The Nationalities Brotherhood Forum, an ethnic alliance, issued a statement on November 11 expressing their willingness for the emergence of federal system in Burma.
A Burma army battalion has been forcing farmers off their land and harvesting the rice for themselves. Burma army LIB-539 battalian in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State threatened several farmers off their land by gunpoint.
The Agriculture and Farmers Federation of Myanmar (AFFM) held a central committee meeting to replace ex-Chairman U Than Swe who was dismissed from his position.
The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released a statement on Tuesday calling on Burma’s neighbors to open their borders to boatpeople fleeing violence in Rakhine State.
The President’s Office in Naypyitaw announced on November 15 that it has formed an Information Committee, which will be responsible for the distribution of news about politics, economics, security matters, the military and disaster-related affairs.
Exiled Kachin politician Duwa Maran Zau Awng recently sent US president Barack Obama an open letter urging that him not to visit Burma next week because of the military's ongoing offensive in Kachin State. According to various rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, the Burma military have committed numerous atrocities against Kachin civilians during their campaign against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
Burmese President Thein Sein will attend the current ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh from Saturday, November 17, and will stay in the country for four days, the summit organizers have said.
A new agreement to eliminate child soldiers and institute measures to protect children caught in conflict zones in Myanmar has been signed by Swiss based Geneva Call and several ethnic armed groups.
The Burmese government announced on Thursday morning that it would release 452 prisoners as a token of goodwill and a gesture of friendship toward neighboring countries.
Representatives of UNFC claimed to discuss four main issues in further peace talks when they met with Minister Aung MIn, according to Nai Hong Sar, the general secretary of UNFC. U Aung Min said that they plan to hold a future meeting with UNFC at the Peace Center in Yangon. UNFC says it will take place sometime before the end of December.
Burma News International is an unique network of eleven independent media organizations: Mizzima News, Shan Herald Agency for News, Phop Htaw News Agency, Khonumthung News Group, Narinjara News, Kaladan Press Network, Independent Mon News Agency, Network Media Group, Kantarawaddy Times, Karen Information Center and Kachin News Group.
