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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


2015 Myanmar Special Weapons News



Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

December

  • Hopeful Signs of Reconciliation in Myanmar's Troubled Rakhine State VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- In Myanmar's western Rakhine state, inter-communal violence in 2012 caused a surge of killings, arson attacks and mob violence that led tens of thousands of mostly Muslim Rohingya to seek refuge in camps or flee the country by boat. Since then, the violence has ebbed, but thousands remain in squalid camps. There are now signs of hope that the community is starting to reconcile.
  • UN: Poverty, Conflict Drive Opium Production in Myanmar-Laos VOA 15 Dec 2015 -- The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime's latest opium survey for Myanmar and Laos, released Tuesday, said poverty and conflict are the driving forces behind poppy cultivation, the second largest behind that of Afghanistan.
  • A Long Road to Recovery in Myanmar's Remote Chin State; VOA 09 Dec 2015 -- Earlier this year in Hakha, the capital of Myanmar's mountainous and remote Chin state, days of heavy rain saturated the ground beneath the hilltop town.
  • Optimism Follows Meeting of Myanmar's Political Heavyweights VOA 08 Dec 2015 -- Myanmar's political transition took another step forward last week when opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy Party swept last month's elections, met with former dictator General Than Shwe.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi Holds Transition Talks With Myanmar President, Military Chief VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi held talks Wednesday with President Thein Sein to discuss a smooth and peaceful transfer of power to the country's first democratically-elected government after nearly five decades of military-rule.
  • Lull in fighting allows access to thousands displaced in Myanmar IRIN 01 Dec 2015 -- Aid workers are planning to take advantage of a lull in fighting in Myanmar's Shan State to assess the needs of thousands of people displaced by clashes between the military and an ethnic armed group that began eight weeks ago.
  • Myanmar Opposition Win Overcomes Ethnic Identity Politics VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- The Chin National Democratic Party went into Myanmar's November 8 election holding four seats in the national parliament, and with five representatives in the Chin State regional legislature. When a new government forms early next year, the party will hold no seats at all, having been wiped out by Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy.

November

  • Myanmar Opposition to Meet with President, Army Chief VOA 30 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will meet this week with President Thein Sein and Military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing following her party's landslide victory in general elections.
  • At Least 100 Dead In Landslide at Myanmar Jade Mine VOA 23 Nov 2015 -- At least 100 bodies have been recovered and rescue workers in northern Myanmar are pulling more bodies from the rubble Monday, two days after a massive landslide near a jade mine.
  • Myanmar's New Ruling Party Looks to Agriculture for Growth VOA 23 Nov 2015 -- The incoming government of Myanmar, led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), is expected to focus on improving the country's agricultural sector and building on reforms launched by the government of President Thein Sein.
  • 100 Killed in Landslide at Myanmar Jade Mine VOA 22 Nov 2015 -- The bodies of nearly 100 people have been recovered from a landslide near a jade mine in northern Myanmar.
  • In call to Myanmar's President, Ban urges cooperation following opposition election win UN News 19 Nov 2015 -- In a telephone conversation with Myanmar's President Thein Sein today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all sides to cooperate in addressing the South-East Asian country's major challenges following the opposition's election victory this month.
  • Myanmar's Suu Kyi Holds First 'National Reconciliation' Meeting VOA 19 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party dominated this month's elections, met Thursday with a key member of the outgoing ruling party as part of efforts to smooth a delicate political transition.
  • Myanmar: Ban phones election victor, pledging continued UN support for democratic reform UN News 17 Nov 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today phoned Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD), to congratulate her on its resounding success in this month's elections, pledging continued United Nations support for democratic reform efforts.
  • Myanmar Military Continues Attacks Against Ethnic Rebels VOA 17 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar's military is continuing its renewed campaign against several ethnic rebel groups, highlighted by aerial assaults in Shan State.
  • 'No turning back in Myanmar,' says UN human rights expert in wake of historic elections UN News 16 Nov 2015 -- Welcoming the recent elections in Myanmar as 'a new chapter in the country's history,' United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee today reaffirmed her commitment to work with all parties in the country to improve the human rights situation there, saying "the people have expressed the will for change. There is no turning back now."
  • Myanmar Military Launches Fresh Attacks Against Ethnic Rebels VOA 16 Nov 2015 -- Ethnic rebels and residents in northern Myanmar say government troops attacked Kachin rebel targets on Monday.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi Attends Parliament After NLD Landslide VOA 16 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi attended the closing session of the current parliament Monday.
  • Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Opens Talks With Former Military Foes VOA 15 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - whose National League for Democracy party swept to a resounding victory in November 8 parliamentary elections - has opened talks with long-standing military foes as she prepares to form the next government.
  • Outgoing Myanmar President: Election Results Will be Honored VOA 15 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar President Thein Sein is promising a smooth transition to a new government, in an attempt to remove fears the military will once again ignore the results of a free election.
  • NLD Wins Absolute Majority in Myanmar Parliament VOA 13 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) has captured an absolute majority of the parliamentary seats, giving it a landslide victory over the government and military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), official returns released Friday by the Union Election Commission showed. That will allow the NLD to overcome the military's veto in the bicameral 664-seat legislature, known as the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, which selects the president.
  • After elections, Ban says people and leaders of Myanmar 'have it within their power' to build better future UN News 12 Nov 2015 -- Welcoming this past weekend's elections as "a significant achievement in Myanmar's democratic transition," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today extended warm congratulations to the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for their landmark performance at the polls and to the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) for its dignified acceptance of the verdict of the people.
  • Obama Congratulates Suu Kyi, Myanmar on 'Historic' Vote VOA 12 Nov 2015 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has congratulated Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the success of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party which appears headed for a landslide victory in the country's elections.
  • Key challenges for Myanmar IRIN 11 Nov 2015 -- Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party is headed for a landslide victory in Myanmar's first reasonably free elections since a 1990 vote that the NLD won but the military ignored. Preliminary results show the NLD steamrolling the Union Solidarity and Development Party, which took power in a quasi-civilian government in 2011 after 49 years of military rule. The NLD is expected to surpass the 67 percent share of the vote needed to assure a parliamentary majority – unusually high because 25 percent of seats are reserved for unlected military officials.
  • Myanmar President Congratulates Suu Kyi on Election Result VOA 11 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar President Thein Sein has congratulated opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party (NLD) for their apparent landslide victory in this week's parliamentary elections over the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
  • Observers Praise, Criticize Myanmar Election Process VOA 10 Nov 2015 -- As official returns from the Myanmar election commission slowly trickle out showing the opposition heading to a landslide victory, international observers released their assessment of Sunday's polling process.
  • Despite Big Lead, Myanmar Opposition Irked by Slow Vote Results VOA 10 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar's National League for Democracy accused the Union Election Commission Tuesday of intentionally delaying the release of parliamentary election results, which so far have shown the opposition party with a vast lead over the military-backed ruling Union Solidarity Development Party.
  • Myanmar's election commission announces first series of election result People's Daily 09 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar's Union Election Commission (UEC) on Monday released the first series of the result of the general election held on Sunday following the opening of the election results center in Nay Pyi Taw.
  • Myanmar's ruling party concedes defeat in parliamentary polls Press TV 09 Nov 2015 -- The acting chairman of Myanmar's ruling Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) has conceded defeat in parliamentary elections to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD).
  • Myanmar Opposition Party Wins First Seats in Expected Landslide VOA 09 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's political party has won the first seats in what is expected to be a landslide victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections.
  • Myanmar voters go to polls in historic elections People's Daily 09 Nov 2015 -- Millions voted Sunday in Myanmar's historic elections after a massive turnout that could catapult Aung San Suu Kyi's party into power and end decades of military rule.
  • Vote Counting Underway in Myanmar VOA 08 Nov 2015 -- Vote counting is underway in Myanmar where turnout was more than 80 percent for the nation's first free general election in a quarter of a century.
  • Ruling Party Faces Election Defeat in Myanmar Military Town VOA 08 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar's military-backed ruling party was facing a tough challenge as the country went to the polls Sunday, even in parts where it might have expected strong support.
  • Voting Underway in Myanmar's Historic Election VOA 07 Nov 2015 -- Millions of voters have begun streaming to the polls across Myanmar in the first relatively free election in a quarter of a century.
  • Campaigning Ends Ahead of Myanmar's Historic Election VOA 06 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar's president has vowed to cooperate with opposition parties for a stable transition should Sunday's election knock him out of power.
  • US Closely Watching Polls in Myanmar, Where It Has Spent Millions VOA 05 Nov 2015 -- While a key U.S. official hints that the upcoming election in Myanmar could lead to more engagement, critics claim the military is still too powerful.
  • Myanmar's Suu Kyi eyes post 'above president' Press TV 05 Nov 2015 -- Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is often referred to as a "democratic" figure, says she will circumvent a constitutional ban on her presidency by taking a post "above the president" if her party wins the polls.
  • Myanmar Struggles to Finalize Voter Lists for Sunday Polls VOA 03 Nov 2015 -- Election officials in Myanmar are still struggling to finalize the nationwide voter list as the nation heads to the polls on Sunday.

October

  • Human rights must be at the heart of historic election period in Myanmar - UN expert UN News 29 Oct 2015 -- A United Nations independent expert today called on all those in positions of authority in Myanmar to ensure that respect for the human rights of all must be at the core of the historic elections due to take place in 10 days' time.
  • Myanmar ceasefire met with scepticism IRIN 15 Oct 2015 -- The signing of a ceasefire between Myanmar's government and ethnic armed groups unfolded with pomp and ceremony today, following a week of clashes that displaced about 1,000 people in northern Shan State.
  • Myanmar: UN chief welcomes 'milestone' signing of ceasefire agreement UN News 15 Oct 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today the signing of a ceasefire agreement in Myanmar as "a milestone" and expressed his hope that the new government formed after next month's elections will keep moving forward along the present path of negotiations.
  • Truce signed between rebels, Myanmar government Press TV 15 Oct 2015 -- The government of Myanmar has signed a ceasefire agreement with several ethnic minority militia groups in the hope of ending decades of civil war.
  • China supports Myanmar's peace process from start to finish: negotiator People's Daily 15 Oct 2015 -- China has supported Myanmar's peace process from the start to the finish and there remains much to be done in cooperation with China to realize peace in the entire country, a Myanmar government peace negotiator said Thursday.
  • No Delay to Myanmar Elections VOA 13 Oct 2015 -- Myanmar's election oversight body has decided to proceed with the general election, as scheduled, next month, according to a government announcement Tuesday evening.

September

August

July

June

May

April

  • Welcoming Myanmar's visible strides, Ban says 'much more hard work lies ahead' UN News 24 Apr 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, convening a meeting on Myanmar today, welcomed the positive direction of its reform process as it continues on its "path of historic transition", but emphasized that more work remains to be done to address the country's myriad challenges.
  • UN Chief to Myanmar: Settle Rohingya Status Question VOA 24 Apr 2015 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged the government of Myanmar to address the citizenship status of Rohingya Muslims ahead of elections planned for later this year.
  • Myanmar Clashes Continue Despite Peace Talks VOA 20 Apr 2015 -- Fighting between the Myanmar army and Kachin rebels broke out Saturday and continued until Monday, according to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). KIO liaison officer, Colonel Zaw Taung, told VOA Burmese government troops attacked a rebel outpost Monday in Hukawng valley.
  • Myanmar apologizes to China over warplane bombing People's Daily 02 Apr 2015 -- Myanmar apologized to China on Thursday over a Myanmar warplane bombing that killed five Chinese in Lincang of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

March

February

  • Clarity Over North Myanmar Fighting Lost in Fog of Conflict VOA 27 Feb 2015 -- Since early February, ongoing fighting in northern Myanmar near the Chinese border has forced as many as 100,000 people to flee. Myanmar's army is fighting ethnic Chinese rebels, led by 84-year-old outlaw leader Peng Jiasheng. But getting a clear picture of rebel motivations and developments on the ground remains difficult.
  • FM: China-Myanmar border not closed People's Daily 25 Feb 2015 -- China has strengthened management of its border with Myanmar but has not closed it, despite conflict in northern Myanmar, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.
  • Myanmar Rebel Leader Denies Receiving Chinese Help VOA 25 Feb 2015 -- Ongoing fighting between rebel fighters and Myanmar's army on the Chinese border has dislocated tens of thousands of people and raised tensions between the two countries. But on Wednesday the leader of the rebels denied rumors that he has received help from Chinese citizens or mercenaries. Authorities are trying to play down the tensions.
  • Myanmar, Rebels Exchange Fire, Accusations VOA 23 Feb 2015 -- Myanmar's government and Kokang rebels are again trading accusations of attacks on aid workers as the two sides continue fierce fighting near the border with China.
  • China Challenged as Tens of Thousands Flee Myanmar Clashes Sputnik 23 Feb 2015 -- The flight of refugees from a conflict between Myanmar's government and rebels continues as China urges peace talks to resolve the conflict.
  • 130 killed in Myanmar's battle against ethnic Chinese rebels Iran Press TV 21 Feb 2015 -- More than 130 people have been killed in fighting between Myanmar's army and rebels near the Chinese border, casting further doubt on the prospects of a nationwide ceasefire ahead of the next general elections.
  • Myanmar Border Conflict Tests China VOA 20 Feb 2015 -- As fighting continues in northern Myanmar, along China's southern border, the government in Beijing is grappling with a flood of refugees, as well as questions about how Chinese authorities should respond to the conflict.
  • Myanmar army keeps offensive against ethnic rebels Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2015 -- Myanmar's army has continued its offensive against Kokang ethnic rebels to push them out of areas near the border with China.
  • Myanmar Reinforces Attacks on Ethnic Rebels Near China Sputnik 20 Feb 2015 -- The Myanmar army continued attacks to thrust out the rebels from areas around the northeastern border with China after 11 days of fighting that displaced tens of thousands of people.
  • Myanmar, Kokang Rebels Trade Accusations Over Red Cross Attack VOA 18 Feb 2015 -- Myanmar and Kokang rebels are trading accusations over an attack on a Red Cross convoy, one day after the government declared a state of emergency in the northern region.
  • Myanmar Army May Be Preparing for Kachin Offensive VOA 17 Feb 2015 -- While the conflict the Kokang region of Myanmar, also known as Burma, has gotten many of the headlines in recent days, the government appears to also have increased its military presence in northern Kachin State, scene of recent fierce fighting that has left dozens dead or wounded.
  • Myanmar declares state of emergency in Kokang Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2015 -- Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in the wake of brutal fighting between the army and ethnic rebels in the northern border region of Kokang.
  • Thousands of Myanmar refugees flee violence to China Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2015 -- Tens of thousands of refugees from Myanmar's ethnic region of Kokang have reportedly crossed the border into neighboring China's Yunnan Province over the past week as fighting rages between rebel forces and government troops.
  • Britain spends £140k on Myanmar army Iran Press TV 16 Feb 2015 -- The UK spends around £140,000 of taxpayers' money on training the Myanmar army, which is accused of the recruitment of child soldiers, journalist intimidation, and using rape as a weapon.
  • Death toll rises as Myanmar clashes intensify Iran Press TV 16 Feb 2015 -- The death toll has risen to dozens in northern Myanmar while tens of thousands of people have fled the region as clashes between the army and the ethnic Kokang rebels intensified over the past week.
  • North Myanmar peace imperative for China People's Daily 16 Feb 2015 -- Clashes between the Kokang ethnic army and government troops were renewed in northern Myanmar's Kokang region on February 9.
  • Dozens of Myanmar Troops Killed on Border VOA 13 Feb 2015 -- Clashes between government troops and ethnic Kokang rebels near the Chinese border in Myanmar - also known as Burma - has left 47 soldiers dead and 73 wounded, state media said Friday.
  • Myanmar Condemns UN Official for Using Term 'Rohingya' VOA 04 Feb 2015 -- Myanmar has slammed a visiting United Nations official for using the term 'Rohingya' to refer to a beleaguered ethnic minority group that the government does not officially recognize.

January

  • Myanmar's Reform Roller Coaster IRIN 23 Jan 2015 -- The trials, tribulations and recent relative triumph of the international health charity Médecins Sans Frontières in Myanmar are a salutary reminder that the South East Asian nation's much heralded transition from military dictatorship to quasi-civilian administration has not been an entirely smooth ride. No one with any understanding of the country ever believed it would be. Early heady optimism has gradually settled into a mixture of cautious hope seasoned with liberal doses of regular frustration.
  • Reports on Chinese nationals trapped in Myanmar 'not true': spokeswoman People's Daily 20 Jan 2015 -- A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday that media reports claiming hundreds of Chinese nationals have been trapped in Myanmar due to fighting are incorrect.
  • Hundreds of Chinese trapped by fighting in eastern Myanmar People's Daily 19 Jan 2015 -- About 2,000 civilians including several hundred Chinese have been trapped in the warring area in Myanmar's state of Kachin, where fierce fighting broke out between government troops and the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Global Times reported Sunday.