UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday urged Asian and African leaders to back his push to reform the UN, saying the developing world could benefit from plans to increase development aid and boost the world body’s role in protecting human rights.
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New Delhi: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) yesterday announced a new scheme that will guarantee a basic minimum salary for the working Burmese refugees.
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Thailand will allow Shan people displaced by the fighting in Burma temporary refuge, said a Shan State Army (South) spokeswoman today.
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April 20: Guwahati: The Indian Minister of state for food processing industries, Subodh Kant Sahai, has said his ministry will soon approve a proposal for allowing Manipur to import rice from Burma .
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Burmese government staffs, aspiring to go abroad for further studies, will have to give an undertaking to abide by a 13 – point do and don’t prohibition which include banning the communication with dissidents in exile, slapped by the Government.

Mizzima received a copy of an announcement issued by the Ministry of Industry (I), which describe the trainees who were sponsored by the ministry for further studies abroad will have to fill up a seven – page form and sign an agreement that stipulates a penalty of five million Kyats (about 5555 US $) or jail terms in case of violation of the rules.

The agreement include the prohibition on communication with Burmese exiled pro-democracy groups, launching a political organisation and criticising the government by any means, taking a vacation during course breaks, getting married during the study course, association with respected country’s political affair directly or indirectly.

Moreover, it prohibits the signatories to switch over to another field of studies apart from the one mentioned in the form without prior notice to the Ministry, is also required to be signed by at least five guaranters. The guaranters, who may include parents of the learner, will be held responsible in case the student violates the agreement and are required to pay the penalty and legally accept other punishment imposed by the authorities.

It was announced last month, further states that the signatories are required to return to Burma as and when summoned by the authorities even if the studies are not complete.

The Burma Army’s regional commanders in Shan State are trying to woo back the Shan ceasefire group that had suddenly decamped with all of its 2,000 strong fighters on 9 April, following official notice that they would have to surrender, according to ceasefire sources:
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The Burma Army’s regional commanders in Shan State are trying to woo back the Shan ceasefire group that had suddenly decamped with all of its 2,000 strong fighters on 9 April, following official notice that they would have to surrender, according to ceasefire sources:
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April 21: A senior officer of the military regime and representatives from ethnic ceasefire groups met in Lashio, capital of Northern Shan State, on Wednesday to discuss their views on an independent Shan State, according to ceasefire groups.
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Yangon: Ethnic Karen rebels attacked a convoy of trucks and buses on a highway in southern Myanmar, killing eight people, including a university student and a teacher, and wounding 15 others, a state-run newspaper reported Friday.
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Yangon: Myanmar on Friday rejected reports by a London-based Christian organization that the military junta launched a chemical attack on ethnic Karen rebels.
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The Burmese army used chemical weapons in an attack on ethnic Karenni rebels in February, the UK-based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide alleges in a report published today.
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