A key official charged with brokering negotiations between the Burmese junta and the Wa army has now been withdrawn from the volatile region as additional government workers leave Mongla territory. (more…)

Rangoon – The mayor of Burma’s former capital has told departmental heads to push municipal staff to cast their votes in favour of the main junta-backed party in polls on November 7, city employees said. (more…)

Beijing – Chinese President Hu Jintao assured Myanmar’s reclusive leader General Than Shwe on Wednesday of China’s support for his diplomatically isolated country ahead of controversial elections in November. (more…)

Bangkok—Tax collection in Burma is made by anyone in a uniform—police, soldiers, navy, militia, customs inspectors—but almost none of it is recorded or put to use for the public good. (more…)

The Burmese Air Force (BAF) has bought 50 Mi-24 helicopters and 12 Mi-2 armored transport helicopters from Russia, according to a source from the BAF. (more…)

The BBC is locked in talks with the government over drastic cuts to the World Service budget which could force it to withdraw from Burma and several other countries. (more…)

Bangkok— Myanmar’s ruling regime has increased its censorship of the country’s already highly restricted press in the run up to the first election in 20 years, an international media watchdog said Wednesday. (more…)

Washington — The military junta in Myanmar recently announced that the country’s first election in 20 years will be held Nov. 7. (more…)

Aung San Suu Kyi has reiterated that the now-disbanded NLD should sue the junta over its election laws, a strategy that she first invoked last May. The strategy is curious, given that she has spoken continually over the past two decades about the absence of the rule of law in Burma. (more…)