Jan 09, 2012 (English Version)

Villagers Flee as Govt Troops Seize Another KIA Outpost

Hundreds of Kachin civilians are seeking shelter in overcrowded camps in KIA-controlled territory, as government forces take another step closer to the group’s headquarters. Read More

George Soros Gets Down to Business With 88 Generation Leaders

The billionaire and philanthropist asks activists in Rangoon how he can promote a peaceful transition to democracy after decades of military rule. Read More

Spitfire Dig to Start within Days

The excavation of World War II fighter planes believed to be buried in Burma will start in the next few days, the project’s leader said. Read More

State Govt Wants to Join Ethnic Mon National Day

Government officials in Burma’s Mon State want to join in celebrating Mon National Day, but local ethnic groups are skeptical about the plan. Read More

Casting a Line in Mandalay

At Taungthaman Lake, a popular destination for tourists near Burma’s second-biggest city, local peasants now make a living as small-scale fishermen. Read More

US Ambassador Conveys Urgent Concern Over Kachin

As the government army continues air attacks, America’s top diplomat in Burma says he has spoken with the country’s top-brass leaders. Read More

Debts Pressure Rice Farmers to Sell at Low Prices

Farmers in the area known as Burma’s rice bowl say they are selling their crops at below-market prices to pay off high-interest loans. Read More

Burma and Asean Learn How to Make Peace

Burma and the newly formed Asean Institute for Peace and Reconciliation can learn from each other as they strive to end domestic and regional conflicts. Read More

The Scandal of Foreign Labor in Asia

The foreign worker issue shows Asia as a region of deep exploitation, yet foreign recruitment agencies have been of great advantage to governments. Read More

India Says Pakistani Soldiers Kill 2 Indians

Pakistani soldiers are accused of killing two Indians in Kashmir just days after Indian soldiers allegedly raided a Pakistani post and killed one soldier. Read More

Burma Govt Forms Ant-Graft Committee

President Thein Sein’s office on Wednesday announced the formation of an anti-corruption committee under the chairmanship of Vice President Dr. Sai Mauk Kham. “As part of efforts for the emergence of good governance and clean government after the new government took office, an action committee against corruption is formed to fight the corruption and bribery [...] Read More

Earthquake Hits Western Burma

A 5.8-magnitude quake rattled the India-Burma border region on early Tuesday morning, the US Geological Survey said. The quake struck at a depth of 90.5 kilometers, with its epicenter about 90 kilometers from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland in India’s northeast. Burma’s western border region is remote and sparsely populated and sees frequent seismic activity. [...] Read More

Kachin Rebels Hold 30 Burmese POWs

The Kachin Independence Organization has more than 30 prisoners of war (POW) and wants to return the captive Burmese soldiers to the Burmese army, 88 Generation Students leader Mya Aye has told Mizzima. The activist visited the Kachin army’s headquarters in Laiza last week. “The KIO wants to transfer these 30 POWs,” Mya Aye said. [...] Read More

Burma President’s Office Appoints First Spokesperson

President Thein Sein has appointed deputy Minister of Information Ye Htut as his office’s new spokesman, the Ministry of Information said on Wednesday. It is the first time that the president’s office has had an official spokesperson. Until now the office’s director, Major Zaw Htay, served as the main media contact person. The move is [...] Read More

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Visits Arakan State

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa arrived in Burma on Tuesday for a two-day visit during which he would offer support for resolving the inter-communal violence between Buddhist Arakanese and Muslim Rohingya that has killed scores of villagers in recent months. State-owned newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported that Marty met with Minister of [...] Read More

Billionaire Philanthropist George Soros Visits Burma

Hungarian-born billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros is visiting Burma and met representatives of the 88 Generation Students group, Mizzima reports. Soros is the chairman of the influential Open Society Institute and the Soros Foundation, which supports many human rights, health and media freedom causes in Burma. On Tuesday, he met with 88 Generation Students [...] Read More