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Y2K a hit in Myanmar fashion houses



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Thursday, December 30 5:55 PM SGT=20

Y2K a hit in Myanmar fashion houses
YANGON, Dec 30 (AFP) -=20
In most countries the initials Y2K spark fears of a millennial computer =
meltdown but in impoverished Myanmar, enterprising merchants have seized =
on them to launch an unlikely marketing boom.

Restaurants and shops have jumped on the turn of the century as a sales =
incentive in an economy which has all but ground to a halt.

"Sprouting all over Yangon are shops such as 'Y2K fashion house' =
offering bargain prices and special sales welcoming the new millennium," =
said a city resident.

"The Y2K bug may be worrying the rest of the world but in Myanmar it has =
become a sales gimmick for everything from fashion clothes to market =
festivals."

On New Year's Day, the "Y2K Modelling Agency" will parade at a special =
new millennium fashion show at a downtown Yangon hotel, accompanied by a =
band named, of course, Y2K.

Most people here seem unconcerned over the millennium computer bug as =
modern technology is a luxury only enjoyed by the upper reaches of the =
military-ruled society.

The government has prepared a Y2K contingency plan and has published =
instructions in the official press but few people have taken any notice.

Computers have not penetrated deep into Myanmar society -- many =
government offices and businesses operate on age-old principles of paper =
pushing administration.

E-mail and Internet access are closely monitored by a government keen to =
maintain its iron grip on the country. In recent weeks, reports have =
been circulating of a crackdown on unauthorised Internet service =
providers.

The economy here is said by Western experts to be in crisis, as it =
struggles under international sanctions and an investment drought.

The Y2K frenzy is all the more ironic because predominantly Buddhist =
Myanmar officially pays little heed to the Western calendar.

According to the calendar introduced by an ancient Burmese king, Myanmar =
is still only halfway through the second millennium -- in the year 1362.

The country also pays lipservice to a Buddhist lunar calendar and after =
decades when Burma, as Myanmar was then known, was a British colony, the =
Christian calendar.

Even though Myanmar will still be trudging through its second millennium =
while the rest of the world is on its third, some official celebrations =
have been planned here to mark the New Year.

Official events include a hot air balloon festival and religious =
ceremonies.

Young people are expected to use the occasion as a rare chance to let =
off steam and often crowd the streets of downtown Yangon and other =
cities at the turn of the year.

Military authorities usually turn a blind eye to such celebrations as =
long as they are not politically motivated.

A New Year's message from the military leadership is also expected, but =
there will be silence from the Yangon compound of democracy leader Aung =
San Suu Kyi.

Her New Year message has had to be smuggled out of the country and will =
be played as a video in Hong Kong and released to the international =
media.


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E><B>Thursday,=20
December 30</B> 5:55 PM SGT=20
<H2>Y2K a hit in Myanmar fashion houses</H2>YANGON, Dec 30 (AFP) -=20
<P>In most countries the initials Y2K spark fears of a millennial =
computer=20
meltdown but in impoverished Myanmar, enterprising merchants have seized =
on them=20
to launch an unlikely marketing boom.</P>
<P>Restaurants and shops have jumped on the turn of the century as a =
sales=20
incentive in an economy which has all but ground to a halt.</P>
<P>"Sprouting all over Yangon are shops such as 'Y2K fashion house' =
offering=20
bargain prices and special sales welcoming the new millennium," said a =
city=20
resident.</P>
<P>"The Y2K bug may be worrying the rest of the world but in Myanmar it =
has=20
become a sales gimmick for everything from fashion clothes to market=20
festivals."</P>
<P>On New Year's Day, the "Y2K Modelling Agency" will parade at a =
special new=20
millennium fashion show at a downtown Yangon hotel, accompanied by a =
band named,=20
of course, Y2K.</P>
<P>Most people here seem unconcerned over the millennium computer bug as =
modern=20
technology is a luxury only enjoyed by the upper reaches of the =
military-ruled=20
society.</P>
<P>The government has prepared a Y2K contingency plan and has published=20
instructions in the official press but few people have taken any =
notice.</P>
<P>Computers have not penetrated deep into Myanmar society -- many =
government=20
offices and businesses operate on age-old principles of paper pushing=20
administration.</P>
<P>E-mail and Internet access are closely monitored by a government keen =
to=20
maintain its iron grip on the country. In recent weeks, reports have =
been=20
circulating of a crackdown on unauthorised Internet service =
providers.</P>
<P>The economy here is said by Western experts to be in crisis, as it =
struggles=20
under international sanctions and an investment drought.</P>
<P>The Y2K frenzy is all the more ironic because predominantly Buddhist =
Myanmar=20
officially pays little heed to the Western calendar.</P>
<P>According to the calendar introduced by an ancient Burmese king, =
Myanmar is=20
still only halfway through the second millennium -- in the year =
1362.</P>
<P>The country also pays lipservice to a Buddhist lunar calendar and =
after=20
decades when Burma, as Myanmar was then known, was a British colony, the =

Christian calendar.</P>
<P>Even though Myanmar will still be trudging through its second =
millennium=20
while the rest of the world is on its third, some official celebrations =
have=20
been planned here to mark the New Year.</P>
<P>Official events include a hot air balloon festival and religious=20
ceremonies.</P>
<P>Young people are expected to use the occasion as a rare chance to let =
off=20
steam and often crowd the streets of downtown Yangon and other cities at =
the=20
turn of the year.</P>
<P>Military authorities usually turn a blind eye to such celebrations as =
long as=20
they are not politically motivated.</P>
<P>A New Year's message from the military leadership is also expected, =
but there=20
will be silence from the Yangon compound of democracy leader Aung San =
Suu=20
Kyi.</P>
<P>Her New Year message has had to be smuggled out of the country and =
will be=20
played as a video in Hong Kong and released to the international =
media.</P>
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