Land confiscation issue major concern for Burma’s rights groups

Land confiscation disputes are increasing in Burma, where all land is nominally owned by the state.

Of late, however, farmers and others are taking their grievances public, staging mass demonstrations and attracting widespread coverage by the media, which is working in a freer climate than in the past.

However, as the government considers new laws to attract foreign investors, activists say there has been a rash of land seizures with up to 3.6 million hectares being taken by government, private companies and the military as the economy prepares for more foreign investment […]

Women sidelined from Burma’s fledgling peace process

Burma is going through a process of unprecedented change. Central to the long-term viability of this “new Burma,” are efforts to bring about national reconciliation and secure a lasting peace between the Burma military and the many non-state armed groups that have been fighting for self-determination for decades. Women could play a key role in this process, however so far their voices have been sidelined […]

Donors urged to tread carefully in Myanmar

Foreign donors are rushing into Myanmar (formerly Burma), whose government has been pushing the right political buttons as part of its democratic reform process. But development planners and local activists caution that the best approach should still be ‘easy does it’.

“Please (…) don’t rush in,” Khin Ohmar, coordinator of the Thailand-based Burma Partnership, said at a discussion organised by civil society groups led by the Washington-based Bank Information Centre at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank (WB) Annual Meetings in Tokyo […]

VIDEO: Don’t Rush Into Burma, Foreign Donors told

Western ‘peace fund’ initiative criticized

Critics say a western effort to initiate a “peace fund” plan could undermine the desire to establish a lasting ethnic peace in Burma.

The aid plans were launched earlier this year by Norway, the World Bank, European Union, United Kingdom, United Nations and Australia […]

Burma Activists Say Funding Initiatives Could Undermine Peace Process

Burma activists say international funds established to encourage peace in ethnic rebel areas risk undermining the process. Critics say the Norway and World Bank-led “peace funds” are prioritizing development instead of lasting political solutions. Norway’s ambassador refutes that notion and says their whole point is a lasting peace.

The aid plans were launched earlier this year by Norway, the World Bank, European Union, United Kingdom, United Nations and Australia […]

Mae Tao Clinic snubs gov’t request to return to Burma

The Mae Tao Clinic has rebuffed rumours that it is planning to return to Burma, accusing the government’s peace team of spreading false information to the media after holding informal meetings with them over the past few months.

In a briefing paper released on Tuesday, the renowned Mae Sot-based clinic, which provides free healthcare to refugees and migrants, criticised the government for making “informal references” to the media leading to “widespread public misunderstanding” that they would soon relocate to the Myawaddy region of Karen state […]

World Bank grant could ‘exacerbate’ problems in border regions

Civil society groups have urged the World Bank to exercise caution before pressing ahead with their plans to pump $85 million into community projects in Burma’s conflict-torn border regions or risk “exacerbating” local problems.

Campaigners have criticised the Bank for claiming that locals will be able to “decide whether to invest in schools, roads, water or other projects” without disclosing details of their consultation plans, transparency provisions and whether they have conducted a conflict-assessment […]

Myanmar Releases Political Prisoners

Myanmar released at least 20 political prisoners as part of a general amnesty program government officials said is meant to foster national unity.

The official New Light of Myanmar said President Thein Sein ordered 46 prisoners to be released and 34 foreign prisoners to be deported Tuesday […]

Burma ‘Not Ready’ for Truth Commission

Burma is not yet ready to follow in South Africa’s footsteps by embarking on a path toward transitional justice, said several Burmese dissidents in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai on Thursday.

The comments came at a roundtable discussion involving representatives of the Karen National Union (KNU), Burmese exile groups and international NGOs, and coincided with remarks made by Aung San Suu Kyi at an ILO conference in Geneva the same day […]