MANILA, Dec 12 (IPS Asia-Pacific) - When Myo Thant, many years ago, forwarded a proposal that asked the government of Myanmar to help temper the rapid increase of HIV transmission and occurrence of AIDS in the population, his request was rejected. “Only Elizabeth Taylor works on HIV and AIDS,” he recalled one state official’s response written on his proposal paper, referring to the late American actress’ ad ...

Oct 4 (The Irrawaddy) - Sitting in The Irrawaddy’s new office in downtown Rangoon as I write this, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of unreality. A year ago, I could hardly have imagined even being here, much less writing this commentary, which not so long ago would almost certainly have landed me in prison. ...

Khin Ohmar, Coordinator of Burma Partnership, explains to Johanna Son of IPS Asia-Pacific her worries about foreign donors rushing into Myanmar in the wake of its reforms. ...

In this Sep.26 open letter, human rights activists argue that "serious flaws" in the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, set to be adopted by ASEAN later in the year, must be addressed. If not, they say, the declaration would "not bode well for the reputation and credibility" of the ASEAN human rights mechanism. ...

BANGKOK, Aug 27 (IPS Asia-Pacific) – Busy shedding off its reputation as a recluse after decades of self-imposed isolation, Myanmar is playing catch-up with it neighbours and may well become a middle-income nation by 2030, the Asian Development Bank (AsDB) says in a report released this month. ...

BANGKOK, Apr 12 (IPS) - Long Southeast Asia's black sheep, Myanmar is enjoying an image change following its landmark Apr. 1 by-elections. Tongues are now wagging about the region's new beacon of hope for democratic change. ...