Villagers Urge Environmental Protections for Inle Lake

RANGOON — Over 100 local communities in Shan State banded together on Monday to demand a stop to the deterioration of Inle Lake, which has suffered a dramatic drop in water levels and quality as a result of nearby development […]

Ethnic Leader Demands Prisoner Releases

The chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation Khun Myint Tun said that the release of prisoners would be negotiated with the government before signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement […]

Companies Land Applications Spark Villagers’ Protest Over Disputed Land in Karen State

The villagers from Minekan, Hpa-an Township, submitted an letter to the township land registration office on May 27 protesting that applications for permits to grow long-term crops in unclaimed forest land was owned by the local community and was open for investors or companies […]

Local Youth Mark 4th Anniversary of War in Kachin State

RANGOON — On Saturday, hundreds gathered in Rangoon to commemorate four years of conflict in Kachin State, calling for additional support for some 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps in Burma’s far north […]

Michaungkan Protesters Light Candles in Front of Rangoon City Hall

Villagers from the eastern Rangoon suburb of Michaungkan staged a peaceful candlelit vigil outside Rangoon City Hall on December 12, in protest of the government’s controversial land grabs.

The protestors claim they lost their land under government redevelopment plans and have been occupying a protest camp near Maha Bandoola Park in the city centre for more than 260 days. […]

Hundereds Protest against Planned Power Plant in Mon State

More than 500 locals at Aunden Village in Mon State protested against a proposed coal-fired power plant project on Sunday.

Villagers shouted slogans, such as “No Aunden coal plant”, “Dismiss the Aunden coal power plant!”, “We don’t want Toyo-Thai Company!”, and “We don’t want coal plant in our area!” while marching through the town of Ye. […]

Two Injured as Latpadaung Protestors Clash with Police

A confrontation between protestors and police left two villagers injured near the Latpadaung copper mine project in Sagaing Division on Saturday.

One villager was injured by rubber bullets while another was injured by a slingshot after protests broke out on Laikkhun Hill. Police were attempting to fence-off the land when they were confronted by locals who have refused compensation as part of government land seizures. […]

Locals Protest Hakha Main Road Widening

Local people of Hakha town are protesting the widening of Bochauk Road in capital Hakha, Chin state. The road laying would have started in the first week of this month. Over 42 local residents put their signatures on a statement and sent it to the Chief Minister of Chin state demanding the authorities consider compensation for losing their lands if the road widening takes place. […]

Govt Neglecting Student Demands, Mandalay Protestors Say

MANDALAY — Student activists here said authorities are neglecting the desires of students and teachers despite a sustained campaign of public protests against the controversial National Education Law.

About 50 students from student unions of Mandalay, Sagaing, Monywa and Myingyan took to the streets of Burma’s second biggest city again on Thursday and set up camp in front of City Hall, where they held an unauthorized demonstration against the education legislation. […]

Mandalay Protestors Call for End to Ethnic Conflict

MANDALAY — Political parties in Mandalay called on the government on Wednesday to end its armed conflicts in Burma’s ethnic regions and put more of an effort into the country’s peace process.

At a demonstration led by nine political parties including the National Democratic Force (NDF), National Unity Party (NUP) and local civil society groups, protestors spoke out against a recent Burma Army attack in Kachin State that killed 23 ethnic rebel cadets and injured 20 others, saying the incident indicated a lack of resolve in the government’s purported desire to reach a sustainable peace with Burma’s numerous ethnic rebel groups. […]