Thursday 21 February 2008

News for today 21 February 2008

News Summary here. Please follow the links to the respective agencies. Thanks.

UN envoy to Myanmar to hold talks in Indonesia

The UN envoy for Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, is to meet with Indonesia's president and foreign minister from Thursday to discuss the military-ruled regime, his spokeswoman said. Full Report

Myanmar agrees to UN envoy visit in early March, Indonesian minister says

Myanmar will allow UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to visit the country in early March, Indonesia's foreign minister said Thursday. Full Report

Blacklisted Air Bagan overshoots runway in Myanmar

An aircraft belong to Air Bagan, an airline blacklisted under US sanctions, overshot the runway by 100 metres in Myanmar's northernmost airport of Putao this week, injuring two people, state media reported Thursday. Full Report

Myanmar must re-work constitution, says US

The United States yesterday called Myanmar's proposed constitution a failure over a ban on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi running for office and urged the ruling junta to "start from scratch." Full Report

Burma: Rice distribution means children can attend school

The World Food Program (WFP) distributed rice to primary students, both boys and girls to support their study in Maungdaw Township on February 15, said a local villager. Full Report

Stop buying Lonely Planet books until BBC withdraws Burma edition

People are being urged to stop buying the Lonely Planet guidebooks until BBC Worldwide - the current owner of the travel series - withdraws its guide to Burma. The call comes today (Thursday) as the TUC, Tourism Concern, Burma Campaign UK and the New Internationalist launch an online petition calling on the immediate withdrawal of the Burma edition. Full Report

Canadian Friends of Burma condemn the murder of Karen leader - OPINION

Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) joins members of the Burma democracy movement around the world in condemning the murder of Pado Mahn Sha, general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU). The KNU is Burma's oldest ethnic opposition group and represents Burma's largest ethnic minority, the Karen. Full Report

DKBA Members Kill Mahn Sha: Karen Sources

Sources close to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army have confirmed that members of the Karen splinter group were behind last week’s killing of Karen leader Mahn Sha. Full Report

Gambari’s Mission is Dead in the Water

Although UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari hopes to return to Burma in April, his mission is all but over. Full Report

Ethnic Chins Celebrate Chin National Day

Despite decades of oppression, Chin people gather on February 20 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Chin National Day. Full Report

Pro-Democracy Groups Criticize Junta Constitution Plan

Pro-democracy groups have criticized the Burmese junta’s announcement that a draft of the nation’s new constitution had been completed and approved for a national referendum in May. Full Report

Burmese Exiles to Petition Congress on Chevron


The Burmese exiled community in the United States is collecting signatures on a petition urging the US Congress to pass legislation asking the multinational company Chevron to end its investment in Burma. Full Report

Singapore FM: Suu Kyi to be Barred from Voting in 2010

Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not be allowed to take part in elections proposed by the junta in 2010 because she had been married to a foreigner. Full Report

Chin people will oppose referendum with all its might


On a historic day today, when the Chin people observe the 60th Chin National Day, they vowed they would oppose the referendum by the Burmese military junta in May this year. Full Report

No to referendum and election: NMSP

February 20, 2008 – Chiang Mai – The New Mon State Party (NMSP), one of the ceasefire groups has made it clear that the junta's roadmap of referendum and elections cannot resolve the political crisis in Burma. NMSP became the first ceasefire group which said 'No' to the Burmese regime's announcements February 9. Full Report

Completed constitution should be open for revision: NLD

February 20, 2008 – New Delhi – Burma's main opposition party - National League for Democracy - today said the ruling junta should make its draft constitution available for public review as a step toward conducting a free and fair referendum. Full Report