The Irrawaddy
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Today's Newsletter
USDP Preparing to Fix the Vote
By KO HTWE
Burma's Union Solidarity and Development Party is reportedly conducting its own census in an apparent effort to influence the result of the general election.
Junta Stations New Missile Battalion on Border
By THE IRRAWADDY
Burma positions a new air defense missile battalion close to the southern Thailand-Burma border.
Thai PM Cancels Trip to Burma
By THE IRRAWADDY
Mutually conflicting schedules with Burmese leaders has caused the Thai PM to cancel his second planned trip to Burma
Hydro-power Electricity Erratic in Shan State
By SAI ZOM HSENG
Electricity distribution from Burma's Shweli Hydro-power Dam No. 1 in northern Shan State has not benefited local residents.
Loophole Gives Burma Room to Go Nuclear in Secrecy
By MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR / IPS WRITER
Thanks to a loophole in the international regime to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons, military-ruled Burma could very well carry out its reported intent to go nuclear behind a veil of secrecy, free of scrutiny from IAEA.
Business
'One Stop' Service for Registering Illegal Vehicles
By AUNG THET WINE
A special team in Rangoon will operate a 'one stop' service for registering, licensing and taxing illegal vehicles, fixing their market value and fining their owners, according to sources.
Cambodia Delays Stock Market Debut to Next July
By SOPHENG CHEANG / AP WRITER
Cambodia has delayed the opening of its proposed stock market for a second time, pushing the date back to July next year.
Regional
Clinton Warns Burma on NKorea Cooperation
By MATTHEW LEE / AP WRITER
US Secretary of State warns Burma's military rulers against any cooperation with North Korea on a nuclear program and called on the junta to hold free and fair elections this year.
NKorea Calls on US to Halt Exercises, Sanctions
By JIM GOMEZ / AP WRITER
North Korea warns the United States and South Korea to halt military exercises scheduled for this weekend and to back off any new sanctions against the communist country.
NKorea on Damage Control at Asia Security Meeting
By MARGIE MASON / AP WRITER
North Korea's top diplomat will likely be on a damage control mission this week at an Asian security meeting, pleading innocent to the sinking of a South Korean warship.
Opinion
CONTRIBUTOR
More of the Same at Asean Meeting
By KAY LATT
Six years ago before an Asia-Europe Meeting meeting in Hanoi, Nguyen Dy Nien, then Vietnam's foreign minister, promised that "Asean is trying to democratize Myanmar".