NLD LA (Norway)

Man sets himself ablaze in political protest in military-ruled Myanmar

A man set himself on fire at Yangon's most famous landmark in a political protest against Myanmar's military junta, witnesses said Sunday. Thousands of pilgrims were gathered at the city's famed Shwedagon pagoda for a Buddhist holiday Friday when a 26-year-old man shouted "Down with the military regime," doused himself with gasoline and set himself ablaze, witnesses said. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of official reprisal. The man remained in critical condition with severe burns at a hospital Sunday, a hospital official said on condition of anonymity because he did not have the authority to speak to the press. The incident was the first known case of self-immolation in Myanmar since the military regime took over in 1962. Shwedagon pagoda was one of the main gathering points for Buddhist monks and pro-democracy protesters last September when at least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained when the country's military rulers cracked down on peaceful demonstrations. Myanmar's current junta seized control of the government in 1988 after violently suppressing nationwide pro-democracy protests. It held a general election in 1990, but failed to hand over power to the victors, the National League for Democracy Party led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Shan meet vows to protect non-Shan rights

A three-day conference of Shans, the largest non-Burman ethnic group in strife-torn Burma, that ended yesterday at an undisclosed location on the Thai-Burma border has promised to work closely with non-Shans in Shan State and protect their rights. “It is in the interests of Shans to serve their needs,” said Peunkham Payakwong, a Tai Leu from Kengtung who was elected by a majority vote (78%) by the 59-conference participants. “Burma’s bitter experience has shown us Shans will not benefit by emulating the Burman dictators.” The Shans, according to British censuses conducted in 1931 and 1941, stand at about 50% of the total population of Shan State, at present 5.2 million, according to the military government’s statistics. (Junta counting, since 1962, has always tended to understate the Shan population, while rebel estimates understandably have appeared to overstate it – Editor) By contrast, 60% of Burma’s population are Burmans and the rest non-Burmans, according to a recent brochure published by the anti-junta Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC).

Italian director to make film about Burma's Suu Kyi

Italian director to make film about Burma's Suu Kyi

Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore is planning to make his first English-language movie about the Burmese democracy icon and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. Tornatore is developing the script for "The Lady" with Japanese producer Naofumi Okamoto, with production to begin later this year. Okamoto is producing the $30 million project alongside Avi Arad and Steven Paul and Benedict Carver of L.A.-based Crystal Sky Pictures. Crystal Sky is financing the pic. Okamoto is one of only a handful of foreigners to have met with Aung San Suu Kyi since her arrest 17 years ago by Burma's military junta. He overcame her initial reluctance and secured her permission to develop a movie based on her life.