Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, defense lawyer Nyan Win said that Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi privately told him that the charges against her are invalid as she was charged under the 1975 State Security law, which was annulled by the 2008 constitution. (more…)

Yesterday’s state-run media, weary of potential implications, omitted some facts revealed during the court testimony on Wednesday of American John William Yettaw, who disclosed that he encountered security personnel while trying to sneak into Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence. (more…)

Yangon – The party of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi expressed “grave concern” on Friday for her health while she is in prison facing charges that carry a jail term of up to five years. (more…)

The party of Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Friday it was “very concerned” for the health of the Nobel Laureate while she is in jail facing trial. (more…)

The Burmese army is preparing two training centers in Mon State for ethnic armed groups being transformed into government “Border Guard Forces” (BGF). Two ethnic Karen ceasefire groups are likely to be trained there as the junta steps up pressure on other area groups prior to the 2010 election. (more…)

Bangladesh Migration Myanmar Minister: Myanmar assures repatriation of Rohingya from Bangladesh = Dhaka (more…)

Thai TV Channel 3 on Monday reported that the Thai government plans to issue a large number of work permits for migrant workers, so they may stay in Thailand. (more…)

Trade Unions Pressure Chevron on Burma

Two American trade unions backed by a several human rights groups have attempted to force US oil giant Chevron to justify its continued involvement with the “pariah military regime” of Burma. (more…)

The families of fishermen affected by Burma’s cyclone Nargis last year will be the recipients of a multi-million dollar food aid programme organized by the Italian government and the United Nations. (more…)

Kuala Lumpur-Support for Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has stepped up with about 100 more parliamentarians from Southeast Asian countries adding their voices to the growing international calls for her release. (more…)

Expelling Burma from ASEAN isn’t the way to bring about reform in the military-ruled nation even if it tarnishes the group’s credibility, the Singapore government said yesterday. (more…)

The Burmese military junta should respond in positive to international pleas to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday. (more…)

An international media rights group urged Myanmar’s junta Thursday to lift restrictions on coverage of Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial, saying the lack of transparency made a fair verdict unlikely. (more…)

Amnesty International (AI) is reporting that the world is sitting on a social, political and economic time bomb fuelled by an unfolding human rights crisis, according to their latest annual report released on Thursday. (more…)

Myanmar cares a damn about what the world says. Its deputy foreign minister has highlighted this once more. In response to international calls for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is on trial on charges of hosting an American man at her home, therefore allegedly violating the terms of her house arrest, Maung Myint said, “It is not political, it is not a human rights issue. So we don’t accept pressure and interference from abroad.” (more…)

Despite a note of guarded optimism struck by one of Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers and notwithstanding mounting international pressure, there is no real indication that her trial in Rangoon will end in her acquittal and release. (more…)

Phnom Penh – Minutes into the first session of the 17th ministerial meeting between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) this week in Phnom Penh, and Myanmar’s deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint had already told all delegates to keep out of the junta’s internal affairs. (more…)

In a bizarre twist to the never-ending saga of abuse against Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy Opposition leader, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, the ruling military junta has placed her on trial just before the May 27, 2009 deadline to release her from house arrest. Placed under house arrest for 13 of the last 19 years, Ms Suu Kyi represents lasting hope for change from a politically-rigid military system which has kept Burma isolated from much of the international community for over 45 years. (more…)