“I am appalled and saddened that Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal against the sentence imposed by the regime has been denied. That failed appeal is sadly no surprise. From start to end, the sole purpose of this show trial has been to prevent Daw Suu Kyi from taking part in elections…. while she is kept out of political life and while over 2100 other prisoners of conscience remain incarcerated, the regime’s elections will not gain recognition nor international legitimacy.” – Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Bangkok – The Myanmar opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi will decide in two weeks whether to re-register under new election laws that force their detained leader out of the party, a spokesman said on Monday. (more…)

Yangon—A number of dissidents opposed to Myanmar’s harsh military regime plan to challenge the government in elections expected this year, even as new rules force many of the country’s best-known activists to sit on the sidelines. (more…)

Bangkok — Myanmar’s junta has embarked on a flurry of privatisations of state firms, raising questions about whether it is reforming the economy or trying to take profits before 2010 elections. (more…)

Dhaka – The price of rice is spiraling in some places in Arakan state in southern Burma from March 10, after local people learnt that over 25,000 tons of Burmese rice will be exported to Bangladesh this year. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw – Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint received Chairman Mr Phillippe Allen of Three Diseases Fund Board Mission and party at the Ministry here today. (more…)

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian authorities said on Monday they are probing claims that 93 Rohingya from Myanmar were chased out of Thai waters and drifted aboard a boat for 45 days before being rescued. (more…)

The Philippines said Monday it would use an international forum in Manila this week to pressure Burma over new laws blocking Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from elections this year. (more…)

Geneva – Elections planned for this year by Myanmar’s military junta will lack credibility as regulations for the polls breach basic human rights, a United Nations envoy said on Monday. (more…)

Burma and North Korea have rejected UN condemnation of human rights abuses at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. (more…)

Bangkok – Washington has conceded that international efforts to engage the generals who run Burma in a process that might lead to greater democracy have borne little fruit, but officials say they will not abandon their efforts. (more…)

Dozens of shivering Burmese gathered in front of the Courthouse on Sunday to urge government officials to publicly denounce discrimination against their community. (more…)

Is Senior General Than Shwe gone mad? This question comes forward after the junta headed by Than Shwe announces election laws. Many would agree in the affirmative, “yes.” Than Shwe has gone out his mind. What is wrong with him is the power. Power crazy. He seems exceedingly frightened to loose power, some analysts say. (more…)

Set aside the issue of the Constitution and persuading the Burmese junta to hold a free and fair election and the opposition to participate in the process. (more…)

European Karen Network (EKN) calls on members of the Human Rights Council to support a recommendation by Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, that the UN consider setting up an inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the Burmese dictatorship. (more…)

Hundreds of villagers from both Burma and Thailand joined affected peoples from around the world in marking International Day of Action for Rivers yesterday as plans by China, Thailand and India steam ahead to dam all of Burma’s major rivers. (more…)