The founding of NLD(LA) Europe 

09-01-2006. NLD (LA) Norway branch and Dr. Wing Naing, the representative of NLD (LA) UK and Europe, had a meeting with Norwaygian Burma Committe (NBC) at Oslo, Norway. NBC is going to organize a community meeting, seminar, for the Burmese People in Norway on 04-01-2006. The aims and objects of the seminar is to let the Burmese People meet each other, also with politicians and media group in Norway for the cause. Dr. Win Naing has officially informed the NBC about the founding of NLD(LA) Europe, from the NLD members across the Europian Countries. The other matters including International Campaigns such as Total Campaign, Shwe Gas-Line Campaign and Tourism Campaign were discussed in details.

100 trafficked Myanmar women rescued from other countries last year, say police

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - About 100 women who were rescued from sexual exploitation after being trafficked to China, Thailand and Malaysia were repatriated to Myanmar last year. The victims, ranging in age from 18 to 35 years, were "women looking for greener pastures, and some gullible women fell victim to the enticement of the traffickers,".

Sit Aye said young women who have been smuggled into China were forced into marriage while many of those taken to neighbouring Thailand and to Malaysia were smuggled for the purpose of prostitution.

The number of women returned to Myanmar is almost certainly a tiny percentage of those trafficked. A 2005 U.S. State Department report said about 80 percent of the 600,000 to 800,000 people trafficked across international borders each year are women and girls.

The State Department also listed Myanmar as one of 14 nations in the worst category for human trafficking, saying it had done very little to eliminate the problem.  

Foreign investment in Myanmar dropped 12 percent in 2005 

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Foreign investment in Myanmar dropped 11.6 percent in 2005 to US$113 million (94 million), with the bulk of funds directed at the Southeast Asian nation's oil and gas markets and manufacturing, a journal reported. 

Foreign investment in 2004 was US$128 million (106 million), the Weekly Eleven journal reported in its current edition, citing an official source. 

The United States and European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar in recent years to pressure the military government to improve human rights and release detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Since Myanmar opened its markets to foreign investment in 1988, the Southeast Asian country has drawn $7.76 billion (6.43 billion) - with more than half coming from neighboring countries in ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

ASEAN, which accounted for $3.96 billion (3.28 billion) of foreign investment to Myanmar over the last 17 years, also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Singapore's contribution was the highest, with $1.57 billion in foreign investment, followed by $1.34 billion (1.11 billion) from Thailand, the journal reported. 

Razali stepped down because junta not let him visit Myanmar for 23 months.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Myanmar's military regime could find itself on a collision course with the United Nations Security Council by turning a deaf ear to a growing global chorus for political reform, a U.N. diplomat said on Monday. Razali said he stepped down from his job as Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy because the junta had not let him visit Myanmar for 23 months.
Former Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail, who gave up his post as U.N. special envoy to Myanmar when his contract expired on January 3, said the Security Council took a small step in showing its concern by holding an informal meeting on Myanmar last month.

"The longer the regime is obdurate, and the more people hear about problems from within, and if ASEAN cannot make an impact or influence, then one way or another it leads to the Security Council," Razali told Reuters in a telephone interview.