Washington – The United States and Myanmar plan to open a high-level dialogue on Tuesday at a meeting in New York, a source familiar with the matter said. (more…)

United Nations – Myanmar’s prime minister met U.S. Senator Jim Webb on Monday after telling the U.N. General Assembly that the military rulers are pressing ahead with democratic reforms but want an end to sanctions. (more…)

While Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein’s speech at the United Nations assembly was nothing earth-shattering, his meetings on the sidelines should not be overlooked. (more…)

For years a military government has ruled Burma wielding repressive power that denies its people basic freedoms, persecutes ethnic minorities, jails political opponents and quashes even peaceful protests with at times deadly force. And for years the United States and other nations have responded with economic, travel and other sanctions against the Rangoon government, its leaders and financial supporters in an effort to persuade them to ease their grip and pave the way for a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Burma. (more…)

MYANMAR was firmly placed among the ‘outposts of tyranny’ in a selective form of colour coding the Bush White House used to indulge in, to denote troublesome nations. To be so installed meant economic and diplomatic sanctions, non-contact and extreme suspicion of intent. It was the deep freeze of the 1950s Cold War era all over again. The new United States government has now abandoned the ill-conceived policy in favour of direct negotiations in order to promote peaceful change. It is a calculated gamble that extends to trademarked ‘tyrannies’ such as North Korea and Iran, besides Myanmar. The reaction of governments and the free-Myanmar lobby of non-governmental organisations and exiles says clearly which approach they think will have a better chance of bringing hope and light to the blighted land. A strong endorsement comes from the detained Aung San Suu Kyi herself, who has been more flexible in her martyr-like opposition to the junta. She acknowledges wisely that the military should have a role in a permanent solution. (more…)

Burma’s leading opposition party marked its 21st anniversary Sunday by calling on the country’s military regime to free its detained leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)

Bangkok — Myanmar’s junta has not yet fixed the dates for elections in 2010 but the opposition is already debating whether to boycott them and lose all influence or take part in what critics say is a sham. (more…)

Two years after the Saffron Revolution, Burma’s ruling regime is showing no signs of relenting in its efforts to suppress dissent among the country’s 400,000 Buddhist monks. (more…)

Nay Pyi Daw — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe saw off Prime Minister General Thein Sein who left here for the United States of America by air at 1 pm today to attend the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations, at Nay Pyi Taw Airport. (more…)

Umphang, Thailand– Trouble is brewing among the refugees of Burma’s civil war. Stranded in northern Thailand, fed on rations donated by the international community, unable to travel freely and not allowed to work, tensions among refugees in camps strung out along Burma’s border are ready to blow. (more…)

Sydney — Australian budget airline Jetstar defended its flights into Myanmar on Monday after rights campaigners said the service was helping prop up the country’s military regime. (more…)

United Nations — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged a ministerial meeting of southeast Asian nations late Saturday to take a tougher line with fellow member Myanmar in hopes its military junta will free political prisoners and hold fair elections. (more…)

United Nations – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on Myanmar to “create the necessary conditions for credible and inclusive elections, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners.” (more…)

New Delhi – Burmese activists in New York on Monday threw shoes at visiting Foreign Minister Nyan Win, an act of opposition against his representation of the Southeast Asian nation at the 64th United Nations General Assembly. (more…)

Washington — The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said Monday that direct U.S. engagement with Myanmar’s military leaders could provide crucial answers on the junta’s dealings with North Korea. (more…)

United Nations — The highest-ranking official from Myanmar’s military government to appear before the U.N. General Assembly in 14 years lashed out Monday against Western sanctions on his country, but promised to take “systematic steps to hold free and fair elections” next year. (more…)

Hong Kong — The U.S. decision to engage with Myanmar’s generals is a recognition of reality, however brutal. Years of sanctions have failed. Emotional support for the jailed opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and admiration for the bravery of the monks who challenged the regime in 2007 have come up against harsh facts. (more…)

HAVING SPENT much of a year reviewing U.S. policy toward Burma, the Obama administration soon will unveil a reasonable new strategy, as far as it goes. It doesn’t yet go far enough, however. (more…)

Washington, DC – A leading United States-based human rights organization today welcomed the Obama Administration’s decision to maintain existing sanctions on Burma, as well as pursue further sanctions as circumstances warrant.  The State Department said that unilaterally lifting sanctions would send the wrong signal to Burma’s military regime, and that sanctions would only be lifted if the regime makes concrete changes. (more…)

Burma’s detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has written a letter to the country’s military leader, General Than Shwe, saying she is prepared to work with the military government to get international sanctions lifted. (more…)