2010-02-03

Irrawaddy 100203

The Irrawaddy

The Irrawaddy
www.irrawaddy.org
Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Today's Newsletter

Drugs Influx Expected in Thailand
By LAWI WENG AND SAW YAN NAING
Anti-drugs bureaus in Thailand say more and more drugs are being trafficked into the country, especially from Burma.

Western-sanctioned Kanbawza Bank Buys Airline By WAI MOE
Burma continues to privatize businesses as Myanmar Airways International is sold to Kanbawza Bank, owned by a close business associate of the junta.

Burma Absent from UN Security Council's February Agenda By BA KAUNG
Burma is not on the February agenda of the United Nations Security Council because no member has raised the issue, according to Ambassador Gérard Araud of France, the country holding the council’s rotating presidency this month.

Burmese Activist Awarded US Fellowship
By LALIT K. JHA / NEW YORK
A New York-based Burmese activist, Myra Dahgaypaw, has been awarded a prestigious Carl Wilkens Fellowship by the Genocide Intervention Network.

Regional

Assessing Thai Coup Rumors
By SIMON ROUGHNEEN
With political tension mounting in Bangkok, coup rumors are growing, but who in the army has enough reason to mount a coup?

Obama Visit will Show Family His Indonesian Past By NINIEK KARMINI / AP WRITER
In March, US President Barack Obama will visit his boyhood home in Jakarta, where he played games on the streets and learned a foreign language.

Philippine Poll Shows Aquino Rival Catching Up By OLIVER TEVES
Lavish campaign spending allows the Philippines' wealthiest politician to close in on the son of democracy icon Corazon Aquino in the latest opinion poll ahead of the May presidential election.

Opinion

COMMENTARY
How to Select a UN Special Envoy?
By AUNG ZAW
As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon looks for a successor to his special envoy on Burma, it might be useful to consider some do's and don'ts to guide him through the task.

Bo Lindblom, Byv. 32, SE-31295 Laholm, 0430-223 64