Democratic Voice of Burma

---

• DVB Debate: How to tackle Burma’s economy
• NLD’s ‘constitution rally’ goes ahead in Naypyidaw
• Conservation of Inle Lake is a ‘national duty’, says Burmese VP
• Ethnic Mon parties plan merger
• Latpadaung villagers mark anniversary of firebombing
• OIC pledges help to ‘both communities’ in Arakan

DVB Debate: How to tackle Burma’s economy Posted: 18 Nov 2013 04:06 AM PST Even though the growth index is positive in Burma, the country's economy is still driven by entrepreneurs who have connections to those in power. A recent World Bank report warned that conditions were ripe for high inflation. On DVB Debate's panel to discuss measures to tackle the Burmese economy were Aung Naing Oo from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development; Vice President of Myanmar Women's Entrepreneur Association Dr Thet Thet Khine; and consultant to the Ministry of Commerce Dr. Maung Aung. Entrepreneur Thet Thet Khine highlighted the problem of corruption and warned that it will continue if staff are not paid more. She emphasized that smaller enterprises need to be a part of the economic success. "All SME's – small to medium enterprises – such as ours are pretty much inward looking; competing against each other in this rather small market which has no opportunity to grow any larger", she said. She added that it is for the whole country to work on building up credibility for the products labelled 'Made in Burma', and to gain knowledge on how to get market access overseas. Aung Naing Oo said that one problem is very few experts understand the existing laws enough to be able to change them. Cartoon by DVB Debate "It takes a long time to amend laws, but the government realizes that this is a 'must'. Though our country is supposed to practice an open market system, the SEE Law – State-owned Economic Enterprises Law – imposes restrictions on it. They say that according to the law, foreign investment will be allowed." The SEE Law specifies 12 economic activities that are closed to private investment and can only be carried out by the government. Maung Aung said he thinks the economic situation in Burma is encouraging compared to other countries in the region. However, according to the recent World Bank report Burma is one of the most difficult countries in the world to conduct business in, ranking 182 among 189 countries. "I mean that in comparison with former times it is the right time to develop the country. But as you said, we can’t change the situation instantly to make it easy to do business and enjoy ‘economic freedom’", Maung Aung explained. Special guest was Dominique Causse from the French embassy, who pointed out there have been very many good reforms in Burma. "I would say from our point of view that they are all extremely good. But the bureaucracy needs to take time to be able to implement them. There is a need to build capacity. It’s not easy. At the same time, a heavy rush of investments would not be so good for the economy because it would overheat". The World Bank report warns that inflation has reached 7.3 percent, higher than the country's economic growth. Maung Aung said one crucial point for both the economy and the development of the country is to keep society stable. "What interrupts our country’s development is not the land prices or the infrastructure. What is critical is stability. Without stability, major investors will reconsider their investments. The stability of the State depends not only on the government but also on each and every citizen." Related Stories Beer battle brewing in Burma Business Weekly DVB Debate: Burmacare – developing the healthcare system in Burma In conclusion, despite various problems such as corruption, the limited market and complicated laws, the panelists generally agreed that the future of the economy looks bright and that Burma is on the right path – as long as development continues in a controlled manner. Next week, DVB Debate discusses the upcoming SEA Games. You can join the debate and watch the full programme in Burmese at www.dvbdebate.com Or share your views with us by commenting on our website at www.dvb.no

NLD’s ‘constitution rally’ goes ahead in Naypyidaw Posted: 18 Nov 2013 02:21 AM PST Some 88 percent of approximately 20,000 participants at a public event in Naypyidaw hosted by the National League for Democracy (NLD) said they wished to see the 2008 constitution amended rather than completely rewritten, the Burmese opposition party says. The conference featured a speech by NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi and was held on Monday morning despite an original denial of permission to stage the event by authorities in the Burmese capital. Related Stories NLD refused permit to stage 'constitution rally' in Naypyidaw Amending constitution is imperative, Suu Kyi tells EU delegation Over 99 percent of Rangoonites support amending the constitution, says NLD However, local authorities relented and eventually gave permission for the conference to go ahead, said NLD lower house MP Sandar Min of Zabuthiri constituency in Naypyidaw, adding that the NLD had surveyed the attendees on whether they wanted the constitution amended or completely rewritten. "After refusing permission to stage a public event to hold the survey, some officials recommended that we submit an appeal, which we did," she said. "Approval was given on Sunday, and we were allowed to hold the survey at the same venue and on the same date we had planned." Burma's main opposition party has been conducting a road trip of public events in Rangoon and other cities in recent weeks, talking to public gatherings and NLD supporters about the 2008 constitution and the party's desire to have it either amended or rewritten. The NLD has claimed that their opinion polls show that 99 percent of 20,000 Rangoon voters interviewed said they favoured amending the constitution.

Conservation of Inle Lake is a ‘national duty’, says Burmese VP Posted: 18 Nov 2013 01:51 AM PST The Burmese government has pledged to continue spending 100 million kyat (over US$100,000) every year to conserve and protect Inle Lake in Shan state, one of the major tourist attractions in the country. According to the Shan state government's Inntha Ethnic Affairs Minister Win Myint, the promise was made by Vice-president Sai Mauk Kham while on a tour of the lake area and nearby town of Nyaungshwe on Saturday, when he said that the 100-million-kyat annual budget will be allocated to the irrigation, agriculture and forestry departments to be used towards conservation of the lake. Related Stories Foreign tourists cancel trips to Burma after bombings Burma's beach paradise still safe despite riots, say officials Immigration officials relax restrictions for tourists travelling overland "The vice-president urged the people of Inle Lake, including the younger generations, to join the effort to conserve the lake via a public-focused campaign," said Minister Win Myint. He said the vice-president emphasised that the lake's width had been narrowing and silting gradually over the years. Speaking to guests at the nearby town of Nyaungshwe, Sai Mauk Kham said that conservation of Inle Lake was "a national duty". More than 90,000 foreign tourists have visited Inle Lake so far this year. Tourism authorities say they expected that number to hit 150,000 by the year's end. According to an official report, the area of Inle Lake has declined from 104 square miles to 24 square miles; from 36 miles long to 11 miles; eight miles wide to four miles; and from 20 feet deep to 12 feet."

Ethnic Mon parties plan merger Posted: 17 Nov 2013 10:41 PM PST Two major Mon ethnic parties, the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) and the Mon Democracy Party (MDP), have tentatively reached an agreement to merge, party representatives tell DVB. A special committee, in which both parties have equal representation, will convene on 22 November to hammer out the details of the proposed merger. According to MDP secretary Min Soe Lin (also spelled Min Soe Linn) the committee's 30 members will determine the new party's flag, objectives and how best to implement a framework for registration with the Union Election Commission via secret ballot. Related Stories Without self-determination, revolution will go on: Mon militia Heavy rain displaces thousands across eastern Burma Armed Mon group calls on army to return abducted members AMRDP's chairman Nai Ngwe Thein told DVB that both parties opted to merge in accordance with Mon public opinion. "All the monks and people of Mon state wish to see us as one party. It is also important to have many Mon representatives in the 2015 elections so that we will be able to self determine legislation, executive and judicial matters," Nai Ngwe Thein said. The parties first began merger discussions in early 2012. The MDP first formed in 1988 using the name Mon National Democracy Party (MNDP). The MNDP was officially abolished by military authorities after it won seats in the May 1990 national election. Following the ban many MNDP party officials, including Min Seo Lin, a medical doctor, were sent to jail. The party was later allowed to re-register using the current name in preparation for the April 2012 round of by-elections. But although the MNDP participated it failed to win any seats. The AMRDP was established during the run-up to the November 2010 general elections; the party presently has 16 seats in the Mon State parliament.

Latpadaung villagers mark anniversary of firebombing Posted: 17 Nov 2013 10:35 PM PST Around 150 villagers and Buddhist monks gathered at Shwezigon Pagoda in Monywa on Sunday morning to conduct a prayer ceremony to mark the anniversary, nearly one year ago, of the night riot police brutally firebombed peaceful protestors at a historical Buddhist site near the Latpadaung copper mine. Later that afternoon, the group travelled to Latpadaung Mountain to view its conditions, in the wake of a resumption of mining activities which the protestors fear will damage the shrine and destroy the mountainside and the wider environment. "We are here at the pagoda to commemorate the violent crackdown in which locals and Buddhist monks were firebombed," said Sandar, a local villager. She said the event's organisers were told by police not to use or mention the word "Latpadaung" during their prayer ceremony. Related Stories Seven villagers shot with rubber bullets in Latpadaung clash Locals, monks resume sit-in protest at Latpadaung Fresh protests erupt near Latpadaung copper mine "Monywa township administrator Kyu Aye came and told us not to use the word 'Latpadaung', and we were under watch by government officials including the special branch," she said. La Pyae, a resident from Mogyopyin village, which is located close to the controversial copper mine, said that after inspecting the mountain, the activists issued a set of demands to the authorities. "Primarily, we have no wish to have the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings and the Wanbao [mining contractors] in the area," he said. "We are also demanding the removal of police guardhouses from the farmlands, and that the police stop shooting at us." Meanwhile, Rangoon-based civil society group, the Public Assistance Network, also marked the anniversary of the incident at the Botahtaung Pagoda in the former capital on Sunday evening. A mass sit-in protest was broken up brutally by riot police on 29 November last year. Some 80 protestors were injured, many with horrific burns that several experts have attributed to white phosphorous bombs. A subsequent investigation headed by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi failed to pronounce anyone guilty for the violent crackdown, and to many villagers' dismay, recommended to the government that the project be resumed.

OIC pledges help to ‘both communities’ in Arakan Posted: 17 Nov 2013 08:05 PM PST A delegation from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) wrapped up a four-day visit to Burma on Saturday, pledging humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to the communities affected and displaced by communal violence in Arakan state. In a joint statement with the Central Committee for Implementation of Stability and Development in Rakhine State issued on Sunday, the OIC delegation said it had "assured the [Burmese] government of the principled position of the OIC, OIC institutions and its member states not to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity and religion in the provision of humanitarian assistance." It further stated that any assistance would be provided "on a non-discriminatory basis" though the Burmese government. The OIC delegation also called on Naypyidaw "to continue legal reforms, including repealing laws restricting fundamental freedoms." The OIC website confirmed that the delegation, headed by Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited IDP camps in Arakan state where they "listened to Rakhine [Arakanese] Buddhists and Muslims, giving them a message of assurance that the OIC seeks to help both communities in order for them to live together in peace and harmony." Related Stories Four Kachin IDPs sentenced for 'unlawful association' Buddhists take to the streets of Sittwe to protest OIC visit Clinton praises 'remarkable transition' in Burma It said that "throngs" of Muslims, mainly from the Rohingya community, lined the streets to greet the delegation. The Associated Press estimated that 5,000 people from the IDP camps near Sittwe turned out to meet the OIC delegation. Its report said that the OIC secretary-general was reduced to tears by the emotional visit. "I never had such a feeling," AP quoted Ihsanoglu saying on Saturday. Ahead of the trip to Arakan state by representatives of the Islamic bloc, demonstrations were staged at various cities across Burma, protesting the visit. Buddhist monks led more than 5,000 residents on a demonstration through the streets of Arakan state capital Sittwe on Friday morning, while similar street protests were held in Rangoon and Lashio in the days before. The OIC consists of 57 member states, including Burma's neighbours India and Bangladesh, as well as fellow ASEAN member states Malaysia and Indonesia, with Thailand as an observer. China too requested observer status to the bloc in 2012. The OIC has a permanent delegation at the UN, and is the largest international organisation outside the United Nations.

You are subscribed to email updates from DVB Multimedia Group | DVB Multimedia Group To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610