Yangon – Myanmar has detained 146 boat people from Bangladesh after they were dumped on a beach by traffickers who told them they were in Thailand, an official said Monday. (more…)

In an address to his union-level, region and state ministers on Wednesday, Burma’s new president, ex-Gen Thein Sein, seemed to urge greater government decentralization while at the same time admonishing lower-level organizations to stay within the policy framework set by the central government. (more…)

Bangkok — Thailand plans to close its border camps and send more than 100,000 refugees back to Myanmar following the recent handover of power to a new military-backed government, an official said on Monday. (more…)

Panghsang, Shan State—The United Wa State Army (UWSA), the strongest ethnic armed group in Burma with an estimated 30,000 fighting men, has dug in to their front lines and is currently facing off against troops from the Burmese army. (more…)

Singapore – Myanmar’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Wunna Maung Lwin, met Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister, George Yeo, in Bangkok on Sunday. (more…)

Chiang Rai – The young man sits on the railing of the long tail boat, explaining how he smuggles amphetamines into Thailand from Myanmar. (more…)

Washington — President Barack Obama plans to name a special envoy to Myanmar who is expected to seek more help from the repressive government’s neighbors in pressing for democratic reform. Building agreement on the best way to proceed will be tricky. (more…)

Chiang Mai – Citing reports that Burma’s military regime has obtained North Korean missile technology and nuclear programme assistance, three US Republican senators sponsored a resolution last Friday calling on President Obama’s administration to investigate the ‘growing relationship between the governments of Burma and North Korea’. (more…)

Brussels — A European Union official says the EU is likely to ease sanctions on the government of Myanmar on Tuesday. (more…)

Film tells a tale of city’s Burmese residents through the eyes of one refugee. (more…)

When the EU reviews its position on Burma it would be wise to discard the ICG’s recent report on the country.
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Burma’s fundamentally flawed electoral process has ensured that key military regime figures will continue to dominate the government. (more…)