USDA with business

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxx]

Press Release
April 30, 1996

USDA'S BUSINESS PROSPERS BECAUSE OF STATE PROPERTIES' MONOPOLY
 
	The Union of Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) was
first established by the Slorc as a social organization. However, it has
since become the political support group for Slorc and its ongoing
National Convention much like the Indonesian Golkar. As such, USDA now
exercises a monopoly over State properties in its business projects and
investments amounting to billions of kyats. 
 	USDA began its business and investment dealings in early 1995.  With the
assistance of Slorc, USDA established the Myan Gon Myint company with a 68
billion kyat investment. Likewise, 382 shops in Pinlon Yadana market in
northern Dagon satellite, owned by Rangoon City Municipality Committee was
handed over by Slorc to USDA Central Committee on January 24, 1995 as a
special privilege for the organization. USDA earned 55 billion kyats by
reselling the shops to the individuals and one billion kyats monthly from
renting the shops, according to the USDA's annual report submitted at the
USDA annual meetings on September 15, 1995. 
 	In Burma, the government establishes markets and sells the shops to
individuals, who can buy a shop for the amount required and proceed to run
their business.  USDA has the unique privilege of free shops to operate
itself or to resell. 
  	The annual report also revealed that an additional 11 shops in the
State-owned Theingyi market in Rangoon were handed over to the USDA.  The
organization got 39 billion kyats for selling some of these shops and
another 65,000 kyats monthly for renting.  Similarly, the newly -
renovated Myaynigone market owned by Rangoon City Municipality Committee
was transferred to USD Central Committee and earned the USDA a profit of
200 billion kyats. 
 	Within the past year, USDA earned 362 billion kyats in profits by using
states properties in their business, the annual report said. 
 	In addition to these major business, USDA is running highway bus
stations, passenger bus companies, restaurants and recreation centers,
buying shares in other companies, taxing transportion and many other small
businesses with the assistance of Slorc, according to the report. 


ABSDF News Agency
ABSDF (Dawn Gwin)