A helicopter crashed into the Andaman Sea off Burma’s western coast on Monday, killing three people. Several other passengers were rescued and taken to hospitals. The exact number of survivors was not clear. Malaysia’s oil and gas company Petronas had rented the helicopter to fly to off-shore natural gas drilling rigs in the Yetagun gas […]
UN Report: Poverty Rates Falling in Burma
Posted July 8th, 2011 at 7:50 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations Development Programme says progress has been made in reducing poverty rates in Burma. A survey of 18,660 households across Burma between 2009 and 2010 found that overall poverty and cases of people not having enough food in Burma had fallen by six percent from a similar study conducted from 2004 through 2005. […]
Human Rights Groups Ask Obama to Tighten Sanctions on Burma
Posted July 7th, 2011 at 9:30 pm (UTC-5)
A group of U.S.-based human rights organizations say they want President Barack Obama to expand financial sanctions against Burma and do all he can to make sure they are effective. Officials with 22 groups said in a letter sent to the president Thursday that the Burmese government has rejected steps towards genuine democracy, including failing […]
Suu Kyi Sees Nothing New Yet in Burmese Leadership
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 7:50 am (UTC-5)
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says some people, both at home and abroad, have deceived themselves into thinking a new government has brought change to her country. The popular political leader made the remark in response to questions after a lecture broadcast Tuesday by the British Broadcasting Corporation. It was the second of […]
Aung San Suu Kyi Welcomes Thai Election Outcome
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is welcoming what she described as the “free and fair” election in neighboring Thailand as a sign of hope for improved relations between the countries. The Burmese political leader was asked about the Thai election Tuesday in the pagoda city of Bagan, where she is vacationing with her […]
Suu Kyi Recounts NLD History in BBC Lecture
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi explores the recent history of her National League for Democracy and the what drives people to dissent in a BBC lecture recorded for broadcast Tuesday. The lecture is the second of two to be secretly recorded in Burma by the British broadcasters and smuggled to London for airing. […]
Burma Dissident Groups Demand End to Chinese Dam Projects
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 1:25 am (UTC-5)
A coalition of Burmese activist groups is demanding that China halt work on a series of dams in northern Burma, where ethnic Kachin rebels are under attack from government forces. The nine-member alliance of monks, students and youth groups also calls in statements issued Tuesday for renewed pressure on the Burmese government to end its […]
Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi Travels to Temple City
Posted July 4th, 2011 at 2:40 am (UTC-5)
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is traveling outside her home city of Rangoon for the first time since she was released from seven years of house arrest. The Nobel Peace laureate arrived by plane Monday in the ancient temple city of Bagan with several of her close colleagues for a four-day visit. She […]
Burmese Diplomat Defects to U.S.
Posted July 3rd, 2011 at 10:40 pm (UTC-5)
A top Burmese diplomat working in Washington has told VOA that he is defecting to the United States. In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, dated July 4, Deputy Chief of Mission to the Burma embassy Kyaw Win requests political asylum, saying he fears prosecution if he returns to his homeland because of […]
Australia’s Rudd Arrives in Burma
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has arrived in Burma, but it is uncertain whether he will meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma’s military-backed government told the Nobel peace laureate this week to stop all political activities, which may include meeting foreign diplomats. Rudd’s office said last week that he is scheduled to meet […]
