Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Nearly 90, Burmese Painter Can’t Put Down the Brush

Posted: 27 Jul 2013 12:33 AM PDT

Artist Thet Nyunt, 87, sits in his studio at his home in suburban Rangoon. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy)

RANGOON — Sitting in a deck chair with a clipboard set on his lap, Thet Nyunt paints whatever comes to mind, in watercolor, acrylic, or oil pastel.

"I'm keen on painting landscapes," says the 87-year-old artist while adding the silhouette of a tree to the background of a countryside scene he is working on. Surrounding him on various canvases, his bright and colorful strokes capture the tranquil beauty of Burma, a country steeped in Buddhist culture.

"I can't help but paint," he says with laugh. "If not, I would have withdrawal symptoms."

Contrary to many people in their advanced age, the Burmese artist is still rigorously pursuing his lifelong profession. Every day, he spends most of his time in his forecourt studio, making final touches to the previous day's undertaking or etching sketches for his next painting—and in the process, establishing himself as one of the country's oldest and most prolific artists.

"I've never met anyone who could churn out paintings like him, especially in their old ages," said fellow artist Kyaw Nyunt, who has known Thet Nyunt for more than 50 years. "His works are commercially successful as well."

The relatively young 71-year-old artist was not exaggerating. Thet Nyunt's house in suburban Rangoon could easily be mistaken for an art gallery, with two-thirds of his 20-foot-by-60-foot home dedicated to showcasing the man's art.

Kyaw Nyunt explained that Thet Nyunt is one of a few contemporary painters still alive and kicking who are inspired by Burmese masters like Ba Nyan and Ngwe Gaing, who both had great influence on art generations to follow by introducing Western techniques to Burmese artists under British colonial rule.

Hailing from Mon State in southern Burma, Thet Nyunt had compulsory drawing and painting lessons at school as a child. He later became an apprentice of Hla Maung Gyi, who himself drew influence from Ngwe Gaing.

In spite of his passion for painting, the form of artistic expression that Thet Nyunt took to in his youth was music. He used to play the violin and guitar at movie theaters, providing live background music for silent films in his hometown of Mudon.

"Music is my first love," he admitted. But his love affair with music came to an abrupt end in 1988, with his son Min Ko Naing and Burma's military junta to blame.

"It's very inappropriate to play music while your son is in jail," he explained, referring to his son's lengthy imprisonmentfor his active role in the 1988 popular uprising that nearly toppled the country's dictatorship. Min Ko Naing, the most prominent former student leader from Burma's 88 Generation Students group, has been arrested three times and spent 21 years behind bars in prisons across Burma since 1988.

Even though his son is now out of jail, Thet Nyunt has found that he can no longer play even the simplest of melodies on the instruments he loves, which now hang untouched on his living room wall.

"It has been 25 years now and I'm simply out of practice," he said.

In 1951, Thet Nyunt made painting his professional calling. Though landscapes were his preferred subject, he did portraits of diplomats and their families for several foreign embassies in Rangoon.

He has had four solo shows so far, with the latest one in Mandalay last month.

"I'm satisfied with the fact that I can support my family with what I earn and we have a decent living," he said.

These days, Thet Nyunt divides his daily routine between painting and meditation, the latter of which he has practiced for 37 years. For nearly four decades, he said it has helped him suffer less through the ups and downs of life, especially when it comes to his son. Thanks to meditation, Thet Nyunt said he jfeels no hatred toward the people responsible for his son's lengthy imprisonment.

"The meditation I've practiced for years makes me able to contemplate that everything is impermanent, suffering and non-self," the devout Buddhist explained. "It's a great relief for me to realize nothing will surely happen in the way that I want. It's the same for my son's case: I neither feel sad nor happy about him."

That is not to say he has no affection for his son.

"I worry about him whenever he takes trips," Thet Nyunt said while Min Ko Naing was on tour in Malaysia earlier this month. "I pray for his safety."

Thet Nyunt said he is glad to see many people's admiration for his son—a fan base that he admitted he would not mind himself.

"As an artist, I'm afraid of being disliked," he said.

Asked about the Burmese art scene today, the veteran painter said he is pleased with younger artists' efforts to strike a balance between innovation and an awareness of ongoing international art trends.

"They are smart," he said. "We [Thet Nyunt's generation] are becoming oldies who stick to their old styles."

Nay Myo Say, one of Burma's foremost contemporary painters and owner of nearly a dozen of Thet Nyunt's works, said he appreciates the old artist's paintings for their ability to depict the distinct features of Burmese culture and draw viewers' attention.

"His pictures are quite Burmese, especially when he paints countryside scenes," he added.

At the grand old age of 87—and to the envy of some people half of his age—Thet Nyunt still enjoys good health. He has no hypertension, no diabetes, no loss of vision. Asked by The Irrawaddy if there's any secret to his long life and vitality, he offered up a theory.

"Yes, I've never drunk [alcohol]," he said, "and partly because I used to do physical exercises seriously when I was young."

"He's amazingly healthy and still full of energy to paint," Nay Myo Say said. "I really want to be like him."

‘Why Don’t Men Need to Be Virgins?’

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 11:52 PM PDT

Ma Htar Htar is a 41-year-old activist in Rangoon who promotes education about sexual health through the Akhaya women's group. (Photo: SAMANTHA MICHAELS / THE IRRAWADDY)

Sexuality and reproductive health are somewhat taboo topics in Burma, but as the country continues to reform after nearly half a century of military rule, women's rights activist Ma Htar Htar wants to get the conversation started.

Ma Htar Htar is perhaps best known in Burma for her work with "Whistle for Help," a campaign launched last year in Rangoon to raise awareness about sexual harassment on the city's crowded buses. She and other volunteers attracted international media coverage by distributing whistles to female riders during the morning commute, with instructions to sound the alarm in the event of unwanted advances.

But the 41-year-old activist was raising awareness about women's issues long before the whistle campaign. In 2008, she and a group of friends started meeting once a month to study reproductive health—a topic that they knew little about. Hoping to spread the knowledge, Ma Htar Htar helped organize a network of women's groups to talk about gender roles, sexuality and reproductive health, as well as mother's groups that could discuss child development and gender equality for the next generation.

Since then the network, now known as Akhaya, has continued to grow, with seven women's groups operating today. In this interview, Ma Htar Htar tells The Irrawaddy why she wanted to spark a new conversation among Burmese women and how she's busting local myths about female sexuality.

Question: Why did you start Akhaya?

Answer: There was no plan to start an organization five years ago. In 2008, a group of 10 women—five married, five single—gathered together to learn about female sexuality, basic sexuality about our own bodies, from an Israeli sex therapist who was visiting here. That was the first time we heard about these basic things, and it really changed our way of thinking, our way of living, to feel that we had control over our own bodies. This is information that we, women in Myanmar, never get, and as a result there is a lot of gender inequality. Women are treated like second-class citizens because we think our menstrual blood is dirty, for example, so we feel unworthy to be touched by men or unworthy to go certain places. It's generational, it's historical, this sense that we are second-class citizens. So I started to learn about basic female sexuality and I felt so empowered to know about my own body.

The group continued to meet once every month to learn about sexuality. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded an organization that created a website with a free online mini-course about sexual health. I thought, why don't we spread the news to other women if they want to learn?

Q: When did you first become interested in learning about sexual health?

A: I used to work at Burnet Institute, an international NGO that works to prevent and treat HIV in Myanmar. I was in charge of prevention, and I was a sexuality trainer, but when people would ask about safer sex for HIV prevention, the conversation always stopped—we couldn't go past a certain point. Our knowledge of sexuality was really limited—as a trainer I had a narrow focus, only about male homosexuality, or men having sex with men, but there was a lack of basic information about sexuality for both men and women. So I found a solution.

Q: Can you tell me more about the 'Whistle for Help' campaign?

A: The campaign was four mornings in February 2012. We wanted to raise the issue of daily sexual harassment on the buses, which has become a normal part of life for many women and is generally not discussed. Word spread through media coverage—there was international media coverage as well. A lot of people supported us, but they wondered whether women would actually blow the whistles, because in our society women are shy and submissive. Even the bus drivers supported us—they said they would distribute whistles if we came back in the evening, when more sexual harassment happens because men ride the buses after drinking. We realized the campaign would not completely stop sexual harassment, but we wanted to say that we would no longer accept it.

Now we have recruited some staff to carry out the next campaign, a second whistle campaign. But this time we aren't leading the entire campaign—we're working with other women's groups, teaching them how to organize the campaign and giving them whistles to launch the campaign in different parts of Myanmar. In other places [outside Rangoon] there may not be buses, but sexual harassment also happens on the streets or on motorcycle taxis.

Q: What are some of the myths or misconceptions about sexuality and sexual health in Burma?

A: In Myanmar, women do not understand that our menstrual blood is clean. When we dry our clothes on a clothesline in the house, we can never hang our pants or longyis [a traditional type of clothing, often worn like a skirt] on the higher rope, or dry them with a man's clothes. Normally we dry our pants or longyis on the lower rope, or in the back of the house in areas that are not clean or lack proper ventilation. A boy or man cannot walk under this rope, even if there is no clothing on it, or they will lose their higher status.

There's an entire business that has sprung up around this myth: medicines to help women expel all their menstrual blood. It's called Kathy Pan, and it's very popular here in Myanmar, there are TV ads about it. The company is making so much money, they are doing good business. It's a traditional herbal medicine—and it's commonly used if women want to abort a pregnancy; they'll take extra pills. We don't have good research about it—we haven't tested for side effects. There are also products to clean the vagina, to wash away discharge and the smell. But this discharge is like a natural medicine—we don't realize and we wash it away whenever we use the toilet, so we are unprotected from bacteria. From this belief that the vagina is dirty, companies do good business.

Dirty doesn't mean physically dirty, but low. There's no written law, so when you ask women in Myanmar we will say we have equal status with men, but it's in the roots, it's unseen, really, this sense that we are second-class citizens.

Q: Are there other myths?

A: Another example is that during childbirth, we think the woman is so dirty that she is unworthy of touch for at least seven days. We put her in a special room while delivering the baby, and men—even the father—cannot enter this room. She needs to stay there for a week.

There is also a belief that if you are not a virgin, no man will marry you, and if you marry but are not a virgin, you will be an outcast. This is a double standard. Why don't men need to be virgins? We discuss things like this.

Also, women can go to pagodas, but they cannot go to certain areas in the pagoda compound. I saw a photo once of a concrete fence at a pagoda compound where people could sit. There was a big red sign that said women were prohibited from sitting there, but there was a dog sleeping there on the fence. So women are not even as worthy as a dog.

Q: Is it challenging to encourage women to discuss these issues?

A: Sometimes women do not want to come [to our group] because we discuss sexuality, and they worry what other people will think if they attend. They are also reluctant to talk at first—they just want to listen—because in outside society we never share stories about sexuality, so if they bring up examples it is obvious they are talking about their own experience. But that's why we started this women's group, to share and realize that we are not alone. Later they begin asking questions.

Most sessions have participatory exercises. In the first session on sexuality, we play an 'attitude game.' Everyone stands and I read a statement, and if you agree you go on one side, and this sparks a debate.

Q: What kind of statements do you read?

A: An example would be, 'You will allow your 4- or 5-year-old child to stand naked in front of his parents and his parents' friends.' Then, 'Will you allow your boy child to be naked?' 'What if your child is a girl?' Or we might ask about family planning, with a statement like, 'Taking contraceptive pills is mainly the woman's responsibility.' Or, 'Men have more sexual needs than women.' Most people say yes to this one. … This is our belief, that men think about sex more and cannot control their sexuality—they see, they want and they must do. Another statement is, 'Women ask for rape by the way they dress,' and again, many people say yes.

Q: Have you noticed a change in attitudes after these discussions?

A: That's difficult to monitor. But after sessions, we ask for comments or questions, and women say they feel empowered. They say, 'Now we know women have sexual needs.' Some say they never knew about this before, and they want to know more. Many say they feel free knowing that their menstrual blood is not dirty.

Q: What does Akhaya stand for?

Akhaya means essential, key, vital. Women here are seen as subordinate, but we believe that women take on a vital role in the family and are often forced to shoulder all the burden, so we have a key role to play and we are capable.

Business Roundup (July 27, 2013)

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 08:30 PM PDT

Burma Govt Acquires 51 Percent Ownership of Letpadaung Copper Mine

Majority ownership of the controversial Letpadaung copper mine in central Burma has been signed over the Naypyidaw government, according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The mine, which was the scene of violent clashes over expansion at the end of last year between security forces and local villagers, is now 51 percent owned by the Burmese government under a new agreement signed in Naypyidaw on Thursday, said Xinhua.

The other 49 percent will be jointly held by the Chinese mine operator, Wanbao Mining Ltd, and the Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd (UMEHL), an army-controlled business. Previously those two companies held a 100 percent ownership.

The Burmese people will now be the "majority beneficiaries," said Xinhua, which also reported that a portion of profits will annually go to local communities and an environmental cleanup.

"The [ownership] amendment legally sets that 2 percent of net profits goes toward corporate social responsibility with a focus on immediate communities," said Xinhua.

"The contract safeguards environmental stewardship with Wanbao paying US$2 million per annum throughout the commercial production period of the project into a dedicated account to ensure international standards of environmental protection."

The Chinese news agency said, "Wanbao views the milestone agreement as heralding a new dawn in the relationship between mining companies and their host countries."

Wanbao is a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned industrial conglomerate Norinco, which, among other things, produces weapons and ammunition.

Belgian Engineers Plan New Hydro-Dams Survey of Irrawaddy River

The Belgian engineering company SBE is to make a US$1 million feasibility study for small-scale hydro-dam projects at three locations on the Irrawaddy River.

The consulting firm, based in Antwerp, will partner with Burma's Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems under the Ministry of Transport, according to Eleven Myanmar news website.

The study, to last until October, will be in the vicinity of Yanapo, Chauk, Minhla and Aung La, according to the website, which quoted directorate officials.

The aim is to build water gates on the river linked to turbines which could generate up to 240 megawatts of electricity at each location.

A large and controversial hydro-dam project at Myitsone on the Irrawaddy River in Kachin State has been suspended by President Thein Sein on environmental grounds.

That project, to be built by Chinese firms, was intended to have a generating capacity of up to 6,000 megawatts.

China in Plan to Build Oil Refinery on Gulf of Martaban in Mon State

A Chinese construction company is discussing proposals for an oil refinery that would produce 5 million tons a year on the Mon State coast in the Gulf of Martaban, according to reports.

A study is under way for the refinery at Kalargote, between the Mon capital Moulmein and Yay, said Eleven Myanmar news website. It did not name the Chinese firm, which it said was working with the Myanmar Economic Corporation.

Kalargote is north of Dawei, where plans by Thailand to build a large port and oil transhipment terminal and refinery have been stalled for years due to lack of investment.

Burma has three small refineries that together produce less than half of the country's demand for diesel and petrol.

There have been several other foreign proposals for new refineries in Burma, including one from Thai state oil firm PTT, but none have moved from the drawing board.

Naypyidaw Forum to Lure 900 Businesses and Investment Advisers

Yet another large international investment forum is to be held in Naypyidaw, this time organized by the London-based business magazine Euromoney.

The forum, in September, will bring together more than 900 "international and local business leaders, policymakers, financiers and economists," said the magazine.

It will offer potential investors "an ideal platform to connect with the country's government and business leaders," it said in a promotional advertisement.

Speakers at the forum include representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the Japanese government aid agency Jetro, US Ambassador Derek Mitchell and Burma's President Thein Sein.

The September 10-11 event will also include banks, investment strategists and numerous local and foreign company representatives as the new capital continues to rival Rangoon as a venue for major promotional events.

Shortage of Commercial Lawyers Hinders Legal Firms Entering Burma

Burma is facing a shortage of well-trained local commercial lawyers as foreign legal firms seek to set up shop in Rangoon and Naypyidaw.

With more large foreign investment opportunities arriving in Burma, there are "tremendous opportunities for foreign [legal business] engagement which didn't exist until last year," said The Lawyer, a legal news website.

"Lawyers are following investors and businesses, their potential clients, into the country," said the International Business Times (IBT). "Although the market is still in the process of warming up, the most immediate opportunity lies in the oil and gas and the telecom industries."

"Firms looking to grow their Myanmar practices face a common constraint—the lack of local lawyers well-versed in advising on commercial and corporate transactions," said the IBT, quoting The Lawyer.

"Due to years of sanctions and military rule almost no local lawyers have been exposed to commercial transactions—most have chosen to focus on litigation and other retail types of work," said Zaid Ibrahim, a Malaysian law firm quoted by The Lawyer.
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