Rangoon At War?

[uk_falang]

Hi

My friend has to fly to Rangoon tomorrow. There are rumors of large scale riots in Burma. Any news please? Nothing reported on BBC, only some information on fuel price protests.

Thanks

[Jingthing]

Well, yes, there have been historic protests lately. What is going to happen next?

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displa...tory_id=9687328

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/27...on_30046600.php

Edited August 27, 2007 by Jingthing

[uk_falang]

Well, yes, there have been historic protests lately. What is going to happen next?

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displa...tory_id=9687328

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/27...on_30046600.php

I have many friends on the border talking about a massacre in rangoon. Myanmar news not covering anything obviously.

[Choscura]

anybody expecting accurate news out of burma, especially from official sources, shouldn't hold their breath. but if theres riots, it seems like there would be a reason for the riots, such as some democratically elected leader- like Sun Kyii- being found dead, or having been executed. anybody remember the riots in... 92, was it? 93? when they had the first democratic elections, and the government promptly ignored them and declared martial law?

[jEFFREYk44]

400 protesters seem to be very little but they must have big hearts

From The Irawaddy:

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8399

I think Sonthi left today for a visit

[LongThaimer]

Hi

My friend has to fly to Rangoon tomorrow. There are rumors of large scale riots in Burma. Any news please? Nothing reported on BBC, only some information on fuel price protests.

Thanks

Local state media has been reporting news of small scale protests in the big cities since last week. Like in the past, the military has got them all under control heavy handedly. Business travellers on short trip to Rangoon should not be too concerned at the moment.

People going there for leisure including the country side may have to deal with more inconvenience than usual due to tighter security measures imposed recently.

If your friend has long term business interests in Burma, maybe worthwhile to visit this website occasionally, http://www.mizzima.com/

[phazey]

it's been pretty quiet.

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Sonthi meets with Myanmese officials to discuss border cooperation

Council for National (CNS) Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin is conducting an official visit to the Union of Myanmar today (August 27th).

Gen. Sonthi says his visit will involve reiterating the importance of border cooperation to Burmese officials. He hopes that both Thailand and Myanmar can continue ongoing policies despite the appointment of a new Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief. Gen. Sonthi revealed that relations between Thailand and Myanmar remains strong and that work development has been satisfactory.

The CNS Chairman added that drug trafficking and illegal immigration issues will also be handled through joint border cooperation between the two nations.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 August 2007 (yesterday)

[Mid]

Dozens detained over new protest in Myanmar

08-28-2007, 07h57

YANGON (AFP)

Pro-democracy activists march during a protest in Yangon, 22 August 2007. Dozens of pro-democracy supporters have been detained after a top labour activist tried to launch a new protest in Yangon against a sharp rise in fuel prices, witnesses have said.

(AFP/File)

Dozens of pro-democracy supporters were detained Tuesday after a top labour activist tried to launch a new protest in Yangon against a sharp rise in fuel prices, witnesses said.

About 50 activists had gathered near a bus stop close to the former campus of Yangon University on the north side of Myanmar's main city, but plainclothes police and pro-junta militia broke up the group after only 10 minutes, witnesses said.

snip

turkishpress.com

[Jai Dee]

Activists protest outside Burmese embassy

Activists and groups fighting for democracy in Burma Sunday held a brief demonstration in front of the Burmese embassy in Bangkok to support a series of peaceful protests over massive hikes in fuel prices imposed by the military junta.

Almost 100 representatives of 15 organisations, including the Bangkokbased Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB), the exiled National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) and National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), gathered at the embassy Sunday morning to express their support.

"The situation in our homeland is so tense as the junta has arrested many protest leaders who were 8888 generation activists. Military officers searched the houses of their relatives," Soe Aung, spokesman for the Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB), told The Nation.

"People are living in fear and very few even dare to walk around the city as military intelligence is everywhere," a Burmese activist said.

The 8888 generation activists were those who joined the uprising against the military dictatorship on August 8, 1988. The uprising 19 years ago was ignited by economic factors as students reacted angrily to the government revoking some kyat banknotes without compensation.

Analysts have different views over the current situation. Some believe the protests could not post any significant threat to the junta as the group is so small. Others say four rallies in a week over the fuel prices could really shake the junta's stability and possibly result in a repeat of the 8888 uprising.

People in Rangoon, mostly women, have staged public protests against the dramatic hike of fuel prices since August 21. The junta had detained more than 60 activists in connection with the demonstration for creating unrest and disturbing social order.

"More and more families are facing starvation because the price of rice has doubled, there are no public bus services to take people to work, and worse may follow. If the junta State Peace and Development Council, led by Senior General Than Shwe, continues its vicious crackdown in reaction to the growing protests, it will drag the country and the region into chaos," the group of activists said in their statement issued during the protest in front of the Burmese embassy.

The protesters demanded the junta immediately stop raising fuel prices, stop using violence against peaceful demonstrators and release all political prisoners and cease military hostilities against nonBurman ethnic communities.

They also urged the United Nations and Asean, of which Burma is a member, to seek a solution to prevent the country from sinking into further turmoil.

Source: The Nation - 29 August 2007