Myanmar urged to end repression of ethnic minorities before elections

Myanmar’s government must halt its repression of ethnic minority activists before forthcoming national and local elections, Amnesty International warned in a major report released on Tuesday. The 58-page report, The Repression of ethnic minority activists in Myanmar, draws on accounts from more than 700 activists from the seven largest ethnic minorities, including the Rakhine, Shan, […]

Thailand joins RI in promoting free, fair elections in Myanmar

It is in the interests of the ASEAN community to help Myanmar hold fair, free and transparent elections this year, to return democracy and peace to the country, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya says. The visiting Thai foreign minister said in an interview here Sunday that as the two most democratic members of the Association […]

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (003/2010)

The Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), a Burmese political organization based on the Thai-Burma border, is researching and distributing weekly reports summarizing political events in Burma regarding the SPDC’s Elections. These reports include information on the activities of the SPDC and USDA, opposition groups, armed ethnic groups, cease-fire groups, border guard forces, international governments […]

Ethnic parties and politicians in electoral fray

Some ethnic parties and a number of politicians are already in the election fray in Burma this year and are into an expansion mode and organizational work. The Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) is seeking to increase the membership base, while some ethnic Chin politicians are into organizational work on the sly. However, the Mon […]

European Parliament Rejects Burma Election – Calls For End To Systematic Displacement

The European Parliament today passed a new resolution on Burma, stating that under present conditions Burma’s planned elections cannot be free and fair. As thousands of Karen people flee a new military offensive in Karen State, Burma, the Parliament also demanded an end to systematic forced displacement, and for an end to impunity for crimes […]

Malaysia calls on Myanmar to free Suu Kyi ahead of polls

Malaysia Tuesday called on military-run Myanmar to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of national elections it expects to be held around October.

“We want a free, fair and an inclusive election. We should give everybody a chance, including Aung San Suu Kyi,” Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told AFP, adding he thought the vote would be held “around October”.

“We hope she will be freed. We feel that giving all a chance is democracy. Then it becomes a legitimate election,” he added.

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (002/2010)

The Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), a Burmese political organization based on the Thai-Burma border, is researching and distributing weekly reports summarizing political events in Burma regarding the SPDC’s Elections. These reports include information on the activities of the SPDC and USDA, opposition groups, armed ethnic groups, cease-fire groups, border guard forces, international governments […]

Philippines sees Myanmar vote ‘farce’ in September

Myanmar is likely to hold elections around September but they are shaping up to be a “farce” with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi unable to run, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said Friday.

On a visit to Washington, Romulo said he expected the fellow Southeast Asian nation’s military regime to release Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent most of the past 20 years under house arrest.

“I believe the election will go through in September — around that time — and I believe that perhaps from what we hear that Aung San Suu Kyi would be released before the election,” Romulo said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank.

Monthly Chronology Events January – 2010

An extensive monthly chronology of events researched and distributed by the Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), a Burmese political organization based on the Thai-Burma border. These chronologies include information on the activities of the SPDC and USDA, opposition groups, armed ethnic groups, cease-fire groups, international governments and non-governmental organizations, and civilians inside Burma and […]

Situation Update: November 2009 – January 2010

A summary of events inside Burma during the period of November 2009 to January 2010, focusing on the elections, the military, ethnic nationality armies and more. Download the Update