World focus on Burma (26 October 2008)

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Asia likes McCain’s free trade, Obama’s diplomacy
Economic Times, India -
… Bush and wife Laura were staunch supporters of the pro-democracy struggle led by Aung San Suu Kyi in military-run Myanmar, still called Burma by some. …

Security relaxed at Suu Kyi’s home
The Age, Australia -
Authorities in military-run Burma removed barbed wire barriers and reduced security around the Rangoon home of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, …

Chevron faces suit over Nigerian violence
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA -
A victory in this case, he said, would send a message to corporations operating abroad that “if they are complicit in human rights abuses, they can expect …

New calls for Burma to release detained opposition members
Radio Australia, Australia -
Asian and European leaders have urged Burma’s junta to release detained opposition members and implement democracy in the poverty-stricken Southeast Asian …

Asian favourite
Bangkok Post, Thailand -
“Both Republican and Democrat agree on strong US policy on Burma, which include imposing strong economic sanctions against the junta; increasing strong …

European Award Shows World Esteem for Chinese Dissident
NewsBlaze, CA -
Previous winners of the Sakharov Prize include Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, former South African leader Nelson Mandela and former UN …

EU urged to support Burma
Bangkok Post, Thailand -
“I welcome the increased emphasis of the EU on extending help to the people of Myanmar in the areas of humanitarian assistance, public health, …

HIV on rise among self-injecting drug users
Windsor Star,  Canada -

… among these kind of users topped 40 percent in nine nations: Estonia, Ukraine, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Argentina, Brazil and Kenya. …

A call for a non-violent defence to help humanity
Borglobe, Sudan -
The European Parliament, by a vote of 533-63, has approved a report assessing the state of Human Rights in the World in 2007, asking for a continued …

Asia, Europe join calls for freedom in Myanmar
AFP -

BEIJING (AFP) — Asian and European leaders urged Myanmar’s ruling junta on Saturday to release detained opposition members and implement democracy in the …

World Focus on Burma (13 Feb 08)

Buddhist monks begin praying for world peace
Malaysia Sun, Malaysia -
Organised by the Mahabodhi Society of India, the over weeklong festival is being attended by several Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, …

Sylvester Stallone: Filming ‘Rambo’ made ‘Rocky Balboa’ seem like … The Cheers, Estonia - ‘Rambo’ sees the war hero take a group of mercenaries up into Myanmar via the Salween River in search of missing Christian aid workers.

 

Independent judiciary essence of democracy says Miliband Associated Press of Pakistan, Pakistan - Speaking about the recent events in Burma where the Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under detention, he said the country’s Junta has been unable …

 

Myanmar authorities extend detention of deputy opposition leader Philippine Star, Philippines - YANGON (AP) – Myanmar‘s military government on Wednesday extended by another year the house arrest of the deputy leader of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, …

 

SECURITY COUNCIL STRESSES NEED FOR BROAD CONFLICT PREVENTION … PressZoom (press release), Netherlands - He would welcome further details on progress made in the development and implementation of the action plans of parties within Burma. He urged the Myanmar …

 

Myanmar gives top dissident another year in jail Reuters UK, UK - Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won an election landslide in 1990, only to be denied power by the former Burma’s ruling military. …

 

Suu Kyi’s deputy will remain confined Independent Online, South Africa - Yangon – Myanmar‘s military rulers extended the house arrest of Tin Oo, the deputy to detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, an official said on …

 

Bulgaria Imposes Restrictions against Myanmar Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria - Bulgaria: The Bulgarian government decided to impose restrictive measures against Myanmar (formerly called Burma) at its session on Wednesday by approving a …

 

Burma’s Referendum Ambush The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand - … the people of Myanmar.” Understandably, the opposition in exile and activists in Burma rejected the announcement and called for a referendum boycott. …

Four Rewarded for Burmese Community Work
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -
By VIOLET CHO Alliance Myanmar, a Burmese branch of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, has presented leadership awards to four Burmese social activists, …

Burma’s junta lies about its farcical reforms because it can
Vancouver Sun,  Canada -
One positive thing that can be said about Burma‘s military regime is that its generals don’t bury their lies in the small print. When they feel the need to …

The West’s Long Tradition of Exalting Non-Western Cultures Pajamas Media, CA - This — though you’ve probably never heard of it — seems the best-regarded book ever written on the people and society of Burma. You may know it as Myanmar. …

 

Thai PTTEP in deal with CNOOC in Myanmar Reuters - With its deal, the Thai firm is ignoring Western calls for a boycott of the former Burma after its crackdown on pro-democracy protests last September. …

 

A whole latte help St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, Australia - The night will support the Burma Capital Works Project, which aims to develop and sustain communities in Myanmar by providing shelter, education and medical …

 

Burma Expected to Export 400000 Tons of Rice to Bangladesh Narinjara News, Bangladesh - The Commerce Ministry of Myanmar has informed the Bangladesh embassy in Rangoon that Burma has about 400000 tons of rice available for export at the private …

 

Battle Against Counterfeit Drugs Has New Weapon: Pollen New York Times, United States - … analysis of pollen — investigators traced some of the fake drugs to southern China, close to the border with Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, formerly Burma. …

 

Free elections pave way for democracy: Miliband Pakistan Dawn, Pakistan - The people of Burma show that the hope for a life lived at liberty extends to all people in all parts of the world.” “It is fitting, therefore, …

 

Spielberg quits Olympics role over Darfur South China Morning Post (subscription), Hong Kong - Mass rape has been a weapon of warfare in Darfur and in Myanmar, the former Burma, another Chinese-backed regime. “In Darfur and in the case of Burma, …

 

Burma Junta Deserves A Universal Arms-Embargo Scoop.co.nz, New Zealand - The Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Trend Indicator Value (TIV) of arms importers to Myanmar (Burma) in 2005-2006 were …

Britain calls for Myanmar leader Suu Kyi’s immediate release
Times of India, India -
“Second, the UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari should be allowed to return immediately to Burma to help facilitate the process. …

Sanctions on Child Soldier Recruiters Debated at UN, Some Accused … Inner City Press, NY - The United Kingdom honed in on Myanmar, which it still calls Burma. But Myanmar responded that the report is one-sided, and that there is information the …

 

PTTEP links up with Chinese firm Bangkok Post, Thailand - The two state-run oil companies are now exploring in the offshore fields of the Gulf of Martaban off Burma. PTTEP runs the M3 and M4 fields while CNOOC has …BAK:PTTEP

 

Rambo Returns to Kill More Asians Asian Week, CA - If this really were a film with an agenda to illuminate the situation in Myanmar, oops, I mean Burma, it should’ve been about Rambo fighting alongside and …

 

Scientists trace fake anti-malaria pills to dealer in southern China Independent, UK - Chinese authorities seized 24000 of the blisterpacks but the remainder are thought to have been sold on the border between Yunnan province and Burma. …

 

 

China pressurised over Darfur News24.com, South Africa - Mass rape has been a weapon of warfare in Darfur and in Myanmar, formerly Burma, another Chinese-backed regime. “In Darfur and in the case of Burma, …

 

Mankind Pharma to expand footprint globally Hindu, India - … plans to kick-start its operations abroad during the current calendar year by establishing marketing offices in neighbouring Nepal and Myanmar (Burma). …

 

Speech in full Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - The people of Burma show that the hope for a life lived at liberty extends to all people in all parts of the world. It is fitting, therefore, that I should …

 

Rambo: A Bloody Unbelievable Adventure kjrh.com, OK - On the nearby Thai-Burma (Myanmar) border, the world’s longest-running civil war, the Burmese-Karen conflict, rages into its 60th year. …

UN: Security Council Should Act Against Child Recruiters
Reuters AlertNet, UK -
… and the Mai Mai (Democratic Republic of Congo); the Myanmar national army (Tatmadaw Kyi) (Burma/Myanmar); Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (Nepal); …

Myanmar ruler in ‘democracy’ call MWC News, Canada - The underground All Burma Monks Alliance, which played a role in last September’s pro-democracy protests, also rejected the charter and vowed to “keep on …

NLD reiterates call for tripartite dialogue
Mizzima.com, India -
The call came in a statement issued after the main opposition party NLD observed the 61st anniversary of Burma‘s Union Day at its headquarters in Bahan, …