Bangkok—After a one-day strike by factory workers in Rangoon earlier this week proceeded unimpeded by Burmese police, thoughts are turning to the possible introduction of trade union legislation in the military-ruled country. (more…)

In a statement issued last Saturday, Burma’s largest ethnic armed group, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), called on the country’s military junta to resume dialogue with cease-fire armies in order to avoid a resumption of hostilities.
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The ongoing conflict between Burmese government troops and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-North) Brigade 1 could potentially lead to a reconciliation or a platform of cooperation between the political wings of Brigade 1 and the SSA- South, according to sources close to the ethnic factions. (more…)

More than 240 new refugees have arrived at Karenni refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border this year, according to a camp administration committee. (more…)

25 March 2011: Mizoram authorities in the northeast state of India have ordered Burmese nationals belonging to 23 families, who are not on the electoral rolls (voter’s list), to leave Mizoram by April 9. (more…)

Yangon – Gems dealers in Myanmar, one of the world’s biggest sources of precious stones, hit record sales of more than 2 billion euros ($2.8 million) during a 12-day emporium that ended this week, a trade official said on Friday.
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The eruption of conflict between the Burmese military and an ethnic rebel faction in eastern Burma has forced over 30,000 people to flee to Thailand since November 2010. Skirmishes are ongoing and both parties have planted landmines in people’s villages and farmlands. While the Thai government has a long-standing policy of providing refuge for “those fleeing fighting,” the Thai army is pressuring Burmese to return prematurely and restricting aid agencies. Unless the Thai Government strengthens its policy to protect those fleeing fighting and persecution, current and future refugees will have no choice but to join the ranks of millions of undocumented and unprotected migrant workers in Thailand. (more…)

Bangkok – The population of the nine refugee camps along the Myanmar-Thai border in Thailand, which have been in existence for more than 20 years, is relatively stable, despite 11,086 refugees being resettled in third countries over the past year, according to the Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), an umbrella group of NGOs working along the border. (more…)

Bangkok – Thai police rounded up more than 400 Burmese migrant workers at the V&K Pineapple Canning Company Factory in Ratchaburi on Friday morning.
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Beijing — More than 6,500 people in southwest China’s Yunnan Province have been affected by a magnitude-7.2 earthquake that jolted Myanmar on Thursday, Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a statement Friday. (more…)

A US-based human rights group has sent an open letter to Burma’s ruling regime urging it to respect international humanitarian laws, or “laws of war,” and cooperate with a UN investigation into alleged war crimes by the Burmese military. (more…)

Chiang Mai – In the wake of FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s visit to Burma, the president of the world body that oversees football has found himself embroiled in a scandal involving the organization’s dealings with a Burmese construction company. (more…)

Most people arguing for the removal of sanctions tend to hark to a noble cause: the people of Burma, attending to an impoverishment that started long before sanctions were in place. But so a noble an argument is unfortunately wholly wrong, and whether wrong for the right reasons, or wrong because of ulterior motives, Burma’s poverty does not hinge upon trade. (more…)

The shocking news that some 3,300 Burmese fishermen are still missing at sea has not yet sent as much of a shock wave through the country as Thursday night’s earthquake in Shan State. But it is more of a national tragedy. (more…)

A powerful earthquake hit Myanmar Thursday near its borders with China, Thailand and Laos, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (more…)

Police in Rangoon have reportedly rounded up and arrested nearly 100 Arakanese nationals, some of whom were tortured, following suspicion that they were linked to a bomb attack in late February. (more…)

Chiang Mai– A group of Burmese monks and students who secretly oppose the Burmese junta have criticised Burmese political parties, Asean countries and various Western countries that advocate lifting economic sanctions against Burma. (more…)

New Delhi – Around 4,000 fishermen from the Pyapon area may have lost their lives in vicious storms that struck Irrawaddy Division last week, according to Win Kyaing, the general secretary of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation.
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Workers from the New Way shoe factory in Rangoon’s Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone 4 went on a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest failed salary negotiations, according to sources. The strike ended when an agreement was reached with management. (more…)

Two of the anti- border guard force groups: United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), were reportedly warned by China not to get involved with any groups opposing the military junta, otherwise they would be open to attacks like the Kachin Independence Army and Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’, according to a Sino-Burma border source. (more…)