Asian nations jostle for power in EU-style bloc
by Martin Abbugao – Mon Oct 26, 3:50 am ET
BANGKOK (AFP) – Asia's moves toward an EU-style community covering half the world's population have sparked a backroom power play led by the United States, China and Japan, diplomats and analysts said Monday.
Leaders at a summit of 16 nations meeting in Thailand at the weekend heard the prime ministers of Australia and Japan set out competing visions for a regional bloc that would boost Asia's global clout.
But beneath the talk of unity and the "Asian Century" lie intense diplomatic manoeuvrings, with countries desperate to avoid being marginalised in a new regional framework that could still be years off.
"The waters may be calm on the surface, but the undercurrent is sometimes turbulent," a veteran Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP after the summit in the Thai beach resort of Hua Hin.
A central question is the role that the United States and China would play in any future grouping.
"Some countries want the United States to be part of a future regional framework as a counterbalance to China's influence," the diplomat said, asking not to be named.
Japanese premier Yukio Hatoyama, who pushed his plan at the summit for an East Asian community that could "lead the world", would not be drawn on the extent of proposed US involvement despite Tokyo's close ties to Washington.
But Australian leader Kevin Rudd's vision for an Asia-Pacific Community by 2020 explicitly includes Washington.
"Whether we like it or not, I think we could not avoid a US role because the US is a big country which has powers both in economic and security matters," said Chaiwat Khamchoo, an analyst at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
"Some countries in the region are suspicious of each other so they want the US to play a role."
After the distractions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has only recently re-engaged with the region, particularly in Southeast Asia where Washington's hard line on military-ruled Myanmar kept it at a distance.
With Japan kept busy by its economic woes, China has boosted its influence across the region in recent years, signing a free trade agreement with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
India has tried to play catch-up, belatedly signing its own trade pact with the bloc.
Russia has meanwhile applied to join the East Asia Summit, this weekend's meeting which groups ASEAN with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
But next month US President Barack Obama will hold the first ever summit with ASEAN leaders, as well as attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore.
Earlier this year US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the "US is back in Southeast Asia".
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in an interview with the Bangkok Post published Monday that any future Asia-wide community "must engage" with the United States.
"We should see to what extent we can integrate them (the United States) into the East Asian Community," he said.
And while the big players jockey for position, ASEAN itself is trying to stay in the driving seat of any new grouping.
This is based on the fact that it already hosts the main annual meetings with the region's major powers, especially the East Asia Summit.
But Asian leaders did appear to agree at this weekend's summit that they need some new framework to hold together their diverse and sometimes fractious region.
A closer community would help Asia capitalise on its relatively quick recovery from the global economic crisis and to cut its dependence on the West to drive growth, they said.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his closing remarks to the summit on Sunday that the "old growth model" in which Asia relies on consumption in the West "will no longer serve us as we move into the future."
by Martin Abbugao – Mon Oct 26, 3:50 am ET
BANGKOK (AFP) – Asia's moves toward an EU-style community covering half the world's population have sparked a backroom power play led by the United States, China and Japan, diplomats and analysts said Monday.
Leaders at a summit of 16 nations meeting in Thailand at the weekend heard the prime ministers of Australia and Japan set out competing visions for a regional bloc that would boost Asia's global clout.
But beneath the talk of unity and the "Asian Century" lie intense diplomatic manoeuvrings, with countries desperate to avoid being marginalised in a new regional framework that could still be years off.
"The waters may be calm on the surface, but the undercurrent is sometimes turbulent," a veteran Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP after the summit in the Thai beach resort of Hua Hin.
A central question is the role that the United States and China would play in any future grouping.
"Some countries want the United States to be part of a future regional framework as a counterbalance to China's influence," the diplomat said, asking not to be named.
Japanese premier Yukio Hatoyama, who pushed his plan at the summit for an East Asian community that could "lead the world", would not be drawn on the extent of proposed US involvement despite Tokyo's close ties to Washington.
But Australian leader Kevin Rudd's vision for an Asia-Pacific Community by 2020 explicitly includes Washington.
"Whether we like it or not, I think we could not avoid a US role because the US is a big country which has powers both in economic and security matters," said Chaiwat Khamchoo, an analyst at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
"Some countries in the region are suspicious of each other so they want the US to play a role."
After the distractions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has only recently re-engaged with the region, particularly in Southeast Asia where Washington's hard line on military-ruled Myanmar kept it at a distance.
With Japan kept busy by its economic woes, China has boosted its influence across the region in recent years, signing a free trade agreement with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
India has tried to play catch-up, belatedly signing its own trade pact with the bloc.
Russia has meanwhile applied to join the East Asia Summit, this weekend's meeting which groups ASEAN with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
But next month US President Barack Obama will hold the first ever summit with ASEAN leaders, as well as attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore.
Earlier this year US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the "US is back in Southeast Asia".
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in an interview with the Bangkok Post published Monday that any future Asia-wide community "must engage" with the United States.
"We should see to what extent we can integrate them (the United States) into the East Asian Community," he said.
And while the big players jockey for position, ASEAN itself is trying to stay in the driving seat of any new grouping.
This is based on the fact that it already hosts the main annual meetings with the region's major powers, especially the East Asia Summit.
But Asian leaders did appear to agree at this weekend's summit that they need some new framework to hold together their diverse and sometimes fractious region.
A closer community would help Asia capitalise on its relatively quick recovery from the global economic crisis and to cut its dependence on the West to drive growth, they said.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his closing remarks to the summit on Sunday that the "old growth model" in which Asia relies on consumption in the West "will no longer serve us as we move into the future."
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ASIA: Human rights body’s shaky beginnings
HUA HIN, 26 October 2009 (IRIN) - After only a few days Southeast Asia's inter-governmental human rights body is already being criticized over its terms of reference as well as its ability to have any impact on human rights in Myanmar.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched its Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on 23 October with the signing of the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration at the 15th ASEAN summit held in Hua Hin, Thailand, over the weekend.
Thailand’s Prime Minister and ASEAN chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva said it “showed the commitment of ASEAN member-states to realize the historic quest of the people of Southeast Asia for freedom”.
But critics say its mandate is limited and that its undertaking to “promote human rights within the regional context, bearing in mind national and regional particularities and mutual respect for different historical, cultural and religious backgrounds” does not go far enough, given that Myanmar continues to be cited by human rights watchdogs as one of the world's worst violators.
Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, said the country’s military government had yet to demonstrate a willingness to adhere to principles of democratic governance under the ASEAN charter.
And ASEAN’s long-held assertion that Myanmar’s political and human rights issues were internal affairs was no longer applicable, particularly since such problems had affected other countries in the region, he said.
Engaging with the military
According to Charm Tong of the Shan Women’s Action Network in Myanmar, the military has stepped up operations against ethnic groups in the east ahead of next year’s election, resulting in the displacement of thousands to neighbouring Thailand and China.
Western sanctions are in place, although the US has reversed its previous policy by saying it would talk to the junta.
ASEAN has typically stressed non-interference in the internal affairs of its member states, with a notable exception in August, when a statement issued by the Thai PM in his role as ASEAN chairman expressed "deep disappointment" with the sentencing of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional 18 months house arrest.
Additional challenges
Other critics cite the composition of the AICHR.
According to Debbie Stothard, speaking on behalf of the ASEAN People's Forum, a network of NGOs, eight of the 10 commissioners are government appointees, with only Indonesia and Thailand allowing human rights experts and lawyers to select their commissioners.
Of the 10 ASEAN member states, only Indonesia is regarded by US-based watchdog Freedom House as a fully-fledged democracy, with other states ranging from flawed partial democracies to states with little freedom of speech or assembly.
In his closing remarks at the summit, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan attributed the divergent attitudes towards NGOs among ASEAN member-states to “different rules and regulations, which led to a differing view on how to appoint the civil society representatives”.
Last year, ASEAN launched a charter that pledges to reform the bloc into a European Union-style entity by 2015.The human rights body was created as part of this initiative.
However, according to Bridget Welsh, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at Singapore Management University, the birth pangs of the AICHR do not bode well for ASEAN development in general.
“The handling of the ASEAN human rights body seriously undermines the credibility of the organization and simultaneously raises questions about the transformation of the regional architecture of the organization,” she told IRIN.
HUA HIN, 26 October 2009 (IRIN) - After only a few days Southeast Asia's inter-governmental human rights body is already being criticized over its terms of reference as well as its ability to have any impact on human rights in Myanmar.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched its Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on 23 October with the signing of the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration at the 15th ASEAN summit held in Hua Hin, Thailand, over the weekend.
Thailand’s Prime Minister and ASEAN chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva said it “showed the commitment of ASEAN member-states to realize the historic quest of the people of Southeast Asia for freedom”.
But critics say its mandate is limited and that its undertaking to “promote human rights within the regional context, bearing in mind national and regional particularities and mutual respect for different historical, cultural and religious backgrounds” does not go far enough, given that Myanmar continues to be cited by human rights watchdogs as one of the world's worst violators.
Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, said the country’s military government had yet to demonstrate a willingness to adhere to principles of democratic governance under the ASEAN charter.
And ASEAN’s long-held assertion that Myanmar’s political and human rights issues were internal affairs was no longer applicable, particularly since such problems had affected other countries in the region, he said.
Engaging with the military
According to Charm Tong of the Shan Women’s Action Network in Myanmar, the military has stepped up operations against ethnic groups in the east ahead of next year’s election, resulting in the displacement of thousands to neighbouring Thailand and China.
Western sanctions are in place, although the US has reversed its previous policy by saying it would talk to the junta.
ASEAN has typically stressed non-interference in the internal affairs of its member states, with a notable exception in August, when a statement issued by the Thai PM in his role as ASEAN chairman expressed "deep disappointment" with the sentencing of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional 18 months house arrest.
Additional challenges
Other critics cite the composition of the AICHR.
According to Debbie Stothard, speaking on behalf of the ASEAN People's Forum, a network of NGOs, eight of the 10 commissioners are government appointees, with only Indonesia and Thailand allowing human rights experts and lawyers to select their commissioners.
Of the 10 ASEAN member states, only Indonesia is regarded by US-based watchdog Freedom House as a fully-fledged democracy, with other states ranging from flawed partial democracies to states with little freedom of speech or assembly.
In his closing remarks at the summit, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan attributed the divergent attitudes towards NGOs among ASEAN member-states to “different rules and regulations, which led to a differing view on how to appoint the civil society representatives”.
Last year, ASEAN launched a charter that pledges to reform the bloc into a European Union-style entity by 2015.The human rights body was created as part of this initiative.
However, according to Bridget Welsh, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at Singapore Management University, the birth pangs of the AICHR do not bode well for ASEAN development in general.
“The handling of the ASEAN human rights body seriously undermines the credibility of the organization and simultaneously raises questions about the transformation of the regional architecture of the organization,” she told IRIN.
***********************************************************
10/26/2009 16:51
INDIA – MYANMAR
AsiaNews.it - Optimism about Aung San Suu Kyi is unjustified, no change in Myanmar, Burmese exile says
by Tint Swe
Military junta envisages “easing” the terms of the Nobel Prize laureate’s house arrest and the possibility of giving her a role in the process of national reconciliation. ASEAN, Chinese and Indian leaders react positively to the announcement, but the euphoria it generated will not help the country’s process of democratisation.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Burma’s military junta is considering easing the terms of the house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent 14 of the past 20 years in some form of detention. The signal of openness came from Prime Minister General Thein Sein during the ten-nation ASEAN summit in Thailand. He said the Nobel Prize laureate could “contribute to the process of national reconciliation.”
Here is an analysis by Tint Swe, member of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), which was set up by Myanmar exiles in the wake of the 1990 elections won by the National League for Democracy, but never recognised by the military.
After fleeing to India in 1990, and taking up residence in New Delhi on 21 December 1991, he became the NCGUB information minister responsible for South Asia and East Timor.
Signals of optimism are coming from all corners, but when it comes to Burma, there are four strategically important nations and blocs, namely China, ASEAN, India as well as America and the European Union, whose views must be taken into consideration. Hence, the news might seem good and full of hope. It is something like the days when Aung San Suu Kyi was first freed from house arrest in 1995. It is wise however to point out what happened in the 14 years that followed her release: generals remained on top, prisoners went to jail, Aung San Suu Kyi was kept in her home; in short, no changes.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed a new US policy of engagement with Burma and the sixteen leaders attending the fourth East Asia Summit in Thailand agreed to encourage the regime to ensure a fair general election in 2010. ASEAN leaders are fans of the military junta. They easily accept the excuses given by their Burmese counterpart.
However, when Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that Suu Kyi might be able to play an active role in society and possibly, in politics again, he was using a diplomatic expression that can be interpreted as meaning “no”.
Still, all participants were overwhelmed as Burma’s prime minister said that the ruling junta saw a role for Aung San Suu Kyi in the process of reconciliation leading up to elections in 2010.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke of an atmosphere of hope and said that next year's elections are a sign of reconciliation of the various segments of Myanmar society.
After meeting with his Burmese counterpart, China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao also expressed confidence and pledged more financial aid to Burma.
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee rightly said that political reforms and national reconciliation should be expedited and must involve all stakeholders.
However, Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) called for reforms to the constitution the junta unilaterally adopted in the middle of last year’s devastating cyclone Nargis. Even without changes to the constitution, the junta may still invite NLD at last minute. Only then would ASEAN leaders have anything good to say, as they did last Sunday in Thailand.
US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will be travel to India for consultation before the second round of talks with Myanmar’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) starts.
Meanwhile, India is taking credit for all good news regarding Burma. In a report, it claims that former Indian foreign secretaries were able to convince the US to accept engagement with Myanmar. The report also said that India passed high-level messages from the junta to the US.
Before Campbell announced this week that the US would work closely with India and China regarding Myanmar, the United States during the Bush administration had already tried to work with the United Nations and Burma’s two big neighbours.
Still, India knows very well that with regard to next year’s election, the military regime will not meet ASEAN’s expectations and the NLD’s legitimate demands. Instead, India is likely to urge the US to engage Burma independently of the elections.
In the end, Indian and ASEAN leaders will be satisfied with the junta’s words about softening the terms of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest. Maybe, she will be allowed to see her physician and lawyers a couple of times more.
For some, there might be euphoria, but it will not lead Burma anywhere.
INDIA – MYANMAR
AsiaNews.it - Optimism about Aung San Suu Kyi is unjustified, no change in Myanmar, Burmese exile says
by Tint Swe
Military junta envisages “easing” the terms of the Nobel Prize laureate’s house arrest and the possibility of giving her a role in the process of national reconciliation. ASEAN, Chinese and Indian leaders react positively to the announcement, but the euphoria it generated will not help the country’s process of democratisation.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Burma’s military junta is considering easing the terms of the house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent 14 of the past 20 years in some form of detention. The signal of openness came from Prime Minister General Thein Sein during the ten-nation ASEAN summit in Thailand. He said the Nobel Prize laureate could “contribute to the process of national reconciliation.”
Here is an analysis by Tint Swe, member of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), which was set up by Myanmar exiles in the wake of the 1990 elections won by the National League for Democracy, but never recognised by the military.
After fleeing to India in 1990, and taking up residence in New Delhi on 21 December 1991, he became the NCGUB information minister responsible for South Asia and East Timor.
Signals of optimism are coming from all corners, but when it comes to Burma, there are four strategically important nations and blocs, namely China, ASEAN, India as well as America and the European Union, whose views must be taken into consideration. Hence, the news might seem good and full of hope. It is something like the days when Aung San Suu Kyi was first freed from house arrest in 1995. It is wise however to point out what happened in the 14 years that followed her release: generals remained on top, prisoners went to jail, Aung San Suu Kyi was kept in her home; in short, no changes.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed a new US policy of engagement with Burma and the sixteen leaders attending the fourth East Asia Summit in Thailand agreed to encourage the regime to ensure a fair general election in 2010. ASEAN leaders are fans of the military junta. They easily accept the excuses given by their Burmese counterpart.
However, when Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that Suu Kyi might be able to play an active role in society and possibly, in politics again, he was using a diplomatic expression that can be interpreted as meaning “no”.
Still, all participants were overwhelmed as Burma’s prime minister said that the ruling junta saw a role for Aung San Suu Kyi in the process of reconciliation leading up to elections in 2010.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke of an atmosphere of hope and said that next year's elections are a sign of reconciliation of the various segments of Myanmar society.
After meeting with his Burmese counterpart, China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao also expressed confidence and pledged more financial aid to Burma.
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee rightly said that political reforms and national reconciliation should be expedited and must involve all stakeholders.
However, Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) called for reforms to the constitution the junta unilaterally adopted in the middle of last year’s devastating cyclone Nargis. Even without changes to the constitution, the junta may still invite NLD at last minute. Only then would ASEAN leaders have anything good to say, as they did last Sunday in Thailand.
US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will be travel to India for consultation before the second round of talks with Myanmar’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) starts.
Meanwhile, India is taking credit for all good news regarding Burma. In a report, it claims that former Indian foreign secretaries were able to convince the US to accept engagement with Myanmar. The report also said that India passed high-level messages from the junta to the US.
Before Campbell announced this week that the US would work closely with India and China regarding Myanmar, the United States during the Bush administration had already tried to work with the United Nations and Burma’s two big neighbours.
Still, India knows very well that with regard to next year’s election, the military regime will not meet ASEAN’s expectations and the NLD’s legitimate demands. Instead, India is likely to urge the US to engage Burma independently of the elections.
In the end, Indian and ASEAN leaders will be satisfied with the junta’s words about softening the terms of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest. Maybe, she will be allowed to see her physician and lawyers a couple of times more.
For some, there might be euphoria, but it will not lead Burma anywhere.
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EU to raise more fund aid for Myanmar
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-26 21:11:34
YANGON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will raise 35-million-euro (43.75 million U.S. dollars) fund aid for Myanmar for a five-year vocational training and food security plan project in cyclone-hit areas as well as other regions in the country, diplomatic sources said on Monday.
EU expects that the fund could be raised up to 100 million euros with the help of international donors, the sources said, adding that the fund will be provided through social organizations in Myanmar.
In 2008, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) provided an aid of 54.5 million U.S. dollars to Myanmar for running humanitarian programs in cyclone-hit areas in the country.
Of the total, 40.5 million dollars were used for humanitarian projects, while the remaining 14 million dollars for food programs.
The fund for 2008 was up 105 percent compared with that for 2007 which amounted to 26.5 million dollars.
EU have been providing Myanmar with humanitarian assistance since 1994.
Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis hit five divisions and states --Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and May 3 last year, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon suffered the heaviest casualties and the worst infrastructural damage.
The storm killed 84,537 people, leaving 53,836 others missing and 19,359 others injured, according to official death toll.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-26 21:11:34
YANGON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will raise 35-million-euro (43.75 million U.S. dollars) fund aid for Myanmar for a five-year vocational training and food security plan project in cyclone-hit areas as well as other regions in the country, diplomatic sources said on Monday.
EU expects that the fund could be raised up to 100 million euros with the help of international donors, the sources said, adding that the fund will be provided through social organizations in Myanmar.
In 2008, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) provided an aid of 54.5 million U.S. dollars to Myanmar for running humanitarian programs in cyclone-hit areas in the country.
Of the total, 40.5 million dollars were used for humanitarian projects, while the remaining 14 million dollars for food programs.
The fund for 2008 was up 105 percent compared with that for 2007 which amounted to 26.5 million dollars.
EU have been providing Myanmar with humanitarian assistance since 1994.
Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis hit five divisions and states --Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and May 3 last year, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon suffered the heaviest casualties and the worst infrastructural damage.
The storm killed 84,537 people, leaving 53,836 others missing and 19,359 others injured, according to official death toll.
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Myanmar puts off opening of biggest business organization office in China
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-26 13:15:25
YANGON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has put off the opening of the resident office of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) in China's Nanning, which was originally scheduled for this month on the occasion of the 6th China-ASEAN expo, sources with the UMFCCI said on Monday.
It still needs some time to complete the preparatory work including decoration of the office in Myanmar traditional style, the sources said.
There were 242 entrepreneurs of 83 companies taking part in the five-day China-ASEAN expo last week held in the capital of Southwest China' Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
These entrepreneurs were from such sectors as agriculture, fishery, industry, manufacturing, gems, traditional handicrafts, forestry and hotel and tourism.
Myanmar booth on display at the expo highlighted the Muse border town as a town of facilitating trade and cooperation in levying tariff.
Since joining the China-ASEAN trade fair in 2004, Myanmar booth featured the commercial hub of Mandalay in the second trade fair, tourism site of ancient city of Bagan in the third fair, port city of the former capital Yangon in 4th fair and cyber city of Yadanarpon in the 5th fair, the sources said, adding the country won the best booth, best design and best creativity awards in the 4th China-ASEAN trade fair in 2007.
In the last 5th China-ASEAN trade fair, Myanmar won the best booth award again.
China's Nanning and Myanmar's Yangon established friendship city relationship in July this year.
According to Chinese official statistics, China-Myanmar bilateral trade amounted to 2.626 billion dollars in 2008, up 26.4 percent. Of the total, China's export to Myanmar took 1.978 billion dollars.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-26 13:15:25
YANGON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has put off the opening of the resident office of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) in China's Nanning, which was originally scheduled for this month on the occasion of the 6th China-ASEAN expo, sources with the UMFCCI said on Monday.
It still needs some time to complete the preparatory work including decoration of the office in Myanmar traditional style, the sources said.
There were 242 entrepreneurs of 83 companies taking part in the five-day China-ASEAN expo last week held in the capital of Southwest China' Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
These entrepreneurs were from such sectors as agriculture, fishery, industry, manufacturing, gems, traditional handicrafts, forestry and hotel and tourism.
Myanmar booth on display at the expo highlighted the Muse border town as a town of facilitating trade and cooperation in levying tariff.
Since joining the China-ASEAN trade fair in 2004, Myanmar booth featured the commercial hub of Mandalay in the second trade fair, tourism site of ancient city of Bagan in the third fair, port city of the former capital Yangon in 4th fair and cyber city of Yadanarpon in the 5th fair, the sources said, adding the country won the best booth, best design and best creativity awards in the 4th China-ASEAN trade fair in 2007.
In the last 5th China-ASEAN trade fair, Myanmar won the best booth award again.
China's Nanning and Myanmar's Yangon established friendship city relationship in July this year.
According to Chinese official statistics, China-Myanmar bilateral trade amounted to 2.626 billion dollars in 2008, up 26.4 percent. Of the total, China's export to Myanmar took 1.978 billion dollars.
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Times of India - US 'softens' Myanmar stance, thanks to India
Indrani Bagchi, TNN 26 October 2009, 01:28am IST
NEW DELHI: In the past couple of years, India has taken a lot of international heat for its close engagement with Myanmar’s ruling junta when the US and EU were slamming on sanctions, essentially driving Myanmar into even greater isolation.
But the US policy was singularly unsuccessful, as many Indian officials said it was bound to be. It took US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to signal a change, when she announced the review saying the sanctions weren’t working. This week, when US assistant secretary of state Kurt Campbell stops by New Delhi on his way to Yangon, India aims to keep “engagement” on top of the agenda.
India, like China, had two mantras for the West — engage with Myanmar and take the sanctions pressure off. Most in the west thought this was India’s way of keeping up with the Joneses, in this case China, particularly as China made further inroads into Myanmar. In fact, one of the key issues India will discuss with the US will be to delink the fledgling engagement process from next year’s elections in Myanmar. That, India feels, would put almost unbearable pressure.
India looks upon the softening by US and Myanmar as significant, said sources. In a clear sign of reciprocity to the US signals, Myanmar’s prime minister Thein Sein reportedly indicated to his Asean colleagues on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit this weekend that the junta government might soften the terms of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest.
Earlier, the 15th Asean Summit issued a statement saying the Asean leaders discussed the Myanmar situation and underscored “that the general elections to be held in Myanmar in 2010 must be conducted in a fair, free, inclusive and transparent manner in order to be credible to the international community”.
Fresh from the failure of the isolation policy in both North Korea and Myanmar, the Obama administration, after an eight-month-long review, has decided to engage with Myanmar’s generals. On September 29, Campbell held his first meeting with Myanmar’s science minister U Thaung in New York.
Though it did not yield much, it certainly paved the way for the first official visit from Washington to Yangon in decades. The basic idea here is not to repeat the mistakes of North Korea, that could push isolationist regimes like Myanmar closer to countries like North Korea.
Campbell announced this week that the US would closely work with India and China regarding Myanmar.
In India, former foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon as well as his successor Nirupama Rao have used the foreign office consultations with the US to push for engagement with Myanmar and a sensitisation of the US to Myanmarese concerns. India is a reluctant mediator, but at Myanmar’s request, India has even passed on messages from the junta to the US at a reasonably high level. This was one of many signals that Myanmar sent to the US indicating it was ready to open up.
India sees an unprecedented desire for openness with the Myanmarese generals. This has been helped by an important development — a letter by jailed leader Suu Kyi to Than Shwe declaring she would work to reduce international sanctions on Myanmar. She also asked in the letter to meet representatives of the US, EU and Australia, which was allowed.
That started an internal thaw, which contributed to the new western approach. India, said sources, has conducted an equal number of confidential conversations with the Myanmarese as well.
Indrani Bagchi, TNN 26 October 2009, 01:28am IST
NEW DELHI: In the past couple of years, India has taken a lot of international heat for its close engagement with Myanmar’s ruling junta when the US and EU were slamming on sanctions, essentially driving Myanmar into even greater isolation.
But the US policy was singularly unsuccessful, as many Indian officials said it was bound to be. It took US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to signal a change, when she announced the review saying the sanctions weren’t working. This week, when US assistant secretary of state Kurt Campbell stops by New Delhi on his way to Yangon, India aims to keep “engagement” on top of the agenda.
India, like China, had two mantras for the West — engage with Myanmar and take the sanctions pressure off. Most in the west thought this was India’s way of keeping up with the Joneses, in this case China, particularly as China made further inroads into Myanmar. In fact, one of the key issues India will discuss with the US will be to delink the fledgling engagement process from next year’s elections in Myanmar. That, India feels, would put almost unbearable pressure.
India looks upon the softening by US and Myanmar as significant, said sources. In a clear sign of reciprocity to the US signals, Myanmar’s prime minister Thein Sein reportedly indicated to his Asean colleagues on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit this weekend that the junta government might soften the terms of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest.
Earlier, the 15th Asean Summit issued a statement saying the Asean leaders discussed the Myanmar situation and underscored “that the general elections to be held in Myanmar in 2010 must be conducted in a fair, free, inclusive and transparent manner in order to be credible to the international community”.
Fresh from the failure of the isolation policy in both North Korea and Myanmar, the Obama administration, after an eight-month-long review, has decided to engage with Myanmar’s generals. On September 29, Campbell held his first meeting with Myanmar’s science minister U Thaung in New York.
Though it did not yield much, it certainly paved the way for the first official visit from Washington to Yangon in decades. The basic idea here is not to repeat the mistakes of North Korea, that could push isolationist regimes like Myanmar closer to countries like North Korea.
Campbell announced this week that the US would closely work with India and China regarding Myanmar.
In India, former foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon as well as his successor Nirupama Rao have used the foreign office consultations with the US to push for engagement with Myanmar and a sensitisation of the US to Myanmarese concerns. India is a reluctant mediator, but at Myanmar’s request, India has even passed on messages from the junta to the US at a reasonably high level. This was one of many signals that Myanmar sent to the US indicating it was ready to open up.
India sees an unprecedented desire for openness with the Myanmarese generals. This has been helped by an important development — a letter by jailed leader Suu Kyi to Than Shwe declaring she would work to reduce international sanctions on Myanmar. She also asked in the letter to meet representatives of the US, EU and Australia, which was allowed.
That started an internal thaw, which contributed to the new western approach. India, said sources, has conducted an equal number of confidential conversations with the Myanmarese as well.
***********************************************************
Karachi News.Net- Myanmar leader says Suu Kyi might play role
Monday 26th October, 2009
Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein has suggested to other Asian leaders that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi could enter into national reconciliation dialogue.
The Myanmar PM, speaking to colleagues at the Association of South East Asian Nations regional summit in Thailand, was reported as saying he was optimistic Ms Suu Kyi could contribute to a process of national reconciliation.
The Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, told reporters that Myanmar's PM was aware the rest of the world wanted to see inclusive elections in his country.
On Saturday, Japan's prime minister Yukio Hatoyama spoke of Aung San Suu Kyi, saying Thein Sein had told him her house arrest could soon be relaxed.
This month, the Myanmar generals allowed her to meet Western diplomats.
Aung San Suu Kyi recently had her house arrest extended by 18 months, almost ensuring her absence from elections planned by for next year.
Monday 26th October, 2009
Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein has suggested to other Asian leaders that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi could enter into national reconciliation dialogue.
The Myanmar PM, speaking to colleagues at the Association of South East Asian Nations regional summit in Thailand, was reported as saying he was optimistic Ms Suu Kyi could contribute to a process of national reconciliation.
The Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, told reporters that Myanmar's PM was aware the rest of the world wanted to see inclusive elections in his country.
On Saturday, Japan's prime minister Yukio Hatoyama spoke of Aung San Suu Kyi, saying Thein Sein had told him her house arrest could soon be relaxed.
This month, the Myanmar generals allowed her to meet Western diplomats.
Aung San Suu Kyi recently had her house arrest extended by 18 months, almost ensuring her absence from elections planned by for next year.
***********************************************************
The New Nation - Rebuilding confidence with Myanmar
Md. Masum Billah
Internet Edition. October 27, 2009,
Of recent several bitter incidents and apprehensions took place between the Bangladesh-Myanmar borders putting Bangladesh into diplomatic concern. The Myanmar army turned up in Mongu and Alitanjo to evict ethnic Muslim Rohingyas from their ancestral homeland. They forcibly acquired around 1000 acres of arable land and distributed it among the Buddhist citizens of Mongdu town. The authority has also told the Rohingyas to go to the hills or to take refuge in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has experienced a small but regular infiltration of Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar in recent months. They speak of terrors being unleashed on them by Myanmar troops as in 1988 with the aims of completely flushing the Arakn clean of Rohingya Muslims who have been living there for centuries and should be treated as full Myanmar citizen like the others.
Tensions have arisen particularly over Myanmar's planned construction of a 40 kilometer fence along the border, ostensibly to check cross-border smuggling. Recently in October 2008 a standoff between Myanmar and Bangladesh occurred when Myanmar not only permitted a South Korean ship to explore natural gas in the disputed vessel. Claims and counterclaims of the two neighbors in the Bay of Bengal continue to occur regularly. What Myanmar could not accomplish in the sea because of the relative weakness of its navy, it may seek to compensate on the rough through its army that outnumbers Bangladesh by nearly three to one. Reportedly, Myanmar is building a new naval cum military base at a place called Mutek facing the Bay of Bengal and very near Bangladesh. Heavy military arsenals have been also mobilized. The preparations are certainly not of a defensive type but smack of aggressive intensions. It could well be that Rangoon would set the stage for a direct clash on the land borders to avenge their humiliation on the sea. During the 1980s when Myanmar was the largest opium producer in the world, the basic goal behind Myanmar Bangladesh bilateral relationship was to cooperate in anti-drugs cooperation. But over the years, the relationship started facing a lot of complications with the emergence of issues like maritime border demarcation, Rohingya refugees and drug trafficking.
Diplomatic relations between any two countries are based on their national interests. And if such two countries in question happen to be neigbours , then the issues in question become more sensitive. But there is no reason that the existing problems should overshadow the further growth in the relation between the two countries. The building of 25-kilometre long road within Myanmar by Bangladesh, about which the Myanmar government has reportedly shown fresh interest, is certainly a development worth nothing. The prospect of further extension of the road through Myanmar territory up to the Chinese border, if materialized in the mutual interest of the three countries will contribute immensely towards taking the existing level of relation and cooperation among the three countries to a newer heights.
Bangladesh has a population that is more than three times the population of Myanmar. The contrast becomes sharper seeing that rich in natural resources with 16 percent cent of its land area under cultivation and 52 percent of its land covered with forest, let alone the mineral resources lying below the surface of the earth. Bangladesh enjoys certain advantages over Myanmar in terms of expertise in different fields with that she may draw on to a lower cost compared to other developed and developing countries. But the more important argument in favour of such cooperation at an enhanced level is that the two peoples have a long history of close cultural relation and exchange. The political will of the two governments would play here the key role in maintaining the pace of further growth of trade and commerce between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
As far as economic aspect of Myanmar-Bangladesh relationship is concerned , the signing of the border trade agreement of May 1994 legalizing the informal border trade between the two states, the inauguration of Teknaf-Maungdaw trade in September 1995, Bangladesh trade delegations' visit to Myanmar in 1998, Sr. Gen. Than Shawe's visit to Bangladesh in December 2002 and consequent agreement between the parties to cooperate in road and water transportation , can be pointed out as significant developments.
However, on strategic issues, a lot remains to be done. The very fact that Myanmar-Bangladesh border offers a safe haven to terrorist organizations in the region makes it necessary for both countries to cooperate in counter insurgency activities. The refugee problem in Myanmar is another significant aspect which needs to be addressed adequately by both Myanmar and Bangladesh. According to a recent estimate even today around 19200 remain in Bangladesh. Smuggling of arms and ammunitions is considered another area in which both countries need to cooperate. Despite lack of cooperation on certain strategic issues, both Myanmar and Bangladesh have been trying to improve bilateral ties through certain regional and sub-regional forums such as the Bay of Bengal initiatives for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation the ARF, the Bangladesh China India Myanmar Forum.
The Myanmar government's renewed interest in the tri-nation network has breathed new life into the prospect of a wider window of relations with its Southwest Asian neighbor. The earlier proposed idea of building a 25-kilometre road link between the two countries was a leap forward towards developing a stronger bond of relationship between the two neighbors.
But some past as well as recently arising developments like the disputes over maritime boundary between the two reighbours in the Bay of Bengal that led to a brief face- of over exploration of gas, the building of border fence by Myanmar along the common border between the two countries without consulting with Bangladesh, the fresh influx of Myanmar minority Muslims into Bangladesh due to their alleged persecution by the authorities there stand in the way of good neighbourly relationship. It is quite interesting to note that the case of Myanmar-Bangladesh relations, the demographic factor plays quite a different role. Over the years while flow of refugees from Bangladesh has been a source of trouble for its neighbors, in case of its relation with Myanmar, Bangladesh is the affected party. The burden of refugees seems to be particularly high in case of Bangladesh due to its poor economic condition and limited resource. In addition, there are constant assessments that some of the refugees may be associated with terror groups.
For India, both Bangladesh and Myanmar have their own special significance from geopolitical as well as strategic points of view. On the Indian side terrorism prone states like Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share border with Myanmar. The problem of insurgency and economic underdevelopment in this region cannot be addressed adequately without India's cooperation with Myanmar on these issues.
Indo- Myanmar relationship is also significant due to India's emphasis on Look East Policy. Growing Myanmar China relations may affect India's improving our relations with Myanmar.
Bangladesh needs to take extra caution and subtle diplomatic policy as some international political analysts say that Myanmar cannot be trusted with sensible pacific intensions. If it were otherwise, then it would not push into Bangladesh as many as 3000000 Muslims of Myanmar origin from it Arakan state in 1988 after inflicting tortures on them in a manner not much different from the ethnic cleansing of the Muslims in Bosnia by the Serbs. They attribute to the fact that Myanmar is no democracy or a pluralistic society where clamour for human rights, adherence to international norms and standards have any chance of a patient observance. It is one of the few Stalinist type bastions of totalitarian governance in the world today. Ruled by a bunch of xenophobic generals whose instincts are further faced by ugly racialism? Myanmar today is pariah state in the international sense. But the country has the largest military in south east Asia and the fanaticism of its leaders to be guided by no reason in dealing with outsiders. And these dealing make it dangerous for any neigbouring country to be tangled in bitter confrontation with it.
But the highest stress on Bangladesh's part to counter Myanmar's aggressiveness should be put on diplomacy. China has the greatest influence on Myanmar at present.
China also is a friend of Bangladesh. Bangladesh must use its China card to restrain the generals in Rangoon from indulging in any misadventure against it. It should also seek to apply all other forms of international pressure on Myanmar to rethink its aggressive plans against Bangladesh. But everything should be done in peaceful, ingenious and subtle ways. The renowned nineteenth century American columnist and orator Wendel l Phillips said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty". Bangladesh must understand its meaning .
Md. Masum Billah
Internet Edition. October 27, 2009,
Of recent several bitter incidents and apprehensions took place between the Bangladesh-Myanmar borders putting Bangladesh into diplomatic concern. The Myanmar army turned up in Mongu and Alitanjo to evict ethnic Muslim Rohingyas from their ancestral homeland. They forcibly acquired around 1000 acres of arable land and distributed it among the Buddhist citizens of Mongdu town. The authority has also told the Rohingyas to go to the hills or to take refuge in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has experienced a small but regular infiltration of Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar in recent months. They speak of terrors being unleashed on them by Myanmar troops as in 1988 with the aims of completely flushing the Arakn clean of Rohingya Muslims who have been living there for centuries and should be treated as full Myanmar citizen like the others.
Tensions have arisen particularly over Myanmar's planned construction of a 40 kilometer fence along the border, ostensibly to check cross-border smuggling. Recently in October 2008 a standoff between Myanmar and Bangladesh occurred when Myanmar not only permitted a South Korean ship to explore natural gas in the disputed vessel. Claims and counterclaims of the two neighbors in the Bay of Bengal continue to occur regularly. What Myanmar could not accomplish in the sea because of the relative weakness of its navy, it may seek to compensate on the rough through its army that outnumbers Bangladesh by nearly three to one. Reportedly, Myanmar is building a new naval cum military base at a place called Mutek facing the Bay of Bengal and very near Bangladesh. Heavy military arsenals have been also mobilized. The preparations are certainly not of a defensive type but smack of aggressive intensions. It could well be that Rangoon would set the stage for a direct clash on the land borders to avenge their humiliation on the sea. During the 1980s when Myanmar was the largest opium producer in the world, the basic goal behind Myanmar Bangladesh bilateral relationship was to cooperate in anti-drugs cooperation. But over the years, the relationship started facing a lot of complications with the emergence of issues like maritime border demarcation, Rohingya refugees and drug trafficking.
Diplomatic relations between any two countries are based on their national interests. And if such two countries in question happen to be neigbours , then the issues in question become more sensitive. But there is no reason that the existing problems should overshadow the further growth in the relation between the two countries. The building of 25-kilometre long road within Myanmar by Bangladesh, about which the Myanmar government has reportedly shown fresh interest, is certainly a development worth nothing. The prospect of further extension of the road through Myanmar territory up to the Chinese border, if materialized in the mutual interest of the three countries will contribute immensely towards taking the existing level of relation and cooperation among the three countries to a newer heights.
Bangladesh has a population that is more than three times the population of Myanmar. The contrast becomes sharper seeing that rich in natural resources with 16 percent cent of its land area under cultivation and 52 percent of its land covered with forest, let alone the mineral resources lying below the surface of the earth. Bangladesh enjoys certain advantages over Myanmar in terms of expertise in different fields with that she may draw on to a lower cost compared to other developed and developing countries. But the more important argument in favour of such cooperation at an enhanced level is that the two peoples have a long history of close cultural relation and exchange. The political will of the two governments would play here the key role in maintaining the pace of further growth of trade and commerce between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
As far as economic aspect of Myanmar-Bangladesh relationship is concerned , the signing of the border trade agreement of May 1994 legalizing the informal border trade between the two states, the inauguration of Teknaf-Maungdaw trade in September 1995, Bangladesh trade delegations' visit to Myanmar in 1998, Sr. Gen. Than Shawe's visit to Bangladesh in December 2002 and consequent agreement between the parties to cooperate in road and water transportation , can be pointed out as significant developments.
However, on strategic issues, a lot remains to be done. The very fact that Myanmar-Bangladesh border offers a safe haven to terrorist organizations in the region makes it necessary for both countries to cooperate in counter insurgency activities. The refugee problem in Myanmar is another significant aspect which needs to be addressed adequately by both Myanmar and Bangladesh. According to a recent estimate even today around 19200 remain in Bangladesh. Smuggling of arms and ammunitions is considered another area in which both countries need to cooperate. Despite lack of cooperation on certain strategic issues, both Myanmar and Bangladesh have been trying to improve bilateral ties through certain regional and sub-regional forums such as the Bay of Bengal initiatives for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation the ARF, the Bangladesh China India Myanmar Forum.
The Myanmar government's renewed interest in the tri-nation network has breathed new life into the prospect of a wider window of relations with its Southwest Asian neighbor. The earlier proposed idea of building a 25-kilometre road link between the two countries was a leap forward towards developing a stronger bond of relationship between the two neighbors.
But some past as well as recently arising developments like the disputes over maritime boundary between the two reighbours in the Bay of Bengal that led to a brief face- of over exploration of gas, the building of border fence by Myanmar along the common border between the two countries without consulting with Bangladesh, the fresh influx of Myanmar minority Muslims into Bangladesh due to their alleged persecution by the authorities there stand in the way of good neighbourly relationship. It is quite interesting to note that the case of Myanmar-Bangladesh relations, the demographic factor plays quite a different role. Over the years while flow of refugees from Bangladesh has been a source of trouble for its neighbors, in case of its relation with Myanmar, Bangladesh is the affected party. The burden of refugees seems to be particularly high in case of Bangladesh due to its poor economic condition and limited resource. In addition, there are constant assessments that some of the refugees may be associated with terror groups.
For India, both Bangladesh and Myanmar have their own special significance from geopolitical as well as strategic points of view. On the Indian side terrorism prone states like Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share border with Myanmar. The problem of insurgency and economic underdevelopment in this region cannot be addressed adequately without India's cooperation with Myanmar on these issues.
Indo- Myanmar relationship is also significant due to India's emphasis on Look East Policy. Growing Myanmar China relations may affect India's improving our relations with Myanmar.
Bangladesh needs to take extra caution and subtle diplomatic policy as some international political analysts say that Myanmar cannot be trusted with sensible pacific intensions. If it were otherwise, then it would not push into Bangladesh as many as 3000000 Muslims of Myanmar origin from it Arakan state in 1988 after inflicting tortures on them in a manner not much different from the ethnic cleansing of the Muslims in Bosnia by the Serbs. They attribute to the fact that Myanmar is no democracy or a pluralistic society where clamour for human rights, adherence to international norms and standards have any chance of a patient observance. It is one of the few Stalinist type bastions of totalitarian governance in the world today. Ruled by a bunch of xenophobic generals whose instincts are further faced by ugly racialism? Myanmar today is pariah state in the international sense. But the country has the largest military in south east Asia and the fanaticism of its leaders to be guided by no reason in dealing with outsiders. And these dealing make it dangerous for any neigbouring country to be tangled in bitter confrontation with it.
But the highest stress on Bangladesh's part to counter Myanmar's aggressiveness should be put on diplomacy. China has the greatest influence on Myanmar at present.
China also is a friend of Bangladesh. Bangladesh must use its China card to restrain the generals in Rangoon from indulging in any misadventure against it. It should also seek to apply all other forms of international pressure on Myanmar to rethink its aggressive plans against Bangladesh. But everything should be done in peaceful, ingenious and subtle ways. The renowned nineteenth century American columnist and orator Wendel l Phillips said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty". Bangladesh must understand its meaning .
***********************************************************
Canada.com - NGO recognizes China, Burma for enforcement of lumber laws
By Jonathan Manthorpe, Vancouver SunOctober 26, 2009
It is rare for the governments of China and Burma to get praise and applause for their administrative excellence from international watchdogs. So when the environmentalists' Rottweiler Global Witness last week credited China and Burma with clamping down on the illegal trade in hardwood lumber the news leapt off the page. It's not so long ago one could stand at the Chinese border and see trucks loaded with huge logs, mostly teak, crossing from Burma every 10 minutes or so. In return, an equal number of trucks laden with cheap Chinese consumer bric-a-brac snorted the other way. But Global Witness says strict enforcement of laws has cut the illegal log trade by more than 70 per cent. Both countries have been motivated by the realization that the illegal trade undermines the legitimate lumber business and depresses international prices. But despite this victory, Global Witness points out that 90 per cent of the cross-border lumber trade arriving in Kunming, capital of China's southwestern Yunnan province, is illegal.
Poor infrastructure blamed for slowed economic development
Indian politicians have cottoned on the fact that a huge debility in their rivalry for global economic heft is the gruesome state of their country's infrastructure. While China has been pumping the massive windfall profits from American retail therapy into roads, trains, planes and power plants, India has been struggling with the realities of democracy. National planning is not easy in a country with approaching one billion voters, most with strong opinions. And as it is local governments, where democracy tends to be most chaotic in any country, that are responsible for providing basic infrastructure and services, the problem is compounded. India also faces the problem of people flocking to the cities in search of work. India's urban areas are expanding at 2.4 per cent a year, well ahead of the 1.5 per cent annual growth in the population. New Delhi reckons that nearly $475 billion will needed for infrastructure development in the next five years. But much of this is going to have to come from municipal-level taxation, federal and provincial grants or borrowing. But India's towns and cities have slim revenues and poor financial management skills. So the Asian Development Bank is putting up $500,000 and the New Delhi government $170,000 to identify necessary reforms in local government financial structures.
Cambodia's offer of refuge to former Thai PM controversial
The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership of the World Heritage temple Preah Vihear has taken on a more personal flavour. Cambodia's always aggressive Prime Minister Hun Sen has offered sanctuary to Thailand's exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Hun Sen's mischievous move has angered Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, especially as it came just as he was preparing to host the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Cambodia is one of the 10 members. Abhisit told reporters if Thaksin settles in Cambodia, Thailand will seek his extradition to serve a two-year jail term for abuse of power. But Cambodia's state-run television quoted Hun Sen saying last week: "Thaksin was a political victim. I respect and like him more now than when he was prime minister." That's quite a change. In 2003 Buddhist temple militias loyal to Hun Sen went on a destructive spree in Phnom Penh, targeting especially offices and stores of Thaksin's mobile phone and communications company. Hun Sen was apparently driven to apoplexy when a famous Thai soap opera actress refused his invitation to join him for a weekend's rest and relaxation, as it were.
By Jonathan Manthorpe, Vancouver SunOctober 26, 2009
It is rare for the governments of China and Burma to get praise and applause for their administrative excellence from international watchdogs. So when the environmentalists' Rottweiler Global Witness last week credited China and Burma with clamping down on the illegal trade in hardwood lumber the news leapt off the page. It's not so long ago one could stand at the Chinese border and see trucks loaded with huge logs, mostly teak, crossing from Burma every 10 minutes or so. In return, an equal number of trucks laden with cheap Chinese consumer bric-a-brac snorted the other way. But Global Witness says strict enforcement of laws has cut the illegal log trade by more than 70 per cent. Both countries have been motivated by the realization that the illegal trade undermines the legitimate lumber business and depresses international prices. But despite this victory, Global Witness points out that 90 per cent of the cross-border lumber trade arriving in Kunming, capital of China's southwestern Yunnan province, is illegal.
Poor infrastructure blamed for slowed economic development
Indian politicians have cottoned on the fact that a huge debility in their rivalry for global economic heft is the gruesome state of their country's infrastructure. While China has been pumping the massive windfall profits from American retail therapy into roads, trains, planes and power plants, India has been struggling with the realities of democracy. National planning is not easy in a country with approaching one billion voters, most with strong opinions. And as it is local governments, where democracy tends to be most chaotic in any country, that are responsible for providing basic infrastructure and services, the problem is compounded. India also faces the problem of people flocking to the cities in search of work. India's urban areas are expanding at 2.4 per cent a year, well ahead of the 1.5 per cent annual growth in the population. New Delhi reckons that nearly $475 billion will needed for infrastructure development in the next five years. But much of this is going to have to come from municipal-level taxation, federal and provincial grants or borrowing. But India's towns and cities have slim revenues and poor financial management skills. So the Asian Development Bank is putting up $500,000 and the New Delhi government $170,000 to identify necessary reforms in local government financial structures.
Cambodia's offer of refuge to former Thai PM controversial
The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership of the World Heritage temple Preah Vihear has taken on a more personal flavour. Cambodia's always aggressive Prime Minister Hun Sen has offered sanctuary to Thailand's exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Hun Sen's mischievous move has angered Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, especially as it came just as he was preparing to host the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Cambodia is one of the 10 members. Abhisit told reporters if Thaksin settles in Cambodia, Thailand will seek his extradition to serve a two-year jail term for abuse of power. But Cambodia's state-run television quoted Hun Sen saying last week: "Thaksin was a political victim. I respect and like him more now than when he was prime minister." That's quite a change. In 2003 Buddhist temple militias loyal to Hun Sen went on a destructive spree in Phnom Penh, targeting especially offices and stores of Thaksin's mobile phone and communications company. Hun Sen was apparently driven to apoplexy when a famous Thai soap opera actress refused his invitation to join him for a weekend's rest and relaxation, as it were.
***********************************************************
Bangkok Post - Burmese not happy with Hun Sen
Published: 26/10/2009 at 11:18 AM
Online news: Local News
Burmese people in Thailand are not pleased that Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen likened fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with their arrested democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
After arriving at Hua Hin Airport to attend the15th Asean Summit on Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters that the ousted premier was a victim of political persecution like Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi.
His comment caused a group of Burmese politicians, students and villagers to gather near the Burmese border in Tak's Mae Sot district on Monday morning.
"Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 14 years, is an unconditional fighter for democracy, has never thought of fleeing the country and is not fighting for her personal interests. She cannot be compared with Thaksin," a Burmese student said.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's secretary, Chawanon Intharakomansut, said the Foreign Ministry had not asked the government to consider downgrading its diplomatic ties with Cambodia in response to Mr Hun Sen's statement that his country would not allow Thaksin's extradition.
"We'll observe Cambodia's reaction for now, after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called on the Cambodian premier to reconsider this issue carefully and focus on bilateral ties and benefits to both countries instead of one person's personal interests.
"The Thai government will look for new ways to bring back Thaksin to Thailand if the Cambodian government refuses to extradite him," he said.
Published: 26/10/2009 at 11:18 AM
Online news: Local News
Burmese people in Thailand are not pleased that Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen likened fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with their arrested democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
After arriving at Hua Hin Airport to attend the15th Asean Summit on Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters that the ousted premier was a victim of political persecution like Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi.
His comment caused a group of Burmese politicians, students and villagers to gather near the Burmese border in Tak's Mae Sot district on Monday morning.
"Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 14 years, is an unconditional fighter for democracy, has never thought of fleeing the country and is not fighting for her personal interests. She cannot be compared with Thaksin," a Burmese student said.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's secretary, Chawanon Intharakomansut, said the Foreign Ministry had not asked the government to consider downgrading its diplomatic ties with Cambodia in response to Mr Hun Sen's statement that his country would not allow Thaksin's extradition.
"We'll observe Cambodia's reaction for now, after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called on the Cambodian premier to reconsider this issue carefully and focus on bilateral ties and benefits to both countries instead of one person's personal interests.
"The Thai government will look for new ways to bring back Thaksin to Thailand if the Cambodian government refuses to extradite him," he said.
***********************************************************
Constitution must be revised before election: opposition leaders
by Salai Pi Pi
Monday, 26 October 2009 21:23
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Prominent Burmese opposition leaders say the junta’s planned 2010 elections cannot be inclusive and broad-based unless the 2008 Constitution is first revised.
Win Tin, a veteran politician and senior member of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said in order to make the 2010 election inclusive the 2008 Constitution must be amended, as the document, which he asserts enshrines military-rule, will essentially bar all dissidents including Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in the poll.
“The constitution does not allow any political prisoners their electoral rights, and this will also include Aung San Suu Kyi,” Win Tin clarified. “Therefore, it is necessary that the constitution is revised before the election.”
Win Tin’s comments came in response to a statement from the Burmese Prime Minister at the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, concluded on Sunday.
The Burmese Premier, Thein Sein, reportedly ensured leaders of the 10-member ASEAN bloc meeting in Thailand that the 2010 elections would be free, fair and inclusive of all stakeholders.
Thein Sein also commented that Aung San Suu Kyi could be allowed to play a role in national reconciliation, further hinting that the regime may relax restrictions on the detained opposition leader if she maintains a “good attitude.”
“He briefed us on some of the dialogue that is taking place and he feels optimistic that she can contribute to the process of national reconciliation,” Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.
“We welcomed the affirmation by the Prime Minister of Myanmar [Burma] that the general elections to be held in 2010 would be conducted in a free, fair and inclusive manner,” Abhisit continued in his statement.
While cautiously welcoming Thein Sein’s comments, Win Tin noted the Nobel Peace Laureate has been maintaining a soft stance towards the regime and urging national reconciliation for the last twenty years.
Meanwhile, Aye Thar Aung, Secretary of the Committee Representing Peoples’ Parliament (CRPP), a coalition of political parties that won the 1990 election, on Monday echoed similar views to those of Win Tin, primarily that the junta’s planned election next year cannot be inclusive unless the constitution, which he called “forcibly endorsed in 2008”, is revised.
“Without revising the 2008 Constitution, the election will not be able to yield anything good for the people of Burma,” Aye Thar Aung told Mizzima.
Aye Thar Aung added that Burma’s generals only want Aung San Suu Kyi to contribute for their national reconciliation plan but are reluctant to change their overall stance in fear of losing power.
“Changes have to come from both sides. They [the junta] also must change their stance towards her,” he elaborated.
He said the only way to build a genuine national reconciliation is to hold a tripartite dialogue between the Burmese generals, Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of the ethnic groups.
Following the U.S. announcement of its new policy on Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi last month offered junta leader Senior General Than Shwe her willingness to cooperate in the easing of sanctions.
In response, Than Shwe allowed her and her party meetings with western diplomats.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 19 years in detention, was sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest in August after an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home, spending two nights on the premises.
The NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 election, but the regime refused to honor the result and instead drew up a seven-step roadmap to democracy. According to the roadmap, the proposed 2010 election is the fifth step.
In a statement at the end of the ASEAN summit in Thailand, leaders of the 16 countries encouraged Burma to ensure the implementation of their seven-step roadmap and to restore democracy in the country.
However, Win Tin emphasized the “NLD will not contest the upcoming election if the regime does not revise the constitution.” The NLD has also consistently called on the junta to release all political prisoners, in addition to mandating free and fair elections, before they consider participating in any poll.
by Salai Pi Pi
Monday, 26 October 2009 21:23
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Prominent Burmese opposition leaders say the junta’s planned 2010 elections cannot be inclusive and broad-based unless the 2008 Constitution is first revised.
Win Tin, a veteran politician and senior member of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said in order to make the 2010 election inclusive the 2008 Constitution must be amended, as the document, which he asserts enshrines military-rule, will essentially bar all dissidents including Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in the poll.
“The constitution does not allow any political prisoners their electoral rights, and this will also include Aung San Suu Kyi,” Win Tin clarified. “Therefore, it is necessary that the constitution is revised before the election.”
Win Tin’s comments came in response to a statement from the Burmese Prime Minister at the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, concluded on Sunday.
The Burmese Premier, Thein Sein, reportedly ensured leaders of the 10-member ASEAN bloc meeting in Thailand that the 2010 elections would be free, fair and inclusive of all stakeholders.
Thein Sein also commented that Aung San Suu Kyi could be allowed to play a role in national reconciliation, further hinting that the regime may relax restrictions on the detained opposition leader if she maintains a “good attitude.”
“He briefed us on some of the dialogue that is taking place and he feels optimistic that she can contribute to the process of national reconciliation,” Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.
“We welcomed the affirmation by the Prime Minister of Myanmar [Burma] that the general elections to be held in 2010 would be conducted in a free, fair and inclusive manner,” Abhisit continued in his statement.
While cautiously welcoming Thein Sein’s comments, Win Tin noted the Nobel Peace Laureate has been maintaining a soft stance towards the regime and urging national reconciliation for the last twenty years.
Meanwhile, Aye Thar Aung, Secretary of the Committee Representing Peoples’ Parliament (CRPP), a coalition of political parties that won the 1990 election, on Monday echoed similar views to those of Win Tin, primarily that the junta’s planned election next year cannot be inclusive unless the constitution, which he called “forcibly endorsed in 2008”, is revised.
“Without revising the 2008 Constitution, the election will not be able to yield anything good for the people of Burma,” Aye Thar Aung told Mizzima.
Aye Thar Aung added that Burma’s generals only want Aung San Suu Kyi to contribute for their national reconciliation plan but are reluctant to change their overall stance in fear of losing power.
“Changes have to come from both sides. They [the junta] also must change their stance towards her,” he elaborated.
He said the only way to build a genuine national reconciliation is to hold a tripartite dialogue between the Burmese generals, Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of the ethnic groups.
Following the U.S. announcement of its new policy on Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi last month offered junta leader Senior General Than Shwe her willingness to cooperate in the easing of sanctions.
In response, Than Shwe allowed her and her party meetings with western diplomats.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 19 years in detention, was sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest in August after an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home, spending two nights on the premises.
The NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 election, but the regime refused to honor the result and instead drew up a seven-step roadmap to democracy. According to the roadmap, the proposed 2010 election is the fifth step.
In a statement at the end of the ASEAN summit in Thailand, leaders of the 16 countries encouraged Burma to ensure the implementation of their seven-step roadmap and to restore democracy in the country.
However, Win Tin emphasized the “NLD will not contest the upcoming election if the regime does not revise the constitution.” The NLD has also consistently called on the junta to release all political prisoners, in addition to mandating free and fair elections, before they consider participating in any poll.
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US diplomat meets junta minister
by Mungpi
Monday, 26 October 2009 19:26
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Keen to strike a balance between the government and the opposition, the Charge d’Affairs of the US embassy in Rangoon Larry M. Dinger last week met Burmese junta’s Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj Gen Htay Oo.
The meeting with the junta’s minister came days after the US representative met leaders of the country’s opposition party the National League for Democracy.
Burma’s state-run media, the New Light of Myanmar said on Monday, Htay Oo, who is also the General Secretary of the junta-backed civilian organization – the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), received Dinger on Saturday, three days after he visited the office of the NLD and met the party leadership.
The newspaper, dubbed the junta’s mouthpiece, however, did not mention details of the meeting between Htay Oo and Dinger.
On Tuesday Dinger met central executive committee members of the NLD. He discussed the current political situation in Burma and the new US policy on the country as part of the preparation for a visit by the Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.
Khin Maung Swe, an NLD-CEC member said, Dinger informed them that Campbell is to visit the country soon. He was also keen to know the NLD’s view of the new US policy.
United States last month announced a new policy on Burma, and kick-started a fresh strategy of engaging the junta while keeping sanctions in place. On September 29, Campbell held his first meeting with Burmese Minister for Science and Technology, U Thaung in New York.
Campbell, in his testimony at the Foreign Affairs Committee, on Wednesday said he intends to go to Burma in the next few weeks on a fact-finding mission.
“During the trip, we will talk to the Burmese government, representatives of the ethnic nationalities, and the democratic opposition, including the National League for Democracy “Uncles” and Aung San Suu Kyi,” Campbell said.
The new engagement with the US, which has maintained sanctions on the Burmese Generals, has been applauded by the junta’s Southeast Asian neighbours, who at the end of the two-day ASEAN Summit in Thailand on Sunday expressed rare optimism about the regime.
During the Summit, Burmese Prime Minister was reported to have assured the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their dialogue partners that the planned 2010 elections would be free and fair. Thein Sein also said they could relax the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, if she maintains a “good attitude”.
But critics believe that it could be yet another ploy of the junta in attempting to ease international pressure.
by Mungpi
Monday, 26 October 2009 19:26
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Keen to strike a balance between the government and the opposition, the Charge d’Affairs of the US embassy in Rangoon Larry M. Dinger last week met Burmese junta’s Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj Gen Htay Oo.
The meeting with the junta’s minister came days after the US representative met leaders of the country’s opposition party the National League for Democracy.
Burma’s state-run media, the New Light of Myanmar said on Monday, Htay Oo, who is also the General Secretary of the junta-backed civilian organization – the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), received Dinger on Saturday, three days after he visited the office of the NLD and met the party leadership.
The newspaper, dubbed the junta’s mouthpiece, however, did not mention details of the meeting between Htay Oo and Dinger.
On Tuesday Dinger met central executive committee members of the NLD. He discussed the current political situation in Burma and the new US policy on the country as part of the preparation for a visit by the Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.
Khin Maung Swe, an NLD-CEC member said, Dinger informed them that Campbell is to visit the country soon. He was also keen to know the NLD’s view of the new US policy.
United States last month announced a new policy on Burma, and kick-started a fresh strategy of engaging the junta while keeping sanctions in place. On September 29, Campbell held his first meeting with Burmese Minister for Science and Technology, U Thaung in New York.
Campbell, in his testimony at the Foreign Affairs Committee, on Wednesday said he intends to go to Burma in the next few weeks on a fact-finding mission.
“During the trip, we will talk to the Burmese government, representatives of the ethnic nationalities, and the democratic opposition, including the National League for Democracy “Uncles” and Aung San Suu Kyi,” Campbell said.
The new engagement with the US, which has maintained sanctions on the Burmese Generals, has been applauded by the junta’s Southeast Asian neighbours, who at the end of the two-day ASEAN Summit in Thailand on Sunday expressed rare optimism about the regime.
During the Summit, Burmese Prime Minister was reported to have assured the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their dialogue partners that the planned 2010 elections would be free and fair. Thein Sein also said they could relax the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, if she maintains a “good attitude”.
But critics believe that it could be yet another ploy of the junta in attempting to ease international pressure.
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The Irrawaddy - Hazardous Waste Contaminates Rivers near Rangoon
By KYI WAI - Monday, October 26, 2009
RANGOON — Water pollution is nearing hazardous levels as waste water and chemicals from factories and industrial zones are increasingly discharged into the rivers around Burma's old capital, Rangoon.
"I would say the pollution is at its worst levels, but it is not too late if we can start containing it now,” said an environmental activist. “The main problem is waste water from the factories, which should only discharge waste water after systematic cleaning it. As it is now, the factories and distilleries just dump the waste water out as is."
The environmentalist, who asked not to be identified, monitors water pollution every three months in the Hlaing, Pegu and Nga Moe Yeik rivers, where 29 streams and watersheds are flowing into.
He said there are 14 industrial zones in Rangoon and a total of 4,388 industries and factories. Many of the industrial zones are along three main rivers, which discharge into the sea near Rangoon.
Chemicals and waste water from factories decrease the oxygen content in water and settle as sediment on the river bed.
A Rangoon-based zoologist, who also asked to remain anonymous, said pollution in the rivers endanger people who depend on the water for drinking and cooking and also fish and other aquatic life.
She said her studies found that some species of fish and prawn have disappeared from the Pan Hlaing and Hlaing rivers in recent years because of pollution.
"When I started my observation in 1990, I found 21 species of fish and three species of prawn in the Pan Hlaing River. In 2009, it was reduced to 18 species of fish and two species of prawn,” she said.
Hilsas (Hilsa ilisha) in the lower section of the Rangoon River has been declining, she said, and this year, she couldn’t find any hilsas migrating to spawn upstream in the Pegu, Hlaing and Pan Hlaing rivers during their usual mating season in February and March.
The governmental departments charged with managing water resources and rivers have said they are working to reduce water pollution and the discharge of dangerous waste and chemicals.
Meanwhile, the situation is rapidly deteriorating and poses a threat to humans and wildlife, said environmentalists.
By KYI WAI - Monday, October 26, 2009
RANGOON — Water pollution is nearing hazardous levels as waste water and chemicals from factories and industrial zones are increasingly discharged into the rivers around Burma's old capital, Rangoon.
"I would say the pollution is at its worst levels, but it is not too late if we can start containing it now,” said an environmental activist. “The main problem is waste water from the factories, which should only discharge waste water after systematic cleaning it. As it is now, the factories and distilleries just dump the waste water out as is."
The environmentalist, who asked not to be identified, monitors water pollution every three months in the Hlaing, Pegu and Nga Moe Yeik rivers, where 29 streams and watersheds are flowing into.
He said there are 14 industrial zones in Rangoon and a total of 4,388 industries and factories. Many of the industrial zones are along three main rivers, which discharge into the sea near Rangoon.
Chemicals and waste water from factories decrease the oxygen content in water and settle as sediment on the river bed.
A Rangoon-based zoologist, who also asked to remain anonymous, said pollution in the rivers endanger people who depend on the water for drinking and cooking and also fish and other aquatic life.
She said her studies found that some species of fish and prawn have disappeared from the Pan Hlaing and Hlaing rivers in recent years because of pollution.
"When I started my observation in 1990, I found 21 species of fish and three species of prawn in the Pan Hlaing River. In 2009, it was reduced to 18 species of fish and two species of prawn,” she said.
Hilsas (Hilsa ilisha) in the lower section of the Rangoon River has been declining, she said, and this year, she couldn’t find any hilsas migrating to spawn upstream in the Pegu, Hlaing and Pan Hlaing rivers during their usual mating season in February and March.
The governmental departments charged with managing water resources and rivers have said they are working to reduce water pollution and the discharge of dangerous waste and chemicals.
Meanwhile, the situation is rapidly deteriorating and poses a threat to humans and wildlife, said environmentalists.
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The Irrawaddy - Bombs Damage TV Station, Gambling Businesses in Kokang
By LAWI WENG - Monday, October 26, 2009
At least 10 bombs exploded in the Laogai area, the Kokang capital in northern Shan State, on Saturday, an area now controlled by Burmese government troops, according to border sources.
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a former Communist rebel who observes Sino-Burma affairs from Yunnan Province in China, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the bombs damaged a TV station, gambling casinos and other businesses.
The explosions occurred during the night. No reports of dead or injured were available.
Government authorities in Laogai said a relative of Peng Jiasheng, the former Kokang leader ousted by the junta, was believed to be responsible for the explosions.
However, Aung Kyaw Zaw said that the bombs might have been the work of a disgruntled faction of Kokang troops led by Bai Souqian and resulted from a power-sharing struggle within the group. The junta elevated Bai Souqian to the leadership position of Kokang troops following Peng Jiasheng’s ouster from power in September.
The bombings were the first in the Laogai region after the recent clashes between government troops and Kokang militia led by Peng Jiasheng, which forced thousands of refugees into China.
After his ouster, Peng Jiasheng told The Irrawaddy in an interview in September that the war between the government and his private militia will be long, and the conflict will be impossible to end soon. Sino-Burma border sources said Peng Jiasheng’s militia, led by his son, has been active in the region. The government accused Peng Jiasheng of operating an illegal drug network.
On the day the bombs went off, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was urging Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein to establish peace and stability along the Sino-Burmese border. They met at the 15th Asean Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Wen told Thein Sein that Beijing “hopes that the Burmese regime will achieve stability, national reconciliation and development” in Burma, according to the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site.
China pledged to provide more aid to Burma in order to strengthen its economy and trade, infrastructure, utilities, energy and other areas.
It was the highest level meeting between Chinese and Burmese officials since 37,000 Kokang Chinese refugees in Burma fled to China in September. At least two Chinese citizens were reportedly killed during the government offensive, and there was widespread looting by government troops of property owned by Chinese citizens.
By LAWI WENG - Monday, October 26, 2009
At least 10 bombs exploded in the Laogai area, the Kokang capital in northern Shan State, on Saturday, an area now controlled by Burmese government troops, according to border sources.
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a former Communist rebel who observes Sino-Burma affairs from Yunnan Province in China, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the bombs damaged a TV station, gambling casinos and other businesses.
The explosions occurred during the night. No reports of dead or injured were available.
Government authorities in Laogai said a relative of Peng Jiasheng, the former Kokang leader ousted by the junta, was believed to be responsible for the explosions.
However, Aung Kyaw Zaw said that the bombs might have been the work of a disgruntled faction of Kokang troops led by Bai Souqian and resulted from a power-sharing struggle within the group. The junta elevated Bai Souqian to the leadership position of Kokang troops following Peng Jiasheng’s ouster from power in September.
The bombings were the first in the Laogai region after the recent clashes between government troops and Kokang militia led by Peng Jiasheng, which forced thousands of refugees into China.
After his ouster, Peng Jiasheng told The Irrawaddy in an interview in September that the war between the government and his private militia will be long, and the conflict will be impossible to end soon. Sino-Burma border sources said Peng Jiasheng’s militia, led by his son, has been active in the region. The government accused Peng Jiasheng of operating an illegal drug network.
On the day the bombs went off, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was urging Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein to establish peace and stability along the Sino-Burmese border. They met at the 15th Asean Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Wen told Thein Sein that Beijing “hopes that the Burmese regime will achieve stability, national reconciliation and development” in Burma, according to the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site.
China pledged to provide more aid to Burma in order to strengthen its economy and trade, infrastructure, utilities, energy and other areas.
It was the highest level meeting between Chinese and Burmese officials since 37,000 Kokang Chinese refugees in Burma fled to China in September. At least two Chinese citizens were reportedly killed during the government offensive, and there was widespread looting by government troops of property owned by Chinese citizens.
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The Irrawaddy - Drowning in Debt
By SOE LWIN - Monday, October 26, 2009
BOGALAY, Irrawaddy delta—Aye Kyu, 42, chokes when she talks about the burden of her debt.
"Every day the money lenders chase us, telling us to hurry up and pay them back. But, how can we pay off our debts when there is no work?" the mother of two said.
Aye Kye has been living with her family in a temporary shack since Cyclone Nargis destroyed her home in Setsan, a village in one of the hardest hit areas 150 minutes by boat from Bogalay Township near the mouth of the Irrawaddy delta.
Before the cyclone, Aye Kyu and her husband regularly found work as day laborers in the paddy fields belonging to farmers in the surrounding villages.
In the wake of the cyclone there has been little work, forcing Aye Kyu and her husband to take loans at rates of interest as high as 25 percent a month.
With monthly household monthly expenses amounting to nearly US $50, Aye Kyu’s family can only earn around $30 in present conditions.
“We have no choice but to go into debt. We have to buy rice for the children,” Aye Kye said, adding that she owed the equivalent of almost $400 dollars to the money lenders.
Thousands of cyclone-affected households in the delta are falling into a debt trap because job opportunities are still few even though 18 months has passed since the cyclone.
Cyclone Nargis, which devastated Rangoon and the Irrawaddy delta in the first week of May last year killed almost 140,000 people and affected more than 2 million, destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands.
Agriculture and fisheries, the two major industries in the storm-affected area, were severely hit.
Despite assistance from the international community and the government, neither industry has fully recovered.
Day laborers who relied on finding work on fishing boats or on the farms have had to borrow money. Most say they had to take out loans to buy rice.
According to the Rapid Food Security Assessment released by the United Nations’ World Food Programme in March, the vast majority—83 percent of sampled households—reported being in debt because they had to buy food.
Interest rates vary from place to place, with some money-lenders taking between 5 and 20 percent and others between 25 and 50 percent, depending on the situation of the borrowers.
Though interest rates are high, the cyclone-affected debtors find it difficult to borrow money unless they can find loan guarantors in their villages.
“We want to pay off our debts as quickly as we can,” a cyclone-widow from Setsan Village said, “but we have to struggle just to earn enough for one meal a day.”
Humanitarian agencies are calling for agriculture and fisheries to be put back on a more secure basis as quickly as possible.
“As long as these industries are not fully back to normal, you cannot expect day laborers to have enough job opportunities,” said an official from CARE, a UK-based charity working in Burma since 1995.
“Restoring these sectors is the best way to help day laborers in the long term,” the official said.
By SOE LWIN - Monday, October 26, 2009
BOGALAY, Irrawaddy delta—Aye Kyu, 42, chokes when she talks about the burden of her debt.
"Every day the money lenders chase us, telling us to hurry up and pay them back. But, how can we pay off our debts when there is no work?" the mother of two said.
Aye Kye has been living with her family in a temporary shack since Cyclone Nargis destroyed her home in Setsan, a village in one of the hardest hit areas 150 minutes by boat from Bogalay Township near the mouth of the Irrawaddy delta.
Before the cyclone, Aye Kyu and her husband regularly found work as day laborers in the paddy fields belonging to farmers in the surrounding villages.
In the wake of the cyclone there has been little work, forcing Aye Kyu and her husband to take loans at rates of interest as high as 25 percent a month.
With monthly household monthly expenses amounting to nearly US $50, Aye Kyu’s family can only earn around $30 in present conditions.
“We have no choice but to go into debt. We have to buy rice for the children,” Aye Kye said, adding that she owed the equivalent of almost $400 dollars to the money lenders.
Thousands of cyclone-affected households in the delta are falling into a debt trap because job opportunities are still few even though 18 months has passed since the cyclone.
Cyclone Nargis, which devastated Rangoon and the Irrawaddy delta in the first week of May last year killed almost 140,000 people and affected more than 2 million, destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands.
Agriculture and fisheries, the two major industries in the storm-affected area, were severely hit.
Despite assistance from the international community and the government, neither industry has fully recovered.
Day laborers who relied on finding work on fishing boats or on the farms have had to borrow money. Most say they had to take out loans to buy rice.
According to the Rapid Food Security Assessment released by the United Nations’ World Food Programme in March, the vast majority—83 percent of sampled households—reported being in debt because they had to buy food.
Interest rates vary from place to place, with some money-lenders taking between 5 and 20 percent and others between 25 and 50 percent, depending on the situation of the borrowers.
Though interest rates are high, the cyclone-affected debtors find it difficult to borrow money unless they can find loan guarantors in their villages.
“We want to pay off our debts as quickly as we can,” a cyclone-widow from Setsan Village said, “but we have to struggle just to earn enough for one meal a day.”
Humanitarian agencies are calling for agriculture and fisheries to be put back on a more secure basis as quickly as possible.
“As long as these industries are not fully back to normal, you cannot expect day laborers to have enough job opportunities,” said an official from CARE, a UK-based charity working in Burma since 1995.
“Restoring these sectors is the best way to help day laborers in the long term,” the official said.
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US citizen begins trial in BurmaOct 26, 2009 (DVB)–The Burmese-born US citizen currently detained in a Rangoon prison has appeared in court on charges of fraud after allegedly using false identification to enter the country.
Lawyers for Kyaw Zaw Lwin, also known as Nyi Nyi Aung, said that the courtroom on Thursday heard accounts from two witnesses in the prosecution team, a police officer and an immigration official.
They claim that Kyaw Zaw Lwin intended to use a Burmese national’s identification card with his photo pasted onto it.
“He entered the country using his American passport, not by using the ID the officials had mentioned,” said lawyer Kyi Win. “They only found the ID in his possession after they searched him.”
Kyaw Zaw Lwin was arrested upon arrival at Rangoon airport on 3 September, and has since been held at Rangoon’s Insein prison.
Shortly after his arrest, state-run media in Burma appeared to link him to a series of bombings that hit Rangoon in mid-September, a fortnight after he was detained.
An article in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said that he “had contact with” members of the All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) and Thailand-based Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB), who in turn were allegedly close to “sabbateurs” involved in the bombing.
The leader of the ABSDF, Than Khe, told DVB however that the allegations were political smearing by the government.
Kyi Win also complained that his client had been held in handcuffs throughout the hearing, in violation of Burmese law.
“According to the police code of conduct, a defendant appearing before the court’s judge should be freed from handcuffs,” he said, adding that police cited security concerns as a reason to keep them on.
“This clearly violates Article 477 of the court manual and shows that no rule of law exists.” His next court hearing is scheduled for 30 October.
Su Su Kyi, the aunt of Kyaw Zaw Lwin, said that his family had received no response following requests to visit him in prison.
“A letter seeking permission to meet with Ko Nyi Nyi Aung has been sent to the authorities via the embassy but no response has been made yet. We will send another letter on Monday,” she said.
Su Su Kyi said that US embassy staff who visited Kyaw Zaw Lwin in prison in September said that he had shown signs of torture.
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