Only a fraction of the estimated hundreds of political detainees in Myanmar were among about 900 prisoners released this week, a leading pro-democracy group said Wednesday, in an amnesty by a nominal civilian government trying to end decades of economic sanctions. (more…)

Burma’s nominally-civilian president sought to reaffirm the status of the country’s military on Wednesday, giving credit to the army and the former junta for recent political reform gestures.

File photo of Myanmar soldiers on parade in Naypyidaw. Myanmar’s nominally-civilian president sought to reaffirm the status of the country’s military on Wednesday, giving credit to the army and the former junta for recent political reform gestures. (more…)

The pace of reform in Burma has not come about as quickly as people expected, Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday, though she reaffirmed her confidence in President Thein Sein.

Suu Kyi urged the Burmese public to develop maturity and make more effort in the face of continued challenges. She said her priorities in 2012 include domestic peace, the rule of law, and plans to change the undemocratic elements in the military-drafted Constitution. (more…)

While Burma gains notice for its pro-democratic political reforms, efforts to boost economic development have been slower. Rising consumer prices are testing the public’s patience and hopes for change.

Burma’s economy was once at the top in Southeast Asia, but after decades of mismanagement by military rulers, now one third of its 60 million citizens live in poverty.
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Veteran politicians who took part in the campaign to liberate Burma from British colonialism in 1948 have urged Burmese to unite to bring about a complete end to lingering dictatorial rule in the country.

A group of elders involved in the independence struggle 64 years ago gathered in Rangoon today to mark Independence Day. One of them, Ohn Maung, told DVB that the people of Burma were yet to taste full freedom.
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Yangon — With their sensual choreography and provocative outfits, the five members of Myanmar’s first girl band are pushing the limits of artistic acceptability in this socially conservative country.

But when their parents call, asking why they are still not home at 10 p.m., the band members scurry back to their lives as deferential daughters. (more…)

Burmese government troops this week mounted an aggressive assault to overrun another strategic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) base in Lwaigyai near the Sino-Burma border. According to the KIA, more than 90 battles or clashes have broken out since the president ordered his commanders to put an end to hostilities in the northern region.
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Recently Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) investigated and reported on human rights violations and humanitarian needs in Kachin state. PHR’s report, Under Siege in Kachin State, Burma, called for the government of Burma to permit humanitarian organisations access to Kachin state, where tens of thousands of internally displaced peoples (IDPs) are running low on food and relief supplies. (more…)

The Karen National Union (KNU) told representatives of the Italian-Thai Development Co., Ltd. (ITD) at a meeting on Dec. 28 that it will only allow construction of a new road linking Burma’s Tavoy Special Economic Zone to the Thai border to go ahead after an environmental impact assessment has been carried out. (more…)

Singapore, – Shares of Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic Holdings jumped as much as 7.6 percent on Wednesday after the company said it plans to acquire the right to develop an area about six miles away from Myanmar’s main city Yangon.

At 0106 GMT, Yoma shares were up 7.6 percent at S$0.285, outperforming the broader Straits Times Index which was 0.9 percent higher. (more…)

Bangkok, – As the government of Myanmar continues to pledge political reform, donors are reassessing their giving in a country that has historically received among the lowest levels of per capita development aid of any developing country.

“Myanmar has been called an aid orphan in the past because its per capita assistance is so low,” London-based Myanmar analyst Ashley South told IRIN. (more…)

Foreign Secretary William Hague will arrive in Burma today to urge its president to consolidate and speed its democratic reforms after the official government newspaper hailed an end to ‘authoritarianism’ and military rule.

New Delhi – His visit to meet both President Thein Sein and democracy movement icon Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon follows a trip by Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, last November in which she pledged American support for its unexpected series of reforms and said Washington is ready to end its international isolation if the government continues to widen freedoms.
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Washington – The United States on Tuesday dismissed Myanmar’s decision to cut prison terms, saying it fell short of the reform necessary to prompt Washington to further normalize ties.

“Its not a step of the magnitude that we would be interested in matching,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told a news briefing.
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Today is Burma’s Independence Day, but the country is in no mood for celebrating. To mark the occasion, the now nearly year-old “civilian” government of President Thein Sein has announced the latest round of prisoner releases—the third since he assumed power last March, and by far the most disappointing.
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