12 – 18 July: USDA Disbands, Paving a Dreadful Path for USDP Dominance

Last week, Burma’s military regime began dividing the assets of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) from those of its political counterpart, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), headed by Prime Minister Thein Sein. The USDP has come under fire from critics and opposition parties for its lack of regard for election regulations but the association’s move to separate assets appeared to be a token step towards transparency. Indeed, a senior military official noted that the “[USDP] will purchase buildings, vehicles and office equipment from the association. They need to do it according to the election law[…]

5-11 July: The Economics of Protest in Burma

On 5 July, as many as 3,000 students protested in Sittwe, Arakan State, against the 100% increase in regime-run school bus fares due to rising fuel prices. In a statement, the All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress said that diesel and petrol prices have been on the rise since the junta’s wave of privatizations.

Increases in fuel prices have sparked protests in Sittwe before, but are most notably responsible for setting off the 2007 Saffron Revolution when hundreds of thousands of people took to the street […]

28 June – 4 July: International Action Needed to Halt Burma’s Nuclear Efforts

In early June, we wrote about a shocking documentary by the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and aired on Al-Jazeera that revealed the military regime’s attempts to develop a nuclear program. Based on the testimony of high-ranking defectors and photographic evidence verified by a number of nuclear experts, the report revealed the junta’s extensive network of military bunkers throughout the country, factories containing machines to build missiles and nuclear weapons, and North Korea’s cooperation and mentorship on the project[…]

21-27 June: Junta’s Handpicked Election Commission Issues Unjust Directive

On 21 June, the military regime’s handpicked Union Election Commission issued a directive banning marching, holding flags and chanting during political parties’ campaigning rallies. Parties wishing to hold a public event or speech must seek approval from a local sub-commission at least one week in advance. Speeches and publications must not criticize the Union of […]

14-20 June: Resounding International Support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her 65th Birthday

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the world’s only detained Nobel Peace Laureate, spent her 65th birthday under house arrest in her Rangoon home on Saturday 19 June. Governments, Burmese communities, solidarity groups and individuals around the world held events to commemorate Daw Suu’s birthday, calling for her immediate release.[…]

7-13 June: Wasteful Spending and Election Law Violations Continue to Mark the Junta’s Election Campaign

Recent reports of Burma’s nuclear program continue to reverberate throughout Burma’s political spheres and the international community. Opposition parties recently came out in strong opposition to the junta’s wasteful spending on its attempts at producing nuclear weapon technology rather than allocating it towards its woefully skeletal health and education budgets.[…]

31 May-6 June: New Documentary Shows Military’s Shocking Nuclear Efforts

The military junta’s fixation on military might and issues of ‘national security’ may not be news to the people of Burma or the international community, nor would the junta’s focus on preserving and fulfilling the social and economic interests of high-ranking military and government officials at the expense of their general population.

But what has recently come to light is surprisingly conclusive evidence, based on testimonies by high-ranking defectors and photographic documentation, of the military’s attempts to develop a program that may one day produce viable nuclear weapons […]

24-30 May: Groups around the world commemorate 1990 Elections

Twenty years ago, on 27 May 1990, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the first multi-party elections Burma had seen for decades. However, the NLD and other winning ethnic opposition parties were never allowed to take power as a democratically elected government. Many opposition party leaders were imprisoned or exiled, […]

17-23 May: “Democracy” in Burma Exemplified by USDP’s Manipulative Electioneering

As Burma moves closer to still unannounced election date, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is moving ahead in full force with its electioneering efforts across the country. Reports of election canvassing and vote buying arose well in advance of party registration, but USDP’s registration approval has allowed for even more extensive electioneering throughout ethnic areas.[…]

10-16 May: The People Need More Than Token Gestures of Drought Assistance

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Burma is facing severe drought and water shortages throughout the country, due to unusually high temperatures and late monsoon. Water levels have been declining in the last month, but have now attained critically low levels. The situation stands to deteriorate further as there is an increased risk of cholera and other diseases linked to dirty drinking water […]