Burma's junta granted 8,585 prisoners, including 33 Thais, amnesty to mark the completion of the national convention process last September, state media said ......more >>>

Burma is a Buddhist country. But, under this military government, it no longer offers a place or security for Buddhist monks.

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Just two months ago, the world was shocked and outraged by the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations that took place in Burma. The images may have vanished from our screens, but we cannot and ......more >>>

Two months after Burma's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests led by Buddhist monks in Rangoon, the former capital city of the country is noticeably short of ......more >>>

Burma's ruling military junta must release detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi if it is serious about making the democratic reforms demanded by the ......more >>>

In what, is in all probability a diversionary tactics adopted by the Burmese military junta, it has effected another military reshuffle. Critics feel it is to showcase changes in the regime in the ......more >>>

The arrest of political activists and harassment of Buddhist monks by Burma's military regime is "deeply troubling'' and the junta must fulfill its pledge to take steps toward democracy, the U.S. State ......more >>>

The recent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar has rekindled a decades-old debate: Is it morally right to do business in countries with ......more >>>

Amnesty International condemns the new arrests of political activists inside Burma, despite the commitment by Prime Minister Thein Sein to the UN Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari in early November ......more >>>

A UN human rights investigator who recently returned from Burma said he believes there are more political prisoners detained in the country than the government says, although he would not estimate how ......more >>>

Prominent Burma's ethnic Chin leader Pu Chin Sian Thang has been freed after his arrest last week for supporting detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's call for dialogue and national ......more >>>

Hanoi: U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari said on Monday he wanted to return to Myanmar by the end of the year as ......more >>>

As government leaders met in Singapore last week to sign the historic Asean Charter _ making the 40-year-old association a rule-based legal entity with enhanced responsibility _ the violent crackdown on ......more >>>

The people of Burma live largely in the absence of basic human rights. Yet last month’s pro-democracy demonstrations, met by a government crackdown, are "a sign that society is alive and attentive," says the United ......more >>>

Over the past decade, Burma has gone from being an antidemocratic embarrassment and humanitarian disaster to being a serious ......more >>>

ASEAN leaders are expected to strengthen their position on Burma in the next few months, said ASEAN Secretary—General Ong Keng Yong, who also stressed that much is at stake in the grouping’s programmes ......more >>>

The European parliament will oppose any free-trade deal between Europe and Southeast Asia unless Burma makes democratic reforms, visiting parliamentarians ......more >>>

The Burmese authority forced female political prisoners to confess that they had sexual relation with monk protestors, said the Women's League of Burma (WLB) at a press conference at Foreign ......more >>>

The countries of Southeast Asia are embarking on an exciting new journey; it's a pity they are going to be slowed down by extra baggage that they ought never ......more >>>

The notion of a regional approach to resolving Burma is dead...

Twenty years ago in a wood-panelled conference room in Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign ......more >>>

EU lawmakers vow to block free-trade deal with ASEAN without reforms in Myanmar

The European parliament will oppose any free-trade deal ......more >>>

Asean and the European Union agree to a joint statement calling on Burma to release all political prisoners and expressing appreciation for the work of the United Nations in the country. Local and ......more >>>

New Asean head is Burma critic with clout: Its newly signed charter will make the Association of South East Asian Nations less of a club and more of an organization. And its new chief is set to be less ......more >>>

National League for Democracy condemned on Thursday the arrest of two prominent politicians, saying it undermined talks to build "mutual confidence" between the opposition and military ......more >>>

In its typical Asean way and for no good reason, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have decided it is much safer to save the ugly face of the ruling Burmese generals than to offend ......more >>>

The European Union and Southeast Asian leaders called on Thursday for enhanced economic cooperation and the release of political detainees in military-ruled ......more >>>

Amnesty International: Open Letter to EU Leaders

Amnesty International calls on the EU to make the ongoing political and human rights crisis in Myanmar a central issue ......more >>>

The behavior of the Burmese junta for 40 years has become a global concern, although what the international community has done so far is only condemn junta chief Gen. Than Swe and impose ineffective ......more >>>

The president of the Philippines took a parting shot at Myanmar's junta Wednesday, deploring the pace of democratic reforms in the Southeast Asian ......more >>>

Sources tell AsiaNews that some prisoners freed as a token of the generals’ good will survive only for a few days as a result of the inhumane treatment received whilst in prison. UN resolution condemns ......more >>>

UN rights expert urges 'less talk, more action' on Burma

The UN's independent human rights expert for Burma on Wednesday urged the international community to show "less ......more >>>

Burma regime was hit Wednesday with demands to release democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and criticism over its bloody crackdown on dissent, at a regional summit that embraced its friends and foes.

The ......more >>>

In a land of government lunacy, residents need official permission to use the phone and to travel across town. An on-scene journal from beleaguered ......more >>>

Myanmar's new prime minister Thein Sein was expected to face a tongue-lashing at a Southeast Asian summit just weeks after the regime's crackdown on protests. ......more >>>

About 40 Burma nationals were having coffee at the Starbucks cafe at Orchard Parade Hotel, or standing around nearby. As the clock struck 7pm Tuesday night, they gathered silently ......more >>>

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura on Wednesday assured U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari that Japan fully supports his efforts to facilitate democratization in Burma, and plans to contribute ......more >>>

Australia wants 'action, dialogue and success'' on Burma, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today in Singapore.

Downer also said the United Nations' Ibrahim Gambari should be given more power ......more >>>

The United Nations can "make a difference" in Myanmar, where others have failed, with the support of East Asian countries and the international ......more >>>

A U.N. General Assembly committee approved a draft resolution Tuesday strongly condemning the Myanmar government's crackdown on peaceful protesters and ......more >>>

The nature of the news cycle and well-meant wishful thinking lends itself to short memories -- as the situation in Burma illustrates.

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Members of the Association of South East Asian Nations on Tuesday signed a new charter committing themselves to democracy and economic integration even as a ......more >>>

A United Nations panel rebuked Myanmar, Iran and North Korea on Tuesday for human rights abuses, overcoming objections by developing nations that the move amounted to "demonization" of some states. ......more >>>

A UN General Assembly panel on Tuesday passed a resolution strongly condemning the recent crackdown on anti-government protests by Myanmar's rulers but the vote was dismissed by the military-run ......more >>>

junta authorities in northern Burma's Kachin State on Sunday began to seize widely used Chinese mobile phones from civilians, local residents said.

Following the seizure of several Chinese mobile ......more >>>

An emerging rift among Asian leaders over Myanmar burst into the open at a regional summit meeting on Monday when the Philippine president suggested that her ......more >>>

Photo: Activists wearing masks of a portrait of Myanmar supreme leader Senior General Than Shwe (L) and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ......more >>>

Southeast Asian nations were set to sign a charter on Tuesday that aims for free trade and human rights, but controversy over member Myanmar has marred the landmark deal.

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Human Rights Watch called on Monday for the international community to halt new investment in Myanmar's oil and gas sector to punish the regime for its ......more >>>

Photo: junta Prime Minister General Thein Sein (L) is escorted by Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo (R) upon his arrival at Singapore's ......more >>>

Southeast Asian leaders gathered Sunday for their annual summit with their bloc's credibility at stake as they grapple with Burma, which has earned global ......more >>>

China will reject sanctions on Burma at a meeting of Asian leaders in Singapore this week, and won't press for a timetable for democratic reforms sought by the U.S. and the United Nations, a Chinese ......more >>>

The United Nations heaped praise on Burma's military junta this week for allowing meetings with prominent political prisoners and said that progress was being made in brokering ......more >>>

Burma junta is unlikely to face a call for sanctions or even a public rebuke over its crackdown on democracy protestors when leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations discuss the military junta in Singapore ......more >>>

Singapore has banned all outdoor protest at a summit of Southeast Asian nations and rejected an opposition party's request to stage a Burma pro-democracy protest, police and activists said on Saturday. ......more >>>

Officials from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations begin gathering in Singapore Saturday for ASEAN's annual summit conference. As ......more >>>

Despite the increasingly repressive environment in Burma since monk-led protests were brutally quashed in September, monks and groups of activists continued to lead small-scale protests during the past ......more >>>

Over the past few days, Burma’s military regime has yet again proved its mastery at conjuring up an image of normalcy when an important visitor is in town.

But the drama played out for United ......more >>>

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established in 1967 when its member states recognized their apparent inability to resolve disputes bilaterally, to address the need for a ......more >>>

Burma's rubies are indisputably the world's finest, but their rich red hue is reminding an increasing number of international gem dealers of the bloody ......more >>>

Booming China needs energy and that means it needs Burma, observers say -- a lucky break for the ruling generals, who have been able to ......more >>>

Burma's ruling generals have targeted Buddhist monks as they seek to silence dissent following September's protests. On a recent trip to the city of Mandalay, reporter Reena Sethi was given rare ......more >>>

In recent years, gem dealers from across the globe have flocked to auctions in Burma, where huge piles of jade and chunks of unpolished rubies are put on display by a government eager for hard ......more >>>

The Security Council on Tuesday welcomed recent positive steps by Burmese rulers but the United States vowed continued pressure to ensure a "substantive dialogue" with the democratic ......more >>>

Burma's security forces have arrested two prominent anti-government activists — a Buddhist monk and a labor rights advocate, fellow dissidents said ......more >>>

Burma is facing a fresh scolding from ASEAN summit host Singapore but ties between the two nations run deep, with the city-state acting as doctor and alleged ......more >>>

U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari gave an upbeat report on Tuesday on his recent trip to promote democracy in Burma but Western ambassadors voiced doubts about the junta's ......more >>>

Recent developments in Burma may have given the Association of Southeast Asian Nations a reason to smile, but experience with the junta not so long ago should restrain Asean from throwing caution to the ......more >>>

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged Burma's ruling junta and opposition to redouble their efforts to achieve national reconciliation and full respect for human rights.

Meanwhile Human Rights ......more >>>

The monasteries of Myanmar used to teem with saffron-robed Buddhist monks, revered as spiritual guides and moral authorities in a country in the grip of a repressive military regime.

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Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's reaction last week to the situation in Burma was constructive as he implicitly indicated that Asean has ......more >>>

Tentative talks between Burma’s pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the country’s military rulers have begun, raising hopes of a political breakthrough. "If the talks go well, she may be ......more >>>

Oil was $72 a barrel in August when a budget crunch forced Burma's ruling generals to slash fuel subsidies, sparking protests that snowballed into the biggest ......more >>>

Independent Television News reports on the emergence of new details on the extent and aftermath of a military crackdown on anti-government protests in Burma.

JUDY ......more >>>

Pro-demovracy leaders have lambasted the UN's "ineffective" human rights mission to Burma and its "failure" to protect persecuted monks and dissidents who ......more >>>

The president of Tokyo-based APF News Inc. announced he would urge the Japanese government to sue the Burmese government through the International Criminal Court over the murder of ......more >>>

When the new British ambassador went to Naypyidaw, the remote Burmese capital, to present his diplomatic credentials in mid-2006, he reportedly thought the ......more >>>

In a surprising break from years of deadlock in Burma, the pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she was ready to "cooperate" ......more >>>

Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was due to meet leaders of her party on Friday for the first time in more than three years as hope flickered she ......more >>>

Trading goodwill gestures, Myanmar's junta agreed to let detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meet with members of her party Friday for the ......more >>>

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari was to meet Myanmar's detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday after warning the junta against a return to the status quo before mass protests shook the nation. ......more >>>

On his second visit to Burma since the brutal crackdown on demonstrators, in September, United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari held talks with senior members of the Burmese military regime. But ......more >>>

As a top UN human rights official prepared to visit Burma for the first time in four years, the world body's chief Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday he was "concerned" ......more >>>

Burma's ruling junta has rejected U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari's bid for three-way talks with detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during his ......more >>>

Alarmed over detained Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's deteriorating health, the National League for Democracy leadership said she needs more frequent and proper ......more >>>

Detained Burmese democracy leader to meet official amid reports she is being treated for an unknown illness.

The detained Burmese democracy leader Aung ......more >>>

UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari met Foreign Minister Nyan Win and leaders of Burma's many ethnic groups Monday as the United States pressed for concrete ......more >>>

A U.N. envoy hoping to broker talks on political reform in military-ruled Burma might not get to talk with the top junta leader because of ......more >>>

UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari was Monday due to meet representatives from many ethnic groups but officials said there were so far no ......more >>>

The UN envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, still has not managed to hold talks with the leader of the country's ruling junta, days into his second visit since ......more >>>

Pro-democracy activists fleeing Myanmar in the wake of a military crackdown have no legal protection and are targets of exploitation once they reach Thailand, a U.S. advocacy group said Monday. ......more >>>

The United Nations has begun its latest mission to persuade Burma's military government to reconcile with democratic dissidents in the country.

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The United Nations Security Council as well as Burma’s neighbours must increase pressure on the Burmese government to end massive human rights abuses and ......more >>>

U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari met the Myanmar junta's go-between with detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday, during a mission for reform complicated by the generals' move to kick out the U.N.'s ......more >>>

The resistance continues, but it needs help!!

Burma's ruling generals yesterday ordered the expulsion of a senior United Nations official, ......more >>>

Runaway inflation illustrates there is nothing sustainable about the current economic situation

In August, the Burmese ......more >>>

Like all grand romantic gestures, this one has little regard for practical restraint. A band of British wellwishers are planning to ship a piano down river to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the elected Burmese ......more >>>

Efforts in recent years by the United Nations to achieve reconciliation between the ruling military and pro-democracy forces in Burma have been punctuated by ......more >>>

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Burma on Saturday for a second round of crisis talks with the country's rulers as moves to expel another key diplomat threatened to overshadow his push for ......more >>>

Internet cuts and diplomatic uncertainty cloud the atmosphere ahead of UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's visit to Burma, where he is to press junta leaders for reform after a violent crackdown on ......more >>>