“Your training is a lonely war.”

When you train, you battle yourself. You wrestle your internal demons forcing your mind and body to bend. We all know the story of the sculpture who was asked how he carved such a perfect warrior from stone. He answered, “The warrior as already there, I just removed the excess stone.”

We have new, disturbing, and detailed intelligence about the assistance Russia is providing Burma’s dictatorship, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), on its nuclear program and more generally its military modernization. This new information both confirms earlier intelligence that we have published, and expands what is known about the overall program.

The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) welcomes the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1820 on sexual violence during the Council’s debate on 19 June 2008. WLB believes that this historic resolution gives hope to women around the world and in Burma in particular for justice. We call on the UNSC to consider referring Burma’s General Than Shwe, top leader of the Burmese military junta, and his cronies to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the war crimes and crimes against humanity for which they are accountable. We urge the Council members to live up to the commitment shown during their debate.

The Burma Army is attacking, burning villages, laying landmines and displacing people in eastern Burma. These attacks are part of an ongoing operation to completely dominate and control the ethnic peoples of Burma. This report contains new photos and information sent by relief teams helping people who are under attack now. Thank you for your assistance to the over 40 FBR relief teams bringing help, hope and love to attacked and displaced people in the war zones of Burma.

by Antonio Graceffo

“How do you shower on a twenty-four hour shift?” I asked, noticing that there was no plumbing in the radio shack, where I was told we would be sleeping.

“We can use the hose from the firetruck. Answered the chief.”

Suddenly, I wasn't sure if EMS was really the best career for me.

29 Feb 2008: The US goes after a shady Burmese “businessman” and turns up the heat on his Singapore links also. In an action that Burma watchers view as long overdue, the United States earlier this week slapped financial sanctions on wealthy Burmese businessman Lo Hsing Han, his US-educated son, Steven Law and Law’s wife, Cecilia Ng, a Singaporean businesswoman.

1. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DISCUSSES FOLLOW-UP TO SPECIAL SESSION ON SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR

2. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CRITICIZES EXTENSION OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI’S DETENTION IN MYANMAR

3. UN EXPERTS EMPHASIZE OBLIGATION OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF CYCLONE IN MYANMAR

Today, more than 140,000 refugees from Burma are living in nine camps along the Thailand Burma border. Unlike most other situations around the world there is no United Nations-coordinating mechanism responsible for these refugees. The Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), a non-profit organisation, provides all of the food to these camps and must raise its own funds. Rice is the main ingredient of the refugees’ food basket, the price of which has been seriously affected by the global food crisis. During 2008, rice prices have more than doubled. Unless more funds can be raised quickly to cover the increased cost, TBBC will have to cut the refugee food rations to as little as 50% of the international minimum standard required to sustain life.

The Burma Bulletin is a short month in review of events in Burma, particularly those of interest to the democracy movement and human rights activists.

In the May 2008 issue you will find: * Cyclone Nargis * SPDC blocks aid * SPDC constitutional referendum * Daw Suu's detention extended * Custodial deaths * Forced labor * Other Burma news * List of Reports * Much more...