Bilawal Bhutto, "We Have Lost Our Best Hope But not Our Only Hope"

Bilawal Bhutto, son of Benazir Bhutto, in a press conference today expressed his regret that he could not accommodate all of the request for exclusive interviews. Bilawal said that he was overwhelmed with request for one on one interviews .He later stated that his mother was always open with the press and he would like to continue the good relationship but in moderation He went on to thank the press for the international coverage his mother's assassination had received calling her "A world figure and has received world coverage worthy of her status"

Preemptively answering some common questions Bilawal said that he became chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party because the party needed to maintain a close association with Benazir and also to give hope to the new generation of Pakistani people who are not only looking at this election but also to the future. He clearly stated that despite a lack of political experience, he intends to learn and politics is in his blood.

Bilawal's top priority at this time is to return to Oxford to continue his education saying "Unless I can finish my education and develop enough maturity I recognize that I will never be in a position to have sufficient wisdom to enter the political arena." he also said that with four years at Harvard and four years at oxford, education was Benazir's greatest strengths.

As his father runs the party Bilawal plans to step in "gradually and carefully". for those who do not approve of a 19 year old college student becoming chairman of the PPP he said that the decision was based on the collective will of the party unanimously endorsed by the central executive committee as well as the federal council of the PPP and urged every one to accept that the continued involvement of his family was considered the best thing for the party.

Bilawal thanked Scotland yard for there assistance in the investigation into the death of his mother but added that the party and the family want a U.N. investigation due to the belief that an investigation being controlled by the government does not have enough transparency. He also said that although his mother new the risks she had requested security and if adequate security had been provided she may still be alive. He said he would not comment further on who he believes is responsible due to the ongoing investigation.

During the open questions portion of the press conference one reporter asked if a Bhutto would always lead the PPP to which Bilawal replied "There is a Pakistani saying, how many Bhutto's can you kill, from every house will come a Bhutto." When asked about the future of demacracy in Pakistan he replied "We Have Lost Our Best Hope But not Our Only Hope." One reporter appeared to be challenging the younger Bhutto's authority with such questions as "As a 19 year old who has hardly lived in the country what do you propose you can offer Pakistan, a country of one hundred and seventy million people how can you claim to have any aspiration to lead it" Bilawal replied "I do not claim to have any aspirations, I was called and I stepped up and did what I was asked to do." The reporter continued with such statements as what does it say for a party that it can be handed on like some piece of family furniture and wouldn't it be smarter to wait until you know a little more. At this point someone spoke up and said can we just move on. Despite the challenging nature of these questions the young Bhutto answered strongly while yet maintaining complete self control.

After saying that he understood there are risk but this must be done another reporter asked Bilawal if he feared for his life, he replied “I fear even more for my privacy.” Earlier during the session he had asked reporters to respect the privacy of his sisters and his privacy while he is at Oxford.

January 4, Burma's Independence Day?

January 4 marked 60 years of Independence for Burma (Myanmar) but many citizens of Burma did not feel Very much like celebrating there freedom. Despite gaining there Independence 60 years ago most people do not feel they are free, many say they feel more like prisoners or slaves of the Junta government who seized power in 1962. National League for Democracy spokesman,Nyan Win, said: “From my 20s until now—my 60s—I feel there is no independence in Burma, because people feel they are not free.” On a more optimistic note he added “We believe that democracy and human rights will prevail in the country one day.” Outside of NLD headquarters about 12 members held a short vigil dressed in convicts uniforms to call for the release of the over 1000 political prisoners being held by the government including Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD leader.

Near Shwedagon pagoda the Junta held a small low-key celebration with a flag raising and a speech given by Senior General Than Shwe calling on the people to cooperate in the building of a modern, disciplined and flourishing democratic nation. Speaking on condition of anonymity one government employee told The Irrawaddy News by telephone: “As a government employee, Independence Day is an official holiday. However, there is nothing to celebrate. My daily survival is more important than Independence Day.” A computer shop owner said “I’m not interested in Independence Day! If possible, I want to kill the generals. What I see and what I hear is such a contrast—injustice is everywhere in Burma!” There was a heavy police presence primarily around Shwedagon and Sule pagodas in Yangon, the sites of some of the largest protests in September. Riot police were also positioned around Yangon city hall. Every precaution was taken to ensure against any pro-democracy protest that may have occurred on independence day including the preemptive arrest of NLD members and suspected pro-democracy activist. On January 2 six members of the National League for Democracy were arrested to prevent them from attending an Independence day celebration in Yay Nan Chaung township. According to family members about 20 police officers arrested the six at a house in Nyaungbin Sat village around midnight on January 2. When family members questioned the officers about why the NLD members were being arrested they were told that the government was concerned about them attending the celebration. Authorities have said they will only hold the six for a short period of time. It is also reported that an additional 10 pro-democracy activist were arrested in Yangon.

In an apparent attempt to limit or remove outside sources of news and information being received by citizens of Burma the government increased the annual license fee for access to satellite television from 6000 Kyat ($5.00 U.S.) to one million Kyat ($780 U.S.) With the average annual income in Burma being around $300 U.S. dollars this puts outside news out of reach for most citizens of Burma. This was an apparent attempt to avoid a repeat of the September protest during which local media did not report on the situation. Those who had access to satellite TV reportedly made copies of outside news and took it to those who did not have access.

Members of The National League of Democracy held a silent gathering outside of the home of Aung San Suu Kyi, the party leader who has been under house arrest for over 12 years. Her party won democratic elections in 1990 with a landslide majority however the Junta refused to relinquish power and she has been in prison or under house arrest for the majority of her life since the victory. Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of General Aung San who is commonly known as the father of Burmese independence.

New Years Day is "Good Riddance Day" for Many in Time Square

New years means a new beginning for most of us. Yes, the infamous news years resolution, we make them on the first day of January and usually break them by the second day. This year as many braved the crowds of Times Square to ring in the new year in traditional manner by watching the ball drop others braved the crowds at the industrial shredder brought in by the The Times Square Alliance to join in the first "Good Riddance Day" celebration. This is a new twist on an old Latin American tradition of taking artifacts from the previous year, making them into a giant doll, and saying goodbye to them by setting the doll on fire.

At Seventh Ave. and W. 46th St people lined up to take advantage of the somewhat more permanent "Good Riddance" celebration. Some shredded pictures of ex-wives or old boy friends while others shredded there mortgage that they had paid off in 2007. One man shredded pictures of his bloodied appendix taken after his surgery saying: "It's now been purged from my body," while another shredded a list of bad habits that included shoplifting.

Eileen Lawrence, a former school teacher from Manhattan, won the $250 grand prize for the "Most creative momento" by shredding a photo collage she had made of a Manhattan middle school principal who according to Lawrence had had made her life hell. She said "I'm currently an unemployed math teacher and am very, very happy."

This year marked the 100th anniversary of of ringing in the new year in Times square. At the stroke of midnight Mayor Michael Bloomberg released the ball with it's new environmentally friendly lights as the giant numerals 2008 are illuminated overhead and fireworks lit up the night sky. The times Square celebration was started in 1904 when Alfred Ochs, owner of the New York Times, decided to put on a fireworks display to mark the new year. Fireworks were later banned by New York city over security concerns, The ball was introduced and has rang in every new year since except for 1942 and 1943 when war time regulation did not permit it.

Happy New Year and "Good Riddance Day" to all.