BURMA: Junta Does U-Turn on Relief Aid

The military government of Burma (Myanmar), in a dramatic turnaround, has offered to cooperate with the United Nations in its massive relief efforts in the cyclone-devastated country where the death toll could exceed 100,000.

BURMA: UN Aid Arrives, But Many Doors Still Closed

As the first U.N. relief planes landed in Yangon early on Thursday, humanitarian officials complained that the aid flowing into cyclone-devastated Burma (Myanmar) is still encountering bureaucratic obstacles that are threatening the lives of desperate survivors.

BURMA: Junta Gives Referendum Priority Over Cyclone Relief

Disregarding the disaster caused by Cyclone Nargis, Burma’s military rulers are bent on holding a constitutional referendum on Saturday, said to be designed to enhance the junta’s grip over the country.

BURMA: Cyclone Nargis Exposes Junta's Anti-People Attitude

Cyclone Nargis - Burma’s worst natural disaster in living memory - has reinforced the image of the military in that country as a force interested solely in perpetuating its grip on power, regardless of costs to the people it claims to protect.

POLITICS-BURMA: Voters Under Pressure Ahead of Referendum

With days to go before Burma votes on its new constitution, the military government’s message to the voters is getting blunt - openly calling for a ‘yes’ vote to confirm the charter in Saturday's referendum.

BURMA: Junta Holds Up Int’l Relief as Cyclone Toll Climbs

While Burma's state-run radio reports that at least 4,000 people have died and another 3,000 gone missing in the cyclone that devastated that country on Saturday, there is little that the international community can do by way of assistance without a formal request from its secretive military rulers.

BURMA: US Oil Major Complicit in Abuses – Rights Lobby

An environmental group is warning U.S. energy giant Chevron to clean up its act in Burma or face legal proceedings where the multinational’s links to gross human rights violations in the military-ruled country could be exposed.

EUROPE: Sanctions on Burma To Be Extended

Sanctions imposed by the European Union on Burma look set to be extended for an extra year because of the lack of progress on human rights in the military-ruled country.

BURMA: Plans Readied to Rig Constitution Referendum

A rising star within the ranks of Burma’s military regime is reported to have unveiled a plan to ensure the junta gets its way at the May referendum for a new constitution, according to information revealed to IPS.

RIGHTS-BURMA: New Constitution Gives Impunity to Military

Burma’s military regime is coming under fire for the language in a new constitution to be approved at a national referendum on May 10. The full text of the charter was made public only a month ahead of the plebiscite.

BURMA: Junta Split May Hasten Civilian Rule

By promising to hand over power to a civilian government within two years, Burma’s top general has sparked speculation on the future of the junta that has ruled this country since a military coup in 1962.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Thailand Queers ASEAN’s Burma Pitch

By openly coming to the rescue of Burma’s military regime, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has queered the pitch of moves by regional governments to prod the junta into genuine political reform.

RIGHTS-BURMA: Back to Child Recruitments

Till last September, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in military-ruled Burma had received few complaints about children being forced to join the army. But that is no longer the case.

POLITICS-BURMA: Junta Untroubled by EU Sanctions

Economic sanctions imposed by the European Union on Burma are unlikely to have any effect on its military junta, a former Singaporean diplomat has said.

BURMA: U.N. Envoy Gambari Gets The Snub

United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari’s third visit to Burma has ended in failure, an outcome expected after he was informed on arrival that the junta was in no mood to change its political battle plans.

POLITICS-BURMA: Mobile Phones, Radios Keep Resistance Alive

Somewhere in the dilapidated city of Rangoon is a man on the run since August last year. He has sheltered in over 10 homes so far. But he expects to continue avoiding arrest by Burma’s dreaded military or intelligence forces.

BURMA: U.S. Expands Sanctions Against Junta Supporters

The U.S. government on Monday slapped fresh sanctions on businesses and individuals tied to Burma's military rulers and urged stronger international pressure for democratic change in the country, also known as Myanmar.

POLITICS-BURMA: UN Envoy’s Next Visit May Turn Farcical

The next visit of a special U.N. envoy to military-ruled Burma is in danger of turning into a farce.

RIGHTS-BURMA: Nobel Laureates Appeal to U.N.

Calls for an economic and military blockade of Burma are on the rise as diplomatic efforts have largely failed to prod that country’s military rulers towards democratic reforms.

POLITICS-BURMA: Resistance To Constitutional Referendum Builds Up

‘’This is the declaration of war by the military regime against the people of Burma,’’ says Nilar Thein in a statement released Monday. They are strong words from a woman on the run and forced into hiding for over five months in the military-ruled country.

RIGHTS-BURMA: &#39How Many Monks Must Die Before The UN Moves?&#39

For one Buddhist monk from Burma, the brutal crackdown of peaceful street protests in the country last September was anything but a victory for the military regime.