Monks Lead Largest Protest Yet

Opposition leaders dismiss move as 'public relations spin'

(NEWSER) - The military junta in Burma said today the nation will have multiparty, democratic elections in 2010, Reuters reports. Opposition leaders greeted the decision with a heavy dose of skepticism and charged that even if the vote goes through, the military will not release its grip on power. The regime has been under heavy international pressure for reform since its violent crackdown on protesters in the fall. More»

More than 100 march as rights group slams junta over recruiting child soldiers

(NEWSER) - Picking up their quashed demands, more than 100 Burmese monks marched in defiance of the military junta today in the first marches since the government crackdown on pro-democracy protests late last month. "This is very significant... we are very encouraged to see the monks taking up action," one Burmese human rights watcher told the BBC. More»

Citizens join monks and nuns in anti-government rallies in Rangoon

(NEWSER) - Buddhist monks and nuns are at the helm of Burma's 'largest' anti-government protest since the failed student uprising in 1988. An estimated 20,000 took to the streets today in the seventh day of demonstrations for lower prices, an end to the ruling military junta, and release of political prisoners. The mood in Rangoon is euphoric, reports the BBC. More»

Freed Burmese opposition leader talks with Washington Post

(NEWSER) - Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi sat down with the Washington Post this week to discuss her hopes for political change in Burma. Now a free citizen, a political star, and a registered candidate for parliamentary elections , Suu Kyi spoke in the same living room where she endured house arrest for 15 years:

• On President Thein Sein: "I believe he sincerely wants reform. But he is not the only one in government. Our present constitution gives the military far too much power."

Burma's democracy leader will seek Parliament seat in April 1 elections

(NEWSER) - None other than Aung San Suu Kyi will run for a Parliament seat in April, standing for election for the first time since her National League for Democracy swept to victory in a 1990 vote that was quickly quashed by Burma's military junta. The democracy icon had expressed reservations about a run as recently as last week, saying "there are obstacles, and there are some dangers we have to look out for," but the NLD confirmed today that she would personally seek a seat in a Yangon suburb, reports the AP . More»