By MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Wednesday extended a ban on imports of rubies and jade from Myanmar, reflecting worries about the powerful military’s continuing involvement in the murky industry based in conflict-wracked border regions.

Washington remains concerned about human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and the role of the army in Myanmar despite democratic reforms that have seen a shift from decades of authoritarian rule.

The reforms have led to a dramatic improvement in U.S. relations with the Southeast Asian nation, also known as Burma, and the overall trend remains a positive one for the government of President Thein Sein.

IRIN

JOHANNESBURG, 5 August 2013 (IRIN) – Tents have long played an essential role in the emergency phase of humanitarian responses to refugee influxes. They are relatively light and cheap, and they can be stockpiled, flown in and erected in a short timeframe. But as anyone who has slept in one can attest, tents also have major shortcomings – they provide minimal protection from climatic extremes, offer little space or comfort, and deteriorate quickly.

By Justin Whitaker

This Thursday marks the 25th anniversary of the 8/8/88 uprising in Burma, which will hopefully spur some much needed discussion about the situation in the country (officially renamed Myanmar by the military junta in 1989, but still called Burma by those who deny the legitimacy of that government).

Three articles have already popped up in the last few days that deserve mention, if only for the varying perspectives in them – all dealing specifically with recent Buddhist-Muslim violence. The three perspectives are, roughly, that of a Conservative Christian, a journalist, and an academic.

BNI

Thai border security has been wondering whether the Burmese government led by U Thein Sein and the armed forces led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing are at cross purposes when it comes to the ongoing peace process, according to senior security sources.

The question emerged following the Regional level Border Committee (RBC) meeting in Cha-am held last week, which coincided with the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) organized conference in Chiangmai, 29-31 August.

HRW

On 25th Anniversary of Crackdown, Accountability, Rule of Law Remain Elusive

The mass killings 25 years ago in Burma are an unaddressed open wound that challenges the government’s rhetoric of reform. The government should shed itself of 50 years of denial about military abuses by showing that it stands with the Burmese people and not with the killers of the past.
Brad Adams, Asia director

(New York) – Burma’s President Thein Sein should commit to an independent investigation and fair prosecutions of officials and commanders responsible for the mass killings of pro-democracy protesters 25 years ago. Burma’s friends and donors should make clear that genuine reform in Burma means ensuring justice for victims of the 1988 massacres and other serious human rights violations.

by Maung Zarni

Over the past three years, change in Myanmar has transpired at a dizzying pace. A cursory look at the turn of events, ranging from the release of hundreds of political prisoners to restored diplomatic relations with the West, indicates on the surface a new national direction after decades of dictatorship. But what is Myanmar transitioning toward and how best to understand the changes?

Thomas Carothers and Larry Diamond, two of the world’s leading authorities on democratization, reached more or less the same conclusion after recent visits to the country: that Naypyidaw’s goals, definition and modus operandi of ‘democracy’ are at odds with the essence of a truly representative government.