President U Thein Sein: Immediately Investigate and Bring to Justice the Police Responsible for Grave Crimes Committed Against Peaceful Demonstrators

AAPP strongly condemns the use of excessive force and brutality by police officers in response to peaceful protestors in the early hours of 29 November, 2012. The government of President U Thein Sein must ensure […]

LAND NOT FOR SALE!: Letter of Global Solidarity against Land Grabs in Burma/Myanmar

The current reforms in Burma/Myanmar are worsening land grabs in the country. Since the mid-2000s there has been a spike in land grabs, especially leading up to the 2010 national elections. Military and government authorities have been granting large-scale land concessions to well-connected Burmese companies. Farmers’ protests against land grabs have drawn recent public attention to many high profile cases, such as Yuzana’s Hukawng Valley cassava concession, the Dawei SEZ in Tanintharyi Region near the Thai border, Zaygaba’s industrial development zone outside Yangon, and the current Monywa copper mine expansion in Sagaing Division, among many others […]

Burma: US Backtracks on ‘Responsible Investment’ Pledge

Business Reporting Requirements Won’t Deter Abuses, Corruption

The new United States government policy allowing business activity in Burma’s controversial oil sector with reporting requirements will not adequately prevent new investments from fueling abuses and undermining reform, Human Rights Watch said today.

The Obama administration announced that it will waive longstanding US sanctions on investment and financial services in Burma […]

Breaking: US Government Eases Sanctions on Burma

ERI concerned about risks for human rights, environment

ERI is greatly concerned by today’s announcement that the U.S. will issue General Licenses authorizing U.S. companies to do business in Burma without abiding by international best practices on human rights, environmental performance, and financial transparency.  The construction of foreign-owned oil and gas pipelines continues to contribute to conflict and human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas such as Shan State, and companies investing in infrastructure development cause community suffering through forced displacement and environmental destruction throughout Burma […]

Statement on Foreign Investment in Burma

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made a very important statement today that I call on the Administration and our European allies to heed. She urged foreign governments not to allow their companies to enter into new partnerships at this time with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise […]

China Power Investment Seeks Backing of Global Dam Industry to Push Ahead with Myitsone Project

Chinese media last week revealed that the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) is currently conducting an “independent” inspection of the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam, being built by China Power Investment Corporation (CPI), to prove that the dam is completely safe and beneficial. Such a study would be a major boost in CPI’s bid to push ahead with the suspended project […]

405 villagers from Maubin Township Reclaim Confiscated Lands

405 farmers from Maletto Village, Maubin Township, Irrawaddy Division sent an appeal letter to President Thein Sein on May 12 requesting help in reclaiming their farming lands confiscated by U Pai company. These more than 1,000 acres […]

Lahu Women Demand End to Destructive Platinum Mining in Burma’s Shan State

A Lahu women’s group is calling for an immediate end to destructive platinum mining operations in Eastern Shan State. In a new report “Grab for White Gold: Impacts of platinum mining in Eastern Shan State,” the Lahu Women’s Organization (LWO) describes how recent platinum mining […]

South Korean Corporate and Government Should Not Exploit Burma’s Liberal Movement

Recently the movements such as nomination Aung San Suu Kyi, in Burma election have shown positive progressive movement of democratization in Burma. However, even after the official liberalization, it is still plausible to say that Burma is still being controlled […]

Burma Environmental Working Group Issues Benchmarks for Investment in Energy, Extractive and Land Sectors in Burma

Today, the Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG) – an alliance of grassroots-based organizations – has issued its Benchmarks for Investment in Burma’s Energy, Extractive and Land Sectors to serve as a framework for responsible investment in critical sectors in Burma […]