News in Brief (November Issue)

Death Toll Rises in Southern Thai Violence 

This year’s death toll from violence in southern Thailand reached 540 by November 16, according to a report by Associated Press. Several bomb blasts and attacks on Buddhist civilians followed the deaths of 78 Muslims in military custody in late October. Police reported that remote-control bombs were set off using mobile phones. Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra has expressed regret over the deaths of detainees, offering compensation to victims’ families but insisting that Thai security forces acted appropriately.

Renowned Journalist Passes Away

Veteran journalist and politician Htain Linn died of heart failure at Rangoon General Hospital on November 4, aged 79. At the age of 17 Htain Linn joined the Burma National Army, then in 1947 became a member of Pyithu Yebaw Ahphwe (People’s Volunteer Organization, or PVO). In July 1948 the leftist “White Band” faction of the PVO went into rebellion against Rangoon and Htain Linn followed. He was captured in 1953 and spent four years in jail. After his release in 1957, he joined the National United Front of Union of Burma, a leftist political party, known by its Burmese acronym Pa Ma Nya Ta. The following year Htain Linn started working as a journalist at Botataung newspaper and became editor-in-chief in 1964. He was arrested again in the 1960s. In the 1990s Htain Linn became known to Burmese-language shortwave radio listeners for the daring sound-bites he made during phone-in interviews.

Italian Tourists Drown