Authority deports two American Journalists

Two American journalists, Karen ( Catherine) Coates and her husband Jerry Redfern have been deported from Myanmar. They were forced to leave from Myanmar at May 6.

Jerry and Karen were both conducting journalism trainings through the American Center in Yangon and at the Jefferson Center in Mandalay. It was all approved by the Scrutiny Board.

“Within hours of finishing the last of our classes on Wednesday, several Immigration cops showed up at our hotel and told us we must board a train that nigh. When we

arrived in Yangon, we were taken to the airport, then Immigration offices downtown, then back to the airport for several hours before an evening flight to Bangkok,’ Karen said in here press releases.

However, Myanmar Authority did not mention any reasons to deport those American Journalists. They deported two American journalists after they officially reveal the arrest of American swimmer who across the lake to Daw Aung San Su Kyi house

Government deported two American journalists

Myanmar military government deported two American journalists last Thursday from Mandalay after affects of American swimmer who swam across the lake to Daw Aung san Su kyi house.
Jeffery and Karen, who were training local journalist at Mandalay (second largest city of Burma)since one week ago, within hours finishing their last class immigration cops come and told them must leave form hotel tonight by train .
The source from Mandalay said they haven’t know the reason of why and guess because of affects of American swimmer across the lake to Daw Aung San Su kyi house .
After get off from the train where they waited several hours at yangon airport before getting on a plane to Bangkok, the source which close US embassy said they had been treated well .
Jerry and Karen were both conducting trainings (nonfiction photography and feature writing) through the American Center in Yangon and at the Jefferson Center in Mandalay. It was all approved by the Scrutiny Board .
While they were in Mandalay, the man invited two journalists to see a trade center where people buy and sell beans and pulses. Trade center perhaps had political significance in some way and that their plans to visit the place perhaps caused the deportation order.

Beans Traders complain as KB company 's dealying to refund their money

Beans traders have filed a complaint to Union of Myanmar Chambers of commerce about KB company's delaying to refund their money. KB company is one of those bean wholesale traders owed hundreds of millions of Kyats to the sellers and their sub-contractors who in turn bought these commodities from the producers who they owe Kyat five to 20 million. These persons lodged complaints to the concerned trading houses.

Bean traders have complained that even through KB company has got enough money to refund their money, the company not to pay money in time by giving the reason of current economic crisis.

The news sources from Bean society said that 27 beans traders have filed a complaint to UMFCCI about KB company by showing the documents which mentions that the investment of KB company's Chairman and director in Singapore and Indonesia.

U Win Aung , vice president of UMFFCI said that UMFCCI will take action on this issue and they will report this case to State Authority.

According to Ba Ying Naung whole sale market, KB company has got secret links with an India Beans wholesale business.. U Mg Mg , chairman of KB company now is in Singpore and try to continue bean trade as a new company's identification.

Myanmar Authority has founded a task force which includes U Win Myint, president of UMFCCI, U Win Aung and U Sai Ba Nyan to solve the current cheating cases in local beans market.

This task force asked beans traders who lost their money to wholesale dealers to claim their lost to ministry of commerce.The unexpected slump in prices in the global bean and pulses market, many future traders were in trouble with liquidity crunch and finally had to abscond from fraud and cheating charge.According to Commerce and Trade Department, 600 of Burmese beans traders lost 203 billion ( 150 millions US dollars )in Myanmar currency to those eight wholesale dealers.

Authority seized the properties of eight wholesale dealers which included houses , estate and beans. According to ministry of commerce it worths 56 billion in Myanmar kyats.

Interview with Daughter of late Prime Minister U NU

Interview with Daughter of late Prime Minister U NU


If Myanmar could hold its Democracy election in 2010, the elected representatives of people and military side will be meeting in senate for the first time in 22 years. It may be the first time people from both side will work together for its own country. On the other hand there are many difference opinions on government approved referendum and coming election. At the same time, Canada-based United Democratic Party of Myanmar (UDP) has announced their executive member list which includes Daw Mya than than Nu, Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Si Ba Swe, the children of late leaders. So we explore the ideas of Daw Mya Than Than Nu, who is a daughter of late prime minister U Nu as below.




QUESTION ….. We saw your name in the list of executive members of Canada-based United Democratic Party of Myanmar (UDP).What you would like to say about that? Do you have a plan to enter coming election as UDP member?


Daw Mya Than Than Nu………….It is a just their announcement. I don’t know what is their attitude on it? As far as I know, there is no connection between the exiled political parties and local activists. For me, I have no problem whoever they are. I can cooperate with everyone. Some happy when they heard UDP’s announcement. I really appreciate that their saying about to find a solution together on the issues of difficulties which Myanmar people are facing.


QUESTION …………..If so, will u take place in election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu… We are still watching the situation. So Far, there are no election committee and no election law. For me, I want to contest in election. I want to show I am the same with the people. I want to take part in election as individual or as a party candidate.


QUESTION ………. There are many difference opinions on coming election. How do we approach to current situation of Myanmar?


Daw Mya Than Than Nu…………..We have to work together. There are many people like me and some will also take place in election after their negotiation with government.
Anyhow, the best answer is working together. After the election, it won’t be a big deal whoever wins in election. The best answer is to take part in election.



QUESTION ……….Not only in you, we also heard the news about other late leader’s daughter
Will take race in election. What do you want to say about it?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu ……….. I don’t know their idea. They might have their own attitude.
If we need to work together, it will be good. We have known each other since our parent.Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Si Ba Swe are not strangers for me. But I still don’t know what their own attitude is.


QUESTION ………….Can you estimate how many parties will take part in election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu ………..It is difficult to say that. We can estimate the number of parties when election law comes out. We can say to enter election or not if only we see the election‘s rules. Now it is difficult to estimate it.


QUESTION ………….Where were you at the time of 1990 election? What do you think about it?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….I was in India. I voted for election through embassy.


QUESTION … Now there are third force groups which try to negotiate between Government and opposition groups in here. What do you think about their role in Myanmar political society?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….It will be great if they can do it. I don’t know exactly about NGO groups and cease fire groups who working on it. But it will be great if they can negotiate between government and oppositions. The biggest issue is conflicts between them. I welcome it if they can work together. I don’t know other people‘s idea. We should not have seen our own benefit. We should not have seen our party.
We should see about state and its people. The conflict is the biggest challenge for us.
We need negioation. Third forces group is good. Even we don’t have third force, we can cooperate each other. We are not the kids. We need to hand together.


QUESTION ………. Former military government seized the power at 1962 and imposed one party polices. But now current government is looking forward to democracy election. They also fixed time schedule. What do you want to say on it?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….It will be good if they can do it properly.
They need to allow the political parties to work freely. It won’t be good if the parties could not work properly.


QUESTION ……….. There will be activities of political parties before 2010 election. Could you tell me how much they can work?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu………… I want to tell you about my experience in India. In India, the role of election committee is amazing. The commissioner is powerful as a cabinet minister .He can decide freely. We need to have this kind of election committee in Myanmar.
The results of India elections are amazing. The results are mostly honest. I wish our election could be like India.

QUESTION ….. You lived in India for many years. Do you find any weakness of India which
is a biggest Democracy country in the world?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu. Yes, they have some weakness. But they are very strong in justice. If you find out any unfair cases in election pools, you can file to high court. They have many advantages in poll system. They use the good quality ink for voting. Each party has two weeks for election campaign. But it is enough because Parties are already founded.



QUESTION …….What do you think about recent detainees?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu………….. As I mention it before, oppositions need to launch their campaign freely in a certain condition. Government always says unity .If they are looking forward the real unity, they should think about it. In India, even detainees can participate in election.



QUESTION…….. There will be the first voting for people who below the age of 37. But they don’t have proper awareness for election. So, what do you think about the role of media in this election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu…………..Medias need to be balance and fairness. We Burmese people still don’t know the result of democracy. We should not have done the wrong thing which does not mean real democracy. We need to work in a certain condition. Authority needs to allow us to work in a certain condition. Medias need to work in certain boundary.

Myanmar decline economy strongly affects construction busine

Myanmar decline economy strongly affects Myanmar construction business including Junta closed partner company according to Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA) . ( Myanmar naing Ngan sauk hloke yae Hloke ngan Shin ah thin in Burmese)

Construction of residential housing was worst affected, particularly in Yangon a member of MCEA ( zay Ga bar Khin Shwe told me) said today. Famous FMI housing company in Yangon Hlaing thar ya township admitted recently that their sale down to 80 percent compare with previous year.

However, ministry of construction announced that the construction company could not continue their construction project, they will seize company properties. Mostly, construction companies are jointly running their business with government.
They use government soil to build housing estate.

Even if government announce like that, Yangon construction companies now stop their project because no one ahs money to continue it, a director from construction company said.

So, many grassroots labour who are working in Yangon construction will loss their job sooner or later, he added.

There are 30 construction companies who run their project in Yangon.

Myanmar makes major cabinet reshuffle

Yangon, Feb 4,
Myanmar military will make major cabinet reshuffle in this week said the Yangon diplomatic source said to Yangon today.
Source who doesn’t want to use his name said that will be announced to night ,allowing two ministers to retire, appointing new ministers and reassigning two ministers .
That news leak out between Yangon diplomats and spread widely between local business men.
Minster of construction general Saw Tun and minister of immigration and population general saw lwin are going to be retired and deputy minister of foreign affairs U kyaw thu will be reassigned as head of civil servant selection.
There will be allowed to retiring present head of civil servant selection Dr thaung nyunt , very next to them and also general tin htut minister of co-op .
For appointed new ministers post ,that can’t be guess for a while but
The changes might be preparation for coming 2010 election and making major restructuring of the country's administration diplomatic guessed.

UN, nothing to Burma

Yangon February 2
Instead, United nation special envoy Mr. Gambari has met detained pro democracy leader Daw Aung San Su Kyi government official have said ,it is nothing for the hope of Burmese people under military regime.
No details of the talks were released. Mr. Gambari's visit is part of a mission aimed at promoting dialogue between Burma's opposition and military rulers.
People in Yangon mocks to UN as United Nothing or United Nowhere. They thought UN envoy is just a follower for juntas.
“Some vendors interested only about his return because they couldn’t sell anything beside main road during his visit” said local business man.
Daw su declined to meet Mr. Gambari during his last visit six months ago due to a lack of progress in reform.
The UN envoy told diplomats that his objectives are to urge the release of political prisoners, discuss the country's ailing economy and revive a dialogue between Ms Suu Kyi and the junta.
Mr. Gambari's seventh trip to the country comes amid criticism that he has failed to achieve Ms Suu Kyi's release or any other discernible progress from his diplomacy.
NlD spoke men said after UN envoy six visits they didn’t see any concert result for political development or either dialogue.
The military is pushing ahead with a tightly-controlled election next year