Myanmar’s ruling junta has forced some 800 military officers into retirement, in the biggest shake-up within the armed forces in years, a source close to the military said Wednesday.
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A court in Rangoon’s Sanchaung township has postponed its hearing of a defamation case levelled by activist Naw Ohn Hla against more than 123 editors and publishers in Burma.
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Two Myanmar ministries have reiterated invitation of complaints from the public about malpractice of their personnel in a drive to ensure a clean administrative machinery, official newspaper the New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday.
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The Burmese Army has been setting up people’s militias along the border area in western Burma since February 5 to defend the country against foreign invaders and to resist insurgents if they intrude into Burmese territory.
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Guwahati: Insurgency and drug trafficking will be two of the major issues to be discussed in detail during the India-Myanmar talks, which started in Myanmar today. A high level team of the Government of India headed by the Union Home Secretary left New Delhi this morning to take part in the meeting.
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Thai currency traders operating in Mae Sot on the Burmese border have to register with Thailand’s Finance Ministry from next month as part of a government program to combat illegal financial dealings. The head of the chamber of commerce in Thailand’s Tak border province warned, however, that the move would disrupt local trade.
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Thailand and Oman will cooperate in exploring for natural gas and oil fields in third countries, with Myanmar being the first target, Thai Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said Monday (Feb 12).
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A locally run HIV/AIDS awareness centre in Pakhutku, Magwe division was shut down by officials yesterday, according to organiser Ko Tin Ko.
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Demonstrators supporting the Burmese government have gathered outside the US and British embassies in Tokyo, denouncing the two countries’ effort to adopt a resolution against the military junta in the UN Security Council, according to a report in the state-run press.
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Some fifty protesters celebrated St Valentine’s Day in Manila by demonstrating in front of the Burmese embassy to set free of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

They carried heart-shaped baloons, placards and pictures of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
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The UK’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) has questioned why, in view of SA’s apartheid past, the country did not vote to support a UN Security Council resolution to condemn the military junta in Myanmar (Burma) for abusing human rights.
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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System

Cape Town: At a briefing on the programme of action of government’s International Relations, Peace and Security cluster on Wednesday, Defence Minister Mosioua Lekota moved to set the record straight on South Africa’s voting position on the United Nations Security Council.
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Burma’s 60th Union Day was celebrated inside and outside of the country, but many people question why the event is celebrated at all, since the ideals expressed in the Panglong agreement have never been achieved.
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The depressing news in recent days that drug traffickers are again stepping up activities in and near Thailand should come as no surprise. Winning the war against international drug merchants takes time, requires commitment and must have international cooperation. The sad fact is that eliminating the cross-border gangs that cause illicit drug problems cannot succeed without the full determination of all the governments concerned. So long as one regime remains on the sidelines of the battle, the drug traffickers will persevere.
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