Posts Tagged ‘Htoo trading’
Htoo Trading, U Gambira, Su Su Nway and Hanny Oo
Htoo trading leaves Bogalay workers unpaid
Aug 14, 2008 (DVB)
Bogalay residents have complained that the Htoo trading company, which was engaged in redevelopment projects in the area, has pulled out after two months without paying local workers for their labour.
Htoo trading is owned by Tay Za, a Burmese tycoon with close links to the ruling junta. Residents said the company had stopped the project because it was not profitable.
“The Htoo trading used labour from daily paid workers in Bogalay to rebuild houses destroyed by the cyclone,” a resident said.
“But after two months, they decided the project was not going to make profit and they abandoned it without settling payments for the labour.”
The Bogalay resident said the workers had agreed a price for their labour at the outset of the project. “They owed some people up to about 4-500,000 kyat, it’s not a small amount of money,” he said.
Carpenters in our town worked for Htoo trading after agreeing a payment of around 5000 kyat a day and now they are waiting for them to come back.” Htoo trading used Bogalay workers to build houses in the Kyein Chaung Gyi village area, which were sold to locals for 1.5 million kyat to be paid in installments.
Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet
http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1632
U Gambira raises monks’ issues with UN rights envoy
Aug 14, 2008 (DVB)
All-Burmese Monks’ Alliance leader U Gambira raised the issue of the imprisonment and disrobing of monks by the Burmese regime in a meeting with United Nations human rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana.
U Gambira’s sister Ma Khin Thu Htay said her brother had spent 20 minutes with the special rapporteur during his visit to Burma last week.
“He said the meeting took place at night time and they had a lot of privacy, but U Gambira didn’t get to tell him about all the important things, only general things such as about 200 monks being thrown into prison and then disrobed,” Khin Thu Htay said.
“He told Mr Quintana that he was being detained in prison without a court hearing or remand. He wanted to tell him a lot but there wasn’t much time,” she said.
“Mr Quintana promised him he would do his best.” U Gambira has been in detention in Insein prison since he was arrested by government authorities in Magwe division’s Sintgaing township on 4 November 2007 for his role in instigating public protests in September.
Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet
http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1634
Suu Suu Nwe and Hanny Oo appear before court
Mizzima
Phanida Thursday, 14 August 2008 21:33
Chiang Mai – A human rights activist under detention was produced before court yesterday, but family members are worried as they were not allowed to meet with her.
Suu Suu Nwe is in Insein prison and facing trial at Rangoon’s West District Court. It has been two weeks since family members were last permitted to meet with her.
“She appeared before the court yesterday and was again remanded. Only the lawyers were allowed to enter the courtroom. We’ve not met with her for two weeks. Why didn’t the authorities allow us to meet with her? There was no official announcement of such a ban. However, she is reportedly no longer being held in solitary confinement,” her elder sister Htay Htay Kyi said.
“We are worried about her health as she is suffering from a heart ailment. She will have anxiety when she is not allowed to meet with us. The authorities are giving trouble not only to prisoners but also to their family members,” she added.
Suu Suu Nwe, a member of the opposition party National League for Democracy, was banned from meeting with family members and receiving food parcels from the 2nd to 15th of last month for allegedly violating prison rules.
She was arrested on the 14th of November 2007 while hanging an anti-government banner in front of Mya Yeik Nyo Hotel in Rangoon. She was later charged under sections 143 and 147 (unlawful assembly), 505 (b) (inducing crime against public tranquility) and 124(a) (disaffection towards State) of the Criminal Code.
Yesterday the court also examined prosecution witnesses in another political case, that of Hanny Oo
The government has accused final year law student Hanny Oo (21) of being the mastermind behind a protest against a fuel price hike and subsequent rising commodity prices which was staged in front of Yuzana Plaza in Rangoon in September 2007.
She has been charged under sections 124 (a) (disaffection towards State), 505 (b) (inducing crime against public tranquility) and 143 and 145 (unlawful assembly) of the Criminal Code. Additionally she is confronted with a charge related to section 6 of the Registration of Organizations Act.
Family members of Hanny Oo said they felt very sorry when they heard a prison inmate was assaulted by prison authorities for her failure to tell Hanny Oo not to wear a black dress to court.
“Hanny Oo was not allowed to wear the black dress and ordered to change clothes. They again ordered her to change when her next dress included a bit of black yarn. Prison staff Tin Tin Maw then slapped an inmate who was guarding the door while Hanny Oo was changing dress for not telling her not to dress in black. She felt very sorry to see that. They impose restrictions even on dress. She feels this is an attempt by prison authorities to sow dissension among prison inmates,” commented one of her family members.
Hanny Oo was arrested by Military Affairs Security personnel and civilian security contingents while talking with four friends on the 9th of October 2007 at her home in South Okkalapa Township. She was accused of having met with All Burma Federation of Student Union (ABFSU) members.
Her case is scheduled to hold its next hearing on the 20th of August, while Suu Suu Nwe’s case has been remanded until a week later, on the 27th.
World focus on Burma (14 August 2008)
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Canadian government matches $30 million in donations for China …
The Canadian Press, TORONTO –
The federal government is also matching more than $11.6 million for people affected by the cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, which killed nearly 85000 people in …
Canada matches relief donations to China, Burma
Canada.com, Canada –
The government also will contribute $11622015 to the Burma Cyclone Relief Fund, which brings the amount of aid committed to the country to more than $25
Government of Canada Helps Victims of China Earthquake and Burma …
MarketWatch –
In addition, over $11.6 million was raised for people affected by Cyclone Nargis in Burma. These matching funds will be channeled to humanitarian …
Government of Canada Helps Victims of China Earthquake and Burma …
Market Wire (press release) –
The Burma cyclone in May left nearly 140000 dead or missing. The humanitarian response by Canadians was immediate, and several organizations raised funds to …
Christian Science Monitor, MA –
The first day I came to her house, ostensibly to talk about Burma (Myanmar), she asked me to help her practice for the Georgia driver’s written exam. …
UN admits loss of about 1.56 million dollars of cyclone aid in Burma
Mizzima.com, India –
But the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, the principal bank in Burma that is used by several aid agencies to transfer aid money, on Thursday told Mizzima that ..
UN:More than $1.5 million in cyclone aid lost WTTE, OH –
UN says 1.5 mln dlrs of cyclone aid lost in Myanmar forex rules AFP –
UN says $A1.79M of cyclone aid lost Sydney Morning Herald, Australia –
UN estimates $1.56mn of cyclone aid lost in Myanmar Smash Hits, India –
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Government of Canada Contributes $18-Million in Support of Red …
MarketWatch –
“The Canadian Red Cross would like to thank the Canadian International Development Agency for their generous support of relief efforts in China and Myanmar …
USDA Expected to Form Proxy Parties for 2010 Election
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand –
By WAI MOE Burma’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) is reportedly planning to form proxy parties to contest the proposed …
UNICEF/WHO step up rehabilitation assistance
Mizzima.com, India –
Burma’s citizens will soon be the beneficiaries of a new $440000 investment into vaccination facilities inside the country. The United Nations Children’s …
5th press release of the Tripartite Core Group – Myanmar and the …
ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland –
Yangon, 13 August 2008 – Through the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), the Government of Myanmar and the United Nations agencies working in Myanmar have …
U Gambira raises monks’ issues with UN rights envoy
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway –
U Gambira’s sister Ma Khin Thu Htay said her brother had spent 20 minutes with the special rapporteur during his visit to Burma last week. …
New technology to circumvent Burma’s media control
Radio Australia, Australia –
While the world peers through the Internet’s Great Firewall of China, the miniature version in Burma seems as solid as ever. But activists and human rights …
Daw Suu’s lawyer prepares appeal after meeting
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway –
“She told me to ‘take the necessary steps according to the law, if the [junta’s] case is not strong enough legally’. That was what she said, although she …
Htoo trading leaves Bogalay workers unpaid
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway –
“The Htoo trading used labour from daily paid workers in Bogalay to rebuild houses destroyed by the cyclone,” a resident said. “But after two months, …
Media Advisory/REMINDER: Government of Canada Supports Relief …
NewsBlaze, CA – 3 hours ago
… and Canadian Identity), will make an important announcement on the Government of Canada’s contribution to relief efforts in Burma and China. …
Bush as Human Rights Champion?
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand –
It remains difficult for many human rights activists around the world to understand why Burmese activists see the US government as a staunch supporter of …
Bangkok Post, Thailand –
Attracting international aid for the relief effort for Cyclone Nargis, which smashed into central Burma on May 2-3 leaving about 140000 people dead or …
Put aside poison pens and enjoy spectacular Olympics
Vancouver Sun, Canada –
We dragged all kinds of issues into the Olympics — human rights, Tibet, air quality, Burma, Taiwan, ad nauseum. China could do nothing right. …
Remote Lands Invites Guests to Experience Asia’s Most Exciting …
PR Web (press release), WA –
October: One of the most famous festivals in Myanmar (Burma) is the Elephant Dance Festival, which is centered in the village of Kyauk-se between Mandalay …
Burmese magazine misses deadline due to censors’ delay in …
Southeast Asian Press Alliance, Thailand –
A SEAPA partner, it aims to promote awareness about the situation in Burma and promote democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
Aid workers still finding it hard to help months after Myanmar cyclone
cw2.com, CO –
by Laura Main, News2 COLORADO SPRINGS (KWGN) — Three months ago, a devastating cyclone destroyed much of the country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. …
A project director for Partners Relief and Development, Mr Corlett has been involved in ongoing assistance in Burma (also known as Myanmar) and comes to …
Bangkok Post, Thailand –
According to activists of Women’s League of Burma, the country’s health-care system currently ranks 190th of 191 countries. Forty-five per cent of cyclone …
The Singapore Lecture – Building on ASEAN’s Success – Towards an …
TamilSydney.com, Australia –
And this year the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China have reminded us of the power of nature – more than 150000 lost their lives and so many …
MELANCHOLY BURMA COMMEMORATES 8-8-88 —
World Politics Review –
While the international diplomatic community and human rights groups are fierce in their lobbying for Burmese freedom — especially that of imprisoned Nobel …
China Key Arms Supplier to Human Rights Abusers
Asian Tribune, Thailand –
… out that China is currently “an arms supplier of last resort for dictators and human rights abusers”, including Sudan, Zimbabwe and Myanmar (Burma). …
UN envoy expresses hope for Myanmar
The National, United Arab Emirates –
However, since the uprising by monks in September, the human rights record in Myanmar, also sometimes known as Burma, has gone from bad to worse – including …
Georgia and Democratic Realism
Atlantic Online –
But when it says no to Liberia, or Congo, or Burma, or countenances alliances with authoritarian rulers in places like Pakistan or, for that matter, Russia, …
Report: Junta distributed land soon after Myanmar cyclone
Friday, June 13, 2008 – Page updated at 12:00 AM
Just seven days after Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar last month, the ruling military junta parceled out key sections of the affected…
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Just seven days after Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar last month, the ruling military junta parceled out key sections of the affected Irrawaddy Delta to favored tycoons and firms, including some facing sanctions from the U.S. Treasury, according to a Myanmar magazine with close ties to the government.
Some of the most notorious business execs, including Tay Za and Steven Law, also known as Tun Myint Naing, were given control of “reconstruction and relief” in critical townships, under the leadership of top generals.
Treasury identified Tay Za as a “regime henchman” this year when it sanctioned hotel enterprises and other businesses he owns.
All told, more than 30 firms and 30 execs are to divide up the business in 11 townships hit by Nargis, the report said.
The document is dated May 9, a time when the United Nations, aid groups and many countries were trying to reach areas affected by the storm, which killed as many as 130,000 people and left 2.5 million homeless. Despite promises of greater openness, Myanmar’s rulers have continued to impose restrictions on relief, according to reports from the region.
The document, which includes the cellphone numbers of many execs, appeared in the weekly Voice, a journal published by Nay Win Maung. A translation was provided by BIT Team, an India-based group that tries to promote information technology in the xenophobic country.
Nay Win Maung, the son of a military officer, was raised among Myanmar’s military elites, giving him good connections, and his magazines can access government-related news and exclusive information.
“The Treasury is targeting the regime’s cronies, and the regime wants its cronies to get the money,” said Tom Malinowski, Washington advocacy director for Human Rights Watch.
Efforts to reach Law or Myanmar representatives in Washington on Thursday were unsuccessful.
While some of the execs awarded contracts are known to human-rights activists and financial-crime experts, others are less prominent, making the document a possible guide to the individuals now in favor with the junta.
The government estimated it needed more than $11 billion in reconstruction aid shortly after the May 2-3 cyclone hit.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is rich in natural resources, but much of the country is poor. The junta has enriched itself with natural-gas fields that bring in $2 billion annually, as well as trade in jewels, heroin, amphetamines, timber and small arms.
Some of the conglomerates given business in the delta, such as Law’s Asia World and Tay Za’s Htoo Trading, were also tasked with building the country’s new capital at Naypyidaw, more than 200 miles from the old capital of Yangon. With little notice three years ago, the junta uprooted the capital to a remote area, requiring massive construction of new government buildings, hotels and housing.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004474429_myanmar13.html
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