Myanmar’s economy fuels fears of unrest
12/31/2007
Source ::: AFP
snip
Sean Turnell, an expert on Myanmar's economy at Australia's Macquarie University, said the tourism business in the Southeast Asian nation has "completely collapsed" due to a plunge in demand after the September violence.
"The events of August are going to come back because the economy is getting worse, and the level of public anger in the country is still very high," said Turnell. "In Burma, big unrest always comes when people feel they have nothing much to lose," Turnell said.
thepeninsulaqatar.com
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by May Ng
After the Burmese military junta attacked and killed the peaceful monks and protestors, it is still impossible to imagine how the powerful military can at last be dismissed. But it is even harder to see now how the military generals will survive the latest self inflicted blow, by killing the sons of Buddha in Burma.
mizzima.com
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“India should go to rescue of Nagas in Myanmar”
Special Correspondent
Nagaland Chief Minister meets Karunanidhi 
Photo: S.R. Raghunathan WARM GREETINGS: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphi-u Rio in Chennai on Sunday.
CHENNAI: The Union Government should go to the rescue of Nagas living in Myanmar and influence the regime there to recognise them on the lines of what is done in India, Neiphi-u Rio, Nagaland Chief Minister, said here on Sunday.
snip
hindu.com
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13 Sidr Victims Returned to Bangladesh
12/31/2007
Teknaf: Thirteen victims of cyclone Sidr who had been detained in the Maungdaw prison since the storm struck Bangladesh were repatriated to Bangladesh on Friday by Burmese border authorities, reports an official from Teknaf.
The official said that the thirteen arrived at Teknaf jetty from the western Burmese town of Maungdaw on board a ferry ship, and Bangladesh authorities received them at the jetty.
The group had been detained at Maungdaw prison for over a month after they arrived on Burmese soil; their fishing boats had sunk in the Naff River between the two countries during the attack of Sidr.
snip
narinjara.com
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Global Internet Report Volume 1
31.12.2007
Web 2.0 Revives Internet Economy 2007 This annual report offers a wealth of information on the worldwide development of the Internet economy. Internet blogs and social networks are starting to provide significant social and political forums throughout Asia, sometimes offering an important alternative to the main stream media. This has become increasingly critical in those countries with repressive regimes. In September 2007, bloggers in Myanmar for example were getting important news to the world during the military junta’s violent crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations by monks and the wider population.
live-pr.com
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Three ultras killed in Assam encounter
December 31st, 2007
Guwahati, Dec 31 (ANI): Three ultras belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were killed and another injured in an encounter with security forces in the Dibru-Saikhowa Reserve Forest area.
The deceased ultras were believed to be fresh recruits who had returned recently from Myanmar to carry out a major strike in the state.
snip
thaindian.com
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Prison labourers flee from project site
Monday, 31 December 2007
Myebon, Arakan: Three prisoners made to work as labourers fled from their workplace on the Akyab-Rangoon Highway road on December 28 at night.
snip The work of repairing the road has been suspended. "The security officer police sergeant Chit Htun was called to the western command office to investigate about the case and may be he will be punished for his carelessness," said a source close to the office. Robbery in Maungdaw town by Bangladeshi robbers
Monday, 31 December 2007
Maungdaw, Arakan State: A burglary was committed in Maungdaw Township of Arakan State on December 10, by Bangladeshi robbers, according to a family member of Moulvi Anis.
snip
The next day morning, the police and Nasaka --- Burma's Border Security force--- went to the house and asked about the robbery and told the family members that the robbery will be reported to the Bangladesh authority for action.
Earlier, a number of robberies were committed in Maungdaw Township by Bangladeshi robbers, said a village elder.
kaladanpress.org
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Rev. Saboi Jum's Thanksgiving Party for Kachin and junta officials
December 31, 2007
KNG
snip
Rev. Lahtaw Saboi Jum, former General Secretary of Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) and founder of Shalom Foundation successfully negotiated a ceasefire agreement between the main Kachin insurgent group, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the ruling junta in 1994.
Rev. Saboi Jum had a very close relationship with former junta's deposed Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt and he also has good relations with the current junta supremo Sr-Gen Than Shwe, local sources close to him said.
Criticism of the two brother peace negotiators, Rev. Saboi Jum and Hkun Myat are gradually mounting in Kachin community where it is being said "Their eyes are only on leaders of Burma's ruling junta and their personal businesses.", according to local sources.
kachinnews.com
About the author: The Kachin News Group (KNG) is a non-profit, an independent media organization and covering Kachin, Burma and regional issues.
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Government seizes farmland from locals Reporting by Nan Kham Kaew Dec 31, 2007 (DVB)–The Burmese government has seized over 1000 acres of privately-owned farmlands near Meikhtila airbase for an upcoming factory project, according to locals. snip "Most of the paddy rice produced in the district comes from these farmlands. They are vital food sources for all the people in the whole district." The airbase authorities reportedly promised the farmers compensation of twelve times their farm tax rate for the loss of land. The tax rate for each acre of farm is 1.50 kyat. Missionaries give Christmas donation to prison inmates Reporting by Thet Naing snip
Kalay township residents said that the living condition for inmates in prison work camps in the area has been very poor, with prisoners shackled and given demanding farm work to do with no proper meals.
Death rates among prisoners have been on rise too, residents said.
english.dvb.no
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Faith, history unite two communities
Church opens hearts to Karen refugees
The bride and groom approached the Frankfort Avenue church from opposite directions on a raw December morning as guitar-led minstrels serenaded them in their native Asian language of Karen.
snip
courier-journal.com
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Burmese monks led 2007 stories Journalists who write about religion chose the Buddhist monks of Myanmar (Burma) and their pro-democracy struggle over Pope Benedict XVI, President Bush, and others as the top religion newsmakers of 2007. snip
"More than half of those responding to the survey chose the monks over Pope Benedict XVI, President George W. Bush and US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, among others," the Religion Newswriters Association said in announcing the results of a survey of its members about the top religion stories of the year.
The story of the Myanmar monks itself was ranked sixth by the US journalists, who were asked to select their top 10 from 20 choices.
snip
speroforum.com
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xs.to
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buddhistchannel.tv
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“Imagine All the People Burma 2008” 
irrawaddy.org .................................................. ..........................