Indo-Burma border news (r)

[zaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Current situation of Indo-Burma border trade 
 
The border trade between India and Burma had officially opened since 
April 12, 1995 to set up fraternal friendship, co-operation and mutual
help.
 
The respective border trade, starting with great suspicious from both 
sides is still inactive. Regarding export-import through Moreh and 
Tamu during 1997,Burma exported small amount of betel nut about 
two truckloads weekly and India sent flour to Burma around (35-50) 
truckloads weekly in average. In last quarter of 1997, Burma officially 
and continuously exported large amount of onion at least (40-50)
truckloads weekly.                              
 
At the end of December 1997,the businessmen from Tamu said that the 
Burmese authorities would ban exporting onion to India. But this order 
was not officially released yet. 
 
In December 1997, soldiers and policemen were fully deployed along 
the border at the Burma side to block the unofficial trade across the 
border and a large number of rice and people who crossed the 
border were arrested. After arresting for a week, the people crossed the 
border and sent the rice into India unofficially by bribing money fifty to 
hundred Kyats each to army, police and immigration for a basket (33Kg) 
of rice. A large number of onion and rice are unofficially entering into
India 
from Burma in January 1998 although the security forces are being deployed
along the border.
 
At present, the businessmen who want to send either onion or betel nut
into 
India can send freely but unofficially by paying money (10000) Kyats each
to 
Township and District Peace and Development Council and (5000) Kyats to 
Myanmar Export & Import Corporation for a truckload. 
 
The people from the both sides told that Indo-Burma border between 
Moreh and Tamu is not so populous and prosperous as before, after 
opening the new Nanphalong market inside Burma territory very close 
to the border. The wholesale market of Sino-Burma border and Thai-Burma 
border are directly connected with Nanphalong market complex at Indo-Burma 
border. So small-scale businessmen and labors lost their earning and they
returned 
to their original places. A merchant from Moreh told that half of the
population have 
left Moreh comparing with early 1997 and 1998 almost all of them are small
scale 
businessmen and labors. An immigration officer told that one third of the
Burmese 
labors have already left to their native places because of the tight
economic situation 
at the Indo-Burma border. 
 
The regional authorities of Tamu are seriously constructing a new bazaar
at the same 
place of old bazaar, which was totally burnt in October last year. The
wall made up 
of brick is being constructed around the bazaar to be free from arson
again. At the 
corners of the bazaar the sentry posts are firmly constructed with brick
like a 
military stronghold and painted with dark colored commando design. The
police 
and the soldiers are always taking place the security duty both day and
night at that bazaar. 
 
India is also worried about such kind of preparing at Burma side and the
posts of the 
Border Security Force are surrounded with sandbags where there is no
protection 
previously. The present situation at border area between Tamu and Moreh is
seemed 
to be preparing for a battlefield where the war will be started very soon.   
 
ABSDF (Western-Burma)
Date- January 26, 1998.