The Irrawaddy News Magazine [Covering Burma and Southeast Asia]

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		BURMESE VERSION

Thailand Drops Rice Cartel Plan, Citing Humanitarian Concerns
By MICHAEL CASEY / AP WRITER / BANGKOK
Thailand is dropping plans to create a Southeast Asian rice cartel that would have fixed the price of the skyrocketing commodity over food security concerns, the country's foreign minister said Tuesday.

Indonesia Says Temporarily Pulling out of OPEC
By NINIEK KARMINI / AP WRITER / JAKARTA
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Tuesday that Indonesia was considering quitting the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries because it was no longer a net oil exporter.

Weekly Business Roundup (May 03, 2008)
By WILLIAM BOOT / BANGKOK
Burma’s lucrative gas export industry should be targeted by the European Union for a sanctions blockade, says the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Thailand Floats Idea of OPEC-style Cartel for Rice
By AMBIKA AHUJA / AP WRITER / BANGKOK
Thailand, the world's biggest rice exporter, said Friday that it wants to form an OPEC-style cartel with four Southeast Asian neighbors so that together they have more control over international prices of the commodity.

Weekly Business Roundup (April 30, 2008)
By WILLIAM BOOT
The EU has expanded economic sanctions against the Burmese military government.

Watchdog Group Says Chevron Complicit in Burma
By MICHAEL ERMAN / REUTERS WRITER / NEW YORK
EarthRights International, on Tuesday accused Chevron Corp of complicity in human rights abuses along a natural gas pipeline in Burma in which it holds a stake and said Chevron could be sued.

Malaysia Planning to Subsidize Locally Grown Rice to Combat Global Price Hike
By SEAN YOONG / AP WRITER / KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia's government is planning to subsidize locally-grown rice to prevent consumers from being hit by record high prices of the staple food in the world.

Vietnam Warns Rice Speculators to Face Punishment
By CHRIS BRUMMITT / AP WRITER / HO CHI MINH CITY
Vietnam's prime minister has warned rice speculators they face severe punishment after rocketing prices led to panic buying over the weekend.

Philippines to Distribute Rice Cards to Help Poor
By HRVOJE HRANJSKI / AP WRITER / MANILA
The Philippine government plans to introduce "rice access cards" for the poor to use to buy cheaper subsidized grain to help stave off a wider food crisis.

Burmese State Enterprises being Auctioned Off
By VIOLET CHO
The military regime has announced a plan to auction off about 24 state-owned enterprises and institutions, including the national library.

Burma’s Neighbors Line Up for Three Port Deals
By WILLIAM BOOT
A third neighboring country may be nearer to completing a development deal to improve a Burmese port, boosting shipping capabilities in the region.

	Burmese Oil Mills in Crisis

	Thailand Has No Plans to Restrict Rice Exports

	Burma's Gas Pipeline to Be Fixed in 5 Days

	US Credit Crisis, Rising Inflation Hang over Asean Finance Ministers' Meeting

	Thai PTTEP to Sign Swap Deal with CNOOC

	Flights Delayed in Vietnam over Fuel Fee Dispute

	Laos Highway Opens, Connects Thailand and China

	No Plans to Raise Rice Price, Malaysia Says

	Weekly Business Roundup (March 29, 2008)

	Soaring Rice Prices Raise Alarms in Asia

	GMS Summit to Hear Burmese PM’s Views on Environment Management

	Asia Could Suffer from US Slowdown

	Thai Premier Firm on Developing Ties with Burma

	Farmers Warn Philippines Faces Rice Shortage

	Thailand's Famed Oriental Hotel Accused of Defaming

	Weekly Business Roundup (March 22, 2008)

	Thailand’s Business Plan for Burma

	Weekly Business Roundup (March 15, 2008)

	Weekly Business Roundup (March 08, 2008)

	Black Market Crackdown Driving Up Fuel Prices

UN: Businesses Should Seek Climate Solutions
By GILLIAN WONG / AP WRITER / SINGAPORE
Businesses should spur governments into greater action against global warming and not let a global economic downturn derail efforts to tackle climate change.

Asia: Sliding Back Into Poverty as Rice Prices Spiral
By LARRY JAGAN / IPS WRITER / BANGKOK
Food prices are continuing to skyrocket throughout Asia, causing many governments to intervene to stabilize domestic rice prices for fear of acute shortages in the future and social unrest.

Weekly Business Roundup (April 19, 2008)
By WILLIAM BOOT
India and China are competing to beef up Burma’s military with gifts in a bid to curry favor with the ruling generals.

Oil Prices Hit $115 a Barrel
By GILLIAN WONG / ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER / SINGAPORE
Oil prices held near a record above US $115 a barrel amid concerns about falling supplies and rising global demand.

Weekly Business Roundup (April 11, 2008)
By WILLIAM BOOT / BANGKOK
Rebel extortion gangs in India bring commercial trade to a halt at the Moreh Indo-Burma border crossing.

Suspended Yoma Bank to Open Again in Burma
By THE IRRAWADDY
A large private bank in Burma that was suspended for money laundering activities will be fully operational again by the end of the year.

Thai, Chinese Firms Strike Deal on Burmese Oil, Gas Blocks
By REUTERS / BANGKOK
Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production PCL and Chinese energy giant CNOOC Ltd have agreed to swap stakes in oil and gas blocks in Burma.

Weekly Business Roundup (April 05, 2008)
By WILLIAM BOOT / BANGKOK
Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s lawyer says a controversial state loan to the Burmese junta was for gas and not to benefit his telecommunication company.