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BURMESE FORCE TO REDUCE RICE PRICE



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<font size=4><b>Media Release 41/ 99<br>
</b>August 8, 1999.<br>
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Burmese Forced to Reduce Rice Price<br>
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Burmese military authorities have told Burma's rice millers to reduce
rice prices to avoid popular unrest.&nbsp; Sources stated that the
millers were also warned to restrain their greed, as it can cause state
instability.&nbsp; The order comes amid calls for an uprising on 9
September.<br>
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The authorities have fixed the rice price at 120 kyats per basket
(approximately 2 kg), while the market price is 220 kyats.&nbsp; Prices
of rice and basic commodities increased from 160 kyats per basket at the
end of June to 220 kyats in July.&nbsp; Cooking oil prices are 710 kyats
per viss (1.633 kg), up from 620 kyats last month.&nbsp; The rice selling
price had already been set at 120 kyats per basket in Rangoon's satellite
towns, Shwe Pyi Tha, Hlaing Thaya, Dagon Myo Thit (South and North),
Dala, Thar Kay Ta and Thin Gan Kyun, where low-wages workers reside.
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Aung Thu Nyein, general secretary of the ABSDF, said, &quot;The daily
lives of the people are very difficult and teachers, civil servants and
soldiers have only purchasing power for ten days.&nbsp; The people are
finding it very difficult to survive, especially with the higher
electricity charges, basic commodity prices and various taxes. The state
is neglecting its responsibility for social well-being.&nbsp; Some
families in Rangoon even have to feed themselves with adulterated, or
&quot;plastic&quot; rice, imported from China. The frustration of the
people about the general situation could lead to serious social unrest in
Burma.&quot;<br>
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Observers estimate that approximately 100,000 construction workers from
Rangoon construction sites have lost their jobs because of last year's
economic recession.&nbsp; On 24 May 1999, 250 workers at the Daewoo light
commodities factory (a joint-venture between the Korean company Daewoo
and the Myanmar Heavy Industry Corporation) in Rangoon staged a
non-cooperation strike in the factory, demanding higher wages,
appropriate working hours and rights for workers. The workers also
complained about unfair salaries and the high prices of daily commodities
and bus fares. Factory authorities, in cooperation with SPDC officials,
responded by firing all the workers from their jobs, and arrested several
leaders in order to minimise any momentum for a workers' movement. <br>
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All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)<br>
<b>For further information please contact&nbsp; 01 253 9082,&nbsp; 01 654
4984<br>
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All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)<br>
P.O. Box 42, Hua Mark P.O, Bangkapi, 10243, Bangkok<br>
&lt;caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx&gt; &lt;lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&gt;<br>
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