News & Articles on Burma-Saturday, 28 January 2012

News & Articles on Burma Saturday, 28 January 2012 ----------------------------------------- 'Open door' Myanmar offers 8-year tax break to foreign firms Myanmar shift to democracy not over, more reforms ahead:minister Myanmar to sell Indonesia up to 200,000 tonnes rice a year Will Burma's press free after new media reform bill? KNU wants to hear expert advice and Karen voices on 'peacetalks' 10 Burma soldiers die in battle with KIA in Shan State Zoya Phan: Burma Needs Real Peace, Not Just A Pause in Conflict Burma's censorship dep't to be abolished? Up to 900 political prisoners may remain in Burmese jails Money exchange services start next month ----------------------------------------- 'Open door' Myanmar offers 8-year tax break to foreign firms Posted: 28 January 2012 2242 hrs DAVOS, Switzerland: Myanmar's government said Saturday it planned to offer eight-year tax exemptions to foreign investors as Western companies "rushed" to build ties with the one-time international pariah. Industry Minister U Soe Thane told reporters there had been huge interest in Myanmar from business leaders he had encountered at the World Economic Forum in Davos as the Southeast Asian country's reform process gathers pace. "They are rushing to us," he said. "We are just opening the door." The minister said that Myanmar expected its economy to grow by six percent in the coming year and that it should be an attractive location to foreign investors -- citing as proof his successful visit to Davos. "I have met with a lot of people -- not just ministers but CEOs. We have engaged with them, explained our potential, our location at the junction of China and India. Our location is very favourable. "We have a lot of hydro potential, we have lots of fishing potential, a big fisheries area. Also our people know the English language, it is easy to communicate," he said. Deputy railways minister Lwin Thaung said the government was looking to enact radical legislation to attract investors. "Presently we have a Myanmar investment law which is rather restrictive, but we are now revising it," he said. "We have hired foreign consultants ... and we have told them to draw up the law so as to be more attractive than our neighbours. "It will give tax exemptions for up to eight years and, if the enterprise is profitable for Myanmar, we will extend the incentive. We have already drafted the bill ... and at the end of February the law will come out." The European Union is considering lifting sanctions against Myanmar as soon as February, according to diplomats in Brussels, while Washington has promised further reforms will be met with US rewards. A few Western corporations such as French oil giant Total do have a presence because the sanctions framework permitted firms that were already operating in the country at the time they were imposed in the 1990s to stay. -AFP/ac http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/1179623/1/.html ----------------------------------------- Myanmar shift to democracy not over, more reforms ahead:minister ReutersBy Tomasz Janowski and Michele Sani | Reuters -- DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Myanmar has already done a lot to reconnect with the international community and win investment, but the return to democracy is not complete and more political and economic reforms are needed, its trade minister said on Saturday. Myanmar has opened up to the outside world with astonishing speed since a civilian government took office last March after five decades of army rule, releasing political prisoners and launching democratic reforms. The prospect of the end of Western sanctions imposed for human rights abuses has prompted a surge of interest from investors who view the former Burma as one of Asia's last "frontier markets." But asked whether he thought Myanmar has done enough to get U.S. sanctions lifted, U Soe Thane told Reuters Television: "A lot of things we have done, but many more we have to do in the near future. The democratic process is not finished yet." "We have a lot of things to reform and lots of things have to change: laws, regulations and institutions, not only in the political sector but also in the economic sectors. But sanctions are up to them." U Soe Thane, who leads Myanmar's first official delegation at the World Economic Forum after five decades of isolation, said he was encouraged by dozens of meetings with leaders and executives at the annual gathering. "I met a lot of people here, other ministers and CEOs, more than 20, and we discussed co-development," he said. "Our location, our market and resource potential are very important for them so they are willing to invest in our country." Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in video address to the forum earlier this week that the minister's presence was a sign of positive changes in the country. She said that the nation has not yet reached its "great transformation," but an election in April could bring that point closer and preparations for the polls kept her from attending the summit. Years of economic mismanagement by the military coupled with U.S. and European sanctions have left the economy in tatters with infrastructure that is rudimentary at best and about a third of its 60 million people living on a dollar a day. But its rich gas deposits and other natural resources, large and young workforce, and a potential as a tourism destination barely touched by development are making it an attractive target for companies seeking to grow while mature economies struggle. Japan's trade minister led a group of executives at the start of the year and a similar delegation of U.S. businesses is expected to visit the country next month. Myanmar's energy minister earlier this week told Reuters energy companies from Norway, Brazil, Russia and Japan were all interested in investments in the sector. In Davos, Starwood Hotels & Resorts - which runs chains such as Westin, Sheraton and Le Meridien - and Marriott International both expressed interest in running hotels in Myanmar. (Writing by Tomasz Janowski; Editing by Peter Graff) http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-shift-democracy-not-over-more-reforms-ahead-124819397.html ----------------------------------------- Myanmar to sell Indonesia up to 200,000 tonnes rice a year Published on Jan 28, 2012 YANGON (REUTERS) - Indonesia's state procurement agency, Bulog, is to sign an agreement on Saturday with Myanmar's Rice Industry Association (MRIA) under which it will agree to buy between 100,000 and 200,000 tonnes of rice a year from Myanmar, an industry official said. Bulog imported 1.9 million tonnes of rice last year from Thailand, Vietnam and India but said on Jan 5 it wanted to avoid imports this year. Indonesia aims to be self-sufficient, as it was in the early 1980s. 'Bulog and the MRIA will sign an agreement this evening, under which Indonesia will buy from 100,000 to 200,000 metric tons of 5 per cent broken Myanmar rice annually,' Ye Min Aung, secretary of the MRIA, told Reuters. He said a tonne of that grade of Myanmar rice fetched around US$500 (S$627) on the international market. --------------------------------------- Will Burma's press free after new media reform bill? By Zin Linn Jan 28, 2012 10:59PM UTC The third regular session of the first Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) and the third regular session of first Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) opened at the Pyithu Hluttaw Building in Nay-Pyi-Taw, Thursday. President of Myanmar (Burma) Thein Sein sent a message to the Speakers of the Lower and the Upper Parliaments, the New Light of Myanmar said Friday. The President says in his message, "In successfully reforming the all sectors of the nation for the sake of the people and the nation, we had to promulgate 15 new laws and make amendments and supplements." The junta-sponsored existing parliament allows 330 civilian seats in the 440-member House of Representatives (Lower House). Under the 2008 Constitution, the remaining 110 seats are filled with appointed military officers. In the 224-seat House of Nationalities (Upper House), 168 are elected and 56 are appointed by the boss of the armed forces. Remarkably, 77 percent of the parliamentary seats have been seized by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the 2010 November polls which were distinguished for vote-rigging prescription. When the new parliament first started opening on January 31 in 2011, tight security had been set up around the parliament building as part of measures for a grand scale celebration. At that time, the area around the Naypyitaw was under surveillance and army units patrolling day and night. There were even restrictions on the members of parliament, according to invitations delivered to Members of Parliament calling them for the first parliament sessions. The new MPs were not allowed to carry cameras, computers, mobile phones, radios, voice recorders, electronic gadgets, handbags and miscellaneous items. During that first parliamentary session, even no visitors were allowed into the parliamentary compound. Uninvited guests might risk a prison term under rules made clear to lawmakers; whereas the authorized officials said even senior military officers were not permitted to go through without special permission. For the period of that first parliamentary session, 18 reporters from domestic and foreign news agencies arrived in Naypyidaw, according to the Mizzima News. But, the journalists did not received permission from the Information Ministry to cover the historic first sessions which assembled for the first time in 22 years on January 31, 2011. Additionally, reporters were not allowed to take photographs near the Parliament building. Only four reporters from state-run Myanmar Radio and Myawaddy TV were given permission to cover the Parliament. They even were not allowed to enter the Parliament and had to shoot video from a room surrounded by glass, Mizzima said. One remarkable thing is that on this latest third regular assembly of the first parliament sessions, the mobile phones were allowed to use in the parliament building, but agree holding devices without disturbance to the parliament discussion, the Eleven Media Group (EMG) news said Friday. Moreover, not only domestic correspondents but also foreign reporters have been allowed to cover the news on the parliament discussions during this House Sessions. Media personnel were placed at the top floor above the parliament assembly hall. They were also allowed carrying cameras, video-cameras, computers, voice recorders and other necessary papers. Apart from 26 domestic reporters, there are altogether eleven reporters from foreign news agencies, including Mr. Jason Szep (Southeast Asia Bureau Chief) from Reuters News of Britain, Mr.Toru Kitamura from Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Mr.Tetsuo Okabe from Ji Ji News Agency Japan, Mr. Yuzo Yamashita from Nippon Television Network (NTV) and Ms.Lin Xi from China Central Television (CCTV), according to EMG news. Since the new President Thein Sein government came to power in March 2011 after controversial 2010 November elections, Burma's authorities have made a minor moderation of rigid censorship rules for some publications, while keeping a tight grip on news journals. In an interview by telephone on Wednesday, Tint Swe, director of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) repeatedly told Radio Free Asia (Burmese Service) claiming freedom of expression in Burma will be better after the new Press Law, which is still in the process of being endorsed in the parliament. PSRD's director said that the press law had already been drafted by Burma's Ministry of Information and sent to the Attorney General's office for approval. After adopting the media reform bill, the role of Press Scrutiny and Registration Department will be finished, Tint Swe told RFA. http://asiancorrespondent.com/74808/will-burma%E2%80%99s-press-free-after-new-media-reform-bill/ -------------------------------------- CEASEFIRE: KNU wants to hear expert advice and Karen voices on 'peacetalks' January 28 | Author: Saw Blacktown | Karen News The Karen National Union (KNU) made public decisions at an emergency meeting by its Central Committee this week about recent and future 'peace talks' with the Burma government. The KNU emergency meeting, held at a secret location in Karen State was attended by a total of 38 representatives, 35 Central Committee members and three specially invited representatives. The KNU statement noted that in regard to the ceasefire talks with the Burma government its representatives on decided five key points. These were -- "1. Discussions between the KNU and the Burmese (Myanmar) government on the matter relating to ceasefire will be continued. 2. For building trust in the interest of ceasefire, dialogues and discussions will be undertaken on the matter of reduction/pulling out and positioning of Burmese government troops in the KNU areas. 3. For the effectiveness and smooth progress of negotiation, the KNU will seek the advice of experts. 4. The KNU will seek suggestions of the Karen people, inside and outside of the country, and encourage more participation of women in the negotiation process. 5. For the achievement of national (ethnic) equality and self-determination, the KNU will work together with the ethnic nationality forces, at the stage of political dialogue and negotiation." The KNU its statement concluded that it, "would like to state that in negotiation with the Burmese government, the KNU would strive ceaselessly for the establishment of durable peace, based on national equality and self-determination rights, after the establishment of a durable ceasefire." http://karennews.org/2012/01/ceasefire-knu-wants-to-hear-expert-advice-and-karen-voices-on-peacetalks.html/ ------------------------------------------ 10 Burma soldiers die in battle with KIA in Shan State DetailsCategory: News Created on Friday, 27 January 2012 21:47 Published Date Written by KNG A KIA sniper takes position near KIO Laiza headquarters in Kachin state, northern Burma. MUSE, Burma A short battle between the Burmese army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Shan state ended Thursday morning with the death of at least 10 Burmese soldiers, including an officer, according to KIA official in the area. The brief but lethal firefight broke out when members of the Kachin resistance attacked a military convoy on the Kutkai-Tamonye road between Maw Han and Nong Cho, said the KIA official. Thursday also saw at least three additional clashes between Burmese troops and members of the KIA 4th Brigade's 9th Battalion take place in the area. According to KIA officials these incidents resulted in a number of Burmese soldiers sustaining serious injury. It is not known what battalion the Burmese troops belonged to, however they were accompanied by troops from the Kutkai Militia, led by U Hkun Myat, according to a KIA official who also said that none of his soldiers were injured during the day's fighting. A large part of northern Shan state is presently under the control of the KIAs 4th Brigade, including the northern section of the Mandalay-Muse road, one of the country's most important trading routes. The Shwe gas project's twin oil and gas pipelines are also slated to be built in a lengthy stretch of land now controlled by the 4th Brigade including Namtu, Kutkai, Mandong and Nam Hkam townships. All of these areas have seen heavy fighting in recent weeks. High numbers of injuries in Burma Army in Northern Shan State Sources in the central Shan state town of Lashio report that the local military hospital is currently treating more than 200 injured Burmese soldiers. The Lashio military hospital usually provides only minor care, soldiers with more severe injuries are sent to a better equipped facility in Pyin Oo Lwin. The Kachin News Group has also learned that least 400 injured soldiers have been transferred from Lashio to the military hospital in Pyin Oo Lwin, (also known as May Myo). http://www.kachinnews.com/news/2226-10-burma-soldiers-die-in-battle-with-kia-in-shan-state.html ----------------------------------------- Zoya Phan: Burma Needs Real Peace, Not Just A Pause in Conflict January 27, 2012 Whats the benchmark for real change in Burma? By Zoya Phan With the recent release of high profile political prisoners, and the agreement in principle of a ceasefire with the Karen National Union (KNU), there is no doubt that major developments are happening in Burma. The question is how genuine are these steps, and how far is the military-backed government willing to go forward for peace? International pressure does work. Burmese governments frequently raise the relaxation of sanctions as a reward for steps they are taking. When it became clear that the international community would not relax sanctions while conflict in ethnic areas was increasing, the government started talking about ceasefires. As an ethnic Karen woman forced to flee my home at just 14 when the Burmese Army attacked our village, many people expect me to be very excited about a potential ceasefire agreement with the KNU. The agreement does give me some hope, but I am also feeling very cautious. There are good reasons for this. The recent negotiations were the sixth time the KNU had met with the central governments in the past sixty-three years, sometimes they were democratic governments, sometimes dictatorships. Always though, the demands were the same. The KNU had to surrender, or as the government called it, return to the legal fold. Everything had to be on their terms, there was no compromise. Having a ceasefire doesnt solve the political problem that caused the conflict. The KNU is accountable to the Karen people, leaders could not be bought off with promises of gifts and business ventures. They were willing to compromise for the sake of peace, but insisted that there also be dialogue for solving political problems that are the root cause of the conflict. So far, no government in Burmacivilian, military, or the current mixed civilian/military governmenthave been willing to seriously discuss these political problems. They just see ethnic groups as a conflict problem, so if there is a ceasefire the problem is solved. The danger is, that seems to be how many governments around the world also look at the problem. If the ceasefire with the Karen is successful, it could be a positive step towards nationwide ceasefire and national reconciliation. But will the Burmese Army respect the ceasefire, when they have broken others in the past? Will they stop soldiers committing human rights abusesraping, looting and killing, as they do in other places where there are ceasefires? We must also not forget that while the government is in talks about ceasefires with the Karen, Chin, and the Shan, the Burmese Army is launching offensives against the Kachin and targeting civilians in those attacks, committing horrific human rights abuses. A ceasefire without a political solution is like a pressing pause button, not a stop button. It doesnt stop the human rights abuses committed by the Burmese Army, or grant rights and autonomy for the Karen and other ethnic nationalities in Burma. The international community is in danger of making a big mistake in Burma. They talk about certain benchmarks needing to be met before sanctions are liftedan end to conflict, for example. But just having a ceasefire doesnt solve the political problem that caused the conflict. The problem remains. The same mistake is made with political prisoners. There is pressure to release all political prisoners, but even if this happens it is possible around a thousand remain in jailthe unjust laws under which they were all jailed will still be in place. Human rights abuses in Burma are a symptom of an undemocratic political system. That political system remains unchanged. The military and military-backed government havent given up any powers. People such as myself who have been forced to flee from our homeland because of attacks by the Burmese Army wont be able to return home safely until there is a political settlement. That political settlement is a real benchmark for judging if there is real change in my country. ---------------------------------------- Burma's censorship dep't to be abolished? Friday, 27 January 2012 22:13 Mizzima News (Mizzima) -- The director of the Burmese Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) repeated claims this week that the department would be abolished in coming months. Tint Swe of the Burmse press scrutiny and registration department. Photo: Mizzima"The new press law, which is still in the process of being enacted, will guarantee freedom of expression in Burma," Tint Swe told Radio Free Asia (RFA) in an interview on Wednesday. "It won't take too long to adopt the press law---it would just be a matter of months after discussions at the upcoming parliament session." Tint Swe made similar claims in November. Tint Swe told RFA that the law had already been drafted by Burma's Ministry of Information and sent to the Attorney General's office for approval. His remarks came as Rangoon journalists report that many prior censorship restrictions or advisories have been handed down in recent weeks. Among the items censored or advised to be toned down were calls by Aung San Suu Kyi and others for the release of all remaining political prisoners and comments by recently released 88-Generation student leaders. Other censored items involved the news of the eviction of a popular abbot for his outspoken political views and criticism of possible election irregularities by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) ahead of April 1 elections, according to RFA. Lawmakers in Parliament said this week that revisions to the country's press law would probably come up in this session of the Parliament, which opened this week. Burmese censorship rules have been modified in recent months and are now divided into two general categories: Group 1 includes nearly 200 publications focusing on sports, health, arts, children's literature, crime, business and technology, which don't need to pass articles through censors prior to publication, but must submit copies after publication. Group 2 includes around 160 publications focusing on news, economics, and religion, which must pass articles through censors prior to publication. http://www.mizzima.com/gallery/media-alert/6499-burmas-censorship-dept-to-be-abolished.html -------------------------------------------- Up to 900 political prisoners may remain in Burmese jails Friday, 27 January 2012 14:08 Nay Myo New Delhi (Mizzima) -- As many as 918 political prisoners may still be locked up in Burmese prisons, but an accurate list of the number is still incomplete, say groups working on the political prisoner issue. According to the list compiled by the Thai-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP-B), 918 political prisoners are still behind bars. According to the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, 388 are political prisoners are still being detained. The two groups use different criteria in defining a political prisoner. It is possible the exact number may never be known. The Burmese government does not claim to have an accurate list of political prisoners, because it denies that it has political prisoners in its jails. Occasionally, it refers to the numbers compiled by the AAPP and NLD. AAPP-B Secretary Teik Naing told Mizzima: "When we rechecked our list, we found that some of them were released but some were handed over to police and some were taken away by military units so that it is very difficult to make a complete list. We can confirm around 900 political prisoners are still behind bars." According to NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing, the number of remaining political prisoners may likely increase and the NLD is still working on the exact numbers. "According to our list, there were 591 political prisoners, and we found that 303 prisoners were released," said Ohn Kyaing. "We are compiling a new list by collecting figures based on information from prisoners who were just released, and the new list is almost completed," A total of 651 prisoners are believed to have been freed during the January 13 presidential amnesty. At a press conference in Naypyitaw on January 14, Home Minister Ko Ko said, "There are only prisoners in the prisons who are convicted for the crimes they committed. If you know there are monks who were arrested, please give us an accurate list of them." Taik Naing said that the AAPP defined those who were arrested and imprisoned in connection with a political issue as political prisoners. "Some of these political prisoners were charged and framed up in criminal cases such as a narcotic drug cases, misappropriation cases, gambling cases, etc. But we saw them all as political prisoners because they were arrested for their political activities, and then charged with other cases and imprisoned," he said. Ohn Kyaing said the NLD considered those who were imprisoned in bomb blast cases and charged under the Unlawful Associations Act were regarded as political prisoners. "We list all of them who were charged in bomb blast cases, charged in the "saffron revolution" cases, those who were charged under sections of the Unlawful Associations Act in Taungoo, those who were charged under the Emergency Provisions Act and those who were charged with section 505 of Penal Code (causing disaffection to the State) as political prisoners. And some of them were charged with abetting these political prisoners. We list them also as the political prisoners," he said. http://www.mizzima.com/news/prisoner-watch/6495-up-to-900-political-prisoners-may-remain-in-burmese-jails.html ------------------------------------- Money exchange services start next month Friday, 27 January 2012 18:11 Mizzima News (Mizzima) -- Four Burmese private banks will provide money exchange services in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand starting in February, according to Rangoon media. The move is designed to begin foreign trade services with Asean members. The banks participating are the Cooperative Bank, Kanbawza Bank, Asian Green Development Bank and Ayeyawaddy Bank, said an article in the Yangon Times. The service will allow migrant workers in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia to remit money to Burma. The Cooperative Bank will handle remittances from workers in Singapore; the Ayeyawaddy Bank in Malaysia; the Kanbawza Bank in Thailand; and Asian Green Development Bank in Singapore and Malaysia. Meanwhile, recent economic changes exempted Burmese citizens living abroad from paying income tax for money earned in foreign currency starting Jan. 1. Changes in the banking sector in November last year now allow 11 private banks out of 19 to trade three foreign hard currencies -- U.S. dollar, Euro and Singapore dollar. The 11 private banks include Kanbawza Bank, Cooperative Bank, Myanmar Industrial Development Bank, Myawaddy Bank, Inwa Bank, Myanmar Oriental Bank, Asian Green Development Bank, Ayeyawaddy Bank, Myanmar Pioneer Bank, United Amara Bank and Tun Foundation Bank. There are three state-owned banks in Burma: Myanma Economic Bank, Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment Commercial Bank. The article said there are 15 foreign bank representative offices from nine countries operating in Burma; four from Singapore, two each from Bangladesh, Malaysia and Japan, and one each from Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam and China. http://www.mizzima.com/business/6497-money-exchange-services-start-next-month.html