A group of 38 people returning to Shan State from a Christian congregation held in northern Thailand were detained on 18 April by the Wa authorities in Mongmai, also known as Mongmau, north of the Wa capital Panghsang, according to Thai, Lahu and Shan sources:
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Chittagong, Bangladesh: The Disaster Management Minister of Bangladesh has urged the UNHCR representatives to take more effective steps to help refugees return to their country.
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A recent proposal by Thai authorities to register migrant schools along the Thai-Burmese border in Tak province has been seen as a positive step by Burmese school administrators, who say that some difficulties yet remain.
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Laos and Myanmar have agreed to upgrade Ban Mom into an international border gate by the end of this year, facilitating travel for residents of both countries as well as foreign tourists.
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The possibility of an outbreak of avian flu in Burma has became a major concern of the five member countries of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (Acmecs) forum and international organisations in charge of bird flu control, the Bangkok Post reports.
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Business in Muse on the Burmese border with China’s Yunnan province has been at a standstill since 13 officials, including the customs head of one of the six crossing gates, were arrested last week.
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Phnom Penh: The main Cambodian opposition Sam Rainsy Party on Thursday said it wanted to make Cambodia the latest Asean country to establish a domestic inter-parliamentary caucus on Burma in an attempt to promote reform in Rangoon.
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New York: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was to embark Thursday on a journey to Asia and Europe that was to include the first ever visit by a secretary-general to Vietnam.
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A cross-party group of British members of parliament today tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the government to support displaced ethnic Karen and push for Burma’s inclusion on the United Nations Security Council agenda.
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Albany: Some of Nyunt Win’s friends, who once fought with rebel groups in Myanmar and now live in refugee camps, hope to join him in the United States. But they may not make it.
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May 8, Their looks said it all. When the news flashed up on my screen that Margaret Beckett was Foreign Secretary, I told my colleagues. One by one heads popped up, a bemused look on each face. (more…)