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Established in 1914
HOME ARCHIVE Thursday, 26 September 2002 ONLINE EDITION
1. Regular Press Conference held 2. Minister for Foreign Affairs arrives back from World Summit, UNGA 3. Certificates for DCA's level 2 given 4. Cash and kind donated to MMCWA 5. International symposium on sustainable development of irrigated agrarian society in Myanmar held
6. Chindwin River Bridge (Monywa) Construction Project inspected 7. Entries invited for Armed Forces Day Commemorative Novel, Short Story and Article Competitions
8. Five human traffickers sentenced 9. Myanmar traditional sport teams leave for ROK
( 1 ) Regular Press Conference held
Power supply to Yangon reaches 352 megawatts, up 90 megawatts from 262
State making systematic plans to widely organize and educate local people to curb human trafficking
Yangon, 25 Sept - A regular Press Conference was held at the Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road here this morning.Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win said he would like to explain the government's profound efforts to systematically curb human trafficking business on a wider scale. The dailies had already issued the news report on the authorities' timely efforts to save young ethnic men and women from being lured by human trafficking agents to illegally enter other country to get a job there.
The officials and the team comprising members of the Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's Affairs made field tours and met with the young ethnic men and women, explaining the unjust oppressions, tortures and murders the Myanmar workers had faced while working in the other country. The officials and MNWCWA members have properly sent back the young men and women to their parents. The State has been making systematic plans to widely organize and educate the local people to prevent them from doing the mistake again.
Concerning the power distribution sector, Managing Director of Myanma Electric Power Enterprise U Yan Naing said the MEPE of the Ministry of Electric Power has a power supply system which includes eight hydel power plants, with 357 megawatt capacity; eight gas-fired power stations, with 473.63 megawatt capacity; three combined recycle power plants, with 143.6 megawatt capacity totaling 974.23 megawatts. The combined capacity of the hydel recycle power plants, the gas-fired stations and the combined recycle power plants is the largest, with 590 megawatts. As the natural gas has been found offshore, the two renovated gas-fired stations in Hlawga are now generating power.
Thus, the power supply to Yangon at present is 352 megawatts, up 90 megawatts from 262 megawatts in the past. Power has been fully distributed to the city industrial zones in day time. Of the 31 townships in the city municipal area, 21 are enjoying round-the-clock power supply. Power is being distributed to the remaining ten townships inside the municipal area and the 13 townships outside the municipal area in turn.
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, member of MNWCWA Leader of the Education Group Daw Khin Aye Win and Managing Director U Yan Naing answered the questions raised by the journalists.
They said the majority of youths entering the other country illegally to work there were from Shan State which is bordering the country. Some youths of Mon State, Kayin State, Bago Division and Magway Division were also included in the workers. The largest number of workers illegally entered the other country were from Shan State due to accessibility and the similarity in the dialects.
Plans are under way to form sub-teams to tour down to the villages to organize and educate the local people in the entire country, using various methods of the mass media including movies, videos, pamphlets about the women victims, who had faced terrible conditions while working in the other country, in local languages.
( 2 ) Minister for Foreign Affairs arrives back from World Summit, UNGA
Yangon, 25 Sept - Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung arrived back here by air this evening after attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2 to 4 September, the 57th Session of the United Nations General Assembly which convened on 10 September at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the United States of America and after having paid a goodwill visit to Thailand from 24 to 25 September.
The minister was welcomed back at Yangon International Airport by Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Lt-Gen Min Thein, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egyptian Ambassador Mr Mohamed A Kamia Meneissy, Russian Federation Ambassador Mr Oleg V Kabanov, Charge d'Affaires ai of the Thai Embassy Mr Opas Chantarasap, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Mr Vishwa N Khanna and family members.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development was attended by nearly 50,000 representatives from 191 countries, UN bodies and UN agencies, Intergovernmental and Non-Governmental Organizations. Chairman of the National Commission for Environmental Affairs and Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung made a statement on 3-9-2002. In his statement, the Minister called for alleviation of poverty in the developing countries for achieving sustainable development and highlighted the efforts being made by the Government of the Union of Myanmar for poverty eradication in the country. He also called for a better trade and financial environment that is crucial for economic and sustainable development of the developing nations. The Minister also pointed out that global partnership is crucial to protect life-supporting ecosystem including forests, marines, mountains, mangroves and wetlands and underscored the efforts being made by the Government of the Union of Myanmar to conserve valuable national resources of the country. The Summit adopted the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of Agenda 21.
After attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development on Johannesburg, Minister U Win Aung also visited Egypt and the Russian Federation. During his stay in Cairo and Moscow, Minister U Win Aung called on Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ahmed Mather El Sayed and Acting Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mr Vyacheslav Trubsikov respectively and held discussions on matter of mutual relationship and mutual interest.
The minister arrived in New York in 13-9-2002 and attended the 57th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Minister U Win Aung made a statement during the General Debate of the General Assembly on 19-9-2002. While in New York, Minister U Win Aung also attended the Annual Meeting of the Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegation of Non-Aligned Movement, interactive discussions of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) countries, the High-level plenary meeting to consider how to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development, 26th Annual Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 countries and ASEAN Foreign Ministers' retreat.
During his stay in New York, the Minister also met with Chairman of the 57th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Mr Jan Kavan, United Nations' Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan and other Minister for Foreign Affairs who were also in New York to attend the General Assembly.
After attending the UN General Assembly in New York, Minister U Win Aung paid a goodwill visit to Thailand from 24 to 25 September at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Dr Surakiart Sathirathai. Minister U Win Aung was accompanied by Director-General U Thaung Tun, Directors U Aung Than and U Than Htaik of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 25 September morning, Minister U Win Aung met Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at Chai Pattana Hall, Chai Tralada Villa. Then, the Minister called on Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra at the Government House. After the call, the Thai Foreign Minister hosted a luncheon in honour of the Myanmar delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the afternoon, Minister U Win Aung met with Dr Surakiart Sathirathai and held bilateral talks.
Myanmar delegation member Director-General U Thaung Tun, Directors U Aung Than and U Than Htaik of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also arrived back with the Minister.
( 3 ) Certificates for DCA's level 2 given
Yangon, 25 Sept - A ceremony to present certificates for 2001-2002 Level 2 of Diploma in Computer Arts, jointly conducted by Human Resource Development Centre of the University of Culture (Yangon) and Forever Group Co Ltd was held in conjunction with a fresher welcome ceremony at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street at 9 am on 22 September, attended by Minister for Culture Maj-Gen Kyi Aung.
A total of 496 trainees attended the course and 467 of them successfully completed the course. And a total of 394 trainees doing the Level 3 Multimedia & Infocom Technology Course are to get the diploma in this coming December.
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ISD U-17 Ovaltine Cup Soccer tournament concludes
Yangon, 25 Sept - The final match and prize presentation ceremony of the year 2002 Inter State and Division Under-17 Ovaltine Cup Soccer Tournament was held at the Youth Training Centre (Thuwunna) this evening. Ayeyawady Division Team beat Mandalay Division Team 5-1.
At the prize presentation ceremony, Director of the Sports and Physical Education Department U Zaw Lin presented the daily best player award to Aung Naing Lin of Ayeyawady Division; Director U Maung Win and Marketing Manager Daw Pwint Oo Swe of Ovaltine Co, the third prize and K 500,000 to Sagaing Division Team; and the SPED Deputy Director-General U Thein Aung and Daw Pwint Oo Swe, the second prize and K 1 million to Mandalay Division Team.
Then, General Secretary of Myanmar Olympic Committee Director-General of the SPED President of Myanmar Football Federation U Thaung Htaik presented other prizes to the winners. Afterwards, Chairman of MOC Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint presented the championship shield, trophy and 1.5 million to Ayeyawady Division Team. Then the minister also presented the certificate of honour to Marketing Manager of Ovaltine Co Daw Pwint Oo Swe, who donated FEC 20,000 for the tournament.
( 4 ) Cash and kind donated to MMCWA
Yangon, 25 Sept - A ceremony to donate cash and kind to Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association was held at the MMCWA Building at the corner of Parami and Thanthuma Streets in South Okkalapa Township at 11 am today.
At the ceremony, Vice-Chairperson of MMCWA Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe accepted birth-spacing injections and tablets worth K 16 million donated by the local intelligence unit in Buthidaung Township through Patron of Rakhine State Maternal and Child Welfare Association Supervisory Committee Commander of Western Command Brig-Gen Maung Oo's wife Dr Daw Nyunt Nyunt Oo; books entitled "Pan Kyi Hman" worth K 142,800 by Dr U Khin Maung Swe (Muyit) and family of Mandalay; Baby Queen nutritious powder packets worth K 500,000 by U Kwam Hin-Daw Shu Yin and family (Win Win Trading); and K 50,000 to the funds of the clinic of MMCWA by U Nay Win-Daw Kay Khaing Myint and family.
Then, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers. Later, Chairperson Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe thanked the wellwishers for their donations.
( 5 ) International symposium on sustainable development of irrigated agrarian society in Myanmar held
Yangon, 25 Sept - The opening ceremony of the international symposium on sustainable development of irrigated agrarian society in Myanmar, under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, and jointly organized by Myanmar Academy of Agricultural, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries Sciences and Myanma Agriculture and Rural Region Study Group in Japan, was held at the International Business Centre on Pyay Road here this morning.
Chairman U Tin Hlaing and Leader of the study group Mr Masakazu Mizutana made speeches. Then, Vice-Chairman Dr Myint Thein extended greetings. Director-General of the Agriculture Planing Department U Tin Htut Oo chaired the morning session. Professor Masakazu Mizutana and Associate Professor Dr Hisashi Kobayashi presented papers on cultivation of crops in the tropical zones of Myanmar.
Afterwards, Director-General of the Irrigation Department U Kyaw San Win and Deputy Director of the Settlement and Land Records Department U Saw Hlaing presented the assessments on the papers, followed by a general round of discussions. Professor Te Ruko Saito of Japan presided over the afternoon session. Professor Katsumi Tamura of Japan and associate professors, U Myo Aung and U Win Aung Swe of the Irrigation Department read out papers on exploitation of water and land resources, socio-economy and development of irrigated cultivation of crops. The symposium continues tomorrow.
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Indian Defence Services volleyball & soccer teams arrive
Yangon, 25 Sept - The Indian Defence Services volleyball and football teams arrived here by air this afternoon to play friendly matches against the Myanma Tatmadaw volleyball team and the Myanma Tatmadaw soccer team.
The Indian teams were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Vice-Chairman of Defence Services Sports and Physical Education Management Board Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, Chairman of Defence Services Volleyball Committee Commander of No 4 Military Region Commandent of Defence Services Records Office Brig-Gen Myo Myint, Chairman of Defence Services Football Committee Commandant of Defence Services Self-defence and Sports Institute Col Htein Linn, senior military officers and the Military Attache of the Indian Embassy.
The Indian Defence Services volleyball team and the Myanma Tatmadaw volleyball team will play two friendly matches at the National Indoor Stadium-1 in Thuwunna at 4 pm on 27 September and in Pathein, Ayeyawady Division, on 30 September. At Youth Training Centre in Thuwunna, the Indian Defence Services football team will play friendly matches against the Myanma Tatmadaw (Army) football (A) team at 4 pm on 28 September and against the Ministry of Defence football team at 4 pm on 2 October.
( 6 ) Chindwin River Bridge (Monywa) Construction Project inspected
Yangon, 25 Sept - Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing, arrived at the Chindwin River Bridge (Monywa) Construction Project site in Monywa on 19 September morning.
At the briefing hall, the engineer in-charge of the project reported on progress of construction of the bridge, the building of Monywa-Yagyi-Kalaywa road and stockpile of construction materials.
Then, the commander saw over the project site and construction of the approach road. Afterwards, the commander left necessary instructions and attended to the needs.
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Regional development projects seen over in Loilem District
Yangon, 25 Sept - Chairman of Shan State Peace and Development Council Commander of Eastern Command Brig-Gen Khin Maung Myint, visited the Myonan Pagoda in Loilem District and gave instructions to the officials on all-round renovation of the pagoda on 19 September morning.
Then, the commander inspected the chosen sites for construction of a park, staff quarter for departmental personnel and a town hall, and left necessary instructions. Later, the commander met Shan State level departmental officials at the meeting hall of Kengtaung. Director of Township Development Affairs Committee U Hla Myint and officials reported on areas and conditions of the wards of the township, supply of water and electricity, construction of roads in the township, upgrading of Kengtaung region into a township (branch), strength of government staff, installation of three trunk call telephone lines and arrangements being made for promotion of education in the region.
In response to the reports, the commander attended to the needs. After that, the commander held a meeting with departmental officials, social organizations and local people at the assembly hall of the basic education high school in Kengtaung and elaborated on regional development tasks. Next, the commander paid respects to 15 older persons and presented cash assistance to them. Then, the commander looked into the building of a monastery and a branch of Myanma Economic Bank. Later, the commander gave necessary instructions and fulfilled their requirements regarding the reports presented by the officials.
___________________________Fertilizer-broadcasting ceremony held in Taninthayi Division
Yangon, 25 Sept - Chairman of Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Coastal Region Command Brig-Gen Tha Aye attended a fertilizer-broadcasting ceremony at Tatlatnge Village in Myeik Township on 19 September.
Manager U Than Naing of Myanma Agriculture Service of Taninthayi Division reported to the minister on boosting the paddy yield and U Kyaw Aye, farmer, on cultivation of Kyaw-ze-ya high-yield paddy.
Then, the commander donated 50 bags of cement to a basic education primary school in Ma Zaw Pyin Gyi Village, Myeik. School Head Daw Htay Win accepted the donations. Next, the commander and party viewed the broadcasting of fertilizer at farmer U Kyaw Aye's farm in Tatlatnge Village. Later, the commander attended a "one man, one oil plam" ceremony held at Banlaput Village in Taninthayi Township.
On the occasion, the commander heard reports on arrangements for the ceremony and cultivation of palm oil trees at private farms on a commercial scale in Taninthayi Township. After encouraging the "one man, one palm oil tree" ceremony, the commander took part on the occasion and planted a palm oil tree.
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Grade-II & Grade III Courses conclude
Yangon, 25 Sept - The Grade-II and Grade III Course No 73 for staff of departments and enterprises concluded at the training school of the Auditor-General's Office at 11 am today.
The Deputy Auditor-General U Khin Win gave a speech on the occasion. Altogether 118 trainees from departments and enterprises under 25 ministries attended the grade II course and 35 trainees at the grade III course. The courses lasted four months each.
( 7 ) Entries invited for Armed Forces Day Commemorative Novel, Short Story and Article Competitions
Yangon, 25 Sept - The 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Commemorative Literary and Photo Competition Organized Working Committee has announced that it will hold a novel, short story and article competitions. Entries for the novel and short story are to be based on the 12 fine traditions of Tatmadaw and the titles can be given out of own volition. Words must be between 50,000 and 70,000 for the novel and 4,000 and 10,000 for the short story. For the article competition, words must be between 3,000 and 5,000 under the title of "Union Spirit".
Entries must be own creation and must not be prize-winning works in any other competitions. A brief biography and two passport-size colour photos of the competitor are to be attached to the entries. Handsome prizes will be given to all first, second and third prize-winners as well as consolation prize-winners of all categories. Entries are to be sent to U Ko Ko Htwe, Secretary of Armed Forces Day Literary and Photo Competition Organizing Work Committee, Myanmar Radio and Television, Pyay Road, Yangon, not later than 15 January 2003.
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Tea sapling nursery & production technology course opened in Haka
Yangon, 25 Sept - The opening ceremony of the tea sapling nursery and production technology course No 1/2002, organized by Chin State Myanma Agriculture Service, was held at the city hall in Haka on 20 September morning.
First, Command Staff Colonel Col Tin Nyo and officials viewed tea seeds, saplings and quality of tea produced in Chin State exhibited by Myanma Agriculture Service. Then, Col Tun Nyo gave an opening address. Chin State MAS Manager U Khin Maung Latt explained the aims and programmes of the training course. Altogether 108 trainees 43 departmental personnel, 49 local farmers and 16 agricultural personnel are attending the three-day course.
After the ceremony, Col Tun Nyo and officials proceeded to Kyawbok Farm of Myanma Agriculture Service in Haka Township and inspected nursery of tea saplings.
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Advanced Refresher Course & Trauma Course opened
Yangon, 25 Sept - The opening ceremony of the Advanced Refresher Course & Trauma Course, organized by the Orthopedic Specialists Section of Myanmar Medical Association, was held at the MMA building at 8 am today.
At the opening ceremony, the chairman of MMA and Chairman of Orthopaedic Specialists Section Professor U Kyaw Myint Naing gave speeches on the occasion. Orthopaedic specialists from Singapore will give lectures to the trainees with the aids of live surgery show. The course will last up to 28 September.
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Fourth Int'l ICT Exhibition on 19 October
Yangon, 25 Sept - The Fourth International ICT Exhibition, organized by Myanmar Computer Scientists Association and Myanmar Computer Industry Association, will be held at Tatmadaw Convention Centre on U Wisara Road here from 19 to 21 October. For more information, contact MCIA, MICT Park, Hline University, Hline Township Ph-652238 and 707503.
( 8 ) Five human traffickers sentenced
Yangon, 25 Sept - Five human traffickers, who tried to persuade boys and girls in Kayin and Mon States to work in the other country and send them through Yangon and Kawthoung to the other country and received money from them in August, were filed and sentenced.
In August 2002, acting on information, authorities revealed that men and women in Kayin and Mon States convinced by human traffickers to work in the other country stayed in monasteries, guest houses and houses in Yangon. The authorities concerned revealed 12 men and three women staying at Myitmokhit Tathaung guest house in Mayangon Township, 25 men and five women staying at the house of U Soe Tint of No 14, Seitta Thukha Street, Sangyoung Township, 31 men and 16 women staying at Mon Dhammayon in Dagon Township, 12 men and nine women staying at Kyaikthi monastery in Bahan Township, 35 men and 39 women staying at Ramanya Veponla monastery in Bahan Township and three men and one woman at Yangon International Airport who are waiting to go to Kawthoung, totaling 191 -118 men and 73 women. On further investigation, the authorities arrested human traffickers Win Ko, son of U Thaung Shwe, of Kawpauk Village in Mawlamyine Township, Khin Maung Win, son of U Tin Soe, of Zeya Thiri-2 Ward in Mawlamyine, Daw Thaung Yee, daughter of U Kun Balai, of Kuncha Village in Mudon Township, Daw Tin Nge, daughter of U Shein, of Medaw Village in Mawlamyine Township, and Soe Tint, son of U Yont, of No 14, Seitta Thukha Street, Kyundaw (North) Ward in Sangyoung Township.
On 14 August, after giving educative talks, the convinced were sent home. The five human traffickers were filed at Special Court chaired by District Deputy Justice U Aung Myint Kyaw of Yangon West District. The court handed seven years' imprisonment with work under Section 5 (Nya) of Emergency Act (1950) and two years' imprisonment with work under Section 13 (1) of Immigration Act (1947) each on human traffickers Win Ko and Khin Maung Win. Human traffickers Soe Tint, Tin Nge and Daw Thaung Yee were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment each under Section 5 (Nya) of Emergency Act.
( 9 ) Myanmar traditional sport teams leave for ROK
Yangon, 25 Sept - Members of the Myanma traditional boxing team and the Myanma traditional Thaing team led by Secretary Major Maung Nyunt (Retd) of the Myanma Traditional Sports Federation, left for the Republic of Korea to attend the Fifth World Martial Arts Exhibition to be held at Chaungchu in ROK from 27 September to 3 October.
They were seen off at Yangon International Air Port by Chairperson Thiha Thudhamma Theingi Daw Mi Mi Khin (Excellence Performance in Social Field: First Class) and officials.The team comprises coach U Win Zin Oo, boxers Wan Chaing and Ei Hti Kaw, martial art players San Win, Nyunt Lwin and Aung Kyaw Soe who will demonstrate Myanma traditional boxing and martial arts there.
PM Mahathir foresees democracy for Myanmar, pushes business
THE Myanmar government s stance on gradual evolution towards democracy was supported by Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last week when he visited Myanmar. But, Dr Mahathir said the Malaysian government hoped for a successful result which would lead to national reconciliation and demo-cratisation in Myanmar. A Malaysian national, Mr Razali Ismail, who was appointed by the United Nations as its special envoy for Myanmar, was largely credited for initiating the landmark talks between the two sides. Dr Mahathir, who is a trusted international friend of the Myanmar government, has been widely believed to have had a behind-the-scenes role in Mr Razali s efforts. Speaking at the opening of a business matching forum between the two countries, Dr Mahathir said an overly hasty transition to democracy could bring anarchy. "When opting for democracy it is necessary that the process be gradual. If not, the political process will unravel and you will end up with anarchy; you will end up with practically no government so the people have to understand that democracy does not mean freedom to do anything you like," Dr Mahathir told reporters last Monday. The Malaysian Prime minister met the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe shortly after his arrival in Yangon on August 18 to discuss "for development in economic and political fields". "Our view is that while we uphold democracy practice democracy we are also aware that the process of change must be gradual and we need not go straight to liberal democracy because that is very destructive," Dr Mahathir said. The two leaders met for an hour at the Pyithu Hluttaw (parliament) on Pyay Road. During the visit Dr Mahathir witnessed the signing of three agreements including an offshore oil exploration contract between Malaysia s Petronas and Myanmar s Energy Ministry for oil and gas exploration in Thaninthayi Division. The meeting was also addressed by the SPDC Secretary 1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, who described Dr Mahathir as a "staunch defender of the developing world".
"We in Myanmar consider ourselves to be very fortunate to have Malaysia, and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir in particular, as a friend," Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said. "One of the pillars that give strength to our relations is the sharing of many ideals, concepts and mental outlook," he said, outlining the SPDC s policy against hasty transition towards democracy. "The world is full of examples where a hasty transition from one system to another has led to unrest, instability and even failed states. "Such a transition cannot be made in haste and in a haphazard manner," Lt- Gen Khin Nyunt said. He said the solution to overcome the challenge facing Myan-mar s political transition should be found by the Myanmar people only. "No one should try to impose their will or attempt to mould Myanmar in their image," Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said in an apparent reference to the Western countries, SPDC s vociferous critics. "The democratic society that we envision is one where all 135 national races live in peace and harmony," said the Secretary-1. The Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, said Myanmar should be dealt with by every country with respect for its independence and sovereignty. "Malaysia has always said that constructive engagement with Myanmar would be the best means of (support for) evolution in the political as well as economic changes," Syed Hamid said in an exclusive interview with Myanmar Times in Yangon. "Myanmar made it very clear that they are to evolve their own system, so whatever other people may think and say it is most important that the Myanmar government bring socio-economic development for its people," he said.Syed Hamid also made it clear that it was the Myanmar government and people s right to choose the system of government for the country. "We will allow change to take place within the country in a way that it suited the purpose of the country. "Some have said the (democratisation) process is slow, but I think it is the Myanmar people who must decide the direction and the pace of the evolution," Syed Hamid said. He echoed Dr Mahathir s comments saying that hasty political reforms would bring "upheaval and turmoil". Syed Hamid said Myanmar has been evolving itself from stage to stage and "getting more confidence in opening up". "Myanmar is moving in the right direction," he said. Syed Hamid said Malaysia s policy of constructive engagement with Myanmar was partly attributed to Myanmar s entry to the Association of South East Asian Nations grouping in 1997. And he said Malaysia s policy towards Myanmar would remain the same despite the coming change in Malaysian leadership next year.
Myanmar Times ( Aug.26-Sep.1, 2002-Vol.7, No. 130 )
Giant Rakhine gas field dwarfs Yadana, Yetagun
AN enormous offshore gas field near Sittway in Rakhine State has the potential to be significantly larger than Myanmar’s two other producing gas fields at Yadana and Yetagun, it was revealed last week. Mr H D Lee, Deputy Managing Director of Myanmar Daewoo, an affiliate of Daewoo International which holds a major interest in the exploration project, said the reserve "is most likely around 13.4 to 47.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas at the site where we are going to drill a test well in November next year." "We are sure to succeed in this project," Mr Lee said. The reserves at Yadana and Yetagun are 6.7 and 3.2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) respectively, he said. Currently, the consortium is selecting the optimum location before drilling because of the huge investment. "A test well costs more than US$10 million and we will decide on how many more test wells should be drilled," he said. The consortium has plans to start seismic interpretation, geological survey and prospect evaluation in October and November. Daewoo International signed a production-sharing contract with the Ministry of Energy in August 2000 and it assigned 10 per cent share to another South Korean company, KOGAS last November. Last January, Daewoo again assigned 20pc and 10pc shares to two companies under the Indian Ministry of Energy – the Oil and Natural Gas Commission and the Gas Authority of India Limited. Depending on the quantity of gas found, they will consider transporting the gas by ship or through a direct pipeline to India. Mr Lee also said they will have to consider building a liquefied natural gas plant depending on the production volume, which at the moment, he said, was still too far away to judge. The Indian government is eager to buy the gas from Myanmar if the production goes well as expected. According to reports Unocal, Brown & Riot and the Indian government are believed to have conducted initial studies for the construction of a 1000 kilometre-long undersea pipeline from Myanmar to India. Last month, the Ministry of Energy and the Malaysia’s oil giant Petronas signed an agreement for exploration of natural gas at four offshore blocks in southern Myanmar. Petronas is also interested in building a liquid petroleum gas extraction plant at Kanbauk, about 300 miles southeast of Yangon.Myanmar Times ( Aug.26-Sep.1, 2002-Vol.7, No. 130 )
Impressive decline in opium production, promise of help
AN impressive decline in opium production in Myanmar will be reversed if donor nations continue to refuse funding drug-control programs, the UN’s prime drug officer in Myanmar warned last week. This follows hot on the heels of a United Nations report which showed the production of opium poppy in Myanmar this year has decreased by 25 per cent compared to a year ago. "This decline is a step in the right direction. There is evidence that the government is aware of the damage caused to the country by opium cultivation," Mr Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive Director of the UN office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, said in the report issued on August 27 in Vienna, Austria. The reaction of Mr Jean Luc Lemahieu, UNDCP’s representative in Yangon, was more forthright: "On the one hand I’m a happy man but on the other hand I’m a very worried man because the results are there but my thoughts are - my goodness, how have you done this, how can you sustain this?" he said. Mr Costa said new measures would be needed to achieve further cuts in opium production in Myanmar, adding that UN would need increased donor support to help in the elimination of opium poppy in Myanmar by 2005. According to the report poppy production in Myanmar this year was 828 tons - down from last year’s 1097 tons, based on its survey in Shan State during September 2001 to March 2002. More than 150 surveyors visited 2000 villages and measured 6000 opium fields. The survey was conducted jointly with the government – the first of such survey carried out by the UN in Myanmar.Mr Lemahieu, while welcoming the news, cautioned the decline in opium poppy production should be sustainable. "We are happy with this, but it is not an end game," Mr Lemahieu said. He reiterated his call for increasing international aid to deal with the situation. The Myanmar government has consistently complained the country receives scant international aid in its fight against drugs. This severely inhibits its ability to control drug production and trade. In particular the government has consistently criticised the policy of Western countries including the USA and European nations on continuing to link funding for anti-drug campaigns to political movement. It has pressed its case that aid on drugs is a humanitarian issue that should be fought by all. To highlight this it has cited aid money granted to other SE Asian countries to fight the scourge of heroin. Laos, for instance, a Communist state, has a less serious drug problem, yet receives 20 times more funding than in Myanmar. Mr Lemahieu, whose office has been cut from 12 to two staff over the past two years due to budget cuts, said that while participation in areas like law enforcement assistance will have to wait until then, there should be no barrier to more funding for projects like alternative income generation. He said introduction of tough anti-drug measures by the Wa, Kokang and Kachin national groups in March and the government’s new " Project New Destiny " (formerly the Project Hell Flower) might help to decrease further the poppy production next year. Under the "Project New Destiny" launched in May, opium poppy farmers are encouraged by the government to swap opium seed for those of the other crops. The government says opium production in Myanmar, which decreased by 50 per cent over the past six years, would continue to decrease this year. But, Mr Lemahieu said he was confident that at an informal donors’ meeting later this year the funding tap would be opened. "An understanding is developing that work on drug control programs in Myanmar actually helps with a political transition," he said. Because of the lower output, opium production in Myanmar this year would be lower than in Afghanistan, UN said. It said per hectare output of opium in Myanmar was 10kgs while put Afghanistan’s output at 30kgs per hectare.
Myanmar Times (Sep.2-8), 2002-Vol.7, No. 131)
Tourism trend bucked as arrivals soar 20pc in wet
IN an encouraging development for the tourism sector, travel agents and big hotels have reported a strong increase in bookings during the rainy season, a trend which augurs well for the peak tourist season at the end of the year. Hotels say occupancy rates have increased by an average of about 20 per cent over the rainy season last year, while travel agents say bookings are up between 10 per cent and 50 per cent. Most of the rainy season tourist arrivals are from France, Italy and Spain, where many businesses close for the European summer, as well as Germany, Japan and Israel. Several industry sources said Myanmar was emerging as an increasingly popular destination for Italian and Spanish tourists. Mr Franz Fischer, the country manager of Bangkok-based Diethelm Travel, said documentaries about Myanmar’s cultural attractions and natural beauty had screened overseas in the last six months and this had helped the tourism sector. Myanmar was becoming well known for its cultural tourism among international travellers, said Mr Fischer, who said bookings had risen by up to 50 per cent compared to the low season last year. The managing director of Tawwin travel, Daw Rita Myint, said bookings were up by 25 per cent, continuing a trend for a gradual increase in arrivals during the low season which had emerged several years ago. Travel shows in Spain and other European countries which had featured Myanmar had helped to attract more visitors, Daw Rita Myint said.
Mr Edwin Briels, the marketing and incentive manager at the Exotissimo travel company, agreed with Daw Rita Myint that tourist arrivals during the rainy season had increased in recent years. Exotissimo’s bookings for the low season had increased by about 10 per cent, said Mr Briels. U Khin Zaw, the managing director at Tour Mandalay, reported an increase in bookings of 20 per cent over the same time last year. "Myanmar is emerging as a ‘new’ destination for Spanish travellers," said U Khin Zaw, who is also president of the United Myanmar Travel Association. A survey by Myanmar Times has found that hotel occupancy rates throughout the country are up by between 10 per cent to 25 per cent over the previous rainy season. In Yangon, the Traders hotel said rates were up by 21 per cent on last year’s rainy season and figures for the year had increased by seven per cent on 2001. The Summit Park View said rainy season occupancy rates were down slightly on 2001 but declined to give a percentage figure. In a sign of the growing popularity of Myanmar as a destination among the high end of the market, the luxury Pansea hotel said occupancy rates were up by seven per cent on last year’s rainy season. Traders said most of its guests are from Asia and the United States. Most bookings at the Summit Park View were from France and Japan.
Most of the guests at the Pansea are from Britain, France, Germany and the United States. At popular upcountry destinations, hotels say bookings are up by between 10 per cent to 25 per cent compared to a year ago. The Thiri Marlar Hotel at Bagan said bookings for July were up 10 per cent on the same month last year, with most tourists coming from France and Germany. "They come to Myanmar at this time of the year because it coincides with the holiday season throughout much of Europe," said the hotel’s Ms Khin Marlar Maung. The Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort hotel at Inle Lake also reported an increase in bookings of about 10 per cent over the same time last year. While bookings are up for the bigger hotels, the bottom end of the accommodation market is reporting a downturn, with many guest houses saying occupancy rates have fallen by around 20 per cent over the same time last year. A spokesperson for the New Park guest house at Bagan said bookings were down by about 20 per cent."In the low season last year were had 338 guests but this year we have 198," he said. At the Pan Cherry guest house in Bagan, staff said bookings were down about 30 per cent over the same time last year. It was a similar story at the Royal guest in Mandalay, which said low season bookings were down by between 10 per cent to 20 per cent. Guest houses said the downtown in budget tourists was having a flow-on effect on bus companies and cheap restaurants.
Myanmar Times (Aug.19-25), 2002-Vol.7, No. 129)
RESPONDING to the disclosure by the international television network CNN that al Qaeda members have been active in Myanmar, the Government of Myanmar last week reaffirmed its determination to stand with the United States and the international community on anti-terrorist cooperation.
"The Government of Myanmar has not had the opportunity to review the relevant portions of the cache of videotapes obtained by CNN in Afghanistan," said spokesman Lt-Col Hla Min. "However, reports by both the Associated Press and CNN indicate that the CNN tapes reveal "material from militant Islamic groups in other countries such as Somalia, Myanmar and Bosnia." The Washington Post reported the tapes include "documentation from al Qaeda members during operations in Burma, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan &and Bosnia.""The Government of Myanmar will investigate this allegation with the utmost urgency, and we will share this information with the United States," said Lt-Col Hla Min. "We are already sharing information with the United States on Islamic armed terrorists operating along Myanmar s Western border and within the region, with connections to Taliban and al Qaeda, now being held and questioned in Yangon," Hla Min said. The Government of Myanmar signed the United States-ASEAN Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism on August 1, 2002 in Brunei Darus-salam. "As we have previously stated, Myanmar has vigorously confronted the activities of a Muslim separatist armed terrorist group calling themselves Rohinga. Today, we are pleased that many of these individuals have given up their armed terrorism. However, we shall remain vigilant in safeguarding Myanmar and steadfast in cooperation in the war on terrorism."
Myanmar Times ( Aug.26-Sep.1, 2002-Vol.7, No. 130
For further information, inqueries may kindly be made to the nearest Myanmar Embassies or Consulates
or email to mission.myanmar@ties.itu.int
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