World Bank to launch community programmes in poor villages

A feasibility study for the project has already been completed and three World Bank officials, along with Khant Zaw, a director of the Rural Development department, met with local residents earlier this week. 

“They [the team] met the Kyunsu Township administrator and Katalu villagers separately on November 18. They also observed Hteinchaung Village, Nawarat Lake and dams. They believe the villagers need to form a management committee,” a Katalu villager said.

This committee is needed to ensure the funds provided as used properly and that rural development tasks are honestly implemented, he said. “If the World Bank finds the committee’s plans are unfair, they will stop the aid. The bank will also conduct training for financial management. The programme may be launched in early January,” he added.

The team also visited Letaw village on Tuesday to study the regional products, lifestyle and income of local residents, and how they earn their living.

The World Bank has earmarked US$80 million (Bt2.5 billion) for 640 least-developed villages in Myanmar. 

 

Motorists lose cars due to bad parking

The authorities have started using flatbed tow-trucks to remove cars that are recklessly parked on the main roads in Yangon, traffic police department said.

In eight days, a total of 137 irresponsibly parked vehicles were removed from roads in the city.

The authorities began taking action against motorists on Yangon’s six-lane thoroughfares and other major roads in Yangon on November 11.

“Traffic is getting worse in the city as there are many vehicles recklessly parked on the main roads. That’s why we are taking these measures. The vehicles are only removed after a 30-minute wait. If the car owner arrives while we’re removing it, we give him or her a parking fine and stop the removal,” said lieutenant police colonel Lin Htut.

Under the new regulation, motorists may face fines of up to 70,000 kyat (Bt2,286), depending on the distance travelled by the tow-truck for the car removal.

Offenders are also liable to both fine and a prison term for breaching the regulation.

“We have identified 26 roads in Yangon where vehicles cannot park. Now we are undergoing a two-week education period. After that has passed, we will start taking action in line with the law. We have already imported tow-trucks to remove vehicles that conduct parking violations,” said Police Major Thar Htay, joint secretary of the Traffic Rules Enforcement Supervisory Committee.

 

Details set for Suu Kyi’s Australia trip

The National League for Democracy has released more details about Aung San Suu Kyi’s weeklong visit to Australia from Tuesday to December 2.

Suu Kyi’s visit coincides with Australia’s renewed commitment of practical support for ongoing political and economic reforms in the country, including support for basic and higher education. During her visit, the NLD leader will meet with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Secretary Julie Bishop. She is also planning to meet members of the Myanmar community in Australia. 

Suu Kyi, also chairperson of the Parliament’s Rule of Law and Tranquillity Committee and the Yangon University Revitalisation Committee, recently returned from a five-country European tour. The tour, which ran from October 18 until November 2, covered Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the UK and Italy. The Australian government decided early last year to revise its sanctions on Myanmar and reduce the number of individuals to whom Australia’s financial sanctions and travel restrictions apply, lowering the number to 130 individuals from 392. On July 3 last year, Australia lifted autonomous travel and financial sanctions in relation to Myanmar, except for an arms embargo.

Suu Kyi will deliver a speech at a convocation ceremony, to be held at the Sydney Opera House, jointly organised by three universities. She will also discuss educational issues at Australian National University and Monash University, and attend the 25th World Aids Day ceremony, before returning home on December 2.

Upper House MP Thein Swe, personal assistant Tin Mar Aung and communications officer Moe Zaw Oo will accompany her on the trip.

 

Three weather stations to be built 

Myanmar will start building three weather radar stations in Kyaukphyu, Yangon and Mandalay, to be completed by 2017, with Japanese aid worth US$38.7 million (37.65 billion kyats), according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department (MHD).

The first radar station will be built in Kyaukphyu, Rakhine state, in December. The second and third will be built in Yangon and Mandalay, respectively. 

To build such stations, Myanmar has so far received more than ¥4 billion (38.9 billion kyats) – ¥3.84 billion for the first phase and ¥200 million for the second phase. 

The memorandum of understanding between the two countries was signed on October 25. 

“According to the MoU, we are now doing what our side has to do. The construction of Kyaukphyu station will start in December. Japanese technicians will be arriving in February,” said Chit Kyaw, a director of the MHD. Construction of the radar station in Yangon will begin when the Kyaukphyu station is half-completed.