Archive for March 2008
Zimbabwe’s election and Tibet’s protest
 Twin Falls Times-News |
MDC and ZANU-PF run even in early Zimbabwe results
Reuters -
By Stella Mapenzauswa HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC and ruling ZANU-PF were running neck-and-neck, according to the first election results issued by the Electoral Commission on Monday.
Mugabe defeated, opposition says Boston Globe
Mugabe May Face Election Defeat; MDC Claims Victory (Update2) Bloomberg
Voice of America – BBC News – Christian Science Monitor – Black Star News
all 2,055 news articles »
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 Albany Times Union |
China Says It Has Evidence Dalai Lama Incited Riots
New York Times - By DAVID BARBOZA SHANGHAI – After two weeks in which China contended that Tibet’s government in exile had instigated the riots earlier this month to tarnish the coming Summer Olympics in Beijing, the Chinese government on Sunday issued for the first …
Now Is the Time to Press China, Area Tibetans Say Washington Post
China attacks EU statement United Press International
International Herald Tribune – Monsters and Critics.com – Bloomberg – The Associated Press
World Focus on Burma (31 Mar 08)
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Democracy Leader Barred From Office
The Associated Press - YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A copy obtained by The AP of Myanmar’s draft constitution confirms that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be barred from … |
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Long distance passengers suffer as bus owners call impromptu strike
KanglaOnline, India - IMPHAL, Mar 30: Passenger services along the Indo-Myanmar road (Imphal-Sugnu) was severely disturbed today as drivers of buses serving along the … |
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EU Week Ahead: Wind, NATO, Myanmar, Australia
EUX.TV, Netherlands -Lastly, the Burma/Myanmar issue is tabled by the Development Committee and the Human Rights Subcommittee. The latter considers how EU policy can influence … |
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Uproar before release of abducted driver
E-Pao.net, India - Imphal, March 30: Bus service along the Indo-Burma Sugnu road was suspended this morning in protest against the abduction of driver Heikrujam Inao by the … |
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Route 3 binds China and its southern neighbors
International Herald Tribune, France - It financed parts of Route 3 in Laos and refurbished roads in northern Myanmar, including the storied Burma Road used by the Allies in World War II to … |
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Guys in skirts criticized by woman in pants
KPCnews.com, IN - 17 hours ago Kind of like men in skirts changing the name of Burma to Myanmar. VIV ROSSWURM is a pants-wearing writer for The Evening Star. … |
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Archived telegrams show foreign attitudes over Tibet in WWII
China Daily, China - According to Chen, Japanese troops invaded Myanmar (then known as Burma) in 1942, not long after the Pearl Harbor attack, cutting China’s international … |
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The Whole Town’s Talking: Traveler leaves Lusk behind for war zone
The Casper Star Tribune, WY - Bleming, who journeyed to the Burma-Thailand border last spring to help the people in the fledgling Republic of Kawthoolei in their battle for independence … |
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Around the World: Family travel in Myanmar
Inside Bay Area, CA - THE TREK IN A SEC: This Orinda family spent two weeks traveling in Myanmar (Burma), wandering through gorgeous pagodas, floating gardens, colorful tribal … |
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Slain Karen leader: Rebel effort is self defense
CNN International - … fighting the government of Myanmar for about 60 years, since shortly after the departure of the British from the country then known as Burma in 1948. … |
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Burma’s second in command to visit New Delhi |
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Probers call for Thaksin prosecution on Myanmar loan |
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Myanmar: UN condemns ‘Junta’ for violating human rights |
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Thailand anti-graft body wants ex-Prime Minister Thaksin … |
| Draft Constitution Surfaces, Stirring More Debate The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - Burma’s draft constitution surfaced last week and, as expected, doesn’t honor basic democratic principles, excluding pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and … |
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Junta No 2 to Visit India |
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Myanmar Draft Constitution Bars Suu Kyi From Holding Office |
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Thailand’s Burma Loan to Come under Scrutiny |
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Thai anti-graft body wants former PM Thaksin prosecuted for loan … |
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AEC seeks legal action against Thaksin |
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Proposed Myanmar charter bars Suu Kyi from office |
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Myanmar Dissident Barred From Office |
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CIA puts the world at your fingertips |
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New Amnesty research reveals at least 40 demonstrators have been … |
| Parliamentarians blast UN’s “weak” response to Myanmar repression Monsters and Critics.com - ‘UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has remained weak, not using his position to call for the UN Security Council action on Burma and his Special Envoy Mr … |
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ASC to consider controversial loan to Burma |
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Myanmar frontier guards repatriate 30 Bangladeshis |
World Focus on Burma (30 Mar 08)
China Post, Taiwan -
YANGON — A spokesman and close aide to Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has died of stomach cancer in Singapore, where he had gone to seek medical …
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US must support Tibetans’ fight for freedom
Huntington Herald Dispatch, WV - The “saffron” uprising in Tibet, similar to the current revolt in Burma/Myanmar, is being led by courageous monks, followers of a religion which preaches … |
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Monk-Led Protests Show Buddhist Activism
The Associated Press - The monk Saya San became a national hero in the 1930s in Myanmar — then Burma — by leading a revolt. The British colonials hanged him after fielding 12000 … |
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Burma Democratic Concern
PR-USA.net (press release), Bulgaria - Burma Democratic Concern today called for United Nations to change their stand on Burma. They must have the clear vision. Military Regime declared to hold … |
Not just a lucky accident
Newindpress on Sunday, India -
The military in Burma (Myanmar) has maintained its stranglehold insensitive to world opinion or the peaceful resistance of Buddhist monks, ..
Zimbabweans Go to the Polls in National Elections
| Zimbabweans Go to the Polls in National Elections | |
Johannesburg 29 March 2008 |
Zimbabweans are going to the polls today to choose a president, parliament and local councils. The elections come amid a severe economic crisis, as we hear from VOA’s Scott Bobb in our Southern Africa Bureau in Johannesburg.
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| Zimbabweans queue to cast their ballots in Harare, 29 Mar 2008 |
Zimbabweans began lining up outside polling stations before dawn Saturday hoping to cast their ballot early. The elections were seen as a choice between keeping in power the government of President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled since independence 28 years ago, and regime change advocated by two opposition candidates, Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni.
Zimbabwe police Chief Augustine Chihuri warned against any violence before or after the vote.
“All the defense and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards covering the election period and beyond,” said Chihuri.
Soldiers and police put on a show of force patrolling the capital, Harare, in a convoy of armored personnel carriers and water cannon trucks.
Nearly six million voters are registered to vote at one of more than nine thousand polling stations. They are to choose a president, 210-member national assembly, a newly created senate and local councils.
Opposition leaders and pro-democracy groups have expressed concern over what they say are irregularities that could be used to rig the vote.
The say they have evidence that voter registration lists have been inflated and that 50 percent more ballot papers have been printed than registered voters. They say the widely feared police are allowed inside polling booths.
They also say that the four simultaneous elections, each with its own ballot, will likely confuse many voters because of a lack of voter education programs prior to the vote.
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| President Robert Mugabe attends campaign rally, 28 Mar 2008 |
However, Mr. Mugabe dismissed these allegations as he voted Saturday saying his government is not in the habit of rigging and his conscience would not allow him to do so.
Most Zimbabweans are suffering from an economic crisis characterized by hyper-inflation, 80 percent unemployment and shortages of food, fuel and many basic goods.
The winner of the presidential election must receive 51 percent of the votes cast. Otherwise, he must stand against the second-placed candidate in a run-off election within three weeks.
Dalai Lama leads prayer for victims of Tibet unrest
 StarPhoenix |
Dalai Lama leads prayer for victims of Tibet unrest
Monsters and Critics.com -
New Delhi – Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Saturday led an inter-faith prayer meeting in New Delhi in remembrance of Tibetans who lost their lives and were injured during the recent protests in China.
China Promises Tibet Compensation The Associated Press
Dalai Lama says wants time for preparation of ‘next life’ AFP
Guardian – New York Times – Voice of America – Reuters
all 2,856 news articles »
U.N. rights body condemns Myanmar for abuses
Fri 28 Mar 2008, 17:58 GMT
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. Human Rights Council unanimously condemned Myanmar on Friday for what it called “systematic violations” of fundamental freedoms six months after the country’s repression of monk-led protests.
The 47 member-state body also renewed the mandate of its special investigator to the former Burma for another year and called on the ruling military junta to let him visit to report on conditions there.
The European Union presented two resolutions, both adopted by consensus, on behalf of Western countries who said human rights violations had persisted in the wake of Myanmar’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations last September.
“There is still reason for great concern,” Slovenia’s ambassador Andrej Logar, on behalf of the EU, told the council on the last day of its four-week session.
The independent post of U.N. special rapporteur on Myanmar, first established in 1992, has provided valuable insight into the human rights situation in the insular country, Logar added.
Pinheiro, a Brazilian law professor who has held the post since 2000, is being replaced by Argentine expert Tomas Ojea Quintana, who is expected to try to seek a fresh visit.
Pinheiro said after a visit there in November that at least 31 people had died and up to 4,000 were arrested in September’s crisis.
His latest report to the council cited increasing repression since the crushing of the Buddhist monk-led protests and said that 1,850 political prisoners were still being detained.
The EU resolution expressed deep concern at the “violent repression” of the demonstrations and “the failure of the government of Myanmar to investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of these violations”.
It further condemned “the ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Myanmar, continued arbitrary detentions and the continuing high number of political prisoners”.
Britain, China, France and Russia — four of the five permanent Security Council members — are members of the Human Rights Council, while the United States has observer status.
Canada, a co-sponsor of the EU texts, voiced deep concern at “continuing reports of human rights violations perpetrated by the Burmese authorities against their own people”.
“Many of those arrested remain in detention as does (Nobel laureate) Aung San Suu Kyi. Some have been criminally charged for peaceful expression of their opinions,” Canadian ambassador Marius Grinius said.
Myanmar’s ambassador Wunna Maung Win dismissed the Western resolutions as “politically motivated”.
“The resolution is lop-sided and highly intrusive, besides it fails to take account of positive aspects of political developments in Myanmar,” he told the council.
The government has said it will hold a national referendum on a new constitution in May, with multi-party elections to follow in 2010, to set the nation on a path to democracy.
“The international community should therefore recognise and encourage the positive political developments in Myanmar,” the ambassador said.
(Editing by Laura MacInnis)
© Reuters 2008. All Rights Reserved.
World Focus on Burma (29 Mar 08)
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| Burmese democratic forces for the “no” to the constitutional … AsiaNews.it, Italy - … a Thai town at the border with Myanmar. The seminar, organised by the National Council of the Union of Burma in collaboration with the CISL (Italian … |
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| Junta likens itself to 19th century royal court Mizzima.com, India - In an address to military personnel and dignitaries, Senior General Than Shwe linked today’s Burmese armed forces with the battles of Burma‘s dead kings in … |
| Ottawa decries ‘crackdown’ in Tibet by China’s military Globe and Mail, Canada - He condemned the regime in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and its “oppression of the people of Burma” in a speech to delegates from 15 countries … |
World Focus on Burma (28 Mar 08)
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Buddhists seek control over Mahabodhi temple management
Thaindian.com, Thailand - From the 3rd century AD, Buddhism began to spread outside India, travelling first to Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and later to Burma or Myanmar, Cambodia, … |
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A guided tour of ‘outer’ India
Sify, India - … Somdal area on the Indo-Myanmar border from hordes of Meitei (Manipuri Hindus) rebel groups. Chapkikarong, a beautiful valley near the Burma border, … |
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Myanmar’s Military Leader Promises Democracy By 2010
AHN - Yangon, Myanmar (AHN) – Myanmar Junta Chief Than Shwe said Thursday that he Is not “power hungry” and he is willing to step down in 2010, … |
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Thailand’s Messy Telecom Loan to Burma Returns
Asia Sentinel, China - The loan proposal was reportedly approved in February 2004 and an agreement was signed with the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB) in June 2004. … |
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Burma’s leader urges citizens to ‘crush destructive elements’
Guardian, UK - Burma’s military leader yesterday urged citizens to join with the armed forces to crush “destructive elements” said to be trying to destabilise the isolated … |
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Judgement day
Maple Creek News-Times, Canada - It is the second-largest opium producer after Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), with 950 metric tons produced in 1994. … |
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IRRI: RP rice harvests double that of Thailand
Inquirer.net, Philippines - Thailand, India, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Bangladesh are all blessed with broad riverine deltas and plains with huge tracts suitable for rice … |
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Centre relief fund for farmers’ debts soon
Howrah News Service, India - The government also approved a Rs 535.91-crore multi-modal transit transport project in Burma, which India will use for improving access to the … |
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Myanmar junta chief says civilians will lead government after polls
AFP - NAYPYIDAW (AFP) — Myanmar’s junta chief Than Shwe said Thursday that civilians would take the reins of government after elections in 2010, … |
Merinews, India -
On Myanmar’s Armed Forces Day, Junta Supremo sought to allay fears about perpetuating military rule and promised to hand over power to the victors in the …
Monks denounce referendum call
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand -
He is also asking New Zealand to start a “Burma democracy fund” to help finance pro-democracy movements outside Myanmar, similar to the Zimbabwe Democracy …
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UN needs alternative plan for Burma: Activists
Mizzima.com, India - New Delhi – Given that the UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari’s visit to military-ruled Burma did precious little in resolving the country’s political … |
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Burmese leader appeals for unity
Guardian, UK - Photograph: Aung Hla Tun/Reuters Burma’s military leader today urged his countrymen to help the armed forces crush “destructive elements” aiming to … |
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Burma’s Junta Leader Says He May Relinquish Power in 2010
Voice of America - By Luis Ramirez The head of Burma’s military junta, General Than Shwe, says he intends to give up control of the government to whoever wins elections in … |
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Democracy pledge met by scepticism
First Post, UK - Burmese general announces he will hand over power in 2010 The head of Burma’s military regime, General Than Shwe, has made his most public pledge yet that … |
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Activists Stage Protest against Constitution
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - … emblazoned with the word “No” gathered at the party’s headquarters as hundreds of others came to attend a ceremony marking Burma’s Armed Forces Day. … |
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Than Shwe Promises Power Handover
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - By MIN LWIN The head of Burma’s military junta, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, denied on Thursday that the regime was power hungry, saying that it would allow a … |
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Underground campaign against junta’s new constitution
AsiaNews.it, Italy - Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In a rare public statement from Naypyidaw, Than Shwe, head of Myanmar’s military junta, pledged elections and democracy for … |
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Junta reaffirms noble history of military
Mizzima.com, India - The intervening 63 years have proven turbulent times for Burma’s armed forces. Failing to incorporate ethnic armies and militias upon its founding, … |
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -
“During our course of discussion, the Myanmar [Burma] issue came up and so far as Myanmar is concerned, we have explained our position, what we have done to …
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -
“Mr Gambari currently is the world’s only tie into the government of Myanmar [Burma]. From the UN perspective, it is very important not to take drastic …
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Is Than Shwe’s Pledge Just a Ploy?
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - Burma’s head of state, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, says he is not power hungry and will hand the country over to a civilian rule after his government’s planned … |
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Myanmar Junta Celebrates Military Might
The Associated Press - YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s junta chief insisted Thursday that he is not power-hungry and intends to hand control of the government to the winners of … |
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Burma says civilians to take over in 2010
Radio Australia, Australia - Burma’s junta chief Than Shwe says civilians will take the reins of government after elections in 2010. He says this will happen when a constitution is … |
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Junta to rule Myanmar with iron fist
PRESS TV, Iran - Myanmar’s junta chief marks Armed Forces Day, urging soldiers to ‘crush’ anyone attempting to ‘destabilize’ the tightly controlled country. Senior Gen. … |
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Troops urged to crush opponents
The Press Association - Burma’s junta chief has marked the country’s Armed Forces Day by urging soldiers to crush anyone attempting to destabilise the tightly controlled country. … |
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The almanac
United Press International - Also in 2007, leaders of Myanmar, formerly Burma, staged a military parade to show off their new capital city, Naypyidaw. A thought for the day: Eden … |
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Burma leader attends army parade
BBC News, UK - By Jonathan Head Thousands of soldiers have paraded in Burma’s new capital, Nay Pyi Taw, to commemorate Armed Forces Day. The event is one of the few … |
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Myanmar promises “free and fair” referendum
Reuters South Africa, South Africa - Foreign journalists have normally been invited to the former Burma for the March 27 ceremonials but were barred from this year’s event, the first since last … |
| Myanmar’s path towards Democracy Merinews, India - The people of Myanmar have long been fighting the military rule existing in their country, long been under the threat of civil war. … |
| Soaring Rice Prices Raise Alarms in Asia The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - Jack Dunford, head of a consortium in Thailand helping more than 140000 refugees from military-ruled Myanmar [Burma], said soaring rice prices and a … |
| Faith, values discovered overseas by Gibson Co. church missionaries Princeton Daily Clarion, IN - Bribery is just a fact of life in Burma and greasing palms is a necessary part of travel in Myanmar, Vanoven said. At the airport, a guard told the … |
| Burma Opposes Move to Link Tibetan Unrest with Beijing Olympics The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - A statement from Burma’s foreign ministry and carried in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the Tibet unrest was “purely the internal affairs” of China … |
World Focus on Burma (27 Mar 08)
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -
There are an estimated 70000 child soldiers serving in 727 infantry battalions of the Burma army, according to estimates by human rights groups. …
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Thai Premier Firm on Developing Ties with Burma
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - … his government promised to release remaining funds from a 4 million baht (US $127000) soft loan agreed between the Myanmar [Burma] Foreign Trade Bank … |
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Blogging from India #4 — Communist Party of India opens 5-day meet
People’s Weekly World - Many parties from South Asia are here including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Burma (Myanmar). The Chinese Communist Party sent a large … |
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New Delhi eyes a Burmese seaport
Narinjara News, Bangladesh - The connected Indian state will be Mizoram, which is adjacent to Chin province of Burma (also known as Myanmar). Vice Senior General Maung Aye, … |
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Buddhism in the eyes of a Western photographer
VietNamNet Bridge, Vietnam - Between 2000 and 2004 Beat Presser came back to live in monasteries in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, and travelled extensively, … |
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Zoo opens in Burma’s military capital
Nation Multimedia, Thailand - Naypyitaw, Burma – A new zoo was opened Wednesday in Naypyitaw, Burma’s ‘s military headquarters and the country’s new capital, boasting more than 200 … |
Rambo sends Myanmar junta in a tizzy
Merinews, India -
Behind the bamboo curtain in Myanmar, a Hollywood film starring Sylvester Stallone as Rambo, who takes on the country’s army, has sent the junta in a tizzy. ..
Aljazeera.net, Qatar -
Armed Forces Day, a national holiday in Myanmar , celebrates the Burmese Independent Army’s revolt against Japanese occupation during the Second World War. …
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Myanmar military to hand over power after 2010 election
Thaindian.com, Thailand - Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar), March 27 (Xinhua) The Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services General Than Shwe Thursday said the military would be able to hand over … |
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Junta chief calls on army to crush destabilizing forces in Myanmar
International Herald Tribune, France - AP YANGON, Myanmar: Myanmar’s junta chief marked Armed Forces Day on Thursday by urging soldiers to “crush” anyone attempting to destabilize the tightly … |
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Bush urges China to initiate talks with Tibet
NDTV.com, India - Elections in Taiwan, the ”wrongly” shipping of nuclear missile parts, North Korea and Myanmar also figured in the talks. ”On Burma, President Bush … |
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Commander-in-Chief: Myanmar military to hand over power after …
People’s Daily Online, China - Commender-in-Chief of the Myanmar Defense Services Senior-General Than Shwe said Thursday that the military would be able to hand over power to a civilian … |
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Britain Documents Crumbling Human Rights Situation in Russia
The Other Russia, Russia - Separate chapters are also devoted to Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Columbia, Cuba, the Dem. Rep. of the Congo, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the … |
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Film Reviews Rambo: To Hell and Back
Times Online – Auckland, New Zealand - … in Thailand recruit John Rambo to guide them up the Saliveen River to deliver medical supplies to the Karen tribe of neighbouring Burma (Myanmar). … |
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Refugees learn English from volunteers in literacy program
New Bern Sun Journal, NC - Janet Hyman, a retired school teacher, worked in another room with Biek Sang, a Chin refugee from Myanmar (formerly named Burma). … |
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Bush Asks China to Talk to Dalai Lama Aides on Tibet (Update2)
Bloomberg - Bush expressed concern that the ruling junta in Myanmar, previously known as Burma, plans to conduct a referendum drafted without the participation of … |
Foreign Policy In Focus -
By taking steps such as bringing concerted pressure to bear on tyrants in Burma (renamed Myanmar by its military government in 1989) or Zimbabwe, ..
Monsters and Critics.com -
Naypyitaw, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military strongman, Senior General Than Shwe, reiterated Thursday his government’s plans to hold a national constitutional …
Factions within junta draw battle lines
Bangkok Post, 26 March 2008
BURMA
Factions within junta draw battle lines
LARRY JAGAN
But underneath this show of unity is the start of a new battle for Burma’s future. This time it is not between the monks and the military, as it was last year, but between two factions in the army.
In the past few months a major rift has emerged within Burma’s military government over the country’s political future. At the centre of the conflict is who should control the roadmap _ Burma ‘s plans for political change.
The confrontation is now beginning to take shape _ between those who are currently in control of Burma’s government and the country’s economic wealth, and those who see themselves as the nation’s guardians and wish to protect the country from unscrupulous officials.
The junta is no longer cohesive and united, as two major camps have clearly emerged. On one side there are the ministers and members of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) who have major business interests and are associated with Gen Than Shwe’s brainchild, the mass community-based Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA).
On the other side are the top ranking generals _ loosely grouped around the second in command, General Maung Aye _ who want a professional army and see its main role as protector of the people.
They have become increasingly dismayed at the corruption within government and understand that it is undermining the army’s future role in the country.
As the war between these two groups begins to escalate, Gen Than Shwe’s rapidly deteriorating health has effectively left the country without a real leader. The result is total inertia in government administration and a growing fear that one of the contesting factions may launch a ”soft coup” in the near future, according to Burmese military sources.
But the ”real” army, as these officers under Gen Maung Aye view themselves, is going to have to act quickly if it is to remain a force to be reckoned with.
The planned referendum for May and the election in two years’ time will radically change the country’s political landscape.
The USDA, which is organising both the referendum and the elections, will significantly increase its power and control over the country’s new emerging political process.
Senior members of the army are increasingly resentful of the growing dominance of the USDA and the likely curtailment of the army’s authority after the May referendum. ”It will bring an abrupt end to the army’s absolute power,” said a Burmese government official.
At the centre of this emerging battle for supremacy is the growing division within the army between those who graduated from the Officers Training School (OTS) like Gen Than Shwe, and those who went to the Defence Services Academy (DSA) like Gen Maung Aye.
Many cabinet ministers associated with the USDA are from the OTS, as are several hardliners within the ruling SPDC, though some no longer have operational commands. These leaders are known to have the ear of Gen Than Shwe and have convinced him to take an uncompromising stand against detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).
These key ministers, including Industry Minister Aung Thaung, Fisheries Minister Maung Maung Thein (who is also head of the powerful Myanmar Investment Commission), Construction Minister Saw Htun and Agriculture Minister Htay Oo (who is also a key leader of the USDA), are notorious hardliners and amongst the most corrupt members of the government.
They have all amassed huge personal fortunes from smuggling and kickbacks. ”These fellows are out of control and racking up the money from bribery and fraud _ not even Maung Aye, who despises excessive corruption, can touch them,” a Burmese military source told the Bangkok Post on condition of anonymity.
Everyone seems powerless to stop them at present, according to Burmese government sources. ”They are known as ‘the Nazis’ within the top ranks of the army,” according to a Burmese businessman with close links to the military hierarchy. ”They have the money and they have their own militia.”
Many in the army now fear that this group _ with some senior officers in the SPDC, current or former heads of the Bureau of Special Operations (BSO) _ are planning a grab for power using the USDA as a front. ”They are the real enemies of the people,” said the Burmese businessman.
There are growing numbers within the army that are viewing these developments with increasing concern. There is mounting resentment and frustration amongst the junior officers in Naypyidaw. Many of the junior officers are divisional commanders, aged between 47 and 55. These are the army’s ”young Turks”, who are alarmed at the way in which the USDA is growing in influence at the expense of the army.
”They are watching their unscrupulous colleagues, hiding behind the uniform, building up massive fortunes from corruption in government and they are worried that this tarnishes the image of the army,” said a source in Naypyidaw.
”It’s time to get rid of the OTS bastards,” an officer recently told a visiting businessman. But so far there are no signs of a palace coup. Many officers may feel aggrieved, but there is no open discussion as yet about doing anything in practice. ”The climate of fear that pervades the whole country is also prevalent in the military,” according to a Thai military intelligence officer.
This resentment is going to continue to simmer. They know that after the referendum in May their position will become increasingly less significant, as ministers and selected military generals move into the USDA and take up civilian roles in the future. At the same time they fear that widespread corruption will also destroy the country and its political stability.
”The ‘real’ army is the only institution that can bring genuine democracy to the country in the future,” a military man told the Bangkok Post. ”The new generation of officers represent the real hope for the country.” They would be open to a political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, he insisted, as they see themselves as the real guardians of the country.
