Rumors are swirling in Rangoon about a possible meeting between Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr-Gen Than Shwe, one day after the junta’s liaison officer met with the pro-democracy leader for the second time within a week. (more…)

An announcement by the Thai government that is has approved the development of a Special Economic Zone along its border with Burma has received mixed reactions from a Burma economics expert. (more…)

Sittwe – The Burmese military junta has reinforced its troops along the border with Bangladesh to inspect border pillars and build border fences, said a military source. (more…)

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Bangladesh is going to a United Nations tribunal to settle a dispute over sea territory with India and Myanmar, which has threatened Bangladesh’s rights to explore gas in the Bay of Bengal. (more…)

The price of gold in Burma has more than doubled in the past four years, while rice and fish prices have also seen a huge rise, government figures for October report. (more…)

Chiang Mai – The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has welcomed Thailand’s proposal to register children of migrant workers from Burma, Laos and Cambodia pointing out it is a positive sign in terms of rights of children. (more…)

New York — An activist exiled from Myanmar called for the government to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and urged the U.S. to continue sanctions against it. (more…)

Before Burmese stand-up comedian Zarganar was thrown in jail, his stage routine was peppered with references to motorcycles. Allusions to this apparently innocuous mode of transport would have his audience tittering nervously. Like Zarganar, they knew he was referring to a form of torture favoured by Burma’s generals. The “motorcycle” of Burma’s infamous prisons forces inmates to balance, for hours, on the balls of their feet – often with nails placed beneath their soles – and to make a buzzing sound. Burmese humour is no laughing matter. (more…)

A recent seminar at Chulalongkorn University brought together academics, diplomats and government officials to discuss Thailand’s relations with Burma in light of some interesting developments. Ideas were presented, especially about the need for Thailand and Asean, as well as the United Nations, to review their policies following the United States’ decision to ease its stance towards one of the world’s most brutal regimes. (more…)

Toronto – The Jewish community of Myanmar is small in numbers but large in spirit. Formerly known as Burma, Myanmar was once home to a thriving community of predominantly Sephardic Jews, largely from Iraq, Iran and India. (more…)

New York – The international community should withhold support for Burma’s 2010 elections and not accept the results of the vote unless the government amends the country’s constitution to end impunity for human rights violations, the International Center for Transitional Justice says in a new report. (more…)