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 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.

Tough road ahead for Surin

Asean Charter must be ratified by a quorum before the new secretary-general can carry on with his work

Surin Pitsuwan has taken up his post as Asean secretary-general. He expressed the hope that the Asean Charter would be ratified within one year after Singapore became the first member of the grouping to ratify this historic document earlier this week. The island nation has set a good example by providing this calculated measure of support. As it turns out, there is a  chance that the ratification process might take more than one year. At the Asean Summit in November, no leaders were able to commit to ratifying the charter within a specific time frame. As a result of this lack of an agreed-upon timetable, the charter, which is supposed to streamline red tape and make the organisation more effective and responsive to civil society organisations in the region, may be stalled. Furthermore, the expectations that the charter would also enhance the role of the secretary-general to speak and act on behalf of Asean remains a pipe dream. At the moment, there is nothing to indicate that other countries might follow in Singapore's footsteps.

Decision Time in Burma

 By R. Nicholas Burns

Three months have passed since the world called on Burma's dictators, Gens. Than Shwe and Maung Aye, to end their brutal crackdown on tens of thousands of peaceful monks and other demonstrators and begin a genuine dialogue with Burma's democratic and ethnic minority leaders -- with the goal of a transition to democracy. The time has come for them to act. With the strong backing of the U.N. Security Council, U.N. special adviser Ibrahim Gambari has made two trips to Burma since the crackdown to try to facilitate a dialogue. Through him, democratic leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has reaffirmed her willingness to participate in a "meaningful and time-bound" dialogue to be joined by representatives of the country's ethnic minority groups.

Burma's Financial Crisis

VOA News

With a tight grip on the country's abundant natural resources, Burma's ruling military elite appears to have the money it needs to retain power. However, for the vast majority of ordinary Burmese, daily life is a grinding struggle. High inflation, low wages and rampant corruption have pushed millions into poverty. In August, the situation deteriorated still further when the government sharply raised fuel prices, bringing thousands onto the streets in protests -- that government troops crushed in September. But as Rory Byrne and Wido Schlicting report from Rangoon, the economic crisis that led to the protests has not gone away.  

Military-ruled Burma has suffered from economic decline for decades. Critics say mismanagement has crippled the economy, and international economic sanctions against the government have made things worse. Sann Aung is a cabinet minister with Burma's government in exile, living in Bangkok. "The people are very poor because of the ad hoc policies and also the mismanagement of the military regime, he says, And also at the same time there is no rule of law, and also the situation is not conducive to international investment," Aung said. A bad situation got dramatically worse in August when the military government more than doubled some fuel prices, adding to rapid inflation and forcing millions deeper into poverty.