By Esther Htusan Associated Press Htin Kyaw, a trusted friend of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, took over as Myanmar’s president on March 30, taking a momentous step in the country’s long-drawn transition toward democracy after more than a half-century of direct and indirect military rule. But democracy in this impoverished Southeast Asian nation […]
The Layup Drill — A New Year talking Doug B, a new Mariner, and … Manny’s last fight?
Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Welcome to a new edition of The Layup Drill! This month, we revisit the great year by Doug Baldwin, a return home for a new Seattle Mariner — and is this the last fight for Manny Pacquiao? Despite coming up short, Seahawks’ Baldwin has a career year The feeling is […]
Myanmar icon Suu Kyi casts first-ever ballot
By Aye Aye Win Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Though championed worldwide as a pro-democracy icon, there is something Aung San Suu Kyi was unable to do until Sunday: vote. The 70-year-old smiled but said nothing to waiting reporters as she cast her ballot at a polling station near the lakeside villa that served […]
Myanmar’s parliament blocks changes to constitution
By Aye Aye Win Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s parliament voted against several constitutional amendments June 25, ensuring that the military’s veto power remains intact and that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi cannot become president in an election this year. The legislature ended a 3-day debate on proposed changes to the 2008 […]
Suu Kyi’s iron gate up for auction; minimum bid $200,000
By Aye Aye Win Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — The iron gate that stood in front of the home of Myanmar’s formerly imprisoned democracy icon, separating her from throngs of cheering supporters as she made speeches challenging the country’s then-military rulers, is going on the auction block. Soe Nyunt, the current owner, said Monday […]
Myanmar opposition party to hold party congress
By Aye Aye Win THE Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — In another sign of political reform and reconciliation in Myanmar, the country’s biggest party, led by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, will hold its first-ever congress in the country’s former capital next week. “This will be the NLD’s first party congress since the […]
Burmese advocate Bo Kyi calls on the world to help political prisoners in Burma
By Nan Nan Liu Northwest Asian Weekly During the seven and a half years that Bo Kyi was in prison, he was beaten, tortured,
Subtle storytelling and a love story color the “The Lady”
By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly The recent news from Burma, officially known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, about Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party claiming victory for 40 of 45 contested seats in parliament seems to seal Suu Kyi’s incredible transformation from a longtime housebound prisoner […]
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hopes victory is dawn of new era
By Todd Pittman Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) ― Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory in parliamentary elections is the biggest prize of her political career. But the weekend vote for only a few dozen legislative seats may have sown the seeds of something far more significant ― the possibility her party could sweep […]
Obama, Clinton gamble on Myanmar
By Matthew Lee The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is taking a foreign policy gamble by sending Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on a historic trip to the isolated Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar this week. The administration is betting that the first visit to the country, also known as Burma, […]