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Chinese goods flood border market
CHINESE GOODS FLOOD BORDER MARKET
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The Telegraph (20th May)
>From Oinam Sunil
Imphal, May 19: Chinese goods still dominate the
Myanmarese markets despite the opening of Indo-Myanmar
border trade on April 12,1995. Pro-democracy Myanmarese
students have criticised the Yangon military regime for
allowing China to capture the country's economy. The All
Burma Students League (ABSL), a pro-democracy student
group, which fled Myanmar after the 1988 military
crackdown, said instead of expanding Myanmar's economic
infrastructure, the Yangon military junta has made the
country a dumping ground for Chinese goods.
The fact that Chinese goods have flooded Myanmar market is
evident from the goods sold at Moreh and its adjoining
Myanmarese town, Tamu. Myanmarese students here fear that
the present situation might prove costly for their country
in the long run. Myanmar first signed its border trade
agreement with China in 1985 during the Gen.Ne Win regime.
The agreement, however, was implemented in 1989. ABSL
sources said China has set up an economic intelligence
netword at Myanmar, with major agencies at Lashio, Mandalay
and Yangon.
The Myanmarese State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) also constituted a committee for the promotion of
Sino-Myanmarese trade relations in 1996 under the
chairmanship of Lt.Gen.Khin Nyunt. According to pro-
democracy Myanmarese activists, cross border trade between
the two country amounted to $6 billion, excluding military
and infrastructure.
China is investing huge amounts in infrastructre
development of Myanmar. It even includes upgradation of
sea ports. After the formal opening of the Indo-Myanmar
border trade in 1995, the Indian side has also taken up
certain infrastructure projects in Myanmar like the
Tamu-Kalemyo highway. Despite these initiatives, border
trade has not been able to flourish as both India and
Myanmar could not finalise the currency exchange rates.
Most of the infrastructure projects have been awarded to
Chinese contractors and companies with Chinese supervision
include the Yangon-Mandalay highway and rail link,
Myitkyina-Mandalay rail link, Mandalay and Pegu
international airport and several bridges over Irrawady and
Chindwin rivers.
ABSL sources said the Chinese province of Yunan has become
a springboard for major projects in Myanmar. While the
SLORC has opened a consulate at Kumming in Yunan, China has
set up a consulate in Mandalay to oversee the cross-country
projects. Myanmarese students have charged the Chinese with
supplying huge amounts of military equipment to the
military junta. An ABSL report said Myanmar's military
junta has bought equipment worth 400 million pounds from
China.
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