In September, Burma was on the front pages of global media, the result of the Burmese military junta’s violent crackdown on the peaceful, pro-democracy protests spearheaded by Buddhist monks. Images of soldiers bludgeoning protesters, in one case shooting a Japanese photographer at close range (he later died), held the world’s attention for a number of days.

As of December, the story continued to unfold, mostly without the benefit of front-page coverage, as the media had moved on to other issues. The BBC reported that the UN had confirmed at least 31 deaths in the crackdown.

Later in the month Congress passed a bill aiming to tighten sanctions against Burma. The legislation is meant to close loopholes that allow Burmese gems to be imported through third countries, as well as those that provide the junta access to US banks to launder money in third countries.

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