Myanmar’s military authorities have detained a prominent former journalist and political ally of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition party said Thursday. (more…)

Members of Swan Ahr Shin, the police, and the riot police have supported the anti-government movement led by monks in Sittwe because they are suffering the same difficulties in their daily lives, said monk leader Rakhaputta in Sittwe. (more…)

Aung Moe Lwin, a 36-year-old youth member of the National League for Democracy in Natmauk township, Magwe division, is said to have died in detention, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity. (more…)

Prominent lawyer U Aung Thein has said he is to stop representing clients such as U Gambira and other activists in protest at the court’s refusal to allow him enough time to prepare a defence. (more…)

Elected members of parliament U Nyi Pu and Dr Tin Min Htut have been transferred to Insein prison, according to a National League for Democracy spokesperson. (more…)

The head of the Burmese military regime, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, has still not approved the country’s election law, which authorizes an election in 2010 and the constitutional backing for the Burmese armed forces to retain at least 25 percent of parliamentary seats. (more…)

The head of the Burmese military regime, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, has still not approved the country’s election law, which authorizes an election in 2010 and the constitutional backing for the Burmese armed forces to retain at least 25 percent of parliamentary seats. (more…)

A 28-year-old Burmese Buddhist monk, Ashin Pannasiri, has successfully escaped from Lantalang Prison in Chin State and arrived in Delhi, India, after 13 days. (more…)

Myanmar authorities are building a seaside airport in the southwest region laid waste by a cyclone five months ago, a local weekly paper reported Wednesday. (more…)

UK’s leading insurance marketplace, Lloyd’s of London, said it has written to all its managing agents to reconsider their business involvement with Burma’s military junta. (more…)

To avoid any danger to the health of children from tainted milk, the World Health Organisation and the UN Children’s fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday urged Burmese mother’s to fall back on breastfeeding for children below six months. (more…)

In the first ever instance of highlighting the lives of refugees, particularly Burmese, Malaysian rights campaigners have launched a new book compiling eight stories on the pathetic situation of Burmese refugees. (more…)

At the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win tried to appease countries concerned with Burma’s political deadlock and repression of dissidents, maintaining the regime’s “roadmap to democracy” offers the best chance for a return to civilian rule. (more…)

Poverty and the slow-pace of economic development in Burma, which was once known as the ‘Rice Bowl’ of Southeast Asia, is not the result of the current economic sanctions imposed by western nations but because of the ruling junta’s mismanagement and inept economic decision making, said an economic expert. (more…)

INTERNATIONAL commemorations marking last year’s brutal suppression of the popular revolt against Burma’s generals in recent days have had to acknowledge the disappointing progress made since then in putting pressure on them to relax their military rule. Precious little has been achieved through United Nations and regional diplomacy or by economic sanctions. The regime remains firmly in control of Burma and has even been given some political leeway by certain external powers. (more…)

As bombs spill blood on streets and hate preachers torch churches in some dark corners of India, the country is slowly and nervously warming up for the next general elections, unsure of the forces that will be at work when the nation goes to polls. Though the election drama in India never lacks colour, adding some extra zing this time will be Buddhist bhikshus in ochre robes. (more…)