Burma’s military government has renewed for a year an agreement allowing the United Nations to monitor complaints of forced labor. (more…)

Yangon — The singer smashes his guitar to pieces on the stage as thousands of spiky-haired punk fans cheer loudly — a rare display of countercultural exuberance in military-ruled Myanmar. (more…)

Burmese media has been banned from publishing material covering political groups’ preparations for the elections this year, while news of the elections themselves is allowed. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw – Minister for Labour U Aung Kyi received a party led by Executive Director Mr Kari Tapiola of International Labour Organization at the ministry here on 18 January. The meeting focused on works between the government of the Union of Myanmar and ILO. It was also attended by Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Tin Tun Aung, Director-General U Chit Shein, Deputy Director Ms Karen Curtis of Labour Standards Department, Law Officer Mr Drazen Petrovic and Liaison Officer Mr Steve Marshall. (more…)

The governor of Tak Province warned Burmese humanitarian workers in Mae Sot on Tuesday that if they become involved in Burmese political affairs they could be deported, according to Burmese sources in Mae Sot. (more…)

New Delhi – Despite the refusal of armed ceasefire groups to favorably respond to the junta’s proposal to transform their armies into Border Guard Forces, the situation is tense but calm, according to observers. (more…)

A MYANMAR girl has been rescued in Shanghai after being smuggled to the city by a human trafficker and sold to marry a local man. (more…)

Farmers in Kachin State in northern Burma are in a spot for they have been ordered to sell paddy to the Burmese Army as of late December last year at prices lower than market rates, local farmers told Kachin News Group. (more…)

Washington – The United States plans to meet officials from Myanmar soon and will seek more evidence it is ready to enact political reforms in return for broader dialogue with Washington, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday. (more…)

One year ago, the travails of Rohingya from Burma shocked people around the world. Boat after boat of refugees, fleeing abuse and oppression in Burma, were intercepted at sea by the Thai army, who then proceeded to detain them without trial. After days in outdoor detention, the Rohingya refugees were loaded back on to their boats, and the Thai army proceeded to tow them out to sea where they were abandoned with little food or water and no motors to power their boats. Over 500 people died in the few weeks that the Thais carried out the operation, and one year later, 500 more remain in detention in India, Indonesia and Thailand. (more…)

In 1989 he was sentenced to prison, without any proof of having committed a crime. He was released almost 20 years later, in September 2008, though he does not see it that way himself. He did not want to be released out of pity for his old age, but only on the basis of the charges against him. This is one of the reasons why he still wears his blue prison shirt. He may be outside the prison walls, but he still is not free to do as he wants in his country. (more…)

While many international observers and Burmese dissidents have condemned the military government’s plan to hold a general election this year, several veteran Burmese politicians, former political prisoners and student activists expressed support for this year’s election at an informal political meeting in Rangoon on Saturday. (more…)

Yangon — Myanmar’s supreme court heard final arguments on Monday against the extended house arrest of detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, her lawyer said. (more…)

Win Tin, a leader with the National League for Democracy (NLD), for the first time since his release from prison in September 2008 on Monday traveled outside of Rangoon. (more…)

Chiang Mai – A three-member team of American academicians led by Prof. Karl D. Jakson, Director General, Southeast Asia Studies, John Hopkins University, met a few leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD). (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar – Military-ruled Myanmar’s first parliamentary elections in 20 years are set for this year, yet construction on its parliament is not yet complete — suggesting little chance of a poll in the next few months. (more…)

New Delhi – India will ask Myanmar to launch a thorough search in its Kachin province area where ULFA `commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah is hiding. It will also seek the neighbouring country’s help in flushing out other north-east insurgents from its territory. (more…)

The Chin Students Union of Kale University in Sagaing division, Burma, also known as Lai Sianghleirun Sianghngakchia (LSS), will observe its conference on January 23 at the Salem Baptist Church in Tahan. (more…)

Hanoi –A delegation of representatives of Vietnamese ministries and businesses visited Myanmar [Burma] from January 14-16 to survey investment opportunities in this country. (more…)

Japan’s foreign minister has urged Burma’s military rulers to release detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, adding that aid could be stepped up if elections this year are free. (more…)