Burmese Army preparing to use chemical weapons against ethnic rebels
The Burmese Army has sent two trucks loaded with mortars laced with chemicals to northeast Shan State, where it is facing off against ethnic ceasefire groups— the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
The Kachin News Group (KNG) reports the mortars were received from North [...]
US opts to engage Burma, but keeps sanctions
The US has announced a new policy of engagement with Burma’s military rulers. They will also increase humanitarian assistance, but will not phase out sanctions without signs of political change.
“Burma’s continued estrangement from the international community harms the country and has direct negative consequences beyond Burma’s borders. Burma’s engagement with the outside world has the [...]
Bangladesh pushes Rohingya back into Burma
Five Rohingya families who crossed the Burma-Bangladesh border on Wednesday night were pushed back into Burma by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) reports the Kaladan News Network.
The families were among 70 to 80 families that were forced from their homes by the Nasaka, Burma’s border security force. The Nasaka is building a fence along the border [...]
Ban warns Burma faces generations of instability and poverty
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says Burma faces generations of instability and poverty unless the State Peace and Development Council, Burma’s ruling military junta release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and holds legitimate elections.
In Ban’s latest report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to the UN’s General Assembly, he notes [...]
Mystery illness strikes ethnic children
An unknown disease has affected almost 2,000 people in Kachin and Karen states reports the Burma Campaign UK, and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Burma’s ruling military junta is blocking medical aid to the area.
In a statement issued today, the Burma Campaign UK said it had received reports of the disease that could [...]
Two years after Saffron Revolution monks still facing repression in Burma
Today is the second anniversary of Burma’s Saffron Revolution, the popular mass protests that were brutally broken up when the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Burma’s ruling military junta opened fire on the unarmed protestors.
The protests were led by Buddhist monks and according to a new report, Burma’s monks are still facing wide scale [...]
HRW launches new campaign to free Burma’s political prisoners
There are now 2,250 political prisoners in Burma says advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW). In a new campaign launched this week, they are calling for the release of all political prisoners before elections planned for 2010.
Tom Malinowski, HRW’s Washington advocacy director, said ”Burma’s generals are planning elections next year that will be a sham [...]
New approach needed to engage China on Burma
If the West wants China’s help in bringing about change in Burma, it needs to adopt a new strategy says a new report from the International Crisis Group (ICG).
The report, entitled China’s Myanmar Dilemma, notes, “China will not engage with Myanmar on terms dictated by the West.”
Instead, it says, “To bring Beijing on board, the [...]
Would-be rapist foiled by erectile dysfunction
The risks faced by Burmese workers in Malaysia are highlighted by a recent case in which a man broke into a Kuala Lumpur hostel housing seven Burmese women.
Malaysian newspaper The Star reports that the women, who were all in their twenties, were awoken by a man carrying a parang or Malaysian knife. He broke into [...]
US warned delay in Burma policy review could encourage junta
The US needs to quickly wrap up the ongoing review of its policy towards Burma or risk letting Burma’s military rulers, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) think the US is wavering on its commitment to human rights and plurism warn human rights activists.
In a letter to US Secretary of State, Hilary Rodham Clinton, [...]
Newly arrived refugees in Thailand still facing uncertain future
Three months after a joint Burma Army-DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) force attacked the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)’s 7th Brigade headquarters, some 4,682 Karen villagers are still being housed in new arrival sites in Thailand’s Tha Sang Yang District. And according to a new report by the Karen Human Rights Group, many are concerned [...]
Burma gets nuclear training from Korea: that’s South Korea not North Korea
Burma’s nuclear ambitions are getting a boost from Korea, but this time its not coming from Axis of Evil member, North Korea but from Pyongyang’s southern cousins.
Xinhua is reporting South Korea will train officials and technicians from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries on nuclear power stations. The training is intended to reduce [...]
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