Friday, March 23, 2012

India Lost $210 Billion on Coalfield Sales: Audit


23 March 2012
NEW DELHI—India's scandal-plagued government lost hundreds of 
billions of dollars by selling coalfields to companies without competitive 
bidding, according to a leaked audit report that the auditor itself 
called misleading.

Thai ‘Home Mart’ store opens in Rangoon


22 March 2012
(Mizzima) – Burma is the first country where Siam Cement Group (SCG) 
will open wholesale and retail stores abroad for the first time. The company 
is aiming for 100 outlets in Southeast Asia by 2015, an article in the 
Bangkok Post said on Wednesday.

Burma's 'Resource Curse' Set to Get Worse, Says Watchdog


22 March 2012
With investment in Burma's energy sector set to increase dramatically 
in the coming years, there is a growing danger that corruption in the 
country will also worsen, according to a new report released by 
a watchdog group on Thursday.

Burma army sent to Myitsone dam site to enforce evictions

22 March 2012
MAI JA YANG, Burma — Last Saturday March 17, five truckloads 

of Burma army soldiers arrived in Kachin state's Tang Hpre (also Tanghpre) 
village to enforce an eviction order against displaced residents who had 
sought to reclaim their homes following the official suspension of the 
controversial Myitsone dam. 

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Myanmar struggling to handle new surge in visitors


22 March 2012
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Now that Myanmar is opening to the outside world, 
good luck getting a hotel room. Travelers and eager investors are pouring in 
to explore one of Asia's most untouched countries, filling hotels to capacity, 
doubling room rates and spilling flight reservations onto wait lists.

Burma faces heightened ‘resource curse’: report


22  March 2012
Easing economic sanctions without revenue transparency is likely to 
exacerbate Burma’s resource curse and solidify the military’s control 
of the economy, a campaign group warned today.
Despite recent moves to discuss Burma’s budget in parliament, oil and 
gas revenues remain undisclosed and continue to be siphoned off by 
the military, according to a new report by Arakan Oil Watch.