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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Burma

Burma stories: 163 news summaries

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OPINION

Obama Coming Up Short
on Human Rights

President's actions don't match the promises that wowed Berliners

Oct 20, 09 1:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama's decision to skip the celebrations of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall highlights the gap between his rhetoric on the campaign trail and the realities of his presidency, writes Bret Stephens. Obama hailed the "dream of freedom" in his big speech in Berlin last... More »

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China • Iran • human rights • Berlin • Sudan • foreign policy • Burma • Obama administration • President Obama

Aung San Suu Kyi Meets US, Other Diplomats

Surprise permission may signal shift in Burmese junta

Oct 9, 09 5:28 AM CDT
(Newser) - Burma's military rulers allowed Aung San Suu Kyi to meet with diplomats from the US, Britain and Australia today, an unexpected development that may reflect shifts in Western approaches to the regime. The hourlong meeting took place at a government guest house, after which she was returned to the home... More »

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house arrest • diplomat • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • junta


 Suu Kyi Loses Appeal, 
 Will Sit Out Election 

Burmese democracy leader fails to reverse newest term of house arrest

Oct 2, 09 5:36 AM CDT
(Newser) - A Burmese court rejected Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal against her latest spell of house arrest today. The pro-democracy leader, who was convicted of violating her previous sentence after an American swam to her home, will remain confined through next year and will be ineligible for the upcoming election. A... More »

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Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • junta • John Yettaw

 US to Engage Burmese Junta 

Clinton announces change in policy, says sanctions will remain

Sep 24, 09 6:09 AM CDT
(Newser) - The US will directly engage with Burma's military leadership in addition to its current sanctions, Hillary Clinton said yesterday. The secretary of State acknowledged that sanctions alone had failed to change "the lack of democracy in Burma and the authorities’ abysmal record on human rights," and it was... More »

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Hillary Clinton • diplomacy • human rights • economic sanctions • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • military junta

Suu Kyi Launches Appeal
as Junta Frees 7K Cons 

Detained Burmese leader seeks to overturn extension of house arrest

Sep 18, 09 5:33 AM CDT
(AP) - Lawyers for detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi today appealed her recent conviction that extended her years of house arrest, a day after the ruling junta announced it was releasing thousands of prisoners. Reporters were banned from the hearing, where her lawyers insisted that the law under which... More »

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house arrest • Myanmar • Burma • political prisoner • Aung San Suu Kyi • Burma protest

Writer Wrestles With Visit to Long-Necked Thai Tribe

Overcomes angry tour guides, conscience

Aug 23, 09 6:06 PM CDT
(Newser) - Most travel companies refuse to take tourists to Thailand’s Burmese Padaung tribe—whose women wear neck coils that artificially elongate their necks—arguing that the practice is exploitative. But Amit R. Paley, writing for the Washington Post, ultimately found a guide and wrestled down his conscience. "My ability... More »

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travel • Thailand • tourism • women • tribes • Burma • exploitation

(AP) - American John Yettaw boarded a flight home today, ending an infamous journey that began three months ago with a secret swim to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi that landed them both in prison. Suu Kyi, who repeatedly asked him to leave, and her two live-in aides, are still... More »

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Jim Webb • house arrest • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • John Yettaw

(Newser) - Burma’s imprisoned opposition leader may be OK with a “new approach” toward the country’s oppressive military regime, Sen. Jim Webb told reporters today. Webb met with Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday, during his visit to the country. “It was my clear impression from her that... More »

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China • Jim Webb • sanctions • economic sanctions • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi

 Suu Kyi's Yank Swimmer 
 Lands in Thailand 

Sen. Webb: 'What he did was regrettable'

Aug 16, 09 6:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - While Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi begins another 18 months under house arrest, the American responsible for her sentence is free and has landed in Thailand, reports CNN. John Yettaw, whose release was won by Sen. Jim Webb, was hospitalized for observation in Bangkok. “He had a medical... More »

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Jim Webb • house arrest • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • John Yettaw

(Newser) - Sen. Jim Webb arrived in Burma today and will meet with the leader of the country's junta this weekend, reports the New York Times. The Virginia Democrat will be the highest-ranking American official ever to meet Gen. Than Shwe; the White House said the senator was "not carrying a... More »

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Jim Webb • diplomacy • Virginia • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • Than Shwe • senator • Senate Foreign Relations Committee • US Senate • Obama administration • John Yettaw

OPINION

Buddhist Monks Are Key to Change in Burma

Diplomatic efforts to 'engage' generals won't lead to democracy

Aug 11, 09 6:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - The extension of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest today serves as the latest reminder of the injustice at the core of the Burmese government. Past US policy revolves around sanctions, which further isolate the country and drive it into China’s economic embrace. Some congressional figures have called... More »

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democracy • dictatorship • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • junta • Democratic Voice of Burma • military junta

 Suu Kyi Found Guilty 

Myanmar democracy activist gets another 18 months house arrest

Aug 11, 09 3:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been found guilty of violating a security law because an American swam to her house, and will again be placed in house detention for at least another 18 months, Reuters reports. The court handed down a sentence of three years hard labor,... More »

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house arrest • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • military junta • John Yettaw • women's issues

(Newser) - Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters are reevaluating their tactics ahead of her expected conviction tomorrow, hoping they can come to some kind of agreement with Myanmar’s junta, the Wall Street Journal reports. Suu Kyi faces a five-year sentence for violating her government-imposed house arrest by allowing in... More »

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Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • junta • John Yettaw • women's issues

OPINION

 Time to Get Tough 
 With N. Korea 


Aug 6, 09 6:37 AM CDT
(Newser) - Getting Laura Ling and Euna Lee out of North Korea was a cakewalk compared to the real diplomatic struggles between the Obama administration and the rogue nation, writes Nicolas Kristof. The New York Times columnist, who has visited North Korea five times, used to favor engagement with Kim Jong-Il's regime.... More »

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North Korea • diplomacy • nuclear weapons • Burma • Kim Jong Il • Nicholas Kristof • nuclear transfer • Euna Lee • Laura Ling

(Newser) - The Burmese court trying Aung San Suu Kyi has postponed its verdict for two weeks, surprising her supporters and foreign observers who expected a finding of guilt today. Although the court said it needed more time to decide the case, one diplomat told the Times of London that the junta... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • junta • Rangoon

(Newser) - Aung San Suu Kyi learns Friday whether she will be found guilty of violating her house arrest, and the Burmese dissident expects the worst. “I’m afraid the verdict will be painfully obvious," she told diplomats in court today as her trial wrapped up. A conviction—she is... More »

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trial • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • dissidents

 US Brands Refugees 
 'Terrorists', Denies Asylum 

All armed groups considered "terrorists"

Jul 26, 09 4:58 PM CDT
(Newser) - Refugees hoping to stay in America are SOL if they backed armed movements back home—even if they fought dictators or have since worked for the United States, McClatchy reports. Following a Patriot Act provision, officials have denied more than 7,000 requests for green cards, refugee status, and asylum... More »

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Iraq • Bush administration • Zimbabwe • Ethiopia • dictatorship • Patriot Act • refugee • Burma • Obama administration • political asylum

Clinton Voices Concern Over Burma-N. Korea Arms Links

Secretary of state will push ASEAN for tough enforcement of N.Korea sanctions

Jul 21, 09 4:49 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hillary Clinton is concerned about possible military cooperation between Myanmar and North Korea, the New York Times reports. In Thailand on the eve of the ASEAN conference, the secretary of state told her hosts that their country would be particularly vulnerable to a pernicious relationship between the two dictatorships. Clinton... More »

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Hillary Clinton • North Korea • Thailand • nuclear weapons • Myanmar • Burma • ASEAN • arms trafficking

 Dumbledore  
 Sparks Fight for  
 Real-World Justice 

Nonprofit Harry Potter Alliance uses books as inspiration

Jul 20, 09 1:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Harry Potter’s battle against injustice in the wizarding world has prompted fans to take the fight to the Muggle universe, the Los Angeles Times reports. Inspired by moral teachings of Albus Dumbledore, Harry’s mentor, the nonprofit Harry Potter Alliance has registered voters, collected some 13,000 books to... More »

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Harry Potter • Darfur • Sudan • JK Rowling • literature • political activism • Myanmar • Burma • book • Albus Dumbledore • Andrew Slack • Harry Potter Alliance

UPDATED

 UN Chief Meets 
 Junta Leader in Burma 

Ban plans to press junta to release Suu Kyi and other political prisoners

Jul 3, 09 4:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma today and is holding talks with the military junta to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the BBC reports. The UN secretary general told the Burmese generals that he wants "to contribute, to work together, for peace and prosperity"—but that... More »

MORE ABOUT:
United Nations • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • junta • Than Shwe • Ban Ki-Moon

1 - 20 of 163 Stories | 1 2 3 4 5 ... 9 Next >>


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