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Burma's Ethnic Nationalities Held Ethnic Affairs Seminar In Germany
Nasaka informer hacked to death in Maungdaw Town
Forced labor for construction of Rangoon-Sittwe Highway
Burmese Journalists Banned from Asean Press Conference
No More Aid through Junta: US House
Recent Burma News (25-06-08)

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Burma's Ethnic Nationalities Held Ethnic Affairs Seminar In Germany
Van Biak Thang
Chinland Guardian
25 June, 2008
 
London, UK: Ethnic Nationalities from Burma last week held a two-day historical event called 'Union of Burma Ethnic Affairs Seminar (Europe)' in Frankfurt, Germany from 21-22 June, 2008. The event was hosted by an organising committee formed by Germany-based ethnic groups and funded by the Euro-Burma Office (EBO).
 
Salai Kipp Kho Lian, one of the moderators of the Organising Committee told Chinland Guardian when asked for the main purpose of the seminar: "As a significant number of ethnic nationalities from Burma has come to settle in European countries and we have heard from the youth voices for having a kind of Europe-wide ethnic organisation, we think that it is now time to form an umbrella roof or even if it is still immature to do so then we need to find out what we can do together."
 
"It is also important that we show our existence in Europe. We can preserve and promote ethnic cause via our culture, sports, arts, dresses and so on," added Salai Kipp Kho Lian, a Chin veteran political activist.
 
The seminar was attended by 54 participants from European countries including Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and United Kingdom. The organisations, NGOs and individual present were Chin Community (Germany), Zomi Innkuan Germany, Karen National Community (Germany), Karen Community Association (UK), Minority Burma Muslim Association, Point of Peace (Norway), Chin Forum (Canada), Ethnic Nationalities Council, Euro-Burma Office, Saw Paul Sein Twa of Chiang Mai-based Karen Environmental and Social Action Network, a famous Arakanese writer U Khin Maung Kyi (UK) and other attendees belonging to ethnic groups from Burma including Arakanese, Chin and Karen.
 
"It is a very important event and everyone is enthusiastic about it. I believe this seminar serves as a good foundation for ethnic movements in Europe in the future," said Victor Biak Lian of Chin Forum and Chin Human Rights Organisation.
 
The seminar concluded with the formation of the Union of Burma Ethnic Affairs (ad-hoc) Committee (Europe) made up of delegations from all over Europe. The ad-hoc Committee is expected to be able to form a full-pledged Committee in the near future encompassing other ethnic groups of Burma residing in Europe.
 
"People might think this is the first time. Actually, there was once an active movement in 1994 called Europe-wide Travelling Seminar initiated by European Burmese Association (Hamburg) to promote ethnic cause in Europe. It was the result of the UN Indigenous People Year. Therefore, we can say this is the second time although it is a bit different in its scope of participation from the previous one," recalled Salai Kipp. 
 
The next ethnic affairs seminar will be held in Brussels, Belgium in 2009. 
 
For decades, ethnic nationalities in Burma have been suffering from the brutal atrocities, and facing "ethnic cleansing and Burmanization" and various forms of oppression including religious persecution, harsh forced labour and ruthless exploitation of people and resources imposed on by the longstanding military regime. As a result of these systematic repressive measures, many ethnic people flee their native places to settle in other countries. 
 
In Burma, there are, according to Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Co-operation Committee (ENSCC), 135 races or tribes where 65 of which are all from the Chin State. The non-Burman ethnic peoples that occupy 55% of the country are supposed to make up about 40% of Burma's population.

http://www.chinlandguardian.com/index.php/Home/317

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Nasaka informer hacked to death in Maungdaw Town
Kaladan News
June 25, 2008

Maungdaw, Arakan State: An informer of the Director of Nasaka Headquarters of Gyikan Pyin (Kawarbill) was hacked to death by unidentified persons on June 23, in Maungdaw Town, while he was returning home from the Nasaka headquarters, according to a local.

The informer has been identified as Zaw Min (alias) Mortaza (35). He hailed from Maung Nama village of Maungdaw Township where the Nasaka Headquarters is situated. Although he was a native of Maung Nama village, he lived in ward No.5 of Maungdaw Town for fear of the villagers.

He had been working as an informer of government agencies since he was 25 years old.  Initially, he used to act as an informer of the Military Intelligence (MI) of Buthidaung Town. After establishing a proper spy network, he joined the Nasaka Director of Gyikan Pyin Nasaka Headquarters, as an informer.

He had been disturbing local villagers in various ways such as-- arbitrary arrest, torture, extorting money, seizing farm-lands from villagers, and disturbing the women folk, accompanied by the concerned authorities. The local villagers were very annoyed with him and were growing intolerant of his activities. He had also seized about 540 acres of land from farmers of Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships, with the cooperation of concerned authorities for rubber plantation last year.

When Zaw Min was attacked he had reached his yard and was getting down from his motor-bike. Some unidentified people rushed at him with knives and choppers and hacked him to death. The men escaped immediately from the scene of the crime, sources said.

The body was sent to Maungdaw police station and later sent to the Maungdaw General Hospital for autopsy. After which, the body was sent to his native village Maung Nama, where he was buried on June 24.

Both the Nasaka and the police have been looking for the killers but their efforts have not yet met with success. The concerned authorities arrested 45 innocent people regarding the matter and more people would be arrested soon, a local, on condition of anonymity said.

Villagers are scared of arbitrary arrests and extortion by the Nasaka in the wake of the murder. This is a golden chance for the police, Nasaka and Military Intelligence to extract money from the Rohingya community. They have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time, a village elder said.

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Forced labor for construction of Rangoon-Sittwe Highway
Kaladan News
June 25, 2008

Kyauktaw, Arakan State: Villagers are being forced to work on the Rangoon-Sittwe High way road construction site of Kyauktaw Township since June 20. The road was destroyed because of heavy rain last month, according to local villagers in Kyauk Taw Township.

About 100 villagers from Muslim dominated villages of Haya, Radana Bon, Gouk Tout of Kyauktaw Township are being engaged daily in road construction. Besides 50 Rakhine villagers from Rakhine villages are being forced to work at the road construction site.

About 20 members of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), fire brigade, Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) and municipal members are also participating in the road construction.

Local villagers have to work from 6 pm to noon every day. The villagers are released at noon for going about their agricultural activity because this season is very important for farmers for growing paddy.

It is learnt that the Rangoon-Sittwe highway will be paved with stones after construction is completed.

The authorities provide two kilograms of rice to each villager per day. The authorities have set up a rice ware house at Radana Bon village, from which rice is being distributed to villagers who work on the road construction site, according to official source.

Villagers are very angry with authorities, as their valuable time is being wasted in construction road, while their labor is crucially needed in agricultural activity, said a farmer from locality.    

--
KPN News Team
First News Agency dedicated for Rohingya Media
T: +8801714381110 / +880 181 990 7683 / +8801670311376
E: info@kaladanpress. org / kaladanpress@ yahoo.com / kaladanpress@ gmail.com  
W: www.kaladanpress. org / www.kaladanpress. com

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Burmese Journalists Banned from Asean Press Conference
By WAI MOE
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

More than 20 Burmese journalists were banned from a press conference organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Rangoon on Tuesday.

Rangoon-based journalists told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that Burmese journalists including correspondents with international news agencies were not allowed to attend a press conference on the Cyclone Nargis disaster that was hosted by Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.

A man arranges a flag of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Burmese journalists were not allowed to attend a Rangoon press conference on the Cyclone Nargis disaster that was hosted by Asean Secretary-General. (Photo: AFP)

It was unclear if the ban was the result of a decision by Asean officials or Burmese government officials. An Asean official told the Burmese journalists to get permission from the Burmese Ministry of Information.

Although Burmese journalists were prevented from attending the press conference, four news organizations from Asean countries—Channel News Asia of Singapore, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Indonesia’s Kompas newspaper and The Straits  Times of Singapore—were allowed to cover the event, said Rangoon journalists. The four agencies had non-Burmese correspondents.

The press conference, held at the Chatrium Hotel on Rangoon’s Natmauk Road, followed a meeting of the Asean Roundtable with the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment for Response, Recovery and Reconstruction team (PONJA). The PONJA group is made up of UN, Asean and Burmese representatives.
“The roundtable [meeting] started at 9 am on Tuesday. When Burmese journalists asked to cover the roundtable, officials there told them the press conference was at 6 pm,” said a Burmese journalist who is a correspondent for an international news agency.

“When it was time, [Burmese] journalists returned. But officials told us to leave, but the four news agencies from Asean countries were allowed to attend the press conference.”
Rangoon journalists said a woman who said she was Surin’s secretary told them only reporters invited by officials could attend the press conference.

The Singapore ambassador to Burma, Robert H K Chua, and Daniel Baker, a UN official, met with a group of Burmese journalists in a separate room in the hotel and discussed the Asean Roundtable briefing.

“It was like a separate press conference for the kicked-out journalists, but not with the secretary-general of Asean,” said a Burmese reporter for a Rangoon journal. “I feel it was discrimination between Burmese journalists and media personnel from Asean countries by Surin Pitsuwan.”

Surin has strongly advocated greater press freedom and freedom of speech throughout Asean countries. “We can help people understand the importance of human rights, and we should,” he said in January.

On June 18, he urged the Thai press to pay more attention to transnational issues that affect Asean citizens and to help promote press freedom and professionalism in Southeast Asia, according to The Nation newspaper in Bangkok.

Debbie Stothard of the Alternative Asean Network (Altsean) said that [the treatment of local journalists] is a serious issue and a challenge for Asean.

“The secretary-general is trying to be relevant,” she said. “But it [Asean] has to follow that principle. They make a general principle, and then when they arrived in Rangoon, they forgot the principle. They undermined their own credibility.”

At the Asean Roundtable press conference, Surin said the basic needs of the cyclone refugees are being met, but there is a need for more humanitarian work to sustain a medium and long-term recovery, according to the Asean Web site.

Stothard said Asean is trying to build “a relationship” between the military junta and the international community.

Asean must be mindful of the needs of the Burmese people and not just helping the military junta during the humanitarian crisis, she said.
According to an interim report released by the PONJA team, only 45 percent of survivors are getting food from international aid agencies.

"We know Mr Surin Pitsuwan wants to be diplomatic,” Stothard said. “But he has to be careful that he isn’t too diplomatic.”

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No More Aid through Junta: US House
By LALIT K JHA / WASHINGTON
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

In amendments to the Supplemental Appropriations Act 2008, the US House of Representatives has passed a bill that says US agencies should seek to avoid passing humanitarian relief through the military junta to cyclone victims in Burma.

Supplemental Appropriations Act 2008, passed on June 19 by the US House of Representatives— which approves the spending of the Bush administration for the fiscal year ending September 30—made specific reference to the cyclone disaster last month that resulted in the death of more than 130,000 people in the Irrawaddy delta.

Stating that the Burmese junta, or State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has compounded the humanitarian crisis in Burma by failing to respond to the needs of the Burmese people in the wake of Cyclone Nargis and by refusing offers of assistance from the international community, Supplemental Appropriations Act states: “The Department of State and USAID should seek to avoid providing assistance to or through the SPDC.”

The bill must now be approved by the US Senate.

Even though the Bush administration has little or no alternative but to route all of its relief material through the Burmese military junta, the House mentioned twice in the bill that the government should avoid giving aid through the regime.

Under a sub-section on Food Security and Cyclone Nargis Relief , the amended text on Section 1414 (a) now reads: “For an additional amount for ‘International Disaster Assistance,’ [US] $225 million to address the international food crisis globally and for assistance for Burma to address the effects of Cyclone Nargis: Provided, that not less than $125 million should be made available for the local or regional purchase and distribution of food to address the international food crisis: Provided further, that notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds appropriated under this heading may be made available for assistance for the State Peace and Development Council.

“These funds should be used to respond to urgent humanitarian requirements worldwide, including Burma, Bangladesh, the People's Republic of China, and countries severely affected by the international food crisis,” it said.

The amended bill also includes another $5.3 million in assistance for humanitarian programs along the Thai-Burmese border.

Meanwhile, Carl Gershman, president of the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED), urged Thailand and India to start thinking about what is going to be needed for a transition in Burma.

“We have to start thinking about the transition now, and to show that there is an alternative. We should also build political support for the Burmese movement now because it answers the argument of the people in Thailand and elsewhere that they have to deal with this government because there is no alternative,” he said.

For more than a decade now, the NED has provided support to many of the pro-democracy Burmese groups in exile, as well as ethnic groups inside Burma. The NED also funds several Burmese publications, including The Irrawaddy.

“Without neglecting the present, we have to start thinking about the future and start building a core of people who can think about the economy, who can think about how to organize a civil-military relationship, who can think about the constitution, think about minority rights and how to organize Burma as a multi-ethnic society with federalism and decentralization, " Gershman told The Irrawaddy.

Now of course, he said, the immediate issues before the international community and the Burmese leaders in exile are the crushing of the saffron revolution last year, the “phony” referendum and the humanitarian crisis in Burma. However, there are also more long-term issues, he said.

Developing an alternative constitution, developing a plan for the economy and a plan for governance should be some of the top priorities, Gershman said.

“The need is to bring people together to begin thinking about the future and to do it in an active way, without neglecting the current political and humanitarian crisis,” he said.

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Recent Burma News (25-06-08)

China offers rare praise for Myanmar
Today, June 25, 2008, 2 hours ago
BEIJING (Reuters) - China praised Myanmar’s efforts to fight drugs on Wednesday, lauding the actions of a military government often criticized in the United States and Europe for not doing enough to t...

Clooney, Pitt launch Myanmar ad campaign
Today, June 25, 2008, 3 hours ago
joined forces with Asian political figures in an advertising campaign calling on the region to push Myanmar’s junta to allow in more cyclone aid.

India provides 84 million dollars in loans to Myanmar projects
Today, June 25, 2008, 5 hours ago
Yangon - The Export-Import Bank of India has extended 84 million dollars in credits to two joint-venture projects for a factory and electrical transmission lines in Myanmar, state media reported Wedne...

Burma - Another Birthday Of Repression
Today, June 25, 2008, 7 hours ago
ANOTHER BIRTHDAY OF REPRESSION “The continued repression in Burma is a stain on the world’s conscience” said Article 19 on the 63rd birthday of deposed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The day, ...

84,500 died in cyclone
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
Myanmar said Tuesday that 84,500 people perished in last month’s cyclone, up from the last official announcement that 77,700 had died in the devastating storm. Meanwhile, a representative from the

Burma cyclone: 84,500 deaths
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
Meanwhile, a representative from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the regional bloc that includes Burma, said a recent assessment tour found the needs of the storm’s survivors were be...

Myanmar launches 11-day gems auction: report
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
Military-run Myanmar on Tuesday launched an 11-day auction of precious gems in Yangon, state media said, as the country struggles to recover from last month’s devastating cyclone.

Human smuggling crackdown hits Kawthaung - Saw Yan Naing
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
About 200 Burmese job seekers in Kawthaung, a border town in southern Burma, were arrested in the past five days following a human smuggling crackdown by local authorities.

Burma drops new operating guidelines - Wai Moe
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
The United Nations agencies and international nongovernmental organizations will return to the old operating guidelines in effect before Burma issued new regulations on June 10, in agreement with the ...

Status of Zarganar and Zaw Thet Htway unknown
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
The whereabouts of detained prominent comedian and social activist Zarganar and sports writer Zaw Thet Htway are still unknown, according to their relatives.

Labourers forced to work on seized cyclone lands - Naw Say Phaw
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
Government authorities have forced unemployed people across Burma to work for low pay cultivating farmlands seized from cyclone victims in the Irrawaddy delta, according to locals.

Rohingya youth jailed for 5.5 years for crossing Burma-Bangladesh border
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
A Rohingya youth was sentenced to five and-a-half years in prison by a Maungdaw court on June 13, on the orders of Burma’s border security force, on allegation of crossing the Burma-Bangladesh b...

Motorcycles selling like hot cakes on Sino-Burma border - Myo Gyi
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
There has been a 300 per cent rise in the sale of motorcycles in Jie Gao on the Chinese border town due to a possible decision by the junta to issue licenses to all two wheelers without license in Bur...

Daewoo to sell all Burma gas to China
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
Daewoo International said Monday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Petroleum Corporation to sell all the natural gas it extracts from Burma to CNPC.

Tripartite core group completes joint assessment on cyclone impact on Myanmar
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
A tripartite core group involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Myanmar and the United Nations claimed on Tuesday that its post-Nargis joint assessment teams have successfully co...

DFID objects to Save the Children
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
New Delhi - An unseemly row has surfaced over distribution of aid to; Burma’s cyclone victims, with the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) voicing its objection ab...

Sein Win seeks talks with China, India - Lalit K Jha
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
The Burmese prime minister in exile, Dr Sein Win, wants to visit leaders in India and China to seek their help in resolving the current political impasse in Burma.

Donations for Chinese earthquake far surpass Burma assistance
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
Canadians have flooded the Red Cross with donations for Chinese earthquake relief, giving nearly $15 million more to that disaster relief fund than to survivors of the Burmese cyclone.

Japanese protest killing of journalist in Myanmar
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
PROTESTERS against the killing of a Japanese journalist in Yangon last year on Tuesday submitted a petition signed by 40,000 people to the Myanmar embassy here calling for the return of his video came...

DFID objects to Save the Children”s aid distribution mode - Solomon
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
An unseemly row has surfaced over distribution of aid to Burma’s cyclone victims, with the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) voicing its objection about an a...

The Bush doctrine is relevant again - Bret Stephens
Today, June 25, 2008, 11 hours ago
Here’s another prediction: Mr. Tsvangirai’s Nobel will have about as much effect on the bloody course of Zimbabwe’s politics as Aung San Suu Kyi’s has had on Burma’s. Eff...

Official death toll in Myanmar cyclone increased to 84,500
Today, June 25, 2008, 14 hours ago
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar said Tuesday that 84,500 people perished in last month’s cyclone, up from its last announcement that 77,700 had died in the devastating storm that drew international ple...

Myanmar cyclone report to be given to Asean meet
Today, June 25, 2008, 15 hours ago
Results of an assessment of the damage wrought by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar will be presented next month at an Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) ministerial meeting in Singapore, a tripartite assessment team announced Tuesday.

Myanmar continues to suffer after cyclone
Today, June 25, 2008, 16 hours ago
Myanmar went through one of the subcontinent’s biggest tragedies, but they kept journalists out, along with most international aid workers. The official toll has reached tens of thousands, and the cyc...

Burma - South Korean journalist deported, her photographs confiscated, following visit to opposition party office
Today, June 25, 2008, 16 hours ago
(Mizzima/ SEAPA/IFEX) - A South Korean journalist was deported from Burma by the ruling military junta on 22 June 2008 for visiting the office of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD). Ms...

Thais, Cambodians Dispute Temple Site
Today, June 25, 2008, 17 hours ago
Preah Vihear temple was built in dedication to the Hindu god Shiva and was constructed between the 9th and the 12th centuries. The territory on which the temple lies has been the subject of conflict b...

Reporter arrested for covering cyclone news
Today, June 25, 2008, 17 hours ago
New Delhi - A woman journalist covering Cyclone Nargis victims asking for aid from international NGOs in Rangoon has been detained by for over two weeks, according to her publication. Eint Khin Oo ...

India, Burma sign investmnt pacts
Today, June 25, 2008, 17 hours ago
New Delhi - In yet another chapter of a boost in bilateral relationship and bonhomie, India and Burma have signed several bilateral agreements during the visit of Jairam Ramesh, India’s Minister of St...

Myanmar’s New Capital Isolates Junta
Today, June 25, 2008, 17 hours ago
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — The bamboo forests and sugar cane fields that once covered the gently sloping hills here have been replaced by hulking government buildings, roads so long and straight they...

Official death toll now at 84,537 in Myanmar cyclone; 53,837 unaccounted for
Today, June 25, 2008, 18 hours ago
YANGON, Myanmar - The official death toll in last month’s cyclone in Myanmar was raised to more than 84,500 on Tuesday, almost 7,000 higher than previous estimates in the horrific storm that drew inte...

84,500 Confirmed Dead From Myanmar Cyclone
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 11:04:01 PM
YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar’s ruling junta has announced that 84,500 people perished in Cyclone Nargis in May, up from an earlier confirmed toll of 77,700.Myanmar’s deputy foreign minister told reporte...

Myanmar cyclone toll rises to 138,000
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 10:29:35 PM
YANGON (Reuters) - More than 138,000 are dead or missing from the devastating cyclone that struck Myanmar last month, the government said on Tuesday, according to an Asian diplomat.

Work-shy Myanmar buffaloes add to farmers
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 10:29:27 PM
DEDAYE, Myanmar (Reuters) - With a planting deadline looming, rice farmers in cyclone-hit parts of Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta have hit a problem -- donated oxen and

Myanmar cyclone death toll rises; group says aid needs being met
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 10:29:13 PM
Meanwhile, a representative from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the regional bloc that includes Myanmar, said a recent assessment tour found the needs of the storm’s survivors were being ...

Number of dead and missing in Myanmar cyclone raised to 138,000
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 8:01:06 PM
A total of 138,373 people were killed or reported missing when Cyclone Nargis smashed into Myanmar's central coast last month, a joint assessment of the disaster revealed Tuesday.

Restrictions Tightened on Cyclone Refugees Bound for Thailand
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:40:07 PM
Burmese authorities are stepping up their restrictions on cyclone survivors trying to flee to neighboring Thailand, according to Burmese social organizations helping victims of the disaster.Mahn Mahn,...

Hundreds Missing in Aftermath of Philippines Typhoon
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:39:59 PM
Philippine officials refused to give up hope of rescuing some of the 800 people missing after a ferry capsized during Typhoon Fengshen, even as the still-roiling seas stalled efforts to get inside the...

Divers Find only Bodies in Capsized Philippines Ferry
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:39:51 PM
Divers managed to get inside an upside-down ferry off the Philippines coast on Tuesday but found only bodies three days after the vessel capsized with more than 800 people aboard during a powerful typ...

Defiant Thai Prime Minister Faces No-confidence Motion
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:39:49 PM
Thailand’s prime minister faced more criticism on Tuesday with the lower house of parliament set to consider a no-confidence motion, but his government said it was confident he would keep his job....

Vietnam Considers Increasing Rice Exports
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:39:47 PM
Vietnam’s could export 2.5 million tonnes of rice in the first half of the year, state-run media reported on Tuesday, a jump of 4.2 percent from the same period last year that will leave little ro...

Asian Currencies Fall amid Oil Price Jitters
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:39:45 PM
Most Asian currencies fell on Tuesday amid persistent jitters about high oil prices, but their downside potential was seen as limited given expectations that central banks would intervene to smooth ou...

Weekly journal involved in row over celebrity drug abuse case
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:39:41 PM
In connection with the interrogation of some celebrities regarding a high profile drug abuse case, a weekly journal has been embroiled in a dispute with some of them. An apology appeared in today’s...

Cyclone affected farmlands likely to be seized for forest reserve
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:39:40 PM
New Delhi -; In an inexplicable move the forest department of the ruling Burmese military junta has decided to confiscate nearly; 25,000 acres of cyclone affected farmlands in Kadone Kani ...

54,000 missing one month after Burma cyclone
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 4:50:16 PM
One month after a deadly cyclone hit Burma nearly 54,000 people are still missing and more than 84,000 are dead, according to a Burmese official. Deputy foreign minister Kyaw Thu told a meeting of of...

Residents say ordered to vote “yes” - Abdul Khalik
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:42 AM
According to some reports, military officers went to every house across the country and ordered people to vote “yes” in the May 10 national referendum to adopt the junta-drafted constituti.. .

Voters reveal injustices in 10 May referendum - Naw Say Phaw
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:42 AM
Voters in Burma’s national referendum on 10 May testified about official violations of referendum regulations at a hearing session held at the National League for Democracy headquarters on Friday afte...

Reshuffle could signal changes at the top - Min Lwin
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:41 AM
Details of the latest reshuffle have yet to emerge, although it is reported to have been planned as long ago as March. Observers believe many senior officers have been allowed to retire. According to...

Burmese junta deports Korean journalist - Zarni
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:40 AM
A Korean journalist was deported from Burma by the ruling military junta on Sunday for visiting the office of opposition political party - the National League for Democracy.

Youth activist faces unlawful association charges - Yee May Aung
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:39 AM
Zayar Thaw, a member of the popular hip-hop group Acid and leader of the youth activist group Generation Wave, was brought to court on Friday to face charges under the Unlawful Association Act.

Plague of rats devastates Burma villages - Nick Meo
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:35 AM
Villagers believe the bamboo seeds are a rodent aphrodisiac Burma’s latest human disaster is unfolding almost unseen by the outside world in the jungle-covered mountains of Chin State, far to t...

More woes in Myanmar: Oxen won”t plow
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:35 AM
“Thanks to donors and arrangements by the government, we are getting buffaloes and oxen, and in some cases small tractors and tillers, almost free of charge,” said Ko Hla Soe, a farmer in ...

Myanmar”s new capital: Remote, lavish, off-limits
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:33 AM
Naypyidaw is Myanmar’s new capital, built in secret by the ruling generals and announced to the public two and a half years ago, when it was a fait accompli. A nine-hour drive north from the fo...

Kuki conference concludes on Burma-India border - Khin Maung Soe Min
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:32 AM
The first ever Kuki national unity conference drew to a close on 19 June in the Indian town of Moreh on the border with Burma, according to Baik Pu Lon Lon, one of the event’s organisers.

Large haul of illegal medicine seized at border
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:31 AM
Bangladesh authorities seized a haul of medicine from Burma worth an estimated 1,870,400 taka and arrested a smuggler on Friday in Teknaf on Cox’s Bazar highway near the Burmese border, accordin...

SKorea-led consortium strikes Myanmar gas deal with China
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:30 AM
The consortium led by Daewoo International, operator of two natural gasfields in waters off Myanmar, said it signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Petroleum Corp last week. Daewoo ...

Border closed for residents, open for timber business
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:30 AM
The Three Pagodas Pass TPP township authorities in Karen State are allowing vehicles carrying timber after being bribed to cross the main gate. Local residents and passengers are not being allowed the...

Will assessment report bring in more aid for cyclone survivors - Solomon
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:28 AM
The report of the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment team will be used to seek more funds to help victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma, a United Nations spokesperson said on Monday.

Activists welcome UN pledge to end rape in conflict
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:27 AM
In adopting the resolution unanimously on 19 June, members of the Council condemned the use of sexual violence in conflict “as a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate, instil fear in, disperse an...

Let us now praise coups - Paul Collier
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 7:49:24 AM
This murderous outrage reminds us of a central problem in trying to help ease the misery of the developing world, especially the “bottom billion” inhabitants of countries being left behind...

Malaysia Frees Sri Lankan Businessman after 4-year Detention for Alleged Illegal Nuclear Deal
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 2:08:04 AM
A Sri Lankan businessman jailed four years ago for allegedly supplying nuclear weapon components to Libya has been freed and is no longer a threat to national security, a Cabinet minister said Monday....

Phakant jade mines flooded
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 2:07:41 AM
Chiang Mai - Some wards of the famous jade mine in Phakant, Kachin State has been flooded. Following incessant torrential rain from June 19 to 22, Phakant, Aye Mya Tharyar, Nhetpyawtaw, Saitaung,...

Funding crunch could ground cyclone helicopters
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 1:22:30 AM
BANGKOK, 23 June 2008 (IRIN) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that its relief flights into Myanmar’s cyclone-stricken Ayeyarwady Delta could end soon without additional money to keep its...

UN Appeals for Funding to Keep Burma Aid Helicopters Flying
Yesterday, June 24, 2008, 1:09:06 AM
The United Nations warned Friday that it will be forced to ground helicopters that have been ferrying critical aid to Burma’s cyclone survivors unless the international community urgently provides...

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