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• JANUARY

04—A leading pro-democracy activist movement, the 88 Generation Students group, launches a new petition campaign, “Open Heart,” calling for people to write letters to government leaders urging reform in politics, the economy and social affairs.

11—Five leading activists of the 88 Generation Students group—Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe, Min Zeya and Pyone Cho—who were arrested in 2006 and accused of “causing internal commotion and committing terrorist attacks in connection with Washington” are freed.

15—A small bomb explodes at a post office in Shwegonding, an eastern suburb of Rangoon, at 12:50 p.m. local time. One person is reported injured.

21—Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye and other junta officials meet with the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. India promises further military aid to Burma’s ruling junta and asks for increased cooperation in fighting Indian insurgent groups operating along its border with Burma.

• FEBRUARY

13—The detention under house arrest of Tin Oo, deputy leader of Burma’s opposition party, the National League for Democracy, is extended for one year.

Htin Kyaw, leading activist [Photo: AFP]

22—About 15 protesters, led by well-known activist Htin Kyaw, demonstrate at a crowded market in downtown Rangoon and later march to Sule Pagoda. They hold placards and distribute leaflets calling on the government to lower food prices and improve welfare services. Burmese authorities detain at least five people.

• MARCH

21—Burma’s prime minister, Soe Win, is treated in one of Singapore’s public hospitals for a serious but undisclosed illness, the Burmese embassy reports. Some sources say he has leukemia. 

22—Htin Kyaw, 44, one of the leaders of a demonstration in downtown Rangoon in February, is arrested while staging a solo protest at Hledan Market near Rangoon University.

26—The Burmese junta grants 50 foreign journalists visas to cover the Armed Forces Day military parade in Naypyidaw.

• APRIL

02—Burma reports an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu at a poultry farm in Htaukkyant, north of Rangoon. One thousand chickens died.

Kim Yong Il, deputy foreign minister of North Korea [Photo: AFP]

25—A four-person team, led by North Korea’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il, arrives in Rangoon and reaches an agreement with Burmese officials to resume diplomatic ties.

• MAY

15—A letter, signed by 59 former heads of state, urges the Burmese military leaders to free Aung San Suu Kyi. The signatures come from Asia, Africa, Europe and North and South America.

20—A North Korean cargo ship, the Kang Nam I, docks at Thilawa port in Burma for the first time since diplomatic ties were resumed.

23—US first lady Laura Bush and women US senators launch a campaign for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and call for a renewal of the official US boycott against Burmese imports.

27—Hundreds of supporters of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, led by Min Ko Naing, a prominent anti-government activist, march to Shwedagon Pagoda to pray for Suu Kyi’s release, but are blocked by about 100 pro-junta thugs. There is no violence.

• JUNE

05—Eleven HIV/AIDS patients are detained in the Weibagi Hospital in Rangoon following the group’s demonstrations calling for the release of a prominent HIV/AIDS activist, Phyu Phyu Thin, who was arrested earlier by authorities.

Laura Bush meets pro-democracy supporters in Washington DC [Photo: ENC]

A Burmese ethnic delegation meets with US first lady Laura Bush in the White House in Washington, DC, and calls on the US to help protect ethnic minorities and to promote democracy in Burma.