BURMA – 20 Years of Resistance
Twenty years after the uprising, Burma’s isolationist military regime continues to stifle the opposition and restrict fundamental rights. Aug. 26 marks two decades since Aung San Suu Kyi led a massive rally of a half-million people calling for a democratic government. She has spent 13 years under house arrest. Meanwhile, the long-term effects of the devastating Cyclone Nargis in May and the bloody crackdown in September 2007 on Buddhist monks continue to plague this tormented nation.
www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/burma/index.asp

Suu Kyi – A Living Legend
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK – Nyo Ohn Myint still remembers the moment, 20 years ago, when the legend of Aung San Suu Kyi began. He was there when she gave a stirring speech and became the symbol of hope for a country under the oppressive grip of military rule since 1962.
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No Photo Op for Gambari
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK – A United Nations-led effort to push political reform in military-ruled Burma plunged to a humiliating low on the weekend, raising questions about the effectiveness of the world body?s special envoy to the country, Ibrahim Gambari.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43660

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Expats Keep Democracy Hopes Alive
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK – Aung Moe Zaw still lives in the hope that democracy will take root in Burma, 20 years after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Rangoon to oppose that country?s military dictatorship. “More people have joined our democracy movement. We are very optimistic about it,” the 41-year-old said in an interview on the eve of that anniversary better known in Burma as ‘8-8-88', the day when this spirit of democracy flowered, Aug. 8, 1988.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43496

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UN Missions Draw Derision
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK – In their hour of despair, Burma’s beleaguered people continue to find comfort in humour. New jokes reflect new frustrations. The latest target is Ibrahim Gambari, United Nations special envoy for Burma.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43306

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Offer to Release Suu Kyi a Ploy?
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK – Reacting to growing international pressure Burma?s military regime has said it will consider releasing the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in six months.
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Read more IPS reporting of Burma news at: www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/burma/index.asp

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