Burma Update: April 10, 2008

Highlight

Nigeria: My Mission to Myanmar Has Not Failed - Gambari [Interview by Emmanuel Bello]

" ... So we have to de-criminalised contrary views to the constitution. You have to allow Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners to participate. You have to release them. It is our believe that if people are not allowed access to the media, it would harm the credibility, because provisions of the constitution are not comfortable with many. For instance, the president can appoint the Chief of Army but cannot sack him. And that some 25% percentage of seats in the parliament are reserved for the military. Some ministers such as Defence, Home Affairs External Affairs and others, they would be nominated for the president to appoint. So these issues should be debated before people can either say yes or no. We then said that we will offer technical assistance to them, because UN offers technical assistance to member states. In the last two years, 57 countries requested technical assistance to conduct elections and we obliged... "



News from Burmese Media

Mizzima News: New Group Emerges for Mass Movement
Mizzima News: Fifty Four Burmese Migrants Die in Failed Refrigerated Container
Shan Herald Agency for News: Border Town Chieftain Shot Dead
Shan Herald Agency for News: No Way for Voters in Tachilek to "Express His Wish Secretly"
Kachin News Group: Junta Explains Voting System in Myitkyina
New Light of Myanmar: Commission for Holding Referendum Organizes Meeting No 6/2008
New Light of Myanmar: Referendum to be Held on 10 May
Irrawaddy News Magazine: NLD Wants International Observers at May 10 Referendum
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Irrawaddy Division Surveyed about Referendum
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Security Council Presidential Statement on Burma ‘Not Easy’
Democratic Voice of Burma: Malaysia Continues Crackdown on Burmese Migrants
Democratic Voice of Burma: Electricity Shortages in Rangoon and Magwe
Democratic Voice of Burma: NLD Slams Late Release of Draft Constitution
Mizzima News: Junta Gives Little Time to Comprehend Draft Constitution: Opposition



News from Regional/International Media

The Earth Times: Death of 54 Myanmar Labourers Prompts Thai Crackdown - Summary
Vietnam News Agency: Thailand, China Coordinate Gas Deal in Myanmar
Xinhua Online: Myanmar Launches Official Campaign for Constitutional Referendum
The Straits Times: US Envoy to ASEAN Vows to Push for Reforms in Myanmar
ABS-CBN: Myanmar Warns Embassies against Aiding Suu Kyi's Party



Opinion/Other

The Wall Street Journal: Burmese Squeeze - Tarun Khana