Rachel Aspden visits the forgotten part of Burma: ethnic groups in the east oppressed by the junta.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej voices support for the Burmese junta’s farcical constitution referendum, which will again formally bar Aung San Suu Kyi from running for office. The reason given? She’s married to a foreigner.

EarthRights International lambasts Chevron:

The American energy giant Chevron has been accused of complicity in human rights abuses through its investment in a natural gas pipeline in Burma. . . .

It says the Burmese military was committing widespread abuses including forced labour, rape and killing while engaged by Chevron to protect the Yadana pipeline.

Marco Simons of EarthRights International, has told Radio Australia’s Connect Asia program Chevron has a responsibility to acknowledge that abuses are taking place.

“They have not tried to claim that yes there are serious abuses going on but they are powerless to stop them,” he said.

And two policemen were killed at a polling station in Thailand’s restive south. (Other sources say three.)

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