Myanmar is on President Obama's list of countries deserving of direct diplomatic engagement. Many observers are hopeful that the Southeast Asian nation of 48 million people will respond to U.S. overtures and will hold a free and fair election in fall 2010. Joshua of Burma VJ and Suzanne DiMaggio join Martin Savidge to discuss political change in Burma.

Worldfocus blogger Michael Lwin, who recently returned from Myanmar, writes about the urban Burmese social scene. He describes Yangoon's "karaoke girls"-- young women from poor families who make a living offering affectionate company for the evening.

In recent months, U.S. policy on the isolated Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar has been shifting toward greater engagement. Worldfocus blogger Michael Lwin, who recently returned from Myanmar and is of Burmese descent, argues that ineffective U.S. sanctions have mainly caused suffering for the Burmese people.

Worldfocus blogger Michael Lwin, a research fellow at Georgetown University, recently traveled to Myanmar to research Burmese law, culture and religion. He writes about his experiences in Naypyidaw. Five years ago the Burmese military junta decided to move Myanmar’s capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw, meaning "city of kings."

Worldfocus speaks with "David," a Burmese refugee who was recently released from a Malaysian detention camp. The camps are severely overcrowded, and conditions are reportedly wretched, with limited or no access to clean water, medical treatment and food.