Democratic Voice of Burma |
- DVB Bulletin: 9 January 2015
- No sweet deal for striking factory workers
- UN’s Lee caught in Rohingya identity politics
- Business weekly 9 January 2015
- Burma anticipates continued tourism boom in 2015
- Burma’s footballers qualify for pensions
- Latpadaung investigators probe locals on Khin Win’s death
| Posted: 09 Jan 2015 04:31 AM PST On tonight's bulletin:
You can watch DVB Bulletin every weeknight on DVB TV after the 7 o'clock news. The post DVB Bulletin: 9 January 2015 appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| No sweet deal for striking factory workers Posted: 09 Jan 2015 03:34 AM PST Striking workers calling for an increase in their minimum wage and changes to paid holiday provisions were blocked from returning to their factory-owned living quarters. More than 150 workers at the Yess Candy factory in Rangoon's Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone went on strike on 7 January, demanding a minimum monthly salary of 30,000 kyat (US$30), as well as paid holiday on Sunday. The strike ended that day, following negotiations where workers settled for a minimum monthly salary of 7,500 kyat, but workers found that they were blocked from their living quarters when they tried to return. Related Stories"We demanded a 30,000 kyat minimum wage, though in the end we settled for 7,500 kyat, but they refused to allow us back to our living quarters in the evening," said Theingi Myo, a worker who went on strike. She told DVB that the workers had to seek accommodation at a nearby Buddhist monastery on Wednesday evening. Most of the workers at the factory come from the Irrawaddy Delta and reside in accommodation provided by the company. The post No sweet deal for striking factory workers appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| UN’s Lee caught in Rohingya identity politics Posted: 09 Jan 2015 03:17 AM PST The United Nations' Special Human Rights Rapporteur to Burma Yanghee Lee met with MPs and community leaders in Myebon, Arakan State, on Friday to hear about the challenges for the co-existence of Buddhist and Muslim communities. "Regarding challenges, we told her that trust is an important essence," said Pe Than, a lower house MP from Myebon Township. "Co-existence only comes after trust-building, and the UN's persistence with their call to accept the term Rohingya is detrimental to our citizenship verification programme." The UN General Assembly approved a resolution at the end of last year urging the Burmese government to provide full citizenship and the right to move about freely to Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State. The Burmese government denies the existence of the ethnic group Rohingya, insisting that the people are "Bengalis" who migrated to Burma from neighbouring Bangladesh. The government has indicated it would consider citizenship for members of the community who self-identify as Bengali. Related StoriesPe Than said they urged Lee to help build understanding between the two communities rather than press the Rohingya identity issue. Following her meeting with the Arakanese group, Lee visited Rohingya residents in a nearby displacement camp. Zaw Zaw, a Muslim in the camp, said the residents told her of their hardships and unfulfilled promises on the part of the government. "There are people in the camp who were awarded citizenship [after accepting the term Bengali], and we did this because the government promised to allow us to travel freely," Zaw Zaw said. "But to date, we still cannot travel freely anywhere and continue to be confined in this 30-acre [4,000 sq.m.] camp." Yanghee Lee, who is visiting Burma for the second time, was met with protests by Arakanese nationalists when she landed at Sittwe airport on Thursday. In September, Reuters reported that the Burmese government had announced that some 40 Rohingyas were among 209 displaced Muslims in Arakan State who accepted the term 'Bengali' and were granted full citizenship under the pilot citizenship-verification programme. The post UN's Lee caught in Rohingya identity politics appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| Business weekly 9 January 2015 Posted: 09 Jan 2015 01:07 AM PST Ups and downs The Burmese kyat was selling on Friday at 1,033 to US$1 and buying at 1,031. It was selling 773 to 1 SGD and buying at 761. It was selling at 1,219 to 1 Euro and buying at 1,205. The price of gold rose slightly to 665,800 kyat per tical. Myanmar National Airlines leases 10 Boeing aircraft Burma's flag-carrying airline will lease 10 Boeing aircraft from US- and Ireland-based GE Capital Aviation Services, the Ministry of Transport announced via state media on Thursday. Myanmar National Airlines (formerly Myanmar Airways) will receive six 737-800s and four 737-8 MAX airplanes over five years, with the first to arrive in June. The airline currently flies nine aircraft. Burma’s energy sectors under scrutiny The first report from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is due for release in 2016. Burma's oil and natural gas, mining, hydro-power and forestry industries will all come under scrutiny by representatives of government, the private sector and civil society, according to an official from the project quoted in Myanmar Business Today on 9 January. They will examine management and government involvement in the companies as well as tax allocation and industry impact on the social economy, said Win Thin. First nine months of 2014 show $4 billion trade deficit Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce released on Tuesday reveal that Burma experienced a nearly US$4 billion trade deficit in the first nine months of the fiscal year, according to Burmese state media. From 1 April 2014 to 2 January 2015, total trade volume amounted to $20.9 billion. Exports were $8.6 billion while imports tallied to $12.3 billion. Rangoon to host oil and gas expo The Myanmar Oil & Gas Exhibition is set for 29-30 January at Rangoon's Sedona Hotel, according to a release from organiser Oliver Kinross Ltd. The two-day event will include two training workshops and more than 30 booths. Also on the program are 40 industry speakers, including top-level representatives of Thai state-owned company PTTEP, Daewoo International and Greenfields Petroleum. Attendance is expected to top 400 delegates. Burma's rice exports, production up in 2014: FAO Despite a global drop in rice production in 2014, Burma has increased cultivation and profits from export, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In its December World Rice Watch Report, FAO reported that rice production in Burma had been estimated at 28.9 million tons for 2014 by the government, an increase from 28.3 million tons the year before, and up more than a million tons on 2012. China pledges US$1 billion loan for neighbouring countries China has pledged over US$3 billion in loans and aid to its neighbouring countries, including Burma. The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the loans will be split three ways, with $1 billion planned for developing infrastructure, $1.6 billion to increase production and $460 million to alleviate poverty. This will be another incentive for the countries’ neighbouring China to develop regional transport and logistic links as China plans to increase its electricity, telecommunication, steel and cement exports to nearby nations. Treasury bonds to go on sale Burma will sell government treasury bonds beginning later this month in a bid to support economic stability, said a report in Xinhua, quoting the Union Daily newspaper. Bonds will be sold through private banks via tender offers beginning on 28 January, according to the Central Bank of Myanmar. Interest rates will be set according to the floating market rate on the day of sale. The Central Bank issued treasury bonds in 1993 and 2010, but low interest rates – between 8.75 and 9.5 percent on two-, three- and five-year bonds – led to low sales. Bidding open for ‘Death Highway’ The Ministry of Construction is welcoming bids from domestic and international companies to upgrade the Rangoon-Mandalay highway, reported the Global New Light of Myanmar on Tuesday. The winner of the build-operate-transfer contract will turn the existing 589-km (366-mile) expressway into an eight-lane highway equipped with CCTV, guard rails, concrete barriers and fencing. The move comes as Burmese traffic police announced that the so-called "death highway" saw 400 accidents causing 150 deaths and over 800 injuries in 2014. 142 arrested for illegal logging in Kachin More than 140 people suspected of illegal logging have been arrested in Kachin State, DPA International reported on Tuesday, citing military-run Myawaddy newspaper. The 142 suspects include 102 foreigners, the majority Chinese nationals. Export of teak logs was banned in April of last year, but an official at the forest department was quoted as saying that fighting in Kachin State has made the ban difficult to enforce and fueled the logging trade. Burma urges international cooperation in energy sector The Myanmar National Energy Management Committee said it intends to promote international cooperation in the country's energy sector, Xinhua reported based on an announcement released Wednesday. Toward that end, the committee outlined a nine-point energy policy drafted by Burmese and international experts. Its objective is to privatize state energy organisations according to the State Economic Reform Policy by implementing rules and regulations and a short- and long-term energy development plan. Burmese gas exports to Thailand expected to decline Thai state-owned energy company PTT is anticipating imports of Burmese liquid natural gas (LNG) to decline as Burma consumes more domestically and current contracts come to an end, Reuters reported on Thursday. Until now Thailand has relied on its neighbour for about one-quarter of its LNG supply. PTT are also said to be considering a plan to build an LNG receiving terminal on Burma's coast, adjacent to existing gas pipelines, which would offer a delivery point for fuel from the Middle East. Development project to jumpstart fisheries in Mandalay Selected villages in Mandalay Region will receive K30 million each of capital investment in fisheries, state-run media reported on Friday. The funds will be delivered through the Fisheries Department and come from the Emerald Green project, a government programme started this fiscal year to help alleviate poverty in 1,150 villages by developing local agriculture and livestock industries. Livestock ministry bets on soft-shell crab Burma plans to develop its soft-shell crab industry in expectation of increased domestic and foreign demand, state-run media reported recently. Statistics from the Myanmar Fisheries Federation show soft-shell crab farming was worth US$50 million in 2013. The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development says it is meeting with local and international experts to develop a production strategy. Burma hosts tourism forum in landmark role On 22- 29 January, Naypyidaw will host the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) for the first time in 34 years since the organisation's conception. The ATF aims to promote the ten ASEAN nations as a holistic touristic destination, and to encourage intra-ASEAN tourism. See more: Who will benefit from Burma’s tourism boom? Watch the DVB debate here.
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| Burma anticipates continued tourism boom in 2015 Posted: 09 Jan 2015 12:54 AM PST Some three million tourists to Burma in 2014 brought a record US$1.135 billion to the country, according to official figures from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The number of visitors is set to continue rising, with Burma listed alongside Cuba as one of the US Tour Operators Association's "hottest destinations to visit" in 2015. Following years of isolation, Burma has become increasingly open to foreign tourists since President Thein Sein's government took power in 2011. After initially struggling to cope with the influx of foreign nationals, the response has been significant government investment. Commitment to supporting the rapidly expanding and lucrative industry is clear, with a Tourism Development Bank set to be established to provide loans and technical assistance to entrepreneurs in the field. Myanmar Tourism Federation's co-general secretary, Tin Tun Aung, is quoted in Eleven Myanmar as saying, "A Tourism Development Bank is due to open to support hotels, tourism companies and local businesses gain access to capital." Related StoriesAfter successfully chairing and hosting the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) activities in 2014, on 22- 29 January Naypyidaw will host the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) for the first time in 34 years since the organisation's conception. The ATF aims to promote the ten ASEAN nations as a holistic touristic destination, and to encourage intra-ASEAN tourism. In recent days, Burmese immigration authorities have expanded the e-visa scheme, launched in September 2014, to include a further 32 countries, meaning that nationals from more than 100 countries can now apply for a travel visa online. Foreign investors have welcomed the hasty development of the tourist industry and tourism-based infrastructure in Burma, with Hilton Worldwide recently announcing the opening of their second property in the country. "Our expanding presence in Myanmar [Burma]… provides more choices for travellers and elevates hospitality standards and services in this increasingly important and growing region," said Rob Palleschi, Global Head of Full Service Brands. Experts have expressed concern over the burgeoning tourist industry in Burma, stating the need for responsible, "pro-poor" tourism and improved regulation. Who will benefit from Burma’s tourism boom? Watch the DVB debate here. The post Burma anticipates continued tourism boom in 2015 appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| Burma’s footballers qualify for pensions Posted: 09 Jan 2015 12:04 AM PST The Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) will begin providing monthly stipends of 50,000 kyat (US$50) to selected retired national team players as from next month. Aye Maung Gyi, who played midfield for Burma in the 1960s and 70s and is now central executive officer of Zwekapin United FC, said the MFF recently selected 65 medallists from a shortlist of players over age 65. Each has represented Burma in either the Asian Games, the Southeast Asian Games or a tournament such as the Merdeka Cup, he said. Related StoriesKhin Maung Htwe, a well-known sports columnist, welcomed the move and urged other sports bodies to provide similar stipends to retired national athletes, many of whom live out their senior years in financial hardship. "While it would be burdensome for the government to provide welfare to every retired national athlete, I think other sports bodies such as the Myanmar Track and Field Federation should look after their medal winners," Khin Maung Htwe said, suggesting 100,000 kyat per month as a sum that would allow retirees to make ends meet. The footballers will begin receiving their stipends, sponsored by business tycoons Aung Ko Win and Zaw Zaw, at the end of February. The post Burma's footballers qualify for pensions appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
| Latpadaung investigators probe locals on Khin Win’s death Posted: 08 Jan 2015 10:50 PM PST Local villagers injured during recent protests at the Latpadaung copper mine were interviewed by an official investigation team at the General Administration office in Salingyi Township on Thursday afternoon. Residents told DVB they were asked about the events of 22 December, in which a local woman, Khin Win, was fatally shot and more than 20 protestors were injured when a group of around 200 locals confronted riot police who were on site to protect workers laying fences around disputed plots of land. "The investigators wanted to hear our accounts of the incident [on December 22]," said one of the demonstrators on that day, Daw Phyu. "We were on our way back from picking tomatoes when the Myanmar Wanbao staff came to lay fences across the disputed land. We went there to stop them." She said that some villagers were injured by police using slingshots. The investigators also asked local residents how they felt about the ongoing project, a joint venture by Chinese state-run Wanbao Mining Ltd and the Burmese-military owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings. "The investigators asked whether we want the project continued or suspended. We told them we want to see it suspended," said Daw Phyu. Another villager, Soe Naing Win, said he is still suffering from the injuries he sustained in the incident. "I was hit in the eye with a slingshot – my sight is still blurry," he said. The official investigation – to be conducted by Kyaw Thu Aung, regional administrative director, as well as a district attorney and a deputy police commissioner – was announced in response to the violence and subsequent outcry from human rights and activist groups. Related StoriesSagaing Division Chief Minister Thar Aye, in a meeting with officials from the opposition National League for Democracy party on 24 December, pledged to investigate the incident within two weeks. Parallel probes by local police, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission and Myanmar Wanbao into the incident have also been launched. On Monday, the Salingyi General Administration office offered to pay an undisclosed amount of compensation to the daughter of Khin Win for her death. Win Khine has told how she rejected the offer, stressing to the office that she only wanted justice for her mother. "They asked me if I would accept compensation from the government – I answered 'no' and told them that if compensation can solve such a problem, they should bring me the individual responsible for my mother's death. Maybe I should murder them and then pay compensation?" she said. "The officials said they will pay me compensation – whether I accept it or not." In a statement on 23rd December, Winbao Mining Ltd expressed their shock and regret about the "tragic and sad" death of Khin Win, and stated their commitment to peaceful dialogue to achieve sustainable development. Hundreds of local villagers and their supporters have been protesting the Latpadaung copper mine since its inception more than 10 years ago. Many have been displaced to make way for the project, which was originally contracted to a Canadian firm, Ivanhoe Mines. The mining project was temporarily suspended when activists and monks staged a mass sit-in protest in 2012. The protest was broken up brutally by riot police on 29 November that year when some 80 protestors were injured, including several Buddhist monks, many with horrific burns that experts have attributed to white phosphorous. 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. The post Latpadaung investigators probe locals on Khin Win's death appeared first on DVB Multimedia Group. |
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