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8-5-2016

Newspersons are messengers presenting authentic and

inclusive news reports within the framework of ethics
Shin Agga Samadi, one of the renowned literati of
Inwa period, composed Nemibonkhan poem, in which he
refers to the forces towards the progress, prosperity and
strength of a nation. In the poem Shin Agga Samadi stated
that the thriving crops fields and gardens should ripe or
bloom in harmony with the normal weather condition for
the progress and prosperity of a country; that their growth
should not follow the abnormal weather conditions; that
like the edible crops and flowers, the countrymen must
act with loyalty and truthfulness while staying away from
yielding to instigations and deceptions of others.
On the 3rd of this month, World Press Freedom Day
was observed at Chatrium Hotel in Yangon. In our country,
the Ministry of Information is observing the Day in cooperation with UNESCO since 2002, and this year is the fifth
occasion. The theme of this years World Press Freedom
Day is Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms:
This Is Your Right! In connection with the press freedom,
section 354 of the constitution of Myanmar stipulates the
rights every citizen shall exercise at liberty if not contrary
to the laws, enacted for Union security, prevalence of law
and order, community peace and tranquillity or public order
and morality; and the subsection (a) states to express and
publish freely their convictions and opinions.
I would describe the States endeavours for press freedom and the unprecedented relaxations first as I would like
to criticize the information distribution through the social
media, that is becoming vitally important in the Information Age despite those rights, from the positive point of
view. Writer Dr Thida Tin in her article Press freedom
and Myanmar media featured in the 3 May 2016 issue
of the Myanma Alinn daily, stated As we are now at the
politically delicate stage of transition we must carefully
take into account the national interests such as the national
stability and security and national reconsolidation in encouraging the press freedom in a racially, religiously and
culturally diverse country like Myanmar which has racial
clashes and armed conflicts.
At the same time, many newspapers and journals
covered the Tatmadaw True News Information Teams
statement about the MRTV-4s news coverage, on 4 May.
In covering the news about the displacement of locals due
to the fights between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army
(AA), the MRTV-4 used the heading: the government
army and the Arakan Army (AA). The news heading
could describe the MRTV-4s stance obviously as per the
Tatmadaw True News Information Teams statement. It
could spur the outpouring of comments among Facebook
users who always stand by the Tatmadaw. I could understand the feelings of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence

Services, all Tatamdaw men from Army, Navy and Air

and their families after reading the wording strongly
denounce described in the statement. Even the words
the government army and the Arakan Army (AA)
should not be used individually. The use of the word the
government army and the Arakan Army (AA) makes
the situation worse.
It is so crucial for the news media to follow media ethics in colleting, publishing and covering news. The use of
misleading news could lead to bad consequences such as
undesirable matters, misunderstandings and tarnishing the
dignity. Take a look at the use of word Tatmadaw, every
country has a single national army. Any armed group which
sets up a separate army against the countrys national army
cannot be called Tatmadaw. All countries in the world
have a national army.
In meeting with the Myanmar Press Council (Interim)
on 21 September, 2015, Commander-in-Chief of Defence
Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing emphasized
that
It is found that media mistakenly use military terms.
These terms should be used correctly for the dignity
of the country. For instance, it is the difference between army and Tatmadaw. We use the word the
Tatmadaw when we want to modify it. The term is
delicate. Sometimes we also use the term the army.
I assume that the term army is a bit strong.
Regarding the fact that every country has single armed
forces, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services made
his comments during an interview conducted by VOA in
November 2014.
Every country has its national defence services. We
also have it. Any country has single armed forces.
There is no country that has formed two or three
armed forces. The US does not have so. Our neighbouring India, China, Thailand and Bangladesh do
not have so either. According to the international
standards, our Tatmadaw is formed with all national
races.
He also talked about the issue of ethnic armed groups
during an interview conducted by Tomorrow News Agency
in February last year.
Looking at any country in the world, they have only
a national army. No matter how many ethnic armed
groups Myanmar has, they are not legitimate armed
organizations. We have only one legitimate armed
organization. The Tatmadaw is born of the people and
formed with those from various ethnic groups. It has
various ethnic groups. Everyone who used to serve
in the Tatmadaw and everyone who are close to the

North Korean leader hails nuclear

success in opening congress
Pyongyang May 7
North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un on Friday
hailed the countrys recent
nuclear test and launch of
a satellite into space, as he
opened the first congress of
the countrys ruling Workers Party in 36 years.
Wearing a dark westernstyle suit and grey tie, the
33-year-old was flanked
by his top military aide and
the titular head of state in a
massive hall packed with
military and party delegates,
according to footage on
North Korean state television aired late on Friday.
During the congress,
Kim is expected to further
consolidate his control over

a country that has grown

increasingly isolated over its
pursuit of nuclear weapons,
including its fourth nuclear
test in January, which led to
U.N. resolutions in March
tightening sanctions.
In this year of the seventh party congress, the
military and the people accomplished the great success in the first hydrogen
bomb test and the launch of
an earth observation satellite, Kwangmyongsong-4,
to brilliantly illuminate the
prowess of Juche Joson, he
said, referring to the Norths
home-grown founding ideology combining Marxism
and extreme nationalism.
Unprecedented results

have been accomplished.

Foreign analysts expect
the third-generation leader
of the Kim dynasty to formally adopt his Byongjin
policy of simultaneously
pursuing nuclear weapons
and economic development.
Kim is after catching
two rabbits, a nuclear arsenal
and economic development,
and hes likely going to declare the country is a nuclear
weapons state, so thats one
rabbit, said Yang Moo-jin
of the University of North
Korean Studies in Seoul. He
might also lay out a five-year
or seven-year blueprint for the
development of the peoples
economy, Yang said.
Reuters

Thein Aung Soe

(Myay Latt Thar)

Tatmadaw know about the standing of the Tatmadaw.

A federal army is impossible. A country must have a
single Tatmadaw.
The Tatmadaw itself has frequently expressed such
comments on TV and in newspapers. Similarly, those terms
were explained as a priority during workshops between the
Tatmadaw and the media. In the Commander-in-Chief of
Defence Services meeting with the Myanmar Media Council formed in January this year, chairman U Khin Maung
Lay (Pho Thaukkyar) said: We and the Senior General
used to say about that. We were conditioned to reach a
heated debate in which we must use the word Tatmadaw
instead of the army until we came to understand. His comments were later heard of from the Tatmadaw community.
This is why I feel compassion thinking how they did so
though it (the use of such terms) had been publicized.
What I want to further explain in this regard is that we
should consider the prevailing conditions of our country
with significant characteristics. As columnist Dr. Thidar
Tin has written, in the racially, religiously and culturally diversified country, which is still experiencing many
challenges such as the issue of ethnic armed groups, the
border situations in the northern, eastern, northeastern and
western parts can be dubbed the fuse of a time bomb.
We should notice that it can explode at any time. I would
say that MRTV-4, one of the well-known internal news
agencies, should not have done so, regardless of whether
it had the prior intention or not. But I feel rejoiced at its
apologies for the incorrect news broadcast. And it was the
correct attitude.
Shwe Hintharmin Poem composed by venerable Buddhist abbot Ashin Tejosara mentioned seven
significant characteristics of Baranasi City State with
His Majesty King, moats, canals, alliances, ordinary
soldiers, brave soldiers and foods. As the Tatmadaw
representing the ordinary soldiers and brave soldiers
is one of the characteristics of the country, the prestige
of Tatmadaw is like that of the country. Therefore, I
have felt that criticizing and discrediting the Tatmadaw
tarnishes the image of the country.
Being an insignificant writer, I would like to urge all
brothers and sisters of the fourth estate to fully apply the
rights of media in equal term while abiding by the media
ethics. I want to highlight with the nationalistic spirit that
the writing and broadcasting not in line with the media
ethics and other writing and broadcasting intentionally
created with the purpose of instigations and unoptimistic
view can tarnish not only the images of the persons and
organizations concerned but also the prestige of Myanmar
media, Myanmar citizens and the nation.

Philippines election: Final

rallies ahead of vote
Manila May 7
Final campaign rallies
are being held in the Philippines capital Manila ahead
of Mondays election.
The current presidential
frontrunner is outspoken

71-year-old mayor Rodrigo

Digong Duterte.
But current president
Benigno Aquino is leading
attempts to bring together
other candidates to defeat
him. On Monday voters will

Current President Benigno Aquino III can only

serve one presidential term.

select a new president for a

six-year term, as well as a
vice-president, 12 senators
and many local officials.
More than 54 million
people are registered to vote
across the archipelago of
7,000 islands.
Rodrigo Duterte, nicknamed The Punisher for
his tough crime-fighting
approach, has promised to
eliminate crime and corruption within months of
attaining office.
However, his brash
speaking style and contempt
for political correctness
has seen him compared to
US Republican frontrunner
Donald Trump.
BBC

8-5-2016

Page 13

MFF president holds talks with AFF

officials to host Suzuki Cup 2016

MFF President U Zaw Zaw meets AFF General Secretary Dato Azzuddin Ahmad.
Yangon May 7
President of Myanmar
Football Federation U Zaw
Zaw held a meeting with
General Secretary of ASEAN Football Federation
Dato Azzuddin Ahmad and
party at MFF Office in Yan-

gon on 6 May afternoon to

discuss successfully hosting
the ASEAN Championship
(Suzuki Cup), said a spokesperson of the MFF.
They also focused on
marketing issue in the cup,
sales of tickets, TV broad-

cast, fulfillment for stadium

and basic needs, services for
media, security and other
services.
Both sides attended a
workshop on AFF Suzuki
Cup 2016 with participation
of MFF officials.

MCDC clears heaps of garbage,

urges people not to spit betel quid
the use of heavy machinery
and labourers day and night
and distributing pamphlets
on notices for betel quid
spit to the local residents,
said a spokesperson of the
Mandalay Region Ministry
of Development Affairs.
The MCDC set aims
to keep the city clean and
beautiful and pleasure. So,
Garbage trucks from MCDC.
the Sanitation Department
Mandalay May 6
ment Committee is carrying speeds up its tasks during
Mandalay City Develop- out sanitation tasks with and after the Maha Thing-

Chinese Consul-General donates purified

drinking water to people of TadaU Tsp
TadaU May 7
On behalf of the Peoples Republic of China,
Mandalay-based Chinese
Consul-General Mr Wang
Yu donated bottles of purified drinking water worth
K1.5 million for 38 villages
which face shortages of

water in TadaU Township

through Mandalay Bramaso Social Association this
morning.
The consul-general explained the purpose of donating bottles of purified
drinking water to the villages of TadaU Township.

At the donation ceremony, As we are neighbouring

countries, China made donations to Myanmar which
faced natural disasters. Now,
we cooperated with Bramaso Social Association
to donate purified drinking
water to local people from

Myanmar will host the

Suzuki Cup for the first time
from 19 November to 17
December.
Myanmar National Football Team will participate in
the quadripartite tournament
of AYA Bank Cup 2016, a
tune-up match with Malaysia on 28 May, international
football matches and joint
training with football powerful countries as part of
efforts to prepare the Suzuki
Cup.
Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand,
Vietnam and Singapore will
take part in the Suzuki Cup,
and other teams will join the
qualifier round.
Now, the Myanmar National Football Team is under control of head coach
German Gerd Zeise. 336
yan Festival day and night.
Moreover, workers of the
department cleared debris
from the roads and residences on 25 April and 1
May when the strong winds
hit. They also cleared the
heap of garbage along the
Strand Road.
In accord with the guidance of the Mandalay Region government, Mandalay
Region All Bus Line Control
Committee (Downdown)
and officials distributed
pamphlets on systematic
spiting of betel quid to bus
workers and owners. 336
arid area of Myanmar where
local people urgently need
drinking water. Annually,
we will donate drinking
water to the water shortage
areas and sink tube-wells
for local residents. Moreover, we will participate
in development of Myanmars health and education
sectors, said the Chinese
consul-general.
183

Minister, livestock breeding entrepreneurs to

discuss export of quality livestock products
Yangon May 7
Myanmar Livestock
Breeding Entrepreneurs Association is planning to meet
the Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation to discuss ways to
overcome difficulties in the
countrys livestock sector so
that quality livestock products

can be exported, said sources

from the association.
The meeting is expected
to take place in the second
week of this month and the
Yangon Region chief minister
and officials from the Yangon
Region government will also
be invited to the meeting.
Officials from the asso-

ciation said their difficulties

include lack of technology
and investment, assistance
for the private businesses,
government assistance for
industrial technology and extension of livestock breeding.
As Myanmar is beginning to see foreign demand
in livestock products, the

association highlights the

need of government assistance in penetrating the
foreign market. However,
the production cost in the
country is higher than that
in other ASEAN countries
and it lacks technology and
competitiveness to have the
market share.
336

A REMINDER
Continued from 7-5-2016
You may pour the essence of flowers on
sandalwood,
the fragrance will still drift leeward, it will not
ascend the wind. If you wish to enjoy the three
clusters
of fruits, do not descend from the hill
of monkhood. If your thoughts turn to lay life,
you will suffer like the mystic, who, while
levitating
fell to the ground. Discard the virgin of thirteen
or fourteen, with hair that is black like beetles
wind,
curving eyelashes, inky black eyes,

wondrous half-smile
and budding breasts. Do not want her.

But shave your hair.
Give away your best suit of clothes to your
brother,
Destroy or sell the rest. If you are learned,
wise and good, you will clearly realise the Truth.
Kyigan Shingyi
(1757-1807)

Mandalay Region Govt

to implement beneficial
projects for people
Mandalay May 7
Only when 60 kinds of
crops and all cultivation in
village-tracts included in the
100-day project are beneficial to the local people, will
Mandalay Region government implement short- and
long-term plans, said Mandalay Region Minister for
Planning and Finance U
Myat Thu.
With regard to the 100day project, plans have been
drawn for each village-tract
how to grow and how to
choose the strains of crops,
the region government will
select the crops beneficial to
the farmers.
The majority of the
farmers have no farmlands.
They borrow loans from
the Agricultural Bank for
having adequate amount of

agricultural cost for farming

works.
Although farmers from
other countries are enough
for their livelihoods through
cultivation of mono-cropping pattern, those from
Myanmar can be enough for
their livelihoods by growing
double and triple cropping.
As such, priority will
be given to choosing the
suitable plans for the people by scrutinizing the all
proposals.
The region government
will rely on efforts of land
survey clerks so as to initiate
the projects. Moreover, the
government will hold direct
meetings with departments
concerned as there are a
large number of farmers
and sown acreage, said the
region minister.
172