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Burma Related News - July 21-22, 2002.


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BURMA RELATED NEWS - JULY 21-22, 2002.
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HEADLINES
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AFP - Aung San Suu Kyi meets with minorities on latest road trip
AP - Myanmar opposition leader receives rousing welcome in eastern Myanmar
AP - Myanmar Opposition Leader Welcomed
Bkk Post - Loss from closed border tops B5bn
Bkk Post - Ad Carabao album an instant hit
Bkk Post - Border relations rarely run smooth
Bkk post - Checkpoint gets upgrade to boost trade
DY - Analysis / Myanmar democracy still elusive
Xinxhunet - Myanmar opens 10 border trade points
Xinhuanet - More Myanmar people to be trained in Israel
Xinhuanet - Japan to provide Myanmar 21-million-dollar aid
Kyodo News - Myanmar junta OKs Kawaguchi's visit to Yangon on Aug. 3-5
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Monday July 22, 3:40 PM
Aung San Suu Kyi meets with minorities on latest road trip

(AFP) - Aung San Suu Kyi continued her latest political excursion in southern Myanmar as colleagues in her National League for Democracy (NLD) hailed her meeting with minority groups there.

The charismatic pro-democracy opposition leader was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic supporters at each of her several stops since arriving Saturday in Mon state, 170 kilometres (106 miles) southeast of Yangon.

It is her second political foray outside the capital since the ruling military junta released her May 6 after 19 months of house arrest.

"It is an impressive trip," NLD spokesman U Lwin told AFP by telephone.

"This time she is not only meeting the Burmese, but those of other ethnic groups," he said, adding that it is the first time she has met with the region's minorities since her release.

Mon state remains one of the most politically sensitive regions in the country, as splinter insurgent groups from the region wage sporadic attacks against the military government.

The Mon ethnic group comprises a majority in the state, with other main ethnic minorities in the region being the Karen and the Pa-O, U Lwin said.

Aung San Suu Kyi, accompanied by senior NLD officials, was warmly greeted by supporters as her caravan passed through several minority villages on its way to the state capital Mawlamyine and other destinations in the region, he added.

The 1991 Nobel peace prize winner, who has been busy opening several NLD offices in the state, was due to dine Monday evening with senior representatives of the ethnic groups as well as members of the Mon Democratic Party allied to the NLD, the spokesman said.

Observers have said that the inclusion of ethnic minorities in national reconciliation talks will be a crucial step towards a peaceful and democratic Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi was spending Monday at Chaung Zon, a Singapore-sized island just off the coast in the Andaman Sea, where she was to open an NLD office and meet with party members before paying homage to senior monks, U Lwin added.

NLD offices in Mon state and around the country were closed following the party's sweeping 1990 election victory that the junta refused to recognise.

Suu Kyi spent much of Sunday in Mawlamyine, Myanmar's third largest city, where she was escorted to two government infrastructure projects.

Such visits and the provision of security suggests relations between Aung San Suu Kyi and the military, who have been engaged in secret talks aimed at national reconciliation since October 2000, have moved beyond the hostility and confrontation that marked their ties in previous years.

This trip follows Aung San Suu Kyi's triumphant nine-day visit to the northern city of Mandalay and other destinations last month.

The whirlwind tour was considered an unqualified success by both her own party and diplomats, who saw it as the first true test of her freedom.

Aung San Suu Kyi is expected back in Yangon Tuesday evening, U Lwin said.

Myanmar opposition leader receives rousing welcome in eastern Myanmar

By AYE AYE WIN
The Associated Press
7/21/02 6:19 AM

MOULMEIN, Myanmar (AP) -- As once forbidden political songs played, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi told supporters Sunday that only the people have the right to decide the fate of the military-run nation.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, on just her second trip outside the capital since being released from house arrest in May, has received a rousing welcome in this eastern Myanmar city.

Military authorities, who once harassed her and jailed members of her National League for Democracy party, did not appear to interfere with Suu Kyi's activities.

"Whatever happens, the NLD will persevere in the building of a democratic system," she said. "Only the people have the right to decide the fate of a country. No one else should or must take the decision into their hands."

Suu Kyi spoke to some 500 supporters as she placed NLD signboards on a two-story building in Moulmein that will become the party's local headquarters.

The mood was festive and NLD songs espousing democracy were played over loudspeakers. One party member said it was the first time the songs had been allowed to be played.

Some 3,000 clapping residents jammed Moulmein's main street when Suu Kyi arrived from the capital Yangon on Saturday after a 180-mile road journey.

Such large public gatherings are rare in Myanmar, also known as Burma, other than at rallies organized by the military, which has ruled for the past 40 years.

Suu Kyi's four-day trip shows the ruling junta's new willingness to allow her and her party some political freedom.

"Our goal of democracy is within sight," said NLD official Kyi Lwin at the opening of the party office.

After the ceremony Suu Kyi and her party left for three towns south of Moulmein. She was to spend the night at Mudon.

Suu Kyi last visited Moulmein in 1989, a year after the military crushed a pro-democracy uprising that propelled her to international prominence.

Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962 and under the control of the current junta since 1988.

The generals called elections in 1990 but refused to hand over power when the NLD scored an overwhelming victory. Instead, they jailed thousands of NLD members.

Suu Kyi, now 57, was placed under house arrest in 1989 for six years and again in September 2000 for 19 months for traveling outside Yangon to rally political support.

Her May 6 release, part of a reconciliation dialogue, was followed by a trip to the northern city of Mandalay. Until then, Suu Kyi had been refused permission to travel outside the capital of Yangon and was even physically blocked.

Myanmar Opposition Leader Welcomed

Sun Jul 21, 6:50 AM ET
By AYE AYE WIN, Associated Press Writer

MOULMEIN, Myanmar (AP) - As once forbidden political songs played, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi told supporters Sunday that only the people have the right to decide the fate of the military-run nation.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, on just her second trip outside the capital since being released from house arrest in May, has received a rousing welcome in this eastern Myanmar city.

Military authorities, who once harassed her and jailed members of her National League for Democracy party, did not appear to interfere with Suu Kyi's activities.

"Whatever happens, the NLD will persevere in the building of a democratic system," she said. "Only the people have the right to decide the fate of a country. No one else should or must take the decision into their hands."

Suu Kyi spoke to some 500 supporters as she placed NLD signboards on a two-story building in Moulmein that will become the party's local headquarters.

The mood was festive and NLD songs espousing democracy were played over loudspeakers. One party member said it was the first time the songs had been allowed to be played.

Some 3,000 clapping residents jammed Moulmein's main street when Suu Kyi arrived from the capital Yangon on Saturday after a 180-mile road journey.

Such large public gatherings are rare in Myanmar, also known as Burma, other than at rallies organized by the military, which has ruled for the past 40 years.

Suu Kyi's four-day trip shows the ruling junta's new willingness to allow her and her party some political freedom.

"Our goal of democracy is within sight," said NLD official Kyi Lwin at the opening of the party office.

After the ceremony Suu Kyi and her party left for three towns south of Moulmein. She was to spend the night at Mudon.

Suu Kyi last visited Moulmein in 1989, a year after the military crushed a pro-democracy uprising that propelled her to international prominence.

Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962 and under the control of the current junta since 1988.

The generals called elections in 1990 but refused to hand over power when the NLD scored an overwhelming victory. Instead, they jailed thousands of NLD members.

Suu Kyi, now 57, was placed under house arrest in 1989 for six years and again in September 2000 for 19 months for traveling outside Yangon to rally political support.

Her May 6 release, part of a reconciliation dialogue, was followed by a trip to the northern city of Mandalay. Until then, Suu Kyi had been refused permission to travel outside the capital of Yangon and was even physically blocked.

Bangkok Post - Monday 22 July 2002
Loss from closed border tops B5bn
Trade, tourists and commuters suffer
Post reporters

Business losses have now topped five billion baht as a direct result of Burma's two-month closure of its border with Thailand.

Trade and tourism in northern border areas have declined dramatically, not to mention the social costs with families often split and living on different sides of the frontier.

Hardest hit are three usually bustling permanent checkpoints _ Mae Sot-Myawaddy in Tak province, Mae Sai-Tachilek in Chiang Rai and Ranong-Victoria Point in Ranong.

Tharapong Leelawong, the deputy chairman of the House committee on commerce, said the cost to business was now estimated at over five billion baht.

The committee has urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to negotiate with Burma to resolve the stalemate at the Asean foreign ministers' meeting in Brunei.

Buntham Thipprasong, of the Chiang Rai chamber of commerce, said the local border committee had tried in vain to get their Burmese counterparts to begin talks. Burma had twice snubbed the usual monthly local border meetings.

In Chiang Rai, trade through the checkpoints was normally 20-30 million baht daily. Tourism had slumped by 70%, he said.

Narong Sukthavorn, a Chiang Rai customs official, said consumer goods sold to Burma through Chiang Rai were worth up to three billion baht annually. Burmese imports such as livestock and electrical appliances were worth 60 million baht a year.

Revenue from import taxes was down. The usual target was 20 million baht a year but with the fiscal year set to end on Sept 30 only 14 million baht had been collected so far.

In Ranong, Burmese consumers were hurting the most. They were forced to buy goods from Rangoon, which meant paying the extra transport costs, said Thirayut Samnuan, head of the customs procedure unit in Ranong.

Commuter movements were also at a standstill after Burma halted shuttle boat services between Ranong piers and Victoria Point.

Burmese patrol boats were plying the waters, deterring Thai trawlers from buying the catch from Mergui. Prices of seafood in Ranong have soared.

Fewer gamblers were venturing out to the Andaman Club Hotel's casino. Normally, 200-500 gamblers turned up daily at the hotel on Thahtay Kyun Island, known to Thais as Koh Son, but the number had halved.

Burma had imposed a strict ban on its citizens travelling to Ranong and anyone caught defying it was fined or put in jail, he said.

In Tak's Mae Sot district, up to 20 million baht in daily trade with Myawaddy has been lost.

Paniti Tungpati, adviser to Tak chamber of commerce, said the tightened border security had scared away tourists. The ``fear factor'' translated into immeasurable losses, he said.

Burma is also suffering. Its currency, the kyat, has dipped from the previous exchange rate of 5-5.50 baht for 100 kyat to 4.50 baht last week.

The kyat would continue to nosedive as slow trade lessened demand for it in the market, Mr Paniti predicted.

Mr Paniti, a member of Tak's Border Civil Society, said the effects extended beyond the commercial aspect. The dispute had cut social ties between families living on the two sides of the border.

``Many of them are cousins and in-laws with a common culture,'' he said.

Farm activities which relied on kinship labour from either country had also ceased. Many people were out of work and this aggravated the normal problems of hardship.

Mr Paniti said the border tension had sown a seed of mistrust between the younger generations of the two countries. It was dangerous to cite historical pretext to fuel hostility, as the Burmese newspaper the New Light of Myanmar , the junta's mouthpiece, had done through articles criticising former Thai kings.

Tak senator Udon Tantisunthorn said greater efforts toward reconciliation were needed by both countries.

Boontham Piromsingkorn, Tak provincial councillor, said the 6pm-6am curfew in border villages had inconvenienced farmers who had to work in the field from the early hours till late evening.

Nocturnal fishing in the Moei river was also no longer possible, making it difficult to feed families.

Smaller border checkpoints in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Kanchanaburi are also feeling the bite. They are losing up to five million in trade each month, although it was reported some Burmese officials opposite Kanchanaburi had allowed certain goods to pass through.

Bangkok Post - Monday 22 July 2002
Ad Carabao album an instant hit
Pro-Shan lyrics likely to annoy Rangoon
Wassana Nanuam Subin Khuenkaew
 
Music stores along the border with Burma are stockpiling copies of popular singer Ad Carabao's latest album, in anticipation of protests from Rangoon that could see it withdrawn from sale.

The lyrics and accompanying video clips are fiercely critical of Burma's suppression of the Shan people.

Sales of the album ``Mai Tong Rong Hai (Don't Cry)'' are brisk, with soldiers on border assignment and Shan people the biggest buyers.

Ad Carabao, whose real name is Yuenyong Ophakul, wrote all 10 songs. He says he fully supports the Shan State Army's fight against Rangoon, calling it a ``just war'', and despises the Burmese military leadership for its brutal rule.

The songs depict the SSA's bitter struggle for self-determination.

The album was released last week and was an immediate favourite in areas like Chiang Rai's border district of Mae Sai, with its large concentration of Shan residents.

Many of the scenes in the videos show the corpses of junta soldiers, and SSA troops overrunning Burmese outposts. One video shows SSA troops trampling on a portrait of Senior Gen Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council.

The songs have suggestive titles such as ``Kid Banchee (Settle the Score),'' and ``Jub Arvut (Grab your Weapons).'' The biggest hit is ``Chan Ying Jao Kala (I'm Shooting Jao Kala)'' with stirring messages encouraging the SSA to kill Kala, the name the Shans use to refer to the Burmese.

Yu Temeeyasak, owner of a karaoke lounge and music store, said the VCDs sold out almost immediately and she had placed an order for more.

Staff in many record shops said they were stocking up in anticipation that Rangoon would make a formal protest against the songs soon.
Bangkok Post - Monday 22 July 2002
Border relations rarely run smooth
Ties between Thailand and Burma are complicated. There's a lot of bad blood from the past, and so many differences in their approaches to government today. But we have no choice but to get along together.
SARITDET MARUKATAT and BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOL

Recent reports in the Bangkok Post hint strongly at the strange chemistry at work in relations between Thailand and neighbouring Burma.

``Army radio fires first salvo at junta,'' read the front page headline of June 27, describing a commentary critical of the ruling junta in Rangoon carried by Defence Ministry-controlled radio stations. The commentary attacked successive military leaderships in Rangoon for failing to rule the country completely after winning independence from Britain 54 years ago.

An inside page on the same day carried a small item headlined ``Upgrade for Singkhon pass'', a checkpoint in Prachuap Khiri Khan, in which officials and traders pointed to trade prospects between the central province and southern Burma.

The two stories, reflecting two entirely different moods, and affirming the existence of security concerns and economic aspirations, could cause outsiders to scratch their heads.

But they accurately portray the reality of Thai-Burmese relations, which for years have been shaped by a mixture of political tension and trade.

In lashing out at Burma, the army was hitting back at Rangoon's state -controlled media after they published a critical piece about Thailand that touched on the revered monarchy.

Some analysts thought Rangoon was resurrecting a bitter historical period with Thailand in order to build unity at home. Rangoon's media attack, they said, showed Burma's extreme displeasure with Thailand, which has obstructed its decade-long effort to wrest control over rebellious minorities active along the common border.

Creating harmony is a problem for Burmese leaders, said Sunait Chutintaranond, a respected historian and Burma watcher at Chulalongkorn University.

Under General Ne Win, the now-retired strongman who ruled Burma with an iron first after seizing power in 1962, the armed forces had a special role in unifying all ethnic groups, he said. The junta's decision in 1989 to change the country's name from Burma to Myanmar was intended to serve this same goal.

Rangoon wants to end the conflicts with ethnic groups by any means, through a peace deal or through military victory. But the Karen National Union, based along the border opposite Tak, and separatists with the Shan State Army active in areas opposite upper northern provinces, form the last two main groups still resisting accommodation with the generals. And Rangoon clearly believes its forces can overrun these rebel pockets if there were no logistic or moral support from Thailand.

The generals insist that Thailand is providing support despite repeated denials from the Thai government and army. ``That's what [the government of] Burma has firmly believed all along,'' Mr Sunait said.

While Thai and Burmese soldiers on the ground point their guns at each other, Thai policy-makers and traders appear more generous about their neighbours to the west.

Depleted natural resources and high wages have diminished Thailand's comparative advantage. When trade opportunities became visible in neighbouring states emerging from behind the curtain thrown up by the Cold War, Thailand in the late 1980s applied a new commercially driven strategy that pushed political conflicts into the background.

Burma is one of a few places in Southeast Asia that remains rich in natural resources, such as seafood, natural gas, gems and timber, and is easily accessible from Thailand. The country also offers cheap labour opportunities.

Burma's wealth of natural resources is partly attributed to the decision by Gen Ne Win to close the country to the outside world for 26 years from 1962. But the policy was largely flawed, and Burma became one of the poorest countries in the region.

Burma's recent effort to end its poverty matched Thailand's need for new sources of raw materials to feed its factories and for cheap labour to man them. The Burmese migrants do the dirty jobs Thais reject and help cut production costs so Thai exports can remain competitive internationally.

The call from residents of Prachuap Khiri Khan for an upgrading of the temporary checkpoint to a permanent office reflects the traders' desire to tap the advantages of commerce with the southern Burmese on their doorstep.

Burma's bid for progress is stalled by international condemnation of the generals' refusal to recognise the outcome of the general election held in 1990 in which the opposition National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory. The junta continues to face boycotts from the United States and the European Union.

Hence, the generals had no other choice but to accept Thailand as a conduit for dragging the country from its isolation and economic doldrums. But the generals have insisted on certain leverage by cultivating relations with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in particular Malaysia and Singapore.

Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are leading destinations for Burmese exports, while Singaporean products top imports into Burma.

While Burma has increased its trade with Singapore and Malaysia, Thailand is laden with imports it did not bargain for, in the shape of illicit drugs, notably methamphetamines, and illegal workers.

Surachart Bamrungsuk, a security analyst at Chulalongkorn University, said the government should be more serious about correcting the widespread, negative image of Thailand as an exploitative businessman.

``The better the situation along the border, the better the economic communication between the two countries,'' he said.

The junta in Rangoon has realised it is gaining bargaining power by responding to Thailand's commerce-driven strategy. ``Burma has to rely on Thailand, but the degree of reliance is not the same as it used to be in the past,'' Mr Sunait said. ``On the other hand, Thailand is relying on Burma more and more.''

Bangkok post - Monday 22 July 2002
Checkpoint gets upgrade to boost trade

The National Security Council has approved a proposal to upgrade into a permanent checkpoint a crossing at Ban Sop Ruak in Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai.

Pol Lt-Col Kolchai Preechawana, inspector of the police immigration office in Chiang Saen, said the NSC and cabinet approved the proposal in mid-June following calls from local residents and traders.

Upgrading the border crossing would boost trade between Thailand, Laos, Burma and China, he said.

Burmese and Lao people living near the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak river meets the Mekong river, usually came to Chiang Saen to buy consumer goods through this border pass.

Pol Lt-Col Kolchai said his office, which has 18 staff, had sought an increase in staff numbers to run the permanent checkpoint.

Wisate Sitthisombat, Chiang Saen district chief, said the district was ready to send officials to staff the permanent checkpoint at Bang Sop Ruak.

The Daily Yomiuri - July 21, 2002.
Analysis / Myanmar democracy still elusive
Shigefumi Takasuka

More than two months has passed since Myanmar's junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), released pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from 19 months of house arrest.

Now, more mediation efforts by the international community are required to encourage the SPDC to continue direct talks with Suu Kyi and advance the reconciliation process to the level of political discussions.

Suu Kyi and some members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) recently visited branches of the party in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, and other local cities.

In September 2000, when they tried to visit Mandalay, the junta prevented them from even leaving Yangon, putting them under arrest.

However, the SPDC did not block their trip to Mandalay this time and kept its pledge that Suu Kyi's release came with no restrictions on her political activities.

In addition, the junta even gave Suu Kyi a guided tour as an honored guest around some sites of state development projects during her trip. It was an unprecedented sign of reconciliation by the SPDC.

"However, it is too early to conclude that the current reconciliation will directly lead to inauguration of a democratically elected government in Myanmar," a diplomatic source in Tokyo said.

Shortly after the release, Suu Kyi said "the phase of confidence building" was over and that the next step was "discussions about policy." She even held out the possibility of making political compromises if necessary.

However, this "next step" was not so easy for other NLD members to take.

At a meeting at the party's Yangon headquarters May 27 to celebrate the 12th anniversary of its landslide victory in the 1990 general election, the NLD urged the government to convene a parliament based on the election results.

It was a legitimate demand, but one the junta has rejected for the past 12 years.

The NLD also confirmed at the meeting that it would continue to oppose, on political and economic grounds, foreign investment and development of the country's tourism industry because benefits would accrue to the junta and not the public.

These statements are just repetitions of the NLD's old policies. In effect, it has stuck to the party line and is making no compromise, even after Suu Kyi's release.

There is a good reason for this, according to Kei Nemoto, assistant professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and a specialist in Myanmar modern history. "The NLD can't change its official stance as long as the government doesn't hold a dialogue with Suu Kyi," he said.

If they hold direct talks, Suu Kyi and her dialogue partner Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1 of the SPDC, would be able to make significant but painful political compromises, including abolition of both the NLD's Committee Representing People's Parliament and the government's national council to draft a new constitution, according to Nemoto.

He even speculates that Suu Kyi may drop the NLD's demand for a parliament based on the 1990 election results.

"Though it's legitimate, the demand may seem to be unrealistic today since many of the elected candidates have died, are retired or are in exile," he said.

Instead, Suu Kyi may urge the SPDC to form a transitional coalition government with the NLD to reflect "the public wish for democracy" that was clearly shown in the 1990 election, Nemoto said.

However, even if Suu Kyi and Khin Nyunt, both said to be very pragmatic, agree to swallow this bitter pill, a question hangs over whether they can persuade their colleagues to do likewise.

Moreover, the current reconciliation process was not solely the work of Suu Kyi and Khin Nyunt. According to news reports, Suu Kyi and the SPDC agreed to resume direct talks thanks to mediation efforts by Razali Ismail, U.N. special envoy to Myanmar, and the Henry Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HDC), a Geneva-based nongovernmental organization.

Now, in addition to the mediation efforts by Razali and the HDC, Japan, the United States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other members of the international community should engage more actively with Myanmar to restart a process that has almost stalled for more than two months.

"Myanmar is far behind in the fields of medical care, education, human resources development and poverty alleviation compared with neighboring countries," said Taeko Takahashi, director of the First Southeast Asia Division of the Foreign Ministry. "We believe that, regardless of the political situation, assistance for basic human needs should be continued for the sake of the Myanmar people. Any shortfall in these areas ultimately could harm democratization."

The Japanese government decided in May to extend emergency assistance of up to 628 million yen for an overhaul of the 168-megawatt Baluchanung No. 2 Hydro Power Plant. Electricity shortages have become a serious social problem in the country.

Japanese aid to Myanmar often has been criticized by pro-democracy groups worldwide for merely propping up an undemocratic regime, but Suu Kyi seems to have shown some understanding of its benefits.

She visited a Yangon hospital for two hours on May 29 with Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Shigeru Tsumori. The hospital has been receiving medical assistance from Japan. Her visit was arranged by the Japanese Embassy in Yangon after Suu Kyi said she wanted to see Japan's humanitarian assistance firsthand, Takahashi said.

Politically, the move may represent a sea change for Suu Kyi, who has been strongly opposed to any foreign assistance and investment in Myanmar.

"If the current reconciliation process fails, both Suu Kyi and the reform-oriented members of the SPDC, including Khin Nyunt, will fall together," a Myanmar political analyst said. "Myanmar will lose the last opportunity for democratization."

Myanmar opens 10 border trade points
Xinhuanet 2002-07-21 12:40:09

YANGON, July 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar has opened a total of 10 border trade points with four neighboring countries -- China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India - to promote its border trade with them, according to a report of the country's Ministry of Commerce available here Sunday.

Along the border with China, there stands three such points -- Muse, Lweje and Laizar, while along that with Thailand, there liesfour which are Tachilek, Myawaddy, Kawthoung and Myeik.

On the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, two trade points are located which are Maungtaw and Sittwe, while there is just one trade pointknown as Tamu situated on the Myanmar-India border.
 
The report disclosed that there is however no border trade point near Laos so far, adding that discussions are underway to set up one there.
According to official statistics, the value of Myanmar's bordertrade with China stands first, followed by that with Thailand.
 
Myanmar's border trade was first introduced by the Myanmar Export Import Service on December 1, 1988, less than three months after the present government took office, and "import first, export later" system was then applied.
 
The system was replaced by "export first, import later" system in 1997, and the normal trade based on US dollar was adopted the same year to remove border trade based on currencies of respectivecountries.
 
The Myanmar border trade authorities have reduced the service charge from 10 percent to 8 percent starting July 28, 1998.
Other official statistics show that in 2001, Myanmar's imports and exports, including those through border trade, totaled 5,077.58 million US dollars, an increase of 24.7 percent from 2000.
More Myanmar people to be trained in Israel
Xinhuanet 2002-07-22 12:41:23

YANGON, July 22 (Xinhuanet) -- More Myanmar people are set to be trained in Israel with scholarships under a decision made by the Center for International Cooperation (CIC) of Israel, the local Myanmar Times reported Monday.
 
Quoting sources at the Israeli Embassy, the report said the CICunder the Israeli Foreign Ministry has extended the quota of training scholarships it makes available to Myanmar every year from 20 to 25.
The courses, being offered and conducted in Israel, cover agriculture and related science, education, economics, medicine, public health and rural, community and social development, it said.
 
During the past few years, under the arrangement of the two agriculture ministries, more than 100 Myanmar graduates have attended practical farming courses conducted by the host country. ã??ã??
Meanwhile, Myanmar and Israel have been also seeking economic and industrial cooperation and some Israeli industrial enterpriseshave signed memorandums of understanding with Myanmar on economic cooperation since 1996.
 
Israel, with an investment of 2.4 million US dollars in a single project in Myanmar so far, is one of the 25 countries and regions investing in the country, according to official statistics.
Japan to provide Myanmar 21-million-dollar aid
Xinhuanet 2002-07-22 09:58:53

YANGON, July 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The Japanese government will provide more than 21 million US dollars to Myanmar in the current fiscal year 2002-03 for various projects in the country, the localMyanmar Times reported Monday.
 
The projects to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japanese government's overseas aid agency, include a geographical database and a mangrove ecosystem management project in the southwestern Ayeyawaddy division, a resident representative of the JICA was quoted as saying.
Other projects cover an afforestation one in the central dry zone, which is one of the two priority regions designated by the JICA. The other area is Myanmar's northern Shan state.
 
In the last fiscal year of 2001-02, the JICA extended about thesame amount as this year's, funding projects of agriculture, health, drug control and economic development.
The JICA has been involved in nearly 40 development projects across Myanmar.
Myanmar junta OKs Kawaguchi's visit to Yangon on Aug. 3-5

BANGKOK, July 21 Kyodo - Myanmar's junta has basically agreed to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi's plan to visit Yangon from Aug. 3 to 5, diplomatic sources said Sunday. (23 :53)