Burma

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Gems That Bankroll Burma Junta Remain on Sale in US

Congress closing loophole as a first step

(Newser) - Congress is moving to close a loophole in a law that forbids the sale of rubies from Burma, but the measure comes too late for the holiday shopping season, writes Marin Cogan of the New Republic. That means US shoppers—unless they take pains to question their jewelry shop's policy—...

Burmese Junta Downplays Protest Death Toll: Report

Government 'lying,' rights group says

(Newser) - The quashing of pro-democracy demonstrations in September was significantly bloodier than the Burmese junta claims, says a Human Rights Watch report released today. Although the government acknowledges only 10 deaths during the suppression of the protests, 20 killings have been verified by eyewitnesses in Yangon alone, and the rights group...

Burma Frees Thousands in Nod to United Nations

Amnesty frees over 8,500, though uncertain if they include protesters

(Newser) - Burma's military junta has freed 8,585 prisoners but it's not clear if any of those arrested in September's crackdown are among them, AP reports. Burmese state media said the amnesty was to mark progress on drafting a new constitution, and a gesture to the United Nations. Similar amnesties in...

UN Visitor Not Keeping Burma From Arrests

US official calls junta's progress 'demonstrably inadequate'

(Newser) - Burma's military junta has continued to detain protesters even as a UN human-rights investigator visits to probe September's crushed uprising, the Guardian reports. Three men distributing pro-democracy leaflets in a Rangoon market were arrested today; a leading female activist was detained yesterday as she posted fliers near the investigator's hotel—...

UN Inspector Vows to Tally Burma's Dead

Demands 'full cooperation' from junta or 'I'll go out'

(Newser) - A UN inspector landed in Burma today to tally the junta's detained and dead protesters, the AP reports. And he vowed to leave if officials don't give him "full cooperation." So far, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro has met with officials and visited a town where the junta targeted monks...

Suu Kyi Sees Hope for Burma Peace
Suu Kyi
Sees Hope for Burma Peace
Nov 9, 2007 9:41 AM CST

Suu Kyi Sees Hope for Burma Peace

Opposition party says leader is optimistic after meeting with junta rep

(Newser) - Aung San Suu Kyi expressed hope for a peaceful end to Burma's strife today after meeting with her party for the first time in 3 years and with a representative of the ruling junta, AFP reports. Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18...

Suu Kyi: 'I Stand Ready to Cooperate'

Imprisoned opposition leader wants 'dialogue' with Burma's junta

(Newser) - Aung San Suu Kyi is ready to cooperate with Burma's military rulers, UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari announced today, reading a statement from the long-imprisoned opposition leader. “I stand ready to cooperate with the government in order to make this process of dialogue a success,” she wrote after the...

Burma Junta Nixes Talks With UN, Dissident

Suu Kyi must drop sanction support; UN not making progress

(Newser) - The junta ruling Myanmar—formerly Burma—today rejected a UN proposal for three-way talks that would have included detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Agence France-Presse reports. It is the latest disappointment to mar the visit of UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, in which he has been denied an audience with...

Suu Kyi Health Declining, Backers Say

Opposition leader to meet UN envoy today amid claims of illness

(Newser) - The UN's special envoy to Burma has returned to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, writes the Guardian, amid reports she is being treated for an unspecified illness. Ibrahim Gambari held talks with senior members of the military junta—though not its top general, who refused to meet him—in...

Burmese Monks Back in Streets
Burmese Monks Back in Streets
Oct 31, 2007 8:52 AM CDT

Burmese Monks Back in Streets

More than 100 march as rights group slams junta over recruiting child soldiers

(Newser) - Picking up their quashed demands, more than 100 Burmese monks marched in defiance of the military junta today in the first marches since the government crackdown on pro-democracy protests late last month. "This is very significant... we are very encouraged to see the monks taking up action," one...

Suu Kyi Meets With Junta Liaison
Suu Kyi Meets With Junta Liaison
Oct 25, 2007 9:27 AM CDT

Suu Kyi Meets With Junta Liaison

Detained democracy leader talks to Burmese military official

(Newser) - Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi today met with the military junta minister in charge of opposition group relations, a day after marking her twelfth year under house arrest, the Guardian reports. Former general Aung Kyi was appointed earlier this month in an apparent concession to international pressure, and...

Supporters Rally for Suu Kyi
Supporters Rally for Suu Kyi
Oct 24, 2007 6:59 AM CDT

Supporters Rally for Suu Kyi

Protests in 12 cities to mark 12th anniversary of her imprisonment

(Newser) - Protests are in progress in front of 12 Chinese embassies around the world today to mark the 12th anniversary of the incarceration of Burmese political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. Six fellow female laureates also have written an open letter, published in today's Guardian, asking...

Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban on Assembly
Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban
on Assembly
Oct 20, 2007 3:34 PM CDT

Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban on Assembly

Junta offers talks to jailed leader after Bush levies sanctions

(Newser) - Burma is scrapping a curfew and a ban on assemblies of more than 5 people in Yangon, apparently assured that pro-democracy protests are dead. The junta also gave opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi a fresh invite for compromise talks, the AP reports. Both moves come after Bush imposed a...

Bush Tightens Sanctions on Burma
Bush Tightens Sanctions
on Burma
Oct 19, 2007 7:14 PM CDT

Bush Tightens Sanctions on Burma

Urges China, India to respond to junta's 'vicious persecution'

(Newser) - President Bush expanded sanctions against Burma today, citing the junta's ongoing "vicious persecution" of protesters. Acknowledging the limits of US influence, he called on India, China and other neighbors to put pressure on the military regime he accused of "ongoing atrocities," Reuters reports. The new sanctions include...

3,000 Detained in Burma, by Junta's Count

Japan cuts aid, China supports UN diplomat

(Newser) - Burma’s military regime imprisoned roughly 3,000 people in last month’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, the state-run newspaper announced today. Over 500 are still in custody, and more are being arrested each day. “Those who should be released will be,” the paper said. Meanwhile international outrage...

Burma's Blood Rubies Lift Junta
Burma's Blood Rubies Lift Junta
Oct 16, 2007 9:42 PM CDT

Burma's Blood Rubies Lift Junta

Sale of gems supports the junta's brutality

(Newser) - Precious Burmese rubies account for 90% of the world's supply, and fund that nation's brutal military junta, according to Der Spiegel. Though some dealers maintain that ruby sales support the opposition, the German paper reports that profits instead go straight to the junta's coffers. Not only that, but gem miners...

Fading US Sway Leads to Darfur, Burma Inaction

China is ignoring rights abuses for economic interests, Time says

(Newser) - Diminished US influence is allowing human rights violators in Darfur and Burma to get away with murder, Harvard expert Samantha Power writes in Time. America is speaking up louder than ever, but Uncle Sam’s diplomatic nadir makes for “a void in global human rights leadership.” China has...

EU, UN Up Pressure on Burma
EU, UN Up Pressure on Burma
Oct 15, 2007 8:05 AM CDT

EU, UN Up Pressure on Burma

EU set to impose harsher sanctions as crackdown continues

(Newser) - European Union leaders meeting today are expected to set tougher sanctions against the Burmese military junta, banning imports of gemstones, timber and metal, Burma's most lucrative exports, BBC reports. UN envoy Ibraham Gambari, in Thailand to press for action against the Rangoon regime, decried the arrests of three of the...

Burma Protests a 'Success,' Says Buddhist Leader

Famed anti-Vietnam agitator supports monks on US tour

(Newser) - Revered Buddhist spokesman Thich Nhat Hanh, famed for enlisting Martin Luther King's help against the Vietnam War, is supporting his spiritual brethren in Burma on a US tour. The monks' struggle against Burma is "already a success," he told Time, "because if monks are imprisoned or have...

Burma Nabs Top Dissidents
Burma Nabs Top Dissidents
Oct 13, 2007 10:02 AM CDT

Burma Nabs Top Dissidents

(Newser) - Myanmar’s rulers have arrested just about every major dissident at large, the BBC reports. The junta rounded up three more prominent figures, among them Htay Kywe, who had been in hiding. He was a leader not only of the recent protests but of the 1988 uprising as well. Amnesty...

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