Democratic Voice of Burma |
- Burmese labour minister urged to fight for migrants in Malaysia
- Mae Tao Clinic to relocate
- Central Bank eyes decrease in interest rates
- Ethnic TV launches in Burma
- All aboard the Pilgrim Express to Kyaiktiyo
| Burmese labour minister urged to fight for migrants in Malaysia Posted: 10 Sep 2013 05:45 AM PDT Burma's Labour Minister Aye Myint arrived on Monday evening in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur where he and his government delegation met with Burmese rights groups to discuss the current issues surrounding a crackdown by Malaysian police on migrant workers. San Win, the chairperson of the Malaysia-Myanmar Free Funeral Service, said the meeting took place at the Darby Park Hotel, and that Aye Myint vowed he would help secure the return of Burmese nationals who wished to go home in the wake of the crackdown in which some 550 Burmese migrants have been detained. The labour minister also reportedly said that he would raise the issue with Malaysian immigration authorities, as well as the question of high rates of tax that Burmese migrants are often expected to pay. San Win said the meeting with Aye Myint was short because of a flight delay, however the rights group took the opportunity to brief him about a lack of security for Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia. He cited the case of six Burmese nationals who were killed during the latest bout of violence which allegedly was an offshoot of communal clashes in Burma between Buddhists and Muslims. "There has been one murder every month since then, and none of the cases have ever been solved," he said. Related Stories"We urged the minister to pressure the Malaysian authorities regarding this issue, while other migrant groups brought up the matter of Burmese girls being raped in central Kuala Lumpur," he said. He said the minister was also informed about how Burmese migrants were being cheated in the process of applying for work permits and other paperwork. The delegation was due to visit the Malaysian Home Affairs Ministryon Tuesday, as well as a factory where many Burmese migrants work. Yan Naing Htun of the Centre for Protection of Burmese Migrant Workers said he did not think the delegation's visit would bear any fruit. "I don't think anything will come out of this since the Burmese embassy in Malaysia is not doing the job they are supposed to do – because they are afraid [of the Malaysian authorities]," he said. Local newspapers on Tuesday reported that a 20-year-old Burmese worker had died when he jumped out of an eight-story building during the crackdown. |
| Posted: 10 Sep 2013 04:12 AM PDT The Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot will soon be forced to relocate when its land lease expires. The clinic, situated close to the Thai-Burmese border, has been providing free medical and emergency care to thousands of refugees and migrants since its inception in 1988. "As the lease for our current clinic location is due to expire soon, we are looking for a more convenient spot, and are raising funds for the relocation," said founder Dr Cynthia Maung. "We have accomplished some of these steps and are still working on other issues, such as the construction of new clinic buildings and fund raising." The Japanese government has pledged to provide 30 million baht (US$933,000) to assist with the relocation. Dr Cynthia has also been in talks with other potential sponsors and NGOs to cover construction costs. "So far, we have raised enough funding for three buildings and – the latest development – the Japanese government has also pledged assistance for the medical ward," Dr Cynthia said. Part of the clinic's land is owned by the Metta Thammarak Foundation, and in July 2013 they sold the land that housed an old clinic and a nursing school to a senior policeman. The foundation's members disputed the sale but Dr Cynthia said it would not affect the clinic's services. In late July, Mae Sot was inundated with flooding, which caused extensive damage to the clinic. Staff were forced to evacuate patients and valuable equipment. The area around the clinic is prone to flooding and Dr Cynthia said it would cost as much money to reinforce the clinic buildings as it would to relocate.
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| Central Bank eyes decrease in interest rates Posted: 10 Sep 2013 04:00 AM PDT The Central Bank of Myanmar is considering lowering Burmese interest rates to bring them in line with international borrowing and lending standards. Currently, the Central Bank sets lending rates at 13 percent per annum while banks offer 8 percent for savings, significantly higher than Burma's Southeast Asian neighbours where rates are generally fixed at around 2.5 percent for loans and 3 percent on savings. Satt Aung, deputy-president of the Central Bank of Myanmar said the bank is looking to reset interest rates according to international standards. "Our bank interest rates are higher than other ASEAN countries, but we have to consider a lot of different factors if we reset the rates," he said. "If we did it immediately, the move would prompt many of our clients to withdraw their money straight away. "We need to prepare for many eventualities. In money markets, a tiny mistake can lead to a massive chain of reactions," he said. Related StoriesThan Lwin, the deputy-director of privately owned Kanbawza Bank, said it is necessary to consider the country's economic situation when setting the interest rates. "In western countries, bank interests are lowered during economic recessions, but they can do that because they can maintain inflation and prevent commodity prices from going up," he said. "But here in Myanmar [Burma], the cost of living has gone up, therefore we have to consider whether we can reduce the price of commodities. "We cannot simply fix rates at 1 percent to fall in line with other countries," Than Lwin added. "We have to wage it according to our economic situation." The deputy-president of the Central Bank of Myanmar said the bank will be working with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank on the subject of reducing interest rates. |
| Posted: 10 Sep 2013 02:04 AM PDT The National Races Channel premiered on Sunday, becoming the first TV channel dedicated exclusively to Burma's ethnic minorities which make up nearly 40 percent of the country's 60 million people. Broadcast from Naypyidaw by state-run Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV), the new channel is currently only accessible in Rangoon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw, but is scheduled to be broadcast in other administrative regions as from 15 September. The National Races Channel includes a variety of programmes in 11 ethnic languages: Kachin, Karenni, Skaw Karen, Eastern Poe Karen, Western Poe Karen, Laizo Chin, Asho Chin, Mon, Arakanese, Shan and Wa. Programmes begin at 6am and run until 12 noon. Then the programs repeat themselves for the remainder of the day, said the channel's deputy director Khin Sandar Aung. "Currently we are airing mostly interviews," she said. "But we intend to commence a full menu of programmes from 15 October." She said each of the Kachin, Karenni, Mon, Arakanese and Shan programmes are 60 minutes long, while those in Karen, Chin and Wa languages are currently 30 minutes each. There are 158 staff working at the channel, with up to 13 staffers working on each nationality's programming. |
| All aboard the Pilgrim Express to Kyaiktiyo Posted: 10 Sep 2013 12:25 AM PDT A new Rangoon-Kyaiktiyo train offers tourists and Buddhist pilgrims a ticket to the Golden Rock.
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