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SNLD leaders: Govt insistence on ‘non-secession’ deprives Shan of dignity
The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the biggest ethnic political party in Shan State, has asked the government to remove term “non-secession from the Union” from any future peace accord... More
State Counselor’s office to probe allegations of army abuse in viral video
The Office of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in a statement on Wednesday that it had set up a probe into Burma Army abuses depicted in a video... More
UN names fact-finding mission members
The UN named a trio of independent experts on Tuesday to investigate widespread allegations of killings, rape and torture by Burma’s security forces against Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State.
The international fact-finding... More
State Counselor: Peace conference agreements ‘A significant step’ for Myanmar
The stakeholders’ negotiations at the Union Peace Conference (UPC) “mark a significant step” toward future democratic federalism, said the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the closing ceremony of... More
Ma Ba Tha Lay members announce plan to form political party
Leading laypersons from Burma’s biggest Buddhist nationalist group, the Association to Protect Race and Religion—commonly known as Ma Ba Tha—have announced that they will soon form a political party.
Maung Thway Chon,... More
Peace conference to end ‘without good result’: Govt
The second session of the 21st Century Panglong peace conference is likely to end without major agreement after the issue of “non-cessation” from the Union caused a deadlock, according to a... More
Myanmar’s hardline monks gather despite ban
Hundreds of monks and supporters of Myanmar's ultra-nationalist Ma Ba Tha movement gathered in a Yangon monastery Saturday, in a defiant meeting days after Buddhist authorities banned their network, which has... More
EU launches photo exhibition in Yangon
A unique photo exhibition showcasing the European Union's work in Myanmar is now live and moving! It can be seen on and in 10 buses on the Yangon Bus Service routes... More
China-backed militia new powerbrokers in Myanmar peace process
Branded as Asia's most heavily-armed drug dealers, the China-backed ethnic Wa rebels have emerged as key players in Myanmar's peace process, a development seen as strengthening Beijing's influence over its violence-wracked... More
Northeastern alliance optimistic about future peace talks with govt
The northeastern armed groups that met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday in Naypyidaw said that further talks with the State Counselor appeared to be possible.
The seven-member alliance includes... More
Religion minister seeks banks’ help to track nationalist funds
Religious affairs minister U Aung Ko is grappling with the Central Bank of Myanmar for cooperation in order to trace the funds used for the activities of hardline nationalists that include... More
Wirathu urges followers to persevere after govt moves to curb ultra-nationalism
Burma’s infamous firebrand Buddhist monk U Wirathu urged his followers to find a solution to the struggles of the nationalist movement in a video published on his Facebook Tuesday night.
His move... More
Portrait of Myanmar’s ‘Buddhist Bin Laden’ chills Cannes
'The Venerable W', his chilling portrait of the monk who has been accused of preaching hate and inciting attacks on Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority, has been hailed by critics at the... More
Myanmar seeks to kick start stalled peace process
Hundreds of representatives from Myanmar’s ethnic insurgent groups gathered in the capital on Wednesday for talks aimed at reviving Aung San Suu Kyi’s stuttering peace process after months of heavy fighting.
The... More
Myanmar’s Defense Services leader meets Chinese special envoy
Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's Defense Services Senior- General Min Aung Hlaing met with Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Sun Guoxiang in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday (23 May).
The... More
State Buddhist Authority Bans Nationalist Organization’s Name, Signboards
The state Buddhist Sangha authority, Ma Ha Na, imposed further restrictions on Burma’s biggest religious nationalist group, the Association for Protection of Race and Religion, better known as Ma Ba Tha,... More
Myanmar army clears itself of Rohingya atrocity claims
Myanmar's army on Tuesday (May 23) cleared itself of allegations that troops may have carried out ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims, but said a soldier had been jailed for taking a... More
Govt invites non-NCA signatories to Panglong peace conference as ‘special guests’
The government invited nine ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to the upcoming Union Peace Conference as “special guests,” The Irrawaddy has learned.
Tar Hla... More
China, Myanmar conduct naval drills
The Chinese navy on Sunday conducted its first joint exercise with Myanmar's navy as its fleet concluded a four-day visit to the country.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy fleet, composed of... More
Anti-Muslim militant Buddhism on the rise in Myanmar and Sri Lanka
Militant-political Buddhism is on the rise in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, both Buddhist-majority countries. It is exploiting the political vacuum existing in these countries due to weak governments, to build a... More
Myanmar sees escalation of religious extremism
The spread of extreme Buddhist nationalism in Myanmar escalates by the day. Extreme nationalists are now preparing to protest against the country’s religious minister. Claiming that Myanmar’s government is failing to support... More
