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Wednesday 14 November 2007

Conference on Shan Buddhism and Culture

& Shan New Year 2102 Celebrations

8-9 December 2007

SOAS & UCL, University of London


    Conference

    Covering 30 paper presentations in six panels

    8th Saturday: 8.00am – 5.30pm, Room B102, Brunei Gallery, SOAS.

    9th Sunday: 9.30am – 4.00pm, Room B102, Brunei Gallery, SOAS.

    Admission: £10

    New Year Celebrations (Pi Mai Thai Yai, 2102 )

    8th Saturday: Cultural performances by Shan Cultural Association UK

    5.30pm – 9.00pm, Brunei Lecture Theatre, SOAS.

    Admission: Free

    9th Sunday: Shan New Year Celebrations & Multi Cultural Evening

    5.00 – 9.00pm, Windeyer Edward Lewis Lecture Theatre, UCL.

    Entertainment by Thanapong Voranate (Mali Thai Pop Band), famous Shan (Thai Yai) singers; Sai Htee Seng,
    Nang Kham Nwei Lek and performances by SCA_UK

    Ticket Prices: Normal £10 per person; Group £35 for 5 persons maximum; Student £7 per person.*

    * Tickets include hot drinks & food on sale.

    Contact: Dr. Betty Kunjara 077 9695 1904 or Jo 07727677550

Today latest news


30 minutes to 1 hour old

Canada to Tighten Sanctions on Burma Voice of America News 20:33

Burma Junta Detains Three More Activists Scoop 20:26


2 to 4 hours old

Burma set for Korat trip despite unrest Bangkok Post 18:55

We are in control: Burma\'s ruling junta Northern Territory News 18:53

5:13am We are in control: Burma's... The Australian 18:27

We are in control: Burma's ruling junta The Courier-Mail, Queensland 18:19

Canada announces tougher sanctions against Burma CTV.ca 18:03


4 to 6 hours old

Burma's junta says it's in control Radio Australia 16:55

Three activists arrested in Burma Channel 4 16:11

Canada imposes 'toughest sanctions' against Burma 5 hours ago canada.com 16:06

Burma: Media blackout blocks updates on country's security AKI 15:48

Canada imposes 'toughest sanctions' against Burma canada.com 15:41

Canada imposes sanctions on Burma canada.com 15:38

Canada imposes \'toughest sanctions\' against Burma... National Post 15:38

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Britain welcomes positive UN report on Myanmar

LONDON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Wednesday welcomed the positive UN report on Myanmar, but said major steps need to be taken to ensure that the people of Myanmar have their voice heard about their own future.

"The eyes of the world are still on the situation in Burma. We welcome the report of Ambassador Gambari to the UN Security Council yesterday. The signs of progress are welcome but there remain major steps that need to be taken to ensure that the people of Burma have their voice heard about their own future." Miliband said in a statement.

Miliband said that Britain, as a permanent member of the Security Council and as a concerned nation, would continue to play its part in ensuring that the crisis in Myanmar is resolved.

On Tuesday, UN special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari delivered a positive report of his latest trip to the Southeast Asian country, saying it has reached "a number of positive outcomes."

Briefing the 15-member Security Council on his latest mission to the country, Gambari said his trip did not produce all the results he had hoped for, but there had been some positive outcomes.


Wednesday Afternoon

Pinheiro at Bago Kyakhatwaing monastery on Sunday
Pinheiro at Bago Kyakhatwaing monastery on Sunday

Pinheiro disturbed by Burma arrest

The United Nations says its human rights envoy to Burma, Sergio Paulo Pinheiro was disturbed by the arrest of a prominent labour activist, Su Su Nway.

The activist was arrested in Rangoon on Tuesday as she put up anti-government posters near the hotel where Mr Pinheiro was staying. A senior UN official said he expected the UN envoy to raise the issue with the Burmese authorities.

Mr Pinheiro is expected to be allowed to meet some of the detainees before he leaves Burma on Thursday.

-NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win told the BBC that more arrests should be stopped


US doubts change in Burma

Mr Gambari met Burmese PM at the Naypyidaw
Mr Gambari met Burmese PM at the Naypyidaw

America's ambassador to the United Nations says he does not believe the Burmese military government has altered its attitude to democracy.

Zalmay Khalilzad was responding to a report from the UN special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, who said the generals were making concrete changes and a political dialogue had begun with the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The BBC correspondent in the region says Mr Gambari's assessment reflects his position as a servant of a deeply divided UN security council, and few believe the Burmese government is prepared to make meaningful change.

-Mr Gambari says to the BBC World today that is very clear a process has been inaugurated which will lead to substantive dialogue that is time-bound and should really produce tangible results but we are not there yet.

US envoy hits out at Burma junta

Burma's military rulers are no closer to accepting democratic reform, the US envoy to the United Nations has said.
Zalmay Khalilzad, file image
Mr Khalilzad has urged the generals to embrace reforms

Zalmay Khalilzad was responding to a report from the UN special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, who said the generals were making concrete changes.

Burma's envoy to the UN, Kyaw Tint Swe, said it was "disappointing" that people "continue to express scepticism".

The row came before a major gem sale in Rangoon - a key source of revenue for the junta.

Human rights groups have called for a boycott of the two-week sale.

'Delicate' situation

Mr Gambari had told the Security Council there had been "positive outcomes" from his latest trip to Burma - his second since troops violently suppressed anti-government protests in September.

The UN envoy - who was not allowed to meet top leader General Than Shwe - described the situation as "qualitatively different from what it was a few weeks ago".

Aung San Suu Kyi with Ibrahim Gambari on 8 November 2007
Ibrahim Gambari met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week
"On balance, the positive outcomes of this latest mission show that the government of Myanmar [Burma]... can be responsive to the concerns of the international community," he said.

After his visit, detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to issue a statement for the first time in over four years and to meet members of her party.

But Ms Suu Kyi remains under house arrest and Western diplomats, including Mr Khalilzad, have voiced scepticism over the commitment of Burma's leaders to a genuine process of dialogue.

"We do not believe that a fundamental shift has occurred in the regime's attitude to embrace substantive reconciliation and transition to democracy," the US envoy said.

In response Mr Kyaw, who represents the junta at the UN, said Burma's problems were "complex and delicate".

"It is disappointing that, notwithstanding the positive developments, some continue to express scepticism with regard to the commitment of the leadership and the pace of the ongoing process."

The BBC's Laura Trevelyan, at the UN, says Security Council diplomats are divided over whether the generals are genuinely committed to change, or just playing for time by pretending to engage with the UN and Aung San Suu Kyi.

'Quick cash'

Meanwhile in Rangoon, a major auction of precious stones is expected to attract hundreds of international dealers.

A worker washes jade ahead of the auction in Rangoon
Hundreds of gem buyers are expected at the sale

Burma is one of the world's biggest producers of jade and gems such as rubies.

But human rights groups say they are mined using forced labour, and their export helps fund the junta.

"The sale of these gems gives Burma's military rulers quick cash to stay in power," Arvind Ganesan, of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

The group called for sanctions on Burma's gem trade - but most of the buyers expected to attend are from Asian nations such as Thailand and China which oppose sanctions against Burma.

The First Public Meeting

The First Public Meeting

Burmese Student Organisation - UK


16th November 2007 (Friday)

7:00pm - 9:00pm



The Burmese Students Organisation shall be a non-profit Organisation representing all overseas Burmese Students independent of any party political organization.


What is BSO?
Who are we?
The role of Setup Committee!
Do BSO really need about our burmese community?
What are they planning?
What is all about?


Please find out more at the meeting and join with us at:


Date : 16th Nov 2007 (Friday)

Time : 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Venue : The Anatomy Lecture Theatre

Hodgkin Building

Guy's Campus

King's College

London

SE1 9RT

Nearest Station : London Bridge Tube Station

Wordpress : http://bscsc.wordpress.com

MyanmarMp3 : http://www.myanmarmp3.net/readnews.aspx?NewsID=200

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2253104492

See attachment for pamphlet.


Setup Committee
Burmese Student Organisation
London, UK