Than Shwe

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Burmese Junta Honchos Quit the Army
 Burmese Junta Honchos 
 Quit the Army 
ELECTION ANTICS

Burmese Junta Honchos Quit the Army

Leaders plan to stand as civilians in tightly controlled election

(Newser) - Burma's prime minister and 22 of his cabinet ministers have swapped their military uniforms for civvies, a move the junta's critics say is part of the country's shift from a military dictatorship to a civilian one. Observers believe the leaders—who will keep their posts in the country's government—have...

Myanmar Dashes Suu Kyi's Bid for Freedom

Court quashes activist's bid to end house arrest

(Newser) - The highest court in military-ruled Myanmar dismissed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's latest bid for freedom today, turning down an appeal to end 14 years of house arrest. The Supreme Court's decision comes as no surprise as legal rulings in Myanmar rarely favor opposition activists. Defense lawyer Nyan Win...

Junta's Honcho Meets Suu Kyi
 Junta's Honcho Meets Suu Kyi 

Junta's Honcho Meets Suu Kyi

State media slam 'dishonest' pro-democracy leader

(Newser) - Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was escorted from her home today for her first talks with junta officials in two months. Officials declined comment on the subject of the talks with the detained activist, the AP reports. A state-run newspaper yesterday accused Suu Kyi of "dishonesty" for...

Webb Visits Suu Kyi, Wins American's Release
Webb Visits Suu Kyi,
Wins American's Release 
UPDATED

Webb Visits Suu Kyi, Wins American's Release

(Newser) - Sen. Jim Webb visited Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi today, in a rare meeting between a foreign official and the Nobel laureate, the AP reports. He also won the release of the American who swam uninvited to her home and caused her latest trouble. Suu Kyi, who was...

Webb Visits Burma, Will Meet With Junta Chief

(Newser) - Sen. Jim Webb arrived in Burma today and will meet with the leader of the country's junta this weekend, reports the New York Times. The Virginia Democrat will be the highest-ranking American official ever to meet Gen. Than Shwe; the White House said the senator was "not carrying a...

UN Chief Meets Junta Leader in Burma
 UN Chief Meets 
 Junta Leader in Burma 
UPDATED

UN Chief Meets Junta Leader in Burma

Ban plans to press junta to release Suu Kyi and other political prisoners

(Newser) - Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma today and is holding talks with the military junta to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the BBC reports. The UN secretary general told the Burmese generals that he wants "to contribute, to work together, for peace and prosperity"—but that...

Burma Agrees to Accept All Aid
 Burma Agrees to Accept All Aid 

Burma Agrees to Accept All Aid

Junta drops opposition to aid workers entering country

(Newser) - Burma has agreed to let international disaster relief workers into the country to help with the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, Bloomberg reports. The junta's about-face came after  UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who flew in yesterday, met the nation's  reclusive military leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe. The UN hopes to ramp...

Burma Relents on Foreign Docs, Aid Workers

But only from ASEAN member nations

(Newser) - Two and a half weeks after cyclone Nargis hit, Burma finally agreed today to allow foreign medics and disaster experts into the battered country, reports the BBC—but only from ASEAN member nations. UN chief Ban Ki-Moon also plans to jet to Burma on Wednesday to bring additional pressure to...

Junta Leader Visits Nargis Victims as UN Envoy Arrives

General meets survivors for first time since cyclone hit

(Newser) - The head of Burma's junta emerged today for the first time since cyclone Nargis struck two weeks ago to meet with survivors, CNN reports. Gen. Than Shwe visited a refugee camp 200 miles south of Yangon, touching the faces of infant survivors. The visit came as the UN's humanitarian secretary...

Burma Junta Nixes Talks With UN, Dissident

Suu Kyi must drop sanction support; UN not making progress

(Newser) - The junta ruling Myanmar—formerly Burma—today rejected a UN proposal for three-way talks that would have included detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Agence France-Presse reports. It is the latest disappointment to mar the visit of UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, in which he has been denied an audience with...

Suu Kyi Meets With Junta Liaison
Suu Kyi Meets With Junta Liaison

Suu Kyi Meets With Junta Liaison

Detained democracy leader talks to Burmese military official

(Newser) - Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi today met with the military junta minister in charge of opposition group relations, a day after marking her twelfth year under house arrest, the Guardian reports. Former general Aung Kyi was appointed earlier this month in an apparent concession to international pressure, and...

Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban on Assembly
Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban
on Assembly

Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban on Assembly

Junta offers talks to jailed leader after Bush levies sanctions

(Newser) - Burma is scrapping a curfew and a ban on assemblies of more than 5 people in Yangon, apparently assured that pro-democracy protests are dead. The junta also gave opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi a fresh invite for compromise talks, the AP reports. Both moves come after Bush imposed a...

Suu Kyi Rejects Conditions, Won't Meet Junta

Opposition leader rejects talk conditions

(Newser) - Aung San Suu Kyi will not meet with Burma's ruling junta, which insists that she soften her anti-regime position as a condition of scheduling talks. The opposition leader said in a statement today she will accept no conditions, the Guardian reports: “The success of a dialogue is based on...

Relentless Myanmar Junta Pursues Reprisals

Military continues roundup, beatings of activists

(Newser) - Burma's military junta is continuing to exact a harsh revenge on pro-democracy activists, despite an end to large-scale demonstrations. In the wake of a recent visit by a UN special envoy, the government is disregarding calls for restraint and continuing to round up and beat monks, nuns and civilians. Last...

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