As western governments gathered to condemn the junta’s election at the UN, India undeterred welcomes Lt Gen Thar Aye to the eastern city of Kolkata. (more…)

Britain is backing moves to refer Burma’s military leaders to the international criminal court for investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity. The move is part of a heightened campaign to force the junta to embrace genuine democratic reforms, diplomatic and government sources told the Guardian today. (more…)

Geneva – The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned Friday widespread violations in Myanmar and called on its generals to release 2,100 political prisoners ahead of an election this year, saying the vote must be free and fair. (more…)

On 8 March 2010, the State Peace and Development Council announced the Union Election Commission Law, Political Parties Registration Law, Pyithu Hluttaw ((Lower House)) Election Law, the Amyotha Hluttaw ((Upper House)) Election Law, and the Region or State Hluttaw Election Law. (more…)

New York – Members of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations should put Burma on the agenda of the G8 Summit in Toronto in June, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to foreign ministers of G8 countries today. The foreign ministers of G8 countries are meeting March 29 and 30, 2010, in Gatineau, Quebec to discuss major issues affecting international security and finalize the summit’s agenda. (more…)

“I might have gotten released, but all my colleagues, my family — they are still in jail. I can’t really be happy….The U.S. keeps talking about carrots. How many Burmese lives will be lost before they get to the sticks?” – Nyi Nyi Aung, U.S. citizen recently released from detention in Rangoon

Yangon – Despite the repression, or perhaps partly because of it, young people in the nation are pushing the limits of what the military government, let alone their parents, consider acceptable art and entertainment. (more…)

The Burmese military junta, which has rolled out harsh electoral laws for political parties, making it difficult for many to contest, has now come up with rules for political parties while printing their pamphlets, books or election-related printed matter. (more…)

Hanoi – Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will visit Myanmar next month, shortly before Hanoi hosts a regional summit expected to discuss the military ruled country’s elections due this year. (more…)

The international human rights group, Amnesty International has released a damning report on Malaysia’s treatment of migrant workers in the country with workers apprently exploited and lured into jobs with false promises. (more…)

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the government of Burma must create conditions that give all stakeholders the opportunity to participate freely in elections, if the vote is to be viewed as fair and credible. (more…)

Just eight days ago, Nyi Nyi Aung didn’t know whether he would live to see his home again. Imprisoned in the Burmese jungle, he’d been beaten, forced to sleep in a kennel in his own excrement, denied medical treatment and told by captors that his U.S. citizenship didn’t matter. (more…)

Once again, the unmatched power and influence Aung San Suu Kyi, detained leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), holds over her party may have shown their genuine impact—this time on the NLD’s approach toward the planned general election. (more…)

On March 29, more than 100 National League for Democracy (NLD) party leaders from across the country will meet at the party’s Rangoon headquarters to discuss whether to register the party under the junta’s election law. Though Aung San Suu Kyi has publicly said she is against her party registering, the party leadership remains divided. Longtime Suu Kyi supporter Win Tin, 80, who was released in September 2008 after more than 19 years in prison said he would probably retire if the majority decide to register. Khin Maung Swe, 67, a leading party official who spent 14 years in prison supports registration and joining the election even though this means the party must expel Suu Kyi under the junta law. Both spoke to The Irrawaddy on the party’s future. (more…)

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) warmly welcomes the decision by the British Government to support the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by the Burmese regime. (more…)

The Task Force on ASEAN and Burma (TFAB) calls on the newly formed ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to make systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity in Burma a priority. (more…)

Yangon – Myanmar’s main opposition party – the National League for Democracy – is due to announce next week whether it is to contest a general election planned this year, a senior member of the party said Wednesday. (more…)

After years of relative peace, Burma’s military junta is trying to break the power of guerilla armies in the drug-infested Golden Triangle. The ethnic armies may end up posing a greater threat to the regime than the democracy movement and its icon Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)

Fifteen parties have confirmed that they will register for this year’s election. (more…)

With the Border Guard Force issue yet to be resolved and tension mounting, the first phase of the 11-day militia training in Kachin State in the north was wrapped up by the Burmese Army after the junta announced the electoral laws on March 8, said local residents. (more…)