Democratic Voice of Burma |
- Business Weekly
- Bangkok protests delay pardon for Burmese inmates, says ambassador
- Burma and the Philippines pledge increased trade and investment
- “Mandela Raised The Standard Of Humanity” – Suu Kyi
- Ready for battle – Burma women’s football team
- Thai authorities implicated in Rohingya smuggling operation
| Posted: 06 Dec 2013 03:09 AM PST Ups and Downs The Burmese currency strengthened by the slightest of margins this week, trading at 978 kyat for one US dollar on Friday, down from 979 last week. The kyat is currently selling for 984 kyat to the dollar, two kyat down for the week previous. Gold is down from 662,200 kyat per tical to 650,000 kyat. Fuel is up in price though. After two months at 814 kyat per litre, it is selling this week for 820; similarly, diesel has increased from 920 to 940 kyat per litre. Octane remains at 920 kyat. China extends tax exemptions on Burma's gas China's Ministry of Finance announced on Monday that a tax exemption on imported natural gas will be extended to apply to additional foreign sources, industry news site Platts reported on Wednesday. The tax break will now apply to gas imported from Burma via the newly operating Shwe Gas pipeline, and exemptions will be backdated to sales dating from project commencement, the report said. Selected foreign banks allowed to begin 'certain' operations in 2014 Burma will allow some foreign banks to begin offering limited financial services next year, a senior central bank official said, according to a report in Reuters on 5 December. No less than 34 international banks have representative offices in the country, but none are allowed to open branches or conduct money transactions in the country until now. The Burmese government is reportedly encouraging foreign banks to form joint ventures with domestic banks before allowing them to open independent branches. The senior official is quoted saying that the central bank is now formulating a plan to speed up the process by letting a select number of foreign banks begin operating in 2014 in “certain areas of banking services”, which he did not define. Bidders announced for 30 gas and oil blocks Bidding has closed on 30 of Burma's on- and offshore gas and oil blocks, with several super-majors including ExxonMobil, Shell Dutch Royal, Total and Petronas vying for stakes. Other interested bidders include Woodside Petroleum, BG Group, Santos, Roc Oil, Tap Oil, Peak Oil and Gas, Hawkley Oil & Gas and the unlisted Twinza Oil Hawkley Oil & Gas, Australian Financial Review reported on Monday. Of the 30 blocks, 11 are shallow offshore and 19 deepwater. A joint venture with a Burmese partner is required for development of shallow and onshore blocks. Construction begins at Thilawa industrial zone A ceremony launching the first phase of the 400-hectare Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project, 25 miles southeast of Rangoon, was held on 1 December. The SEZ is a majority Japanese investment, with automaker Mitsubishi a noted partner. Win Aung, chairman of the Myanmar-Thilawa SEZ Holding PCL, said the project is located in a very low-cost area which is very convenient for human resources and transporting manufactured products. He added that basic operations at the SEZ will begin in December while major projects are scheduled to launch by early 2015. However, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiko Isozaki expressed hesitation among Japanese businesses to invest in Burma, according to civil society group Dawei Project. The report suggested that the success or failure of the Thilawa SEZ could determine the future of Japanese investments in the country. Isozaki vowed that Japanese and Burmese governments will collaborate to provide electricity, water and transportation in the zone. SEA Games football budget The Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) has so far spent almost 1.7 billion kyat (US$1.7 million) of a 2.5 billion kyat budget in preparation for the SEA Games. MFF chairman Zaw Zaw said the federation has already spent 800 million kyat for the men's football team, 840 million kyat for the women's team, and around 200 million kyat for the futsal teams, including expenses for sending the teams to overseas matches and hosting events at home. Burma ranked 20th most corrupt country in the world Germany-based Transparency International released its Corruption Perceptions Index 2013, in which it ranks 177 countries by levels of government "cleanness". According to the report, Denmark and New Zealand are the cleanest countries in the world, followed by Finland, Sweden, Norway and Singapore. Burma is ranked 157th, alongside Zimbabwe and Burundi. War-town Somalia is rated the most corrupt country in the world. Naypyidaw boasts 53 new hotels in time for SEA Games Fifty-three hotels with a capacity of more than 3,800 rooms have been opened in Naypyidaw in time for the SEA Games on 11 December, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Eleven hotels were opened in a period of just two days: 26- 27 November. The ministry said guests coming for the SEA Games should report to the Committee for Accommodation and Reservations, which is tasked with their coordinating accommodations for visitors who will be offered rooms for US$150 and $100. Coaches and athletes are assigned to $70 rooms and media are to be offered rooms for $55, according to a ministry official. Ayeyarwady Bank to offer MasterCard cash withdrawals Burma's Ayeyarwady Bank (AYA) will soon begin offering cash withdrawals for MasterCard and Maestro/Cirrus cardholders, The Nation reported on 30 November. AYA is one of the country's largest banks, with more than 52 branches and 69 ATMs nationwide. Asia Green Development Bank also recently announced that they their ATMs will accept MasterCard in anticipation of the upcoming SEA Games. As of mid-November, MasterCard had nine partners in Burma, and was the first international payment network to partner with Burmese banks, several newly removed from international sanctions lists. Private helicopters for sale US-based Robinson Helicopter Co is to open a showroom and set up a manufacturing site in Burma, according to the Yangon Time Daily Newspaper quoting a Burmese partner of the company. The businessman said the price for a two-seat helicopter is set at US$270,000. Meanwhile, Myanma Airways Corporation has offered to provide assistance to individuals interested in buying private aircraft. Robinson Helicopter Co currently has showrooms in Thailand and Indonesia, and a manufacturing facility in Thailand. Ooredoo calls on Digicel for telecoms development Yoma Strategic Holdings (YSH) announced that its joint venture, Digicel Asia Holdings (DAH), has agreed to partner with Qatar-based Ooredoo in the development of telecoms towers in Burma. Read more: http://www.dvb.no/news/ooredoo-calls-on-digicel-for-telecoms-development-burma-myanmar/34893 KDB has high hopes for Rangoon skyline South Korean KDB Daewoo Securities has announced that it will invest nearly US$200 million in construction in Burma's former capital Rangoon, Korean daily Maeil Business News reported on Monday. The project, which will include a 14-story luxury hotel and a serviced residential high-rise near Inya Lake, will be carried out by a consortium of Daewoo International, POSCO Engineering & Construction, and Korean luxury chain Lotte Hotels and Resorts, the report said. Read more: http://www.dvb.no/news/kdb-daewoo-has-high-hopes-for-rangoon-skyline/34879 |
| Bangkok protests delay pardon for Burmese inmates, says ambassador Posted: 06 Dec 2013 02:36 AM PST Political instability and protests in Thailand are delaying the release of Burmese inmates who might otherwise be pardoned, according to Burma's ambassador in the country. Four people have been killed in recent unrest in Bangkok as anti-government protestors forced several government offices to close. It is usual for the Thai king to grant an amnesty to hundreds of prisoners to mark the occasion of his birthday. This year, no royal pardon has yet been announced. Ambassador Tin Win said his embassy in Bangkok has requested release or reduced prison terms for some 850 inmates in Thai prisons, some of whom are serving lengthy or life sentences. "Quite often, we receive letters from Burmese inmates – individuals or groups – in Thai prisons, and based on what they said, about 95 percent of them were jailed under narcotic laws and are serving from 20 to 40 years, even up to life in prison," said the ambassador. "We are working to have them included in the amnesties granted on the king and the queen's birthdays. So far, we have made requests to the Thai authorities for 858 Burmese inmates." He said that according to official data, some 4,000 Burmese are currently detained in Thai prisons. Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Tak Province Traders Association, said the political turmoil in Thailand is also causing delays with the flow of imports from Burma and has led to a decline in Burmese visitors entering the country. There are over two million Burmese migrants working in Thailand, and the two countries share several busy border trade posts. |
| Burma and the Philippines pledge increased trade and investment Posted: 06 Dec 2013 02:08 AM PST Burmese President Thein Sein and a delegation of 10 representatives concluded a three-day visit to Manila on Friday, after penning six agreements with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at the presidential palace. Thein Sein was accompanied by eight Union Ministers, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hla Htay Win and Burma's Ambassador to the Philippines, Ye Myint Aung. The meeting culminated in the signing of six new agreements: a 14-day visa free entry into Burma for Filipino passport holders; four cooperation accords for food security, renewable energy development, information sharing, increased trade and investment; and a business contact-sharing agreement between their respective chambers of commerce. Thein Sein and Aquino delivered a press briefing following the meeting where Aquino expressed his gratitude for Burma's emergency aid in the wake of the Bohol earthquake in mid-October and typhoon Yolanda in early November. Thein Sein likewise thanked Aquino for supporting Burma's nascent democracy and encouraged continued partnership in the form of skill sharing, journalist exchange visits and business investment. “As you all know, we have lagged behind in terms of development compared to other ASEAN member states, as economic sanctions were imposed against Myanmar [Burma] for nearly two decades,” Thein Sein said at the press briefing. "Myanmar offers ample investment opportunities. As such, I have proposed that President Aquino urge Filipino investors and businessmen to come and invest in Myanmar." Though the visit, Thein Sein's first to the Philippines, was focused on increasing financial aid and cooperation between the two countries towards developing Burma’s hindered economy, Thein Sein handed over a donation US$50,000 for earthquake recovery, as well as US$100,000 and 7 tons of food aid for relief efforts following the deadly storm that devastated parts of the central Philippines last month. "President Thein Sein's visit is a testament to our desire to learn more from each other and advance our cooperation in various fields," said President Aquino. |
| “Mandela Raised The Standard Of Humanity” – Suu Kyi Posted: 06 Dec 2013 01:31 AM PST Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi joined the world in paying tribute to Nelson Mandela on Friday, calling him a great man who “raised the standard of humanity”. South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero and first black president died on Thursday at 95 years old. Tributes began flooding in almost immediately for a man who was an iconic global symbol of struggle against injustice and of racial reconciliation. “I would like to express my extreme grief at the passing away of a man who stood for human rights and for equality in this world. He made us all understand that nobody should be penalised for the colour of his skin, for the circumstances into which he is born,” Suu Kyi said at a women’s forum in Rangoon. Related Stories“He also made us understand that we can change the world – we can change the world by changing attitudes, by changing perceptions. For this reason I would like to pay him tribute as a great human being who raised the standard of humanity,” she said. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, jointly with former president Frederik Willem de Klerk, for their peaceful termination of the apartheid regime and laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa. Suu Kyi is also a Nobel laureate, honoured for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma. |
| Ready for battle – Burma women’s football team Posted: 06 Dec 2013 12:38 AM PST Than Toe Aung, formerly a team captain and a prolific striker for Burma, is now coach of the women's national football team. He spoke to DVB's Shwe Aung on the eve of the kick-off to the SEA Games' most anticipated tournament. Q: What is the current condition of the Myanmar women's football team? A: We are satisfied with Wednesday's friendly match results: a 5-2 victory [against a Burmese boys' team]. The women are getting the hang of it. They have been in extensive training; now we are relaxing in the days before the matches start. Judging by Wednesday's performance, we can say that the team is nearing optimum condition. Q: We heard about a plan to send the team for training in South Korea, Japan and China, but it was later cancelled. What happened there? A: Actually we trained in Osaka ahead of the ASEAN football championships, and after the tournament we went back to Japan and also to Korea to train. In fact, we had planned a trip to Australia but it was cancelled due to the expense. Instead we trained in Taunggyi. Perhaps the disadvantage is that we missed a chance to test our players against those international teams. Q: Do you think the Burmese team will win the group stage? A: The answer will depend on the result from the last group match – against Vietnam. We believe we can beat both the Philippines and Indonesia, so we will also be aiming for a victory over Vietnam. Q: Burma was defeated by Vietnam in the last tournament in Rangoon. How can we defeat them this time? A: Honestly, this will be a big challenge. We have improved a fair bit since the ASEAN championships but so has Vietnam. I think we need to score plenty of goals in the first two games, because otherwise Vietnam will win the group stage even if we manage a draw in the final match.
Q: Has anyone been injured in the lead-up to the first match [against the Philippines on Tuesday, 10 December]? A: One of our main players, Khin Mar Tun, No 10, suffered a slight thigh injury in Wednesday's match, but should recover before the tournament. Apart from her, everyone is fully fit. Q: Is the line-up the same from the ASEAN championships? A: We still have some of the players from the AFC line-up but also about four new members from the U-19 team. Q: Who is our main threat, Thailand or Vietnam? A: Both. Q: How much support do you need from the fans? A: We need 100 percent support for this tournament. Also, getting favour from referees, as the home team – I mean within the boundary of rules and regulations – is another advantage for us. We have always had a reputation as a decent team but have never been champions of Southeast Asia. We are ready to prove ourselves this year. |
| Thai authorities implicated in Rohingya smuggling operation Posted: 05 Dec 2013 08:47 PM PST An investigation by reporters from newswire Reuters has uncovered what they say is confirmation that illegal camps are maintained in the southern Thai jungle as holding centres for Rohingya boatpeople who are sold to human smuggling outfits that demand ransoms for release of the migrants or sell them on as bonded workers. But in a break from mixed messages from Thai authorities in the past, the country's second-highest ranking police officer, Maj-Gen Chatchawal Suksomjit, deputy commissioner general of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok, has gone on record with Reuters confirming that such "holding bays" exist and that Thai officials might have profited from Rohingya smuggling in the past. Maj-Gen Chatchawal is also cited as saying that an unofficial policy exists in Thailand to deport Rohingya boatpeople to Burma. The Reuters report suggests an organised international ring that preys on the Rohingya fleeing from northern Burma and Bangladesh to escape persecution. Many Rohingyas leave on ill-equipped boats, negotiating dangerous high seas on the basis on promises made by brokers that they will be smuggled into Malaysia or Australia. Many of the boats are forced to land in Thailand where detention centres have been set up to shelter the refugees. However, Thursday's report implies that a trafficking network often takes over from there. "The Rohingya are then transported across southern Thailand and held hostage in a series of camps hidden near the border with Malaysia until relatives pay thousands of dollars to release them. [Reuters] reporters located three such camps," said the London-based agency in its 5 December report by by Jason Szep and Andrew R.C. Marshall. The report detailed Rohingya sources saying they were beaten to make them scream while they telephoned home to beg family members to pay a ransom – in the region of US$2,000 – for their release. Chris Lewa, coordinator of the Arakan Project, a Rohingya rights NGO, told DVB that her organisation had received many similar reports from Rohingyas about ransoms being demanded by traffickers in Malaysia. "Mohammed, aged 20, a Rohingya farmer from Ba Da Nar village in Buthidaung, sailed on 22 August from Maungdaw on a big Thai trawler with another 400 aboard, and finally arrived in Malaysia on 19 September. He had to pay 100,000 kyat [over $100] before embarkation," she said. "Smaller Thai boats picked them up from the big boat at sea and brought them to pick-up vans waiting on the mainland. These vans took them to a place in a forested area not far from the Malaysian border. This was not exactly a camp – just an open place in the forest under the sky. They had to carry rice from the vans [and] had to sleep on the ground on used rice sacks, and attach plastic sheets between trees to protect themselves from the rain. They receive one meal every 2 days. There were guarded at all times. Women were kept separately [from the men]. They had to queue to use a mobile phone (held by brokers) to call family or friends to pay a ransom of 2 million kyat to be released and sent to Malaysia. "Mohammed had no relatives in Malaysia. He called his father [in Burma]. His father had to sell his paddy land and his bullocks, mortgage the family house, even sell his monsoon crop in advance and borrow 200,000 kyat to make up the 2 million kyat, as the brokers would not bargain. Mohammed had to spend 22 days in the jungle place until his father finally paid. Each time he called his father he was beaten to make him scream so that his father would pay quickly." Related StoriesReuters estimates that thousands of Rohingya have passed through these tropical gulags. "An untold number have died there. Some have been murdered by camp guards or have perished from dehydration or disease, survivors said in interviews," the report said. "What ultimately happens to Rohingya who can’t buy their freedom remains unclear. A Thai-based smuggler said some are sold to shipping companies and farms as manual laborers for 5,000 to 50,000 baht each, or $155 to $1,550." Chris Lewa told DVB that from 23 October to date [5 December], "we have recorded 15,000 boatpeople leaving from the north Arakan/Bangladesh border alone." She noted that her group does not have data for Sittwe, Pauktaw and other possible exit points. "The vast of majority of these 15,000 are Rohingya, but also include some Bangladeshi migrants," she said, adding that her group's sources collected figures by counting boatloads, not from third party reports. In June, Reuters journalists visited a Thai immigration detention centre (IDC) in Phang Nga in southern Thailand. They said there were 269 men and boys crammed into a space built for no more than 100. "It reeked of urine and sweat. Some detainees used crutches because their muscles had atrophied" they reported. "A doctor who inspected Sadao’s IDC in July said he found five emaciated Rohingya clinging to life. Two died on their way to hospital, said the doctor, Anatachai Thaipratan, an advisor of the Thai Islamic Medical Association." Sources say that similar human trafficking operations have been active in the region for many years. In a recent interview with DVB near Jakarta, Saw Aung, a Muslim from Mon state, said he and his family were smuggled overland into Thailand no less than 17 years ago. He said they were kept in bondage for 10 years. They then spent six years in Malaysia before paying smugglers to take them to Australia, a trip which was aborted because of a storm; the ships turned back to Indonesia where they now wait in limbo. Of the few boatpeople who make it all the way across the oceans to Australia, a warm welcome does not await. New Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently confirmed that his government would continue measures to prevent Rohingyas and other Asian boatpeople from landing on Australian shores. Australia is currently discussing these measures with their Indonesian counterparts. Meanwhile, on 5 December, AFP reported that a group of asylum-seekers was found camped on a beach on Australia’s remote Christmas Island on Thursday, three days after their people-smuggling boat floundered at sea. The group of about 25 – nationality undisclosed – had apparently been living on a remote beach for three days surviving on coconuts and crabs until they were spotted by locals and reported to immigration authorities. |
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