News & Articles on Burma-Friday 20 July 2012-UZL

News & Articles on Burma Friday 20 July 2012 Myanmar pays tribute to Suu Kyi's hero father US outlines two-pronged sanction path in editorial Myanmar general to visit India 'Only solution' unacceptable Dawei Tops Agenda for Thein Seins Thai Trip 23rd clash after ceasefire pact Local enterprises call for better access to credit, tax incentives US Senate pushes to extend ban on Burmese imp Myanmar reforms renews Thai interest in Burmese language classes Burmese Firms Prepare for 2015 Funding shortage cuts Mae Tao Clinics patient referrals -------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ---- Bangkok Post Myanmar pays tribute to Suu Kyi's hero father Published: 20/07/2012 at 01:48 AM Online news: Asia Myanmar honoured democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi's father and eight other slain independence heroes at an official ceremony Thursday that underscored the political changes sweeping the country. Myanmar people take part in a parade in honour of independence hero General Aung San. Myanmar honoured democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi's father and eight other slain independence heroes at an official ceremony Thursday that underscored the political changes sweeping the country. Vice president Sai Mauk Kham led the memorial for General Aung San and others killed on July 19, 1947, by political rivals while they were holding a meeting as part of their struggle to win independence from Britain. The high-level presence at the Martyrs' Mausoleum in the former capital marked a departure from recent years when the Rangoon mayor was the official representative at low-key ceremonies to mark the anniversary. The event was broadcast live on state television in another sign of change in the country formerly known as Burma, which is emerging from decades of military rule. President Thein Sein, a former general, has overseen dramatic political changes over the past year, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the election of Suu Kyi to parliament. After the ceremony, the 67-year-old opposition leader paid homage at the mausoleum with three baskets of flowers, followed by relatives of the other late independence heroes as well as diplomats and members of the public. Later Suu Kyi addressed supporters at her party offices, calling on youth members to embrace the spirit of the martyrs. "The martyr spirit is a noble spirit. We should respect the martyr leaders in order to increase the noble spirit of our country," she said. The veteran dissident, who spent much of the last two decades under house arrest and was released in late 2010, last year attended the remembrance ceremony for the first time in nine years. The Nobel Peace Prize winner was only two years old when she lost her father, who is widely hailed as the architect of Myanmar's liberation from British rule but who died a year before the colonial era ended in 1948. Often referred to simply as Bogyoke, or General, Aung San remains a potent symbol of pride in Myanmar, but for years his image was rarely seen in public under a junta anxious not to draw attention to its incarceration of Suu Kyi. Pictures of the father and daughter are now widely seen in one of the most visible signs of change under the reformist regime. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/303392/myanmar-pays-tribute-to-suu-kyi-hero-father ------------------------------------------- US outlines two-pronged sanction path in editorial Friday, 20 July 2012 12:51 Mizzima News An editorial labeled Encouraging Further Change In Burma appeared on the US governments Voice of America website on Friday, noting that while direct investment sanctions were removed on July 11 to allow US businesses to invest in the country and to take part in Burmas economic development, other underlying sanction authorities remain in place, including direct trade with the country. The president has also signed a new executive order expanding the ability of the U.S. government to target sanctions against those individuals who violate human rights or threaten the peace, security and stability of Burma, said the editorial. Further, U.S. business interests wont be allowed to invest in entities owned by Burmas Ministry of Defense or other state or non-state armed groups. Investors also will be required annually to file detailed, public reports on their activities as a way to promote greater transparency and encourage civil society there to partner with our companies toward responsible investment, it said. It said the US would call for further progress in democratization, a halt to hostilities in ethnic minority areas, the unconditional release of political prisoners and a cessation of Burmas military trade with North Korea Burma has made progress since the formation of its new government in the spring of 2011. The beginning of a transition to civilian rule from a military-dominated system, holding of a more inclusive and credible Parliamentary by-election this April, the easing of some media restrictions and the freeing of more than 500 imprisoned political activists were important steps in the nations democratic transformation, and a sign that Burmese leaders have embarked on a path of greater openness, transparency and reform, said the editorial. It said, The participation of American businesses in the Burmese economy has the potential to set a model for responsible investment and business operations, as well as encourage further change, promote economic development and contribute to the welfare of the Burmese people. The US Senate next week is expected to approve a three-year renewal of trade restrictions with Burma. US officials said President Obama could rescind the restrictions at any time. http://www.mizzima.com/business/7568-us-outlines-two-pronged-sanction-path-in-editorial.html -------------------------------------------- Myanmar general to visit India By IANS - NEW DELHI 20th July 2012 04:03 PM Continuing with its efforts to forge strong ties with Myanmar, India will on August 1 welcome its neighbour's top military general, when the two sides are expected to discuss furthering their cooperation in the defence and security sectors. General Min Aung Hlaing, the Myanmar armed forces commander-in-chief, will be here on a week-long stay till August 8 when he is scheduled to meet with Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony, navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, air force chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne and army chief General Bikram Singh. He will also visit Buddhist pilgrim centres like Bodhgaya. India's Kolkata-based Eastern Command, which is responsible for security in the northeast bordering Myanmar, will host the visitor and so would the Visakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command. The Myanmar general's visit comes just two months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the country, the first such trip by an Indian prime minister in a quarter of a century. India now has robust bilateral ties with Myanmar, which transitioned into democracy in 2010 after several decades of military rule. It has also steadfastly supported Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, whom Manmohan Singh met in Yangon, the former capital, during his visit. During this decade, India has supplied military equipment to Myanmar such as an Islander maritime patrol plane apart from 105mm light artillery guns, naval gunboats, mortars, grenade launchers and rifles. http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article572443.ece --------------------------------------- BANGKOK POST/ EDITORIAL 'Only solution' unacceptable Published: 20/07/2012 at 01:51 AM Newspaper section: News Myanmar President Thein Sein has finally fixed the dates of his first official visit to Thailand. The country will welcome the leader of our western neighbour for three days beginning on Sunday. The lead-up to Thein Sein's trip was confusing, to say the least. Twice, he was supposedly coming, and twice he did not arrive. The delays to the trip were curious, made even more so because of the unconvincing effort by both nations to claim that nothing was wrong. Clearly, the delays in Thein Sein's trip had a reason. Because of the official secrecy, there has been intense speculation that the warm welcome given to the unofficial and popular opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was the reason. Whatever the recent past, Thein Sein comes to Thailand as the head of a government which has made impressive reforms in the past eight months. The world's biggest companies now are lining up to look over investment opportunities. Last week, the giant General Electric re-opened US business in Myanmar with the sale of X-ray machines. But the country and its leader still have a long way to travel to catch up on its 48 years as a cruel, violent military dictatorship. The recent ethnic clashes in western Myanmar have thrown off the facade of a united country. President Thein Sein uttered some of the most distressing statements heard from a reform government in recent memory. He told the United Nations last week that the million Rohingya people in Rakhine (formerly known as Arakhan) state are simply not welcome in Myanmar. They would be placed in camps or, preferably, deported. They are ethnically different from the Burman majority, and they are religiously Muslim, he said. The "only solution" is to hand them over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or resettle them in third countries that are willing to take them. "Burma will take responsibility for its ethnic nationalities but it is not at all possible to recognise the illegal border-crossing Rohingyas who are not an ethnic [group] in Burma," said Thein Sein according to his office's website. These are not tough words, but unacceptable ones. The Rohingya _ the word itself was invented and introduced during the military regimes _ have rights, too. They may have migrated into Myanmar at one time, but most were born in the western provinces of the country. Thein Sein may consider them as a nuisance, but the solution is for Myanmar to adapt to its circumstances. The existence and problem of Rohingya should be raised during Thein Sein's visit. Thailand and other neighbours are all too aware of the plight of these people. Many have fled their homeland in Myanmar, and used Thailand as a stepping stone to travel further abroad. They have found no welcome in Thailand _ to the occasional shame of our officials _ but the root of the problem lies in Myanmar. The shocking language of the Myanmar president may be excused briefly after his country's long isolation from the real world, enforced at the army's gunpoint. But Thein Sein must be disabused of the notion that he will find sympathy, let alone help as he seeks a solution to his problem with Myanmar people. If his words are disagreeable, he must know that any action to back them up will be unacceptable. Myanmar is emerging from a long, dark history of violence. It is entering a new world, with norms that are quite different from 50 years ago. Thein Sein's statements about the Rohingya appear racist, malicious and threatening. They must not stand unchallenged. http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/303354/only-solution-unacceptable -------------------------------------------- Dawei Tops Agenda for Thein Seins Thai Trip By LAWI WENG / THE IRRAWADDY| July 20, 2012 | Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra, left, shakes hands with Burmese President Thein Sein on her first trip to Burma in October. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) The burning issue of the future of the Dawei (Tavoy) deep-sea port and industrial zone in southern Burma is due to be the main subject of discussion when Burmese President Thein Sein visits Thailand at the weekend. Thein Sein will arrive in the Kingdom for three days on Sunday for a twice-postponed trip to Burmas second biggest trading partnerbilateral trade with Thailand amounted to US 6.1 billion in 2011 and was only beaten by China. The development of the Dawei deep-sea port and industrial zone in Myanmar will be a major topic of discussion during the official visit of the Myanmar President, said a statement issued by the Thai government. In May, the Thai government approved a 33.1 billion baht ($1 billion) budget allocation for infrastructure to link with the Dawei megaproject. However, its future remains in doubt following the rejection by Naypyidaw of a coal-fired power plant in the area and one of the biggest investors, Max Myanmar Company, pulling out earlier this month. The Dawei port complex, across the border from Thailands Kanchanaburi Province, is being developed by Thailands largest construction company Italian-Thai Development PLC. The $8.6 billion project was agreed with the former Burmese junta in 2008. In order to aid bilateral economic development between the two countries, Thailand also will propose opening another border checkpoint in Kanchanaburi with an access road towards Dawei. However, humanitarian groups have long voiced human rights concerns regarding the megaproject with particular reference to land seizures by the construction zone. Other subject to be discussed include the 92 Thai citizens who were detained in Kawthaung Township, southern Burma, early last week for alleged illegal logging and illegally crossing the border. The Thai government will no doubt bring up the fate of those arrested with Thein Sein during his visit. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the Thai government in a letter on Thursday to use Thein Seins visit to press for immediate and concrete steps towards addressing serious human rights violations in Burma. Prime Minister Yingluck should use Thailands leverage as one of Burmas major political and economic partners and a core member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to help improve respect for human rights and promote political reform in the country, said the advocacy group. The Burmese governments record on human rights remains poor, despite recent signs of change, said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW. As a neighbor long affected by Burmas abysmal rights record, the Thai government should not miss this opportunity to press Thein Sein to end army abuses against ethnic minorities and protect the basic rights of all people in Burma. Thein Sein was due to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok from May 30 to June 1, but canceled his trip apparently after hearing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was booked to address the event. The former general also postponed a subsequent visit on June 4-5 ostensibly to tackle domestic crises including power shortage protests and sectarian violence in Arakan State, but rumors abounded that he was irked by the Nobel Laureates performance in the Kingdom. http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/9631 ------------------------------------------ 23rd clash after ceasefire pact Friday, 20 July 2012 14:43 S.H.A.N. The Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) had just fought the 23rd engagement against a Burma Army column that had trespassed on the territory under its control on Wednesday, 18 July, according to local sources. The fight took place east of Na Piem village, Hsipaw township, 16:15-16:45 between the SSAs First Brigade, commanded by Maj Hseng Fa, and the Burma Armys Infantry Battalion 41, based in Lashio. The Burmese column was said to have suffered at least 10 killed and 15 wounded. Sai Mawng, 22, who was forced to serve as a guide for the Burmese column was among those killed. Hsaw Kianghai, 38, of Hsai Liang village, who was tending buffaloes near the battlefield was also taken into custody by the column as a suspect. He is yet to be released, said a fellow villager. We fear he wont be coming back at all. According to the SSA, its liaison officer in Lashio was informed by the regional command in at advance that the column would only go as far as Na Piem and not beyond it. It remains to be seen how the regional command would respond to the clash that had taken place. The two sides had recently fought for the possession of two strategic hills in Monghsu, south of Lashio. It was the SSA that had retreated on both occasions. The meeting of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), the umbrella organization of which the SSPP/SSA is an active member, held on the Thai-Burmese border, 17-18 July, noted that 3 of its members that had reached ceasefire agreement with Naypyitaw were still being forced to fight: SSA (Shan State Army) 23 times KNU (Karen National Union) 2 times KNPP (Karenni National Progressive Party) 1 time As for the KIA that has yet to reach agreement, it has already fought 1,640 times since the 1994 ceasefire was violated by the Burma Army on 9 June 2011, reported Irrawaddy. The Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), the sister organization of the SSPP/SSA, that had also fought 24 times, noted that the reason the clashes that have taken place even after ceasefire agreements were signed, was because the Burma Army did not cease its military activities, especially area clearing and area control operations. The UNFC is made up of 11 member organizations: 5 of which have ceasefire status with Naypyitaw (KNU, KNPP, SSPP/SSA, Chin National Front and New Mon State Party) and 6 that have yet to reach agreement (KIA, National United Front of Arakan, Wa National Organization, PaO National Liberation Organization, Lahu Democratic Union and Palaung State Liberation Front).http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4816:23rd-clash-after-ceasefire-pact&catid=86:war&Itemid=284 ------------------------------------------- Local enterprises call for better access to credit, tax incentives By KATE KELLY Published: 20 July 2012 Local companies could be set to receive similar tax breaks and incentives as foreign firms under the Burmese governments new foreign investment law, as the government seeks ways to even up the playing field, said the leading industry body on Wednesday. The locals who are currently doing wholesale/retail do not have the privilege of having these tax holidays, said Dr Maung Maung Lay, vice president of the Union of Myanmar Federated Chambers of Commerce and Industry, an organisation representing Burmas private sector. But the government have said they are thinking about granting them such tax holidays in order that the playing field will be equal, he said. One of the private sectors central concerns include allowing international firms to open shop with 100 percent foreign ownership, and other tax incentives such as five year tax holidays, said Maung Maung Lay. Previously, local businesses have spoken out against these sections of the governments proposed foreign direct investment law, said UMFCCIs vice president, explaining these terms would put local enterprises, which lack the capital and technology to compete effectively, at a competitive disadvantage against foreign firms. The private sector feels that currently the playing field is not level and the government is too generous to the foreigners, said Maung Maung Lay. In that sense, our mom and pop shops will all suffer and become overwhelmed by these potential investors. The proposal to extend the current three-year holiday to a five-year tax holiday for foreign businesses was a sticking point for domestic companies, said Jared Bissinger, a PhD candidate at Macquarie University studying Burmas economy. This part of the new FDI law is certainly creating the biggest bones of contention so far and domestic business doesnt like it, said Bissinger.You want to create a level playing field for all business so theres no need to prejudice one over the other. According to Myat Thu Winn, managing director of Shwe Minn Tha Enterprises Co Ltd, Burmas small to medium enterprises (SMEs) still struggle to access sufficient credit from the countrys weak banking sector to grow their business and will suffer if forced to compete against sophisticated and well-financed foreign companies. There are many challenges for the local businessman, he said. Our country is very poor and we need foreign investment, not only to provide capital, but to provide new infrastructure and techniques. So as a normal Burmese citizen, I welcome foreign investment, but as a businessman I think all companies need to have an equal chance at profitability. Local firms wanted to access the same benefits as foreign companies, without having to sacrifice their firms independence, explained Maung Maung Lay, saying hed encountered mutual reluctance from the private sector and foreign investors on the topic of joint ventures. Local businesses are concerned they will have to sell their companies, or joint venture, or be overwhelmed, said Maung Maung Lay. One local battery manufacturing company said it needed additional capital to expand and compete more effectively against an influx of cheap Asian brands, but due to current banking sector constraints, the only way it could access fresh capital was through a joint venture partnership. We are ready to play on the fair ground with foreign investors but we need better access to finance, said Ohn Lwin, the managing director of Toyo Battery. So if we can get an industrial long-term loan with a low interest rate from the government then wed be very happy. Then we wouldnt need to look for a joint venture to provide capital. Better access to credit and receiving tax incentives on par with what foreigners are entitled to would help boost local firms, says Ohn Lwin. If they give the incentives to the foreigners, say a five year tax break, then we should also be granted five years, that would be fair, said Ohn Lwin. The government has not officially announced new tax incentive plans to even up the playing field for local firms, but according to UMFCCIs vice president the issue has been discussed at government meetings and within his organisation, which acts as a bridge between the private sector and the state. -Kate Kelly is a pseudonym for a journalist working inside Burma. http://www.dvb.no/news/local-enterprises-call-for-better-access-to-credit-tax-incentives/22979 ------------------------------------------ US Senate pushes to extend ban on Burmese imports By PETER AUNG Published: 20 July 2012 The US Senates Finance Committee on Wednesday voted to maintain a ban on Burmese imports for three additional years. By reauthorizing the import sanctions for three years, we maintain pressure on the Burmese government to undertake reforms, said US Senate Finance Committees Chairman Max Baucus. The decision came as the USs 2003 Burma Freedom and Democracy Act was due to expire at the end of this month. The extension requires approval from the Senate and House of Representatives as well as a signature from the president, who last week eased investment sanctions on Burma. Shan Nationalities Democratic Partys parliamentary representative Nan Wah Nu earlier in the week submitted a proposal urging whoever can get the sanctions lifted as quickly as possible to work with the house. The parliamentarian told DVB yesterday the extension of the sanctions would impede the countrys reform process. A reform process must go step by step. I would like not just the United States of America but also other nations to provide positive help, said said Nan Wah Nu. I think it is necessary for everyone to cooperate to bring a democratic system in the country, US senator Mitch McConnell, who sponsored the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act, was cited on the US Campaign for Burmas website as saying: The Burmese government still has not met all the necessary conditions to justify a complete repeal of all existing sanctions. Despite the unmistakable progress made by the Burmese government, now is not the time to end our ability either to encourage further governmental reform or to revisit sanctions if necessary. As Suu Kyi herself has cautioned, the situation in Burma is not irreversible. Serious challenges need to be addressed. Prior to the Senates voting on the bill, Mitch McConnell called Suu Kyi to discuss the sanctions. http://www.dvb.no/news/us-senate-pushes-to-extend-ban-on-burmese-imports/22984 ------------------------------------------ Myanmar reforms renews Thai interest in Burmese language classes By Anasuya Sanyal | Posted: 20 July 2012 1545 hrs BANGKOK: There has been a big spike in interest in learning the Burmese language in Thailand, as political reforms in Myanmar lead to more investment and tourism opportunities. Daw Than Than Myint, who has been teaching Burmese at Chulalongkorn University for over two decades, is elated at all the enthusiasm. She said that in the past, it was hard to get even enough students for a level one class. "Very recently, there has been a quite number of people who are waiting for me to open a new course but still I am still with this project. So I still can not open it yet but most probably I will doing so within this month, maybe," Daw Than Than Myint said. The 30-hour course was split into sections for children and adults. The students say they know it will be useful when doing business in either Thailand or Myanmar. Mr Preecha Lertpreechapakdi, a used cars and auto parts seller, said: "As a businessman, I heard that Thailand is the first destination where rich Burmese are going to visit. "They plan to bring at least US$20,000 or about 600,000 Thai baht to spend here. What they are looking for are kitchenware like stainless pans and pots in the Sampeng area. Those are really rare in Myanmar." The students are also hoping that more classes are offered to further their studies. Ms Juthathip Lertpreechapakdi, a businessperson in Yaowarat, said: "The teacher taught me simple communication in Burmese and I was given this textbook. I need to find a more advanced course should I want to study the language further." Based on the success of the course so far, the director of the programme is hoping to launch it nationwide. - CNA/wm http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/1214690/1/.html ----------------------------------------- Burmese Firms Prepare for 2015 By MAY LAY / THE IRRAWADDY| July 20, 2012 | A worker at the Myanmar Securities Exchange Centre in Rangoon writes on a white board. (Photo: Reuters) Burmas businesspeople say they are preparing for the realization of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 by setting up public limited companies in the belief that the countrys stock exchange will drive economic development. Economics experts in the former pariah state say that 96 percent of businesses in Burma are SMEs (Small and Medium Entrepreneurs), which will not be able to survive once the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) law is put in place. The stock market is main engine that will drive economic development without having to borrow from banks. It follows therefore that public companies are essential, said economist Hla Maung. Speaking to The Irrawaddy, a major shareholder in the Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO), said, Assuming the FDI is followed by mass investment, local businesspeople have only three options: to sell off their businesses; to change industries; or to cooperate. I am guessing that setting up new public companies is the right way to complete the move to real economic development. According to a Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) spokesperson, there were no more than 21 public limited companies in the country before the 2011-12 fiscal year. In the last year, seven new firms have gone public, a 33 percent increase. They are: MAPCO; Myanmar Citizens Bank; Myanmar Agricultural & General Development; Myanmar Edible Oil Industrial and General Development Public Ltd; FMI Company; and Gold Industrial. The authorized capital cost to set up a public limited company is 500 million kyat (US $560,000), he said. Publicly traded companies first appeared in Burma in 1990. However, according to official data from the MIC, only one percent of them are privately owned companies. http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/9588 ------------------------------------------------ Funding shortage cuts Mae Tao Clinics patient referrals July 19 | Author: Poe Kwa Lay (KIC) The Thai-Burma border based Mae Tao Clinic has cut the number of its patients for referral due to budget shortages for the year 2012, according to senior staff at the clinic. Mae Tao Clinic also known as Dr. Cynthias Clinic, treats as many as 150,000 cases a year, most of its patients are from Burma or migrant workers. U Aung Pe, a senior staff at the Mae Tao Clinic told Karen News, that due to budget shortfalls they could not afford to refer to Mae Sot Hospital patients in need of advance treatment. In past years, we could refer patients who were in need of emergency care or who needed specialist operations. But now, we have to prioritize referrals, as our funding is limited. We wont refer patients for treatment beyond what we can afford, but we will try to treat them here at the clinic as much as we can. According to Mae Tao Clinics annual report for 2011, it referred 709 In-patients to Mae Sot Hospital with 60% of them coming from inside Burma. U Aung Pe pointed out that the funding cuts by some donors to Mae Tao Clinic might be due to the perceived reforms in Burma. We can say there are some changes in Burma. Donors might think the Clinic can now go back and open in Burma. Many donors are also channeling their money to inside Burma and their support to the border is decreasing. The Clinic sent out a funding appeal to try to offset the funding shortage they have of around 18 million baht [$600,000USD] for 2012. Staff at the Clinic say the budget shortage not only affects the referral department, but it also has impacts on other areas such as the reproductive health department, the eye department, the child protection program, the out-patient department and the T.B department. To meet some of the budget shortage, 20% of the Mae Tao Clinic staff stipends have been cut. Naw Taw Gay Moo, a health worker at the Clinic said that the situation is hard on their living, but she said that everyone is helping one another. For a health worker like me, we face difficulties in our livelihood, but it is not only me who face the problem. Every health worker here is affected the same. Everyone who works here are working on their goodwill. http://karennews.org/2012/07/funding-shortage-cuts-mae-tao-clinics-patient-referrals.html/