With the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from prolonged house detention, it’s time for the United States and its European partners to moderate their sanctions policy against Burma so as to create incentives for greater political openness and to insulate ordinary Burmese from the rigors of the penal actions. (more…)

Recently, The Irrawaddy published a news piece under the headline “West Waits for Suu Kyi Sanctions Signals (more…)

Aung San Suu Kyi has been free now for over a week. She has met many activists and supporters as she starts to plan for the future. She has already spoken with several world leaders, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, and plans to have talks with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva next week, according to the National League for Democracy’s senior spokesman, Win Tin. (more…)

Chiang Mai  – The Burmese Army’s Northern Command has ordered the Kachin Independence Organisation to close its 16-year-old liaison offices, a liaison officer says. (more…)

Nine news journals in Burma have been temporarily suspended after allocating key space in their publications for coverage of Aung San Suu Kyi’s release. (more…)

Yangon, Myanmar -  Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be allowed to see her son for the first time in 10 years after the country’s ruling junta granted him a visa, her lawyer said Monday. (more…)

Yangon – The proxy party of Myanmar’s ruling junta won 76.8 percent of the 1,096 contested seats in the general election held earlier this month, compiled media reports said Monday. (more…)

Newly-released democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi made clear in an interview that she doesn’t intend to rein in her political activities in Myanmar even if it risks landing her back under house arrest again. (more…)

Despite a questionable human rights record, foreign governments and companies are investing billions of dollars to get their hands on the country’s natural resources (more…)

St. Petersburg, Russia – To help secure the future of Asia’s critically endangered wild tigers, the Wildlife Conservation Society today pledged to spend $50 million over the next 10 years – $5 million of the total during the next year. (more…)

Burma’s pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi spoke to Irrawaddy editor Aung Zaw soon after her release from house arrest on Nov. 13. In this exclusive interview, she discussed her position on the military regime, her future political activities and her views on the political situation in Burma after the Nov. 7 election. She also emphasized the need for her supporters to continue working towards the goal of achieving democracy, and urged young Burmese in particular to remain actively engaged in politics. (more…)

In a SPIEGEL interview, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi discusses her house arrest, which lasted for more than seven years, overcoming fears of the military regime and her continuing fight for freedom. (more…)

Bangkok – Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Friday she was willing to work with Myanmar’s military junta who locked her up for 15 years and said she would support its new political system if it helped the people. (more…)

Residents and staff at an HIV/Aids centre in Rangoon have been told that they will have to leave, two days after a high-profile visit by Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)

Rangoon authorities have instructed Internet cafe owners to install CCTV cameras within three days in order to monitor Internet users. (more…)

Chiang Mai – The National Democratic Force has voted to expel its deputy chairman Thein Nyunt over “irresponsibility” and disclosing internal party affairs to the media, NDF leader Khin Maung Swe said yesterday. Thein Nyunt responded that the NDF had failed to conduct an audit of party accounts as promised. (more…)

The Burmese border town of Myawaddy was on high alert again on Friday after fighting broke out a few miles away between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and troops of the newly formed Border Guard Force (BGF) combined with units of the government army. (more…)

Two Karen armies who spent the best part of two decades as sworn enemies have officially pledged to put the past behind them as they unite to fight the Burmese army. (more…)

Bangkok – Black markets along the borders of Myanmar are the deadly gateway of a thriving illegal trade in tigers, considered “easy money” by many in the area, wildlife protection groups said on Friday. (more…)

A proposed ‘south-south’ corridor hailed as a major transport route between China and the lower Southeast Asia region has been approved at a summit in Cambodia. (more…)