Bangkok: Political “tension” has risen in military-ruled Myanmar after the death of an aide to a senior general, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Friday.
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Phuket: Myanmar denied Friday that a coup d’etat had taken place in the military-ruled country, but hinted at possible changes in the Cabinet.
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Sex and drugs in the Shan state
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The United Wa State Army, or UWSA, on Friday denied that eight of its members charged in the United States with drugs offences were involved in the narcotics trade. A UWSA spokesman, reached by The Irrawaddy by telephone in Lashio, northern Shan State, accused the US of trying to intervene in Burma’s internal affairs.
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Phang Nga: Burma escaped the worst ravages of the Tsunami that devastated other countries in the Indian Ocean, but Burmese migrant workers along Thailand’s western seaboard have fared poorly
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Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia needs an Anti-Trafficking Act to penalize those trafficking in humans for sexual purposes.
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The rise of China and India, and the gradual thaw in their once-frosty relations, appears to be shaping Asia in positive ways. The world’s two most populous nations held their first “strategic dialogue” this week, in advance of a ground-breaking visit to India in March or April by Premier Wen Jiabao .
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Optimists look at the tsunami’s silver lining. Maybe the tragedy will break entrenched political stalemates and perhaps force a degree of humility on despotic leaders. The world’s worst natural disaster in modern times has potentially brought valuable lessons to erring humans that they should change their selfish ways, and to enemies to bury the hatchet in what has been a massive display of community spirit.
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