The nominally civilian Burmese government is demanding that democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi stop referring to the Southeast Asian nation as “Burma” – the colonial name still used by dissidents and many foreign governments. In a terse statement Friday published by state-controlled media, the Union Election Commission called on the Nobel […]
Rights Group Urges China to Protect Burmese Refugees
Posted June 26th, 2012 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
Human Rights Watch says several thousand ethnic-Kachin refugees who fled fighting in Burma now face a serious human rights situation in southwest China and risk being forcibly returned to their war-torn homeland. The group says as many as 10,000 people have fled to China’s Yunnan province from Burma’s Kachin state, where heavy fighting broke out […]
Rights Group Urges China to Protect Burmese Refugees
Posted June 26th, 2012 at 1:55 am (UTC-5)
Human Rights Watch says China has been forcibly returning some of the ethnic-Kachin refugees who fled fighting in Burma. The group says Chinese authorities have repatriated about 300 refugees to Kachin state, where heavy fighting broke out last year between the Burmese army and Kachin rebels. The report says as many as 10,000 Kachin people […]
ADB Begins “Re-engagement” with Burma
Posted June 26th, 2012 at 12:10 am (UTC-5)
The Asian Development Bank says it will begin re-engaging with Burma following reforms undertaken in the Southeast Asian country in the past year. The bank, which has not had operations in Burma since 1988, says a senior official will visit the country Tuesday to gain a “first-hand understanding” of its goals and priorities. The visit […]
Chinese State Media: Democracy No ‘Panacea’ for Burma
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 3:10 am (UTC-5)
Chinese state media are warning against “excessive and hasty” democratic change in Burma, saying democracy alone cannot solve all of the Southeast Asian country’s problems. A commentary in the Communist Party-run Global Times acknowledged that the recent reforms by Burma’s new quasi-civilian government are bringing “unprecedented hope for the nation’s prospects.” But it also warned […]
Burma President Promises ‘Second Wave’ of Reforms
Posted June 19th, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
Burmese President Thein Sein has promised what he calls a “second wave of reforms” aimed at developing the impoverished country’s long-stagnant economy. Since taking office last year, the former army general has already presided over several political reforms, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners and allowing opposition groups back into politics. He said […]
Burma: Two Sentenced to Death for Rape-Murder That Sparked Clashes
Posted June 19th, 2012 at 3:35 am (UTC-5)
Burmese state media say two men have been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a woman in a case that helped trigger deadly clashes between Buddhists and Muslims. The state-run New Light of Myanmar said Tuesday the verdict was delivered by a court in western Rakhine state, where officials say over 50 […]
Aung San Suu Kyi Voices Concern Over Burmese Ethnic Violence
Posted June 16th, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi voiced concern about violence in the north and west of Burma Saturday, saying despite a cease-fire with the government, hostilities among some ethnic groups continue. She noted that “communal violence resulting in arson and murder” are occurring in western Burma, where state media say some 50 people have […]
UN: Bangladesh Should Open Borders to People Fleeing Burma
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. refugee agency is urging Bangladesh to open its borders to people fleeing an outbreak of violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Burma. In a statement Friday, the agency said those trying to escape are not able to find the “safety and security they desperately need.” The U.N. agency also […]
Coca Cola Returning to Burma After 60 Years
Posted June 14th, 2012 at 9:10 pm (UTC-5)
Burmese consumers will soon be able to enjoy a bottle of “the real thing.” Coca-Cola announced Thursday that it is ready to start doing business in Burma for the first time in more than 60 years. The company said it is waiting for the U.S. government to grant a general license to allow American businesses […]
