An activist serving a 58-year sentence in Rangoon’s Insein prison has been allegedly forced into making a confession that resulted in an additional decade being tacked onto his jail term. (more…)

Yangon — Eight people were injured, one seriously, on Sunday by an explosive device believed to have been detonated accidentally in Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon, an official said. (more…)

Members of the Burmese ethnic minority fled their country because of fighting between the military and rebels. At least 10,000 complained about the lack of adequate shelter and food. Women, the elderly and children are the most affected. The Thai government is stopping donations of rice. Aung San Suu Kyi expresses her solidarity. (more…)

Washington—The unprecedented unity shown by the powerful 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in passing a strong resolution against Libyan leader Muammar Al-Gaddafi, including a travel ban and asset freeze, also sends a tough warning to other hardline regimes, including Burma’s military junta. (more…)

Chiang Mai – A petition signed by 84,000 Karen has been sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to take action against the Burmese junta’s violation of human rights and military campaigns against the Karen people. (more…)

Prague — The Czech Republic’s foreign minister says his country opposes lifting of European Union sanctions against Myanmar. (more…)

Recently a new Burmese legislature convened for the first time in 22 years, but the parliament resembles last year’s electoral exercise – an elaborate show that is a democracy only in name. Yesterday, as DVB reported, Burma snatched power from judges as well. (more…)

The international community can make it harder for the generals to steal the proceeds of Burma’s oil and gas exports. (more…)

Bangkok – Burma’s transition from an overt military rule to a civilian administration of retired generals is getting a shot in the arm from a former critic of the junta – the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (more…)

Myanmar is more of a case study these days. Nobel Laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s obsession to walk the extra mile in salvaging her country is unprecedented. This is why her eagerness to work in cohesion with the military regime for greater reforms in order to address people’s grievances is appreciated. (more…)

Political leaders much talked about in their own time are, with a few notable exceptions, largely forgotten by history. (more…)

New Delhi – Funeral services for writer Maung Pe Nge, 67, who was imprisoned for writing about Burmese Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) Chairman Ne Win, were held on Sunday at Yeway Cemetery in Rangoon. (more…)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Nobel Laureate and pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi says the people of Burma are closely following events in the Middle East, where largely peaceful protests have forced governments out of office in Tunisia and Egypt. (more…)

Yangon — A court in military-ruled Myanmar sentenced five men to up to 11 years in prison for offences including associating with overseas dissident groups, a lawyer said Friday. (more…)

Chiang Mai – The Burmese junta has sent at least 200 troops to Kachin State this week as reinforcements, said the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and local observers. (more…)

An estimated 9,000 Burmese refugees who have been stranded at the Thai-Burmese border for almost four months in the wake of border clashes are now being fed basic supplies by local Thai communities, said a relief group that assists the refugees. (more…)

Nearly 200 kilograms of what is believed to be pure, northern Burmese heroin has been found in sacks in northern Thailand, with the haul said to be worth some $US32.6 million. (more…)

Waves of ethnic Muslims have attempted to flee by boats in the face of systematic oppression by the Myanmar government since the beginning of this year, a report says. (more…)

Acting UN special envoy to Burma, Vijay Nambiar, is facing calls from two Sri Lankan rights group to be included in an investigation into the army’s execution of surrendering Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009. (more…)

Kuala Lumpur: Sanctions on Myanmar should be lifted as the people are suffering, said Tan Sri Razali Ismail. (more…)