Burma Update: February 27, 2008

News from Burmese Media

Democratic Voice of Burma: Tachilek Students Asked to Pay to Pass Exams
Mizzima News: Law Puts to Rest Question of Referendum's Fairness
Narinjara News: Authority Collects Family Lists for Referendum
Narinjara News: Sittwe Villagers Forced to Welcome Battalion
Independent Mon News Agency: Thai police Arrest Killers of Four Burmese Migrant Workers
Kaladan Press Network: Akyab Becomes Main Port for Rravel to Malaysia
Kaladan Press Network: Two Human Traffickers Arrested, 4 Burmese Girls Rescued by Rab
Shan Herald Agency for News: Fire Razes 13 Houses, Kills One
Shan Herald Agency for News: Four PaO Groups Join Up
Shan Herald Agency for News: Junta to Open Power Plant with Gambling Revenue
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Junta Charges 88 Generation Students
Irrawaddy News Magazine: ILO Extends “Understanding” with Burmese Regime
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Junta Announces Law on Constitutional Referendum
Khonumthung News: Chin Relief Group to Help Drought Victims in Western Burma



News from Global Media

Bangkok Post: Burmese Hunt Mekong River Gang
Al Jazeera: Myanmar Continues Charter Rollout
IOL: Indonesia Calls for Suu Kyi Participation
The Earth Times: Steinmeier Calls for Release of Myanmar's Political Prisoners
Xinhua Online: Myanmar referendum law allows free voting, open counting of votes
The Straits Times: US blacklists three over ties to Yangon junta
Top News: India, Myanmar to Go Ahead with Multi-Modal Transit Transport Facility Soon



Opinion/Other

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Beyond the ‘Oneness’ of Ethnicity - Maw Thu Meh and Sai Soe Win Latt
Irrawaddy News Magazine: China’s Stand on Burma and Darfur Spurs Boycott Call [News Analysis] - Wai Moe
Bangkok Post: A 'final courtesy call' on the junta [Analysis] - Larry Jagan
Bangkok Post: Karen leader's death needs digging into - Tada Pattanasajja
Asia Times: Look who's digging for gold in Myanmar - John Helmer
The Washington Post: Levers of Change in Burma - David Steinberg



Fun

Irrawaddy News Magazine: A Watery Tale - Kay Latt

"The barber joins in: “I wonder how they use the Internet up there. At least they can use it with a generator.”

U Toke Kyee explains in an irritated tone: “You don’t need a generator. If you can pay with water, the electricity will come. You must know that water means money in Burmese slang. Water can also extinguish fire. But I don’t mean real water. You may understand that.”

Ko Paing agrees with him. “That’s right, the firemen couldn’t put out the blaze. They said they were waiting for water.” ...