Chinese targeting Kachin women

The leader of the former student activist group highlighted the danger of Chinese men to Kachin women in the refugee camps during growing skirmishes between the Myanmar army and the Kachin Independence Army. 

The camps have almost no men as they have to work in China for their families. As a result, the wives and girls “left behind” risked being trafficked to China for forced marriages.

A resident of Kachin state said that he wanted the world to know that they are losing their beloved daughters, sisters or girls.  He said at least one girl per family is being sold to Chinese men. 

Due to fewer women in their country, Chinese men illegally take Myanmar women to their country to marry. Worse, some Myanmar women were treated as wives for many Chinese.

Children also are trafficked to China. About 70 per cent of trafficked victims in Myanmar are women forcibly married to Chinese men. There have been 885 trafficking cases from 2006-12, involving 2,543 traffickers.

 

Amended SEZ law to go to Parliament

The amended version of Myanmar Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) law will be submitted to the Parliament for approval, National Planning and Economic Development deputy minister Set Aung said.

“Up to 80 per cent of Myanmar Special Economic Zone law was amended to meet international standards for both local and foreign firms,” he said during the workshop on Thilawa Special Economic Zone held at the office of the Republic of Union of Myanmar Chambers and Commerce Industry on January 9.

The law was enacted on January 27, 2011. The law includes provisions on land use, bank and finance management, insurance, trading, employment, and privileges for investors.

Myanmar will also be coming out with a new Industrial Zone Law to streamline working procedures of all industrial zones across the country.

“Respective laws were enacted for Thilawa, Kyaukphyu and Dawei special economic zones. However, a common industrial zone law will be drafted for all these economic zones,” Set Aung said.

He said the ministry wants to make Myanmar’s special economic zones the best in Southeast Asia. This would be achieved by setting land prices in industrial zones on a par with international rates.

 

Tun Bank to open another 25 outlets

Tun Foundation Bank, a private bank, is planning to open 25 more branches around the country this year, bank chairman Thein Tun said last week.

The bank aims to gain more customers by providing new banking services. MPU (Myanmar Payment Union) card services will be available for use at shopping centres this year. ATMs will be installed countrywide this month. Tun Foundation Bank was established in 1994. It runs 14 branch offices around the country, including in Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Gyobingauk, Yenangyaing, Aunglan and Chauk.