The Appointment of New Representatives of Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam and the Re-appointment of Representatives to the AICHR

Pursuant to Article 5.2 of the Term of Reference (TOR) of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) – which states that “Each Member State shall appoint a Representative to the AICHR who shall be accountable to the appointing […]

Human Rights Documents to be Translated to Myanmar: NHRC

Human rights documents will be translated to Myanmar language and disseminated among the public according to Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The commission, which is an independent body formed by President Thein Sein in September 2011, will start the task of translation of 9 Conventions on the topic human rigths by the United Nations (UN), Sit Myaing, Secretary of NHRC, said […]

Human Rights Situation Deteriorated as Fighting Intensified in Kachin State

Burma’s human rights situation in January 2013 remained poor, in large part, due to the intensified fighting in Kachin State. In January 2013, the Burmese military admitted that it had launched an aerial assault against the strongholds of the KIO/KIA.

According to a member organization of the ND-Burma, there are over 25,000 refugees being sheltered in close proximity to the aerial attacks. Reports of civilian causalities have also been received […]

Joint Statement of the Kachin Independence Organization and the Myanmar Peace Team

Union Minister U Aung Min and KIO representatives met on 4 February, 2013, beginning at 9:00AM in Shweli (Riuli), Yunnan, China, and concluding at 4:19PM […]

Statement from the Women’s Workshop on Peace-Building and Conflict Transformation

Forty-six women representatives from 31 ethnic women’s organizations from various regions and states of Myanmar held a workshop on peace-building and conflict transformation in Yangon during January 30 – February 1, 2013.

Participating representatives issued the following position statement on the final day of the workshop […]

U Thein Sein Government Violated the Laws Associated with KIA

On the 28 January, the government owned newspaper released the news that a civilian died and three motor cycles were destroyed from the bomb blast committed by the KIA. One of the civilians exposed that the news was fabricated with false evidence. Therefore, on January 31st, the government owned newspaper had to release an apology paper […]

Bridge Loans to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Promoting Medium-Long Term Development of Myanmar through Supporting Its Return to the International Financial Market

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC; Governor: Hiroshi Okuda) provided bridge loans (short term bridging loans) with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on January 17, about 512 million U.S. dollars to clear the arrears of past loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and on January 25, 430 million U.S. dollars to also clear the arrears of past loans from the International Development Association (IDA), one of the World Bank Group […]

Campaigners Criticise “Premature” Burma Debt Cancellation

$5.9 billion to be written-off and new loans to military dictatorship to begin.

Western countries, in a body called the Paris Club, have agreed to cancel 50 per cent of the debt owed to them by Burma. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have also agreed to start lending to the Burmese government again. The move comes after the Burmese government signed-up to a set of IMF economic conditions earlier this month […]

Statement to the Chinese Consulate, Chiang Mai

Since the resumption of conflict between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese government army in June 2011, it has been the government which has been one-sidedly launching offensives for the past 19 months. This has caused over 100,000 Kachin people, including women and children, to flee their homes and seek safe shelter elsewhere […]

Statement to the US Consulate, Chiang Mai

Since the resumption of conflict between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese government army in June 2011, it has been the government which has been one-sidedly launching offensives for the past 19 months. This has caused over 100,000 Kachin people, including women and children, to flee their homes and seek safe shelter elsewhere […]