US Navy Shadows Somali Pirates Holding American Captain
Shipping company says safe return of captain, held by four pirates on lifeboat, is top priority
Britain's Top Anti Terror Officer Resigns Over Security Blunder
Assistant commissioner Bob Quick photographed holding secret documents related to secret operation
Indonesians Vote in Parliamentary Elections
Opinion polls say president's Democratic party expected to win most votes
Obama Receives Mostly Rave Reviews After First European Trip 
Analysts say new US president's style and message hit home
275 Dead in Italy Quake
Hope for finding more survivors fad |  | Britain's top counter-terrorism officer resigns after admitting he could have jeopardised an operation which aimed to thwart a possible al-Qaeda plot. |
Police chief quits over blunder
Eyewitnesses describe raid| Negotiations are going on for the release of a US cargo ship captain held by Somali pirates in a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean. | | North Korea's Kim Jong-il makes his first major state appearance since he had a suspected stroke last year. |
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Indonesians Celebrate a Decade of Democracy |
| By ROBIN McDOWELL |
| Indonesians flooded polling stations across the sprawling island nation Thursday, capping a decade of democracy in a parliamentary election that will gauge the reform-minded president's chances of re-election. |
Five Burmese Labor Activists Arrested |
| By THE IRRAWADDY |
| Five members of the Federation Trade Unions of Burma are arrested in Rangoon after returning from a conference on the Thai-Burma border. |
New Year Oracle Holds Bad Omens |
| By ARKAR MOE |
| Bad omens for Burma are being read into the traditional Thingyansar predictions published to coincide with the Burmese New Year. |
LETTER FROM WARSAWLearning from Poland’s Example |
| By AUNG ZAW |
| Poland’s experience in ridding itself of a rigidly totalitarian regime could help the Burmese people in their own struggle for democracy. |
Shan State ‘Extremely Unstable’: Researchers |
| By WAI MOE |
| A new report on eastern Shan State reveals growing tension in the region, as the Burmese junta pushes ceasefire groups to disarm and China’s influence increases. |
NEWS ANALYSISThe Junta Woos the KNU |
| By SAW YAN NAING |
| The Burmese junta is courting the KNU to sign a cease-fire agreement, in hopes of moving another step closer to an “inclusive” 2010 national election. |
One Bangladeshi Killed, Two Injured in Shooting
4/9/2009
Teknaf: An attack on a Bangladeshi fishing boat by Burmese law enforcement ended in one fisherman dead and two injured in the early morning of Wednesday, said Ko Saw from Shah Farir Biwit Island located at the mouth of the Naff River.full story
Rumor of Attacks Among Muslims on Border
4/9/2009
Maungdaw: A rumor is spreading among the Muslim community on Burma's western border that Buddhists will attack Muslims during the upcoming Arakanese new year festival to be celebrated from 13 to 17 April, said a Muslim leader from Maungdaw over the phone.full story
Army Special Operation Chief Visits Western Border
4/9/2009
Maungdaw: Lieutenant General Ko Ko, Chief of the Bureau of Special Operations 3 and a member of the ruling SPDC, arrived at the western Burmese border near Bangladesh on Tuesday along with many high army officials, said a police official on the condition of anonymity. full story
Chin suffers from inadequate access to protection in India
4/9/2009
By Nava Thakuria: The Chin people of Burma, who are living in the Indian capital, suffers from less access to humanitarian relief and services by the local government and also the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in New Delhi.full story
| Chin refugees in Delhi struggle to access aid Apr 9, 2009 (DVB)–Refugees from northwest Burma who seek asylum in India are suffering unbearable living conditions and long waiting periods before registration, according to a report published yesterday. - more |
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| Army offensive to clear way for deep-sea port Apr 9, 2009 (DVB)–A border offensive this week against Burma’s main armed opposition group is an attempt to clear the area of rebels prior to the construction of a deep-sea port and coal factory, said an opposition group member. - more |
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| Opposition leader’s lawyer resorts to pleading Apr 9, 2009 (DVB)–The lawyer of imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said that only pleading with the government will allow him access to his client, as her stated release date draws closer. - more |
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| ‘Non-political’ group to assess sanctions Apr 8, 2009 (DVB)–A self-proclaimed non-partisan group in Burma has announced plans to examine the effects of sanctions on Burmese citizens and present their findings to the United States and European Union. - more |
HRW urges Japan to speak out on BurmaThe Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged Japan to give human rights priority in the Japanese Foreign Policy, and in particular in its policy towards Burma. In an open letter... |
US Congress members call for appointment of Burma envoySeventeen members of the US Congress have written to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, asking for the appointment of a special envoy for military-ruled Burma, a state department |
RSF demands release of two bloggers
'Reporters Sans Frontier' (RSF), an international media freedom group, today demanded the release of two Burmese bloggers Ko Thura a.k.a. Ko Zargana and Nay Phone Latt because they were,NLD reviews finer points of Special Announcement No. 18
In a bid to explore a political strategy, the National League for Democracy (NLD), is currently reviewing the finer points expressed in its Special Announcement (18/09/08).
