Myanmar

Myanmar opposition sets conditions for joining 2010 polls

Myanmar opposition sets conditions for joining 2010 pollsYangon - Myanmar's chief opposition party on Wednesday presented the ruling junta with a list of demands it must meet, including the freeing of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, before the party will contest the general election planned next year. The preconditions were announced by National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman Nyan Win at the end of a two-day plenary meeting of the opposition party at its Yangon headquarters, attended by more than 300 party representatives.

Myanmar opposition readies for crucial plenary meeting

Myanmar opposition readies for crucial plenary meeting Yangon - More than 100 members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party gathered at their Yangon headquarters Monday for a plenary meeting held this week to set their stance on crucial issues such as the pending polls. Monday's meeting was in preparation for the plenary session Tuesday and Wednesday at which all members of the opposition will discuss the country's recently passed constitution, elections planned for 2010 and the future of democracy in the military-controlled nation, sources said.

Myanmar activists get 253,524 signatures to free political prisoners

Myanmar denounces French "warship" carrying aid to its remote areasBangkok - A global petition campaign to free Myanmar's political prisoners has secured 253,524 signatures to date, pro-democracy groups announced Tuesday.

The signature campaign, launched on March 13 marking Myanmar's Human Rights Day, aims to collect 888,888 signatures before May 24, 2009, the date that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest, according to the country's laws.

Myanmar issues weekend cyclone warning

Myanmar, BangladeshYangon - Myanmar's state-controlled press Friday issued warnings that Cyclone Bijli could hit the country's western coast over the weekend.

According to Myanmar's meteorological office, Cyclone Bijli, which was centred in the west-central part of the Bay of Bengal on Thursday, was forecast to enter the area between Bangladesh and Myanmar's Rakhine State on Saturday, the New Light of Myanmar reported.

Son of late insurgency leader defects to Myanmar's government

Son of late insurgency leader defects to Myanmar's government Yangon - A son of late Karen rebellion leader general Bo Mya has defected to the Myanmar's military junta, an official statement said Saturday.

Nay Soe Mya, with a group of soldiers and their families totaling 159 people, crossed over on March 30 to enjoy the "fruits of regional development" after "witnessing the nation-building endeavours being carried out by the state," the statement said.

UN urges increased assistance to Myanmar's cyclone-hit areas

UN urges increased assistance to Myanmar's cyclone-hit areas New York - The United Nations on Friday called for increased support to Myanmar's regions that were heavily destroyed by Cyclone Nargis almost a year ago, saying the help provided so far was below the actual needs of the people there.

Myanmar is currently facing a pre-monsoon season, particularly in the delta that was hard hit last May. The cyclone killed tens of thousands of people while hundreds of thousands of others lost their homes.

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