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Established in 1914
Saturday, 28 September 2002 ONLINE EDITION
1. Minister receives Ambassador of Japan
2. Health Ministry holds coord meeting
3. Construction of roads and bridges inspected in Bago Division
4. Development affairs tasks inspected in Thanlyin and Kyauktan
5. Ministry of Rail Transportation holds work coord meeting
6. CEC member receives delegation
7. Remnants of armed groups exchange arms for peace
8. Italian tourists arrive by chartered flight 9. Stimulant tablets and heroin seized
SPOTLIGHT
(1) Minister receives Ambassador of Japan
Yangon, 27 Sept - Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin met Ambassador of Japan Mr Yuji Miyamoto at his office this morning.
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KOICA presents computers to Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
Yangon, 27 Sept - A ceremony to present 14 computers and accessories to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) was held at the office of the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation this morning.
Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and Ambassador of Korea Mr Lee Kyun-woo and officials inspected application of the computers at the training hall.
(2) Health Ministry holds coord meeting
Yangon, 27 Sept - The second four-monthly work coordination meeting of the Ministry of Health was held at the meeting hall of the Medical Research Department (Lower Myanmar) this morning.
First, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein and Deputy Ministers Prof Dr Mya Oo made speeches. Then, directors-general of the departments under the ministry, rectors, heads of states/divisions health departments and medical superintendents of central and state/division level hospitals reported on work done. The meeting came to a close with the concluding remarks by the minister.
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Measures for conducting Myanmar women's endeavours exhibition coordinated
Yangon, 27 Sept - Officials discussed holding of Myanmar women's endeavours exhibition at the office of the minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement on Naga Cave Pagoda Road in Mayangon Township this afternoon.
The exhibition will be organized by Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs. At the meeting, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa clarified instructions given by Patron of the MNCWA Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt at the Zeyathiri Beikman Hall on 20 September. Then, Director Daw Nu Mra Zan reported on arrangements made for opening the booths at the exhibition, representatives of Myanmar Traditional Artists Artisans Asiayon, the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the health working group, on conditions on opening booths sector-wise, followed by a general round of discussions.
The meeting came to a close with concluding remarks by the minister.
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Cash and kind donated to mark International Day for Older Persons
Yangon, 27 Sept - The cash and kind donation ceremony to mark the International Day for Older Persons was held at the MICT Park in Hline Township this afternoon, attended by Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa.
First, wellwishers presented the donations - K 1 million by Ayar Myay Co; K 520,000 by U Khin Myint Yadana Win Thonze Co; K 508,185 by Shwe Thanlwin Co; K 350,000 by Asia Wealth Bank; K 240,220 worth of eight kinds of medicine by Medi Myanmar Group; K 222,000 by K B International Co; five boxes of Calsome Quicker worth K 216,750 by Win and sons Co; K 200,000 worth of piricam medicines by Zydus Cadila Healthcare; K 100,000 and medical equipment worth K 103,680 by Kyaw medical house; K 200,000 by Great Wall medical house, and K 200,000 by Golden Dragon Co. The minister accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.
Next, the deputy minister, the vice- chairperson of MNWCWA, Brig-Gen Thura Sein Thaung, Director-General U Sit Myaing, Director-General U Myint Tun, Director-General U Tin Yi and Director-General U Than Oo accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers. The donations were K 200,000 donated by Sinma Furnishings Co; K 147,600 worth of medicines by Great Luck Co; K 50,000 and medical equipment worth K 60,000 by Hman Cho medical house; K 100,000 by MNWCWA; K 200,000 by Kho Sein Slippers Co; K 100,000 each by YCDC; Htet Linn medical house; Kyet Shyar Soon Biriani shop; BTB Co; Shwe Li Jewellary Shop; Thamada Thingantaik; Win Yadana Transportation; Loi Hein Co; Soe Moe Kyaw and Waing Waing Le Lottery shop; U Kyaw Aung-Daw Yin Twam; Muselum Home for Old Women; U San Kyu-Daw Kyu Kyu Khaing; Asia King Co; RBR Co and Muselum Home for the Aged; K 30,000 and Kaythipan balm worth K 54,000 by Myat Chantha medical house; K 50,090 by Sandi herbal medicine shop; K 50,000 each by Doh Shwe Pyi Construction; Moe Kaung Kin Restaurant; Haji Mawlavi Swalay (a) U Soe Than; La Sanda ink and paper trading), Myint Myat Paddy Farming; Sayagyi Co; Sun Myanmar Co; and Daisy Kyaw Lin Lace Store; K 20,000 and medical equipment worth K 26,900 by Aung Taman medical house, Good Morning corn biscuits worth K 36,900 by Myanmar Mayson Co; K 30,000 by staff of Aung Aung Enterprise, K 30,000 by Tun Shwewa medical house; K 10,000 by San Thawda ink and paper trading; and K 10,000 by U Win Khaing.
Then, the minister spoke words of thanks to the wellwishers. Altogether 65 wellwishers donated a total of K 6,472,090 and assorted medicines worth K 1,665,935 at today's ceremony.
(3) Construction of roads and bridges inspected in Bago Division
Yangon, 27 Sept - Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, arrived at the Training School (Central) of the ministry in Thuwunna this morning.
The officials reported on salient points in giving lectures. The minister called for ensuring the trainees to complete the courses in order to learn the subjects to some extent phase by phase based on a particular time. It is also needed to make arrangements for extension of the courses, he added. Then, the commander attended to the needs. The minister and party saw over No 2 Highway, Yangon-Bago section of the six-lane highway and progress in carrying out maintenance tasks for the rainy season.
Then, the minister and party, accompanied by Bago Division Superintending Engineer U Kyaw Kyaw Lwin and the District Engineer, inspected progress of construction of Nyaunglebin-Madauk-Shwekyin road and tasks to be carried out in the open season. The minister gave instructions on gathering quality paving stones with correct sizes and meeting the standard set. Next, the minister went to Shwekyin-Madauk Bridge Construction Project site. He then gave instructions on carrying out tasks section-wise. He stressed the importance of meeting the standard and workmanship of the bridge, and inspected the work site. After that, the minister and party proceeded to Ye Nwe Bridge Project on Yangon-Mandalay Highway. At the briefing hall, the minister elaborated on construction tasks.
Next, the commander and party went to Baidah Bridge Construction Project site. The minister gave instructions on carrying out tasks section-wise after drawing plans for timely completion and ensuring meeting the set standard.
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Industry-2 Ministry holds coord meeting
Yangon, 27 Sept - The second four-monthly work coordination meeting 2002 of the Ministry of Industry-2 took place at the meeting hall of the ministry on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road this morning.
Minister Maj-Gen Saw Lwin made a speech on the occasion. Then, the deputy ministers and officials reported on tasks to be carried out to meet the third four-monthly production target of the factories during the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Then, the minister and the deputy ministers presented prizes for outstanding staff and students who passed the matriculation examination 2002 through the officials of the departments, enterprises and factories.
Later, the minister made conclusion remarks which brought the ceremony to an end.
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Ministry of Forestry holds second four-monthly coord meeting
Yangon, 27 Sept - A second four-monthly coordination meeting of the Ministry of Forestry took place at Taw Win Hall of the Forest Department in Insein Township this evening.
On the occasion, Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone spoke of the need to make active efforts in departmental tasks to exceed the year-end target. While accelerating the momentum to a degree that arrangements for forest plantations, minimizing the illegal timber extracts, and greening the nine-district arid region can end in success, tasks should also be carried out for cultivation of mixed-crops in forest plantations on a commercial scale, timely timber extraction, and change of the system of the Survey Department to UTM system, he continued.
The minister also gave instructions on more new effective arrangements for selling hard woods to the public for construction and means to make the arrangements successful. He then urged to make arrangements for growing Thitseint trees, that produce oil, in coming year, to husband money, materials, diesel fuel and electric power, to extend cultivation of kitchen crops to ensure staff welfare, to render cooperation in other tasks of the State and to double all the efforts whenever doing tasks.
(4) Development affairs tasks inspected in Thanlyin and Kyauktan
Yangon, 27 Sept - Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, arrived at Thanlyin this morning.
At the office of Yangon Division Development Affairs Committee, the minister met with Director of the Committee U Tin Soe, Chairman of Township Peace and Development Council U Kyin Han, executives of Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Kayan, Hmawby and Hlegu Township Development Affairs Committees and engineers and dealt with matters related to reduction in use of electricity and fuel oil.
In his address, the minister said that the government offices switched on bulbs, fluorescent lamps, air-conditioners, hot plates, roadside lamps and park lights unnecessarily and it was a waste of electricity. He added that by using electricity carefully to avoid waste, the people and industrial zones can use more electricity and as a result there will be boosting of production. In conclusion, the minister called on officials to supervise measures so as to avoid unnecessary use of vehicles on weekends and gazette holidays and to reduce use of fuel oil.
Then, the minister went to Thanlyin Myoma Market and inspected use of solar powered lamps and security lamps in the market and solar powered lamps in the park. The minister spoke of the need for the officials of township development affairs committees to systematically use solar powered lamps in order to save electricity. After that, the minister proceeded to Kyauktan Township and looked into the tarring of the entrance road of the Padagyi Pagoda and renovation of the well used by Myanmar kings for drinking near the Pada MyoU Pagoda.
Later, the minister inspected the digging of a well being undertaken by Township Development Affairs Committee in the compound of Myaingthaya Rural Health Care Centre and gave instructions to the officials on projects to be implemented for ensuring supply of fresh water in all the villages in the township.
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MOC Chairman to attend Asian Games
Yangon, 27 Sept - Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Vice-Chairman Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo and General Secretary Director-General of Sports and Physical Education Department U Thaung Htaik left here by air for Pusan, the Republic of Korea, to attend the XIV Asian Games as guests. Two officials from the administrative body, nine weightlifters and one speak takraw player also went to Pusan on the same flight. A sports contingent comprising 20 members also left here by air in the evening.
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Myanmar-India volleyball friendly begins
Yangon, 27 Sept - The first match of Myanmar-India volleyball friendly took place at the National Indoor Stadium-1 in Thuwunna at 4 pm today.
Before the match, Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, together with officials and players of both teams, posed for a documentary photo. In the first match, Myanmar Defence Services team beat Indian Defence Services team 3-1. After the match, Brig-Gen Myo Myint presented the cup to mark the friendly match to the Indian volleyball team. The match between Myanma Army soccer team (A) and Indian Defence Services football team will be held at the same venue at 4 pm tomorrow.
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Labour Minister inspects on-job training school
Yangon, 27 Sept - Minister for Labour U Tin Winn, arrived at the on-job training school of the Labour Department this afternoon and inspected motor vehicle workshop, welding workshop and electric appliance workshop. Officials conducted him round the training school. The minister gave necessary instructions.
(5) Ministry of Rail Transportation holds work coord meeting
Yangon, 27 Sept - The second four-monthly work coordination meeting of the Ministry of Rail Transportation was held at the meeting hall of the ministry this morning. Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung made a speech. In his address, the minister urged those present to review work done and strive for the improvement of rail transportation sector.
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Industry-1 Minister inspects factories
Yangon, 27 Sept - The English Proficiency Course No 1/2002 sponsored by the Ministry of Industry-1 concluded at the training hall of the ministry this morning, attended by Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung.
The minister presented prizes to those who stood first, second and third. Next, the minister presented prizes and K 5000 each to those who were outstanding in the courses conducted by the Central Institute of Civil Service (Upper Myanmar). Afterwards, the minister presented the completion certificates to 38 trainees who attended the seven-week course. At 9 am, the minister inspected factories and mills in Hlaing and Mayangon Townships and gave necessary instructions to officials.
Similarly, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Win and officials this morning inspected factories and mills in Yankin, Mayangon and Thingangyun Townships and gave necessary instructions. Likewise, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thein Tun and officials inspected factories and mills in Insein and Hlaing Townships and gave necessary instructions.
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NPED holds second four-monthly coord meeting
Yangon, 27 Sept - A work coordination meeting 2002 of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development was held at the meeting hall of the Ministers' Office on Theinbyu Street here this morning, with an address by Minister for NPED U Soe Tha.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said differentiation must be made between the work to be done at present and long-term work for economic development of the State, depending on the current requirements of the State. There are favorable conditions to excel achievements of previous year. Then, directors-general, deputy directors-general and officials reported to the minister on preparations for future tasks.
Later, the meeting came to an end in the afternoon with concluding remarks by the minister. Afterwards, the minister, accompanied by officials, inspected the Planning Department and the Foreign Economic Relations Department.
(6) CEC member receives delegation
Yangon, 27 Sept - Central Executive Committee member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association U Than Shwe received the Cuban Delegation led by Vice-President Mrs Evangelina Seoane Dominguez of Cuban Institute for Friendship the People's arriving here at the invitation of USDA at the head office of the association on University Avenue at 5 pm today. CEC member U Than Shwe explained salient points of the association. The delegation also explained facts about their organization.
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Billboards erected to hail Traditional Performing Arts Competitions
Yangon, 27 Sept - Billboards to hail the Tenth Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions, 2002 were put up at the National Museum on Pyay Road, junction of the entrance to Yangon International Airport, and Yangon Railway Station this morning. The billboards are 40-foot long and 10-foot wide. Arrangements have also been made to put up the billboards in front of the National Theatre on Myomakyaung Street, Padomma Theatre in Sangyoung Township and the Fine Arts Department (Kanbawza Theatre) on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road.
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Myanmar delegation arrives back
Yangon, 27 Sept - A Myanmar delegation comprising U Maung Maung Aye, Chief Editor of the New Light of Myanmar Daily of News and Periodicals Enterprise and U Tun Lin Aung, Deputy Director (TV) of Myanma Radio and Television, arrived back here by air this evening after attending the China-Asean Media Cooperation Seminar held in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.
(7) Remnants of armed groups exchange arms for peace
Yangon, 27 Sept - The State Peace and Development Council is striving with might and main in turning the nation into a peaceful, modern and developed one with genuine goodwill.
After realizing it, remaining armed groups, with the conviction that their subversive act do not benefit the State and the people in any way and their regions did lag behind development, have been exchanging arms for peace in groups or individually. During the period from 1 to 31 August 2002, privates Shar Ral and Po Ral of Kayinni armed group exchanged arms for peace in Eastern Command region.
In the Coastal Region Command region, Sgt Hla Aye, privates Tin Oo, Kyin Aye and Thein Win of No 7 DO Battalion of No 4 Brigade of KNU armed group, together with one AK 47 automatic rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition, private Saw Kyuli of No 2 Company, No 10 Battalion of No 4 Brigade of KNU armed group, together with a Winchester rifle, Lt Saw Tar Po Po and private Saw Than Nge of No 3 Company, No 10 Battalion of No 4 Brigade of KNU armed group, together with one .30 Carbine, 3 magazines, 48 rounds of ammunition and four grenades and privates Tin Soe, Tun Yu and Naing Oo of No 4 Company, No 11 Battalion of No 4 Brigade of KNU armed group, together with one .30 Carbine, one rifle, three assorted magazines and 40 assorted rounds of ammunition, exchanged arms for peace.
Officials of the military camps warmly welcomed them who exchanged arms for peace and fulfilled their requirements. There are still more members of armed groups to exchange arms for peace.
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Authorities prevent three men and one young woman from being smuggled out of country
Yangon, 27 Sept - Authorities were able to prevent three men and one young woman from illegally entering Yodaya through the Myawady route to work in Japan on 19 September.
Officials of Kayin State Peace and Development Council and members of Kayin State Working Committee for Women's Affairs met them, gave words of encouragement, explained the hardships they were going to face as an illegal worker in a foreign country, and then handed them over to their parents. The authorities found a team of five suspicious looking passengers four men and a woman while they were checking the cars at Thantaga gate at the entrance to Myawady on that day.
When the authorities inquired them, they came to know that the leader of the team was Ko Ko Aung, who got married with a Japanese woman, and settled in Okazaki, Japan. He earned US $ 9,000 when he took a woman from Myanmar to Japan with a false visa, via Yodaya through the Myawady route. It was his second attempt to smuggle people into Japan, taking US $ 1,500 from each person in advance. The three men and the young woman are from Yangon. Officials of Kayin State Peace and Development Council and members of Kayin State Working Committee for Women's Affairs warmly met with the four victims on 24 September, explaining the difficulties they were going to face in a foreign land and the business opportunities created by the government in the country.
The existing laws of the country were not able to protect Myanmars illegally living abroad, they said. Afterwards, the authorities sent the three men and the woman back to their homes in Yangon. Severe action has been taken against Ko Ko Aung for trying to deceive innocent persons and to smuggle them out of the country.
(8) Italian tourists arrive by chartered flight
Yangon, 27 Sept - Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Ministry of Transport and under arrangement by Myanmar Lotus Asia Tours Ltd, the chartered flight of Lauda Air Boeing 767/300 with 52 tourists on board arrived here this morning.
The tourists were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Managing Director of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Service U Htay Aung and departmental officials, officials of Myanmar Lotus Asia Tours Ltd and national race girls. The tourists will enjoy the trip of Yangon-Inlay-Mandalay-Bagan-Popa and they will leave here on 3 October.
Those, who arrived here on 19 September, left here this morning for Phukhet, Thailand.
(9) Stimulant tablets and heroin seized
Yangon, 27 Sept - A combined team comprising members of local intelligence unit and Kengtung Special Anti-drug Squad, acting on information, searched the house of Aik Khe of Sutywe Village in Yankha Village-tract, Kengtung Township, on 26 August and seized a total of 1,800 stimulant tablets weighing 0.18 kilos.
Similarly, a combined team consisting of members of local intelligence unit, local battalion and Muse Special Anti-drug Squad, acting on a tip-off, searched the house of Son Lint of No 43, Ward-4, Monkoe, on 12 September and seized 153 grams of heroin, one M-20 pistol, three rounds of ammunition and one magazine.
Action is being taken against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law by the police station concerned.
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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