Myanmar trumpets release of protesters ahead of UN meet

Myanmar trumpets release of protesters ahead of UN meet - channelnewsasia.com

YANGON - Myanmar's state press on Sunday trumpeted the release of monks and demonstrators ahead of a UN Security Council meeting to discuss how to handle the military government following its crackdown on street protests.

Security Council members -- under pressure to condemn the military rulers after 13 people were killed in its drive to end the escalating pro-democracy rallies -- were to meet on Monday to debate a draft statement on Myanmar.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said Sunday that more than half of the 2,171 people arrested after the biggest anti-government protests in nearly two decades has been released, repeating figures given late Saturday on state TV. "Link"

Global day of protest against Myanmar kicks off in Asia

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Hundreds rallied outside Sydney's iconic Opera House in Australia, while in Melbourne 1,000 people marched, some carrying red banners that read "no more bloodshed."

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US eager for UN envoy report on Myanmar

US eager for UN envoy report on Myanmar

WASHINGTON : The United States on Tuesday took a wait-and-see approach to a UN special envoy's visit to Myanmar after a deadly crackdown on protests there and said it looked forward to his report.

channelnewsasia.com

Burmese monks 'to be sent away'

Thousands of monks detained in Burma's main city of Rangoon will be sent to prisons in the far north of the country, sources have told the BBC. news.bbc.co.uk

U.N. Envoy Ends Mission to Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A U.N. envoy completed his mission to Myanmar on Tuesday with no word of progress on the military junta's refusal to address the people's insistent demands for democracy.

The envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, finally met with Myanmar's reclusive leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, in the remote capital of Naypyitaw after days of delays. Neither side issued any comment that could satisfy the world's hopes for a halt to the junta's harsh crackdown on protesters, which began last week.

Gambari then flew to Yangon to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained pro-democracy leader. It was his second meeting in three days with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest.

The second session with her came as a surprise. As he flew out of the country, the United Nations released photos of a grim-faced Gambari and an equally somber Suu Kyi shaking hands at Myanmar's State Guest House. 'Link'

Hackers exploit Myanmar crisis

When protests in Myanmar took a violent turn in the last week of September, the online world went into hyperdrive with massive online postings and active emailing to gather support against the ruling junta.

Taking advantage of the situation now are hackers who have started to send out emails which claim to be a message of support for monks and other protesters in Myanmar from the Dalai Lama.

IT security and control firm, Sophos, is however cautioning that the email in fact carries a malicious attack designed to infect the recipient's PC.

The malicious email that's making its rounds also takes advantage of reports that the Burmese regime is trying to stop news coming out of the country by shutting down internet cafes and controlling computer users' access to the net.

...The email which is signed off by "Tenzin Taklha" asks that the message be distributed to as many people as possible. It reads: "Dear Friends & Colleagues, Please find enclosed a massage(sic) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in support of the recent pro democracy demonstrations taking place in Burma." 'LINK'

UN rights council condemns Myanmar crackdown

GENEVA : The United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday passed a motion condemning the crackdown on peaceful protests by the military junta in Myanmar.

The council "strongly deplores the continued violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar ... and urges the government of Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint and to desist from further violence against peaceful protesters," according to the text of the approved resolution.

The motion also called for the immediate release of all those detained in the recent protests, and of other political prisoners including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The approved text differs slightly from the original version proposed by the European Union, which urged the council to "strongly condemn" the crackdown.

The motion was passed without a vote because no objections were raised. 'Link'

EU says ASEAN free-trade talks not threatened by Myanmar crackdown

BRUSSELS : A crackdown on pro-democracy protestors in Myanmar does not threaten to derail talks between ASEAN and the EU over a new free-trade pact, a European Commission spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The situation in Burma should not in any way contaminate the talks we are having with the other ASEAN members," Commission spokesman for trade issues Peter Power told AFP.

"It's quite clear that we will not conclude an agreement with Burma so long as the current regime remains in power," he added.

The 27-nation European Union launched free-trade talks with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) earlier this year and the discussions are not expected to be wrapped up before at least another year. 'Link'

Belgium reopens Myanmar humanity crimes probe against oil giant Total

BRUSSELS : French oil giant Total on Tuesday faced a renewed Belgian probe into its alleged support of Myanmar's military regime as authorities reopened an investigation into the firm.

Belgium authorities are reopening a case brought by Myanmar refugees that Total was involved in crimes against humanity in their country, the refugees' lawyer said.

Four refugees accuse the company of having used forced labour provided by the military regime to build a gas pipeline, according to lawyer Alexis Deswaef.

Authorities are also to reopen an investigation into possible crimes against humanity targeting the regime, he said.

In a consortium with the Myanmar's national oil company and US group Unocal, now part of Chevron, Total built a pipeline in the 1990s to transport gas from fields in Myanmar to Thai power plants in neighbouring Thailand. 'Link'

Myanmar police, soldiers deployed to pagodas and monasteries

Myanmar police, soldiers deployed to pagodas and monasteries

YANGON: Military-ruled Myanmar deployed armed soldiers and riot police to key pagodas and monasteries around Yangon on Wednesday, in a bid to prevent Buddhist monks from staging anti-military protests, witnesses said.

Security forces were deployed around the Shwedagon Pagoda, where monks have begun their marches over the last eight days, as well as the Sule Pagoda, a key rallying point in the city centre, witnesses said.

The pagodas were not closed, but everyone was searched before being allowed to enter. 'Link'

Myanmar imposes curfew, declares Yangon 'restricted' area

YANGON : Myanmar's ruling military slapped dusk-till-dawn curfews on the country's two largest cities on Tuesday after Buddhist monks defied warnings of a crackdown and led 100,000 people in another day of mass protests.

The order, effective on Wednesday in Yangon and Mandalay, came after the ruling generals - under pressure after eight straight days of peaceful protests led by the monks - deployed at least 200 armed soldiers and riot police in Yangon.

"This order was issued because of the protests. Do not organise groups of more than five people," the announcement said, reiterating a long-time ban on assemblies that has been ignored as anti-government protests have swelled.

The 9:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew and the ban on public gatherings were to remain in place for 60 days, the announcement said.

Yangon has also been declared a "restricted area" - a term normally reserved for military or conflict zones. 'Link'

UN envoy to meet Myanmar military chief on Tuesday: official

YANGON: UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, sent to Myanmar to express outrage over the crackdown on anti-government protests, has been forced to wait until Tuesday to meet military leader Than Shwe.

Gambari made his second trip in two days to the country's new and remote capital Naypyidaw, hoping to see the reclusive general. But officials said he was taken elsewhere for a political workshop instead.

The secretive government, which in the past has often frustrated efforts by other UN envoys to visit the country, is facing intense international criticism over its suppression of the protests, which left 13 dead and hundreds arrested.

Gambari was allowed to meet detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for more than an hour Sunday in Yangon to discuss anti-government protests that have rumbled since mid-August but turned into a mass movement last week. 'Link'

Japan to study "stern measures" against Myanmar

TOKYO : Japan said Monday it would consider "stern measures" against Myanmar after troops shot dead a Japanese journalist covering anti-government protests.

The comments came as a Japanese envoy was in Myanmar to press the government for answers on the killing of veteran video-journalist Kenji Nagai, who appeared in video footage to be shot at point-blank range.

"The Japanese government will study a variety of ways, including some stern measures, while watching how discussions develop in international institutions," chief government spokesman Nobutaka Machimura told reporters. 'Link'

Sanctions against Myanmar of little use: analysts

BANGKOK : The latest US sanctions imposed on Myanmar over the military's deadly military crackdown on dissent last week are mainly cosmetic and have little chance of pushing the regime to change, analysts said.

The United States has ordered a freeze on the assets of Myanmar's military leader and 13 other senior officials.

The US administration also slapped visa bans on more than 30 members of the junta and their families.

The United States and European nations already have tough economic sanctions in place, banning most investment and trade with Myanmar. Click the link to continue reading...'Link'

Brutal Force, At Least 9 Killed During Protest In Myanmar

27/28-09-2007 Myanmar Breaks Up Rallies, Cuts Internet

Burmar Army kill Burmese people

"Everyone can see what is happening in Burma.People need democracy.But military government kill the citizen.
Help Burmese"

Read Updated Info From People Inside Burma

Accounts from inside Burma
Updating accounts from inside Burma, 'Link'

Sunday 30/09
The military junta made assemble in Myitkyina on Saturday morning. They said that anyone from each house must attend in the assemble. That's why everyone have to go there. Otherwise nobody want to go in assemble. If not they will put in the jail and they killed the leader of the monks from Myitkyina on Thursday night. Mi, Myitkyina, Myanmar

Saturday, 29/09
I left Burma today. I have travelled around the country for the past month. I witnessed and took part in protests in both Mandalay and Rangoon. I have been walking with the protesters every day this week in Rangoon. I was reluctant to leave, many people have told me that they would like more foreigners to be there with them to support them. After the monasteries clampdown there were armed security forces at every gate of every monastery, but still the people bravely went out on the streets to protest. The Sule Pagoda was like a military camp. There were boxes of ammunition everywhere. For the last several days I've given out flowers to soldiers telling them not to shoot. I don't think those soldiers want to do what they are doing. When I asked them whether they really want to kill people, they shook their heads in silent denial. There were fewer people protesting, this is because the army as well as firing into the crowd, are taking photos of the protesters. This scares them more than the bullets, because they know the repercussions. People are so desperate, they want international armed forces to go there. They feel helpless and heartbroken. Karen, Thailand

Around 14:00 GMT I got in touch with a local Burmese. He told me that the internet is back, but only limited sites are available. YouTube and blogs are blocked. So are the proxy-websites. We messaged each other in a google chat for about 20 minutes, before he got abruptly disconnected. I was trying to get him to install a proxy software. This is what he said: "I am risking a lot by talking to you, there are spies among us sent by the military. There is nobody on the streets now. The place is like a graveyard, only dogs could be heard barking. The last time I heard shooting was yesterday around 15:00." Ralph Wunsch, Vienna, Austria

Link back to 24Sept-28Sept

UN envoy back in Myanmar capital for talks: official

YANGON : UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari who met Myanmar's detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi over the weekend has returned to the nation's remote capital for expected talks with government leader, a UN official said Monday.

Gambari met with Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi for more than an hour on Sunday, and later that night flew to the administrative capital Naypyidaw in central Myanmar, the official said.

"He flew back to Naypyidaw yesterday evening," the UN official told AFP.

Gambari hopes to meet with Myanmar's reclusive leader Than Shwe, after holding talks with other senior officials on Saturday. 'Link'

UN envoy meets Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar

YANGON: UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari met Myanmar's detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of the ruling junta on Sunday, as he tried to broker an end to a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests.

Ibrahim Gambari met with Aung San Suu Kyi for more than an hour, the UN said in a statement. The rare encounter, seen as a sign of intense pressure on the military government, took place at a government guest house in the main city of Yangon.

Gambari was dispatched by UN chief Ban Ki-moon to intervene after the military government unleashed a military campaign to shut down the demonstrations several days ago, leaving at least 13 dead and hundreds arrested. 'Link'

Protesters rally in London, Spanish cities against Myanmar crackdown

LONDON : Hundreds of Myanmar exiles and other people marched in London on Sunday in support of pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar suffering from a violent crackdown.

A Buddhist monk led the march from Trafalgar Square and passed 10 Downing Street, the offices of Prime Minister Gordon Brown who has been pressing the military junta to end the crackdown.

Myanmar exiles marched along with banners, flags and two large portraits of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has spent most of the last 18 years under house arrest.

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