Thailand and Burma’s Civil Society Organizations Express Concern to the Royal Thai Government about the Safety of Burmese Civilians Seeking Shelter from the Escalation of Conflict in the Border Area

Armed conflict has broken out in several places along the Thai‐Burma border as a result of escalating tensions between the Burma’s military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and armed ethnic groups that refuse to surrender their arms or join the SPDC’s Border Guard Force[…]

Burmese Political Prisoner In Election Protest Hunger Strike

Kyaw Kyaw Naing, a jailed member of the National League for Democracy, has gone on hunger strike to protest against sham elections being held today in Burma, according to Burma Campaign UK sources[…]

David Cameron Raises Burma With Chinese Premier – Will Also Raise With Obama

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed British Prime Minister David Cameron raising the situation in Burma during his meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao […]

New Burma Government Does Not Have to Include Any Elected MPs

As Burma’s generals today hold fake elections, Burma Campaign UK publishes a new briefing detailing how Burma’s generals have brought in a new constitution which sidelines Parliament and makes it impossible for MPs in the new Parliament to introduce any genuine democratic reforms.

• There is no requirement for a single member of Burma’s new government to be elected in elections on 7th November.
• There will be a Presidential, not Parliamentary form of government.
• The President must come from the military, either a former or serving soldier.
• The President is not accountable to Parliament.
• Government ministers are not accountable to Parliament.
• Real democratic reforms require constitutional reform, which is impossible without the military agreeing to it […]

Minister Cannon Expresses Concern over Burmese Elections

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on Burma’s election[…]

16 Burma Pro-Democracy Organizations host a London rally and a peaceful march to condemn Burma’s sham election

Today, 16 Burma pro-democracy organizations including all ethnic organizations, based in the United Kingdom, organize a London rally and a peaceful march to condemn sham elections in Burma on 7 November 2010, urging the international community to reject the result of regime’s fake elections and support our call for a UN-led effort to secure genuine tripartite dialogue in Burma […]

Activists urge Govt of India to reject military’s 2010 election

Burma Centre Delhi in collaboration with India-based Burmese pro-democratic forces organized a protest rally at Jantar Mantar on 3 November 2010 against the upcoming Burma’s 2010 election on 7 November 2010. The event was one of the biggest as around 900 Burmese from different ethnic groups participated in their respective traditional attires holding placards and shouting slogans in the capital of India […]

Key Stakeholders Explore the Reality on the Ground of Burma’s Military Elections

Speakers representing central stakeholders in Burma spoke today about how the elections next Sunday will not improve the situation on the ground in Burma. They spoke about the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party’s (USDP) manipulation of the polls, the National League for Democracy’s ongoing efforts for genuine democracy, escalating attacks against ethnic nationalities and the resistance of students and youths against the upcoming elections […]

Timely Report Documents the Transformation of Burma’s Military Regime’s Paramilitary Organization to Political Party

The Network for Democracy and Development (NDD) released a report today entitled, “Burma: A Violent Past to a Brutal Future; The Transformation of a Paramilitary Organization into a Political Party.” The report looks at the history of the junta-backed social organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), and its transformation to the political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The report’s release comes in the final week before the first elections in Burma in 20 years, polls that have been widely criticized as being not free or fair […]

Poverty Shades Elections in Eastern Burma

Regardless of the outcome in Burma’s first elections for twenty years, the incoming government will inherit a legacy of widespread and chronic poverty throughout the country. Government statistics disguise the extent of suffering, but aid agencies report the vulnerabilities in eastern Burma have been exacerbated by protracted armed conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access […]