News Briefs (May 2008)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Bangladesh Mourns victims of Burma Cyclone and China Quake

Flags were lowered to half-staff Wednesday across Bangladesh to mourn people killed in the recent cyclone in Burma and earthquake in China. "Bangladesh is paying respect to those killed in natural disasters in two friendly countries," said a statement from the government's Press Information Department. National flags were lowered to half-staff at all government offices, schools and other important buildings across the country, the statement said.

Bangladesh earlier sent food, medicines, clothing and water purification tablets after Cyclone Nargis struck neighboring Burma on May 2-3. Cyclone Sidr devastated Bangladesh's southern coast in November, killing more than 3,000 people and leaving tens of thousands of others without homes. Storms batter Bangladesh every year, often killing large numbers of people in the densely populated and low-lying nation located on a vast river delta. (AP)

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Imprisoned North Korean Commando Dies in Burma Prison

A North Korean commando has died after nearly 25 years' imprisonment in Burma for a bloody bombing attack against visiting South Korean Cabinet members, a prison official said Tuesday. Kang Min Chol, 53, died in Rangoon's notorious Insein prison Sunday, said the official, who demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to talk with the media. Kang was treated for a serious liver ailment in March. He was the only survivor among three North Korean commandos involved in a bombing during an October 1983 visit by South Korea's then-President Chun Doo-hwan. Chun was unhurt but the attack killed 21 other people including four South Korean Cabinet ministers. One of the commandos involved was hanged in Insein prison and a second blew himself up during his arrest. After the incident Burma severed diplomatic relations and closed North Korea's embassy in the country, but relations have warmed in recent years as Pyongyang has become a supplier to Burma's military. The two countries resumed diplomatic ties in April last year. (AP)

 Friday, May 09, 2008

Spain Honors Suu Kyi and Dr Cynthia Maung

A leading Spanish honor has been awarded to Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Dr Cynthia Maung, who runs a clinic for Burmese refugees and migrant workers at the Thai-Burmese border. They will share the 2007 Catalonia International Prize, consisting of the sum of 100,000 euros and a sculpture. The prize is awarded annually by Spain’s regional government of Catalunya to persons judged to have decisively contributed through their creative work to the development of cultural, scientific or human values around the world. Catalunya’s prime minister, José Montilla, will present the award at a ceremony in Barcelona in November.

Suu Kyi ‘Honorary Citizen’ of Canada

The Canadian government will grant honorary citizenship to Burma’s detained dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday in recognition of her long struggle for democracy, during a ceremony on parliament hill. Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier will present the honorary citizenship to Suu Kyi’s cousin, Sein Win, the Washington-based prime minister of the Burmese exile government.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has spent almost 12 years of the past 18 years in detention under house arrest in Burma. The honorary Canadian citizenship is a testament to Canada’s long-standing respect and admiration for Aung San Suu Kyi’s struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma. Suu Kyi will become the fourth person, and the first woman, to be granted honorary citizenship—after Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Raoul Wallenberg.