Week in Review: Myanmar
More flooding
Villages in northern Chin State have suffered from further flooding, along with villages near the Ayeyawady River.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Department was ordered to measure the water level in the Ayeyawady hourly, said Kyaw Lin, deputy chief of the Hinthada-based department.
However, aid has been pouring in. The Asian Development Bank signed a US$3 million (Bt108 million) grant agreement last week to finance relief efforts for communities affected by the recent flooding and landslides. France committed 400,000 more euros.
Myanma Post and Telecommunications ran an SMS donation campaign, which up to last week had mobilised 297 million kyat.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation warned the flooding may led to food shortages.
First Wyndham property
US-based Wyndham Hotel Group has agreed to manage a property owned by Asia Myanmar Shining Star Co.
The 260-room Wyndham Grand Yangon Royal Lake Hotel is part of the $157-million mixed-use Kantharyar Centre project, which will include a residential building, serviced apartments, an office tower and a retail centre. It is slated for completion by 2017.
Wyndham is upbeat on tourism prospects.
According to the Hotels and Tourism Ministry, in the first eight months of this year, about three million tourists entered Myanmar. Throughout the year, five million are expected, with combined spending of $2 billion.
Telenor launched in Dawei
Telenor Myanmar’s network was expanded to cover Dawei in Taninthayi region. Its service now spans 13 major areas including Mandalay, Yangon, Sagaing, Bago, Magway, Ayeyarwaddy, Kayin, Mon, Kachin, Shan, Kayah and Nay Pyi Taw.
Its network now extends to more than 2,700 sites, covering more than half of populated areas across Myanmar. The company is expected to roll out 3,500-4,000 towers by year-end.
It recently lowered its voice call rate from 25 kyat to 18 kyat per minute. It now has more than 10 million subscribers in the country.
Slow approval process
UK-based Aurasian Minerals has withdrawn its applications for three exploration permits in Myanmar.
The company has decided to cease looking for assets in Southeast Asia due to the slow approval process and its need to focus on opportunities with a nearer-term prospect of creating value, according to Alliance News.
It reported that Aurasian Minerals said in June that it was seeking mining assets in Myanmar and that it had lodged applications for three exploration permits totalling 1,900 square kilometres.
However, it is still undertaking exploration and mineral development activities in Laos.
Doctors’ petition
A petition signed by 3,296 doctors from Myanmar and abroad was |submitted to the president as well as ministries, seeking the withdrawal of the directive appointing military |officials to the Health Ministry.
This is the first batch of signatures,” said Alingar, a doctor who is part of the collective dubbed the “Black Ribbon Movement Myanmar”.
Trial of students stops
A trial of detained students was stopped in mid-air after a noisy row, as the judge refused to hear an appeal of their lawyer.
At the Thayawady Township Court, the lawyer sought permission to amend a name in a statement. The judge refused and a noisy row followed.
Phyo Phyo Aung, a student leader from the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, said this was not the first time the judge did so.
“In the previous sessions also, |he found fault with us and left the courtroom or went outside to talk |on the phone. Today, he totally stopped the trial in the middle of the session.
“We didn’t know whether the executive sector influences the judicial sector. But in the 2008 constitution, we can see the executive’s influence over the judiciary.”
Jaguar Land Rover warranty
Capital Automotive, the authorised dealer of Jaguar and Land Rover, has launched a three-year warranty to boost sales.
The free warranty is offered with an average value of $5,000. The prices of Land Rovers and Jaguars in Myanmar start at $95,000 and $145,000.
New media council
A new media council will be formed. A nine-member board was selected on August 31, chaired by Maw Than, former director of the Central Bank of Myanmar, to elect the |councillors.
There are due to be 29 members with most appointments coming from outside the media. They will include three presidential appointments and the two Parliament speakers.
There will be one representative from the Myanmar Journalists Association, Myanmar Journalist Union, Myanmar Journalist Network and Burma News International, two from the Myanmar Press Council and six from news media organisations. Two individuals will be elected. Six candidates have already been named.
To be represented, media groups must have at least 100 members and have been established for at least a year.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Myanmar, with around 60 members, was not included.
