3 August 2012
Death row prisoner Phyo Wai Aung, who was charged with plotting
the New Year’s bombings in April 2010, has been freed by a presidential
pardon this afternoon, according to his wife Htay Htay.

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Renewed violence breaks out in Arakan state

7 August 2012

Sectarian clashes between Arakanese and Rohingya residents have left

three people dead in Burma, a government official said today, amid growing

international concern about the sectarian unrest.

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Karen National Union, peace committee hold preliminary talks

7 August 2012

The government’s Peace Making Work Committee and a Karen National Union

delegation met in the Burmese border town of Myawaddy in eastern Karen state

on Sunday to discuss an upcoming meeting later this month.

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Human rights commission recognises Kachin abuses

7 August 2012

Burma’s national human rights commission (MNHRC) has accused the army of

committing serious abuses against civilians in Kachin state, in the wake of

a five-day mission of inquiry to the conflict-torn region.

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Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Rangoon journalists press gov’t for freedom of speech

6 August 2012
The message was: “Stop Killing the Press.”
After the suspension of two newspapers last week, Burmese journalists have
staged a walking demonstration in Rangoon in support of freedom
of speech and the press.

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NMSP and KNPP signed Deep of Commitment for Protection of Children in Conflict

6 August 2012

The main armed ethnic oppositions from Burma, New Mon State Party (NMSP)

and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the members of an umbrella

United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) signed the Deep of Commitment

(DoC) with a Geneva based International NGO, Geneva Call, in order to protect

children in conflict zones eastern part of Burma, said Nai Hongsa Poung Khine,

a delegate from NMSP.

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Quintana calls for ‘independent’ investigation into Rakhine violence

6 August 2012

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma has called for a credible,

independent investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine,

including the excessive use of force by security and police personnel, arbitrary

arrests and detentions, killings, the denial of due process guarantees and

the use of torture in places of detention.

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Journalists rally against censorship

6 August 2012

Dozens of journalists marched in Burma’s main city Saturday to protest the suspension

of two journals amid fears officials are rowing back on pledges to ease strict

junta-era censorship laws, an AFP reporter said.

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Trade Unions Co-ordination Meeting

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There was a coordination meeting of basic labour organizations, labour activists and legal experts at Myanmar Peace Center. Basic labour organization from different sectors such as industrial, agriculture, education and transport sector (altogether 31 unions Yangon Region, 6 unions from the Mandalay Region, 4 from the transport sector, 8 unions from the higher education) were involved in the meeting. It is coordination prior to a meeting to be hosted by the President, U Thein Sein with the workers and to come up specific points will be presented to the President. Issues on Labour related laws such as amendments of laws and implementing enforcement mechanism with punishment that will be preventive measure, issues on workplace disputes, working conditions and issues on migrant labour were discussed by the participants.

ILO- ACTRAV- ITC Training

FTUM and ILO ACTRAV-ITC Trade Union Training on Freedom of Association, Organization Strategies and Collective Bargaining Place; Golden Butterfly Hotel Date: 13-14, December, 2013 FTUM invited other non FTUM trade unions. Altogether 27 participants, 24 trade unions from different sector (IUF –Hotel union and agriculture, food, ITF- train and cargo handling, EI –university teachers, Industri All- township level labour organizations Household things, Garment, Plastic, Leather/Shoe, attended the training. Workers are introduced about how to bargain workers needs through collective bargaining system and to understand changing world of work and trade union’s important role. We, FTUM has been providing ILS through the ILO ACTRAV training to workers and trade unions since 2003.

I understand that the investors invest because they hope to profit from the ventures. Well, we agreed with that but we also hope to benefit from the investments ventures. Our country must benefit as much as those who have come in to invest that. So, please think deeply for us. I have been listening to many speakers in the forum. I was particularly struck by one comment, very simple comment that we have to look to the questions of corruption and inequality. I absolutely agreed with that. We have to try to eradicate corruption and inequality as we proceed to what greater investments. We do not want more investment to mean more possibilities of corruption. We do not want investment to mean greater inequality. We do not want corruption to mean greater privileges already privileged. We want investment to mean quite simply jobs as many jobs of possible. It is as simple as that. Job creation is extremely important in Burma and together with job creation must go training. The kind of training that will enable our unemployed young to take up jobs. Vocational Training, we need vocational training and non-formal education.

The World Economic Forum
May 30, June 1, 2012.

Bangkok, Thailand.

Changes in Myanmar – the Minister’s perspective

Myanmar's Union Minister at the Ministry of Labour, Aung Kyi, gives his thoughts on the way his country's reform process has moved so far, how the relationship with the ILO has evolved, and what the next steps might be. Our government sent the office one year ago. It has been undertaking a series of reforms such as National Reconciliation with all political parties, prevalence of peace with most of the armed ethnic groups, also for us, the multi-party democratic system and also we have enhancing the international co-operations, also holding the free and fair by-elections and so on.. So our intention, it may be called, we stretched on the continuation of these reformations to the remote areas to every villages, and every persons, ensuring that we would improve our health and education, as well as social issues according to our people-centre strategy adopted by our government last month. Key next step may be the improvement in socio-economy status of our country and the development of human resources. ILO's cooperation with our government could establish decent working conditions in Myanmar. That is improving, the working, and living conditions of our workers as well as the competitiveness. Our cooperation with ILO is very fine now. Much different from the past one or two decades when we neglected each other at that time but since 2002, we have more communication between ILO and Myanmar which developed to connection on 2007. After signing the supplementary understanding, and then when we are building those connections to become trust, the governing body chairman Ms.Juan Somovia, GB members, visit to our country. That is a feature that trusts because trust, so nowadays, the relations between ILO and Myanmar is prevailing everywhere. Everybody should recognize that we have already changed ourselves and I would like to ask any organization to see from the different perspectives, from the past. Thank you..

Video

Myanmar needs democracy-friendly development growth, says Aung San Suu Kyi Changes in Myanmar – the Minister’s perspective Changes in Myanmar – an amployers perspective Changes in Myanmar – a workers perspective Aung San Suu Kyi and the ILO The ILO’s role in Myanmar ILO’s Somavia wams of “vicious downward economic spiral” East Asia 2012 – A Conversation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi East Asia 2012 – The Promise and Futurd of Myanmar East Asia 2012 – Press Conference with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Monday, August 13, 2012

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Zaw Min, the Karen State chief minister, said that heavy rains since July have caused

the Salween River to finally flood.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Rangoon (Mizzima) – Burma’s Foreign Exchange Certificate (FEC) will be abolished,

most likely in March 2013, Maung Maung Win, the vice chairman of the Central Bank

of Myanmar, told Mizzma on Wednesday.

Thursday, August 09, 2012

2012-08-08

Activists in Burma held officially backed rallies in two cities Wednesday to publicly

commemorate for the first time the sensitive anniversary of massive democracy

protests that were ultimately crushed by the former military regime 24 years ago.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Tuesday, August 07, 2012