World Focus on Burma (28 Mar 08)

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, …

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, …

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, …

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. …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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, …

Junta supremo allays fears, promises to transfer power to poll victors
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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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, …

US Seeks India’s Help on Burma
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 …

Time’s up, Gambari!
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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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)

Burmese Armed Forces Day to Mark Decades of Military Rule
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. …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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, …

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. ..

Show of strength by Myanmar army
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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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). …

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). …

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 …

Global Cooperation: The Candidates Speak
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, ..

Myanmar junta leader vows to press ahead with elections
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 …