World Focus on Burma (15 March 08)

FM Noppadon leaves to visit UK, US Thai News Agency MCOT, Thailand – … US and meet his American counterpart, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to discuss various subjects, including the political situation in Myanmar. …

 

Posted By John Radojkovic Owen Sound Sun Times, Canada – Burma, which shares Thailand’s long western border, is also known as Myanmar, although the name is not recognized by most western countries. …

 

Pinheiro: No Visit to Myanmar The Associated Press – GENEVA (AP) — The UN human rights investigator on Myanmar said Saturday he will not visit the Asian country before the end of his mandate. …

 

Weekly Business Roundup (March 15, 2008) The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand – Analysts say this is a curious response given the fact that Thailand is Burma’s biggest gas customer. “The junta’s Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise sells …

 

Don’t Bet on the Burmese Regime The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand – Most Burma observers were surprised when the country’s state-run media announced the junta’s plans to hold a referendum. They immediately wondered why the …

 

FM Noppadon says Thailand not spokesman for Myanmar Thai News Agency MCOT, Thailand – … composition several times but democracy has not been allowed back. In 1988 the junta changed the name of the country from Burma to Myanmar. (TNA)-E111.

 

Burmese situation is close to home Winston-Salem Journal, NC – The situation in Burma, now officially known as Myanmar, is so complex and compelling that I wonder if there is a solution at all. …

 

Thai-Burma pact Bangkok Post, Thailand – Thailand is already one of Myanmar’s largest investors and trading partners, with Thai state-owned energy firms being the largest buyers of natural gas from …

Should you go? Ottawa Citizen, Canada – This question was asked of us by a venerable Buddhist monk from the Jumping Cat Monastery at Inle Lake, Burma (also known now as Myanmar). …

 

Burma gets choice between Coke, Pepsi Bangkok Post, Thailand – Burma‘s military leaders are masters of psychological warfare. And you can tell they’re pretty proud of their accomplishments in this area. …

 

UN scorn for Burma’s ‘democratic’ reforms Scotsman, United Kingdom – “If you believe in gnomes, trolls and elves, you can believe in this democratic process in Myanmar (Burma],” Mr Pinheiro told a news briefing at the UN’s …

 

Singapore says “immense patience” needed in dealing with Myanmar Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan – dpa )- Authorities in Myanmar missed an opportunity to engage UN special envoy Ibraham Gambari more substantially, but his visit last week was not a failure …

 

Don’t blame the underdog UN envoy Gambari! Asian Tribune, Thailand – By Nehginpao Kipgen A seasoned Nigerian diplomat, who is tasked a mission to the Union of Burma as the UN special envoy, wrapped up his latest visit on …

 

Human Rights Council considers reports of Special Rapporteurs on … ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland – Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said that the first “annual” report in his address was built on …

 

UN rights expert says no Myanmar visa after all AFP – GENEVA (AFP) — The UN human rights expert on Myanmar said Friday that he had not been issued a promised visa to visit the country on a fact-finding mission. …

 

Myanmar opposition group urges citizens to vote down draft … JURIST – [JURIST] Myanmar opposition group 88 Generation Students [Asia Times backgrounder] urged Burmese voters Friday to reject the country’s new draft …

 

UN Human Rights Expert Mocks Burma’s Commitment to Democracy HULIQ, NC – The United Nations human rights expert on Burma says the Burmese government’s repressive actions do not reflect its pledge to make democratic reforms. …

 

Tales of exile and heartbreak The Daily Star, Bangladesh – The end of the book is rushed, dealing with Burma‘s recent history. The comments on the tragic current situation in Myanmar/Burma do not quite connect to …

 

UN rights envoy sees ‘elfin’ democracy in Myanmar Reuters – Pinheiro told that briefing he had been granted a visa for the former Burma after two months delay, calling the development auspicious. …

 

Myanmar denies visa to rights expert PRESS TV, Iran – The UN human rights expert on Myanmar says that he had not been issued a promised visa to visit the country on a fact-finding mission. …

 

Junta slams UN special rapporteur’s report Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway – Pinheiro, the UN’s special expert on human rights in Burma, presented his report to the Human Rights Council yesterday and claimed that the human rights and …

 

UN Human Rights Expert Granted Access to Burma Voice of America – By VOA News The United Nations human rights expert on Burma says the Burmese military government has unexpectedly granted him access to the country. …

 

Myanmar rejects UN criticism Aljazeera.net, Qatar – Myanmar ‘s military government has rejected a United Nations report highlighting the continued arrest and detention of political activists, journalists and …