Burmese police shut down a rare public protest by dozens of farmers angry over the confiscation of their land. The group staged a sit-in outside a government building in the main city of Rangoon Thursday to protest the seizure of about 4,050 hectares of land by the government. The group’s leader, Pho Phyu, says the […]
Burmese Police Break Up Rare Public Protest
Posted October 27th, 2011 at 6:00 am (UTC-5)
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Burma: Hundreds Dead or Missing in Flash Floods
Posted October 26th, 2011 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
Authorities in Burma say hundreds of people are dead or missing following flash flooding in a tropical storm near the border with Bangladesh. The Myanmar Times newspaper quotes officials in the Magwe Division town of Pakoku as saying the storm, which struck Sunday, claimed more than 200 lives. Residents were still searching for bodies Wednesday, […]
Suu Kyi Tells US Audience of Crippling Power of Fear
Posted October 26th, 2011 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told an American audience that freedom from fear is the key that opens to door to other liberties. The former political prisoner made the comment in recorded remarks presented late Tuesday to an audience at the University of Michigan, where she was honored for her human rights […]
US Burma Envoy Meets Aung San Suu Kyi
Posted October 25th, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
The new U.S. special envoy to Burma has met in Rangoon with pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as Washington presses the new, nominally-civilian Burmese government to continue releasing political prisoners. Tuesday’s meeting comes on the second day of a two-day visit by Derek Mitchell, who met Monday with government officials in Burma’s administrative […]
US Envoy Visits Burma for Second Time
Posted October 24th, 2011 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
U.S. officials say special envoy Derek Mitchell has arrived in Burma for his second visit in two months. A U.S. embassy official told VOA that Mitchell arrived Monday in Rangoon and will continue to the administrative capital, Naypyitaw, for talks with Burmese officials. The official said Mitchell plans to visit Burma frequently as part of […]
Burmese Minister: Japan to Review Suspended Development Projects
Posted October 24th, 2011 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s foreign minister says Japan has agreed to send experts to Burma to determine the feasibility of re-starting a number of suspended development projects. Wunna Maung Lwin told VOA’s Burmese service that the countries have also agreed to reciprocal visits by government officials and politicians. The foreign minister was interviewed in Bangkok on his way […]
Burmese Vice President Vows to Resolve Dam Dispute with China
Posted October 21st, 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s vice president has vowed to cooperate with China on solving the dispute over its halting of the construction of a $3.6 billion Chinese-backed dam in northern Burma. Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo made the comments Thursday during a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the China-ASEAN meeting in southern […]
Burmese Foreign Minister HoldsTalks in Tokyo
Posted October 20th, 2011 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin has arrived in Tokyo, where he is holding talks with senior Japanese officials. Japanese Secretary Osamu Fujimura greeted the visiting minister, who made a brief public statement. He said the visit marks a step forward in developing cooperation between the two countries. The trip is the latest in a […]
UN Envoy Urges Burma to Do More Improve Human Rights
Posted October 19th, 2011 at 9:55 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations special envoy on Burma says recent steps by Burma’s new government could improve the country’s transition to democracy, but that many serious human rights issues remain. Tomas Ojea Quintana, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, said Wednesday he is encouraged by the government’s commitment to reform. But he said that […]
Rights Groups Question Malaysia-Burma Refugee Swap Plan
Posted October 19th, 2011 at 3:15 am (UTC-5)
Lawyers and human rights groups are calling for close scrutiny of a plan under which Malaysia and Burma would exchange potentially hundreds of illegal immigrants. Malaysia’s home minister announced agreement in principle on the plan this week, saying there are about 1,000 Burmese being held at detention centers in Malaysia. But the Malaysian rights group […]
