Burmese authorities are set to begin collecting income tax from civil servants and military personnel, according to government sources in Rangoon.
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The Assam Rifles authorities in Manipur have lodged a protest with the Myanmarese [Burmese] army after militants from the state launched an offensive on an Assam Rifles post from across the international border at Moreh in Chandel district.
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Myanmar is deliberating over allowing private sector to manufacture pharmaceuticals to help reduce import, a local weekly reported Monday.
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Thai fishmeal producers will urge the country’s Ministry of Commerce to restrict illegal fishmeal imports from Burma.
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Host Malaysia delivered an unusually harsh rebuke of military-ruled Myanmar on the eve of a key regional security meeting Monday, as hopes dwindled for nuclear talks with North Korea.
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July 22, Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong said today the 39th Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) next week should not be dominated by the Myanmar issue as there are other pressing matters to be discussed, said Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong.
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Myanmar’s “sensitivities” must be taken into account in an ASEAN communique, Malaysia said Monday as an official said that criticism of the regime would be watered down at ministerial talks here.
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Shwe Gas Movement (SGM), a Burmese organisation, today (Saturday) urged the international oil and gas companies not to work with the military regime in Myanmar.
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As host of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Ministerial Meeting and the Asean Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur this week, Malaysia finds itself in the delicate role of having to balance diplomacy with principles and urgency, especially on the question of economic and political reforms in Myanmar.
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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations isn’t known for getting tough.  The group of 10 is so unfailingly polite that is has quietly endured the Burmese dictatorship within its ranks for almost a decade.  Finally, this farce may be drawing to a close.  A weekend statement issued by an Asean caucus on Burma signals a tough new direction.
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Asean is fed up with Burma’s military leaders, feeling thoroughly let down by the rulers of its most recalcitrant member state. As Asean foreign ministers gather for the start of a ministerial conference on Thursday, some of them have been unusually outspoken in their remarks about the regime.
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We, participants of the ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Caucus (AIPMC) Conference on Burma and Democracies in Transition, comprising legislators from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, joined by like-minded colleagues from Australia, New Zealand and India, met in Kuala Lumpur on 21-22 July, 2006. (more…)

We, representatives of civil society organizations from ASEAN and its dialogue partners, welcome the statement of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) and add our voices to the call for democracy in Burma, the unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all prisoners of conscience, a complete cessation of hostilities against ethnic groups, and the commencement of political dialogue based on the principles of democracy and human rights. (more…)