Chiang Mai – A section of Members of Parliament of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, appalled at the anti-democratic nature of the Burmese junta’s electoral laws, have urged their respective governments not to accept it. (more…)

Kuala Lumpur – As Myanmar plans for general elections this year, the country’s military rulers have announced their commitment to ASEAN and the international community to conduct a truly democratic election and ensure a “free and fair” electoral process. (more…)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) expects a credible and transparent election in Burma in 2010, but it can not interfere in the details of the election, Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said on Wednesday. (more…)

Why are Southeast Asian member-states spending billions of dollars to upgrade their military capabilities at a time when many are still struggling with the effects of a global economic downturn? The answer lies both within the region, where competing claims to offshore oil and gas reserves are increasing tensions, and beyond, with growing concerns that a rising China is seeking to expand its influence in its backyard. (more…)

The Burmese military junta has recently stepped up military, trading and social relations with Vietnam, Asean’s current chair. (more…)

Culture-related senior officials of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) held preliminary coordination meeting in Myanmar’s ancient city of Bagan to prepare report for a ministerial-level roundtable scheduled for Saturday in Nay Pyi Taw, an official daily reported Thursday. (more…)

Danang, Vietnam (Reuters) – Myanmar will likely hold its long-awaited election in the second half of this year because the ruling junta is still crafting the legal framework for the vote, Thailand’s foreign minister said on Thursday. (more…)

Jakarta, Indonesia—The strong backing of emerging economic giants China and India of the dictatorship is effectively fending off the demands for democratization of Burma by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). (more…)

Bangkok – Asean, the United Nations and humanitarian partners pledged to donate over US$88 million to assist Cyclone Nargis survivors with recovery activities at the Post-Nargis and Regional Partnership Conference here Wednesday. (more…)

THE new approach taken by the United States towards Myanmar has made Asean ‘feel justified’ about its policy of engagement with the isolated country all these years, said Foreign Minister George Yeo. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw – Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Thein Sein attended the 1st ASEANUS Leaders Meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, the Republic of Singapore at 3.20 pm yesterday. (more…)

SINGAPORE — President Barack Obama’s historic meeting with a top Myanmar leader Sunday raises the stakes on both sides to show progress in their recent diplomatic thaw. (more…)

Barack Obama arrives in Singapore tonight, beginning a policy of engagement with regional bodies which is intended to draw a line under the George W. Bush years, write Kevin Brown in Singapore and Edward Luce in Tokyo. (more…)

Barack Obama wades into a noodle soup of Asian multilateral groups when he arrives in Singapore late on Friday in a policy of direct engagement with regional bodies that is intended to draw a line under the George W. Bush years. (more…)

Manila – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she or President Barack Obama might meet Burmese leaders in the context of a U.S.-ASEAN summit Sunday in Singapore. The Obama administration is pressing Burmese military leaders to release detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and hold free, fair and credible elections next year. (more…)

Singapore – The U.S. and Southeast Asian nations will tell Myanmar’s military junta to hold credible and fair elections in which pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi can participate, according to a document obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. (more…)

WASHINGTON – US President Barrack Obama is meeting with all 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a summit in Singapore, despite its strained relationship with Myanmar. (more…)

Singapore — A weekend summit involving US President Barack Obama and the premier of military-ruled Myanmar will be a “breakthrough” in ties between Southeast Asia and the United States, Singapore said Tuesday. (more…)

Burmese activists are urging US President Barack Obama to put pressure on Burma during the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Singapore on Sunday, where he is expected to meet Burmese Premier Gen Thein Sein.    (more…)

A smug Burmese delegation, led by Prime Minister and General Thein Sein, are back home after attending the 15th annual ASEAN summit in Thailand, where they successfully accomplished their main mission – to deflect international criticism and pressure, reveal nothing about the forthcoming elections and keep a very low-profile. (more…)