· March, 2013

Stories about Myanmar (Burma) from March, 2013

Religious Extremism Blamed for Myanmar Riots

  31 March 2013

The Meikhtila riots in central Myanmar which also spread to other towns have killed more than 40 people and raised fears that religious and ethnic clashes would continue to worsen in the country. Many people have analyzed the roots of the violence, in particular, the rise of religious extremism which have caused division and hate in many parts of Myanmar.

History of Myanmar's Movie Industry

  30 March 2013

Ei Ei Su writes about the history of Myanmar's movie industry beginning with the country's first silent film in 1920, up to the 1940s when the industry was producing about 400 films, until the army takeover in 1962.

Drones and Drug Politics in China and Myanmar

  26 March 2013

Burmese drug lord Naw Kham was executed by China through lethal injection last March 1 after being found guilty of killing 13 sailors on the Mekong River in 2011. His death sparked discussion about his criminal activities, drug politics in Myanmar, and an admission on the part of China that it has acquired drones.

Myanmar: Who is Plotting the Meikhtila Riot?

  24 March 2013

For three days, riots raged in the town of Meikhtila in the Mandalay division of Myanmar. A curfew was imposed by the police after a group of people reportedly set buildings and motor bikes on fire in the area. Netizens condemned those who are speading hate messages online and those who are provoking religious and ethnic clashes

Google Myanmar is Now Online

  21 March 2013

Google Myanmar is now available in local domain at www.google.com.mm a few days before the arrival of Google CEO Eric Schmidt in Myanmar. Google play store which is inaccessible in Myanmar also seems to have been unblocked for now.

Myanmar: ‘Save Our Zoo’ Campaign

  18 March 2013

Arguing that it is already a health threat, the government of Myanmar wants to relocate the Yangon Zoological Gardens which has been a city landmark since 1906. Residents and netizens are opposing the proposal and they suspect that the relocation is being pursued to build hotels in the area.

Aung San Suu Kyi Endorses China-backed Mine in Myanmar

  14 March 2013

The commission formed by the government and headed by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to probe the violent dispersal of protesters in the Chinese copper mine project has released its report. It found out that police used smoke bombs to disperse protesters. But it still approved the project as long as reforms are implemented in the contract. Residents are criticizing the report

Myanmar's Exiled Broadcaster to Return Home

  12 March 2013

Democratic Voice of Burma or DVB, which has been broadcasting news about the democracy movement in Myanmar from its head office in Oslo for more than 21 years, has announced its plan to return to Myanmar soon. The group said recent reforms in the country has allowed its “former underground...

China Executes Burmese Drug Lord on Live TV

  6 March 2013

Naw Kham, a Burmese drud lord was executed through lethal injection in China. Many people in Myanmar are shocked and angered to learn that Naw Kham's execution was aired on live TV. Some are also disappointed over the failure of the government to arrange a prisoner exchange deal with China