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Ashion Pyinya Sara Sentenced to 8 Years and 3 Months in Prison

Adjust font size: Sittwe: Arakanese historian monk Ashion Pyinya Sara was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years and three months in prison by a district court of Sittwe, reported a source close to the monk. The Sittwe District deputy judge, Daw War War Tun, passed the verdict and sentence at 11 am on Wednesday.

Signature Campaign for Arrested Arakanese Monk

By Maung Aye -------------------- Sittwe: Monks living across western Burma's Arakan State have started a petition to appeal to the Burmese military junta for the release of U Pyinya Sara, who has been unfairly de-robed and put on trial, said a leading activist monk from the campaign. "The campaign is being launched by some young monks studying in the monasteries to secure the release of U Pyinya Sara, as he is not guilty of the charges filed by the local authorities, and his trial should held in accordance with the law," said the monk. He said that the campaign is now being carried out in Mrauk U, Kyauk Taw, Sittwe, Rambree, Man Aung, Ponna Kyunt, and Minbya Townships in Arakan State. "We are now collecting signatures from the monks in each township. Even the abbots are supporting our campaign. So far we have received 200 signatures and after completing the campaign all across Arakan we will submit the petition to the junta's higher authoritie

People Avoid RNDP Rally

However, over 200 villagers, mostly women, did attend the rally in spite of the authorities taking photos. "We hoped many people would attend the rally, but no more than 200 people attended because many elder men in the village avoided it out of fear of retribution by the authority if they did attend the rally," Dr. Aye said.

Arakan State EC Abuses Election Law

Sittwe: The Election Commission, or EC, in Arakan State has abused the election law by allowing the Union Solidarity and Development Party to use religious buildings for public rallies for the election, said a politician. "In the election law, buildings used for religious purposes are not allowed to be used by any political party for public rallies. But the EC in Arakan State has allowed the USDP to use religious buildings for rallies. The EC is directly abusing the election law in Arakan," he said. The EC has allowed the USDP to use religious buildings, but has not allowed other political parties, including the National Unity Party and the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, to do the same. "As far as I know the EC allowed many monasteries and community halls used for religious purposes in Sittwe to be used by the USDP for rallies, but not other parties. The EC also indirectly supports the USDP to win in the election," he said.

India’s role on Burma’s inclusive election urged

Our correspondent in New Delhi ---------------------------------------------- The Indian government should ‘grant the benefits of democracy, humanity and prosperity to the peoples of India's neighbours too’ and take a critical stance on the fairness and inclusiveness of the upcoming elections in Burma and their results. This call was made by the more than 20 journalists and civil society activists who participated in a media workshop on the November 7 Burma election as well as the situation of Burmese refugees living in India, held at the Press Club of India. While India allows refugees to stay in the country as they await UNHCR refugee status, it could do much more in providing security to this vulnerable group. The participants reminded the government that the influx of refugees in India is the result of bad governance in Burma.

32 Burmese Held in Bangladesh

Tun Tun ------------ Chittagong: Some 32 Burmese citizens were arrested in Bangladesh in the last two days for staying in the country illegally, according to an official report. According to a police source, the Burmese nationals were arrested from different frontier areas in the Chittagong Hill Tract area near the Burmese border. An Arakanese who is living in the area said that the Bangladesh police arrested many Burmese Muslims in Lama Township of Bandarban Hill District on Monday morning and Sunday evening. Most were arrested as they crossed the border to seek refuge in Bangladesh territory. A police officer in Lama also said that a police team conducted raids in the areas and arrested 18 migrants on Monday morning, on charges of entering Bangladesh illegally. On Sunday evening, another police team arrested 14 Burmese nationals from the same township.

Two Children Killed in Fire in Buthidaung

By Takaloo ---------------- Buthidaung: Two children were reportedly killed in a fire that broke out last Friday in Ward No. 1 in Buthidaung in western Burma's Arakan State, said a neighbor of the household. "A fire broke out around 1:00 am last Friday here in Ward No. 1 in our town. Two houses were gutted in the fire and two children were killed in the incident," said the neighbor. The children were identified as 10-year-old Osman, son of Abu Taher, and 12-year-old Sayadul Naser, daughter of Hamid. They lived in the house where the fire reportedly started from a kerosene lamp while they were asleep. The house was build of wood with a corrugated tin roof.

Government Forces Step-Up Illegal Tax Collection in Arakan with Approaching Election

By Takaloo ---------------- Sittwe: Burmese military forces such as the army, navy, Nasaka, police, and forestry officials that have been deployed for "safeguarding national security" along waterways and land routes across western Burma's Arakan State have been stepping up collection of tolls on the public as the election scheduled for 7 November draws near, report local residents. "Before they used to collect tolls from the boats and barges carrying goods, and from passengers carrying goods. But after the announcement of the election date, the forces have been stepping up collection of the tolls from even vessels and passengers without goods or cargo in a manner that they will have nothing after the election," a boat owner from Sittwe told Narinjara.

Meeting for Arrested Monk Foiled by Police

Adjust font size: Sittwe: A meeting for the arrested monk Ashon Pyinya Sara that was organized by monks in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan, was foiled by police on Monday. Speaking to Narinjara, one monk said, "We attempted to gather at the monastery where Ashon Pyinya Sara was living for a meeting to consult on his arrest, but the meeting was postponed after police foiled the program." Police from Min Gan police station in Sittwe blocked the meeting on the pretense that the monastery was not allowed to be used for such on orders from the high authority.

Burma Agrees to Connect Tri-Nation Road Links

Dhaka: Burma has agreed to connect the proposed tri-nation road links between Burma, Bangladesh, and China. China's ambassador to Bangladesh, Zhang Xianyi, made the comment about Burma's agreement when he met with Bangladesh Forest and Environment Minister Hasan Mahmud in Dhaka on Monday.

Government Officials Canvas for Votes with USDP Candidates

View of Sittwe Sittwe: The chairmen of the ward administration, Yayaka, in the Arakan State capital Sittwe, have been canvassing for votes along with candidates from the Union Solidarity Development Party in their respective wards in Sittwe, said a town elder.

Media Workshop on SPDC’s Election in Indian capital

Nava Thakuria -------------------- A day long media workshop on the forthcoming military sponsored election in Burma (Myanmar) and its implication on hundred thousand Burmese refugees will take place in the Indian capital. Organised by Burma Centre Delhi and Burma Center Prague, the workshop will accommodate journalists from both Europe and Asia. The workshop on September 27 will be followed by a press conference in the Press Club of India, New Delhi.

Burmese Navy Collects Tolls for High-Ranking Officer

Sittwe: Burmese naval personnel stationed at the harbor at Soe Mae Kyi in western Pharonger Islands south of Sittwe have been collecting large tolls from both legal and illegal machine boats for a high-ranking naval officer, report machine boat owners and traders. "The naval officers collect half a million kyat from one machine boat for a trip to Bangladesh with smuggled cattle. The toll is collected by naval officers at the base on the instruction of Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Thiha," one boat owner said. The lower-ranking officers collect the toll not only from cattle smuggling boats, but also from other smuggling boats, such as those taking rice and timber to Bangladesh. The money collected is being provided to Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Thiha.

Authorities Force Locals to Stand as Night Sentries

By Takaloo ------------- Maungdaw: Burmese military authorities have issued a strict order to local residents to place village sentries at night to maintain security against rampant robberies in Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships on the western Burmese border, said one resident. "As robbers are rampant in our townships, local authorities have ordered every village here to do night sentry," said the resident. An official from the Maungdaw District Peace and Development Council, or DPDC, told Narinjara that local authorities had to give the order to the villagers following pressure from the central regime Naypyidaw to combat rising robberies in the areas. "Our higher authorities from Naypyidaw since mid-August have ordered all local authorities such as the DPDC, MPDC, army battalions, Nasaka, and police to catch the robbers dead or alive, without failure, if any robberies happen again in our areas," said the official. "It is not possible for us

Arakanese Party Among Those Dissolved by EC

Dhaka: An Arakanese ethnic political party, the Mro National Party, has been dissolved by the Union Election Commission for failing to submit its candidates to run in the upcoming election, according to a report of the state-run Myanmar Radio on Tuesday. The Mro National Party registered on 23 June and was approved by the Election Commission as a political party on 5 July, 2010. The Mro National Party was dissolved along with four other parties after they all failed to submit candidates to the Election Commission within the specified time-frame, it was reported. The Mro National Party was formed by Mro leaders in order to develop the Mro tribal communities in Arakan and Chin State. The estimated population of ethnic Mro is about 20,000.

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Ex-MPs to argue expenses decision at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is to decide whether three former Labour MPs are immune from prosecution for allegedly abusing their Parliamentary expenses. David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Elliott Morley argue they are protected by Parliamentary privilege. The three former MPs deny charges of false accounting. But they claim that because the expenses system is run by Parliament it should be for Parliament alone to investigate any alleged wrongdoing. Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, has refused permission to take the case to the Supreme Court in the wake of the Court of Appeal's decision, in July, that they are not protected from prosecution by Parliamentary privilege. But Lord Judge said that because the matter involves an important point of law it should be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether to hear their argument.

Powys council to close 10 schools in Ystradgynlais area

Multimillion-pound plans to close 10 primary schools and build four replacements have been unanimously backed by councillors in Powys. The £36m project in and around Ystradgynlais, which also includes the £9.6m refurbishment of a secondary school, was recommended for approval. It is part of plans to invest £125m on modernising primary schools by 2019. Protesters say a proposed Welsh medium school at Brynderi, in Ystradgynlais, is not big enough.

Scottish ministers confirm primary class size cap plan

Plans to bring in a legal limit of 25 pupils for primary one classes have been announced by the Scottish government. The cap is some way short of an SNP manifesto promise, which pledged classes in the first three years of primary would be capped at 18 pupils. Opposition MSPs said the government had failed to meet its election pledge. Previous plans to reduce class sizes have failed because schools could not legally say classes were full. Families refused a place were often successful when they went to court to appeal against a decision not to allow their child to attend on the basis of class sizes.

Billy Wright murder inquiry report due

A public inquiry into the murder of loyalist paramilitary leader Billy Wright inside the Maze prison 13 years ago will be published later. The head of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) was shot by republican prisoners in December 1997 inside one of the world's most secure jails. His family say he was a victim of collusion between prison authorities, the security services and police. The four-year inquiry costing almost £30m addressed those claims. NI Secretary Owen Paterson is to announce the inquiry's conclusions at Westminster on Tuesday afternoon. Billy Wright's family arrived at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on Tuesday morning and were locked into a room to read the 700-page report in private.

BBC's Ray Gosling sentenced for wasting police time

Ray Gosling: ''The pact was... if nothing could be done, I would not let him linger'' A BBC presenter who admitted wasting police time after claiming on air that he smothered his dying lover has been given a suspended prison sentence. Ray Gosling, 71, of Nottingham, was charged over claims he made to BBC Breakfast's Bill Turnbull in February. He was initially arrested on suspicion of murder but charged with wasting police time after the confession was determined to be false. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was handed a 90-day suspended sentence. 'Technically guilty' Gosling's claim was first made in a BBC Inside Out documentary about so-called mercy killings, broadcast on 15 February.

Ofsted says schools using special needs too widely

Thousands of pupils are being wrongly labelled as having special educational needs when all they require is better teaching and support, Ofsted has said. It said up to 25% of the 1.7m pupils in England with special needs would not be so labelled if schools focused more on teaching for all their children. The education standards watchdog said the term "special needs" was being used too widely. The National Union of Teachers said such claims were "insulting and wrong".

Iran 'releases female US hiker Sarah Shourd'

Iran has released an American woman held for more than a year on suspicion of spying, reports from Iran say. Sarah Shourd was detained near Iran's border with Iraq on 31 July 2009, along with Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. The Tehran chief prosecutor said at the weekend that Ms Shourd would be freed when $500,000 (£325,000) bail was paid, and could leave the country. Ms Shourd's lawyer said she had been released and was heading to the Swiss embassy in Tehran, Reuters reported.

Kashmir mob defies curfew to pelt troops with stones

A mob has defied a curfew in Indian-administered Kashmir, pelting the security forces with stones. Police fired tear gas at the group in Khanpora Baramulla district, north Kashmir, and one man was injured. The curfew has been extended to new areas. The protests - the latest in a series of violent demonstrations - are over reports of Koran burnings in the US. More than 80 protesters have died this summer in widespread anti-government demonstrations. Nearly all of them were shot dead by government forces after protesting against Indian rule in Kashmir. All commercial flights to Indian-administered Kashmir have been cancelled for three days, because of the ongoing trouble. Police shot dead 18 civilians on Monday in the deadliest day since the Kashmir protests erupted three months ago.

Middle East leaders 'tackle core issues' in Egypt talks

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have held "serious discussions on core issues" during direct peace talks in Egypt, the US Middle East envoy says. George Mitchell was talking after three-way talks in Egypt between the US, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He said all sides had reconfirmed their commitment to the negotiations. The talks come amid concern over the imminent expiry of Israel's partial ban on West Bank settlement building.

Cuba to cut a million public jobs

Cuba has announced radical plans to lay off huge numbers of state employees, to help revive the communist country's struggling economy. The Cuban labour federation said more than a million workers would lose their jobs - half of them by March next year. Those laid off will be encouraged to become self-employed or join new private enterprises, on which some of the current restrictions will be eased. Analysts say it is biggest private sector shift since the 1959 revolution. Cuba's communist government currently controls almost all aspects of the country's economy and employs about 85% of the official workforce, which is put at 5.1 million people. As many as one-in-five of all workers could lose their jobs. "Our state cannot and should not continue maintaining companies, productive entities, services and budgeted sectors with bloated payrolls and losses that hurt the economy," the labour federation said in a statement. "Job options will be increas

Japan PM Naoto Kan survives leadership challenge

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has survived a party leadership challenge from veteran MP Ichiro Ozawa. Lawmakers and members of the governing Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) elected to retain Mr Kan by a margin of 721 points to 491. His victory means that Japan will be spared a sixth leadership change in four years. Mr Kan, who took office in June, has said he wants to rein in spending and curb Japan's massive public debt.

EU may take legal action against France over Roma

EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has urged the European Commission to take legal action against France over its deportations of Roma (Gypsies). Ms Reding called French actions a "disgrace" . She deplored the fact that a leaked official memo contradicted assurances given to her by France. France voiced "astonishment" in response to her statement on Tuesday. France's deportations of more than 1,000 Roma, to Bulgaria and Romania, have been widely condemned.

Land Confiscated for Reservoir

Construction site of new reservoir Sittwe: Due to the water shortage, authorities have plans to construct a large reservoir in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, and have confiscated many farmlands owned by local farmers to build the reservoir, report farmers and local sources. One village elder said, "As far as I know the authority has plans to build a 1,000-acre reservoir. For the reservoir, the authority has confiscated 600 acres of farmland from farmers of villages nearby the planned reservoir."

Authorities Force Locals to Stand as Night Sentries

By Takaloo ------------- Maungdaw: Burmese military authorities have issued a strict order to local residents to place village sentries at night to maintain security against rampant robberies in Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships on the western Burmese border, said one resident. "As robbers are rampant in our townships, local authorities have ordered every village here to do night sentry," said the resident. An official from the Maungdaw District Peace and Development Council, or DPDC, told Narinjara that local authorities had to give the order to the villagers following pressure from the central regime Naypyidaw to combat rising robberies in the areas.

Buddhism continues to flower in Mongolia

The practice, suppressed for decades by the Communist Party, is being reclaimed by Mongolians as an integral part of their national identity. Shand Khiid, Mongolia -- In the crimson-painted interior of a monastery in central Mongolia, boys as young as 6 face one another cross-legged on benches and chant Tibetan Buddhist prayers that they barely understand. Some fidget and get up every now and then to ladle bowls of fermented horse milk from a large metal vat. Their teachers occasionally call out directions. The boys are at a three-month religious camp at the monastery, Shand Khiid. The oldest monk in residence is 97. A visiting sage from Tibet relaxes in a back room, watching sports on television.  According to a monk who showed a group of visitors around one recent day, the monastery guarded Genghis Khan's black flag of conquest until it was moved to Mongolia's National Museum of History in 1994. Four years earlier, the collapse of Soviet-bloc communism had l

18th Amendment Questioned By Buddhist Clergy

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The controversial constitutional amendments which allow an incumbent president to contest any number of terms and to replace the 10 member Constitutional Council (CC) with a five member Constitutional Advisory Committee (CAC) have come under severe criticism by leading Buddhist monks in the country. << Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero and Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero They are of the view that only a pious and intelligent leader would be able to govern the country honourably . Excerpts of interviews with leading Buddhist monks on the constitutional amendments: Chief Incumbent, Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero queried why the government wished to bring new amendments to the present constitution which gives more power to the President when they have openly criticised the ‘78 Constitution and promised to abolish the presidency.

Dalai Lama inaugurates Buddhist institute

Palampur, India -- Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, today inaugurated a new Buddhist institute near here and consecrated a temple and stupas in the sprawling campus on the lap of majestic Dhauladhar ranges. Besides, Dalai Lama, top Buddhist monks and prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Samdong Rinpoche were present on unveiling of Dorzong Buddhist Monastic Institute at Jia, 15 kilometres from this town. The Tibetans living in exile around Palampur gathered in large numbers to greet their spiritual leader who led the monks in prayer at the temple before delivering his teachings on how to train one's mind on spirituality. The teachings were based on seven points to train the mind on the treatise by Atish Dipanker, a revered Bengali scholar and thinker.

Kashmir protester shot dead as Indian cabinet meets

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have shot another person dead in protests, as India's cabinet meets to discuss the volatile Kashmir situation. Four others were wounded after the security forces fired at anti-India demonstrators in Bandipora district. More than 70 people have now died since June, when anti-India protests erupted after police shot dead a teenager. Meanwhile, Indian officials will decide whether to lift measures that give sweeping powers to forces in Kashmir.

Briton 'among thousands held without trial in Iraq'

A British man is among tens of thousands of people imprisoned without charge in Iraq, according to an Amnesty International report. The human rights group said 30,000 detainees were being held without trial in Iraq, and criticised the Iraqis and the US for violating prisoners' rights. Ramzi Shihab Ahmed, 68, a dual UK-Iraqi national, has been detained in Iraq since December.

Mexico arrests suspected drug kingpin

he Mexican authorities say they have arrested one of the country's most wanted drugs traffickers. Sergio Villarreal - known as "El Grande" - was detained by navy marines in the city of Puebla, east of Mexico City. He is alleged to be a top lieutenant in the powerful Beltran Leyva cartel. His arrest comes two weeks after the capture of another drug kingpin, Edgar Valdez, known as "Barbie", who led a rival faction of the same cartel. The navy said Mr Villarreal was arrested "without a shot being fired" following an intelligence operation.

Japan frees Chinese fishing crew

Japanese authorities say they have released 14 crew members of a Chinese fishing trawler seized last week in the East China Sea. But the captain of the vessel remains in custody following the incident, which happened in disputed waters. Prosecutors have until 19 September to decide whether to lay formal charges against him. China has made repeated protests over the incident and warned that it could harm bilateral ties. The Chinese fishing boat reportedly rammed Japanese coast guard patrol boats which had been trying to intercept it.

Guinea suspends run-off campaigning after clashes

Campaigning for next Sunday's presidential vote in Guinea has been temporarily suspended after two deaths in weekend clashes. The interim government is due to meet the rival candidates later to decide whether campaigning can be resumed. One minister has said the run-off between former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo and veteran opposition leader Alpha Conde can go ahead. But correspondents says the clashes could undermine the poll.

New York Imam: No Plans to Shelve Proposed Islamic Center

A New York City imam says he deeply regrets the upheaval sparked by a proposed Islamic center blocks from where the World Trade Center once stood, and would not have embarked on the project had he known the hostility it would engender. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf says he never imagined his proposal to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York would lead to protests and divisive debate across the United States and the world.  But what if he had known?

Grandmother admits to concealing four births

A grandmother has pleaded guilty to concealing the births of four of her children. At Liverpool Crown Court, Bernadette Quirk, formerly of Harlow Close, St Helens, Merseyside, admitted to having four stillborn children in the 1980s. She hid the bodies of twins and two other babies at her home and in a makeshift grave at her local cemetery.

Belgium Church sets out response over abuse scandal

The new head of Belgium's Catholic Church has pledged to focus on the victims of alleged sexual abuse in a first attempt to rebuild public trust. Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard said that although the Church would not be able to offer immediate solutions, it would set up a victims' support centre. An independent body to investigate alleged abuse found it had occurred in every diocese over decades. This commission said some victims were infants when the abuse started. Archbishop Leonard said the Church would offer "maximum availability" to the victims of sexual abuse

White House Cautious But Optimistic for Release of US Hiker in Iran

A top White House official said Sunday the United States is "hopeful" that Iran will release one of three American hikers who have been held since July of last year.  Authorities in Tehran have agreed to release Sarah Shourd on $500,000 bail for medical reasons, pending her trial on spying and illegally entering the country. White House adviser David Axelrod said U.S. officials are taking a wait-and-see approach to the possibility that the first of the three U.S. hikers might be released. "Obviously, we're hopeful and encouraged by this news.  But there have been starts and stops in this before," he said.

Turkey Approves Constitutional Changes

The Turkish government has announced that about 60 percent of voters in Sunday referendum have approved a package of changes to the country's 30-year-old, military-era constitution.  The government says the reforms are important for Turkish democracy.  But opponents say the changes undermine the independence of the Turkey's judiciary. Thousands of supporters chanted "Turkey is proud of you," as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrated the outcome of the referendum.  The size of the victory came as a surprise to many analysts because recent opinion surveys pointed to a vote that was too close to call.

Ottama Day Ceremony Held at RNDP Headquarters in Sittwe

By Thin Thazin Khaing ----------------------------- Sittwe: The 71st anniversary of prominent Arakanese monk Ottama Day was held at the main office of the Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) in Sittwe, Arakan State, on 9 September, said a party leader. He said, "We were not given permission by the Rakhine State Election Commission to hold the Ottama Day ceremony at Ottama Garden in downtown Sittwe, so we held the ceremony in our headquarters in Sittwe. We started the ceremony at 9 am and ended at 4 pm."

Why we need Bhikkhunis as dhamma teachers

by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Sept 8, 2010 Bangkok, Thailand -- Why should we meditate? There are tons of books out there explaining how meditation can help us cultivate equanimity so we can face external storms without losing our inner balance. << Bhikkunies from the Aranya Bodhi Hermitage in Vassa In Buddhism, meditation - more specifically insight meditation - is the only way to realise Nature's Law of Impermanence, so we can learn to let go of our sense of self which spurs all sorts of selfish acts and makes us blind to others' suffering.

Obama Marks 9-11 Anniversary at Pentagon

Photo: AP President Barack Obama lays a wreath at the Pentagon Memorial, marking the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, 11 Sep 2010  On the ninth anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, U.S. President Barack Obama has emphasized that America is not at war with Islam.  The president made his remarks at the Pentagon Memorial.

People From all Walks of Life Speak Out at Ground Zero

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS Mourners weep during a memorial service commemorating the 9th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York.  The streets surrounding Ground Zero were both busy and somber on Saturday morning as thousands of people from many walks of life came to commemorate the anniversary of the September 11t

Ladder Company One in New York Remembers 9-11 Attacks

Ladder Company One of the New York Fire Department is among the closest to Ground Zero, the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood.   On the morning of September 11, 2001, one of its members was checking a possible gas leak in the city streets.  The routine task was recorded by a French film crew as part of a documentary about the company.  Coincidentally, they recorded the first plane striking the World Trade Center and also the very first reaction to the event. 

Iran Says US Prisoner Could Soon be Released on Bail

Photo: AP FILE - In this May 20, 2010 file photo, American hikers Shane Bauer, left, Sarah Shourd, center, and Josh Fattal, sit at the Esteghlal Hotel in Tehran, Iran.  An Iranian prosecutor says imprisoned American Sarah Shourd could be soon free on bail.  But the official says that Shourd, whose release was unexpectedly announced last week then just as abruptly postponed, would

TUC Congress: Public will back us against cuts - Barber

Mr Barber said voters would not support 'unfair' spending cuts TUC chief Brendan Barber has said the public will not accept large-scale spending cuts, as trade unions gather in Manchester. Mr Barber said unions would reach out to the wider community to form a "progressive alliance" to make the case for alternatives to spending cuts.

Koran burning 'would be disaster' NY imam warns

Feisal Abdul Rauf says the proposed Islamic centre will promote inter-faith understanding The New York imam leading efforts to build an Islamic centre near the World Trade Center site says plans by a small US church to burn Korans would have sparked "a disaster". Feisal Abdul Rauf told ABC News that the event - now called off - would have "strengthened radicals". Rallies for and against the proposed centre marred the 9/11 commemorations. Meanwhile, two people died in eastern Afghanistan as protests sparked by the threatened book burning continued.

Indefinite curfew imposed in Kashmir after protests

Steel and barbed-wire barricades were used to seal off public squares in Srinagar Security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir have imposed an indefinite curfew in the main city of Srinagar and other big towns in the region. It comes after many people were wounded when police clashed with mass protests against Indian rule on Saturday.

Iran 'to release US hiker Sarah Shourd on bail'

Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal are being held without charge The Iranian authorities are ready to release one of the three US hikers detained last year, state media report. Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi said Sarah Shourd, 32, would be freed when $500,000 (£325,000) bail was paid, and could leave the country. Mr Jafari-Dolatabadi had blocked a plan backed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to release her as a good-will gesture.

Turkey votes 'Yes' to new constitution, says Turkish TV

Turkish voters have given strong backing to constitutional changes, early results suggest. With 67% of votes counted, 61% voted "Yes" to amending the constitution, reported Turkish broadcaster NTV. The opposition argues that the governing party, which has its roots in political Islam, is seeking dangerous levels of control over the judiciary. The government says it wants to bring the constitution more in line with European Union standards.

New armed drug-trafficking groups menace Colombia

Colombia's police and army have long struggled to combat the drug trade Armed groups of drug-traffickers have overtaken left-wing rebels as Colombia's main source of violence, local think tank Indepaz says. The groups have emerged since the demobilisation of the illegal United Self Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitaries.

Top Chinese diplomat demands Japan release fishermen

The captain of the Chinese trawler, Zhan Qixiong, has been transferred to Japanese prosecutors China's most senior diplomat has called on Japan to immediately release the captain and 14 crew of a fishing boat seized in disputed waters last week. State Councillor Dai Bingguo warned Tokyo to make a "wise political decision" over the matter. On Friday, China postponed a session of planned diplomatic talks after a Japanese court ruled the boat's captain could be detained for another 10 days.

Turkey referendum vote ends with close result expected

Voting has closed in a referendum in Turkey on changing the constitution, which was drafted under military rule in the early 1980s. The government says it wants to bring the constitution more in line with European Union standards.

34 Freedom Fighters Reach Final in Indian Prison Football Tournament

By Takaloo ---------------- Kolkata : The team of the 34 Burmese freedom fighters has entered the final round after beating the team that was pegged to be the champions in the prison football tournament at the Presidential Jail in Kolkata, India. The tournament is dubbed the "Inter-ward Friendship Football Tournament 2010", and is sponsored by local NGO Satyam Seva Kenfra and the local football club of the Rotary Club of Kolkata Metropolitan, for the recreation of inmates in the prison, reports a prison source.

Arakanese University Student Brutally Murdered by SPDC

On the 9th February 2010, 23-year old university student, Maungg Aye Cho was brutally murdered by two SPDC soldiers in a horrific unlawful attack. The soldiers, identified as Corporal Soe Win and Corporal Chit San Thein from the Site-tway (Sittwe) are stationed with the SPDC medical battalion, based near Thun Pon Tann in Site-tway Township. Maungg Aye Cho, a first-year student at Site-tway University, lived in Kyee Bun Gree ward, Site-tway, with his parents, U Hla Maung, who is a writer, and Daw Khin Cho who is a civil servant, working at Site-tway Telegram office. The attack was believed to be a result of the student being accused of theft by a village vendor named Lay Htee Maung alias Khin Maung, whilst he was buying food in the store. The student was taken to the Chairman of the Village Peace and Development Council, U Hla Khin Maung, where he was questioned. Maung Aye Cho denied committing the crime or thieving anything, rather only to being a student studying at Site-tway Univer

15 Abbots Appeal to Western Command on Behalf of Arrested Monk

Sittwe: 15 abbots in Arakan State have appealed to the newly appointed Western Command Commander Brigadier Soe Thein to act justly and fairly toward arrested Arakanese historian monk Ashon Pyinya Sara, said one abbot.

RNDP to Hold Ottama Day Ceremony Without Authorization

Sittwe: The Rakhine National Development Party, which will run in 45 constituencies in the coming election in Arakan State, will hold a ceremony marking the 71st U Ottama Day in Sittwe today, in spite of the Election Commission's refusal to give permission for the event, said a party source.

Students Barred From Having Cameras at Sittwe University

By Tun Tun ---------------- Sittwe: Students have been banned from holding cameras in Sittwe University compound by university authorities in order to prevent them from sending photos to exile media and democratic activist in exile, said a student. "We have been unable to take cameras to Sittwe University at present. The authority has seized the cameras from students if they take them to the university. Many students have lost their cameras after bringing them to the university. The ban is intended to prevent students sending photos of the university to exiled media and activists," the student said.

One Robber Killed and Two Seriously Wounded by Nasaka

By Khin Thein -------------------- Maungdaw: One robber was killed and another two were seriously injured when Nasaka forces shot at them as they were entering into Rok Nhyo Taung Village in Maungdaw on the western Burmese border , reported a Nasaka source. "There was a group of ten robbers armed with guns and swords going to rob Rok Nhyo Taung Village around 10:00 pm last Tuesday. Nasaka personnel came across the robbers and shot them. One was killed on the spot, two of them were seriously injured, and the rests ran away," said the source on condition of anonymity.

EU agrees new financial supervision framework

Europe is following the US in implementing financial reform European Union finance ministers have agreed to establish a new framework for financial supervision, designed to help prevent future financial crises.

Gunmen attack Honduras shoe factory, killing 18 people

Victims' relatives gathered outside the factory as news of the shooting spread Gunmen armed with assault rifles stormed a shoe factory in Honduras, killing at least 18 people and wounding several others, police said. At least four men burst into the factory in the northern coastal city of San Pedro Sula and opened fire on workers, officers said.

Hundreds of thousands hit by Mexico flooding

The historic town of Tlacotalpan has been inundated Weeks of heavy rain have brought widespread flooding to wide swathes of eastern and southern Mexico. Hundreds of thousands of people have seen rapidly rising rivers break their banks and inundate their communities.

Cuba's Fidel Castro criticises Iran over anti-Semitism

Castro invited Jeffrey Goldberg to Cuba for the interview Fidel Castro has criticised Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for what he called his anti-Semitic attitudes. The former Cuban leader also warned that an escalating conflict between Iran and the West could lead to nuclear war.

Autocracy fears as Sri Lanka president seeks more power

Civil society activists have called Wednesday a "black day" Sri Lankan MPs are to vote on proposals to let President Mahinda Rajapaksa seek an unlimited number of terms, in a move critics say could lead to dictatorship. As well as abolishing the current two-term limit, the constitutional amendments would hugely increase the president's powers.

Ampatuan family 'plotted Philippines massacre'

Andal Ampatuan Jnr, centre, is part of a powerful clan in Maguindanao province A powerful family accused of being behind the worst political massacre in the Philippines plotted the killings over dinner, a court has heard.

'Many failures' caused BP spill

Eleven people were killed and 17 people were injured in the explosion A "sequence of failures involving a number of different parties" was to blame for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP says. An investigation carried out by BP says it was responsible in part for the disaster, but also places some blame on other companies working on the well.

Child Beggars Increases in Western Burma

Maungdaw: The number of children begging for food has increased this rainy season in the western border town of Maungdaw as many poor families in the area are facing starvation, said one monk from Maungdaw. The monk said, "Recently, the number of child beggars has widely increased in Maungdaw. About 50 children come to my monastery every day to ask for food. At the beginning of the rainy season, there were about ten children asking for food, but now the number has increased to 50."

Villagers Forced to Join USDP

Kyauk Pru: The Union Solidarity and Development Party, the proxy party of the current military government, has forced Arakanese people to join its party in order to ensure victory in the upcoming election scheduled for 7 November, according to local villagers. One villager said, "The organizing department of Kyauk Pru Township's USDP ordered all village chairmen in the township to organize 50 villagers from each village tract for the USDP. Afterward, the village chairman in our village forced many villagers to join the USDP."

Burmese Immigration Charges Fees for IDs Before Election

By Takaloo --------------- Sittwe: Burmese immigration officials have been taking large fees from residents in suburban villages outside the capital Sittwe in western Burma's Arakan State to issue National ID cards that are required to vote in the upcoming election, said one villager. "The officials are charging a fee that ranges from 3,000 to 10,000 kyat for a card for our villagers even though they have charged residents in urban wards just 1,500 or 2,000 kyat. Most of our villagers here are very poor and can not afford to pay such a fee," the source said.

Internet Slows in Sittwe

By Tun Tun --------------- Sittwe: The speed of the internet has become increasingly slow since the end of August, preventing users from even sending any emails with attachments or uploading photos from any of the internet cafes in the city, said a regular internet user.

U Ottama- Mahatma of Burma

Aung Kyaw 7/7/2007 In the beginning of twentieth century, nationalism swept across Asian countries to free colonized countries from the oppressive colonial nations. Colonialism produced nationalists such as Mahatma Gandhi in India, San Yet San in China, and U Ottama in Burma. In India, Mahatma Gandhi, moderate nationalist, led the Indian National Congress to free India. In Burma, U Ottama introduced radical nationalism that provoked the passive Burmese to fight for their freedom. Maung (1980), a Burmese diplomat, characterized U Ottama as “Mahatma of Burma” who flamed nationalism in every town and village.

Oxford Collocations Dictionary 2nd Edition 2009

Come again to share " Oxford Collocations Dictionary 2nd Edition 2009 ". This dictionary is also able to be downloaded on rarbg site usign the Torrent Download. I give detail how to download HERE . But  fortunately to install this dictionary, no need DAEMON Tools to like installing the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.

English to Myanmar: Myanmar to English Dictionary

Download Medifire  Release Version  wxPyDict 0.7.0 Pre Alpha

Tha Zwa Le’s Lyric

Translated By Mrauk-U Thar In the deserted pasture Of the monkey king Grow the mixed vegation of ‘Thabyu’ trees The pig in greed Muches on the trees. A trap is laid The pig is killed The pasture is raised to the ground And the crafty monkey Cut up the piggy To fill up his belly. Only then, Oh Rakhine You live in peace!

Response to the Press Release of the ‘Rohingyas’ (Part-4- the End)

By Khin Maung Saw, Berlin, Germany D. ‘Rohingya’ population growth The population growth of the ‘Rohingyas’ is really a miracle. Since the word "Rohan" is neither Arakanese nor Bengali word, but only the Bengali pronunciation of Ywa-Haun (Ra-Haun), today nobody can guess what this word means unless one knows the back ground of this word. Most of the "Rohingyas" nowadays are no more the descendants of the ‘Ra-haun-Tha’ and the surrendered Mujahid Rebels, instead real illegal immigrants coming from Bangladesh for various reasons, settled down inside Burma in 1970 during the Bangladesh Liberation War and later.

Response to the Press Release of the ‘Rohingyas’ (Part-3)

By Khin Maung Saw, Berlin, Germany A. Political way out of the AFPFL U Nu’s government had a lot of political problems in the 50’s. The political wing of the Rakhaings supported the oppositions. Just to punish the Rakhaings, U Nu and his deputy then U Ba Swe promised to grant the Ra-Haung-Tha, all together more than one hundred thousand people, Burmese citizenship. After that, with these newly granted Burmese citizens’ votes some educated Bengali Muslims such as Mr. Sultan Mahmud, Mr. Abu Bawshaw, Mr. Abu Kai and Mr. Abdul Gahfar became MPs of U Nu’s party from all constituencies of the frontier districts in 1956 elections. These four Muslim Members of Parliament neither named themselves nor their followers ‘Rohingyas’ at that time, instead they called themselves ‘Arakan Muslims’.
By Khin Maung Saw, Berlin, Germany B. Buddhists kings with Pseudonym Muslim Titles: The 'Rohingyas' claimed that Arakan was ruled by the Muslim kings from 1430 for about 100 years. In fact, the Kingdom of Mrauk U was not established by the 'Rohingyas'. All kings of the Mrauk U dynasty were Buddhists. Some kings had assumed Muslim Titles because, as mentioned above, Min Saw Mun (Man Saw Muan), the founder of the Mrauk U City wanted to show his gratitude to the Sultan of Gaur who helped him to regain the Arakanese throne in 1430. Hence, he promised the Sultan that the Arakanese kings would bear Pseudonym Muslim Titles. But in fact, all of the Arakanese kings were donors of many temples in Mrauk U as well as in the other parts of Arakan. They did make coins, one side with Burmese/Arakanese scripts and the other side with Persian (NOT Bengali).

Response to the Press Release of the ‘Rohingyas’ (Part-1)

By Khin Maung Saw, Berlin, Germany I. Introduction: After reading the press release of the ‘Rohingyas’ (see the other attachment), as a Rakhaing I am obliged to write the real Arakanese History during the Mrauk U Dynasty. Apart from that, I like to give some responses to that press release: First of all, in any case, the racial remarks of the Burmese Consul General in Hong Kong must be condemned, whoever these 'Rohingyas' are.

US troops called in as Iraqi army base attacked

The base was targeted for the second time in three weeks US troops have been called in to help Iraqi forces battle insurgents who attacked an army base in Baghdad, killing 12 people, officials say.

West Bank settlement freeze will end - Israeli minister

Mr Lieberman has been largely sidelined from the peace talks The Israeli foreign minister says he will block any attempt by the coalition government to extend the partial freeze on settlements in the West Bank. Avigdor Lieberman said his hard-line Yisrael Beitenu party was powerful enough to defeat any such proposal.

Lebanon PM Hariri withdraws accusation against Syria

Mr Hariri had long blamed Syria for his father's death Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said he was wrong to accuse Syria of assassinating his father - former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri.

Latest Pakistan floods prompt fresh exodus from towns

Aid agencies say more than eight million people who have left their homes need food and water Several hundred thousand more people have fled towns and villages threatened by fresh flooding in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh.

Why are South China Sea tensions rising?

By Vaudine England BBC News, Bangkok The US has increased military and diplomatic ties with Vietnam in recent months Imagine an exchange of fire between Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the South China Sea. Or just an accidental bump between Chinese and American warships, as high-stakes manoeuvring gets out of hand. Or the arrest by China's navy of hundreds, not just dozens, of Vietnamese fishermen in disputed waters, sparking US voices to support Hanoi against Beijing - or the other way around.

Children die as Pakistan suicide bomber targets police

Four school children are among 19 people killed in a suicide car bombing in north-west Pakistan. The attacker rammed a pickup into a police station in Lakki Marwat town, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Books and a school bag could be seen in the wreckage. Reports say the dead included 11 police officers. More than 100 people died in attacks on Shia Muslims last week. The Pakistani Taliban says they carried out the attacks. Continue reading the main story

New Zealand earthquake 'damaged 100,000 homes'

Despite the widespread damage caused by the earthquake, no-one was killed Almost two-thirds of the 160,000 homes in and around Christchurch have been damaged by Saturday's earthquake, New Zealand's prime minister has said. John Key said many had been damaged beyond repair, and that it might take some time to discover the damage to the region's underground infrastructure. Continue reading the main story

Northeast Indian Freedom Fighters Move Bases to Burma

Dhaka: Rebel groups from northeast India, including the United Liberation Front of Assam, the National Liberation Front of Tripura, and the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front have moved their bases to Burma from Bangladesh after Bangladesh authorities cracked down on their activities, according to official reports.