KALADAN NEWS

PRICES OF RICE AND ONION HAVE MARKED SHARP RISE IN WESTERN BURMA

Dated: 5th Feb 2003.

Maungdaw, February 5: Prices of rice and onion have

marked sharp rise by Kyat 12 per kg and Kyat

100 per viss (I viss=1.74 kg) respectively.  Rice is

now being sold Kyat 260 per kg as against Kyat 228

Per kg, onion kyat 400 per viss as against kyat 300

four months back, in western Burma, according to our

correspondent.

Dry chili is being sold kyat 2,000 per viss against

kyat 1,500 four months back. Prices of garlic and

edible oil has however decreased to kyat 150 and 200

respectively from last four months.

Garlic and edible oil were selling at kyat 900 and

2,100 respectively against kyat 750 and 2,300 about

four months back, he further added.

However, beef, chicken, mutton and fish rates are

unwavering. Beef is being sold kyat 2,500 per viss,

first grade of fish kyat 1,800 per kg, sugar kyat

570per viss, kerosene kyat 2,400 per gallon, one cup

of tea is kyat 60, mutton kyat 2,500 per viss chicken

kyat 2,200 per viss, said our source.

 In Rangoon, coarse variety of rice is being sold

between kyat16, 000 to 17,000 per 50 kg bag as against

kyat 7,000 a month back. Edible oil is being sold

between kyat 2,300 to 2,350 per viss a month back, a

source said to our correspondent.

The best quality of gold is being sold kyat 200,000

per Tical (I Tical=15.87 gm) against kyat 195,000

two months a go.Cost of living in the Burma has

increased significantly than that was three months ago

due to price hike of essentials,said our suorce.

Soaring rice prices in Burma have put the staple out

of reach of millions of poor citizens, posing a major

problem for the ruling junta.

When asked some politicians about prices hike of

essentials at Maungdaw told that the military

government’s mismanagement, harsh international

sanctions aimed at forcing the regime to introduce

political reform, condemned by western governments for

its poor human rights record, shunned by foreign

investors and international financial

institutions caused the Burma’s economic ruined and

the price of essentials are hiking up unusually.

The official exchanged rate is kyat 6.8 to one US

dollar but in black market it is kyat 1050 to one US

 Dollar and kyat 17.50 to one Bangladesh Taka in

Burma- Bangladesh border, said our source. The kyat

value dropped when the SPDC cancelled foreign

import-export licenses, and border battle with

Thailand

and printing money not backed by foreign reserves in

attempt to decrease the trade deficit are the root

causes,according to our correspondent.

National Planning and Economic Development Minister, U

Soe Tha, announced Burma’s growth was10.5% with only a

few calculations to consult, this growth seems

incredible. Inflation continued at approximately 27%,

tourists declined by 49% and exports to Thailand

decreased 32% from last year, according to  Financial

Times 4 April and Myanmar Times July  2002.

Fayas Ahamed

Kaladan Press Network