The retirements from frontline politics of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew and Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamed have deprived Southeast Asia of its senior leaders. (more…)

Swedish parliamentarians from the left, middle and right scale of politics have signed a common Nordic declaration in Manila conditioning Burma’s upcoming chairmanship of Asean 2006.
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Calling back migrants to pressure Asean
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Mactan Island, Philippines: When officials from a number of Southeast Asian countries expressed their concerns over the past week about the repercussions of Myanmar’s impending chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, many observers here thought that they would echo the positions of the United States and the European Union, (more…)

Manila: Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo on Wednesday said he had urged Myanmar to introduce promised democratic reforms by July, when ASEAN foreign ministers plan to meet in Laos, to ease international opposition to its chairmanship of the regional bloc next year.
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April 14: Human-rights activists fear another spate of extrajudicial killings, The Nation reports.
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The drug situation along the Thai-Burmese border remains highly volatile, as United Wa State Army soldiers are increasing the production of methamphetamines following reports Burma wants to shut down their drug business, Third Army commander Lt-Gen Picharnmet Muangmanee said yesterday.
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April 14: Residents in a Thai village in this northern province fled from their homes Tuesday morning for fear of possible attacks following fighting between two armed groups on Myanmar border.
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Mae Hong Son: Yesterday’s fighting between the United Wa State Army and the anti-Rangoon Shan State Army in Burma opposite Pang Ma Pha district prompted a security beef-up along the border after more than 30 mortar shells strayed into Thai territory.
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Ethnic armed groups including the KNU [Karen National Union] have welcomed the action of former Maj Aung Lynn Htut, who resigned as the State Peace and Development Council’s deputy chief of mission at the Burmese embassy in Washington DC and sought political asylum in the US recently.
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Yangon: Thousands took to the streets in Myanmar’s capital Wednesday to celebrate the three-day water festival that marks the Buddhist new year, under the strict watch of the military’s festival disciplinary committee.
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