Yangon, Myanmar — Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has expressed concern about the health of some political prisoners who are staging a hunger strike. (more…)

Representatives from five of Burma’s main ethnic parties met from Monday to Wednesday in Rangoon during which time they confirmed a proposal that ethnic languages and literature be taught as optional languages in government schools in their respective regions. (more…)

Chiang Mai – The second nationwide meeting of young members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) on Wednesday urged the Burmese government to provide Aung San Suu Kyi with tight security during her proposed tour outside Rangoon.

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Bangkok – Most cross-border human trafficking in Myanmar involves women tricked into travelling to China to get work, only to find a groom waiting for them on the other side. (more…)

An illness that has ravaged hundreds of pigs across Burma appears to have spread to cattle and other domesticated animals, including cats and dogs. (more…)

A port on the Naf river near Teknaf alleged to be used by methamphetamine smugglersarriving from Burma (Joseph Allchin) (more…)

Singapore – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday urged the new government in Myanmar to pledge to uphold human rights, saying she was concerned about the country’s bid to chair the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014.

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Geneva – An independent watchdog organization, Freedom House, has named 17 countries and three territories as the world’s “most repressive societies.”  Among those topping the list of the world’s worst human rights abusers are Burma, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, North Korea, and Sudan. The annual report was launched in Geneva.

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U Pyinya Zawta, U Agga Nyana and U Gawsita outside their Bed-Stuy home. The three monks are adjusting to life gradually in the borough. (more…)

Since her November release from house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi has been “talking and listening” to her followers in Burma. (more…)

Testimony

Joe Yun

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Testimony Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (more…)