Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004


As Burma’s military government and the Karen National Union, or KNU, prepare for another round of ceasefire negotiations next month, people inside Karen State are growing uneasy about the truce.
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Thai health officials on Wednesday delivered 1 million condoms and anti-AIDS drugs to neighboring Myanmar as part of a program to contain the spread of disease by migrant workers, a government statement said.
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Yangon: Washington’s allegations that Myanmar is not serious about cracking down on drugs are “shameless” given that the U.S. is the biggest consumer of illegal drugs in the world, the junta has said.
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The gemland southeast of Monghsu in southern Shan State is where addicts can line up openly to buy their daily doses without fear of arrest by authorities, according to ceasefire sources.
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The season’s first crop, grown in upland regions of Shan State, are being gathered at the time of this reporting, according to sources along the border.
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Yangon: Myanmar is set to hold the 13th Mid-Year Gems Expo from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4 to put on sale its domestically-produced gems, jade, pearl and jewelry, the state-run Myanmar Gems Enterprise (MGE) announced on
Wednesday.
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Paul McCartney and REM are to feature on an album dedicated to Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Popular musicians from around the world will together launch a music album dedicated to freeing Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest in Rangoon.
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Kunming, China: Pipe dreams of a cheaper, shorter and safer trade route between China and Europe through Myanmar to the Bay of Bengal are once again edging onto official agendas. High oil prices, competitive advantages and strategic imperatives are set to midwife this route that might have painful implications for Southeast Asia’s ports and shipping.
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