According to the new charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, member states are required to act in accordance with certain principles: the rule of law, good governance, democracy, constitutional government, respect for fundamental freedoms, protection of human rights and the promotion of social justice. (more…)

New Delhi’s shocking silence on developments in its neighbour, particularly the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi, could come back to haunt it. (more…)

The massive socio-political movement in Iran, following the highly controversial announcement Saturday declaring Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the victor of that state’s presidential election, is reminiscent of a number of other such uprisings during the past few decades — with some being notably more violent than others. However, it should be noted, the situation in Iran is by no means a “revolution” at this junction, and experts and pundits aplenty agree that such an appellation would be both premature and inappropriate. Nevertheless, a look back is merited, given the situational picture painted by images, video and reports that have made their way out of Iran thus far. (more…)

Troops of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) are going into the forests from their army battalions in Burma’s northern Kachin State for a possible war with the Burmese Army. This, despite having accepted the junta’s strategy of transforming the armed-wing in principle, said local sources. (more…)

A pro-junta militia in Burma believed to be responsible for the burning of Karen villages and forced recruitment of civilians as troops has said it intends to make Karen state “peaceful”. (more…)

A 10-year-old girl from central Burma’s Mandalay division has reportedly been raped and murdered after disappearing following an evening tuition class, sources close to her family say. (more…)

Myanmar official media Tuesday hailed the current visit to Myanmar of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, saying that the president’s visit contributes to the continuous strengthening of the two countries’ bilateral cooperation. (more…)

Amid a sort of paranoia of of swine flu, which is spreading to many countries, Mizoram has banned import of pigs from the neighbouring Myanmar. (more…)

China would like to join with Myanmar to promote comprehensive, stable and lasting relations, Vice President Xi Jinping said Tuesday. (more…)

Work on the delayed Sino-Burmese oil and gas pipelines will begin in September and the project will be completed in 2012, one year ahead of schedule, according to The China Security Journal. (more…)

If the junta fails to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s (Asean) credibility will be “affected inevitably,” Thai Prime Minster Abhisit Vejajjiva told The Far Eastern Economic Review recently. (more…)

Three ethnic Rohingya men from Myanmar have been arrested by Thai immigration police and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and charged with involvement in transnational criminal activities. (more…)

U.N. investigators said on Tuesday the trial of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi flouted international standards and urged the country’s military rulers to ensure it was open and fair. (more…)

Haseenah Koyakutty, a freelance Southeast Asia correspondent, spoke recently with the Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejajjiva. The exclusive interview dealt largely with how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) should handle the junta in Myanmar in the wake of the recent trial of Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr. Abhisit is the current chairman of Asean, which advocates engagement with the Myanmar regime. Below are excerpts of the interview. (more…)

Five independent United Nations human rights experts* on Tuesday urged the authorities of Myanmar to ensure that the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and two of her aides, is “fair and open.” (more…)

Three members of the National League for Democracy were arrested last week on unspecified charges while another elderly member had his property vandalised by men armed with slingshots. (more…)

Five political prisoners in Burma’s Insein prison have been put in solitary confinement after prison authorities suspected them of planning to demonstrate against the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)

Veteran journalist Win Tin said on Monday Burma’s military rulers are going the whole hog to garner diplomatic support from regional countries in the face of growing international condemnation over the trial of Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)

Burma’s Ministry of Religious Affairs is effectively prohibiting Buddhist monks from traveling abroad by refusing to issue letters of recommendation, according to senior monks in Rangoon. (more…)

Many rice farmers in Mon state are now facing problems from heavy rain that has destroyed their rice seedlings by flooding the paddies, according to farmers from Mudon Township. (more…)