UN: Continued support needed for victims of Cyclone Nargis
The UN says victims of Cyclone Nargis, which struck in May last year still need continued support, and is appealing to the international community for help in rebuilding the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the storm.
Nargis was the worst natural disaster in Burma’s history, leaving 140,000 missing or dead and [...]
Russian company searching for Uranium in Kachin State
A Russian company, Victorious Glory International Private Ltd is looking for Uranium in northern Burma’s Kachin State reports the Kachin News Group (KNG).
The search is being conducted under the pretext of searching for gold, but KNG quotes local residents, who question that story, as the area they are looking in is rich in jade.
They are [...]
Internet access in Burma slows down
Internet users in Burma are having to connect at slower than normal speeds.
The country that already has among the slowest Internet connections in the world is experiencing even slower connection speeds that are starting to affect businesses.
The Irrawaddy reports that Myanmar Teleport that manages the Internet announced slower speeds from March 21 to 25 due [...]
US confirms official’s meetings in Burma
The US State Department has confirmed that Stephen Blake, director of the Department’s Office for Mainland Southeast Asia visited Burma this week and met with senior Burmese officials.
However, they stressed the meetings did not represent a change in the Obama administration’s policy towards Burma.
Blake’s visit was part of a five-country tour, which also included Cambodia, [...]
Thailand and Burma to tackle human trafficking
Thailand is to sign an agreement with the Burmese government to tackle human trafficking issues including the Rohingya boat people.
According to The Nation, Issara Somchai, the Thai Minister of Social Development and Human Security will sign the agreement on April 24.
Among the victims of human trafficking are children as young as 11. Suvajee Good, an [...]
KNU open to Thai brokered talks but don’t expect instant results
The Karen National Union (KNU) has reportedly said it welcomes an offer from Thailand to mediate talks between it and the Burmese junta.
However, the Bangkok Post quotes KNU vice-president David Takapaw as saying the success of the talks would depend on how sincere the junta was in restoring democracy.
On Monday, after meeting with senior Burmese [...]
UN finds Suu Kyi’s detention illegal
The continued detention of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Ki is illegal and a violation of both Burmese and international law says a UN panel of legal experts.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an arm of the UN Human Rights Council found Suu Kyi’s house arrest is arbitrary, and in contravention of Articles [...]
Thailand to help Burma talk to ethnic minorities
Burma’s ruling military junta has asked Thailand to help negotiate with ethnic minorities ahead of elections planned for 2010.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya wrapped up a two day visit to Burma today and is reported to have said Burma’s Prime Minister Thein Sein and Foreign Minister Nyan Win have asked him to talk with minority [...]
How to end ethnic tensions: Guarantee individual rights
Granting full individual rights to all people in Burma regardless of their ethnic background could be key to ending the country’s ethnic tensions says a legal expert from the Shan ethnic group.
The Shan Herald Agency for News reports Hkun Okker told a workshop on the second draft of the Shan State constitution that when there [...]
Aid projects away from Delta missing out
The flow of humanitarian aid into the Irrawaddy Delta following Cyclone Nargis last year is yet to trickle down to the rest of Burma.
IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks), the news and analysis service of the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that aid operations in the rest of Burma have yet to [...]
Burma named an enemy of the Internet
A report released this week by Reporters Without Borders has labelled Burma as an “Enemy of the Internet”, along with China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Reporters Without Borders noted that all 12 countries had transformed their Internet into an Intranet in order to prevent their population from [...]
UNHCR to increase presence in Burma
The UN’s refugee agency plans to expand its program in northern Rakhine State, which is home to the Muslim Rohingya minority.
The Rohingya came to international attention after media reports of rickety boatloads of Rohingya asylum seekers being towed out to sea by Thai security forces (see: Indonesian navy rescues 200 Rohingya).
The announcement follows the end [...]
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