Budget, Not By-Elections, Next Big Test For Thein Sein

By Burma Campaign UK • January 26, 2012

As Burma’s Parliament prepares for its next session, Burma Campaign UK called on the international community to pay close attention to the new budget proposed by Thein Sein’s government, as an indicator of his commitment to implementing promised reforms.

Last year’s budget allocated just 1.3 percent of the government budget to health, and just over 4 percent on education. Almost 25 percent was allocated to the military. There is believed to be additional military spending outside the official accounts.

“Thein Sein has promised reform and to prioritise development.” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “This budget will be a test of how serious he is. There needs to be substantial increases in spending on health, education and agriculture, and major cuts in military spending.”

Thein Sein’s government has asked for more international support to tackle poverty, promote development, and build the capacity of government departments. Burma Campaign UK has successfully campaigned for increased British aid to Burma, and supports further increases. However, support for increased aid to Burma could be undermined if the government continues to spend almost 20 times more on the military than it does on health.

Burma’s health, education and agriculture sectors have been neglected for decades. They need substantial upfront investment to build basic infrastructure and train professionals, in addition to a general long-term increase. Given the desperate state of health and education, the government should be laying out a plan for the next few years on how the balance of spending between health and education, and the military, will be reversed.

“If we see increases in health and education budgets of just one or two percent, and no significant reduction in military spending, it will raise real concerns about how serious Thein Sein’s government is about turning promises of reforms into concrete change,” said Mark Farmaner.

The ability of Parliament to make significant changes to any proposed budget should also be watched closely. Constitutionally, the Parliament has very little power, but does have to approve the budget.

For more information contact Mark Farmaner on +66811002857.