Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysia’s leading rights group criticized a government proposal to send some detainees from Myanmar home, saying Wednesday that their lives could be in danger in the military-dominated country. (more…)

In the lead-up to the next Asean Summit in Bali next month and the upcoming UN General Assembly Resolution on human rights in Burma, the regime in Rangoon has been trying to win over the international community by taking some very calculated steps. (more…)

The United States hopes this recent release is only the beginning of a time-bound process that results in the unconditional release of all political prisoners. (more…)

Chiang Mai – Recent developments in Myanmar, including talks between new President Thein Sein and pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, a relaxation of media censorship and the release of some political prisoners, have stunned many foreign observers and sparked speculation that the historically military-run country is on the verge of a new era of democracy and openness. (more…)

Yangon — Myanmar’s democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday pledged to work for the release of the country’s remaining political prisoners following an amnesty that left many key dissidents behind bars. (more…)

Burma only had around 600 prisoners of conscience and released almost half during last week’s amnesty order, President Thein Sein’s political adviser Ko Ko Hlaing told Swedish Radio. (more…)

Now is not the time for Burmese to take to the streets and attempt to bring down the government, popular comedian Zarganar has warned. (more…)

Over 2,000 Chinese troops have arrived at the Burma border in its south western Yunnan province, as civil war escalates in northern Burma between government troops and Kachin resistance forces, witnesses said. (more…)

India has made serious moves to upgrade its strategic and economic positions in Burma and in the troubled tri-border area between Burma, India and China following President Thein Sein’s visit to the world’s largest democracy. (more…)

THE Minister for Health has called on trained medical professionals living abroad to return to Myanmar and contribute their services to improve the health sector. (more…)

Sending detainees back to Myanmar is akin to sending them to their possible deaths, says Human rights groups. (more…)

As much of central Thailand remains under water in the country’s worst floods in decades, thousands of Burmese migrant workers left stranded by the disaster are making their way back to Burma. (more…)

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday that Burmese government forces have committed serious abuses against ethnic Kachin civilians since renewed fighting broke out in the northern state in June. (more…)

Washington – There are signs that Myanmar may be moving toward greater openness but it is unclear whether it has embarked on genuine, thorough-going political reform, a senior U.S. official said on Monday. (more…)

The release of several hundred prisoners in Myanmar last week was another token gesture from the military junta, trying to convince the world of its intention to introduce some form of democracy in the country. As welcome as the gesture is — since any move in that direction in Myanmar at this stage is almost progress — we still have to take it with a grain of salt. (more…)

There have been a number of analyses of potential nuclear and ballistic missile programs in Burma in the last year. Many of those reports depend on interviews with me. I am Sai Thein Win, a deserter, a liar and a criminal, according to the Burmese government. Now is the time to dispel these myths and throw light on the real threats posed byBurma’s lofty military ambitions. (more…)

The Great Game between India and China to foster business ties with resource-rich Myanmar is getting fiercer. (more…)

Jakarta – While democracy is relatively new in Myanmar, the progress has been heartening, with the general election and the release of the country’s democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, last year. Last week, the Myanmar government released hundreds of political prisoners with thousands more to come. Norwegian State Secretary Espen Barth Eide visited Myanmar last week to meet Myanmar leaders and Suu Kyi. After his visit to Myanmar, Eide stopped in Jakarta to meet with Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and the House of Representatives. The Jakarta Post’s Tifa Asrianti talked with Eide about democracy in Myanmar and how Indonesia and other countries could help. Below are excerpts from the interview: (more…)

New York – Burma’s armed forces have committed serious abuses against ethnic Kachin civilians in renewed fighting in Kachin State, Human Rights Watch said today. Since hostilities began over five months ago against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Burmese armed forces have been responsible for killings and attacks on civilians, using forced labor, and pillaging villages, which has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 30,000 Kachin civilians. (more…)

New Delhi – Burma’s short-lived release of political prisoners falls short of a serious effort toward national reconciliation, says Win Tin, a senior National League for Democracy (NLD) leader.  (more…)