Advocates of interfaith harmony say a renaming of the hardline Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha, and plans to formally inject its ideology into Burma’s political sphere, will do little to staunch — and may even exacerbate — the underlying religious intolerance that the organisation has been accused of fomenting.

Two Union Solidarity and Development Party representatives who won seats in the election last year have been found guilty of breaching the electoral law in their political campaigns.

Civil society organisations say despite the new Freedom of Association Law passed in June last year, there are still many restrictions that should be dropped.

The nationalist monks opened a Rangoon school that teaches students how to become ‘decent citizens’ who protect Burma's majority race and Buddhist religion.

Patriarchal attitudes, bureaucratic indifference, and little support from society leave women feeling powerless.

Fears of a return of religious violence, favours from the ruling party and a large army presence conspired to land the USDP a standout victory in Meikhtila.