2012 April 26, 2012

Washington will not lift its sanctions against Burma main

source: nytimes

L'Union européenne et le Canada ont suspendu cette semaine la plupart de leurs sanctions, afin de saluer le processus de réformes politiques débutée il y a un an par le nouveau régime birman. The European Union and Canada this week suspended most of its sanctions, to greet the political reform process started a year ago by the new Burmese regime. | AFP / Soe Than WIN

The United States excluded, Wednesday, April 25, to raise in their main immediate sanctions against Burma, arguing that they want to keep a means of pressure on the country. The European Union and Canada have suspended this week most of their sanctions to greet the political reform process initiated a year ago by the new Burmese regime.

In early April, in the wake of elections that had allowed the National League for Democracy (NLD) of the opponent Aung San Suu Kyi to become the first opposition force the Burmese Parliament, Secretary of State American, Hillary Clinton , announced the easing of restrictions on investment to Burma and prompt appointment of an ambassador. The United States and some of their sanctions lifted, but not major.

"ALL IS NOT ROSE"

Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific and one of the architects of the U.S. strategy in Burma, said Wednesday to members of Congress from the point of view of the U.S. administration "all is not rosy" in Burma and had only ease some of its sanctions. "We must be able to respond in case there would be a reversal or a gel (reforms), this pressure is a key component of our strategy," said Mr. Campbell.

Organizations, human rights groups have recently expressed concern about allegations of rape, forced work and other abuses in the Kachin State in particular.

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2012 April 24, 2012

The lifting of sanctions is premature

source: courrierinternational

On 23 April, the European Union suspended for one year its "restrictions" against the Burmese regime, with the exception of the arms embargo. A move precipitated in respect of a government whose intentions remain uncertain regret Burmese exile.

Login to the lower house of Parliament, without Aung San Suu Kyi. Naypyidaw, April 23. AFP PHOTO / Soe Than WIN

Login to the lower house of Parliament, without Aung San Suu Kyi. Naypyidaw, April 23. AFP PHOTO / Soe Than WIN

On April 17, the U.S. Treasury Department announced an easing of financial sanctions against Burma [Myanmar or, according to his official name] for humanitarian and charitable activities. The decision is important and more sophisticated than those taken by the United Kingdom, Australia and Norway. Four days earlier, on the occasion of his visit to Burma, the British Prime Minister David Cameron was said to be in favor of suspending [and not lifting] penalties. Norway and Australia soon followed suit and assured that they would, they also reduce their penalties. All that remains virtually is an embargo on weapons. The European Union has formally adopted the same position on April 23, taking the decision to suspend [for a year] key financial and political sanctions such as a ban on investments and restrictions on visas for members of the regime. Burmese politics of Europe will therefore differ significantly from that of the United States apply. But given the situation in Burma, caution shown by Washington seems to be a much more reasonable response to developments on site.

The regime still tolerates no dissent

Day by day, politics is becoming increasingly unpredictable in Burma. The opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of her National League for Democracy, recently elected, refused to take the oath as guarantors of the 2008 Constitution [and boycotted the parliamentary session that s' opened on April 23]. On the ground, in Kachin State [border of China], fighting continues between government forces and rebels. Much has been made of the case of alleged commitment to the path of reform, but the conviction of three soldiers who have blogged about the difficulties faced by the army in general, rather than showing the regime still tolerates no dissent. According to the Burmese version of Radio Free Asia, three officers of the Air Force have been sentenced on April 9 in prison by a military court. One of them, Captain Zaw Lynn Dwe would have sentenced to twenty years due to, among other things, the draconian law on electronics. The other two should serve sentences of seven years. It is still not known whether "The Lady", as Aung San Suu Kyi is sometimes called, will be free to travel to the United Kingdom and Norway in June, as it was announced. To date, she has not received a new passport.

Keeping all this in mind, the Western countries should, for the moment, refrain from rewarding supposedly reformist government, including restoring trade relations with Burma. While the arms embargo is maintained. But even if Western countries are not willing to directly sell arms to Burma, they nevertheless continue to allow him to arm the system by providing the means to more easily raise cash. After all, the Burmese government traditionally devoted a large part of the income of foreign investment in defense rather than health or education. The government, nominally civilian proposes a budget for 2012-2013 that is not so different from the previous. Defense represents 14.9% of the total, while 2.9% and 4.9% respectively of the budget was allocated to health and education.

The reality is that the Burmese policy remains cloudy and that its future is still uncertain. Hundreds of political prisoners are still behind bars, and those who have been released are victims of daily hassles. It would be wrong to reward a government for these superficial reforms and to put commercial interests ahead of human rights. Those who plan to suspend or revoke restrictions on investments must understand that it is not necessary to sell weapons directly to the system to enable it to arm.

Zaw Nay Aung is director of Burma Independence Advocates (Defenders of the Burmese independence) in London.

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2012 April 23, 2012

BURMA. Aung San Suu Kyi refused to sit in Parliament

source: lenouvelobs

The opponent, elected deputy in the elections of April 1, refuses to sit on the Burmese Parliament, the first session will be held on April 23. (KHIN MAUNG WIN / AP / SIPA)

The opponent, elected deputy in the elections of April 1, refuses to sit on the Burmese Parliament, the first session will be held on April 23. (KHIN MAUNG WIN / AP / SIPA)

Elected Member of Parliament on April 1, 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi did not attend Monday, April 23 at its first session in Parliament. The Burmese opponent refuses indeed swear, it indicates that parliamentarians are committed to protecting the Constitution, she would rather change.

A decision that casts a shadow on the ongoing reforms in the country, while the European Union has announced the suspension of most sanctions against Burma.

But President Thein Sein, traveling to Japan, assured that the democratization process would continue. There will be "no shift", he told reporters, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo.

A first sign of discord

The decision of Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) not to travel to the capital Naypyidaw is the first sign of discord between the opposition and the government since the historic elections of April 1, widely acclaimed throughout the world, and have encouraged the West to begin to lift its sanctions.

The EU should also be suspended on Monday for a year, in particular the restrictions against more than 800 companies, while maintaining the arms embargo. This move is intended to encourage reforms, while maintaining pressure on the government which replaced the junta in March 2011.

The opposition members refuse to take the oath

The new government team including freeing hundreds of political prisoners, initiated discussions with rebel groups of ethnic minorities and encouraged the return of the official politics of history opponent (and media), triumphantly elected MP for the first time in April.

After the by-election in which the NLD won 43 of the 44 seats it was running, the party is the first opposition force in the parliament.

But the newly elected refuse to take the oath to "save" the 2008 Constitution, adopted by referendum a week after Cyclone Nargis (138,000 dead or missing) and assumes immense military power. This text, designed by the former junta, reserve a quarter of the seats in the assemblies of active military.

President Thein Sein has no intention to intervene

Before participating in the elections of April 1, Ang Saung Suu Kyi, who has repeatedly said that one of his priorities was to amend the Constitution, was obtained to change the electoral law before it is allowed to publicly discuss text. But the oath of the MPs in the Constitution, had he, not changed.

The NLD has filed in recent days many requests to replace "save" with "respect." In vain.

While the opposition party had expressed confidence Sunday the possibility to overcome this problem by appealing to President Thein Sein, it said Monday that he did not intend to intervene.

According to Japan's Kyodo News, he said he would "welcome" the opponent in Parliament, but it was up to her to decide whether or not she wanted to sit:

We would like to cooperate [with it] by moving in the same direction for the good of the people's interests. "

The NLD has ensured his side have no "formal response" Thein Sein on his request, according to his spokesman Nyan Win.

A strategy in doubt

But some have questioned the strategy adopted by Suu Kyi in this case. "I think the NLD has a bad idea, just to fight for a few words. I think the NLD should participate in the parliament and they should propose a comprehensive strategy of political and economic reforms ", commented Aung Thu Nyein, an analyst at Vahu Development Institute.

Last week, the NLD had announced the first trip abroad for 24 years of the Nobel Peace Prize. The planned trip to Norway and Britain in June was described by observers as a sign of his confidence in the reform process underway.

The opponent, who spent some 15 years locked up, had since his return home in 1988, never wanted to leave Burma for fear of being kept in exile by the military regime.

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2012 April 22, 2012

The gamble of the Lady of Rangoon

source: lefigaro.fr

Aung San Suu Kyi during his visit to the slum Kawhmu in the Burmese capital.
Aung San Suu Kyi during his visit to the slum in the Burmese capital Kawhmu Photo credits:. Khin Maung Win / AP

Aung San Suu Kyi is set to make his entry into Parliament. Some of her relatives, however, fear that it will lose some of its influence.

Aung San Suu Kyi is not the dissenting which so moved the West standing alone against the Burmese junta inflexible, but it is not yet a member hoping that "the people's role in the policy will be increased" .

The metamorphosis of the famous prisoner of the parliamentary opposition will have to wait. She plans to boycott the Parliament on Monday because of the oath she must pay to "save" the Constitution. The lady who made the reform of the charter, drafted in 2008 by and for the military, a priority country, proposes to replace the word "save" with "respect". But the oath itself enshrined in the Constitution, was still not changed Sunday Burma .

Once the semantic-legal imbroglio will be unraveled and Aung San Suu Kyi sit in Naypyidaw, opens a period of uncertainty. This woman who aspires to continuous perfection of mind and who sacrificed his life for the cause can she live with the compromises, bargains and tricks imposed by the Burmese politics?

Even thin program

Unlike Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto , Aung San Suu Kyi was not politically trained with his father, a hero of Burmese independence, assassinated when she was two years old. Fifteen years' imprisonment had prevented to surround powerbrokers. His party, the National League for Democracy, is in poor condition. And sound political agenda is still thin. It must clarify its position on several economic issues and the establishment of a true federation. Expected on technical issues, ranging from microcredit access to training through investment promotion, the Nobel Peace Prize will evolve his personal spiritual quest to release a concrete policy planning.

The big unknown is the influence of Aung San Suu Kyi will be in the new Parliament. His old companion, Win Tin, worried: "Will she not trapped" in this institution locked by the military, the "dead body" where sessions are shipped in a quarter of an hour, elected closely supervised and servility rewarded with pretty remuneration?

With 7% of the seats, the party of the Lady will be faced with the bloated and hostile majority of the USDP, the party of solidarity and development, created from scratch by the former junta. The laconic comment of Colonel Saw Khin Soe, a man of the first circle of power, is emblematic of the contempt and bitterness Aung San Suu Kyi meet in the aisles of the Lower House of Parliament: "I do not know much thing this woman. Her husband was English, "he is only to say. "She has such faith in herself that she is convinced that she will return half of Parliament and undermine it from within the ruling party," said Win Tin. "His toughness, his incredible powers of persuasion will maybe change things."

Frail

The political future of the Lady is also the subject of much speculation. His age and poor health may prevent him to run for the highest office in the state in 2015. It will be 70 years. "From the time when economic sanctions are lifted, the influence of Aung San Suu Kyi on Western governments fall. It will not be a vote in Parliament, powerful but lonely, "said Kyaw Moe Zwa, between exile in Thailand. The possibility of seeing accept a minister or special adviser was raised. Rumors have also been reported as a mediator between the government and rebel ethnic minorities. "Whether minister in charge of a small portfolio or MP, its scope is more limited than if she had remained unattached opponent," said Zarni Oo, a member of the 88 Generation, an organization of former students who attended the pro-democracy uprising in 1988.

In short, the Lady of all hopes is in a delicate situation. Some dissidents believe it is fenced in a position of co-optation by the junta grimée civil government. Others feel that nitpick the form of the oath and must not disperse for symbols. "The insect that attacks chili can not complain of burning," thinks the exiled opposition leader Aung Zaw. Others have huge expectations of what it can achieve. "She disappoint. This is inevitable. This is not a magician, "said Ko Ko Gyi, a former political prisoner. Aung San Suu Kyi does what it believes to be his duty.

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2012 April 20, 2012

BURMA. Aung San Suu Kyi's party intends to boycott parliament

source: lenouvelobs

The opponents to call for a revision of the Constitution, is currently favorable to the junta, before taking the oath.

Aung San Suu Kyi with supporters. (PETER NICHOLLS / THE TIMES / SIPA)

Aung San Suu Kyi with supporters. (PETER NICHOLLS / THE TIMES / SIPA)

The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other newly elected members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) plan to boycott the parliament on Monday, because they must take the oath on the Constitution, said Friday 20 April 1 spokesman of the party.

This is the first major sign of discord between the NLD and the new government since the elections on April 1 that allowed Suu Kyi to win his first seat member and his party to become the leading opposition force in a Parliament still dominated by the military and their allies.

A Constitution that is being debated

The NLD has asked the authorities to change the wording of the oath that would require its members, invited to attend the first session of parliament Monday to promise to "save" the Constitution drafted by the junta disbanded and they want change .

It would replace "save" with "respect", but the office of the Constitutional Court refused. The party will make a new attempt at the presidency, but it has little chance of success by Monday, noted Nyan Win, spokesman for the NLD.

"Today is the 20th, I see no possibility to go in time," he said. President Thein Sein is currently traveling in Japan.

The NLD won 43 seats out of 44 it was running in by-elections April 1, seen as a test of the sincerity of the reforms of the new government that succeeded the junta in March 2011.

Opposition calls for reforms

Suu Kyi said that one of his priorities would be to try to reform the 2008 Constitution, passed a week after Cyclone Nargis (138,000 dead or missing) and assumes immense military power.

A quarter of the seats reserved for meetings include active military.

Before participating in partial April 1, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize was granted to change the electoral law before it is allowed to publicly discuss the text, but the oath of Deputies, registered himself in the Constitution , has not been modified.

Suu Kyi, who spent most of the last twenty years under house arrest, has returned in recent months in the heart of official politics, encouraged by Thein Sein.

Sign of its confidence in the reforms undertaken by the president, his party announced Wednesday his first trip abroad since 24 years. 's "Lady" from Rangoon and should go in June in Norway and Great Britain, subject she got the passport in which it has applied.

The reforms also led the West to reduce its sanctions against Burma.

According to EU diplomatic sources, the European Union reached an agreement Thursday on the principle of one-year suspension of all sanctions, except the arms embargo. A decision must be approved Monday.

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2012 April 19, 2012

Burma: EU will suspend for one year its sanctions

source: lenouvelobs

The EU will suspend for one year its sanctions against Burma, particularly restrictions against more than eight hundred companies while maintaining an arms embargo, said on Thursday the European diplomatic sources.

"An agreement in principle was reached" in the sense that after a meeting of ambassadors from 27 to salute the recent democratic changes in the country, according to diplomats.

The decision must be formally endorsed in Luxembourg on Monday by European foreign ministers.

EU sanctions were due to expire at the end of the month. They included travel bans and asset freezes against 491 people who had already been partially suspended. Some 59 companies and organizations were also targeted by asset freezes.

In addition, restrictions on trade and investment covering over 800 companies active in the field of forestry, mining and trade of precious stones ... In addition, 52 companies controlled by the junta were being restrictions on investment, said a diplomat.

"All of these sanctions will be suspended, with the exception of an embargo on arms and equipment that can be used for internal repression," he said.

27 hesitated between a suspension for six or twelve months. A compromise was finally reached on a clause re-evaluation after six months, according to another diplomat.

London, the former colonial power, has long been defending some hardliners. But last Friday in Rangoon, British Prime Minister David Cameron and the leader of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi jointly launched an appeal to "suspend" sanctions.

This call was crucial to allow, within the EU to find a compromise between proponents of a gradual lifting of sanctions and those like Germany argued in contrast to a total lifting of the measures in force notes a European diplomat.

Last year, the regime called "civil" has continued to surprise: he freed many political prisoners, opened negotiations with rebel ethnic groups and organized elections on April 1.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) Ms. Suu Kyi's won 43 seats out of 44 it was running, becoming the first opposition force in the country.

The process has been unanimously praised by the international community.

The United States have announced Tuesday the lifting of sanctions prohibiting the export of certain Burmese democratic, social and health financial services including those referred to humanitarian, educational, sports or religious.

Last year, the EU has already made several symbolic gestures to encourage democratization. It suspended in April 2011 asset freezes and visa bans for 24 people, including the chief diplomat. And 87 senior officials, including President Thein Sein, received in February 2012 for lifting the travel ban.

The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is scheduled to visit Burma itself from April 28 to 30. She will meet Burmese President, members of the government and Aung San Suu Kyi.

The EU is also considering a resumption of its policy of development cooperation and, when possible, the establishment of a system of trade preferences, according to a diplomat.

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2012 April 18, 2012

Burma: Suu Kyi plans his first trip abroad since 24 years

source: lepoint.fr

L'opposante birmane Aung San Suu Kyi effectuera à Oslo en juin sa première visite à l'étranger après des années de privation de liberté par la junte militaire, a annoncé mercredi un porte-parole du ministère norvégien des Affaires étrangères. The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will perform in Oslo in June his first visit abroad after years of detention by the military junta, said Wednesday a spokesman for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi plans to visit mid-June in Norway and the UK, as part of his first trip abroad since 24 years, a sign of confidence in the reforms in his country .

"She plans to go to Norway and Britain in June. It also hopes to go to other countries, "he told AFP Nyan Win, spokesman for her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), adding that the trip would last about a week.

Returned to Burma in 1988 at the bedside of his sick mother, who entered that year in politics in favor of a popular uprising, had so far always refused to leave, for fear of giving the military a golden opportunity for keep in exile.

But since the junta dissolved itself in March 2011 and sent its power to a civilian former military government has stepped up political reforms, including encouraging the return of Suu Kyi in the formal political process.

The "Lady" from Rangoon even triumphantly won his first seat of MP by-elections on April 1 that propelled the NLD, the first opposition force in the Parliament, and urged the West to reduce its sanctions against the regime.

Norway, which has raised much of Sunday's sanctions were announced earlier in the day his visit to Oslo to receive in person the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, while she was under house arrest.

Her late husband and his two son at the time had received the medal on behalf of, the diploma and the prize at a ceremony in Oslo. But the conference that usually give the winners could not take place.

"It will give his Nobel lecture at Oslo City Hall" which takes place every year the traditional ceremony of the Nobel Prize for Peace, told AFP the head of the Nobel Institute responsible for events Sigrid Langebrekke.

Suu Kyi said she has always tried to travel to Norway for his first trip abroad as a sign of gratitude.

The first move should also include a visit to Oxford, where she spent part of her studies, said Nyan Win.

But a spokesman for the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported no confirmation of his coming, adding "hope she can come."

In a landmark visit to Myanmar last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron called on the "Lady" from Rangoon to visit Britain and in Oxford in June.

"Two years ago I would have said you + thank you for the invitation, but sorry +. Today, I can say maybe + +, this is a great progress, "she replied.

But until now, the opponent still has no passport. Burmese officials said Wednesday AFP she had recently filed a request to that effect, but that the documents had not yet been delivered.

Based in the UK where she married a British academic Michael Aris, Suu Kyi had returned to Burma in April 1988 at the bedside of his sick mother and had never left.

In August 1988, in the popular uprising, the daughter of General Aung San, assassinated hero of Burmese independence, delivers his first public speech, which goes to the heart of the Burmese. Punishment will be about 3,000 people. But the icon was born.

Placed for the first time under house arrest the following year, she spent a total of about 15 years imprisoned before finally being released in November 2010. Fear of not being able to come back, she remained particularly in Rangoon in 1999, while her husband succumbed to cancer in Britain.

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2012 April 17, 2012

The United States lifted sanctions on financial services in Burma

source: Lepoint

Les Etats-Unis ont annoncé la levée de sanctions interdisant l'exportation en Birmanie de certains services financiers, et ont autorisé ainsi ceux à visée humanitaire, démocratique, éducative, sociale et sanitaire, sportive ou religieuse.

The United States has announced the lifting of sanctions prohibiting the export of certain Myanmar financial services, and those authorized under humanitarian, democratic, educational, social and health, sports or religious.

The United States has announced the lifting of sanctions prohibiting the export of certain Myanmar financial services, and those authorized under humanitarian, democratic, educational, social and health, sports or religious.

Among the goals allowed for the export of financial services to Burma, specifically mentioned in the regulations of the Treasury on Tuesday, are now "the construction of democracy and good governance", education, health, assistance to refugees or religious activities.

In early April, in the wake of elections that had allowed the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Aung San Suu Kyi becoming the first opposition force the Burmese Parliament, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the next easing of restrictions on investment to Burma and prompt appointment of an ambassador.

These actions continue the U.S. policy of "give and take" conducted by the United States to break with the strategy of isolating Burma, who had led the country rich in raw materials into the arms of China.

The European Union is also expected to announce soon lifted its sanctions against Burma, after the common call to "suspend" sanctions launched by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the leader of the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Australia has its side Monday it would lift sanctions against Burma's president and more than 200 officials, currently subject to travel bans and financial transactions.

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2012 April 16, 2012

Burma: "I finally dared to dream"

source: Infosud - Lorene Rapeneau

Aung San Suu Kyi erected icon in Rangoon in March 2012 (AL Porée)

The changes initiated in Burma at the highest state level does not affect the poorest populations. However, with the recent entry of Aung San Suu Kyi in the electoral race, the fear that haunted the desert spirits and dreams of a better tomorrow reborn.

In the Pagoda Shwe San Yar popular suburb of Rangoon - Burma's economic capital - echoing the prayers of twenty monks.

Zaw Win, 58, returned from a leisurely pace to her room, wrapped in his coat color plum. Former fisherman, he joined the Buddhist religious center of his native village after the death of his parents, eight years ago. This quiet and attentive man embodies gentleness and compassion:

"People here are poor. Miserable to the point that some are asking for food at the pagoda. Many people are unemployed. For us who live here, nothing has changed except the schedule more flexible ferry, which docks to 22 hours instead of 21 hours. "

Aung San Suu Kyi, the hope of change

Poor improvement in terms of the political opening initiated by the military junta since the November 2010 elections . The transition to a civilian government led by former general Thein Sein in March 2011 (after decades of military rule and oppression) and the acceleration of reforms for several months does not reach the poor: neither in the common Vibrant stuff that grew Zaw Win or Rangoon or in the countryside where nearly 75% of the population.

Burmese aspire to get out of a difficult day, and they are unanimous: the only one who can make this change is Aung San Suu Kyi. Flower icon on the bun, daughter of the national hero who led the country to independence, it now embodies the hope for many Burmese who are grateful to have as his father sacrificed so much for his people.

His campaign has attracted huge crowds. "Daw Suu [respectfully call Aung San Suu Kyi, ed] is Daw Suu! "Zaw Win slips into a smile. "There is it to change the lives of poor people. "

Priorities people, education and employment

The U Myent, a neighbor of the pagoda is busy renovating her house with planks and metal sheets new. Without hesitation, he displays his affinity with Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD)

"You see, this young man who helped me rebuild my house, it has to work as a laborer for 3,000 kyat [about 3 euros, ed]. It is not enough to feed his family, and he has a health problem, it's his salary goes. What we need is a free access to health care, jobs, better education. "

A short distance, the ferry crossed the Rangoon River docks to discharge are daily flow of passengers returning from their day's work in Rangoon.

Since its restaurant, U Win Naing looks at the crowd go into a concert of horns. He, whose father migrated from India in the 1920s to work as a train driver in Burma colonized by the British, remembers many stories about the paternal golden age of country.

At 59 years, bookworm and Burmese newspapers and Tamil got an opinion on the future of his country. He is adamant that education and employment, especially in industry and the transformation of national resources should be priorities. But so far, the newspaper has not improved.

For activists from the local office of the NLD, the changes are obvious, however. Htoo Thit, who spent ten years in prison for participating in student protests in 1988, the notes:

"Today, there are portraits of Aung San Suu Kyi everywhere, especially in the papers, and stickers and flags with the colors of the NLD are visible. And we can meet in public without being monitored and systematically photographed. Until 2010, meetings of more than five people were prohibited. "

A bloody crackdown against protesters who are still deeply marked the spirits. But his long stay in Burmese jails was vaccinated against fear, he says:

"What is needed is that we work with civil society to eliminate this fear. "

Decrease in purchasing power

On the other side of the river, the decrepit Rangoon vibrates and bubbly. In this setting of abandoned buildings to the vagaries of time, where buses and taxis dilapidated whirring, passing cars clashes. But it is less rare.

Taxis were indeed encouraged to invest in new models against a redemption of their old vehicle. The terms for buying a car would also be relaxed. Nilar Myaing protests:

"How can people buy a car? I'm looking for just one and a basic Toyota from 1990, I was asked this morning $ 22 000 [17 000 euros, note]! "

Burma was deemed to be the country where the cars are the most expensive in the world. The image is still required ...

The heart of the problem is the declining purchasing power of the population, evidenced by several families of teachers who value drops to 40% in a single year. Nilar Myaing says:

"People who earn $ 500 to $ 700 per month should be the middle class. However, they are struggling to meet their basic needs. They are wondering when they can buy an apartment ... "

A new expression of freedom

However, these same middle classes observed some improvements. Hla Hla Win, who spends an enormous energy to teaching English in Rangoon, evokes much better communications:

"Now I have Internet at home, the connection is faster than in the office, and I also have a cell phone that allows me to call when I want. It gives me freedom. "

Like her, her colleague htar htar Ei bought his sim 500,000 kyat (460 euros) six months ago. Prohibitively expensive, which is obviously not within the reach of every budget, but became accessible to a small segment of the urban population.

Pyasone, 21, also has a mobile phone for six months. His mother, editor, and his father, an archaeologist, found the means to offer him.

When fear fades

Hope woke up in recent months by the relaxation of government and more recently by the candidacy of Aung San Suu Kyi and her party in the elections of April 1 infiltrates especially the lives of workers in Rangoon.

Cho Cho Aung, discreet young woman of 28 years, working for the very political Bayda Institute, which trains young people in the NLD. She saw the opening course with great relief:

"In one year, things have changed. At home, no one argues for a long while, I hid my parents that I was working for the Institute for not worry. But I lived in fear. Today, the fear is gone. "

Htar htar Ei, who heads the Humanitarian Aid Program Network Activities Group in the dry zone 400 km north of Yangon, in turn finds she has "gained confidence" in what she could do.

More options and flexibility: this is the impression seems to win a particularly vibrant civil society, although caution or skepticism get involved.

Certainly, delays or administrative obstacles remain, corruption plagues the system, complications still occur, but Nilar Myaing, the energetic and pragmatic director of local resource center (LRC), reflected in his words the hopes of so many Burmese :

"Over the past ten years, I worked in fear. Today, I finally dared to dream. "

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2012 April 15, 2012

Burma: the last days of the European sanctions

source: lenouvelobs

The EU sanctions against Burma are probably living their last days, after a series of major political reforms orchestrated by the current regime, poised to record his first major victory on the world stage. (C) AFP

The EU sanctions against Burma are probably living their last days, after a series of major political reforms orchestrated by the current regime, poised to record his first major victory on the world stage. (C) AFP

The EU sanctions against Burma are probably living their last days, after a series of major political reforms orchestrated by the current regime, poised to record his first major victory on the world stage.

The West had already taken some symbolic measures to support President Thein Sein. But the call to "suspend" sanctions Friday launched jointly by British Prime Minister David Cameron and the leader of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, sounds like a turning point.

Analysts believe that the foreign ministers of the EU should no longer any resistance to this scenario April 23, at a meeting in Luxembourg, and finally open this new frontier for investors of the old continent.

London, the former colonial power, was far defending some hard line vis-à-vis Naypyidaw. And the appeal of Cameron, "for the sake of a country called freedom after decades of dictatorship," will be hard to ignore.

"The decision of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs looks like a fait accompli," and said Jim Della-Giacoma, the think tank International Crisis Group, citing "a de facto lifting of sanctions."

Last year, the regime called "civil" Thein Sein has continued to seduce.

He released many political prisoners and opened negotiations with rebel ethnic groups, even if the weapons still dominate discussions Kachin State (North) where abuses against civilians continue.

Above all, he organized the elections on April 1, red carpet entrance to the parliament Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy.

The fact that the winner of the Nobel Peace follows the lead of Cameron on the suspension is decisive points Gareth Price of Chatham House think tank, that his opinion is "decisive in Britain and beyond, for European position. "

The suspension, which keeps intact the threat of sanctions if the Conservatives were to resurface in Naypyidaw, is "an intelligent middle way", he says. "Everyone wants the reform process continues and the question is how to achieve it."

The EU has already lifted travel bans of 87 senior officials, including Thein Sein, in February. 23, the day Suu Kyi sit for the first time as an MP, she should allow investment and imports of several sensitive products, while maintaining the arms embargo.

But it will be more complicated to switch the United States, who are already committed to ease restrictions on investment and quickly appoint an ambassador, but that will have to go too far.

Because if the process is simple in Europe or Australia, the U.S. sanctions are "enshrined in the law," a guarantee of slowness in this election year in Washington. "We must expect more progressive movements in the United States," predicts Jim Della-Giacoma.

Nevertheless. The domestic and international political events will further whet the appetite of multinationals. "The Burmese economy offers tremendous opportunities," says Rajiv Biswas, chief economist at IHS Global Insight, highlighting the potential of tourism, oil and banking system, to build from scratch.

The first investment, he said, should accompany a strong increase in aid, making Burma "next gold rush" for sectors such as construction and health.

But at a time when the political need to act, companies are more cautious after 50 years of mismanagement and confiscation of wealth by the junta and its cronies.

"This is a country without rule of law. The idea that Western companies will invest billions seems unlikely to emerge until real changes in the legal framework. "

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