World focus on Burma (6 January 2009)

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Nargis volunteer sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
Mizzima.com, India -
Cyclone Nargis, which struck Burma on May 2-3 of last year, left around 140000 people dead or missing. Previously, Khin Maung Win worked in Malaysia and was …

Pro-junta group announces formation of political parties
Mizzima.com, India -
by Mizzima News New Delhi (Mizzima) – A pro-junta group, the 88 generation students (Union of Myanmar), has said it is all set to contest the upcoming 2010 …

Kachin Manaw festival gets off the ground
Mizzima.com, India -
The first Manaw festival was inaugurated on 10 January 1948 just after Burma got independence from British colonial rule in Sitapu Ward, Myitkyinar. …

The Thinker: ‘Liberty Forum’ Should Replace UN Rights Body
Jakarta Globe, Indonesia -
… against the Human Rights Council is long. From its inaugural meeting in June 2006, the council has condemned North Korea only once and Burma four times, …

Report: UNICEF to Continue Polio Vaccinations in Burma
Voice of America -
By VOA News A report in a weekly Burmese magazine said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) plans to continue its polio vaccination program in Burma …

David Scott Mathieson: The world looks away as Burma mocks democracy
National Post, Canada -
The activists include a brave labour rights representative named Ma Su Su Nyay, who was handed more than 12 years, and Min Ko Naing, the leader of Burma’s …

The Ascension
The National Interest Online, DC -
It has protected the Burmese military regime—one of the world’s most brutal—from effective sanctions by the Security Council. …

The Great Dragon awakens: China is preparing to challenge American …
Center for Research on Globalization, Canada -
The ‘Middle Kingdom’ has successfully attracted Myanmar as an ally. Myanmar (aka Burma) borders the Southern part of the Peoples’ Republic of China and it …

What can Facebook really do?
Third Sector, UK -
It was also a brilliant platform for activists in Burma. One of the hardest things for charities to accept about Facebook is the lack of control over both …

Court allows Boeing to use ‘racist’ US law
The Australian, Australia -
The countries banned by the US Government are Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Burma, China, Liberia, Sudan, Ivory Coast, the Democratic …

NAGA CULTURE: PAST AND PRESENT
MorungExpress, India -
Then in 1954 came the military invasion of our lands by India and Burma. This was not a cultural invasion in the true sense of the word but the “Money …

Myanmar trade surplus shrinks as gas exports fall
The Associated Press -
… economic sanctions against Myanmar to pressure the military government to improve human rights and release detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

People’s Parliament Chairman Saw Mra Aung Dies
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -

Burma’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi sent a flower basket and five monk robes to the family, according to Aye Thar Aung, a close colleague of …

Political Activist Hospitalized
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -

… since been arrested by Burmese security forces. The students’ organization was originally founded by Gen Aung San, father of Aung San Suu Kyi, in 1936. …

NCUB Plans to Form Parallel Government in 2009
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -
The NCGUB was formed by exiled MPs elected in 1990 and is led by Dr Sein Win, the cousin of Burma’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. …

Suu Kyi Issues a New Year Challenge
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand -
News reports from Rangoon suggest that Burma’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi commemorated the country’s Independence Day alone at her house—but …

Hillary Clinton’s Diplomatic Travels as First Lady: Excerpts from …
UNC Chapell Hill -

But, we don’t need F-16s, we need human rights and people like you talking about real issues. What you have done is so important.’ Her eyes just filled up. …

Christian group condemns Burma human rights violations
ChristianToday, UK -
The girl is believed to have been shot and killed by a government soldier in the village of Ma Oo Bin in Karen State, north Burma, on December 27. …

USDA grants loans to farmers
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway -
Many farmers are in financial difficulties this year, particularly in areas affected by Cyclone Nargis, due to low yields and falling crop prices. …

Dick Cheney Voted “Worst President of All Time“
The Spoof (satire), UK -
The Generals running Burma consider him an adviser. Donald Trump often writes to him with questions. When questioned by very brave reporters who dared get …

Women’s group call for investigation into girl’s rape and murder
Mizzima.com, India -
The Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an advocacy group promoting human rights and democracy in Burma, in a statement on Monday condemned the Burmese …

Journals ordered to condemn NLD demonstration
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway -
The activists carried placards calling for the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and were walking towards the Myenigone area when they …

UWSA changes nomenclature of administrative territory
Mizzima.com, India -
According to observers who are closely watching the situation, UWSA has already informed the change of nomenclature to the Burmese military junta. …

Topics in this story:
Mission Network NEws (press release), Grand Rapids -

Myanmar (MNN) ― The bamboo growth cycle in Southeast Asia has hit the flowering stage, and with it comes a plague of destruction. Daniel Punnose (p’nohs) …

Karen Girl Raped and Killed by Burma Army Soldier
BosNewsLife, Hungary -

… underscored that “Rape is systematic and widespread, used as a weapon of war by the Burma Army throughout the country,” which is also known as Myanmar. …

Red Cross chapter hopes to meet more need despite fewer dollars
ENC Today, NC -
Hardy said outreach done for new Burmese refugees to this area was a highlight for 2008. The Red Cross staff and volunteers crossed language and custom …

GET UP, STAND UP: COUNCIL RANKED ON HUMAN RIGHTS
CityLimits.org -
The council has also considered resolutions and bills dealing with human rights in Burma, Bangladesh, Colombia, Iran, Israel and elsewhere. …

Famine in Myanmar By RATS
Christian Web News, KY -
… plant’s natural growing cycle has caused parts of the region to be overrun with rats, which has caused a famine in the small country of Myanmar (Burma). …

UN Assembly Isn’t Right Forum
KanglaOnline, India -
Of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Myanmar (Burma) is also a member, four members,  Brunei Darussalam, …

State Firing of Vietnamese Editors Latest Sign of Shrinking Press in SouthEast Asia
findingDulcinea, New York -
In nearby Burma, where media and access to the Internet are severely restricted, the military government recently released a list of rules that editors must …

‘Myanmar Thit’ magazine’s new cover design yet to be cleared by …
Mizzima.com, India -
U Win Tin and U Khin Maung Swe are two veteran politicians and executive committee members of Burma’s main opposition party – National League for Democracy …

Disaster-heavy 2008 raises pressure for climate pact, insurance
Reuters AlertNet, UK -

Cyclone Nargis survivors sit outside their shelter in Mawlamyinegyun, Myanmar, June 2008.
IFRC/John Sparrow

More than 220000 people died as a result of natural catastrophes – including around 135000 after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in May (this figure includes …

Laura Bush inks deal with Scribner to publish White House memoir
guardian.co.uk, UK -

Some of her strongest statements have been on humanitarian issues, such as the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma. She plans to settle in Dallas, Texas, …

Philanthropy Needs Human Rights
Forbes, NY -
Yet the fixation on basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter and medical care is shortsighted in regions where human rights are violated. …

Ethnic veteran political leader Saw Mara Aung dies
Mizzima.com, India -
Dr. Saw Mara Aung (92), chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) passed away at about 7 pm (local time), Nyan Win, spokesperson of Burma’s main …

Private tutor stages solo protest
Mizzima.com, India -
He distributed ‘NO’ campaign posters of the NLD by wearing a T-shirt with ‘NO’ letters. After indulging in these anti-government activities, …

Faith constant from Burma to Aotearoa
Auckland stuff.co.nz, New Zealand -
… 06 January 2009 He has old-fashioned British politeness and his accent shows a hint of his homeland Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. …

What Bizarre Events Will 2009 Bring?
Jakarta Globe, Indonesia -
It was part of the International Olympic Committee’s bringing-democracy-to-developing-nations agenda that worked so well in Beijing in 2008. Burma’s junta …

Insurance giant warns of rising natural disaster risk
Business Green, UK -
Overall losses from natural disasters soared to $200bn from $82bn last year, the company said in a statement last week. Insured losses in 2008 were $45bn, …

Taunggok NLD chair’s jail term extended by 15 years
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway -
Jan 5, 2009 (DVB)–Burmese authorities last month extended the sentence of Taunggok township National League for Democracy chairman Min Aung, …