Senators Mark 20th Anniversary of Burmese Election, Condemn Continuing Repression

A bipartisan group of Senators — including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Judd Gregg (R-NH), John McCain (R-AZ), and Sam Brownback (R-KS) — issued the following statement today, on the twentieth anniversary of the last general election in Burma […]

Myanmar’s prison of an election will also be ASEAN’s

By U Win Tin

In Myanmar’s last elections, twenty years ago today, the people of Myanmar voted for a democratic change by overwhelmingly electing the National League for Democracy (NLD). However, the people’s desire was never honored […]

Media Advisory: Press Briefing of Visit to Burma before the 2010 Elections

Press Briefing with Emily Lau, Hong Kong Legislator and Mabel Au, Spokesperson of HKCFB

The last national elections held in Burma were on 27th May 1990. The country’s military government has announced that 20 years later Burma’s citizens will once again have an opportunity to cast a ballot in national elections some time this year. However, the international community questions whether these elections will be free and fair.[…]

Let’s strongly oppose the 2010 Election which will make the 2008 Constitution come into operation!

All the people of Burma including Monks, Students and Youths,

1. The day of 27th May 2010 will mark 20th anniversary of 1990 Election in which the people representatives overwhelmingly won a landslide victory. The results of that election is interpreted as that of the Burmese people’s ongoing struggle for democracy begin with the 1988 prodemocracy movements, by truly expressing of their determination.[…]

The People Need More Than Token Gestures of Drought Assistance

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 […]

Crowley Spearheads Introduction of Bipartisan bill to Renew Sanctions on Burma’s Military Regime

Today, a bi-partisan coalition of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Congressman Joe Crowley, introduced legislation to renew sanctions on Burma’s military regime. The move comes two weeks after the European Union extended its own sanctions on Burma for another year. Following is the text of Congressman Crowley’s statement upon introduction. […]

The Increasingly Unlevel Playing Field of the Junta’s Elections

On 7 May 2010, in accordance to the junta’s election laws, the National League for Democracy (NLD) ceased to exist as a legal political entity for its decision to abstain from the upcoming military elections. It is still unclear what steps will be taken against the NLD in regards to office closures or arrests. Already, there have been reports of a NLD member in Arakan State arrested and tortured, and another member attacked in Mon State at the order of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA).[…]

US Envoy Kurt Campbell’s statement on his visit to Burma

US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs Kurt Campbell arrived in Naypidaw on May 9, 2010 and proceeded to meet with the Junta, the NLD, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ethnic leaders and other stakeholders.

“The key objective of my trip was to underscore the purposes and principles of our engagement, and to lay out the reasons for our profound disappointment in what we have witnessed to date,” the envoy said. “What we have seen to date leads us to believe that these elections will lack international legitimacy. We urge the regime to take immediate steps to open the process in the time remaining before the elections.” […]

US envoy meets Suu Kyi, Ends visit upset at junta pre-poll conduct

US envoy Kurt Campbell met detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for an hour at a state guest house in Rangoon today, following talks with her colleagues from the National League for Democracy […]

Burma’s NLD democracy party dissolved

The pro-democracy party of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been disbanded after a registration deadline for elections expired […]