Myanmar

  • World NewsFour people reportedly arrested during Laos’ second-largest illegal drugs bust last week

    Four people reportedly arrested during Laos’ second-largest illegal drugs bust last week

    Four people were arrested during the second-largest seizure of illegal drugs by Laos police in Huay Xai province north of Bokeo last week, with authorities reporting 36 million methamphetamine pills, a total weight of 590 kilograms, were found. The UN Office of Drugs and Crime regional representative, Jeremy Douglas, says… “Those four who were arrested were pretty low-level… there were…

  • World NewsLaos workers to return Thailand as borders reopen for migrants from neighbouring countries

    Laos workers to return Thailand as borders reopen for migrants from neighbouring countries

    For the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, Thailand will reopen its borders to migrant workers, especially from Laos, who are now granted permission to return to Thailand with the approval of their employers next week after a hiatus due to Covid-19. Reports say many people continue to cross the border illegally in search…

  • World NewsSurat Thani immigration police arrest human trafficking suspect from Myanmar

    Surat Thani immigration police arrest human trafficking suspect from Myanmar

    A 46 year old Myanmar national was arrested by Surat Thani Immigration Police today for allegedly smuggling six others into Thailand. The suspect, who is identified as Bumaw, was reportedly seen on a road in Tambon Talad in Surat Thani province’s Mueang district, and Immigration Police arrested him at the spot, nearly four months after the Surat Thani Court issued…

  • World NewsCambodia PM invites Myanmar junta to the Summit if progress made on peace plan

    Cambodia PM invites Myanmar junta to the Summit if progress made on peace plan

    Despite objections from his counterparts, Cambodia’s leader and incumbent chair of the 10 member bloc, PM Hun Sen, confirmed he had invited Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing to the next ASEAN summit if he makes progress on a peace plan he agreed to last year. Hun Sen reportedly spoke to the military head, Min Aung Hlaing, today via video…

  • Thailand NewsMore than 100 migrants caught in Kanchanaburi for alleged illegal entry

    More than 100 migrants caught in Kanchanaburi for alleged illegal entry

    Thai border patrols arrested 107 Burmese migrants for allegedly illegally crossing the border into the western province Kanchanaburi on Sunday. The migrants told Thai officials they came from Phayathonezu, Moulmein, Yangon, Bago and Dawei townships in Myanmar. They crossed into Thailand seeking jobs here. Authorities also arrested one Thai guide for providing assistance to people illegally entering the country. Authorities…

  • World NewsMyanmar junta approves Telenor sale to M1 and its associate firm

    Myanmar junta approves Telenor sale to M1 and its associate firm

    Reuters reported that Lebanon’s M1 Group will join with a Myanmar firm to take over Norwegian telecom giant Telenor in the Southeast Asian country after the country’s military government sought a local bidder. Since the junta is putting pressure on telecom and internet companies to install monitoring technologies, one of Myanmar’s largest foreign investors, Telenor, said in July that it…

  • World NewsAt least 3 killed, 7 injured as Myanmar’s army raid displaced camps in Kayah State

    At least 3 killed, 7 injured as Myanmar’s army raid displaced camps in Kayah State

    At least three refugees were killed and seven others were injured during the Myanmar army’s raids on refugee camps in eastern Kayah State, where innocent civilians were forced to leave their houses as fighting escalated between the Tatmadaw (army) and armed opposition groups. According to a source from the local Catholic Church in Myanmar who spoke to the Vatican News,…

  • South Thailand NewsBurmese migrants trafficked through Thailand caught by Malaysian border

    Burmese migrants trafficked through Thailand caught by Malaysian border

    Last night, Thai soldiers caught 31 Burmese migrants on the Thailand-Malaysia border, illegally passing through Thailand and hoping to work in Malaysia. The migrants were found hiding in a ditch on a rubber plantation in Sadao, a district of Songkhla province. The group 25 men and six women had reportedly travelled from Myanmar’s Myawaddy township. After they crossed into Tak…

  • Thailand NewsMore Burmese migrants detained along Thailand’s western border

    More Burmese migrants detained along Thailand’s western border

    Police arrested 63 Burmese migrants seeking jobs in Thailand for allegedly crossing the borders into Thong Pha Phum, Sai Yok and Sangkhla Buri districts illegally yesterday. Two Thai men were also arrested for allegedly attempting to help smuggle the migrants across the border. One of them was reportedly caught driving 18 migrants in a pickup truck. The police found 12…

  • World NewsMonks were amongst those who fled to safety in eastern Myanmar conflicts

    Monks were amongst those who fled to safety in eastern Myanmar conflicts

    Hundreds of monks were among the thousands of people who fled2 major towns in Mynamar’s Kayah (Karenni) State last week as fighting has intensified in the southern region between the military and local militia groups, known as the People’s Defense Forces which oppose the regime, The UN estimates that over 90,000 individuals have fled Loikaw city in the region where…

  • World NewsAung San Suu Kyi is “indispensable” for Myanmar peace talk, says Philippines FM

    Aung San Suu Kyi is “indispensable” for Myanmar peace talk, says Philippines FM

    The Philippines, amongst other neutral ASEAN members, made a strong statement on solving the Myanmar crisis yesterday as its foreign minister urged the 10 member bloc to invite the deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to any peace talks, citing she’s the key figure in restoring democracy to the turmoiled Southeast Asian nation, regardless of her conviction. The Philippines Foreign…

  • Thailand NewsMore than 100 Burmese job seekers detained for allegedly entering Thailand illegally

    More than 100 Burmese job seekers detained for allegedly entering Thailand illegally

    Amidst thousands of refugees legally fleeing into Thailand’s soil due to fighting escalating near the Thai border, job seekers from Myanmar are also trying to cross the border by natural passageways, evading immigration checkpoints and mandatory quarantine. Reports say many have been paying fees of nearly 22,000 baht (US$ 666) to brokers to cross over to Thailand. On Thursday alone,…

  • World NewsUN’s special envoy urges ASEAN to work toward “inclusive dialogue” with Myanmar

    UN’s special envoy urges ASEAN to work toward “inclusive dialogue” with Myanmar

    Days after Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen visited Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw to see the military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, a United Nations Special Envoy encouraged the rest of Southeast Asian countries to support international efforts to engage all sides in the situation inside tumultuous Myanmar. In a statement released today by the UN, its secretary-special general’s envoy on Myanmar, Noeleen…

  • World NewsMyanmar’s Suu Kyi slapped with jail terms

    Myanmar’s Suu Kyi slapped with jail terms

    Myanmar’s deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been sentenced to four years in jail for three charges brought by a Naypyidaw court under the military junta this afternoon, according to reports. The court ruled that 76 year old Suu Kyi, who was detained since the military took power in early February 2021, was found guilty of two offences linked…

  • World News1-year ceasefire declared in Myanmar by junta leader

    1-year ceasefire declared in Myanmar by junta leader

    After nearly a year of deadly conflict between the Burmese military junta that overthrew the government and citizen protesters and rebel insurgent groups, Burmese junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing has declared a ceasefire in Myanmar after meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The Prime Minister met with the junta leader on Friday after months of the Association of…

  • World NewsCambodia’s PM arrives in Myanmar to meet with junta despite strong opposition

    Cambodia’s PM arrives in Myanmar to meet with junta despite strong opposition

    Despite the strong opposition to his visit to Myanmar, Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen arrived in the capital of Naypyidaw to meet with the military junta and leader Min Aung Hlaing. On the same morning, several bombs exploded in major cities like Yangon and Mandalay, according to local media outlet Khit Thit. Last night, many netizens from Myanmar stormed Hun Sen’s…

  • World NewsCambodian PM will not be allowed to meet Myanmar’s ousted leader, junta says

    Cambodian PM will not be allowed to meet Myanmar’s ousted leader, junta says

    Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen is barred from meeting the former State Counsellor and ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi by the Myanmar military junta when he visits the country this weekend, according to a military spokesperson today. As the spokesperson for General Zaw Min Tun, from the military information team, says that only representatives from the political parties will have…

  • Thailand NewsMyanmar military and ethnic army clashes continue, bullets land on Thai soil

    Myanmar military and ethnic army clashes continue, bullets land on Thai soil

    Bullets from the ongoing clashes between the Myanmar military and the armed wing of the Karen National Union have reportedly landed on Thai soil. A fight between the state military and the ethnic troops broke again at around 10am yesterday morning. Thai media reports that two Karen soldiers and several state military soldiers died. Three people who were injured by…

  • World NewsMore than 5,000 refugees cross to Thai border as fighting intestifies in Myanmar

    More than 5,000 refugees cross to Thai border as fighting intestifies in Myanmar

    At least one civilian was killed and six others were injured in six airstrikes by the military junta that started on December 20 in the territory controlled by the Karen National Union’s 6th Brigade, forcing more than 5,000 people to flee their villages in Laykaykaw township. As fighting intensified between the Myanmar military and Karan National Union over the past…

  • Thailand NewsEvacuation drills run for students in Thailand’s border region as violence in Myanmar escalates

    Evacuation drills run for students in Thailand’s border region as violence in Myanmar escalates

    With clashes just across the border between the Myanmar state military and the ethnic army troops so close that bullets are landing on Thai soil, students in Mae Hong Son are being trained on how to escape if the gunfire reaches the school grounds. Soldiers and teachers ran drills over the weekend for students at the Baan Ta Fang school.…

  • World NewsUN urges authorities in Myanmar to investigate Christmas Eve massacre

    UN urges authorities in Myanmar to investigate Christmas Eve massacre

    A high-ranking United Nations official is urging authorities in Myanmar to investigate the massacre in Kayah State, where local sources report that the Myanmar military killed at least 35 civilians, including at least one child, on Christmas Eve. Two staff from the non-profit organisation Save the Children also went missing in the attack by the Myanmar military soldiers, according to…

  • World NewsBurmese military reportedly killed and burned at least 30 refugees

    Burmese military reportedly killed and burned at least 30 refugees

    Reports are emerging in Myanmar of at least 30 people – including women and children – in Kayah state were killed and burned, allegedly at the hands of the Burmese military junta. Members of the Karenni Human Rights Group stumbled upon the morbid discovery near Mo So Village in Hpruso Town, about 70 kilometres from Thailand’s made Hong Son province…

  • World NewsMyanmar ethnic army requests “no-fly zone” near Thai border

    Myanmar ethnic army requests “no-fly zone” near Thai border

    Following the airstrikes on Myanmar’s oldest ethnic army controlled area that forced thousands of refugees to flee to neighbouring Thailand last week, the Karen National Union urged the UN Security Council to recognise a no-fly zone in its territory. As fighting between the state military and the Karen’s armed wing has escalated, Thailand took in about 3,400 migrants last week,…

  • World NewsJade mine landslide in Myanmar kills at least two, dozens missing and feared dead

    Jade mine landslide in Myanmar kills at least two, dozens missing and feared dead

    A landslide at a Myanmar jade mine killed at least two people. Dozens of miners are still missing, feared dead as rescuers say they don’t expect to uncover any survivors who buried under rubble and debris the mine’s lake in Northern Hpakant, which borders China. About 200 rescuers, including firefighters and local volunteers, joined the hunt for missing miners, some…

  • World NewsThai PM instructs officials to provide aid to around 4,000 Burmese refugees

    Thai PM instructs officials to provide aid to around 4,000 Burmese refugees

    The Thai PM has ordered local officials in the western province of Tak to provide aid to thousands of refugees who have fled Myanmar. According to a Thai PBS World report, some 4,000 people have been forced to flee fighting in the neighbouring country and are in need of temporary shelter and humanitarian aid. The UN’s refugee agency has already…

  • World NewsJapan’s Defense Academy condemned for hosting military training to Myanmar cadets

    Japan’s Defense Academy condemned for hosting military training to Myanmar cadets

    The Human Rights Watch is calling on the Japanese government to stop hosting cadets from the Myanmar military through the Defence Ministry’s study abroad programme. The calls follow the February 1 coup where Myanmar’s state military took over the civilian government and detained the democratically elected leaders. The National Defense Academy of Japan is reportedly hosting eight military cadets from…

  • World NewsUNHCR weighs Thailand to accept 3,000 Myanmar refugees

    UNHCR weighs Thailand to accept 3,000 Myanmar refugees

    More than 3,000 Myanmar refugees in Thailand’s border province Tak, are seeking shelter inside the kingdom after they left their houses to flee the ongoing violence between Myanmar’s military and the armed wing of the Karen National Union. Now the UN’s refugee agency is calling on Thailand to give them “urgent access” to the refugees. Hundreds fled the Karen state…

  • World NewsMyanmar deposed leader faces another postponement of her verdict

    Myanmar deposed leader faces another postponement of her verdict

    Pressures from the West and human rights groups may impede Myanmar generals’ decision to seek longer jail terms for deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi as the court under the military junta has postponed her another verdict for illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies today. Despite her lawyers being barred from speaking to the media and journalists barred from attending her…

  • Northern Thailand NewsSecurity forces sent to Burmese refugee camp in Tak following riot

    Security forces sent to Burmese refugee camp in Tak following riot

    A riot broke out at a camp for Burmese refugees Tuesday night and security reinforcements were sent to Mae La refugee camp in Tambon Mae La, where officials have yet to get access to roughly 40,000 Myanmar nationals, to avert another possible furore. Rangers, border patrol officers, local officials, and territorial defence volunteers are stationed at the camp where refugees…

  • World NewsFights between Myanmar junta and ethnic armies intensify, 700 refugees flee to Thailand

    Fights between Myanmar junta and ethnic armies intensify, 700 refugees flee to Thailand

    Possibly around 700 refugees from Myanmar fled to Thailand’s Tak province to escape violence following clashes between the state military and the prominent ethnic armed wing of the Karen National Union in the town Lay Kay Kaw near the Thai border. A government official who spoke to AFP reporters said Thai officials have provided food and shelter to the 700…