Burma Update: April 9, 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: Thousands Attend Funeral of Ludu Daw Ahmar
Mizzima News: Burmese Rights Activists Remanded without Appearing in Court
Mizzima News: Junta Installs More CCTV Cameras at Rangoon Traffic Points
Narinjara News: 250-Mile Journey Ends
Narinjara News: Ten Bangladeshi Prisoners Handed over at Flag Meeting
Independent Mon News Agency: TPP Authorities Force Families to Relocate without Compensation
Shan Herald Agency for News: Junta Readies Itself for Referendum, for War
Shan Herald Agency for News: Leaders in Exile Blasts Junta Draft Constitution
Kachin News Group: Malaysia Arrests Burmese Refugees Including UN Card Holders
Kaladan Press Network: DPDC Mobilizes People to Cast Yes “Vote” in Maungdaw
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Thai and Chinese Firms Strike Deal on Burmese Oil and Gas Blocks
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Burmese Migrant Workers Seek Precedent in Compensation Claims
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Constitution for Sale
Irrawaddy News Magazine: China, Russia Oppose UN Security Council’s Draft Presidential Statement
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Activists Take “Vote No” Campaign to Countryside
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Thai Foreign Minister Visits Burma
Democratic Voice of Burma: Detained Monks to be Given Lay Identity Cards
Democratic Voice of Burma: Junta Releases Handbook for Referendum Officials
Mizzima News: Junta Sets Referendum Date on May 10
Mizzima News: Rangoon Bank Robbed, One Killed
Independent Mon News Agency: Burmese Military Uses Porters to Carry Injured Soldiers
Independent Mon News Agency: Vote "No" and Wait a Decade for Elections: Referendum Commission


News from Regional/International Media

The Nation: Burma PM to Visit Thailand This Month: Noppadon
Bangkok Post: Myanmar Publishes Text of Military-Backed Proposed Constitution
National Post: U.S. First Lady Pays Tribute to Women of Burma in the Fight to Restore Democracy
Bangkok Post: Padaengto Maintain Strategy


Opinion/Other

Mizzima News: KIO to Abstain from Referendum [Interview] - Solomon
Shan Herald Agency for News: Government and Civil Politics - S. N. Oo
Irrawaddy News Magazine: How can the Constitutional Referendum be Monitored? [Commentary] - Kyaw Zwa Moe
Arab Times: I Had No Idea He Had Died; Death on Yangon Streets - Adrees Latif
Washington Post: She Escaped Strife, but Embraced Those Scarred by It - Nora Boustany
The Japan Times: Contrasting Responses to Crackdowns in Tibet and Burma - Brahma Chellaney