Burma Update: April 28, 2008

Highlight

Burma Partnership Weekly Briefer: Burma in Last Week of April

"Dear Friends,

Alert! We received information from inside Burma that some monks and students gathered at the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in the morning of 26/4/08 and a group of 100 people also protested in Tamwe Bazaar in Rangoon in the morning. Yesterday on April 27, some people gathered in Botataung and Moegaung Pagodas in Rangoon. Security people were seen posted in the areas and people dispersed in the evening. There were also reports of monks being asked to get out of buses and return to their monasteries and some security forces were taking post at some monasteries that barred monks from leaving the compounds... "


News from Burmese Media

Mizzima News: Burmese Embassy in Singapore Extends Polling Fays
Mizzima News: Burmese Passport Forger on the Run
Mizzima News: Forced Advance 'Yes' Voting in Bhamo
Narinjara News: Two Years for "No" Votes
Narinjara News: Army Stops Toll Collection in Western Burma
Kaladan Press Network: Anti-Referendum Paper Distributed in Arakan
Kaladan Press Network: Burmese Army Deployed on Burma-Bangladesh Border
Kaladan Press Network: Deputy Home Minister Orders Release of Arrested MMC Members
Khonumthung News: Some Allowed to Vote in Advance Due to Emergencies
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Suu Kyi’s Party Launches Vote ‘No’ Tour
Irrawaddy News Magazine: UNSC Deadlocked on Burma
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Burma’s PM to Visit Thailand this Week
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Overseas Burmese Protest Constitution
Democratic Voice of Burma: “Vote No” Campaign Continues Across Burma
Democratic Voice of Burma: Government Workers Forced to Vote “Yes”
Mizzima News: Villagers Paint Cross Signs on Walls, Reject Constitution
Mizzima News: Junta Likely to Control Internet Connection Sector-Wise


News from Regional/International Media

Bangkok Post: Burma Bars Anti-Constitution Group from Voting
The Straits Times: Thailand Hopes Myanmar Referendum is 'Credible'
Channel News Asia: Myanmar Nationals Determined to Vote in Referendum
The Japan Times: Myanmar Residents Rally Again outside Embassy for Right to Vote
The Sydney Morning Herald: 'No' Vote Not On as Junta Prepares for Referendum


Multimedia

Irrawaddy News Magazine: 'Vote No' Demonstrations in World Capitals


Opinion/Other

Democratic Voice of Burma: Can Thailand Face Up to Its Responsibility? [Commentary] - Htet Aung Kyaw
Democratic Voice of Burma: Challenging the Bulletocracy [Commentary] - Naing Ko Ko


Statement/Press Release

PRWeb: New Documentary Exposes Brutal Military Campaign Against Karen People in Burma
International Burmese Monks Organization (Australia): IBMO-Australia Condemn Burmese Undemocratic Referendum


Report/Briefer

Network Myanmar: Salient Points of the Draft Constitution to be Presented to Voters in a Referendum on 10 May 2008 - A brief summary of the main elements in the draft Constitution published in the "New Light of Myanmar" on 28 April 2008. There is however no sign yet of an official English translation of the complete draft.

Shan Herald Agency for News: SHRF Monthly Report - April 2008