The Irrawaddy
www.irrawaddy.org
The Irrawaddy, Thursday, September 1, 2011
Today's Newsletter
Parliament Approves 'Peace Committee'
By SAW YAN NAING
Burma's Upper House has approved the formation of a committee to mediate with armed ethnic groups.
Parliament Gets Down to Details
By KO HTWE
During the second session of Burma's new Parliament, MPs have introduced proposals that are as local as the placing of new light posts and as broad as forming a committee to ensure national peace and stability.
Burma to Lease State-Run Industries
By THE IRRAWADDY
Burma's minister for Industry 1 and 2 announces an ambitious plan to lease state-run enterprises to the private sector on long-term contracts.
WWII Bomb Kills 7 in Arakan
By THE IRRAWADDY
An accidental bomb explosion kills seven people, including two children, in a village in Burma's western Arakan State.
Bluegrass Band to Tour Burma
By LALIT K JHA
The Earth Stringband, a popular US bluegrass quartet, plans to tour Burma in September as part of an initiative by the US State Department.
Regional
Report Urges World to Secure Drinking Water Access
By LOUISE NORDSTROM / AP WRITER
Investing as little as 0.16 percent of the world's gross domestic product — or $198 billion per year — could give half a billion people regular access to safe drinking water within four years, said a UN official.
Court Voids Australia's Refugee Deal with Malaysia
By ROD MCGUIRK / AP WRITER
Australia's highest court voids a transfer of asylum seekers to Malaysia, ruling the government's attempt to stem an influx of boat people from poor, war-torn countries could not assure their legal rights would be protected.
Opinion
Bullies Across Borders?
By DAVID I. STEINBERG
The possibility of positive change in Burma has prompted a bullying type of orthodoxy from outside Burma by members of organizations devoted to liberty, democracy and human rights. This is quite disturbing.
Bo Lindblom, Byv. 32, SE-31295 Laholm, 0430O-223 64