Bangkok Post News (11/9/98) (r)

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<center>Tough life under junta's rule 

</center>

<center>Dreams of riches rest on escaping abroad

</center>

Burma's young men dream of going aboard to come back as a "dollar man".
They have almost no chance of getting rich in an economy which is falling
apart.

The political standoff between the military government and the opposition
means less to Burma's people than their own economic problems. They are
dealing with those constantly.

The street value of the kyat has been steadily sliding since Asia's
financial crisis erupted last year. It has gone from around 260 in
January to atound 350. And every time it slips people's lives get a
little tougher.

The value of wages has been steadily eroded.

A government worker's typical monthly wage of 1,000 kyat is now worth
around $ 3 (126 baht)

"It is very hard to live here," said one resident.

Obtaining dollars in cash is just one of many things which is illegal,
but widespread.

Under such dire economic conditions, even doctors demand bribes before
treating a patient, as do police when making arrests, residents say.
Simple things like learning to use a computer are beyond most people's
means.

Red tape abounds, Importing goods is complicated. A 10-year-old car can
cost $ 3,000 (126,000), drivers say.

Farmers have to grow several crops of rice a year on land which can only
support one, and then are required to sell much of it to the government
at low prices. Much of the rice distributed free to government workers is
of low quality.

At night, many of the streets in downtown Rangoon are in darkness.
Candles light up  the houses. The city's again drainage system floods in
heavy rain.

The frow of foreign investment has dwindled to a trickle as its main
sources - other Asian countries -grapple with their own financial woes.

Glitzy hotels thrown up around the city in recent years with Asian money
are almost empty.

Unemployment benefit does not exist, nor do trade unions. The unemployed
trawl the streets of Rangoon into the evenings looking for work.

Singapore, Thailand and Japan used to be popular destinations for Burmese
nationals going abroad to make their fortunes.

Despite the delicate situation politically and economically, no one
expects the government to relinquish power quickly or easily. People
spend their spare time praying at the pagodas, with little to aspire 
to.

They feel the government has too much to lose to let go of the reins.


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