The Irrawaddy River arises by the confluence of the N'mai and Mali Rivers in Kachin State Kachin. Both the N'mai and Mali Rivers find their sources in the Himalaya
glaciers of Northern Myanmar, in the vicinity of 28° N. The eastern branch of the two, N'mai, river is the larger stream and rises in the Languela Glacier north
of Putao. It is unnavigable because of the strong current whereas the smaller western branch, the Mali river, is navigable, despite a few rapids. Herefore,
the Mali river is still called by the same name as the main river by locals. The controversial Myitsone Dam is currently under construction at the convergence of
these rivers.

The town of Bhamo, about 240 kilometres (150 mi) south of the Mali and N'mai river confluence, is the northernmost city reachable by boat all the year round although
during the monsoons most of the river cannot be used by boats. The city of Myitkyina however lies 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of the confluence and can be reached
during the dry season.

Burma elections
Dictator Than Shwe was yesterday said to have been assured that his junta will have a majority in Burma’s new parliament.
His Union of Solidarity and Development Party has already ’secured’ 30 per cent of the vote.
 Victory: Myanmar’s military ruler General Than Shwe will remain in power after the election, even though polls are not yet open
When added to the 25 per cent of seats which the junta will retain for military officers, the country’s iron-fisted regime will maintain control of the parliament.
The Irrawaddy magazine, an opposition-backed publication, based across the border in Chiang Mai, Thailand, made the claim


Statement by President Obama on Burma’s November 7 Elections
The November 7 elections in Burma were neither free nor fair, and failed to meet any of the internationally accepted standards associated with legitimate elections.
The elections were based on a fundamentally flawed process and demonstrated the regime’s continued preference for repression and restriction over inclusion and
transparency.
One of the starkest flaws of this exercise was the regime’s continued detention of more than 2,100 political prisoners,
including Aung San Suu Kyi, thereby denying them any opportunity to participate in the process. The unfair electoral laws and overtly partisan Election Commission
ensured that Burma’s leading pro-democracy party, the National League for Democracy, was silenced and sidelined. The regime denied the registration of certain ethnic
parties, cancelled elections in numerous ethnic areas, and stage-managed the campaign process to ensure that pro-democracy and opposition candidates who did compete
faced insurmountable obstacles. Ultimately, elections cannot be credibles when the regime reject dialogue with opponents and represses the most basic freedoms of
expression, speech, and assembly.
We will monitor the situation in Burma closely in the weeks and months ahead. The United States will continue to implement a strategy of pressure and engagement
in accordance with conditions on the ground in Burma and the actions of the Burmese authorities.irrawaddy burmese We renew our calls for the authorities to: free Aung San Suu Kyi
and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, cease systematic violations of human rights, begin to hold human rights violators accountable,
and welcome pro-democracy and ethnic minority groups into a long-overdue dialogue. Only genuine, inclusive dialogue can place Burmaa on the path to a truly
representative democracy which upholds human rights and builds a better future for its citizens.
"world today"(irrawaddy burmese)