Photo News - May 2012

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi met at the Sedona hotel in Rangoon on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. South Korean is Burma's fourth largest investor. Lee is on a two-day visit to the country. Photo: Mizzima

Aung San Suu Kyi speaks at a press conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Rangoon on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Photo: Mizzima

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak speaks at a press conference in Rangoon on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Photo: Mizzima

    ⁃    Burma's National Expo & Car Show is being held from May 12 to May 15 at the Myanmar Convention Center on Min Dhamma Road in Rangoon. As car prices go down, sale centers have suffered financial losses, say industry workers. If car importers pay less taxes, car prices will continue to fall, according to a car sale center official. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min O

A model shows off a new vehicle at the National Expo and Car Show in Rangoon. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo

The National Expo and Car Show in Rangoon was spread over several acres, attracting many customers because of the falling car prices. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo

People apply for [GSM and CDMA phone] Internet service at the Elite phone sales center in Rangoon on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. At Elite, an applicant must pay 11,000 kyat (about $1.30) as a service charge to apply for  Internet service. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo

Thida Nyo Lay, the daughter of artist Nyo Lay, present a bottle painting to Aung San Suu Kyi at a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the Shwe Min Tha Foundation (Myanmar) on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Suu Kyi is one of the patrons of the foundation. The ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Photo: Mizzima

Shwe Min Tha Foundation (Myanmar) chairman Myat Thu Win, in the wheelchair, and Aung San Suu Kyi at a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the foundation on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.  Myat Thu Win is a disability-rights activist. Photo: Mizzima

Sitagu Abbot Ashin Nyanissara, National League for Democracy chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi, behind, and 88-Generation student leader Min Ko Naing, right, second row, at a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the Shwe Min Tha Foundation (Myanmar) on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. The foundation was formed in 2008 for disabled persons who were affected by Cyclone Nargis. Photo: Mizzima

Supporters wait for National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung San Suu Kyi at the opening ceremony of the NLD Lanmadaw Township office on Anawyahta Road in Rangoon on Monday, May 7, 2012. Despite heavy rain, thousands of supporters waited to hear Suu Kyi speak. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo / Mizzima

Aung San Suu Kyi displays a board bearing the handwritten message “[We] always need more electricity” to the audience at the Lanmadaw Township NLD office in Rangoon on Monday, May 7, 2012. Shortly before Suu Kyi arrived at the office, a power cut occurred. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo / Mizzima

Aung San Suu Kyi speaks at the opening ceremony of the Lanmadaw Township NLD office in Rangoon on Monday, May 7, 2012. She said the NLD counted on the strength of the Burmese people. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo / Mizzima

A supporter with a sign welcomes National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung San Suu Kyi at the opening ceremony of the Lanmadaw Township NLD office in Rangoon on Monday, May 7, 2012. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo / Mizzima

A smiling National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung San Suu Kyi at the opening ceremony of the Lanmadaw Township NLD office in Rangoon on Monday, May 7, 2012. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo / Mizzima

Melanne Verveer, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues, left, and National League for Democracy chairman Aung San Suu Kyi at a press conference at Suu Kyi's home in Rangoon on Sunday, May 6, 2012. Verveer spoke about her concerns on the fighting in Kachin State and its effect on the refugees. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Melanne Verveer, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues, speaks at a press conference at the home of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon on Sunday, May 6, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Crowds of people celebrate Kason Full Moon Day in Rangoon at the Shwedagon Pagoda on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo

The golden stupas of Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon and crowds of visitors on Kason Full Moon Day, Saturday, May 5, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo

Officials from UNESCO and the Burma Information Ministry attend the World Press Freedom Day ceremony at The Strand Hotel in Rangoon on Thursday, May 3, 2012. World Press Freedom Day was established by the U.N. in 1992. Photo: Mizzima / Ye Min

Soe Win, the deputy minister of the Information Ministry, speaks at the World Press Freedom Day ceremonies held at The Strand Hotel in Rangoon on Thursday, May 3, 2012. He said a bill regarding the print media is being drafted in Parliament, and it will be put forward in the next regular session sometime this summer. Photo: Mizzima / Ye Min

Government officials at the World Press Freedom Day ceremonies at The Strand Hotel in Rangoon on Thursday, May 3, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Ye Min

Audience members at the World Press Freedom Day ceremonies at The Strand Hotel in Rangoon. The event was jointly organized by UNESCO and the Burma’s Information Ministry. Photo: Mizzima / Ye Min

NLD Lower House MPs including Aung San Suu Kyi take the oath of office in the Lower House of the Burmese Parliament on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

National League for Democracy (NLD) MPs about to enter the Lower House of the Burmese Parliament to take the oath of office on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Phyu Phyu Thin, a NLD Lower House MP from Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, signs the attendance sheet in the Burmese Parliament. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

NLD Lower House MPs sign the Parliament attendance sheet. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to reporters after the parliamentary session of the Lower House ended on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Suu Kyi and NLD MPs outside the Parliament hall after being sworn in as members of the Burmese Parliament, marking the NLD's return to political legitimacy after decades of opposing the former military-ruled government. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Suu Kyi leaves the Parliament building in Naypyitaw on the day she assumed a seat representing a poor Karen constituency on the outskirts of Rangoon. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrives in front of the Burmese Parliament building in Naypyitaw to be sworn in as a member of Parliament, marking her ascension to a legitimate place in Burmese politics after years under house arrest. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Aung San Suu Kyi sits in her Parliament seat in Naypyitaw. Analysts say the National League for Democracy will have to compromise with other political factions, including the military. However, Suu Kyi is expected to wield great influence, as demonstrated by the onrush of western politicians in recent months eager to meet with her at her home in Rangoon. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Journalists take pictures of a note marking the desk where Aung San Suu Kyi will sit in the Burmese Parliament in Naypyitaw. She will take the oath of office on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, ending a standoff with the government over the wording of the oath. Suu Kyi said she still opposed with oath's wording, but it was more important to begin working within the political process. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a press conference at her home in Rangoon on Tuesday, May 1, 2012.  Earlier, Ban addressed the Burmese Parliament, the highest western official to speak to the newly formed lawmaking body. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo

The scene at a press conference for Ban Ki-moon and Aung San Suu Kyi at her lakeside home in Rangoon on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo

Ban Ki-moon and Aung San Suu Kyi at her home in Rangoon after a private meeting. Ban has announced that the U.N. will assist Burma in conducting a census of the country, the first in three decades. Photo: Mizzima / Min Min Oo