UN chief urges action against child soldiers

EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press Writer= UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged the U.N

Abono: Bayan has no right to malign farmers’ advocates

ROSALES, Pangasinan, Philippines—An official of the party-list group Abono said Saturday it was unfair for the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to describe his group as ‘dubious,’ saying it has consistently fought for the rights and interests of farmers in the past many…

US senator meets Myanmar’s leaders

An American politician has become the most senior Washington official to meet Myanmar’s ruling military leaders. Jim Webb, a US Democratic senator, held separate meetings on Saturday with Senior General Than Shwe, Myanmar’s military ruler,

American to be released from Myanmar

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The American man who swam across a lake to visit…

Plain-spoken US Senator Webb to visit Myanmar

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Democratic US Senator Jim Webb, who hopes to meet Myanmar supremo Than Shwe later this week, is a gruff-talking former Marine and decorated Vietnam War veteran with a lifelong interest in Asia. Webb, 63, chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs and was discussed at one point in 2008 as a possible running mate for President Barack Obama — but publicly ruled himself out. Webb, who represents Virginia, held a hearing of his panel in July to..

EU beefs up Myanmar sanctions

BRUSSELS – The European Union says it is expanding its sanctions against Myanmar after the country sentenced…

ANALYSIS – After Suu Kyi verdict, should the West engage Myanmar?

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Myanmar’s reduced sentence for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi may be an indication the junta is becoming more sensitive to international pressure as it prepares a transition to civilian rule next year, analysts say. Members of the Free Burma coalition hold placards during a protest in front of the Myanmar embassy in Makati, Metro Manila August 11, 2009 in support of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Cabrera, envoy to Myanmar, dies

The Philippine ambassador to Myanmar, Noel Claudio Cabrera, died in Manila April 8 of a brief but undisclosed illness, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). He was 64, and survived by his wife Cecilia and four daughters.

Solons hail GMA stand on Myanmar

By Jose Katigbak
WASHINGTON – Influential members of the US House of Representatives have praised President Arroyo