South-east Asian countries have offered to lead an international “mercy coalition” to help the estimated 1.5m survivors of Cyclone Nargis in an effort to address Burma’s mounting humanitarian crisis.
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History will pass judgement on all Asean leaders and peoples over the tragedy unfolding in Burma in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, and it will be very unkind. (more…)
The destruction of mangrove forests that served as a buffer from the sea is partly to blame for the massive death toll from a cyclone in Myanmar, the head of the ASEAN regional bloc said Tuesday. (more…)
ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan called Monday for all member states to offer “urgent relief assistance” to Myanmar where a cyclone has reportedly killed over 10,000 people. (more…)
The US government has named a top diplomat who is familiar with Burma as its first envoy to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). (more…)
The prospective first US envoy to the ASEAN said Wednesday that his key priority was prodding the Southeast Asian group to press Myanmar’s military junta to embrace democratic reforms. (more…)
The Indo-Burmese relationship is acquiring a positive momentum of its own despite western rights groups’ criticism of Myanmar ’s handling of pro-democracy demonstrations some six months back. India had rolled out red-carpet for Burmese military junta’s top leadership who were on a five day visit to India that began from April 4, 2008. (more…)
The people of Myanmar have long been fighting the military rule existing in their country, long been under the threat of civil war. The neighbours should now at least lend a helping hand in Myanmar’s transition from military rule to democracy. (more…)
Indonesia and Thailand on Wednesday said that ASEAN member countries were the best to play peaceful roles to help settle the crisis in Myanmar, the leaders of the two countries said here. (more…)
Thailand pledged Thursday to help transform Myanmar into a democracy through quiet diplomacy, but said that change has to come from within and Western sanctions against its military-ruled neighbor would fail. (more…)
Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan has advised Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to be prudent before commenting on issues involving Burma. Mr Surin stressed the need to approach the political situation in Burma with an in-depth understanding and respect for its sensitivity. (more…)
Hong Kong, China, In most countries teachers with talent and commitment are valued; in Burma some are jailed.
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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations could rapidly slip into irrelevance if the organization does not rapidly reinvent itself, the group’s secretary-general warned.
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A consortium of human rights and Burmese activists in Indonesia have called on ASEAN, in the absence of widespread alterations, to reject the Burmese junta’s current constitutional format. (more…)
A consortium of human rights and Burmese activists in Indonesia have called on ASEAN, in the absence of widespread alterations, to reject the Burmese junta’s current constitutional format. (more…)
In an address punctuated with diplomatic hedging, a leading United States representative insisted that ASEAN can play a positive and leading role in effecting change in Burma.
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Indonesia wants to see democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi included in the political process in military-ruled Myanmar, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday. (more…)
Thailand will ratify the Asean charter in June with the hope it will be endorsed by all members when Bangkok hosts a summit in December. The announcement was made by Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama at the two-day annual Asean Foreign Ministers Retreat meeting in Singapore. (more…)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expressing concern over Burma’s decision to exclude pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from future elections. The statement from ASEAN follows the completion of Burma’s draft constitution. But the regional bloc still says it will not interfere in Burma’s domestic affairs. Naomi Martig reports from VOA’s Asia News Center in Hong Kong. (more…)
Thailand’s Foreign Minister assured a visiting senior United Nations official on Tuesday that the country is willing to support UN efforts to restore national reconciliation in Myanmar and that the kingdom will raise the issue at a regional ministerial meeting in Singapore. (more…)