RANGOON—For the last 24 years, making offerings to monks or falling silent in prayer to honor those killed in the historic 1988 popular uprising has been considered taboo in Burma. (more…)

Four government soldiers reportedly died as the Karen National Union (KNU) and a Burmese government peace team were meeting on Sunday to talk about a cease-fire code of conduct. (more…)

Police detained labour activist Aye Thein who was assisting vendors that were protesting potential relocation in Mandalay’s Kidan Market yesterday. (more…)

The United Nations human rights envoy for Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, was in the Thai border town of Mae Sot on Tuesday to discuss rights issues with Burmese exiles and ethnic groups based in the area. (more…)

The speaker of the Burmese Lower House of Parliament has called for the legislative body to move the new Foreign Investment Law on to the Upper House in not more than seven days. (more…)

YANGON — Myanmar authorities warned Wednesday that it was facing a deepening drug crisis after seizing narcotics including more than 1.4 million amphetamine pills and 116 kilos of heroin in July. (more…)

Myanmar: Southeast Asian nations are considering humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees facing persecution in Myanmar, the region’s bloc said Wednesday. (more…)

Foreign minister Marty Natalegawa said Myanmar is considering allowing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary general into its borders to investigate the situation surrounding Rohingya ethnic group. (more…)

WASHINGTON DC—The United States on Tuesday urged the Bangladeshi government to permit non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to carry out humanitarian assistance to displaced Rohingyas and expressed deep concern that certain relief work had been shut down. (more…)

Saudi Arabia accused authorities in Buddhist-majority Myanmar on Monday of “ethnic cleansing” against the Muslim Rohingya minority in the west of the country, state media reported on Tuesday. (more…)

The UNESCO will help Myanmar in sustainable development in terms of education and peace making process, UNESCO Director-General Ms Irina Bokova told Myanmar President U Thein Sein in a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday, official media reported Wednesday. (more…)

Bangkok – The West’s faith in Burma isn’t being repaid. When U.S. President Barack Obama lifted restrictions on investments by American companies in the country last month, state security forces were still committing killings, rape and mass arrests against Rohingya Muslims in Arakan state. These abuses came after the authorities failed to protect both Rohingya and Arakan Buddhists during sectarian violence that erupted in early June and which continues today. (more…)

As the first anniversary of President Thein Sein’s call for peace talks draws near, most non-Burman armed movements that either have concluded ceasefire agreements of are still negotiating say they are getting one step closer now though there is still “an awful lot” to be done. (more…)