Family members, desperate to meet Burmese activists detained for conducting prayer campaigns for the release of Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, were warded off by authorities in Rangoon today.
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Farmers from Mandalay division’s Myinchan township said yesterday that the Burmese government’s decision to force them to grow rice paddy on unsuitable ground had left them struggling to make ends meet.
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Two men staged solo public protest in Rangoon on Sunday and Monday, one calling for greater civilian rights and the other calling on the Burmese military to release detained democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Burmese local authorities have ordered residents near the 105-mile border trade gate office in Muse in Burma’s northern Shan State to relocate, leading the villagers to refuse the order, according to sources in Muse.
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Mandalay prison officials have imposed increased restrictions on food brought to the prison for political inmates, according to several prisoners’ family members.
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As the United Nations marks International Day of Support for Victims of Torture on Tuesday, Burmese refugees who have fled violence in their own country are facing another kind of torture-not physical, but mental and psychological.
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Teknaf, Bangladessh: Tons of timber was seized by the Teknaf police, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Forest department officials on the Teknaf border area on June 25. The timber was being smuggled from Arakan (Rakhine) State, Burma, said Shabbir from Teknaf.
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Myanmar has a new international operator after domestic carrier Air Bagan in May launched Airbus A310 services to the Thai capital Bangkok.
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Despite greater cooperation between Burma’s military government and international agencies, the spread of H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu, in Burma still poses a major threat because farmers do not receive adequate compensation for culled poultry stocks, according to a new report.
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Diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar have been solid for over 50 years, especially in the fight against illegal drugs. The two countries have also actively participated in multilateral cooperation efforts to solve drug-related problems, with these efforts playing an important role in stabilizing both China and Myanmar.
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Burma marks the 10th anniversary of its membership in Asean in July, but the junta can expect a much rougher ride when Thailand’s Surin Pitsuwan takes over the job of secretary-general in early 2008, say analysts.
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Often hailed as a beacon of democracy among developing nations, India’s overriding business and security needs have forced it to overcome a reluctance to deal with military regimes, analysts say.
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The International Labour Organization has denied statements by the Burmese government on Wednesday that its delegate to the workers section of the ILO wasn’t expelled.
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Cape Town – A clothing sector researcher has called on Mr. Price Group to confirm that its supplier in Myanmar meets International Labour Organisation working condition standards.
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After nearly 14 years in the drafting, Myanmar’s ruling generals have announced that next month they will finalize a new constitution that, after a national referendum, will pave the way for a political transition from military to civilian rule.
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