Burma Update: October 17, 2008

Highlight

The report entitled "Post-Nargis Analysis: The Other Side of the Story" stresses that the description in the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report, prepared by the UN, ASEAN and Burma's military regime, distorts the nature of the response by the military regime. Furthermore, the report claims that the PONJA report omits reference to cases of human rights abuses, intimidation, and corruption that have occurred in the cyclone-hit region ... Download »»»

News from Burmese Media

• Mizzima News: Tourist arrival in Burma drops by over 33,000
  
• The Irrawaddy: Woman Activist Jailed in Rangoon
• Democratic Voice of Burma: Consumers reject Chinese milk products
• Mizzima News: India, Burma agree to expand border trade
• Narinjara News: High Officials Visit Western Border
• Kaladan Press Network: Human trafficker arrested and released
• Narinjara News: Army Loots Fuel and Fish from Arakanese Boats
• Democratic Voice of Burma: Military officer injures two youths in Bago
• Kaladan Press Network: Boat carrying timber missing in Bay of Bengal
• Democratic Voice of Burma: Kachin village chair beaten by troops
• The Irrawaddy: Former Youth Members Urge NLD to Prepare for 2010
• Kachin News Group: Junta starts to clear confiscated Christian cemetery
  

News from Regional/International Media

• AP: Somali pirates free 22 sailors seized in September
• The Straits Times: Myanmar PM to visit China
• Bangkok Post: Thai gamblers head to safer Burma casinos
• AFP: Aid groups blast ASEAN-led report on Myanmar relief effort
• Xinhua Online: One more Chinese coach to train Myanmar Wushu team
  

Opinion/Other

• The Irrawaddy: A House Divided [Commentary] - Kyaw Zwa Moe
• The Irrawaddy: Consumer Safety Ranks Low among Regime’s Concerns [Commentary] - Yeni
• UPI Asia Online: Aid cut as crops fail in Irrawaddy delta - Awzar Thi
• Monsters and Critics: German vintner brings touch of Moselle to Myanmar - Kristina Rich
• The Guardian: Burma's misery - Thaung Htun
  

Report/Briefer

• The Irrawaddy: Weekly Business Roundup (October 17, 2008) - William Boot
  
  • India Seeks Greater Cross-border Trade with Junta
  • Tougher Tests in US to Keep Out Burmese Rubies
  • Nargis Puts Pressure on Arakan to Deliver More Export Fish

Cartoon

The Irrawaddy: The NLD Dissenter — Where Else To Go? - Harn Lay