By Nava Thakuria

 Guwahati: While the new looked President of Burma (Myanmar) propagates news about the reform & peace process across the globe, serious doubts have been raised by various rights group on the actual developments in the ground. The Burmese President Thein Sein continues claiming about success in the peace process with various ethnic armed outfits, but his government has recently denied the permission to an UN representative to visit the active warzone of Kachin. The denial to Tomás Ojea Quintana, who is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, in his Kachin mission shows the gap between the words and the ground reality.

By HANNA HINDSTROM

The United States has vowed to strengthen its military relationship with Burma, shortly after issuing another warning to Naypyidaw that it must sever its defence ties with North Korea.

US Ambassador Derek Mitchell met with the head of Burma’s armed forces Min Aung Hlaing in the Burmese capital this week to discuss legal practices in military combat. Burmese state media described the meeting as a “cordial” effort to strengthen defence relations between the two countries, emphasising the army’s “important role” in Burma’s democratisation process.

“This dialogue is consistent with continuing efforts to build mutual understanding in order to promote human rights awareness, and promote the values and activities of a modern, disciplined and respected military that acts according to international norms,” said Derek Mitchell on Thursday.

By KYAW PHYO THA

RANGOON — In a one-room wooden house in the northern part of Burma’s former capital, happy the man is Kin Maung Yin whose only wish and care is to paint.

Recognized as a leader in the first generation of Burma’s modern art movement, Kin Maung Yin is a living legend in Burmese contemporary art today, but he leads an austere lifestyle. He does not own a refrigerator or a washing machine at his home in Rangoon. Blank canvases are piled high where a television might otherwise stand, and he sleeps on the floor, not far from the spot where he paints. He has no family.

“Less is more,” says the 75-year-old. “I have everything I need here.”

Birmingham Mail

David Cundall believes he has evidence which shows exact location of buried planes

 Spitfire hunter David Cundall has unveiled evidence he claims shows the exact location where iconic Birmingham-made fighters are buried in Burma.

The 63-year-old farmer released new images of what he says are man made objects buried at Mingaladon Airport in Yangon up to 11 metres deep, in the wake of new surveys being carried out on his behalf in Burma.

The aircraft enthusiast has exclusively given the Birmingham Mail copies of the new 2D and 3D images, seen here, which are believed to show where the Spitfires have been buried in their steel reinforced wooden crates since the end of World War II.

Bangkok Post

Myanmar’s reform-minded government may fall short of fulfilling its commitment to free all political prisoners by the end of this year, a member of the committee reviewing prisoners’status said on Saturday.

“The number of political prisoners is falling, but it will not reach zero because the authorities are detaining more and more activists,” said Bo Kyi, a member of the government-appointed committee.

During a visit to Britain in July, Myanmar President Thein Sein pledged to release all political prisoners remaining in Myanmar by the end of this year.

by Joshua Kurlantzick    

The visit on Wednesday by the United Nations’ special envoy to Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, to Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organization, is a positive sign that the conflict in Kachin state might really be over. [Asia Times has a fine summary of Nambiar’s visit.] The peace deal between the KIO and the Myanmar government, signed in the spring, was obviously a major step forward to ending the decades-long conflict, but it did not provide real closure—it was not a final ceasefire. Among many Kachin leaders, there remained even after the peace deal signing a high degree of mistrust of both the central government and regional army commanders, who frequently, during past ceasefires, had gone over the government’s orders and launched their own attacks in Kachin state.

AFP/Yangon

Myanmar has jailed an activist for two years in connection with protests over a controversial mine project, her lawyer said yesterday, despite the regime’s pledge to free all political prisoners.

Naw Ohn Hla, 49, was convicted on Thursday for public order offences in the town of Monywa, where the Chinese-backed Letpadaung mine has triggered fierce opposition from local villagers.  The activist, who has been arrested a number of times in the past for her activities, was detained on August 13 after her request to stage a protest was denied, her lawyer Robert San Aung said.

Rights campaigners have expressed concern at the continuing arrest of activists opposed to the mine in recent months, despite a pledge by reformist President Thein Sein to free all political detainees by the end of this year.