - F 2 Posts. (3)Office Staff M/F 2 Posts. All applicant s must have: 1 year experience. University graduate, Spoken & written English, Good computer knowledge. Pls apply CV, 2 recent photo with necessary documents to 9, Rm (A4), 3rd Flr, Kyaung St, Myaynigone, Sanchaung.

UN Positions
UNICEF Myanmar is seeking Commu nication for Deve lopment Officer : Advanced university degree in communications, public health, social sciences or a related field combined with relevant experience. 3 years professional experience in communication, advocacy, & develop ment work. Possess 3 years of demonstrated experience in behaviour change communication, community activities. Fluency in English & local working language. Pls send application with updated CV or Personal History form, educational credentials and references to jobs. yangon@unicef.org by 31 October 2013. IOM Int'l Organization for Migration is seeking(1) Project Evaluator in Yangon: Advanced degree in public health, development, or related field. 7 years experience in programme manage ment, research, and/ or evaluation. Excellent writer to technical documents in English. (2)Community Service Provider in Thaton, Mon State: Must have a client-oriented, resultoriented mind-set and uphold the programme values of caring, innovating, partnering, demonstrating compe tence & working for positive change. Able to spend up to 80% of the time travel to remote, hard-to-reach areas to accomplish his/her responsibilities as noted in this TOR. Background in community development programming. Myanmar plus Kayin and/ or Mon language proficiency. Have a valid driver's license & able to drive motorcycle. University degree. Pls submit CV to 318 (A), Ahlone Rd, Dagon Tsp, Yangon. Tel: 210588, Email: hryangon@iom.int.

Embassy
A FOREIGN Mission in Yangon is looking for a Secretary (Female), fluent in written/ oral English (minimum 3 years experience). Pls send CV with recent photo to tztztz78@gmail. com

Ingo Positions
AF-MERCADOS EMIRecruitment. AFMercados Energy Markets Int'l S.A., a premier energy sector consultancy firm based in Madrid, Spain is seeking qualified Myanmarnationals in energy related engineering & economic fields for ongoing & future projects in Myanmar. Over 5 years relevant experience in at least one of these fields related to the energy sector (power, natural gas/oil, renewables/ efficiency): legal, regulatory & institutional study, planning, statistic and economic analysis, engineering (generation, transmission, distribut ion). Advanced degree in law, economics, public administration, financial and/or business management, engineering, or other related fields. Excellent proficiency in English Myanmar. Pls send CV & cover letter by email to CV@mercadosemi.es, by 30.11.2013, & include contact phone numbers. AF Mercados EMI is a dynamic, multinational organization. www. mercadosemi.com MEDECINS du Monde (MDM) is seeking Accountant 1 post in Pyapon:Universitydegree in finance, accountancy or related feild. 1 year

experience in accounting & finance field. Fluency in Myanmar. Fair English both speaking & writing. Good computer skills. Pls submit CV & a cover letter to MDM Country Coordination Office, Yangon, 47-B, Po Sein St, Bahan, Yangon. Email : office.mdmmyanmar@ gmail.com NORWEGIAN Refugee Council is seeking Logistics Officer in Yangon: Strong communication, interper sonal, analytical & negotiation skills. Ability to multi-task while remaining focused on programme goals. Fluency in English. Pls submit CV, including application letter and contact detail of 2 referees (No other supporting documents are required for this stage), clearly indicating which position they are interested in no later than 1st November 2013 to admin-hr@ myanmar.nrc.no with cc to ssc@myanmar nrc. no or mail to: Human Resource Officer, NRC, 68, Than Lwin Rd (Corner with Aung Daw Mu St), Bahan, Yangon. WORLD VISION Myanmar is seeking(1) Accountability Moni toring & Evaluation Facilitator (Food Program) Re-Open in Waingmaw, Kachin State: University Bachelor Degree. Prior experience in commodities mana gement is preferred. Good knowledge of English and computer aptitude.(2)Cashier cum Bookkeeper in Kyangin - Ayeyarwaddy Region: University Degree in accounting/ finance or related subject. 2 years experience as Cashier or in the field of finance & administration. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word & Excel. For all posts : Must provide a clean criminal background. Pls submit resume (clearly identify the post you apply) by post to HR Department, World Vision Myanmar or in person to application drop-box at No (18), Shin Saw Pu Rd, Ahlone, Sanchaung PO or send to myajobapps@wvi.org Closingdate : October 29, 2013. SOLIDARITES Int'l is seeking (1) Accounting Supervisor (Urgent) in Sittwe, Rakhine State. (2) Administrative Supervisor Kanpelet, Chin State. Pls submit application (CV, cover letter, references) to HR Department, Solidarites Int'l/ Or drop your application on an envelope at Solidarites Int'l office : 44-A, Tharyarwaddy Lane, Bahan, Yangon or per email: hr.recruitment. mm@gmail.com cc: to rks.admassist.stw@ solidarites-myanmar.org, Closing date: 31.10.2013. DANISH Red Cross Country Office - Yangon is seeking Driver in Yangon with frequent travels to project sites in Chin State and Mandalay & Sagaing Regions. Person Specification: In good mental & physical health. Fleet/ Transports/ Workshop management practical knowledge. 2 years experience on the vehicle types for which the driver has the license. Driving experiences in hilly regions. Pls submit applications including cover letter, CV, references and copies of education certificates to: Danish Red Cross, att.. Office Manager, Red Cross building 1st Flr. 42 Strand Rd, Botahtaung, Yangon, or email: drcs02-ifrc@redcross. org.mm Closing date : 28th October 2013 MYANMAR RED Cross Society is seeking (1)Supply Change Management Officer 1 post in Mindat, Chin State: Any graduate. 1 year experience. (2)

Operation Assistant 1 post in Mindat : Relevant educational background (accounting, finance, administration or equivalent). 2 years' experience. (3)Village Health Committee Officer 2 posts in Mindat & Matupi : Bachelor or equivalent degree in public administration, community develop ment, social or develop ment related studies. 1 year experience & proven skills in facilitation of VHC or VTHC at township level. For all posts : Effective English language skills & computer knowledge. Red Cross Volunteers are preferable. Pls send application letter, CV & related documents to Myanmar Red Cross Society Head Office, Yazathingaha Rd, Dekkhinathiri,NayPyiTaw. Or mrcshrrecruitment@ gmail.com, Closing date : 25.10.2013.

Local Positions
INYA LAKE Hotel , Yangon is seeking (1) Senior Accountant (or) Chef Accountant - 1 post : B.com (or) L.C.C.I, Good communication in English, Basic computer knowledge, Pleasant personality, 3 ~ 5 years experience in related field, Able to use computerized accounting software effectively. (2) Accountant -2 posts : B.com (or) L.C.C. I would be an advantage, Good communication in English, Basic computer knowledge, Pleasant personality, Having relevant work experience is preferable. Pls submit detailed CV in English with relevant documents, a recent photo, labour registration card, & contact details to the HR Department 37, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Yangon. Tel :01-9662866/57`59. Closing date : 31.10.13. ISOLA Garden & cafe restaurant is seeking : Maintenence & Engineering,Assistant Restaurant Manager, Kitchen Helper, Bartender, Cashier, Service staffs (waiter / waitress), Housing Keeping/ Cleaner. Qualification required for the above position: previous work experience in Hotel & restaurant management is preferable, Pleasant, coourtesy & friendly manner when dealing with customers, Good command of English in spoken & written English. Pls submit CV with recent photo, copies of NRC, labor registration card & education certificates to 80, Golden valley 1 Qtr, University Avenue Rd, Bahan. Ph: 532142, 09506-3762. THIRI COSMETICS Co., Ltd. (Mistine) is seeking Software Developer : Degree in IT or related subject. Sound knowledge in Software Development Life Cycle, Relational Database. Sound knowledge in C#. Net, SQL , Crystal Report. 3 years experience in software development (Requirement : Analysis, Coding, Testing ) using the technology specified above. Good to have Knowledge in project management, network &

Job Advertisement The Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Government in international cooperation for sustainable development and in international education work. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries. GIZ employs approximately 17,000 staff members worldwide, some 70 % of whom are local personnel. GIZ has been present in Myanmar since 2012 and is expanding its activities in the country aiming at sustainable economic development. Currently it runs three projects (1) Private Sector Development, (2) Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and (3) Financial Sector Development. GIZ is seeking applications from highly motivated professional candidates for the following position: Driver (2 posts) Assistant Finance Officer (2 posts) Project Assistant (1 post) Junior Programme Manager/Advisor (2posts) Liaison and Procurement Officer (1 post) Application procedure: Applications are accepted until 06 November 2013, 17.00 Qualified candidates shall send their application letter along with their nonreturnable recent CV and contact detail of two referees to the following address: Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH No 35 (B) / 15 New University Avenue, Yangon, Myanmar OR Fax: 01 860 5065 OR E-Mail: giz-myanmar@giz.de Note: For further information, please contact above mentioned email address. The name of the position for which the application is made should be clearly marked on the applications. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

www.mmtimes.com

Sport 59

A bluffers guide to the th 27 Southeast Asian Games

27 TH SEA GAMES MYANMAR 2013

MUAY
MUAY, commonly referred to as muay Thai, has only appeared as a fully sanctioned medal event in three Southeast Asian Games. For a discipline developed on the peninsula, it is surprising that the sport made its debut in 2005 when the games were hosted by Manila, in the Philippines. Nay Pyi Taw sees the sport return after a brief hiatus when muay failed to warrant a place on the event calendar at the 2011 Palembang Games in Indonesia. Where does it originate? According to the World Muay Thai Council there are two primary and conflicting genesis stories for the art of muay. The first suggests a development driven by the Thai people as they struggled for land in their move down from China. The latter believes muay Thai developed to defend that said land from outside invasion. Regardless of its beginnings, throughout its history, muay Thai has developed not only for practical use in warfare but also as a popular spectator sport. Sources suggest that the first popularisation of muay both as a sport and battlefield skill dates to 1584. It was at this time when not only was every soldier required to train in the art but King Naresuan also adopted the form. Its reputation as the Thai sport of kings only continued to grow under King Prachao Sua. Ruling at a time of peace, the Tiger King would disguise himself in order to enter local village competitions, often beating the local champions. Eventually, in the 1930s, the sport became more codified and unified from the many individual forms of muay boran or ancient boxing developed in Thailand, including mae mai muay Thai and luk mai muay Thai. Whats it all about? Like many who compete in full contact combat sports, muay fighters require high levels of physical fitness and body conditioning. However, when compared to other combat sports in the SEA Games, muay most closely resembles boxing. There are no muay events focused toward the art-form or perfect

MATT ROEBUCK
matt.d.roebuck@googlemail.com

weight categories. Males compete over nine divisions between 48kg and 75kg. Females will contest five weights between 48kg and 60kg. This means muay contributes a total of 14 gold medalists to the SEA Games. Whats the betting? Now that Thailand has agreed to send Muay athletes to the games, they must be considered strong contenders. The president of the Amateur Muay Thai Association of Thailand had suggested a boycott of the games unless the event was organised under the direction of the International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur. The Thai team took home six of the 13 golds on offer at the 2009 event, where the Lao fighters made the most of their home advantage and secured five. The Philippines are only bringing three athletes to these games but the president of their association believes that their fighters strong showing in last years world championships should translate into three medals to take home to Manilla. After the disruption to the Thai athletes preparations, it is not only the Philippines that seem confident of their ability to medal. The Indonesian coach has been quoted as targeting precisely two gold, four silver and three bronze. Last time out Myanmars fighters took home three bronze medals in the lighter male categories but will undoubtedly be looking for more in Nay Pyi Taw. Where will it all happen? Staged at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium, the combatant draw will be made on December 15. The fighting will begin the next day and conclude on December 21. Did you know? Youll be glad to know that Thai fighters have always worn groin guards, particularly as a kick or knee to the groin was only outlawed in the 1930s. Traditional protection included tree bark or sea shells held in place by a piece of cloth. Matt Roebuck is a sports writer and sports development consultant based in Yangon. He is the author of the book The Other Olympics, published in 2012.

Our bluffers guide to the Southeast Asian Games focuses on those sports that may never make it to the Olympics but whose elite will get their chance to compete for international gold this December. This week we look to a combat sport that developed on the Southeast Asian peninsula itself.

demonstration of technique. Muay is simple combat, one on one, until a victor is determined. How do you play? Muay has traditionally been an art of attrition, with fighters standing toe-totoe and exchanging alternate blows. As the sport has developed internationally, combatants have become more circumspect, attempting to engage and retreat on their own terms. A number of methods can be employed to attack your opponent in muay and it is for this reason that the sport is sometimes referred to as the art of the eight limbs. The hands, shins, elbows, and knees create eight points of contact in comparison to boxings two or other martial arts four. The kicks, punches or blocks should all be delivered with a strong rotation of the hips. Practitioners of muay will often condition and harden their shin bones by repeatedly kicking a dense punch bag. All this, in addition to the evolution of more powerful hand striking techniques explains the move away from the traditional tactic of trading blows. The traditions of muay nevertheless continue exist in the modern sport. Both combatants must perform the Wai Khru Ram Muay before each and every bout to the traditional Thai musical instruments of the java pipe, small cymbals and two drums, fighters must pay homage to their teachers, parents whilst

Muay Thai athletes fight during a match in 2008. Photo: Max Talbot-Minkin

praying for safety and victory. How do you win? You can win a muay contest in many of the same ways you might a boxing match. Contests are held over three rounds, each lasting three minutes. Should the fight go the distance then a winner will be declared on points. The boxer who the majority of judges deem to have been the most successful will be awarded the bout. Generally a fighter will hope for a decisive victory, thereby leaving them fresh for the next round. To win by knock-out; they must knock their opponent to the ground so that they fail to resume the bout within a count of ten seconds. In addition to this, there is also a count limit;no competitor may take more than two counts in a round, nor three across the whole bout, otherwise they will forfeit the fight. What should you be saying? Oh, what lovely music from the wong muay - the orchestra that plays at the fights.

Look at that guy, hes clearly mao mat punch drunk, looking bewildered or confused from blows to the head. Where is it played? For much of its history, the sport has developed alongside many forms of regional combat across the Southeast Asian peninsula. It has links to the Myanmar sport of lethwei, the Cambodian pradal serey and the sport of muay Lao the rules of which were used last time, when the sport appeared at the Vientiane Games in 2009. Following the success of mixed martial arts, muay is now possibly best known for its popularity amongst the combatants in this international phenomena. In this sport that pits proponents of different combat styles against one another, many of the most successful stand up fighters come from a muay background and make use of their superior ability with the elbows and knees. How many medals are available? As is common to most combat sports, events will be split across gender and

Sport
60 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3, 2013

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

Muay in this weeks bluffers guide to the SEA Games

SPORT 59

IN BRIEF

Yangon U14s take to the pitch in Pathein

MYANMAR Football Federations U14 mens Super Cup kicks off on October 27 in Pathein, in Ayeyarwady Region. The tournament runs through November 2. Ten teams including Pathein Football Academy, Nay Pyi Taw Football Academy and Superstar Football Academy will compete in the event. We are aim to have a new generation of football players develop from this competition,said MFF secretary Tin Aung. Getting the best quality athletes and also a youth sport development program is important to every nation, said Graham Lim, country manager of 100Plus, the Malaysian sports-drink maker sponsoring the event. MFF previously hosted the ASEAN U14 football tournament, held last year in Nay Pyi Taw. Kyaw Zin Hlaing

Mourinho warns against World Cup boycott

OS Mourinho believes it would be a mistake to boycott the 2018 World Cup finals in protest at racial abuse suffered by black players in Russia. Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure raised the possibility of black players leading a boycott of the tournament after saying hed been the target of abusive chants during his sides Champions League victory away to CSKA Moscow last week. But while Mourinho, whose Chelsea side faces City at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday, has sympathy for Tour, he said a boycott would be counter-productive. I respect his [Tours] opinion, but I disagree, Mourinho told a news conference at Chelseas training ground, south of London, on October 25. I disagree because the history of football was made equally by many races, and the black players have made a fantastic contribution to what football is. Go to the World Cup and its the biggest expression of national team, competitions, races, people from different parts of the globe, people from every continent. And the black players are very, very important for that. The Portuguese added, Who is more important? The billions of people in love with the game around the world, or a few thousand that go to football stadia and have a disgraceful behaviour in relation to the black players? If I was a black player, I would say the other billions are much more important. Lets fight the thousands but give to the billions what they want: the best football. Football without black players is not the best football. Referring to Tours experience in

COBHAM

London Teams named for 2014 NFL games in London

The NFL on October 24 announced the teams for three regular-season games in London next year, revealing the match-ups in the run-up to the October 27 game at Wembley Stadium. The league had announced earlier this month that the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders had been designated the host teams for 2014 games at Wembley. The Jaguars will face the Dallas Cowboys, the Falcons will take on the Detroit Lions and the Raiders will play the Miami Dolphins. Dates have yet to be announced.

London Briton jailed for punching police horse

A British football fan was jailed for 12 months last week for drunkenly punching a police horse in the head after his team lost to their arch-rivals. Barry Rogerson, 45, lashed out at the horse named Bud during widespread disorder after Newcastle United lost 3-0 at home to Sunderland in April. Rogerson was also banned from attending football matches for six years. You stood your ground and attacked the horse by punching it in the head, judge Paul Sloan said as he sentenced Rogerson. AFP

Chelseas coach Jos Mourinho addresses a press conference in Desseldorf, Germany, on October 21. Photo: AFP

Moscow, Mourinho said, My sympathy starts with my values and my principles, and the way I see other races and the difference in people. For me, it [racism] is strange. But I think the players must realise that football is a beautiful game. They must realise that a huge

percentage for sure a huge percentage of the people who go through football stadiums are pure and respect the differences of everybody, and football is more important than the small groups who express themselves in a negative way. Of course I have sympathy [for Tour].

Meanwhile Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that, with CSKA denying Tour had been racially abused and European governing body UEFA investigating the incident, it was too soon to be discussing a boycott. Its a bit early [to talk of a boycott] because its not proven what happened, said Wenger. Chelsea has scored 14 goals in its last four matches, with Fernando Torres on target twice in the 3-0 Champions League win at Schalke in midweek while fellow-striker Samuel Etoo scored his first goal for the club in last weekends 4-1 win over Cardiff. Im happy with all of them, all of the strikers, Mourinho, whose side are currently just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, said. They were not scoring goals but they were working really hard. They were doing a good job for the team and their teammates. There are different ways to contribute sometimes. Scoring goals is the most important thing, but there are other ways to contribute. The October 27 match will bring together two of the leading challengers for the English title but Mourinho insisted the result would not define the outcome of the race. At this moment, with the way the Premier League is going week after week, I think no result will put a team in a great situation, said Mourinho, now in his second spell in charge of Chelsea having led the club to backto-back titles in 2005 and 2006. No result will put a team in a difficult situation. Every weekend, somebody loses points. Some weekends, more than one of the top teams loses points. The league is hard. At this stage, mid-October, I dont think one game is going to be crucial. AFP