Aung San Suu Kyi verdict on July 31
Myanmar central bank to replace some old banknotes with new ones
Myanmar strengthens co-op with foreign countries on energy
Thai PM postpones visit to Burma
Thai PM To Visit Myanmar Friday – Government
A chink may yet be appearing in Burma’s obstinacy
Suu Kyi Verdict Set for Friday in Burma
Influenza cases rise to 7 in Myanmar
Lawyer Gets Last Chance to Argue Suu Kyi Innocence
Suu Kyi trial enters final day in Myanmar
Asean+3 officials to meet on energy cooperation in Myanmar
Regional energy action plan ready for Mandalay meeting
Myanmar delegation visits Orissa to learn Indian aquaculture
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Aung San Suu Kyi verdict on July 31
AP: First Published : 28 Jul 2009 12:22:48 PM IST
Last Updated : 28 Jul 2009 12:42:31 PM IST

YANGON: The high-profile trial of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi concluded Tuesday with the court announcing it will deliver its verdict at the end of the week, officials and diplomats said.

Judge Thaung Nyunt said the court will make its ruling on Friday, according to an Asian diplomat in the courtroom and a government official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Suu Kyi’s lawyers had expected a verdict next month. Details on why the court set the earlier date were not immediately available.

Defense lawyers gave their final statements Tuesday in the case that has drawn international condemnation from world leaders, Hollywood celebrities and the United Nations.

The detained 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest by harboring an uninvited American man who swam to her lakeside home and stayed for two days.

Suu Kyi faces up to five years in prison. She is widely expected to be convicted, although there has been speculation she may stay under house arrest rather than serve time in jail.

Suu Kyi has been in detention for nearly 14 of the last 20 years.

Defense lawyer Nyan Win said before the start of Tuesday’s session that he held out hope for a verdict in Suu Kyi’s favor. “We are confident that we will win the case if things go according to the law.”

Suu Kyi and three other defendants were scheduled to reply to arguments presented Monday by prosecutor Myint Kyaing, the lawyer said.

Diplomats from Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the United States were allowed to attend the trial Tuesday, one of the diplomats said, citing embassy protocol for speaking on condition of anonymity.

Suu Kyi won London-based Amnesty International’ s highest award Monday for her defense of human rights, underscoring international support for her struggle to bring democracy to the military-ruled country.

At a concert Monday in Dublin, Ireland, U2’s Bono publicly announced the award — Amnesty’s Ambassador of Conscience Award — before 80,000 cheering fans. The rights group said it hopes its highest honor would help deter Myanmar’s junta from imposing any harsh new punishments on her.

But neither international outrage, nor offers of closer ties with the U.S. if Suu Kyi is freed, appear to have deflected the ruling junta’s determination to neutralize — if not imprison — her.

Suu Kyi emerged as the country’s democracy icon during a popular uprising in 1988, which was brutally suppressed by the military that has ruled the country since 1962.

Yettaw, meanwhile, was also charged with violating terms of Suu Kyi’s house arrest — as an abettor — and could be sent to prison for five years. He also faces a municipal charge of swimming in a non-swimming area and is accused of immigration violations.

Yettaw pleaded not guilty and explained in court he went to warn Suu Kyi after having a dream she would be assassinated.  http://www.expressb uzz.com/edition/ story.aspx? Title=Aung+ San+Suu+Kyi+ verdict+on+ July+31&artid=weHcsLvwzdA =
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 Myanmar central bank to replace some old banknotes with new ones
www.chinaview. cn 2009-07-28 13:34:50

YANGON, July 28 (Xinhua) — The Central Bank of Myanmar is making arrangement to replace some old and worn banknotes with new ones to facilitate the public use and handling of the existing banknotes in circulation, according to the bank’s notice carried in Tuesday’s official press media.

The old banknotes exchangeable at Myanmar Economic Banks range from Kyats 10 to 200 notes, the notice said.

The central bank is also providing small changes to All Bus lines Supervisory Committee and Market Departments of the municipal authorities of Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay weekly, the notice added.

Residents here said considerable amount of the existing banknotes in circulation are quite worn and no longer unsuitable to be kept on further circulation. The status is mostly found in public buses and vegetable markets.
Editor: Xiong Tong
http://news. xinhuanet. com/english/ 2009-07/28/ content_11785717 .htm
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Myanmar strengthens co-op with foreign countries on energy
www.chinaview. cn 2009-07-28 11:47:56               Print

By Feng Yingqiu

YANGON, July 28 (Xinhua) — Myanmar is strengthening cooperation with foreign countries on energy sector, especially in oil and gas exploration and production, attracting dozens of foreign oil companies to make investment in the sector since it opened to foreign investment in late 1988.

Those from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are represented by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, while those from other regions by China, South Korea, India, Australia, Britain, Canada and Russia.

Official statistics revealed that foreign investment in Myanmar’s oil and gas sector had reached 3.398 billion U.S. dollars in 89projects as of the end of May 2009, standing the second in the country’s foreign investment spectrally after electric power.

According to the Central Statistical Organization, in the fiscal year 2008-09, Myanmar produced 6.89 million barrels of crude oil and 11.381 billion cubic-meters (BCM) of gas.

More statistics showed that during the year, Myanmar gained 2.384 billion dollars from exporting 10.674 BCM of natural gas.

Following the exploration and development of two huge offshore gas fields of Yadana and Yetagun, the Thai PTTEP has been engaged in five more offshore blocks as the sole operator covering blocks M-7, M-9, M-3, M-4 and M-11 in Mottama offshore area since 2003 and seven test wells were found with large and commercial gas deposits since 2005 which are Zawtika-1, Gawthaka-1, Karkonna-1, Zawtika-2, Zawtika-3, Zawtika-4 and Zawtika-5.

In June last year, the PTTEP and PTT Public Co Ltd jointly signed a deal with Myanmar on sale of natural gas produced from M-9 block in Myanmar’s Mottama offshore area.

With a total estimated gas reserve of more than 8 trillion cubic-feet (TCF) or 226.5 billion cubic-meters (BCM) and a production rate of about 300 million cubic-feet (MCF) or 8.49 million cubic-meters (MCM) per day, the M-9 field is expected to be able to produce gas and export to Thailand by late 2012.

Meanwhile, a consortium of South Korea’s Daewoo International comprising another one South Korean company and two Indian companies found natural gas deposits at block A-1 (Shwe field and Shwephyu field) and block A-3 (Mya field) in the Rakhine offshore area in January 2004 and April 2005 respectively.

The consortium stake is held Daewoo with 60 percent, South Korea Gas Corporation 10 percent, ONGC Videsh Ltd of India 20 percent and GAIL 10 percent.

The Shwe field holds a gas reserve of 4 to 6 trillion cubic-feet (TCF) or 113.2 to 170 billion cubic-meters (BCM), while the Shwephyu 5 TCF and the Mya 2 TCF with a combined proven reserve of 5.7 to 10 TCF of gas are being estimated by experts.

In December last year, the China National United Oil Corporation (CNUOC) formally signed with Myanmar and the Daewoo-led consortium an export gas sale and purchase agreement from the Shwe project (blocks A-1 and A-3).

Natural gas produced from the Shwe Field will be exported to China’s southwestern region under the agreement. The Shwe gas will be transmitted through pipeline and partly tapped along the route lying in Myanmar’s territory to promote the economic development of the region. The contract agreement is effective for 30 years and it is estimated to start supplying gas by 2013.

Besides, one more Indian company, the Essar, which is next to ONGC Videsh Ltd and the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) is to start drilling test well at the inland block-L in Myanmar’s western coastal Rakhine state covering Sittway and Maungtaw to explore natural gas in the coming open season in late this year.

Moreover, two Vietnamese oil companies — the Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation Ltd and the Joint Venture Vietsovpetro of Vietnam and Eden Group Co Ltd of Myanmar have reached a production sharing contract with Myanmar to explore oil and gas at Block M-2 in Myanmar’s Mottama offshore area.

It is the first engagement of Vietnamese companies in Myanmar’s oil and gas sector and the move came more than a year after the two countries initiated a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation in oil and gas during Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Myanmar in August 2007.

Myanmar has abundance of natural gas resources especially in the offshore areas. With three main large offshore oil and gas fields and 19 onshore ones, Myanmar has proven recoverable reserve of 18.012 trillion cubic-feet (TCF) or 510 billion cubic-meters (BCM) out of 89.722 TCF or 2.54 trillion cubic-meters (TCM)’s estimated reserve of offshore and onshore gas, experts said, adding that the country is also estimated to have 3.2 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil reserve.
http://news. xinhuanet. com/english/ 2009-07/28/ content_11785540 .htm
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Thai PM postpones visit to Burma
The Nation
July 28, 2009 : Last updated 04:55 pm
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will delay his visit to Burma scheduled on Friday to next month, Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said Tuesday.

Burma informed Thailand that it would be engaged in domestic issues during this week particularly Friday, Panithan said.

Burma’s military junta is trying democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi who is facing up to five years in jail when a prison court hands down judgement Friday in her trial on charges of breaching the terms of her house arrest.

Abhisit’s visit will postpone to the second week of August, he said.
http://www.nationmu ltimedia. com/breakingnews /30108546/ Thai-PM-postpone s-visit-to- Burma
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Thai PM To Visit Myanmar Friday – Government

BANGKOK (AFP)–Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will pay a one-day visit to Myanmar Friday, the same day as a court there is set to deliver a verdict in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the government said.

But Thailand said that Abhisit – the current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, of which both countries are members – would not “directly” bring up the case during his trip.

“The purpose of the visit is to cement ties and to discuss the crackdown on drugs and migrant workers,” Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

“The prime minister will discuss the overall situation but not directly address the Suu Kyi issue,” Panitan added.

“Thailand will explain its stance on the demand to free political prisoners ( in Myanmar) and push ahead with national reconciliation. Thailand has made the same statements as chairman of the Asean.”

Democracy leader Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail when a prison court hands down judgment Friday in her trial on charges of breaching the terms of her house arrest.

The charges relate to an incident in May when an American man swam uninvited to her house.

The case has drawn fierce international criticism, but Panitan said the Thai premier would reaffirm the Asean stance on noninterference in the internal affairs of member states and its opposition to U.S. and E.U. sanctions.

“Thailand will not interfere with Myanmar’s internal affairs, and neither does Thailand agree with sanctions, which are not good for Asean,” he said.

Abhisit is set to meet the leader of Myanmar’s military junta, Senior General Than Shwe, and Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein during his visit.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-28-090455ET
Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
http://www.nasdaq. com/aspx/ stock-market- news-story. aspx?storyid= 200907280455dowj onesdjonline0001 50&title=thai-pm- to-visit- myanmar-friday- government
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A chink may yet be appearing in Burma’s obstinacy

    Writer: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Published: 27/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

The Burma and North Korea issues have been in the spotlight at Asean meetings for more than a decade. The “issues” vary from meeting to meeting, depending on what is happening with these countries at the time.

Mostly, Burma would be brought up at the meetings because of its strong opposition to human rights within the country.

There seems to be no sustainable solution to the problems although the regime always tries to appease its Asean neighbours by releasing a number of political prisoners prior to the conferences.

The perennial barb, however, is the continued detention of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now facing trial for an alleged violation of her house arrest rules after an American man swam across the river to her home.

Burma has given some hope to the international community by announcing a national reconciliation process and its peaceful transition to democracy, as envisaged in the seven-step road map to democracy, in particular the adoption of the State Constitution of 2008 by referendum which will lead to a general election next year. It will be the first national election after the regime refused the overwhelming victory of Ms Suu Kyi in 1990.

But without Ms Suu Kyi joining in the 2010 election, it will be worthless.

Asean’s goal of becoming one community by 2015 is approaching and if the 2010 election in Burma fails, the hopes and dreams for all 10 Asean members to become a homogeneous community might remain just that – a dream.

A diplomat who attended the Asean meeting last week said the grouping’s members conveyed to Burma that the atmosphere was not good and Burma had to do something to break its silence.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that in this meeting, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win learnt that “his country is a major factor in moving Asean forward”.

“It is the duty of Asean and Burma to push the grouping together to become a community,” Mr Kasit said.

For the first time, Asean asked Nyan Win to convey the sentiment to the Burmese leadership.

The action came after Asean foreign ministers felt concerned that their joint call for changes in Burma might not reach the ears of the Burmese leader Snr Gen Than Shwe.

Nobody can tell how receptive the Burmese leaders will be to what the outside world has been demanding. Many demands were made in the past but no actions were taken by the regime.

The many joint communiques of Asean and the chairman’s statement from the Asean Plus Three – Japan, China and South Korea – as well as ARF throughout the years reaffirm that the Burmese government must hold a free, fair and inclusive election in 2010 in order to lay down a good foundation for future social and economic development.

They reiterated their calls for the Burmese government to immediately release all political prisoners, including Ms Suu Kyi to pave the way for genuine reconciliation and meaningful dialogue involving all parties.

“Asean ministers were afraid that the Burmese leader might choose to acknowledge only the positive reaction from Asean such as its welcoming of the recent visit of UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon or the thanks for Burma’s cooperation in allowing outsiders to help its people after Cyclone Nargis,” said a source who attended the meeting.

The source admitted the atmosphere in the meeting rooms was better than the past year as there was not any pressure on Burma.

“The atmosphere was full of cogency and pertinent to the real reason [of the need for change in Burma]. There were more frank discussions than in the past,” the source said.

This was reflected in the offer of Asean and members of ARF to work with Burma to promote democracy, human rights and the well-being of her people. At the same time, it was hoped that Burma would also be responsive to the international community’s concerns, according to Mr Kasit.

Nyan Win, however, told his Asean counterparts on Monday that pressure from the outside world and economic sanctions were hampering Burma’s democratisation and development efforts.

According to the same source, Asean was in the process of persuading Burma to change its situation.

“Having Asean to help Burma in its democratisation is better than fighting it,” the source said. This message was released during the ARF meeting in which the US also participated.

Mr Kasit emphasised that Asean members wanted to help one another and resolve internal problems within the bloc’s family without recourse to the international community.

Asean’s new approach towards Burma at this meeting is its ministers have agreed to take turns to engage the Burmese leadership soon and if the Burmese government would allow outsiders to observe its elections next year, Asean should be the first grouping to do so, the source said.

Asean is expected to receive a positive response from Burma before the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York in September where all Asean foreign ministers will gather, the source added.

If Asean is a pull factor for Burma, the US is working as a push one.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Burma to release Ms Suu Kyi in exchange for direct investment from the United States.

“If she were released, that would open up opportunities at least for my country to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma,” she said.

Pornpimon Trichote, a Burmese expert, said she was not surprised at the US shift as new US President Barack Obama used to hint that the US policy towards Burma might change.

“The US might change some approaches towards Burma but its principles would remain the same. However, I believe Burma might not be in a hurry to reciprocate on what the US has to offer as the relationship of both countries has been estranged for a long time,” she said, adding that Burma never cared for the US as it is friends with other powers like China, Russia and North Korea.

If things go according to plan, these push and pull factors could eventually help create more space to deal with Burma after the election next year, she said. “The US might face an impasse as the sanctions have produced nothing for many years. If it has not changed its position, it has nowhere to go,” she said, adding it was likely condemnation of Burma will be softer after this.
http://www.bangkokp ost.com/opinion/ opinion/20999/ a-chink-may- yet-be-appearing -in-burma- obstinacy
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Suu Kyi Verdict Set for Friday in Burma
Tuesday, July 28, 2009

RANGOON, Burma —  The high-profile trial of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi concluded Tuesday with the court announcing it will deliver its verdict at the end of the week, officials and diplomats said.

Judge Thaung Nyunt said the court will make its ruling on Friday, according to an Asian diplomat in the courtroom and a government official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Suu Kyi’s lawyers had expected a verdict next month. Details on why the court set the earlier date were not immediately available.

Defense lawyers gave their final statements Tuesday in the case that has drawn international condemnation from world leaders, Hollywood celebrities and the United Nations.

The detained 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest by harboring an uninvited American man who swam to her lakeside home and stayed for two days.

Suu Kyi faces up to five years in prison. She is widely expected to be convicted, although there has been speculation she may stay under house arrest rather than serve time in jail.

Suu Kyi has been in detention for nearly 14 of the last 20 years.

Defense lawyer Nyan Win said before the start of Tuesday’s session that he held out hope for a verdict in Suu Kyi’s favor. “We are confident that we will win the case if things go according to the law.”

Suu Kyi and three other defendants were scheduled to reply to arguments presented Monday by prosecutor Myint Kyaing, the lawyer said.

Diplomats from Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the United States were allowed to attend the trial Tuesday, one of the diplomats said, citing embassy protocol for speaking on condition of anonymity.

Suu Kyi won London-based Amnesty International’ s highest award Monday for her defense of human rights, underscoring international support for her struggle to bring democracy to the military-ruled country.

At a concert Monday in Dublin, Ireland, U2’s Bono publicly announced the award — Amnesty’s Ambassador of Conscience Award — before 80,000 cheering fans. The rights group said it hopes its highest honor would help deter Burma’s junta from imposing any harsh new punishments on her.

But neither international outrage, nor offers of closer ties with the U.S. if Suu Kyi is freed, appear to have deflected the ruling junta’s determination to neutralize — if not imprison — her.

Suu Kyi emerged as the country’s democracy icon during a popular uprising in 1988, which was brutally suppressed by the military that has ruled the country since 1962.

Yettaw, meanwhile, was also charged with violating terms of Suu Kyi’s house arrest — as an abettor — and could be sent to prison for five years. He also faces a municipal charge of swimming in a non-swimming area and is accused of immigration violations.

Yettaw pleaded not guilty and explained in court he went to warn Suu Kyi after having a dream she would be assassinated.
http://www.foxnews. com/story/ 0,2933,535042, 00.html?test= latestnews
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 Influenza cases rise to 7 in Myanmar
www.chinaview. cn 2009-07-28 12:13:29

YANGON, July 28 (Xinhua) — New influenza A/H1N1 cases have risen to seven in Myanmar with a 25-year-old man being found to have been infected with the virus as the seventh flu patient in the country, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Tuesday.

The man arrived in Yangon from Thailand on July 16 through Thai Airways flight TG-305 but was confirmed with the infection of the virus after he was hospitalized on complaint of illness on July 25.

Two hundred and forty-four passengers, who were together with the patients on the same flight, are under surveillance and six of his family members are also kept in home quarantine, the report said.

Of Myanmar’s seven flu patients, the prior four have recovered and were discharged from hospital, the report added.

Myanmar reported the first case of new flu A/H1N1 in the country on June 27 with a 13-year-old girl who developed the symptoms after coming back home from Singapore a day earlier.

So far, the authorities have given medical check up to over 2 million people at airports, ports and border check points and examined those suspicious of the deadly disease since the outbreak in Mexico on April 28, it said.

The authorities claimed that the seven human flu cases are all imported ones.

The authorities continue to take preventive measures against the possible spread of the global human flu pandemic, advising all private clinics in the country to report or transfer all flu-suspected patients, who returned from abroad, to local state-run hospitals or health departments for increased surveillance.

Special Report:  World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu   http://news. xinhuanet. com/english/ 2009-07/28/ content_11785553 .htm
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Lawyer Gets Last Chance to Argue Suu Kyi Innocence
By REUTERS
Published: July 28, 2009

YANGON (Reuters) – Lawyers for Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi Tuesday prepared to counter claims by the prosecution that she breached the country’s security laws.

The Nobel laureate’s lawyer, Nyan Win, said his team would have a final chance to present evidence to prove the charges against her were irrelevant.

Suu Kyi, 64, is on trial for allowing American intruder John Yettaw to stay at her Yangon home after he evaded security and swam across the Inya lake to her house. She faces five years in prison if convicted.

“It isn’t a sound argument if looked at from the legal angle,” Nyan Win said of the prosecution’ s case.

He said he had requested that an official from Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry appear in court so he could prove that Suu Kyi had not breached any house arrest terms because, officially, she was only being held in “protective custody.”

The court is also expected to hear counter-arguments in defense of Yettaw and two of Suu Kyi’s housemates, who are all charged under the same security law, which their lawyers say is not even applicable since it was abolished several decades ago.

It was not known if the prosecution would be given the chance to argue their case further. Journalists have been banned from attending the trial, although a handful of foreign diplomats have been invited occasionally as observers.

The international community has expressed outrage at the trial, demanding the case be scrapped and dismissing it as an effort by the junta to keep Suu Kyi out of next year’s elections.

Critics are concerned the polls will be rigged to give legitimacy to the regime and entrench nearly half a century of army rule.

Suu Kyi was awarded the title of “Ambassador of Conscience” by rights group Amnesty International Monday for being a “symbol of hope, courage and the undying defense of human rights” around the world.

(Reporting by Aung Hla Tun; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alan Raybould)
http://www.nytimes. com/reuters/ 2009/07/28/ world/internatio nal-us-myanmar- suukyi.html? _r=1
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Suu Kyi trial enters final day in Myanmar
AFP: 28 July,2009  Tuesday
12 mins ago

YANGON (AFP) – The trial of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was expected to wrap up Tuesday as defence lawyers made a a final desperate bid to save her from up to five years in jail, officials said.

Myanmar’s ruling junta has drawn international condemnation for prosecuting the detained Nobel peace laureate on charges of breaching the rules of her house arrest after an American man swam to her lakeside house in May.

Lawyers for Suu Kyi, her two female aides and US national John Yettaw replied to closing arguments presented by prosecutors on Monday to the court at Yangon’s notorious Insein prison, a Myanmar official said.

Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi’s lawyers, said the defence would also try to call a witness from the foreign ministry to clarify whether Suu Kyi had officially been arrested on criminal charges or detained for her own security.

“I do not think the court will give a verdict” on Tuesday, said Nyan Win, who is also the spokesman for her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

Nyan Win said earlier this week that judges would likely take up to three more weeks to reach a verdict, which is widely expected to be a guilty one given the previous form of the military-ruled nation’s courts.

The Myanmar official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said diplomats from Thailand, Japan, Singapore and the United States attended Tuesday’s hearing.

The case has been repeatedly delayed amid signs that the regime is trying to seek a way of quelling the storm of international outrage over its treatment of 64-year-old Suu Kyi.

U2 singer Bono publicly announced during a concert in Dublin on Monday that Suu Kyi had been named Amnesty International’ s ambassador of conscience for 2009, the rights group’s highest honour.

Critics have accused the junta of trying to keep Suu Kyi locked up ahead of elections next year, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led calls for her release at an Asian security conference last week.

Suu Kyi has been in jail or under house arrest for 13 of the last 19 years since the junta refused to recognise the NLD’s landslide victory in Myanmar’s last national elections, in 1990.

Her lawyers say that she was not responsible for the intrusion by Yettaw — who has said that he was inspired by a divine vision that she would be assassinated — and that she was charged under outdated laws.

But Myanmar’s rulers have strongly defended the trial.

State media on Tuesday made the strongest suggestions yet that Yettaw was an agent of an outside power, possibly the United States, and was trying to smuggle Suu Kyi out of detention.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper printed a bizarre editorial in the form of a “dialogue” between a grandfather and grandson commenting on the visit earlier this month of UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who was refused access to Suu Kyi.

It said the trial “has not been intentionally created by the government” but was the fault of Yettaw, who “might have been sent to the country by an anonymous country or organisation”.

“The aim of his meeting with Daw Suu Kyi has not been known clearly. He even left two chadors (Muslim shawls) and dark sunglasses to her to act herself in disguise. Was it aimed at taking her out of the house?” it said.

The newspaper also pointed out that the route Yettaw used to enter her house was the “ditch beside the US embassy” and said the place he was arrested was 25 yards (metres) from the house of the US charge d’affaires.

“So there are many points to ponder,” the editorial said.

Myanmar officials have previously blamed “anti-government elements” including exiled dissidents for Yettaw’s visit and alleged that he was a “secret agent or her (Suu Kyi’s)” boyfriend.
http://news. yahoo.com/ s/afp/20090728/ wl_asia_afp/ myanmarpoliticss uukyi
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Published: Tuesday July 28, 2009 MYT 1:01:00 PM
Asean+3 officials to meet on energy cooperation in Myanmar

YANGON: Senior energy officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and South Korea are due to meet in Myanmar’s second largest city of Mandalay on Tuesday to consult on energy cooperation.

The discussions of the Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) +3 on oil reserve issue will be forwarded to the 6th ASEAN+3 Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) to be followed the next day, reports China’s Xinhua news agency.

ASEAN countries’ plans on oil reserve will be drafted at SOME and are expected to be released at the 6th AMEM.

ASEAN has consented work on plans for building oil reserve systems in each country to cope with increasing demand for oil in the Asian region and rising prices of oil in the future.

Working level talks of ASEAN will also take place with the three East Asian countries to work out their respective countries’ plan to build up oil reserves.

Myanmar has attracted foreign involvement in oil and gas exploration in the country mainly from such ASEAN member countries as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia as well as from China, Japan and South Korea.

Myanmar has abundance of natural gas resources especially in the offshore areas.

With three main large offshore oil and gas fields and 19 onshore ones, Myanmar has proven recoverable reserve of 510 billion cubic meters (BCM) out of 2.54 trillion cubic meters (TCM)’s estimated reserve of offshore and onshore gas, experts said.

Myanmar is also estimated to have 3. 2 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil reserve.

Official statistics reveal that foreign investment in Myanmar’s oil and gas sector had reached US$3.398 billion in 89 projects as of the end of May 2009, standing the second in the country’s foreign investment after electric power.

According to the Central Statistical Organization, in the fiscal year 200809, Myanmar produced 6.89 million barrels of crude oil and 11.381 BCM of gas.

More statistics show that during the year, Myanmar gained 2.384 billion dollars from exporting 10.674 BCM of natural gas. – Bernama http://thestar. com.my/news/ story.asp? file=/2009/ 7/28/nation/ 20090728130334&sec=nation
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Regional energy action plan ready for Mandalay meeting
by admin — last modified 2009-07-27 22:23

July 28, 2009: A controversial energy plan for Southeast Asia covering nuclear power plants and “clean coal” promotion will be tabled for endorsement by energy ministers meeting in Mandalay this week.

Sources: Bangkok Post

Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul said yesterday Bangkok, as current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, had finished the drafting of the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2010-2015, to be proposed at the 27th Asean Energy Ministers Meeting tomorrow and Thursday.

The draft energy plan covers cooperation among Asean countries in seven fields, including the installation of an Asean power grid and a trans-Asean gas pipeline, promotion of clean coal technology and renewable energy, and cooperation in nuclear power development.

The Thai delegation, led by Mr Wannarat, will also hold bilateral meetings with its counterparts, including Burma, to discuss investment opportunities in the energy sector. Giant petroleum and electricity firms PTT Plc and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand will be represented at the meeting.

An Energy Ministry source with the Thai delegation said they would also discuss the progress of Hut Gyi and Ta Sang hydropower dams with Burma.

The dams, to be built on the Salween – the last free-flowing river in Southeast Asia, have drawn fierce protest from human rights and environmental activists who say the projects would lead to human rights violations in Burma and destroy one of the region’s most abundant rivers.

Independent energy analyst Supakit Nuntaworakarn, who works for the Healthy Public Policy Foundation, said Asean’s draft energy plan needed to be overhauled as it consisted of too many problematic projects.

The Asean power grid was only created to justify the building of new power plants in the region, while the promotion of gas and coal, both fossil fuels, would only worsen global warming, Mr Supakit said.

“The nuclear technology development, meanwhile, should be eliminated from the plan as there are so many unanswered questions about the dangers and negative impacts of nuclear power plants around the world,” he said.
http://www.thaiburm anews.net/ news-archive/ 2009/july- 2009/regional- energy-action- plan-ready- for-mandalay- meeting/
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Myanmar delegation visits Orissa to learn Indian aquaculture
by indoadmin — last modified 2009-07-27 18:53

July 27, 2009: Bhubaneswar, A 15-member Myanmar fisheries delegation led by U Than Lwin arrived at Bhubaneswar on 14.07.2009 on a 8-day visit to Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, Orissa and Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh to study the remarkable aquaculture development in India, the second highest aquaculture producer in the world, next to China.
Myanmar delegation visits Orissa to learn Indian aquaculture

Sources: Orissa Dairy

The team included 11 members of Myanmar Fish Farmers Association, 2 members each from Myanmar Fisheries Federation and Aquaculture Division of Myanmar Fisheries Department. Welcoming the delegation at CIFA, Director of the Institute, Dr A.E. Eknath said both Myanmar and India have many things in common since long past.

He expressed happiness that such a large delegation has sought CIFA’s technology to help boost its fish production. Giving a comprehensive and informative account of institute’s overall growth, Dr. Eknath pinpointed the remarkable achievement of CIFA in development of Jayanti rohu through selective breeding technique.

The team evinced keen interest in this improved variety of rohu, which gives 17% higher yield per generation than normal rohu. ‘Our main objective in coming here is to learn the best carp (Jayanti) technology available here to increase fish production in our own country’, said Mr U Than Lwin, the president of Myanmar Fish Farmers Association. ‘Our endeavour would be to increase both quality and quantity of fish without destabilizing our environment’ , he added.

The members of delegation interacted with all the heads of division and other nodal officers of CIFA. Mr U Hla Win, a retired Deputy Director General of Myanmar Department of Fisheries, who is presently the adviser of Myanmar Fisheries Federation made a power point presentation narrating the overall fisheries activities in Myanmar.

‘Mynmar has invaluable and appreciable fishery resources with diversity in marine and freshwater fish species which need to be effectively exploited for raising production capacity’,  said Mr. Win while underlining the importance of high technologies in building a modern, developed and economically strong nation.

Dr Kuldeep Kumar, senior scientist took the delegation on a guided tour of different culture and production facilities in CIFA farm. Aquaculture specialists stationed at different places explained to the guests about the advanced technologies and ongoing research activities  and took pleasure in answering their queries. The sprawling freshwater aquaculture farm of CIFA, the largest in the world provided an excellent backdrop for the field programme.

Your browser may not support display of this image. The delegation later visited a number of aquaculture farms and hatcheries in Kolleru lake area of Andhra Pradesh, the carp pocket of India. They had series of interactions with the progressive fish farmers, entrepreneurs and hatchery owners in the area.

The delegation studied the whole process of fish production and marketing chain in Kolleru operating through forward linkages of improved post-harvest services like packaging, processing, storage, transport, marketing and backward linkages of providing inputs like seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, feed and aquaculture machineries; which has scripted the success story of aquaculture in the region.

‘We are here to learn modern methods and techniques from this part of the world’, opined Ms Thuza Maung, a delegation member. The delegation had some more interactions with members of trade bodies with an aim to gain understanding of the whole production and marketing process.

Before leaving for Myanmar on 21.07.2009, the delegations expressed hope for transfer of knowledge, better linkages and cooperation, capacity building through training and exchange programs, and strengthen bilateral ties through participation in various programs.
http://www.indoburm anews.net/ archives- 1/2009/july- 2009/myanmar- delegation- visits-orissa- to-learn- indian-aquacultu re/
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Burma Prepares to Import Onions
By LAWI WENG     Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Burma prepares to import onions from India as prices at some markets in Rangoon have more than doubled, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

“The price of onions has skyrocketed this year because there is shortage throughout the country,” said an official.

In Rangoon, many onion traders also buy onions and place them in storage, planning to export the produce later to get a higher price, said a trader in Rangoon’s Bayintnaung Market.

“One viss of onion [Burmese measurement] was 600 kyat last year, but now it’s 1,300 kyat ($1.20). This is why the authorities plan to import from India,” said the trader.

In the meantime, the authorities held a meeting recently with traders at Bayintnaung Market to adjust the price of onions, said another trader.

“If they don’t store it and trade it openly, we don’t have a problem with the higher prices,” said the source.

Many crops of onion were destroyed this year due to heavy rain. Also, many people abandoned their farms due to the economic crisis, said a farmer in Magwe in central Burma.

Most onions are grown in northern Burma, where there is a longer hot season. There are an estimated 150,000 acres of land growing onions in upper Burma.

An estimated 45 million viss of onion have been brought to market this year, according to government figures.

Last year, Burma exported 40,000 tons of onions to foreign countries, earning about US $1 million.

Meanwhile, many people fear a repeat of 2006, when onion prices increased to 2,000 kyat a viss.
http://www.irrawadd y.org/article. php?art_id= 16415

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