Myanmar’s government and the political wing of the country’s armed ethnic Kachin rebels resumed peace talks Tuesday, with Naypyidaw expressing optimism they would lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities resulting in an overall nationwide cease-fire and political dialogue with ethnic groups. ...

Myanmar's president pardoned 56 political prisoners Tuesday, an amnesty apparently timed to highlight the government's reforms ahead of a regional summit as well as important negotiations with a rebel group at home. President Thein Sein ordered the prisoners' release just ahead of a forum in Brun...

The Myanmar government and the rebel Kachin Independent Organization (KIO) have agreed to work together towards nationwide ceasefire and lay foundation for political dialogue. After three days of peace talks in Myitgyina, capital of northernmost Kachin state, the two sides reached a seven-point a...

9 October 2013 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today welcomed the latest release of political prisoners in Myanmar, while also voicing concern over ongoing arrests of activists and conditions attached to arrests. A presidential amnesty decree on 8 October resulted in the relea...

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet with Myanmar President to discuss the human rights situation in his country as it assumes the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014, a top official said here on Thursday. Myanmar symbolically took over the ASEAN Chairmanshi...

The Karen Department of Health and Welfare continues to push the Burma government to recognize its community health workers and to extend its health service. In its recent meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on 30 September, the Karen Department of Health and Welfare discussed with Dr. Thein Thein Htay, the d...

In his monthly radio address to the nation on 1 October, Burma’s President Thein Sein emphasised the current round of peace talks with ethnic groups, saying that the peace process was related to a long-term plan aimed at realizing national reconciliation. Thein Sein’s monthly speech was aired on ...

A Japanese aid agency has promised to provide low-interest loans to the Mon State government for road building and other infrastructure projects. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is to finance the reconstruction of a small road that runs between Tarana village in Kyaikmaraw Towns...

Ethnic affairs ministers will begin formally participating in the national peace process through the government’s peace-making committee, the ethnic affairs ministers of Karen and Mon states said. The move follows an 18 October meeting between ethnic affairs ministers and the Vice-Chair of the Peac...

Representatives from both the government’s Union Peace-making Work Committee and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) told Mizzima on 21 October that peace talks between the two parties will resume on 3 November. “Afterthe ethnic armed groups summit meeting in Laizaconcludes, KIO and governme...