The Irrawaddy
Monday, May 24, 2010
Today's Newsletter
Border Guard Force Plan to Be Sidelined
By WAI MOE
The Burmese junta plans to sideline the border guard force issue with cease-fire groups until after the general election.
Chinese PM to Visit Burma
By AYE AYE WIN / AP WRITER
Premier Wen Jiabao of China will make an official visit to Burma's military leaders in June.
Uncertainty About Malaysian Amnesty
By KYAW THEIN KHA
Illegal Burmese migrants in Malaysia are uncertain whether to accept an amnesty to return home to be offered by the Malaysian government.
Two Rangoon Journals Temporarily Banned
By SAI ZOM HSENG
The Press Scrutiny and Registration Division temporarily bans two Rangoon journals from publishing after they printed an "inappropriate" article with well-known actress Htet Htet Moe Oo.
Pickup Crash Kills 13 Burmese Migrants
By KYAW THEIN KHA
A pickup skidded and overturned during a police chase early Sunday, killing nine and injuring seven Burmese migrant workers in Phetchaburi Province, Thailand.
Blaze Destroys Rangoon Market
By THE IRRAWADDY
A fire destroys one of Rangoon's largest wholesale markets, Mingalar Zay, in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township.
UN Chief Urges Action Against Child Soldiers
By EDITH M LEDERER / AP WRITER
Ban Ki-moon urges the UN Security Council to consider tough measures against countries and insurgent groups that persist in recruiting child soldiers.
Regional
Thailand Faces a Rocky Economic Road Back
By WILLIAM BOOT
The cost of the Bangkok arson attacks has been provisionally estimated at US $1.2 billion, but the final bill for Thailand's political instability could be even higher.
Obstacles Facing Thai Reconciliation
By SIMON ROUGHNEEN
The brutality seen on Bangkok streets in recent weeks will not be forgotten quickly, irrespective of the "mai pen rai (never mind)" thinking that many optimistic observers attribute to Thai culture.
Opinion
CONTRIBUTOR
Than Shwe's Election Dilemma
By BAMARGYI
Everyone is asking why no election date has been set? One explanation might be Snr-Gen. Than Shwe is still not sure how to negotiate his way into a safe future.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It's not an easy job to find institutions or individuals to solve the [current political] crisis, since it has reached the point where people in Thai society no longer trust each other."
Charnvit Kasetsiri, one of Thailand's most distinguished historians
BEYOND 1988 — REFLECTIONS
Learning diplomacy
A training program in diplomacy at an Australian university opened the way to nine years of overseas travel, promoting the cause of Burmese democracy.
Bo Lindblom, Byv. 32, SE-31295 Laholm, 0430-223 64