Six soldiers and two civilians killed in two separate bomb attacks in Southern Thailand; Indo-Burma bilateral trade indicates an upward trend as it reaches US$1.19 billion in 2009-10;
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  • Six soldiers and two civilians were killed in two separate bomb attacks in the provinces of Yala and Narathiwat in the southern Thailand on 1st and 2nd, July. Following the attacks, the National Security Council has been asked by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to monitor the situation in the southern region closely.1

    Indo-Burma bilateral trade indicates an upward trend in 2009-10, despite continued insistence by the US and the EU on the regional countries to impose economic sanctions on Burma. The trade between the two neighbouring states reportedly reached US$1.19 billion during this period. India is also currently planning to invest US$5.6 billion in two major hydropower projects in Burma. However, India still lags behind in comparison to other trading partners such as Singapore, China and Thailand. China has recently inked a draft of series of new trade deals with Burma, including the controversial Monywa copper agreement, which would see Chinese weapon giant Norinco playing a significant role in Burma’s mine projects. With the Shwe pipeline project, while China would be able to carry oil and gas from western Burma to southern China, the Burmese government too will be able to acquire up to US$30 billion over the nest three decades.2

    While continuing its humanitarian aid to Burma after the latter was hit by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, India has recently donated sixteen power transformers to the neighbouring state. The transformers (valued US$1.9 billion) are to be used in bringing electricity in some of the worst affected areas by the cyclone. Nargis had reportedly killed at least 140,000 people, displaced 2.4 million, and the total damage was estimated to be around US$4 billion.3

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