News Briefs (March 2008)

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Gas Exports Push Burma to Historic Trade Peak

Burma's total trade in 2007 hit an historic peak of US $8.7 billion, with $5.9 billion in exports and $2.8 billion in imports, leaving the country with a trade surplus of $3.1 billion, said the Myanmar Times weekly, citing government officials.

The largest export product was natural gas. Other products included agricultural goods, amounting to $572 million in earnings; gems and jewelry totaling $561 million; and fishery products with $366 million.

The record exports came even as US and EU economic sanctions were tightened following the crackdown on protesters in September 2007. The sanctions were started in the early 1990s after the Burmese junta refused to acknowledge the outcome of the 1990 general election.

Trading between Burma and its neighbors—particularly Thailand and China—has continued unabated, especially in the energy section.

In 2007, natural gas exports to Thailand alone earned the country $2.7 billion.

Small Military Plane Crashes near Hanoi

A small military plane crashed near Hanoi Tuesday morning, killing all five aboard, a Vietnamese military official said. The small Russian-made AN-26 plane crashed in a suburban district on the southwest side of Hanoi, said Huynh, a military officer in Thanh Tri district, where the plane crashed. All five crew members died in the crash, Huynh said, declining to give his full name. The plane took off from Gia Lam airport in Hanoi with five officers aboard for a training exercise, Huynh said. It crashed on its way back to the airport. The military is investigating the cause.

An official from Ta Thanh Oai village said the plane crashed in a rice field just over 10 meters from two farmers who were working in the paddies. The plane appeared to be heading toward two nearby schools but veered away into the field just before it crashed, said the village official, who declined to give her name. Several small Vietnamese military planes have crashed over the last several years. Most of the accidents involved aircraft from Vietnam's aging fleet of planes from Russia and Eastern Europe. (AP)

Monday, March 31, 2008

Activists Arrested for 'Vote No' Protest

Five Burmese activists who allegedly participated in a recent protest against the junta’s draft constitution were arrested on Sunday, according to sources in Rangoon. Khin Oo, Ye Zaw Tike, Zarni Aung, Aung Kyaw and Tin Oo Maung were taken from their homes by Burmese authorities to undisclosed locations under suspicion of involvement in a demonstration outside the opposition National League for Democracy’s headquarters on March 27, which is also Burma’s Armed Forces Day. About 50 protesters wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with the word “No!” joined in the demonstration. The protesters were reportedly urging voters to reject the constitution at the upcoming referendum in May. They also called on the junta to hold a meaningful dialogue with dissidents.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Guns Seized at Friendship Bridge

Burmese authorities at the Thai-Burmese border have seized several pistols and some 1,500 rounds of ammunition during a raid by Burmese authorities on arms traffickers on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, said sources on the border. The weapons were found on the Burmese side of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge, which connects Thailand’s Mae Sai to Burma’s Tachilek. A Burmese citizen, Aie Shar, was arrested on suspicion of being involved, said sources. Illegal products, arms and drugs are smuggled across the bridge on a daily basis, according to sources.

Indonesia Fuel Subsidies to Grow 40 Percent

The Indonesian government expects fuel subsidies to increase nearly 40 percent this year due to rising global crude oil prices, a parliament member said late Wednesday.
The fuel subsidies of 127 trillion Indonesia rupiah (US $13.9 billion) will make up about 13 percent of the country's total budget of 987.4 trillion rupiah for 2008.
The projections are based on budget revisions, due to be passed this week, that raise the assumption of the average Indonesian crude oil price to $95 a barrel from $80 a barrel, said Emir Moeis, the chairman of the parliament's budget committee.