Ceasefires Are Not Peace: KNU Lays Out Crucial Steps to Achieve Lasting Peace in Burma

In a press conference today, the Karen National Union laid out a four-step roadmap of essential stages that will be required to achieve genuine and sustainable peace in Burma [...]

MPs and Politicians from ASEAN on February 23-25 Fact-Finding Mission to Phang Nga, Thailand to Highlight Plight Faced by Burmese Migrants

Leading ASEAN MPs and members of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) will be in Thailand on a three-day fact-finding mission from February 23-25 to raise awareness on issues surrounding migrant [...]

ASEAN Should Support and Promote a Credible and Transparent Process of Peace and Reconciliation in Myanmar and Mechanism of Human Rights Protection

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today welcomed the upcoming visit of ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan to Myanmar on 20 February but noted its continued [...]

Press Release at the Conclusion of the Visit to Myanmar of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Myanmar

The Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Myanmar, Mr Vijay Nambiar, concluded today a five-day visit at the invitation of the Government of Myanmar. In Naypyitaw, the Special Adviser was received [...]

Open Letter to Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

We write to you today on behalf of the undersigned ASEAN civil society organizations to share our lingering concerns about on‐going human rights violations in Burma/Myanmar ahead of your mission to the country on 20 February 2012. We would like [...]

Burma in the Throes of Change – Part II

As ‘positive’ news flows out of Burma – release of political prisoners, ceasefire talks in ethnic areas, increased freedom, formation of labour unions – people inside the country and exiles have been in heated discussion. What does ‘reform’ entail and are the changes going to be fully implemented? [...]

Burma in the Throes of Change – Part 1

Moves by the Burmese government to settle ethnic conflicts in the country, notably with the Karen in the mountainous eastern part of the country, have caught most observers by surprise.

When the government and the Karen National Union (KNU) held ceasefire talks on Jan. 12 aimed at ending the 62-year-old Karen insurgency – the world’s oldest running ethnic conflict – there was scepticism as to whether the powerful Burmese military would honour conditions laid down by the rebels [...]

Political Prisoners Freed – Conditionally

The release of 651 prisoners, a process which started this month, is being seen as a victory for activists and families who have had to contend with Burma’s notorious prison system.

But, while state media reported, ahead of the first releases on Jan. 13, that the prisoners were being freed to allow them to participate in ‘nation building’, there was no word on conditions set for their release [...]

Aung San Suu Kyi Files Papers to Run for Burmese Parliament

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is formally a candidate to run for a parliamentary seat in an upcoming by-election.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner registered her candidacy Wednesday to represent a district just outside the main city of Rangoon [...]