Myanmar (Burma): World’s Top Opium Source, UN Reports

Myanmar (Burma):  World’s Top Opium Source, UN Reports

While Afghanistan slashes 95% of its opium supply, Burma’s (Myanmar’s) instability and civil-war like situation makes it the number one hub for opium production. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report on Tuesday highlighting Myanmar’s startling transformation into the world’s largest hub for opium production. This shift in global opium […]

Myanmar: A Human Rights Catastrophe

Myanmar: A Human Rights Catastrophe

It is over five months since the military junta deposed Myanmar’s elected government, and the situation remains a human rights catastrophe. Efforts towards regional diplomacy have not borne results. The five-point plan adopted by ASEAN in April is yet to be implemented and has not resulted in any efforts towards de-escalation, or lessening of loss […]

Religious leaders shouldn’t spread hate, says Burmese Monk

Religious leaders shouldn’t spread hate, says Burmese Monk

Mandalay, Burma: Religious leaders, monks and priests have a duty to spread goodwill and not hate, says a Buddhist monk in Burma (Myanmar), even as another ‘ firebrand’ monk named U Wirathu is known for his open encouragement of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country. Ashin Ariya Wun Tha Bhiwun Sa, a Buddhist monk from Mandalay […]

Rohingya Refugees refuse to return, Bangladesh perplexed!

Rohingya Refugees refuse to return, Bangladesh perplexed!

Most of the Muslim Rohingya refugees who escaped the ‘genocide’ in Burma are just too scared to return home, despite assurances from their home country that they would be rehabilitated. The Bangladesh government, however, would like some of their ‘guests’ to return home as resources are slim. A plan to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh […]

Bangladesh protests Burmese force buildup

Bangladesh protests Burmese force buildup

Dhaka: Bangladesh will send a protest note to Burma (Myanmar) over an increased security presence near a portion of their border where thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been sheltering just inside Myanmar, a Bangladesh border guard official said on Thursday. The UN refugee agency has expressed concern that thousands of people staying on the strip […]

Yangon is out and proud, Hang 377!

Yangon is out and proud, Hang 377!

Yangon, Jan 29 : India and Burma share the same article 377, the archaic British law that has little use and much misuse in the 21st century. Finally, it seems that Burma (Myanmar) is coming Out! Fluorescent wigs askew and leaving broken stiletto heels and a cloud of glitter in their wake, Myanmar drag queens […]

Over two lakh refugees flood Bangladesh

Over two lakh refugees flood Bangladesh

Bangladesh is reeling under a flood of refugees.  Some 2,70,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought shelter in Bangladesh since violence erupted in Burma (Myanmar) two weeks ago, the UN says. A spokeswoman said the jump – up from 1,64,000 on Thursday – was because new pockets of people had been found. She called the figure “so […]

Malaysia alerted to Human Crisis in Burma, Bangladesh

Malaysia alerted to Human Crisis in Burma, Bangladesh

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia –  It’s a human crisis. Burma (Myanmar), according to reports, continues to ignore the rights of its Rohingya Minorities. In fact, reports say that the army is actually pushing them into Bangladesh! Malaysia says it will summon the Burmese ambassador to draw attention to the issue. The conflict in Rakhine province of […]

Assam origin Burmese long for ‘return’

Assam origin Burmese long for ‘return’

GUWAHATI:  – A 75 year old Burmese woman and her family, of Assam origin, has made a ‘historical’ trip back to the land of her ancestors. The descendants of the historically dispersed people of Assam origin living in Burma regard Assam as their motherland. They are eager to come back to Assam and stay here […]

Burma Refugees flood Bangladesh

Burma Refugees flood Bangladesh

DHAKA : Beleaguered Bangladesh has a refugee problem now – Hundreds of Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh after fleeing violence in neighbouring Burma, many with horrific tales of troops killing civilians and burning villages. Bangladesh says it has prevented hundreds more from crossing into the country, despite pleas from the United Nations to open its […]

South Korea accepts 30 Burmese refugees

South Korea accepts 30 Burmese refugees

Korea plans to accept 30 Burmese (Myanmar) refugees from temporary camps in Thailand and grant them permanent settlement, the Ministry of Justice said on Sunday. The plan is in accordance with a U.N. agency resettlement program that the country joined last year. It is the second of its kind since Korea brought in 22 Myanmar […]

India’s pulse beat slows, Modi to sow Moong in Malawi?

India’s pulse beat slows, Modi to sow Moong in Malawi?

It’s a question of दाल-भात (doll-rice in Anglo-Indianese).  Indians are perhaps  the world’s largest eaters of pulses, but alas! Shrinking  land for crops and drought are making Indians think of leasing  agricultural land in Africa and Burma (Myanmar) to meet growing demand of the domestic market. Two consecutive years of drought have led to a […]