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Photo: AP

In this photo released by the Iraqi Government, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seen at an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, April 12, 2010

Iraqi Election Panel Orders Baghdad Recount

Order follows an appeal from incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki

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More Top News

• Bashir Far Ahead in Early Sudan Election Results
• At Least 7 Killed in Afghanistan Earthquake
• One-Third of European Flights Will Operate Monday
• Thai Soldiers, Protesters Face-Off in Commercial District
• Indian Government Vows to Press Ahead with Government Offensive
• S. Korean President Vows 'Resolute Action' on Sunken Ship
• Mothballed Camps Reopen as Australia Struggles With Surge in Illegal Immigrants
• NASA Hopes for Tuesday Landing of Shuttle Discovery
• 100,000 Attend State Funeral for Poland President
• Pope Promises Church Will Bring Abusers to Justice
• Italy: Afghanistan Frees 3 Italian Aid Workers

Special Features

	Airlines condemn 'European mess'
	The body representing the world's airlines criticises governments in Europe for the way they close air space because of volcanic ash.

	Army secures key Bangkok area			Australia plans tough reef laws
The Thai army moves into the business district of Bangkok to prevent anti-government protesters entering the area.			Australia plans tough new laws to prevent shipping from entering areas around the delicate Great Barrier Reef.
	Iraqi al-Qaeda leaders 'killed'			Space shuttle to return Tuesday
The Iraqi prime minister says two leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq have been killed, but there is no US confirmation.			Low cloud and rain in Florida delay the return to Earth of the space shuttle Discovery.
	Western demand 'hogging water'			World 'more positive about US'
The amount of water used to make food and goods exported to the West is worsening global shortages, a report argues.			Views of the US around the world have improved sharply over the past year, a BBC World Service poll suggests.
	Fulham Europa tie given go-ahead			IPL semis switched after blasts
Fulham's Europa League semi-final against Hamburg, which had been in doubt because of the disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud, will go ahead on Thursday.			The Indian Premier League semi-finals are moved from Bangalore to Mumbai amid security fears following two explosions outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
	Day in pictures			Powerful tale
Some striking images from around the world			The hold of Bolivar (and his dog) on modern Venezuela
	Boxing clever			BA seeks compensation for chaos
German sports firm Puma unveils new green packaging			British Airways asks the EU and UK government for compensation for the closure of airspace.
	Citigroup posts profit of $4.4bn			Ash chaos costing TUI £5m a day
Wall Street banking giant Citigroup reports a profit of $4.4bn for the first three months of the year.			TUI Travel, Europe's biggest travel operator, says the disruption caused by the volcanic ash has cost it about £20m.
	Robot 'helps arms after stroke'			Philips profits continue rebound
Intensive therapy using a robot has helped patients improve arm movement years after they had a stroke.			Global electronics giant Philips has reported profitable quarter as it continues to recover from the recession.
	Awards first for singer Underwood			Role in Neighbours up for grabs
Carrie Underwood becomes the first female artist to win entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards for a second time.			British fans of Neighbours are given the chance to win a part in the Australian soap to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
	Study logs oceans' tiniest life			Toxic ash threatens Iceland herds
An unprecedented number of tiny, ocean dwelling organisms is catalogued by a survey of the world's oceans.			Icelandic farmers race to protect their animals from being poisoned as rural areas become caked in dust.
	Rewards 'work like drugs' in ADHD			Kenya farmers hit by flight ban
Behavioural rewards for children with attention-deficit disorders work on the brain in the same way as drugs, a study suggests.			Thousands of farm workers in Kenya are temporarily laid off because of the volcanic ash that has grounded flights over Europe.
	Somali rebels 'improved security'			Bolivia hosts Mother Earth talks
Hardline Islamists have brought greater stability to parts Somalia, but at a huge cost, Human Rights Watch says.			Delegates gather in Cochabamba for a "people's conference" on climate change called by Bolivian President Evo Morales.
	Venezuelan boxer Valero is dead			Two China quake survivors rescued
Champion Venezuelan boxer Edwin Valero is found dead in a police cell after being arrested for killing his wife.			Two survivors are pulled from the rubble in Qinghai, as the death toll from last week's quake rises to nearly 2,000.
	Australia mobster killed in jail			Fatal track faster than planned
Infamous Australian gangland boss Carl Williams dies after a beating at a high security jail in Melbourne.			Officials admit the track on which a Georgian luger died at the 2010 Winter Olympics was faster than it should have been.
	Deutsche Bahn 'nears Arriva deal'			Barak: Palestinian state certain
German national rail company Deutsche Bahn is close to a £1.6bn takeover of UK transport group Arriva, reports say.			Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says Israel must eventually give Palestinians their independence.
	UN begins Gulf human rights tour			India cricket row minister quits
The UN high commissioner for Human rights says more needs to be done to improve rights for migrant workers and women.			An Indian junior government minister resigns over allegations of corruption in the country's premier cricket league.
	Deadly quake in north Afghanistan			Navy ships to aid in ash response
Seven people are reported dead as a magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits Afghanistan and is felt in neighbouring states			Royal Navy ships are drafted into the efforts to return stranded travellers to the UK as airspace restrictions are extended.
	Tweed 'rape victim did not speak'			Government intervenes at council
A jury hears that a woman allegedly raped by Jack Tweed, widower of Jade Goody, and his friend, "did not protest".			An independent watchdog recommends government intervention after a series of crises at Doncaster Council.
	Burglar murder charge is dropped			Girl dies in island hit-and-run
A 23-year-old man who stabbed a teenage burglar to death has a murder charge against him dropped.			A 12-year-old girl from Dewsbury dies and a boy is injured in a hit-and-run car accident on Gran Canaria.

The plight of migrant workers

Uncertain of their rights, many are being subjected to harassment and extortion by the police, even if they are legally employed

Bangkok Post , Published: 11/04/2010 at 12:00 AM

Mya and her sister, Burmese migrants who work the night shift at a Samut Sakhon textile factory, were asleep in their home late one morning when there was a knock on the door.

UNPOPULAR: Two children take part in a demonstration against the nationality verification process earlier this year. PHOTO: PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

Burma's shadow of death

Monday, April 19, 2010

HARN LAY/THE IRRAWADDY |

Leading Parties Stay Away from Election

By KO HTWE

Nineteen political parties to date have registered for this year's general election in Burma; however, the leading parties say they will not compete.

Rangoon Blasts Target Junta Chief's Grandson?

By NAYEE LIN LET

Explosions in Rangoon appear to have targeted the grandson of junta chief Sr-Gen Than Shwe, say army and police sources.

KIO Meets Junta Officials after Dam Bombings

By WAI MOE

Kachin Independence Organization officials meet with their junta counterparts in Myitkyina, following a series of bomb blasts at the Myitsone dam site.

Newspaper Blames Rangoon Bombs on Exiled Groups

By KYAW THEIN KHA

Exiled Burmese opposition groups were responsible for the bombing of a pavilion in Rangoon, according to a commentary in a state-run newspaper on Sunday, which said the groups gave terrorist training to migrant workers.

Volcano-stranded Europeans Seek Alternate Routes

By KAY JOHNSON

Frustrated European travelers stranded overseas struggled to find alternate routes home, desperate for information on flights into the continent's few airports not closed by a dangerous cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano.

Poor turnout for festival finalé in Rangoon
Very few people attended the Thingyan traditional water festival at pavilions along Kandawgyi Road, ...

Kachin dam bombing kills four

Three bombs explode close to controversial dam days after a similar attack in Rangoon left nine dead and hundreds injured

Is drug policy a human rights abuser?

Prohibition on the global drugs industry is born of a moralistic, not pragmatic, viewpoint and has had a devastating impact on poor countries such as Burma