Junta approves FM station for Mandalay

By Solomon & Than Htike Oo
Mizzima News
March 20, 2008

Burma's ruling junta has granted a rare permission to operate a Mandalay-based radio program to Forever Group, a business consortium thought to be closely aligned with Burma's generals.

Forever Group, one of Burma's few multi-media companies and widely believed to have close connections with the junta's Information Minister Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan, will commence production on April 3, a staff from the company said.

The source added that Forever Group will head the business interest, which is a joint venture between the company and the Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC).

In Burma, with the junta keeping tight control over media operations, only a few companies, who maintain close relations with the ruling generals, enjoy the opportunity to operate.

Forever Group, which launched the television channel MRTV – 4 in 2005 in collaboration with Myanmar TV, is widely rumored to be owned by the son of the junta's Information Minister.

However the company source denied the rumor, saying, "Most of the company shares are owned by a private businessman named Win Maw."

Meanwhile, a Rangoon-based journalist said that Dr. Tin Tun Oo is also one of several other businessmen holding shares of Forever Group.

Dr. Tin Tun Oo additionally holds a stake in one of Burma's leading English weeklies, The Myanmar Times, which is run by Australian businessman Ross Dunkley, who in turn obtained his publishing license through former partner Sonny Swe.

Sonny Swe was stripped of his license when he was arrested in 2004 along with his father, then Burmese Prime Minister and Intelligence Chief Khin Nyunt.

While it is unclear what, if any, involvement Kyaw Hsan's son has with Forever Group, Rangoon-based journalists say it is likely that the Burmese Information Minister's son maintains a stake in the group.

"Forever and Kyaw Hsan maintain a very cozy relationship, so it is possible that the Minister might have a stake in the company," a Rangoon-based journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mizzima.

Mandalay City FM, which follows Yangon City FM as the country's second FM station, will begin airing a daily program on April 17 on the frequency 91.9MHz.

Forever Group, established in 1995, is involved in a number of government multi-media projects, including the building and maintaining of the MRTV-3 website.

Additionally, Forever Group offers computer training courses in both Rangoon and Mandalay.

The company source said the new FM station will mainly broadcast entertainment and music programs, with a range extending at least 50 miles beyond Mandalay city.