Narinjara news


Future of the construction of bridges uncertain in western Burma

Maungdaw, 15^th July 03:  The future of the construction of bridges in western Burma has become uncertain due to the stoppage of Japanese aid to Burma, sources in the local administration said.

In Maungdaw Township, bordering with the southeastern part of Bangladesh, a number of bridges have been under construction utilizing Japanese aid offered by the BAJ (Bridge Asia Japan), a Japanese NGO.  The bridges would link the detached sections of the proposed Sittwe  Maungdaw road, which may later be used as link between Bangladesh and Rangoon.

The construction of the bridge number 64 at Kyauk-pan-du in Maungdaw Township was supposed to be finalized by signing an agreement by the BAJ and the ministry of foreign affairs, Japan, this month.  But due to the suspension of Japanese aid to Burma the project has become uncertain.  The plan of the construction of the bridge numbered 87 at Aang-daung (Inn-din) in the southern part of Maungdaw Township, too, has become uncertain

Since June 26 last the Government of Japan has stopped its ODA assistance to Burma as a stern measure against Burmese junta SPDC’s action against the National League for Democracy, the majority opposition party of Burma, by imprisoning its popular leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  Japan vowed not to offer any assistance until and unless the Burmese opposition leader is freed from imprisonment.  #