YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar pro-democracy parties on Friday praised the U.S. decision to support a U.N. war crimes commission as a milestone but cautioned it was too soon to be optimistic. (more…)

Yangon, Myanmar — Myanmar has published stringent rules for November’s general election that demand candidates seek permission a week in advance to campaign, do not make speeches that “tarnish” the ruling military or shout slogans at processions. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw — The Union Election Commission issued Notification No. 91/2010 today. The following is the unofficial translation of the notification.

The Union of Myanmar
Union Election Commission
Nay Pyi Taw
Notification No. 91/2010
8th Waxing of Wagaung 1372 ME
(18th August 2010) (more…)

Leaders of Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), have decided to officially boycott the Nov 7. election, according to Ohn Kyaing, a party spokesperson. (more…)

The Burmese government welcomed troops of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) into the border guard force in a ceremony on Thursday in Myaing Gyi Nyu, the headquarters of the DKBA in Karen State, according to sources.
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The Burmese opposition party formed by ex-members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy opened a new office in Mandalay Thursday to drum up support ahead of November elections. (more…)

Nahtoegyi – With less than three months before Burma’s first general election in two decades, an official from the primary military-supported party is confident of victory.
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The first election in 20 years coincides with a rushed privatisation programme. Guess who profits from the fire sale
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The Obama administration decided to back efforts to create an international commission investigating alleged human-rights violations in Myanmar in a move that ratchets up pressure on the country as it prepares for its first election in 20 years.
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US move reflects the failure of engagement with Rangoon

The administration of US President Barack Obama has decided to throw its crucial support behind moves to establish a special UN commission to investigate alleged war crimes perpetrated by the military rulers of Burma. (more…)

The US government says it will back the creation of an international commission to investigate alleged war crimes by Burma’s military junta. (more…)

Introduction The situation in Burma/Myanmar remains grave. With elections scheduled for 7 November 2010 international attention on the country has increased. Such attention, and any policy action taken, must focus not only on the goal of democratic transition, and concerns about the regimes nuclear collaboration with North Korea, but also on the plight of Burma’s ethnic minorities who continue to suffer atrocities at the hands of the government. These atrocities may rise to the level of crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing – crimes states committed themselves to protect (more…)

Colum Lynch reports that the United States is ready to support a “commission of inquiry” into alleged crimes against humanity in Burma.  The move, he says, comes as the Obama administration recognizes that a policy of engagement is not working. (more…)

For the first time in 45 years, the international community is coming around to the view that justice must be available to the victims of Burma’s military regime. UN bodies, NGOs and independent experts have documented a pattern of appalling and systematic human rights violations including summary executions, torture, forced labour, mass rape and the recruitment of child soldiers. These acts clearly constitute crimes against humanity under the statute that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). (more…)

[Maesot, Thailand] the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners- Burma warmly applauds the United States of America for their decision to support the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma. AAPP is appealing to ASEAN, members of the European Union, and other like-minded nations to stand in solidarity with the Burmese people and pledge their support for a Commission of Inquiry. (more…)

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB), representing MPs from 15 European countries, is calling on EU member states to officially support the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry on Burma. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) –Today, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) issued the statement below praising the Obama Administration’s announcement that it would support the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into possible crimes against humanity carried out by Burma’s military junta regime. Congressman Crowley, a long-time advocate for human rights in Burma, initiated efforts in Congress calling for the Administration to support an investigation into crimes in Burma in the summer of 2009.   (more…)

The TUC is made up of 58 affiliated trade unions in the UK representing nearly seven million working people (more…)