Burma Update: Feburary 11, 2008

Highlight

Burma Partnership Weekly Briefer: Burma in First Week of February

"... It is February and the UN Security Council discussions on children in armed conflict will take place on 12th of this month. Just late last year, the military regime in Burma had promised the UN to take action on child soldier issue. Nonetheless, the regime has failed in every effort to stop new recruitment of child soldiers and the UNESCO has labeled Burma as 'the child soldier capital of the world'...."


News from Burmese Media

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Shan Activists Call for Release of Political Prisoners
Irrawaddy News Magazine: USDA to Organize Referendum, Election
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Leading Dissident Groups Call For Rejection of Junta Charter
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Burmese Exile Leader Calls for Referendum Boycott
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Heroes Never Die.... They Just Download
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Regime to Hold New Gems Show
Democratic Voice of Burma: Burmese Government Promises Elections in 2010
Democratic Voice of Burma: Forestry Officials Take Land without Compensating Owners
Democratic Voice of Burma: Karen Refugee Camps Warned of Attack Rumours
Democratic Voice of Burma: USDA Member Found Beheaded
Narinjara News: Sittwe Residents Forced to Welcome Monk
Narinjara News: Soldier Kills Soldier
Narinjara News: Political Prisoner Moved to Secret Location
Kaladan Press Network: Arbitrary Arrest for Extortion in Maungdaw
Kachin News Group: Burmese Military Start Gold Mining Operations in Upper Putao
New Light of Myanmar: Announcement Nos 1/2008 and 2/2008: National Referendum to be Held in May 2008 and the Multi-Party Democracy General Elections will be Held in 2010


News from Global Media

Bangkok Post: Suu Kyi Freedom Vow
Bangkok Post: All-Burma Resistance: 'Never Happen'
Vietnam News Agency: China to Build Railways Linking ASEAN Countries
Monsters and Critics: Thai-Myanmar Hydropower Projects on Hold
Xinhua Online: Myanmar NUP Party Welcomes Referendum, Election Time Table Announcement
The Straits Times: Boat Accident Kills 10 Buddhist Pilgrims in Myanmar
Reuters: Myanmar Dissidents Prepare Underground Revolt
The Straits Times: S'pore Arrests Six Migrants at Sea, Believed from Myanmar
Bangkok Post: Critics, Public Remain Sceptical


Opinion/Other

Irrawaddy News Magazine: One-Sided Change is not Enough
Asia Times: Gaps in Myanmar's Democratic Timetable - Larry Jagan
Telegraph: A Rare Meeting with the Last of Burma's Royals - Graeme Jenkins
Shan Herald Agency for News: Time for Junta to be Serious - Sai Wansai
Mizzima News: The Saffron Revolution; A Catalyst for Freedom [Commentary] - May Ng


Statement/Press Release

Shan Women's Action Network: Concerns Over Imprisoned Shan Leader's Health Prompt Worldwide