Myanmar military handed $3 billion budget, less than previous year
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Myanmar soldiers march during a ceremony to mark the country's 67th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar on March 27, 2012. Myanmar's military has been granted a US$2.4 billion (S$3 billion) annual budget, just over 12 per cent of total government spending in the poverty-stricken country, according to figures seen by AFP on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's military has been granted a US$2.4 billion (S$3 billion) annual budget, just over 12 per cent of total government spending in the poverty-stricken country, according to figures seen by AFP on Wednesday.
The sum, approved by parliament last Friday, is US$100 million less than the previous year but still likely to dwarf the money available for the crumbling education and health care systems in the nation of 60 million people.
Under the former military junta which ruled Myanmar for decades, the state budget was not released publicly or put up for scrutiny and oversight.
Analysts say the army helped itself to the country's funds, notably profiting from a large portion of the oil revenues.
