Burma Update: Feburary 16, 2008

Highlight

Burma Partnership: The Burma Partnership Calls on ASEAN and the International Community to Reject the Military Regime’s Referendum on a New Constitution [Statement]

"On February 9 2008, the military regime in Burma announced that it would hold a National Referendum on a new constitution in May this year to be followed by the multi-party general elections in 2010. The Burma Partnership calls on ASEAN and the international community to reject the National Referendum on a draft constitution which legitimizes the current rule of the military junta..."


News from Burmese Media

Irrawaddy News Magazine: KNU: More Leaders Targeted for Assassination
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Rangoon Zoo Animals Relocating to Naypyidaw
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Ban Ki-moon Briefs Bush on Burma
Kachin News Group: Kachin Student Activist Confined in KIO Headquarters


News from Global Media

The Earth Times: Russian Firm Wins Gold Exploration Concession in Myanmar
The Straits Times: Myanmar Warns of Rebel Attacks after Leader's Slaying
Asahi Shimbun: Tokyo: Burmese Account for 85% of Refugees
BBC Burmese: UN Evoy Says Burma Referendum is Potentially Positive
UN News Centre: In Washington, Ban Ki-moon Urges Support for Global Development Goals


Opinion/Other

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Don't Push NLD into a Corner [News Analysis] - Min Zin
Shan Herald Agency for News: Small School, Big Heart - Lieng Lern
Bangkok Post: The Trouble With Number 8 [Focus] - Aung Zaw
The Mirror: Burma's Brutal, Turbulent History - Damien Fletcher
The Mirror: Inside the Land of Fear - Stephen Moyes
News Week: The Art of Defiance - Jacob Baynham


Report/Briefer

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Weekly Burmese Roundup - William Boot

- Burma Uses Singapore Banks to Dodge Sanctions
- Money Laundering Warning Issued on Tay Za
- Thai Govt Moving Forward on Burma Hydro Dams
- Gold Prospectors Probe Deeper into Kachin

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Integrated Regional Information Networks: THAILAND: The Mechanics of Resettling Burmese Refugees [Report]

Free Burma Rangers: Villager Shot and Killed as Burma Army Completes Rotation of Troops [Report]


Special Feature

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Ma-Kyay-Nat Taung: The Mountain of Vengeance [Beyond 1988—Reflections VI] - Aung Naing Oo

"1988: The mountainous trek to the “liberated area” near the Thai border took us three days. Born and raised in the plains—in “white areas” where no rebels operated, we were exhausted from the unaccustomed trekking on mountain trails. Along the way, we saw unfamiliar scenery, people and traces of conflict. None however was more memorable than our encounter with Major Gaba Sein..."