10.15.2008

Financial Crisis Could Hit Burma’s Textile Industry

A girl stitches pants for a Taiwanese company in a garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar, western Rangoon. (Photo: AFP)

Financial Crisis Could Hit Burma’s Textile Industry

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

RANGOON — Burma's vital garment industry could suffer factory closures and layoffs because orders are sharply down because of the continuing global financial crisis, according to an industry executive.

"Since the financial crisis, orders for new consignments have reduced and we will see serious impact by the middle of December," Myint Soe, the chairman of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association, told reporters on Monday.

The success of the country's clothing trade is largely tied to global demand, so the fall in orders could lead to workers being dismissed and the closure of some production facilities, Myint Soe said.

Burma's textile industry experienced a downturn after the United States imposed economic sanctions in 2003, but rebounded two years later when the European Union imposed limits on imports from China, Myint Soe said. Those restrictions led to increased European textiles orders for Southeast Asian nations, including Burma, he said.

About 30 percent of Burma's garment exports go to Japan, another 30 percent to the EU and the rest to Latin America, Turkey, South Africa, Mexico and Argentina, Myint Soe said.

Myint Soe said the industry suffered a setback early this year when South Africa's biggest clothing retailer canceled orders, citing a military crackdown on massive anti-government protests in September last year.

That ban led to the closure of about 35 factories in Burma, he said. About 100 garment factories remain, employing 80,000 to 100,000 workers, compared to more than 270 factories before 2003, he said.

According to official statistics, Burma earned US $282 million from garment exports in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

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To All Religious Organization

What took place in Sept.’07, when the military junta in Burma crushed the peaceful demonstrations by the Buddhist monks was unprecedented. Not only in Burma’s history, but also in the context of the cultural history of the country as well. Although monks in the past, during the colonial period of the British, and the Japanese occupation in 1942-45, were killed because of their involvement in political matters, never in the history of the Burmese people, have so many Buddhist monks been brutally killed, beaten, and shown absolute disregard by those in power who are, and call themselves Buddhist. It is a sad and dark chapter of Burma’s history indeed. Monks who were helped by leaders and prominent members of other faiths, such as, Muslem, Christian, Sikh, and Hindu, were also threatened by the military for rendering assistance to the Buddhist monks. Reports about prominent members of other faiths who are also being harassed and intimidated by the regime continually are frequent amongst the communities, within and outside the country. This atrocious situation is the reality today in Burma today. That is why the monks and the organizing committee of the Saffron Robe People’s Movement would like to urge leaders and adherents of the Buddhist faith, and all other faiths: Moslem, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh to truly see what the military regime in Burma is really like. It is a degrading and destructive military regime towards all religious faiths is without doubt a chilling and tragic fact. Therefore, members of all faiths within and outside the country, we seek your help in this struggle; to rid Burma of a military regime that has descended to the lowest of the low; for killing monks who dared to call for change for the better of the peoples of Burma. The organizing committee for the Saffron Robe People’s Movement of Burma. Dated 26 DEC.2007 For more information contact to; saffrontoward@gmail.com

PATTA -NEIKUZANA

PATTA-NEIKUZANA THE EXCOMMMUNICATIVE BOYCOTT

Any could be boycotted towards excommunication if the following eight attributes described in Vinaya Scriptures IV , page 262 , Silavar Text Commentary 5 are met: 1) Effort are made to deny four essential things _ i.e. monastery ,robes ,food , medicine –to monks 2) Effort are made to endanger the lives of monks or reduce the numbers the them 3) Effort are made to deny place of residence to monks 4) Ten kinds of abusive lanquage are used against monks 5) Effort are made to sow dissension among monks 6) Slander or scorn is made upon buddha’s infinite feat 7) Slander or scorn is made upon Dhamma’s infinite faculty 8) Slander or scorn is made upon Sangha’ s infinite undertaking “I consent to perform excommunicative boycott aganist any lay devotee who endaevors to fullfill any one above eight attributes, Budda said in Sulavar Holy Text. Boycotting does not imply placing the amls bowl upside –dwn ; it means not accepting four essential things donated by lay people who are being boycotted. The proscribing monks also advocate the boycotting act to other monks in the world .The purpose of al this is to make those lay Buddihist who offend noble and good monks realize their mistake and become well-mannered and civilized. If those lay people regret their misdeeds, really become good-mannered and respectful ,and apologize three times,boycott would be called off.

10.15.2008