Interview Lead Story News Video
Interview: Outgoing MP Hla Swe and the candidate that beat him
DVB sits down with Hla Swe and the National League for Democracy’s Than Soe, the candidate that beat him out of the Upper House seat of Gangnaw, Sagaing Division.
2015 Elections Lead Story News Rohingya
Hla Swe stokes anti-Rohingya tensions at Magwe rally
The incumbent Upper House MP for Gangaw Township in Magwe has touted his party’s credentials as being racist and discriminatory against Rohingya Muslims.
29 December 2020 News Briefing
As of 8 PM, 28 Dec, a total of 19,108 samples were tested and found 648 new cases and 17 deaths. MoHS has reported 122,534 confirmed cases including 104,351 discharged,[…]
Analysis Lead Story News Women's Issues
Rape avoidance 101: Government advice on curbing sexual assault elicits scorn
The Home Affairs Ministry has been blasted for re-enforcing harmful assumptions about gender-based violence after it released a document positing that women consuming alcohol was among the leading causes of the rape of women and children.
Mass rally in Yangon offers support to military
Thousands of people rally in front of Yangon’s City Hall in a show of support for the Tatmadaw, with participants waving national flags and military banners at a gathering with little precedent in a country formerly ruled by an oppressive junta.
Arakan Lead Story News Rohingya
Arakan Commission to submit final report next week
Kof Annan’s commission will report its recommendations after a year monitoring the inter-religious tensions between Muslims and Buddhists in Arakan State.
Lead Story Media News Politics
Former MP takes aim at politicians with new journal
The new journal, published by former USDP lawmaker “Bullet” Hla Swe, targets both the ruling NLD and its military-backed predecessor.
Burmese poets turn their pens to lawmaking
Poets have long expressed the mood of Burma’s repressed people through verse. Now, 11 of them, all representing the NLD, will help write the nation’s laws.
2015 Elections Lead Story News Politics
Incumbent lawmakers to remain in parliament until January
Just days after the NLD clinched an election victory, lawmakers elected in the flawed 2010 polls are due to legislate for another two and a half months.
2015 Elections Lead Story News
NLD supporters celebrate premature victory
Thousands of NLD supporters began a premature celebration outside the party’s headquarters after voting concluded at 4pm today.
New report accuses Burma govt of systematic campaign against Rohingya
A new report applying genocide laws to the Rohingya situation in Arakan State has been released by human rights organisation Fortify Rights.
Shwe Mann survives as Right to Recall bill suspended
The following DVB article has been edited into a style of English that should suit upper-immediate and advanced learners of the language.
2015 Elections Lead Story News Parliament Politics
Right to Recall bill shelved
House Speaker Shwe Mann, the target of a purge within the ruling USDP, lives to fight another day as controversial bill to dismiss MPs is voted down.
Shwe Mann heading for showdown with president
Burma’s ruling party has called a hastily arranged leadership meeting today to prepare for a showdown with their ousted party chairman in parliament.
Arakan Lead Story News Parliament
Race Protection Law ‘a distraction’ to real issues: ICJ
Proposed legislation is not in the national interest and risks further violence, says Sam Zarifi of the International Commission for Jurists.
Health Lead Story News Parliament Women's Issues
Upper house approves population control bill
A bill which limits child births to one baby per mother every three years is passed by the upper house of Burma’s parliament.
Lead Story News Politics Video
Govt backflips on white-card voting rights
Naypyidaw has advised that non-citizens will have their white cards expire on 31 March 2015, despite a parliamentary decision to allow holders to vote in an upcoming referendum.
Hearing gets under way in Koh Tao murder case
A request by defence lawyers that the hearing be postponed for a month due to a lack of preparation time is denied. Prosecutors argue that witnesses may try to flee.
MPs asked to report shabby construction projects
The speaker of Burma’s upper house has asked parliamentarians to compile photographic evidence of construction projects that don’t meet safety and quality standards.
Arakan Ethnic issues Lead Story News
Upper House approves plan to ‘make life more pleasant’ for Arakanese
A parliamentary proposal urging a set of policies “to make life more pleasant” for people in Arakan State was approved by the upper house on Monday.
BRIEF – Military will salute the president ‘if he so desires’
The Burmese military will salute President Thein Sein “if he so desires”, Deputy Defence Minister Gen. Kyaw Nyunt told the upper house on Monday in response to a question by[…]
BRIEF – Parliament considers new rules for dismissal of MPs
Burma’s upper house of parliament is considering new rules for the dismissal of representatives, MP Hla Swe told DVB. Members discussed amendment of a clause permitting the dismissal of military[…]
NLD to sue USDP rep for defamation
The National League for Democracy (NLD) plans to file a defamation suit against the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) upper house representative Hla Swe for “slandering” NLD officials.
DVB Debate Lead Story News Video
DVB Debate: Constitutional conundrum
Panellists on DVB Debate discuss constitutional reform and the future role of the military in Burma.
Lead Story Natural resources News
Parliament to review govt spending on security for mining projects
Burma’s parliament is planning to review government spending on the deployment of army battalions to provide security for state-owned mining projects across the country, which is estimated to cost millions of kyat each year.
DVB Debate Features Lead Story Politics Video
DVB Debate: Can we forgive 1988 for the sake of national reconciliation?
DVB Debate asks whether or not the people of Burma can and should forgive the military regime for its decades of repression.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Politics
Arakan leader seeks to bar non-citizens forming political parties
A bill put forward by RNDP leader Dr Aye Maung that proposes amending the Political Parties Law to prohibit non-citizens from contesting elections will be debated in the upper house.
Press council meets with NLD to discuss disputed draft media bill
Burma’s interim press council met with the representatives from the NLD on Tuesday as the group attempts to shore up support for a new media bill drafted by the group that stirred up controversy
MP slams military promise to return confiscated land
A member of parliament on Wednesday accused the military of misleading the public by pledging to return thousands of acres of confiscated land
Defence minister vows to return land confiscated by military
Burma’s Defence Minister Brigadier General Wai Lwin said the military was planning to return land appropriated by their forces, with the exception of property that is set to house construction projects.
