A Grim Trade: Trafficking Palaung Women to China

Unscrupulous traffickers, Burma’s economic decline and militarization, and a shortage of females caused by China’s “One Child Policy” have all combined to contribute to the trafficking of women from the Palaung region of Burma into China, says a locally based activist group.

“Since 2007, we have documented 72 cases of actual and suspected trafficking involving 110 people,” said Lway Moe Kam of the Palaung Women’s Organisation (PWO). The caseload includes 11 children under 10 years of age […]

Aid workers welcome Burmese refugee census

Aid workers have welcomed a “long overdue” headcount of Burmese refugees living in three of 10 camps along the Thai-Burmese border, hoping this will address the problems of thousands who are unregistered and thus missing out on vital services.

The census began in late May on the orders of Samart Loifah, governor of Tak Province, where the Mae La, Umpiem Mai, and Nu Po camps are located […]

Burma not confirmed as chair in 2014

Asean failed to resolve the issue of Burma’s chairmanship yesterday, the last day of the bloc’s 18th summit in Jakarta.

A statement from the current chair, Indonesia, only reiterated support for the steady progress and political development in Burma following a general election and the formation of a new government […]

Burmese Civil Society Groups Face Impasse at Asean Summit

A delegation of civic groups from inside Burma that are backed by the government and a separate delegation of independent pro-democracy groups from outside Burma were unable to agree on who would represent the combined groups at the May 7 interface meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) leaders in Jakarta, Indonesia […]

First US Ambassador to Asean Expected to Press Burma

David Lee Carden, a former attorney who has been named the first US ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), will attend the Asean Summit in Indonesia next week, where he will have the opportunity to push Burma to change and discuss with Asean members whether Burma chair the organization in 2014, claim Burma activists […]

Amid Calls for ‘Panglong II,’ Ramos-Horta Offers to Mediate

Despite doubts about how Burma’s ruling generals will respond to recent calls for renewed talks to resolve the country’s ethnic issues, supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi say they believe her proposal for a second Panglong Conference is vital to any future reconciliation and reform in the country.

“The international community perhaps does not fully understand the importance of resolving ethnic issues and preventing renewed conflict in Burma,” said Khin Ohmar, the coordinator of the Burma Partnership […]

Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi Released from House Arrest

Burma’s military government released democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest Saturday after her current term of detention expired. Her release comes days after a military-backed party claimed to win Burma’s first elections in two decades […]

Khin Ohmar is coordinator of the Burma Partnership, a coalition advocating democracy in Burma. She says the military government is afraid of Aung San Suu Kyi’s influence.

“She is, in their eyes, she is the enemy of the state,” she said. “She is the major threat to their power because she is the one who is trusted by the whole country, who is trusted by the people” […]

Clashes carry on between DKBA and junta troops

Fighting between junta troops and a Democratic Karen Buddhist Army splinter group continued at Three Pagodas Pass in Mon State yesterday morning […]

Khin Omar, from campaign umbrella group Burma Partnership, told Mizzima on Wednesday that: “For me, it is quite disturbing, quite frustrating to see that the Burmese Army, or the regime, continues with these kind of attacks without giving political solutions and giving options for the ethnic people to have a chance to be a part of the union, and have political equality, and their basic rights being guaranteed […]

Burma’s junta claims election

Burma’s military has claimed victory in the country’s widely criticised first election in 20 years, saying it has won about 80 per cent of the seats […]

Thai authorities are in talks with Burma to return 15,000 people from ethnic minorities who fled fighting along the border that broke out after the polls […]

The temporary camps in Thailand filled up on Monday night as more than two-thirds of Myawaddy residents fled, said Khin Ohmar, co-ordinator of the Burma Partnership […]

Fighting Cools on Burma-Thai Border

Fighting between Burma’s military and an ethnic militia has cooled down and Thai authorities are sending home more than 10,000 people who fled the violence […]

Khin Ohmar, coordinator of the Burma Partnership coalition, says many who fled the fighting told her they did not feel safe to go back. She says some crossed over to Burma and then, not feeling safe, returned to Thailand […]