10 new Olympic bus routes open for traffic in Beijing

BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Operations started on 10 Olympic bus routes on Sunday to carry the expected increase in passengers to Beijing's major sports venues.

Photo taken on July 20, 2008 shows a bus station on one of the 10 new Olympic bus routes at Olympic Park in Beijing, China. (Xinhua Photo)

The routes will make up for the relative shortage of public transport around Olympic venues, said Yao Zhenping, assistant to the general manager of the Beijing Public Transport Holdings Group.Another 24 special bus routes for the Olympics will be opened for traffic on Aug. 9, he said.

The 34 routes will operate until Sept. 20, with some running around the clock.

Yao said the newly-opened routes would help transport some 500,000 passenger daily.

"With the new routes, passenger trips to the Olympic venues are becoming much easier now," said Ren Jun, a volunteer driver for the Olympic Line 1.

Beijing's 350 existing routes are to run later, said Zhou Zhengyu, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications.
Photo taken on July 20, 2008 shows a traffic sign designed for one of ten newly opened Olympic Bus Lines in Beijing, China. The ten Olympic bus routes started to operate on Sunday to cope with the expected increase of passengers to Beijing's major sports venues. Another 24 special bus routes for the Olympics will be opened for traffic on Aug. 9. (Xinhua Photo)

The city's public transport system will be able to move 21.1 million passengers daily during the Olympics and Paralymics, according to Zhou.

Beijing has planned to add 3,000 buses to its roads in the month up to Aug. 8, when the Olympics kicks off, raising the daily handling capacity to 15 million passengers from 12.5 million.

The opening of several new metro lines and more than 60,000 cabs will also help to meet the increasing transport demand from spectators, athletes, reporters and travelers, he said.

Source:: Xinhua

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Asian Security mung Myen a lam jahta nga ma ai da

Asian security talks to tackle NKorea, Myanmar

North Korea and Myanmar will top the billing at Asia’s main security forum this week, but the inflation crisis and disaster response have emerged as critical new concerns.

The 27—member ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which includes nations from Asia as well as the European Union and the United States, meets here Thursday after talks by ministers from the 10—member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

With civil war in Sri Lanka, insurgencies in Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines, and a dangerous new standoff at an ancient temple on the Thai—Cambodian border, Asia’s list of security issues is long.

But the North Korean nuclear issue tops the agenda and the highlight of the conference will be a meeting of foreign ministers from the six nations negotiating a denuclearisation plan —— the first since 2003.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to meet her North Korean counterpart Pak Ui—chun for the first time at the informal talks tipped for Wednesday, which will also include South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the meeting was not aimed at generating "some specific negotiated outcome" but would "review where the six—party process is at the moment."

Myanmar, which has infuriated the international community by refusing to introduce democratic reforms or free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, is likely to face a fresh challenge.

Myanmar could face a demand from its neighbours to release all political prisoners, a proposal made by the bloc’s senior officials which their foreign ministers must decide whether to endorse.

If approved at the ministerial talks that start late Sunday and continue the following day, the measure would signal a toughening of ASEAN’s stance that would be welcomed by Western governments.

The move comes after the government earned widespread contempt by refusing to open its doors to foreign relief workers in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in May, a disaster that left 138,000 people dead or missing.

ASEAN won plaudits for winning approval to co—ordinate the international effort to bring help to two million people who the bloc’s secretary general, Surin Pitsuwan, has said remain in a "very precarious situation."

Working under an agreement with the United Nations and the Myanmar government, nearly 300 ASEAN volunteers operating in the hard—hit Irrawaddy Delta have prepared an assessment that is to be released on Monday.

Myanmar’s cyclone disaster, a recent earthquake in China and a ferry sinking in the Philippines have made disaster preparedness a burning issue this week, two years after the ARF vowed to develop guidelines for joint disaster relief.

Since then, precious little has been done but the 27 members are now expected to discuss a joint civilian—military disaster relief exercise, among other measures.

Amid warnings that spiralling prices of food and fuel in the largely impoverished region could threaten political stability, the ASEAN ministers will attempt to hammer out some solutions.

The problem, if left unchecked, could pose a challenge to the region’s long—term aim of evolving into a European Union—style community where goods and services are freely traded across the region by 2015, officials said.

Ministers will discuss "the growing challenge posed by rising oil and food prices, which pose a serious challenge to our people’s welfare as well as our countries’ continued economic development," according to a draft joint communique obtained by AFP. — AFP/vm

Source:: Channel New Asia

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Myen gaw Aung jan hpe dat ya na zawn zawn nga ai da lu

Myanmar says Suu Kyi may be freed soon

Myanmar's military junta has indicated to its Southeast Asian neighbors that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi could be freed from house arrest in about six months, Singapore's foreign minister said Sunday.

The hint came as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed "deep disappointment" at the decision by the junta in May to extend Suu Kyi's detention by another year. It was an unusually frank criticism of Myanmar by the region's main bloc, whose members usually stick to a policy of not interfering in each other's affairs.

The comment by Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win to ASEAN is the most optimistic assessment of Suu Kyi's future by the junta, and the closest to a definite timetable for her release, which has been demanded by the international community.

Nyan Win made the hint during a dinner hosted by Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo for the foreign ministers of the ten member countries of ASEAN.

Yeo said Nyan Win explained that under Myanmar law a political detainee can be held for a maximum of six years. "And he told us that the six-year limit will come up in about half a year's time," Yeo said.

Asked if this meant Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, could be released in six months, Yeo said: "That is not an inaccurate inference."

The military regime extended Suu Kyi's house arrest May 27 for the sixth straight year. She has now been detained for more than 12 of the last 18 years at her home in Myanmar, also known as Burma.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party has denounced the extension as illegal, saying its interpretation of the law is that she could be held only up to five years and not six.

After the dinner meeting, the ASEAN members issued a statement critical of Myanmar.

"The foreign ministers expressed their deep disappointment that ... Suu Kyi's detention has been extended by the Myanmar government," it said, adding that the ministers repeated a call by their governments for her to be released.

The ministers urged the junta to engage in a "meaningful dialogue with all political groups and work toward a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future."

ASEAN also urged the junta to give U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari access to senior leaders and to allow meetings with "the widest possible range of contacts including Suu Kyi."

ASEAN has never made so many demands on Myanmar, and its willingness to do so now is a reflection of its frustration.

Source:: Associated Press

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Political Prisoner Dies in Mandalay Prison

AAPP has learned that political prisoner Khin Maung Tint (aka) Htate Tin Maung Maung Yar Pyae (aka) Yar Pyae, aged 46, died in Mandalay prison on July 18 2008. He was suffering from tuberculosis.

Ko Khin Maung Tint became the second political prisoner to die in prison in 2008, and the 137th political prisoner to die in prison since 1988.

We, the members of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), offer our condolences to the family of Ko Khin Maung Tint (aka) Ko Yar Pyae.

Brief Biography of Ko Khin Maung Tint:

Ko Khin Maung Tint (aka) Ko Yar Pyae started participating in pro-democracy activities at the time of the popular uprising in 1988. He continued his work after the military coup in 1988 by contacting the All Burma Student Democratic Front (North) (ABSDF-North), and collecting and sending information about political activities.

In around 1992, he joined the ABSDF (North). However, he was mistakenly accused by that group of being a government spy, and was detained and severely tortured. He eventually escaped from the ABSDF (North) and returned to Mandalay.

Ko Khin Maung Tint later resumed his political activities and tirelessly worked for human rights and democracy. He was arrested by military intelligence in 1998 and imprisoned for 20 years under Article 124 of the Penal Code (Sedition).

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Contact: Tate Naing (66) 81 287 8751
Bo Kyi (66) 81 324 8935

Source:: Arzarni Blog

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George Yeo says Myanmar to ratify ASEAN Charter

SINGAPORE — Myanmar will accede next week to the ASEAN Charter, which commits Southeast Asian nations to notions of democracy and human rights, Singapore’s foreign minister said on Friday.

Myanmar’s accession during an annual meeting of regional foreign ministers that begins in Singapore on Sunday will mean that just three of ASEAN’s 10 members still need to ratify the deal.

"That leaves Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines," George Yeo said in an interview with Dow Jones Newswires. Singapore holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but will hand over to Thailand this week.

ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan said recently he was hopeful the group would celebrate the charter’s full ratification at its summit in Bangkok later this year.

The charter commits ASEAN members "to strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms."

It was the result of a long and controversial drafting process that saw some of the strong recommendations from ASEAN elder statesmen watered down or dropped, including provisions on sanctions and expulsion.

The bloc has been widely criticised for its policy of "constructive engagement" regarding Myanmar, which is under EU and US sanctions over its human rights record.

Myanmar was also criticised internationally for its delay in allowing foreign aid into the country after a May 2 cyclone that left 138,000 people dead or missing.

It subsequently allowed aid workers to enter under an arrangement with ASEAN and the United Nations.

Surin said up to two million people remain in a "very precarious situation" but ASEAN remains confident there would be no "second wave of disaster — meaning diseases, hunger and loss of life because of lack of care and support from the international community".

Myanmar’s foreign minister is expected to brief his peers about recent political developments in his country as well as the continuing post—cyclone efforts, a Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP.

"There is an expected statement on Myanmar in the joint communique. They (the Myanmar side) will talk about political developments," the official said.

Just seven days after the cyclone, Myanmar insisted on holding a referendum on a military—backed constitution. It said that despite the devastation, 98 per cent of voters turned out for the ballot and more than 92 per cent endorsed their constitution.

The opposition party of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, held under house arrest for most of the past 18 years, dismissed the referendum outcome as a "sham".

Channel News Asia

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Beijing opens 3 new subway lines ahead of Olympics

BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- After finishing Olympic venue construction projects either on time or ahead of schedule, Beijing honored its commitment of ensuring smooth traffic by opening three new metro lines on Saturday.
Photo taken on July 19 shows the transfer station of Line 10 and the Olympic Branch Line. Beijing opened three new subway lines on Saturday morning to ease traffic during the Olympic Games. (Xinhua Photo)

An opening ceremony was held at Beitucheng Station, the transfer station of Line 10 and the Olympic Branch Line, on Saturday morning. Journalists and a limited number of residents with intra-day tickets witnessed the scene. The other line opened was the Airport Line.

"The opening of three new lines indicates that Beijing is ready to embrace the passenger surge during the Olympic Games," said Liu Xiaoming, head of Beijing's traffic commission.

The three lines began carrying passengers from 2 p.m.

The new links, built at a total cost of 22.3 billion yuan (3.2 billion U.S. dollars), increased the number of metro lines in the Chinese capital to eight and the total length of track to 200 kilometers from the current 142 km.

NEW STATIONS AND TRAINS

The entrance of Beitucheng Station is in the shape of a Chinese porcelain vase. Walking through the vase and stepping down to the platform, visitors saw two rows of porcelain pillars standing on both sides.

Turkish journalist Osman Erol said he was attracted by the theme of Chinese porcelain in the station's decoration.

At Olympic Forest Park Station on the Olympic Branch Line, people marveled at the steel grid ceiling over the platform, which resembled the structure of the Bird's Nest on the ground right above the station.

Different elements, mostly from Chinese traditional culture, were absorbed by architects to decorate the 30 stations along the new lines.

Running on the lines were new trains made from high-strength stainless steel and with four automatic doors on every carriages. There is an emergency door in every carriage.

Outside every station on the Olympic Branch Line, there are blue bulletin boards showing the location of nearby bus stations and all major bus routes.

FASTER AND SAFER SERVICES

Zhou Zhengyu, Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications deputy head, said trains would be running at an average interval of 3.5 minutes on Line 10.

The average interval on the Airport Line, which links the downtown areas with Terminal 3, a new terminal building at the Beijing Capital International Airport in the northeastern suburbs, will be 15 minutes. The 28-km trip would take about 20 minutes, he added.

Beijing traffic authorities were working on a metro line operation schedule for passengers shuttling between different Olympic venues, according to Zhou.

Beginning on Sunday, vehicles with even and odd number plates will have to run on alternate days on Beijing's roads, and an additional 4 million people are expected to resort to the public transport system.

The trains used for the new lines can carry 1,424 passengers each, or 344 more than those on other lines, said Zhou.

A public hearing early this month by the National Development and Reform Commission decided a reasonable fare for a subway ride to the airport should be around 25 yuan (3.6 U.S. dollars).

Beijing subway operators have estimated a daily maximum of 30,000 passenger trips on the Airport Line during the Aug. 8-24 Olympic Games, according to Liu Jian, deputy head of Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp. Ltd.

Metro builders have set aside room in the Dongzhimen Railway Station, the downtown end of the Airport Line, where in the future, passengers will be able to check in for their flights and have their luggage delivered.

But no timetable is immediately available as to when the check-in counters will be set up at the downtown metro station.

The Olympic Branch Line, running 4.5 kilometers, will carry spectators to the main Games' venues in northern Beijing, and Line No. 10 will run 25 km northwest to southeast in the shape of a right angle.

But before and during the Games, the Olympic Branch Line will open exclusively to participants to the Games, including athletes, coaches, journalists and others, and spectators holding tickets for the day, said Zhou."The passengers all need to receive security checks on the ground before they take the Olympic metro to the Games' facilities," he said.

SUPPORTIVE SCHEMES

Besides the new metro lines, 34 Olympic bus routes will help carry passengers to all the venues, said the city traffic commission head.

Meanwhile, local authorities have marked out special lanes for Olympic vehicles on the second, fourth and fifth ring roads to ensure smooth traffic, he added.

He said about 2,000 new buses would be put into use during the Games, which would increase the city's bus transport capacity to about 15 million people per day.

Some 66,000 taxies, being maintained properly and ordered to avoid running without passengers, would be able to carry up to 2.45 million people every day.

In addition, there would be an one-hour ferry bus service around each of the 23 venues after the conventional routes stoppedoperating at night.

"With all the measures and people's support, we are confident of ensuring smooth traffic during the Games." he said.

Xinhua

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Burma's Suu Kyi remembers father's death from house arrest

Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has remained under house arrest as others gathered to pay tribute to her late father on Martyrs' day.

Ms Suu Kyi was not invited to attend the annual ceremony by the ruling military, and invitations to foreign embassies were also cancelled, without reason.

Martyrs' day commemorates the assassination of General Aung San and eight other leaders 1947 during fight for independence from the British.

Source:: ABC Radio Australia

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Drug case sends bank scare

The controversial double standard applied by Senior General Than Shwe over the Maung Weik-Aung Zaw Ye Myint drug scandal has caused tension among the junta’s top generals which in turn has prompted panic-stricken customers to withdraw their bank deposits, Chai Sayam reports from the border.

The bank in question is the Kambawza Bank owned by Aung Ko Win, better known as Saya Kyaung, one of the two godsons of Deputy Senior Maung Aye, the junta’s #2 man, who has reportedly been in bitter dispute with Than Shwe, when the latter had taken swift and decisive action against business tycoon Maung Weik in connection with drugs but letting off Aung Zaw Ye Myint, Maung Weik’s colleague, a son of Lt-Gen Ye Myint, easily by sending him off to a drug treatment center.

“People are in panic,” said a trader in Rangoon. “They are afraid the next guy to be axed may be Maung Aye. If he falls, so will all his business interests.”

According to Mizzima News, upon learning his favorite grandson Nay Shwe Thwe Aung was addicted to Ecstasy, known in Thailand as Ya E and headshaker, the senior general flew into a rage and ordered the crackdown. The first suspect to be taken into custody was Aung Zaw Ye Myint, on 29 May. Two days later, Maung Weik, 35, managing director of Maung Weik and Family Co.Ltd, was arrested. The trial of Maung Weik and 6 others, including a Malaysian national, began on 14 July. Meanwhile, Aung Zaw Ye Myint, whose involvement had cost his father his job as a powerful overseer of three regional commands, had returned from Wettikan, where his addiction was treated, to his Rangoon home, reported Mizzima.

“Everybody who has a gun is involved,” a Palaung leader was quoted as saying by Bangkok Post.

Sources:: Shan Land, Mizzima

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