New Delhi – The United States Embassy in Rangoon said it is talking to the Burmese government regarding an American, arrested at the Yangon International Airport on September 3. (more…)

Burma’s notorious censorship board, called the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division, has allowed a private Rangoon journal to publish translated versions of articles that have appeared in the international media. (more…)

The Nation League for Democracy (NLD) has asked the military government for permission to play an active role in organizing political activities across Burma, a NLD statement said on Tuesday. (more…)

In Northern Arakan, the mobile has become a tool for the local authorities to extort money from the Rohingya community, according to Kamal, a student from Maungdaw. (more…)

A number of youths have been forced to flee to Mizoram state in northeast India to avoid being conscripted by the Burmese Army for military training from different areas in Kalemyo, Sagaing division western Burma. (more…)

Wa leaders have ordered their people to be on alert and dig bunkers for protection in case fighting breaks out, according to sources on the border. Troops of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) have been building strategic outposts in the mountains. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw — Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Commander of North-East Command Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut and Minister for Electric Power No (2) Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint met with the Chairman of Kokang Region Provisional Leading Committee and officials, officers of the command and state’ level departmental officials at the hall of Kokang Region Provisional Leading Committee in Laukkai on 6 September. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw — Laukkai in Kokang region of Shan State (North) has restored peace and stability. Students of Laukkai Basic Education High School No-1 are pursuing their education peacefully. The shops in the town were kept open, vehicles were running regularly and the streets were busy.
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Laukkai – Myanmar’s military regime is stepping up efforts to show its neighbours that armed ethnic separatists on its border are under control after violent clashes that sent thousands of refugees pouring into China. (more…)

Yangon – Myanmar’s Kokang ethnic region in the northeast will become an autonomous region after 2010 general election in accordance with the new state constitution, Deputy Home Minister Brigadier-General Phone Swe told a diplomatic corp and Yangon-based foreign newsmen during their about 48-hour invited visit to northern Myanmar, mainly Kokang. (more…)

Lashio, Myanmar – A Chinese intelligence tipoff about an llegal arms factory led to fighting that caused 30,000 ethnic Kokang refugees to flee across the Myanmar border into southern China, a Myanmar government source claimed Wednesday. (more…)

Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb’s recent visit to my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb’s desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue — the potential for an “election” that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent. (more…)

Principled Diplomacy, Aid, and Targeted Sanctions Can Spur Change

New York – The Obama administration should promptly conclude its Burma policy review and adopt initiatives to make its policies on diplomacy, sanctions and humanitarian aid more effective, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released today. (more…)

EarthRights International (ERI) to release two new reports on the Yadana Pipeline in Burma: Human Rights Impacts, Gas Revenue, Corruption, Sanctions, Corporate Social Responsibility. (more…)