Corruption in Burma: Part 1, grease money

Written by Myo Thein၊ Sandi Nwe

Friday, 01 April 2011 12:31 - Last Updated Thursday, 07 April 2011 14:48

Rangoon (Mizzima) – When it comes to corruption, Burma is just a whisker away from rock
bottom.

In the Corruption Perceptions Index Report for 2010 released by Transparency International,
Burma ranks second to the bottom among 176 countries surveyed worldwide by the
international corruption watchdog. 

Just how bad this ranking is can be seen by who Burma ranks alongside. Transparency
International puts the war-torn failed state of Somalia at rock bottom and ranks Burma level with
Afghanistan, a country in the grip of a bitter war and plagued by the Taliban and terrorist
groups.

Of late, Burma’s leaders are paying lip service to the problem of graft. At the farewell meeting
held at Naypyidaw on March 25, junta chief Senior General Than Shwe admitted that the
economic development of Burma is lower than even Laos and Cambodia. This was the first ever
admission made by a military junta leader about the lack of development in the country. At the
meeting, Than Shwe called on the newly elected government to fight against corruption.

1/2
Corruption in Burma: Part 1, grease money

Written by Myo Thein၊ Sandi Nwe

Friday, 01 April 2011 12:31 - Last Updated Thursday, 07 April 2011 14:48

The
coup
machinery
In
Zar
12
she
they
‘Yes,
ID
even
This
‘My
workers
someone
for irony
Corruption
corruption
due
through
theirs to
card
years
Zar
is
cards
foreigner.
by
the and
‘Grease
Burma. under
costcorrupt
reach
immigration
least when 10
begin
“ICorruption
live
said.
am
Those hand
national,
giving
arest.
elder
passport’,
had and
now
is
passport.
to and much
of
old.
Iare
Iaamount
have is
housewife
who to
found
thisover
is
still
over
to
not
brother
in
visit
But It
Tun isthese
mismanagement.
affects
Money’,
these
to15,000
was thegrease
Thisnearly
of
endemic
Itheir
holding
issued
officials
not in 27
start
mouth.
are urged
my the
he
money the
IDstatements
government
lawful
people
ages.
changed
now
willing
difficult
He
their
Tun the
at
primary
kyat
the people’s
official
We
Icould
Immigration
called
said
elderme
office
said, half
in
money
yearscard
her civil
ages
ifcame(US on
first
process
toand
can
because
for
to get
pay
that
me
brother
ina a
Burma
Nearly
old, century.
national
is only
12,
school,
myto
payment
get my she
$12-17)
our
ID
never
anthe
foreigner
from
looking and
thiswas
machinery,
rights.
a
itof suffering,
Iwould
person today.
number
Ia 18
of
child
ID for
needed
spent not
everyone
series,
has
obtaininglost
As
of
registration
and
because
school
and children
not
30
ifoffices
Iwe
change
prescribed
save
bribes
card
Manpower
Malaysiais
national
cost
irritated
only to
onlyinthis
by
can
apply
one critics
through
we
itand
me on
Mizzima
Ilevels.
has
take
changed
and
didn’t who
cannot
the
nursery.
quickly.
ID ‘Icritics.
made by
10-15,000
paying
obtain
Department
about
and
for say,
awhen
IDa look
certificate
are
citizens
ittold
needtoMy is
the
affordThe
exploitation
toThere
pay
found
these
an
the
an
apply to
unless
grease due
Imoney
are
at
Burmese
are
adult
ID
Burmese
60,000
me pay
husband
kyat.to junta
how
card. 
(ID),Ito
when
many
cards
government and
apay
she
card.
ifthat
formoney.
(known
kyataID
Sothe
to chief
singlethe
now’.
for
paysfree
is
itTun
Malaysia
passport,
passport’,
(US acorruption
itout.
obtain
corruption
which
supposed Inationals
as it’,came
stories
went
misuse
she
of to
penny
cannot
bus
Tun,
La out
itshe
$70)
wascharge.
department
‘grease
he
Wa ofwithout
services
of how
to
of
affects
received
from
obtain
said.
at
conductor
change
despite
said
because
said. power
Ithe
talk
power
that
calling
Ka)
Tun It people
thethat
to government
people
12-18.when
‘Iofficial
money’.
but will
got
mytime.
Ishe
so
being
about
got
Tun.
for amthrough
people,
ought
and
cards
cost
ID
mythis
more suffer
in
Although
she
when
The
child
at
acannot
thatyet’,
we
foreign
applying
‘Iand
a
asked
passportadid
toshe
be
was
Who
‘Igrease
exact
May
and
‘You
Her
with
them
Yes,got
Council
cents). you
my
uncle
mythat
easy money
procedures.
Moe
must Now know,
ID
(Ward
uncle.
the within
explained
buy
smoothed
in due
thathowever,
heard
PDC)
the
next
The
Burma
in Burma,
Burma: to
three
spent
form
that
day. a person
offices.
office
the
you can
days’,
for
getting
first.
they
Then
way.
took
Partknow It‘Icount.
my
These
are
III:
II, in
said
is
my
gotan authority
ID
also May
selling
first One
because
ID is aby
20,000
Moe.
not
available
fingerprints
mybought
someone,
Getting
hospitals ID the
on time
woman
and
once
or my
expensive
forms
the
the thought
at kyat
power.
spent
uncle
sold
our
at
ifimmediately.
government
and form
third
you
‘tea (US
receivedabout
is
about
this
and needed
of
Ward/Block
day.
have
money’ $23)
on
onehaving
formher
filled
It’s the
3,000
1,000
enough
job when
ID
for
checked
so to to
staff
obtains give
card
kyatpay
kyat he
of
200-300
Peace
easy’,
moneyThen my
(US
my applied
more
easily
La
(US
sheandfingerprints.
IWa
through
kyat grease
$3.5).
Ka’,
$1.16)’.
blood
to for
Development
said.
visited
pay (US
group
corrupthis
Ithe
she
$ money.
forgot They
paying
said.
23-35the
channels
office
gave any
officials.

2/2