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B U R M A B U L L E T I N
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A month-in-review of events in Burma
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A L T E R N A T I V E A S E A N N E T W O R K O N B U R M A
campaigns, advocacy & capacity-building for human rights & democracy
Issue 37
January 2010
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New report from the Heritage Foundation and WallStreet Journal ranks Burma as fifth worst country inthe world regarding economic freedom.
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SPDC announces plans to privatize its 256 gasstations across the country, and appoints keybusiness crony Tay Za to oversee the privatization.
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SPDC promises the 2010 elections will be free andfair but fails to set a date for the polls. According toa report, SPDC will hold elections on 10-10-10.
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International community still concerned over theSPDC’s planned elections. US wants to see progressin Burma if dialogue with the junta is to continue.
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NLD expands its Central Executive Committee from11 to 20 members.
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SPDC Army attacks cause 2,000 Karen civilians toflee into the jungles in Eastern Burma.
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SPDC demotes six high-ranking military officials andreshuffles Foreign Ministry officials. It sentences twoofficials to death for leaking state secrets.
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Palaung Women’s Organization says opiumcultivation in SPDC-controlled areas is increasing atalarming rates in Northern Shan State.
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SPDC agrees to conduct military operations againstanti-India armed groups with bases in Burma.
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ILO renews MoU with SPDC on forced laborcomplaints and investigations for another year.
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SPDC announces a salary increase for civil servants,sparking off another wave of inflation in an economycrippled by corruption and arbitrary taxation.KEY STORYThe SPDC’s 2010 resolution: continued economic mismanagement
Despite SPDC claims that it is pursuing a competitive and open market-based economy,
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Burma wasranked the fifth worst country in the world and second worst in Asia with regard to economic freedom.
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The “2010 Index of Economic Freedom” published by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street
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Reuters (25 Jan 10) Myanmar says Suu Kyi to be freed in November: witnesses
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Heritage Foundation (20 Jan 10) 2010 Index of Economic Freedom
IN THIS ISSUEKEY STORY
1 Economic mismanagement2 SPDC way to privatization2 Corruption cripples Burma
INSIDE BURMA
3 Election promises3 Protests, boycotts, campaigns4 NLD marks Independence Day4 NLD re-organizes CEC5 SPDC toys with Daw Suu5 SPDC Army gets new radios5 Military reshuffles5 Death sentences for officials6 Opium cultivation increased6 SPDC presses on BGF
HUMAN RIGHTS
7 Reports blasts SPDC7 Arrests and prison sentences
7 SPDC-ILO agreement extended
DISPLACEMENT
8 Two thousand Karen flee8 Rohingya plight worsens8 Thailand extends deadline
INTERNATIONAL
9 Int’l concerns over elections9 US: No progress in Burma9 SPDC acts on anti-India groups
ECONOMY
9 Civil servants pay hikes10
OTHER BURMA NEWS
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REPORTS
_____________________________________Receive the Burma Bulletin monthly! email publications@altsean.org Online copies are available for download at www.altsean.org
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Journal found that investment and business freedoms in Burma are “extraordinarily weak,” citingcorruption and repressive regime interference.
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In January, the SPDC moved to consolidate and protect its economic interests in the run-up to itsplanned elections through deals that put the control of key industries into the hands of its loyal businesscronies. These economic policies are designed to allow the regime to maintain control over most of Burma’s wealth and resources. The moves to parcel out key sectors of Burma’s economy to proxies willdo nothing to resolve the junta’s oppressive economic mismanagement.
The junta way to privatization
The SPDC has handed or is in the process of handing over the stakes of key industries, including theenergy sector, to cronies such as the notorious Htoo Trading chairman Tay Za.On 26 January, SPDC Energy Ministry officials announced that the SPDC will privatize all of its 256gas stations across Burma by 31 March.
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Three days before the announcement, Tay Za established theFuel Oil Importers and Distributors Association (FOIDA) to oversee the privatization.
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Tay Za is chairof the FOIDA, while Aung Thet Mann, son of third ranking SPDC member Gen Thura Shwe Mann, isvice-chair.
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The junta’s cronies benefited in other sectors as well:
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Late December:
The SPDC awarded a major contract for construction of two dams for hydro-powerplants to Htoo Trading. Htoo Trading became the first private Burmese company to be awarded sucha contract in the hydro power sector.
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21 January:
Htoo Trading subsidiary Information Technology Central Services began selling SIMcards for 800 MHz CDMA mobile phones, which they have exclusive rights for.
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22 January:
The SPDC’s privatization commission announced that it will sell off more than 100state-owned buildings and factories, including former Supreme Court buildings and the InspectorGeneral’s Office in downtown Rangoon.
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Observers pointed out that the bulk of the properties wouldgo to SPDC cronies at bargain prices.
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As Sean Turnell, professor of economics of Australia’s Macquarie University, pointed out: a statemonopoly selling off its assets to a private monopoly is not market liberalization.
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Corruption cripples Burmese people
Outside the junta’s privileged circle, arbitrary taxation, selective law enforcement, and blatantcorruption continued to cripple ordinary citizens in their efforts to provide for their families and stifledinvestment freedom for businesses. In January:
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Heritage Foundation (20 Jan 10) 2010 Index of Economic Freedom; Irrawaddy (23 Jan 10) Burma has been ranked fifth fromlast in a global survey on economic freedom.
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Reuters (26 Jan 10) Myanmar to privatise fuel retailing -energy official; DPA (25 Jan 10) Myanmar to privatize all fuel stations byMarch, source says; Mizzima News (25 Jan 10) Junta to privatize oil industry; DVB (26 Jan 10) Burmese junta to privatise gasstations
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Reuters (26 Jan 10) Myanmar to privatise fuel retailing -energy official; DPA (25 Jan 10) Myanmar to privatize all fuel stations byMarch, source says; Mizzima News (25 Jan 10) Junta to privatize oil industry; DVB (26 Jan 10) Burmese junta to privatise gasstations
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Reuters (26 Jan 10) Myanmar to privatise fuel retailing -energy official; DPA (25 Jan 10) Myanmar to privatize all fuel stations byMarch, source says; Mizzima News (25 Jan 10) Junta to privatize oil industry; DVB (26 Jan 10) Burmese junta to privatise gasstations; Irrawaddy (27 Jan 10) Burmese Tycoon Takes Over Fuel Imports and Sales; Xinhua (27 Jan 10) Private enterprises torun fuel filling stations in Myanmar
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Irrawaddy (04 Jan 10) Tay Za granted electricity contract; Irrawaddy (07 Jan 10) Regime Privatizing to Retain Control of Resources; Xinhua (05 Jan 10) Myanmar encourages private companies to implement hydropower projects
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Mizzima News (22 Jan 10) Businesses accuse Htoo Trading of unfair monopoly
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Irrawaddy (22 Jan 10) Junta puts more state-owned properties up for sale
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Irrawaddy (22 Jan 10) Junta puts more state-owned properties up for sale
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Irrawaddy (22 Jan 10) Junta puts more state-owned properties up for sale
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The SPDC Department of Transportation in Ye Township, Mon State, imposed a new toll charge onvehicles, charging owners up to about 90,000 kyat (US$90) per vehicle to cover the cargo transportcosts of SPDC Army LIB 283.
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Local farmers in Yenanchaung Township, Magwe Division, sold their cows to repay their debt afterSPDC officials forced them to buy fertilizer on credit at inflated prices.
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SPDC-run Electric Power Corporation (EPC) in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, prohibited theuse of private generators after it increased power distribution from two hours to four hours at night.However, the EPC charged people more than 150,000 kyat (US$150) to connect to the power grid.
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SPDC authorities banned the trading of rice from Arakan State to other States and Divisions, eventhough Arakan State had a surplus.
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SPDC authorities ordered farmers in Tachilek Township, Shan State, to sell rice to the SPDC Army athalf the market price.
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INSIDE BURMAElection promises
On 4 January, in his Independence Day message, SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe reiterated that thegeneral elections would be held this year and warned voters “to make correct choices” and to “remainvigilant […] against dangers posed by neocolonialists.” However, Than Shwe gave no specific date forthe polls.
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On 13 January, SPDC FM Maj Gen Nyan Win told his ASEAN counterparts that the elections would beheld this year and would be “free, fair, and credible.”
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Nyan Win also told Thai FM Kasit Piromya thatthe SPDC had completed 60-70% of the electoral and party registration laws.
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Kasit speculated that the junta would hold the elections “in the second half of this year.”
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According to a 7 January report in the Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun, the SPDC will likely announceelectoral and party registration laws in April and hold elections in October. The Asahi Shimbun, citing a junta source, said that the elections would be held on 10 October.
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The date (10-10-10) would confirmthe junta’s fixation with making key decisions based on numerology.
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Election protests, boycotts, campaigns
Activists and politicians expressed opposition to the elections and dissatisfaction with the junta’shandling of the pre-electoral process:
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4 January
: Mon youths in Mon State released a hot air balloon painted with slogans condemning theelections.
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7 January
: Activists in Muse, Northern Shan State, launched a two-day graffiti campaign against theelections.
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IMNA (06 Jan 2) Vehicle owners pay the price for Military shipments in Three Pagoda Pass
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DVB (06 Jan 10) Farmers sell livestock to repay loans
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Kaladan News (20 Jan 10) Distribution of Electricity from Generators Banned, Students Suffer
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Mizzima News (21 Jan 10) Inter-state trading of Rakhine rice banned; Narinjara News (25 Jan 10) Army Prohibits Transport of Paddy in Arakan
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NMG (25 Jan 10) Junta; traders buy rice for army at low prices
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AP (04 Jan 10) Myanmar chief confirms elections to be held 2010; Reuters (04 Jan 10) Myanmar pushes poll 20 years after ignoring NLD win; NYT (04 Jan 10) Junta confirms elections in Myanmar; BBC (04 Jan 10) Burma leader Than Shwe giveselection warning; Bernama (04 Jan 10) Myanmar Top Leader Advises People To Make Correct Choice With Upcoming Election;AFP (04 Jan 10) Burma junta confirms elections; UPI (05 Jan 10) Myanmar reconfirms 2010 poll, with warning
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AFP (14 Jan 10) Burma pledges free election
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Reuters (14 Jan 10) Reuters: Myanmar polls likely in 2nd half of yr – Thai FM; AP (14 Jan 10) Myanmar tells neighborselections will be free; Australia Network News (15 Jan 10) Burma promises free and fair 2010 elections; RTT News (15 Jan 10)Myanmar Foreign Minister Pledges Free, Fair, Credible Election: ASEA
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Reuters (14 Jan 10) Reuters: Myanmar polls likely in 2nd half of yr – Thai FM; DVB (15 Jan 10) Burma electoral laws ‘70percent complete’
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Irrawaddy (08 Jan 10) Election to be Held in October?; DVB (08 Jan 10) Burma elections to be held ‘in October’
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DVB (08 Jan 10) Burma elections to be held ‘in October’; DVB (15 Jan 10) Burma electoral laws ‘70 percent complete’
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IMNA (05 Jan 10) Opposition to 2010 election, the writing is on the road
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