MPs argue against rights for temporary citizens
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Temporary citizens' rights to vote and establish political parties are a threat to Myanmar's sovereignty, according to MPs who are supporting a proposed change to the Political Parties Registration Law.
Submitted to parliament on Friday by Rakhine Nationalities Development Party chairman Aye Maung, the proposed amendment has met objections from leading figures of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, including MP Hla Swe, who said it went against the Constitution.
Opposition and Generation 88 leaders have also argued against the rights given to white-card holders, saying that they are currently afforded the same rights as citizens.
“A citizen needs to be loyal to the country,” said a Generation Peace and Open Society Group representative.
Indian bank loans to fuel development
Myanmar will implement several projects with loans from the Export-Import Bank of India according to a government report.
The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has provided loans of up to US$500 million (Bt16.1 billion) which will be used on infrastructure projects including communications and transport. Details were released in the Myanmar government’s 2013-2014 fiscal year report.
Some of the projects include the construction of a microwave station linking the southern and northern parts of Chin State, as well as the building of power stations, constructing dams and irrigation systems and improving basic infrastructure.
These projects will be carried out by various government ministries, as the loans will target sectors from agriculture, to electricity, communications and transportation.
In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, Myanmar will receive foreign development aid from Austria, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Britain, Denmark, New Zealand and France.
China oil pipeline gets deep-sea port
China has finished constructing a deep-sea port on Madae Island in Rakhine State, according to officials.
The port will dock 300,000 tonne oil tankers feeding the Myanmar-China crude-oil pipeline, which is still under construction. The port was built in joint venture between China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Ministry of Energy.
The pipeline will carry 22 million tonnes of crude oil annually. Five process stations from the newly built sea-port will export the oil through pipeline. The pipeline is expected to be completed next month.
Myanmar will benefit via a transit fee of US$1 per tonne of oil, totalling $22 million per year. In addition, China will pay $6,905 million per year for rights of way.
