Burma’s quasi-civilian government has been hit by allegations of “ethnic cleansing” and “crimes against humanity” this week as Human Rights Watch released its report into the sectarian violence that ravaged the …
myanmar
Can Burma Avoid the Curse of Sex Tourism?
On a recent evening at a popular beer hall in Rangoon, two dozen women wearing skimpy dresses and hair extensions swayed mechanically on a stage and took turns mumbling lines of high-energy pop songs into the microphone. The …
Obstacles Ahead in Burma’s Opium War
Despite recent democratic reforms, questions remain whether Burma’s government can rein in its wild hinterland and tackle the burgeoning opium trade
Pushed from Burma, Stateless Rohingya Flee by Boat
In the wake of bloody sectarian violence last year, more and more Rohingyas are betting what little they still have on a dangerous journey at sea
Burma’s Kachin War: Renewed Ethnic Strife Threatens Regional Stability
Despite talk of a cease-fire, the Burmese army is inching steadily toward Laiza, the rebel headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army
Golden Triangle: After Obama’s Visit to Rangoon, What’s Next for Burma-China-U.S. Relations?
For years the most important political and economic partner of the Burmese regime, China has a new rival for Burma’s friendship and vast resources—the United States.
Obama in Burma: U.S. President’s Landmark Visit Brings Hope, Criticism
President Obama’s landmark stop in Burma has been met by skepticism by some in Washington, but was greeted with rapturous applause in Rangoon
Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi Returns to India, Renewing Frayed Ties
Aung San Suu Kyi, who studied in India in the 1960s, returned on a much-anticipated, week-long visit to deliver a lecture on the birthday of one of her political idols: India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Waiting House: Caring for Burma’s HIV Patients
Following a half century of military rule, care for HIV/AIDS patients in Burma lags behind other countries. Half of the estimated 240,000 people living with the disease in Burma are going without treatment and 18,000 are dying …
In Burma, Another Round of Ethnic Unrest Threatens Fragile Reforms
Over the past few days, violence between the Arakanese (or Rakhine) and Rohingya communities erupted again in the country’s far west, leaving at least 56 dead, according to an Arakan state official’s estimate.
Burma’s President and Opposition Leader Suu Kyi Visit the U.S., as Washington Eases Sanctions
The dual visit to New York City of Burma’s President Thein Sein and its leading diplomatic icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, comes at a historic moment for a country emerging out of years of isolation
Aung San Suu Kyi’s World: Portraits of Burmese Dissidents and Activists
Photographer James Mackay spent three years taking portraits of Burmese dissidents and democracy activists. In each photo, the subject lifts his or her hand in a Buddhist gesture representing protection and peace. Inscribed …
As Rangoon Races Forward, a Push to Preserve Its Architectural Past
Unbridled development could hasten the destruction of the city’s remarkable colonial-era structures