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Federation of TradeUnions – Burma

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Responsibilities & Rights

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nternational ContactBurma Office - Japan101-00623F, Sohyo Kaikan3-2-11, Kanda-SurugadaiChiyoda-Ku Tokyo JapanTel: 81 3 5296 3010Fax: 81 3 5296 7903

Burma’s Parliament Does Not FunctionWho is responsible for the loans? Who will pay them back?

2012 January 29

1. According to international media reports, between 2010 and 2011, Burma took out atotal of US$ 7.8 billion in loans.2. The Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) reminds President Thein Sein that changes in the national budget must be reported, discussed, and amended at Parliament, inaccordance with the constitution, should the Government want international recognition.3. The FTUB reminds all citizens of Burma that the Ministry of Planning and Development of President Thein Sein’s government reported in January 2011 that 2010/2011 foreigndirect investment (FDI) totaled more than US$ 20 billion. As of January 2012, FDI is US$19.4 million for 2011/2012.4. In response to political reforms by President Thein Sein’s government, the government of the UK is rewarding Burma with official development assistance (ODA) of US$ 56.4million, and Denmark with ODA of US$ 17 million. The FTUB agrees with these politically-based rewards but reminds these governments that the requirements to fulfill basic factorsof good governance and rule of law need to be expressed openly to the Then Seingovernment; otherwise, all their support will go to waste.5. The FTUB does not object to change, but rather would remind foreign governments not to turn a blind eye to the lack of concrete changes in the political system. While givingsupport, they are also responsible for providing time-bound guidelines for change.6. The FTUB repeats that President Thein Sein, his government, and the Parliament willhave to do the following:6.1 Inform the people which ministry is responsible for the new debt, whichaccording to the international media totaled US$ 7.8 billion between 2010 and 2011.6.2 Require the ministries that acquired the loans to report to the Parliament onthe purpose of the loans, as well as the status of their use.6.3 Require the Parliament to investigate whether the purpose of the loan justifiesthe debt.6.4 Require the Parliament to submit a report on the investigation to the people.6.5 Only then can the people decide on whether the loan’s implementation fallswithin the President's "clean government policy" and is beneficial for the majority of the people.6.6 Should the Parliament and the people find that the loans do not benefit thepeople or the country, or were used extensively for military nuclear technology