The Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) is concerned at the continuing lack of meaningful response to the food crisis in Chin State that is now putting an entire population in western Burma on the brink of starvation and a famine. Massive rat infestations in the region due to a once-in-fifty-years cyclical bamboo flowering have resulted in the loss of most of local food productions, which account for most of the food source for the Chin people.

The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Stephen Smith calls the Burmese regime to engage in a genuine process of political reform and national reconciliation, not a sham ‘roadmap to democracy’.The call comes after the Burmese democratic groups in Australia sent letters to Mr Smith and urging him to approach the SPDC’s representatives in Australia to offer the Australian Electoral Commission by conducting free and fair voting for the Burmese citizens in Australia.

The International Burmese Monks Organisation ( Australia ) calls for a Global Day of condemnation for Burmese military’s 10 May referendum.Sayadaw U Dhammacara, a representative of the IBMO ( Australia ) said the Burma military’s referendum on 10th May 2008 is an undemocratic and unconstitutional plebiscite.

Two women pro-democracy and human rights activists from Burma have been awarded the 'Global Leadership Awards' given annually to brilliant women across the world.The award list for '2008 Global Leadership Awards' was announced on the NGO 'Vital Voices Global Partnership' internet webpage. In this list, human rights activist Nam Charm Tong and pro-democracy activist Daw Khin Ohnmar were included along with four other women from around the world.

Defying the Burmese government’s ban on journalists, Antonio Graceffo crossed the border under the protection of the Shan State Army, and began filming interviews with IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) within the war zone.

Sai Liang lost everything when his village was burned and his family murdered by the SPDC. He lived on the streets and drank alcohol daily. Unable to care for his younger brother, he was forced to abandon him at a temple. Eventually, Sai Leng made his way to Loi Tailang, where he completed high school and SSSNY college. Now, he is a school teacher, and cares for orphans at Loi Tailang, so that they won’t have to suffer as he did. His story is an inspiration, a testament to the indomitable spirit of man.

The Sydney based Burmese Medical Association (BMA) organized a fundraising program for Humanitarian Relief in Burma for the first time since they migrated to Australia.The fundraising program emerged after thousands of peaceful demonstrators were attacked by Burma’s military government in September.

Southeast Asian civil society representatives today met in Singapore calling for radical change in the Southeast Asia regional body. Representatives of civil society groups within the regional network of the Solidarity for Asian People's Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on ASEAN voiced their concerns on key contending issues such as the human rights situation in Burma, amidst the 13 th ASEAN Summit held in the country during 19-21 November 2007. 

This Tuesday Charm Tong, an impassioned public speaker and well known activist from Burma, will be speaking at LSE, London, UK.