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Saturday, August 1, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
Burma
SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Civil Society Edges Deeper Into Regional Summit
In a nod towards greater engagement with people’s organisations, a summit of South-east Asian leaders in this resort town will slightly extend its customary face-to-face with civil society representatives.RIGHTS-BURMA: Rohingya Issue Figures in Regional Summit
Burma’s military regime has set a tough challenge for regional leaders to grapple with when they gather for a summit over the weekend in this resort town south of Bangkok.SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Burma's Muslim Rohingyas – The New Boat People *
It happened decades ago when this region was gripped by the fallout of the United States’ war in Vietnam. But the ‘boat people’ phenomenon is back, and this time it has to do with Burma’s Muslim Rohingyas fleeing harsh realities at home.RIGHTS-BURMA: Junta Declares War on Lawyers, Jails Them
To be a lawyer in military-ruled Burma is to court danger, invite arrest and risk being jailed in the country’s notorious prisons.BURMA: Ban’s Visit Inane Unless Prisoners Are Freed
A United Nations special envoy ended his seventh visit to Burma this week facing a tall order: secure freedom for some 2,100 political prisoners in the military-ruled country as preliminary to meaningful political reform.
RIGHTS-MALAYSIA: Malaysian, Thai Officials Trafficking Burmese Migrants?
A scandalous trade in Burmese migrant labour involving Malaysian and Thai officials and international human traffickers is now coming to light.HEALTH-THAILAND: Burmese Migrant Workers Key to Fighting Bird Flu
Thailand’s plans to contain the spread of the deadly avian influenza virus must involve the tens of thousands of Burmese migrant workers employed in this country’s poultry industry, say experts.THAILAND: Burmese Refugees Set Adrift, Hundreds Feared Dead
Hundreds of Rohingya (Burmese Muslim) refugees are feared dead after being pushed back into the sea by Thai authorities, according to human rights activists based in Thailand.BURMA: Junta Determined to ‘Guide’ 2010 Polls
Burma’s military regime ended 2008 with greater resolve to steamroll over opposition voices in order to pave the way for a junta-friendly government when the country holds general elections in 2010.BURMA: New Thai Policies Not Junta-Friendly
If Burma's military regime is showing signs of worry about the change of guard that has taken place in neighbouring Thailand, there are good reasons.RIGHTS-BURMA: Junta Turns Blind Eye to Rising Landmine Casualties
Thanks to the callousness of its military rulers, Burma has aacquired another unenviable statistic. It has replaced Cambodia as the country with the highest annual number of landmine victims in the region.ENVIRONMENT-BURMA: Conflict Threatens Karen Biodiversity
On top of 60 years of military occupation, the Karen people of Burma are now facing severe impairment of their environmental and cultural foundations, say activists.BURMA: Polls in View Junta Stifles All Dissent
Burma’s military rulers have renewed efforts to eliminate all opposition to their authority in the lead up to planned elections in 2010.RIGHTS-BURMA: Military Accused of Crimes Against Humanity
An onslaught by Burmese troops in the eastern part of the military-ruled country, running for three years now, is laying the junta open to charge of ‘crimes against humanity’.BURMA: China’s Thirst for Oil Ignores Environment, Rights
The largest island off Burma’s west coast is emerging as another frontier for China’s expanding plans to extract the rich oil and gas reserves of military-ruled Burma.RIGHTS-BURMA: No Mercy For Women Political Activists
When it comes to throwing pro-democracy activists in jail, Burma’s military regime does not discriminate between the sexes. The junta treats women and men with equal measure of abuse.BURMA: Cyclone Relief – Distrust of Junta Deters Donors
Burma’s military regime is struggling to attract international aid nearly six months after the powerful Cyclone Nargis tore through the country’s Irrawaddy Delta. The financial shortfall has more to do with distrust of the junta than donor fatigue.BURMA: Asia Europe Summit Can Help
By the end of this week Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent 13 years under house arrest. By coincidence, the anniversary of her incarceration (Oct. 24) falls when the military junta will be represented in a summit between Asian and European leaders in Beijing.US/AFGHANISTAN: Moving Towards a 'Grand Bargain'
Increasingly frustrated by the "downward spiral" that the U.S. intelligence community sees in Afghanistan, the Pentagon appears to be moving in support of engaging leaders of the resurgent Taliban who are prepared to disassociate themselves from al-Qaeda.BURMA: New Constitution – Radical Change or Fig Leaf?
After more than 15 years in the drafting, Burma unveiled its new constitution in February. The 194-page document has generated a widely disparate response.
INDIA: Old Road New Role
Built during World War II as a strategic link between India and Burma, the Stilwell Road is now being resurrected as part of India’s ‘Look East’ policy of engaging its neighbours in South-east Asia.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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