A tense calm settled over Burma’s western Rakhine state Monday, as riot police intervened to curtail nearly a week of deadly violence between Muslims and Buddhists. Ethnic Rohingya Muslims, speaking to VOA’s Burmese service described scenes of devastation and fear in the border town of Maungdaw. Right now (Monday), it is unsafe to go outside […]
Troops, Riot Police Patrol NW Burma after Deadly Rioting
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
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Burma Declares State of Emergency
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 2:40 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s president declared a state of emergency Sunday night for a riot-hit western state, wracked by deadly sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims. Thein Sein warned in a televised address to the nation that if the violence in Rakhine state spreads further, it could put the country’s moves toward democracy in danger. He invoked the […]
Burma’s Leader: Unrest Threatens Stability, Democracy
Posted June 10th, 2012 at 7:30 pm (UTC-5)
Burmese President Thein Sein warned Sunday that if sectarian violence in the western Rakhine state spreads further, it could put the country’s moves toward democracy in danger. The president made the comment in an address to the nation, following three days of violence in Rakhine state between Buddhists and members of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic […]
Muslim-Buddhist Clash in Burma Kills 7
Posted June 9th, 2012 at 2:55 pm (UTC-5)
Security forces have been deployed in western Burma, near the border with Bangladesh, to restore peace after an outbreak of ethnic violence that left at least seven people dead. Police and military units restored calm and established a curfew in Rakhine state on Saturday, after overnight rioting between ethnic Rohingya, who are Muslims, and local […]
Muslim-Buddhist Clash in Burma Kills 7
Posted June 9th, 2012 at 12:30 pm (UTC-5)
Security forces have been deployed in western Burma, near the border with Bangladesh, to restore peace after an outbreak of ethnic violence that left at least seven people dead. Police and military units restored calm and established a curfew in Rakhine state on Saturday, after overnight rioting between ethnic Rohingya, who are Muslims, and local […]
U.S. Envoy: North Korea Should Emulate Burma and Reform
Posted June 8th, 2012 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. envoy for North Korean human rights says North Korea should emulate Burma in putting political and economic reforms in place to bring about a positive response from other nations. Robert King told reporters in Tokyo Friday that North Korea should move in “positive” directions that would allow international inspectors into the country to […]
VOA Inks Deal with Burma on English-Language Programming
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
VOA director David Ensor has signed a deal with Burma under which Burmese state radio plans to start broadcasting short, VOA-produced English-language teaching programs. Ensor announced the groundbreaking agreement Tuesday from Burma’s administrative capital, Naypyitaw, where he is holding a series of meetings with senior members of the new, nominally civilian government. “(Burmese authorities) also […]
Burma State Media Offer Rare Praise of Aung San Suu Kyi
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
Burmese state media have offered rare praise of longtime democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, in an editorial that would have been unthinkable just months ago under the reforming country’s strict censorship laws. In an article entitled, “To the leaders who are the hope of Myanmar,” the New Light of Myanmar said Tuesday that the […]
VOA Chief Holds Talks in Burma on News Bureau
Posted June 4th, 2012 at 1:45 pm (UTC-5)
VOA Director David Ensor is in Burma seeking to negotiate terms that would allow the U.S. broadcaster to open a news bureau in the long-isolated southeast Asian nation. Ensor held introductory talks Monday in the Burmese administrative capital, Naypyitaw,with Parliament speaker Thura Shwe Mann. “He (the speaker) seemed very open and interested in some advice […]
VOA Chief Holds Talks in Burma on News Bureau
Posted June 4th, 2012 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
VOA Director David Ensor is in Burma seeking to negotiate terms that would allow the U.S. broadcaster to open a news bureau in the long-isolated southeast Asian nation. Ensor held introductory talks Monday in the Burmese administrative capital, Naypyitaw,with Parliament speaker Thura Shwe Mann. “He (the speaker) seemed very open and interested in some advice […]
