1. law, govt and politics
2. politics
3. elections

R
EPA
PE
ASEAN+ S’PORE SAYS NO TO MORE REFUGEES ✪7
First INDEPENDENT English daily
www.elevenmyanmar.com
WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2015
INSIDE
ANALYSIS
NATIONAL
Actions anticipated
Ministers discuss boat people issue, NLD stresses “human rights”
Locals worried about
Dawei’s halt, delayed
compensation
✪2
BUSINESS
President eyes $5,000
per-capita income by
2030
✪4
EPA
ASEAN+
Information minister Ye Htut, right, talks with Thai Ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata after the meeting.
MYANMAR ELEVEN
THOUGH Myanmar foreign
minister will not attend the discussion on the refugee crisis in
Kuala Lumpur today, there is
mounting pressure that its official would be in Bangkok on May
29. The first briefing for foreign
envoys on Monday suggests that
it has not completely ignored the
international community’s concerns.
Myanmar ministers Aung Min,
Soe Thein, Khin Yi and Ye Htut
were at the briefing at the
Myanmar Peace Centre, which
was attended by 41 ambassadors
from embassies based in
Myanmar and UN representatives. “Union ministers met diplomats and talked about issues
such as the general election and
peace process at first. Later they
discussed the migrants abandoned at sea. The diplomats say
the region should cooperate to
tackle the issue. They talked
about their views on the issue
and exchanged comments,” said
a meeting attendee.
Hundreds of Rohingya
migrants from Myanmar and
Bangladeshis were rescued in
the past week in the territorial
waters of Indonesia, Malaysia
and Thailand. Aid groups said
that several more boats are still
in the sea, abandoned by their
smugglers following Thailand’s
crackdown on the smuggling
ring. Diplomats from the US,
Malaysia, Britain, Bangladesh,
South Korea, the Philippines,
Thailand, India, China and
Denmark exchanged their views
and asked questions about the
migrant policy. The diplomats
also asked about Myanmar’s
peace process, white-card registration and migrants, according
to the MPC.
The Rohingya are not regarded as citizens in Myanmar but as
illegal immigrants from
Bangladesh. It is estimated that
there are 1.3 million of them in
the country, mostly in Rakhine
State. Some rights groups have
complained that Myanmar
authorities intentionally make
the living conditions harsh for
the Rohingya, forcing over
100,000 to flee ethnic violence in
the past few years. Many paid
smugglers for the escape and
some are held hostage along the
way until their relatives make
additional ransom payments.
After the briefing, Information
Minister Ye Htut said that his
country understood “the concerns (of) the international community on the people in the sea”.
“Instead of blaming Myanmar for
all these problems... all these
issues should be solved by the
regional partners,” he said.
Thailand is hosting a regional
meeting on the issue on May 29.
Myanmar is yet to confirm
whether it will join the meeting.
The meeting today would concern foreign ministers from
Indonesia, Malaysia and
Thailand.
Also on Monday, Nyan Win, a
spokesman for National League
for Democracy (NLD), made a
strikingly bold comments on the
issue. He said Muslim boat people fleeing dire conditions in
Myanmar are entitled to “human
rights”, according to a report by
AFP.
NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi
has faced criticism for not speaking strongly on the issue, as
surging Buddhist nationalism
has deepened the desperation of
a group largely viewed as illegal
immigrants from Bangladesh.
But her party spokesman took
the highly unusual step Monday
of urging Myanmar to give stateless Muslims in the country a
chance to get citizenship.
“If they are not accepted (as
citizens), they cannot just be
sent onto rivers. Can’t be pushed
out to sea. They are humans. I
just see them as humans who
are entitled to human rights,”
Nyan Win told reporters on the
sidelines of a meeting between
political parties and President
Thein Sein in Yangon.
Deadly communal violence in
western Rakhine state between
Muslims and Buddhists in 2012
saw their situation deteriorate
dramatically, displacing tens of
thousands who remain trapped
in miserable camps.
Robert de Niro may get
involved in new ventures
in the Philippines
✪9
LIFESTYLE
Artist Aye Ko’s modern
art exhibit on view in
France
✪10
NATIONAL
2
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Locals worried about Dawei
port’s halt, compensation
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Idle trucks at Dawei construction site which has been halted for months.
have already assigned experts to
help both Thailand and Myanmar
implement the projects.
Japanese involvement in the
projects will boost the scheme’s
feasibility thanks to its huge
financial and other resources
needed to build them in a manner similar to the Eastern
Seaboard development.
The projects are close to
Thailand’s Kanchanaburi, so the
Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Sa Kaew
railway line has been proposed to
serve as a crucial link for industries in Thailand and Myanmar,
many of which Japanese companies have invested in.
Earlier this month, the signing
of the first contract to kick start
construction of the deep-sea port
was postponed for the third time
to until early June.
The signing agreement was
delayed twice before; it was first
due to be signed in March, and
then in April. Local residents
EMG
RESIDENTS of 16 villages
located in the boundaries of
Dawei deep-sea port have complained on the hardships brought
about by the halt in the project.
They said that the halt has
resulted in delays in compensations to the locals affected by the
development project.
A total of 16 villages, including
Htain Kyi, Le Shaung, Paradat,
Mayin Kyi and Mudu, are due to
be relocated by the project.
“They announced that the project would be starting soon but
they have suspended it for some
time so we are not confident in
the project,” said Aung Moe from
Htain Kyi village.
“When the project is halted,
they stopped the process of giving compensation to locals. They
said it could be solved after the
project is resumed.”
He said that the villages have
planned the construction of
schools and basic infrastructure.
The projects have to be delayed
without the compensation.
“We are falling behind as the
schools and basic infrastructure
in our area are not included in
the government-funding programme,” Aung Moe added.
Italian-Thai Development Plc,
the Thai company winning the
original decades-long concession, temporarily suspended the
project in November 2013 with
failure to find development partners.
The concession was returned
to a special purpose vehicle,
jointly owned by the Myanmar
and Thai governments. For over
a year, both nations have tried to
escort Japan’s partnership.
While meeting with Thai
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chano-cha in Bangkok on May 11,
Hiroto Izumi, special economic
adviser to Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe, said Japan
also hopes to sign a tripartite
agreement in July to develop
jointly the Dawei deep-sea port
and industrial estate.
He said Japan was ready to
invest in the special-purpose
vehicle to develop the projects
with the Myanmar and Thai governments.
He further revealed that the
Japanese role will be led by its
state agencies, the Japan
International Cooperation
Agency and Japan Bank for
International Cooperation, which
near the project said that
Myanmar officials told them that
the project would restart in
March, but so far there has been
no sign of that.
With no confidence in the project, local residents are demanding government support.
Population declines in all but three regions
Nwe Yin Aye
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Population declined throughout the country, except in Shan
State, Kachin State, and Yangon
Region, according an annual
report by New Crossroads Asia
(NCRA).
NCRA, the official research
arm of the Union of Myanmar
Federation of Chambers of
Commerce and Industry
(UMFCCI), shows that
Ayeyawady Region has seen the
greatest decline, with 200,000
fewer people than estimated
before the 2014 census.
Magway Region, Sagaing
Region, Mandalay Region, Bago
Region and Mon State each had
approximately 100,000 fewer
people than their pre-census
estimates.
Population declined slightly
in Tanintharyi Region, Kayin
State, Rakhine State, Chin State
and Nay Pyi Taw.
Myanmar conducted a
national census between March
29 and April 10 last year; it was
the country’s first census since
1983. Detailed information on
the census will likely be
released this month, according
to reports.
Preliminary results of the
census surprised both local and
foreign observers. The results
showed 51.5 million people
nationwide – 8.5 million short
of the estimated 60 million.
NCRA pointed out that
Ayeyawady Region’s dramatic
population decline was likely
the result of migrations after
Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
Observers say the absence
of population declines in Shan
State and Kachin State, which
share borders with China, could
be due to illegal migration,
while the population rise in
Yangon Region is due to migration of people from Ayeyawady
Region after the Nargis disaster.
The International
Organisation for Migration
(IOM) has estimated that
between two and four million
Myanmar migrant workers are
living in Thailand, while around
500,000 live in Malaysia, and
100,000 live in Singapore.
The census showed female
population was only 1.7 million
higher than the male population.
Although Rakhine State is
included among the areas that
experienced population decline,
observers expect the real population to have risen due to illegal migration from Bangladesh.
These migrants, as well as
much of Myanmar’s Rohingya
population, whose migrant status is disputed, were largely
excluded from last year’s census.
National
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
3
Parties prepared for election, key
figures seek charter changes
NEWS
DIGEST
Medics upgrade to meet
Asean standards
Medical universities are upgrading
their curriculum to ensure their
graduates are capable of performing
services throughout the Asean region.
Starting in April, the universities have
fallen under the supervision of the
Education Ministry. They are granted
the power to write their own charters
to ensure independent management.
Professor Chit Soe, dean of the
University of Medicine 2, Yangon, said:
“Medical universities can now focus on
their progress, upgrades and the
international recognition of graduates.
The universities welcome up to 300
enrolments a year. We can focus more
on quality rather than quantity, to
produce better-qualified doctors in the
long-run.” The universities are
planning to upgrade the theory and
practice of their studies to keep pace
with the learning and teaching
methods throughout Asean. They will
also upgrade post-graduate diploma
courses. After becoming a member of
Asean University Network, Myanmar
graduates will have the opportunity to
work in other member states.
MYANMAR ELEVEN
EPA
Polluters face legal
threat
Aung San Suu Kyi is in Mawlamyine on Sunday. The election is months away.
vent me from becoming president. We have to wait and see if
the government amends that
section or not. What I accept is
that if they have the courage,
they will change the Constitution
and if they have not, they won’t,”
said Aung San Suu Kyi.
“There are questions about
the 5 million signatures in
favour of amending the
Constitution. In the midst of
obstacles and difficulties, most
of the signatories, on their own
Myanmar President Thein Sein delivers a speech during his
meeting with political parties.
ond part. Some representatives
said such meetings between
Thein Sein and the political parties have hardly reached a stage
that is effective.
As the election draws near,
Opposition leader Aung Sang
Suu Kyi resumes her tour. Last
Sunday, she met the people of
Mawlamyine and Thanbyuzayat,
receiving many questions about
Section 59(f) of the
Constitution, which blocks her
from becoming president.
“Section 59(f) is included in
the Constitution in order to pre-
will, signed the campaign. The
authorities said we got only 5
million signatures. If they really
wish to know the public’s desire,
let us hold a national referendum. But they give no
response,” she continued.
“Even in modern, developed
countries where democratic
spirit is mature, getting 5 million
signatures would be truly amazing. We showed that we are willing to follow a democratic path,”
she added.
A Thanbyuzayat man asked
why Lower House Speaker Thura
EPA
A key meeting took place in
Yangon on Monday, ahead of the
2015 general elections which
would take place either October
or November despite no change
in the 2008 Constitution.
Aside from President Thein
Sein, about 130 representatives
from 68 parties, including the
ruling Union Solidarity and
Development Party and National
League for Democracy, attended
the meeting, said an official.
Union Election Commission’s
chairman Tin Aye and union
ministers also joined the meeting.
“As our country is still far
from reaching extensive agreements between political groups
and leaders, we should learn
from past lessons to reach common agreements by means of
political dialogue,” the president
said in his speech.
Discussed at the meeting
included topics such as the general election, national peace
process and amending the
Constitution.
After discussions, Thein Sein
said: “We all agreed to carry out
the peace process as soon as
possible. Another important
topic was about holding a general election that is free and fair,
and successful. Power sharing
and resource sharing should be
prioritised.
“Some matters can be materialised quickly but it needs time
for some others. For such matters that need time, we [the government] don’t have enough
time left to carry all of them out.
All the discussions will be noted
and we will consider them seriously,” he added.
After the first part of the
meeting, the president left and
political representatives continued their discussions in the sec-
Shwe Mann did nothing to
amend the Constitution despite
expressing an intention to do so.
“If he [Thura Shwe Mann]
wants to help, he alone can’t do
anything. Even if every MP
wants to change the
Constitution, if the military representatives object, nothing can
be done. In other words, all the
representatives elected by the
public have no power compared
with the military representatives
chosen by the commander-inchief,” said Aung San Suu Kyi.
If the government really
wanted to solve the country’s
problems peacefully, President
Thein Sein should hold more
six-party talks, she said.
Upper House MP Aye Maung,
the chairman of Rakhine
National Party, said on Monday
that without an agreement from
the six-party talks, constitutional
amendment would remain
impossible.
The talks would involve Thein
Sein, Lower House Speaker
Thura Shwe Mann, Upper House
Speaker Khin Aung Myint, chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi of the
opposition National League for
Democracy, Aye Maung, representing ethnic groups, and
Commander-in-Chief Min Aung
Hlaing. The first was held on
April 10 but the date for the second one is not yet set.
“The Parliament has concentrated on constitutional amendments, but it cannot move yet.
The constitutional amendments
will not happen as long as the
six-party talks cannot find out
an exact answer,” Aye Maung
said.
“The problem of constitutional amendment cannot be settled
if the president and the military
chief do not participate because
25 per cent of elected military
representatives control the fate
of the Constitution.
“The people point out that
the constitution needs amendment, that 5 million people
signed up for charter change
and that the Constitution has
many outdated laws.”
In Thanbyuzayat, Mon State,
Suu Kyi said that the National
League for Democracy would
publish pamphlets to boost
awareness about voter lists. She
is concerned that the voter lists
are not updated, which may
allow electoral fraud through
illegal use of migrant workers’
votes. She said if migrant workers left the country, the voter
lists must be updated to avoid
problems. Migrants, especially
those in Thailand, could not cast
their votes, she said.
She also expressed concerns
about the numbers leaving to
look for work overseas.
“The names of the migrant
workers still exist in the original
household lists. Parties can misuse these names for fraudulent
votes. It is an important point,
not just for the NLD. Everyone
must learn this,” Suu Kyi said.
She said those living in
Cyclone Nargis-affected areas in
the Ayeyarwady Region moved
to Mon State in 2008 and Mon
State residents are working in
Thailand as migrant workers.
Illegal migration was on the
increase, the Nobel laureate
added.
The Union Election
Commission is arranging to put
an ink mark on the little finger of
voters to prevent repeat voting.
Those found guilty of breaking
the electoral law risk a fine of up
to Ks100,000 or a prison term
of up to a year or both.
Action will be taken against those
who dispose of litter and sewage in
rivers, creeks, lakes and dams, in
accord with the freshwater fishery law,
according to the fisheries department
of Mandalay Region. The
announcement came shortly after
mass fish deaths in Taungthaman
Lake, Amarapura Township, in April
were blamed on pollution from sewage.
In addition to the freshwater fishery
law, violators would face legal action
from other departments. Factories,
workshops, traders and restaurants
near the lake need to follow the law,
rules, regulations, procedures and
directives to avoid causing
environmental damage, the
department said.
Officials will add fish to
Taungthaman Lake, one of Mandalay’s
highlights, in an attempt to replace
numbers.
Military chief urges
China to tackle MNDAA
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing,
commander-in-chief of the defence
services, has urged China’s
ambassador not to accept Myanmar
National Democratic Alliances Army
(MNDAA) forces in China and agreed
to a joint investigation into bombing
inside Chinese territory during the
Laukkai conflict, according to
Myanmar Radio and Television
(MRTV).
The commander-in-chief said there
had been dishonesty concerning the
bombing on May 14 and 15 in China. He
said the hill was too far from the
army’s location and claimed that it
might have been done by the MNDAA
forces to put strain on relations
between China and Myanmar.
Ambassador Yang Houlan said
Beijing did not want to put a strain on
the bilateral relationship, adding that
the MNDAA was causing trouble to
both countries. The Chinese
government wanted a stable border, he
said. “The distributing of news on the
internet puts pressure on our
government. We need to negotiate to
reduce the pressure and Myanmar
needs to take care not to let the
shelling happen again.”
STRAITS TIMES
Property and construction
group Yoma Strategic
Holdings on Monday
announced the opening of its
potable water plant at Pun
Hlaing Golf Estate in
Myanmar.
The move is aimed at
delivering “high-quality
drinking water straight to the
taps of residents of the
estate”, said the mainboardlisted company.
The plant, designed and
supplied by global water
solutions provider Hyflux,
sets apart Pun Hlaing Golf
Estate as the first real estate
development in Myanmar to
have its own Hyflux water
treatment plant.
It uses Hyflux’s proprietary Kristal ultrafiltration
technology and brackish
water reverse osmosis technology to provide quality
drinking water for the estate,
and is desgned to treat 1,000
to 2,500 cubic metres of
water a day.
“Yoma Strategic has
always been committed to
offering an international
standard of living at the Pun
Hlaing Golf Estate and making it the best preferred
place to live in Myanmar,”
said executive director and
head of real estate Cyrus
Pun.
“Providing access to clean
and safe drinking water is
essential to this ... giving
(residents) peace of mind.”
Yoma Strategic also
recently opened sales of its
Lotus Garden Place Villas, a
cluster of 30 semi-detached
residences.
It is part of three Lotusbranded developments within the Pun Hlaing Golf Estate
which are due to be completed in two stages this year.
Sell
US $
1089
1091
Euro ¤
1214
1234
Singpore $
809
821
Source: KBZ Bank
4
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
President expects $5,000
per-capita income by 2030
Hsan Htoo Aung
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Nay Pyi Taw
MYANMAR’S per-capita
income might reach US$5,000
by 2030, said President Thein
Sein. At the 2015 Presidential
Awards Ceremony, the president
hoped that the income would rise
in line with the country’s economic growth pace.
“If we observe forecasts made
on current economic development and future possibilities,
Myanmar’s economic growth
should remain at 7 to 8 per cent
in the medium term,” he said.
“In 2030, the growth rate
might be 9.5 per cent. The per-
capita income could then reach
US$5,000,” Thein Sein told the
audience gathering at the
Myanmar International
Convention Centre. He was referring to economic forecasts by the
International Monetary Fund
(IMF), World Bank, Asian
Development Bank (ADB), the
United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific and the Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and
Development.
According to the United
Nations data, the country’s percapita income in 2012 stood at
$1,125.9. That showed an
increase from $799.5 in 2010
and $237.8 in 2005. ADB fore-
casts Myanmar economic growth
at 8.3 per cent and 8.2 per cent
in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
The IMF expected the real
GDP growth to decelerate slightly
to 7.8 per cent in the 2014-15 fiscal year, from 8.3 per cent in the
previous fiscal year, due to slower growth in the agricultural sector.
“The growth outlook of the
Myanmar economy remains
favourable over the medium
term, but downside risks for the
near term have increased. Fiscal
risks stem from spending pressures, including a potential large
increase in public sector wages,
which will raise inflation expectations. The external current
account deficit could widen further, and shortfalls in foreign
direct investments and other
capital inflows could result in
slower reserve accumulation,”
said Yongzheng Yang, chief of the
IMF mission to Myanmar which
completed the country visit in
February.
President Thein Sein saw the
need to further boost production
and trade.
He said at the event here that
to improve production and trade,
increased investment in human
resources was needed.
The increased business
investment was needed at a
regional and state level, he
stressed.
Hopes of US$11 bn investment by 2030
New Yin Aye
Than Htte Aung
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Directorate of Investment and
Company Administration (DICA)
director Marlar Myo Nyunt said
she was working towards securing US$11 billion in foreign
investment by 2030.
“The amount of foreign investment in Myanmar in 2014-15 was
US$4 billion and we will work
towards receiving investment of
US$6 billion per annum from
2016 to 2020, from 2021 to 2025
we hope it will be US$8 billion
and then US$11 billion until
2030,” said Marlar Myo Nyunt.
In the past three fiscal years,
FDI into Myanmar has beaten its
targets. In fiscal 201213,
Myanmar expected to receive $1
billion in FDI but actually attracted $3.42 billion.
In fiscal 201314, the targeted
amount was $3 billion but the
actual amount received was
$4.11 billion.
So far the energy sector
receives the most foreign invest-
Marlar Myo Nyunt of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration
ment with natural oil and gas a
close second.
The DICA said the production
sector came third, in total accumulated investment over several
years with a US$12 billion gap
from the oil and gas sector.
The top investor is China, followed by Thailand, Singapore,
Hong Kong, the United Kingdom,
South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam,
the Netherlands and France.
Myanmar is the second-fastest developing nation in
Southeast Asia, largely due to
development in the construction,
production and services sectors.
On the Asean side, he expected to receive more investments
from Malaysia and Thailand.
The newly opened economy
may welcome more Thai inves-
tors, as the neighbouring country’s outbound investment strategy focuses mainly on Myanmar
and the Philippines, he said.
The Asia Development Bank
targeted the agricultural, construction, education, health
care,transport, electricity and
communications sectors as the
areas in particularly in need of
foreign investment.
Insurance firms could
work together
EMG
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Maung Maung Thein, chairman of the Insurance Business Supervisory Board,
speaks at the opening of Dongbu Insurance’s Yangon office
Myanmar Insurance Business
Supervisory Board says it will allow foreign insurance companies to offer services through joint ventures or direct delivery.
“Currently, the government only
allows foreign insurance companies to
open offices in the country. Then they will
be allowed to deliver their services in the
special economic zones. Then they will
get the green light to deliver services
through joint ventures when they get
experience and Myanmar’s insurance
market becomes strong. We have yet to
decide which methods will be used,” said
Maung Maung Thein, chairman of the
board.
There are 16 international firms with
offices in the country but they cannot
start offering their services as the standards set for the special economic zones
are still under development.
“They have a chance to learn about
Myanmar’s insurance market conditions,”
said Maung Maung Thein. No time has
been given for when foreign insurance
companies can start to operate but it
would depend on when domestic firms
could gain a foothold in the market.
More than half of the 11 domestic
insurance companies get a monthly premium above Ks1 billion, he said.
EMG
Yoma Strategic
opens potable
water plant in
Myanmar
KYAT EXCHANGE
BUSINESS
Buy
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Friday May 20, 2015
5
Business
6
Irrigation
scheme gives
boost to
Savannakhet
rice farmers
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Japanese call for Yangon train work
People ride a train as they travel in Yangon.
MYANMAR ELEVEN
THE Yangon’s circular train
line is seriously damaged,
according to the Japan
International Cooperation
Agency (JICA).
There was too little gravel and
some connections were loose, it
said.
The JICA said the crossings
were in poor condition and some
houses were too close to the
tracks. Drainage in many stations
was poor and control systems,
ticketing and communication
devices needed an upgrade.
Myanma Railway and the JICA
started an upgrading plan in
2012.
The JICA is planning to separate the circular route from the
intercity train network, which
currently use the same tracks,
while making the timetable more
reliable and introducing air conditioning.
Between 80,000 and 100,000
people use the trains every day.
“We have been repairing the
circular route once a year but
now it needs an upgrade,” said
Tun Aung Thin, lower Myanmar
general manager at the rail ministry. He said all trains on
Yangon’s circular network would
have air conditioning within two
or three months.
The ministry has announced
that it would soon invite tenders
to upgrade the 38 train Yangon
stations, including Yangon
Central.
Advertising would be allowed
on carriages, and buildings
owned by the ministry would be
rented to the private sector, it
said.
YCDC to build six new street-crossing bridges in Yangon
EMG
The Party and state have built a
51-km long irrigation system for the
people of Thapangthong district,
Savannakhet province, at a cost of
US$50.2 million (almost 405 billion
kip) in a bid to increase crop yields
for food security and commercial
gain.
Deputy Prime Minister
Somsavat Lengsavad, Governor of
Savannakhet province Souphanh
Keomixay, a representative of the
Chinese Embassy to Laos Liang
Jianjun, and other Lao government
officials on Saturday attended a
ceremony to hand over the
Xesalalong-Xeku Irrigation Protect.
The project was funded by a
low-interest loan from the Chinese
government.
Minister of Agriculture and
Forestry Vilayvanh Phomkhe told
the media that this gift from the
Party and state would help people
in Thapangthong district to grow
rice in both the wet and dry
seasons.
“Most of the people in this
district are rice growers. We have
built this irrigation system so they
can get the water they need to grow
more crops, raise more animals and
have more water to use at home,”
he said.
The new irrigation scheme will
not only help to boost rice
production but will also help to
mitigate the impacts of flooding
and inadequate rainfall in the area,
which in the past has caused loss of
human life, houses, crops and
livestock.
During the last dry season, rice
growers trialled a 100-hectare plot
using water from the XesalalongXeku Irrigation Project.
In the next dry season, scores of
hectares of rice are expected to be
grown, helping to ensure food
security in the province and
improve local livelihoods.
Thapangthong district is a
major rice growing area, with its
rice not only consumed
domestically but also grown on a
commercial basis.
Speaking at the handover
ceremony, Director General of the
Department of Irrigation at the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,
Maykong Phonephommavong, said
the Xesalalong-Xeku irrigation
system could deliver water to 2,000
hectares of rice fields in 11 villages
in the district.
The concrete lined irrigation
channels will carry water to cash
crop plantations and livestock
operations in these villages.
According to the Department of
Irrigation, about 80 per cent of
irrigation channels throughout the
country are soil lined, while only 20
per cent are made with concrete.
The China Gezhouba Group
Company began construction of the
irrigation system in 2011 and
finished the work in July 2014.
The irrigation scheme is seen as
a model agricultural development
project for Laos and is expected to
contribute significantly to socioeconomic development and poverty
reduction.
Reuters
VIENTIANE TIMES
Pansodan street-crossing escalator-bridge
Kyaw Htin
MYANMAR ELEVEN
The Yangon City
Development Committee
(YCDC) said it will conduct
assessments in preparation to
build six street-crossing bridges
in Yangon in the 2015-16 fiscal
year.
YCDC officials said some of
the bridges will include escalators, and the project is estimated to cost Ks 1.5 billion.
The number of the escalatorbridges will depend on the
availability of funds.
YCDC will try its best not to
obstruct traffic during construction.
Three bridges will be built on
Pyay Road, one on Kabaraye
Pagoda Road, one at the corner
of Anawyahta Road and Sule
Road and one at the corner of
Anawyahta Road and
Lanmadaw Street.
Yangon had 10 street-crossing bridges before 2010, and
three more have been built near
Pansodan-Dala harbour, in front
of Aung San Thuriya Hla
Thaung School and on Kabaraye
Pagoda Road.
The bridges near PansodanDala harbour and on Kabaraye
Pagoda Road are fitted with
escalators.
Another two street-crossing
bridges will be constructed near
at the corner of Lanmadaw
Street and Lanthit Street and
near Hledan junction.
ASEAN+
7
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Differing approaches towards
boat people within Asean
ASEAN nations have come up
with different approaches when it
comes to the refugee crisis.
As Malaysia, Indonesia and
Thailand plan for talks on the
Rohingya migrant crisis,
Singapore said it is unable to
accept any refugees or those
seeking political asylum.
“As a small country with limited land, Singapore is not in a
position to accept any persons
seeking political asylum or refugee status, regardless of their
ethnicity or place of origin,” said
a spokesman for the Ministry of
Home Affairs yesterday, in
response to questions from The
Straits Times.
The position appears
unchanged from that outlined in
Parliament in 2009, when then
Nominated MP Eunice Olsen
asked for the government’s
response if the Rohingya tried to
enter Singapore waters.
Replying, the late Senior
Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Balaji Sadasivan said that
because of Singapore’s limited
land and natural resources, the
government had for decades
been against accepting refugees.
He said Singapore would
assist such people by providing
Reuters
THE STRAITS TIMES, PHILIPPINES
DAILY INQUIRER
A Rohingya child who recently arrived by boat has his picture taken for identification purposes at a shelter in Indonesia’s Aceh
Province.
Reuters
A Rohingya migrant
child carries
belongings while
walking to a bigger
shelter in Aceh.
humanitarian assistance, so that
they can depart for a third country. Between 1975 and 1996,
Singapore hosted some 32,000
Vietnamese refugees.
They were allowed into
Singapore only if a third country
gave written guarantees of their
removal within three months.
The last 99 returned to Vietnam
voluntarily in 1996.
Philippines Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima said on Tuesday
after her meeting with a repre-
sentative of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) that sending rescue
boats to help the Rohingya
Muslims or the “boat people”
could be a good gesture on the
part of the Philippine government.
“It would be a good gesture if
we send a rescue ship or two
along with other Asean
(Association of South East Asian
Nation) neighbours and it should
be a concerted effort, a regional
action,” De Lima said.
However, she clarified that
whether the country would send
rescue boats or not should be
decided by “government officials
at the highest level”.
“We can only suggest to the
decision-makers; this will probably be at the highest level …
Humanitarian consideration
Thousands list up as Marcos victims
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
The Human Rights Victims
Claims Board (HRCVB) has
received more than 15,000 applications in the second filing round
of claims for recognition and
compensation for atrocities suffered during martial law.
Since April 8, the agency has
received 15,430 applications at
its offices nationwide. Of the
number, 6,876 applications were
filed during remote operations
conducted in Jolo, Catbalogan
City and General Santos City.
Another team will be accepting
applications in Ilagan, Isabela
and Lagawe, Ifugao, next week.
HRVCB Chair Lina Sarmiento
reminded claimants they had
only until May 30 to file their
applications for recognition and
reparation under Republic Act
No. 10368, or the Human Rights
Victims Reparation and
Recognition Act of 2013.
RA 10368 aims to provide rec-
ognition and reparation, both
monetary and nonmonetary, to
all victims of human rights violations during the martial law
regime under dictator Ferdinand
Marcos. A P10-billion reparation
fund had been set aside for the
purpose.
Sarmiento also reminded
applicants to file their claims in
person. Claimants must schedule
an appointment with the HRVCB
main office or regional desks.
The process is free.
should transcend any other considerations and the priority now
is to be able to save lives,” De
Lima, former chair of the
Commission on Human Rights
(CHR), said. While the
Philippines is not affected by the
migration of the boat people, De
Lima said the country should not
sit idly and do nothing.
The Philippines is a signatory
to the 1951 Convention Relating
to the Status of Refugees and the
1954 Convention Relating to the
Status of Stateless Persons, she
said. She said the Department of
Justice had a mechanism in
place for assisting asylum seekers. Bernard Kerblat of the
UNHCR said a collective
approach among countries was
needed to address the problem.
“What are we saying, in a very
humble way, [is] let’s join forces;
let’s look at what can be done
collectively, and its not a responsibility alone for Thailand or
Bangladesh or Myanmar or
Malaysia or Indonesia.
It’s a responsibility which falls
on all the affected memberstates and much more. We need
the rest of the world,” Kerblat
said.
Malaysian linked to IS still at large
THE STAR
A Malaysian involved with
the Islamic State (IS) militant
group is still at large in the
country and is being hunted by
the police, says home minister
Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the individual was
among seven people with links
to IS and who had returned to
Malaysia.
“Out of the seven who have
returned to Malaysia, six have
been arrested by the police
while one individual is still
being tracked by the police,” Dr
Ahmad Zahid said in a written
reply to Ikmal Hisham Abdul
Aziz in the Parliament on
Tuesday.
The minister said that as of
May 7, a total of 154 Malaysians
were found be involved with IS
militant activities, of which 91
had been successfully arrested.
“There are 45 people still at
conflict zones while another 11
were killed,” Dr Ahmad Zahid
said. Ikmal Hisham had asked
the minister to state how many
Malaysians were involved with
the IS as well as the ages of the
individuals.
“Such individuals are of various ages, ranging from one to
60. This is worrying for the
Government as children are
also involved,” said Dr Ahmad
Zahid.
ASEAN+
8
Jokowi orders sinking
of 30 foreign fishing
boats
Indonesia intends to immediately
destroy 30 foreign fishing vessels
caught fishing illegally in its
waters.“Soon, we will sink around 30
vessels,” president Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo said before a group of
singers and song writers at the
Presidential Palace on Monday.
The president did not specify the
origins of the vessels. Since
December, the government has sunk
more than a dozen foreign boats
from Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia,
Papua New Guinea and the
Philippines, igniting regional
diplomatic uproar.
The government has detained at
least eight Chinese vessels for illegal
fishing since December, but has thus
far held back from sinking them as a
result of intense diplomatic pressure
from Beijing.
Authorities have claimed that the
sinking of the Chinese vessels
cannot be done immediately as they
are awaiting court decisions.
- THE JAKARTA POST
Thailand funds drug
treatment centre in
Laos
The Thai government on Monday
provided grant assistance worth
some Bt50 million to fund the
construction of a drug treatment
and rehabilitation centre at
Phonhong district hospital in
Vientiane province.The Thai funding
will also be used to improve the
outpatient building at the hospital
and buy medical equipment to treat
road accident victims. Thai Minster
of Foreign Affairs, Gen Tanasak
Patimapragorn, said at the groundbreaking ceremony that the fund is
for six buildings for health services
in Vientiane province.
The project to build a drug
treatment and rehabilitation centre
is part of the Lao government’s plan
for the development of the health
sector, as it needs to provide health
services for the victims of drug
addiction in Vientiane province and
surrounding areas.
Last year, Laos destroyed
confiscated drugs worth around
US$17.5 million.
- VIENTIANE TIMES
18 Cambodian workers
killed in road crash
At least 18 Cambodian garment
workers were killed and 21 injured on
Tuesday when a bus crashed into the
van transporting them to work,
officials said.
“A bus from Prey Nokor (Ho Chi
Minh City) overtook a car and
crashed into a van transporting 39
garment workers, killing 16 of them
on the spot,” Cheang Am, governor
of eastern Svay Rieng province, told
AFP by telephone. Two more workers
died from injuries while en route to
hospital in the capital Phnom Penh,
Cheang Am said later, while 21
others were injured with several in a
critical condition.
The Cambodian driver of the bus
was arrested, the governor said,
adding the vehicle was believed to
be speeding. Cambodia’s roads are
notoriously dangerous with more
than 2,000 people killed in traffic
accidents last year.
- AFP
Trafficking victims in Vietnam
face rocky road to recovery
VIET NAM NEWS
DUONG was 18 and looking
forward to seeing a new place
and meeting new people when
she set out with her aunt Mai and
Mai’s boyfriend Lap to see his
parents in Vinh Phuc Province.
For a Dao minority girl from
the rural district of Yen Binh in
Yen Bai Province, it was like travelling into another country, and
she was excited.
Little she did know that she
was in fact travelling to another
country. It was July 2010. Instead
of Vinh Phuc Province, Duong
and Mai were taken to China.
Duong was sold to a brothel and
Mai was sold to a Chinese man
who forced her to be his wife.
More than a year later, Duong
managed to flee and return
home, but she’d been traumatised by the sexual exploitation
she’d been subjected to in China.
She had no job and no money.
She was very sad, and did not
know how to reintegrate into the
community.
She thought of getting some
kind of vocational training, but
she had no money and her parents would not let her go anywhere far away from them.
Almost two years after she
returned from China, in May,
2013, the staff of international
NGO World Vision and the Yen
Bai Women’s Union called on
Duong and her family.
After learning that Duong
desired to become a hairdresser,
World Vision referred her to
Hagar International, a non-profit
organisation, and she was supported to attend a vocational
training course in Hanoi for a
year.
World Vision is funding a fiveyear (2011-16) special programme called End Trafficking in
Persons (ETIP) that is being
implemented in six Greater
Mekong Sub-region countries. In
Vietnam, it covers the provinces
of Quang Tri, Quang Nam and
Yen Bai.
After receiving her hair-dressing certificate, Duong returned
home and opened her own shop
in August 2014 with World
Vision’s support. Since then, she
has seen her business grow
steadily.
“Everything is okay now. It’s
so great! My parents are so
happy that I can earn money on
my own. I am getting more customers throughout the day.
During the traditional New Year
holiday, I had no time to care for
my own hair.”
Duong got married at the end
of last year. She has received
support and encouragement
from her family and her husband
in doing her business.
Duong’s story had a happy
ending, but N cannot say the
same thing.
N, 19, has had a stormy past.
She was 12 when she saw her
father have an extramarital relationship with another woman.
She was abused by her brother
for a long time and then raped by
a stranger.
She was sent to live with her
mother’s younger sister who
Courtesy of World Vision
GLOBAL
BRIEFS
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Duong runs her own hair salon in northern Vietnam. Most victims are not as lucky and end up
suffering a lifetime of abuse, studies show.
owns a massage parlour. There,
she was ordered to satisfy elderly
customers.
Recovery
A 2008 study conducted by
Action Aid Vietnam in the four
provinces of Dien Bien, Cao
Bang, Hai Phong and Vinh Long
showed that only 20.4 per cent of
trafficked persons were able to
stabilise their lives and re-integrate into the community. Most
other victims end up jobless and
homeless, suffer from poor
health and live highly unstable
lives.
Vietnamese authorities have
launched several programmes
and activities to assist trafficked
victims reintegrate into the community. These include receiving
the victims (verifying their identity), providing shelter, arranging
for vocational training, providing
loans, improving awareness of
their own rights to ask and
receive several forms of assistance as well as teaching various
life skills.
The Peace House Shelter has
provided such assistance to
many victims. Funded for its first
seven years by the Spanish
Government and other organisations, it now receives funding
from the State Budget.
The shelter provides minimum
comprehensive support package
including safe accommodation,
healthcare, psychological care,
legal aid, life skill enhancement,
career orientation and further
follow-up support to ensure that
victims will integrate into community safely and stably.
From 2007 until now, the shelter had counselled 536 trafficked
women and children. About half
of them belonged to ethnic
minorities, said Pham Thi Huong
Giang, director of the Centre for
Women and Development.
She said 60 per cent of the
shelter’s residents were trafficked for sexual exploitation and
the rest forced to become wives
or bonded labourers.
Connecting challenges
Many victims have said that
domestic violence, failure in love,
using stimulants and lack of
parental care are to blame for
their vulnerability to abuse and
exploitation. Poverty and a desire
to improve their living standards
also landed them in trouble.
Ha Minh Ngoc, a social worker
with the Peace House Shelter,
said she faced a lot of difficulties
in dealing with trafficked persons.
It is difficult for a counsellor
not to get emotional in interacting with a victim who suffers
from psychological trauma and
has a shocking story, according
to her experience.
On the other hand, the victims
themselves are very sensitive,
fearful and suspicious, and might
not co-operate. They could be
hesitant initially about confiding
details of their situation to the
counsellors.
Most of returning victims suffer from inferiority complexes.
They feel disgust for themselves
and consider themselves not
worth living, and many put themselves in very risky situations.
Counsellors have to deal with
all this in accordance with professional ethics and principles.
They should have a sensitivity for
the job, constantly improve their
own awareness and be flexible in
the ways they try to help people
with trauma.
A study “After Trafficking:
Experiences and challenges in
the (re) integration of trafficked
persons in the Greater Mekong
sub-region” conducted by UNIAP,
COMMIT and Nexus Institute
found that a large number of trafficked persons in the GMS
weren’t assisted following their
trafficking experience.
In the study sample of 252
trafficked persons about their
experiences of reintegration, 113
were unassisted in the country of
destination; 45 were unassisted
in the country of origin, and 39
received no assistance either at
home or abroad.
Tran Thi Hong, a social worker
from Hagar International, said
trafficking victims typically had
very little education and their low
awareness was compounded by a
hesitancy to seek assistance for
fear of discrimination.
Many victims who have
received assistance from organisations, including counseling and
vocational training, still faced
problems reintegrating, she said.
The choice of post-trafficking
careers could also be problematic. For instance, the hospitality
industry might not be the best
place for a person who has been
sexually abused, Hong said, adding that psychological assessments and career orientation
services should take this into
account.
Pham Thi Huong Giang, director of Centre for Women and
Development, suggested the government extend shelter stays for
enslaved victims from two
months to between six and 18
months.
She also emphasised the need
to raise community awareness to
reduce discrimination because
ostracisation would further marginalise them and make them
unwilling to receive assistance.
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
9
ASEAN+
Indonesia’s infrastructure
inertia stalls builders
REUTERS
Jakarta
FOR Indonesia’s second-largest state construction firm PT
Wijaya Karya Tbk, the half-year
since President Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo took office with promises
of a massive infrastructure push
has been as much about waiting
as it has been about building.
Like its peers, Wijaya Karya
had expected a revenue boost
from the 290 trillion rupiah ($22
billion) the government had
budgeted for infrastructure projects this year, a more than
50per cent increase from the
previous year.
Investors, equally encouraged
by Widodo’s five-year, $455billion plan to beef up dilapidated
facilities, have pumped money
into the big four state builders.
Shares of Wijaya Karya, PT
Waskita Karya Tbk, PT Adhi
Karya Tbk andPT Pembangunan
Perumahan Tbk now trade at an
average of 22.4 times their
expected earnings for the next 12
months, above the average 15
times ratio for listed Indonesian
firms.
These valuations, however,
look increasingly precarious as
the hopes that accompanied
Widodo into office last year collide with the red tape and land
disputes endemic to Southeast
Asia’s largest economy.
“We had made the lowest bid
for many projects, but the government hasn’t announced them
yet,” Wijaya Karya CEO Bintang
Perbowo told Reuters. “As there’s
a delay on the government side,
we have to tweak our strategy.”
Foreign investors have
accounted for 42 per cent of the
Indonesian stock exchange turnover so far this year, and
Thomson Reuters data shows
Baring Asset Management and
FIL Investment Management
were, as of March, among the top
10 investors inWijaya Karya.
The company, like other state
contractors, is expected to support the government’s infrastructure push and had banked on
state projects to account for
more than half of 31 trillion rupiah it targeted for contracts this
year. But worried about the government delays, it is now aggressively chasing private sector clients, Perbowo said.
“There isn’t much time left,”
he added.
Total revenue of the four state
contractors fell 9 per cent in the
first quarter, the biggest drop in
two years, Thomson Reuters data
shows. This reflected the lack of
government disbursement, brokerage Danareksa Sekuritas says.
As of April, the government
had spent less than 2 per cent of
its 2015 infrastructure budget,
the finance minister told a
national planning meeting.
Several ministers have blamed
the slow allocation of funds on
the government’s revision of the
state budget in February to partly
reflect the abolishment of fuel
subsidies, but bureaucratic tangles also abound.
A $43 million reservoir being
built by Waskita Karya, for example, has run into delays because
of bureaucratic difficulties in
clearing the land, Corporate
Secretary Anton Nugroho told
Reuters.
Analysts and some officials
say the real hurdle facing infrastructure projects is the same
blighting nearly all sectorsof the
economy: the disconnect
between what Widodo says the
government can do, and the reality. “You have Jokowi still saying
the right things, but at the end of
the day he has to be supported
by the rank and file,” said Wellian
Wiranto, economist at
Singapore’s OCBC Bank. “Not
just the cabinet, but also the
bureaucracy at large, and that
part I think is still not getting the
message.”
A former businessman and
governor of Jakarta, Widodo portrayed himself during his election
campaign as a man of action
who understood investors’ needs.
But internal sniping in his cabinet, along with the sheer size of
the bureaucracy and the slowing
economy, have since weighed on
this image.
Earlier this month, Indonesia
posted its weakest economic
growth since 2009 for its first
quarter, as the government struggles to find new engines for
growth after a commodity boom
fizzled out due to slowing
GLOBAL
BRIEFS
India looks to form a
common South Asian
market
India has devised its trade policy
for 2015-20 focusing mainly on
building a common South Asian
market as regional trade is growing
among the Saarc nations, Indian
Commerce Secretary Rajeev Kher
said Monday.
A common market is featured
with a lot of harmonised policies like
common currency, same taxation
policy and free movement of people.
He, however, did not go into details
about the prospective common
market. “We have placed the regional
trade strongly in the trade policy for
2015-20. A South Asian common
market is essential for strong
economic growth,” Kher told
reporters after a meeting with
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at
his secretariat in Dhaka.
- THE DAILY STAR
demand from China.
Even private consumption,
which makes up more than half
of gross domestic product, is
slowing down as a fuel price hike
in November and a weakening
rupiah have eroded purchasing
power in the country of 250 million people.
“Initially people thought
Jokowi was a different guy, he
had a track record of getting
things done,” said Keith Loveard,
head of risk analysis at Jakartabased Concord Consulting. “But I
think the job has proved much
harder for him than he imagined.”
Under Widodo’s five-year
infrastructure plan, Indonesia
needs some 25 dams, 10 airports, 10 industrial parks and
about 2,000 km (1,250 miles) of
roads.
Indonesia’s long-term spending plan for its infrastructure sector means that the potential is
still huge, said Bharat Joshi,
head of Indonesia investment at
fund Aberdeen Asset
Management, which is seeking
exposure to the sector.
“We have to give the benefit of
the doubt given that it’s Jokowi’s
early days,” he said.
Aberdeen, however, prefers to
invest in cement makers rather
than the construction firms at
the moment.
“We’re not sure who will actually be bidding for projects or
what their execution track record
is like,” Joshi added.
VN fisheries attack
new China ban
The Vietnam Fisheries Society
(Vinafis) has strongly condemned
China’s recent renewed ban on
fishing in the East Sea, deeming the
unilateral action irrational and void.
In a statement sent to the
Government Office, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development,
the Foreign Ministry, and Party
Central Committee’s Commission for
External Relations, Vinafis said the
Chinese action had been repeated for
many years, hindering Vietnamese
fishing, causing a decline in output
and economic damage while violating
Vietnam’s sovereign right and
jurisdiction over the Hoang Sa
(Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly)
archipelagos.
Vinafis also requested agencies
concerned to devise measures to end
the ban as soon as possible and drive
away Chinese vessels taking
advantage of the ban to conduct
illegal fishing and other activities in
Vietnam’s waters. The organisation
also asked for the regular presence of
law-enforcement vessels in the East
Sea to protect fishermen from
China’s bullying and enable them to
make a living.
De Niro eyes more hotel, resort investments in Philippines
- VIET NAM NEWS
Reuters
Japan in search for
another Steve Jobs
American actor Robert de Niro arrives to attend the opening of Nobu Hotel in Manila on Monday.
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
Academy Award-winning actor
Robert de Niro, who was in
Manila opening a hotel he coowns this week, said he could get
involved in new ventures in the
Philippines. “There could be
other locations in the Philippines.
One would be good is a Nobu
Resort. If we find the right real
estate, the right place, it’s very
possible in the future,” De Niro
said at a press conference.
De Niro is one of the founding
partners of Nobu, a chain of res-
taurants and hotels present in
five continents. De Niro said a
new ultra high-end resort rivaling
Palawan’s Amanpulo might be in
the cards for Nobu.
Art imitates life for De Niro in
the Philippines. Among his critically acclaimed performances
include his portrayal of Sam
“Ace” Rothstein in the movie
Casino. In the role, director
Martin Scorcese had De Niro
playing a hard-nosed casino
executive making his way in the
gaming industry during Las
Vegas’ early years.
Japan’s Internal Affairs and
Communications Ministry said it is
seeking unconventional, innovative
ideas that could impact the global
information and communications
industry, hoping to discover and
nurture the next Steve Jobs, the late
cofounder of Apple Inc.
The programme, now in its
second year, aims to identify about
10 highly talented individuals who are
striving to develop ambitious,
cutting-edge technologies that could
revolutionise people’s lives and
change how business is conducted.
Each individual chosen will receive up
to 3 million yen (US$25,000) in
financial assistance for their
research. Known as “The Innovation
Initiative,” the recruiting campaign
aims to develop outstanding human
resources like Jobs, whose company
invented such innovative products as
the iPhone. The programme’s name
in Japanese contains a pun on the
word “inou,” which means “unique
talent.”
- THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN
LIFESTYLE
10
MYANMAR ELEVEN, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
‘Age of Ultron’ arrives in Myanmar
Su Hmuu Naing
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Yangon
Superhero blockbuster
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” attracted a record turnout last Friday
when it was released in 10
Yangon cinemas.
Joss Whedon’s comic book
sequel is being shown in most
cinemas in Yangon. No other film
has been screened in as many
cinemas before.
Rising demand has prompted
cinemas to sell tickets one week
in advance.
Many people have come to
watch the film in both Yangon
and Mandalay since the opening
day. Bookings have gone up considerably as well,” said a spokesman for Mingalar Cinema Group.
“Age of Ultron” is now show-
those no-shows.
The cinema was crowded,”
said a moviegoer at Mingalar
Cinema 2 at Dagon Center 2.
“Since the opening day, the cinema has been quite crowded.
There weren’t many seats left
when I bought advance tickets
for Sunday.
In fact tickets are quite being
sold at a high rate on the black
market,” said Aung Kyaw who’d
bought tickets at Naypyidaw
Cinema.
Directed by Joss Whedon, the
film stars Robert Downey Jr,
Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris
Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson,
and Jeremy Renner.
According to Forbes, the film
has grossed a massive US$875
million at the global box office
since its opening two weeks ago.
Artist Aye Ko’s modern art
exhibit on view in France
EMG
A proliferation of cinemas
expected in Myanmar
ing at Naypyidaw Cinema, Shae
Saung Cinema, Mingalar Cinema,
Mingalar San Pya Cinema,
Junction Mawtin, Junction
Square, Top Royal in Yangon,
Myoma Cinema, Mingalar
Cinema and Diamond Cineplex in
Mandalay, and Mingalar Tun Thiri
Cinema in Pyay.
“On the opening day, I had to
wait for so long but managed to
get a ticket at last because of
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Yangon
A private company is planning to build 60 cinemas
across Myanmar including 20
cinemas in Yangon and
Mandalay as part of a proposal
submitted to the Department
for Enhancing Film Standards
(DEFS).
“We have received concessions to operate and build 60
cinemas across Myanmar.
Foreign investors have also met
and discussed with us. The
number of cinemas will rise
nationwide within this year,”
said Thein Naing, director of
DEFS.
“It’s important to have
enough films to screen at this
time. According to our survey,
there are only a small number
of film productions that are
regularly making films. So we
need to balance production
with cinema numbers,” he
added.
Currently preparations are
underway to build more cinemas in major cities including
Yangon and Mandalay.
The Myanmar Motion
Picture Development has plans
to build cinemas across the
country while Junction
Cineplex is also partnering with
South Korean firm CJ CGV to
build cinemas.
Masterpieces by Aye Ko are on display in an exhibition in Lyon, France.
MYANMAR ELEVEN
Artist Aye Ko, known for being
shortlisted for the Joseph
Balestier Award early this year,
showcases his modern paintings
in his first solo exhibition currently being underway in Lyon,
France until the end of this
month.
“The exhibition features my
new paintings that portray the
feelings and characters of people
in the outside world. Lately I
have visited many international
exhibitions as a person-in-charge
and director of New Zero Art
Space. I’m feeling greater free-
dom since I’m allowed to exhibit
my artworks in this exhibition,”
said Aye Ko.
Aye Ko is a modern art painter
who has exhibited his installations and performances at home
and aboard. He has another exhibition “What is Life” on view at
the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.
Wera’s new documentary zooms in on abandoned kids in China
Lin Lin Khaing
MYANMAR ELEVEN
The hardship endured by children of Chinese migrant labourers forms the subject matter of
‘Why Am I Left Behind’
Noted filmmaker Wera is planning to begin work on a TV documentary on the plight of Chinese
children abandoned by their
migrant worker parents. “Why
am I Left Behind?”, his fifth foreign film project, is destined for
international film festivals next
year.
“I’ve received an offer to make
this documentary about children
in China left behind by their
migrant worker parents. I will
portray their emotions and the
pain felt by these children. I will
draw on my experience to do my
best for this film,” said Wera.
The 30-minute documentary
will be produced by Ronghua
Chen, a Singaporean production
studio.
Shooting locations will be
selected by early July and filming
will begin within that month.
Wera is also working on
another documentary about the
Second World War that is to be
partially shot on location in
Japan.
EMG
More privately owned cinemas like this one look set to
mushroom in the country.