Burma’s president must go beyond rhetoric and firmly embed the reform programme in government policy, particularly with regard to rule of law, a prominent student activist has urged. (more…)

In the run-up to the April 1 by-election, Myanmar’s youth are not so confident about their immediate future in the evolving country, as many see a better life for themselves elsewhere. (more…)

When Burmese exile Aung Zaw, founder of the newsmagazine the Irrawaddy, went home for the first time in 24 years, he expected attention. Since he fled to Thailand in 1988, the erstwhile student protester has become one of the most admired exiled journalists. What he didn’t expect, though, was adulation from immigration officials. “Inside the airport, a young immigration officer smiled as I gave him my passport,” he writes in an essay about his homecoming. “Meanwhile, the people waiting in line behind me grew impatient as they were made to wait until my friendly interrogation was finally over.” (more…)

Construction of the famed Death Railway linking Thailand to Burma will reportedly begin again after a peace deal was made between the Burmese government and Mon rebels in the country’s east.
(more…)

Chiang Mai – A township labour arbitration court has ruled that striking workers at the Tai Yi footwear factory in an industrial district in Rangoon should receive a pay raise to 120 kyat (US$ 15 cents) per hour, amounting to a wage increase of about US$ 24 per month. (more…)

Demand for holidays to Burma has risen sharply since the National League for Democracy (NLD), the political party of Aung San Suu Kyi, softened its stance last year against tourism to the country. (more…)

While a controversial government amnesty program for illegal migrants in Malaysia is expected to run out next month, a similar scheme may soon affect  tens of thousands of Burmese refugees in the nation. (more…)

A European Union delegation to Burma says some sanctions could be lifted on Burma following a free and fair April 1 by-election, and the key to economic development lies in rural areas. (more…)

Touting Burma as a foreign policy success story and an example of America’s leadership, US President Barack Obama on Thursday said that other authoritarian regimes could also improve relations with Washington by adopting the path of democratic reform. (more…)

New Delhi – Myanmar is eager to make big changes to lift itself out of poverty, a senior U.N. official said, but the country should avoid repeating the mistakes of other developing nations with large mineral wealth and steer clear of “sweetheart deals”. (more…)

The April by-elections will either serve as a catalyst to further ease sanctions, or drum down Burma’s reform efforts. The remaining weeks ahead of the polls are pivotal. President Thein Sein has yet to send a strong signal regarding the kind of election his government wants to see—anything short of a free and fair vote would not augur well with the current high expectations. (more…)

U Myint, an economic adviser to Burmese President Thein Sein, has delivered an overview of how to utilize international aid funds, which are expected to start flowing rapidly into Burma starting this year. (more…)

Next month, Burma will hold its first parliamentary by-elections in many decades, in which Aung San Suu Kyi, its world-renowned opposition leader, will be the top contender. (more…)

On Thursday, Burma’s President Thein Sein’s delivered a speech before Parliament to mark the anniversary of his government’s first year in power. The speech, which was broadcast live on the state-run MRTV television station, was generally well-received by most Burmese. However, some longtime political observers were more skeptical, noting that the president appeared to be papering over a number of issues that could undermine his efforts to deliver further reforms. (more…)