(1)Meth seized in Shan state, dealers killed in Mae Sai Source: DVB
17 July 2012
Burmese authorities on Monday hailed
progress in their war on drugs after an unprecedented multi-million dollar
seizure at a narcotics factory in eastern Shan state.
(2) Burma considers joining transparency drive for extractive industries Source: DVB
17 July 2012
Senior government officials met this
week with a delegation from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
(EITI) to discuss plans for Burma to implement the global anti-corruption
drive, which would require the notoriously secretive regime to disclose all
payments received by energy and mining companies.
(3) Farmers hold first official protest in Rangoon Source: DVB
16 July 2012
About 200 farmers in Rangoon’s
Mingalardon township took to the streets to protest in the wake of a land
dispute with Zaykabar Company after receiving the green light from
authorities to demonstrate.
The protest follows the introduction of
rules and regulations for the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law
that were officially instituted last week.
(4) Canada set to open embassy Source: DVB
16 July 2012
Canada is to open an embassy in Burma
for the first time, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Friday,
citing recent reforms as a reason for engagement with the longtime army-run
nation.
(5) Google Search for Human Traffickers Source: Irrawaddy
17 July 2012
Forget videos of cute kittens or good
deals on iPads. For the past few months, Google has been quietly turning its
search capabilities to something far more challenging: criminals.
(6) Burma’s New Political Prisoners in Kachin State Source: Irrawaddy
17 July 2012
MAI JA YANG—While Burma’s nominally
civilian government has received widespread praise from the international
community for releasing a large number of political prisoners earlier this
year, including famed student leaders Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, a surge in
the arrest of Kachin civilians has gone largely unreported.
(7) Mongla launches crackdown on drugs Source: SHAN
16 July
2012
Following a 5-day bi-annual meeting
which ended yesterday, the Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army
(NDAA) is embarking on a massive clampdown on drugs, according to reliable
sources on the Sino-Burmese border this morning.
(8) Major haul yesterday traced to government militia Source: SHAN
17 July
2012
Drugs seized by the Thai police
following a gun battle yesterday originated in Punako People’s Militia Force
(PMF) based in Monghsat township, according to sources from both sides of the
border.
(9) Myint Swe’s VP Bid Postponed Source: Irrawaddy
17 July 2012
The nomination process for appointing Myint
Swe as vice-president of Burma looks likely to be postponed as it appears at
least one of his direct family members hold foreign citizenship, according to
sources close to the presidential office.
(10) Famous Abbot Takes Up Monastery Dispute Source: Irrawaddy
17 July 2012
Around a thousand Burmese migrants
joined a Buddhist dhamma talk at Wat Sai Moon in the center of Chiang
Mai, northern Thailand, on Monday to discuss a Thai abbot taking charge of the
Burmese monastery.
(11) Sittwe Schools Reopen Despite Security Fears Source: Irrawaddy
17 July 2012
Schools in the Arakan State capital
Sittwe have reopened for the first time since a fierce sectarian conflict
erupted in western Burma although many students are still staying away from
class, according to local residents.
(12) Humanitarian Challenges Loom in Developing Burma Source: Irrawaddy
17 July 2012
Burma is vulnerable to natural
disasters and humanitarian crises. The worst recent natural disaster, Cyclone
Nargis, struck Burma on May 2-3, 2008. Around 140,000 people lost their lives
and 2.4 million people were severely affected. On Oct. 22, 2010, in Arakan
State, Cyclone Giri left 45 people dead and affected the lives of some 260,000
people.
(13) Suu Kyi to visit US in September Source: Mizzima
17 July
2012
Aung San Suu Kyi will travel to
the US in September to receive an award for global citizenship, a U.S.-based
advocacy group has announced.
(14) Thailand’s PTT to invest up to $3 billion in Burma Source: Mizzima
17 July
2012
Thailand's largest energy firm, PTT Pcl, said on Tuesday it planned to invest US$ 2-3 billion in a Burmese oil refinery, coal mines and a power plant, as part of its drive to expand in Southeast Asia.
Thailand's largest energy firm, PTT Pcl, said on Tuesday it planned to invest US$ 2-3 billion in a Burmese oil refinery, coal mines and a power plant, as part of its drive to expand in Southeast Asia.
(15) Burmese drug runners killed by Thai police Source: Mizzima
17 July
2012
Thai security forces shot and killed eight suspected Burmese drug smugglers on Monday as they transported drugs in Mae Sai District in far north Thailand, reportedly seizing 154 pounds of methamphetamine pills and 70 kilograms of “ice.” The seizure was one of the largest in recent years.
Thai security forces shot and killed eight suspected Burmese drug smugglers on Monday as they transported drugs in Mae Sai District in far north Thailand, reportedly seizing 154 pounds of methamphetamine pills and 70 kilograms of “ice.” The seizure was one of the largest in recent years.
(16) Proposed parliamentary bills, discussions appear in Burmese press Source: Mizzima
17 July
2012
Recent changes in the Burmese media landscape include the publication of draft bills to be submitted to Parliament and more news stories about debates and questions and answers between lawmakers, which began appearing this month in government publications.
Recent changes in the Burmese media landscape include the publication of draft bills to be submitted to Parliament and more news stories about debates and questions and answers between lawmakers, which began appearing this month in government publications.
(17) Health situation in Arakan State ‘desperate’ Source: Mizzima
17 July
2012
UN aid workers say the health
situation in Burma’s northern Arakan (Rakhine) State is becoming “desperate.”
(18) US stresses ‘action for action’ in talks Source: Mizzima
17 July
2012
Robert Hormats, a top US economic
official, had productive talks with Burmese leaders last week, stressing a
tit-for-tat approach in further easing of US sanctions.
(19) Burmese MPs focus on anti-corruption laws Source: Mizzima
17 July
2012
MPs in Burma’s Lower House are
pushing for stronger anti-corruption laws at all levels of government.
During last week’s session, MPs
called for more clear and stronger penalties for taking bribes, citing “some
dishonest judges and senior office staff who enjoy bribery in the country.”
Bribery is recognized as endemic throughout Burma at all levels of government.
(20) Humanitarian challenges for the UN Source: Mizzima
17 July 2012
(Commentary) – Myanmar is
vulnerable to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The worst natural
disaster, Cyclone Nargis, struck Myanmar in May 2008, killing 140,000 people
and 2.4 million people were severely affected.
(21) Burma asked to explain UN workers arrests Source: Mizzima
16 July 2012
Burma has been asked to clarify why 10
local UN and nongovernmental aid workers were arrested last month in Arakan
(Rakhine) State, some allegedly on criminal charges.
(22) Locals protest Zaykabar Company’s embankment-road construction Source: BNI
17 July
2012
Earlier this month, locals protested
Zaykabar Company’s proposed embankment-road construction that would cut through
nine villages of Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State.
(23) Clashes Between Burmese Navy and Unknown Armed Group in Arakan Source: BNI
17 July
2012
The Burmese navy reportedly had clashes
with an unknown armed group on 15 July in a creek near Thaykhone Village in
Pauktaw Township in Arakan State.
(24) Chinese authorities allow Nongdao Kachin IDPs to continue to stay Source: BNI
17 July
2012
Chinese authorities have officially
announced refugees living in two Nongdao internally displaced persons (IDPs)
camps in China can stay.
(25) Burglaries Increase Despite Curfew in Maungdaw Source: BNI
16 July
2012
Burglaries have been occurring almost
every night in Maungdaw in Arakan State since a curfew was imposed under
Section 144 in the area.
(26) Protests against Foreign NGOs increase in Arakan Source: BNI
16 July
2012
Sittwe: Protests against foreign NGOs
including the UN are increasing amongst the nationalities in Arakan State.
In a statement publicized by the
Committee of All Town People for Assisting Arakanese Nationalities in Sittwe,
the capital town in Arakan State, yesterday stated that they would reject any
hardly-enough and useless aid provided by the UN and INGOs to the Arakanese
national people.
(27) Mongla launches crackdown on drugs Source: BNI
16 July
2012
Following a 5-day bi-annual meeting
which ended yesterday, the Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army
(NDAA) is embarking on a massive clampdown on drugs, according to reliable
sources on the Sino-Burmese border this morning.
(28) Treat torture victims, prosecute those responsible: AAPP Source: BNI
16 July
2012
The Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners – Burma (AAPPB) has called on the Burmese government to allow torture
victim La Htaw Brang Shawng immediate access to medical care, in line with
international standards for detainees.
(29) Land mine group says Burma, ethnic groups using mines Source: BNI
16 July
2012
The Landmine Monitor, a research group
dedicated to monitoring land mine and cluster bomb use, has issued a statement
saying it believes that the Burmese Army and ethnic groups are using
antipersonnel mines in armed conflicts with ethnic groups within the country.
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