News & Articles on Burma-Sunday 3 July, 2011

News & Articles on Burma
Sunday 3 July, 2011
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Rudd urges Burma to free prisoners
Burmese rulers court foreign favour
Stronger Myanmar currency weakens already poor country
Japanese govt mulls over resuming aid to Burma
PHL renews call for release of Myanmar's political prisoners
Myanmar must ensure Suu Kyi's safety: Rudd
Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and party arrive back from Russia
Myanmar has decreased poverty rate from 32 to 26 percent
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Rudd urges Burma to free prisoners
Dan Harrison
July 4,2011

FOREIGN Minister Kevin Rudd has urged the Burmese government to release 2000 political prisoners.

Speaking in Singapore after making the first visit by an Australian foreign minister to the country in almost 10 years, Mr Rudd said he had made a personal plea to Burmese President Thein Sein to release the prisoners.

''I indicated to him that that single action would have a significant transformative effect on the international community's attitude to the newly established government in Rangoon.''
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Mr Rudd also lunched with democracy leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi at the Australian Embassy residence in Rangoon and said that Ms Suu Kyi was in good spirits.

''She is a very determined person. She is a person of enormous will, determination and, I would say, just plain political guts,'' he said.

Ms Suu Kyi plans to travel this week with her son to Bagan, an ancient city about 700 kilometres north of Rangoon. It would be her first trip out of Rangoon since being released from a seven-year stint under house arrest last November.

Mr Rudd said the Burmese government must guarantee Ms Suu Kyi's security for the trip.

During the Nobel laureate's last tour in 2003, thugs believed to be hired by the then ruling military junta ambushed her motorcade, killing more than 70 of her supporters. It was widely seen as an assassination attempt on Ms Suu Kyi, who was put back under house arrest, or what the regime called ''protective custody''.

''It is absolutely critical that the Burmese government guarantees Aung San Suu Kyi's security while such a tour of the country is undertaken, and I believe all governments around the world will be looking very carefully at how security is provided for by the government,'' Mr Rudd said.

Australia is Burma's second-largest source of aid, after Britain. With REUTERS

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/rudd-urges-burma-to-free-prisoners-20110703-1gxch.html#ixzz1R3JCIRjj
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Burmese rulers court foreign favour
July 4, 2011
TaylorsCollege.edu.au/UniLink

FOR most foreigners, Burma is an unknowable place, governed in a manner more reminiscent of Kim Jong-il's rule in North Korea than anything resembling democracy. But Burma's rulers have recently shown a desire to distance themselves from the sort of isolationist policy pursued by Mr Kim. As with most things to do with the Burmese government, the reasoning is inscrutable - perhaps it is a response to the 2007 Saffron Revolution, which, despite being brutally thwarted, showed the ruling generals they could not take their people for granted; perhaps a result of regional pressure; or, more likely, it is because of concerns about continuance of foreign trade.

Whatever the motive, the government has been at pains to pretend that it cares about democracy. First came a new constitution, then national elections, and now greater freedom for Aung Sang Suu Kyi, the revered Nobel peace laureate who has for two decades endured great privation in the cause of her people's freedom.

Only the last of these has any real significance. For the most part, the Burmese reforms have been duplicitous. Take the country's first election in 20 years, held last November. An election after two decades of authoritarian rule would normally be acclaimed as a victory for democracy. But this one was neither free nor fair. The National League for Democracy led by Ms Suu Kyi won the 1990 election but was barred from participating in 2010, and the new constitution ensured continued military control of parliament.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/editorial/burmese-rulers-court-foreign-favour-20110703-1gxje.html#ixzz1R3FnDnjR
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Stronger Myanmar currency weakens already poor country
BY TAKESHI FUJITANI CORRESPONDENT
2011/07/03

photoA luxury supermarket in Yangon, Myanmar, offers a broad selection of imported food and other products. Prices were lowered on some imported items amid the kyat's continued appreciation against the dollar. (Takeshi Fujitani)

YANGON--Suffering already under a stagnant, agrarian-based economy, the poor people of Myanmar (Burma) are facing another body blow with its local currency, the kyat, strengthening at an alarming rate, rising against the U.S. dollar by more than 20 percent in a year.

Hit hard have been the country's export industries, dealing in mostly peas, rice and other farm items, sewing goods and fishery products.

Priority has been placed on the export of rice, as the country has recently imported Japanese rice-polishing machines, but exports are losing money under the current exchange rate.

"We cannot stop exporting, however, because we have to think about long-term relations with our customers," said an exports dealer.

A general election, held last November for the first time in 20 years, resulted in the start of a new government in March. The government is pushing for economic liberalization centered on the exportation of farm, fishing and sewing products, but is already facing a crisis, with falling prices on imports as well.

"We lower the prices of imported goods," read a notice posted in mid-June at all stores of the City Mart luxury supermarket chain in Yangon and elsewhere.

A branch store employee said that the prices of coffee, butter, shampoo and other products, imported via Singapore, Thailand and elsewhere, have been reduced by 10 percent.

Around the same time, one U.S. dollar (81 yen) was worth 740 kyats, according to the market rate, the lowest figure since 2002. The kyat appreciated by about 25 percent in a year, with a dollar at 980 to 1,000 kyats in June and July last year.

Any benefits of a strong kyat are limited. Prices of essential products, including rice, onions, other vegetables and cooking oil, either remained unchanged or slightly increased over the year.

On the flip side, the sewing industry, which accounts for nearly 50 percent of the country's exports to Japan, is struggling. Japanese-affiliated companies, whose employees are paid in dollars, are also hastily reviewing their wage systems.

Two major factors behind the stronger kyat are the global trend toward a weaker dollar and the sharp increase in direct overseas investment in Myanmar. According to government authorities, direct foreign investments totaled $16 billion between 1988 and March 2010, but that increased to $20 billion over a year from April 2010. About 70 percent of that came from China, including Hong Kong.

Another factor is the auction of state-run enterprises and government-owned real estate to the private sector that were held in January and February.

The Myanmar Times, an English-language weekly newspaper, says that 291 properties sold for a total of more than 8 trillion kyats. With the final payment due dates for these deals set for July and August, "kyat buying is becoming active in markets, further spurring the stronger kyat," said an economist.
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201107020220.html
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Jul 3, 2011
Japanese govt mulls over resuming aid to Burma

THE Japanese government is considering resuming aid to Burma, following the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the declared end of the junta rule, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

Any new official development assistance (ODA) programmes for Burma would be the first in eight years.

Japan has imposed a freeze on new ODA programs for Burma since July 2003, with the exception of humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural disasters.

The detention of Dr Suu Kyi was cited as one of the reasons for the freeze.

But the government has viewed favourably the release of Dr Suu Kyi from house arrest in November and signs that military rule has ended after 22 years, according to sources.

Makiko Kikuta, parliamentary vice foreign minister, held talks with senior Burmese officials in that nation late last month, and conveyed the Japanese government's intention to resume ODA on the condition that the aid will be used to improve people's lives, the sources said. -- YOMIURI SHIMBUN/ANN http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_686779.html
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PHL renews call for release of Myanmar's political prisoners
07/03/2011 | 01:21 PM
Philippine Foreign affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario renewed decades call for release of all remaining 2,000 political prisoners in Myanmar (Burma).

Also, Del Rosario said last year’s release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi by Myanmar's ruling military junta was simply not enough to fulfill the country's commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s “Roadmap to Democracy."

“We have always been forthright in our position on Myanmar… that it should take all the steps towards the Roadmap to Democracy," said Del Rosario at a luncheon with members of the Philippine diplomatic press corps.

He said that releasing all remaining Burmese political prisoners “should complete all the steps towards democracy," and it should not end with just the release of Suu Kyi and holding of elections.

“Even after the first elections, we have taken firm decision that all the steps towards the Roadmap should be implemented and that included the release of all the political prisoners," he said.

The first democratic elections in Burma held in November last year were widely criticized as majority of those elected were members of the ruling military junta, while the remaining posts were filled by candidates of Suu Kyi’s political party the National League of Democracy (NLD).

But Del Rosario was quick to clarify that urging Myanmar to fulfill its commitments under the Roadmap to Democracy was not the task of just the Philippines but of the whole of Asean.

“Asean is based on a consensus and we try not to be critical," he explained.

Asean groups the Philippines and Burma/Myanmar, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and Brunei.

Western countries particularly the US and the European Union remain critical of ASEAN’s policy of constructive engagement and consensus because this prevents the association from imposing sanctions on Myanmar’s military junta for its rampant human rights abuse perpetrated against its own Burmese people.

In 2007, Burma’s military junta committed to the Asean that it will implement the Roadmap to Democracy which includes the release of Nobel Peace prize winner Suu Kyi, the holding of first democratic elections, the investigation of human rights atrocities by a visiting United Nations high official, and the release of all the more than 2,000 political prisoners. — MRT/LBG, GMA News http://www.gmanews.tv/story/225161/world/phl-renews-call-for-release-of-myanmars-political-prisoners
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Myanmar must ensure Suu Kyi's safety: Rudd
03 July 2011 | 10:45:30 AM | Source: AFP
Kevin Rudd has asked Myanmar officials to release hundreds of political prisoners. (AAP)

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says Myanmar must guarantee democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's safety when she travels around the country for the first time since her release last year.

Rudd said on Saturday he had met with the country's new president, Thein Sein, and had made a personal appeal for the release of 2000 other political prisoners, telling him that doing so would transform international views of the new government.

He spoke to reporters during a stopover in Singapore on his way home from a visit to Myanmar.

A source from Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party has said she plans to travel outside the main city Rangoon for the first time since being freed from seven years of house arrest last year, but politics is not on the agenda.

Rudd said the global community would be watching closely how the government would ensure the Nobel Peace Prize winner's security.

The issue is a major concern because during a previous political trip in 2003, her convoy was attacked in an ambush apparently organised by the military regime at that time.

"She has made plans that she intends to campaign elsewhere within Myanmar in the period ahead and that cause is her democratic right," Rudd said.

"What I would say very clearly to the Burmese authorities... is it is absolutely critical that the Burmese government guarantee Aung San Suu Kyi's security while such a tour of the country was undertaken," Rudd added.

"I believe all governments around the world would be looking very carefully at how the security is provided for by the government."

Myanmar's official media last Wednesday said the home affairs ministry had written to Suu Kyi to state that her party's activities had broken the law.

It was the first time since her release that the authorities had explicitly warned her to stay out of politics.

Australia's top diplomat said he spent "several hours" with Suu Kyi earlier on Saturday, and she told him she responded to the ministry's letter by suggesting a dialogue and was awaiting a response.

"Aung San Suu Kyi is in very good spirits," Rudd said. "She is a very determined person. She is a person of enormous will, determination, and, I would say, just plain political guts."

Suu Kyi was freed in November, days after the country held an election that critics said was a charade aimed at hiding military rule behind a civilian facade.

Despite releasing Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been under pressure to free other political prisoners as one demonstration that it's serious about undertaking democratic reforms.

Rudd said he told the Burmese leader that the "single action" of releasing the detainees "will have a significant, transformative effect on the international community's attitude to the newly established government".

"These prisoners remain as prisoners of conscience within Myanmar, and the international community awaits action... in ensuring that these people obtain freedom," Rudd said. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1567527/Myanmar-must-ensure-Suu-Kyi
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New Light of Myanmar : Sunday, July 3, 2011
Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and party arrive back from Russia

YANGON, 2 July-A Myanmar delegation led by Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann arrived back here by air at 8.50 am today after paying a goodwill visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Speaker Mr BV Gryzlov of the State Duma Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

The Myanmar delegation was welcomed back at Yangon International Airport by Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myint, Deputy Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw U Nanda Kyaw Swa, Chief Minister of Yangon Region U Myint Swe, Speaker of Yangon Region Hluttaw U Sein Tin Win, Yangon Mayor U Hla Myint, chairmen, secretaries and members of committees at Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw, Charge d’ Affaires ai of the Russian Embassy Mr Dmitry Darchenkov and departmental officials.

Members of the delegation-Chairman U Aung Tun of Public Accounts Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw, Secretary U T Khun Myat of Bill Committee of Pyithu Hluttaw, Secretary U San Tun of Bill Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw, Secretary U Maung Toe of Public Accounts Committee of Pyithu Hluttaw, Secretary U Hla Myint Oo of Hluttaw Rights Committee of Pyithu Hluttaw, Secretary U Than Myint of Government’s Guarantees, Pledges and Undertakings Vetting Committee of Pyithu Hluttaw, member of Public Accounts Committee of Pyithu Hluttaw Dr Win Myint, members of Hluttaw Rights Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw U Nyunt Tin and U Nay Win Tun and departmental officials-also arrived back on the same flight. http://www.myanmar.com/newspaper/nlm/index.html
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New Light of Myanmar : Sunday, July 3, 2011
Myanmar has decreased poverty rate from 32 to 26 percent

Although poverty rate in Myanmar has decreased from 32 to 26 percent in recent years, Myanmar has to work very hard to achieve Millennium Development Goals by 2015

NAY PYI TAW, 2 July-Vice-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Dr Sai Mauk Kham delivered an address at the ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Cooperatives held at Myanmar International Convention Centre here this morning.

Also present on the occasion were union ministers, deputy ministers, departmental heads, the chairman and executives of the Central Cooperative Society of Myanmar, social organization members, foreign embassy staff in Myanmar, and distinguished guests.

The Vice-President said in his address that the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was established in 1895 to foster closer relations and boost economic cooperation among societies in the international arena.

The International Day of Cooperatives has been observed annually since 1923 after its inception under the leadership of the alliance. Myanmar became a member of the alliance in 1993. In 1994, at the 49th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations proclaimed that the first Saturday of every July was to become the International Day of
Cooperatives and since then, the cooperatives societies around the world have been celebrating the Day on a yearly basis.

As a member of the Alliance, now was the 17th time of the International Day of Co-operatives observed by the Central Cooperatives Society of Myanmar.

Every year, the Alliance set a theme for particular International Day serving as guidance for all societies around the world.

This year’s theme would be “Youth: the Future of Co-operative Enterprise”.

So, it is needed to organize and train youths to energetically take part in successful achievements of the future cooperative movements. The United Nations had designated the year 2012 to be the International Day of Cooperatives with the motto “Co-operative Enterprises Build a New Better World”.

He continued that looking back at the socioeconomic history of the country, in order to address the economic hardship of the farmers and to lessen the trouble of borrowing with high interest from the money lenders, a credit cooperative society was first introduced in Myinmu of Sagaing Region in 1905.

But, only in 1992, the cooperatives law was passed to carry out businesses and economic opportunities in accord with the market economic system.

In the development of cooperatives which is known as OER in short- ‘O’ stands for more Organizations of cooperative societies, ‘E’ for more Education on the practice of cooperative works and ‘R’ for rules and regulations to be followed. Therefore, all cooperative societies are to make relentless efforts to catch achievement.

With a view to developing and expanding cooperative enterprises, 10,725 primary cooperative societies, 462 syndicates, 20 federations and one Central Cooperative Society, totalling 11,208, have been formed across the states and regions of the country. Those cooperatives are engaging in a variety of production, services, trade and general businesses.

The Vice-President recalled the address delivered by President U Thein Sein on 20 June 2011 in which the President has given guidance to the cooperative societies that cooperatives should be formed from Bottom Up Initiative rather than Top Down Policy; and that the region and state working committees are to organize and form cooperative societies with trustworthy and reliable people so that the rural people will truly enjoy the fruits of development and overcome the poverty.

Nowadays, the cooperative societies are fast becoming important factors in today’s world economic and social development.

The government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has formed the Rural Development and Poverty Reduction Central Committee, with the President as the chairman.

The 70 percent of the country’s population is rural people. In accordance with the targets set by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, the government is giving high priority to poverty reduction and rural development scheme. Although the poverty rate in Myanmar has decreased from 32 to 26 percent in recent years, Myanmar has to work very hard to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In this regard, cooperative societies have to give priority to development of agriculture production, development of rural productivity and cottage industries, development of micro financing and credit enterprises, development of rural cooperatives, development of rural socioeconomy, development of rural energy, and environmental conservation.

In conclusion, the Vice-President urged all members of cooperative societies to enthusiastically take part in Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Action Plan being implemented by the State; to call upon youths to involve more in future cooperative activities as the year 2012 is designated as the International Day of Cooperatives with the theme “Cooperative Enterprises Build a New Better World” and with this year’s theme“Youth: the Future of Cooperative Enterprises”; to make friendly relations with the people in carrying out peace, security and development works; and to keep good image of cooperative societies.

Next, Chairman U Khin Maung Aye of Myanmar Central Cooperatives Society read the message sent by the ICA. Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham and Union Minister for Border Affairs and Industrial Develoment Maj-Gen Thein Htay awarded offspring of the staff members of Cooperatives Ministry who passed last year matriculation exam with flying colours.

Union Minister for Information and for Culture U Kyaw Hsan, Union Minister for Industry-2 U Soe Thein, Union Minister for Mines U Thein Htaik, Union Minister for Labour and for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Aung Kyi, Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay, Union Minister for Immigration and Population U Khin Yi, Union Minister for Science and Technology U Aye Myint, Union Minister for Commerce U Win Myint and Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism and for Sports U Tint Hsan presented awards to 34 outstanding students studying at Cooperative Degree College (Yangon), Cooperative Colleges (Mandalay, Sagaing and Phaung-gyi) and Lacquerware College for 2009-2010 academic year.

Union Minister for Education Dr Mya Aye, Deputy Minister for Cooperatives U Than Tun and the chairman of Central Cooperatives Society of Myanmar awarded successful cooperatives societies.

After the ceremony, the Vice-President and party viewed the booths at Photo and Products Exhibition in commemoration of International Day of Cooperatives. http://www.myanmar.com/newspaper/nlm/index.html