myanmar
times
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May 7 - 13, 2012
Myanmar’s first international weekly Volume 32, No. 625 1200 Kyats
By Soe Than Lynn in Nay Pyi Taw
DAW Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn in as a hluttawrepresentative last week, ending the third sessionof parliament and opening a new chapter in theNobel laureate’s near quarter-century strugglefor democracy.The 66-year-old stood to read the brief oath inunison with 33 other members of the NationalLeague for Democracy elected to the PyithuHluttaw on April 1.The oath hands Daw Aung San Suu Kyi publicoffice for the first time and marks a transformationin the fortunes of the opposition leader, who washeld under house arrest for much of the last 20years but is now central to the nation’s tentativetransition to democracy.She had initially baulked at taking the oath,specifically a sentence pledging to “safeguard” thearmy-created constitution.But the third sessions of the Pyithu Hluttawand Amyotha Hluttaw, which were due to end on April 30, were extended for another sitting daywhen the NLD announced it would take the oathbecause it was the “desire of the people” to see theparty in office.Speaking to reporters after last week’s ceremonyDaw Aung San Suu Kyi said: “I believe I can servethe interests of the people more than before.”The NLD is the main opposition force inparliament after securing 43 of the 44 seats itcontested in the by-elections. Thirty-eight of its41 representatives in the national legislatureswere present to take the oath last week; PyithuHluttaw representatives U Phyo Min Thein,U Phyo Zayar Thaw and Daw Sandar Minnwere unable to attend as they were visiting the Australian parliament.It is unclear what influence the party can wieldwith its minority of seats but independent analystRichard Horsey said the NLD had a “clear popularmandate” from the by-elections that would “give itan important voice” in the next session.“Up to now, representatives from the USDPand the military have generally been free tovote independently. By cultivating a consensus-based approach with a focus on what is in theinterests of the country, the NLD certainly hasthe potential to have a major influence on thedirection of lawmaking,” Mr Horsey said in anemail.Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mannlast week also encouraged representatives to worktogether when parliament resumes.“All of you are representatives of the peopleand your top duty is to work for the interests of the people and the nation … we should cooperateand unite according to the law and respect theconstitution,” he told MPs shortly after the oathceremony.“Before the next hluttaw session begins, MPsshould explain the activities of the hluttaw andkeep in touch with the people of your constituenciesand try and fulfil their needs and difficulties inline with the law.”He added that the third session had seen sevenbills approved and passed into law, while anothereight bills had not been resolved by the end of the session would be carried over to the fourthsession.
– With AFP
By Aung Kyi
A MONOPOLY on wholesalesales of mobile phone SIM cardsis being blamed for an increase inprices, as customers flock to takeadvantage of the government’sdecision to reduce GSM cards toK200,000.Retailers say the two licensedwholesale distributors, HtooGroup of Companies-owned E-liteTech and Yadanarpon Teleport,are refusing to sell any moreGSM SIM cards to most shops andthey have instead been forced tobuy them at inflated prices on asecondary market.However, a handful of retailerswith alleged close links to thedistributors appear to have gotlarge stocks of the in-demandSIM cards, even after E-lite and Yadanarpon refused to sell anymore to shops.MPT announced that GSMcards would be distributed in Yangon for K200,000 from April9, while WCDMA cards would beavailable for K250,000 from April23 through the two authorisedwholesalers. Previously SIM cardscost K500,000.E-lite Tech and YadanarponTeleport began distributing SIMcards on April 5 to mobile shops in Yangon with a 1 percent to 1.5pcsales commission. However, theyrefused to sell cards after April 10and gave no reason for stoppingsales, mobile shop owners said.“Before April 9, we could buySIM cards from MPT’s authoriseddealers with a sales commissionbut the number was limited andthey closed sales on April 10. Sothe price of GSM SIM cards roseto K250,000 before water festival,”said U Aung Myo Lwin, managingdirector of ABC Business Centerin Ahlone township.When the wholesalers resumedoperations after Thingyan on April23, they refused to sell SIM cardsto some private shops in Yangon.This has caused difficulties forretailers, which have struggledto meet demand from customers,particularly those seeking to payin instalments.“I got 600 GSM SIM cards fromE-lite Tech with a 1.5pc salescommission before April 9 andin one day sold 300 SIM cardsto customers with instalmentsand 300 cash down. But when Iwent back to the company to getmore, they said the sales had beenclosed,” U Aung Myo Lwin said.“About 3000 customersregistered to buy GSM SIMcards in instalments in the firstweek of March so I had to stopaccepting instalment sales …and now because I can’t get morestocks, I can’t even sell to all of those registered customers,” hesaid.
Monopolymars salesof ‘cheap’SIM cards
A new erafor NLDafter repstake oath
Rural Yangon suffers as ponds dry up
Residents of Thongwa township wait for deliveries of drinking water last week afterponds in the township dried up in April. Water shortages have affected thousandsthroughout rural Yangon Region, with some 15 villages in Thongwa severely affected.Full story page 10.
Pic: Kaung Htet
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May 7 - 13, 2012
BANGKOK – Formore than twodecades Daw AungSan Suu Kyi defied Myanmar’smilitary rulers with steely resolve,but analysts say she has nowembraced compromise, even if thatmeans putting principles aside.The Nobel laureate was swornin on May 2 as a member of parliament, a week after initiallyrefusing to take the oath of officeover the wording of the army-drafted constitution.She climbed down afterPresident U Thein Sein failedto offer concessions, indicatingcompromise may now be theorder of the day as Myanmarcreeps towards democracy in anastonishing reform process.But the delay meant that on April30 when UN chief Ban Ki-moonbecame the first foreign leaderto make a speech at the nation’snew parliament, Daw Aung SanSuu Kyi and her National Leaguefor Democracy colleagues wereconspicuously absent.“The NLD has given theimpression, once again, of havingmissed the train,” said RenaudEgreteau, a Myanmar expert at theUniversity of Hong Kong.Many of Daw Aung San SuuKyi’s supporters will welcome herhistoric debut in political officefollowing the NLD’s sweep of by-elections on April 1, held after anhistoric national vote in 2010.But Mr Egreteau says there areindications of a divide within theNLD between hardliners reluctantto work with the military, and amore pragmatic group that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is increasinglyinclined to join.“Maybe we will see Aung SanSuu Kyi finally free herself from thehardliners of her party,” he said.But division is likely to stirmore sharp internal debate. MrEgreteau said the NLD’s “uncle”figures are still deeply respected.“And in the Burmese culture, it isnot easy to question the authorityof the elders.”Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and herparty have consistently denouncedthe 2008 constitution, which grantsdeep powers to the military.But in her new role as an MP,Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will workwithin that same document, havinga say on a range of issues, such asforeign aid, development, healthand education reform. And with only about 10 percentof parliamentaryseats in the NLD’shands, she willhave to cede ground on some issuesin order to score wins in others,experts say.This atmosphere of give andtake is far from that which swirledaround her first political speechin 1988. Although celebrated in the Westfor her self-sacrifice and resolve,she was accused by the junta of “steadfastly refusing any attemptat persuasion”.But times have changed profoundlysince President U Thein Sein cameto power last year following the junta’s self-dissolution. And as all sides shuffle closer,conciliatory language may becomethe currency of the politicalbargaining that lies ahead.U Tha Sein, a member of theRakhine Nationalities DevelopmentParty, said his party was both freeand potentially willing to workwith the NLD.“If they want to work inaccordance with our program, wewill stand with them. Otherwise,we will not,” he said, adding hewas thrilled to see a new oppositionforce joining the parliament.Even the military appointees whomake up 25pc of the parliamentsometimes depart from the strictpartisan line, U Tha Sein said.“We found that members of themilitary voted in support of ourproposals sometimes, when votingis conducted by secret ballot,” hesaid. As for amending the constitution– an issue the NLD has proclaimedas a priority – experts predict itwill have to be pushed into thebackground in the interests of political calculation.“Some government officials havesaid privately that the constitutionwas not written in stone,” saidJim Della-Giacoma, Southeast Asia director of the InternationalCrisis Group.But by campaigning for changeslike a reduction in the military’spresence in parliament, the NLDcould “make soldiers the opponentsrather than allies of change”.The party has now to preparefor the next major step on theroad towards democracy – generalelections to be held in 2015.“There is important work to bedone to keep the momentum of reform going,” Mr Della-Giacomaadded. –
AFP
Backdown hints at greater pragmatism
By Zaw Win Than
UNITED Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon last week praised Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her decision totake the parliamentary oath, saying hewas sure she would “play a very activeand constructive role” in the fledglinginstitution.“I know that it must have been avery difficult decision. Politicianssometimes will continue to havedifferences on some issues, but a realleader demonstrates flexibility for thegreater cause of people and country.This is what she has done yesterday,and I really admire and respect herdecision. I am sure that she will playa very constructive and active role asa parliamentarian for the bettermentand well-being of this great country,”Mr Ban said at a joint press briefingwith Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on May1.He urged all of the country’s politicalleaders to “always work together orthe prosperity and long-term interestof their people”.“In the course of my meetingswith President U Thein Sein andDaw Aung San Suu Kyi and otherleaders of this government, I havealways emphasised the importance of flexibility and wisdom and compromisewhen they discussed all different ideasand options and policies, regardless of what party one represents,” he said.Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said thatthe National League for Democracyhad always believed in being flexible.“Not just as now that we are goingto be members of parliament, butwe have always believed and havebeen flexible throughout the years of our struggle because that is the onlyway in which we can achieve our goalwithout violence. So I do not thinkflexibility is going to be a new conceptfor us,” she said.The meeting was the pair’s first, asMr Ban had not been permitted bythe military government to see Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on his previoustwo visits when she was under housearrest. In response to his invitation tovisit the United Nations headquarters,the NLD leader said she would “makeevery effort to do so, but I can’t saywhen I shall be going”.Mr Ban said that the United Nationswould do its best to support the reformprocess in Myanmar and would “standby the people in every step and in anyway we can”.“President U Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have [come] far. Iam sure of that. I am convinced thatthey will continue to make progress,further still.“There is no turning back. We willhave to support their efforts for fullerparticipatory democracy, developmentand human rights. That is my pledgeas secretary-general of the UnitedNations – to work with her and to workwith President U Thein Sein and theMyanmar people for this purpose,”he said.He said reconciliation betweenall groups in Myanmar wouldbe an essential element in thedemocratisation process.“The United Nations will try to helpthis process of reconciliation in anyway we can through a peace buildingprocess,” he said.
Ban Ki-moon praises NLD decision on oath
A lady in the house
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and othermembers of the National Leaguefor Democracy prepare to takethe hluttaw representatives’ oathin the Pyithu Hluttaw on May 2.
Pic: Kaung Htet
Analysis
By Zaw Win Than
UNITED States Secretaryof State Hillary Clinton lastweek congratulated NationalLeague for Democracy leaderDaw Aung San Suu Kyi andother members of her partyon agreeing to take the oathto enter parliament.“I would like to send mycongratulations to thesepro-democracy leaders, othernewly elected membersof parliament, and thehundreds of thousands of voters for their courage andcommitment to achievinga more representative andresponsive government.President U Thein Sein andhis government have alsotaken important stridestoward democracy andnational reconciliation,” shesaid in a May 2 statement.“Only 18 months ago,Nobel laureate Aung SanSuu Kyi was under the housearrest. ... For the first time inthe country’s history, AungSan Suu Kyi and membersof her party will have a roleand voice in government,”she said.Ms Clinton said it wasan important time forMyanmar’s future. “A genuine transition towardmulti-party democracyleading to general electionin 2015 will help build amore prosperous society.I encourage all politicalparties, civil societyrepresentatives andethnic minority leaders towork together to addresschallenges and seize newopportunities for a moredemocratic, free, peaceful,and prosperous future,”she said.
Hillary Clinton welcomesNLD entry to parliament
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May 7 - 13, 2012
By Sann Oo
THE United Nations isready to work with thegovernment to permanentlyend conflicts with armedethnic groups, particularlythe Kachin Independence Army, Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon told journalistsin Nay Pyi Taw on April30.“United Nations has [the]experience to assist theMyanmar government inpromoting [reconciliation]with the Kachin. If necessarywe will try to providethe technical assistance,logistical assistance and if necessary, even the financialassistance,” Mr Ban said.“We welcome this ceasefirewith the Karen, the KNU.Then there is the issue of Kachin. But there is noreason why we cannot haveceasefire agreement withKachin. UN will do whatever[is] required in assistingMyanmar governmentefforts,” he said.The government hasheld seven rounds of talkswith the KIA and itspolitical wing, the KachinIndependence Organisation– most recently on March 8– but no agreement has beenreached. Fighting startedafter the breakdown of a17-year ceasefire in June2011 and since then at least50,000 people have beendisplaced.But Mr Ban said theUN needed to be grantedunlimited access to help alldisplaced people in conflictareas who are in need of humanitarian assistance.He said all displacedpeople in the country’sborder areas also neededto be given citizenshipto enable them to returnhome.“This is part of thehumanitarian interestand we have a UN [HighCommissioner for Refugees]representative, we have UN[Children’s Fund], we havehumanitarian coordinator,we have UN residentcoordinator and they are allaware of this issue. We willdo our best to provide thosehumanitarian assistances tointernally displaced peopleand citizenship shouldbe granted regardlessof ethnicity; that is veryimportant. GrantingMyanmar citizenship tothose people would be thebeginning of the addressingthose issues,” the secretary-general said.He said the UnitedNations would alsonormalise the operations of UN Development Program(UNDP), which currentlyhas a restricted mandate.“First of all we willdiscuss with the memberstates to try to normaliseour operation as soon aspossible. Right after ourvisit, we will discuss thismatter with the governingbody of UNDP,” he said.Mr Ban also addressed theissue of ethnic conflict in hisspeech to the PyidaungsuHluttaw on May 1, when hepraised the government andethnic groups for agreeingceasefires.“I commended the progressmade by the government andethic groups in achievingceasefire, and encourageboth sides to rapidlyreconcile all outstandingissues. Meanwhile, thesituation in Kachin Statesis inconsistent with thesuccessful conclusion of ceasefire agreementswith all the other majorgroups. The Kachin peopleshould no longer be deniedthe opportunity that aceasefire and a politicalagreement can bring forpeace and development.Let me acknowledge thehumanitarian access thatwe now have in KachinState. That access mustcontinue,” he said.
UN ready assist peace effort in Kachin: Ban
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President U Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw on April 30.
Pic: Kaung Htet
By Zaw Win Than andMay Sandy
UNITED Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said heleft Myanmar with “profoundhope and expectation” for thecountry’s future, following histhree-day visit last week.The visit included meetingswith President U Thein Sein,Daw Aung San Suu Kyi andPyithu Hluttaw SpeakerThura U Shwe Mann, andalso saw Mr Ban becomethe first foreigner to addressparliament in 50 years.While in Yangon he metbusiness leaders, launchedthe Myanmar arm of UNGlobal Compact and helddiscussions with leading civilsociety organisations.“I am concluding my thirdvisit to this country – but myfirst visit to the new Myanmar.I leave with profound hopeand expectation in the futureof this great country,” hesaid at a press conferencein Yangon on May 1.He urged the internationalcommunity to get behind thecountry’s leaders, who he saidhad a “shared determination”to move Myanmar forward.“From every front, at everylevel, I heard a genuinecommitment for democracy,political reform andreconciliation,” he said. “Theleaders of this country have ashared determination to writea new chapter for Myanmar.The international communityhas a shared responsibilityto help Myanmar and herpeople.“I know the reform effort isreal. We must make sure thatit makes a real differencein the lives of people acrossMyanmar. This is crucialnot only for Myanmar, butfor the ASEAN region andfor our world. There aremany challenges. Myanmar’sexperience in democracy islimited. Capacities need to bestrengthened, starting withbasics,” he said.“Resources are few.Myanmar receives aboutsix times less in per capitadevelopment assistancethan similar neighbouringcountries. And yet, Myanmarhas chosen the road to fullerdemocracy, greater dignity,and enhanced participation.It is taking significant stepsby opening up politically andeconomically – and advancingnational reconciliation. Atthe same time, this is stillan uncertain and fragileprocess. There will bemore obstacles and bumpsalong the road. We need toremain clear-sighted – anddo all we can to keep upthe momentum for lastingchange,” he said. A major focus of MrBan’s visit was the issueof national reconciliationand particularly the ongoingconflict in Kachin State,which has seen governmentand Kachin Independence Army troops engaged in fiercebut sporadic fighting sinceJune. At least 50,000 peopleare thought to have beendisplaced by the conflict.While the government hassigned ceasefires with about10 other groups, many of these remain fragile.He said the UN wouldexplore how best to providetechnical and logisticalsupport for the peace-building process. “We wantto help create immediatepeace dividends throughthe resettlement andrehabilitation of displacedpeople, returnees andmigrants,” the secretary-general said.“At the same time, thereis no reason why a ceasefirecannot be found in KachinState as it has in all otherregions. Until then, the UN’shumanitarian access mustcontinue unfettered.“This reconciliation processshould be Myanmar-owned,Myanmar-led,” he said.“We will help and we willprovide expertise, know-how... we will provide necessaryfinancial resources to helpaccelerate and facilitate thisprocess.“We will very closelycoordinate with Myanmar’sauthorities. This is what Ihave discussed with PresidentU Thein Sein and I had a verygood meeting with a groupof negotiators, membersof the ‘Peace Committee’yesterday.”Mr Ban said the UN’srole was changing Myanmarand it was in the processof normalising the UnitedNations DevelopmentProgram (UNDP) countryprogram, which he saidwould support efforts todefine and meet Myanmar’sdevelopment priorities.“I leave Myanmar satisfied,enthusiastic and determinedto help keep the momentumfor reform and reconciliationgoing strong. If sustained,this can put the governmentand people of Myanmar onthe path to a better futurefor all. They deserve ourfull support every step of the way.”
UN Sec-Genleaves with‘profoundhope andexpectation’
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