About 100 Myanmar activists rallied in Japan on Wednesday, calling on visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon to press the junta to free political prisoners including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)
In September 2007, thousands of Buddhist monks led the “saffron revolution,” a series of peaceful marches in response to military oppression and a dire economic situation in Myanmar, formerly Burma. (more…)
The tragedy of the Burmese army forces and Karen clashes over the past month can be seen here in Mae Sot Hospital where many Karen soldiers lie injured, many the victims of land mines or artillery fire. (more…)
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pledged to deliver the “strongest possible” message to Myanmar’s military regime to release all political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, when he visits the country this week. (more…)
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his trip to Burma should press the ruling generals to publicly commit to the release of all political prisoners and to engage in a dialogue with the opposition that leads to genuine political reforms, Human Rights Watch said today. Ban should not accept the return of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest or vague statements about political reform as signs of a successful visit. (more…)
The United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon was urged on Tuesday by the National League for Democracy to meet detained party leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his proposed two-day visit to Burma from July 3 to 4. (more…)
Media watchdogs have condemned the sentencing of a Burmese journalist reporting on the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, and said that coverage of the trial is “very much biased” with reporters subject to intimidation. (more…)
The Burmese military authorities have forcibly taken away most of the relief material, meant for local Chin people, who had suffered due to a fire in their village last April. The relief material had been supplied by their supporters from abroad. (more…)
Some 4,000 Burmese migrants were arrested by the Thai authorities in Thailand in June, according to a Thai Web site, www.manager.co.th. (more…)
The current Myanmar special gem emporium, being held at the Myanmar Conventional Center (MCC), has attracted more than 3,000 foreign gem traders, the highest number of visitors compared with the last few years’ events. (more…)
Prices for scarce surgical masks in impoverished Myanmar have soared more than threefold after the military-ruled nation confirmed its first case of swine flu, residents said Tuesday. (more…)
With the increase in music piracy and ineffective laws governing the illegal reproduction of music, Burma’s music industry has witnessed an 80 percent reduction in the release of new albums over the course of the last two years. (more…)
Japanese police arrested three top businessmen on Monday on suspicion of attempting to export to Burma a measuring instrument that could be used to develop long-range ballistic missile systems, Japanese newspapers reported. (more…)
UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Myanmar on Tuesday to free all political prisoners, including detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, days ahead of a visit to the military-ruled country. (more…)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was to arrive in Japan Tuesday for a three-day visit as he prepares to travel to Myanmar, where he aims to discuss the fate of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)
For two weeks, the world has been transfixed by images of Iranians taking to the streets to demand the most basic human freedoms and rights. Watching these courageous men and women, I am reminded of a similar scene nearly two years ago in Burma, when tens of thousands of Buddhist monks peacefully marched through their nation’s streets. They, too, sought to reclaim basic human dignity for all Burmese citizens, but they were beaten back by that nation’s harsh regime. (more…)
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 30 June 2009, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. (more…)
…. Myanmar: We are deeply concerned about the recent developments. A real process of dialogue and national reconciliation is needed, with the full participation of representatives of all political parties and ethnic groups, leading to transparent, fair and democratic multiparty elections. In this regard we call on the Government of Myanmar to release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi whose continued detention would undermine the credibility of the elections planned for 2010. (more…)
Burma’s highest court rejected an appeal Monday by Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers to reinstate two key witnesses in a trial that could send the pro-democracy leader to prison for five years. (more…)
Several monks on Saturday refrained from going out to collect swan offering in Myingyan town in Mandalay division, following a visit and offerings made by junta’s Minister of Industries (1) Aung Thawng. (more…)