NLD lawmakers to take oath of office

Monday, 30 April 2012 14:24 Phanida and Ko Pauk (Mizzima) - Aung San Suu Kyi said on Monday the oath dispute preventing her party from being sworn into office as members of the Burmese Parliament has been temporarily resolved – although the contested wording has not been changed. NLD opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi Photo: MIzzima Lawmakers-elect in her opposition party will take the unchanged...

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Ban praises Thein Sein in Burmese Parliament

Monday, 30 April 2012 15:17 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for foreign governments to “go even further” in removing all trade restrictions and sanctions against Burma, in an address to the Burmese Parliament in Naypyitaw. Ban is the highest foreign official to address the Parliament since it was created about one year ago, signaling a new page in relations...

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Newspaper refuses to reveal reporter’s name in gov’t suit

Monday, 30 April 2012 15:34 Myo ThantChiang Mai (Mizzima) – In response to a Ministry of Mines request to reveal the name of a reporter who wrote an article citing financial transgressions of the ministry by quoting information from the Union auditor-general's office, the newspaper said it would not do so.The journal’s editor-in-chief, Kyaw Min Swe, said in a hearing that responsibility for a story...

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Political prisoners still in Burmese jails

Monday, 30 April 2012 15:03 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – Burma Campaign UK (BCUK) has urged the British government to do more to persuade the military-backed government in Burma to release all remaining political prisoners. There have been a series of positive changes in Burma, including the release of high profile political prisoners, and Aung San Suu Kyi being elected as a member of parliament, BCUK...

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Garmany FM Guido Westerwelle and Aung San Suu Kyi hold a press conference at her home in Rangoon

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Thein Sein to replace gov’t peacemaking team

Monday, 30 April 2012 14:39 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – With the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) peace talks at an impasse, Burmese President Thein Sein will name a new peace nogotiation team including a  vice president, politicians and military officials, according to sources close to the president.  The change in the negotiating group is designed to put new life into the talks, which...

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Asean civil society under stress

Monday, 30 April 2012 13:53 Kavi Chongkittavorn(Commentary) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen displayed his finest brinkmanship in his handling of Asean-based civil society organisations at the recent Asean summit in Phnom Penh. Kavi Chongkittavorn Ahead of the leader’s meeting, his government organised a conference of hundreds of government-sponsored non-government groups including local entities...

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Four government officials killed in attack on office

Monday, 30 April 2012 13:12 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – A sub-township administrator in Waingmaw Township in Kachin State and three other government employees were killed in an attack on a government office on Saturday by a small Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) armed group. Three other persons are missing. our KIO rebels launched the attack, according to an article in the New Light of Myanmar,...

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Rights groups call on U.N. chief to press Burma on reforms

Monday, 30 April 2012 12:56 Ron Corben Human rights groups are calling on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to further press Burma’s military-backed civilian government to stay the course with reforms. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said upon his arrival that Burma has entered a critical moment against the backdrop of a series of political and economic reforms undertaken over the...

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Ban to address the Burmese Parliament

Monday, 30 April 2012 12:14 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will address the Burmese Parliament on Monday and meet with Burmese President Thein. He will be the first major Western official to address the Parliament, which was formed in March 2010. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his bodyguards depart from U Thant's tomb in Rangoon after paying homage on Sunday,...

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E.U. foreign policy chief visits Burma

Sunday, 29 April 2012 15:17 Mizzima News(Mizzima) – European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton urged the Burmese government to continue its progress toward democracy. Ashton also opened a new E.U. office in Rangoon to oversee the management of aid programs and to handle political matters. E.U. foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton at a press conference at NLD headquarters in Rangoon...

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Opening of the Office of the European Union in Yangon

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Photo News - April 2012

E.U. foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, left, Aung San Suu Kyi and Rangoon Region Chief Minister Myint Swe at the opening ceremony for the new E.U. office in Rangoon on Saturday, April 28, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Ye Min National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung San Suu Kyi and E.U. foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton at a press conference at NLD headquarters in Rangoon on...

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Lawmakers ask Shwe Mann to lead in solving oath standoff

Friday, 27 April 2012 15:42 Myo Thant Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Leaders of 16 Burmese political parties have asked ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) Vice Chairman Shwe Mann to take the lead in solving the NLD oath of office issue. Shwe Mann is also speaker of the Lower House of Parliament. Dr. Aye Maung of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) told Mizzima that party...

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Italy, Burma to cooperate on Bagan, Pyu preservation

Friday, 27 April 2012 13:51 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – The Burmese cultural heritage sites of Bagan and Pyu will be the focus of cultural preservation in a cooperative agreement between Burma and Italy, official media reported on Friday. Oxen and wagons near the Bagan cultural heritage site in central Burma. Photo: Mizzima The capacity building program will be funded with Italy's assistance under...

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Exploring Burmese society and culture

Friday, 27 April 2012 14:59 Mizzima News (Interview) – Jak Bazino, a French citizen who lived and traveled extensively in Burma from 2001 to 2005, recently published a first novel, Zawgyi, l’alchimiste de Birmanie, which was inspired by his time spent in Burma. Bazino spoke with Mizzima about his novel and his observations and analysis of Burmese culture and the present political transition. He...

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Ban Ki-moon praises India’s tolerance

Friday, 27 April 2012 18:17 Mizzima News (MIzzima) – Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. secretary general, accepted an honorary degree on Friday from Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, prior to his visit to Burma this weekend. In his remarks, Ban recalled his first diplomatic posting 40 years ago in India. “It was one of the best things that happened to me,” he said. “Ever since, I have drawn lessons from the proud history of India.” Noting that his son was born in India and his daughter is married to an Indian, he said he feels like he is going...

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Many along Mekong River concerned about hydropower expansion

Friday, 27 April 2012 15:21 Rick ValenzuelaA Thai company says it is going ahead with construction of the controversial $3.5 billion Xayaburi dam on the Mekong River in Laos. Some 12 planned hydropower dams on the Mekong are expected to bring in lucrative profits, but environmentalists warn the dams threaten the health of a river that sustains tens of millions of people.Ek Than's family has lived...

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Shan drug lord arrested in Laos

Friday, 27 April 2012 14:32 Mizzima News(Mizzima) – A Shan drug lord believed to be involved in the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River last year has been arrested in Laos and sent to China, according to Thai security forces.Jai Norkham, a suspected drug dealer on the Thai authorities' most-wanted list, was arrested with six associates in Laos in Ban Mom in Tonpheung District in Bokeo Province early on Thursday, according to an article in The Bangkok Post on Friday. The area is opposite Chiang Rai, Thailand.Jai Norkham was believed...

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WHO sees gains in malaria fight but concerns remain

Friday, 27 April 2012 14:11 Ron Corben Health authorities, led by the World Health Organization, are making progress against drug-resistant strains of malaria in the border regions of Thailand. WHO officials say efforts to curb the emergence of resistant strains in Burma, however, are critical to preventing the disease from spreading into South Asia. A mosquito feeding on blood. Photo: Wikipedia The...

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