World Focus on Burma (26 April 08)

New urgency in Burma Boston Globe, United States - LAST SUMMER, thousands of saffron-robed monks marched peacefully with ordinary citizens to demand freedom and justice for the 51 million people of Burma. …

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi To Be Conferred US Congressional Gold Medal RTT News, NY - “This Congressional Gold Medal is a tribute to Suu Kyi’s courage and conviction, and a symbol of solidarity with the oppressed people of Myanmar,” Feinstein …

Russia lawmakers back new libel rules Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - AP YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s main pro-democracy party alleged yesterday that intimidation and violence were being used against opponents of the …

Suu Kyi party says opponents of Myanmar constitution beaten AFP - YANGON (AFP) — Myanmar’s pro-democracy party led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi said Saturday opponents of the junta’s proposed constitution were …

Send Hasina to USA for treatment: Cherie Independent-Bangladesh, Bangladesh - Mentioning the case of Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, she said, “I”m aware that Bangladesh bordering with Burma, a country which is not known as supporter of …

Junta urges people to cast ‘yes’ vote TODAYonline, Singapore - YANGON — As Myanmar’s military rulers launched a nationwide billboard campaign urging their nationals to vote “yes” in a referendum next month, …

Burmese detainee receives US honour guardian.co.uk, UK - Suu Kyi, 62, remains under house arrest by the oppressive military regime that controls Burma, casting doubt on her ability to accept the award. …

United States Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Burma’s Aug San … Asian Tribune, Thailand - The Burmese (Myanmar) regime is among the worlds most brutal, imprisoning up to 2000 political prisoners, conscripting more child soldiers than any other …

Of potato, for potato The Daily Star, Bangladesh - The breakdown of long-distance commerce in food has worried Bangladesh, particularly because her neighbours — India, Myanmar and Bangkok have restricted …

Burmese democracy leader to be honored Louisville Courier-Journal, KY - Suu Kyi has been under house arrest by the military regime in Myanmar, also known as Burma. The medal is the nation’s highest civilian honor. …

Ancient Praying Mantis Found in Amber National Geographic, DC - Previous mantis specimens have been found in New Jersey, northern Myanmar (Burma), Siberia, and Lebanon, he said. But Sasaki’s discovery appears to be …

Myanmar opposition party says opponents of military-backed … International Herald Tribune, France - AP YANGON, Myanmar: Myanmar’s main pro-democracy party charged Friday that intimidation and violence are being used against opponents of the military-backed …

Suu Kyi party says Myanmar junta trying to force ‘Yes’ vote AFP - YANGON (AFP) — Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy party said Friday that Myanmar’s ruling generals were doing everything in their power to force a ‘Yes’ vote …

Myanmar junta cracks down on ‘vote no’ campaign – Summary Earthtimes (press release), UK - Yangon – Myanmar’s junta is systematically terrorizing opposition politicians who are urging the public to vote no in a national referendum on May 10 that …

US to give Suu Kyi its highest civilian honour CNN-IBN, India - New Delhi: The US Senate has voted to award Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi its highest civillian honour — the Congressional Gold Medal. …

Ancient game featured in award-winning film Bowen Island Undercurrent, Canada - … the screening of Mystic Ball, an uplifting family documentary about the traditional game of chinlone, played since ancient times in Myanmar (Burma). …

Suu Kyi to be bestowed with Congressional Gold Medal Award Newstrack India, India - The activist group US campaign for Burma welcomed the award in its statements said, “In a world in which public heroes are few and far between, …

Burma: EU Parliament Wants More Myanmar Sanctions UNPO, Netherlands - In a decision to be considered by EU foreign ministers next week, Members of the European Parliament have voted to increase sanctions against Myanmar. …

World Focus on Burma (25 April 08)

US Senate honours Burma’s Suu Kyi BBC News, UK - US-based Burma campaigners welcomed the move, saying the imprisoned opposition leader “richly deserves” the award. Burma’s generals have held Ms Suu Kyi for … Cherie Blair roots for Hasina`s release from jail Zee News, India - Winding up her three-day visit, Blair told reporters: ‘I am aware that Bangladesh borders with Burma (Myanmar), a country which is not known as supporter of … Suu Kyi bestowed with highest US honor Mizzima.com, India - Suu Kyi, continuing to be held under house arrest by Burma’s ruling junta, becomes the first individual to win the recognition while in detention. … Speaker: Burma situation dire The Flat Hat, VA - Monday night, the College’s Students for Informed Democracy hosted speaker Thelma Young, campaign coordinator for the United States Campaign for Burma. … Australians, New Zealanders remember World War II victims of … International Herald Tribune, France - Hellfire Pass was the most notorious stretch of the 415-kilometer (260-mile) railway that linked Thailand and neighboring Myanmar, then called Burma. … Top US honour for Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Aljazeera.net, Qatar - Myanmar , formerly known as Burma , has been under military rule since the early 1960s. The US-based Campaign for Burma welcomed the award, saying Aung San … US to honour Burma’s Suu Kyi Radio Australia, Australia - The US Senate has unanimously agreed to confer the Congressional Gold Medal on Burma’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, following a similar decision by the … Senate approves top US honor for Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Reuters Canada, Canada - The military government in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, violently suppressed pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September. … Myanmar to allow voters to observe ballot count in constitutional … JURIST - [JURIST] Myanmar voters will be permitted to observe ballot counting in a scheduled May national referendum [JURIST report] on a draft constitution [JURIST … Factory workers pressured to cast multiple “Yes” votes Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway - “They were making the woman cast three ‘Yes’ votes per person – one as a member of the USDA, another as a member of the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare … Cherie Blair urges Bangladesh to release Sheikh Hasina immediately Gulf Times, Qatar - “In Burma (now Myanmar), there is another woman leader of (a) political party who is being detained. And I would not like to think Bangladesh was going … US Congress to confer gold medal on Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Turkish Press, MI - “The Senate today has approved a measure to award our nation’s highest civilian honor to Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s (Myanmar’s) democratic …

Congress honors Myanmar activist The Associated Press - Jeremy Woodrum of the US Campaign for Burma advocacy group said the Myanmar opposition leader appears to be the first recipient of the Congressional Gold …

Anyone not voting ‘Yes’ will be fired from their job AsiaNews.it, Italy - Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In what is the latest round of threats by Myanmar authorities the country’s public servants have been told that if they do not …

Myanmar army raping with impunity, say Karen activists Reuters AlertNet, UK - … by the KWO in the latest issue of Forced Migration Review which is devoted to the massive displacement crisis in Myanmar, also known as Burma. …

European parliament calls for tougher Burma sanctions Radio Australia, Australia - The European parliament has called for an increase in EU sanctions against military-ruled Burma. Parliament members are asking the EU to include in its …

EU Seeking International Arms Embargo on Burma The Epoch Times Ireland, Ireland - (Burma’s ruling junta calls the nation Myanmar.) “The Council would like to encourage the international community to adopt similar measures,” it says. …

Allow Hasina to go abroad for treatment The Daily Star, Bangladesh - “I am aware that Bangladesh borders with Burma, a country which is not known as a supporter of the rule of law. And in Burma, there is a woman leader in a …

Myanmar official says constitutional referendum will be fair The Associated Press - YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Voters will be allowed to watch ballot counting to ensure fairness in a May referendum on Myanmar’s proposed constitution, …

Junta offers Burmese stark choice BBC News, UK - By Michael Pan Burma’s military rulers have finally published a draft constitution – after a 15-year delay. The results have not met with universal approval …

Burmese farmers face flood threat BBC News, UK - This river is the main artery of Karen State in eastern Burma, and an almost completely unspoilt, incredibly biodiverse environment. …