The 98 page Discrimination, Conflict and Corruption: The Ethnic States of Burma, which was launched by Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) yesterday in Chiangmai, has once again urged an end to continuation of “a military solution to what is primarily a political problem” with the non-Burman ethnic groups. (more…)

Bangkok – An alliance of humanitarian agencies working with displaced persons from Burma/Myanmar believes the current window of democratic reform is the best opportunity in decades to resolve ethnic conflict. The prospect of a genuine and inclusive process of national reconciliation bringing an end to decades of war and displacement needs to be promoted and realised. (more…)

A new briefing paper by the Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO) exposes a dramatic increase in opium cultivation in Burma’s northern Shan State in the constituency of a drug lord elected into the new military-backed parliament. (more…)

So begins Byin Pu, one of the women whose story is featured in the new book, Nowhere to be Home: Narratives from Survivors of Burma’s Military Regime. It’s the seventh book from Voice of Witness, the nonprofit branch of McSweeney’s founded by Dave Eggers and Lola Vollen. (more…)

The latest report from International Crisis Group (ICG), Myanmar’s Post-Election Landscape, is one of the most extraordinary documents I have read in a long time. Rarely have I seen such naïve and ill-considered analysis from an otherwise highly-respected and intelligent organisation.

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This update covers the period from 1 January to 28 February 2011 and is issued on 4 March 2011.

I. Highlights

· Former Chairman of Chin State Peace and Development Council, U Hong Ngai, has been designated Chief Minister of Chin State by the Union Parliament.

· The most frequently reported disease in Chin in 2010 was Malaria with around 30,000 cases reported.

· Food insecurity remains a problem most serious in Kanpetlet Township, following high crop failures in 2010.

· Two proposals, respectively from WFP and UNDP, were submitted in mid-February to the CERF Secretariat for funding under food security and restoration of agriculture activities in Southern Chin.

· WFP has completed emergency food distribution for a total of 155 villages in Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships at the end of January, reaching approximately 20,000 beneficiaries. A total of 200 MT of rice were distributed.

For more visit, http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MUMA-8ER8PU?OpenDocument

Bangkok — Two decades of Western sanctions against Myanmar have failed to achieve their goal and need to be urgently overhauled, an influential international think tank has said. (more…)

Nearly 92 Percent of Chin Families Subjected to Forced Labor in One Year (more…)

Excerpt from, “This Year’s Top 10 International Drug Policy Stories” available at: http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle (more…)

Chiang Mai – The government of Malaysia remains delinquent in meeting the needs of refugees seeking greener pastures, including Burmese, finds the latest study on the status of refugee needs in the Southeast Asian state. (more…)

Burma is the world’s fourth-highest jailer of media workers, according to figures released by a New York-based press safety watchdog. (more…)

For several years, suspicions have swirled about the nuclear intentions of Burma’s secretive military dictatorship.  Burma is cooperating with North Korea on possible nuclear procurements and appears to be misleading overseas suppliers in obtaining top-of-the-line equipment.  Certain equipment, which could be used in a nuclear or missile program, went to isolated Burmese manufacturing compounds of unknown purpose.  Although evidence does not exist to make a compelling case that Burma is building secret nuclear reactors or fuel cycle facilities, as has been reported, the information does warrant governments and companies taking extreme caution in any dealings with Burma.  The military regime’s suspicious links to North Korea, and apparent willingness to illegally procure high technology goods, make a priority convincing the military government to accept greater transparency. (more…)

Planned 2010 Elections Not Credible if Opposition Remains in Prison

Washington, DC– Burma’s military government has more than doubled the number of political prisoners in the past two years, including more than a hundred imprisoned in recent months, Human Rights Watch said today in a new report. Sentenced to long prison terms for their involvement in peaceful demonstrations in 2007, and for assisting civilians in the wake of the devastating Cyclone Nargis in 2008, the political prisoner population has reached more than 2,200. (more…)

In the past year, humanitarian assistance to Burma has been primarily focused on victims of Cyclone Nargis, which struck the Irrawaddy delta on May 2, 2008. Though the initial delivery of assistance was hampered by government obstruction, the aid programs that have since developed in the delta have benefited from an ease of operations unseen in other parts of the country. Relief work in the delta is progressing smoothly, but attempts to expand access to the rest of the country are struggling. Nonetheless, to capitalize on the existing gains, the U.S. should provide significant funding for programs throughout the country. (more…)

The Myanmar Airways International suspended its flights after the London based insurance company put a stop to its insurance coverage till the end of October.
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A Burmese democracy activist forced to live like a dog for six months wants tourists to boycott Burma because their dollars fund the military regime that jailed him.
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Asean will not defend Myanmar at any international forum following the military ruler’s adamant not to restore democracy in that country, the Dewan Rakyat was told Thursday.
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If military-run Myanmar is such a leper, why are two regional powers tripping over each other to make nice? New Delhi: Ruled with ruthless efficiency by a brutal military junta, Myanmar is supposed to be a pariah state, long the target of U.S. and European Union sanctions, including a strict arms embargo. (more…)

A planned free-trade agreement (FTA) between Asean and the European Union hit a snag recently, as the EU might not sign if the agreement includes Burma, says a senior Thai official, The Nation reports.
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1. The signature campaign (petition) expressing the desire of 88 Generation Students and the public, started on 2 October 2006 and ended successfully today on 23 October 2006 with the cooperation of the public, and, within a short space of time, many signatures expressing the desire were collected.
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