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Established in 1914
1. IT widely used in teaching in education sector in accord with agreement signed by
ASEAN leaders Myanmar Education Committee holds meeting No 3/2002
2. Construction projects inspected in Kalaywa District, Sagaing Division
3. Main workshop of MWVO (Central) opens 4. Cooperatives Ministry holds coord meeting 5. Minister attends opening of tube wells 6. Minister attends coord meetings 7. Implementation of rural development projects coordinated in Mandalay Division 8. Myanmar students show friendship and intelligent quotient 9. Myanmar gets silver in billiards contest in XIV Asian Games
SPOTLIGHT
( 1 ) IT widely used in teaching in education sector in accord with agreement signed by ASEAN leaders Myanmar Education Committee holds meeting No 3/2002
Yangon, 8 Oct - The Myanmar Education Committee held its Meeting No 3/2002 at the Universities' Central Council here at 4.30 pm today, with an address by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt said that progress has been made in implementing the education promotion programmes, the special 4-year national education promotion plan and the 30-year long-term education plan for promotion of national education. High level officials of the government explained the success achieved in education sector whenever they made a field trip right down to states, divisions, districts, townships and villages. In education sector, discussion can be made in teaching with the wider use of information technology, he said.
IT is widely used in teaching in education sector in accord with the agreement signed by the ASEAN leaders. The education policy and the directives can be discussed among the central departments, the universities and the instructions through video conferencing. Arrangements are being made to conduct teaching after setting up a network linking over 100 high schools in Yangon in the very near future. In the health sector also, IT is being used in exchange of health education knowledge and education knowledge on surgical operation between Yangon and Mandalay, he stressed.
All-round development programmes in education and health sectors as well as in human resources development have been laid down and measures are being taken in accord with the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe calling for designating the 24 development zones to bring about equitable development in all part of the nation. Efforts are being exerted to open each university, computer college and technological college in Panlong and Maubin regions, the last designated as development zones among the 24 development zones. Arrangements are also being made to build the higher learning institutions splendidly, to promote qualifications of the faculty members and the students.
The Head of State has given guidance on enabling the students of basic education level to be imbued with the health education knowledge. This being so, health education lessons are to be prescribed in the curricula of primary, middle and high schools. Measures are being taken to open Ph.D courses and to dispatch the scholars abroad for promotion of the education standard of the scholars and faculty members at the universities and colleges. The long-term objectives of national education promotion programmes will meet with success if measures are being taken with added momentum while the government is making efforts in all sectors.
Then, Minister for Education U Than Aung reported on the management and academic matters for 2002, electronic teaching aids, facilitating of furniture, arrangements for timely completion of construction, arrangements for academic programmes at universities and degree colleges, 90 courses conducted in 2002,
Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung reported on opening of new Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University and Government Computer Colleges, opening of Government Technological College and Government Technical Institute and construction of Government Technological College and Government Computer College.
Next, Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe reported on arrangements being made to open the second batch-first year course of Myanmar Maritime University.
Afterwards, Deputy Minister for Health Professor Dr Mya Oo, Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone and Minister for Culture Maj-Gen Kyi Aung reported matters related to universities under their ministries.
Then, Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt assessed the reports and spoke of the need for respective ministries to deal with requirements in order to promote national education standard and to successfully implement national education promotion tasks.
Next, the meeting came to an end. Before the meeting, the General inspected the demonstration on giving lectures with the use of television of the New Century Resources Development Centre (Mandalay), Myanma Education Research Bureau, Yangon University of Distance Education and the Higher Education Department (Lower Myanmar) at the meeting hall of Yangon Universities' Central Council.
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Secretary-1 inspects completion of Pearl Condominium in Bahan
Yangon, 8 Oct- Chairman of City Housing Estate Project Supervisory Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt, inspected completion of the Pearl Condominium at the corner of Kaba Aye Pagoda Road and Saya San Road in Bahan Township this morning.
The Secretary-1 and party inspected preparations for opening the shops on the ground and first floors of the 14-storey building and formation of apartments on the 11th and 13th floors of the building. Chairman U Maung Maung and officials of the company conducted the Secretary-1 and party round the Condominium. At the briefing hall on the second floor, the Secretary-1 viewed the scale model of the Pearl Condominium.
Then, Chairman U Maung Maung of the company reported on completion of the buildings of the condominium, the buildings under construction, shops and apartments. The General gave instructions on the buildings to be constructed to have characteristics of a capital meeting the set standard in the specified time, paying special attention to drawing of the building designs and construction tasks to be carried out with the aims of practicing frugal use of electricity, fully using natural light and ensuring good ventilation.
Then, the Secretary-1 and party inspected construction of the 15-storey building of the Pearl Condominium and preparations for opening of shops at the front wing and left the condominium. The completed two 14-storey buildings of the condominium will be opened soon. In addition, one 15-storey building and three 18-storey buildings are under construction. Sales rooms are being opened on the underground, ground and first floors of the 14-storey buildings and offices of companies on the second floor. From third to 14th floors of the buildings house apartments. Four 15-men-capacity lifts have been installed at the buildings and the swimming pools and car parking areas constructed.
( 2 ) Construction projects inspected in Kalaywa District, Sagaing Division
Yangon, 8 Oct - Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, inspected the Myittha Bridge (Kalaywa) Construction Project in Kalaywa, Sagaing Division, yesterday morning.
At the briefing hall, Senior Engineer of Public Works U Sein Maung reported on progress in driving bole piles on Kalaywa side, tasks being carried out, work done, and arrival of construction materials, machinery and fuel oil. Then, Lt-Gen Ye Myint inspected tasks being carried out for driving bole piles and attended to the needs. On completion, the steel suspension bridge which lies on Monywa-Ahlon-Yagyi Road across Myittha River bridge will link Monywa and Kalaywa in Sagaing Division. It will be 1,320 feet long with a 28 feet wide motorway. It can withstand 60-ton of loads.
Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander and party met with township level departmental officials at the meeting hall of Township Peace and Development Council and gave instructions on regional development tasks. The chairman of Kalaywa Township Peace and Development Council reported on geographical points of the township, implementation of the five rural development tasks, and conditions of economic, social and agricultural sectors of the township with the use of charts; and departmental officials, on progress in implementing rural development tasks. The commander and Brig-Gen Khin Maung Aye gave supplementary reports.
Then, Lt-Gen Ye Myint delivered an address. In his address, he said that the five rural development tasks had been laid down by the Head of State and they were being implemented for the development of the State. He added that efforts are being made for equal development of all parts of the nation after designating the 24 development regions. In doing so, requirements are being fulfilled at the grassroots levels in order to speed up the development momentum. District and Township level departmental officials are to make field trips at every villages and hand in hand with social organizations to make concerted efforts to ensure participation of the people in carrying out rural development tasks. Kalaywa region situated in the joint of Myittha and Chindwin Rivers plays an important role in transportation and economic sectors. The region was lagged behind development due to the difficulty of transportation and so it takes over 10 hours to reach Monywa through Mahamyaing forest in Summer.
On completion of Kalaywa-Yagyi-Monywa Road, it will take only about four hours to access Monywa in any season. Now, there is better transportation and as a result the region stands a good chance for development. Thus, arrangements are to be made for cleanliness of towns and villages, and regional development. In conclusion, he pointed out efficient use of fuel oil and expenses including electricity, and urged the officials to discharge duties diligently.
After the meeting, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander and party saw over Kalaywa People's Hospital, where Acting Medical Superintendent Dr Myint Moe and officials conducted them round the operation theatre, wards and the X-ray room. Then, Lt-Gen Ye Myint spoke encourage words to the patients and gave necessary instructions to the officials. Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander and party arrived at Kalay People's Hospital in Sagaing Division later in the morning. They inspected construction of the operation theatre.
Township Engineer of Public Works U Thein Win reported on progress in constructing two-storey building and pavement, requirements and arrival of construction materials; Medical Superintendent Dr Tin Tun, on background history of the hospital, strength of the specialists and staff, maintenance of modern hospital equipment and laboratory equipment, medical treatments given to the patients, common diseases, outbreak of diseases most in mortal rate, the field trips of the specialists, setting the trust fund and requirement of a staff quarter.
After fulfilling the needs, Lt-Gen Ye Myint inspected the buildings under construction and the sites chose for construction of more buildings in the hospital compound. At 11 am, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party went to the sub-printing house in Kalay and inspected printing and distribution of the Myanma Alin and the Mirror dailies. Capt Aung Khaing Lwin in-charge of the sub-printing house and officials conducted them round it.
Later, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and the commander and party paid obeisance and presented offertories to the Sayadaws and members of the Sangha from monasteries in Kalay at the prayer hall of the Shwebontha Pagoda. Present were Member of Sagaing Division Sangha Nayaka Committee Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Bhaddanta Agga Sara and members of the Sangha, Chairman of Kalay District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Myo Chit, Chairman of Kalay Township Peace and Development Council U Thein Htay Win, Head of Township Religious Affairs Department U Aung Thein Oo, members of the pagoda board of trustees and local people. The Sayadaw of Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha Kyaungtaik administered the Five Precepts.
Then, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the commander and departmental officials presented offertories to the Sayadaws, who then gave Ovadakathas (sermons) to the congregation. In the afternoon, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and the commander and party, accompanied by the commander of Kalay Station, met officers and other ranks and their families at Aungzeya Hall of the station and urged them to participate in rural development tasks and to extend agricultural and livestock breeding work.
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Lt-Gen Ye Myint meets departmental officials in Kalay Township
Yangon, 8 Oct- Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence discussed regional development with departmental officials of Kalay District at Kalay Township Peace and Development Council Office on 6 October.
Chairman of Kalay District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Myo Chit reported on regional conditions, land utilization, targets for production of project crops, cultivation of crops, sufficiency of rice and edible oil, livestock breeding, construction of rural road, uplift of education and health and requirements.
Next, officials concerned reported on work done. Commander Brig-Gen Soe Naing participated in the discussions. In his address, Lt-Gen Ye Myint spoke of the need for departmental officials to report correct figures and charts so that arrangements can be made correctly. He said officials are to gather information from local people and conduct feasibility study for construction of irrigation networks that serve the interest of the region. Kalay is a region where there is surplus of paddy and edible oil. He gave instructions on supervision on regular flow of rice to the states where rice was in great demand. Only when there is economic progress, will the region develop, he said.
He said efforts are to be made for development of agriculture and livestock breeding and boosting productivity. He stressed the importance of obtaining correct figures for economic development. Lt-Gen Ye Myint called on local authorities to make field trips to the grassroots level, to watch regional conditions without losing the sight and to carry out the tasks for rural development in cooperation with local people and social organizations.
He added that, Kalay region is a basic one for development of Chin State. He urged officials and local people to make endeavors not only for local development but also for Chin State and to cultivate crops such as coffee and pepper for export. Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party spent the night in Kalay.
( 3 ) Main workshop of MWVO (Central) opens
Yangon, 8 Oct - The opening ceremony of main workshop of Myanmar War Veterans Organization (Central) was held at the workshop at the corner of Minnanda Road and Eyawun Road in Thakayta Township this afternoon, attended by Chairman of Central Organizing Committee of MWVO member of the State Peace and Development Council Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thein Sein.
First, leader of organizing group-14 of MWVO Vice-Chairman of YCDC Vice-Mayor Lt-Col Maung Pa, Chairman of Yangon Division War Veterans Organization Supervisory Committee Col Tin Soe, Manager of the workshop Lt-Col Than Htwe (Retd) formally opened the ceremony.
Next, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thein Sein formally unveiled the signboard of the workshop. Lt-Gen Thein Sein and guests observed maintenance of the vehicles, wheel alignment, servicing, fuel and lubricant oils and spare parts shop. Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa reported on condition of the workshop, appointment of 61 skilled workers and providing profits to war veterans.
Next, Col Maung Pa presented commemorative pennants to Lt-Gen Thein Sein and Lt-Gen Tin Aye. The guests observed documentary photos of the workshop.
( 4 ) Cooperatives Ministry holds coord meeting
Yangon, 8 Oct - A second four-monthly coordination meeting (2002) of the Ministry of Cooperatives was held at the meeting hall of the ministry here this morning, with an address by Minister for Cooperatives Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe. At the meeting, the chairman of central cooperative society and officials concerned reported on the matters relating to cooperative works. The first day session of the meeting ended in the evening. The meeting continues tomorrow.
( 5 ) Minister attends opening of tube wells
Yangon, 7 Oct- Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, toured Magway Division and attended the opening ceremonies of tube wells on 7 October morning.
The minister and party first attended the opening ceremony of tube well in Myaybyu Kyin village, Yesagyo Township, Pakokku District. It was dug with K 500,000 out of the donated fund of K 50 million contributed by the UMEHL. It is 280 feet deep 2-inch tube well with the capacity of 1,000 gallons per hour. The minister met with tube well supervisory committee members and villagers and discussed matters on long-term use of the tube well and other rural development affairs.
Next, the minister and party proceeded to Yesagyo Township Development Affairs Department and met with staff members and discussed matters on keep the township green and pleasant and other rural development affairs. Then, the minister attended the opening ceremony of tube well in Htanto village, Yesagyo Township. It was dug with K 500,000 donated by U Aye Kyaw and Daw Khin Kyi in memory of late son U Aung Win Htut of Yangon. The 2-inch tube well is 250 feet deep and it can provide 1,000 gallons of water per hour.
Then, the minister and party inspected the Pakokku Development Affairs Department and construction progress of the Begyi-Anauk Magyeekan rural gravelled road. Afterwards, the minister and party attended the opening of tube well in Anauk Magyeekan village in Pakokku Township. It was dug with K 500,000 out of the donated fund of K 50 million contributed by the UMEHL. It is 240 feet deep 2-inch tube well with the capacity of 1,200 gallons per hour. Next, the minister inspected the distribution of water from 2-inch tube well in Phjetpin village, Thayettaw village-tract, Pakokku Township. It was dug at a cost of K 250,000 donated by U Pe Than and Daw Sein Sein of Sangyoung Township, Yangon.
Then, the minister and party went to NyaungU and attended the work coordination meeting on rural water supply of Magway Division. Officials concerned reported work progresses and the minister fulfilled the requirements.
Yangon, 8 Oct - The first six-monthly work coordination meeting for 2002-2003 of the Livestock, Feedstuff and Dairy Products Enterprise under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries was held at the head office of the enterprise here this morning. Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein attended the meeting and gave instructions to the officials. Similarly, the Bee Keeping Department of the Ministry also held the first six-monthly work coordination meeting at the department in Mingaladon Township here at noon with an address by the minister.
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Myanmar Police Force holds coord meeting
Yangon, 8 Oct- A second four-monthly work coordination meeting 2002 of the Myanmar Police Force was held at the meeting hall of Myanmar Police Force (Headquarters) at 8 am today, attended by Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Brig-Gen Khin Yi and directors-general of the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs, deputy directors-general, deputy directors-general of MPF, directors and others.
Yangon, 8 Oct- CEC Member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association U Aung Thaung met with secretaries and executives of Myingyan District and Natogyi, Ngazun, Kyaukpadaung and Taungtha Township USDAs at the office of NyaungU District USDA in NyaungU, Mandalay Division, yesterday afternoon.
Secretary of NyaungU District USDA U Ye Myint reported on progress in implementing rural development projects, and organization measures; and the executives of township USDAs, on carrying out community welfare services and rural development tasks. The CEC member then called on the secretaries and executives to implement rural development tasks and to construct village-to-village roads for development of respective regions, and to make efforts for becoming organizers on whom the people rely.
Afterwards, Member of the Central Organizing Committee of Myanmar War Veterans Organization U Aung Thaung met members of WVOs at the meeting hall of NyaungU District USDA. The WVO members reported on carrying out economic and social welfare tasks. The CEC member fulfilled the requirements. Later, Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung went to Bagan-NyaungU Win Thuzar Shop and inspected sales of the products manufactured by the ministry.
Then, the minister gave instructions on abiding by policies laid down, and ensuring constant flow of popular items.
Yangon, 8 Oct - After taking part in ASEAN Quiz Regional Level Competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 4 to 6 October, the Myanmar delegation led by Director (Admin) of Myanma Radio and Television of Ministry of Information U Phone Myint yesterday evening arrived back here by air at Yangon International Airport.
The Myanmar delegation was welcomed back at the airport by Deputy Director-General of MRTV U Thein Aung and officials and families of the delegation. Supervisor of the delegation Professor Daw Myint Kyi of International Relations Department of University of Yangon; Maung Aung Kaung of Yangon Institute of Education Practising School, Kamayut; and Ma Khine Zin Oo of No 2 Basic Education High School, Dagon Township, also arrived back.
In ASEAN Quiz Regional Level Competition, two students from a country, totaling 20 took part in the competition. The individual awards and the most friendly ASEAN student awards, outstanding award and best group award were presented to the outstanding students. In the individual competition, US$ 500 and US$ 400 were presented to the first and second prize winning students from the Republic of Philippines; US$ 300 and medal to the third prize winning Maung Aung Kaung from Myanmar; US$ 500 and medal to Ma Khine Zin Oo from Myanmar who was chosen as the Most Friendly ASEAN Student Award Winner by the students who took part in the competition; and US$ 500 and medal to a Thai student who won the Outstanding Student Award chosen by teachers.
The green group and the yellow group comprising Myanmar students and the blue group and the red group of other countries competed in the Game Show. The blue group stood first and won US$ 1,500 and the red group was second and won US$ 1,000. By winning the third prize and the Most Friendly ASEAN Student Award in the game, the two students from Myanmar showed friendship and intelligent quotient of Myanmar students.
Yangon, 8 Oct - The XIV Asian Games continued in Busan, the Republic of Korea, today. In the final match of the billiards contest (single), Kyaw Oo of Myanmar got silver medal and Thai and India, gold and bronze respectively.
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 tomission.myanmar@ties.itu.int
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