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Human rights in China worsening, US finds

China's human rights record worsened in 2012 amid an increasingly harsh crackdown on Tibetan and Uighur areas, the United States warned Friday in an annual report. "The human rights environment in China continued to deteriorate in 2012," the State Department said in its human rights report. It highlighted "a crackdown on human rights activists, increasingly harsh repression in ethnic Tibetan and Uighur areas" and growing online censorship.

EU to lift sanctions as part of sea-change in ties with Myanmar

The European Union plans to announce a sea-change Monday in ties with Myanmar, lifting the last of its trade, economic and individual sanctions as it embarks on a new relationship with the once pariah state, diplomatic sources told AFP. A year after first suspending sanctions against Myanmar in reward for its historic reforms, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg will announce a definitive end to restrictive measures but leave in place an arms embargo, the sources said.

EU set to lift Myanmar sanctions, except on arms

By Adrian Croft and Justyna Pawlak BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is expected to lift all sanctions on Myanmar next week, except for an arms embargo, in recognition of the "remarkable process of reform" in the country, a document seen by Reuters showed on Wednesday. The EU agreed a year ago to suspend most of its sanctions against Myanmar for a year, but it is now expected to go further by agreeing "to lift all sanctions with the exception of the embargo on arms", the document said.

Suu Kyi defends her conciliatory style

Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi defended her conciliatory political style Wednesday, saying her focus was on building a more unified society rather than making headlines. Suu Kyi, visiting Japan this week, said many interviewers have asked her why she does not speak more forcefully about the plight of minority groups in her nation. She said she has been addressing those issues, albeit in ways that people may consider "boring".

Suu Kyi defends her conciliatory style

Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi defended her conciliatory political style Wednesday, saying her focus was on building a more unified society rather than making headlines. Suu Kyi, visiting Japan this week, said many interviewers have asked her why she does not speak more forcefully about the plight of minority groups in her nation. She said she has been addressing those issues, albeit in ways that people may consider "boring".

Suu Kyi says Myanmar's Muslims must be made to feel secure

By Antoni Slodkowski TOKYO (Reuters) - Myanmar's charismatic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday that the estrangement of minority Muslims in her country was "a very sad state of affairs" and the community must be made to feel secure. Sectarian violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar killed 43 people last month. Thousands, mostly Muslims, were driven from their homes and businesses as bloodshed spread across the central region of one of Asia's most diverse countries.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi says no easy answer to sectarian violence

By Antoni Slodkowski TOKYO (Reuters) - Myanmar's charismatic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi made rare comments on Wednesday on sectarian violence in her nation, but said she was "not a magician" and will not be able to solve long-running ethnic disputes. Speaking to students at Tokyo University while on a visit to Japan, Suu Kyi maintained her stand that the rule of law needs to be established in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and parties involved in the violence have to build an atmosphere of dialogue.

Suu Kyi calls for Japanese investment in Myanmar

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday called for Japanese investment and economic aid that would create jobs in the Southeast Asian economy, news reports said. The 67-year-old head of the National League for Democracy, now on her first visit to Japan in 27 years following more than 14 years of house arrest, made the request during her meeting with Japanese lawmakers in Tokyo. "The people cannot improve their livelihood without a job," Myanmar's pro-democracy icon told the lawmakers, according to Kyodo News.

Myanmar people enjoy significant water festival in wake of riots

Myanmar's four-day traditional "Thingyan Water Festival" kicked off in Yangon on Saturday morning when the air temperature was still low, with people, young and old, starting to throw water at each other to enjoy coolness. This year's water festival is significant because it was launched in the wake of a series of riots that took place recently in several areas of the country including Meikhtila in northern Mandalay region and in central Bago region where curfew is still in force. With 3,500 police personnel out of a total of 7,000 claimed to be deployed to guard the security o

Myanmar leader unity plea in New Year speech

Myanmar's reformist president called for multi faith harmony in a national address to mark the country's New Year celebrations Sunday, following recent anti-Muslim unrest that has scarred communities. Thein Sein dedicated his speech to promoting religious unity as the nation remains tense after a wave of rioting last month that left 43 dead, thousands displaced and saw homes and mosques destroyed.
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