1. Indo-Myanmar border trade still remains a distant dream
2. Tokyo trader charged with selling sensitive machine to Myanmar

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Indo-Myanmar border trade still remains a distant dream

Moreh (Manipur), July 24 : The Indo-Myanmar border trade through Moreh in Manipur has become a distant dream for traders, thanks to the constant shutdowns and poor infrastructure.

The Indo-Myanmar Border trade agreement between India and Myanmar was signed on January 21, 1994 to facilitate a congenial trade practice.

However, the cross border trade has now come down to only two to three items of the total 40 items listed in the trade pact.

‘There are frequent Bandhs (shutdowns) in this part of the country and consequently, the border trade gets affected and people suffer because of that. The government is also not seriously looking into the matter,’ said Lungkhup, a local trader.

Ginsei Lhungdim, General Secretary of Hills Tribal Council (HTC) was of the view that the delayed process for the development of the export-import along the border has left traders with a big question.

Their apprehensions are whether the proposed regular border trade will ever materialise.

‘What we want is that the government should speed up the process. The government is always slow but I think and I hope it will get materialise soon,’ said Ginsei Lhungdim, General Secretary, Hills Tribal Council (HTC), Moreh, Manipur.

Although trade is to be conducted in freely convertible currencies or in currencies mutually agreed upon by the two countries under Article-III of the pact, the trade is functioning mainly under the barter system
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— ANI

http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-79789.html

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Tokyo trader charged with selling sensitive machine to Myanmar

Updated on Friday, July 24, 2009, 15:56 IST
Tokyo: Amid reports that Myanmar may be aspiring to join the nuclear club with help from North Korea, Japanese police on Friday served a fresh arrest warrant on a Tokyo trader on suspicion of illegally exporting to Yangon a machine that can be used for developing missiles.

Ri Gyong Go, 41, president of Toko Boeki trading company here, is suspected of exporting a small-sized cylindrical grinding machine in violation of Japan’s foreign exchange and foreign trade law.

He allegedly shipped the machine to Myanmar from Nagoya port on November 20, 2008, without permission from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, police said.

Ri has admitted to the allegations, Kyodo news agency quoted police as saying.

Cylindrical grinders can be used to develop missile control systems and centrifuge machines for uranium enrichment. The devices are used to grind magnets.

Ri was first arrested on June 29 on suspicion of attempting to export also to Myanmar a separate instrument that can be used to produce weapons without a government permit, the report said.

Ri allegedly received an order for the cylindrical grinder from a North Korean-affiliated trading house in China. He then placed an order with a machinery maker in Japan and shipped the device to Myanmar’s Ministry of Industry No 2, according to investigations.

The Japanese police action came two days after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States was worried about the transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Myanmar.

Clinton, who was in Thailand for the ASEAN Summit this week, told a Thai television network that “we worry about the transfer of nuclear technology” from Pyongyang to military-ruled Myanmar.

Her comments came weeks after the West grew suspicions about military cooperation between the two pariah states after a US Navy destroyer last month began tracking a suspected North Korean ship, the Kang Nam I that was reportedly heading for Myanmar.

After being shadowed by the US Navy, the ship reversed course and returned to North Korea earlier this month.

The vessel came under scrutiny under new United Nations sanctions designed to punish Pyongyang over its May 25 nuclear test and a series of provocative rocket launches.

It is still not clear what was aboard. US and South Korean officials suspected artillery and other non-nuclear arms, but one South Korean intelligence expert, citing satellite imagery, says the ship’s mission appeared to be related to a Myanmar nuclear programme and also carried Scud-type missiles.

While Myanmar is under Western sanctions for its crackdown on pro-democracy politicians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, North Korea is under UN embargoes for its nuclear tests.

Bureau Report

http://www.zeenews.com/news549910.html

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