Utter Poverty after Two Decades of Military Rule

Today the majority of the population works for a daily wage of Bt20, while 30 per cent of the population lives under poverty line, Burmese scholars said at a forum called "Two Decades Overview on Changes in Burma".

The talk was  co-organized by Southeast Asian Studies Programme at Thammasat University's faculty of liberal arts and advocate groups led by Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB).

The symposium was held to mark the 20th anniversary of the 8-8-88 uprising in Burma.

"The Burmese people risked their lives by taking to the streets and call for economic liberalization and a better life in the 1988 democracy uprising.

"When we look back at the situation after 20 years later, these dreams were never realised and the economy has dropped to its lowest levels," said Aung Thu Nyein, a senior associate at Chiang Mai University's Vahu Development Institute.

Burma could have resumed exporting rice a few years back in 1990s, he said, but Burmese farmers were far to mired in poverty to produce enough of a crop.

"Actually, for many years the agricultural sector has been under profound neglect and routine exploitation by the Burmese government.

"Things such as fertiliser are not available at affordable prices, and more than 80 per cent of Burma's farming land lacks irrigation facilities and credit from formal institutions," Thu Nyein said, adding that at present less than 3 per cent of bank loans in Burma were extended to agriculture.

The military regime spent an estimated US$ 5 billion (BT168 billion) to move its capital from Rangoon to Naypyidaw, while a quarter of the population has to make do with less than one dollar a day, said Hseng Noung of Women's League of Burma.

Plus, she said, 50 per cent of all school - age children stay at home, while some 700,000 children drop out of primary school  each year.

At university level, education has been brought to a near stan still because the military regime continues to close down universities, Hseng Noung said.

Instead of providing education in classrooms, the military regime has been promoting long-distance education to keep students from gathering and protesting against the regime.

"A Burmese student studying in Thailand said … 'we are learning from our teacher from Burma, in other country and other university, but not in Burma"," she said.

However, Hseng Noung said that she still had hope for her country.

"It has been a long and hard struggle, but what keeps me going is the hope for positive change in my country. 

"I get strength and courage from women I have met, interviewed, and who have shared their stories as survivors with me," She said.

NOTE: Opponents of the Burmese Regime will mark the the 20th anniversary of 8-8-88 with a rally today outside the Burmese embassy on Sathorn Road at noon.