Police Nab Three Myanmar Nationals Swimming To Singapore

JOHOR BAHARU, Dec 28 (Bernama) — Marine police last night caught three Myanmar nationals as they were swimming across the Straits of Johor from Lido beach here to Singapore.

The trio were spotted by two marine police patrol boats scouring the waters at Danga Bay and were arrested at 11.15pm, said Southern Region Marine Police chief ACP Kamal Bakri Medan.

Marine police searched the waters after receiving information that three men were swimming across the straits to Singapore, he said in a statement on Friday.

The men, aged between 20 and 30, were handed over to the Johor Baharu South police station.

— BERNAMA

Myanmar: National Airline To Resume Service To Thailand, Malaysia

December 27, 2007
AP News

YANGON, MYANMAR: Myanmar’s national airline plans to resume flights to the capitals of Thailand and Malaysia in mid-January, more than two months after service was suspended amid a government crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

Myo Than, assistant general manager of Myanmar Airways International, said details on the number of flights per week to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur would be released in the coming days when the airline officially announces the resumption of service.

Myanmar Airways halted its daily flights to the two cities in mid-October, two weeks after troops fired on pro-democracy protesters led by Buddhist monks. The crackdown sparked outrage around the world.

The airline said at the time that its London-based insurer had suspended coverage “due to the recent crisis in Myanmar.” It did not name the insurance company.

Myo Than declined to comment on whether the London insurer had resumed coverage.

Travel to Myanmar dropped dramatically following globally televised reports of the junta’s 26-27 Sept crackdown.

Hotel occupancy remains low and tour guides say many package tours remain canceled.

In the weeks after the violence, a number of governments, including the United States and Britain, advised their citizens against visiting Myanmar, and several big tour operators called for a boycott on visiting the country.