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Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:12:24 GMT

Monday, April 2, 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi, pictured from file during a speech.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and activist Aung San Suu Kyi claims to have won an estimated 99% of votes in the Kawhmu constituency in Myanmar's parliamentary elections yesterday.

The leader of National League for Democracy, she spent most of the past 22 years under Junta rule as a political prisoner. The victory claim was displayed by her party on a digital signboard in Yangon. Although Suu Kyi expressed concern at the election's fairness, the 66 year old eventually contested Kawhmu, a rural constituency located two hours from Yangon.

Unofficially the NLD claimed victory in thirteen constituencies across the country but official tallies are yet to be released. Myanmar has been under military rule for the past 49 years. NLD claimed it was on its way to win 44 of 45 seats in the by-elections. Widespread incidents of irregularities were reported during polling against which NLD spokesman Nyan Win said he would write to the Union Election Commission.

Known as The Lady, Suu Kyi is the daughter of independence fighter Aung San. Her supporters waited in crowds for hours just to get a glimpse of her as she campaigned for her first ever elections.

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Sources [edit]

AP. "Report: Aung San Suu Kyi wins Myanmar election" — KSNT, April 2, 2012
Agence France-Presse. "Myanmar set for history; Suu Kyi wins, claims party" — Hindustan Times, April 1, 2012
Esmer Golluoglu. "Burma rejoices on a long-delayed day for democracy" — The Guardian, April 1, 2012

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Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:02:51 GMT

Friday, March 30, 2012

Environment

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A 586-page report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released Wednesday indicated governments should prepare for continued weather-related catastrophes. The report noted highly populated and very poor areas are at highest risk, and stressed no country or continent is safe from these ongoing threats. The panel consists of Nobel Prize-winners, whose work in climatology indicates more intense tropical cyclones.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was created by the United Nations in 1988.
Image: Wilfried Huss / Anonymous.

The report placed blame regarding recent disasters on a combination of climate change caused by humans, population changes and poverty. The panel was founded in 1988 by the United Nations.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates recent severe weather conditions are costing upwards of US$80 billion per year. The report focused heavily on issues pertaining to coastal areas of the United States, specifically noting damage in those areas could increase 20 percent by 2030.

The authors of the report stated some portions of India may become uninhabitable for floods and other problems.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change pointed out other cities at lesser risk, such as: Miami, Shanghai, Bangkok, China's Guangzhou, Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, Myanmar's Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon), and India's Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). Inhabitants of small island nations may have to leave their homes because of elevated sea levels and major storms. A total of 220 authors worked on the report.

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Sources[edit]

"'Climate change behind extreme weathers'" — ianslive.in, March 29, 2012
Seth Borenstein. "Mumbai, Miami on list for big weather disasters" — MSNBC.com, March 28, 2012

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Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:54:24 GMT

Friday, March 9, 2012

Human rights

Sister links[edit]

Category:International Women of Courage Award

Sources[edit]

"2012 International Women of Courage Award" — U.S. Department of State, March 8, 2012
"2012 International Women of Courage Award Winners" — U.S. Department of State, March 8, 2012
"Women Honored for Fighting for World ‘As They Know it Should Be’" — Voice of America, March 8, 2012
"Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton celebrate International Women’s Day at the State Department" — thepoliticalgirl.com, March 8, 2012
"First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at the International Women of Courage Awards" — whitehouse.gov, March 8, 2012

External links[edit]

International Women’s Day
"International Women’s Day: 10 ways to celebrate" — The Washington Post, March 8, 2012
"International Women's Day: How it's celebrated around the globe" — CSM, March 8, 2012

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Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi to contest in by-election

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:12:47 GMT

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Myanmar

Other stories from Myanmar

2 April 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar
30 March 2012: Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming
9 March 2012: Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards
19 January 2012: Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi to contest in by-election
13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

...More articles here

Location of Myanmar

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Myanmar, see the Myanmar Portal

Suu Kyi in 2011.
Image: World Economic Forum.

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar registered yesterday as a candidate in the parliamentary by-election. She is contesting, for her party the National League for Democracy (NLD), for Kawhmu, among the 48 seats in the election scheduled in April.

Suu Kyi is to contest in elections for the first time. Her party won the 1990 election, but she was under house arrest. The military junta did not accept NLD's majority in that election. She was released in November 2010. The NLD objected to electoral laws and boycotted 2010 elections.

Kawhmu is a rural township in south-west Myanmar which was hit by cyclone Nargis in 2008.

Suu Kyi's party would not have much power even if it won all the 48 available seats in the election. Nevertheless, her participation could be a test for democratic reforms in Myanmar.

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Sources[edit]

AP. "Myanmar's Suu Kyi registers for parliament seat" — The Times of India, January 18, 2012
"Aung San Suu Kyi registers for Burma election run" — BBC News Online, January 18, 2012

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Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:47:37 GMT

Friday, January 13, 2012

Human rights

US-based action[edit]

Reports from across the United States show a number of communities taking local action to solve, or otherwise highlight, this global problem.

In Southern California, Sister Caritas Foster is an advocate for the area's victims of human trafficking. Commenting on the area's involvement, she stated: "We in the San Francisco Bay Area are one of the largest receiving areas with our borders and coasts". For over four years, Foster has worked on educating the public on human trafficking, speaking to civic and religious groups and describing the power traffickers hold over their victims through vivid accounts of situations trafficked individuals find themselves in. Many have no idea where they are located, suffer under the constant threat of deportation, and most often lack the language abilities to seek help.

Los Angeles politician Don Knabe said human trafficking was not a distant problem but one that hits close to home. As the county supervisor overseeing the fourth district in Los Angeles County, Knabe cited figures from the Probation Department showing 84 percent of arrests of children on prostitution charges in 2010 were in his district; he believes the overall problem for the county is much larger, and wants the Probation Department to establish a special unit dedicated to sexually exploited minors.

Northward in Seattle, Washington, members of the King County Sheriff's department realized that law enforcement had to deal supportively with the symptoms of human trafficking — rather than putting victims in jail. This gave birth to the "Genesis Project" where sheriff's deputies offer potential victims of trafficking a comfortable safe haven with amenities for 24 hours, and put them in touch with social services for counselling, job training, and education advice.

Politicians from several states have sought to address the connection between tourism and human trafficking; Indiana's state Senate unanimously passed a human trafficking bill on Tuesday morning. Current legislation only considered forced marriage and prostitution as human trafficking; loopholes in the existing laws allowed some forms of human trafficking to escape prosecution. Lawmakers in the state hope to toughen their human trafficking laws, and have new legislation on the statute books in time for the Super Bowl, due to be held in Indianapolis on February 5. The just-passed bill now goes to the House for approval.

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Also on Tuesday, lawmakers from Hawaii held a special hearing on human trafficking. Kathryn Xian, of Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, says traffickers capitalize on the state's tourist-based economy. She introduced a package of seven bills she says will help prevent human trafficking in the state.

At a national level, the US government continues to work abroad on the issue of trafficking; Luis CdeBaca, a special ambassador for human trafficking, is working with Myanmar, commonly known as Burma, as the country seeks to improve diplomatic relations with the United States. Myanmar was identified by the US State Department as having one of the worst records of forced labor, and as a country that lacks necessary laws to curb human trafficking.

Trafficking, the global picture[edit]

File image of a Nepali mother who travelled to Mumbai, India, hoping to rescue her teenage daughter from an Indian brothel.
Image: Kay Chernush, US State Dept..

Although National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is a US-based effort to recognise, and highlight, this issue — as a topic of global concern being highlighted through the United Nations, others around the world continue efforts to increase public awareness and tackle trafficking.

Forty-six women from the international group Operation Mobilization sought to raise awareness by climbing Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro. The summit is called "Uhuru Peak", with Uhuru meaning "freedom" in Swahili. Each of the non-professional climbers raised US$10,000 to help those affected by human trafficking.

In the Middle East, several countries are reported to have problems with human traffickers recruiting unemployed gay Kenyan men to become sex slaves. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supposedly the more-common destination countries into which Kenyans are lured with offers of high-paying jobs. However, in the United Arab Emirates — where no law prohibits trafficking, but homosexuality is illegal — the problem is compounded.

Enforcement of existing laws, and acting against trafficking, are seen as key steps in reducing the activity. Showing that no country is unaffected, Northern Ireland police are currently investigating five sex trafficking cases; and, on Monday, Filipino police rescued fifteen women following a tip-off regarding women recruited, and being held, prior to being sent to work abroad.

In the Northern Ireland situation, Detective Superintendent Philip Marshall stated that fifteen men are to be contacted, suspected of having paid for sex with trafficked women. Identifying victims within the UK, or victims seeking help, is becoming more challenging with the sex industry having switched to using hotel rooms as-opposed to street corners. Many victims of trafficking are found to be unaware of where within the country they are.

In the Philippines situation, Zamboanga City police are still seeking the recruiter of the fifteen women rescued in Rio Hondo.

A range of complexities are involved in the sentencing of both those convicted of human trafficking, and their victims. In one Canadian case, 43-year-old Hungarian Lajos Domotor pled guilty to trafficking men and women into forced labor. Following being charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking, he developed terminal stomach cancer and has been given a 10 to 15 percent chance of living five years.

In the UK, officials are seeking to detect exploitation prior to sentencing — as a counter to the high number of foreign women in jails, frequently having been victims of trafficking. One in seven women prisoners across England and Wales are foreign, with the primary offenses being drug or immigration-related. A report into the issue recommends sentencing decisions should consider the role of women, and of coercion, in such cases.

Artists also have a special role to play in the education and awareness of the public. The first opera about sex trafficking will premiere in Liverpool, England, on March 7. Anya17 was composed by Adam Gorb with a libretto written by Ben Kaye. Performers will come from Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic contemporary music ensemble 10/10. Funding for the production was provided in part by the United Nations.

Sources[edit]

This article is a featured article. It is considered one of the best works of the Wikinews community. See Wikinews:Featured articles for more information.

AP. "US Envoy: Myanmar Weak Against Human Trafficking" — ABC News (United States), January 11, 2012
"PSNI to visit men who paid for sex with trafficked women" — BBC News Online, January 11, 2012
Liz Dossa. "The lure of a better life: Human trafficking in the Bay Area" — Catholic San Francisco, January 11, 2012
Press Association. "Women 'coerced into offending'" — Mid Sussex Times, January 11, 2012
"Women's climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro shouts for Freedom from trafficking" — Mission Network News, January 11, 2012
Brandi Kruse. "Project rescues victims of sex trade in King County" — MyNorthwest.com, January 11, 2012
Bong Garcia. "15 human trafficking victims rescued" — Sun.Star, January 11, 2012
Krista Henery. "Human trafficking bill passes Senate" — WLFI-TV, January 11, 2012
Nicole O’Reilly. "Human trafficker pleads guilty" — The Hamilton Spectator, January 11, 2012
Malia Zimmerman. "Sex Trafficking Victims, Advocates, Lobby Hawaii Legislators for Stronger Laws" — HawaiiReporter.com, January 10, 2012
Paul Chavez (Marina del Rey Patch). "Knabe Raises Issue of Child Prostitution" — Patch Media, January 10, 2012
"Gay Kenyan men trafficked as sex slaves" — UPI, January 10, 2012
Helen Carter. "Opera aims to tackle the issue of human trafficking" — The Guardian, January 9, 2012
Hillary Clinton. "Remarks on the Release of the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report" — U.S. Department of State, June 27, 2011
Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. ""What Is Trafficking in Persons?", Trafficking in Persons Report 2011" — U.S. Department of State, June 27, 2011

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Myanmar dissident Suu Kyi to run for parliament in by-elections

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:00:58 GMT

Monday, November 21, 2011

Myanmar

Other stories from Myanmar

2 April 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar
30 March 2012: Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming
9 March 2012: Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards
19 January 2012: Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi to contest in by-election
13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

...More articles here

Location of Myanmar

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Myanmar, see the Myanmar Portal

Suu Kyi
Image: World Economic Forum.

Myanmar political dissident Aung San Suu Kyi will run for a seat in parliament in upcoming by-elections, National League for Democracy (NLD) senior official Nyan Win announced today. The NLD decided Friday to participate in the by-elections, but Suu Kyi did not say directly then that she would run.

The by-elections include 48 seats in Parliament, all of which the NLD intends to contest. Dates for the elections have not yet been set.

Suu Kyi was released from house arrest last year. She had stated she would only accept an unconditional release, not a release on conditions. On Friday, in advocating participation in the upcoming by-elections, she remarked, "Some people are worried that taking part could harm my dignity. Frankly, if you do politics, you should not be thinking about your dignity."

The military junta of Myanmar held elections last November, which NLD boycotted since many dissidents — including Suu Kyi — were not allowed to run. The junta responded by legally revoking the NLD's status as a political party. The NLD voted Friday to re-register as a party.

Last year's election was the first since 1990, when the NLD won a landslide that the military junta refused to acknowledge. A year later, Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Various parties have acknowledged recent signs of political reform in Myanmar, such as the relaxing of the law that had prevented Suu Kyi and many other political dissidents from participating in elections last year. Suu Kyi in a speech last Monday was cautiously positive about recent developments. US President Obama announced Friday that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Myanmar in December, an unprecedented move since the military coup in Myanmar in 1962. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at its recent summit decided to allow Myanmar to hold ASEAN's rotating chair in 2014.

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Sources[edit]

"Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi targets by-election seat" — BBC News Online, November 21, 2011
"Suu Kyi to stand in Myanmar elections" — Al Jazeera English, November 21, 2011
Rachel Harvey. "Is Burma's political landscape changing for good?" — BBC News Online, November 18, 2011

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Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes northeastern Myanmar

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:37:52 GMT

Myanmar

Other stories from Myanmar

2 April 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar
30 March 2012: Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming
9 March 2012: Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards
19 January 2012: Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi to contest in by-election
13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

...More articles here

Location of Myanmar

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Myanmar, see the Myanmar Portal

Thursday, March 24, 2011

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake has struck the northeast of Myanmar, near the borders of China and Thailand, according to the United States Geological Survey. The earthquake, which was originally registered at mangnitude 7.0 occured at the rather shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) in a sparsely populated, remote area in the northeast, striking about 89 km (55 miles) north of Chiang Rai, Thailand at 13:55 UTC.

Tremors from the quake could be felt in Bangkok and Hanoi. A second earthquake occurred a half-hour later, which registered at a preliminary magnitude of 4.8. One person has been killed in Chiang Rai by a roof collaspe. A third quake occurred an hour and a half later and registered a preliminary magnitude of 5.4.

No tsunami was formed or is expected to form as a result of the quake. A bulletin from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated, "The earthquake is located too far inland and too deep inside the earth to generate a tsunami in the Indian Ocean."

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Sources[edit]

"Earthquake hits Myanmar near China and Thailand borders" — CNN, March 24, 2011
"North-east Burma hit by two 7.0 magnitude earthquakes" — BBC News, March 24, 2011
"Magnitude 6.8 - MYANMAR" — United States Geological Survey, March 24, 2011
"Magnitude 4.8 - MYANMAR" — United States Geological Survey, March 24, 2011
"TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001" — Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, March 24, 2011
"Magnitude 5.4 - MYANMAR" — United States Geological Survey, March 24, 2011

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Burma introduces military draft

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 06:41:00 GMT

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Myanmar

Other stories from Myanmar

2 April 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar
30 March 2012: Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming
9 March 2012: Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards
19 January 2012: Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi to contest in by-election
13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

...More articles here

Location of Myanmar

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Myanmar, see the Myanmar Portal

Flag of Burma

According to an official document, the Burmese junta has passed a law dated November 4, 2010, requiring able-bodied persons over the age of 18 to register with local authorities. Furthermore, the law requires all men between the ages 18 and 45 as well as all women between 18 to 35 to join the army if they are called upon. Those who fail to report for military service could be imprisoned for three years, and face fines. Those who deliberately inflict injury upon themselves to avoid conscription could be imprisoned for up to five years, as well as fines. Civil servants, students, those serving prison terms, and those caring for an elderly parent are currently excluded from the draft, but they could be later called to serve. Totally exempt are members of religious orders, disabled persons, and married or divorced women with children.

The Democratic Voice of Burma claims that the law was passed just before the new parliament convened in order to avoid scrutiny of the practice by the new parliament. However, laws surrounding forcible conscription are murky and it is unclear how tightly the new law would be enforced.

The new law has faced stiff criticism by Burmese around the world. Aung Kyaw Zaw, a military analyst on the China-Burma border, said that there are pros and cons to the new law. "From the bad side, our country is already in deep poverty and the people barely have anything to eat. So [adopting such a law] may cause bigger negative effects on the country, which is already…struggling to feed the current army and carry the burden of military expenses."

"On the plus side, civilians will learn how to use guns and be given a chance to understand the nature of the military. With the knowledge of how to handle weapons, the people will be able to rise up against the military – in a way they will be trained for the revolution."

Many people see the draft as a threat to ethnic armed groups, who have been long embroiled in guerrilla conflicts with the government.

Burma is a military dictatorship and already has a standing army close to half a million, one of the biggest per capita in the world. Previously, professionals, including doctors, engineers and mechanics, between the ages of 18 and 44, and females between 18 to 33, were required to serve in the military for up to three years. However, the new law extends this to five years in case of a national emergency.

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Sources[edit]

"Burma to bring in conscription" — The Associated Press, January 11, 2011
Joseph allchin. "Burma introduces military draft" — Democratic Voice of Burma, January 10, 2011
Associated Press. "Myanmar enacts military draft law for men, women" — Fox News, January 09, 2011
Phanida and Myo Thant. "Military draft seen as threat to ethnic armed groups" — Mizzima, January 11, 2011

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US suspects North Korea and Burma participating in 'covert military' activities

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 01:55:52 GMT

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Map highlighting Magway Region in Burma, where Minbu is located.
Image: Dr. Blofeld based on work by Uwe Dedering.

In diplomatic cables released by the whistle blowing website Wikileaks on Friday, it is revealed that the United States embassy in Rangoon suspects the North Korean and Burmese military are participating in "covert military or military-industrial" activities. In the cables dating back as early as January 2004, the embassy reports the military activities could include the construction of a nuclear reactor in or near Minbu, along with "SAM missiles" and an underground facility with as many as 300 North Korean military personnel assisting the Burmese military in the construction. Burma is primarily controlled by its military.

In the January 2004 cable, a businessman reportedly told the U.S. embassy in Rangoon that "massive" barges were bringing in large pieces of equipment to Minbu from the Irawaddy River. He suggested that "the quantities involved as well as the diameter of the rebar suggested a project larger than 'factories.'" In the same cable, the U.S. acknowledges that rumors of a nuclear reactor being constructed in the area date back to 2002, with suspected Russian involvement. "Rumors of ongoing construction of a nuclear reactor are surprisingly consistent and observations of activity such as that described [sic] appear to be increasing," said Martinez, the reported cable author. According to a news report in March, The Irrawaddy claims Burma was close to completing at least three nuclear reactors. The country's leadership claims the nuclear research that is taking place is to be used for peaceful purposes.

1oz. uranium-238 under oil.
Image: Greenhorn1.

In August of the same year, the U.S embassy receives more information that North Korea military is assisting in the construction of "SAM missiles (surface to air missiles) of unknown origin" and an "underground, concrete reinforced" facility in Minbu. The construction allegedly includes buildings which would house at least "20 Burmese army battalions that will be posted near the site." The correspondent again says that the report "tracks with other information Embassy Rangoon and others have reported in various channels."

"This account is perhaps best considered alongside other information of various origins indicating the Burmese and North Koreans are up to something. Something of a covert military or military-industrial nature. Exactly what, and on what scale, remains to be determined," said McMullen, the reported cable author. He also admits that the number of North Koreans thought to be assisting the Burmese military "is much higher than our best estimates of North Koreans in Burma." According to the Agence France-Presse in 2002, citing an unnamed U.S State Department official, the U.S. warned Burma not to pursue a nuclear program saying that it expects Burma "to live up to its obligations [under the non-proliferation treaty] and to not pursue production of weapons grade fissile material." However a 2008 cable says that Burma may already be in possession of weapons grade uranium. The cable reports that a civilian tried to sell 2,000 kilograms of uranium-238 which "could be dug up" from the ground at a site in Kayah State. Uranium-238 could be used in the construction of nuclear weapons.

"A Burmese civilian met with members of USDAO [United States Defense Attaché Office] Rangoon and offered to sell Uranium-238. The individual had initially contacted the USDAO eight days prior with the offer. The individual provided a small bottle half-filled with metallic powder and a photocopied certificate of testing from a Chinese university dated 1992 as verification of the radioactive nature of the powder," said the cable. "The individual claimed to be able to provide up to 2000 kg of uranium-bearing rock from a location in Kayah State, and further stated if the U.S. was not interested in purchasing the uranium, he and his associates would try to sell it to other countries, beginning with Thailand," it added. The cable adds that the Burmese government was unaware that such a transaction was taking place and that they "would likely seize any additional samples or stocks of the material if aware of their existence." However, a cable in January of 2007 says that the Burmese military may have received a shipment of uranium at the end of that month. The "sensitive shipment" was said to have come from Singapore via shipping freighter.

"[An unnamed witness] claimed that metals are usually exported in blocks, whereas the bags in this shipment were filled with loose earth and mud. The source of the mixed ore, Maw Chi, is also a source for uranium, they claimed. Security was tighter than usual, surveillance was heavier, and officials paid closer attention to the movement of the shipment and activity at the port," said the cable. The cable author, 'Villarosa,' later states that the embassy in Rangoon was given allegedly detailed information on the shipping methods, weight and cost. No further cables have yet to be released on the matter.

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Sources [edit]

Min Lwin. "Burmese Reactors Close to Completion: Military Sources" — The Irrawaddy, March 13, 2010
"08RANGOON749, Burmese civilian offers to sell purported uranium" — Wikileaks, Released: December 9, 2010; Created: September 23, 2008
Villarosa. "07RANGOON105, Burma XXXXXXXXXXXX report sensitive shipment" — Wikileaks, Released: December 9, 2010; Created: January 30, 2007
McMullen. "04RANGOON1100, Alleged North Korean involvement in missile" — Wikileaks, Released: December 9, 2010; Created: August 27, 2004
Martinez. "04RANGOON88, Burma: Rumors of construction of a nuclear reactor" — Wikileaks, Released: December 9, 2010; Created: January 20, 2004
"US Warns Myanmar On Nuclear Reactor Aspirations" — Agence France-Presse, January 22, 2002

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Aung San Suu Kyi release orders 'signed'

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:08:03 GMT

Saturday, November 13, 2010

(Image missing from commons: image; log)

Reports say that Burmese military generals have signed the release papers of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi; her release has not been officially confirmed. Rumours spread that Suu Kyi would be freed yesterday, but she is now expected to be freed today when her arrest period expires.

Security has been increased, though it is unclear whether it is in anticipation of Suu Kyi's release. Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International's Myanmar specialist, says that the release will only take place if the national ruler Senior General Than Shwe believes it's in his advantage. "I don't anticipate they will release her without conditions," Zawacki added.

Suu Kyi's lawyer had earlier said that she would only accept an unconditional release. He added that there was no law to continue the arrest after Saturday. She has been held under house arrest numerous times in the last 20 years. In 1991, a year after her National League for Democracy won the Burmese general election, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But her win in those elections were nullified by the military junta.

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Sources[edit]

"Burma generals 'sign Aung San Suu Kyi release order'" — BBC News, November 12, 2010
"Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi" — BBC News, November 11, 2010
"Suu Kyi supporters gather for second day to await her release" — CNN, November 13, 2010
"Junta silent as Myanmar awaits Suu Kyi release" — Hindustan Times, November 13, 2010

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Cyclone Giri makes landfall in Myanmar, kills one

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:59:41 GMT

Tropical cyclones – 2010

Sources[edit]

"Cyclone Giri batters Myanmar" — Al Jazeera, October 23, 2010
Indo-Asian News Service. "100 fishermen missing as Cyclone Giri strikes" — Hindustan times, October 23, 2010

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Nineteen killed in Burma ferry disaster

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:47:18 GMT

Friday, October 8, 2010

Myanmar

Other stories from Myanmar

2 April 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar
30 March 2012: Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming
9 March 2012: Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards
19 January 2012: Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi to contest in by-election
13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

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Location of Myanmar

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Myanmar, see the Myanmar Portal

A view of the Irrawaddy river, in which the boat sank, killing at least nineteen people.

Nineteen people were killed and three are unaccounted for after an overloaded ferry boat sank in a river in a flooded region of Burma. Many young children, travelling to an inter-village football tournament in Michaungai, were killed when the boat sank. During the rescue efforts, bodies of children aged between five and fifteen were recovered from the water, along with the bodies of two teachers and two local villagers. Authorities are continuing to search for three people who are still missing after the disaster.

There were 79 people aboard the boat when it sank in the Irrawaddy river, according to an unnamed official. A rescue worker suggested that there had been heavy rain around 10 a.m., when the ferry struck a strong wave and sank. “The boat flipped at a confluence of creeks—these are small, narrow creeks connecting villages," he said. Locals suggested that the boat, which was reportedly overloaded, flipped and lost balance, trapping young children underneath.

The accident took place as strong winds and heavy rain battered the area, causing large waves and strong currents in waterways. Reports indicate that many residents of the vast region rely heavily on poorly-maintained river ferries for cheap transportation, since many areas are inaccessible by road. 138,000 people were killed and thousands more were left homeless when when Cyclone Nargis devastated the region in May 2008.

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Sources[edit]

AFP. "Nineteen killed in Burma ferry disaster" — The Age, October 8, 2010
Naw Noreen. "19 die in Irrawaddy boat accident" — Democratic Voice of Burma, October 8, 2010
"19 killed as Burma ferry capsized" — Press Association, October 8, 2010

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7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Nicobar Islands, India

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:57:11 GMT

India

Sources[edit]

"Magnitude 7.7 - NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION" — USGS, June 12, 2010
"Message indian.2010.06.12.193459" — NOAA, June 12, 2010
"Strong 7.7 quake hits ocean west of Indian islands" — Reuters, June 12, 2010
"Strong 7.7 quake hits ocean west of Indian islands" — Vancouver Sun, June 12, 2010
"7.7-quake hits Nicobar; tremor felt in Chennai" — The Hindu, June 13, 2010

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50 dead after ferry in Myanmar capsizes

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:56:19 GMT

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Myanmar

Other stories from Myanmar

2 April 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar
30 March 2012: Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming
9 March 2012: Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards
19 January 2012: Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi to contest in by-election
13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

...More articles here

Location of Myanmar

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Myanmar, see the Myanmar Portal

As many as 50 people have been killed after a wooden ferry capsized in the Irrawaddy delta region of Myanmar on Sunday night, according to officials.

The Nay Win Tun ran into an oil barge in the Irrawaddy delta, causing it to sink. The ferry, travelling from the town of Pathein to Thetkelthaung, is said to have had about 200 passengers on board at the time of the accident. The barge didn't sink, authorities said.

"The boat sank after colliding with an oil barge. We have recovered 34 bodies and there are at least another 16 people missing who are believed to have drowned. The other passengers were rescued from the water and have gone back to their home villages," said an unnamed official in the area.

Another official commented that "there is very little chance of finding those missing alive. Most of them are women and children."

Ferry accidents in Myanmar are not infrequent, as most of the country's population relies on old, frequently crowded water vessels for transportation, which are sometimes not well maintained.

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Sources[edit]

"Many dead in Myanmar ferry sinking" — Al Jazeera, November 17, 2009
"Scores feared dead in Myanmar ferry crash: officials" — Agence France-Presse, November 17, 2009

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Wikinews Shorts: August 13, 2009

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:58:25 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Thursday, August 13, 2009 .

1 Paris suffers second night of violence
2 No concrete progress but North American leaders express solidarity
3 Mexican federal police foil plot to assassinate President Calderón
4 Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced to another three years of house arrest
5 Four Rio Tinto employees formally arrested for bribery
6 Michael Jackson to be the star one last time

Paris suffers second night of violence [edit]

The French capital Paris has seen a second night of violence by demonstrators, who have blamed police for the death of a motorcyclist on Sunday.

On Sunday night youths in the eastern suburb of Bagnolet, set 29 vehicles alight and threw stones and petrol bombs at police. Monday night was "relatively calm" according to Samira Amrouche, spokeswoman for the regional administration, the authorities having depolyed 40 vans of riot police only 8 vehicles were burnt.

The motorcyclist, a pizza deliveryman, was killed when he fled police attempting to examine his documents, dying when he was struck by a pursuing police vehicle according to the youths,however in the police version his death was a result of him crashing into barriers.

The current violence has echoes of the unrest in 2005, with again dissaffected youths of Arab and black descent venting their anger and frustration.

Sources

"Paris suburb youths fight police" — BBC Online, August 11, 2009
"Plea for calm after Paris violence" — Press Association, August 11, 2009

No concrete progress but North American leaders express solidarity [edit]

The leaders of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) met in Guadalajara, Mexico on Sunday and Monday. The leaders of the three countries (Barack Obama of the United States, Felipe Calderón of Mexico, and Stephen Harper of Canada) promised to work together on swine flu, organised crime and green issues.

Despite disputes in a number of areas remaining unresolved, the three leaders succeeded in presenting an amiable Three Amigos image. The three leaders expressed solidarity, and an understanding of each others position.

The unresolved issues include the buy American clauses in the US stimulus package, tit for tat reprisals by the Mexican authorities over Canadian visa restrictions on Mexican travellers, and the US ban on Mexican trucks from crossing the border.

Risking the ire of human rights activists back home President Obama expressed support for President Calderón's war against drugs saying he had "great confidence" in the Mexican authorities.

Sources

An. "Canadian and Mexican leaders fail to reach agreement on visas" — Xinhua News Agency, August 11, 2009
An. "North American leaders wrap up summit, joint statement embodies cooperation" — Xinhua News Agency, August 11, 2009
Tanya Huntington Hyde. "Ignoring Mexico's human rights abuses" — The Guardian, August 11, 2009
"Border ban angers Mexico truckers" — BBC Online, August 09, 2009

Mexican federal police foil plot to assassinate President Calderón [edit]

Mexican Federal Police (Policía Federal) have foiled an alleged plot to assasinate the President of Mexico Felipe Calderón. Acting on intelligence gathered over a year the Federal Police arrested five drug cartel members on Sunday and publicly paraded their captives and a number of weapons ,including automatic rifles, on Monday. Speaking during a summit of North American leaders Calderón played down the threats on his life, saying that the cartels are being destroyed by his policies.

Some 11000 have died since President Calderón's took office in 2006 and made the war on drugs a cornerstone of his administration.

Sources

"Drug cartel allegedly plotted to kill Mexican leader" — CNN, August 11, 2009
"Mexican police foil drug cartel plot to kill president" — August 11, 2009
Julie Watson. "Mexico: Suspect plotted to kill president" — Associated Press, August 10, 2009

Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced to another three years of house arrest [edit]

Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced by a court in Burma to a further three years of house arrest for violating the terms of her previous sentence. However her sentence was immediately commuted to 18 months on the orders of Burmese head of state Senior-General Than Shwe out of respect for her father General Aung San and out of a desire for "national reconciliation".

The period of her arrest will prevent Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in the general elections scheduled for 2010. The sentence was immediately condemned by Western leaders, and breaking from their usual silence, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) through its current chair Thailand issued a statement expressing disappointment. The ASEAN statement and talk of further European Union and United States sanctions are unlikely to have any impact on Southeast Asian country given the support of India and China.

The Chinese issued a statement calling for the world to respect Burmese sovereignty and laws, and is seen as an indication that China, a veto power will not support any United Nations actions.

John Yettaw whose unauthorised visit led to Aung San Suu Kyi's prosecution has himself been sentenced to seven years imprisonment, four of which will be for hard labour.

Sources

"Asian regrets at Suu Kyi verdict" — BBC Online, August 12,2009
Li. "Myanmar gov't gives reasons to commute Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence" — Xinhua News Agency, August 12, 2009

Four Rio Tinto employees formally arrested for bribery [edit]

Four employees of the Rio Tinto Group have been formally arrested in China on charges of bribery and using improper practises in its negotiations with Chinese companies. The Chinese accuse the men of improperly learning the negotiating position of Chinese companies wishing to buy iron ore, and through this charging 700 billion yuan (US$102.46 billion) more then they would otherwise have been able to

The four were initially held on espionage charges and have been held since early July. The formal charges allows the Chinese authorities to hold the four a further seven months as it prepares its case against them. Their arrests followed the collapse of an attempted by Chinese owned Chinalco to raise its stake in the Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto Group to 18%.

Sources

Anne Barrowclough. "Rio Tinto China executives charged with bribery" — The Times, August 12, 2009
"Watchdog on secrets: Rio caused "huge loss"" — Xinhua News Agency, August 10, 2009
"A souring relationship" — The Economist, August 10, 2009

Michael Jackson to be the star one last time [edit]

Michael Jackson will be the star of a film to be released on October 28, some four months after his death. The film will be primarily cut from footage of Jackson rehearsing for the series of concerts that would have taken place at the O2 in London, but will also feature interviews with Jackson's family and friends.

The film becomes possible after AEG Live, the promoter of the O2 concerts, reached an US$60 million agreement with Columbia Pictures for over 100 hours of footage of Jackson preparing for his swan song.

"He was the architect of 'This is it', and we were his builders..." said Kenny Ortega, Jackson's collaborator on the project "...it was clear that he was on his way to another theatrical triumph."

Sources

Rosie Swash. "Michael Jackson film gets October release date" — The Guardian, August 11, 2009
"Michael Jackson rehearsal film set for worldwide cinematic release" — New Musical Express, August 11, 2009

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English Wikinews RSS feed.

Aung San Suu Kyi claims a seat in the Parliamentary elections in Myanmar

Sources [edit]

Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming

Sources[edit]

Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton present 2012 International Women of Courage Awards

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Aung San Suu Kyi release orders 'signed'

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Cyclone Giri makes landfall in Myanmar, kills one

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Nineteen killed in Burma ferry disaster

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7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Nicobar Islands, India

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50 dead after ferry in Myanmar capsizes

Sources[edit]

Wikinews Shorts: August 13, 2009

Contents

Paris suffers second night of violence [edit]

No concrete progress but North American leaders express solidarity [edit]

Mexican federal police foil plot to assassinate President Calderón [edit]

Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced to another three years of house arrest [edit]

Four Rio Tinto employees formally arrested for bribery [edit]

Michael Jackson to be the star one last time [edit]