To be a lawyer in military-ruled Burma is to court danger, invite arrest and risk being jailed in the country’s notorious prisons. (more…)

Hillary Clinton has indicated that the United States is considering a major shift in its policy toward Burma, most notably by lifting the economic sanctions that have restricted trade and investment in one of the world’s most brutalizing regimes. While maintaining that the Obama administration is still considering its options, Clinton asserted that “the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn’t influenced the Burmese junta.” She added that engagement–the approach undertaken by Burma’s neighboring countries–also failed to convince the authoritarian leaders to change their course. (more…)

1. The Karen Nation Union (KNU) welcomes the United Nations Security Council’s continued engagement on the situation in Burma. (more…)

The National League for Democracy has issued a special statement supporting the United Nations’ call for dialogue without preconditions and urging the military regime to accept the proposal. (more…)

The United Nations’ human rights envoy for Myanmar headed on Wednesday for the country’s new capital, Naypyidaw, for possible meetings with senior junta figures. (more…)

Two political prisoners put in prison for having contact with a Thai based opposition organization had their sentences commuted by 16 years each by a divisional court. (more…)

The Burmese junta believes information technology, particularly satellite TV, is a decadent threat that undermines nationalism and has warned the people to avoid satellite TV programs. (more…)

Myanmar has lifted restriction on visiting Phakant, one of the famous jade producing areas, by foreign tourists, the 7-Day News quoted tour companies as reporting Wednesday. (more…)

It’s there in their faces, in the dark night of their eyes and in the sag and slump of their shoulders. It’s unmistakable, the despair of the Rohingya, the fear for departed husbands and fathers, the daily abrasions of poverty, sadness and the world’s indifference. (more…)

Relatives of the 54 Burmese workers who suffocated to death last year in the back of a container truck received compensation from an insurance company in Ranong today. The exchange was monitored by authorities from the Thai and Burmese governments, as well as representatives of the Federated Trade Unions – Burma (FTUB), World Vision, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other non-government organizations (NGOs) (more…)

A Bangladesh business delegation will visit Burma tomorrow to discuss a direct banking arrangement and border trade to accelerate business between the two countries. (more…)

WELL-OFF Myanmar citizens with health concerns travel to a wide range of mainly Asian countries for first-rate healthcare at relatively low cost, industry experts say. (more…)

Indonesia wants Myanmar to allow detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi to participate in the military junta’s planned referendum and elections in order to make the process credible and inclusive, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Wednesday. (more…)

As Japan prepares to take in Myanmarese from Thai refugee camps, it is important that the communities they resettle in fully support their integration into society, experts said at a recent Tokyo symposium held by the Foreign Ministry. (more…)

Ten Myanmar nationals who arrived from Kuala Lumpur were barred by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) from entering the country last Sunday via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here. (more…)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western governments had failed to pressure the repressive Burmese government, signaling a potentially major shift in U.S. policy. (more…)

Tour operators have defended their decision to send tourists to Burma despite being accused of supporting the country’s brutal regime. (more…)

Newspaper section: NewsThe United Nations’ human rights envoy to Burma is nearing the end of a six-day trip to the country. So far he has been able to visit several political prisoners in Rangoon’s Insein prison and in two regional prisons – one in Karen state which borders Thailand and the other in Kachin state bordering China. (more…)

1. The State Peace and Development Council issued the Statement No. 1/2007 on 4th October, 2007 regarding the dialogue between Senior General Than Shwe, the Chairperson of SPDC and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of NLD. Instead of arguing each other about some facts described in the paragraph (7) of above mentioned statement, these two people who are playing a decisive role for the future of our country, should meet each other without prior conditions. Therefore, it would be the best way for them to solve the problems face to face instead of corresponding each other. (more…)

UN Human Rights Envoy to Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana interviewed four political prisoners in Insein Prison in Rangoon on Monday, including Tin Min Htut, Nyi Pu, Kyaw Ko Ko, Daw Pone Nami (aka) Daw Mya Nyunt, and defense lawyer Nyi Nyi Htwe, according to the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Rangoon. (more…)