Highlight
Burma Partnership Weekly Briefer: Burma in 3rd Week of April
"Third week’s news had significantly slowed down since it is Buddhist New Year time for both in Burma and Thailand. Nonetheless, the military regime in Burma had not slowed down the arrest of activists who dared to challenge the May referendum. More than twenty activists in Sittwe, Arakan State had been detained for protesting against the referendum by walking peacefully through the city. The protesters were wearing T-shirt printed with “NO”... "
Burma Partnership Weekly Briefer: Burma in 2nd Week of April
"We are shocked and saddened to learn the death of 54 migrant workers out of 121 from Burma suffocated to death in a cold storage container with broken ventilation system while being smuggled to Phuket Island, Thailand to work as day laborers. Before reaching 3 hour long journey to Phuket from Ranong, 37 women and 17 men were suffocated to death in the stifling box on the way. Remaining 57 are still treated in a hospital in Phuket and some are in serious condition. Later, they will be deported back to Burma by Thai authorities. Many people from Burma try to make way to Thailand for their living to escape total collapse of Burma’s economy mismanaged by the power-clinging military regime. Our hearts and minds are with the deaths and survivors of this tragedy and the families back home... "
Burma Partnership Weekly Briefer: Burma in 1st Week of April
"Time to the referendum is getting close but we cannot even have a ‘count down’ since the regime has not announced the date until now. Nonetheless, what has become clearer is that the generals in Burma are not asking people to vote but they are in fact asking everyone eligible to vote YES to approve their drafted constitution. In all corners of the country, people are asked to register for the referendum and are ‘urged’ to vote for it, not against it... "
News from Burmese Media
Mizzima News: Two Bombs Blast in Rangoon
Narinjara News: Burmese Soldier Stabbed During Water Festival
Narinjara News: Deputy Home Minister Visits Western Border for Referendum
Shan Herald Agency for News: Junta Says No Democracy without Support for Draft Charter
Shan Herald Agency for News: Wa Christians Mark Centennial
Kaladan Press Network: ID Cards for Referendum Issued in Arakan State
Kaowao News Group: Families of Suffocation Victims Face Inquiry
Kaowao News Group: Three Villagers Wounded in Guerilla Attack
Kaowao News Group: Songkran Graffiti Campaign Continues through Mon State
Khonumthung News: Thura Aung Ko Campaigns for Referendum in Western Burma
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Voting begins at Burmese Embassies
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Burmese Detainees Riot, Set Fire at Malaysian Camp
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Burma Army Offensive Drives Villagers into Hiding
News from Regional/International Media
Bangkok Post: Sixth Suspect in Trafficking Case Gives Up
ABS-CBN: Deaths of Myanmar Workers Highlight Migrant Labor Problems
New York Daily News: Crocodile Feasts on Illegal Logger
Radio Australia: Burma's Vote Campaign Gets Underway
The Daily Star: Officials Visit Myanmar Next Month to See Contract Farming Prospects
Opinion/Other
The Nation: Upcoming Political Uncertainties Hover over Burma - Kavi Chongkittavorn
Bangkok Post: A Uniting of World Rogues [Editorial]
Boston: From Boston to Burma, with Vision [Perspective] - Dr. Bil Ragan
Interview
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Turning Over a New Maple Leaf
Journal
Mizzima News: Mizzima Monthly Journal, April 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment