Burma’s No 2 General Visits Bangladesh

By MIN LWIN

Burma’s No 2 general, Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, is on a state visit to Bangladesh to discuss maritime boundaries, trade and economic ties between the two nations.

A 55-member delegation with seven government ministers, including Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and military intelligence chief Lt-Gen Ye Mint,
accompanied Maung Aye.

The state-run The New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported on Wednesday that Maung Aye was accompanied by his wife, Mya Mya San. The newspaper did not mention details of Maung Aye’s itinerary.

In Dhaka, Maung Aye talked with Bangladesh ministers about multiple issues.

The repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Burma, the demarcation of maritime boundaries between the two countries, and Bangladesh’s proposal for a road link with China via Burma were also among the issues that dominated the talks.

Khine Mrat Kyaw, an editor with the Bangladesh-based Narinjara news agency, said Burma’s delegation was not interested in the issue of Rohingya muslin refugees’ repatriation.

According to Khine Mrat Kyaw, Bangladeshi newspapers reported that the two sides also discussed military-to-military cooperation through training programs and exchange of visits between the two countries.

Maung Aye and his team also signed an agreement on Tuesday to avoid double taxation to help boost trade and agreed to hold further talks to resolve outstanding issues.

According to a Reuters report, Burma agreed to supply natural gas to Bangladesh to help it produce fertiliser to satisfy the demand of both countries.

"They have agreed to supply gas to us for producing fertiliser," Jalal Ahmed, chairman of the state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation, told Reuters after a meeting with Burma's energy minister.

Bangladesh also wants to buy 100,000 tons of rice from Burma on a regular basis as well as expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including contract farming based on leasing agricultural land in Burma.

Meanwhile about 30 Burmese exiles demonstrated on Tuesday before the high court in Dhaka to express displeasure with Maung Aye’s trip.

Maung Aye’s visit was first scheduled for September 2007 but postponed due to pro-democracy demonstrations in Rangoon and other major cities.

Photographs of the junta’s leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, showing him seeing Maung Aye off at the airport in Nawpyidaw, were published in state-run newspapers. Reports this week speculated that the aging Than Shwe may be suffering serious health problems.

Kyaing Kyaing, Than Shwe’s wife, who has kept a low profile since May 10 when the couple voted in the constitutional referendum, was not shown in photographs. Some observers have speculated that she also may be in ill health.