Yangon — Myanmar’s main opposition party on Wednesday welcomed the release of 7,000 prisoners but reiterated calls for the ruling junta to free Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees. (more…)

Yangon, Myanmar — Myanmar on Wednesday accused a Myanmar-born American who was secretly detained three weeks ago of seeking to incite political unrest. (more…)

New Delhi – The Union Democratic Alliance Organization has invited all ethnic political parties to join hands with them to form a strong opposition in the forthcoming 2010 general elections although they do no hope to win and form the government. (more…)

Sittwe – The Burmese military authority has continued arresting Arakanese youth and students on Monday, with the number arrested reaching 16 after a youth from Buthidaung Township in northern Arakan was taken into custody on Monday. (more…)

Come the beginning of September, several towns in southern Shan State have been on high alert with civilians being forced to take turns standing guard at night, according to local sources. (more…)

The Burmese government has reportedly clamped down on media coverage in the run-up to next year’s elections, according to industry workers who were barred from running news about an election forum. (more…)

The United States finally sent a green light to Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein and Foreign Minister Nyan Win to fly to New York to take part in the UN General Assembly, the first time in 14 years. (more…)

The recent release of more than 120 political prisoners in Burma was down to diplomatic negotiations between the ruling junta and United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon, the UN chief said yesterday. (more…)

A joke going the rounds in Rangoon reports that Burma’s paramount leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe and his wife Kyaing Kyaing have been practicing their English in preparation for a visit to the White House in Washington. (more…)

Bangkok – Having released more than 7,000 prisoners in the last few days as part of the preparations for next year’s planned polls, Burma’s military rulers are up to their old tricks, according to Burmese activists and human rights groups. (more…)

For the first time in nine years, the United States allowed Burma’s foreign minister to come to Washington, a sign of softening U.S. policy toward the military junta that has run that Asian nation for nearly five decades. (more…)

Bangkok – “I’m being watched all the time. I am considered an organizer. Between noon and 2 pm, I am allowed to go out of the monastery. But then I’m followed,” Buddhist monk U Manita said, referring to stepped up government repression of the Buddhist clergy in Myanmar. “We don’t want this junta. And that’s what everyone at my monastery thinks as well.” (more…)

Washington, DC and New York – A leading United States-based human rights organization today urged governments to press for action to end the Burmese military regime’s use of rape as a weapon of war, as well as other crimes against humanity, in meetings scheduled at the United Nations next week. (more…)