Jan 26, 2009 (DVB), The chairman of Pyarpon township Rice Traders' Association, Win Kyaing, has been dismissed after the organisation's year-end accounts showed a deficit of nearly 2 million kyat.

A member of the association said the accounts presented by chairman Win Kyaing at the end of year meeting held in mid-January showed that a total of 8 million kyat had spent for the year while only 6 million had been raised.

Win Kyaing explained to the members that 1.8 million kyat of the deficit had been spent on donations to government authorities such as the provincial and town Peace and Development Council offices.

The remaining 18,000 kyat was spent on providing aid for Cyclone Nargis victims, Win Kyaing said.

"He said the association had spent 2 million kyat over the budget as local authorities had often asked for ‘donation’ money to buy presents for senior government officials when they came to visit the region," said the association member.

Myint Thein has been appointed as the new leader of the group.

The Rice Traders' Association gets its funding from a 4.5 kyat levy from farmers on every bag of rice sold.

Reporting by Aye Nai